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San honestly hadn’t meant to find out that Wooyoung wasn’t human. He’s more surprised that in the near eight years they’ve been friends that he hasn’t figured it out on his own.
So when San stumbles into Wooyoung’s apartment on a Friday night after having left his dance class early (because it was a tradition for them to go over to each other’s apartments on Friday to make dinner, watch a movie and sleep over and tonight was Wooyoung’s apartment) and he sees a fox one moment and then Wooyoung the next – a very naked Wooyoung, in fact – several things happen.
The first thing that happens is that San’s stunned gaze meets Wooyoung’s alarmed gaze.
The second thing that happens is that someone screams – San has no idea who – and San’s ducking his head to avoid staring at his best friend’s naked body. His best friend’s very attractive and well-built naked body.
The third thing is that there’s a crash and San’s head is whipping back up in alarm and concern for his best friend because Wooyoung’s taken a dive onto the floor to hide behind the couch, knocking over a table as he does so.
The fourth thing that happens is that San yelps out an apology and fumbles for the door while Wooyoung yells at him to give him five minutes.
The fifth thing that happens is that San finds himself sitting with his back to Wooyoung’s apartment door, sitting on the cold pavement outside, bags haphazardly thrown onto the ground, face warm.
He expels a heavy sigh, staring up at the sky as he waits. He feels like an idiot, truthfully. He has no idea how he hadn’t noticed that Wooyoung was a hybrid earlier. Nearly all the signs were there.
Wooyoung is bright and loud, smiling wide and proud, the giggles and cackles leaving his mouth often reminiscent of a fox’s laugh. Their friends have pointed it out before, and Wooyoung’s only ever giggled in response, leaning into whoever he happens to be sitting next to – and often that’s San. And also, San doesn’t really know why, but a lot of their friend group likes to just bite people.
To be fair, San has done it a couple times too, but Wooyoung definitely does it the most to get what he wants (and San is often the victim).
Wooyoung has his strange little habits, the way he’ll circle or pace before he goes to bed, kneading and rearranging the blankets and pillows, huffing if it doesn’t “feel right”, something that San had always found quite endearing. Wooyoung likes curling and cuddling up to people, wiggling around until he gets comfortable. He shoves his head into people’s hands or shoulders or arms to get their attention. He often has his chin resting on someone’s (San’s) shoulders, arms looped loosely around their (San’s) waist.
Everyone knows that hybrids exist – they’re just super rare. Which might also be why they stay hidden.
And apparently his best friend is one. San wonders if this makes him a shitty best friend if he didn’t know. He’s so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn’t hear Wooyoung’s footsteps approaching the door, or when the door opens, and he lets out a startled yelp when he falls backwards, head hitting the ground. Wooyoung stares down at him with an arched brow and lopsided smile. He’s upside down.
“Uh, hi.” San offers, with an awkward grin on his lips.
“Come in.” Wooyoung says, rolling his eyes. “I have some things to tell you.”
San gingerly picks himself up off the ground and grabs his bags, following Wooyoung inside, toeing off his shoes, hesitantly watching as his best friend pads into the living room. Wooyoung glances over his shoulder, as if waiting for San. San hurries to catch up.
“Um.” San hovers, awkwardly.
“What? Was seeing me shift from a fox into a human too startling? Upsetting?” Wooyoung asks, a hint of bitterness in his voice, vulpine eyes (did they always look that sharp?) glinting.
San shakes his head quickly, dumping his bags on the floor to slide onto the couch to sit next to Wooyoung, legs pulled up to sit cross legged. He doesn’t want Wooyoung to think that San thinks of him differently now that he knows. San would never. He can feel Wooyoung’s eyes on him, staring at him with a strange intensity. He knows his face is red.
“Or was seeing me naked too startling for you, Sannie?” San’s head whips up, face even warmer, apologies already at the tip of his tongue when he catches the amused glimmer in Wooyoung’s eyes. “We’ve been friends for so long, don’t you think you’d be immune to it by now?”
Sure, they’ve seen each other in various states of undress, but this? Not only had San accidentally seen his best friend completely naked for the first time, but he’d also caught Wooyoung at probably one of the most vulnerable moments, too. Wooyoung was in his own apartment, his own space of safety, and he definitely hadn’t been expecting San to come over early from his dance class – normally he’d arrive at least an hour later. He sort of felt really guilty about it. He definitely should’ve texted Wooyoung he was coming over earlier.
“Don’t beat yourself up over this, Sannie.” Wooyoung says gently, and San feels even worse about it, because of course Wooyoung would notice the way San gets buried in his own thoughts, dragged deep into the recesses of his own mind as he blames himself for the situation they got themselves into. “It isn’t your fault. I don’t normally just shift in the middle of my living room, and I was in the right place at the wrong time.”
“Yeah, but I came over earlier than you expected.” San slumps in his seat, letting his head thump against Wooyoung’s shoulder, and Wooyoung simply cards his fingers through San’s hair, nails scraping at his scalp. San’s relieved that they can still fall into this comfortable silence with each other and their quiet touches of affirmation. Wooyoung hums. “I don’t know what to think.” San whines, shoulders dropping as he finally answers Wooyoung’s initial question. San’s quiet for a few moments, and Wooyoung doesn’t say anything, knowing that San’s collecting his thoughts. “I feel like I should’ve known sooner.” San admits quietly.
“Eh? What do you mean?” Wooyoung asks, and San feels the younger man press his nose to the crown of his head.
That’s another thing, too. Wooyoung will often push his nose into his friends’ necks, or nuzzle into the top of their heads or hug them from the back, and if they’re sitting, he’ll wrap himself around them, and squish his cheek against their spine, rubbing up and down. San wonders if it was Wooyoung’s way of marking his territory – and then he shoves that dangerous idea out of his mind, because he knows that out of everyone, Wooyoung does it to San the most.
His heart is thudding loudly in his chest, and he’s not sure why.
“I dunno.” San mumbles. “You’re just so unique, y’know?” He says. He hears Wooyoung hum, before the younger man shifts to lay back, dragging San with him, wrapping his arms around San’s body, nuzzling into his shoulder.
“No, I don’t think I know, Sannie.” Wooyoung snorts, chest rumbling beneath San. “I won’t be offended by anything, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Maybe I’m a little worried I might offend you.” San admits, shoving his face into the crook of Wooyoung’s neck. “You’re very important to me and I don’t want to upset you.” Wooyoung shifts a little bit, tugging San up a little higher so the hybrid’s collarbone isn’t digging into San’s neck. He stills for a few moments. “Now that I think about it, you’re very… fox-like. I guess.”
“How so?”
“Um. When you laugh, it reminds me of a fox. It’s cute. Uh, also you’re really cuddly all the time and you have a habit of just… well, biting people, and I guess this makes you sort of more cat-like, but I also don’t know too much about foxes, but you also make a nest of sorts when you go to sleep and you kinda just knead at the pillows and blankets and you’re also pretty territorial of your own personal space but at the same time you’ll sorta just drape yourself over people and I don’t mind that at all, if I’m being honest and I think that’s also kinda cute and and you curl up and you– well, I did have a question.” San doesn’t realize he’s rambling until he has to heave in a breath.
“Go ahead.” Wooyoung sounds amused.
“Do you- is the-” San starts, before he stops. He doesn’t know how to word it without turning things weird.
“Take your time, Sannie.” Wooyoung murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of San’s head. He feels his breath hitch, heart stuttering in his chest.
Huh.
That’s new.
Wooyoung’s heartbeat is steady beneath his body, and San’s pretty sure that Wooyoung can tell that San’s own heartbeat is a quick pitter-patter, and he sort of hopes that Wooyoung thinks it’s from his nerves. He’s not entirely sure what else they’d be from.
“Is the whole… nuzzling thing into our necks or like… rubbing your cheek up against our backs a way of um… marking territory?” San asks, squeezing his eyes shut. Wooyoung’s hand, previously stroking up and down San’s back, stills. San’s heart sinks. He probably should’ve just kept his mouth shut.
“Yeah.” Wooyoung says, eventually. “I know it’s a little weird, and I’m sorry if it’s ever made you guys uncomfortable, but-”
“No!” San blurts, startling both himself and Wooyoung. Wooyoung blinks at him. “Um. I mean. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable.” He shoves his face back into the crook of Wooyoung’s neck, feeling the younger man huff out a breath of amusement. Wooyoung shifts, nuzzling his cheek up against the side of San’s head.
“Good. Because you’re my best friend.” Wooyoung’s voice dips into a low, almost purr. It's a cross between a purr and a growl, and it makes the hairs on the back of San’s neck and arms rise, a soft shudder running down his body.
“And you’re mine.” San mumbles. They stay like that for a little while longer, Wooyoung’s elegant fingers playing with the hair at the back of San’s head while the older man just lays splayed out over Wooyoung, half asleep with the bridge of his nose pressed up against the line of the hybrid’s slender neck. “Woo?”
“Hm?”
“Can you like… are you able to display some of your fox features, then?” San asks, pulling back to rest his chin on Wooyoung’s chest. Wooyoung looks a little disappointed that San’s pulled away, but he hums, fingers still tugging lightly at San’s hair.
“Yeah.” Wooyoung nods. “I have complete control over them.” He tilts his head, before a foxish, sharp-toothed grin flashes across his face. “Wanna see?”
“Only if you’re comfortable.” San tells him.
“Alright. Get up, then.” Wooyoung pats San on the ass, and San feels his cheeks flush just a little bit – when they never have before, and Wooyoung has patted and slapped San on the ass multiple times before (and San has done the same) – and he’s not entirely certain why. San reluctantly pulls away from Wooyoung’s warmth and sits back on the couch.
Wooyoung sits up and shifts into a better position, and then suddenly, there are two twitching fox ears atop his head, and a tail swishing back and forth behind him. San blinks.
“You’re gorgeous.” San blurts. A dusting of pink covers Wooyoung’s cheekbones.
“Uh, thanks.” Wooyoung rubs the back of his neck, fox ears flattening against his skull briefly before they flick back up. San stares. “Wanna touch them?” Wooyoung asks, playfully leaning forward, bracing himself on his hands and knees.
San swallows, shifting to lean back as Wooyoung crawls forward on the couch, eyes glinting and much more vulpine, teeth seemingly sharper, tail flicking back and forth behind him like a predator, ears pricked upright. San feels pinned beneath his gaze.
“O-only if you’re comfortable with it.” San stutters, unable to explain why he keeps shifting backwards on the couch as Wooyoung stalks closer. A squeak escapes his lips when his back hits the arm rest, and he holds his breath when Wooyoung ends up crawling right up into his space, both of his hands settled right between San’s legs, where they’re drawn up to his chest.
It feels awfully intimate.
Wooyoung then shoves his head forward and San gets a faceful – and near mouthful – of fox ears. San instinctively reaches up to swat Wooyoung away, but Wooyoung purrs, nuzzling up beneath San’s chin, ears soft and tickling his throat. San hesitantly reaches up, fingers curling into Wooyoung’s soft hair, thumbing gently at the fox ears.
Wooyoung makes a pleased noise and worms his way closer to San, ending up in his lap, chest vibrating with pleased trills when San gets a little more confident, reaching up with his other hand to scratch at Wooyoung’s ears. Wooyoung’s tail thumps against the couch, pressing even closer, arms looping around San’s shoulders.
“They’re so soft.” San murmurs, running his fingers up Wooyoung’s ears. The hybrid lets out a soft sigh, shifting closer, and one of San’s hands drop, looping an arm around Wooyoung’s trim waist. He swallows thickly when he realizes how close they are, and how intimately intertwined their bodies are, the pleased purrs that rumble in Wooyoung’s chest vibrating against San’s own.
He hesitantly runs a hand down Wooyoung’s back, holding his breath involuntarily when he dares to stroke a gentle hand down the length of Wooyoung’s tail. Wooyoung shivers, letting out a soft puff of breath, nuzzling beneath San’s jaw. San does it again, and heat rushes to his face when Wooyoung lets out a soft groan.
“S-sorry.” San stutters, then flushes even more because he doesn’t even know if Wooyoung was aware of the sound he made until San opened his stupid mouth.
“Mm, don’t worry about it.” Wooyoung sighs, stretching languidly, ears flicking against San’s cheeks before he pulls back.
Wooyoung’s own cheeks are dusted a little pink, pupils dark as he stares down at San. San peers right back up at him, his hands having gravitated towards Wooyoung’s waist. It’s not the first time they’ve ended up in this position, either. Then Wooyoung grins wickedly at San, teeth sharp. He leans forward, lips just barely brushing San’s ear.
“You might wanna take care of that.”
Before San can understand what Wooyoung means, the hybrid is slipping out of his lap and prancing towards the kitchen.
San blinks, before he looks down, and oh. Well, that’s embarrassing. It’s not worth trying to play it off or pretend that he doesn’t know what Wooyoung’s talking about – he can’t even pretend to drag a pillow onto his lap.
“Don’t apologize.” Wooyoung calls from where he’s digging through the fridge, tail swaying in the air before San can have a crisis about getting hard for having his best friend in his lap. Not that it’s helping, San is still very much panicking about this. “Any preference for dinner?”
San doesn’t answer, willing himself to pull his shit together so he can stop having a gay crisis over Wooyoung – quickly realizing what all of the teasing comments and not so subtle nudges meant, because his brain is finally catching up.
He knows that Wooyoung is attractive – he’s handsome and pretty and sexy and gorgeous. Anybody with eyes can see that. In the eight years that San’s known Wooyoung, he knows that his best friend has gotten multiple confessions (all of which he’s let down kindly) and a long line of suitors who are happily willing to throw themselves at his feet and respond to his every beck and call. San’s pretty sure that he’d consider himself part of that group.
Oh.
Wait.
Okay.
All of the pieces are just slowly falling into place.
San has a crush on Wooyoung.
He has a crush on his best friend.
He’s basically in love with his friend of eight years.
Maybe not in love, but San doesn’t really know how else to explain it.
Before San can really spiral, he jolts when a pair of large and warm hands cup his face. He blinks, tearing himself out of his thoughts and meets Wooyoung’s concerned, brown eyes. His fox ears are still out, twitching atop his head, tail curled just loosely around his leg.
“Sannie? Are you okay?” He asks softly. “You went really quiet. Was it too much?” San does his best to shake his head.
“I’m just… thinking.” San says. Wooyoung squishes his cheeks and smacks a kiss to his forehead.
“Well stop thinking so much for a moment and tell me if you want pork or chicken tonight. You can go back to it later.” Wooyoung huffs, a smile tugging at his lips. San scrunches up his nose.
“Pork, I guess.” San rolls his eyes. He reaches up to cup Wooyoung’s hands in his own, knocking their foreheads together. “Thank you for showing me.” He says softly. Wooyoung’s fox ears twitch atop his head.
“I’m sort of glad you walked in on me mid-shift.” Wooyoung murmurs. “I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you guys for years, to be honest. I’m glad you were the first, though.” San blinks.
He doesn’t really know what to say to that, and he’s not sure what Wooyoung means by that either. He doesn’t get a chance to ask, though, because Wooyoung nuzzles their noses together, eyes crinkling, before he stands up to go back to the kitchen, tail swishing behind him.
Wooyoung does that a lot, San’s starting to notice. He touches noses with everyone, and seems to get great joy and pleasure out of seeing some of their friends – Jongho, Yeosang and Hongjoong especially – squeal and try to get out of Wooyoung’s grasp. But he’s only ever touched noses with them – he’s never nuzzled up against them like he does with San. Like most other things, as San’s starting to notice, Wooyoung does it to him often.
Maybe he should start looking up fox behaviors.
𓃥 ♡ 𓃥
Wooyoung’s had a crush on his best friend of eight years for as long as he can remember. Or rather, he only came to terms with it a few years ago, when he realized that oh, I love you was I’ve loved you since the start. That realization wasn’t as grand as he thought it was going to be. He’d known San the longest out of their friend group, and the two of them had clicked the moment they met each other.
San was, in short, perfect.
He was attentive and sweet, kind and caring, and so wholly selfless. He was talented and hard working, smart and resourceful. He was strong and attractive – and he was modest about it, too. Although San did have a lot of his own anxieties and struggled with self-esteem, he never hesitated to confide in Wooyoung about his insecurities. San was gorgeous, too, with those broad shoulders, slim waist, strong arms and jawline, the slender feline eyes and that sweet, dimpled smile.
Wooyoung was, in short, whipped. Most of the friend group knew – except San, of course. They teased him a lot, even when San was in the same room, but San, his sweet and beautiful Sannie, would always just tilt his head, confused as to why their friends would tease or nudge them in each other’s direction.
Besides, Wooyoung was always physically affectionate with everyone, it was his own personality and part of his hybrid nature, of course. But he clung to San more than he did the others, preening whenever San would lean into him or tug him closer, letting him hang off of those broad shoulders.
He knew that San loved him. Maybe not in the way that Wooyoung loved him, but if it meant that keeping his feelings under lock and key meant that he could stay by San’s side forever, then he would gladly do it a thousand times over.
But he also knew that he was going to have to reveal the fact that he was a hybrid to his friends at some point. He’d been trying for the past six years that he’d known all of them to figure out a way to let them know, but each and every time he’d thought about doing it, something else came up and the topic of conversation moved on.
That, or Wooyoung froze up or panicked, especially when his friends would point out the way he would cuddle or snuggle up to people (usually San) more intensely than usual. He was a little self-conscious of his laugh, too, because it was too reminiscent of his hybrid form, and his friends had noticed. But at this point, it was a joke, and Wooyoung was afraid that if he mentioned that yeah, he was actually a fox hybrid, that they’d laugh at that too.
He’s most afraid of what San will think of him, if he’s being completely honest. They’ve never spoken about hybrids at length, and San’s never really shared his opinion about them. Even when they saw that one news report about a feral hybrid, and San hadn’t said anything about it, only shifting uncomfortably. Maybe it’s selfish of him to keep this to himself, because he’s not certain what he’d do if when San found out, those sweet eyes looked at him with disgust.
So Wooyoung waited.
Wooyoung doesn’t expect the way for San to find out that he’s a hybrid is accidentally catching him right at the tail end of his shifting process. Wooyoung doesn’t hear the lock clicking open, because he’s mid-shift, and there’s a brief moment where all of his senses are shut off as he switches. He turns around because he senses someone, and he feels like his entire world freezes, threatening to shatter when he spots San, staring at him with wide eyes.
And then he panics, because one, he’s fucking naked, and two, San just saw him shift.
San panics too, stuttering out apologies, ears and cheeks flushing red – cute – as he fumbles for the door handle as Wooyoung makes a last minute decision to dive onto the floor and out of sight, hot shame curling through his body.
“I’m sorry!” San yelps.
“Give me five!” Wooyoung yells back. There’s a frantic shuffle and the door closes, and then there’s silence.
Wooyoung lays on the floor for a few more seconds, questioning his every life choice. He drags himself to his feet and trudges down the hallway, heart in his throat. He hadn’t expected San to come over this early – didn’t he still have dance practice? Wooyoung checks his phone in his room – there’s no message indicating that San was coming over earlier.
He sighs, raking his fingers through his hair. He had nowhere to run, and he was going to have to deal with whatever the outcome of the night was going to be. He throws on some simple clothes and hurries back out and down the hallway, because he knows it’s chilly out. As soon as he opens the door, San falls backwards with a yelp, landing flat on his back. Wooyoung arches a brow at him, and San offers a tiny smile, dimples popping out.
He can’t help but tease San. The way that the older man’s cheeks flush, his ears turning red, broad shoulders twitching and curling in on himself is endearing. It’s only when San goes quiet and almost unresponsive, staring down at his hands as his fingers twist together that Wooyoung hesitantly reaches out to comfort him.
When San says, I feel like I should’ve known sooner, Wooyoung feels his breath hitch in his throat. He knows that he doesn’t act like a “normal” human. So if San thinks like that, does everyone else? Does everyone else have an inkling, or think that Wooyoung’s a hybrid and they’re just waiting for him to tell them? Has he been worrying over nothing?
Wooyoung tentatively drags San with him when he lays down, and relief floods his body when the other man does. He nuzzles into San’s shoulder, inhaling his comforting scent of vanilla. San shoves his face into the crook of Wooyoung’s neck, and his breath hitches. Although San does it quite often, Wooyoung still can’t get over it – it’s a sign of strong affection with foxes.
It’s cute whenever San rambles. It’s often a sign whenever San gets anxious or flustered, and each and every time, Wooyoung has the urge to just kiss him on the lips. He does kiss him – on the top of the head, because he can get away with those kinds of kisses without his friends judging him too much.
And when San asks him about what it means when Wooyoung nuzzles into his friends’ necks, he feels himself still, breath catching in his throat. He knows he needs to be honest about it, and he knows that San hasn’t minded it before – but will he think that this is weird? When he asks San about it quietly, he doesn’t expect such a sudden reaction, and San shoves his face back into Wooyoung’s neck with a noise of embarrassment.
Cute.
Wooyoung resists the urge to drop a kiss to San’s temple.
There are some times where Wooyoung wonders if San’s a hybrid as well. But he would’ve been able to tell by now. San reminds him often of a cat, especially with the way that he practically purrs and preens whenever anyone plays with his hair – he likes it when people scratch at the base of his neck – and he’s probably the biggest cuddler after Wooyoung.
When San shyly asks Wooyoung if he can see his fox features, Wooyoung feels relief flood through his veins. He knows that it was irrational to think that San would suddenly hate him because he’s a shifter, but that fear is still deeply embedded into his body and mind. He indulges himself as he pats San on the ass to get him to sit up (and he watches curiously as San’s cheeks darken), because he doesn’t really want to let his tail come out when he’s on his back.
It’s a slight prickle in his skin as he lets his ears and tail come out, teeth a little sharper in his mouth, vision a little sharper, and– “You’re gorgeous.”
“Uh, thanks.” Wooyoung flusters, rubbing at the back of his neck, sort of hating the way his ears give him away. “Wanna touch them?” He asks, with a sudden surge of confidence, leaning forward.
He gets to watch San’s throat bob, flush darkening ever so slightly, eyes darting around the room as Wooyoung crawls closer. Wooyoung can hear the way San’s heartbeat picks up. Interesting. San continues to move back on the couch until he hits the arm rest, and his breath hitches when Wooyoung ends up right in his space, nearly nose to nose.
San’s pupils dilate, lips parting ever so slightly.
Wooyoung wants to kiss him.
Before he can act on his impulsive urges, Wooyoung tilts his head forward and nuzzles up into San’s warm neck, feeling the way San’s fingers, hesitant but gentle, reach up to curl into his hair, scratching at the base of his ears. Wooyoung wiggles closer, easily crawling into San’s lap, unable to hold in his pleased purrs as San gains more confidence.
San’s hands feel so good on his body. He’s gentle and thorough, body warm and firm beneath Wooyoung as he lavishes Wooyoung with attention. But when San runs a tentative hand down the length of Wooyoung’s tail, it takes everything in him to bite back a moan, shivering as his blood rushes hot in his veins. And then San does it again, and Wooyoung’s unable to hold back to soft noise.
“S-sorry.” San stutters.
“Mm, don’t worry about it.” Wooyoung shifts to move back lazily, thigh brushing up just barely against San’s, and- oh? That’s something new. San’s hands have fallen to Wooyoung’s waist, and it seems like San isn’t even aware of his… Wooyoung wouldn’t really call it a problem. When Wooyoung leans in, his lips just barely brushing San’s ear, he feels the soft shiver that runs through the other man’s body.
“You might wanna take care of that.” Wooyoung murmurs. And before he can get caught himself, he slips out of San’s lap and heads to the kitchen in an attempt to calm himself down. Maybe Wooyoung does have a chance if he were to confess. “Don’t apologize.” Wooyoung reminds San, because he knows that San’s probably going to end up overthinking every little thing that had just happened between them in the past few minutes.
And to be fair, Wooyoung would also do the same thing.
When he does realize that San’s gone to the point where he’s become unresponsive, he feels just a little bit guilty. He’s easily able to pull San back from his weird headspace, and when San peers at him with those big doe eyes, he’s unable to resist when he leans forward to nuzzle their noses together, breath caught in his throat. It’s pretty much the fox’s equivalent of a kiss.
He sort of hopes that San doesn’t know that quite yet.
𓃦♡𓃦
Wooyoung has no idea how this happens.
He never has trouble shifting back into his human form. So why can’t he shift back? Wooyoung’s in his apartment, after a long day of classes, and he’d ended up falling asleep on his couch. When he woke up, he was in his fox form. Which, fair enough, as a hybrid, he needs to spend a certain number of hours a day in his hybrid form. But he’d spent the eight hours he needed in his fox form because he’d slept at least twelve hours the night before, curled up in his bed the night before.
He paces back and forth, paws muted on the carpet, and tries to think of a reason why he would be stuck. He tries to shift back again.
Nothing.
He can’t call his parents. He’d once tried to see if he could use his phone in his fox form and he ended up giving up pretty fast. He huffs, annoyed, tail and ears flicking. He’ll try to wait it out until the weekend – until he realizes that it’s Friday.
And Friday means that San’s expecting him at his apartment. And Wooyoung can’t get there or tell him that he won’t be able to make it.
So maybe it’s time to panic.
Wooyoung hurries into his room to knock his phone off of his nightstand, thanking whatever gods are above for him turning on raise to wake. The time flashes at him. 19:17. It’s been over forty-five minutes since Wooyoung was supposed to be at San’s door.
There’s a missed call from San. There are also a couple of text messages from San, asking Wooyoung if he’s okay, and if they need to cancel, that’s alright. Another text message comes through as Wooyoung’s trying to decide what to do (because he knows that radio silence makes San even more anxious).
my sannie <3
Please let me know if you’re okay, I’m worried :(
Wooyoung makes his decision then. It might be a little stupid and impulsive, but there’s no time like the present. Wooyoung darts out of his bedroom and jumps up to bat at the door handle of his apartment. Despite the amount of times he’s cursed his door handle because he’s gotten caught on it, he’s very grateful that it’s a handle and not a knob.
He manages to get the door to open just slightly, keys be damned, because he knows San has an extra pair, and keeps close to the walls of the apartment complex as he hurries down the hallway. He somehow makes it out of the complex, and his eyes have to readjust to the darkness before he can try to calculate a way to get to San’s apartment without getting caught.
There aren’t many foxes in Seoul, especially not within the city. It won’t be suspicious, but it will be a bit odd if he gets spotted.
But Wooyoung’s more worried about trying to make sure San isn’t going to go into a full blown anxiety attack. He knows he has about another half hour before San gets really worried and starts calling their friends.
So he makes his way down the familiar streets of Seoul, trying to take as many back streets as possible to avoid human contact, before he finally reaches San’s apartment complex. He’s grateful that San lives on the first floor, but he’s not going to be able to get inside, and he can’t risk trying to hit the buzzer – his paws will end up smacking several.
He hopes that he won’t scare the shit out of San by doing this, but it’s the only way he can think of getting San’s attention.
Wooyoung makes his way into the backyard of the apartment complex, spotting the silhouettes of San’s succulents in the windows. He trots over and leans up on his hind legs. He can spot San sitting on his couch, staring at his phone in his hands, shoulders tense, brow furrowed, and he’s tapping his foot anxiously against the floor.
Wooyoung thumps his nose against the glass. San doesn’t hear it, still fiddling with his phone. Wooyoung guesses that San’s probably stuck in his head. He doesn’t want to accidentally catch the attention of the neighbors, so he bumps the glass again with his nose, a soft whine escaping his throat. San still doesn’t look up. The hybrid’s ears flick and he glances from side to side, before he shifts awkwardly, thumping a paw against the window.
This time San jumps, and Wooyoung’s ears prick when he hears a shriek. San’s head immediately whips over to the window where Wooyoung is standing. Wooyoung thumps his nose against the glass again, trying to stand up taller. San stares.
Wooyoung?
He can see San’s lips moving. Wooyoung tilts his head and thumps his nose into the glass again, ears twitching. He hops down and butts his head against the back door before he leans up on the windowsill again. San blinks a few times, and when Wooyoung, a little annoyed, pulls his lips back over his teeth to let out a displeased noise, San’s hurrying forward.
Wooyoung drops down again and hears the lock of the back door moving and the door is opening a moment later. Wooyoung trots up to San, rearing up to press his front paws against one of San’s thighs, nuzzling his head into San’s palm.
“Wooyoung-ah?” San asks, tentatively. Wooyoung lets out a purr, eyes crinkling. “Come on.” San shuffles and lets Wooyoung into his apartment, closing the door behind him quietly. “What happened?” Wooyoung shoots him a look over his shoulder, deadpan. San flusters, seeming to realize his mistake. “Um, right. You can’t talk. Uh.” San shifts. “Charades?”
Wooyoung huffs, shaking his head. He sits, tail curling over his front paws, ears twitching irritably. San comes over to Wooyoung and tentatively sits on the ground before him. Wooyoung watches him quietly. San’s fingers twist together anxiously.
“Um. Are you stuck?” He asks. “I’ve been doing some research and stuff, and I read somewhere that sometimes hybrids can get stuck in their uh… feral form.” Wooyoung nods. “I don’t know the reason why. The article didn’t know either.” Wooyoung huffs out a breath.
Great. So he’s stuck like this for who knows how long. San wilts.
“I’m sorry.”
It’s not your fault. Immediately, Wooyoung steps up to him, front paws in the space between San’s legs where he’s sitting cross legged, touching his nose to San’s chin. He lets out what he hopes to be a comforting noise. San lets out a long sigh, shoulders slumping.
“Are you okay, though?” San asks quietly, lifting a hand to gently rest it on Wooyoung’s head, fingers pressing softly into his fur. Wooyoung hums, nuzzling into San’s neck, pleased when San guides Wooyoung to just lay in his lap, curled up against him. “You’re really soft.” He says, sounding awed.
Of course he is. Wooyoung takes great care of his fur. He only lets out a pleased noise, butting his head up against San’s arm. They’re both quiet for a little while, until the grumbling of San’s stomach breaks it. Wooyoung’s ears twitch, and he peers up at San curiously. San looks embarrassed.
“Ah… I was waiting for you to arrive before I ordered.” San admits sheepishly. “I sorta got anxious and then I forgot, and then you came here, so…” Wooyoung noses at his arm, pawing at San’s stomach. He growls. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll get food.” San sighs, digging his phone out of his pocket. “Uh, can you eat regular food?”
Wooyoung nods. San idly buries his fingers in Wooyoung’s fur as he navigates to the delivery app on his phone. A few minutes later, San puts his phone down and rubs his thumb up against Wooyoung’s muzzle.
“Has this ever happened before?” San asks. Wooyoung shakes his head. San looks contemplative for a few moments. “Get up for a second.”
Wooyoung makes a noise of displeasure, but then San lifts him up easily in his arms and stands up, Wooyoung wiggling. San curses when Wooyoung gets out of his hold, jumping to the ground and shaking himself out, stalking over to the corner of the living room where he sits, back to the corner, and sulks.
“Wooyoung.” San sighs. Wooyoung twitches an ear. He knows that San knows how he feels about his cuddles being interrupted. San runs a hand through his hair, biceps flexing briefly, before he casts a glance over at Wooyoung. “I’m going to get my laptop and see if we can figure anything out.” He disappears down the hall.
The hybrid darts over to the couch while San’s gone, grabs a throw pillow and drags it over to the corner, where he sets it down, circling it, kneading at it with his paws before he flops onto it with a soft huff, curling up with his tail blanketing his body.
When in his hybrid form, Wooyoung’s well aware that he’s much more animalistic – giving in to his more natural instincts that are only further amplified by his own instincts and activities as a human. His ears flick when he hears San pad back down the hall, but he doesn’t open his eyes. He hears San shift around, and then there are footsteps coming closer. Wooyoung cracks an eye open just as San sets another pillow down beside Wooyoung and sits down on it, laptop balanced on his thighs.
“Can I?” San asks softly. Wooyoung says nothing, tilting his head towards San instead.
He’s a little surprised then, when San carefully and delicately rearranges Wooyoung so he has the fox hybrid nestled up against his side, warm arm draped over his body as he types into his laptop. Wooyoung dozes as San types, and San has to pull away when their food arrives.
They’re both quiet as they eat on the floor, Wooyoung eating bits and pieces of bossam and sweet and sour pork, trying his best not to make a mess.
“I can’t find anything.” San says, with a frustrated huff of breath. “I’m sorry, Wooyoung. I’m trying.”
It’s okay. Wooyoung tries to convey, placing a paw on San’s thigh, butting his head up against San’s hip gently. San sighs, setting his laptop aside and draws Wooyoung onto his lap, playing with his ears, fingers digging into the fluff of his neck.
“I’m glad you came over.” San says quietly, and Wooyoung licks his hand in response. San smiles down at him, and Wooyoung’s heart warms. He loves this man so much.
San’s only known that Wooyoung’s a hybrid for a week now, but he’s already done a bunch of research, and he’s determined to help Wooyoung out of his predicament when Wooyoung himself has sort of just accepted it. He likes the attention that San lavishes on him when he’s a fox.
“Wanna watch a movie and tackle this tomorrow?” San asks, fingers running through Wooyoung’s fur. Wooyoung nods his head, tail swishing. San lifts him up, cradling him against his chest and Wooyoung lets out a pleased noise, briefly touching his nose to San’s neck in thanks. “You seem to like it when I pick you up.” San says, amused.
If Wooyoung could roll his eyes, he would.
They end up watching some sort of cheesy romcom that has San bawling by the end of it, snuggling Wooyoung to his chest as he muffles his sobs into Wooyoung’s fur. Normally, Wooyoung would hiss at the mere idea of letting someone dirty his fur like that. But it’s San, so he’ll let it slide this time.
“They were pining after each other for years, Woo,” San explains as if Wooyoung hadn’t literally just watched the movie with him, his hands gesturing wildly, eyes and nose red. “They were best friends, and yet they were so in love with each other.”
It sounds familiar.
Wooyoung simply rests his head on San’s shoulder as the older man continues to rant about how stupid and how obvious the main protagonists were.
Yeah. Pretty stupidly obvious, alright.
𓃢♡𓃢
San’s about ten minutes into his rant when he realizes a few things.
One: Wooyoung’s fallen asleep, cheek squished up against San’s shoulder, looking adorable.
Two: he’s realizing that the situation in the movie is starting to feel awfully familiar.
Three: he remembers that he’s in love with his best friend. Yeah, he came to that conclusion a few days ago, jolting awake from a pleasant, fuzzy dream of soft lips brushing up against his forehead and a voice that sounded suspiciously like Wooyoung’s whispering three gentle words to him over and over again.
Four: he’s read that nuzzling noses between foxes is a sign of an intimate connection, typically love.
San blinks, glancing down at Wooyoung again.
Lovely, beautiful Wooyoungie.
The Wooyoung that he loves and adores, and the Wooyoung that loves him back. Maybe. He doesn’t want to be too hopeful.
But when he’d texted Hongjoong to ask for help, he was a little surprised that the other man had immediately known that San was talking about Wooyoung. Then when he thought about it more, he realized that it made sense.
They spent pretty much all of their time together, attached at the hip. They were physically affectionate with each other, throwing out terms of endearment casually, the list goes on and on.
You’re pretty much dating without actually dating, Sannie. It’s obvious that you love him a lot. It’s obvious that Wooyoung loves you a lot. Give it a shot, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
San thinks about it for a bit. Maybe it’s worth giving it a shot. He’s known Wooyoung for eight years. There’s no way that something like this would put a rift in their friendship, right?
Besides, all of the things that Wooyoung does with San – his research backed it up (and he remembers starting to overthink every little thing or motion that Wooyoung did towards him) – says that his feelings are most likely reciprocated. San doesn’t want to dwell on it for much longer, because he knows he’s going to chicken out. So instead, San carefully stands up, trying not to rouse Wooyoung, as he makes his way to his bedroom.
Oh yeah, and there’s that.
They’ve been sharing a bed for the past several years, and neither of them had batted an eye at it.
Wooyoung makes a noise of displeasure when he’s set down, and San apologizes to him softly, stroking a hand over the soft fur before he hurries into the bathroom, snagging a pair of sleeping shorts and a tank top to change into.
When he returns, Wooyoung’s awake, circling the mattress, paws kneading at the sheets. He watches Wooyoung for a few moments before the hybrid looks up, sensing San’s presence. Wooyoung’s ear flicks, nose twitching.
“You’re really cute.” San says. Wooyoung sniffs.
I’m always cute. San can practically hear Wooyoung huff. San flicks the light off and pads across the room, sliding into bed, leaving plenty of room for Wooyoung. But the fox hybrid simply just trots over to San and nestles himself up against his chest, pawing at him impatiently until San chuckles, drawing an arm over Wooyoung’s body, pulling him close.
Wooyoung makes a sound of satisfaction, tilting his head up to lick San’s chin, nose bumping his, ears flicking. San’s heart swells in his chest.
“Hey, Wooyoung.” He says, softly into the darkness. There’s a low rumble in response. He feels Wooyoung shift, tail curling around his waist. “Um.” San hesitates, tucking his chin over Wooyoung’s head, forcing the hybrid’s snout to press up against his neck.
Wooyoung’s paws press at his chest, as if trying to push back. San ignores it, instead wedging his other arm beneath Wooyoung’s fluffy body, holding him still. Wooyoung huffs.
“So, I think that I’m in love with you.” San says. His heart hammers in his chest. Wooyoung stops wiggling. “I know that you know I love you, but… I’m pretty sure- no, I know that I’m in love with you. I think I have been for a while now.” Wooyoung doesn’t move.
San’s heart sinks. He probably read it wrong.
“I’m sorry. It was probably really cowardly of me to say this, especially when you can’t respond.” San says, quietly, chest tight. “But just… just let me have this, okay? For one night. If you don’t reciprocate then you can tell me when you’re back to your human self and if you want, we can pretend this never happened.”
Wooyoung presses his head up against San’s chin, a soft whine escaping him. It evolves into soft and gentle purrs when San feels himself starting to cry again. Wooyoung’s instantly trying to comfort him with gentle nose bumps and nuzzles until San can pull himself back together again. When Wooyoung wiggles, San reluctantly releases him.
The hybrid shifts and leans forward, touching their noses together. San’s breath hitches. Wooyoung nuzzles him, and he can just barely see the way that Wooyoung’s eyes crinkle up into tiny crescent moons.
“Oh.” San breathes. Wooyoung makes a noise of satisfaction in his chest and immediately snuggles up to San again, nipping lightly at his bicep until San draws Wooyoung close to him, heart hopeful and warm as they both fall asleep.
When San wakes up, it’s to the sight of a grumpy looking Wooyoung, sitting cross legged on his bed, human, and wearing one of San’s hoodies and probably nothing beneath. San blinks. When Wooyoung realizes that San’s awake, he gets hit in the face with a pillow.
“Hey!” San squawks, flinching back. “What was that for?”
“Fucking bastard,” Wooyoung yells. “Confessing your love to me when I literally couldn’t reply?” He hits San again. “That’s not fair at all!” San barely manages to catch the pillow before Wooyoung can hit him again. The hybrid’s face is flushed, brow furrowed.
“I’m sorry.” San apologizes. “I’m a coward. I just thought that it might be easier. To confess when I would have time to be let down easy.”
“What do you mean?” Wooyoung frowns.
“In case you didn’t reciprocate.” San wrings his fingers together. “I’d have more time to prepare.”
“San.” Wooyoung sighs, sounding exasperated. San doesn’t look up. Wooyoung’s hands come into view to cup his, coaxing him to look up. There’s a soft and brilliant smile on Wooyoung’s face. “I’ve been in love with you for years.”
“You’ve been what with me for how long?” San blinks. Wooyoung rolls his eyes, leaning forward to knock their foreheads together, nuzzling noses. San’s breath hitches.
“I’ve been in love with you, Choi San, for fucking years.” Wooyoung tells him softly. “Do you know how mad I was when you suddenly confessed to me when I was stuck in my fox form?”
“Sorry.” San apologizes again, but he’s unable to keep the stupid, goofy smile off his face. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“You’d better.” Wooyoung huffs.
“Speaking of, how did you change back?” San asks, looking Wooyoung up and down. Wooyoung shrugs, the hoodie riding up smooth and strong thighs and– San should look away.
“Cute.” Wooyoung snorts – because of course he noticed – and he cups San’s face with his hands, eyes sparkling. “Can I kiss you?”
“Please do.” San breathes.
Wooyoung tilts his head, and San’s eyes flutter shut, fingers curling in the front of his hoodie that Wooyoung stole, a soft breath leaving him as their lips press against each other. It’s soft and sweet, and a low noise gets caught in the back of San’s throat as Wooyoung presses a little closer, slowly but surely making his way to crawl into San’s lap.
San’s hands instinctively drop to Wooyoung’s hips – naked hips at that – and he immediately pulls away with an embarrassed noise, hiding his face in Wooyoung’s shoulder, about to draw his hands away when Wooyoung reaches down to hold one in place, hovering on his knees.
“Choi San,” Wooyoung scolds, tone light. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Um.” San flushes red. “Kissing my lovely boyfriend?” Wooyoung snorts, releasing San’s hand to cup San’s face, lifting it up.
“A kiss before the first date?” Wooyoung teases. San blushes even more, but he wants another kiss, dammit.
“Just kiss me.” San whines. “We can work out the details later.” Wooyoung rolls his eyes, but he dips his head down, nuzzling their noses together one more time before their lips find each other again.
Yeah, San could stay like this forever.