Ateez Series - Tumblr Posts

𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭⚾️

➯𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐝! 𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨 𝐱 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➯𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫, 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦. 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧.?

➯𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭, 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐲, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚

➯𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: nothing really that bad just a worried mom

➯𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @deltamoon666 , @chngbnwf , @soso59love-blog , @cara-rey , @nanaspeaches , @sannieily , @kyeomooniee , @whoronoa , @ateez-atiny380 , @mkiverd , @mingimangomu , @miracle-sol , @e3ellie , @yoongilover3 , @jaerisdiction , @txpxwxk , @yothangie , @darkerrdaze

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑

As you leave the field with Ye Joon by your side, you can feel Yunho’s gaze following you, filled with confusion and unspoken questions. Your heart races, a mix of anxiety and unresolved feelings bubbling to the surface. You try to focus on Ye Joon, who’s chatting happily about practice , oblivious to the tension. Your sister walks beside you, her expression unreadable but supportive. Once you’re far enough from the field, she whispers, “Are you okay?” You nod, though you’re not entirely sure. “I knew this day would come eventually, but I didn’t think it would be like this.” Back at home, you help Ye Joon settle down with his homework, but your mind keeps drifting back to Yunho’s shocked expression. Questions swirl in your mind. Did he recognize Ye Joon? What will happen if he tries to reach out?. Later that evening, after Ye Joon is asleep, you and your sister sit down to talk. “What are you going to do?” she asks gently. “I don’t know,” you admit, rubbing your temples. “I want what’s best for Ye Joon, but I don’t know if Yunho being in his life is the right thing. He didn’t want kids back then, and I don’t know if he’s changed.” Your sister places a reassuring hand on yours. “Whatever you decide, we’ll figure it out together.”

A few weeks later, you find yourself at the baseball field, surrounded by cheering parents and the smell of freshly cut grass. The sun is shining, and the excitement in the air is palpable as Ye Joon’s team prepares for their big game. You watch from the bleachers, your eyes following Ye Joon as he warms up with his teammates. He’s been practicing hard, and you can see the determination on his face. Your sister sits beside you, offering support, and the two of you chat about the week’s events while keeping a close eye on the field. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions and decisions, but today you’re focused on being there for Ye Joon. On the sidelines, Yunho and Coach Wooyoung are actively talking to the players, offering tips and encouragement. Yunho kneels down to Ye Joon’s level, demonstrating how to grip the ball properly for a curveball, his voice calm and instructive. “Remember to keep your wrist loose and follow through with your arm,” Yunho advises, ruffling Ye Joon’s hair with a reassuring smile. Coach Wooyoung, meanwhile, is discussing batting techniques with another group of kids, emphasizing the importance of footwork and timing. “Keep your eye on the ball and stay balanced,” he says, mimicking a perfect swing. You can see the respect and admiration in the children’s eyes as they absorb every word. As the game begins, you spot Yunho offering words of encouragement to Ye Joon. Your heart skips a beat, but you remind yourself that today is about Ye Joon, and you’re determined to support him as he takes to the mound, ready to pitch his heart out. As the round starts, your son’s team is up to bat first. One of Ye Joon’s friends, Pil-gu, steps up to the plate. His first swing is a miss, and the home plate umpire calls out, “Strike one!” Pil-gu’s shoulders slump slightly, doubt creeping in. But then Ye Joon calls out from the dugout, “Don’t give up now, Pil-gu!” Pil-gu turns to look at Ye Joon, the light in his eyes rekindled by his friend’s encouragement. With renewed focus, he remembers Coach Yunho’s advice about keeping his eye on the ball and staying confident. As the pitcher winds up and releases the next pitch, Pil-gu is ready. He swings, and the crack of the bat echoes across the field. The ball soars into the outfield, landing in the grass with a satisfying thud. Pil-gu takes off running, his heart pounding with excitement as cheers erupt from his teammates and the crowd. He rounds first base and heads for second, glancing briefly at the center fielder who scrambles to retrieve the ball. Just as the center fielder throws the ball back to the pitcher, Pil-gu slides safely into second base. His teammates erupt in cheers, and he stands up, brushing the dirt from his uniform with a triumphant grin. From the stands, you and the other parents cheer loudly, proud of Pil-gu’s determination and the team’s growing camaraderie.

The game has been intense, with both teams scoring a few points, but Ye Joon’s team is edging ahead. As the game nears its end, Ye Joon is next up to bat. You cheer loudly for him, unable to contain your excitement, and Yunho glances at you, a smile playing on his lips. Ye Joon steps onto the field, waving to you with a confident smile as he makes his way to the plate. Holding the bat firmly, he recalls all the tips Coach Yunho has given him. The pitcher winds up and throws the ball, and Ye Joon swings with all his might. The bat connects with a satisfying crack, and the ball sails high into the air, soaring over the outfield and just beyond the fence. It’s a home run! Without hesitation, Ye Joon takes off running, his face lit up with joy. “Run, Ye Joon!” you shout, your voice mingling with the cheers of the crowd. As Ye Joon rounds the bases, Pil-gu makes his way to third and then heads home, both of them scoring. The crowd erupts in applause as Ye Joon sprints towards home plate. His teammates rush to greet him, hugging each other and jumping around in celebration as the coaches join in. Amidst the excitement, you spot Ye Joon and Yunho together. Ye Joon runs to Yunho, who picks him up and swings him around in a moment of shared joy. As Yunho sets him down, he looks at Ye Joon with pride. “Nice one, kiddo. You made your first home run! I’m proud of you,” Yunho says, grinning. “Thank you, Coach Yunho! I wanna be a star baseball player just like you,” Ye Joon replies, giving a thumbs-up with a bright smile. Yunho’s smile falters for a moment as he realizes the connection, recognizing the resemblance Ye Joon and him have. But in that moment, he pushes the thought aside, savoring the shared triumph and joy. After the celebration, as the last of the parents pick up their kids, the field slowly empties out. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the field, and the only people left are Yunho and Wooyoung, gathering up the remaining equipment and putting it away. As they work, Yunho can’t help but think about you. Questions swirl in his mind—how you’ve been, when you had a son, and most importantly, who Ye Joon’s father might be. Finally, curiosity gets the better of him. “Do you think Y/N has a husband or something?” Yunho asks, trying to sound casual as he hands Wooyoung a bat. Wooyoung turns to look at him, curiosity piqued. “Uh, I don’t think so,” Wooyoung replies, raising an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?” Yunho shrugs, trying to play it cool, but his heart feels a little lighter at the thought. “Just curious. I didn’t see anyone with her at the game.” Wooyoung nods thoughtfully. “I think she doesn’t have a husband because if she did, he’d be here, cheering Ye Joon on right beside her,” he says, stacking some helmets. “But maybe she has a boyfriend who’s the father, and he just doesn’t know about Ye Joon.” Yunho considers this, feeling a strange mix of relief and confusion. “She wouldn’t be that secretive and hide a father from their son,” he says, more to himself than Wooyoung. But oh boy was he wrong, sensing there might be more to the story than he knows. As they finish packing up, Yunho can’t shake the feeling that there are pieces of the puzzle missing, and he resolves to find out more about the life you’ve built since he last saw you. As Wooyoung continues to speculate, he grins and says, “But wait, maybe she’s dating a mafia boss, or she could be with an officer, or maybe even a coach.” He chuckles at the last suggestion, glancing at Yunho for his reaction. At the mention of a coach, Yunho feels a foreign flutter in his chest. It’s a feeling he can’t quite place, but it’s enough to make him pause. Wooyoung is about to launch into another wild theory when Yunho interrupts him. “I think that’s enough,” Yunho says, trying to sound firm as he stows the last of the equipment. Wooyoung opens his mouth to add another theory, but Yunho shoots him a look—a mix of amusement and seriousness—that tells him to drop it. “But what if—” Wooyoung starts, but Yunho cuts him off with a raised eyebrow, signaling him to stop.

Wooyoung smirks, raising his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop. But you have to admit, it’s fun to think about. Yunho rolls his eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. As they finish packing up and head out, Yunho can’t help but wonder about the life you’ve built and what role, if any, he might play in it.

➯ A/N: the tea is getting hot you guys and is almost almost ready just a little more sugar and heat 😏

PLEASE DO NOT COPYRIGHT, OR PLAGIARISE!

➯ 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑: @deltamoon666 , @chngbnwf , @soso59love-blog , @nanaspeaches , @sannieily , @kyeomooniee , @whoronoa , @ateez-atiny380 , @mingimangomu , @miracle-sol , @e3ellie , @yoongilover3

MADE BY KPOPCAFEEE ©

𝐀 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭⚾️

➯𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐝! 𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨 𝐱 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➯𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫, 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦. 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧.?

➯𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭, 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐲, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: none

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟒

➯ 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @deltamoon666 , @chngbnwf , @soso59love-blog , @jiwoongsblondehair , @nanaspeaches , @sannieily , @kyeomooniee , @whoronoa , @ateez-atiny380 , @mkiverd , @mingimangomu , @miracle-sol , @e3ellie , @yoongilover3 , @amazaynaastha , @zhangyi-johee , @foxinnie8 , @jaerisdiction , @txpxwxk , @yothangie , @darkerrdaze

As the last of the other parents and kids leave the field, you take a moment to soak in the evening air, feeling the warmth of the day’s events settle in your heart. Ye Joon had done so well, and seeing him so happy was everything you could have hoped for. But the unexpected encounter with Yunho still lingers in your mind, stirring up emotions you thought you had tucked away. After making sure Ye Joon has his gear packed, you call out to him. “Ready to go, sunshine?” you ask, smiling as he runs up to you with a big grin on his face. “Yeah, Mom! Did you see my home run?” Ye Joon asks excitedly, his eyes shining with pride. “I did, and you were amazing!” you reply, ruffling his hair affectionately. “I’m so proud of you.” As you walk with Ye Joon toward the car, your sister, Jihyun, falls in step beside you. She gives you a knowing look, sensing the turmoil beneath your composed exterior. “Are you okay?” she asks softly, glancing back at the field where Yunho and Wooyoung are still gathering equipment. You take a deep breath, nodding. “I’m okay. It’s just… seeing him again is awkward,” you admit. “And he’s really good with Ye Joon. ”Jihyun nods in understanding. “It’s a lot to take in. But you’re handling it well,” she reassures you. As you buckle Ye Joon into his seat, you feel a mix of relief and apprehension. You’ve built a life you’re proud of, and though Yunho’s presence has stirred up old feelings, you know your priority is your son. Driving home, the setting sun paints the sky with vibrant colors, and you focus on the road ahead, determined to face whatever comes next with the same strength and grace that has guided you this far. As Ye Joon chatters excitedly about the game from the back seat, you listen and smile, grateful for the small moments that make up your life.

As you finally settle into bed, the quiet of the night does little to calm your restless thoughts. A strange, almost foreign feeling tugs at your heart—a sensation like a missing piece of you is trying to find its way back. You try to push it aside, to let sleep take over, but no matter how much you toss and turn, you can’t seem to shake it. Your mind keeps drifting back to him—Yunho, your first love and, in many ways, your last. You can’t help but wonder what his life is like now. Does he have someone special? A girlfriend? A wife? The thought stirs a pang of jealousy deep within you, one you weren’t expecting. As you finally begin to drift off, your mind conjures an image of him, standing at the altar, but the woman by his side is faceless, just a shadow of a person. The vision leaves you with an uneasy feeling, a mixture of longing and sadness that lingers even as you sleep.

As you wake up nearly at 7, you roll out of bed and head straight to the kitchen, ready to start the day. You begin making breakfast, the smell of eggs and toast filling the air, and start packing lunch for both you and Ye Joon. As you carefully cut up some fruit, you hear the soft thud of little feet on the stairs. “Morning, Mama!” Ye Joon says with a sleepy smile as he walks into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. “Morning, sunshine,” you reply, smiling back. “Breakfast is almost ready. Go wash up, and we can eat.” As Ye Joon heads off to the bathroom, your sister Jihyun walks in, still in her pajamas, yawning as she pours herself a cup of coffee. “Early start, huh?” she says, stretching. “Yeah, the usual routine,” you say with a small grin. “Can you help pack his practice clothes? I’m finishing up breakfast.” “On it,” she says, setting her mug down and heading to the living room to grab Ye Joon’s practice clothes. She folds them neatly and packs them into his bag, making sure everything he needs is in place. When Ye Joon comes back into the kitchen looking more awake, the three of you sit down for a quick breakfast. The conversation is light and filled with Jihyun’s playful teasing, which makes Ye Joon giggle. Once breakfast is done, you grab your bags, and Jihyun helps Ye Joon into his jacket. She hands him his lunch and practice bag. “Ready for another big day, champ?” Jihyun asks, ruffling his hair. “Yep! Thanks, Auntie!” he says with a grin. After a few more last-minute checks, you all head out the door. You buckle Ye Joon into his car seat, and Jihyun gives him a quick kiss on the forehead. “Drive safe,” she says as she waves you off. With a smile, you start the car, Ye Joon happily chatting in the backseat as you head off to drop him at school.

As you pull up to Ye Joon’s school, the morning sun casts a soft glow over the playground. You park the car and help Ye Joon out of his seat, smoothing down his hair as he grabs his backpack. “Alright, sunshine,” you say with a smile, kneeling down to his level. “Be good today, listen to your teachers, and have fun at practice later, okay?”“Okay, Mama!” Ye Joon says with a big grin. He gives you a quick hug, and you kiss the top of his head before standing up. Just as you’re about to turn back to the car, you feel a familiar presence nearby. Your eyes catch a glimpse of someone in the distance—Yunho, standing by his car, watching you and Ye Joon with a thoughtful expression on his face. For a brief moment, your eyes meet, and you feel a wave of emotions rush over you. You quickly turn your attention back to Ye Joon, making sure he’s all set for the day. “Alright, off you go! I’ll see you later.” “Bye, Mama!” Ye Joon waves enthusiastically before running towards the school entrance, joining his friends. As you watch him go, you can’t help but feel Yunho’s gaze still on you. You take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself, and head back to your car. Before you get in, you glance in Yunho’s direction one last time. He’s still standing there, his expression unreadable, but there’s a hint of something in his eyes—something you can’t quite place. With a final sigh, you get into the car and drive away, the encounter lingering in your mind as you make your way to work.

YUNHO POV

Yunho leaned against his car, watching as you and Ye Joon shared your morning goodbyes. The sight of you both together brought a strange, unfamiliar feeling to the surface—a mixture of nostalgia and longing that he hadn’t anticipated. He hadn’t meant to arrive this early, but seeing you and Ye Joon from a distance made him pause. He watched the way you knelt down to Ye Joon’s level, the way you smoothed his hair and smiled so gently. It was clear how much you cared for your son—your son. That realization still hit him in waves. As you looked up, your eyes met his, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. There was something in your gaze—surprise, maybe, but also something deeper, something that mirrored the uncertainty he felt. Yunho couldn’t help but wonder about the life you had built since you last saw each other. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of memories and emotions for him, being so close to you again. And now, seeing you with your son—your son, but a son who had his eyes, his expressions—it made everything feel even more complicated. As Ye Joon ran off to join his friends, Yunho found himself lingering, his eyes tracing every detail of the moment. When you turned back to your car, he almost expected you to walk over to him, to say something, but you didn’t. You just glanced his way again—briefly, almost hesitantly—before driving off. He stood there for a few more moments, trying to sort through his tangled thoughts. There were too many questions, too many things left unsaid. He wanted to ask you everything, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to hear the answers. With a sigh, Yunho finally turned away and headed inside, but the image of you and Ye Joon stayed with him, a constant reminder that maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t as simple as he had thought.

Yunho and Wooyoung met early at a café near the practice field. Yunho had hoped for a quiet start to the day, but Wooyoung, as always, was full of energy and ideas. “Okay, hear me out,” Wooyoung started, barely giving Yunho time to sip his coffee. “What if she’s dating a super-secret agent? You know, like in those spy movies where the dad doesn’t even know his own son?” Yunho rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You really can’t let this go, can you?” “Hey, I’m just saying! It’s a possibility!” Wooyoung grinned. “Maybe that’s why we never see her with anyone—he’s undercover!” Yunho shook his head, trying to hide his amusement. “I think you’ve been watching too many movies, Woo.” “But think about it! You never know what people are hiding,” Wooyoung insisted, leaning across the table, eyes wide with excitement. “And she’s so calm and collected—she has to be hiding something big!”

Yunho raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe she’s just focused on being a good mom. Not everything is a conspiracy. Wooyoung leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Fine, fine. But I still think there’s something more to her story.” By the time they arrived at the field for practice, Wooyoung was still talking. Yunho had long since stopped trying to reason with him, letting his friend ramble on about all the wild theories he could come up with. “Or what if she’s actually a famous singer who went into hiding after a scandal?” Wooyoung suggested as they unloaded the equipment from the car. Yunho laughed, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable.” “What? It could happen!” Wooyoung shot back, grinning. “I’m just trying to make sense of it all. Yunho paused, the smile fading slightly as he thought about what Wooyoung had said. “Or maybe… she’s just trying to protect her son. Maybe the real story isn’t so dramatic.” Wooyoung glanced at him, his expression softening. “Yeah… Maybe. But still, it’s fun to think about, right?” Yunho nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed this—the normal, everyday moments, the camaraderie, even the silly conversations. But there was also a weight in his chest, a growing curiosity about the life you had built without him. Practice went by smoothly, with Yunho and Wooyoung working together to guide the team. Yunho was in his element, offering tips and encouragement to the young players, but every now and then, his gaze would drift toward the bleachers, half-expecting to see you there, watching over Ye Joon. Wooyoung noticed. Of course, he did. “Still thinking about her?” he teased during a break. Yunho sighed. “It’s hard not to.” “You know, if you want to know the truth, you could just ask her,” Wooyoung said, surprisingly serious for once. Yunho looked at him, considering it. “Yeah… Maybe I should.” But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the kids and the game. As much as he wanted answers, he knew that some things couldn’t be rushed. By the time practice wrapped up, Wooyoung was back to his old self, throwing out another wild theory as they packed up the equipment. Yunho just smiled, shaking his head. Even if Wooyoung was relentless, he had to admit that his friend’s antics helped keep his mind off the more complicated emotions swirling inside him. As they walked off the field, Yunho glanced back one last time, wondering what tomorrow would bring—and whether he’d finally have the courage to ask you the questions that had been weighing on his mind. Wooyoung wasn’t done yet. After most of the kids had been picked up, Wooyoung noticed Ye Joon lingering by the dugout, waiting for you to arrive. He took the opportunity to satisfy his curiosity. He crouched down next to Ye Joon, putting on his friendliest smile. “Hey, Ye Joon. Can I ask you something?” Wooyoung began, glancing around as if to make sure no one else was listening. “Where’s your dad? Does he ever come to watch you play?” Ye Joon paused, considering the question. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he put his index finger to his lips and whispered, “He’s a secret!” Before Wooyoung could press further, Ye Joon giggled and ran off to join his friends, leaving Wooyoung scratching his head. “Well, that didn’t help at all,” Wooyoung muttered, standing up just as your car pulled into the lot. Ye Joon spotted you and waved enthusiastically before running over to you. You greeted him with a warm smile, helping him into the car and handing him his favorite snack. Yunho and Wooyoung watched from a distance as you exchanged a few words with Ye Joon before turning toward the coaches. You nodded politely at them, your eyes meeting Yunho’s for a brief moment. There was something in his gaze—questions, maybe? Or perhaps memories of a time long past. You quickly looked away, focusing on helping Ye Joon with his seatbelt. As you drove off, Yunho couldn’t shake the feeling that there was so much more he needed to know, not just about Ye Joon but about you too.

Yunho headed home after practice, the evening’s activities lingering in his mind. After a long day of coaching, he felt the exhaustion settle in, but there was also a restlessness that he couldn’t quite shake. He stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the day’s grime. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to focus on the simple act of cleaning up, his thoughts kept drifting back to you. The memories of the past, the curiosity about your present life, and the undeniable connection that seemed to still linger between you—it all swirled together, refusing to be ignored. As he dried off and got dressed, the quiet of his apartment only amplified the thoughts in his head. He sat down to eat a simple dinner, but the food didn’t hold his attention. His mind was elsewhere, wondering about the life you had built and how you seemed to be managing everything on your own. Finishing his meal, Yunho moved to his bedroom. The bed felt too big, too empty. As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, the questions he had pushed aside earlier came rushing back. Why had you left? What had kept you away all these years? And who was Ye Joon’s father? But more than anything, he found himself missing you. The way you used to laugh, the way you’d brighten up a room just by being in it. He missed the simple moments you shared, the conversations that flowed easily, and the way you made him feel whole. The weight of the unanswered questions, coupled with the lingering emotions, made it hard to fall asleep. But eventually, the exhaustion won out, and Yunho drifted off, your face the last thing on his mind before he succumbed to the pull of sleep.

Y/N POV

As you drifted off to sleep, the weight of the day and your swirling thoughts began to blend into a restless slumber. Despite the confusion and emotional turmoil, there was a small sense of comfort in knowing that you were not alone in your thoughts—that Yunho, too, was grappling with his own questions and emotions. In the quiet of the night, as you finally succumbed to sleep, you hoped for clarity and resolution. The uncertainty about the future and the unresolved feelings from the past were there, but you knew that life had a way of unfolding in unexpected ways. With one last thought of Yunho, you fell into a deep sleep, hoping that whatever tomorrow might bring, it would offer some answers or, at the very least, a sense of peace amidst the chaos of your heart. As you drifted off to sleep, the weight of the day and your swirling thoughts began to blend into a restless slumber. Despite the confusion and emotional turmoil, there was a small sense of comfort in knowing that you were not alone in your thoughts—that Yunho, too, was grappling with his own questions and emotions. In the quiet of the night, the sound of your steady breathing was a soothing reminder that some things, like the love you once shared, still held a place in your heart. You clung to the hope that the future might bring answers or at least some clarity to the tangled web of your past. The uncertainty about what would happen next loomed large, but you resolved to face it with the strength you had cultivated over the years. As you sank deeper into your pillow, you imagined a future where the pieces of your life might fall into place, and where old wounds could begin to heal. With one last thought of Yunho, you fell into a deep sleep, hoping that whatever tomorrow might bring, it would offer some resolution or, at the very least, a sense of peace amidst the chaos of your heart. The night wrapped you in its quiet embrace, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts that had consumed you.

Date: July 12, 2016 before the break up

You and Yunho strolled hand-in-hand along a quiet beach, the sun setting in a fiery orange sky. The cool breeze from the ocean was a gentle caress against your skin as you laughed together, sharing secrets and dreams. Yunho had surprised you with a picnic dinner under the stars, the simple but perfect evening filled with light-hearted chatter and stolen glances. He had looked at you then with such earnestness, his eyes full of love and promise. You had felt invincible, as if nothing could ever come between you. As you sat close on a blanket, the world felt impossibly right, and you believed that your future together was secure and bright.

A/N: the tea is brewing and getting hotter and hotter what will happen next will yunho confess his love for y/n and sees the father of his ex son and be sad or is y/n gonna confess that he’s the father of their child to find out early join my taglist!

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➯taglist for part 𝟒:

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𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 ⚾️

➪𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐝! 𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨 𝐱 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➪ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫, 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦. 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧.?

➪𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭, 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐲, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: talking behind another persons back, gossiping

➪𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @deltamoon666 , @chngbnwf , @soso59love-blog , @jiwoongsblondehair , @nanaspeaches , @sannieily , @kyeomooniee , @whoronoa , @ateez-atiny380 , @manifestinglly , @mingimangomu , @miracle-sol , @e3ellie , @yoongilover3 , @amazaynaastha , @zhangyi-johee , @foxinnie8 , @jaerisdiction , @txpxwxk , @yothangie , @darkerrdaze , @bananabangtan , @mitchii , @blossomflowerpott

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟒 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟓

YUNHO POV

As Yunho wakes up, he stretches, feeling the slight stiffness in his muscles from the previous day. The early morning light filters through the blinds, casting soft patterns on the walls of his bedroom. He takes a deep breath, mentally preparing for another day of work. After a quick shower, he dresses in his usual attire—comfortable but professional—then heads to the kitchen for a light breakfast. While sipping his coffee, his thoughts wander back to you and Ye Joon. He can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more he needs to uncover, something that’s just out of reach. He tries to focus on the tasks ahead, but memories of the past keep slipping through the cracks. As he grabs his keys and heads out the door, he wonders if today will bring him any closer to understanding the missing pieces of the puzzle that is his old life and the new connections forming in the present. Yunho locks the door behind him and steps outside, the cool morning air waking him up fully. As he walks to his car, he can’t help but glance at his phone, half-expecting a message or call that will somehow bring clarity to his tangled thoughts. But the screen stays dark and silent. On the drive to work, his mind keeps replaying the moments from yesterday—Ye Joon’s proud smile, your distant gaze, and Wooyoung’s endless theories. He grips the steering wheel tighter, trying to shake off the unease that’s settled in his chest. There’s a nagging question in his mind, one that he hasn’t had the courage to voice out loud: What if the truth changes everything? Arriving at the practice field, he forces himself to focus on the present. The kids need him sharp, and he won’t let them down. But as he steps out of the car, the thought lingers—today might not be the day he finds answers, but he’s getting closer, and that both excites and terrifies him. For now, Yunho pushes those worries aside, greeting the team with a smile. But deep down, he knows that the question of who Ye Joon’s father is will eventually have to be answered.

Date: 6 Years Ago

It was one of those lazy Sunday mornings, the kind where time seemed to stretch and the world outside their bedroom didn’t matter. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The bed was a tangle of blankets and pillows, evidence of a night spent in each other’s arms. Yunho lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling with a satisfied grin on his face, while you were nestled beside him, your head resting on his chest. His fingers traced idle patterns on your arm, the rhythm soothing and familiar. The sound of your soft laughter filled the room as you playfully teased him about his terrible attempt at cooking dinner the night before. “I swear, if I ever let you near a kitchen again, we might just have to live off takeout forever,” you joked, poking him lightly in the side. He chuckled, his deep voice rumbling through his chest. “Hey, I thought burnt pasta was a delicacy in some countries!” “Oh, sure,” you replied with mock seriousness, lifting your head to look at him. “I’ll be sure to book us a trip to wherever that is.” Yunho laughed, pulling you closer and pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’ll leave the cooking to you, then. But you have to admit, I’m not so bad at making you laugh.” You smiled, your heart swelling with affection as you looked into his eyes. “Yeah, you’re pretty good at that.” For a moment, neither of you said anything, just enjoying the quiet intimacy of the morning. You felt safe and happy, like nothing in the world could touch the little bubble of joy you had created together. Then, out of nowhere, Yunho started tickling you, causing you to burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Yunho! Stop! I can’t breathe!” you gasped between fits of giggles, trying and failing to squirm away from him. He finally relented, laughing as he wrapped his arms around you again. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. But only because I love that smile of yours too much.”Catching your breath, you looked up at him, your eyes sparkling with happiness. “You’re impossible, you know that?” “And yet, you’re still here,” he teased, his smile softening as he brushed a stray strand of hair from your face. “Yeah,” you whispered, your voice filled with all the love you felt for him. “I’m still here.”

As Yunho sat at his desk, lost in thought and memories of the past, the sound of footsteps approaching broke through his reverie. Before he could fully snap out of his thoughts, a familiar voice called out. “Earth to Yunho!” Wooyoung grinned, waving a cup of coffee in front of his face. “You look like you could use this.” Yunho blinked, pulling himself back to the present. He hadn’t even noticed the time passing. “Thanks, Wooyoung,” he said, taking the coffee gratefully. “You were really zoned out there,” Wooyoung observed, leaning against the desk. “Thinking about someone special?” Yunho sighed, taking a sip of the coffee. The warmth of the drink helped ground him, but the thoughts of you still lingered in the back of his mind. “Yeah…something like that.” Wooyoung raised an eyebrow, clearly interested but sensing that Yunho didn’t want to go into too much detail. Instead, he opted for his usual lighthearted approach. “Well, whoever she is, you better snap out of it and focus, buddy. We’ve got a busy day ahead, and I can’t carry all the charm and good looks around here by myself.” Yunho chuckled despite himself, shaking his head. “You’ve got a point. Let’s get to it.” As they both settled into the day’s tasks, Yunho couldn’t help but feel grateful for Wooyoung’s timing. His friend’s antics might be a little over the top at times, but he always knew how to bring a bit of lightness to even the heaviest of days. And for now, that was exactly what Yunho needed.

At practice, Ye Joon was full of energy. He loved baseball—every throw, every swing, every cheer from his teammates. Today felt different, though. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he felt even more motivated than usual. As Coach Yunho and Coach Wooyoung gave them tips and instructions, Ye Joon soaked it all in. He wanted to make his mom proud, but there was something about Coach Yunho that made him want to give it his all even more. Maybe it was the way he talked to him, or how he seemed to understand what Ye Joon was thinking without him having to say a word. After a particularly good throw, Coach Wooyoung came over, clapping him on the back. “Nice one, Ye Joon!” he said with a grin. “Hey, by the way, I heard a rumor—you got any secrets you want to share with your old coach?” Ye Joon looked up at him, his face lighting up with a mischievous smile. He put his index finger to his lips and whispered, “It’s a secret, Coach! Only me and Mom know!” Then, with a playful wink, he ran off to join the other kids, leaving Wooyoung laughing behind him. As practice went on, Ye Joon felt the weight of his secret, but in a good way. He knew something special that no one else did—something that made him feel important. And as he looked over at his mom, sitting in the bleachers with a proud smile on her face, he knew that whatever secrets they had, they were safe with her. Ye Joon’s eyes darted to the stands once more, and he spotted his aunt waving excitedly beside his mom. She had come to every practice lately, cheering just as loudly as his mom. He felt even more energized knowing that both of them were there, supporting him. Auntie always brought him snacks after practice, and he could already imagine the treat she’d have waiting today. As he waited for his next turn at bat, he could hear her voice over the crowd. “You got this, Ye Joon!” she called out, her smile as bright as his mom’s. It made him feel like a superstar. When he finally hit another solid shot, sending the ball soaring across the field, he could hear both his mom and aunt celebrating together. They jumped up, high-fiving each other, and Ye Joon couldn’t help but laugh as he rounded the bases. After practice, as he ran toward them, he saw his aunt holding out a bag of his favorite snacks. “Great job, superstar!” she said, ruffling his hair as he took the bag. “Thanks, Auntie!” Ye Joon beamed, feeling on top of the world with both his mom and aunt there to cheer him on. As practice wrapped up, all the parents and children gathered near the field. The air buzzed with excitement as Wooyoung and the other coaches stepped forward, calling everyone’s attention.

“Alright, everyone!” Wooyoung began, clapping his hands to quiet the chatter. “Listen up, because we’ve got some exciting news. Next week, we have a big game coming up. And if we win, guess what?” He paused, grinning as the kids leaned in closer, their eyes wide with anticipation. “We get to go on a trip!” The kids erupted in cheers, their faces lighting up with excitement. Ye Joon’s eyes grew wide as he looked up at his mom and aunt, who smiled back at him, just as thrilled. The idea of a team trip added an extra layer of motivation for everyone.“We don’t know where we’re going yet,” one of the other coaches added with a wink, “but I promise it’ll be something special. So, make sure you’re all practicing hard this week!” The parents exchanged amused glances, some already discussing the logistics of the possible trip. The kids, meanwhile, were buzzing with energy, talking about how they were going to train even harder to ensure the win. Ye Joon looked up at his mom, tugging at her sleeve. “Mom, do you think we’ll win?” he asked, his voice filled with excitement and determination. She smiled down at him, ruffling his hair. “I know you’ll do your best, Joonie. And no matter what, we’ll be there cheering you on.” As Yunho observed the interaction between Ye Joon and you, he couldn’t help but smile. The way Ye Joon’s face lit up with excitement, and the warmth in your eyes as you encouraged him, stirred something deep inside Yunho. It was a scene that felt both familiar and distant—like a glimpse into a life he once imagined but never fully had. Seeing you with Ye Joon, your bond so natural and strong, brought back memories of when things were simpler between the two of you. For a moment, all the worries, questions, and uncertainties faded away, replaced by the quiet contentment of watching this small, precious moment unfold. Yunho’s smile lingered as he turned his attention back to the kids, his heart feeling a little lighter yet still weighed down with what could have been.

As the field cleared out and the other parents and children began to leave, Yunho lingered, organizing the last of the equipment. He overheard two moms standing near the bleachers, their conversation shifting to you. “Did you hear about Y/N?” one of them said, her tone laden with gossip. “I heard she might be messing around, and some say she might not even know who Ye Joon’s real father is. There’s even a rumor that Ye Joon could be her sister’s child.” The other mom nodded in agreement. “It’s just strange how private she is. Maybe she’s hiding something. It wouldn’t be the first time someone’s pretended to be something they’re not.” The remarks stung, but Yunho’s concern for you and Ye Joon overpowered his initial shock. He walked up to them, his expression serious. “Excuse me,” he said firmly, “but it’s not okay to talk about someone like that. Ye Joon deserves to have his family’s privacy respected, and you have no right to spread such rumors. For all you know, Ye Joon’s father could be someone who works hard to support him and Y/N.”

The two women glanced at each other, taken aback. One of them asked, “Are you the father, then?” Yunho was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by the direct question. He quickly shook his head. “No, I’m not.” The woman smirked. “That’s what I thought,” she said, her tone dripping with skepticism. Yunho felt a mix of frustration and sadness. “I don’t want to hear any more of this. It’s not acceptable to gossip about someone’s private life. You should treat others with the same respect you’d want for yourself. Please don’t let this happen again.” Seeing the gravity in Yunho’s demeanor, the women reluctantly agreed. They nodded, mumbling apologies, and quickly walked away. Yunho watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and lingering frustration. He hoped that by standing up for you, he had done something positive—something that might start to mend the distance between him and the life he had left behind.

As the weekend rolled around, you, Ye Joon, and your sister decided to tackle the grocery shopping together. The aisles were bustling with shoppers, and the three of you navigated the crowded space, chatting and picking out items for the week. In the midst of your shopping, Yunho happened to walk into the same grocery store. As he made his way through the aisles, he spotted you and your sister a few rows over. Just as he was about to approach and say hello, a tall man with a warm smile and an easy demeanor came up to you.

“Hey, Ye Joon! Hi, Y/N! Hi, Jihyun!” the man greeted, his voice cheerful. Ye Joon ran up to him with excitement. “Mingi!” he exclaimed, hugging the man tightly. Yunho stopped in his tracks, his curiosity piqued. He watched as Mingi interacted with you and your sister, noting the friendly and familiar nature of their conversation. The way Ye Joon clung to Mingi and the ease with which Mingi spoke to you gave Yunho pause. As Yunho observed from a distance, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. He noticed how Mingi seemed to be an important figure in Ye Joon’s life, though Yunho couldn’t quite piece together the exact relationship. The affectionate interaction between Mingi and Ye Joon affection towards each other was very questionable like their were a son and father duo. Yunho’s thoughts swirled with questions and unspoken regrets. As he continued to watch from afar, he felt an increasing sense of longing and a subtle pang of envy. The sight of Mingi’s easy rapport with you and Ye Joon only deepened Yunho’s feelings of what could have been, leaving him to reflect on his choices and the path his life had taken.

Yunho’s heart ached with a blend of envy and regret as he watched the interaction between you, Ye Joon, and Mingi. From his hidden spot, he observed Mingi’s effortless ease with your family, the way Ye Joon beamed at him, and how comfortable and natural everything seemed. Mingi’s presence brought a warmth to the moment that Yunho felt he had missed out on.He saw how Mingi gently guided Ye Joon through the grocery store aisles, making him laugh with playful banter. The sight of you and your sister chatting with Mingi, clearly at ease and familiar with him, only deepened Yunho’s sense of exclusion. He envied the way Mingi seemed to fit into your lives so seamlessly, providing a comfort and stability that Yunho felt he had failed to offer. The affectionate way Ye Joon interacted with Mingi, calling him by name and hugging him with genuine affection, tugged at Yunho’s heart. It made him question his own choices and the opportunities he had lost. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had been too late, if there was still a place for him in your lives. As Mingi said his goodbyes and left, Yunho remained behind, lost in thought. The sight of you and Ye Joon walking away together, content and happy, left him grappling with a deep sense of regret. He envied the relationship between Mingi and you, feeling the sting of missed moments and wondering if he could ever bridge the gap that had grown between him and the family he had once hoped to have. With game day 1 day away, the atmosphere becomes electric. Yunho can’t shake the feeling that this game could change everything—for the team, for Ye Joon, and perhaps for his own life as well. He notices how Mingi seems more integrated into your life, and the envy he feels gnaws at him, a constant reminder of what he lost. Every time he sees Ye Joon practicing, he can’t help but wonder about the connection between you, your son, and Mingi.

Your sister, always the supportive one, keeps things light-hearted, but even she can sense the unspoken tension. You find yourself caught between the excitement of the upcoming game and the unresolved emotions that seem to bubble up whenever Yunho is around. Every interaction, every glance exchanged, seems to carry a weight that wasn’t there before. As the days tick by, Yunho wrestles with whether to finally address the questions that have been eating away at him. He knows he needs to focus on the team, but the lines between his personal and professional life blur more and more with each practice. The closer the game gets, the more Yunho realizes that he’s not just fighting for a win on the field—he’s fighting for clarity, closure, and perhaps a second chance. After practice, Ye Joon is full of energy, despite the long session. His little legs move quickly as he runs toward you with a wide grin on his face. “Mama, did you see me? I hit the ball really far today!” he exclaims, his excitement contagious. You smile warmly, crouching down to his level. “I saw, baby! You did amazing. You’re getting better every day.” His aunt ruffles his hair playfully, adding, “You’re going to be a star, Ye Joon. Just like your favorite player!” Ye Joon beams, his confidence soaring. As you all gather his things and prepare to head home, you notice how he can’t stop talking about the upcoming game. “If we win, we get to go on a trip! Coach Wooyoung said so!” he says excitedly, bouncing on his toes. As you buckle him into his seat, you can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “We’ll be cheering for you the loudest,” you promise, giving him a kiss on the forehead. On the way home, Ye Joon chatters non-stop about practice, the game, and even Mingi, who has been helping him with some extra practice sessions. His excitement is infectious, and by the time you reach home, you can’t wait to see him shine on game day. At dinner, the atmosphere is cozy and filled with warmth as you, Ye Joon, and your sister sit around the table. The scent of the meal fills the air, and the clinking of utensils is accompanied by light-hearted conversation. Ye Joon excitedly recounts his practice, his voice animated as he talks about his friends and the upcoming game.

Your sister smiles as she listens, occasionally chiming in with a joke or question, making Ye Joon laugh. You can’t help but feel a sense of contentment, watching your little family interact so naturally. After dinner, you and your sister clear the table, while Ye Joon goes to grab his favorite bedtime story. Once the kitchen is clean, you move into the evening routine—preparing Ye Joon for bed. He eagerly brushes his teeth, and you help him into his pajamas, all while your sister tidies up his room. As you tuck him in, Ye Joon pulls out the storybook, holding it up with a sleepy smile. “Can you read it to me, Mama?” he asks softly, his eyes already drooping. You sit beside him, smoothing his hair as you read aloud. Your sister sits nearby, adding funny voices to the characters, making Ye Joon giggle. Soon, his laughter fades, replaced by the steady rhythm of his breathing as he drifts off to sleep. Once he’s settled, you and your sister quietly step out of the room, closing the door softly behind you. The day has been long, but the moments spent with your family bring a sense of peace as you both prepare for the night ahead.

As you prepare yourself for bed, your thoughts drift back to the old times with Yunho. Memories flood your mind—his laughter, the way he used to look at you, the moments you shared. Those days felt so distant now, yet still so close in your heart. You sigh as you slip into your pajamas, staring at your reflection in the mirror. The thought of telling Yunho the truth about Ye Joon crosses your mind, lingering there for longer than usual. Maybe he deserves to know. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding and give him the chance to be a part of your son’s life. But as you focus on that idea, doubt creeps in. What if he’s angry? What if he can’t forgive you for keeping such a huge secret from him all these years? The thought of Yunho’s possible reaction—his hurt, his anger—makes your chest tighten. You pause, letting out a shaky breath. The risk feels too great. The fear of losing what little peace you’ve found outweighs the hope of a happy reunion. No, you can’t tell him—not now. Maybe not ever. With a heavy heart, you crawl into bed, pulling the blankets over yourself. As you close your eyes, you try to push the thoughts away, but Yunho’s face lingers in your mind. Sleep doesn’t come easily, and when it does, it’s filled with dreams of what could have been and what may never be.

The morning of game day arrives with a mix of excitement and nerves in the air. Ye Joon wakes up early, buzzing with energy. As soon as he opens his eyes, he’s already thinking about the game, imagining himself on the field, ready to make his big plays. You wake up to the sound of him rustling around in his room. When you enter, you find him already half-dressed in his uniform, struggling with his socks, a determined look on his face. You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “Ready for the big game, champ?” you ask, leaning against the doorframe. Ye Joon looks up, his eyes shining with excitement. “I’m gonna hit the ball so hard today, Mom! Just like Coach Yunho taught me!” You laugh softly and help him with his socks, making sure his uniform is all set. After a quick breakfast, you pack his practice bag with water, snacks, and his glove, double-checking that everything is in place. As the two of you head out the door, your sister joins you, carrying a small cooler with snacks for later. The morning sun is bright, and the crisp air feels refreshing. Ye Joon’s excitement is contagious, and you find yourself feeling optimistic about the day ahead. In the car, Ye Joon talks nonstop about the game, his strategy, and how he plans to impress everyone. You listen, smiling at his determination, and give him a few encouraging words. When you arrive at the field, it’s already bustling with parents, coaches, and kids. Ye Joon hops out of the car, practically bouncing with excitement. You watch as he runs ahead, ready to join his teammates, your heart swelling with pride. As you make your way to the bleachers, you spot Yunho talking with Wooyoung, both of them looking focused and ready for the day. When Yunho catches sight of Ye Joon, a smile spreads across his face, and he waves at your son, who eagerly waves back before joining his friends. The game day has officially begun, and you can’t help but feel a mix of pride and nerves as you take your seat, ready to watch Ye Joon give it his all.

As the game progresses, the scores remain tied, and the tension on the field is palpable. Ye Joon steps up to the plate, determination in his eyes. But just as the pitcher winds up, something feels off. The ball comes hurtling toward Ye Joon, not at the bat, but at his thigh. The painful thud echoes through the field, and Ye Joon stumbles back, clutching his leg. A collective gasp rises from the crowd as you shoot up from your seat, making your way down to the field. Ye Joon, furious, prepares to retaliate, but before he can, the other coach intervenes, pushing him back. "Stop right there, kid. You need to calm down," the coach orders, his voice stern. Before you can even reach them, Yunho steps in between Ye Joon and the opposing coach. "Keep your hands off him," Yunho says, his voice firm. "Your player hit him on purpose—and mocked ye joon by sticking his tongue out at him"

The other coach glares at Yunho, his voice rising. "Are you the father of this kid? Because if you're not, maybe you should step back and let the parents handle it." Yunho opens his mouth to reply, but just as he's about to speak, you arrive, stepping in front of both men. "I’m Ye Joon's mother," you say, your voice steady but full of controlled anger. "And I don’t appreciate anyone putting their hands on my son. That pitch was deliberate, and your player owes him an apology." The other coach sneers, refusing to back down. "Maybe if you taught him to handle the game without causing a scene, we wouldn’t be here."

You cross your arms, unwavering. "My son wasn’t the one who threw that ball out of spite. Your player needs to learn that sportsmanship matters." Yunho nods in agreement, stepping beside you. "There’s a difference between a mistake and intent. This wasn’t an accident—it was intentional." The coach narrows his eyes at Yunho, still defiant. "A coach, huh? Maybe teach your team to take some heat instead of running to his mom every time." You take another step forward, your voice firm. "This isn’t about taking the heat. It’s about respect. Your player crossed the line, and you're making excuses for him." After a few more moments of tense back-and-forth, the opposing coach realizes he's outmatched. With a huff, he raises his hands. "Fine. Let’s just get back to the game." You give Ye Joon one last reassuring look before heading back to your seat, knowing that, despite everything, your son is ready to finish the game. Meanwhile, Yunho stays on the field a moment longer, his eyes lingering on you and Ye Joon.

Even after the argument and Ye Joon’s minor injury, his team won the game and the trip to wherever they wanted to go. The celebration was lively, and you were joyfully cheering with Ye Joon. As the excitement continued, your sister pulled you aside, her tone serious. “You need to tell Yunho the truth,” she urged. “He needs to know that Ye Joon is his son. It’s the right thing to do.”You were about to reply when a sudden crash interrupted you. Two cups of water had fallen, their contents splashing onto the floor. Looking up, you saw Yunho standing a few feet away, his face a mix of shock, disappointment, and heartbreak.

He took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly. “Is it true? Am I… am I Ye Joon’s father?”

A/N: WHAT A SHOCKER 🫢

PLEASE DO NOT COPYRIGHT, OR PLAGIARISE!

➭taglist for part 5:

MADE BY KPOPCAFEEE ©

masterlists

- bts masterlist

- ateez masterlist

- stray kids masterlist

- series masterlists

- kinktober 2020 masterlist

- kinktober 2021 masterlist

standalone fics … all works are fem reader unless otherwise noted

as you wish; j. jaehyun x reader 18+

❧ genre: ceo!jaehyun, assistant!reader, smut 

❧ word count: 3544

❧ summary: maybe you and your boss don’t have the most professional relationship, but he’s so good at fucking you that you don’t think twice about it.

your warmth; n. yuta x reader (f)

❧ wc: 589➻ genre: fluff

❧ rating: sfw, pg

❧ summary: sometimes you just want to stay in yuta’s arms all day. 

shifting desires; j. jaehyun x reader x mark lee 18+

❧ wc: 3.2k

❧ genre: smut, pwp

❧ summary: jaehyun is bold but he’s never been this bold, especially not during a movie night with you and mark.

eyes on me; ten x reader 18+

❧ wc: 2k 

❧ genre: smut, pwp 

❧ summary: you aren’t normally so desperate for his attention, but today is different.

like you mean it; lucas x reader 18+

❧ wc: 3.5k

❧ genre: pwp, smut, fwb

❧ summary: you just want to get lucas to let go a little. him being in a bad mood isn’t helping in the slightest.

gifts; winwin x reader (f) 

❧ wc: 845

❧ genre: fluff, just wholesomeness, so soft n fluffy

❧ summary: in which your boyfriend just wants to spoil you

naughty; xiaojun x reader 18+

❧ wc: 2.0k

❧ genre: pwp, smut 

❧ summary: in short, your roommate is a hard man to resist.

These works are licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

…

Love Thy Husband

Kingpin's Son!San x Innocent yet spicy! Chubby! Wife

You arrived adorned in luxurious fabric bought with their bloody wealth. You are not just a gift, but a treasure...a plaything acquired for the pleasure of the rightful heir to the Choi dynasty.

Choi San.

II: Bring Me Home ♡ *New*

⚠️ Language, forced marriage, San is a good boy with bad habits, Yn conceals her face with a veil....and San is feral for your modest dressing style. No peep show for San 🙃⚠️

The purpose of a wedding photograph is to immortalize the beauty of that specific moment. Yet, when you stumble upon your own image, it triggers memories of your past yet your in laws so proudly display pictures all over their home. She was abducted by the man she now calls father to settle a overdue debt owed by her birth father.

You shed a tear, remembering your grim past.

As their son finally arrived at the mansion, he discovered his hidden surprise - a gift waiting for him. Despite the mysterious ivory veil that concealed her face, he agreed to accept her without hesitation. Little did he know, the veil was a humble plea from your father, who wished to shield his princess from the dark and dangerous world of the mafia.

The day unfolded before your eyes, obscured by the delicate ivory lace that draped over your face. Gripping the bouquet of baby's breath tightly, your heart pounded as the groom tenderly lifted the veil, allowing it to hover just above your trembling lips.

San's name escaped his lips in a hushed tone, barely audible against the backdrop of your rouge painted lips. Instead of forcefully pulling you towards him, he leaned in, delicately pressing his lips against yours. In the midst of this tender moment, he unintentionally crushed the bouquet.

The kiss, though seemingly pleasant, bore a resemblance to the innocence of toddlers exchanging affectionate pecks. He delicately pressed his lips against your flushed ones, refraining from any further advances. Despite his family now viewing you as his possession, San even restrained himself from touching you.

From that moment on, the vibrant world outside became a distant memory, The majority of your existence now revolves around the presence of your husband, consuming your every waking moment.. Who frankly you couldn't wrap your head around! One moment he’s stern and hostile the next, he’s a sweetheart gentlemen.

Speaking up the devil, There he is, Your phone icon alarmed you of husband’s incoming call. You rolled your eyes before answering. “Hello, San-"

"Omo..you sound like your about to die or worse." San complained under his breath. " You realize I'm your husband and not the grim reaper, yeah?" You could hear his blood simmering.

"Oh, you really had me fooled," you sarcastically remarked. Suddenly, you gasped, gripping your phone tightly, only to berate yourself for your own foolishness right away.

San’s brow involuntarily twitched, disturbed by the sass that escaped your cheeky lips. "What was that?... My dearest," he uttered with a tone that never ceases to send chills down your spine.

You carefully approached him, using his nickname in a soothing tone, "San..nie?" hoping to ease his anger. "My dear husband,” You’re cheeks reddening in embarrassment for actually fearing your husband’s wrath…some would say it should the other way around.

The phone went quiet briefly, only for your man to let out a chuckle that stirs up your fury, playing with you effortlessly. "Impressive, Sannie?.." He arches his eyebrows, making you squeal as he exhales his rugged accent over the line. "Sweetheart, I had no idea you could be this adorable." He taunts you in your mother language.

You are completely oblivious to the depths of your husband's affection for you. His love for you knows no bounds and shines brightly in every aspect of your life.

Especially your body....of what you allow him to see.

You feel safer when concealed from the sun, the man's wild gaze fixated on your delicate ankles and soft hands, pretending to be strong against his threats. You resist him so feebly, he longs to tear off your veil, granting you the illusion of courage to sass him, walk away mid-conversation, and disregard his presence as if he's not a menacing figure linked to the Atz, with his father just a phone call away from silencing your weak father permanently.

"I adore you, Mrs. Choi!!!" Wooyoung's voice echoed through the air, a mix of excitement and mischief. He sprinted towards San, seeking refuge behind him. "That asshole busted my lip," he growled, feeling the sting of his bloody lower lip. But despite the pain, he couldn't help but flash a mischievous smile at his friend, casually draping his arm over his shoulder. "So, how's the lovely wife doing?"

San sound shocked. “ How did you know I was-“

Wooyoung simply grins and nods. "You're adorable when you talk to her," he says with a mischievous smile, teasing his embarrassed friend.

The next thing you know you hear Wooyoung wince in pain, you assumed San hit him like usual followed by "Arghhh!!" Wooyoung biting him as a response.

"Don't fucking bite me, ya little bastard!" San's accent made you flinch, your Korean is far from perfect, and most of the time his words go unnoticed or you simply stare at his lips out of sheer cluelessness. But hey, it's not your fault. You were forcefully taken away from your family and thrown into this marriage with just weeks later.

"Ya! Who are you cursing at, cunt!?!” Wooyoung yelled in response, only to be met with a menacing voice hurling threats at them..

San's eyes gleamed with mischief as he glanced at the towering goon. "Hey, Woo, is this your buddy?" he asked, a sly grin playing on his lips. "Sorry, Honey, gotta go," he said, his voice dripping with allure as he abruptly ended the call. The unmistakable sound of San ruthlessly overpowering the goon echoed in the background.

Overwhelmed by the harsh truth, you found yourself standing in complete silence, consumed by the weight of this new reality.

GET EXCITED PEOPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

When Eight Becomes Nine - First Look/ Chapter One Preview

Hi I'm alive I swear. I've just been very busy with life sadly. But I'm slowly getting back into writing when I have the chance. But! Here is a tiny bit of the first chapter of my ateez x reader fic!

Pairing: Ateez x 9th member!reader wc: 526 AU: a/b/o Genre: Fluff/Angst Nets: @newworldnet warnings: yelling, angry Joong, tiny tiny angst, I think that's it? masterlist

“What do you mean we need another member?!” Hongjoong asked the KQ management team members in front of him.

“We’ve decided that you need something new to add to the group, and that a new member will be the best choice to attract more attention to Ateez.” One of the higher up staff members replied.

“We’ve been fine for five years, why do we need another member?” The captain asked through gritted teeth.

“Look, the decision has been made, there’s nothing more to say. You and the rest of the members will have to prepare to have a new member.” They said, a tone of finality marking the end of the conversation.

“So we’re supposed to just accept whoever the fuck you find into the group, and potentially our pack, without any say?!” Hongjoong exclaimed, fed up with the group of people in front of him at the moment. They really thought they could just spring this news on him and he’d be fine with it?

“It’s in the best interests for Ateez.” Was all that was said, as if it was a sufficient explanation in any way for the upheaval of the status quo for Ateez.

Hongjoong pushed his chair back, standing up and leaving the room quickly, trying to keep his temper under control. Who do they think they were? Ateez had done so much for this company and now they’re haphazardly adding a new member into his group. This changed everything. They’d had to readjust the choreography, the lines for every song, any of the concepts they’ve come up with now have to be adjusted. He stormed into the practice room where the rest of the pack was practicing, and a couple of them flinched at the anger emanating from their captain and pack alpha.

“Hongjoong, are you okay? What did they want to tell you?” Seonghwa asked cautiously, not wanting to anger the man further.

“They want to add a new member to our group. A new member after all this time!” Hongjoong ranted, revealing the news to the rest of the group.

The rest of the group had various reactions of shock, and more than a few were angry at this news being sprung on them. Wooyoung felt the brunt of everyone else’s reactions and curled into himself, while Seonghwa moved to try and calm down Hongjoong, knowing that it wouldn’t be productive to talk while he’s that upset. The eldest member, who was the head omega, wrapped his arms around the smaller man, pushing out a soothing and calming scent to try and get the captain of their group to calm down. It worked thankfully, and Hongjoong rested his head on the other man’s chest.

“Thank you Hwa.” He softly said to the other man, once he had gathered his emotions and had calmed down significantly. He was still upset, but not as much as he was minutes ago.

“Always.” Seonghwa replied, smiling at the alpha. He brought the pack alpha closer to the rest of the guys, and they all sat down on the floor before starting to talk about what this change means for all of them.

Taglist: @scarfac3 @smally97 @iyeeeverydee @lxsunshine @ismelllikechlorine247

@fr34k4c1dr41n @ateez-atiny380 @sapphirewaves

hold fast together (j.yh + p.sh)

summary: fourth installment in the husbands series; you want more, you want a family, but it’s never quite that simple part one: room for three || part two: and if i stay || part three: their gift

note: 18+ content, minors DNI. // this is just all the husbands yunhwa angst, fluff, smut, love, all of it. check the warnings before you read though!

warnings: non idol!yunho, non idol!seonghwa, fem!reader, married!yunhwa, established yunhwa x reader relationship, mmf, fertility issues, period talk, conception talk, stress and angst over conceiving, mention of adoption, brief mention of parental disapproval of reader’s relationship with yunhwa, but then on a lighter note….  praise, degredation/humilitation, reference to bdsm collar, use of puppy but not pet play this time, rough foreplay, rough sex, oral (m receiving), oral (f receiving), face riding, cum eating, cumshots, creampie, heavy handed breeding kink obviously, hard dom hwa and use of sir, hard dom yunho and use of daddy, anal play (m receiving), gratuitous use of good girl, sweet girl, pretty girl, slut, etc., spanking/impact play….. anyways this one starts off emo and then gets into filthy breeding kink that very few people asked for but HEY here we are - please let me know if i missed any.

pairings: yunho x seonghwa x reader

genre: smut, angst, fluff

word count: 12K

my masterlist || read it on AO3

Keep reading

♡ into the aurora | series masterlist.

summary: you didn’t expect to run into choi san outside of the venue, especially when your phone was dead and you were stranded in a random city. a kind offer for a phone charger turns into so much more, and you end up falling into a relationship with all eight members of ateez.

pairings: ot8 x reader

genre: fluff, angst, romance, ateez ensemble x reader, polyamory, non-idol!reader, fem!reader, eventual smut

warnings: handled on a chapter by chapter basis, any cw/tw will be clearly identified. if any need to be added, please contact me directly and I will update accordingly!

current word count: 208.6K

✶ one ✶ two ✶ three ✶ four ✶ five ✶ six ✶ seven ✶ eight ✶ nine ✶ ten ✶ eleven ✶ twelve ✶ thirteen ✶ fourteen ✶ fifteen ✶ sixteen ✶ seventeen ✶ eighteen ✶ nineteen ✶ twenty ✶ twenty-one ✶ twenty-two ✶ twenty-three ✶ twenty-four ✶ twenty-five ✶ twenty-six ✶ twenty-seven ✶ twenty-eight ✶ twenty-nine ✶ thirty ✶ thirty-one ✶ thirty-two ✶ thirty-three ✶ thirty-four ✶thirty-five ✶

please note, there will be a sequel! i'm taking a bit of a break before working on that, but new aurora content will be posted in 2023~!

if you prefer to read on AO3, you can find that here

my fic masterlist can be found here!

this night together - chapter two (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter two: a different kind of heat

chapter summary: your heat gets worse, and the boys help you through

warnings: more smut (big surprise), all the abo/omegaverse warnings, but also, fingering, oral sex (f receiving), oral sex (m receiving), throat fucking, thigh riding, many many orgasms, rough sex, knotting, mmf threesome, consent discussions, anal play, double penetration, messy orgasms and cumshots, so much fucking praise

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 9.8K

previous chapter | next chapter | AO3

“You do smell perfect, though,” Mingi groans into your ear, nuzzling the gland on your neck and sighing. He hasn’t knotted you yet, too content with making you come over and over on his fingers. You lay over his chest on the couch, body damp with sweat, but he doesn’t seem to care, he keeps pulling you closer and closer. Mingi sighs and drags your body up a little higher so he can kiss you, “Like honey,”

“Mm,” You sigh against his lips, “I smell sweet to you?” 

“You are sweet to me,” He nips at your lip, running his hands along your body. 

Your underwear is long discarded on the floor, but you’re still draped in Mingi’s oversized t-shirt, and you ease yourself down his body just enough so that his bare thigh is perfectly nestled between your legs. “Mingi,” You whine softly, feeling tense and over stimulated, “I need you,” 

He tenses his thigh, smiling a little when he realizes how wet you are against him. He pushes his glasses up into his hair and reaches for you, locking a hand one each hip so he can direct your hips. “Very soon, I promise,” 

You grind yourself into his thigh, pleasure rolling through your body at the sensation against your clit and you feel needy and messy, a breath away from begging. 

“Come one more time,” He urges you, “then I’ll knot you, omega,” 

You pant and whine, shaking against him, but you do just what he bids you. Rocking your hips, you plant your hands on his chest and use him for leverage to drag your slick core against him. A bubble builds inside you, threatening to burst already and you cant your hips faster, trying desperately to finish so you can have him inside you. 

“Good girl,” Mingi cups your face, watching you with his lips parted in, “sweet girl,” 

“Fuck,” Your hands clench on his t-shirt, skimming your nails over the bare skin of his chest and you feel him twitch beneath you, “again, again,”  

“That’s it,” He nods, “good fucking girl,” 

His words run a lance of hot need through you and you groan, “It’s not enough,” 

“I’ll make you feel so good,” He soothes you, helping you drag your body back and forth on his thigh, “I’ll give you whatever you need, baby, you just have to come,” 

“Yes,” You sob, your body aching, “alpha,” 

Mingi tenses his thigh once again, and you collapse forwards onto him, your orgasm sudden and heady as you shake against him. “Perfect girl,” He yanks you up suddenly, crashing his mouth onto yours, “pretty little omega,” 

He has your eyes rolling and you grip down on his shoulders, “Now, please, please, I can’t wait anymore,” 

“Let’s go to bed,” Mingi pushes himself off the couch with ease, lifting you with him and keeping his hands locked under your thighs to take you back into the bedroom. 

Yunho’s out, exhausted after the long night and his time with you earlier, rolled onto one side of the bed and sleeping soundly. Mingi makes it to the edge of the bed before he drops you, letting you fall back into the nest of bedding and he pulls off his shirt fast, kicking his boxers off with it. 

Yunho makes a small sound next to you and you feel suddenly dizzy with both of them so close to you, your body throbbing and coursing with desperate need. “Ah,” You wince as a cramp passes through you, “Mingi, please, baby, I need you now,” 

“I got you,” He pushes your legs open, not bothering that you’re bumping into Yunho. After hours of teasing, he needs you just as much as you need him. 

You moan as his cock brushes through your soaked folds and you drag him down closer to you, hungry for his lips and every inch of his skin on yours. He loses control the minute he first presses inside you, and though he meant to take it slow, his latent need has him forcing his hips down hard and sinking his cock inside you fast. 

Mingi collapses over your chest, curled over you and breathing heavily into your shoulder, and you run your hands through his thick mop of long sandy hair. Finally after all the teasing and the prep, he’s deep inside and stretching you deliciously wide. 

Yunho shifts next to you, and you turn your head to the side, watching as his eyes open and he adjusts to the scene in front of him. You expect some kind of jealousy, some primal alpha-pheromone-claim-staking, but he just stretches and smiles next to you. “Hey,” He says simply. 

Whatever you thought Yunho and Mingi’s relationship was doesn’t make sense now. Being comfortable with each other is one thing, but Yunho doesn’t seem startled in the least to be waking up next to Mingi with his cock inside someone mere inches away. 

Before you can respond, Mingi rocks his hips, grinding his pubic bone into you and he leans back from your chest, “Better?” 

“Mm,” You nod, flushed and shaky, “you feel so good,” 

Mingi leans back further, dragging his hand down your body, and looks to Yunho. “Sorry,” Mingi shrugs, a sheepish smile on his face suddenly, “I didn’t mean to wake you like that,” 

Yunho laughs, “It’s fine, take care of her,” 

Your back arches and you press him closer, as if you could draw him even deeper inside your body even though his hips are fully flush with  yours and you can feel him filling every inch of your cunt. Next to you, Yunho falls back onto his half of the bed, still waking up, and you’d be shocked at how unfazed he is except Mingi draws your face back to his and pumps his hips hard, just once to get your attention. 

You gasp at the feeling, gripping down on his forearm and panting, “Mingi, oh my god,” 

“Look at me,” He shakes his head, his thumb flicking over your bottom lip, “he can watch, but you look at me.” 

Heat floods you and you nod, already feeling fucked out and he’s barely done anything. Mingi takes your hand where it grips his hip and interlaces your fingers, rocking you back and pressing your hand into the bedding by your head. His other hand reaches down, turning your hips up and folding your legs back into a press. Every shift has you growing wetter, more hungry and desperate, and when he moves you into the perfect spot and shifts his cock just enough, you realize why he put you here. 

“You’re so fucking deep,” You moan, gripping down on his hand to steady you. 

“Look,” he directs you, “look how well you take all of me,” 

Following his instruction, you look down, your muscles clenching around him when you see where his cock disappears into you. Your legs are shaking already, you’re sure you’ll come fast after how overstimulated and raw you are, but you desperately need him to move.  With a stammer you beg him, “Please, Mingi, please,” 

He draws out of you slowly, almost completely, and the snaps his hips down to drive his cock in as deep as possible. Your head drops back into the sheets, and you sob, nodding and panting, “Like that,” 

Mingi increases his pace, drawing out and snapping back in a steady rhythm and the press of his cock over your g-spot has you crumbling beneath him. Your body feels like a live wire, hot and cold at the same time, tight snaps of pleasure rippling up from your core. 

“Ah, fuck omega,” Mingi groans, dropping a little further over your body with a shudder, “you’re so fucking tight,” 

Your hips jerk in response despite your pinned position underneath him. 

“Will my knot even fit, tiny?” He pants, teasing you, his pace never faltering. 

Blush blooms up your chest and across your cheeks, your body aching under his and the idea of his knot spins you out of control, “Mingi, I’m,” you grip his hand harder, “I’m close,” 

“Come,” He directs you, holding your gaze, “I know you can,” 

It hangs in front of you, dangling but just out of reach and you grip down his arm and close your eyes tight, focused just on the sensation and the wet sound of him working you. You need him to say something, your omega desperate and needy, the feeling of him inside you not quite enough to soothe you. You’re whining, tight and pained, and you can hear him begging you to come, but you need something more. You shake your head, “Tell me I’m good for you,” you choke out, “please, alpha,” 

Mingi groans, falling further forwards, his body nearly crushing you but the added weight makes you feel whole. Pushing your head to the side he slips close to your ear, pumping his hips deep as he does, “You’re my best girl,” 

Your mind sings with even just the single note of his praise. 

“You’re the only one who can take my knot,” He nips at your skin, “your pretty body all ripe and ready for my pups,” 

Your body folds in on itself, your orgasm hitting you so hard your ears are ringing, no sensations making sense except for his cock inside you and his hot breath as it dances across your neck. He likes you, he said so. He needs you, you’re perfect. Your mind plays his words on a loop as your body quakes, more ready for a knot than ever before. 

Mingi rocks back onto his knees, dragging your body with him, and holds you steady by the hips to use as his anchor so he can continue thrusting into you. Your head lolls to the side, your body pliant and open. You had forgotten Yunho was here, but when you open your eyes again and see him watching you both with his hard, weeping cock in his hand, you whimper. You reach for him, needing to please him, needing to help him come too. 

Mingi’s hand on your face snaps your head back to center, shaking his head, his jaw locked tight. He can’t scold you, he’s too close, but you can see every word in his expression. In this moment, he’s your alpha. No one else. He pulls you down hard as his knot starts to form, slipping inside you quickly and grinding his hips as he cock spills inside your wet walls. 

His knot is big, stretching you fast and you wince, gripping down on the sheets and pressing your eyes closed, breathing low and slow through your nose to deal with the sudden sensation. 

Mingi’s hand leaves your hip, and you can hear that he’s still panting through his orgasm, his release still pumping inside you, but his thumb starts to gently roll over your clit. His aim is not to make you come again, just to help release the tension locking inside you and ease the sudden discomfort of his growing knot. His thumb slows as he watches you relax again, face smoothing out to a perfect calm now that you’re deliciously full. 

With a sigh he stills, and your eyes flutter back open. 

“Damn,” His hands squeeze your hips, “you’re fucking amazing,” 

You hum, pleased and fully relaxed again, not yet able to form any coherent thoughts. 

Mingi sweeps a hand through his sweaty hair and then reaches for your hands, “Let’s turn us over, okay?” 

The predicament of this position, now that you’re finished and locked on his cock for an indeterminate amount of time, is how to get comfortable. With sure hands he holds you by the forearms and starts to lift you, but you can’t help the little whimper that passes through your lips at the feeling of him shifting inside you. 

“Yunho,” Mingi’s eyes flick to the other alpha, “can you get her up?” 

“Mhm,” Yunho’s deep warm hum comes from behind you and you relax further. He slips his hands underneath you, a hand on your upper and lower back to support your hips, and between both of them they lift you up until you can easily wrap your arms around Mingi’s neck. 

“There we go,” Mingi presses a quick kiss to your lips, “now let’s lay down,” 

Yunho’s hand stays steady in the center of your back should you need him, and Mingi moves smoothly, barely jostling you as he eases back onto his back against the pillows with you still nestled in his arms. You let out a heavy sigh once you’ve both settled, melting into the warm skin of his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart under your cheek. 

“How’s that, jagi?” Mingi pushes your hair back over your shoulder and cups your cheek. 

“Good,” You nod, letting your eyes slip closed. 

He’s much less tense than Yunho was, and you imagine that has something to do with the fact that he’s done this all before. For Yunho, it felt like the sudden onset of his emotion and his protective aggression had everything to do with the fact that it was his first time. Mingi holds you calmly, but steadily, one hand cupping your ass to keep your hips right where they are, and the other soothing and loving on your cheek. 

Yunho’s hand leaves the center of your back and you feel the bed shift, “I’m going to go shower,” he murmurs, “do either of you need anything?” 

You blink your eyes open, shifting up on Mingi’s chest, “No, wait,” 

Yunho pauses, looking tense and he swallows, “Yeah?” 

“Don’t go,” 

Yunho looks torn, shifting in the bed and you see the outline of his erection under the sheet that is pulled up over his lap. Mingi smirks, immediately putting the pieces together, and Yunho says, “I won’t be long,” 

“I can help,” You offer immediately, glancing down at Mingi to check to see if he’s opposed to the idea, but he looks nothing but smugly pleased. You nod towards Yunho’s lap, “Let me help you, Yunho,” 

He shakes his head a little, “It’s fine, I don’t want to make you,” 

“Yunho, stop,” You cut him off, “you’re both helping me through heat when you didn’t even plan to. I can help you too, I want to,” 

He hesitates, but you can see how much he wants to say yes. His eyes flick to Mingi and you watch the silent conversation between them. Finally, Mingi shrugs and nods, “Wouldn’t be the first time,” 

Yunho sighs, relieved, and you make a mental note to ask about that later if the moment presents itself. Your understanding of them is shifting with every passing hour in their company, and you know now that men you know from the studio are so much different than the assumptions that you made. 

“Come right here,” You gesture him over, unable to move, still locked to Mingi. 

Yunho nods, dropping the sheet again and coming up onto his knees, shuffling across the bed until he’s tucked close to Mingi’s shoulder and in the perfect spot for you to tip just forward enough that you can take him in your mouth. 

“Are you,” He starts to say, but you sink your mouth forwards and take him as far back as you can in this position. He groans, his words dying in his throat. 

You pull off him for just a moment to murmur up to him, “Yunho, just shut up,” 

“Got it,” He shudders, and you take his thick length back over your tongue once again. 

The position is uncomfortable though, still locked on Mingi’s cock and doing your best to brace yourself on his chest. You feel unbalanced and dizzy, but you don’t stop. When you push forward further, taking him deep down your throat far enough that your nose brushes his pubic bone, you shift against Mingi far enough that his knot pulls. It’s not painful, but it’s not pleasant, and you drop back with an annoyed sound. 

“Here,” Mingi murmurs, and you feel his legs change position, feet flat on the bed now so that his thighs are raised to hold you better. He places one broad hand on your waist and one underneath your breast, spread wide on your ribs so that he can hold you perfectly steady, “there you go,” 

The pressure in your lower back dissipates, the pull of his knot gone completely, and Yunho takes the hint to move just a little closer. Now things are easy. Yunho’s hands gather your hair until his hands rest at the back of your head, not changing your pace at all but just resting there, moving steadily with every bob of your head. 

“Fuck,” Yunho groans as you sink down further, intentionally dragging the flat of your tongue down the underside of his shaft firmly, “more,”

You murmur a soft sound of recognition, and start to bob your head faster, doing your best to breathe steady through your nose and not let the way the head of his cock bumping your throat makes your gag reflex jump. Yunho’s fingers tighten on your scalp and you hollow out your cheeks, and you brace your hand on his thigh to keep steady and keep moving. 

“God,” Yunho’s voice sounds tight and breathless, “you’re so fucking perfect,” 

You moan softly around his cock, and feel Mingi grip you a little more firmly, his still hard length twitching inside you at the sound. Your muscles flutter around him, a little ebbing lap of warm pleasure up your body and Mingi’s thumb on your belly drags back and forth in a comforting pattern. 

“Our omega likes to hear how good she is,” Mingi smiles, “isn’t that right, jagi?” 

“Mm,” Your response is muffled but understood, and Yunho sighs above you. 

“Fuck,” Yunho feels shaky now, his hard length twitching in your mouth, “fuck, baby, u-use your hand,” 

You pull off him immediately, letting Mingi’s grip support you as you take Yunho’s shaft in your hand. You’re gasping a little, a headrush at the sudden swell of oxygen, but you can’t slow down now. With quick motions you pump his cock, dragging your hand up and down the slick length and teasing the tip with your tongue. Beads of precum pearl up at the tip and you lap them away, again and again, eyes up to watch Yunho’s head fall back with a groan. 

“Alpha,” You whine, intentionally moaning as you drag your tongue over him again, “please come for me,” 

“Don’t stop,” He begs you, his eyes still shut tight. 

“Never,” Your hand pumps harder, just a little more applied pressure to coax him to the edge. 

Mingi curses under his breath, mouth open and eyes locked on you. 

“Where?” You manage, ignoring the ache in your arm as you work him over. 

“I’m,” Yunho stutters, “fuck, I’m close,” 

“Come for me,” You beg him, “come on, baby,” 

Yunho shudders and then shifts forwards, knocking your hand away and pumping his cock hard and fast at the pace he needs. With his hand locked in your hair he pulls your head back and comes hot over your chest, streaks of his release from your neck down to your breasts. You brace yourself on his thigh, watching as he recovers, breathing heavily and shaking as he looks down at you. 

“Yunho,” You breathe, but he drops low and pulls your lips to his, crushing you into a kiss. You moan softly against his lips, and inside you finally feel Mingi’s knot start to release so he can slip himself out of you. 

“That was,” Yunho shakes his head against yours, “god,” 

“The hottest thing I’ve ever seen?” Mingi offers and you break away from Yunho with a laugh. 

“Mingi,” You ease back up into a better position now that you’re not locked down on him, straddling him and just resting on top of his thighs, trying to regain your breath. 

“I’m just being honest,” Mingi says with ease. 

Yunho’s hands slip off you, and sits down with a heavy sigh. His distant, dreamy look fills you with warmth and caught between two alphas who continue to praise you and care for you, you’re finding parts of yourself to unlock that you never thought you’d tap into. 

“Good?” You murmur as Yunho meets your eyes. 

His tongue darts out and wets his lips as his eyes flick over you, “So good,” he says, “but let me clean you up,” 

You’re so much more attuned to them now, after spending almost a full day sharing your bodies together, and you can’t miss the way that Yunho runs a hand along Mingi’s upper arm and gives it a squeeze before he rolls off his side of the bed to get a damp washcloth. 

Yunho moves into the bathroom and flips on the tap, and you take the moment to look back down at Mingi, “Was that too much?” 

Mingi’s brows knit together and he shakes his head, “What do you mean?” 

“Us together?” You gesture between the two of you and then towards the bathroom where you hear the tap flick off. 

He grins, amused, and smooths his broad hands up and down your thighs, “We’ve done this before,” 

“Oh,” Your head snaps to Yunho as he re-enters the room. 

“What?” His eyes dart between the two of you.

“y/n was worried we crossed a line,” Mingi teases, but Yunho hasn’t picked up on the joke. 

“How?” He looks concerned, suddenly anxious that you are the uncomfortable one. 

You shake your head, reaching for the damp cloth to clean yourself up, “Not like that,” you tell him, nudging Mingi with your leg, “I just know we didn’t talk about doing things as a group. We kind of fell into that, I didn’t want to,”

“Oh,” Yunho interrupts, and then looks to Mingi, “oh, I see what you mean,” 

A light ripple of a fresh cramp pulses through you and Mingi feels you tense up above him, watching as you breathe low through your nose. “Already?” He checks. 

“No,” You relax as the pain passes, “not yet,”

“Do you want a shower or something? Before we keep going?” Yunho’s ears run red and you realize just how much you like watching him blushing and nervous. 

“Yeah,” You nod, “that would be nice,” 

Mingi sits up then, manhandling you easily to your feet so he can stand and stretch, “Let’s all go,” 

He tugs you forward into the bathroom, giving you no real choice in the matter and Yunho follows too. Mingi starts the water and waits for it to warm up, while Yunho leans against the edge of the sink. “You don’t have to be worried about anything being awkward,” Yunho clarifies for you after a moment, “between Mingi and me, that is,” 

“You’re sure?” You ease back on the counter next to him. 

“Mhm,” Yunho smooths a hand down your bare back and looks at his friend, “we’ve done this a few times. Not with someone in heat, but you know, we’ve shared partners before.” 

“It’s been a while,” Mingi shrugs, checking the temperature, “a couple of years maybe, but yeah,” 

“That makes me feel so much better,” You sigh, leaning into Yunho’s side, “I didn’t want to get in the middle of things or make it weird,” 

Yunho smiles, a quiet laugh on his lips and Mingi shakes his head, “I’ve been with him since middle school,” he says, “we’ve done basically everything together. There’s not really anything you could do to get in the middle or make it weird,”

Yunho rolls his eyes and wraps a lazy arm around your shoulders, “Following me around since middle school, more like.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Mingi laughs, “you love me,” 

You watch as Mingi steps into the shower behind the curtain, and Yunho shakes his head, a small smile on his lips. “Now that that’s cleared up,” He kisses your hair, “let’s just relax while we can. You’re feeling okay?” 

In truth, you’re feeling the bubbling need flooding back faster, and you’re already aching in places you shouldn’t be aching in, but you nod, “I’m good,” 

He gives you one last squeeze, and then follows Mingi into the shower. With them out of your eye line you suddenly feel a little panicked, a tight feeling inside you like a cord is pulling taut suddenly, and you know you’re getting closer to the harder hours of your heat. 

You shake off the feeling as best you can and head for the shower. 

“Guys?” Your voice is a little weaker than you wanted, and you clear your throat to try and tamp down the sudden strange wave of emotion. 

Mingi appears suddenly in the space between the curtain and the shower wall, “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” You shake your head, pushing back the curtain a little so you can climb in. 

Mingi secures a hand under your arm to steady you, and once you’re in the warm spray of the water between them, you start to feel the sudden anxious waves fade. 

Yunho tucks close to your back and wraps his arms around you, “Your emotions are all over the place,” he observes, passing his thumb over the gland in your neck once again to calm you, “what’s going on all of a sudden?” 

“It really is nothing,” You sigh, sinking back into his arms, “I just started to feel a little panicky, but I’m fine now,” 

Mingi studies your face for a moment, “It’s okay,” he says, knowing exactly what you were feeling and why, “we’ll stay close now,” 

Yunho nods, giving you a comforting squeeze. After a few moments he separates from you, pressing a kiss to your shoulder and he reaches for the shampoo. 

It’s been hours, from the time you woke in the early morning hours to now and you have no concept if it’s even light or dark outside. You drop your head back into the water to wet your hair and sigh, “I don’t even know what time it is,” 

“Same,” Mingi laughs. 

“It’s like seven,” Yunho says, “shockingly,”

“At night?” Your eyes widen. 

“Mhm,” He says, eyes closed and head back, in the middle of lathering the shampoo into his hair, suds dripping down his shoulders and over the firm plane of his chest. 

A throb flutters through your core again, and you pull your eyes away to focus on something else like the tile or the way the water is hitting the shower curtain. Anything that will keep your mind off their bodies and what they can do with them. 

“Wait,” You look up, this time just holding their eyes as a thought occurs to you, “what are you going to do about work?” 

“What do you mean?” Mingi asks. 

“It’s Sunday,” You point out, “but my heat won’t be over by tomorrow,” 

“We’re taking heat leave,” Yunho says, “all of us.” 

Your mouth drops, “Everyone will know,” you can’t believe they wouldn’t care about this, especially Yunho, “if we’re all on leave at the same time it will be so obvious you’re with me,” 

Mingi grins, wolfish and cheeky, “What’s the matter omega? You don’t want anyone to know we’re your alphas for the week?” 

A shiver runs up your spine and you take a step back, trying to keep a clear head, but any time he uses your designations something deep inside you bends and responds. You shake your head, “I just meant it might look like favoritism or something inappropriate,” you look at Yunho, “I mean you’re kind of my boss,” 

“I am not your boss,” His nose crinkles, completely disturbed by the idea that he might have to manage anyone. 

“Well, no,” You roll your eyes, “I guess not, but you are the most respected person there. You call the shots, Yunho,” 

He considers your words, worrying his bottom lip with his teeth as he thinks before nodding once, “You be on heat leave, we’ll just be sick separately. We’ll come back on different days.” 

“Doesn’t that still look suspicious?” You chew your lip. 

“I mean,” Yunho sighs, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, “I could work Monday and Tuesday, and then Mingi could swap off and take Wednesday, Thursday, if it lasts that long?” 

The idea of being without either one of them makes your heart beat faster. 

Yunho watches your face fall, eyes tunnel-visioning and he waves his hands, “Or not, it was just an idea, but we won’t do that. We’ll both stay,” 

“Sorry,” You shake your head, “I don’t, I’m sorry I don’t mean to make this more difficult,” 

“You aren’t,” Mingi interrupts, “we’ll figure it out.” 

“The safest thing is for the two of us to be sick, and for you to be on leave,” Yunho says, “and if anyone guesses, we’ll just keep this to ourselves. No one has to know.” 

He’s right, you know it, and you have to trust them, “Okay,” 

Mingi dips back into the water to rinse out his hair, and though it’s a tight fit in their shower, you all move together with ease as if you’ve all done this a million times before. You’re flushed again, face lighting up with blush, and despite the water already breaking out in a fine sweat, but you’re not sure if it’s the heat of the shower or your heat. You do your best to ignore it, and reach past Mingi for the bottle of body wash. 

“Can I have,” Stretching a little too far, a pain lances up your abdomen and you retract your arm with a whine, doubling over. Not the heat of the shower, then. 

“Hey,” Yunho twists, catching you, “you okay?”

“Mhm,” You answer him, teeth clenched. 

“y/n,” Yunho tries to straighten you up with him but your body is cramping too much. 

“No, no, please,” You grip down on his arm and he freezes.

“It’s okay,” Mingi soothes you, “let’s finish up and get you back to bed,” 

Hot, radiating pain is twisting in your gut and you nod, but you can’t move. Despite the comforting  way that Yunho strokes your back, you can’t feel anything but intense arousal, every touch of his skin on yours making your cunt throb and wet with slick. 

“We should hurry,” Yunho can feel the way you’re trembling, how heavy your weight is in his hands as you try to support yourself. 

“Yunho,” You moan, your hand bracing on the tile wall, “please stop moving your hand.” 

“W-what?” He stills. 

“It’s distracting,” You breathe. 

“You need to go now, don’t you?” Mingi crouches so that your eyes can meet his. 

All you can do is nod. 

“Alright,” Mingi reaches for the shower knob, “hold her,” 

“Got her,” 

Mingi cranks the shower off, the water cutting off abruptly, and he reaches outside the curtain to drag in a fluffy gray towel. He shakes it out and moves closer to you, “Nice and easy,” he murmurs. 

“I need to lay down,” You manage, but it sounds like a sob, “please, Mingi, please,” 

“I know,” He says, wrapping the towel around your shaking body, “that’s where we’re going.” 

The towel feels like little needles to your hypersensitive skin and you can’t help the hot, fat tears that roll down your cheeks. The way you’re rocketed back into this headspace of needing to be knotted is so much faster than before, which means you’re entering the peak of your heat. It will probably be like this for a while, you know that, but right now rational thoughts are bleeding away and all you can think about is them. 

Soft hands on your cheeks bring you out of your haze and you feel Mingi brushing away your tears, “Hey, hey, hey,” he murmurs softly, “you’re alright,” 

You grimace, “This sucks,” 

He smiles, wide and genuine and nods, “I know,” 

“I’m,” Your voice is caught in your throat and you shift painfully, curling onto your side, “fuck, I’m really glad you’re here,” 

Mingi nods again, “Here, and not going anywhere,” 

You need them, and you wriggle out of your towel so all you can feel is the softness of the sheets, “Can somebody touch me, please?” 

“Mhm,” Mingi runs a hand across your bare shoulders and gives you a gentle squeeze, “tell me what you need, babe,” 

A shiver runs through you, and you sniffle, trying to answer but finding it hard to do. 

“Are you cold?” Yunho murmurs, dropping to your eye line as he kneels by the side of the bed you’re turned towards. 

“Like a fever,” Mingi’s hand rests over your forehead, “she’s got chills,” 

You hold Yunho’s eyes, and he softens, “Can I come in?” 

You reach for him, nodding and blinking back the sudden flood of tears. 

“Okay,” He says as he shifts onto the bed, dragging his blanket over you both, “let me warm you up,” 

You snap to his chest like a magnet, snuggling up close and feeling like your body might never stop shaking. 

“Mingi,” Yunho murmurs low as he strokes your hair, “get in here,” 

“Yep,” The bed shifts behind you and then suddenly you’re enveloped in warmth.

Mingi presses behind you, the length of your back fitted neatly against the broad, firm plane of his chest. He runs hot, hotter than Yunho by a degree or two and the combination of them both on either side of you has you cocooned in steadying heat. The blanket shifts over you and before you know it, you’re snuggled tightly between the two of them. 

“Better?” Mingi checks in with you, his fingertips grazing your cheek as he pushes back your hair. 

“Mm,” You shudder, teeth chattering, “but I’m just s-so cold,” 

“Shh,” Yunho soothes, shifting slightly so that he can drop his lips to your shoulder. He exhales heavily, a slow stream of warm air across your skin, “it’s okay, omega,”

Mingi’s mouth connects with your back and he follows suit, another jet of warm air fluttering down your spine. 

A little whine breaks through your lips, and Mingi’s mouth turns to deliver kisses between every puff of hot air, your body melting now in their arms. 

“Don’t cry,” Yunho pulls you closer, “we’ll take such good care of you, sweetheart, that’s what your alphas are here for,” 

You nod against him, “It’s getting worse,” 

Yunho shifts back to look at you again, “What can we do?” 

“Just be here,” You slip your leg in between his, tangling you both tighter together as Mingi scoots forward, “it’s just happening so fast,” 

“Off meds it can be like this,” Mingi assures you, “don’t be scared,” 

“I feel dizzy,” You admit, “foggy,” 

“Is this helping at all?” Yunho asks, his brows drawn together in a nervous expression. 

“Mhm,” You manage. 

“Foggy, how?” Mingi asks, trying to get a good look at you. 

You think a moment, wetting your lips and taking a slow breath, “Disconnected,” 

“Mm,” He nods, “I think you’re peaking faster than you expected,” 

“What does that mean?” Yunho glances up at Mingi, “Should we do something differently?” 

“You tell me if I’m wrong,” Mingi says, kissing your shoulder, “but basically it means less time between drops. Things get hazy, more instinctual. For my ex, sometimes she didn’t remember everything we did or things she said,” 

“I don’t like that,” Yunho says quietly. 

“That’s why we talked this morning,” You pause, thinking it through as best you can through the ache, “yesterday? That’s why… I mean, this is what I,” Words come slowly and your first tightens as you search for the right thing to say. 

“Easy,” Mingi soothes you, “relax, okay? The details don’t matter right now,” 

“Right,” You sigh. 

“I just,” Yunho’s hand tightens on your lower back, “you were going to go home and deal with this alone? There’s no way, and with an unmated alpha home,” 

Panic lances through you, “Don’t be angry with me, please,” 

“I’m not angry,” He clarifies immediately, “not at all, y/n,” 

“You sound upset,” You admit. 

“I’m not,” He soothes you, “I’m just thankful you’re here, that you’re safe,” 

“There wasn’t a chance in hell I was letting her go home,” Mingi says calmly, “you just offered so quick,” 

“I don’t know,” Yunho murmurs, “I just needed to,” 

“I get it,” Mingi nods. 

You feel a little like you could fall asleep, except for the fact that every minute shift of their bodies against yours feels like a lick of hot fire, and you know you’re close to the bubbling need resurfacing in your belly. You tighten your legs together, hips shifting back at the pulse of your core, and forward as you try to find a comfortable position. A cramp ripples through your abdomen and you feel the telltale gush of slick preparing you for another knotting. Yunho’s eyes blow wide and you know he can feel your body shifting and changing, and you’re sure Mingi can too.

“I got you,” Yunho breathes, pulling his hand under the covers and navigating to find the juncture of your thighs. 

You adjust your tangled legs so that you can open up to him, naturally shifting back against Mingi’s chest in the process, “Please,” 

His fingers slide through your folds with ease and he sighs, “You’re so wet, omega,” 

“Mm,” You shake, stretching your legs open wider, and Mingi slips a hand down to cup your thigh and hold you open. 

“I won’t keep you waiting,” Yunho assures you, dipping forward to capture your lips. He kisses you with a warm, slow intensity, sighing against your mouth as his tongue flicks along the underside of yours. When his fingers sink home inside you, you moan into his open mouth, your eyes pressing shut tightly and hips jerking against Mingi. 

“Yunho,” You shiver, “yes, please, yes,” 

He keeps his mouth on your skin as he draws his hand back, dragging his two fingers almost completely out of your throbbing channel. He nips gently at your lower lip and then suddenly he’s forcing you open again, pushing three fingers in as deeply as his knuckles will allow, pulsating them gently in and out. 

“Mm-fuck,” You whine, “so good,” 

“That’s it,” Yunho speeds up just a little, enough to drag his fingertips over your spongy g-spot, “right there?” 

You groan a response. 

“Is that your sweet spot?” Yunho nips at your lip again, “Did I find it, jagi? Does that feel good?” 

Every flick of his middle finger inside you, the push of his knuckles against your swollen clit, his hot eyes studying your face, every piece of it has you sinking further into Mingi’s chest and close to coming apart at the seams. Yunho makes a small noise to prompt your answer and you nod, hazy. 

“There,” You work your hips down against him, “deeper,” 

“Deeper,” He smirks, pushing his hand forwards fast and hard, leaving you groaning. 

“Fuck,” Mingi breathes behind you, his hand slipping away from your thigh and you feel his cock starting to stiffen against your ass. 

You’re writhing between them, trying to find purchase on the sheets below you so you can rock your hips down and fuck yourself open on Yunho’s fingers, chasing the stretching feeling, blush erupting across your chest and cheeks as you pant. 

“So sexy,” Mingi growls gently in your ear, kissing your throat before his hand slides over your hip and cups one plush cheek in his wide hand, “you feel that?” He juts his hips up, dragging his hard cock over your skin. 

“Oh, god,” You moan sharply. 

“Come here,” Mingi slides his hand under, sweeping through your wet slick and over Yunho’s fingers, and you’re not sure exactly what he’s planning until he draws his hand back and dips his digits between your cheeks. 

You gasp sharply as his middle finger finds the tight ring of muscle of your ass, pressing against it without pushing inside, just spreading your slick up and around to prepare you for whatever he has planned next. At your sharp inhale, Yunho looks up at Mingi and tries to gauge what’s happening, realization dawning on him when you moan sharply and grip down on his arm. 

“Does that feel good?” Mingi curls over you as he proceeds slowly, pushing the tip of his finger inside your untouched hole, “Come on, pretty omega, tell me,” 

“I don’t,” You stutter, holding onto Yunho’s shoulders as you shift and try to get used to the sensation, moaning as he pushes in a little deeper, “oh, my fuck,” 

“Good?” Yunho checks. 

“G-good, please don’t stop,” You choke out. 

“That’s our girl,” Mingi chuckles softly, and you feel them adjust their hands and sync their pace.

  You feel full, touched, tortured, and aching, their combined fingers matching pace perfectly to sink in and out of your body at a deliciously brutal pace. Where a moment ago you were riding Yunho’s fingers, chasing your orgasm with shaking need, now all you can do is hold on and let them take you. Taut pressure drops in your belly and you moan sharply, legs trembling, “I’m - oh god,” 

“Come for us,” Yunho kisses you hard and fast, fingers curling into your hair to hold you steady as he fucks you with his other hand, “come on our fingers, baby,” 

“S-shit,” You scramble in their hold, sweat dripping down your front. 

“I know,” Yunho croons softly, holding your gaze, “you’re so close, omega, I can feel it,” 

“I’m gonna come,” Your voice is mumbled, caught in a moan. 

“Take it,” Yunho pants, the muscles in his arm jumping as he flexes and adjusts. He sinks forward, pressing his forehead against yours and he nods, “come on, come on, baby,” 

You whine and jerk, hot pleasure churning in your gut and building to the perfect precipice. 

Mingi’s free hand grips your shoulder and suddenly his lips are at your ear as his finger fucks into you faster and faster, “You need more?” 

“Yes, fuck, yes,” 

A second finger stretches you open and you choke out a strangled moan, “Mingi!” 

He growls against you, pushing his cock against your skin for some friction as he continues to match Yunho’s pace, “I bet you wish you were taking both our cocks, don’t you?” 

The image of it flashes in your mind, your body sheathing both of them, feeling stretched and full. Their hips working in time, breaking you apart piece by precious piece in their hands, lips everywhere, hands everywhere. Your muscles clench hard on their fingers and you moan. 

“Oh, you do,” He teases, hand tight on your shoulder, “what a good girl,” 

“I’m c-coming,” You choke, body twisting up and locking into pleasure. 

“There,” Yunho grips your hair harder, his mouth hanging open as he watches you fall apart, “there she is,” 

“Oh god, oh god,” You whine, the crest of your orgasm only building in intensity, “I c-can’t, I can’t stop,” 

“Holy fuck,” Mingi’s fingers slide out and his hand curls around your hip to hold you steady. 

Yunho follows suit, but then suddenly he moves, hands leaving you and lips traveling down your body until he slips under the blanket entirely. 

“Yunho,” Your voice dies with a squeak when his hands push your thighs open wide and his tongue flicks over your clit. Your hips jerk back on a reflex, legs moving to close, your body feeling overstimulated and tight, but he won’t let you go. 

He wrenches your legs back open with ease, hooking them up over his shoulders and sinking his tongue back inside you, a groan on his lips as he laps at your wet slit, “You taste so sweet, jagiya,” 

“Honey,” Mingi sighs, “and sweet chamomile, just for us,” 

Your brain feels like it’s firing all at once, an overwhelming torrent of sensations that you can’t quite single out, just a din of feeling collapsing over you as your orgasm starts to build again, barely a moment of respite, “God,” 

Mingi’s hips press forwards, his cock nestled against your ass and you reach back for him, finding his hip and cupping him close. He rocks twice, dragging against you for some dry friction and then he stops himself with a taut sound. 

You lean back against his shoulder and shake your head, “Don’t stop,” 

“Shh,” Mingi hushes you, “just focus on,” 

“D-don’t tell me what to do,” You grip down on Mingi’s hip, dragging him closer, “use me, don’t stop if you need it,” 

He holds your eyes a moment, hesitating, but Yunho sucks at your aching clit and you arch back against Mingi, trapping his cock against your plush ass again and you watch him crumble. 

“Fuck it,” He crushes you to his chest, pumping his hips steadily, his hand on your hip sliding forward and closing over your stomach to press you back and tighten the feeling of his cock trapped between your bodies. 

“Yes, yes,” You whine as Yunho finds a good rhythm, tongue flicking over you again and again, and your nails dig into Mingi’s arm over your chest. 

“Come here,” Mingi curses in your ear, reaching suddenly for the blanket and tossing it to the side. 

Cool air wafts over you and makes you shiver, and you look down at Yunho between your legs, moaning at the sight of him buried against your cunt, eating at you with a reckless eagerness you’ve never seen in him. He’s messy, hair mussed and still damp from the shower, face glistening with your slick and he smiles as he readjusts and dives back in. 

“I want to watch,” Mingi nips at your ear, still thrusting against your backside, “look at you,” 

Trapped between them, you’re a breath away from another orgasm, and you open your mouth to say something, anything, when Mingi’s hand over your belly shifts lower to rest on the soft place just above your pubic bone. 

“Make a mess,” Mingi pants, “come on Yunho’s face, baby,” 

Mingi presses the heel of his hand down just as Yunho sucks sharply on your clit and it hits you harder than before, ripping a desperate cry from your lips and locking your body up in desperate rocking pleasure. 

“No, no,” Mingi yanks you back as you curl away from him into your release, holding you steady so that he can grind himself hard along your skin, his voice breathy and tight, “just a little,” he manages and then you feel him jerk hard, warm wetness across your back as his hips slow and his muscles melt. 

Your brain floats a moment and then clicks back into place and you register Yunho slowly lapping at your folds, bringing you down back to earth until he knows you’re through it. With slow movements he eases out from between your legs, kissing you gently as he does, stretching your legs out to rest on the bed instead of his shoulders. 

“Hey,” His voice is quiet and soft, fingers on your cheek, “you okay in there?” 

Your eyes flutter open and he’s close, brown eyes easy on yours and his face still shiny with your arousal. You swallow hard and unfurl from your position on Mingi’s shoulder, “I’m perfect,” 

You must be a picture, slick with sweat and cum, Mingi attached to your back like a koala as he drops in and out of sated sleep. Yunho smiles down at you, “I’m just going to step in the bathroom a second, but I’ll be back,” 

“Okay,” You sigh, “I’m good,” 

It’s not even a lie, you do feel okay, but you still find yourself tracking his movements as he shifts around the opposite side of the bed and slips into the bathroom. He leaves the door open and the light on so you can still see him as he washes his hands and locates a hand towel in the little linen cupboard. 

Mingi makes a sleepy noise behind you, and you squeeze his fingers. 

“Hmm?” He jumps at the sensation, “What’s going on?” 

“Nothing,” You assure him, “everything’s fine, get some rest,” 

Yunho comes back and Mingi drags himself up into a sitting position, scrubbing the orgasmic haze from his eyes, “No, no I’m up,” 

“Here,” Yunho murmurs, tossing the hand towel to Mingi, and you now see that it’s damp and meant to clean you up. 

“Thanks,” Mingi catches it deftly and eases the warm cloth down over your skin, wiping away any evidence of the night so far, “y/n,” he catches your attention, “how are you feeling?” 

“Sore,” You admit, “but better for the moment,” 

“Alright,” He throws the towel towards the open hamper, “can you stay with Yunho a while? I need to get some food together,” 

A nervous flutter lights up in your stomach but you take a steadying breath and nod, “Yeah,” 

“If you’re peaking this quick I want you to eat some more,” He explains, “while we still can,” 

“Thank you,” You murmur, this time letting him take care of you instead of fighting it. 

“If you need to sleep,” Mingi offers, “don’t fight it, I can always keep a plate warm for you.” 

“Okay,” 

“If you need anything,” Mingi says, not to you, but to Yunho, “just shout.” 

“Yep,” Yunho returns to your line of sight, dressed in a pair of oversized gray sweats and black cut off t-shirt. With a smile to ease your nerves he climbs back into the bed, righting the covers over you both and offering an arm, “you want to cuddle, or do you need some space?” 

You shift into his arms without hesitation, the tense knot inside you releasing once again now that you’re in his arms. Mingi murmurs that he’ll be back, and you listen carefully to the sound of him moving through the apartment, the sounds of the kitchen, the low hum of the building around you. 

“Are you really feeling okay?” Yunho asks softly, running a hand down the tensed muscle of your arm. 

“Better,” You pull your eyes back to his, “I just don’t know how long it’ll last,” 

“I’m sorry this hurts so much,” He murmurs, “I wish I knew about your suppressants,” 

“Yunho,” You shake your head, “I already told you,” 

“No, no, I know why you didn’t say anything,” He interrupts, “I don’t mean that. I’m just sorry you have to feel like this,” 

“It’s better being here,” You tell him quietly, “with you,” 

“Better than being alone?” He asks. 

“Yes,” You nod, “but better than being with anyone else too,” 

“Oh,” His voice is soft, his eyes widening just a little. 

“I’ve been with other alphas,” You tell him, shifting a little closer in his arms, “but it’s never like this,” 

“I’m,” He considers his words a moment, jaw tightening as he contemplates. “Am I doing things right?” 

“Knotting’s pretty self explanatory,” You smile, teasing him just a little. 

He sighs and rolls his eyes, “So, you are feeling better,” 

“Sorry,” You brush your hand down his chest, “I’m sorry, no, you are, you’re doing everything right,” 

“Good,” He exhales in relief, “it all feels right in the moment, but I didn’t want that to be one sided,” 

“No,” You assure him, “go with your gut,” 

There’s a clatter in the kitchen and you turn slightly towards the noise. Yunho’s hands tighten and then relax on you and he nudges you gently, “Still okay?” 

“Mhm,” You clear your throat, “my chest feels a little tight,” 

“Without Mingi?” He questions, stroking the gland in your throat to help calm you down. 

“Yeah,” You give him a soft smile, “are you sure you’ve never done this before?” 

“Helped an omega through heat?” He asks, still stroking your throat, “I’m sure,” 

“I’m surprised,” You confess. 

“Mm,” He shrugs, “I mean, I’ve been with omegas, but they’ve all been on suppressants and I guess… I don’t know, I just never found the right person,” 

Your brows draw together, “What do you mean?” 

“I’ve dated plenty,” He shrugs, a little sheepishly, “I just haven’t found the right person to stay with, and heat always seemed like something you’d share with, you know, the right person,” 

“You’re a romantic,” You chuckle softly, “heat’s always been a thing to get through for me,” 

“I can see why,” He nods, “and I don’t know, maybe I am?” 

You tuck yourself further under the blanket with him and adjust so that you can talk better eye to eye, “Do you want kids?” 

“Someday,” He answers without hesitation or discomfort, not like so many of the men you had dated or slept with who panic backstep from that question like you’re telling them you were already pregnant. 

“Family’s important to you,” You surmise.

“Very much so,” He smiles, “I’m really close with my parents and my brother,” 

“That’s nice,” You tell him softly, and you find yourself loving the way his eyes light up when he talks about them. 

“Do you?” He asks suddenly, breaking you out of your thoughts.

“Do I, what?” 

“Want kids,” 

Your gut twists at the words,  your biology responding to the idea of an alpha talking about babies, but you sigh and tell the truth, “I don’t know yet,” 

“Really?” He quirks a brow.

“Yes, really,” A flare of annoyance flutters through you, at the idea of yet another alpha dismissing your opinion on children, but his next words disarm you entirely. 

“That’s good,” He says with ease, “it’s honest. Not everyone knows, especially at our age.”

“Exactly,” 

“If you ever do,” He offers with a smile, his hand stroking your spine slowly, “I think you’d make a good parent. You’re always taking care of everyone at the studio and checking up on them, and I know you’re working like crazy but you don’t let the stress show,” 

“Oh,” 

“If,” He clarifies immediately, misreading your lack of response for some kind of reproach, “I just mean, you’re a good person, and you take good care of your friends, that’s all,” 

“Thank you,” You reach for him, bringing him back from his word vomit attempt at a back pedal apology, “that’s probably one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me,” 

His mouth slips shut, the rest of his words dying in the negative space between you and he sighs in relief. 

Another sound erupts in the kitchen and you hear Mingi curse quietly, and you dip your face into Yunho’s chest to bury your laugh. 

“He’s fine,” Yunho laughs with you, “he has a habit of burning things,” 

“I thought he was the cook,” You smile. 

“Oh, he is,” Yunho snuggles closer to you, “I have about three things in my rotation before I start producing hazardous waste,” 

“Cute,” You murmur. 

He holds you a little longer and you keep listening to the sound of Mingi in the kitchen. With Yunho’s arms around you, you start to wonder who that perfect person would be, the girl who would have taken his heart and drawn him in enough for more than a few dates. 

“Yunho,” You murmur up to him. 

“Hmm?” 

“If sharing heat is so special,” You find yourself asking, “why did you ask me to come home with you?” 

“I don’t know,” He answers honestly, “but I saw you there and something in my brain clicked, I knew I needed to keep you safe,” 

“Have you ever seen an omega in heat before?” You ask. 

“No,” He admits, “not an unmated omega at least,” 

“The biology is intense,” You comment, feeling a subtle twinge in your back that makes you shift your hips. 

“No kidding,” 

“Is it alright that I’m here?” You murmur, words quiet. You know there’s no way you can take him telling you no, not at this point in your heat, but you also have to ask. 

“More than alright,” He brushes off your anxiety with ease and holds you close, “don’t think like that,” 

Another ache in your back lights up and you shift positions again. 

“Are you hurting?” His hand slips over your hip. 

“Yeah,” You sigh honestly, “Mingi’s right, I’m peaking fast,” 

“We’ll take care of you,” He soothes, “don’t worry,” 

“I know,” 

“Hey,” Mingi’s voice makes you jump and you turn to see him re-enter the room, a tray of food in his hands, “you’re still awake,” 

The tight cord wrapped around your chest releases immediately at the sight of him and Yunho smiles as he feels the rest of your tightly locked muscles relax in his hands. 

“I’m starving,” Yunho shifts up in the bed and brings you with him so that you’re both in a sitting position. 

“There’s plenty,” Mingi smiles, plopping the tray down on Yunho’s lap before climbing back over you both to take up his post on your left side. 

“Can you eat?” Yunho drags the tray over both your thighs. 

“A little,” You nod, “and then maybe some sleep?” 

“You want to try to nap?” Mingi brushes your hair with his fingers. 

“I don’t know what’s better,” You admit, reaching for a dish of rice, “that might make it worse,” 

“Napping never makes anything worse,” Mingi shakes his head, “tuck in and then we’ll try and get as much sleep as your body will let us,” 

You agree, even though at first you’re not sure if you can settle down enough to sleep. It isn’t until your second bowl of rice and warm broth that your eyes start to feel heavy, your brain sluggish and slow. You know you’re starting to peak properly now, heading into the thick of the fog where anything your body wants you’ll beg to get, but that conscious thought starts to fade away. Despite the throb between your thighs, you’re mostly sated for the moment, full of food and surrounded by them. You blink slowly, trying to make sense of Mingi’s words as he takes the tray of food off your lap and shifts it to the side. 

Your body feels like it’s floating a little as Yunho eases you down into the bedding. 

The warm glow from the bedside table lamps disappears. 

You melt into the mattress beneath you, the taste of chocolate on the tip of your tongue. 

For now, you sleep.

this night together - chapter three (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter three: a want and a need

chapter summary: things get too intense too quick, but you're in safe hands as the wave takes you under.

warnings: smut, all the abo/omegaverse warnings, consent conversations, claiming references, so much breeding kink, pups pups pups, oral sex (f receiving), knotting, rough sex, hazy sex, dub con if you squint only they talked about it before, possessive sex, pet names, aftercare

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 5.3K

previous chapter | next chapter | AO3

You don’t rest for long. 

It’s dark when your mind reconnects just enough for you to register that it’s still night. Both of them are close, and for a moment you think they’re sleeping, but at the way you roll in the bedding with a light whine, you know they’re up and watching over you. 

“Hold on,” Yunho soothes, “you’re stuck, just relax,” 

His words don’t make sense but you comply anyways at his soothing tone, and you feel him unwrap the sheets from around your legs and torso, freeing you from the tangled mess you’ve made. 

“You okay?” Mingi shifts to his side, searching for your face. 

A tight spike of pain connects like a punch to the gut and you sob softly, “No,” 

“That’s okay,” He murmurs, “I’m here,” 

His words are like a balm, and you shudder a sigh. You twist further into the sheets below, hissing at the way your stiff nipples drag against the fabric almost painfully and your core throbs again, “Mingi,” you manage. 

“Can I touch you?” He asks softly, his fingertips gentle on your spine, “Can I help?” 

You reach blindly for him, finding his other hand in the sheets and tug it forwards, pushing it between your thighs and trying to press his fingers in the right places, “I need you,” you beg him. 

Soft lips kiss your shoulder, “Mhm,” 

“Please,” 

He pushes your hand away, “Relax, I’ve got it,” 

Relax is a funny word, there’s almost zero chance you’d be able to relax feeling like this, but you widen your legs a little and let him take back the lead. The first circle of his fingers has you moaning already, digging your forehead into the pillows and choking, “I’m gonna fucking come,” 

“I barely touched you,” Mingi laughs softly. 

You shake your head, gripping the bedding in your shaking fists, “It doesn’t matter, I’m,” your hips buck into his hand, “fuck, I’m too sensitive,” 

“Then come,” He says, like it’s obvious. 

All it takes is two more circles of perfect pressure and you snap under his hands, moaning into the sheets and rocking your hips to keep the feeling going, pleasure running up and down your spine. 

“That’s it,” He murmurs, and then you feel his hands shifting to your hips. He’s moving you before you can register the change but before you know it he has you lying on your front and he’s pulling your hips up into a raised position, “do you still need a knot, beautiful?” 

You’ve never heard a better sentence in your life. 

You must make a noise, but your head is starting to get hazy so you barely register it, Mingi laughs again and then you’re moving. He drags you back gently to position you in the center of the mattress, lifts your hips high and widens your knees, and brushes his hands over your hips and the soft skin of your ass. 

“Look at you,” He hums, “presenting yourself,” 

You arch your back more deeply, responding to the pleased tone of your alpha’s voice, “Knot,” 

Fingers sweep over your wet folds until his palm cups your sex, “I know, omega,” 

You whimper softly. 

He doesn’t respond with words, or at least you don’t think he does, but a moment later his hand is gone and the head of his cock nudges your dripping entrance. You beg softly, pressing up with your hands and trying to shake your hair away, you want to twist back to look at him but you’re a mess. 

Hands brush back your hair and the weight of the bed shifts as Yunho comes to his knees in front of you. Mingi presses his thick cock inside, slowly at first and you can feel your body expanding to take every inch of him. You moan and pant, eyes filling with fresh tears at the sensation of being stretched so open, and then your eyes settle on Yunho. 

“Does that feel better, omega?” Yunho asks, easing himself into a comfortable position in front of you and cupping your cheek. 

“Mm,” You nod frantically, “I need more,” 

“I’ll give you more,” Mingi says, a smile in his voice, and he snaps his hips suddenly. 

You shudder and drop your head, focused on the sensation and pressing your eyes shut tight, “Harder, alpha,” 

He drives into you harder, and you keen, and finally you hear him curse behind you, “Fuck, you’re tight,” 

“God,” You choke. 

“A perfect, pretty little cocksleeve,” He sighs with a groan, pumping his hips harder, but despite the lewdness of his words his hands remain soft and reverent on your hips. 

“For you,” You nod, “for alpha,” 

You feel like your head is filling with water, like your ears are plugged full after a long day at the beach and you can’t quite shake it out. Their voices are getting hazier, your body getting hotter, every sensation doubled and tripled as your body takes you further and further down into the deepest part of your heat. Your mind is spinning with need, pulsating with desire, a singular biological need forming clearly in your mind. You forgot how much heat makes you want it, but the way you need overtakes your senses. 

“Please,” You hear your own voice echoing in your ears. 

Mingi says something, it’s not quite clear, all you can focus on is the sudden feeling of his hand slipping over your abdomen and the drag of his cockhead over your velvet sweet spot. 

You’re being lifted by your arms and you blink hard to clear your vision, Yunho shuffling closer to hold you up a bit and keep you still while Mingi fucks into you. You must be losing the ability to keep yourself steady, lost in sensation, but Yunho grounds you. 

“I got you,” He sighs as he holds you, “let Mingi take care of you,” 

Your walls clench tight around Mingi’s cock, and despite your bleary vision you realize quickly that Yunho’s cock is only inches away from your hand and left untouched. He’s only slightly stiff, not standing firm and tall and aching for you, but you want him suddenly in your mouth. You reach for him, taking him in your hand and pumping twice before he gently pulls your hand away. 

“No, no,” Yunho shakes his head, twining his fingers with yours and squeezing you tight, “I’m okay,” 

You whine softly, but Yunho squeezes your hand again. 

“You come for Mingi, baby,” Yunho soothes you, “let him fill you up,” 

Your brain ignites. 

“Shit,” Mingi curses, “I’m close,” 

“Yes, yes, yes,” You press your hips back, suddenly acutely aware of what that means.

Yunho holds your weight with ease, bracing you against his shoulder as Mingi’s thrusts start to get more frantic. 

“You need my knot, don’t you?” His voice is a little teasing, coaxing you closer to your own peak. 

“P-please,” 

“You need my cum,” He groans through gritted teeth. 

“Mingi!”

“Then take it,” He pants, his knot swelling suddenly inside you and locking him tightly in place, Mingi choking out a moan as he releases inside you. 

You beg again, and he pulls you away from Yunho and into his chest, collapsing down on the bedding and grinding his cock in deeper, the hand over your belly dipping low to rub your swollen, aching clit and bring you up and over your peak fast. His mouth is hot at your ear, “Perfect,” he murmurs with a growl, “the warmest, wettest cunt I’ve ever felt,” 

“Mingi, fuck,” You melt in his hands, your orgasm shuddering through you. 

“Good girl,” He croons, “that’s my good girl,” 

You feel yourself teetering on the edge of consciousness, even inside the ecstatic pleasure of your own release, barely understanding what you’re feeling - hands everywhere, a knot inside you, a hard cock pressed against your thigh, wet kisses all across your chest. Fingers brush along your belly, a tongue softly laps at your nipple, lips along your neck, a heavenly cloud of sensation. 

Someone’s talking, and you moan and nod in response, and you’re dizzy, hot, sweating and foggy. 

Mingi’s knot deflates, soft cock pulling out of you, pulling a desperate whine from your lips but suddenly you’re full again. On your back, tenderly held, a cock pumping inside you. Warm words at your ear but you can’t make it out through your fog, all you know is need. The want to be fucked, the want to be bred, the want to have nothing but knot over knot until you’re swollen and aching. Your heat takes your mind and plunges you deeper. 

A knot fills you, expands just right, your mind sparking with delicious satisfaction. 

The weight of the bed shifts and changes. 

You register kisses, and then sounds. The low hum of the bathroom light fixture, the fan above you. The creak of the floor as someone shifts, the aching yawn of the mattress and the man above you collapses lower with a contented sigh.

He’s shaking above you when you finally surface, his head dropped onto your chest and his warm breath passing over your skin again and again as he tries to come back down. His body is slick with sweat, black hair still damp from the shower. Your eyes trace over the contours of the taut muscles in his arms, and your mouth runs dry at the way his body trembles. 

“Yunho,” You brush your fingers through his hair, “hey,” 

He sighs, dropping a kiss to your sternum as he lifts his head, “Hey,” 

“You okay?” You ask him softly, your fingers tracing down the nape of his neck. 

“Mm,” He nods, a disconnected smile on his lips, “you?” 

You nod, blinking a little to further clear the fuzziness inside you, “Where’s Mingi?” 

“Right here,” Mingi murmurs and you start at the sudden interjection of his voice, craning your neck to find him. 

You twist in the sheets below you and see Mingi relaxing in the corner chair, towel still wrapped low around his hips, “Fuck,” You smile, “you scared me,” 

“Sorry,” He smiles with you, leaning forwards in his chair, “I didn’t mean to,” 

“What are you doing all the way over there?” You murmur. 

“This one wanted you all to himself,” Mingi throws a cheeky look at his best friend. 

You hope Yunho doesn’t notice the way you shiver at the words, and you’re about to open your mouth and brush the comment off, but Yunho gets there first. 

“So, what if I did?” 

“See?” Mingi nods at him, “But if you want me back in bed, all you have to do is ask,” 

The hand Yunho has on your waist tightens and your head snaps back to him, “Yun-” your words get caught in your throat as you feel his cock start to stiffen inside you again. 

His ears tint pink, but his eyes are still blown out and hungry, and his hips press into yours just a little bit more. 

“Oh,” You breathe, looking down at the place where your bodies connect, the soft swell of another knot starting at your entrance. 

“Shit,” He groans, his head dropping as his eyes rake over you. 

Your hips rock just a little and you whine softly, “Oh, fuck,” 

“By all means,” Mingi’s laughs, “pretend I’m not here,” 

“Mingi,” Yunho’s teeth set, “please, shut the fuck up,” 

All you get in return is another little chuckle from the chair in the corner. 

Heat flares up in your stomach, and you reach up for the man inside you, “Come down here,” 

He’s walking on a razor wire, you can feel it, a tense cord of control. He’s losing himself a little this time, his gaze possessive and hot, and you can feel every inch of your body responding even though the last knotting has your heat sated for the moment. Yunho registers your words and eases down above you, wrapping his arms around you and gathering you close. 

“Kiss me,” You murmur, keeping your voice even and calming. 

He nods, a little stiff as he shifts to find your mouth, pressing his closed lips to yours with trembling hesitation. He needs you to ask, you can feel it in every inch of him. 

“Shh,” You soothe him, shifting beneath him to draw him closer, hooking your legs over his hips, “it’s okay,” you murmur against his mouth. 

“I’m sorry,” He says, almost too quietly, “I just want you, I can’t stop wanting you,” 

Your inner omega preens, your mind suddenly spiraling at the fact that it’s him who needs. A moment ago you weren’t sure you could take any more, but his words and the hot throb of his length inside you have your body responding again before your mind can catch up. 

“Please,” You shudder a sigh into his mouth, “please, alpha, you have me,” 

His head drops down onto yours at your words and then he moves. He draws out of you quickly, snapping his hips back hard against yours and driving his cock in deep. Pleasure rockets up your spine, twisting your body below his and the sound that leaves your lips is nothing short of wanton. 

He takes your sounds and the muttered please on your lips as permission and in his eyes you see the moment he lets go. His hand tightens in your hair, he gets closer if at all possible, forcing your legs open wider and pressing you open for him. He fucks you this time with steady, firm strokes, no consideration for what you need for your orgasm, only for what he wants. Your nails dig into his back where you hold him, your muscles ache, your breath coming now in short staccatoed pants. 

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” He manages, his voice tight. 

You can’t say a word, your body a raw mix of pleasure and aching, delicious pain. 

“Pretty omega,” He kisses you hard, his mouth slipping off yours with a groan as he buries his face in your shoulder. 

You grip him closer, a bubble of inside you starting to build as he works you. 

“Mine to fuck,” He pants as he thrusts in again, “mine to fill.” 

Your mind spins. 

“To knot,” He shudders, and you feel his knot slip in and lock in place, much faster this time than before and you jerk beneath him at the sudden sensation. 

“Yes,” You mutter into his chest. 

Yunho grinds his hips into yours, releasing hot and hard inside you, and suddenly all you can think of is taking it all. Keeping it all. Your primal brain lights up with thoughts of what could be - your body round and perfect and theirs. Everyone would know who you belonged to, their hands spread wide over your growing belly, your alphas on either side of you and your child forever. 

“Y-Yunho,” You choke, and you feel him lift his head. 

He tries to shush you, but you’re desperate now, your own release a breath away if he’ll just stay right where he is and let you. 

“I-I need it,” You sob, rolling your hips as best you can in the pressed back position against his pelvis, every rock dragging your clit over him and bumping the head of his cock inside you into your softest places. 

“Alright, baby,” He sinks lower, shifting his hand under you to cup your ass and hold you against him. 

“I can’t,” You shudder, eyes locked closed as you focus on the image you need. Mingi behind you, hands cupping your breasts and softly flicking your pebbled nipples. Yunho’s head between your thighs, tongue flicking against your swollen bud, shifting up to kiss the soft swell of your stomach. 

“Baby,” He murmurs again, “look at me,” 

Your eyes snap open at his soft command. 

“There you are,” He smiles, squeezing your backside and urging you to keep rocking against him, “come on your alpha’s knot, pretty girl,” 

You whine as you grind against him, so, so impossibly close. 

“So good for me,” His hand slides up, coasting along your side, thumb stroking your abdomen, “for us,” 

You snap open beneath him with a stumbling cry, arching up and gripping onto whatever you can find, every inch of your body shaking and coming apart with disconnected pops. 

You don’t even realize you’ve fallen asleep until you feel Yunho shift above you and withdraw his now softened cock from your channel. A rush of wetness between your thighs registers distantly and you make a soft noise, twisting in the sheets and  towels.

New, warm hands lift you, and then suddenly every part of your body is warm. Cocooned in pleasant heat. Your hair is wet again, you hear the sound of water but it doesn’t register quite right, it’s not the steady stream of the shower like before. Trickles of water, something soft against your skin, washing over your arms and your chest, dipping between your thighs. 

“You got her?” Yunho asks softly, and you can hear him but it almost sounds like you’re hearing him through a wall. 

“Mhm,” Mingi’s tone is rich, “you almost done?” 

“Yeah,” Yunho responds, “she seem okay?” 

“She’s fine,” Mingi assures his friend, “she’s exhausted.” 

You sigh softly and you feel their hands still. 

“Jagi,” Yunho’s voice is soft, “are you awake?” 

“Mm-mm,” You shake your head. 

Mingi chuckles and you feel his lips press to your hair, “You sound awake,” 

“Mm-mm,” You sigh again, your eyes still heavy and closed no matter how hard you try to blink them open. 

“Okay,” He murmurs, and you feel his arms taking your body in his, “just rest,” 

You're weightless suddenly, the sound of water again, a sudden shock of cold as you leave the warm embrace of what you realize now was the bath. A soft towel wraps around you, gentle fingers work through your hair. You’re wrapped up again with them both, one on either side, a downy comforter tucking you back into the bed. 

An icy shiver passes through you and they move closer. 

Your mind floats, each muscle in your body softening one by one. 

There’s a quiet murmur above you, but this time it’s too far away. 

You drift. 

When you wake again, it feels like you’re waking inside a cloud. Your vision is hazy and distorted, your ears ringing, your head pounding. The pulse between your thighs is stronger than ever, and fleetingly in the back of your mind you know you’re at the precipice of it all. It gets worse before it gets better, they always say that, and right now it’s worse. 

Deep in your belly you feel nothing but all consuming heat, an unquenchable ache. It’s as if your body knows that despite the half a dozen times you’ve been knotted, none of it’s taken, and now as your body starts to prepare for the comedown it’s pushing you over the edge for another try. 

You shift in the middle of the bed, your hand connecting with skin but you don’t know whose. You’re all but crying, your hips bucking on their own to find something, anything to give you relief. You're slick with sweat, panicked and pained. Vaguely you think you can hear yourself begging, or at least you feel the echoing tone of your own voice resounding inside your head but you can’t be sure if you’re saying anything aloud. Maybe this is a dream. 

It’s dark, and for a split second you wonder if you’ve been left alone, thrust into the worst of your cycle by yourself, head too full of cotton to even get yourself off. But then someone pushes your legs open wide, someone kisses your thighs, someone drags their hot tongue up through your wet slit. 

“What a good girl,” Mingi’s rough tone pierces through your haze. 

You babble something back. 

“I know it hurts,” Mingi croons, kissing your cunt, “we’re going to make it all better, baby,” 

Your fingers twist into his hair, dragging him forward as your hips jut up to find his mouth. 

“Needy baby,” He hums, “so desperate for her alpha’s knot,” 

Your head throbs, your body tight and shaking. You beg him, you plead, you ask for anything and everything he can give you. 

“Hush,” His hand closes over your stomach as he wraps his arms under your thighs to hold you steady, “come on my tongue first,” 

“Knot,” You choke out in response. 

“We’ll knot you,” He assures, biting your inner thigh softly, “but you’re already so full and you think you can take more?” 

You know you can. 

“Mm,” He sounds pleased at your little noises, “I’ve never seen someone so wet,” 

You attempt to tug him forward to your core again. 

“Can I taste your pretty pussy, babygirl?” He sounds husky, and you know he’s rock hard, probably grinding down against the mattress. You want him inside. If he wastes a drop on the bed sheets you know you’ll cry. 

You must have whined a yes, you don’t know inside the thick fog, all you know is that when his tongue flattens over your clit in earnest, you see color. 

He devours you, his hands rough and bruising. His tongue feels everywhere, pushing inside in short little thrusts, rolling over your swollen bud, lapping up the excess slick from your thighs. He won’t even lift his mouth to breath, hot pants into your skin as he continues to bring you the most taut, pleasurable pain imaginable. 

He’s determined to make you come this way first, before you can have another knot even though you’re so wet and aching that you could take anything they give you without an ounce of preparation. He’s focused but messy, using your every noise to guide his mouth. 

When he pushes two fingers inside you, hard and fast, you come instantly. You feel like something has burst inside you, the sudden pressure of his hand over your belly as he thrusts his fingers, combined with how he’s sucking your clit leaving you boneless, moaning and writhing in the sheets. 

Your ears are ringing, and someone’s talking, but the heat is back up to its peak again even after your orgasm, and you cry out. Your legs push open wider, your hips angled suddenly upwards, Mingi’s hand on your belly gone. You blink and try to make sense of it, but in all but a moment after Mingi’s mouth leaves you, a cock drives into you deep. 

The colors behind your eyes spark again, blue and purple pops as you try to get your bearings and adjust to the weight inside you. 

“Fuck,” Yunho’s voice breaks through this time and your eyelids flutter as you try to blink back the fog and see him. He curses again, “How are you still this tight, tiny?” 

You whine again. 

“You feel so good,” He groans, “so good,” 

You reach for him blindly, finding his bare shoulders and tugging him down. You want his weight over you, you want every inch of him inside, your body feels dizzy and feral and desperate, but all of a sudden he’s clear. The only thing you can make sense of is him above you, on you, in you. 

He drops low, sinking in deeper and gathering you closer in his arms, your bodies pressed flush against each other and his hot mouth at your ear. “Mm,” He grinds his hips down into you, “I’ll pop a knot too soon if you don’t stop that,” 

Your hips still, you barely registered the way you were rolling your body against him, grinding your pubic bone up for the right kind of friction on your clit. A knot though, that’s what you need, and you feel a rush of wetness between your thighs as you adjust below him and redouble your efforts. 

“Shh,” He tries to soothe, but you can barely register it. 

“She’s too far gone,” Mingi says from the side, a little breathy, “she won’t calm down until she feels a knot,” 

You twist beneath him, dragging Yunho’s face to yours, “Kiss me,” you beg, pulling him even closer. 

His tongue dips past your lips, his hand on your cheek as he starts to rock his hips, “Tell me what you need,” 

“Your knot,” You sob against his mouth, “I’m so empty,” 

“Yeah?” He pants, pressing harder with his hips. 

The feeling of his thick length splitting you open, dragging against your g-spot, hot and hard in your belly, has you shaking in his hands. “P-please, come inside me,” 

“Come first,” He groans, rocking again, pushing your head to one side so he can collapse over your neck, “I want to feel you come around me,” 

You moan, your hips rolling again in earnest, every shift of your body dragging him in and out just enough that his cockhead bumps against the right spot and you grind your clit hungrily into the hard plane of his abdomen. 

You need more, and maybe you ask for it and maybe you don’t, but he answers you anyway. His next words send you over, “Come and I’ll fuck my knot right inside,” he kisses your jaw, “I’ll fuck you so full, you’ll be so sweet and round with my pretty pups,” 

Your brain tunnel-visions instantly, the only feeling in the world is him. Something pulses in the back of your brain as you come apart around him, a thumping need, an impulse that you can’t catch no matter how hard you try. 

“Alpha!” You cry as your legs shake, your fingers lacing into his hair and tugging hard to direct his mouth to your neck, “Take me,” 

His breath catches and you feel him shake his head, but he keeps working his hips. 

“Please,” Tears work their way down your cheek, “I’m yours, make me yours,” 

“No!” Mingi’s cold tone spikes through but you wrap your arms tighter around Yunho. 

“I need it,” You whine, and you don't even know what you’re saying anymore, body and mind possessed wholly by this deep intrinsic need, “I’m yours, I’m yours, I’ll be so good for you, alpha, so good,” 

His knot swells. 

“P-please,” You beg again, the feeling of his lips over your gland sinking you deep into another sudden orgasm. 

His knot slips in, locking in place. 

“Yours, I’m yours,” You grip him harder, turning your head to the side to stretch your neck long, pushing your aching gland harder against his mouth. 

He spills inside you with a hot cry, breath warm on your throat, your body arching under him. You know you’re still begging, the singular thought in your mind, the all encompassing need to be his, theirs. His teeth brush your throat ever so gently. Your mind sings. 

“Not like this, sweetheart,” He chokes finally, cupping you to him and shaking his head, “never like this,” 

“Y-Yunho,” You’re shaking in his embrace, still locked tightly to him. 

“Just breathe,” He soothes you, kissing your throat slowly and “I’ve got you,” 

A light clicks on somewhere in the background, flooding the room with a low yellow glow and realization slowly starts to creep through you. When you had told them not to claim you, it was kind of a joke. It was a boundary that you felt like you should set, but you were confident in that moment before the flooding heat that you would never, ever ask that of anyone unless you were sure. But you had begged. Pleaded. Presented yourself for consumption in a way that you’ve never done before with anyone. 

In a split second you had offered him your life. 

You pull back from him with a gasp, pushing into the pillows behind your head and one hand flying to your neck, anxious tears bubbling up in your eyes, “What did we do?” 

“Nothing,” Yunho pushes up with one hand to give you space, but reaches out to brush your cheek. 

You pull back further and his hand stills. 

“What did we do?” Panic rises. 

“Nothing,” He swears again, “I didn’t bite you, I promise, I didn’t,” 

“Nothing?” You repeat, but your body is fluttering in nervous panic beneath him.

“Show her,” Mingi enters your eye line over Yunho’s shoulder 

Yunho swallows nervously, tongue darting out to wet his lips, “Give me your hand, sweetheart,” 

You extend it just a little. 

“Just breathe,” He repeats as he cups the back of your hand, directing your movement slowly until your fingertips rest over your gland, “see?” He presses your hand up and down gently, letting your fingers graze over your unbroken skin, “You’re safe,”

He didn’t do it. He listened. He remembered. 

The relief in your body is indescribable, and you shudder a quiet sob before wrapping your arms around him and bringing him down to hold you again, “I didn’t know what I was saying,” 

“I know you didn’t,” He soothes you. 

“I didn’t know,” You press your head into his shoulder. Warm rain. 

“I know,” 

Mingi eases himself back into the bed again, sliding close and pushing one hand into yours, “y/n,” he squeezes you, “you didn’t do anything wrong. Just relax,” 

You nod into Yunho, peeking up over his shoulder at Mingi’s kind eyes. 

“You know we’d never hurt you,” He murmurs softly, “never. We’d never take that choice away from you,” 

You nod again, but keep quiet, your mind still spinning with what ifs. 

“y/n,” Mingi says again, “tell me you understand,” 

“I understand,” You manage, “I believe you,” 

Yunho’s knot softens and slowly he pulls himself free, but he stays resting over you, cradling your head in his hand. He studies your face, glancing over at his best friend. 

“Yunho,” You murmur, your head finally clearing from the dizzy chaos of waking in the throes of hard heat and the panic of what could have been. 

“Yeah?” His head snaps back so he can look at you. 

“Thank you,” Your voice is quiet, just a breath, but his eyes soften and he dips to capture your lips. 

The kiss is slow, chaste and tender and when you part you reach for Mingi to pull him down to your mouth too, saying everything you can with your kiss. 

“I don’t know what to say,” You admit to the quiet room as you let them hold you steady. 

“There’s nothing to say,” Mingi murmurs, “just rest.” 

Yunho presses a kiss to your forehead, his thumb stroking a tender line across your cheekbone. You know it will start again soon, body cramping up and desperate for everything they can give you, but this time you feel safe. This time, you know they’ll hold you solid through the wave. 

this night together - chapter four (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter four: a funny little feeling

chapter summary: your heat finally breaks, leaving you to relive every moment and every touch with a clear head. but you're sure you'll be able to just stay friends.

warnings: smut, all the a/b/o/omegaverse warnings, extreme horniness, masturbation, fingering, nipple play, rough sex, knotting, serious aftercare, emotional rollercoaster of hormones

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, abo/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 7.9K

previous chapter | next chapter | AO3

They’re dead asleep when the pain passes over you again, and after all the hours they had put in helping you come again and again, fucking and filling you over and over, you can’t bring yourself to wake them. Neither of them are in a rut, and this has to be getting tiring for them, even though they can share you, with a heat this hard you’re demanding constant attention and stimulation. There’s no way you won’t be feeling this for at least a week when it finally breaks. 

Yunho is laid out flat on his back, head turned away from you and his lips parted softly as he exhales little puffs of air. His upper arm is pressed along yours, but otherwise he isn’t touching you at all. Mingi on the other hand is curled over you, situated higher up on the bed than you, one broad hand resting between your breasts and a knee hitched up over your hips. 

No longer in the hazy space of peak heat, you’re able to breathe and take in the feeling of them so close. You can hear your own heartbeat, feel the thready hiss of your breath, but still they sleep on. 

Your nipples harden into painful peaks, a light sheen of sweat across your body once again, and your cunt pulsates with need. What you should do is wake them, beg them to knot you again until you can sleep a little longer in plump satisfaction, but you bite down and hold your tongue. 

It takes a moment to maneuver Mingi’s leg off you, his weight extra heavy while he’s deep in sleep, but you manage to push him off. That leaves you naked in the center of the bed, lying between both of them. 

You slip your fingers down your body and between your folds, finding your core wetter than you’ve ever been, so slick you can barely catch any friction where you need it. A soft whine bubbles from your lips, but it’s still almost a whisper and they don’t make a move. 

Steeling yourself, you arch your hips to give your hand better access, and wipe away as much excess slick onto your inner thigh as possible, returning your fingers to your swollen, throbbing clit and finding now, finally, you can feel something. At this stage of your heat it’s always harder to orgasm from manual stimulation alone, your body knowing intrinsically that what it needs is a knot, but you have to try. 

You circle your fingers, pressing firmly down over your clit and chasing as much feeling as possible, cupping your breast and tweaking your sensitive nipples to drive some additional sensation through your body. They sleep on beside you, and you bite down on your lip as you rock your hips up to meet your fingers a little better, trying all the while to keep quiet. Your legs widen on their own as you try to get what you need, but your thighs connect with each of them since they're crowded so close to you in the bed and you stutter to a stop to see if you’ve woken them. 

Yunho makes a heavy sigh but doesn't move and that’s all the permission you need to sink two fingers inside yourself and pick up the pace of your hips. A shuddering breath pushes out of you when you start hitting the tender point of your pleasure just inside your tight channel and your legs widen further. You’re losing yourself now, no longer cognizant of anything but your own need. 

Mingi’s hand shifts and cups your breast, but when you jerk your head to the side to look at him, he’s still fast asleep. 

Just a little more. All you need is just a little more. 

You’re caught looking at Mingi’s plush, parted lips. His forehead smooth and mind unbothered in sleep, and you admire his features. Masculine and sharp, with a softness to his eyes even when they’re closed. Heat pulses through you, and Yunho’s hand shifts. 

He sleeps on, his hand coming to rest on the juncture of your thigh and hip, and you whine softly as you continue thrusting your fingers into yourself, canting your hips up to meet every downward jut. 

Their hands on you feel electric, their scent filling you and making the atmosphere of the room heady. You’re so close, it’s right there for you. You widen your legs more, your thighs pressing further against them, but you don’t even care. Yunho shifts slightly, the sheet over his bottom half stretching taut and your mind buzzes - the hard line of his cock is suddenly clear and you stammer out a moan. 

Yunho inhales sharply, his fingers tightening on your thigh, and Mingi makes a small, sleepy noise next to you. When Mingi draws his hand back and inadvertently drags his palm over your nipple the sensation is just enough to finally push you over the edge. You moan as it crashes into you, your body locking up in pleasure and twisting in the sheets, and your breath is coming in short sharp pants as you ride out your sudden release. 

Your body shifts suddenly, and your eyes flutter open. In the dim light of the room you register quickly that Mingi has pushed you onto your side to face Yunho, who’s awake and looking at you with a blown out, flushed expression. 

“Ah, Mingi,” You stammer as he hikes up your leg to open you up to him. 

He doesn’t respond with words, but he crowds you with his body and aligns himself with your wet core, thrusting up inside you with one smooth stroke. You curse, gripping down on the sheets at the sudden sensation, but he pulls you closer still like he needs to touch every inch of your skin. His teeth close over your shoulder, far enough from your gland to be safe but still making you start in his arms and try to twist to find his eyes. Hot hunger strikes back up through your body at the sensation, but you know you don’t want him quite like this.

“Mingi, baby,” You reach for him, threading a hand into his hair, “l-let go,” 

His teeth sink into you a little more, not enough to break the skin but certainly enough to hurt and his hands tighten.

Your eyes flick to Yunho’s and you watch his face clear suddenly from the primal haze he woke up in, and he meets your eyes. He wets his lips and eases down in the bed a little more, “Mingi, stop,” 

Mingi breathes out heavily, a hot stream of air across your damp skin. 

“Mingi,” You murmur softly, knowing that he needs a little help snapping out of the haze, “alpha, please let me go,” 

His jaw relaxes and he pulls his mouth away from your shoulder. He’s still holding you tightly, but you feel him coming back to the surface, realizing that this isn't a dream. 

Yunho cups your cheek softly, “You okay?” 

You nod, shifting to kiss his palm gently before reaching back behind you for Mingi, “I’m good, I promise,”

“Jesus, did I hurt you?” Mingi’s grip softens as he finally realizes what’s going on around him. 

“No,” You answer clearly, no space for ambiguity with something like this, “I just knew you were still kind of out of it,” 

“I bit you,” He registers 

“And I liked it,” You squeeze his hip where you reach around, “just not while you were that out of it,” 

“What happened?” He manages. 

You blush scarlet, “I woke you up by accident,” 

Yunho smiles, a little amused at your choice of words. He had rocketed into consciousness and watched you finish the minute you moaned, fighting the urge to sink his own fingers inside you as you came apart in ecstatic pleasure right before his eyes. 

Mingi pushes up onto his elbow to see you better, his expression confused. 

“You were both asleep,” You explain softly, adverting your eyes from his, “and I didn’t want to wake you, but I needed to take the edge off,” 

He smirks when he realizes your euphemism, “Oh,” 

“It didn’t work out like I planned,” You duck your face into the mattress and sigh. 

“You missed out,” Yunho smiles at you, dragging the back of his knuckle down your chest and back up again, “she looked gorgeous,” 

If you could blush more, you do. 

“Mm,” Mingi nuzzles you, “why wouldn’t you just wake us? That’s what we’re here for,” 

“You’ve got to be exhausted by now,” You explain softly, “I thought I’d give you a break,” 

Mingi hums quietly, dropping his lips to your shoulder to kiss you tenderly, and then his hands tighten again and he snaps his hips, dragging his cock out of you and plunging it back in, “Do I feel exhausted to you?” 

You moan tightly, reaching out and gripping onto Yunho’s arm as you recover from the sudden sensation, “God, fuck,” 

“God, fuck?” He teases you, “Yeah?” 

“Oh, shut up,” You sigh, grinding your hips back a little to feel him deeper. 

He groans and gathers you close in his arms, “You’re so cute,” 

You want to make fun, but something inside you sings at his praise and you smile softly, “Yeah?” 

“Aw,” Yunho smiles, “you’re blushing,” 

“Mm,” Mingi kisses your head, “do you not hear that enough? Should I tell you more?” 

“Mingi,” You make an attempt at protesting but your body flutters around him and you’re acutely aware of the sweat trickling down your brow and the feeling of his heart pounding against your back. 

“Cutie,” Mingi nips at your ear, tugging softly on the lobe, “did you take the edge off or do you need me?” 

Orgasm aside, your body is starting to fall back into the needy, desperate tendencies of heat and all you can manage is a gentle whimper. 

“Oh, pretty girl,” Mingi sighs, dropping his hand over your belly and nuzzling your head, “you need my knot, precious?” 

“P-please,” You choke, and even though a few minutes ago you might have been sated enough for sleep, the idea of it is enough to rocket you right back into desperate wanting. 

“Can I help?” Yunho murmurs softly. 

“Anything,” You nod, a little breathless and frantic. 

Mingi groans as you press your hips back into his and reach for Yunho, connecting your lips to his in a hungry kiss. Mingi snaps his hips again and you gasp against Yunho’s mouth. 

“Harder,” You reach back for his hip, nails scraping along his soft skin to try and get him to respond the way you need. 

He says nothing, but his hands shift to hold you steady, one on your hip and the other on your shoulder and then he starts to thrust. He listened perfectly - not faster, but harder, deeper. Every sharp click of his hips up snaps your hips against each other and drives his aching cock so deep you can’t think straight. 

You want to come so badly, you want to spasm around him so hard you make him come inside and you want to take every bit of it. Your brain is still a little blurry and you let your eyes close as you focus on the sensations. Mingi stretching you wide, his tight grip, Yunho’s hands caressing you gently in a dizzying contrast to the way you’re being fucked open. 

You whine at a particularly hard thrust, the head of his cock connecting with your cervix and lighting a bubble of pain up inside you, but it’s no worse than your intense hot cramping. 

“God,” Mingi pants, his hips canting up a little faster, “you’re so fucking hot,” 

Yunho smiles, and then presses forward to catch your mouth again. His fingers trace down from your chest to your belly and back up, one hand cupping your breast and a thumb flicking across your nipple. 

You moan hard, breaking away from his mouth and dropping your face into the pillows, “Again,” 

He flicks again, and you bury your face deeper into the pillows as you moan. 

“No, no,” Mingi’s hand on your shoulder shifts up into your hair, pulling your head back slowly, “don’t hide,” 

Your muscles lock up around his cock and he hisses. 

“You like that?” He pulls your hair a little harder, yanking you against his shoulder so he can hold you still. 

You whine out an affirmative response, one hand reaching for something and finding Yunho’s chest. 

“I want to hear you come, beautiful,” Mingi’s breath is hot on your ear, and he adjusts his body slightly so he can drive his cock into you again and again at a punishing pace. 

“More,” You manage. 

“Y-Yunho,” Mingi groans, “play with her some more,” 

Yunho makes a hungry noise and then you feel his mouth close over your nipple. 

“Oh, god,” your body arches hard into them. 

You’re sandwiched tight between them, and then Yunho sucks hard and the sensations flowing through you double. 

“Do that again,” Mingi pants. 

Yunho obliges, sucking hard again and then flicking his tongue firmly over your pebbled nipple, his fingers coming up to tease the other. 

“I’m gonna fucking come,” You stammer, “I’m- I’m,”

“Taking your alpha’s cock so well,” Yunho bites at your breast, “our good, good, girl,” 

“The fucking best,” Mingi chokes. 

Good, the best. Theirs. Your brain bubbles over with the praise and you cup Yunho’s head in your palm, pressing him closer to your body and forcing more of his mouth over you. Your legs start to shake, and Mingi’s hand on your hip slips down and his fingers start to circle your clit. Frantic and fast. 

“F-fuck,” You hold onto them for dear life, “I’m coming, I’m, ah, fuck,” 

“Shit,” Mingi thrusts up hard and you feel his swollen knot, “oh shit,” 

“Inside,” You beg, “alpha, please,” 

He all but growls, and it burns, but he pushes in. Your fluttering channel expands just enough to accept him inside and then you feel him swell properly to lock in place, spilling seed so deeply that for a hazy moment inside your orgasm you daydream that not even your implant could prevent that from taking root. 

You can barely feel your body, all of you shuddering and panting after the intensity, but slowly you feel Yunho kiss along your breasts and up your chest, and Mingi’s hands soften to smooth over your skin in a comforting pattern. 

“She asleep?” Yunho mumbles as he kisses more of your chest. 

“Maybe,” Mingi responds and then he squeezes your hip, “baby, you with us?” 

“Mm,” You manage. 

Mingi chuckles, “Does my knot feel good, tiny?” 

You sigh pleasantly. 

“I think that’s a yes,” You feel Yunho’s smile on your skin, “she’s practically glowing,” 

“Beautiful,” Mingi murmurs. 

Yunho’s gone suddenly though, and your eyes flutter open, “W-where?” 

“Getting you water,” He soothes, still on the bed just a little bit further from you than he was, “I need you to drink some of this and then we can cuddle all you want,” 

You take the glass, eagerly drinking as much of the water as you can at this odd, twisted angle and Mingi chuckles again behind you, pressing a kiss to your shoulder. 

“That’s good,” Yunho smiles when you pass the glass back. 

“Come back,” You reach out again, needing to feel him. 

He drops the glass on the side table and eases himself back over until you’re pressed front to back between them both. Every inch of your skin that can touch one of them does, and you finally feel at peace. Yunho wraps an arm around you both and kisses your hair, “Better?” 

“Don’t leave,” You mumble, sleep clinging to you once again. 

“We’ve got nowhere to be, jagiya,” Yunho soothes, kissing your lips softly. 

“Hmm,” You sigh, your tense muscles releasing one by one, the warm feeling of Mingi’s hard cock inside you washing over you like a salve. 

“Perfect,” Mingi murmurs, and then sleep takes you under. 

It continues like this for what feels like hours. You wake in needy desperation and one of them is suddenly inside you. You lose count, if you ever had count to begin with. They knot you over and over again, make you come over and over again. On their fingers, their tongues, dragging your slick aching cunt across their thighs if that’s what you need. You lose track of time, and if they’re being honest so do they. 

Nothing exists now but this bed and their bodies. 

Nothing until it all breaks. 

Coming out of heat is always stark and sudden. Where pre-heat lasts hours, sometimes days and you can feel your body changing and adjusting to accommodate the surge of hormones, when it ends it just ends. It feels final and stark, like you’ve been doused with a bucket of cold water, and all the aches and pains in your body that the endorphin surges drowned out come back tenfold. 

You know it the minute you open your eyes, no hazy feeling in your limbs or pulsing between your thighs. This time it’s all over, and with strange clarity you realize just how fucked you are. 

“Fuck,” You breathe softly, remembering every detail from the past few days and how stripped down and bare you were in front of two men that not only are you not involved with, you work with. 

A small groan to your side brings you out of your thoughts as Yunho wakes and registers your soft curse, “Shh, shh,” he hums, “I’m right here,” 

“Oh,” You open your mouth to tell him it’s over, but his hand is already pushing between your thighs. 

He pushes himself up onto his side, his hair messy and eyes bleary, “There we go,” he murmurs, hoarse and low as his fingers find your clit. 

The overstimulation is immediate and you hiss, pulling back with your hips, “Ah, ah, no,” 

His fingers raise, “Does that hurt?” 

“Yeah,” You manage, “Yunho, I’m,” 

“That’s okay,” He swiftly cuts off your words, still sunken into his soothing alpha tone, “I won’t hurt you, jagi,” 

“I know,” You manage, looking for the right words to tell him he doesn’t need to do anything more, but he smoothly finds your entrance with his fingers, still wet with leftover slick and cum, and pushes two inside you. He’s slow and deliberate, watching your face for any discomfort, and even though it burns a little it’s also a dizzying pressure that leaves you moaning softly in his arms. 

He drops his lips to your shoulder as he rhythmically pumps his hand and he sighs hot against your skin, “There’s my girl,” 

His girl. Your heat addled brain had been desperate and aching for it, ready to make them both your alphas for life in the thick of your delirium, but this… this would just be sex. It feels suddenly dishonest, uncomfortable and wrong. They had offered to help with your heat, but that part of whatever your relationship with them is, is now over. 

“Yunho,” You stutter out, and he hums, mistaking your sounds for pleasured whimpers. You blink hard and steel yourself, “Yunho, stop, please,” 

His fingers push forwards and then stop immediately and he adjusts quickly, pulling them out and turning to look up at you in the bed, “What’s wrong?”  

“Can I have that sheet?” You nod towards your legs where the sheet tangles up around your legs and he fishes it up immediately. Once it’s tucked around you, you feel a little better about meeting his eyes, “I’m sorry,” 

“Why?” He shuffles closer, wrapping an arm around you and you hear Mingi starting to stir to your other side, “Did I hurt you?” 

“No,” You assure him, “but it’s done,” 

“Done?” His eyebrows knit together and you remember he’s never done this before. 

“My heat broke over night,” You explain softly, “you don’t need to do anything else,” 

“Oh,” He blinks, “just like that?” 

“Mhm,” The intimacy of his arms around you feels so, so right, but you also know it’s part of this manufactured moment. You wouldn’t be here in bed with them both if it weren’t for a biological imperative that you can’t control by yourself, and a rational voice in the back of your brain is telling you to cut and run before this gets messier. 

“Are you okay?” He whispers. 

“I’m fine,” You nod, “a little sore.” 

“Can I get you anything?” He brushes your hair back from your cheek like a lover. 

“I think I just need,” Your voice cuts off as Mingi rolls towards you both, snuggling up to your opposite side and exhaling heavily against your hair. 

“What’s going on?” Mingi mumbles, sleep still clinging to him. 

“My heat’s over,” You rip the words off like a bandaid. 

“Shit,” He blinks, pushing himself up onto one arm, “I should have known, you smell different,” 

“Do I?” You glance between them. 

Yunho takes a deep breath, his eyes slipping closed and then he nods, “Milder,” he agrees, “chamomile and willow now, the honey is less pronounced,” 

“Give me a minute,” Mingi shakes his head, as if he’s willing sleep to stop clinging onto him, “I’ll get up and get you what you need,” 

“I’m fine,” You reiterate, and that’s mostly true, except for the thumping anxiety in your chest and the fact you’re desperate to not be naked in bed anymore. 

Mingi rolls his eyes, “You’re stubborn, I know you’re probably aching like hell,” 

“I really just need a shower,” You shake your head, “and then I can get out of your way,” 

“That’s not a great idea,” Mingi shakes his head, “you shouldn’t try and rush the comedown,” 

“Take it easy,” Yunho agrees, “there’s no work today anyways. Just relax, and I can drive you home this afternoon if that’s what you want,” 

What you want is to run. Your chest feels tight, and you’re so aware of their hands on you. Your brain gets stuck like a record skipping again and again, Yunho saying clearly that he can take you home. 

“If you need a couple more days,” Mingi jumps in and offers, “you should take them, I know this was a hard one,” 

“Really,” You need to move, so you start to sit up, “I’m okay,” 

You shimmy forwards and wrap the sheet around yourself as you slide out of Mingi’s bed. It’s not graceful and you’ve probably just flashed more skin than you want to, despite all the parts of you they’ve seen and touched the past few days, but you make it up to your feet. Pretty much immediately you feel like you might faint. 

“Whoa,” Mingi rolls out of bed fast, hands out and ready, “you okay?” 

“I’m good,” You brush him off, taking a step backwards, “just a little headrush.” 

Yunho looks nervous, watching you intently as he locates a pair of his sweats and pulls them on, “I think you should slow down, you’ve been here for days, what’s a few more hours?” 

You ignore him, “Do you mind if I use the shower?” 

Mingi’s lips press together hard in a line and you can tell he’s confused and not exactly happy with you, but he nods anyway. 

“Great,” You gather the end of the sheet so you can walk and then push yourself into the bathroom. Blissfully, they don’t follow you. 

Moving quickly you get the hot water going and lay out some towels, and while you wait for the temperature to adjust you collapse against the counter and take a deep inhale. Their apartment feels suddenly claustrophobic. You had really liked them, a tiny piece of you even day dreamed about dating Yunho when you first started. You shake those thoughts away and pull yourself into the warm spray, leaning hard against the tile wall. A flickering memory, Yunho holding you against his chest, Mingi cupping your cheek as they carried you out of the shower and back into bed. They took such good care of you, you can hardly believe they’re real. 

You shower until the water starts to run tepid, until you’re out of time again and need to go look them in the eyes. While you washed your skin again and again you thought about it all. Your stomach flips with nervousness, the idea of seeing them with your head clear alone making your palms clammy. 

The bedroom is empty when you get back, sheets stripped off the bed and piled high in the corner, the widow behind it pushed up and open. Your stomach twists painfully at the sight. They’re already airing out the nest and it makes you feel suddenly empty. You need to get home, wrap yourself in a tight cocoon of blankets and try not to think about what work tomorrow is going to look like. 

You dress quickly, pulling on your last pair of clean underwear and leggings, avoiding the sudden urge to wear Mingi’s hoodie again, and instead slip back into your sweater. You braid your wet hair back, pack up your things, and quietly order yourself an Uber. In ten minutes, you’ll be gone. 

You’ll have to see them one more time before you go, your stomach fluttering with sudden anxiety, but you brace yourself and head down the hall. 

“Um,” You clear your throat softly as you step into the living room, “hey,” 

“Hey,” Yunho smiles wide, “feeling okay?” 

“I’m good,” You assure him, watching as they both get to their feet, “but I really should get going,” you say it, but your stomach twists at the idea.

“Already?” Mingi says. 

“I can’t steal more of your time,” You adjust the strap of your bag on your shoulder, “I really can’t thank you both enough for helping me out of the office the other night… and, you know, everything else,” your cheeks heat with blush. 

“You don’t have to thank us,” Mingi steps towards you, as if to reach for you, but he stops himself. 

“Right,” You glance down at your phone, your car now six minutes away. 

“Let me drive you home,” Yunho reaches for his keys on the island. 

“No, no,” You wave him off, “I already have a ride,” 

“Oh,” He lets his hand fall away from his keys. 

A beat of silence stretches between you all and you swallow, “I’m sorry, this is awkward isn’t it?”

“It shouldn’t be,” Mingi says with ease, “we just spent four days naked and locked in a room together,” 

His blunt honesty makes you laugh and you clap a hand over your mouth, “Oh god, we did, didn’t we?” 

“Yeah,” Mingi smiles, “I don’t think we need to be shy now,” 

Your shoulders relax, the air clearing, “Everything just felt like a lot, but you’re right,” 

Mingi shakes his head, reaching for you without asking and pulling you into his chest, “Just because you’re not in heat anymore doesn’t mean we’re strangers now,” 

“I know,” You let his familiar warmth relax your body further. 

“So, let me ask again,” His hand smooths up and down your back, “how are you feeling?” 

The word ‘fine’ sits on your tongue but you bite it back and choose honesty instead, “Overwhelmed,” 

“I thought so,” He hums, “cancel your car,” 

“What?” You pull back slightly in his arms. 

“You can’t just run away the second we’re not having sex,” He calls you out so easily it flusters you and you duck your head into his chest, “we need to talk, and you need to sit down and rest. And I know you’re hurting, so just take a breath,” 

You nod into him and then lift up your phone, “Okay,” 

You feel it lift out of your hands and you don’t hesitate, you wrap your arms around his back and grip him tight, soaking up his warmth and the steadiness of his breath. 

“Yunho,” Mingi murmurs, his voice low and soft, “can you make some tea?” 

“Got it,” Yunho says softly. 

You don’t know why you suddenly feel like crying, but you do. The body remembers trauma, but it remembers tenderness too. His arms feel right, even without the needy cloying of your primal brain, his body so warm and so steady that it cracks your emotions wide open. 

At your first, sharp intake of breath, sounding wet and locked up with tears, Mingi moves. He scoops you up with ease, settling you both back down on the couch and tucking you into his broad chest, “Shh, shh,” he soothes, “I’m right here,” 

“I don’t know why I’m crying,” You hide your face in his shirt with a sob. 

“That’s okay,” He nods. 

“This is so embarrassing,” Your voice is strained and thick with tears. 

“Why?” He tuts, “You cry if you need to cry,” 

“Hey,” Yunho sounds worried immediately as he comes back into the room, “what’s going on, what’s wrong?” 

You sniffle and shake your head into Mingi’s shoulder, your head feeling floaty as you try to focus on getting your blurry emotions under control. 

“This is normal,” Mingi says to Yunho, his voice even and low, “just like how flattened out you feel after a rut. It’s a lot of hormones, a lot of emotions, that’s why I wanted her to stay. She shouldn’t be alone just yet, and it’s an alphas job to help ground their omega,” 

“I didn’t realize,” Yunho murmurs, and you feel the weight of the couch shift as he sits down with you both. 

“Nobody explains,” Mingi shakes his head as he strokes your back, “all they teach you in Secondary Gender Presentations is knotting and pups, but there’s a lot more than that,” 

Hot emotion courses through you, and you sob again, “Mingi,” 

“Come here,” He pushes your arms a little, prompting you to wrap them around his neck and burrow closer, “You can feel me, right? I’m holding you, I’m right here,” 

“Mhm,” You exhale, shaky and broken. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” He soothes you, “okay, omega? I’m not leaving, Yunho and I are not leaving you.” 

You didn’t even know that’s what you needed, but his words soothe you instantly, the hammering panic of your heart settling slower and slower in your chest. 

Mingi clears his throat softly and readdresses Yunho, “She needs to know she’s not alone, especially after a heat that intense. It hits some people really hard, my ex used to be inconsolable after,” 

“Jesus,” Yunho murmurs, “I’m really fucking glad you’ve done this before,” 

Mingi’s chest jerks as he huffs out a laugh, “There’s a lot more to it, isn’t there?” 

Yunho makes a small noise of acknowledgement and slowly you start to feel your emotions level out. 

“M-Mingi?” You murmur wetly into his neck. 

“Yeah?” He squeezes you. 

“Thank you,” You sigh. 

“Mhm,” he soothes, “are you still feeling overwhelmed?” 

While your tears have subsided, bubbling anxiety still crawls under your skin and you nod against him. 

“Are you afraid?” He murmurs, picking up on your trembling hands. 

“I don’t know why,” You wish you could articulate it, reach deep down inside yourself and pull free this thread of niggling panic to get to the root of it, but you simply can’t. 

“That’s okay,” He assures you, “how about you let me take care of things, hmm?” 

“What things?” 

“Today,” He explains, “I know you’re stressed and I know you want to go home, but right now I think we should all stick together a little longer. Would that be okay with you?” 

“Yeah,” You breathe. 

“Good,” Mingi murmurs, “y/n, can Yunho hold you for a little while? I need a few minutes,” 

You unwind yourself from him and nod, sitting back so you can see his face. He smiles softly, wiping away your tears with his warm, broad hand. A little piece of you wants to kiss him, settle your fluttering heart once and for all, but it’s probably just the lingering pull from your heat so you push it aside. 

Yunho shifts on the couch and positions himself next to Mingi properly, “Hey,”

“Hey,” You smile, sliding off Mingi’s lap and into his, “are you doing okay?” 

“Me?” Yunho’s brow raises, “I’m fine,”

“I’ll be right back,” Mingi murmurs, brushing a hand along your hair, and you watch as he disappears into the kitchen. 

“Don’t be worried about me,” Yunho says, bringing your eyes back to him. 

“You’ve been quiet,” You tell him, “I just… I’m really trying not to fuck everything up just because I couldn’t afford my stupid suppressants,” 

His face screws up in confusion, “Fuck what up?” 

“Our… friendship,” You manage, “and the studio, and everything,” 

Nervous panic strikes through you again and you take a deep breath, closing your hands into tight fists and focusing on the pin pricks of pain in your palm as your nails dig in. 

“y/n,” Yunho shakes his head, “not a chance.” 

“You say that, but I know how these things go,” 

“Why?” He brushes you off with an easy smile, “You think just because I saw you naked I’m going to fall in love with you or something? It doesn’t really work like that,” 

Blush flushes your cheeks, “Please, don’t,” 

“Fall in love with you?” He clarifies, still smiling. 

“Yunho,” 

“Why can’t you fall in love with me in this scenario?” He nudges you, trying to make you laugh and break the tense knot that’s been here since you woke up, “I selflessly took off work to have copious amounts of hot, hot sex with you. I made you food, cuddled you all night, basically gave you a sponge bath,” 

Your hands relax. “You did not give me a sponge bath, Yunho,” You roll your eyes, “god, you’re annoying,” 

“Annoyingly lovable,” He clarifies. 

“Fine,” You nod, “annoyingly lovable, but I’m not going to fall in love with you.” 

“Then I guess we’re good then,” He assures you. 

“And work won’t be weird?” You check. 

“Work won’t be weird,” He shakes his head, “is that what you’re worried about?” 

“I guess,” You press a hand over your chest, the nervous flutter of your heart still there, “I just… I love this job. I’m finally getting what I want, and I’m making friends, and I have a mentor,” 

“Am I your mentor?” He interrupts, eyes widening a little. 

“Shut up,” You dismiss him, “you know how much help you’ve been to me,” 

“Mentor,” He smiles, looking a little elated. 

“Yunho,” You sigh and he clicks back in to your words, “what I’m trying to say is that… sex complicates a workplace, especially heat sex. I don’t want this to…. Fuck, I don’t know what I’m trying to say,” 

Yunho catches your fluttering hand in one of his and cups your cheek with his other, “Sex can just be sex.” 

“Can it?” You chew the inside of your lip, “For us, can it?” 

“If that’s what,” He starts to say. 

“Okay,” Mingi returns with an armful of goodies and a warm smile, “I’ve decided it’s a Netflix and nap day,” 

“Wait, hang on,” Yunho shakes his head, getting you to face him again, “listen to me. You’re afraid that spending your heat with us is going to change things, affect our relationship and make work different.” You nod a little and he smiles, “I can’t tell you everything will be exactly the same because honestly, we just are closer now. It was intimate, and I don’t know about you but I feel closer to you, but that doesn’t mean it changes our friendship or fucks up our ability to work together. It means whatever we want it to mean,” 

Mingi drops the blankets and pillows in his arms and steps closer, “Yunho’s right, y/n,” he murmurs, “we’re adults, this isn’t going to ruin anything if we don’t let it.” 

“Friends, then?” You glance between them, “Sex can just be sex, like you said?” 

Yunho swallows hard and then nods. 

“Friends,” Mingi says. 

The panic in your chest starts to recede. “So, we’re okay?” You ask finally. 

“We’re okay,” Yunho nods, “we’re perfectly okay.” 

“We’re okay,” Mingi agrees. 

You nod, exhaling a long breath, “So,” You nod towards the steaming cup on the coffee table, “is that tea for me?” 

“Yeah,” Yunho gives you a soft squeeze, “here,” he shifts you off his lap and passes you the warm mug. 

“You really don’t mind if I stay a little longer?” You check. 

Yunho shakes his head immediately, “I would like it if you did,” 

“Okay,” You sigh, the knot inside you finally gone. 

“Great,” Mingi goes back to his project, “just hang on one sec,” 

You watch as he reaches inside the front lip of the side of the couch you’re not sitting on for a handle and then he pulls, the couch opening up and producing two more large sections of cushion that turns that half into almost a bed. 

“You do a lot of napping?” You tease him. 

“Ha, ha,” He shakes his head as he tosses out some blankets and pillows, “we have guests sometimes,” 

“Ah,” You nod. 

He disappears for another moment and when he returns he’s well equipped once again. He waves you over, “Okay,” he says, “tuck in, get cozy. I’ve got some pain killers for you, water, and snacks. I figured we could just hang out, watch something dumb on TV and then if you feel better later or like you want to head home, we’ll take you then.” 

You want to kiss him again, and when Yunho smooths a hand down your back and smiles brightly at you, you want to kiss him too. Whatever that means is too complicated to think about for the moment, so you don’t. 

When it’s all said and done, you’re sandwiched between them on the pull out, tucked under Yunho’s arm and falling into absolute hysterical laughter at the reality show Mingi threw on. He called it a guilty pleasure with a shrug despite your teasing, and fifteen minutes into the first episode you and Yunho both are ashamed to say you’re hooked. 

You can feel sloshing waves of emotion inside you as you let yourself relax, but their proximity keeps you calm and collected. It’s sometime after lunch when you finally take the opportunity to ask Yunho again, Mingi thankfully asleep to your left side. 

You prod his leg gently under the covers, “Hey,” 

“Hmm?” He glances down at you. 

“How are you doing?” You ask softly, prodding him again. 

“I’m fine,” His brows knit together in confusion, “why wouldn’t I be fine?” 

Using his chest for leverage you shift off him, turning towards him eye to eye now so you can actually have a conversation with him. “You still seem kind of quiet,” You explain, “and you’ve both been so fixated on me and what I need, but I’m just checking in. It was your first time going through someone’s heat, so, I don’t know what that’s like for you,” 

Your mind flicks back to the moment you begged him to claim you, desperate and clinging to him, the way his eyes blew wide with wanting and he almost, almost succumbed. His whisper on your throat as he held himself to his promise - Not like this, sweetheart, never like this. 

He hesitates, and quietly under the blankets you move your hand into his. 

“Yunho,” You prompt him, “it’s okay to tell me,” 

“I mean,” He studies your face and then sighs, “I am fine, really, I am, but do feel different.” 

“Different how?” You murmur. 

“Clingy, still?” He offers, but you can tell he doesn’t really know what to make of his own emotions, “When you said you were leaving I felt sick,” 

“Me too,” You nod, “but it makes sense,” 

“Does it?” 

You shift closer, your legs leaning on his now, “Mingi’s right, we spent four days locked in a room together. All we did was be intimate and share emotions…”

“Then why did you want to leave so quickly?” He asks, no judgment in his voice at all. 

“Yunho,” You smile, “I don’t know if you’ve picked up on it or not, but I’m not the best at sharing. Or admitting I need help.” 

“So you were running,” 

“I guess,” You nod, “I was just embarrassed and then before I knew it I had one foot out the door,” 

“I don’t want you to feel embarrassed about this,” He shakes his head, sliding his hand up your arm, “I don’t like that.” 

You sigh, “I know, but the idea of being back in the studio after this? I mean I’ve worked with you for what, two months? We really barely know each other, I’m the new girl. How am I not supposed to worry about us being too familiar after this?” 

“So we’ll be familiar,” He presses, “I promise, it really is okay. Mingi and I are not going to treat you any differently where the work is concerned, but we can be friends.” 

“Friends,” You repeat the sentiment with a nod, “you’re right, and these feelings will fade,” 

“Feelings?” He says softly. 

“Like Mingi said,” You tell him, “it keeps coming in waves, but the consistent thing is that I don’t want to be apart yet, even not touching feels wrong.”

“Exactly,” He nods enthusiastically, “every time you get up to pee I feel like I should follow you and guard the door it’s kind of ridiculous,” 

Laughter bubbles out of you and you cover your mouth, glancing over at a still sleeping Mingi, “The protective alpha instincts are really no joke, I guess,” 

“Mm,” He smiles, “Mingi has a handle on it, it was just so much more than I expected it to be,” 

“How long were he and his ex together?” You ask. 

“Two-ish years?” He says, “So yeah, he has a good handle on himself.” 

“Do you think he feels the same way as you do?” Your eyes dart back over to Mingi’s fully peaceful face as he sleeps. 

“Probably,” Yunho shrugs, “but he’s very good at only letting people see what he wants them to see,” 

“I’m getting that,” You murmur. 

There’s a long beat between you and finally you twist back to look at him, “I know it’s just the hormones,” you tell him, “but can we cuddle?” 

“Sure,” He scoots down on the couch, gathering you close, your head now resting on the crook of his arm, “This okay?” 

“Perfect,” 

Now that you’re not looking at him, the next thing you say feels so much easier, “I have to thank you for what you did,” you smile, “or didn’t do, I guess,” 

He’s quiet for a moment and then, “I almost did though,”

“I know,” You remember the sensation of his teeth dragging along your throat, “but you stopped,” 

“I didn’t realize how right it would feel in the moment,” He says softly, “and I just wanted to make you stop hurting,” 

You pat across his chest until you find his hand and you lace your fingers together, “You did,” you fight the urge to kiss him, “and for what it’s worth, Mingi was right. I don’t think I could have gotten through this at home by myself, I’ve never had a heat this hard,” 

“Now I’m really glad we brought you home,” 

“Mm,” You nod, “I don’t know what I would have done,” 

He hugs you a little more tightly, “I keep meaning to ask you something,” 

“Anything,” You shift to look up at him. 

“Suppressants,” He says, “when will insurance cover the ones you need?” 

“Nineteen days,” You recite, “nearly there.” 

“You’ll be alright until then?” He asks. 

“Should be,” You nod, “I’ll have time to onboard before my next heat so everything should be much more manageable,” 

“Good,” He brushes a hand along your hair and then settles it high on your back. 

You expect him to offer, to indicate a next time, but he doesn’t. Something distant in your gut twists and the thought that maybe this really is a one-time thing. You know it should be, you work too closely together to muddle it all up with all these emotions, especially when you can barely tell now if it’s your biological need for an alpha or if you really do just like them. But the thought of leaving and never being held by them like this again hurts a little, more than you thought that it would. 

When Mingi wakes a little later you all stay cuddled up a little longer. You eat dinner together and by the end of the meal, you’re all sitting a few feet apart. You still want to be here with them, but the desperate pull to touch them has faded almost completely by the time you’re done with your spicy noodles. 

The drive back to your apartment is quiet, and you’ve been away from work and insulated with them for so many days that you feel distantly like it’s the last day of summer and the night before school. You want to stretch out the seconds, avoid getting out of this car and going to bed at all costs, you know once you do life will be back to normal. Four days with them made you yearn a little for something more than normal. 

“Well,” You clear your throat softly and pull your bag up from the passenger side floor, “I guess that’s it,” 

“Take tomorrow,” Yunho says, twisting to the side from the driver’s seat to face you, “we’ll go back to work and you take one more day.” 

“Okay,” You nod, knowing that it’s the smartest way to not seem obvious about sharing your heat with them. 

“We had the flu,” Mingi offers, “and it’s just weird timing.” 

“Weird timing,” You nod, “okay,” 

“What will you tell your roommates?” Yunho asks. 

“I’ll think of something,” 

Your legs feel like lead as you swing open the door and start to climb out of their car. 

“You sure you’re alright?” Yunho leans over to catch your eyes. 

“Mhm,” You nod, but suddenly you don’t really trust your voice. 

“If you need anything,” Mingi says, practically hanging over the passenger seat from the back to see you too, “tonight, tomorrow, whatever,” 

“I know,” You manage, “I’m okay,” 

Mingi opens his mouth and closes it again. His hand tightens on the seat. You drag yourself back a few steps and nod, “Drive safe,” It feels like the stupidest, most empty thing to say after everything. 

Yunho smiles softly, “Always do,” 

“Good night,”

“Night,” Mingi says softly. 

“Night,” Yunho leans back in the driver’s seat again, returning his hands to the wheel. 

It’s time. You hate it.

You push the door shut, offering a wave, and you force your legs to move as you turn around and trudge up to the apartment building ahead. A nervous bubble blooms in your throat. You want to turn around, but you don’t. The steady sound of the car still idling behind you doesn’t change. When you make it inside, your apartment is blissfully quiet and you tuck yourself away in your room fast before anyone can come and check up on you. 

You want to go back, but you focus hard and try to shake it off. 

With a deep breath, you allow yourself one tiny moment of weakness and you pull your bedroom curtain aside. Their car is gone, not even the blue glow of their headlights left on the street ahead. They’re gone, and you’re alone again. You don’t even bother to take off the clothes you were wearing, you collapse into your bed and bite back the sudden rush of tears. 

All you can smell is stale lavender, and suddenly you wish more than anything for a thunderstorm. 

this night together - chapter five (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter five: not so easy to ignore

chapter summary: things at the studio turn out just about as bad as expected, but wooyoung takes you under his wing and introduces you to some new friends.

warnings: references to a/b/o dynamics such as heat and knotting and designations, alcohol/drinking, angst, sad vibes, but also good vibes?, reference to work place sexual harassment but not like you think

notes: thank you all so much for your kind feedback on this fic. i'm having an absolute blast writing it, and i'm so thankful for all the people giving it a try even tho this genre isn't their thing! that means a lot. this is the last chapter i have written in full, so chapter six may take a little extra time. i'm about to hit a few insane weeks of work, so i'll do my best but please be patient with me. there's a lot more chapters to come though, i promise.....

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 6.9K

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As it turns out, you can’t just go back to being friends. When you wake in the morning you still feel sick, and your first thought is to wonder if Yunho does too. Maybe Mingi feels the same, but was better at hiding it. Maybe you’ll get to the studio and they’ll take you in their arms like a movie and kiss the breath out of you and hold you close and tell you they should have never, ever driven you home. But you doubt it. 

You’ve been in love before, and you’ve had crushes before that. You’re no stranger to getting tangled up in emotional webs, it’s just usually not with people you work with and it’s usually so much easier to walk away. Or run, as you’re used to doing. This body, this designation, this biology, it makes everything always feel so confusing and artificial. Do you want them or does your omega? Do you need them or is it just the after effects of heat? 

It’s a lot easier when you lie to yourself. 

You’ve been dealing with this biology all your life. That’s all this is, and after a little time and a little distance, your body will catch up to your mind and stop feeling this way about them. 

You take those aching feelings and lock them away tightly and then you get up. You shower, you take a deep breath, and then you buy yourself the fanciest coffee you can think of despite the absolute lack of funds in your checking account. This momentary serotonin will be worth the overdraft fee if that’s where it puts you, you need this. 

By the time you get to the studio, you’re pretty confident that you’re over them, convincing yourself that it was just fun, good sex. Great sex, even, but still just sex. 

But the minute you see Mingi every stitch of the resolve you knit for yourself unravels, and he looks surprised to see you even though it was part of the plan that you’d return today. He leaves the room before you can even open your mouth and try to say something innocuous and you know right then and there you were right all along. It was never going to be that simple. 

Yunho blushes when he sees you, his ears turning a dark shade of pink and for a second he trips over his words addressing the wider group. 

Mingi avoids your touch when you cross his path at lunch, offering you just a quick hello and then he’s gone again. 

Instead of searching for their eyes, you start to get really comfortable with the wood grain of the floor and do your best just to focus on yourself. You’re working on something new, and a week ago you would have stayed late to fine tune your understanding of the choreography with Mingi while he waited on Yunho to wrap up in the back office, but you know those days are gone. 

When practice ends they disappear, and you’re left to pack up by yourself. You give it a few minutes, thinking maybe when the rest of the crew trickles out maybe they’ll come to you, but they don’t. So much for being adults about this. You blink back hazy tears as you pull on your jacket, focused on packing up as fast as you can now just to get the hell out of this room. 

You don’t even hear him coming up behind you. 

“Come on,” Wooyoung says with a roll of his eyes, “we’re going for drinks.”

“I really should get home,” You glance over at him as you finish packing up your bag. 

“I’m buying,” Wooyoung counters, “so you really have no excuse.” 

What you really want is to go home and bury yourself under the covers for the foreseeable future. Every awkward second glance with Yunho was making you want to curl into a ball and every moment Mingi spent pretending he barely knew you made you want to go home and cry. An entire day filled with almost sentences and troublesome glances and all you can tell yourself is that you knew it, you were right all along. 

You don’t answer Wooyoung, and instead you just can’t help yourself, you look behind you towards the back office, but neither of the men you want to see are there. 

“Are you really so afraid of making friends you’re turning down free drinks?” Wooyoung prods your side, “That’s really fucking lame of you,” 

“Wooyoung,” You sigh, your head dropping back. 

“It’s fine,” He says, his voice lilting up in a sing-song, “I thought you were cool,” 

Your jaw tightens. 

“And I’m not usually wrong,” He goes on, “but it’s fine, I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong, and you, y/n, are lame.” 

“Fine!” You snap up and meet his eyes, “Fine, I’ll come, but just one drink.” 

“Excellent,” He smiles, and you’re starting to get the sense that Wooyoung doesn’t really take no for an answer ever. 

“One drink,” You repeat. 

“Yeah,” He shrugs off, “come on, get your stuff, we’re meeting San at 1987.” 

“Where?” 

“Bar,” He brushes off your question without really answering, “let’s go,” 

Wooyoung turns on his heel without a second thought, and he’s off. You have to jog to keep up with him to get out of the building, and he’s mostly quiet until you hit the evening street outside. He slows to a casual pace and turns his head to you when he says, “You like San, right?” 

The question catches you off guard, “Of course,”

Wooyoung smiles, “He’s definitely all business at work, most of the time, but don’t worry.” 

“Why would I worry?” Your brow furrows, every interaction you’ve had with San so far has been perfectly pleasant, albeit professional.

“I just mean he’s fun,” Wooyoung corrects himself, “he’s just really serious about the work,” 

“You’re all kind of like that,” You point out, “mostly,” 

“Right,” Wooyoung nods, winding his way through an alley and you divert off the main street to follow him as he leads you through the back way to their regular spot. 

“He takes training really seriously,” You offer, “but I think that’s good. We could all hurt ourselves if we weren’t following his plans,” 

Wooyoung grins, “Oh, he’s going to like the sound of that.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Mhm,” Wooyoung lays a hand softly between your shoulder blades to direct you through a small crowd, “follow that up with how handsome he is and you’ll get special treatment forever.” 

You laugh sharply, “Noted.” 

He points ahead, “Just up there,” 

At the far end of the alley is a hanging neon sign, the ‘7’ in ‘1987’ flickering intermittently. It’s not as flashy as some of the other bars or restaurants along the street you’re walking, but that looks to be part of the charm. As you make your way up to the door and inside, Wooyoung is quick to greet a few people on the sidewalk, throw a wave to the bartender, and he throws around names and details to you faster than you can pick up on them. 

San waits at a table in the far corner, two light, wheat beers already waiting on the table. When he glances up from his phone and sees you both his eyes widen but he smiles pleasantly. 

“Hey!” He smiles, standing and pulling a chair out for you, “I didn’t realize you were coming, I would have ordered you something,” 

“I’m not crashing plans, am I? Woo didn’t say,” You glance between them. 

“Not at all,” San shakes his head, gesturing for you to sit, “you’re more than welcome. Seonghwa should be coming too at some point,” 

“Oh,” Your stomach does a little nervous flip flop. 

“Chill,” Wooyoung interrupts your thoughts immediately, “have a drink, make some friends.” 

You smile, taking your seat and letting San push it in for you so you’re settled at the table before he returns to his own place, gesturing for the server’s attention, “What’s your drink?” he asks you. 

“Whatever you’re having is good,” You make it simple. 

San smiles and points to their glasses before holding up a finger and silently communicating to the server that they need one more. He’s more relaxed than you’ve ever seen him, now outside of work full of easy, confident energy. 

“Well,” Wooyoung smiles and takes a long sip of his drink, “this is nice,” 

“Yeah,” You’re not entirely sure what you’re doing here, but you might as well go with it, “thanks for letting me tag along,” 

“Mm,” San’s eyes are trained on the serving staff but he nods, and then stands as your server approaches, meeting them halfway and taking the beer, thanking them profusely for running it out so quickly. When he returns to the table he presents your drink with ease, “There we go,” 

“Thank you,” You nod, accepting the cold glass, and now that it’s in your hand you’re grateful to have the drink after the day you’ve had. 

The sip is calming, cool and crisp, and you sigh as you swallow, not realizing the way you’re being watched by both men. 

Wooyoung’s words nearly knock you sideways, and a tiny piece of you is grateful he waited until you finished sipping your drink, “So, how was your heat?” 

You cough anyways though, just the idea that someone would say it so brazenly, and in public, “What?” 

“Youngie,” San slaps him with the back of his hand, “you can’t ask her that,” 

Wooyoung ignores him, leaning forwards with his elbows on the table now, “The perfume isn’t helping as much as you think,” he says and you blanch, “and I’ve never seen Yunho stare at someone for so long in my life, so,” 

He barely met your eyes all day, and your head snaps up, “He was staring?” 

His mouth quirks up on one side and San swivels his head towards you. Wooyoung nods, “Like a puppy,”

“Fuck,” You breathe. 

Both their eyebrows raise. 

“Sorry, sorry,” You lean back in your chair, hiding your face in your hands. So much for a convenient story about them having the flu. 

“You can curse,” Wooyoung laughs, “I just didn’t expect you to admit it that fast, I thought I’d have to pry it out of you.”

“Oh, this is so bad,” You groan. 

“Why bad?” San asks, “Yunho’s nice,” 

You sigh, still hiding your face.

“He’s easily one of the best guys I know,” San continues, “and there’s nothing that says we can’t date within the company, we’re not idols,” 

“Oh god,” You groan again. 

“Is it so bad he has a crush on you?” San asks. 

Wooyoung breaks into hysterics and your hands fall away, a blank, open expression on San’s face as he tries to pick up on the joke. You wince, shaking your head, “It’s worse than that,” 

“Worse,” San repeats, still slow on the uptake. 

“Woo,” You find his eyes with yours, “please don’t make me say it.” 

He sobers quickly, and takes a swig of his beer, “Right,” he faces San, “Yunho had the flu, but it wasn’t really the flu. They were heat partners.” 

“Oh,” San says, “oh,” 

“Exactly,” You sigh. 

There’s a beat and then San’s brow screws up in confusion, “Didn’t Mingi have the flu too?” 

Heat tints your cheeks pink instantaneously and you look down at your glass, suddenly focused on the tiny bursting bubbles at the top of your beer. You brace yourself for their reaction. 

“Holy shit,” Wooyoung breathes, “y/n, you’re a god,” 

“What?” Your head snaps up. 

“Both of them?” Wooyoung shakes his head, “Tell me everything,” 

“You don’t have to do that,” San interrupts him again, smacking the back of his arm, “he’s needlessly curious, but you know, you don’t have to share if you don’t,”

The words flood out of you, a small piece of you thankful that you don’t have to hold this whole thing inside yourself forever, “I went into heat at the studio,” 

“What?” Wooyoung’s face softens, and you know that he understands just what that means. The anxiety, the fear, all of it. 

“This is embarrassing,” You sigh. 

“Then you don’t have to,” San tries again, wanting badly to save you from any further humiliation or pressure. 

You ignore him and hold Wooyoung’s eyes, “Friends, right?” 

He nods. 

You swallow hard and then take the leap, “I can’t afford my suppressants right now,” you start and his eyes soften more, “I thought I had rationed them right, but after the recording it hit me like a truck.” 

“I knew you seemed off,” Wooyoung says softly, “then what?” 

“Mingi found me in the locker room, and then he got Yunho, and they made sure I got out of there okay,” You lean back, crossing your arms and biting the inside of your lip. 

“Sharing your heat was unplanned?” Wooyoung clarifies. 

“Yes,” 

“And it was,” He searches for the right words, “I mean… were they okay? Everything was okay?” 

You know what he’s asking without asking, and you nod, “Completely, it was more than okay, they were…”

“They’re both good guys,” San says, “it’s good they were there.” 

“Yeah,” You breathe, before snapping yourself out of own head and reaching for your beer again, “anyways, yes, so they took me back to their place and now it’s four, five days later and everything’s so fucking awkward,” 

“Hmm,” Wooyoung murmurs, “and it was good?” 

You nod, lips pressed tight together in a line. 

“Oh, it was too good,” Wooyoung grimaces, “yikes.” 

“Right,” You sigh, “and Yunho and Mingi both made it pretty clear that this was a one-time casual sex thing, which is fine, but also you know how heat goes. Everything is all jumbled up now,” 

“Mm,” Wooyoung nods, and then his eyes shift to above your head and he grins, “Hwa, right here!”

Park Seonghwa appears a moment later, a warm smile on his angular face and he pushes a lock of dark black hair behind his ear as he finds an open seat and slides into the table, “Hey,” he greets, and then turns to you, “hi, y/n, nice to see you outside the studio,” 

“You too,” You smile. 

San once again repeats his process for getting Seonghwa a drink, and your stomach tightens as you think about what Wooyoung might say in front of this man you barely know. 

“It looks like I interrupted something,” Seonghwa says a few moments later when everything is still quiet and hanging still. 

Wooyoung doesn’t say it, he just holds your gaze intently and raises an eyebrow as if to say - Can I? 

You sigh, catching Seonghwa off guard, and then you nod. 

“y/n just got back from heat leave,” Wooyoung turns to Seonghwa to explain, “with Yunho and Mingi.” 

You expect a sheepish or embarrassed reaction, someone quick to divert the conversation away from sex, but it turns out you don’t know Seonghwa as well as you thought. He merely makes a noise of acknowledgement and glances to you, “How messy are things, then? They were both being weird today,” 

“I don’t know,” You answer honestly with a sigh. 

“They said they wanted it to be a one-time thing,” Wooyoung says, “but is the problem that you like them? Or one of them?” 

“I can see that,” Seonghwa smiles, “Yunho kind of oozes perfect boyfriend,” 

“It’s not that,” You shake your head, words bubbling up as you try to make sense of it, “it probably shouldn’t have happened at all, and I’m new, I don’t want to make anything weird or uncomfortable, but we spent like four days together… it was intense, and now I just feel like I can’t not think about it when I look at them,” 

“Intense, good?” Wooyoung quirks a brow, nudging you under the table. 

“Woo,” You sigh, “I’ve never felt like that,” 

“What do you mean?” He asks softly, the two alphas at the table going silent to watch you both. 

“I don’t know what it is about them,” You confess, “but the entire time all they did was make sure I was okay, they were so tender and kind, and when I left I just wanted to go back.”

“Oh,” Wooyoung murmurs, “you’ve got it bad,” 

“My hormones are just out of whack,” You shake your head, “you know what it’s like. Have an alpha tell you they want to give you pups enough times and your brain short circuits,” 

Seonghwa shifts in his seat and San clears his throat, but Wooyoung just laughs. 

“Anyways, yes,” You take another sip of your drink, “I spent my heat with them, had the best sex of my life, and now I’m sitting here with a stomach ache because I don’t know where they are right now. I feel like the universe is playing a trick on me,” 

“Wait,” Wooyoung starts to say, but you’re on a roll now, the single beer hitting just a little harder than it should have. 

“Working here, with all of you, was my dream. I just think it’s funny that I haven’t even been here for three months and I’ve already managed to fuck it up, because now everytime I look at Yunho all I can hear is me begging him to claim me, which is insanity, pure and complete insanity,” 

“Wait,” Wooyoung repeats again, hands up and out trying to get you to slow down, “I thought it was casual heat sex,” 

“It was,” You resurface from your own panicked rambling and realize just how shocked the table looks, “what?” 

“You asked Yunho to bite you?” Wooyoung asks, and when you nod he says, “and right now, how do you feel?” 

“Fine,” You knee-jerk answer, “but, a little anxious I guess?” 

“I don’t know how to explain this,” He says, looking to the two alphas for help who both shake their heads. 

“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” You glance between them. 

“Okay,” Wooyoung claps his hands together, “listen, I have never asked Sannie to give me pups. I have never asked him to bite me, and I have never, ever, gotten all dizzy and sick when he’s not around.” 

“Hey,” San grumbles, “I think she gets it,” 

“I don’t,” You manage. 

“What you had is a lot more than heat sex,” Wooyoung finally settles on, and your stomach drops. 

“Woo,” You shake your head again, “no,” 

“I’m serious!” He insists, “How else do you explain it,” 

“You’re so dramatic,” You roll your eyes and reach for your drink, but find the glass empty, “it was good, really good, but that’s all it was.” 

“He’s not wrong,” Seonghwa interrupts, his deep voice still calm and easy, “sometimes connections are just stronger. Scents match better, you know, everything just clicks. It doesn’t mean Yunho’s your soulmate, but if the pull is there, then there’s something there.” 

You ignore the pull and flash him a weak smile, “Not for them.” 

“Them,” Seonghwa corrects, “both of them?” 

“I know,” You bury your head in your hands again. 

“y/n,” San’s hand lays softly on your forearm, “no matter what happened, Yunho and Mingi are both still the guys from a few days ago. They’re still good men who care about you, even if that’s just as a member of the crew or a friend.” 

“Can I ask a question?” Seonghwa interrupts. 

“Sure,” You sigh, lifting your eyes to his. 

“How do you know they don’t want you too?” 

The question makes you feel awful, and you catch Wooyoung’s sympathetic look in your peripheral vision and nearly lose your composure, but the truth of it is simple. You clear your throat softly and straighten up, “They said so,” 

“Oh,” He nods. 

“And I’m not even sure I want them,” You tack on, “I don’t even really know them,” 

Silence stretches at the table, and San’s eyes flick from yours to Seonghwa.

“Then let’s get another drink,” Seonghwa finally says, “let’s get your mind off it, and let’s have a good night. I know things are awkward at the studio, but don’t let them be. Just focus on the work and yourself and make some friends, and this whole thing will just be a funny story,” 

You nod and sigh, “Okay,” 

“Yeah,” Wooyoung offers, “a month from now no one’s going to remember,” 

It’s around the third bar when someone brings it up again. You’re several more drinks deep, learning so much about the group dynamics that you can’t get while inside the studio walls. Wooyoung is quick to peel back all the layers for you now that you’re actually out with them and not just pushing it off a little longer for the sake of your wallet. 

Leaning across the expanse of the table Seonghwa gets your attention with a drunken tap on your arm and his eyes narrow, “What’s this about you not being able to afford your suppressants?” 

“What?” For a second his words don’t compute. 

“Your meds, your suppressants,” He gestures, a little beer tipping over the edge of his glass, “why aren’t you on them?” 

“I will be soon,” You lean in closer to hear each other over the music, “insurance window,” 

“Ah,” He nods, “so what’s your plan next time?” 

“Next time?” You turn your head so that his mouth is closer to your ear. 

“Next heat,” He clarifies, a little slur in his speech, “while you’re onboarding,” 

Your eyebrows shoot up at his words, “I don’t really know, I guess,” 

“Mm,” He nods. 

“Why?” You scoot your chair closer. 

“I’m assuming you don’t want to,” His voice gets swallowed up by Wooyoung shouting something over the music and you shake your head. 

“What?” You squint, shifting closer, bracing your hand on the table by his glass to steady yourself. 

“Go back to Yunho and Mingi!” He all but shouts, “I’m assuming you don’t want to do that,” 

“Fuck no,” You groan, “I’d rather take care of it myself than deal with feeling like this,” 

“What about me?” He says and you laugh, but you don’t really know why. He clears his throat and shakes his head, sobering himself just a little, “Seriously,” 

“What about you, what?” 

He rolls his eyes, “Help with heat, I help Woo, San and I both do,” 

“Oh,” 

“Only if you need a hand,” He smiles, round eyes shining and kind, “or you know, a knot in this case,” 

You clap a hand over your mouth and can’t help but fall apart into giggles, “You’re serious,” 

He quirks his eyebrow at you, dropping his drink back onto the table so he can draw an X over his chest with two fingers, crossing his heart. 

“What are you doing over there?” Wooyoung interrupts and your head snaps to the side, “Making a blood pact? You’re both trashed,” 

“I am not trashed,” You insist, even though you can feel yourself slipping off the chair you’re on inch by inch. 

“You’re allowed to be,” Wooyoung pushes a shot of soju towards you, “you’re broke and in love,” 

“Wooyoung!” His words strike panic through you, “Seriously, stop that,”

“Alright, alright,” He throws up his hands, “broke and and in lust, whatever,” 

San’s lips curl up in a half smile at his friend’s words. His eyes are closed, and he’s swaying a little from side to side, jerking back to center every now and again when his equilibrium feels too sideways. It’s entirely possible Wooyoung is the most sober one here and that thought makes you burst into laughter. San’s eyes fly open at the sound. 

“I was offering my services,” Seonghwa cuts in, like he had been thinking about what to say that entire time and finally found the words. 

“Your what?” Wooyoung laughs. 

“For her next heat,” He explains, waving his hand like it’s simple addition, “my services,” 

“Seonghwa,” San shakes his head sharply, “stop.”

“It’s not as if I’m with someone,” Seonghwa replies, holding San’s gaze intently, and for a split second it’s obvious there’s some kind of a backstory behind them all or their friendship or just Seonghwa himself that everyone knows and you don’t, but it isn’t the time to ask.

“Yeah,” San says a little gruffly, blinking hard to shake off the alcohol, “well, this still isn’t the time.” 

Wooyoung wraps it up smoothly, “We’re all too drunk for this,” 

“Exactly,” You take a moment of solace in the cup of soju. 

“I mean it though,” Seonghwa tears his eyes away from San and a hand drops onto your knee, “you’re pretty, I’m pretty, just keep it in mind,” 

There’s almost no way he’ll remember this tomorrow, so you let him off the hook with a smile and a hand on the side of his cheek, “Thank you, Hwa,” 

“That’s what f-friends are for,” He hiccups lightly, and then you watch his eyes unfocus as the dizziness floods his vision and he drops his head unceremoniously onto your shoulder, “oh, God, I’m drunk,” 

“There it is,” Wooyoung grins. 

You slip forward as Seonghwa’s weight drops onto you and you brace yourself on the edge of the table, but San swoops in, “Come here, hyung, stop hanging on her,” 

“Hmm?” Seonghwa’s eyes look tired when San gets him off you and over his shoulder, “Sannie?” 

“Yeah,” San softens, “it’s just me,” 

“I think I need to lie down,” Seonghwa murmurs, his head falling onto San’s ready shoulder. 

“I know, hyung, I know,” San softens, and then turns to the table, “can we go?” 

“Yeah,” Wooyoung stumbles as he gets up but then straightens, tucking himself under Seonghwa’s other arm once he gets his feet under him, “y/n, you good?”

You pull yourself up too, knocking back the final shot of soju so it doesn’t go to waste and pulling on your jacket, “Good,” 

In the cool night air outside the bar everything gets dizzier, more watery and hazy, and something in your gut pulls hard. For a brief passing moment you wonder what Yunho and Mingi are doing right now. 

San’s saying something and you shake yourself out of your stupor, “What’s that?” 

“I said, where do you live?” He lets Wooyoung take more of Seonghwa’s weight as he turns his focus to you. 

You give him your address, “I can call an Uber,” 

“I live kind of close,” He nods, “let me take you,” 

“You really don’t have to,” 

“It would make me feel better,” San brushes you off immediately, “we’ve all been drinking, you shouldn’t be alone,” 

“What about him?” You nod towards Seonghwa. 

“I got him,” Wooyoung assures, “we live in the same building.” 

“You sure?” San checks, “We can all go together,”

“It’s the opposite direction,” Wooyoung shakes his head, “and I’m tired, this just makes more sense,”

San nods and then checks on Seonghwa once more, “Make him drink some water, okay?” 

“Yep,” Wooyoung salutes, rolls Seonghwa into an Uber, and then they’re gone. 

Leaving you and San alone on the sidewalk. 

“Let me get a car,” He says, shaking off some of his lingering drunkenness and pulling out his phone. 

Of the three men, you talked to San the least. As the night had stretched on, you found yourself sidled up with Seonghwa or talking across the table animatedly with Wooyoung, but San seemed to give you a little space. He was also the one who commented the least on your recent sexual escapades and now standing in the middle of the street with him and him alone, you have no idea what you’ll talk about. 

You watch as he types into his phone, lets it search, and then his nose crinkles, “Twenty minutes,” 

“Oh,” You push up on your tiptoes to see his screen, “damn,” 

He thinks for a minute and then sighs, “You want to walk a bit? I need to sober up a little anyways,” 

“Sure,” 

“Hungry?” His brows perk up. 

“Definitely,” You smile. 

“There’s places in our direction,” He waves you on, and you fall into lockstep with him as you wind out of the alley and back into the city streets. 

It’s quiet for a moment, and you know one of you has to break the silence, but mercifully he gets there first, “You’re a good dancer, you know,” 

“So are you,” You glance up at him, and he smiles. 

He’s handsome, especially like this with his cheeks tinged pink with the night of drinking and his hair falling in his eyes. He directs you forward across an intersection and then looks down to keep talking, “You pick little things up really quickly, it’s impressive,” 

“I appreciate that,” The alcohol seems to be less pervasive now that you’re out of the loud club and walking some of it off and you sigh, “honestly, I was staying late with Mingi a lot of nights. He was helping me catch up,” 

“Ah,” San nods, “that makes sense,” 

You keep walking. Normally you can get a conversation going without any problems, but with the alcohol and the late night and the fact that you really don’t know San all that well, you’re tongue tied. 

He sighs heavily and looks at you, like he had been weighing whether or not to say something and finally chose to just do it anyway. “Don’t worry about what Seonghwa said,” He manages, “he was drunk, and I’m sure he wouldn’t have wanted to make you uncomfortable.” 

“Oh,” Your stomach knots up, “he didn’t,” 

“Good,” San nods, looking relieved, “he’s a good man, he’s,” San searches for his words for a moment, “not the type to proposition a coworker, that’s not what,” 

“Oh!” It makes sudden sense why San was being so careful, offering to walk you home and trying to keep Seonghwa in check, “No, San, that’s not at all what I thought,” 

“It’s not?” His eyebrow quirks up. 

“No, I mean,” Your gaze falls away from him, “it probably should be, but I know he meant well. Plus, I know you both help Wooyoung,” 

“Well,” San shakes his head, “that’s a little different,” 

“Because you’re all men?” 

He smiles, a little sheepish, “No, I was going to say because we’re old friends, but I guess there’s that too.” 

“Ah,” You turn towards him, “well, really, you shouldn’t worry about me like that. Hwa was just trying to be a good friend, and I’m sure he won’t remember it tomorrow anyways,” 

He sighs, relieved this time, “Good, okay,” 

“Is that what you were worried about?” You ask. 

“Between that and Woo practically interrogating you,” His nose crinkles again, “that part of your life is private, he shouldn’t pry like that.” 

“I would have told him to stop,” You shake your head. 

“I hope so,” He says, “I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable with us after everything you’re dealing with. We like you in the crew,” 

“You do?” 

“Definitely,” He twists to meet your eyes, “you have fire. I saw it in the audition tape,” 

Blush flushes your cheeks, “Thank you,” 

“I’m just being honest,” He smiles. 

You smile back. 

It gets easier the more and more you walk with San. The alcohol slowly dissipates in both your systems, and after a few more blocks the idea of street food seems even more appealing. He refuses to let you pay and you only protest once, albeit weakly, before he gives you a simple shake of the head and takes care of things without another word. 

It’s a thirty minute walk, especially at this meandering pace, but eventually you make it back to your block, and you don’t know what possesses you to turn the conversation back to Yunho and Mingi and everything it means but you do. He’s less shy to discuss it now, especially after enough time getting to know each other and sinking into a conversational rhythm. 

By the time you make it to your apartment walkway, your corn dog is half eaten and your previous anxiety about talking to San is gone entirely. You gesture up to your building, “This is me,” 

“Nice,” He comments, and then he takes a seat on your stoop and looks up at you, expectant.

“What?” You ask at his expression. 

“You weren’t done, come on, tell me the rest,” He leans back against the railing, stretching out his legs. 

“Right,” You remember yourself, flopping down onto the step next to him and running a hand through your hair, “where was I?” 

“Yunho reminding you of your ex,” San prompts you. 

“Ah,” You shake your head, “I mean not really, my ex was an asshole, but… I guess I didn’t know that for a long time. I thought he was nice, I thought he was the right guy.” 

“And Yunho’s nice and the right guy?” He smirks. 

“No, no,” You wave your hands, “fuck, I’m not making sense with this at all.” 

“Can I guess?” San turns his body towards you a little more. 

You nod. 

“When your heat was over,” San’s expression is almost a little apologetic as he addresses it directly, “did you all agree it was just sex?” 

“Yes,” 

“And that you could all be adults about it?” He adds. 

You nod again. 

“And today you were all awkward as hell and avoiding each other?” 

“Basically,” 

“Listen,” San rests his hand on your knee, “I don’t know what your ex did or didn’t do, but they’re not that guy.” 

“I know,” You sigh. 

“But I get it,” San interrupts, “it feels like you had this connection and everything was good and now they’re pretending you don’t exist, and how is that different from any other guy?” 

He has you there. You manage a nod. 

“Well, I don’t know how they feel about you,” He offers, “but I promise you they’re just as embarrassed as you. It’s easy to say you’ll stay friends and that the lines won’t get blurred, but they always, always do.” 

You study him for a moment, at the way he’s speaking so genuinely and it dawns on you, “You speak from experience, I’m guessing?” 

He looks down and away, nodding before he brings his eyes back up to yours, “Yeah,” 

“Woo?” You guess softly. 

After an entire night of watching them lean against each other, touch each other, talk amongst themselves in their little bubble, you’re shocked when his mouth turns up into a sad smile and he shakes his head, “No, Woo and I have figured out how to make this whole thing easy,” 

“Oh,” 

“Wooyoung loves me, but he’s not in love with me.” San clarifies. 

“And you?” You ask softly. 

“He’s my best friend,” San says confidently, “and I’ll never let him be in pain,” 

“But?” You nudge him. 

“It was a long time ago,” He shakes his head and for the first time all night you know he’s told you a lie, but you let it pass. He shakes off the momentary lapse and continues, “but I know how you’re feeling.” 

“Then how do I make it right?” You ask him. 

“Sometimes you can’t,” He says honestly, “sometimes one person just feels so much more than the other, and you try to make it work until you bend so much for them you break.” 

“I know what Woo said,” You shake your head, “but I’m not in love with them. I’m not.” 

“I trust you,” San nods, “you know yourself better than Youngie.” 

“It’s just this thing inside me,” You confess, and maybe it’s the alcohol or the lateness of the hour but you feel safer here on your stoop with him than you have in a long, long time, so you keep confessing. “I wish sometimes so much that I could just be a beta, that I could forget all about this and just know for sure. I’ve… never known anything for real and how am I supposed to trust anything I feel if my body just decides for me.” 

He’s quiet for a moment, but then he says, “Being an omega is a beautiful thing,” 

“Don’t,” You shake your head sharply, “I’ve heard that one all my life,” 

“It is,” He insists, “all of it’s beautiful. Every part and piece of us is, alpha, beta, omega, all of it.” 

“San, that’s not,” 

“I know what you meant,” San says softly, sliding his hand into yours and giving you a squeeze, “and it would be easier to be a beta, and to not have to wonder every time. Does the person you like feel right because you like them or because something about them is a good biological match?” 

“Exactly,” 

“Believe me,” He squeezes you again, “I get it.” 

Tears prickle in your eyes and you swallow hard to clear them, “Then how do I make this work? How do I go back to the studio and put this behind me?” 

“Is that what you want?” He checks, thumb stroking along the back of your hand. 

“Yes,” You sigh, “it doesn’t even matter how I feel or don’t feel, I can’t take that risk here,” 

“The work is more important,” He finishes for you. 

“Yes.” 

“Then don’t let them in again,” San says simply, “not like before. Be friends, but keep things professional. Get some distance from this whole thing,” 

“I have a feeling this is not the advice Woo would be giving me,” You smile. 

“No,” San laughs, “Wooyoung would tell you to open yourself up to the great mystery of being loved or something,” 

“And you’re not a romantic,” You smirk. 

“No, no,” He shakes his head, “I am, but being a romantic doesn’t mean you have to let people hurt you. I’ve seen Woo get his heart broken a dozen times now, and he keeps trying. He’s the strongest person I know, and I love him for it, but it’s not the only way.” 

“So what he said at the bar,” You tuck your unfinished food into the little bag and leave it to the side, “what he said about my heat?” 

“I mean,” He shrugs, “y/n, this isn’t your first time. Don’t listen to him,” 

“But Seonghwa,” You remember the way Seonghwa agreed, like a scent match was the stars aligning. 

“Fuck them both,” San shakes his head, “just because you had a connection with them doesn’t mean they’re the only people you can connect with.” 

Your eyes fill with tears again and he shakes his head when he sees your hazy eyes, brushing your jaw softly with his fingers. You swallow hard and sigh, breath hitching in your chest, “You know what’s funny about this?” 

“Hmm?” He brushes your jaw again. 

“I don’t even want to date right now, I just,” You shrug lightly, “I want to work. I want to have friends. I want to go out and meet people or stay in if I feel like it. I don’t want to sit on the couch pining or walk on eggshells at the studio,” 

“y/n,” San steadies you, his voice low and calm, “listen to me, okay?” 

“Okay,” You murmur. 

“You have work to do, so focus on it. You have friends, including me, and Woo, and Seonghwa, okay? You come out with us… or don’t,” He smiles and squeezes your hand, “and the studio will feel weird for a little while, but trust yourself, it will fade.” 

“It will,” You nod, “you’re right,” 

He nods, holding your gaze a little longer until he gives you one more squeeze. San shifts back to give you a little space, his hands leaving you and clasping together to hang between his legs. He smiles, “Do you feel any better?” 

“Yeah,” You run your hands through your hair and let out a long, tired exhale. 

“Sobered up?” He checks. 

“Mostly,” You nod, checking your watch, “but it’s so late I’m still going to be feeling it tomorrow,” 

“Mm,” He nods, “we aren’t starting until eleven though,” 

“True,” 

The night is drawing to a close, you can feel it. You don’t really want to be alone with your thoughts again, but you’re also so tired you think you might drop on the spot, so you start to pull away and hope that you’ll be able to fall asleep the minute you hit the pillows. 

He pushes himself up to stand and offers you a hand to help you to your feet, “Should I walk you up?” 

You shake your head, “I got it,” 

“I’ll wait until you get in,” He smiles and nods. 

You make it two steps up before you turn back to him, “Thank you, San,” you tell him, “for everything tonight, really,” 

He smiles wider, his eyes crinkling up and he nods again, “Don’t thank me, just remember what I said.” 

“I will,” 

“And y/n,” He calls after you as you start back up the path, “sleep well,” 

“You too, Sannie,” You give him one last look before you push open your apartment door and start up the steps. He doesn’t budge, making sure you’re in the door before he pulls out his phone and starts his short walk home. 

Coming home this time doesn’t hurt the same. 

You hope for more of the same tomorrow. 

You hope every day that it fades away, little by little. 

this night together - chapter six (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter six: growing pains

chapter summary: finally it's time to move past things, it's just a question of how.

warnings: references to a/b/o dynamics such as heat and knotting and designations, not much else though...

notes: thank you all so much for your patience while i worked on this one! next chapter might take a little time too because work has been insane, but i'm doing my best to keep consistent for you all. i've also really enjoyed all the fun asks i'm getting! it helps keep me writing, so feel free to message me anytime! x

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 5.8K

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Your body aches from overuse, exhaustion pouring through you, but you need to finish, you have to. The muscles in your thighs are burning, your legs quivering as you try to steady yourself. With a slow exhale you try to center yourself, blinking away the sweat in your eyes. 

San smiles down at you, “That’s good,” 

“I can’t,” You shake your head. 

“You can,” He nods, “I know, you can,”

His hand brushes along your forearm and he gives you the smallest squeeze. 

“San,” You exhale his name in a tired breath. 

“One more set,” He encourages. 

One more set might kill you. You drop your hands from the handles by your shoulders, sinking back against the padded back of the leg press machine and give him one more shake of your head. 

“Do you want to be the best?” San asks this time, a smirk on his face, “Or are you good with being just okay?” 

“Fuck,” You mutter under your breath. 

“Come on,” He taps your thigh as he shifts positions to stand directly at your side and spot you, “set it up,” 

You shift back into position, holding the handles and adjusting your body into proper form. You brace yourself against the plate under your feet and unlock the safety at your side. The weight drops a little more heavily onto your shoulders, but you quickly shift into another headspace and with your teeth tight and your eyes focused on something distant at the other end of the gym you drop into a squat, pushing back up as smoothly as you can to your original position. 

“Nice,” He comments, sliding his hand under the pad that sticks out past your shoulder, hovering his hand here, “Give me two more,” 

You get your breath back, and go for one more. 

“Good,” San says matter of factly. 

Last one. You make it quick, ignoring the burn up your legs and exhaling hard when you make it back to the resting position. 

You’re about to take your hands off the handle and lock the machine back in place but San taps the pad and shakes his head, “You got one more, I didn’t even touch this,” 

“San,” Your chest is heaving. 

“I didn’t touch it,” He tells you, “it’s not failure, come on, one more,” 

You go again. 

“Yep, one more,” He smiles, “let’s go,” 

All you can do is press your eyes tight and sink low into the squat again. You know he won’t let you off the machine until you do. This time, you pause at the bottom, taking a deep breath before you start pushing up again. 

“There you go,” San hypes you up, his hand still hovering under the pad, “don’t quit”

You let out a tight, pained noise at the top, letting your head fall back as the relief floods your legs. 

“One more,” 

There’s no way this isn’t the last one, you can feel it in every ounce of your body, but if failure is what he wants, that’s what he’ll get. You drop down again, but this time you're shaking on the push upwards, and San catches it immediately. He moves his hand up to the pad and shifts so he can catch the extra weight, supporting you as you make it back to the top and lock the safety in place. 

“I got you,” He says, making sure the machine is locked before he moves out from under the pad to back at your side. 

You’re still catching your breath, but with the extra weight no longer on you, you’re able to collapse out and rest against the press plate, “Damn,” 

San pulls the towel off his shoulder and grabs the antibacterial spray from the shelving behind your machine, “You said you wanted to work harder,” 

“Yeah,” You sigh, catching your breath, “I didn’t know you were going to turn into a drill sergeant,” 

“Hey,” He laughs, “I’m very nice, I’m just not going to let you quit.” 

“Mhm,” You reach for your water, gulping it down. 

“You could have quit,” He finishes wiping down the machine and smiles, “but you didn’t. Be proud of yourself,” 

“I am,” You wipe your mouth with the back of your hand and take another breath, “practice is going to be hard,” 

“Oh, yeah,” He tosses you another towel, “your legs are going to feel like jelly for a few days,” 

“Great,” You laugh. 

“It’s fine,” He brushes off your tone, “it’ll get easier, and if you’d use the foam roller like I told you,” 

“Oh my god, okay,” You groan, “whatever you say, Coach Choi.” 

His eyebrow quirks and he crosses his arms, “I like that,” 

“Of course you do,” 

“Wooyoungie!” He calls out across the gym, and you swivel your head to watch Wooyoung pull off one headphone, “If I asked nicely, would you call me Coach Choi?” 

Wooyoung grimaces, “Absolutely not,” 

You fall apart into laughter at his expression, but before you can add anything else another voice enters the mix. 

“Hey, San,” Minseok says from a few feet away as he sets up on a bench, “you have time for a spot?” 

A few more members of the crew trickle in behind Minseok, preparing for their own gym days and they disperse to pick out their machines and start their routines. Minseok doesn’t spare a second glance at you even though you’re hip to hip next to San, but it’s unsurprising, he’s never really taken the time to get to know you. 

“Sure,” San nods and then turns back to you, “you’re just cooling down now, right?” 

“Yeah,” You shake your head, “there’s literally no way I can do anything else,” 

“Cool,” He smiles and heads towards Minseok, “you did so good, okay?” 

“Okay, okay,” You roll your eyes and head for the treadmills, stepping up onto the one next to Wooyoung. 

“Hey,” He says, a little breathless as he starts to slow his pace, having just finished the most intensive part of his run. 

“Hey,” You amp up the incline and get your own machine started to have a cooldown walk. 

“Are you regretting asking San for more training yet?” Wooyoung asks with a smirk. 

“Mm,” You groan, “a little,” 

“He loves it though,” He says and nods towards where San is now preparing to spot Minseok, “I think in another life he was an actual personal trainer,” 

“I don’t know how he does it,” You admit. 

Wooyoung smiles and takes a generous swig of his water as he slows to a walking pace that matches yours. “Has Yujin talked to you yet today?” He asks suddenly. 

You swivel your head to look at him, “No?” 

He smiles wide, “No reason,” 

You lower your voice, “Tell me,” 

“Nope,” He shakes his head, “she wants to be the one to tell you,” 

“Is it bad?” Your stomach sinks, no idea what in the world she would have to tell you. 

You’re suddenly full of sick, nervous knots. For the past few weeks everything has been tense and uncomfortable, Yunho and Mingi still keeping their distance and you always feel a half step behind no matter how close you’ve started to get with San, Wooyoung, and Seonghwa. 

Wooyoung laughs at your expression, “Why would I look so happy if it’s bad news,” he says, “y/n, relax,” 

“Okay, okay,” You breathe, “so it’s good?”

“Definitely,” 

“I’m more confused now,” You confess. 

“Don’t stress,” He repeats the same sentiment, “just go find her when you’re done with your workout,” 

You chew the inside of your lip and flex your hands on the handles of the treadmill, “Okay,” 

You walk silently side by side for another minute, just letting the ambient sounds of the gym pass over you, when Wooyoung hums quietly to himself. 

“What?” You glance over at him and his tight expression. 

His eyes dart right to you, and his voice drops so low you almost miss his words, “You started your new suppressants, right?” 

“Mhm,” You nod, glancing around you to see if anyone’s in earshot. 

“Hmm,” He shrugs, “weird,” 

“You can’t just… what’s weird?” 

“Minseok’s still eyeing you up,” He says, and you physically fight the urge to look over to where he and San are working out. 

“He’s not,” You insist, “I swear to God, you think everyone wants to sleep with everyone,” 

Wooyoung rolls his eyes hard, “Maybe he just likes you,” 

You take the moment to subtly look his way, but despite what Wooyoung said, he’s not staring at you. He’s not even facing you, only San catches your eye and shoots you a friendly smile. 

“Okay, see,” You nod towards them, “you’re definitely making this up,” 

“I swear,” His voice spikes a little and you shake your head to keep him quiet, so he drops his voice low again, “I’m just saying.” 

“Well, say something else,” You roll your eyes, “because that’s ridiculous.” 

Wooyoung grumbles something under his breath, drinking more water and stretching out his arms and you let it lie. It’s taken weeks for things to balance back out to normal with your body. When nineteen days finally come and go, and with your insurance active and suppressants back in hand, you finally feel like you can relax. 

For the three weeks between your heat and your first dose you did everything to dampen your omega scent using natural methods, hoping that some residual alpha pheromones would linger for just long enough to keep any extra attention off, but there’s nothing like the security of a strong suppressant. The difference is palpable, off them you can always feel the lingering stares of alphas, the way they always try to find little ways to get closer to you, the way they look. You’ve always hated it. 

Wooyoung has been sticking to you like glue, and he’s the first person to make a face at an unwelcome advance, throwing an arm around your shoulders and pushing you right back into San and Seonghwa’s proximity. He knows what this feeling is like, the nervous glances over your shoulder and unwillingness to walk alone, and he never, ever lets you feel it for very long. Despite his insistence though, Minseok hasn’t been one of those alphas at all. He’s stayed consistently in his lane of ignoring you with the exception of a polite smile here and there. You’ve been far more aware of other alphas in the crew noticing you, and you’ve been doing your best to keep your distance. 

“Maybe you should ask him out,” Wooyoung presses the button to turn off his machine and his steps slow. 

You turn yours off too, ready to be done, “Woo!” You hiss under your breath. 

“Maybe it would help,” Wooyoung shrugs, “you know, getting over them,” 

“I don’t need to get over anyone,” You press, “you’re making things up again,” 

“Fine,” He sighs, “I’m the crazy one,” 

You curse softly under your breath as he hops off his machine. 

“Hey,” He says, his voice once again at a normal volume and you turn towards him, “don’t forget to talk to Yujin,” 

“Got it,” You move to wipe down your machine. 

“Drinks later?” Wooyoung asks, giving you a smile as if he didn’t just try to dismantle your entire love life during a casual workout chat. 

“Maybe,” 

“Good,” 

He’s gone in a flash, full of energy even after the workout and you’re left alone on the still treadmill, glancing over once more at San and Minseok, both of whom seem engrossed in their workouts. It’s not that he isn’t cute, you’ve definitely had a passing thought or two about his hair and the way he looks when he’s dancing, but you don’t know him. You don’t even really want to know him, at least not like that. 

You shake off those thoughts and move to fill your water bottle up at the fountain in the back and let yourself cool off a bit. Whatever Yujin wants to talk to you about, it’s work related and you’d rather focus there than on anything else. You toss your towel over your shoulder and push open the door as you start to tap out a text message to Wooyoung, confirming drinks for later. A text that he surely already knows is coming. 

You collide hard into a firm, warm chest and stumble back, “Sorry!”

Familiar hands catch your elbows, “No, no, I’m sorry,” 

You take a natural step to the side and Yunho’s hands pull back quickly, another apology on his lips but he clears his throat and glances to the side into the gym. 

This awkwardness has to end, it has to. 

You take a little leap of faith, “Have you seen Yujin today?” 

His eyes meet yours and he softens a little, work a safe topic, “Yeah, she’s in the far studio room,” 

“Cool,” You give him a quick smile and dip your head a little, “sorry, again,” 

He shakes his head, “It’s fine,” 

“Okay,” You take a few steps back down the hall, “well, I’ll see you at practice later,” 

“Yeah,” His voice is soft, but he recovers with ease, “yeah, see you,” 

You want to ask him how he is, but he gives you one more small, polite smile before disappearing behind the gym door that swings shut with a heavy metallic sound. It’s not much, but it’s something. 

You find Yujin stretching in the far practice room just like Yunho said. Dahan, another one of the female choreographers is by her side, looking through something on her phone as they talk casually. You’ve always liked them, both of them a large reason why you wanted to come work here, and though they’ve been kind to you, you still feel like you’re working on proving yourself to them. 

“Hey,” You get their attention, “Wooyoung said you were looking for me?” 

“He’s got the biggest mouth,” Yujin sighs as she knots her long blonde hair up in a twist. 

“Oh,”

“I was just going to talk to Jaemin before talking to you,” She explains, pushing herself up from the floor, “so don’t get too excited,” 

“Um,” You glance between them, “okay?” 

Dahan gets to her feet as well, adjusting the waistband of her sweatpants, “It’s good news,” 

Yujin nods, “You can’t tell anyone outside the family,” she starts off and you nod, “but we’re debuting a girl group next fall.” 

“Really?” Your eyes widen. 

“Mhm,” She nods, “they have their trainees put together, and they have two song guides ready,” 

“That’s exciting,” 

“We got the first guide this week,” Yujin explains, “and we’re getting started with choreography soon, your name came up.” 

“My name?” You trail off. 

“You’re quick,” Dahan jumps in, “and you make strong suggestions. We’d like to include you in some of those conversations.” 

“Choreography conversations,” 

“Yeah,” Yujin smiles, “Seonghwa and Yunho are running point on the choreo along with us, but we wanted to pull you and San into the initial conversations.” 

“That’s amazing,” You manage. 

“I still have to talk to Jaemin,” Yujin points out, “but it shouldn’t be a problem.” 

“I really appreciate it,” You’re fighting the urge to grin like an idiot. 

“Just keep it to yourself for the moment,” She follows up, “and next week when things get going, I’ll pull you in.” 

“Thanks, Yujin,” Your body is swelling with nervous fluttering knots, torn between elated and terrified. A little piece of you had wondered what sharing your heat with Yunho and Mingi would do to your time here, if they would start to look past you entirely for opportunities, but you know now that was just your fear. 

Back in the hall you can’t stop smiling. You feel dizzy, chest bubbling with excitement. 

You want to tell someone so badly it hurts. Not someone, Mingi. You want to tell Mingi. After all the time he’s spent with you, working with you late at night and building your confidence and your skills, he’s the only one you want to call. 

You picture the way he’d grin, wide and a little knowing. He’d play it off like you were being dramatic, but when he hugged you close you know he’d murmur something in your ear. You miss his voice. You thought by now these feelings would have faded away into nothing, but you sometimes still catch yourself sinking into this unfamiliar longing. 

Your phone buzzes in the tight pocket of your leggings and you answer the call smoothly after the first ring, your worries fading the minute you hear his voice. 

“Quick,” Seonghwa hums, “are you just sitting around waiting for my call?”

“Funny,” You smile, leaning back against the wall. 

“You know that I am,” He says, and you can practically see the charming curve of his mouth. 

“Mm,” You huff a small laugh, “did you need something?” 

“That depends,” He says and you can hear the sounds of the streets in the background, “are you at the studio yet?” 

“Yeah, I just finished training with Sannie,” You tell him, “if it’s anything that involves walking up and down stairs, I’m out.” 

He laughs sharply, “No, no, I’m stopping at that coffee place you like,” 

You had mentioned it to him one time two weeks ago, and his attention to detail makes you smile. 

“Can I get you something?” You hear the sound change on his side of the phone and he must be walking into the shop now. 

“Iced americano?”

“Got it,” He replies smoothly, “I’ll see you in a bit,” 

“Thanks, Hwa,” 

“Mhm,” He murmurs, and then the line cuts. 

Growing closer to them these past few weeks has been everything. In the aftermath of what feels like the worst decision, you’ve managed to find three friends who genuinely seem kind and caring, and not at all interested in constantly flirting or trying to get into your pants. You feel like you’re finally slotting into place here, being brought into the fold of a longstanding group dynamic and despite the way you’re still catching up on inside jokes and references, you’re starting to make some of your own with them. 

The tension that’s been lingering between you, Yunho, and Mingi has been smoothly shielded by the three of them, and where you once spent most of your time outside of practice alone, now you’re constantly in the fray. Coffee in the mornings, lunches out, drinks after work, weekend plans, a whirlwind of sudden fast friendship. All the slow steps of getting to know someone were thrown directly out the window when Wooyoung finally got his hands on you and threw open all those emotional doors, and it’s easy to trust them when it’s like this. 

At the studio, you clean up quickly for the team meeting before practice, grabbing a protein bar from your bag for a boost of energy and filling up your water bottle. The day is starting to feel a little lighter, the interaction with Yunho earlier making everything a little less intense, but your steps falter again in the hall, the sight of Mingi at the far end of it by the back office. 

He looks good today, an oversized black t-shirt and dark wash jeans, heavy work boots and a silver chain around his neck. His hair strikes you a little darker, and you don’t know if it’s the lighting or if he dyed it but it suits him and for a brief moment you catch yourself staring. 

He glances at you briefly, catching your eyes for a second before he turns his face away and steps into the office, shutting the door behind him. 

Yunho and I are not going to leave you.

The memory sinks into your stomach, and for the briefest moment you want to follow him, push open the office door and make him look you in the eyes again. Tell him your news, make him your friend again, take a page out of Wooyoung’s book and just force him to get over this sickening space between you all. Your chest aches. 

You're proud of yourself, you couldn’t have done this without him, you want to tell him, you want him to know, need him to know. You take a few steps forwards, ready and bracing yourself and so unsure of what you’re going to say, but you know you need to say something, anything. 

“Hey,” Seonghwa catches your attention, stepping in through the doorway to your right and interrupting your line of sight down the hall. Suddenly the urge to run to Mingi and tell him your good news fades, all you can see now is Seonghwa’s wide smile and kind eyes. He pushes your iced americano into your idle hands and nudges your arm, “what’s got you beaming?” 

“What?” You refocus completely on him. 

“You,” He nods, “you’re smiling like crazy, what’s up?” 

“You probably already know,” You lower your voice a bit, stepping closer to him. 

“Yeah?” He shifts a little, leaning his shoulder on the adjacent wall and looking down at you, taking a long sip of his own coffee, “Tell me anyways,” 

“The new group,” You explain, still keeping your voice a little lower, “I just talked to Yujin,” 

“Ah,” He grins, “it’s good isn’t it,” 

At his knowing expression things click into place and your mouth drops, “Hwa, did you do this? Did you put my name up?” 

He hesitates for just a moment and then shakes his head, “I wish I had, but Yunho got there first.” 

“He did?” 

Seonghwa nods, leaning down a bit more and lowering his voice further, “He talked to Jaemin about it last week,” 

“But I thought,” Your voice trails off, remembering what Yujin said in the practice studio only twenty minutes ago. 

“He told me he wanted you on the project,” Seonghwa shrugs, “maybe things are thawing out,” 

“Finally,” You breathe. 

“Congratulations though,” Seonghwa smiles, “it’s a big step here,” 

Your face hurts from smiling but you grin again and nod. 

“Hey, listen,” He gives your arm a friendly squeeze as he turns the direction of the conversation, “Are you free tomorrow night?” 

“I think so,” 

“You want to come to dinner with me?” He asks. 

“Dinner?” You nod, “Sure, what are you,” 

A body brushes past you both in the hall and you take a step back from Seonghwa, realizing how close in his proximity you were a moment ago and you clear your throat softly, glancing to the side. Mingi’s already four strides past you both down the hall and pushing open the practice room door and your stomach drops. 

“Oh,” You breathe. 

Seonghwa waits, but when you turn back towards him he doesn’t even acknowledge the bristling moment of tension with Mingil, “So, dinner?” 

“Yeah,” You recover, remembering yourself, “yeah, sure,” 

“I want you to meet a friend of mine,” He says. 

“This better not be a set up,” You grimace. 

“Not at all,” He shakes his head with a laugh, “I just thought maybe you’d like to meet one of the producers for the group,” 

“Hwa,” Your eyes widen. 

“It’s nothing crazy,” He assures you, “I’ve mentioned my friend, Hongjoong, haven’t I?” 

“Yes, yeah, the Edenary producer,” 

“We get dinner once a month when our schedules line up,” He explains, “come meet him.” 

“Definitely, Seonghwa, this is great,”  

“Good,” He fishes his phone out of his back pocket, “I’ll text him to update the reservation,” 

You watch as he quickly taps out his message and then tucks his phone away again, smiling. He sighs and pushes off the wall and then taps the bottom of your americano with his finger before moving past you, “Drink your coffee, I’ll see you at practice,” 

“Yeah,” You smile, but he’s already gone. 

But practice is a unique kind of terrible today. Yunho seems tired, frustrated at something but it’s buried so deeply under the surface it’s almost impossible to see, but at least he’s maintaining the recent status quo of ignoring you. Mingi on the other hand is something altogether different. He’s given you three encouraging nods since the start and complimented you once, and you wish that you had a hidden camera pointed at Wooyoung for the way his eyes go wide at Mingi’s sudden attention on you. 

It’s not much, no more time than he spends on anyone else, but compared to the drought it feels intense. It makes your stomach churn with uneasiness. 

Seonghwa catches you once again after practice, trying to confirm dinner for tomorrow, but Wooyoung hangs off your shoulder and whines that you’ll be late for drinks, and he tugs you along until you relent. 

San can’t come tonight, but he gives you a knowing smile about the upcoming choreography project, and by the time you make it through talking with each of them and get out the door cleaned up, you forget all about the feeling of Mingi’s eyes on you. 

It isn’t until tomorrow becomes today and your coat is buttoned, ready to be done with the studio for the day and make it to your dinner reservations that you feel the sensation of his eyes again. 

You know the sound of his steps intimately, having been listening for them around every corner the past few weeks, and something in your chest tightens when Mingi shuffles closer to you. He leans back against the far wall of the practice room with you, the closest you’ve physically been to each other in weeks. 

“Hey,” He says, voice low. 

“Hey,” You glance at him, but his eyes are downcast. Your chest aches again, but you push the feeling away. 

A beat passes between you, but finally he nods and pulls his eyes up to meet yours, “I miss you,” 

“Oh,” Your stomach flutters. 

“I hate this whole thing,” He says, finally breaking this stiff tension that exists between you, “we said it wouldn’t be weird, and we’re making it weird.” 

“Yeah,” 

“I miss working with you,” He sighs. 

“Me too,” You want to touch him, to rest your hand on his arm and soothe him, but you know you shouldn’t. 

“Can we just let it go?” Mingi shifts to face you fully, “start over?” 

“I think we should try,” You manage, “I just want to have my friends back,” 

“Then let’s forget the whole thing,” He brightens now that he knows you miss him too, “we’re being stupid, it was just heat. Being friends, working together, that’s what’s important,” 

“Please,” You sigh, feeling like your shoulders can finally fall after so much time walking on eggshells, “everything’s been so weird between us and all I want is to go back to normal,” 

“Thank God,” He grins, “stay right here,” 

“What?” He’s gone before you can really get the words out, jogging out of the room and leaving you alone to stare at yourself in the mirrored wall. 

“Yunho!” Mingi’s voice is disconnected in the hall, and your stomach drops, “Get over here!”

You push off the wall immediately, moving fast and skidding into the hallway, “Mingi, it’s fine, don’t,” 

“Relax,” He glances back at you and then shouts again, “Yunho!”

“Jesus, I’m coming,” Yunho’s not looking when he comes out of the back office and moves into the hall. He’s looking at something on his phone and he makes it halfway down the hall before he looks up and realizes you’re standing a few feet behind Mingi, “Oh, y/n,” 

“Uh, hey,” You smile, and you can see the sudden confusion in his eyes at your change in tone. 

“Can you help us with something?” Mingi interrupts the moment and gets the attention back on him. 

“What’s up?” Yunho tucks his phone into the pocket of his sweats. 

“We’re working on the new song,” Mingi lies, “can you talk us through it?” 

You weren’t working on the new song, you weren’t even thinking about the new song, but Mingi knows how his best friend is and he knows the way talking about it will just scare him off. To get back to normal, you just have to be back to normal, and dance is what you all know. The rest will surely come.

“Well,” Yunho looks between you, “we haven’t really gotten into it yet,” 

“So, let’s get into it,” Mingi claps his hand on Yunho’s arm, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet, “come on,” 

“y/n,” Yunho looks past him, “you’re staying late tonight?” 

You aren’t supposed to. You’re supposed to meet Seonghwa and Hongjoong for dinner, but this is almost definitely the deciding moment on if you can repair your friendship with these men and put aside all the swirling feelings about them, so you make a choice. 

“Yep,” You nod. 

“You’re wearing your coat?” Yunho points out. 

“Ah,” You shake your head, “I was running to the mart for something to eat real quick,” 

A smooth lie and Mingi smiles. 

“I have some stuff in the back office,” Yunho gestures as if you don’t already know where it is, “you know you can always help yourself to anything there,” 

“Thanks, Yunho,” You haven’t said his name like that in what feels like months. You missed it on your tongue. 

He smiles brightly, and just like that, the tense knot is gone. 

“Let me hook up my phone, I’ll meet you in the studio?” Yunho asks you both. 

“Yep,” Mingi nods, “I’ll grab us waters,” 

Yunho moves through you both into the room behind you and you shrug off your coat and hang it back on the hook in the hall. Alone again, Mingi smiles at you. 

“You’re kind of devious,” You whisper to him as you make your way up the hall with him. 

“Maybe,” He shrugs, “all I know is, I missed you.” 

“Mingi,” You stop short, reaching for him this time and closing your hand around his wrist to stop him too. 

He waits for your words expectantly. 

“I should have said something to you sooner,” You sigh, “and I’m sorry about that. I missed you both too,” 

He turns his hand, taking your wrist and tugging you forward until he can close his arms around you in a hug, “Me too, but it doesn’t matter now, okay? Let’s just be friends again,” 

It takes everything in your body not to take a deep inhale of his rich chocolate scent, and you tighten your first together behind his back to keep your mind of it while his settle arms around you for the first time in weeks. Friends, you assert to yourself quietly, just friends. You need to get a grip.

“Normal,” You agree after a moment, nodding into him. 

His arms tighten for just a moment, and then he pulls back, letting his hands drop away and stepping back to give you space, “I’m not ruining your night, am I?” 

“No!” You’re quick to assure, desperate to not upset the delicately remade balance. 

“You don’t have plans tonight?” He asks, eyes flicking over you. 

You shake your head, “I wasn’t doing anything special,” you lie. 

“Good,” He smiles, “that’s good.”

He turns and opens the door to the back office and you follow him in. He fishes out a few water bottles from the large refrigerator in the corner and tucks them under his arm, grabbing a towel too from the folded stack nearby. You search blindly for something to eat so you don’t feel caught out in your little white lie and select a protein bar at random, something easy, though you’re so nervous to be with them again like this you don’t even know if you can keep it down. 

Your phone feels heavy in your pocket when it buzzes. 

With a quick glance at the clock you note the time. You’re supposed to be meeting Seonghwa and Hongjoong in about ninety minutes, you were going to go home and shower and become a presentable person and then make it across town. Maybe, just maybe, you can have this and make it there too. 

“You coming?” Mingi interrupts your thoughts and jerks his head towards the hall. 

“Uh, yes,” You follow, “let me just drop my stuff back off, I’ll be right there, okay?” 

“Mhm,” He nods, “I’ll see you in there.” 

Alone again you make short work of dropping your bags and tying your hair back up. You pull out your phone and send two texts at lightning speed. 

To Seonghwa you do your best to keep it vague - I’m so sorry to do this but I’m getting caught up with something, I’ll be a little late to dinner, but start without me ok? Tell Hongjoong I’m sorry too, but I’ll hurry. 

To Wooyoung you keep it honest - SOS. Staying late at the studio with Mingi and Yunho… they want to move past everything. Call me in an hour with an excuse, anything, I just need a reason to step away. PLEASE. 

You don’t wait to see either answer. You tuck your phone back into the elastic pocket of your leggings and take a steadying breath, looking over yourself quickly in the small mirror on the back of the office door. You just have to trust that Wooyoung will come through for you, and he hasn’t failed you yet. 

“y/n,” Yunho’s voice echoes from down the hall, “can you grab the CD on my desk?” 

You turn towards his desk and find a stack of them, but the one on top in a clear jewel case hastily labeled seems right, “The top one?” 

“Yeah,” He calls, “and hurry please, Mingi’s already driving me insane,” 

You push open the office door, freshly burned CD in hand and smile wide when you see him hanging out the doorway of the studio, “Is that right?” 

He looks like he’s holding his breath, but when you meet his eyes he exhales heavily and smiles right back, “You know it,” 

Your phone buzzes in your pocket, but you ignore it, focused entirely on the man in front of you and the way that he’s finally looking at you in earnest for the first time in weeks. You’re sure there will be a moment eventually to clear the air, but right now you’re just grateful to see the look on his face, the way his cheeks get rounder when he grins. 

Mingi shouts something from inside the studio and Yunho laughs sharply, his head falling back in delight and your chest tightens up at the sound. 

You crack a joke right back, tension released like the threads of a too-tight knot finally coming free. 

You cross over the threshold of the studio ready to let it all fall away, Mingi smiling again ahead of you and Yunho at your back.

this night together - chapter nine (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter nine: too little too late

chapter summary: you probably would have preferred the cold shoulder. yunho and mingi find out about your heat, and things get harder.

warnings: this chapter is a pain train. no other warnings except angst and consistent references to heat and all that goes with that.

notes: i'm SO glad you all enjoyed chapter eight!! it was a fun one. please enjoy the moment many of you have been waiting for..... yungi's return and everything that comes with that. good luck because oof our y/n is going through it.

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 6.3k

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You expect to see them immediately when you walk into the studio a little early on Monday but it’s painfully empty. The back office door is shut and locked tight, so you know Yunho hasn’t been in yet and if he’s not here, neither is Mingi. It feels familiar, and you’re starting to wonder if every heat is going to end with them throwing a tantrum. 

“You just going to stand there?” Wooyoung’s voice nearly knocks you sideways and you jump in your shoes. 

“Don’t do that!” You spin on your heel and smack his shoulder. 

“You’re literally staring at a door,” Wooyoung levels you with a look, “I’m trying to pull you back down to reality so you can make it through this stupid day,” 

“Fine,” You sigh, “I guess… I don’t know, do I look okay?” 

He rolls his eyes, “You know you do,” 

“I just don’t want,” You start but the sound of the heavy back door to the studio startles you once again and your heart lands squarely in your throat when you see them. 

They barely look at you. A swift, fast glance, just enough for you to know they’ve seen you. Your hands suddenly feel slick and clammy and your stomach starts churning immediately. 

“Hey,” Wooyoung steps around you to grab their attention and break the sudden awkward tension in the hall, “did anyone ever call to get the lights in Studio 3 fixed?” 

Yunho blinks, almost confused by his words but then he recovers, “Uh, no, I thought they were fixed already,” 

“Out again,” Wooyoung shakes his head, “I think it’s electrical if the bulbs keep blowing,” 

Mingi listens for a moment, but the moment he’s sure this conversation has nothing for him he simply says, “I’ll catch you guys later,” and then he’s pushing past the two of them to cut down the hallway. 

He doesn’t look at you at all. 

Yunho watches him go and then refocuses on Wooyoung, “I’ll call someone,” he says, “is it the whole back panel again?” 

“I’ll show you,” Wooyoung gestures down the hall, throwing a fast glance at you that communicates so much with just one flick of his eyes - Don’t follow, you’re welcome, you owe me. 

As Yunho turns away from you to follow Wooyoung down the hallway you mouth a thank you and watch them go. The cold shoulder you can deal with, you’re almost too practiced with that at this point, so at least you can breathe a little easier and get back to work. 

You bottle it all right back up, and even though the day has been terrible and long and awkward, you know that San’s right. It’s your studio too. You’ve missed things being out for your leave and you have to catch up quickly to stay an unshakeable member of this group. All you have to do is focus on the work. 

You know you probably have to talk to them at some point, but you really didn’t think it would be today of all days. You thought they’d go back to the way it was before, an entire day of their tense glances communicated that clearly. But suddenly Mingi’s in front of you while you’re tucked up on the computer in the corner of one of the studios rewatching a cut of today’s practice and you know it’s going to be now, now or never.

“So, you’re good?” He asks suddenly, a little starting since you had expected him to just pass you by without a word, just like the rest of the day behind you. 

“What?” You manage, swiveling around in your chair. 

“You’re good?” He asks again, but his face is blank, passive. 

You open your mouth to answer but Yunho’s voice from the side has your head snapping towards it. 

“Mingi,” Yunho’s voice is firm, “let’s go.” 

“One sec,” Mingi doesn’t look away from you. 

“I said let’s go,” Yunho shakes his head. 

“Hey,” Mingi starts and then Yunho looks at you. 

“Can you lock up if you’re not leaving?” He asks, jaw tightening as soon as the words are out of his mouth. 

“Sure,” You manage. 

“Mingi, let’s go.” Yunho’s attention leaves you instantly, and you’ve never felt more invisible to him. 

“Bro,” Mingi shakes his head, “can you fuck off for one second?” 

“No, I’m getting in the car, do you want a ride or not?” Yunho’s jaw jumps in frustration. 

Mingi mutters something under his breath and then meets your eyes again, “y/n,” 

“Yeah?” You’re so overwhelmingly confused. 

“I said, are you good?” 

“Why wouldn’t I be good?” Your brows draw together. 

Mingi shuts his mouth tightly, his hands forming loose fists and then he nods once, “Fine,” 

“What’s going on with you two?” Your eyes dart between them, the anger in the room so palpable. They’ve been cold, they’ve been passive, but they’ve never, ever been angry with you. Not like this. 

There’s a long beat of silence and then finally Yunho speaks, “Are you serious?” 

“What?” 

“You disappear for three days,” Yunho drops his gym bag and looks to you, “and you can’t even answer a single fucking text message, and you want to know what’s going on with us?” 

Your stomach clenches hard, his dark eyes boring into you now and you need him to look away. “I was on heat leave,” You say clearly, “you got the paperwork, I know you did.” 

They’re both silent. 

“Look,” You sigh, and it’s already harder to maintain the wall than you thought it would be, “I’m sorry I didn’t text you back, that was shitty, but I was a little preoccupied,” 

Yunho grimaces. 

“Yunho, jesus,” You push yourself up off the chair and take a few steps towards them, “I don’t know what you want from me,” 

“We were worried,” Mingi offers, and his voice is still low and firm, but his words at least are a little kinder. 

“Well, I appreciate that, but I was fine.” 

Yunho huffs, and you can almost see him fighting an eye roll. Anger bubbles inside you at their entitlement over you and your time and you can’t stop your mouth or your hot head now. 

“Seriously,” You square your shoulders towards him, “Yunho, we’re friends so I feel like I can say this, but you’re acting like an asshole right now.” 

“I’m acting like an asshole?” His voice gets sharp at the end, anger radiating in him. 

“Yes!” You push farther into his space, “Sharing a heat together doesn’t mean I owe you something,” 

His jaw jumps at your words. 

“No one’s saying that,” Mingi cuts in immediately, physically pushing between you both and holding his hands up. 

“Tell that to him,” You nod towards Yunho. 

Yunho stays silent. 

Mingi keeps his hands up, “Listen,” he catches your eyes, “no one’s angry. We just didn’t hear from you for three days, we didn’t know if you were somewhere safe. That’s all.” 

“Well, I was,” You assure him, “I had everything handled, I’m back on my suppressants,” 

“I know,” Mingi nods, and you suppose he would be able to tell, with your scent dampened. 

“What about onboarding?” Yunho pipes in and you crane around Mingi to see him. His cheeks are flushed pink, and you can see how frustrated he is, but he tries to ask this question a bit more softly. 

“What about it?” You give him one more chance, just one. 

Yunho clears his throat and says again, “Onboarding. Mingi said it can be a lot, like before,” 

“I had it covered,” You assure him. 

“I just thought,” Yunho shifts from foot to foot, trying to find his words, “I thought maybe if it was as hard as before you’d be out of it, and I, I don’t know,” 

You want to be mad at him, you really do, but that part of his fear makes sense to you. When you think about your time with them and how much you don’t quite remember perfectly, how hard it was to make it home, you get it. 

“Honestly,” You exhale, relaxing the tension a bit, “I am sorry I didn’t text you back. I can understand why you were worried,” 

His shoulders relax with yours, “I’m sorry too,” 

You can’t say it’s okay, but you nod, glancing up to Mingi who’s seemed to soften up a bit too. There’s a long beat between you and finally Mingi asks, “So, we’re good?” 

“Yeah,” You nod, “we’re good,” 

Yunho nods and agrees, “I am really sorry, I really was just worried about you,” 

“I know,” You nod, “I think I should have just texted you, but I didn’t know what to say,” 

“Yeah,” Mingi laughs a little, just a huff and he runs his hand through his short hair, “that’s fair,” 

You smile too and press your hands to your cheeks for a little cool relief, letting out a long sigh as the tension starts to release. It could end here, they could say goodbye and goodnight and you could finish up and then it would be over, but when Yunho shifts and glances between the two of you, you know immediately it won’t be so simple. 

“Well,” Yunho clears his throat, “next time if you’d rather not be alone, you know, I think we’ve done pretty good at staying friends,” 

“Oh,” Your heart feels like it might just fall straight out of your chest, “Yunho, I,” 

“It was weird for a couple of weeks,” He adds, “but,” 

You know you just have to say it, you have to get it out of your mouth before you can’t, and the words bubble up sharp and sudden, “I wasn’t alone,” 

“You weren’t?” Mingi’s brows shoot up. 

Yunho falls silent, ears running dark pink. 

“No,” You shake your head, “I wasn’t,” 

“Of course you weren’t,” Yunho manages, “sorry, that was… I don’t know why I assumed,” 

“Probably because I told you that’s what I normally do,” You soften, “so I understand why you were worried, but I’m telling you that I was fine, taken care of,” 

He asks it like he can’t help himself, the word falling right off his tongue, “Who?” 

You take a half step back, shaking your head, “Yunho, no,” 

“Why not? We’re friends,” Mingi rationalizes. 

They suddenly look so much like jealous lovers you can’t breathe. Something deep in your gut must have been right all along about them, and you don’t know why you can’t stop making this same mistake over and over again. Your biology must really want you to fall for a guy like this but as harsh as the twist in your gut feels, you push it back, refusing to submit. 

“No,” You turn on your heel, “I’m leaving,” 

Hands on your arms pull you back and twist you around in Mingi’s hold, “Fuck,” he says, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, that was so out of line,” 

“You don’t get to ask, okay?” You push him off, putting a foot of distance between you. 

“I know that, we know that,” Mingi nods, holding your gaze and trying to diffuse whatever this conversation has become, “it was stupid, forget it,” 

Yunho moves closer, stopping by Mingi’s side to give you the same distance, “Completely stupid, I’m sorry,” 

You’re already so sick of them apologizing, but you swallow tightly and try to let it go, “Okay,”

“Only,” Yunho pauses, debating on whether or not he should say this and your breath catches in your throat, “only, why didn’t you call us?” 

“What?” You can barely believe him. 

“You don’t have to tell us anything,” Yunho says, looking quickly at Mingi who nods, “I just… I thought you would have called us, and when I saw the paperwork and you didn’t answer I thought maybe something happened.”

The stretching silence between you is crushing you. A flare of anger bubbles in your belly, “You said my heat before was a one time thing.” 

“I never said that.” 

“You did,” You shake your head, and now you just can’t stop the words, “and you know what, Yunho? Maybe this wouldn’t have been so hard and confusing if you didn’t treat me like I was invisible for weeks after we had sex,” 

“You were avoiding me too,” His tongue is quick when he’s angry and you can almost see the regret in his eyes but he doubles down, “both of us.” 

“I’m not going to listen to this,” You cheeks flare with angry blush, “I’m done. We work together, that’s it. I don’t know what you want from me, I’ll get whiplash if you keep-”

Your words die on your tongue, your back connecting with the hard studio wall behind you. You don’t see Mingi coming, your eyes steady on Yunho and you’re about to throw up your hands and leave again when Mingi collides into you, his lips on yours. 

“Mingi!” You squeak against his mouth. 

“Please,” He pleads, shaking his head.  

His body feels so good you might lose your mind entirely. His plush mouth stays on yours, tongue dipping between your lips to flick along yours. His scent envelops you, his hot hands holding you against him, and you melt into him as your body responds to him. He kisses like you’re his only lifeline, messy and hungry and pouring desperation into you ounce by ounce. Your hand tightens on his back. He hitches your leg up onto his hip, pressing your body open for him to slot between your legs. 

Your eyes stay shut as he kisses his way down your jaw, nipping along your skin until his mouth is on your throat, ghosting softly over your pulsepoint. Your mind is spinning, flooded hot, everything falling away and then it all stops. 

Mingi stiffens, body locking up and you hear him take a deep inhale of breath. He rocks back away from you, “Seonghwa?” 

“What?” Yunho’s voice re-enters the mix. 

Mingi steps away from you and you brace your body against the wall, finding your feet under you and trying to catch your breath, “Don’t,” 

“I’m right,” Mingi’s face knits up in confusion, his fists tighten, “fuck,” 

Yunho looks stricken. 

“You slept with Seonghwa?” Mingi repeats.

“Don’t,” You repeat, anger curling inside you and you push off the wall, “we’re friends and maybe I should have texted you, but that’s all we are, you made that perfectly fucking clear after my heat. You don’t get to treat me like I cheated or try to mark your fucking territory,” You scrub your hand across your throat where Mingi kissed you, where he let his tongue linger. 

“We’re not together,” You reiterate, “we’re not in love, or soulmates, or scent matches, or whatever the fuck else people say. We had sex, that’s it.” 

The words are out there, dropped between you like lead and you realize coldly somewhere in the back of your mind, you can never take that back. 

Yunho and Mingi stand stock still at the grenade dropped between you, but then Yunho shifts forwards one step with a tight inhalation of breath.

“That’s not all it was for me,” He manages, and when you meet his eyes your resolve nearly, nearly crumbles. 

“Whatever you feel for me isn’t real, it’s biology,” You shake your head, trying to catch your breath and keep your words straight. If they loved you before they would have come to you then, you just have to hold onto that truth. 

“Don’t tell me what I feel,” Yunho looks away from you, his hands tight, “don’t patronize me.” 

“This is why we should have never,” You shake your head, looking at Mingi like you might see a scrap of reason in his eyes, but you see nothing, pure passive inattention like he’s shut down and left the conversation. 

“y/n,” Yunho shakes his head, “I’m not some lovesick virgin,” 

“I know that,” You sigh, “I didn’t mean,” 

“You did,” Yunho interrupts, “and if you don’t feel the same about us, just say it.” 

“What the fuck are you talking about?” You feel like you’ve entered an entirely different narrative, “You said you wanted to be friends, isn’t that what we are?”

“Friends don’t kiss like that,” Mingi admits gruffly. 

“You kissed me,” You manage. 

“y/n,” Mingi says softly, “I felt it, the way you kissed me back, touched me… there’s something there,” 

“Is that what this is about?” Your jaw tightens, “You think I’m yours?” 

Mingi’s jaw snaps shut, muscles jumping. 

Yunho shakes his head, bringing you back to his eyes, “No,” he sighs, “but,” 

“But what?” You won’t cry, not here, “You’re perfectly fine treating me like I’m invisible until another alpha gets a little too close? I’m a person! A whole entire person, I’m not an omega for you to… to…” 

“I know that!” Yunho exclaims, “I like you. We like you, it has nothing to do with designation,” 

“That’s the most naive sentence I’ve ever heard,” You take a step back, away, closer to the mirrored wall, “if that were true why didn’t you say anything weeks ago?” 

“I didn’t know then,” He insists, looking to Mingi for help but finding none in his vacant eyes. 

“That’s what I’m saying,” You sigh, exasperated, “you’re just realizing it now? Right when I spend my heat with another alpha? You’re confused.” 

“It’s not confusion,” Mingi says simply, “we’re not stupid.” 

“So, you both have feelings for me? Is that what you’re saying?” You bite back, and you clench your fist tight. You won’t cry.

They say nothing, silence filling the room like smoke and you need to get out. 

“After we spent that time together,” You take a steadying breath, “I missed you both so much it hurt. All the time. I would convince myself not to come to your place and knock on the door and… and I don’t know what I wanted. I thought about you all the time, and the things you said and did for me. I missed you so much it made me sick,” 

“Then,” Yunho starts, his voice small but you shake your head. 

“But you didn’t want me,” You insist, “you spent weeks making sure I knew it. Every day you wouldn’t look at me, you wouldn’t talk to me, I’ve never felt so small.”

Mingi’s eyes cloud and he drops his head. 

“And it was hard, but the things I felt for you went away,” You press, despite the tightness in your chest, “with a little time and space, it went away. I know you both care about me, and I care about you, but you don’t love me.” 

“I don’t accept that,” Yunho shakes his head, moving forwards before you can process it, his arms around you as he tucks you into his chest, “how can you say that when this feels the way it does?” 

Your head throbs with the scent of him, washing through you and making your limbs go soft and your heartbeat slow to a stutter instead of a pounding thump, but your brain clicks back into place and you wriggle in his arms, “Let me go,” 

He leans away, cupping your cheek in his hand to draw your face up to his gaze, “Don’t you?” He manages, voice cracking gently. 

You’re dizzy, mind flooded and confused, but you try, “I don’t,” 

His thumb strokes a gentle line over your cheekbone, shifting just a little closer, “y/n,”

“Yunho,” You manage, your voice shaking as you try to stay level, “if you kiss me now, there’s nothing for us.” 

His brow creases as he studies your eyes, exhaling an unsteady breath. 

“I’ll go, I’ll find another studio.” You grip your hand tight and let your nails dig into your soft palm, “I need you to let me go, please, let me go,” 

His arms fall away, and he takes two sizable steps back, running a hand through his hair, “After everything, that’s it?” 

“It has to be,” Your eyes feel prickly, “I’ve moved on. I need you both to do the same. Find someone else, another omega. I know you think you want me, but it’s just your alphas talking. And maybe we could have been more than this, but you hurt me, you both did, and I’ve moved on.” 

“I shouldn’t have kissed you,” Mingi manages. 

“No,” You shake your head, “you shouldn’t have.”

“I’m sorry,” His voice is small. 

“This,” Yunho tries to say something, but his voice is thick with emotion and he clears his throat, words dying on his lips. 

“I’m sorry too,” You finally add, “and I thought we could go back to being friends, but this, it hurts too much.” 

“What do we do?” Yunho asks, voice hollow. 

“I need some space,” You swallow tightly, “we’ll do the work, but that’s it. If we ever have a shot at being friends someday, at feeling like this isn’t always there… that’s what I need, and maybe we can fix this.”

“Okay,” Mingi says. 

“Tour,” Yunho takes a deep breath, and you realize now that he has tears flooding his eyes that he’s doing his best to blink away, “we’ll be gone for months,” 

He’s right, in a matter of weeks they’ll be gone with a small group of the BB Trippin dance crew to Europe. You have your focus here with the newly debuting group alongside Dahan and Yujin, but they don’t, they’re leaving with New World and it would be almost three full months until they’d be back in Korea. 

“Good,” You breathe, ignoring the pit forming in your stomach at the thought of not seeing them, “then let’s just get through the next few weeks, but after that you go. Don’t text me, don’t call me, just… move on.” 

Silence stretches, but Yunho nods. 

If you stay here for one more minute you’re going to cry, “I have to go,” 

He nods again. 

There’s more to say, you can feel it, but you can’t do it now and you have to push yourself to get out the door. You push past them as quickly as you can, eyes on the door in front of you, but Yunho follows behind and catches you once more in the hall. 

“y/n,” He doesn’t touch you, but calls after you in the hall, but you don’t turn around you can’t. If you look at him one more time you’ll cry, you’ll go back, you’ll throw all the things you said to the side just to feel his arms around you one more time or Mingi’s lips on yours and you can’t. You have to be better than this, for yourself. 

You stop though and turn your head just a little to let him know you’re listening. 

“I’m,” His voice tightens and hitches, “I’m really fucking sorry we lost you,” 

Hot tears overflow at his words, spilling over down your cheeks and you drop your head and nod. You grip your hands tighter and steady yourself and hope to god that your voice will hold up, “Me too,” 

He takes a tight, wet inhale and you have to move, one more second in this hallway and you’ll want nothing more than to comfort him, to soothe your alpha and smooth this moment over, but the latent thought of him as yours strikes panic in your chest and you push forward down the hall.

You round the corner at the end by the office, and the image of him coming out of the doorway that first night won’t leave you alone, the way he softened when he saw you in heat, the way he took you in his arms. 

You stifle a sob with your hand over your lips, and then you’re running. Out of here, away from this, and you don’t know where you’re going until you get there, every step a blur. 

You knock fast on San’s door, and you feel bad about crashing their night, but you can barely breathe and you need to see a friendly face or you just might fall apart. You had gotten your tears under control on your way over, out of sheer embarrassment that you were crying in the middle of the street, but tightness gathers in your throat now as you wait for an answer to the door and pins prick the back of your eyes. 

You hear shuffling on the opposite side of the door, a hand on the knob, and tears spill over already. 

San’s smiling when he opens the door, looking over his shoulder back into the main living space and finishing saying something to Wooyoung who’s inside, and your breath hitches. 

His eyes settle on you, “y/n?” His face falls as he sees your tears, “What?” 

“S-San,” Your tears rush faster, your words cut off in a sob and you launch yourself forwards to collide with his chest, wrapping your arms around his neck and burying your face in his shoulder, sobs wracking yours. 

“Hey, hey, hey,” He stumbles back, wrapping his arms around you, “what’s going on?” 

“y/n’s here?” Wooyoung’s voice comes from the side and you can’t stop yourself from crying harder. 

“I need you to breathe,” San soothes you, his voice low, “I need you to tell me what happened,” 

You shake your head into his neck, hiccuping as you do. 

“Are you hurt?” He presses, one of his hands sliding up your sides to search your body, “I need you to talk to me,” 

You drag in a shaky breath, but Wooyoung sees you now and jumps forwards, “Is she hurt?” 

“Woo,” San interrupts him, “hang on, okay, just,” 

“I’m,” You clear your throat, “I’m not hurt,”

San exhales heavily, relieved at your words and nods, cupping the back of your head, “Alright, just breathe,” 

“What the hell happened?” Wooyoung says. 

“I know as much as you do,” San says, “just grab her stuff and let’s get inside,” 

“Yeah,” You hear Wooyoung moving, picking up your bag from the floor outside his apartment door, and then you hear it click shut. 

“y/n,” San tries again as you try to get your breathing under control, “can you tell me what happened?” 

“I t-talked to Yunho and Mingi,” You murmur wetly into his shirt. 

“What the fuck did those idiots do?” Wooyoung’s hand settles between your shoulder blades as he shifts closer to try and catch your eyes. 

“It’s a mess,” You manage. 

“Woo,” San says softly, “get her a glass of water,” 

“But,” Wooyoung starts. 

“Go.” San insists. 

Wooyoung’s hand leaves you. 

“y/n,” San says, “come inside and sit down,”

You peel yourself away from him, covering your face immediately as tears continue to roll down your cheeks, but San steers you inside with a warm arm until you’re sinking down onto the couch. 

“Water,” Wooyoung says, holding an icy cold glass in his hand and taking his spot on the extended length of the sectional so he can angle towards you and see your face, “drink this,” 

He presses the glass into your hands and you take a shaky sip, the cold shocking your brain a little as you try to get a little more down. 

San tugs the coffee table a little closer and takes a seat on the wood top and then leans forward to catch your eyes, elbows resting on his knees, “Can you tell us what happened?” 

You sigh deeply and then recover your breath, wiping your eyes with the sleeve of your sweater, “They know,” 

“About this weekend?” San surmises. 

“Just Seonghwa,” You clarify, taking another sip of water, “they were so angry, I didn't want to tell them the rest,” 

“Fucking assholes,” Wooyoung curses, his jaw tightening as he looks away. 

“What else?” San’s voice is gentle, so unlike confident alpha tone you had gotten used to, “You can tell us,” 

“They… I mean, Yunho… he said that they,” The words get jumbled in your mind as you flash back to the studio room, “it’s all so fucked, they’re acting like this is…”

“Babe,” Wooyoung plucks the glass from your hands and passes it to San, returning his hands to yours so he can steady your shakes, “you’re not making a lot of sense, and I’m about two seconds from driving over to their place and castrating them. I need you to please tell me they didn’t do anything stupid,” 

“Youngie,” San sighs, exasperated. 

You shake your head, “No,” you manage, “they have feelings for me, they said… when they found out about my heat they were so…”

“Now?” Wooyoung’s eyebrows go high, “Now they have feelings for you?” 

“That’s basically what I said,” Your lips turn up in the smallest smile. 

“What else?” San cuts through the commentary. 

“If they had said something, anything weeks ago,” You trail off. 

“They didn’t though,” San reminds you, “and that’s on them. Not on you.” 

“So you fought?” Wooyoung surmises. 

You wipe your eyes again and nod, “It was awful,” 

“I’m sorry,” Wooyoung takes your hands in his, smoothing his thumbs over the back of your knuckles, “We all knew they might be upset, we shouldn’t have left you alone,” 

“I handled it,” You shake your head, the telltale feeling of a migraine coming on in the back of your skull from how many tears you’ve shed, “I… just - I don’t know why this is so hard,” 

San shifts forwards, cupping your cheek in his hand and soothing you, “How about you stay over tonight? We can order some takeout and just forget about this for now,” 

“I’ve got soju if you need a drink,” Wooyoung adds, “whatever you need, we’re here,” 

“I just want to know what to do,” You push San’s hands away and drag your fingers through your hair, “it shouldn’t be this hard,” 

“How did you leave it?” Wooyoung asks gently, hand on your knee. 

Yunho’s words in the hallway strike back through your chest, but you shake your head, “Kind of terribly,” 

“Okay,” He prompts you for a little more. 

“I told them to go on tour and to not contact me so we can get some space,” You say it in a single breath and then you duck your head in your hands again. 

“Damn,” Wooyoung grimaces. 

“I know,” You sniff back fresh tears, “maybe I should have stayed, but, I just… I couldn’t,” 

“y/n,” San pulls your hands down and takes them in his, smoothing his thumbs over the soft hollows of your palms, “you did the right thing. Space is good,” 

“Is it?” You said it, and in the moment you believed it, but months without speaking to them feels like torture. 

“It’s good,” He nods, wiping away your tears, “you need time to figure out how you feel and they need time to do the same. You’re never going to be able to get it if you’re working on top of each other every day,” 

You let San’s words sink in and you know he’s right. All of the talking and the not talking with them up to this point had just left your relationship a jumbled mess. Time away could fix this. You knew it deep in your gut in the studio as you backed out the door and you know it now. 

With a deep breath you scrub your hands under your eyes to clear away the last remnants of tears and any smudged mascara and you nod, “Woo,” you face him, “where’s that soju?” 

“On it,” He grins, “I know exactly what you need,” 

“Yeah?” 

“Mhm,” Wooyoung hops up and heads for San’s kitchen, “Beer, soju, and junk food. I’m making chapagetti,” 

You groan, knowing exactly what your body is going to feel like tomorrow.

“At least put some protein on it,” San calls back, “for the love of god,” 

“Sannie,” Wooyoung says, his head clearly in the fridge at the muffled tone, “just let me work my magic,” 

“Mhm,” San shakes his head. 

“I’m going to be so hungover tomorrow aren’t I?” 

“Definitely,” San laughs, “but you can crash here, we’ll take care of you.” 

You nod, knowing they absolutely will. 

When Wooyoung hands you the cold glass of beer and the shot you clink your glass with him and knock it back in sync and for a little while you put it all out of your mind. 

It isn’t until later, in the safe darkness of San’s bedroom with your best friends on either side of you, that you feel like the words might make it out of your mouth without it all ending around you. The alcohol in your system has started to dissipate, leaving you exhausted and a little heavy feeling, but your thoughts are starting to stitch back together and you just have to tell them. 

You’re snuggled tight to Wooyoung’s chest, your forehead pressed to his sternum, San behind you but not really touching you, just laying on his back and staying close enough to give you the comfort of another body. You can’t stop replaying it, seeing them when they realized you had been with not just someone else but someone they knew. 

You don’t know what possesses you, but in the darkness you murmur, “Mingi kissed me,” 

Wooyoung’s breathing hitches for just a moment as he registers your words, but he recovers cleanly, his fingers just running over your hair again and again, “When?” 

“Tonight,” You shift, pushing yourself to lie on your back between the two of them, “I think he was trying to show me he meant it,”

They let your words sit there for a moment, and then Wooyoung turns to look at you, “How do you feel about it?” 

“Stupid,” You exhale, answering honestly, “really fucking stupid,” 

“Why?” San props up on one arm, hand on his cheek and brow furrowed as he looks down at you. 

You feel the outline of his mouth on yours again, his hands and how they held you, how much he poured into one moment just to get you to understand. “Because,” You answer, “all I could think about was how much I missed him,” 

“y/n,” Wooyoung murmurs, “do you think they meant it? That their feelings are real?” 

“Maybe,” You say, “but the timing,” 

“Yeah,” 

“And besides,” You shake your head, “I said some things I shouldn’t have,” 

“Like?” San asks. 

“I told them they fucked it up,” You blink back tears, “and that we weren’t soulmates and that they’re wrong,” 

“Oh,” San says, “that’s direct,” 

“I know,” You groan, dropping your hands over your eyes, “I was just so angry,” 

“Space will be good then,” Wooyoung offers, “you all need a breather.” 

“There’s no easy way to work together when that’s how you left it,” San points out, “so time away gives you all a chance to rethink some things and get some clarity,” 

“What if,” The words die in your throat. 

“What?” San nudges you. 

“What if they come back and nothing’s fixed,” You sigh, “what if it’s worse?” 

“You won’t know it until it happens,” San takes your hand in his, lacing your fingers together, “you can’t control everything, y/n, sometimes you just have to let things work out.” 

You nod, and then you ask the question you’ve been afraid of since you walked out the studio door, “Should I have just stayed? If… if they do have feelings for me, and they’re real, should I have just stayed?” 

“It would have been easier,” Wooyoung murmurs, “but babe, you’d still have the same questions,” 

“Yeah,” You breathe, stomach in knots.

“Tour is soon,” San reminds you, “you got through weeks of the cold shoulder last time, you can do this,” 

You nod. 

“It’s late,” Wooyoung comments. 

“I know,” You murmur. 

“It’s going to be okay,” San says, “I know it will.”

“You’re right,” You breathe, “I just think it shouldn’t be this hard, if we were meant to work out, shouldn’t it be easier than this?” 

They’re quiet for a moment and then San sighs, “Probably,” 

Wooyoung turns and looks at him, his lips closing before he shrugs and rolls towards you, snuggling up to your side. 

“What?” You nudge him, reading through his silence. 

“Nothing,” He says. 

“Woo,” You nudge him harder. 

“I just think you shouldn’t close any doors,” 

“Mm,” 

“I’m just saying,” He wraps an arm around your middle, “take the break from them, see how you feel later. You’re overthinking this,”

San drags his thumb over your knuckles and Wooyoung shifts closer, resting his head on your shoulder. The quiet stretches around you as you take in his words. He might be right, but you can’t think about that now. Not with the day you’ve had and the headache behind your eyes. 

The fight plays over and over again in your mind every time you close your eyes, a loop of Mingi’s mouth on yours and Yunho’s eyes shining with tears. The feeling of their hands on you, begging you to stay. The look on their faces when they realized you had sought out another alpha for your heat, and not just any, but one of their best friends. You wonder what might have changed had you texted them back, who you might have met at the studio today instead. 

That’s not all it was for me. 

A little piece of you wishes you could take back everything you said. 

this night together - in their hands (j.yh, s.mg, p.sh, c.sn)

a 'this night together' deleted scene: in their hands

summary: chapter twelve of this night together from the boys perspectives, if you haven't read that yet, go here and read that first.

warnings: every warning that applies to chapter twelve, plus a lot of violence. blood, fighting, descriptions of body parts breaking, ideations of killing, and a lot of internal panic and emotion.

notes: this deleted scene is entirely dedicated to the person who commented and said it would be interesting to see chapter twelve from the boys perspective. i've never written from their povs before, so i hope this still flows well and feels good, but i couldn't get that thought out of my mind. i pretty much wrote this in one sitting and only edited it once..... so i hope it doesn't disappoint but i really just wanted to share it with you all.

there are some things that will be covered in chapter thirteen that are getting lightly spoiled here, but for the purpose of consistency i'm going for it.

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader plus alpha!san x alpha! seonghwa

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 7.8k

Yunho feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up and the air around him shift just enough to make his stomach tight about three seconds before he hears your scream. He doesn’t need to think through if it’s you or someone else, he feels it in his gut like a brick and he’s scrambling to his feet so fast his brain feels sluggishly behind. 

“Something’s wrong,” He manages as he starts to move, but Mingi is already gone like a flash and he follows at  breakneck speed behind his best friend. 

His heart feels heavy in his chest, his mouth is dry, and in the seconds it takes to run from the back office to the far studio rooms, he starts to realize that there is something very, very wrong with his omega. 

Footsteps behind him don’t deter him, his eyes are steady on Mingi’s back. 

“What the fuck was that?” San. 

“y/n,” Seonghwa, but Yunho stops listening the minute he watches Mingi push in the door to the practice room, the sound of it as it swings back on its hinges and collides with the wall stark and sharp. They take in so many little things at once before adrenaline pumps through their brains and throws them all forwards into action.

Mingi catalogs Minseok’s hands, one sunken into the back of your hair and pulling your head to the side, the other pressing you back into the wall at your chest. His knee is pressed between your thighs and the straps of your top are roughly wrenched to the side to bear the length of your throat. 

All Yunho can see is your face and everything in him is suddenly so full of cold fear. You look so blank, your body unmoving against the mirrored wall and palms upturned in submission. For a single second he thinks he’s lost you already, that the strange metallic taste in his mouth is the scent of your blood from Minseok’s successful claim and something strange and panicked bubbles out of his chest. It takes him a moment for his brain to catch up and to realize it's you, the metallic taste isn’t iron at all; it's ripe tannins, over-steeped tea, bitter and sudden and pulsating your fear and panic through the room. 

Mingi moves first. “Get the fuck off her!” His hands close over Minseok’s neck and shoulder, wrenching him backwards with a curt jerk of his arms. 

Your body tips sideways, but your face is still empty and Yunho’s mouth is so full of dry, acerbic chamomile and he can’t catch you, he can’t do anything. Everything goes absolutely silent in his mind. 

His fist connects with Minseok’s cheek first, but it doesn’t feel good enough. Mingi hauls him back up and Yunho throws a cross hard and with sure direction and then he feels the crunch of bone under his knuckles as Minseok’s nose snaps, the blood quick as he shouts and reaches to clutch at his face. 

If there’s one thing alphas typically aren’t good at it’s de-escalation, and whatever primal release of hormones his broken nose unlocked, Minseok shoves Mingi off and comes back up swinging. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Yunho narrowly misses the return shot, dipping to the side, and hands once again close down on Minseok, the combined weight of San and Seonghwa pressing him down towards the floor. 

“You broke my fucking nose!” Minseok scrambles against them. 

“Stay down,” San presses his knee square between Minseok’s shoulder blades and drops his weight. 

“Fuck you!”

Yunho drops fast, locking his hand over the back of Minseok’s neck to press his face into the wood floor and help hold him down. 

Mingi stumbles forwards after being pushed off balance, but then his eyes flick up past the scuffle and he sees you. You’re lying flat on your back on the practice room floor, eyes vacant and unfocused on the white ceiling, your leg bent in a strange position, one that can’t be comfortable but still you don’t move. 

He knows it all at once. 

“Oh, God,” His stomach turns as he ignores the writhing alpha on the floor and the others doing their best to pin him down so he can skid to your side and drop to his knees. 

Yunho can’t see you from his vantage point, he’s holding Minseok and facing the opposite direction and that wall of the practice room doesn’t have any mirrors to guide him, “Mingi, what? What’s going on?” 

“Baby,” Mingi’s so quiet as he shifts forwards, but Yunho hears it. 

“Is she alright?” Yunho can’t wait, he twists around and loses his steady grip on Minseok, but he has to know, “Mingi! Seriously, is she,” 

Mingi’s hands cup your cheeks, and he studies your empty expression for a moment but he doesn’t need to, “Jesus,” he manages, “he put her in subspace,” 

“He did what?” Seonghwa’s voice is sharp. 

“I’ll fucking kill him,” Mingi’s something else entirely when he’s angry, really and truly angry, and he has Minseok right where he wants him in a second. He cuts through the other alphas in a flash, rolling Minseok onto his back and straddling the smaller man’s hips to pin him in place. His fist has never felt as good as this moment, cracking across this coward’s teeth and splitting his skin again, and again, and again. 

The sound of your whimper only makes it feel better. 

Yunho suddenly and with perfect clarity knows what to do. In this moment you need him, even if you’re not in the presence of mind to ask, he knows. He looks you over fast as he slides close to you, relief flooding him when he sees the unbroken skin of your neck. He’ll process the redness later, the wet glisten of saliva over your gland, but his first conscious thought is that he’s strangely grateful for Minseok’s sadistic approach to claiming you against your will. He thought he had time to savor you, and those seconds of his carelessness saved your life. 

Despite your blank eyes, tears slip from the corners and snake down into your sweat-damp hair, and Yunho watches the quiver of your lip, the way your whole body seems to tremble right from its very center despite how still you really are. He drops his head to the side and calls back to the others, “Calm down or get out of here, do you understand me? You’re scaring her,” 

“Mingi,” San is wrapped around his friend’s back, trying to pull his arms into his chest, “Mingi, stop! Mingi, you’ll kill him, man, stop!” 

Minseok groans, spitting blood onto the practice room floor with choke, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, fuck,” 

“He,” Mingi’s voice is tight, “you saw what he did,” 

Minseok whines again, “Rut, it’s my rut,” 

Mingi’s nose crinkles at that and he has half a mind to keep swinging but San’s arms tighten, banded around him now and he lets him keep him still. 

“I know,” San soothes, ignoring Minseok and staying focused on his friend, “but she’s safe now,” 

“I,” Mingi breathes, but a voice breaks through the fray. 

“I called the police!” Everyone’s heads snaps up at the sound of Dahan in the doorway, her eyes shining and terrified, “they’re on their way…. I… I’ll get an ambulance too,” 

“Good,” San nods, “go wait for them out front, Dahan, tell them to hurry,” 

Her sneakers squeak on the hardwood as she darts away, her cellphone pressed against her ear. 

“We got him,” Seonghwa interjects, locking his hands down on one of Minseok’s arms, “San, help me get him to the office,” 

Everyone hears the soft, panicked noise that bubbles from the back of your throat. 

“G-go,” Mingi pushes himself back off Minseok’s hips and San finally releases his arms, “get him out of here,” 

San yanks Minseok up off the floor and winds an arm under him to hold him steady, Seonghwa on the opposite side so they can drag him up the hall to the back office. 

“Mingi,” Seonghwa manages, “please take care of her,” 

He nods once, annoyance bristling under his skin. Of course he will, you're his omega and no one, no one will ever care for you like him and Yunho. Even if you never want to talk to him again, even if he has to watch you go and let you live your life some other way with some other alpha, somehow he knows that truth down to his very soul. 

As Mingi returns to your side, Seonghwa allows his eyes to wander. He’d been trying to look anywhere else but you since he made it into the room, too afraid that he’d see the evidence of a violent claim on one of his best friends, too afraid he’d lost you. He’s never put an omega into subspace before, not even when they’ve wanted to be there, and now he doesn’t know if he’ll ever see anything but your empty eyes when he thinks of it. 

The last thought he has as he rounds the corner is that the man in his arms used to be his teammate, but now he thinks he’s as good as dead. 

Minseok groans between him and San and he can’t help but tighten his grip on the man just to make it hurt a little bit more. 

He groans again, but this time San’s the one who stops dead, “Stop whining,” his voice is cutting, “you don’t get to complain after what you’ve done,” 

A little huff of air passes through Minseok’s lips, “Some alphas you are,” 

“Excuse me?” San’s fingers tighten on Minseok’s arm where he still holds him upright. 

“There’s nothing wrong with taking what’s on offer,” Minseok says it like it’s obvious, “isn’t that right, Seonghwa?” 

Seonghwa’s stomach goes icy and he’s not really the type to get into a physical fight, but this? This is something altogether different. He has him back up against the wall of the hallway with a sharp knee to his gut, and then his mind goes absolutely blank. He’s never felt rage like this, true and deep compelling retribution singing through his blood and he just can’t help himself. 

“She’s a person,” Seonghwa lands a swift kick to the man’s ribs as he lets him drop to the floor, “and you’re a fucking waste of an alpha,” 

“Hwa,” San’s voice is low and calm, but he ignores it. 

Another kick, another. He feels ribs give way to make space for his rage, “Stand up if you’re such a big man,” 

Minseok groans again. 

“You’re alpha enough to terrify an omega,” Seonghwa spits, “come on, get up, try and terrify me,” 

He’s coughing now, fingers gripping the cold hard floor beneath him, “P-please,” 

“What was that?” Seonghwa lands a stiff punch to his gut. 

Minseok curls in on himself with a cry, “Please, you know what, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for what I said,” 

“I’d keep your mouth shut,” San again, but Seonghwa can’t conceive of where he is or what he’s doing, his eyes are so singularly focused on this man. 

“It was,” Minseok coughs, blood across his lips, “the rut, I just lost it, you know how the haze is,” 

“I don’t know a thing about how you are,” Seonghwa drops another punch. 

“No, no!” Minseok shrieks at the sensation of another rib popping. 

“Hwa,” 

Minseok’s voice is getting threadier, “y/n, she,” 

Seonghwa’s hand redirects, a sharp strike across his face as he descends on the man in earnest, “Keep her name out of your fucking mouth,” 

He loses count of the number of punches it takes for Minseok’s jaw to pop and his eyes to roll back, and San knows he should have stopped it all sooner, but there’s a part of him that wanted to watch this man suffer too. 

Seonghwa is shaking, blood spattered across his gray sweatpants, smears darting up the sleeves of his white shirt. The soft skin of his knuckles is split open and angry, and San thinks if it was possible to love someone’s hands more, he does. San curls his body around Seonghwa from behind, but unlike Mingi, Seonghwa allows his arms to be pulled in by his sometimes lover. 

“Jagi,” San whispers low in his ear so only he can hear, “come back,” 

Minseok is still, his eyes closed, “Sannie,” Seonghwa’s voice cracks, “w-what did I do? Is he dead?” 

“No,” San squeezes him, “he’s just knocked out. An ambulance is coming, you did nothing wrong.”

“What did I do?” Seonghwa asks again, his voice small, and San knows he has to take care of things now. 

San pulls Seonghwa up to stand, turning him physically away from the bloodied man on the floor, “Jagi, come away with me, alright?” 

“What did I do?” 

“You’re in shock,” San says softly, “but I’m here,” 

“What did I do?” He repeats, empty as San steers him towards the back office. He’s never been in a fight, he’s never hurt someone like that in his life. He’s not prepared for the way that the feeling of a body under his angry hands replays on a loop in his mind, he didn’t know he was capable of things like that. 

“Shh,” San bids him as he gets him directed into a seat, “I’ll be right back, baby, but I need to take care of something first.” 

Seonghwa is vaguely aware of a shout from the far practice room, and down the length of the hall he finds Minseok’s body again with his eyes. 

San steps cleanly into his eyeline to break his gaze, “Stay right here, just breathe.” 

He manages to nod, and then San is gone and the door is shut. He wants to cry. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tone is not something Mingi has ever enjoyed using. He’s tried it, of course, every alpha has even when they say they haven’t. It’s natural, it’s a part of growing up, he just always hated the way tone seemed to change every boy around him. Mingi remembers the first time he ever tried it, in the mirror in the emptiness of his childhood home. His voice broke a little later than the other boys around him, but when it did it dropped fast and deep in the smack center of his chest. 

He remembers his middle school teacher’s eyebrows drawing high when he said hello to her the next day. He remembers how she smiled and the way she said - Maybe you’ll make a good alpha afterall. 

He started to speak less and less after that. He practiced at home in the mirror just to understand the shape of his voice like that, but unlike some of the other boys who couldn’t help but torment with their tone, he knew what it could do. Yunho was the first boy he ever met that didn’t need to use it to command respect on the school yard, and when Yunho swung an arm around Mingi’s shoulders and said he was with him, he got respect too. No one asked why he was so quiet after Yunho, they finally just let him be. 

Mingi hasn’t used tone since he was maybe sixteen, joking around with Yunho to make each other laugh trying to stay up late on a summer’s night. But an alpha never forgets how to do it, and Mingi just has to let it come. 

He’s crouched over your prone body now, his hands holding your face steady as he tries to get your eyes to focus on his. Yunho is practically a knot of panic next to him, but he can’t focus on him when he knows he has to focus on you to pull you out from under. He doesn’t know what Minseok said to you to put you this deep into headspace, but he knows he should have killed him for it. 

He watches tears track silently down your temples and over his shaking fingers as Yunho begs him, “Why isn’t this working?” 

“I’m not sure,” He answers quietly, but he knows exactly why, he just doesn’t for the life of him want to do it, so he tries one more time with his normal voice, “y/n. Omega. Listen to me now,” 

People respond to their designations, it’s natural, and in a state of submission like this the possibility that you’d be able to latch onto the word ‘omega’ alone is certainly possible. The noise you make is thready and tight, but at least Mingi knows he has your ear now.

  “Come up now,” He repeats, “right now. Listen to me, omega,” 

He might be able to get you up without using tone, but he doesn’t know for sure. You don’t make a single sound in response to his last plea, and suddenly he can’t stop it, he can’t lose this one chance of your conscious mind floating close enough to the surface. 

He takes a low inhale, letting the otherworldly calm fill his chest, the familiar feeling of his alpha tone building in his lower throat and then he says it, “Don’t disobey your alpha.” 

Your eyes finally flick to his, pupils dilating as you focus on Mingi’s face. 

Yunho draws in a sharp breath. 

Mingi remains passive, he doesn’t let himself feel the joy yet of knowing you’re okay, he has to get you there first. He needs you awake, talking, crying, screaming, anything to tell him that you’re here. He holds your eyes steady, “When you’re given a directive, you follow it.” He hates this part, the way an alpha’s bark can make an omega snap to attention, but he almost has you back. Shifting closer he levels his voice more and gives you a clear and present order, “Come. Up.” 

Mingi watches your face break from cold blankness, grief and panic etched into the lines on your forehead and by your eyes, your hands reflexively jerking up to defend yourself like it was your last thought before you lost the ability. 

“I’m sorry,” You choke out, and he watches you start to curl in on yourself. 

He’s not thinking anymore really, he just can’t let you hide away from them, and he pulls your body up into his shaking arms, “You’re here? You’re with us?” 

His name on your lips. 

Your body is vibrating with panicked sobs, and he feels you claw against him like you want to crawl into his chest, pushing your body against his with desperate heaving breaths. For a moment he’s so worried that his own use of alpha tone might have hurt you more than helped you and his mind spins. 

Yunho drops a heavy hand on Mingi’s thigh, a steadying comfort bringing him straight back to center. 

Mingi drops his face to your hair and strokes your back, “Shh,” his body rocks naturally to soothe you, “we’ve got you, we’re right here, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” 

“She’s bleeding,” The edge in Yunho’s voice scares him, and Mingi snaps to attention. 

His hands search over your body, looking for the source of pain, trying to find the problem that he can fix so you’ll just stay whole and here and with him. 

“Here,” Yunho says, stopping Mingi’s frantic movements, “it’s not too bad.” 

It’s not, rationally he knows that by the small amount of blood smeared across Yunho’s fingers, but Mingi’s never seen you bleed before and his stomach knots up tightly in rage. 

Mingi holds you while Yunho steps in, talking you through the moment as you come back to your senses. He can barely breathe at the way your body shakes in his arms, your nails digging into his thigh where you grip him unconsciously, and he hears your fast breath and the quick step flutter of your heart, but he can’t move. His hands keep making fists, he wants so badly to stalk down the halls and find this man. Nothing he did was good enough, not now that he’s hearing you cry. You were never supposed to be afraid like this, not ever. 

He comes back into his body when you pitch the contents of your stomach into the little plastic trash can that Yunho pushes into your hands, the sound of your tight wretch shocking enough to pull him back down. 

He gathers your hair back, “Okay,” he tries to soothe you, “you’re okay,” 

“He touched me,” You manage, and Mingi’s mind flashes with static images. His hand in your hair, on your chest, lips, tongue, teeth. 

Mingi and Yunho both hold you steady while you heave again, “The things he said,” 

“Shh,” Yunho tries now, “you’re safe, none of that is true.” 

“He talked to me like a dog, and I couldn’t move, he told me not to move and I just let him,”

Mingi finds his voice too quickly, “No.” 

The way you twitch under his hands makes him sick and he softens his voice as best he can despite the curl of anger in his belly, “He used alpha tone on you, he wanted you to stop fighting and he said it in tone until you couldn’t hear anything else.” 

Yunho’s hand lays over his on your back. 

“You didn’t let him do anything,” He needs you to understand. 

“I’ve never,” You heave again, nothing in your body this time. 

Mingi’s ears are ringing, but Yunho’s soothing you now like he’s so good at doing and you’re pushing back the plastic bin, but then you slide out of his arms and onto the wood floor and he doesn’t know if he should reach for you or not. 

“I’ve never been in subspace,” He hears you say. 

“You’re not there now,” 

“I don’t remember, it’s so muddled, I can’t remember,” 

Mingi watches you frantically check your body and he wishes he had had the foresight to fix your shirt from the way that it was pulled to the side over the cap of your shoulder because maybe you wouldn’t have had to remember that and he could have saved you this one small thing.

  Yunho dips lower in front of you to meet your eyes when he says, “What can’t you remember?” 

Mingi watches you reach up your hand, desperate to know. He remembers suddenly the moment in his bed all those months ago when you mistakenly thought in the haze of heat Yunho might have claimed you. Rage and sick guilt swirl in his gut and then he hears you ask it, soft and terrified, “Did he… did we?” 

“No,” Yunho brings you right out of that terror spiral and back to the moment, “absolutely not.” 

Mingi hates the smell of your fear and he’s learning that he hates the way you look when you’re scared. He never wants to see you like this again for as long as he lives. 

“All I can smell his him,” 

He has to get out of this room. 

“I can’t even breathe,” 

Mingi knows you need someone calm right now, someone centered and capable, but if he has to feel you shaking on his lap again he might just snap. His eyes flick to Yunho, “Take her,” 

There’s a question in his friend’s eyes but Yunho’s careful not to say it out loud. 

“I’m getting water,” Mingi says, and then he’s moving. 

In the hall his breath comes back in heaving gulps and he nearly slips in a little pool of blood on his frantic way to the locker room. 

San is up the hall, in front of the closed back office door with his cell phone tucked tightly against his ear but at the sight of Mingi he drops it immediately and presses it to his chest, “How is she?” 

“Awake,” Mingi responds, “alert,”

“Herself?” San asks. 

Mingi nods, “Where is he?” 

He’s not sure it’s actually best for him to know that information at this time, but he had to ask anyway. San nods his head to the right towards a smaller studio space, “He’s unconscious, don’t even think about it.” 

“I’m… I’m not, I,” Mingi feels dizzy, he needs to sit before gravity makes him. 

“I have to,” San shakes the phone, putting it back to his ear, “she’s okay, I’m telling you, she’s okay.” 

Mingi can’t be here, he can’t be anywhere. He pushes himself to the connecting hallway that leads to the locker room. 

“Wooyoungie,” He hears San say from behind him, “listen to me, she’s okay, I promise you.” 

Mingi cannot understand how this day went from normal, hopeful about Saturday, to catastrophically terrible in every way imaginable. 

In the locker room he collapses on one of the wooden benches, his mind pulsing with questions. He needs to get back to you, but he can’t let you see him like this, he knows he’d scare you after everything you’ve just been through. He wonders if this is a panic attack. 

The thought that presses into him sideways and buries deep in his brain is sickening. He left you alone with that man for three months. He was traveling, and laughing, and dancing, and eating stupid junk food thinking his biggest problem was whether or not you might be into Seonghwa. He was so selfish. He blanches when the next thought occurs to him. Have you been afraid of Seo Minseok this whole time, afraid in ways you felt you couldn’t tell them? 

Mingi rips open his locker and pulls out anything he can find to muffle his bubbling voice, a sweatshirt and a towel stuffed tightly against his mouth to capture his angry scream. He has to get this out of his body, and he has to get back to you, but he’s so, so angry in a way that feels uncontrollable. 

His body collides with the locker door, denting the middle inwards enough that it no longer properly latches shut, but he doesn’t care. The pain spiking up the side of his arm is good, it’s real, and it pumps his brain full of all the chemicals he needs to focus. 

He puts any thought of going across the hall into the practice room where Minseok lays unconscious. He ignores the little voice that says he would be justified in finishing him off. He forces himself to think about your face, your smile when he saw you at the party for the first time in months. 

He holds that image while he moves quickly, grabbing a few water bottles and turning right down the hallway towards you and away from every impulse flicking through his body.  He stops short at the door when he hears Yunho’s voice, “I’d put him on the floor faster than you could blink. Mingi and I both would.” 

He breathes through the spike of anger as he hears your soft voice in response. He hates that you’re still afraid, even with him here, but he knows he has to show you for you to believe it. 

“You are completely safe,” Yunho says, and at this moment Mingi is so grateful for Yunho’s steadfast calm. 

He takes one more deep, deep breath, and pushes through the doorway with as much softness as he can muster. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

San ignores his phone. He’s told Wooyoung everything he can about what happened and that you’re safe and now he has other problems to deal with. 

As Mingi disappears into the locker rooms, Dahan races back through the hallway, her eyes darting down at the puddle of blood, “Oh, god,” 

“It’s his,” San assuages her fears immediately, “are they on the way?” 

“Yes, I told them to hurry,” She nods, “does he need an ambulance too?” 

“The ambulance is for him,” San says, clearing his throat, “can you wait for them and show them where to come? I need to,” he jerks his head towards the back office. 

“Yes, yes, of course,” 

“And Dahan,” He remembers himself, “don’t go into studio two, okay?” 

Her eyes flick to the door, “Is he in there?” 

San nods, “He’s hurt, but still, he’s not safe to be around, okay?” 

Dahan might be a beta, but he’s not taking any risks where Minseok is concerned, not after he heard the way he talked so casually about what he did to you. She nods, stepping backwards down the hall once more. 

With everything taken care of, he can finally focus. 

San pulls open the door to the back office and Seonghwa jumps, his eyes going from unfocused to focused in a second. “It’s only me,” San says softly, “I’m here now,” 

“San,” Seonghwa’s eyes well up with tears, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” 

San shakes his head, dropping to crouch in front of him, and he gently lays his hands on Seonghwa’s knees, “There’s nothing wrong with you at all,” 

“I should be helping,” Seonghwa swallows tightly. 

San shakes his head again, “Everything’s handled,” he says, brushing his hand over Seonghwa’s long black hair, “there’s nothing to do right now.” 

“y/n?” Seonghwa murmurs. 

“She’s awake,” San repeats Mingi’s words from a few moments ago, “alert, and she’s herself,” 

“Thank god,” Seonghwa’s breath hitches, “and she’s alright? She’s not alone?” 

“They’re with her,” San soothes him, cupping his cheek, “she’s right where she needs to be,” 

“Good,” Seonghwa sinks back into his seat. 

San lets his hand drop back to Seonghwa’s thigh, his phone once again buzzing incessantly in his pocket. He’s sure Wooyoung is frantic, but right now he needs to focus here on the man in front of him. Wooyoung will have to wait. 

“Who’s calling?” Seonghwa nods towards San’s pocket. 

“Woo,” 

“You told him?” Seonghwa surmises. 

“I thought she might need him,” San confesses softly, “I don’t know what an omega would want at a time like this… I wouldn’t know what to do,” 

“You’re doing it now,” Seonghwa corrects, “you’re doing better than me,” 

San squeezes Seonghwa’s knee, giving him the smallest shake of his head, he never was one to accept that kind of self deprecating talk and he’s not about to start now. 

“I should,” Seonghwa starts to shift away from San and put space between them, but then he actually looks down at himself and his chest starts to pound, “oh, Jesus,” 

He hadn’t properly looked, he hadn’t really taken it in until this moment. He’s never seen so much blood before, and his hands are shaking as he turns them over to see his stained palms. 

“Shh,” San covers Seonghwa’s trembling hands with his own, “I’ve got you,” 

“H-he’s alive, right?” Seonghwa can’t think of anything except the way Minseok’s jaw felt coming loose under his fist, “Sannie, did I kill him?” 

“No, no,” San dips closer, pressing a warm kiss to Seonghwa’s forehead, “he’s fine, it looks worse than it is. You didn’t do that, you’d never do that, I know you,” 

Tears pool in Seonghwa’s eyes, tracking down his cheeks quickly as he drops his head against San’s clean knuckles, “I thought about it,” his voice is tight with tears, “what does that make me?” 

“Hey,” San moves in, pressing quick kisses along Seonghwa’s temple, any part of him that he can reach, “no, it makes you a person, alright? He did something awful to someone we love.” San squeezes his hands tight, “He hurt her, he could have claimed her, we all know what that means, okay? You were protecting her, you did nothing wrong,” 

Seonghwa stills, letting his words sink in. He thinks about what an unwanted claim would have done to you, who you would have become. 

“It wasn’t his rut either,” San leans his head against Seonghwa’s, his thumb caressing the back of his hand, “you know that’s just what these alphas say when they try to do what he did,” 

“I don’t understand why he would try it here,” Seonghwa lifts up, shaking his head in disbelief. 

“He thought we were all gone,” San says quietly, “I’m sure he thought y/n and maybe Dahan were the only ones working late. Yunho and Mingi had the back office door closed, I was in the gym, and you said you were leaving early. It was quiet,” 

“He planned it, then,” Seonghwa’s stomach rolls. 

“I think so,” San nods, “we just need the police to believe that.” 

“They’re coming?” Seonghwa murmurs. 

“Mhm,” San smiles, close lipped and then sighs, “jagi, I need you to do something for me,” 

Seonghwa studies his face, he hasn’t heard San call him that outside of bed in so long, “Why are you being so nice to me?” 

San sighs, eyes flicking away, “You know why,” 

The feeling sits between them for a moment, and then Seonghwa nods, “What do you need me to do?” 

“We need to get you out of these clothes,” San cups his cheek again, “and you need to wash your hands,” 

“San,” Seonghwa’s jaw tightens, realizing what San is pushing him to do, “I’m not lying to the police,” 

“It’s not lying,” San presses, “you’re just changing after work,” 

“If I get in trouble for what I did, I’m not going to get caught lying on top of that,” Seonghwa murmurs, “I know what you’re trying to do, but think it through.” 

San’s jaw tenses and relaxes and then he nods, “Alright, but I’m cleaning your cuts, and you’re not going to argue about that.” 

Seonghwa smiles softly and nods, “Okay,” 

San ignores the phone in his pocket again and finds the first aid kit in the cabinets, pulling out a pack of alcohol wipes and gauze. He doubles back for a water bottle and some paper towels, and then he pulls a chair close to Seonghwa to sit and take his hands back in his. 

Seonghwa is quiet while San works. He uses the water and the paper towel to effectively wash the blood away from his palms and the alcohol wipes to clean the broken skin of his knuckles. He works on him quickly and quietly, and he fights the urge to kiss his broken skin when he’s finished, he’s gotten away with too much today already. 

He holds Seonghwa’s hands in his, so much softer and more delicate than his. He thinks that after today he’ll have to take care to make sure he never has to use them in violence again. San thinks the next time he will do better, if Seonghwa ever has to kill, San will be the one to kill for him. 

San smooths his thumbs over the backs of Seonghwa’s hands, and this time he does give into temptation. Dipping forward he presses a kiss to each of his palms. 

“San,” Seonghwa’s voice is soft, “we’re alright,” 

“I know,” He whispers into the soft skin of the hands he misses so deeply, hands he aches for. If anyone ever touched him the way that Minseok touched you, he can’t even conceive of what he wouldn’t do. 

His phone rings again, and this time he answers it. 

“Now you answer?” Wooyoung’s voice is taut, “I’m downstairs,” 

“I had things to take care of,” San sighs, standing and giving Seonghwa’s hand one final squeeze. 

“I’m coming up,” Wooyoung ignores his excuse, “he better be in a fucking body bag when I get there,” 

The line goes dead, and San steps into the hall. He takes quick stock. Minseok is still unconscious in studio two, he can hear the tone of your voice from down the hall mixed with Yunho and Mingi’s. The slick patch of blood on the tile is gone, and San wonders if Dahan had the same idea he did about cleaning up before the police arrive. 

The door to the access stairs by the elevator swings open, Wooyoung looking wild and full of panicked rage, and San dives back into the chaos. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For the first time in his life, Yunho wishes he wasn’t the designated driver for everything. He wishes Mingi had a license. He wishes that after the most uncomfortable and awful hospital trip of his life he could have tossed Mingi the keys and told him to drive and climbed in the backseat with you. Instead he’s stuck in the driver’s seat again, trying to focus on the road but finding himself glancing up every few seconds to check his rear view mirror just so he can see you asleep with your head in Mingi’s lap. 

“Green light,” Mingi murmurs with a nod of his head, and Yunho breaks his eyes away from the mirror to watch the road again and press the gas. 

“Sorry,” He manages. 

“I get it,” Mingi replies, his fingers slowly brushing along your temple, “I can’t believe she’s here either.” 

“Is she sleeping?” Yunho checks. 

“Mhm,” Mingi nods, “she’s out,” 

Yunho breathes a sigh of relief, he hated having to wake you up with Mingi every few minutes on the way to the hospital when they weren’t sure if you had a concussion or not, he’s just happy you can actually get some rest if you need it. 

“Yunho,” Mingi says quietly, a question in the lilt of his voice, “what did the police want to ask you?” 

“Um,” His eyes flick to the mirror and then back to the road, “they wanted to talk to the owner, but Jaemin obviously wasn’t there,” 

“Right,” Mingi nods. 

“I don’t know,” Yunho admits, “San gave them my name and said I could give a statement about what happened,” 

“Which was?” Mingi asks. 

Yunho watches your face for a moment, but it’s clear you’re still deep asleep and he shrugs, “The truth, that we heard a scream and that when we went into the room we saw him attempting to hurt her. It was clear he was trying to force a claim and that she was in subspace, and that Minseok fought us while we tried to subdue him.” 

“Do you think they believe that?” Mingi murmurs. 

“They have to,” Yunho won’t let that thought enter his mind, he knows what Mingi’s implying, they both heard the way your conversation with the police went at the hospital, but he can’t entertain the thought that the police would side with anyone but you. 

“Do they?” 

“Not tonight,” Yunho shakes his head, “not in front of her, she’s been through enough.” 

Mingi stays quiet, and Yunho drives on. 

When they pull into the alleyway that leads to their apartment, Yunho watches you start to stir. It’s like you have a sixth sense that the energy in the car is changing, and you make soft, sleepy noises as you come out of it. 

Mingi runs a hand soothingly up and down your back, “We’re home, okay? You’re with us,” 

Yunho watches the way you don’t respond. Your eyes look vacant again, unfocused and distant and when he pulls the car to a stop he watches the way you don’t wait to just step out yourself and start the familiar walk up to their front door. 

He exchanges a fast look with Mingi, and they follow you at a little distance to keep the pressure off until the door’s unlocked and you’re stepping over the threshold. Everything about this is wrong. Not you back in their home, that’s never felt so right to Yunho in his life, but you look glassy and scared and he wants nothing more than to take it away. 

“Hey,” He tries, waving a hand across your field of vision, “are you alright?” 

Your eyes flick away from his, a pregnant pause between you before you look back up, “I’m fine, sorry, it’s just been awhile.” 

He feels heat flood his cheeks, his ears warm. Of course you’re not alright, and he feels stupid and small at even asking the question. He feels foolish about every little thing until you walk down the hall and shut yourself away in the bathroom. 

“I don’t know what the fuck to do,” Mingi says suddenly, running a hand through his hair before moving towards the couch, “I still want to break something.” 

“I know,” Yunho nods, sitting next to him on the sofa, his knee bouncing nervously. 

Mingi shoots him a glance, his eyes flicking down to his knee, and Yunho freezes. They settle into the quiet of their apartment, and they listen. Yunho expects to hear you cry, something more than just the steady spray of the shower, but he doesn’t and that scares him more than anything. 

“Should we call the others?” Mingi clears his throat after a while, “Woo or,” 

“Seonghwa?” Yunho finishes his thought for him and then swallows tightly, “No, I, I wouldn’t know what to say.” 

“Me either,” Mingi nods. 

“She wants to be here,” Yunho remembers the way you clung to his shoulders at the studio, begging for home, and maybe tomorrow you’ll regret that decision but he’s done trying to think for you. 

“I know,” 

“Let’s just let her be here then,” Yunho murmurs. 

Yunho knows that Mingi doesn’t want to lose you just as much as he doesn’t. They agreed one night after just enough alcohol on tour how they felt, everything finally out in the open between them. They had never stopped and imagined a pack together, but they both know it feels right. 

“We’re her friends,” Mingi reasons quietly. 

“Friends,” Yunho nods, “and the fact that we’re both stupidly in love with her can wait,” 

“Yep,” Mingi sighs, “I think we’ve gotten pretty good at that,” 

Yunho huffs, a short breath of laughter through his nose and nods, “Yeah,” 

The sound of the shower turning off draws both their gazes up and down the hall, and then Mingi stands, “I’m going to make up my room in case she wants it,” 

Yunho watches him go. He listens to the stillness of the apartment around him. 

Mingi comes back and you’re still in the bathroom. They make themselves scarce. They listen as you come out of the bathroom and go straight into Mingi’s bedroom. The door shuts tight. Yunho listens but he doesn’t hear the turn of the lock. The bed creaks, sheets rustle, and then all is quiet. 

“What do we do now?” Mingi asks quietly. 

Yunho’s eyes flick over the closed door down the hall, “We wait.” 

Being pulled from sleep at four in the morning is never a good thing, but Yunho would put seeing you struggle through a night terror and a flash back at the absolute top of his most awful moments list. The way it took so much to get you to snap out of it and come back to them, the pile of Mingi’s bedding in the corner, the way your muscles stayed locked tight for minutes even with their arms around you. 

Holding you now with Mingi he keeps thinking of the purple bruises that litter your skin from where you rubbed your glands raw. He’s a swirling mix of emotion, but the worst part of it is that there’s nothing left to do. He can’t channel it anywhere, there’s no threat except the one in your mind now, and he doesn’t know how to make that kind of threat recede. 

He remembers the way you shrank back into his chest at the hospital at the glimpse of Minseok’s name on the hospital room door as you passed through to the exit. All he could do was wrap an arm around your body and try to steer you away, and he doesn’t know if that was even close to good enough. 

His mind turns it all over as light starts to spread in the sky outside, and he feels the way you’re shifting in the bed getting closer and closer to sleep. He hopes you can all get a few more hours before the reality of whatever tomorrow is going to bring. Your lips move against Yunho’s chest and he doesn’t risk shifting a muscle so he can hear your quiet words in the dark. It’s faint, but he hears it when you whisper, “Don’t let me go,” 

Yunho’s throat constricts, his eyes flooding with tears. He presses his eyes shut tight, trying to keep his breathing even and low so you don’t know he’s still awake. The weight of the night sinks into him, pushing against his chest and there are so many things he wants to say to you heavy on his tongue. 

It doesn’t take long for your breathing to level out and your body to unspool and relax, they both feel it when you do, and Yunho takes a shaky wet breath now that he knows he can. 

When he opens his eyes again it’s straight into Mingi’s and for some reason his friend’s unwavering gaze makes the tears come faster. 

Mingi waits, and Yunho looks away in discomfort at the raw moment of exposure. 

Quietly, and careful not to wake the woman in his arms, Mingi shifts closer to you and Yunho, his arm stretching across you both and settling on Yunho’s side. 

“It’s okay,” Mingi murmurs quietly. 

“How is this okay?” Yunho manages, getting his moment of overflowing emotion under control. 

“She’s here,” Mingi says simply, “even if it’s just tonight,” 

Yunho’s arms tighten around your sleeping form and he nods, “She’s here,” 

Mingi presses a kiss to your hair and squeezes Yunho’s side just once, “Sleep,” 

“What if she has another nightmare?” Yunho murmurs. 

“I’ve got her,” Mingi assures quietly, “you sleep,” 

You shift between them, winding your way deeper into Yunho’s embrace, and he passes a hand up and down your back until you sigh heavily against his skin. If this is all he has, he’s going to take it. He nods to Mingi, and despite the growing light leaking in through the curtains outside, sleep pulls him under. 

Mingi stays awake for as long as he can stand watching over you both, but held in their arms you barely stir. There are no nightmares, no subspace to hold you under. With the birds starting to sing, Mingi falls asleep. 

He wakes to the sound of a fist on their front door and the sinking feeling that last night might have really been their last with you. He hopes to god he’s wrong. He so badly wants to be wrong. 

this night together - chapter thirteen (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter thirteen: all the words you never said

chapter summary: someone's at the door, and everything changes.

warnings: this chapter is still a bit of a pain train, but don't worry we're coming out of that en route to happier times. in the mean time..... warnings for descriptions of violence, injury, and blood. mc has a panic attack / ptsd flashbacks, open descriptions about her trauma, fear, nightmares, etc.

notes: i'm still working on the next chapter, but hopefully that one won't take too long!

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 8.8k

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You wake the next day to an insistent knocking sound, a fist pounding against the front door of their apartment. Yunho nearly falls out of bed at the noise, shaking his head hard to banish the cobwebs, but Mingi is on his feet in seconds. 

“What’s going on?” You murmur, rubbing a hand over your face and stretching your tired limbs. 

“I got it,” Mingi shakes his head at you, “just stay with Yunho,” 

A chill runs over your arms, and with no blankets to drag up over you, you push yourself off the bed and grab for Mingi’s hoodie, pulling it over your head quickly and relaxing into its warmth. 

“Coming!” Mingi calls gruffly towards the door, and the knocking stops immediately. 

You glance at Yunho and he shrugs, but his eyes quickly flick to the door, able to see all the way down the hall from this vantage point and he waits. 

You listen as Mingi turns over the deadbolt and unlocks the chain, swinging the door open, “Oh,” he says, “hyung,” 

“Is y/n here?” Seonghwa’s voice sounds a little strained, like he ran up three flights of stairs. 

Yunho looks like he’s about to say something, but you smooth your hair back behind your ears and head down the hall for the door. 

“Yeah, she’s,” Mingi says, but you move around his side and Seonghwa’s eyes shift to you. 

“There you are,” Seonghwa sighs, looking instantly relieved. 

“Was I supposed to be somewhere?” Your eyebrows draw together, mind still a little fuzzy with sleep. 

Mingi takes a step away, and Seonghwa pushes across the threshold, “You haven’t been answering your phone at all, and when you didn’t show up this morning to practice… I just got worried,” 

“Oh, Hwa,” You soften, “I’m fine,” 

He hesitates, eyes flicking over you, and then he pulls you into his arms, sighing heavily, “Sorry, of course you are,” 

You tuck your face into his warm chest, squeezing him tight, “I’m good, I haven’t looked at my phone though, I was a little out of it last night,” 

“Did you just get up?” He pulls back and looks you over. 

“Mhm,” 

“It’s one o’clock,” He says softly, “you can see why I was worried,” 

“It’s one?” You’re shocked at the time, that you were able to sleep for almost twelve hours and so were they, despite your brief and terrifying wake up in the middle.  

Seonghwa smiles, “Yeah, but it’s fine, as long as you’re okay,” 

There are so many pieces to what happened yesterday you still don’t have answers to, and you’re not sure if now is the right time, but with Seonghwa in front of you things finally feel better. He’s been there for you so much recently that it feels like seeing him now is the clear missing piece to you finally releasing the last bit of tension from last night. 

A beat stretches between you and you nod. 

Yunho clears his throat softly from next to you both, “I’ll put some coffee on,” 

You almost forgot they were right by your side, and as Yunho makes his way to the kitchen, Mingi exhales with another rough noise. 

“Hey,” Seonghwa finally properly greets him, looking away from your face, “sorry, how are you holding up?” 

“Just woke up,” Mingi shrugs, “not sure yet,” 

Seonghwa’s eyes flick to you briefly as he registers that you’ve all just gotten up for the day. 

“Mingi,” Yunho calls from the kitchen, “can you help me with something?” 

“With what?” Mingi doesn’t draw his eyes away from either of you. 

“Coffee,” Yunho replies. 

Mingi’s brow furrows and he doesn’t move but turns his head towards the kitchen, “What help do you need with the coffee?” 

“Just come here,” Yunho sounds frustrated and you cover your mouth to keep from laughing. 

“Fine,” Mingi grumbles, throwing one last look back at Seonghwa before heading towards the kitchen. 

With the room clear, you look back to Seonghwa, “Are you okay?” 

“Am I?” He looks confused.

  “I don’t really know what happened yesterday,” You explain, “I barely saw you after everything, but Yunho said you and San took care of things, and I saw blood,” 

“Mm,” He nods, but doesn’t offer anything else. 

“What does that mean?” You press him. 

His eyes flick away and he shrugs, “It means San and I took care of it until the cops came.” 

“Hwa,” You shake your head. 

“Look,” He bites his lip and runs a hand through his dark hair, “can we sit down for a minute? I need to talk to you,” 

“Is everything okay?” 

“I’m not sure,” He admits, “let’s just… can we sit?” 

“Yeah,” You step back, gesturing for him to come further into the apartment and he takes a seat on one side of the sectional, gingerly on the edge with his hands clasped in front of him. Your eyes zero in on the bandages immediately. 

“Seonghwa!” You reach for him immediately, taking his hands in yours.

“Oh,” He takes his hands back and flexes them, “I’m fine, see?” 

“What happened?” Your voice raises a little, and Mingi appears in the doorway of the kitchen, one eyebrow raised. 

“This is what I wanted to talk to you about,” He sighs. 

“Your hands?” 

“Yeah,” Seonghwa pulls them further away from you and shakes his head, “I talked to the police last night and there’s something you need to know,” 

“The police?” You straighten up. 

“Mhm,” Seonghwa’s hand rubs over the back of his damaged knuckles, “they interviewed all of us, I think,” 

“I talked to them at the hospital,” You nod. 

“Were they alright with you?” Seonghwa asks, eyes flicking to yours. 

“Mostly,” You nod, “some of their questions were a little,” you search for the right word. 

“Pointed?” Seonghwa fills in. 

“Exactly,” You cross your arms unconsciously, remembering the way the detective talked to you, “they kept wanting to know about my cycle,” 

“They asked you that?” Seonghwa’s voice spikes a little. 

You nod, “I think it was pretty clear what they were trying to ask considering he said he was rutting,” 

Seonghwa’s jaw tightens as he exhales, “I’m so sorry,” 

“It’s alright,” You know it isn’t, but there isn’t anything to be done, “they took my blood, they’ll see I’m not even in pre-heat, it was nothing like that,” 

“We know that,” Seonghwa reaches across to brush his hand over yours, “you know that right?” 

“Of course I do,” 

“And even if you had been,” His hand flexes around yours, tightening and relaxing. 

“I know,” You assure him again, communicating as much as you can with a look. 

“Okay,” He sighs, “okay, good.” 

He pulls his hand back, and suddenly his face looks familiar. His expression so like that day before the tour in the faraway cafe. He’s working himself up to telling you something, and you can see that he’s scared. 

“Seonghwa, what is it?” You push a little, “You can tell me anything,” 

He presses his lips together before he says, “Right, so the police,” 

Mingi and Yunho choose this moment to file back into the room, both carrying two coffees each and Mingi sets yours down in front of you made up just how you like it before Yunho offers Seonghwa a cup. He accepts it, but lets it sit on the coffee table untouched while they get settled on the opposite side of the couch. 

“Just tell me,” You nod, bracing yourself a little. 

Seonghwa looks down, eyes on the floor while he gathers himself and his thoughts and then finally says, “I might have hurt your case,” 

“My case?” The words don’t quite make sense. 

“Going after him like I did,” He says simply, eyes still downcast. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” You shift closer to him on the couch, reaching out but not quite touching him, “what happened?” 

“You didn’t tell her?” Seonghwa looks up but past you, straight at Yunho. 

“What?” You look between them, nothing making sense at all. 

“You weren’t here,” Yunho insists, “she was upset last night, I was going to tell her this morning.” 

“Can you both stop talking around me and just say it?” Your voice takes a higher pitch, “I’m not a child.” 

“I’m sorry,” Seonghwa shakes his head, reaching for you and taking your hands folded in his own, “let me start over,” 

“Please,” 

“Minseok,” He says, the name a little uncomfortable in his mouth, “We got him into the hall and when I realized what happened, what he almost did to you,” he flexes his hand again and shakes his head, “I lost it a little,” 

“Hwa,” You murmur. 

“The police said because he had already been detained and it was no longer in defense or de-escalation it could hurt your ability to have him fully charged,” Seonghwa says in a breath, rubbing a hand over his eyes, “it’ll be possible for him to press his own charges if he wants, and I have reason to believe he’s getting those charges filed today,” 

“That’s insane,” You straighten up, “You were just helping me,” 

“No,” Seonghwa finally meets your eyes, “they were helping. I was… kicking the shit out of an defenseless man,” 

You open your mouth to say something but Mingi cuts in easily, “That’s not what I saw.” 

“What?” Seonghwa’s head snaps to the side. 

Mingi shrugs, “If you hurt your case then so did I, we all probably did, but if he knows what’s good for him he’ll take the firing on the chin and move on without dragging this to court.” 

“You fired him?” Your eyebrows raise. 

Yunho’s brows furrow, “Of course he’s fired, he’s not getting within a mile of you ever again,” 

Relief floods you and you nod, shifting your eyes back to Seonghwa, “How do you know he’s filing?” 

“Woo went to school with someone who works at the hospital in the emergency unit,” Seonghwa explains, “he called this morning just to find out Minseok’s discharge status so we knew when he’d be out,” 

That’s a thought that hasn’t occurred to you yet, and you take a steadying breath. 

“He’s going to be in for a little while,” Seonghwa assures you, “a week or two at least, but he did tell us that there were police there interviewing him. His family was also present, and it seems as though they have money and more to say,” 

“Entitled little prick,” Mingi curses. 

Seonghwa’s lip quirks up in a brief smile, but then he nods, “There’s not a scratch on any of us except him,” he points out, “it doesn’t look good,” 

You shift closer, “What did you do to him?” 

“I don’t,” He shakes his head, eyes softening, “I just lost it, San pulled me off him,” 

“Seonghwa,” You murmur. 

“He’s got broken ribs,” Seonghwa swallows hard, “and I think I broke his jaw,” 

“Jesus,” You breathe. 

“I wish I had,” Yunho says calmly, “he deserved it.” 

“Not if he can get away with what he did,” Seonghwa returns his hands to yours, “I’m so sorry,” 

“Hwa,” You shake your head, moving even closer on the sofa until you’re side to side, knees touching, “you have nothing to apologize for. I’m so grateful you were there,” 

His eyes go a little watery, and he cups your cheek, “When I think about the fact that I almost left early,” 

“When have you ever left early?” You give him a soft smile. 

“Seriously,” He shakes his head and leans closer, “I keep thinking about what would have happened if you were there alone, I keep seeing it,” 

“Stop, Hwa, please,” You squeeze his hand, “I’m okay, you were all still there,” 

“Yeah,” He breathes, but you can hear the tenor of lingering fear in his voice. He leans forward, pressing his lips to your forehead and exhaling over your skin. 

You let your eyes slip closed, and for a brief moment you forget about the other two men in the room with you, watching over the moment of intimacy with their breath caught in their chests. 

Seonghwa leans back a moment later, eyes clear now, and finally looks you over. He pushes your hair to the side and makes a face at the sight of your swollen, bruised gland, “What’s this?” 

“Nothing,” You shake your head, telling him clearly with your eyes not to pry. 

“Don’t tell me that’s nothing,” He says softly. 

“I promise,” You squeeze his hand, “I’m okay,” 

He swallows and then nods once before jerking his head towards Mingi and Yunho, “Did they take care of you okay?” 

“Yes, Seonghwa,” You sigh. 

You look to them, expecting to see some kind of comedic expression, or bristling annoyance at Seonghwa’s insistent checking, but that’s not what you see at all. Yunho looks like all the air has been let out of him, his eyes soft and unfocused. Mingi’s doing his best to seem relaxed and casual, but you know him well enough to know that he’s anything but, his tightly clenched hands telling you everything. 

“Hmm,” Seonghwa’s soft hum draws your eyes back to his, “and is there anything you need?” 

“I don’t know,” You confess, “is it silly to say I’m still tired?” 

“No,” Seonghwa brushes his hand over your hair again, tucking your hair back to where it was a moment ago, “nothing you wanted would be silly right now.” 

“Is everyone else alright?” You murmur. 

“They are,” He squeezes your hand, “you just focus on you.” 

You manage a nod, and you want to look back to Yunho and Mingi and see why they’re so silent, but Seonghwa continues. 

“You don’t have to be okay,” Seonghwa says softly, “but are you?” 

You know what he’s asking with his eyes, if being here with them is too much, if you’re able to get what you need in the midst of all the emotional circles you had been dealing with before the studio last night. You love him for it, but you nod, “I am, honestly,” 

“Then if you’re okay,” Seonghwa smiles a little, “I’ll leave you be,”

“I’m okay,” You glance back to Yunho and Mingi, and their eyes are holding on to anything but you and Seonghwa. 

“I just needed to see you and make sure, and to talk to you about things,” Seonghwa explains, pushing himself up to stand, “I don’t know what will happen, but I’ll do whatever I can to make sure it doesn’t affect you,” 

You stand with him and shake your head again, “Whatever happens with Minseok, we’ll deal with it together. Don’t put that on yourself, please,” 

He nods, and then you pull him into a hug, a quick squeeze before he steps away. 

“That’s it?” Mingi’s voice is incredulous as he stands up, “You’re leaving her?” 

You turn, fully confused by the sudden bubbling anger in Mingi, “What?” 

“I mean,” Seonghwa looks just as confused, “it seems like you’ve got things covered?” 

“Covered?” Mingi’s voice tightens. 

“Mingi,” Yunho tugs at his friend’s arm, “sit down,” 

“You’re seriously going?” Mingi repeats. 

The tension in the room is bizarre, the comforting moment you had with your friend completely undercut and you keep looking to Yunho for clarity but he just won’t look you in the eye, his eyes are set on Mingi. 

“I’m seriously confused,” Seonghwa looks between you and them, “y/n?” 

Your mouth is open, nothing really making sense for how quick to anger Mingi is in this moment, especially now, and all you can do is look to Mingi for answers, but you find little in his fierce gaze. 

“I’m just saying,” Mingi’s jaw sets hard, “if something like this happened to my girlfriend I wouldn’t be so quick for the door,” 

“My what?” Seonghwa glances down at you. 

The words don’t make sense, “I have no idea,” you manage, “what are you talking about?” 

“What are you talking about?” Mingi takes a half step back, eyes flicking between you. 

There’s a long beat of silence, and finally, finally, someone speaks. 

“You’re not together,” Yunho says, not a question but a realization. 

Pins slot into place, every little moment over the past few months coming into perfect clarity. You answer him anyways, “No, we’re not,” 

“Were you?” He clarifies. 

“Not like that,” You shake your head. 

“Oh,” Mingi’s hands relax, talking a half step backwards as the realization hits him. 

“You thought we were dating?” Seonghwa finally says, gesturing between the two of you. 

“Well,” Mingi clears his throat, “yeah,” 

“We’re not,” You confirm again and Yunho grins. Your stomach flips. 

“I really thought…” Yunho trails off, shaking his head. 

“Why would I have come home with you last night if he and I are together?” You trail off. 

“Yesterday was insane,” Mingi reasons, “I would have taken you anywhere you wanted to go if it made you feel better, I wasn’t questioning it,” 

“Oh,” You soften at that.

“But I guess I was wrong,” Mingi looks a little sheepish when he looks at Seonghwa. 

“Yeah,” Seonghwa squeezes your hand and then drops it, “y/n is… great, wonderful even, but it was never like that. I’m in love with someone else.” 

Your heart twists, knowing exactly what he means. 

“Fuck,” Mingi rubs the back of his neck, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to act like such an ass,” 

“No, no,” Seonghwa waves him off, “I get it,” 

“But,” Yunho looks up, and his eyes on yours freezes you to the spot, “I thought you said you had something to tell us?”

“And you thought it was that I’m dating Seonghwa?” 

“I thought you were trying to let us down easy,” He blurts out.

“No, that wasn’t…” You can’t fight the smile off your face now, “that’s not it at all,” 

His lips part, realization filling his features, “God, we’re idiots,” 

“Kind of,” 

“I should have just asked you on tour,” Mingi all but blushes and it’s quite possibly the first time you’ve ever seen him be so embarrassed.  

The moment is so absurd, so tangibly comical after last night and you can’t help but laugh again, “You thought I was that excited to see you after three months just to tell you that I’m dating one of your best friends?” 

“When you say it like that,” Yunho trails off. 

“Wow,” You clap a hand over your lips, “Woo is going to have a field day,” 

Seonghwa snorts softly, but stays quiet. 

“So if you’re not together, and weren’t together,” Mingi starts, lights going off in his brain as he rewrites all the things he thought he knew, his eyes find yours and hold steady. 

Butterflies start in your stomach, you feel it in the air like something’s about to shift under your feet and you should be bracing yourself. This is not the moment you imagined, not in the slightest, but there’s something steady about the way he’s looking at you and you want to reach out and grab onto it. 

Seonghwa softly clears his throat and takes a step towards the door, “I should go,” he says, “you look like you need some space,” 

You do, but you spin quick and catch his hand as he turns, “Wait, Hwa,” 

He pauses, glancing up over your shoulder at them before looking down to you again. 

“I have to thank you before you go,” You squeeze his hand, “I’m… I don’t know what else to say, but I,”

“Come here,” Seonghwa tucks you into his chest, hugging you close, “I’d do it again in a minute,” 

“I know,” 

“We may not be dating,” He says, and you can practically see the smile on his mouth, “but you’re one of my best friends and I’d do anything for you, okay?” 

“Okay,” You squeeze him tighter. 

He sighs, letting you go and pressing a quick, chaste kiss to your cheek, “Call me if you need me, okay?” 

“I will,” You nod. 

“And text Wooyoung back,” He says, almost an afterthought, “he was flipping out this morning,” 

“Tell him I’m fine,” You say, “I’ll message him later,” 

“I’m here for anything,” He reiterates, “and I’ll let everyone know you’re doing alright,” 

“Thank you, Seonghwa, really,” 

He nods, “I’ll let myself out,” he says quietly, and then he’s gone, the door clicking shut behind him. 

You don’t quite know what’s about to happen when you turn around but the butterflies in your stomach triple. Silence stretches between the three of you, and you know that the conversation you wanted carefully planned is happening now whether you’re emotionally prepared for it or not, no matter what happened yesterday. 

You turn back to them and the words slip out as you process everything out loud, “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just ask me,”  

“You asked us not to,” Yunho says quietly, “and after what happened before…” 

“Yun,” You start, looking between them, but he presses forwards. 

“We didn’t listen to you then,” Yunho says, “I wasn’t going to fuck this up again,” 

Mingi’s quiet, his eyes downcast as he thinks, and your stomach turns into anxious knots. 

“Maybe this isn’t the time,” You murmur, and you’re about to say more but Mingi cuts you off. 

“No, please,” Mingi’s head snaps up, “not this time, this time we need to talk.” 

“Okay,” You breathe. 

“I should have said it in the letter,” Mingi clears his throat and finally holds your gaze for longer than a second, “maybe that would have made this easier, but, I’ll say it now.”

“Mingi,” 

“I love you,” He says, letting the words live in the space between you for just a moment before he continues, “I’ve loved you for a long time. You can tell me no, you can go if you want to, but we’ve spent so long not saying anything to each other, so I have to say this.” 

“You love me,” Your stomach flutters, heart pounding in your chest. 

“Yes,” Mingi nods, no hesitation or wavering, matter of fact, one of the things you’ve always loved about him. 

The air feels a little thinner in the room, like the altitude has changed, and you swallow thickly. You need to get your emotions under control, but Yunho’s stayed so quiet you don’t know what to think. When you glance at him, your chest aches. He’s watching you carefully, and you can see the nervous energy in him, the way his hands fidget and clench. 

“Yunho,” You manage. 

“You know how I feel,” He says, “by now… I know you know,” 

“No,” You can’t accept it and you shake your head, “tell me for real.”

Yunho drags a hand over his face and back through his hair, and then finally he meets your eyes again, “I’m,” his voice wavers slightly, “sweetheart, I’m still so in love with you.” 

“Still?” You hitch on the word. 

“It’s been a long time for me too,” He nods.

  You take in their words, stepping back, pacing a little as you process. You don’t really know where you’re going, you just need to move, to take some of the pressure of their eyes off, and you take deep breaths as you do. You can feel their tension, their fear that you’ll bolt again but strangely this time you don’t need to run. You just need a minute. 

“And yesterday,” You slow to a stop from your position behind their couch, “this isn’t some… reaction to what Minseok did, it’s not,” 

“When I wrote you that letter,” Mingi interrupts your anxieties, “we hadn’t seen each other in weeks. I could have told you I loved you then, this has nothing to do with him. This has to do with us, the three of us.” 

Your mind flicks back to your confession to Wooyoung months ago, the way he held you as you cried buckets of tears over them. The sickening realization that your heat with them did mean something, and you had been fighting your own heart ever since. You want to love them now so badly it tugs at your insides, flooding your eyes again with tears. 

“Don’t cry,” Yunho’s on his feet the minute he sees your eyes clouding over, “the last thing we want to do is make you cry after everything,” 

“It’s fine,” You manage, hastily wiping tears away before they have chance to really wet your cheeks, “it’s just been a very long two days,” 

“We’ll talk about this later,” Yunho reaches for you, “come here,” 

You take a step back from him and shake your head, swallowing back your emotions and trying to figure out how in the world you’re going to articulate this. 

He stops dead, and you watch Mingi’s face fall. 

“Our dinner,” You start off, “I had a lot I wanted to say to you both, and after yesterday, I don’t know my head is all twisted up, I’m not going to do this right,” 

“Maybe you’re right, we don’t have to do this now,” Mingi shakes his head, and you realize now that he thinks you’re rejecting them, once and for all. 

“Mingi, stop,” You cut him off, “I need you to let me get this out,” 

He stays silent. 

“We’ve been dealing with this for so long,” You start, “there’s been a lot of things said, and I guess unsaid too,” 

Yunho nods but keeps any thoughts to himself while you parse through your words. 

“I tried for a really long time to move on,” You manage, “and so much has happened but yesterday was,” you shake your head, trying to keep the strain out of your voice and get this out, “you know what it was. But you were both there for me and you took care of me, and I don’t have the words to thank you for something like that.”

“You don’t,” Yunho starts but you shake your head and hold out a hand to stop his words. 

You take a deep breath, and then you take the leap, “I was going to apologize to you. This thing between us… I broke it too. I was angry that night at the studio, and I wish I could take so much of it back. I was hurt, but I said things that I’m so, so sorry for.”

“I was planning on telling you that first,” You continue, “and then I was planning on telling you that while you were gone, I thought about you everyday. I thought about us and what you mean to me, about what I wanted, and I need to tell you first that I lied. That weekend, my heat, it meant more to me than I ever understood. It wasn’t just sex, and I’m sorry I said it, I’m sorry for so much,” 

“y/n,” Yunho says softly, but you shake your head. 

“I’m,” The words bubble up and lodge right in your throat. It should be easy, you love them. They said it first, it should roll right off your tongue, but it just doesn’t. You take a tight, hard swallow and try again, “I don’t, what I’m trying to say is that,” 

“Hey, hey,” Mingi’s close the minute he sees you floundering, cupping your cheeks and hushing your panicked little breaths, “you don’t have to say anything, especially not right now.” 

“But,” Your throat feels raw, “but I don’t want,” 

“Shh, shh,” He shakes his head, smoothing his thumb across your cheekbone, “slow down, go easy,” 

It all feels like it’s opening inside you, the tense knot from yesterday, your feelings for them wrapped up inside it, the way your omega keeps clinging to them as yours. The way you almost lost them. Tears spill over your cheeks again and you choke out a weak cry, “I’m sorry,” 

Mingi shifts forwards, scooping you up in his arms to cradle you against his chest just like yesterday, “You have nothing to be sorry for, nothing at all.” 

“I want to tell you,” You confess into his shoulder, “I have to tell you,” 

“Baby, please,” Mingi soothes, “just take a deep breath,”

“Mingi,” Yunho murmurs low, having moved closer to the two of you, “let’s sit, come here,” 

You keep your head pressed against his skin, your body feeling ragged and exhausted, memories from yesterday flooding up and the scent of your alphas making you dizzy, and you think if you cry any more it might make you sick but you just don’t know how to stop. 

Mingi moves with you, settling down onto the couch and you can hear Yunho shifting around the room, but you don’t know what he’s doing until a familiar soft blanket wraps around your body. 

“Breathe, baby,” Mingi prompts you again, “we’re right here.” 

“Yunho?” You blink hard as you lift your head from Mingi’s neck, reaching to search for him. 

“Right here,” Yunho is tucked close to you and Mingi, and he takes your hand in his, drawing your eyes to his, “I’m right here with you,” 

“I’m sorry,” You stammer, tears finally subsiding just enough, “I d-don’t know what’s wrong,” 

It feels so familiar, this moment, like the overloading torrent of emotion that came after your broken heat so many months ago, only this time the sick pit in your stomach is worse. The stakes feel so much higher, and the echo of hands on your hips and teeth at your throat keep flickering through your mind. 

“I think you’re having a panic attack,” Yunho squeezes your hand, sliding closer still and brushing his hand over the back of your head, “but it will pass, and we’re not going anywhere,” 

“But I need to explain,” Your throat feels like it’s closing. 

“You don’t,” Mingi eases you back from his chest so that you’re perched on his lap, and he guides your face up to his so he can meet your eyes, “right now you just need to breathe,” 

He’s right, the hysteria working its way through your system will only grow unless you start to get your arms around it. You grip Yunho’s hand tighter and start to try and regulate your breath, letting your eyes slip closed as you focus, the little shuddering starts melting into deeper and steadier inhales and exhales the longer you work at it. 

You start to focus on things you can feel in your mind, things you know are real. Mingi’s warm body under yours, the cool metal of Yunho’s ring against your finger, a weighty hand on your right hip, the distant sound of a voice in the apartment next door. You’re home, you’re safe. 

When your eyes open they’re not looking at you but looking at each other, worried little creases in their brows as they communicate silently with their eyes. 

“Hey,” Your voice is small when you first speak, weak from exhaustion. 

“Hey,” Yunho smiles when he sees your eyes open, squeezing your hand again. 

“Feeling a little better?” Mingi murmurs, hand stroking your back. 

You shrug and wet your lips, “Not really,” 

“Then I think we should talk about this another time,” Mingi maintains, “do you want to try and get some more sleep, or,”

You shake your head and press a palm to the center of his chest, “No, I need to say this,” 

“It can wait,” 

“Not for me,” You insist, “I’ll just keep thinking about it,” 

“Alright,” Yunho smooths your hair over your shoulder and keeps a steady palm against your back. 

With a deep breath you steady your mind, get your words right, and then finally try again. “I don’t want the first time I tell you I love you to be mixed up in everything that happened yesterday. Everything feels so confusing and overwhelming because of what happened, but I don’t,” Your fingers knot tighter in Mingi’s shirt, “I can’t lose you again, so I just need you to know what I wanted to tell you on Saturday,” 

Yunho’s hand stills on your back, and Mingi’s eyes flick down. 

Nerves flood you, terrify you to your core, and you flounder again, “I know I should be able to get it together and to say it like you deserve, but I just need a little time, I don’t want to be thinking about him or feeling him when I think about us.” 

Yunho shifts forwards, his lips connecting with your forehead softly as he holds you to him, and he lets the warmth of his skin linger on yours. A sharp, wet noise draws your eyes back up and disconnects you and you realize Mingi’s crying, tears tracking down his cheeks and his eyes shining. 

“Mingi,” You reach for him, disconnecting Yunho as you cup Mingi’s cheeks, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just need a little time,”

He shakes his head, bringing his hands up to hold yours, “It’s not that, I swear to god, it’s not that.” 

“Then,” 

“I could fucking kill him, I really could,” The edge in his voice sends a chill up your back, and you watch as he swallows hard and takes a deep breath to get his own tears under control. 

“Hey, come on,” You try again, “I’m fine, look at me,” 

“You’re not fine,” Yunho shakes his head, “you just said so,” 

Mingi nods, his eyes opening. 

“But I don’t want you to be upset,” You smooth the tears away from Mingi’s cheeks. 

“I’m not upset because of you,” Mingi turns his face, pressing a kiss to your palm, “I’m upset because someone almost took you from us,” 

The air in the room feels thin at the truth of it, and Yunho looks down at his words, his hand tightening on your hip. 

Mingi curls his hands around yours and draws them away from his cheeks, entwining your fingers and resting your combined hands on his chest, “He almost took you from yourself,” he says softly, “that’s why I’m upset.”

“He didn’t,” You soothe him, “I’m right here,” 

“You don’t have to make us feel better right now,” Yunho shakes his head, finally looking up, “You should feel whatever you want, and if you need time, we can give that to you.”  

Mingi nods, “He’s right, I’m angry, but that’s not for you to fix.” 

“We don’t need anything right now,” Yunho murmurs, his hand stroking up and down the length of your back slowly, “just tell us if we’re not doing something you need,” 

“That’s not fair,” You smile softly, “you went through something too,” 

Mingi hums, disconnecting your hands so he can rub any evidence of his tears away before he sighs, “Remember when I told you it was our job to provide for you?” 

You remember how those words made you feel then, so safe in a moment of such confusion and emotion. Your shoulders drop, muscles relaxing as you try this time to listen to him, and you nod at his words. 

“It’s our job always,” His hands return to yours, “and right now you have to trust us to hear you and do better by you,” 

“But I made mistakes too,” You start to interject but he shakes his head. 

“Babe,” He sighs, “none of it matters, not anymore.” 

You were supposed to do this differently, to tell them your story and how you felt, and get all the things they didn’t know on the table, you were supposed to let them make an informed choice, but your voice just won’t come the way you need it to, “I just don’t want to lose you,”  

“You won’t,” Yunho says firmly, “why do you think that’s going to happen?” 

“There’s more to tell you,” You confess, “and last time I should have been honest, but I wasn’t and look where that got us,” 

“I don’t think there’s anything you could tell me now that would make me not love you,” Yunho says, smoothing his thumb over your cheekbone, “and we’re being honest now, that’s enough for me.” 

“How do you know that?” You scrub away tears that threaten to fall.

  “Because I missed you everyday,” He says simply, “and because I didn’t feel home again until I saw you at the party, and yesterday when I thought you were hurt I couldn’t breathe. I’m not going anywhere this time, all I want is us. All three of us.” 

“Me too,” Mingi clears his throat to get rid of the resurgence of emotion, “it feels right when it’s us, I’m not willing to lose that.” 

Your shoulders drop, all the tension you’ve been carrying for months falling away. They love you, they want you, even still. You collapse against them, pulling them both tight to you and resting on their touching shoulders. “Are you sure you can wait?” You whisper into Mingi’s sleeve. 

“Yes,” Yunho reiterates, “of course we can,” 

You nod against them, letting their arms fold around you and keep you tucked close. 

Mingi strokes your hair, his wide palm cradling the back of your head when he asks, “Does it bother you if we say it? If we tell you how we feel? Or should we give you some time?” 

“You can always tell me,” You can’t go backwards now, “I’m done not telling each other things,” 

Mingi presses his lips to your head, “Then I really fucking love you,” he murmurs soft in your ear, “and I don’t know what we’re doing, but as long as we’re together we’re going to be okay.”

Tears well in your eyes, the truth of is words cocooning around you, “I believe you,” 

The day takes time to pass, and short of Mingi fixing you something to eat for dinner, you all spend it cuddled close on the couch together. Movies play on the television, fingers card softly through your hair, and no one talks anymore about what happened or what it all means. 

Your original plan on Saturday would have been so much easier than this, you wouldn’t feel flayed open and raw and terrified to close your eyes or step into a room where you can’t see them in your eyeline, but you won’t lie and say you aren’t still grateful to be here and in their arms. You’re so sick of taking the hard road to get to them, but maybe together it can be different. 

Later, at night and in bed again, you sink into that feeling of gratitude. You missed this, the feeling of them next to you, the weight of their hands and the warmth of their chests. Any fear or hesitation you might have felt about your future with these two alphas is dissipating with every passing minute. They made mistakes and so did you, but when things got hard, really and truly hard, they’ve been everything. 

From your position curled against Mingi, you stretch and press a warm kiss to his neck, taking a comforting inhale of his rich scent, letting it work through your body and keep you warm. He sighs pleasantly at the feeling, and you wriggle up in their combined hold until you can find Mingi’s lips. 

He’s hesitant at first, letting you set the pace this time. His mouth is comfortingly familiar and you ease into each other, sharing a quiet breath and nuzzling his nose between gentle close lipped kisses. He sighs against you, his hand tightening on your side, and you flash back in your mind to the last kiss with him in the studio room. 

Flickers of the studio make your pulse quicken and your palms clammy, and you break your lips away from Mingi for a second of fresh air and to stop the sudden nerves sparking up the back of your brain. 

Twisting in their arms you turn to face Yunho, keeping Mingi still close at your back while you find Yunho’s cheek and tug him down to your mouth. He makes a soft, surprised noise, and you realize that you’ve never kissed him outside of your heat before. He’s so warm, so instantly responsive to your touch and you pull him a little closer still, letting your legs tangle together under the sheet. 

“Baby,” He whispers, fingers running over your hip and down your thigh. 

Your lips part, his tongue catching on yours as it dips into your mouth, deepening the kiss and your heart picks up again. You shift your hand, fingers catching under the edge of his t-shirt, just a little more skin on precious skin. Mingi’s hand drops from your hip to your stomach as he edges closer behind you, his wide palm stretching across the expanse of your belly. You shiver, a breathy sound from your lips you can’t catch. 

Yunho hums softly, pleasantly, kissing along your jaw the way he knows you love. 

You let your eyes slip closed, the sensation of them filling every space around you. 

Yunho kisses to the hollow of your ear and then travels lower, shifting to press his lips over the smooth column of your throat, but you feel the tense knot form again in the pit of your stomach. You feel hands on your hips where they shouldn’t be, you see a snapshot of your face in the practice room mirror, the ghost of a tug of your hair. 

At the first soft touch of Yunho’s tongue against your tender gland you jerk back and shake your head, eyes fluttering open, “I can’t, I’m sorry I can’t,” 

He pulls away immediately, hands off you as you press back into Mingi’s chest, “That’s okay,” 

Mingi wraps his arms around you to soothe you, “Your heart’s racing,” he murmurs, “babe, you’re safe, you’re with us,” 

“I know,” You nod, taking a deep steadying breath. 

Yunho cups your cheek, “I didn’t mean to scare you,” 

“It’s not you,” You assure him, “I just think I need some time before we do anything again,” 

He nods, “Anything you want,” 

“I just,” You try to explain, “for a second I thought I was back in the studio,” 

“You’re not,” Mingi reminds you, “and you don’t ever even have to go back in that room if you don’t want to,” 

“That’s not very practical,” You smile, kissing his forearm where his arm crosses over your chest as your racing pulse starts to slow. 

“I’m being serious,” He says. 

“I know you are,” You nod, “but I’m alright, I just think I need a few days away.” 

“That’s a good idea,” Yunho eases closer now that he can sense your heightened spike of panic is calming, “I’ll join you.” 

“Same,” Mingi rests his head on yours. 

“You don’t have to skip work for me,” 

“Honestly,” Yunho says, “it would make me feel better to stay with you, I’d be useless at the studio right now,” 

Mingi nods in quiet agreement. 

“Can I be honest?” You murmur in the dark. 

“Always,” Yunho nods. 

You find Yunho’s hand to hold and confess a little more to them, “I want you to stay, I feel like you’re both the only thing keeping me present right now, I keep worrying that I’ll slip back there,”

Mingi shifts behind you so he can properly see your face in the deep blue light, “Into headspace?” 

You nod, the echo of it in your mind, “It was so awful,” 

“I don’t think that can happen,” Mingi shakes his head, “you can’t just fall into it without someone putting you there.” 

You remember the distinct way you felt pulled under, the sudden tug downwards and the way you felt so insulated and trapped inside your own mind. You swallow hard and meet his eyes, “I’ve heard of it happening, omegas getting stuck, I don’t want to feel that ever again, I can’t feel that ever again,” 

“Hey, hey,” Yunho presses his hand over your heart and strokes your gland softly with the pad of his thumb, “that’s not going to happen,”

“He’s right,” Mingi kisses your forehead softly, “stories like that are rare, those omegas went through years of abuse and that’s awful, but it’s not you. No one is ever, ever, getting the chance to do that to you again.” 

“No one,” Yunho reiterates, still soothing your sore gland, “not us, not anyone.” 

“I just,” You sigh, “I keep feeling it when I close my eyes,” 

Yunho reaches out and brushes back your hair, his fingers smoothing against your temple, “Is that what your nightmare was about?” 

You nod. 

“You were there again?” He clarifies. 

“Yeah,” 

“What was it like?” Mingi murmurs his question, keeping it soft. Not a demand or a need, but an opening. Yunho’s eyes flick away from yours to his, but he waits to see if you’ll answer. 

Your mouth feels a little dry and you wet your lips as you think about how to describe it. You let their hands tether you as your eyes slip closed, “You know that feeling when your ears are full of water? The way everything sounds like you’re hearing it through a wall?” 

“Mhm,” Mingi murmurs. 

“It’s like that,” You explain, “like I was at the bottom of a lake or a pool and I knew something was happening around me, but I couldn’t tell what.”

“Do you remember anything?” Yunho asks. 

You shake your head, “Yes and no,” but you can see it in your minds eye, “I remember you both looked so scared and I remember wanting to ask you what was wrong, but I couldn’t,” 

They’re quiet now, only the thready sounds of their breath and yours as they listen. 

“He told me not to move,” You explain, “and to keep my mouth shut,” 

Mingi’s hand finds yours in the dark. 

“He said, ‘don’t move an inch’,” You feel Minseok’s words against your throat, the final push that sent you over the edge, “and I couldn’t, even when you were there and not him,” 

His thumb brushes over the back of your hand. 

“I remember you telling me to come up,” You continue, “I’ve never heard you sound like that before,” 

“You’ll never hear me sound like that again,” He says, his voice tight, “I just didn’t know what else to do,” 

“It worked,” You let your eyes open again, “that’s all that matters.” 

“Maybe,” He murmurs, and even though he doesn’t say more you can tell that he’s still a little shaken about using his own alpha tone on you at that moment. 

Yunho shifts in the covers, “Jagiya,” he says, “I think you should talk to someone about this,” 

“I’ll be alright,” You shake your head, “it’s just fresh and I need more sleep,” 

“Just think about it,” he says, “you can always talk to us, always, but we’re not professionals,” 

He’s not wrong, but the idea of opening up more than you already have makes something twist a little in your gut. You nod anyways, “I’ll think about it,” 

They stay quiet for a little while, and you take a minute to come back to your senses completely after letting the idea and the feeling of headspace occupy your mind for even just a few minutes. When you do, you realize that while Mingi is still cuddled up to your back, there’s at least a foot of space between you and Yunho, despite the way his long arms afford him the ability to still stroke your hair from this angle. 

“Come back over here,” You say suddenly, tugging on his t-shirt. 

“You sure?” He checks as he eases across the mattress. 

“Mhm,” You nod, letting his arms settle around you too. 

Confessions bubble up in your chest, the sudden need to keep being honest flooding you. 

In the dark, things are always easier. 

“I need to tell you something,” You murmur into Yunho’s shoulder. 

“Anything,” Mingi says quickly, his body still behind yours. 

You say it as plainly as you can, “My last heat was more complicated than I told you before,” 

“Okay,” Yunho murmurs, his voice a little hesitant as he waits for you to say more. 

“I called Seonghwa, but he was with Wooyoung at the time,” You explain, “and Woo has a whole little heat sanctuary at his apartment, so I spent my heat there with them,” 

“Is that what you’ve been so scared to tell us?” Mingi murmurs, his breath tickling your cheek. 

“San came to find his friends because they weren’t answering their phones,” You just have to get it all out, “but he stayed, I asked him to stay too.” 

“Oh,” Yunho trails off for a moment and Mingi’s steady breath stops. 

You brace yourself for the worst of it, your eyes closing tight, but then Yunho says, “San and Seonghwa usually spend Wooyoung’s heats together, right?” 

“Yeah,” Your eyes open again in the darkness. 

“And they took care of you okay?” He asks. 

“They did,” 

“And you…” Yunho struggles to find the right words, “you wanted everything? They didn’t push you or,”

“No,” You assure him, “it was all my choice,”

“Okay,” 

“You’re not angry?” You expected more of a fight, especially after how betrayed they looked after Seonghwa. 

Mingi sighs and you feel his head shake against yours, “You’re here with us now,” he says, “and you said it back then, we weren’t dating, no one cheated,”

“Oh,” Your tight fists unfurl. 

“y/n,” Mingi cups your hip and shifts behind you, “I think I already know the answer, but I’ve been wrong about what’s been going on for months, so can I ask you something?” 

“Anything,” You repeat his words back to him. 

“Was it just heat? Or do you want them too?” 

“Just heat,” You assure him immediately, finding his hand and interlocking  your fingers, “I promise you, it was just heat.” 

“Okay,” He nods. 

“Honestly,” You add quietly, “I don’t think I let myself understand what being with you both had meant until I experienced something different. I’ve never felt the way I felt with you both, before or after,” 

Mingi nods again, and Yunho’s lips connect gently with your forehead. 

“I understand if this is too much,” You start to say, but Yunho pulls back with a sharp intake of breath. 

“No, y/n,” he cups your cheek, “it was hard to see things clearly in the moment that day, we were worried about you and I’ll admit I was jealous too, but you didn’t do anything wrong and we handled it more than poorly,” 

“You’re friends with them,” You point out softly, still waiting for the moment they let your words sink in.  

“So are you,” Mingi says easily.  

Yunho runs his hand along your arm, “If you wanted to be with someone else, would you be here?” 

“No,” You answer immediately. 

“That’s enough for me,” 

“Me too,” Mingi adds, “I just want to move forward,”  

“Exactly,” Yunho finds your clasped hands in the dark and holds them both. 

“Hearing you say you and Hwa aren’t together,” Mingi presses a kiss to your bare shoulder, “I’ve never been so happy to be wrong about something, this changes nothing, babe,” 

Your body unknots in their hands, “Okay,” 

“Is that everything you wanted to tell us?” Yunho squeezes you softly. 

“That’s everything,”

The room feels lighter with nothing between you.  

“Well,” Yunho shifts closer and presses another kiss to your forehead, “I love you,” 

Mingi’s nuzzles another kiss  to your shoulder, “I love you too,” 

Relief spreads through your body, and you tug them closer until you’re sandwiched perfectly between them once again. The weight sitting on your chest is suddenly gone. 

There’s nothing more to say tonight, nothing more to do, but held between them with your legs all tangled together under the sheet you feel safe. You’re tired, exhausted even, but for a little while you can’t close your eyes. You listen to the way their breath evens out as they drop into sleep, gentle, rhythmic sighs as their bodies relax into yours. You listen to the city outside, the hum of the forced air unit, the distant click of a door shutting in the adjacent apartment. You focus on all the things you can feel, all the things you can hear. They way you’re here, present in your body. 

Yunho shifts, rolling away just enough that you dip forwards with him and you end up against his chest. His heart thumps low and slow against your cheek. Mingi makes a soft sound at being disturbed, his body attaching back onto you like a magnet as he reaches over and hitches up his leg, cuddling you both. 

You didn’t know it was possible to miss a person this much, let alone two. 

Your throat tightens up, a feeling deep in your chest and you press your eyes closed. You whisper soft against their skin, practicing the words on your lips, “I love you,”

In the dark, you make them this little promise. 

this night together - chapter fourteen (j.yh + s.mg)

chapter fourteen: what we mean to each other

chapter summary: making amends is hard, moving on is hard, but you have a home now in a way you've never had before. together, you move forward through it all.

warnings/notes: this chapter still deals with the aftermath of the attack, so all previous warnings apply, but i think you'll see we're coming out of it now and into much happier times. this is the start of an absolute fluff fest, and we'll be back to smut in the next chapter. specific warnings for: discussions of physical attack, anxiety, ptsd, consent conversations, past s*xual assault (mentioned in passing), issues with police and the legal system because lbr the cops aren't doing anything good for assault victims, and reader has a triggering moment with her neck but she works through it just fine

pairings: alpha!yunho x alpha!mingi x omega!reader

genre: smut, a/b/o/omegaverse, angst, fluff, romance, polyamory

word count: 14.3k

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It’s been days. Days of staying safe behind the walls of their apartment, days of dodging calls from your friends, days of cocooned self preservation. They haven’t left you for a single minute. You spent the weekend trading off who’s lap you were cuddled on and bickering over episodes of Single’s Inferno and you’ve never needed anything more. 

Slowly though, things start to shift. 

You’re showered, for one. And Yunho and Mingi both have settled back into their routines as best they can without leaving the apartment. Video games, mindless scrolling, paging through books and cooking balanced meals instead of another day of takeout. 

On Monday, Seonghwa confirms your worst suspicions by texting you a photo of the formal letter he received via Minseok’s attorney. You expect Yunho and Mingi’s are in the mail. Every time your phone chimes you expect it to be the police or some other official legal summons. Your mind has started to turn over every detail of the event with calculated detail, and your internet history stretches long with research. 

By Tuesday, you’ve caved and finally started answering Wooyoung’s texts with more than just single word responses or emoji confirmations that you’re still alive. The moment you do, he takes the opening and runs with it just like you knew he would. 

As you wait for the hot water for your tea to boil in the kettle, you re-read his most recent text again. 

Do you want to get out of the house for a bit? We can try that new spot by the bookstore?

Your stomach feels tight at the idea of going out and you do your best to tap out a reply that you think sounds casual and relaxed - Maybe next time, let’s just catch up and relax here? 

You watch the message send and deliver and in nearly real-time it flicks over to read. Dots appear as he types. 

Sure - his message reads - I’ll be there in an hour

An hour. You shouldn’t be so nervous to see your best friend, but the idea of opening up your little sanctuary to anyone right now feels a little fraught. The kettle whistles, and you hear feet shuffling against the vinyl flooring as Yunho crosses over into the kitchen and you lock your phone and Wooyoung’s messages away so you can focus. 

“Hey,” You murmur, giving him a smile as you pull the kettle off the heat. 

“Hey,” Yunho smiles back, leaning against the opposite counter, “everything okay?” 

“Mhm,” You tell him, just a little white lie. 

“Is Woo still coming by?” He questions.  

“Yeah,” You nod, setting the kettle on a pad so it doesn’t damage the countertop, “he said around an hour,” 

Yunho nods and then slides a bit closer to you, his hand stroking up and down your back once until he settles it on your hip. “Hey,” he says again, “can we talk?”

A nervous pang strikes in your gut, but he doesn’t look upset, so you take a guess at what he wants, “Is it okay that he’s coming?” 

“Wooyoung?” His brows draw together, “Of course, that’s not what I meant,” 

“Oh,” You turn towards him more fully, leaning against the counter with him, “okay, what’s up?” 

“I want to apologize,” He says, swallowing tightly. 

“Apologize,” You blink. 

He nods. 

“Okay,” You can see how whatever he’s about to say is bothering him, the stress under the surface, but you have no idea what he’s sorry for. 

“Listen,” He reaches and takes your hand, pulling you a little closer to him, “I know you know I’m sorry, but I haven’t said it clearly and you deserve that,” 

“Oh,” You relax further into his space until you can feel your bodies brushing together, the warmth radiating off his skin. 

“The way I reacted at the studio after your last heat was wrong,” He says in a rush of air as he laces your hands together, “and I haven’t gotten the chance to really say that,” 

“It’s okay,” You shake your head, soothing him a little, “you don’t have to,” 

“No,” He insists with a squeeze of your fingers, “I do. That day, I was worried and jealous and confused, but I let my anger get the better of me and that’s not something I normally do.”

You squeeze his fingers back, letting him know you’re listening. 

His eyes flick up from your joined hands to your eyes as he continues, “It’s not something I should have ever put on you or something you should ever see,” 

“People get angry,” You start to say. 

He’s firm when he shakes his head, “People get angry, but I don’t get angry at you. Ever.” 

“Yunho,” 

“I yelled at you,” He squeezes your hands, “I cursed at you,” 

“I did the same thing right back,” You remind him. 

“It’s not the same,” He presses, brushing right past your words, “and I’m apologizing because I’m telling you, y/n, it will never happen again.” 

“You think we’ll never have a fight?” You smile, “That’s optimistic,” 

“This isn’t a joke,” He sighs, “please,” 

“I’m sorry,” You tuck closer to him, unlacing your hands so you can snake your arms around his middle, “and I appreciate you apologizing for that fight, but I was upset you were being possessive and emotional after all the cold shoulder, you yelling wasn’t really high on my list of concerns,” 

He’s quiet for a moment, but then he nods, “I’ll get to that in a second, but will you hear me on this one thing?” 

“I’m listening,” 

“I hate to bring it up again,” He grimaces a little, “but I’ve just spent four days watching you jump at every noise around the apartment and wake up every night fucking terrified,” 

Your eyes shoot down. 

“And before I apologize for all the other ways I’ve been an ass to you,” His warm hands settle on your skin, thumb brushing along your jaw, “of which I know there are many,” 

You smile at that. 

“Yelling at you like that,” He sighs, “talking to you like that has been bothering me for months. I need to apologize for it because I need you to know that you’ll never, ever hear it again. Mingi said his peace, but it’s important to me that you know you’re safe with me in every way. If we’re going to do this, I need you to know you can tell me anything, including telling me off when I make mistakes, and I won’t get angry like that again.” 

“I already know that,” You look up, meeting his firm gaze and reaching for his cheek, “and I hope you understand that I know the difference between how you were angry then and what he did and how he spoke to me.” 

“I just had to say it,” He nods, “I would hate it if anything I ever did made you afraid to be honest with me, or made you feel like you’ve been feeling the past few days, I’d never,” 

“Baby,” You cup his cheeks in both hands, holding his eyes so he hears you fully, “I forgive you, and I am not afraid or uncomfortable with you or with Mingi. Not at all.” 

“Good,” He exhales hard, his eyes a little shiny and you press forward to wrap your arms around him and hug him close, his arms closing around your back. 

“If you’re being idiots,” You kiss his chest through the thin fabric of his t-shirt, “I’ll tell you you’re being idiots,” 

He laughs low, the vibration running through your chest, “Good.” 

“And if I’m being an idiot,” You add, “I’m not going to freak out if you get pissed at me or yell at me,” 

“I appreciate that,” He squeezes your shoulders, “but I don’t want to be the guy that yells, that’s not really an alpha stereotype I’ve ever wanted to fit.” 

“Okay,” You nod against him. 

He clears his throat a little roughly and you’re about to pull away but he holds you steady for a moment, “There’s one more thing,” 

Your hand strokes a line down his back, as you hum softly, “Hmm?” 

“I have more to say and to apologize for,” You can feel his heart beating a little faster under your cheek and you stroke his back again, “but I’m still figuring out how to do that, and it might not be fair of me to ask, but I wanted to see if you can be patient with me for that.” 

“Yunho,” You murmur, “what’s going on?” 

“I, uh,” His fingers flex tightly against your skin, “I started seeing someone,”

“Someone?”

“Professionally,” He adds, “Mingi used to and I know it helped. I didn’t think I needed to, but I think we can both agree I am not the best at managing my own emotions here,” 

“Oh,” 

“So,” He breathes, “after our fight, when I finally cooled off and realized what we did I asked him for a referral. I’ve been meeting with her once a week and it’s been helpful, but I’m not ready to apologize to you for the rest of it until I understand why I treated you like that,” 

Emotion fills your chest like a balloon and you nod into him, “Yunho,” 

He clears his throat again, “Sorry,” he says, “this is a little uncomfortable for me to talk about, but I’m working on it,” 

You wriggle out of his arms to find his face again and press up on your tiptoes to catch his mouth, kissing him with as much surety as you can before you lean back, “That means everything to me,” you tell him, “everything. You have all the time in the world from me, okay?” 

“Yeah,” He smiles, “good, okay,” 

“Is it helping?” 

“Definitely,” He nods, “it’s almost like the professionals know what they’re talking about,” 

You smile up at him. 

“I know I mentioned it before,” He adds quickly, “and I won’t press it, but if you do feel like it would be helpful for you too, you can come to me and I can ask my therapist for some numbers for you to call. I’ll even help set up an appointment if you need that,” 

Your chest goes tight at the thought, “I’ll let you know,” 

“Okay,” He smooths a hand up and down your back, “no pressure,” 

“For sure,” You manage. 

His lip quirks up and he presses a long kiss to your forehead as he gives you one more squeeze, “I said I won’t press, don’t panic,” 

“Sorry,” You breathe. 

He makes a noise dismissing that and then steps back, “So,” his eyes are bright again, everything equalizing back to normal with his smile, “you were making tea, can I help?” 

Your shoulders relax, tension bleeding out of you in an instant, “No,” you turn back to the warm kettle, “but can I make you a cup?” 

“Sure,” He pulls two teacups down from the cupboard, “so Woo will be here in an hour?” 

“Mhm,” You tap your phone to light up the screen to check for any other texts.

“Got it,” He nods, “would you feel alright with Mingi and I stepping out for a while?” 

“Out?” 

“I need to run by the studio and check in on things,” He explains, “and we need to get some food in here. I figured we could do that while Wooyoung keeps you company,” 

“Yeah,” Your heart picks up a little at the thought, but you press that feeling down and drop a teabag in each of your cups, “I’ll be just fine,” 

“Good,” He drops another kiss to your hair, keeping his fingers lingering on your skin while you pour hot water into your cups. 

“Do you,” You almost stop the question, but you find the words bubbling out of your mouth before you can second guess, “do you need to leave right away?” 

Yunho smiles wide, taking the kettle from your hands as he shakes his head, “No,”

Your heart eases a little. 

“Let’s have these together,” He nods to the tea and picks up both cups, “we’ll go when Woo gets here,” 

You follow him out into the living room, and he sets the cups down on the table before settling himself into the corner cushions and reaching up for you. It’s easy to take his hand and to melt into the familiar position on his lap, and you let him draw you in close and cuddle you, his arms wrapped securely around you as he nuzzles your cheek with his nose. 

You sigh, resting your hands on his chest and turning your face a little to catch his mouth in a kiss. 

He hums pleasantly against your mouth, “Is it strange to say that I’ll miss you while we’re out?” 

You smile, shaking your head, “No,” 

“Will you miss us?” He pecks your lips again. 

“More than I want to admit,” 

“You know,” Yunho smooths his hands over your body to rest in their familiar homes, one on your thigh and the other curled around your waist, “I hate what happened, and I wish I could take all the bad memories away, but I’m also so glad you’re here with us,” 

“I know what you mean,” You nod. 

“The months we spent apart were terrible,” He confesses, kissing you softly. 

“We’ll have to make up for lost time,” You agree quietly. 

“A proper date,” He smiles, “or a vacation somewhere warm?” 

“Mm,” You hum, thinking of being stretched out on a beach somewhere with your boys on either side of you, “perfect,”

“I’ll think on that,” He runs a hand down your hair and relaxes back into the couch, “you deserve something nice,” 

Twisting on his lap you reach for both of your teacups before settling back into the same, comfortable position, “I think it would just be nice to come over here without having something traumatic happen beforehand,” 

He frowns a little. 

“I’m kidding,” You nudge him softly, “kind of,” 

“I know,” He nods, “still,” 

“Yeah,” You quietly agree, taking the first sip of your tea. 

Yunho takes a sip too, and then hums a short, quick laugh, “This smells like you,” 

“Like me?” 

“The tea,” He takes another sip and nods, “you smell just the same, but sweeter,” 

“Do you like it?” You find yourself asking. 

Yunho’s head cocks slightly to the side, a line between his brows, and then he says, “Have I not made it clear how much I love your scent?” 

Your cheeks heat and he smiles at the way your skin reddens. 

“Sweetheart,” He shifts, pulling you in while still being careful of the tea, pressing warm, lingering kisses over your jaw to the hollow of your ear, “if I could drink you instead, I would.” 

You swallow, heat curling in your belly. 

“Soothing tea,” He murmurs, “sweet honey,” he adds with a kiss, “and the willow is sharp and fresh. You wake me up and calm me down all at the same time,” 

Your pulse quickens, and slowly your head drops to the side, extending the column of your neck to his lips. 

He takes it slow, remembering the way you jerked back in bed a few nights before, and he’s careful not to press too firmly or give you any inclination that he’s going to touch you with anything but his lips. 

“You smell like home,” He murmurs, his hand coming up to cup your head in his wide palm, kissing just a little lower still. 

Your muscles are stiffening up at the feeling of his mouth getting lower towards your exposed gland and your fingers tighten on his shirt where you hold yourself steady. 

“I’ve got you,” He whispers, “stay with me,” 

You nod, just a little, enough to tell him not to stop, “W-what else?” 

He smiles against your throat, “Well,” he kisses again, to punctuate his words, “when you’re happy, really happy or excited, there’s lemon too,” 

Your breath feels staggered, thready, and you focus on the feeling of him and the warmth of the teacups against your thigh. 

“When you want us,” He takes a deep inhale, sighing hot against your skin, “it’s all honey, thick and syrupy. After your heat I smelled that honey here for weeks,” 

You feel a whine building a little in your throat, and you bite down on your lip to keep it buried. Your body feels like it’s fighting itself with every touch of his mouth, hot arousal knots up at his scent mingling with yours and at his words, but the isolated touch alone has you fighting little flashes of a place that isn’t here and isn’t him. 

“I’ve got you,” He repeats, “I love you,” 

The reply settles on the tip of your tongue, but then he presses one last closed-lipped kiss directly over your gland and withdrawals entirely. You blink hard, a shudder running up your spine. 

“Alright?” He checks, smoothing his hand down your hair again. 

You nod, letting your fingers unknot from his shirt while you collect yourself. 

“Hopefully that answers your question,” He clears his throat softly. 

You start to nod, but the sound of the bathroom door opening cuts through the moment and you start, tea spilling over the lip of your cup onto your fingers. 

“It’s Mingi, baby,” He assures you. 

“I know,” You have to tear your eyes off the hallway though. 

His mouth is set in a concerned little line, and you know he’s probably thinking about your conversation in the kitchen again, but he lets it lie and doesn’t push it, just like he promised. 

Mingi appears a moment later, a towel slung around his hips and his shoulders and hair wet from the shower. He smiles widely when he sees you both, “What’s going on in here?” 

Yunho raises up his cup, “Tea,” he smiles, “nothing much,” 

“Mm,” Mingi nods and stretches, “nice,” 

“Will you be ready soon?” Yunho asks, “Wooyoung will be here in a bit,” 

“Yeah, sure,” He confirms and then glances at you, “you’re good with us going out?” 

“I’m good,” You confirm. 

“I’ll stay if it would make you feel better,” Mingi adds, “I can hide in the bedroom and listen to music or something if you want privacy,” 

You love them both so much in this moment you feel like your chest might crack right open on its own, and you shake your head at him with a smile, “No, I have to get comfortable at some point, it might as well be while Woo is here with me,” 

He nods, “Well, we won’t be too far, just call us and we’ll turn around.” 

“Thank you,” You reach up to take his hand and he twines his fingers with yours immediately. 

Yunho shifts, pressing his lips against your shoulder, “Are you and Woo going out anywhere?” 

He’s clearly trying to be subtle, but you hear the anxious note in his voice and it occurs to you that they might be just as nervous leaving you as you are staying here without them. 

You shake your head, “No, just staying here,” 

“That’s good,” Mingi adds a little too quickly, “if you do go out, would you let us know?” 

“I will,” You promise them, “but you don’t have to worry,” 

“It’s in our nature to worry over you,” Yunho sighs, “but I think we’re both trying not to be overbearing about this whole thing,” 

“Trying,” Mingi shrugs, “but also the idea of not knowing where you are feels like it might give me hives,” 

You laugh at the image, easing back into Yunho’s chest. 

“To be clear,” Yunho shoots Mingi a look, “that’s in a nice ‘we care about you’ way, not in a ‘controlling boyfriend’ kind of way,” 

“Relax,” You tell them both, “I get why you want to know, it’s the same reason I want to know where you are.” 

“Studio first,” Mingi offers without you asking and your chest warms, “then groceries, and then I want to swing by that cafe that has that caramel cheesecake you like, then home,” 

“Don’t say we don’t have to,” Yunho adds, “we want to,” 

You smile as he takes the words right out of your mouth. 

“Plus, I want some,” Mingi says with ease. 

You’re not used to this type of relationship yet, having alphas of your own who actually want to be with you and take care of you, who worry for you and feel for you in all the deep nervous ways you feel for them. You hush the nagging voice in your mind that tries to tell you not to show them how much you need them, the voice that doesn’t want you to jump too fast, you already know what you get by listening to that voice. 

Instead you ask them what you want to ask, “How long do you think you’ll be gone?” 

“Two hours,” Yunho offers, “maybe three at the most,” 

“Okay,” You exhale, weight dropping away from your shoulders, “that’s perfect,” 

“We’ll let you know,” Mingi adds, “and if you need anything special while we’re out, we can stop,”

You shake your head, “I’m fine,” You assure them, “a little anxious, but you know, it’s good for me.” 

Mingi smiles warmly, brushing his hand over your cheek and tilting your face up with his thumb and forefinger on your chin, “We’re a phone call away,” 

“I know,” You nod. 

Yunho sighs as Mingi’s hand drops away, and he kisses your shoulder again, “It’s funny,” he says, “I really don’t want to leave you,” 

“We did just spend three months not seeing each other and in a state of constant relationship limbo,” You point out and give him a squeeze, “we really went from nothing to a whole lot of something fast,” 

“Not too fast?” Mingi checks, trying to sound casual. 

“No,” You say, “and even if it is, I don’t care,” 

“We’ve always felt right together,” Yunho adds, “we’re just letting ourselves enjoy it now,” 

He’s never said something so true. 

Mingi gets dressed and collapses onto the couch next to both, pushing closer into your space with Yunho until you’re both practically on his lap, but it works. You stay knit close together until there’s a knock on the door and then it’s fast kisses goodbye and big hugs from your best friend, and before you can really process it you’re without them for the first time in days. 

Your stomach is fluttering, a nervous quiver deep in your gut that you really don’t want Wooyoung to over-analyze. A moment later you find yourself back on the couch in the warm spot Yunho left, wrapping yourself in the blanket you had all shared the night before. You can smell them on it, earthy, warm, and sweet. 

Wooyoung watches as you start to relax, and he takes a seat right next to you to keep close, a closed smile on his lips. 

You can’t believe you miss them already. 

They must miss you too though, because Mingi only makes it a scant ten minutes before he texts you, his message lighting up your phone - Forgot to say I love you - I love you.

“What?” Wooyoung nudges you under the blanket. 

You pass your phone to him and he reads the message, his eyebrows shooting up high, “I leave you alone for a few days and you’re all saying ‘I love you’s?” 

You grab the phone back and tuck it away, “That’s the thing about life changing trauma,” you laugh, “it really accelerates the big feelings,” 

Wooyoung nods, keeping things light, but finds your hand on the back of the couch so he can hold it. 

“Also we’re not all saying it,” You confess, “they’re saying it,” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean they’ve told me,” You explain, “the day after the studio we had this big talk,” 

“Don’t tell me they put all that shit on you like that,” He wraps his hand around yours, “y/n,” 

“Not like that,” You shake your head, “it’s actually hysterical, they thought that Seonghwa and I have been dating,” 

His eyes go wide, “What?” 

“It’s truly the longest story of miscommunication,” You tell him, “at this point I think someone should write a book about me and make it a romantic comedy,” 

“Erotica,” Wooyoung smirks. 

“Shut up,” You swat at him. 

“There have been too many good orgasms for a romcom,” He shrugs. 

You roll your eyes, “Anyways, it turns out the whole not talking period while you were all away was just me pining but feeling like I fucked it up, and them pining but thinking I had moved on with Hwa,” 

“Damn,” 

“But when they realized that they were wrong about that,” You continue, “we just got it all out there,” 

“And they love you,” He smiles a little, “and they actually said it,” 

“Yeah,” You soften into the cushions. 

“I hate to ask the obvious,” He squeezes your hand, “but if you’re so happy about that, why haven’t you told them? You do love them?” 

“So much,” The words fly out like you’re defending something, and you run a hand through your hair as you get your real thoughts steady, “I do, Woo, so much. We’re scent matches,” 

“I know,” He nods warmly. 

“You do?” 

“Anyone with eyes can see that,” Wooyoung smiles, “well, apart from you three.” 

“Thanks,” 

He nudges your thigh with his foot under the blanket, “Honestly, though, after what happened I could see it on them. You couldn’t keep your hands off each other, and they kept flanking you, watching you like you might disappear,” 

A memory of the studio plays like a clip in your mind, the way they held you between them, the three of you against everything. You nod, “They’ve been doing that for days,” 

“Which…” Wooyoung trails off, trying to guess where your head is, “you’re happy about?” 

“I am,” You nod emphatically, “and I love them, I just… I can’t get the fucking words out of my mouth,” 

He sobers a little, sliding closer to you on the couch so he can draw your legs over his lap and give you exactly the kind of comfort you need, “I’m listening, babe, talk to me,” 

“I don’t know why,” You hold his hand tighter, “but every time they say it, and I think I’m going to say it back, I’m right back in that room with Minseok’s teeth on my neck and I can’t,” your chest feels tight, “I can’t get it out,” 

His eyes soften, empathetic in the way that only he can be, “Does being in love with them scare you?” 

“No!” You pull your hand back from his. 

“Babe,” He takes your hand back and holds tight, “I’m not saying they scare you, I’m saying does being in love, being vulnerable like that scare you?” 

Your shoulders drop, “A little, but,”

“But?” 

“I thought about it for three months,” You argue, “I had it rehearsed, I knew exactly what I wanted to say and the big reveal was supposed to be the ‘I love you’ part not the ‘I’m sorry’ part,” 

“Your plans on that kind of fell apart when that asshole tried to claim you,” Wooyoung pushes back a little. 

“Yeah, no shit,” A flurry of anger bubbles in your belly. 

He nods, “And now you’re off kilter,” 

“You could say that,” 

“You rarely do anything without thinking it through,” He offers, this thumb drawing a comforting line over your palm, “and your plan got fucked, and you’re emotionally vulnerable, and traumatized, and stressed. You feel like you’re out here without a life vest,” 

His words stun you silent. 

“And this thing you worked up in your mind for three months is now totally derailed,” He continues, “am I on the money?” 

You nod. 

“Can I ask you something?” He says. 

You nod again. 

Wooyoung asks this question softly, his voice quiet and gentle, “Do you want to bond with them?” 

Your heart thumps in your chest. 

“It’s just you and me,” Wooyoung soothes you, “and whether or not you bond with them is your choice, okay? But, babe, is that something you think you’ll want?” 

Suddenly you remember the feeling of your heat with them. The way you begged for them, the way it felt so right and so sure that you belonged to each other. You remember how your mind spun imaginary futures that all ended the same way. 

Silently, you nod. 

“Loving them isn’t bonding,” He murmurs, “you can just love them for now at your own pace.” 

Tears prick at the back of your eyes, “What if I can never do it? They can barely touch my neck without me falling apart, what if I can never take a real claim?” 

“Oh, babe,” He pulls you towards him, crushing you to his chest, “I wish you called me earlier, you shouldn’t be thinking like this,” 

“It was so terrible,” You confess into his shoulder, “I can’t even tell you, I don’t even know how to explain,” 

“You don’t have to,” He hushes you, a hand stroking up and down your back, “and I don’t know if this is going to help or hurt, but I know right now you feel like there’s no way you’d ever be able to take a claim without it being scary and awful, but someday you might be able to without even thinking of him.”

A few hot tears escape your eyes. 

“And I know I give Yunho and Mingi shit,” He adds, “but you know that both of them would rather die than do something to hurt you or scare you,” 

“And if I can never bond?” You manage. 

“Then I’d say thank god your scent matches are two men who would never, ever push you into a bond you weren’t ready for,” He says, squeezing you tight, “and I think if you asked them, they’d tell you that they’d rather be with you unbonded and happy than bonded and in pain.” 

“You’re right,” You wipe away the wetness on your cheeks, “I know you’re right,” 

“They’re not going to try to push you into a bond just because you love each other,” He lets you lean back but he slides his hand back into yours, “especially not now,” 

“I know that,” You sigh, “rationally, I was just,” 

“I’m telling you, I get it,” He eases you, “sometimes you go through something and you think a part of you is wrecked forever, that you’ll never be able to do something again or feel normal again, but you will. I promise,” 

You know the truth of him so suddenly you can’t stop the words, “Woo,” you feel your heart beating faster, “did something happen?” 

“A long, long time ago,” He says softly, “and today’s not the day for that story, but I’m telling you it does get better and it does soften in your memory and someday your alphas are going to touch your neck and you won’t even think about it, it just won’t be there anymore.” 

Grief and relief mingle in your gut at his words, and you want to ask him more, to be there for him like he’s been there for you but you can see it in his face, today isn’t the day for that story. 

You squeeze his hand, “I love you, Woo,” 

“I love you too,” He assures you. 

Silence sits between you for a moment while you turn over his words, and though you can’t imagine the day he’s describing, you still believe him. You have to. You don’t know what happened to him or when, but you’ve never met someone as bright and open and happy as him, and you have to hold onto that truth. 

You look down at your combined hands, “Yunho offered to make an appointment with a therapist for me,” 

“Say yes,” Wooyoung replies without a thought, “I waited years and I wish I hadn’t,” 

“Yeah?” 

“Does he have a contact?” Wooyoung asks, drawing your eyes back up, “I have some options for you if not,” 

“He said he can ask his therapist for a referral,” 

“His therapist?” Wooyoung grins, “I knew I liked him,” 

“You’ve been friends for years,” You nudge him. 

“Liked him for you,” He corrects, “that’s different,” 

“Yeah, yeah,” 

“My best friend deserves an alpha who is fully therapized and capable of complex emotions,” Wooyoung says with confidence, “nothing less.” 

“Don’t mention that I told you,” You add quickly, “he told me that in confidence, it just slipped out,” 

“I wouldn’t,” Wooyoung shakes his head, “that’s private. But between you and me, I’m glad to hear it.” 

“Me too,” You sigh. 

“And as far as you going?” Wooyoung circles back to the real question at hand, “Say yes, the sooner the better. If Yunho’s offering to help set it up, let him. Making that call is hard, and if he can make it easier, just say yes.” 

“Okay,” You sigh, your shoulders dropping. 

“And tell them how you’re feeling about bonding,” He adds, “trust me.” 

“Maybe,” You say, “I know you’re right. We’re just moving so fast,” 

“So slow down,” He offers. 

“I don’t know if I want to,” You admit, warmth and nervous energy filling your chest, “it feels right like this, I just don’t know if I can handle a claim,” 

“Tell them,” He reiterates, “don’t let them stumble into that one, they might hurt you without even knowing it if they bring it up sooner than you’re ready for.” 

“Right,” You nod, “you’re right,” 

He huffs a laugh, “Usually am,”

You flick his arm, rolling your eyes, so grateful at him for helping you work through something this hard while still keeping you smiling. You should have called him earlier, he’s right about that too. 

You let silence stretch around you both for a moment, and then something occurs to you. 

“Do you know anything about the charges Minseok is filing?” You run a hand through your hair, “Not to bring up yet another pleasant subject,” 

Wooyoung snorts a little air through his nose and shrugs, “I probably know what you know, have you talked to Hwa?” 

You shake your head. 

“At all?” He seems surprised. 

“I have,” You correct, “but it was quick and we were all on the call. I haven’t been to my place to see if there’s any mail, but I’d guess Yunho and Mingi will get a summons soon.” 

Wooyoung nods, “That’s what the police said,” 

Your eyebrows raise, “You talked to the police?” 

“Seonghwa did,” He clarifies, “and he gave San and I the run down.” 

“Why is no one telling me what’s going on?” You exhale heavily. 

“Because last we heard you were having nightmares,” Wooyoung rests a hand on your folded legs, “and we don’t have a lot of information to give, and I don’t think any of us want to cause you more stress than you need.” 

“Do Yunho and Mingi know?” You press. 

“Not exactly,” Wooyoung says, “though, I guess Seonghwa might be telling them now if they stopped by the studio,” 

You wait for him to continue, but you’re a little relieved at least that your boys aren’t keeping anything from you directly. 

“Seonghwa spoke to the police who explained the charges. Minseok is alleging that the guys misunderstood what they saw and ignored his attempts to explain, and that they used unnecessary force intervening on your behalf.” He says it plainly. 

“Misunderstood?” You repeat the word. 

“I know,” Wooyoung nods, “we all know, but that’s what he’s saying. The police advised Seonghwa to get an attorney and let him know that further charges were being filed. I think we can safely assume that’s Yunho and Mingi, maybe San if he’s really going after it.” 

“Maybe me too,” You add. 

“Maybe,” He nods, “but that would be tough to prove I think,” 

“Hmm,” Your eyes feel a little unfocused. 

“Hey,” Wooyoung gets your attention with a squeeze, “we don’t know anything yet, and we thought this might happen. It doesn’t change the truth and it doesn’t mean any of them regret what they did to make sure you were safe, okay?” 

“Yeah,” 

“Tell me you understand,” He presses, “because I’m not letting you put this one on yourself,” 

“I do, I understand,” You nod, “it just sucks,”

“That’s fair,” He gives you a soft smile, “but it’s going to take a lot more than this to fuck us over,” 

“Yeah,” You murmur, “you’re probably right.” 

Wooyoung says something else but you hardly hear it, in the back of your mind all you can think of is that first night at the hospital. The detectives who interviewed you were kind, but bordered on dismissive, and you know Minseok and his family have deeper pockets than you do. You have to figure this out, you have to.

  “Babe?” Wooyoung nudges you. 

“Yeah,” You snap up, coming back to the present moment and letting those anxieties fade into the background until you can really think them through, “sorry,” 

“It’s okay,” He soothes you. 

Your phone buzzes on your lap again and you pull it up to see the message. It’s Mingi again - Budae Jjigae for dinner, ask Wooyoung if he wants to stay? We’ll have plenty

It’s like he felt your anxiety from miles away and you can feel the tense knot of your shoulders unlocking. You send back a quick heart emoji and then look back up to your friend, “You want to stay for dinner?” 

He smiles, “Who’s cooking?” 

“Mingi,” You tell him, “he’s been on a comfort food kick for me,” 

Wooyoung smiles, “I’ll stay,” 

“Great,” You tap out a reply to Mingi letting him know and take a big sigh. 

“They make you happy,” Wooyoung says, “it’s nice to see,” 

“It’s nice to feel,” You tell him, “after all this time, and after everything,” 

“You deserve it,” He murmurs. 

You smile, a little tease at the corner of your mouth when you nudge him, “So do you, and speaking of,” 

His face lights up fast, “I wasn’t trying to bring my too-good mood over here if things weren’t going well,” he sighs, “but now that I know you’re all in love,” 

“So you and Yeosang?” You turn the conversation to something so much happier, and feel lighter the second you do. 

“It’s so good,” He gushes, head falling back against the cushions, “he’s kind of quiet, kind of hard to get to know at first, but y/n, he’s so funny,” 

“Yeah?” You smile. 

“And smart,” He adds, “and considerate, he’s always getting me coffees or refilling my water, just like, those little things,” 

“Wow, look at you,” You squeeze his hand, “serial dater of alphas, turned into a blushy mess over a funny, smart, considerate beta,” 

“He’s packing like an alpha, I’ll say that,” Wooyoung grins wolfishly. 

You smack his chest, “Woo! Literally that is too much information,” 

“Please,” He rolls his eyes, “I share a locker room with your boyfriends, I know what you’re working with,” 

You feel your face flush red. 

“Cute,” He teases. 

“So,” You divert, “does Yeosang feel as strongly?” 

His smile drops a little, “I mean,” he says, “I think so? But he’s not really an oversharer,” 

“Have you told anyone else?” You try to be casual about that question, but if you’re being honest you’re dying to know where things will land with San and Seonghwa. 

Wooyoung shakes his head though, “Not yet, but I think when everything calms down I might have him pick me up at the studio or something? I want you to meet him and I want everyone to know, I just,” 

“I get it,” You assure him, “you go at your own pace.” 

“Yeah,” He sighs. 

“Just don’t follow my lead,” You smile, “if you like him, don’t run away in a panic,” 

“Noted,” He laughs. 

He looks so happy, bright from the inside in a way that matches his sunny scent, and you think he’s not far from sharing ‘I love you’s of his own at this rate. 

You squeeze his hand again and catch his attention back, “You really look so happy,” you tell him. 

“I am,” He sighs, “he’s exactly what I needed,” 

You smile, and then push his legs to the side, “Move over, I know you have pictures, you’re holding out,” 

He laughs sharply, head falling back but letting you manhandle him a little so you can snuggle into his side. Wooyoung tugs the blanket around you both and pulls out his phone, “Fine,” 

“Like it’s a burden to show your best friend pictures of your hot new boyfriend,” You smack his chest, “come on,” 

Wooyoung drops his arm around your shoulders until you’re slotted together on the corner of the couch, but he still hasn’t lit up his phone. You’re about to nudge him again, but then you feel him press a soft kiss to your hair. 

“You know,” He says softly, “when Sannie called me and told me what happened, I just felt so sick,” 

You find his other hand under the covers and lace your fingers together, “I’m okay,” 

He nods, sighing into your skin, “I just want you to know,” he says, his voice a little tight, “you mean so much to me, and I’ll be grateful to them forever for stopping him,” 

You blink back a few tears and nod, “I am okay, though,” 

He nods again and clears his throat, “I know,” 

“I think you’re avoiding my questions about Yeosang,” You squeeze his hand tightly, an acknowledgement of his emotions and his words, while steering the conversation back to happier topics. 

“You’re right,” He laughs, “you caught me.” 

“Come on,” You nudge him again, pushing down the little swell of emotion that his words brought up. 

“He’s not really a selfie guy,” Wooyoung slides his finger across his phone screen until he finds Instagram and then navigates to his new man’s page, “but, I don’t know, I think you’ll like his vibe.” 

Your face cracks into a wide smile when you see the profile, clearly that of an artist, a photographer. The first post on his page is of Wooyoung, though you’d have to know Wooyoung well to know it. He’s walking away from camera through a dark Itaewon street, the lines of his body accented by the neon club signs. 

“Oh, Woo,” You relax against him and open that photo to see it larger, “he really likes you,” 

He snatches the phone away, a little pink in his cheeks as he rushes to downplay the truth of what you can see plain as day, and you fight to get back the phone, your cheeks starting to hurt from how much you’ve been laughing. 

You and Wooyoung stay like this for ages, warmly locked together as you swap stories and funny things on both your phones. By the time your phone chimes with another text from Mingi, at least two hours have gone by.

Almost home! His message reads. 

Your chest feels warm, your heart whole at the words. 

“They’ll be back in a minute,” You tell Wooyoung as you set your phone aside. 

“Perfect,” He grins, “so exactly how much teasing can I get away with before you get mad?” 

You fall apart again into laughter, happy tears stinging at your eyes. You don’t hear the front door open at first, but when you finally look up you see them standing frozen in the doorway with such softness in their expressions. You feel the words bubble up at the sight of them, but again they stay resting at the tip of your tongue.

Wooyoung rolls his eyes and pushes off the couch, “Alright, alright stop making heart eyes at each other and tell me what’s in the box,” 

Your eyes flick down to the large white box in Mingi’s hand, the perfect cheesecake nestled inside waiting just for you. Wooyoung takes a few grocery bags out of their hands and heads off to the kitchen, and just like that your night falls together naturally. 

You don’t think about Minseok again until later that night. For a beautiful, blissful four hours you just laughed and ate and relaxed with your best friend and your boyfriends, and he doesn’t enter your brain at all. 

It isn’t until you’re lying in bed alone with your thoughts, Yunho and Mingi deep asleep on either side of you, that you realize what you have to do. 

In the morning you wake from a dreamless sleep, and you start to put your plan in motion. You slip out of bed and leave them to their rest, light only just stretching its way through the Seoul skies outside. Seeing Wooyoung made you feel lighter in a way that you can’t explain, and within minutes you’re scrawling out a note, stealing Mingi’s key, and lacing up your sneakers. 

Out for a walk, be back in a little while, don’t worry too much x

You leave it on their kitchen counter and you hope it’s enough to keep them from looking for you. You need a little space from your own scared reflection in the mirror, and a new perspective on the plan you’ve been turning over since your head hit the pillows last night. 

The note isn’t a lie, strictly speaking, you are out for a walk, but you also know if you told them exactly where you were on a walk to, they'd worry. They wouldn’t just worry, they would have insisted on coming with you, but this is something you have to do alone. 

You take the long way to the hospital down the river path, letting the cool day calm your mind and keep you centered. You go over in your mind all the things you want to say to him when you see him, assuming you actually make it into his room. You wonder how hard it will be to convince him. You wonder if you’ll even be able to get a single word out of your mouth. 

You have to try. 

Yunho’s words from yesterday morning in the kitchen sink into you. The tenderness in his eyes when he mentioned how jumpy you’ve been around the apartment. You hadn’t even realized it, but now you feel it in your shoulders and your stomach with the sound of every opening door, every squeak of a shoe on vinyl flooring. Everytime you look up into a mirror you expect to see a face over your shoulder, to feel hands on your hips.  

Minseok had taken so many little things from you in the span of three minutes. 

You need to take something back. 

Every step leading into the hospital is heart pounding and nerve wracking, stress inducing on a level you’ve never experienced, but standing in front of reception you suddenly feel an overwhelming calm. Your mind is clear, operating on something wholly unconscious and you don’t know where you’ve mustered this feeling from, but you let it take you. 

You give over Minseok’s full name and provide the kindest smile you can to the woman behind the desk,“I’m his sister,” you tell her. The lie rolls right off your tongue, so clean and easy you surprise yourself. 

“Oh,” The nurse nods, “well visiting hours don’t start until eleven,” 

“I have work,” You counter, softening your face, “I’m sorry, but do you think you could make an exception? I’ll be very quick, I just want to see him for a few minutes before I have to run,” 

She considers it, and you know you have her the minute she checks the nurse’s station to see who else is there with her before she breaks a rule, “Alright, but just be quick, five minutes,” 

“Thank you so much,” You smile, “really, you’re so kind,” 

She waves you off, glancing around her again, “He’s in 305, the third door down on your left when I open the doors,” 

“Thank you,” 

She presses a button on the wall and the lock springs free, opening the heavy security door to your side. With one last smile and deeply grateful bow, you slip through the door and make it through into the hospital hallway where you are most definitely not supposed to be. 

Third door on the left. 

You have to be quick, not so you don’t get caught, but so you don’t chicken out. If you stand in this hallway and let yourself really think about what you’re doing, you’ll turn right around and go home. Steeling yourself, you rush forwards and find the door to 305 and with a deep breath you slip inside. 

Private rooms are expensive, that thought occurs to you as you shut the door tightly behind you. That fact, plus the reality that he’s already talking about pressing his own charges, tells you Seonghwa was right, he has some kind of family money. You hope that when you turn around and actually face the room you won’t have to contend with his mother or father or god forbid some girlfriend you know nothing about. You need him to be alone. 

Blissfully, the room is quiet, the only sounds are medical and simple. With your palms flat against the door you take a deep breath, and if Minseok is awake he says nothing, makes no sound, while you gather the nerve to do this. 

Finally, you turn. 

He is awake, studying you with a careful expression, but then your eyes flick over him. He’s more than injured, he’s completely incapacitated. You catalog it all quickly - his leg suspended in an elevating sling, ankle wrapped up tight, wrist sprained and in a brace, his face is bruised and battered and you realize in seconds that his broken jaw is wired shut. He has an oxygen cannula tucked into his bandaged nose, and you remember that his ribs are broken too. 

You wonder which of your boys delivered each piece of punishment. 

Your mouth feels dry, and your pulse is quickening, the sight of him so close is enough to induce panic but he can’t really do anything to you in this state so you have to just be brave. You push yourself off the wall and walk to the end of his hospital bed, “Hey,” 

He gestures to his jaw and shrugs to communicate that he can’t really talk. 

“I know,” You nod, “I heard.” 

It’s strange to be here with him like this when last week you were working side by side. It’s bizarre to suddenly feel this bubble of uncomfortable space and distance, and to feel the fear underneath it all. 

He gestures towards you with his bandaged hand and you know he’s asking why you’re here. 

“I heard about the counter charges,” You came here with a purpose and you have to stick to it, “and I came here to ask you to drop them.” 

He shakes his head and looks down at himself and then back up to you. 

“After what you did?” Anger curls up in your belly, “I think they took it pretty easy on you.” 

He huffs, a puff of air from his closed lips. 

“Listen,” You try, “you and I both know what you tried to do, and whatever your excuse is, it doesn’t matter. If they hadn’t gotten you off me… I guess what I’m saying is do the right thing now. You said you were sorry, just drop these charges and we can all move on.” 

His eyes harden and he shakes his head. 

You thought he was apologetic after, coming to his senses and realizing in the haze of his rut he almost broke someone’s mind, but now you’re starting to think he was just pleading for his own beating to stop. 

“You won’t consider it?” You ask, stomach clenching tightly. 

He shakes his head again and points to his injuries. Jaw, ribs, leg. 

You want to hit him yourself, so suddenly that your fingers curl tight into fists, “You tried to fucking claim me because I wouldn’t go out on a date with you, and you think you’re the victim here?” 

He seems irritated by your question, and he reaches for something on the tray table to his side. He pulls up a small whiteboard and marker, clearly given to him by hospital staff to communicate, and he wipes away the words that were there to write out his message to you. 

I’m the one in a hospital bed.

“You bastard,” The words just slip out, “why do you think? They put you here for a fucking reason, Minseok,” 

He wipes the message away and writes something else. 

Keep your alphas on a leash.

You’ve never understood the phrase ‘seeing red’ before, but now it’s meaning is crystal clear, “You should keep yourself on a leash.” 

He huffs. 

“Using tone to submit an omega is illegal, Minseok,” You round the corner of the bed, “the prison time for something like that is long. It’s not even just assault, I think that’s something like three or four years? But using tone… claiming against an omega’s will? That’s irreparable damage. I wonder how many charges they’d stack on top in court? Psychological trauma? Sexual assault?” 

His eyes darken and he wipes the board again, his marker squeaking roughly against it as he angrily writes out the next message. 

I never touched you like that.

“You would have,” You shake your head, “as soon as I was your nice obedient omega and couldn’t say no.” 

He stares daggers, but says nothing. 

“They might be able to prove intent,” You tell him, “throw a few more years on top for good measure. How old do you think you’ll be when they let you out? Do you think a dance studio would hire a forty year old man?” 

His face pales, he looks sick suddenly. 

“You’ll drop the charges,” You tell him, “and when you do, I’ll drop mine.” 

His eyes widen. 

“You’ll never set foot in the studio again, and you’ll go find another job somewhere else.” 

His eyes skim over you, trying to gauge your honesty. 

“Do you understand me?” You don’t know what’s possessing you, what’s holding you up so you can get these words out, but you’ve never felt more sure. 

He says nothing. 

You lean in closer, close enough that if he was uninjured he could easily have you back in control, but with his jaw wired shut and his lack of mobility, he can’t do a thing. Nerves flutter up your body as you lean in, and you’re sure he can smell Yunho and Mingi on you, but the guarantee that he can’t touch you is filling you with a sick sense of power, of sure joy. 

“You tried and you failed,” You tell him, and he huffs, “and that’s on you.”

His cheek twitches and you’re sure he’d be clenching his jaw if he could do it without exceptional pain. 

“You’ll do this for me, you owe me,” You hold his gaze despite the flutter of fear it brings you, “and if you don’t, I don’t care what it takes. I’ll see you in court and if that doesn’t work, I’ll make sure that you never, ever get hired again. Every studio in Korea will know what you did, and every omega in Seoul will know what you really are, and if you ever get close to me again after today I’ll break your jaw myself.” 

His eyes flick down. 

“Do you understand me?” You repeat, enunciating clearly. 

He nods once. 

“Good,” You push back from him and get some distance, “get the charges against all of them dropped by tomorrow and I’ll call and withdraw mine. Don’t ever come back to the studio, if you left stuff there consider it gone.” 

He holds your gaze, and then he writes out a question - How do I know you’ll keep your word? 

“You don’t,” You shrug, “but I promise you I wouldn’t be here in this room with you at all if I wasn’t willing to drop them.” 

He turns your words over. 

“Minseok,” You sigh, “they mean more to me than watching you go to jail, please, just do the right thing.” 

He wipes his hand again across the whiteboard and then he shifts, looking back up to you to nod in agreement. 

“You’ll do it?” 

He nods again and then picks the marker back up to write something. 

“Don’t,” You stop him, “there’s nothing you can say I want to hear. Just do this and we’ll be done.” 

He looks away and without meeting your eyes again, he nods.

“Don’t make me come back,” You press him, but he doesn’t respond and that will have to be enough. You’ve done what you came to do. 

You’re out of his room in a flash, back through the security doors and quick past the front desk. You don’t spare a single glance at the nurse who broke the rules for you, you just need to get out of here before you let the reality of what you’ve done hit you sideways. You don’t let a single thing consume you until you’re out of the hospital and on the street again, and you sink down onto the first available bench. 

Your heart is pounding, hands trembling. You need to get this under control before you go home because the last thing you want is to cause Yunho and Mingi anymore stress or heartache. You give yourself some time to come back into your body, to forget the hard set of Minseok’s eyes and the way his fingers twitched when you got too close, the way you fought the curling panic in your gut to get the words out. 

When you do feel whole again, you order a taxi back. You’ve been gone a while, probably a little longer than they expected, and you hope they’re not worried.

Using Mingi’s borrowed key, you slip into the apartment and let their scents wash over you, soothing you instantly. You shut the door quietly behind you and toe off your shoes before calling out, “Is anyone home?” 

You hear movement immediately, Mingi from the kitchen and Yunho from his bedroom and it fills you with warmth. 

“Hey,” Mingi gets to the living room first, “how was your walk?” 

“Really good,” You tell him, and that’s the truth. The walk itself was nice until you cut it short with your little errand. 

“You look good,” He smiles, and Yunho appears from his side of the apartment as Mingi continues, “fresher,” 

“Yeah,” You sigh, “it’s a beautiful morning out,” 

“Hey,” Yunho says, smiling at the sight of you. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t wake you,” You say, “I just wanted to clear my head a bit, so I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed your key,” 

Mingi shakes his head as you hang his keyring up by the door. 

“We’ll have to get one made for you,” Yunho says, “if you want,” 

You let the implication of that lie and you nod, but excitement sparks in your belly.

“Is there any coffee?” You ask, moving into the apartment and heading towards the kitchen. You need to tell them where you’ve been, but you just need a breath before you can. 

“Mhm,” Mingi says, “I just made a cup,” 

“Oh,” You shake your head, “I don’t want to take yours, I’ll make my own.” 

“No, no,” He slides behind you and presses a kiss to your hair as he does, “take it, I’ll make another. Yunho, do you want one?” 

“I’m good,” He replies, coming to stand next to you at the small kitchen island. 

Mingi looks like he’s thinking about something as he finishes off your cup of coffee and throws an electric kettle back on to make another pourover, but Yunho draws your attention away. 

“Jagi,” He starts, “I don’t mean to… well, can we talk to you about something?” 

“Sure,” You angle towards him, his words making you a little nervous, “is everything okay?” 

“Absolutely,” He assures you, brushing his hand down the length of your arm, “but Mingi and I were talking while you were gone, about how to handle everything with these charges,” 

“Oh,” His timing is impeccable. 

“We just want to include you,” He says, squeezing your hand, “and make sure we’re handling things the way we should, but it might be smart to try and hire a lawyer before this goes any further,” 

You’re not sure how you’re supposed to say this. 

“We talked to Seonghwa and he agrees,” Yunho continues, “this will be the easiest way to protect all of us,”

“Yunho,” You start, “hang on,”

“If this is upsetting we can talk about it later,” Yunho adds, “but Seonghwa has some connections through his parents, he wants to make some calls.” 

Your stomach twists at the idea of Seonghwa needing to lean on a favor from his parents, and every choice you made that morning becomes perfectly validated with just that thought. You would never, ever let him do that, not after everything he’s done for you.  

“It’s not upsetting,” You assure Yunho, trying to interject, “I just don’t think that will be necessary,” 

“Getting a lawyer?” He clarifies. 

“Yeah,” You swallow hard and glance at Mingi, “I don’t think we’ll need to.” 

“I mean, having representation would be best,” Yunho says, “I know it’s stressful, but we need to be careful,” 

“Right,” You sigh, needing him to give you a breath to explain, “that’s if there’s a suit,” 

“Well sure, but,” Yunho starts but the penny drops for Mingi. 

“Tell me you didn’t,” Mingi turns to you fully and the words die on Yunho’s lips as he plays catch up. 

You stay quiet, holding his gaze, but when you let out a soft breath he sets his coffee back down. 

“y/n,” Mingi says, voice serious and leaving Yunho visibly more and more confused, “tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.” 

“I took care of it,” You settle on the most neutral words you can. 

“No,” He shakes his head, “you can’t just say that, you have to give us more than that.” 

“I was planning on it,” You push past Yunho to approach Mingi, resting your hands on his upper arms as you get closer into his space, “I swear, you just guessed it too fast,” 

“You smell like the hospital,” He explains, his nose crinkled up. 

“Whoa, whoa,” Yunho finally catches up, “why were you at the hospital?”

You just have to say it, “I talked to Minseok,” 

“Absolutely not,” Yunho pushes around the island and closer to you, “are you insane?” 

“He’s completely incapacitated,” You tell them both, “he couldn’t have touched me even if he wanted to,” 

“Yes, but you didn’t know that!” Yunho presses, his voice running high in surprise, but you can see he’s doing his best to keep level and cool. 

“Look at me,” You settle him, “do I look hurt? Upset?”

“No,” He admits with a puff of dejected air. 

“Am I myself?” You take both their hands in yours. 

“Yes,” Mingi admits. 

“Okay,” You sigh, “now stop freaking out and listen to me, because I promise you I’m perfectly fine,” 

Mingi nods once, and Yunho stays silent, which is enough for you to do what you need to do. 

“I went there to talk him out of the charges he’s filing,” You explain, “and I guess… I just wanted to understand what he did, so I wanted to talk to him.” 

“And?” Yunho prompts. 

“He’s an asshole,” You start. 

“Did he touch you?” Mingi asks, his voice a little tight and thready, “Say anything to you?” 

“No,” You promise, tugging him closer until his hands are properly on you, “come here,” 

“You can tell us if he did,” Yunho’s fingertips stroke a gentle pattern over the back of your neck, “we’re not angry, we just want to help,” 

“Speak for yourself, I still want to kill him,” Mingi says sharply. 

“Hey,” Yunho nudges him, “chill,” 

“Both of you relax,” You interject and they fall silent, “he didn’t do anything, he couldn’t even talk, his jaw is fully wired shut,” 

Yunho huffs a laugh, “Good,” 

You smile, “Honestly, he looked pretty pathetic,” 

“He is pretty pathetic,” Mingi points out. 

“Right,” You sigh, “well, aside from some choice words written out on a whiteboard, he didn’t have much to say or do. I explained that if he didn’t drop his charges things would be much worse for him in the long run… and he saw reason.” 

“He agreed to that?” Mingi’s eyes go wide. 

“Mhm,” 

“Why?” Yunho’s brows draw together, “Not out of the goodness of his heart, I assume,” 

“No,” You shake your head, “but when I tell you, I need you both to promise me you won’t be angry.” 

“That’s unfair,” Yunho says. 

“Just say it,” Mingi nods, “we won’t know until we know.” 

You chew the inside of your lip as you search for the right way to say this, and you know they’ll be upset no matter what, but they deserve honesty. You nod, “I agreed to drop my charges if he drops his,” 

They’re silent, deathly silent. 

“y/n,” Yunho swallows tightly as he gets his voice even, “why would you do that?” 

“He didn’t want to listen to me at first,” You explain, “and I thought it through on the walk. That’s the only piece of leverage we have right now,” 

“But he did something wrong, he should be held accountable,” Mingi exclaims, taking a full step away from you and running a hand through his hair. 

“You heard the questions the police asked me,” You interject, “how close was I to my next heat? Did I know Minseok was in pre-rut? Why did I stay in the room if he was making me uncomfortable? What was I wearing?” 

“But it wasn’t your fault,” Yunho insists, “he used tone, that’s fucking illegal,” 

“I said he used tone,” You counter quietly, “but he’ll say he didn’t and he’ll say I got confused or misunderstood. He’ll use our relationship against you both, and my relationship with Seonghwa to paint… a very particular kind of picture about me. We all know what he did but I’m telling you, legally? We’re on the losing side,” 

“But,” Mingi shakes his head, “that’s…” 

“I know,” You nod, “believe me, I know.” 

“You should have taken us with you,” Yunho says quietly, “we could have talked to him for you,” 

You shake your head, “No,” you need them to understand, “you got to hit him… you got to do something, I didn’t get to do anything but be fucking scared,”

His expression softens, “Oh,” 

“You protected me when I needed you,” You feel tears welling up now at the thought of it, “it’s my turn to protect you,” 

They’re so quiet, watching you carefully. 

“Nothing is taking you away from me again,” You say it, plain and clear, “nothing is taking away you or my friends, I won’t let that happen,” 

Mingi’s arms fold around you fast as he tucks you into his chest and you feel Yunho step close too, laying a warm palm on your back as he leans into you both. 

“Whatever you want, we’ll do it,” Mingi murmurs, “okay?” 

You nod, closing your eyes as you snuggle into the warmth of him. 

“And we’ll handle it together,” Yunho says, “but don’t make this decision for us, make it for you. We,” Yunho’s voice trails, but then he clears his throat and says what he wants to say anyways, “we love you. No matter what happens,” 

“I know,” You sigh, snaking an arm out of Mingi’s hold to find Yunho’s hand and tuck him a little closer too, “but I’m sure,” 

“I hate to state the obvious here,” Mingi pulls back from you so he can look at you both, “but if he’s not charged with anything, then he’s a free man.” 

That thought does make your stomach flip, but you knew that when you walked into the hospital room, “I know,” 

“It’s your choice,” Mingi reiterates, “but I still don’t know if I’m comfortable taking that kind of risk with you.” 

“I don’t even want to think about that,” Yunho says, his hands finding your shoulders as he tucks closer behind you. 

The image of Minseok’s face when you asked about his dance career flickers through your mind and you smile, “I think he got the picture,” 

“y/n,” Mingi’s voice is hesitant. 

“I told him in no uncertain terms,” You can’t get the smile off your face now, “that if he came anywhere near me again I’d break his jaw myself.” 

“You didn’t,” Yunho looks down to see your face. 

“I did,” You nod, “and before you freak out again, please remember that I’m here and totally fine in front of you,” 

Mingi gives you a truly withering look but lets you speak. 

“Honestly,” You breathe, “you should have seen him, he was lying there and could barely move, and when he didn’t want to drop the charges at first, I kind of got in his face,” 

Yunho’s hands tighten on your shoulders and Mingi scrubs a hand over his face, “Don’t tell me that,” 

“But I did,” You press your palms flat against Mingi’s chest, “I told him that if he didn’t drop his charges he would never get rid of me, I told him I’d make his life hell, and he couldn’t even move. He couldn’t touch me,” 

Mingi’s quiet, his eyes flicking up to Yunho behind you. Yunho sighs, dropping his forehead to rest against your hair and then his arms relax, wrapping around you from behind. 

“I really hate this story,” Yunho says, “but I’m also really proud of you,” 

“Me too,” Mingi’s hand closes over both of yours to give you a squeeze. 

“I just wish you had told us,” Yunho admits. 

“If I had told you I was going there you would have never let me go alone,” You point out. 

“Exactly,” Yunho’s arms tighten. 

You turn your head to press your lips to his arm where it wraps around your shoulder, and you nuzzle a little into his warm skin, “You know why I had to go though, right? You get it?” 

He nods against your head. 

Mingi smooths his hand up and down your forearm, “We do,” 

“I just hate the thought of him seeing you again,” Yunho admits, lifting his head and readjusting you in his arms, “or being close to you at all,” 

“I know,” You lean back into his embrace, “but this is the thing, he got to see me be fine after what he did,” 

“And you got to see him,” Mingi puts two and two together with ease and nods, “and he looked pathetic?” 

“More than that,” You smile, “he looked… afraid.” 

“Good,” Mingi says firmly. 

You remember the way he looked in that hospital bed, his eyes darting around the room. He shrank back when you got close, no doubt the scent of Yunho and Mingi lingering on your skin, and you smile up at them at the thought, “He was terrified my alphas were with me,”

Yunho’s lips quirk and he leans around you to meet your eyes, “He wasn’t afraid of us, sweetheart, he was afraid of you.” 

“No,” You laugh that off, but they don’t join in and Mingi makes a funny expression at your words. 

Yunho slides away, shoulder to shoulder with Mingi now as he looks down at you, “Yes, y/n,” he shakes his head, “he was vulnerable and alone and stuck in a hospital bed, and you’re…” 

“A powerful fucking omega,” Mingi supplies. 

Yunho nods, “And he knows that you could ruin the rest of his life.” 

You don’t know what to say. 

“y/n,” Mingi sighs, tugging you in until your bodies are close together, “if you ever do something that reckless again, I’ll lose my mind,”

You move to lift your head and push back, to keep trying to get him to understand why this was so important for you to do alone and why you made the choices you made, but he stops you short. 

“But,” He adds, kissing the top of your head, “it was also very brave, and I love you for it.” 

“Yeah?” You nudge him. 

“Yeah,” He admits. 

“I do wish I could have seen it,” Yunho grins, “that asshole scared of you,” 

Mingi’s hands slide to your hips, tightening their grip and he swallows hard, “Our fierce little omega,” 

A ripple of something needy and unexpected passes through your belly, “Is that what I am?” 

Yunho steps closer, finding a home for his hands on your body too, “You called us your alphas,” he says softly, “isn’t that what we are?” 

Mingi’s thumbs brush a warm steady pattern into your hips and you feel yourself melting into their hands, “Yes,” 

“That makes you our omega, sweetheart,” Yunho eyes flick from yours to your lips. 

The way they say omega to you doesn’t sound cold. It doesn’t sound cruel or commanding, no undertone of ownership despite the content of their words. When they say it all you hear is love. 

“Say that again,” You murmur softly. 

Mingi smiles, lifting his eyes to watch you.  

Yunho dips closer, his lips dangerously close, “Our omega?” 

You nod a little, heat flushing your cheeks. 

“Our omega,” He repeats, pressing his lips to yours. He waits to make sure you want it, he waits to feel you twist in their arms and reach up for him, and then he lets his body follow his thoughts, lips opening and his tongue dipping into your mouth. 

Mingi’s hand shifts, spreading wide over your lower belly, his fingertips at the waistband of your pants. You’re not ready for that, and you hope he doesn’t notice the way you twitched in his hands when he first adjusted his grip, but either way he makes no move to take anything further. Neither of them do. Despite Yunho’s lips on yours, and the breath between you both, his hands stay put on your back and your cheek while Mingi just holds you, patient and soft at your side. 

When your lips break from Yunho, settling back down your heels after pushing up on tiptoe, Mingi uses his grip on you to spin you to face him, his mouth finding yours with ease. 

You hum pleasantly against his mouth, your hands gripping his broad shoulders for balance. 

“Ours,” Mingi murmurs between kisses, and then his hands spread to your backside, maneuvering you up into his arms in one quick motion, “you’re ours,” 

You wrap your legs around his middle and sink into the kiss, “I’m yours,” 

“Fuck, I missed you,” He mumbles between kisses, nuzzling your cheek with his nose. 

You nod against him, stealing one more kiss before you lean back, still perched comfortably with your legs around his waist. You smooth a hand over Mingi’s cheek and then reach for your other lover to bring him close, drawing him in by the hand until he’s nestled against both of your sides. Yunho’s hand reaches around to cup under your thigh and you settle your own hand on the back of Yunho’s neck, fingers stroking the shaggy bottom of his dark hair.

“This is nice,” Mingi smiles a little, eyes flicking between you and Yunho. 

Yunho nods, his free hand settling on Mingi’s back. 

“I can’t believe I convinced myself that we weren’t scent sympathetic,” You sigh a small, unfunny laugh, “this just feels so right,” 

“Knowing it and knowing it are two different things,” Mingi says, emphasizing the word. 

“I guess so,” 

“And it’s not like all scent matches work out,” Yunho adds, “we still have to work at it,” 

You nod, relaxing into their hold, “I want that,” 

“We do too,” Mingi squeezes your thigh a little with his wide hand. 

It’s funny how different it all feels now than months ago during your first panicked heat here, how settled you are with everything. You glance between them and ask the obvious, “When we go back to work, what are we this time?” 

“Pack,” Mingi says easily and your head snaps to his, eyebrows high. 

“Mingi,” You blink at him, surprised at his easy reference to such a permanent state of being. Scent matches and compatibility is one thing, but pack is something so much more. All of it flickers in your mind - claims, bonds, tying you together permanently. 

“Someday,” Yunho interjects smoothly, giving you a soft, reassuring kiss to the head, “far in the future, if you’ll have us.” 

“Someday,” The word slips out of you like an agreement, and despite all the fears shared with Wooyoung earlier, you do want them like that. You want to someday be able to give each other that.  

“Then we’re pack,” Mingi lights up at your words, “officially, unofficially, I don’t care. You’re with us, we’re with you.” 

Your body fills with warmth, but you can feel your heart rate picking up. 

Yunho smiles, “What did they used to call that back in the day?” 

“Courting,” You fill in the blank for him, and the word feels strangely old fashioned considering the fact that you’ve already spent a heat with them. When packs were more common, groups of alphas would court compatible omegas until it was sure they were a good match in more ways than just scent. The implication then was something more akin to a modern engagement and you can’t believe after everything you’ve been through with these two men, this is the conversation you’re having suddenly so casually in their kitchen. 

“Well,” Yunho laughs, “we don’t have to call it that,” 

“We’re,” You trail off, trying to find the words, “dating?” 

“Partners?” Yunho offers a slightly less casual word. 

“Together,” Mingi cuts in, “that’s what we are. We’re your alphas, we belong to you, and you,” he draws you closer in his arms to press a soft kiss on your lips, “are our omega.” 

“And at work?” You trail off. 

“We’ll be ourselves,” Yunho suggests, “people probably already know after last week anyways,” 

Mingi nods, dipping forward and pressing a kiss to your lips, “No more pretending we don’t mean something to each other,” 

“No more pretending,” You shift in his arms, wrapping your arms properly around his shoulders so that you’re hugging each other tightly. 

Mingi hums appreciatively, his breath warm against your hair and then he chuckles a little as he readjusts you in his arms, “Is it too fast if I start calling you yeobo, though? I feel like it suits you,” 

You pull back from the hug, “We’re not married, Mingi,” you remind him, “and I didn’t hear a proposal,” 

“You want to get proposed to, baby?” He teases and you shove his chest. 

“Knock it off,” Yunho smacks the back of Mingi’s head, “our relationship doesn’t have to break the sound barrier,” 

“I’m kidding,” Mingi squeezes you, shifting to take a few steps and deposit you on the kitchen counter before stepping back with a quick peck on your lips. 

“Hmm,” Yunho rolls his eyes and slumps back against the counter next to you, one wide hand smoothing over your thigh, “we just got you back, I’d like to avoid scaring you off,” 

“I’m not scared,” You shake your head, and as you say it, you realize it’s true. Six months ago you would have balked at Mingi’s veiled promise of his intentions, you would have told them all their hormones were mixed up and confused. You would have told yourself the same. It feels strange to feel completely at peace with the idea of a real someday with them. 

Yunho’s eyebrow quirks up in a question at your words and Mingi grins, a little self satisfied. 

“Actually,” You exhale heavily and straighten up, “I talked to Wooyoung yesterday and he helped me figure some things out,” 

“Things?” Mingi asks. 

“Um,” Your pounds in your chest, “yeah,” 

Yunho gives you an encouraging squeeze to keep going. 

You meet his eyes and take the leap, “Can you make that call? For me to talk with someone?” 

He softens and nods, “I’ll do it first thing,” 

“Okay,” You say, taking another deep breath, “then there’s one more thing to tell you,” 

Mingi doesn’t say anything, but he steps back closer to you, resting his hand on your opposite thigh. 

“It’s my turn to ask you to be patient,” You give them both an anxious, close lipped smile. 

“We’re listening,” Mingi soothes you. 

“Okay,” You take both their hands in yours, “here goes. The idea of bonding with you both is kind of sending me into a tailspin right now, and I’m terrified that it’s something I’m never going to get over. Wooyoung told me to talk to someone to work through that and I want to. I thought about it all day, and the truth is that I want to be with you both for as long as you’ll have me. You feel like you’re mine, now more than ever, and I’m scared, but I’m also scared of not trying,” 

“And if I can be yours like this for now,” You continue, “without bonds like you said, pack even if it’s unofficial, then maybe I can work through this and make it official someday. I’m just scared your definition of ‘far in the future’ and my definition are different though, and I,” 

“Fuck bonds,” Mingi interrupts, moving to cup both your cheeks and draw your eyes to his, “that shit doesn’t matter to me at all. We’re together by choice, not by claim. If you want my bite someday, I’ll give it to you, but you won’t ever hear me ask, alright? Never.” 

“Me too,” Yunho’s hand brushes down your hair, coming to rest on the back of your neck, “as far as I’m concerned it’s secondary, I don’t care what anyone thinks. I’d sooner leave you than push you into a bond you aren’t ready for,” 

You jolt forwards, throwing an arm around each of their shoulders and nearly slipping off the counter when you do, but they hold you steady as you pull them in. 

“We just want you,” Mingi’s rough, low voice murmurs, “just this.” 

You feel their warmth, the steady thrum of each of their heartbeats, their scents curling around you like a safe, easy memory. The words find themselves right on the tip of your tongue again, only this time, this time they come. 

“I love you,” You take in a sharp, emotional breath as you get yourself together, overwhelmed by their words, “I love you both so much,” 

Yunho dips back to find your mouth, locking his lips on yours and sighing a breath of true relief against your mouth, “I love you too, sweetheart,”

Mingi redirects your gaze with his fingers on your jaw the moment Yunho starts to lean back and he kisses you hard, leaving you gripping his shirt for balance, “I love you,”

“God,” You smile, every part of your body alight with joy, “I think we might be crazy, but I don’t care,” 

“Good,” Yunho glances between you both, “because I think I’m having a crazy idea,” 

“What idea?” 

“Move in,” He blurts out, and he can’t stop smiling, “fuck giving you a key, fuck calling you our girlfriend. Move in properly, be ours. If we’re together, let’s be together, we’ve lost enough time,” 

“Who’s moving fast now?” Mingi says, but he’s smiling too. 

Everything in your body feels right, feels safe. You’ve been calling this home for days, and you’ve been calling them yours in your head for so much longer. 

You’re nodding before your mouth can catch up with your brain, “Okay, okay, yes, let’s do it,” 

Yunho pulls you up into his arms and holds you close, peppering kisses across your temple, “We’ll figure everything else out later, but at least we’ll be together,” 

“Thank God,” You melt into his embrace, meeting Mingi’s eyes over Yunho’s shoulder, “because I really didn’t want to leave,” 

“No leaving this time,” Mingi smiles softly as Yunho nods his head against yours. 

“Mm-mm,” You shake your head, agreeing with his words. 

“We’ll get everything from your place as soon as we can, make it official,” Mingi adds. 

You nod, and then a thought occurs to you, “Is there even enough room for me here?” 

Yunho unwraps himself from around you and nods, “We’ll need a bigger bed,”

“For a start,” Mingi nods, “and you need a nest,” 

“Yeah?” Your very own nest, a real one. 

“Oh, babe,” Mingi finds your hand, tugging you in, “you’re about to get fucking spoiled, anything you want, we’ll figure it out.” 

“You don’t have to, I just want to be here,” You tell them. 

“Doesn’t matter,” Yunho says, “we’ve waited for you for so long,” 

“Too long,” Mingi wraps his arms around you both, “way too long,” 

It doesn’t matter anymore what pushed you into their arms, what kind of day you’ve had, everything you’ve had to get through. Not a thing in the world matters but this choice, the safe home of their arms, three of you against the world like it was always meant to be. 

Aurorise | ateez x reader

Pairing: prince!ateez x dancer!reader

Genre: royalty, historical fiction, poly, adventure

Word Count: 1568 words

Summary: The story of how you, a dancer, upheaved an entire monarchy all by falling in love with eight princes.

a/n: from the poll, the next post will be college!ateez! :) Enjoy! <3

Aurorise - A kingdom where dawn's first light paints everyday masterpieces. (Reference: Kingdom Ideas)

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As far as you recall, you weren't supposed to come back home. When you joined the travelling dance group, your plan entailed travelling from kingdom to kingdom and settling in whichever one promised a fruitful life.

The kingdom you grew up in, Aurorise, reigned with a dysfunctional monarchy and an impulsive King whose decisions were based on his emotions rather than logic, and this was often to the detriment of his kingdom. He had 16 sons, who formed their own groups consisting of 8 each. And his wives divided themselves similarly, in support of the ones in the line to succession. You had no business with how the royals lived their lives but their irresponsibility took a toll on the betterment of the village. The King’s decadent lifestyle was a clear symbol of the excesses of the ruling class.

Your family didn't want to leave. Your father, who had once been close friends with the King, was ready to lend support to the monarchy if needed like a true patriot as he saw himself, and your mom wanted to be by his side as a dutiful wife.

 However, she did urge you to pursue your life elsewhere because you deserved to live a good life that felt right for you. So much to the disappointment of your father, you ventured out into the world and became a world renown dancer alongside your trusted friend, Hoshi.

Together, the two of you along with some friends, established yourselves as an acclaimed dance group known as Lumiere - a radiant group, sparkling in gold ensembles with a gentle glow and performed with grand splendour and flamboyance. 

Until, one day, you received a letter from your cousin requesting your group’s presence and attendance in celebration of her alliance to Prince Chan, the Crown Prince and first in line to the throne.

Now you didn't dislike your cousin, rather, the two of you hardly ever exchanged conversations with one another. Because while you focused on seeing and touring the world, she focused on being selected as a possible betrothed to one of the princes. Her wish came true and you hardly ever saw her again. Your father urged you to do the same but you disagreed, not wanting a life bounded by strict rules and expectations.

At first you considered not going, but as you continued to read the letter, it felt as if there was a sense of urgency coming from your cousin’s message to attend and so, against your better judgement, you told Hoshi the circumstances.

Hoshi was more than happy to oblige and now, here you were, standing outside in front of the palace in the stupendous courtyard with the royal family just above you on the palace balcony and many guests gathered around.

In all honesty, you felt like a prey being watched from every angle and direction. While you waited patiently alongside him, Hoshi’s gaze was fixed on your cousin standing next to Prince Chan in the balcony. Sadness washed over his features as he looked on and realising the distant look in his eyes, you gave a reassuring nudge to ask if he was okay. He snapped out of daze and smiled at you, looking away to the other end of the courtyard.

This was one of the reasons you didn't want to come. Your cousin and Hoshi had a past history with each other, one that ended terribly for the latter. He loved her dearly and she possibly had feelings for him at one point but ultimately, their fates led them elsewhere, away from each other.

Hoshi never talked about it and he never spoke ill of your cousin or the monarchy. He continued to live his life, following his dreams and passions with a smile plastered on his face every time you saw him.

You were snapped out of your thoughts as it was announced that the King had arrived and behind him eight of his sons strolled in. You recognized this group instantly. They called themselves Ateez and were regarded as the rebellious group of princes. Prince Seonghwa, the oldest, is second in line to the throne and was the only one, perhaps besides Prince Yunho and Prince Jongho, who actually followed the rules of the court.

Prince Hongjoong and Prince Mingi didn't care; they did whatever they want when they felt like it. Meanwhile, Prince Yeosang was known to be sleeping most of the time while Prince San and Prince Wooyoung are a duo who revelled in causing chaos and mischief.

Their other eight brothers who addressed themselves as Stray Kids, tended to follow the rules a bit more because of Chan’s imminent succession to the throne, but would find themselves at times revelling in mischief and tricks like Prince San and Prince Wooyoung.

Knowing this made you become fully aware of the fact that Prince Chan might be the only saving grace for this kingdom, and perhaps Prince Seonghwa to some extent. The rest of the princes seemed iffy.

In the meantime, you wanted to go home. You preferred being at home while your mother prepared delicious treats than standing in the palace courtyard in the blistering hot sun with haughty nobles.

But then, when one of Her Highnesses began to chastise your cousin extremely loudly for everyone to hear and hurling spiteful comments at your cousin’s meek attempts to explain things, you found yourself clinking your anklets as a response to siding with your cousin.

The King found your retaliation amusing as no one dared to oppose any of his wives. He signalled you out of your group to the centre of the courtyard.

"What's your name?"

You bowed respectfully as you answered, "Y/L/N Y/N, Your Highness."

"Y/L/N?” he asked, the name felt familiar to him, “Are you Y/L/N's daughter?"

"Yes Your Highness." 

"Hm, you were not there for the selection for the bethorals though."

"I was not in the Kingdom at the time, Your Highness. My group and I were performing in another kingdom."

"Your group?” he watched your group at the side, “What's the name of your dance group?"

"Lumiere, Your Highness."

"Do you mean, the most renowned and currently talked about dance group?"

"Yes Your Highness."

"The most well-known dance group is from this kingdom and there has never been a performance!" The King suddenly bellowed.

No one muttered a word as the King looked around, waiting for someone to answer.

“Well!?” he yelled

You responded gracefully, "We tried to perform at the Kingdom's banquets a few times, Your Highness. But we were rejected every time. We left afterwards and began performing in other kingdoms."

"Hm,” he grumbled, “Well you will perform now."

"Excuse me Your Highness," one of Her Highnesses interrupted, the one who ridiculed your cousin, "But this insolent girl was rude to me. She needs to be punished!"

"I said, they will perform now." The King reprimanded.

Her Highness pursed her lips and stayed quiet, seething with anger and eyed you with contempt.

"You may begin." The King announced.

You glanced at Hoshi who gave an encouraging smile.

"Hoshi-ya." You sang.

"Yes ma'am?" He sang cheerily.

"Shall we dance?"

You clinked your anklets as a sign for the drummer to begin playing, and he followed the rhythm of your anklets to the beat of the drum. The two of you began your performance that enthralled the entire crowd. 

Your performance was a riot of colours, as you twirled, your skirt flared around like a fiery halo and you were a whirlwind of energy with your feet almost barely touching the floor while your body bent and moved to the rhythm of the music. As the melody played, you and Hoshi moved in sync, each twirl and step in perfect harmony with each other. The performance was an expression of opulence and exuberance. All eyes were transfixed on your group with complete awe and fascination.

Little did you know, eight pairs of those eyes were that of the eight princes. You had caught their attention, bewitched and enchanted them with your talent and they watched with enthusiasm and attentiveness. Surprisingly, they also felt a twinge of jealousy as Hoshi grabbed you by the waist gently and spun you around gracefully.

Your performance ended with you sitting on the ground and your gaze to the floor. The applause was thunderous but you did not know about the princes' interest until, a red veil was thrown from the balcony and landed on top of you, covering you completely.

Your eyes widened in shock. In your culture, red veils are for brides and brides-to-be. Brides-to-be would be gifted a red veil that was selected by their future husband to wear on the wedding day, signifying the union between the two. As a result, a gesture like this would have your people whispering and talking.

You grabbed the hems of the veil with shaky hands and lifted it slowly to see who was bold enough to do something like this. The applause had died down and silence filled the courtyard.

Looking up, you saw the culprit leaning over the balcony with a smile on his face, making sure it was known that he was the one who did it. Behind him, stood the rest of his brothers looking at you expectantly.

You couldn't believe it.

Prince Choi San beamed radiantly, looking at you with adoring eyes.

Ahhhh I was waiting for this one and it did not disappoint 😋😍

the parent trap | KHJ

part 1 of the Night in Hollywood!series

☆ trope: exes to lovers!au, divorced!au

☆ pairing: producer!hongjoong x designer!reader, dad!joong x mom!reader

☆ warnings: nsfw (mdni), swearing, mentions of food, mentions of food poisoning, female desc. reader, drinking, suggestiveness, smut, slight!breeding kink, oral sex (f. receiving), overstim, unprotected sex (wrap before you tap!) nipple play, titty sucking, marking, praise, slightdom!joong, blond!joong bc that itself is too much for me, mentions of (early) pregnancy, you’re both in your early thirties and make an unbelievably stubborn couple in this!

☆ synopsis: AS DIVORCED PARENTS to two twin daughters, you and hongjoong have your fair share of work cut out. Driving to piano lessons, cheering at hockey games, drop offs at each other’s houses, it can all be a little much. But could a relaxing summer retreat as a whole family possibly rekindle past emotions you’ve swept under the rug? . . .

☆ word count: 18.1k

☆ playlist: soulful strut by young-holt unlimited, l-o-v-e by nat king cole, just the way you are by billy joel, slipping through my fingers by abba, this will be (an everlasting love) by natalie cole

☆ a/n: it’s finally here. I can’t believe I’m writing this and saying it’s finally here oh my goodness. first off, thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me with the series so far (shoutout to @kitten4sannie , @byuntrash101 and especially @desirehorizon for being amazing!) everyone’s sweet comments have been greatly appreciated, and I just hope this silly little fic brings a smile to your everyday lives.

ty for making writing worth it as a writer. now cue the opening credits!

“ABSOLUTELY NOT” Hongjoong says.

“But dadd,” she whines, clutching the wrinkled pamphlet closer to her chest. Eunseo’s small hands are covered in purple doodles her sister drew using a glitter pen. 

“Why not?” the girl complains, shrugging her shoulders. 

He sighs, pushing his glasses up with one hand as he continues typing away at the important document the producing company sent him on his laptop. He tries his best to reason with the child.

“Because, baby…” pausing to think for a moment before responding. “It would be hard for your mom and I to find a time that fits into our schedules. I’ve got work, and she must be busy as well.” 

Eunseo glares at her father’s excuse. 

Okay, yeah, the man knows it’s somewhat of a lie, himself. 

She continues to protest by shoving the advertising pamphlet in her dads face and blocking his view of the screen. Thankfully, Hongjoong is used to these sort of work distractions, expertly avoiding her by craning his neck sideways and continuing to type away.

“But dad, it’s an amazing cottage resort! They’ve got a lake where you can go swimming in, a forest hiking trail, a bonfire to roast marshmallows and even a diner less than fifteen minutes away! So if you end up burning the camp food like last time, we can just order and eat in! Isn’t that great?” She beams. 

He stops typing for a second, fingers hovering over the keyboard as he gives his first born a look that makes her immediately break into a sweet smile, batting her lashes and flashing him a look of innocence. 

“Please?” She begs, standing on the edge of her feet as she gazes up at him. “The last time we went was when Eunbyul and me were toddlers.” 

And how on earth could any dad’s heart not melt at the sight of his daughter trying to convince him about one harmless vacation? 

Hongjoong wheels his office chair back, turning so he could look her in the eyes properly and tuck a stray hair behind her ear. 

“Listen honey, I’m sorry, I really wish I could, but…” he trails off, looking back at the open tabs and file documents displayed on his computer.

Turning his head around and upon seeing a frown form on his daughter's face, he quickly reassures her. 

“Once you finish your final piano recital tomorrow and your mom picks your sister up to take her to her hockey game, how about we go fishing the weekend afterwards?” he suggests, brows raising.

“That’ll mean I have just the two of you all to myself.” Eunseo mumbles under her breath, quiet but insistent enough that he catches it. 

“But we’re supposed to be a family of four.” 

She sulks, thinking of how that would leave you, her mother, left out of their plans. The arms holding the pamphlet up, ultimately fall down in defeat. 

He places a peck on her forehead, patting her on the back. “You know, if you can get your mom to say yes, then I’ll think about it” he chuckles, knowing the highly unlikely probability of the event.

Adjusting his glasses, the producer goes back to his work, peeking his daughter slugging away from the corner of his eye. 

Eunseo slumps her shoulders in defeat as she walks out of her dads office, turning the corner to see her twin sister, Eunbyeol, pressing her ears near the door with her neck outstretched. Clearly she’s been caught in the middle of trying to overhear their conversation. 

The twin younger by fifteen seconds quickly rushes over, waiting expectantly.

“So? What did dad say?”

Eunseo exhales, throwing the information pamphlet away on the wooden floors and slumping against the living room couch. 

“He’s totally not buggin. Said he wants to take us fishing next weekend instead. Just us three.” she grumbles. 

Eunbyeol scrunches her nose at the idea. 

“But dad sucks at fishing.”

Her sister groans, kicking her small feet against the couch in frustration. “I know!” Eunbyeol starts to worry, coming to sit beside her.

“Then how on earth are we going to get mom and dad to get back with each other again? They haven’t been in the same room since we were like, five!”

Her twin sister scoffs, “First, we gotta get them to have a proper conversation with each other. They barely even talk when they drop us off at each other's houses.”

Nobody truly knows why you and Hongjoong had divorced so suddenly when the girls were young. Not even themselves.

All they were used to were cold stares and one word replies shared amongst their parents, refusing to find harmony in their co-parenting.

Frankly, your girls have had enough of the performance you were both trying to maintain, looking past your expressions to realize you and your husband still held feelings for the other. It was only a matter of time and place in order to set you two up together, thus, the idea of an intimate, family getaway came into their minds. 

After a few moments of letting her words hang in the air, Eunbyeol’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. 

“That’s it!”

The older twin looks up quizzically, watching her sister jump off the couch and gaze at her excitedly. 

“We’ll just have to force them to meet each other! We can always guilt trip them for dropping us off at their houses and making us play alone!”

Eunseo rolls her eyes at the idea. “Right, and how are we going to do that dummy? The only reason they’d do that, was if it was an emergency.”

Whoever said twin telepathy wasn’t a thing was a liar, because the second Eunseo catches onto what her sister is saying, the twins share a look of pure mischievousness, the gears in their brains working together as one. 

With hushed whispers and quiet giggles, the twins immediately begin conducting their plan in secrecy near the corner of the living room, backs turned and in the middle of discussion when Hongjoong walks out of his office with an empty coffee mug. 

“What are you guys doing over there?”

“Leave us alone! Family man traitor!” Eunbyeol shouts, holding a slightly hostile grudge to her father before turning back to whisper to her twin. 

Hongjoong shakes his head, sighing as he heads into the kitchen. 

“Then it’s perfect! I’ll stay here with dad once my piano recital is over, and then when Mom picks you up for your hockey game tomorrow, we’ll try convincing them together!”

Eunseo nods her head in agreement, eyes lighting up with excitement as she whispers in a hushed tone. 

“And once both events end, we’ll pretend to be so sick that they have to take us to the nearby hospital.”

The other twin smirks. ”Where we’ll end up guilt tripping them into taking us to the cottage.”

They double high five in victory at their flawless plan, already waiting for tomorrow to come as soon as possible.

“A summer cottage?” you repeated, brows raising at the idea as you made a left turn onto your street. 

Eunbyeol nods eagerly from the back seat after getting picked up, having ranted on and on about the ad in the pamphlet since the moment you saw her.

“It's an amazing establishment mom,” She boasts, making you laugh at her words while parking the car and unbuckling your seatbelt.

“They have everything you could possibly think of!”

“Oh, really?” You say skeptically, opening the door for her. 

Eunbyeol is lost in the middle of passionately describing all the relaxing activities you could do by yourself, or rather per se, with a special partner together. 

“There’s couples hiking retreats, couples canoeing, couples yoga… did I mention couples hiking retreats?” She confuses, retracing her words. 

You roll your eyes and smile, keys jangling as you walk through the entrance of your apartment flat while balancing the bags and items in your hands.

Being a wedding dress designer and yet picking up your daughter from your ex-husband's house could’ve been an ironic idea to some people. But after having split with Hongjoong since the girls were so young, you came to grow fond of having some independence as a divorcee, channeling your main focus into setting up your own bridal shop downtown. It was through that hard work and focus that you did it all by yourself with no additional help. You’d be lying if you said you haven't opened a bottle of red wine some nights due to loneliness as a divorced single mother, but at least that was what you had your daughters for. You made sure to work just as hard as you did enjoy playing and spending time with them. After all, they were the light of your life and purpose for living.

Balancing the pizza you picked up on the way home, you set it down on the kitchen island, telling Eunbyeol to go wash her hands in the sink. The girl doesn’t stop ranting.

“There’s usually only two rooms in the cottage, so you’ll have to sleep together with dad, but I guess you won't mind, would you? After all, you were once married” She rolls her eyes, reaching for the soap.

You shake your head with a sigh. ”What is up with you and getting me and your father together in the same room?” you muttered as you took out the plates and utensils. 

Eunbyeol eventually walks back to you, wiping her hands on her baggy jeans before sitting on the kitchen stool. 

“It’s not that I’m obsessed, Mom. Actually, Eunseo and I are just dying to get away this summer now that school is over.”

Turning around from plating the pizza and salad, you chastise your daughter, telling her to sit with her bum flat on the stool so she doesn’t fall. She immediately listens, carrying on with her persuasion. 

“We just want you and dad to get the chance to relax as well, that’s all!” her mouth full from a bite of hot, greasy pizza. 

You smile, wiping your washed hands on the kitchen towel and coming over to wrap your arms around her affectionately. 

“Spending time with you and Eunseo every week is how I relax,” you assured her, smothering your baby with kisses on her cheek.

Byeol lets out a squeal of annoyance, taking another bite of her pizza. “You’re squishing me!” She tries hiding her smile, failing when you lean in closer. 

You pull back in laughter, ruffling her hair as you walk away while reminding her.

“Oh! Don’t forget you’ve got your hockey game tonight!”

Byeol chews faster, munching on the soft crust and counting down the hours on the kitchen clock. 

She smiles to herself. 

“Don’t worry, I know!”

“What do you mean you need to go to the hospital?” Hongjoong asks in a worried voice, standing against the women’s washroom stall. He holds Eunseo’s congratulatory flower bouquet for first place in hand, feeling the stares of multiple women passing by, clearly judging him for being in the ladies room with them. 

“Honey, is everything all right?” He asks worriedly. A string of groans come from behind the door.

“You need to leave!” one old lady thrusts her walking cane at the father, lips pursed in dissatisfaction. 

Eunseo did such a phenomenal job tonight for her piano recital, that Hongjoong was shocked to see his daughter clutch her stomach first thing after running down the steps of the stage, dashing to the washrooms.

He whips his head back. “My daughter’s having a bit of a situation in here, okay miss? Have a bit of understanding!” He barks frustratedly out loud to the onlookers before speaking softly back to the stall door. 

“Eunseo, baby, talk to me, is everything alright in there? Are you sure you need to go to the hospital? Is it that bad?” 

The girl continues her acting performance, letting out fake groans while typing furiously on her cellphone. 

“Oh the pain! I think I might have food poisoning, dad!”

Seolie: How far along are u

Byeolie: Mom’s outside, banging to come in. 

Seolie: same, I told dad I needed to go to the hospital.

Eunseo lets out another groan of pain, causing Hongjoong to worry even more. 

“That’s it, Eunseo. Let me in and help you” he decides, searching his bag for a painkiller or at least some sort of medication for relief. 

The girl frantically checks her phone, eyes lighting up at the new message. 

Byeolie: Mom’s getting the car to take me to the hospital. I’ve got her convinced to call dad soon.

Eunseo types as fast as her small fingers can move, even faster than when she performed her piano solo from before. 

Seolie: Then what do I do????

Hongjoong gets slightly suspicious at the lack of sound coming from the stall, calling to his daughter again.

“Eunseo? Everything alright?”

At the next notification, the girl makes up her mind, getting the signal from her sister. 

Byeolie: play dead. Mom calling soon. See ya there.

The actress gets into character, gaining her composure before unlocking the washroom stall and holding her stomach as she stumbles into her dad’s surprised arms. 

“Eunseo!”

She wails, falling limp. “Oh, dad! Please! Take me to the hospital, it hurts too much!”

It’s truly a mystery which parent she got her acting skills from.

But she doesn’t have to tell him twice at that point. The man is already piggy backing his fainted daughter and sprinting out of the ladies washroom, reassuring her with soothing comments as he makes a beeline for the parking lot.

“Stay with me baby!” He huffs, unbeknownst to Eunseo who peeks one eye open. 

Only after he straps his daughter in the backseat and is turning on the engine does he receive a sudden phone call from you, pressing the speaker for the whole car to hear your panicked voice. You break the news to him first. 

“Eunbyeol’s severely sick. She fainted right after her hockey game.”

Hongjoong’s eyes widened. “What?”

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “She was holding her stomach saying she ate something wrong. Is Eunseo okay?” 

Hongjoong puts the stick into drive, backing out of the parking lot and replying in a hurry.

“She’s hit with the same thing right now. I’ll meet you at the Hospital in ten” he grunts, sweat forming on his brow as he speeds through traffic, not caring if he gets a ticket. 

Had he looked in his rear view mirror, he would have seen Eunseo sagging near the car door, clutching her stomach with a small grin on her face.

You never liked the hospital. 

The sounds of babies crying and hospital beds wheeling become the background noise, shifting nervously in your seat that was in the emergency pediatrics unit waiting area. 

Hongjoong has his eyebrows furrowed, hunched over one seat beside you as he hangs his head in his hands, knees bouncing up and down. A middle aged nurse nasally calls on the next family waiting from the front desk, boredom laced in her voice. 

You sigh, uncrossing your legs and choosing to bite at the fingernail on your right hand once realizing you’ve already done the same to all the ones on your left. 

“It’s all my fault.” Hongjoong confesses, suddenly sitting still. 

You glance to your left, watching as he sits up slowly. 

“Last thing they ate together would’ve been at my house. I probably made them sick with something I fed them,” he dejects, hanging his head down in shame. 

“It’s all my fault, god I’m so stupid!” He beats himself up. 

You have half the mind to snap at your ex-husband, anger already filling up inside you earlier when you heard Eunbyeol suggest it was something she ate at her dad’s house. You really did want to yell at him for being so bad of a chef that he sent his own daughters to the emergency pediatrics unit, undeniably relieved that Seonghwa was working tonight’s shift. 

But those cruel words sitting on the tip of your tongue are thrown away when you glance down to see your ex-husband missing a shoe on one of his feet. 

Hongjoong rushed over here so fast with Eunseo that he left his shoe behind like some sort of fairytale, Cinderella. He hasn’t even realized he wasn’t wearing one right now.

You exhaled, knowing that if there's one thing you’ve learned while parenting, it was that to have patience and understanding was a virtue. Even for your ex-husband.

“It’s not your fault,” you sighed, staring at your hands folded in your lap. 

It feels awkward when Hongjoong stops tugging at his blond locks to look at you in surprise, continuing to speak as you place a gentle hand on his thigh. 

“That could’ve happened to anyone. We don’t know yet if it was because of the food. Let’s just pray and wait and see” your voice being a sign of reliability to him. 

The man is a little shocked at your supportive nature to tell you truthfully. He delivers all the things he needs to say through his grateful gaze alone, reciprocating a small smile. 

“Didn’t think I’d see you guys tonight.” Seonghwa chuckles, walking in before Hongjoong has the chance to reply. He comes from the patient's room wearing his dashing, white doctor's coat. “Together, at that” he mumbles under his breath before looking up and flashing you a polite smile while giving his worried friend a soft pat on the back.

Hongjoong holds his breath when he asks: “How are they?”

“Better,” he tells him, flipping through some papers on his clipboard. “But it was a big shock to their bodies. They need some rest at the moment.” 

The pediatrician tries not to show his smile, standing in front of you and Hongjoong while hiding his expression behind his clipboard as per his niece’s request.

To be fair, if someone had told Seonghwa earlier that evening that he would receive a fifteen minute pep talk from his best friend's twin daughters that day in the emergency unit, he would’ve laughed in their faces. 

Alas, life was always filled with surprises. Here’s what went down thirty minutes earlier in the hospital room:

“We’re trying to get them back together,” Eunseo announced confidently, sitting next to her sister on the hospital bed. 

Eunbyeol nodded, eyeing the dumbfounded medical professional standing in front of them with his clipboard tucked under his arm, hands in his pockets. 

“So.. you guys don’t need an IV drip?”

“It’s this whole entire thing, Uncle Hwa, we’ll explain to you later.”

It took a minute before Seonghwa reclaimed his composure as an adult, chastising the twins for pulling a false alarm over something like this. He made sure to make them promise him they wouldn’t do something stupid like this again. But after that, of course Seonghwa is immediately pairing to help them with their plan on getting his best friend back together with his ex-wife. The man is just tired of watching Hongjoong beat himself up half the time about missing you. 

“So you essentially want me to lie about the fact that you guys don’t have food poisoning, and were just faking this whole thing so your mom and dad would have a reason to see each other.” 

The twins nod, one of them pointing out. “And make sure to tell them we’re fine of course. Maybe throw in we’re like, really sick, but that we’ll live so it’s best if we get rest.”

“At like a cottage or something” the other chimes in, wiggling her eyebrows at the hint. 

The doctor sighs, scratching his neck sheepishly. 

When Seonghwa leads you and Hongjoong into the hospital room, both of you feel awful seeing your babies laying in their beds, dressed in the children’s gowns. 

Eunbyeol peeks open her eyes first, voice hoarse (she practiced). 

“Mom? Dad? Is that you?” she groans, pretending to clutch her stomach in pain. 

Both you and Hongjoong rush to each child, grasping their hands and stroking their heads softly with sympathy. 

“Hey baby, I’m here” you coo.

“I’m so, so sorry girls, it was probably all my fault. I should’ve never cooked for you guys earlier today.” their dad cries out painfully, looking down in shame.

You come to stand beside him, reassuring them both. “But what’s important is that you guys get better now. We want to make sure you get the rest you need” you say, making eye contact with your ex-husband. 

Seonghwa clears his throat, crossing his arms as he flashes a wink to the girls behind your backs. 

“They seemed to have been mentally exhausted as well,” He asks on purpose, watching as you and Hongjoong share a look with each other. “Have they been receiving proper familial support at home?” 

“I can’t even remember the last time I saw my parents in the same room together.” Eunseo weakly admits, showing a faint smile. 

As parents, you and Joong feel the most amount of guilt anyone could ever feel. You realize how exhausting and stressful the pickups and drop offs to each other's houses could’ve been, especially when you two were so busy with your respective jobs to spend time with your daughters now that it was summer break for them. 

Hongjoong smiles, holding both their hands and making a promise to them. 

“Make sure to rest you two. Tell me, is there anything you guys need right now? Anything you guys want I'll make sure to get it for you.”

”Do you guys have crunchy ice?” Eunbyeol blurts out loud, breaking her weak facade. 

Eunseo almost wants to shoot a glare at her sister but she realizes both of you are still looking at them. 

“I can get you some ice!” Seonghwa quickly assures you and his nieces, mouthing to them good luck for support as he shuts the door behind him. 

You sigh, coming over to stroke Eunseo’s hair and caress Eunbyeol’s hand. 

“Well? Is there anything else you guys need from us?” Hongjoong states, eyes soft in sympathy. You nod, waiting to hear their response.

“Let us know girls, anything at all.”

Eunbyeol and Eunseo finally take their chance, sharing a hesitant look before speaking at the same time. 

“We want to go to the cottage”

“Together,” Eunseo says.

“As a family.” Eunbyeol adds in.

You and Hongjoong share a silent look. 

Later into the night, the twins are finally discharged from the hospital, deciding that they would stay at Hongjoong’s mothers apartment which was closest nearby, considering they were both tired and immediately needed a place to rest. 

The car ride home is awkwardly silent, even as the kids are (what you think) to be fast asleep, hockey gear and a bouquet of flowers riding with them in the backseat.

It was at their request for you to drive them to their grandmother's house, wanting both their parents with them till the ride home. Hongjoong settled on driving your car and dropping all of you off, planning to take a taxi back home and pick up his own car in the morning. Despite your protest on how inconvenient that was, he insisted as he didn’t want to disappoint the twins.

But suddenly the man begins to regret his offer, currently driving in complete silence on the highway, eyes facing forward and shoulders tense. Quiet FM nightly jazz plays from the radio. 

You’re sitting passenger seat up front with him in what feels like forever, looking solely at the reflections in the window, the street lamp lights scattering across your face as you travel through the nighttime traffic. It’s awkward being together like this.

You hear him clear his voice, speaking softly so he doesn’t wake up the girls.

“So, are we really considering that cottage retreat?” he glances back at you. 

You sit up, straightening your back and exhaling as you secretly wanted to have avoided that topic of discussion.

“We can’t Hongjoong,” you reasoned, shaking your head. “I couldn’t possibly take a whole vacation from the dress shop. Not unless I had someone take care of it for me, which my staff probably aren’t ready to do.” you explained, voice tense.

Hongjoong nodded, understanding your point of view. “I realize that. I’ve got a few projects I have to record and demo with Eden.” he tells you, an arm placed on the wheel with his sleeve rolled up. His veins become perfectly outlined as he passionately tells you about his producing job.

He’s so hot like that.

Jesus what were you thinking? Cursing your mind as you clear your voice and try to change the topic.

“How’s everything been going then?” you say stiffly. He nods, still awkward with sharing conversation with you. 

“Um, it's going good. You?” he asks.  

“Fine.” you swallow. 

Silence prevails. He’s first to speak again, building the courage to say the next thing in his mind. 

“I’m willing to put things on hold if I need to.” He confesses. 

Hongjoong continues to drive normally after having said that. Now it becomes your turn to stare at him now, watching how he glances at the side mirror, switching lanes swiftly like the pro-driver he was. 

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, I think it would be good for the girls,” he admits, calling you by your name. Even hearing him call you your name feels weird. It feels foreign, like it almost wasn’t yours. 

“Hongjoong-” you warn, shaking your head at the warry possibility. 

“Just hear me out, alright?” He states firmly, making you quiet. 

He glances back into the rear view mirror, watching your girls peacefully asleep with their heads leaning against each other. 

“It’s been almost seven years. Seven years since they’ve last seen their parents speak to each other without breaking into a fight. Tonight was the first time they saw us together without having to plan a drop off and pick up in god knows how long.”

Hongjoong licks his lips, gripping the wheel as he emphasizes. “Seven years since they’ve gotten a goodnight hug and kiss from us at the same time in one place.”

You scoff, turning to face him properly this time. “I don’t know why you’re acting as though we can make this request of theirs come true Hongjoong. This is a big deal-”

“It is a big deal!” he exclaims, trying to get his point across. “I can see how badly our daughters want us to both be in their lives more, to acknowledge the fact that the other still exists after splitting apart.”

He sighs. “Us, not acknowledging each other’s existence at all is worse than if we had to see each other regularly.”

You bite your lip, getting angry. “So what Hongjoong? You’re saying you want to suddenly play family with them at the cottage?”

You shrug your shoulders. “Do you really think we can pretend to be normal parents to them without fighting like we are now? There’s a reason why our current schedules work. Don’t make me seem like the bad guy for not wanting to take them.” You glared, pointing a finger at him. His jaw locks. 

“You fully knew the lifestyle changes we would need to make as a couple when you signed those legal papers—”

“Well then did you also predict everything that happened after you brought me those papers?” He spits like venom, gaze hard as he clenches the wheel.

You blink your eyes at his words, pressing your knees together at his sudden attack. 

You don’t remember clearly if you even meant what you said at the time when you threw those papers at him seven years ago. But all you still know is that Hongjoong was just as stubborn as you were, making up his mind to sign them in the end regardless.

Looking in the rear view mirror, you muttered to him quietly. 

“Don’t raise your voice. The kids are sleeping.”

Their dad scoffs, muttering a sure, under his breath as he switches lanes. 

The kids were in fact, not sleeping, and very much awake. Eyes closed but ears wide, as they were listening in to the first real discussion their parents were having in so long. Or perhaps it was an argument?

At the right turn into his mother’s apartment’s underground parking lot, Hongjoong shuts off the engine, getting out of the car without another word and shutting the door in your face. 

You pinched the bridge of your nose, hear the back door open. 

You watch in the corner of your vision as his demeanor immediately changes, softly caressing Eunseo and Eunbyeol’s hair. 

“Hey girls, we’re here now. You gotta wake up.” He coos.

They yawn theatrically, pretending to stretch their arms. 

“So soon?” Eunbyeol mumbles.

A few feet ahead, you see your mother in law walking out from the elevators, a knit cardigan wrapped around her small frame. You smiled, getting out of the car and greeting her first. 

“We’ll leave Eunbyeol’s hockey gear with you for the night if that’s alright Mom-” 

Hongjoong’s words are cut off as the woman who birthed him walks straight past him, ignoring him and immediately taking you in her warm embrace, eyes forming crescent moons. 

“How are you my dear?” she asks, causing you to smile and hug your mother in law affectionately. “It’s been so long, I’ve missed you so much!”

Despite the break up between you and Hongjoong, you were thankful for one thing, and that was the fact that your relationship with Hongjoong’s family stayed strong, especially with Mrs. Kim.

“I’ve missed you too” you tell her genuinely. “I’ve been good, I’m just sorry for dropping them off so suddenly at your place,” You say, feeling apologetic for waking her up late into the night. 

“We had a bit of a situation,” you explain, watching as Hongjoong collects their things. 

She shakes her head, reassuring you. “Nonsense! Why would you be sorry for that.” she grins, turning her head at the car. “And where are my girls, may I ask?”

At the sound of her voice, Eunbyeol and Eunseo dash out from the back seat and into their grandmother's welcoming arms, pressing soft kisses to her cheeks.

Hongjoong is the only person that stands all alone, awkwardly holding the bouquet of flowers with heavy hockey gear and a duffle bag perched on his shoulder. 

“Oh, how I’ve missed my little squirrels!” she exclaims using their signature pet name and happily reuniting with her grandchildren. 

She turns her head, face falling at the sight of her son and lips pursing into a frown. 

“And where on earth have you been? Not giving me a call!” she snaps, slapping her son on his back. Eunbyeol laughs out loud while Eunseo tries to keep her giggles in. 

You hear your ex husband protest to her while you close the back seat door. 

“OW! I’ve been busy alright?” he mumbles, massaging his sore arm. 

Your mother in law takes both the twins hand’s on each side, nodding her head to you. 

“Leave all the kid’s stuff to Hongjoong, he’ll take care of it darling” she smiles sweetly, sending a glare to her son to take a hint and be more of a gentleman to you. She walks away with her smiling granddaughters, exchanging light-hearted giggles and excitement. “Bye, mom!” The twins wave back. 

Hongjoong cranes his head up, sighing at the ceiling before taking Eunseo’s piano bag that you were holding in your hand in one swift motion, walking reluctantly behind the three. 

“Stay here. I’ll drop them off.” he briskly walks away, leaving you stunned. 

Hongjoongs words from before can’t help but replay inside your head as you wait for him to come back down. 

Before you guessed it, it was already the ride back home, and the car was painfully silent once again. In reality, you were each thinking deeply to yourselves about the possibility of the cottage retreat. Could you really be a mom and dad together as a couple to your kids?

“Are you giving your plants enough water?” He brings you out of thought, the car slowing down as he turns onto your street. 

You look up, giving him a confused look. 

Hongjoong nods in direction, following his eyes to look at the measly, dying flower pot perched on the steps of your flat’s entrance as the car stopped to a halt. “You know, it’s really hard for plants to die when they’re outside.” He says in amazement at your shit gardening. 

You scowl at him, asking him when he became such a plant expert all of a sudden. 

He continues to poke fun at you, smirking when he undoes his seat belt. Hongjoong suddenly leans over to help you unbuckle your own, face dangerously close to yours as he lowers his voice. 

“Unless their owner just really sucks at taking care of them.” 

His eyes gaze into yours for a split second, feeling your face heat up from the proximity. You let out a tiny gasp for air when he leans back in his own seat. 

“Fuck off” you replied harshly. 

“You should give them some more care,” he suggests, ignoring your swearing. 

You don’t reply to his stupid comment, refusing to look at him as you get out of the car. 

“I can go in by myself” you press, adjusting the strap of your purse on your shoulder. You didn’t think it was necessary to draw out your time with this man any further.

Hongjoong straightens his dress shirt as he moves to your side of the car, shoving his own car keys in his trousers as he locks your doors and hands over the keys. You take them hesitantly, watching as he rests against the car door, strong arms crossing against his chest. 

“Think about it at least.” he mutters to you. 

You look at him, eyes shutting softly when you realize he was still talking about the cottage getaway. Sighing his name is exasperation, you run a hand through your hair. 

“Hongjoong-”

“Would it kill you to spend a week with me and our daughters?” He scoffs as he asks you straight up, looking at you in a way that makes you hesitate to say your next words. You observed one hand come to shuffle with the silver lighter in his trouser pockets. 

You stayed silent for a moment, genuinely thinking back to your daughters and what this meant to them if you went. What this would mean for you two as well. 

Finally, you look up to him, returning his gaze.

“I need time.” 

He nods, face serious. “I understand.”

“Let me think about it.” You mumbled. 

And with that you turn around, walking up the steps to your front door. At the sight of your flowerpot, you quickly remember his comment and snatch it in your hands, slamming the door shut to Hongjoong as he finally lets a soft grin break out on his face. Letting his back come up from leaning against the door, Hongjoong nods his head, satisfied enough at that answer, as he walks silently down the road while opening his Uber app. 

At least you’d give it some thought. 

Okay, maybe now you’ve given it too much thought. 

Sipping your fifth glass of wine of the night, you’re sitting, back hunched over with your knees tucked into your chest on the breakfast table chair, zoning out as your best friend Sophie continues barking at you and your inconsistent commitment. 

“I don’t even understand why you’re considering going! Does the man realize what it takes to leave your own shop for a full week?” she fumes, adjusting her royal jelly sheet mask while cursing at your ex-husband for pressuring you into going to the family retreat. 

“Not everyone can just pack their bags and go swimming at the cottage, Jesus Christ” she rolls her eyes. 

“He didn’t pressure me,” you told her pouting. “He wants to do it for the kids” you mumbled looking down as you defended him. 

You invited your best friend Sophie over to your apartment that evening for your weekly slumber party, a time you each looked forward to dedicating a bottle of wine and chardonnay over some gossip, spilling all the uneventful drama in your lives. 

Perhaps you revealed too much drama to your best friend tonight. 

“I don’t think I would mind going, to be honest” you hiccup, words slurring. “I haven’t had a vacation in so long, Sophie, and the girls really want to go! I would feel bad for leaving them with nothing to do this summer.” confessing through the alcohol. 

Cheeks flushed, you sigh as you play with your silk robe mindlessly while Sophie shakes her head at you, one hand coming up to snap at you and bring you back to reality. 

“Hello? Earth to Ms. Divorcee?” She sighs, rolling her eyes in frustration. “You said you wanted to set boundaries with him! To cut the line straight and keep your distance so you could get over your feelings for him! Show him who’s boss!” 

“He said he’s willing to put his music projects on hold for us,” you muttered quietly, the thought making your heart weak as you smiled at the memory of Hongjoong teasing you about your flower pot. Your chest blossomed with warmth now. 

Sophie sighs, shaking her head as she thinks just how differently you were feeling four wine glasses ago.

“Listen, honey, I’m just warning you in advance” she sips the golden liquid in her glass before placing it on the table. 

“Take it from a girl who’s had three divorces. I mean look at me! I’m still somewhat young, I’ve got no kids, no responsibilities, filthily rich, and not once have I had to pay for my own divorce settlement fees!” 

You nod mindlessly, eyes blinking softly under the bright kitchen lights. 

“What you need is a provider, sweetheart,” she crooned, caressing your head. 

“A guy who won’t leave you stressed and unimpressed like Hongjoong does.”

You continue mindlessly nodding your head at her words, ears perking up when you hear small footsteps come down the stairs. 

“Hi mom, Hi aunt Sophie.” Eunbyeol greets, eyes glued to her iPad that Eunseo trails after from behind, whining how it was now her turn to play Super Mario.  

“Hi girls,” Sophie replies like the cool, hot aunt she is, eyes shut as she’s concentrating on giving herself a collarbone massage right now. 

“Hey sweetheart,” you mumbled, smiling at your daughters standing near the fridge getting a glass of water. 

“Say, did your dad tell you guys anything about the cottage?” You blurt out loud, avoiding the look that Sophie gives you. Eunbyeol looks up from the glowing screen, ears perking in interest. “No, not much, why?” 

Eunseo snatches the iPad from her twin, coming over to you. “Did Dad say we’re going?” She asks enthusiastically, eyes widening. Sophie is quick to assure them. 

“Now of course not girls, your mother here was just-”

“Oh fuck it, why not?” you say confidentially, shining a bright smile. “Let’s go to the cottage!” You exclaimed in drunk excitement, all three girls staring at you with their jaws hanging at your sudden profanity as well as your final decision. 

Oh, how dangerous the effects of a bottle of wine were. 

Eunseo and Eunbyeol immediately embrace each other in a passionate hug, squealing in excitement that their plan actually worked. You and Hongjoong were now both convinced. “Oh my gosh, we’re going to go as a family!” They cried in happiness. You giggled at their joy, reciprocating their enthusiasm.  

Sophie leans back in her seat defeated, shaking her head with pursed lips as she picks up the whole Chardonnay bottle and sips it. 

“Oh whatever. . . This isn’t my problem anyways.” 

When Hongjoong drops by the next morning to pick up Eunbyeol and Eunseo from your house for the weekend, he can’t lie but be a little heartbroken at the way his daughters ignore his kiss to them first thing. They instead, immediately shove the cottage advertising pamphlet in his face with victorious grins. 

“See! We told you mom would say yes!” 

“Say yes to what?” He pouts, avoiding the paper and obsessively trying to peck a kiss to each of his daughter's cheeks. The idea of going to the cottage almost slipped the busy man’s mind after almost a week of no news from you. 

“What’s so important that you guys don’t even say hi to me anymore?” he sulks.

Eunseo giggles, fighting back her laughter when her dad tries to tickle her with his kisses. 

“We’re going to the cottage!”

Hongjoong stills himself, leaning back to make sure he heard her correctly. 

“We’re what?”

Eunbyeol, taking after her mother, has a cheeky expression on her face as she places her hands on her hips and sasses her father. 

“Pack your bags and swimming shorts, daddy, we’re going on a family vacation!” 

In perfect timing, you manage to stumble out your front door, coffee mug in hand and mid-yawn when you realize Hongjoong is already staring at you in shock. 

“What?” you snap, still grumpy from your slight hangover. “You’ve never seen a woman wake up before?” You replied, asking your kids if they packed all their stuff. 

The twins watch as their dad stands up from his crouched position. 

“You’re going to go to the cottage?”

At Hongjoongs words you freeze, everything coming back to you all at once. The wine, the twins, the promises, it hits you like a moving truck. 

“Well…”

“No take backs mom! You said it yourself last night that you were excited to go to the cottage!” One of the twins pointed out. 

Hongjoong doesn’t take his eyes off of you. 

“I-I did say that, didn’t I?” You chuckled sheepishly, toes curling at the rookie mistake you made in parenting 101: saying yes when you should’ve said no. 

Your ex-husband quickly tells the kids to put their things in the trunk, promising he’ll be right with them after talking to you. As Hongjoong dashes up the stairs in his white polo golf shirt, you feel slightly exposed being in only your silk slip dress and robe. 

“I didn’t realize you’d be here so early” you mumbled, looking down at your toes. 

He ignores you. “So I’m guessing we’re going then?” He smirks, looking at you with an expression of undeniable cockiness and peaked interest. 

You shrug nonchalantly. “Let’s surround the focus of this trip towards the kids” you remind him, straightening your back.

Hongjoong nods, agreeing with you wholeheartedly. “Of course, that was my intention from the beginning,” he smiles. 

You swallow the lump in your throat, unnoticing his stare drop at your breasts perking up from the cool morning air. You jump in surprise as you hear the honking of the car. 

“Come on, love birds! We gotta go back to dad’s to get our swimming stuff!” Eunbyeol cackles, leaning from the backseat into the driver's seat window. Eunseo already begins journaling in her hello kitty note book, an organized list of what she’ll need to bring to the cottage.

Hongjoong looks back at his daughters, before looking back at you with a smile. 

“Let’s keep in touch about details, alright?”

You nod silently, gripping your mug. At the sound of your nextdoor neighbor coming out, Hongjoong contemplates for a moment before quickly leaning forward, shielding you from their view with his backside. Clearing his throat, Hongjoong nods his head to the inside of your house, leaning forward to whisper to you. 

“Think, um, you should get inside, it’s getting cold,” he mutters, his dimples faintly showing. You glare up at him, “I’m going to say goodbye to my own daughters”. Still clueless to what he was referring to. He grins, shrugging his shoulders before looking at you. 

“If you insist. Just thought you wouldn’t want your neighbor to see what I can see, would you?”

You gasp at his words, looking down at your chest to see what he means before wrapping your robe around you. You quickly waved goodbye to your girls before you shut the door in Hongjoong’s smug face. 

It’s now become the second time you’ve done that.

Thankfully, the next time you see Hongjoong you’re wearing a much more appropriate outfit. In a white cotton blouse and casual jean shorts, your effortlessly chic vacation outfit was the only highlight today, considering the day you had been internally dreading for so long was finally here. 

You tried to take deep breaths while scurrying all over your house and finishing some last minute packing. Reassuring yourself that a family getaway couldn’t kill you. 

Right?

Reservations at the cottage were made over the phone last week, booking a house with the perfect lake side view, access to the forest trail and close proximity to the offered activities. It would only be a seven day stay, both in your respective rooms, (you clearly emphasized you and Hongjoong had to have separate ones) while the twins would lodge together. You had no intention of interacting with your husband alone together on this trip, apart from the quote on quote, ‘family bonding times’ you promised your daughters. And yet why were you here sweating nervously like a sinner in church?

“What a hot lady!” Eunbyeol wolf-whistles at your outfit when she walks through your bedroom doors. You jump at the sudden entrance, realizing Hongjoong was already here to pick you up with the girls.

A pair of black designer sunglasses slightly too big for her sat perched on her nose. Eunbyeol smiles before jumping onto your bed of clothes. You already know Hongjoong must’ve spoiled her and her sister with those, buying them a pair each.

“C’mon Byeol, off the bed” you quipped, packing your toothbrush as she reluctantly slugged off the covers. 

Your suspicions of Hongjoong buying them designer items are correct when Eunseo walks in, classily perching her matching white ones on her head before chastising her sister's tasteless compliment. 

“Elegant. She’s Elegant, Byeol. You don’t just go around wolf-whistling at people.” she rolls her eyes. 

“You look very pretty by the way, mom”

You smiled, nevertheless pleased at both their compliments and thanking them before going back to doing a last minute check of your things. 

Sun cream, clothes, makeup bag, swimsuit…

At the thought of your swimsuit you immediately blush, thinking back to how Sophie forced you to borrow her yellow bikini that left very little to the imagination. Despite your protests that you wouldn’t be needing it, she insisted. 

Hongjoong is last to walk through your front doors, swinging his car keys around his index finger and calling to his three girls from the downstairs foyer of your apartment. The man is clearly excited for the trip, he can’t lie. 

“Come on ladies, we’re gonna miss the chance to swim in that lake if we don't leave soon!” 

Hongjoong is your typical dad, except for the fact that he does not mess with dad!fashion. The producer is dressed classily from top to bottom in a loose-fitting designer button up with a pair of reformed denim pants, his pearl earrings and gold piercings complementing his outfit perfectly. 

Kim Hongjoong didn't play when it came to fashion. Even as a father. 

“Coming!” You exclaimed, ushering your kids out of your bedroom and making your way down the stairs with your suitcase. Seeing that it would only be a week at the cottage, you tried to pack light, though you may have to reconsider that thought with the way you struggled to lift the case properly. 

“Need some help?”

A strong hand comes to help you, immediately inhaling the scent of Hongjoong’s cologne as he brushes his knuckles near yours. “Here, I’ve got it” he assures, making you step back and admire your undeniably fine husband. 

Ex-husband. You meant Ex-husband. Scratch out the fine as well. 

You watch from behind as he struts out the foyer, smiling and joking playfully with his twin daughters, carrying your luggage out the door with them. 

What was this trip doing to you?

Once you’re on route to the cottage resort and the GPS is set, the car is blissfully quiet, each and every one of you surprisingly at peace. Jittery excitement still lays deep in your daughters' minds as you overhear them talk about what they want to do first once they arrive. 

Hongjoong’s 2000s soft rock and ballad playlist is playing quietly throughout the speakers right now, relishing in the music as luscious, green trees flash by you from the passenger window. 

While Byeol and Eunseo distract each other on their own, Hongjoong turns to talk to you. 

“I’m not going to lie, it’s been forever since I’ve been on a road trip” he smiles.

You copy him, feeling good in the moment. “Same, I don’t remember the last time I went to one.” you confessed, thinking only of all the times you had in the past when you were a child and as a teenager. 

Even back to when you were a young college student, wide eyed and so innocent to the chaos of your first college retreat with Hongjoong. That was the summer you two began dating, and boy were you fools in love. You cautiously look to your husband driving, bringing up past memories.

“Do you remember that one college retreat we went on during second year?” 

The corners of Hongjoong’s lips are already grinning upwards, smiling as he reciprocates your expression. 

“Right, like I could forget that summer” he replies sarcastically, gripping the steering wheel. 

It’s an easy memory to digest. A time when you were both so young, filled with nothing but dreams and passionate love for one another. Love so deep, that you remember the nights you’d spend locked up with Hongjoong under the sweaty bed sheets inside your cabin, blissfully making love until the sun would rise and he would finally kiss you to sleep. Perhaps, it was that summer when you realized you were going to marry and be with Kim Hongjoong forever someday. 

Though it’s too bad, someday already passed. 

“Do you remember when Seonghwa got so drunk he ended up confessing to Jieun in front of all the girl’s sleeping cabins?” Hongjoong snickers, relishing in the embarrassing memory his friend always hates him for bringing up. You laugh out loud, remembering the memory. “Oh my god, yes!” You turned to face him, shaking your head. “In nothing but his underwear, right?” 

Hongjoong nodded, smiling with one hand on the steering wheel as he drove.

“Didn’t he end up jumping into the lake afterwards? With you having to go in and save him as well?” You share your laughter with one another, catching up on past memories as your twin daughters listened attentively in the back, reliving them with you together.

That's what makes the hour and half drive from the city into the wilderness feel so short, finally pulling into the graveled parking lot of the vast cottage resort. White suburban cottages lined along one another, a good amount of distance in between each for every family staying. 

As Hongjoong parked the car, the view outside was so glorious you had to hold your breath. Glistening clear blue waves in the lake reflect the bright sunshine from above. A light breeze is present today with the way the willow and oak trees swayed gently. 

“It’s beautiful” you gasped from as far as you got out of the car, stretching your upper body with eyes closed as you inhaled the fresh air. 

Hongjoong stills his movements, shutting the door before replying with his gaze caught at your backside.

“Yeah, it is” he smiles.

Both of you turn around at a loud voice coming from behind. “We’re gonna explore the campsites and souvenir shops first!” Eunbyeol shouts as she runs away with her sister's hand in hers, towards the wooden cabin that's settled further away. 

“What about lunch?” you call to them. 

“We’re not hungry!”

Hongjoong tells them to be safe, and to stick around nearby. You smirked, helping him unload the trunk as you told him. “They’ll be fine. They’re probably too excited to even think right now” you giggled, bumping shoulders with him. 

You feel the tension that was once so strong between you two fade slowly, walking up the wooden steps of your lodge and exchanging conversation with each other.

“Hey, I just want my babies to be safe” he admits, a grin on his face as he holds the cooler in his hands. You chuckle, shaking your head at his protectiveness. 

“Here it is!” he exclaims, setting the suitcases in the front foyer as he opens the door. “Lodge number 1117”

The two story cottage is larger than it appears from the outside, having a modern yet rustic interior that you and Hongjoong admired. It had everything you would need, from a well designed kitchen area to a cozy living room space.

“It’s perfect, the kids will love it” you beam, looking at the hanging hammock chair in the corner of the living room and the gray stone fireplace. It fit perfectly for your family. 

Hongjoong smiles, sunglasses perched on top of his head as he sets the luggage down near the kitchen. Walking up beside him, you help him unload the cooler and ice boxes first, settling into your new home for the next few days. 

“I’m guessing you still drink?” you ask, looking in his direction as you unloaded the case of beer you saw him bring from the trunk.

He gestured to the booze. “C’mon, it wouldn’t be a vacation without it, would it?” 

You wholeheartedly agreed, placing a few in the fridge before you shut it closed. 

“Hopefully, this time we won’t end up shit faced like we did back in college” you laugh, turning to face him. 

“I can already picture that time we got so drunk from that bottle of tequila my friend brought, we snuck out of the campsite and went to the forest and got lost.” you spoke, the memory a little foggy but nonetheless fresh in your mind. 

Hongjoong smiles, listening as you speak.  

“There wasn’t anything but trees and bushes in that forest!” You exclaimed, shaking your head. “What did we even do there?” 

Hongjoong replies nonchalantly, folding the cardboard box in his hands.

“I’m pretty sure we fucked.”

You momentarily freeze at his words, before letting out a soft awkward laugh, causing him to look up. 

“No we didn’t, Hongjoong” you immediately deny, not believing his words. But your brows began furrowing at the foggy memory, starting to realize you really couldn’t trust your alcohol tolerance, now as an adult and even back when you were a college student. Did you guys have sex? In a forest out of all places?

Hongjoong leans against the kitchen counter, across from you as he crosses his arms in front of his chest and smirks smugly. 

“Nope, I distinctly remember it” he recalls, taking a step closer so he was now in your space. 

“I held your hand in mind as we walked up that trail by the cliff. And gosh, were we horny that night, because I remember you complaining about all that dirt you got on your knees from giving me the greatest head i've ever experienced in my entire life-” 

Slapping your hands over his mouth to stop him from going on, you blushed as you glared at him. 

“Jesus christ,” you mumbled, rolling your eyes before confessing.

“I get it, we fucked.”

Suddenly, you and Hongjoong break out into giggles like varsity sweethearts again at the story. Though embarrassed and cringing internally from the way you acted as young adults, it was nice to share them together now. At the proximity in which you’re standing in, you can't help but stare at each other softly. A hand wraps around your waist, making your breath hitch as he pulls you closer. 

“What are you doing?” you grin, watching him.

He looms over you, able to tell that something sits right at the tip of his tongue that he hesitantly decides to say. “I’m pretty sure,” he mutters, staring at your face and cautiously grazing the skin under your blouse. You feel your breathing speed up. 

“I also held you like this in my arms as you were leaning against that tree” his grip gentle and immediately transporting you back to the scenery that night. His sharp tone contrasts his touch. 

“Yknow, the one we fucked against?” he teases to you one more time.

The scent of burning campfire. A cold, midnight breeze. The feeling of the rough cedar tree against your back as Hongjoong thrusted inside you with every delirious snap of his hips, holding you close while he fucked you to oblivion with only the forest animals standing witness to your sinful actions. The film replays like a cheesy R-rated romance movie in your mind. 

“Did you, now?” You gulp, looking up at him as you adjust to the foreign feeling of his touch on your hips. 

“Yeah. I remember it all” he states, smirking down at you with an intense gaze.

The memory dies down when you catch yourself staring at his lips, arms finding their way around his neck as he dives down to whisper softly to you.

“Do you remember too?” He asks.

How he held you in his arms. How he whispered in your ear while you came around his cock, drool and traces of cum littering the corners of your mouth while Hongjoong didn’t care if you were stretching his flannel from how hard you were tugging at the material.

You nod. “I do,” you muttered, lashes fluttering as you felt as though your heart wouldn’t stop beating. “I remember you kissed me on the lips,” you confessed. 

Perhaps you wanted him to do it again right now. 

He looks in your eyes, searching for your approval that you desperately give, breath hitting each other's faces as he slowly leaned down to try and connect your lips. His chest is pressed against yours, and you begin to realize you haven’t shared the same breath like that in so long. You were so close to kissing right then and there.

If only you leaned in closer…

“We’re back!”

You push Hongjoong across the kitchen, shoving his hip painfully into the marble counter and ignoring his high-pitched groan of agony as you immediately look away to avoid suspicion, continuing to grab the beer from the icebox in front of you.

“Girls!” you exclaimed, voice wavering. 

Of course, Eunbyeol and Eunseo walk in with matching postcards and goodies from the souvenir shop in their hands, their sunglasses perched on their heads as their eyes lit up with excitement. They were still oblivious to the fact that they almost caught their parents about to make out in the kitchen.

“Dad, this place is amazing!” Eunbyeol deadpans, telling her father. “They even have jet skiing on the other side of the lake! We gotta go now!”

Hongjoong clutches his hip, pursing his lips as he hides his expression of pain and surprise. 

“Really? That's great sweetie”

Eunseo however, is quick to catch on.

“What were you guys doing?” she looks at you suspiciously. Her words hang in the air for a moment. 

“Were you guys about to kis-”

Hongjoong and you frantically scurry to find a plausible excuse, shuffling awkwardly. 

“I was helping your dad unload the cooler” 

“I was helping your mom get something out of her eye”

Both girls stare at you meekly. Eunbyeol scrunches her nose. “Huh?”

Plastering on a fake smile, you briskly leaped over the luggage nearby, ushering them upstairs before they had the chance to ask anymore questions.

“I think it’s time to unpack your things.” you watched their eyebrows quirk at the way you pushed them out the kitchen.

“We can do it on our own, mom! It’s really no big d-”

You clamp Eunbyeol’s mouth shut with your hand, blushing profusely as you walk away with them. 

Hongjoong stands there alone in the kitchen, rubbing his hip and wondering what the hell just almost happened.

The next few days, you and Hongjoong don’t discuss the incident between you two. Rather, the beginning of the trip after that event has become a painful performance trying your best to be eerily polite yet distant to each other in front of your children, as if that would make you forget the fact that you two almost kissed in the kitchen.

“Could you pass the sunscreen, honey?” Hongjoong would say awkwardly, turning his back to flash you a cheery smile on the lake deck as Eunbyeol and Eunseo watched you interact while floating in the cool, summer waters. 

You passed the bottle to your ex-husband while maintaining awkward distance. “Of course, darling!” 

“Thanks honey!”

“No problem sweetheart!”

This resulted in Eunbyeol and Eunseo looking at their parents in horror, the youngest twin muttering under her breath as they discussed an urgent change of plans.

“We have to get them to stop being weird.”

Apart from that, the ‘family bonding time’ promise to your daughters was maintained, and each day was an adventure for all of you in terms of what you would do together next. An accumulation of forest trekking, water-skiing and outdoors barbeques on the patio of your cottage made everyday feel more and more special for your girls, seeing how they relished in having both their parents with them at the same place and time. It became moments of peace and resolution that eventually became special for you and Hongjoong too. 

“I hope we stay here forever,” Eunseo blurted out one evening after a blissful day near the lakeshore, watching as the sun began to go down. She was busy licking the sticky sides of her melting ice cream cone in one hand, the other one held in yours. 

Hongjoong and Eunbyeol were a few feet ahead, laughing loudly and holding hands as they compared their fruit popsicles with one another to see whose was bigger. 

“You and Byeol would eventually get sick of going to the lake all the time” You smiled, the corners of your mouth turning up before her next words made the strings of your heart tug. 

“Sure, but at least you and dad could be together with us too.”

You watched as she ran up to her sister and dad, joining in on their fun as she began boasting that her ice cream was better than theirs. Hongjoong’s smile is the biggest you’ve ever seen it to be, looking down at his girls with a golden tan from the past few days spent outside, and hair slightly damp from swimming. 

Any person could tell the love in his eyes was as pure a father’s love for his girls could be. 

Her words stuck with you until that very night, where after dinner, board games, and much pacing back and forth in your own room before getting into bed, you decided to cautiously approach Hongjoong’s room on the opposite side of the second floor.

Bare feet padded across the wooden floors as you peeked through the sliver of the open door.

He's wearing an oversized sleep tee and blue pajama pants, getting in some nighttime reading before bed. His glasses are perched on his nose, intently reading his paperback novel. He looks as domestic as a husband gets. 

At the sound of your steps though, he sits up from his relaxed state on his bed, one arm that was supporting his head coming out as the other hand settles the book down on his abdomen. He looks surprised to see you. 

“Hi” he states, looking at you. 

“Hey”

Hongjoong’s expression immediately softened at your figure, watching as you shuffled awkwardly in front of him. The room is quiet. 

“Can I come in?”

“Of course,” He nods, setting his bookmark in the spine of the cover and turning his attention to you, offering you to take a seat on his linen covers. You see his polaroid camera with photos taken of Eunbyeol and Eunseo perched on a desk nearby. 

You don’t see the ones he secretly took of you, as those are in his drawers. 

“Don’t tell me you can’t sleep by yourself” he gently teases before watching as your smile doesn't reach the ends of your eyes. You wrap your silk robe closer to your body, feeling sort of vulnerable. 

“How do you like the resort so far?” He asks, watching as you played with your fingers absentmindedly. “Is the room okay?”

“It’s wonderful Hongjoong, better than I could ever have hoped for.” You spoke up, telling the truth.

It’s hard to arrange your thoughts in your head when it’s just the two of you in his room. The kids were already fast asleep. Now was your chance to just tell him how you felt. Why were you hesitating so much?

“Hey, look at me.” Hongjoong’s soft voice calls out to you, a protective hand coming out to caress the back of your head in habit. He can tell you want to say something, and the gesture makes you emotional, remembering how he always used to do that to ease your nerves when you were younger. 

“What’s wrong? Am I making things uncomfortable on the trip?” he worries about the boundaries you established with him at the beginning, watching as your lip begins to quiver and the emotions suddenly overcome you. 

“I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry.” you sniffled, tears forming near the brim of your eyes as you looked up at the father of your children. 

Hongjoong’s eyes widened, shifting through the covers over to you. “Woah, hey, shh that’s alright I got you” he coos, immediately going into dad mode and embracing you in his arms, letting your head rest against his chest. 

The action is natural, no longer foreign or weird, and you silently thank him for leaving reassuring circles on your back. Husband or not, Hongjoong would always be your best friend first. You had forgotten how much you missed this comforting side to him.  

“Tell me what you’re sorry about” he states, chest tightening at your wet cheeks before he slowly raises your chin to look him in the eyes. 

“For being mean to you for so long” you sniffle, a weakened state of emotional guilt eating away at you. You let him watch you carefully.

“I’ve been thinking about how happy the girls have been during this trip. A-And it kills me that we’ve been fighting for the past seven years, and that they’ve grown up seeing such bad parts of ourselves, of my own self” you ramble, confessing how you felt. 

You look up. “They’re happy because we’re together Joong. Because we’re not fighting or avoiding each other like we used to do before.”

He watches as you look up at him with tears forming in your eyes. 

“You’re such a good dad. And I realized you deserve to hear that.”

At the sounds of more sniffles, Hongjoong finally speaks, smiling as he brushes stray hair from your face. 

“I wouldn’t want anyone else but you to be the mother of our children, I hope you know that”

His truthfulness throws you off guard.

“I’m sorry too” he sighs, letting you sit up straight and look him in the eyes properly. “I haven’t been the best partner either, baby. We were both mean to each other.” he says, brushing a tear away from your face.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve thrown a hair dryer at me once before as well” he attempts to make you laugh, affection blooming in his chest when he sees he succeeds, wiping your tears. 

“But I already knew how you felt, sweetheart. I always know” he smiles, eyes mirroring a weak ache in his heart.  

“Married or not, we were once friends. And now we’re family” His voice turns deep, strong and dependable like the father he’s become.

“We can start over” you tell him, smiling as he folds his hands over your palm. “We can always do better from now and going forward. For ourselves, and for Eunseo and Eunbyeol.” 

Hongjoong nods, hesitantly for a split second before he leans over to press a soft kiss to your cheek, showing a gesture of affection that you longed for so long.

You shut your eyes, the kiss making your heart flutter. 

“Friends again?” He whispers, though silently wanting something more. 

You sighed, pulling him in closer to embrace in a hug. “Friends” you nodded while inhaling his comforting scent. 

The next morning, and for the rest of the remaining trip onwards, you and Hongjoong’s relationship dynamics did the equivalent of a 180 degree turn. 

It’s hard to believe you two really just wanted to be ‘friends’

Eunbyeol and Eunseo could tell by the way you talked to each other more, noticing you share more secret glances and fleeting touches that were innocent to the eye, but concealing a longing that you both tried to hide. You knew you couldn’t get carried away. You and Hongjoong were simply resolving a rough patch in your parenting. Not getting back together in a relationship. 

But after spending more time together while Eunbyeol and Eunseo became occupied on their own, it was hard keeping the interactions to a justified amount. Long walks in the forest, evenings spent cooking together, even cuddling together on the couch during family movie night. Thinking your kids were too busy watching the vintage Disney movie play on screen, when in fact, the real love story they were more invested in was happening right in front of their eyes, watching their parents falling in love again.

This led to the last event in their plan that they hoped would finally seal the deal. 

On Saturday night, the last night of your trip before you had to go back to the city, you and Hongjoong are surprised to find mini invitations left on your beds, scribbled in glitter pen and cursive handwriting reading out the following:

Gourmet Dinner Date for 2

Time: 7:30 pm

Location: Outdoor patio 

Dress code: Formal and Classy

You and your husband chuckled at the cards left on your beds, suddenly finding a twin each by your side and ushering you to get ready. 

“Do you and your sister even know how to cook dinner, Eunbyeol?” You questioned as your daughter rushed to push you into your walk-in closet, forcing you to get ready. 

She huffs, placing her hands on her hips looking offended. 

“At least my cooking skills don’t take after Dad’s, mom.” She mumbled, choosing your shoes for you. “Have some trust in a girl!”

Meanwhile, Hongjoong gets pampered by Eunseo in the other room, though in reality, her blunt critiques on her dads fashion are bruising his pride at the moment. 

“Dad, you have many normal clothes to wear. You have to chill with the ripped baggy jeans.” she demands, trudging through his closet to find something formal for him to wear. 

He begins to protest but his daughter shakes her head. “You’re supposed to look good for mom!” she huffs, searching on her own. At Eunseo’s words, the man starts to slightly worry, scratching the back of his head. 

“You and Byeol are gonna join too, right?”

She stops for a second, looking back to her father as she avoids the question and instead retorts back. 

“It’s just a date, Dad. Relax”

Back to what was happening in the other room at the end of the hallway, you huffed in frustration when you walked back into your closet after Byeol rejected another one of your outfits for the dinner date. 

“I have nothing else to wear, sweetie, these are all the clothes I have.” you came to terms with a hand coming to your forehead after having searched in despair. 

The ten year old shakes her head before pushing you out of the way and digging deep into your suitcase. She reveals a delicate piece of material you didn’t even realize you packed. 

“We got some help from Aunt Sophie and Uncle Hwa to pack you guys clothes that you could wear for a special occasion.” she wiggles her eyebrows, a smug grin on her face as you gap in shock. 

You inspect the dress, lips parting in disbelief as you feel the material. 

“I haven’t worn this since I was in college.” You uttered softly to yourself. 

At one longing look of the short dress, you shake your head, walking back into the closet to find something else. “I-I can’t wear this Byeol, what would your dad think?“ you asked nervously.

“Dad said he thinks your boobs looked hot in this dress so Aunt Sophie and I picked it specially” she looks up at you, proud of what she just said.  

You whip your head around, mouth hanging open in shock.

“Byeol! Where did you hear that from?” 

She sighs. “Dad had one too many drinks this one time and started talking about you guys back in college” she explained before shoving the infamous black dress in your hands. 

“Talked a lot about how pretty you were,” she draws out her words in a teasing voice. You curse your husband for his mistake.

You bite your lip as you stare down at the fabric in your hands. 

It was undeniable. You knew you looked amazing in this dress. You could testify from the amount of times Hongjoong ripped it off of you after countless night out’s filled with sexual tension and playful flirting. For god's sake, Eunbyeol and Eunseo could’ve almost had another sibling thanks to that dress.

“Fine.” you muttered bashfully, turning away as you walked into the closet to change. 

“But I’m just gonna try it on.”

Thirty minutes, one mental breakdown and too many outfit changes to count later, you walk down the stairs wearing the dress Eunbyeol had successfully persuaded you to wear. 

What do you know, the kid was right. Your boobs looked amazing in that dress. 

Not just your boobs, your whole body looked incredible with its strong curves and the beautiful fill it gave to the dress, making it slightly tighter than when you wore it as a twenty year old, but still all the more mature and sophisticated. You really did look hot.

Eunbyeol rushes down the stairs before you, catching up with her sister to inspect her job on their fathers preparation. 

“Well?” She says expectedly, looking at her dad. “Let’s take a look!”

He sports a simple yet timeless white collar dress shirt, the first few buttons undone as he wears a form fitting black dress-vest that accentuates his waist, dress pants paired to go along with it. Though simple, his silver rings pulled the outfit together, making him just as good looking and sophisticated as you were. 

Hongjoong’s back faces towards your front, watching as the man nervously shuffles his hands in his pockets.

“How do I look guys?” He gulps, adjusting his collar and sweeping his blond hair back. 

Eunseo rolls her eyes, a grin on her proud little face. “Do you even have to ask, dad?” She’s more than confident in the outfit she and Seonghwa coordinated together. 

He chuckles, shaking his head as he nervously tells them. 

“I want to look good for your mom, you know what I mean? She's a difficult woman to impress sometimes.”

“I’m difficult?” You tease, walking down the last few steps of the stairs. 

The man turns his head around, losing his breath at the sight of you standing there in front of him, wearing that dress that he hadn’t seen you wear for so long, looking breathtaking in every possible way. 

“Hi” you grinned softly, feeling sort of shy.

The way you fit in that dress made an insatiable hunger fuel inside Hongjoongs chest, eyes gazing at the way you strutted over in the black, lace covered material with your hair tied back and glossed lips turned upwards as your dimples showed. He breaks from his admiration when you quirk a brow at him, making the man almost fall to his knees and stutter uncontrollably. 

“I-I No I didn’t mean that-“

You giggle as you bravely take Hongjoongs hands in your own, shutting him up as you turn to your daughters standing in front of you, starstruck at your aura. 

“Outside, right?” you winked at them. 

“Right this way!” Eunseo enthusiastically leads you out back to the outdoor patio, a perfect view of the garden and lakeside coming into effect. Hongjoong slips his hand from yours, and slides it across your waist, pulling you into his side. 

“My parents are too cool” Eunbyeol sighs under her breath, watching from behind in awe.

Your ex-husband makes you swoon when he leans in to whisper softly. “You look breathtaking, sweetheart.” feeling an immense sense of pride at how lucky he was to make you the mother of his children. 

You blush, turning to him to whisper playfully back. 

“Not bad yourself.” 

You both look forward when you come to a stop at the patio steps, sheer amazement at the full preparation your daughters did for this event. Fairy lights were hung around the area, a table with two chairs on either side placed with a white table cloth and a bouquet of freshly hand picked flowers from the forest, battery powered candles that were sold at the souvenir shop lit in the middle and glowing softly. 

Eunbyeol dashes to the door when it rings, making you and Hongjoong furrow your brows. 

“Is someone here?” he asks, watching Eunseo fold a napkin over her arm like the pro waiter she was. The other one walks out, an oily fast food paper bag in her hands as she smiles. “Dinner is served!” 

“Turns out that diner 15 minutes away also delivers!” She chuckled, helping her sister plate the two cheeseburgers, fries, and vanilla and strawberry milkshakes. 

You and Hongjoong continue to watch in stunned amazement as the girls prepare the not exactly gourmet(?) but still impressive meal in front of you, their small hands working swiftly. 

“You guys prepared all of this?” You asked, getting a little emotional. They grin proudly, nodding their heads. “We called the place earlier and planned it all by ourselves!”

You pressed a kiss to each of their soft cheeks, thanking them both as Hongjoong did the same. 

“What did I do to get so lucky with my girls?” he smiles, ruffling their heads. 

“What about you guys?” You asked, watching as they slowly backed away to give you two some privacy. 

“Natalie and her mom invited us over for dinner and a sleepover tonight at her cottage,” Eunbyeol smiles. At the mention of their newly made friend that they had gotten close to over the week, Hongjoong looks at you then back at them. 

“What? But- ”

She cuts him off, rolling her eyes. “Her mom said it’s totally fine with her. She’s only two cottages down, and she’ll make sure we’re back in time again for tomorrow when we leave!” 

The two girls smile in excitement, though the both of you have your parental instincts kick in. 

“Please?” they begged, wanting you to let them go so that they could do this for you guys as much as they wanted to do it for themselves. “She’s waiting for us now!”

Hongjoong feels guilty. “C’mon, you guys should still join us!”

Eunseo immediately shakes her head, declining the offer. 

“Tonight is all about you guys. We don’t want to intrude” she chuckles, bumping shoulders with her sister who chips in.

“We’ll text you guys in the middle to let you know everything’s good of course” 

You and Hongjoong smile, a feeling of immense proudness overwhelming you from seeing your daughters act so grown up. There wasn’t anything else you felt grateful for more. 

“Thank you girls.” you muttered softly, watching as they flashed you a wink before hurrying out through the backyard door. 

“Don’t get all kissy in the backyard!” Eunbyeol teases, making cheesy smooching sounds with the back of her hand as her sister rolls her eyes and shoves her out. 

Before you know it, you’re left standing with just the sound of smooth jazz playing on the patio speakers and the buzzing of the summer cicadas. 

“She takes after you, I hope you know that” You told Hongjoong softly.  

He chuckles, “Not as much as you.” He gestures to the table. “Shall we?” 

And that’s how the next few hours seem to pass by without even realizing. 

You see, there was a reason why you fell in love with the man sitting in front of you, and you’re just beginning to remember it now. Being with Hongjoong felt as if the moment was everlasting, and you could testify that from the amount of laughter and deep conversation that was shared over dinner, bringing you to sit on that patio until the sun had set. Every so often you’d smile again at the thought of the twins preparing this all for you. 

“I don’t remember the last time I’ve been on a date like this” You blurted out after laughing about something, taking a sip of your strawberry milkshake through a straw. 

“Oh, so we’re going on dates now, are we?” Hongjoong grins, making you roll your eyes at him. 

You lean forward on the table cloth, watching as a glimmer passes through your husband’s eyes while he sits back in his chair, cocking his head to the side as he clears his voice. 

“But you’ve gone on dates after we split, haven’t you?” he asks, leaning forward in interest now, letting his chin rest on his palm. 

You shook your head slowly.

“Nope. Not since signing those papers” you revealed. 

Hongjoong furrows his brows in surprise. “And why’s that?” 

You suddenly didn’t have an answer. “I-I don’t know, I just…” You began, watching how he looked at you with an unreadable expression. You smiled, looking down and suddenly feeling embarrassed. 

“I guess I was too focused on running the bridal shop, I couldn’t find the time to.” You use as a cliche excuse. 

“Bullshit” he retorts back immediately. 

“It’s true!” You protested, throwing a fry at him that he dodges, landing on his finished plate. 

“You always did say back when we were younger that you wanted to be a designer. And look at you now” he admires, letting the candle lights shine a youthful glow to your face. 

“You always said you wanted to become a music producer and write your own songs.” you reciprocated, smiling as you soaked in the presence of one another. “And here you are now.” 

You think for a moment before asking the same question. 

“How about you?” 

Hongjoong silently shakes his head as his answer, though silently thinking about something else. The music changes to some old Billy Joel song in the back. You don’t realize it, but Hongjoong smiles to himself when he realizes the girls added it to the playlist. Of course they had to, it was one of the songs you played at your wedding. 

“What were we thinking when we got married like that?” You asked out loud, looking at how far you’d both come. You definitely skipped some of the order of the stages of a normal relationship. 

“I mean, we had no money, no prospects. Hell, we didn’t even have a car, Hongjoong!” you realized.

Your husband laughs, sitting straight and letting some skin show through his unbuttoned collar. 

“We were young” he justifies. 

“Yeah, and stupid too,” you pointed out, feeling the summer breeze pass by. It felt good to sit here like this with him.

You wondered, could sitting here like this with Hongjoong be a regular thing? After this trip, would you be able to walk back into each other’s lives again like this? 

As both parents and lovers?

Hongjoong brings up something you wouldn’t have expected him to. 

“Do you remember when we first found out about Eunseo and Eunbyeol?” he questioned softly, looking at you. 

You blink, taken aback. Suddenly you’re back in your college dorm washroom, sobs wracking through your body as Hongjoong who had only just sent his first few mixtapes to recording stations and companies nearby, pulled you close into his chest, eyeing the two lines left on the counter while he caressed your back. Only twenty years old and figuring out what you wanted to do with your lives, you were suddenly stuck in a sudden situation that had made you feel like your dreams would have been given up on completely. 

“I do,” you told him, pulling yourself from the memory. 

“I remember because in that moment I felt like the whole world was caving in”. You laughed, though it wasn’t fully cheerful.

“I don’t regret it, though” Hongjoong replies after some thought, gazing at you with truth in his eyes. 

You shook your head. “Of course. Neither do I.” 

It was a blessing to have two beautiful daughters as the product of your love.

“I don’t regret you either.” Hongjoong states.

You lock gazes, unable to take your eyes off of his face. 

“I loved you when I first met you and I still loved you when we divorced,” he says all at once, making your breath hitch and heart waver. 

“Don’t say that.” you tell him, looking away and suddenly reminding yourself you’re still divorced from the man sitting in front of you. 

How could he still love you after all this time? How could you feel the same about him?

Hongjoong continues, shaking his head as he bites back the lodge in his throat and makes up his mind. He has to tell you. 

“Truthfully, I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you.” 

Don’t do this to me you begged silently.

“I’ve hurt you just as much as you’ve hurt me.” He swallows, thinking back to the times you already knew he was referring to. The times where you fought to the point where there wasn’t even anything worth fighting for anymore. 

“But you have given me the greatest gifts of my life.” He smiles, holding his tears back.

“And for that I will always love you.”

You push your seat from the table, suddenly feeling overwhelmed and wanting to avoid him.

“I can’t do this anymore.” you dejected, walking away from the patio and from Hongjoong.

There wasn’t anything else you could fake anymore. You couldn’t bear to hear the man you once loved, possibly even still love, say these things like he had a dagger lodged in his heart. Didn’t he know he was only going to do the same to you?

Hongjoong is quick to catch up, holding onto your wrist and turning you around, that your back collides with the nearest wall inside, pressing your fronts together and closing the distance.

“Why do you always run away from me? From the possibility of us?” He exclaimed, voice breaking. His heart crushed at the way you turned your head, hot tears already clouding your vision. 

“Because ‘us’ can’t happen again, Hongjoong!” You cried, staring up at the man you once promised your life to.

“Don’t you get it? Us going on this trip isn’t a sign to get back together. What would we do seven years after breaking up?”

“We could do it” He states firmly, staring you down, both your chests heaving.

You bite your tears back again. “No we couldn’t, honey. We would be pretending to think we solved our marriage. What would we do about our daughters? After putting them through our constant fighting— ”

He slams his lips to your own, shutting you up as you painfully resist his touch. Your hands came up to push him away, but at the sudden gesture, you’re already giving in and sobbing softly, letting him hold you for just one last time. 

Your lips mold so perfectly, it almost hurts how much you missed this feeling. To have him slot his arms around your waist, pull you in close, and cherish you. You almost forgot this feeling. 

He pulls away softly, watching your lashes flutter, pleading to you for a chance as he leans closer, making your breath hitch. 

“We could be together as a family again,” he states firmly, your name leaving his lips in a desperate plea. “We never know if we try—”

You drown out his words, looking up with tears falling as you cut him off. 

“Seven years ago I gave you those papers to sign, thinking that you would’ve chased after me,” 

Hongjoong holds his breath, watching as the next words stumble from your mouth. 

“I realize now, how stupid I was to think that.”

“I didn’t know you wanted me to chase you”

Shoving his chest away while mustering the last of your strength you uttered. “Of course I wanted you to chase me.” You let go of his hands. “It’s too late either way”, walking away from the defeated man.

Hongjoong stands alone near the patio entrance, watching his tears fall to the wooden floorboards. Holding the ring he had kept hidden in his trouser pocket, he plays with it in his fingers, silently wishing he had given it to you sooner. 

It rains the next morning on your departure back to the city. Perfect, considering it reflects the sudden storm of utter depression that falls upon your family. Long gone are the cheerful giggles and longing stares that were shared between you and Hongjoong during the ride to the cottage. 

There was no room for that, not after last night.

Eunbyeol and Eunseo sat slumped in the backseat, rain hitting the roof of the car as they mindlessly played on their cell phones. Really, they were peeking from behind every so often and watching their parents sit in the front seat with tension so thick, you could’ve cut it with a knife. 

What had they done wrong? They planned the trip, the activities, the dinner— it was all perfect. And yet why were you still fighting with each other? 

These questions racked in their brains, baffled to have witnessed the sight of their parents refusing to talk to each other after walking back from their friends' sleepover. 

Eunbyeol and Eunseo felt as useful as matchmakers without a couple, feeling their efforts all gone down the drain. 

At the sudden ring of your cell phone, you pick up, answering at the voice of your assistant. 

“I’m driving back up right now”

Hongjoong continues focusing on the road, the occasional wiping of rain from the windshield wipers on the front window. 

“Yes. That’s okay, I'll take care of it.” You muttered, glancing at the rear view mirror for a moment. Your twin daughters immediately sigh, having an idea of what to expect when you say those familiar words. 

“Thanks for letting me know.” 

You hang up the phone, 

“One of us isn’t going with you, are we?” Eunseo asks, making you look back at her with a sigh. 

“No, you’re not” You confess, apologetic. ‘I’m sorry honey. I really am.”

You look back facing the front, swallowing as you told Hongjoong. 

“You’ll have to drop me off at the studio. Some things aren’t working out with the client so they need me to come in and take care of it.”

He nods, unphased as he continues to look straight. 

“Will you be fine with the girls?” You asked carefully, watching them as they were slumped in the backseat.

Hongjoong grips the wheel before turning to you. 

“I‘ll be fine. Don’t worry about it” sending a small smile, though it doesn’t fully reach his eyes. 

The twins thank god that at least neither of them had to choose to go back home with either parent. 

They would’ve hated that more. 

After barely being able to depart and say goodbye to your daughters in front of your studio, holding them close for a warm embrace and thanking them for an unforgettable weekend, Hongjoong drives off with his daughters, an empty feeling cascading his thoughts. He puts on a smile still, trying to cheer up his girls. 

“What do you want to do first when we go home? Want to unpack and then eat? We can eat and then unpack. Or we could- ”

Eunseo crosses her arms, having been fed up for far too long.

“Dad, you must be out of your mind.” 

Hongjoong stills, furrowing his brows and peeking at the first born who crosses her arms, holding an attitude. 

“Eunseo, what are you- ” 

“You’re telling me you and Mom just spent a whole entire week together at the cottage, had the best time of your lives since separating with one another, and now you’re just going to go back to not speaking or talking to each other again?”

Hongjoong blinks at his daughter’s sudden outburst, already making a turn into the driveway of his house.  

Eunbyeol now reciprocates her twin, looking at her dad as she slouches beside him, coming near the front seat area. 

“She’s got a point dad. Do you really just not love mom anymore?” She worries, looking up at him genuinely concerned. 

Hongjoong doesn’t know how to answer these sudden questions right now, stuttering to reply.

“Me and your mother are fine!” He lies, trying to reassure them. “That trip wasn’t just for us, it was also for you two to enjoy— ”

Eunseo asks the million dollar question. 

“If you still love Mom, why are you letting her go a second time?” 

With the engine turned off, it's gone silent. Two pairs of eyes staring at their father, awaiting his response. 

“Well? Are you going to chase after her or not?!” Eunbyeol groans, her fathers lack of response making her pull her hair. 

They were right. How could he have made the same stupid mistake twice?

Hongjoong struggles to put the keys back in the engine, telling them to put their seat belts back on. Their eyes begin to glow with hope.

“Do you girls mind staying at your uncle’s for a bit?” He asks hurriedly, punching into his cell phone to call his brother for a favor as he pulls out of the driveway. Eunbyeol squeals, hands clamping over her mouth as her sister speaks on behalf of them both. 

“Dad, if you don’t drop us off and get your butt over to mom’s right away, I’m gonna report you to child services.” she threatens, watching as he steps on the accelerator, heart pumping so fast as he smiles through the rear view mirror.

You sighed, holding up your cellphone to your ear. 

“Call me once she approves the design then,” you told your assistant through the receiver, one hand looking over the sheets of paper, highlighting the changes to the new blueprint. 

“Alright then, bye.” 

After hanging up the phone, you rubbed your temples, head pounding as you tucked the files back into the folder. 

The clock in your studio showed the hands about to reach seven pm. A few hours had already passed since coming back from your trip to the cottage, trying to forget everything by burying your focus into the new dress prints a client of yours requested, remodeling them after the original was rejected. 

Fingers worked away swiftly, comparing textiles and fabrics as you looked at the piles of papers and messy sticky notes in front of you. But yet the gears in your mind seemed to churn achingly slow, sighing as you repeatedly told yourself the same thing. 

Just focus on the dress, focus on the dress, focus on the dress.

Don’t think about him. 

The task is impossible. Your mind can’t help but slip back to what your relationship has become with Hongjoong, and what you were going to do now that those seven days were over. For so long you had deprived yourself from indulging in your love life, prioritizing taking care of Eunseo and Eunbyeol while juggling your job as a designer. Had you been doing it all wrong? 

Hongjoong’s words repeat in your head like a broken record player. 

I will always love you

Lies. That promise couldn’t be kept. Your divorce was a clear outcome of it. You and Hongjoong were two people not meant for one another. You were too different, all you would do is hurt one another, make life an unbearable living hell—

And yet you missed him. You missed Hongjoong so much. 

What was fucking keeping you from loving him? Was it your stubbornness? Was it really the fact that he didn’t chase after you? Or was it none of that and just your own self being stupid?

The front door of the studio opens, pulling you from your thoughts as you got back to the sketches. You called up from your desk as you worked quietly. 

“The studios closed for the- ”

Heavy breathing. The man who just walked in catches his breath from dashing out of his car and up the three flights of stairs, driving through almost an hour of traffic in pouring rain to be here in this moment with you.

“Hongjoong?”

He’s drenched, making a mess on the floor of the studio as the droplets fall softly one by one. 

Suddenly he's striding over to where you’re sitting in long steps before slamming his lips against yours. The kiss throws you off guard, the shock of his cold hands cradling your face makes you close the gap unknowingly. 

Linking your arms around his neck while kissing back passionately, you let your hands rest on his shoulders, pulling back for air as you panted heavily, catching your breaths and looking at each other with pure love and lust. 

“Why are you here?” you asked, feeling dumb because your heart already knew the answer. His hands wrap around your waist, desperate as if you would leave him again. 

But he’s just so fucking tired of that now. He just wants to love you now.

“I lost you once.” He breathes, eyes watering.

“I’m not going to lose you again”. 

Suddenly, everything that kept you from being with each other is thrown away. 

That hate, that fear, everything is gone because you realize you still needed each other. You’re still the same twenty year old couple standing in that dorm washroom, holding each other close and knowing it’ll be okay because at least you had each other. 

You grasp onto his damp shirt, pulling him down with such force that your lips meet again, taking charge as you finally allowed him to have you. 

“You’re a fucking idiot” you whined between kisses, curses escaping your lips when he softly bites the flesh of your neck to test the waters. “I hope you know that”

He agrees wholeheartedly, nodding as if he was already getting pussydrunk.

“I’m an idiot” he mumbles to himself, letting it escape his lips like a mantra. Well, he was stupid enough to only chase after you this late, so if his wife told him he was an idiot, then so he was.

“Let me prove how much I love you,” a hand comes to graze near the collar of your shirt. 

You gasped, watching as Hongjoong lifted you from your seat and rutted his hips against your core pathetically, your ass digging into the edge of the table.

“Here?” Your eyes widened, watching his expression turn dark. He presses kisses on your collarbone, making your hands grasp the wood for support. “Hongjoong wait,” you exhaled in a deep breath, heart beating against your chest.

But he doesn’t give a shit. He’s tired of waiting. 

“It’s been too fucking long” he protests, ripping your top off. You’re dizzy from how abruptly he’s stripping you, latching onto his shoulders for support as you wobble from him unzipping your jeans and pushing them down, exposing you in nothing but your underwear and bra. 

And like the good little whore you are, you immediately spread your legs, letting Hongjoong get a view of the embarrassingly wet patch leaking through your panties as he’s crouched down to let you step out of the denim near your ankles.

Holy fucking shit

You stand bashfully, toes curling from how exposed and vulnerable you were being the only one naked. 

“Please?” you asked nicely, letting your foot rest on his shoulder as your pussy was now on full display for him.

You don’t have time to even finish the last word before Hongjoong dives in, lapping at your soaking cunt and humming in pure ecstasy at the taste. The muffled vibrations make you throw your head back, tugging on his locks to shove his face further. 

Hongjoong’s hands press into your thighs that cage his head in, leaving a grip that you guarantee with littering the flesh with red splotchy bruises. Did you mind? Not at all.

When his tongue pokes at the gummy flesh of your walls, you let out a full moan, echoing throughout the studio as the air begins to smell like sex. 

“Right there, yes” you urged him, leg beginning to shake from how weak it was getting. 

He's so invested, you fear he might suffocate any longer if he doesn’t pull back for air. So you grasp his head, pushing him away from his meal while you both gasped lightly.

You watch him wipe his slick covered chin with the back of his hand, not breaking eye contact as he stares. 

“You were just begging to be fucked for all these years, weren’t you sweetheart?” He teases. 

Though you wanted him to lap at your juices until you came, you knew you needed to still feel his cock inside after so long. 

Your fingers played with the hem of your underwear, smiling back at your husband. 

“And you were just begging to get a taste of this pussy, weren’t you, Joong?” wiping that smug grin off his face.

”Lay down for me” he demands, getting up so that one hand finds its way to the back of your bra to unclasp it. The other clears half your desk covered in wedding dress blueprints and sketches, making sure nothing would make you uncomfortable before he fucked you on that mahogany surface so all you’d remember would be his name. 

And people said romance was dead. 

When the bra slides off and your bare back hits your desk, you suddenly realize what Hongjoong’s intention was when he ordered you to do that. 

Soft mounds spill out as your breasts take their natural form, giving Hongjoong the perfect view of your tits. Pervert. 

He immediately latches his tongue on a nipple, taking his hand and playing with the other, twisting painfully. 

A cry escapes your lips, parting them open as you let him play with them as much as he wanted to. He smiles against the motherfuckers, knowing that shut you up perfectly. 

“Are you ready for me to fuck you now?”

“Please, Joong, I need you” you whined, submitting yourself to your husband. He already knows you’re in need of one last kiss, coming up to give his wife what she wants by slotting his lips against yours again, this time much harsher. 

“Tell me so that I treat you good, baby” he mumbles, pulling back and making you clench your thighs together. He undoes his shirt in the meantime, unbuckling his belt and pressing a sweet kiss to your cheek when you sobbed. 

“Fuck me, please” 

His fingers slide your panties to the side to press his aching tip to your wet core. 

“Like this?” He teases.

“Inside, Hongjoong” you emphasized, meaning what you said with the way your nails dug into a pile of papers nearby. Biting your lip from how sensitive and needy your cunt was. 

“I know, I know,” he murmured, smiling to himself after messing with you. 

“I just missed this pretty cunt” before in one strong thrust, Hongjoong’s bulging tip enters inside your walls, giving you a stretch you forgot how much you loved. You whined softly. 

“Shit” he curses, relishing how the buildup finally led to this moment. 

The man is ravenous, but he’s genuinely trying his best to ease the painful stretch as you adjust to his thickness, nipping your neck in a trail of hickeys and love bites posessively.

With every thrust he makes, you arch your back, pencils and papers shuffling near by you. 

“Fucking look at my wife” he admires proudly, watching the woman he loves bounce her tits at every thrust of his cock. 

“S’too much” you caved in, shaking your head at the stimulation. 

You claw at his arms, head turning to the side as your eyes roll back from pleasure. 

“I know, mama, I know” 

He grabs a tit in his left hand, the right one coming down to play with your clit, pressing slow circles near where you were connected. 

“Fuck, I missed these” He rasps, savouring the feeling of your soft flesh in his hand, making you throw your head back. 

“Missed how they looked when you were pregnant” he says, thinking of how ethereal you looked when you were knocked up with his kids. 

“God, at this point I’m gonna get you fucking pregnant again” Hongjoong grunts, snapping his hips deliriously back and forth. He envisions you round and full, fulfilling his inner fantasy. 

“Shut up.” You spat, breaking the mood as you bit your lip to suppress a moan. He almost laughs when you then crane your hips back to give him easier access to keep penetrating you. The desk shuffles. 

“Your mouth is saying one thing, honey, but your body is saying something else” 

After hearing his words, you suck him in further, both of you now getting close. 

“M’close. M’so close!” you whimpered, sitting up so that now Hongjoong could hold you in his arms, caging your body so his cock could stuff you better. 

Your mouth hangs open in silent bliss, hands scratching his back. You leaned into his ear, making the final chord inside him snap. 

“Make me cum, daddy” 

And just like that, you’re clenching around Hongjoong’s massive cock as a creamy white ring begins to form. Hot ropes fill you up inside, tangled in a sweaty mess as he purrs, caressing the back of your head again in habit. 

“So fucking good, sweetheart. You did so good for me”

The sounds of your breathing fill the studio, a pencil or two rolling quietly away on the ground from being shoved off the desk. He shakes his head when you try to pull your sweaty bodies away, hair sticking to your neck but feeling the way he refuses. 

“Just let me love you,” he mumbles into your shoulder, dick softening inside you. “Just for a moment.”

You’re too tired to say anything back, so you finally give in. 

Seven years passed by you two without even realizing how much you still loved each other. Though you wouldn’t be able to get that time back, for once, there was something that you and Hongjoong agreed upon. 

You had no intention of wasting that time any more. 

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄:

Months later, and it still takes everything in Eunbyeol and Eunseo hearts to not scream at the sight of their parents when they walk hand in hand, smiling happily in public as they pick their daughters up from the first day of school. 

The girls jump into their parent’s embrace, eying the two silver rings they now wore proudly together. 

“How was school, darlings?” Hongjoong asks, pressing a kiss to Eunseo and Eunbyeol. 

“It was fun! We watched a documentary about lovebirds” she smiled, looking back up. You laughed softly.

“Which reminded me to tell you,” she grins, watching as you, her sister, and father all looked at her. 

“I hope you know that getting you and dad back together was my plan from the start.” she confesses, smirking at Eunbyeol who scoffs, crossing her arms. 

“Nuh uh, this was my idea first!” 

Before her sister could yell at her twin, you jumped in. 

“Plan? What plan?” You asked quizzically, both you and Hongjoong standing there confused.

“To get you guys to fall back in love again, of course!” Eunseo smiles, both her and her sister now giggling softly together.  

“How am I just finding out that there was a plan?” Hongjoong mutters, scratching his neck in confusion. You turned to the two girls, stopping in your tracks on your way to the car

“When did you two even think of all this?” grinning in astonishment as you felt Hongjoong slot his hand and intertwine it with yours. It felt natural now.

“Yeah, I'm curious too” he states, leaning close and intrigued.

Your daughters look at each other before smiling. 

“It’s a long story.”

But at last, time is something you finally now have as a reunited family of four, walking back to your car, holding hands with a twin on each side.

Listening carefully, as your daughters start from the very beginning.

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It's 10 a.m and I'm crying 🥲

hi i hope your requests are open 😓😓😓 i was wondering if you could do an ot8 comfort fic thing for when the ateez members find out that reader used to selfharm because of the scars left behind. if you dw to do ot8 then just mingi is fine.

thank you sm!

I’m so sorry it took this long i got sidetracked 😭😭 but i hope you like it

Ateez reacting to their SO’s self harm scars

Synopsis: ateez comforts the reader after finding out about their self harm scars

Pairing: ateez x gn!reader, domestic au

Genre: fluff, comfort

Word count: 3k

Warnings: mentions of past struggles with self harm

masterlist

• Hongjoong

The soft hum of music filled the cozy studio as Hongjoong focused on the delicate dance of his fingers on the MIDI keyboard, his laptop screen glowing with various tracks and effects. Beside him, you were nestled in a comfortable chair, engrossed in a book, occasionally shifting to find a more comfortable position.

As you moved, your shorts rode up slightly, revealing faint scars on your thighs. Hongjoong's eyes flickered with concern as he noticed, surprised to have not seen them before. He paused his work, turning to you with a gentle furrow in his brow.

"Jagi, what happened to your thighs?" he asked, his eyes searching yours for answers.

You looked down at your scars, a small sigh escaping your lips. "Oh, those? Just old battle wounds," you replied casually, trying to not fall back into painful memories.

Hongjoong's heart sank at your casual response. "But... how did you get them?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice.

You inhaled sharply, setting your book aside. "It's... a long story. But really, it's all in the past. They don't bother me anymore."

Hongjoong's heart clenched at your stiff tone, but he chose not to pry further. He reached out to gently trace the scars with his fingertips, his touch hesitant, as if it might hurt you, but you found it comforting. "I wish I had noticed sooner," he murmured, his voice laced with regret.

You met his gaze, offering him a small smile. "It's okay, love. I got out of it. It not exactly pleasant to remember but I’ll be fine," you reassured him, squeezing his hand affectionately. "Besides, consider it character development."

Hongjoong pulled you into his arms, holding you close as if he could shield you from any pain. "Don’t make jokes now," he whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "But remember, you don't have to bear it alone. I'm here for you, always."

"Thank you," you whispered, feeling With warmth spreading through your body, grateful for his presence and understanding.

• Seonghwa

Seonghwa sat comfortably on his bed, his back resting against the pillows as he played Animal Crossing on his Switch. You snuggled close beside him, the warmth of his body against yours, as you watched the screen together.

You continued watching with fascination, occasionally pointing out cute details or offering suggestions for his virtual paradise.

"Hwa, look! You should put a little picnic area by the beach," you suggested, your voice filled with excitement.

He glanced at you, a warm smile gracing his lips as he listened to your ideas. But then, as the light from the screen shifted, he noticed something on your forearm. Faint scars, barely visible except for when the light from the screen illuminated them but it was enough to catch his attention. He paused the game, concern flickering in his eyes as he gently traced his fingers over them.

"What are these?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with worry.

You hesitated for a moment, feeling a wave of vulnerability wash over you. But then, meeting his gaze, you offered a reassuring smile. "They're old scars," you explained gently. "I'm better now, Seonghwa. You don't need to worry."

He furrowed his brows, his concern evident. "But... how did I never notice them before?"

You shrugged lightly. "They're not something I like to talk about, anyways being with you makes me feel confident and content with myself and I don't dwell on the past when I'm with you."

Seonghwa's heart swelled with love and admiration for you. Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. "You're so strong, Y/N," he murmured, his arms enveloping you in a comforting embrace. "And you're not alone. I'm here for you, always."

You smiled at him, feeling absolutely content as you relaxed further into his arms.

• Yunho

Yunho had always been passionate about his work, especially dancing. So when he dragged you along to the KQ dance studio one evening, you couldn't say no to his big puppy eyes, even if it meant sitting on the sidelines and watching him move with such grace that not even the best could replicate.

As he swayed and spun across the polished floor, you couldn't tear your eyes away from him. His dedication and talent were mesmerizing, filling the room with an energy that was infectious.

"That was amazing," you whispered as he finished a particularly intricate sequence.

He grinned, sweat glistening on his forehead. "Thanks, love. But you know what would make it even better?"

You raised an eyebrow, already anticipating his answer.

"If you joined me," he said, extending a hand towards you.

You shook your head, chuckling softly. "No way, Yunho. I'm not half as talented as you are."

But Yunho was persistent, and before you knew it, he had pulled you up from your seat and into the centre of the studio. You stumbled a bit, feeling a little self-conscious as you stood next to him.

"Don't worry," he reassured you, placing his hands on your waist. "Just follow my lead."

You moved together, following his lead as best you could. It wasn't long before you found yourself lost in the music, the worries of the day melting away with each step.

But then, as you spun around, your shirt shifted, revealing the faint marks on your shoulder. Yunho noticed immediately, his expression shifting from playful to concerned. He stopped dancing, his hands dropping to his sides. You froze at his sudden shift in demeanour and looked at him in confusion waiting for him to say something.

"What's this?" he asked, gently tracing the marks with his fingertips.

You bit your lip, feeling exposed under his scrutinizing gaze. "Oh, um, it's nothing. Probably just from a cat or something."

Yunho raised an eyebrow at your answer, he wasn't convinced. "You sure about that?"

You sighed, knowing you couldn't keep it from him any longer. "Fine, I used do it when I got frustrated or angry with myself. It's stupid, I know."

Yunho's eyes widened in horror, his fingers still lingering on your skin. "Why would you do that?"

You shrugged, feeling embarrassed. "I don't know. It's like a subconscious thing, I guess."

"You don't have to do that anymore," he murmured against your skin, kissing the scars lightly. "You have me now. Whenever you feel like that, come to me. Lean on me, use me however you like. I'll be here for you."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you buried your face in his chest, feeling a sense of relief wash over you.

• Yeosang

Yeosang had gone out for a while to run some errands, leaving you to enjoy a peaceful nap on his large bed. You decided to steal one of his shirts, the comfort of which immediately sent you to sleep. Unbeknownst to you,in your deep slumber as you shifted around, the shirt had slipped off your shoulder, exposing the healed scars that adorned your skin.

As Yeosang returned home, his heart swelled at the sight of you, peacefully sleeping. He couldn't help but smile fondly, thinking of how cute and tiny you looked in his clothes, quietly he approached to admire your peaceful face. Gently, he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face, as he did his gaze shifted to the scars that marred your skin. Concern flooded his features as he leaned in closer, his fingertips hovering over the healed marks.

You stirred at his touch, blinking awake with a soft smile as you recognized him. "Hey, Yeosang, you’re back, " you greeted smiling at him, your voice still laced with sleep.

But as your eyes met his, you noticed the concern etched in his expression, his eyes fixed on the scars. "Is everything alright?" you asked, furrowing your brows in confusion.

Yeosang's worry spilled out in a rush of questions. "What happened? Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me?"

Confusion flashed across your face before you realised what he was looking at, and you gently reached out to cup his cheek, soothing the furrow in his brow. "Yeosang, it's okay," you reassured him, your voice gentle yet firm. "Those scars are old. It's been nearly a decade since then."

You could see the relief wash over him, but he still looked troubled. "But... why? Why did you...?"

You placed a finger over his lips, silencing his questions. "I was going through a tough time back then," you explained softly. "But being with you... you make me so happy, Yeosang. I haven't had any bad thoughts since."

His eyes softened, and he pulled you into a comforting embrace, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead. "I'm just glad you're okay," he murmured against your skin.

You smiled up at him, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over you. "I'm more than okay," you whispered, leaning in to capture his lips in a gentle kiss. "I'm better than I've ever been, all because of you."

• San

After a warm evening shower you wanted nothing more but to get into your fluffy pyjamas and go to sleep. You stood in front of your mirror, carefully putting on your clothes, when the door unexpectedly swung open, revealing San on the other side. Startled, you instinctively grabbed a towel to cover yourself.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't realize you were in here," San stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"It's okay, San. Just give me a moment," you said, adjusting your shirt as you continued dressing. You had been with him long enough not to feel entirely uncomfortable with him seeing you like this.

As you finished, you noticed San's gaze lingering on a particular spot near your hips. Sensing his stare, you furrowed your brows and glanced down, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"Is something wrong?" you asked, your voice laced with concern.

San blinked, seemingly snapping out of his trance. "Oh, no, it's nothing," he quickly replied, though his expression betrayed his curiosity.

You sighed softly, knowing he wouldn't let it go that easily. "They're just scars from my past," you explained, gesturing towards the faded marks on your upper thigh and hips. "Back then I struggled a lot with my confidence," you winced slightly at the painful memory.

San's eyes widened in realisation, and his features softened with empathy. "I had no idea," he murmured, stepping closer to you. "You're perfect, you know? I can't believe you would ever think otherwise."

A small, appreciative smile tugged at your lips, touched by his sincerity. "Thank you, San," you replied softly, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. "I'm in a much better place now."

Without hesitation, San reached out to cup your cheek, his thumb gently brushing against your skin. "I'm glad to hear that," he whispered, his gaze filled with adoration. "But just know, I'll always be here to remind you of how incredible you are."

His words melted away any lingering insecurities, and you couldn't help but lean in to press a tender kiss against his lips. "Thank you for always being so understanding," you murmured against his mouth.

"Of course," San replied, returning the kiss with equal fervor. "You don't ever have to worry about anything when you're with me.

• Mingi

After ages of going to the gym, lifting weights and what not, you had finally convinced Mingi to join you for a workout session at home. He was a bit hesitant about it at first, but eventually agreed, eager to spend more time with you. You chose something slow and peaceful, as opposed to the usual fast cardio routine.

You rolled out your yoga mats in a quiet corner of the living room, ready to start your session. "Alright, Mingi, let's begin with some simple stretches," you said, gesturing for him to follow your lead.

Mingi nodded, a determined look on his face as he mirrored your movements. You guided him through various yoga poses, explaining the significance behind each one with patience and encouragement. As you moved gracefully from one pose to another, you couldn't help but notice Mingi's intense focus on you.

Eventually, you transitioned into a seated position, stretching out your legs. That's when you saw Mingi's gaze flicker down to your thighs, his expression shifting slightly.

Sensing his sudden shift in mood, you paused, meeting his eyes with a soft smile. "Is everything okay, Mingi?"

Mingi hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Y/N, I... I didn't realize..." His voice trailed off, his eyes fixated on the faint scars adorning your skin.

You followed his gaze and realized what he was looking at. You never made an effort to hide them, but you hadn't expected Mingi to notice them either.

You shifted closer to him and reached out, gently placing your hands on his. You took a deep breath, deciding to address it calmly. "Those are just old scars from before. I don't hide them, but I understand if it's a bit surprising."

Mingi blinked back tears, his emotions bubbling to the surface. "I... I never knew. I'm sorry, Y/N. I should've noticed sooner."

You shook your head, squeezing his shoulder gently. "You don't have to apologize, Mingi. You couldn't have known. What matters is that I'm here now, and I'm okay."

Mingi's eyes softened as he looked at you, his voice filled with sincerity. "Y/N, please... promise me you won't struggle alone anymore. I'm here for you, always."

You nodded, a warm smile spreading across your face, as you hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek, making him crack a smile too. "I promise, Mingi.”

• Wooyoung

It was one of those lazy afternoons when you and Wooyoung were both off from work and free from all worries, allowing just the two of you to enjoy each other's company. Of course the best way to spend it was by annoying each other and generally goofing around, engaging in your usual banter and playful teasing.

As you playfully jabbed at Wooyoung's side while he was attempting to pour himself some water, successfully making him spill it, he retaliated by attempting to tickle you. You squirmed and laughed, trying to evade his grasp and running around the apartment, but he managed to corner you and began tickling your sides mercilessly.

"Ah! Wooyoung, stop!" you squealed between giggles, your cheeks flushed from the laughter.

His hands slipped under your shirt, tickling up and down your sides with no mercy as tears escaped your eyes from laughing too much. Abruptly his movements stopped, and a concerned frown creased his forehead as his fingers brushed against thin ridges on the side of your ribs. Gingerly he lifted your shirt, his eyes widened to discover pale white scars strewn across your skin.

"Hey... what's this?" Wooyoung's voice softened as he traced the scars with his thumb, his playful demeanor instantly replaced by worry.

You glanced at him, puzzled by the sudden change in his demeanor, until you followed his gaze down to your ribs. Realization dawned on you, and you gently placed your hand over his, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Ahh those, it's okay, Wooyoung," you said softly. "I'm okay now. You don't need to worry."

He searched your eyes, silently asking for confirmation. Your reassuring words seemed to ease his concern, but he still couldn't shake off the worry completely.

Leaning in, he pressed a tender kiss against the scars, his lips warm against your skin. "I love you," he whispered softly, his voice filled with sincerity and affection.

Your heart swelled with warmth at his words, and a giggle bubbled up from within you. Wrapping your arms around him, you hugged him tightly.

• Jongho

As you walked through the door after a painfully long day at work, Jongho couldn't help but notice the weary expression etched on your face. His heart clenched at the sight, knowing all too well the burdens you carried. He had always known of the battles you fought within yourself and the scars they left behind. Yet, out of respect and understanding, he never broached the topic, letting you open up at your own pace.

Today, however, he felt compelled to reach out, to offer you the comfort you so often extended to him.

"Hey, love," he greeted softly, setting aside his book and rising to meet you.

You managed a faint smile, but it didn't quite reach your eyes. "Hey, Jongho."

He stepped closer, his gaze gentle yet searching. "Rough day?"

You sighed, nodding slightly. "Yeah, you could say that."

Taking your hand, he led you to the couch, where he enveloped you in a warm embrace. "I'm here for you, you know? You can always talk to me."

You tensed slightly at his words, your gaze flickering to the floor. But Jongho's reassuring touch grounded you, as he smoothed over the jagged lines on your arms, easing the knots of anxiety that tightened within you.

"I'm just... tired," you finally admit, your voice barely above a whisper.

Silence settled between you, but it was a comforting silence. Jongho pressed a gentle kiss to the top of your head, his arms secured around you.

Jongho nods, his hand finding yours, offering silent support. "You know you don't have to carry it all alone, right?" he says, his gaze meeting yours with unwavering sincerity.

Tears prick at the corners of your eyes, and you're grateful for the dim light that hides the vulnerability in your expression. "I know," you whisper, your voice thick with emotion.

© alxtiny . Do not steal, plagiarise, translate, repost, or use my works on any platform in any way.

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DISCLAIMER: THIS IS PURE FICTION AND NOT RELATED TO THE MEMBERS OF ATEEZ IN REAL LIFE PLEASE DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

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