Minho’s POV

The scenery changes from a modern skyline to a dingy apartment ghetto in less than ten minutes. I turn to Taemin and see his complete poker face. Apparently this is nothing new to him.

“Where are we?” I ask. He looks at me and opens his mouth to answer, but as per the rules of all s in the universe, Heechul answers for him.

“We’re in his dad’s neighborhood,” Heechul says with a smirk. My eyes widen.

“Your dad owns this place?” I ask in shock. Taemin flinches as I ask, “The whole place?”

“Yes,” Taemin whispers. He looks away again, and I feel him close himself off. I scoot closer, despite Heechul’s smirk, and hold his hand. He yanks his hand away and I feel a sudden sense of rejection.

“Taemin…”

“Not now,” he whispers. I hear Heechul snicker in the front seat.

“Come on, Taemin, hold your boyfriend’s hand,” Heechul mocks. Taemin glares at him.

“Shut up and drive, lady-man,” he snarls. I smirk a little at Heechul’s scowling reaction.

“We’re almost there,” Heechul mutters bitterly. I re-hold Taemin’s hand, and he lets me this time. He locks our fingers and I can see the shadow of a smile on his face.

“Hush hush, lady-man!” Yoogeun scolds. I chuckle in approval and hug him closer. Taemin laughs a little and I sigh in relief.

“Taemin, what’ll happen when we get there?” I ask cautiously. Taemin’s face falls and I gulp in nervousness.

“Some pretty bad stuff,” he says softly, not even bothering to censor himself. I rub comforting circles on the back of Taemin’s hand with my thumb, and he gives me a tired, grateful smile.

“Don’t worry,” I murmur. He gives me another smile, but I know that he’s not comforted in the least.

“We’re here,” Heechul sings, uncharacteristically cheerful. I look out of the window and my jaw drops.

Somewhere amidst the apartments and the dingy streets and the impromptu shops, someone built a huge mansion, fashioned like a temple. It’s like something out of an old ninja movie, with a pagoda roof and red, wooden walls. The front gate opens slowly, and I can see a few strangely-dressed servants pushing it with all their might. The door of the limo opens and Taemin steps out. I follow him, Yoogeun in my arms.

“Have fun,” Heechul teases. I turn on him with angry eyes.

“Get away right now before I snap your neck,” I growl. Heechul just smirks and drives off, disappearing around a corner.

“Come on, Minho,” Taemin mutters. He walks up the stone pathway to the mansion, and I follow him obediently. I can see him shaking, but there’s an aura around him that screams I will bite your head off if you touch me!

“T-Taemin!” a girl in the courtyard screams. There’s a dirt path leading up to the main house, and little trees growing randomly around the yard. Yoogeun squirms to be let down, but I hold him tightly as Taemin bows and says something in another language. My eyes widen.

“W-What was that?” I ask, stunned. He sighs and rubs his temples.

“There’s a lot about me that I haven’t told you,” he mutters. I raise an eyebrow.

“Such as?” I ask. He waves me off and keeps walking. I follow him, confused. I’d always thought of him as someone who was easy to read, but now… It’s like looking at the sun and not being able to see the star within.

“M-master Taemin!” A  servant bow, shocked, before saying something in that same foreign language. I recognize (barely) a few words as similar to Korean, but for the most part, it’s unknown.

“Appa, what are they saying/” Yoogeun asks. I swallow my nervousness and shake my head.

“This way,” Taemin says. He touches my arm and leads me into the house. The halls are made of shining wood, and the beams supporting the high ceiling are rubbed with shining red paint. The hallway twists and I see various rooms closed off with only a simple sliding door.

“Master Taemin! You’re back!” a man exclaims as he enters from another hallway. Taemin bows respectfully before stopping in front of an elaborately carved set of doors. He pushes them open and I see a sight from somewhere in the past.

An old man lies in the head of the room, covered in white. A group of three men and two women sit next to him, some talking to him in low tones and some wiping his brow or bringing water to his chapped lips. All heads turn when Taemin enters, and I hold Yoogeun protectively.

“What the Hell do you think you’re doing here?” one of them hisses.

“What’s happening?” Yoogeun whimpers. I shake my head.

“I wish I knew.”

Taemin’s POV

(A/N- << Texts in these brackets are translated to Korean. >>)

“<< I’m here to see dad, >>” I say as calmly as I can. Sungmin flies forward and grabs me by the back of my neck.

“You stupid little << bastard >>!” he roars. He throws me at the foot of my father’s bed and I can feel Kyuhyun forcing me onto my knees. He keeps me there, forcing me to bow.

“Apologize!” he orders. I squirm and scream, but he has no mercy.

“Get off!” I shout. I feel the weight disappear and see Minho, one hand on Kyuhyun’s collar and the other pulverizing my brother’s face.

“Don’t you touch him!” Minho shouts.

“<< Damn bastard! >>” Kyuhyun snarls as he pushes Minho back. I jump up as Sungmin puts Minho in a chokehold from behind.

“Let him go!” I demand, grabbing Sungmin’s arm. I’m slapped back. From the corner of my eye, I see one of my sisters rescue Yoogeun from the scuffle. I jump back up Sungmin chooses that moment to let go of Minho, throwing him onto me. For a split second, Minho supports his weight on his arms before Kyuhyun steps on him and forces him onto me.

“<< You little ! >>” Kyuhyun shouts as Minho’s body collides with mine.

“Minho!” I gasp as the breath’s knocked from me. Sungmin drags me out from under Minho and punches my face. He throws me on the ground and kicks my ribs. I curl up and he picks me up by the hair.

“How dare you show your face here,” he spits into my face. I flinch as he throws me again. My back hits the wall. Sungmin starts punching me again, merciless in his determination to make me hurt all over. I curl up and try to protect my vital organs. Yoogeun starts to wail.

“Get off of him!” Minho roars. He tackles Sungmin and I watch from between my arms as the two wrestle. Minho kicks Sungmin between the legs before Kyuhyun jumps on his back. I feel blood start to trickle from a cut under my eye. Sungmin gets up as Minho grapples with Kyuhyun and starts to assault me again.

“Help!” I scream out as Sungmin’s foot collides with my ribs again. The blows disappear and I see Minho pressed up against me, his face twisted in pain as Sungmin keeps kicking, not even caring who he’s hitting.

“You alright?” Minho asks before he gasps in pain and looks down again, eyes squeezed shut. I reach out with weak arms and hold him to me, my voice cracking in my throat.

“Minho, stop,” I whisper. Sungmin growls in frustration.

“You fags!” he shouts. “<< I’ll kill you and your little friend, you >>-“

“Bastard!” Minho shouts, turning as Sungmin draws his foot back again. He catches my brother off balance and flips Sungmin onto his back.

“Get off!” Sungmin roars.

“Not on your life, you-“ Minho draws an arm back to hit Sungmin in the face, and I watch as he wobbles, but delivers the blow. And another. And another.

“You little pansy!” Sungmin taunts, blood trickling from his lip. I’m so engrossed in watching that I don’t notice Kyuhyun sneaking up on me. I’m thrown to the floor before I can even process what’s happening, and I fall with a grunt.

“Taemin!” Minho calls out. I feel his body over mine again as he dives to protect me. His face is so close to mine, blood flying in little droplets from his wounds with every one of Kyuhyun’s kicks. Sungmin joins in, his shoes colliding with any part of me that Minho can’t cover.

“Help!” I scream, reaching up and grabbing at Minho for support. I can feel my world going numb… My eyes close slowly…

“Stop!” a weak voice demands. I look up through my blurred vision to see my father trying to get up. Yuri immediately pushes him back down gently.

“But dad, he-“ Kyuhyun’s silenced by my father’s glare. I fist my hands in Minho’s shirt as he collapses and coughs.

“<< Leave, >>” my father commands. It’s then that Yesung emerges from the shadows and quivers.

Coward,I think as Minho stops coughing. I help him up and the only sound is Yoogeun’s wails.

“Taemin,” Taeyeon whispers from the doorway. I look at her and she hands me my crying son.

“<>” my father orders. As long as he’s alive, his word is still law. She disappears with a bow, and my brothers follow her. They glare at me in turn as they pass.

“<< , >>” Kyuhyun hisses as he slams the door shut. I support Minho on my shoulders, and I hold Yoogeun in my arms as I glare at my father.

“Is that your son?” my father croaks. Minho struggles into a straight position and opens his mouth, but I cut him off.

“Adopted,” I say. My father’s eyes squint, and his eyes shoot daggers at the three of us before he falls down onto the bed, exhausted.

“You will stay the week here for the lawyers to work everything out. Then you will leave.” His voice is tired, but definite. I grip at Yoogeun tighter.

“No need. Minho and I-“

“You will stay,” my father snarls. I flinch, and Minho’s arm wraps around my waist protectively. My father looks from Minho to I. I wince in pain as I feel a physical pain throughout my whole body.

“This is my friend, Minho,” I whisper. My father nods, and Minho’s grip on me tightens.

“Go to your room, if you remember where it is,” my father sighs. I nod and put a hand on Minho’s.

“Let’s go,” I whisper into Minho’s ear bloodied ear. He nods and we limp away. I can feel the questions bubbling inside of him, but for now, all I want is sleep.

A/N- Naughty Taemin, what are you hiding?

More to come, comments are love~ <3

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