Chapter Text
💫
Hongjoong regarded the pompous lady in front of him with a mix of disdain and amusement. Neat hair and intricate braids tied back into a tight bun. Powdered face so pale with make-up she resembled the donuts in the shop Hongjoong passed by in the mornings. The dress she wore was an ostentatious cascade of layers upon layers of extensive fabric and petticoats of the highest quality fanning out at her waist.
She observed him coyly from behind her silk fan with a flutter of her eyes and pink blush spreading on the apples of her cheeks.
Or was that make-up as well?
It didn't matter.
All he could think was how easy this was going to be.
He refocused on the conversation at hand, head tilted slightly to the side.“My lady, I wouldn't lie to one as yourself. What would I gain from it other than a sweet smile on your exquisite face?”
“Sophie. My name is Sophie.”
Hongjoong raised a brow questionably, trying to hide the subtle twitch underneath.
Her name was not Sophie. These inscrutable rich people tried to adapt the names of the west to make themselves seem as if they were above the riffraff that trailed the streets. Hongjoong had long since given up trying to understand the whims of the wealthy.
She probably had a common name such as Ha-na or Jiwoo.
Hongjoong gently took her hand in his leather-gloved one, bringing it up to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss on her skin. Her hand was soft to the touch, absent of calluses and scars that marked the lives of those who toiled away.
He doubted she had ever lifted a finger a day in her life. Raised with servants at her beck and call for anything she so wished.
As he lowered her hand he gazed at her from below the veil of his lashes. The barmaids at the tavern he frequented often teased him about his unusually long lashes, saying they were wasted on a boy. Hongjoong, however, had learned to wield them to his advantage, especially when he wanted something.
“Lady Sophie,” he corrected, her name coming out like a purr. “Do you think I would be so crass as to lie?”
With a flick of her wrist she snapped her fan closed, as if it was a party trick she performed in front of others millions of times before.“Well what do you expect me to believe when you say you've had dinner with the King. Not many have been honored to have dinner with him. I've heard he's a recluse that doesn't like the company of others since his son, the prince, has disappeared.”
That wasn't any new news. Everyone in this city and the neighboring ones had knowledge of what had transpired.
A few months ago the inhabitants inside the castle woke up to the disappearance of the only born heir. No sign of forced entry. No sign of blood. No traces left behind. Not even a hair.
It was like he had vanished into thin air.
The King was still mourning the loss of his son and had the kingdom in an uproar trying to find him. Soldiers were stationed throughout the kingdom, combing every nook and cranny for clues. Tensions were boiling over, with the kingdom on the cusp of war against the neighboring land, driven by the King’s belief that they had abducted his son with the aid of the Wicked Witch of the Waste.
And everyone knew how much she despised the King. She would do anything to get under his skin.
Hongjoong hummed, playing with the fingers of the lady's between his own. He watched as a gaggle of children still dressed in their school uniforms rambled pass in hopes of buying snacks on the way home.
“Yes, the poor prince. You see, he and I…were close friends. Attended the same boarding school and archery lessons since we were teens. I would be personally invited during holidays when I couldn't return to my own home country.The King– he invites me over every once in a blue moon to talk about his son. We both miss him so.” He infused a somber lit into his words. Not too much. Enough to mimic the emotions of one who had lost such a close friend. The lie was a farce he had carefully crafted and perfected.
Over years spent wandering the streets with his ears always open and his eyes cast downward, he listened intently to the chatter of giggling ladies and the boasts of drunken men, piecing together the information he needed to deceive whoever stood in his way.
It wasn't hard when faced with naive people who were unaware of what Hongjoong had in store for them.
In truth, he had never seen hide nor hair of the prince, let alone knew what the fellow looked like. The King had always kept him locked away behind the castle's four walls.
“Ah, I see a friend of the prince. I hope they find him soon. For the sake of the kingdom.”
“For the sake of the kingdom.” Hongjoong echoed the saying with a stiff nod, his lips tightening into a strained grimace.
“I thought I detected an accent in your words,” she said, eyes a bit wider, sparkling with interest. “That also explains the red hair. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. You’re from abroad, then?”
“Why yes,” he replied smoothly, offering a dismissive wave of his hand. “Not too far from here. A small country, just a few weeks journey by ship. You’ve probably never heard of it.”
He had memorized the maps of the surrounding regions, enough to conjure a convincing origin at a moment's notice. It was a skill honed over time, quick, seamless, and unassailable. Perfecting the accents of each place had taken a bit longer, but now, switching between them was as effortless as turning the page of a book.
“Would you tell me more about where you hail from? I would be delighted to know more about you, kind sir. Oh, how rude of me. I haven’t even asked your name.” She twirled a loose strand of hair from her bun around her finger, her tone as coy as her smile.
Hongjoong smirked, releasing her hand with deliberate grace. He dipped into a deep bow, one he had seen Yunho perform countless times while patrolling the city and encountering nobility.
“The name’s Chris,” he said smoothly, his smirk deepening.
Just then a man clad in servant's attire rushed forward in a huff. “Lady Sophie! I specifically asked you to stay at the stall until I was done talking with the merchant. Do you know how long I've been searching for you in this god forsaken crowd.”
Sophie puffed her cheeks like a petulant child crossing her arms over her chest. “You make a big deal out of nothing. I was just conversing with this fine gentlem–”
“Chris?”
He heard Lady Sophie call for him, voice raising to be heard over the crowd.But he was already halfway across the square, slipping and weaving through the barrage of bodies like a fish in water.
Once he was far enough he tucked himself into the shadows of a narrow side street avoiding any onlookers. Reaching into the hidden cloth pouch tucked into his waistband, he pulled out a gleaming, jewel-encrusted ring, its brilliance catching what little light filtered into the alley.
Rich people were so easy to fool.
Hongjoong chuckled to himself, crouching down against the brick wall at his back as he pulled out the rest of his loot to inspect.
A silver watch that was engraved on the underside, a tweed pouch that was a little smaller than his own with a few gold pieces still inside, a wallet with that held only a paper ID inside( he would throw this out- no need for it), and a strip of dried jerky. He smirked at the last item, deciding it was a fair find, given he’d been feeling a bit peckish, and the food stall had been on his way.
Taking a bite of the jerky, he poked at the engraving on the watch, squinting as he tried to decipher the intricate carvings on the case back.
“I knew I would find you here.”
The silver watch was snatched from Hongjoong’s hand by the figure looming over him. Yunho turned it over, inspecting it from every angle with a critical eye.
“Well I wasn't specifically hiding from you now was I,” Hongjoong scoffed, gathering up the rest of the stolen goods and depositing them back into his pouch. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on shift until sunset.That’s in about–”
Hongjoong reached out and snatched the watch back out of Yunhos's hands. “ —four more hours. Aren't you scared of getting in trouble with your superiors?” He placed the watch into the pouch and tied it closed, hooking it back on the hidden loop on the inside of his waistband once again.
Yunho sighed, fixing Hongjoong with that expression he reserved exclusively for him. The one that screamed he was utterly exhausted with his bullshit.
“I'm still on duty. We were dispatched because a lady reported a theft in the square. She provided a highly detailed description of the culprit: a man named Chris, short in stature, bright red hair, brown eyes, and, I quote, ‘a smile that could rival a thieving fox.’” Yunho arched a brow, glaring down at him in judgment.
Hongjoong bristled, tearing a piece of jerky between his teeth. “I am not short. I was taller than her!”
“I told you not to dye your hair red! It's a dead giveaway! Might as well hang a sign around your neck that says, ‘Look at me! I’m your prime suspect!’” Yunho exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.
“Don’t worry. I’ll just dye it blue or something. Problem solved,” Hongjoong said with a shrug, nonchalant as ever.
Yunho’s eyes narrowed. “And out of all the names you could’ve chosen, you went with Chris? That’s literally my boss’s name.”
Hongjoong smirked, his voice dripping with defiance. “I hate Chris. So, screw him.”
Yunho's boss was always looking for evidence to put Hongjoong behind bars. Too bad for him Hongjoong never left any evidence behind, so he couldn't pen anything on him.
“Hongjoong that's not the point. You’re jeopardizing my job and we need the extra income to stay afloat.”
Hongjoong felt something in his jaw tick from how hard he was grinding his teeth together. “And what do you think I'm doing, huh? Pickpocketing just for the hell of it? While you signed up to be one of the King's sniveling dogs I'm out here making real money for the family.”
He stood, stepping closer to Yunho and meeting his glare head-on. “Hate to break it to you Yunho but we can't get by with your small little stipend anymore.Yechan is getting picked on at school because his shoes are falling apart and Areum needs to go to the doctor for her cough. It's getting worse and we are out of medicine.”
Yunho’s face darkened, his neck flushing an angry red as his fists clenched at his sides. Hongjoong hated the way Yunho towered over him, a reminder of just how much taller he’d grown in the years they’d spent together.
But Hongjoong didn’t back down. His glare only hardened, daring Yunho to say something—anything—to prove him wrong.
Yunho sucked in a breath, air inflating his chest and then exhaled, deflating like a balloon. The fight left him just as quickly as it came. Yunho was never good at holding onto his anger. Not like Hongjoong was. He could brew for a couple of days.
“I'm doing the best I can Hongjoong. You can't be upset that I've chosen to make an honest living.”
Hongjoong held his glare for a couple of more seconds before his eyes softened. “ I didn't mean it. He rubbed a gloved hand over his face, sighing heavily. “ I am proud of you Yunho. I– one of us has to make it out of these streets.”
Hongjoong gazed at Yunho, clad in his beige military police uniform. The outfit had been custom-made for him, a perfect fit because he was one of the tallest on the force, and they didn’t have any spare uniforms that would suit his tree-like frame.
It fit him well.
He had worked his ass off to make it on the force. Hongjoong still remembered the night Yunho had burst through the door of the room they shared, practically throwing the paper right in his face.
“I made it. I did it hyung! Now we don't have to worry about our next meal!”
Hongjoong had known how hard Yunho had worked to escape their life of petty thefts. Nights they spent stealing from pockets, swiftly in and out of purses, grabbing whatever they could to survive. Yunho had always hated the constant anxiety of looking over their shoulders, expecting to get caught at any moment.
“If you look suspicious they will think you're suspicious so keep your head forward and act as if you aren't up to no good.” Hongjoong had told him.
It worked for a while. Yunho’s job gave them the push they needed to afford what they lacked. Then the King announced a raise in taxes. So, Hongjoong was forced to steal more, risk more, all while avoiding the military officers flooding the streets at every corner.
Yunho had never been able to walk the streets like Hongjoong had and that was…okay.
He would get his hands dirty so Yunho's would stay clean.
“I know hyung.” Yunho smiled, tone softening.
Yunho lifted his arm pulling back the sleeve of his jacket to reveal a small metal band around his wrist.
“Don't go straight to the pawn shop. Take the long way around. The path towards the northern gate should be fine.” He clicked the green disc embedded inside and with a whirring a holographic display of a man sitting at a desk came to life in front of him.
Hongjoong backed up against the wall instinctively placing a hand over his mouth to keep himself quiet.
Yunho straightened, saluting sharply as he addressed the man. “Military officer 0323 reporting, sir.”
Hongjoong sneered at the projection of Yunho's boss, Chris. The man was only slightly older than them but carried himself with an elitist air, convinced his position as captain of the first-class military police at such a young age made him superior to everyone else.
If you asked Hongjoong, Chris had his head shoved too far up his own ass to deserve the title. He was nothing but a lazy figurehead, delegating all the real work to his subordinates while he sat comfortably behind his desk in Capital, oblivious to everything beyond his office walls.
“Report officer, have you found the culprit?” He didn't even bother glancing up, too busy writing something furiously with his black quill on his desk. “Lady Jiho’s father is breathing down our necks because the necklace is a family heirloom that he would quite like back.”
Ah, so her real name was Jiho. Hongjoong tried to stifle a chuckle against his palm.
Yunho returned to attention, arms placed neatly behind his back as he continued speaking.“No, sir I have not. The culprit seems to not be near the premises. But I've gotten intel from witnesses saying that they caught sight of a man with red hair making a run for it in the direction of the southern gates. I'll inform the other officers and continue the search in that direction,sir.”
“Very well. Make it snappy and report back to the office at 18:00 sharp. We're having a meeting about that damn wizard that's been evading us down at the harbor and we don't have time to be searching for measly stolen jewelry.”Chris grunted and then he hung up, projection dissolving into light particles that faded into the alley.
Yunho sighed, pulling his sleeve back down over the bracelet. “Guess I'll be late to dinner. Tell Aerum I'll make it to read her a story before bed time.” He muttered, adjusting the cap to pull it lower to hide his sandy brown fringe. “Keep your head down and I'll see you for dinner when I get home.”
Hongjoong pushed off the wall, slipping deeper into the shadows. “Yes, sir. And when you see dear old Chris please tell him that Hongjoong said to shove that damn quill up his as–”
“Goodbye Hyung!” Yunho yelled.
💫
The jewel-encrusted ring was worth fifteen gold pieces. The watch lost value for the engraving, but Hongjoong was able to haggle with Eden, the owner of the pawn shop. He kind of owed him for acquiring him a very old spell book he wanted to get his hands on for months.
Eden was the only person Hongjoong trusted not to rat him out when he turned up with items that just so happened to be “acquired” through less-than-legal means. Eden would simply turn a blind eye, hand over what Hongjoong was owed, and went about his day.
A strange fellow, Eden kept mostly to himself, spending his time experimenting with spells in the back of the shop, occasionally causing fires Hongjoong had to put out.
How Eden managed to keep his wizard identity a secret was beyond Hongjoong. But as long as Eden kept his secret, Hongjoong swore to keep his in return. They had an unspoken deal, and that worked just fine for both of them.
In total he walked through the door with enough to feed his family and keep the lights on for another month, with some left over hopefully for Aerums medication. Yechan would have to be a little more patient until Yunho's next paycheck.
Hongjoong removed his boots at the door and made his way into the kitchen, careful to avoid the lifted floorboard in the living room that he hadn't gotten the chance to repair yet. It would have to be soon before an accident occurred and someone broke a toe. Definitely Yunho. With all of that height, came with clumsiness.
“Is that you Hongjoong dear?”
Hongjoong walked into the room, greeted by the smell of boiling stew cooking on the stove and freshly baked bread.
“Yes mother it is I, your eldest and most precious son.” He leaned over his mother's shoulder reaching for a slice of bread, yanking it back quickly to escape the wrath of her wooden spoon.
“No son of mine would steal food from the kitchen without washing his dirty hands. I don't know where those disgusting gloves have been.” She huffed wiping the spoon on the edge of her apron before dipping it into the stew to spoon it into the awaiting bowls on the counter.
“Well, if you must know, mother, these disgusting gloves were out working their ass–”
“ Language Hongjoong,” she snipped.
“ Sorry– these disgusting gloves were out working their bums off to pay rent.” He untied the pouch and watched as the round pieces of metal clanked onto the table.
“Hongjoong…where on earth did you…Have you–” his mother stared at him wide eyed. “Where did you get this money?”
Hongjoong pulled out a chair and sat, rubbing at the spot on his neck where it always ached, right between the knobs of his spine. “ I did some odd jobs for Sir Eden and he paid me graciously for my time.”
Eden wouldn't mind being his scapegoat he hoped. Mother had thought Hongjoong's theft days were behind him. That he had turned over a new leaf and was doing honest work picking up jobs here and there.
His mother eyed him wearily, then her eyes flicked down towards the coins that rested on the table. “Why so much for an odd job,hmm?”
Hongjoong tried to suppress rolling his eyes less he wanted another whack of the spoon. “Mother, when do we question what the man does? I just took the payment, thanked him and went on my merry way home. Mother, your dear son worked all day in the grueling heat and I'm starving.” He whined tugging on her apron.
His mother clucked her tongue at him, mouth trying not to tick up at the sides at his display.
“And what of your brother Yunho? Shouldn't he be off service soon?”
Hongjoong leaned his head against her hip, arms wrapping around her waist in a loose hug. “He will be home late. He has to report to office before coming home. Let's eat without him. I'll put his bowl to the side.”
His mother pulled away, leaving Hongjoong to grab on the side of his chair to catch himself from falling. “Fine go grab the kids upstairs and tell them to wash before coming down.”
Hongjoong obeyed, grumbling up the stairs as he heard his mother's twinkling laughter.
There were only four bedrooms, all upstairs. One was his mother’s, at the end of the hall. Next to hers was the infants’ room, where Nari also stayed to help care for them when they woke. The room in the middle belonged to Yechan and Aerum, and at the other end of the hall was the shared room for Hongjoong and Yunho.
Hongjoong went to the infants’ room first, making sure to knock on the door quietly so as to not wake any sleeping ones when he entered. Nari was up in the rocking chair cradling a sleeping toddler back and forth. She smiled up at him when he entered the room.
“Good evening Hongjoong. Is dinner perhaps ready?”
“Yes, mother called for everyone to go downstairs. If you like I can set the monitor on so we can hear if anyone wakes up so you can enjoy your meal.”
Nari looked over to the two other cradles where the twins lay sleeping soundly. “Would you be so kind?” she whispered.
Hongjoong went to the table quietly taking the radio like device and turned the knob. If the babies were to cry it would signal the paired device they kept downstairs and they would be able to hear the sounds.
Nari placed the sleeping baby in its crib pulling the blankets up. “I swear if Eden hadn't given you that device I would never get a break. Make sure you thank him for me.”
Technology was scarce around the outskirts of the country where they lived, with more advanced devices found in the capital. Mostly circulating among the rich. Hongjoong hated seeing them flying around with their airship contraptions shaped like birds.
It was all powered by magic embedded inside. Most things now were created with magic in mind.
“Why don't you go tell him yourself? Eden said he's been seeing a strange woman peeping into his windows. Noona, care to explain?” he teased.
Nari turned a bright shade of pink. “I wasn't peeping like a pervert or anything. I was just curious about the jewels,” she sputtered.
Hongjoong tried hard to muffle his laughter. Nari's face twisted up and left without so another word.
He made his way into the next room opening it without knocking. “Come on brats it's time for dinner, go wash up.” He easily dodged a pillow that went flying at his head catching it midair. “That wasn't very nice.”
“You know what's not nice? Not knocking,” Yechan said, tone sharp.
“If Yunho and I grew up in this house without privacy, so do you. Fairness for all under this roof,” Hongjoong said, throwing the pillow back on the bed.
Yechan glared. “I hate this fucking house.” He grumbled storming out past Hongjoong.
“Language Yechan!” Hongjoong called after him.
Hongjoong missed the days when Yechan used to follow him around, eager to be close and trailing behind his older brother wherever he went. But now, with Yechan entering his teen years, the boy was full of so much anger. It was baffling, really.
“Don't mind him, he's upset because school wasn't so good today,” Aerum said from her spot on her bunk.
“What happened at school today?” He asked, walking over to grab her small hands in his to walk downstairs together.
“The kids picked on us again. They said we didn’t have ‘real’ parents. They said we weren’t lovable, and that’s why we were abandoned at the foster home with Mother Hyo-jin.”
Hongjoong paused, his hand still on the railing as he stared down at her, his thoughts swirling. He took a breath, trying to keep his emotions in check as a fire curled in his stomach. “Do you believe that?” His voice was calm, but there was an intensity beneath it. “That you're not loveable because you were abandoned?”
Aerum glanced at her hand wrapped around Hongjoong's, swinging lightly between them. “No, I don't care what they say. I'm happy here with everyone. And I know Mother Hyo-jin loves us all. Plus you and Yunho decided to stay even though you both aged out of the system. Nari doesn't have a choice because she belongs to mother, but you guys do. So I know i'm loveable.”
Sometimes, Hongjoong forgot Aerum was only nine. She was so wise, so understanding for her age. It made him want to protect her from the harshness of the world even more.
“We all belong to mother and to each other. We're a family.Don't forget that.”
“Yes brother.” She smiled brightly.
Hongjoong chuckled, his heart swelling with affection. “My sweet Aerum, when did you get so big?” He scooped her up effortlessly, lifting her off her feet and carried her to the table to sit beside him.
They said grace, and slowly, everyone began to eat. Hongjoong looked around at the faces he’d watched grow over the years. It felt like such a long time ago, but the memories were still vivid. He had been one of the first to arrive at the home, being abandoned right on the doorstep when they first opened the doors. It was just him and Nari, for a few years—before Yunho showed up. Then, one by one, the others trickled in.
They’d been through so much together. Sacrificed so much together. So how could he ever walk away after aging out of the system? He and Yunho had made the decision long ago that this was their family, and they wouldn’t trade them for the world.
💫
“I want to hear about Hwa!” Aerum said.
They were all gathered in Yechan and Aerum's room. Pillows and blankets tossed around on the floor as they waited comfortably for Yunho to tell the bedtime story.
“Where did you hear about him?” Yunho asked, confused, tearing off a piece of bread he brought upstairs to nibble on after coming straight home from work.
Aerum twisted her nightgown between her fingers guiltily. “One of the boys in my class had claimed that he caught a glimpse of Hwa walking around the harbor, so me and some of the girls snuck off at recess to go watch the boats from the hill. We saw his ship floating above the sea as if it weighed nothing! It was ginormous with metal pieces hanging off and a large tree planted right in the middle that looked like a makeshift crows nest,” she gushed all in one breath. “But tell me, Yunho! Please! Is it true that Hwa is as powerful as they say? That he can bend the winds and control the water?"
Yunho hesitated, glancing over at Nari for guidance. She returned his look with a sharp one of her own before addressing Aerum directly.
“You know you're not supposed to go down to the harbor,” Nari chided, her tone stern. “You need to be more careful, Aerum. The harbor isn’t a place for little girls to wander, especially with all this commotion about Hwa.”
Aerum puckered her lips, eyes casted down to the floor.
Hongjoong cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “I don’t know about what you heard from that little friend of yours,” he began, a mischievous glint in his eye, “but I’ve gathered some very plausible intel from folks down at the tavern. People who’ve claimed to have seen this Hwa fellow with their own eyes.”
A chorus of reactions followed.
Yunho choking on his bread. Aerum squealed in excitement . Nari fussed in exasperation. Meanwhile, Yechan rolled over in bed and pulled a pillow over his face to block out the noise.
Hongjoong swore to himself that he had never been this moody when he was going through puberty.
“Quiet! Quiet! One at a time,” he said, raising a hand to restore order.
Aerum scooted closer, knees touching Hongjoong’s as she waited with bated breath. “ Please tell us brother.”
Hongjoong tapped his chin thoughtfully. “There are rumors. Whispers floating around the city that his ship is alive. They say he enchanted it so it obeys his commands without him needing to steer it. And yes, it’s said that he can walk on air, floating above buildings like his ship to evade the military police.”
From his left, Yunho scoffed. “What a load of nonsense. The only reason we haven’t caught him is because no one knows what he looks like.”
“My coworker at the hat shop says he’s a handsome gentleman with white wings and the face of an angel that could charm any soul,” Nari interjected, crossing her arms. When everyone stared at her, she huffed. “What? I’m just repeating what I heard. It’s not like I believe it.”
“There are also reports of strange sounds,” Hongjoong added, lowering his voice dramatically.
“Sounds? What kind of sounds?” Aerum asked, moving closer, almost into his lap at this point.
“The sailors working overnight at the harbor say they hear eerie noises,something monstrous. They describe it as howls of agony coming from the belly of the ship. They claim it’s the cries of Hwa’s victims.”
“Victims?” Nari repeated, her brows furrowed in concern.
“Yes, victims,” Hongjoong confirmed solemnly. “Young men and women he fancies. They say he devours their hearts, leaving them to wail in torment.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Yunho interrupted, standing and clapping his hands to grab everyone’s attention. “Time for an actual bedtime story. You’re going to give the kids,and Nari,nightmares, hyung.”
Hongjoong chuckled at their wide-eyed, uneasy expressions. “And with that, I shall take my leave.”
He exited the room, grinning as Aerum protested behind him. As he walked down the hallway, he heard her cough faintly, her voice growing quieter.
There would have to be a visit to the doctor in the morning. Surely, they would have some kind of herbal remedy to treat her ailing symptoms.
Grabbing his pajamas, Hongjoong busied himself with preparing for bed. He climbed up to the top bunk, skipping half the rungs on the ladder before pushing himself the rest of the way up.
Honestly, they had outgrown the beds years ago. Their bodies had grown too broad and too long to fit comfortably on the worn mattresses. Poor Yunho often had to sleep curled into a fetal position just to get a decent night's rest. Neither of them complained though,haven chosen to save their money for the endless stream of bills and unexpected expenses that seemed to plague the household.
Hongjoong lay back against the thin blankets, lifting his gloved hands toward the ceiling to remove them in the low light streaming from the lantern on the bedside table.
The leather was worn, stretched, and frayed in places. He flexed his fingers, feeling the stiff material resist slightly. Another visit to Eden’s shop for a replacement would soon be unavoidable.
“Is everything alright? You look rather pale.”
Hongjoong swiftly slid the leather gloves back on as Yunho turned to close the door behind him.
“Must be a trick of the lights. I feel right as rain.” Hongjoong replied, his tone calm and measured.
Yunho shrugged out of his uniform, folding it with meticulous precision before laying it on the corner of the desk that resided beneath the window. Unlike Hongjoong’s clothing that got thrown about the room without a second glance or care.
After setting his cap atop the pile, Yunho let out a weary sigh and moved towards his bed, the fatigue of the day evident in his movements.
Hongjoong leaned forward from the top bunk, peering over the edge. His head swam slightly, the dizziness creeping up on him as he watched Yunho settle onto the bunk below.
"You, however, look as though a storm is gathering in your eyes," Hongjoong observed, his voice laced with concern. "What happened? Did dear old Chris call to give you an earful for failing to catch the red-haired, thieving fox?" he teased, attempting to lift the mood.
Yunho frowned deeper, making Hongjoong feel a wave of uneasiness wash over him. He grabbed onto the side rail and with a slight push, he flipped his body backward, swinging until he landed on the bottom bunk beside Yunho. Yunho simply moved out of his path and reached out a hand to steady the guard rail, preventing it from shaking too much from the force.
“I wish you would stop doing that,” Yunho muttered. “This bed is old enough. I live in fear that one night I'll be sleeping, and the top bunk will come crashing down to squish me to death.”
“Hey, this bed has never failed us before, and it won't fail us now.” Hongjoong crossed his socked feet beneath himself and grabbed the lone pillow Yunho kept.He gave it an exaggerated fluff before propping it against the headboard. “Now, tell me—what’s the matter? What has my brother so upset?”
“I didn't want to say this in front of the children or Nari.” He bit his lip nervously, waves of anxiety rolling off of him and onto Hongjoong. “When I was in Chris’s office earlier I spied a document on his desk.
Hongjoong straightened slightly, his posture no longer as casual. “Go on.”
“Its—Hongjoong, they’re planning to make cuts to certain establishments that rely on aid from the capital.” He swallowed hard, visibly shaken. “The orphanage… it was on that list.”
Hongjoong was on the verge of losing his dinner. He could hear the creaking of leather from his gloves as he clenched his fists. “There must have been a mistake. A small error when they curated the list. There's no way those overgrown pigs in Capital would try to cut funding for the only foster home in miles.”
He was seething, seeing red in his vision. That had to be it. Yunho had to have misread the document.
“War is on the horizon Hongjoong.” Yunho’s voice sounded like a whisper against the roaring in his ears.
“Soldiers are equipping their weapons and taking to the skies on hoverships. The King is enforcing an order throughout the lands for every available wizard to join their ranks and give aid in making weapons of destruction. War costs money, and more money means cuts in places that don't matter.” Yunho looked up and Hongjoong saw his youth waning from his irises leaving behind the tiredness that's clawed at them both ever since they were old enough to lend a hand. “We don't matter to them hyung.”
Hongjoong couldn't sit there any longer, fingers itching against the fabric, burning.
“Where are you going at this hour?” Yunho asked as he watched Hongjoong abruptly stand.
He grabbed his coat off the rack forcing his arms into the holes with an urgency that left the garment twisted and uneven. “To Capital.” He said voice hard and clipped.
“The trolley's already stopped running for the night.”
“I'll go by foot. My legs work just fine.” He yanked the collar of his coat up, his expression hard as steel.
Yunho stood, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Hyung, what do you expect to do? March into Capital in the middle of the night and—what? Reason with them?”
Hongjoong turned to face his brother, the fire in his chest roaring louder. His words came out low and venomous, each syllable biting with intent. “First, I’ll find those scoundrels who wrote up that damn document. Then, I’ll slit their throats and shove the papers down their windpipes while they’re choking on their own blood.”
Yunho took a step back, his concern morphing into alarm. “Hongjoong—”
“Don’t try to stop me,” Hongjoong snapped, his gaze fierce, yet his hands trembled as they worked to fasten the buttons of his coat. "If no one else will stand up for us, then I will. Even if it kills me.”
“I'm going to join the King's army.”
Hongjoong felt as if Yunho had slapped him across his face.
“The Kingsmen get a larger stipend than military police officers. They provide full coverage for soldiers' families and assist with medical costs if needed. I—I can do it. I have the qualifications. You saw my test scores—I passed strategies with flying colors and can shoot better than any officer in my quadrant. I can do it.” Yunho's eyes were a bit wild, nodding to himself as if affirming the idea, avoiding Hongjoong's gaze.
“Why does it sound like you're trying to convince yourself instead of me?”
“I can do it,” he said more firmly, a desperate edge creeping into his voice.
Images of Yunho on the front lines. Images of Yunho riddled with bullet holes as the enemies tried to cut him down as if he were just a tree and not a human being. Images of soldiers on their doorstep to inform them of Yunho's death. Images of Yunho's body delivered to them, covered in white cloth stained red by his blood.
He was going to throw up.
“No,” Hongjoong replied flatly.
Hongjoong’s chest ached as the first tear spilled onto Yunho's cheek. “We have to do something, hyung. This is the only way,” Yunho said, his voice cracking under the weight of his desperation.
He reached up, cupping Yunho’s face with steady hands, willing his fingers to stop their damn trembling.
“You listen to me, and you listen well, hm? Under no circumstances will you join the King's army. Do you hear me? We still have options, and that is not one of them.” His thumb brushed against Yunho’s damp cheek, catching the steady flow of tears. “I’ll handle it. Leave it to me, okay? I’ll figure it out. Trust me.”
Yunho sucked in a rattling breath. “ But—”
When was the last time he had seen Yunho cry? Not since after Yechan and the others joined the family. It was always burdensome being the eldest. You couldn't be weak. You couldn't break down. But here, in the safety of their room, was where they allowed themselves to talk about their dreams and their fears, no matter how far-fetched or overwhelming they seemed.
“Trust in your hyung,” Hongjoong said softly, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. “When have I ever led you astray?” He cradled Yunho’s face with such care it was as though he were holding something fragile, something irreplaceable. Yunho was irreplaceable.
Yunho’s lip quivered, but he nodded, the faintest glimmer of hope returning to his tear-streaked face. “ Let's go to bed. I have to report for duty at sunrise.”
Hongjoong nodded, releasing his hold so Yunho could clamber back into bed. The soft creak of the frame echoed through the quiet room as Yunho settled beneath the thin blankets. Hongjoong moved with less urgency now, his fingers working slowly to unbutton his jacket before draping it on the desk chair. He glanced around the room briefly, his shoulders sagging under his responsibilities.
By the time his head hit the pillow, his eyes had already fluttered shut, exhaustion dragging him under.
Money.
That cursed word kept him in a never-ending chase. A carrot dangling on a stick right in front of his face, taunting him just out of reach.
They needed a surplus of it. More than they’d ever managed to scrape together if they wanted to keep the foster home from closing its doors. To keep Yunho off the front lines.
Tapping against the bedframe pulled him from his thoughts, a series of taps and pauses in between. Hongjoong responded in kind, his fingers moving instinctively tapping out the familiar rhythm on the headboard.
Tap. Pause. Four taps. Pause. Three more taps.
Hongjoong exhaled, sinking further into the thin cotton blankets. He needed to rest. For tomorrow he had a mission to accomplish.
💫
Damn the doctor. Damn the King and his need for an irrelevant war. Had he no shame?
No conscience for what he was putting his own people through?
A king was for the people! But the King was so willing and ready to throw his own people away for the slim possibility that the neighboring kingdom had something to do with the disappearance of the prince.
The poor fool probably ran off, deserting his claim to the throne under his father's siege. Hongjoong wouldn't blame him. His father was a tyrant.
They couldn't afford it.
Medicine was nearly double the price now because of the raise in taxes. And now they couldn't afford it.
Aerum needed that medicine. Her constitution had always been weak. Days would go by where she would be confined in bed, too frail to even lift her head off the pillows. The days where she was giggling and running around as a normal child were few in comparison. He needed to find a solution quickly. He needed solutions for everything, now.
Hongjoong walked against the throng of people out and about in the market square. If he didn't have money he knew of other unconventional ways to acquire it. Pulling his cap lower over his choppy red hair Hongjoong discretely observed the crowd leisurely visiting the stalls.
There was a process of how he selected his targets. It was deliberate, almost surgical in its precision. He didn’t just look for someone wealthy. Wealth alone didn’t guarantee success. His sharp eyes picked up on details others would miss: the distracted tilt of a merchant’s head, a noblewoman too engrossed in conversation to notice her purse, or the lazy grip of a man who had grown too comfortable in his affluence. He paid attention to the weight of their pockets, the gleam of jewelry barely concealed by layers of fabric, and most importantly, the ease of escape.
A target had to be oblivious, the environment had to offer cover, and the risk had to be worth the reward. Quick hands and quicker thinking made all the difference, but it was his patience and knack for reading people that ensured he rarely left empty-handed.
Near the fountain. There was his next target. The person was headed toward the southern gates so Hongjoong followed a few bodies behind.Trailing, but not as if he was stalking. He straightened, hands hidden in his pockets, his gait confident. A man with places to go and people to see. A man that belonged.
For all their wealth, the elites lacked the understanding of how to be in these streets. Their world was polished and predictable. His was a dance of shadows and opportunity.
He truly didn’t need money to own these streets. He’d been walking them for years, knowing every crack and loose brick in the cobblestones, every secret passage to the best places in town.
These rich elites would never know what a sunrise looked like from up on the bell tower. They would never experience the thrill of slipping through hidden alleys that twisted like veins through the heart of the city, leading to forgotten courtyards and quiet rooftops.
Boutiques and fancy restaurants slowly morphed into ratty abandoned buildings and less populated roads as they grew closer to the southern gates. The southern district. The district where the shoddy part of the kingdom resided, far removed from its gleaming center.
Hongjoong raised an eyebrow intrigued. What was someone of such obvious wealth doing in this part of the kingdom? Lost, perhaps?
He watched the figure scan their surroundings, eyes darting anxiously.
Yes, clearly lost.
The individual turned and stepped through the double doors of a tavern—Hongjoong’s favorite tavern.
This actually worked out in his favor hadn't it.
A smirk tugged at his lips as he lingered a moment before following suit.
Smells of cheap alcohol and tobacco assaulted his senses as he stepped into the establishment. Tables were already filled by men and women alike, their laughter and conversations blending into a low hum for mid-day.
His target sat at a corner in the back of the tavern, sticking out like a sore thumb, gaining attention from a table of not so kind looking men. Hongjoong recognized them as a troubled group known for causing a ruckus around these parts.
A burly man with a nasty cut on his temple rose from his stool, walking towards his target to strike up a conversation.
Hongjoong was not going to let them steal his carrot when it was dangling right in front of him, so be damned.
He moved quickly, bypassing barmaids with glasses balanced on plates, swiftly snagging one for himself as he went. The barmaid gave him a look, but let it go as she saw who it was that had snatched the alcohol.
Five, four, three… Hongjoong counted down to one before slipping into his persona. He placed an arm around his target leaning his body forward to look up into their face.
“Darling, there you are. I've been looking for you everywhere.”
Golden eyes.
Golden eyes shone back at him with an almost intensity that sent a ripple of something unsettling and thrilling down Hongjoong's spine.
This man was undeniably, irreversibly, the most striking person Hongjoong had ever laid his eyes upon.
"May I help you?" the burly man asked, seemingly pissed off at Hongjoong’s arrival.
Hongjoong had to will himself to look away just to address the other in front of them. “Sorry, have I interrupted something?” He asked unkindly.
“Yes, you did mate.” the man growled.
Hongjoong ignored him, turning back to the golden-eyed stranger who was already staring back at him.
"Darling, you know how I hate it when you disappear like this," he purred, dripping with feigned affection. "I've been looking all over for you."
The golden-eyed man’s lips twitched into a sly smile, his golden gaze narrowing just enough to show he understood the unspoken game Hongjoong had set up.
This one was smart, Hongjoong thought.
He glanced at Hongjoong, his expression shifting into one of playful curiosity. "Ah," he said, leaning back slightly but allowing Hongjoong's arm to remain there, "It seems I’ve been caught, haven’t I? And here I was thinking I could escape unnoticed.” His voice was smooth like fine wine, pleasing to the ears.
Hongjoong felt his lips curling, pleased. "Well, it’s no use hiding now," he said softly, his fingers lightly brushing against the stranger’s sleeve. "I’ll never let you out of my sight again."
The golden-eyed man chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the role they were now both playing. He leaned in just a little, his voice low and smooth, "You always were a bit possessive, weren’t you?" He said, tone affectionate.
"Only when it comes to you," Hongjoong replied smoothly, his gaze steady and his smirk unwavering.
"Well, then," he said, his voice a touch more serious, "I suppose I should stop making you chase me."
Fuck.
He knew that Hongjoong was tailing him. How? He had made sure he was careful.
Hongjoong didn’t let his surprise show. He kept his face cool, his grip subtly tightening on the stranger’s arm, “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
Without breaking eye contact, the stranger placed a hand over Hongjoong's and gently but firmly lifted it from his shoulder. His fingers danced across Hongjoong’s skin, a calculated move, making sure Hongjoong’s hand was securely held between them.
“Then shall we be off?” the stranger asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips, the words dripping with something that hinted at a challenge.
Hongjoong was momentarily thrown off, the shift in power subtle but undeniable. He didn’t falter though. His smirk deepened, and he let the stranger lead for now. This was just another game. A game that Hongjoong had no intention of losing. "Lead the way, darling," he said smoothly, voice unwavering.
“Oh, wait–”
He took the glass of beer he was holding and shoved it at the burly man that was still scowling at the display in front of him.
“Take this– for the trouble.”
The midday sun hit them as they stepped outside, the sharp contrast to the tavern’s dim interior jarring. Hongjoong barely had time to catch his breath before the stranger leaned in close, his golden eyes glinting with mischief and something deeper.
“Quick thinking in there,” the stranger murmured, his voice low enough for only Hongjoong to hear. “But you’re playing a dangerous game.”
Hongjoong grinned, his heart pounding with the thrill of it all. “I never play any other kind.”
The stranger released his hold on Hongjoong once further away. Stepping back, he leveled him with an appraising gaze. Hongjoong mirrored the gesture, his eyes sharp and discerning.
No doubt this man was one of wealth, but perhaps not the obvious, ostentatious kind. No, there was something about him that suggested he belonged to a more intrinsic, rarified class of luxury.
His hair was longer than any man's Hongjoong had encountered, and he’d seen his fair share. The glossy strands tumbled, effortlessly elegant, yet kissed by a hint of wildness. It made Hongjoong acutely aware of his own choppy red hair, hacked unevenly to rest just above his neck in what passed for a style, if only barely.
The clothing he wore was simple yet—not. A typical loose shirt paired with black trousers. However what caught Hongjoong’s eye was the strikingly ornate jacket that laid across his shoulders— a diamond pattern of alternating pink and blue with golden trim that was unique.
Hongjoong could appreciate good style.
“I should thank you for getting me out of a sticky situation. How could I repay you?”
Hongjoong shook his head. “No need.”
The stranger cocked an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me you did all of that just for the hell of it?”
He chuckled, placing his gloved hands in his pockets. “What can I say, maybe I wanted to help a handsome gentleman out. Would hate to see a pretty face such as yours get hurt.”
“I see,” he nodded. The man stepped forward until he was in Hongjoong's personal space. He was a little taller than Hongjoong, but not by much, not like Yunho. He peered down at him with those piercing gold eyes that seemed to shine even brighter close up. He lifted his hand gently, taking Hongjoong's chin in his grasp, eliciting a startled gasp from his lips. “Then I suppose you wouldn't be needing my pendant you have tucked away in your trousers, now would you?”
Hongjoong’s breath hitched, his smirk faltering for just a second. He quickly recovered, tilting his chin slightly within the stranger’s grasp, eyes glinting with defiance.
“Ah,” he drawled. “You caught that too, did you?”
The stranger’s lips curled in amusement, his thumb brushing the edge of Hongjoong’s jaw. “I did. And while I appreciate the flattery, I find I appreciate my belongings even more.”
“I don't think so,” he hummed.
Hongjoong knew how to pick and choose his targets. He also knew when to pick and choose his battles.
It was time to run.
Yunho was an exceptional fighter. He could pin anyone down in a matter of seconds. However, he had never been able to best Hongjoong. Hongjoong was small in stature yet quick in his movements.
He flashed a grin—half apology, half cocky—before dropping all of his weight down and then swiping his leg out to knock the stranger off his feet. The man fell backwards on his bottom with a surprised grunt.
Hongjoong sprinted, heart pounding in his chest as he made his escape, barely avoiding a bystander he narrowly dodged, a colorful string of insults thrown his way as he kept running.
The main street stretched before him, and he followed it until a collapsed cobblestone wall appeared. Without breaking stride, he leaped over the broken stones, careful to land on the ones that wouldn’t topple beneath him.
He veered into the narrow alleyway to his right, just as the turn came up. His feet nearly stumbled as his body twisted in time with the quick maneuver.
No loud footsteps or shouting followed him, confirming that he’d managed to lose his pursuer. Catching Hongjoong was never easy. His speed only grew when a chase was on, spurred by the threat of being caught.
A glance over his shoulder confirmed it—no sign of the handsome stranger in the mouth of the alley.
Ducking beneath rusted metal stairs hanging from a fire escape, Hongjoong grabbed the bottom rung and yanked it down the rest of the way. Flecks of navy paint rubbed off onto his gloves as he swiftly climbed upwards.
Atop the roof, Hongjoong sprawled across the clay tiles, taking a deep breath. If Yunho got reported a red-haired stranger to the military officers again, Hongjoong would definitely catch an earful. He wouldn't count it against his brother to drag him to the bathroom himself to dye his hair black. He sighed,not quite liking the idea very much.
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, it would have to be a necessary sacrifice. Even if black was such a drab color.
Hongjoong retrieved the pendant admiring the tear-shaped gold. It was unique just like it's owner, the gold shining like his eyes.
What a peculiar man. He wondered if he was from around here. No one in this country harbored eyes the color of sunlight.
The item had to fetch for a high price. Maybe if he told Eden that it was from abroad he could get a better deal. No, Eden still owed him. He would get the money. It would be enough.
His fingers grazed the pendant, and at first, it was nothing more than a soft coolness against his skin. But then, a sharp jolt of pain coursed through his fingers. Hongjoong's breath hitched, and before he could fully comprehend it, the pain intensified. He hissed, instinctively clutching the pendant tightly to his chest, as if to quell whatever had seized him.
In the chaos of his reaction, the pendant nearly slipped from his grasp, threatening to tumble off the edge of the roof.
With clenched teeth and trembling hands, Hongjoong peeled off his leather glove.
The skin beneath was stained black, the marks darkening his fingers as though they were etched into him. The inky discoloration spread like an unshakable shadow creeping up towards his wrist.
"That curse looks quite nasty, I must say. Looks like it's a progressing type. Haven't seen one of those in a while."
Hongjoong's eyes snapped to the side, and he saw those golden eyes blinking at him, now standing right beside him. His heart skipped a beat as he quickly recoiled, his heels scraping against the tiles as he tried to put distance between them.
"What are you doing here? How—how did you even get up here?" he demanded, voice tight.
He hadn’t heard a sound. If he took the stairs he would have heard the rattling of the metal. What did he do, fly up there with a hoverboard?
He ignored Hongjoong's protest, stepping forward and grabbing his wrist to inspect the skin. Hongjoong hissed as the man's fingers prodded the blackened marks, sending a sharp jolt through him.
“Hmm, nasty indeed.” the man murmured to himself. “ I see the Wicked Witch of the Waste is up to her old tricks again. What did you do? Steal from her as you did I?”
Hongjoong stared up at the man baffled. How did he know by just a glance that he was cursed by the Witch of the Waste.
The man smiled to himself, something akin to danger on the lines of his mouth. “Don't worry my dear, I won't curse you like she did. I don't fault you in your love of jewelry. I'm also fond of–” he tilts his head, eyes shining brighter, if that was even possible. "—shiny things.”
Hongjoong pulled his wrist free, glaring at the man who only blinked at him as if he did nothing out of the ordinary.
“Who are you?”
"I'm a collector, you might say," the man continued, his tone both casual and calculating. "I have a certain... appreciation for things that sparkle in the light. The way they catch your eye, how they seem to shine when you twist them just so."
He stepped back slightly, his gaze still sharp, as though weighing every part of Hongjoong with an unsettling calm.
"You're no different," he mused, his lips curving. "The way your eyes gleam... It's almost like they hold a secret, twinkling just beneath the surface." His voice dropped lower, as if savoring the words. "I find that kind of fire quite captivating. I would love to add you to my collection.”
“You're crazy,” Hongjoong spat, pushing himself up from the roof, his legs shaky beneath him.
The man had the audacity to look appalled. “Why does everyone keep saying that?” he muttered under his breath.
Hongjoong’s eyes flickered, scanning the area. If he made a running start, he could jump to the neighboring roof. The distance wasn’t too daunting—he’d jumped from higher.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
Hongjoong’s stomach dropped, and suddenly, instead of staring at the neighboring roof, he found himself staring at the stranger’s face—upside down.
He gasped, his stomach churning. "What the hell—" he screamed.
He was floating. Or flying?
Fuck, this man was a wizard.
Out of all the people to steal from, he had the worst luck. A damn wizard.
Wait…
Hongjoong's brain was whirring a mile a minute, the color draining from his face as he pieced it together. A man that controlled the winds and could fly. A man that was charming and had a handsome face.
“You're Hwa.”
The wizard blinked and then slowly a wicked grin took over his features. “ You're the first person to have figured it out.”
With a flick of his finger Hongjoong was yanked forward as if he was being pulled by an invisible string, stopping inches from Hwa's golden gaze.
“I liked it better when there was no one who knew who I was.” His smile dropped leaving behind a cold expression that chilled his blood.
“Let's keep it that way.”
Hongjoong didn't have time to respond or scream for help before his vision turned black.
Fuck. He was going to die.