Work Text:
Wonwoo smells it before he hears it.
His hands freeze mid-air, eyebrows furrowing and black ears standing tall and alert. Putting the empty glass of milk down, he pivots on his heels and makes a bee-line to Mingyu’s room.
He doesn’t bother knocking, simply barging into the dark room. His heart drops into his stomach much more quickly than he anticipated.
“Mingyu,” he says, hurrying to the bed. “Mingyu?”
He switches the bedside lamp on, his chest twisting painfully at the sight of tears rolling out of Mingyu’s tightly shut eyes. Pained sobs punch out of the younger’s throat, his body shaking as he twists and turns underneath the warm blanket.
“Pup,” he says softly, holding Mingyu’s shoulders before shaking lightly. “Wake up, puppy.”
Mingyu’s cries don’t falter, and Wonwoo’s worry skyrockets as he sits at the edge of the bed and shakes Mingyu again, more firmly this time.
“Come on, wake up, Min.”
Mingyu’s eyes flutter open, his chest heaving. Tears glimmer in his eyes, scintillating under the light of the lamp. The putrid scent of distress doesn’t dissipate, and before Wonwoo can open his mouth again and ask what’s wrong, his body gets crushed in an aggressive hug.
“Hyung,” Mingyu sobs out, arms wrapping around him in a death-like grip. “Wonwoo hyung,” he cries, nosing into the side of his throat, scenting panickingly.
Despite his initial shock, Wonwoo reaches out to wrap his own arms around Mingyu’s shoulders, one hand soothingly patting the younger’s nape and the overgrown dark brown hair, trying to coax the tremors in his body down.
Mingyu pulls away shakily, the pretty curves of his eyes and lips drooping, much like his long, round puppy ears.
“What’s wrong, pup?” Wonwoo questions with all the gentleness in the world, reaching out to rub away the tears lining Mingyu’s bottom lids. But Mingyu’s face scrunches up as he leans into his hands, and he tears up all over again, sobbing as his hands bunch up Wonwoo’s t-shirt, trying to lean in to hug again.
“Wonwoo h-hyung…”
“Talk to me, Mingyu,” Wonwoo says, frowning as Mingyu pulls him closer, burrowing himself into his neck again. “Was it a nightmare? Did you see something bad, mhm?”
“Yeah,” Mingyu’s voice cracks. “It… it was about you, hyung. I’m— I’m so glad you’re here. I’m so glad…”
Yet, Mingyu’s scent says otherwise. Wonwoo can’t smell even a whiff of relief, and all he sees is Mingyu’s ears droop further— if that’s even possible. There’s sadness all over his body, and Wonwoo wants to shoo it all away.
“What did you see?” he asks carefully, running his hand up and down Mingyu’s back, soothing. “What happened to me in your dream?”
“You… you…”
“I?”
Wonwoo feels something else wrapping around his lower back, and it takes him a moment to realise it’s Mingyu’s soft tail. And oh. Mingyu is severely upset.
“Pup, what happened?” Wonwoo pulls away, wanting to look at Mingyu’s face. Mingyu’s tail tightens around his waist like his body is a lifeline of sorts.
“You got hurt…” Mingyu croaks, his expression pained and sad. “You got really, really hurt.”
Something cracks in Wonwoo’s chest. “I was hurt?” He tilts his head. “Well, it’s okay, isn’t it? I’m not hurt now, so you don’t need to worry.” He smiles in a way he hopes calms Mingyu.
Mingyu shakes his head, long brown ears swinging with the movement. His nose scrunches up. “You— I— I saw you…” His voice cracks painfully, a strangled sob leaving his throat. “I went to leave you for your flight, and then you… you boarded it, and the— the plane crashed with another even before take off,” he sputters out, hot tears running across his already damp skin.
“Oh,” Wonwoo says. “Oh, Mingyu.” He shuffles closer, wrapping his arms around Mingyu’s body securely. “It’s okay. I’m alive and well, okay? I’ll always be. I’ll be as long as I’m with you.”
“I should’ve listened to you,” Mingyu laments, rubbing his cheek against Wonwoo’s shoulder. “I should’ve listened to— to you when you told me to stop watching air crash investigations.”
Wonwoo chuckles softly, pressing a little kiss to the side of Mingyu’s jaw, then the cute drooping ear. “Promise me you won’t watch that stuff anymore.”
“I promise,” Mingyu whimpers. “Can you… can you lie down with me?”
“Of course,” Wonwoo says, taking his glasses off before folding them and putting them on the nightstand. “You don’t have to ask me for that. I would’ve done that anyway,” he hums.
“I love you,” Mingyu says shakily. “I love you, Wonwoo hyung.”
“I love you too, pup,” Wonwoo responds, smiling gently at Mingyu as he lies on his side and faces him.
Mingyu whines as he shifts forward, making Wonwoo’s smile curve further up. He reaches out to cup Mingyu’s face before pressing a small kiss on his lips. His palm traps the fluffy ear against Mingyu’s cheek, and he loosens his grip when it twitches underneath. He strokes the fur softly, pressing their lips together again when Mingyu’s body shakes in a shudder.
“Cold?” Wonwoo asks.
“Never with you,” Mingyu says, shaking his head.
On some other day, Wonwoo would’ve teased Mingyu for such a sappy statement, but he lets warmth settle into his heart instead, hoping his scent conveys it and warms Mingyu up, too. He still pulls the blanket up, not missing Mingyu’s small whimper when he moves away to tuck it around the younger’s back.
Mingyu only shuffles closer once he’s lying again, throwing a leg around Wonwoo’s hip and pulling him further into himself. His embrace is so warm, so warm, and suddenly he knows what Mingyu means. Wonwoo could never be cold when Mingyu is around, when he has the warmth of skin to trade with the chill of the air, when he has his heart in a heated palm. Clumsily held but never dropped.
“Do you want to sleep again, puppy?”
Mingyu shakes his head. Wonwoo purses his lips to conceal his smile, knowing how Mingyu is already on the precipice of slumber. He pats Mingyu’s nape until he feels the younger’s body completely relax, plays with his long, cute ears as Mingyu mumbles sleepily to him about not leaving for the night.
So, Wonwoo listens. He stays in the bed until his own breathing evens out, synchronising and intertwining with Mingyu’s until they’re both fast asleep.
/ᐠ > ⩊<マ ₊˚—⊹ ૮´˶• ᴥ •˶`ა
Wonwoo’s long, black tail hits the ground with a thud, his ears flattening momentarily from shock.
“Did I surprise you, kitty hyung?” Mingyu giggles.
“I was lost,” Wonwoo replies, shaking his head and willing his heart to calm down as he continues stirring the pot idly.
“You’re so good at stirring,” Mingyu says, tightening his arm around his waist and hooking his chin over his shoulder.
Wonwoo feels his cheeks heat up. “Thank you, I guess…?”
“You’re so good at everything you do.” Mingyu kisses his neck.
“Not cooking, though.” Wonwoo grimaces. He’s sure he’s doing a bad job even at stirring, but he doesn’t have the heart to deflect Mingyu’s words. He’s a fool in love.
“But stirring,” Mingyu counters, pressing another kiss at the junction of his neck and shoulder.
“Flattering me to get a yes, mhm?” Wonwoo teases, closing the pot’s lid before turning around. Mingyu cages him against the counter, stealing a kiss from his lips.
“I’m telling the truth, and—” Mingyu nuzzles against his shoulder, making Wonwoo giggle from the ticklish feeling it brings, “—I know you will say yes. I’ve already packed my bags.”
“I’m not even going on a flight, Min.” Wonwoo chuckles.
“Still.” Mingyu pulls away with a pout. “I don’t want to stay away from you.”
“Okay, then; I’ll book you a ticket. Can you switch the gas off? I’m afraid our food will burn.”
“Wait, seriously?!” Mingyu nearly yells, puppy ears perking up. He pauses to switch the gas off, though, before turning to him with wide eyes. A moment, then another, and they curve up along with his lips in a blinding smile, tail wagging behind. Something flutters in Wonwoo’s heart precariously. “I can really come?” Mingyu asks, sounding incredulous that Wonwoo gave in to his antics so quickly.
“Of course. It’s just fun teasing you.” Wonwoo grins.
“You’re so evil,” Mingyu whines. “I hate you.”
“I love you, too,” Wonwoo responds, and he’s sure his black ears are flickering happily above his head, however embarrassing that might be.
Mingyu croons, his eyes turning big and puppy-like, eyebrows drawing as though he is helpless. “I love you more than you do.”
“That’s not true!” Wonwoo argues, trying to pinch Mingyu’s stomach.
Mingyu deflects it easily, stepping back before running away. Wonwoo shakes his head to himself, hopelessly endeared.
He turns around, taking the lid off the pot. He’s been trying to help Mingyu with cooking, because even though it’s his job to do the dishes, Mingyu always joins him whilst talking about everything that happened throughout the day. It sort of breaks the balance and ends up making Wonwoo guilty, so he’s doing the least he can do— which is chopping vegetables and stirring food while Mingyu does the main work.
When he takes the pot to the dining table, he finds Mingyu already there, doing something on his laptop. His ears are tucked down, and his tail is not wagging like it usually does.
“What happened?” Wonwoo asks, raising a brow as he brings the plates out.
“I was looking for a ticket…”
“Oh.” Realisation dawns on Wonwoo. “Leave that to me, okay? I’ll discuss it with Jihoon, I’m sure he’ll take another seat and give you his own. You can sit beside me, then.”
Mingyu’s ears perk up. “He would do that?” he asks excitedly.
“Of course.” Wonwoo smiles. “He has the biggest soft spot for you.”
“He hates me.” Mingyu pouts. “He hits me so much.”
“That’s his love language, you can say.” Wonwoo shrugs amusedly. “He hits me when he’s laughing. And it hurts, but I would blame you for pulling him along with your gym escapades.”
“Hey.” Mingyu’s pout deepens. He closes his laptop and gets up to put it on the other table, coming to help set up the dinner together. “Mhm, that smells good.”
“You cook so well,” Wonwoo sighs.
“You stir so well,” Mingyu says.
“Mingyu.”
“Wonwoo.”
“Hyung,” Wonwoo corrects.
“Since when did you start bothering about honorifics?” Mingyu giggles, putting spoons down. “I’m going to bring rice.”
“Since the day you started making me angry!” Wonwoo calls out, rolling his eyes when Mingyu laughs high in his throat.
When Mingyu returns, he’s still grinning. “You’re so cute. I can’t believe you’re older,” he sighs fondly.
A flush creeps up Wonwoo’s nape. “Shut up,” he responds weakly.
“See?” Mingyu asks, putting down measured amounts of rice in both their plates. Once everything’s set, he turns to him before skipping forward and grabbing hold of his neck and— attacking his face all over with soft kisses.
“Mingyu!” Wonwoo fights back, laughing uncontrollably as his glasses bunch up on his nose and kisses get pressed everywhere on his skin. “Our food will get cold!”
“Nothing can ever be cold when I’m with you.” Mingyu pulls back, a wolfish grin on his face, fangs peeking out.
“God, you sappy puppy!” Wonwoo grumbles, pulling Mingyu along before forcing him to sit on the chair. He rounds around their table, originally meant for four but the two other chairs are placed someplace else, before sitting across from Mingyu.
“Just for you, kitty hyung.”
Wonwoo sags against the table. “You would be the end of me.”
“Why would I ever?” Mingyu reaches over the table, scratching his cat ears softly. Wonwoo feels them twitch involuntarily, and he hides his face in the crook of his elbow. “Aw, come on. Eat up now, hyung. You have yet to pack your stuff!”
Wonwoo pushes himself up with a light-hearted glare trained on Mingyu. He picks up his spoon, digging it into his food, his stare not faltering.
“Don’t be mad at me!” Mingyu whines.
/ᐠ > ⩊<マ ₊˚—⊹ ૮´˶• ᴥ •˶`ა
Mingyu is generally clingy. This, though? It almost worries Wonwoo. And it doesn’t take him long to connect the dots.
They usually sleep in their own rooms because of their different sleeping schedules, but these days, Mingyu pulls him into his own bed before snuggling up into him and falling asleep with his face in his neck and long brown ears draped over Wonwoo’s face.
While Wonwoo appreciates the warmth, he knows what resides in Mingyu’s heart instead is the coldness of insecurity.
Which is why the first thing he does when he wakes up in the middle of the night is run a search about what a dream about the death of a loved one means. He frowns as he scrolls through the search page, his lips pursed.
No, there’s no significant change happening. No, he’s not getting cut off — or whatever a site says — from Mingyu’s life.
He puts his phone on the nightstand again before shifting closer to Mingyu and burrowing into the warm body. Mingyu’s arms wrap around him instantly, and Wonwoo feels heat curl in his heart at how Mingyu holds him so carefully even in his sleep.
When he wakes up in the morning, he finds Mingyu staring sleepily at him, his eyes half-open and puffy.
Wonwoo’s voice is raspy when he decides to speak. “Are you worried about me, Mingyu?”
“Hm?” Mingyu’s eyebrows draw. “What?”
“Is something about me worrying you? Is something bothering you?”
“Where did that come from?” Mingyu asks, his lips jutting out. He rubs his eyes with his palms, and the sight is so terribly adorable that Wonwoo almost forgets what he was asking about.
“Answer my question, pup,” Wonwoo says softly, tucking a strand of overgrown hair behind Mingyu’s ear.
“I mean, well, yes…?” Mingyu tilts his head confusedly, letting his hands fall in the space between their torsos. “I’m always worried about you.”
“Always?” Wonwoo repeats incredulously. “Why would you always be worried about me?”
“Because… because your— your health isn’t the best? You frequent the doctor so much for different problems, your eyesight is worsening, your sleep schedule is not regular, your… your blood test.”
Wonwoo almost gapes. “Mingyu, there’s nothing to worry about that, okay? It’s just a few deficiencies, I will live.”
Something cracks in Mingyu’s expression. “But what if something serious happens? It worries me a lot, and I feel helpless for not being able to help you properly.”
“No, Mingyu, you do,” Wonwoo argues, conviction clear in his voice. “You help me a lot, and this is really not something to worry about. I’m taking the medicines well, and I’m sure you’ll be able to see a lot of improvement in the next report. And about my sleep, I’m trying to fix that, too, okay? You don’t have to worry. At all. Nothing will happen to me as long as you’re here, I promise.”
“And I will…” Mingyu bites down on his bottom lip, pulling him closer until their bodies are touching almost everywhere, their tails intertwining, “and I will never let you be alone, so nothing will ever happen to you.”
“Mhm.” Wonwoo nods. “But even if you aren’t physically here with me, I will make sure to still be alright, yeah?”
“But can I still come with you to Yangju?”
Wonwoo smiles in something akin to victory. There you go. This is why Mingyu wanted to tag along; he’s afraid something will go wrong if he isn’t there with him.
God, who would ever care about Wonwoo like Mingyu does? (Even if there was someone else, Wonwoo would still choose Mingyu any day. Not that Mingyu is an option; he’s a constant.)
“Of course, pup.”
Mingyu beams, slumber still evident on his features. “Thank you. I love you.”
Wonwoo snorts softly, his eyes crinkling as he wraps his arm around Mingyu’s waist. “I love you too, Min.”