Chapter Text
Rain couldn't reach the forest floor completely, though pearly raindrops still found openings between branches of tall trees that reached for the sky. The forest smelled fresh, gusts of wind making the trees rustle.
Their evening patrol wasn't that much disturbed by the rain, not at least if you looked at the three youngest ones who were zooming everywhere at any possible moment. Left and right, up and down, they were just constantly moving. Meanwhile, calmly jogging behind them, Seonghwa in his own wolf form couldn't help but watch them, amused.
Yunho, Wooyoung and San harbored this never ending energy, running rampant around the area like a bunch of six year-olds who had been given too much sugar. Huffs and puffs disturbed the peace every time someone decided to nip someone else's hind legs, barks and low whines voiced always when someone suddenly jumped onto another one's back.
The ground was constantly vibrating under their paws, moss flying everywhere when they took too sharp turns or stopped suddenly. Seonghwa had no doubt that any animal that might have been in the area before was now long gone, scared away by the mini-earthquake.
Bending his head down, Seonghwa slowed his pace a little to sniff the moist ground, wet strands of vegetation tickling his nose while from the corner of his eye he continued to follow what the trio was up to. Not far from him Yunho's golden form rushed behind some bushes, yipping as he went, teasing and clearly asking for the two other wolves to follow after him like they were playing a game of tag. Neither Wooyoung or San hesitated to answer to the call, both running like there was no tomorrow, barreling through everything and competing who was going to reach the bushes first.
The silver-blue lightning that was San, left Wooyoung slightly behind him with his long strides, paws pushing off the ground as he dove into the bush without hesitating a second. Which probably was a mistake since the moment he vanished behind the leaves a loud whine came from that direction.
A wolf-equivalent of a surprised 'hey!' that made Seonghwa pause his sniffing and raise his head towards the sound, ears up and listening.
Wooyoung wasn't that far behind San and dove right after him, not able to react to – or not caring about – the silver-blue wolf's surprised noise before he too was already vanishing behind the same branches. A howl followed by a bunch of huffs and thumps echoed through the air after the reddish-brown wolf's disappearance, noises that clearly came from more than one wolf mixing in the air, sounding like the duo had collided where Seonghwa couldn't see.
"Yunho!" Wooyoung's voice carried through their link, low and growling.
"Gotcha!" Yunho's joyful voice followed, a second later the gold coated wolf appearing through the very much mangled bush, spinning playfully and throwing his head up, tippy tapping left and right.
Very clearly very happy for having tricked the other two.
The bush gave a violent shake and Wooyoung's form burst through the broken sticks and leaves, tearing the branches even more despite them trying to bend under the pressure like they were asking for mercy. Landing perfectly on four paws, he shook himself vigorously, sending moss and leaves flying away from where they were hanging onto his fur.
Signs of the tumble that had happened behind the bush.
The brown head tilted and with challenge in his eyes, Wooyoung's lips lifted to reveal his teeth. "Oh, I'm gonna get you," he growled lowly and jumped towards the golden wolf.
A playful huff came from Yunho when noticing this and he quickly spun around, making a run for it, effortlessly gliding over the forest floor with long jumps. "You have to be quicker than that then," he answered, mirth in his voice and if possible his steps seemed to get even longer.
With that speed it didn't take long before he was already passing Seonghwa, giving the white wolf a happy yip as a greeting when in front of him but not slowing down even one bit, long strides carrying him quickly away.
Seonghwa's head turned as he followed the younger wolf's escape, his own ears standing up on top of his head for a second before one of them turned towards the sound of another four paws approaching. The thunderous steps hitting the ground were simply too loud to be missed, and Seonghwa was sure that all living beings in the area could hear them.
Merely turning his head to see Wooyoung's approach, then pass and then continue without a pause after Yunho, Seonghwa could feel the corners of his mouth wanting to lift up. During moments like these it was hard to believe that these three were already adults.
Huffing, he shook himself, the shake traveling all the way from the top of his nose to the tip of his tail, sending some of the raindrops that'd landed on his coat flying. Mouth opening wide, Seonghwa yawned for a good measure and continued onward at his calm pace, walking the invisible line that was the border of Ateez's territory, letting the younger members continue their play.
Despite the rest of the packmembers goofing around, Seonghwa felt no need to worry about them suddenly vanishing somewhere, totally forgetting why they were moving in the area. He'd learned after a couple of times that even though they might act like they were merely playing, one sound could be enough to pull them back to reality.
That this was merely their way of doing the patrols, instead of only checking the borders and then returning back home.
And who was he to deny them their fun right now. They obviously needed some form of entertainment when the weather wasn't on their side.
While Yunho's and Wooyoung's noises continued to come from further away, sounding more like they were wrestling now somewhere behind the trees, a more gentle thrum of steps approached Seonghwa from behind. Small and gentle vibrations hit his paw pads and the white ears twitched on top of his head, turning towards the one who was getting closer.
He could recognize the presence immediately even without seeing the person, air carrying the familiar scent and the pack's link giving a tender pulse as if the younger wolf was already greeting him.
A low sound came from San's throat as his silver-blue form jogged over to Seonghwa, his nose nuzzling against the older's hip before increasing his speed enough to actually run side by side with the pack's luna. Answering with a slightly higher sound to greet him back, Seonghwa turned his head to poke at San's snout affectionately with his own.
Rumbling softly, San bumped his head against Seonghwa's neck, and then proceeded to huff loudly like he was attempting to swallow a sneeze.
"Got some dirt in your nose there?" Seonghwa asked with a hint of mirth in his tone, calming his steps from jogging to walking, turning his head enough to see more of the other wolf's form.
Stubborn sticks and leaves hung onto San's fur, tangled in a way that would need more than a shake to get rid of them.
The silver-blue wolf stopped momentarily and shook himself with passion like giving a full-body 'no', making his feet spread wider to help him keep his balance. Stopping fully as well, Seonghwa tilted his head and managed to make brief eye contact when San blinked. A pink tongue licked over the sharp teeth and this time the younger actually sneezed.
Seonghwa wanted to smile in sympathy, his tail giving a small wag. "Bless you. I think you did," he continued softly, causing San's ears to almost flatten against on top of his head, whine leaving the younger's throat as he scrunched his nose.
"Yunho tricked us," San whined, gathering his bearings, smacking his lips together and clumsily pawing his snout with his front paw, trying to get rid of the itchiness. Though in their current form it was bound to be hard, their paws not made for delicate tasks.
Seonghwa harrumphed, giving the younger a gentle look as San continued to rub his snout, sniffing loudly. "And you both fell for it," he said softly. "I thought you might be better prepared for something like that already." He gave a short glance towards the direction where Yunho and Wooyoung had gone, seeing glimpses of them moving between the trees.
Wooyoung was still chasing Yunho, ears almost flat against his head while Yunho's were happily up. Their focus was completely on each other, Wooyoung determined to catch the older while Yunho was energetically dodging him.
Shaking his head, Seonghwa returned his attention to San who seemingly had managed to calm the itching sensation down and was now squinting back at him, his eyes barely even open. The oldest couldn't help it and snorted in amusement, the face San was making just too much to handle.
"Okay, okay," Seonghwa managed to get out, seeing how unmoving San remained, clearly pouting and judging how the older had laughed at him.
Stepping closer, Seonghwa gently nudged the silvery snout, mindful of how the other had been roughly rubbing it a moment ago and reminding himself that it might still be tender to another itching fit. The fur felt rough against his nose, warm after being subjected to such rough treatment.
"You good?" the older asked, pulling back to see the younger's expression.
The squinting eyes blinked slowly back at him as San watched him from under his brows, moment later following after the older until his snout bumped against the white one, a move which Seonghwa received gladly. Leaning just a little forward his snout slid against the silvery one again, a comforting act to which San responded with tiny nudges, a clear signal that he was fine. The younger wolf let out a hum, leaning into the touch and eyes fluttering momentarily shut, embracing the feeling.
Seonghwa felt something warm through their pack link, the kind that made him happy. "Yeah, you're good," he hummed, and San slowly pulled his head back, the ears on top of his head slightly turned back and lowered, eyes looking at the oldest all cutely. A low, calm sound built in the white wolf's throat and he let it out. "Come on, let's continue."
Paws stepping gracefully over the leaves and moss, Seonghwa turned sideways and gestured with his head towards the direction they had been going. The patrol was more than halfway done so they didn't have that much left anymore and would be back home soon if they could keep up the pace.
His ears rising up, San made a few hops, bouncing over to Seonghwa's side in the same goofy manner Yunho had portrayed only few moments ago. The white wolf's brown eyes shone with fondness. "You're like a bunny with springs attached to your feet," he stated with mirth, turning to follow their path and continuing their walk. "All three of you."
With a mere huff, San started to walk at the same pace, just a step behind Seonghwa but staying close to the older.
"Yunho, Wooyoung, we're moving," Seonghwa called out through their link, letting out a steady howl to make sure the duo would get the message. He could still hear their noises if he listened carefully but seeing how focused those two were on each other, he just wanted to ensure they'd not miss it.
"Okay, hyung!" came Yunho's response almost immediately though, a positive surprise.
Seonghwa shook his head a little in amusement but kept his pace steady, San continuing to jog beside him in silence.
Coming to the final stretch of the patrol they were soon greeted by a continuous rush of running water.
Starting out strong and deep, the river's current was fast here but would later turn into a gentle stream that could quite easily be waded through. The water was clear despite the currents constantly swirling it around but the depth made it look dark and bottomless.
Some birds were drinking on the opposite side of the stream, their heads rising up and twisting from side to side when noticing the wolves, round black eyes blinking curiously and cautiously as they tried to figure out if the newcomers were a threat or not. But as Seonghwa and San merely kept their pace and direction, not stopping nor making unnecessary sounds, the birds just continued to take their sips, deeming them harmless and making happy chirps to signal that.
The air was very moist there, the stream's moisture combined with the rain making it feel like they were running through a humid wall.
"Starting to feel like I've taken a shower with my clothes on," San murmured, his fur darker where it was wet.
"Not long anymore," Seonghwa said, feeling how his own fur was getting a little heavier as well.
It wasn't unpleasant, kind of, and the wolf in them usually didn't mind being wet, which is how the younger packmembers could enjoy rolling in mud as well.
But sometimes the feeling of carrying that extra weight just wasn't that appealing. At least not in Seonghwa's opinion but he'd never really gotten into the habit of rolling in puddles or mud either, always preferring to be cleaner and keep his fur in good condition.
San sniffed beside the luna and shook himself to get at least some of the moisture off. "Hungry."
The oldest wanted to chuckle. "I'll make dinner when we get home. The rest are probably waiting for food as well," he replied back, his pace never stopping.
A sound of approval came from the silver-blue wolf. "Chicken?" San asked hopefully.
This time Seonghwa huffed out loud. "Chicken as well, yes Sannie, you won't be hungry afterward," he confirmed, nodding.
The response made the younger wolf do some excited hops, front paws rising high like a wild horse's before he rushed forward and past the white wolf, spinning here and there. "I'll be there first," San yelled and continued to run like a lightning had just struck his tail.
Seonghwa shook his head. "San, please wait for–"
"Gonna catch you!" Wooyoung's voice carried through the pack's link, accompanied by sudden heavy steps as both the golden colored and reddish-brown coated wolf rushed through a gap between the trees on Seonghwa's right.
Yunho first and Wooyoung following after.
Yunho's head was turned to look back at the younger, teasing sounds still coming out of his mouth while through their link his voice answered: "You keep saying that but when are you gonna do it?"
Like adding fuel to the fire, it made Wooyoung snarl. "You're getting tired, you're slowing down!"
Yunho just shook his head, his speed unchanged. "You wish, you–!" The joyful answer was cut short when Yunho turned his head around and saw what was in front of him. Or what wasn't.
Instead of steady and solid ground that'd been there this whole time, was the rapid flow of the river that they should be following. And Yunho had too much speed; he hadn't realized how close he was, it was way too close that he could turn fast enough, it was–
White.
Yunho's vision filled with it, the view of the rushing water blurred by white color.
Of Seonghwa's fur.
Of the pack's luna who'd moved in a blink of an eye.
Seonghwa acted before he even fully realized it, seeing how fast and how close to the river the duo was getting, noticing the moment of realization on Yunho's features, he just acted. Pure instincts kicking in. No matter if they had almost the entire patrol behind them and their legs were feeling it, Seonghwa pushed off the ground and with two long leaps reached Yunho, colliding with the younger in a sickening thump.
But if that got Yunho back to safety, then it would be a small price to pay.
A high, distressed whimper escaped the golden wolf, a mixture of panic that had momentarily washed over him and surprise when his steps were suddenly stopped. The collision sent Yunho off his course, making him land hard on his side on the ground, right beside the edge of the riverbank but still on solid ground.
Safe.
But a sight Seonghwa couldn't see.
Because the collision sent him right where Yunho had been heading.
The white front paws tried to catch anything solid, trying to dig his claws into anything to stop his body from moving but all he met was air. Landing on his side right on the edge, a shaky breath escaped his lungs and for a split second everything seemed to move in slow motion, almost still.
Then, gravity took hold of him once more and Seonghwa felt himself move backwards like something was dragging him, over the edge, his limbs unable to grab anything to help himself despite trying, trying so hard.
The world tilted and through the rushing pulse pounding in his ears, he recognized the cacophony of voices that belonged to those who were present. Howls echoing through the air while actual words rushed through the link, urgent and panicked right before water flowed into his vision, and he went under.
The river's cold embrace surrounded Seonghwa in a blink of an eye, the currents beneath the surface immediately grabbing him, tying their arms around him, taking him away. Water flowed into his ears, burned his eyes and invaded his nose. His jaws opened to gasp in a breath but the coldness brushing against his teeth managed to warn him just in time, making him stop from inhaling.
The burn in his lungs was instantly there, telling that he hadn't inhaled properly before falling. That whatever amount of air was in his lungs wasn't enough.
Up.
Up.
Air. He needed air.
But the river didn't hear him.
The currents twisted and turned Seonghwa's body like he was a toy to be played with, confusing his sense of directions and making it hard to move where he actually wanted. And just how far he had traveled under the surface, he couldn't say.
Sounds echoed through the link but none was clear among the rush of water that constantly invaded Seonghwa's hearing. It could've been just one of the three members above the surface or all of them calling out together but right now it was impossible for the oldest to tell.
Clenching his jaws together, Seonghwa opened his eyes just a crack to see a blurry, but still there light.
Daylight, even during a rainy day it was brighter than the darkness of the river.
Gentle rays of silver on the surface.
And the surface wasn't far, almost shimmering above.
Grunting, air bubbles escaped between Seonghwa's teeth as he kicked his feet, fighting to move himself up, struggling against the currents that were dragging him, heartbeat starting to get loud in his ears. Every muscle in his legs burned, lack of oxygen and the growing anxiety draining his energy faster. On the other side of the surface the unclear images of trees and branches were constantly moving, or so it seemed.
When in reality it was he who was moving due to the currents.
His lungs screamed.
Air.
Just one moment more.
Bubbles burst between his tightened jaws and he broke through the surface with a splash, mouth opening to gasp for air but actually ending up coughing more than breathing. His chest was burning, lungs asking for air and his throat felt raw as he tried to inhale. Wheezing, Seonghwa opened his eyes fully to see the surroundings through his blurry vision, constantly kicking to stay afloat and lifting his head more to keep it above the surface.
The water in his eyes didn't help, stinging and making it hard to even keep his eyes open but finally a small pang of relief hit him when he spotted a riverbank, not too far from where he was currently drifting.
Move.
It wouldn't take long if he just channeled his energy right.
Fueled by this, Seonghwa kicked the water in determination, jerkily swimming towards the side where he knew the current wouldn't be as strong and where the water wouldn't be that deep. The sound of his breaths held a gurgling undertone and the need to cough burned Seonghwa's throat. The weight of his fur was like a heavy blanket draped over him, many many times heavier than before and Seonghwa panted as he fought to move closer to the–
Something touched his paw.
Hard, cold.
Stones.
There was a huff of relief.
The familiar feeling of stones beneath his paws was like a blessing. Just two more strokes and all four of his paws found purchase from the bottom of the river, rooting him there, stopping the stream from carrying him any further. The water still hit his side, making feeble attempts to push him over but it had lost its upper hand and Seonghwa wasn't giving it back.
Though there was no denying that all four limbs were fighting hard to keep him stable, shaking from the effort.
Seonghwa managed to move a couple of steps further before he felt his throat constrict and the following coughs forced him to stop, cold water trickling from his nose, mouth open to pant in air that didn't seem to fill his lungs at all. Dull throb was pulsing between his eyes, his ears were ringing and it felt like he was standing on an edge.
Shaky.
Any wrong move and he'd fall again.
Something chattered in the back of in his mind and something splashed in front of him, sounds filtering into his ears like through some kind of wall. Seonghwa raised his head and through the droplets that ran into his eyes could see a gray figure moving towards him, water splashing everywhere.
"Hyu..! Say s'mthin!"
Seonghwa blinked to clear his eyes, chest heaving until he finally saw San clearly in front of him. More than knee-deep in the river as well, eyes huge and ears flat in worry as he moved frantically closer.
"Hyung, please say something!" San urged, nose coming to nudge Seonghwa's snout, panic very clear in his tone and every move his body made, a sad whine leaving the younger, the sound muffled in the older's ears.
But it was enough, because a moment later the wall covering the older's hearing seemed to lift, and Seonghwa could feel himself return to the present.
Leaning against the touch slowly, he hummed.
The touch was careful, warm unlike the river's currents, caring and a promise of safety.
"I'm alright," he managed to sigh, though he couldn't stop the tremor that passed through him, his limbs feeling stiff due to the low temperature and aftereffects of the surprise. Now that he wasn't fighting for getting himself out of the water, the shock of what just happened was settling in.
Not breaking contact with him, San turned himself so they could stand side by side, offering himself as something to lean on in case the oldest needed it. "I got you. Out of the water, now," he simply stated, a softly spoken command.
Seonghwa agreed without protest, pushing through the water even as it still tried to stop his paws from taking steps, mindful of the slippery stones that occasionally found their way underneath his paws. San's presence remained beside him, constantly supporting as they made their way out of the river, not leaving even for a second, not making a single comment how his silver coat was getting even more wet.
When Seonghwa lifted his head, he immediately spotted two horrified pairs of eyes following their every step, Yunho and Wooyoung standing on solid ground and clearly waiting for him and San to walk out of the water. Their ears were partly flattened, heads slightly lowered.
Quilt, it was floating around them like a cloud, flowing through the pack's link and visible in their beings.
The duo remained silent when Seonghwa and San reached the shore, neither moving except for tilting their heads, a sign of anxious waiting.
The wet splats of paws stepping out of the river were very loud.
Knowing that he probably looked like a mess right now, a sad and wet mess, and not something that would comfort the younger ones merely with his appearance, Seonghwa stepped towards the duo. His steps were trembling and slow, now dirty white fur hanging heavily over him but he felt that he was mostly unharmed.
The two lowered their heads even more as he approached them, looking almost afraid to do anything which was a total opposite compared to the energy they'd been showing during this entire patrol. And Seonghwa couldn't watch them act like that.
Stepping closer to Yunho first, the golden wolf remaining as still as possible, Seonghwa nudged the other's neck with his nose.
"Are you alright?"
A sad whine came instantly from Yunho, his puppylike eyes getting huge as he looked at the luna. "Me? You– you saved me. I should be the one asking that." Yunho's speech wavered even through the link, his brows moving as he nervously took in the sight of the oldest. "Are– are you alright, hyung?"
Seonghwa tilted his head as he thought about it. He felt slightly cold due to being so utterly soaked, his thick fur unable to shield him completely since he'd been fully under the surface, and his throat felt a bit sore due to inhaling some of the cold water. But otherwise, he felt alright. Shaken but alright. His head dipped slowly. "I'm okay, just a bit surprised that's all," he replied, managing to keep his voice calm.
Yunho looked at him carefully before closing the distance between them and pressing his head against the older's neck on the opposite side where San was, completely ignoring that he was getting himself wet in the process.
A whimper came from the younger, followed by trembling, heartbreakingly sad voice. "I'm sorry, hyung. I didn't... didn't pay attention," he apologized, his own fear bubbling to the surface. This was someone who had a moment ago watched in terror as his packmate sank into the dark depths as a result of his own unfortunate carelessness.
The golden form trembled inconsolably.
"Hey, it's okay Yuyu," Seonghwa immediately soothed, his head leaning against Yunho's while the small sad sounds kept reaching his ears. "It was an accident. You didn't mean it to happen."
But Yunho didn't move away from him, just leaning even more determinedly against the oldest, the sounds barely calming at all. Seonghwa moved his head slowly up and down against the younger's neck, trying to comfort Yunho while his gaze moved to the second pair of sad eyes.
Wooyoung looked just as miserable as Yunho, all signs that he'd been energetically chasing the other packmember merely a moment ago completely wiped away. Tail hanging low, almost curling between his legs he looked like he'd been the one to push Seonghwa into the stream.
It pulled Seonghwa's heartstrings.
"Come on, Youngie," Seonghwa nodded at the reddish-brown wolf whose ears slightly twitched, instantly sharp and listening. "Come here."
With a whimper mimicking Yunho's own, Wooyoung rushed forward, head pressing against the other side of Seonghwa's neck after San stepped back a little bit to offer them space. The brown snout buried itself into the wet fur that'd been white and now resembled more something like dusty gray. Not even beautifully so like San's, simply wet and dirty.
However Yunho and Wooyoung didn't mind at all, their scents changing from sad and withered to something lighter after a while of quiet sniffles. Both of them rubbed their heads against the sides of Seonghwa's neck, looking for assurance that the oldest was really there and safe, and telling him how sorry they were.
Their sounds filled the luna's ears like a sad melody.
"Sorry, I– I should have..."
"So sorry, hyung..."
A heartbreaking wave of apologies flowed through the link and Seonghwa felt something else than the river's water tickle his eyes. Focusing on calming himself, knowing that his scent would ease the trio as well, he breathed slowly in and calmed down his mind before speaking.
"I'm alright, it's alright now." He nudged both Yunho and Wooyoung tenderly, like a comforting parent would their children. "Accidents happen, it's all good now."
The apologies quieted down but the two forms continued to tremble like it'd been the two of them who had fallen into the cold currents. But Seonghwa didn't push them away, just letting them have the time they needed to calm down, remaining where he stood.
It was eventually San who broke the silence that had settled around them, only disturbed by the sound of the running water and occasionally chirping birds.
"We should get back home. We might not get sick that easily but I think hyung could use a warm shower. We all could," San said, giving a tentative nudge against Seonghwa's hip.
Like realizing what San was saying, a tremor ran through Seonghwa's form, his legs stiff from standing a while without movement, slight chill settling in due to being soaked. "Thank you San, that sounds like a good idea," Seonghwa replied softly, turning his head a little but being mindful of the duo still pressed against his neck. "My feet are starting to feel stiff."
Both Yunho and Wooyoung detached themselves carefully from his neck when hearing him, their eyes still showing concern as they backed away and looked at the oldest up and down in obvious worry. Their tails though were no longer hanging as low nor trying to hide between their legs, which was a positive sign.
San however didn't move from his spot, keeping himself close to Seonghwa and eyeing him carefully. "You good on your feet, hyung?"
Seonghwa glanced at San and nodded despite being grateful for the younger's help. "I'm good enough, let's just finish this and go back home. Warm shower does sound kinda nice right now," he said, nose scrunching a little as a familiar itch traveled through his spine. Taking a tentative step away, Seonghwa gently warned: "You might want to step further away for a second though."
Understanding what he meant, San stepped aside, giving him room that Seonghwa took gladly and gave a good shake to get rid of the water in his fur. Droplets flew in every direction, leaving the now dull white fur standing straight, drier but far from clean.
Thankful for not seeing the sight, Seonghwa was glad for feeling immediately lighter, for getting rid of the water that had sunk so deeply into his fur. The weight now partly lifted, he straightened himself and met the three others' gazes.
"Let's go," he said, receiving curt nods and barks of agreement.
With that they fell into a steady rhythm, Seonghwa and San on the front while Yunho and Wooyoung stayed behind them but this time actually following without any disturbances. Their journey went mostly in silence, the stream's noises filling it when they were running beside it but once it turned away from their path, it left only the sound of their steps as their companion.
It gave Seonghwa a chance to organize his mind and soon he was deep in thought while his paws kept their ongoing rhythm. Nothing hurt terribly at least, the spot on his shoulder Yunho had collided with throbbing a little but not worryingly so. His throat was sore and his head was aching probably because of the surprise but he wasn't too worried about those either. All in all, it seemed like he'd managed to escape with mostly just being soaked and surprised.
What he noticed as well though, was that despite the comfort earlier, both Yunho and Wooyoung were exceptionally quiet. Their heads were hanging occasionally lower when Seonghwa turned to see them jogging behind him and San, eyes not looking up and their scents being still a little off.
Like watered down versions of their true scents.
Focused on that and everything else, Seonghwa didn't even notice how far they'd come until they actually reached the edge of the woods, bursting through a treeline to see a large field opening in front of them. The rain continued to pour, immediately hitting them harder since there were no trees offering them cover, the clouds hanging over them like gray canvas.
Looking over the field, Seonghwa could see their house on the other side of it, the yard quiet since everyone else was inside, enjoying the warmth.
Home.
Glancing at the rest of the pack on both sides of him, Seonghwa's ears twitched, a hopeful and tiny spark in his eyes. He might not feel his best but he'd do it for the packmembers, hoping to lighten the mood at least a little.
"Race to finish," he said, getting a look from three pairs of questioning eyes before he shot forward, faster than the trio could even realize what was happening. His legs felt heavy, joints stiff but his speed was mostly still there.
"Wha–!"
"Hey!"
"Wait a–!"
Hearing it made Seonghwa smile inwardly, a brief moment and then the ground trembled under his paws as the trio started to run after him.
The head start gave him enough advantage that even though he wasn't the fastest of them, the field was soon crossed over and the members were still behind him. The ground changed from muddy soft soil to green grass and crushed stone, crunching sound coming under his paws.
Close to the terrace, only a couple of steps away Seonghwa exhaled deeply and focused on that power deep within himself, that familiar sensation, calling it forward and feeling how his form began to change. Still moving though it'd slowed down to walking, his form rose onto two legs, tail and tall ears disappearing, and snout giving way to human features. Fur vanished and was replaced by the clothes he'd worn when they'd left to patrol, the brown T-shirt and gray baggy sweatpants now wet like his fur had been.
The sounds of Yunho, San and Wooyoung came almost right behind him when Seonghwa reached towards the railing with his hand, feeling the ache in his joints and head sharpen for a second, no doubt due to the shapeshifting. A grimace pulled his lips and his fingers curled tighter around the white railing than he'd intended to.
His head swam for a second, making his eyes slip shut.
A hand landed on Seonghwa's shoulder.
"Hyung?"
San.
Seonghwa lifted his head where it had been slightly tilted downward, glancing to his left where San was standing. Wet as well but unlike Seonghwa it was mostly because of the rain, the strands of San's black hair clinging to his forehead, droplets dripping down his cheeks. Softness shone in his eyes, not overbearing simply caring.
A smile replaced the grimace, Seonghwa nodded. "Nothing a warm shower and dry clothes won't fix," he assured, voice quiet.
San's posture relaxed and he nodded, letting go of the older's shoulder, gesturing towards the door.
But instead of starting to walk up the stairs, Seonghwa turned to see behind himself, knowing that he hadn't heard a peep from the two other packmembers. Just two steps behind him, Yunho and Wooyoung stood quietly, both in their human form, clothes dripping and sticking to their skin. Yunho managed to form a tiny smile while Wooyoung stayed unreadable but the air around them still held some of that tenseness.
Lips parting, prepared to speak when a fat raindrop leaked from his hair into his eye, Seonghwa stopped his original sentence. "Ack," he muttered, rubbing his eye while gesturing with his free hand toward the stairs. "Come out of the rain, I need to say something."
Leading the way, Seonghwa climbed the few steps up to the terrace and to the safety of the roof, the stairs creaking a little as the rest of the group followed. Wiping his eye one more time, Seonghwa blinked it back to focus and returned to look at Yunho and Wooyoung.
"Before we go in, I really wish you to know that it was an accident," he said, tone gentle but firm. "And I'm not angry nor blaming anyone for what happened."
Yunho's smile trembled a little and Wooyoung rocked on the balls of his feet, signs that didn't convince the pack's luna.
Head tilting, Seonghwa's brown eyes looked at both of them as he continued softly: "I wish that you can leave whatever blame or hesitation you feel outside, right here. Because everything is fine now and nothing worse happened."
Yunho breathed deeply in and nodded, his smile stilling, the tremor calming and the familiar spark returning into his eyes. Meanwhile Wooyoung calmed his rocking and nodded rapidly, his lips a still line.
Seonghwa opened his arms, blinking slowly. "Now come here," he called them, making both Yunho and Wooyoung close the distance faster than he could form another word, like they'd been waiting for permission. The air smelled of wet clothes, sweat and grass as the younger ones wrapped their arms around the pack's luna, Seonghwa doing the same to them.
They swayed gently together, hands rubbing each other's backs but no more sobs or tremors came from neither of the younger packmembers. It put Seonghwa at ease, letting him breathe freely as the heaviness slid off his chest, his eyes fluttering open only to spot San still standing beside them.
He reached his hand out.
"You too, it's a group hug."
San didn't have to be told twice and found his spot quickly, joining the hug and bringing his arms around the group.
"You know what we're gonna do," Seonghwa murmured, enjoying the closeness and the warmth despite them being all wet, listening the rest let out questioning hums. "A movie night, with good food. You prepare the living room, I'll make us dinner and some snacks. You in?"
Small murmur left someone and Wooyoung spoke. "Hell yeah, you make us food, let's go," he muttered against Seonghwa's shoulder, nuzzling against it, earning chuckles followed by agreeing replies from the rest.
Seonghwa patted Wooyoung on the head. "That's the spirit. So shower first and then movies."
They let go of each other, the air feeling immediately clearer and lighter, no more tension in their beings, no more lines of uncertainty on their faces. Seonghwa could see the difference right away, the way Yunho's and Wooyoung's eyes shone like they used to, happy and free of worry.
The feeling of accomplishing something important sparked in Seonghwa's chest and he turned to head to the door. The trio's steps followed after him, some squishing sounds coming from them as they tried to squeeze water out of their clothing before wiping the soles of their feet on the rug and entering the house.
Warmth and pleasantly dry air greeted them, and all of them hurried in so they could pull the door close. To put a barrier between them and the wet horrendous weather.
The change in temperature made Seonghwa shiver, a tremor traveling through his back as he stepped further into the house. Now inside he could actually notice how cold he'd gotten, feeling how warm the air was in the house, almost burning.
Unconsciously he hugged himself as another shiver climbed up his back. "I'll take the first shower turn, if you don't mind," he suggested, though politely.
No one disagreed with him, all three nodding in unison.
"Absolutely."
"Go ahead."
"Sure. Can I take the second shower then?" Yunho's innocent voice came.
They all turned to look at him, and Yunho actually seemed to shrink a little where he was standing, shoulders climbing towards his ears, his smile shy.
"I mean, I can wait too," he offered.
But San shrugged. "I'm fine with it, I can wait," he replied, pushing some strands of hair away from his face, and glanced at Wooyoung who stood beside him, the two of them meeting each other's gazes.
Wooyoung nodded. "Sure," he said, and San was instantly putting his arms around the younger's upper body, pulling Wooyoung against him and resting his chin on the other's shoulder, nuzzling against the younger's neck.
"We'll change into something drier in the meantime," San said, shifting his weight from side to side and making the duo sway with it like in rhythm of some gentle melody.
Wooyoung slapped his arm without much strength, acting like he was disgusted by rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. "You're making my shirt glue to by back, let go," he whined, but didn't put any effort into escaping San's grip, and San didn't ease his grip even a little.
Yunho chuckled and Seonghwa smiled at them, both of them then taking a step to leave.
"I won't take long, tell the rest that we'll be having the movie night so that they can start preparing," Seonghwa said, directing his words at Wooyoung and San.
They both nodded. "Sure thing, hyung," Wooyoung answered, giving a thumbs up and another slap at San's arm.
Happy with the response, Seonghwa turned to head to the bathroom they had on the first floor, feeling his toes tingle as they started to get warmer, the sensation of his shirt sticking to his back becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Behind him Yunho turned to the opposite direction and hurried to the second floor's bathroom.
It took only a couple of seconds after the sounds of their footsteps had gone quiet when a voice came from the living room, scaring the duo that was still standing in the entryway.
"How was the patrol?"
It was Hongjoong.
Their swaying stopped, both of their forms freezing like a deer caught in the headlights.
The duo looked at each other, Wooyoung's neck turning awkwardly as he tried to see San, the younger feeling a water drop slide down from his hair to his cheek and to his jaw like a bead of sweat.
Tension returned, both of them knowing that despite Seonghwa's forgiveness there was still Hongjoong who needed to hear about the incident. And even though the pack's leader was usually level headed this was the pack's second in command, Hongjoong's partner who had been in danger.
And neither suddenly felt very eager to tell what had happened.
And Seonghwa wasn't there.
So who was going to break the news now?
The silence grew longer and the weight of the question grew heavier, the duo staring at each other like they could telepathically find a way to save themselves while Seonghwa wasn't there.
Wooyoung gulped. "Good," he answered loud enough that it could be heard to the living room, grimacing right after the word left his lips. Because that had sounded convincing, very convincing indeed and Wooyoung could've kicked himself for it.
Brows furrowing, San's eyes glanced nervously towards the living room, his arms squeezing Wooyoung's form without him even realizing what he was doing.
"Just good?" Hongjoong's voice came again, steady but there was a hint of confusion at the end. Like a silent 'really?'.
"Yeah," San hurried to reply as well. "The weather sucked and we're wet so yeah, just good."
Wooyoung nodded and mouthed a 'thank you', giving then a tap against San's arm. "You're squishing me," he whispered, barely audible but enough for San to hear. The grip eased immediately, San pulling away from Wooyoung who bend over a little to breathe.
They barely got even three breaths in when the sound of footsteps came.
"Oh, I knew it was raining but... that bad, I thought the trees would shield you at least a little," Hongjoong said, appearing from the living room, lines of surprise on his face and one hand correcting his hair. He took in the sight of the duo wearing clothes that were wet enough to stick to their skin, to drip occasional droplets on the carpet they were now standing on. A complete opposite to his relaxed and warm look that consisted of sweatpants and a hoodie.
Hands on his knees, Wooyoung looked up so fast that it couldn't be good for his neck while San straightened himself abruptly behind the younger.
"Yeah uhh... it was pouring," San said, his hands clasping together, fingers twitching. "The trees helped very little."
"I can see that," Hongjoong replied, turning to Wooyoung who in turn found the floor then the wall very interesting. Head tilting, Hongjoong looked confusedly at the youngest who looked like he was trying his best not to make eye contact and then at San who kept wriggling and twisting his fingers like he was trying to make them crack.
The air seemed tense, like something was wrong, waiting, right on the edge of happening.
Nose scrunching up slightly, Hongjoong glanced around and noticed the absence of the two others who had been out as well. "Seonghwa and Yunho already in the showers?" he asked but could almost guess that the answer would be yes.
San nodded. "Hyung said he'd make dinner after it."
Hongjoong's features softened a little, some of that confusion replaced by ease. "That's good to hear, the rest were already preparing to order takeout," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone, glad that the oldest had already planned ahead. And that he himself had managed to calm down the trio who'd remained in the house, telling them while they were already holding a phone to place an order that the patrolling packmembers would return soon and they should wait for them.
Wooyoung huffed. "Huh, you'd order takeout without us?" he asked, kind of hoping they'd stay on this topic rather than returning to the events of the patrol.
"We'd have ordered enough for you too," Hongjoong assured, brows lifting and continuing before Wooyoung could get another word out. "And something you like as well. Have a little faith in us, Wooyoung."
But the younger pouted. "Like that one time you ordered only miso soup for me because I like it," he murmured, putting slight emphasis at the end.
"That was one time and it was a mistake when placing the order. You know we meant to order you more than that," Hongjoong replied back calmly, setting the facts on the table but not calming Wooyoung's pouty expression in the slightest.
Then looking at the duo again, actually looking, he changed the subject.
"You better change out of those clothes while waiting for your shower turn," he continued, voice holding a responsible tinge this time. "I also could hear mor–"
But Wooyoung managed to fill that sentence in his head before Hongjoong could finish saying it, and before another awkward conversation about the patrol could happen, he opened his mouth.
"Yes, clothes, changed, we were going to," Wooyoung exclaimed suddenly, quickly standing up and grabbing San's arm with both of his hands, the move and answer so sudden that Hongjoong's mouth was momentarily left hanging open, words dying on his tongue.
"So that's what we're going to do, change our clothes I mean," the younger continued, the earlier pout gone and replaced by a toothy-grin, starting to drag San who didn't resist at all towards the corridor leading to their rooms.
Right before they were going to disappear behind the corner, Wooyoung turned back to call: "Hwa-hyung said that we could have a movie night so prepare the living room for that. He said he'd make chicken and food. Byeee!"
San waved cheerily before he was yanked after Wooyoung, leaving the hallway silent and Hongjoong watching after them, confused and frowning, lost for words.
Something was going on. He needed to talk to Seonghwa.
There wasn't enough adjectives to describe how good the warm shower and dry clothes felt.
Getting rid of the cold and wet clothes had already made Seonghwa feel a thousand times better but the moment warmth started to run over his skin and sink into his muscles it was heavenly. Enjoying every moment of it, he stood there under the spray and just let the cold be washed away, simply breathing as droplets fell onto his head, shoulders and back, continuing their path down to the drain. The air in the bathroom was soon foggy, the mirror cabinets on the other side of the shower curtain misting and blurring the image they reflected.
When Seonghwa paused the water it felt like he was floating, his thoughts slow, unclear and soft almost like he was going to fall asleep. He twisted his neck, the action instead of helping the fuzzy feeling actually making him dizzy enough that he needed to place a hand against the wall to support himself.
Slow blinks and his other hand lifted to rub his forehead.
One breath.
Two.
Three.
Blinking rapidly to clear his head, Seonghwa pushed himself away from the wall and pulled the curtain aside. A soft white towel was waiting, hanging on a hook on the wall just two steps away, prepared.
Seonghwa took the towel and pressed his face against it, rubbing his forehead and hair with it in gentle motions, massaging his scalp. The fuzzy feeling was still there but it was probably nothing to be worried about and Seonghwa didn't pay that much attention to it, merely a result of... this long day. Something a meal and a goodnight sleep would fix.
For now he'd just enjoy the warmth now lingering all over him.
Tapping himself dry Seonghwa put on a bathrobe, placing the towel over his shoulders and left the bathroom. On his way to his room he spotted San and Wooyoung in the kitchen, both now having changed out of their wet clothes and wearing bathrobes, sitting at the kitchen table.
"The bathroom is free," he said, gaining attention from the duo who looked up from their steamy mugs, hands stopping the circular motions of stirring their drinks.
"Thanks, hyung," San responded, Wooyoung nodding while they both lifted the mugs to empty them quickly.
Seonghwa didn't stay longer to hear more, heading to his room to get changed so he could get dinner started.
Closing the room's door behind him, he gave his hair another rough rubbing with the towel before putting it down on the back of a chair. He walked over to his wardrobe and opened it, eyes wandering over the folded piles, lips pursing as he pondered what he could wear and finally reaching inside.
Choosing a pair of black sweatpants and a long-sleeved black turtleneck, Seonghwa rubbed his arms after pulling the shirt over his head, feeling his arms tingle. His skin felt as if it was radiating warmth the shower had offered yet deep down there was still that cold stiffness lingering. Looking up slowly his eyes spotted an oversize black hoodie, one of his favorites, on the upper shelf.
Should he wear it too?
Was he still that cold?
Seonghwa pulled it down and opened the folded hoodie, letting it hang in front of him, eyes running over the silvery prints on the front, considering for a second and then shaking his head. No, he wasn't that cold anymore and if he was going to cook, it was going to be in the way.
Folding it again, he placed it back on the shelf. Perhaps he could get it for the movie night, if he felt like he needed it. But for now he thought he was okay.
So, satisfied enough with his choices Seonghwa exited the room and closed the door behind himself, heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner and some snacks for the night. On his way he could hear shuffling in the living room, clear sounds of some furniture being moved as the rest of the pack prepared the room.
The kitchen though was empty, neither San nor Wooyoung in sight, obviously both in the showers now. The only sign of them having been there before was the two mugs still sitting on the table, abandoned and empty.
Seonghwa walked silently in, turning on more lights and putting on a red apron that was hanging beside the doorway, tying it around his waist and behind his neck. Then, like first things first, he went to retrieve the mugs and placed them into a dishwasher.
That out of the way it was time for dinner.
Walking back and forth between the fridge, stove and cabinets, soon there was a plan what he was going to make, the needed items appearing on the counter and the oven starting to heat up.
Measuring out a hefty portion of rice, knowing the pack was probably ravenous, Seonghwa placed the rice in the cooker and set a big jar of kimchi to wait beside the stove until the rice was cooked. A package of chicken tenders was opened next and the contents were spread on a baking sheet over a baking tray.
Washing his hands after the last piece was on the tray, Seonghwa read the instructions on the package, humming quietly as he checked the temperature settings. Happy with everything he picked the tray off the counter and opened the oven, sliding the tray in carefully.
The oven closed with a 'klang'.
"What are we having?"
Seonghwa lifted his head, turning at the same time as he straightened himself.
Leaning against the door frame, hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, stood Hongjoong. "Hey," he greeted with a little hint of smile on his lips.
Seonghwa's lips formed a smile of his own that immediately reached his eyes. "Hey," he answered back, gesturing then towards the oven and the kimchi jar. "Chicken tenders and kimchi fried rice."
"That sounds good. The rest are eagerly waiting, they behave like they haven't eaten for the entire day," Hongjoong said, eyes rolling, amused. "Barely managed to stop them from ordering takeout."
Seonghwa wiped his hands on the apron. "They won't have their endless energy without eating well," he replied, walking over to the fridge to take out a bag of lettuce. "Did Wooyoung and San tell about the movie night?"
Hongjoong stepped further into the kitchen. "Yes, they did," he responded, walking slowly almost carefully over to where Seonghwa was washing and putting the lettuce into a bowl. The leader's brows were slightly pinched, his lips pursing as if he was pondering what his next words would be.
The silence after Hongjoong's short answer made Seonghwa lift his head from his task, noticing the other coming closer, holding such an expression that there must be something more. Or something wrong.
Seonghwa closed the faucet, silence falling around them as he let his hands rest on the edge of the counter, blinking and waiting for the other to continue.
And when Hongjoong finally did, his tone was low and quiet, something that told that the next words preferably should stay between the two of them. "I might be wrong but there seems to be something going on with Wooyoung and San."
Now it was Seonghwa's turn to frown. "What do you mean?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder towards the doorway, keeping his voice quiet as well but his mind immediately started to go through possibilities what could be happening.
The duo had been fine just a moment ago.
What could be wrong now?
"I uh... I asked how your patrol went and they got very tight-lipped about it. Normally when Wooyoung is there it's like a full report or rant but now they merely said that it was rainy. And I could see that, they were soaked," Hongjoong explained, fingers drumming the counter. He had lifted his head but wasn't looking at anything specific, his face thoughtful.
Seonghwa was silent, his thoughts having stopped their swirling and slowly coming to the conclusion that this wasn't about the other two being hurt or anything like that but about how they obviously hadn't told what had happened during the patrol. He felt coldness tickle his hands and run over his spine but remained unmoving, still listening.
Not meeting his eyes yet, Hongjoong continued: "So just making sure, did the patrol go well? This might be just one of their inside jokes too, I know." Turning to look at Seonghwa, Hongjoong tilted his head.
It confirmed Seonghwa's suspicion.
That Wooyoung and San hadn't told Hongjoong everything that had happened and now by doing so had made Hongjoong worried. Unnecessary but understandable.
Seonghwa breathed deeply in, his shoulders rising and lowering, realizing now was the time he'd have to tell about the patrol. "I think I know what this is about, and let me first assure you that everything is alright now," he said, gesturing calmly with his hand. An act that didn't help much because Hongjoong's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Okay, so something happened." It was a statement more than a question, showing that Hongjoong was now listening.
"It was an accident, small one, not something done on purpose," Seonghwa said as calmly as he could, ignoring the cold that was still present under his skin, getting a slow nod of acknowledgment from the other. The oldest took that as a positive sign. "We were nearing the end and had just reached the river. Wooyoung and Yunho were playing around, and they didn't notice how close to the river we were..."
Taking that moment to breathe, Seonghwa could see how Hongjoong's eyes were getting slightly more alarmed, different scenarios already forming in his mind, using that little amount of information as base while still trying to stay calm and listen till the end. Inside, Seonghwa felt grateful for that patience.
"I managed to stop Yunho but... accidentally fell into the stream myself. I–"
"Wait," Hongjoong breathed out, breaking his silence. "You fell into..."
"Please," Seonghwa rushed to stop him before anything else could be said. "No one got actually hurt. The current eventually carried me to a spot where I managed to get out. I mostly just got soaked." His hand moved as he hesitated whether to reach for the other or not but Hongjoong decided for him, taking hold of his hand and holding it between them.
The hold was steady, strong, comforting.
"Where were you when you fell? Near the beginning or...?" Hongjoong asked, voice even but determined.
A sigh passed Seonghwa's lips and he looked down. He didn't want to worry Hongjoong but it seemed that no matter how the event was explained it would still make the leader concerned. Which again Seonghwa could understand but he still disliked it, hated it.
"Near the area where the river first meets our border. But it's completely fine now, please," he tried to assure.
Hongjoong looked ready to argue even before opening his mouth, brows lifting as realization seemed to sink in. "That's the deep area and the currents there are strong," he said, sounding like he was stating the fact to himself.
Swallowing around the tightness in his throat, Seonghwa shook his head. "I managed to get out. Joong, I can swim, in this and in my other form."
Hongjoong's expression hardened. "I'm not doubting your ability to swim in calm waters, Hwa. I am simply aware that currents can be strong enough to pull people under and..." The words died and Hongjoong grimaced, teeth pressing together and jaw clenching.
Delicately Hongjoong's free hand also lifted to close around Seonghwa's own, surrounding Seonghwa's fingers in their gentle hold. The older of the two watched silently as the pack's leader lowered his eyes on their hands, lingering there as if scanning them for something before returning his eyes up.
"Your hand is cold," Hongjoong spoke gently, his fingers giving a tiny squeeze around Seonghwa's own.
Of course Seonghwa could have denied it, said that it was just a figment of imagination, a result of overthinking, worry and nothing more. Something that Hongjoong was merely coming up in his head and then believing it was actually true.
But unfortunately, Seonghwa felt that it wasn't completely untrue.
Because he could tell how warm Hongjoong's hand was against his own, that even after the shower he was colder than his mate. It would be fixed eventually, after eating and curling up underneath blankets with the rest of the pack, he knew it but right now that wouldn't wipe away the fact that yes, his temperature wasn't normal.
"It'll be fixed with food and rest," Seonghwa said softly.
Hongjoong's jaw tightened and he blinked slowly, unreadable look in his eyes that kept staring at Seonghwa in a way that made the oldest believe the leader was seeing straight into his soul. It made him want to shift on his feet, to pull his hand away but instead of that he remained still like a statue, waiting.
It was Hongjoong who finally broke their eye contact by tilting his head down and bringing Seonghwa's hand up, closer and closer until he was holding it in front of his face. Leaning forward just a little, he placed a barely there kiss on the cold knuckles, pale between his own hands, sending warmth climb all the way to the older's cheeks.
"You said it was an accident?" Hongjoong murmured, placing another kiss to a different spot.
Seonghwa swallowed, nodding despite the fact that Hongjoong wasn't looking at him. His lips parted slowly, his reply more like a whisper. "It was, they just forgot to watch their surroundings. It happens, they didn't mean it."
"Mm..." The blue hair obscured the sight as Hongjoong's head tilted down but Seonghwa felt the other's nose and then cheek press against his fingers. They were so warm against the chill that now felt like came from the depths of his own bones, never ending even when Hongjoong tried to chase it away.
"One day they'll get into serious trouble, I swear," Hongjoong muttered, warm puffs of air against Seonghwa's skin.
"But that's what pack is for," Seonghwa said, meeting a questioning look when Hongjoong looked at him from underneath a few loose strands of hair. "To help and support when things go ugly."
Blinking slowly Hongjoong seemed ready to say something more to that, his eyes flickering from side to side and lines appearing on his forehead. But finally Hongjoong just sighed, the tension on his shoulders disappearing.
"True," he said quietly, bringing Seonghwa's hand again against his cheek. "But you say that you are alright? Nothing else happened?"
"Yes," Seonghwa sighed, enjoying the closeness. "My shoulder might have a bruise from the impact and so might Yunho's but he didn't say anything about it. We all just got spooked and like you noticed, soaked. I made sure to talk to them before we came in and they are fine."
Shifting on his feet, Seonghwa pulled his hand a little, making Hongjoong's gaze move between their hands and Seonghwa's face, eyes holding an unspoken question in them, asking what the oldest was doing. Seonghwa took a step closer and bent his neck a little to lean towards Hongjoong, the other lowering their hands and standing still when their foreheads met.
A gesture that held so much.
A shaky breath escaped Hongjoong, his expression softening and his head tilting so their noses could brush against each other. "Alright," he breathed, his right hand letting go of Seonghwa's own and moving to the older's waist. "Just next time don't let Woo and San be the messengers."
Seonghwa chuckled, a deep but calm sound. "I try to remember. Though it wasn't my plan today either, and not that I plan on taking dips in that river often."
"Please don't, we have calmer lakes for that," Hongjoong said without a second of hesitation, causing Seonghwa to chuckle again and Hongjoong following soon after.
In their own peaceful little bubble, surrounded by each other's presence they didn't notice someone stopping at the doorway.
"Hyungs, in front of our salad?" Mingi whined, taking in the sight of the duo and the bowl of lettuce on the counter, gesturing at them with both of his hands.
Hongjoong turned his head very slowly, breaking the contact he and Seonghwa had, and lifted one eyebrow at Mingi, unimpressed. "You guys have done much worse at the dinner table than this," he shot back. "So either speak what you came here to say or I'm gonna throw a piece of lettuce at you."
Seonghwa had to bite his cheek to prevent himself from laughing and also scolding the leader that they shouldn't play with their dinner. Struggling hard he too turned to look at Mingi who was still standing there in the doorway but was now looking more nervously at them and then back towards the living room.
"I um... we just want to know when food is ready," Mingi finally stuttered sheepishly, running a hand through his hair, looking small despite being one of the tallest members of the pack. It was quite an adorable sight.
"In around twenty minutes," Seonghwa answered that, checking the clock on the wall. "Is everything ready in the living room?"
Mingi nodded, relaxing a bit when facing Seonghwa instead of Honjoong. "Jongho and Wooyoung are arguing about the movies but if that doesn't count then everything's ready."
"Alright, so around twenty minutes and then we can eat. You can tell that they have ten minutes to decide which movies they want, and then they can come and help putting out plates and utensils," Seonghwa said with a nod.
"Okay, thanks hyung," Mingi replied and quickly left the kitchen without another word.
The two oldest members of the pack turned to look at each other.
"I could have thrown that lettuce," Hongjoong murmured, voice low.
Seonghwa huffed, holding back his chuckles but couldn't hide his smile completely. "You'd have wasted our food."
Lips pursing, Hongjoong looked up at the older. "It wouldn't have gone to waste, a good cause."
"No, it wouldn't have been and you know it," Seonghwa replied, lifting an eyebrow.
A sigh. "I know. You're an angel," Hongjoong said, his hand giving a squeeze at Seonghwa's waist, making the oldest chuckle softly.
"Hardly. But let's get that food ready so those six will be angels for the rest of the night."
Let's say that movie nights were done well in this house.
The packmembers had pulled mattresses from their rooms and spread them over the living room's floor, armfuls of pillows and piles of blankets accompanying them. A small table that normally stood in front of the couch was pushed aside to give them more space and was now holding a tower of empty bowls, utensils and glasses, some still partly filled bowls of popcorn and candy and a few bottles of juice and soju.
Seonghwa was sitting on one of the mattresses, using the front of the couch as backrest while his legs were comfortably buried under the thick blankets. He was still surprisingly wide awake, snacking on tiny pretzels he had in a small bowl that was resting on his lap, eyes focused on the TV and the second movie of the night.
However, not all of the packmembers were fully present anymore.
On Seonghwa's right, Wooyoung was curled against his side, gripping the luna's shirt and occasionally nuzzling against the fabric. Despite all of that energy earlier, he'd fallen asleep quite fast once they'd finished their dinner, finding a good spot beside Seonghwa and bang, lights out. Barely at the halfway mark of the first movie Wooyoung had started doing these soft sighs, making Seonghwa look down and call the younger's name quietly, wondering what was the matter. As a response Wooyoung had grabbed the hem of Seonghwa's turtleneck and curled a leg over Seonghwa's own under the blankets.
Understanding the message, Seonghwa merely patted the mop of black hair, rubbed Wooyoung's neck gently and continued to watch the movie.
Now, pressed against Wooyoung's back was San who was still awake and alert, using the younger's side as a pillow while his eyes were glued to the screen. Here and there he'd reach behind his back, a spot beside the mattress where he'd placed a small bowl of fruit gummies, popping them into his mouth. Though every time an action scene came, his jaw would stop chewing.
On the left side then Seonghwa had Yunho who'd propped himself up into a half-sitting position with two pillows, head resting against the older's upper arm. Still awake, Yunho's hand was actively visiting the bowl of tiny pretzels Seonghwa held, munching on them without a second thought. His movements though were starting to get sluggish, a clear sign of him starting to fall asleep, so every time his hand would slowly approach the bowl, Seonghwa would hold it extra tight so it wouldn't tip over.
Meanwhile Mingi was already snoring softly on Yunho's other side, only his head was visible beneath the blankets, resting on a pillow. He'd actually managed to watch the first movie but eventually drifted off when the second one started. Occasionally when Mingi would start shifting a little, grunting in his sleep, Yunho would place a hand on his shoulder and pat it until the moving would calm down.
Then there were the three remaining members on the couch.
On one corner of the couch Yeosang and Jongho were lying on the chaise part, both propped up against the backrest and Jongho having his head tilted to rest on Yeosang's shoulder. Both of them were awake, silently watching and enjoying the movie, Jongho occasionally whispering something to the older's ear and making small smiles appear on Yeosang's face.
And last but not least was Hongjoong.
Sitting cross-legged on the couch right behind Seonghwa, he was leaning against the backrest and following the screen with half-lidded eyes, barely clinging to awareness. In the space between him and Yeosang was a large and now empty bowl that had been filled with popcorn at the beginning of the evening.
Hiding a yawn behind his palm, Hongjoong twisted his neck and brought his left arm on the backrest, stretching silently, feeling the stiff spots in his neck protesting. Absentmindedly he found himself looking from the TV to the back of Seonghwa's head, eyes moving over the hair that in the dark room and lighted only by the TV looked soft like velvet. His gaze stayed there for a few seconds before he pushed away from the backrest and leaned slowly forward.
Elbows resting on his legs, Hongjoong reached forward and gently pushed a few strands of Seonghwa's hair behind his right ear, the act making the older start to turn his head.
The moment Seonghwa felt someone move his hair, no matter how small the touch had been, his wolf shuddered in what could only be happiness. And when the link he shared with Hongjoong sent out waves of warmth that spread over his being, he knew who it was who was playing with his hair.
Slowly as to not disturb the rest of the pack, the oldest turned his head until he was practically letting his head rest on the couch, looking up at Hongjoong's sleepy eyes and the tender expression on his face. Seonghwa couldn't help but smile in return, small wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes, and he waited to hear if there was a reason why the other had wanted his attention.
But when Hongjoong's hand moved to his cheek, his thumb caressing the cheekbone there and their link just pulsing tenderly, it became obvious that there wasn't any specific reason. Hongjoong was simply happy, and it made Seonghwa happy as well.
Everything was fine, and right now they could just enjoy being here together.
As a pack.