twenty three;

It's almost been a week since Eunha felt the baby move for the first time. Now it's moved to kicking. And he or she hasn't stopped. Luckily the pain she had been feeling subsided, but now she was being awoken in the middle of the night by her child's new favorite activity.        To the point she's given up on sleeping when she wanted to, and more-so when it was convenient. It's kept her mind off other things; Soojin and Zero.        It felt like a punch to the gut knowing he wasn't here. And even worse one that Soojin knows the general area of where they are.        Part of her wants to think he was pulling the same stunt Mingi and Jongho had. But deep down she knows the truth.        Zero was hurt. Deeply emotionally hurt. Those wounds take far longer to heal, if they do at all. His behavior, the reason Hongjoong never let him speak freely, be free. It all made sense. Hongjoong was just as guilty as Zero was at this moment. Zero might be on the opposing side but Hongjoong drove him there. Two people spent almost four-hundred years sharing the same body were now free of each other. Constantly at war with the other, hurtful words and threats thrown aimlessly. For the first time, Zero is free to do what he wants, go wherever, say anything freely. Eunha was angry. She had been since Soojin ruined her peace of mind. Finding out Hongjoong's and Zero's history. She was mad at Soojin for ruining everything that's ever brought her happiness. She was mad at Hongjoong for what he did to Zero. And she was mad at Zero for being so willing to sacrifice the others, as well as their child. She empathizes with all he's been through, but none of it warrants his actions. His decisions. "What's wrong?" Wooyoung tore her from her raging thoughts, turning to find him in her doorway. "What? Oh- nothing. Just thinking." "Well it must be something bothering you. The journal it's about to burst into flames from how hard you're staring holes through it." Eunha let out a deep sigh, that same blank page staring back at her. "I'm just-" She slammed it closed. "I'm angry at the world." Wooyoung hummed in response, stepping beside her to place a hand on her shoulder. "Well, I hope I've done nothing to madden you. Since I am part of the world." The human couldn't help but laugh at his remark, staring up at him with a smile. "Of course not. You could never upset me." "I hope not, I try very hard not to." "Did you need something?" She turned slightly in the chair, facing the vampire. "Nothing specific, just wanting your company." Wooyoung picked up her journal and put it in the desk drawer, placing the now empty hand out to help her up. "Seonghwa is about to start dinner, I heard he's attempting to teach Hongjoong. I thought maybe you'd enjoy watching our kitchen burst into flames, with me." Eunha was learning she didn't know much about her mate. Not as much as she thought at least. But one thing she did, was the fact even his presence in the kitchen lured chaos. "I would love to." She hooked her arm with his and let him led her. She was fine until they got to the stairs. Wooyoung offered to carry her but her stubbornness allowed none of it. "What's the point? If you aren't going to do it right, then why am I even teaching you?"        "Isn't that the point of teaching? You're supposed to guide me through the right way, not throw me to the wolves and hope I don't burn this castle down." The bickering was coming from their destination, the two eldest hashing it out.       They peaked their heads into the room to find Seonghwa and Hongjoong standing a few feet apart, the hybrid facing the counter while the vampire was leaned up against that same counter.        "You can't cook, you can't control yourself, you don't have a plan." Seonghwa huffed loudly, looking away from him. "But apparently you're really good at lying."         Hongjoong slammed the knife in hand down, a long clank filling the space around them. "I never lied!"       "Maybe not, but that's a pretty big secret to hide from us. From me." Seonghwa pushed off the counter to step away but he stopped almost immediately. "You know, I thought we were close. Closer than anyone else. I've told you everything about me. I've shared every bad experience, every good one. I shared my deepest and darkest thoughts."        The vampire turned to face his captain, noticing both shame and fury flowing off him. "You're my brother. You have been for a very long time, even before I became immortal. I love you, Hongjoong. Truly. You're my best friend. We've been through hell and back. Why couldn't you tell me? Why would you suffer with this in silence? Did I ever make you feel that I wouldn't understand? That I would walk away?"       He waited for a response but Hongjoong said nothing, and gave no indication he was going to reply. "Really? Nothing? Nothing at all?" Seonghwa clenched his jaw as the foreign sting bloomed behind his eyes. "I see. Great conversation." The tall vampire knocked shoulders with his captain, storming past Wooyoung and Eunha and down the hall. Hongjoong's vision fell to the floor where he previously stood. "Joong?" Eunha's voice seemed to pull him from his thoughts, but he didn't acknowledge either of him as he walked by them and out the front doors. "Well... I guess I'm making dinner."

Now Playing;My Everything by Chris Grey

The sun went down moments after Eunha finished her plate, Wooyoung awaiting to take it away and wash it. She sat in her place and let the noise of running water flood the thoughts in her mind. "You've been quiet this whole time, even when you were cooking. What's on your mind?" "What makes you think I can't be quiet?" Wooyoung peeked over his shoulder with a smile. "It's not in your nature to be silent unless something is bothering you. Now talk." She smiled back, noticing his turned to a frown. "You're very good at reading people. Too well." His reply pulled a hum from her. Eunha stood up and stepped next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm not one that can endure watching my loved ones suffer in silence. Especially when it's obvious they want to get it off their chest." "I don't want to burden you. Not when you already have plenty to endure, princess." Eunha pulled away to stare at him with sown eyebrows. "As long as I love you, what's your to burden is mine to burden. Besides, you already have to deal with all my baggage." Wooyoung sighed heavily and met her gaze, already knowing this was a losing battle.        "I..." He paused almost immediately, as if trying to find the words. "I just hate seeing everyone fighting. Zero hates us for something we never even knew about. You and San aren't speaking, and now Seonghwa is at Hongjoong's throat." He finished the plate and began to dry it. "Soojin keeps finding new ways to ruin everything."       Eunha rubbed his arm in hopes to comfort him. "We're supposed to be celebrating. You and Hongjoong are parents. We shouldn't be bickering or waiting for something to happen, or go wrong."        Wooyoung turned to face her after setting the plate to the side. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Or any of us."        Eunha wanted to reassure him that nothing bad was going to happen but she didn't know that for sure. "I know. I don't either." She grabbed his hand and laced their fingers together. "We just have to stick together. Protect each other." He looked down at their interlocked hands, using his thumb to rub her knuckles. "And even if we're mad at each other, we still fight for each other." A smile spread across his lips. "I could walk through hell itself knowing you're by my side, princess."        "Well, I hope it never comes to that." Wooyoung grabbed her other hand and pulled her closer. "Me too. Because I can't stand the thought of losing you." He stared at her longingly, the sadness in his eyes were evident. "I was content with just the others being my family. But I always felt something was missing. Even lying in my bed I was empty. Homesick." He let go for one hand and caressed her face. "That feeling vanished the night I held you in my arms. I couldn't fight the feeling I got when I looked at you, when you looked at me. I'd never felt something like that before. I never knew loving someone would feel like this. And I'm so glad I get to experience it. I cherish every moment I get to spend with you. Which is why I can't wait a second longer not being your husband."