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Seungcheol was already late and he knew it.
In spite of being the chief executive officer of the company, he still prided himself on being constantly prompt.
That morning, however, his omega was fast asleep—face buried in his chest, arms tightly wrapped around his waist, a leg thrown over his thigh like a human seatbelt.
"Hannie…” Cheol murmured.
A sleepy hum was the omega’s only reply.
"We have to get up,” Cheol tried again.
"No."
"Love, you said we were going grocery shopping."
Jeonghan hummed sleepily again. "Tomorrow."
"It's already tomorrow."
"The next tomorrow then…"
Cheol smiled in spite of himself. "Love."
Jeonghan only snuggled closer, his nose brushing against Cheol’s scent gland before sighing in complete contentment. “Mmm…”
Cheol let out a sleepy, breathily chuckle. "You've fused yourself to me."
"Mhm."
"I can't move."
"I know."
"So...let go, maybe?"
"No."
Cheol chuckled once more. "What if I have to pee?"
"You don't need to."
"I definitely do."
"You can wait."
"Hannie..."
Jeonghan moaned. "You always leave."
"And I always come back."
"You still leave."
The sleepy, whiny confession made Cheol’s heart ache a little. He stroked Jeonghan’s hair. “I’ll only be downstairs, I promise.”
"I know,” Jeonghan said against Cheol’s neck.
"And you'll literally see me in ten minutes."
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like I'm being deployed overseas, my love?"
Jeonghan finally cracked one eye open. “Because you're warm. And you smell nice…And I like breathing when you're here."
“Love—”
"You asked,” Jeonghan closed his eye again and sighed deeply.
Cheol knew he lost already as he kissed Jeonghan’s forehead. “Fine…five more minutes.”
Jeonghan smiled triumphantly, eyes still closed, leaning further into his mate’s warmth and scent.
"I knew you'd fold,” he murmured contentedly.
Cheol huffed. "You manipulate me.”
"I cuddle you."
"Same thing."
The apartment was suspiciously quiet. Too quiet.
Which made worry immediately creep into Cheol’s being.
"Hannie?" he yelled into the house, only for silence to reply to him.
"Hannie?"
Nothing again.
He checked the bedroom, only to find it empty.
Next, the bathrooms, then the balcony—all empty.
Now he was genuinely concerned.
“Jeonghan!” he shouted once again.
“I’m here!” finally came Jeonghan’s reply.
Cheol followed the sound of his mate’s voice to…the kitchen.
Jeonghan sat still on the counter, legs dangling, wearing Cheol’s ratty college shirt and nothing else.
He sat there smiling ever so widely while waiting for his mate. “Hi!” he beamed.
“...Hi,” Cheol said, dumbfounded, "What are you doing?"
"Waiting."
"For?"
"You, silly!”
"Well…I'm here now."
"I know."
Silence befell them as Jeonghan continued smiling at his alpha whose scent filled his senses oh so deliciously.
Cheol broke the silence first. “Why didn’t you just come to me, love? I was worried.”
Jeonghan beamed brighter. "I wanted you to come to me."
Cheol blinked. “You…staged this?”
Jeonghan nodded seriously. “I missed you!”
Cheol cocked a brow. "I was taking out the trash."
"You were still gone."
"For ninety seconds!"
Jeonghan feigned a pout. "It felt longer, Cheollie."
Jeonghan made grabby hands, much like a child longing for his favorite plushie, and Cheol—as weak as he was for his omega—walked over without protest, automatically stepping between Jeonghan’s knees.
Jeonghan promptly looped his arms around his alpha’s neck. "There."
"There?"
"I feel better."
Cheol sighed but fell into Jeonghan’s embrace nonetheless. "My little omega…You really couldn't survive a minute and a half?"
Jeonghan likewise sighed. "I tried to survive."
"Barely?"
"Barely."
Cheol laughed against the omega’s shoulder. "You know..."
Jeonghan hummed.
"I think you're defective,” Cheol chided.
"I think you're supposed to hold me, my love.”
"Touché."
Cheol obliged, wrapping his arms around Jeonghan’s waist. Instantly, the omega melted, actually melted—his shoulders relaxing, his breathing evening out, his eyes fluttering closed.
Cheol felt Jeonghan physically relax, thus he murmured, “There he goes…”
"I was low on alpha."
"Low on alpha?"
"My levels were critical."
Cheol chuckled. "So this is, what—treatment?"
“Exactly.”
"I don't want to walk,” Jeonghan suddenly muttered, hands balled into fists at his side.
The couple was standing only a few steps away from their bedroom.
Cheol looked over at his mate, then at the bedroom, then at Jeonghan once again.
“The bedroom’s right there, love,” Cheol said matter-of-fact.
"I know,” Jeonghan replied adamantly.
"You walked farther to get here."
"I don't remember doing that."
"Hannie bunny—”
"I'm tired,” Jeonghan whined.
"You were just lying on the couch all night?!”
Jeonghan swooned dramatically. "I'm emotionally tired, Cheollie baby."
Cheol remained silent as he looked on.
Jeonghan pouted harder. "My legs have sympathy fatigue."
Cheol pinched the bridge of his nose. “Love, you’re thirty years old.”
“I know!”
"You are perfectly healthy."
"I know!"
"You have functioning legs, too."
"I know but—"
Cheol fixed Jeonghan with a look.
But the omega wasn’t one to give in to such a serious look. Without hesitation, he raised both arms up and said, “Up! Up!”
Cheol sighed. "You don’t even pretend to resist now."
Jeonghan beamed so prettily that Cheol’s heart instantly melted.
"You always pick me up, anyway,” Jeonghan giggled.
Cheol sighed. "That's the problem."
"It's your own fault! Now, up!”
"It really is,” Cheol muttered before bending slightly.
Immediately, and very gladly, the omega climbed onto his alpha with the practised ease of someone who had done this a million times already.
Jeonghan’s legs promptly wound around Cheol’s waist, arms looping around the alpha’s neck and face tucked into the crook of his neck.
“Happy?” Cheol asked as he walked them into the bedroom.
“Very!” Jeonghan cheered and, in spite of himself, Cheol found him so adorable.
He feigned a sigh, though. "You manipulated me again."
"Yes, but I asked nicely, Cheollie!"
"You weaponized your adorable pout."
"I can’t help it! I was born with this pretty face, after all!"
Cheol continued to walk the three dramatic steps toward the bedroom. Halfway there, though, Jeonghan pressed a feather-light kiss against Cheol’s scent gland.
Then another.
Then he rubbed his cheek against it like an affectionate cat.
Cheol stopped walking altogether. “Hannie…you know exactly what you’re doing, huh?”
Jeonghan hummed innocently. "I'm just trying to scent my alpha."
"In the middle of the hallway."
"Mhm."
"So I can't do anything about it."
"Mhm."
Cheol scoffed and shook his head slowly. "You planned this."
Jeonghan smiled. "I missed you."
"I was sitting next to you the entire night!”
"Yes, but you weren't exactly holding me."
Cheol raised a brow. “Ah, really?
"So..." Jeonghan nuzzled Cheol’s scent gland again. “This fixes everything.”
Cheol let out a quiet laughter, tightening his hold around Jeonghan. "And everyone says alphas are the clingy ones."
"They're wrong,” Jeonghan disputed.
"Right,” Cheol chuckled as he continued walking. “They've clearly never met you."
Jeonghan pulled back just enough to smile at Cheol’s face—his eyes bright with overflowing affection. "Who else am I supposed to cling to but you, Cheollie?"
Cheol, bless his heart, was hopelessly owned by his omega—his already captured heart melting softening further.
"I don't know,” he asked playfully.
"I do,” Jeonghan replied, nestling back against Cheol with a contented sigh. "My alpha."
And thus, Cheol forgot all about teasing Jeonghan. He carried his omega the remaining three steps to the bedroom as though it was the most natural thing in the entire world—well, to them, it was.
Weekend mornings at the farmer’s market were Jeonghan’s idea.
He loved the fresh flowers, fresh vegetables and freshly baked breads.
That specific Sunday, his alpha carried all the shopping bags in spite of the omega insisting that he could manage.
Everything was peaceful, perfect. That is, until…
"Oh, my God!” a woman manning a handmade candle booth told Cheol. “You’re so gorgeous!”
Cheol froze. “Me…?”
"Yes, you."
Jeonghan, who had been busy comparing peaches at a nearby stall, slowly raised his head.
The woman laughed—the sound like bells. “I’m sorry but I just had to say it. You have such a kind face.”
"Oh,” Cheol scratched the back of his neck self-consciously. "Thank you."
"So..." the woman smiled. "Are you single?"
Before Cheol could even utter a single syllable, Jeonghan butted in.
“No,” he said, suddenly appearing beside his alpha; one second he was at a fruit stand and now he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Cheol.
He leaned in close—close enough that their arms brushed.
The woman blinked. “Oh.”
Jeonghan smiled his (deceptively) sweetest smile. “He’s my mate.”
The woman blinked once again, falling silent.
“He’s my alpha,” Jeonghan pointed out with yet another smile. "Very much not single."
The woman then laughed nervously. "Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay,” Jeonghan replied, still smiling. "He gets mistaken as single a lot."
Cheol looked over at him. “Do I?”
"You do."
"I didn't know that."
"You wouldn't."
The woman apologized one last time before the couple turned away.
The moment they were out of earshot, Jeonghan silently hooked his pinky finger with Cheol’s.
“Love?” Cheol asked, looking at Jeonghan’s pout.
Jeonghan only answered with a hum.
"Everything okay?"
"Mhm."
"You seem..."
"What?" Jeonghan squinted at him.
“Attached."
"I am attached."
"You know what I mean Hannie.”
Jeonghan simply leaned against his shoulder as they walked. “She called you gorgeous…I didn’t like that.”
Cheol smiled in spite of himself, totally amused. “You call me gorgeous, too!”
"That's different."
"How?"
Jeonghan continued to look forward, pouting further, making him look like an adorable duckling in his mate’s eyes.
Jeongha huffed. "You belong to me."
Cheol very nearly walked into a vegetable stand.
"I'll have an iced americano,” Jeonghan muttered.
The barista smiled back brightly and asked, "And for your handsome boyfriend?"
"My husband,” Jeonghan pointed out before Cheol could.
The barista grinned. "Even better."
Cheol then ordered his drink and the barista wrote something on his cup. He slid it over. “Here you go!”
The couple muttered their thanks and turned to have a seat.
A minute later, Jeonghan noticed the writing on Cheol’s cup. Below his name was written, “Cute smile”.
He narrowed his eyes at the cup.
"Seungcheol."
"Hm?"
"Your cup."
Cheol’s brows raised. "What about it?"
He turned the cup in his hand and read what was written on it. “Oh…”
Jeonghan didn’t say anything, just quietly sipped his drink. Too quietly.
Cheol sighed. “Oh, no…”
Jeonghan turned his glance toward Cheol’s face, "What?"
"You've gone quiet."
"I'm drinking."
"You only get this quiet when you're jealous."
The omega frowned deeply. "I'm not jealous!"
The alpha huffed out a laugh. "You've used my full name."
"I have not."
"Yes, you just did.”
Jeonghan frowned, taking his eyes away from his alpha.
“Love?” Cheol asked again, only to be replied with silence.
Cheol reached over the table, hooking their fingers together.
"I didn't even notice,” he said quietly.
"I know,” Jeonghan said, pouting.
"I was looking at you."
That made Jeonghan turn to his alpha. “Liar.”
"No, I really was."
Jeonghan huffed then, pouting, he murmured. "I don't like other people flirting with you."
"I don't either."
The omega looked up to meet the alpha’s eyes.. "You don't?"
"I already have the prettiest omega."
Jeonghan tried very hard not to smile but he failed. "...Don't say cheesy things."
Cheol grinned, dimples and all. "You smiled, though."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
“Shut up!”
They were at one of Cheol’s company events.
The omega only agreed to come because the alpha promised there would be lots of food.
And there was. Excellent food, even.
Unfortunately, there were also Cheol’s colleagues. One in particular.
"So this is your husband?" the colleague asked—he was a marketing executive named Jiho. he smiled at Jeonghan as he continued, "I've heard so much about you."
Jeonghan smiled politely. "Hopefully good things."
"Oh, mostly,” Jiho said then laughed. "But Seungcheol definitely undersold how attractive you are."
“Oh, is that right?” Jeonghan threw Cheol a sidelong glance and noticed how Cheol stiffened.
Jiho kept talking. "You two make a beautiful couple."
"Thank you,” Jeonghan replied kindly.
That was when the photographer walked over. “Can I get a picture?” he asked the group.
Jiho immediately sidled up to Cheol but before anyone could react, Jeonghan slipped between them smoothly, naturally. He wrapped one arm around his mate’s arm and comfortably leaned his head against Cheol’s.
"There,” Jeonghan beamed.
The photographer blinked. "O…kay?"
"I'd rather stand next to my mate,” Jeonghan beamed prettily at the photographer.
The photographer laughed. "Fair enough."
Then there was a flash and the photo was taken.
As soon as it was over, Jiho excused himself from the mates.
Cheol immediately turned to Jeonghan. “You…intercepted.”
Jeonghan raised a brow in challenge. "Yes, I did."
"Very elegantly, too.”
"I know."
Cheol tried fighting a smile but failed. "Were you jealous?"
Jeonghan hummed, pretending to think "...A little."
Cheol placed a finger below Jeonghan’s chin to make the omega look up at him. "You know he wasn't flirting."
Jeonghan rolled his eyes. "I know. But he was standing where I usually stand."
Cheol chuckled so hard, nearly folding.
“Stop laughing!” Jeonghan whisper-yelled, blushing to his ears. “That was my spot!”
Cheol, still, couldn’t stop laughing. “Your spot, huh?”
Jeonghan stomped his foot. “I said stop laughing!”
"So…” Cheol said, wiping the tears from laughing, “if someone else stands there..."
"I fix the problem."
“By…physically relocating yourself, Hannie?”
“Well, it worked, didn’t it?”
“It worked, yes,” Cheol said, gathering Jeonghan in his arms and kissing his still-blushing cheek.
They had only been at Minghao’s gallery opening for about twenty minutes and Cheol had already lost his omega thrice—not because Jeonghan kept wandering off, but because people kept stopping him.
Then, finally, a male alpha waved at him enthusiastically. “Hi, Jeonghan!”
Jeonghan absolutely lit up. “No way!”
They hugged and began talking animatedly. Then there was the unadulterated laughter. The man was gesturing as he excitedly told Jeonghan a story from years ago.
From across the room, Cheol watched them, gripping a glass of champagne in his hand. Suddenly, Joshua appeared beside him.
"You've been staring for five minutes,” he said.
Cheol never took his eyes off of Jeonghan when he muttered, "I'm observing."
"You're glaring."
"I'm not glaring."
"Cheol."
Cheol gave Joshua a sidelong glance.
Joshua smirked. "You look like you're deciding whether that guy fits inside a recycling bin."
That made Cheol frown. "I'm simply wondering why he's standing so close to my mate."
Joshua snorted. "They're friends."
"I know."
“Then why—”
“Because he’s making Jeonghan laugh."
This time, Joshua couldn’t help the laughter that escaped his lips. "You're jealous because someone's making Jeonghanie laugh?"
"Usually it’s my job to make him laugh.”
"I kind of get that—”
"But now he's laughing with him."
Joshua shook his head fondly, patting Cheol on the shoulder. "I think you've finally lost it, Cheollie."
About ten minutes later, Jeonghan finally returned to Cheol’s side.
"Sorry,” he muttered.
"It's okay,” Cheol clipped.
"You waited?"
"Mhm."
Of course, he promptly noticed the change in his mate’s demeanor. "You're pouting."
Cheol looked at him with what he hoped was an unreadable expression. "I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"I'm thinking."
"No, that’s not what you’re doing." Jeonghan reached up to gently cup Cheol’s cheek. "You're jealous."
Cheol didn’t reply immediately, eyes darting everywhere save for his omega’s face.
Slowly, a smile crept onto Jeonghan’s face as realization fell upon him. "Oh, my God!”
Cheol remained silent.
"You are!” Jeonghan insisted. “Cheollie! Come on, look at me!”
Only then did Cheol look back at the omega. Quietly, he murmured, "He hugged you."
Jeonghan smiled. "He's been my friend for eight years."
"I know."
"He has a boyfriend."
"I know."
"And you've literally met his boyfriend."
"I know."
Jeonghan tsked playfully. "Then why are you sulking?"
Cheol looked away, then. “You smiled at him."
"Yes, but I smile at everyone."
"Not like that."
Jeonghan giggled so hard that he nearly spilled his drink. “Cheollie…you’re so adorable…”
"Hey,” Cheol chastised, “I'm not trying to be adorable."
"You’re not?"
"I'm trying to be possessive."
"Oh, really, huh?"
Jeonghan stepped closer until they were chest to chest. Then, without preamble, he kissed Cheol on the mouth—once, twice, three times.
When the omega pulled away, Cheol was stunned. “In front of everyone?”
Jeonghan beamed prettily. “Yes, in front of everyone.”
Cheol, in spite of himself, blushed furiously from his neck to his ears.
Jeonghan’s eyes softened as he leaned in once again to whisper in Cheol’s ear, "My jealous alpha deserves reassurance too."
Cheol absolutely melted. Then, quietly but firmly, he muttered. “Do it again.”
Jeonghan guffawed. "You are impossible!"
"And?"
Jeonghan smiled before kissing his alpha again. “There.”
Cheol nodded resolutely. “Better.”
"I can tell."
One random Tuesday, Jeonghan came home wearing an oversized varsity jacket.
“Cheollie! I’m home!” he announced into the halls before ambling to the living room where Cheol sat playing a videogame.
As soon as he heard the announcement, he looked up from the screen.
Immediately, there was silence.
“Hello!” Jeonghan said, climbing onto the couch beside his alpha and wrapping his arms around him.
Cheol, meanwhile, just fixed him with a stare.
When the alpha hadn’t moved to give him a kiss or a hug, Jeonghan pulled back, already a bit worried. “Love?”
Silence.
“...Cheollie?”
Then Cheol sighed and muttered under his breath, “Whose jacket is that?”
Jeonghan looked down as if only noticing what he was wearing. “Oh! This?”
"Mhm."
"It's Jun's."
"Jun…”
"I got cold,” Jeonghan simply explained.
"So he gave you his jacket."
"Mhm."
There was silence once again as the alpha’s face presented an unreadable expression.
Then, after a long while, came his firm and authoritative voice. “Take it off.”
Jeonghan blinked and tilted his head in confusion. “What?”
“Take it off,” Cheol repeated, this time frowning. "I'll get you mine."
"But I'm already warm?”
Cheol scoffed. "I'll make you warmer."
As understanding finally began dawning on Jeonghan, he bit back a smile. “Cheol.”
Cheol ignored him and got up from his seat.
“Cheol!” Jeonghan called out again.
Only then did the alpha look back, this time with a deeper frown. "You smell like another alpha!"
"I smell like laundry,” Jeonghan said faux-innocently.
"You smell like his laundry."
Jeonghan, too, got up from the couch and approached the fuming alpha. “Well…looks like someone's jealous."
“I’m not jealous,” Cheol pointed out as he let Jeonghan run his hands down his chest. "I'm territorial."
"Over a jacket?"
"About my omega wearing another alpha's scent."
Jeonghan's smile grew. "It's kind of cute."
"I'm serious, Jeonghan."
"I know."
Without another word, Jeonghan slipped off the jacket and handed it over to his alpha. "Here."
Cheol promptly tossed the thing over the back of a nearby chair. Then he disappeared into their bedroom.
He came back about a minute later carrying his favorite hoodie.
"Here,” Cheol said seriously, handing the piece of clothing to his mate.
“Huh? Isn’t this your favorite?”
"Exactly,” Cheol clipped.
Jeonghan looked at the hoodie then at Cheol. "You wear it every week."
"Yes,” Cheol muttered. “Now you wear it."
Giggling, Jeonghan slipped it on—the sleeves swallowing his hands. Instantly, the scent of sandalwood, cedar, detergent and Cheol wrapped around him.
"Mmm…” Jeonghan hummed pleasedly. “Better, Cheollie?”
Cheol nodded. "So much better."
Jeonghan walked over and buried his face against Cheol’s neck. He felt his alpha visibly relax.
"You know…” Jeonghan murmured.
"Hm?"
"I like smelling like you."
“Is that right?”
"So stop worrying."
Cheol smiled into Jeonghan’s hair. "I'm trying."
It was Joshua and Seokmin’s wedding and everyone was dancing.
Jeonghan, meanwhile, had somehow become the center of an enthusiastic conversation with three guests—one of them the wedding planner.
"You have incredible eyes,” he told Jeonghan.
“Thank you,” Jeonghan laughed politely.
"And your smile—"
Before the planner could utter another word, though, a familiar hand slipped around Jeonghan’s waist. It was firm, warm, certain.
Seungcheol.
"Excuse us,” he muttered as the planner blinked in surprise. "My mate promised me this dance."
Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "I did?"
"You did."
Jeonghan decided not to let him too easily. "I don't remember."
"You forgot."
"Interesting…”
Without waiting for permission, Cheol led them straight to the dance floor.
Music swelled around them as Jeonghan wrapped his arms around his alpha’s neck.
Jeonghan leaned in. “There wasn't actually a promise."
"No,” Cheol simply muttered.
"So..."
"I made one up."
"Love—”
"He was flirting with you."
Jeonghan laughed breathily. “He complimented my eyes."
"He complimented your smile too."
Jeonghan tilted his head. “Were you listening to the whole conversation?"
“Maybe."
“Ah,” Jeonghan squinted at his alpha while smiling cheekily. "You were eavesdropping."
"I was protecting my relationship."
Jeonghan laughed, louder this time. "Our relationship wasn't in danger!”
Cheol still sported a frown, his tone remaining serious. "I know."
"So why steal me away?"
Cheol rested his forehead against Jeonghan's. "Because..." His thumb stroked slowly across the omega’s waist. "...I wanted everyone to remember who gets to dance with you when the night ends."
Jeonghan's ears warmed. "That's possessive."
"I know."
Jeonghan sighed dreamily. "I kind of like it."
"I hoped you would."
They swayed together for another moment before Jeonghan murmured, "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Always."
"I noticed him flirting."
Cheol frowned once again. "You did?"
"Mhm."
"So why didn't you leave?"
Jeonghan smiled up at him, eyes soft. "Because I kept waiting."
"For what?"
"For my alpha to come rescue me."
Cheol laughed, the last trace of jealousy dissolving. "Oh, really, huh?"
Jeonghan nodded vigorously. "You looked very handsome marching over."
"I was marching?"
"You absolutely were."
The alpha hummed and, after a few beats, said, "I was trying to be calm."
The omega beamed. "You failed."
"I know."
Jeonghan reached up and smoothened an imaginary wrinkle from Cheol’s lapel. "I still only wanted to dance with you."
The tension finally left Cheol’s shoulders. "Good."
Jeonghan fixed him with a soft look. "Feel better?"
"Much."
Jeonghan grinned. "My poor jealous alpha."
"Don't get used to it."
Jeonghan hummed. "I don't know..."
He slipped his fingers between Cheol’s.
Jeonghan sighed deeply and melted into Cheol’s arms. "I think it's nice knowing I'm not the only clingy one in this marriage."
Cheol kissed his omega’s cheek with a sheepish smile. "You've always known."
"I have."
"And?"
"And I wouldn't trade my overprotective, hopelessly devoted alpha for anyone else."