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[law!verse] Worst Day Ever (Part Two)
Woot. Part Deux.
I don't remember who it was that asked for a little Kangteuk. Whoever you are, here it is. :) Extraordinarily minor, but it fit.
~~~~
Jaejoong had never been so nervous in his whole life. "I don't even know why I'm shaking. What the hell. Yejin. Oh my god. Yunho."
"You're exploding with random words. Stop."
"Sorry."
There wasn't anything particularly out of order walking up to Yunho's apartment building. Jaejong was even expecting the police car lurking outside the door. Heechul waved cheerily to them.
"Subtle."
"Are we trying to be subtle? You need to inform me of these things."
"Never mind."
Jaejoong walked into the building and rode the elevator up (ignoring Heechul's prattle about the horrible color scheme.) Opening the door to the apartment ("Maybe the door is rigged with a bomb!" "Don't be dramatic, Heechul." "I can't help it; it's my nature") and stopped in the doorway, his jaw dropping.
"What. A. Mess." Heechul annunciated, "There is no way Yunho's such a slob."
Jaejoong ignored the attempted humor and walked carefully through the apartment. Yunho's dishes and glassware were all smashed, knick knacks thrown everywhere, ripped fabric and pillow stuffing thrown everywhere.
"Well shit," Heechul cursed, and reached out to catch Jaejoong as he tripped over pieces of a chair…at least, it might have been a chair, it was hard to tell.
"They didn't leave anything untouched," Jaejoong whispered, "They even scratched the granite countertops."
"The question is what did they take?" Heechul muttered, finally flipping out his phone and dialing the emergency line.
In the bathroom, tiles were pulled form the walls and threats pertaining to Yunho's family and friends were spray-painted on the cracked mirrors and ripped shower curtains. The refrigerator and freezer doors were wide open; Jaejoong could smell the rot from the hallway.
Heechul toed a lump of something that had fallen out. "Yuck."
The two officers who had been sitting outside the apartment building bumbled their way through the door and Heechul turned around, giving them his best I practiced in front of a mirror and do it better than you smirk.
"I'm glad to see that the two of you are doing your job so well," he said and Jaejoong wondered how the professor said it with a straight face.
"I…we didn't see anyone come in." The officer looked at Heechul suspiciously.
"If you even think about suggesting that it was us, I will get you fired before you can even fill out the paperwork for our arrests," Heechul spat, "There is no way we could have done this in such a short amount of time."
The officer remained silent.
Jaejoong let Heechul do the talking. The TA wandered around the apartment some more, trying to remember what Yunho had on the walls and attempting to deduce if anything had been taken.
Finally giving up, Jaejoong called Yunho's cell phone. When he didn't answer, Jaejoong called Yoochun and then Junsu (neither of whom picked up,) and then he finally reached Changmin who said that the professor had gone to a doctor's appointment. The officer (who turned out to be very kind,) assured Jaejoong that someone would meet Yunho there and escort him home.
Leaving Heechul to the mess, Jaejoong decided to go back the apartment (the officer drove him, respectfully remaining quiet as Jaejoong stared out the window.)
When he got back to the apartment, the household was in utter chaos. Jaejoong wondered why kids were always naughty in conjunction with each other. His nieces and nephews had been angels for the past few weeks; the last thing he wanted was chaos. But life apparently hated him right now and decided that everything should go wrong.
Changmin looked ready to throw something.
"Why is it so loud?"
"Seungyon has a friend over. Remember this? You said yes this morning."
"Oh…right…"
"Ha Neul!" Changmin spun at the sound of a shriek and stopped the five year old mid streak down the hall way. "I did not give you permission to get up from the stairs."
Ha Neul opened her mouth and Jaejoong decided that he wasn't going to wait for them to argue it out. He bent and picked Ha Neul up, depositing her back in time out. He didn't really want to know why Changmin had made her sit there, so he didn't ask.
Jaejoong started pulling pots and pans out, not really realizing that he wasn't making anything in particular until Changmin asked, "What…are you making…with all of that?"
Jaejoong looked down, confused. "I…don't know."
Sun Hea chose to toddle into the kitchen at that point and Jaejoong's mouth dropped. She was covered in something gooey and orange and was about to lick it from her hand. Jaejoong and Changmin both dove for her.
"Sun Hea-"
"Don't-"
"What is-"
"Eat that you could-"
Sun Hea started to cry.
"Honey, what happened, how did you get all…orange?" Changmin asked.
"Soongie."
Jaejoong's teeth ground as he tentatively sniffed the concoction. "Did you eat any of this, Sun Hea?" It smelled citrusy and sweet. Jaejoong decided after a moment of thought that it was the orange Jell-O mix he had bought, just…gooey. He tentatively licked some of it. His tongue protested the sweetness. Seungyon must have mixed it with sugar and water.
She nodded, sniffing, "Feel funny."
Yay oncoming sugar high, Jaejoong thought sarcastically as he heard Changmin groan. "Give her some water," Jaejoong directed.
Jaejoong walked out of the kitchen, told Ha Neul that no, she could not get up yet, and trudged upstairs, perusing the rooms until he found Seungyon and his friend in Yoochun's room.
"What. Is. This."
Seungyon paused, his hand held up, orange Jell-O mix dripping from it. His friend had Yoochun's chair propped up and was hiding behind it. The goo was everywhere, a little had even managed, Jaejoong noted with dismay, to land on Yoochun's notes.
"Alien blood," Seungyon's friend said.
"What?""
"Um…" Seungyon lowered his hand. "We're battling."
"And you've both just died," Jaejoong informed them, "Downstairs, right now, in the bathroom. Clean yourselves up. Move."
They did.
Jaejoong decided that he didn't really care anymore that he was mad at Yunho. He just wanted a hug, wanted someone else to fix the mess.
He tripped on the bottom step, only vaguely registering Changmin telling Ha Neul that she could leave the stairs if she promised to be docile. Jaejoong was sure that docile was a word that would escape her vocabulary, but he ignored it and made for the bathroom, his arms full of clothing for the two boys.
"Change into those, and then you," he pointed to Seungyon's friend whose name he couldn't remember, "Will be going home after I speak with your parents. And you," Jaejoong pointed to Seungyon, "will start cleaning Yoochun's room until we can sit down and discuss exactly how you are going to make up for this. And you will not," Jaejoong cut off his nephew, "offer any excuses as to why you thought it might be alright for you to throw sugary orange goo around the apartment, never mind someone's room."
"My…my appa is on a date," the boy stuttered and he looked petrified at the thought of someone calling his father in the middle of a night out on the town.
"Well, you will just have to interrupt that won't you?" Jaejoong said, "Did you write his number on the board?" It was something Jaejoong requested all visiting friends to do, in case of emergencies. Even if he didn't remember the kid, Jaejoong knew someone would have said to write it down.
The boy nodded.
"I will be right back. You had better both be upstairs and cleaning when I come to find you."
Jaejoong turned around and walked back to the kitchen were Changmin was cleaning Sun Hea off. Jaejoong's hand hit the counter and he cursed quietly, cradling his injured digits.
"You're not allowed to cook tonight, hyung," Changmin said, "I'm going to order out."
They seemed to be doing that a lot lately, Jaejoong mused, but he didn't say anything.
The number was scrawled out in Seungyon's terrible chicken scratch with Chansook's appa written next to it. Oh right, Jaejoong remembered. Chansook.
"Changmin, what's Chansook's father's name?"
"Erm…I don't know. Sorry. His family name is Kim, though, that might be useful."
Jaejoong sighed.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number, sighing resignedly as Sun Hea started to giggle uncontrollably as Changmin wiped her face.
"Hello?"
Jaejoong tried to place the voice. It sounded terribly familiar.
"Kim-ssi?" He asked.
"No, this is Leeteuk."
Oh.
"Who is this?"
"Jaejoong."
"Jaejoong?" He could picture the pediatrician trying to place the name. "Yunho's Jaejoong?"
Jaejoong really wanted a hug.
"Yes. I'm…sorry to call you. Is…Chansook your son?"
"No, he's Kangin's. Is something the matter?"
"I don't usually call like this but I was hoping that someone could come pick him up."
There was silence for a moment and then Jaejoong realized that he had been on speaker phone. "What did he do?" A voice growled.
Jaejoong assumed that this was Kim…Kangin?
"Youngwoon," Leeteuk's voice came gently but sternly.
Kim Youngwoon then? Jaejoong decided not to think to hard about it. He just related the tale of orange goo in full and received fervent apologies and a promise to come pick the boy up.
"Tell him to clean," Kangin said, after Jaejoong had given him directions, "we're only five minutes away, but he'll do his share, I promise."
"Oh trust me, he's already doing so. When you get here you'll probably be stopped at the door by some police officers, just give them your names and you'll be fine."
"Officers?" Leeteuk's voice asked.
"Don't ask."
"Okay."
Jaejoong was proud of himself for remembering this last detail. After hanging up the phone, and thanking his lucky stars that Chansook's appa was someone he knew (or at least someone that knew someone that he knew,) Jaejoong gave the officer standing outside their door a head's up on the company and their names.
Changmin had taken control of the bathroom, washing Sun Hea in the bathtub, somehow managing to keep her still enough to clean.
"Hyung, are you okay?" Changmin asked.
"Not really," Jaejoong answered, absentmindedly patting the top of Ha Neul's head who was sitting on the covered toilet, calmly watching (and seemingly fascinated with) the orange goo. Maybe she did know what docile meant.
"Do you need anything?"
Yunho, Jajeoong thought, but he shook his head. "Just watch these two."
He grabbed some cleaning supplies and headed upstairs. He wasn't particularly surprised when he stubbed his toe, causing cleaner to spill on the stairs. Great. Just perfect.
The goo had begun to harden and after relaying Kangin's message of "Clean until I get there," Jaejoong immediately went to salvage what he could of Yoochun's notes. His friend was going to be furious.
"What the hell?"
Speak of the devil.
Yoochun and Junsu were standing in the doorway. "Why was a there a police officer checking ids at the door? Why is there no dinner? And what the hell is all over my room?"
"I'll tell you the first two later. But I'm sure Seungyon would be more than pleased to explain your last question."
Yoochun rounded on both boys who stood uncertainly, goo dripping from their hands as they tried to clean. "Um…sorry?"
"I'll repeat myself. What the hell is all over my room?"
"Jell-O…and sugar," Seungyon said.
"I've already yelled, Yoochun."
Yoochun looked like he was ready to throw Seungyon out the window. Junsu somehow managed to stay calm and he walked into the room fussing, whacking Seungyon's head soundly as he passed. "Well, aren't you two boys going to be cleaning for awhile."
The boys in question nodded vigorously, immediately moving to help Junsu strip the bed when he beckoned them over.
"Yoochun, come and save your notes."
"My notes," Yoochun groaned, "My…my computer! You will, somehow, pay me for all of this; I just bought that!"
"Clean now before it hardens. We can discuss punishment later."
Yoochun growled and complained and threatened Seungyon as he threw out pages of now useless notes. "I have to study tonight, I cannot believe this!"
The doorbell rang and Jaejoong held back Chansook as he tried to bolt. "Stay here. I'm bringing them up."
"Could…could I just go down?"
"No. You will clean."
Jaejoong tripped again going down the stairs, only just managing to catch himself from splitting his head open on the railing.
Changmin had a clean Sun Hea in his arms, answering the door.
"Teukie!" Sun Hea screamed, and Jaejoong winced. Damn sugar.
"Hi, Sun Hea…hi Jaejoong."
Jaejoong smiled at Leeteuk and then let his gaze slide to the man behind him, "You must be…Youngwoon?"
The man nodded, "Kangin is fine. I'm sorry my son caused all this trouble."
"I'm sure Seungyon was the mastermind."
"Actually," Kaning said, "Chansook has done the goo thing before. I told him he wasn't allowed to ever make it again but apparently a week of no TV didn't really send a message."
"Ah…"
"Where is he?"
"Upstairs."
Jaejoong led them up to the second floor, cursing quietly as he stubbed his toe (again, making him want to collapse in utter frustration,) and ushered them down the hall to Yoochun's room. He wondered if the silent glare Chansook got from both Kangin and Leeteuk resembled his own.
"Apologize," Kangin said immediately, and Chansook mumbled one. "Properly," he added.
The boy said it louder this time. Jaejoong looked at Yoochun who only nodded, too caught up in saving his belongings to really care at the moment.
"We'll be back," Kangin said, "Once we've talked. He can apologize and assume responsibility when everything's sorted out."
Jaejoong whacked his arm on the way out and he felt tears sting his eyes, even though it really didn't hurt. Seriously, where the hell was Yunho?
"You look a little haggard," Leeteuk said gently as they walked down the stairs.
Jaejoong was resigned to his fate as he tripped, wondering how many more times he had to walk up and down the stairs that night and if he would continue to fall over his feet.
"Actually, I really think you should sit down for awhile." Leeteuk caught him, "Kangin, wait a minute."
Jaejoong allowed himself to be led to the table. "Sit. Rest."
"It's officially the worst day of my life," Jaejoong muttered.
"I have those all the time," Leeteuk said. "Kangin, why don't you leave, Jaejoong seems to be in need of help."
"Yunho will be here," Jaejoong murmured into his arms, "You can go."
"Are you sure? I don't mind staying and cleaning…or whatever you need."
"It's fine," Jaejoong murmured, "you have your own issues to deal with."
"Kangin does," Leeteuk threw a look to Kangin who was standing by the door, a hand on Chansook's shoulder, "I'm just the date, tonight."
Belatedly, Jaejoong wondered about their exact relationship.
"If you're sure…we'll have to have coffee sometime, alright?"
Jaejoong nodded.
"And seriously, just sit here for a minute. Doctor's orders."
"Okay. Thanks."
Jaejoong's cell phone rang and he felt a wave of relief wash over him as Yunho's name appeared on the screen.
"Talk to you later," Leeteuk said, a knowing smile cropping up on his lips, and he left with Kangin and Chansook.
"Did you call me?" Yunho's voice sounded like heaven; Jaejoong broke down crying. "What's wrong? Is everyone okay?"
"Just...please get here." Jaejoong managed.
"I'm ten minutes away. I'll drive fast."
Jaejoong focused on breathing and not making loud noises that might freak Ha Neul out who was sitting in the living room.
"Where have you been?" Jaejoong asked.
"My apartment. I had an officer come to escort me after my doctor's appointment. I went to inventory. I'm sorry you were the first one to see that mess, Jaejoong."
"I'm just glad that you aren't dead."
"What on earth is wrong?"
"Worst day ever, that's what's wrong."
"I'll be there soon, okay? Just breathe."
I'm trying.
"Okay."
Jaejoong decided that he was just going to sit there until Yunho got back. Yunho must have sped (very fast, possibly the criminal sort of speeding,) because it was considerably less than ten minutes when he walked through the door and whispered sweet comforts into Jaejoong's ear whilst the younger sobbed.
"What do you need me to do?" Yunho asked once Jaejoong had quieted.
"Order food. And then maybe help Yoochun study, because he lost like 95% of his notes and has no computer."
"I can do that."
"Thank you."
"So…can I ask you if you're still mad at me or is that a bad thing to do right now?"
Jaejoong considered this for a moment. "I guess I'm not really that upset anymore, but that's only because of all the crap that happened."
"So maybe tonight you'll listen to me?"
Jaejoong just kissed Yunho's cheek and went back upstairs to help Yoochun throw out more of his notes.
Jaejoong was pleased that the day didn't get any worse. Of course, it didn't get any better (he kept tripping and whacking himself,) but Yunho was there to catch him and kiss his trembling chin so Jaejoong barely noticed.
Yoochun was hardly civil to Seungyon, but no one blamed him. "I swear to God, Seungyon, if you weren't ten, I would call your mother and get permission to pull you over my knee right here and now." Seungyon kept his bottom pointing away from Yoochun when they were in the same vicinity from then on.
Sun Hea had one hell of a sugar high, and then when she crashed, Changmin spent a good hour rocking her to sleep, making sure that her tears were all gone. Junsu kept Ha Neul occupied with dolls and coloring and Jaejoong spent the night cleaning Yoochun's room, listening to Yunho quiz and drill Yoochun like his life depended upon it. Which technically it did, because failing a test wouldn't look so good on a resume.
Jaejoong didn't know what he would have done if he hadn't had so much help.
No one went to bed early. Yoochun crashed on the couch and Junsu slept on the floor next to him, refusing to go back to his dorm room for the night. ("I didn't know you still had a dorm room" "It's because I'm working at the library" "You're working at the library?" "Oh, is that Jaejoong waiting for you? Good night, Yunho.")
Jaejoong poured his heart out when he was safely held in Yunho's arms, the door securely locked with promises from Changmin to keep an ear on the kids for the night.
"Sangmi's cheating as in…cheating?"
"What other kind of cheating is there?"
"I've…never had a cheater in one of my classes…that I know of, anyway. Though if there was any student who I'd peg as a cheater, it would be her."
"She probably only thought she could get away with it because you weren't there."
"Most likely. I'll speak with her about it, you don't have to."
"Oh I want to. I've just been waiting to take a crack at her."
Yunho chuckled and kissed Jaejoong's forehead, "I know you have."
Jaejoong thought Yunho took the news of Yejin knowing that they were dating relatively well.
"How much do you think she knew about your apartment? I can't get her warning out of my head."
"I don't know. We're going to talk to her about it, though."
"Thoroughly," Jaejoong muttered.
"And I'm really going to have to duck tape Heechul's mouth," Yunho spat bitterly, "he talks too much."
This statement caused both of them to pause as they remembered the first secret that Heechul had divulged.
"Can I talk?" Yunho asked, and Jaejoong fisted the blankets, nodding. "Don't yell."
"I've had enough yelling for today."
"I got a call from the state a few days ago. The case is being reopened and they want me to lead it."
"…oh my god."
"The witness came back, finally. She's under heavy security somewhere…they won't even tell me where she is. Jaejoong…I told them I would do it."
"Oh my god."
"I resigned so that I can finish this. I have to finish this, Jaejoong. Don't misunderstand me, I love teaching. I found you because of teaching, I don't regret one moment of it. I love the classroom, but I love the courtroom more."
"More than me?" Jaejoong whispered.
"No. Jaejoong, I'm not abandoning you. This is good for us. No more hiding, no more sneaking around. It won't matter that our students notice us wearing the same clothing, or that they see us holding hands in movie theaters, or kissing under a streetlamp on the streets of Seoul. How is that bad?"
Jaejoong didn't know how to explain what he was feeling. It seemed stupid. "Can…can you promise me something?"
"Anything."
"I love Professor Jung. I don't want him to go away."
Yunho pulled Jaejoong closer, finding skin to kiss and stroke. "Professor Jung is Lawyer Jung, I promise you," He poked Jaejoong's side, "Besides, you have Heechul. You'll still have classes like mine."
Jaejoong sighed. He had almost forgotten that.
"Want to hear some spectacular news?"
"Please."
"My rib has healed…"
"Really?"
"Really."
"That is spectacular. Can I remind you of something?"
"Of course."
"Our door is locked."
"I feel like you're insinuating something. Care to inform me of it?"
Jaejoong kissed him.
~~~~~
Is it weird of me to say that I love writing parent!jae...*sigh*
comments?? thoughts?? random words??
I don't remember who it was that asked for a little Kangteuk. Whoever you are, here it is. :) Extraordinarily minor, but it fit.
~~~~
Jaejoong had never been so nervous in his whole life. "I don't even know why I'm shaking. What the hell. Yejin. Oh my god. Yunho."
"You're exploding with random words. Stop."
"Sorry."
There wasn't anything particularly out of order walking up to Yunho's apartment building. Jaejong was even expecting the police car lurking outside the door. Heechul waved cheerily to them.
"Subtle."
"Are we trying to be subtle? You need to inform me of these things."
"Never mind."
Jaejoong walked into the building and rode the elevator up (ignoring Heechul's prattle about the horrible color scheme.) Opening the door to the apartment ("Maybe the door is rigged with a bomb!" "Don't be dramatic, Heechul." "I can't help it; it's my nature") and stopped in the doorway, his jaw dropping.
"What. A. Mess." Heechul annunciated, "There is no way Yunho's such a slob."
Jaejoong ignored the attempted humor and walked carefully through the apartment. Yunho's dishes and glassware were all smashed, knick knacks thrown everywhere, ripped fabric and pillow stuffing thrown everywhere.
"Well shit," Heechul cursed, and reached out to catch Jaejoong as he tripped over pieces of a chair…at least, it might have been a chair, it was hard to tell.
"They didn't leave anything untouched," Jaejoong whispered, "They even scratched the granite countertops."
"The question is what did they take?" Heechul muttered, finally flipping out his phone and dialing the emergency line.
In the bathroom, tiles were pulled form the walls and threats pertaining to Yunho's family and friends were spray-painted on the cracked mirrors and ripped shower curtains. The refrigerator and freezer doors were wide open; Jaejoong could smell the rot from the hallway.
Heechul toed a lump of something that had fallen out. "Yuck."
The two officers who had been sitting outside the apartment building bumbled their way through the door and Heechul turned around, giving them his best I practiced in front of a mirror and do it better than you smirk.
"I'm glad to see that the two of you are doing your job so well," he said and Jaejoong wondered how the professor said it with a straight face.
"I…we didn't see anyone come in." The officer looked at Heechul suspiciously.
"If you even think about suggesting that it was us, I will get you fired before you can even fill out the paperwork for our arrests," Heechul spat, "There is no way we could have done this in such a short amount of time."
The officer remained silent.
Jaejoong let Heechul do the talking. The TA wandered around the apartment some more, trying to remember what Yunho had on the walls and attempting to deduce if anything had been taken.
Finally giving up, Jaejoong called Yunho's cell phone. When he didn't answer, Jaejoong called Yoochun and then Junsu (neither of whom picked up,) and then he finally reached Changmin who said that the professor had gone to a doctor's appointment. The officer (who turned out to be very kind,) assured Jaejoong that someone would meet Yunho there and escort him home.
Leaving Heechul to the mess, Jaejoong decided to go back the apartment (the officer drove him, respectfully remaining quiet as Jaejoong stared out the window.)
When he got back to the apartment, the household was in utter chaos. Jaejoong wondered why kids were always naughty in conjunction with each other. His nieces and nephews had been angels for the past few weeks; the last thing he wanted was chaos. But life apparently hated him right now and decided that everything should go wrong.
Changmin looked ready to throw something.
"Why is it so loud?"
"Seungyon has a friend over. Remember this? You said yes this morning."
"Oh…right…"
"Ha Neul!" Changmin spun at the sound of a shriek and stopped the five year old mid streak down the hall way. "I did not give you permission to get up from the stairs."
Ha Neul opened her mouth and Jaejoong decided that he wasn't going to wait for them to argue it out. He bent and picked Ha Neul up, depositing her back in time out. He didn't really want to know why Changmin had made her sit there, so he didn't ask.
Jaejoong started pulling pots and pans out, not really realizing that he wasn't making anything in particular until Changmin asked, "What…are you making…with all of that?"
Jaejoong looked down, confused. "I…don't know."
Sun Hea chose to toddle into the kitchen at that point and Jaejoong's mouth dropped. She was covered in something gooey and orange and was about to lick it from her hand. Jaejoong and Changmin both dove for her.
"Sun Hea-"
"Don't-"
"What is-"
"Eat that you could-"
Sun Hea started to cry.
"Honey, what happened, how did you get all…orange?" Changmin asked.
"Soongie."
Jaejoong's teeth ground as he tentatively sniffed the concoction. "Did you eat any of this, Sun Hea?" It smelled citrusy and sweet. Jaejoong decided after a moment of thought that it was the orange Jell-O mix he had bought, just…gooey. He tentatively licked some of it. His tongue protested the sweetness. Seungyon must have mixed it with sugar and water.
She nodded, sniffing, "Feel funny."
Yay oncoming sugar high, Jaejoong thought sarcastically as he heard Changmin groan. "Give her some water," Jaejoong directed.
Jaejoong walked out of the kitchen, told Ha Neul that no, she could not get up yet, and trudged upstairs, perusing the rooms until he found Seungyon and his friend in Yoochun's room.
"What. Is. This."
Seungyon paused, his hand held up, orange Jell-O mix dripping from it. His friend had Yoochun's chair propped up and was hiding behind it. The goo was everywhere, a little had even managed, Jaejoong noted with dismay, to land on Yoochun's notes.
"Alien blood," Seungyon's friend said.
"What?""
"Um…" Seungyon lowered his hand. "We're battling."
"And you've both just died," Jaejoong informed them, "Downstairs, right now, in the bathroom. Clean yourselves up. Move."
They did.
Jaejoong decided that he didn't really care anymore that he was mad at Yunho. He just wanted a hug, wanted someone else to fix the mess.
He tripped on the bottom step, only vaguely registering Changmin telling Ha Neul that she could leave the stairs if she promised to be docile. Jaejoong was sure that docile was a word that would escape her vocabulary, but he ignored it and made for the bathroom, his arms full of clothing for the two boys.
"Change into those, and then you," he pointed to Seungyon's friend whose name he couldn't remember, "Will be going home after I speak with your parents. And you," Jaejoong pointed to Seungyon, "will start cleaning Yoochun's room until we can sit down and discuss exactly how you are going to make up for this. And you will not," Jaejoong cut off his nephew, "offer any excuses as to why you thought it might be alright for you to throw sugary orange goo around the apartment, never mind someone's room."
"My…my appa is on a date," the boy stuttered and he looked petrified at the thought of someone calling his father in the middle of a night out on the town.
"Well, you will just have to interrupt that won't you?" Jaejoong said, "Did you write his number on the board?" It was something Jaejoong requested all visiting friends to do, in case of emergencies. Even if he didn't remember the kid, Jaejoong knew someone would have said to write it down.
The boy nodded.
"I will be right back. You had better both be upstairs and cleaning when I come to find you."
Jaejoong turned around and walked back to the kitchen were Changmin was cleaning Sun Hea off. Jaejoong's hand hit the counter and he cursed quietly, cradling his injured digits.
"You're not allowed to cook tonight, hyung," Changmin said, "I'm going to order out."
They seemed to be doing that a lot lately, Jaejoong mused, but he didn't say anything.
The number was scrawled out in Seungyon's terrible chicken scratch with Chansook's appa written next to it. Oh right, Jaejoong remembered. Chansook.
"Changmin, what's Chansook's father's name?"
"Erm…I don't know. Sorry. His family name is Kim, though, that might be useful."
Jaejoong sighed.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number, sighing resignedly as Sun Hea started to giggle uncontrollably as Changmin wiped her face.
"Hello?"
Jaejoong tried to place the voice. It sounded terribly familiar.
"Kim-ssi?" He asked.
"No, this is Leeteuk."
Oh.
"Who is this?"
"Jaejoong."
"Jaejoong?" He could picture the pediatrician trying to place the name. "Yunho's Jaejoong?"
Jaejoong really wanted a hug.
"Yes. I'm…sorry to call you. Is…Chansook your son?"
"No, he's Kangin's. Is something the matter?"
"I don't usually call like this but I was hoping that someone could come pick him up."
There was silence for a moment and then Jaejoong realized that he had been on speaker phone. "What did he do?" A voice growled.
Jaejoong assumed that this was Kim…Kangin?
"Youngwoon," Leeteuk's voice came gently but sternly.
Kim Youngwoon then? Jaejoong decided not to think to hard about it. He just related the tale of orange goo in full and received fervent apologies and a promise to come pick the boy up.
"Tell him to clean," Kangin said, after Jaejoong had given him directions, "we're only five minutes away, but he'll do his share, I promise."
"Oh trust me, he's already doing so. When you get here you'll probably be stopped at the door by some police officers, just give them your names and you'll be fine."
"Officers?" Leeteuk's voice asked.
"Don't ask."
"Okay."
Jaejoong was proud of himself for remembering this last detail. After hanging up the phone, and thanking his lucky stars that Chansook's appa was someone he knew (or at least someone that knew someone that he knew,) Jaejoong gave the officer standing outside their door a head's up on the company and their names.
Changmin had taken control of the bathroom, washing Sun Hea in the bathtub, somehow managing to keep her still enough to clean.
"Hyung, are you okay?" Changmin asked.
"Not really," Jaejoong answered, absentmindedly patting the top of Ha Neul's head who was sitting on the covered toilet, calmly watching (and seemingly fascinated with) the orange goo. Maybe she did know what docile meant.
"Do you need anything?"
Yunho, Jajeoong thought, but he shook his head. "Just watch these two."
He grabbed some cleaning supplies and headed upstairs. He wasn't particularly surprised when he stubbed his toe, causing cleaner to spill on the stairs. Great. Just perfect.
The goo had begun to harden and after relaying Kangin's message of "Clean until I get there," Jaejoong immediately went to salvage what he could of Yoochun's notes. His friend was going to be furious.
"What the hell?"
Speak of the devil.
Yoochun and Junsu were standing in the doorway. "Why was a there a police officer checking ids at the door? Why is there no dinner? And what the hell is all over my room?"
"I'll tell you the first two later. But I'm sure Seungyon would be more than pleased to explain your last question."
Yoochun rounded on both boys who stood uncertainly, goo dripping from their hands as they tried to clean. "Um…sorry?"
"I'll repeat myself. What the hell is all over my room?"
"Jell-O…and sugar," Seungyon said.
"I've already yelled, Yoochun."
Yoochun looked like he was ready to throw Seungyon out the window. Junsu somehow managed to stay calm and he walked into the room fussing, whacking Seungyon's head soundly as he passed. "Well, aren't you two boys going to be cleaning for awhile."
The boys in question nodded vigorously, immediately moving to help Junsu strip the bed when he beckoned them over.
"Yoochun, come and save your notes."
"My notes," Yoochun groaned, "My…my computer! You will, somehow, pay me for all of this; I just bought that!"
"Clean now before it hardens. We can discuss punishment later."
Yoochun growled and complained and threatened Seungyon as he threw out pages of now useless notes. "I have to study tonight, I cannot believe this!"
The doorbell rang and Jaejoong held back Chansook as he tried to bolt. "Stay here. I'm bringing them up."
"Could…could I just go down?"
"No. You will clean."
Jaejoong tripped again going down the stairs, only just managing to catch himself from splitting his head open on the railing.
Changmin had a clean Sun Hea in his arms, answering the door.
"Teukie!" Sun Hea screamed, and Jaejoong winced. Damn sugar.
"Hi, Sun Hea…hi Jaejoong."
Jaejoong smiled at Leeteuk and then let his gaze slide to the man behind him, "You must be…Youngwoon?"
The man nodded, "Kangin is fine. I'm sorry my son caused all this trouble."
"I'm sure Seungyon was the mastermind."
"Actually," Kaning said, "Chansook has done the goo thing before. I told him he wasn't allowed to ever make it again but apparently a week of no TV didn't really send a message."
"Ah…"
"Where is he?"
"Upstairs."
Jaejoong led them up to the second floor, cursing quietly as he stubbed his toe (again, making him want to collapse in utter frustration,) and ushered them down the hall to Yoochun's room. He wondered if the silent glare Chansook got from both Kangin and Leeteuk resembled his own.
"Apologize," Kangin said immediately, and Chansook mumbled one. "Properly," he added.
The boy said it louder this time. Jaejoong looked at Yoochun who only nodded, too caught up in saving his belongings to really care at the moment.
"We'll be back," Kangin said, "Once we've talked. He can apologize and assume responsibility when everything's sorted out."
Jaejoong whacked his arm on the way out and he felt tears sting his eyes, even though it really didn't hurt. Seriously, where the hell was Yunho?
"You look a little haggard," Leeteuk said gently as they walked down the stairs.
Jaejoong was resigned to his fate as he tripped, wondering how many more times he had to walk up and down the stairs that night and if he would continue to fall over his feet.
"Actually, I really think you should sit down for awhile." Leeteuk caught him, "Kangin, wait a minute."
Jaejoong allowed himself to be led to the table. "Sit. Rest."
"It's officially the worst day of my life," Jaejoong muttered.
"I have those all the time," Leeteuk said. "Kangin, why don't you leave, Jaejoong seems to be in need of help."
"Yunho will be here," Jaejoong murmured into his arms, "You can go."
"Are you sure? I don't mind staying and cleaning…or whatever you need."
"It's fine," Jaejoong murmured, "you have your own issues to deal with."
"Kangin does," Leeteuk threw a look to Kangin who was standing by the door, a hand on Chansook's shoulder, "I'm just the date, tonight."
Belatedly, Jaejoong wondered about their exact relationship.
"If you're sure…we'll have to have coffee sometime, alright?"
Jaejoong nodded.
"And seriously, just sit here for a minute. Doctor's orders."
"Okay. Thanks."
Jaejoong's cell phone rang and he felt a wave of relief wash over him as Yunho's name appeared on the screen.
"Talk to you later," Leeteuk said, a knowing smile cropping up on his lips, and he left with Kangin and Chansook.
"Did you call me?" Yunho's voice sounded like heaven; Jaejoong broke down crying. "What's wrong? Is everyone okay?"
"Just...please get here." Jaejoong managed.
"I'm ten minutes away. I'll drive fast."
Jaejoong focused on breathing and not making loud noises that might freak Ha Neul out who was sitting in the living room.
"Where have you been?" Jaejoong asked.
"My apartment. I had an officer come to escort me after my doctor's appointment. I went to inventory. I'm sorry you were the first one to see that mess, Jaejoong."
"I'm just glad that you aren't dead."
"What on earth is wrong?"
"Worst day ever, that's what's wrong."
"I'll be there soon, okay? Just breathe."
I'm trying.
"Okay."
Jaejoong decided that he was just going to sit there until Yunho got back. Yunho must have sped (very fast, possibly the criminal sort of speeding,) because it was considerably less than ten minutes when he walked through the door and whispered sweet comforts into Jaejoong's ear whilst the younger sobbed.
"What do you need me to do?" Yunho asked once Jaejoong had quieted.
"Order food. And then maybe help Yoochun study, because he lost like 95% of his notes and has no computer."
"I can do that."
"Thank you."
"So…can I ask you if you're still mad at me or is that a bad thing to do right now?"
Jaejoong considered this for a moment. "I guess I'm not really that upset anymore, but that's only because of all the crap that happened."
"So maybe tonight you'll listen to me?"
Jaejoong just kissed Yunho's cheek and went back upstairs to help Yoochun throw out more of his notes.
Jaejoong was pleased that the day didn't get any worse. Of course, it didn't get any better (he kept tripping and whacking himself,) but Yunho was there to catch him and kiss his trembling chin so Jaejoong barely noticed.
Yoochun was hardly civil to Seungyon, but no one blamed him. "I swear to God, Seungyon, if you weren't ten, I would call your mother and get permission to pull you over my knee right here and now." Seungyon kept his bottom pointing away from Yoochun when they were in the same vicinity from then on.
Sun Hea had one hell of a sugar high, and then when she crashed, Changmin spent a good hour rocking her to sleep, making sure that her tears were all gone. Junsu kept Ha Neul occupied with dolls and coloring and Jaejoong spent the night cleaning Yoochun's room, listening to Yunho quiz and drill Yoochun like his life depended upon it. Which technically it did, because failing a test wouldn't look so good on a resume.
Jaejoong didn't know what he would have done if he hadn't had so much help.
No one went to bed early. Yoochun crashed on the couch and Junsu slept on the floor next to him, refusing to go back to his dorm room for the night. ("I didn't know you still had a dorm room" "It's because I'm working at the library" "You're working at the library?" "Oh, is that Jaejoong waiting for you? Good night, Yunho.")
Jaejoong poured his heart out when he was safely held in Yunho's arms, the door securely locked with promises from Changmin to keep an ear on the kids for the night.
"Sangmi's cheating as in…cheating?"
"What other kind of cheating is there?"
"I've…never had a cheater in one of my classes…that I know of, anyway. Though if there was any student who I'd peg as a cheater, it would be her."
"She probably only thought she could get away with it because you weren't there."
"Most likely. I'll speak with her about it, you don't have to."
"Oh I want to. I've just been waiting to take a crack at her."
Yunho chuckled and kissed Jaejoong's forehead, "I know you have."
Jaejoong thought Yunho took the news of Yejin knowing that they were dating relatively well.
"How much do you think she knew about your apartment? I can't get her warning out of my head."
"I don't know. We're going to talk to her about it, though."
"Thoroughly," Jaejoong muttered.
"And I'm really going to have to duck tape Heechul's mouth," Yunho spat bitterly, "he talks too much."
This statement caused both of them to pause as they remembered the first secret that Heechul had divulged.
"Can I talk?" Yunho asked, and Jaejoong fisted the blankets, nodding. "Don't yell."
"I've had enough yelling for today."
"I got a call from the state a few days ago. The case is being reopened and they want me to lead it."
"…oh my god."
"The witness came back, finally. She's under heavy security somewhere…they won't even tell me where she is. Jaejoong…I told them I would do it."
"Oh my god."
"I resigned so that I can finish this. I have to finish this, Jaejoong. Don't misunderstand me, I love teaching. I found you because of teaching, I don't regret one moment of it. I love the classroom, but I love the courtroom more."
"More than me?" Jaejoong whispered.
"No. Jaejoong, I'm not abandoning you. This is good for us. No more hiding, no more sneaking around. It won't matter that our students notice us wearing the same clothing, or that they see us holding hands in movie theaters, or kissing under a streetlamp on the streets of Seoul. How is that bad?"
Jaejoong didn't know how to explain what he was feeling. It seemed stupid. "Can…can you promise me something?"
"Anything."
"I love Professor Jung. I don't want him to go away."
Yunho pulled Jaejoong closer, finding skin to kiss and stroke. "Professor Jung is Lawyer Jung, I promise you," He poked Jaejoong's side, "Besides, you have Heechul. You'll still have classes like mine."
Jaejoong sighed. He had almost forgotten that.
"Want to hear some spectacular news?"
"Please."
"My rib has healed…"
"Really?"
"Really."
"That is spectacular. Can I remind you of something?"
"Of course."
"Our door is locked."
"I feel like you're insinuating something. Care to inform me of it?"
Jaejoong kissed him.
~~~~~
Is it weird of me to say that I love writing parent!jae...*sigh*
comments?? thoughts?? random words??
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