AU story, Canon divergence. Â 7-part short story, 1 part per prompt day. Â Each of them came from different backgrounds, but there was something that tied their lives together and, in the end, they learn how family meant much more than just by blood.
@thedragonsweek2019Â Â Part 5- Day 5 Family Bonds
Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
The six young men huddle around the young teenage girl as she stares at her fatherâs casket. Â Mundok places a hand upon her shoulder, âitâs gonna be okay Yona, weâll help you get through this. Â Iâll make sure your fatherâs business and legacy continues, I promise.â
Yona could only stare forward in disbelief.  Her hands hung at her sides, âBut I still donât understand wâwhyâŚ.  How could he hurt my dad like that when he was just trying to do the right thing?â  She looks up at her best friend Hak who just stood to her side.  The whites of his knuckles, the scowl and narrowed expression⌠her dad had treated him like a son, so his anger made sense.  Yona tugged gently at his sleeve, âHak?â  He was so focused on the casket that it took a couple of pulls to gain his attention.  Â
When he finally turns and looks, to see her riddled with pain and eyes misted over, his heart clenches tighter along with his fists. Â Yona didnât deserve this, that bastard! Â How could he hurt his cousin like that! Â Her eyes crinkle at the corners causing the tears to pool in them. Â Sheâd held back the tears but there was no stopping them now and in a surprising move she launches into his chest, buries her face into the fabric and hands gripping. It takes a couple seconds to register in the young man but when it does, he wraps his arms around the girl. Â His anger swept away by the need to console her instead.
Each of the other five boys immediately moves in to embrace Yona until she was buried beneath a sea of arms and bodies. Â She was their little sister and big brothers protect little sisters. Â If she was in pain, they would be there for her, just like she had been for them years ago. Â Her sobbing continued but at a milder pace, tucked away in Hakâs arms and soothed by the rest of them. Â Kija, Yoon and Zeno, Shin-ah and Jae-ha all cooing and whispering their consolations. Â Â Â
There wasnât a dry eye to be seen. Â
Mundok simply stood back and watched it unfold.  He never imagined all those years ago when heâd taken the first child in, that this would be where his life would end up.  It warmed his aging heart, and in that moment, he knew they truly would be okay.  All of those boys with heartbreaking stories of their own had come so farâŚ. They will be great men, he mused, no, they were already amazing young men. Bonded through adversity, they would stare down the future together in a way that was yet to be seen, but Mundok was certain, they would be victorious in wherever their paths led them to.     Â
After a few minutes, they untangle themselves and lead Yona to the seats that were set up for the family so the funeral could commence.  As she sat between them, Yoon held her hand on one side, Hak kept his arm around her from the other, and the other four sat behind like guardians.  Mundok took a seat next to Hak and closed his eyes, âSheâll be okay Il, you rest in peace old friendâŚâ