Archive of Our Own

From the literal second he was born, Jisung has always been quicker to do things than others.

Even early out of his mother's womb, he was also quick to crawl, quick to talk, quick to start school, quick to finish school, quick getting a college degree, quick finishing his masters, quick joining the workforce, quick getting a well-paying job.

Quick to lose his family, quick choosing a pack, quick watching Changbin walk into their lives and deciding he wants him to stay, quick to dislike Hwang Hyunjin and all he represents, quick to anger, quick to regret, quick with words, quick with thoughts, quick with almost everything.

And now, it seems, even quick to present.

Laying in his bed, nosing into his pack members' clothes, he wishes it would also quickly pass, because there's nothing funny about the way his skin feels too tight on his bones, or how his jaw aches, or how his body feels hot and cold all at once. It's the fever, he knows it is, but still he can't help whining into the sheets, twisting and curling in hopes of easing the discomfort that seems to have settled in his very core.

It's Jeongin who eventually provides a reprieve from the ache in his joints, cracking the door open slightly and slipping inside before quickly closing it again.

"Hyung," Jeongin mutters as he crosses the distance between the door and the bed, pausing at the edge. "Chan hyung asks if you need anything."

Reminded of the way he reacted when Chan himself entered the room to ask him something just hours ago, Jisung can only whine pitifully and bury his face further away into his pillow. It's covered in someone's reassuring scent, but he's not sure whose considering this is the first time he smells any of them so clearly. Well; Jeongin's cherry blossom and bubblegum fragrance is a somehow perfect match for his city boy vibes, but it's not the one Jisung's rubbing his entire face all over right now.

"Hyung told me to tell you it's fine and that it happens, and not to feel bad about it. He said he'll come visit when your fever breaks, you'll be back to normal on the hormones front then."

He lets out a groan at Jeongin's continued explanation, lifting his head just enough to stare balefully at his friend. "You mean as normal as I'm ever going to be again? What if I get as possessive and protective as Chan hyung?"

Jeongin grins, taking his lack of comment on his presence as permission and crawling onto the bed. The influx of his gentle scent doesn't bother Jisung in the slightest, and so he gratefully leans into the cool hand pressed to his forehead once Jeongin settles next to him, groaning in relief this time.

"Innie, just dig me a hole in the garden and bury me, yeah? I'm done. This is it. I've reached the end of my tolerance for life's bullshit. Just make me a nice grave, that's all I ask."

Jeongin, more than used to his dramatics and absolutely not one to feel sympathy for him ever, like any little brother is wont to do, simply raises an eyebrow. "You think I'd go through the effort of digging you a grave? I'll find the nearest ditch and dump your body off the back of the truck with a kick. Good riddance, peace out."

Jisung puts a hand to his heart, leans back into his pillow and lets out a heartfelt sound of faux-appreciation. "A true friend. I could never ask for more. The gods have blessed me with the truest friend there could ever be."

Jeongin gives a decisive nod of his head, unaffected by the sarcasm dripping off Jisung's every word. "You better know it."

One more heartbeat of silence and then Jeongin's expression cracks into a grin. Jisung's laughing soon after, and Jeongin follows along easily, leaning into him without shame. By the time they breathlessly stop giggling, they're completely curled up together, comfortable and so familiar that Jisung thinks there is nothing better in the world.

Then someone knocks on the door, opens it and steps inside. "Hey Innie, have you seen my-"

Hyunjin's words are interrupted by the most vicious snarl ever to have sounded within the four walls of their house, loud and threatening in a way none of them have ever been. Guided mainly by instinct, the other wolf is already backing out of the doorway again and it's only when the door comes closer to him that Jisung realises he's following and that the continued growling is coming from his own throat. That he's shifted to his wolf form, even.

Out of the bed, onto the floor, teeth bared, body tensely coiled as he stalks the other into the hallway, his hackles raised, his body pressed a little lower towards the floor.

"Dude, calm down, what the fuck is your problem?" Hyunjin spits at him, hands raised as if to hold him off, fear rippling through the air. He's wearing one of his favourite blouses so he's no doubt staying human to make sure he won't ruin it. Jisung wants to rip it apart with his teeth. More; he wants to sink his teeth into Hyunjin's perfectly even skin and shake him like a ragdoll until he's nothing but a ruined mess. He wants to-

"Han Jisung!" The voice roars through the upstairs hallway, drowning out even the sound of his growls. Instincts make him want to immediately curl up and submit, but another part of him rebels against that urge, immediately turning his anger to the new target. "Hyunjin, go to your room right now," the same voice says in a much gentler but still pressing tone as he's already shifting his body to leap at his new target.

And then what he meets is not someone who resembles a threat he can quickly take care of, but a large brown wolf who meets his attack midair. The wolf is faster than him, stronger than him, smarter than him. Within seconds, teeth sink into the fur at his throat, digging into his skin without breaking it, and immediately tugging downwards. His own momentum is used against him, slamming him bodily into the hallway floor so hard it creaks beneath him. The growl that reverberates against his throat is a warning that even his haywire instincts recognise as coming from his pack leader and he immediately goes completely pliant and still in Chan's hold.

When the teeth don't let go straight away, he lets out a pitiful little whine, apology and plea all in one, his tail softly thumping on the hardwood floor, a hopeful offer of peace. Chan's strong grip stays a moment longer, even briefly tightening as if to warn him, but then he huffs and lets go, shaking out his fur.

Within seconds, his pack leader and friend is standing next to him in human shape again. "Go back to your room, Jisung," he says, and he doesn't sound angry at all, but Jisung still feels like he is somehow. Like he did wrong. Because he did. He attacked a pack member. He didn't just growl in annoyance like he did at Chan before, didn't just warn Hyunjin out of his room. No. He actually attacked. Would have gone for Hyunjin's throat perhaps if Chan hadn't interfered. And yet Chan doesn't look upset, but how could he not be?

"I'll bring you some dinner when it's ready, it won't be long anymore. I'll tell Jin what's going on, don't worry."

With that, and a small smile his way, Chan walks into his own room to quickly grab a new set of clothes, then heads over into Hyunjin's room next without sparing him another glance. Pained and utterly confused by what just happened, Jisung drags his already recovering body back into his own room, only to face a wide-eyed Jeongin staring at him from where he's still lying on the bed where Jisung so suddenly left him.

"Dude," his friend says after a short moment, picking up one of the tatters of Jisung's now ruined shirt. "You almost attacked Hyunjin." He meets Jisung's gaze again, looking almost delighted now. "Scratch that. You full on attacked Chan hyung! Wow. Hormones sure are crazy, huh?"

All Jisung can do is whine pitifully as he crawls back under the blankets, shifting back to his human shape and burying himself away into a cocoon of darkness and comfort as far as he can get, trying not to hear Jeongin's laughter following him in.

When dinner is brought to him, it's not Chan who carefully pushes open the door after knocking. Instead, Changbin stands in the door opening with a tray of food in his hands, looking at Jisung and carefully checking his reaction. His hyung's scent is as familiar to him as Chan's is; and equally soothing as well. He's almost pathetically relieved when his instincts don't make him try to chase the pack's second-in-command off as well.

"Hyung," he whines instead, embarrassed and pitiful, and promptly starts to cry when Changbin enters his room to set the tray down on his desk. "Hyung," he calls again, and reaches out his hands from underneath the blanket. Changbin's smile is warm and indulgent as he moves across the room to sit down on the edge of the bed, taking his hands in his.

"Jisungie," he says with gentle amusement. "It's hard, isn't it? It's okay. No one's mad at you."

"Chan hyung-" He starts to protest, but Changbin shakes his head.

"Chan hyung's not mad either. He knows it's hard for you. He didn't want to make it harder by showing up again when you're so sensitive about his scent. If you want to see him I can send him up when I go back down. He'll be more than happy to." Changbin's broad chest is wide and safe, and Jisung buries himself away against it with great determination, tucking his nose right up against his friend's neck. There's something soothing and calm about Changbin's scent; something that settles him until he's no longer sobbing pitifully.

"Hyung," he whines again when he's just sniffling anymore, suddenly conscious of the hand rubbing soothing circles over his back.

"Mhm?"

"'m sorry, hyung. I didn't mean to attack him."

"I know you didn't, Sungie," Changbin soothes him straight away. "He knows that too. We told Hyunjin you're presenting so he knows as well. It's okay."

The news pulls a petulant whine from him, so loud he immediately hides his face upon realising. "I don't want him to know that! It's embarrassing!" He protests, but his face is smothered against his friend's chest and so there's only a few muffled, displeased sounds audible. Changbin still seems to understand fine, though, because he laughs lightly while continuing to rub Jisung's back.

"It's completely normal, Sungie. He's going to go through it himself sooner rather than later and then he'll be struggling just as much. You'll be okay. He's your pack, he's here to help."

Jisung, who's been either reluctantly cordial or sharply hostile with Hyunjin since the other wolf set foot in their house the very first time, really can't even fathom the words 'Hyunjin' and 'help' in one sentence if he's honest. "Ugh!" He says, heartfelt and disgusted, and simply hides away further into Changbin's arms. This, for some reason, only makes the alpha laugh again.

"Come on, you whiny baby. Eat before your food gets cold. Hyung worked hard on it. I'll send him up to see you in ten minutes, okay?"

He whines and flails a bit on the bed, but eventually agrees because there's nothing he can do under Changbin's steady gaze, even when his friend's lips are curled into a soft smile the entire time.

"Hyung," he says when Changbin pushes himself up from the bed again, jutting out his lower lip at his friend. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Immediately the soft warmth turns into delighted amusement and Changbin reaches out to ruffle a hand through his hair. "Aigoo, our Jisungie wants to sleep with me!" He exclaims in the most obnoxiously cutesy voice, grinning at him brightly. "Of course if our Jisungie wants to sleep with me I can't say no! Shall I read you a story before bed? Maybe sing you a lullaby?"

Jisung whines at being teased, rolling around some more and yet never far enough away to dislodge Changbin's hand in his hair. "Hyuuuung!" He whines petulantly, pouting up at his friend fully, and watching Changbin soften into a fond warmth.

"Of course you can sleep with me, Sung," the alpha says then, no longer poking fun at him, all warmth and acceptance and so much reassurance Jisung thinks he could drown in it. "We'll make a nest and curl up in it, yeah? You can pick what we put in."

There's so much understanding in those few sentences that Jisung melts down into a puddle of a wolf on his bed, nodding his head dazedly to indicate he got it. When Changbin walks over to the door, he nods at the tray that Jisung has to admit he already forgot about again.

"Eat the food, Sungie," he says, and Jisung watches his friend's expression soften like it always does when he speaks of his lover. "Hyung put a lot of work into it."

When the fever finally breaks, Jisung is curled up on the couch, Chan's arms solid and dependable around him and his body shivering with the intensity of whatever it's going through. One moment he still feels like death warmed over and the next it's almost like someone peeled the dark stickers from his eyes and the light of a new day greets him.

"Hyung," he says when he realises, lifting a hand to put it on Chan's arm around his chest, thumb pressed to the protruding vein on the alpha's muscled arm. The pulse under his finger is steady and strong and when he breathes in, more of what has slowly become noticeable to him fills his senses. Chan smells unmistakably like his pack leader, the one he'd follow into any situation without a single doubt, and no longer like a vaguely threatening stranger. "I think I'm okay now."

Chan seems to come from a faraway daze, blinking a few times before he leans in suddenly and presses his face to the back of Jisung's neck. He doesn't feel even remotely threatened or uncomfortable this time, instead just giggling at the ticklish feeling.

"Hyung," he scolds good-naturedly, and is rewarded by feeling Chan's smile shape against his skin.

"Hey Ji," he says, soft and warm and oh so tender. "Good to have you back. Wanna see what you got?"

He doesn't, really, but it's not like he'll be able to hide it from himself for long, etched onto his skin as his new pack role will be. Once upon a time those markings held way more power than they do now, an archaic system of pack hierarchy. Now it's merely a helpful way to figure out what your strengths are within a pack and what you might struggle with more.

When he shifts around enough he can lift his shirt, the mark is right there on his hip, tiny and inconspicuous, almost nothing more than a mole. And yet; its shape is familiar and defining.

"Oh," Chan breathes from where he's peering over Jisung's shoulder to see it too. His leader's chest is pressed against his back, a steady heartbeat pounding against him like the most reassuring rhythm. "I was almost convinced we were going to have another alpha on our hands with how you were acting up."

He immediately whines again at the words, dropping his shirt so he can turn and slap his friend's chest. "Hyung!" He protests. "It's not funny!"

Chan's smile is amused but carries a hint of apology as well. "We've told you before that it's completely normal behaviour, Sung," he soothes a moment later, running a hand up and down his arm. "My Luna used to say that the harder we respond to people during our presentation, the more they mean to us." There's a pause and then: "So I'll assume that no one has ever been more important to you than me, yeah?"

He wants to keep pouting and whining, but a part of him also wants Chan to know how grateful he is for everything the man has ever done for him - including taking him under his wing when they were both little more than pups. "Of course, hyung," is therefore what he says with great conviction, immediately leaning back in to nuzzle into Chan's neck and hopefully help make him feel how serious he is. "No one could ever be more important to me than you."

He can feel the way Chan flushes and mellows all at the same time, a brief tension before his friend melts against the couch and immediately hugs him a little closer. "You're important to me too, Ji," he says softly. "You're so important. I love you."

"Love you too, hyung," he mumbles, a little awkward but also a lot pleased. "And since I now have destiny-given rights to take care of you, you're going to have to suck it up and take it," he adds after a moment, pulling a full-blown laugh from Chan immediately, embarrassed giggling and all.

They're halfway through dinner preparations when the door opens and a whole new scent invades Jisung's senses. It's warm and comfortable, hints of jasmine and rosehip tea that ring familiar in his memory even if it's much stronger now. He immediately looks toward Chan for permission and at the small nod from his hyung, he's already rushing into the hallway.

"Noona!" He exclaims, running through the hallway until he can throw himself into Momo's awaiting arms. She laughs, pulling him into a tight embrace and squeezing him with all the warmth of a proud older sister.

"Jisungie," she says and her voice is like a warm hand running down his spine comfortingly. "I came to see if you needed some help or company, but looks like everything's under control, yeah?"

He pulls out of her grip immediately, pulling up his shirt and lowering the edge of his pants a little to show off his mark. "I presented, noona, look!" He exclaims, shifting his body as if to bring his hip closer to her face even though there's no physical way for that to work considering Momo has always been taller than him in her high heeled boots and his legs are only as long as they are. Which is short. Too short. He mourns the fact that he is vertically challenged every single day, really.

"Would you look at that!" Momo exclaims anyway, even after only having looked down at his bare skin for the briefest moments. He doesn't doubt that she knows exactly what mark he sports now, though, and she proves it by ruffling his hair some more as she says: "Our Jisungie all grown up and omega-marked! I remember when you were just a tiny pup who scarcely grew into his own fur now look at you! Ready to take on the important task of making sure everyone is cared for and happy."

He whines at the playful jab, but then preens when she gives him the proudest smile and gently pokes a finger into his cheek. "You've always been good at making sure everyone is happy," she tells him then, more subdued but no less sincere. "Are you happy with it?"

He takes a moment to think it through, really considering his options, but then he nods. "I definitely didn't want to be the third alpha in this pack, but being a beta is too boring, so being an omega is good. It means I still get to pout and make the hyungs do whatever I want."

Momo laughs brightly at his cheeky grin, ruffling his hair once more and then swatting at his hip to get him to put his clothes back in order. "Come on, you sneaky manipulator, let's go help Channie out. Aren't you supposed to take care of your pack?"

He huffs and puffs, but tugs down his shirt again anyway and immediately darts back to the kitchen to let Chan know Momo came to visit, even if his friend has already long heard them talk and smelled her enter all the same.

Things go back to normal again after that. Jisung gets to go back to work (quickly recovered, Changbin notes), and picks Jeongin, Seungmin and Hyunjin up from school again, and helps out Chan when he can, and beams in pride every time anyone mentions his presenting. But for all he feels a lot calmer now and way more comfortable in his skin, one thing bugs him more than it ever has.

When Hyunjin enters his room without knocking he snarls, and when Seungmin flops half on top of him when he's watching tv he laughs and pets his friend's hair. When Jeongin steals his food he makes a face and steals some back, but when Hyunjin does it he immediately throws a barbed comment the other wolf's way. When Changbin teases him for his clumsiness he pouts and whines, but when Hyunjin tries to help him clean up the mess he grows tense and angry.

They're pack, but they're not, and his hyungs thought the hostility was part of him being about to present, but it isn't. It's been going on for all of the months in which the three others have lived with them and it continues even after. Changbin was pack from almost the very first day, Seungmin just a couple days later when they found out their birthdays were almost a week apart. Hyunjin is…

Hyunjin is complicated.

Jisung sees him and he's immediately annoyed, defensive, protective. Protective of his pack and his life, that Hyunjin looks way too capable of stealing away from him. Nevermind that Chan loves him endlessly or Jeongin wouldn't spend a single day without him willingly. Nevermind that Changbin never picks a side in their arguments and always keeps hugging them both just as tightly when they come to him for comfort.

But Hyunjin is conventionally attractive, and good at almost everything, and way too arrogant for his own good. And maybe Jisung isn't much better when it comes to the latter, but he's got reason to, right? Not everything was handed to him on a platter. He had to fight to drag all of his success out of life's unwilling, clutching fingers. He's fought to get to where he is today and Hyunjin- Hyunjin just followed Changbin right into their lives and got all of this sweet, warm luxury thrown into his lap.

And then he has the gall to act like he's somehow entitled to being treated like a prince by everyone and their moms - including Jisung.

So, no. Jisung doesn't like him much. He doesn't particularly dislike him either, though. Hyunjin is soft on Jeongin, quick to offer his help, clearly willing to take on his share of the chores at the house and making sure to work hard at school so he can graduate and start helping out with earning money when he's old enough. Hyunjin is a good friend to Seungmin, a good hyung to Jeongin, a good younger brother to the hyungs.

Hyunjin is the picture perfect example of someone who cares, someone who understands people and who tries for them; and maybe that's exactly what Jisung hates about him.

Because he's never been very good at people at all. Chan putting up with him for as long as he has is a stroke of luck he never expected, and Chan's love for him immediately guaranteed him Momo's affection as well. Jeongin- Jeongin is perhaps the only one Jisung managed to befriend all by himself, and that probably only because he started off with bringing the younger whatever food he could find for them to share.

So no, Jisung doesn't like Hyunjin very much, and in turn, Hyunjin looks down on him like he's dirtier than the gum stuck to the underside of his shoe.

This is normal for them.

Except it gets worse. Hyunjin used to be more passive, not really picking fights but simply mirroring Jisung's anger, but as the weeks go by he gets more proactive about it. When Jisung's cuddling Changbin on the couch, Hyunjin soon flops down on Changbin's other side and demands hugs. When Jisung's preparing a meal in the kitchen with Chan, Hyunjin shows up and whines at the alpha until he's given a task as well, no matter how superfluous.

It gets to a point where Jisung invites his two hyungs out to spend time without anyone butting in so they can talk about things that aren't useful to the others yet, like anything related to their expectations of him after presenting and things like that. Yet after a while Hyunjin just starts calling the alphas on the phone, asking the most mundane things just to get their attention.

Jisung thinks he's being obvious, but when he tells Chan and Changbin about it, they give him surprised looks and tell him Hyunjin's just someone who needs a lot of reassurance. They tell him he should understand, and so he tries, but it doesn't always work.

Sometimes their fights echo beyond the walls of the house, sometimes they are an ice cold silence that stretches out for hours or even days. Jeongin occasionally tries to tell Jisung he should be understanding, but he hasn't done anything wrong so he refuses to be the first to give in. If Hyunjin wants to act like a little bitch, then Jisung will treat him as such.

And so this becomes their new normal.

It's still dark when he wakes from a fitful sleep. His dreams are nightmares more often than not so that's not what brings him so fully into awareness in a few seconds only, but when he looks around the room, there's nothing to see. He groans a little, rubbing his face and turning over, trying to get back to sleep.

When almost an hour later still finds him wide awake, no amount of tossing and turning bringing peaceful slumber back to his mind, he eventually drags himself out of bed to go find a glass of water to drink. Maybe a visit to the bathroom after will help settle his body enough that it won't betray him further and will finally let him fall back asleep.

He manages the glass of water fine, but when he flicks on the light in the downstairs bathroom, he nearly shrieks at the body suddenly splayed on the bathroom floor. With a hand to his heart, he stares down at the body for a tense moment, before realising who it is - and that the rise and fall of his midriff means he's still alive.

"Hyunjin, what the fuck?" He says, managing not to yell because he knows everyone else is still asleep. Before he can make another scathing comment about bedrooms being for sleeping and something else insensitive and rude, he spots the rest of the truth. Hyunjin's cheeks are red with shed tears, his bleary eyes bloodshot and tiny, his hair a tangled mess, his shallow, way too rapid breathing almost worrisome.

"Jin?" His voice has changed timbre entirely as he suddenly stumbles forward, immediately crouching down to help, worry gripping his lungs in a vice grip. "What's going on? What did you do? Did you take anything? Should I make you puke? Hyunjin?"

The hand that fruitlessly tries to push his own searching ones away is almost powerless, but Hyunjin still tries to shift himself out of reach. "'m Fine, leave me alone Jisung," Hyunjin mumbles, moving away from him and frowning against the light of the ceiling lamp.

"You're clearly not fine and I'm not leaving you like this. What happened? Did you get hurt? Were you out? I thought you went to bed early? Did someone hurt you? Should I call noona?"

Hyunjin weakly pushes at him again, drawing even further away. "I told you I'm fine. Just use the upstairs bathroom. Just go away."

Impressed by neither the words nor the hands brushing his, he simply continues reaching for the other wolf. "I'm not going to leave you like this, Hyunjin, what the fuck do you think I am?"

"Why do you even care?" Hyunjin angrily demands, but with his tear stricken face and his voice barely more than a croak, it just sounds petulant.

"You're my pack, Hyunjin, of course I care!" He barks back, impatient, taking Hyunjin's wrists in one hand and moving them out of the way so he can use his other hand to feel his friend's forehead, then run a hand over the wetness of his cheek. Almost automatically his touch becomes gentler when Hyunjin winces, though the other wolf's eyes are wider and more alert now, fixed on his face. "What happened?" He asks again.

"Just… nightmares." The last word is barely a whisper and Jisung frowns briefly. Nightmares? Nightmares bad enough to turn the always so neat and composed Hyunjin into this? He wants to press, ask what they were about, but his protective instincts surge, itching to make it better.

"What; you dreamt about me?" He blurts out the joke without thinking and Hyunjin's body spasms with a laugh he clearly didn’t expect himself. For a long moment they're just looking at each other, but then Jisung reaches up both his hands to cup Hyunjin's face in one and gently brush away his tears with the other. "Nightmares can't hurt you, you know?" He says then, aiming for reassurance.

He's not sure if he hits it, but Hyunjin nearly melts into his touch anyway, eyes closing again, and so Jisung simply continues his motions until Hyunjin's cheeks are dry. Then he almost instinctively runs his fingers through Hyunjin's full, black hair instead. With every stroke of his fingers, Hyunjin’s body relaxes further, the weight of his friend’s head in his hands growing heavier as the other wolf gives up control to him entirely.

"Come on," he says after what feels like an hour but probably wasn't even a minute. "Let's get you a glass of water and then we'll get you back into bed. You need your beauty sleep to keep that billion won face alive, hm?”

When Hyunjin's eyes open, they're much less crazy than they were before. He doesn't mention it. Their eyes meet for a split second but neither of them acknowledges the shaky truce they've established. Jisung helps Hyunjin stand, and then walks alongside him to the kitchen. Hyunjin empties two entire glasses of water before they head back upstairs quietly.

Without saying a word, Jisung follows Hyunjin into his room, over to his bed, under the blankets. He wraps his arms around Hyunjin's frame, tucks his friend's head under his chin and kisses the tangled but silky smooth black hair. He doesn't say anything, and Hyunjin doesn't question it, tucking his face away against Jisung's neck and relaxing into his hold with every gentle stroke of Jisung's hand down his spine.

Before long, Hyunjin's breathing evens out as he falls asleep. Not much later, somehow soothed by the steady warmth of Hyunjin's body in his arms, Jisung dozes off too.

When he sneaks out of the bed and Hyunjin's room just a few hours later to empty his bladder and return to his own bed, no one seems to be any the wiser.

"Sungie, Bin and I are going for a run, can you make sure the rest of the kids have dinner when they get home?"

Chan sticks his head inside the doorway of his room and beams him a warm smile when he asks, so there isn't really much he can do other than agree. "Are you leaving me the card so I can order us all pizza tonight?" He does counter the question with one of his own. "Otherwise the best I can do is oatmeal."

Chan makes a face before he laughs, and then walks into his room entirely to wrap him up in a quick but tight hug. "It's on the dinner table, you fiend." Then a kiss is pressed into his hair, his middle squeezed before Chan is walking off again, leaving him alone.

He texts the rest of the pack to ask for their pizza wishes for the night, only for Seungmin to opt out because he had a late lunch with friends and is meeting another friend at the gym, Jeongin to remind them all of his evening study session and Hyunjin to say he would be half an hour later than usual but he'll reheat his pizza.

Perhaps a week ago, Jisung would have ordered their pizzas and leave Hyunjin to deal with it himself, but with the memory of Hyunjin's tear stained face from only a couple of days before still fresh in his memory, he can't. Instead, he orders the pizzas to arrive by the time Hyunjin is supposed to get home, and then even sets the table for two, well aware that his hyungs will find their own food during or after their check of the territory.

When the door opens and the subtle but familiar fragrance of the slightly older wolf wafts into the house again, Jisung pauses the television series and lifts his head to look towards the doorway. It doesn't take long for Hyunjin to appear, confusion evident on his features. They even out a bit more when he spots Jisung, but there's still a reluctant moment of silence before: "Where is everybody?"

"Hyungs are out on a run, Ming's at the gym and Innie's at his study session. It's just us for dinner. The pizza should be here in about twenty minutes. You're earlier than I expected."

Hyunjin glances towards the table in what looks a surprising amount like disbelief, and then looks back at him, an intense look in his eyes. Despite it, he looks tired, and Jisung's instincts respond before the rest of him can. "Wanna finish watching this episode with me? It's warm."

He lifts a corner of his blanket at that last bit, to indicate what he means exactly, and watches Hyunjin's eyes zero in on it, widening briefly in surprise before they fix on him again as if trying to find the trick to this question.

"You don't have to," Jisung says, lowering the corner of the blanket again, to tuck himself in more properly once more. Hyunjin's response is instant, his body jerking into motion as he crosses the room. Jisung doesn't mention how quick his steps are and in turn Hyunjin doesn't mention how easily he lifts the blanket again.

"Move over, I'm not that small," Hyunjin grumbles at him while he goes to lie down, but despite his demanding attitude, Jisung realises that the way Hyunjin lies down is very careful, not touching him in any way until he settles against his chest, slid down far enough that Jisung's view on the television won't be obstructed, carefully taking over the corner of the blanket and tucking it in around both of them.

Almost immediately after, Hyunjin's body relaxes into him, even as he lets his arm settle around his friend's middle. Carefully slotted together, fitting perfectly onto the couch like this, the scent of Hyunjin's shampoo fresh and reassuring in his nose.

"What are you watching?" Hyunjin asks him softly and he hums as he glances back at the screen, reaching out his free hand to press play again.

"Just some cartoon. It doesn't really matter."

Hyunjin hums in return, going quiet and still in his hold, seemingly focusing on the television. After a moment, Jisung does the same, shifting a little to get more comfortable and simply pressing his nose into Hyunjin's hair, eyeing the tv over his friend's head. There's a moment of added tension in Hyunjin's frame before it all drains out completely, and the other wolf melts against his chest once more.

Perhaps they lie like that for a few minutes, perhaps for the full ten. The episode plays and they watch, and then the episode ends and Jisung cancels the automatic playing of the next one thinking of their food that is soon to arrive. When he puts the remote down again, however, Hyunjin doesn't move to get up and Jisung doesn't make him. So they lie there some more, until eventually the doorbell rings and Hyunjin startles so violently it's clear he was asleep.

"Pizza's here," Jisung tells him in a soothing tone, gently patting Hyunjin's stomach before he starts to let go, slipping out from behind his friend to get up. He greets the delivery man at the door, thanks him for the pizzas and heads back inside with them.

When he makes it to the dining table, Hyunjin has already put a can of soda on the table for each of them. He walks up to the table and puts the pizza boxes down, but doesn't open them yet. When Hyunjin realises, he looks up in question, seemingly hesitant. Yet all Jisung says is: "You wanna eat in front of the tv?"

Hyunjin's smile is relief and surprised happiness, and then he nods his head once, briskly. Jisung grins, the return grin following quickly, and then they're headed to the couch again. He puts the pizza boxes on the table, puts on one of the movies he knows Hyunjin wanted to watch and crawls back onto his spot.

By the time Seungmin comes home from the gym, the pizza boxes are empty, the movie is paused midway through and Hyunjin is fast asleep against his chest, one of his arms wrapped around his friend, the other holding his phone from which an audiobook is softly playing.

Seungmin gives them a long look but doesn't say anything, and Jisung makes sure to slip away from the couch before the others get back, to ensure that no one else asks questions he doesn't know how to answer.

Jeongin flops down on his bed unceremoniously a couple days later, sighing deeply into his pillow. Jisung continues working on his computer, long used to the youngest coming to annoy him and even more used to ignoring him. Yet after another three sighs, each more obnoxious than the last, he saves the progress on his work and turns in his chair to face his bed.

"What's up?" He asks, looking at his younger friend, who's got his pillow clutched in two arms and pressed against his chest.

Jeongin makes an unintelligible noise before wrinkling his nose and saying: "Nothing."

More than used to the elusive nature of the younger wolf, Jisung merely hums, nods and then turns back to his computer. He doesn't get back to work, but simply checks a few of his social media and opens up youtube to find a few more nature documentaries to queue up for watching.

It takes longer than usual for Jeongin to speak again, which tells him it's something really serious this time. "Hyung," Jeongin eventually ventures, sounding somehow reluctant to even continue. He still does, though. "Do you think Hyunjin and Seungmin are going to leave again?"

For a moment, Jisung is speechless, but then he turns in his chair to look at his friend with a small frown. "What brought this up?"

"There's a kid in my class who's transferring. He's… you know. In the system. The people he's staying with were only housing him temporarily so now he has to leave. Other side of the country, almost. It just made me think."

"Think what exactly? We're not a foster pack, they're not being dumped at the next one at our earliest convenience. Besides; it's not like Yeji would take them. Lia would murder them within two moons."

Jeongin huffs out a laugh at the idea, just like Jisung intended, but after a moment he grows more serious again. "But you and Hyunjin don't get along," he says then. "Are you- Are you going to fight him?"

"What, physically?" His tone is more incredulous than he was aiming for, but at the same time he really can't imagine it at all. "Hyunjin would rather walk out himself than he'd risk so much as breaking a nail in something like a fight. I think we're safe."

Jeongin's expression doesn't grow lighter with his words, though, so he knows it's not done yet. "Do you really hate him that much, hyung?" Jeongin asks, sounding a little sad. Jisung can only look at his friend for a long moment and then get up from his chair to crawl onto the bed. It's a testament to how bad Jeongin seems to feel about this that he doesn't even complain when Jisung wraps around him like a koala.

"I don't hate him, Innie," he offers up in reassurance, and finds that it's truer than even he expected. "We just- We don't always see eye to eye, but I'm not going to fight him or kick him out or anything. Besides, it's not my decision and Chan would never kick him out."

"You don't know that," Jeongin protests, tucking his face into the pillow more tightly. Jisung knows it means Jeongin really feels bad about this. "Chan's always been really soft on you. He would kick Hyunjin out if you asked him to. You're his favourite."

The thing is; Jeongin sounds so convinced of what he's saying, while Jisung thinks it's utter horseshit. "First of all, don't disrespect a matched couple's love, Innie. Obviously Changbin hyung is his favourite. Secondly, Hyunjin's pack. Chan wouldn't kick him out unless he severely betrayed the pack or anyone in it, no matter how I feel about it. Also, what makes you think I'd ask him to?"

"You hate him!" Jeongin pouts, lifting his face from the depths. There's genuine distress in his eyes and Jisung almost immediately melts a little, bringing up a hand to gently run it over Jeongin's hair. The fact that the youngest lets it happen says enough about his emotions, really.

"I don't hate him, Jeongin. Do I think he's an arrogant piece of shit who should stop expecting the world to just bend to his every whim? Sure. Would I pour salt in his morning coffee if given the chance despite Changbin hyung forbidding me from doing that again? Absolutely. Will I ever ask hyung to kick him out? Absolutely not. Did you not hear me say he is pack, Innie?"

Jeongin's gaze on him is still doubtful, but he seems to catch onto the important nuance to his words. "Not a member of Chan's pack but just pack? Your pack?" He verifies and Jisung rolls his eyes obnoxiously but nods. Almost immediately Jeongin sits up a little more. "Really? You consider him pack?"

"Don't sound so surprised and make me regret it."

"Hyung!" Jeongin exclaims, and then suddenly Jisung is inexplicably being hugged, Jeongin's scent thick in his nose, full of relieved happiness. "I promise he's really nice, you're just too similar to realise!"

Jisung scoffs at the idea. "We're similar. Him and I are nothing alike."

"You're similar in all the ways that don't work together, hyung. It's why you don't get along. It's why I like you both."

Jisung huffs, but he can only shake his head in disbelief, watching the youngest of their pack sit up and reach for his pillow to fluff it up and put it back where he got it from.

"Let's go for a run, hyung. Get me some food."

There's no way Jisung could ever say no.

To no one's surprise, Jisung's in Chan's office with him and Changbin to talk about a few things when there's a knock on the door and Hyunjin pushes it open. He asks something or the other of Changbin and leaves with the reply, then does it all over again five minutes later. This happens two more times before Jisung's patience runs out.

"Hyunjin!" He yells the next time the other wolf walks in, half a growl in his voice. Yet as Hyunjin visibly startles and turns to face him with an immediately tense and blank expression, Jisung remembers Jeongin's words, and Changbin's words, and the teary-eyed Hyunjin on the bathroom floor who melted into his arms.

He unclenches his jaw and breathes out slowly before breathing in again. "I'm sorry, but we're talking about something that's important to me and I need this conversation. In ten more minutes you can have all of their attention," he says in a surprisingly calm tone of voice, looking at the other wolf steadily. "I promise."

Hyunjin seems to not know how to respond for a second, floundering as if he'd been ready to yell back if necessary but now finds himself with no immediate response to give. Jisung merely smiles at him briefly, a very quick and corners-of-mouth thing, and then tilts his head a little. "Okay?"

It seems to startle the other wolf back into motion, a brief nod of his head followed by his gaze darting to the two alphas before settling on Jisung again. "Okay. Sorry, Sung."

With that, he turns around and walks back out of the room, closing the office door behind him fully again. Jisung keeps his gaze on the door for a moment longer before he turns back to the other two, only to find them both looking at him with strange expressions.

"What?" He asks, making a face at the sudden attention.

"You handled that really well, Ji," Chan says first, after which Changbin nods in agreement.

He huffs and shakes his head. "There's no reason to look so surprised! I'm good at handling things! I do this at work all the time! Stop looking at me, tell me why certain scents are way more comforting than others."

It takes another moment, but eventually they do get back to the conversation at hand.

So things change a little bit again. Hyunjin grows softer towards him. Almost incrementally, but the effects are instant. As if all he needed was a gentle but firm talking-to, or maybe just to be shown that it was okay to be gentle, but also okay to be firm.

Some days Jisung's watching tv and Hyunjin flops down on the couch next to him, and all he does is look at his friend before lifting an arm and allowing Hyunjin to snuggle into his side.

Some days Jisung has no patience left and crawls into bed, capable of nothing more than watching some youtube videos blankly on his phone. One day it's Hyunjin who shows up with food for him, hesitant in his door opening, but then seemingly pushing through his doubts and stepping inside to present Jisung with the tray.

He doesn't say anything, just sits down and watches the current documentary with him for a while, then quietly gathers the tray back when Jisung is done eating and moves to get up. When he's back at the door opening, Jisung clears his throat.

"Thanks, Jin."

Hyunjin's head whips around, but after a moment of staring at him, he suddenly smiles. It's a soft thing, something surprisingly warm, and when it's aimed at him so particularly, all Jisung can do is return the smile, soft but searching.

"Rest well, Sung," Hyunjin tells him, before turning away and - in a show of the greatest friendship the world has ever seen - pulling his bedroom door closed behind him again.

He can't talk to Hyunjin about it, it's too tentative, and so he does the next best thing: he corners Seungmin in his room one afternoon and backs him up against the younger's desk. It's only a week difference in age, but Jisung's claiming it every chance he gets in hierarchy and superiority both.

"Why does Hyunjin have nightmares?" He asks without preamble, fingers fiddling with one of Seungmin's pencils as he sits in the younger's desk chair and looks up at him with a searching gaze.

For all he's from the same pack and supposedly background as Hyunjin, Seungmin doesn't so much as blink at Jisung's sudden question. Instead he just looks down at him with little to no emotion and eventually says: "Why should I tell you that?"

Jisung purses his lips slowly and then narrows his eyes at the other wolf. "Because." Seungmin continues staring without even faltering once and eventually Jisung groans out his dislike before setting the pencil down on the desk and settling his hands in his laps. "I want to help."

Seungmin's emotionless stare continues for a moment longer, just until Jisung reaches the point of pushing himself up and walking away, and then he hums and nods his head. "The pack we used to belong to… We expressed our intent to leave once we'd grown enough to venture out on our own, but the leader wouldn't let Hyunjin go. He kept us… against our will."

The mere thought is jarring enough to widen Jisung's eyes, a feeling like ice and fire both settling his gut. He doesn't realise his lips have folded into a snarl until Seungmin nods his head once and says: "Exactly." There's a shrug of the wolf's shoulders. "We ran into hyung when we were out for a run once and when he saw our state and heard our story he came with us to get our freedom. You met him a couple of days later."

"Wait, hyung saved you guys?" He squares his shoulders at the sudden realisation, surprise and pride both whirling through him before they settle into acceptance. "So Jin's nightmares are about being kept against his will?"

Seungmin presses his lips together and then glances briefly towards the door before looking at him again, his expression cautious but decided. "Hyunjin's nightmares are about the wolf who wanted to keep his beauty for himself, preferring to try and ruin him if he couldn't have him himself. Short of forcing himself on Hyunjin, he did everything to make him and keep him his and if he couldn't get that or Hyunjin would say no, he'd resort to violence. I suffered alongside him only because I continued to try and help him. I was of no further importance to that alpha."

Jisung's breath is stuck in his chest as his eyes rake Seungmin's face, searching for even a hint of jest. But Seungmin is clearly dead serious, and an intense feeling of protectiveness immediately fills him up entirely. "You're important to us, Ming," he says almost immediately, reaching out a hand to take hold of his pack mate's wrist. "You know that right? You're very important to us. You're part of the pack and we love you. That alpha was an idiot. Hyunjin's not even that pretty."

The initial surprise on Seungmin's face turns into a huffed out laugh at those words, and then his hand comes up to rest on Jisung's. "Thanks, Sung. I'm okay, though, I knew it was bullshit. I think over time Jin internalised it, though, and started to think that that's what love is; to be mean and vicious. I don't know what he dreams of exactly, but sometimes when he wakes up all he does is lash out and hurt the ones around him."

Seungmin's gaze softens, a clear warmth and fondness for his friend in the expression. "I know you don't like him much, but if you could have some more patience for him, I think it might help. He's not known much gentleness in his life other than me and Bin hyung. I think maybe having found it here, he's trying to claim more of it than is really necessary because he's afraid of losing it again."

Jisung clenches his jaw briefly. "I don't dislike him," he says, and it feels so repetitious, and he wonders how badly his pack members must have been thinking of him to all keep saying that. "He's just… He gets on my nerves a lot, but it's- We're working on it."

Seungmin smiles, an actual wide and genuine thing, and squeezes his hand. "I know. I noticed. He talked to me about it as well. I'm really glad you two are starting to get along better. I think you're more similar than you think."

His first instinct is to deny any type of claim like this, but he swallows it back down and instead grins up at Seungmin lightly. "Maybe so, but clearly I'm still the prettier one out of us two."

Seungmin laughs and Jisung's grin widens in triumph at having achieved it. "Thank you for telling me, Ming," he says after a moment, squeezing Seungmin's wrist in turn. "I'll try to be more patient."

After another moment, Seungmin nods and lets him go. "Thank you," he mumbles as he does. "For taking care of him."

Jisung scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Duh. He's pack. He's going to get taken care of whether he wants it or not."

He doesn't really use his newfound knowledge yet, wondering what he's supposed to do with it. Should he approach Hyunjin to talk about it? Maybe wait until the next time he encounters him on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night? But who knows how long that'll take? Should he talk to Chan about it?

He's still debating the pros and cons of each option when the need to choose is taken from him. It's the click of his door opening that wakes him from his dreams that night, and the scent of distress thick in the air that brings him fully to reality. He wrinkles his nose and then lifts his head, looking at the door opening.

"Hyunjin?" He ventures tentatively, shifting until he sits up slightly and frowning at the shape in his doorway. "Do you want to come in?"

There's a heavy silence from the other wolf, but eventually Hyunjin clears his throat, thick with tears. "Can I- Would you- Do you mind if I-" Hyunjin stammers, before going quiet again. Jisung's instincts flare, his arm already moving to take hold of the blanket to lift it up and offer a spot.

"Come here, Hyunnie," he says softly, nothing else. It takes a moment, but then the shape in his doorway moves. Hyunjin, thoughtful as always, closes the door behind himself again and finds his way in the total darkness. When he reaches Jisung's bed, he cautiously lowers himself down on it and settles a little closer to Jisung's side.

Jisung lowers the blanket again, tucks it in around Hyunjin's frame and then leaves his arm gently splayed over his friend's middle. "I'm here," he says softly then, gently rubbing Hyunjin's side. "You're not alone. We're all here, yeah?"

Hyunjin's breathing shudders, but Jisung feels him shift as if to move closer. He immediately moves to properly gather Hyunjin in his arms, and pulls him into a closer hug, pulling his friend in until Hyunjin's wet cheek presses against his shirt.

"It's okay, you know? Come and hug me anytime you need it. I'll always hug you if you need it."

Hyunjin's quiet against him for a moment, but then he shifts around on his own and presses his face even more into his chest. Moment's later he can feel the body curled in his arms shake with quiet sobs. It's immediate, the urge to protect surging up once more, the instinct to soothe his pack member, to make sure he feels better, and Jisung lets himself lean into it fully. Pressing a kiss to Hyunjin's hair, he runs his hand quietly over his friend's back in soothing motions, humming gently to comfort him without making him feel the need to say something in return.

It takes a little while, Hyunjin crying in his arms like he's never been able to do something like it before - and maybe he really hasn't. Eventually the other wolf seems to calm down, heaving a few more difficult breaths and sniffling a bit longer, before a deep sigh signals he seems to be done crying for now. Jisung doesn't stop humming just yet, but does start nuzzling Hyunjin's hair gently, running his nose through it and breathing him in. He's not sure what his own scent is doing but he can feel Hyunjin relax into his hold more and more, until he seems to fall back asleep in exhaustion.

For a little while longer, Jisung just hums softly, but then he goes quiet and, with Hyunjin breathing evenly against his chest, he settles down to catch some more sleep.

Somehow they make it to the morning without any more nightmares again, and Jisung wakes with the sunlight pouring into his room peacefully, painting the scene in new light. Hyunjin's hands are curled into his shirt, as if to make sure he wouldn't leave, his friend's face soft and gentle in its relaxedness. His chest slowly rising and falling with his breaths is somehow the most precious thing Jisung has ever witnessed, and within seconds of looking at it, he knows he wants to protect it, wants to make sure Hyunjin can always sleep this peacefully. He wants all of his pack to feel at ease in their home, for them all to have a safe space here. With the rest of the pack. With him.

Hyunjin's face contorting and his eyes slowly blinking open are what bring him back to the present moment and he sends his friend a smile. "Morning," he says, only for Hyunjin to suddenly flush a bright red and immediately pull the blanket up over his head, nearly smacking Jisung in the face with it. All he can do is laugh, endeared, and immediately wrap his arms more tightly around his friend again, pulling him further into his chest.

"What's wrong, you big baby?" He asks, giggling as he runs his fingers down Hyunjin's side to tickle him playfully. Hyunjin shrieks, wriggling to get away from it while at the same time slapping a hand over his own mouth to keep from waking anyone up with his sounds.

When he gives in and stops tickling, Hyunjin's face is slightly sweaty already from being hidden under the blanket, but he's also grinning and no longer hiding himself away, and Jisung thinks that's the best look on him at any time.

"Sung," Hyunjin says after a moment of them just looking at each other, and then he's reaching out hesitantly. Jisung takes hold of his hand almost immediately, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Yeah, Hyun?"

"I- Thank you." Hyunjin looks almost scared, as if he's not sure where this situation is going to lead, and honestly Jisung isn't sure either, but he smiles a bit wider at Hyunjin and then squeezes the hand he's holding once more.

"You're welcome, Jinnie." He swallows and then bites his lip briefly as he wonders how much he should say. Then he decides honesty is the best policy. "Seungmin told me about your old pack. I'm really sorry you were treated that way, but I hope you know we'd never do that to you. You're safe here. We want you here, but only if you want to be here too. We love you too much to force you into anything. You know that right?"

Hyunjin's blinking wide-eyed at him for a moment, but then his eyes fill with tears quite suddenly, both his hands reaching for Jisung's shirt again. "You love me?" He inquires in a quiet little voice, sounding as surprised as someone could sound, though not necessarily disbelieving.

"Yeah, of course, Hyunjin. You're pack. We love you." And then, because something tells him that's not the confirmation Hyunjin's looking for, he adds: "I love you."

Hyunjin's response is a smile so grateful and genuine that it temporarily knocks the air out of his lungs, and then Hyunjin lunges forward, tackling him in a hug and burying his face against his chest. Jisung feels Hyunjin rubbing his face against him tightly, and so he leans in to nose into his hair before pressing his face into the side of Hyunjin's neck.

They stay like that for a while, cuddled up together in a warm and comfortable cocoon of Jisung's scent with a hint of Hyunjin's much subtler fragrance. They only move again when there's a knock on the door, a steady but decisive thing before the door is pushed open. Jisung looks up in order to face Chan, who he knows was the one at the door, but Hyunjin keeps his face tucked into Jisung's chest.

Chan obviously knew that Hyunjin was in the room with Jisung before he entered, but he still seems to falter at the sight of them, eyes immediately roving over their bodies, the position they're in and then zoning in on Jisung's features in concern, but he seems to relax again seconds later, as if realising from whatever expression Jisung carries that nothing's wrong.

"Hyunjinnie," Chan says then, looking down at the head of hair against Jisung's chest. Clearly Hyunjin had no idea who was at the door, his human nose still weak as long as he's unpresented, because his head shoots up immediately at the sound of Chan's voice.

"Yes hyung?" He asks, and Jisung catches a whiff of fear in the air. He immediately tightens his hold around Hyunjin's frame, and hovers over him somewhat protectively. Chan seems even more surprised at that - which isn't strange, really, the Jisung of even two days ago would never have sided with Hyunjin against Chan - but then their leader suddenly smiles.

"There was some lingering distress in the hallway," he says lightly, easily showing Hyunjin he's not upset, which immediately removes the fear from Hyunjin's demeanour. "Changbin and I wanted to make sure you're okay, but it looks like Jisungie's taking good care of you, mhm?"

Jisung doesn't fully know Hyunjin's reaction, but he can feel himself flush in both embarrassment and pride, instinctively glad to have his efforts appreciated by his pack leader, but also shy at having them pointed out so obviously. Hyunjin seems to have no such qualms, however, because Jisung feels him simply press closer.

"Yes," Hyunjin then says, clearly convinced of the truth of that statement. "Sungie takes care of me well."

The rumble that fills the room right after is not the warning growl he was aiming for, Jisung realises in mortification, but a pleased, proud little noise of satisfaction that will haunt him for the rest of his days.

It causes Chan to grin widely, pride and warmth in the expression, and Hyunjin to look up at him with a bone deep gratitude and warmth. Then the other wolf just buries his face against Jisung's chest again, returning to his earlier position, and Chan laughs with great fondness as he moves to close the door again.

"Breakfast is in ten minutes if you guys want to get up," he says right before it clicks closed. Jisung stares at the door a moment longer then looks down at his friend cuddled up against his chest.

No, he thinks as he moves to settle back down as well, casually tucking his face right back into Hyunjin's neck and giving the other wolf more of the comfort he clearly craves, he doesn't think they want to get up.