✦˖⁺ gate。

☐ уєƖƖσω zσηє.

[ part 2]

'Well ya know Jiy-hoe maybe you should text me instead of keeping us waiting, especially me 'cause ya know i'm your biggest fan, how can you be too shy to text!? What about the whole punk thing you asked us about? Don't you want to be one of us? Come on, you can't expect to get anywhere in life being all soft like that anyway. You can't woo any ladies, .. or /men/ for that matter..' the unlocked fencing toward the rear of the building for parking caught Rome's eye;'Hey hey.. how about we go in here for a minute.' Right, Rome, Hamin or 'Minnie-moe', and that western kid .. Mike but there was a fourth, known as 'Droid'; he was the guy who packed muscle but wasn't there- probably because he didn't want to skulk outside Azrael Prep all the time like the other 3 did. 'You guys just stand here for a sec- I'ma show him something.' Jiho wanted to protest but Rome hushed him with a sparkle of mischief in his eyes.

With a shove once they were in the parking lot a good ways closer to the building, Jiho nearly toppled to the pavement but was instead forced into the side of an unknown car and pulled to the ground .. with a kiss. Even though the gesture was rough, and awkward he did his best to feel whatever it was Rome was in the mood for, but it was clear he was uncomfortable with the situation. He tried to speak but wasn't allowed to say any understandable words, they were just too eager. Hands reached where they shouldn't, a breathed noise sounded and that's where he got an opportunity to speak, since Rome apparently had something to say;'I don't know how you like.." Hungry eyes ate Jiho's frame as he sat slouched on the ground against the back tire;'Go walkin' around with nothing underneath, it's almost like you're begging for something. I like it.." The response, as they'd murmured their last remark upon his lips made him shiver, with an added bonus of goosebumps up either arm. He was being a bad boy for once, and it wasn't so bad, fooling around with another boy was trouble enough in a country where homouality was heavily frowned upon, but on campus grounds against someone's /car/? The kissing got more intense, they started to leave hickeys on his jawline and neck while pulling on the kimono;"N-no wait- I, I like you and all that but I don't want to do it here- I'm not read-" !! 'You're being a baby, lay back, I'll only be a second.' A rush of adrenaline, or maybe just ual frustration, inexperience and fear pushed him to fight;"No! I don't want too!" They both began to throw fists and commented 'hushed' insults though they were loud enough to be heard from across the parking lot. Even if Rome wasn't as built as Jiho, they knew how to throw their fists and where to hit, he- wasn't so lucky. No matter how hard he flung his arms and kicked, they got on top of him and fear had really sunk in;"Get off me, GET OFF ME!" So what now? Within 5 minutes they'd have his clothing off and they'd take him on the ground, tears began to form as he fought with all his strength, even if Rome won he wasn't going to give up until he had no strength left to give.

@ᵇ taemin p。 [TRIGGER WARNING UAL ASSAULT]

7 pm, the day was mostly over now and Jiho still hadn't felt motivated enough to have done any of his class work, let alone gather strength to even go to those classes to pick up the worksheets. Somehow, instead of doing what bothered him in the first place like any sane person- Jiho didn't. Walking around was nice, but doing so around the campground did little else but further cause anxiety that those grades would plummet if he didn't get his together and go back before they left for the evening. So, despite his instincts to stay where he was supposed to be, Jiho left the safety of the campus grounds to walk around the city just.. not too far. Clothing attire did not help his case, but being a quiet individual not much would be expected of him in terms of having to socialize or explain to passersby why he was wearing different cultural clothing.

'And there you are- man we was wonderin' when you'd come out again. They always hold your collar so tight?' A ironic statement considering his true identity, but that did not ease the discomfort rising throughout the body.

They looked like a bunch of punk kids, goth maybe or just a bunch of low lives who dressed in black and listened to rock tunes and indie songs that hardly anyone knew. 3 of them in total, the two looked like Japanese students with one diverse westerner in the group though all were equally thin in build. "Oh- um.." Jiho had little time to turn around though he didn't need to see to know who that voice belonged too. Within minutes, the males surrounded him in almost a playful way with one of them wrapping an arm around Jiho to pull him close- not to mention force him to keep walking;'So hey how'ya been!? We was startin' to think you'd never come back to us, I know you missed me..' a nose pressed into Jiho's face in a lame attempt at being sultry- or maybe they were just trying to kiss him. The response he gave back was .. bashful, not really the uncomfortable kind- at least not entirely;"W-well yea they are REALLY strict '-nd like my parents are always calling me all the time."

@suzuki h。 "The outside is scary, so many unknowns and you always have to be alert. Hard to get a good night's rest when you're constantly worried about getting snuck on. You know, not many predators can climb trees. So sleeping in trees is a one way, but the chance of accidentally falling is great too. So I always found myself sleeping in either trees or areas where I can cover the entrance with my affinity. Well not the entrance entrance, but a bit farther in so if Hunters were looking in that area, they dont see the ice right away like if they were just glancing around" Koji smiled gently and it hard turned into a suggestion, from his own experience. However when he realized that he had started to ramble, and the tips of his ears flushed red.

"I...uh...sorry. I started rambling." Koji mumbled, glancing away, rather embarrassed as he tried to recollect himself. A soft smile was on his lips as he watched the pride shining on Suzuki's face. "You have every right to be prideful. It's not a very easy task. Especially alone." Koji grinned with a soft hint of understanding was in his eyes. Like he had lived like that before. That he knew how difficult it was.

"Koroko? Kind of cliche. I don't think he would represent a good heart. Maybe...Nao or Tsu? Which one do you think suits him more, Suzuki-san?" Koji asked, holding the puppy closer to Suzuki and the small dalmatian started the other's face affectionately. "Suzuki-san, I'm also Japanese, if it had slipped past you." Koji reminded softly, with no heat in his voice, but rather amusement. "okay! do you normally fidget alot? you're nervous quite often, are you not?" Koji asked curiously with a tilt of his head.

"Cats? Cat's are rather adorable, i would love to just cuddle with them. well, with most animals i would love to just cuddle with them." Koji piqued in. "Well, i'm going to look forward to getting to know you, suzuki-san!" Koji declared with a wide smile before pointing to himself, shifting the puppy sightly so he could direct his finger to point towards himself. "Me?"

"Well...I have a puppy that was a gift from a dear friend. I'm pretty much a social butterfly and I like to hang out with my friends!" Koji declared, carefully stepping around the more important stuff, like his deceased family and his past before arriving at the school. He had also casually forgot to mention that he was the Omega Leader of the pack he belongs to. "I like animals and sometimes go run through the forest. It makes me feel more at home" Koji held a reminiscent smile before finishing the sentence softly in his mind. 'it makes me feel like i'm with my family again, running through the forests and hearing their laughter.'

"It's easier to get to know someone if you hang out more with them is it not? I do hope that we get to hang out more, Suzuki-san!" Koji smiled widely, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Suzuki.

@ℋ ᵒ seto✙k。 {{ MY REPLY WAS JUST IN MY NOTES I NEVER PASTED THEM HERE WTF IM SORRY FLAME ILU }}

The alpha just listened closely as the other spoke and nodded in understanding at it all. "I apologize for apologizing a lot and it's good to know we are at least safer here... The outside is... scary." He ends up saying, clinging onto his bags tighter as he remembers being chased down by hunters when he was trying to get here. He shakes the feeling and thoughts off and takes a deep breath. This is a new place where he can make a new start! This place will be better for him!

"I-It was! Lots of things outside are things I never thought were that... terrifying. But I am really glad I survived one way or the other!" He says as he faces the other for a moment, face showing pride that he was not dead this very moment.

"B-But I just met you... I can't possibly give your puppy a name..." He mutters, biting his bottom lip. "But I guess you can name him Koroko? It's Japanese for heart. O-Or Ichigo... it's Japanese for... strawberry..." Strawberries had nothing to do with the puppy, he just really love strawberries. "I am sure, yes! They aren't much luggage anyways! And I need to busy my hands with something or else I will fidget a lot."

He then blinks questioningly at being told to talk about himself. He looks up at the sky and hums a moment before speaking. "Uhm, I guess I love cats and strawberry-flavored snacks. I was part of the family of a pack leader but it wasn't really any fun. You can unlock that part of me when we get to know each other more." He pauses and thinks a bit for a moment. "I think the rest is something I want you to learn on your own! We might not have a reason to be friends anymore if you learn everything about me." He says cheekily, winking before looking down shyly for doing so. "Tell me a little about yourself too, Koji-kun!"

@suzuki h。 "Don't worry, There's plenty of others who make their rounds here. If i didn't come along, I'm sure that someone else would sooner or later." Koji reassured and smiled gently. "Don't apologize. You haven't done anything that needs an apology." Koji slowly reached over and patted Hiroki on the back. "We're safer here." Koji didn't want to tell the other that they were completely safe here, fully knowing that it could be a lie. But, they were safer here than anywhere else.

"Please do take care of me. I do hope that as well." Koji chuckled softly and the flinch was not missed by him. "It was really a long and scary trip, wasn't it?" His voice significantly softer, and understanding seeping from his voice.

"Ah? Really? I'm not very good with names, and i can't keep calling him puppy forever." Koji laughed and eagerly took the offer to help name the puppy. "What? It's a wonderful idea!" He hummed and bounced the puppy slightly in his arms. "Are you sure? I have two arms. One arm can be used to carry the puppy and the other to carry some of your bags. Or I can put the puppy down. I can smother him in affection later anyways." Koji reassured calmly. "Suzuki-san, why don't you tell me about yourself?"

@ℋ ᵒ seto✙k。 Suzuki almost jumped when the gates started closing by itself behind them, eyes looking back at the gate in both amazement and fear if it can do anything else. He then returned his attention to the other and listened to what he had to say. "I was actually about to cry out of embarrassment and fear outside the gates if you hadn't come along!" That sounds really sad, Suzuki. Realizing it does, Suzuki feels a blush take over his cheeks and he rubs the back of his neck idly. "I'm a cry baby, some people tell me. S-Sorry." He then offers an uneasy smile. "Well, I guess it's okay now since we are safe to stay here, right?"

He panics slightly once the other bows and introduces himself, fumbling with his bags to be able to bow properly in return as well. "N-Nice to meet you, Seto-kun! I hope we can be good friends!!" He then straightens up and follows suit once more, perking up at the question and immediately flinching violently at the sound of small paws running towards them. He calms down, however, when he notices it was just a small puppy. "Q-Quite long but nothing too worrisome..." He watches the two bond for a moment, a small genuine smile playing on his lips.

"Ah! Want me to help you name him maybe?" He then realizes how he just met this guy and how he isn't in a place to be doing so. "Ah! Sorry! That's a stupid idea, sorry..." He clings harder onto his bags and shakes his head. "N-No! I'm fine! Puppy needs it more than me!"

@suzuki h。 Koji smiled in response as took a few steps back with Hiroki, the gates closing as he wasn't as close to it. His eyes trained on the gates, making sure nothing else got in before giving the other student his full attention. "It is, isn't it? When I first got here, I had almost cried in relief." Koji disclosed with a small reminiscent smile. "I bet it was, I came here by myself too. It wasn't the most pleasant of trips." Koji hummed before turned to face Hiroki.

"Ah, I never introduced myself. I'm Seto Koji. It's nice to meet you!" Koji smiled as he bowed politely before spinning on his heels. "Oh! I can't forget-" Koji almost froze in his tracks before whistling in a high pitched tone. "How long did it take for you to get here, Suzuki-san?" Koji asked curiously as the small puppy came dashing towards the two. Koji immediately scooping it off the ground and cuddling it to his chest. "You've been a very good boy, staying there and out of sight. Such a good boy! You're going to get lots of treats when we get back! Yes you are!" Koji laughed softly as the puppy happily squirmed in his arms, his face happily.

"Ah, Puppy, Hiroki Suzuki. Suzuki-san, Puppy. I haven't come up with a name for him yet." Koji smiled softly and turned to look at the other. "Do you need help with your bags?"

@ℋ ᵒ seto✙k。 "Oh. I-I will definitely keep that in mind..." Suzuki responded, quite nervous if someday he might get ambushed by one of the students here as they jump him from the trees. Before he can say anything more, the other male had broken into a fit of laughter at his silly statement and it caused his cheeks to heat up in embarrassment. He looked down at his feet, trying to cover up how red he probably looked. The last thing Suzuki wanted was to completely make a fool of himself on the first day and it seems he already failed at that.

He then looks up at the omega when he apologized to which he immediately looked down again before replying. "I-It's fine... Laughing is a normal reaction to a s-silly thing..."

When the fellow student, however, mentions that the gate can open as it recognizes a student, Suzuki brings his head up once more to comment but was only taken aback when the gates actually do open on its own as the other stepped towards him. He stares at the gates, completely amazed and baffled before he realizes the other student was now in front of him. He swallows thickly before nodding too quickly, beginning to walk inside the premises. "T-Thank you. T-This place is already a-amazing. And, ah! Yes, it kinda was... It's my first time traveling all by myself so... it was kinda scary..."

@suzuki h。 "Some of them can." Seto answered easily and carefully gauged the other. A soft, gentle smile on his lips as he bowed in return. "It's nice to meet you, Suzuki-san." Seto watched, rather amused as the other had frantically picked his bags up, but the thing that broke him was the question. His lips twitched into a wider smile before laughter spilled from his lips. "Sorry, I shouldn't be laughing but." Seto managed to say between his laughter before trying to regain his composure.

"It opens when it recognizes a student." Seto answered with a deep breath before walking closer to the gate. As if something was triggering it, the gate started to slowly creak open and Seto smiled at Hiroki. Mentally hoping that Seph didn't try to strangle him alive for opening the gates for someone who claimed to be a student. "Come on in." Seto smiled as his eyes darted around behind Suzuki, as if he was on guard for something. "Was your trip here difficult?"

@ℋ ᵒ seto✙k。 {{ SHHHHHH CHILD I LOVE IT THANK YOU FOR REPLYING AT ALL TBH }}

@ℋ ᵒ seto✙k。 Just as he was about to decide on just maybe leaving and coming back another time when he feels more ready and prepared, a male suddenly appears before him on the other side of the gate. It only "shookt" him more from the fact the stranger had apparently jumped down from a nearby tree on the opposite side.

"T-The students here can do that?" was the first thought that popped into his head but he immediately shakes the thought away and tries to compose himself. "Y-Yes! I am Hiroki Suzuki!" he retorts. "And yes, I am a new student!" He then proceeds to bow, dropping the luggage he held instantly as he placed his arms flat to his sides. Thankfully, nothing fell out of his bags. "Nice to meet you!"

The scent he can smell was omega but Suzuki was apparently skilled in not making any carnal reactions at omegas. He treats them as he treats everyone else, even if he was an alpha. He raises from his bowing and looks at the other nervously before frantically taking his bags off the ground and straightening his posture. "Uhm... Do the gates open magically when it recognizes a student o-or do you open it from the inside?" ('THAT WAS DUMB, SUZUKI. WHY DID YOU ASK IT LIKE THAT?!')

@suzuki h。 [] BUT IT'S SO BAD0

@ℋ ᵒ seto✙k。 {{ SHHHH ITS PERFECT }}

[] IM SORRY FOR IT BEING SO BADDD

@suzuki h。 Seto softly clicked his tongue, making sure the little puppy stayed close to him. He was making his rounds near the gate again, and raised his arms in the air, stretching leisurely. Normally, Seto wouldn't bring his puppy with him during his rounds, but Seto couldn't stand to let the puppy just sit in his room with nothing to do. The puppy needed to run around and stretch their legs, as well as exploring around.

Seto's head perked up hearing a voice and let out a soft growl towards the puppy, wordlessly telling the puppy to hide before jumping onto a tree and swiftly making his way to the gates, out of sight. When he arrived, he was greeted with the sight of a person standing behind the gate. 'An Alpha' the small voice in him murmured with confidence. He blinked, and carefully observed the newcomer. The newcomer seemed harmless enough, at first glance. But so was he, and he knew personally what he, himself, was capable of. But he did say he was a student...

Jumping down from the tree, Seto stopped a bit away from the gate. "mmmn...Hiroki Suzuki, right?" Seto asked curiously, keeping his posture as open and loose as possible. "New student?" Seto questioned, with a tilt of his head towards the luggage in the other's hand.

This was it.

He was standing before the entrance of a place that can possibly finally accept him for who he is!

Hiroki Suzuki is an alpha who doesn't technically look it or act it. Even with alphas not being known to top in bed or anything, people kind of still stereotype them as bold and as someone who gives off a dominant vibe. Suzuki, on the other hand, does not seem like that at all. He was shy and very kind and gentle. He may as well be mistaken as an omega but it seems to be the opposite. Due to this, not much people feel comfortable around him back then or really just forced him to be something he was not.

A sigh escapes his lips at the memory before he brings his eyes up again at the large gate and it makes him suddenly smile gently. "Don't worry, Suzuki. This is a new start for you and nobody will judge you here!" He tells himself before peeking through the bars of the gate.

"Ah, hello? My name is Hiroki Suzuki! I'm a new student and I am really happy to be here!" He has no idea if anyone can hear him or if he can just push open the gates or what— oh, god. He's failing already at doing things properly, isn't he?

The sudden realization makes him shrink a little and he whimpers to himself, tightening his grip on his luggage as he waited behind the gate.

What a great way to start...

@ᵃ j.seph✙k。 Koji barely winced feeling the harsh grip on his shoulders, his eyes dazed as the soft echo of his mother's voice urging him to hide. "Stop it." Koji murmured starting to struggle out of Seph's grip, his voice getting louder as he repeats it. "Why should I listen to you? What will-" his voice dying out as he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. It wasn't just his anger speaking anymore, it was his despair as well. The stupid part of him had always hoped that Seph would have came back for him. That Seph had tried, that he was not left for dead in the cages.

Koji had to bury that part of him long ago, he wasn't going to wait around waiting for someone else to come and get him, waiting as he wasted away. But, he wasn't in the cages anymore. He was safer, and Seph was standing in front of him, his pams cradling his face and foreheads pressed together. Tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to keep his breathing composed. Seph was here, and he wasn't alone anymore. There was no reason to hide that part of him anymore, especially hearing Seph apologize for it. That he had tried to come back for him. That he didn't want to leave him behind.

"Damn you. Damn you Seph." He murmured shakily with nonexistant heat in his voice. His fists weakly hitting Seph but never making the move to push the other away. Koji felt that if he had even attempted at pushing Seph away, he would have been alone again. His heart was practically screaming in pain at the very thought of it. He didn't want to feel it ever again, he didn't want to feel the hopelessness, the despair. He didn't want to feel any of that ever again. He felt the grip on his 'cold' exterior slipping. His anger slipping from his fingers, leaving him in a vunerable emotional state. His fingers digging into Seph's arms as tears raced down his cheeks. He had lost the ones he had held dear within moments frame. He was the child who was trapped in ice moments after he had lost his parents. He was the child who was captured shortly he had awoken and thrown into the cages. He was the child who never had the chance to properly mourn and had been left behind by Seph. Everything had been too close together, it had blurred together.

He moved his head to rest against Seph's shoulder, hiding it from the other's view as his tears soaked the other's shirt. His lips parted slightly as he took a shaky breath, before a heart wrenching scream ripped out of his throat. All the pain he was bottling up, since he had lost his parents, since his time in the cages, and since he had momentarily lost Serph finally being let out.

[] i hope this is good
c ri es

@seto k。 A tide, he settles in. He's a figment of everything in that instant, a solace in the din caused by that pounding headache. He'd rather not remember. Doesn't want to be taken back but just a glance at the youth before him seems to send his vision swimming in memories. He takes in the tone, the stature, hell--- even the other's silken, rosemary and ginger scent and it all undoubtedly points to only one person he's known in his lifetime. But that's not the man that stands before him. The former was all wide eyes and hushed whimpers, a dash of hope glinting in the curl of his digits against the bars that caged him. Seto was the child he'd taken to ages ago, the boy who had no more reason to be there than anyone else--- yet still suffered a fate he never deserved. It's this thought that echoed in his mind when he left, tormented his dreams for years until pills were the only option left to sustain himself. He'd idly wonder here and there what became of that child. But now, sporting a second marring at the hands--- or rather, fists--- of his old friend, he no longer feels he the need to inquire.

"Shut up. Shut--- dammit, would you just ing listen to me?" He doesn't mean to lash out but it ades his judgement. His grip harsh against the younger wolf's shoulders, he almost weeps in relief when he finds they aren't as bony as before.

"I know. I know, I'm sorry. A thousand times over, and I know that won't do now but please---" He does the stupid thing he used to do back when Seto was much younger, more tender. His calloused palms cup the boy's cherubic face and he leans in to bring their foreheads together. Seph is all but certain the other will deck him a third time for this, but he doesn't care. It's like facing a nightmare he'd caused, a villain returning to the scene of the crime to see to the outcome. He can't curve back wracked breaths stacking in his lungs, but he can focus on the keeping cool--- keeping Seto with him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I deserve all of it, okay? I deserve this, I'm sorry." He's cracking. He can feel it down to the soles of his feet, but he can't bring himself to stop now. ", I promise I tried. You hear me? I tried. I didn't wanna leave you. Outright hated myself for it, but please--- just breathe for a minute, yeah?"

☾ ⌑ ＣＨＥＣＫＥＤ！✔

@taylor l。 [] N O T H AN K Y O U

@taylor l。 [] yoOU J UST DON 'T EA T THE KE Y

HOW DO Y O U G E T IT I O U T

@taylor l。 [] T A Y LOR

@ᵃ j.seph k。 "Don't cub me." Koji whispered, his voice shaking as he struggled to regain his composure, and failing before he even started. "The hell I'm alive. What did you think was going to happen when you left me there. Alone. Did you believe I was going to die, that you were just going to leave me for dead." Koji growled out, his voice getting louder with each part and pain shining in his eyes as he stared at Seph. "That hurt?" Koji echoed his voice shaky as he glared at the other. "That HURT? That was nothing compared to how I felt. Nothing when you abandoned me." The last part was spat out as if it was poison in Koji's mouth. "That reminds me." He murmured and drew his fist back, swinging it yet again straight at the other's face.

"That's for leaving me in that place alone, you ." Koji's ice blue eye and cloudy gray narrowed with anger. Koji was furious with Seph leaving him in the cages alone. He was never allowed a single moment to mourn his parents death. After his parents were murdered, he was caught by the hunters after sleeping. He was forced into the cages and met him there. He had found some sort of companionship with the other, his heart knew that his parents had died, but it never really donned on him. Koji knew they were dead, he seen them be murdered in front of him. Then he was gone. He had never came back and Koji was alone. Again. During that time, he lacked what many other wolves had, and it was experience. He never had the chance to become hardened, he was pliable. He could easily be molded to whatever the hunters wanted if they broke him. However he refused to become broken. He never cried when he was in the cages, nor when he escaped. He didn't have the chance to cry. Now, seeing Seph, here at Azreal Prep, his heart was aching. He wanted to scream at him, damn Seph for leaving him in that hell hole alone. "Why" The single word came out shaky as Koji stared at Seph, the pain he had felt from that time surfacing from where he had buried it.

@seto k。 [ IT WAS GREAT SHADDUP ]

@seto k。 He's antsy, to say the least.

It exudes in the quickened pace that stirs dust clouds from the forest floor... Hell, it exuds from the way the man paces in general. All around Seph, the pines are noble watchers, side-glancing the male just a startled flinch away from shifting. He can't help himself; rid himself of the responsibility because it is the ringing of the gates that summoned him. "ing third time this week..." He is accustomed to false alarms, usually small triggers summoned by sprites scurrying too close to the periphery or trolls gnawing on the barrier vines that engulfed the metal prongs. But this time... THESE times, it had all been conjured by a force far stronger. The gates are insistent, laced with a metal he forever held a wielding over... The cause of the exhaustion creeping steadily into the recesses of his mind.

It's because of this that he's so caught off-guard...

He barely hears the other's utterance before the shock of pain sparks a white flicker from behind his eyes and recalls his attention. Seph staggers back with a snarl, fangs protruding from lips curled at the ready. But it takes only the sight, then the smell, before a tumultuous litany of recognition overcomes him and swathes him with memories. He's stunned one moment. But the next, he's back at the cages--- bound in wood because they refused to risk placing metal near him. He's not in the forest anymore, but back at the source of his former suffering and there's a boy--- oh, there's ALWAYS a boy but this one... Young and fragile and painfully undeserving of the treatment he was receiving. "C--- Cub?" The nickname slips out before he can stop it. His cheek undulating from the hit but his canines only recede. Even on guard, his wolf acknowledges little threat in the young man before him and it only spurs him on. He draws closer, unheeding of the other's anger in lieu of his shock because holy , he never thought he'd ever run into this kid again.

"Cub, you're--- You're alive?! You're alive! What the hell are you d--- , that actually hurt, you know."

@ᵃ j.seph k。 [] IMSORRYITSSOBAD

@ᵃ j.seph k。 Koji was making his rounds, and came to a stop near the gate. He took a deep breath, stretching his arms as high as he could with a lazy smile on his lips. It had been a while since he had escaped the cages and found his way to the school. He hummed, his fingers absentmindedly touching the necklace that he was wearing. A soft, reminiscent smile was on his lips as he fiddled with the necklace with his fingers. He was allowed this moment, he was safe at the school. While you could take someone out of a life or death situation, you could never take the experience away from them. His eyes became cold, the corner of his lips curling into a snarl as he thought back. Thought back to the cells, his blood roaring at the memory. He remembered every single blow, every single thing they had done to him. He knew exactly what sort of emotions he was feeling. But when it came to the cell mate that he had somewhat befriended during their time there, the look in his eyes is not simply just anger but pure fury. Koji gritted his teeth together and forced himself to /breathe/. Force himself to calm down before anyone saw him like that. But that moment didn't last long when he heard footsteps coming in his direction, Koji swiftly hid the necklace under his shirt and his eyes seemed warm, as he turned to look at the person coming in his direction.

His eyes widened as he saw the incoming person. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized him. His lips parted as he tried to find his voice, his jaw trembling as he took a hesitant step forward. "Seph..." He whispered and the feeling of despair raised in his chest. Despair as he remembered the shaky smiles after they returned to their cages, their soft conversations as they gave each other their company. "You" Koji clenched his fist as he remembered, he remembered the one time that the other hadn't come back. When he was left in the cages ALONE. SCARED. His footsteps became closer as he stormed to the other, his eyes filled with anger as he stared down the other. "YOU ING COWARD." Koji screamed as he swung a roundhouse punch at Seph's face.

@minhyun h。 Jooheon had to try his hardest not to laugh. Sure, he could have taken offense to Junyung's "can't be as short as you" comment, but he was a kid and, to be frank, who didn't want to be tall? Plus, even if it was a small insult, he'd be willing to "suffer through" if it meant that Junyung stayed put at night and stopped running off. He knew, just as he was sure Minhyun knew as well, that not all wolves would be as kind to Junyung as Jooheon was and Jooheon himself didn't want any harm to come to the boy. Just the thought of something happening to Junyung was enough to make Jooheon's blood boil a little.

Jooheon smiled and brought his hand up to ruffle the boy's hair. "Thank you for agreeing to be careful-- I would hate to get all itchy and have to go home instead of being able to teach you about your favorite animals. And you and I will be careful to make sure your dad doesn't have any mushrooms, right?"

He turned to look at Minhyun as he joked about the 'suds' and a laugh bubbled out of his throat. "Yes, we have to watch out for the suds. I don't want to have to wash somebody's foot or anything." He wrinkled his nose, thinking about shenanigans Spongebob had to go through to be cured. "Has it really turned gross? I haven't watched Spongebob in so long. That's... really disappointing that it's not the way that it used to be when we watched it."

Jooheon turned to Junyung, giving the young boy his full attention so he could "learn" how to wash the broccoli. "Okay, so we break part of the tree, and brush brush brush under the water?" He modeled Junyung's exact actions, playing along as the little one's student. "Ahh, I think I got this." He turned towards Minhyun when he mentioned peppers and then back to Junyung. "Boss, how about I let you handle the broccoli and I handle the peppers? Sound like a plan?"

@jooheon l。 The pinch has Junyung smiling since a pinch meant affection, usually. Minhyun gasps in unison with Jooheon, nodding at Junyung who stares up at the two in complete horror. A terrified whisper comes out as he tightens his hold on both hands, "No, I can't be as short as you." Minhyun prays that Junyung took this fairy business to heart because it would be nice waking up and seeing the boy still asleep in bed for once. It'd probably only last for a few days, but hey, he could have some peaceful mornings.

Jooheon's explanation seems to resonate with Junyung who jumps slightly. "Oh, so you're like dad when he eats mushrooms, but worse. We'll be careful." Minhyun had a feeling Jooheon's allergy was worse than he lead on, but he accepted the answer as a warning. For the most part, Minhyun isn't the most responsible person. Perhaps his son got his naive trust from his father, though his is more developed as an adult, of course. That's why he's asked Jooheon to watch over his son's hand washing time. There is little chance that Jooheon would snatch up his son at this point. It wouldn't make sense, and Minhyun would transform into his wolf form to hunt him down in that case. Jooheon was really good with kids, honestly. The way he hummed children's tunes and threw in silly jokes, ones that made Minhyun laugh more than Junyung considering he was older and understood the references. "Better watch all those 'suds' right out." It was from that episode, right? Junyung sort of just stared at the two, resuming his vegetable washing while Minhyun bubbled up some grins. "I wish they made that show like they used to. It's pretty gross now." Minhyun didn't even let Junyung watch Spongebob unless he himself knew the episode. He never minded inappropriate jokes, but not when it was just pointless dirty humor.

Now that he was in charge, Junyung held up a 'tree' of broccoli, showing Jooheon that he could break pieces off. "So we take the broccoli pieces and then wash them like this under the water, brush, brush, brush." The boy demonstrated, though Minhyun stole the faucet to wash his hands after cubing all the chicken. "Are you two done yet? You've got some bell peppers to wash too." Placing two red ones at the side of the sink, Junyung springs into action. Cute. "Jooheon, mind doing the honors of dicing up those peppers?" In the mean time, he could start cooking the meat.

(lol you think I don't know that reference huhuhu e v e )