There was a flurry of activity on Saturday. Kyuhyun and Sungmin were leaving the house for the new safehouse on Sunday and there was a multitude of things that still needed to be finished. Yunho was certain that everything would be done on time but Jaejoong was frantic, rushing around and telling others not to panic. It was only when Yunho reminded him that they had Saturday and Sunday to finish packing did he calm down.
Yoochun and Junsu were beginning to uninstall the cameras and pack them away under the cover of night. Changmin and Minwoong were dismantling all the computer parts and putting them away in various boxes, putting the hard drives into one and the monitors into another.
Kyuhyun was packing various photographs, gifts and objects that reminded him of Sungmin or that were given to him from Sungmin. He didn’t want anyone else getting a hold of them and resolved to take all that he could fit into his suitcase.
“Kyuhyun,” Sungmin began as they sat together in the living room the night before the day of departure “do you think everything will go according to plan?”
“I can only hope that that will happen. But things like this don’t work out in the beginning and always work out in the end right?” Kyuhyun replied, running his fingers over the back of Sungmin’s hand.
“Usually they do. Do you think the gang will launch an attack against us?” Sungmin asked.
“Hopefully they won’t but it seems to be an unwanted probability,” Kyuhyun admitted.
“I’m worried.”
“Don’t be. You’ll be fine,” Kyuhyun moved closer to Sungmin and lay down so that his head was in Sungmin’s lap. The elder male smiled softly and gazed at Kyuhyun tenderly.
“It’s not me I’m worried for. It’s you. I don’t want you to be hurt, Kyu,” Sungmin murmured.
“Don’t worry for me. I have protection.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see if I ever have to use it,” Kyuhyun replied.
“Don’t do anything risky, okay? I want to be by your side forever,” Sungmin whispered. Kyuhyun turned his head to look up at Sungmin who was looking down at him. His eyes softened and he reached up and slipped his hand over the smaller one that was resting on his shoulder.
“I want to be beside you forever too. I love you, Sungmin,” Kyuhyun whispered gently. A pretty pink blush spread across Sungmin’s cheeks.
“I love you too, Kyuhyun. I hope everyone will be okay tomorrow,” Sungmin responded.
“They will be. Have you forgotten that they’re trained police?” Kyuhyun smiled. Sungmin pushed on Kyuhyun’s head lightly.
“I haven’t forgotten that, Kyu!” Sungmin laughed. “It just seems like they’re more friends than protectors.”
“They’re both. And they can take good care of themselves. I wish you wouldn’t worry so much.”
“I try not to.”
“And yet you still do.”
“I don’t like hurt. I have never liked it and I’ve hated it since what happened to me.”
“And yet you’d rather someone hurt you than anyone else.”
“I’ve gotten used to being hurt. Or at least at one point I was used to it. It was part of my life. Until a certain someone saved me from that,” A gentle smile broke out on Sungmin’s face.
“Do you still think about that?” Kyuhyun asked. Sungmin turned away. Kyuhyun sat up and looked at Sungmin head on. “It’s okay if you do. That’s natural.”
“It haunts my dream sometimes. I see Jiwon looking at me, following me and catching me. I see every detail and every line of his face. I remember everything.”
“Is that why you’re so scared of Youngsoo?” Kyuhyun asked.
“Yes. He looks too much like Jiwon for me to ever be comfortable around him. I also don’t like the aura he gives off. It’s cold and frightening.”
“Don’t think about it now, Minnie. I’m here,” Kyuhyun pressed a kiss to Sungmin’s forehead and then brought him into a gentle embrace.
“Be careful tomorrow evening, all right?” Sungmin whispered, his head tucked underneath Kyuhyun’s chin.
“I’ll be careful if you be careful. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more, Kyuhyun,” Sungmin replied, listening to Kyuhyun’s heartbeat.
~₴~≠~₴~≠~
Tensions were beginning to run high the next morning. Sungmin was looking nervously at the door as if he expected it to be broken down any moment by gang members and Kyuhyun was wondering how safe Sungmin would be going to the car (what if someone shot him? Kyuhyun was wondering). It was the day of the move and everyone was trying to get things moving that hadn’t already been sent ahead.
Changmin had discovered a keyboard that had been left behind and immediately tried to stuff it into his suitcase. Jaejoong was taking careful note of the distances between everything and was softly mumbling calculations underneath his breath. Yunho was patrolling the perimeter of the house, marking points where they might be attacked. Yoochun and Junsu were getting in a few hours sleep because they had been on the night shift and wanted to be alert for the move.
In fact, the only one who didn’t seem to be bothered by all of this was Minwoong. He was prancing around the house, smiling and laughing. Sungmin took a closer look and discovered that Minwoong was, in fact, scared. His voice was higher and his laughter was forced.
“Minwoong.”
“AHHH! Sungmin-hyung! You scared me!” Minwoong jumped and turned around, his hand over his heart.
“Sorry,” Sungmin apologized.
“It’s okay, hyung. What’s up?”
“I actually wanted to ask how you were doing,” Sungmin replied.
“Me? I’m fine,” Minwoong looked at Sungmin in confusion.
“I can tell that you’re scared. It’s not that obvious but I can tell. Why are you so afraid, Minwoong?”
Minwoong looked down at his hands, “I’m worried for Changmin-hyung.”
“Changmin? Why?” Sungmin was surprised.
“Despite the fact that we fight all the time, I really do care for him. I don’t want him to die,” Minwoong’s bottom lip trembled slightly. Sungmin hugged the younger male.
“Changmin won’t die. He’s strong,” Sungmin tried to reassure Minwoong.
“Hyung, he’s never fired a gun in his whole life. He’s held one, and he’s taken practice shots with those fake guns that we train with but he’s never fired a real gun in his whole life,” Minwoong replied. “If they have really good marksmen, he won’t stand a chance.”
“They won’t go for Changmin. It’s me they want. And they won’t harm him.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
~₴~≠~₴~≠~
It was dusk and the household was getting ready to move. Three cars had driven up to the front gates and they were waiting for the fourth and final one to come up. The impersonators were all there with them and ready to go.
Kyuhyun was standing close to Sungmin and the elder male was leaning gratefully against him. He entwined his hand with the younger man’s and squeezed gently.
“I love you, Kyuhyun.”
“I love you too, Sungmin. Are you saying your last words?” Kyuhyun tried to joke. Sungmin just leaned against him.
“No. I’m not saying my last words. Why would I waste them on you?” Sungmin teased back. Kyuhyun smiled and kissed the top of Sungmin’s head.
“In a few hours you will be safe,” Kyuhyun whispered.
“If we aren’t attacked,” Sungmin replied. Kyuhyun made no answer. He didn’t want to think about what might happen.
“Here’s the other car. Now all we need to wait for is the night to get a little darker and we should be set. Where’s the first set of Kyuhyun and Sungmin?” Jaejoong looked around. Two people who were the same height as the real Kyuhyun and Sungmin came forwards.
“We should wait a few more minutes, Joongie. It isn’t dark enough yet,” Yunho pointed towards the window. Jaejoong nodded. Kyuhyun held Sungmin close to him. Sungmin’s heart was pounding. All of his nerves were on end and he watched from the window as the cars were parked there beside the house.
“Okay, this is how it’s going to work. All Kyuhyuns and Sungmins are going to walk in a group towards the cars, carrying the suitcases. Yes, that includes the real Kyuhyun and Sungmin. You will walk to the cars and get into the back seats and then you will be driven to your destinations. We will guard all of you and Changmin and Minwoong will get into the car with the real Kyuhyun and Sungmin okay?
If we are attacked, don’t panic. You know what to do. Just calmly take out your guns and don’t shoot unless you are shot at. Kyuhyun and Sungmin, you don’t have guns so just stick near someone who does. We will get the eight of you into a car and then you will go. We’ll be following afterwards. All clear?” Jaejoong instructed.
“All clear,” the eight of them replied. Jaejoong nodded in satisfaction.
“It’s time, Joongie. It’s dark enough that they won’t be able to tell who anyone is but we can still see them,” Yunho pointed to the sun which had nearly sunk below the horizon. Jaejoong nodded.
“Okay everyone. Grab a suitcase and let’s go,” Jaejoong motioned for them to follow him. Sungmin picked up a suitcase. His heart was beating wildly. He looked at Kyuhyun and took a deep breath. They would be fine.
He followed after Jaejoong and Yunho who were leading the pack. Yoochun and Junsu were in the center and Minwoong and Changmin followed from behind. The fourteen of them walked at a quick, brisk pace that Jaejoong set. He obviously wanted to get this over with quickly.
Sungmin bit his lip. He felt nervous and watched. He turned to look at Kyuhyun who was staring at something in the distance. They got to the iron gates and filed through them. They were almost at the cars when it happened.
A gunshot was fired and Sungmin found himself with a mouthful of gravel as Kyuhyun pushed him down, out of harm’s way. The other Sungmins and Kyuhyuns were standing with their guns poised. It was dark enough now that they couldn’t see the faces of the others but they could see their outlines.
“Hold you fire and we’ll hold ours,” Jaejoong’s voice came from overhead. Sungmin looked up to see the normally calm man holding a gun and staring dangerously into the darkness. Kyuhyun’s breathing beside his ear told him that Kyuhyun was safe as well.
“What’s going on?” Sungmin whispered.
“The gang shot at us. Jaejoong is warning them to stay away. The response hasn’t come yet,” Kyuhyun replied. Almost directly after he finished speaking, there was another gunshot and Jaejoong whirled to the side while firing his own gun in the direction of the sound. Almost immediately, the air was alive with gunfire. Kyuhyun got on his hands and knees and motioned for Sungmin to do the same.
The two of them crawled to the cars. Surprisingly enough, there was no one shooting at them. Yunho, Changmin, Minwoong, Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu were keeping them busy enough. The body doubles were also slowly making their way towards the cars.
Kyuhyun reached up and opened the door. He made space for Sungmin to move into the car and then he followed after. A bullet tore through the glass of the side window and exited out the other window. Kyuhyun threw himself on top of Sungmin and brought him to the floor. The two lay there, uncertain of what was going on outside.
Another bullet smashed through the window and this time the glass shattered. Kyuhyun, who was lying on top of Sungmin, felt the glass shards cut into him but he didn’t make a sound. Sungmin felt him tense.
“What’s wrong, Kyuhyun-ah?” Sungmin asked.
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. It’s okay,” Kyuhyun replied, trying not to let the pain show. He moved his body (painfully) so he covered more of Sungmin. He wouldn’t let anyone harm the one he had pledged his life to.
The other Kyuhyuns and Sungmins had gotten into their respective cars and the six police officers had been shooting enough that the gang had focused all the attention on them. Now the only problem remained of getting themselves to the cars.
The police officers were hiding behind the garbage cans that had been put out for garbage collection. They were reloading their guns quickly. Yunho, from what he had seen, had noticed two gang members on his right side. Minwoong, who was all the way on the left, had seen three.
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do. First, the two-” Jaejoong got to say no more because gunshots rang out and bullets hit the trashcans, ricocheting off of the metal. Changmin was surprised when a bullet passed by his arm so close that it tore the fabric. Minwoong quickly pulled him out of harm’s way.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Minwoong hissed.
“Now isn’t the time to fight,” Jaejoong replied, trying to stop Minwoong and Changmin from fighting as well as hold off the other gang members. “You two need to go. Get into the car with the real Kyuhyun and Sungmin. They’re in the first one. Hurry!” A gunshot blew the top of the trashcan off and Jaejoong ducked.
“Come on, Changmin,” Minwoong tugged on the elder male’s arm. Changmin didn’t move.
“No, you need to go. You’re still young Minwoong. I need to stay here and stop them from going after you,” Changmin replied. Minwoong stared at him.
“That is the biggest piece of bullshit that I have ever heard, Shim Changmin! You’re the same age as me!”
“Minwoong, you are too young to be killed,” Changmin restated firmly. He locked eyes with Minwoong and didn’t back down.
“Changmin, you have never even fired a gun in your whole life! You haven’t even fired one now! You’re just holding it! You need to come with me. I don’t want you to be hurt here,” Minwoong made as if to stand up in anger but Changmin pulled him back down just in time. There was a gunshot as Minwoong’s head appeared over the tops of the trashcans but he vanished almost instantly as Changmin pulled him back down. There was a bang as a bullet hit the gates behind them.
“Do you see why you need to leave? You act on impulse and you could easily be killed!” Changmin glared at Minwoong who glared right back.
“We’re partners. Through thick and thin we stay by each other. We helped each other hack into databases, solve codes, crack cases. We’re a team, you and I and what is that team if we are split up? If you don’t go anywhere, Shim Changmin, neither do I,” Minwoong’s large, dark eyes stared intensely at Changmin. The elder male placed a hand on Minwoong’s shoulder and smiled slightly in the fading light of day.
“Minwoong, you mean a lot to me and that’s why I want you to go. I want you to be safe. If you care about me, then you will leave for me, okay?” Changmin whispered. Minwoong’s eyes opened wide.
“I hate to break up your discussion,” Jaejoong fired off another round of bullets, “but there has been a change of plans. I need you both to go. There are four cars and you two and Yoosu need to drive them all to their destinations. So you guys need to get going.”
“We can’t leave you and Yunho to fight by yourself!” Yoochun protested. He blocked some of the debris that was flying upwards because of the force of the bullets. Junsu fired off a shot and managed to break one of the guns of the gang.
“He’s right. You’re only two people. There are five of them,” Junsu replied, looking for more gang members.
“Don’t worry. We called in backup. Now you four get to the cars, we’ll keep them occupied. When you hear three quick gunshots, take off as fast as you c an,” Jaejoong instructed.
“Yes, umma,” the four police officers nodded. They began crawling towards the cars and split up and got into each one.
“Wait for a moment Jaejoong, we need to distract them,” Yunho murmured. Jaejoong took aim at a nearby lamp post and shot the light bulb so the glass scattered. There was a moment of yelling before things got quiet. There were three rapid gunshots and the fours cars sped off into the night.
Yunho and Jaejoong were the last two fighting. Jaejoong ducked from the assault. Where were the backup police? It didn’t take that long to drive over here. Yunho pointed his gun at another member and shot. The man moved just slightly so the bullet whizzed past his gun and didn’t break. There was a loud noise from the left of him and Yunho had barely enough time to react as his gun broke and pieces flew everywhere.
Sirens were heard in the distance and Yunho smiled in satisfaction. The rest of the force was coming. Jaejoong grinned at him and smiled. The arrival of more policemen, seemed to double the effort of the gang who seemed determined to harm at least one person.
There was a crash as a torrent of bullets his one of the trashcans and knocked it over, leaving Yunho exposed. Jaejoong turned his head and saw the danger that his lover was in. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the gang members take aim at Yunho with his gun. Jaejoong felt utter panic and fear rise up inside of him. Yunho was looking to the right of himself and not the left so he didn’t see that he was a target.
There was a gunshot and Jaejoong screamed. It was like an action movie. But the difference is that action movies show the glory, the power of gun warfare. But real life is different. There is nothing glorifying about gun fighting. There is only terror, fear, anger and desperation. That is the reality of life.
Yunho heard the sound and turned halfway around before something smashed into him and he was thrown violently to the side. Yunho hit the ground hard and the wind was knocked out of him. The sound of sirens came nearer. There was a squealing of car tires and then silence. Yunho raised his head and looked around.
He heard a wet cough and turned to look. Jaejoong was lying on his side. Yunho understood what happened. Jaejoong had thrown them both out of the way of a bullet that could have killed him. The force of his body had carried him farther than he had meant to go. Yunho got up tiredly and walked towards Jaejoong.
“Joongie, are you all right?” Yunho whispered, kneeling down beside his love. Jaejoong turned and Yunho thought his heart stopped. There was blood trickling from two different places. Jaejoong coughed again and a fresh flow of blood splattered onto the pavement. There was blood leaking from a hole in Jaejoong’s side.
“Yunnie….you’re all right,” Jaejoong smiled.
“Shh, don’t talk. We need to get you help,” Yunho breathed as he took off his coat and began to press the material firmly to his partner’s side. Jaejoong turned onto his back and reached around to his left side and stared at the blood on his fingertips.
“It’s no use. Not with the kind of bullet they’re using,” Jaejoong coughed, red staining his ivory skin. Yunho wiped away the red substance.
“What do you mean?” Yunho asked, his voice trembling.
“It’s a Talon. I felt it. And I feel it taking away my life,” Jaejoong whispered. Yunho narrowed his eyes.
“No. You aren’t going anywhere, Jaejoong. You can’t. Not yet,” Yunho wiped furiously at his eyes.
“Yunnie, I love you. Do you remember what we planned?” Jaejoong whispered. He could feel his life draining away. He was losing too much blood. He shifted slightly and pain erupted through his body. Jaejoong gasped and then realized that he was having trouble breathing.
“Jaejoong! What’s wrong?!” Yunho gasped. He held Jaejoong close to him as the man coughed and the sputter of trying to breathe past blood bubbling in his throat made tears form in Yunho’s eyes.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Jaejoong breathed rapidly. He could tell from the pain that the bullet inside of him had punctured his lung. Blood was slowly starting to fill the organ that allowed him to breathe. Jaejoong understood. His time was up. “Do you remember what we planned?” He asked again, wanting to hear Yunho say it.
“We….planned to get a child….raise him or her….tell the girl or boy our stories…..our memories…..and tell the child to make her own amazing story….” Yunho choked out. Why, why, why was Jaejoong making him repeat this? Maybe he was trying to hold on and the sound of a future was helping him to do so.
“And what were we going to call our child, girl or boy?” Jaejoong asked, his breathing getting more ragged by the second. It was so hard to breathe now. So very hard. With every word that Yunho said, he gave up another promise that he made.
“We…..were going to….” Yunho stammered. He didn’t like where this was going.
“What we going to call him or her?” Jaejoong rasped. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth.
“Jay….we were going to call him or her Jay,” Yunho replied. A tear leaked out of the corner of his eye. The sirens sounded very close.
“And what….does that….” Jaejoong couldn’t finish his sentence. He focused everything on breathing.
“Jaejoong…and Yunho,” tears fell from the younger man’s eyes. Jaejoong raised a hand tiredly and brushed the tears away. He felt oddly light.
“Promise me one last thing,” Jaejoong whispered, so quietly that Yunho had to strain to hear him.
“What is it?”
“Promise me that you’ll get that child. Give the child our name. Live a good life. Protect Sungmin and Kyuhyun and take care of our adopted ‘children’,” Jaejoong smiled.
“Jaejoong….that can only happen….with you there,” Yunho took Jaejoong’s hand in his.
“I’ll be there. But you might not be able to see me. I love you, Yunho, so very, very much,” Jaejoong smiled before he closed his eyes and his breathing became laboured.
“I love you too, Jaejoong. Please, don’t leave me,” Yunho begged. Jaejoong just smiled a very small smile. Yunho kissed his lover gently, wanting him to be calm.
As he pulled back, Jaejoong breathed once, very deeply and then his head lolled to the side and he became still.
Yunho felt tears fall and he made no move to stop them. He leaned forwards and brushed strands of dark hair out of Jaejoong’s face. The sirens were nearly where they were. Yunho kissed Jaejoong once more before he broke into soft sobs, crying for the life that was lost, the life that was stolen and the life that he shared with the man.
He held Jaejoong’s still warm body close to him and let his pain out, wanting Jaejoong to be back with him. The sirens sounded loudly and Yunho could see the lights flashing even though his eyes were closed.
He listened to the sounds of the screaming sirens and smiled bitterly. There was an ambulance there, he could tell with the different pitches in sound. But an ambulance was of no use now. Jaejoong had already passed into eternity.
~₴~≠~₴~≠~
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