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It was scary how similar the Wonderland counterparts were to his friends. It was even scarier how many times Junhui had caught himself reacting to the wrong versions of these people. How did Wonwoo do this on the daily?
“Wonu-ya…” Junhui groaned while flopping onto the other man’s bed. “Help me…”
Wonwoo glanced over from his gaming desk, the colourful RGB of his PC lighting up the room. Junhui had come over on a whim. Mingyu wasn’t here, having gone out with some of his friends for drinks. It was the perfect time to actually talk.
Just over a month had passed since he fully realised he was in Wonderland and everything was real. In that time Junhui had learnt what to do as the Diamonds Cheshire Cat and managed to get on the Queen of Diamonds’ good side. At least, enough of the good side that he wasn’t glared at or scolded for no reason. It was only a slightly huffy Seungkwan that would still laugh at his silly antics and jokes.
But he was so exhausted. His bodies may be well rested but his mind was constantly working now. His attempts at napping in Wonderland merely woke him in his bed in the human world. He wasn’t getting any more rest trying to sleep or nap so he just…tried to live.
“Help with what?” Wonwoo asked, his tone light but not exactly friendly.
This was another thing he struggled to understand. The switch of Wonwoo’s personality when he went from Jeon Wonwoo a K-Pop idol to the Queen of Spades.
“How do you keep everybody separate?” Junhui mumbled anyway. He pillowed his head on his arms while watching his same aged friend game. “Do you not mix them up like ever?”
Wonwoo’s fingers stumbled over the keyboard, leading his character to die. He stared at the red defeat screen for a moment before removing his headphones.
“You get used to it,” was the dry reply. Junhui frowned. Wonwoo glanced at him and there was something…conflicted there. “…I can’t afford to mix you up. If I do…the risks are too great.”
Junhui tilted his head.
“How so?”
Wonwoo sighed. He gestured vaguely, suddenly feeling much older than he was.
“I can’t afford for any of the other Royal Cards to become humans. Can you imagine Seventeen running Wonderland?”
Junhui laughed at the sheer thought.
“No. I think the kingdoms would suffer.”
“Exactly.” Wonwoo huffed, leaning back in his seat. “This is why we have to keep this between us. It will be too easy for the rest of Seventeen to become Dreamers if they’re aware that Wonderland is real.”
“But what are the chances of them not figuring it out?” Junhui countered. He sat up, his back beginning to hurt laying on his stomach. “They know us pretty well. And I can already tell Minghao’s suspicious of my ‘sleep’ schedule.”
His best friend had asked him multiple times if he were getting enough sleep or if he were unwell. Junhui had managed to negate his worries for now but there were only so many excuses he could use before Minghao took matters into his own hands.
“…I don’t know,” Wonwoo heaved in a sigh. “Just…we just have to hope that it doesn’t happen. Wonderland really can’t have another Royal out of the picture…”
Junhui bit the inside of his cheek so not to comment. He knew enough to know Wonwoo felt guilty for being stuck here. And he could see why, too. The pressure the King of Spades was under – even with a kingdom of ghosts – was immense. It was no wonder the Spades were so reclusive with all of Mingyu’s attention being on the kingdom and providing the best comforts he could for the ghosts.
At least, that was what Seungkwan told him. It didn’t matter their people didn’t need to eat or sleep. It didn’t change the fact it was still a kingdom filled with citizens who needed attention.
“We should sleep soon,” Wonwoo mumbled. Junhui snapped out of his thoughts. “Are you staying over?”
“I guess I should, huh?” It was already dark outside after all. “Can I use the spare room?”
Wonwoo nodded. Junhui followed him out of the bedroom to set up the spare bed. In a few minutes they’d be miles away from each other despite sleeping only a room away.
Chan was the most normal. Maybe. Hopefully most likely.
Junhui awoke in the same spot he had fallen asleep in. A little nook in the library with a stained glass window. He stretched out his limbs, groaning quietly at the nice feeling. It was rare for him to awaken where he had napped. More often than not the Queen of Diamonds would move his limp body while he was awake. Normally to the large cat bed in the royal bedroom. He didn’t necessarily like the bed. It just felt…wrong.
Nevertheless, Junhui had left the library not even a handful of seconds ago before he was running into a familiar face.
“Ah Jun!” Chan caught him by the arms so they didn’t collide. Junhui blinked once before smiling sheepishly. “You’re here early!”
“Well we had an earlier rehearsal.” He stepped out of Chan’s grip. The Jabberwocky still grinned, his sharper teeth visible. “Where are you going?”
“Outside. I feel like a fly. Do you want to come?”
Junhui’s eyes widened. A fly? As in Chan’s proper dragon form?! He hadn’t seen it yet. To be honest he didn’t think he’d ever see it.
“Yes please.”
Laughing, Chan grabbed his hand and led him down the hall. Junhui looked out the passing windows. It was warm already despite the sun only just colouring the sky blue. It must be early morning…which he supposed lined up with the reasonable time they had gone to bed.
They left the castle to enter the large courtyard in the back. The gardens were not far but it was the packed dirt that Chan led them to rather than the green hedges. The Jabberwocky let go of his hand to stand in the centre of the yard. Junhui kept his distance.
“Soo this is your first time seeing a dragon, right?” Chan asked. “You don’t have us in your world, right?”
Junhui chuckled lightly. Chan looked so innocent with his wide eyes and curious head tilt. Like an excited puppy.
“No we don’t have dragons in my world,” the Cheshire Cat agreed. Chan nodded once, starting to pull off his sleeveless vest. “Will you have to strip?”
Chan shrugged. He threw the vest to the side, leaving him naked from the waist up. Or, mostly naked. Chan usually wore these beautiful golden cuffs around his biceps, forearms and wrists. Similar to the golden collar but less of a chaining and more of a design choice.
“My pants are spelled to melt into my scales,” the Jabberwocky explained while taking a few more steps backwards. “Just in case, you know? It’s better to rip a shirt than pants.”
Junhui nodded. He could understand that. This version of Lee Chan had no reason to hide with those ripped muscles and tanned flesh. Dino was muscular too, don’t get him wrong, but this dragon had a stronger build. Something earned from training to fight rather than to dance.
“I’m gonna shift now so teleport away if I kick up too much dust, ok?”
Junhui held up a thumbs up. He braced himself to teleport. It wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be to learn how to do. He just had to know where he wanted to go to be able to go there. Think about it hard enough and he’d appear.
Thankfully he did not need to back even further away. He shielded his eyes from the small dust cloud that wafted over to him.
When he could see again, he audibly gasped.
The Jabberwocky was nothing like the one in the movie adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. It wasn’t black or frilled necked. No Chan was somewhat closer to a classic wyvern. His arms were wings, claws on the tips as feet. His scales were a deep red, his horns an even darker grey black and swept back off his head. His tail was long with a leaf shaped tuff of fur on the end. His eyes glowed a bright green.
“Wow…”
Junhui’s ears stood tall as he stared at the large dragon. He had to be the size of a house at least!
Chan lowered his long neck so his snout was almost directly in front of Junhui. The human took a few steps closer, hands naturally raising to touch. He brushed his fingers against his cheek, surprised by the warmth on his smooth scales. Chan grumbled, almost like a purr, and leaned into the touch.
“Can you speak like this?” he asked with a curious head tilt.
Chan made another grumble like sound. Smoke curled out of his slightly parted jaws. It was hard not to notice the glinting rows of sharp, white teeth.
“No?” Junhui prompted. Chan nodded, straightening up only to sit like a dog. Junhui’s head still barely reached his lighter toned stomach. “Well you wanted to fly, right?”
Chan nodded again, grinning his sharp fangs. He jumped back to his back legs, one large wing coming towards Junhui. The human yelped when he was scooped off his feet, cushioned by the membrane of his wings rather than the talons acting as feet.
Chan lifted him best he could to his back. Junhui teleported onto the scaled spine, sitting comfortably behind his head. Excitement bubbled up inside him as he ran his hand along one hard horn. Chan shivered, taking a few steps backwards.
“Does that feel nice?” Another quiet purr. “Where are we going?”
Chan didn’t give him much of an answer. Instead, he opened his winged arms. Junhui gently gripped onto the back of his neck, clenching his legs around it.
The Jabberwocky pushed upwards into what would be a jump. His wings snapped opened and he propelled himself upwards. Junhui gasped, his stomach swooping like it would on a rollercoaster. He leaned forwards, hugging Chan a little tighter.
The ground disappeared too quickly to notice. Junhui’s ears twitched and flicked as they rose higher and higher. His breathing wasn’t too compromised even when they broke above the very few clouds in the sky.
At a curious grumble, Junhui opened his eyes. He shakily sat up, staring at their surroundings. His tail twitched upwards, a smile growing across his face.
“Woah…it’s so beautiful…”
Chan made a sound of agreement. Junhui could only stare in awe as they glided across the blue sky. The warmth of the sun tingled his bare skin. He pulled a few more of the silk bandages around himself, instinctively wanting to cover up now that he had been reminded of his mostly nude state. He didn’t think a sunburn from a questionable environmental system would be very pleasurable.
The Kingdom of Diamonds glimmered below them. Ruby red jewels coupled with unblemished white stones. The houses surrounding the city were just as clean and beautiful, made of whites and greys. The people were as small as ants, going about their everyday.
Looking further out there were trees as far as he could see. Large expanses of greenery, reaching far and wide. He followed the road into their kingdom before it too disappeared under the canopies of the forest.
“This is amazing…” He leaned down to pet the side of Chan’s head. The Jabberwocky gave a curious grumble, tilting his head enough that his glowing green eye could slide in Junhui’s direction. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Chan grinned all his sharp teeth. With a roar, he propelled them faster across the sky. Junhui clung onto him with a startled laugh.
For all his qualms about Wonderland, it really was fascinating.
There were a few hard and fast rules with it came to the King and Queen of Diamonds. First and foremost, don’t piss them off.
They were supposed to represent sanity in Wonderland. But really they were just as insane as everyone else. Just better at hiding it. They may think things through more often but that didn’t change the fact that Vernon enjoyed his murder sprees and Seungkwan loved playing ringmaster with the staff. They weren’t nice but who really was?
Junhui had learnt fast not to speak to the King of Diamonds without permission. Not even Chan or Jaeran would confidently speak to Vernon. He was just too unpredictable. It was best to wait and see what mood he was in before attempting to talk.
They were prideful, the Diamonds. Both of them stubborn and set in their ways, refusing to see reason until it was thrown in their face. He had heard horror stories of the couple’s blow ups but had never witnessed one.
He did not expect their argument to affect him in his own world.
It had been any other day. Seventeen were recording lines for their newest song – this being Maestro. They had just released their Seventeenth Heaven album. This was their next big schedule before the Follow Again Tour and preparing for their final albums before Jeonghan went to military.
Nevertheless, Junhui had been mindlessly going through his lines. He bopped his head along to the music, singing into the microphone under Jihoon and Bumzu’s watchful eyes.
At the first grip of a hand on his arm, he flinched.
Junhui stopped singing. He turned to look at his arm, frowning at the phantom sensation. Had he imagined that? Someone touching him?
“Jun?” Jihoon’s voice came through the intercom. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, ah, no. Sorry.” He shook his head. He must have imagined it. It wasn’t like he was ever mentally well rested anymore. “Um, can I try again?”
Jihoon nodded and the music was repeating. Letting out a breath, Junhui focused on his lines again. He read them over, listening to the lyrics already recorded from other members.
Just as he opened his mouth, there was another touch. This time on his lower back.
He jumped forward, his hand coming up behind him. He looked over his shoulder, eyes wide with owlish confusion. What was going on?
“I’m sorry,” he quickly said while looking back to the window for twin confused stares, “I think there’s a bug or something.”
Woozi waved off his concern and the music began again. Huffing, Junhui gripped the paper tighter. He would ignore whatever this thing was. He had to get this done or else the whole schedule would be out of whack–
Two hands gripped his forearms. He stiffened and tried to ignore the tightening touch. His words trembled a little, already ruining the recording, but he refused to stop now that he was starting.
“Jun!” He gasped, freezing entirely. “Jun wake up!”
Chan’s voice echoed loudly in his ears. The hands on his arms pulled away only to grab him by the shoulders. Junhui stumbled backwards, his vision fuzzing violently.
He stared at the microphone. On the next blink, it was Chan’s fearful face. Black tinged his vision as a falling sensation began to befall him.
“Jun!” he vaguely heard Jihoon’s concerned shout.
He was falling. Collapsing. There was a moment, a moment of freefall, before his back slammed into a soft cushion.
Junhui gasped, his eyes springing open. Chan’s glowing green eyes greeted him, relief filling them then panic.
“Get up!” the Jabberwocky shouted, tugging at his limbs. Junhui groaned, struggling to get his body under control. “We have to go!”
“Go…?”
Chan pulled him to his feet. He took off running. Junhui stumbled after him. Phantom hands brushed his shoulders, tapped his cheek.
“Jun?” he could hear Woozi. “Shit he passed out!”
Junhui shook his head hard. His vision was still shaky but Jihoon’s hands were beginning to fade away. Chan’s claws felt even more solid, digging into the thin skin of his wrist. Groaning again, Junhui forced himself to focus on his feet. He quickly caught up with Chan.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Why did you wake me up?”
Chan shook his head. They ran outside. Junhui blinked in surprise when Jaeran joined them. The Diamond’s rabbit appeared to have been waiting for them.
“We wanted to move you but it was better to wake you up to get outside,” Chan blabbered, stilling holding onto him. They were running towards the forest near the dirt yard Chan liked to train on. “Plus we would have been caught if I picked you up–”
“Explain inside!” Jaeran shouted over him. “We don’t have tim–”
Boom!
Junhui yelped. He looked over his shoulder, stumbling when Chan picked up the pace. Jaeran gripped his other arm, the two servants dragging him into the forest.
“Oh my god…”
One of the pristine white walls of the castle crumbled into pieces. The bricks rolled down the large building, slamming into the ground and kicking up clouds of dust. Junhui could only stare at the now exposed rooms and destruction.
“A-Are we under attack?!” He stared at the two in shock. “Why are we running? Shouldn’t we help–”
“It’s the Royals!” Jaeran interrupted.
…huh?
They skidded to a stop. Trees surrounded them on all sides. The ground was covered in leaves and bracken. Jaeran let go of him to crouch down. Junhui’s ears twitched with the rustle of the detritus.
“In here,” the bunny mumbled.
She pulled up a trap door. Chan nudged him to go first. Swallowing thickly, Junhui climbed into the dark hole. He looked up to find Jaeran climbing in after him.
The ladder didn’t lead too far down. Enough that they were definitely underground but no more than a basement, maybe. Standing at the bottom, Junhui couldn’t help likening it to a rabbit burrow.
“This way,” Jaeran whispered, taking his hand in a much gentler manner.
The heavy groan of the trapdoor closing plunged them into darkness. Thankfully all three of them had night vision. He still held onto the rabbit’s hand a little tighter.
The packed earth corridor gave way to a circular room. He blinked once, twice.
It was a bunker. An actual bunker but with an apartment aesthetic in a couch, mini kitchen and other living room objects filling the space.
“…what is actually happening?” he asked, his voice quiet with shocked confusion.
Chan and Jaeran exchanged wary looks. The Jabberwocky sighed first. He gestured to the couch.
“Sit down. You might wake up in the human world at any moment.”
While true, it wasn’t his main concern right now. Nevertheless, Junhui perched on the plush couch. It was the same as the ones in the drawing rooms.
“Ok so,” Jaeran began, rocking back and forth on her feet, “when our King and Queen argue, things can get…a little out of hand.” She gestured vaguely, her ears twitching and bending over at the tops. “The castle is spelled, by our Queen, to rebuild itself when damaged. That is why it is in such good condition all the time. However that was made because our Royals are…not very good with anger management.”
Junhui stared for all of a second.
“…that makes sense…”
He glanced up at the roof. The flames flickered yellow light on the walls, making shadows dance across the roof. He supposed it made more sense for Seungkwan and Vernon to fight…they fought in his world too. Not super explosively but Seungkwan had a reputation for being piety and stubborn and Vernon was, well Vernon. He was stubborn too but he didn’t usually fight.
But maybe in another world he might have more ammunition to throw around…more power. More of a care.
“They’re having an argument,” Chan mumbled. Junhui focused on him again. “A big one. It’s safer for us to be here because they usually destroy everything.”
The cat’s eyes widened in surprise, his ears standing up.
“Everything?”
“Everything,” Chan repeated. “Like, all the staff in there right now are gonna be dead by the time they’re done fighting. That’s why we run. ‘Cause we can’t die.” He pointed at himself then Junhui. “If I die then that means they don’t have a Jabberwocky anymore and they can’t risk that. And if you die then you’ll die in the human world and that’s not good for you.”
“Right…” Junhui sighed, sinking into the couch. “So…how long do you think this will take?”
“A few hours?” Jaeran suggested. She moved to sit down too, brushing her long brown hair off her shoulder. “Hopefully they’re done before dinner.”
Chan hummed an agreement. He sank to the ground at Jaeran’s feet, resting his head on her leg. She absentmindedly began petting his head, a fond smile twitching at her lips. Junhui avoided his gaze. He had only been here a month and he still couldn’t figure out if there was something between the two or if it was just an over friendliness from living together for so long.
“Sorry for waking you,” Chan whispered.
Junhui waved him off.
“It’s ok…I was recording something but I’ll just have to make up for it.” He sighed, shoulder’s sagging. “I just hope they aren’t freaking out about me passing out. Hao’s going to berate me forever…he already thinks I’m not taking care of myself.”
Jaeran frowned and Chan blinked like a curious puppy.
“Hao as in Minghao?” the Jabberwocky asked. Junhui nodded. “Are you two together in your world too?”
Junhui’s face warmed. He shook his head even as the thought settled in his mind. He kind of assumed the Wonderland versions of them were in some form of a romantic relationship. He had only met Cheshire Minghao once and he had been stormier than anything. Junhui had never expected to be faced with such anger from his best friend but there he was, being scrutinized like a bug and then scoffed at as if he were the most disgusting thing the other had ever laid eyes on.
But he knew Minghao and if anything, that was him trying to cope with the truth that his Junhui was gone. Temporarily but Jun still felt guilty for it.
“We’re best friends,” Junhui answered the still waiting dragon. Chan made a quiet ‘ah’ sound. “I’m not sure if Hao would even be interested in me.”
Chan tilted his head. Jaeran’s ear flicked.
“Are you interested in your Minghao then?” the bunny asked.
Junhui shrugged this time. He couldn’t deny the fluttering feeling in his gut whenever Minghao did something particularly cute or fascinating. Not to mention he was attractive and one of the most interesting people he knew. He felt immensely comfortable with Minghao.
Would he say no if the prospect of dating ever came up? Probably not. But was he willing to ruin their friendship for it? No, not really either. Unless Minghao was interested in return he was happy to keep their relationship platonic…
“I’m not sure.” The Cheshire Cat curled up onto the couch. “I think I’m going to try sleeping. Is that ok?”
They both nodded, with Chan’s, “We’ll try not to wake you again.”
Smiling gratefully, Junhui closed his eyes. He hoped he hadn’t caused too much of a stir back at home…
It was quiet.
Slowly, Junhui opened his eyes. He glanced around, feeling disorientated and exhausted. Eventually he realised he was in the infirmary at the Hybe building. He was in one of the beds.
“So the Diamonds are arguing, are they?”
Junhui yelped. His head snapped to the side, eyes wide. Wonwoo smirked back, one leg crossed over the other. He was seated in one of the sofas in the corner of the room. There was a tall mirror on the wall beside him.
“H-How did you know?”
Wonwoo nodded to the mirror. Junhui sucked in a breath when something black with a pair of white eyes formed in the reflected corner. Wonwoo’s reflection’s eyes flickered silver.
“I asked what happened,” the other man stated as if that were the most normal thing in the world. The black mass began to shrink and solidify into something slender. “It told me there was an argument, and the servants had to wake you to take you somewhere safe.”
Junhui sat up with a light grunt. His head pounded but it was nothing water and rest couldn’t fix.
“Yeah…apparently they kill people when they fight?”
Wonwoo nodded again. The black mass was a snake now. It’s white eyes still glowed brightly in the mirror. It slithered onto Wonwoo’s reflection’s shoulders. Wonwoo glanced at his own shoulder as if he could feel it.
“The Diamonds are supressed,” Wonwoo explained quietly. Junhui listened, always eager to learn more about his new second life. “They represent sanity and in doing so they have to be responsible and just. You know of their reputation.” Junhui hummed an agreement. “But that doesn’t change the fact they are Wonderlandians and sometimes they need to blow off steam in the most practical way. The Hearts might kill the most people yearly but the Diamonds own the title for most massacres.”
Junhui shook his head with slow disbelief. Wonderland was such an insane place…
“What about here?” Junhui asked. Wonwoo looked at him now. The shadow snake began to wisp away. “Did I cause a problem?”
Wonwoo smiled, some of his usual personality flickering back to life.
“No. You’ve worried the others but other than that the doctor’s putting it down to dehydration and a lack of sleep.”
Junhui breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good…god I hope this doesn’t happen often.”
“You can ask Chan and Jaeran not to wake you.”
Junhui nodded. He probably would. He couldn’t pass out too often. He didn’t need Minghao and Seungcheol on his back.
“Get some rest while you have the chance,” Wonwoo said, his voice softer. Junhui met his gaze with a smile of his own. “Just try not to fall asleep.”
“Will do. I don’t think I can watch those two for long without assuming things.”
Wonwoo smirked. The shadow was definitely gone in the mirror but it didn’t stop the man’s reflection from having that silver glow in the irises.
“They’re not as explicit as the others, are they?” Junhui blinked, confused. “I’m pretty sure Channie has a crush on Jaeran but they haven’t actually acted on their feelings for centuries.” Wonwoo shrugged to Junhui’s surprise. “Chan is babied a lot. Makes it hard for the others to see him as an adult.”
“Like our Chan,” Junhui chuckled.
Wonwoo laughed too.
“You’re not wrong.” He leaned back in the sofa with a quiet sigh. His gaze drifted to the mirror. “I remember when Chan hatched. He was still an egg when he came into our hands.” Junhui shifted closer, leaning on his legs to listen. “He’s the only servant who has been born and raised in the kingdoms. The others were all found and ‘adopted’,” he made quotation marks with his fingers, “at younger ages. But being the youngest Chan is still treated as the baby. Doesn’t change the fact he fought in the War and has killed hundreds of people over his lifespan.”
Junhui nodded slowly, mulling the information over. He hadn’t known Chan was born in the Kingdom of Diamonds but it kind of explained the way the Royals treated him. In a way he was their kid. They had raised him, from birth, and shaped him into who he was today. It was no wonder Seungkwan would rather Chan not get involved in any violence despite being one of the most dangerous creatures in the castle.
“How did the other servants come to the kingdoms?” Junhui asked.
Wonwoo hesitated. Something flickered across his face, something conflicted, before the door opened.
“Oh you’re awake!” Junhui smiled at the nurse. “Let me check you and then you can go.”
“Thank you.”
Junhui glanced at Wonwoo but his friend was already getting up to leave.
“I’ll wait outside,” was the mumble before he was gone.
Weird…something told him there was more to the other servants than what meets the eye. He wanted to learn about the history of Wonderland. The history of the Royals and their servants. How did they all come to be? How did they get to where they were? How much has changed in the years of their lives?
Maybe he’d ask Wonwoo again but not today.
That night he woke to the same bunker.
Junhui sat up slowly. His ears twitched as he just as slowly adjusted to the new area. The torches had been dimmed and some items had moved. It was eerily quiet.
“…Chan? Jaeran?”
He didn’t hear anything. Pulling the blanket that had been draped over him around himself, Junhui began to stand. He shuffled his way towards the tunnel that would lead outside. There wasn’t much else in the burrow besides that one room.
Tilting his head back revealed a very long tunnel upwards. He didn’t remember the climb down being that long but…
Sighing, the Cheshire used his powers to appear on the surface. Soft grass cushioned his feet and sun warmed the back of his neck. It smelt like smoke.
“Oh Jun! You’re back already?”
Junhui turned around with an ear twitch. Jaeran stepped out from between some large overgrown bushes. A basket filled with numerous bright coloured fruit hung off her arm.
“Yeah…what’s that?”
The bunny glanced down at her basket. She turned a bright smile up to him.
“Just some late breakfast. The castle’s still burning so we’re going to have to eat forest food.” Her smile shifted to a grimace. “Sorry. You probably won’t like it.”
Junhui shook his head with a gentle smile.
“I’m happy to try anything.” He pulled the blanket further around his shoulders. “Um, so, they’re still arguing?”
“Yep,” she said while popping the ‘p’. “Let’s go back down. I’ll start making something edible out of these,” she lifted the basket, “while we wait for Channie to come back with meat.”
“Meat?” Junhui echoed, tilting his head like the cat he now was. “There’s wildlife this close to a kingdom?”
Jaeran nodded. She began crouching down for the trapdoor. Junhui gently took her arm instead.
“I’ll teleport.”
“Oh thanks.”
Back underground, Jaeran moved to the small kitchen. Junhui followed behind her, curious and cautious. He wondered how long this argument would go on for. Seungkwan could hold a grudge. So could Vernon. Would their Wonderland counterparts reconcile faster with this explosive fight? Or would they secretly despise each other for as long as they could? Would little fights pop up or would all this blow over tomorrow?
“What are you thinking about?”
Junhui startled. He focused on Jaeran again. Her long ears flopped downwards like her hair, almost blending thanks to fur colouring. She had already set out some of the fruits to chop up.
“Nothing.”
“You’re worrying about something,” she corrected. “Besides the fact you can’t control your scent,” oh right that was a thing wasn’t it? “you’re terrible at controlling your tail.”
That was another one, huh? Junhui grabbed his flicking tail, sheepishly curling it around his waist. He stepped closer to Jaeran so he could watch her hands.
“How long do these arguments typically last?” he asked.
She shrugged.
“Sometimes only a day. Other times weeks.” Great. He didn’t want to be trapped down here for weeks. “This one might be done in a few days. We don’t know the details but I didn’t see anything new break today so…yeah.”
“…right…”
A click had their ears turning to the tunnel. Junhui looked over his shoulder while Jaeran leaned back to see past him.
Predictably Chan popped out of the gloom. In his claws was what looked like a deer but…not. It was mostly the same with tawny fur and white spots. However instead of four hooved feet it had paw like back feet. It had nubs where antlers might have been the previous season.
“Is that a deer?” Junhui asked anyway.
Chan grinned with an excited nod. He dropped the carcass on a rug. It was then Junhui noticed the bloody wound in the animal’s neck.
“Yep!” The Jabberwocky stepped over his hunt to join them in the kitchen. “I’m surprised there was one so close but,” he shrugged, “eh. It didn’t talk so figured it was fair game.”
Didn’t…talk?
“What?”
Chan waved the question away. He grabbed a knife before returning to the deer. Junhui turned his confused stare to Jaeran. For a moment she tried to ignore him. But one glance at his mildly concerned expression had her heaving a sigh.
“Talking means intelligence,” she stated matter of fact. “And sometimes that feels…wrong, for us.” She gestured at herself and Chan. “We’re not the royals. Killing people who are the same as us for food…it’s just wrong.”
Junhui frowned ever so slightly. He glanced back at Chan skinning their meal for the day.
“So you don’t eat talking animals?” he asked. “I thought most animals spoke in Wonderland?”
Jaeran winced. Chan’s hands stalled all of a second before he was continuing his task with more effort.
“It’s complicated,” the rabbit mumbled. “Things that talk are creatures. Animals can’t talk.” She set her own knife down; the colourful fruit diced into sizable pieces. “Animals are just animals.”
“But animals can learn.”
Junhui looked back at Chan. Chan set aside a patch of furry skin. Junhui tried not to stare too long at the exposed meat. He wasn’t normally squeamish but even he had to admit copious amounts of blood – real blood – was not enjoyable to watch.
“…what do you mean?”
Chan’s eyes flickered green. He glanced at Junhui then away again just as fast.
“The…hybrids,” he began hesitantly, “are not exactly…people, if that makes sense?” At the growing frown Chan groaned quietly. He continued faster, “Hybrids are sort of…kind of an evolved-ish version of animals? Like animals go two ways.” He raised his bloody hands, spreading them far apart. “They can become hybrids which means they stay in their humanoid form all the time and can’t actually shift back into their animal body. Or they’re like us,” he gestured to himself and Jaeran, “and are considered creatures because they can go back and forth between humanoid and animal.”
Junhui’s eyes widened. He knew Chan could shift – clearly – but Jaeran too?
“You can become a rabbit?” he asked her.
She nodded, ears twitching ever so slightly.
“You have to be considered a creature to become a rabbit of the Kingdoms,” she mumbled. There was something…bitter, in her voice. Like there was something more there that she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say. “But you have to be intelligent to be considered a creature,” she continued. “Just because you can shift between the forms doesn’t make you a creature.”
Her gaze flicked to Chan briefly before she turned back to the food. Junhui focused on the Jabberwocky again with even more questions.
“So its…like three levels?” Junhui asked innocently. “Creatures can shift and have the intelligence on par with humanity.” Chan flicked green irises his way. “Hybrids are stuck in their human forms but have bits of their animal instincts alongside intelligence. And animals are just creatures who don’t have the intelligence of humanity but can still shift between forms.”
Chan gave a slow nod. His clawed hands trembled ever so slightly as he tore open the ribcage of the unrecognisable deer.
“…kinda like that yeah…” Chan broke a rib bone. “But animals can learn. That’s…that’s how we got here…”
Junhui blinked innocently. He sat down nearby the other man. He pulled the blanket further around himself, his swishing tail hidden beneath.
“We as in the Jabberwockies?”
Chan flinched but he did nod again.
“IU learnt how to speak,” he mumbled, glowing green downcast. “She taught herself how to speak and hide and protect us…she could talk so the Kings took her. Took us.” He snapped another rib. “The Cheshires came on their own. Shua spoke to Queen Jeonghan. Taehyung proved his intelligence to Queen Jihoon. Minghao learned fast and Jun…” Chan looked up at him, “he was smart. Smarter than any other cat the Diamonds looked at.”
Something twisted inside Junhui’s chest. There was something…heavy in Chan’s voice. As if he knew deep down this situation wasn’t…right. Or normal. The Jabberwocky may be the youngest and may have not witnessed many of those stories himself but he knew the weight of being a creature. Of being considered an animal until proven otherwise.
Because that was what it was, wasn’t it? The Cheshire Cats had to prove themselves to the Queens to be…adopted? Wonwoo said they were adopted but the way Chan described it…
Taken.
“…what would have happened if none of you proved yourselves?”
Chan flinched again, but this time out of surprise. He stared at Junhui with wide, glowing eyes. Jaeran had gone quiet behind him too.
“W-What do you mean?” he asked quietly.
“If they thought you weren’t intelligent enough to be creatures,” Junhui said slowly, “would you still be here, or would you be living a different life?”
Chan blinked a couple times. His mouth opened only to close again with a flicker of confusion.
“I…I wouldn’t have left,” he whispered. “They taught me…I learnt here…I was raised here…” Something dark flashed across his face. “But…but if my siblings weren’t…good enough…”
“Don’t think about that.” Junhui and Chan jumped. Jaeran stood between them, a mix of anger and worry on her face. “It doesn’t matter because they’re here now. We’re here living this life.” She glared at Junhui. “Don’t freak him out like that. The Jabberwockies are safe. The Cheshire Cats have proven themselves over and over again. And the Rabbits are the only ones able to retire.” Junhui’s ear rose in surprise at that. “Now are we done with this conversation? The less we talk about politics the better.” She rolled her eyes in a very Seungkwan like manner. “Unlike our Royals we,” a finger waving between herself and Chan, “do not have the full sanity to cope with such serious conversations.”
Movement had Junhui focusing forward again. Chan shook himself. The green of his irises faded back to the normal brown.
“It’s fine.” He smiled faintly. “Things are weird but that’s how home is.” Yes but…it still sounded so wrong. “And this deer was an animal so we can eat it in peace.”
He turned back to his task of gutting the carcass. Junhui shuffled away for it.
“…sorry for asking so many questions…” Junhui eventually whispered.
Chan flashed him a bright smile and Jaeran waved the apology away.
“It’s ok,” she breathed. “Better us than the Cards.”
“Hmm yeah.” Chan chucked another bone onto the growing pile. “Our King wouldn’t be too happy.”
Junhui shuddered, earning laughter from the other two servants. They might joke about it but…
He didn’t think he could even ask Wonwoo without risking his life.
It bothered him more than he wanted it to.
Junhui couldn’t stop thinking about their conversation. Animals, hybrids and creatures. Who dictated those rules? The Royal Cards? He wondered why. Was it just to hire their servants? To ensure they had something smart enough to work for them? Or was there something else there?
It was odd too, how restricted yet flexible the system was. Each category tied these animal adjacent beings to a certain stereotype. But animals could become creatures. They could even technically become hybrids. All one had to do was teach it to be…human.
Which was weird, right? Wasn’t it strange? To think that Jabberwocky Chan had been considered a mindless animal when he was born, then grew into an intelligent creature? It was so confusing.
Despite the urge to ask, he kept the questions to himself. He didn’t want to make Chan and Jaeran more uncomfortable than they already were on the topic. And he definitely did not want to make Wonwoo angry. He still didn’t know much but he knew when Wonwoo went into scary Queen of Spades mode it was bad.
Actually speaking of Wonwoo…
Junhui looked up as Wonwoo approached. It was their lunch break from their respective schedules. It was purely coincidence they ran into each other.
“Hey,” Junhui greeted.
Wonwoo nodded in greeting while sitting down. He snapped open his chopsticks.
“So the Diamonds still fighting?”
Junhui groaned. At least Wonwoo started it this time.
“Yes. I wish I could sleep through it but…”
A wry smile slid across the younger’s face. Junhui unhappily ate his lunch. He wished it would be over. It wasn’t like the bunker wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just the atmosphere. The whole conversation had made Chan and Jaeran all…weird.
“They should be done soon,” Wonwoo mumbled. “They have to be or else Jeonghan will get involved.”
Junhui tilted his head.
“Why would Jeonghan…?”
Wonwoo waved it off as if he weren’t the one to bring it up.
“Things from the past. Jeonghan feels responsible for all of us.”
“Why?”
Wonwoo didn’t answer this time. Junhui mentally sighed. He let it go only because he knew he couldn’t force Wonwoo to tell him.
“Well I hope it’s over soon like you say…”
It took another two days before Junhui was waking up in the bunker to find the other two packing the things they brought.
“We can go back,” Jaeran explained at his sleepy stare. “Everything’s fixed.”
He perked up, the last dregs of his warm blanket fading away.
“Finally.” He stood up to help with the last couple of things. “Is it going to be busy in the castle?”
“Probably,” Chan answered this time. He slung a backpack over his shoulder. “But hey, we won’t have to do anything. Our Queen is probably going to shower us with presents since they almost killed us.”
Junhui, unfortunately, could see that happening. He followed Chan and Jaeran out of the bunker. They were right. The Diamonds Castle stood tall in all its glittering white glory. As if it hadn’t been mostly destroyed almost a week ago.
“…so what are the chances of something like this happening again any time soon?” he teasingly asked.
Chan laughed and Jaeran shook her head with a heavy sigh.
“Too soon,” the rabbit lamented.
Well…at least now Junhui knew how to handle it. A new rule to add to his list.
Don’t ever get in between a Diamonds argument.