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"everything seems to be all good, mr. park. hongjoong here is healthy as a horse."
the younger grumpily crosses his arms, looking up at the doctor. "I kit'y, no horsey..."
he's not the best fan of anyone that works here right now- seonghwa can only comfort to the best of his ability, but he had no choice but to endure it. it was that time of the year- getting his annual physical at the doctor's.
it was going well, except for the moment where they announced that they had to take a blood test.
the whole ordeal took about 20 minutes- way longer than it should have for seonghwa's liking. trying to reason and talk to the younger didn't help as he grew more frantic by the minute. he's not a fan of the doctors, and now he shall add 'getting blood work done' onto that list.
in order for the poor nurse to do their job, seonghwa had to hold hongjoong in his arms, a little too tightly for his own liking and keep his head placed on the crook of his neck.
but the minute the needle went in his arm, hongjoong was trying so hard to thrash in seonghwa's hold. even if he was holding him in place, the younger can never be mad at his hwa. while he was wiping hongjoong's tears, the nurse finished quickly and placed a bandaid on his arm and left with a small bow.
"see, I told you it was going to be very fast." seonghwa reassures the younger, fixing his wavy hair in place.
the kitten sniffles, playing with a loose string from seonghwa's sweater to distract himself. he's definitely feeling a little grumpy after what happened.
seonghwa senses this and goes to place a soft kiss on his cheek. "you okay, baby?"
the younger is silent for a second before lifting his head up, tears welling up in his eyes.
"oh, my joongie baby" seonghwa gently coos, already met with the kitten in his arms. "tell hwa what's on your mind, honeybun."
hongjoong grumbles softly, not so subtlety wiping his tears and nose on the older's sweater. "don' y'ike tha'..."
"I know, baby, I know." he reassuringly squeezes his arm "hwa doesn't like it either when I have to get it done, but you're a very brave boy."
hongjoong didn't get the chance to respond as his doctor walked in the room. he sat quietly, but held a rather strong grip on hwa's sweater.
he wanted to curl up and hide, but seonghwa raised him with manners, so quietly- and rather impatiently- he sits.
"ah yes, park hongjoong, it has been a while since we've seen each other." the doctor jokes, keeping the animosity in the room light.
"I apologize, he's definitely not in one of the best moods since getting his blood work done."
seonghwa adds, feeling his heart break when he looks down and sees another stray tear leaving a tiny drop on his pants.
his doctor smiles, nodding in understanding. he sits in his swivel chair as he types something the computer. "I understand it's not most fun...so, has anything changed since our last appointment?"
seonghwa shakes his head "nope, everything is the same...I make sure he eats well, he's been going to bed at his usual time, not really many tantrums thrown due to lack of sleep. I keep him active as much as I can."
it's quiet in the room, minus the clicks of the keyboard and tiny sniffles from the younger. he turns in his swivel chair to face hongjoong, smiling softly.
"well, then, I think we're all good here. you'll get an email either tomorrow or the next day about his results." hongjoong subtly perks up, just wanting to go back home.
"actually I do have one question..." he gets his belongings ready, swiftly picking up the grumpy kitten in his arms. "I've been doing some thinking lately, and well...hongjoong is a hybrid. would he possibly ever shift into his kitten form?"
the doctor pauses for a moment, sighing softly "I believe it's all up to hongjoong himself, more importantly his preference of safety and comfort." he continues "he might feel more safe and protected in his human form...but only he can decide up to that. however I wouldn't advise to pressure him or force him into it, especially with his younger mindset."
seonghwa looks down at the kitten in his arms, he looks a little more upbeat at the notion of wrapping up the doctor visit and going home. he's focused on that piece of loose string, he doesn't notice seonghwa looking at him until he moves a strand hair out of his face.
"that thought has never ever crossed my mind. If he were to eventually shift, I want it to be for his own comfort and well-being." he returns the smile that hongjoong has flashed.
"thank you, doctor...joongie, say bye bye to your doctor."
"buh-bye!" he waves excitedly. he's happy to see the kitten hybrid in a good mood, even if it means it's because he's leaving his office.
-
[ 1 week later ]
"you did...WHAT?!"
"I-I swear we totally didn't mean to! we were just playing hide and seek, but after 5 minutes, it got extremely quiet and that's when we started to search."
"yunho..." seonghwa sighed, dropping his bags onto the kitchen counter. in moments like these, he's not the biggest fan of being the parent of his friend group. it doesn't really make him feel all that great having to practically scold or discipline his friends- whether it's jokingly or in serious matters.
leaving the younger with yunho and mingi is a regular occurrence in the park household- especially on tuesdays and fridays- but he definitely was not expecting to be greeted in sheer panic from the tall couple.
-we're sorry, hyung!" mingi comes running up to him, pleading with his hands. he looks like he's about two seconds from crying. seonghwa eases up on them and places his hands on top of mingi's to lower them down.
"it's...o-okay." he reasons somewhat peacefully. "where was the last time you heard or saw him?" he takes his shoes off, willing the growing headache to just go away.
hongjoong has played hide-and-seek multiple times before, so for him to just not show up- especially when seonghwa arrives home- is definitely sending little alarm bells in his head.
a few minutes pass of the three hyungs frantically searching upstairs, downstairs, even in the laundry room- which is joong's new favorite spot.
seonghwa definitely feels the panic settle its way into his bones. he swallows hard at the memory of the last time he couldn't find hongjoong...that didn't happen again did it?
"hyung, take a breath first, you're not breathing right." yunho comes closer, but also gives him plenty of space.
mingi watches with his eyebrows furrowed, it's scary to see seonghwa- who is always so calm and collected- begin to panic. "h-hyung..."
"i-i can't lose him..." his voice is hoarse, palms growing sweaty and itchy. "h-he's gotta...be here somewhere, please-"
"don't worry, hyung." mingi reassures, he gently places a hand on his shoulder for comfort "he's definitely in the house, we're just not looking in the right places...I mean where else does he like to-"
"-minnie! yunnie! no fin' me! wan' ge' ou'!"
seonghwa's head shoots up at the sound of said voice approaching closer. the owner of the voice pauses in his footsteps by the archway at who he sees.
"mama!" he exclaims, but his excitement winds down at the state he sees him in. "mama sa'..."
seonghwa takes a deep breath and runs up to wrap the kitten in his arms. he's sniffling as he buries his head in the crook of hongjoong's neck. "oh sweet baby, mama got so scared...please don't ever do that ever again."
the taller pair look over with relief flashing in their eyes, but now their hearts shatter at seeing their eldest hyung in tears.
hongjoong tries his best to help his mama relax, but more importantly relies on his hyungs to help him. he doesn't like seeing the older in this state.
but with his friends reassuring words and having his baby held in his arms, seonghwa erratic breathing simmers down and he's able to think clearly since this whole ordeal began.
"I don't like seeing hyung cry but I also don't get why it's a big deal..." mingi whispers to yunho as they leave the park household.
as the pair enter the car, yunho sighs "don't you remember the last time he couldn't find hongjoong? hyung just got scared..."
mingi's eyes lit up in recognition proceeding to lower his head in shame "yeah...him and sannie were almost fighting..." he wrings his hands together.
"it's okay now, min. he's safe and sound with seonghwa."
"imagine if he was an actual cat...do you know how long it would have taken us to find him?"
yunho chuckles slightly "it would have taken us the end of time, but for seonghwa he always comes running...he's a mama's boy, remember?"
the animosity in the car lightens as yunho smiles at the younger. "totally."
--------
[ 1 month later ]
seonghwa sits comfortably on the lounge chair in their backyard. it's still relatively early in the morning, meaning the temperature isn't too warm outside. he sprawls a light blanket over his legs and begins to finish reading his most recent purchase from the bookstore.
as it's still early in the morning, hongjoong is fast asleep upstairs- the day prior he burned off so much of his energy that he even fell asleep surprisingly early.
as much as he loves to have free time for cleaning and doing laundry, he sometimes wishes said kitten would wake up just a little bit early- it's quiet in the house and he misses having his baby near him.
the sun is casting shadows through the trees, almost looking like a scene out of a renaissance painting- everything is practically glowing with gold the way the sun is peaking through the leaves.
he keeps the sliding door pushed back and the screen door open, there's no way he's allowing bugs to enter his home.
the sound of birds chirping and the occasional car passing brings almost a serene feeling inside seonghwa. he's almost tempted to wake up the younger just so he can enjoy this moment with him.
although he would not look forward to spending the day dealing with a grumpy kitten, he decides to let him wake up on his own instead.
seonghwa bookmarks his page and places it onto the other lounge chair next to him. he figures he might as well get an early start to breakfast.
sometimes the younger would wake up the sound of pots and pans clinking, in a way it resembles his alarm clock. seonghwa just thinks it's because he loves to eat and doesn't wanna waste a second further.
he starts with a light breakfast, something so simple yet it makes the younger absolutely ecstatic- eggs with sausages.
as he's preparing the eggs and scrambles them into the frying pan, he takes a minute to think about where he is in life.
he looks back 2 years ago- how he was working 9 to 5 in a repetition. he barely had time to see his friends, barely had time to visit his family. he hated coming home to the eerie quietness.
he was really close to becoming distant with his friends, which broke his heart. he barely had time to see them, and the rare moments where he actually did, he couldn't even enjoy it due to him being so exhausted and burnt out.
his parents were worried about him as well, wondering if their son was feeling stuck and burdened- surely no parent wants their child to feel that way.
seonghwa felt like he was wasting away without a purpose in life.
until one stormy day where he came across a malnourished and skittish kitten hybrid.
the eldest plates the younger's food at the dining table, smiling to himself. he places the children utensils next to his plate, along with his sippy cup of milk.
he begins the walk up to his bedroom to see if said kitten is awake. he smiles to himself when he hears loud meowing sounds coming from the closed door; a sound he's come to know and love.
but when he opens the door, he gasps a little too loudly.
"joongie?!" he asks, trying to contain his excitement.
all he recieves is a squeaky tiny meow in response.
there sits a tiny kitten, practically drowning in the comforter and blankets on the bed, white fluffy tail and white ears almost mixed with a brown color.
he knew right off the bat that this little kitten on his bed...is hongjoong.
oh my god.
OH MY GOD.
hongjoong just shifted into a kitten!
"my sweet baby!" seonghwa smiles, walking towards the bed "you turned into a kitty!"
the kitten begins to purr loudly as seonghwa makes his way over to where he's sitting. he's stumbling over the sheets like an excited puppy wagging it's tail.
the minute he gets picked up, seonghwa himself coos "oh you're so tiny, little baby!"
hongjoong is still purring as he nuzzles into seonghwa's palm, kitten licking his hand. he seems content sitting in seonghwa's hand that said kitten almost ends up falling asleep.
"baby, no" seonghwa gently scolds "don't go to sleep just yet..." he softly taps at his belly. "I did have some breakfast made for you...but now it looks like I'll have to make something else." he furrows his eyebrows as he makes eye contact with the white ball of fluff in his hand "would you want...cat food?"
it's as if hongjoong understood what he said, for he tilted his head to the side almost as if he was confused. this time, he heard a squeaky mewl.
seonghwa sighs "yeah...I figured you wouldn't want that...come, let's see what we have for my tiny little angel, I could probably just cut up the sausages I already made for you."
-
"joongie, pspspsps, look baby! look at the camera!" seonghwa was bent all the way down on the floor on the kitten's level. he was sort of desperate to take a few pictures to show his friends.
said kitten was curled into his blanket, using his hind legs to attack at his ball of yarn. his white fluffy tail was comfortably swaying back and forth. yet again, his purrs can be heard through his munching.
the older gives up, goes to lay on the floor next to where hongjoong is comfortably laying down in his makeshift cocoon from his blanket.
he's scrolling through the multiple pictures he took of the kitten, he believes he got a good one of him actually smiling. suddenly his phone screen is covered by a white ball of fluff.
hongjoong fits himself in between seonghwa's arms, laying his head on top of his forearm. this time, his ears are filled with a loud consistency of purring.
he's already enamored by hongjoong when he's human, but seeing (especially the first time) in kitten form, he just can't help but watch and smile at him.
and little does he know, the reason the kitten is purring so loudly because he can sense seonghwa's presence close to him; ultimately making him feel possibly even more safe.
-
by the afternoon, seonghwa's arms began to hurt- he insisted to carrying the kitten around all day. he kept him craddled in his arms wrapped around his blanket; resembling holding an infant child.
even though he obviously knew it was his kitten, seonghwa felt a sense of comfort whenever hongjoong's habits followed even while in kitten form. he suddenly formed a habit of chewing on the older's fingers.
but alas, it was as if hongjoong never shifted and by 12:30, the kitten began to whine along with letting out small yawns.
"awe my little kitty is so sleepy, huh?" seonghwa cooed, kissing between his soft cat ears "I know it must be very exhausting being the cutest little kitten ever."
said kitten turned around towards his stomach, nuzzling into the fabric of his shirt. he made his way towards the living room and got comfortable on the soft gray cushions.
seonghwa held the kitten in his arms just a little longer before finally placing him down on the cushion. he keeps his palm on top of his fluffy belly so the kitten knows he's still there.
not even a moment to spare, soft snores are heard from the tiny kitty. seonghwa makes sure he's covered with his blanket before he gets up. he takes a moment to look at how the kitten fell asleep; paws hiding his face as he's snuggled into his blanket.
"I love you, my sweet little kitten."
-
"mama!"
seonghwa pauses typing on his computer as he hears tiny footsteps padding from the living room.
when he hears them approaching closer he turns around in his chair, seeing none other than his baby hongjoong- back in his human form.
"mama! mama! I mis'th you!"
the younger exclaims, arms reaching out for his mama as he collides in his arms. seonghwa holds him securely in his arms, taking note of the excited tone that held an underlying sadness to it.
"well, hello, my sweet baby." he smiles, kissing his cheeks over and over again, "mama missed you as well...my baby turned into a little kitty earlier. how did you do it?"
the younger sniffles as he paws at his eyes, he's babbling by the minute that seonghwa can't really comprehend what he's trying to say.
he lowers his hands from his face and sure enough sees tears welling in the kitten's eyes.
"oh my starshine, why are these tears greeting us?" he asks, eyebrows furrowed in concern.
he stands up from his chair, holding a sniffley kitten in his arms before placing him on top of the counter. the older slightly reaches over to grab a tissue before carefully dabbing at his tears.
"miss...mama..." it hurts seonghwa the way his voice sounds so sad. he wraps his arms around him once more, rubbing his back in circular motions.
the only explanation seonghwa can come up with is that when hongjoong shifted into a kitten, he has no concept of time (as he does normally). so who knows when the kitten thinks he last saw seonghwa. realistically, it was only an hour or two but for hongjoong that could've felt like days.
"don't be scared my sweet star, mama is right here, I'm not going anywhere..." he lifts him off the counter and brings him back to the living room.
(he makes a mental note for the next time hongjoong were to ever shift again, to be prepared of his emotional state.)
"now..." he smiles, hopefully bringing theood upwards "we gotta go tell your hyungies! they are going to be so excited!"
hongjoong's lips curve into a smile, pawing at one of his eyes "mama...no ba' boy?"
"what?" he asks, making sure the kitten is facing him "park hongjoong, you're not a bad boy...shifting into a kitten is not a bad thing, it's a good thing. it means you feel happy and safe and I'm really proud of you and I always will be."
the kitten sniffles softly, hiding his face in seonghwa's neck. he lets out another small yawn, wiping any stray tears on his hwa's shirt.
"I guess we can wait to tell your hyungs...after someone has their little nap."
hongjoong doesn't even wait until he's situated in his blanket, he's already held in hwa's arms, head laying comfortably on his chest.
with his fingertips, seonghwa strokes the kitten's hair, occasionally petting his ears.
"you must be so sleepy...being a kitten is hard work..." he whispers as he presses one last kiss on his pudgy little cheek. he doesn't wanna disturb his drowsy baby, and let's him sleep in silence.
"wait till your hyungs hear about this..."