Black Cat //Ateez

°3°

Hongjoong walked inside his house when the sun had started rising.

He went to change his clothes and make some breakfast for his siblings.
Once that was ready, he went to check up on them.

First his brother. He opened the door quietly, seeing him sleeping. He went and opened the window, letting air get inside.

Standing beside him, he placed his hand on his forehead, seeing that he wasn't as warm as yesterday.

"Jongho. Hey, Jongho" He said softly, shaking the sleeping boy.

Jongho, feeling his body move, slowly opened his eyes, seeing Hongjoong above him.

"What happened?"

"It's morning. How are you feeling?"

"Better" He said whispering.
"Can you give me some water?"

"Yeah yeah sure" The older said, taking a cup with water from the table, helping Jongho drink.

"I made breakfast. Would you like to come eat with us?" Hongjoong asked, hopeful that Jongho would say yes.

It had been a long time since they did something all together. Usually Jongho stayed inside his room, Hongjoong helping him with whatever he wanted. But, the relationship they once had, was starting to fade.

Hongjoong tried really hard to be a good brother to them, or even a parent. He had to help his siblings. Jongho pushed them away most of the times, prefering to be on his own. That took a toll on both Hongjoong and San.

Jongho seeing his brother's face, couldn't help but be a little sad. He knew that he was distancing himself from them, but he couldn't help it. It was like a self punishment for him.

"Hongjoong, I might stay here"

"Jongho, you haven't been outside your room for weeks. Please come and be with us. If you don't, I'll bring the table and we will eat here" Hongjoong said sternly, but Jongho knew that tone.

His brother was worried for him, and he felt sad knowing that he made him worry. It was all his fault.

Nevertheless, he smiled a little at him.

"OK, OK. I'll eat with you"

The older brother smiled widely at Jongho and helped him stood from the bed.

With a hand around Jongho's waist, he helped him walk and set him on a chair in the kitchen. He gently kissed his forehead and went to wake up San.

He opened the door, seeing him sleeping, hugging his small dog doll. Hongjoong had made this for him. Since he knew that San couldn't sleep without hugging something, he made him this dog, to help him a little. And it proved its worth. San was elated to have a doll of his own, and it really helped him. San loved it.

He walked there and started shaking him, earning a few groans from the younger.

"San wake up. I have a surprise for you"

The younger boy immediately perked up at the mention of a surprise and hugging his doll, he stood up.

"Really? Where is it?" He said bouncing up and down.

"Follow me little one" Hongjoong said and grabbing San's hand, he guided him to the kitchen.

San's eyes widened when he saw the boy who was sitting there. Jongho smiled warmly at him, and tried to stand up, failing. The pain in his body was there.

San immediately went to his side and hugged him, helping him sit down properly.

"Jongho" He whispered in the boy's neck, burying his face there. It had been weeks since he had last seen the older.

Jongho was quick to wrap his own hands around his small body, some tears forming in his eyes. He had missed him.

He felt something wet on his shirt and looked down. San was crying on his shoulder, his small body trembling.

"Why wouldn't you let me see you? I missed you" San said with difficulty.

Hongjoong felt his own self tearing up, but managed to hold it. It really hurted him to know that the two lived in the same house, but didn't got to see each other.

Hongjoong moved and went to hug both of his brothers, kissing them on their forehead.

"Thank you" San said and smiled at Hongjoong.

"Yeah. Thank you for getting me out of room. I'd probably would have stayed there. Thank you for what you're doing for us" Jongho said, hugging again both of them.

Hongjoong at the mention of those words, smiled at them. Yes. He would do anything for them. Anything.

~~~~

Breakfast time that morning was the most enjoyable moment. San didn't leave Jongho's side, letting him feed him occasionally. It had been so long since they did something like this.

Once they were finished, Hongjoong was left behind, while the two got into San's room. The younger wanted to take advantage of every second Jongho was with him.

Hongjoong went out the house to find the cleaning supplies, which were inside a small storage house, right next to their own.

Just as he was walking, he noticed something black standing close to the house. He got a little closer, and soon realised that this was the same black cat as yesterday. Seonghwas cat to be exact.

He approached it quietly, not wanting to startle it. The cat sensing that someone was close by, turned to look at Hongjoong. The cat saw him getting closer, doing steps back.

Hongjoong noticed that and stopped moving. The cat did too. He somehow had to catch the cat. Running around and trying to catch it wouldn't be easy.

Just then he remembered that he had some food left. From yesterday's fish soup, some bones from the fish, were kept. Hongjoong didn't have time to dispose them.

So he quickly ran to the house, and picking those, he went and placed them under a tree. The cat tilted his head at the boy's action.

"In case you were hungry. I'm pretty sure Seonghwa feeds you but.. I hope you like it" He said quietly, gesturing for the fish.

The cat sniffed the air, but stayed were it was. It didn't move. And Hongjoong knew.

He shook his head, and went to the small room, to grab his broom and dustpan. A sad smile was plastered on his face while seeing the cat. He was so close yet so far away from it.

He shook his head, looking at the cat sadly and moved again into the house.

Jongho and San were inside San's room, sleeping soundly. San was curled into Jongho's arms, having his doll in his hands.

That was enough for Hongjoong to smile at them. He stayed a few moments there, just watching them. He wanted to remember that scene. He wanted to see them happy and close to each other.

He closed the door behind him, leaving them some quiet, while he was cleaning the room.