Cookie (1/1)

Minho parked his car in front of his building late at night, and Kibum was most likely waiting for him to come home.He didn’t enjoy holidays in his home country, let alone his hometown. As much as he loved Korea, he couldn’t stand the heavy atmosphere in the country full of envy and jealousy towards those who managed to build a better life. Kibum and him had left for Japan a few years ago, and if it wasn’t for their respective parents and family, they wouldn’t even think of coming back there.A piercing mewing woke Minho up from his reverie, making him turn his head to the passenger seat at his right. A cute little black new-born kitty with white covering his small paws and the bottom of his small face was laying there in a pile of towels to keep it warm.He still wasn’t sure why earlier he had agreed on his little cousin’s pleas to help it when he came with it in his hands. He didn’t see any point in scolding the little since it was too late - the little buddy already discovered and taken away; not mentioning how hard Minho found it to reject the request with those big tears falling from the kid’s eyes.Minho let a small sigh escape from his lips before stretching out his arms toward the small fluffy ball. He had informed Kibum about the new arrival beforehand so he could prepare the kitten a place for the night.“Come on, buddy, let’s go home” Minho lifted it with the pile of towels and covered it so it wouldn’t get cold. “Hush, hush little one, I’ve got you” he cooed in attempt to stop the baby kitten’s mewing. Minho got out of the car and with the kitten in one hand and an infant formula box in the other he went into the building.When he arrived at their floor, Kibum was already waiting at the front door with a worried gaze, shifting from one foot to the other. He didn’t event let Minho open his mouth to talk, too preoccupied on the mewing living being.“Let me see him, show it to me” Kibum was all over Minho, trying to have a look at the fluffy ball. The taller pushed him back though.“Bum calm down, let’s go inside first and we’ll take care of it.” Minho said, taking off his shoes with his feet before he headed straight to the kitchen followed by his boyfriend.As he put the mewing kitten and the formula on the countertop, Kibum hurried himself to take the fluffy ball in his hands and inspected it with careful eyes. The little animal indeed was a new-born; its eyes were still closed and he didn’t seem to hear either. His small body was trembling in -what must be- fear but also cold. Its mewing sounded desperate, somewhat filled with pain. And then Kibum saw a wound on the front-left paw.“Oh god, Minho!” Kibum panicked. “It’s injured, and bleeding!”Without waiting, he ran to the bathroom, looking for medications and pads, only to be stopped by Minho who grabbed him by the arm and led him back to the kitchen.“I know it’s injured, that’s why I took disinfecting wipes with me” Minho took out said wipes from his pocket at the same time. “Now will you calm down and help me cleaning the wound, please? We lost enough time.”Chewing on his bottom lip, Kibum nodded and followed Minho’s instructions who resumed in: “Hold him tight, not too tight Kibum, let him breathe!” “Give me the wipe” “Give me some water”. They cleaned the wound with success, however there was no way to put a bandage on it, as nothing could fix itself on the tiny paw.“We’ll see that tomorrow, I guess.” Minho said, placing the tiny kitten back on the pile of towels.“But, Minho.” Kibum started saying taking out a shoebox he had found earlier and an empty small bottle of water. “There isn’t any veterinarian within hundred kilometres”. He mumbled before putting a bowl of water in the microwave.“There’s still that drug store where they have stuff for animals, hopefully they will be able to help us.” Minho replied while putting the kitten in the stuffed with towels box. “Water for the milk?” He then asked.“Nope.” The microwave’s alarm ringed in announcement of the end of the heating. “I’ll improvise a hot-water bottle” Kibum said.“Hot-water bottle? What for?”“Prepare the milk Minho! The little one is starving!” Kibum only rushed him as he filled the empty bottle with hot water.