- Welcome home.
Taemin was embraced softly by Woojin from his back as if he waited all day for him in front of his floor's door. He dropped his head lightly on top of the other's, a habit he couldn't break after he got used to Taemin's new adorable height.
He was squeezing him in a warm hug and heard the elder sigh.
- You were at the hospital again, weren't you?!
It was more of an affirmation than a question.
Taemin said nothing, not meeting the younger's eyes.
- I don't get why you gave to go there every day. Why'd you have to play family with them?
That wasn't the best choice of words.
Taemin threw an angry glare at his lover making him take his hands away and do a step back from him.
Woojin was silently watching all those days without saying anything, but he felt it - something was making Taemin anxious and what happened with Han Jiwook, or what the last told him, might have been the main reason for that.
Taemin fell on the sofa in visible exhaustion, closing his eyes, he had yet to tell Woojin about everything. He hesitated the last days using the need to visit the hospital and Han's residence as an excuse, to delay that talk as much as possible.
It seemed he couldn't do that anymore.
- He knows.
It was an abrupt statement, which had nothing to do with what Woojin said earlier.
- What do you mean-
- Han Jiwook knows who I am.
Woojin was dumbstruck for a moment yet he needed further clarification.
- What?
- Han Jiwook knows I'm Yoon Taemin. He knows that his brother ... is dead.
Woojin need a moment to gather his thoughts before that almost absurd posibility.
- ... How?
Taemin buried his face in his hands, his voice slowly rising.
- I don't know. Could be that meeting we had in the café and he noticed something, my phone he looked through, or that fucker of kidnapper who did that all to him!
They didn't talk about the circumstances of the assault after they found Han Jiwook, as if that was a minefield to enter for the both of them.
- They wanted Han Siwon-
- THEY WANTED ME! Yoon Taemin!... Because it wasn't Han Siwon that got close to you. It wasn't him that's in a secret relationship with you. It's me, and is goddam obvious why they targeted me.
Woojin barely surpressed an aching expression as the thought that the most precious person in this world for him could end in place of Han Jiwook teared his heart apart.
- Don't do that.
Taemin spoke commending, catching up with Woojin's thoughts.
- It's not because of you, that's that stalker's fault and even if I'd have been in Jiwook's place, I wouldn't end our-
- DON'T!...
Woojin trembled slightly, his mind replaying the most horrendous scene in his life, with the hurt and bleeding Han Jiwook, whom he saw as Taemin at that moment. He wouldn't forgive himself if that, not even a fraction of it, or anything would have happened to Taemin.
- ... Don't even say... it could be you.
Taemin's look softened at the younger's words, he knew Woojin have had nightmares about that and though he's a person that could hide very well what he was really feeling, at that moment Woojin was anxious and maybe affected much more than he tried to show it.
He reached to him and took Woojin's hand, squeezing it softly, his voice back to his resigned, but also a bit tired voice.
- Woojin, I'm sorry... but I can't deny this fact and ignore everything that happened... why it happened.
That was Taemin, the embodiment of righteousness and kindness, always caring for the ones around him, even for the ones that hurt him, anyone but himself. Woojin loved and hated that trait in him altogether as thanks to it Taemin as a child saved him, a no-one, a weirdo.
He gave him reason to live. He was his reason to live in that heartless, lonely world.
He was his everything.
Woojin brought the other's hand to his forehead and as if making a pray, he whispered.
- Please... don't leave me Taemin. I can't lose you one more time. I can't...
The memories of the Taemin's real body slowly dying in his hands, thinking he lost him forever, were crushing his heart. He could never forget it, even with Taemin right in front of his eyes, since something died inside of him at that moment.
Something he couldn't recover anymore, even though Taemin came back and saved him, once again.
Taemin pated the other gently and dropped a light kiss on his forehead.
- I promise, I will never leave you. Never.
He waited a bit for Woojin to gather himself, while the other found his comfort in hugging Taemin tightly, once again with his head seated on top of the elder's head, his own thoughts far off to a scene he didn't want to remember, but must.
- Jiwook, he... when he asked about his brother... I knew I have to tell him the truth, I couldn't do otherwise. He... called me by my real name and it made me realize, that I was an intruder. A thief... his eyes, there was a glimpse of hope as he asked me that question... and he was dying there, he wanted to see his brother or to believe his brother was alive, yet... I couldn't say it. He guessed it alone... Woojin, I took everything from Han Siwon, his family, his name, his life, I received everything and gave nothing back. I thought it was enough for me to do the revenge, but...
Taemin's voice trembled as tears started to fall.
- ... when I saw him, when Jiwook asked for forgiveness, when he helped me and was worried for me, no, for his brother, when he took the danger for his brother, for his brother to forgive him, I understood then, what a coward I am. Not only I lied to them, and because of those lies, Jiwook was about to die, slaughtered like that not for his brother's sake but mine and mine alone, I... how could I ever think I could ignore it all?! Woojin... I took it. His hope. I killed it and it felt...so so wrong. It wasn't my place to be there next to him. Just as his brother. "Siwon died alone" was the last thing I could read in Jiwook's eyes and I was scared. Scared so much... that he could die like that, right that moment, with that thought in mind.
Taemin's whole body quivered slightly as he hid his face in Woojin's chest, words shattered through tears and gasps, as everything copped inside his heart since that incident stormed out.
- Woojin, I thought I really died then. In that accident. And the most terrifying thing was thinking I was dying alone. That I lived my screwed-up life like that every day, only to end it so easily, worthlessly, like a joke, dying all alone... I was thinking of you in that moment. I think I made a wish to see you or something. I knew it was stupid, but I had it. Hope... yeah I hoped to see you again... and to think I took his hope and in the way I did, the time he needed it the most... Woojin, if someone told me you were gone at that moment, I, I... I would never want to wake up again.
Woojin tightened his embrace on the smaller trembling body in his arms, bewildered and wounded as if physically by Taemin's words. He could never have thought that the way Taemin went through the moment of his "death" was that...that dreadful...that painful.
- I have something I didn't tell you... before he lost consciousness, Jiwook gave me something and said to "be careful".
Woojin flinched as the words sunk in his mind.
- Did he tell you who it was? Do you know the instigator?
- No, but he gave me a lead.
Taemin went to his closet, where he kept his spare clothes and things, took something and came in front of Woojin, dropping a small object in his palm.
- It's a... cufflink?
Taemin nodded. The said cufflink made of silver with intricate design and seemingly of an exquisite handmade crafting was stained with dry blood, proof of what a high price did Han Jiwook pay to get it.
- Yes. I showed it to that person who helped us. He said it was a custom made item, most likely crafted by a foreign master on a private order, something like for a VVIP client. It will be difficult to find the person, whom it belongs and it will take time, but he will try. He said me to ask you if you met persons in the circle of your father's business, who would have the status and the financial resources for that... and most importantly who would have interest in you personally.
Woojin gave it a thought, his father made him attend many business meeting, open events, lavish parties, where he often stayed distanced and bored, not even looking at anyone, not to say listening to names. There could be anyone, up to hundred of persons. He really couldn't tell.
- I'm sorry. No one comes to mind. I'll look more into it.
Taemin nodded again and sighed. He took back the cufflink, his eyes lengering a bit longer on the dark red blood on it, which strangely couldn't cover the cold sharpness of the silver's shine.
That was unsettling.
- Joohee called me.
- That guy's sister right?
- Yes. She asked about Jiwook and... Joohoon, he's getting worse.
Woojin wanted to say something but stopped himself in time, recalling that he better than anyone would understand what Joohoon was feeling. He would never have guessed that that cold and cruel psychotic who trampled on humans like bugs, would care for someone... like that. Woojin didn't want to compare his with Joohoon's situation, yet he could see they were similar. Their feelings at least were similar, to an almost unhealthy extent.
- She hesitated to say more, but I guess he has depression of sorts. That day in the hospital he was strange as well... damn. I don't know.
Taemin ruffled his hair in apparent indignation and threw himself in the sofa one more time, a long heavy sigh followed.
- The police also called me. They identified the 3 assaulters, but they're illegally in Korea and it will take a long time to find them. Fuck!
Woojin turned to Taemin at those news, eyes wide in bewilderment, the elder surely did hide a lot from him.
- When was that? Why are you telling me only now?
- That was today... the other things, I... I'm sorry.
Woojin sighed.
- I can make another request, so we'll find them.
- Yes, I was going to ask you that and... I think we should tell Joohoon.
- If he's not... that stable right now, maybe not risk it?
- We can't. He has the right to know.
- What if he blows it up? Kill them and we lose the chance to find the real one behind it!
Woojin had his voice raised and proved his point, yes, he could relate to Joohoon and if he'd be in the other's place, he would do the same, but the risk was too high, it meant this time Taemin could be attacked or in an even worse danger than Han Jiwook. He had shivers down his spine.
- Even so it's not right.
Taemin stayed firm. He would give in always to Taemin's stubbornness but not this time.
- What if they try another "threat"?! I'm not agreeing with that.
- That's why I'm saying, better we work together to find them than let him alone and if anything goes wrong at least we'll be there to stop him.
- Don't make me laugh. You saw him, we're not able to stop him. No one is.
- We'll find a way. He. needs. to. know.
Taemin punctuated each word like it was a final verdict and no further argument was to be voiced.
- You heard it, he had a breakdown, is in depression and maybe there're even worse things you know nothing about. He doesn't care but I DO!
Taemin threw his fist on the table in a loud bump that sure should have hurt.
- SHUT UP! Don't throw your thoughts on others and let him decide for himself what he caries for.
Taemin was boiling with unexpected anger.
- And let's make things straight, not only us are after the one that ordered the kidnapping, Lee Joohoon is the same and, fuck, Han Jiwook has the right to know who fucking did that to him!
To that Woojin couldn't say anything more.
The outrage though now milder was still churning in the air between them even with both of them now gone quiet, and only the sudden doorbell that rang almost ominously at that moment stopped them surprised.
Taemin teared his glare away from a furrowing Woojin and went to open the door. What, better said whom he saw made him gasp.
- J-Joohoon...?