black shield * jeonghan x seungcheol

20

The three men piled into Jisoo's SUV to head out to the photo shoot. It was for photos for the upcoming comeback and Jisoo was hoping to release one later that day. It was time, he said, to start building the hype. Everyone was talking about Jeonghan's new hair. Time to rip that band aid off and just deal with the fallout. Jisoo was hoping that with the media release about Seuncheol being the bodyguard, not the boyfriend, and a photo of Jeonghan's new hair then fan hype would be up and media interest would peak even more. Jisoo drove while the two in the back sat in silence. The mood was strange and no one knew how to break it.

Until Jeonghan began whining for coffee. Jisoo pulled over when he saw a coffee shop. "I'll go in," he said. He didn't want photos of Seuncheol being taken today. He didn't want to scare the bodyguard and didn't know how to break it to him that the media had been very interested in him and his backstory.

As soon as Jisoo was gone the two began to talk. "Did you mean that?" Jeonghan asked quietly. "You know, about being me." Seungcheol nodded. "Yes. All this shit about being this perfect flawless angel. It's not the Jeonghan I'm getting to know." Seungcheol smiled at him and Jeonghan smiled back. "I want to change my image. You're right – if I can't beat Seungkwan at being sweet and adorable then I'm going to change it up, and Jisoo is going to be really mad." Jeonghan's eyes sparkled with mischief and Seungcheol nodded. This was the Jeonghan he was getting to know. He wasn't some flawless untouchable angel. He was messy, savage, whiny and immature. But he was also smart, talented, dedicated and professional.

"Do what you want Jeonghan. You're at the top. Now is the time to show the public who you really are." Seungcheol didn't know why he said that. It was probably terrible advice and he was definitely no industry expert. But he did know the value of being truthful and authentic and he could see that Jeonghan was trying desperately to break free. He could see Jeonghan was trying to grow up.

"What are you guys talking about?" Jisoo asked as he climbed back into the car with his hands full of drinks. "Nothing really," Jeonghan said with a cute smile as he took the two hazelnut frappes and handed one to Seungcheol.

They arrived at the location. It was a huge house set in a luxury neighbourhood and somehow a few fansites had managed to already scope out the location. Seungcheol sighed as they pulled up and he saw there was no way to get Jeonghan out of the car without walking past the small gathered crowd. He could see Jeonghan's fingers trembling and he knew, despite the front the man liked to put up, he was scared. "Park here, lock the doors, and no one gets out until I come back." The other two men nodded without questions and Seungcheol got out of the car.

The small crowd gathered let out a collective squeal of excitement as they saw Seungcheol walking towards them. A few called out to him by name and he ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Right. Everyone listen to me," he said sternly to the gathered crowd. He heard a camera snapping and frowned when he realised they were taking his photo. "Jeonghan is going to get out and walk past you. If you all behave he will wave and smile. If you don't ill drag him so fast past you all that you won't get a single photo. Got it?" a murmur went up among the crowd. Seungcheol walked over to them and dragged his foot across the gravel. "No one past this line." He stared down the crowd of masked faces and huge lenses and no one argued with him.

"You'll be fine." Seungcheol opened the car door and held his hand out. When he saw the outstretched hand Jeonghan immediately calmed and reached for it. Seuncheol took him by the hand and put his arm around him protectively. "You walk this side," he said as he moved to put himself between the crowd and Jeonghan, "we'll stop and you can wave to them as long as they behave. Okay?" Jeonghan nodded and they began to walk towards the gathered crowd. A murmur went up at the sight of the rail thin singer but no one moved any closer. Jeonghan took a deep breath and tossed a wave to the crowd making them squeal in delight. "Move.." Seuncheol whispered to Jeonghan and put his arm behind his back as he guided him inside the property.

Once inside he turned to Jisoo. "There's no consideration at all here for safety. Who chose this site?" "I did." Minghao appeared from an adjoining room dragging a rack of clothing. "Next time let me know in advance so I can check the place out okay? I had absolutely no contingency for arriving here and having to walk Jeonghan past that crowd." Seungcheol was an even tempered man which served him well in his chosen career. But nothing irritated him more than being unprepared.

Minghao just shrugged and grabbed Jeonghan in a huge hug. He pulled the beanie off his head and ruffled the white blond hair. "Still looks good baby.." he smiled at the work of the talented hairdresser who had achieved his vision. "Let's get into hair and makeup."

Jisoo wandered off to set up his laptop. Seungcheol didn't know what to do. The kitten had been left at home and he was left without someone to babysit. He wandered the house a little, checking out the yard and the fence line, making sure it was secure. He didn't find anything so returned to the house to hear raised voices coming from one of the rooms.

He walked in to find Jeonghan and Jisoo yelling at each other. Jeonghan was shirtless and had a hold of a piece of sheer black fabric. Jisoo had a hold of the other end of it and was trying his best to get Jeonghan to hand it over. Minghao was casually leaning on a wall enjoying the impromptu drama and Seungcheol sighed heavily as he walked in to intervene.

"What the fuck is going on?" The unexpected curse was enough to snap both men out of it. "I want to wear this!" Jeonghan held up the sliver of sheer black fabric and Jisoo shook his head. "No way." He turned to Minghao still leaning against the wall. "Why did you even bring it?" "Because he'd look amazing in it." Minghao grinned mischeviously. "Jisoo wants him to wear this." He held up a plain white button down shirt and Seungcheol burst out laughing. "You're fighting over clothes?"

"You can't wear this!" Jisoo yelled in frustration. "Everyone will see your nipples!" "Maybe I want them to see my nipples!" Jeonghan grabbed the thing he alleged was a shirt and tossed it over his head. "Put more eyeliner on me!" he yelled at the makeup artist who scurried in quickly with a thick pencil. Minghao grinned in delight and Jisoo sighed in exasperation.

"I'm sick of everyone thinking I'm some innocent angel," Jeonghan said as he took his jeans off and began to wriggle into a tight pair of leather pants. "I want people to think I'm hot." He zipped the pants and checked his reflection in a big mirror, turning side on, ruffling his hair even messier.

"Do I look hot?" he asked and the three men staring at him all nodded.

The photographer walked in to let them know they were all set up outside by the pool ready to shoot. Jisoo had planned shots by the pool and in the beautiful gardens, he had bunches of daisies and handmade flower crowns, plenty of sun and white and beauty.

"Nope." Jeonghan pushed past them and began to walk around the house. He opened door after door before finally finding what he wanted. A huge well lit bedroom with a king size bed. The bed was covered in white bedding and was surrounded by an elaborate voile net.

"We're shooting in here...." he called out. The photographer walked in and moved the curtains around a little but nodded his agreement.

"Out!" Jeonghan yelled when the others walked in. "Not you!" He pointed at Seungcheol. "You stay. Everyone else leave."