Chapter Text
"For fucks sake, I can't even catch your scent Mingi. It's buried under San's vanilla."
Wooyoung made a disgusted face, waving his hand in front of his face as if to ward off the scent.
"Don't be a bully, Wooyoung-ah," Yeosang lightly scolded with a pat on Wooyoung's butt, "Mingi had fun last night, you should be happy for him."
"I will be happy for him once he wipes the smug smirk off his face."
Mingi laughed, dropping his head onto San's shoulder and nuzzling there. They were in Seonghwa's home to celebrate Christmas. The inn had had an early dinner and been set up so they could enjoy themselves with their little family as well. Hongjoong had come back to celebrate with them at Mingi's invite, bringing along his fiancee.
"I'm happy for you, Mingi-yah, San-ah," Hongjoong smiled over his wine glass, hand intertwined with his mate's, Kyungmoon.
"We're happy too, right, starlight?" Yunho held the hand Seonghwa had on his thigh, glancing lovingly at him.
Seonghwa kissed his cheek, "We are."
The twins had already opened the gifts they had gotten and ate their dinner voraciously as both their parents, so Seonghwa had just helped Yunho put them to bed. The nine of them were in various cuddly positions all over the mat, couches, and armchairs, joyously tired, waiting for the clock to his midnight to exchange gifts of their own.
"Our Mingi finally got someone to love him as he deserves, I'm so proud of our child." Jongho dried a fake tear off the corner of his eye with the sleeve of his sweater, "They grow up so fast."
"Yah! I'm your hyung!" Mingi pouted.
"Maybe in age." Seonghwa snickered.
"Sannie, they're so mean to me!"
"Come on, precious, if you want to be treated like the hyung act like one." San grabbed Mingi's cheeks, making him pout.
Mingi just shook his face free from San's grasp and cuddled to his chest. "No, my mother raised me to be a princess."
"Which is another way of saying she raised you to be spoiled." Yunho laughed.
Seonghwa slapped his mate's shoulder, "It's a minute to midnight, let's start the gift-giving."
As they all exchanged gifts, Mingi waited to see what San had gotten him. Yeosang got Wooyoung and Jongho matching watches, meanwhile, Jongho gifted them matching brand-name hair accessories, and Wooyoung had picked a set of new dumbells for them. Seongha had gotten Yunho the fluffiest sweater ever made and Yunho had bought Seonghwa a new designer bag. Hongjoong and Kyungmoon exchanged music production equipment, which Mingi thought was basic, but then Kyungmoon pulled designer sunglasses for Hongjoong and Hongjoong a hair care routine set from a famous cosmetic brand.
Mingi took a deep breath before handing San his gift. Usually, Mingi tried to give everyone something practical that they'd use often. But he wanted to be a little more extravagant for San, after all, San had announced his intentions of courting, mating, and marrying Mingi. He needed to step up his game and present San with something worthy of a first courting gift.
San pulled the jacket outside of the bag with an excited 'woah'. It was black leather. When San stood up to try it on, it fit perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders.
"Do I look cool?"
Mingi grinned, "The coolest, I'm so glad you like it."
"I love it!" San places both hands on Mingi's knees and pecks him on the lips, "I hope you like mine just as much."
San held Mingi's hands by the wrist, placing them together to receive the square, black jewelry box. It didn't have any brand name embossed on it, but it felt expensive.
Wooyoung hollered, "Are you proposing?!"
Seonghwa glared at him, "You're gonna wake the pups!"
San giggled, "The proposal will be more romantic than this."
Mingi took a deep breath before opening the box. It was a silver ring, but the bands had been shaped like a chain, and in the center was a rectangular gem.
"San ---"
"Do you like it?"
Mingi blinked away the emotions bubbling out in the shape of tears. He extended his hand and offered it to San, "Will you put it on me?"
San kneeled. Mingi heard a collective gasp as he slid the ring on Mingi's left-hand ring finger. It was beautiful, and fit like a glove.
"I know it's a bit early, but I want you to know I'm serious about this. I'll repeat it as many times as you need me to." San pulled his hand toward his mouth and kissed over the ring, "I want you to be mine."
"I'm yours." Mingi slid down the couch to kneel in front of San and hugged him, "I'm yours."
"Oh, go home you two!" Yunho sobbed, "You're too sappy."
Mingi laughed, still hugging San, "Why are you all crying?"
Yeosang held Jongho and Wooyoung's hands firmly, "Because we're proud of you, we're so happy that you're happy again."
"I'm happy I can be the reason that you're happy again," San mumbled against Mingi's neck, only for the two of them to hear.
San took him home.
They walked to Mingi's house hand in hand as Mingi hadn't done with someone ever since things ended between him and Yujin. Despite his hand being bigger than San's, he didn't seem to mind, stroking the ring on Mingi's finger to remind himself and Mingi that they had made a promise.
When they reached the porch, San held Mingi close and kissed him with adoration. It was like a movie.
"I don't want to go back to the Inn," San whispered against Mingi's lips.
Mingi held him tighter, "Then stay."
San typed in the door code. It beeped open and Mingi couldn't help the laughter that bubbled within his chest at the fact San had memorized it in such a short time. Mingi walked San inside, waddling to keep his hold on San's smaller frame.
"Mingi..."
"Hm?"
San slipped a hand under Mingi's layers as the door closed behind them with a click. "Tonight, I want you to fuck me."
Mingi pulled San's scarf undone and let it fall to the floor. He kissed San's neck, licking at the hickeys he had left there before they left for Seonghwa's house. They needed to be freshened. "Yeah?"
San tugged at Mingi's padded jacket, wanting it off, "Want you to fuck me in our pretty nest."
Our nest.
The nest they made in Mingi's bed after Mingi's rut had passed. It took three days until they could finally get rid of the stench of sex and go out of the room. San had packed his things and Migi helped him carry them to his home. They found space in Mingi's drawers and the wardrobe and put San's toothbrush beside Mingi's in the bathroom. Mingi had taken out his extra blankets and they built the perfect nest to cuddle in.
But they hadn't had sex in it yet and it had been almost a week of San wanting Mingi to fuck him stupid.
"Tell me how you want to do it."
Mingi shrugged off his padded jacket and toed off his shoes. His nose was still buried in San's neck.
"On my hands and knees, while you show me if these hips are as good at fucking as they are riding."
San rejoiced at the deep rumble that taunting elicited from Mingi's throat. He toed his shoes off as well, using Mingi as a support before pushing the other alpha away.
Mingi looked at him confused, and San carefully stepped back.
"San?"
"Don't you want to chase me, alpha?"
"Chase you?"
Mingi stepped forward and San stepped back to keep the distance.
"Chase me, catch me, and make me yours."
After that, San bolted. He ran around every room of the house with Mingi right behind him. There were a few near misses on Mingi's part, but it only made it more fun. Mingi had long legs and was fast, but San was more agile, avoiding Mingi's hands just before he could grasp him. San laughed. Mingi was the best future mate he could have asked for. None of his previous prospects had indulged in chasing him before sex.
Just when he thought Mingi wasn't trying to get him for real, Mingi slid on the floor and jumped up again, shoving San on the wall and crowding him. His front was pressed to the wall and his back to Mingi. San could feel the hardness o fMingi's cock pressed to his ass and the ragged breathing against his nape. Mingi felt him up, pulling off San's jacket and the hoodie he had worn under. Next were San's pants. Mingi unbuttoned and unzipped them so he could slide his hand inside and cup the swell of San's ass between it and his underwear.
"You want me to make you mine, Sannie-ah?" Mingi growled, nipping the skin near San's scent glands. "After you proclaimed so bravely I am yours and you are mine?"
San pushed his ass against Mingi's crotch, "I want it."
Mingi licked over his scent gland, making the vanilla scent spike. He pushed San's jeans down so they'd drop to the floor and gave both his asscheeks a firm squeeze.
"Want to keep the position of all on fours in bed, or would you like me to take you here and now?"
San looked at him over his shoulder with a pout, "Take me to bed, alpha."
Mingi giggled and bent down to scoop San in his arms bridal-style. San yelped and hugged Mingi's neck for support. San kissed Mingi's cheek and let himself be carried, swaying his legs about in joy.
"Happy?"
"Very! I had never dated anyone who would try to carry me."
Mingi laid him in bed and climbed on top, pecking San's lips. "Why not?"
San shrugged, "Big, strong alpha stereotypes."
"No one would guess you were asking me to fuck you just now."
"Not a single soul." San smiled.
"San... is it still okay?"
"What is supposed to be ok?"
"Is it still okay if I can't pop a knot in you?"
San pulled Mingi for a kiss, gripping his long hair.
"It is, you're my future mate and that's all that matters," He whispered against Mingi's lips, "That you are you."
The reassurance seemed to spark a new flame of passion within Mingi. With eyes sparkling with love, Mingi kissed San, gripping his waist as if he wanted to never let go. He shoved his tongue past San's lips, making him moan.
San tugged harder on Mingi's hair, sucking on his tongue and biting on his lips. Mingi began grinding on him, jeans rough against San's inner thighs. They lost each other in the kiss and the friction until there was spit dripping from the side of San's mouth and a wet patch on his underwear.
Mingi pulled away with a giggle. San felt dizzy as he watched Mingi finish undressing. Some marks from their previous nights tumbling into bed together were still there.
"If you want me to fuck you on your hands and knees you need to turn around, San-ah."
San whined.
Mingi took the clue and turned San around himself, hiking his hips up. He leaned down and San yelped when he felt a bite to his butt cheek.
"Mingi!"
"What is it? Those strong arms of yours that can manhandle me around can't keep you up after a few kisses and a bit of humping?"
San pouted and propped himself up. Mingi pulled down San's underwear and helped him out of it. San was anxious, he spread his legs to show Mingi how badly he wanted it. Mingi chuckled and uncapped the lube bottle. He'd have to start buying bigger ones.
He coated his fingers in lube before teasing San's rim with them, slowly pressing on it until San relaxed enough for him to push in. San whined and pulled at the sheets.
"San?"
"What is your finger so long for?"
Mingi held back his laughter. "I have no idea. Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"Bad! If you make me cum before you get your dick in me I'll cry!"
Mingi pushed another finger in and San arched his back.
"I can make you cum more than once. Didn't you do that to me during my rut?" Mingi smirked and crooked his fingers to press against San's prostate. His entire body jolted. "I think it would be fair if I gave you the same treatment, kitten."
"Mingi!"
Mingi stopped pressing against the spot but kept fingering San open and whispering in his ear. He told San how beautiful he was, how well he was taking it, and how much he loved San. He pushed in a third finger, nipping on San's shoulders and his nape.
"Mingi, please put it in," San sobbed. His arms had already lost all strength, making him press his upper body to the mattress. He rubbed his face on the sheets, comforted by their scent. "I need you to put it in."
"Just a little more..." Mingi groaned. "I think I need four to make it fit."
"I'm not that tight!"
"Yes, you are."
San pushed his ass back against Mingi's fingers and spread his legs wider as an invitation.
"Please, I swear I can take it!"
"Can you? Let us see..." Mingi pushed in a fourth finger.
San's entire body shook and he came onto the sheets. He cried and called Mingi's name amidst desperate moans.
"Seems like you came, kitten, all over our pretty nest."
"Mingi..."
"You're so perfect, San-ah."
San only whined, pushing his ass back on Mingi's fingers and letting Mingi keep stretching his hole on them, pliant after his orgasm.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," Mingi kissed his neck, licking over the mark he had been remaking day after day on San's nape, "Thank you for being so good to me, for loving me."
"Mingi..."
"Thank you for making me happy again." Mingi pulled his fingers out, cleaning them on the sheets. "Thank you for showing me I'm worthy of love."
Mingi held his dick and slowly pushed it inside San, keeping a firm hold of his waist. San reached back and Mingi held his hand.
"Even if someday we fall apart, thank you."
San could feel wetness dripping on his neck and he knew from the way Mingi's hand trembled in his it wasn't sweat. Mingi was crying.
"We won't, I will keep my promise, Mingi." San squeezed Mingi's hand, "I won't leave your side."
Mingi nodded against his neck.
"Mingi, pull out."
A head shake.
"Mingi, pull out, I wanna see you."
"I look pitiful."
"Let me embrace my mate and look at him."
Mingi pulled out and San turned onto his back.
"There you are." San smiled. He reached for Mingi's face and pulled him in, kissing away his tears. "My precious, my sunrise, my Mingi."
"San..."
"Thank you, Mingi."
Mingi blinked at him, stunned.
"For what?"
"For being my first love."
San pulled him in for a kiss. He held Mingi as close as he could, he needed to. Mingi needed to know, he needed to feel San was his, and San would make sure to repeat and show it every day for the rest of his life.
Mingi pushed back inside him and San wrapped his legs around him. "My mate, my perfect alpha, my Mingi."
"Yours."
"Mine."
San kept holding him as Mingi fucked him. They panted into each other's mouth between kisses and San found solace in scratching Mingi's back whenever he hit his prostate straight on. Mingi felt perfect in him as he had felt around him. He pulled Mungi against his neck, letting him lick and bite to his heart's contentment, inhaling San's pleased scent.
San could feel Mingi's knot catching on his rim, which made him quite surprised. He hadn't felt it when Mingi was fucking his thighs, and barely felt it in his hand when he had jerked him off.
"Mingi?" He called out feeling Mingi's thrusts falter and one of his hands sneaking between their bodies to grasp San's dick.
"Feel so good, San-ah." Mingi bit San's neck with a growl, squeezing San's knot in a way that had his back arching.
"Mingi!"
With a final thrust, Mingi's knot locked them together. Mingi moaned in distress when he couldn't pull out so San tightened his legs and arms around Mingi to keep him in place.
"San... wha —"
"It's okay baby, I'm so proud of you." San whispered, pulling Mingi for a kiss, "You knotted me, grind your hips, and make me cum."
"But — How?"
San giggled breathlessly, "Maybe it's a Christmas miracle, or maybe I got a magic ass."
Mingi chuckled against his lips, but it turned into a groan when San pushed himself onto him. Mingi got to work, grinding into San as much as his knot would allow him and jerking San's knot. San's thighs spasmed, but he didn't let go of Mingi until he came all over his hand and Mingi had filled him with cum.
Mingi whined.
San was drunk with bliss, clenching around Mingi and moving his hips to milk them both dry. "My alpha, so good for me, so perfect..."
"San —"
Mingi shook in his hold and San could feel a new load of cum filling him up.
"Oh fuck..." He gasped, moving his hips with even more enthusiasm. "You're a dream."
Mingi fell on top of San's body, broken moans escaping his lips as San kept fucking himself on him.
"Come on, give me one more," San pulled Mingi by the hair to look him in the eye, "Give me more, I know you can."
He watched Mingi's eyes roll back, and how cum began leaking out of him as he moved his hips.
Mingi sobbed, "Hurts..."
San stilled, finally satisfied. "What hurts love?"
"My scalp and my knot."
San giggled and let go of Mingi's hair, massaging his scalp. "Can't do much for the knot part."
"How the fuck did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Get me to pop a knot."
"I have no idea. How did you manage to pump three loads of cum in me?"
Mingi pouted, "Because you're amazing."
"I'm amazing?"
"Yes."
San laughed, "So are you."
They were cuddling in bed. San laid on Mingi's arm and caressed his hair with a pleased grin. He looked so beautiful with flushed cheeks and messed up hair. His lips were swollen and shiny from eating San out.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
San giggled, "Because."
Mingi smiled. That truthful, squinting smile of his paired with the breathless laughter. He kissed San. "Because."
"Mingi... would you come to Seoul with me for the new year?"
Mingi pulled his arm from under San, making him whine in displeasure, and sat up to look at him.
"I get why you would go, but why do you want me to go?"
San would have sat up as well f Mingi hadn't blown his back. He just reached for Mingi's hand and held it.
"I want to take you to my favorite place, I want to introduce you to my friends and family as my mate."
"Really?"
"Yes, I have been thinking about it since Yujin came here." San pulled Mingi down on top of him. "I could also get the family's doctor to help with that mark of theirs."
"What?"
"Sorry, too much?"
"No, San, that's perfect." Mingi smiled at him. "I feel the guilt creeping in for talking to your family's doctor, but I just want to get rid of it."
"Why would you feel guilty? I already told you I want you to be my mate, and that makes you family."
"Because we're not mates yet."
"The key word in that is yet." San kissed him. "I want you to be."
"I want you to be my mate too," Mingi buried his nose in San's neck and inhaled, "But removing a mating mark can have some unwanted side effects."
"I haven't done my research just yet."
"I have, and it makes me even more scared."
San held Mingi, nipping on his ear. "Tell me about it."
"Well, first of all, I can lose my scent."
San tightened his hold. Mingi's scent was what drew him in in the first place, and he had just gotten Mingi to enjoy his scent again.
"What else?"
"The pain, it can leave a phantom pain. Or even de-sensitization, which makes me a question which would be worse." Mingi pouted, snuggling on San. "I wouldn't be able to feel you marking me, ever."
"That doesn't seem as bad as the phantom pain."
Mingi hummed, "And the removal process can get the area infected because it's very sensitive. I would have to care very well for the wound."
"I would help."
San could feel Mingi's smile against his skin. "I know you would."
"I will hold your hand while it gets removed and I will wait for you to heal so I can finally mark you."
"Oh? Will my prince charming wake his princess up from anesthesia with a kiss?"
San frowned, "Can't you take my wooing attempts seriously?"
"I want to, but your pout is just too cute."
"So, what do you say?"
Mingi kissed San. "I'll go to Seoul with you."
San hauled him in for a deeper kiss, trying to wrap himself around Mingi like a vice once again.
"I will call our doctor to schedule an appointment as soon as he can and tell Eomma I'm bringing you with me."
Mingi buried his face In San's neck, "Do you think she'll like me?"
"She'll love you, my entire family will, even Byeolie."
"Byeolie?"
"My cat."
Mingi laughed, "So this is your way to ask me to go back to your place to meet your cat?"
San pushed him away, "Enough, I want a divorce."
"You didn't even properly propose to me yet!"
San bit him on the arm.
Mingi pinned him down, biting his chest before kissing San. "I will go with you, and then we will make a nest at your place too."
"We will, and I will fuck you and get fucked by you in it."
Mingi laughed. His happiness was finally within reach once again. He could taste it in San's lips and in the gasps he released with their lovemaking.
San finally felt fulfilled. His mate he dreamed of for so long was in his arms and they could be together.
Love made them warm on the cold night of Christmas Eve. It would keep them warm through the rest of winter and have them rejoice with each other's presence through every season that followed for as long as they were together.