When Hanseo was in his final year of high school, his father delivered some shocking news: Hanseok was going abroad for a while. At first, he couldn't believe it. After years of oppression and countless nights of feeling rough hands roaming his skin, he was finally going to be free. What was the last straw that forced his father into making such a decision? Was it the string of murders Hanseok committed? Was it the unlabeled poison in the pantry? Was it the unfiltered moans at night? Whatever it was, Hanseo was beyond pleased to escape his bondage, even for just a little while.
His happiness quickly turned into tolerance for his monster of a brother. "Where are you going to live, hyung-nim?" he remembered asking a week before the monster's departure.
"New York," Hanseok replied. His answer was terse and simple, and his eyes were fixated on a Roman painting hanging on their living room wall.
"I hear New York is famous for their pizza and hotdogs. You like American food, right, hyung-nim? Aren't you excited to go?"
"I suppose."
If Hanseo didn't know better, he'd think his brother sounded defeated. However, Hanseok was not one to submit to his punishments or listen to authority. There was nothing and no one who could break his violent spirit.
"I won't be gone for long," the monster finally said with full confidence. "I'll be back before you start college."
"B-but Father said—"
"It doesn't matter what Dad says. I can't possibly leave my little brother by himself, can I?"
Sure enough, Hanseok kept his promise. Before Hanseo could even enjoy his newfound freedom, his father was murdered and he became a puppet chairman. Once again, it was a mistake to have thought he could ever escape his brother's grasp.
---
Hanseo groaned as he opened his eyes. The last thing he remembered was collapsing on a glass table, but now he was lying on a concrete floor. His back ached. The room, at least from his perspective, was tall, wide, and frigid. A warehouse? It sure seemed like an abandoned warehouse. Where Hanseok finds such things, he'll never know. Was his brother really about to murder him in the middle of nowhere? He supposed Hanseok wasn't above that.
"You're finally awake, little brother," a threatening voice uttered from the shadows.
A cold chill ran down Hanseo's spine as he attempted to sit up. His body was telling him to run away, but he quickly realized that his wrists were tied together behind his back. His ankles were also bound together but by a legcuff that was attached to a longer chain, which was fixed to the wall.
"Trying to run away again?" Hanseok asked though he already knew the answer. "Too bad it's going to be impossible this time."
In the back of Hanseo's mind, he knew that in order to reduce his punishment, he'd have to shamelessly beg for his life. However, the tip of his tongue could not forge such words. This routine had become too tiring. He was sick of uttering pleas that would inevitably fall on deaf ears.
"You're awfully quiet," the monster began to taunt.
"I don't have anything to say to you," Hanseo responded, surprised at his own nonchalant tone. This was possibly the first time he had ever talked back to the older man. It felt strange but oddly gratifying.
Hanseok snickered. "What're you playing at, little brother? Do you think I'll spare you this time after you—"
"I don't care."
"What?"
"I already know you'll kill me, so just get it over with."
There was a moment of silence as Hanseo tried to read his brother's face. The monster seemed reasonably baffled at his calm yet daring demeanor. He supposed anyone would be surprised seeing their obedient pet bark back. Hanseo felt as if the promise of death was rapidly eating away at his sanity. He was surely going to die. He had nothing left to lose.
"It seems like you're suicidal again," his brother mumbled. "Maybe I should cut your wrist again and teach you a lesson."
Hanseo nearly flinched at the threat, but he willed his body to remain calm. He had figured this day would come sooner or later. Hanseok had shot him before and tormented him all his life. What's to stop the monster from brutally torturing and killing him? Hanseo hated how unfair life was. If he had been miserable from the moment of his conception to the moment of his death, that would've been one thing. However, he was finally gaining control of his life again. He was finally independent of his brother for once. Why did God have to cut short his happiness and toss him back into the depths of despair?
"What're you thinking about, Hanseo? Don't tell me you're secretly hoping that mafia bastard will come and save you?" The monster broke out into a bout of laughter.
"Have you always been this talkative, hyung?" Hanseo asked dryly. "Aren't you supposed to hit me by now?"
Hanseok furrowed his brows at the comment. "You seem to have forgotten your place, brother."
"Brother? When did you ever treat me like one?" Anger suddenly flared within Hanseo's chest. "What kind of older brother beds his younger brother?" he yelled. A hand quickly came down on his face, silencing him.
"You ungrateful bitch!" the monster screamed. "You dare to talk back to me after all I've done for you? Don't forget who made you, Hanseo. It was me, not that fucking mafia bastard."
"Don't call him that—" Another slap landed on his cheeks. Hanseo winced at the throbbing pain, but he refused to back down.
"You fucking idiot. Do you think Vincenzo actually cares about you? Are you truly that stupid, Hanseo? He's just using you to get to me, and you're falling right into his trap!"
Hanseo chuckled. "He's not you, hyung."
If looks could kill, Hanseo was sure that he'd have already died. He knew he was pushing his brother's buttons, and he also knew that Hanseok had no tolerance for such things. Even so, he couldn't stop his unfiltered thoughts. The anger that he could never express over the years had piled up without his knowing, and now, it was all being released at once. After all, when is a better time to let it all out than near his death?
"I was going to be merciful," Hanseok said, gritting his teeth, "but it seems like you don't want it."
"When were you ever merciful, hyung?" Hanseo began to laugh as he watched the monster fume. It was a hilarious sight. His brother must be expecting him to cower and beg, but he wasn't going to do that. All his life, he had tried to placate the older man. He tried every possible way to please him, to make him proud. He had done terrible things against his conscience just hoping to hear a measly "good job." All he ever wanted was a brother, a kind, loving brother, and all he ever got was a man who reveled in his misery. He wasn't going to beg for his life anymore.
"You really have a death wish," Hanseok mumbled as he kneeled down to the younger boy's level. "You think I'm fucking around, bitch?" His hands gripped the boy's hair, pulling it up until they were face to face. His brother had on a stupid smile, and it was infuriating. After all this time of molding the boy into the perfect puppet, Vincenzo just had to show up from nowhere and reverse his progress. He hated how his little brother no longer cowered, how he no longer whimpered and cried. There was no fear in his eyes. None. Hanseok hated it. Hanseo belonged to him, not Vincenzo or anyone else. Hanseo was his to control, his to abuse, not to praise. He was his property.
Hanseok threw his brother back on the floor before pulling out a switchblade. He had to remind the boy who he belonged to. He had to show Vincenzo whose property he was messing with. Smiling, Hanseok unbuttoned his puppet's dress shirt, revealing his beautiful pale skin. Mine. He's mine. The words repeated endlessly in his head as he etched his name onto the boy's skin. His brother's screams of agony were music to his ear. The stubborn expression the boy wore finally faded. His puppet was crying pitifully under him.
When he finished, Hanseok realized his brother had already passed out. The pain must've been too much for his little puppet. Good. Hanseo should've known better than to betray him. The boy should've known better than to talk back. Hanseok sighed as he wiped his forehead and bloodied hands with a handkerchief. He then stared back at his masterpiece. Indeed, his brother looked the loveliest when he's in despair. The boy's body was bare and bleeding, and the word "Hanseok" covered every inch of his porcelain skin besides his face. He looked absolutely stunning, especially with the tears that coated his lashes.
Hanseok couldn't help but admire his brother's figure for a little too long. The sight was expectedly arousing. However, as much as he wanted to put the boy's body to use, he had a company to attend to and a mafia bastard to kill. That's right, the best way to break his brother would be to show him the severed head of the man he loves.
"You're mine, Hanseo. Don't forget that. Mine."