Chapter Text
"mama!...mama!"
the panic set in his hongjoong's voice has him running from the upstairs bedroom down to the living room in a second.
"joongs, baby, what's wrong? are you-" he's cut off mid sentence due to the state the living room is in.
pillows thrown across the room, blankets shoved onto the floor, there was also an attempt at moving the couch cushions off, but to no avail.
now he's not a fan of scolding hongjoong- knowing the latter dislikes it also- but surely there has to be a good explanation as to why hongjoong is tearing the living room apart.
"hongjoong"
the kitten pauses from wherever he is, cat ears peaking from behind the couch. he doesn't like that tone at all, it makes him feel on edge.
however, seonghwa waits for him to approach closer; albeit the sound of feet scuffing the carpet is the only sound that's loud in his ears.
"park hongjoong, what is the reason of this mess?"
said kitten lowers his cat ears as he wrings his small hands together. he mumbles something under his breath at first, but is encouraged to speak up.
"what was that, baby?"
"no fin' b'ankie..."
the elder softens his facial expressions as he opens his arms. the younger wastes no time and collides full force, sniffling and wiping the continuous flow of tears away.
he carries him around the room for a moment to soothe the younger, hongjoong slightly shakes in his hold. seonghwa isn't sure as to why the younger is so upset about his blanket being missing...when in reality, it's currently in the wash.
"mama...wan' b'ankie, p'ea' "
said parent coos at his child, holding him tighter in his arms. "buggie, mama is washing your blanket so it's all fresh and clean."
apparently that wasn't the right response, said kitten mewled rather loudly and hid his face to somewhat muffle his loud cries.
"shh, easy baby, you're okay..." he pats his bottom as he walks around the room. he's washed his blanket numerous of times, he's not sure as to why this time would be any different.
"joongie, mama washes your blankie all the time" seonghwa explains calmly, he softly pets the top of his head inbetween his cat ears.
the kitten is appreciative of the gentleness but nonetheless is in distress because of the piece of cloth he has come to know and love.
seonghwa's heart breaks at the sound of joong trying to take deep breaths, hiccuping in the process. "my sweet little baby, it's all okay." he pats his bottom as he rocks him around the room. "take your time with your breathing, hm?"
"mama b'ankie...mama go' me b'ankie...m-my b'ankie." he sniffles, clinging on impossibly closer to the elder's chest.
seonghwa furrows his eyebrows "what do you mean? tell mama, honey."
he inwardly cringes at how the younger wipes his nose on his shirt, but obviously doesn't scold him on it- especially not when the younger is distressed.
hongjoong feels choked up trying his best to explain that since it was his first gift recieved from seonghwa, he holds it close to his heart and grows nervous when he's not holding it or it's not near him.
(although he was gifted a collar that seonghwa keeps hidden away now- of course as time went on, he wasn't fond of the kitten wearing it. he's not property, he's his child.)
"oh mama's sweet baby, you will be okay." he coos, wiping a few stray tears away with his thumb. "in fact, let's go check on the laundry now, your blankie should be all good and clean."
the kitten's eyes slowly droop, leaning his head on seonghwa's chest. the eldest begins to talk, but hongjoong is only focused on the vibrations of his chest; which soothes him immensely.
not a moment later, he feels something warm and soft wrap around his face. he's too sleepy to properly open his eyes but he immediately recognizes the softness and the scent of what was wrapped around him- none other than his prized blanket.
he understands the distress that hongjoong was facing earlier- it was the first ever gift he gave the kitten and now 2 years later, he stills keeps it in mint condition; minus his pacifier, the blanket is his #1 security item. the eldest comes to terms that the younger panicked mainly because he washes his blanket when he's napping or at school.
who knew such a miniscule simple change of plans could cause stress for his baby?
seonghwa walks back upstairs carefully, keeping the sleeping kitten in his arms a little longer, rocking him around the sun-lit living room. he gives him extra kisses to comfort him after an eventful day.
he decides not to scold him on making a big mess in the living room earlier- the younger is very good with cleaning up after himself; but he can let today slide.
it's been a pretty eventful day...and it's only morning.