REWRITING!!!!!! PROMISE (Ateez/seongjoong fic)

Chapter 2: If We Are Together

Everyone had arrived by midday. Some rode in by train because they lived in cities too far to walk there now. Others had to get off of work early, and drive to The Warehouse to meet with the group.

Once the last, Mingi, had arrived, they all congregated to the area with the most seating. Two old love seats and some beaten up bean bag chairs. Seonghwa, who was the first to arrive after the message was sent, sat comfortably on one of the loveseats with Hongjoong. Wooyoung had placed himself on the floor in between Hongjoong and Seonghwa's legs. San and Yunho sat on the other loveseat. Jongho, Mingi, and Yeosang sat in 3 of the 4 open beanbag chairs.

There was mild chatter in the group. Casual 'how was your day?''s and 'what have you been up to''s. That was until Hongjoong, who had been relatively quiet until then, cleared his throat loudly. Gaining everyones attention quickly.

Hongjoong leaned forward from his place on the loveseat and folded his hands together tightly, turning his knuckles white. Seonghwa noticed this. He mirrored him by leaning forward, too, and began rubbing small circles on Hongjoongs upper leg to show he had his friends back.

Hongjoong turned and gave Seongjwa a quick, faint smile before returning to the group.

"So," Hongjoong began, pausing for an unintentionally dramatic affect, "Something happened last night."

Tension began to form, and so did furrowed brows. No one liked the troubled look their captain had on his face.

Jongho piped up from his spot in the room and stated, "Dude, whatever it is you know we are with you 100%."

Hongjoong let out and uneasy chuckle before speaking again.

"It's crazy to say out loud. It's just that I-"

"What? That you're gay? We all know. We were just waiting on you to tell us" San cut in, earning him an elbow in the ribs from Yunho, and a kick on the leg from Wooyoung while everyone else nodded.

"What? No. That's not- I mean yeah, but that definitely not what I was going to say," blood rushed to Hongjoongs face as a nervous smile pulled at the corners of his lips. Seonghwa chuckled beside him.

"Okay, well what is it then?" Yeosang questioned, ready to move on from the years-old information.

"Someone came here last night. He looked exactly like me, but, like, cooler and more emo than I am," Hongjoong finally spat out.

"Okay, so you have a secret twin. It happens to the best of us, man," Jongho chimed, which Wooyoung snorted at, already knowing what was happening. Everyone sent him and Hongjoong confused looks.

"I mean, maybe? I don't think so. He came through a portal and gave me this wierd hourglass thing he called a Cromer," Hongjoong prattled.

"Shit, Hongjoong did you eat my last brownie?" Mingi jeered. Preparing for the slim chance that Hongjoong said yes he did, and he'd egg him on to bake Mingi a whole new batch.

"No, Mingi. You know I hate the hangover from weed. We established that much in highschool," Hongjoong playfully rolled his eyes. Enjoying the lighter mood everyone else had, rather than revelling in the pit settling in his stomach.

"Well if you weren't high off your ass, and you don't have a secret twin, then what the hell was it?" Mingi prodded, squinting at his friend.

"Well that's what I've been trying to tell you all for the last 10 minutes, but y'all won't shut up!" Hongjoong quipped, throwing his hands up in fake surrender.

Everyone chuckled for a moment at Hongjoongs response before he spoke again. "No, but seriously guys, shut up this is important and could change our lives forever." Hongjoong deadpanned. At that the room was silent again. Finally.

Hongjoong ran through everything he had told Wooyoung earlier with everyone else.

                                ☆

"How does it work? Did he tell you?" Seonghwa questioned, pointing at the Cromer that was now in Hongjoong's lap, rightside up.

"No," he lied, "He said that I needed to learn on my own."

He hated it. Lying. But with how little information they had about the Cromer, Hongjoong decided it might be best to do what the lookalike said.

"So a mysterious guy who looked suspiciously like you came out of a portal, said wierd ominous stuff, gave you a trippy hourglass that made you pass out and dipped? And you think we should just use it?" Yunho asked. Trying to reason against impulsiveness.

"That's precisely what I'm asking, Yunho. I don't want to do anything with the Cromer unless everyone is on board with it," Hongjoong stated.

"I mean, I'm down to try anything. There's nothing left for me here anyway," San shrugged into his words.

"Yeah, and you know I'll follow you anywhere, Cap'" Seonghwa stopped rubbing the subconscious circles on his friends leg, and placed Hongjoongs hand in his.

Yeosang, Wooyoung, and Jongho nodded in agreement.

"I'm not sure about the whole anywhere deal, but this place blows. You guys are what I've got left so lets do it," Mingi added.

All eyes fell to Yunho. Who had yet to agree or disagree with going along.

"Screw it," Yunho said, raising his arms adding emphasis to his words, "So long as we are together, I suppose it will be okay."

"So, we are really doing this."

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WORD COUNT: 885

A/N: It's starting to get real up in this piece! I'm gonna update more frequently now cuz I'm on summer break now 😻🙈🤞🏽.