After the Hurricane, Peace

*

Chansung could barely keep his eyes open as he and Wooyoung got ready. Seated on the porch bench - which had a ridiculous amount of winter clothes on it - he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.

“Oo, I almost want to keep you here and snuggle.” Wooyoung chuckled as he rubbed Chansung’s cheeks.

Cracking open his eyes, Chansung sighed, “I miss the routine of the bakery.”

Wooyoung continued to brush his thumbs over his cheeks and snickered. “Are you sure? I think you miss Fortune in many other ways.”

Grumbling, his eyes widened as Wooyoung made him look up properly.

“Would you run the bakery with me until Min-Jun comes back?”

Chansung smiled, “of course.”

Wooyoung looked very much pleased with that, and he really must have been happy because he kissed Chansung briefly but deeply. “Come on, before kittens come and want to tag along and snoop on gifts.”

Chansung accepted his hand and rose to his feet. Wooyoung sighed deeply and held onto his hand tighter as they made their way out the door. Looking over him, Chansung made to ask but Wooyoung met his gaze and shook his head.

It was such a small exchange, but to Chansung, it made him feel all the more smitten. “I’m not used to doing things last minute.” Wooyoung said as they settled in the car. “It’s - well, I actually feel like I’m in the Christmas spirit this year. It’s such a difference compared to last year.”

“Oh?” Chansung asked. “Was it just you and Min-Jun?”

Wooyoung nodded and his cheeks became flushed. He looked away and sighed again.

Deciding not to push because Wooyoung wasn’t in the mood, Chansung smiled. “We need coffee and a decent breakfast first.”

“Yes, I like the sound of that.” Wooyoung said as he took hold of Chansung’s coat. “It’s so big here…”

Even if he grew up in this city, Chansung couldn't help but nod in agreement. It was so much bigger than what he was used to now. The streets were imbued with memories of him with friends he no longer spoke to, with Fei, with his siblings, his parents, but he pushed them back.

“Where did you go to school?” Wooyoung asked suddenly. “Did you have to take a bus?”

“When I was younger I used to, but after some incidents we both know but don’t need to speak of, my parents took turns driving me until I was older.” Chansung answered. “I think that was one of the reasons why I liked being in smaller towns. No one knew who I was or my family.”

Wooyoung turned to him then, “and somehow you managed to come to a small bakery where people knew you very well.”

Chansung grinned, “well, that was a wonderful bit of chance and fortune.”

Wooyoung cooed and faced forward. “You need to get out this mushy romance stuff into a story.”

Laughing, Chansung gripped his thigh and then held his hand briefly before returning to holding the steering wheel. “I’ve never written romance before.”

“Start, I want to read it.” Wooyoung said softly.

That made his heart speed up, and Wooyoung’s scent really ensnared him. As he brought them into a diner parking lot, he pulled Wooyoung close and kissed him deeply. Wooyoung's small whimper had Chansung holding the back of his neck and delving deeper into that sweet mouth.

“Mmn!” Wooyoung moaned and held onto Chansung’s coat tighter. Breathing deeply, they parted slowly.

Chansung looked over his face tenderly, over those closed eyes, and Wooyoung biting his bottom lip. He wanted him. He felt the desire even more when those wonderful silver irises opened. Wooyoung parted his lips and was breathing deeply now.

“Oh,” Wooyoung was smiling breathlessly and holding Chansung’s face. “Something about seeing your silver makes me excited. Showing me a part of you I haven't seen before…”

Blushing hotly, Chansung tried to stop his hand from trembling.

“I love them.”

Gasping, Chansung lost himself in Wooyoung’s unceasing touch, their tongues met and he felt like he was melting.

“Mm,” Wooyoung moaned as he on his tongue and then his lips. “It feels so good to have everything out, to be open.” Wooyoung panted. “Like we're really free...”

Unable to do anything else but nod, Chansung kissed him once more. “It makes me nervous, a little. I'm not used to feeling like this, and like I can share parts of me...I haven't really been able to before.”

Wooyoung remained close to him and slowly brought him close again. Nuzzling their noses together he whispered, “alpha, omega, beta, it doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it all out and how it works together, even if you're like your dad and have another Significant, it’s okay. I’m not letting what happened to your dad happen to you. Just let me get my fill of you first, because I’ve been wanting you for a very long time.”

“Wooyoung…you're probably my Significant for both, you know that, right?”

“Maybe, but I’ve seen your reaction to red eyes.” He teased.

“Wooyoung,” Chansung groaned.

Gentle fingers brushed through his hair, and Wooyoung kissed him again. “Even if I wasn’t I mean it.” He said softly but confidently. “Let’s get some food, get some presents, and then muster up the energy to handle the final planning stages of Min-Jun’s party.”

Laughing, Chansung nodded, “alright.”

Wooyoung drew him in close and kissed him once more. “Ready?”

“No…” Chansung grumbled.

Wooyoung laughed but pushed him. “Come on, we need to talk about presents.”

Opening his door and following Wooyoung inside, they were seated and provided with menus.

“Hmm…” Wooyoung closed his menu and then was looking at him.

“What?”

“What do you want for Christmas, kit?” Wooyoung asked without pause. He didn’t need to ask so intensely.

Thinking about it, Chansung leaned back and shrugged, “Nothing.”

“Oh come on,” Wooyoung chuckled.

No matter how much Chansung thought though, there was nothing. “I...I got what I wanted.” He said quietly, but loud enough that he knew Wooyoung would hear him.

It was a couple seconds, but then Wooyoung’s cheeks went so red he hid his face in his arms. “Gah! How do you always manage to do that?!” He kicked Chansung’s knee and sat back, fanning his face.

“Do what?” Chansung snickered as he rested his chin in his palm.

“You stir me up really bad.” Wooyoung huffed and then was holding up the menu, blocking himself from view. “Stop doing it, it isn’t good for me.”

Waiting a short while, Chansung reached up and brought the menu back down to the table. This was only inspiration for him to fluster Wooyoung over and over again, to see that wonderfully beautiful blushing face, those bright, shimmery silver eyes looking at him with such desire. “You’re gonna have to get used to me being cheesy and romantic.”

Wooyoung whimpered and leaned back. “You drive me crazy.”

Hugging himself and chuckling, Chansung his lips and tilted his head. “Well, what do you want?”

Wooyoung scrunched up his nose and gave him the most adorable pout. “If you’ve got what you want then I have everything I need, cheesy catsicle.”

Chansung had to stifle a moan over seeing how cute he was, it was too much. “Come on-”

Wooyoung shook his head, “nothing.” He must have noticed the look Chansung was giving him. “What I want from you...can’t be bought. You already give it to me so much, Chansung. Sometimes it overwhelms me and I can’t think of anything else.”

That answer, of course, had Chansung leaning across the table and hauling him into a deep, searing kiss. “I can’t help how much I-” Wooyoung rested a finger against his lips, stopping him, but it hung in the air between them.

Then, he flicked Chansung’s nose and pushed him back. “Your PDA game is strong today, kit. Before you really rile me up we should order, yes?”

He then realised that their server was back with a not-so-subtle blush on his face.

Chansung backed up a bit then and smiled, “sorry.”

Wooyoung held out his hand though, which Chansung took, and held him with a firm grip. Once they made their order, Chansung began to really think about presents.

“Cho Hee will like anything with horses.” He said after a while.

Wooyoung snickered. “Oh yes. What is with her and horses? It’s like you and foxes.”

Chansung stuck his tongue out at him. “We both know there was a reason.”

“Mmhmm…” Wooyoung teased but was smiling fondly.

“It's likely her Significant is a horse. Considering my history, I wouldn't doubt it's the same for her.”

Wooyoung smiled, “I wonder if it’s the lovely filly in her class. She’s definitely just like you then, connecting with your Significant so young.”

Chansung blushed and held onto Wooyoung’s hand tighter. “Serenity would be okay with a gift card for books. She loves picking out her own.”

“Alright.” Wooyoung agreed. “You said onsies for Snow and Kai, right?”

Chansung sighed, “oh yes, that definitely gets my vote. Snow got one when he was younger and hid it from everyone.”

Wooyoung’s brow rose, “I really need to see this, Min-Jun is going to flip out.”

“Ae Cha I’ve got covered already.” He sighed. “I’m not sure about everyone else.”

“Well, Min-Jun brought fox wine for your dad, and I may or may not have planned something already.” Wooyoung informed.

“I’m alright to wing it then. I tend to do that…”

“How exciting.” Wooyoung chuckled. “I’m looking forward to seeing if we can manage this.”

Once they had their fill and ample amounts of coffee, they were off again. Chansung felt giddy almost. It was the first time in a long while that he felt a semblance of happiness without the looming cloud of anxiety. He wanted to feel this more and more.

It wasn’t a long drive to where Chansung wanted to bring Wooyoung. There were many shops on this street, but the one in particular he knew they would be able to find many trinkets and unique things was finally within view. When they pulled in the storefront set him at ease. It was the same as ever, the sign “Marina’s” hanging above the door as always.

Walking inside, a gentle symphony was playing in the background. A few people were already inside and looking over things. Wooyoung took his hand as they made their way inside. Chansung thought he might follow behind but he found himself being led around the store. After Wooyoung had amassed a basket full of things, sometimes asking Chansung what he thought, he knew he made the right choice to bring him here.

As a break, they knelt before a display of pins.

“Oh, this is cute, kit.” Wooyoung indicated to a small fox pin.

“Mmhmm…”

Wooyoung picked out a small floral one. “We should get his one for Serenity to go with her gift card.”

“She would love it. I’m sure she hasn’t gotten a new one in a while.”

“So we just need to go to a bookstore and find some onsies after this and we’re done?” Wooyoung asked as he looked over the contents of the basket.

“Yes.”

“You knew this would be a good spot, didn’t you?”

Chansung smiled, “perhaps, but I wasn’t sure how good it would be.”

“Alright Mr. Humble. Let’s get those last gifts and then head back to the madness.”

*

Wooyoung had not lied. Planning and preparing for Min-Jun’s annual Christmas party was nothing short of hectic. Even his siblings were helping out, although not Kaiden and Ae Cha as much, but they certainly kept everyone on their toes trying to steal goodies. There was also the excitement that it was Christmas Eve, and Chansung hadn’t been able to spend it with his siblings in a really long time. They were absolutely ecstatic about everything. By the end of the preparations, Chansung was chasing his siblings around, laughter filling the whole house.

When all was set and done, the kids, his aunt Mei, Min-Jun, and Yong-Sun settled down for a movie. Chansung and his father were doing the clean up, with some assistance from Taecyeon. Wooyoung was in fox form and resting around Taecyeon’s shoulders.

“You don’t look comfortable at all.” Chansung teased.

When Wooyoung’s tail began to wag, Chansung couldn’t help but coo.

“Okay, you’re warming me up.” Taecyeon laughed as he switched to holding him in his arms. Wooyoung remained troublesome, however, as he popped his front legs over Taecyeon’s shoulder and rubbed his face against his father’s. Taecyeon was whispering something good to him because Wooyoung’s tail was going a mile a second. He looked so very content and very happy.

“It’s nice to have the family all back together again.” Chung-Hee said softly. “Not all...but all who want to be here.”

Chansung hugged him around the waist. “Focus on who want to be here, dad.” He said with care.

“Yes, Chung-Hee, deal with things later. For now let’s celebrate that we were finally able to accomplish what we set out to do.” Taecyeon said as he took a seat at the island counter. He adjusted Wooyoung so he could sit in his lap.

“What happens with the bills now?”

“The vote makes them official. The next steps will involve determining the ways they will be enforced and who is responsible for carrying that out on behalf of the government.” Chung-Hee answered.

“But that doesn’t happen for a couple months, right? You do get a break?” Chansung asked.

“There are things I can do while Fei is on maternity leave and Taecyeon is out in the country.” Chung-Hee answered.

“Papa, you’re being selfish.” Wooyoung sat up and bopped his nose against Taecyeon’s cheek.

“It’s quite alright, Wooyoung.” Chung-Hee chuckled. Chansung looked over his father. “I think we should all take a break for a while. No one is going to want to do work on this until all the proper people are back.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Chansung offered.

His father faced him and Chansung held him closer. “In time, but I would like for you to take it easy as well.”

“Here, here, I agree to that. Maybe we can get you doing some research for us, Chansung.” Taecyeon said with a wink. “Proper research with hybrids.”

Chansung couldn’t help but be excited about that. “Really?”

“Oh, that’ll be nice!” Wooyoung cheered. “Perhaps you’ll get your writing muse back, huh?”

Chansung chuckled, “maybe.”

“Maybe you’ll be able to do more research on double-hybrids. We’ll definitely be needing more information on that when we develop programs for inter-hybrid relations and community capacity building.” Taecyeon said.

“Yes, that’ll be exciting.” His father said. “Well, why don’t you all wander in and watch the movie? I’ll finish up here.”

Taecyeon waved as he carried Wooyoung into the living-room.

“Oh! My kit!” Min-Jun exclaimed.

"Why don't you go in and join them, Chansung?"

Shaking his head, Chansung continued to help him. “I’m still processing a lot, but I just want to be close to you.”

At this, his father turned abruptly and then was hugging him tightly. “You don’t have to push yourself.”

Returning the embrace, Chansung smiled against his shoulder. “I’m not, don’t worry.”

They both looked into the living-room fondly as a loud bout of laughter filled the air.

"After everything you've been through, I know you suffered alone all this time. You lost one Significant and I have no doubts the relationship with mom just..." Chansung rested his head against his shoulder. "All the things she said to me, what she tried to do, what she's done...I just want it all to be a nightmare that I wake up from."

"Me too," his father whispered and held him tighter. "I'm really so very thankful you're home. I'm so thankful for everything that you've done, but I know it's going to take a lot to heal from. I don't think it's even settled in for me yet...the truth..." His father admitted as he looked over him. "Everytime I think about it, I just..."

Chansung shook his head and looked over him. "We need to talk about something else." He said softly. “Can I talk to you about Significants?” Chansung asked as he turned back to his father.

His father seemed surprised, “you never need to ask, Chansung.”

Feeling a bit troubled, Chansung sighed and took a seat. “Well...it's because you had two…” He started carefully.

His father paused but then sat himself down. “I did, yes.”

“But you’re only an alpha, right?”

A realisation dawned upon his father immediately. “Yes, that’s true.”

Rubbing his neck, Chansung looked down at his hands. “It’s strange…” He said quietly. “I thought since I had two hybrids and two statuses, there would also be two. Where I’ve never heard of such a thing though I thought I was out of my mind.”

“Do you think you have two, Chansung?”

Finally raising his gaze, Chansung looked upon his father and shook his head, “my gut feeling is yes, but it's likely been warped like everything else.”

“Ah, I see.” His father rubbed his chin. “It’s strange when you’re a double hybrid. In some ways, you have two different sides to yourself, but they are also you as a single being. A conundrum.”

Both shared a chuckle.

"It’s less stress, honestly, with just two people. I guess we may never know if you do.”

Chansung saddened a bit at that. He reached out and gripped his father’s hand. “I know you did your best. I don’t think what happened was fair to any of you. There’s so much we as hybrids have lost from the Old Village times, that and how much we’ve had to work with humans and their worldviews, it’s frustrating.”

“Oh humans…” His father sighed. “Well, we take on human form and somehow hybrids came to be. Are we more human or more beast? I think the answer is individual, but at the same time, we have indeed assimilated. Non-hybrids just don’t like to admit it and want us to be special. We are, but we’re also a part of this world.”

Chansung smiled. He’d missed this very much. He hoped that as time went on his father would be able to get back into doing the work he’d always only ever spoken of within the privacy of their home. There were so many things he wanted to know. “Well, now we have equal rights. It’ll probably take a while for everything to settle in, but I’m looking forward to the day when we truly no longer need to fight for our right to just exist.”

“As am I, my son. Although, even then you’ll always be my cub.”

Chansung couldn’t help but pout at that.

“Oh, don’t even try to be cute.” His father laughed as he brushed a gentle thumb across Chansung’s cheek. “Bask in what you were able to accomplish, what you have done for yourself, and hold onto it, never let it go. Grow to know one another, and be sure to communicate and share at your pace. Be honest.”

Heart beating a little faster, Chansung smiled. “I will.”

“It would be amazing to see your other hybrid. We won't see Kaiden and Ae Cha's until they're nine or so.”

Sighing, but still smiling, Chansung gave him a nod. “Dad...I need to talk to you about that."

His father looked upon him more seriously. "Sure, what's wrong?"

Chansung fumbled with his hands and tried not to look at his father. "When I was in Fortune...I was able to speak with a spirit fox. On the day I got the letter from the Justice Department, I...I needed space to think so I went into the forest." He said and touched his chest. But then, he swallowed hard.

"Take your time."

Chansung gripped his shirt tightly. "I thought I saw something in the woods, something that was near where Wooyoung and I went to the fox's shrine. I chased after it and I realised as I followed it...that it was the place from my dream, my memory."

"Oh..."

Looking up slowly, he saw the realisation in his father's eyes. Chansung smiled softly. "The fox I met and spoke with stopped me from going to the Realm pool...where my memories were taken, where everything happened. But I saw it, whatever was calling me, it dove into the water. She told me I wasn't to go near it until the silver one, Wooyoung, was with me and I had...a jewel charm." He reached into his pocket and pulled it out.

His father slowly took the charm and looked over it.

Chansung recalled his experience in the woods. "I think it's still out there, in the water, my other hybrid, and this...has my memories."

His father gave him a troubling look. "You want to go back and see if they can be returned."

Chansung nodded.

"I don't know, Chansung. What if you..." His father trailed off. "I still have nightmares about that day. I really want to say no."

Shoulders slumping, Chansung nodded.

"I know you're going to do it anyway, though."

Smiling softly, Chansung edged closer to his father. "I don't think I'll be hurt or lose anything. But I need to go with Wooyoung."

"Have you spoke to him about this?"

Chansung nodded. "Yes. I...I..." He gripped his father's arm. "After everything I've been through, our family, Wooyoung, Min-Jun and Taecyeon, there's no way I would want more harm to come to anyone."

His father pulled him even closer. "If you must go, if you feel you must, and if you feel everything will be okay, I trust you and Wooyoung to be safe, my son."

Chansung hadn't realised how much he'd wanted to hear his father say those words. "I just want to remember."

His father nodded. "I know," he said and brushed his thumb across Chansung's cheek. "But I'm worried about could happen, what memories you may have of that day."

This was something Chansung had also considered. "I'm scared...but I also want to try, I want to remember."

His father smiled softly, "then you must go, and I want to go with you."

Relief, absolute relief and hope filled Chansung. "Would you?"

"Yes. We can talk about this later. I...I have to be there."

Chansung hugged him tightly. It was so good, so very good, that his father wanted to come with him, to be with him.

"I should have been there for you." His father whispered with a shaky voice, holding him even tighter. "My cub, I should have been there for you the whole time."

"You were, just in a different way. You've worked so hard, with so much pain, dad." Chansung soothed, never relenting in his hold on his father. "You're with me now."

"I'm sorry for everything, Chansung."

Feeling his father trembling, Chansung tried to fight his tears, but he couldn't. He could feel all the pain in his father. He knew he would never be able to fathom just how much he had hurt over the years. He didn't want anymore pain to come to him, ever.

"I love you, dad. You did your best with what you could, what more could I ask for?" He said and held his father's face. It pained him to see his father so broken. "Let us have a turn supporting you."

"Yes, let us."

Both Chansung and his father turned in surprise as Yong-Sun embraced them both. Chansung smiled happily as his father collapsed into Yong-Sun.

"Yong-Sun..."

"It'll take time, but I want us to start new, Chung-Hee." Yong-Sun said into his hair.

"I don't deserve it-"

Yong-Sun shook his head. "You are most deserving, we all should have supported you more."

Feeling a gentle hand at his back, Chansung turned and welcomed Min-Jun.

This was more than he had ever expected to happen, following his journey. Watching his father be supported and his face light up, how much comfort he took in Yong-Sun and Min-Jun being here, Chansung could tell he was still hurting, but he was also at peace.

Together, they finished cleaning up the kitchen. Chansung watched Yong-Sun and Min-Jun haul his father into the living-room. Smiling, he turned back and grabbed himself a glass of water. Feeling warmth at his leg, he looked down and smiled as he knelt on the floor.

“You okay?” He asked as he smoothed his hands along Wooyoung’s back.

“Tired and worried about you.”

“Oh…” He picked him up and took a sip from his glass.

“Fine. I needed some Chansung snuggles.”

Chuckling, Chansung leaned in the entryway of the living-room and looked over everyone. The kids were almost all asleep, Taecyeon was passed out beside his snoring aunt, well, subtle snores. Catching his father’s attention, Chansung pointed in the direction of his bedroom and he received a thumbs up.

Making his way down the hall, he held in a grumble on how much cooler it felt. Closing the door behind him, Wooyoung bee-lined for the bed. “Not changing back?”

Wooyoung circled quickly, yawned and curled up. “I tried earlier.”

A little concerned, Chansung made his way over. “Is it like when you nearly didn’t make it to the train?”

“Sort of, it just feels right.”

Chansung collapsed and curled up around him. Smiling to himself, he ran his hands over the soft, silky fur. Wooyoung rolled onto his back, a sign of contentment and feeling safe. Rubbing his belly, Chansung felt his leopard hum in bliss.

“I hope you realise as soon as you change back I’m going to indulge in every part of your body, Wooyoung.”

That whimper, so subtle but so telling. Wooyoung nipped his fingers and his hand. "I look forward to it..."

*

Next Chapter...Festivities and Healing