"Remember, you have to buy something!"

Hongjoong had told him the exact same thing over and over again. He had told him the night before and again the in the morning even before greeting him good morning. San didn't have any peace even during the drive to the building where the auction took place. So he couldn't help but roll his eyes to Hongjoong when the older whispered the same words once again against his ear. They had started arguing the day the auction was announced and apparently it wouldn't have stopped unless San bought something from the damn golden fair. The ceremony only took place once every few months but still for San it was a pain in the ass. He really couldn't understand the meaning of it. They had enough jewels, sofisticated weapons, gold, whatever they could wish for to live happily for the rest of their lives. What was the point of buying more and more stuff like that?

As always, it felt like Hongjoong could read his thoughts because even before San could open his mouth he was already saying: "I know you're busy and that you wish you were somewhere else, but we have to attend this. Your family is one of the most important in the Seoul underworld. Your father can't attend and you know it, so I beg you be wise enough and behave!" San just huffed annoyed, "Buy something that will make you look powerful all right? And then we leave, I promise" concluded Hongjoong handing to San a white fan with a red string attached.

"Just raise this to make your offer, I'm sure there will be a damn object that will catch your attention. And don't give me that look for fuck sake, San-ah"

"Fine!" he just answered crossing his arms and pouting as much as he could.

He knew Hongjoong had a point so he didn't fight back and just waited. Soon the lights went off and the crowd went silent. San was about to get used to the darkness when a bright spotlight enlightened a section of the stage in front of him. A tall young man was standing there, smiling to his public. The light blue microphone in his hand slowly rising to his lips before he spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know you're impatient to start so I won't let you wait much longer. I hope you're ready to raise your hands for the amazing prices we're offering tonight. So let's start with the first one" he paused and made a gesture towards the section of the stage still lingering in the dark, it didn't take long before a young woman dressed in an eleborate gown adorned with ribbons and pearls appeared in front of the crowd. The host held her by the waist before he spoke again.

"So beautiful, isn't it? The only one of its kind since it's the only example of the collection. No other dresses like this were made. The luxury of the Renaissance style mixed with a touch of vintage. As you can see the gown was sewed in a very –"

"What do you think of this one?" asked Hongjoong catching San attention, "I'm sure we can get it if you like it"

San raised his eyebrow, "And what use can we make of a woman dress? Unless you have a kink that I didn't know of and you want to buy it for Seonghwa-hyung" he teased.

Hongjoong face became bright red before he lightly slapped San's head, "Pretend I didn't say anything!" he growled behind his teeth looking back at the stage.

The dress was quickly sold for a few millions and the auction went on. Many items came on stage, starting from jewels, technology pieces that San couldn't even understand, paintings, expensive guns and so on. But nothing really caught his attention and Hongjoong was getting every minute more pissed repeating that they couldn't leave with empty hands. San was about to start over with their fight when the host spoke again, his voice wasn't as loud as before, but there was a tense vibration hiding behind his words that got San's attention.

"And now brace yourself for the most precious jewel of this auction. Oh, I'm sure that also those of you who had attented more of these events will be surprised. We don't usually sell this kind of items. Well, there's not much to describe here, I'm too excited to show you so... Bring him in!" he shouted.

A loud gasp raised from the crowd when the so called item walked with his own two feet under the spotlight guided by another tall man. And for the first time during that night the auction had San complete attention too. On the stage, barely wearing any clothes there was a boy. He looked so small compared to the host and the other man, even smaller with the scared look he had. His eyes were hidden behind a blindfold but it was so clear that he was terrified from the way he was moving his head from the left to the right, his lips that normally would look soft and full were tense in a thin line. San felt his heart sink to that view. The boy, who was probably the same age as San, was naked except for a pair of dirty ripped shorts that were hiding his privates. His wrists and ankles locked in melat chains that were clinging at his every move. The host had started speaking again but San couldn't hear a single word, too caught staring at the boy. The other man moved, his hands flying to the back of the boy's head, touching his dark locks and untying the blindfold. San felt his heart skip a bit when his eyes locked with those of the scared boy standing right in front of him. It lasted just a few seconds before the smaller's gaze moved away, looking around even more frightened than before.

It happened all too fast, San didn't even realise what he was doing. He just knew that he heard the host shouting a number and automatically his hand along with the white fan were up, stretching above the croud.

"Fifty millions for this nice sir in the first row, very nice of you. Somebody wants to offer more? Sixty millions?"

"One hundred!" a deep voice interrupted the host and San turned to see who was his competitor.

He felt his breath getting stuck in his throat as his eyes locked with the other man's. Between so many people of course it had to be him. The Im family was the most powerful between them. Everybody knew their brutality and tried their best to not get in their way. San shifted uneasily on his chair, his eyes moving to the stage once again: the boy's head was low, San couldn't see his eyes but he felt his heart clench in his chest. The boy wouldn't have survived a day with the Im family.

"One hundred millions for Im Changkyun-shi. Can we go higher? Anyone offering –"

"Two hundred" San shouted even before the host could finish, raising the white fan once again. He could feel Hongjoong eyes on him.

"San-ah!" Hongjoong whispered-yelled elbowing him to catch his attention, but it was useless since the other's eyes were once again locked with those of Changkyun in a silent challenge.

"Two hundred! Wow! Anybody offers more? Two hundred and one, two hundred and two –"

"Seven hundred millions!" Changkyun sounded resolute as he smirked towards San.

In the meanwhile the scared boy on stage kept looking at his feet, too scared to move, he was still trying to process what was going on when he heard the second man offering such a huge amount of money for him. So this is my new owner, he thought when the offer was made and he tried to be ready for what was coming next. The host had started counting down when the voice of the handsome boy sitting on the first row resounded loud once again.

"Five billion won!"

The boy on the stage couldn't help but raise his head and gasp as one hand hit him hard on the back of his head to shut him up, but he wasn't the only shocked person between the crowd.

Changkyun fell silent, his mouth tense in a thin line as he kept staring at San with raging eyes. In the meanwhile Hongjoong had stood from his seat, his mouth open, unable to say a thing as his hands flew to his own hair tugging at them.

"SOLD!" called the host after the count-down finished, "I'm sure he won't disappoint you, sir! Your money were well founded" San smiled and stood up, glancing at the scared - and now shocked - boy on stage, they made eye contact one last time before he disappeared in the dark once again.

A few minutes had passed when Hongjoong could speak again, regaining himself from the shock, "What the fuck, San-ah! Please tell me that this is just a bad, bad dream and that you really haven't spent five fucking billions for a – for fuck sake! I can't even say it out loud! You bought a fucking sex slave! What the hell's wrong with you?" San listened silently as they walked to a small room on the back of the building.

"Hyung, I need you to breathe. Relax, I have no bad intentions. I didn't buy him for that! You know I'm not that kind of person, actually I'm a bit offended that you think so low of me"

"Offended? You just spent five fucking billions of our money and you think you have the privilege of feeling offended?"

"Yah! Come on! It's just money!" San stopped and knocked at the door.

"It's-it's just... No you didn't... It's just money? Five billions, San-ah! Why did you do that?"

"You told me to buy something to show off and I did!"

"Oh, no no no! You're not blaming this on me you little –"

In that moment the door of the back room opened and the host smiled at San and Hongjoong (that was about to beat the shit out of the younger) inviting them in. In the dim light San immediately recognized the scared boy, standing in a corner of the room, still poorly dressed. The tall man was still at his side a long chain that connected with a collar around the boy's neck was wrapped around his fist.

"Here's your price sir, you're allowed to check him from a closer distance but I assure you he's perfectly healthy. We had him checked and he's clean. He's not a virgin, but he's been just with his previous owner and his grandson here can assure you about that" the host made a brief pause to give the other man the chance to nod in agreement, "do you have any questions or can we proceed with the payment and documentation?"

San looked at the boy without getting too close to not scare him, the smaller one never met his gaze, his head low, his body shaking slightly, San turned back to the host before he spoke, "What's his name?" he asked.

The host raised an eyebrow and shifted his weight from one leg to the other glancing at the tall man standing behind him, "Well, he's a slave so we didn't really ask for his name, you can just call him whatever you want, he won't complain, right boy?" he kicked the boy's shin who just nodded, his lower lip bitten so strongly under his teeth that San was scared he would started bleeding.

San couldn't help it as he moved closer, his hand flying to the boy's chin lifting his head up, their eyes met and San felt his heart break a little seeing how teary they were, "What's your name?" he asked gentily. The boy just started shaking harder and San immediately removed his hand taking a step back.

"Your master just asked you a question little bitch!" barked the tall man pulling at the chain and making the boy stumble on his feet.

"Please!" San caught the boy before he fell, helping him up once again and unlocking the collar around his neck, "This is not necessaire anymore" he said handing the metal object to the tall man who was staring, mouth agape, "I mean you no harm, okay? I just wish I knew your name so I know how to address you, hm?" he talked to the boy once again trying to look and sound as calm as possible.

"I-I'm Wooyoung, master. But you can call me w-whatever you want" his voice was little and shaky, just like his body and San felt the need to hug him tight, to make him feel that he was safe, that he didn't have bad intentions, but all he did was nodding.

"Can I sign you a check?" asked San facing the host once again. He smiled in response and handed him a pen. Soon the deal was done and San, Hongjoong and Wooyoung were walking back to San's car.

The air outside was chilly and as soon as they stepped outside San quickly removed his jacket to put it on Wooyoung's bare shoulders who shuddered in response. They had no time to exchange any words cause as soon as San's mouth opened to speak Hongjoong voice resounded between them, "If you weren't responsible for my salary I would have killed you alredy! How am I gonna do what I need to do now that we've lost all those money, huh?"

"We haven't lost anything Joong-hyung, we invested them!" he said as he turned to look at Wooyoung who quickly lowered his head avoinding any further eye contact.

"Invested, he says - don't make me laugh!" he fished the car key from his pocket, he clicked a button and unlocked a Rolls-Roys parked nearby. Wooyoung's jaw dropped: sure his previous owner was rich but he never saw such a fancy, expensive car in his life. Hongjoong opened the back door for him while him and San sat at the front as they kept fighting.

Aren't they going to lock the doors? thought Wooyoung as he kept looking at the two men sitting at the front, They didn't even handcuffed me. Aren't they afraid I could just run away? He looked outside of the window. They weren't driving too fast and green fields were enlightened by the car headlights as they passes by. If I jump now I won't get badly hurt. I could just... his hand moved unconsciously to the car handle, but it suddenly stopped before he could pull it. And then what? I jump, and then what? Wooyoung didn't have a safe place where he could go, he didn't know anyone anymore, he didn't have anyone on his side. He was alone. If I run away and they catch me, he gulped at the thought, They look like nice people, but who knows what they can do to me if I try to disobey. His nephew looked gentle too before he–

He shivered and quickly shook his head. He wasn't going back to those bad memories. The old master was dead. He turned his head to look back at the two boys sitting in front of him, they were still fighting and they went on with the argument til they reached the city. They kept driving til they arrived in a quieter area of Seoul, the tall buildings soon switching to huge maisons and villas with green gardens, some of them had tall walls protecting them. The car reached a huge golden gate which lead to a park, Wooyoung could read the initials CJ on it before it opened giving them access to a narrow road that winded through the green, well-kept field. The man called Hongjoong kept driving for a good five minutes, the road was going up a tidy hill, it was dark until it wasn't anymore. All of a sudden, after the umpteenth curve the never ending park became so bright that Wooyoung had to close his eyes. The lights were coming from the biggest house he had ever seen in his life. Sure he hadn't seen many but that one, he could tell, it was huge! He didn't even realise the Rolls-Royce had stopped when Hongjoong told him to exit the car opening the car door for him. He was about to thank him when a high pitched voice coming from behind Hingjoong's back interrupted him.

"I can't believe you're back so late!" a tall handsome man with light pink hair was angrily walking towards them looking at Hongjoong with scarring eyes, "The dinner is too cold to even be edible by now, I knew I didn't have to-huh?" he abruptly stopped when he noticed Wooyoung climbing down the Rolls-Royce, "What the– Hongjoong-ah, what is–"

But Hongjoong didn't even let him finish: "Don't ask me a thing! I'm so done! Talk to Mr. I've Got The Money, here. I'm going to sleep, just show him his bedroom please" and with one last grunt he just turned his back and walked away, inside the huge house.

The pink hair man was left speechless in front of Wooyoung who didn't dare say a thing, too scared to even try. Luckily San took the lead and started explain the situation to the handsome man, "So, he's going to stay with us from now on. Please give him something to wear, and show him where the bathroom is. Actually, just give him the bedroom next to mine, it has a private bathroom inside and we don't make much use of it, it's going to be easier" he stopped and looked at Wooyoung with a serious face. The younger boy's head was low, it probably was a habit. San gently put a finger under Wooyoung's chin, who still shivered in surprise, letting him rise his gaze til it fixed to Seonghwa, "His name is Wooyoung. Wooyoung, Seonghwa-hyung will show you around, go to him if you will need anything, okay?"

"Yes, master!" Wooyoung's voice came out feeble but it seemed enough to San who just nodded and left the two boys alone. Wooyoung spoke again, "Thank you for having me, Seonghwa-shi. I promise I won't be a bother to you" he said before he bent in respect.

Seonghwa couldn't help but chuckle at that behaviour but he quickly lowered his body too so that his face was at the same level of Wooyoung's, "It's actually nice to finally have someone mannered but you don't need to be so formal with me, okay darling?" he stroke his black hair softly and the action made Wooyoung timidly raise his head, "Call me 'hyung', that's more than enough!"

"Thank you, hyung!" a shy smile made a short appearance on the younger's face before it was swept away by a sneeze.

"Oh my god! You're freezing! Let's get inside, I'll prepare a hot drink for you , do you like hot chocolate? Of course you like it, nobody sane of mind would disagree. Okay, I'll get you a hot chocolate" he kept talking, flooding Wooyoung with words as they walked inside the mansion.

Wooyoung wouldn’t answer even if he wanted to, he was too caught up looking around while they walked from a room to another. He couldn't help a gasp to leave his mouth as Seonghwa opened yet another door and switched on a light: in front of them there was the cutest room Wooyoung had ever seen. Everything was white, from the walls of a creamy nuance, to the soft curtains hanging from the huge window wall, to the fluffy bed sheets covering the double size bed. Wooyoung walked inside, caressing the many plushies sitting at the end of the bed and on the high shelves of the room. One in particular got his attention: it was a puffy brown dog with small ears and tale, he took it in his hands squeezing it even so slightly.

"That's Shiber, please be gentle with him or I will probably get fired" Seonghwa's voice caught Wooyoung by surprise who quickly put Shiber back to its place.

"I'm sorry! I wont' touch it ever again!" he bend in a deep bow.

"Huh? Oh no, that's not what I meant, feel free to touch and use everything you see in this room, it's going to be your bedroom from now on. Just be careful with Shiber, it's San's favourite but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you decide to play or sleep with it" Seonghwa smile was so warming that Wooyoung immediatly felt better, "The bathroom is behind that door, feel free to take a hot shower, I'll come back with that hot chocolate and clean clothes for you, okay?"

Wooyoung just nodded, thing that made Seonghwa's smile become even brighter. When the pink hair boy left Wooyoung walked to the door which was supposed to lead to the bathroom: needless to say that also that room left him speechless. He locked the door behind him and quickly got undressed completely avoiding to look at the huge mirror placed behind the sink, when he was done he turned the hot water on and waited for it to warm up before he stepped inside the walk in shower. The warm cascade felt incredibly good on his skin. He wasn't used to have such comfrtable showers anymore and if that was all just a dream he was determined to make the best of it. So when he finally walked out the skin on his fingertips was completely wrinkeled and the glass of the mirror fogged with steam, hiding Wooyoung's reflexion. When he walked back to the room he found a cup of hot chocolate on the bedside table and a black pajamas tidily folded on the bed. There was a piece of paper on top. Wooyoung looked at it curiously, it was hand written and he guessed it was from Seonghwa.

I hope the size is okay, it's one of Hongjoong's pjs, please don't tell him! We will buy new clothes for you tomorrow. If you need me you can find my room on the upper floor, just take the stairs on the left side at the end of the corridor, my door is the third on the right. Find me for anything at any time of day or night, I'm always here. Have a good sleep, Wooyoungie. Goodnight and welcome to your new house! - Seonghwa

"My new house..." Wooyoung repeated the words out loud, "Don't get your hopes too high, tomorrow will be just like any other day of your miserable life, Wooyoung-ah. New house, new master, new pajamas, it doesn't really matter, does it?" he asked himself. He shook his head and sighting he climbed on top of the super comfortable mattress. Tomorrow would come, but at least he could have a good night of sleep, he thought as he closed his eyes and let his mind drift away.