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With a poof and the crackle of static, Jongdae lands in an ungraceful heap, knocking his elbow into hard tiles below.
He groans, tailbone smarting and head dizzy from the vortex of his basic ferrying spell.
“Um,” says a voice, “I thought we said we’d stop the surprise teleportation stuff after last time?”
Jongdae groans again, knocking his head back against the pristine flooring underneath him and then taking the offered hand that’s extended down to him. It’s cool, even in this terrible summer heat.
He thinks back to last time when he had dropped in unannounced and landed right on poor Ron, who had been napping in a nice sunny spot right in the middle of the workshop.
“Sorry, Hyung,” he answers once he’s finally upright, “I just couldn’t deal with it for even a minute longer.”
Minseok dusts off Jongdae’s shoulder from whatever imaginary dirt he has managed to drag in even without technically going outside, then pats him on the same arm.
“It’s fine, it’s not like I’m very busy, and you’re always welcome.”
Minseok waves a flippant hand at him, his shimmery blue robes glittering in the sun. He looks particularly like a fairy today, blond hair twisted up into two neat French braids, sapphires nestled into the dips and valleys.
They help with water and ice magic, Jongdae knows, a sparkly topaz resting against his finger, set into an intricate ring, doing the same for his electricity.
Even thinking of rubies and their fire power makes him groan again and Minseok rolls his eyes, then drags him over to the sitting area he usually keeps nice and tidy for customers that might drop in. Tan is curled up against one of the armchairs but perks up his big head when Jongdae sits down close to him.
Before he knows it, he has a lapful of ginormous cat, petting away dutifully. Xiu slinks around his legs and sits down next to his foot while Ron reigns a few measures away, perched up on a shelf.
Minseok laughs and shakes his head.
“They still think you’re one of them,” he jokes and reaches over to scritch Tan’s ears. The answering purr rumbles into Jongdae’s bones.
“Now tell me, friend. Why did you appear out of thin air wearing the fewest amount of layers I’ve ever seen you in, red-faced and sweaty?” Minseok asks, a laugh already pulling at the corner of his mouth.
“You know exactly why, Minseok,” Jongdae grouches and pushes his hair away from his forehead, still too warm, even in Minseok’s cool shop. “You know I love him, but he gets so clingy close to the full moon, and while I usually don’t mind, when it’s sweltering hot outside, I just can’t bear it!”
Minseok nods sagely like he sometimes does in council meetings when he wants to seem particularly seasoned and experienced.
“Well, that’s what you get for marrying a fire mage who’s also a werewolf,” Minseok says almost haughtily.
Jongdae blows a raspberry at him. Not everyone can marry a nice, cool water mage after all.
A crash from outside sends all the cats flying away in a frenzy and makes both Minseok and Jongdae jump up. A resounding whine and scratching on the door manage to relax them again.
Jongdae can’t help but smile, slightly exasperated.
“Alright, let the mutt in,” Minseok mutters and goes to prepare some drinks in the kitchen.
Chanyeol truly has mastered the puppy eyes, still in full wolf form, down on Minseok’s rainbow doormat. Jongdae pets over his snout and keeps a steadying hand on his face when russet fur gives way to a plump cheek, slightly stubbly under Jongdae’s fingers.
“Sorry, man,” Chanyeol pants when he’s on two feet again, “You know I can’t help it.”
He’s already standing a bit too close again, and Jongdae can feel sweat break out on the back of his neck from the sweltering heat radiating off Chanyeol.
“I know, Yeol,” Jongdae sighs, huffing out a laugh when Chanyeol drapes his big body all the way over Jongdae, sagging in his hold.
The change of the moon makes him moody and slightly territorial, and he can’t stand it when Jongdae goes too far. Usually, Jongdae doesn’t mind, but mid-July, with the sun becoming unbearable and humidity so high, Jongdae’s hair curls up at the tips, it’s just a tad too much.
Something ice-cold on his overheated neck sends Jongdae jumping and then sagging into Chanyeol’s hold, finally at a nice temperature. The ice magic feels like it’s in his blood, and mixed with Chanyeol’s magical heat, amplified by the moon, it’s quite comfortable.
“Just take it off when he’s not this close,” Minseok says behind Jongdae, closing up the clasp of a sapphire necklace around Jongdae’s neck and smacking Chanyeol’s shoulder when he growls at Minseok’s proximity.
“Oh, hush, you big ball of fur. Now come in and sit, I made a nice cream soda for you both.”
Chanyeol yips happily and Jongdae smiles.