Chapter Text
The day was passing by just like any other usual day.
Pro-gamer Yoo Joonghyuk, a ridiculously handsome and rich gamer who got paid for his looks live gaming streams, stretched his sore muscles as he finished another long stream. He took a quick glance at the clock and looked at the time, getting ready quickly to bring his little sister Yoo Mia home. She had been at her friend's house since yesterday as she had insisted on a sleep-over.
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"...And Yoosung's mom cooked for us, her cooking is good but not as good as you, oppa."
Yoo Joonghyuk hummed, ruffling his sister's hair. He may not say it often but he tried to show his little sister that she meant the world to him. After all she was the only blood related member he had now.
Yoo Mia had insisted on eating ice cream at the nearby park, Joonghyuk had parked his car and proceeded to walk with his little sister. It was nice, listening to her chatter away, he needed a break once in a while and walks like these were something he enjoyed. When Mia finished her ice cream they proceeded to walk to where the car was parked. As they were walking, the siblings stopped when they heard someone hissing in pain. Mia followed the voice and Joonghyuk hurriedly followed behind telling her not to go alone, that it could be dangerous but he stopped when he saw her crouching, she was looking at someone? Something? He stepped a little further to get a glimpse and his eyes landed on a beautiful white bird with black crest, injured and slightly bleeding, sitting on a bush and hissing painfully.
What… kind of bird was this?
"...The poor thing looks injured..." Mia muttered, frowning.
"What kind of bird is that?" Yoo Joonghyuk scrutinized the injured bird.
"I don't know but it's so beautiful, oppa!" Mia exclaimed, Yoo Joonghyuk knew where this was going.
"Mia. I am already saying this, no. We are not taking it home." He said in a firm, resolute voice which made Yoo Mia scowl.
"Oppa please! Just until he heals, I promise!” She pleaded with wide sparkly eyes and Joonghyuk huffed. Joonghyuk felt a headache coming, he really didn’t know where Mia got her amazing manipulation skills. After a lot more insisting from his little sister, he finally gave in.
"...Fine. But once he is better, we are letting him go." He sighed.
"Thank you, oppa!" The little girl beamed.
"It's late right now, and Sangah's clinic must be closed so we will take the bird to the vet tomorrow, okay?" Yoo Joonghyuk said as he moved closer to the bird.
"It's okay, oppa! You can stop his bleeding, right?” Yoo Mia looked genuinely worried for the bird.
"...Yes." Guess Sangah’s chattering about birds is going to come in handy for him.
"What should I call him, oppa?" Yoo Mia peeked at the bird, expression filled with excitement.
"I don’t know." Her brother replied blankly.
"How about Biyoo?!" Mia pointed at the bird who flinched.
The bird tiredly chirped and muttered something.
"Chu-wo"
"Chooo-wooon" The bird flapped its wings.
"...Chu…won? Is he trying to say his name is Chuwon, oppa?" The bird flapped his wings and shook his head as if saying no which made Yoo Mia raise her eyebrow, a confused expression on her usually stoic face.
“...How about Guwon?” Joonghyuk tried this time.
The bird immediately flapped its wings, the wings formed a heart shape as he chirped and bobbed his head up and down.
"Oh wow, he is so smart, oppa!" Yoo Mia looked awe-struck.
"Mn… move aside, I will grab him."
Joonghyuk moved towards the bird who flinched.
"...Relax. I am not going to hurt you."
He grabbed the bird with his hands, the bird screamed and nudged his beak on Joonghyuk's calloused hand. He didn't bite him though, even if it seemed like he was going to.
"Oppa! Be careful."
Joonghyuk looked at the bird and hesitatingly reached out to scratch his head with his finger, the bird flinched at first but then leaned into the touch.
"Oh wow, he already likes you!"
"Mn. Let's go." He said as he walked towards the parking lot with the injured bird in his hold.
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Joonghyuk took a spare cloth in his car and placed the bird on it. He stopped by the pet shop to grab some necessities.
"Joonghyuk-ssi! Hello!" Jang Hayoung waved at the man.
"Hello." Joonghyuk nodded.
“Hello, unnie!” Mia waved.
"Hi! I never thought I'd see you at my shop, what brings you here?"
"Mia, give Guwon to me."
"Guwon?" Hayoung raised an eyebrow.
Mia gave his brother the bird she was holding, the bird immediately rubbed his face on Joonghyuk’s hand as soon as he got into contact with the man.
"This bird. I need a suitable cage and all the other necessities for him."
"Oh my! He is so cute! Joonghyuk-ssi, where did you find this injured cockatiel!?" Hayoung looked at the bird with wide eyes.
"Cockatiel?" Yoo Joonghyuk echoed.
"Yes! This is a cockatiel. They are small parrots with a variety of color patterns and a crest. They are attractive as well as friendly and easy to tame but they might have a temper or become snarky at times. Also speaking of crests... I have never seen a white faced cockatiel with a black crest. Is it dyed?"
Hayoung tried to touch the bird's crest but the bird hissed in disapproval and snuggled in... Joonghyuk's hand as if the hand was his shield.
"Aw man! He doesn't like me..." She looked pretty dejected, how could a bird get tamed and used to Joonghyuk's touch so easily but not to someone like her!?
"Ahem! Right, is he staying with you permanently?"
"No. Only till he heals." He shook his head, he didn’t see the bird drooping.
"So you want a small cage?" Hayoung hummed.
"No, give me one in which he can fly freely, along with some toys if there are, for birds, so he doesn't get bored."
"For someone who is a temporary guest, this is too much pampering." She laughed.
"No. It's just that I can afford it." He said in a stern manner.
"Aaaaaalright.”
After buying a spacious cage, some toys and wooden perches along with bird food. The siblings proceeded to go back home with the new member guest.
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When Joonghyuk reached his place, the first thing he did was try to properly stop the bleeding of the bird. He cleaned him thoroughly and gently, placing dressing on his broken wing and leg. Then using cornflour for temporary first aid. He picked up his beautiful long feather which fell out, it had small gray dots and black spots. Guwon’s feather was beautiful and he took it from him after a moment, nibbling it.
Come to think of it, did the bird even eat anything? Joonghyuk quickly packed the first aid box and went to the kitchen to pour some seed in a bowl. He also had to arrange the cage later.
He went back to the room where the bird was sitting on the sofa, shivering. Joonghyuk turned the heating on in the room and gave him the bowl, safe to say. The tiel absolutely devoured it in seconds. He gave him a bowl filled with water and the bird chugged it all down in one go.
Joonghyuk was looking at the bird almost amusingly, he was really beautiful. The bird once washed, with all that dust swatted away and dried blood removed, looked really eye-catching. His long black crest, his white, pale feathers, his dark brown eyes and some black spots on his tail. The bird was very pretty and as much as Yoo Joonghyuk wanted to keep the bird, he knew he couldn't afford to take responsibility for another living thing.
He didn't even notice the bird walking towards him and tugging his sleeve with his beak.
"Mn?"
Joonghyuk was absolutely clueless, he had never raised a pet before.
"What is it?"
"...Do you want to come up here?" He tried.
The bird chirped. His head bobbing, he tilted his head as if waiting to be picked up and if Joonghyuk was a lesser man he would have squealed at the cuteness.
Fortunately for himself, he was not.
He picked the bird up gingerly and placed him on his thigh, the bird nuzzled his head repeatedly and Joonghyuk, guessing he wanted to be petted. began scratching his head with his fingers, the damn bird really liked being petted. Not even ten minutes in and the bird was sleeping. He carefully took the bird and placed him on the couch in his bedroom with a cloth draped over him. The bird had tucked his head and was sleeping soundly. Joonghyuk kept watching the bird and felt himself drifting off to sleep soon after.
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Joonghyuk woke up the next morning to the chirping of a bird, huh, a bird?
Ah right, Guwon.
He woke up to Guwon sitting on his pillow waiting for him to wake up and when he saw Joonghyuk opening his eyes, he flapped his wings.
The bird was staring at him so lovingly, was he thanking him for saving him, perhaps?
Whatever it was, the bird's little actions were very cute.
It was going to be a long day, a visit to the vet, a meeting with his new sponsor and Mia's sports day.
But... was it okay to leave birds on their own for a whole day? He searched and saw various results, trusting none of them. He decided to take Guwon to Sangah first, then decide whatever comes next.
For now he proceeded to get up to get ready for the day with his new little temporary companion.
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