Chapter Text
“We’re closed!” Kim Hongjoong called out from behind his coffee shop’s countertop. With the stormy December day ragging in full force outside, the young man felt as though the entire city centre population of Seoul had crossed his threshold.
The rain had an odd way of pushing people inside.
There was nothing special about the rain. It was only water. Individuals showered in water. They drank it from the taps. People swam in it in pools. Yet when it fell from the sky it was feared.
Why would someone fear something they would otherwise embrace?
Was it possibly the lack of control?
Coming from taps and water bottles, people were able to control and maintain the power over the ever-flowing object. When it came from the sky, Mother Nature held the upper hand and in any way, it could lead to an unexpected forecast.
To be honest, Hongjoong could understand that. Wanting some form of handle over your otherwise uncontrollable life. He had been there more than a time or two where he longed to regain power. Where he wished he could alter his life in some form.
However, our wishes are not always granted. There are times when our control and our power are claimed away from us. Where we all lose it to someone or something else.
Sometimes the rain just needs to pour, and the fear of how much damage will be, as a result, rests on the wings of the wind.
After such a hectic day, all Hongjoong wanted was to lock the doors to the Aurora coffee shop and return to his apartment above the store. But the alpha’s plans were delayed by the sudden arrival of this newcomer.
“Oh sorry” a male voice answered from the doorway. A cold rush of air breezed in from behind him. “I saw the light on and thought you were still open.” The voice was low and lined with what could only be described as a hint of sadness. But there was something about the slang of the lisp that seemed familiar to Hongjoong. Not to mention the soft scent of sweet coconut that pulled at distant memories.
The alpha couldn’t resist glancing up at the stranger. Instantly the damp cloth slipped free from his grasp. His jaw fell open slightly, gazing at the man before him in an awe of silence. Standing hunched over in the doorway was a young man – not unlike any of the other men he would spot walking down the street – with a worn sweater pulled over his head and shaggy mocha hair hanging over the creamy skin of his forehead.
But it wasn’t the looks of the man that caught the shop owner’s attention so intensely. Rather, it was a simple fact that the alpha recognized him. The other man’s name slipped so easily from his lips, like the tang of a flavour longed to be tasted again.
“Wooyoung…”
“I didn’t…” the man, Wooyoung, nervously rubbed the back of his neck and shifted slightly on his footing. This was an action that Hongjoong would never expect from the younger. Wooyoung was known for being bold and confident. For having a voice that always had a lot to say. “I didn’t realize you worked here.”
“Ah yeah,” Hongjoong said awkwardly, with what sounded like a hint of a laugh, grabbing the fallen cloth and struggling with making himself seem busy. “My grandfather left it to me after he passed away,” he explained. “It’s mine.”
This certainly wasn’t how he expected to be displayed when he came across the omega again– not that he had ever planned to see his high school boyfriend again in this lifetime. Seoul was certainly a large city and it was easy enough to move forward in life without crossing paths with anyone from your past. But if Hongjoong was to see an ex, especially his first love, he would have preferred it to not be when his shirt was caked in flour and he didn’t illuminate the scent of burnt coffee beans – although he was starting to believe it was his permanent aroma now completely removing his usual alpha scent of pine.
“I see,” Wooyoung nodded, his long slender fingers twiddled with stray strings from his sleeves. This was a habit he held even during his times of school, a nervous reaction during conversations or when struggling through tests. “I’ll just be going. Sorry for bothering you.” The man turned to leave; pushing the door open the freezing air rushed through again.
What Hongjoong did next surprised even him. He stepped forward eagerly, as though he wanted to reach out to the omega. “Stay” the one word was simple yet forceful. It was the only clear word he was able to force out. The rest he stumbled over. “Let me get you coffee. Or tea. Would you like tea instead? Of course not, you were always a coffee drinker. As long as it’s not bitter, you prefer it sweeter. I have some food leftover. I’m sure you’d like it. I’m a much better cook than I was in high school. Which I’m sure is hard to believe because back then I was able to burn toast. And let's not mention that time with the water” the man nearly needed to catch his breath. He gestured towards a booth “just… stay.”
Almost reluctantly Wooyoung nodded. For a moment he seemed to be thinking the better of his choice. He remained to hold the door open, bringing more air inside. But eventually, he tore himself away from the exit and sauntered tiredly over to one of the leather booths. His tongue moved slowly against his inner cheek and his fingers fiddled with the sweater strings once again. The man turned slightly and glanced out the window. Slowly the rain was showing signs of shifting to snow, as the white pellets started to form.
Hongjoong couldn’t take his eyes off the other man. For years he thought he had dreamed about seeing him again, fantasies where they were pulled together after years apart. But he had never considered those thoughts would become reality. Now that Wooyoung was here, there was a nagging fear that if he blinked too much, he might disappear again.
He turned towards the coffee maker but continued taking small glances at the other man. The drink was brewing as he reached into the glass display case and removed a slice of chocolate cake. The alpha fumbled and dropped it. “Damn it” he cursed under his breath. Tossing a napkin down to cover it. Hongjoong chose to leave the mess until later – he was the boss, he could do that right?
Balancing two plates of cake and two cups of coffee, he stumbled over to the table Wooyoung had occupied. Setting the items down, he slid in across from the other man. “Chocolate fudge cake and coffee with extra sugar.” Hongjoong pushed the mug across the table with a small smile “just as you like it.”
“Thanks,” Wooyoung answered softly. His slender fingers abandoned the sweater and moved to grasp the hot drink. Pausing for a moment he breathed in the scent of the freshly brewed coffee.
Hongjoong couldn’t resist the small smile that tugged at his lips. This was an action Wooyoung had done previously. Throughout their time of friendship and relationship, the man would often take in the smell of the food or a drink that Hongjoong presented him with, before consuming it. Wooyoung had once claimed it was to savour the experience and to ensure memories were made. He had said, unless you slowed down, he wouldn’t remember all these moments when he’s eighty. However, Hongjoong thought it was because Wooyoung was concerned that the alpha’s food was inedible.
It was cute to see not much had changed about the younger boy in terms of behaviour. He had the same twitches he did back when the two dated. Back in high school, those were some of the many items in which Hongjoong adored the soft omega. But something was troubling Wooyoung now. There had been a change in him.
All through high school Hongjoong had known Wooyoung to be careful and considerate regarding his fashion choices. He was never one to go to school with even a single hair out of place; his uniform was nearly perfect every day. On the weekends the omega was often found sporting slim-fit jeans without a speck of dirt on him; a designer t-shirt and a flannel pulled over the top. Of course, his family wasn’t entirely over the top wealthy, but, as the only omega child, Wooyoung was often spoiled.
But things seemed to be different now – and Hongjoong couldn’t help but notice. The other boy’s hair was shaggy, falling across his eyes, dulling some of the otherwise vibrant honey irises. And it looked a little bit shiny – a telltale sign needed a wash. The clothing was nowhere near what his style once was, gone were the designer shirts and, in exchange, were faded sweatshirts with holes in the sleeves. Don’t get Hongjoong started on the jeans that now had cuts, fraying holes and dirt stains across the shins. Everything about this attire screamed unkempt and dishevelled.
The owner snapped out of his thoughts, concluding it was rather impolite to leave his dinner guest unattended. He flashed his warm signature smile. It was the beaming facial expression that lit up his entire face and forced his eyes to squeeze shut, which once was said could change anyone’s emotions. But, it seemed to be lacking its volume tonight for Wooyoung didn’t even offer a glance in return.
Instead, the other boy was busy consuming the chocolate cake that was placed before him. He was shovelling the cake away as though he hadn’t eaten in days. Hongjoong noted the empty plate and shot up from his seat, moving so quickly he banged on the table “let me get another piece for you.”
Hongjoong hadn’t waited for an answer. He had already left the table and was going towards the counter, intending to grab another slice. He was stopped only by the appearance of Wooyoung before him. The other man who had opened his mouth planning to speak was already cut off by Hongjoong’s own words. “I have a spice cake as well, if you would prefer that. I know it’s not yet Christmas, but I can't really think of another cake that screams holiday season. But, if you don’t want cake I have other choices too, of course.”
He fumbled around behind the counter, looking rather frazzled. With the speed he was moving he neglected to notice the cake from earlier still plastered on the floor. Accidentally, his foot slipped into the mess, encasing his red converse in chocolate. “Fudge stick,” he mumbled under his breath – he had learnt over the past couple of years to check his swearing when customers - and little ones - might overhear.
Spinning to face Wooyoung, he chose to ignore the mess on his shoe. “I’ve got sandwiches if you’d like that instead. Bagels, bread or anything like that. I can easily whip one up for you. I even have cinnamon and raisin bagels, I can put cream cheese on them. You used to love that. Personally, I always liked it better with peanut butter but I can respect the differences. I mean it’s differences that make the world go round right? So how can you judge someone for liking cream cheese? You really shouldn’t judge anyone for anything, and honestly, a bagel topping is just so trivial. Not to mention –“
“Hongjoong” Wooyoung interrupted him. At that moment, Hongjoong had never considered how sweet a single word might sound, how nine simple letters could form a name with such emotion that it made your ears ring to the sound of bells. It had been years since the name had passed through Wooyoung’s lips, but it held wisdom and age, like a memory long forgotten.
The shop owner shut his mouth but remained smiling. He rested his hands on the countertop and locked eyes with the other man. He practically needed to bite his tongue to keep from saying more – but he succeeded nonetheless. “Yes Wooyoung?” he asked rather calmly now.
“You’ve done enough,” Wooyoung answered. There was now a small smile pulling at his lips but it didn’t look completely genuine. “Thank you for the coffee,” he added. The young man, who, if Hongjoong remembered correctly, couldn’t be any older than twenty-one, was pulling a fist full of change from his sweater pockets.
For a moment, Hongjoong was taken back. All he could do was view the pile of change that was set out on his countertop. He continued to watch in awe as Wooyoung slowly and carefully started to count the coins out. Having worked in the city for so long this wasn’t the first time he had seen an action like this take place. But usually, when individuals in ratty clothing came into Aurora and started counting out their change, it was a surefire sign they were homeless.
But that couldn’t be Wooyoung… right? This was the boy Hongjoong used to date. He came from a home where two parents loved and adored him. With a big brother that watched out for him. He had a future all lined up for college. The prized omega son. So, there was no way that boy was now sleeping on the streets. It just wasn’t possible.
“I’m sorry” Wooyoung apologized as he continued counting out the coins. His fingers were trembling and he wouldn’t dare glance in Hongjoong’s way. “I promise there’s enough here. I promise” the boy continued to mumble slightly. His shaky fingers knocked against the pile of coins and sent some soaring to the floor. “I’m sorry” Wooyoung gasped out another apology and dropped to the floor to collect the fallen items.
Hongjoong lowered to his own hands and knees and started crawling around the floor to help. He gathered a couple of coins before rounding to the front of the counter and knocking his forehead into Wooyoung’s shoulder. “Oh,” he gave a little gasp and sat back on his heels. He chuckled a little and smiled at the man. “Here you go,” Hongjoong said, handing over the collected money. “I think that’s all of it. Man, I really need to mop down here better. This is pathetic,” he stated, glancing at the dirty floor. To be fair, he had stopped mid-cleaning to serve Wooyoung.
But Wooyoung didn’t seem to be paying much attention. His focus had returned to counting. Still distracted, he pushed himself off the floor and added the coins to the pile. “This should cover everything,” Wooyoung started nibbling his bottom lip again. “I promise it should be enough.”
Hongjoong got up from the floor, dusting his knees off as he went. Carefully, he rested his warm gentle hands over Wooyoung’s larger and rougher one. He could feel the other man shaking beneath his touch. “Wooyoung, you don’t need to pay. This was my treat.”
“I can’t not pay you” Wooyoung insisted, nibbling his lip some more.
“Of course you can,” Hongjoong smiled. Holding Wooyoung’s hand he slid the coins back into his grip. “I’m the owner, after all. Giving away a cup of coffee to an old friend” he chuckled a little “well, it’s a piece of cake.”
Now there was a little smile pulling at the other man's mouth, and this time it was honest. There was a low chuckle in his throat, as though it was an unfamiliar sound. “Thanks again, '' he said, pulling his hand away carefully from Hongjoong’s grip. He set the coins back in his pocket.
“It's no problem. Come by anytime, okay?” Hongjoong started moving back around the counter. “It gets a little lonely after closing. It’s nice to see a friendly face.” He found himself being honest. There were nights where he wished he wasn’t alone surrounded by these four walls, bearing the weight of it all alone. Of course, he would prefer to have a greater social life, but his schedule didn’t leave much room for relationships. What surprised him most of all, was that he actually told Wooyoung this. He preferred to keep things to himself, finding that he opened himself up to someone he hadn’t seen in years was astounding.
Wooyoung nodded and lifted his hood over his hair. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Then, just as easily as the man appeared, he vanished through the freezing doorway. The only indications he had ever been there being the abandoned coffee mug and the cold breeze shifting through the air.
Hongjoong glanced out the window in a haze, watching the snowflakes dance through the sky. It had gotten colder as the day had gone on, but then again that was typical for January weather in Seoul. A little rain could easily turn into frosty snow. Sometimes he wondered what other people did during weather like this. And now his thoughts were pulled towards how Wooyoung would be spending the rest of the night. Perhaps, he will return home. Maybe by now, he has a solid boyfriend and the two will cuddle up on the couch together and watch a horror movie – only to give an excuse to cuddle more. With how soft and silky Wooyoung’s hair was, Hongjoong was sure the boyfriend would twist his fingers through it to play. Pressing cold noses against the other man's cheek to earn a giggle. Sharing gentle kisses as the snow piled up outside.
Then again maybe this is just how Hongjoong would treat Wooyoung. Maybe these were actually his deepest desires.
Nonetheless, Hongjoong busied himself with the remainder of the cleaning. He got down on his hands and knees to wipe up the fallen cake. But try as he might he couldn’t get his thoughts off the other man.
He regretted how things ended several years ago. It wasn’t that it ended negatively. They had parted on fairly neutral terms and both understood the reasoning. Hongjoong was going off to university and he needed to focus more on his education. And Wooyoung had been kind, he understood and let Hongjoong go without question. He knew it was needed. But that didn’t mean Hongjoong didn’t regret it and wondered how things would be different had they stayed together.
With a broom in hand, Hongjoong went about sweeping the floor. To be honest, this was one of his favourite things about closing the place up. Putting some music on and dances across the floor with his trusty partner
Wooyoung always had a big heart and he wanted what was best for those he cared about. Hongjoong had seen it more than once, the boy helping students with free after-school tutoring, or finding a homeless puppy a home. He was incapable of turning his back on people in need. So of course Wooyoung had let him go.
But maybe they could have even been able to remain friends afterwards.
Again, he realizes even that possibility might have been a long shot. Judging from those tears in Wooyoung’s eyes, Hongjoong was certain he was heartbroken – and he knew he was the cause of them. The memories of those tears haunted Hongjoong regularly. How they were running down Wooyoung’s face like a waterfall, the way he struggled to choke them back and his voice cracked as he told the alpha how much he was going to miss him.
Hongjoong’s wallowing was cut short by the sound of his phone ringing. Smiling gently to himself he retrieved it. “Hey Starlight” he greeted as he swiped the phone to answer.
Seonghwa’s deep chuckle greeted him. “You never get tired of calling me that do you?”
“Absolutely not” Hongjoong set his phone up against one of the freshly clean mugs and leaned against the counter to get a view of the video call.
“Seyoung is already asleep,” Seonghwa said with a light giggle, as though he knew exactly what Hongjoong was looking for.
The alpha frowned and stuck his tongue out to tease. “You did that on purpose” Hongjoong accused.
Seonghwa flashed a sly smirk. “Perhaps I did” he chuckled. Hongjoong watched him shift and get more comfortable where he was seated. “You know you overstimulate him whenever we video call this late. He’d want to stay up late talking to you.”
“Well yeah,” Hongjoong responded with a dramatic eye roll. “I am his favourite.”
“You are not!” Seonghwa gasped.
“I totally am” Hongjoong laughed.
“Seyoung doesn’t have favourites!” Seonghwa insisted.
“You’re just saying that because you know you’re not his favourite” Hongjoong pressed more.
“He doesn’t have favourites” Seonghwa argued lightly. His eyes twinkled slightly in amusement. “And even if he did, it would be the one who carried him in their tummy for nine months and spent five days in intensive heat and twenty-one hours of active labour to bring him into this world.”
“Alright fine” Hongjoong sighed heavily. “I suppose I’ll let you win.” Seonghwa smiled pleased with himself. “So what did you call for?”
“You’re still picking Seyoung up from daycare tomorrow right?” Seonghwa questioned.
“I certainly plan to” Hongjoong answered. “I’ll close the shop for an hour or so.”
Seonghwa sighed. “Hongjoong” his tone was almost warning. “You really should hire somebody to assist you in the cafe. You can’t continue to do everything independently. It’s going to overwhelm you eventually.”
Hongjoong nibbled on his thumbnail. The omega was right, he had always been right about these things and there was no denying that. However, that didn’t mean he wanted to admit it. “I can’t afford it” Hongjoong answered honestly. “You know that Aurora is only just getting by. And most of my money needs to go towards supporting you and Seyoung.”
“I don’t need your support Hongjoong” Seonghwa interrupted.
“Seonghwa” Hongjoong sighed deeply . he raised a hand and ran it through his bright hair. “You know that even if you didn’t I still would. It’s still my responsibility. The ties you and I have to each other, it’s not easily broken. I am going to continue supporting you no matter what.”
“Then you should at least let me contribute to Aurora” Seonghwa argued. “Let me work there.”
“I can’t” Hongjoong pressed.
“Why not?” Seonghwa questioned. “You and I had been running it together - and rather successfully might I add - for the past three years.”
Hongjoong wished he could argue with that, but he couldn’t. The pair had been running Aurora together extremely successfully. Seonghwa had filled in the gaps that Hongjoong was unable to. Where Hongjoong was good behind the counter, making sales and talking, Seonghwa was better behind the scenes in terms of baking and cooking - although he was excellent behind the counter too.
“Because owning and working at Aurora was never your dream” Hongjoong sighed. He gave his head a disappointed shake. “When we met you were in university for acting. You had wanted to be an actor. But then everything happened and we dedicated our time to Aurora. Now’s your chance though Hwa. you can finally begin going to auditions and get those parts as the main lead in which kdrama that you want.”
“You had dreams too” Seonghwa insisted. “You had wanted to be a music producer. Create music and train idols. You too had been going to school for that. Why not chase your dreams?”
“I have Aurora now” Hongjoong argued lightly.
“I know you hate to consider this” Seonghwa started but was promptly interrupted.
“I am not selling Aurora” Hongjoong practically growled. He might not completely love working at the cafe, nor was he incredibly good at it. But Aurora meant something to his family, it meant something to him, and he wasn’t willing to let that go.
Seonghwa sighed and hung his head. Hongjoong could practically smell the scent of wilter flowers through the phone. “I apologize” the omega whispered.
“No Hwa” Hongjoong held his face in his hands. “I should be apologizing to you. I have no right to speak to you or anyone that way. I’m just stressed too.”
“Is it the cafe?” Seonghwa glanced up at the phone screen from behind his hair.
“Not any more than usual” Hongjoong shrugged.
“The weather?”
“No.”
“Seyoung?”
“Of course not!”
“Then what is it?” Seonghwa asked.
“I… I met somebody today…”
Seonghwa’s eyes widened and he leaned forward quickly with interest. “You met somebody? As in an omega worthy of mating?”
“No!” Hongjoong gasped, knocking his phone over with a bang. He fumbled to straighten it and get it settled back into place. “Nothing like that!” he rushed out as he fiddled with the phone. “I just I should saw it as I ran into an old friend. That was a much better way of saying it.”
“An old friend?” Seonghwa raised his eyebrow.
“Yeah” Hongjoong nodded.
“Older friend than me?” Seonghwa wondered. The two had met on their first day of university and became instant friends.
“Yeah” Hongjoong felt himself smiling. “We met in middle school.”
“Ah” Seonghwa smirked. “I see now.”
“What?”
“You were more than friends.”
“W-what?” Hongjoong nearly dropped his phone again. “No of course not! We were friends.”
“Liar” Seonghwa giggled. “Hongjoong, you and I are as close as two people can get. I can always tell when you’re lying to me.”
“Okay fine” Hongjoong sighed. “We were dating.”
Seonghwa gasped excitedly “Wooyoung! Was it Wooyoung?”
“...maybe” Hongjoong answered hesitantly.
“Of course it is!” Seonghwa was laughing lightly. “Wooyoung is the only ex you ever had a thing for!”
“I did not have a thing for Wooyoung!” Hongjoong gasped.
“You totally did” Seonghwa was still laughing. “The whole time we were together you had a thing for Wooyoung. I remember you talking about him once when we were drunk at that bar near campus freshmen year!”
“Okay yeah,” Hongjoong crossed his arms and pouted. “But that was before we started dating. Don’t make it sound like I was still interested in him even when we were together.”
“Hmm” Seonghwa considered the alpha’s words with a gentle smile. “I’m not sure Hongjoong. I think even when we're together a piece of your heart still longed for the boyfriend you needed to leave behind. He was your first love after all. I can understand some feelings resurfacing after even so long.”
“There are no emotions!” Hongjoong huffed.
“Sure there’s not” Seonghwa agreed.
Hongjoong simply rolled his eyes. He had learned through his relationship with the elder that there was very little chance of winning a discussion when the elder set his mind to something specific. “Whatever” he huffed instead.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet the famous Wooyoung!” Seonghwa said excitedly. “You talked about him enough that I feel like I already do, but still it'll be nice to make it official.”
“You probably won't meet him,” Hongjoong told the elder. “He left rather quickly and I didn't get my way to contact him. So unless he comes back to the cafe, I won't see him again.”
Seonghwa’s excitement fell at that. “I'm sorry Hongjoong” his tone sifts and understanding. The voice he would use when he knew something didn't go Seyoung’s way.
Hongjoong simply shrugged. He honestly hadn't expected much from Wooyoung when he saw him walk into the cafe. He knew what they had was long gone. But it didn't hurt to dream sometimes. “I should probably get going. I need to be in bed early to be ready to entertain Seyoung tomorrow after daycare.”
“Don't forget to pick him up!” Seonghwa said sternly. “And I mean it.
“Gosh I forget to pick him up one time-“
“Three times. You forgot three times Hongjoong”
“And I haven’t forgotten again since,” Hongjoong says with a bright smile.
“What?” Seonghwa looked at him confused.
“I gotta go finish cleaning” Hongjoong reached for his phone to end the call. “Love you Hwa.”
“Love you too Joong” and the call ended.
Hongjoong took the moment to settle himself, sliding his phone into his pocket and getting started on cleaning once again.
Heading back into the kitchen, Hongjoong gathered the food waste and tied the bag shut. Now, this would be his least favourite part of the day. Dragging the heavy bag back to the alley door. He paused only for a second to grab his jacket to protect himself from the rain. Heaving the bag back over his shoulder, out he went. Carrying the bag over to the dumpster he tossed it in. but as he was doing so, his eye caught the sight of a flash of silver, tucked deep in the corner of the alley.
It was rare, but had happened on a couple of occasions. Hongjoong had come outside and found a car parked in the corner. It was a rather successful hiding place really, no one from the street would notice it, and it was out of sight of any windows. The only chance at discovery was if Hongjoong spots it when he brings out the trash – much like tonight.
With a deep sigh, he headed over to the car – as he suspected a person was sleeping in the back seat, several covers pulled up over their chin in hopes of sheltering the sleeper from the chill. There were times that Hongjoong had left people back there, in spring or fall when the weather was more cooperative, this was their home after all. Regardless, every morning before sunrise he would walk out with food and drinks to offer to the person.
But tonight was simply too cold and rainy for any of that. He couldn’t in good faith leave a person there to freeze to death.
Yanking his jacket tighter around his body, feeling the rain seeping through the fabric, he knocked on the window. When the body only shuffled slightly but didn’t sit up he gave another firmer knock, a demanding one. Now the person had awoken. The body moved up to a seated position and glanced out the window at Hongjoong.
The alley was dark, with little lighting offered from the street or buildings. But the moon was bright that night and the face peering back at Hongjoong was undeniably recognizable.
“Wooyoung?” he gasped out in shock. What the hell was Jung Wooyoung doing sleeping in the backseat of his car?
The boy’s eyes were wide with shock, but he reached forward to open the door. He shifted in the seat to make room for Hongjoong. Refusing to make eye contact, he twiddled with the blankets.
“Wooyoung” Hongjoong whispered. He slid into the seat and shut the door. The car was freezing; no one could live like this. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he turned to the other boy, just making out his face in the darkness. “What are you doing sleeping in your car?” he made sure his voice was gentle and accepting, he wasn’t making any accusations.
But Wooyoung had only responded with a small shrug, still refusing to glance at the other man. But his scent gave him away. The coconut that was usually so bright and fresh, smelt like it was old and had been sitting out for far too long.
“Are you living in your car?” Hongjoong asked. The more he glanced around, the more likely it had become. There were blankets tossed everywhere, in his front seat was clothing folded as nicely as it possibly could, toiletries were stacked neatly on top and there were books scattered across the floor. Everything that would indicate a home was stuffed in this small metal jail. Even Wooyoung’s plushies that he used to hold so dear were in the car.
Slowly, Wooyoung released a sigh and nodded yes. “Yeah,” he whispered, “this is my home now.” He pulled his legs close, forcing himself to appear smaller than he already was.
Hongjoong could have pushed for more. He could have demanded more information, but this was all he needed to know. The boy he once loved was homeless, living in his car on a freezing wet night. That just wasn’t okay with Hongjoong. “Okay, let's head inside,” he said, nodding towards the store.
“Oh no,” Wooyoung insisted, shaking his head firmly. “I’m fine out here. It’s really fairly good out. I’ve got lots of blankets so I’m not cold even in the slightest. Really. I would have driven elsewhere but the rain had really picked up.”
“Wooyoung, it’s seriously too cold out here for you to stay. Not to mention you seem wet from the rain. I can't just walk away knowing that you’re outside my store sleeping like this.”
To Wooyoung’s credit, he was able to successfully hold his tongue from making a sarcastic comment regarding how Hongjoong had no trouble leaving him years ago.
“Look Wooyoung, it's one night. Give yourself the break. It’s somewhere warm, a comfortable bed to sleep on. You can get a hot shower and some fresh food in the morning” Hongjoong tried harder to sell the stay. “We’re old friends. You can trust me.”
“It's not about that,” Wooyoung insisted. Something like this wasn’t about trust – well not truly. Certainly, he knew Hongjoong wasn’t going to hurt him in any way should he spend the night. But it was more about asking questions. He was sure Hongjoong would want to know why he was living in a car. “I’m fine out here.” The omega hugged himself.
“It’s freezing” Hongjoong pushed again. “Look, I know this isn’t any of my business. It doesn’t concern me why you live in this car. You don’t need to tell me any of that. But what I am worried about is coming outside tomorrow to find my friend has frozen. Now that won’t be a very good sight for me to see, you must agree about that.” It was as though he could read the other man’s thoughts. “But it's raining out here, it's freezing regardless of how many blankets you have and there is a friend here offering you somewhere to stay for the night. Take the offer. It’s just for one night.”
Reluctantly, Wooyoung nodded his head and sighed deeply. He untangled the blankets from around his body to show he was willing to follow along with the other man’s plans. “But you have to give me a chance to pay you back.” When Hongjoong opened his mouth to deny the request, Wooyoung was quick to cut him off. “Or else no deal. I’ll stay here for the night.”
Now it was Hongjoong’s turn to sigh. The alpha had forgotten just how stubborn the omega could be. There was a time he thought Seonghwa was the most stubborn person he knew - especially in terms of cleaning - however when he remembered his first love he knew he was a mistake. He nodded slightly in agreement “alright fine. Now can we please get inside where it’s warm?” the man pushed the car door open and climbed out. He waited until Wooyoung had shimmied out after him before firmly shutting it and leading him back to the kitchen doorway. He kept taking several glances behind him to check that Wooyoung was still following. During one of these quick checks, Hongjoong stumbled over a piece of junk. With his hands out, he caught himself just in time before taking a faceplant in the snow. “I’m okay!” he started shoving himself back up. “I’m fine. Perfectly fine. Stupid junk thinking it can take me down. No sir, not today. Not going to happen. No harm and no foul. See, I’m fine. Caught me and everything.” There he went ranting again.
Wooyoung couldn’t resist a slight giggle, watching the man dusting the water droplets off his pants. He had always known Hongjoong to act cool, so the rare few moments where he lacked a complete collection were fairly amusing.
Hongjoong flashed him a smile and opened the door, stepping back into the warm kitchen. He flipped off the majority of the lights, closing up the place finally. “Okay I know my place is small, but I guess you could call it cozy” he explained moving through the kitchen with ease towards a basic wooden door.
The two men made their way upstairs and Hongjoong opened the second door leading into his small apartment. It wasn’t terribly large, the kitchen, dining room and living area were all merged into one room. It was open and welcoming, with throw rugs and blankets tossed everywhere. The kitchen had clearly been well lived in, but the dining table looked barely used. It was the perfect depiction of a bachelor's lifestyle. And it was filled with the alpha's own scent of spruce and cedarwood. Plus the underlying scents of lavender and cream.
“This is where you live?” Wooyoung asked, slowly moving into the cozy room, a colour theme mainly of browns, burgundy, and mustard yellow – rather old-fashioned if you asked him. But it wasn’t the colours that caught Wooyoung’s attention, and nor was it the stacked dishes in the sink. But rather, it was the lack of personal photographs. When a house becomes a home, in Wooyoung’s opinion, the one thing that is so desperately required is a well-located photograph. Photos that showcased family and friends, anything to show you have loved ones around you. “There’s not a single photograph around here.”
Hongjoong chuckled a little and moved towards what would be described as the living room. He snatched up a few stray articles of his clothing – give him a break he lived on his own – stuffing an old pair of his boxers into his pocket. “You always did have an eye for making things home, for making it where you belong,” Hongjoong stated. Majority of those “homey” items he had ensured Seonghwa could take with him. In fact, the apartment felt rather empty for the past few months. He started removing the cushions from the couch and tossing them to the side. Pulling the sofa bed out, he got it settled into place for Wooyoung to sleep for the night. “But you’re right. I suppose I haven’t had much time to print photos off. I keep them mostly on my phone. Or buy more furniture for that matter. Now, I would offer you my bed and take the pull-out couch myself, but I assume you’ll refuse.”
“And that’s what’s wrong with this generation. Everyone carries cameras and photo albums around in their pockets that they fail to print any solid copies off” Wooyoung mumbled moving around the room like a ghost. “And you assumed correctly.”
“Alright” Hongjoong set some extra blankets out on the end of the bed. “This should cover everything. There are pillows and blankets and such. Yell if you need anything. Help yourself to anything in the fridge okay? There’s a bathroom down the hall, the first door on the right. You’re welcome to that as well.”
Wooyoung nodded, moving towards the bed. He lowered himself to the edge of it with caution. He must admit it felt nice to rest on a bed again rather than the stiff cushions of his car. To be honest, he was still fairly shocked that Hongjoong hadn’t pushed for more information, but he suspected he wasn’t off the hook just yet. There was a flash of wisdom in Hongjoong’s eyes, one that showed knowledge behind these forms of games. He will butter him up, make him feel comfortable in his home, give him things he so long desired, and then drop the questions on him when he least expects it.
“Oh” Hongjoong paused, moving towards the small hallway that led to his bedroom. “And don’t leave tomorrow without saying goodbye, okay?” Hongjoong chuckled a little when he saw the look on the other boy's face. “Mhmm, I still know you Wooyoung. No sneaking out in hopes of avoiding me. I just won't have it.”
Wooyoung nodded again and kicked his shoes off. “No running off. I still gotta repay my debts to you” the man insisted. He leaned down into the bed still fully dressed and tugged the covers over himself. The bed was probably not the most comfortable of choices, it was rather old and had a pole running down the centre, as sofa beds often did. But it was certainly a great improvement. And Wooyoung was exhausted. He needed this sleep. In fact, he was so tired that the moment his head hit the pillow he had knocked himself out.
Truth be told, it wasn’t Wooyoung that needed to repay any debts, but rather a Hongjoong feeling as though he needed to repair what he had damaged all those years ago. If anyone needed to make up for anything, it was Hongjoong.
The alpha watched from the hallway with a small smile. Watching Wooyoung was like seeing a child fall asleep, which Hongjoong would know very well. A little one who would try to fight it so hard, determined they didn’t need to rest. But eventually, their eyes would close without any control.
Seeing Wooyoung sleep was rather warming towards his heart. The young boy seemed so at peace for once. The tense shoulders of his relaxed, and he nuzzled into the covers. For the first moment, Hongjoong had taken the time to notice the lines of worry around his face until he relaxed and they vanished. He didn’t see the stress that was weighing down his shoulders until it had been lifted with sleep.
Slowly Hongjoong approached the other man, in hopes of not waking him – although considering how tired he was he doubted anything would wake the boy right now. He lifted the blankets higher up around Wooyoung and tucked them under his chin.
Things just didn’t add up, But again he knew Wooyoung; he understood the way he ticked. Hongjoong was the one that kept things to himself, he preferred silence. On the other hand, Wooyoung had always been a supporter of talking their emotions out. He had been the one encouraging Hongjoong to talk things through. That was how he viewed life.
Hongjoong knew that when Wooyoung was ready he would come clean about what happened.
Of course, he was curious as to what had taken the boy out of his safe home and into the uncertainty of living in his car. He longed to know what could have changed in his life. For as long as he had known the other boy in high school he had always been the one with the loving family – it was Hongjoong that had the broken home. What could have changed in his lifestyle to alter this? What would take him from his mother and a home-cooked dinner, to the streets where he struggled to make ends meet?
Even after Hongjoong showered and changed into his pyjamas, as he was crawling into his soft bed, the thoughts still pulled at his mind and heart.
What has happened to Jung Wooyoung?
Perhaps those questions would receive some answers come morning - but the alpha didn’t hold out much hope.
It was never easy to wake up in a strange location. It had a way of pulling at your greatest fears; it shakes you down to the bones with a dozen questions. Where are you? What happened? How did you get there? Who else is around?
All of these thoughts ran through Wooyoung’s head as he bolted awake in a bed that was very much not the back of his car. Glancing fearfully around the room as the memories began to come running back to him. Safe. He was somewhere safe. Last night, by chance, he had come into the coffee shop that was owned by his ex-alpha boyfriend. What kind of cruel twist of fate was that? What jokes was the universe playing on him? After all the hell he’d been through for the past few months, only to send him straight into the home of the man that once broke his heart whom he foolishly assumed he would’ve mated. Well, now that was just ridiculous.
Then again, Wooyoung had agreed to stay. That was a choice he made of his own free will. A choice that he still doesn’t understand why he made it. He had been fine living in his car for months now. He had never reached out for help then, why would he need any assistance now?
He already knew the answer to that. But it was one that Wooyoung didn’t really like to think about. To put it simply, he had agreed because it was Hongjoong who asked him. In some way, shape or form, Wooyoung had never truly gotten over his alpha he dreamed of mating and having pups with. He was still very much hung up on him. Possibly, it was because of so many questions hanging in the air. Nevertheless, coming into this little coffee shop and coming face to face with the other man pulled at his heartstrings.
Now, he found himself lying in the uncomfortable pullout bed in the other male’s messy, yet comfortable, apartment. In fact, Wooyoung found he was completely ignoring the pile of dirty clothes tucked away in the bathroom corner as he made his way into the shower. But the yellow rubber duck did catch his attention.
Nothing had ever felt so wonderful. It was a true surge of pleasure. A moment of pure ecstasy.
That was the very definition of what a warm shower was – or at least what it was when you had been showering in public bathroom sinks or sneaking into gym change rooms. Wooyoung even found himself enjoying the sandalwood body wash – the very wash he would have otherwise turned his nose up at.
Realizing his dilemma once he climbed free from the shower, Wooyoung wrapped a towel around his waist and moved into the hallway. Of course, he could have pulled back on his old clothing. But they were well worn and had most recently accumulated layers of dirt. Not to mention that didn’t really fit anymore. To be honest, Wooyoung would rather not see Hongjoong again in the same clothes as before for some strange reason, he wanted to impress him. Sure, wearing Hongjoong’s clothes wasn't ideal as he was an alpha that had a rather strong scent and was certainly smaller around the waist, but hopefully, he’ll find something that didn’t make him look too ridiculous.
Hongjoong’s bedroom was far more organized than Wooyoung would have expected. It held about the same level as the mess in the living room did, but Wooyoung would have predicted more. A bedroom is a man’s sanctuary after all.
To no surprise, the room was nearly identical in wooden brown walls with a top half of mustard yellow paint, some red accent chairs and a checkerboard bedspread. It was very manly if you asked Wooyoung. Of course, the finishing touches were the piles of clothes flung across the chairs and bed – clearly, somebody wasn’t a fan of laundry.
Crossing to the dresser, he pulled out a drawer and grabbed the first set of clothing he found. Admittedly, it probably would be a size or two too small, but Wooyoung didn’t have the option to be terribly picky today. Snatching up a pair of sweatpants– and a simple navy blue pullover sweater he returned to the bathroom to change – he was desperate, not an idiot now, he was still going to wear his own boxers.
Once the clothes were tugged on, he trudged his way downstairs. The scent of the alpha surrounded him. He had known it well and knew from the clothes he’d be able to smell it more. However, the lavender caught him by surprise. It was a scent of an omega. But that wasn’t any of his concern.
Considering he did not stumble across Hongjoong anywhere within the small apartment, Wooyoung had assumed he must be in the coffee shop. With the sun just rising, it seemed like a pretty safe bet.
Coming through the small doorway, Wooyoung paused when he caught sight of the alpha. His bleach blonde hair had yet to be brushed back, jeans hung low on his hips and his deep blue dress shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chest. Wooyoung was taken back. He found himself pausing for a moment and leaning against the doorframe. The man couldn’t resist taking this moment to simply appreciate the body of the alpha before him.
Hongjoong had always had it made during high school. He was the school's golden star, a friend with everyone type of guy and he got fairly good grades – aside from that one time, but no one mentions that now. Anyways, Hongjoong had always been stunning; he had always kept good care of his body, through positive eating habits and just the right amount of physical activity. The years had done the man well. He remained slimmed down and there was a six-pack pushing through – just a simple outline could be seen but it proved he was toned. He was everything an alpha wanted to be.
Wooyoung slowly moved his eyes over the man, taking it all in. But something caught his breath and he froze. His gaze zoned in on the simple yet elegant writing located across Hongjoong’s ribcage. A tattoo. It was a single word. A name. Seyoung.
Why had Hongjoong gone and gotten a tattoo? These things are permanent, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Hongjoong was never an impulsive type, so having something permanently inked on his body must have taken a lot of consideration. It made Wooyoung wonder why that name, in particular, mattered so much. Did Hongjoong have a mate? Maybe that would explain the lavender scent. But he didn’t have a mark and the scent was rather faded. Perhaps a breakup?
“Good morning Wooyoung,” Hongjoong said in a hoarse voice. He had turned away from the kitchen counter and gazed back at the other man. “I didn’t see you there. How long have you been here?”
Wooyoung, who had nearly jumped out of his skin when the boy startled him, had taken a moment to collect him. “Just a couple of seconds” Wooyoung lied. To be fair, he wasn’t sure how long he had been there, it could have been for several long minutes. He wasn’t exactly about to admit that he was distracted by checking the other man out.
Hongjoong chuckled a little and shook his head playfully. He turned back to the task at hand, mixing what appeared to be a chocolate cake. “I hope you slept alright. I know the bed isn’t always the most comfortable.”
“I slept amazing,” Wooyoung answered. Curiously he moved towards the other man and peered over his shoulder – a difficulty considering Hongjoong was just that much taller than him. He gazed at the food in slight confusion; it seemed rather runny if you asked him. “Did you melt the butter?”
Hongjoong glanced back at him in confusion “yeah?” he answered in what sounded more like a question. “Am I not supposed to? It said to soften the butter.” Although the man had been successfully running the shop for about two years now he must admit, cooking and baking wasn’t his strong suit.
Wooyoung giggled a little at that response “you’re supposed to soften the butter. Just get it soft Hongjoong. You melted it.” he shook his head slightly and stepped up beside the man. He reached across him and grabbed a free bowl. “It’ll make the batter too loose and that means you need to cook it for longer. Which can be dangerous.”
“Well there has been a time or two where I might have burnt the cake,” Hongjoong admitted sheepishly.
“Only two?” Wooyoung teased, flashing a smile at the other man. What was this feeling? He seemed...happy today. He had gotten so accustomed to remaining in his shell, that to have moments of joy was rather rare for him. “Here, let me show you how it’s done” he insisted, reaching around and grabbing the sugar and butter.
Hongjoong watched in silence as he took in Wooyoung’s movements. Sure he could’ve made the cake the same way he had for months now, but there was something about seeing the omega at work and assisting him. He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest .
“So do you often come down to your kitchen at six am to bake cakes shirtless?” Wooyoung asked, fighting the urge to glance over his shoulder at the alpha. He forced himself to remain busy with the task at hand.
Hongjoong chuckled lightly; the sound was deep and soothing. “Are you asking if I come here often?” he teased, a smile pulling at his lips. His scent spiked slightly in amusement. He moved to rest his back against the counter, making it so that the two could see each other easily. “But yeah, I do. It can get really hot back here and I’m also not the neatest when cooking. So I’d rather not destroy all my good shirts.”
“Ah, I see,” Wooyoung said with a slight nod “and here I thought this was especially for me.” whoa, wait, back the truck up. Did he just flirt? Oh no, that wasn’t allowed and Wooyoung knew it. This was a one-time thing spending the night with an ex, never to happen again, and certainly not with Hongjoong. The man who broke his heart several years ago. No, flirting was definitely not allowed.
“Well, it could be,” Hongjoong teased with a wink. He was flirting back. These boys were both entering a dangerous territory, one that if they were smart they wouldn’t enter.
Wooyoung didn’t have a response to that. In fact, he couldn’t respond to that – his mind was racing a million miles per hour. So, instead, he remained silent and focused on the food. He was carefully ignoring the sound of Hongjoong’s breathing, or that he could reach over to touch the man’s arm.
But after a few minutes of cake baking, Wooyoung couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “So uh” Wooyoung started “I figured that I might stick around today and help you out here. I mean if that’s alright with you of course.”
“Oh Wooyoung, you don’t need to do that,” Hongjoong said, “I appreciate it but I don’t want you to feel obligated.” Truth be told, having an extra set of hands around the shop even for one day would be a weight lifted from his shoulders. It wasn’t easy running a shop completely on your own, regardless of how small the store is.
“I want to,” Wooyoung stated. “I want to repay you somehow for letting me spend the night. And helping you here seems like the most useful. Please?”
Hongjoong nodded slowly “okay that’ll be great. It seems you’ve already started helping me,” he said, nodding towards the oven.
“The cake!” Wooyoung gasped and rushed over to remove it.
With a slight chuckle, Hongjoong exited the kitchen with a small headshake. He went to the coffee maker and started grinding the beans. Flipping all the lights on he got the door unlocked and flipped over the open sign.
“So, is there anything I need to help you with?” Wooyoung asked, carrying the chocolate cake now decorated with icing across the top. He slid it into the display case and smiled at his hard work.
The alpha smiled and sauntered over to him. “I got the cookies in, coffee brewing, the cake is done. I just need to put in a couple of muffins, and that’ll cover the cookie part. I can unpack the bagels and toast out here. But usually, people don’t come for sandwiches until closer to lunch.”
“Okay how about I get started on the muffins?” Wooyoung suggested, his fingers went to the sweater sleeves; clearly he was getting nervous now.
“That’ll be great. I think it's clear that baking isn’t my strong suit, '' Hongjoong agreed.
“Clearly,” Wooyoung said with a slight smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll just be in the back,” he announced heading to the kitchen.
Just after Wooyoung had left, the door opened, signalling the arrival of the day’s first customer. As it often went in Aurora one customer came in and the rest followed in a steady flow. Hongjoong had barely gotten a chance to breathe much less say anything to Wooyoung, but he was thankful for the extra help. With Wooyoung baking, it meant that Hongjoong was able to focus on the customers and not gather a line.
“Muffins done” Wooyoung announced carrying the cooled tray out.
“Oh those look wonderful” a senior woman, at the front of the line eyed the steaming muffins. “I think I’ll take one of those for a change.” She and her husband were regular customers around these parts, and Hongjoong served the couple coffee with extra cream and two cookies every morning.
Wooyoung flashed the woman a warm smile “if you take a seat I can bring your order right to you” he offered happily. Hongjoong would have loved to have done this more often, serving the customers at a table. But being the only work he didn’t get that luxury.
“Aren’t you just the sweetest?” Ms. Lee said, holding her purse close as she went towards one of the bench seats with her husband.
“Hey thanks for that,” Hongjoong said, handing the next customer a black coffee.
“It's no problem,” Wooyoung answered, taking out a plate and slipping one muffin of each flavour onto it. On the other hand, he balanced the prepared coffees Hongjoong made. “That’s what I’m here for.” He went towards the waiting couple and set out the food, “we’ve got a carrot pecan with cream cheese, a blueberry almond crumbles and triple chocolate crunch muffins.”
“Thank you dear” Ms. Lee answered while taking a bite of the blueberry muffin “this is wonderful. Did you make these? Usually it’s only chocolate chips and oatmeal as choices.”
Wooyoung nodded with a smile “I did make these. I’m glad you enjoyed them.”
“We are just glad Hongjoong finally got some help around here,” Mr. Lee said now “he certainly needed it.” A smile pulled at her lips. “And he has needed having an omega in his life again. He’s been so lonely since Seonghwa left.”
The omega’s interest was pulled at now. Since Seonghwa left? Who was that? Obviously, another omega that Hongjoong knows. But if customers know him, the two must’ve been close.
Wooyoung knew better than to pry, however. With another nod, Wooyoung moved on to another table that was now occupied. He happily welcomed the customers and took their orders. Swiftly he would fill it before moving on to another table.
Hongjoong couldn’t resist leaning back against the counter and pausing for a moment. He watched as Wooyoung interacted with everyone. He was warm and relaxed. He crossed his arms over his chest with a small smile.
“Okay, I guess I better be going now” Wooyoung came towards the counter once the morning rush was done. There was bound to be a break until later that afternoon after work got out for most people. He had already gone upstairs and gathered his discarded items, changing back into his old clothes as he did so. Now he just needed to say goodbye.
“Oh yeah,” Hongjoong said, closing the till. “Of course. Here let me put a few things in a bag for you.” He grabbed a to-go bag and started piling up several muffins and cookies. “How about a coffee to go? Well, I’m giving you one anyways. Thank you for sticking around today. It’s always so busy and I really needed the help. The customers loved having the option of being served at the tables. Oh, and I insist you keep the tips. I would offer to pay, but you’ll probably refuse.”
Wooyoung chuckled a little. “It was fun, helping out around here, I mean. And I guess seeing you again was really nice too.” He flashed him a smile “thank you for giving me a place to stay last night. I appreciate it.” he rubbed the back of his neck. This was starting to feel more and more like a goodbye and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
“How about I walk you out?” The elder suggested. Once Wooyoung had nodded, the two men went back through the kitchen. Hongjoong opened the back door and held it for Wooyoung. He walked alongside the omega towards the car tucked in the corner. “So you’ll stop by again?”
“Oh I don’t know, '' the young omega said, fiddling with his sleeves “I don’t usually stick around the same place for long. But I’ll see what I can do.” They went towards the car. For a moment Wooyoung stumbled with the keys. Unlocking the doors he got into the driver's seat. He glanced back at Hongjoong ``well I guess this is goodbye.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Hongjoong answered, leaning against the car. “Take my offer seriously. You can stick around. I mean we worked as a pretty good team today. Maybe you’d like to stay a few more days. I could do it with help, clearly. And you can stay on the couch. I know it’s not ideal. But you’ll get room and board, a salary and you can keep any of the tips you make.”
Wooyoung smiled softly, but it seemed forced. “Really, thank you, but I should get going.” Pulling the door shut, and cutting off all communications with Hongjoong he stuck the key into the ignition. But when he turned the key the car wouldn’t start. With a frown, he tried again. And still nothing. By the third try with no success, the alpha was knocking on the window.
“You’re going to flood the engine!” he called out. Stepping back from the car he allowed Wooyoung to open the door.
“No, this has happened before. I’ve gotten it started every other time” Wooyoung insisted on moving the hood of his car. He stepped out and went to check on the engine. Pausing as he glanced inside he nibbled at his bottom lip.
Hongjoong watched him carefully, “not much of a car guy are you?” he asked, stepping forward. He stood beside the other man and peered inside.
“Not really,” Wooyoung said, shifting over to give Hongjoong some space. Moving his fingers back to his sweater he started to twiddle. “Can you get it started?”
Reaching his hands inside Hongjoong tinkered with the car silently for a few moments. “Afraid not. It’s dead” Hongjoong stood back and pushed the hood of the car back down. “I can remove the battery and charge it later tonight. These things happen in the cold.”
Wooyoung sighed, “Are you sure? I wanted to get on the road tonight.”
“Well not with this car” Hongjoong answered gently “it won't be charged until tomorrow morning at the earliest. That is, if I can charge it. It might not be able to hold it. You could need a new one altogether.”
“I can’t afford a new one!” Wooyoung gasped. He shook his head and sighed deeply “I need this car. This is my home. What? I’m supposed to just park it somewhere and stay there? But wait, I can't park it anywhere other than here. Since it’ll be stuck here! Now I just live in this alley? That’s why I have the car. So that I don’t need to live in a place like this – so that I don’t need to live directly on the street. And now what? This is where I live? Grab a blanket and lay in the snow. I can’t even use the heater anymore! This isn’t the place to raise a pup! I can’t put them at risk. I don’t care about myself but what about my pups!”
By now it looked like the man was holding back tears with some struggle. He huffed out a puff of air and took a seat on the hood. He hugged his knees and whimpered slightly.
Hongjoong lowered himself next to Wooyoung. “Wooyoung,” he couldn’t beat around it anymore. He needed to ask the question that was burning into his thoughts. “Why are you living in your car? The last time I saw you, you were set to attend university. Your parents had it all organized. What changed?”
He was expecting to hear another form of denial, some kind of excuse. But much to his surprise, Wooyoung answered honestly.
“I’m pregnant,” Wooyoung whispered. He pulled his legs up to his chest and rested his chin on his knees. The omega released an overwhelming amount of distressed coconut pheromones. Hongjoong was going to say something, but thought better of it. Wooyoung needed to get through this story in his own time. “You know how particular my parents were in regards to whom their precious omega son spent time with. Hell, even when we were dating I had kept it hidden from my parents because you weren’t an alpha approved by them. Even after you left I continued to see alphas in secret. Which was fine. I kept it hidden for years. I had relationships, I was living my life however I wanted to.
“But that changed when I found out I was pregnant.
“I kept it hidden as long as I could, but eventually I needed to admit it when my scent started to change.
“So I did it. I told my parents. We sat down one night for dinner. And I don’t know, I just came clean about it. I told them that I had been seeing an alpha in secret for the past few months. To which they demanded I break up with him. But the relationship was only the first part. I then told them I was pregnant.
“As you could expect they didn’t react well to the news. Well, my mom reacted okay, maybe not perfect but definitely better than my dad. He said that he wasn’t going to have a – well, a not really good word that starts with the letter W– for a son. If I wanted to act that way and make those choices then I couldn’t stay in the house. It turned into a huge argument. He offered me an ultimatum that if I got an abortion that he would be willing to let me stay. But that’s my pup. I wasn’t willing to do that to my puppy. The next thing I knew, my dad was throwing my clothes out of my room and down the stairs. I gathered what I could and left.
“I stayed with some friends for a couple of weeks, I mean, it was summer after all. Then I went back home, thinking they would have calmed down. But they didn’t. My parents were still just as furious as they were before. They stated that if I wanted to come home, I would need to put the pup up for adoption as they weren’t going to support me and the pup they didn’t support me having.
“So I left home again, I couldn’t stay there. Some friends put me up for another couple of weeks. Then summer came to an end and people started to head off to school. I had nowhere to stay after that. I moved into my car and although I tried to hold onto a job, it was rather difficult without a fixed address. After that, nothing was final, nothing was steady for me.”
Hongjoong waited until he was certain Wooyoung was finished. It was rather difficult to refrain himself from interjecting, but he knew the other man needed to get through it. Gently, he rested his hand on Wooyoung’s shoulder. “No one ever deserves what you went through. You let your walls down with trust and vulnerability and you should have been accepted for that.”
“But I wasn't,” Wooyoung said with a sigh and a shake of his head. “Instead I was cast aside. I am the whore of a pregnant omega that couldn’t even tell the alpha about the baby. Instead, I ran away.”
Hongjoong leaned over slightly and bumped his shoulder against Wooyoung’s. “Maybe you just haven’t found the right people to accept you and you feel comfortable with.” He smiled softly “personally, I’m really proud of you Wooyoung. You have done what you needed to to keep yourself and your pup safe. It’s not easy being a parent, I assure you of that. And pregnancy, it’s hard Woo. So knowing that you have been handling all this when you’re pregnant, it shows just how strong you are.” Hongjoong stood from the hood and smiled down at Wooyoung, “stay with me. Take up on my offer. I need help around Aurora, and you need a place to stay.”
“Why haven’t you hired somebody by now?” Wooyoung asked curiously. He glanced up from under his eyelashes.
“I haven’t been able to find the right person,” Hongjoong answered honestly. “This is a family-run business. Letting somebody work beside me – well, it probably means more than it should. But it’s hard to trust Aurora with someone.”
“But you trust me?” Wooyoung straightened his back and locked eyes with Hongjoong.
“Of course I trust you,” Hongjoong insisted.
“Thank you” Wooyoung answered softly. He flashed a small crooked smile and climbed off the car. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Hongjoong asked.
“Okay, I’ll stick around. But only until my car can be fixed, it’ll be a week tops” Wooyoung stated his set of rules now. “And I won't take a paycheck from you. The room and board are enough, but I will accept any tips left by the customers. That’s all.”
Hongjoong chuckled a little “you drive a hard bargain Jung, but for now, you got a deal. We can leave things open to negotiations later on.”
“Still as bossy as ever, I see,” Wooyoung said with a slight eye roll. He opened the back door to his car and started to collect some of his things.
“I consider its determination,” Hongjoong said going to the other doorway and starting to gather a couple of shirts. Scattered across the floor underneath one of the worn sweaters, were a couple of grey photos - sonograms. At the very least Wooyoung had been taking good care of his pups and his body during the pregnancy. However, what caught the alpha's eye was a blue iPod with headphones stuffed nearly under the seat.
Hongjoong gently loosened the camera and lifted it carefully. “You still have it?” Hongjoong asked, turning the iPod around in his hands slowly. It looked in nearly as great condition as it was when Hongjoong had first given it to Wooyoung.
It was during one of their dates that Wooyoung insisted on dragging through a local thrift store. Hongjoong wasn’t one to shop, but he went along with his boyfriend nonetheless. Wooyoung had been nitpicking and examining every little thing they passed, he had collected a couple of books, some old records and a decorative plate for his mom. But he had missed the inexpensive second-hand iPod on one of the upper shelves – Hongjoong noticed it though. And he happily bought it.
They were just about to celebrate their first month anniversary and Hongjoong knew how much music and dancing mattered to Wooyoung. It seemed like the universe was trying to tell him something and he couldn’t resist buying it for the man. So once Wooyoung was distracted he purchased the iPod and a week later he presented it to Wooyoung on their date.
After that, Wooyoung didn’t go anywhere without it. He always had it tucked in Hongjoong was touched to find Wooyoung had kept it all these years.
“You still have it?” Hongjoong asked, glancing at Wooyoung.
The other man shrugged a little “of course I do.” He smiled softly, “it's one of my most important belongings.” he grabbed the last couple of items and leaned back out of the car “now let's get me moved in.”
Hongjoong chuckled a little, still holding the iPad as he closed the car door. “I like the sound of that.” He guided the omega back into the apartment. Now that Wooyoung was standing, and Hongjoong was paying attention to the omega's body, he was able to notice the roundness of his body. The sweater had done well at hiding the stomach, but it wasn’t perfect.
Wooyoung seemed to have sensed the way Hongjoong was watching him. His hand absentmindedly went to his stomach, resting under the bump for support. Not that Hongjoong’s gaze was one of judgment, but certainly was curious. “You can ask about it” Wooyoung directed to Hongjoong. “I won't be offended or anything.” Very few people knew about Wooyoung’s pregnancy, he had done well to find it, even in terms of his scent. Which the omega was pretty pleased about.
“How far along are you?” Hongjoong slid into one of the empty booths, waving his hand across from him to direct Wooyoung to take a seat as well.
The omega raised an eyebrow and sat down. He certainly hadn’t expected for Hongjoong to ask something as meaningless as that. Most questions people tended to ask were who the alpha was, why Wooyoung wasn’t with the alpha, and if he planned on keeping the pup. All of which he absolutely hated.
Wooyoung actually couldn’t recall the last time somebody asked him as something as easy as what month he was in.
“I’m seven months.”
Hongjoong’s eyes widen. The alpha gazed up and down Wooyoung’s body - although it was rather impossible considering the omega was seated. And although the gaze was not one with malicious intent Wooyoung still felt extremely small and awkward under the alpha's eyes. He turned himself in on himself. Pulling his legs up into the bench and hugging them.
“You’re seven months?” Hongjoong questioned in a soft tone.
Wooyoung responded with a nod. He forced a small smile onto the corner of his lips. “Is that a bad thing?”
Hongjoong quickly shook his head. “Of course not Woo!” Absentmindedly the alpha began to release calming pheromones, although trying his best to keep it from being overwhelming to the pregnant omega. “I was a just surprised is all. You aren’t showing that much. And your scent isn’t very strong. Plus with the sweater you’re wearing, I thought you’d be in maternity wear. I assumed you were maybe four months max.”
“Really?” Wooyoung lifted his head from resting on his knees. Was that all?
Hongjoong nodded. “I’m not judging you, Woo, I promise. I was curious and surprised is all. You really aren’t as I would’ve expected.”
“Do you know a lot about pregnant omegas hyung?” Wooyoung found himself teasing. Hongjoong was an alpha, a single alpha at that. What would he know about pregnancy in omegas?
The alpha shrugged, but there was something to his eyes that made it seem like he knew more than was letting on. “Nothing more than what was taught in high school I suppose during sex ed.’
Wooyoung raised an eyebrow. “Hmm okay hyung. And I wear the sweater cause it still fits. It’s actually the only thing that fits.”
“I might have a few things tucked away in my closet” Hongjoong stated. “Give me a chance this evening to open some boxes. I’ll see what I can find.”
Hongjoong has boxes of materiality clothes laying around. If it didn’t already seem weird it certainly did now. But who was Wooyoung to ask questions when he really didn’t have the right to know anything?
“Thanks hyung” Wooyoung mumbled. He fiddled with his fingers. “It hasn’t really been the easiest. With anything to do with the pregnancy. I’ve been doing so much of it on my own, and when I need to fight for basic survival things like clothes seem so unimportant.”
“I understand Woo” Hongjoong rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward slightly. “You truly haven’t had it easy. But you haven’t stopped fighting for you and your pup. You’ve already proven yourself to be an incredible eomma.”
Wooyoung felt his inner omega preen at that. He practically wanted to purr with the way Hongjoong seemed to accept him. But he still denied himself. “I couldn’t track down the pup’s alpha. My parents hate me. Forced out of the house and having nowhere to stay. It’s just been a lot. And rationally I know there’s so much more I could do. I haven’t been attending doctor's appointments the way I should. No pup should possibly be born to live in a car. I know you mean well hyung, but I’m not that great of an eomma. I am already failing.”
Hongjoong reached forward and took hold of Wooyoung’s hands. “Wooyoung. You have been doing what you need to to keep your baby safe. Your parent's home, was not a safe environment for you or your pup. And you recognized that. You put your pup first.” He squeezed gently. “I don’t know anything between you and the alpha. But I am certain you’ve done what you could. With everything. Wearing the same sweater because it fits, I promise Woo it really isn’t that big of a deal. Please don’t worry about it. You’ve been doing well. You were handed a deck of cards that were stacked against you and still expected to play. And if I recall correctly, you don’t just play games, you win them.”
Wooyoung chuckled lightly and gave his head a little shake. He should’ve known Hongjoong would find a way to tease him even when offering comforting words. “Hyung” he sighed. “You really shouldn’t use the words I spoke when I was thirteen against me. I was just a kid. I’ve grown up since then.”
The alpha smiled fondly, his gaze softening. “Yeah, you really have Wooyoung.” And he meant it. Wooyoung had grown into himself. His baby fat was gone, his features sharper around his face. He had grown taller, and was now taller than Hongjoong actually. His scent had evened out too, a sign of a matured omega. Hongjoong was proud of the way he’s grown up physically. But there was also an emotional maturity. Perhaps that would’ve come in time, but Hongjoong figures it’s from the experiences Wooyoung has gone through recently. He’s had to be mature for his pup, mature to be able to survive. “I mean, you’ve grown up to the point you can have a pup! I’d consider that pretty grown.”
Blushing slightly Wooyoung turned his head away, a yawn escaping his lips. “Don’t say it like that hyung” Wooyoung mumbled. “You speak like I was an innocent child when you knew me.”
A smirk tugged at Hongjoong’s lips. “Hmm well, now I wouldn’t call you that” Hongjoong insisted. “You were far from innocent when I knew you.”
“Hyung!” Wooyoung gasped and reached across the table to smack at Hongjoong’s arm. “Don’t be so vulgar!”
“I’m not!” Hongjoong laughed and rubbed his arm. “Simply stating the facts.” He watched another yawn come from the omega. “But anyways, you should head upstairs and get some rest. You have sleep to catch up on.”
“But I need to help out around here” Wooyoung insisted. He glanced around the empty cafe.
“It’s fine” Hongjoong waved his concern away. “We get busy in a couple of hours, so I won’t need you until then. Besides you have plenty of time to help out. No need to rush to do everything in one day. Besides, I have some phone calls I need to make. Some orders and such.”
Wooyoung didn’t seem completely seem satisfied with the answer, but he nodded nonetheless. He really did need to rest. The further he got in his pregnancy the more tired he got throughout the day. A nap actually sounded really lovely. Pushing himself up from the seat he smiled at Hongjoong. “Thank you hyung. Thank you for taking me in, giving me a home even temporarily, for believing in me, for being okay with the pup. Thank you for everything hyung.” He fiddled with his hands, outstretching them slightly
Hongjoong wasn’t one for skin ship, he never had been. And Wooyoung knew that. Despite the fact that the omega was always one to try and push his limits. But that was years ago, when they were boyfriends. However, Hongjoong figured he could give Wooyoung this one thing. He knew how much skin ship matter to the omega.
Shuffling out of his seat Hongjoong stood and opened his arms. It was a silent offer but one that Wooyoung took eagerly. The omega stepped forward and embraced the elder. He welcomed the way Hongjoong’s arms folded protectively around him. His coconut scent began to increase nod wrap around them, mixing with Hongjoong’s crisp pine.
Finally, the alpha could recognize that Wooyoung was pregnant. The difficulty in wrapping his arms around the man proved that. However, it was when he felt a sudden hit to his own stomach that he stepped back laughing. He rested his hands on Wooyoung’s waist though, fingers brushing against the roundness of his belly. “Don’t worry pup” he looked down. “You have eomma all to yourself.”
Wooyoung blushed deeply.
“You’ve got a protective pup there” Hongjoong stepped fully back, a smile on his face.
“He’s just active” Wooyoung mumbled.
“Ah” Hongjoong hummed. “Sounds a lot like his eomma in that case.”
The omega shifted a little awkwardly, not wanting the other to notice the blush. “I should head upstairs for that nap. Otherwise, I won't actually get a nap in before people start arriving.”
Hongjoong nodded. “Of course” he watched the omega move away. He smiled softly. “Sleep well, Woo. You know where to find me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, hyung.”
“You’re welcome omega.”
But Wooyoung had already gone upstairs missing the final words.