Chapter Text
Hyunjin knew exactly how long he could oversleep before Park would notice. Years of testing the limits had taught him. 17 Minutes when Park drank too much wine the night before. 10 minutes if Kibum restructured the traps and Park had to get around them. 0 minutes if Hyunjin had annoyed him the day before. What happened fairly often.
Today Hyunjin calculated about 6 minutes. He had stolen food two days ago and Park would still remember that. He pulled the blanket under his chin and snuggled himself into the fabrics. Their beds were built out of wood but the hard ground was better than sleeping upright in a cage out in the forest.
“Jinnie, stand up I know you’re awake”, Jisung said from across the room. Hyunjin didn’t move, still having 3 minutes left. Jisung threw a pillow at him. An annoyed growl left his throat as Hyunjin turned around to face his friend.
"Leave me sleep, it’s your fault I’m so tired”
“I didn’t do anything”, Jisung said, slightly offended. He was already dressed and ready to leave for training. Waiting with crossed arms for Hyunjin to finally get up.
“You negotiated with a squirrel about Nut-Taxes in your sleep”, Hyunjin pulled the blanket over his head.
“She wanted to only pay 5 acorns. 5! Can you believe that? I needed at least 10”, he continued his argument laughing and Hyunjin escaped a faint smile.
“I know and you two agreed on 8”, his sleep was suffering from it but it gave him comfort that he wasn’t alone. Jisung laughed but then threw Hyunjin’s shoes in front of his bed. The time was running out.
He finally got out of his bed and slipped into the boots. Hyunjin followed his brother outside while he bound his red hair into a high ponytail. Jisung wasn’t his brother by blood but by... well, anything else there could be. Hyunjin didn’t know his blood and Jisung was the closest to a family he had ever known.
They had learnt to read each other just as Hyunjin had learnt to read Park's mood. Over the years they had perfected communication without the need of words.
The hideout was quiet this morning. Most outcasts were still sleeping. Sometimes Hyunjin ‘accidentally’ caused some loud noises that woke up the whole village. He couldn’t stand the thought that he and Jisung were the only ones always forced to stand up early.
Only Jinki sat outside and sharpened his knives. He looked like he didn't have a second of sleep last night as he frantically pulled a knife over the grindstone. A grin appeared on Hyunjin’s face as he whispered in Jisung’s ear.
“We don’t have time for this”, Jisung scolded him.
“Please”, Hyunjin pouted exaggeratedly. His brother sighed but called for his raven.
The raven flew over to Jinki, grabbed one of the knives in her claws and rushed off. Jinki screamed when he noticed. Hyunjin laughed as he jumped up and ran after the bird while swinging another knife at her. She would fly into the forest and drop it somewhere. Jinki would search for it for hours.
Park was already at the training ground when they arrived. His arms were crossed and by the look on his face, Hyunjin could already tell that this was going to be a bad day.
“There is a group of traveler getting too close to finding the entrance of the hideout”, he started to explain in a rough voice, “I want you two to get rid off them”
Jisung and Hyunjin exchanged a quick glance, ‘getting rid off’ as in ‘kill them’. Neither of them wanted to do anything like that. They could steal from rich people, scam fools, spy on officials and sabotage the other outcasts. But killing innocent travelers was something else.
“You will do it”, Park said, aggravated. He knew that they hesitated on this and wouldn’t tolerate it.
“Yes, Shifu”, they said in unison and walked off. The forest was spiked with traps, but after years of navigating through them, it was easy for Hyunjin and Jisung to step around them.
“I don’t want to kill them”, Jisung’s voice was barely a whisper.
“I will take care of it, don’t worry”, Hyunjin promised. They walked deeper into the forest and spotted Jinki fighting through leaves on the ground as he searched for his knife. He noticed the two and screamed at them “I know you told the raven! I will cut your tongue out Jisung”
Hyunjin laughed at the empty threats. He had told that hundreds of times before but Park would never allow that. Aside from that, Hyunjin would turn him into ash if Jinki even dared to try.
“Just keep searching”, he shouted over to him laughing. He had spotted the knife up high balancing on a branch. Jinki could search through the fall leaves forever.
They squeezed through a narrow opening in the mountain wall and followed a maze of tunnels until they reached the outside world. Outside of it were no traps. The emperor and his army tried to find the hideout for decades but never succeeded. Kibum and the others took good care of that. A system of strings and bells notified them if someone got too close to the entrance. Like those poor travelers.
Hyunjin stepped outside the maze and took a deep breath. He hated that they were always trapped between mountains, but it was safe. He enjoyed the view of a forest without traps, while Jisung questioned the birds where the traveler had been.
They followed a sparrow until the three people appeared in front of them. Hyunjin could feel Jisung’s discomfort and took over to play the bad guy. They were old, looked exhausted and lost. Nothing about them could be a threat to the hideout.
“Hey”, he shouted and jogged closer to the travelers. Their faces lid up when they saw him. Hopeful to get the help they needed. Hyunjin knew what he had to do, but these people were just unlucky fools that accidentally stepped too close to his home. Jisung couldn’t look as they approached them.
“This isn’t a place for people like you”, Hyunjin said when they were close enough, “It isn’t safe here. Walk in this direction and don’t look back. If you come here again or tell anyone about our encounter it will be your death”
A threat was everything Hyunjin could bring up against them. The hope on their faces turned into fear and Hyunjin summoned his Qi and created a flame ball in his hand to support the threat.
Jisung stood behind him, with his hand at the hilt of his sword, slightly pulled out. He was like a bunny that tried to look dangerous.
The travelers bowed deeply to them. Pleading to spare their lives and offering money and other things.
“I don't want your stuff, just get out of here before it gets ugly”, Hyunjin said and waved his free hand for them to leave. They talked over each other to thank him for his gratitude and bowed deeply as they left with quick steps.
“Park will not like this”, Jisung said while they watched the travelers vanishing in the distance.
“He never likes what I do”, Hyunjin said and turned to get back. Jisung followed him with fast steps. Deep in thoughts he wasn't watching his steps. Jisungs foot got trapped in a rope sling and he was pulled up until he hung 3 meters over the ground. Hyunjin didn't want to laugh but did it anyway.
“Stop laughing and help me”, he wined and wiggled around helplessly. Hyunjin watched him struggle a little longer before he started to search the end of the rope.
It took way too long to get Jisung down there unharmed. When they finally got back to the small village, Hyunjin's stomach dropped when they stepped out of the forest.
Park was waiting for them, next to him were the three travelers. Their faces were bloody as they kneeled on the dirty ground with their hands tied behind their backs.
Jisung froze next to him, his eyes got big in shock as he took in the sight in front of them. Hyunjin stepped forward, this wasn't Jisung’s fault.
“Why are they still breathing?”, Park asked, anger and disappointment dripping from his voice. Hyunjin didn't understand how he could follow them and bring them here so fast but it didn't matter.
“You told us to get rid of them”, Hyunjin crocked his head and smiled, “You didn't say when and how”
Park's face turned red with anger. “Jisung”, he barked and Jisung flinched, “Do it. Now”
Before Jisung even moved, Hyunjin pulled a knife off his boot and jumped forward. The three travelers were dead in seconds.
If Park had Hyunjin's power, smoke would come out of his ears by now. He stepped over a dead body and grabbed Hyunjin's ponytail. He struggled to keep up with Parks' fast steps while his head got pulled down painfully. He ranted about Hyunjin's misbehavior, but he didn't listen to the words as they washed over him.
Finally Park threw him on the floor and before Hyunjin even realized that he had grabbed his whip, the first strike hit his back. Park kept screaming at him, but Hyunjin concentrated on counting the whips. It helped him not to freak out and attack Park back. He had done that one time and he didn't want to repeat what happened afterwards.
At 5 his back was on fire and his clothes started to rip apart from the impact. He clenched his fingers into the dirt beneath him. By 10 his skin was torn open and he could feel drops of blood running down his back. Park screamed something about him being ungrateful for not executing his orders. Around 20 he started to struggle to keep his posture somewhat composed. And when Park finally stopped at 30 he was on the edge of breaking down completely.
Park dropped the whip next to Hyunjin on the floor. He grabbed his cheeks painfully, so Hyunjin had to look at him.
“Now do fifty flames”, his voice was calm now, which was somehow worse than the screaming, “Since you have so much energy for disobedience, they should be no problem for you”
It was a problem. Hyunjin was already shaking and blood was dripping on the floor beneath him. Fifty meant he would burn out and Park knew it. Burning out by overuse of Qi was dangerous, but Park had pushed Hyunjin over that edge so often that it almost felt familiar.
He took a deep breath and adjusted his posture until he kneeled so that he sat on his own feet. His shaking hands formed a bowl and he summoned his qi to create the first flame. There was no point in refusing and making it worse. After a short time the flame died in his hands and he made a new one. Only 48 left.
He knew that Jisung was watching from somewhere and Hyunjin ran on pure spite by now. His vision got blurry and his finger went numb. He fought for every breath and the pain in his back got unbearable and when he did the 38th flame his body gave up and his face landed on the dusty ground. The taste of blood filled his mouth, but a faint smile hushed over his face. Last time he had only made it to 33.