‘No.’ Baekhyun didn’t even look up from his phone, still scrolling the newsfeed.

‘Boss, there is no need to get rid of her just yet. We could still use her to our advantage… We don’t really know if-‘ Jongdae’s voice died in his throat as soon as Baekhyun raised his head and looked at him. His expression was completely blank.

Jongdae swallowed hard, trying to refrain his voice from shaking. He stepped closer, because he just had to try again. The older’s eyes followed him as he approached. His boss might have still been seated but although it was Jongdae who towered over him now, he felt impossibly small and hopeless. The other’s face remained stoic.

‘Baekhyunnie…’ He whispered, resorting to droping the honorific and appealing to his friend instead. He blinked away the tears threatening to spill. ‘I beg you. You know that I… I would never ask you this but…’

‘What I do know, Jongdae, is that you seem to have fallen for someone that you were supposed to use for information only.’ He interrupted calmly, coldly even. ‘I have no problem with bringing trusted people into the family, as long as I remain in control of the situation. But I think you can understand why I don’t trust that girl, and why I will never be able to trust her.’ This time a single tear did roll down Jongdae’s cheek, all the way down to his neck. He made no move to wipe it, breathing slowly. Immobilised. ‘The case is already closed, as far as I’m concerned, and I want no witnesses. Tell Yi Fan to get rid of her if you can’t do it yourself.’

Baekhyun returned to reading the news as if nothing happened. Jongdae took it as a cue of dismissal.

‘Consider this mercy, Jongdae.’ The older added quietly, almost as an afterthought, just as the other was leaving. It stopped the younger on his tracks. ‘Because any other person daring to ask for what you did just now, would have been long dead. And before you try anything stupid, remember that once you’ve entered the Byun family, you can never leave. Not even dead.’

Baekhyun would be lying if he said that situations like this one moved him even a little bit. He did care for those closest to him, and Jongdae was someone he considered kin, but he definitely did not bother sparing the man's Chinese even one thought. Jongdae was upset – he was in love. Or he thought he was. Soon enough, he would get over it and move on. That’s just the way their world rolled.

It’s not that Baekhyun did not want to see him happy. But becoming a permanent in Jongdae’s bed – and life – meant they would become permanent in the family and Baekhyun couldn’t have a rat running around. Even if she had betrayed her own syndicate for them, what proof did Baek have that she would not do it again for another?

The answer was none.

He reckoned it was for the best. Jongdae was still way too emotional to tie himself to anybody. In their profession, having a loved one was a weakness and before you figured out how to rationally approach the problem, you should avoid creating it. That was his personal policy, anyway.

He stood up, massaging his temples with his index fingers, a frown marring his face. So much headache and the day hadn’t even properly started yet. When he opened the door to his office, he immediately became even more frustrated.

‘Why are you here?’ He asked only, not slowing down for even a second. The taller man, however, easily caught up with him, walking half a step behind.

‘There was some commotion downstairs among the new employees. Yi Fan went to take a look and left me to guard the door.’ Chanyeol replied seriously, looking ahead.

Baekhyun grimaced slightly at that. Chanyeol’s act of professionalism seemed so fake to him nowadays. But maybe it wasn’t fake at all. Maybe it was Baekhyun’s mind mocking him. Now that the boy – the man, he had to remind himself – had truly sank into the depths of Baekhyun’s darkness, the latter couldn’t help but remember the cheerful smile that was once always present on the younger’s lips.

Those days were long gone, but sometimes Baekhyun reminisced. This masochistic pain was what kept him alive.

‘Should I call him?’ Chanyeol inquired after a silent moment, still following him.

‘Let him know I’m headed to Red Velvet. It’s been a while since they saw my face there. We don’t want them to get too comfortable, now do we?’ He smirked as he descended the stairs and crossed the empty dance floor, not caring to acknowledge any of the lower-ranked employees, all of whom bowed respectfully as he passed by. When he left the building through the back door, the car was already waiting for him. Chanyeol opened the door of the back seat for him.

‘Aren’t you coming with?’ Baekhyun asked impatiently, putting on his sunglasses. ‘In case, you know, someone tried to attack me.’ He said, but his bored tone of voice did not mask the bitter humour well enough. And he achieved the intended result: there it was, the loop sided smile breaking out on Chanyeol’s face. It was small, barely there, but it was something.

Chanyeol closed the door and went around the car, sitting on the other side. How ridiculous, Chanyeol thought to himself, laughing at the sole thought of anyone trying to harm Baekhyun. The older would literally rip their head off.

‘Check on the shipment. The Chinese are really starting to piss me off. One more slip and the deal is off.’ Chanyeol nodded and proceeded to sending relevant messages. Baekhyun observed him from the corner of his eye. A part of him was satisfied at how stoic and efficient Chanyeol had become. With his unmoved resolution and calculative mind, he was somebody that Baekhyun could certainly be proud of and on whom he could rely. But the other part of him coursed him for having turned Chanyeol in what he had become. From an innocent and cheerful being into… Turning him into a reflection of himself. Chanyeol looked up to Baekhyun too much for his own good.

‘Have you looked into the school that Irene found for you?’ Baek asked casually, already knowing the answer.

‘No.’ Chanyeol replied simply, his eyes never leaving the phone. Yes, Baekhyun knew the answer even before he asked, but he still felt obliged to try. ‘They say that the ship has already left the harbour. Tao and Sehun are going to be waiting on our side with the gifts.’ The transactions were never complete without bribes.

‘Good. They should take more people, just in case. You never know.’ Baekhyun relaxed in his seat and let his head fall back comfortably. He rarely let himself go around another person, but Chanyeol was not just anybody. He was not only the Buyn family. He was Baekhyun’s family, first and foremost.

Chanyeol, Chanyeol, Chanyeol. Where did Baekhyun even start with him? He was... close. He was somebody Baekhyun always kept close, cherished more than even his own sister, something he would never admit, of course. Not in front of Chanyeol, not in front of anyone. Not even himself. He preferred to keep his distance, still treating Chanyeol like a baby that he certainly no longer was. Never fully acknowledging his age and abilities. Acknowledging them would mean acknowledging his own feelings and Baekhyun couldn’t have that.

He was… a brother. A brother, Baekhyun snorted internally. Right. From short height and round cheeks to towering posture and defined muscles - the silhouette of the man currently sitting next to him has become almost unrecognisable over the few months that Baekhyun spent away some 6 years ago and when he came back, he felt a bolt of desire shooting through his loins. It hadn’t left him since.

But he kept his frustration at bay; after all, he was extremely good at it. He did not want to unnecessarily encourage Chanyeol. The amount of surrounding them was already more than he could handle, anyway.

12 year old Chanyeol following him everywhere as Baekhyun made his rounds on the streets upon his father’s command. The former’s mother was never home, himself to faceless men for a dose of . Chanyeol was always alone, stealing food here and there to survive. Baekhyun was 17 and clearly saw that the younger turned him into an object of his hero worship. 

13 year old Chanyeol sitting on the bench in front of his tiny ruined apartment. Baekhyun did not even realise when he’d started caring, but he had and when he made his way towards the area to check up on the boy, he found him there, in the middle of the night. His mother’s corpse was on the floor in their filthy living room. Her complexion livid and her eyes unnaturally goggled. Baekhyun was surprised Chanyeol didn’t throw up on the spot. He himself knew he wanted to.

For a few months, he paid an elderly lady to take care of the child, without anyone knowing, but before he had a chance to explain his actions to his father, he had already become an orphan. At the age of 17 and a half, he became the head of his family’s syndicate. His father was shot in the head by a traitor. So much burden and responsibility fell on his young shoulders but he wasn’t scared. Angered, yes. But not scared. He had been groomed for this his entire life. Fear is only a state of mind, his father used to say. He succeeded in planting the idea in his son’s head.

He tracked down the people who tried to overthrow the Byuns and personally shot every single one of them. He felt nothing. It was justice.

An eye for an eye.

It continued until today. If there was even a shadow of doubt, Baekhyun did not hesitate to eliminate it. There were exceptions, of course, like Jongdae. But then again, Baekhyun did not really believe that Jongdae would ever betray him, much less for a woman. Jongdae’s place was with them. Forever and a day after.

‘Hyung, are you angry?’ Baekhyun turned to Chanyeol, shaking off the bitter memories that appeared unexpectedly. He realised he fell silent for too long. ‘I wish we could stop arguing about this already. I understand where you’re coming from but I have no desire of getting a degree in anything. I’m good here, with you. Helping you in any way that I can.’

‘I don’t need your help.’ Baekhyun bit back, but without any heat in his voice. He just felt like he had to say it for the sake of his own sanity. He did not want Chanyeol to go anywhere. But at the same time, he wanted Chanyeol to go far away, save himself from the life that Baekhyun led. Chanyeol was the only person who could leave the Byun syndicate if he only as much as asked. But he never did and he did not want to look at the American universities the older had his sister prepare for him, either.

‘I know why you don’t acknowledge me but that’s ok. I’m patient. My 25^th birthday is just around the corner.’

‘That doesn’t change anything.’

‘It changes everything. I remember what you said. You said I should become a man, first.’

‘You are a man, Chanyeol.’ Baekhyun scoffed. Sour mood was his defence mechanism against any insinuations the younger might make. His only defence, recently. That’s why he avoided him as much as he possibly could. ‘I never wanted this life for you. I didn’t take care of you just so I could turn you into the likes of me.’

‘This line is so old now, hyung, it is about to fall apart.’ Chanyeol replied calmly. ‘This is the last time I’ll say this and after that, I’m never going to apologise for who I am and who I want to be, ever again. You clearly like this life and I don’t understand why you think you forced me into it. I like it, too. You gave me plenty of opportunities to leave but I never did. Rather than thinking that I’m here because I owe you, think of it as of what I want to do and who I want to be with. I’m a grown man now, Baekhyun, and you’re not my father. I can take care of myself.’ Baekhyun frowned at the lack of honorific but decided to let is slide.

‘No, I’m not your father. But as your brother-‘

‘You’re not my brother either, Byun Baekhyun. You’re a lot of things to me but you’re not… my brother.’

This conversation was over, Baekhyun decided. He turned his head towards the window, but not without a brief recognition of the desire burning in Chanyeol’s eyes. He knew the younger wanted him, probably almost as much as Baekhyun wanted Chanyeol, something that Chanyeol was of course not privy to. But while Baekhyun had with different men almost every night, he didn’t feel like tainting the man he still stubbornly called his brother.

They arrived at the night club and again, Chanyeol opened the door for him. Since Baek decided that the time for family was over, he stopped acknowledging the younger whatsoever. Something that Chanyeol was almost too used to by now.

Red Velvet was something that his crazy half sister wanted desperately and what she wanted, she usually got. At that time, Baekhyun had observed her actions from afar, not bothering to take away this apparent enjoyment from her. The man who had owned the bar did all he could to protect his property against the petite yet violent woman and her threats, continuously refusing to pay for the protection of “the filthy mafia” but that was all in vein and forgotten now. A few months later, Kim Junmyeon was already pathetically married to Irene and the club ended up becoming the family’s property, anyway. 

He was an awkward fellow, Baekhyun had decided when he first formally met him, but he couldn’t help but be impressed by the fact that the man stood his ground and did not bow to anyone. He was older than Baekhyun too, and very clever, and even without really wanting to, he had soon become the boss’s right hand. Byun Baekhyun killed, Kim Junmyeon cleaned. The latter’s life had changed radically but he did not seem to have any regrets. He now wore his syndicate tattoo proudly on his left shoulder, along with his wife’s name.

Baekhyun found him behind the bar, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he cleaned the glasses one by one.

‘You’re completely whipped.’ Baekhyun remarked mockingly, his widest smirk on his face. He sat on the stool just in front of the other man. Chanyeol took it as a sign of wanting privacy so he directed his steps towards a group of men seated in the other corner of the room.

Junmyeon’s smile still looked as innocent and genuine as ever. Baekhyun had been sceptical at first, but later realised that a face like him was indeed needed for the smooth sailing of things. Even the police had a hard time believing they had the right guy when they saw a golden boy like Junmyeon. Something that Baekhyun heavily relied on.

‘No, Ju did not make me do it if that’s what you’re alluding to. I like wiping the glasses myself every once in a while and today is unusually calm. Reminds me of how it used to be before you lot moved in.’ He snickered, albeit in good faith.

‘Where’s Irene?’

‘We weren’t really expecting you so she’s out and about her own business. As long as it doesn’t affect our relationship, we have a strong separate life from work policy in our house.’ Junmyeon began putting the glasses back into the cabinet behind him.

‘I’m thinking of cutting ties with China. I want to know your opinion.’ Baekhyun didn’t beat around the bush as he announced his plan to the only person that he ever directly turned to for advice. Junmyeon stilled for a moment, before he closed the cabinet and sat down in front of the younger, unhurriedly wiping his hands in the cloth he just used for glasses.

‘On what basis?’ He finally asked.

‘You know that these days I kill more of them than I ever get profit. I’m bored of their inefficiency and constant problems. The stuff from Hong Kong is equally good and their scale is still not big so they want a break through to Korea. I can use them cheaply while still controlling them. In time, I might even be able to absorb them completely. Our syndicate never thought of expanding abroad but these days I’m getting greedier, I guess.’ Baekhyun said casually and shrugged, as it he hadn’t just talked about drugs and violent gangs.

His companion nodded.

‘I wouldn’t give the Chinese up yet, at least not immediately. If you just cut the cord, they will turn other people against us. We will be left without any shipment. Take a small parcel from Hong Kong first and see what they are like to deal with. If they are able to provide enough and regularly, tell the Chinese that they now have competition for our market. That way you’ll have them fight each other, while we get to sit back and count the money.’

‘That’s not such a bad idea, actually.’ Baekhyun admitted after a while, deep in thought. Junmyeon hid his smile behind the back of his hand. Compliments were rare, coming from the boss.

‘How’s Chanyeol doing?’ The older changed the topic. Baekhyun scoffed.

‘What do you think? Having the time of his life.’

‘Stop being so harsh on him, because your denial is turning you into a hypocrite. You can be quite affectionate towards the people close to you, why are you always keeping your distance from him?’

‘Because Baek’s a little , that’s why.’ Irene hopped onto the stool right next to her half brother. It wouldn’t be a complete lie if Baekhyun said he nearly got a heart attack. She’d always been sneaky.

Irene leaned across the counter to give Junmyeon a kiss. Baekhyun scoffed again. She smirked at him.

‘Still as ually frustrated as ever, I see. Are you still playing hard to get?’ They all knew exactly whom she was refering to.

‘No offence, Irene, but shut up.’ Baekhyun growled, getting up and leaving the two of them behind, both laughing quietly at his annoyance.

‘Gentlemen.’ He greeted the small crowd that formed around Chanyeol. All of them immediately stood up, bowing in respect, although smiles never left their faces. Baekhyun was feared, yes, but he was also fair to his people, so those who did not wrong him, had nothing to be worried about.

Baekhyun noticed that Chanyeol tried to school his features back to serious but somewhat failed – he looked really cheerful around his friends, most of whom grew up in the syndicate along him. Baekhyun was happy to see Chanyeol happy, but also could not help but feel jealous. It’s been a long time since the two of them laughed this freely about anything. These days they were too busy playing the game of mouse and cat in between them.

He looked around. Sehun and Jongin were Chanyeol’s closest friends as far as he knew. Sehun was the bastard child of a man that once belonged to the Byuns and was long dead – Baekhyun couldn’t even remember his name. He lost track of the child until Sehun resurfaced again some years later, asking him for any kind of job that would keep him afloat. The kid was lanky but unexpectedly agile and had nothing to lose, which made him a valuable asset. Jongin, on the other hand, was the son of one of the older female bartenders working at Exodus, another club controlled by the Byuns. He lived dangerously and Baekhyun suspected him to be insane but as long as he got the job done, Baek did not care. The one time he saw the younger kill a man, the latter was sporting a mad grin and was clearly enjoying the torture.

While the bravery was appreciated, the calm mind was something that had more advantages in their line of work. And anyway, all those people were under Yi Fan’s management so he rarely bothered with the likes of them.

Another man known as Lay – Baekhyun kept forgetting his real name. He tolerated him only because Lay had a particular set of skills that were invaluable to them – self educated in chemicals and poisons, Lay’s strange combinations killed quickly and effectively. Not to mention, in a way that the death could not be traced back to them.

Lay was always high and flying on coke or some other . Baekhyun remembered that one time he caught Chanyeol, Lay and two others snorting met, back when Chanyeol was still living in Baekhyun’s apartment. The younger was 17. It was the only time that Baekhyun slapped the boy that he called brother. He kicked the others out – they could die on the street, for all he cared – and made Chanyeol throw up until the latter coughed blood.

‘There is only one rule, Chanyeol, and that is we stay clean. We sell this poison for profit, we encourage others to take it – but we ourselves stay clear of it. Those idiots you call friends may take anything they like but our family stays in control of the situation. And you can’t be in control of even your own with that making you delusional. If I ever as much as hear of you even looking at it again, I’ll kill you, Chanyeol. Am I making myself clear enough?’

Chanyeol quickly nodded his head from the floor, where he was still on his knees, heaving. Baekhyun was not screaming; his quiet, barely louder than a whisper tone of voice was just as deadly.

Chanyeol never even lit a cigarette since.

Then, there was Tao… Baekhyun liked Tao. Tao could kill with his hands only, within a split second. He spoke little but was not afraid of showing his goofy side sometimes, something Baekhyun wished that Chanyeol could balance better, instead of sporting his “all grown up” expression. That made him look even more childish, in Byun’s opinion.

There were some others whom he was not familiar with but their syndicate recruited so many low lives that he should hardly be expected to.

‘Shouldn’t you two be in the harbour already?’ Baekhyun raised an eyebrow, looking at Tao and Sehun.

‘Sir, the shipment will arrive in three hours. There is still time.’ Sehun reassured, smiling.

‘Shouldn’t you be in the harbour..?’ Baekhyun repeated only, unnecessary prolonging each word. Tao was the first one to sense the atmosphere because he quickly reacted with a bow.

‘On our way, sir.’ Without any delay, the two left before they could anger their boss even further.

‘If you’re done discussing whatever it is that you’re discussing, work is waiting. But of course, I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you with my own selfish needs.’ Baekhyun added, sarcastically. Irene was right, he was cold to Chanyeol – and probably a little , too – but he had little choice, especially in front of other people. He could not have anyone gossiping about his twisted relationship with the younger.

Chanyeol rushed to leave his place.

‘We were just talking about Chanyeol’s upcoming birthday. We should throw him a party or something. Gifts. Alcohol. . Chocolate.’ Lay butted into the conversation. He sat back down on his chair, heavily. He was clearly incapable of standing on his own feet for too long. Baekhyun rolled his eyes – he should send Yi Fan to solve the problem that was Lay, once and for all.

‘Whatever it is that the birthday boy wishes.’ Baekhyun snickered bitterly, turning on his heel and directing himself towards the door. He raised his hand in greeting to the couple behind the bar, but discovered they were no longer there. He had no time or patience to look for them so he just left, with Chanyeol in tow.

‘Birthday party, huh? You never wanted one before.’ Baekhyun remarked as he entered the car once again, sunglasses back on his nose.

‘Never felt like there was anything worth celebrating.’ Chanyeol shrugged.

‘And now it’s changed?’

‘You promised.’ The younger responded simply.

‘I never promised you anything. Chanyeol, I don’t know what you’re thinking but-‘

‘You promised.’ Chanyeol interrupted him quietly. Even without looking, he could tell that the other was smirking. ‘You have promised me a night with you as a gift for my 25^th birthday. Don’t worry – I’m not going to try and make you love me like a pathetic fool that I once was. And if means so little to you, it should be even easier to let me pleasure you for a few hours. So, Baekhyun’ the older felt Chanyeol’s hot breath on his ear, whispering it like a secret ‘better change the sheets because a man is worth nothing if not a given word. Wasn’t it what you have always told me?’

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Changdeol says: From my stories you can see that I jump fandoms a lot ^^ But I write per request here, mostly, so if you have a particular story or pairing in mind, you can let me know and I will see if I can work with it. Hope you'll enjoy this short story.