Here's your trophy love of my life Midiiplier 🏆🥰

YOONGI POV:

I slip off my headphones, hands twisting the dials and sliding down the levers before I stretch, rubbing at my eyes, sighing at the small headache that had bloomed over the past few hours, a throbbing at the back of my skull that just wouldn't go. During the night it had stretched across, an ache building at my temples and no matter how much I rubbed my knuckles against it, it wasn't easing up at all.

I wondered whether Hobi and Tae had managed to drift off to sleep yet, whether the noise had woken Kookie or Jin hyung. Wondered whether (Y/N) was okay and whether Joon and Jiminie were too. The air had been sharp with eye-watering mint and heavy damp earthy musk when I'd stepped out of our room, not wanting to intrude when it was clear they had things to talk about.

It was a shame then that the sounds of yelling and arguing had slightly filtered through under our door. That the walls of the apartment couldn't quite muffle.

An argument because Joon and (Y/N) had come home late and that fidgetiness that Jiminie had had all night was because of it. Because of their absences.

Because he'd been fretting. Whether that was for Joon, for (Y/N) or for both.

And it had exploded behind a softly shut bedroom door, had made the air spark with charged pheromones; anger and hurt and rage seeping into the content cloud of scents that had seeped into the fibres of our home.

It had made Tae startle out of sleep, stripey tail getting unconsciously tighter around Hobi and eyes blinking up sleepily and confused. Ears twitching at the abrasive sounds of the argument, posture turning stiff and uncomfortable until it had descended into a hush. A quiet that felt foreboding and felt like a temporary calm. It had made Hobi's eyes glint as he reached to turn on the bedside lamp, ears twirling and twitching, lips pressed tight and scent going burnt.

I remembered pressing kisses to their temples and leaning down to nuzzle at their glands, pressing kisses there, rubbing a bit of my scent onto them before I'd quietly slipped out to work.

I groan, head dropping into my hands as I rub at my ears, trying to get comfort from the light touches but they flicker and twitch with sensitivity. And then perk at the quiet sound of the door opening.

My head rises to see (Y/N) peeking into the room tentatively, eyes wide and alert and lined with red, cheeks stained with dried tears. See her fingers peeking out from the hem of a baggy jumper. She looks vulnerable and as if she's still hurting. She looks uncertain, hovering over a threshold she's not sure she has the right to cross or not.

I smile softly at her, heart thudding a bit quicker.

"You can come in, I don't bite...not unless someone asks anyways." I say wryly, watching as her lips twitch, amusement flickering in those pained eyes as she steps in, sliding through and hovering still, one small step taken in.

"Am I that scary?" I ask quietly.

See her shake her head quickly and walk further in.

"I didn't want to be a burden...it seems like I've proven that though tonight." She adds ruefully, ears drooping slightly.

My instincts shift, unsettled, when her scent goes sad, pheromones seeping out in self-depreciative heavy waves.

I stand up, padding forward the rest of the distance to her.

"None of that. Joon wouldn't have made a choice without thinking it through and you have every right to do what you want. I trust the fawn in front of me." I say, hand going to cluck her gently under the chin, drawing her gaze up towards me.

Feeling fond and so, so hopelessly warm and tender for her. For the person she'd long since become, before I had a face to put to the name, before I had a person to put to the words of encouragement.

She's given me so, so, so much. I can only hope to believe that one day I'll be able to give even a fraction back. Even if I spend every day trying to be the support system for her, that she's been for me, maybe I still won't ever be able to do a smidgen of what she does for me.

"Why? Why do you trust me?" she asks. Her voice a soft ghost of a whisper.

So light and gentle that it does nothing to aggravate my headache but rather soothes it slightly, a balm that brushes and curls around the pain and tries to make it disappear.

"Apart from seeing what sort of person you are these past couple of months, I'd trust my Flower Bambi with my life." I lean in to murmur.

Smiling when her scent softens, turning all at once surprised, pleased and giddy. Ears perking up at the small gasp of breath.

"You know?" eyes unblinking as she peers at me.

My fingers brush against the shell of her ear, brushing a strand away.

She smells like night air and frost. She smells like sadness and new soft surprise. She smells like peaches and anise.

And yet her scent, part of it smells like home. Smells like part of the fibres of the apartment, the hidden nooks and crannies and the warmth that curls around us all. Her scent has begun to mean home too. Slowly filtering in and merging with our scents as if she was meant to be there.

"It's not been long, but I still can't quite believe that the person who's been beside me via words for years, is now finally here beside me in the flesh." Fingers drifting to brush against her cheek, heart aching when she unconsciously tilts into it.

"You're the one who's helped me, helped lots of listeners." She says. 

And her gaze is steadfast and earnest.

But there's a reason she's awake at this time. And a reason for it.

I remember the slam of doors, remember the yells that had quietened. Remember hearing (Y/N)'s voice filtered into it, indignant yells as the front door had slammed open, as she'd demanded Jiminie put her down.

Remembered that she was hurting, and that the reason she'd become a listener in the first place; because somewhere across a city, (Y/N) had found comfort in my voice, in my words. She'd found someone to keep her company on sleepless nights.

And looks like again, it's one of those nights.

I frown when this close I can see the weariness tugging at her, a clash of both looseness and stiffness tugging at her posture. Where her shoulders were sagging with exhaustion, they were also coiled up and stiff, unable to truly slump. Where her eyes were blinking up at me, wide and alert, there was sleep trying to tug them shut. 

"Can't sleep?" I ask.

She blinks, swaying slightly on her feet.

My hand automatically curls around her wrist as I step close, nose filled with softening anise.

"Something like that. I don't doubt you must've heard whether or not the others slept through it. You're always awake at this time." she mumbles.

I feel guilty, wincing, even though there was physically no way that I wouldn't have heard, that the others wouldn't have. Not when that hybrid biology, that in-built survivor instinct gave us heightened instincts and senses. Not when I'd clamped my hands over Hobi's ears as he'd done the same to Tae; not wanting them to hear the argument, wanting to give as much privacy as we could in a closed, shared space.

"Did Jiminie go back to his room? You didn't get to clear things up?" I ask hesitantly. Her head gently comes to rest against my chest, sagging as she curls close.

"He apologised, but I feel like I've made things worse. He already does everything to protect me and I made a decision that was burdensome and wrong." she confesses.

Voice trembling and wavering slightly.

Soft anise taking a slight plunge, decaying and wilted, pheromones turning distressed and hurt.

My arms wind around her, drawing her in for an embrace, head dropping to rest against hers.

"You're not burdensome or wrong. You did what you needed to and Jiminie exploded. He'd been pacing since he got home waiting for you two....and when you finally did, it all...crumbled." I say quietly.

Her ears flicker against my skin.

"I'm sure he must hate me, think of me as driven by blind desire and need. I bet he only stayed to keep guard to make sure I didn't sneak off again. To fulfil duty." She says. Louder slightly.

Voice full of pained confidence. So assured that everything between them has crumbled.

But just friends didn't argue with mates over another officer looking after her. it wasn't about duties changing, or his role as a protection officer being suddenly switched temporarily. It was beyond that. 

It was in the way that despite the way he yelled indignantly after (Y/N) whenever she tried to sneak out, his eyes lit up and his scent sweetened. It was in the way he'd curled protectively around her during post-heat, when that breeding urge had been snapped but that nurturing, fussy urge had settled in its place. It was beyond biological attraction, beyond this crackling connection. 

It was something more. Something bigger than that.

Which was why the snap, the explosion had been bigger too.

"You're not just duty. You matter (Y/N). To each of us you matter. To me, you mean a whole world in itself. Don't think so low or little of your worth, of how precious you've become." I say, ducking my head down to nuzzle at her temple, to press a kiss to her cheeks when she looks at me.

"My sweet Flower Bambi, this will sort itself out. I promise. But for now, let's get you something to drink and then bed." I say, guiding her out of the room and down the hallways.

Leading her to the living room and guiding her to a couch. Watch as she sinks into it, fingers faltering when she reaches for a cushion; the scent of mint strong on it. Doused with worry and panic and threads of hurt. See her shrink away with a shuttered gaze as she reaches for another one instead.

It makes my stomach do a flip with happiness when I see it's one I usually curl around, that it's my scent she takes deep inhales of as she clutches at it for comfort.

Smiling wide because unconsciously to her my scent brings comfort.

"Tea. I'll get us some tea." I say quietly, stepping away to go to the kitchen.

The headache I'd been ignoring returns in full force to conscious awareness at the clatter of mugs against the counter, at the sound of the kettle boiling and even the sound of opening the tin of fruity teabags.

My ears twitch when the kettle goes off, flinching away from it and the sound it makes. Startling because I don't hear (Y/N) enter the kitchen, only realise when a hand gently tugs me back, curling around my wrist to switch places.

"Looks like you need bed and rest more than me. I'll make the tea." She says as she ushers me away, vanishing briefly as I plop down onto the couch where she'd been. Sighing with relief and happiness at the way her scent had gently layered over my citrus.

And then she's pressing a mug carefully into my hands, sinking down beside me when I wriggle upwards. Side pressing against mine.

"Just a headache." I mumble.

Startling before relaxing at the light touch that brushes against the back of my ears, gently rubbing at the base of them.

"Our arguing made it worse." She says with a small sigh. My heart flutters when lips press gently to each ear.

"I'm sorry Yoongi, I didn't want to drag anyone into it, let alone make someone suffer for it." (Y/N) apologises as she leans away, curling around her mug, staring into its depths. The curls of steam hide her away from me, hide the flood of thoughts swimming in her eyes but she doesn't shy away when I curve close and tap her leg.

"No blame games. You can talk it out in the morning. With clearer heads. And sometimes...sometimes things look better when they're not in the dark." I say quietly.

She nods. Fingers relaxing their tight hold slightly.

"Tomorrow. I'll talk it out. Talk to him." she echoes.

"Good. Now sweet girl, a question...are you sure you're not some sort of nocturnal hybrid? You're nearly always up...."

--------

My tail tightens around the warmth it had latched onto, curling around the soft heat that radiates gently against it, caressing it lightly. Head ducking away from the source of sound and movement, ears flattening as I tried to shut the world away, keep it from breaking through the fog of sleep.

"Too early. Stop moving." I grumble, burrowing my head against a shoulder, distantly realising it's a softer, curvier body I'm pressed up against.

"I'm sorry Yoongi, I really need to get to work." A voice apologetically whispers, brushing across my no longer sensitive ears, soothing and lilting. A sweet gentleness that I don't want to let go of.

"Just stay. You're perfect like this." I mumble, nosing at an ear, floral lightness teasing at my senses when the ear flickers, twitches under the touch.

"Are you always this charming when sleepy?" the voice teases, huffing when hands try to tug at my arms wrapped around them, struggling to loosen them.

"If the person is right." I mumble.

The sweetness of anise bursts out and my eyes flutter open. Not sweet berries. Sweet flowers, newly blooming, delicate and gentle floral tones.

And see that for all that the voice had been teasing and light, the blush on (Y/N)'s cheeks are anything but.

See the way sleep clings to her, posture much looser and relaxed. The shadows under her eyes are less pronounced, the redness has receded slightly.

She's slept well.

I've slept well. Well that the headache has gone, well that when I look at her I feel my body slowly slipping into alertness, eyes dropping to see that it had been around her stomach that my tail had settled. Had curled around during the night. Had slipped under her clothes.

"I'm sorry...I..." I begin, tail uncurling and my hands loosening around her waist.

Wanting nothing more than to tug her back into my hold even as I let go.

"It's fine. It's nice." She admits.

Her eyes tear away from me to look at the clock, doe eyes widening slightly.

Shooting me an apologetic look.

"I really do need to get going, otherwise I wouldn't have moved." She admits.

I nod, leaning away and watching as she stands.

A question spills past my lips before I can take it back.

"You wouldn't have moved because I'm Yoongi, or because I'm Suga?" I ask curiously.

Wanting to know whether I existed as one or the other for her. Wanted to know whether I meant anything beyond what we shared through our connection on the radio.

She leans in, hovering over me.

"Because Suga is Yoongi and without Yoongi there'd be no Suga." And then she quickly pecks my cheek, murmuring a soft thanks before she's hurrying away.

But as I lean back against the couch, fingers flitting over where she'd pressed her lips, I realise that there hadn't been any noise for her to stir awake, that there hadn't been anyone else awake when I glance at the time and see how early it still is.

But mere minutes later when a soft padding sounds so lightly through the apartment, when an exhausted, tearstained fox peers in, eyes searching before slumping with defeat. The mint scent turns stale and sharp, piercing as his ears wilt. Drooping.

He can't dredge up a smile as he meets my eyes, before he too turns away. Vanishing from sight.

It isn't hard to see that the two are tiptoeing around each other with the fear that the other wants nothing to do with them. Because they're circling each other and the matter rather than confronting it, too afraid of the rawness of their emotions, of making it worse for each other.

I just hoped they'd talk it out. That they'd not let it linger and build between them. That the silence and avoidance would just make it worse.

Hoped that this small drift between them would end. That once more their scent of anise and mint would come to intertwine.

Because I wasn't the only ones with feelings for her.

Because it seemed like his ran much deeper. Had grown and gotten to bloom. And when it was finally beginning to unfold, this battering explosive storm came. Threatened to weaken an already fragile, new bond.

I hoped they'd emerge stronger on the other side of this. I hope they'd grow stronger through it.

KOOK POV:

I flit nervously behind Jin hyung, feet unsteady and scampering to keep behind the black glossy wings, peeking out tentatively at the terse gathering at the breakfast table.

My fingers clench tightly at the plates, shuffling behind hyung when the wave of strong mint pierces my nose, making my eyes water with its intensity. 

"Hyung everyone smells on edge." I whisper, ears curling over, wilting at the sombreness that awaits in the form of every pack member, bodies stiff and straight. Not leaning into each other, no conversation. Just a stiltedness as Yoongi hyung's tail swishes, curling and cutting through air. He sits beside Jiminie hyung, bristly tail as he taps at his plate, orange poofiness that seems to crackle. His scent is sharp, it prickles and stabs- abrasive as he hunches over, eyes flickering to the doorway constantly.

Even Tae hyung and Hobi hyung's usually sweet scents that always burst rich and strong are dampened, gazes nervous and worried as they flit to Joon hyung and Jiminie hyung. There's no denying that everyone heard. That everyone was awoken by the slam of the door if not the yelling. Because I'd bolted upright in bed, heart racing and ears stiffly perked, painfully aware of the strong hurting clashing mixture of their scents. Of anise and mint battling and colliding with each other rather than sweetly merged.

I remembered Jin hyung's eyes sleepily blinking before widening with alarm, gaze torn as he glanced towards the door, wondered whether he should go and ease things out or whether he should leave them, give them privacy and hope they'd talk it out.

Remembered his sleep laced voice fill the air.

"Should I go? I don't want them to say things they'll regret." He'd said, half rising off the bed before it had fallen quiet.

A sudden hush as Jiminie hyung's voice had quietened, it had Jin hyung's wings flaring out, extended in their full spending glory, shielding my body as his head went still. Head cocked.

"It's not just me not hearing anything right?" he'd asked.

Eyes dropping to me to see me nod.

My ears strain for sound, hear nothing. Hear it all quiet. As if a blanket has been thrown over the noise, shutting away everyone else from it.

"No, it's gone quiet. Hyung they...you don't think something happened do you? (Y/N) and Joon hyung got home safe didn't they? They're not hurt?" I'd whispered, trying to peer at the door as if it would hold answers, foot jolting against the bed with nervousness.

"They're fine, they'll be fine. It...maybe we should give them space." Jin hyung had murmured, curling beside me, wings cocooning me as they remained splayed out. Defensive and protectively splayed. On edge.

He had said it even as his eyes fixed on the door. Even when I'd woken to the same protective cocoon I'd been soothed to sleep in.

And now. Now he frowns, spotting (Y/N)'s absence, eyes flitting to Joon hyung in silent question.

"Is (Y/N) not coming to eat again?" hyung finally asks.

The question makes Jiminie hyung sink, curling around his mug as the mint sharpens impossibly more, when it makes that rich earthiness turn damp and cloying slightly.

"I um...I'll make sure gets something to eat on the way." Joon hyung says.

My eyes widen.

Words bursting out.

"Jiminie hyung you aren't going? But it's like...the thing that always starts your day well. That's what you told me." I say.

His eyes flicker with hurt and agony when he meets my gaze, looking ashamed as if he doesn't have the right to.

"I think (Y/N) wants space, she was long gone when I opened my eyes." He mumbles.

He ducks his head away quick. But not quick enough that I don't see the glossy sheen that he rapidly blinks away or how he pushes away the plate I reach to set in front of him first.

"Thanks Kookie, but not today. Not feeling it." He says softly as he stands, fingers brushing against my arm as he steps away. 

Tail limp and drooped as he walks out, the sound of his bedroom door shutting with a soft click that echoes deafeningly loud in my ears.

No breakfast.

No appetite.

I fidget, a restlessness as I scurry to put everyone else's plates down, freezing when Joon hyung tugs me down beside him. Filling the vacant seat his mate had left.

"Don't worry so much bun, I won't let this build even more between them. I can't stand the sight or smell of a hurting fox or fawn just as much." He whispers to me as he presses a spoon to my hand, a brief nuzzle to my cheek before he presses a kiss to it.

"Promise." he says, tail swishing through the air as he looks at me. Brown earnest eyes looking at me.

And somewhere in their sweet enticing depths, I find promise and earnestness and sincerity. I find hope and worry too.

And yet I know he'll do as he says, that he'll make it better between them.

That perhaps more than all of us, he was worried and fretting the most.

Even if he tries not to actively show it, the way his hands busy with reaching to give Tae food and the others too is answer enough.

Restless energy. Buzzing and thrumming with that instinctual need to keep his pack safe and happy and together.

And it's only later as I'm tugging on my coat to leave, that I realise I'd mentally catalogued   (Y/N) as that. As someone part of our pack, as someone I'd unconsciously accepted as one of our own.

And I didn't want one of our own to hurt.

Especially not when I'd caught sight and scent of her when she'd stepped out of her room, clothes bundled to her. Not when after smelling trails of peach on her I'd realised that she'd only wanted her needs fulfilled, that she'd been craving intimacy and had wanted it, had gone to fulfil them. Not when the realisation made me realise just how alone and touch starved she must be, that naturally needs ran deeper than just tactile light affection. That after a heat alone, her body still yearned and wanted, that she'd been left feeling hollow.

Not when I understand how much intimacy changed things, helped things. Not when I understood her. And felt sympathy and hurt on her behalf that she'd been yanked out of that hazy afterglow by the explosion of the argument. When where she should've been all soothed and settled and satiated she was on edge, hurting and skitters away before I can say anything. Leaving a trail of sad hurting pheromones in her wake.

Yoongi hyung appears at the doorway, suddenly behind me when I whirl, eyes about to search nervously once more when I still.

Blink at him.

"Fretty bun, hyung will take care of it. Just be safe and trust your pack." He says, fingers brushing against my ears.

They flop slightly, relaxed by the way he massages the base of them, lips quirked slightly.

"Hopefully this blows over, it's what we all want bun." He says softly, going silent when he's swept into a hug by Jin hyung from behind, tail swaying and curling at the kiss he gets to his nape.

I see a black tail curl around Jin hyung's calf and hold on.

See Jin hyung's face twitch with fond amusement as he taps his shoulder to get Yoongi hyung to peer back at him.

"I need to get to work Yoongi-ah, that requires being tail free. As cosy as my leg may be." He says wryly.

The tail slides and uncurls, slithering behind him as Yoongi hyung's scent bursts out. Sweet citrus, wonderfully tart and fresh.

"Oh. Whoops." He mumbles, stepping aside.

But Jin hyung's bubble of laughter has a gummy fangy smile tugging at pink lips. My eyes linger on the soft curve of them, blinking rapidly when Yoongi hyung's expression goes slightly smug.

"Something the matter bun?" tongue poking out as he looks at me. Sticking it out as he cocks his head.

I shake my head, fingers fumbling for my zip.

"Nothing wrong at all. Have a good day hyung. Come on Jinnie hyung, we're gonna be late." As I tug the door open, rushing out.

Fighting the urge to press my hand to my cheeks to check if the heat I feel seeps out of my skin.

But Jin hyung does that for me, cupping my cheeks as we step off the elevator, eyes sparkling as he leans for a quick kiss before we step out of the block.

"Rosy cheeked bun. Looks like someone's got a crush. Seems like love is in the air~" he trills, pecking my lips several times in quick succession before he opens the door, wings fluttering happily as he steps aside to let me leave first.

Hand curling around mine as we walk to the car.

Never failing to be flustered when he opens my door and belts me in, an opportunity to press a deeper kiss to my mouth before he steps away, hands meeting over the distance to curl around each other.

"Work then?" he asks.

"Work." I echo.

Hoping it brings a distraction from the sombreness that had descended into the apartment.

Hoping that the tension crackling in the air dissipated soon.

-------

Eunwoo steps through the café door, head ducking down a bit to avoid his antlers hitting the door frame. They'd grown slightly since the last time I'd seen him, stood tall and proud from amidst dark brown strands.

His eyes turn to crescents as he smiles, a beaming smile as he brings a finger to his lips, indicating silence as he steps inside, setting down the bags before approaching Binnie who's working with his back turned at the coffee machine. 

He carefully sneaks through, lifting the latch as he makes a stealthy beeline for his mate, catching him around the waist and pressing a kiss to his nape, laughing at the jolt and the way his tail shoots up, surprised before he turns in his arms. A smile spreading across his face as his ears perk.

"Eunwoo! Hyung what brings you here?" he says, twisting in his arms and setting aside the coffee he'd been making, smiling into the greeting peck as he winds his arms around Eunwoo.

"Just wanted to catch you on your lunch break. And I came to see Jin hyung and Kookie too." He says, head turning to shoot both of us a smile, walking out with Binnie latched onto him as he steps close to the table he'd left bags on.

"Us? Not that it isn't an honour, but you always come for Binnie." Jin hyung says, scooping up the abandoned coffee as he ducks behind the worktop, choosing to set it down for Eunwoo instead, rather than himself.

"I had a favour to ask." He admits, fingers gratefully curling around the mug as he gestures to the bags.

"There's a few things in there for (Y/N). Some are from me and some are from SJ." He says.

I perk up, plopping down opposite them.

"SJ?" I ask.

He nods.

"Her heat partner. He dropped by early this morning to pick me up and said they were for her. I guess they met up last night then. He smelt like her." he muses.

Binnie nods, busy cuddling up to his mate's side, drawing the tall glass of chocolate milkshake towards him as he hums in agreement.

Taking a long sip, eyes fluttering with happiness before he speaks.

"I would've tackled him if the scent hadn't been so giving. And he ran away before I could." He admits ruefully.

I exchange a glance with Jin hyung, see the knowingness in his eyes as his wings flap. Coming to stand behind me, hands curving around my shoulders.

"Is SJ good to her? Beyond their dynamic as heat partners?" hyung asks.

Curiosity lacing his tone. But also protectiveness too.

There isn't hesitation as the two of them nod.

"They're friends before they're partners. And I know for a fact SJ went through his last rut alone, he could've easily gotten someone else to help. But he didn't. He didn't mention it to her either." Eunwoo says, lifting the mug up to take a sip.

As he speaks there's this warmth and trust that flicker in his eyes, nothing but faith in SJ and their bond.

It sounded like he was good for her.

So why had Jiminie hyung yelled and exploded as if he were the opposite? As if he was a danger or threat to her.

"SJ hyung, (Y/N) and Eunwoo hyung go way back. They've known each other for years, even went to high school together too." Binnie says, unaware that a curl of cream smears his lips.

It meant that their trust in him came from a long amount of time shared, of growing together, of going from children to adults together.

It means (Y/N) is in more than capable hands.

"He wouldn't say what it was exactly but he wanted me to get this to her. And well...Kookie you'll pass it to her please? I haven't seen him so pent up in quite some time, especially after expelling all that energy." He says softly, lips tugged slightly.

I nod, eyeing the bags.

"All of them right?" I confirm.

But he shakes his head, reaching to pluck a bag off the table.

"This was at Binnie's request. For that homeless woman right?" as he passes it over.

Binnie is busy rummaging in it, checking through what looks like to be a scarf and a warm new blanket. Nodding absently.

"I always feel so bad when I pass by and all I have to offer is food. So I thought a new blanket would do. It's so ragged and torn the one she uses." Binnie says with a small sad pout, fingers brushing carefully over the soft fabric.

"It was a good idea to give the leftovers to the homeless. It's already merciless as the weather gets colder, the least we can do is try to keep their stomachs filled." Jin hyung says.

A proud smile on his face as he looks at Binnie, eyes flickering down to me. Tapping my nose as my head falls back to press against his stomach.

His fingers drift to settle back on my shoulders, drumming against them before petting lightly, rubbing a line from the curve of my shoulders to my neck, fingers grazing skin.

"Maybe giving them to the local shelter is a good idea. They can always do with more food." I say. 

"Should I give the new batch of testers then too?" Binnie asks.

Startling when my head jolts up, eyes wide, a 'no' tearing past my lips.

The fingers brushing against my neck in soft light circles still, dart to tickle the curve of my ears, brushing against my glands.

"Why's that bun? Surely the new batch testers of extra soft cookies perfect for munching on could go the shelter no? Who else could they go to?" he asks.

Voice a teasing lilt.

I squirm. Eyes flickering nervously to the two opposite me. Flushing slightly when their gazes alit with curiosity settle on me.

"They're for (Y/N). She likes that sort of stuff, it'll be there in case she wants something to snack on at night." I say, steadfastly meeting their gazes even if something glints in them, a steadiness in their eyes as they look at me that makes me want to duck my head away.

That makes me feel like what I'm doing is even more secretive and hidden, something that hangs precariously on the edge of being known.

And then Eunwoo grins at me.

Bright and dazzling.

"You're a good person Kookie. A lot of the worry the two of us had with (Y/N) being alone went because we knew you two look after her well. Because she won't stop mentioning how much she looks forward to going back because of the time she spends with you." he says.

It makes my ears perk as I look at him, straightening as they catch on to the sincerity of his words but also what he's saying. (Y/N) enjoys spending time with us. She talks about us to her pack. We matter to her.

It warms me.

And so when later Jin hyung's hand hovers threateningly over the batch waiting for me to pack them all up, ribbon awaiting to pretty it all up, I smack his hand away.

Laughing at the indignant, incredulous look he gives me.

"They're for (Y/N), hyung! So stop swiping at them." I say, nudging him aside with a hand to his shoulder and hip bumping against his.

He splutters, muttering about mates being forgotten as he latches on, peeking over my shoulder, distracting kisses and nuzzles to my cheek and ear and nape.

"Don't worry bun. I've got my hands full. I'll just dig in later." Breath ghosting across the shell of my ear with hushed promise.

And the shiver that dances across my spine has nothing to do with the cold.

Far from it.

(Y/N) POV:

A pair of arms wind around me, tugging me away from the door I'd been walking towards. Scentless because of the blockers, it delays me from recognising them. But the rumbly chuff I feel against my back, brushing against my neck is familiar.

Immediately gives away that I've been scooped up and tugged into a tiger hold.

And I only know one tiger, one cuddly tiger in my life that greets me this way.

"Tae! When did you get here?" I ask, twisting my head to peer at him.

I'm greeted with a fangy smile, tight slightly at the corners of his lips.

"Just now, spotted my fawn fairy and made a dash before she vanished again." He says, sounding reproachful slightly.

But then he's nosing at my cheek and pressing a kiss there.

"I don't blame you for needing air or space. But don't let your poor tummy suffer. I bet it growled louder than Joon hyung's wolf." He teases, finger tapping my stomach.

I squirm guiltily.

Joon had tried to get me to eat but past the cup of tea my hands had cradled, I hadn't been able to stomach anything. Not with the scent of cloying earth and heavy stormy wetness seeping off him, not when he looked so worried.

But despite it all, despite the worry and restlessness that I knew came from the inevitable confrontation between him and Jimin.

"I won't let it suffer. Did...did everyone eat breakfast?" I ask.

Heart twisting painfully at the thought that Jiminie would use the fight between us, though messily resolved; with tears and scents and aching hearts, to ignore his own self away from being with pack, with taking care of himself. I hoped he'd eaten. Hoped that when I'd left him in bed, he'd managed to rest, the sight of his body curled up in the corner still stung, hurt to think that he'd felt the need to stay because he was guarding me, he was making sure I didn't slip away.

Tae hums.

"I mean everyone sat down to eat but Jiminie didn't and the others all picked at it. But it's not just the same when there's no pretty fawn fairy at the table, it dampens my appetite." He laments, voice teasing and light even if his words spark a restlessness in me.

"So that means you're having lunch with me and Hobi hyung. No ifs or buts, I'm not above scooping a resisting doe and whisking her away." he warns.

I nod distractedly, fretting slightly.

Patting his hands that are locked around my stomach.

"I need to go to Ji Ah for now. But can you keep an eye on Min-Junie in your art session? Just to see if he has any difficulties in being near other predator hybrid children." I ask.

He nods.

"I really need to go now Tae, I'll see you later." I say, trying to smile up at him.

But it wavers and struggles to lift fully.

And then his arms are falling away and I'm stepping towards Ji Ah's room.

Hear him call over.

"And remember you've promised me an art date! I need my fawn fairy before we start the mural." Voice excited and wheedling. Demanding.

It brings a smile to my face as I open the door and step through. Eyes searching for the sweet meerkat girl.

Today she's sitting curled up beside the window, hands curled around the soft toy I'd given her. Absently her hands pet the toy, brushing over the head of the soft teddy, petting at its ears and rubbing as I would to Min-Junie. I watch her fingers trail to cup the soft stomach of the teddy bear, other hand settling over its face, covering the eyes.

"Ji Ah lovely, already up I see." I say as I step in, voice clear and loud- alerting her to my presence so she doesn't get startled.

I'd noticed that when I'd enter silently, settle down beside her; she'd flinch and startle at the sudden appearance. And times I'd announce myself as I entered, it allowed her time to turn and see who it was, it let her sit up and wait for me to reach her.

Even now her head turns from the window, wide eyes unblinking as they meet mine. The corner of her lips turn up and her hand moves away from the bear's stomach as she gives a wave. The other hand still covers the bear's eyes.

I walk over, sinking down to crouch in front of her and sneaking my hand behind her teddy bear to poke her stomach lightly, heart lightening at the silent squirmy giggle that flashes in her eyes.

"Did you eat well or are you up to some snacks?" I ask.

She shakes her head, rubbing her stomach and making an okay gesture with her hand.

Full for now.

I smile before tapping the fingers that cover the teddy's eyes.

"You don't want to show teddy the world yet? Aren't you going to let teddy see the gardens?" I ask, peering beside her to see where her gaze had been fixed.

She shakes her head firmly, tucking the bear against her chest. Twisting it so it's burrowed against her stomach, protectively held by her.

"Why not Ji Ah? Aren't you excited to go outside one day? You and teddy on adventures?" I ask softly.

I still when I see tears sparkling in her eyes, vehemently shaking her head as she clutches the toy tighter, clinging to it as she ducks her head.

She didn't want to go outside. The thought terrified her.

I hated that I needed to ask but I needed to confirm something.

"Outside like the gardens? Or outside like outside this room too Ji Ah sweetheart?" I ask softly.

Hand going to gently touch her curled up ones.

She shakes her head, curving away to press against the window seat, eyes fearfully eyeing the door.

Not going outside at all.

"Sweetheart no-one will force you for anything. That means going where you don't want to. But can you try tell me why?" I ask, fingers brushing away her tears when she raises her head, agonised eyes looking at me.

She reaches for the notebook perched at her feet, hands trembling as they reach for a pen.

Slowly moving her hand across the page before she fearfully holds it out.

Eyes full of anguish, shadowed much more than the exhaustion had to her physically.

The dark bruises of fatigue had faded slightly with time from under her eyes, but now as I looked at her, her eyes were pained and hurting just as raw and vulnerable as the day I'd first seen her.

The world is bad.

Outside hurts.

My eyes go to the way she'd curled around the teddy after she'd let go of the notebook.

"So you want to protect teddy from that. That's really brave and kind sweetheart. But who protects you? Can I?" I ask softly.

Her hand reaches for the notebook once more.

No.

And then she's slipping off the window seat, setting the bear down facing away from the window when she reaches for the jumper she was wearing over her pyjamas.

There's nothing in her posture that screams discomfort. Numb and unfeeling as she tugs off her clothes, falling aside to the floor as she strips herself bare.

And when she's standing in her vest and underwear she looks at me.

Wide dark eyes meeting mine. 

Marking out the spots she'd been injected. Hands pressing to where some marks no longer remained, over marks that would scar perhaps, where needles had been pushed in forcefully and broken skin. Hands drifting over where she'd been bitten, poisoned. Marks that perhaps would never fade.

Her hands drift over her neck, over the pulse points at her wrists, at her jugular. Drift over her stomach, hand tugging at the vest to reveal a slowly growing tummy, poking at where puncture marks sat under her belly button.

She seems numb and unaffected as she touches, hands not wavering once. But when she raises her head finally, there's tears splashing against her cheeks, silently coursing down and dripping onto her neck. She silently shakes and trembles as she looks at me, at how she burrows her face into her hands and roughly rubs at her eyes. Grounding her palms against them to hide and stem the flow of tears, body shaking and curving inwards.

She doesn't resist or flinch when I reach for her, burrowing close instead, ducking to hide herself, make herself small in my arms, skinny frame trembling under my touch.

But even as she cries, she twists, leaning away for the notebook.

Hand trembling and writing shaky when she finally lifts her head over the notebook and hands it over.

Eyes imploring. Begging as she looks at me.

I protect, I got hurt.

You protect, you'll hurt.

I feel my stomach plummet, heart clenching tightly and eyes stinging.

She shakes her head at me, hand pressing to my chest and nudging me, trying to move me back.

Her hands push at me, weak shoves as she tries to drive her message in.

Don't help me or you'll get hurt. Don't protect me and end up like me.

It makes anger burn, hot and consuming, as I connect the dots and realise that she hadn't just been made dependent on the poison, on the toxins that had made her body burn. It hadn't just been an act of cruel monstrosity but had run deeper.

She'd been hurt and poisoned for trying to protect someone else. To protect others.

"How many people Ji Ah? How many hurt you?" I ask.

Voice trembling with rage.

And time and time again I'm grateful for the use of scent blockers. Thankful that she can't detect how sour and angry my scent undoubtedly is at the moment. Glad that she can't tell how much venom burns my body with the ever growing need to make them pay.

She shrugs sadly.

Fingers brushing over her neck.

And I wonder.

How many bit her.

How many injected her.

How many held her down as she thrashed.

How many took advantage of that muteness.

How many people turned into monsters.

"One day...one day you'll be able to go outside. And the people who hurt you, they'll be afraid. One day the tables will turn Ji Ah." I whisper.

I won't have it any other way.

But the doubt doesn't fade from her eyes, the marks remain on her body and the teddy remains turned away from the window.

From the hell the outside world had been for her.

Protected, tucked away. Shielded from the brutality Ji Ah had known. She saves her teddy bear from such a fate.

-------

"You know hiding and tiptoeing doesn't make things better right dear girl?" a voice says in my ear, startling me as he noiselessly appears behind me, peering over me, standing behind me as I peek out from around the corner.

I jolt back against him, feel a hand settle on my hip.

"I'm not hiding." I retort, eyes anxiously scanning the surroundings. I feel my tail flick at the sudden sound of a door opening somewhere further down. Flinching back when I see orange in my vision.

Then still.

Orange and black. Stripey ears hovering in my vision as Tae steps in front of me.

"I thought you said you'd made up. So why does it seem like you're hiding? We're not even playing games, or chasing each other. Sad scents don't make for fun times fawn fairy." He says, frowning at me.

"We have made up, he apologised. But what if he felt like he had to? What if he stayed last night because of duty? What if...what if my decision ruined everything?" I ask, voice dropping to a hushed whisper.

My voice wavers and when I swallow it hurts, a lump growing in my throat at the thought of Jimin putting distance between us, of a rift remaining between us because I'd chosen to go to SJ. Because like he had said, I'd dragged another person into my mess and hadn't stopped to think.

"Awww pretty girl, it's not like that. I know Minnie and he wouldn't let something like this drive you apart. If I'm attached to one hip, you're joint at the other to him. I'm sure he's still beating himself up." Tae says softly, fingers brushing over my cheeks to catch tears I hadn't realised had spilled over. Thumbs pearling with drops of my pain as he looks at me, stripey ears twitching and fangs poking at his bottom lip.

"Cub's right. You both needed to get things out of your systems. It just went badly but you weren't wrong for wanting needs met. No-one would think low of you for that. Ever." Hobi stresses from behind me, hand squeezing lightly.

My head drops down.

That's what SJ had said but given the lack of mint during my day, the absence of him on our morning walk to work, all of it made me feel as if he was avoiding me. Had decided to leave and stay out of sight because Joon had knocked on my door, peeking in, to tell me he was taking me to work today.

Though he'd been all smiles, soft scent and wide eyes, it hadn't hidden the fact that it wasn't my usual fox accompanying me.

------

"How are you feeling? Not too sore I hope....you took a soak later didn't you? I know how you like cuddles later, I felt denied when you said you couldn't stay..." SJ says, voice ringing out as he steps into the hidden nook of the back gardens at the centre. One of our hidden places.

He's smiling as he approaches, eyes sparkling and searching, running over me as he nudges me over to move before he's tugging me onto his lap.

Hands curled around my stomach as he nuzzles at my nape in greeting.

"Was it a mistake? Was what I did last night a mistake?" I ask, eyes fixed onto the sight of his hands, large and protective curled around my body.

Same hands, different touch from last night.

He stills behind me.

"Why would you say that? Was there something you didn't like? Didn't want?" he asks, voice soft and gentle and worried.

I shake my head.

"I liked it. I love what we have. But was coming to you selfish? Was wanting you thoughtlessness on my end?" I ask.

His grip tightens. Protectively pulling me flush against him.

"Wanting your needs met. Wanting to feel pleasure, bliss, relief, ecstasy....none of it is wrong. Not a moment of our night was wrong. Not a single bit of you was wrong for wanting release." He murmurs, voice low and soothing.

His voice. It had always been his voice that tugged me. Always that low timbre. That voice I'd only ever seen as a friend, turned to someone I dreamt and yearned.

"Did one of them say something? Was it the wolf officer outside? But he...he looked like he cared, worried about you. It can't have been him." he murmurs, voice low as if speaking to himself.

"Jimin. Jimin told me I compromised months of protection for a heatless hook up." I say, voice tight and trembling with the pain of remembering. With seeing the burning infernos in his eyes.

"Jimin. Jimin. The one you told me to call? Your minty fox?" rolling around the name on his tongue as if it's something sour and rancid, foreign with how it sounds off his lips.

I hadn't called him Jimin for a long time. And hearing it without affection softening it, without a nickname...it felt foreign to hear too.

And then his own scent is seeping out, soft and gentle, light and pushing at the hurt, at the pain that was pulsing out through my own scent.

"I promise you, nothing wrong. And I promise you that you didn't deserve to hear a word of that."

And he holds me through it, holds me until my scent- sharp and decayed doesn't burn me with every breath I take.

------

"I think...I think I'll just go to my room." I whisper.

Escape blocked by neither Hobi nor Tae. But rather a black tail that curls around my calf. And the scent of citrus, light and gentle as Yoongi steps into sight. Nudging aside his tiger mate.

"And I know a certain fawn's been skipping meals or picking at them. So...dinner sweet girl? Even if it's in your room?" he says with wide imploring eyes I can't quite shake my gaze from, that I can't quite resist.

He senses something in my wavering expression, fingers brushing across my cheek in a light scent as he smiles.

"I'll bring you some dinner. You go get comfortable." He says, nudging me towards the hallway, hand a gentle support at the low of my back.

"Don't fret love. Jiminie is beating himself up much, much more." He says as he looks at me stepping through to my room. Eyes soft and gentle.

His words, intended to soothe and put me at ease makes my heart ache more.

He was hurting too. I didn't want him to hurt.

And when Yoongi returns, it's to slip into the room, door closing behind him with a nudge of his curling black tail.

Stepping through to sit beside me, tray between us.

My eyes take a moment to process what I see.

Food for two.

My eyes go to him.

"You didn't think I was going to let you sit alone and let all those thoughts spiral did you?" he asks as he clambers onto my bed, sitting cross legged as he faces me.

My cheeks warm at the sincerity and tenderness in his eyes.

I shrug my shoulders.

"I may have thought that if I was just duty to Jimin, then I might have felt like a responsibility to your pack..." I admit.

The scent of citrus turns sharp and acidic.

And the heat in Yoongi's eyes when his tail gives me a poke to look up is angry and hurt.

"Don't ever say that again. What Jimin said was an explosion of anger. What I'm saying is true. You mean a lot. You matter so much to us, to me. So...don't put yourself down. Sweet girl of mine. Never think that we don't care...that I don't worry. I like seeing my fawn smile." He says.

The casualness he speaks with, with how it sounds to be called his...it makes that ever present feeling of affection, respect and admiration swell. It makes my insistently labelled 'small crush' expand more and more.

It doesn't leave even as we eat together, feeling flustered every time his gaze met mine and held it, or when he took food off his own bowl to put onto mine, watching with narrowed eyes until I ate; a gummy smile tugging at his lips.

Who knew the man who'd given me years of comfort would have such a comforting smile too? Who knew his smile would chip away at those swirling feelings of guilt and hurt and feel like a balm to the open wound that my argument with Jimin had left?

When he gets up, I have to ask.

Watch as he turns at the door, tail swishing and body turning back to face me, stopping at my call of his name.

"Yoongi why do you call me sweet girl? Why do you call me yours?" I ask softly even as my heart races, pushing and thudding viciously against my chest, the thrum of my heartbeat felt in my throat.

His scent softens and his cheeks pink as his head ducks slightly.

But he doesn't move. Doesn't slip away. Doesn't avoid the question.

"Because for a long time I was longing for the Flower Bambi in my life. And when I know it's you, when I found out...it was like everything I was waiting for suddenly fell in my lap. Because...if you'd allow me to, if it's fine...I'd love for the chance to make you mine." And then he leaves.

Citrus sweet and soft and curling around me even as his tail curls out of sight, now empty tray in his hand.

Leaving me feel much warmed than I'd been since that chill of sharp words and thick scent had leeched away the haziness. Since the bite of frost under my feet had seemed to sunk deep into my bones and winter air had melded with breath and frozen my lungs.

Yoongi had come. And had made the pain better. Had made the air breathable.

------

Ji Ah. At the end of the day, my thoughts all turned to Ji Ah. There was something about her injuries, about her pain and her fear; far deeper and profounder than Min Jun's that screamed of so much trauma. There was something pleading in the deadness her eyes would take, something sobbing and begging when she would relax as the door closed behind me and something so tentative and fragile when she even made slight contact- craving it but fearing at what cost it came.

My fingers drum against her files, eyes scanning the same set of words over and over, a loop as I scanned her profile yet again.

Venom poisoning. Injected and directly bitten.

That meant there was some sort of brute force involved. Someone who'd held her as they'd let scorpions loose on her body. I remembered her shuddering at the scuttle of teasing fingers, how she'd trembled and jerked away. Definitely scorpions- solidified once the venom had been tested in her.

Eyes. Eyes. It felt like her eyes were connected to something. I remember a teddy facing away from the window and remember her own. How they flickered with pain and agony. How they went numb at times and so, so hopeful at the others.

Eyes. Ji Ah was a meerkat hybrid. Meerkats had sharp astute vision. It was one of their strongest senses.

Eyes.... Had Ji Ah been poisoned and hurt for what she had seen? Had the image of the brutally hurt and tormented girl been the price she'd paid for seeing things...seeing people?

"Knock knock." A voice calls, accompanying the rap of knuckles against wood before the door is pushed open and Joon peers inside. Dimpled smile as he walks in.

"You didn't come to dinner...Minnie missed you." he says softly.

I blink at him, words scouring at me.

He sinks on the edge of the bed, dithering for a few moments as he looks at me before he reaches to rest a hand over where mine had stilled on the pages.

"Jiminie... what he said yesterday was the product of weeks of negativity and struggle. We hate how long this case is taking. We hate how much it drags you into this constant line of fire...Jiminie he despises it, that ever constant danger to you. He was the one who actually demanded that no-one should be assigned to protect you, he chose and insisted only he would be the one to keep you safe." He says, thumb rubbing circles into skin.

His words settle and sink in. Jimin chose to be my guard. He disregarded other choices because he wanted to protect me. Wanted to.

"What he did was wrong but it all came from this fear that something had happened...we only ever go radio silent when there's something happening, when we're on duty. And I fell short there, I told him I was with you, that I was taking you somewhere but where I gave you the privacy you deserved, I failed to give my mate the reassurance he has every right to. So...I'm sorry. I know how sorry he is too, so is it fine if I send him your way? I hate seeing you two upset like this." He says softly, imploringly.

I look at his eyes. It's unfair how large and baleful and hopeful they look in this moment. Especially when he's offering something I want. Something... someone I'd love to have here.

"It's more than fine. Thank you Joon." I say, leaning close to peck his cheek.

Smiling at the loose dimpled grin it brings me as he steps away.

"I'll be right back." He promises.

And yet when the door is nudged open again, it isn't by the tall broad frame of the same man who'd left. My ears catch onto the soft padding sound, so quiet I wonder if someone's passing by until it stops. The door is nudged open and when my eyes don't see anyone, they drop down to the sight of a glossy coat bumping into wood to widen the gap as a sleek wolf ambles in. A droopy limp fox clutched in his mouth as he trots forward. Dark shiny brown fur glinting in the lighting of the room as he walks in, tail swishing behind him as he escorts his wilted minty mate to me. Padding forward with a light quick trot of paws sinking into soft carpet.

There's the sound of a rumbly growl as he approaches, ears perked up and eyes wide and watchful as he carefully sets a droopy fox down onto the bed. Nudging at orange fur and growling softly to nudge Jiminie into movement. Wide dark eyes stare at me with ears that have drooped, folded over, tail still and so silent, so so unmoving.

A sad chirp as his gaze meets mine and head ducks away, tail swishing to curl around him, ducking away out of sight.

My fingers drift out, reaching to ghost along orange fur, my own scent twisting with pain at his stale sharp mint, at the way it threatens to let my eyes once more fill and spill over with tears. 

"Oh Minnie... you've had it tough. I'm sorry for making you worry." I whisper, fingers sinking into orange fur and brushing through it, petting lightly, hand brushing over the small tucked away circle he's become on the bedspread.

My fingers reach his ears, rubbing and scratching lightly at the base before trailing through fur and touching the folded ears. Thumb moving back and forth as I lean close, hear the small whimpery chirp from under his tail where he'd hidden his face away.

I see his face rise, hand falling away from his ears to see dark eyes and a small black nose appear, expression so downcast and guilty.

But we'd suffered enough self-guilt. We'd both hurt alone enough.

"Don't I deserve to see your face?" I ask, tapping his black nose and hear the yearning chirp as his mouth widens, fangs scraping against my palm and wrist lightly.

His face twists as he follows my hand, body curving to end up tummy up as his paws move to try and scrabble for my wrist, to keep it close as his dark eyes meet mine, fangs scraping with apology at my wrist in a way that's painfully familiar to the shuddery, shaky sobs as he'd scented and held me last night. Apology dripping off trembling lips, words hanging over us as he shook.

"I was scared. Terrified that something had happened. That I wouldn't be able to help. But that doesn't excuse the way I acted. But (Y/N) please...please don't think that."

The litany of sobbed apologies curl around my mind as he nips softly, baleful chirps, melding together.

But he's long since forgiven.

"You've been hurting too. You were worried for me. And things just got ugly." I say softly, fingers trailing to rub at the fur of his stomach, lips curving up at the wriggle he gives, tail swishing as I give light pets.

A whiny growl sounds from beside me in agreement and I see Joon lean forward, nosing at my hand as he snuffles, cold nose nuzzling against my wrist when I twist it out for him, ears rubbing at skin as his head turns.

"And we both made a wolf worry. Sorry Joon." I say, scratching behind his ears and laughing at the mixture of rumbly growl and whine I get as his tail thumps quicker.

Another pair of fangs nip at my palm, drawing my attention back to the droopy fox that still looks at me, nudges at me in question. Asking if this is fine, if he's allowed.

"All's forgiven my sweet orange circle." I coo, heart bursting with giddiness at the loud chirp it gets and the quicker swish of his poofy tail.

I scrabble back. Watch as a wolf noses at my papers, sniffing curiously at them and shooting me a wide look, tail swishing as he eyes me. Maybe he can smell my scent on them.

And then watch as he purposely maintains eye contact and lifts himself up onto his hindlegs, paw swiping at the papers, tail swishing quicker- cutting through the air audibly as they go tumbling down to the carpet, fluttering around and settling around the sight of a smug satisfied wolf.

He gives a keening happy whine as he watches me watch him. Ears perked up proudly.

"Joon! I was looking at those!" I say.

He just gives a small yippy chirp. Pleased and happy.

And then a nose presses to the inside of my hand, tugging me to the sight of a sweet fox peering at me, tail swishing as he stands beside me.

I smile at him as I lift the hem of my top, see the tail swish quicker and how with a bright chirp, Jiminie is dashing to scamper under the raised hem, diving at the invitation.

I squirm at the ticklish sensation of fur brushing against skin and scampering paws as he wriggles upwards, nose peeking out before his face pushes out through the neckline, ears rumpled when they pop out. Chirping at me in greeting. His tail peeks out, swishing as he looks at me, moving quicker when my face bends to pepper a smatter of kisses across his. I feel small fangs scrape at my jaw and neck as he ducks his head away afterwards, nose pressing to my gland and a small lick as he scents. A comforting cycle of scent, nuzzle, lick, nip. Lathering me in sweet mint, each scent an apology and a thanks, small body sinking down to rest against me when only his nose peeks out and he stills. Tail only swaying every now and then. Swishing every now and then. 

He's fallen asleep.

My hand goes to cup the lump under my top, hand rubbing up and down over the lump, finally feeling content and settled. Soothed after it all.

Hurts vanishing and melting away.

A small nudge to my other hand, that rests on the bed, has my head turning to see Joon watching, tail wagging and mouth parted as he gives a fangy grin to me.

His own earthy scent is rich. A forest brimming and bursting with dew and fresh leaves.

And then he nudges me again. Nose brushing against my hand.

My hand falls open for him, palm up as I watch him scent, fangs painstakingly gentle against skin, a lick to the small scent gland on the inside of my wrist.

And then watches. Waits and watches.

I giggle, patting the spot beside me.

"Hop on Joon." And that's all the invitation he needs before his legs bend and he jumps onto the bed, face looming close to mine, tail swishing still.

I press a big kiss to his nose, making a mwah against it and smile at the way his scent thickens. Flopping down and curling up beside me, nosing at my shirt and tail thumping against the bed at the sight of his sleeping mate.

Joon's head stretches out, nosing at my jaw and giving a series of scents and licks that has me wriggling and trying to avoid his eager snuffles, muffling laughter behind a hand to avoid stirring Minnie.

His tail continues to thump. A constant rhythm of swish, thump, swish as he leans against me, a stream of happy yips and growls slipping past his throat and reverberating against my throat, his scent layering over the mint, intertwining as it comes to sink through skin.

Scent claims from two officer mates, from two adorable, shifted forms; fluffy fox and sleek cuddly wolf.

"You're such a sweet wolf Joon, you're more pup than you are alpha." I whisper, hand sinking into fur and watching his head tilt to lick at my wrist, head ducking to rub his ears across skin and panting happily when it tickles and I squirm, laughter slipping free.

He lets out a keening whine, too busy rolling around chasing pets and lying tummy up, tail thumping as he peers at me. Eyes fluttering, growl vibrating against my hand when I give him tummy rubs, contentment seeping out of his every action and every curl of scent that makes the air smell like a forest in full leafy bloom.

Under my shirt Minnie gives a small sleepy wriggle, nose pressing against my collarbone, a bit of his face peeking out from the neckline, face smushed against skin.

"So does that mean I go with pup or I go with calling you alpha~" I tease.

Not expecting him to still where he'd been chasing my hand.

Or for him to suddenly scoop my wrist between his fangs and set it down on my stomach, splaying himself across my legs as he wags his tail, peering at me happily.

Pinning me down effectively with his warm weight settled across my thighs as I peer down at him.

"I guess you'll have to give an answer later." I say.

But later begins with several rounds of a wolf trotting around my room, sniffing out corners or watching the door or coming up to scent.

And later ends with falling asleep on top of the sheets, file sprawled on the floor, a fox still curled up under my shirt  and a warm wolf curled up at the base of the bed, a barrier between the door and us.

And yet the answer finds itself.

Alpha wolf with the way he protects and shields even unconsciously.

But pup in every other way, so sweet and eager and tactile and fond.

Alpha pup.

The name fit.

(WHEW! WE GOT THERE! WE GOT A RECONCILIATION AND REUNION SCENE! AND WE GOT SHIFTED WOLF AND FOXY TOGETHER! I HOPE YOU WERE ALL SOFT AND MUSHY READING THEIR SCENE AS I WAS WRITING IT! I LOVED LOVED WRITING THIS CHAPTER- LIKE I DO WITH ALL OF THEM BUT STILL!! LOVED SEEING SO MANY KITS INTERACTION, AND YOONGI CONFESSED!! ASAOPDJFF MAKES ME ALL FLUTTERY TOO!! WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE STUFF? AND MY HEART ACHED WITH JI AH!! POOR POOR MEERKAT BABY!! I JUST WANNA PROTECT! AND!! BABY FAWN SLIPPED AWAY AND ENDED UP WITH A PANTHER INSTEAD!! LITTLE TEA TIME! HOPE IT FIT TIME WISE BUT HMMM....LET ME KNOW ANYWAYS! Midiiplier DID I DO JUSTICE... YES OR NO?? IF I DON'T GET YOU ALL MELTY AND SCREECHING THEN I AM A FAILURE!! AND I WILL BE DEVASTATED! AND I WILL BE AMPING IT UP EVEN MORE THAT EVEN I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF WILL BE BURSTING OUT! GAH!! SUPER EXCITED TO GET WRITING ON THE NEXT CHAPTER ALREADY! ANYONE SPOT JOON GETTING ALL HAPPY AT BEING CALLED ALPHA?? *SCREECH* SO EXCITED!)

QUESTION... BUTTER? SOLID, LIQUID OR GAS PEOPLE?

Mine is.... I have long since melted like they WANTED and gone beyond that and turned to just... *poof* non-existent. I speak from beyond my life haha. It's such an AMAZING song and I'm so in love.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3