Do you like shopping? (1/1)

Yunho stepped into his room, removing his tie and shoes, and flung them on the floor behind him. He started to unbutton the cuffs of his sleeves and then turned, hearing footsteps coming up the stairs to his bedroom. Yoochun smiled up at him and bent down to pick up the shoes, tie, and dress shirt that Yunho had also added to the pile. Yunho tsked. "I don't know why you guys insist on cleaning up after me, Yoochun. I happen to like the freedom of a messy room," he teased.  Yoochun shrugged. "I was coming to talk to you anyway. Might as well make myself useful," he said, tossing the clothes into the laundry hamper, and the shoes into the closet. Yunho pulled out a pair of jeans and a plain, white t-shirt and started pulling them on.  "What did you want to talk about?"  "Jaejoong. Why aren't you putting on a suit?"  "I'm not going to swim." Yunho answered, buttoning his jeans. "Jaejoong isn't comfortable with me yet and I want him to have some fun. He actually looked like he was when I first came outside, but as soon as he saw me, he just froze." Yunho frowned. "I don't want that."  "Yunho, he was just startled, he--" Yunho held up a hand.  "I'm not going to force my presence on him right now. I want to wait until he's more comfortable."  Yoochun scoffed. "Well, the only way to make him more comfortable is to actually be around him. You can't keep hiding yourself away, thinking you're helping. He's worse than any of us ever were, Yunho, and what makes it harder, I think he's attracted to you."  A smile slowly tugged on Yunho's lips, and then he frowned. "Wait, how is that bad? ...I want him to like me."  Yoochun sighed, dropping down onto Yunho's bed. "It's dangerous for a slave to like their master, Yunho. We're naturally frightened of them, so when there's an attraction... it's confusing. Way more confusing than some stranger showing up at an auction, bidding aggressively, then tossing them into a house-full of ten-plus other slaves, and telling them that they aren't one anymore." Yunho frowned. "And Jaejoong has to deal with that as well!" "It wasn't this hard for some of you..."  "Some of us weren't slaves for all our lives," Yoochun explained. "Sungmin, Kangin, Kyuhyun... they were only in it for a year or two before you got them. It's still traumatizing, of course, but it's not the same as it being all they know." Yunho sighed, running a hand harshly through his hair. "And you think Jaejoong is one of those. One where it's all they know."  Yoochun nodded. "I think he was born to a slave. The mannerisms are all there, first nature. I've only ever seen a few, but believe me, the impression they leave is lasting."  They both stared in silence for a few minutes. Both trying to figure out what they should do with Jaejoong, when they heard wet, sopping footsteps coming down the hallway. They stood and peeked out the doorway.  Jaejoong was soaked, hair sticking to the sides of his head and face, water dripping down his bare chest and back. He was shaking, eyes wide, bottom lip clenched tightly between his teeth.  Yunho stepped out of the doorframe. "Jaejoong, what happened?"  Jaejoong jerked but didn't stop moving. He opened the door to his bedroom and quickly closed it behind him. Yoochun and Yunho exchanged confused looks, and then Yunho strode down the hallway and into the living room, Yoochun close behind.  "What happened?" He demanded, and the guilty looks a few of them threw at him let him know they knew exactly what he was talking about.  There was silence as Yunho looked around the room, no one coming forward. Yunho decided that Changmin looked the guiltiest, never looking directly at him, and he zeroed in on him. "Changmin?"  Changmin didn't looked up and Kangin nudged him on the shoulder hard, causing him to stumble. He glared at Kangin over his shoulder and then slowly met Yunho's eyes. "What happened?" Yunho repeated.  Changmin gulped. "It was just a joke... I--We didn't know he couldn't swim."  Yunho sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You pushed him in?"  "We wanted him to get in!! He'd just been sitting there all day, we thought that if we got him in somehow then he'd start to play with us and have fun!" Changmin exclaimed defensively, but pleading at the same time.  Yunho nodded softly and looked over Changmin's shoulder at Kangin, Donghae and Eunhyuk, who were slightly huddled together, biting their lips and looking just as guilty as he had. "You keep saying we," he said to Changmin. "You had some help?" he asked, looking pointedly at the group of trouble-makers.  Changmin nodded fiercely, pointing at them and stomping a foot on the ground. "YES! They helped me! And it wasn't even my idea!!"  "Shut up, Min!" Donghae whined.  Yunho shook his head. "I don't even know how to deal with this..." he murmured. "I want all of you to apologize to him later," he said, glaring at each of them in turn. They nodded, looking appropriately scolded.  "I'll go check on Jaejoong." Yoochun said and started to leave the room.  "No, I'll go." Yunho said. "I need to stop hiding from him, remember?"  Yoochun nodded, smirking as Yunho walked by. "Yes, you do."  ***** Yunho softened his steps as he approached Jaejoong's room, realizing he'd been striding down the hallway, footsteps echoing in an almost suspenseful manner.  Comfort, Yunho, comfort. You can do this, he told himself, trying to pep himself up. He laughed a little as he knocked on the frosted glass gently, thinking he should be used to it by now, having done it many times before with the others. But it's so different with Jaejoong... he thought.  There wasn't an answer to his knock, not that he expected there to be, so he let himself in. The room was empty, but he heard Jaejoong's soft sobs coming from the bathroom. He went there immediately and saw Jaejoong curled in the corner of the empty tub, hugging his legs to his body like they were his only floatation device in the middle of a dark, stormy ocean. He walked toward him slowly.  "Jaejoong?"  No answer. Of course. "Jaejoong, it's okay," he whispered, sitting on the edge of the tub. He reached out to Jaejoong and he flenched away. "Calm down now, you're okay," Yunho murmured, reaching for Jaejoong anyway, and laying his hand gently on his back. "I'm sorry they pushed you in... They didn't know you couldn't swim. Jaejoong didn't talk. He didn't make a sound, just continued to rock himself and stare at a point low on the wall.  Yunho sighed after nearly ten minutes of no response, and stood. He bent over and lifted Jaejoong suddenly, cradling him safely in his arms, even as he squeaked and flailed in alarm.  "I understand that you're scared and that I frighten you," he said, a little bitterly, "but you're not going to sit here and be cold."  Jaejoong shivered and tucked his head into Yunho's neck as he leaned down to turn on the hot water. He couldn't help but notice how Yunho smelt. Spicy, warm, comforting. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose, the smell of his master incredulously relaxing him.  Yunho sat on the edge of the tub again, keeping Jaejoong curled into him, and stroked his hair while they waited for the tub to fill. As soon as it was done, he stood Jaejoong on his own two feet and lightly tugged his swim trunks down his thighs. Jaejoong tucked his head down into his chest and blushed as he was stripped naked by his master. He hesitantly placed his hands on Yunho's shoulders as he guided him to step out of the trunks when they fell down around his ankles.  Yunho let his eyes take their time, trailing up Jaejoong's body at a leisurely pace. Jaejoong's cheeks stained a deeper red as he felt Yunho's eyes on him. He shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable under the heated gaze like he hadn't ever been before. Yunho's eyes stopped on his face, and he brushed a finger underneath Jaejoong's chin.  "Get in," he breathed, and Jaejoong gradually obeyed.  Jaejoong kept his eyes down as Yunho kneeled beside the tub, taking the sponge from the side table and soaking it in the warm water. He squeezed it over Jaejoong's shoulders, watching the water trickle over his skin as Jaejoong shivered from the warmth.  After wetting his hair the same way, Yunho started to scrub Jaejoong with the soap, and then massaged shampoo into his scalp.  "Tell me what happened," he whispered, as he rinsed Jaejoong's body clean.  Jaejoong hesitated, strongly leaning toward staying silent, but he couldn't ignore his master.  "I--" he started, and Yunho froze his movements, listening intently. "They--they pushed--pulled me in..." Jaejoong said, voice trembling. Yunho shh'd him and urged him to continue. "I was sitting there, and someone came up behind me... They pushed, and, I tried-tried to hold onto the side, but they were pulling my legs... I fell in. They were dragging me through the water, and I tried to--I couldn't breathe..." he broke off in a panicked voice and bit his lip, trying to hold back his sobs.  Yunho didn't move. He gritted his teeth, wanting to storm out of the room and scream at them for what they did to Jaejoong. And on his first day here... how could they even begin to think that it would be funny?  Jaejoong peeked up at Yunho, noticing his silence, and shook when he saw Yunho's angered expression. "Master, please, I--I didn't want to get anyone in trouble... I don't want them to be punished, I was just scared..." he pleaded, eyes wide and red-rimmed, tears brimming over.  Yunho shook his head. "Jaejoong don't," he said firmly. "Don't call me that. You know I'm not your master... now let yourself believe it. Do you understand?" Jaejoong just stared at him, in shock, and Yunho sighed.  That wasn't the most tactful way to express to Jaejoong how he felt, he knew that, but at that moment he couldn't help it. There he was, caring for Jaejoong, wanting to comfort him, wanting to love him... and then hearing Jaejoong call him master, so frightened of him... he just couldn't bare it.  With a deep breath he pulled the plug out of the drain and watched the water go down. When the last bit gurgled down the drain, he pulled Jaejoong up by his arms and wrapped him in one of the white, fluffy towels. He rubbed the end of the towel over Jaejoong's hair to soak some of the water and then led him out into the bedroom.  Jaejoong stayed standing silently behind him as Yunho went to the closet to get some dry clothes. When he opened the door, only to see Jaejoong's three pieces of tattered clothing hanging solemnly in the overly-large closet, he froze.  He didn't know what to say... He didn't know who'd washed them. Honestly, he'd forgotten all about the fact that Jaejoong had nothing. No clothes, no shoes, nothing. A flash of Jaejoong hunched over the tub in his bathroom, cleaning the only items that he could call his own rushed through Yunho's mind and he had to brace himself on the side of the door against the pain it caused his heart.  Clearing his throat, Yunho turned to find Jaejoong staring resolutely at the floor, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, knowing exactly what his master was looking for and what he would find: Nothing. It pained Yunho further.  "Finish drying yourself," he told Jaejoong gently. "I'll go and get you some of my clothes to wear." Jaejoong nodded once and Yunho quickly walked away, returning minutes later with boxers, a pair of pajama pants that he hardly wore and one of his favorite t-shirts.  He helped Jaejoong pull the clothes over his still bruised and, surely sore, body.  When he was dressed, Yunho laid down on the bed and pulled Jaejoong's trembling frame with him, holding him firmly against his side. Jaejoong was confused, but lay there obediently, listening to his master's heartbeat.  "Jaejoong," Yunho murmured after a few silent minutes. "I know what you've been through. And I know that you're scared. But I want you to listen to me when I say this to you." He felt Jaejoong stiffen against him, breath halting. "I care about you," Yunho whispered delicately. "I care that you're frightened, I care that you're in pain... and I want to take care of you. I will always take care of you."  Jaejoong stayed still, not daring to move, carefully registering each of Yunho's words in his mind. Yunho waited patiently, rubbing soft, soothing circles over Jaejoong's back and holding his hand securely against his chest.  When he felt Jaejoong shift finally, pushing into his body like he was trying to get closer, Yunho sighed.  "Do you understand what I mean?" he asked softly.  Jaejoong cleared his throat. "Yes, master," he replied, voice scratchy and thick.  Yunho shut his eyes. "Please, don't call me that, Jaejoong." "Okay."  ***** Dinner was slightly awkward, to put it simply.  When Yunho and Jaejoong entered the kitchen, the others apologized to Jaejoong one by one, either for taking part in the prank or for not doing more to prevent it. Jaejoong drifted closer to Yunho's side, hiding behind his shoulder and clenching the back of his shirt tightly in his fist, not letting go until they were seated next to each other at the table.  Yoochun noticed the change of attitude Jaejoong had toward Yunho and smiled, wrapping his arm tighter around Junsu.  Jaejoong stayed quiet, so the rest did too, not wanting to overwhelm him with their conversations. He ate all that Yunho put on his plate and leaned in closer when Yunho put an arm across the back of his chair. He smiled, only a little hesitantly, and nodded when Yunho asked if he'd had enough to eat, and he gripped Yunho's hand back when he felt him reach for it under the table.  Yoochun continued to watch Jaejoong closely, noticing Jaejoong's uncertainty and the way he watched Yunho out of the corner of his eyes. He still didn't trust him, Yoochun confirmed, but he was beginning to question if he could. And that was an extreme accomplishment.  ***** They finished dinner later than usual, a little after half-past eight.  Before going to bed, Yunho sat on a bench in the courtyard, looking over a couple of contracts, with Jaejoong curled against his side, slowly flipping through a magazine. Jaejoong was staring at the pictures in a child-like amazement that Yunho found incredibly endearing. And distracting.  Somewhere in the middle of the third contract, he gave up trying to focus and watched Jaejoong instead. They didn't speak much, and he had a fleeting thought that their silence should feel awkward, but instead it felt contented, relaxed. Easy.  Another thing that he thought he could only feel with Jaejoong. Other than Yoochun, that is, but with Jaejoong it was different. Everything was different. And Yunho loved it.  ***** A little before ten, Yunho pulled Jaejoong from the bench outside and said goodnight to the others for both of them. Jaejoong only waved shyly as they walked away.  Yunho hugged Jaejoong close to him when they were in his bedroom, and then tucked him into the covers like he had that morning.  Just as he was about to leave, Yunho noticed that the light in the closet was still on and he went to shut it off. He frowned, seeing the sparse contents of the otherwise bare closet and pushed the door closed with a thud.  "Jaejoong," he called suddenly.  "Y-yes?"  "Do you like shopping?" he asked. He looked over at Jaejoong who was staring at him, confused, eyebrows furrowed.  "I... I've never been.."  Yunho nodded. "Well, tomorrow I'll take you." Jaejoong's eyes widened. "I only have a few meetings to attend in the morning, and then I can take the rest of the day off. We'll get you some clothes and anything else you want."  Jaejoong bit his lip, wanting to say... something. But he didn't know what to say at all.  Yunho crossed the room and kissed him on the forehead. He pulled away and cupped his cheeks gently in his hands.  "I'll see you in the morning," he murmured, rubbing his thumbs in soft circles. "Good night."  After he left, and the room was dark and empty, Jaejoong whispered 'Good night' back, hands resting over the spot where his master's had been.