FELLOWSHIP || Ateez Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty Nine: Brotherly Love

"Why the long face puppy?", San asks and puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Just a lot of worries and regrets."
"Why?", Seonghwa asks who suddenly appeared next to me.
"Because of Mingi and because I didn't speak out against going into the creepy ruin."
"But you couldn't have known what would happen in there. So don't blame yourself.", Seonghwa tries to calm me down.
"It probably was meant to happen that way.", San states.
I nod. I know what they're saying is true but...

After Hongjoong's brother showed us all the important sights in Coel Wajasi, he brings to the district near the stable that we arrived at. We halt in front of a small house with a tiny balcony. I suddenly hear a weird noise next to me. I look to my left where Yeosang stands.
"Sorry, I am hungry.", he says.
"Then it's good that we will go to a restaurant in just a second.", Bumjoong announces.
He screams something and a woman with beautiful curly black hair appears on the balcony . She is wearing a bright pink dress with an intricate golden pattern on it and a lot of jewelry. She even has a golden hoop at her nose. I have seen a lot of people here with jewelry at their nose or lips. She also has something painted on her arm.
She smiles at Bumjoong and runs inside again. A few seconds later the door opens and she wraps her arms him. They kiss for a brief second before they turn to us.
"This is my girlfriend Baeriya. She will come to the restaurant with us. Darling, this is my brother Hongjoong, his friends and our new housemate Haneul."
"A new housemate. Amazing! Then I won't be the only woman when I move in."

We slowly make our way to the restaurant. Baeriya immediately starts a conversation with Haneul. She really seems excited to have another female housemate. I slowly walk behind the others. I think back to everything that we have experienced and everything that is to come. After we are done in Wajasi we will go to the Nekra Kingdom, right? I really don't want to go there. One time was enough and we didn't even leave the ship. Plus all the assassins that have tried to kill us and everything I have heard makes me really not look forward to it.

My train of thoughts get interrupted as someone takes my hand. I am surprised to see that it is Wooyoung. The smaller boy smiles at me.
"You are so quiet today, big bear.", he comments.
"I am just a bit lost in thought. And aren't you angry at me?"
"No why?"
"Because of this morning."
"No, I wasn't really angry at you. I, well... I kind of was but... Argh! Let's just forget about it! So what are you thinking about?"
"Just our journey."
"Ah okay. I am really excited for Tongcheok. As you know my grandpa was from there but I don't know a lot about it."
"Has he never told you about it?"
"I didn't get to know him. My grandpa was killed for mentioning that he wished to live with grandma in Tongcheok when my mom was 4 years old."
"I'm sorry to hear that. My grandparents are still alive. They all moved to a small village near the border to the Neutral Zone a few years ago."
"All four of them?"
"Yeah, they are best friends."

We reach the restaurant. The owner puts two big tables together for us. I am unsure what I should order because I don't know any of those dishes.
"Are there any dishes that aren't as spicy?", Seonghwa asks.
"Dish 3,6 and 12 aren't as spicy and dish 13 isn't spicy at all.", Bumjoong answers.
"Are you afraid that you will get diarrhea again?", Wooyoung jokes.
"Yes. Hopefully you will get it this time.", he replies snappish.
"No. I have a strong stomach."
The waiter comes to take our order.
I notice a young man from another table looking towards us. In particular at Haneul. He talks to his friends then he comes towards us.
"Hello, I am Albj'n. I saw from the other table and thought you are very pretty. Would you maybe like to go for a walk with me tomorrow?", he asks Haneul.
Haneul freezes. San seems to dislike that his sister is asked out by a random guy. He balls his fist and is about to scream at the guy. I hold him back.
"Calm down. He is just asking politely. There is no reason to get angry.", I whisper.
"I-I don't want to.", Haneul stutters.
"Oh... I'm sorry.", the man says and goes back to his place looking embarrassed.
"He was cute.", Baeriya comments.
"I just came out of an abusive marriage so I am not interested in dating for now.", Haneul mentions.
"Aww, I understand that."

Our food comes and San finally stops staring angrily at the man. Beomjoong and Baeriya tell us how they met while we eat but slowly the conversation shifts to the brothers telling their childhood stories.
"I still remember when our parents gave you that book and you couldn't stop speaking about how your going to find the treasure of Aninliggat and make the world a better place with it. I always had to be the bad guy who wants to have the treasure for bad reasons and you always beat me with a stick."
"Hey that was only one time! Plus I often had to dig in the ground to find artefacts with you, too. But we would mostly find some random stone."
"We did find a lump of gold once though. I was just really interested in archeology and the history of Wolkmaar and obviously still am."
"To be honest I learned a lot from you and I always admired you for staying alone in Wajasi to do what you want at a young age."
"You're doing well yourself. I mean look at the crew that managed to get and you're much closer to finding the treasure of Aninliggat than many people before you."
"Well what I did is not that great. Without the help of my friends I never would have made it this far."
"But we also wouldn't have come this far without you leadership and knowledge.", I comment.
"Thanks.", Hongjoong says, smiles and blushes a little.
"All of you guys have an important role in the team.", San remarks.
"You too.", Mingi responds.
"Eh.. really? I always feel so useless..."
"You're not useless.", Seonghwa says.
San smiles shyly.

After eating and chatting for two hours we go back home. Bumjoong's girlfriend comes with us.
"Is she going to sleep here?", Hongjoong asks.
"Yeah why not?", his brother replies.
Hongjoong blushes.
"Oh.. uhhh... b-but we are also t-there... ehh... y-you're not going t..."
Bumjoong's and Baeriya's faces slowly become red too. The rest of us giggles.
"Ahhh... it's not like that brother. We are just sleeping in the same bed, not ehh... uhh.... y-you know."
"Oh, ehm... sorry. Ehh... just forget that I said that."
We can't hold our laughter anymore. Oh man, that was so akward.
"What are you guys doing tomorrow? Because Bum and I have work tomorrow.", Sbosio changes the topic.
"I think we should research how we are going to get to the ruins in the east.", Jongho suggests.
"Yes, maybe we'll go to library for that.", Hongjoong states.
"Okay, Haneul do you want to come with us tomorrow?", Bumjoong asks.
"I would love to.", Haneul replies.

We play a card game before we go to bed. I have some trouble falling asleep. Too many thoughts race through my mind. I am scared that I will disappoint the others again, that I will make the wrong decision again.
I not even sure that I made the right decision when I convinced Mingi to join Hongjoongs crew. I said I would protect him but am I even able to protect him?

Author's Note:
Well one slight author's blockage and one Rona infection later I am back with a new chapter. I am sorry that it is not that long and sort of a filler chapter. I had trouble writing it. 🙈
I hope you still like it and unlike me stay healthy. ❤️