Episode 14 #2
The number of lessons Ellisandre had casually passed on in the last few weeks was frightening.
He’d known they were capable and intimidating, but he’d never considered that they had training on par with MI6.
It wasn’t fun traveling without his phone so often.
He was used to being attached to at least one, but for these meetings he’d been leaving all phones behind.
It was like being untethered, out in the world on one’s own.
Waving down a taxi took longer than he’d hoped, but not so long he was worried he’d miss his flight.
Once in the back of a cab, he closed his eyes and counted the hours until he would see Jun again.
His wolfling would be asleep, probably curled up in the big bed with Collin.
It didn’t matter. The bed was big enough for all of them.
Richard would be the one with them tonight.
émeric was in Japan. Ami had come through for them.
The head of international investigation’s mother-in-law frequented one of her shrines.
Damian’s security was waiting inside the airport. Damian ignored them, going into the restroom to change back into himself before rejoining them.
A tall, frail looking old man in a tie-dye shirt bumped into Damian as he waited in line for security. “Two days.”
Sevastyan.
“Hey man, you good?” Damian said.
Sevastyan caught himself on his cane. “Didn’t see you.”
“No worries.”
Sevastyan’s fingers trailed away from Damian’s pocket. “For Elli.”
Damian suppressed a shiver. He hummed through his teeth and turned to stare ahead, waiting for the line to keep moving.
Two days.
Jun’s comeback was in four days.
Damian and Jun were in Damian’s office after work hours, two days before the scheduled comeback drop party. Jun was working on lyrics and Damian was furiously trying to keep up with his work when a knock came on the glass door. Jun and Damian looked up together. It was Sevastyan.
Was he alone? Did they need to pretend to not know him? Damian glanced at his phone. Security hadn’t phoned him. “Yes? We’re closed. I’m sorry if the door was open.”
“Believe me, your security doesn’t know I’m here.
” Sevastyan slouched into the room and leaned against one of the chest high cabinets where Damian kept his scant few physical papers and significantly more clothes.
He crossed his arms. “It’s time. The warrant was delivered to the U.S.
today. The Merchari have been informed it will be served in two days. I’m to deliver their demands.”
Damian grimaced “Funny how that lines up with Jun’s comeback.”
Sevastyan’s face twitched. “Yes, funny.”
“So they did that on purpose.” Damian leaned back in his seat. “Will it be served before or after the party?”
“After.”
Jun crossed the room and sat on the edge of Damian’s desk, facing Sevastyan, one foot on the floor, one foot on the edge of Damian’s chair. “So it’s finally happening.”
“Do you have an answer ready?” Sevastyan raised an eyebrow.
Jun looked at Damian. So much trust, so much resolve. Damian nodded, giving Jun the floor. They’d talked it out, between themselves, with Richard and émeric, even Collin. But in the end it was Jun’s call.
Jun squared his shoulders. “If I didn’t know this was coming, I wouldn’t have an answer right away, unless it was panicked.
So no, I don’t have an answer today. Tell them I need to think about the terms. Tell them…
” he paused, bracing himself. “Tell them that I’ve been caged before and I’m not entirely opposed to making an honorable exit. I’ll take that over being caged again.”
Sevastyan raised both eyebrows. “They’re not going to like that.”
“No, I expect not.” Jun’s voice deepened.
“but neither do I like hearing that I was bought and sold since I was a child. So tell them that. Tell them that I’m angry I was sold, that I don’t feel responsible for Bak Gyeong’s debts, that I’m not inclined to give up the money being returned through legal actions against my father. Tell them I have a life now.”
“They’ll take that as a threat.”
“Will they move preemptively?”
Sevastyan shook his head.
“Tell them I’ll give them an answer in three days, so the day after the comeback party.”
Sevastyan tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Anything else?”
“Yes.” Jun grimaced. “Tell them I’m angry, but I want my career and that I’m not reckless. Tell them I know Bak Gyeong was a terrible businessman, and that I need three days to work out the numbers to see if what they’re asking is even possible.”
“They’ll buy that.” Sevastyan straightened up. “One day delay, that I can deliver.”
“How are preparations on your end?” Damian said.
Sevastyan’s lips thinned. “On schedule. The Residency has exceeded mine and my compatriot’s expectations.”
“I’m glad. We should have a final date shortly.”
Sevastyan nodded, just a short quick jerk of his head, as if the idea was almost too much. “I’ll bring Rei in a few weeks, after Jun has bought us time.”
“We already have space set aside for him.”
“Collin’s father,” Jun said. “When this is over, will he be seeing him?”
Sevastyan’s lips tightened. “Da, if he’s alive, maybe.”
Sevastyan left the same way he had come. Damian turned his chair back around, meeting Jun’s eyes. Neither spoke for several beats.
“You did good,” Damian said.
Jun held up his hand and smiled, ruefully. There was a tremble from his wrist to his fingers.
“Doesn’t matter.” Damian stood, bracketing Jun in with his body. “You can’t be brave if you’re not scared. I have your back. We all do.”
“You always have.” Jun touched his forehead to Damian’s. “Do you think they’ll give me three days?”
“Sevastyan knows them better than we do. We’ll trust him on this. Until then…”
“Double security. Don’t be alone. Keep the rest of the guys close. Mi Hi, too.” Jun recited the plans that had been in place for days. “Nothing has really changed. We’ve known this was coming.”
“Nothing has changed.”
Damian held Jun against his body. Nothing had changed; the danger was still real and close.
Jun
Jun eased out of the big bed before anyone else the following morning.
Most nights the pile of bodies kept his nightmares away, but after Sevastyan’s visit the previous day, even that had not been enough.
He made sure Collin was still covered and Richard’s feet weren’t out in the cold, then slipped out the door.
Artemis followed him, curious at the change in routine.
Jun went to the Den and put on lounge pants and one of Damian’s sweaters.
He grabbed his notebook of lyrics and padded to the kitchen, promising Artemis treats.
Using dim lights, he started the electric kettle and gave Artemis some cat-friendly fish scraps.
In the cupboard he found a packet of hot chocolate with mint.
Maybe if he paired it with coconut milk that would settle him.
He didn’t dare have a whole cup of milk.
He fussed with finding the coconut milk and heated it in a pan on the stove, forgetting that he’d started water boiling until the kettle clicked off. The sound made him flinch and turn around. émeric was standing there, taking the water off the electric pad.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” émeric shook his head. “Are you using all of this?”
“No. None. I forgot I started it. I’m using milk.”
“Then I’ll use the water.” émeric rummaged in the cabinet for a sturdy mug and handed it to Jun, then selected a delicate teacup and saucer for himself.
They sat down at the table together. Jun pulled one knee up against his chest and wrapped both hands around the mug. He was cold on the inside, and not in a way that clothes seemed to help.
émeric swirled his tea with a small spoon and pulled out the leaves, leaving a steaming, perfectly colored brew behind.
“Did I wake you?”
“Yes.” émeric gave Jun a soft smile. “Don’t apologize.”
Jun grimaced and pulled up his second knee to his chest.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Tomorrow. Today, if they don’t wait.”
“Sevastyan and Ellisandre could likely warn us if they decide not to wait.”
“But if they don’t…”
“Then we have Holden and Timothy and Cedric, and Maleko, and the rest.”
“I hate this.”
“So do I.”
“Sometimes I still think I shouldn’t have involved all of you.”
émeric gazed back steadily. “I would hope that you’re just selfish enough to not believe that.”
Jun almost spit bubbles in his hot chocolate. He set it down, took another look at émeric. “You’re serious.”
“Selfishness is important, Jun. Something I doubt you heard much of at BBB3. I’m selfish enough to demand a beautiful place to live, a full fridge of food, Richard’s time, Collin’s submission, yours, even, on occasion.”
Jun picked up his mug again, avoiding émeric’s eyes. “But you’ve earned that.”
“Some of it, perhaps. I’ve certainly earned the trust that comes with all of that. But so have you. It’s obvious—the way Yohei, Geun, Jaewoong, Su-jin, Mi Hi, and Gigi all listen to you, follow you.”
“I don’t feel like I’ve earned the right for people to risk their lives.”
“You haven’t earned the harm of being sold. That’s all you need, Jun, to deserve being protected. To exist.”
“There’s more to it than that.” Jun grimaced. “You wouldn’t do this if I was an asshole.”
“We wouldn’t know about you if you were an asshole, little crime. That doesn’t change the fact that I would still believe that the law and the systems of our society should protect you.”
“How do you get okay with being selfish without being bad?”
émeric chuckled. “I supposed I didn’t call it being selfish until I had spent several years with Richard.
He and I had very different ideas of what the basics of life were.
I thought fresh bread in the morning and hot coffee were essentials.
He thought having three meals a day, even if one of them was a snack bar, was more than enough. ”
Jun’s lips twitched. “I guess you changed his mind.”