Chapter Text
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"How long are you going to just keep standing there?" Hongjoong jumped back, the presence behind him so startling he almost fell back into his arms. He spoke with subdued thunder, like he had so much stored in him that might release right back at Hongjoong.
"Oh of course I was just on my way out." He bowed so that the free strand of hair on his head not bound by the heavy product could almost touch his toes. The man in front of him scoffed, not pleased by his act of forgiveness, and lurched him forward by pressing the flat of his palm to his chest to face him again. His breath caught in his throat, shallowly gasping for some air to ground him back to reality. He had been caught off guard, surely Mingi wouldn't be too happy with his carelessness.
"Why do you act as if I have sentenced you to death? I only care about your health, I am not here to punish you." He turned, motioning for a gold statue, small and unsuspecting on a low shelf, perching next to the man's navy reading glasses. Hongjoong followed his finger to it, the figure molded into some sort of bird of prey, talons flexed and ready to claw life to its end. "I found an interested buyer, I think we could make some good money if we had a good salesman." He sighed, walking over to grab it and hand it to Hongjoong, and he carefully received it, cradling it in his hands.
"I can't." Hongjoong stroked the intricately carved feathers in the gold, catching the reflection of his eye in the shined metal. He noticed it came from a family of different kinds of birds, gold, silver, and bronze on the shelf. He wondered where they came from, why now his friend would consider selling them.
"You've been staring out the window all afternoon Hongjoong, we could all benefit from you getting out for one night. The money is worth the trouble." His long fingers curled around the wooden pillars, stained a golden red brightening the otherwise greyish blue backdrop. Hongjoong had been out of it the entire day, having the morning off for lessons he spent the better half of the daylight wandering without speaking. His voice felt hoarse, and he scrambled for an excuse.
"The city isn't safe for me. I mean...Mingi was just telling me last night that I-" Hongjoong didn't even believe the words coming out of his own mouth, he just couldn't justify leaving if it meant he'd be punished severely upon his return.
"Then we won't tell him. I can assure you I am not the only one who disagrees with his treatment of you....Your case is special enough that we can afford to alot some freedom. And you have no idea what the city looks like now. Be open to it at least, Hongjoong. You of all people know I could just as easily send San out; he is more eager." Something deep inside Hongjoong boiled up at the idea of San venturing out again, wasting another opportunity where Hongjoong might be able to see his people again. The thought made him shiver, and he spoke with a sudden burst of frustration.
"So I have been sitting here for the better part of the year because you haven't had the guts to take this up with Mingi?" The incredulity on his face was something comical if it hadn't been such misfortune that sparked it. Of course Hongjoong loved his home, but he was aching to finally step outside the chains that enclosed him, to walk back out and see what the city was like now...
"You are lost again, look at me for a moment and promise me something." He pinched his cheeks slightly and pulled his face to create more direct eye contact.
"Of course, sir." He was stubborn, but even he knew ignoring Yunho was a death sentence.
"I don't want you conversing with any of them unless you have to. I happen to trust this buyer, but you should even be wary of him, there is no guaranteeing your safety if you are cowardly in this endeavor." He turned, his long coat turning with him when he zeroed his gaze on the window, Jongho was out there some distance away, playing with the kids from the school.
"Yunho I-" He shied his face away to avert the eye contact. He felt so unsure, could he handle going off on his own?
"I know you are scared, but this is the only way we can make progress. I will not be satisfied with watching you die before you can make a real change. Sitting inside the protective circle will simply ensure you rot here." He fiddled with the objects on his desk, until he was satisfied with the arrangement. His anxiety caught up to Hongjoong quickly who couldn't stand still.
"Haven't I already?" He quipped, anger building at how Yunho dismissed his concerns so easily, like he had been stuck here for so long for no reason at all.
"Don't be like this Hongjoong, we all desire your safety...even Mingi, though he's misguided." He shuffled around until he came to the desk, bending over to reach a drawer to pull out a sticky note. "It's the Kang manor, built beside the square, I believe you went to classes there as a child." He scribbled an address and a name of the buyer, carefully pinning it to Hongjoong's palm. "If you act confidently, they might believe you do not fear them, and that can be used to your advantage. It is good to practice now." He squeezed his eyes shut as the bells rang their sweet six strikes of the hour change, opening them as soon as the reverberation was merely a dull note. "My prince." Yunho bowed, disappearing behind the curtain in his shop, with a billowing wind cast behind him. It was six o'clock already, Yunho let the time catch up to him, Hongjoong bit his lip harshly, worried.
He could have sworn the small statuette glimmered in the eye as the sun began its early winter descent, and he observed it for probably longer than he should have, but his feet felt glued shut to the floor boards. He stuffed the bird into his satchel, watching the clock above his head to make sure he wasn't wasting too much time, and quickly darted to the exit.
"Where were you?" The second he stepped outside to the courtyard he found Jongho holding a soccer ball in his left hand, trotting over to Hongjoong, ready at once to interrogate him. Hongjoong made sure to shove the small sticky note in his cloak pocket, attempting to look natural as he acknowledged his younger friend. "Mingi wants to see you, why are you at East?" Jongho was concerned, Hongjoong knew, but Yunho was the only one he felt comfortable around anymore, without Mingi's watchful presence over him. Mingi often worked to ensure his safety at the expense of Hongjoong's freedom or potential. The very potential that Yunho saw in him from the beginning. "Mingi doesn't like how often you visit him." Jongho finished, studying Hongjoong's face for a response. He kicked a stone far ahead of them and sighed.
"You can say his name, Jongho." Hongjoong rolled his eyes, following Jongho back to West, crunching the crispy leaves and breathing out into the cold air so that a trail of smoke followed him.
"San said that they found Yunho exiting the gates last week, does it have something to do with that?" Jongho leveled, trying to sound sympathetic, but ultimately failing like he always did.
"No, I was just looking at his new collection." Hongjoong remembered the way Yunho snuck out that night, slipping through the gates just as a vehicle left the circle, looking behind him one time before he was out for good. Hongjoong could watch him cross into the dark forest for only a minute before his figure disappeared into the darkness. He never said what he did back in the city, never even mentioned it.
"Collection of what?"
"Statues...gold ones. They're pretty, you can't blame me." He shrugged, hoping the casualty of his tone would persuade him to leave him alone.
"Did you steal one?" Jongho saw the tip of the wing sticking out of the satchel, and Hongjoong struck the back of his head in a teasing manner, pulling out the bird just enough for Jongho to take a quick look.
"No! I did not steal it. Yunho gave it to me." Jongho tossed it between his hands, raking his eyes over it in suspicion before handing it back.
"I wonder how much this would sell for." He threw the soccer ball up in the air, catching it and trotting up a few feet up to the bridge they'd have to cross to get back to West. Hongjoong followed tiredly, clomping his boots against the decaying wood of the bridge, the sound of fresh water splashing rocks on the river peaceful against the soft breeze. The leaves had fallen leaving the trees practically bare, the evening chill just enough to make Hongjoong want to hurry back, and perhaps grab a heavier coat before he left. Jongho left him alone for the most part, so Hongjoong kept just as silent, preferring to let the scenery take his attention over mindless conversation. The school was closed down for the night, a few kids sat on the front steps playing rock paper scissors, another group chasing the crows perched on the fencing around the playground.
"Taehyun!" Jongho called out to one of his friends who were sitting on top of the monkey bars, showing off his flexibility to those below him. He threw the soccer ball, arching it perfectly to where he sat and he just barely caught it before he slipped off, luckily being caught by the two near him. He shouted some profanities at Jongho, and laughing, Jongho pulled Hongjoong along faster so they could get out of sight.
"How was class today?" Hongjoong asked once they made it inside the tunnel to West.
"Oh! You just reminded me, tonight's the Harvest, we were doing a project about it in art." He trailed off when he noticed the shock on Hongjoong's face.
"Really? I guess I haven't been paying attention to the date." Hongjoong almost tripped, deep in thought about the new information. Surely Yunho just forgot as well. He would never send Hongjoong out during the Harvest, especially one with the sky such a deep purple, it was always a bad omen. He frowned, slightly disappointed that he couldn't head out tonight like he wanted to.
They were at the foot of the large chamber doors, leading to the turret of the first structure where their rooms were. Two gargoyles and a garden full of dead flowers stood to guard the opening, and Hongjoong had to carefully use the knocker, quiet enough so it wouldn't bother those sleeping inside.
"Hey! You're back! Mingi wanted to talk to you, I was just about to head to East to find you." San bounced up to Hongjoong, wearing his typical attire, all black, small boots and leather pants topped with a soft sweater that engulfed his body, cinching where a belt accentuated his small waist. Hongjoong leaned into a short hug, working to slow down his erratic heart beat.
"Could you tell him I'm just not feeling well, think I came down with something, ever since the weather changed, you know?" He stumbled over his words, and San was obviously suspicious, but he didn't make a big deal of it. Jongho furrowed his brow, not at all believing it.
"Is this because it's the Harvest? I'm sure Mingi would understand if you just said you're nervous to be out late tonight." Jongho reassured, and San nodded slowly, still unsure.
"I think that's more of a reason to go see him, Hong. I haven't heard from him all day really, he sent Eunha down to ask me to retrieve you, so he hasn't left his room. The Harvest isn't a good day for him, it might help him to see you." He yanked at his arm, dragging him down the dark hall that could have been filled with the help of a light bulb, but they never replaced it and probably never will get to it. San was acting unusually, but Hongjoong would sound even more suspicious if he asked him about his change in demeanor. It was best to stay silent like he always did, so he occupied his thoughts with other things. The gold piece was heavy in his satchel and fear crept in at the thought of heading outside the circle during the Harvest. Jongho alerted the two that he was going to his piano lessons, and waved, dashing down where they came from.
Light folded in, tinted from stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings cast dark and shadowy, cobwebs lining every crevice in the molding. Footsteps echoed, and the sound of lullabies drifted in from where Hongjoong could assume the children were practicing meditation. Time passed slowly, but soon enough they were in front of Mingi's office door, tall, menacing, luxurious. Mingi kept to himself if he could help it, too scarred from years of turmoil to participate in the light talk of the innocent people he saved that day. He had the pressure to lead them, but not much of the courage to face them when push came to shove. Hongjoong had an idea that Mingi was only waiting until Hongjoong went through enough education before he'd send him back outside the circle, but until then Mingi was left the responsibility of everyone.
"You must really be feeling unwell, I'm sorry I forced you to come, it just felt like it was urgent." He must have seen the paleness of Hongjoong's face, or the way his hands flexed with anxiety as he stood there.
"Don't worry about it Sannie, just a little cold." He smiled, a pained expression that left wanting for something. Perhaps the idea of such an illicit adventure brought just as much excitement as it did pure fear.
"Eunha, could you tell him we're outside? Tell him Hongjoong's in a hurry to get some sleep." He winked at Hongjoong, rubbing at his shoulders in an attempt to warm him while they waited for Mingi to let them in.
"You were with Yunho weren't you? That's why you're acting all stressed." San sounded like he just figured out the biggest secret of all time when he leaned over and whispered into Hongjoong's ear, and Hongjoong could only nod, somewhat glad he didn't have to lie to his friend.
"I was just visiting Yunho since I hadn't any lessons for the day, I don't see the harm in it." Hongjoong tried to explain, knowing San had his fair share of illegal visits to Yunho's home.
"I won't tell Mingi, if you were worried about that. But you should really take a break. I mean I only meet with him when Mingi assigns me a shipment, there really is no reason you should even speak to him."
"Speak to whom?" A gruff, deep, penetrating voice made San jump in his tracks, and he quickly straightened himself out, squeezing his eyes shut before opening them widely, and following Mingi inside his office. Talk about being scared of Mingi, Hongjoong chuckled to himself, letting the two guide him in, and he set down his satchel below his chair before sitting. The mood quickly turned sour; the curtains were drawn back and the dark room was so cold Hongjoong could feel the goosebumps forming on his arms.
"You smell like him." Mingi started, softly, a hint of a scary type of anger. Getting a good look at his sleep deprived face made Hongjoong feel uneasy.
"Mingi I-"
"Do I have to lock you in West?!" He turned back at Hongjoong, furious, eyes tired but still holding so much fury. "If my authority isn't good enough for you then go, go see what they'll do to you outside the barrier. Yunho is spreading lies, lies Hongjoong."
"San goes out all of the time-"
"San is not their prince!" Hongjoong could tell it hadn't been a good day for Mingi, the scar running vertically up his neck was uncovered meaning he was too distressed to mask it in the heavy layer of makeup he'd apply most days. San flinched, and Hongjoong stroked comforting circles into his wrist. "It's not time yet, how often do I have to tell you that?" His voice lowered, and he sat behind the large desk that wrapped around the corner of the room, black dyed birch wood, papers scattered wherever the eye could rest. Mingi looked like he hadn't even eaten in a week.
"I don't mean to disrespect you, but Yunho said-"
"You do not say his name here! I should have had the sense to leave him to die when I had the chance!" He bellowed, his words lingering in the stale air, San was shivering, and Hongjoong didn't know what else to do. Mingi looked out the window, a perfect view of the lake, and the gates outside the circle. He took a deep breath which made his shoulders rise before turning back to meet Hongjoong.
"You don't mean that." Hongjoong's voice came out so small he worried Mingi didn't even hear him.
"Oh Hongjoong, I really do." Hongjoong tried to stand up, but Mingi shoved him back down by the shoulder, pleading eyes, begging.
"I want you to stay in here tonight, don't even leave the tunnel. The sun is setting already, I don't want you getting hurt. Right San?"
"Y-yes, Hongjoong h-he's right." Hongjoong looked at him, slightly betrayed, but understanding his friend's fear nonetheless.
"San watch him tonight, I don't want him leaving." Mingi began collecting things off his desk, body turned away from them.
"Where will you be?" Hongjoong jumped up then, standing as tall as he could next to Mingi's long frame.
"I think I have to pay him a visit." His nails dug into his palm at his own words, he narrowed his vision to the small dagger next to a stack of papers. "Just as a warning, dear, no need to get so defensive." Mingi didn't even have to look at Hongjoong to know how badly he wanted to stop him. San held his arms back, and Hongjoong desperately tried to break free, so he could tackle Mingi to the ground, let him know how frustratingly stupid he was being.
"But you saved him, Mingi! You don't regret it, I know you don't. Yunho said-"
"Take him away San, NOW!" He erupted, shoving the two out of his office, a resounding crash as the doors sealed, a sharp sound of the lock. Eunha stood outside the door, eyes wide but otherwise lax in posture. She was much too used to Mingi's outbursts.
"Eunha, this one is different." Hongjoong said, quietly so Mingi wouldn't hear him.
"My prince, I've lived through it all, I believe he is just concerned for your well being." She bowed, shooing him and San off with a sense of urgency.
"San, he's crossed the line this time, I'm stopping him, you've got to let me go warn Yunho, please."
"I'm not sure Joong, I don't think Mingi will kill him, come on now, that's far fetched even for Harvest day." He didn't sound convinced, still running with Hongjoong back to their quarters, making sure not to alert suspicion of the younglings still crowded in the rooms down each hallway for their after school clubs and lessons.
"So you want me to let him die? San! Listen to what you are saying, you of all people should know how Yunho does not deserve punishment for my own error." The bells began sounding, seven strikes where San and Hongjoong held their breath in anticipation, unmoving, huddled together to watch out the one window in the hall. The sun had set, the Harvest had begun.
"Shit, it's different." San cursed, straining his eyes to look out beyond the circle.
"It's just a little more purple than usual, nothing Mingi won't take care of." Hongjoong wasn't sure why he was trusting Mingi now of all times, but he couldn't help the lingering reliance he still held in him.
"Guys? What are you doing down here?" Soobin called out to them, eyes glowing against the darkness of the hallway. Hongjoong realized all of the lights had burnt out at the sound of the last bell, and he could hear the children shouting above the sound of doors opening. "Mingi jumped out of the clock tower!" Soobin shouted back at them, and San's weight gave out next to Hongjoong. Lifting San and handing him to Soobin, Hongjoong thought quickly.
"Is he hurt?"
"No he was fine from what I could see. Eunha said he left as soon as you and San left his office. He's going to East."
"I know he is, he brought his dagger." Hongjoong informed, and San just stood frozen in Soobin's arms.
"Yunho." Soobin uttered, pale at the thought.
"Hey, don't worry about it, I can handle this. Take San, tell Jongho I'm sleeping."
"Hongjoong what are you-" Soobin called out, and pulled San back to him, who fell back into his arms.
"Go!" Hongjoong took off, the small sound of Soobin's 'my prince' the last he could hear, before he lept down the steps to the tunnel. The air freezing, the taste of it against his tongue sour and spoiled. He made it outside before too long, but each breath hurt as he ran. He knew the air was different during the Harvest, but he never remembered it being so difficult to simply exist. He coiled over, ready to fall into the soft leaves, to curl up and sleep, when he noticed the gate.
It was wide open, black metal, bent, malleable, and curving to create one of the most sinister fences. It was open, but who left? Even more concerning, who entered?
Hongjoong didn't have time to give it much thought, running back to East with a speed greater than he thought he could ever manage. The gold statue clang against his sketchbook and pencils in his satchel as he crossed the bridge again. The water was almost yellow, glowing, eyes peeked out behind rocks. The leaves beneath him screamed under his weight. He was losing vision by the time he found Yunho's home, small and unassuming, leading down a spiral staircase to the basement where Hongjoong was hoping he'd find his friend.
"Yunho!" He called out once he made it to where he had just spent the afternoon. Nothing was out of place, he could catch his breath without the new gusts of wind dumping toxic waste into his lungs. "Yunho, please." He walked to the curtain he was told to never open, bracing himself before pulling it back, slowly opening his eyes just a crack.
There was Mingi's dagger, unsheathed, blood stained the tip of the blade. His eyes welled up at the thought of the danger the two most important people in his life were facing. Mingi wasn't in his right mind, he would never have gone for Yunho like this without reason.
"My prince." Hongjoong jumped back, caught on the brink of tears, so he backed up, wiping his eyes. It was Seoho, Yunho's assistant, one he had met very few times due solely to the fact that he locked himself up in the lab to perform experiments. "Mingi was here, but Yunho was not home." Seoho was wearing his lab coat, and he just noticed the patch of blood on his shoulder, stained through the white fabric, so he jumped back to him, turning him around for a better look.
"Seoho, you're injured, don't tell me Mingi did this to you." He gasped at the extent of the damage, sitting him down. Seoho swatted his hands away, sighing at Hongjoong's displays of care.
"Leave me, I was just on my way to the infirmary. I will be fine, Hongjoong. I am not sure all of what Yunho has told you, but you need to make that sale, as soon as you leave here." He stood, kicking the chair to the side, disappearing behind the curtain to grab the dagger, wiping it clean with a small rag. He set it down on Yunho's desk.
"Where is Yunho?" Hongjoong was flushed with confusion, dropping the lab coat he ripped off of Seoho on the floor.
"He had a plan, I assure you he is safe for now. It is out of our hands, young prince, Mingi has gone looking for him, but I don't believe he'll find him."
"Did they leave the circle?!" Hongjoong paced around, trying to grasp how he was supposed to leave the safety of their bounds to make a delivery while they were in danger.
"No, Yunho called for it to be opened, to ease your journey. Now please prince, before Mingi returns." Seoho handed Hongjoong another note, tucked into his cloak pocket, and urged him to set off. "Grab a scarf off of the hanger, cover your mouth. It isn't good to be outside as long as you are about to be." Hongjoong snatched a burnt orange scarf, wrapping it around his mouth and nose, tucking the rest into his cloak. He felt overwhelmed with no memory of how to get to where he was going, but he started on his way regardless.
The sky only loomed on, darker and swirling with rapidly moving grey clouds, and a breeze that pulled Hongjoong right and left without mercy. He panted against the scarf, trying to take shallow breaths as he found the gate again. The children were being rounded into groups to head back into West, he could see Jongho leading a group of them. He would have to apologize for lying to him, but now was a time for action. When he finally found the gate right in front of him, he stopped to pull out the small note from his pocket.
My prince,
I hope you understand why I had to withhold things from you. It is the Harvest, but this sale is not merely what I said it was, it is important you be there tonight. Be confident Hongjoong, there is no reason to fear your people if you keep your head up.
Do not waste your worries on me,
Yunho
Hongjoong blinked away the tears brought on by the cold and the fear, and stepped through the protective barrier, through the tall gates, and into the outskirts of a city he used to be the prince of. He had left them so long ago, it would feel like a lie to call him their prince. He was a bad prince if anything, one that betrayed his people, that left them to rot.
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