Chapter Text
Now
Mingi sees the blade before feeling it. Instead of moving away from it, he lets his body approach it. He closes his eyes, he doesn’t care, he knows it’s fate, he doesn’t have a choice. The blade cut deeper inside him, he feels the pain, the fire exploding inside him. The scream caresses his lips, but only a groan escapes. A robust body grips his torso tightly, preventing him from falling to the ground. A smell dances around him, a familiar one, the one from his past, his lover. Mingi smiles. His eyes wants to close, fuck, he doesn’t want to die now, before seeing his beatiful eyes. Then, he sees it and Mingi feels he can freeze the moment forever.
“Yunho, even in your blade strokes, I can feel your love…” Mingi says in a murmur.
A hand caresses his face: “I am sorry Mingi…” Yunho says, his voice firm but with tears in the edge.
“Don’t be… I am happy it’s you…” Mingi says before closing his eyes to welcoming the peace of the darkness.
Before, ten years earlier
The music is loud, the crowd is chaotic and dense, the heat is high and Yunho dances like the end of the world is at his front door: without limits. He feels the bodies around him, against him, some caress his torso, his ass, he rubs himself against unfamiliar bodies. He doesn’t care, his shift is over, he doesn’t have to sell his body for the rest of the night. He is young, he wants all what life can give in, he wants to lose himself in the dark night, in the alcohol, in the music, against the strangers bodies. He smiles, he likes it, he forgets he is just a candy who whoever has money can buy, he just feels free. He sees Wooyoung who dance against San, as they are only one body, one soul. He thinks his friends are gorgeous. Yeosang is not on the dance floor, his shift is done for hours now, but he doesn’t want to dance. He danced enough for tonight: he is a showboy, the one who men and women pay for a very saucy show, and more for a private one. So, for now, Yeosang just wants to lose himself in the arms of his lovers and protectors, Jongho and Seongwha.
Jongho is the bodyguard of the cabaret where Yeosang works, Seonghwa is the bartender. Years earlier, Yunho, Yeosang and Wooyoung met down the street, they worked at the same perimeters. They were always together, protecting each other. Then one night, Yeosang had a bad client, he was beaten awfully and left for death. But, the world should never underestimate family, even more so if the family has chosen the members. Weeks later, a body was found in the dark and dirty alley. There were no clues about who did it, but the underground world knew. The warning was clear, nobody plays fool with the Hongjoong family. Yeosang stayed three weeks at the hospital. After his body healed, he never came back to the street. It’s not necessarily that he didn't want to, but the other members refuse to let him go. So, they concluded it was a better place for him to be at The Cabaret where he could be watched, cared for. Yeosang didn't mind it. He knows his friends see him as a porcelain doll, but he doesn’t care. He likes this attention. So tonight, he lets Seonghwa’s lips caress his skin, his face, and drinks his cheap alcohol greedily. Beside him, Jongho’s presence is steady, powerful, gorgeous. Yeosang rests his head on his shoulder and closes his eyes. He feels in peace, he feels love. Jongho kisses his forehead and murmurs: “I love you…”
Hongjoong enters the place. The music is loud, the crowd on the dance floor are insane and beautiful. He sees San and Wooyoung together, moving on the music in their own world, torsos naked, their movements are lascives. Hongjoong thinks they are fucking sexy. He smiles, he is proud of his family. He had a rough night, to be the leader of a young dynasty is not easy. They had nothing years ago, just their youth, their bodies and their insane willingness to be the masters of their lives. Now, in their early twenties, they prove they can be strong pieces in the chessboard of the underworld. They fight for their place, playing their own cards, refusing to deal with trafficking of women and children. They refused to deal with drugs too, but had no choice to continue to sell their bodies, even after being the owners of the Cabaret, a year ago. Now, just Wooyoung and Yunho continue to walk the streets, and he hates it. But, Hongjoong has a dream, that one day he will be able to stop them and keep them in his arms. He dreams about being a master of illegal trafficking of works of art and counterfeit. And when he wants something, he is like a dog with bones, he never lets it go. He sees Yunho nearby San and Wooyoung, dancing and smiling, drunkenly falling to others bodies around, letting them caress him without protest. Hongjoong loves every member of his chosen family, but sometimes he thinks Yunho is the most unpredictable and the more carefree. Yunho took advantage of the world too often before, burning his wings and reborning like the Phénix. He has a special place in his heart, as if he is always afraid something bad will happen to him. But, Hongjoong trusts him with his own life. He has to let him go, but will always have an eye, or two on him. He sighs, one day, he will be able to keep everyone safe. In the corner of his eyes, he sees the rest of his family. He walks toward them, smiles at the beautiful view of his lovers, and sits beside his right-hand man. He closes his eyes, he is home now. A strong hand caresses his neck, lips caress his mouth, and murmurs: “Welcome my love.” Hongjoong devours Seonghwa’s lips in response.
Mingi is late. Once a month, he has to refer to his rich father. The last months he only showed off twice. So, tonight he didn't have a choice. His father’s personal secretary himself showed up at the Cabaret to escort him at the rendez-vous. Mingi had no choice. He hates to be the son of his father, he doesn’t want to be part of this world. His father is the governor of the city. Mingi hates the man, he always had disdain for the way his father works, and the people around him. At eighteen Mingi ran away. He met his new family, Yunho, and made the promise to always protect them, to be at their side, at Yunho’s side. Three years later, he keeps his promise, he will never let them down. So now, he is back to where he belongs. He wants to forget the times he passed with his father, his disapproval stare, his concerns and his sermons. Mingi doesn’t care about him. He wants his real family, his lovers nearby and Yunho closer.
He searches for him on the dance floor, he knows his man will be there. When he finally finds him, Mingi feels a ball of fire exploding inside him. Yunho is so fucking sexy, free and raw, he thinks he could eat him in one bite. Mingi knows he spent the night in strangers arms, he doesn’t care. He could do whatever he wants, but at the end of the night, it’s in his arms he will be. Mingi crosses the crowd, grabs Yunho’s arm and holds him tightly, leaving only faceless shadows to the outside world. Between his lips, he smells alcohol in Yunho’s breath, he tastes his mouth and licks his teeth. Yunho laughs and squeezes his ass. Mingi presses itself against his crotch and murmurs at Yunho’s ear: “Mine…” “Always” Yunho’s replies, losing himself in the hold of his lover. Yunho closes his eyes, he feels safe now.
Hongjoong stares at the dance floor, he feels a relief travel through his body. He feels better when he knows where all his lovers are. He knew Mingi had to meet his father this evening, but he is always afraid he will never come back to them after. He doesn't know what to think about this, maybe it could be better that Mingi never met them three years ago, he did not belong to their world. But they all accepted him as a part of their family, and selfishly, Hongjoong doesn’t want to lose him. A caress on his face takes him out of his thoughts, “He is alright now, Mingi is with him. We are all here, safe and sound. You can relax my love” Seonghwa says, a beautiful smile on his face. Hongjoong thinks he is so gorgeous he could keep him close to his heart for eternity. Another body, warm and strong, holds him by the other side. Yeosang looks at him for a moment and kisses him softly. Then he murmurs to his ear: “Let us take care of you.” And Hongjoong lets the ones he loves being part of his world, of his peace. For the rest of the night, before the sun rises, he just wants to be a part of this so delicious and loved pack. He just wants to be a man, not a leader. The world outside can wait.
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