Scattered [ONF ff]

Chapter 8

"Are you scared?" Minkyun asked gently and brushed a thumb over the top of Changyun's hand.

"Of a storm?" Changyun wondered, looking out to the bare foliage.

On his shift, Hyojin had found the sky a little too clouded, causing him to wake Changyun up and make a decision. Just to be safe, he had agreed to find the cave and Minkyun had joined as company and security.

"I meant tomorrow, " Minkyun clarified. "I doubt a storm is coming. Even the rain is getting less."

"Seems so," Changyun nodded and pressed himself closer. Knowing Minkyun must find the winter's air cold even in his big coat, Changyun hoped his sparse body heat could fight the freezing cave wall. "And about tomorrow... I would be lying if I said I am completely fine, but I think we can make it." He looked up and smiled. "And I'm happy you're coming along too. We need you," he emphasised not so subtly.

Minkyun pulled up an eyebrow and laughed. "Is that about yesterday? Don't mind what I said."

"Don't brush it off, I know the feeling..."

"What? There's no reason for you not to come along."

"Maybe here there isn't, but I've been on the sideline of plenty of hunts. I just wanted to let you know I need you," Changyun admitted, drawing mindless patterns on Minkyun's thigh. "What Hyojin said was much more eloquent reasoning, but just know you should come along."

"I get it, I get it." A tiny hint of a smile curled into Minkyun's lips. "Thank you," he breathed and placed a kiss on Changyun's forehead. "I love you."

Those words—said so casually—woke up Changyun's heart. "Y-You told me that already."

"I know," Minkyun grinned. "We humans just reaffirm it a lot."

"Oh... Well, I still love you too."

Changyun wasn't sure what about the sentence counted as a joke, but it got Minkyun to laugh. An arm wrapped around his torso and pulled him to sling a leg over Minkyun's lap. It led to a kiss so naturally and allowed Changyun to forget the world. There was still something amusing in noticing how his reaction to a kiss had changed. Nerves had coursed through him the first time in the forest, but now he felt secure. His heart still raced but his form no longer changed. He wasn't anxious, he felt excited.

Brushing his tongue against Minkyun's didn't make his mind shut down anymore, and he played his hands through Minkyun's hair because intimacy no longer made them feel like unresponsive objects.

Confidence wasn't something he was familiar with, but Minkyun helped him grow so effortlessly, most likely without even realising. Changyun wondered if he could ever repay the patience, if he could ever show his gratitude enough.

Their lips disconnected again and the sliver of moonlight was enough for Changyun to see the bright red that coloured Minkyun's cheeks. He couldn't see them for long as the arms around his waist tightened and Minkyun buried his nose into the crook of Changyun's neck.

He took a deep breath. "Let's get home safely."

Changyun planted a soft kiss on the side of Minkyun's head. "Of course."

—-----------

All six; four squeezed in the back and two manning the front of the van. After jotting food into a backpack, Minkyun had claimed to drive for the first half of the trip and Changyun had subtly but quickly offered to join him, making the rest settle in the large boot.

More than two thirds of the trip was already behind them and Minkyun apparently hadn't felt the need to stop yet. Hyojin hadn't expected any less, he knew Minkyun wasn't one for taking a break.