[ Joon-gi lifted his eyes from his cup as Zhao approached and offered a small smile as he seated himself at the table. ] Feeling better, now?
[ He certainly looked better, that's for damn sure. He watched as Zhao reached for his tea, noticing the small chips in his black nail polish. Maybe he'd offer a manicure and a touch-up as a way to show his appreciation for Zhao braving the weather to gather kitten supplies? Joon-gi did enjoy spoiling his boyfriend, and he certainly deserved a little spoiling after nearly catching his death out there.
Joon-gi shook his head, denying the praise, though a part of him still appreciated the thought. ]
Don't give me all the credit. You're the one who cooked everything; I just warmed it up for you. [ He paused, taking a sip of his tea. ] By the way, thank you for dinner. The miso soup was perfect, as usual.
[ He held his cup between both hands, savoring the warmth seeping into his fingers. He spared a glance at the box tucked near his chair, seeing the kitten curled comfortably on her side, sleeping soundly. He watched the rise and fall of her chest with each small, shallow breath; the occasional twitch of her limbs; the way her tiny pink tongue peeked out of her mouth.
He listened as Zhao spoke, and Joon-gi's fingers tightened around his cup. He kept his eyes firmly lowered, staring into his tea, and met his own stoic reflection staring back at him.
Several long moments passed in tense silence before he finally spoke, softly: ] No. It's not fair.
[ Slowly, Joon-gi lifted his gaze and met Zhao's eyes. Something was brittle in that look, his dark eyes like two pieces of obsidian—sharp but hopelessly fragile. ]
Not giving her a name is like saying you've already given up hope. Well, I haven't! She's a fighter, I know it. I almost crushed my arm trying to fish her out from behind a dumpster because she was so determined to get away from what she thought was a predator. Even when I finally managed to drag her out, she kept trying to squirm out of my hands. That's how desperately she wants to live, don't you see?
[ As Joon-gi spoke, his voice hitched sharply in his throat. He took a breath, and tried to regain control of his voice. To maintain the calm, cool facade that he had always cultivated ever since he took up the name of the former Joon-gi Han as his own.
But he couldn't. Not when the memory of his father's cold, dispassionate face surfaced in his thoughts.
Don't you dare bring another filthy animal like that into my home. Or the next time, you'll have the pleasure of disposing of the trash yourself.
He tried to school his features, but he could feel the threat of tears stinging at his eyes. ]
I know you think it's a waste of time, but I want to give her a name. I want to at least grant her that one, small dignity so that, should the time come, I can give her a proper farewell. Then she'll know that she was loved, if only for a little while...
[ He never got the chance to say good-bye to Eun-so, never got the chance to beg her forgiveness. By the time he had returned home from school, the deed was done, and all her belongings were already in the trash. There was nothing he could do.
Maybe that's why he couldn't simply leave this kitten to die. Maybe, in some small way, he could make amends to Eun-so, if only to her memory.
Joon-gi averted his gaze and hastily scrubbed a hand across his face, hoping that it would be enough to halt the tears threatening to overflow. ]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-09-14 02:29 am (UTC)[ He certainly looked better, that's for damn sure. He watched as Zhao reached for his tea, noticing the small chips in his black nail polish. Maybe he'd offer a manicure and a touch-up as a way to show his appreciation for Zhao braving the weather to gather kitten supplies? Joon-gi did enjoy spoiling his boyfriend, and he certainly deserved a little spoiling after nearly catching his death out there.
Joon-gi shook his head, denying the praise, though a part of him still appreciated the thought. ]
Don't give me all the credit. You're the one who cooked everything; I just warmed it up for you. [ He paused, taking a sip of his tea. ] By the way, thank you for dinner. The miso soup was perfect, as usual.
[ He held his cup between both hands, savoring the warmth seeping into his fingers. He spared a glance at the box tucked near his chair, seeing the kitten curled comfortably on her side, sleeping soundly. He watched the rise and fall of her chest with each small, shallow breath; the occasional twitch of her limbs; the way her tiny pink tongue peeked out of her mouth.
He listened as Zhao spoke, and Joon-gi's fingers tightened around his cup. He kept his eyes firmly lowered, staring into his tea, and met his own stoic reflection staring back at him.
Several long moments passed in tense silence before he finally spoke, softly: ] No. It's not fair.
[ Slowly, Joon-gi lifted his gaze and met Zhao's eyes. Something was brittle in that look, his dark eyes like two pieces of obsidian—sharp but hopelessly fragile. ]
Not giving her a name is like saying you've already given up hope. Well, I haven't! She's a fighter, I know it. I almost crushed my arm trying to fish her out from behind a dumpster because she was so determined to get away from what she thought was a predator. Even when I finally managed to drag her out, she kept trying to squirm out of my hands. That's how desperately she wants to live, don't you see?
[ As Joon-gi spoke, his voice hitched sharply in his throat. He took a breath, and tried to regain control of his voice. To maintain the calm, cool facade that he had always cultivated ever since he took up the name of the former Joon-gi Han as his own.
But he couldn't. Not when the memory of his father's cold, dispassionate face surfaced in his thoughts.
Don't you dare bring another filthy animal like that into my home. Or the next time, you'll have the pleasure of disposing of the trash yourself.
He tried to school his features, but he could feel the threat of tears stinging at his eyes. ]
I know you think it's a waste of time, but I want to give her a name. I want to at least grant her that one, small dignity so that, should the time come, I can give her a proper farewell. Then she'll know that she was loved, if only for a little while...
[ He never got the chance to say good-bye to Eun-so, never got the chance to beg her forgiveness. By the time he had returned home from school, the deed was done, and all her belongings were already in the trash. There was nothing he could do.
Maybe that's why he couldn't simply leave this kitten to die. Maybe, in some small way, he could make amends to Eun-so, if only to her memory.
Joon-gi averted his gaze and hastily scrubbed a hand across his face, hoping that it would be enough to halt the tears threatening to overflow. ]