bittersweet chocolates and ferris wheels

| 003 | tainted l'enfance

2009-12-16T09:44:08Z

Title: Tainted l’enfance
Pairings: JunChun, MinChun (possessive love)
Genre: Angst, Romance, Yaoi
Authors: sen_1209 and zhyune

He was Micky Park, but now Shim Yoochun, brother of Shim Changmin, head of the black dragon. Only when he is the Yoochun, suppressed with drugs, can Changmin be able to keep him by his side.

A promise made to the deceased, Kim Junsu vows to find and protect Micky Park, whose existence was deleted from the world, deliberately.

Will Junsu be able to bring back the true identity of Yoochun and away from the brutal love of Changmin?

A/N This chapter is really really overdued and late. Thanks to those who still remember and sent encouraging comments and PMs! This chapter is specially dedicated to juhli for your encouraging comments which made me guilty for so long. :)) I know this has taken almost a year to write. I apologise! My inspiration is back though and I'm determined to complete the 2 fics I've left dangling and possibly more. A slow chapter in a fast fic, please enjoy :) Comments are loved, as always.

Chapter Three

“Go away!” Cocooned in a tangle of bedsheets and duvet, Yoochun raised his voice, hoping his bodyguard would stop shaking his shoulders. Breakfast was in order, but so what? He had no intention of getting out of bed, only to face a horde of his brother’s men, a house that felt so crowded and hollow at the same time. Five more days till Changmin’s return. Since Yoochun was always left behind like this, he honestly hated Changmin’s ‘business’ trips.

Today, his bodyguard was especially persistent. Yoochun could feel him weighing down one side of his bed as he attempted to coax the young Master of the house to wake up for breakfast. “Leave me alone!”

“Well,” a pregnant pause ensued as Yoochun’s eyes sprang open in response to this single, simple word, “if you insist.”

In the next instant, Yoochun emerged from his cocoon to fling both arms around his brother.

“HYUNG!”

Chuckling, Changmin embraced the younger boy. He would never admit that although Yoochun depended on him, this boy who’s identity he had stolen and thereafter recreated was Changmin’s safe harbour – the one person he returned to no matter what.

Resting his chin on Changmin’s shoulder, the blessed feeling overcame and he forgot to bear grudges against his hyung’s constant disappearance.However...

Yoochun pulled away to observe Changmin’s attire. “What’s the occasion?” Gone was his usual business suit, expensive cufflinks and polished boots. For the first time, he was seeing his hyung in a casual get-up. Changmin shrugged, so that his casual tee-shirt crinkled at all the right spots.

“I’m home. Is that not special enough?”He straightened his jeans as he stood, headed towards Yoochun’s wardrobe, returned with a set of clothes. “Come on, I’m taking you somewhere.”

“Hyung...you’ve never dressed this way!”

“What,” Changmin looked down at himself, “you don’t like this?”

Yoochun shook his head so hard, his fringe covered both of his eyes. “I like! This. You.” He bites his bottom lip. “When you strip away your business attire, you look ordinary. People can see you not as a triad boss, but just … you.” He hung his head shyly, having said this. What anyone else would say is, you don’t look like a cold hard murderer.

Changmin folded his arms with a tiny smile. His usual commanding demeanor had been somewhat softened for the occasion he was about to announce. “What are you waiting for? Get changed. The amusement park awaits.”

His words flicked a switch that lit up Yoochun’s face.

“AMUSEMENT PARK? Really?! Really, really, really?”

“You’re doubting me?” With a sigh, he stepped up, because at the rate they were going, it would take a whole morning just to get dressed. The excited younger boy remained submissively still while Changmin’s fingers swiftly unbuttoned and lifted Yoochun’s arm so he could tug away his pyjamas.

All dressed to go, Changmin stopped at the door before leaving. He patted Yoochun’s hair before pulling a cap over it. One of his men handed Changmin an identical cap. Draping a hand over Yoochun’s shoulders, he led them out the door.

When he realised the usual entourage of men didn’t follow, Yoochun couldn’t stop smiling. As soon as they hit the streets, Changmin’s hands were awkwardly stuck in the front pockets of his jeans, and he slouched a bit to avoid onlooker’s attention, which was hard due to his height.

They had to purchase subway tickets. Yoochun excitedly fed his ticket into the machine as he danced ahead of his hyung in the queue. When he turned back, Changmin was frowning.

“What’s wrong, hyung?”

Changmin grimaced. Ticket in one hand, he looked up. “Where do I insert this?”

Having spent his life riding limos and bullet-proof cars, everyday transportation baffled him. Yoochun had to laugh at this sight of his hyung. “The slot is to the left, and you need to select your destination!”

Finally, a satisfied smile permeated Changmin’s lips as he crossed the threshold of the subway, unaware of the curious attention he drew from onlookers, to which he responded with a possessive tug on Yoochun’s shoulder as he drew them towards the escalator.

“To be honest,” Changmin said as the train approached their destination, his arm around Yoochun in self-assurance that the younger boy wouldn’t get pushed as they jostled with fifty other passengers in the jerky train carriage, “I have never seen the insides of an amusement park, lest you count that movie we saw last summer.”

“That horror show?” Yoochun burst out laughing, “Clowns don’t stab you from behind, and revengeful popcorn-vendors don’t strangle you on roller coaster rides.”

“I was a bit worried before this. Thanks.” He squeezed Yoochun’s shoulder lightly, before stepping off onto the platform as the reached the station. This time, Changmin exited with ease and resisted the urge to give a triumphant grin. This small victory, amusedly, gave him more pleasure than a successful raid of a rival mafia camp.

“We’re here!” Yoochun bounced to the carnival music which permeated the park. He tugged hard on his brother’s hand, to which Changmin indulgently complied by walking faster towards a balloon-infested candy stall, the reason for the younger boy’s excitement.

“Give me one of everything.” Changmin pulled out a wad of cash.

When they walked away with two loaded bags of candy, the candy-man was all-grins. Wiping a slick of cotton candy from the corner of Yoochun’s mouth, Changmin said teasingly, “When we get back, I’m arranging for a private dentist.”

Yoochun ripped a long strip of pink candy fluff and dangled it before his brother’s lips. “Try some of this, hyung! Have you ever had cotton candy?”

A brief memory flickered across Changmin’s thoughts. He never joined the other elementary school kids on excursions – the school Principal opposed his presence for his identity deemed him dangerous. A mafia boss’s kid was much better off growing up in isolation, which suited him anyway. Changmin’s father had rented the entire amusement park sometime later, but hadn’t turned up with him on the day of the excursion due to triad matters. The cotton candy vendor had trembled in fear as he handed a pink swirl to little Changmin’s outstretched hand…

“Don’t touch him!” Seung Ho, his young bodyguard, snatched over the candy floss and glared menacingly at the shivering old man.

“i…I’m sorry.” Turning pale, the old candy floss vendor bowed his head, hands shaking so much that his twirling fork fell to the concrete ground with a loud clang.

In that instant, a line of armed men bordered themselves around Changmin. A heavy pistol was pressed to the vendor’s temple and Seung Ho’s finger was dangerously close to pressing the trigger. Changmin could not see anything beyond the barrier of black-suit men.

“You scared our Young Master, you fool! What were you thinking?”

“N..no I wasn’t thinking of anything.”

“Where are you from.”

“Where…nowhere, Sir!”

Somebody covered Changmin’s ears for 10 long seconds, and when his ears were uncovered, there was an odd ring in the air, as if something heavy had collapsed.

“Dispose of the body.” Seung Ho commanded, before returning to Changmin’s side and was all smiles for the Young master.

“We’ll get you some chocolates instead, Master.”

Looking back and forth at Yoochun and the strip of candy floss, Changmin lowered himself a little, then pointed at his slightly-open mouth in a gesture indicating he wanted to be fed.

“Hyung!” Amused, Yoochun stuffed the candy into his mouth and waited for the verdict.

Changmin felt the candy melting and flooding his taste buds with a strange sensation. It was sweet, much too sweet, in a dreamy child-like way that was never meant for Changmin. Will never be. He licked his teeth to dislodge the remaining bits of floss.

Yoochun was still stuffing his face with candy while staring at his hyung’s strange expression.“Hyung, how is it!”

“ I’ll stick to dark chocolates. Too sweet. You eat it.” He ruffled the fringe sticking out from the younger boy’s cap, motioned for them to move on.

Nodding, Yoochun fell into step beside his brother. Flanking the streets were colourful booths, each housed in dome-shaped canvas sheets in bright red-and-white, decorated in plentiful balloons and streamers. The stalls were bustling with people crowding to look at the plethora of goodies, or fighting to play the next round of booth games. Nothing at all like the empty carnival Changmin remembered.

“Hyung, look at that!”

Yoochun’s excitement brought them to a halt. A crowd of eager players held toy guns, firing hopeful pellets that occasionally knocked over the dancing plastic figurines at the back of the novelty stall. That was not what caught Yoochun’s eye, however.

“That is one huuuuuuge dolphin!” With that said, Changmin’s gaze travelled to the highest shelf where a larger-than-lifesized pink creature was poised like an mermaid. The prize for hitting all 50 figurines in a row with nothing missed in between, it was unattainable to the commoners.

Changmin’s gaze flickered towards Yoochun’s face, and then back at the dolphin. It was all it took for him to grab Yoochun’s hand and shoved their way to the storefront. He smacked down the tokens. “Get me a gun.”

A failed player snickered, pulled his dyed-blonde girlfriend to his side and talked audibly. “Look at that boy. He won’t make it.” His girlfriend snorted jealously – her man had given up after 1 try and here was a man trying for the sake of his brother. “Yeah, they’ll probably fail.”

If the gun in Changmin’s hand had been real, the couple would have never made it out there alive.

“Go, hyung!” Yoochun stood by and cheered. “It’s okay if you don’t get the dolphin though, I’m happy already.”

Shooting him a brief glance, Changmin’s brows furrowed at his targets as they started to move and dance. “If I pretend these things are real, I can’t possibly miss.” Then he fired, pellet after pellet. His running targets fell before his eyes. For Yoochun’s sake, he cannot miss these escaping people. And he fired and fired.

Jaw-dropping silence followed after his 30^th on-target shot as the onlookers looked on in amazement. Nobody spoke in case it broke Changmin’s concentration. A wide grin spread across Yoochun’s face.

By the 40^th, the store manager was shaking his head as he unhooked the dolphin from his throne.

By the 50^th, the crowd was cheering and the jealous couple walked away in a huff.

“Here you go.” The store vendor sniffed and handed Changmin his prize.

“Take it Yoochun, it’s yours.”

A tiny squeal escaped Yoochun’s lips as he bounced forward to retrieve the stuffed toy. When standing, the plushie was almost Yoochun’s height.

Putting down the fake gun, Changmin smirked at the unhappy store vendor. “Great game,” he said, before spinning on his heels and pulling Yoochun away from the booth.

“Thank you, thankyou!” Yoochun shouted at the crowd who was still applauding before being dragged away. “Oh hyung you were amazing! A bunch of girls were squealing their guts out over you, did you see?”

“No, but I hope you like your gift.” Changmin didn’t look down at Yoochun as he hid a smile under his cap.

“Äre you kidding? This thing is amazing! I’m gonna name it…well...I don’t know. Maybe I’ll name it later.” He squeezed the dolphin and was surprised when it squealed out ‘I LOVE YOU!’.

“What was that?”

“The dolphin talked! Oh my god, hyung.”

“Squeeze it again.”

‘I LOVE YOU!’

“Oh!” Yoochun giggled and hugged it somemore. Then he held up the dolphin to Changmin’s face. “Hyung....” and he squeezed the dolphin hard to express his thoughts. Changmin chuckled. then single-handedly squeezed the dolphin.

“So where to next, ranger?” He adjusted Yoochun’s cap. “Pirate-ship?”

Struggling to balance the huge dolphin and the bags of candy in his arms, Yoochun nodded excitedly.

Chuckling, Changmin lifted the dolphin tucked it under his own arm. “We’re good to go.”

The pirate-ship swung back and forth massively in the near distance, majestically bronze against the multi-coloured spotlights that added to the thrill of the ride. A flag with a printed threatening skull flapped with the motion of the ship as it’s passengers screamed in fear and delight.

“Come on, come on!” Yoochun tugged hurriedly on Changmin’s arm. The latter seemed to have slowed down his pace.

“Oh hey, look at those fried ice-cream balls Yoochun. Would you like some?” He pointed at a side-booth.

Momentarily distracted by food, the younger boy perked up at the mention of icecream, but sighed at the sight of mere fishballs. “Those are just fishballs. Besides, I might puke on the ride. Look, hyung! The passengers are getting off!” Sure enough, a throng of people were staggering their way off the pirate ship. Someone was throwing up by the bushes.

Changmin’s stomach felt a little queasy. He regretted mentioning the pirate ship. Just a little.

“Sure you won’t be frightened on the ride? Afterall, it is a bit high.” Changmin was referring to Yoochun’s fear of heights.

“Nope it’s not that high.” Yoochun was on his way towards the ticketing booth. “Coming, hyung?”

“Of course. Let me find a place for our items first.”

With dolphin and Yoochun’s candies safely deposited, Changmin had no more excuse. He sighed. Guns and blood and death didn’t scare him. There’s no way he would allow such a kiddy ride to freak him out, right?

“The music’s starting!!” Yoochun bounced in his seat.

“Ya, sit back down. You’ll unhook the safety belt if you go on like this.” Changmin clutched, a little too tightly, onto Yoochun’s arm. Yoochun had insisted on taking the tip of the pirate boat where the flag flew directly above their heads, and where the motion of the boat would rock them the hardest.

There was a sharp jerk, which set the ship into motion. Yoochun squealed and lifted both arms, taking one of Changmin’s along as well.

Changmin squeezed his eyes tight. His stomach was unsettled and he could feel its contents swishing in waves, rocking like a boat in stormy seas. Changmin had been living like a boat in stormy seas since his father’s death, but this was the first time he truly felt danger.

Danger of puking.

“YAHOOOOO!!!!”

A very excited Yoochun screamed happily. He’d taken his cap off for the ride. Each time the wind whipped his face and provoked his wavy hair into dancing brown snakes, he filled his lungs with air to scream. He was unrestricted, he was free. Yoochun only had one thing in this world he wanted to celebrate.

“HYUUUUUNG!!!!” He screamed on their third whoosh back down. Changmin instantly opened his eyes and saw his world go by in a blur of people’s faces, carnival spotlights, and the surrounding passenger’s screams and yells. He quickly looked towards Yoochun, whose face was inclined towards the wind. Yoochun’s face was filled with utter delight.

Only Yoochun. Only Yoochun wasn’t a blur to him in this unstable world.

No longer as queasy, Changmin felt a grin lift the corners of his mouth. The next fall of the pirate-ship was coming, and it was going to be a massive one. He lifted the other hand that hadn’t been clutching Yoochun’s.

There was a brief calm as the tip end of the boat reached its highest point of the ride. Changmin wanted to yell at the climax of the ride, but what would he shout? A number of things ran through Changmin’s head.

The pirate ship slid forward…and down.

“I’M SORRY!”

******************************************************

Changmin’s footing was stable as he collected their belongings. Yoochun was unsteady on his feet and had to grab onto the railings. Nevertheless his face was cracked into a huge grin.

“Let’s do it again!”

“It’s not that fun. You go on, Yoochun, if you want.”

“No, I want to be with hyung. How about the swirling teacups? The Drop Towers? Or the ferris wheel. I think I can handle those. All I need is hyung to be on the ride with me.”

“I think…you will be safe on the ferris wheel. It’ll be fun. Let’s go, Yoochun-ah.”

Fifteen heart-stopping, stomach-churning rides later, Yoochun clung on to Changmin as the pair headed for the subway, arms laden with more carnival-booth accolades, souvenirs and candies. The younger boy was especially chatty for the entire ride home despite the exhaustion.

“Did you see the guy puke on his girlfriend at the reverse bungee, hyung? All over her face! She was sooo mad, I burst out laughing, even though we were upside down and blood was all rushing to my head, hyung!”

“Yeah, we saw that couple at the shop this dolphin came from.” The blonde girl and his very impolite wuss of a boyfriend.

“We didn’t puke at any of the rides, hyung!”

“Good for you.” With Dolphin still tucked under his arm, Changmin held Yoochun’s hand in his other as they crossed the stretch of mossy green grass towards their street. He could see his horde of men hurrying out from a car to greet the returning Masters of the house. Changmin slowed down their pace.

“Did you have fun today?”

“So much fun, hyung! So much that it feels like my heart is about to burst from all the happy songs it wants to sing.” Yoochun angled his head towards his brother just as Changmin glanced down at him. Illuminated by the last rays of the evening sun, Yoochun’s usually pale complexion was tinted orange, and his cheeks were flushed rosy with the day’s excitement.

“For once, you’ve got colour in your cheeks.”

“Really?” He rubbed his own cheek, laughing. “Well, hyung. I have to say something too.” Yoochun pursed his lips a little. “In this outfit and in this circumstances, hyung, I would have mistaken you for a different person.”

“Different?” Changmin raised an eyebrow. “How so.”

“You are so superior all this time, hyung, to everyone. But today, I could feel the heat from hyung’s heart. Like your heart is fiercely alive and very warm and I was so happy to feel that, I thought the hyung that I used to know was gone. You even shouted while on the pirate ship! But hyung, what did you shout? I didn’t hear it clearly.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to know.” They walked in peaceful silence for the rest of the way. Yoochun rather liked the sound of wet grass sloping at their ankles and of the occasional frog leaping out of their way to avoid death by expensive sneakers.

“Today is special,” Changmin smiled and broke and lovely silence, “but if this makes you so happy, we ought to do this often.”

“What’s the occasion, hyung?” Yoochun cocked his head to one side, puzzled.

Changmin said nothing else. The gate to his mansion swung open and his guards bowed as they relieved them of their belongings. Changmin tightened his grip on Yoochun as they crossed the threshold, to a different world once more.

***************************************************

‘Today, Changmin and the kid Yoochun went to the amusement park. Nothing new arose. No new evidence whatsoever. ‘

Kim Junsu tapped silently on the screen of his handheld device which kept a track record of his findings to date. The device was locked with 14 multi-layered pass-codes and even if unlocked, required Junsu’s thumbprint to activate – another one of Kim Junsu’s fabulous technical manipulations. Sighing, he slid the device back into his jeans and leaned his head against a pillow.

Micky Park, where on earth are you?

Something was amiss, and it bothered him. He was missing something crucial -- a critical link that could lead him to Micky. Of course! I know there’s a link. I just need to find out what that connection is. Damn it!

As he lay in bed thinking of a solution, a familiar voice filled his head with a melodious song. The voice that sang sweetly, woke him from his dreams and brought him to a closed door at Black Dragon’s mansion. A melody so beautiful that he was instantly comforted. And I don’t even know whose voice it is. DARN.

***************************************************

21 years ago, on this very day, Mr. Shim was both delighted and grieved. He lost his wife in labour. He became a proud father of a son. On that very day, he had held his son in his arms and vowed this is the end, he would not lose his son to his enemies like how he’d lost his wife. “I won’t pull you into all this business, Changmin-ah.”

21 years later to this date, Shim Changmin sat presiding over a late-night meeting. They were discussing who to send to watch over the Japan dealings. For once, he wasn’t fully focused.

Changmin never celebrated his birthday; for it was the day he lost his mother to a triad betrayal. But today was special; just for one day, Changmin didn’t want to live for revenge.

“That’s enough.” He stood up and walked away from the table, leaving his subordinates open-mouthed in speculation.

Changmin went upstairs. He first checked on Yoochun to make sure he was asleep. Two lumps protruded from the bed; one of them belonged to Dolphin. Tiny snores came from under the blanket; the younger boy was truly tired out. Smiling, Changmin returned to his private bedroom without bothering with the lights. It was all dark as he sat on his bed and replayed the contents of today’s memory. He realised that every scene in his head was of Yoochun and his innocent, untainted smile.

P.S Thank you for reading! Chapter 4 is on its way. ^^

| 002 | tainted l'enfance

2009-01-10T14:55:04Z

Title: Tainted l’enfance
Pairings: JunChun, MinChun (possessive love)
Genre: Angst, Romance, Yaoi
Authors: sen_1209 and zhyune

He was Micky Park, but now Shim Yoochun, brother of Shim Changmin, head of the black dragon. Only when he is the Yoochun, suppressed with drugs, can Changmin be able to keep him by his side.

A promise made to the deceased, Kim Junsu vows to find and protect Micky Park, whose existence was deleted from the world, deliberately.

Will Junsu be able to bring back the true identity of Yoochun and away from the brutal love of Changmin?

Chapter Two

Leaning against the wooden doorframe, Changmin calmly checked his watch. Then, out of the corner of his eyes, the curtains parted and a pair of feet emerged.

Shyly, Yoochun shuffled out, his face angled towards his feet, his hands wouldn’t stop tugging at his crisp white tuxedo.

“Everyone is seated. Dinner is ready, boss.”

Changmin waved a hand in dismissal of his messenger, then crossed the room to Yoochun, taking his time to absorb every detail he was seeing. His hands were rarely as gentle as how he was now tugging Yoochun’s tie into place, gingerly smoothing out invisible creases on the younger boy’s blazer. A shy smile settled on Yoochun’s lips.

“Come on.” The older man spun on his heels, gesturing for Yoochun to follow closely by his side as they descended the stairs.

Chairs scraped loudly as the guests – several gang leaders and their trusted men – stood to greet Changmin, who nodded back.

Changmin steered Yoochun to his seat, folded the napkin onto the latter’s lap before he took his usual place at the end of a long table. Their guests tried their best not to stare at Changmin who was so unusually gentle, it was impossible they were the same man.

After their main course, Yoochun politely excused himself. There was a skip in his step as he approached the shining white grand piano, an indulgent gift from his Changmin-hyung. Lovingly, his fingers traced the black-and-white keys. Music was his outlet for expressing his emotions; the piano never failed to soothe his soul.

Noisy discussion in the background dropped to absolute silence with a click of Changmin’s fingers. There was an expectant pause. Then Yoochun began to play, lithe fingers gliding with elegance and grace.

Vocals blended with the music, ascending from a low husky whisper to the smooth lyrics weaving perfectly into a song. The ending note was followed by an eruption of applause. Yoochun turned around in his seat to smile at his hyung.

Back at the table, he received praises from the gang leaders who didn’t strike Yoochun as refined enough to enjoy such music, but he smiled nevertheless. As dinner recommenced, Yoochun quietly assimilated the dinner discussion that resumed over dessert.

“I’ll be right back, stay here.” Changmin got up from the table with some of his guests and Yoochun was left alone with his grilled escargot. When his hyung failed to return after 10 minutes, feeling uneasy, he ventured in the direction he’d seen him go.

Even in his own house, the dark corridors frightened him. “Hyung…?” whispering unsteadily, he stumbled deeper into a dark room he’d never entered in his entire life.

“You have an amazing voice, Yoochun-ah.” The speaker blew his garlicky breath into Yoochun’s ear. He spun around. In the dark he could see it was a beefy man with trunk-like torsos and a crooked smile.

Surprised that he knew his name, Yoochun smiled at his friendliness. “Oh I do? Thank you! Nobody has ever said that to me.”

“Nobody?” The man feigned astonishment. “Why it’s a pity. I’d love to hear more. I have taken such a liking to you.” The younger man allowed himself to be led into the dark corner of the room, glad to be making friends.

“What do you like to do in your free time, Yoochun?”

Yoochun chewed nervously on his bottom lip. Usually, Changmin spoke for him. He didn’t know how to answer.

Plus Yoochun wasn’t sure that he liked the muscular arm that was snaking around his waist.

“Erm… I play the piano, and sing…”

“Mm hmm.” The garlicky breath was tickling Yoochun’s neck now. “What else do you enjoy? I can give it to you.”

Yoochun squirmed but the grip around him only tightened. The beefy man flashed him another crooked grin. Maybe this is how friends behave to each other. Yoochun relaxed and smiled to the face that was now barely inches from his own.

“I enjoy—

Smash.

In the next moment, the friendly beefy man was gripping a cracked skull, howling in pain.

Brightness flooded the room as the lights were turned on. Fury flashed in Changmin’s eyes as he flung the broken wine bottle aside. “Don’t you know that he’s mine?”

Stunned, Yoochun backed away from the spreading pool of blood.

“I’m sorry boss. I did not teach my man well. This will not happen again.” One of the leaders rushed to apologize, and then glanced regrettably at his most trusted man whose only mistake was to tamper with the boss’s toy. “Take him outside.”

Fists and jaw clenched, Changmin’s breath was heavy and controlled. He could have easily killed that guy – if the bastard wasn’t holding on to Yoochun so tightly. He was afraid he would hurt Yoochun in the process.

“I am sorry, boss.” A low bow indicated his sincerity. Outside, the beating continued. The man was paying his price for touching what was Changmin’s.

“Get out,” Changmin faced his men, spoke through clenched jaws, “now.”

Party’s over. Black Dragon’s men hustled the remaining guests out immediately, till there was no one else but Yoochun and Changmin in the house. Pale-faced and shaking, Yoochun was too afraid to look at his hyung and too nauseous to look at the blood on the floor, so he closed his eyes.

The next thing he knew, he was being pinned to the wall, and his hyung’s vice-like grip on his wrists left bruises on his delicate skin. Hot angry breath blew in his face.

Yoochun yelped helplessly.

“Is that you asking for more?”

“Hyung I—

Changmin pushed a knee up between Yoochun’s legs till the shorter man was riding on it. Face to face with his hyung, Yoochun felt his full wrath.

“Stop! Hyung it’s—

“You were practically begging that man, so I’m giving it to you right now.”

“He was just being friendly!”

“You call that friendly? When you threw yourself at him, being friendly? I didn’t bring you down to dinner so my guests can touch you all over like that bastard did goddamnit!” His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, and Yoochun knew he was pushing way past Changmin’s limits.

Tears welled up in his eyes. “How was I supposed to know? He came to me first. He was so kind and friendly…”

“So you offered yourself as a welcome gift? Throwing yourself at him? Oh, how friendly, Yoochun. For your information, that was just plain cheap.”

“I was honoured he talked to me. Then I got scared when he touched me! How am I supposed to know? You are the reason why I have no friends, I have no life! I don’t know how to react. It’s all because of you!”

Slap!

Everything froze in place like a scene on screen after someone had hit the pause button.

Silence filled the growing emptiness in the mansion, breaking only when Yoochun began to sob quietly. Blood streaked from a corner of his torn lip. A five-fingered mark was visibly appearing where his hyung had slammed his palm into.

“Don’t forget, you’re mine,” Changmin said, after the short silence, through clenched jaws, “No one else can touch you. No one.”

With that, he let go of the smaller boy. Yoochun slid to the cold hard floor, tears streaking down his cheeks as he cradled his knees to his chest.

Changmin paused at the foot of the stairs. “You’re grounded. Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve been sneaking out lately. If I catch you…” he paused to hear the catch in Yoochun’s breath, “you know what punishment you’ll get.”

Footsteps trudged up the stairs and he was left alone to cry alone.

Most definitely he did not want the punishment. So like his hyung had decreed, Yoochun was now enslaved in his brother’s protective barrier.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Clouds of steam engulfed his body as he lowered himself into a Jacuzzi-sized hot bath. Usually this soothed and calmed him. Not today. Laying his head against the cool edge of the steaming hot tub, he closed his eyes as he massaged his aching temples.

He wasn’t disturbed by the greasy man who’d hit on Yoochun earlier, considering that slimy bastard was now lying in a ditch along the river.

It was Yoochun who worried him – those trusting eyes would easily fall prey to throngs of perverse men out there—he was such an easy target.

Replaying his conversation with Yoochun, the impact of the younger boy’s accusations hit home because deep down Changmin knew what Yoochun said was true.

“…no friends…no life…because of you!”

Ever since he’d plucked the Micky from the scene of the car accident, Changmin’s intentions were no less than to protect him from members of renowned gangs just waiting to lay their guns on Yoochun’s throat. Why did Yoochun not understand how much his hyung truly cared for him, loved him?

There, I’ve said it, he thought. He loved Yoochun. That fact was undeniable. But keeping him enslaved and hidden, treating him like a mere pet. Is this the only way that I can protect Yoochun and still love him?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Junsu’s inner Gladiator kicked in. As soon as his superior mentioned how dangerous this assignment would be, he was glad he’d been picked to be part of big boss’s entourage to Japan.

‘Big boss’ as in Changmin. Why couldn’t these men just say his name?

“Changmin does not trust the people we’re going to deal with in Japan,” Junjin, the only person in the entire clan close enough to Changmin to address him by name, without honorifics attached, said. “Though this deal is shaky, chances are that if the yakuza agrees to the deal without killing us first, we’ll gain millions worth of goods immediately.” The listeners nodded in agreement.

“What’s the point, if there’s such a high possibility that they will attack us during the discussion? That is, we might die.” Junsu spoke, ignoring the stares thrown his way. They were probably awestruck that a supposed newbie would question instructions this way.

Junjin’s eyes studied Junsu. This one’s different, he noticed. Whilst the rest had bulging muscles and fearlessness, Junsu stood apart from the rest as if he didn’t quite belonged. He stared back at Junjin with eyes that sparkled with knowledge and what appeared to be missing in the other men – intelligence.

“Of course, Changmin would’ve thought of that. I’m glad you brought it up, Junsu.” For once, Junjin bothered to recall his men’s name. “The Japanese boss, Eric, is held in very high regards. He certainly knows that Changmin is his Korean replica and wishes for a pleasant relationship. The point of bringing together a team like you is to demonstrate our power. So they would think twice about attacking us.”

Days of planning ensued. The entourage of 12 arrived at Japan in the following week, in Eric’s smoky underground warehouse. Junjin positioned Junsu on the right-hand side of Changmin so for the first time since joining the Black Dragon, he was seeing this big boss up close.

Despite Changmin’s age, Junsu noted, everything about this man from his imposing height to his firm voice and clean-shaven good looks spoke of elegance and power.

Noticing Junsu, Junjin nodded at him as if not amused that a first-timer would gawk at Changmin. Junsu however, was running a different train of thoughts. Had this rock-solid man kidnapped Park’s son, the boy he’d promised to protect, all this while? Or had he already killed Micky Park? His eyes narrowed. Those possibilities ran high.

“Aaah, Changmin!” a low booming voice preceded a muscular man Junsu recognized as Eric, the Japanese equivalent of Changmin, or better.

“Delighted to see you, Eric,” Changmin replied expressionlessly. He stood straight and tall, towering over all the guards both sides had brought along.

“Such an impressive turnout you’ve brought,” Eric chuckled heartily while scanning the faces before him.

Already, Junsu doubted this man.

“We’re humbled in your territory,” he explained, noting Eric’s guards who, deliberately, had their fully loaded guns exposed at their belts, “why don’t we get straight to the point, Eric? I came to make a deal, not small talk.”

“Very well. We’ve restocked our supply of drugs in exchange for the Black Dragon’s supply. Our deal includes the exclusive rights to these drugs for sale in our separate countries. The profits will be split evenly.” Eric handed a folded slip of paper to Changmin, who passed his own terms of contract to Eric.

While Changmin scanned the details and signed, Junsu noticed that Eric’s pen lingered over the blank. Strangely, his index finger tapped slowly on the tip of the pen. Once. Twice. This was definitely a code he was sending to his men. But what was it?

Junsu tapped his own finger in sync.

F—I—R—E

Shit. Morse Code.

A sudden blinding glint of metal. The guard was aiming for Changmin!

Junsu lunged, pushing Changmin out of the way, just as the bullet pierced his arm. They both crashed to the floor.

Instantly, Junsu was back on his feet, his own revolver directed at Eric. He pulled the trigger, ready to blast the crap out of him.

Almost immediately, Eric’s men swiveled their guns, and Junsu found a dozen more guns aiming for his face. He mentally counted the pistols in his face. Thirteen. The grip on his own revolver tightened.

“Why so serious?” Eric laughed.

Calmly, Changmin stepped forward, gripped Junsu’s hands to lower his revolver. Guns on the other side began lowering as well.

“My men has proven their capabilities,” Changmin spoke.

Eric glanced at Junsu, chuckling. “Certainly! I’m impressed.” He proceeded to sign his papers and handed them to Changmin. “The deal is on.”

“This time you’re forgiven,” he threw his signed papers toward Eric, “considering my men weren’t seriously injured. There will be no such mercy if you should violate our terms again.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Abandoning their commercial flight, Changmin chartered a private jet plane on their return. Along the way, Junjin attended to Junsu’s wounded arm.

“You saw through Eric’s coded message to his men,” Junjin remarked.

Junsu nodded. “Morse Code. But hyung, why did the boss agree to seal the deal even after Eric’s attempt to kill him?”

“Changmin would dodge the bullet one way or another. Eric wanted to confirm the strength of Black Dragon. Did you notice no one stood behind Changmin?”

Changmin had already foreseen this! He would dodge the gunshot, making sure no one gets hit. Junsu winced as Junjin forcefully removed scraps of gunpowder from the bloody gash on his arm. “So the gunshot…was just a test that meant no harm?”

“No harm,” Junjin confirmed, “unless it had pierced some vital organs of yours. We didn’t expect you to jump between the gun and Changmin.”

“Eric’s code was so obvious. Anyone could have spotted it.”

Raising an eyebrow, Junjin said “Besides Changmin, only two others noticed the code. That’s you and me.”

Upon their smooth landing back in Seoul, Junsu hadn’t expected to be chauffeured to Changmin’s house, let alone provided with a room on the highest floor of the boss’s mansion where he was told to stay and recuperate. None of the guards were allowed there. Junsu couldn’t decide if this was how Changmin expressed gratitude for ‘saving’ him.

The highest floor was enveloped in peace and serenity. Should there be an armed battle in the lower levels, occupants of these highest rooms could still be asleep.

Junsu slept like a log. He dreamt of a dark alley and of running after a boy whose face he couldn’t see; a familiar dream which always ended with Junsu losing sight of the boy. Despair at failing his promise to Detective Park would become so great; he would then awaken with sweat-drenched fringe plastered to his forehead, and Micky’s name lingering on his lips.

But today he got closer to the boy than ever, if he could just reach his hands out a little further, he could spin the boy around to see his face…

Where was the glorious music coming from?

Junsu played the piano therefore it was clear to him that the music came from an untrained yet sensitive pianist, who invested a wealth of emotions into the piece. That was the true beauty of music.

Gone was the dark alley in his dreams. Pushing thoughts of Micky Park to the back of his mind, he tiptoed into the corridor toward the source of the beautiful melody.

Beyond the only room whose door was painted white, the mesmerizing song continued with vocal accompaniments. Junsu edged closer to the door. Curiosity made him want to know who was singing and playing this song. His hand touched the doorknob.

A hand shot out to grip Junsu’s, jerking his away.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Backing away from the tall body that had slotted himself before him, Junsu’s eyes locked with Changmin’s angry ones.

“I said, what do you think you’re doing?”

“I heard music and then singing, so I —

“No one gets past this door,” Changmin stepped forward, forcing Junsu to retreat, “except me.”

“There’s someone insi—

“Get. Out.”

Junsu, though intrigued by the music he heard, knew that this was the tone of voice nobody wanting to live would dare to disobey.

Even then, he didn’t stop hearing the beautiful song and angelic voice in his head.

A/N: Changmin's most trusted guard at the moment, Junjin, had been with the Black Dragons since his father Shim was the boss
Junjin from Shinhwa.

Eric from the Japanese side

Eric from Shinhwa;

Thank you all for reading! :D Comments are loved, as always :

|001| tainted l'enfance

2008-12-03T12:28:13Z

Title: Tainted l’enfance
Pairings: JunChun, MinChun (possessive love)
Genre: Angst, Romance, Yaoi
Authors: sen_1209 and zhyune

He was Micky Park, but now Shim Yoochun, brother of Shim Changmin, head of the black dragon. Only when he is the Yoochun, suppressed with drugs, can Changmin be able to keep him by his side.

A promise made to the deceased, Kim Junsu vows to find and protect Micky Park, whose existence was deleted from the world, deliberately.

Will Junsu be able to bring back the true identity of Yoochun and away from the brutal love of Changmin?

Chapter One

Luck was on their side as Shim partitioned the loot of ‘new drugs’, bidding his time. The ‘new drugs’ managed to sustain the interests of the other chiefs. Anxiety threatened to trip his cool façade, but Shim had to stay calm for his best buddy, his son and his own sake.

In the distance, the sky rumbled. Dark ominous clouds finally gave way to a small drizzle.

Park’s hand began to tremble, almost dropping the small sachet of purple powder. Shim calmly faced his best buddy; his eyes seemed to send a subtle hint of caution.

They couldn’t afford any wrong moves until the cops arrived. Now was not the time to turn the tables on the rest of the gang leaders. Not yet.

Suddenly there was a flash of silver and Park found himself staring down the loaded barrel of a gun.

“So, what is your motive? Inspector Park?” Chief of LGKK snarled, voice dripping with menace, his glare as lethal at the weapon he held.

“Inspector? You must be kidding.” Park chuckled with a raised eyebrow. He stuffed his hands into his pockets to feel for his pistol.

Changmin watched with widened eyes as the other chief’s fingers closed in on the trigger of the .36 revolver. He knew how the firearm felt; his father had taught him personally how to handle one. Cold sweat ran down his spine when all of a sudden the weapon was pointed at his father who’d stepped between Park and the gun. No...

“Park would never betray us. I trust him.” Shim spoke, undaunted by the revolver aiming for his head.

All around, the rest of the gang leaders seemed persuaded. Shim was their leader; no doubt his words could be trusted.

Confusion clouded the chief’s eyes. Changmin saw, for a second, that the chief’s gun was lowered.

“Freeze!”

The abrupt screeching of police car tires instantly confirmed the chief’s suspicions. Cops emerged from all directions.

“You will pay for this Park!”

A single gunshot.

“No!” Changmin screamed, dashing forward a split second too late.

Blood gushed from Shim’s punctured chest. He stumbled, and Changmin caught him before he could fall to the ground.

No, this was his infallible father, the boss of the Korean underworld. He was grooming Changmin to be the next leader, boasting of the capabilities of his sixteen-year-old son to the other leaders. That image dissolved in the pool of crimson red in which his father now laid.

“Father!” On his knees now, he tried to cushion his father’s head. His tall frame hunched over to protect his father from the rain which now pounded onto his back with a steady rhythm. “Don’t close your eyes, please!”

Park knelt beside his best buddy, unspeakable grief claimed his emotions.

“…you!” Broken free of handcuffs, the same chief lunged forward to attack Park.

Without thinking, Changmin pulled his gun from his jeans, and fired.

He fell to his knees three feet away, clutching his throat where the bullet pierced, and collapsed.

It was the first time Changmin had ever fired a gun to kill.

Hot angry tears mixed with rain as Changmin clutched the dying man’s hands.

“Changmin…”

“You’ll be alright Father. Just be still. Changmin is here. Changmin will save you. You’ll be safe. Changmin will avenge you…”

“Changmin…” The young boy leaned closer to catch his father’s whispered words. “…don’t…don’t follow… my footsteps. Leave…leave the underworld.”

Changmin didn’t say no. He didn’t promise anything either. With clenched jaws, his grip tightened around his father’s cold hands.

No, he couldn’t possibly allow this to end this way.

“Park…” his father continued.

Park nodded, fully aware of what he was to do. It was his best buddy’s last request and he would willingly die to fulfill it.

Shim’s eyes traced his son’s face, before closing for the very last time.

The grieving son knelt beside the motionless body, as if waiting for someone to declare all this a joke, then his father would get up and take him home and tell him all these were all a ploy.

Removing his jacket, he laid it across his father’s body, ignoring the cold and freezing raindrops plummeting from the sky.

Where warmth had existed, his father’s hands now felt as cold as marble. Changmin dropped the lifeless hands to retrieve his gun, tightened his grip around the cold hard metal. Both felt the same to him.

“Inspector Park, I’m afraid we have to take his body with us.”

Nodding to his subordinates, Park got to his feet. He held out his hand to pull Changmin to him, but the boy glared hatefully at the outstretched palm.

“Come on, Changmin, we have to let them take your father.”

“Don’t you dare touch my father.” This came out more like a hiss than spoken words.

Even the approaching police officers were taken aback by the strength in the young boy’s tone.

Clutching his gun in his fists, Changmin straightened up, ordered the officers to take his father away, giving instructions for a proper cremation, before striding to his father’s black BMW. It was his now. He drove back to his house without looking back.

Once inside the gates, he ordered his men to guard the entrance and refuse entry to Park. One of his father’s guarded demanded that Changmin changed his commanding tone, threatening to report Changmin’s misbehavior to Shim.

“My father. Is. Dead.”

Bang.

Now so was he.

“Anyone else has anything to say?”

Scanning the faces of his men, Changmin dared them to challenge him. His eyes were cold, unblinking and unforgiving. As if one night had accelerated his maturity, Changmin no longer looked sixteen and innocent. What the men saw in Changmin’s eyes made them take a step back, surrendering their total obedience.

Several minutes later, Park burst in through the gates.

“Stop right there.” A large hand grabbed the front of Park’s shirt and stopped him.

“Let me in, it’s me, Park!”

“Boss doesn’t want you in the house.”

Several men now stood in his path, blocking his view of the house.

“B..boss?” Park struggled to free himself. He glanced towards the tall retreating figure of the boy. “This is ridiculous. Shim is…… he wanted to end all this gang nonsense. There is no more Black Dragon!”

Just at this moment, Changmin emerged from the house with his revolver in one hand, and Park’s thirteen-year-old son in the other. Park froze.

“Daddy!” Micky clutched Changmin’s hand and waved to his father with the other, seemingly unaware of the tension.

Motioning with his gun, Changmin wordlessly ordered his men to back away. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth. A smile which didn’t reach his eyes.

“Put the gun down, we can talk Chang…”

“You have no right to call my name.”

Micky didn’t like the rain soaking his favourite pajamas. He didn’t like the harsh tone of his Changmin-hyung. His lips began to quiver.

“Please, let Micky go. Put the gun down. We can talk.” Park rationalized, but the pleading tone in his voice only amused Changmin more. He wanted this man to beg him. He wanted this man to suffer.

He pulled Micky closer to his side. Micky clung to his hyung’s waist for security.

Several inches above Micky’s head, Changmin’s gun was pointing down on the soft black hair.

“You owe my father. You betrayed him. Your son shall suffer the same fate.”

Park reacted. His own pistol swung in an arc, gunning down the guards, before dashing forward to grab Micky.

Micky refused to let go, and it was Changmin who pushed him away. The latter held up his revolver once more, targeting the two figures scrambling to escape.

He didn’t get a chance to kill a second victim that night.

What he did get was witnessing the flash of blinding white and screeching tires, and a large lorry smashing into Park.

Micky, saved by his father’s decisive shove moments before the lorry could hit him, lay crumpled against the pavement, his pajamas soaked with rain and fresh blood running down from the gash at the back of his head.

Changmin crossed the streets quickly, bending over to check on Micky. The small chest was barely heaving. But clearly there was still life. Still breathing.

Wrapping both arms under the small shivering body, Changmin lifted Micky to his chest, shielding the cold body from the rain as he sprinted towards the hospital.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What makes you think you can be the new leader?”

Changmin looked up at the opposition voice. Expectant faces turned to Changmin for his answer.

Chairing the first meeting, just 2 days after the mass arrest and death of their revered leader, was Changmin, the new boss of the organization. However all these members of this meeting were new to their power, having taken over their dead or arrested former-leaders. They were unsatisfied with Changmin, doubtful of this teenager’s abilities.

“I didn’t think I can be the new leader. I am the leader.” Ramrod straight in his seat, he appeared taller than he already was. Even at seated level, he towered over the rest.

“We can’t trust this organization to fall into the hands of a kid.” The same man retorted.

“We?” Changmin questioned. “Who’s we?” He looked around the table with a challenging gaze.

Nobody spoke, most of them avoided Changmin’s piercing glare. There was ferocity in the reserved tone of Changmin’s voice which resembled Shim. They knew not to trifle with such a man.

“Well, we,” the man gestured to himself and several other leaders who looked away, “discussed how this meeting should proceed. We need to elect a new leader.”

“Oh you have an agenda for the meeting?” Changmin’s eyebrows rose. “Then did you think of this?”

It happened so fast nobody saw his hand move. The revolver spun in one hand. Bang. It was a direct hit to the center of his forehead.

Nobody gave the body a second look as all eyes were turned to face Changmin, now calmly wiping the tip of his revolver with the shirt of the dead man.

The meeting followed Changmin’s agenda. Before he called it to a close, the new gang chief of LGKK spoke up.

“We heard of the traitor Park’s accident. But the son is alive, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know.” His icy tone silenced the rest. Nobody noticed that his knuckles had gone white from clenching too hard on the crystal wineglass.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“The patient suffered severe head trauma from hitting the concrete, it was too dangerous to remove the blood clot pressing onto his nerves. There might be some complications when the patient regain consciousness—

“What complications?” Changmin stepped forward, towering a head over the plump surgeon.

“It seems highly possible for memory loss. At this stage, we don’t know how long this traumatic amnesia could last—“ He choked out the last words, for Changmin had lifted him by his collar with one hand till they were almost eye-level.

“Keep this conversation between us,” his voice lowered to a whisper, “I want all records of Micky Park erased from the database by tonight. Otherwise I’ll personally pay you a visit. I can easily have you erased, got it?”

Sure enough the surgeon kept his word. By midnight, Changmin was driving a nonexistent Micky Park back to the Shim residence. The surgeon, sworn to secrecy, rode in the back of the BMW with Micky. He was paid to attend specially to Micky.

Changmin wondered how much blood the boy had lost as he carried Micky into his bedroom. Not wanting any of his men to touch Micky, Changmin arranged Micky’s bed personally, and then tucked him gingerly under thick silk blankets. Silently, he gazed at the small face, so pale and fragile against the outsized pillows. The pained expression on the younger boy’s features bore striking resemblance to Changmin’s upon witnessing his father’s death. Maybe…maybe Micky’s memory wasn’t gone like the surgeon had said.

He was about to turn away when a soft groan ended his dilemma to stay or leave.

Wide empty eyes scanned Changmin for a stretch of time, as if searching for an answer but finding none in the cold expressionless elder boy. “Who are you? Where am I?”

“I am your hyung. Don’t worry, you are safe.”

The door closed shut and the confused younger boy was left to ponder his existence in the immensely empty bedroom.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

5 years later

It was his first day on the job. He stood in a formal line amongst several other men, waiting to meet the leader of Black Dragon for the first time. It had taken him five years to infiltrate this elusive organization, and Kim Junsu was sure he was on the right track…

“Detective Park, but how come you can’t take your son into hiding?”

“Junsu, it…it isn’t so easy.” Park leaned forward and pressed his thumb to rub circles into his aching temples. “In three days time, we would capture all the gang leaders if our plan succeeds, but the leaders’ followers would never take this lying down. They would want revenge. I am prepared to die.”

Junsu licked his dry lips. The idea of death was foreign to this innocent sixteen-year-old, a mere intern at the Investigative Police Division.

“Listen Junsu, I need you to help me because I know I can trust you.”

Nodding furiously, Junsu leaned forward to catch every word.

“Hacking into computer systems is your niche. I need you to access the civil database, search for my son, Micky Park, and delete all his records by tomorrow night. Wipe everything out, understand?”

Junsu nodded somemore. In his brilliant mind, he was already working out a strategy.

“After I die…”

The last word earned a loud gasp from Junsu, and Park smiled warmly at the young boy.

“After I die,” Park repeated, “protect Micky at whatever costs. Please promise me that, Junsu.”

He didn’t know what gave him the strength and courage to accept the duty. What he did know was that his heart was already set, as if destiny predetermined that Junsu’s life was created for this mission.

That night, he got down to work. Detective Park slipped him the key to the records room. Junsu cracked the code within minutes, and there was only one Micky Park registered in the South Korean zone.

In the screen, an angelic face of the thirteen-year-old stared back at him with bright trusting eyes. Junsu imagined that Micky was the kind that believed in the goodness of humanity, even if the world was out to get him. From his pockets he slipped out a small thumb drive and connected it. His fingers moved fast, right-clicking to save the file, before deleting all that was available of Micky Park. Quietly he pocketed his thumb drive and slipped away into the night.

Three days later, news of Park’s death plunged Junsu into grief. He hacked into various sources -- hospital records, police investigative files, crime reports – but there was nothing on a lost and unclaimed child. For months, Junsu only thought of the face that was etched into his mind, making him even more determined to search for Micky…or whoever he’d become.

But Park’s son remained lost, nobody heard of him. Maybe he’d disappeared along with the civil records.

Yet this remained a nagging thought that was constantly in Junsu’s mind.

“…protect Micky at whatever costs…”

Junsu could so vividly remember the conviction in Park’s voice in entrusting his only son to Junsu. He’d worked hard for five years and managed to link the missing boy to Black Dragon organization. It wasn’t easy to enter the gang, though. The leader, Shim Changmin, was supposedly very powerful and could easily wipe out South Korea’s underworld with a single order.

Whatever doubts Junsu had, he was sure the answer was waiting for him in his new job – Black Dragon’s secret assassin.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: For the love of JunChun, that was our first chapter! Thank you for reading! And as always, comments are loved! :)) ♥

Summary:

Crossroads+ concluding chapters

2008-08-06T15:04:35Z

Crossroads+
Pairings: JaeMin (main) , HoSu (major), JaeChun (minor)
Author: zhyune or iceamethyst
Genre: High School, Romance, Yaoi, Part-angst, Smut
Rating: NC 17 (SMUT @_@)
Chapter: 5/6; 6/6; +Epilogue
Summary: Crossroads – an intersection; a roundabout; a turning point; a defining moment; a crisis; a moment of truth.
A/N: Concluding chapters dedicated to mrsedjack (who's a great source of entertainment and randomness XDD) and kurogoma (who's currently on hiatus but always supportive since my first fic)!
~Chapter Six is made of smut; therefore readers are to be forewarned XDD

Chapter Five

It was nearly evening, an hour since the race concluded. In the locker room, Yoochun picked up the gym bags and couldn’t help noticing the flashing screen of Changmin’s cell phone.

Holy crap.

34 missed calls from Kim Jaejoong.

Ignoring the pang in his heart, he slung both their duffel bags across his shoulders.

Turning down the row of gym lockers, he walked away from the shower room to leave the stadium.

Jaejoong had not been to the hospital; he still does not know that Changmin had fainted. He was nowhere to be found. Where are you, Jae?

“……”

“…….”

“…Yunho was right about dumping you!”

Jaejoong? He was absolutely sure he’d heard Jaejoong’s voice, then hurried softly down the carpark stairs.

“I DUMPED HIM.” The retaliatory voice was irate and female. Wait…That’s Tiffany…the senior class hottie.

“You gave him no other choice…

A scuffle, and Jaejoong’s unmistakable yell.

FUCK.

The moment he laid eyes upon the scene, Yoochun caught sight of a limp Jaejoong on all fours with blood trailing down his nose and chin, pooling at his shirt. He stumbled back on his feet dodging a series of punches, returning well-aimed blows. One of the attackers shoved him hard against a concrete pillar and he doubled over.

Hopping onto his motorbike, the whirr of the engine revving to life was masked by the fight as Yoochun cruised to the center of the row of parking lots.

“Jae!” He slowed, grabbed the other’s hand, and hauled him up.

He swung his legs over the backseat, smacking one of the provoker’s head in the process.

With an almost inaudible “hold tight!”, Yoochun fired up the bike, leaving Tiffany and gang biting the dust.

Breathless, he held on to Yoochun, but loosened his grip when he caught sight of a familiar striking red motorcycle at its usual spot, unmoved since that morning.

“Stop! That’s Changmin’s bike!”

They were now out of school. Yoochun pretended not to hear him.

Leaning close, Jaejoong shouted, “Stop, I need to get off! Yoochun? Changmin’s in school!”

Yoochun ignored once again, but gave in and slowed to a stop at the roadside because Jaejoong was all prepared to leap off the speeding vehicle.

He was dashing back towards the school gates with his back turned when he heard Yoochun shout. “He is in the hospital!”

Almost refusing to believe until he spotted his boyfriend’s duffel bag in Yoochun’s hands, panic overcame his thoughts as he tore back to the bike.

They drove off wordlessly, Jaejoong’s grip on Yoochun tighter than before.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Our parents were divorced. Once every year we’d meet up for a family trip as if to remember the old times, and only once every year will I get to meet hyung and father,” Junsu paused with a small smile, “Hardly anyone would belief that we’re brothers because of our different surnames. I lived with my mother and adopted the surname ‘Kim’.

“That holiday trip was the last one we ever took as a family. I was in the left-most back seat, my parents in front and hyung on my right. When the car tumbled off the mountains, it went left-first. I should have been dead, or seriously injured,” he stared into his hands, “but hyung hugged and shielded me with his own body.”

“When the rescuers came, my parents were already killed. Hyung encircled his badly scratched hands around me like a shield. The shards of broken glass pierced into his arms and legs but not into me, because he selflessly shielded me…

“We were brought into this exact same hospital we’re sitting in now. Dr Kang was one of the surgeons who testified my parent’s death.”

Biting his lower lip helplessly, Junsu held back his flood of tears and allowed himself to be enveloped into Yunho’s embrace.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Their sneakers made squeaky sounds against the polished linoleum tiles as they halted at what appears to be the hospital registration counter.

“Which ward is Shim Changmin in?” The anxious blonde questioned.

The nurse at the counter looked up from her desktop, and gave a puzzled look.

Yoochun grabbed his wrist and pulled him back while he leaned forward, “We’re here to consult a doctor. Patient’s name is Kim Jaejoong.”

His jaws dropped open, “Is this your idea of a joke? I don’t need a doctor. I just came to see Changmin. If he’s even here.” Held back by the grip on his wrist, Jaejoong glared at the taller boy and tried to break free.

“Excuse me?” The nurse gestured to a registration form, not taking her eyes off the awkward duo. She handed Yoochun a pen, then turned her attention dried blood on Jaejoong’s lips and shirt, and even on his hair. “I do think you need to get those wounds cleaned up, Sir.”

He took the pen and began filling in the form while the nurse resumed her work on the screen. Needing Jaejoong’s birth certificate number, he turned around just in time to see the back of his jersey-clad figure disappearing round the hallway.

Cursing under his breath, he flung the pen, muttered a word of apology to the obviously annoyed nurse when it hit her squarely on her forehead, and dashed after Jaejoong.

Clutching the ICU ward number in his hands, Jaejoong sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him. He’s in the ICU.

Not knowing what had happened earlier, his breath caught in his throat when a scary image of a badly injured Changmin came to mind.

Yunho closed the door to his best friend’s ward behind Junsu who wanted some time alone with his brother. Changmin never told him what happened during that accident, except that both his parents died. Junsu’s account reiterated his comprehension that Changmin loved his brother enough to risk his own life.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a lone figure with striking blonde hair running down the corridors. Jaejoong?
He isn’t supposed to be here.

He took in the bloodstained jersey and dried blood framing the ends of his hair, the pale face, and harsh heavy panting. Before Jaejoong could push past him into the ICU ward, Yunho took him by his shoulders.

He was choking on the words he tried to form.

“Changmin…what happened to…why? How’s…he?”

Feeling drained all of a sudden, he felt his knees buckle.

Yunho caught the blonde in his arms before he hit the floor, sat him down on a waiting room couch, and watched as he drew quaky breaths.

“Calm down. Now do you feel better?”

Jaejoong gave a tiny nod, and then stared apprehensively at the ward door. “Can I...how is Changmin?”

Yoochun finally located the ward, joined in to hear Yunho explaining Changmin’s condition. He knelt before the stricken blonde and placed a comforting hand on his lap.

“Junsu is in there with him and he’s awake after a very minor surgery and he’s going to be fine. Meanwhile, why don’t you get your wounds cleaned up; Changmin would be so worried to see you like this.” Yunho patted his back, nodding towards Yoochun who stood up to lead Jaejoong back towards the clinic. They heaved a sigh of relief when Jaejoong nodded back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He had never agreed to the surgery six years ago. The heartache of losing both their parents in that accident, where a van had swerved into their path causing their car to skid off the narrow road and down the mountain, was enough for young Junsu. Changmin couldn’t have risked the surgery, not when it risked leaving Junsu all alone in the world.

“What will happen to us now, hyung? Will they break us up?”

He remembered huddling with Junsu beside their parent’s graves, stroking his younger brother’s hair. “I won’t let us separate; I’m going to take care of us!”

Never once letting go of that promise, Changmin wanted to wake up, to check on Junsu, and struggled to open his eyes.

He was lying in a pristine white room. A dull odd ache penetrated his chest; he could feel the heartbeat monitor pulsating into his veins.

Shifting his heavy head, he found a blonde-head lying facedown, apparently asleep, by the side of his bed. His hands were clasped in his, and from the way he snored, Changmin knew the blonde head was not Jaejoong

Smiling, he ruffled the blonde head affectionately, then dropped his head back on the pillow and fell asleep once more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hyung, you must not die and leave me all alone! Hyung you must stay alive, you’re the only one I have now!” Junsu ran after the tall nurses who were wheeling his brother away on a bed. He cried as he followed the bed being pushed into the operating room.

A gloved hand pushed him away from the cold steel doors which slammed mercilessly in his face. He was left alone, staring down the eerily lit waiting room, choking in the unbearable stench of formaldehyde that brought more tears to his eyes.

A shrill constant whine like a siren from a fire-engine echoed all around him. He cupped his ears to block out the sound but it only served to amplify. He was crying out loud, with no one to hear him.

His brother was dead.

“Hyung!” He jerked up, arm scraping against the sharp edge of the table, a deep gash oozing with fresh red blood marring his elbow. Junsu winced, grabbed a couple of tissues from the bedside to stop the flow of blood, all the while staring at his shoes because he was terribly frightened of blood.

“You need to wash that.”

Junsu jerked once more.

“HYUNG!”

Changmin smiled, reached up to take Junsu’s arm and started to blow lightly at the wound.

“Shh…you’d wake the entire hospital. What a deep cut, you klutz. Have you eaten?”

“Don’t worry about me hyung, Yunho fed me, sent me clothes from home and offered to stay here with you but I said…” Junsu blushed, and turned away to pour Changmin a glass of water.

Laughing, he reached out to touch his brother’s hands. “I’m not thirsty. So tell me, how are things with Yunho?

And don’t forget, I’m your brother. I can tell you’re keeping secrets from me just by looking at your expression.”

“As of yesterday…we’re together.” A wide dorky grin spread across Junsu’s face. A burst of laughter escaped Changmin’s lips, quickly turning into a dry cough.

“How are you feeling, hyung?”

“Much better after hearing about you two. Care to share more details?” Changmin sat up, leaned against the propped-up pillows and folded his arms at his brother. “So?”

Laughing, he snuggled up to his elder brother.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~END CHAPTER FIVE

Chapter Six

It was way past midnight when Jaejoong stood outside the ward. Dried blood caked on his split lips and his left elbow bandaged.

The other 3 boys had returned home for the night.

He opened the door to see Changmin propped up on pillows with a book in his hands, appearing well-rested. He wasn’t even on a drip, or hooked up to a gazillion machines like Jaejoong had imagined.

“I said I’m perfectly fine now and don’t need any company Junsu….” He looked up.

At once, blanket and book were flung aside. Changmin was on his feet in an instant, feeling all over Jaejoong’s white bloodstained wifebeater.

“Who did this to you?”

Anger flooded into his now reddened cheeks and clenched fists; he looked healthy enough to blast anyone to Mars; Jaejoong began to doubt the doctor’s prognosis on how sick Changmin really was.

“How are you feeling, Min?”

“Better than ever. Jaejoong…” Urgency flooded his voice.

Jaejoong didn’t know where to start explaining how Tiffany confused Jaejoong for Junsu then beat him up on account of Junsu and Yunho’s newly established relationship; Changmin didn’t need another worry to add to his list.

“I got myself cleaned up already; it was nothing I couldn’t handle, Changmin. If this shirt bothers you…” He stripped off his singlet and tossed it aside.

Immediately, Changmin stiffened. The fury-laden blood pulsing under his skin transformed into lust-laden pulsation. Painfully aware of the dull ache spreading between his legs, he inhaled sharply at the sight of silky alabaster skin over taut abs, a contrast to dark firm nipples.

For a while, they just stood awkwardly. Changmin’s eyes roved over lean shoulders and chest muscles which tapered down to small hips, and low-riding black jeans just begging to be ripped aside.

Jaejoong caught his boyfriend’s darkening gaze, felt his own blood boil under his skin.

“No fair.” With a sneaky grin, he undid the knot releasing Changmin’s loose-fitting hospital gown which then pooled at his feet, revealing all 6-feet of naked brown skin and pubic hair.

Letting his hands graze tenderly on the pristine white gauze bandage on Changmin’s chest, he winced as though he felt the pain from the surgery.

Does it still hurt?

No, Changmin placed his palm over the older man’s hand and guided it into drawing lazy small circles on his chest, not anymore.

“You next.” Swiftly, Changmin unzipped and tugged away his boyfriend’s loose black jeans, ripping aside his underwear till they both stood in their birthday suits in the middle of the (thankfully private) ward.

Seeing each other briefly naked a million times in the gym showers hadn’t prepared them for this.

Here, not a single sound could mask their increasingly heavy breathing; not a soul was around to witness anything.

Like an unwound spring, Jaejoong leapt, crushed his lips on Changmin’s, pushed past the latter’s teeth, sent both tongues entangling in a mesh. A low moan escaped his throat as he let his hands roam all over the taller man’s back. Bulging erection met bulging erection, hot blood throbbing as their hips rocked in tandem.

Jaejoong’s hand ghosted Changmin’s nipples, then slid vertically down south to cup a hardened cock. The first wave of orgasm hits the taller man as he arches upwards, thrusting his hip forward, shuddering in fevered excitement. Jaejoong stroked it – up and down, up and down – coaxing the shaft of wet skin back and forth to release a hot stream of precum into his palm.

“Oh God this is fucking good. Is this…your first?” A low whisper.

“Mmm hmm nrghh was saving it for you, Min.”

Changmin moaned deeply, hungrily thrashing his long tongue in the other’s mouth, aching to taste more. Without hesitating, he tilted his head to lick up the trickle of blood escaping a split on the latter’s lip, taking his time to chew and engulf them until he tasted more copperish hot liquid, more blood. Then with a hoist, he half-carried his boyfriend as they fell over tangled amongst the bedsheets, lost in feverish passion. He turned Jaejoong over and found Jaejoong’s hot opening already slick with sweat. Leaving a stream of sensuous kisses along Jaejoong’s skin until his tongue found his inviting hole.

Oh God. He was going to come. And he announced it, inserting his fingers into the saliva/sweat-lubricated gap; a pre-test. One finger. Two.

Three.

Jaejoong’s hips arched as an excited mewl ripped from his throat, orgasm peaking with his own member throbbing with blood and precum. Changmin slithered his fingers in and out, taunting the burning walls of his ass. He slid out, nudges Jaejoong’s legs wider apart, groped Jaejoong’s length, kneading in a trance-like rhythm.

“Min…I want you. I want you in me,” said in a sexually charged moan.

Now their eyes met. Changmin thrust his hips into Jaejoong’s erection, dicks colliding in fast motion, one tip rubbing hard against the other. Long muscular legs tangled into soaking wet sheets. Breaths came in short heavy panting. All sense of time and reality was lost.

“Fuck me now!” The need was so bad, Jaejoong arched into the other, resting his arms onto the other’s shoulder and shuddered.

Changmin wanted this just as bad. He wanted Jaejoong to look at him when he penetrated, and as he takes away both their virginity.

Back and forth they rocked. On and off their sensitive tips rubbed head on.

Then with a thrust, Changmin plunged his erection into Jaejoong.

The latter’s eyes – dark mirthless orbs – widened in shock. He let out a guttural cry. His walls tightened upon the searing invader, squeezing the bulging member much to its owner’s pleasure. He gripped Changmin’s shoulder so tight he forgot to breath.

Slowly he relaxed, the pain up his ass dissipating with more lubrication. Changmin plunged deeper, thrusting his hips upwards with each sexual venture.

In and out. Their hips jerked in sync with each satisfying plunge.

In and out. His cock grazed the taller man’s abdomen – leaving a trail of hot precum.

In and out. His cock met prostate, and he released – dripping hot sticky cum into Jaejoong. It leaked onto their inner thighs.

Later on, he gathered new sheets to lay upon the bed, listening to the sound of Jaejoong’s snores. Their clothes lay on a heap by the bedside. He threw a blanket over their heads, sweaty and fatigued.

As Changmin’s eyes drooped to a sleep, he wondered if his first satisfying fuck would be his last.

I would die happy that I’ve given my first to Jaejoong.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m going ahead with the surgery,” Changmin announced.

As you find yourself standing on one of the 2 intersecting lanes, there are 3 ways to move on. Straight ahead, and then there’s left or right. Nobody knows what lies ahead.

For him, the straight road was probably to once again reject surgery and await eventual death like Dr Kang had forewarned.

Changmin had chosen to turn to one of the remaining paths, to go with the artery grafting.

Before the metal gates to the surgery hall could close behind him, Changmin sat up on his bed to take one last glance at the 4 worried faces outside.

Yoochun. Yunho. Junsu. Jaejoong.

See you guys later, he mouthed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ END CHAPTER SIX

Epilogue

Six months after……

Graduation Day was finally here.

In the waiting room, Jaejoong stood before the full-length mirror, smoothing down his own blazer. This was his last day as a sophomore.

Come next semester, he would be a fully-pledged senior.

And come next year, he would be a college student.

Changmin would be glad to know he was working hard to enter their dream school – Kyunghee University. Jaejoong smiled forlornly at memories of peering through the gates of Kyunghee, and then strolling hand in hand on the school compound pretending to be the hottest couple on Kyunghee Campus.

Except that Changmin wouldn’t get to enter their dream school together with him.

Hundreds of chairs in the Graduation Hall began to fill with seniors and juniors alike. In the crowd, he caught sight of Junsu teasing his fingers to knot up Yunho’s tie. In turn, Yunho leaned over to capture the younger’s lips briefly, much to a certain onlooker’s annoyance (Tiffany). They caught his eye, gave him an encouraging smile, then found seats just as the Principal came forth for the Commencement speech.

Jaejoong’s mind wandered. He had a vague awareness that the speech was over. The next time he looked up, a large projector screen on stage flashed a portrait sized close-up of Changmin’s face.

Students all round began whispering in low voices. Jaejoong bit his lower lip, eyes fixated upon the smile reflected on this motionless photograph.

He relaxed, then joined in the deafening applause when Changmin strode onto the stage to receive a handshake from their Principal.

“Changmin Shim, our first sophomore recipient of this scholarship to Standford University!”

Yunho wolf-whistled and stood up to clap. Crowds of people began to stand up, joining in.

Even Yoochun was going away, having received the athletic scholarship.

The two ex-rivals embraced on stage, sincerely patting each other’s backs for the first time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I…I can’t walk properly, Min-ah!” He stumbled into his equally unsteady boyfriend as they both collapsed on their backs in a fit of giggles in the middle of the road.

It was past 3am. There they were in the point of intersection between the two roads.

The crossroad intersection devoid of cars and people. This was their world, their time.

“I can’t believe I’m a senior, and you’re moving away to California to Stanford.” The stars were just so pretty from this angle, looking up into the velvet sky.

“I know.” He turns on his side to face the blonde. “I’m missing you already.”

“Me too.” He admitted.

Their faces were barely an inch away from each other. It hurts to think that they would be a million times this distance apart when the semester kickstarts.

Their lips met tenderly, soon they were suckling on tongues and nipping on lips as they savoured.

“But don’t we always triumph when a crisis threatens to separate us?”

“That’s because we’re stuck in this crossroad; each turn we make is a whole new journey. In this roundabout we always end up coming back to the place where our lives have long since been intertwined, mapped out in intersecting lanes.”

"Min... basically you mean that we're stuck for life, right?"

"Not physically, yet." A grin played on his lips.

The night was still young, cool breeze ravaged their sweaty, booze-infused bodies.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: How's that for my virgin smut? @__@ I hope no ones's grossed out by it xD Sorry for the lack of update cos I had a major writer's block :| Baah.
♥♥♥
So...This is the end of this fic!
I LOVE YOU ALL MY DEAR READERS, BE IT COMMENTERS OR NONCOMMENTERS YOU GUYS ROCKS MY WORLD ALL THE SAME *sends flying hugs and kisses*
♥ THANKYOU!

crossroads+ chapter four

2008-06-21T18:24:46Z

Crossroads+

Pairings: JaeMin (main) , HoSu (major), JaeChun (minor)
Author: zhyune or iceamethyst

Genre: High School, Romance, Yaoi, Part-angst

Rating: NC 16

Chapter: 4/6

Summary: Crossroads – an intersection; a roundabout; a turning point; a defining moment; a crisis; a moment of truth.
A/N: Happy birthday mrsedjack dearest jennybuns! This chapter is dedicated to you, because I'm late in posting that birthday fic of yours. Mianhae~ ^^ Enjoy!

Chapter Four

Adrenaline coursed through his veins.

The stadium was packed with people, cameras and banners, with the largest one screaming ‘SHIM CHANGMIN FOR THE GOLD!’

Even that could not beat Yoochun’s sense of satisfaction. His plan had worked right from the start— the attack on Jaejoong in the alley had garnered Jaejoong’s trust; the night at the pub was a small bonus courtesy of his uncle; last night’s kiss was the highlight, the pinnacle of his plans…

“Jaejoong!” He called out to the blonde-haired boy shuffling by in front of him.

He whips his head around expectantly, but sighs when he sees it’s only Yoochun. He acknowledges with a forced smile.

The twinge of regret that Yoochun felt at the sight of Jaejoong’s crestfallen face faded as soon as he spotted the large championship trophy that sat upon the Prize Table. Wrapping a possessive arm around the dazed blonde, they made their way to the spectator stands.

Changmin’s biggest downfall would be Jaejoong, Yoochun thought. Witnessing last night’s scene must have dealt a huge blow to his confidence; he would lose the race for sure.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The ache in his back had worsened since piggybacking his drunk boyfriend.

Drunk ex-boyfriend.

“Are you feeling better, hyung?” Junsu kneaded his fingers into his brother’s taut muscles. Changmin had stormed home last night in frenzy, ate dinner in silence and locked himself in the bedroom till morning.

“I’m fine, don’t worry Su.” He pinched his brother’s nose lightly, smiling in reassurance.

“Where’s Jaejoong-hyung?”

Junsu’s words brought back the flood of images. Yoochun kissing Jaejoong. Jaejoong kissing Yoochun. Right where they were supposed to meet. So that was what Jaejoong wanted to show me. He reached into the pockets of his trackpants, feeling for the balled-up note Jaejoong had left in the gym room that morning.

Things weren’t what they seemed .Please believe me. I’ll explain everything to you after the race. Please do your best and I have faith you’ll win the championship! XOXO Jaejoong.

The competitors had lined up and there was still no sign of Jaejoong. Scanning the stadium, he doubled over at the sudden stab of pain in his chest.

In a distance, Yoochun and a familiar blonde-head were strolling towards the starting line, deep in conversation. The former had his arm draped like a rope around Jaejoong.

All at once, the sight of them became extremely revolting. Averting their gaze, he continued with his warm-ups.

“Still reckon you’ll win the race?” Yoochun caught up, stretching in the lane beside him. Jaejoong had retreated to the spectator stands.

“Clearly.”

“Your timing sucked for the past week.”

“My suckiest timing still owns yours.”

“Jaejoong must be waiting at the bleachers for me now, waiting to see how I beat you.” He smirked.

The pang that grew in Changmin’s heart seemed to weigh him down.

“Competitors, in your lanes please.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“On your mark...”

Jaejoong held his breath as he leaned dangerously over the railings near the starting line.

“Whuht…?” He cursed as rough and unfriendly hands pulled him back from his spot. Whirling around, he came face to face with five surly, unfamiliar faces.

A girl he recognized as Yunho’s ex-girlfriend stood with her arms akimbo, with four burly guys at her side. Tiffany stood glaring at him with her hands on her skinny hips.

“Get on your feet Kim Junsu.”

“Junsu? No I’m Kim Jae—

Large hands were already on his collar, choking him as they dragged him off the bleachers. To his disadvantage, the uproarious crowd drowned out his struggle.

“Fuck, ger’off me!”

He kicked, recoiled, punched, only to be thrown over the shoulders of a beefy senior who was built like a wrestler.

“I’m not Kim Juns…” But he paused, not wanting them to locate the real Junsu. Fuck, what do they want with Changmin’s brother?

“Where the hell are you taking me?”

“Shut up.” Tiffany strutted alongside.

From the volume of the cheering crowd, the race must have ended. When the Great Hulk released his grip he slid off and fell onto his butt in the middle of a row of parking lots. As he struggled to get back to his feet, the squeak of his sneakers against the road was the only sound that filled the car park until…

“What the hell do you want with Yunho, you male whore!” Tiffany growled with a piercing glare.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gunshot. The runners sprang forward.

Thunderous cheering erupted in the stadium.

“Now Shim is in the lead…And Park is right beside him!” The commentator’s voice boomed. “Park…Shim…Park…Shim…”

“Hyung, fighting!” Junsu screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Oh! Last 20 metres. 10 metres…And the champion is….”

Shouts and shrieks filled the stadium.

“…Shim Changmin!”

A general commotion erupted up front as the winner was announced. Instead of heading back, the athletes had congregated into a cluster, apparently surrounding something on the floor. The crowd broke apart as several male nurses rushed onto the scene, hurriedly mounting a limp body onto the stretcher.

In the bleachers, Junsu tugged anxiously at Yunho’s sleeves crying out. “It’s hyung! Changmin-hyung!”
They made it to the exit just medics lifted the stretcher onto the ambulance.

A stunned Yoochun stood holding the door, his shirt stained with traces of blood.

“What happened?!” Yunho cried out, taking Yoochun by his shoulders.

“Yunho-sunbae! I…I turned around, wanting to say something mean to him…he began coughing and panting so hard…there was blood in his hands and on his shirt. His eyes rolled back, I had to grab him before he hit the floor…his body had gone clammy and cold…” He closed his glazed eyes and dropped his face into his palms.

Yunho huddled Yoochun briefly before clambering after Junsu onto the ambulance.
They watched a pale and unconscious Changmin upon the stretcher, an IV drip feeding liquid into his veins. The heartbeat monitor was fluctuating insanely. Not a good sign.

The younger blonde sniffled and bit his lips anxiously as he held the cold pair of hands, rubbing warmth into his brother’s stiff fingers.

“Hyung!” Junsu exclaimed when his brother’s eyes fluttered open.

“I…is Jae here?” Changmin muttered.

“He wasn’t with us…and we saw you fall only because we were at the special up-close seats.” Yunho laid a reassuring grip on the semi-conscious boy. “Do you want him to come along?”

“No! Don’t…don’t let him know. Please.”

When Yunho nodded, Changmin closed his eyes, and felt for the same balled-up note from Jaejoong. I believe you, no matter what.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The surgery lights blinked on.

Outside, Junsu was crying silently at a corner of the room. The only family he had left in the world now lay unconscious upon the operating table. Hyung, you cannot leave me all alone. You cannot die like Mom and Dad. Refusing to allow anyone else to touch him, he hugged his knees, rocking back and forth, mumbling to himself.

Yunho stood at a distance from Junsu, longing to pick up the smaller boy, to whisper in his ears that everything was going to be alright; to kiss all his troubles away. Instead, he was helplessly watching the younger boy.

Finally, he kneeled quietly before the hunched and shivering body. He raised one gentle hand to wipe the tears that streaked past the latter’s cheeks. Yunho brought the blonde-head to his chest, allowing his tears to stain his shirt. It was then that Junsu began whimpering and making mournful sounds which amplified to painful and grieved howls.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A plump, friendly surgeon undid his labcoat and removed his face mask. Yunho was the first to spring onto his feet to stop the doctor.

“How’s he?”

“The patient is resting, we’ve managed to stop the internal bleeding and he’s in recovery state.” The doctor whose nametag identified him as Dr Kang Ho Dong, continued, “However, it is prudent for him to undergo the surgery that he’s put off for so long.”

“Surgery? What’s wrong with Changmin?” Yunho questioned.

“You people are his friends…right?”

“I’m his brother!”

“Ah yes,” a hint of recognition flitted into Dr Kang’s amiable face. “Then you should know about his condition?” Dr Kang searched the lost faces of the boys.

When he detected confusion, he continued.“You are…”

“I’m Junsu,”

“Of course, Kim Junsu. Approximately 5 to 6 years ago, in that car accident that the patient was involved in, he had broken 2 ribs.”

Junsu nodded gravely, “Dr Kang…yes I remember the car accident.”

“Exactly.” Dr Kang spoke slowly, “The accident resulted in a trauma to the patient’s heart muscles, a condition we call delayed dissection of the aorta. There were no immediate effects then, until another sharp impact must have torn the aorta muscles recently, or at least strained it so bad that it’s ruptured, causing internal bleeding.”

“But he hasn’t met with another accident or hit anywhere—

“He fell off the podium and hit his chest on the edges.”Yunho replied. Courtesy of Park Yoochun.

“I saw the bruise. Dr Kang did the fall really result in the rupturing?” Junsu beseeched anxiously.

“Highly possible. His ribs were badly bruised and patient had shown symptoms such as shortness of breath…”

“Back pain?”

“Yes Junsu, back aches.”

“So what now, Doctor? How can he be cured?”

“The best bet is a surgery to fix the aorta, which involves grafting of tissues.”

Junsu bit his lips nervously.

“What are the odds?” Yunho asked as he soothingly squeezed the younger boy’s hand.

“Like all surgeries there are risks involved. If he’d agreed to this surgery before, it would have been a 75% success rate.

However, with this much delay and further tearing, a 25% now stands. If that surgery fails, a heart transplant is pertinent.

But to be honest, the surgery is the best and often the only cure. A suitable and compatible heart donor is so rare that 1 in 7 survive the heart transplant if they ever get to have one.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Please don't brick me! I'm not intending to kill Min off in that horrrible manner.
And NOOO I don't hate Tiffany, she's not the bitch I made her out to be. I just wanted a girl with a jealous streak as Yunho's girlfriend and the only female I could link to Yunho was Tiffany (yes I blamed the Haptic CF) :DD
This chapter isn't all that cheery I guess X|
As always, comments are loved!
:DDD

Sharing some icons I nicked and creditted XD
Because I've run out of icon space and have no where else to pimp these lovely icons? XDD

pakpak

aurorasol

tinseltown16

crossroads+ chapters two and three

2008-06-01T16:37:07Z

Crossroads+

Genre: High School, Romance, Yaoi, Angst
Author: zhyune or iceamethyst
Pairings: JaeMin (main) , HoSu (major), JaeChun (minor)
Rating: PG 13
Chapter: 2/6 ; 3/6
Summary: Crossroads – an intersection; a roundabout; a turning point; a defining moment; a crisis; a moment of truth.

Chapter Two

“Breakfast, Changmin!”

He awoke with an odd sensation of pain in his lower back and chest. He shrugged it off, messaging his own shoulders as he dressed for school.

In the kitchen, his brother beckoned with a ladle in his hand. Junsu was ten months younger than him, born in December, but they studied in the same academic year. Truthfully, age did matter in terms of brightness for Changmin was brilliant while Junsu…let’s just say he is more artistically-inclined.

“Good morning,” he greeted, wincing as sharp pain seared his back.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just a muscle ache.”

“I’ll massage you later. Scrambled eggs and toast?” Junsu dished out the servings onto a platter, before untying his red flowery apron to join Changmin.

Grabbing both their sling-bags, Changmin strode to his motorbike to start up the engine while Junsu scrambled to turn off the gas stove and ensure that their small apartment was clean before bouncing out to clamp the helmet onto his own blonde head.

“Wait,” he reached over to adjust Changmin’s prefect tie, his tongue peeking out at the side of his mouth as he concentrated on the task. The eldest could not help smiling at the cutesy gesture.

“There!” Then, swinging his legs over the seat, he bounced up and down. “Off we go!”

Laughing, Changmin revved the engine to life, picking up speed as they careened down the highway to school.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Well, I must remind you all that we must act in the best interest of the team,” the senior track captain, Jung Yunho, reasoned, “Which some of you have seemed to forget prior to personal goals.”

Several heads nodded, including Changmin. Yunho’s eyes were set upon Yoochun’s, who glared back in nonchalance.

“Now, individual events to discuss strategies. Yoochun, I wish to speak to you.”

They dispersed into smaller groups. Jaejoong followed the long jumpers, while Changmin joined the sprinters.

“Yoochun, you do understand this whole team thing don’t you?”

“I’m not stupid,” he sneered.

“You’ve been really competitive which to some extent helps promote hard work and improvement. But it hinders bonding, you realize?”

He was referring to how he’d deliberately knocked Changmin off the podium the day before.

“Well if people can’t handle the pressure of being beaten, they’re not cut out for this.”

“You’re new,” to which Yoochun responded with a scowl, “and this may be how you were back in America. But here, we’re all amiable team players, all right?”

They stared long and hard into each others’ eyes, none refusing to back down or to break the gaze.

“Maybe,” he finally said.

Yunho rejoined the sprinter’s discussion, taking a seat beside Changmin who was captain of the sprinters.

Whatever. Turning on his heels, Yoochun left the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“HYUNG! I’M CAPTAIN! I’M CAPTAIN!”

Someone flounced into his path, nearly causing him to spill his lunch tray.

“Woah easy there, Junsu.”

“Hyung, they made me captain of the soccer team!” Junsu beamed and hugged his brother who returned with a fierce embrace of his own. He knew how hard his younger brother had worked for this position and was extremely proud of him.

“Yeah! Congratulations!”

“Congratulations!”

Out of nowhere, a third voice cut in, with equal joy in his tone.

“Seon-bae!” Junsu broke away to face Yunho.

“You’ve worked hard to deserve this,” the senior smiled.

Laughing, Changmin watched his younger brother blush and fumble for a reply. Then without a word, he slipped away to join Jaejoong at a nearby table.

“Junsu’s appointed soccer captain.”

“Wow,” Jaejoong fed a mouthful of fish fillet to Changmin, laughing. “He looks uneasy though.”

“That’s because of Yunho,” he glanced towards his best friend cum track captain, “Junsu’s still got that crush on him.”

“But Yunho…he’s got a girlfriend doesn’t he?”

“Tiffany.” Then lowering his voice, he added, “Things haven’t been going well though.”

He went into details regarding Tiffany’s latest accusation, that Yunho loved track more than he did Tiffany.

“…and then she said, ‘It’s track or me, choose’. How the hell is he going to reply?”

“Tough one,” he fed another mouthful of fillet into Changmin’s mouth.

“Wait a moment, be right back.” Changmin got up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a loud screech before dashing away from the table.

Clutching his stomach, he ran. At the nearest bathroom, he retched into the basin. The food was alright, except the pain in his chest was so sudden he just had to throw up.

“Not so smug anymore, are we?” He looked up into the mirror to see Yoochun appearing from a cubicle behind him. Changmin held back an angry retort and merely clutched the side of the basin. For the team, the team.

“You look terrible. Oh dear, and with 100m finals in a week’s time.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure I’m there to break the record, my own record.” He retorted, not hastening to remind Yoochun that he had won the previous year.

That seemed to wipe the smirk off Yoochun’s face. Changmin returned to the cafeteria to finish his lunch in Jaejoong’s company.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With two more days to the final race, Changmin was in a bad state. Frustration was getting to him, having flunked timing after timing.

“I’m fine,” he’d said to Jaejoong’s face when the latter had suggested a break.

“But you’ve been training for the last 5 hours! Plus I want to talk, please?”

“I just need to hit the timing okay? I’ll call you later.”

He’d been pushing Jaejoong away for the entire week. Unhappy, Jaejoong turned against his undiscerning boyfriend to storm away. If he’s going to stay like that, fine.

Clad in faded jeans and sleeveless jersey, Jaejoong entered a downtown pub to the west of the high school, and settled himself upon an isolated high-backed chair at the counter. Needing to clear his head, he plonked sufficient money upon the counter. Without bothering to address the bartender, he waved a hand absentmindedly. “Cocktail.”

The bartender shuffled away hurriedly.

His drink arrived promptly and he downed it all in 2 big gulps.

“More, please.”

“He’s at the pub, downing whiskeys like water.”

Yoochun meandered his way through the crowd on the dance floor whom were gyrating their hips to the rhythm of music blasting through the speakers.

Scanning the scene, he found his uncle who stood at the bar-top counter mixing yet another cocktail. Then his eyes located the precise spot where Jaejoong sat slouched in a high-backed stool, fingers lightly tracing the circular tip of a mug containing bright blue alcohol. Deep Lagoon Whiskey, he knew upon looking.

The mug barely grazed Jaejoong’s lips as a hand rounded his wrists, bringing the mug firmly down. Groggily, he tilted his head to see Yoochun

“Hi!” Jaejoong waved enthusiastically, flashing a wide, unnatural grin.

“This is enough, don’t you think? I’m taking you home.”

“Home? NO! I want more whiskey. WHISKEY PLEASE!” He snapped impatiently.

Jaejoong’s eyes met the bartender’s, and narrowed as recognition penetrated his drunken mind.

“YOU!” He stood up, knocking the stool over, his finger pointing into the bartender’s face. “You were the bastard who attacked me in the alley a week ago!”

Yoochun’s uncle set down the mug he’d been holding. “Sir, you’re very drunk.”

“I’m NOT drunk and I can fucking recognize your greasy face and fingers from a mile away. You grabbed my crotch dammit!”

His arms were now held down by Yoochun, who forced him back on his seat. “Jaejoong, listen, you’re imagining things. Remember who helped you to defeat that attacker? Me. And I can guarantee this man is not the guy I whacked unconscious.” He sneaked a glance at his uncle, who backed away.

Confused, Jaejoong stared after Yoochun’s uncle. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Then…can I have more cocktail?”

“No, I’m taking you home.”

Unsteadily getting to his feet, Jaejoong leaned heavily against Yoochun as they staggered out of the pub into the streets. Unbeknownst to the drunken boy, Yoochun had thrown a backward glance at his uncle, mouthing a word of thanks.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The night breeze caressed his cheeks as he jogged down the pavement from his home. Certain that an evening jog would loosen his muscles and alleviate his back ache, Changmin slowed down as he turned into a curve that led to familiar crossroads. Without thinking, he was headed for Jaejoong’s residence. Recalling how he’d stormed away from him that morning, Changmin knew not how to appease his boyfriend.

Two closely huddled shadows were approaching from the distance. As he prepared to make way for them in the narrow lane, a sharp pain pierced his heart upon realizing who those figures belonged to.

He sprinted forward just as Jaejoong stumbled and fell from Yoochun’s arms. Changmin caught him, allowing his weight to rest upon his chest.

“What the hell happened?” He shook Jaejoong who was now blabbering in a state of drunkenness.

“Darling!” He threw both arms around his boyfriend’s neck, giggling.

“Drunk, can’t you see? I’m taking him home.” Yoochun tugged an arm away from Changmin.

“I’m his boyfriend. I’m taking him.” Changmin loped the tiny waist, gently bringing Jaejoong over to his side.

“Boyfriend?” Yoochun spat, “You still have the cheek to call yourself his boyfriend. He’s in this state because of how you’ve been treating him all week!”

“I know that, and he understands too.”

“But do you understand how much he needs you?”

“Of course. I know he can be needy sometimes when…”

“Needy? That’s how you see him don’t you? Needy. Do you know what has been happening to him all week? He’s been so desperate to talk then he’d cornered me 4 days ago, crying…”

“Crying?” He did remember Jaejoong looking sullen some days ago, but he’d attributed that to Changmin’s lack of commitment to him.

“His father suffered a heart attack, was in a grave condition. He really needed you.”

“M’Tired…go home?” Jaejoong murmured beside him, rubbing his eyes restlessly before crouching to a squat..

Changmin crouched, guided Jaejoong onto a piggyback. With his thighs curled comfortably on the taller boy’s hips, Jaejoong buried his face into his boyfriend’s neck and giggled slightly.

Jaejoong was instantly asleep on his back. He turned his rear to Yoochun and strode away.

“You don’t deserve him.” Yoochun muttered angrily, inaudible to the couple disappearing down the path.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter Three

You were lying when you said my banner’s tattooed across your chest. Do eat the casseroles I’ve made!
Seeya in school!
-Love, Changmin.

Laughing, he placed the note into his pocket, yet unfolding it again to reread the short yet sweet message that his boyfriend had written.

Although hangover threatened to rip his head apart, the honey-ginger tea brewed by the hands of Changmin was the best and only effective remedy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Beep beeeeep.

Junsu flounced to his doorstep, and then stopped dead in his tracks.

“Good morning! And hurry or we’ll both be late for school.” Yunho grinned, waving a blue helmet in his direction.

Oh. My. Goodness.

With his heart threatening to dance right out of his throat, he mumbled “Where’s my hyung…?”

“He’s left for training early. Come on!”

Junsu tried not to appear too eager when he climbed into the backseat of his senior’s motorbike.

Yunho grabbed Junsu’s arms and placed them around his own waist. “Hold on tight! I won’t turn round to collect you if you happen to fly off.”

The hard, taut waist proved impossible to let go off. Like sand to wet feet, he clung on tightly as they zoomed onto the highway. Closing his eyes, Junsu leaned in to lay his head upon Yunho’s back, enjoying the intimate body contact. Mine, all mine.

He wanted this moment to last forever.

They swerved into the entrance of school, passing by hordes of students who were entering through the gates. Yunho had sounded the horn and waved at several of his senior class friends.

“Thank you so much, seon-bae.”

“You’re very welcome.” The taller boy shook out his dark-brown hair as he removed the helmet. “Be back here at 3 o’clock in the afternoon alright?”

“A…af…afternoon?”

“I’m sending you home. See you!”

That left Junsu gaping, open-mouthed, at Yunho’s broad retreating figure. Then a silly grin spread across his face.

“HOORAY!” Pumping both fists into the air, Junsu ignored the curious stares of several passing students.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adjusting his shoulder duffel, he did not receive the usual cheerful greetings of the female population in his class.

He soon discovered why. His girlfriend Tiffany sat with folded arms behind his desk, an all-too-familiar scowl on her face.

When he approached, several classmates backed away, giving Yunho an almost pitiable expression.

The chair screeched as its occupant stood abruptly.

“That blonde-haired bitch. Who is she?”

“What blonde-haired—“ Junsu. Of course, she’d mistaken Junsu for a female.

“Tiffie…” Yunho took a step towards her, but her outstretched palm kept him at a distance.

“Explain. Who Is She?”

“That was Junsu, Changmin’s younger brother! I promised Changmin to drive him to school this morning.”

“I don’t believe you. That whoever, was clinging on to you like some…whore! Don’t lie to my face; a guy would never hang on so tightly to another guy.”

Agreeing with her last point, though, Yunho fumed at Tiffany’s accusations.

“Junsu is not a whore. I must have been speeding too fast and that’s why he clung on to me so tightly.”

“Liar!”

“If you need evidence, why don’t you come with me and we’ll talk to Junsu about this?”

In that instant, he changed his mind. He couldn’t let Tiffany’s unreasonable behavior affect Junsu.

“No, no. Forget it. Forget all these. I’ve had enough of you;” he fixated his gaze upon Tiffany.”Get out of my seat.”

Tiffany refused to budge. She challenged Yunho with her glare.

“Get out.”

“Not until you apologize.”

“Apologize? For sending my best friend’s brother to school?” Yunho questioned incredulously.

“For shouting at me! This is the first time you’ve ever raised your voice at me, Yunho.”

He was tired of tolerating and giving in to Tiffany.

“For the third time, and you know I’m being serious when I repeat my words thrice Tiffany. Get out of my seat and leave me alone.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

Yunho had never been able to withstand a woman’s tears but he did not seem to care at the moment.

“Jung Yunho.” Tiffany’s voice quivered angrily.

He nodded solemnly, knowing that the familiar threats were about to be thrown his way and he knew exactly what he would have to say this time.

“Let’s break up.”

Yunho nodded again, “Well then, Tiffany, that saves me the trouble of initiating.”

No longer in the mood to sit down and bear the questioning stares of his classmates, Yunho threw his bag beside his desk and spun on his heels to leave.

He heard a loud crash behind him, guessing that Tiffany might have just broken a chair, or even a table, and was just thankful that it wasn’t one of his limbs that his ex-girlfriend had busted.

Walking aimlessly about, Yunho was surprised when he found himself stopping at a junior classroom. He peered into it, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of Junsu reading a comic book with an easy smile on his face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Panting, he stopped to wave at Jaejoong, who sat in the bleachers waving back. A nasty taste crept into Changmin’s mouth as Yoochun glided into the empty seat adjacent to him. They were now engaged in a conversation which Changmin could not hear. Refusing to be distracted, he turned back to focus on his timing.

At the end of his training, however, Jaejoong was gone.

“He says he has something to show you and to meet him at 7:30 pm tonight, at the usual place at the crossroads.”

“Where’s he gone to?”

“He didn’t mention,” Yoochun lied. Jaejoong had specifically gone to visit his father at the hospital, leaving in a hurry with a message to meet Changmin at 5:30.

“Okay.” Changmin turned his back on him.

“Oh! And he says not to be late.” That part, only, was true.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With his father on the road to full recovery, Jaejoong bounded from the bus with a spring in his step to the intersecting roads where they usually met, eager to share the happy news with his boyfriend.

After an hour, Jaejoong’s patience was running thin, despite knowing Changmin might have been delayed by training. He paced the intersecting roads, watching the evening streetlights flicker to life.

At 7, Yoochun appeared round the bend, appearing shocked that he was alone.

“Weren’t you meeting Changmin?”

“You did tell him the message, didn’t you?” Jaejoong responded dejectedly.

“Of course I did. 5:30, important, to meet you at your usual crossroads, no?”

Jaejoong sighed. “Then he must have forgotten.”

Yoochun stroked the shorter boy’s arms reassuringly. “Probably just too caught up in training. You know how important racing is to him.”

“I know,” he nodded, “he badly wants that scholarship to Japan.”

“Well I think he should give up on that scholarship.”

Jaejoong gaped, slightly annoyed.

“Don’t get me wrong, but Changmin shouldn’t be leaving his brother alone in Korea while he happily troops off to Japan. Plus, he isn’t all that good.”

“He’s the best!” He pulled away from Yoochun’s touch.

“Don’t you realize how much cold shoulder he’s been showing you, for the important race tomorrow?”

“It’s really important to him.”

“And to him you’re not? To him, racing takes priority over the ones he loves, and he’s willing to overlook the sadness or grief of his own boyfriend?”

“He didn’t know my father had a heart attack.” Jaejoong was trying harder at convincing his own deluded heart.

“Perhaps he chose to ignore. He didn’t even notice that something was wrong with you. While I did.” He’d moved closer to Jaejoong, running his fingers through Jaejoong’s blonde tresses.

“What are you doing?” The slighter boy backed away a step, pushing Yoochun’s hand away.

“Do you really think he loves you?” He taunted, curling Jaejoong's body around his own until they fitted together like complementary jigsaw pieces.

When he met with no resistance, Yoochun grew bolder in his desires. Cupping the back of Jaejoong’s neck, he tilted the other’s head back, basking in the pleasure of watching Jaejoong’s lips part and close repeatedly as if to search for retaliatory words, and failing to do so.

“I care for you, Jaejoong.” This came in low whispers, like a tingling breath upon the hairs on Jaejoong’s ears. “I love you.”

Lips upon lips, he felt the crushing weight of Yoochun’s mouth on his.

Time seemed to have stopped, the air around them stilled. He closed his eyes. The lips upon Jaejoong’s were now parting; a roaming tongue came through the threshold that was his own lips; wet, warm, greedy, alive.

Then a whirr of engines awakened his senses. A flash of red and black jersey zoomed past them on a familiar motorbike.

“Changmin!” He pushed Yoochun away, tasting blood as he bit on his own tongue, and dashed after the departing figure, knowing that it was too late.

Changmin had seen everything.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Thanks all for commenting on the first chapter! Combined 2 and 3 because they were the shorter chapters.
Comments are always loved!♥ *huggles*

Happy Birthday PARK YOOCHUN!:D
You'll always get my vote for having the sexiest collarbones and shouldersXD

Now for the JAEMIN!

Crossroads+

2008-05-29T11:13:19Z

Crossroads+

Genre: High School, Romance, Yaoi, Angst
Author: zhyune or iceamethyst
Pairings: JaeMin (main) , HoSu (major), JaeChun (minor)

Rating: PG 13

Chapters: Prologue; 1/6

Summary: Crossroads – an intersection; a roundabout; a turning point; a defining moment; a crisis; a moment of truth.

Prologue

The gunshot echoed, and was consumed within seconds by the thunderous cheering from the crowd. All eyes were trained upon the dark-blonde in the centermost lane. With utmost speed and swift, powerful strides, he easily claimed the first position in the running. As if born for this sport, his godsend legs drove him forward like propellers. Other competitors were thrown far behind as the stadium watched with bated breath, stunned by the admirable speed at which the long-legged frontrunner moved.

“Shim Changmin! Shim Changmin!” Chants from the largely female-populated fan club erupted from the grandstand as banners and flags were waved in his direction.

With fifty metres more to go, the winner had already been decided. Changmin crossed the line, chest-first, and the crowd went wild.

Somewhere in the crowd, a pair of slender fair hands contributed to the deafening applause.

Chapter One

“Shim Changmin! Shim Changmin!” A strident chant echoed throughout the stadium. Atop the platform, the Qualifier Gold Medal hung proudly from the tall athlete’s neck. Beside him, in the runner-up position, was his team-mate Park Yoochun. They posed for a victorious photograph for the League of Youth Athletes (LYA) magazine, brandishing their medals with wide open smiles.

The crowd of reporters made their way out. As Changmin stepped off the podium, he felt a heavy bump against the back of his shoulders. Losing his balance, he toppled, landing on all fours with the edge of the platform smacking into his ribs, knocking the wind out of him.

“I’m soo sorry,” an extended hand waved in Changmin’s face. Not wanting to lose his image of sportsmanship, he allowed himself to be helped to his feet by none other than Park Yoochun, whom he knew had deliberately knocked him off his feet.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Quickly withdrawing his hands, he brushed them off against his track pants, and rubbed the side of his ribs where the sharp edge had poked. There was a lump, presumably a fairly huge bruise, which hurt undoubtedly.

“Changmin!”

Jaejoong burst into the picture, paying no heed to Yoochun as he brushed past, “Did it hurt?” Leaning all over, he scrutinized the taller boy.

Pain dissipated instantly at the sight of the worried frown, his steadied post-race heartbeat picked up pace once more. Laughing, he opened his arms to welcome his other team-mate cum boyfriend Kim Jaejoong. “I’m all right, too excited over this medal, that’s all!” He threw Yoochun a look, who smirked back in return before turning to leave.

“I’m so happy for you. This is awesome, you winning the Qualifiers and being able to move on to the championships where you might even win the LYA scholarship!”

“Thank you my ever faithful supporter. Glad I won too, and clearly Yoochun wasn’t on his best form.”

“He’s spitting mad isn’t he?”

“Probably. All fair’s in love and track. Darling, where was the banner you promised me?”

“Arh…that…well…It’s tattooed across my chest.” Jaejoong twisted his upper body playfully.

“I don’t believe. Show me.” He made a move towards Jaejoong, tugging at his jersey till it came up to midriff.

“Hey!” Jaejoong slithered away, giggling, “Not now. When we’re away from this crowd, I’ll show you.” He tossed himself into Changmin’s chest and snuggled deeply, happily taking in the scent of the taller man.

Changmin ruffled his hair playfully, “now, now don’t lean too close. I stink, honestly.”

“I know,” he paused to inhale, “but I like it?”

“You’re gross,” Changmin laughed, taking Jaejoong by his shoulders, thrusting him forward lightly so he’s no longer inhaling the scent of his chest. “As a form of celebration, we’re going to the Amusement Park like I promised.”

“Really?!” Jaejoong’s eyes lit up. The other boy could not help chuckling as he nodded.

~*~*~*~*~*~

They settled for grilled burgers and cotton candy at the bustling carnival. Red-nosed and beer-bellied clowns lumbered all around while they navigated their way to the ferris wheel. Spun, shaken, twirled and zoomed until they both turned green, a slow walk along the carnival booths gave their overturned stomachs time to recover. Changmin hooked his arm around his boyfriend's waist and headed toward the shooting gallery.

Rows of stuffed animals piled onto the shelves before them. "Pick one!" Changmin insisted.

Jaejoong's eyes lit up. "I want...that elephant!"

It was 2-feet tall, grey with large pink ears. "Any special meaning?" He plunked down bills, chose his weapon and proceeded to watch rows of cheery-faced rabbits and ducks roll by.

"It's got big ears that look like yours." Jaejoong giggled.

Changmin sighted the airgun and fired. The rows and rows of wildlife died in droves. The booth attendant gaped in shock and misery at the record high amount of points that he'd chocked up.

"He wants that elephant." And then laughed when Jaejoong launched himself into his arms.

"Thank you! You're amazing!"

Since each word was punctuated with an eager kiss, Changmin decided to show off.

"Want that pink puppy to go along with it?"

"Man, you're killing me here..." the attendant muttered as Changmin pulled out another wad of notes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jaejoong waved till the bus vanished round the corner. Having just bid goodbye to Changmin, he shuffled along the pavement that led to home, licking his own upper lip. The pressure of Changmin’s lips still lingered. The candy-laden sweetness of his boyfriend’s breath left him gasping, longing to savor every last tinge of his touch while aching for more.

“ARGH—”

From nowhere, a greasy callused hand clamped over his mouth, muffling his screams for help as he felt another encircle his slender waist. The grey elephant slipped from his grip. Pulled back, he slammed into a clammy body with a sour odour of beer. Thick sweaty arms across his chest; the attacker, much to his disgust, was rubbing his groin into Jaejoong’s legs.

STOP! He tried to twist his way out but the grip was strong. He aimed a kick which landed in the attacker’s shin. He rather seemed to take pleasure in his victim’s struggle.

Clearly in a semi-drunken state, his attacker persisted, sliding his hands between Jaejoong’s legs, rubbing intensely against his crotch.

“You’ll enjoy this, goddess…”

PLONK.

Then his attacker mysteriously loosened his grip as he slid bonelessly into a heap at Jaejoong’s feet.

Wiping the taste of grease from his mouth, Jaejoong spat as he kicked the lifeless body, turning it over to scrutinize his face. “Fucking old bastard, you disgusting fucktard…” He punctuated each word with a powerful kick.

“If you’d whacked him this hard just now you might have saved yourself,” a low voice, adorned with hints of amusement, came from behind. He whirled around, fully expecting to see Changmin as his gallant knight in shining armour…

Only to be disappointed at the sight of Park Yoochun.

His expectant face fell; Yoochun detected this, for his smile faded as well.

“Expecting Changmin weren’t you?”

Jaejoong looked up at Yoochun and gave a small smile. “Thanks anyway.”

“He thought you were female.”

“I know, he called me goddess before you whacked him…”

Yoochun was still holding the weapon of assault – a metal lid of a rubbish bin – which he’d handily swiped from a nearby bin.

“…on the head with this saucer,” Yoochun completed his sentence, laughing, “I didn’t know what else to use.”

“Cool, my savior from the dumps. I’ll never look at a rubbish bin the same way again.”

“It’s dangerous to be alone, especially when you’ve got an ambiguous gender. Allow me to accompany you home, Jae.”

“It’s okay, really, my house’s just…”

But Yoochun had already draped his arms protectively across Jaejoong’s shoulders and was leading him towards the main street. Casually, he picked up the grey elephant that Jaejoong had dropped, and carried it for him. "Man, this thing is huge. Changmin is awesome isn't he."

Surprisingly, Yoochun knew exactly where he lived, lifting his arms from his shoulders just in front of his gate.

“Well I’ll see you in school then?” Yoochun attempted a friendly smile.

Jaejoong felt awkward; he’d never encountered a friendly Yoochun before. A permanent competitive scowl was always plastered upon his face, just like before, during and after a race. But then again, those were the times they’d met face to face.

“Yeah, see you,” he mustered a friendly wave before turning to enter his house.

Safely home and extremely curious, he peered out from a gap in his window curtains. Yoochun was still standing on his front porch, watching him long after he’d shut him out from view. When he finally took his leave, shuffling his feet along the pavement, he turned back thrice to gaze at the windows.

Did he spot me? Startled, Jaejoong let the curtains close, hurried upstairs and flung himself into bed.

Strangely, his heart pounded with ferocity when he recalled the touch of warmth from the arms around him. Yoochun’s arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: How did it go? Please tell me if it sucked, and I'll discontinue this right away to save my pride XD
This chapter is more Jaechun than any other, but I promise much more HoSu and JAEMIN in the future chapters!
Comments are loved. *huggles everyone* Thankyou!♥