Title: Runner: Chapter Four, Duty

[onthethruway01]

Title: Runner: Chapter Four,  Duty

Author: onthethruway01

Length: chaptered

Rating: This chapter, rated pg

Pairings: DBSK, all 5

Genre: AU ( another place and time), friendship, angst

Summary: 5 young men dream of growing up together and being friends forever, but wishes don’t always come true.

“You’re late,” the general spoke while shuffling papers on his desk.

Yoochun stood at attention waiting for the general to give him permission to relax.

“At ease, soldier.”

The runner exhaled and stood easy.

“As I was saying, you are late.  You are supposed to report to me as soon as you have returned from your run.”

The general looked up at his courier through his horned rimmed glasses.

Yoochun stood to attention once more.

“I went to the infirmary sir.”

The general ceased looking at his papers.

“Are you hurt?”

The older man showed general concern for his courier; stepping away from his desk he proceeded to examine the young man to see if he was wounded.

Yoochun smiled.

“It’s nothing sir, just a few scratches.  A bullet actually nicked my heel.  I had to get a new pair of boots.”

The courier stood still as the general looked him over.  He stopped smiling as his superior officer looked him in the eye.

“That smile may work on young girls and middle aged married women Yoochun, but it doesn’t work on me.  It never has, and it never will.”

The runner straightened himself up.

“Yes sir, I promise never to smile in your presence again.”

The general narrowed his eyes at him.

“This isn’t a game Chun; we’re at war.  Everyday men are getting killed.  Everyday I send you out there to risk your life.  It weighs heavy on my conscience.  I’m torn because I have to do my duty and so do you.  Everyday I fight with the desire to pull ranks and have you removed from the front lines because of your asthma, but I know how much you want to serve our cause. I just don’t want to be the one that has to write home to your mother to tell her you’re gone.  It would break my heart.”

Yoochun sighed deeply.

“Should I put in a request for a transfer sir?  Would that make you feel better?”

The general shook his head.

“No; I need you here.  You’re the best runner.  I want you by my side, always.  Besides, I can keep you out of trouble.”

Yoochun smiled again, but remembered where he was and snapped back into attention.

“Speaking of trouble, you better stay out of the local brothels.  I don’t want you catching anything.”

The courier swallowed hard.  He wondered if the general knew about his clandestine affair with a local farmer’s daughter.

The general sat back down at his desk and seemed to relax.

“Now tell me what you know.”

The courier approached the general and looked at the map that was spread out on his desk.

“There have been some new fortifications; here, here, and here,” he pointed with a slender finger.

The general nodded as he lit his pipe.

“They’ve figured out their weak spots; expect us to make our move.”

The general blew out the match and puffed on his pipe.  He could tell there was something that was troubling his young courier.

“Speak your mind Chun; spit it out.”

Yoochun swallowed hard.

“There’s  a new political officer on the front lines.”

The general sat in silence.  He blew  a smoke ring, then took a deep breath.  He folded up the map and in an un-officer like way, crossed his long legs on the top of the desk.

“I know.  It’s your childhood friend; the one you all called the “evil genius.”  Your other chingu is there as well; the strong, silent one who was the leader of your group, although he’s flying a desk now.  His plane was shot down; leg wounded.  They won’t send him back; he’s got a permanent limp now.  Did you know that he’s an ace?”

Yoochun trembled.

“You knew?”

The general uncrossed his legs and stood up.

“We have spies everywhere.”

The courier bowed his head.

“I’m sorry Yoochun.  I know you were all close.”

The general put his arm around his junior’s shoulder and walked him toward the door.

“Take a day off.  I’ll send Jaybom out in your place. Send him to me.”

Yoochun raised an eyebrow.

“The gnome?  Seriously?”

The general scowled at him.

“That wasn’t very nice.”

The courier snapped to attention.

“Sorry sir, I won’t insult my junior again.”

He saluted the general and proceeded to walk out the door.  On his way out, he ran into Jaybom, his fellow courier.

“You’re up, shorty,” he told Jay while pointing to the general’s office.

Jaybom pouted for an instant, but then shrugged his shoulders as he went off to receive his orders.

Yoochun laughed and strutted like a peacock.  He was free for a day and knew where he would spend it; within in the arms and between the legs of his pretty little country girl.

“You look like the cat that swallowed the canary.  What are you up to?”

Yoochun wore a wicked grin.  His soulmate was grilling him on what he had planned for his day off.

“What’s her name?” Junsu asked; the doctor had been relieved as well, having served an all night shift at the infirmary.

Yoochun ignored his friends.

“She must be special.  Don’t forget to have Junsu check you out afterwards.  I heard there are cases of venereal diseases floating around.”

Junsu looked horrified.

“Ew; I’m not touching Yoochun’s junk; no way.”

The three men laughed.

“What kind of a doctor are you?  You wouldn’t help a friend out?”

Junsu straightened his tie.

“I’m a gynecologist,  remember”

Jaejoong nodded.

“I want that job,” Yoochun jested.

They chuckled again and then Yoochun’s face got serious.

“Yunho is ok,” he said out of nowhere.

The other two men stood in silence.

“Apparently the spies in the general’s service found out he was wounded and out of action.  He’ll be safe for the rest of the war.”

Junsu patted Jae on the back.

“That’s good to know,”  the doctor spoke.

Jae nodded his head.

They all took a deep breath.  It was obvious they were all thinking about Changmin.  As they walked together to get a drink at the officer’s mess hall, they silently prayed for his safety and hoped the evils of war would not corrupt him.