tag:dreamwidth.org,2013-10-07:2092542onthethruway01onthethruway01onthethruway012013-10-21T02:02:04Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2013-10-07:2092542:430240Runner, chapter 12: Prayers2013-10-21T01:49:30Z2013-10-21T02:02:04Zconfusedpublic0 <span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Title: Runner, chapter 12: Prayers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author: onthethruway01</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pairings: ot5</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rating: pg</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Length: chaptered</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genre: AU ( another place and time), friendship, angst</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summary: 5 young men dream of growing up together and being friends forever, but wishes don’t always come true</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A/N: Didn’t get much sleep this weekend; Scott had some asthma problems and I had to get him some medicine at 4 in the morning. I am back to working full time, and will probably update Runner on the weekends when I won’t be too pooped. Just an fyi, I just watched the most recent Batman movie for the first time, so I’m feeling a bit dramatic.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changmin stood in the rubble of the enemy bunker. The rebels had managed to rescue their own in the nick of time, leaving behind scattered bits and pieces of arms and ammunition. It was a small victory, nonetheless, one that the young political officer hoped would make his career.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As his men scoured the wreckage, something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was blue, cylindrical, and made of plastic. His first instinct was to back away; the rebels were known for their booby traps. But the object was familiar; recognizable. This was no bomb. Despite his better judgment, the young political officer bent down and picked up the object in his gloved hand.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His breath hitched in his throat.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He held the plastic, disk shaped object in his tremblings hands; the initials YC written in indelible ink. He swallowed hard and mumbled under his breath.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yoochun…”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A crowd had gathered outside the infirmary. The general stood, body shaking as he looked around him. Jaejoong leaned against a wall, cigarette dangling from his lips. The general could see that he was crying. Jaybom was there as well; even “the gnome” had tears in his eyes. The Chinese operatives had come too; they paced nervously across the floor.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The general got a hold of himself, straightened up his uniform and entered the room. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sir,” Junsu beckoned him; “only a few minutes.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The general nodded; he tried not to let his emotions get the better of him as he approached the cot; his best runner wounded; his body trembling; hooked up to IV’s; an oxygen tube in his nose. The general sat down next to the bed and tried to calm his nerves. The runner turned to look at him; face pale and sweating. Slender fingers reached out to the general; the older man gently grasping his hand.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoochun swallowed hard and despite his pain, he spoke in a low whisper.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m sorry, father.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The general sighed deeply.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I forgive you, my son.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They stared at each other; both men shedding tears. Yoochun winced in pain and Junsu interrupted their moment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m sorry sir, you’ll have to go now.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The general reluctantly let go of his son’s hand and walked out of the infirmary. He stopped and looked at his men who were obviously distraught.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Gentleman,” he spoke sternly; they snapped to attention as they recognized the seriousness of his tone.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We have work to do.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They followed him to his headquarters; the lonely medic glancing back at the doctor. Junsu nodded his head as if to say “it’s ok.” Jae put out his cigarette and trotted after Jaybom and the Chinese boys. The general was not one to let this defeat go unpunished. Even the medic would do his part to reclaim the lost bunker.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A moan caught Junsu’s attention.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s ok Chunnie; I’ll increase the morphine.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The runner’s eyes fluttered closed; breathing labored; his hands gripped the sheet as another sharp pain ripped through him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junsu busied himself getting more morphine; he didn’t notice someone else standing in the door. He gathered what he needed and headed back to help his friend. He was stopped cold in his tracks as the newcomer slowly walked to the injured runner.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was her.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junsu watched; paralyzed as the girl sat by Yoochun’s bedside. Junsu held back his own tears as she leaned in and kissed the runner’s brow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dara,” the wounded runner whispered, his voice barely audible.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Shh,” she hushed him as she brushed his dampened bangs away from his eyes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’ll take care of you now.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dara smiled at Junsu who bit his lower lip. He snapped back to reality and and hooked up the morphine to the IV. Dara took him aside when he was finished.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How bad is it?” she asked.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junsu made sure they were out of earshot of Yoochun. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Are you religious, Dara?” he asked her.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She shook her head.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You might want to rethink that. Now is the time to pray.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He walked away from her and continued his work; Dara looking on; her arms wrapped around her body.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Please God,” she prayed; please.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changmin walked into Yunho’s room. The wounded flier seemed to be moving a bit better. The new medicine coupled with physical therapy was helping, but there was no hope of him ever flying again; the damage was done.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Min, what news from the front? I heard we took the eastern bunker. Did you bring find anything useful?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The political officer pulled an object from his pocket.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I found this,” he told the older man.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yunho outstretched his hand and Changmin placed the object in his palm.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly his spirits faltered as his eyes focused on the initials.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He’s the runner,” Changmin spoke, his voice surprisingly calm. “Jae was with him.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yunho’s hand gripped the back of his chair to keep from falling.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Are you certain?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The younger man nodded.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They are soul mates; they are inseparable.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yunho eased himself into his chair and propped his leg up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Are they dead?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changmin poured himself and his friend a drink.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t know hyung, I don’t know.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was eerily quiet that night; Changmin and Yunho drank their fill; their victory celebration short lived. They imbibed Yunho’s wine until they both slipped away into unconsciousness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The general and his staff worked endlessly through the wee hours on a plan to recapture what they lost. The Chinese agents set out on their recon missions while Jaybom and the remaining runners armed themselves; this time with more than their wits. The handsome and soft spoken medic rallied the troops; he took the role of morale officer; he was a hero after all; he and the infamous runner who rescued the men trapped in the eastern bunker. “For Yoochun” became their battle cry, as they readied themselves for the next battle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dara donned the garb of a nurse; never leaving her lover’s side she assisted Junsu in the infirmary. While the doctor and his nurse weren’t looking, curious onlookers slipped into Yoochun’s room.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A young soldier with his arm in a sling walked up to Yoochun’s bed, along with another man on crutches. They whispered to each other.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I heard he took out ten guys by himself.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Noises could be heard from the outside; chanting and cheers of some kind.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hey,” Yoochun spoke in a low whisper; his breath raspy and shallow. “What’s going on?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The soldier on crutches limped over to him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They’re calling your name. You’re a hero.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junsu and Dara came back; they gave the two men a stern look. They hobbled off, not wanting to get on Junsu’s bad side.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Get some rest, Yoochun, that’s an order,” Junsu chastised him. Dara suppressed a giggle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They think I’m some sort of hero,” he gasped; a coughing spasm startling Dara.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She smiled at him and pressed a damp cloth to his fevered brow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He smiled at her; eyelids fluttering; slow and slurred words stuttering before he passed out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Stupid fucks.”</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=onthethruway01&ditemid=430240" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments