Ten years later, in the morning, when Hyukjae woke up it was to the sound of Ryeowook’s shouting coming from the livingroom. He was about to get out of bed to check if everything was alright but Kyuhyun’s sleeping habbit stopped him. Each morning it was the same routine. Hyukjae would wake up with his little brother, asleep or awake, partially lied over him, his warm breath tickling his exposed neck, his little hand put on his chest gripping firmly his shirt whereas his other hand was holding one of Hyukjae’s, their fingers tenderly intertwined.

Hyukjae tried to pull out his hand from Kyuhyun’s without wake him up but the latter only tightened his grip on it. « Hyung… Hyuk… H… Hyukkie… hyung… » Kyuhyun muttered in his sleep with a bright smile on his lips. Hyukjae smiled softly at the sight of his sleeping brother. He wondered what he could have do to make him smile like this but little did he know that it was only by his presence he was able to make Kyuhyun happy.

Ryeowook’s angry voice kept on resonating throughout the mansion, it was so loud that Hyukjae thought the neighbors have been awakened, but, Kyuhyun was still deeply asleep. It didn’t surprise Hyukjae at all because his little brother always had a heavy sleep, even when he was a baby. An Earthshake or an explosion wouldn’t even be able to wake him up. On the other side, strangely, a kiss from Hyukjae on his face would be enough to make him open his eyes.

It was a bit like in a tale we read during our childhood, when the prince kiss the beautiful princess to get her out of her hundred years deep sleep. Alought in this case it was a little prince, Hyukjae’s little prince.

Hyukjae leaned slowly on his brother and closed his eyes before softly kissing the tip of the nose of the peacefully sleeping figure who, as he thought, started to flap his eyelids several times, still misty by the long night he spent in his brother’s arms, in order to adapt his eyes at the ambient light. « Hyukkie… » Kyuhyun’s warm breath sent hivers in his whole body. Kyuhyun snuggled a little closer to Hyukjae who sighed in defeat.

« Hyunnie… let me go please. » Hyukjae said softly the hair of his beloved little brother. « Don’t want to… » Kyuhyun positioned himself on top of Hyukjae and wrapped his small arms around his waist, Huggins him tightly.

Hyukjae sighed again. « I will be back soon. » Kyuhyun growled, not wanting to cooperate, earning an exasperated rolling of eyes from the elder. « Promise~ » Hyukjae sang with a cute voice kowing Kyuhyun couldn’t resist. This time it was Kyuhyun who sighed before pulling himself away and covering his whole body with the blanket.

Hyukjae patted Kyuhyun’s and chuckled when the younger weakly yelled at him to stop it. He get out of the bed and hastily made his way to the livingroom when he heard something breaking on the floor. There, he saw Ryeowook yelling at someone throught the phone and Heechul, already by his side, trying desperatly to calm his mother down.

« Hyuk! » Heechul called him as soon as he saw the younger. « Come on! Don’t stay here, go back to  your room! » Heechul caught Hyukjae’s hand to hold him away from Ryeowook who, if he was strong enough, would have grinded only with his hands the phone. But Hyukjae resisted, gripping everything he find to hold on.

« Chullie stop it!  You’re forcing me to do something I don’t want to! » Hyukjae expressed quite brutally pulling his hand away.

« I don’t care that you’re ready to raise this child better! Not after you let him leave your house! If Hyukjae left it’s only for his brother, HIS BROTHER’S GOOD! Damnit! You really think he will come back to you leaving his precious Kyuhyun behind?! You heartless man! » Ryeowook screamed, his hand was gripping tightly the phone at a point his fingers were white.

Hyukjae knew who Ryeowook was talking to. There was only one person on Earth who by only the evocation was able to irritate
Ryeowook like that; Kyuhyun and him’s father. Suddenly he heard a door slamming. Heechul and Hyukjae turned to where the sond came from and saw Kyuhyun on the doorstep, squeezing his old plush agaisnt his chest and rubbing his eyes while letting out one or two yawns. For Hyukjae, th view was too cute to handle, if he didn’t hold himself , he would probably have squealed like a fangirl in front of her idol.

« What are you doing here? Go back to your bed! » Heechul ordered a bit sharply. « But I can’t sleep without Hyukkie-hyung… » Kyuhyun pouted, obviously not very pleased to be scolded in the morning, especially when he did nothing wrong.

Heechul blinked twice and looked at the plush. « I still can’t believe you need that thing and your brother to sleep at such an age! » He sighed rubbing his temples in disbelief. « You’re only jealous because I don’t need you at all~ » Kyuhyun replied, sticking out his tongue to the elder who to kick him if only Hyukjae wasn’t there. «You brat! » Heechul grumbled between his teeths.

Hyukjae came closer to Kyuhyun, who smiled as soon as he saw him, and took him in his arms hugging him tightly. « I know I said I would be back soon but it’s better if you- »  « DON’T YOU EVEN DARE TO SHOW YOUR DISGUSTING FACE AT MY HOUSE EITHER  I CALL THE POLICE! I will never let you put a hand on this poor kid! Before you will need to walk over my dead body! And still… my ghost will stop you! … WHAT?! Are you seriously kidding me?! Do you really think I will allow you to talk to him? You’re really shameless. Hyukjae will never come back to you so get rid of this stupid idea! Bye! » Ryeowook hung out before the other was able to reply and threw it and himself on the sofa. « So tiring… » Ryeowook sighed, his voice muffled by the pillow he buried his face on.

Heechul hurriedly went near his mother, checking if he was okay because too much stress wasn’t good for his health. Kyuhyun had his eyes widened, focused on his brother whose blood left his face.

Kyuhyun didn’t want to believe it. His father wanted to take his brother away from him! But why? What would he do to him? Why was he reappearing after ten years without giving signs that he was still alive? Why did he left Hyukjae without protesting if it’s to take him back after? So much questions raced throught his head.

Little did he know Hyukjae had the same questions, but he had one more question, a relevant one with an improbale answer. Did their father became the loving and carrying man they knew in their first years of existence? Obviously not since he only wanted Hyukjae, but he would never abondon his little brother. After ten years, what did he wanted? Did he want Kyuhyun being privated of the protection worthy of a lioness towards its whelps Hyukjae gave to him in order to execute him more easily?

Some months before their fugue, on the way back to their home, despite his Young age, Hyukjae dared to stand against his father. It followed with a verbal fight between the father the son, while on the back seat, Kyuhyun was so terrified that he tightly held his plush against himself and tried to make himself as little as possible to not catch the middle aged man’s attention and also to not suffer his anger accentuated by the alcohol he drank plenty everyday.

Kyuhyun gasped in shock when he saw their father’s hand crash violently on his brother’s cheek. Tears was running down his young kid’s chubby cheeks. These tears were the ones Hyukjae refused to pour to not show any sigh of weakness and to prove he was strong enough to protect and take care of his brother by himself. Hyukjae dared to glare at his father.

Another slap landed on Hyukjae’s already bruised cheek. Except that this time, taking avantage that there was no body on the road and he had to stop at a traffic light, their father unlocked Hyukjae’s seat belt and pushed him carelessly out of the car before  driving away at full speed.

Hyukjae watched helplessly the car fading away with inside his beloved brother who hit with his small fists the rear window while crying desperatly his name.

He didn’t know what to do or where to go. His little brother needed him but he doubted he would be autorized to enter the house before being immediatly kicked out. For the first time, he reflected on running away, letting everything behind him without turning back and never come back. But there was a problem.

He wasn’t able to leave Kyuhyun.

Fortunately for Hyukjae, Heechul was walking back from school and saw him. He quickly understood that something wrong happened and he decided to invite him in his house without asking his parents first. He couldn’t fall asleep for all the night too worried for his little brother, hoping that he wouldn’t undergo their’s father angriness.

The day after, Hyukjae went back to his house and rushed in his bedroom, slapping violently the door behind him. There he was sure to find his brother and what he saw broke his heart. Kyuhyun, so weak, so innocent, was curled on himself with dried tears on his cheeks and his sight was inert, focused on the nothing.

Taking careful steps towards Kyuhyun, Hyukjae gently touched the smaller’s shoulder who flinched in fear.

Hyukjae put his hands on his mouth, repressing some sobs to come out. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t want to believe it. On Kyuhyun’s neck were notice able strangulation marks but it wasn’t all, there was also small cuts recently coagulated on his face and hands. How someone with a heart can injure a five years old little child?

Until this day, their father never injured Kyuhyun that bad, it would always be Hyukjae because he was the eldest, so the strongest of the two, who would succumb less easily and quickly.

Hyukjae pulled that delicate little being into a tight hug like if he wanted to make disappear the younger inside of  him. Loud sobs filled the room. This man, from this day, was nothing for him and Kyuhyun. He dared to put one hand on the one he treasured the most on Earth so he had to pay. Hyukjae sweared on his own life.

After, Hyukjae never left Kyuhyun alone in the place than this vile, abominable and detestable man who was considered as their father back then.

« Hyung? » Kyuhyun’s soft voice called him. « You won’t let me down, right? » Hyukjae sadly looked at him. Would he take his lake of answer as a sign of hesitation. Apparently yes. Kyuhyun was now clinging on his brother like if his life depended on it. Which wasn’t really false because he once refused to eat when Hyukjae had to enter the hospital for two days. Their late older sister had to push the food in his mouth and force him to swallow.

Cupping Kyunyun’s cheeks, Hyukjae made their eyes meet. If the younger could doubt his words, the emotions in his eyes would show him the truth and prove him otherwise. « I will never get away from you. You‘re my everything and nothing in the world
matters more for me than you.» He whispered softly, rubbing the younger’s cheek lovingly.

Kyuhyun said nothing for a few seconds that seemed like eternity for Hyukjae. Insecurity and fear made him doubt of the person he trusted the most but, not seeming to detect any sight of lie, Kyuhyun was able to relax. « I believe in you hyung. I will never let anyone separate us, you’re mine and mine only! » Kyuhyun pouted and grabbed Hyukjae by the waist bringing him closer while the latter smiled Bright and opened his arms widely asking for a hug. Instead, Kyuhyun pecked his lips, earning a strange look from his brother and a gasp of disgust from Heechul.

« Yah! Get a room! » Heechul stated. « It’s love between brother! You jealous?~ » Kyuhyun said playfully. « Not even a bit! You’re being childish for someone who is fifteen and claim being mainly. » The older of the three replyed. « And you, You’re being annoying, ajusshi! » Kyuhyun sruck out his tongue. « Who are you calling ajusshi stupid brat?! » Heechul yelled.

Hyukjae rolled his eyes in annoyance. Here go the little war… once again!  ‘These two will never grow up.’ He thought.

At that moment Yesung came back home, his arms full of grossery bags. Hyukjae proposed to take them to the kitchen and his adoptive father gladly agreed. « Always arguing I see… » Yesung noticed when he heard Heechul and Kyuhyun’s loud voice.

« Nae… » Hyukjae said going out of the kitchen. « And it’s like this since the first time they met, so maybe eleven or twelve years ago. Such a pity. » Hyukjae stuck his bottom lip out in a small pout. Yesung chuckled and patted his adoptive son’s back. « But behind all this tease and arguing, there is love between them. It might not be noticeable but it’s there. It’s their own way to show they like each other. Well, it’s strange but it’s their character and we can’t change that. And that’s also why I can’t handle these two when there are together, so kids please SHUT UP! » Ryeowook rejoined his husband by shouting the last two words and, there, a miracle happened. The ears of the parents and Hyukjae could have some rest. ‘Silence, I love you!’ The latter said in his mind.

« Yeye… » Ryeowook called his husband who immediately went to him. « We need to talk. » Yesung nodded in agreement. « Heechul, you too. » Their son complied and went with them in a ther parent’s room.

Hyukjae sighed, knowing very well of what they would talk about. Why did they have to live that? What did they do wrong in their past life to deserve that? More especially Kyuhyun? With one more deep sigh, he decided to pick up the broken pieces of what was back then a magnificent blue, black and silver vase. Kyuhyun bent down to help him but was shoved away by the elder. « You might get hurt. » Hyukjae just said when his brother gave him his adorable lost and confused puppy eyes.

« I’m not five anymore hyung… » Kyuhyun whinned. « But you’re still my little brother so I have to protect you from any danger! » Hyunkae replied. « I didn’t know risking to have a tiny cut was such a danger. » The younger said sarcastically before picking up some pieces.

« Yah! Hajima! » Hyukjae seized what was in Kyuhyun’s hand before dropping them with a gasp of pain. Kyuhyun took his brother’s hand in a hurry and examinated it. « Hyung! You’re bleeding! » Kyuhyun began to panic and grabbed Hyukjae by the wrist dragging him to the bathroom.

He asked Hyukjae to sit on the bath rim and wait patiently while he was looking for, in the first aid kit, what he needed. « Kyu, it’s just a small cut… » Hyukjae whined but was obviously ignored by his brother. He sighed and did as he was told well aware that the younger wouldn’t give up before he got what he wanted.

While Kyuhyun desinfected the cut on Hyukjae’s palm, certainly small but he didn’t care, cautiously, the latter could only but notice how handsome and mature his cute and carefree little baby brother had become. Well, mature sometimes but handsome, of course! Hyukjae even wondered why no girl has confessed to Kyuhyun. Or maybe there was? No… Kyuhyun would have tell him. Whatever!

« It’s just a cut, you don’t have to work hard on something that ingnificant… » Hyukjae said with a soft voice looking at the band-air the younger had stuck after he finished desinfecting. « A cut that stretch on the width of your palm. » Kyuhyun replied a bit coldly.

The other didn’t hold that bad attitude against Kyuhyun. He know the younger was worried about him. « It’s not even deep! My blood even started to coagulate after you dragged me here. » Hyukjae took his younger brother’s hands in his’ and tilted forward to kiss his forehead.  Kyuhyun closed his eyes, enjoying each parts of this moment.

« You can’t stop myself from being worried about you. You’re my hyung and I love you. I would do anything for you and you know it well. If it bothers you that much just think of it as a payback of everything you’ve done for me until now. I will always be eternally grateful to you. Whatever I do and will do, I will still find it not enough to show you how much I am. You  have always been there for me. You took care of me, raised and protected me for the five first years of my life instead of our ‘father’ and even now you still do. » Kyuhyun locked his eyes with Hyukjae’s, his gaze full of love, devotion and gratitude.

Hyukjae looked at Kyuhyun with his eyes wide open. « Oh dear Lord! Who are you and what have you done to my brother? I want the cute Kyuhyun back. The serious one is freaking scary! » He cupped his brother’s cheeks making sure that it was real and not a dream. It was kind of hard for him to believe « Speaking like this is so unlike you! »

The younger chuckled at the comment but quickly took his serious back. « You’re the only one who can make me do things I usually don’t~ » He sang nuzzling Hyunkjae’s face. « But you don’t have to be that surprised hyung… It’s not even the first time I talk to you like this! » He crossed his arms over his chest, a pout threatening to make its way to his lips.

« Oh! It’s true… Mianhae. » Hyukjae muttered and put his head down in shame, avoiding eye contact with Kyuhyun.

The latter caught his brother’s by the waist and pulled him into a hug when he thought he had saw guilt and sadness in his eyes. At first, the elder was surprised but hugged him back once he overcame the shock.

« Remember those times when I still was in kindergarden and the eldest kids bothered me? » Kyuhyun felt his hyung nodding against his chest. « You didn’t think twice to defend me even if it meant you had to fight and be recovered of bruises and scratches. What I hated by the way. »

Hyukjae laughed. « I wouldn’t hesitate, even for one second, if I had to do it again! » He said without hesitation making the younger smile and tighten the hug before speaking again.  « And do you remember that morning when you found me on your bed injured because of ‘him’? »  Hyukjae tendes up at the mention of this person. « Kyu… » Hyukjae warned him with a shaking voice. Of course he remembered. He thought about it not long ago. The picture of his little brother so broken, so helpless, drained of all emotions haunted him in the night. If only he didn’t dare to reply this man. If only he hadn’t been that reckless. If only he wasn’t scared to come back home that night. He should have thought about his rebellion’s consequences.

Kyuhyun looked sadly at his brother. Why did he have to say such a thing? He felt bad. He was well aware that Hyukjae was still blaming himself but even, he evoked it. As soon as their ‘father’ would present himself to them, Hyukjae will take Kyuhyun in his arms protecting the younger with his thin body.

Weak sobs slipped from Hyukjae’s mouth who somehow tried to deaden them but unfortunately the younger noticed them.  « I’m so sorry Kyu… I’m useless! I should have protected you! » Hyukjae cryed out. »

Kyuhyun drew random cercles on his hyung’s back with his fingertips, hoping that it would calm him down. « Don’t cry. There is no need to, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t know what would happen. » He whispered agaisnt the elder’s ear before tenderly pecking it, sending shivers up the latter’s spin.

« But- » Kyuhyun reduced his brother to silence by pecking his lips. « No ‘but’! It’s been years hyung… Why can’t you simply forget it and focus on your present and future with me and just erase the painful past. The promise I make to you back then isn’t forgotten, I still keep it in my mind. Now that our father decided to show himself up ,after years without us knowing if he was still alive, to get you, I will definitely not let him. It’s the perfect occasion for me to protect and fight for you! »

Hyukjae’s eyes were red and puffy and Kyuhyun wipped his tears away with his tumbs and the remaining ones.  « Erasing it… It’s harder than it seems. » The elder said almost in a whisper and closed his eyes when he felt his brother brushing his cheek and put his hand over the latter’s, letting out a sigh.

« When did you become like this? » He muttered. Kyuhyun frowned in confusion. He continued. « I mean… How could you change that much in only ten years. When you was only five  to around ten, you was such a carefree kid who was scarred easily, always asking me to old your hand. And now you’re fifteen, you seem more stronger and independent. » Kyuhyun smiled proudly but feigned hurt when his brother added sometimes and chuckled. « At times, I even get confused because it looks like you’re more the hyung than me despite I’m four years older. You always Watch over me from away, you are careful of what I need. What does it make me? A weak hyung no more able to take care of his younger brother as he used to. How could have it change that fast? » Hyukjae asked.

Kyuhyun smiled softly learning his face closer to his brother’s. « I have been like that since forever except that I was never really able to express it… But I think it heightened when I started to have these feelings. » He placed one hand on Hyukjae’s neck while the other rested on his hip.

The latter gulped when he realized how close their lips were. « Which feelings? » He asked, his voice coming out in a whisper. As an answer, the younger shrugged. « Don’t know. » And he reduced the distance between their lips.

Hell, yes! I finally updated! ^o^

The next chapter will be updated next week!

I had to change some things in this chapter so if you find it a bit strange, it's normal. It's wasn't supposed to be ten years after the two first chapters but maybe just four or five years. Between, I loved writing the last part. Hyukjae and Kyuhyun are too cute for me too handle, I almost died of overdose! *o* *dance and sing EXO - Overdose*

It may have some errors. (Sorry it's midnight here and I'm tired! =.=")

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