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Yeon sat drinking a half a century old wine from his cup. He was surprised it hadn't gone back after so long, but he wasn't complaining in the slightest. He wasn't sure when or how he got it, only finding comfort it was there when he felt like he needed it most.
A year had passed since Ji-A had passed from stage four bone cancer. It was a surprise to all of them when the news broke. She had tried to hide it for the so long, Yeon should have suspected something wasn't right when he knew she smelled off.
In the end she knew Yeon's feelings for her had changed over the years since the whole Imoogi fiasco. When she did pass Yeon didn't cry for her, stunning everyone as he stood by her altar like a protective guardian. Rang even gave his snide remark about it, but Yeon shook it off as he knew the truth.
He could smell and feel the waves of hope rolling off of Rang no matter how much he tried to hide it.
Yeon wasn't drinking the wine to mourn Ji-A, but to think of what she had told him before she had died. That he shouldn't hide anymore. That he shouldn't be ashamed of loving who he truly wanted in his life. The one who could give him kitts, the one who made him happy regardless of the pain and struggle they went through.
Lee Rang.
How Ji-A knew such a fact was beyond him. The fact she had pointed it out one day while Yeon was in a sour mood. It put all the pieces in place as to why he felt so bad. His true desire and the way his heart ached for Rang thinking about him. It was like the world changed perspective in a way he never knew it could before.
Speaking of the devil, Yeon watched as Rang entered his apartment with all his bravado and swagger. Even with the soft sweater and pants he wore that had more pockets than he could probably imagine. Seeing how Rang had grown into a beautiful man and even more beautiful gumiho. Yeon knew what lay underneath the surface of the illusion they always held up. He only got to witness Rang's true beauty only once before they drifted apart, he dreamed of seeing it again in all its fully glory.
"You're late." Yeon grumbled behind his glass of wine.
Rang gave him his signature smirk in response, one that Yeon wanted to wipe off his beautiful face with a kiss. Pushing down the thought Yeon grabbed the other glass next to the bottle, pouring some for Rang as he sat down.
"What's the special occasion?" The half gumiho asked.
Yeon scoffed, giving Rang a look to drink his wine. "Is it a crime that I simply want to spend time with you?"
He didn't miss the way Rang swallowed with a neutral look on his face as he took his cup smelling the contents first before taking a sip. Yeon couldn't help it as he stared at the beautiful gumiho before laughing at the way Rang made a face at the wine.
"This thing is almost as old as me?!" He cried as he saw the date on the bottle.
"Are you going drink it or keep on complaining?" Yeon argued.
Rang glared at him before grabbing his glass and begrudgingly sipped more of the wine with a disgusted face. Drinking from his glass, Yeon sensed the bitterness yet sweet undertones of the wine. He guessed the differences between them affected how something as old as the wine tasted on their tongues. Yeon couldn't help it as he wondered what else did till Rang pulled him out of his thoughts.
"You're not thinking of your sweetheart, are you?" Rang asked bitterly.
Anyone would mistake it for disgust, but Yeon knew better. He knew it was jealousy.
"No." Yeon said confidently. "I was thinking about you."
"Me?" Rang asked incredulously.
"Mmm-" Yeon smiled "Do you really find that hard to believe?"
Rang wordlessly shook his head unable to meet Yeon's gaze.
It took everything in Yeon not do something about it. To grab his face and kiss him till they were both struggling to breath or whisper all his deepest desires till Rang started to beg for it. Instead he grabbed the bottle and his glass, humming for Rang to follow his lead off to the living room. On the floor an old board of Go waited for them. They had played more of it over the years with Yeon winning ruthlessly making Rang really learn how to play the game. It seemed to work as Rang had won more games than Yeon expected.
"Ready to get your ass kicked again." Rang teased, as he sat down eager to play. "Any special rules this time?"
Watching Rang grab a handful of the black pieces in one hand and swirled the wine around in his cup in the other hand. Yeon tried to not let it distract him as he set the bottle along with his cup. Steeling his beating heart Yeon couldn't resist simply staring at Rang seeing his youthful joy as well as inner turmoil deep in his eyes as they stared at one another.
"For every end of the turn we drink a bit of the wine."
Rang's brow rose as he gave a small scoff. "You sure we have enough for an entire game?"
Yeon nodded, "There's a whole crate if we need it."
Rang's eyes narrowed as he gave a incredulous look clearly in disbelief, Yeon sighed giving his brother a bemused look as turned around and exited the room to get the crate quick.
"Your really that determined to get us drunk?" Rang wondered, seeing the old weathered box was full of eons old bottles.
"More for me than you, actually."
"Oh?" Rang hummed as he set a piece down starting the game and taking his drink.
Yeon didn't say anything as he set his own piece down and eneded his turn.
"Your always planning something." Rang tisked.
It sounded more like Rang talking to himself more than anything. The older gumiho tried to ignore it as he tried to keep his wilder thoughts down as they sat in silence playing Go.
Yeon didn't miss a thing as he noticed Rang almost restless sitting in his spot or how he seemed to tilt his head, almost as if he was baring his neck to him. Yeon clench his jaw aching to dig his teeth into the soft spot where he knew Rang's scent called to him the most. To bury his face in Rang's neck and never let go. It took all of Yeon's self control not to react muchless do something about it.
The game developed slowly as they both had their strategies to one up another. Yeon couldn't help the smile that formed on his face as he felt the effects of the wine; eith his body warm all over and dulling his senses slightly as he put down a piece and ended his turn. Rang was winning and he expected it wouldn't be much further till he would.
"Do you think it was worth it, saving Ji-A?" Rang wondered outloud with a slight slur on his lips.
Yeon looked at his brother seeing the glassy look in his eyes from the alcohol. He knew that gumiho's had a better tolerance than humans, but Rang was still half on both worlds. He wondered how much it would truly take to get his brother drunk unlike him at the moment.
Yeon hummed as he thought for a second, was it worth it?
"It was." Yeon answered, even as he saw the dejected look in Rang's eyes. Pushing aside the deep seeded ache to reach out to his brother. He shook his head, elaborating further, "She was a good friend in the end."
Yeon sighed feeling a wave of relief fill him. It felt good to finally admit it especially in front of Rang was he saw the slightest change in his brother's whole demeanor. The lost look of uncertainty mixed with a smallest bit of hope.
" Friend ? I thought you made her your mate?!" Rang sat stunned for a moment before hesitantly laying his pieces down, Yeon almost wanted to frown as the game shifted in his favor.
He shrugged making a noise of confirmation, "I thought I wanted to make her my mate, but it didnt feel right . I thought I loved her. I did maybe once in her first life, but it changed with her new life. Our love was different . "
Rang's utter look of confusion put the game on hold as he process everything.
"We only love once in our lives Yeon. I- we all thought she was your one . What changed?" The ire clear in Rang's voice.
Yeon huffed as he felt his heart in his chest race glancing at his brother not into his eyes, but at his lips wondering how they would feel against him.
"Yeon-" Rang didn't finish as he let his words fall away.
Placing his pieces on the board, the older gumiho made his move to shift the potential winner of the game once again before taking a particularly big drink of his wine.
With a fond tone of voice, Yeon finally answered, "She knew something I didn't."
The half gumiho sighed and shook his head, obviously irritated at the cryptic answer.
"You and your little mind games." Rang hissed.
Yeon didn't answer as he leaned back against the couch and waited for Rang to continue.
Making his final move, Yeon watched as his brother finally win their game in the end.
"You let me win." Rang scoffed. "It's not as fun now with you letting me win."
Yeon bit the inside of his cheek letting Rang complain all he wanted. He watched as his brother drank the last of the wine and set the glass down next to the three bottles that were empty.
"I let you win for a reason." Yeon purred before finishing his own cup.
"Why?" Rang asked, his eyes staring down the older gumiho as if they held all the answers.
He should really know better , Yeon thought to himself. "To see if you'd take your prize." Yeon smirked, not missing a beat.
"You never mentioned anything about a prize."
"No, but there is one. Special, just for you."
Yeon cleared the board and set the board aside, his heart betraying him again, he wondered if Rang could hear it.
"And? What is it?" The half gumiho insisted like a child, but Yeon knew Rang had waited long enough for his love to be reciprocated.
He didn't respond as he took his time to damn the fact his superior metabolism had hardly allowed him to get drunk. He wasn't drunk enough for his own liking, but he guessed the Almighty or maybe even Ji-A above was somehow telling him it was time to stop being such a coward.
Rubbing the back of his neck Yeon felt his illusion fall away as his form shifted something between his fox and human form. His fox ears twitched on top of his head along with his nine tails behind him shift around settling in a more comfortable position. It felt like a relief to have them out and free more than he realized. His hands too seemed to change with his nails turned sharp as daggers, he admired them for a moment before looking back at Rang who stared in awe.
He couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face staring the half gumiho down.
" Me . Your prize is me."
Watching the awe shift into a dumbfounded look was priceless, but Yeon kept quiet and waited for Rang's next move.
"You?"
"In whatever way you so desire." Yeon tilted his head with a soft smile.
His goal was so close, yet it felt so far all at once. It was Yeon's turn to be stunned as he watched Rang focus for a second and watch his illusion fall as well. The sight of his fox ears and tail form with their dark color and rusty colored tips just as he remembered. His right eye stayed human while his left was clearly from his fox form. It showed Yeon all the more just how in between both worlds Rang was. Regardless, the joy that filled and warmed his chest was indescribable seeing Rang's beauty all for himself. One of the rarest sights to behold in any life or for any creature like them.
"Your beautiful." Yeon said with so pride dripping off his tongue.
Seeing how Rang blushed and his fox ears flatten ontop of his head in embarrassment.
He floundered for a moment with a look of outrage. "Me?! What about you?! Y-your the beautiful one here!"
Yeon almost growled in warning, but his tails bristling behind him was enough to tell he was more than a little annoyed. He backed off hearing Rang's whimper in fear. Understandably unused to Yeon's form like so.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Yeon ran his hand through his hair slightly annoyed by Rang, but also himself. He paused seeing how still his brother was in front of him with his eyes closed, mumbling to himself.
"This has to be a dream."
It broke Yeon's heart hearing it. He couldn't help it as his whole body surged forwards towards his true love. Cradling his brother's face in his hands, he didnt miss the tears in Rang's eyes as their lips came together. Yeon never knew victory tasted so sweet.
The deep feeling in Yeon's heart telling him, the moment was just right, that this one was the one . His mate . He pulled away with the sight of Rang's tears running across his fingers before pulling away. Licking off the salty taste of his brother's tears, Yeon purred again.
" Mine "
Rang sniffed as he whipped off the tears with the ends of his sleeves just like he did when he was child.
"I-I'm-" The half gumiho couldn't finish before he was kissed yet again by Yeon.
"Your mines." Yeon smiled. "And I'm yours. Forever and always ."
That seemed to put everything in place as Rang pulled the elder gumiho in a fierce hug and nuzzling his face into his neck.
The tickle of Rang's breath on Yeon's neck sent a shiver down his spine and his tails bristling at the sensation.
"I'm yours and your mines." Was all Yeon needed to hear to feel like the world shifted into place.
Letting himself melt onto Rang, Yeon never knew he needed such a simple thing like a hug that felt to warm and safe to be in. Sinking back onto the floor the two gumiho's held onto each other with their tails intertwined together. The mutual silence of the moment was somehow just as loud. Yeon couldn't help it as ran his hand through his brother's hair and ears finding the sweetspot that made him let out happy chirps. The sound was new for the both of them, Rang complaining with the brightest red on his cheeks, yet he never pulled away letting Yeon continue.
To finally be with the one he truly loved, Yeon wouldn't change it for the world. A part would always wish he could of done something sooner, but it was like the humans said. Better late than never.