Chapter Text
Goryeo
Ganghwa, 1273
Spring
Choi dynasty
Cheonsa Restaurant
In the beginning, Lee Taemin's life was a very simple one. He lived alone. His parents had passed away from the same sickness when he was only about fourteen years of age. Nonetheless, in the end, his parents had left him their quaint little family owned restaurant. In which set precisely at the outskirts of their nation's large capital. And he loved it.
It was home. Literally. He lived in a sizable house placed at the back of his restaurant. He had two servants. Though they were more like family members to him, because they took care of each other like one. The two were a mother and her son pair, whom of which he had rescued from being kidnapped and sold by a horrid brothel owner named Jung Il Hoon. Whom of which was unfortunately around his age and just as ravishingly handsome.
The man had wanted him in the place of them, but contrarily found that he couldn't because of he'd turned out to be. Although, that fact didn't stop the disgusting man from stalkishly pestering him at every accessible occasion that he managed to obtain when either of them were not too busy for him to do so at his restaurant. And was tired of it. Tired of him. He just wanted to be left alone so that he can live the rest of his days out in peace.
Still, he chooses to ignore Ilhoon each and every time he decides to come in to his restaurant just to vex him for the day. The pesters him until he becomes ovely irritated and leaves in a huff. Every single time. It was nothing to him. It was always same boring song and dance, so he was used to it.
What he wasn't use to, was a group of young virile males that looked to be bred of noble families to walk in to his little restaurant. On the very day that the local Brothel Head decides to come in to his establishment to harass him like he normally does by now, since the vile man had been away from his restaurant for a few mere weeks. He watches them as they walk to the very back of his establishment, finding a corner table to sit down at. An attentant instantly heads over to their table to gather all of their orders, whatever they might be.
He takes note that his restaurant is bustling with both people and noise today as always, though his eyes stay focused upon the unknown strangers. Soon enough, the arrogant Brothel Head steps in front of him in order to stand proudly yet confidently before him, perfectly blocking his view of the unknown Noblemen. His brown eyes glare clear in abhorrence of the man trying to greatly irritate him today. Hoping that the man feels all of hatred blazing throughout his eyes.
Taemin gives out an annoyed huff with his arms crossed over his chest while he tries to sidestep the annoying Brothel Head, in turn he is consequently blocked from doing so by Ilhoon himself with a leering smile in place upon the man's loathsome fine-looking face, "Why don't you be my woman, Minnie darling?"
Taemin sneers back in kind, trying to move past him once again, deciding not to say anything in regards to the nickname that the revolting man has so rudely govern him with since it does him no good in the slightest sense, "I am no woman."
He completely ignores the fact that he is wearing petal pink garbs. Or that he has his lengthy brown tresses flowing down his back in a loose pink tie to match. He can't help the fact that pink was his mother's favorite color or her favored hue for him to wear.
Or the fact that both the females and the males of their notion have naturally long hair. All in all, that does not make him a woman in the least bit. The little cocklet between his thighs says it all. He is no woman.
The disgusting man playfully teases him a bit, grabbing on to Taemin's tiny wrist when he tries to leave again for the third time, to which Taemin openly glares at Ilhoon for his clear rudeness, "But you can be mine."
The area of the restaurant that they are standing in is no longer buzzing with noise. All eyes are on them like it is every time they do this. For the customers who frequent here, it is nothing new to them. They are long since used to it. That's why they always watch it all play out like it is their favorite theater show being performed in front of them for free every time it happens.
Taemin hisses out like an angry feline in turn as the man's other hand is sneakily moved to hold his lithe waistline, "Well, you already know that I don't want you. Nor will I ever be with you, so leave me alone. Now."
The Brothel Head barks back in retort, swiftly pulling a scandalized red-faced Taemin towards his own much larger frame with the restaurant owner trying to free himself from his embrace, "It'll only be a matter of time before you come crawling towards me when you have nothing left and no one else to turn to."
In a matter of seconds, the Nobleman who was dressed in aquamarine blue whom seemed to be the head of the rest, came up to them, condescendingly speaking to the miffed Brothel Head, only after he's gracefully stepped in between the two of them, removing the vile man's unwarranted appendages from off Taemin's perfect body with the hard twist of his hand, "Who says that he won't have someone to turn to? Surely not you, I hope."
Ilhoon enquires derisorily back to the Nobleman that has nervily interrupted his fun for the day, rubbing his sore fingers after they were released from the other man's hand, "And if it is? What are you going to do about it? Simply refute the truth? I think not, so mind your own goddamn business. This conversation is only between me and my dear Taeminnie."
The handsome Nobleman compromises with the other man a bit when he glazes down at Taemin's flawlessly pretty face, all the while still simultaneously speaking to Ilhoon accordingly, "I will, but only if Taemin tells me to do so."
Taemin bashfully says in response with a face of bright red, once he finally regains his standing within their entire conversation, pulling himself away from the Nobleman's warm toned body after he does in a proper manner, "It's fine. Mr. Jung was just leaving. Weren't you, Ilhoon?"
"Yes. I regretfully have important things in which I need to take care of my love. So I must attend to them now. However, for this exact reason, I shall return here tomorrow just to play with you again. Until then, behave yourself for me, my sweet. Wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you, now do we, my darling Minnie." Ilhoon sweetly threatens as he finally concedes to what Taemin has asked of him. He turns and leaves with his men who had been monitoring the entire situation from afar just in case something did happen like usual.
The man politely inclines as they made their way outside of the restaurant in order to privately chat amongst themselves, "May I ask, how do you know that sort of man?"
Taemin says in answer, not wanting to divulge his makeshift family's personal story to a mere stranger that hadn't even given him his name as of yet, "It's a long boring story that I truly rather not talk about. You and your companions' food and drink are on the house for tonight."
"No. I couldn't take money straight out of your pouch. We will pay for your restaurants' great service like any other customer you have." The Nobleman spoke again, refusing Taemin's kind offer in turn, directly giving way to his actual name afterwards, "By the way, you may call me Minho, Taemin."
"As you like, Minho. Just take it as my thanks for rescuing me from such a vexing situation. It would be rude if you didn't." Taemin gave out a soft smile in closure, right before he spots someone dressed in all black among the treeline about to attack them with a drawn bow and arrow. With widen eyes, he grabs on to Minho shifting around until he is in line with the arrow that headed their way.
Minho takes note of situation after he stops staring at Taemin's gorgeous face, easily sidestepping the weapon's trajectory. Taemin is flushed red against him with his head resting upon his chest when he throws out one of the many hidden weapons on his body at their assailent, instantly ending the unknown man's life. From the treelines, he can see move men runway from the area once his men finally enter the scene.
"Check the perimeter. If anyone is left alive, bring them directly to me." Minho autocratically directs his men, perfectly allotting them with the path that the other assassins had taken just as they had came to his aid, then he soothingly addresses the silently trembling Taemin whilst they take off in that very direction straight after that, "Are you alright, Taemin? You're not hurt anywhere are you?"
Taemin shakes his head from side-to-side when he speaks to Minho again, adrenaline making his heart race even faster inside of his chest, at that moment Minho couldn't been more proud if he'd tried, "Yes. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm not hurt anywhere. Don't worry about me, take care of yourself and your comrades."
"Okay, I shall do just that. Look after yourself, Taemin. Because the next time I see you, it won't be the last." Minho says to him before the Nobleman runs off to follow behind his fellow companions. Although, Taemin is still a bit confused by the parting words Minho said to him, but he thinks nothing of it whilst he oversees the cleanup of his restaurant. This day would be one that he will never forget.