The next morning, the mansion felt strangely quiet, almost too quiet for Joong’s liking. The stillness stretched across the grand halls, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. Joong’s brothers, Pond and Fourth, were still asleep, their exhaustion from the move leaving them too tired to care about the strange luxury surrounding them. Joong, however, was wide awake, his mind racing.
It was only their second day in the Gemini mansion, and already Joong could feel the weight of everything pressing down on him. The mansion was as imposing on the inside as it was on the outside. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they didn’t belong here, that they were intruders in a world they had no right to be part of. The tension from their father's debt hung in the air, and Joong couldn’t ignore the unsettling reality: they were here as pawns, not guests.
As he walked through the corridors, the sounds of soft voices drew his attention to the kitchen area. His eyes caught sight of a tall, slender figure standing by the kitchen island—Dunk. Dunk, the middle son of the Gemini family, was standing alone, leaning against the counter and looking out the window, his expression unreadable.
Joong had only seen Dunk a handful of times, but each encounter had been enough to make him feel like an outsider. Dunk’s coldness radiated from him in waves, making it clear that he wanted nothing to do with them. And yet, they were supposed to protect him. Joong wondered if Dunk even realized the weight of the responsibility placed on their shoulders.
Before Joong could step closer, a voice broke the silence.
“Don’t even try to talk to him,” came a low, smooth voice from behind him.
Joong turned to see Phuwin—Dunk’s older brother—leaning casually against the doorframe, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. Phuwin was always composed, always in control, but today there was something almost mischievous about the way he regarded Joong.
“He doesn’t like people,” Phuwin added, casually brushing a hand through his dark hair. “Especially not people who are here because they owe a debt.”
Joong’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like the way Phuwin phrased it. It made it feel like their presence was nothing more than a burden.
“I’m just trying to get a sense of what’s going on here,” Joong replied, keeping his tone even. “We’re not here to make things difficult. We’re here to do our job. To protect.”
Phuwin chuckled softly, pushing himself off the doorframe. “Protect? Sure. But don’t kid yourself. Dunk doesn’t need anyone’s protection. He’s perfectly fine on his own.” He tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. “But I suppose you have your orders, don’t you?”
Joong didn’t respond, his eyes narrowing slightly. He could feel Phuwin’s eyes on him, testing him, waiting for some kind of reaction. But Joong wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. They had come here to do a job, and they would do it, even if it meant dealing with people like Phuwin.
“Just don’t get too comfortable,” Phuwin added, his tone lighter now. “You’re here to work, not to make friends. Dunk certainly isn’t looking for one.”
Before Joong could reply, the sound of footsteps interrupted the tension in the air. He turned to see Dunk moving across the room, his gaze cold and distant as he glanced at Joong, then at Phuwin. He said nothing, just walked past them with that same air of indifference, his presence making Joong’s skin crawl with discomfort.
“See what I mean?” Phuwin’s voice was quieter now, almost a whisper. “He’s a hard nut to crack. And trust me, you’re not going to make him change his mind about anything.”
Joong’s jaw clenched, and he nodded curtly. “I’m not here to change him. Just here to do my job.”
Phuwin laughed, a light, almost mocking sound. “Good luck with that. Dunk doesn’t let anyone get close. And if you think that protecting him is going to make you part of this family, well... let’s just say you're going to be disappointed.”
Before Joong could reply, Phuwin sauntered off, leaving him standing there, feeling like a fool.
---
Later that afternoon, after a quiet and tense breakfast, Joong and his brothers were left to their own devices. They were still getting accustomed to the massive house, its rooms and halls that seemed endless. Pond and Fourth were exploring the backyard, chatting about school, while Joong stood by the large windows, looking out at the sprawling estate beyond.
He tried to keep his thoughts focused on the task at hand, but it was difficult. The mansion felt like a trap, and Joong couldn’t help but feel like they were all pieces on a chessboard, waiting for someone to make the next move.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he found Fourth standing there, his arms crossed, a slight smirk on his face.
“You seem lost in thought,” Fourth commented, leaning against the wall. “Worried about something?”
Joong exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I just... something doesn’t feel right. We’re here because of Dad’s debt, and yet it’s like we’re not even here on our own terms. Dunk and his brothers... they don’t care about us. They don’t even seem to care that we’re here to protect them.”
Fourth shrugged, clearly unfazed. “Maybe they don’t need protecting. Maybe they’re used to getting whatever they want. But that’s not our problem. We just have to do what we’re told.”
Joong sighed, his gaze drifting back out the window. “I know. But what if... what if something goes wrong? What if we’re in over our heads?”
Fourth didn’t respond immediately. He just watched Joong, his usual playful demeanor gone for the moment. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter now.
“We do our job. We keep our heads down and do what we have to do. That’s all we can do. Just make sure we don’t get caught up in their world.”
Joong nodded, but the uneasy feeling in his stomach didn’t go away. Something was off, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he and his brothers were about to find themselves in the middle of a situation they couldn’t escape from.
The Gemini mansion was more than just a house—it was a fortress, one that held secrets Joong was starting to sense. And as much as he wanted to stay out of it, he had a feeling that those secrets were going to pull him in whether he was ready or not.
YOU ARE READING
Shadows
Fanfiction(P.s this is Dunkjoong, fourthgemini and Phuwinpond) In this story, Joong and his brothers-Pond and Fourth-work as servants and protectors for Dunk and his brothers, Phuwin and Gemini, as part of their father's debt to the wealthy family. Despite th...
