The Masquerade (8/13)

[london9calling]

The Masquerade
Pairing: Xiumin / Luhan, side Kai / D.O.
Genre: Romance, Mystery, Regency inspired AU
Rating: NC-17
Length: Multi chaptered (93,555 words)
Summary: Minseok reluctantly attends the Kim family masquerade ball after three years of being shunned by high society due to a broken engagement. Luhan, the catch of the season, meets who he thinks is his boyfriend in a secluded alcove, greeting him with a passionate kiss. It is unfortunate that Minseok is wearing the same costume as Luhan’s boyfriend…or is it? A Regency Xiuhan story.

Previous Chapters [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Heechul hated when people mussed up his clothes. He would have to remind Luhan of this fact when he saw him next, because it was all Luhan’s fault. Most definitely Luhan’s fault.

“You created a diversion so they could escape!” Yunho practically growled the words into Heechul’s face, holding the man by the collar as he pushed him against the dining room wall. It was clear that there was no such thing as a second theft, the reason the Duke, Jongdae, and Junmyeon had been lured from the study. When they had arrived in the dining room, Heechul had only muttered some offhanded comment about a mistake of some sort.

“What? Me? No.” Heechul smiled slightly, annoyed his clothing was currently being torn asunder by an angry Yunho yet still finding a sliver of mirth in his trickery. He had acted as such for Luhan and Minseok, and in fact he did not really regret his actions.

“Let him go, Uncle.” Jongdae urged Yunho to unhand Heechul. There was no sense wasting precious minutes yelling at Heechul when Minseok and Luhan had taken flight. Yunho had already ordered two dozen men to give chase, scouring the city for the fugitives, yet his order did little in terms of uncovering more evidence.

Yunho let Heechul’s shirt collar go, ignoring the fact that such a sudden action had Heechul staggering to stay on his feet.

“We need to find them, and fast.” Yunho turned to Jongdae “Do you know where he could have run too?”

“I – no.” Jongdae still had a hard time believing they were currently pursuing Minseok. His best friend. A man he never, ever thought would be the target of an investigation. What had happened to turn the world upside down?

Yunho shook his head “I should have never let him work on this investigation. I should have known better than to let someone with such a past aid in something so sensitive.”

Jongdae bristled at his Uncle’s words. “I think he was framed. We can’t be sure it was him, not until we have more evidence. Are the jewels found in his house even the real jewels?”

“Jongdae, they found the stolen jewels – the real jewels - in D’Adderleigh’s home. He ran away. What other evidence do you need?” Yunho looked disappointed.

Jongdae still didn’t want to admit it. No, not Minseok. Anyone but Minseok.

“Bring me Lord Sehun, I have a few questions for him.” Yunho ordered his nephew.

Jongdae nodded. So Yunho still thought Sehun had something to do with the thefts as well? Before Jongdae could fetch Lord Sehun he was nearly knocked aside by a very distraught, very emotionally wrought Duchess, stomping towards Yunho.

“Are you saying my son ran away?! With a criminal?!” The Duchess of Hayden hissed under her breath, still not wanting to draw too much attention to the matter.

“Dear, please, let us discuss this.” The Duke tried to calm his wife down, but was circumvented by a few choice whacks from her hand fan.

“I demand to know where my son is!” She stamped her foot down. Jongdae now knew where Luhan got that particularly childish habit from.

“My grace, it would appear that your son’s fiancée is no better than a common criminal. Now, if you don’t want that fact completely known to everyone in attendance of the gala I suggest you put on a smile and go back to your party.” Yunho stared her down.

The Duchess gulped. Why had her son become entangled with such a man?

***

The rain fell in heavy sheets, the sound deafening as it hit the carriage roof.

“Where are we going?” Minseok asked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation.

“Somewhere where they will not find us.” Luhan answered vaguely. He grasped Minseok’s hand, squeezing tightly “Are you – are you well?”

“Yes.” Minseok squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, wishing he could change the last few hours, the last few days. He opened his eyes wide then, needing to know. “Do you know why they think I did it? Other than the necklace?”

“They found the jewels in your home. I heard Yunho and Jongdae talking.” Luhan explained.

Minseok swallowed, willing away the tears. So Jongdae…his best friend, suspected him too? Why was the world so cruel at times?

***

Sehun narrowed his eyes at Yunho. He knew the man – of course – how could he not. He was born of the higher social circles. However he was not entirely sure why he needed to meet with him, other than Jongdae reporting that his Uncle had something “important” to discuss with him.

Sehun sat in the small study, feeling the boredom overtake him as he waited for Yunho.

“Lord Sehun.” Yunho greeted him curtly as he entered the study. Sehun noticed that the man’s face was flushed, as though he was angry about something.

“May I ask why you needed to see me?” Sehun tilted his head ever so, looking a tad bit like a kitten, bored and fighting off a slight tinge of instinctual curiosity.

Yunho sat down, opposite of Sehun. Clasping his hands together he began “I suspect your ex-fiancée of certain crimes, and I believe you have knowledge of them.”

“My ex-fiancée?” Sehun had to be sure he was hearing Yunho’s words correctly. As in Minseok?

“Yes. The Viscount D’Adderleigh.” Yunho crossed his legs, leaning back he continued “It has come to my attention that you are currently burdened with a large amount of debt.” Yunho watched as the younger man colored at his words.

“I- yes.” Sehun suddenly found some sort of logic in Minseok’s previous questioning of his gambling. “I didn’t know gambling was a crime.”

“It isn’t a crime, however jewelry theft to pay off those debts is very much against the law.” Yunho answered calmly.

“Jewelry thefts?” Sehun laughed “You must be joking.”

“I am afraid not. Your ex-fiancée seems to have perpetrated a rather long string of thefts. Could it be that he did so to pay for your debts?” Yunho cocked an eyebrow.

“That is preposterous!” Sehun stood suddenly, “If this is the matter you wanted to discuss with me than I think we are done here.”

“The Home Office would tend to disagree.” Yunho stared up at the younger man “I have probable cause to arrest you on the spot as an accomplice.”

“What?!” Sehun was not sure what actions of his were deemed probable cause. “I have done nothing wrong!”

“Hm. I would tend to disagree, old boy.” Yunho explained “You have a motive for thievery, you have a longstanding association with my prime suspect, and almost all of the evidence would indicate you as a suspect.”

Sehun balled his fists. “You are going to arrest me?”

“Unless you agree to help. Yes.” Yunho said nonchalantly.

It was a moment of silence. Sehun digesting the news, considering. If his father found out about the debts, if Minseok was guilty, if he would go to jail. Yunho standing firm. Waiting for Sehun to break.

“What do you want me to do?” Sehun asked, his voice low, small. He felt a sense of helplessness.

“I want you to be the bait.” Yunho answered, Sehun feeling a sense of dread at the other man’s words.

***

The carriage lurched to a stop. It was still raining heavily, the sound of raindrops hitting stone drowning out the noise around them.

“Come on, we need to get out.” Luhan opened the carriage door.

“Where are we?” Minseok asked. He squinted. The place was dark, the rain still falling heavily. He could smell something…fish or water.

“Not now. Come on.” Luhan helped Minseok from the carriage. There was no time to explain, they had to move quickly lest they be discovered. They had made it this far without anyone finding them, at least no one that they had noticed. Luhan needed to confirm the fact. “Jongin, was anyone behind us?”

“No, My Lord.” Jongin hopped down from the driver’s bench, tying the horses to a small post he helped Kyungsoo down as well. D’Adderleigh’s valet had remained quiet during the journey, not even bothering to ask of their final destination. In a way Jongin was glad for it – he had too many other things to think of at the moment to be bothered with offering up explanations.

“Kyungsoo!” Minseok hugged his valet as soon as they were face to face, pulling the smaller man into a tight embrace.

“Sir! I was so worried for you!” Kyungsoo held back tears, happy that they were at least together.

“How did you come to be at the Hayden house?” Minseok questioned, holding Kyungsoo at arm’s length. He could not recall a time he was happier to see his valet.

“Not now. We need to go.” Jongin gestured for the men to follow him. Minseok grabbed Kyungsoo’s hand, Luhan grabbing Minseok’s other hand as they followed Jongin.

Minseok was not incorrect when he thought he smelled water or fish. Judging by what he could make out in front of them they were near the river. The stone walkway they alighted on was slippery, Minseok almost falling once as Kyungsoo and Luhan kept him upright.

A few roughly hewn stone steps led towards the small dock. In the darkness Minseok could barely see a few feet in front of him. They were very near in the water by the time he could see the form of a small boat.

“I will hold it steady, please, get in quickly.” Jongin grabbed the boat, Luhan helping Minseok in first followed by Kyungsoo. Luhan was about to step in himself when he heard the commotion from some yards above them.

“It is the Hayden carriage! They must be near!”

Luhan scurried into the boat, Jongin behind him, pushing off. They braced themselves, held their breaths, as Jongin began to row upriver. They could hear footsteps against the pavement, more shouts. They couldn’t be discovered, not now.

Luhan found himself praying, hoping, more than he had ever done so in his short life.

***

“It would seem that the engagement is not going to be announced after all.” Baekhyun looked around the room, noting that Luhan and Minseok were no longer in attendance. He smiled, feeling particularly jubilant at the turn of events.

“I wonder why.” Chanyeol looked bored, downing the rest of his wine, hiding a smile.

“Hm.” Baekhyun laughed. “Ah, here comes Heechul.”

Heechul walked towards the pair, smoothing his suit jacket as he sauntered across the room.

“Heechul, have you seen Easton?” Baekhyun asked.

Heechul narrowed his eyes at the man, studying him. He was all innocence. “No, I haven’t seen him for some time.”

“That is too bad, I wanted to ask him to dance.” Baekhyun sighed heavily, “Heechul, will the engagement not be announced tonight?”

Heechul cocked his head to the side, “Why ever would you think I would have the answer to a question like that?”

“Of course, I am only trying to make conversation.” Baekhyun turned to Chanyeol “We should leave soon. I heard of a riotous party at Lord Truedalls.”

“Riotous?!” Heechul blurted out “Count me in, old boy. This party is proving to be a rather larger disappointment.”

***

Minseok listened as the voices grew fainter, as the boat – Jongin rowing in long, steady strides – moved away from where they had left the carriage. They were on the river, heading east, Minseok guessed by what he could make out from the movement of the boat. They were heading towards the less savory side of town. A place he had never been in his life.

The sound of the oars hitting the water was like the ticking of a clock. Each dip into the dirty river was a step away from those who were hunting them. Each lurch forward was a few seconds towards freedom.

Escape. That is what he was doing. No, they were doing. But what were they escaping from? Someone had most definitely framed him. Minseok tried to reason it out, tried to piece it together. Who had the motive, the opportunity, the lackluster moral code to do such a thing?

True, he was an easy enough target. Wasn’t he already notorious? Wasn’t he already a suspicious man among high society? But why, why him?

And Luhan…his actions had certainly doomed his own reputation. To run away from his parent’s house with a wanted man – he had sealed his own fate. Suddenly Minseok felt a bit angry, a bit resentful that Luhan would take that burden upon himself. Minseok didn’t want that. Didn’t want to see Luhan being arrested alongside him. No, he would tell him to turn back as soon as they arrived…wherever they were going.

***

Luhan wasn’t sure how long they had been in the boat when Jongin veered it towards a small, rickety dock that jutted off into the river. Jongin maneuvered the craft ever so, tying it to the small wooden beam that jutted from the dock.

“Please be quiet until we are inside.” Jongin whispered, moving to pull the oars into the boat.

Minseok stepped out first, ignoring the hand that Luhan offered. Kyungsoo was next, looking a tad bit bewildered. Luhan alighted, quickly pinching a hand over his nose. The smell of rotting fish and garbage was strong. They were most definitely in the east end.

“This way.” Jongin led them from the small dock, up a few steps, towards the back of one of the dilapidated structures that fronted the riverside. The rain had stopped, thankfully, and there were a few burning torches to illuminate the rundown landscape.

Jongin approached the back of the structure, standing in front of the beat up wooden door he knocked five times. Luhan noticed that he did so in a certain pattern, not an even set of knocks but a few fast then slow and long thuds to the door.

“Who is it?” A rough voice boomed from the other side.

“It will be fair weather, the sky is red.” Jongin answered. Luhan wondered if it was some sort of password.

The door swung open immediately, revealing a very scrawny, yet slightly intimidating young man. “Of all the people I thought would be at my door, Jongin you bastard!”

Luhan, Minseok, and Kyungsoo watched in amazement as the man pulled Jongin into a hug, patting his back enthusiastically.

“We need a place to hole up.” Jongin explained as the man kept him close.

“Hole up? Aye, well, I reckon you have come to the right place.” The man grinned.

“Who is it?!” A shout came from somewhere inside.

“Tis Jongin. Come home, he right did! With some fancy friends by the looks of it.” The man looked over Jongin’s shoulder, eying up Luhan, Minseok, and Kyungsoo.

“Jongin?!” The voice cooed. Suddenly another man, a tall, rather friendly looking sort, appeared from the darkness of the interior.

Minseok looked on as Jongin was pulled into yet another hug. Luhan’s valet certainly had an interesting home.

“Come inside, come inside. Before whoever be chasing you finds you.” The man gestured for them to enter. Minseok stepped in first, Kyungsoo right behind him, almost like he was using Minseok as some sort of shield from the very strange environment they were walking into.

“Welcome to paradise.” The tall, friendly man held his arms wide. Minseok could make out the hovel – as that was what the structure should be classified as – a roughly constructed, old building with rundown furniture and very rough looking denizens.

Jongin turned towards the other three men. “Um, these are my brothers. Please say hello to Minho and Taemin.”

“At your service, my lords.” The two men bowed, Luhan noting an ounce of sarcasm in the gesture.

“We should be safe here.” Jongin further explained.

Kyungsoo wanted very much to ask how a man, employed in one of the finest homes in the country, came from such…a place - but he thought better of it. Especially since these people were willing to offer them refuge in their time of need.

“Thank you, Jongin, for your help.” Minseok bowed to the men, Luhan following his lead rather awkwardly.

“So what did you do? Stab someone?” Minho cocked his head to the side, eying Minseok and Luhan up and down “No. They don’t look like the stabbing sort.”

“I…am wanted for some thefts.” Minseok explained quickly.

“Ohhh. Stealing.” The man Jongin identified as Taemin smiled broadly, “I have done a bit of that in my time.”

Luhan paled. Were they safe here? As if he could read Luhan’s mind Minho blurted out “We don’t do anything like that anymore. Not since we bought our boat.”

“Speaking of that.” Jongin rubbed his neck sheepishly “I may have brought it here.”

“You undocked it from up river!” Taemin looked put out, changing his expression when Minho nudged him. “I…if that is um..what you needed to do, then…well.”

“I am afraid you may need to avoid those docks for a while.” Jongin continued “I had to dump a carriage there.”

Taemin’s eyes grew wide, but he held his tongue.

“Pray, tell, what do you use the boat for?” Kyungsoo asked, trying not to look either man in the eye.

“Oh, yes. We collect bodies from the river. Right good money in that there is!” Minho answered proudly.

Kyungsoo thought that no matter how much he could have tried, there was no possible way he could have ever imagined the situation he was currently in. Never. Ever. Not in a million years.

***

It wasn’t the worse room he had ever slept in. No, that accolade would be bestowed on the loft of a half collapsed barn that he had taken shelter in during a particularly horrible storm in Normandy. And to be honest, he would be glad for any sort of shelter given his current circumstance.

Minho and Taemin proved to be rather hospitable hosts, if a bit rough around the edges. Taemin gave his room up to Minseok and Luhan, while offering to bunk with Minho. Kyungsoo had agreed to sleep on the floor of the small living area, alongside Jongin. Minseok was slightly afraid his valet was on the verge of a nervous breakdown being thrown into such a circumstance, but Kyungsoo assured him he would be fine – practically shoving Minseok towards the bedroom.

The room was the only one on the second story, so shutting the door effectively sealed Minseok and Luhan off from the bottom floor. Once Minseok pushed the door shut Luhan was there, making a fuss over him. “Take off your wet clothes.” Minho had provided them with some of his clothing to wear. While they would be a bit big for them on account of Minho’s height, anything would work for now.

Minseok and Luhan undressed in silence, slipping on the oversized shirts and pants before settling onto the straw mattress- the only furniture in the room – both bewildered by the last few hours. Finally Minseok spoke, breaking the strange and somewhat disorienting silence.

“You shouldn’t have run away with me.” Minseok wrung his hands together, trying to keep his words in check and not betray his emotions.

“Why?” Luhan asked gruffly.

Minseok turned, shifting to sit back on the bed he stared at Luhan with tears in his eyes “Luhan, why are you ruining yourself? This is something I need to clear up on my own.”

“Should I see your body hanging outside a prison then?” Luhan protested, moving he leaned back until he was seated next to Minseok, turned towards him, his eyes flashing with strong emotions. “I know you didn’t steal anything.”

Minseok swallowed what may be a choked sob – a raw outpouring of emotions due to Luhan’s words. He didn’t suspect him. It meant…so much. “You could have let me out and stayed. Luhan…they will find you guilty too if they catch us.”

“Well then they aren’t going to catch us.” Luhan leaned over, shifting he sat up on his knees, grabbing Minseok’s shoulders. “I am going to prove you are innocent.”

Minseok didn’t know how to say – how to vocalize – the thoughts flying through his mind. That Luhan was stupid, foolish, too optimistic. What made him think that they could prove Minseok’s innocence, when whoever had framed him had done such a marvelous job at it?!

“I won’t let it go. Not until your name is cleared.” Luhan announced, Minseok noting the tears in his eyes.

“You are so foolish.” Minseok said quietly.

Luhan smiled “No, I am not. I am dedicated.”

Minseok wasn’t sure what to say. What to do. In his life he could count on one hand those who stood by him, believed in him – understood him. He hadn’t known Luhan that long. They had gone from an intense sexual attraction to a relationship to an engagement in what…a matter of days. And now this. How, why….did it happen?

“Why do you trust me?” Minseok chocked.

“Because I love you and I know you.” Luhan said, his tone steadfast and honest. It was enough to bring forth Minseok’s tears, held back as they ran, as he was accused. As the images flashed in his mind. His best friend doubting him, Yunho glaring at him. Luhan pulling him to safety. The shouts of those out to capture him.

Luhan bent forward, gently, reverently, kissing the tears from Minseok’s cheeks. One at a time. The left, then the right. “I love you Minseok.”

Minseok answered softly “I love you too, Luhan.”

Luhan moved his lips from Minseok’s cheeks to his mouth, gently kissing him. Minseok moved his arms to snake around Luhan’s neck, pulling him closer, moving him to lay on top of him.

“I love you so much.” Luhan whispered, breaking their slow, languid kiss for a moment before returning to the lip lock.

Minseok felt the burn, the slow burn. The need, the want. He reached for the oversized shirt, the garment Luhan was practically drowning in given his smaller frame. One button, then the next, as Luhan moved his mouth to Minseok’s neck, sucking slowly.

“I love you so much.” Minseok gasped as Luhan began sucking deeply above Minseok’s adams apple. Luhan sucked, licked, shifting ever so as Minseok finished his task. He moved to pull Luhan’s shirt off, managing to push it over his shoulders before gently urging Luhan to sit up. When the other man was seated, Minseok sat up as well, moving the shirt off of Luhan, throwing it to the floor.

Minseok kissed Luhan softy on the mouth, then trailed downwards. He took one pink nipple in his mouth, Luhan arching backwards and moaning at the contact.

“Shhh. We need to be quiet, remember where we are.” Minseok whispered, Luhan nodding and biting his tongue as Minseok continued moving downwards. Before Luhan could register what was happening he was lying on the straw mattress on his back, Minseok hovering over him.

A swift set of movements, Minseok fiddling with the button on Luhan’s pants. Luhan moved, cooperating, holding back another moan as Minseok pulled his pants down, letting Luhan’s hard cock spring free.

Neither spoke. Neither dared draw the attention of the men downstairs. Minseok breathed, teasing, against Luhan’s thighs, Luhan squirming at the heat.

Minseok’s hand found Luhan’s cock, running a finger up its length as he kissed the inside of his thighs. Luhan bucked forward at the contact. He moved his hand to his mouth, biting down on palm to stifle his cries.

“Shhhh.” Minseok whispered against his thighs. Luhan thought it was the sexiest thing he had ever heard, jerking forward he felt as though his body was on fire. He needed to be touched. Had to be touched.

Minseok obliged. He took Luhan’s length in his hand, placing a gentle kiss on the head of Luhan’s cock before taking it fully in his mouth. He moved slowly, his lips moving from the base to the head as he massaged Luhan’s balls.

Luhan writhed upward. Unsure of how he could stand it without making a noise.

Minseok let Luhan’s cock slip out of his mouth, an obscene pop at the action.

“Shhh.” Minseok reiterated, Luhan throwing his head back, biting his bottom lip and willing his moans away.

Minseok’s mouth found Luhan’s cock again, this time he was torturously slow as he took him in his mouth. He was slow as he dragged his lips back, then forward, a slow and tantalizing pace. Luhan bucked up, Minseok’s free hand moving to push his thighs down. To control. Luhan didn’t think he would last long.

He wouldn’t last long. Couldn’t – when Minseok began sucking and moving his hand quickly, up his length and then down, his tongue rubbing in the most sinful of ways as he sucked Luhan off.

Luhan grabbed onto the blanket under him, twisting the fabric as he tried to remain quiet. Tried to think of not screaming out at the sight of Minseok, his beautiful lips torturing him, taking Luhan inside his mouth over and over again. He couldn’t hold it back, not when he looked down, noticing a friction against his leg, realizing Minseok was stroking himself in the same rhythm.

It was a few furious pumps and Luhan came, managing to bite his hand and silence his cries as he spilled his white hot seed inside Minseok’s mouth. Minseok drank it in, gently pumping him through his orgasm as he continued to slide his hand up and down his own dick. It was a few seconds later when Minseok moved, gasping and writhing through his own orgasm.

“Fuck.” Luhan whispered, regaining his senses he reached for Minseok.

“I need to clean up.” Minseok got out of bed, reaching for the shirt he had been wearing – the same shirt that he had worn to the gala – he wiped himself off before crawling into bed next to Luhan.

Luhan planted a kiss on Minseok’s forehead, pulling him close.

They laid in silence for some minutes, before Luhan spoke. “You know I was serious. I will clear you name.”

Minseok nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say. He knew Luhan was serious. And he didn’t think saying thank you was enough. Not now any way.

***

Kyungsoo had never had such a horrible night of sleep in his life. His back hurt from lying on the rough wooden floor, he quickly discovered Jongin snored at the top of his lungs, and he heard a plethora of strange noises outside.

“Did you sleep well?” Jongin asked, stretching his arms out and cracking his back once he was awake.

Kyungsoo glared at his fellow valet, not bothering to answer the question. “I am going to make breakfast before my master is awake. Where are the cooking utensils?” Kyungsoo looked towards the small cooking area, realizing how it paled in comparison to the kitchen he had left behind. Walking towards a small cupboard he took stock of its contents, another poor showing given his prior resources.

“Breakfast?” Taemin walked out of the small bedroom area, reaching out and ruffling Kyungsoo’s hair playfully “Minho always makes breakfast.”

Kyungsoo breathed in and out heavily, willing away any anger he felt. How dare someone ruffle his hair; “I will go wake up the Viscount.” He turned to go, not willing to give up a sense of his daily routine, even if their circumstances had changed considerably.

***

“There is much I need to tell you.” Minseok said, his voice slightly muffled by Luhan’s hair, the younger man lying next to him, his head resting on Minseok’s shoulder.

“What is it?” Luhan asked, his words spoken slowly, he was drowsy. He wasn’t used to being up so early.

“I have been working with the Home Office, investing the thefts. Until last night, that is.” Minseok explained, his hand tracing small circles on Luhan’s back. He wasn’t sure how Luhan would react to the news.

“Like a detective?” Luhan asked, digesting what he had just been told.

“Yeah.” Minseok sat up, Luhan forced to follow his lead as his human pillow was no longer available. Looking into Minseok’s eyes he thought carefully about what Minseok had just told him. So he had been helping out with the investigation? Yet he became the prime suspect?

“I…was helping out a friend by aiding in the investigation.” Minseok grabbed Luhan’s hands, holding them in his own, continuing “I am sorry I couldn’t tell you before. Are you very angry?”

“No.” Luhan yawned.

“Are you even listening or are you still sleeping?” Minseok was starting to consider the fact Luhan wasn’t awake at all. His eyes were half lidded, as if he was drifting in and out of sleep.

“No! I am listening. Sorry, I am just trying to think of what we should do next. It sounds like you have an understanding of potential suspects…well, other than yourself, of course.”

“Yes. I do.” Minseok was interrupted when a knock sounded on the bedroom door.

“Sir. May I come in? It is time for you to wake?” It was Kyungsoo, carrying out his usual tasks, starting with waking up Minseok.

“Thank you! Please, no need to enter, I will be down shortly.” Minseok called back. He wasn’t exactly dressed and neither was Luhan. He didn’t think letting his valet into the room would be a good idea.

“Oh. Yes..sir.” Minseok could tell Kyungsoo seemed a bit put out.

“Kyungsoo?” Minseok called out.

“Yes, sir?” Kyungsoo sounded a bit hopeful.

“Did you sleep well?” Minseok asked.

“No, sir. I did not.” Kyungsoo replied.

“He is really having a hard time, isn’t he?” Luhan muttered. Minseok elbowed him, knowing full well Kyungsoo could probably hear him.

“Sorry to hear that, Kyungsoo. And thank you, again.”

“No problem at all, sir.” Minseok heard the footsteps as Kyungsoo retreated back down the stairs. He felt immensely guilty that he had dragged Kyungsoo and Luhan with him through this madness. He needed to make it right for both of them, and soon.

***

“Sir, the information you requested.” The man handed the packet to Yunho, who took the offered papers and began flipping through them quickly.

“What is her identity?” Yunho asked. He was informed late the night before, amidst the maddening search for Minseok and Luhan that the identity of the woman who resided in the apartment – the place referenced on receipts from the jewelers – had been discovered. He had arrived at the office earlier than normal, wanting to read the report as soon as he could.

“It seems that she is the illegitimate daughter of a Baron. We have identified one of her paramours as Earl Pressley, another as a man lately deceased.” The agent reported “A gambler. The same one found with some of the stolen jewels.”

“Pray tell, what is this Baron’s name?” Yunho narrowed his eyes. He knew most of the titled families in the country, he doubted he would not know the name of a Baron with an illegitimate daughter living in the city.

“Ah yes. It seems it is the Baron Overton of Hyde’s Hall.”

Yunho felt his chest tighten. The Baron Overton…Baekhyun’s Father? Quickly regaining his composure he barked out an order “Please send word to Lord Sehun that I wish to see him promptly at one o’clock this afternoon.”

“Yes, sir.” The man bowed, leaving Yunho alone in his office. The man rubbed his day old stubble, thinking. So it was Baekhyun’s sister who lived in the apartment? Did Baekhyun know? And she was having an affair with Sehun’s Father? And what of Kim Minseok – his prime suspect – currently a fugitive from the law?

***

“So you are that small guy’s servant?” Minho asked, stirring a pot of what Kyungsoo had decided was some sort of gruel - likely fit for an animal and not for human consumption. “That kind of makes sense, since you are so short too.”

Kyungsoo balled his fists, swallowing his anger. He needed to keep calm. For Minseok. For his m-

“You are rather short and adorable like.” Taemin reached out and ruffled Kyungsoo’s hair yet again, which proved to be the breaking point.

“DON”T TOUCH MY HAIR!” Kyungsoo shot Taemin a death look. Time seemed to stop as Minho and Taemin stared at Kyungsoo and he stared back, none of them moving or speaking. A small laugh broke up the tension.

“He is rather adorable, though please treat him with respect.” Jongin reached over and scooped up a bit of the gruel from the pot, eating it, still chuckling with his mouth full.

Kyungsoo was still huffing and puffing, staring at Jongin eating straight out of a pot, when footsteps sounded on the steps.

“I smell breakfast.” Luhan stepped into the small living area first, offering a bright smile to further diffuse the tense situation.

“Sir, I was unable to prepare your breakfast. I apologize.” Kyungsoo bowed to Minseok as soon as his employer stepped into the room.

“Please, relax Kyungsoo. And thank you – um…”Minseok suddenly realized he couldn’t remember the two men’s names. Jongin picked up on his confusion, introducing his brothers “This is Taemin and this is Minho, my older brothers. It was just us since our parents died when I was little.”

Minseok nodded to the men in greeting, Luhan following suit. “Thank you for your hospitality. I know this visit was rather unexpected.”

“We would do anything for our little Jongin, being the success of the family.” Minho stopped stirring long enough to hook an arm over Jongin’s shoulders, grabbing him into a headlock.

“Sir, do you not require references for your employees?” Kyungsoo asked, staring at Luhan with a very serious expression on his face.

Luhan looked thoughtful “I am not sure.”

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. It figured that pretty-boy-son-of-an-earl had no idea of the hiring practices of his household, so disappointing. Though he had helped Minseok…why had everything become so confusing?

The hot gruel was served, Minseok and Luhan gladly taking an offered bowl. They did not complain, their stomachs and their gratitude not allowing for it. Kyungsoo ate in silence, glaring at Taemin and Minho now and then. When he accidently made eye contact with Jongin he found his face growing warm, causing him to look away immediately.

After breakfast Kyungsoo insisted on cleaning up, while Jongin announced he would help his fellow valet. Minho made a small batch of dark, black coffee, serving it to his guests.

“Taemin and I will be leaving now- surely there will be some bodies to collect it being a Monday morning.” Minho announced, grabbing his brother by the arm and leading him out of the house.

Minseok thought for a moment about what it must be like, collecting corpses from the river to make a living. Horrible work, surely. Though profitable, he would wager. Suicides, murder victims, and drowning victims were numerous, and a daily occurrence.

Luhan drew Minseok’s attention back to the matter at hand. “So who else are suspects?” Luhan asked, flinching as he drank some of the steaming hot bitter liquid.

Minseok sighed. “I cannot say that we had one person in mind, obviously, or someone wouldn’t have been able to so spectacularly frame me.”

It was almost an hour of Minseok explaining everything he knew of the crimes. The jeweler who was selling fake jewels, hanging himself instead of giving up the men who had hired him to copy the expensive and very stolen baubles of highs society. There was the man murdered by the docks, a gambler with ties to Herringwoods- who had some of the stolen jewelry on him. There was Herringwoods exclusive game, where Sehun was stabbed and where a dealer readily accepted fake jewels without question. There was the calling card and the receipts written in code- leading to an apartment where a kept woman lived. And there was Sehun’s Father…leaving that apartment.

“Sehun. Everything points to Sehun.” Luhan revealed his train of thought after Minseok was finished detailing the evidence.

“Why would Sehun frame me?” Minseok raised an eyebrow.

“If the Home Office was closing in on him, perhaps he grew desperate?” Luhan knew that the subject of Sehun was a sensitive one. A wound that ran deep in Minseok, a wound that Luhan thought was only recently starting to heal. “He is in debt. He has ties to Herringwoods, his Father has ties to a place where the stolen jewelry seems to have been funneled through.”

Minseok knew that the evidence as presented would certainly put Sehun near the top of the suspect list; Sehun was a prime suspect before Minseok found all eyes turned towards himself. However Minseok needed more evidence to be sure of the fact. “I am still not convinced, not when I know that the Earl has more than enough funds to make thievery a very unlikely activity for his son. We need more evidence, something conclusive. I think we need to visit the apartment of that woman and find out who she is.”

“What if they are watching the apartment?” Luhan doubted the Home Office would leave the place alone, not when it was part of their case. What little he knew of the law and how it was handled mixed with a good dose of common sense told him they would be foolish to not surveil the apartment.

“They are watching, I know that they are. Which is the problem.” Minseok sighed heavily. Now that he was a wanted man there was no way he could visit the place without being captured.

***

Jongin watched as Kyungsoo started to arrange the small cooking pots, placing them in an orderly fashion. He would have said something if he thought his brothers would mind, but they were both some of the most disorderly individuals on earth. He highly doubted either man would be bothered by the introduction of organization.

Kyungsoo tried to ignore Jongin, who was quite obviously staring at him as he went about his work. He was still trying to understand how the Duke of Hayden’s household would hire a man such as this – a child of the streets apparently – to be his son’s personal servant. Rather distasteful hiring practices, in Kyungsoo’s opinion.

As Kyungsoo reached for one of the larger metal cooking pots, currently residing on a crooked shelf, the shelf gave way, the pot tumbling towards him. He stepped back, trying to avoid the heavy metal object and certain injury. It was a blur, but as he stepped back a hand shot forward, catching the pot before it could fall on him.

“You should be more careful.”

A warm breath on his cheek, the feeling of standing against a hard and broad chest. Kyungsoo turned red as he realized that Jongin had shot forward and caught the pot, Kyungsoo stepping back just in time to end up with Jongin practically capturing him in his arms.

Suddenly it became very difficult to form words. Suddenly it became very difficult to breath normally. Suddenly it….

“Jongin, do you…oh.”

Kyungsoo jerked back, hitting Jongin in the process. It was Minseok standing in the doorway of the small cooking space, Luhan standing behind him, both men with wide eyes as they took in the sight of Kyungsoo, Jongin standing very, very close to him.

“I was…cleaning. I was CLEANING, SIR!” Kyungsoo blurted out, quickly moving away and to a corner of the room, hoping he would disappear soon.

“Yes….I… see that.” Minseok was not sure what exactly he had just witnessed but for some reason his valet’s blush made him feel a bit mischievous and…happy. Instead of teasing Kyungsoo, who was already having difficulty adjusting to the situation, he focused on why he had walked into the kitchen in the first place. “Jongin, I am not exactly certain of how to request this. I am in need of someone to investigate an apartment, find out who lives there.”

Jongin, still holding the pot that he had saved Kyungsoo from, answered quickly “Sir, if you have gold there is nothing, and I mean nothing you can’t find in these parts.”

“Is that so? Oh, well. Thank you.” Minseok had finally found a bit of hope among the depressing turn of events that he had faced of late. Because if there was one thing he was certain of it was that he had money.

***

Sehun whined most of the way there. In all honesty, he whined the entire way there. To himself of course, as he couldn’t very well tell anyone else what was going on. No…not after he had agreed to Yunho’s request.

So the Home Office is in this type of dusty old building; how quant, he thought. How..boring.

Pushing open the front door he was greeted by an elderly man, directing him to Yunho’s office. He briefly wondered which was older – the man or the building – but again he had no one to ask such an ingenious question to. It was hard being alone.

Sehun found Yunho at his desk, stacks of paper everywhere. How…like a working man, Sehun thought. He took a seat without being offered, he rolled his eyes a few times too, for good measure.

“How nice of you to pay me a visit, my Lord.” Yunho smirked.

“I believe I don’t have a choice, now do I.” Sehun started to examine his fingernails idly. He hoped he would be done with this “meeting” soon.

“That is correct. I find it rather amusing.”

Sehun hated the way Yunho smirked. He wouldn’t respond and ask what was amusing. No, that would show interest. He had no interest in what this man had to say.

“Please, tell me, my Lord, do you prefer being tied up in an unlocked room or locked in a room without ties?” Yunho cocked his head to the side, as if his question was the most innocent query in the world.

Sehun almost sputtered but caught himself. “I fail to understand your question, sir.”

“Hm. Of course. I was only inquiring after your preferred method of captivity.”

“My preferred method is freedom.” Sehun was annoyed. And confused. Confused and annoyed.

“I am afraid that is an impossibility. You, old boy, are about to become a rather expensive, rather lucrative kidnap victim.”

Sehun wondered what the penalty would be for setting the Home Office building on fire. Because he had a very desperate, sudden urge to see the place go up in flames.

NEXT CHAPTER >>>