ATEEZ Still Present

Chapter 5

Hongjoong woke up to the feeling of movement against him. His eyes snapped open in alert and he sat up slightly, his arms instinctively wrapping around the body on top of his own. He glanced around the room quickly but found there was no danger so he looked down at his chest to find a head of pink hair. San shuffled around slightly, lifting his head and blinking sleepily up at his Captain. Hongjoong softened at the sight of his droopy eyes and smiled softly, running his fingers through his hair softly. San's eyes slipped closed and he snuggled down, humming in content. Hongjoong cooed softly and moved his hand to scratch San's chin gently, watching as he leant into it and practically purred, reminding him of a cat.

"Morning Sannie," he whispered.

"Good morning Hongjoongie," San said softly, slipping his eyes open.

"Are you ok if we have a little chat? If you don't feel up to it then we don't have to talk just yet," Hongjoong said gently.

"No, we can talk," San said quietly as he slipped off and sat up beside him. He wasn't hung over, he doesn't get them much and he can remember everything that happened the night before. Hongjoong sighed and sat up as well, placing a hand on San's thigh gently in reassurance. San jolted slightly in surprise but relaxed quickly and gave a small smile.

"First of all, I just want to make sure you're ok," Hongjoong said softly. San took a deep breath and clenched his hands anxiously.

"I'm ok," he said, his voice small.

"Sannie, it's alright to be a bit rattled from this. You've gone through so much in your life, you've had so much trauma and you've always pushed through. It's ok if it scared you, it's ok if you aren't feeling amazing," Hongjoong assured him. San's eyes watered slightly and his sniffled, trying to keep them at bay but a few slipped through.

"I just feel so stupid. I didn't even want to go out, I only went to look after Wooyoung and Mingi but then I got carried away. God, I was such an idiot," San whimpered.

"Hey, hey none of that. Nothing that happened was your fault ok. And what do you mean you only went for Mingi and Wooyoung," Hongjoong asked with a frown. San shook his head and pulled up one of his legs, resting his elbow on his knee and his head on his hand.

"Wooyoung kept whining about wanting to go out and wouldn't take no as an answer and you told me to make sure he didn't get into any trouble. I guess it was me you should've worried about," San said sadly. Hongjoong felt his blood boil as he realised what San was saying. Wooyoung made San go to look after him even though he didn't want to and then he left San alone when he wanted to leave.

"So they made you come, and then they just left you," he asked slowly. San side and dropped his head down into the crook of his elbow, still rested on his knee.

"Just please don't Hongjoong," he whispered. Hongjoong furrowed his eyebrows in worry and placed his hand on San's back, rubbing lightly.

"Please don't what," he asked quickly.

"Just please don't make a big deal about this, please don't get angry at them," San said quietly.

"San, they were selfish and almost caused something bad to happen to you," Hongjoong said, frowning in confusion. San shook his head again before lifting his head and dropping it into his hand again, gripping his hair slightly.

"I don't want to tell them," San said.

"San," Hongjoong said with a sigh.

"No, I don't want to tell them," San said, shaking his head frantically as the tears fell quicker. Hongjoong's heart broke and he gently pulled San into his arms. San didn't protest at all and leaned heavily against him as he started to sob.