Chapter Text
Gently, Hoseok rubbed the towel over his damp skin. Although he was extra careful around the areas where he had blisters and scratches, he still flinched when the soft fabric brushed over them.
It seemed like his wounds hurt more after the shower, but at least he no longer smelled of sweat and sex. Grumbling, he dropped the towel on the floor and made a mental note to get some ointment later. His body throbbed badly as he went to pick up his clothes from the floor. Slowly, he put them on, cursing once or twice as the fabric came into contact with his aching flesh.
It felt so uncomfortable.
Carefully, Hoseok made some small test movements and squirmed a little when the area of his inner thighs felt particularly bad. Pitifully, he looked at himself in the mirror that hung in the small entryway of the hotel room.
"I'm such a mess..." he muttered as he looked at his reflection.
How drunk had he been last night that he thought it would be a good idea to sleep with a dragon?
He sighed, as his head and body continued to throb in a painful rhythm, complaining about all the shots he had drunk the night before. Those damn tequila shots…
He knew he couldn't hold his liquor very well, and tended to make stupid decisions when he was drunk. However, even though he had a lot of fun with his friends and the sex with the dragon hybrid had been quite... something, Hoseok would rather not have another rough morning like this.
Groaning softly, the young man limped over to the bed to sit down for a moment, as the pain made him a bit dizzy. Slowly, the hot sensation of pain and exhaustion began to spread through his entire body, while there was a suspicious pressure in his lower abdomen. However, it was not the typical feeling when his body needed to relieve itself.
Suddenly, he remembered. He had almost forgotten about the thing inside him that felt like a golf ball. Hoseok frowned as he put a hand on his belly.
What could that thing be? He didn't really feel it, only when he moved his hips back and forth a little. What if it was dangerous? Or some kind of disease?
Quickly, he searched for his phone, which he found in the left pocket of his pants. More than anything he wanted to research what his one-night stand had done to him, but the amount of messages he had received in the morning distracted him. Most of them were from Jimin, who must have been very worried about Hoseok yesterday.
[JM]
Hyung? Are you okay? Text me when you get home. 🙌🏻
[JM]
Hobi Hyung? Still not home? 😣
[JM]
Are you okay? I'm here if you need any help. 🙏🏻
Smiling, Hoseok shook his head because these messages went on and on. Jimin had always been a caring friend and Hoseok appreciated it, but maybe the snake hybrid overdid it this time. Although, judging by his hurting body and blisters... maybe Jimin's reaction wasn't so out of place.
Chewing on his lower lip, Hoseok sent a short message to his friend to tell him that he was okay, to which Jimin replied a few seconds later.
[HSK]
Good morning ☀️
[JM]
Hyung! Finally! 🥹
[HSK]
Judging by your messages, you seemed very worried about me. 😂
[JM]
You have no idea 😭 I just know what dragons are capable of and feared that the guy from last night treated you too roughly... So… how are you? 🤨
The small smile on Hoseok's lips disappeared. It was true that yesterday's sex hadn't been the most tender and he could have done without the bite marks and blisters. Still, he didn't want to admit that his snake friend was right about the dragon, so he shrugged it off.
[HSK]
I'm fine... it wasn't that bad... actually, it was kinda fun. 😌
[JM]
Really??? Dont lie to me hyung 🙃
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the human's lower body, causing Hoseok to drop his phone. It felt like his insides were on fire, while another hot, throbbing pain shot through his skull.
"Uh... what the..." he groaned, his face twisted in pain as he leaned forward slightly.
The world around him seemed to spin for a moment as orange and red flames danced in front of his eyes. Hoseok was so distracted by the flames that he didn't even notice how he slipped off the bed and hit the floor of the hotel room with his knees first. It was only after the pain had subsided and the colorful flames disappeared that he realized that he was lying on the floor.
Blinking, he looked around, trying to understand what had just happened. Maybe his body needed some more rest after last night. Massaging his temples, he pulled himself up from the floor and sat back down on the bed.
His head felt strangely empty, as if he had forgotten something important. Irritated, Hoseok noticed that his phone fell to the floor as well, so he grabbed it, still confused about what had just happened. He noticed that Jimin had sent him a few more messages, but Hoseok didn't feel like answering them. All he wanted to do was to go home and leave the hotel room that kept reminding him of the night he had spent with the dragon.
So he packed his things and checked once more if he had everything with him. Before leaving the hotel room, Hoseok looked at the bed once more.
Why did he have the feeling that he had forgotten something?
Shrugging his shoulders, he left the room, while the egg he was unaware of continued to throb softly inside him.
℘—•⛤•⭑☫⭑•⛤•—℘
"Seok-ah... hey... Seok-ah... wake up!"
Slowly, Hoseok lifted his head from the desk. It was quite difficult to open his eyes, since his eyelids felt like they were made of stone. He'd been so sound asleep that he hadn't noticed that some of his saliva had dripped onto the documents on his desk. He must have been drooling a lot, because one of these documents was now stuck to his cheek.
"Huh?" Hoseok mumbled and looked with tired eyes in the direction of the voice.
His colleague Kim Seokjin was standing at the door of Hoseok's small office, smiling cheekily at him. Like his face, the older man's white shirt shimmered slightly in the dim sunlight that shone into the small office, highlighting the black tie that hung a bit too loosely around Seokjin's neck. He looked as bright and cheerful as always, unlike Hoseok who was feeling quite sick today.
"Looks like you're working extra hard today, huh?" Seokjin chuckled and entered the office with two cups of coffee in his hand.
"Oh, damn…I fell asleep again..." Hoseok mumbled and ran his hand over his face, finally removing the annoying piece of paper from his cheek.
"Don't get caught by the boss, or she'll make you work even more overtime..." Seokjin warned him and handed Hoseok a cup of coffee while he sipped from the other.
"If she does that, I could just move in here...this office is nicer than my apartment anyway," the younger man joked bitterly, inhaling the delicious smell of coffee.
It sounded sad, but it was the truth. After his divorce, Hoseok had to move to a new apartment, and with his rather modest salary, he didn't earn enough to afford a large one. So for the past year, he had lived in a one-and-a-half room apartment, barely furnished except for the most essential items. The small office at work, on the other hand, was cozy, furnished with plants and shelves that brought some color to the tiny room with the small window.
"Oh Seokie... don't be like that..." Seokjin tried to cheer him up.
"I'm just being honest... you know what my new place looks like... no need to sugarcoat it," Hoseok grumbled and started massaging his temples again.
There it was again. That annoying, burning headache that had been with him all week. It was also the reason why he could hardly sleep at night, forcing Hoseok to catch up on his needed sleep at work.
"Are you okay? You look a little pale..." Seokjin noticed worriedly and put a hand on Hoseok's shoulder.
Seokjin had always been like that. Full of empathy, humor and care. He was the only one who made Hoseok laugh during their lunch breaks and cared about his well-being. Plus, Seokjin had been helping and advising Hoseok since the day he joined the HanSol Finance Group, supporting him all the way.
Seokjin was a good co-worker. A good hyung. A good friend.
He was also one of the few human employees here, which was a blessing for Hoseok. Due to the fact that the company only hired hybrids in the beginning, there was a large disbalance of hybrids and humans in the company, even after the company decided to hire humans as well. It was never really explained why the HanSol Finance Group only hired hybrids in the beginning. Maybe it was because the boss was a hybrid herself, or because it was hard for hybrids to get jobs a few years ago.
Hoseok didn't have a problem with the fact that there were more hybrids than humans at his workplace because he liked (and envied) hybrids. However, his hybrid co-workers tended to stick to their own kind, which made teamwork rather difficult. It seemed that they didn't fully trust their human colleagues.
"Hm...yeah...I'm fine," Hoseok mumbled, but his hyung didn't believe him.
"Are you sure? I can give you some vitamins or painkillers..." the older one suggested, but Hoseok just shook his head.
"I'm fine...I think...I just need some fresh air..." the younger one said and got up to go for a walk.
However, Hoseok only got to the door when his boss, Park Eunji, suddenly stood in front of him with two of her assistants. Her sharp, green fox eyes sparkled fiercely, while her long, red hair fell over her shoulders like two bloody blankets. Surprised by the sudden visit, Hoseok heard Seokjin choke on his coffee as he stared at his boss in shock.
"Hoseok-ssi... Seokjin-ssi..." she purred darkly and waited for her employees to greet her politely.
Park Eunji was well known in the business world. After all, she ran one of the most successful companies in Korea, while her successes were constantly reported in business magazines. She certainly lived an exciting life, but Hoseok wouldn't swap places with her because he knew how mean the other employees talked about her behind her back. They always made comments about how their boss didn't deserve the success she had or gossiped about the affairs the fox hybrid was involved in.
After he recovered from his shock, he bowed to his boss and received a cold smile from her.
"Hoseok-ssi… I have received some funding requests for some companies that need to be analyzed," she said, her harsh voice whipping around Hoseok's ears like a cold autumn breeze.
"I want you to read through the offers and sort out what the company should fund and what not. I need the list tomorrow," she demanded and let one of her assistants push the pile of documents into Hoseok's hands.
"Uhh..." the young man groaned as the heavy stack brought him to his knees.
"Can I rely on you?" she smiled, her red fox ears twitching.
Hoseok just nodded and watched as his boss grinned even wider, revealing her sharp fangs.
"Good..." she purred and made her way back to her office.
As he watched Park Eunji go, Hoseok noticed that the other employees avoided her or bowed respectfully as she passed. Everyone feared her, and with good reason.
"Wow... that was... she seems to be in a really bad mood today..." Seokjin shook his head with a sigh while Hoseok put the documents on his desk.
It wasn't the first time that the young financial manager had been given such a task by his boss, which is why Hoseok wasn't upset by the action. The 100 sheets of paper didn't really make a difference because his desk was already a mess. The keyboard of Hoseok's computer was almost impossible to find among the empty coffee cups and scattered pens, and the young man made a mental note to clean up his desk after he finished his work. But first of all he had to work his way through what seemed to be 70 applications from new start-up companies. Sighing, Hoseok sat back down at his desk to get to work while the throbbing pain in his head was still present.
"Mhm... if you want, I can help you with this. I'm almost done with my work anyway," Seokjin offered his support, but Hoseok just shook his head.
He knew that the other had his own tasks and it would only cause trouble for both of them if they didn't hand in their work on time.
"No thanks, hyung. I'll manage, it's not the first time I got such a workload from her..." Hoseok refused his hyung's help, who just looked at him in silence.
"Hm... okay..." Seokjin grumbled at first and was about to leave the office when he turned around at the door, "Hey... eh... how about dinner after work? Been a while since we ate together."
Hoseok blinked at his hyung who smiled fondly at him. "Sure, why not?" he accepted the invitation and Seokjin nodded happily.
"Okay, see you later."
"See you later, hyung."
With a soft click, the glass door to Hoseok's office closed again, separating the young financial manager from the hustle and bustle outside. Only the sound of typing and the rustling of paper filled the small office. The steady ticking of the clock above the door joined the other sounds and put the hard-working financial manager into a trance, so that Hoseok didn't notice how the hours passed.
He made good progress until the words and numbers began to merge before his eyes. Annoyed, Hoseok reached for his painkillers as his headache got worse, but it didn't help much. His head throbbed terribly, while an unpleasant heat spread through his stomach, forcing him to take a break.
Sighing, the young man leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment.
Why did he put himself through this? Why didn't he just quit and look for a new company that would pay him more?
Oh yes, that's right... no other company would hire him...
After his divorce, Hoseok realized for the first time how financially dependent he was on his partner and how little he actually earned. Of course, he looked around for other companies and applied to one or two banks or finance companies. However, as Hoseok painfully learned, his profession was so well staffed that there was a lot of competition. It was difficult to find a job in the first place, and when he did find one, the application process was a mess.
Still, Hoseok wished sometimes that he could work somewhere else, where his work would at least be appreciated and valued.
Maybe he should have reconsidered the divorce?
No, it was the right decision to go separate ways before anyone got hurt...
The sudden cute ringing sound of Hoseok's phone made him snap out of his thoughts.
Quickly, he grabbed it to take a look. Seokjin had just sent him a meme with an absurd looking cat that made Hoseok smile.
No doubt, Seokjin would be the only one he would miss if he started working for another company...
A few hours later...
With hungry eyes, Hoseok watched the beef sizzle in the frying pan along with noodles and vegetables. The aroma smelled so delicious that his stomach clenched and his mouth filled with saliva.
"Someone seems pretty hungry," Seokjin chuckled, stirring the food in the small frying pan.
Fat and sauce mixed into a juicy mess which made Hoseok's stomach growl impatiently.
"Yeah... I forgot to eat lunch today..." the younger one confessed, resting his elbow on the round table.
The small restaurant where they were sitting was quite crowded, as it was one of the few places that was still open. Besides, it also served the tastiest side dishes, so no wonder so many people wanted to eat here.
"Oh Seok-ah... How many times do I have to tell you that you need to take better care of yourself?" Seokjin clicked his tongue when he heard about that.
"I'm sorry... seems like I'm a hopeless case..." Hoseok chuckled and grabbed the bottle of soju that sat on the table like all the other side dishes.
"Hey hey... stop it. Let hyung do it," Seokjin grumbled suddenly and took the bottle from the younger man while he left the chopsticks in the small pan. Smiling softly, Hoseok watched as the other filled his shot glass. Gratefully, he thanked his hyung before swallowing the shot while Seokjin continued to fry the meat.
The sweet liquor went straight to Hoseok's head, which was a good thing, because it helped to numb his headache.
Smiling, he glanced at his hyung. The older man had loosened his tie and unbuttoned some buttons on his shirt. The glasses, he usually wore at work, sat on the edge of the table while his sleeves were rolled up. Kim Seokjin was without doubt a good-looking man, and Hoseok wasn't the only one who thought so, judging by the looks of the other guests.
"Here, try this, it's delicious," Seokjin said, chewing happily after he took the first bite.
Gently, he put some of the grilled beef in Hoseok's rice bowl and chose some vegetables for himself afterwards. Hungrily, the younger man stared at the saucy, fat-covered piece of meat before shoving it into his mouth with his chopsticks. The flavors of several spices and the juicy, tender meat danced on Hoseok's tongue and he couldn't help but let out a small sigh.
God, he loved bulgogi.
"There it is..." Seokjin chuckled and put more meat in Hoseok's bowl.
"Huh?" the younger replied confused.
"Your smile... I haven't seen you this happy in weeks. I should have invited you to dinner earlier, huh?" the older one joked and Hoseok joined in.
"Yeah... I thought I need to shed some tears before you finally ask me out," Hoseok joked, making Seokjin giggle.
"I would have enjoyed seeing that, haha," the older one laughed and filled their glasses with soju.
The two continued to joke and drink until Hoseok's smile turned a little bitter.
"Well, to be honest…I haven't had much to laugh about in the last few months and it's hard to stay positive," he confessed, causing Seokjin to look at the other pitifully.
He knew very well about Hoseok's divorce and living situation because he had told him all about it. Since then, Seokjin had been very supportive, always taking care of Hoseok like a good friend, for which the younger was very grateful.
"I understand...take your time to heal and believe me when I say that things will get better eventually. Sooner or later you will be able to get over him," he said and handed Hoseok some kimchi.
With a frown, the younger man stared at the pickled cabbage. "I've been over him for a long time. I just can't get over everything else that happened. The fight over the apartment and personal belongings... He still has some of my clothes, but every time I want to pick them up, he's not home. He probably spends his free time hanging out in one of those shady clubs again, playing with bunny hybrids..."
Seokjin grimaced. "You think so? Does your ex have so little dignity that he continues to visit the place that destroyed your marriage?"
Hoseok nodded. "Of course... he probably visits these places more often now that he doesn't have to play the good husband for me anymore," he laughed bitterly and filled his and Seokjin's shot glasses with soju again.
Together they raised their glasses and drank, gulping down the sweet liquor in one go. Shuddering, Hoseok felt a burning sensation at the back of his throat, sending shivers down his spine.
"Such an asshole..." Seokjin spat and stuffed some meat into his mouth.
"Oh yes, he is... I have no idea why I ever had feelings for him..." Hoseok mumbled and took some meat and kimchi again.
Enjoying their bulgogi they continued to gossip about Hoseok's ex-husband. Laughing, they filled their glasses with soju again and again, until the bottle was empty. Throbbing, the sweet liquor ran through Hoseok's system, making him feel warm and relaxed while turning his skin slightly pink.
He could feel his tongue getting loose and it was getting harder and harder to keep his thoughts to himself, but that's exactly what Hoseok needed right now. A cozy dinner with someone he trusted while he talked about everything that had been bothering him for the last few months. Seokjin listened attentively and cracked one or two jokes that made the younger man laugh so hard that Hoseok's face began to hurt.
After they finished their rant about his ex-lover, they talked about all sorts of topics until Seokjin landed on one he seemed to be very interested in.
"Hey... didn't you tell me the other day that you were going out with your friends again?" he asked and Hoseok nodded.
"How was it? Did you have fun?" the older man smiled curiously, while the younger one sensed his face heating up.
"It was okay... just did a bit of dancing and stuff..." he lied, looking at his rice bowl, which was almost empty.
"Oh yeah?" his hyung grinned. "So you're telling me that those love bites on your neck that you've been trying to hide with make-up since Monday are the result of a little dancing and stuff ?"
An unpleasant heat, which was not caused by the alcohol, rushed into Hoseok's head and he almost dropped his chopsticks.
Shit... was it that obvious? Even though Hoseok had applied three layers of foundation to hide the ugly marks on his neck?
"You... you noticed them?" Hoseok stammered embarrassed and tugged at the collar of his shirt.
"Of course I noticed them, the whole department noticed them. Nobody could miss those hickeys," Seokjin laughed and picked some of the kimchijeon.
"Seems like you had a good time at the club... but I wonder why you didn't tell me about it," the older man pouted, while Hoseok wished to disappear into thin air.
"There's no story... to be honest..." he tried to lie again and reached for the fried chicken.
"Really?" Seokjin chuckled, not believing a single word.
Hoseok continued to eat in silence while his hyung pierced him with pleading eyes. It had the effect of a wrecking ball, breaking down the barrier in front of Hoseok's tongue bit by bit. The amount of alcohol running through his veins didn't help either and if he was honest, he also wanted to tell the other about that night.
"Okok... I'll tell you... but don't look at me like that... it gives me the creeps," Hoseok murmured and leaned back a little.
Satisfied, Seokjin chuckled and moved closer to his friend.
"So... as you know, I was there with my friends Jimin, Tae and Jeongguk. They're all..."
"Hybrids, I know," Seokjin interrupted, resting his chin on his hands and looking up at Hoseok like a little boy who listened to the most exciting fairy tale.
"Yeah... but they all know the club scene better than me. Well... since I've been married, I've hardly been to clubs at all, because a certain somebody didn't want me to..." Hoseok told the story, drifting off towards the end.
However, he pushed the thought of his ex aside to tell Seokjin the story from last weekend.
"Anyway, Jimin suggested that we go to the Dungeon. It's a pretty popular club for humans and hybrids. The music wasn't really my taste, but the drinks were good... very strong..." he continued and Seokjin smiled knowingly.
"We had a lot of fun together... danced and drank a lot... until I met this guy in the restroom..."
Suddenly Seokjin covered his mouth. "Oh... Seok-ah... don't tell me you did it with a stranger on the toilet ..."
The younger one shook his head briefly. "Ew... no. I would never do that... that's disgusting..." Hoseok shuddered in disgust while Seojin clutched his chest in relief.
"I only noticed this guy because of his looks, because I had never seen a hybrid like him before. At first I thought he was a rare kind of snake hybrid, but Jimin told me later that this guy was actually a dragon."
Seokjin's eyes widened as he looked at the other in astonishment. "A dragon? Wow... I thought they didn't exist," the older man said, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
"I thought so too, but they do. However, this guy turned out to be a pretty arrogant asshole..." Hoseok said and started to chuckle as he remembered the night.
Seokjin did the same. "Why? What did he do?"
"He was quite annoying and kept bragging about his "oh so great" heritage while he looked at me with his stupid golden eyes like I was some piece of shit," Hoseok muttered and started to scratch the label off the soju bottle.
It was strange how his body began to heat up when he talked about the dragon hybrid, but since Hoseok thought it was because of the alcohol, he didn't worry too much about it.
"Oh Seok-ah... you really have a thing for bad guys, huh?" Seokjin said suddenly, causing Hoseok to rip the label off the soju bottle.
"What are you talking about?" he coughed in surprise.
His hyung just smiled devilishly, as if he had cracked the code. "I mean... if you think back to your past relationships... Jiseung, Beomseok, Joowon. They all treated you like shit and yet you dated them. You even married one of them..." Seokjin listed the younger man's past lovers.
"Yes, but... but... no, I don't like bad guys at all... I'm just unlucky... when it comes to men," Hoseok protested, but his friend just smiled at him, not believing a single word.
"Oh yeah? Okay, then tell me you didn't have sex with that dragon guy," Seokjin challenged the younger one, who blushed even more.
"Hyung... please, not so loud..."
"Did you have sex with him?"
Embarrassed, Hoseok looked down at his empty rice bowl. His heart was pounding fast in his chest. Surely, his face would have been bright red if he hadn't been wearing make-up.
"I see... it seems I was right..." Seokjin chuckled and picked up his chopsticks again. "Was the sex good at least?"
"Shut up, hyung," Hoseok hissed, trying to hide his red ears.
℘—•⛤•⭑☫⭑•⛤•—℘
Exhausted but with a full stomach, Hoseok walked home from the subway station. His face was slightly flushed from all the soju, but otherwise he was feeling pretty good. Eating and drinking with Seokjin had cheered him up a bit, even if the events of the past week seemed more present now than they had this morning.
Actually, he just wanted to forget about what had happened with the dragon hybrid, but those stupid hickeys and the almost-healed blisters on his skin were a daily reminder of him.
Yawning, Hoseok climbed the stairs to his apartment, as there was no lift in the small building. When he arrived at his apartment door, it took him two tries before the door recognised the key card and allowing the young man to enter. Immediately, he kicked off his shoes and left them in the hallway before heading straight to the bathroom. His body felt a bit sweaty and uncomfortable, so Hoseok quickly jumped into the shower.
The headache, which had been bothering him all day, had finally disappeared, but instead he felt a strange heat in his abdomen. However, Hoseok thought it was due to the alcohol and food his body wasn't used to, so he just tried to ignore it.
Smelling of sweet melon, the young man reached for a towel to dry himself off after he stepped out of the shower and wrapped it around his narrow hips. His skin had already healed well, only a few red spots remained on the inside of his thighs and neck. Reaching for his toothbrush, Hoseok glanced at the mirror that hung above the sink. Thick drops of water fell from his hair onto his shoulders and chest, which were also still covered with evidence of the night with the dragon.
Carefully, Hoseok let his fingers caress the spot where the other had bitten him, as it felt strangely sensitive today.
"Why did he do… that?" Hoseok muttered to himself and sighed.
He tried in vain not to think about the dragon hybrid while brushing his teeth. Ever since he had told Seokjin about that night, the thought of Yoongi haunted him like a ghost. Again and again, the golden eyes and the copper coloured scales appeared in front of Hoseok's inner eye, filling the young man with a strange desire.
It disgusted him.
He tried his best to ignore this strange desire for the dragon's warmth, but it grew stronger and stronger. It became so strong that the places where Yoongi had once touched him suddenly began to tingle. The peppermint flavor in Hoseok's mouth was instantly overshadowed by that of the dragon hybrid, causing him to shiver. In an instant, his skin was covered with goose bumps, especially around his neck. Surprised, he couldn't hold back the sigh before spitting the foaming toothpaste into the sink.
Slightly panting, Hoseok watched the white foam flow into the drain and checked himself in the mirror again. His cheeks were lightly flushed, his pink lips covered with toothpaste while his eyes sparkled with a strange dark glow.
What was this feeling? Was he… horny?
Shaking his head, he tried to ignore it and continued with his evening routine. After applying his skincare products, he dried his hair with a separate towel and put on a clean shirt and underwear. Yawning again, he made his way to his bed, which was eagerly awaiting him. As usual, he surfed the web before bed and checked his social media apps. Slowly, his fingers slid across the glowing screen as he liked posts from his friends and celebrities.
In the process, he came across some posts from newlyweds that made the young man grimace. Surely he had once looked so happy too, until he found out that his husband had been cheating on him all along. The memory of the fateful day when he discovered the truth still hurt him deeply and Hoseok desperately wished it would stop.
Scrolling down quickly, he found the photos Jimin had taken last summer when they all went to Jeju Island. With a small smile, Hoseok looked at the pictures of himself and his happy, silly friends. He was so lucky to have them.
As he remembered the good times, the young man suddenly received a message that made his phone beep. Hoseok's soft smile was instantly wiped off his face when he saw the banner that showed who the message was from.
It was Joowon. His ex.
Shit…What could that idiot want from him?
With hesitation, Hoseok tapped on the small banner to enter the chat.
[JW]
Hey, when are you going to pick up your stuff?
Charming as always.
[HSK]
I was supposed to pick them up last Saturday, but you cancelled my plans again last minute.
[JW]
That's not true. You said the dates I suggested never worked for you.
The uncomfortable heat of anger began to boil inside Hoseok. It was almost ridiculous how he only had to exchange a few words with Joowon to get into a fight with him again.
How could he ever have fallen for that man, let alone loved him?
Furious, Hoseok tapped the screen to write an angry text to the other, but decided to delete it before sending anything. He couldn't start a text war now, since he had to work tomorrow.
[HSK]
It's getting late and I don't have time to argue. Just tell me when I can pick up my stuff...
[JW]
Who's arguing? I just asked you to stick to the truth.
Hoseok rolled his eyes.
[HSK]
Just tell me when I can collect my things.
[JW]
Thursday or Friday would be good for me...
[HSK]
Okay, I'll be there on Friday.
Shortly after this message, Hoseok put his phone down and turned off the small lamp on the nightstand. Even though his phone rang two more times, he refused to check what his ex had sent him.
The few text messages he had exchanged with the other had already been so exhausting that Hoseok felt his headache return. Actually, he didn't want to deal with this man anymore, but the divorce prevented him from doing so. The reason he hadn't deleted his ex's number yet was that they needed to stay in touch to sort out their personal stuff and the whole issue with the divorce papers. The papers had been signed weeks ago, so all Hoseok had to do was to pick up his things from Joowon's place so that he could finally delete his number.
He just wants to move on and ban the other man from his life. Forever.
As Hoseok turned on his side to fall asleep, scenarios began to play in his head how the meeting with his ex might turn out on Friday. Fear and curiosity made his brain twitch by showing the young man pictures of his ex touching and abusing him.
Frustrated, he pulled the blanket over his head as thoughts of Joowon kept him from falling asleep.
Why did the other have to text him so late? Couldn't he have done it tomorrow?
Instantly, Hoseok regretted that he hadn't just ignored the message.
Oh, why did he always have to question and overthink everything...
Irritated by his nervous brain, Hoseok got up and went into the small kitchen that was only a few steps away from his bed. There he drank a glass of water to calm himself. It helped a little.
Sleepily, Hoseok looked out of the window and watched the lights on the street. Eventually, he started counting them, as well as the cars that drove by, to distract himself.
The longer the young man stared at the flashing of the lanterns and traffic lights, the more it blended into a colourful mess. Colors of orange and gold danced around his eyes while Hoseok tried in vain to break out of his trance.
Suddenly, a soft whisper joined the fire-like swirl of colors.
Please…me…please…
In the next moment, the glowing colors before his eyes faded to reveal a clear image of a bedroom, but before Hoseok had a chance to look around, he awoke from his trance. Surprised, he looked around, seeming to forget for a moment that he was still in the kitchen.
What was that? Had he just been dreaming? No… he was awake. Maybe he was still a bit drunk…
Clearing his throat, he put the glass down on the counter and jumped back into bed. Once more he tried to fall asleep, ignoring every thought of his ex that tried to enter his mind. This time it seemed to work, because Hoseok felt his body relax as he drifted deeper and deeper into the dreamland.
Finally, he thought. Finally he would be able to sleep.
However, his body had other ideas.
A familiar warmth inside his abdomen made Hoseok shiver. With a soft groan, he turned onto his other side and pulled the blanket up to his chin. He tried in vain to ignore the hot tingling sensation on his skin that was getting more and more intense.
Hoseok-ah... Hoseok...
"Mhm... be quiet..." Hoseok mumbled back and pulled the blanket over his head.
He just wanted to sleep.
Why did his senses and thoughts have to bother him so much tonight?
Groaning desperately, the young man tossed and turned in his bed, cupping his hands over his ears to ignore the voice inside his head, but it didn't help. The voice kept whispering things to him that made Hoseok's body twitch and squirm. It was deep, hoarse and sounded strangely familiar. In fact, it was very similar to that of the dragon hybrid.
Suddenly, the warmth spread in waves over Hoseok's skin, resulting in a light layer of sweat. The air under the blanket became thin and stuffy, while the raspy voice in Hoseok's head seemed to get louder and louder.
Don't fight it...
"Please... go away..." Hoseok gasped and had to admit that the idea of submitting sounded tempting.
His body was burning up, while the blood in his veins felt like hot candle wax. It was strangely exciting...
He didn't even feel the need to do anything against the fever as his desire grew stronger and stronger and soon Hoseok couldn't resist the urge to touch his body anymore.
Moaning softly, the young man began to play with his nipples under his shirt, circling and tugging on them with his fingers, making his body tremble even more. Yellow and orange flames danced in front of his eyes again as one of his hands moved away from his nipples and slid down his flat stomach to his cock, which was already pressing against the soft fabric.
"Oh..." Hoseok moaned as he cupped his cock with his slender fingers.
The delicate, dark pink skin was already slick from the pre-cum dripping from the red tip, leaving a wet spot on his underwear.
Why was he so damn needy? God, his body acted like it hadn't been satisfied in ages.
A soft whimper escaped Hoseok as he began to massage his cock. Slowly, his hand moved along the soft, wet skin, teasing every little vein and making him bite his lower lip again. Usually, when he was touching himself, it didn't turn him on that much, but today, something seemed different. His whole body twitched excitedly as his hand slid up and down his cock, as if he needed it so badly, while every touch felt a hundred times more intense.
"Oh...fuck...yes," Hoseok moaned as he squeezed the tip of his cock gently.
It was one of his most sensitive spots, where he had already come several times just by playing with it, and since he couldn't stand this annoying need inside him anymore, he wanted to get the whole thing over with as quickly as possible.
A thick glob of pre-cum dripped from his cock as he massaged the shaft and head in turn, while hoarse sighs and moans left his mouth. He knew he was close when he felt his little balls contract.
Just a little bit more... more touch... more pressure... more heat...
In one swift motion, his other hand reached the seam of his underwear to free his cock. Relieved, his dick bounced out slightly spilling some pre-cum onto Hoseok's stomach and shirt. Usually, he wasn't this messy...
However, Hoseok didn't care about the sticky feeling on his skin right now and continued to play with himself. Gently, his left hand began to toy with his balls while the other continued to play with his cock. That should be enough. Usually this combination was enough to make him come, but today something seemed to be missing.
Groaning, the young man freed himself from his warm cocoon to move around more easily. He sighed as the chill air of his room kissed his damp skin, while the fire in his veins continued to burn.
He had to come... needed to come...
Desperately, he fucked his hand as he lolled sideways in his bed, his eyes closed and his mouth forming an O. Pre-cum ran down his hand in large globs and dripped onto the sheets.
You’re close, right? So close...
A shiver ran down Hoseok's spine when he heard the voice again. Somehow it turned him on when the rough voice whispered how wonderful he was.
Do you want to come?
"Yes... please," Hoseok whimpered, clawing at the sheet with one hand while the other continued to pleasure his cock. Hard and fast.
Go on then... come for me…
And Hoseok did.
Usually when he masturbated, his orgasms were nothing special, but the one that rocked his body right now was something else entirely. It was strong and long, as if someone was stimulating his nerves until every last drop was milked out of him. His whole body shook like an erupting volcano as cum spilled from his cock like hot lava. Orange, red, and golden colors blurred before Hoseok's eyes until everything went dark.
Never before had he experienced such a climax.
The soft beating of his heart was the first thing Hoseok noticed when he returned from the world of endless pleasure. Taking slow breaths, he tried to understand what had just happened.
His mind was clear again and felt strangely... empty, as the voice and any anxious thoughts seemed to be gone. He felt good... relaxed... happy.
Stretching, the young man felt a sticky sensation on his skin and hand, which forced him to open his eyes. With a frown, Hoseok looked at the mess he had made.
He had never come so hard before, nor so much, that his whole belly and sheets were covered with cum...
What had happened to his body? Was it the strange voice he had heard? Had the person to whom the voice belonged bewitched his body? Or was it because of the dragon hybrid that Hoseok secretly thought about while touching himself?
With a sigh, he shook his head. Great, now he felt ashamed…
Slowly he sat up and let out a small moan as he suddenly felt something wet coming out of his ass. At first he thought it was the sweat from his back, but there was far too much of it and it felt quite sticky.
Reaching carefully into his ruined underwear, he noticed that the fluid oozing out of his butt and down his thighs was strangely slick, like some kind of lubricant.
Hoseok shook his head again. Perhaps someone had really bewitched his body, or his overwhelmed brain was playing tricks on him. However, he decided to ignore the matter for now, even though the fluid was running down his thighs when he got up to clean himself up.
℘—•⛤•⭑☫⭑•⛤•—℘
Smoothly, Yoongi slipped into his pants. From the bed behind him, he could hear the steady breathing of his last one-night stand, who he really didn't want to wake up. So, carefully and slowly, the dragon hybrid slipped into his black jeans and rose from the soft queen-sized bed.
It creaked slightly, which made Yoongi stop in his movements. Wide-eyed, he looked at the female snake hybrid, whose scales still glistened beautifully. She continued to sleep peacefully, which meant she hadn't heard anything and Yoongi breathed a sigh of relief. Carefully, he crept through the room on tiptoes and picked up the rest of his clothes.
Just as quietly as he had put on his pants, he pulled them over his body, which was still slightly flushed from the previous sex session. His scales sparkled a faint orange and gold as he pulled on his black t-shirt and left the bedroom. The dragon hybrid didn't even turn around to take one last look at the snake hybrid, because he'd already lost his interest in her.
So he didn't hesitate to pick up the rest of his things that were scattered around the hallway of the spacious apartment, and after he took one last look in the mirror, he left through the front door.
Relieved, Yoongi took a deep breath as he closed the door behind him and stretched once before walking over to the lift. On the way down, he took his phone out of his jacket pocket and dialed the only number that was saved on the device.
"Hey Joon-ah... you up for some breakfast?" he asked, clearing his throat.
"Breakfast? Isn't it a little late for that?" the other man asked in surprise.
"Too late? It's the 21st century… there's no such thing as too late for breakfast... where are you right now?" Yoongi asked as he stepped out of the lift.
He fished a pair of sunglasses out of his jacket and put them on his nose as he left the apartment building.
"I'm near Gyeongbokgung Palace in the centre of the city..." the other said, which made Yoongi smile.
Namjoon had always had a thing for architecture and culture, so sightseeing was something the other couldn't resist.
"Really? Still sightseeing? It's not like we're here for the first time, my friend."
"Yes, but this modern Seoul is so damn big and there's so much to see. Did you know that they built a tower that is 555 meters tall, ranking it as the fifth tallest building in the world?" Namjoon enthused about the city while Yoongi just rolled his eyes.
"We have tall towers back home, so what's so special about that?" the dragon hybrid hissed and started to walk down the street.
While talking on the phone with Namjoon, Yoongi looked for a small place to eat. Halfheartedly, he listened to the other as his sunglass-covered eyes wandered through the streets. At some point, he couldn't listen to Namjoon's chatter anymore and told him to let him know when he found a place to eat before hanging up.
Smoothly, Yoongi walked along the streets between the crowds of people and hybrids, stopping here and there at a traffic light and going with the flow. Even though he was dressed rather casually, he caught one or two curious glances. Perhaps it was the jewelry, which was anything but ordinary, or his orange hair and scales, which sparkled so brightly in the mild midday sun.
Yoongi, however, was used to receiving such attention. Even though it could be a little annoying from time to time, he secretly enjoyed the stares and couldn't stop smiling every time a passerby glared at him with an open mouth. This world of humans and hybrids remained amusing no matter how often he visited it.
After a few minutes of walking, the dragon hybrid walked into a small café that mainly sold waffles. Yoongi had to admit that the smell had lured him in, and judging by the satisfied faces of the customers inside the café, the waffles seemed to taste good.
A small bell chimed as he entered the shop, causing Yoongi to look up in surprise. A small smile appeared on his lips and he looked around for a comfortable spot to sit. The café wasn't very busy, so he had many options to choose from. He chose a table for two near the window because Yoongi liked to have a view of what was going on outside while he drank his coffee.
Gently, he pulled back the black chair and sat down. Judging by the decor, the small café had a French touch to it, but Yoongi wasn't really impressed. He had been to France several times and had spent many hours in cafés there. However, the waffles on the menu looked very appetizing, and after all, he was here for the food, not the décor.
He was just texting his location to Namjoon when the waiter approached him. It was a young dog hybrid with beautiful fluffy curls and a pair of cute floppy ears. Surely he must have charmed a lot of customers with his sweet, innocent brown eyes, but the dragon remained calm.
"Welcome sir, what can I fetch you?" the toy poodle hybrid barked happily, obviously amused by his little joke.
Oh, man...
Slowly, Yoongi pushed his sunglasses further up his nose without commenting on the joke.
He didn't even look at the waiter as he pointed to the items on the menu that he wanted. The waiter nodded friendly and said a few standard things like "good choice" and "coming right up, sir".
Sighing, Yoongi made himself comfortable while waiting for his waffles and coffee. He let his eyes wander and noticed that one or two guests looked at him curiously, but the dragon paid no further attention to them. Instead, he watched the young waiter for a moment as he prepared Yoongi's order behind the counter, smiling broadly. It was amazing how happy someone could be at work. Perhaps it was the dog DNA.
In general, the dragon was surprised that there were so many dog hybrids in this city, since it was usually the cat hybrids that dominated, just like in Tokyo. Perhaps it was a new trend and people here loved dogs more than cats, although Yoongi had to admit that he couldn't stand dog hybrids. They were always so cheerful and annoying...
Furiously, his stomach growled as the waiter came back with his order, waving his tail happily. The dragon just nodded gratefully and was about to start eating when the little bell at the front door rang again. It was Namjoon. With a subtle gesture, Yoongi told the other to come over, which the silver dragon hybrid did as soon as he spotted him.
"Waffles for breakfast? I see… this city seems to satisfy your sweet tooth, huh?" Namjoon grinned as he sat down next to Yoongi.
The taller man's short silver-white hair sparkled softly in the sunlight, looking as icy and beautiful as Namjoon's scales. They covered parts of his cheeks and forehead, framing the pretty round face with silver highlights. A pair of bright eyes flashed beneath narrow eyes, harmonizing beautifully with Namjoon's pearly white teeth.
Yoongi's presence alone had already attracted the attention of some guests, but now that Namjoon had joined him, everyone was staring at them.
"Isn't this place a little too public?" Namjoon asked quietly, resting his arms on the round glass table they were sitting at.
"It is... but I was hungry... and the waffles looked damn tasty," Yoongi purred as he devoured the waffle with satisfaction.
Namjoon just looked at the other and twitched his nose. He didn't seem to like the way the other dragon was devouring his food.
"I see… Anyway... do you mind telling me where you disappeared to last night? I was looking for you when I came back from the bathroom," Namjoon asked, whereupon the other started to smirk cheekily.
"I found something to play with..." Yoongi winked, making the silver dragon sigh.
"Please don't tell me... who was it this time?"
"A snake hybrid... kept smiling at me and didn't want to believe me when I said I was a dragon. So, I went home with her to prove it."
Namjoon touched his temple. He seemed quite upset.
"Damn Yoongi… I can’t ... you should be more careful. You can't screw half the city because of your pride," Namjoon murmured quietly, whereupon Yoongi furrowed his brow.
"I'm not screwing half the city."
"Oh yeah? How many times do you think you've went home with strangers since we've been here?" Namjoon asked and the other shrugged.
"I don't know... the third time?"
"Seventeen times... you've slept with seventeen people lately. This week alone, you were in someone else's bed almost every night. All these hybrids or humans had to do was provoke you a little bit so that they could play with you," Namjoon summed up, while Yoongi just sipped his coffee in silence.
"I mean, you should be more careful... after all, it's almost Eldorh'an and you know what -"
Suddenly the orange dragon slammed his hand down on the table, making Namjoon jump.
"I know damn well about Eldorh'an. And for your information, I've always been careful," Yoongi snarled angrily while the other looked at him rather skeptically.
"Oh really? Mhm… why do you smell like a freshly mated dragon then?"
Yoongi swallowed but kept his slightly annoyed expression. Shit. It seemed he couldn't keep it a secret any longer, even though his plan had been so good. He had tried to avoid Namjoon as long as possible, choosing to meet him in places where many people gathered, such as bars and clubs, so that the other would not notice his changed scent. It was also the real reason why he had sex with so many strangers during the week. Yoongi knew he couldn't keep it a secret forever, but he had hoped to hide the problem until he could find a solution.
"So it's true... oh, by Bhaeler's name... who is it?" Namjoon murmured in shock and Yoongi clicked his tongue.
"It was an accident, okay? It's not just my fault," he hissed angrily and took a few more sips of his coffee.
He couldn't look his silver friend in the eye, he felt so ashamed.
"Yoongi… now is not the time to argue about who is to blame. We need to find that person, because if you have mated with them... they have…" Namjoon lowered his voice and leaned closer to Yoongi, "...the egg."
The orange dragon hybrid clicked his tongue again. He knew exactly what a mess he had made and had felt bad about it all week. Namjoon's words only added to his guilt.
"I know... I'm working on getting it back."
"Getting it back? You know very well that's not possible. Tell me, who is it?"
Yoongi hesitated. He didn't want to reveal who he had accidentally given such a powerful and precious gift to, but Namjoon's piercing look and the guilt he felt forced him to speak up.
"It's that human... Hoseok."
℘—•⛤•⭑☫⭑•⛤•—℘
Paralyzed, Hoseok stood in the elevator with his finger hovering over the button. It was so easy. All he had to do was to push it and he would get to the floor he wanted, but somehow his finger refused to move.
Don't be ridiculous...just do it already, he thought, trying to encourage himself.
The big nine on the button smiled cheekily at him as Hoseok tried to suppress his nervousness. He was just here to pick up his last few things from his ex and after that, he would never have to come here again. Soon he would be rid of Joowon… forever.
Desperately, he tried to tell himself that, as his heart pounded in his chest and his hands became uncomfortably sweaty.
It'll only take a few seconds or minutes, Hoseok thought and forced himself to push the button for the ninth floor. A moment later, the elevator doors closed and Hoseok's thoughts became a mess. Various scenarios of what might happen if he met his ex again played in his head, but he tried to stay calm.
He had a plan. Get in quickly, grab the box with his things, and say goodbye forever.
He had no interest in making small talk with him, nor did he want to be alone with Joowon for too long. Hoseok was already thinking of excuses he could tell the other if he tried to chat with him. Oh, he just wanted it to be over.
With a soft ding, the doors of the lift opened again and Hoseok took one last deep breath before making his way to the apartment. He knew the way very well, after all he had lived here for years with the man he thought was his true love.
The corridors looked just as neat and elegant as he remembered. The light-coloured walls contrasted nicely with the dark wooden doors that led to the apartments. Jealous, Hoseok looked at the pretty plants that still added a touch of colour to the corners of the corridor.
These plants lived a more luxurious life than he did…
Strolling down the corridor, which seemed endless, he stopped in front of apartment 967. His heart pounded hard against his chest and Hoseok scolded himself for being so nervous.
It'll be fine... Just say hi, grab your things and go...
But just as he was about to knock, the door opened and Hoseok was greeted by his ex, who smiled broadly at him.
"Hey Seokseok... finally here?" Joowon said and looked at his watch jokingly.
Damn it, Hoseok thought. He should hate this man more than anything, but unfortunately Jowoon was a really good-looking man...
He was a husky hybrid with brown eyes and black fluffy ears that matched his longer hair perfectly, which he wore in a man bun today. A tight black shirt and loose sweatpants hugged his muscular body, leaving Hoseok speechless for a moment.
Joowon must have been working out lately because Hoseok had never seen him in such good shape.
"Uh...yeah...I..." Hoseok stuttered until he was able to gather his voice. "Where are my things?"
"That's it? No hello or how are you?" Joowon asked with a grin while Hoseok just stared at him in silence.
The husky sighed softly. "In the living room," he said and opened the door a bit more so that Hoseok could enter.
Hesitantly, the younger man entered the apartment after slipping out of his shoes. Actually, Hoseok never intended to return to this place, because he knew that his memories would immediately overwhelm him. Just the smell and the sight of the dark green wallpaper made his heart skip a beat and he hated that he had missed this apartment. He wished he could forget all his good memories of this place so that his heart could finally move on.
Quickly, Hoseok made his way to the living room, which seemed strangely empty. There was only the sofa and a small rug that had already been rolled up. Hoseok's things were packed in a brown cardboard box that was placed on top of several other boxes. Surprised, the young man turned to his ex-husband, who was leaning against the doorframe.
"You can check again if you want, but I think it's all," Joowon said and Hoseok glanced back at the box.
Suddenly, he had lost interest in his things, because another question was on his mind.
"Are you moving out?" he asked the husky, who nodded.
"Why?"
"Eh, I guess it's none of your business..." Joowon barked teasingly, his tail wagging behind him.
Hoseok rolled his eyes at the comment and tried to suppress his curiosity. Joowon always had that rude attitude, but it showed quite late in their relationship. In fact, when they started dating, Hoseok thought the other was the definition of innocence, but that changed when they got married.
Looking back, it was almost ridiculous how wrong he had been about Joowon. Hoseok really thought that he had married a wonderful, loving and kind man and until the very end he didn't want to believe that the love between them was just not enough. Five years of marriage with ups and downs. Time that Hoseok would never get back.
"Don't look so grumpy Seokseok, I was just joking with you," Joowon giggled as Hoseok started to sulk.
"Haha... You're so funny," the human replied sarcastically and closed the box with his things.
"Still not into jokes, huh?" Joowon sighed, his arms crossed over his chest. This idiot must have trained a lot on the weight bench, judging by the way his pecs bulged. Hoseok tried in vain not to pay too much attention to the flexing muscles, but it wasn't easy.
"I do like jokes. It's just that being mean has nothing to do with being funny," Hoseok snapped, hearing his ex click his tongue.
"Wow... and I thought you'd loosened up a bit now that you've started to enjoy yourself."
Confused, Hoseok frowned. "What do you mean?"
Suddenly, Joowon started digging around in the pocket of his sweatpants and pulled out his phone.
Smirking, the husky tapped on the screen until he showed Hoseok a picture. It was a post on Youme, a popular social media platform where people could upload pictures and videos. Hoseok had also used it in the past to share his daily life with his followers and friends, but that had changed since the divorce.
Wide-eyed, he stared at the picture his ex showed him. It depicted him and the dragon hybrid intertwined on the dance floor. Yoongi's wry smile and shiny scales immediately caught the viewer's eye, drawing the attention away from Hoseok's sensual gaze. It was strange how good he and the dragon looked together in the picture, and judging by the comments below, a lot of people felt the same way. Hoseok could only read a few of them, but he recognized a lot of heart emojis.
"Seems like you had a lot of fun with this guy, huh?" Joowon smirked and put his phone down.
Without saying a word, the human turned away from the husky hybrid to pick up the box.
"I had no idea you were into snake hybrids. Tell me, did he fuck you good?" Joowon teased him, but Hoseok just started to smile cheekily at him.
"Well, that’s none of your business," he said and tried to get past the other.
In the next moment, the husky hybrid's firm hand wrapped around Hoseok's upper arm, causing the young human to flinch. It wasn't the first time Hoseok had been touched like this by the other, so it brought back unpleasant memories. However, he managed to stay calm and gave the other man a warning look in return.
Judgingly, he looked at the spot where Joowon's hand touched him, and the husky immediately pulled his hand away.
"Oh... sorry, I... I was just wondering why you're suddenly going to clubs like the Dungeon. I thought you didn't like such clubs," the husky stammered and scratched his ear.
"Hm... yeah, I thought so too, but that has changed," Hoseok lied, just to prove Joowon wrong.
"Really?" the husky growled surprised, raising his dark eyebrows.
It was the perfect moment to say something to the other that would make him feel bad. Something that would hurt his pride.
Maybe a bitter remark or a comment about the hot sex Hoseok had with Yoongi? Yeah...that sounds good.
"Hm, yes, a lot has changed since that night. I learned for the first time what it feels like to be truly satisfied, but that's what you get when you have sex with a dragon hybrid," he bragged confidently, causing Joowon to blink in confusion.
"Dragon hydrid? Are you kidding me?" Joowon laughed, but Hoseok kept a straight face. "Come on...this guy obviously lied to you...dragons don't exist..."
But Hoseok didn't back down. "Oh, they do... and you have no idea how good he was. He drove me crazy that night, and I guarantee he was a hundred times better than those bunny hybrids you've been fucking every night since we got married," Hoseok hissed and tried to make the other feel guilty when the husky grabbed him again. This time, his other arm.
Hoseok wanted to give the husky another warning look, but judging by Joowon's expression, it wouldn't be that easy this time. Frustration was written all over the other's face, while small wrinkles formed on the husky's nose as his fangs showed under his thin lips.
"What is wrong with you? Stop that… let me go!" Hoseok demanded immediately and had to admit that he felt a little bit scared.
"You know…It wasn't just my fault that our marriage went downhill!" the husky growled, but Hoseok just gave him a wry smile.
"Not your fault? You cheated on me... you fucking bastard! I spent hours waiting for you here in this apartment... while you were having fun with other men and women!" he reminded the other and began to wriggle free as Joowon's grip tightened.
"You brought that upon yourself! I've told you a thousand times that I..." the husky suddenly stopped mid-sentence and began to sniff the air.
"Seokseok...?" Joowon mumbled in confusion as the human broke free of his grip.
"What?!"
Hoseok didn't move an inch when Joowon came closer and sniffed at him. It seemed as if the husky was trying to analyze Hoseok's scent, a behavior the human knew all too well.
"Why are you sniffing at me?" the younger man snapped angrily and took a step back, bumping his back against the front door.
"Your scent... something's wrong... it's... so... different..." Joowon said, inhaling between each word.
"It's probably my new perfume..." the human muttered, putting down the small box to slip into his shoes.
"No, it's not... I can't really say what it is, but... it doesn't smell like perfume. Why haven't I noticed it before?" Joowon wondered, furrowing his eyebrows thoughtfully.
The thoughtful silence was broken by the slight sound of Hoseok picking up his box, ready to leave the apartment. He didn't want to spend any more time here, especially since the husky hybrid had shown his aggressive side once again, so he said goodbye quickly.
Joowon was still brooding over the other man's scent when Hoseok hurried to the lift. Luckily it was still on the 9th floor so he didn't have to stand in the empty corridor for long. Several times he pressed the button for the bottom floor to make the doors close faster, even though he knew it wouldn't help. He just wanted to get out of there.
On the way down, his pocket vibrated and the young man skillfully fumbled with the box in his hands to get his phone. When he looked at it, he noticed that Jimin had sent him a message.
[JM]
Hi hyung ❤️
Do you want to go clubbing with Taehyung, Jeongguk and me again? We are planning to go to Phantom Oasis this time. It's a pretty new club, but everyone says it's awesome. 🤩
Hoseok thought about it. Actually, he's not in the mood to party after meeting his ex-husband, but he had to admit that sitting at home alone wouldn't make him feel any better. Maybe having fun with his friends would help distract him a bit.
Fuck it, Hoseok thought.
Balancing the box in one hand, he tapped his reply into his phone before reaching the ground floor.