Chapter Text
Jongho blinked awake, his body still heavy with sleep. The afternoon light filtering through the curtains made him squint, and he groggily rubbed his eyes, ears twitching at the sound of a knock at the door.
"Jongho? I've got Mingi here with me, he wants to help you set something up," came Hongjoong’s voice from the other side.
Jongho frowned slightly in confusion. Mingi? Setting something up? He tried to push past the sluggishness in his mind, barely remembering that he had mumbled a half-asleep goodbye to Yunho earlier that morning before the human left for work.
Still, he hummed in acknowledgment, granting them permission to enter.
The door cracked open, and both Hongjoong and Mingi stepped inside with careful ease, like they were mindful not to startle him. Jongho took note of it, especially from Mingi. It made sense, he supposed. Their last real interaction had been on the second day, when he had frozen up at the sight of Mingi and Yeosang bringing him dinner. It had been days since then, but still, there was a small, quiet hesitation lingering between them.
Mingi, however, didn’t let it show much. Instead, the wolf hybrid grinned as he lifted a small box in his hands, his energy light and brimming with excitement.
"It's a phone," Mingi announced. "Yunho’s been wanting to get you one for a while now, so he and I stopped by a mobile store this morning before he went to work. I’m here to help you figure it out and show you all the tricks!"
Jongho’s eyes flickered between the box and Mingi’s eager expression. He could tell, just from the way Mingi spoke, that he was a techy guy, probably the type to get excited over new gadgets and customizations.
Jongho didn’t say anything right away, just sat up a little straighter in bed, still shaking off the remnants of sleep. A phone. His own phone. He hadn't expected Yunho to follow through with that idea so quickly.
He reached out, hesitating only briefly before taking the box from Mingi’s hands. "...Alright."
Mingi beamed. "Nice! Let’s get started."
Mingi plopped down at Jongho’s desk, already pulling out the phone’s packaging as Hongjoong took a seat at the edge of the bed. Jongho, still stretching out his limbs from sleep, sat up properly and reached for the sleek black device. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting it with curiosity.
"It’s nice," he muttered, pressing the power button to wake up the screen.
Mingi grinned, clearly excited to teach him the ins and outs. "Right? Yunho made sure to get you a good one. He said you’d probably act like you didn’t care, but you should at least have something decent if you’re gonna use it."
Jongho hummed in acknowledgment, but he was already exploring the phone, swiping through the home screen with interest. It had been a while since he had one of these, and even though he never thought he needed one, he couldn’t deny the appeal of having something new to figure out.
"Your number’s set up, and we all saved our contacts in there already," Mingi continued, watching as Jongho navigated the settings without hesitation. "You can change your wallpaper, download stuff, oh, and I can show you some tricks to make things easier to use."
Jongho glanced up at him. "What tricks?"
Mingi’s eyes lit up, and he immediately scooted closer. "Like, gestures to switch between apps, custom shortcuts, hidden features, trust me, I know all the best ones."
Hongjoong chuckled from his spot on the bed. "Jongho, you just activated his inner nerd. You’re stuck with him now."
Jongho smirked but didn’t seem to mind, his tail flicking once in amusement. "I don’t mind. I want to know how everything works."
Mingi, thrilled by the response, wasted no time diving into a rundown of all the cool functions. Jongho listened intently, eyes sharp as he absorbed every detail. It was easy to forget sometimes, with how quiet and reserved he could be, but Jongho was incredibly sharp, once something caught his interest, he focused on it completely.
After a while, he paused. "I’ll set my own wallpaper later, but show me how to add apps. I want music first."
Hongjoong smiled at the request while Mingi eagerly showed him how to access the app store. "Good choice. And you should get some games too. I’ll send you the ones I play, we can challenge each other."
Jongho raised an eyebrow. "You sure you can keep up?"
Mingi gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Oh-ho, the confidence! Alright… let’s see if you can back that up."
Hongjoong watched the two with a knowing look. Jongho wasn’t just accepting the phone, he was engaging, letting himself be included without hesitation. It was a significant step.
For once, Jongho wasn’t just tolerating their presence. He was willingly letting them in.
As Mingi and Hongjoong stepped out of Jongho’s room, the door clicking shut behind them, they exchanged a glance before walking side by side down the hall. Mingi was the first to break the silence, his voice carrying a hint of wonder.
"That was… different." He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing back at the closed door. "I mean, I expected him to be at least a little hesitant, but he wasn’t. At all. He just took the phone, asked questions, and actually seemed interested in what I was saying."
Hongjoong nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. Seems like this time around… he had almost no walls up with us." He let out a small chuckle. "It was subtle, but did you notice? He didn’t just accept the phone, he interacted with us. He was actually curious, comfortable enough to show it."
Mingi grinned. "Right? It was kind of nice. Usually, it feels like we’re walking on eggshells around him, but this time, I didn’t feel like we were intruders." His tail flicked slightly, the memory of their interaction still playing in his head. "And the way he challenged me about the games? That was… well, that felt normal, you know?"
Hongjoong hummed in agreement. "For sure. I think because his level of trust with Yunho has grown so much, he figures we’re safe too. Even if he doesn’t consciously think about it, it’s easier for him to accept us because we’re all family."
Mingi let out a small laugh. "Yunho’s like the bridge between us and Jongho. I guess we should be grateful our resident giant is so patient with him."
Hongjoong smirked. "We definitely should be. If it weren’t for Yunho, I don’t think Jongho would’ve lasted this long with us."
Mingi nodded, but his expression turned a bit more serious. "I just hope this means he’s starting to feel like he belongs here."
Hongjoong placed a reassuring hand on Mingi’s shoulder. "It’ll take time, but today was proof that it’s happening. Slowly, but surely."
Mingi exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "Yeah… You’re right." His grin returned as he nudged Hongjoong playfully. "Still, I can’t wait to absolutely destroy him in a game later."
Hongjoong rolled his eyes, laughing. "Don’t get cocky. He might surprise you."
With that, the two continued down the hall, their conversation shifting to other topics, but the lightness in their steps remained. It may be a small thing, but to them, it felt like progress..
___________________
For the next hour or two, Jongho is entirely absorbed in his new device. His ears twitch occasionally as he scrolls through different apps, adjusting settings, switching between default wallpapers, and testing out various features. The screen’s soft glow reflects in his eyes, his tail flicking lazily behind him as he explores.
But no matter how much he fiddles, his focus keeps drifting back to one thing, Yunho’s contact.
It’s just sitting there, plain and impersonal. Yunho Kim. Too formal. Too distant. It doesn’t fit.
Jongho taps the name, staring at it. Something about it feels wrong. Yunho wasn’t just Yunho Kim to him. He was more than that. More familiar. More... his.
A thought forms in his mind, and before he can second-guess himself, he clicks on the text bar. His fingers move across the keyboard slowly, adjusting to the small, sensitive keys. He isn’t used to typing like this, and it takes a few tries to get it right.
Send selfie and what you want name.
It’s blunt, a little awkward, and maybe not entirely coherent, but Yunho will understand. Probably.
Jongho stares at the message for a moment before pressing send. His ears twitch as he watches the little text bubble disappear, his tail curling slightly in anticipation.
Yunho answers quickly, sending a photo of himself that appears to be taken just moments ago. Jongho taps the notification, and the image fills his screen, Yunho, dressed in his work attire, his hair slicked back neatly. He must’ve snapped it at his desk, the office background slightly blurred.
Jongho stares at the photo longer than necessary, taking in the sharp lines of Yunho’s jaw, the way the lighting highlights his features. He won’t say it out loud, but the human is… very handsome.
Shaking off the thought, he quickly saves the selfie and fumbles with his phone, trying to figure out how to set it as the contact photo. It takes a few tries, Jongho isn’t used to technology like this, but when he finally gets it right, he huffs in satisfaction, tail flicking just slightly. The result is… nice.
Just as he admires his work, another message from Yunho pops up.
As for my name, you can put hyung.
Jongho’s eyes widen.
They’ve shared a bed, argued, talked, and trusted. And yet, this feels different. Closer. Was it really okay for him to call Yunho ‘hyung’?
His chest feels oddly warm, something unfamiliar settling in his stomach.
Jongho erases the default name in the contact field and types out something new:
Yu-Hyung.
More personal and fitting definitely.
Jongho stares at the screen for a moment longer, then locks his phone, ears twitching slightly.
_________________________
“Have you got any games on it yet?” Yunho asks curiously, tilting his head as he watches Jongho swipe through his phone.
Jongho shakes his head. “No.”
Yunho chuckles, unsurprised. “Well, that won’t do.”
Before Jongho can react, Yunho gently plucks the phone from his hands. The younger lets out a small huff but doesn’t protest, just watches as Yunho’s fingers tap and type across the screen with practiced ease. For a good five minutes, Yunho works in silence, occasionally squinting as he scrolls through options.
Finally, he hands the phone back with a satisfied grin. “There.”
Jongho glances down at the screen, and his ears twitch in recognition. It’s a game he’s seen before, more than once. He’s caught Yunho playing it during his free time, and even San, who gets oddly competitive about it. Jongho stares at the app icon, pressing his lips together.
“You play this a lot,” he mutters.
Yunho smirks. “Yeah. Figured if you ever get bored, we could play a bit together.”
Jongho hums in interest. His thumb hovers over the app, debating whether to open it now or later. Eventually, he looks back at Yunho.
“You’re gonna regret giving me this,” he says flatly.
Yunho raises a brow. “Oh? Why’s that?”
Jongho meets his gaze, and this time, there’s the smallest flicker of something playful in his expression. “Because I’m going to beat you.”
Yunho lets out a loud laugh, reaching over to ruffle Jongho’s hair. “Alright, Jjong. We’ll see about that.”
Jongho huffs, ears flattening for a moment before bouncing back up. But he doesn’t push Yunho’s hand away. Instead, he turns his attention back to the game, already determined to prove himself.
_______________________
During dinner, everything is going smoothly. Mingi, seated across from Jongho, glances up between bites and asks, “Everything’s working well with your phone?”
Jongho nods, pausing to take a sip of his drink. “Yeah.”
Mingi smiles. “Good. Let me know if you come across any issues, alright?”
Jongho hums in response, and the conversation moves along. The usual table chatter fills the room, San and Wooyoung bickering over something trivial, Seonghwa reminding Yeosang about some chore he forgot, and Hongjoong occasionally stepping in to keep things civil. It’s the usual warmth of dinner at the Kim house, a steady rhythm that Jongho has started to grow accustomed to.
Until—
“Yu, when is your trip exactly?” Seonghwa asks, his voice casual but curious.
Jongho’s ears twitch.
Trip? What trip?
Yunho barely gets a chance to swallow his food before responding. “Shoot, I should probably pack for it, thank you for reminding me, hyung.”
Seonghwa blinks, unimpressed. “I asked when, not if you’re packed.”
Yunho stumbles for a moment before answering, “Yes, yes, uh— probably in like… two days? I’ll have to leave Monday night.”
Jongho, who up until now had been glancing between the speakers, narrows his eyes. His ears twitch again, his grip on his utensils tightening just slightly.
Yeosang is the first to notice. He sets his chopsticks down, looking at Jongho carefully before speaking. “Jongho, will you be okay for those three days? The rest of us will all be here like normal.”
The hybrid doesn’t answer right away, finishing his bite before responding in an even tone, “I’ll be fine.”
The words are casual and effortless, but the silence that follows is thick. Everyone can feel the guilt radiating off Yunho.
They all know he should have told Jongho earlier.
Still, dinner resumes. The conversations pick back up, San and Wooyoung start another lighthearted argument, and Mingi jokes about something trivial. But, there’s a quiet, brewing tension between Jongho and Yunho.
And they both know it.
______________________
The soft rustling of blankets fills the quiet room as Jongho climbs onto the bed after washing up. Yunho, already settled beneath the covers, blinks in surprise as he watches the younger hybrid make himself comfortable beside him.
“Didn’t think you’d still sleep here tonight,” Yunho muses, his voice light but hesitant. “Since you’re clearly mad at me.”
Jongho settles onto his side, facing him. His expression is unreadable, but his voice is as stoic as ever. “I’m beyond pissed.”
Yunho swallows, unsure of how to respond, but Jongho continues before he can.
“But if I only have you for this weekend before you leave, then I’ll just make the most of it.”
Yunho stills. His breath catches in his throat at the quiet admission, his heart swelling at the weight of those words. He opens his mouth to say something, anything, but before he can—
“You look like a fish,” Jongho mutters, narrowing his eyes. “Close your mouth, hyung. I want to sleep.”
That snaps Yunho out of it. A soft chuckle escapes him, and he shakes his head. “Alright, alright.”
Reaching over, he turns off the lamp, allowing darkness to settle over the room. The two shift slightly, getting comfortable beneath the covers. Their bodies barely touch, but their heads rest close enough that they can feel each other’s steady breathing in the quiet space.
The closeness is oddly comforting.
Minutes pass in silence before Yunho speaks again, his voice a whisper in the dark. “I’m sorry, Jjong. So, so sorry.”
Jongho’s eyes open at that, his feline vision allowing him to see Yunho’s face, even in the dim light. The human sighs, running a hand through his hair before continuing.
“I should’ve told you sooner, I know. But… ugh. I didn’t want you to know I’d be leaving so suddenly. Even if it’s just for a short amount of time, it felt irresponsible of me to leave you here. My job is just that demanding and—”
Jongho reaches out, pressing a finger to Yunho’s lips.
“Shush.”
Yunho blinks, caught off guard.
“I’m still upset,” Jongho admits, voice quieter now. “But you don’t have to beat yourself up over it. It’s fine. Just tell me sooner next time.”
And just like that, his eyes slip shut. His breathing evens out almost instantly, slipping into a peaceful slumber as if the conversation had never happened.
Yunho remains still, staring at him in quiet astonishment.
It’s moments like these that remind him just how emotionally perceptive Jongho really is. He may still be guarded, still hesitant with his trust, but there’s an unspoken understanding between them now.
Yunho exhales, a small smile tugging at his lips. Slowly, he lets his own eyes close, drifting off to sleep with the sound of Jongho’s soft breaths beside him.
_______________________
The weekend passes faster than Jongho expects.
He doesn’t stick to Yunho like glue, but he’s always there. Watching as the human moves around, packing, sorting through things, checking his schedule. Even when Jongho isn’t directly beside him, he keeps track of where Yunho is, what he’s doing. It’s not intentional at first, but as the hours slip by, he realizes he’s paying too much attention.
By the time Monday rolls around, that awareness turns into something heavier.
It’s evening when Yunho finally finishes packing. Jongho is sitting on the edge of Yunho’s bed, watching him zip up his suitcase.
For some reason, the sound grates on his ears.
Yunho exhales and stretches before reaching for his phone. “Alright, I think that’s everything.”
Jongho doesn’t respond. He only watches as Yunho slings his bag over his shoulder and moves toward the door.
And suddenly, this is it.
Jongho knew this moment was coming. He’s known for days, but now that Yunho is actually leaving, it feels like it happened too fast.
He follows Yunho out, though he stays a few steps behind. The others are already gathered at the entrance, giving their casual farewells. Mingi tells Yunho to take it easy, San jokes about him bringing back snacks, Wooyoung mutters something sarcastic but still pats Yunho’s shoulder.
It’s all normal. Expected.
But Jongho doesn’t join in.
He stands just a little off to the side, tail still, ears perked forward as he watches the interaction unfold. His eyes follow every movement Yunho makes, every shift in his expression.
And then Yunho turns, looking at him.
“I’ll text you when I get there, Jjong.”
Jongho swallows, his fingers curling slightly at his sides.
“…Okay.”
He doesn’t know what else to say.
Yunho’s gaze lingers for a moment longer before he exhales and turns away, stepping out the door. The others watch him go, murmuring amongst themselves before gradually dispersing, the house settling back into its usual rhythm.
But Jongho stays where he is.
He watches until Yunho disappears from sight.
And even then, he doesn’t move.
________________________
Jongho doesn’t understand why the moodiness he felt when he first arrived at the Kims is back now.
Sure, Yunho is gone for the time being, but that doesn’t really give him a reason to revert back to his old, stubborn ways... does it?
He huffs, staring at his untouched breakfast. The usual sounds of morning chatter float around him, but he isn’t really listening. His ears twitch at the occasional mention of Yunho’s name, but otherwise, everything feels dull.
"Fuck, even I'm upset seeing Jongho like that..." Wooyoung mutters, side-eyeing the hybrid slumped at the table.
It’s only the first morning without Yunho, and yet everyone can already detect Jongho’s unhappiness. The way his tail flicks sluggishly, the lack of his usual snark, the way he barely acknowledges anyone.
Hongjoong sighs, taking a slow sip of his coffee before setting the mug down. “Maybe there’s something we can do to take his mind off Yunho... even if just for a short while.”
San immediately nods, perking up. “Maybe we can all go on a date and take him somewhere cool with us!”
A few chuckles ripple through the group, but Yeosang hums in thought. “Sannie’s right. I think it’d be good to take him out with us. He definitely shouldn’t be holed up in Yunho’s room for the next three days.”
The others murmur in agreement, exchanging glances as the idea settles.
Hongjoong hums in thought, tapping his fingers against his mug. “Alright, if we’re doing this, we need a solid plan.”
“Tonight,” Wooyoung starts, sitting up straighter, “we go out for a nice dinner. Have some drinks, play a few drinking games, it’ll be fun!”
“Oh, I like that,” San grins. “Jongho will loosen up for sure.”
Yeosang nods. “Tomorrow, we can go shopping…?.” The hybrid adds unsurely at first, but Seonghwa nods in approval at the proposal–urging Yeosang to continue, “Wooyoung, Seonghwa, and Hongjoong can take the lead on that one.”
“Gotta keep Hongjoong around for his bank,” Wooyoung snickers, earning an unimpressed look from the eldest.
“I hate that you’re right,” Hongjoong mutters before sighing. “Fine. As long as you don’t go overboard.”
“No promises,” Seonghwa says smoothly, earning a few laughs.
“And for the last day,” Mingi jumps in, “we stay home. Movie night. We get all the pillows, blankets, snacks, drinks and whatnot!”
The table hums with approval, and Hongjoong nods in finality. “Alright. Good plan then!”
Now all that’s left is to get Jongho to go along with it.
__________________
Jongho sits alone in Yunho’s room, the dim evening light casting long shadows across the floor. The silence is heavier than he expected. It’s not like he hasn’t been alone before, hell, solitude was all he knew for years, but there’s a stark difference between choosing to be alone and suddenly realizing someone’s absence.
His tail flicks idly against the sheets as he stares at his phone, Yunho’s last message still sitting there, read but unanswered.
Be good while I’m gone, okay? I’ll be back before you know it.
Jongho scoffs quietly to himself, locking the screen. He shouldn’t feel this unsettled. It’s just three days. It’s nothing.
And yet… the emptiness in the room, the missing warmth beside him, the lack of Yunho’s voice filling the space, it all gnaws at him in a way he doesn’t want to acknowledge.
His ears twitch as muffled voices from the rest of the house seep through the walls. He knows they’re up to something. He knows they’ve noticed.
Jongho exhales sharply, rolling onto his side, curling in slightly as if that will help block out the strange, unwanted feeling in his chest.
Just as he closes his eyes, there’s a soft knock at the door.
“Jongho?”
His ears twitch at the familiar voice. He hums in response, sitting up as San peeks his head inside. The Burmese hybrid offers him a friendly, excited smile.
“Mind getting ready? We’re all gonna go out somewhere a bit nice soon.”
Jongho blinks, processing the words before nodding. “M’kay.”
Satisfied, San gives a small wave. “See you soon.” He shuts the door gently behind him.
Jongho doesn’t think much as he gets up, his body moving on autopilot. He mindlessly fixes his hair, pulling a brush through it a few times before swapping his loungewear for a more put-together outfit. He’s not entirely sure what he’s getting ready for, but his hands work anyway, buttoning a shirt, adjusting his sleeves.
When he finally steps out of Yunho’s room and into the living room, he pauses.
Everyone is there, all beautifully dressed and waiting.
Wooyoung is the first to notice him, his sharp eyes flicking up and down Jongho’s outfit before he gives an approving nod.
"Not bad, cat," he comments, grinning. "Didn’t think you’d clean up so well."
Jongho simply raises a brow, unimpressed but not entirely dismissive.
San beams at him, stepping closer. "We’re heading to this nice place for dinner, good food, drinks, and we might play some games too."
"Drinking games," Mingi adds with a smirk.
Jongho glances around at the others. Yeosang is adjusting his sleeves, Hongjoong is fixing his rings, Seonghwa is checking his reflection in the window, and Wooyoung is bouncing on the balls of his feet, clearly ready to go. They all look... good. Relaxed.
"You’ll like it," Hongjoong says, stepping forward. "Or at the very least, you’ll get free food out of it."
That gets a small huff from Jongho, but he doesn’t argue.
"Shall we?" Seonghwa asks, finally turning away from his reflection.
With that, they all start heading out the door, the cool evening air greeting them as they step outside.