Fire Away, Fire Away *redux* part 2/3
Pairing: ZiDae (side BangLo)
Rated: M
Length: 7k
part one
Even though Zico limped into the next class covered in scratches and still hurting, it was completely worth it to hear Yongguk admit that Daehyun’s scent on him had almost doubled in strength.
“Hello Zico.” Daehyun 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 seat in front. “I- Yeah, I mean… F-Fine.” He coughed awkwardly and toned down his smile into a normal one. “It was fine. Yours?”
Daehyun shrugged, still not looking at him. “I worked most of the time. Spent a couple hours reading through our labs.”
Minhyuk skipped in, the smile on his face dying as he saw his former tablemate sitting comfortably with a smug Zico. “Dae? Did you mean to sit there?”
“I figured we were supposed to sit with our lab partners.” Daehyun didn’t sound apologetic in the least. “Sorry Minhyuk. But this way Zico and I can talk easier about our lab dates.”
Dates. The word falling so easily out of Daehyun’s mouth made Zico want to weep with happiness.
It was clear Minhyuk 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 Daehyun was absolutely sure of this, glaring when Zico smirked back at him.
The class was spent barely breathing as Daehyun shifted in his seat and his knee pressed against Zico’s thigh. He kept waiting for him to move it away, but Daehyun didn’t act concerned, his concentration devoted to their Professor.
“You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.” Daehyun commented casually as they gathered their books up. “Is it serious?”
Zico was saved from lying by the ringing of his telephone. “Sorry.” He mouthed, smiling when he saw Junhong’s name on the screen. “Hello?”
“You’re leaving class, right? Is Daehyun near you?” Junhong whispered into the phone.
“Um, yes?”
“Good. Now laugh like I just said something funny.” Zico followed his orders without question. It had already been proven that Junhong’s ideas worked. “Now tell me you’re coming over and call me Junhonggie. No, I don’t let him call me that all the time, be quiet Yongguk!”
Daehyun 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 Zico calmly. “I was going to ask if you wanted to do it now but I guess you have other plans.”
Zico didn’t know if Daehyun really was busy tomorrow or if he was lying just to see which direction Zico 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 Daehyun’s face. “I can just tell Junhong 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.”
Daehyun 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.” Zico didn’t want to start things off by lying to his mate. That wasn’t how relationships stayed together. Gentle teasing was one thing but seeing Daehyun fuming next to him almost made his heart hurt. Yongguk had kept himself distant from Junhong in the beginning and it just made him miserable to be around. Zico wanted Daehyun to always know the truth about him. “Junhong just likes to take care of me.”
“Oh.”
“Do you really have something to do tomorrow?” Zico asked him gently. The bright dusting across Daehyun’s cheeks gave him his answer. “You can come with me. If you want.”
The wrinkled nose Daehyun gave him in response was so adorable and Zico 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.
Zico could see his mate breaking down for him, the wall Daehyun had built to keep him out was crumbling with every step they took. “You won’t be.” He assured him, taking Daehyun 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 Daehyun’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, Daehyun quickly wrapping both arms tightly around his stomach and his chest pressing tight against Zico’s back. This was how they would sleep together, Zico decided. He would be the little spoon because Daehyun 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 Daehyun to peel away from him any sooner than he had to, so Zico 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 were newcomers and to play it on the up and up. The last thing Zico needed right now was for someone to come galloping in from the forest and change right in front of Daehyun.
“This is my cousin’s house.” Zico reluctantly let Daehyun climb off his motorcycle and helped him remove his helmet. Daehyun’s black hair was crumpled and messy, but Zico 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.”
Daehyun 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.” Zico grinned sneakily as he led him up the porch steps.
“Zico!” Junhong burst through the door with his serial killer smile firmly in place. “You brought a guest!” He quickly took over, ushering Daehyun into the home and yelling for Yongguk to come and be sociable.
Yongguk 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 Zico was pushing his scent around, the wolf trying to be the dominate presence even if he knew Yongguk wasn’t a threat. “You must be Daehyun.” His eyes raked over Daehyun’s body, just to spite Zico. “You’re smaller than I’d thought you’d be.”
The growl that came out of Zico’s throat was possessive and Yongguk laughed knowing he had won. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Zico asked tightly.
“Nope.” Yongguk sat down and leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head. “I want to hear all about your little friend here, cousin.”
Junhong groaned, kicking the chair legs forward so that Yongguk had to scramble to stay upright. “You two are idiots. Go play while I get to know Zico’s friend.”
“But baby-“
“Go.” Junhong pointed to the door. “Don’t make me say it again, Shishi.”
The great Alpha slunk out like a wounded puppy with his tail between his legs, Zico snorting behind him. He gave Daehyun 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. Junhong would take care of Daehyun until he could explain things and help him to understand their secrets.
Yongguk gripped his neck in a headlock as they stumbled into the woods. “Your mate is cute. He’s no Junhonggie, but he’s pretty damn adorable.”
“Mine.” Zico 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 Junhong 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 Yongguk’s home. Zico was so on edge and panicky that Yongguk wouldn’t let him change back until he had calmed down.
“You don’t think Junhong told him anything, right?” Zico bit nervously on his fingertips and strained to hear the conversation inside the house. “I mean, he wouldn’t do that would he?”
“No.” Yongguk 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 Junhong and you’re just a whiny little bitch tonight.”
Zico almost whined at how welcoming his mate looked sitting comfortably in the kitchen while Junhong stirred a pot of soup on the stove. Daehyun had his hands wrapped around a cup of tea and the smile on his face was something Zico had only rarely glimpsed.
“Hi.” He breathed, walking towards the table and letting Daehyun fuss over the scrapes and cuts on his skin. “Did you have a good time with Junhong?”
Daehyun smiled, absentmindedly picking leaves and twigs out of Zico’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 Daehyun baby him if that was what he wanted.
“He’ll be fine. Zico is as healthy as a…” Junhong narrowed his eyes. “I can’t really use horse in this scenario, can I?”
Yongguk coughed and waved the comment away. “You can fix him up after supper, Daehyun. Zico cares more about his stomach than his health, trust me.”
He shrugged apologetically at him. “I get cranky when I’m hungry.” Junhong placed a bowl in front of him and he already had it polished off before Daehyun had even eaten half. Daehyun 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. Zico’s a slob at home and probably can’t even find his kitchen.” Junhong watched Zico and Yongguk simultaneously tilt their bowls up with disgust. “They’re pigs.”
Daehyun pushed his bowl away and frowned. “Are you going to show me your house?”
Zico coughed on his food and had to fight Yongguk 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 Daehyun’s pale cheeks meant he had turned the innocent sentence into something more and Zico mentally jumped up and down at the way he reacted.
“Let’s go then.” He thanked Junhong 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, Junhonggie.”
His cousin’s eyes promised revenge the second Daehyun was out of sight, but Zico wasn’t worried. Junhong 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.” Daehyun didn’t appreciate Zico just chuckling and pushing the helmet back into his hands.
“Trust me, I don’t even need it.”
---
“So, this is… Your house…” Daehyun stared at the overflowing sink and trash can filled with take-out boxes and soda cans. “Wow Zico, 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.”
Zico 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. Daehyun was taking care of him like no one besides Yongguk and Junhong had ever bothered to do before.
“I mean it, Zico. Don’t make me force you to do the dishes, too.”
Daehyun’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 Daehyun watched fondly the play of emotions cross Zico’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 Yongguk’s and his mother always cleaned up after us.”
Daehyun 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?” Zico looked regretfully at the clock on the wall. “It’s pretty late, Daehyun. Why don’t you just stay here and I’ll take you back in the morning?”
That option made Daehyun’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.” Zico pointed down the hall with a strained smile, his wolf whimpering at the thought that the bed would smell like him tomorrow.
Daehyun finally nodded and let Zico 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! Zico fought down the giggle rising in his throat and waited patiently for Daehyun to finish changing and tell him goodnight.
When Daehyun shyly peeked around the corner covered in Zico’s clothes and bathing in his scent, Zico 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 Zico thought he looked more beautiful than he ever had before.
“Goodnight Zico.” Daehyun bit his lip and smiled, his hair covering one of his eyes as he blushed. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”
Zico 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 Daehyun’s neck and inhale, his fingers slipping across the skin that would show as Daehyun would lift his arms around Zico’s neck.
With a final smile, Daehyun disappeared into the bedroom, the door shutting closed letting Zico 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. Zico could feel it clawing at his chest trying to escape and he had to order it back down with more dominance than he’d ever had to use before.
“I know he’s ours.” Zico told him, climbing onto the couch and pulling the blanket down over him. “But he has to know that first.”
---
“So I’ll see you after class tomorrow for our lab, right?” Daehyun played with the straps on his helmet, not wanting to give it back just yet. “We never got to work last night. I know we were supposed to do it today, but since I stayed with you I never got to do my homework or study for our next test and I really need to do that or I won't do well.”
Zico nodded before realizing his fingers were absentmindedly toying with the hem of Daehyun’s shirt and he awkwardly had to draw his hand back. “Sure. And thanks. For keeping Junhong company last night. He’s been a little lonely since he moved out to the village. And for helping me.” His ears flushed hot in embarrassment. “I’m a little ashamed you had to see my house like that.”
Daehyun laughed, the sound like bells in Zico’s ears. “Don’t worry about it. I enjoyed talking with Junhong. He gave me his number and we’re planning on getting together again soon.” His tongue darted out to wetten his lips and Zico lost his train of thought as he watched him. “And someone needs to take care of you. Pretty sure you’d be drowning in pizza boxes soon if it wasn’t for me.”
“Yeah…” He meant to say something else in reply, but Daehyun’s lips looked slick and glossy now and he couldn’t tear his eyes away from them.
“See you tomorrow then.” The helmet was shoved back into his hands and Daehyun hurriedly strolled away without looking back.
Zico snapped the helmet into place, still able to smell Daehyun’s shampoo inside and grinned widely the whole way home. He dropped his motorcycle to the ground in a heap and rushed into his cousin’s home and towards Junhong’s waiting arms.
“Thank you, thank you, you’re amazing and I love you so much more than Yongguk and I will be your slave for the rest of my life and- Ow Yongguk! Shouldn’t you be happy I’ve accepted your mate? Put me down!”
“Time to leave.” Yongguk dropped him outside on the front steps and slammed the door in his face.
“Rude!” Zico shouted over his shoulder. He left his bike on the lawn and walked the down the street towards his own home. He could still smell Daehyun as soon as he entered the door and all he could think about was rolling around in his bed and breathing the minty scent in all day.
He shot up in alarm later that afternoon after a long, comfortable nap, wrapped in the same blankets Daehyun had held close to his body the night before.
What if he came over again? The laundry hadn’t been done in days and there was no food in the fridge. They’d had to eat cereal out of the boxes that morning and that was no way to treat his mate!
Zico quickly jumped up and started the washer, throwing the first pile of clothes he came to in it. He ran to the small grocery store a few blocks away while they were washing and bought several bags of food in case Daehyun was hungry the next time he was there. He needed to find out what kinds of food and drinks Daehyun liked so he’d always have some on hand.
When he got home he threw the clothes into the dryer and started another load washing as he put up the groceries and eyed the state of his yard. The neighbor’s kid mowed the yard every couple of weeks for him, but other than that he didn’t mess with it much. The woods were so much more inviting to him then a boring yard. But what if Daehyun liked to sit outside? What if he wanted a chair on the back porch to sit comfortably and read in?
After another visit uptown to the furniture store, Zico had two identical chairs to sit side by side on, because of course if Daehyun was outside then he would be, too.
Yongguk was going to have to give him a raise. Now that he had a mate to spend money on he was going to go broke pretty soon. He wanted to buy everything Daehyun could ever possibly need to be comfortable. It was a given that before too long they would both be living here and Daehyun needed to feel at home.
Zico couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
---
He waited by the classroom door and read through his notes for their test. Of course he was waiting for Daehyun, too. And he kinda wanted to see the look on Minhyuk’s face when he finally realized Daehyun was spoken for.
“Hey.” A soft voice interrupted his studying and he looked up with a grin to see Daehyun leaning against the wall next to him, reading the notes over his shoulder. “You worried about the test? You should have said something and I would have helped you.”
“I think I’ll do okay.” He shoved his notes back into his bag and followed Daehyun to their table. Their table, Zico thought smugly to himself. Minhyuk’s disgusted glare was just the icing on the cake to him as Daehyun scooted his chair closer, so close that his thigh rubbed against Zico’s with every movement. “I did four loads of laundry yesterday.”
Daehyun burst out laughing and looked up at him with twinkling eyes. “I guess my spending the night was a good influence on you then?”
The chair in front of them crashed to the ground and Minhyuk spun around with a pained face. “You spent the night with Zico?” He sputtered, eyes bulging out of his face. “I took you on six dates and you wouldn’t even let me hold your hand!”
The look Daehyun gave him was frosty at best. “We went on six study dates, Minhyuk. I wasn’t aware that helping you pass your tests meant that I had to open my legs up for you.”
Zico wanted to kiss the angry expression off of his mate’s face and tell him he didn’t owe anyone anything, well, except for him. But that was a given. “Junhong wanted to know if you wanted to come to dinner again tonight. He said to tell you that you have an open invitation every night whether I’m there or not.” Zico wrinkled his nose up in annoyance. “And then Yongguk said that he’d prefer if I wasn’t there because everyone secretly hates me.”
Soft fingers were suddenly pressed against the top of his thigh and gently stroking along his jeans. “I’d rather you be there.” Daehyun pulled away as soon as the teacher entered and turned back to his last minute studying, completely ignoring the stupefied look on Zico’s face.
“Test time!” Professor Wang waved the papers in the air and grinned at his class.
“I’ll meet you in the lab after class.” Daehyun murmured towards him as their teacher made his way up each aisle with the tests. “Good luck, Zico.”
As always, Daehyun the genius was done long before he was. Zico made average grades on his work, but tests always made him a nervous wreck. Everything he had studied the day before ran right out of his head and into thin air. By the time he had finished (second to last), he was sweaty and his hair was a mess from anxiously running his fingers through it.
Daehyun chuckled when he entered the lab and immediately met him at the door, fingers sliding down his short hair and fixing the strays. “You’re a wreck.” His voice was soft and soothing and when their eyes caught Zico didn’t think he had enough strength to move away. Being so close to his mate but not able to express his affection was making him weak.
“Why are you nice to me now?” He blurted, unable to control himself when they were next to each other. “You hated me a week ago.”
“Because I can tell you’re trying.” Daehyun didn’t seem fazed by the direct question, dark eyes still staring unblinkingly at his. “And watching you eat Minhyuk alive every time I left with him wasn’t fun anymore when you started looking more sad than angry.”
Zico whined softly, his cheek pressing into Daehyun’s palm. “You were just trying to make me jealous?” He lowered his head until their foreheads were pressed together and he could count Daehyun’s eyelashes, a job he fully intended to do one day. “I’d flail him into pieces if you ever let him touch you.”
With a chuckle Daehyun stepped back, smirking evilly at him. “Okay then. Glad we got that cleared up. Let’s do our lab and then we can leave.”
Together? Zico was too nervous to ask, his stomach still in knots from how close Daehyun had let him get. He wanted to kiss the smug expression right off his lips until they were swollen and red and slick with s-
“So if you want to get started on the first step I can mix up the chemicals.” Daehyun walked away without even noticing that Zico hadn’t heard a word he said.
He awkwardly fiddled with the test tubes and turned the burners on and off a few times until Daehyun rolled his eyes and stormed back, shoving Zico out of the way. “You could have told me you weren’t paying attention, Zico.” He set the test tubes off to the side and placed the beakers on the burners, smacking Zico’s hands away when he tried to help. “I’ve got it. The more you annoy me the longer it takes to get out of here.”
Zico lowered his head and glared at his feet, the wolf growling in his chest for upsetting his mate. “I’m sorry.” He murmured, not wanting to look into Daehyun’s eyes until he was forgiven.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Daehyun’s soft voice instantly relaxed his stiff shoulders. “You get so upset when you think I’m angry at you. And to think this whole time I thought you were a stuck up egotistical jerk.”
He didn’t know if Daehyun was pleased or horrified at how submissive Zico became when he was near, but Zico couldn’t stop if he tried. His wolf may have been one of the strongest physically in the pack, but it was never considered a dominant personality.
“Maybe I didn’t want everyone to know I’m really a messy slob who is co-dependent on his cousin and sleeps with a stuffed Pokémon doll?”
Daehyun smiled and squeezed his fingers. “Let’s get this done and then we can go clean some more on your house before supper. I needed a chemical bath after using your bathroom yesterday.”
---
The look of surprise on Daehyun’s face was laughable when he pulled up behind Zico’s motorcycle an hour later.
“You picked up the yard?” He saw the bags of trash piled against the front door that Zico hadn’t ran to the dumpster yet. “Wow, you really needed that swift kick in the ass, didn’t you?”
He continued to look impressed as they entered the house and he saw the mopped floors and neatly folded laundry covering the table.
“I told you I did laundry.” Zico scratched his neck and grimaced. “I found clothes I forgot I even had. Apparently I went through quite a Hawaiian shirt stage at one point.”
Daehyun stuck his tongue out. “You need a donate pile in addition to the trash bags.” He threw his backpack onto the couch and rolled the sleeves of his tan knitted sweater up. “I’ll help you carry all of the laundry to your room and then you can put it away while I start on the bathroom.”
The sight of him carrying Zico’s boxers into his bedroom was enough to make Zico lose his train of thought again. He wondered if Daehyun wore boxers or briefs, what color he liked the best, what he would look like the first time Zico jerked his pants down and would he blush all the way down his chest?
“Not getting any younger in here, Zico!”
Cursing at himself, Zico grabbed another stack off the table and hurried after him towards his bedroom. Those thoughts weren’t welcomed until he had his mate begging him for it. Until then they were just a distraction that made him overly sexually frustrated and prone to sudden space out attacks.
They worked side by side until Junhong called to ask if they were coming to eat because Yongguk was hungry and he didn’t want to have to buy a new table again after he broke it out of hunger.
“Do you want to change?” Zico looked him over and felt a stab of guilt for making his mate work so hard when he should be relaxing and let Zico do everything. “You're sweaty and smell like bleach.”
Daehyun nodded, pulling the sweater over his head without a second though. Zico choked on his saliva, eyes glued on the bare shoulders and sharp collarbones visible because of the gray tank top Daehyun was wearing. “I can throw this in the washer while we’re gone.” He started to walk out before stopping and looking over his shoulder with innocent eyes. “Do you have something of yours I can borrow?”
Managing a weak nod, Zico still couldn’t unglue his eyes from more skin on the other by than he’d ever seen. Daehyun always wore his neatly pressed sweaters to class and Zico hadn’t had the nerve to imagine what he looked like under them and here he was just offering himself up on a plate.
When Daehyun came back from throwing his sweater into the washer he laughed at Zico’s dumbfounded expression. “What’s the matter?” His head cocked to the side and he blinked childishly.
Zico swallowed and shook his head. His wolf was snapping its teeth and begging to be let out to mark all of that delicious tanned flesh. “N-Nothing.” He stammered, turning to dig through his closet for a spare hoodie. He grabbed a plain grey one and threw it at Daehyun, staying as far away from his as possible as he left the room. “I’ll be outside.”
He was near to pacing by the time Daehyun emerged from the house, face washed and hair neatly brushed, body swimming in Zico’s oversized hoodie. He always bought them a size bigger than he needed for comfort but now he knew he was just preparing for this moment to be able to see his tiny mate folding the edges of the sleeves up and pushing the collar to cover his exposed shoulder.
“I’m ready.” Daehyun smiled brightly and jumped down the last steps. “Are we walking again? It’s nice out.” He grabbed Zico’s hand and braided their fingers together with no sign of nervousness. “Junhong was really nice, I’m glad I get to see him again. Your cousin was nice too, but…” He trailed off and wrinkled his nose.
“But he’s also kind of an asshole?” Zico chuckled at Daehyun’s guilty look. “That’s just the first impression of Yongguk. Okay and maybe the next dozen impressions. But he’s not a bad guy, I promise. He just has a lot on his mind lately and it makes him overly abrasive.”
Daehyun’s lips formed an ‘oh’. “Is he okay? Is it something we can help with?”
Zico stopped the growl in his throat and pulled Daehyun closer to his side. This was his mate. Yongguk had Junhong to take care of him. There was no way he was letting Daehyun out of his sight to comfort someone else.
ours.
As much as he loved Yongguk, his wolf would declare war if it thought Daehyun was too close to another member of the pack.
Junhong pulled Daehyun into the house and started his never-ending stream of sentences, asking him how his day was, if he thought he had done well on their test, if Zico had been treating him with respect or not.
Yongguk watched him, fondness lacing his eyes. “Isn’t he a sweetheart?”
“You’re not going to start cooing at him are you? I’m starving, but I will throw up on you.”
“You’re just jealous you haven’t full mated yet.” Yongguk smirked at his cousin. “I can smell your scent on him but it’s not at full strength yet. You need to get on that.” He snorted. “Literally.”
“Shishi, shut up and help me carry the food to the table.”
Yongguk jumped away from the wall in an instant. “Coming Junhonggie.”
This was the type of meal Zico always wanted but never had. A family, albeit an odd one, but a family nonetheless. His cousin and their mates sitting contentedly around the kitchen table and talking about their days, smiling and laughing and happy.
He caught Daehyun’s eyes and curled his lips up into a grin. This was how it was going to be every night from now on. As soon as he told Daehyun the truth then they could start to move forward together, move into his home, have a real relationship.
His smile dropped as he realized he was going to have to think of a way to explain to Daehyun what he really was. Surely his mate would accept it, that’s what a mate was for.
“You okay?” Daehyun scooted his chair towards him and slid his hand down over the inside of his thigh. “Are you feeling sick, baby?”
“No.” He was so close that his black hair ticked Zico’s face. With a sigh he dropped his head down and nuzzled closer. Lips mouthed at the lobe of Daehyun’s ear and Zico moaned quietly at the first taste of his skin, the scent drawing him in until he was held captive. Daehyun went still from the moment Zico's tongue touched him and Zico could smell the arousal coming from his body. Daehyun was almost ready to be mated, so close, so close. If he could just build up the final push to tell him the truth, Zico knew it would be time. “Let’s go home.”
Junhong raised a thumb up high in the air when the two shoved their chairs back, hands grabbing wildly at each other’s body as Zico walked them clumsily towards the door.
“What’s wrong with me?” Daehyun asked, his voice dazed. Zico’s tongue was hot and thick against his neck, making Daehyun so dizzy he could barely stand.
“You accepted me.” Zico smiled proudly and lifted his eyes. “This is the bonding. You won’t be able to think straight when I touch you.” The front door clicked closed behind them and Zico thanked god they were now hidden from the village eyes so he could yank the giant hoodie off Daehyun’s body. “Come here.”
Daehyun’s confused and slightly frightened eyes stared back at him for a split second until Zico found himself slammed against the door and Daehyun’s lips were moving messily against his own, teeth clacking together painfully and the slight taste of blood on their lips.
“Ten minutes ago I was eating and now all I can think about is how much I want you inside me.” Daehyun laughed hysterically as he pulled at Zico’s t-shirt. “What are you doing to me?”
Now was the right time to tell him about the wolf DNA, about how he was linked to Zico forever and there was nothing either of them could do about it.
But Zico was a coward and he wanted to see Daehyun’s sweat-slicked face as he made love to him for hours more than he wanted to tell the truth.
“Bedroom.” Zico gasped when Daehyun dropped to his knees and frantically unzipped his jeans, tugging them and his boxers down his legs in one quick move.
“Too far.” Daehyun’s voice was soft as he kissed tenderly across Zico’s hips and down his belly. “Right here is fine.”
Zico tried to assert his dominance but with one press of Daehyun’s tongue against his overheated flesh he was a goner.
The technique was unskilled and the grip around him was shaky but Zico didn’t think he’d ever felt anything as amazing in his life. This was the first time in his over fifteen years of sexual experience that he’d been touched by someone he had feelings for. The first time he’d looked down into dark eyes and wanted to never look away.
“Mine.” Zico whispered, his fingers finding their way to card through Daehyun’s disheveled locks. “Ours.” The wolf burst through against his will and he was glad the room was dark enough to hide the icy blue color in his eyes. Daehyun groaned around him when Zico tightened his fingers and jerked harshly on his hair. “So good… You’re so good.”
He could feel his stomach tightening and his toes curling and tried to force Daehyun away, but he just shook his head and growled possessively, the vibrations sending shock waves through Zico’s body.
“I changed my mind.” Daehyun popped off of him with wet lips and a sly grin. “This now, inside me later.” His teeth bit gently over Zico’s tender flesh. “I want this to be all about you.” With a final deep breath, he dove back in, nose brushing against Zico’s stomach, the moaning and tightening around him instantly causing Zico to buck and release down the back of his throat with a cry of Daehyun’s name.
Zico slunk to the floor and tried to catch his breath, ignoring the quiet laugh Daehyun made as he fixed his jeans and smoothed through his hair.
“Wow, that was just… Wow.” Zico rolled his head up and licked his dry lips. “You know you’re doing that every night from now on, right?”
Daehyun rolled his eyes. “Sure. Come on, let’s go to bed.”
When he stood up and reached a hand out, Zico saw that while he was very happily satisfied, Daehyun still looked like he was in a large amount of pain.
With his own crafty grin, Zico agreed and let Daehyun lead him into the bedroom and watched him pull back the clean blankets from the bed. “No.”
Zico shocked him and Daehyun looked between him and the bed with confusion. “Do you want me to sleep on the couch?”
“Lean over the bed.” As much as Zico wanted to see him fall apart underneath him for right now he was content pressing him into the bed and listening to his muffled cries under his palm.
Daehyun bit his lip in worry but followed his rules. When Daehyun’s hands were on him and he was desperate was one thing, Zico had no problem sitting back and letting the other take control. But right now he wanted to please his mate and had no other thoughts in his head but what Daehyun’s orgasm would sound like.
His top came off easily enough, but he stiffened when Zico reached around to unbutton his pants.
“Shh.” His teeth found the soft flesh of shoulder that he had been daydreaming about all night. “Just relax.”
When Daehyun finally loosened up and let Zico remove his pants and underwear (boxer briefs, Zico noticed with a twitch under his own boxers), he was left leaning over the bed with his bottom half left exposed for just Zico’s eyes to see. Every inch of his skin was tanned and silky and so soft looking he had to pause his plan just to touch it. Daehyun shivered under the heavy weight of his palms and gentle sucking of Zico’s mouth on the back of his neck.
“You’re amazing.” Zico murmured. He took a step forward and nudged Daehyun’s legs apart with his knee. “So perfect.” He rocked forward, the sound of Daehyun’s whine making him do it again. “You want me?” Daehyun nodded and pressed back into him. “Not tonight, baby. Not all the way until you know everything.” A finger slid down the crease of his ass and flattened against his opening. “But I can still be inside you.” He dipped his finger inside and had to wrap his other arm tight around Daehyun’s belly to hold him up. “You like this?”
Daehyun whimpered and tried to nod, but fell forward as a second digit joined the first and he could barely do more than rock himself backwards into Zico’s waiting chest.
Zico could feel the sweat breaking out on his forehead. Controlling himself when Daehyun was mumbling his name and scrambling on his bed, gripping his bed sheets tight in his fists, was a hard job. His wolf was roaring at him to take his mate and claim him, mark him with his teeth so that everyone knew who he belonged to.
“Not yet.” Zico hissed to it, a stab of guilt hitting his chest when Daehyun whined painfully thinking the order was to him.
“Zico!”
“So pretty.” Zico mouthed against his spine. “So pretty on my bed. How good does this feel, Daehyun?” He twisted his fingers inside of him and hit a spot that had Daehyun keening, his legs shaking as he felt himself slipping out of control. “Tell me you’re mine.” He ordered, adding the final finger inside of him and rubbing his thumb soothingly over Daehyun’s hips. “Say it and you can come.”
Daehyun pressed his face against the bed and looked up at Zico with bleary eyes. “Yours.” He whispered, his mouth open and panting. “All yours.”
A last twist of his hand and Daehyun was done, his breath coming out in a whoosh and a mangled version of Zico’s name leaving his swollen lips as he released on top of the clean blanket. He fell all the way onto the bed, not caring that his chest was now coated with the sticky liquid.
Zico left him there to regain his breath as he washed his hands and splashed water across his heated face. He could have fucked Daehyun easily, he had damn well recovered from their experience in the living room, but he wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to wait. Daehyun deserved to know the truth about everything before they went that far together. Zico had a clearer head now and he wanted their first time to have no secrets between them. Knowing he wasn’t yet in heat helped calm himself down. Once he went fully into heat then all bets were off. Daehyun would become his in every room in the house, upon every surface they could find.
When he entered the bedroom again he chuckled at Daehyun still spread out on top of the bed, jeans in a pile beside his feet and tank top pathetically rolled around his shoulders.
He jumped in surprise when he felt Zico gently lift him away and clean his stomach with a warm cloth. “Get in bed, I’ll change the blanket.”
Too tired to argue, Daehyun sleepily pulled his underwear back up and climbed into the bed, arm crossed over his eyes and chest still heaving from exertion.
Zico pulled the top blanket off and threw it into the floor to wash in the morning. He grabbed a spare from the hallway closet and laid it over the bed. “Goodnight Daehyun.” His eyes were already closed and Zico didn’t want to wake him if he was asleep. He rolled onto his side, a wide smile crossing his face when he felt Daehyun shift and curl up next to him, arm and leg thrown across Zico’s body.
“G’night Zico.”
part three
Rated: M
Length: 7k
part one
Even though Zico limped into the next class covered in scratches and still hurting, it was completely worth it to hear Yongguk admit that Daehyun’s scent on him had almost doubled in strength.
“Hello Zico.” Daehyun 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 seat in front. “I- Yeah, I mean… F-Fine.” He coughed awkwardly and toned down his smile into a normal one. “It was fine. Yours?”
Daehyun shrugged, still not looking at him. “I worked most of the time. Spent a couple hours reading through our labs.”
Minhyuk skipped in, the smile on his face dying as he saw his former tablemate sitting comfortably with a smug Zico. “Dae? Did you mean to sit there?”
“I figured we were supposed to sit with our lab partners.” Daehyun didn’t sound apologetic in the least. “Sorry Minhyuk. But this way Zico and I can talk easier about our lab dates.”
Dates. The word falling so easily out of Daehyun’s mouth made Zico want to weep with happiness.
It was clear Minhyuk 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 Daehyun was absolutely sure of this, glaring when Zico smirked back at him.
The class was spent barely breathing as Daehyun shifted in his seat and his knee pressed against Zico’s thigh. He kept waiting for him to move it away, but Daehyun didn’t act concerned, his concentration devoted to their Professor.
“You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.” Daehyun commented casually as they gathered their books up. “Is it serious?”
Zico was saved from lying by the ringing of his telephone. “Sorry.” He mouthed, smiling when he saw Junhong’s name on the screen. “Hello?”
“You’re leaving class, right? Is Daehyun near you?” Junhong whispered into the phone.
“Um, yes?”
“Good. Now laugh like I just said something funny.” Zico followed his orders without question. It had already been proven that Junhong’s ideas worked. “Now tell me you’re coming over and call me Junhonggie. No, I don’t let him call me that all the time, be quiet Yongguk!”
Daehyun 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 Zico calmly. “I was going to ask if you wanted to do it now but I guess you have other plans.”
Zico didn’t know if Daehyun really was busy tomorrow or if he was lying just to see which direction Zico 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 Daehyun’s face. “I can just tell Junhong 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.”
Daehyun 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.” Zico didn’t want to start things off by lying to his mate. That wasn’t how relationships stayed together. Gentle teasing was one thing but seeing Daehyun fuming next to him almost made his heart hurt. Yongguk had kept himself distant from Junhong in the beginning and it just made him miserable to be around. Zico wanted Daehyun to always know the truth about him. “Junhong just likes to take care of me.”
“Oh.”
“Do you really have something to do tomorrow?” Zico asked him gently. The bright dusting across Daehyun’s cheeks gave him his answer. “You can come with me. If you want.”
The wrinkled nose Daehyun gave him in response was so adorable and Zico 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.
Zico could see his mate breaking down for him, the wall Daehyun had built to keep him out was crumbling with every step they took. “You won’t be.” He assured him, taking Daehyun 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 Daehyun’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, Daehyun quickly wrapping both arms tightly around his stomach and his chest pressing tight against Zico’s back. This was how they would sleep together, Zico decided. He would be the little spoon because Daehyun 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 Daehyun to peel away from him any sooner than he had to, so Zico 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 were newcomers and to play it on the up and up. The last thing Zico needed right now was for someone to come galloping in from the forest and change right in front of Daehyun.
“This is my cousin’s house.” Zico reluctantly let Daehyun climb off his motorcycle and helped him remove his helmet. Daehyun’s black hair was crumpled and messy, but Zico 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.”
Daehyun 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.” Zico grinned sneakily as he led him up the porch steps.
“Zico!” Junhong burst through the door with his serial killer smile firmly in place. “You brought a guest!” He quickly took over, ushering Daehyun into the home and yelling for Yongguk to come and be sociable.
Yongguk 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 Zico was pushing his scent around, the wolf trying to be the dominate presence even if he knew Yongguk wasn’t a threat. “You must be Daehyun.” His eyes raked over Daehyun’s body, just to spite Zico. “You’re smaller than I’d thought you’d be.”
The growl that came out of Zico’s throat was possessive and Yongguk laughed knowing he had won. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Zico asked tightly.
“Nope.” Yongguk sat down and leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head. “I want to hear all about your little friend here, cousin.”
Junhong groaned, kicking the chair legs forward so that Yongguk had to scramble to stay upright. “You two are idiots. Go play while I get to know Zico’s friend.”
“But baby-“
“Go.” Junhong pointed to the door. “Don’t make me say it again, Shishi.”
The great Alpha slunk out like a wounded puppy with his tail between his legs, Zico snorting behind him. He gave Daehyun 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. Junhong would take care of Daehyun until he could explain things and help him to understand their secrets.
Yongguk gripped his neck in a headlock as they stumbled into the woods. “Your mate is cute. He’s no Junhonggie, but he’s pretty damn adorable.”
“Mine.” Zico 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 Junhong 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 Yongguk’s home. Zico was so on edge and panicky that Yongguk wouldn’t let him change back until he had calmed down.
“You don’t think Junhong told him anything, right?” Zico bit nervously on his fingertips and strained to hear the conversation inside the house. “I mean, he wouldn’t do that would he?”
“No.” Yongguk 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 Junhong and you’re just a whiny little bitch tonight.”
Zico almost whined at how welcoming his mate looked sitting comfortably in the kitchen while Junhong stirred a pot of soup on the stove. Daehyun had his hands wrapped around a cup of tea and the smile on his face was something Zico had only rarely glimpsed.
“Hi.” He breathed, walking towards the table and letting Daehyun fuss over the scrapes and cuts on his skin. “Did you have a good time with Junhong?”
Daehyun smiled, absentmindedly picking leaves and twigs out of Zico’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 Daehyun baby him if that was what he wanted.
“He’ll be fine. Zico is as healthy as a…” Junhong narrowed his eyes. “I can’t really use horse in this scenario, can I?”
Yongguk coughed and waved the comment away. “You can fix him up after supper, Daehyun. Zico cares more about his stomach than his health, trust me.”
He shrugged apologetically at him. “I get cranky when I’m hungry.” Junhong placed a bowl in front of him and he already had it polished off before Daehyun had even eaten half. Daehyun 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. Zico’s a slob at home and probably can’t even find his kitchen.” Junhong watched Zico and Yongguk simultaneously tilt their bowls up with disgust. “They’re pigs.”
Daehyun pushed his bowl away and frowned. “Are you going to show me your house?”
Zico coughed on his food and had to fight Yongguk 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 Daehyun’s pale cheeks meant he had turned the innocent sentence into something more and Zico mentally jumped up and down at the way he reacted.
“Let’s go then.” He thanked Junhong 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, Junhonggie.”
His cousin’s eyes promised revenge the second Daehyun was out of sight, but Zico wasn’t worried. Junhong 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.” Daehyun didn’t appreciate Zico just chuckling and pushing the helmet back into his hands.
“Trust me, I don’t even need it.”
---
“So, this is… Your house…” Daehyun stared at the overflowing sink and trash can filled with take-out boxes and soda cans. “Wow Zico, 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.”
Zico 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. Daehyun was taking care of him like no one besides Yongguk and Junhong had ever bothered to do before.
“I mean it, Zico. Don’t make me force you to do the dishes, too.”
Daehyun’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 Daehyun watched fondly the play of emotions cross Zico’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 Yongguk’s and his mother always cleaned up after us.”
Daehyun 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?” Zico looked regretfully at the clock on the wall. “It’s pretty late, Daehyun. Why don’t you just stay here and I’ll take you back in the morning?”
That option made Daehyun’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.” Zico pointed down the hall with a strained smile, his wolf whimpering at the thought that the bed would smell like him tomorrow.
Daehyun finally nodded and let Zico 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! Zico fought down the giggle rising in his throat and waited patiently for Daehyun to finish changing and tell him goodnight.
When Daehyun shyly peeked around the corner covered in Zico’s clothes and bathing in his scent, Zico 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 Zico thought he looked more beautiful than he ever had before.
“Goodnight Zico.” Daehyun bit his lip and smiled, his hair covering one of his eyes as he blushed. “Thanks for letting me stay over.”
Zico 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 Daehyun’s neck and inhale, his fingers slipping across the skin that would show as Daehyun would lift his arms around Zico’s neck.
With a final smile, Daehyun disappeared into the bedroom, the door shutting closed letting Zico 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. Zico could feel it clawing at his chest trying to escape and he had to order it back down with more dominance than he’d ever had to use before.
“I know he’s ours.” Zico told him, climbing onto the couch and pulling the blanket down over him. “But he has to know that first.”
---
“So I’ll see you after class tomorrow for our lab, right?” Daehyun played with the straps on his helmet, not wanting to give it back just yet. “We never got to work last night. I know we were supposed to do it today, but since I stayed with you I never got to do my homework or study for our next test and I really need to do that or I won't do well.”
Zico nodded before realizing his fingers were absentmindedly toying with the hem of Daehyun’s shirt and he awkwardly had to draw his hand back. “Sure. And thanks. For keeping Junhong company last night. He’s been a little lonely since he moved out to the village. And for helping me.” His ears flushed hot in embarrassment. “I’m a little ashamed you had to see my house like that.”
Daehyun laughed, the sound like bells in Zico’s ears. “Don’t worry about it. I enjoyed talking with Junhong. He gave me his number and we’re planning on getting together again soon.” His tongue darted out to wetten his lips and Zico lost his train of thought as he watched him. “And someone needs to take care of you. Pretty sure you’d be drowning in pizza boxes soon if it wasn’t for me.”
“Yeah…” He meant to say something else in reply, but Daehyun’s lips looked slick and glossy now and he couldn’t tear his eyes away from them.
“See you tomorrow then.” The helmet was shoved back into his hands and Daehyun hurriedly strolled away without looking back.
Zico snapped the helmet into place, still able to smell Daehyun’s shampoo inside and grinned widely the whole way home. He dropped his motorcycle to the ground in a heap and rushed into his cousin’s home and towards Junhong’s waiting arms.
“Thank you, thank you, you’re amazing and I love you so much more than Yongguk and I will be your slave for the rest of my life and- Ow Yongguk! Shouldn’t you be happy I’ve accepted your mate? Put me down!”
“Time to leave.” Yongguk dropped him outside on the front steps and slammed the door in his face.
“Rude!” Zico shouted over his shoulder. He left his bike on the lawn and walked the down the street towards his own home. He could still smell Daehyun as soon as he entered the door and all he could think about was rolling around in his bed and breathing the minty scent in all day.
He shot up in alarm later that afternoon after a long, comfortable nap, wrapped in the same blankets Daehyun had held close to his body the night before.
What if he came over again? The laundry hadn’t been done in days and there was no food in the fridge. They’d had to eat cereal out of the boxes that morning and that was no way to treat his mate!
Zico quickly jumped up and started the washer, throwing the first pile of clothes he came to in it. He ran to the small grocery store a few blocks away while they were washing and bought several bags of food in case Daehyun was hungry the next time he was there. He needed to find out what kinds of food and drinks Daehyun liked so he’d always have some on hand.
When he got home he threw the clothes into the dryer and started another load washing as he put up the groceries and eyed the state of his yard. The neighbor’s kid mowed the yard every couple of weeks for him, but other than that he didn’t mess with it much. The woods were so much more inviting to him then a boring yard. But what if Daehyun liked to sit outside? What if he wanted a chair on the back porch to sit comfortably and read in?
After another visit uptown to the furniture store, Zico had two identical chairs to sit side by side on, because of course if Daehyun was outside then he would be, too.
Yongguk was going to have to give him a raise. Now that he had a mate to spend money on he was going to go broke pretty soon. He wanted to buy everything Daehyun could ever possibly need to be comfortable. It was a given that before too long they would both be living here and Daehyun needed to feel at home.
Zico couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
---
He waited by the classroom door and read through his notes for their test. Of course he was waiting for Daehyun, too. And he kinda wanted to see the look on Minhyuk’s face when he finally realized Daehyun was spoken for.
“Hey.” A soft voice interrupted his studying and he looked up with a grin to see Daehyun leaning against the wall next to him, reading the notes over his shoulder. “You worried about the test? You should have said something and I would have helped you.”
“I think I’ll do okay.” He shoved his notes back into his bag and followed Daehyun to their table. Their table, Zico thought smugly to himself. Minhyuk’s disgusted glare was just the icing on the cake to him as Daehyun scooted his chair closer, so close that his thigh rubbed against Zico’s with every movement. “I did four loads of laundry yesterday.”
Daehyun burst out laughing and looked up at him with twinkling eyes. “I guess my spending the night was a good influence on you then?”
The chair in front of them crashed to the ground and Minhyuk spun around with a pained face. “You spent the night with Zico?” He sputtered, eyes bulging out of his face. “I took you on six dates and you wouldn’t even let me hold your hand!”
The look Daehyun gave him was frosty at best. “We went on six study dates, Minhyuk. I wasn’t aware that helping you pass your tests meant that I had to open my legs up for you.”
Zico wanted to kiss the angry expression off of his mate’s face and tell him he didn’t owe anyone anything, well, except for him. But that was a given. “Junhong wanted to know if you wanted to come to dinner again tonight. He said to tell you that you have an open invitation every night whether I’m there or not.” Zico wrinkled his nose up in annoyance. “And then Yongguk said that he’d prefer if I wasn’t there because everyone secretly hates me.”
Soft fingers were suddenly pressed against the top of his thigh and gently stroking along his jeans. “I’d rather you be there.” Daehyun pulled away as soon as the teacher entered and turned back to his last minute studying, completely ignoring the stupefied look on Zico’s face.
“Test time!” Professor Wang waved the papers in the air and grinned at his class.
“I’ll meet you in the lab after class.” Daehyun murmured towards him as their teacher made his way up each aisle with the tests. “Good luck, Zico.”
As always, Daehyun the genius was done long before he was. Zico made average grades on his work, but tests always made him a nervous wreck. Everything he had studied the day before ran right out of his head and into thin air. By the time he had finished (second to last), he was sweaty and his hair was a mess from anxiously running his fingers through it.
Daehyun chuckled when he entered the lab and immediately met him at the door, fingers sliding down his short hair and fixing the strays. “You’re a wreck.” His voice was soft and soothing and when their eyes caught Zico didn’t think he had enough strength to move away. Being so close to his mate but not able to express his affection was making him weak.
“Why are you nice to me now?” He blurted, unable to control himself when they were next to each other. “You hated me a week ago.”
“Because I can tell you’re trying.” Daehyun didn’t seem fazed by the direct question, dark eyes still staring unblinkingly at his. “And watching you eat Minhyuk alive every time I left with him wasn’t fun anymore when you started looking more sad than angry.”
Zico whined softly, his cheek pressing into Daehyun’s palm. “You were just trying to make me jealous?” He lowered his head until their foreheads were pressed together and he could count Daehyun’s eyelashes, a job he fully intended to do one day. “I’d flail him into pieces if you ever let him touch you.”
With a chuckle Daehyun stepped back, smirking evilly at him. “Okay then. Glad we got that cleared up. Let’s do our lab and then we can leave.”
Together? Zico was too nervous to ask, his stomach still in knots from how close Daehyun had let him get. He wanted to kiss the smug expression right off his lips until they were swollen and red and slick with s-
“So if you want to get started on the first step I can mix up the chemicals.” Daehyun walked away without even noticing that Zico hadn’t heard a word he said.
He awkwardly fiddled with the test tubes and turned the burners on and off a few times until Daehyun rolled his eyes and stormed back, shoving Zico out of the way. “You could have told me you weren’t paying attention, Zico.” He set the test tubes off to the side and placed the beakers on the burners, smacking Zico’s hands away when he tried to help. “I’ve got it. The more you annoy me the longer it takes to get out of here.”
Zico lowered his head and glared at his feet, the wolf growling in his chest for upsetting his mate. “I’m sorry.” He murmured, not wanting to look into Daehyun’s eyes until he was forgiven.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Daehyun’s soft voice instantly relaxed his stiff shoulders. “You get so upset when you think I’m angry at you. And to think this whole time I thought you were a stuck up egotistical jerk.”
He didn’t know if Daehyun was pleased or horrified at how submissive Zico became when he was near, but Zico couldn’t stop if he tried. His wolf may have been one of the strongest physically in the pack, but it was never considered a dominant personality.
“Maybe I didn’t want everyone to know I’m really a messy slob who is co-dependent on his cousin and sleeps with a stuffed Pokémon doll?”
Daehyun smiled and squeezed his fingers. “Let’s get this done and then we can go clean some more on your house before supper. I needed a chemical bath after using your bathroom yesterday.”
---
The look of surprise on Daehyun’s face was laughable when he pulled up behind Zico’s motorcycle an hour later.
“You picked up the yard?” He saw the bags of trash piled against the front door that Zico hadn’t ran to the dumpster yet. “Wow, you really needed that swift kick in the ass, didn’t you?”
He continued to look impressed as they entered the house and he saw the mopped floors and neatly folded laundry covering the table.
“I told you I did laundry.” Zico scratched his neck and grimaced. “I found clothes I forgot I even had. Apparently I went through quite a Hawaiian shirt stage at one point.”
Daehyun stuck his tongue out. “You need a donate pile in addition to the trash bags.” He threw his backpack onto the couch and rolled the sleeves of his tan knitted sweater up. “I’ll help you carry all of the laundry to your room and then you can put it away while I start on the bathroom.”
The sight of him carrying Zico’s boxers into his bedroom was enough to make Zico lose his train of thought again. He wondered if Daehyun wore boxers or briefs, what color he liked the best, what he would look like the first time Zico jerked his pants down and would he blush all the way down his chest?
“Not getting any younger in here, Zico!”
Cursing at himself, Zico grabbed another stack off the table and hurried after him towards his bedroom. Those thoughts weren’t welcomed until he had his mate begging him for it. Until then they were just a distraction that made him overly sexually frustrated and prone to sudden space out attacks.
They worked side by side until Junhong called to ask if they were coming to eat because Yongguk was hungry and he didn’t want to have to buy a new table again after he broke it out of hunger.
“Do you want to change?” Zico looked him over and felt a stab of guilt for making his mate work so hard when he should be relaxing and let Zico do everything. “You're sweaty and smell like bleach.”
Daehyun nodded, pulling the sweater over his head without a second though. Zico choked on his saliva, eyes glued on the bare shoulders and sharp collarbones visible because of the gray tank top Daehyun was wearing. “I can throw this in the washer while we’re gone.” He started to walk out before stopping and looking over his shoulder with innocent eyes. “Do you have something of yours I can borrow?”
Managing a weak nod, Zico still couldn’t unglue his eyes from more skin on the other by than he’d ever seen. Daehyun always wore his neatly pressed sweaters to class and Zico hadn’t had the nerve to imagine what he looked like under them and here he was just offering himself up on a plate.
When Daehyun came back from throwing his sweater into the washer he laughed at Zico’s dumbfounded expression. “What’s the matter?” His head cocked to the side and he blinked childishly.
Zico swallowed and shook his head. His wolf was snapping its teeth and begging to be let out to mark all of that delicious tanned flesh. “N-Nothing.” He stammered, turning to dig through his closet for a spare hoodie. He grabbed a plain grey one and threw it at Daehyun, staying as far away from his as possible as he left the room. “I’ll be outside.”
He was near to pacing by the time Daehyun emerged from the house, face washed and hair neatly brushed, body swimming in Zico’s oversized hoodie. He always bought them a size bigger than he needed for comfort but now he knew he was just preparing for this moment to be able to see his tiny mate folding the edges of the sleeves up and pushing the collar to cover his exposed shoulder.
“I’m ready.” Daehyun smiled brightly and jumped down the last steps. “Are we walking again? It’s nice out.” He grabbed Zico’s hand and braided their fingers together with no sign of nervousness. “Junhong was really nice, I’m glad I get to see him again. Your cousin was nice too, but…” He trailed off and wrinkled his nose.
“But he’s also kind of an asshole?” Zico chuckled at Daehyun’s guilty look. “That’s just the first impression of Yongguk. Okay and maybe the next dozen impressions. But he’s not a bad guy, I promise. He just has a lot on his mind lately and it makes him overly abrasive.”
Daehyun’s lips formed an ‘oh’. “Is he okay? Is it something we can help with?”
Zico stopped the growl in his throat and pulled Daehyun closer to his side. This was his mate. Yongguk had Junhong to take care of him. There was no way he was letting Daehyun out of his sight to comfort someone else.
ours.
As much as he loved Yongguk, his wolf would declare war if it thought Daehyun was too close to another member of the pack.
Junhong pulled Daehyun into the house and started his never-ending stream of sentences, asking him how his day was, if he thought he had done well on their test, if Zico had been treating him with respect or not.
Yongguk watched him, fondness lacing his eyes. “Isn’t he a sweetheart?”
“You’re not going to start cooing at him are you? I’m starving, but I will throw up on you.”
“You’re just jealous you haven’t full mated yet.” Yongguk smirked at his cousin. “I can smell your scent on him but it’s not at full strength yet. You need to get on that.” He snorted. “Literally.”
“Shishi, shut up and help me carry the food to the table.”
Yongguk jumped away from the wall in an instant. “Coming Junhonggie.”
This was the type of meal Zico always wanted but never had. A family, albeit an odd one, but a family nonetheless. His cousin and their mates sitting contentedly around the kitchen table and talking about their days, smiling and laughing and happy.
He caught Daehyun’s eyes and curled his lips up into a grin. This was how it was going to be every night from now on. As soon as he told Daehyun the truth then they could start to move forward together, move into his home, have a real relationship.
His smile dropped as he realized he was going to have to think of a way to explain to Daehyun what he really was. Surely his mate would accept it, that’s what a mate was for.
“You okay?” Daehyun scooted his chair towards him and slid his hand down over the inside of his thigh. “Are you feeling sick, baby?”
“No.” He was so close that his black hair ticked Zico’s face. With a sigh he dropped his head down and nuzzled closer. Lips mouthed at the lobe of Daehyun’s ear and Zico moaned quietly at the first taste of his skin, the scent drawing him in until he was held captive. Daehyun went still from the moment Zico's tongue touched him and Zico could smell the arousal coming from his body. Daehyun was almost ready to be mated, so close, so close. If he could just build up the final push to tell him the truth, Zico knew it would be time. “Let’s go home.”
Junhong raised a thumb up high in the air when the two shoved their chairs back, hands grabbing wildly at each other’s body as Zico walked them clumsily towards the door.
“What’s wrong with me?” Daehyun asked, his voice dazed. Zico’s tongue was hot and thick against his neck, making Daehyun so dizzy he could barely stand.
“You accepted me.” Zico smiled proudly and lifted his eyes. “This is the bonding. You won’t be able to think straight when I touch you.” The front door clicked closed behind them and Zico thanked god they were now hidden from the village eyes so he could yank the giant hoodie off Daehyun’s body. “Come here.”
Daehyun’s confused and slightly frightened eyes stared back at him for a split second until Zico found himself slammed against the door and Daehyun’s lips were moving messily against his own, teeth clacking together painfully and the slight taste of blood on their lips.
“Ten minutes ago I was eating and now all I can think about is how much I want you inside me.” Daehyun laughed hysterically as he pulled at Zico’s t-shirt. “What are you doing to me?”
Now was the right time to tell him about the wolf DNA, about how he was linked to Zico forever and there was nothing either of them could do about it.
But Zico was a coward and he wanted to see Daehyun’s sweat-slicked face as he made love to him for hours more than he wanted to tell the truth.
“Bedroom.” Zico gasped when Daehyun dropped to his knees and frantically unzipped his jeans, tugging them and his boxers down his legs in one quick move.
“Too far.” Daehyun’s voice was soft as he kissed tenderly across Zico’s hips and down his belly. “Right here is fine.”
Zico tried to assert his dominance but with one press of Daehyun’s tongue against his overheated flesh he was a goner.
The technique was unskilled and the grip around him was shaky but Zico didn’t think he’d ever felt anything as amazing in his life. This was the first time in his over fifteen years of sexual experience that he’d been touched by someone he had feelings for. The first time he’d looked down into dark eyes and wanted to never look away.
“Mine.” Zico whispered, his fingers finding their way to card through Daehyun’s disheveled locks. “Ours.” The wolf burst through against his will and he was glad the room was dark enough to hide the icy blue color in his eyes. Daehyun groaned around him when Zico tightened his fingers and jerked harshly on his hair. “So good… You’re so good.”
He could feel his stomach tightening and his toes curling and tried to force Daehyun away, but he just shook his head and growled possessively, the vibrations sending shock waves through Zico’s body.
“I changed my mind.” Daehyun popped off of him with wet lips and a sly grin. “This now, inside me later.” His teeth bit gently over Zico’s tender flesh. “I want this to be all about you.” With a final deep breath, he dove back in, nose brushing against Zico’s stomach, the moaning and tightening around him instantly causing Zico to buck and release down the back of his throat with a cry of Daehyun’s name.
Zico slunk to the floor and tried to catch his breath, ignoring the quiet laugh Daehyun made as he fixed his jeans and smoothed through his hair.
“Wow, that was just… Wow.” Zico rolled his head up and licked his dry lips. “You know you’re doing that every night from now on, right?”
Daehyun rolled his eyes. “Sure. Come on, let’s go to bed.”
When he stood up and reached a hand out, Zico saw that while he was very happily satisfied, Daehyun still looked like he was in a large amount of pain.
With his own crafty grin, Zico agreed and let Daehyun lead him into the bedroom and watched him pull back the clean blankets from the bed. “No.”
Zico shocked him and Daehyun looked between him and the bed with confusion. “Do you want me to sleep on the couch?”
“Lean over the bed.” As much as Zico wanted to see him fall apart underneath him for right now he was content pressing him into the bed and listening to his muffled cries under his palm.
Daehyun bit his lip in worry but followed his rules. When Daehyun’s hands were on him and he was desperate was one thing, Zico had no problem sitting back and letting the other take control. But right now he wanted to please his mate and had no other thoughts in his head but what Daehyun’s orgasm would sound like.
His top came off easily enough, but he stiffened when Zico reached around to unbutton his pants.
“Shh.” His teeth found the soft flesh of shoulder that he had been daydreaming about all night. “Just relax.”
When Daehyun finally loosened up and let Zico remove his pants and underwear (boxer briefs, Zico noticed with a twitch under his own boxers), he was left leaning over the bed with his bottom half left exposed for just Zico’s eyes to see. Every inch of his skin was tanned and silky and so soft looking he had to pause his plan just to touch it. Daehyun shivered under the heavy weight of his palms and gentle sucking of Zico’s mouth on the back of his neck.
“You’re amazing.” Zico murmured. He took a step forward and nudged Daehyun’s legs apart with his knee. “So perfect.” He rocked forward, the sound of Daehyun’s whine making him do it again. “You want me?” Daehyun nodded and pressed back into him. “Not tonight, baby. Not all the way until you know everything.” A finger slid down the crease of his ass and flattened against his opening. “But I can still be inside you.” He dipped his finger inside and had to wrap his other arm tight around Daehyun’s belly to hold him up. “You like this?”
Daehyun whimpered and tried to nod, but fell forward as a second digit joined the first and he could barely do more than rock himself backwards into Zico’s waiting chest.
Zico could feel the sweat breaking out on his forehead. Controlling himself when Daehyun was mumbling his name and scrambling on his bed, gripping his bed sheets tight in his fists, was a hard job. His wolf was roaring at him to take his mate and claim him, mark him with his teeth so that everyone knew who he belonged to.
“Not yet.” Zico hissed to it, a stab of guilt hitting his chest when Daehyun whined painfully thinking the order was to him.
“Zico!”
“So pretty.” Zico mouthed against his spine. “So pretty on my bed. How good does this feel, Daehyun?” He twisted his fingers inside of him and hit a spot that had Daehyun keening, his legs shaking as he felt himself slipping out of control. “Tell me you’re mine.” He ordered, adding the final finger inside of him and rubbing his thumb soothingly over Daehyun’s hips. “Say it and you can come.”
Daehyun pressed his face against the bed and looked up at Zico with bleary eyes. “Yours.” He whispered, his mouth open and panting. “All yours.”
A last twist of his hand and Daehyun was done, his breath coming out in a whoosh and a mangled version of Zico’s name leaving his swollen lips as he released on top of the clean blanket. He fell all the way onto the bed, not caring that his chest was now coated with the sticky liquid.
Zico left him there to regain his breath as he washed his hands and splashed water across his heated face. He could have fucked Daehyun easily, he had damn well recovered from their experience in the living room, but he wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to wait. Daehyun deserved to know the truth about everything before they went that far together. Zico had a clearer head now and he wanted their first time to have no secrets between them. Knowing he wasn’t yet in heat helped calm himself down. Once he went fully into heat then all bets were off. Daehyun would become his in every room in the house, upon every surface they could find.
When he entered the bedroom again he chuckled at Daehyun still spread out on top of the bed, jeans in a pile beside his feet and tank top pathetically rolled around his shoulders.
He jumped in surprise when he felt Zico gently lift him away and clean his stomach with a warm cloth. “Get in bed, I’ll change the blanket.”
Too tired to argue, Daehyun sleepily pulled his underwear back up and climbed into the bed, arm crossed over his eyes and chest still heaving from exertion.
Zico pulled the top blanket off and threw it into the floor to wash in the morning. He grabbed a spare from the hallway closet and laid it over the bed. “Goodnight Daehyun.” His eyes were already closed and Zico didn’t want to wake him if he was asleep. He rolled onto his side, a wide smile crossing his face when he felt Daehyun shift and curl up next to him, arm and leg thrown across Zico’s body.
“G’night Zico.”
part three