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Wooyoung remembers the first time he saw San. The cat hybrid was with his friends, lounging under a huge tree behind the humanities building of their university, curled on a blanket directly under the sun, ears droopy and tail curled around the arm of a friend, looking as if he had never been more at peace.
Wooyoung still doesn’t know what exactly about the scene made him walk straight into a nearby tree, but it was probably the lazy smile on San’s face, carved to perfection, but softened immeasurably by the smile. Or his eyes, scrunched up into lines. Or maybe the line of his throat as he leaned his head back to properly soak in the sun rays. Whatever it was, it proved to be enough for Wooyoung to go cross-eyed, deaf to his friend’s warning, and trip over his own shoelaces and into the tree trunk waiting for him.
Wooyoung also remembers lying down in a heap, glasses askew, no idea what had happened, when there was a shadow over him and a strong arm pulling him up. He had barely managed to stand up when the arm had started roving over him, checking for injuries. Wooyoung had pushed his glasses back on properly and looked into the eyes of his saviour - the same cat hybrid who had been the cause of the whole embarrassment.
Wooyoung remembers blushing deeply and noticing a similar red flush creeping into the cat hybrid’s cheeks. He had hurriedly thanked him and stumbled over asking for his name as his friend finally caught up to him. The hybrid had smiled sweetly and answered, “San! You are very pretty, would you like to be friends?”
And the rest had been history. Wooyoung and San had stuck to each other like koalas, their friend groups had merged to create a singular eight membered chaos, Wooyoung had taken it upon himself to learn everything about hybrids that he could so that he could make the world an easier place for San to flourish in, and San stood by Wooyoung through every up and down of college life. One chance meeting in their first year led to the strongest bond of Wooyoung’s life - happiness, where he didn’t expect, stability, where college life was supposed to be a mess.
They followed each other into the work fields, Wooyoung joining a hybrid shelter as a counsellor - putting his psychology degree to good use. San, of course, found it easy enough to snag a job in the same shelter. And it made perfect sense to simply get an apartment together after that.
Things are good. Too good. Wooyoung is happy , every day is worthwhile because of San - even the shittiest shift could be erased by San’s smile and cuddles. Wooyoung couldn’t count just how many nights had ended with them on the couch in the living room, San practically on top of him, purring his heart out, one ear pressed tightly to Wooyoung’s chest. Wooyoung slept the best on those nights.
So yeah, things are good. Except for some fucking reason San has been stealing all his blankets and Wooyoung runs cold, he needs those damn blankets.
🐈
Wooyoung first notices the problem when he comes home one evening, tuckered out and ready to just flop down on his bed and sleep for twelve hours. Too tired to even eat anything, Wooyoung heads straight to his room, knowing San is probably busy with his gaming in his own room. He’ll talk to his friend the next day, he decides, and then stops in his tracks when he sees that his fluffy blanket is nowhere to be found.
San’s mother had gifted matching blankets to Wooyoung and San when they had first moved into their apartment, had even lovingly stitched their initials on them. Wooyoung loved that blanket - it was the only thing other than San purring on his chest that could knock him out almost instantly.
Wooyoung checks everywhere, under his bed, in his cupboard, even goes out to see if he had accidentally thrown it in the washing machine. After half an hour of frantic searching, Wooyoung gives up and drags himself to bed, covers his body with a thin blanket, and pouts to sleep. He tells himself he’ll ask San if he knew anything the next morning, but completely forgets it in their rush.
It just gets worse from then on. Suddenly, a week passes, and Wooyoung is staring into his practically empty cupboard. Not a single one of his blankets was anywhere to be found, even his bed sheets were now being pilfered.
And well, there was only one other person in their house. Unless some stranger has been breaking in every day to steal only his stuff, which Wooyoung was sure San would have sniffed out - there was no other explanation than to assume San was the blanket thief.
But why would San steal them - why wouldn’t he simply ask Wooyoung if he needed something? No, there was something else up, and though San hadn’t been behaving any differently, Wooyoung knows it’s his roommate.
So what could he do to confront his thieving best friend but hatch a plan to catch him red-handed? And very conveniently, San has a day off the next day. Wooyoung doesn’t, but he would gladly cash in one of his leaves if it meant getting an answer for San’s weird behaviour. He doesn’t tell San anything, simply behaves as if all is normal, leaves on time in the morning, then whirls straight back.
And lo and behold - just as Wooyoung sneaks into their apartment, trying to keep the sounds of his footsteps as quiet as possible, there’s San. Hands full of - are those Wooyoung’s hoodies? Halfway out of his room, one leg still inside, stock still as he catches both scent and sight of Wooyoung.
Wooyoung stares at San. San stares back. One of his hoodies slips from San’s grasp, and the hybrid is quick to snatch it back up, pushing it firmly into the bundle. His ears and tail stick up in the air. Wooyoung feels his mouth drop open as he tries to figure out what he could even say to his roommate.
“I can explain,” San says, at last. Well, at least someone started the conversation.
“Can you?” Wooyoung asks, because he could genuinely think of no possible explanation at the moment.
San’s face twists, “Well, um. Would you believe me if I say I am taking these for washing?”
Wooyoung snorts. “Nice try, you hate the washing machine.”
San pouts, “I don’t hate it - the noises just scare me sometimes.” Wooyoung nods, he can remember the frankly countless occasions where he had turned on the machine without previous warning and San had leapt three feet into the air and hidden in his room for the entire cycle.
“So, are you gonna tell me what’s actually up because I’m literally freezing in my bed every night, San.”
San’s ears droop, framing his face in a way that makes him look so pitiable that Wooyoung almost goes to comfort him before remembering that he is the one suffering currently.
San humphs, “What do you even need blankets for? If you feel cold, you can just come sleep with me - you know I run hot in my sleep.”
What the fuck.
Wooyoung gapes at San, who stands straight now, still clutching at the hoodies. He looks determined now, all traces of sadness gone. Distantly, Wooyoung wonders if the entire thing was San’s plan from the start, but dismisses the idea. How would San know Wooyoung wasn’t gonna go to work today?
“We have different rooms for a reason? I want my privacy, you need your bed for your nest? I mean, we talked about it when searching for apartments, San.”
San pulls a face, “I don’t understand why you would need privacy, it’s just me. I can build my nest around you, I don’t mind!” His voice chippers up by the end of his sentence, and Wooyoung feels like he’s lost the plot somewhere because what was even going on?
Wooyoung shakes his head, “No. We’re veering off topic - tell me first why you’ve been stealing my blankets, my bedsheets, and even my hoodies now? I’m going to start running out of clothes to wear if you keep this up, San!”
San smiles, “Good, then you would have no choice but to actually come sleep with me. Perfect.”
There was something wrong with the hybrid in front of him, Wooyoung understood. He has no idea which direction this conversation was taking, his plan to confront San now having fizzled out in the face of his roommate’s weird claims and demands.
Wooyoung walks to their couch and sits down, needing stability. San follows him, tail swishing happily in the air behind him, hoodies in his arms. He sits down beside Wooyoung, and Wooyoung, weak man that he is, can’t even say anything as San wiggles right next to him, moulding his body to Wooyoung’s side, tail curling around his waist. It’s a familiar sight, they would usually stick together like this when watching something on the TV, or even just simply chatting about their day after work. Wooyoung has grown used to San’s furnace-like heat, providing him comfort even on the coldest of days.
Wooyoung sighs. “What is this really about, San?” he asks, bringing up a hand to pet behind San’s ears, affection blooming in his chest as San automatically starts purring lightly. San seems to lose himself in the comforting motions for a moment before Wooyoung pinches him lightly to bring him back to earth.
San thins his lips, “I’ve been feeling lonely lately. I don’t know why, it just makes me feel sad when I get back home and I have to go sleep in my cold nest, all alone.” He leans his head on Wooyoung’s shoulder, who relaxes his muscles instantly to make it more comfortable. “At first I thought maybe it was because I was missing your scent from my nest, but when I took one of your shirts it didn’t help anything, just made me feel worse.”
Wooyoung’s eyebrows shoot up, “You stole one of my shirts too? When? Which one?”
San waves a hand dismissively, “Doesn’t matter. So I took the matching blankets we got from my mom, and that did actually feel good! But your scent faded away too quickly, so I had to get more and more. I thought it would be a problem if I took your clothes, how would you go to work then? So I borrowed your bed sheets, but those had even less of your scent. The only option left was that if you were in my nest. Then I wouldn’t need your scent, and it wouldn’t matter if my nest is cold at night because you will be there to warm it up.”
Wooyoung takes a deep breath. Willing himself to ignore all the innuendos San had mindlessly slipped into his confession, he thinks through everything San just said.
He has read extensively about how hybrids value company and closeness, and that had been one of the primary reasons behind Wooyoung’s proposal to San about being roommates. He had assumed that being close together in the same apartment, with the occasional cuddling sessions thrown in, would be enough to sate San’s need. He had apparently been very wrong, and his best friend had been suffering because of his ignorance.
San nudges his shoulder, “Don’t be sad. I never told you, I was just going along with my instincts. I’m not a kitten anymore, I should have behaved more like a grown-up.”
Wooyoung pulls San closer, feeling the hybrid’s tail curl even more tightly around his waist. He presses a light kiss to the tip of San’s ear, and the hybrid shivers next to him. Wooyoung bites back a satisfied smile and says, “You should have told me about it, but let’s forget about it. Tell me what you need now.”
San hums, “I still don’t understand why we need to have two different bedrooms. My bed is plenty big for both of us. If I make my nest bigger and more comfortable, would you agree to sleep in it?”
Wooyoung exhales, “It’s not just about the size, San. We’re both adults, we require our own places to simply rest in. What happens if we fight? Or get tired of each other?”
San whips his head sharply, one ear hitting Wooyoung in the face as he turns. Wooyoung winces but doesn’t get the opportunity to even sneeze before San is glaring accusingly at him, letting go of his armful of hoodies finally to come clutch Wooyoung instead.
“Why would we get tired of each other? We’re best friends. Are you getting tired of me? How long have you been hiding this from me?”
San shoots his accusations at Wooyoung like bullets out of a rifle, and Wooyoung reels at the hurt and anger in San’s tone.
“No, no, kitty - why would you think that? Did I say that?” Wooyoung tries to calm San down. San sniffs, still disbelieving.
“I ask you to share my nest with me, and you respond by saying you’re growing tired of me.”
Wooyoung feels his heart ache. Oh, his poor kitten, how could Wooyoung react like this to such a vulnerable request? He tried to be practical and ended up hurting his best friend instead. Well, clearly there was only one way forward now.
He tugs San close enough that one more pull would have the hybrid on his lap. San jostles in his grip but doesn’t protest, but Wooyoung can see his drooping ears and tail. Ah, he fucked up.
“I would be honoured to share your nest, Choi San,” Wooyoung whispers. He brushes a hand through San’s hair and pauses at the base of one of his ears to scratch gently. “You’ll have to forgive this idiot human; he tends to overthink too much.”
San pouts, but his tail starts swaying slowly behind him. Wooyoung swallows back a smile.
“Let’s keep our own rooms in case we need a space, for whatever reason it might be,” Wooyoung hurries his explanation when San frowns again, “but we’ll be in your nest for most of the time, okay? No more cold nests, no more lonely nights.”
San pretends to think over it, but Wooyoung can clearly see how the tip of his tail curls up, wiggling the slightest bit.
“I’ll forgive you this time. In return, I get to keep your blankets.” San puts forth his demand. “I won’t let you go cold, I promise.”
Wooyoung sighs, giving up. “I’ll hold you to that.”
San smiles, wide and lovely - and Wooyoung remembers helplessly that this was the same smile that led to him falling head over heels for the hybrid in front of him. An errant crush, now a wildfire he could barely contain within himself, because what other choice does he have?
Hybrids, especially feline ones, are known for their upfrontness. They don’t shy away from saying what they want to or demanding what they need. San has never, in the duration of their friendship, shown even a minute sign that he saw Wooyoung as anything more than his best friend. He hasn’t ever stopped him from dating other guys or girls, and god, fuck, has Wooyoung suffered through San’s own relationships, however short they always turn out to be.
As San settles down comfortably in the secure hold of Wooyoung’s arms, head pressing close against his chest as he plans aloud what he’ll have to change about his nest to fit both of them, Wooyoung feels the same overwhelming love he’s been fighting for the last few years begin to seep out of his pores. He’s sure that if anyone could see the look on his face at that moment, they would be genuinely shocked at the depth of love-sick fool he was portraying.
A small but sharp nip right on his collarbone breaks Wooyoung out of his trance, and he glances down to catch San glaring at him, eyes thinned into endearing lines. “You’re not even paying attention. I swear, I will smother you with your own blanket.”
Wooyoung laughs, “Who’ll make you food then, San? Or keep you company in your nest?”
San narrows his eyes further, “Fuck off.”
Wooyoung laughs harder. San pouts. Something takes over Wooyoung’s brain, and before he can stop it, he’s leaning forward to take the tip of one of San’s ears into his mouth and biting it gently. San jolts in his arms, before going still.
Soft, Wooyoung thinks, and then, What the fuck did I just do?
He looks at San, trying to gauge his reaction. San is avoiding his eyes, but a very telling flush rests on his cheeks, and Wooyoung somehow wrestles back the urge to bite them too, as if nibbling on his fucking ears wasn’t bad enough.
“Well,” San stands up abruptly, leaving Wooyoung’s side cold, “that was a fruitful conversation! I just remembered I need to pick up some supplies for the shelter for tomorrow.” He brushes off some non-existent dust and gathers the hoodies back up, before shooting a quick smile at Wooyoung and heading towards his room.
Wooyoung stares after him longingly, every growing centimetre of distance between them pulsing as he watches San pull away from him. Fuck his stupid lack of control.
San stops just before his door. “Dress comfortably tonight, my nest is very warm.” He mutters before running inside.
Hope and adoration bloom inside Wooyoung’s chest. Maybe he didn’t fuck this up after all.
🐈
Sleeping in San’s nest was a new level of torture that Wooyoung was not prepared for. They had slept close together before, they had even slept wrapped up in each other like two newborn kittens seeking warmth, but something about being in San’s nest - surrounded by a mixture of his and the hybrid’s blankets and the errant hoodie, pillows packed in straetegically to provide the ultimate comforth and plush to rest his weary body on… San’s heat seeping into him as the hybrid pulls him into his own chest, purring happily in his sleep.
Wooyoung feels as if he’s trapped in a never-ending sequence of chasing something he desperately wants, just for it to slip away after he gets the smallest of tastes.
San, on the other hand, is visibly and audibly happier. He wakes up vibrating every day, pulling Wooyoung out of his sleep as he does. He purrs whenever he comes back home later than Wooyoung and sees him already in his nest. Somewhere in the weeks that follow after the blanket confrontation and subsequent conversation, Wooyoung and San have settled almost perfectly in their new routine. At this point, Wooyoung could probably call it their nest - their own space, carved out and shared as if sleeping in what is literally a weirdly organised mound of blankets and the errant clothing is something normal.
It’s not normal. Hybrids don’t share their nests with even their closest friends; it’s almost always just their family or their mates. Wooyoung has done extensive research on hybrid mannerisms, and has even consulted fellow researchers and his other hybrid friends and more or less each of them has either stared at him pitiyingly or told him to get his shit together.
“How long will you keep on fooling yourself?” That had been his childhood friend Yeosang, who has been by Wooyoung's side since they were both in diapers, and does not waste time in calling him out. Yeosang was present for the fateful meeting and tumble years ago, and since then has tried his best to convince Wooyoung to “just fucking confess, you idiot.”
But Wooyoung is scared .
No one who hasn’t been in love with their best friend would truly understand the utter terror that comes with realizing that a singular action can take away everything they have built together over all these years. To confess, to tell San that he is in love with him, has been for nearly this whole time - is to change the very definition of their relationship irreparably. There will be no going back from that. Wooyoung has grown too used to San’s affection and care; he would die gasping for breath if that love in his eyes ever changes to pity, or worse, contempt.
And why does Wooyoung have to be the one to confess anyway? Isn’t San a grown hybrid with full control and knowledge of his feelings? If Wooyoung’s love is reciprocated, why can’t San be the one to take the fateful step and tell him that?
“He is literally doing that, he made a nest out of things that belong to you and then manipulated you into making it your bed.” That was Yunho, a mutually shared friend - and a dog hybrid. “I don’t know how much clearer you want him to get, he’s practically shouting it from the rooftops.”
Wooyoung would rather have a shout from the rooftops, he thinks. No way to misinterpret it at that point.
“Seriously, Wooyoung, you have to do something before San thinks his affections are unreciproctaed. Do you want to lose him permanently?”
No, he doesn’t. If San tries to leave him, Wooyoung would probably beg on his knees and then follow him wherever he goes, even if it's to someone else San wants as his mate.
He has to take a stand, Wooyoung decides. He’ll wait for one more sign that San likes him back, any sign that even slightly points towards it. Anything, even San jokingly puckering his lips at him, or giving him the best piece of sushi instead of taking it himself. Those could be counted as courting behaviours, Wooyoung has learnt. He’ll take it as one, and pour his heart out and hope, desperately , that it won’t end with broken hearts and awkward silence.
🐈
Of course, nothing goes according to his plan.
Wooyoung comes back from an early grocery run on a Saturday to hellishly loud yowling inside his apartment. He freezes in front of the door - then he throws the bags in his hand right there on the floor, uncaring about the eggs he just bought or the fresh lettuce rolling out to the dirty ground, he simply rushes inside.
The last time he heard such a distressing call from San, the hybrid had been accidentally hosed down by a distracted neighbour gardening, and the shock and the cold water had driven San’s cat side insane. He had stood there shivering and howling, their neighbour apologising profusely by his side but not doing anything to actually help him. Wooyoung had been fortunate enough to swing by just then and had immediately taken the situation under his control and practically carried the distraught hybrid up to their apartment in his arms, waving off the neighbour despite his boiling anger. He had drawn a warm bath instantly, after wrapping San in a blanket, and then prepared a simplified but boiling version of kimchi jiggae, perfect to truly calm down San.
He really doesn’t want a repeat of that time.
So Wooyoung runs in - ready to save San from anything distressing him, and falls short in his steps when he sees … is that a cat? Wooyoung looks at the scene in front of him, astonishment rising as he takes it in. There’s a cat, big and fat - hackles risen, hissing at San, who is on top of their refrigerator. San is hissing back, his ears and tail stuck up straight in the air, eyes a bright yellow - a solid indication that he is more cat than human right now.
Wooyoung glances around, and spots that the door to their- San’s bedroom is open, and there is an incriminating trail of blankets and clothes scattered on the floor, leading from the room to where the cat is currently standing.
San doesn’t even notice Wooyoung’s presence, too preoccupied in defending? fighting? the trespassing cat. Wooyoung doesn’t hesitate, he stalks into their bathroom, then grabs a bucket, half full with water already, and stomps back out and throws it right over the cat, uncaring of getting their living room wet.
The cat yowls, high and angry but Wooyoung threatens it with the bucket again, and it shrinks back - then looks once at San, still on the fridge, and with a seemingly mocking toss of its head - escapes through the small gap in their window ledge - the one that leads straight to the fire escape.
Once the cat is gone, the only sound Wooyoung can hear is the threatening rumble from San, who still hasn’t snapped back. Wooyoung sighs, then slowly, carefully , approaches his best friend, keeping his arms spread out, making just enough noise to inform San of his steps but not scare him.
As he draws closer, he spots the hybrid’s posture, one hand drawn in close to his chest, as if protecting it. Squinting, Wooyoung can make out a fresh scratch, still bleeding, and feels his anger rise. Who did that fucking cat think it was, harming his San?
San suddenly turns his head straight toward Wooyoung, who pauses to let the hybrid run his eyes up and down him. Then, in one breath, the hybrid’s face scrunches up, water welling up in his eyes - brown again, and then San is jumping, right from the top of the fridge onto Wooyoung, who couldn’t even open his arms fast enough to catch him. And down they both went, Wooyoung’s butt hitting the floor sharply, San’s weight on top of him heavy. Pain travels up from his tailbone, but Wooyoung doesn’t pay it any attention, instead struggling to get his arms around San, who grabs at him frantically, before shoving his face into his neck and breaking down into tears.
“Shh, shh kitty,” Wooyoung tries to calm his friend down, “it’s fine, the cat is gone now. I scared it away, don’t worry.” San doesn’t answer, just clutches him more tightly, and sobs. Wooyoung feels at a loss, never having had to deal with San like this before. If he could at least understand what made San like this?
Wooyoung gently wraps his arms around San, shifting on the floor to get a better grip on the wiggly hybrid on his lap. He starts running his hand through San’s hair, slow but grounding. “It’s okay, San, tell me what happened, hmm?” he asks softly. “The bad cat is not here anymore, you’re safe now.”
San cries harder, but through his blubbers, Wooyoung finally starts understanding some words.
“Nest,” San sobs out, “it destroyed my nest.” Wooyoung feels his heart break. Oh, their lovely nest, built caringly by San. “My mate’s nest, that fucking cat -”
World pause. What did San say?
“I built it with my own hands, my nest for my mate,” San whimpers, then in a flash sits up straight and stares pleadingly at Wooyoung. His face is red, hair tousled like anything, eyes puffed up and still tearing up, ears droopy. Wooyoung wants to kiss him and then shove him in the nearest comforter and cuddle him until he forgets he was ever sad. “I’ll make another, Wooyoung. I’ll make a better one, I promise - I’ll chase that cat away, it won’t come again.”
Wooyoung’s thoughts whirl around like an old fan slowly running out of energy, creaking and sluggish. He stares dumbly at San, no words managing to escape his mouth.
San clearly mistakes his silence and whimpers loudly. He buries his head back into Wooyoung’s neck, somehow trying to hide from Wooyoung by sheltering in him . “I am a bad mate, but I’ll make the best nest for you. You will give me one more chance, won’t you?”
Almost as if getting a premonition Wooyoung realises that he cannot fuck this moment up.
“Hey, look at me”, Wooyoung whispers softly. Urging San up, he tilts the hybrid’s face up to meet his eyes. San looks anguished. Wooyoung smiles gently, “What are you so worried about, kitty? I am your mate, am I not? How can I be angry at you for the mess that cat made, hmm? We’ll make our new nest together, how about that?”
Wooyoung does not stop to completely think about what he’s saying. Words pour out as if some locked-up instinct broke free.
San sniffles, snot running down his nose. Somehow, Wooyoung finds even that adorable. Love, he thinks.
“It was tearing it apart when I came back from the bathroom,” San whispered, voice toned down. “When I tried to shoo it away, it jumped up and scratched me. Believe me, I really tried to protect our nest.”
The urge to go find the cat and strangle it was strong, but neither Wooyoung - nor San, would ever actually harm an animal, even if it was an absolute asshole.
Wooyoung coos at the hybrid, “My kitty was so brave, hm?” San sniffs, turning his head away.
“I am not a kitten, Wooyoung. You don’t have to coddle me,” San said. Wooyoung laughed softly, pressing harder at the base of San’s ears. A subconscious purr rumbled out of the hybrid.
“Ah, my kitty is grown up now? He doesn’t want pets anymore?”
San growls, “Don’t you dare stop.” Wooyoung snorts, but obeys.
They stay on the floor for a few more minutes until Wooyoung’s butt starts aching something bad. They move to the couch, Wooyoung limping once to their bathroom to get some medicine and bandaids to treat San’s scratch. His injections were up to date, so at least they didn’t have to worry about any infection that cat could have been carrying.
Once San’s hand is fixed up, Wooyoung presses a kiss to his knuckles, laughing at San’s surprised giggle. Then San is pushing him down into the cushions and climbing back onto his lap.
“I did not want to tell you like this.”
“Tell me what?”
San flushes, “About the mate thing.”
Wooyoung feels his cheeks heat up in response. “Ah, yes. We should talk about that, hmm?”
San sighs, “Do we have to? I already said it, and you didn’t refuse. You can’t go back now!”
Wooyoung tsks, “Kitty, I was not aware that you saw me as anything other than your best friend until half an hour or so ago. So yes, we have to talk about it.”
San stares at him, incredulously.
“We share a nest.”
“I am aware.”
“You sleep in my nest. That I made. With our things.”
“I know, I was there. Kinda.”
San glares at him, “That is basically a marriage proposal in hybrid terms, Wooyoung. And here I was getting gloomy over you not responding in kind.”
Wooyoung throws his hands up, “I am a human, San. I might have studied about hybrid behaviours, but that doesn’t mean I understand everything.” He pauses, then looks around once. “If I suddenly got on my knees with a ring, what would you have done, huh?”
San tilts his head, “Said yes?”
“Oh.”
So Wooyoung might be somewhat of an idiot.
San flops onto Wooyoung. “So what now?”
Wooyoung hums, “Well, now we either talk this out, or I finally kiss you like I’ve been wanting to since I first saw you.”
The hybrid peers up at him, a smirk stealing onto his face. “I rather like the second option more.”
Wooyoung smiles back, “Shockingly, I do too.”
San doesn’t waste a single second more, swooping up to press his lips against Wooyoung’s. Wooyoung responds immediately, one hand coming up to pull San closer to him. He has kissed people before, but there is something about this kiss that makes them all feel like children playing around.
They break apart for breath, and Wooyoung takes the opportunity to rove his eyes over San’s face. The hybrid is smiling, big and wide - pleased, happy . Ah, Wooyoung thinks, every bit of yearning was worth it if only to see San like this right now.
San surges back in, and Wooyoung loses himself in the kiss, and the next after it, and the one following, until they all merge together into one long drawn-out puddle of time, until Wooyoung couldn’t think of anything beyond San and his lips, and San and his weight settled comfortably on his lap, and San’s ears brushing his face lightly, and San’s tail wrapped around his waist as if unwilling to ever let go again. He wouldn’t mind that, he thinks. Wooyoung could die happy here, in San’s embrace, with his lips on his, and his arms around him.
San purrs against him, and that’s what makes Wooyoung wish he could purr back - show him just how happy he is right now.
They make out for far longer than they probably should have, Wooyoung’s butt hurting like hell by the time they finally pause. San is purring more loudly than Wooyoung has ever heard him, and something about that makes him finally understand just how much he was missing out on by being scared for so long.
“I love you,” San says suddenly. Wooyoung blinks up at him. “In case you still think this is something best friends do.”
Wooyoung pulls at one of San’s ears gently in response, sticking his tongue out when San frowns at him.
“I am not that stupid, San. You declared me to be your mate and cried about being a bad one in my arms. I have received the message loud and clear.”
San smiles smugly. “My mate.”
Wooyoung gathers him in his arms, feeling San relax completely in his hold. He inhales, then murmurs softly into San’s ear, “My mate.”
There wasn’t much to truly discuss or talk about. Their friends have called them out plenty of times about just how couple-like most of their behaviours were already. There is bound to be some confusion at the beginning, but Wooyoung somehow wasn’t scared.
Everything was going to change from now on, but Wooyoung couldn’t help but feel excited about it. Whatever would happen, he and San would be right by each other. A surprising surge of strength flashes through his body, and Wooyoung gets up, San wrapping his legs around his waist in surprise.
“Let’s make our new nest?” Wooyoung asks. “I’ll bring some of my sweaters too.”
San grins, jumping down from Wooyoung’s hold.
“I will show you how to make the perfect nest, Wooyoung. Come, hurry now, we’ll have to start preparing for the mating ceremony as well!”
Wooyoung freezes. “Mating ceremony?” He doesn’t remember reading much about any ceremony, glossing over the parts that happened after the verbal declaration of the bond, chalking it up to be something that he would never have to concern himself with.
San beams, “I will be such a good mate, Wooyoung. So much better than all your ex-boyfriends.” And as if he didn’t just confuse Wooyoung’s entire existence, he skips to his room happily, turning back once to wave a hand to make him hurry up.
Wooyoung stares at his back. “What does the ceremony have to do with my exes? San, don’t run away, what are you up to?” He asks desperately, watching as his best friend - boyfriend? Mate? His San - simply doesn’t answer him, just winks and disappears into his room.
Well, fuck it. Blinking past a foreboding sense of doom, Wooyoung follows his mate into his room. He’ll deal with this mating ceremony when it happens. How bad could it be?