XII) Into the fantasy (3/3)
(Follows right from the end of part 2.)
.
Gon POV:
When they are done with the CCTV lesson, Gon goes to the vaults in order to retrieve some gold to possibly trade for Tyrant-verse cash if needed, while Yeong checks on the CCTV Team's progress about the room Nam Seon Ho is sequestered in.
There are three options circled on the map Yeong shows to Gon when they get back together. Two are in the Main Building; the third is in the farthest corner of The Palace - in what is in their universe the gardeners' storage/workplace. Yeong judges that last spot to be the most probable of the three for reprobable criminal activities. On the one hand, it's positive news: it's generally a quiet, secluded space, which means less guards than in the Main Building. On the other hand, The Palace is hardly approachable from the back because of the sea and the cliffs, which means they will have to cross extensive open terrain, and twice. So, they get there in order to recognize the perimeter (it's not a place they commonly spend time in; so they are thankful for the possible preparation), testing and timing several itinaries from building to building from the first possible entrance of their choosing to the gardeners's corner.
When they are satisfied enough with their practising of different possible routes, they go to the armoury, to retrieve Gon's gun and extra ammunition for them both.
Then, they eat a quick lunch in the privacy of Gon's quarters, running over their ideal plan and several potential back-up plans once more. When discussing how to best impersonate their counterparts if needed, Gon realizes he has some potentially helpful knowledge he still hasn't shared with Yeong, and right away mentions, no matter his inner cringing, that his dopplegänger apparently enjoys Nam Seon Ho following him around on his knees while still looking rebellious no matter what. Yeong waits for their eyes to meet again and nods: "Noted, Pyeha. Thank you for the valuable intel."
Myeong Seung Ah arrives with the demanded purchases. She helps Yeong with fixing the wig, then at his demand also ties most of it in a bun so it won't come into his eyes; before leaving with what Gon senses is a false and anxious smile - clever one indeed. Gon lends Yeong a white hoodie vest to hide the hairdo - always pristine Yeong pretending to have stained his clothes while eating would still be less conspicuous than explaining the sudden hair bun growth; and they go to retrieve their horses from the stables.
/
Somewhere between checkpoint five and six, Yeong takes a moment to go change in the forest.
And Gon feels downright *enraged* at the sight; when Yeong reemerges wearing a pair of black *leather* pants and assorted open jacket with a *red* (honestly? - possibly *the one time* Gon gets to see Yeong wearing red - and it must be for this abject masquerade!) *see-through* top underneath, and hurries back towards Gon with his usual (even though right now emanating a much different vibe than usual) catlike self-confidence and possibly lethal but always graceful efficiency - either completely unaware or at least entirely unbothered that he looks... not Yeong-like at all; and that's the only inner comment Gon will care to make on that matter.
Yeong gives an apologetic bow when he retakes his place at Gon's side:
"They were out of black, apparently."
"We *burn* all of this the moment we are back," is all Gon says, tone definite and simply refusing to look any longer at the damn clothes.
"We will, Pyeha." And there is surprising (yet not) fire in his voice, as he hurries to pull Gon's hoodie temporarily back on. Yeong too has evident distate for the clothes - or he just feels terribly affronted by the red. But Gon knows Yeong has never felt the need to burn anything before.
/
They walk the short restant distance to the place where they know the portal will open when Gon will take out the flute.
"May I check your gun again, Pyeha?" Yeong asks as they stop, extending an open hand, palm up and waiting.
Gon is surprised, because Yeong has checked it already less than three hours ago; but he directly hands it over for the routine check Yeong always performs whenever he knows Gon is going to wear a weapon nonetheless. Yeong checks it all again, nothing but the usual movements in the usual order; except he does not give his gun back to Gon right away when he is finished.
"This is a rescue mission - and a rescue mission only; all right, Pyeha?"
"That's the whole plan, isn't it?"
"I mean... I hope our paths won't cross; but should we run into that other king? We let him be."
"Yeong-ah?"
"I know you're angry, Pyeha - and very rightfully so. So. *As your guard*, it is simply my duty to remind you that we must keep a clear head. Whatever happens: we are not taking any risk. *We are not jeopardizing in any way your existence - nor the existence of your children to come*, Pyeha."
Yeong-ah...
"It's the future of The Kingdom. It's the family you've always wished for. (And somehow, it sounds as if the second matters more to Yeong than the first; but Gon just cannot find it in himself to reprimand him for it.) We let him be, Pyeha. *We let him be.* We warn him; we scare him; whatever - but he stays unharmed. We go there for Nam Seon Ho - and for Nam Seon Ho only. Please, Pyeha. Of course I'd rather have you armed - in case you might need it. But I just cannot hand your gun back to you without being sure you heard me. I must insist."
And Gon understands, indeed; no matter his thirst for punishment.
(It is in fact nothing that Gon hasn't already decided too himself. Bringing someone from one world to another with no ill intention is allowed, apparently: Lady Noh, Tae Eul, Yeong, Eun Seob - no mark and no pain when it storms. But one mustn't be in any way involved in the demise of any of his doubles - they still have no idea about the possible long term consequences of wearing such a mark as the one Gon had been thankfully freed from, nor if it means anything beyond the obvious. And even if there are reasons to believe doppelgängers's lifes aren't meant to walk strictly parallel to each other in every universe; it doesn't mean they should put what are only theories to the test. The present and future welfare and stability of The Kingdom are Gon's responsability; and so caution is mandatory, indeed.)
"For Nam Seon Ho - and for Nam Seon Ho only."
"Thank you, Pyeha. Here (handing back Gon's gun with a bow). Are you ready?"
"One last thing." Because Yeong isn't the only one with a necessary demand. "I want you to test if you're able to open the portal."
"Pyeha?"
This is something Yeong evidently hasn't seem coming at all. He looks utterly surprised; but definitely touched at *the trust* it infers when it sinks in.
"Here," Gon presses on, presenting the flute for Yeong to take.
But of course Yeong doesn't take it; he instinctively takes a step backwards, even:
"No, Pyeha. My blood isn't coming anywhere near the flute. I don't think it would work anyway - it's your family's heirloom. But, once more, *we are not taking any risk*."
Well. This is also nothing but what Gon has expected after all; after Yeong's confession about his fears in the morning. And it would have felt more secure for Yeong's sake if he had complied and it had worked; but Gon understands and approves his reasoning for refusing to even try, and doesn't insist. He has considered already another way for Yeong to use the flute if needed anyway.
"I thought you would say that. Take this; then. (handing over a metallic flask) It's a sample of my blood. If anything goes wrong: you grab the flute and you run-"
"Pyeha!"
"He must never get his hands on the flute; and he must never get his hands on you. Those are your mission's primary parameters, Captain Jo. No matter what happens, *I want you to get back home* (because Gon knows Yeong always values his wishes over his orders); if only for the sake of our world and all the other worlds. Am I making myself clear, Unbreakable Sword?"
They hold each other's gaze in a short silent battle of will. It's Yeong's turn to cave in, though - it is not only Gon's plea; it is also simply imperative - and Yeong knows Gon needs Yeong to acknowledge that fact, just as Yeong has needed Gon to acknowledge another fact just a moment ago.
"Understood, Pyeha."
A thankful but decisive nod.
"Good. Let's go."
They put their face masks on (those are currently a thing too in the Tyrant-verse, thankfully); and they pass the portal, leaving their horses in the in-between.
/
First thing they do upon entering the Tyrant-verse is find a hidden spot in the park to bury the gold and Gon's blood. Then, they search for a kiosk and look over a newspaper. They're in luck: just as in The Kingdom, there is a space on the front page reserved for announcements about The Palace's activities; and in about two hours The Queen is to be attending a charity event - even less guards present at The Palace.
They see the cortege leave; then wait some more still for sufficient night cover, taking full advantage of the winter season.
And then, it's time.
/
Face masks in their pockets and Gon's hoodie vest temporarily abandoned by the wall, they enter The Palace by Gon's usual 'secret' passage in their world too, and go to the thankfully nearby CCTV control room. Gon just barges in as if he owns the place (which he does, even if not in this universe), and orders the guards to get in the adjacent room and warns that he expects them to stay put and silent while he shows 'his toy' something in private, until he would come and unlock the door again.
They look for Nam Seon Ho on the screens but do not see him anywhere, and Yeong understands that the place he's in must be then on a separate surveillance network. They are somehow glad though to realize it seems at least their guess might be right, because the gardener's corner in their world appears to be missing from every screen too. Yeong finds its most nearby camera. There are two guards standing by the entrance outside the building they have no CCTV access into despite it not being a private quarter. They recognize those two guards as the ones beating Nam Seon Ho on some photos Gon had taken pictures of. This universe's king is also nowhere to be seen; which means he's at the moment either ouside of The Palace (the least probable as there is no event planned for the king for tonight according to the newspaper they've read), or in his private quarters (private quarters being the only places without CCTV in their world too) - or in the building Nam Seon Ho is supposedly kept in. Gon curses under his breath.
Yeong deletes the whole last hour footage, stops any live recording, and sets on loop two weeks old tapes.
/
They exit the CCTV control room and cross through The Palace's gardens without trouble, Yeong trailing after Gon on his knees not surprising the guards they pass by (some sneering under their breaths, some pitying-looking; but either way not commenting).
They approach what is in their universe the gardener's pavillion from the back, and Yeong quickly deals with the two unsuspecting guards they knew to be keeping vigil at the door. Then, Yeong takes his suit and his communication device off a guard before hiding the guards behind the building while Gon locates its power panel and cuts the CCTV electricity off, disabling the cameras inside (but not the light). Yeong has by now set the communication device on and found the right channel; and from what he hears, their presence still hasn't been noticed. Yeong passes a mirror under the door, sees no sign of other guards at the other side of it, and so they enter the small pavillion, guns at the ready - Yeong first.
Gon's insides twist at the scene they stumble into.
"You know you'll be thankful for this little visit come tomorrow morning", he hears his own voice croon from the end of the open space. His doppelgänger is still clothed (thankfully - Gon had been dreading what they might be interrupting exactly since knowing there was a true probability of finding his double here) but pressed all over Nam Seon Ho's hanging form in a simply sickening way. He turns though at the intrusion, shock registering too late as Yeong already holds him at gun point after having made sure no further threat was present in the room.
"Get away from him," Gon *growls*, low, pointing his gun too; and Yeong is by now near enough to physically ensure he does - knocking his arms off Nam Seon Ho (the object Gon noticing only now he had in hand falling to the ground with a dull thud, and Gon seeing even more red as realization hits about what it must be for) and pinning his arms behind him before the click of manacles being placed around his wrists echoes in the room; and then forcing him down on his knees, taking his shoes off and placing another set of manacles around his ankles while Gon gets closer, until he is looming menacingly above him.
"Who are you?" Gon's doppelgänger demands, wild eyes jumping from Gon to Yeong and back, as Gon now keeps him under survey.
"Who do you think we are?" Gon just counters, waiting for his voice to register too.
"How?" Gon's counterpart can't help but start wondering out loud at the recognition; and Gon feels relief - realizing his double is honestly and completely unaware about the different universes; and more importantly, about how to travel through them; thankfully.
Gon simply stays silent, having already uncovered what he had needed to know, and unwilling to interact more than necessary with his monstrous dopplegänger.
Gon's double realizes he is not going to get an answer; and now turns his attention onto Yeong, who has just started working on freeing Nam Seon Ho from his restraints. Gon sees the twisted growing interest on his counterpart's features and hot anger snarls low in his guts; but he knows better than to take the bait (in case it is one) and focuses instead on keeping the aim of the gun in his hand steady.
"I have to admit; you trained him well."
Gon's hold on his gun strengthens further; anger welling up yet another level, both at the wretched words (and their evident implications) and at the oozing appreciation.
"He trained himself. And now shut up."
Meanwhile, Yeong is explaining to his shocked and unbelieving twin who still looks at them with utter incomprehension that they are here to get him out; but he is faced with (logical but) dumbfounding resistance.
"No. I cannot leave. You don't understand-"
Gon's double gives a satisfied and defiant snigger, meeting Gon's eyes again:
"But is yours as eager as mine to open his mouth and spread-"
And Gon just *has* to interrupt his counterpart with a forceful kick, knocking the abject man onto his side to the ground:
"You filth! How dare you take from him!"
Yeong is of course right away back at Gon's side.
"He's not worth it, Pyeha," Yeong dismissingly but definitely says; voice quiet but body still tensed and ready to intervene - even though it is not really necessary right now. Gon is still in control enough; and he knows Yeong sees it too, as Yeong gives him a quick nod before getting back to cut through the leather cuffs still holding Nam Seon Ho up by his arms (Yeong didn't find a key on Gon's double nor on the guards outside, and so this is the fastest option).
The thought though that Yeong *would* place himself between them to protect him (in fact), but that other him too, then, is just plain *wrong*. But Gon welcomes the fury: after all, it probably makes the act he's playing just that more convincing. Gon takes a step forward, readjusting his aim and levelling his gun down:
"You owe your life to him. Consider this your only warning."
Then, one of Nam Seon Ho's hands comes free - but he only uses it to try to still Yeong's hand.
"Please. I appreciate the effort; but just go, before it backfires on you both. *I have to stay*."
"I'm sorry," Yeong says - gently, so gently - momentarily stopping his work on Nam Seon Ho's still captive wrist to fully hold his double's gaze in order not only to explain but also to wait for the cruel understanding to settle in. "I'm sorry; but there is nothing - and no one - needing you to stay here anymore."
"What are you- No. *No!*", desperate tears at once covering Nam Seon Ho's face despite the denial.
Gon's double can't help but give one short, dark chuckle; and it seems to be more than sufficient confirmation.
"What have you done!", Nam Seon Ho lashes out with fiery spite, now desperately fighting against his restraints, kicking and obviously willing to throw himself at Gon's dopplegänger's neck; but Yeong quickly stops his squirming and covers his mouth, reminding him he shouldn't shout nor move while Yeong finishes to cut him free.
Another dark chuckle; feeling satisfaction still at Nam Seon Ho's reaction, no matter his own situation.
"Believe it or not; but it's honestly ironic that it truly was an accident."
Nam Seon Ho is now openly sobbing as his second arm comes finally free; and he just sacks down against Yeong, then helplessly lets himself fall to the floor, not letting Yeong catch him. He lets out in a tired, pained sigh:
"It was all for nothing. And now there's nothing left."
Yeong crouches down, eyes boring into Nam Seon Ho's, voice still so gentle:
"You still have *yourself*. And the hardest thing in the world might be to live in it; but be brave. Live." Nam Seon Ho only cries further still, shaking his head and eyes dropping to the ground. "For them." (at least; if you can't for you at the moment). Nam Seon Ho only seems to dig himself even further into the ground; and so Yeong now change tactics and *orders*: "If only to spite him."
That brings Nam Seon Ho's gaze back up somehow; and Yeong pushes his point:
"Do not give him the satisfaction. Not here. Not now. All right?" (And what Yeong means in fact is 'not ever'; but he can't help but feel it might be too soon for it at the moment, so he's working with what he has.)
And there is some fire in Nam Seon Ho's eyes and voice now, as he repeats:
"Not here. Not now."
Yeong nods.
"Yes. Come with us. I guarantee you'll be safe - His Majesty is nothing like that. We'll explain everything and you'll be free to choose your future's path. But right now; just let us get you out of here. Please."
Nam Seon Ho isn't crying anymore - he looks entirely empty and *uncaring*; but he nods absently once, and that is enough for now. Yeong takes his jacket out and swiftly helps a barely cooperative (but not anymore resisting) Nam Seon Ho into it. Then, he takes the offending red top off too, and blindly discards it on the ground.
And Gon pledges, while Yeong retrieves the guard's attire he left by the door:
"We'll be checking on you. So find it in you to become a better king to your people - or suffer the consequences."
Yeong quickly puts the dress shirt and the pants on (on top of the leather pants). The vest is next; and with the comm already on his wrist and in his ear, Yeong looks now still not entirely like himself (he still wears the wig) but *just like any other guard* as he comes back to help Nam Seon Ho up, and that's what counts.
"Ready to help us out?", Yeong leads, and Nam Seon Ho turns at once serious at the request - tears by now dried and full attention on.
"Just a few minutes more. Follow His Majesty in the same way you normally do; that's all you have to do."
"Understood."
Yeong nods; both in acknowledgement and in thanks.
Then, Yeong retakes the red top from the floor; gets back to Gon's side; levels himself down to Gon's doppelganger; and pushes the red top without ceremony into his mouth, in order to keep him from calling out for a while longer after they'd be gone. He gets back up, and finally points his gun once more at Gon's double - taking over the survey duty.
"Get going, Pyeha" Yeong indicates without looking at Gon, his attention now centered on the disgusting man on the ground.
"I'll be back", Gon warns his double one last time - threat more than clear in the cold certainty in his voice.
Gon gives a nod to Nam Seon Ho and Nam Seon Ho nods back; and they are on their way - Gon slowly walking backwards, still ready to back up Yeong if necessary until he'd reach the door, and covering for Nam Seon Ho behind him.
Yeong crouches down, and aims his gun right against Gon's doppelgänger's forehead - voice light but *deadly* in a way Gon has never heard before.
"You made *my King* feel unworthy. And guess what. In my book? That's a death sentence on its own. So, listen to His Majesty's advice; or I promise you: you'll regret not having killed yourself before I get my hands on you when I come back."
With his free hand, Yeong takes out his knife. And he even smiles, unnaturally coldly to Gon's eyes, as he slowly lets it run a menacing course up Gon's counterpart's thigh, until it ends pressing some against his groin.
"This would be the first part to go if you ever misbehave again. I know how to handle a knife."
It's all over though even before Gon has reached the door; and Yeong quickly gets back up and walks backwards to them - aim never leaving his would-be target.
And they go.
.
AN:
First: Sorry if this feels sketchy - writing 'action stuff' is just not my forte. Maybe one day I'll be able to edit this better. (And if anyone in the meantime feels like turning this into Mission Impossible and James Bond worthy stuff, do feel free to do so?)
Then: Look at me, still shamelessly recycling Buffy's quotes and Armand's amulet from The Vampires Chronicles over 20/25 years later (and accessorily even quoting Terminator, lol). I'm thankful though and honestly happy to contain a multi-layered stack of fandoms continually inside me, and I always find extra new space for more in my heart (even if I sometimes feel like I have more often inner conversations with certain cherished characters or long gone historical figures than actual deep conversations with real people around me nowadays - ouch...)
Also: Did I have yet another person beg Nam Seon Ho to just LIVE? Yep. (Now just let me go cry forever in a corner.)
Finally: I *know* Gon can be terrifying. But I still believe Yeong could be even more ruthless - if he ever deemed it necessary. (Which is why I kept it somehow vague, and let you decide for yourself about the fate of this chapter's extras.)
(And as always, thanks for any feedback, it means the Manpasikjeok to me!)