A House Made of Cards {Ateez au}

Chapter 13 - Bonding

It's been almost a month since the last attack with the villains. Things have been pretty slow recently, with the exception of some minor thefts or robberies that only needed one of them to solve the situation completely.

Hongjoong and Eden spent the last month training Jongho to be a part of the team. It was hard trying to get rid of everything that Seonghwa had put in the boy's head, but they were able to do it.

Jongho was struggling with fitting in at the new base with a new team, but the members welcomed him with open arms. He and San began to act like brothers again, laughing and talking and staying up late watching movies with each other. Some of which Yeosang joined them for. Jongho liked the older boy. He gave off a sense of comfort and innocence that felt like the perfect break from the harsh reality of life.

He thought Yeosang and San were perfect for each other.

Even though Jongho was getting close to the whole team, he couldn't help but want to be closer to the team's tallest member.

Mingi and Jongho almost immediately started getting close after Jongho officially joined the team. For whatever reason, neither of them knew, they just felt comfortable around each other. They got along perfectly.

They hung out a lot, like tonight. The two were sitting on the roof of their base, talking and watching the stars and the moon.

"My dad made me join the team," Mingi laughed. "I just woke up one morning and he was like 'Here have my son'".

Jongho smiled softly, looking down at his lap. Mingi noticed this and frowned.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up, I know you and your father had a complicated relationship."

"No, it's fine, tell me more, I like listening to you talk," Jongho said, looking up at the taller.

Mingi looked down at his lap. His face felt warm. Was he blushing? "Oh, well my father's name was Kim Seokjin, but everyone called him Jin. He was the orange witch, obviously, I trained a lot. He made me work hard, but I guess I'm grateful for that."

Jongho nodded, seeming genuinely interested in listening to Mingi.
"You don't have to tell me anything about your life if you don't want to. Or if it makes you uncomfortable," Mingi rushed. "Don't feel pressured."

"It's fine, I should probably tell someone about it, it's not good to keep that inside, you know?"

Mingi nodded, listening for when Jongho would start talking.

"I grew up with my brother and my father, my mother left us early on. Up until we were like six years old San and I did everything together. However, when my father explained that only one of us could get the power, it turned us against each other. I was already at a disadvantage since I was younger, but I was determined to win," Jongho frowned while remembering. "I just felt like I needed to be good at something, San was always the favorite. But my father made up his mind before we even started competing. It's my fault, really, I got angry and left. This woman, Park Jihyo, the previous red witch, she found me on the side of the road. I was homeless and she felt bad so she took me in. She gave me her powers and taught me how to use them. We had an argument one day. I got mad. I-" he paused and took a breath, staring at the moon. "I killed her. Stabbed her kneck with a knife. It haunts me every day."

Mingi looked at Jongho, sympathy shining in his eyes. "Oh Jongho, I'm so sorry."

Jongho shrugged. "I was stupid and reckless. Completely my fault."

"You were young, and angry at the world."

"Don't try to take the blame away from me, Mingi, thank you, really, but please don't."

"If it makes you feel any better-"

"Mingi-"

"I like you more than I like San anyway."

Jongho laughed, looking at the taller boy.

"Thanks, Mingi."

The taller grinned and Jongho smiled at him. Mingi was truly a wonderful person.

The two held eye contact with each other for a few minutes.

Slowly, as if in a trance, the two leaned in close to each other. Slowly getting closer.

Then their lips sealed together in a single, magical moment under the infinite stars.
+++

Yeosang sat in his room, watching the stars through the window and waiting for San to come out of the bathroom.

The night was wonderful. It felt like something out of a movie.

One thing was off, however.

Yeosang had a feeling. He could feel it wherever he went, he couldn't escape from it. The hairs on his arm would raise and he'd tense. It always felt as if someone was in the room with him.

Somewhere, deep in his mind, he knew it. He didn't want to believe it, but he knew it.

He was being watched.