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Jisung had really just wanted a nap, but he should have known better than to hope for more than ten minutes of silence with two cat hybrids in his home.
He's just drifting off, brain finally slowing down enough for sleep to catch up with him, when a loud crash and a high pitch wail startles him upright in bed. Body running on pure instinct, he scrambles out of bed, tripping over the covers that are still tangled around his legs. He manages to catch himself on the door frame, the sheets and the duvet left in a pile behind him.
His heart is in his throat, anxiety coursing through his system as the wail tapers off into soft whimpers. He knows that voice almost as well as he knows his own. He also knows the panicked voice that follows.
In his haste to get to the living room, he ends up sliding further down the hall on socked feet. The hall table almost falls victim in his rush to catch himself once again to keep from falling face-first onto the hardwood. The small stack of mail that had been on the table gets scattered onto the floor along with his keys.
His brain hasn't had time to conjure any images of what he might find once he locates the source of the crying but the sight that greets spikes his anxiety up another notch.
Eyes skittering across the room, taking in the overturned coffee table, the shattered mug, the spilled coffee, he finally finds the source of all the noise.
Both Jeongin and Seungmin are on the floor, one curled into himself and holding his head and the other hovering over him, looking stricken and close to tears. They're alive at least, Jisung's brain supplies, but it does little to quell his panic.
"What...?" Jisung says and his voice startles Jeongin enough that he jumps.
He blinks watery eyes at Jisung from the floor and as soon as he seems to realize Jisung is there, standing in the doorway, the dam breaks.
"Hyung." It's more a whimper than a whine and he's so clearly in distress, ears flat against his head and tail wrapped protectively around himself, that Jisung's heart clenches in his chest.
Jisung doesn't get to respond because Jeongin starts speaking as soon as Jisung steps further into the room.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It was an accident! Fuck, I'm sorry!" He trips over his words, and Jisung knows he's going to hyperventilate if he doesn't calm him down.
"Hey, hey." Jisung aims for calming and soothing but he knows his anxiety bleeds into his voice.
"I'm sorry! I swear I didn't mean to! We were just playing and I didn't realize he was that close to the table. I didn't mean to hurt him!"
Jisung reaches them as his sentence tapers off and he slides his fingers through Jeongin's hair once he's close enough. He's more worried about the fact that Seungmin is still curled in on himself, and the scent of blood he can now smell, but Jeongin is working himself into a panic and Jisung knows from experience that if he doesn't calm him that he'll have worse things to deal with than scrapes and bruises.
"Innie," Jisung says as he eases onto the floor beside them, "Baby, you have to breathe. It's okay. Whatever happened, it's okay, but I need you to calm down and breathe."
Jeongin leans into his touch when Jisung cups his face, forcing eye contact. Long-fingered hands come up to wrap around his wrists and Jeongin blinks back more tears as he does as he's told. He sucks in a shuddering breath, and it's just as shaky when he lets it out. Jisung nods to him, thumbs rubbing across damp cheeks.
"That's it," Jisung tells him, "Good. Good, baby. Just breathe, okay?"
Jisung coaches him through three more breaths before he decides Jeongin is calm enough.
"It's okay," Jisung tells him again, "Whatever happened, it doesn't matter. You're okay, but I need to check on Minnie. Okay?"
Jeongin sniffles but nods, letting go of Jisung when he pulls away.
Jisung isn't sure what he's going to find when he turns to Seungmin. The hybrid hasn't moved, knees pulled up to his chest, and head tucked in so his face is hidden. His ears are flat against his head, trembling softly as he continues to whimper.
Jisung hovers for a moment, unsure if he should touch him or not, but he knows he can smell blood and he needs to know where it's coming from.
"Minnie," Jisung says, voice low and soothing, "Baby, I need to see."
Seungmin flinches at the sound of his name and he whines, long and loud. Jisung cards his finger through his hair, rubbing softly at one of his ears.
"Baby," Jisung breathes, feeling Seungmin tremble under his hand.
They've had their fair share of bumps and bruises since they'd come into his life, even a few ER trips, so Jisung knows he's in pain just by the pitch of his voice.
"Seungmin," Jisung says, tone a little firmer when Seungmin doesn't move at all, keeping himself curled into as small of a ball as he can manage.
With gentle hands, Jisung coaxes him up and away from his knees. What he finds makes him suck in a sharp breath. He's grateful that he's all but blocking Jeongin's view of the other hybrid because Jisung isn't sure he can handle both a fully panicked Jeongin and a busted and bleeding Seungmin.
Jisung knows head wounds bleed, has seen his fair share of them in the last two years, but it never gets any easier seeing just how much of it there is. Blood has seeped through the press of Seungmin's fingers and it's dripped down onto his pants and the rug under them. The last thing on Jisung's mind is his decor as he pries Seungmin's fingers from his forehead.
There's a trail of blood down the side of Seungmin's face and smeared across his lip and chin. He blinks teary eyes up at Jisung and whimpers, pain coloring his voice.
"Baby," Jisung says softly, holding Seungmin's trembling hands in his own. It gets blood on him but Jisung could care less.
"It hurts," Seungmin whimpers, and Jisung sighs.
"I know, sweetheart," Jisung replies as he reaches up to trace what he can see of the cut on Seungmin's forehead. It doesn't look too bad, but he can't really tell with all the blood. He reminds himself that most of the time it looks worse than what it is.
"Minnie?" Jeongin's voice is still teary and Jisung doesn't get a chance to stop him before he's peaking around Jisung to get a good look at Seungmin.
The sound that leaves Jeongin is somewhere between a wail and a sob, choked off and panicked. He's scrambling forward before Jisung can do anything, hands reaching out to touch, but he jerks them back at the last second. He ends up with his hands fisted in his lap, a whine building in his throat as he takes in the mess that is Seungmin's face.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'msorryI'msorryI'm sorry!" His voice rises with his panic and Jisung shoves his stress down to work on deescalating the situation.
"Jeongin." Jisung has to raise his voice for Jeongin to hear him, tone firm and commanding.
He hears Jeongin snap his mouth shut, but he still whimpers and he's curling in on himself when Jisung turns to look at him, Jisung's hands still cupping Seungmin's face.
"Innie," Jisung says his name in as soft a tone as he can manage but Jeongin's shoulders are steadily climbing towards his ears and his hands are shaking in his lap.
Jisung can feel his own panic rising but if he freaks out, then everyone will freak out and that does nothing to help the situation at hand. Trying to think ahead of the situation, listing off what he knows needs to be done in his head, Jisung comes up with some semblance of a plan.
First, they need to get everyone to the bathroom. The quicker he can show Jeongin that it's nothing more than a cut and a busted lip, the quicker he'll calm down, but leaving Jeongin alone in the living room isn't an option Jisung will even consider. Separating them in this situation will only stress the two of them more and that's the last thing Jisung wants.
"Iyen-ah," Jisung calls to him softly and Jeongin flinches at his name.
"Why don't we get Minnie to the bathroom, yeah?" Jisung tells him, knowing if he gives Jeongin a task, something to give him even a little distraction, he'll focus on what he's doing rather than what he's feeling. His helping Seungmin will only soothe him more.
"But- but the blood..." Jeongin's voice warbles as he speaks.
"It's okay," Jisung reassures him, "It's just a cut. I promise you Minnie is okay. We'll clean him up and then you can see for yourself, baby."
Jeongin looks like he doesn't believe him, but he climbs to his feet anyways. He reaches shaky hands down to help Seungmin to his feet. Seungmin leans into his side as soon as he's standing, and Jeongin pulls him close, ignoring the blood that gets on his shirt. As Jisung watches, their tails come up, twining together, dark brown with fluffy lilac. The sight both soothes Jisung and makes his heartache.
He ushers them down the hall and to the bathroom, keeping a hand on both their lower backs.
Blood has trailed down Seungmin's neck by the time they get there, soaking into the collar of his shirt. Jeongin stands anxiously to the side while Jisung eases Seungmin down onto the closed toilet lid. Jisung can feel him hovering close, wanting to see and be as close to Seungmin as he can get but not get in Jisung's way. Without a word, Jisung shuffles them around, guiding Jeongin by the waist so he's on Jisung's other side, putting him by the bathtub and within close range of Seungmin.
Jisung watches them out of the corner of his eye as he pulls the first aid kit out from the cabinet. Seungmin laces his fingers with Jeongin's, tugging him closer. Jeongin's tail comes up to wrap around Seungmin's forearm, covering his arm completely in fluffy fur.
"I'm okay," Seungmin tells him, tugging at Jeongin's hand when he refuses to look at him.
"Really, Innie," Seungmin says, "It just hurts, is all, but I'm fine, Iyen-ah. I swear."
"I hurt you," Jeongin whimpers and Jisung can hear the tears in his voice.
"You didn't hurt me, baby," Seungmin reassures him, "It was an accident. Accidents happen."
Jisung moves back to Seungmin, now armed with gauze and antiseptic wipes. He turns Seungmin's head gently with fingers under his chin, finally getting a good look at the cut on his forehead in better lighting. It's about two inches across, and deeper than what he'd originally thought, but it doesn't look like it will need stitches. He'll have to clean away the blood to really be able to tell.
Jisung works at stopping the bleeding, putting firm but gentle pressure on the wound. Seungmin winces at the touch, a grimace settling on his lips at the pain. He'll probably have a hell of a headache and bruising to go with it.
Jeongin shuffles nervously on his feet, and his face is wet with tears when Jisung glances at him. He doesn't seem to be panicking any longer but he's still in distress. They both are, but Jisung's panic has eased knowing they're both safe and that he won't need to rush all of them to the ER.
"What happened?" Jisung finally asks, pulling back the gauze to check on the bleeding.
It's slowed enough that Jisung feels he can clean around the wound without making a further mess. It's going to take a bit more work to get the rest of the blood off his face and neck. A shower will probably be easiest, Jisung decides as he starts wiping away the blood around the wound so he can get a proper look at it.
"I hurt Minnie," Jeongin says instantly and he's shrunk in on himself when Jisung glances at him.
"You didn't," Seungmin tells him adamantly, tugging at his hand so Jeongin stumbles closer and Seungmin can wrap an arm around his slim waist. "Jeongin, you didn't hurt me. It was an accident."
"But I started it," Jeongin whines, and there are fresh tears on his cheeks.
"We play fight all the time," Seungmin tells him even as he's careful not to move so Jisung can continue his work. "I'm the one that tried to roll us. I'm the one that hit my own head."
"But-" Jeongin tries to argue, but Jisung interrupts him.
"Jeongin," Jisung says his name firmly and Jeongin closes his mouth with a frown. "It's no one's fault. I know you blame yourself when Minnie gets hurt, but arguing about it won't help anyone, okay?"
There's a long moment of silence and Jisung looks over to find Jeongin with his hands fisted in his shirt. Jisung is used to Jeongin's particular form of self-deprecation, but it doesn't make situations like this any easier.
"You guys were playing and you ended up on the floor," Jisung guesses, and Seungmin hums in affirmation. "How did you manage to hit your head on the table?"
"Innie pinned me and when I tried to roll us, I came up too quickly without realizing how far under the table I was. I banged my head and well, that's how you found us."
Jisung sighs, shaking his head slightly. Between the two of them, he's seen more accidents in two years than he could have ever imagined in his life. Broken bones, sprained ankles, and more scrapes and bruises than he could count. He'd never realized just how rough hybrids could play. Then again, he was convinced at this point that this particular roughness was exclusive to the two of them. That, or they were just clumsy as hell. Maybe a bit of both.
"Well," Jisung says as he eyes the wound on Seungmin's forehead, "It's not too bad. It was just a lot of blood. I don't think you'll need stitches, but it'll probably bruise. And you're going to have a hell of a headache."
"No ER trip?" Seungmin asks, voice caught between joking and serious.
"No ER trip," Jisung confirms, smile tired but fond.
"See?" Seungmin says, looking up at Jeongin, who is looking between them, "I'm fine, Iyen-ah."
The look on Jeongin's face says he still doesn't believe them.
"Look for yourself," Jisung tells him as Jeongin continues to frown at them.
Seungmin tilts his head so Jeongin can get a better look. Jeongin hesitates for a moment before he traces the tender skin around the wound, almost touching but not quite. He ends up cupping Seungmin's cheek, thumb rubbing across his cheekbone. Seungmin smiles up at him and Jisung watches as Jeongin returns it.
"You're sure you're okay?" Jeongin asks and Seungmin nods.
"My head hurts but it's not worse than when I broke my ankle last year."
Both Jeongin and Jisung snort in amusement at that. Only Seungmin would be clumsy enough to break his ankle walking on a flat surface. For a cat hybrid, he was about as unbalanced as they come. Second only to Jeongin himself.
"Okay," Jisung finally says after he gives them a quiet moment to themselves, "We need to finish cleaning you up, Minnie. So we can treat your lip and cut before we give you something for the pain."
Seungmin turns to look at him and Jisung can't help but smile at his slightly startled expression. It doesn't take very much for the two of them to get lost in each other, forming their own little bubble without putting any thought into it. The bond they shared was a special one and Jisung could only hope to one day understand them the way they so easily understood each other without words.
"A shower would probably be easier," Jisung continues, reaching up to rub at one of Seungmin's ears. "Why don't you get clean and I'll go get you some clothes? Then we'll tend to your wound and you can lay down. I think you both need the rest and the cuddles."
Seungmin nods, nudging Jeongin gently so he can stand. Jeongin doesn't move far, hands still fisted in his shirt and ears drooping against his hair.
"Can I-" Jeongin starts, but cuts himself short, a blush rising to his cheeks.
They both know what he's asking without him finishing the sentence. Despite years of reassurance, Jeongin still hesitates when it comes to things he wants, especially if it's physical affection or comfort. It takes time to rewrite what years of trauma can cause, but Jisung and Seungmin are patient, giving Jeongin the time he needs to heal.
"Yeah, baby," Seungmin tells him, leaning in to rub his nose with Jeongin’s, "You can join me."
Jeongin brightens considerably, and even with tears on his cheeks and eyes watery, he manages to warm Jisung's heart. The fond look on Seungmin's face mirrors Jisung's.
Jisung leaves them to get in the shower, heading for the master bedroom in search of clothing. It's only four in the afternoon, but Jisung knows how drained the two of them tend to get in high-stress situations. They both loved naps anyways and they loved naps with Jisung even more.
When he gets back to the bathroom, two sets of clean clothes in hand, he finds them in the shower. He can see them through the glass door and he can't help but smile at the sight of them.
They're pressed close, Jeongin with his head tucked under Seungmin's chin, arms wrapped tightly around each other. There's hardly any size difference between them, but like this, Jeongin manages to look tiny and younger than he is.
Seeing them like this, Jisung is reminded that all they'd ever really had was each other, and then they'd nearly lost that. If Jisung hadn't been there...he hates to think of what kind of life they might have had, their bond broken and without each other because the world just didn't understand them.
He sits the small stack of clothes on the counter, fully intending to give them time with each other, but Seungmin's voice catches him before he can exit the bathroom.
"Hyung," Seungmin calls to him, and Jisung pauses in the doorway, turning to look at them over his shoulder.
"You're not going to get in?" He sounds disappointed, a small frown on his face.
Jisung chuckles, turning back around and making his way back into the bathroom. He pauses a few feet from the shower, looking between the two of them as they stare questioningly at him.
"Do you want me to?" Jisung asks even though he already knows the answer.
"Please." It's Jeongin who speaks this time and Seungmin echoes him, his 'please, hyung' soft and quiet.
So, Jisung ends up in the shower, too. They sandwich Jeongin between them, squeezing him in their arms until he squeaks in complaint. He giggles when Jisung nuzzles at the side of his neck, pressing kisses into his wet skin. They share soft kisses as they wash, Jeongin being sure to scrub all the blood from Seungmin's smooth skin. Jisung is also sure to wash their ears and tails, making sure every inch of each of them is nice and squeaky clean before he lets them get out. Breaking years of bad habits wasn't easy, but they'd get there eventually.
Usually, they'd take the extra time to blow dry Jeongin's ears and tail. The long fur took ages to dry completely and it was easier to just speed the process up, but Jisung was more interested in getting them into bed and pain medication into Seungmin's system than he was in worrying about damp fur.
Seungmin whines when Jisung smooths antiseptic cream across his wound and bottom lip, but he lets Jisung stick butterfly bandages across the cut without openly complaining. Jeongin isn't far from them, a dry towel draped over his head to soak up any extra water from his ears.
Once Jisung gets them into bed, he returns to the living room to survey the damage. He's not sure how much force it took to knock the table completely over, but they'd managed it somehow. He goes about sweeping up the pieces of the shattered mug, thankful it wasn't one of their favorites this time.
The rug under the table was pretty much ruined, blood and coffee now staining the light blue fibers. Jisung is sure he could probably pay someone to try and get the stains out, but the rug has zero sentimental meaning to him and it would just be easier to purchase another one. Seungmin and Jeongin would probably enjoy shopping for a new one anyways. They could make a thing out of it, change the curtains and throw pillows as well. It was time for a room upgrade anyways and Jisung wanted more of their own personal tastes in the apartment anyways.
He leaves the rug for now, but moves the table to the side of the room, out of the way so he can deal with the rug the next day. With the living room as clean as it will get, Jisung returns to the bedroom.
Seungmin and Jeongin are in the middle of the large bed. Jisung can just see the top of Seungmin's head, fluffy dark brown ears peeking out from where he's snuggled down against Jeongin's chest. The pain medication should have kicked in by now and Jisung assumes they've both fallen asleep.
He flicks off the bedroom light, plunging the room into semi-darkness. The blackout curtains do an amazing job of blocking the afternoon sun. When Jisung slides into bed behind Seungmin, the hybrid turns his head to blink blurry eyes at him.
"I thought you were asleep," Jisung says softly, carding his fingers through Seungmin's damp hair.
"Was waiting on you," Seungmin says, words slurring with sleepiness.
"I'm here, baby," Jisung tells him as he presses a kiss to Seungmin's cheek.
"I don't like sleeping without you," Seungmin says, still looking at Jisung even though his eyes are slipping closed.
"I know you don't," Jisung laughs quietly. "My needy baby."
Seungmin huffs at that but doesn't argue the statement. He turns back to Jeongin, who hasn't even twitched in his sleep. Jisung wraps an arm around Seungmin, fingers brushing Jeongin's hip. Seungmin reaches up to lace his hand with Jisung's, giving his hand a light squeeze.
As Jisung snuggles down, burying his face in the back of Seungmin's neck, he feels Seungmin's tail wrap around his ankle. The feel of soft fur tickles his skin but it makes him smile. Jisung presses closer in response, crowding Seungmin closer to Jeongin until they have a little Seungmin sandwich.
He falls asleep thinking he will forever be grateful that he found them when he did. Not only is he willing and capable of giving them the happy life they both deserve, but they also fill his once-blank life with more joy and happiness than he could have ever hoped for.