Fire Away, Fire Away part three
Pairing: LayHan (side KrisYeol)
Rated: PG13
Length 3.4K
Part Two
Chanyeol circled him like a predator, his eyes narrowed in on his face as he thought. “And you were polite the whole time? Didn’t interrupt, didn’t act sarcastic?”
Luhan nodded. “I was perfectly nice.”
“But he still mentioned going out with Xiumin?” Chanyeol hummed and tapped at his chin. “You need to make him jealous. Let him feel what you feel when he leaves you to go off with someone else.” He turned towards Kris, who was working at the table and ignoring their conversation. “I’ll meet you after class tomorrow and pretend we’re going on a date. See how he takes it.”
“You’ll what?” That finally caught Kris’s attention, the chair falling behind him as he jumped up. “No, no, no, that’s not going to happen. I forbid i-“ He froze as Chanyeol glared at him with a frosty expression. “But babyyy!”
Chanyeol smiled brightly at Luhan. “You get out at two, right? Text me the room number and I’ll be waiting. And don’t worry about Kris. He just isn’t yet aware that I’m the Alpha inside this house.”
Kris snarled at Luhan, the only thing holding him back was the worry he’d upset his mate if he killed his cousin in the middle of the kitchen. “No touching that lasts more than five seconds, no kissing, not even on the cheek, no lovey eye-making shit, that’s my mate and you treat him as such.” He took a deep breath and pointed at Luhan. “Do you got that?”
He winked at Chanyeol and edged his way towards the door. “You didn’t mention dry humping against the wall. I’m assuming that’s still in the cards?” He yelped loudly as Kris’s claws caught him in the back. “See you tomorrow, Chanyeol! And thanks!”
***
Watching the back of Yixing’s head for the entire class was pure torture for Luhan. Now that he knew he was in the throes of mating, he couldn’t help but to notice everything about the other boy. The way he ran his fingers through his short black hair while reading, the minty smell emanating from his body and racing straight through Luhan’s body like an electric shock, even the nervous habit of tapping his leg on the floor during class had Luhan enthralled.
The wolf was impatient, wanting to claim him already and be through this torturous period. wantwantwant, it chanted in his head. He ignored the whimpers it made every time Xiumin leaned over to whisper something in his ear and Yixing would smile in response.
“And you all are keeping up with your labs, correct?” Professor Wang raised an eyebrow at his barely alert students. “Well we’ll find out when it’s time to turn in all of the reports. See you all next time.”
The students started trailing out of the room and Luhan laughed quietly to himself when he saw Chanyeol’s wild hair flopping in the air as he jumped around the exiting students to find him.
“Luhannie!” He spotted him still gathering up his books and waved excitedly, bouncing on his toes.
Luhan could see Yixing eyeing them out of the corner of his eye as the left the room together and Chanyeol’s gaze flickered quickly towards him before wrapping his arms around Luhan’s waist and squeezing him tightly. “That him?” He murmured into his ear, grinning when Luhan nodded. “Did you have a good time in school?” He asked loudly, making sure Yixing could hear him as they headed out of the school. “Let’s go home and I’ll make you something to eat.” His lips brushed against Luhan’s neck and he laughed. “Your mate keeps glaring at me. Put your arm around me.”
He slid one around Chanyeol’s shoulder and was proud of himself for not looking back at Yixing once. Yixing’s scent felt like it was stabbing into his skin. The more rage he could feel from behind him the more his wolf howled with happiness. “You’re going to smell like me.” Luhan whispered. “Kris is going to be pissed.”
“I know.”
***
Even though Luhan limped into the next class covered in scratches and still hurting, it was completely worth it to hear Kris admit that Yixing’s scent on him had almost doubled in strength.
“Hello Luhan.” Yixing slipped into seat next to him and rummaged through his backpack, pulling out his notebook and a pen. “How was your weekend?”
He couldn’t manage to form words, him and his wolf both shocked into silence at the boy sitting next to him instead of the seats in front. “I- Yeah, I mean… F-Fine.” He coughed awkwardly and toned down his smile into a normal one. “It was fine. Yours?”
Yixing shrugged, still not looking at him. “I worked most of the time. Spent a couple hours reading through our labs.”
Xiumin skipped in, the smile on his face dying as he saw his former tablemate sitting comfortably with a smug Luhan. “Xing? Did you mean to sit there?”
“I figured we were supposed to sit with our lab partners.” Yixing didn’t sound apologetic in the least. “Sorry Xiumin. But this way Luhan and I can talk easier about our lab dates.”
Dates. The word falling so easily out of Yixing’s mouth made Luhan want to weep with happiness.
It was clear Xiumin was not happy with this turn of events as he stiffly settled in to the table by himself. He looked back one more time to make sure Yixing was absolutely sure of this, glaring when Luhan smirked back at him.
The class was spent barely breathing as Yixing shifted in his seat and his knee pressed against Luhan’s thigh. He kept waiting for him to move it away, but Yixing didn’t act concerned, his concentration devoted to their Professor.
“You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.” Yixing commented casually as they gathered their books up. “Is it serious?”
Luhan was saved from lying by the ringing of his telephone. “Sorry.” He mouthed, smiling when he saw Chanyeol’s name on the screen. “Hello?”
“You’re leaving class, right? Is Yixing near you?” Chanyeol whispered into the phone.
“Um, yes?”
“Good. Now laugh like I just said something funny.” Luhan followed his orders without question. It had already been proven that Chanyeol’s ideas worked. “Now tell me you’re coming over and call me Chanyeollie. No, I don’t let him call me that all the time, be quiet Kris!”
Yixing was steaming by the time they hung up. His jaw was set tight and he had his books gathered tightly to his chest. “I can’t do our lab tomorrow.” He told Luhan calmly. “I was going to ask if you wanted to do it now but I guess you have other plans.”
Luhan didn’t know if Yixing really was busy tomorrow or if he was lying just to see which direction Luhan would go, but he wasn’t going to pass up more time with his mate.
“No, now is fine.” He grinned at the relieved expression on Yixing’s face. “I can just tell Chanyeol I’ll come over when we’re done.” He waited until they were alone in the hallway before explaining. “He’ll just annoy his boyfriend until I come by anyways. I like seeing my cousin get picked on.”
Yixing stopped, his head cocked to the side in confusion. “He’s dating your cousin?” He clarified. “And not you?”
“They’re pretty much married by now.” Luhan didn’t want to start things off by lying to his mate. That wasn’t how relationships stayed together. Kris had kept himself distant from Chanyeol in the beginning and it just made him miserable to be around. Luhan wanted Yixing to always know the truth about him. “Chanyeol just likes to take care of me.”
“Oh.”
“Do you really have something to do tomorrow?” Luhan asked him gently. The bright dusting across Yixing’s cheeks gave him his answer. “You can come with me. If you want.”
The wrinkled nose Yixing gave him in response was so adorable and Luhan ached with the need to breathe him in, run his nose along his jawline, make him his.
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” His delicate fingers twisted into his scarf.
Luhan could see his mate breaking down for him, the wall Yixing had built to keep him out was crumbling with every step they took. “You won’t be.” He assured him, taking Yixing by the elbow when they reached the parking lot and leading him towards his bike. “They’ve been asking to meet you.” He shoved a helmet over Yixing’s head before the other could ask why his family wanted to meet him. “Hold on tight. I go fast.”
His bike sped out onto the highway, Yixing quickly wrapping both arms tightly around his stomach and his chest pressing tight against Luhan’s back. This was how they would sleep together, Luhan decided. He would be the little spoon because Yixing wrapped around him made him feel safe and the palm pressed flat over his heart felt like it was made to fit there.
He normally took the shortcuts through the woods home, but he didn’t want Yixing to peel away from him any sooner than he had to, so Luhan took the main roads which led straight into their village. The rest of their pack knew that if someone came in that entrance that there was newcomers and to play it on the up and up. The last thing Luhan needed right now was for someone to come galloping in from the forest and change right in front of Yixing.
“This is my cousin’s house.” Luhan reluctantly let Yixing climb off his motorcycle and helped him remove his helmet. Yixing’s shaggy hair was crumpled and messy, but Luhan resisted running his fingers through it and trying to smooth it out. “He’s kind of an asshole, so don’t be offended if he’s short with you.”
Yixing nodded, gulping as he took in the claw marks scrawled along the porch of the large home. “You must have some big dogs around here to make those.”
“Yeah, but they’re harmless.” Luhan grinned sneakily as he led him up the porch steps.
“Luhannie!” Chanyeol burst through the door with his crazy smile firmly in place. “You brought a guest!” He quickly took over, ushering Yixing into the home and yelling for Kris to come be sociable.
Kris yawned as he exited the bedroom. He was scratching his bare stomach, shirt torn off from when he crawled into bed a few hours earlier. “Whatsa matter baby?” His eyes focused on the stranger in the kitchen and he felt the way Luhan was pushing his scent around, the wolf trying to be the dominate presence even if he knew Kris wasn’t a threat. “You must be Yixing.” His eyes raked over Yixing’s body, just to spite Luhan. “You’re smaller than I’d thought you’d be.”
The growl that came out of Luhan’s throat was possessive and Kris laughed knowing he had won. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Luhan asked tightly.
“Nope.” Kris sat down and leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head. “I want to hear all about your little friend here, Lulu.”
Chanyeol groaned, kicking the chair legs forward so that Kris had to scramble to stay upright. “You two are idiots. Go play while I get to know Luhan’s friend.”
“But baby-“
“Go.” Chanyeol pointed to the door. “Don’t make me say it again, Yifan.”
The great Alpha slunk out like a wounded puppy with his tail between his legs, Luhan snorting behind him. He gave Yixing one final look, relieved to see the small smile on his lips as he watched them go. His mate would of course be welcomed in his family’s home, that’s the way it was supposed to be. Chanyeol would take care of Yixing until he could explain things and help him to understand their secrets.
Kris gripped his neck in a headlock as they stumbled into the woods. “Your mate is cute. He’s no Yeollie, but he’s pretty damn adorable.”
“Mine.” Luhan hissed, biting at the arm in front of his mouth. “I think he’s starting to accept the bond. He willingly sat by me in class today and when Chanyeol called he got really jealous and tried to stop me from coming.”
“Good.” His cousin let him go and shoved him down the hill into the creek. “You interrupted my nap for this shit. You better be in his pants by nightfall.”
***
They waited until close to suppertime before heading back towards Kris’s home. Luhan was so on edge and panicky that Kris wouldn’t let him change back until he had calmed down.
“You don’t think Chanyeol told him anything, right?” Luhan bit nervously on his fingertips and strained to hear the conversation inside the house. “I mean, he wouldn’t do that would he?”
“No.” Kris sighed and picked him up by the back of his shirt, tugging him along behind him. “Hurry up. It’s time to eat, I miss Chanyeol and you’re just a whiny little bitch tonight.”
Luhan almost whined at how welcoming his mate looked sitting comfortably in the kitchen while Chanyeol stirred a pot of soup on the stove. Yixing had his hands wrapped around a cup of tea and the smile on his face was something Luhan had only rarely glimpsed.
“Hi.” He breathed, walking towards the table and letting Yixing fuss over the scrapes and cuts on his skin. “Did you have a good time with Chanyeol?”
Yixing smiled, absentmindedly picking leaves and twigs out of Luhan’s dirty hair. “You need medicine. You’ll get infected.”
The wolf DNA running through his system kept most diseases and infections away, but he’d happily let Yixing baby him if that was what he wanted.
“He’ll be fine. Luhan is as healthy as a…” Chanyeol narrowed his eyes. “I can’t really use horse in that scenario, can I?”
Kris coughed and waved the comment away. “You can fix him up after supper, Yixing. Luhan cares more about his stomach than his health, trust me.”
He shrugged apologetically at him. “I get cranky when I’m hungry.” Chanyeol placed a bowl in front of him and he already had it polished off before Yixing had even eaten half. Yixing watched him with amusement, all traces of the previous hostility he had been holding over him for the last few weeks was gone and replaced with open affection.
“He’s always over here bumming food. Luhan’s a slob at home and probably can’t even find his kitchen.” Chanyeol watched Luhan and Kris simultaneously tilt their bowls up with disgust. “They’re pigs.”
Yixing pushed his bowl away and frowned. “Are you going to show me your house?”
Luhan coughed on his food and had to fight Kris from beating on his back. “Stop it!” He swung his head around and wiped the soup off his chin. “You want to go home with me?”
The blush on Yixing’s pale cheeks meant he had turned the innocent sentence into something more and Luhan mentally jumped up and down at the way he reacted.
“Let’s go then.” He thanked Chanyeol for the meal, ruffling his hair as he walked past just to put his scent on him and piss his cousin off. “See you tomorrow, Chanyeollie.”
His cousin’s eyes promised revenge the second Yixing was out of sight, but Luhan wasn’t worried. Chanyeol had him wrapped around his finger and would do what it took to calm him down the second they left.
“You should wear the helmet.” Yixing didn’t appreciate Luhan just chuckling and pushing the helmet back into his hands.
“Trust me, I don’t even need it.”
***
“So, this is… Your house…” Yixing stared at the overflowing sink and trash can filled with take-out boxes and soda cans. “Wow Luhan, but this place is a mess.” He rolled his sleeves up and headed towards the sink. “You take the trash out and then grab another bag to start filling up. I’ll get started on these.”
Luhan swallowed hard and watched him easily take over the household duties and order him around in his own house. It was exactly what he wanted and more than he ever thought he’d have. Yixing was taking care of him like no one besides Kris and Chanyeol had ever bothered to do before.
“I mean it, Luhan. Don’t make me force you to do the dishes, too.”
Yixing’s sharp voice snapped him to attention and he hurriedly tied the bag off and dragged it to the dumpster up the street before running back and filling another one with the overflow and the remains of his meals on the couch watching TV for months on end.
It took them almost two hours to clean the kitchen and living room but when they were done the two rooms shone like they never had before and Yixing watched fondly the play of emotions cross Luhan’s face.
“You act like you’ve never seen a clean house before.”
He picked his jaw back up and blinked heavily. “I haven’t. My parents weren’t really the homemaker type. I grew up at Kris’s and his mother always cleaned up after us.”
Yixing yawned and rubbed at bleary eyes. He checked the watch on his wrist with a grimace.
“You want me to drive you back to school?” Luhan looked regretfully at the clock on the wall. “It’s pretty late, Yixing. Why don’t you just stay here and I’ll take you back in the morning?”
That option made Yixing’s eyes widen comically large and he started to protest.
“It’s okay, you can sleep on my bed and I’ll take the couch. The sheets get changed more often than the dishes get done, don’t worry.” Luhan pointed down the hall with a strained smile, his wolf whimpering at the thought that the bed would smell like him tomorrow.
Yixing finally nodded and let Luhan dig out a t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts from the dryer as he used the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He’s using my toothbrush, he’s using my toothbrush! Luhan fought down the giggle rising in his throat and waited patiently for Yixing to finish changing and tell him goodnight.
When Yixing shyly peeked around the corner covered in Luhan’s clothes and bathing in his scent, Luhan would have moaned if he didn’t have his nails dug into his palms. The t-shirt was gray and plain and the shorts were so big they hung to his knees, but Luhan thought he looked more beautiful than he ever had before.
“Goodnight Luhan.” Yixing bit his lip and smiled, his hair covering one of his eyes as he blushed. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”
Luhan could only nod and hope his mouth wasn’t too far open and that there wasn’t any drool escaping the corners. He wanted nothing more than to bury his face against Yixing’s neck and inhale, his fingers slipping across the skin that would show as Yixing would lift his arms around Luhan’s neck.
With a final smile, Yixing disappeared into the bedroom, the door shutting closed letting Luhan release the air he’d been holding.
claim, the wolf was scarily calm in his head.
“I can’t, buddy. Not until he asks me too.”
ours, it hissed back angrily. Luhan could feel it clawing at his chest trying to escape and he had to order it back down with more dominance than he’s ever had to use before.
“I know he’s ours.” Luhan told him, climbing onto the couch and pulling the blanket down over him. “But he has to know that first.”
Part Four
Rated: PG13
Length 3.4K
Part Two
Chanyeol circled him like a predator, his eyes narrowed in on his face as he thought. “And you were polite the whole time? Didn’t interrupt, didn’t act sarcastic?”
Luhan nodded. “I was perfectly nice.”
“But he still mentioned going out with Xiumin?” Chanyeol hummed and tapped at his chin. “You need to make him jealous. Let him feel what you feel when he leaves you to go off with someone else.” He turned towards Kris, who was working at the table and ignoring their conversation. “I’ll meet you after class tomorrow and pretend we’re going on a date. See how he takes it.”
“You’ll what?” That finally caught Kris’s attention, the chair falling behind him as he jumped up. “No, no, no, that’s not going to happen. I forbid i-“ He froze as Chanyeol glared at him with a frosty expression. “But babyyy!”
Chanyeol smiled brightly at Luhan. “You get out at two, right? Text me the room number and I’ll be waiting. And don’t worry about Kris. He just isn’t yet aware that I’m the Alpha inside this house.”
Kris snarled at Luhan, the only thing holding him back was the worry he’d upset his mate if he killed his cousin in the middle of the kitchen. “No touching that lasts more than five seconds, no kissing, not even on the cheek, no lovey eye-making shit, that’s my mate and you treat him as such.” He took a deep breath and pointed at Luhan. “Do you got that?”
He winked at Chanyeol and edged his way towards the door. “You didn’t mention dry humping against the wall. I’m assuming that’s still in the cards?” He yelped loudly as Kris’s claws caught him in the back. “See you tomorrow, Chanyeol! And thanks!”
***
Watching the back of Yixing’s head for the entire class was pure torture for Luhan. Now that he knew he was in the throes of mating, he couldn’t help but to notice everything about the other boy. The way he ran his fingers through his short black hair while reading, the minty smell emanating from his body and racing straight through Luhan’s body like an electric shock, even the nervous habit of tapping his leg on the floor during class had Luhan enthralled.
The wolf was impatient, wanting to claim him already and be through this torturous period. wantwantwant, it chanted in his head. He ignored the whimpers it made every time Xiumin leaned over to whisper something in his ear and Yixing would smile in response.
“And you all are keeping up with your labs, correct?” Professor Wang raised an eyebrow at his barely alert students. “Well we’ll find out when it’s time to turn in all of the reports. See you all next time.”
The students started trailing out of the room and Luhan laughed quietly to himself when he saw Chanyeol’s wild hair flopping in the air as he jumped around the exiting students to find him.
“Luhannie!” He spotted him still gathering up his books and waved excitedly, bouncing on his toes.
Luhan could see Yixing eyeing them out of the corner of his eye as the left the room together and Chanyeol’s gaze flickered quickly towards him before wrapping his arms around Luhan’s waist and squeezing him tightly. “That him?” He murmured into his ear, grinning when Luhan nodded. “Did you have a good time in school?” He asked loudly, making sure Yixing could hear him as they headed out of the school. “Let’s go home and I’ll make you something to eat.” His lips brushed against Luhan’s neck and he laughed. “Your mate keeps glaring at me. Put your arm around me.”
He slid one around Chanyeol’s shoulder and was proud of himself for not looking back at Yixing once. Yixing’s scent felt like it was stabbing into his skin. The more rage he could feel from behind him the more his wolf howled with happiness. “You’re going to smell like me.” Luhan whispered. “Kris is going to be pissed.”
“I know.”
***
Even though Luhan limped into the next class covered in scratches and still hurting, it was completely worth it to hear Kris admit that Yixing’s scent on him had almost doubled in strength.
“Hello Luhan.” Yixing slipped into seat next to him and rummaged through his backpack, pulling out his notebook and a pen. “How was your weekend?”
He couldn’t manage to form words, him and his wolf both shocked into silence at the boy sitting next to him instead of the seats in front. “I- Yeah, I mean… F-Fine.” He coughed awkwardly and toned down his smile into a normal one. “It was fine. Yours?”
Yixing shrugged, still not looking at him. “I worked most of the time. Spent a couple hours reading through our labs.”
Xiumin skipped in, the smile on his face dying as he saw his former tablemate sitting comfortably with a smug Luhan. “Xing? Did you mean to sit there?”
“I figured we were supposed to sit with our lab partners.” Yixing didn’t sound apologetic in the least. “Sorry Xiumin. But this way Luhan and I can talk easier about our lab dates.”
Dates. The word falling so easily out of Yixing’s mouth made Luhan want to weep with happiness.
It was clear Xiumin was not happy with this turn of events as he stiffly settled in to the table by himself. He looked back one more time to make sure Yixing was absolutely sure of this, glaring when Luhan smirked back at him.
The class was spent barely breathing as Yixing shifted in his seat and his knee pressed against Luhan’s thigh. He kept waiting for him to move it away, but Yixing didn’t act concerned, his concentration devoted to their Professor.
“You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.” Yixing commented casually as they gathered their books up. “Is it serious?”
Luhan was saved from lying by the ringing of his telephone. “Sorry.” He mouthed, smiling when he saw Chanyeol’s name on the screen. “Hello?”
“You’re leaving class, right? Is Yixing near you?” Chanyeol whispered into the phone.
“Um, yes?”
“Good. Now laugh like I just said something funny.” Luhan followed his orders without question. It had already been proven that Chanyeol’s ideas worked. “Now tell me you’re coming over and call me Chanyeollie. No, I don’t let him call me that all the time, be quiet Kris!”
Yixing was steaming by the time they hung up. His jaw was set tight and he had his books gathered tightly to his chest. “I can’t do our lab tomorrow.” He told Luhan calmly. “I was going to ask if you wanted to do it now but I guess you have other plans.”
Luhan didn’t know if Yixing really was busy tomorrow or if he was lying just to see which direction Luhan would go, but he wasn’t going to pass up more time with his mate.
“No, now is fine.” He grinned at the relieved expression on Yixing’s face. “I can just tell Chanyeol I’ll come over when we’re done.” He waited until they were alone in the hallway before explaining. “He’ll just annoy his boyfriend until I come by anyways. I like seeing my cousin get picked on.”
Yixing stopped, his head cocked to the side in confusion. “He’s dating your cousin?” He clarified. “And not you?”
“They’re pretty much married by now.” Luhan didn’t want to start things off by lying to his mate. That wasn’t how relationships stayed together. Kris had kept himself distant from Chanyeol in the beginning and it just made him miserable to be around. Luhan wanted Yixing to always know the truth about him. “Chanyeol just likes to take care of me.”
“Oh.”
“Do you really have something to do tomorrow?” Luhan asked him gently. The bright dusting across Yixing’s cheeks gave him his answer. “You can come with me. If you want.”
The wrinkled nose Yixing gave him in response was so adorable and Luhan ached with the need to breathe him in, run his nose along his jawline, make him his.
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” His delicate fingers twisted into his scarf.
Luhan could see his mate breaking down for him, the wall Yixing had built to keep him out was crumbling with every step they took. “You won’t be.” He assured him, taking Yixing by the elbow when they reached the parking lot and leading him towards his bike. “They’ve been asking to meet you.” He shoved a helmet over Yixing’s head before the other could ask why his family wanted to meet him. “Hold on tight. I go fast.”
His bike sped out onto the highway, Yixing quickly wrapping both arms tightly around his stomach and his chest pressing tight against Luhan’s back. This was how they would sleep together, Luhan decided. He would be the little spoon because Yixing wrapped around him made him feel safe and the palm pressed flat over his heart felt like it was made to fit there.
He normally took the shortcuts through the woods home, but he didn’t want Yixing to peel away from him any sooner than he had to, so Luhan took the main roads which led straight into their village. The rest of their pack knew that if someone came in that entrance that there was newcomers and to play it on the up and up. The last thing Luhan needed right now was for someone to come galloping in from the forest and change right in front of Yixing.
“This is my cousin’s house.” Luhan reluctantly let Yixing climb off his motorcycle and helped him remove his helmet. Yixing’s shaggy hair was crumpled and messy, but Luhan resisted running his fingers through it and trying to smooth it out. “He’s kind of an asshole, so don’t be offended if he’s short with you.”
Yixing nodded, gulping as he took in the claw marks scrawled along the porch of the large home. “You must have some big dogs around here to make those.”
“Yeah, but they’re harmless.” Luhan grinned sneakily as he led him up the porch steps.
“Luhannie!” Chanyeol burst through the door with his crazy smile firmly in place. “You brought a guest!” He quickly took over, ushering Yixing into the home and yelling for Kris to come be sociable.
Kris yawned as he exited the bedroom. He was scratching his bare stomach, shirt torn off from when he crawled into bed a few hours earlier. “Whatsa matter baby?” His eyes focused on the stranger in the kitchen and he felt the way Luhan was pushing his scent around, the wolf trying to be the dominate presence even if he knew Kris wasn’t a threat. “You must be Yixing.” His eyes raked over Yixing’s body, just to spite Luhan. “You’re smaller than I’d thought you’d be.”
The growl that came out of Luhan’s throat was possessive and Kris laughed knowing he had won. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Luhan asked tightly.
“Nope.” Kris sat down and leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head. “I want to hear all about your little friend here, Lulu.”
Chanyeol groaned, kicking the chair legs forward so that Kris had to scramble to stay upright. “You two are idiots. Go play while I get to know Luhan’s friend.”
“But baby-“
“Go.” Chanyeol pointed to the door. “Don’t make me say it again, Yifan.”
The great Alpha slunk out like a wounded puppy with his tail between his legs, Luhan snorting behind him. He gave Yixing one final look, relieved to see the small smile on his lips as he watched them go. His mate would of course be welcomed in his family’s home, that’s the way it was supposed to be. Chanyeol would take care of Yixing until he could explain things and help him to understand their secrets.
Kris gripped his neck in a headlock as they stumbled into the woods. “Your mate is cute. He’s no Yeollie, but he’s pretty damn adorable.”
“Mine.” Luhan hissed, biting at the arm in front of his mouth. “I think he’s starting to accept the bond. He willingly sat by me in class today and when Chanyeol called he got really jealous and tried to stop me from coming.”
“Good.” His cousin let him go and shoved him down the hill into the creek. “You interrupted my nap for this shit. You better be in his pants by nightfall.”
***
They waited until close to suppertime before heading back towards Kris’s home. Luhan was so on edge and panicky that Kris wouldn’t let him change back until he had calmed down.
“You don’t think Chanyeol told him anything, right?” Luhan bit nervously on his fingertips and strained to hear the conversation inside the house. “I mean, he wouldn’t do that would he?”
“No.” Kris sighed and picked him up by the back of his shirt, tugging him along behind him. “Hurry up. It’s time to eat, I miss Chanyeol and you’re just a whiny little bitch tonight.”
Luhan almost whined at how welcoming his mate looked sitting comfortably in the kitchen while Chanyeol stirred a pot of soup on the stove. Yixing had his hands wrapped around a cup of tea and the smile on his face was something Luhan had only rarely glimpsed.
“Hi.” He breathed, walking towards the table and letting Yixing fuss over the scrapes and cuts on his skin. “Did you have a good time with Chanyeol?”
Yixing smiled, absentmindedly picking leaves and twigs out of Luhan’s dirty hair. “You need medicine. You’ll get infected.”
The wolf DNA running through his system kept most diseases and infections away, but he’d happily let Yixing baby him if that was what he wanted.
“He’ll be fine. Luhan is as healthy as a…” Chanyeol narrowed his eyes. “I can’t really use horse in that scenario, can I?”
Kris coughed and waved the comment away. “You can fix him up after supper, Yixing. Luhan cares more about his stomach than his health, trust me.”
He shrugged apologetically at him. “I get cranky when I’m hungry.” Chanyeol placed a bowl in front of him and he already had it polished off before Yixing had even eaten half. Yixing watched him with amusement, all traces of the previous hostility he had been holding over him for the last few weeks was gone and replaced with open affection.
“He’s always over here bumming food. Luhan’s a slob at home and probably can’t even find his kitchen.” Chanyeol watched Luhan and Kris simultaneously tilt their bowls up with disgust. “They’re pigs.”
Yixing pushed his bowl away and frowned. “Are you going to show me your house?”
Luhan coughed on his food and had to fight Kris from beating on his back. “Stop it!” He swung his head around and wiped the soup off his chin. “You want to go home with me?”
The blush on Yixing’s pale cheeks meant he had turned the innocent sentence into something more and Luhan mentally jumped up and down at the way he reacted.
“Let’s go then.” He thanked Chanyeol for the meal, ruffling his hair as he walked past just to put his scent on him and piss his cousin off. “See you tomorrow, Chanyeollie.”
His cousin’s eyes promised revenge the second Yixing was out of sight, but Luhan wasn’t worried. Chanyeol had him wrapped around his finger and would do what it took to calm him down the second they left.
“You should wear the helmet.” Yixing didn’t appreciate Luhan just chuckling and pushing the helmet back into his hands.
“Trust me, I don’t even need it.”
***
“So, this is… Your house…” Yixing stared at the overflowing sink and trash can filled with take-out boxes and soda cans. “Wow Luhan, but this place is a mess.” He rolled his sleeves up and headed towards the sink. “You take the trash out and then grab another bag to start filling up. I’ll get started on these.”
Luhan swallowed hard and watched him easily take over the household duties and order him around in his own house. It was exactly what he wanted and more than he ever thought he’d have. Yixing was taking care of him like no one besides Kris and Chanyeol had ever bothered to do before.
“I mean it, Luhan. Don’t make me force you to do the dishes, too.”
Yixing’s sharp voice snapped him to attention and he hurriedly tied the bag off and dragged it to the dumpster up the street before running back and filling another one with the overflow and the remains of his meals on the couch watching TV for months on end.
It took them almost two hours to clean the kitchen and living room but when they were done the two rooms shone like they never had before and Yixing watched fondly the play of emotions cross Luhan’s face.
“You act like you’ve never seen a clean house before.”
He picked his jaw back up and blinked heavily. “I haven’t. My parents weren’t really the homemaker type. I grew up at Kris’s and his mother always cleaned up after us.”
Yixing yawned and rubbed at bleary eyes. He checked the watch on his wrist with a grimace.
“You want me to drive you back to school?” Luhan looked regretfully at the clock on the wall. “It’s pretty late, Yixing. Why don’t you just stay here and I’ll take you back in the morning?”
That option made Yixing’s eyes widen comically large and he started to protest.
“It’s okay, you can sleep on my bed and I’ll take the couch. The sheets get changed more often than the dishes get done, don’t worry.” Luhan pointed down the hall with a strained smile, his wolf whimpering at the thought that the bed would smell like him tomorrow.
Yixing finally nodded and let Luhan dig out a t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts from the dryer as he used the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He’s using my toothbrush, he’s using my toothbrush! Luhan fought down the giggle rising in his throat and waited patiently for Yixing to finish changing and tell him goodnight.
When Yixing shyly peeked around the corner covered in Luhan’s clothes and bathing in his scent, Luhan would have moaned if he didn’t have his nails dug into his palms. The t-shirt was gray and plain and the shorts were so big they hung to his knees, but Luhan thought he looked more beautiful than he ever had before.
“Goodnight Luhan.” Yixing bit his lip and smiled, his hair covering one of his eyes as he blushed. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”
Luhan could only nod and hope his mouth wasn’t too far open and that there wasn’t any drool escaping the corners. He wanted nothing more than to bury his face against Yixing’s neck and inhale, his fingers slipping across the skin that would show as Yixing would lift his arms around Luhan’s neck.
With a final smile, Yixing disappeared into the bedroom, the door shutting closed letting Luhan release the air he’d been holding.
claim, the wolf was scarily calm in his head.
“I can’t, buddy. Not until he asks me too.”
ours, it hissed back angrily. Luhan could feel it clawing at his chest trying to escape and he had to order it back down with more dominance than he’s ever had to use before.
“I know he’s ours.” Luhan told him, climbing onto the couch and pulling the blanket down over him. “But he has to know that first.”
Part Four