"Wonwoo," Junhui called out as he stood at the back door, "I need to ask you something." He waited with his eyes searching the yard before the slight rustle of leaves announced the fox's movements. He dropped from the big tree into the grass, noiseless and weightless, and scampered over towards Junhui's open arms. He was so affectionate lately, seemingly unable to be in Junhui's space without seeking out his touch, his nose always in Junhui's neck as his ears tickled his chin.

"Petal, I have to ask you something, and it's okay to say no." Junhui's hand went to Wonwoo's hair to search for the soft fuzzy edge of an ear and when he found it and rubbed it he felt Wonwoo melt against him. "Can we have friends over for dinner tonight?" Wonwoo's eyes narrowed as he pulled out of Junhui's arms. "Soonyoung?" He asked and Junhui shook his head. "Minghao. He wants to bring someone over. Someone he wants me to meet."

Junhui never expected Wonwoo to agree. He was skittish around Minghao at the best of times, for reasons Junhui never really understood, and the prospect of a stranger in the house wasn't going to sit well either. Wonwoo searched Junhui's face, reading the anticipation of him saying no, the hopeful glimmer of him saying yes. The urge to see Junhui happy overrode the fox's shyness and he nodded. "Minghao can come. Will you make rabbits?" "No Petal," Junhui smiled that broad happy grin that made Wonwoo feel warm inside. "I don't think we need to scare Minghao and his friend away by serving them up a rabbit."

This confused Wonwoo a little. Rabbits were delicious. He thought everyone liked rabbit.

"Chicken?" he asked hopefully and Junhui nodded. "Chicken it is! With rice? How about chicken and cashew?" Wonwoo jumped up and down at the thought of his favourite stir fry and followed Junhui into the house clutching at the back of his hoodie.

At the familiar sound of Minghao's van Wonwoo began to hackle. "Shhh..." Junhui ran a soothing hand down the back of his head, lingering across his nape, "it's going to be fine." Wonwoo wasn't so sure. He didn't mind Minghao coming into their home but he better not touch Junhui or even think about going near his den. He wouldn't be able to stand it.

"Hi," Minghao smiled as he walked in. He leaned over to hug Junhui, thought better of it, and just nodded instead. "Hi Wonwoo," he said as he smiled gently at the little fox clinging to Junhui's hoodie. "This is Mingyu." The man who followed Minghao into the house was huge. Wonwoo's nose tested the air, finding the scents of Minghao and Mingyu muddled together with something familiar but unknown, confusing his sense of who was who. "Nice to meet you Junhui," Mingyu bowed politely as he shook the man's hand and his eyes widened when he caught a full view of the fox hiding behind Junhui shyly. "Wow," Mingyu breathed softly as his eyes wandered all over Wonwoo's face and ears. "Cute." He turned to Minghao with eyes sparkling full of delight. "Hao! He's so cute!"

Wonwoo felt more comfortable than he had before. Minghao's attention was unwavering from Mingyu as they sat next to each other around the tiny dining table. Wonwoo watched them, observing them curiously, their interactions drawing his attention. They were always touching, hands on knees or arms around shoulders, eyes heavy with flirtation and lust. Wonwoo could smell it on them. He began to relax a little as Minghao's attention focused on the tall man seated next to him but after they ate Minghao gave Junhui a pointed look and they began to gather the dishes.

"Wonwoo, Petal," Junhui whispered, "I'm just going to clean up a little with Minghao. I'll be back in a minute." Wonwoo's longing gaze followed them all the way into the kitchen until they disappeared behind the door.

"So..." Mingyu said a little awkwardly, "how long have you been here with Junhui?" "I'm not sure," Wonwoo said as his eyes downcast at the table. "I can't count days. I think he said two months." Mingyu smiled and the strange scent that lingered on him began to unpack itself in Wonwoo's mind. Now that Minghao was gone and the scent of attraction was clearing Wonwoo was able to pinpoint why he felt comfortable with Mingyu so quickly. "How many dogs do you have?" the fox asked and the man laughed loudly displaying an endearing row of odd looking teeth. "I'm a dog walker. It's what I do for a job. Training, walking, looking after them when their owners go away. I love dogs. They're my life."

"Can I?" Mingyu held his hand out and Wonwoo sniffed it tentatively. Mingyu held it still as the fox scented the hand and inhaled deeply against the pulsing throb of his wrist before shuffling closer. He leaned his head towards Mingyu in a clear display of affirmation and closed his eyes as Mingyu reached up and stroked his ears one at a time. "So cute..." he whispered before stopping and waiting for the little fox to open his eyes. "I suppose we don't know each other well enough for me to rub your belly?" Mingyu asked and Wonwoo laughed out loud catching them both by surprise.

"So," Minghao smiled at Junhui, uncharacteristic in his sudden shyness, "What do you think?" "He seems great," Junhui enthused. He meant it. Mingyu seemed nice and Junhui had never known anyone to hold Minghao's attention longer than a day or two so he must really be something special. The silence coming from the other room was a little unnerving but it was suddenly broke by a raucous laughter and Junhui was sure it was Wonwoo's. "Told ya," Minghao winked at Junhui's surprised expression, "he's amazing!"

The movie flickered in the darkness as Junhui and Wonwoo curled up on the couch. Minghao and Mingyu were squashed onto the old two seater by the window and the lights were off. Wonwoo snuggled close onto Junhui's lap, his head resting comfortably on Junhui's thighs, soothing hands trailing through his hair the way he liked it. The darkness meant nothing to Wonwoo as his glowing amber irises cut through the night. He watched in silent fascination as Mingyu hauled Minghao closer until he was seated in his lap. He watched Mingyu lean forward to whisper something in the other man's ear making Minghao giggle in an especially endearing way. When Minghao turned his face towards Mingyu Wonwoo frowned in confusion. He'd never seen anyone mouth like that. Maybe Minghao was looking for more food? He felt like he should get up and push the bowl of popcorn over towards them but then he noticed Mingyu was searching Minghao's mouth just as intensely.

Wonwoo looked up at Junhui's mouth and wondered what it would feel like to lick inside it. It made him shiver a little and he laid back down across Junhui's lap. "Cold?" Junhui asked quietly as he pulled at a throw run to wrap around the fox. The fox snuggled closer as he watched Mingyu mouthing at Minghao's neck. It was a lot like the way he did it, whining and licking when he was hungry or sorry or just wanted to. But he saw Mingyu use more lips, softer and slower, biting a little and using his teeth. Mingyu was great at mouthing, Wonwoo could tell, because Minghao really seemed to be enjoying it.

Junhui wasn't. As Wonwoo watched on in quiet curiosity Junhui shifted uncomfortably and threw a cushion at the others. "Get a room," he grumbled in the darkness as Mingyu seemed contrite and Minghao just laughed.

The noise of the movie filled the silence again but still Wonwoo watched. He was drawn in fascination to the display of affection and attraction playing out in front of him. He'd never seen anything like it. He watched Mingyu's hand trail from Minghao's side down the outside of his thigh before curling around to caress the inside. Minghao whimpered a little and leaned into the touch, his tongue flicking across his bottom lip, his heartrate increasing a little.

Wonwoo recognised the scent filling the room. The scent of man's arousal. The scent he found so irresistible when he detected it seeping out from under Junhui's bedroom door. He could smell Minghao and Mingyu, similar but different, their scents and breath matching and reciprocal.

"I think we'll call it a night," Minghao said suddenly. He got up and Mingyu plastered himself to Minghao's back as they gathered their things and dressed in their jackets. "Thanks for having us," Mingyu grinned. "It was so nice to meet you both," he took a covered plate of leftovers from Junhui and winked at Wonwoo who blushed and hid behind Junhui's hoodie. "Hope you're still here next time we come over!" Mingyu grinned and Minghao elbowed him gently in the side.

They waved them away at the doorstep before closing themselves inside again. "Wow," Junhui said softly as he embraced the little fox. "You handled that so well," "Mingyu was nice. But why was he licking the inside of Minghao's mouth?" Wonwoo said as he stared at Junhui. "He seemed to be liking it though," Wonwoo shuffled back towards the couch. He was swallowed up in a huge fluffy hoodie and tracksuit pants and the fuzzy socks on his feet detached from his usually graceful gait. Junhui didn't know what to say. He just followed Wonwoo back to the couch.

When he settled back by Junhui's side Wonwoo found his curiously stirring in his stomach. He looked up at Junhui fixated on the movie and decided to ask again. "Junhui, why were Minghao and Mingyu licking each other like that?" "Well Petal," Junhui took a deep breath as he chose his words carefully. "Mingyu and Minghao like each other a lot." "Oh!" Wonwoo grinned brightly at that. "Like us! I like you Junhui." Junhui had to smile at that. He couldn't resist. "I like you too Wonwoo. But sometimes when two people like each other a lot they want to kiss. And other stuff..."

Kiss? Wonwoo didn't understand. But he did understand the implications of Junhui's soft words. 'Two people' meant two people, not a man and a hybrid, and Wonwoo's curiosity was thwarted before it had even really sprung into life. What Mingyu and Minghao had, the closeness and the heavily scented heat of arousal, there was no place for Wonwoo in that world. The realisation left an aching emptiness inside the fox. He wanted to find out what the inside of Junhui tasted like and what made it so exciting to taste someone else's mouth. But only Junhui's. No one else's.