Chapter Text
“How’d you get, boys?” A chorus of responses reverberated through the deserted road they were on. Heeseung arrived together with a few of his most trusted associates, including Jongseong, Sunghoon, and Beomgyu. They were met by Jungkook and Dokyeom, Heeseung's older brothers.
“Ready, boys? Heeseung, ready?” Jungkook, the second oldest, inquired. Heeseung has absolutely no idea what the fuck is going on. He knows that he is not a coward, but he will not pretend that he is not apprehensive. He can feel his throat constricting.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” He coughed and cleared his throat.
“Have a drink,” Heeseung was given a flask by Dokyeom, his oldest brother, who had taken it out of his coat pocket. He chugged what little booze was still inside, swallowing despite the burn.
“What? What are you all staring at me for? What?” Heeseung became quite disturbed the moment he sensed his comrades' piercing stares.
“Good. Let’s go,” Jungkook stepped in before Heeseung could ask any more questions.
“What?” Heeseung probed some more, but they said nothing. They walked in silence till they arrived at the gravel road.
“Oi, Jungkook. What you playing at? We’re in shotgun range,” Heeseung exclaimed as soon as he realized they were on the outskirts of Birmingham. The smoky gray, manure-filled, charcoal-covered environment was a dead giveaway.
“Heeseung… Before we go into battle, there’s something you are going to need,” Jungkook retrieved a boutonniere and pinned it on the left side of his suit's lapel. Heeseung noted that the Blinders wore similar boutonnieres. Sunghoon, being the fucking muppet that he is, nearly swallowed the flower while smelling it. He was ridiculed by Jongseong and Beomgyu. What the fuck is happening here?
“What are you bloody doing, Jungkook?”
“Smile, Heeseung. It’s a wedding,” Jungkook cradled Heeseung's face, a small smile on his face.
“Whose bloody wedding?”
“Now, if we’d told you, you wouldn’t have come,” Jungkook placed his hands on Heeseung's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. “There’s a boy in the Sim family who’s gone a bit wild. And he needs marrying off.”
Realizing he had been lured by his own brother, Heeseung shouted wildly. “Ah, fuck!”
“Heeseung!” Dokyeom and the others were quick on their feet and restrained Heeseung, who unfortunately inherited the infamous fiery Lee temper.
“You have no bloody right, Jungkook!” Heeseung strained and attempted to fight off the remaining Blinders that bound him, baring his teeth at his older brother.
“Listen to me. Listen to me!” In an effort to slow Heeseung down, Jungkook gripped his face and spoke carefully. “A boy who needs a groom. A man who needs a wife.”
“Jungkook, I’m not gonna marry some fucking mushroom picker,” He grasped Jungkook's suit jacket in an attempt to push him away, but the elder man refused to move.
“Shhh. Heeseung boy, come on. Listen, I’ve already betrothed you. So, if you back out now, there’s going to be one fucking mighty war breaking out here that’s going to make the Somme— It’s going to make the Somme look like a fucking tea party. But if you marry him, our family and the Sim family will be united forever and this war will be over. Now, it’s up to you, Heeseung.”
Heeseung was overwhelmed with the unexpected weight of duty imposed on him. His brother, however, was correct. If he backs out right now, all hell breaks loose. They are also going to need the Sims' support if they are to oust Jinyoung Park.
“War… or peace?”
“Let go of me,” Heeseung pushed Jongseong and Beomgyu's consoling hands away from his shoulders. He straightened his suit and fixed his cap. Knowing the youngest Lee boy's fury, the rest of the Blinders backed off. Jungkook, the bastard, seemed unaffected, smoking a fag as he lead the group towards the area where a makeshift wedding venue was put up.
“Right. You should see the size of his dowry,” Dokyeom slapped his younger brother on the back and placed his arm around his shoulder as they walked.
“The what?” Confused, Heeseung enquired.
“His dad’s giving you a car,” Jungkook smirked at his younger brother.
Jake glared at himself in the mirror as he gripped the armrests hard, his knuckles becoming white. A knock resonated in the silent vargo Jake was seated in, breaking his gaze with his reflection.
“Oi. You alright in there, Jakey? Can I come in?”
He took a deep breath before repositioning himself and murmuring a quiet "Come in," in response. Jaehyun, his older brother, peered into the room before entering.
“I’m far from fucking alright,” Jake let out an exasperated sigh. Jaehyun felt powerless in the face of his sibling's circumstances.
“I wish I could make things better for you, kid,” Jaehyun approached Jake, comfortingly rubbing his shoulder. “I’m sorry that you’re in this impossible position.”
Jake blinked back tears before speaking, “Don’t apologize. I should be the one doing that. You’ve saved my arse one too many times.”
“If it helps you feel better, the Lee lad you're marrying is a good one. Has a bit of a temper, but it's nothing you can't handle, yeah?” Jaehyun is correct; there is nothing he can't handle. He's all too acquainted with temper tantrums and the Sim family is the prime example. His father, for one, has a temper. Jake was able to prevent his father and their entire clan from committing genocide following a dispute with a rival family that one time.
“Nothing good comes from the Lee family, brother. I'd sooner rip my eyes out than participate in their family drama,” Jake grimaced, his eyes rolling.
“Speaking of family drama, Mother and Father are still upset with you,” Jaehyun muttered. Undoubtedly, his parents were sick of his shit. His mother, especially. His parents were so angry with him that they didn't bother showing up at his vargo since this morning. He smiled bitterly at the thought. “You can’t blame them though. You made insulting comments about the Lee family, which resulted in all of this nonsense. You’re a fucking idiot, Jakey.”
Well, well, well, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions.
“Ouch… Okay, I suppose I deserve to be in this shit position right now. Karma, as they say, eventually comes after everyone,” Jake laughed wryly. Being opinionated is regarded as one of his strongest suits, but it is also the main source of a shitload of issues. Jake is not a cruel man in any way; he is simply without a filter. He was well aware that his prior remarks against the Lee family had been below the belt. Calling them out on their bullshit while talking about their dead mother in the same sentence was definitely not it. He knew he has said a lot of cretinous things in the past but according to his older brother, this takes the fucking cake. This is what you get for talking shit, Jake Sim.
“Your karma takes the guise of a Lee boy, eh? It’s a match made in hell,” Jaehyun jested. A small smile appeared on Jake’s face but said nothing. The older Sim watched his brother fidget with the veil that was perched on his lap.
“Uh…” Jaehyun trailed off. Jake arched an eyebrow at his older brother and encouraged him to continue.
Jaehyun cleared his throat, feeling quite a bit awkward, “I’m proud of you for doing this. I know this isn't how you envisioned your future, but I hope you ultimately come to appreciate your new life. If Lee attempts anything, just shout my name and I’ll blow his fucking brains out and feed his remains to his relatives. You know I'll do all in my power to protect you. I love you. You will always be my brother, Jaeyun.”
Jaehyun and Jake grew up in an unconventional household. Their mother is gypsy royalty, while their father runs an organized crime syndicate. With their emotionally absent parents, they had to fend for themselves and were taught to never put their confidence in anybody as they grew up. Being five years older than Jake, Jaehyun had to grow up in a different setting than his younger brother. He had to put up with a lot for Jake to have a somewhat normal childhood. Jake, contrary to popular thought, has a gentle and playful spirit, which is why Jaehyun feels protective of him. The younger boy sees Jaehyun as a hero. If not for his brother, he wouldn't be here right now.
Jake's face softened in response to his brother's words. He is not even aware that a tear has fallen from his eye.
“Thank you, hyung. I mean it,” Jake said as he hurriedly wiped the tear from his cheek before giving his older brother a genuine smile, something he seldom does.
“And you look lovely, by the way. I guarantee that the Lee boy is going to devour you by the end of the night,” You can count on his older brother to utter foolish crap in a wholesome moment.
“Jaehyun, you tosser! That is such a crude thing to say,” Jake grumbled, his face turning crimson. Jaehyun chuckled at his discomfort.
Jake did look lovely. He was dressed to the nines, in his three-piece black suit with flowers meticulously arranged in his blonde hair. His dainty hands ran over the delicate tulle material of his veil.
“Let me put that on for you,” Jaehyun gently pins the veil over his head before offering a hand, “You ready to become a blushing bride, Jakey?”
“No,” Jake scowled in response but accepted his hand nevertheless. He reached out for his bouquet and tightly clutched it. Despite the circumstances, he couldn't help but feel giddy at the prospect of getting married. He suppressed a smile and avoided his brother’s gaze.
Just grinning in reply, Jaehyun led him outside the caravan.
“Here he is,” Jungkook introduced his prospective partner as if he were a new toy. Heeseung and his brothers were standing by the improvised altar alongside Seungcheol, the wedding officiant. Surprisingly, there were a considerable number of people sitting in rows: the Sims, the Lees, friends, and acquaintances of both families, all waiting for the ceremony to begin. They all stood there watching as the Sim patriarch and matriarch led a small, blonde boy down the improvised aisle.
“He’d better be under 50,” The youngest Lee grunted. Dokyeom had to hold back his amusement as the blonde approached the altar and took his place on Heeseung's left side. He tried to get a glimpse of what was underneath the veil but he failed miserably.
“Come here. Go on,” Jungkook muttered. Heeseung cursed under his breath as he was forced to kneel before the altar. He chose to hold his tongue despite the fact that he could feel a developing pain in his knees. His hands felt clammy against the fabric of his slacks. He sneaked another glance at his husband-to-be but his face was still obscured by the veil. Heeseung nearly swore aloud. His insatiable curiosity is killing him.
Jake could feel the sweat on his brow. He is hyper-aware that someone is stealing glances at him and that person is no other than his future husband. He realized that he knows very little about the man he is marrying. The fact that he is the youngest member of the Lee family, is all he is aware of. His older brothers are Dokyeom Lee and Jungkook Lee. He knows he is a war veteran and former fusilier. But he has no idea what his name is, what he looks like, or how old he is. He stiffened, not daring to look to his right. The mere concept of marrying a stranger made him anxious. Scared. It must be evident in his posture because Seungcheol leaned down and whispered, “You alright, Jake?”
Jake couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry; a rollercoaster of emotions invaded his entire system. Nonetheless, he nodded before murmuring a timid, "Yes, I'm alright."
Finally, the rows of people fell silent, and Seungcheol began to speak, “We are here today to join in matrimony…”
Jake had one hand firmly gripping his bouquet and the other on his thigh. Then, he felt it.
A comforting hand grasped his free hand.
“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll take care of you, I promise,” Heeseung leaned in and murmured before letting go of Jake’s hand. His voice was tender and rang with promise.
Jake's brain went blank at the pet name.
Bloody hell.
When Jake felt him lean back, he unknowingly let out a breath. He sneaked a glance at Heeseung and was left stunned. Jake expected an ancient, war-torn Lee with an imposing demeanor and a perpetual frown. Instead, he has the most exquisite features, including nicely arched eyebrows, a sloping nose, large, doe-like eyes, a cupid's bow perched above the sweetest pink lips, and soft, wonderfully tanned skin in juxtaposition with his jaw.
Oh, fuck. Fucking fuck.
Heeseung is fucked.
Heeseung knew it was all over the moment Jake raised his veil, showing his face to him for the first time. It would be an understatement to say that Jake is stunning. They looked at each other, and Heeseung grinned. In contrast to the things he had heard on the streets, the blonde boy offered him a modest, nervous smile before turning back to Seungcheol. Heeseung caught himself staring at the blonde longer than he expected and snapped himself out of it. Turning his head in another direction, Heeseung smirked at his brothers.
“Do you, Heeseung Lee, take Jaeyun Sim to be your beautiful wife?” Seungcheol asked.
“Yeah, I do,” Heeseung said, his tone firmer than when he had earlier spoken to Jake.
Jake can feel Heeseung’s piercing stare as he spoke but the blonde avoided looking at the man, keeping his gaze fixed on his bouquet for fear of blushing to death in front of everyone.
“Do you, Jaeyun Sim, take Heeseung Lee to be your loving husband?”
“Yes, I do,” Jake said softly, his gaze shifting from his lap to Heeseung's face.
“With that, there remains one more part of the ceremony,” Seungcheol addressed the audience. “The mingling of the two bloods, where the two families become the one family.”
As he spoke, he unsheathed the knife in his grasp and dragged the knife across Heeseung’s palm. Heeseung, without flinching, glanced down as the first few drops of blood emerged from his hand. Jake bit his lip and suppressed a groan as the knife stabbed deep into his skin. When Heeseung stretched out to place his hand in Jake's, the pain subsided slightly. Jake nervously squeezed Heeseung's hand, which he returned reassuringly.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Seungcheol declared, a smile on his face. The audience exploded in applause and cheers. Jake turned around just in time to see his mother in tears, comforted by Jaehyun and his father. The Lee boys: Dokyeom, Jongseong, Sunghoon, and Beomgyu, were cheering and yelling. Jungkook stood there with a sliver of a smile on his lips.
“Come on, Hee. Kiss your bride, will ya?” Seungcheol hollered. Jake tensed as soon as he heard it.
“We don’t have to if you don’t want to, Jaeyun,” Heeseung reassured him, squeezing his bloody hand. The unexpected sting made them both cringe. They exchanged glances before bursting out laughing.
“I'm not going to make you do anything, pet,” Heeseung stated once again, face turning serious.
Jake abruptly closed his eyes, leaned forward, and kissed Heeseung. Soft lips on soft lips. A sensation awoke in his gut, sending electricity coursing through his entire body.
Heeseung's eyes widened, not expecting anything from Jake. He hesitated for a split second. Unsure what to do. But when he discovered warmth in Jake, he was no longer himself. He rested his non-bloody hand on the curve of Jake's hips. He lowered his head to deepen the kiss. His tongue glided over Jake's lips, seeking entrance. He welcomed him inside. Wet and hot.
Jake's heart starts to race. His clean hand fisted Heeseung's lapel hard, drawing him in closer. He stood there, feeling a desire coursing through his heart, chest, and down toward his inner thighs. His eyes were half-closed, as were Heeseung's, and they were both breathing deeply as they parted. Heeseung's nose brushed up against his.
The sight drew great applause from the audience. They both smiled as they locked their gazes. Heeseung assisted him to his feet and offered his arm as they walked back down the aisle.
The festivities had already begun in the fields when the newlyweds sat down. Without saying a word, Heeseung grabbed hold of Jake's wounded hand, pulled out a bandage from his suit jacket, and wrapped it around his palm.
“Do you often keep a supply of bandages in your suit jacket or is today special?” Jake asked, a bright smile on his face.
Heeseung smirked, “I was warned that I was marrying a troublemaker, so I thought I'd come prepared.”
Jake rolled his eyes, a cheeky grin on his lips, but he began to feel awkward at the undivided attention that he was receiving.
“I know it's too late to introduce myself, but my name is Heeseung Lee. It's a pleasure to be a part of this.” Heeseung offered him a half-smile.
Oh, fuck me.
Heeseung looked much more gorgeous up close, which is already driving Jake mental.
“My name is Jaeyun Sim—err... Lee,” Heeseung's smile broadened as a blushing Jake corrected himself. “But everyone calls me Jake.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?” Heeseung asked curiously as he finished up with Jake’s bandage. He pressed a fleeting kiss on the bandaged hand.
“Oh, thank you,” Jake said softly, blushing at the gesture. He took new bandages so he could care for Heeseung's hand.
“So, when we were little, Jaehyun and I had nicknames...” Jake trailed off as he started bandaging Heeseung’s palm, a focused expression on his face. “Jaehyun stopped using it when he turned twelve. He said it was tacky. I like mine though and apparently, so did everyone else. But I'd say my nickname stuck since it isn't confused with Jaehyun's most of the time. Nobody calls me Jaeyun anymore, not even Mother and Father.”
Heeseung hummed, a thoughtful expression on his face. He watched as Jake examined his bandage before making a proud exclamation.
“All done!” Jake clapped happily.
“Thank you… Jaeyun.” Heeseung saw Jake freeze for a second before mumbling a timid “You’re welcome, Heeseung.” in response, a beautiful smile on his face.
“I barely know shit about you, pet. Why don’t ya tell me more about yourself, yeah? How old are ya? Do you like dogs or cats? Are you a good cook? You still in school?” Heeseung asked as many questions as he could, which made Jake laugh. He's not as scary as everyone made him out to be.
“Oh, come off it, Lee.” Jake rolled his eyes with a laugh. “Well, I recently turned twenty-one. I love both and I have a puppy named Layla, she’s a Border Collie. Not that good but I know my way around the kitchen. I can cook some mean ramen. And yeah, I’m still in school. I study nursing because I want to help people. Enough about me. Now, it’s your turn,” Jake laughed harder when Heeseung made a face.
“Ah, we’re already married but still on a last name basis? Okay, Lee,” Heeseung chuckled when Jake rolled his eyes. “I jest, I jest. Okay. I’m only twenty-four. I adore dogs but prefer cats. In fact, I own one and his name is Ddongsik. I’m a shit cook but I was told that I’m a good food reviewer. And no, I'm currently not in school, although I did finish business school before the war,” Heeseung diligently recited his responses. Jake nodded and mentally took note of what he said.
As the night progressed, the liquor began to flow and conversations got raucous; the entire venue reeked of alcohol and a good time.
The upbeat music fueled their enthusiasm as they danced, and Jake yelled with laughter as Heeseung twirled him around. He drew Jake close, his hands heavy with desire and eagerness as they kissed, and the younger flung his arms over Heeseung's shoulders. A soft noise pushes past his pretty, plump lips.
“Heeseung, I, I need—” Jake exhaled shakily, his cheeks and neck flushing. Heeseung lowers his head, reclaiming his lips, tongues stroking each other. Fingers tangled in his blonde hair, Jake whimpered into Heeseung’s mouth.
“Need what, sweetheart? Talk to me,” Heeseung hummed as they parted while desperately trying to drag his hands all over Jake's body. One hand rested on Jake's waist, the other remained tangled in his blonde hair, and slowly, Heeseung pulled his head back. Jake’s lips part on a low moan, eyes dilating.
Fucking hell.
“You smell so fucking divine, Jaeyun,” A rough and strangled groan escaped Heeseung’s lips as he buried his face in Jake’s neck, dragging his nose up the column of his throat.
“Heeseung, please,” Hiding his face against the older man's neck, Jake moaned. “I—”
“Oi, Heeseung! Stop shagging your new wife and join the festivities instead.”