Archive of Our Own

There's something to be said about Joshua's luck. 

Here he is, frazzled, watching Hansol ring a random tiny door in the middle of the street, while holding a transporter in both his hands with a very heavy cat inside it. 

Joshua has never had a cat. In fact, he's never had a single pet. He has never been that interested – his mother even less so, and they had no time or space for any type of pet growing up. The most contact he's had with a cat, ever, has been looking at Lydia's shadow when he visits Seungkwan and Hansol's apartment.

So you could imagine his surprise when a cat showed up at his doorstep and refused to leave. 

Now, Hansol tells the buzzer that they don't have an appointment, but it's Hansol and a friend, with his stray cat. Name still pending. 

Whoever is on the other side buzzes them in, and Joshua feels annoyed. He told Hansol multiple times since he arrived at his place to help, and two extra times on the phone with Seungkwan, that he was not keeping the cat, so he didn't need to name her. Hansol just nodded, but he keeps acting otherwise. 

Joshua cannot have a cat right now. 

"It's a couple of floors up," Hansol mutters. 

The cat meows, a high, long sound that stresses out Joshua even more. "Do you think she's in pain?"

Hansol peers into the transporter, so Joshua raises it so he can take a look inside as well. She's still folded into herself, glaring at them. While the cat had been friendly enough, if a little grumpy, when Joshua had first seen her, her mood had turned sour as soon as Hansol gently placed her into the transporter. He'd even brought a treat for her; she'd refused. Joshua wants to get her checked out as soon as possible.

Hansol shakes his head, "I don't know. Junhui hyung will be able to help her, though."

Joshua frowns, blinking at the cat. She blinks slowly back at him.

They walk into the building, through a long, thin hallway. He follows Hansol up a steep stairwell, turning and turning and seemingly never arriving. A couple of floors up was an understatement. Joshua wonders if there really is a vet clinic here, or if it's a guy running clandestine animal appointments from his apartment. While he was waiting for Hansol to arrive, he searched the name Seungkwan shared when he asked for their vet information. He swore it was the best veterinary in Seoul, but the Naver listing had only one shaky picture of the entrance of a building, and he couldn't tell what it was supposed to be, as he didn't really see a sign or shopfront of any kind. The only keywords were "perfect service" and "weird".

The door in front of them now is starkly different to the rest of the building. Painted a pale yellow, with paws of different sizes stamped all around the surface, like a bunch of cats and dogs had walked all over it. There's a hand painted sign that reads Fanpawstic Clinic, in English. Underneath the name, in Korean, it reads "all species welcome". 

Hansol rings the door, then tells Joshua, "One time we were here with Lydia and saw someone bring in a bearded dragon. They really check out any animal." 

He nods, like that means anything to him. The cat moans again. Joshua mutters softly to her, "Don't worry, they will see what's wrong, and you'll be right in no time." 

As they hear steps approaching the door, he raises his head again, and catches Hansol smirking at him. 

"What?" Joshua glares at him.

"Think of a name yet?" He teases, smile growing wider, toothy. 

"Shut up."

As soon as the door opens, Joshua puts on his most polite smile, not knowing what to expect. On the other side there's a younger man, with a square handsome face and a kind expression. He smiles brightly at them, and lets them in. Hansol calls him Chan, and immediately starts chatting with him. 

Right away, Joshua gets the sense that this is not what a normal vet clinic looks like. There is a cat sleeping over a desk, first of all. A tall desk that is supposed to be the reception, if Joshua were to guess. At least there is a semblance of a waiting room – some couches that look worn and scratched, pet magazines on shelves at the side, and a full wall with food, treats, toys, and more to sell. There is no organization to it, not even by species. Joshua thinks he sees cat litter next to fish food. There are pictures all over the walls, some framed, some stuck like posters. A lot are informational: cat and dog anatomies, food intake tips, and even fun facts. But there are also so many pictures of a wide array of pets. He even sees some birds, posing on hands. They cover most of the surface, Joshua cannot even tell what the color of the wall is. 

Hansol sees him looking, and points out a circle frame at the corner of the room. "Lydia."

He's right: it's a cute picture of her taken from the front, a small yellow bow tie around her neck that contrasts beautifully with her grey fur. She is sitting smartly, head raised so she slightly looks down at the camera in a standoffish way.

"No way," He answers, and takes a picture of the picture. 

Chan speaks up, already settled behind the tall desk, trying to arrange a bunch of papers that the cat decided to sleep on. "Dr. Junhui asks everyone who comes to see us to leave a picture. They're all happy patients."

Sure enough, next to Lydia, Joshua sees Bokkeu, in a matching green bow to Lydia's yellow.

"Is Kkuma here?"

"Oh, you know Seungcheollie?" Chan pipes up, at the same time Hansol points to a frame on the other side of the room, next to the food. 

Joshua walks closer, and finds a huge, professionally shot, picture of Kkuma with two pink bows on her ears. Typical. 

"You're gonna have to send her picture after today," Hansol says, pointing at the cat in Joshua's hands. 

She meows prickly in response, and Joshua tells him, "Whoever keeps her will do that."

"Speaking of that, I need you to fill this in," Chan redirects the conversation to the matter at hand, calling for Joshua's attention. "Junhui hyung has an appointment right now, but he'll be out shortly."

He takes the paper and pen handed to him, trying to avoid the sleeping form of the orange cat. Chan looks at him eyeing him, and adds, "Oh, this is a patient in recovery. She got stung by a bee and had to stay for observation, since her swelling was irregular. She's all fine now, just waiting for pickup. 

Joshua nods and smiles, and wonders what kind of place has their patients all set free around the room. He figures he doesn't know enough about it to criticize it, so he sits down on the couch to look over the form. 

The cat is next to him, looking at him through the little bars in the windows. He can't help but look at her over and over again, blue eyes calling him back to check if she's alright. She paws at the window, trying to get his attention, so Joshua places a finger as close as he can without sticking it inside the carrier, and she rubs her face against it. He's surprised at how soft and warm she is, so he rubs his finger against her jaw. She starts purring. He startles, taking his finger away and focusing once more on the form. 

Putting his own information in is easy. With the cat, he truly has no idea. Leaves empty almost everything, and after writing down how he found her, he hesitates at the empty space next to Name. Joshua looks at the cat again, then writes down the first thing that comes to mind. 

He gives Chan back the form and the room goes pleasantly silent. Chan goes back to the paperwork, moving around the cat. Hansol sits next to Joshua, looking at his phone and nodding. Joshua starts tapping his feet, with nothing else to do. He starts to realize he has no idea how to care for a cat.

Eventually, they hear some noise from one of the two doors down the hall. It grows stronger, and Joshua can recognize a strong, pointed laugh. It bursts through the room, and both cats move their ears towards the sound. 

From the hallway come out three people: a young woman holding a weird white dog, unamused, who goes straight towards Chan's desk; a shorter, second girl, who is wearing a matching white coat and scrubs set to Chan's. Her name tag reads Yeojin, Assistant Veterinarian. She also walks up to Chan, and they start discussing some specific instructions the woman has to follow with her dog.

"Hyeju-yah, don't forget to get him those dried liver snacks. Gureumie loves them, you don't buy them often enough." 

Joshua instantly recognizes the third voice as the owner of the laughter – the deep, bouncing tone that seems to curl around everything in the room. 

"Are you trying to get me to buy your stock?" Hyeju replies, spiky. The look she sends towards the hallway is scary, a glare strong enough to stop Joshua in his tracks. 

The man coming into the room, however, is not fazed. He laughs again, and rests against the frame of the door. "You know I'm going to give you to them for free." 

There's a pause. Joshua can swear he feels his heart rate pick up, as he looks at the man he guesses is Junhui. At least, the long white coat, scrubs, and a pink stethoscope around his neck indicate he's the veterinarian he's waiting for. He is long. Tall, angular – his broad shoulders fill out the entryway, trimming down into his waist, followed by the longest legs Joshua has ever seen. They seem strong, perfectly proportional to the rest of his body. It is obscene how hard Joshua is staring, but he cannot stop. He needs to finish searching his gaze all over his body. 

He startles when he finds sharp amber eyes looking back at him. That's not quite right– maybe it was the light, but after looking back again Joshua sees they are brown, and he turns to look towards the group at the desk in a second, like he was never looking at Joshua in the first place. But he remembers the heat that went through his body the moment he caught him. 

At an angle, his face is beautiful; it is also striking looked at head-on. Angular, just like the rest of his body. A sharp, boyish Adam's apple visibly protruding from his long neck. He has long, dark brown, flat hair. Junhui has to brush back long strands that threaten to cover his eyes constantly. He looks straight out of the dreams of a teenager Joshua: like he walked out of a pop-punk music video from 2009.

Joshua has to look away. He's thankful Hansol seems distracted texting someone on his phone and doesn't seem to notice his crisis, so he redirects his attention to the cat next to him and tries to ignore the ringing in his ears as Junhui's voice fills the room. 

After a while, Hyeju and Gureum leave, liver snacks in hand. Yeojin and Chan disappear down the hall, and Junhui turns towards the waiting area, he calls to them. They walk up to him, Joshua firmly grasping the carrier. Junhui says hello to Hansol, then turns his attention to Joshua. 

"We haven't met, I'm Dr. Moon Junhui," His voice is steady, but there's a humorous lilt behind it, like a laugh is waiting to bubble out at any moment.

"Jisoo," He replies, "Everyone has told me you're the best of the best."

"They're exaggerating, ha," He gestures with his hand, then peers into the transporter, bending his entire body so he's eye level with the cat inside. "I'm just good at communicating." 

The cat meows, the same tone she's been calling to Joshua all afternoon. Junhui nods, and straightens up. He gestures for them to follow them, and they move together into the hallway. They take the first door to the right, already open, into the consultation room. There's a tall table that Joshua puts the carrier onto immediately. There are more informational posters, and it's bright and light, even without a window. There's a desk with a computer on the corner, and next to the door, a chair that has seen better days. Hansol immediately takes the chair. Joshua stands next to the table, and looks back at him. He nods towards the carrier. Joshua points at the opening, so Hansol nods. After Junhui comes in and closes the door, Joshua starts opening the carrier.

Immediately, the cat comes out. Stretching her huge body, shaking her head, looking around. She's big: the biggest cat Joshua has ever seen. He hopes most of it is due to the fluff of white hair that covers her, currently long and tangled. Part of her face and tail are a darker brown – telltale signs of a ragdoll cat, Hansol said when he got to Joshua's place and extended a hand to her. They all stare at her while she sniffs the table, the carrier, and eventually Junhui's hand that he extends towards her. He starts petting her. 

"She looks really good; you found her at your place?" Junhui asks, as he moves his long hand down her back.

"Oh- yes. She was waiting right outside my door. Wouldn't move, so I thought there was something wrong with her."

Junhui peers at the form he filled in earlier, then says out loud, "She's Princess?"

Feeling his cheeks blush, Joshua wishes for a moment he was alone and Hansol wasn't there. But if he decided on that name, he cannot be ashamed, so he nods. "Princess in English."

"How lovely!" Junhui pets her, behind her ears, "She loves it. It's fitting."

As Junhui starts a more thorough examination, Joshua takes the opportunity to travel his face, and now a table apart, he can make out so many more details. Like the moles that dot his face, two of them lovingly framing his angled, full lips. He's concentrated on what he's doing, but manages to have a soft smile dancing on his mouth. He glances back at Joshua, but he doesn't look away this time, so he gets to see the full smile directed at him. It's unfair how beautiful he is.

Princess lets out a long, deep meow that startles Joshua and makes Junhui laugh.

"Sorry, Princess. Not getting distracted here."

"Is everything okay?" 

Junhui looks up with a glint in his eyes, lips curling up. "She's in perfect shape! Even up to date with her shots, though she will need them in a couple months."

"How do you know that?" Though Joshua knows next to nothing about veterinarians, he's almost sure it's not something easy to tell. It's not even possible with humans.

"Ah, look at her nails, they've been clipped recently." He takes one of Princess' paws, and softly squeezes so they claw out. They look like nails. 

Joshua knows nothing about veterinarians, so he sighs in relief. "I'm so glad." 

"One little thing though– she's expecting!" Junhui claps his hands, does a little bounce on his heels.

Even Hansol startles, standing up and coming closer. There's a slight buzz to Joshua's ears, as he stares at Junhui and then at Princess, who looks back in boredom. She evades Junhui's grasp to jump from the table and sniff around the room. 

"What?" He asks, smartly. Good thing he was planning to charm Junhui. 

"I would say she's around three weeks, just starting to show changes. You must be very sick in the mornings, right Princess?" He looks down at her – she's sniffing the ground, and she looks back up at him, doing a pitiful sound like he's answering him. 

Joshua feels like a fish – opening and closing his mouth without anything to say. Junhui takes one look at him and laughs.

"You'll be fine! Princess knows she's in great hands. After all, she chose you for a reason."

There's not much Joshua can say after that. He's dazed, watching and listening attentively as Junhui explains carefully how to take care of a pregnant cat. What to expect, what to look out for. He stumbles on his words – blames it on the news, but if he's honest with himself he's still reeling from having Junhui's full attention and intense gaze on him – as he tells him he's never had a cat, so he needs to explain even the basics. Junhui and Hansol go back with him to the entry room, where they help him choose the correct food for a pregnant cat, a water fountain, a litter box, toys, and even a bed. Joshua was definitely not expecting to spend a Thursday afternoon after work using up his month's pay on a cat. 

Junhui eyes him the entire time, an intense, focused stare. As he's paying, he gets closer, and mutters to him, "She wants a cat tree. At least five floors." 

Joshua leaves after ten, exhausted, armful of clean, pregnant cat. Seungkwan settles onto the couch with Hansol, after he opens their bedroom door for Lydia to come out.  She meows unhappily, scratches the couch in the exact spot Seungkwan has always tried to get her to stop. He sighs. It had been an adjustment, when they moved in together – Bokkeu and him had to learn how to live with a cat. And a cat person. There's still so much he doesn't quite get, but he stopped a long time ago trying to get Lydia to listen to him. He nuzzles his face into the corner of Hansol's neck, breathing in the smell of the day. There's the faint scent of the pet shampoo he and Joshua used to wash Princess with, the one they use for Bokkeu and Lydia when they need an emergency wash. Seungkwan prefers for Bokkeu to get professionally groomed. Hansol hums, wraps an arm around him.

"So? What did he say when he saw Jun hyung?" Seungkwan asks, taking Hansol's earlobe with a hand and playing with it with his fingers.

"Nothing. He lost his vocal chords," Hansol replies, leaning in to the touch.

Seungkwan snorts, "I knew it. He's totally Shua hyung's type."

"I didn't know Josh hyung had a type," He mentions, curiously. 

"It's weird guys," Seungkwan tugs at his ear so he looks at him. He smiles at the look on Hansol's face. Tired from a long day, hair ruffled back from touching it so much, eyebrows slightly raised in surprise.

"Oh, Junhui hyung makes perfect sense then," Hansol nods, then moves his body so he is face to face with Seungkwan. He raises his legs into the couch. Seungkwan accepts the invitation and sits on his lap. 

He takes Hansol's face in between his palms and exclaims, "I told you!"

"He was unable to speak, it was so funny. Junhui hyung had to repeat his instructions at least two times every time." His eyes look up to the left, thinking, "He couldn't stop staring at him. I think he basically forgot I was there until he left."

Seungkwan groans dramatically, hooking his hands around Hansol's neck and throwing his body back, certain that Hansol will keep him safely in place. "I'm so mad I had that stupid meeting, I really wanted to be there!"

"At least you have me to fill you in with the details." Hansol's eyes are trained on his lips, following the way Seungkwan moves. 

He trails a finger down his ear, enjoying the shiver he feels from Hansol in response. "I have you for plenty more things."

"Really?" Hansol tilts his head, pulling Seungkwan closer into his body. "Like what?"

"I'll show you," Seungkwan leans in to kiss him.

He's about to do just that, when Lydia decides to jump right into Seungkwan, startling him so bad he bites Hansol's bottom lip. His yelp gets swallowed by her truly outrageous yowl, a clear hungry request. Hansol laughs, even while holding his bloody mouth. Seungkwan sighs, petulantly, but moves away to allow Hansol to get Lydia her dinner. She looks back at him, chirps, laughing at him. Taking out his phone, he types out a message to Joshua. 

That cat is about to ruin your life by the way

Or at least change it forever

The text, of course, goes unanswered. 

"Mingyu-yah, lunch?" Joshua asks, peeking into Mingyu's office. The curtains are drawn, plunging the office into a moody shade. He thinks it's strange for exactly one second, as it's a beautiful March day, the sun peeking out for the first time after a long and cold winter. Mingyu, however, as he looks up from his computer, looks terrible. He's pale, almost green, with deep eye bags and a truly painful expression. Joshua smirks, "Have fun last night?"

"Jihyo wanted to go out drinking," Mingyu replies, looking at Joshua with truly sad eyes.

"On a Wednesday," He drones, crossing his arms.

Mingyu covers his face with his palms, taking a deep breath. "I don't know why I accepted, I'm dying. She out-drinks me every time." He groans into his hands.  "And I have a meeting later."

Joshua can't help but laugh, a truly mean, high laugh. It comes from his heart. "Dude, you're fucked."

Mingyu whines into his hands.

"Come on, let's go get some food in you. My treat."

When he takes his hands out, Mingyu has teary eyes. "Hyung, thank you."

Joshua clicks his tongue and shakes his head, heading towards the elevator. He hears Mingyu scrambling to get out of his darkened office, tripping over something and cursing loud enough the rest of the office floor hears it.

After paying for both their lunches, they sit at a table together and Joshua listens to Mingyu eat through two packets of ramen while he retells stories from his night out. Apparently, Jihyo had to carry him home, and dumped him into Minghao's arms before walking home. 

"She needed to be sober before getting back to Jeongyeon," He explains. mouth full, "But I did see her text in the morning, she made it back home okay."

"I cannot believe you're both full grown adults."

"She still went to the gym this morning, ugh." He closes his eyes. "My routine's all messed up now,"

Joshua finished his own kimbap a while ago, so he settles back to laugh at Mingyu, "That makes two of us."

"I know you make better decisions than me, there's no way." Mingyu narrows his eyes, either glaring at Joshua or squinting at the bright light.

He only needs to say one word, "Cat."

"Oh my god, I completely forgot you're a cat dad now, how is that going?"

"Don't call me that," He replies, "Badly."

"No way!"

Joshua learned quickly that he was definitely not prepared to house a cat. Even less a pregnant one. Within the first hour of having Princess home, she started scratching up the sides of his white couch. His expensive white couch.

It's from the company, so he got it for a discounted price, but it's still the principle of the thing. The couch was the first real fruit of his labors; the hard work he's put at crunching out boring numbers in a boring office for years - and she was going at it like it was her personal scratching post. 

She threw up the next three mornings in a row. Junhui warned him of this, of course, but he was still unhappy as he cleaned it up while she looked at him from the couch, grooming herself. 

After a week, he quickly realized her long hair, while gorgeous, implied dedicated work. He had to stop halfway through making dinner the first time she trotted out of her litter box, underside hair full of poop. He cleaned her up and brushed her like he was taking care of a toxic spill, felt like he needed a full hazmat suit, even though he only put gloves on. 

He's been having trouble sleeping. 

The first night was a disaster. Keyed up and nervous after the vet visit and the bath at Seungkwan and Hansol's place, she spent around three hours hidden under the couch. Hansol at least had warned him of this, told Joshua to give her space and time, that she would come out eventually under her own terms. 

What he failed to mention was the chaos brought upon his apartment once she came out.

Climbing over every surface, weaving in between his perfectly arranged shelves, making everything fall as she tried to squeeze her body in between things. He was wide awake, eyes open in the darkness, listening to every scratch and thump that came out of his place. Jerking up at any loud sound, anxiously checking on what she was doing. Every time, he would find two bright eyes already looking back at him. He didn't even know cat's eyes were reflective like that. Suffice to say he skipped the gym the next morning for a few more precious hours of sleep, as she finally curled up to rest at the corner of his bed early in the morning.

He tells Mingyu all of this, rubbing his eyes, feeling a headache come in. 

"I'm so tense, can't stop thinking about what she could be doing while I'm not there."

"I get it, when we first got Byeollie, Myungho was so anxious he didn't leave the house for a week. He was a puppy though, I'm sure an adult cat is a bit easier."

"I'm glad I don't have a kitten," Joshua sighed, but after a second his eyes widen, "I'm going to have four to six kittens in a month."

Mingyu mirrors his panicked expression, "Hyung, I'm so sorry.'

Joshua put his head in his hands, taking a deep breath. Sure, he was stressed, but he was definitely putting up a more dramatic act to Mingyu than he needed to. It was too fun to rile him up.

The truth was – it was not that bad. He liked it, even. Enjoyed having someone to greet him at the door every day. To wake up to. Joshua finds himself constantly talking to her. He hadn't realized how quiet he was at home until he had someone to chat to. And she seemed to get him: her head would tilt at his voice, recognize certain words or cadences, expressive face reacting to him. He argued with her a lot, and she was very vocal in return, loud meows and chirps that he always took as a response.

"I'm getting used to her," Is what he ended up on, as they cleaned up their table and got up to leave. "And, she has a second appointment this weekend."

Thankfully, Mingyu cannot sniff out any more out of him, his trusting nature makes him take everything Joshua gives him as truth – so making his voice bored and neutral works. He has, however, a nervous flutter in the pit of his stomach. His heart beating faster, as he remembered they had to go to Junhui's vet clinic again on Saturday.

He was sure Princess was perfectly fine. She had adapted wonderfully to his house, and after two weeks he'd gotten most of what he complained about to Mingyu under control. He got her the cat tree – beautifully white and light wood, tall, perfectly fitting in the corner of the living room right next to the large floor to ceiling windows. She was eating well. Stopped puking, and was getting larger. The check-up was just to keep an eye on things, and to get her an ultrasound. 

Still, he feels like he's going more for himself than for Princess. He hasn't stopped thinking about Junhui.

Which is weird, and not something he has said out loud to anyone. He saw the man one time – in a completely professional setting, no less – he cannot act on his attraction to his pregnant cat's veterinarian.

It's something he has been trying to keep under wraps. The weekend Princess came home, Seungkwan and Hansol visited. To give him cat keeping tips, Hansol said, but Joshua could see in Seungkwan's face that he was waiting for the moment he could pounce on him about Junhui. He's not proud of it, but he hid behind Hansol and Princess the entire time. Kept asking questions he'd already looked up the answer to, just so Hansol kept talking about the correct way to feed a cat. Even while Joshua fed them dinner in gratitude, he avoided Seungkwan's questions about the vet visit, determined to not talk about Junhui. 

As they left, Seungkwan gave him a narrow look that Joshua knew it meant he wasn't getting away with it, and he knew he messed up. Somehow not talking and avoiding the topic spoke much more about it than simply answering him right from the start. He knew it meant his time was running out when it came to avoiding Jeonghan. Hopefully Seungkwan would pity him, and not mention any of his weird behavior, winning him some time to get his reactions under control.

Getting home after work that day is a burst of emotions. Happiness, right away, as he hears Princess jump off her cat tree with a loud thud as he puts in his pin. She seems to recognize his footsteps now, so when he opens his front door she's already waiting, sitting in front of him, meowing. 

He melts, cooing at her. "Hello, Princess."

He tends to use English with her – maybe a subconscious way to keep up his brain working in that language. It's been many years since he used English regularly. Even his mother, after she moved back, started speaking in Korean to him once he gained a better fluency at it.

Joshua takes off his shoes, putting on the slippers he keeps at the entrance, and then leans down to pet her. She circles his legs, purring. He never stops feeling awe at the softness of her hair. He's made it a set routine to brush her, at least once every two days, and the expensive food he got her are doing wonders for her fur. Her belly is getting rounder; and she's getting a bit slower in comparison to the first days home.

She jumps back into the cat tree, scratching one of the posts before laying down, facing the window. The afternoon sun does wonders to her eyes – blue bright against her darker fur. He takes a million pictures, and then opens his Kakao Talk thread with Hansol, sending him the best picture of the set. If he scrolls up, the only messages they've exchanged over the last two weeks have been back and forth pictures of their respective cats. Joshua has seen more pictures of Lydia than he has seen her in person since he met Hansol five years ago. It's weird, learning completely new sides of himself at thirty years old, but he's enjoying his new life as an obnoxious pet parent. He even debuted Princess on Instagram recently, with a gorgeous picture he took of her against the budding trees that his bedroom looks out towards. He got so many messages in response, many of which he ignored but soaked up in pride. She's a gorgeous cat. 

Two days later, his growing affection is stunted for a moment as he struggles to pick her up and put her into her brand new carrier. Even though she is quite sweet and friendly, he's still apprehensive about picking her up. Even when playing – he always uses a long toy he can direct the sharp claws away from his hands. He's only pet her belly a couple times, and he stopped once she tried to nibble his fingers at his second try. It's painfully obvious he's never had, or held, a cat before. 

Thankfully, after many sweet words, a treat, and some frustration, he zips closed her carrier and they head out into her second vet visit.

He's going by himself this time. A blessing or a curse, he is not sure. 

Finding the place comes easier now; Joshua seems to recognize the building front quicker, and he's buzzed in right away, without needing to state his name. The climb up the stairs, too, seems lighter. Even when he knows for a fact the weight in his hands is several grams heavier.

The door is open for him.

It's empty, this time. No cat snoring on the table, no Chan to have small talk with – only the open window fluttering the curtains and letting fresh spring air in. It's nice.

Joshua sets Princess' carrier on the desk, and examines closer the pictures of the pets on the walls. He makes a mental note to take Princess' picture soon. It has to be perfect. He cannot lose to Kkuma's photo shoot.

For some reason his heart is beating loudly in his chest. He feels like Princess is judging him all the way across the room, angry, inside her box. Expensive box – he bought a nice, fabric lined, comfortable carrier. She's just dramatic. At least she's quieter this time. 

Finally, he hears steps. Turns around just in time to see Junhui, stopping on his tracks, melting into a smile. 

While Joshua is not quite sure what he wants to do about – this – his body cannot stop the immediate reaction. He straightens up, tilts his head to show his neck and drag Junhui's eyes into the low cut of his shirt that shows off his collarbones. Bites the smile that grows into his lips when Junhui falls into his trap and drags his eyes along his body.

"Jisoo-ssi," He starts.

Joshua interrupts him, "Just call me Joshua. I prefer it."

He only really uses Jisoo for documentation and with people he is never going to see again or will only have a superficial, professional relationship with. He does not want a superficial, professional relationship with Junhui. And he definitely wants to see him again.

"Okay," Junhui brightens up, "Jo-shu-ah! and Princess! Please follow me."

Without meaning to, Joshua giggles, feeling his chest lighten at the smile Junhui gives him back. He takes Princess' carrier and follows Junhui to the same room they went to last time. It's empty, so when Junhui closes the door Joshua lets Princess out. She's quicker this time, though her belly slows her as she climbs out. When he sees her, Junhui makes a truly unexpected sound, a deep coo that startles Joshua but doesn't seem to deter Princess. She lays on the table, showing her stomach towards Junhui and resting her head.

"You're tired, Princess?" Joshua asks her. When she tilts her head back to look at him, blinking slowly, he pets his head, behind her ears. She starts to purr. 

That is something he has learned to absolutely love – the sounds that could come out of her. The affection. He smiles at her, as he brings a hand down her back and into her tail. 

"You're closer now," Junhui startles him, looking warmly at both of them, "Getting along well?"

"Yes I– It's easier than I thought." He replies, simply.

"I told you," Junhui smiles, "She chose well."

"You keep saying that," Joshua wonders, as he watches Junhui press his hands over her stomach, "How do you know?"

After Junhui checks Princess' teeth without much fuss from her, he looks at Joshua with a cryptic expression. "She knew you would take care of her; told me right away after we met."

It's an odd thing to say. Though Joshua is sure that after all the years working with animals, Junhui can read their bodies in ways other people cannot, can tell things anyone else wouldn't notice. Still, it's a peculiar choice of words.

He decides to show Junhui a hint of honesty he has not given anyone else. "I'm really thankful for her. It seems like she came at a perfect time for my life." He'd been lonely. His apartment too empty and stale. Slowly, it's gaining life again.

Junhui's face softens, eyes glistening. For a second, they look amber under the fluorescent lights of the examination room. "Cats always seem to know more than we think."

"Mysterious," Joshua tries to keep his smile from forming. He's sure he can't quite keep it off his voice.

Amber seems to go back to dark, surely a trick of the light, as Junhui's eyes glint with mirth. "Are you ready for the ultrasound?"

He seems to be talking to both of them, as Joshua nods Princess flops over, like she gives in to her destiny.

Junhui starts prepping the space, bringing some different equipment from all over the room, taking a second to peek his head outside the door and call for Chan to come. He arrives shortly, carrying what looks like a chunky laptop. Joshua looks on as Junhui pets Princess on the chin, letting Chan show her a shaver for long enough so she can give it a good sniff, and then apologizing on behalf of Chan before he shaves her stomach.

"Oh," Joshua exclaims, sadly, "Her beautiful hair,"

"Necessary evil," Junhui sighs, as he checks the length with his hand, "But it will grow back in no time."

Chan then sets up the ultrasound equipment in near silence, but Junhui keeps chatting with Joshua and Princess. Asking about her mood and diet, and how she's been feeling. Joshua is more than happy to talk about her; he's been trying to keep most of his anxiety to himself. Hansol has kept constant contact about her, but even then he tries to act like he has everything under control and not hound him with every single panicked thought. He uses the internet for that.

But a real-life dreamy vet is a much better replacement to exaggerated online answers.

Today, Junhui has his hair in a low pony tail. Shorter pieces of hair frame his face, highlighting his gorgeous bone structure and strong features. He looks different, when he's focusing, as he settles Princess into her back and Chan rubs gel on her belly. Then he passes a sort of wand to Junhui, and holds Princess steady.

Junhui presses the wand into her stomach, and blurry white images appear on the dark monitor on the side. He moves it around, and Princess meows.

"I know, I know. Oh, look!"

At the tone of his voice, both Joshua and Princess look at the monitor. He sees no recognizable pattern, but Junhui points out six blots in order, and tells them they're the babies.

Both Joshua and his cat stare in shock. Okay, six kittens. That's totally fine. No reason to panic just yet.

"They're perfectly healthy," Junhui comments, as he finishes the ultrasound and Chan cleans Princess up. "So far, we're looking at a perfect full-term pregnancy."

"Six babies," Joshua repeats.

Junhui laughs. "Oh, your expression. Ah– I'm sorry. I would never imagine you'd get this nervous about it!"

He blinks, trying to return to the current moment, not worst-case scenarios about six little kittens under his care. "What do you mean?"

"Even when you brought Princess here for the first time, and you were nervous about it, you seemed to have everything under control. Like you knew what to do right away." Junhui explains, petting Princess' stomach. "You seem incredibly capable, and I can see it in the way you've taken care of her. There's nothing to worry about, and I'll be with you every step of the way."

Hearing this is like a dam breaking inside Joshua's chest. Having all his worries soothed with a few words and a sturdy gaze. Suddenly, it doesn't seem as daunting as before, knowing Junhui will do whatever is needed to help him. He feels lucky.

"Thank you, Junhui," Joshua's smile feels almost shy, like all his feelings are easy to read on his face, though he's had great practice at having them under control, "I feel a lot more at ease, knowing that."

Like a cat, because Joshua has direct evidence of it in his life now, Junhui tilts his head. "Good. I mean it."

They stare at each other for a beat longer, enjoying the attention from Junhui. There is something so fiery underneath that playful exterior. Joshua knows he does mean it. It feels nice, to be under that light.

As he's walking out the clinic, Junhui's personal contact on his phone, for any and all questions, concerns, and comments! open 24/7! Joshua can't help but wonder if it's really okay to ask his cat's veterinarian on a date. If it is – what even is the best timing? Before or after the birth? He cannot go on the internet for this.

He's almost home when his phone pings with a text from Hansol, asking about Princess' appointment and Junhui.

Josh

Really well! She's going to have six kittens.

Hansol

oh wow

that's cool

Josh

Terrifying you mean.

It seems to end there, but something keeps nagging at Joshua's brain. He cannot go to Jeonghan for this, but he figures Hansol could have a rational perspective.

Josh

Junhui is…

He gave me his number.

So…

Hansol

i knew it

lol

you shld go for it man

Joshua types out, Is it that easy? but deletes it at the last moment. Not wanting to get into that at the moment. He simply sends an I don't know… back that Hansol takes as the end of the conversation he means it to be.

He realizes he messed up hours later, as he's putting on a face mask and he hears the telltale tone of his entry code being put in and his front door opening.

His blood runs cold. There is only one other person with the code. One who usually only comes when he's invited, unless he has a bone to pick with Joshua.

"Joshuji~~" Jeonghan calls from the entrance, and Joshua knows his time is up.

"Yeojin-ah" Chan whispers, once he's sure Junhui is far, far away from the building.

She still looks every other way, sniffing what's about to come. "Was it Joshua-nim's appointment today?"

Chan is glad she understood his tone immediately. He nods, his neck aching at the force. "It was crazy,"

"Like the first day?" She asks, as she fills out some paperwork from her shift.

Chan shakes his head. "Even worse."

Yeojin's eyes go wide. "Was Junhui oppa cool and mysterious, or was he shy and giggly?"

They both know these are usually Junhui's go-to reactions when someone is flirting with him. What they'd never seen, was Junhui flirting back.

So, Chan has to break the news. "Neither."

Yeojin gasps. "No way. Flirty?"

"Flirty." Chan confirms, "Gave him his Kakao contact."

Yeojin does a full-body reaction. Kicking her feet and almost falling off her chair. It is warranted.

"We need to get to the bottom of this."

"Tomorrow," Chan points at her, as he grabs his bag. "I have a date with Soonyoungie."

"Right," Yeojin nods, "Wait, are you working tomorrow?"

"We are neutering a dog together, it's literally on the schedule," He drones.

"Oh, good." She exclaims, "Well, about working together. Sorry to the dog."

The scene feels reminiscent of a tense, climatic scene of a prestige drama. They are sitting opposing sides of the dinner table, room dark except for the low ceiling light casting soft shadows over them. He offered Jeonghan a glass of water, and he's been nursing painstakingly slow for the past ten minutes. All while telling Joshua a lighthearted story about Seungcheol and work.

After the natural end of the story, Joshua clears his throat. "Hannie."

He smiles, eyes droopy, body limp. It seems like he is falling asleep, yet still choosing to come hound Joshua instead of getting an early bedtime. "Yes?"

"Just ask me about it," Joshua looks him dead in the eyes, "You don't have to be so dramatic."

"Ah, is there something to be dramatic about?" Jeonghan intones.

"Not at all," Is his gut reaction, but something pulls at him, "Maybe you can settle this for me."

Jeonghan raises an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

"How okay is it to ask someone out who is providing a service for you?"

"Oh my god, Shua, you've been having an ethical crisis over Junhui?" He guffaws, "Is this why you haven't told me anything about it?"

"He's just doing his job!"

"Yeah, and he gave you his personal number the second time he's ever seen you. I think you're fine." Jeonghan rolls his eyes, finally getting up and refilling his glass of water. "Did you have dinner yet? Want to order something?"

"I can't believe Hansol snitched." Joshua mutters to himself.

Jeonghan cackles, as he goes through his pantry. "It's like you don't know him. He and Seungkwan have fused into one person. And Kwannie reports everything to me."

Joshua groans, taking out his phone to order something for them. "Fine. I'll get us something. Are you staying over?"

"It's so late, you can't just kick me out." Jeonghan calls from the kitchen. "I brought stuff to stay here."

"Okay, then we'll have drinks too," Joshua accepts, because how could he not? He won't admit it, but he's happy to see his best friend. It's been a while since they've been able to spend quality time together, and Jeonghan knows that as well.

After the order is placed and cocktails are made, they sit on his couch. Joshua makes a face when he finds a hairball from Princess, probably left there since that morning. Jeonghan laughs at him.

"I never expected to ever see you with a cat," he wonders, as he watches Joshua brush Princess. "But it kinda makes sense."

"Sure," Joshua drawls, but he gets a pleasant feeling in his chest.

"I knew right away you'd have the hots for Junhui," Jeonghan takes Princess' tail and plays with it. "Oh wow, she's soft."

"You didn't even remember the name of his clinic or the contact info. That's why I had to call Seungkwan to help."

"But I remembered Junhui! And I know you'd be good together." He nods, almost to himself. "Text him now."

"No," Joshua says. "I'm waiting until Princess gives me a reason to call. I can't be falling over his feet. Need to make him work for it."

Jeonghan hums in thought, "Tease him until he seeks you out. Good idea. I've always known you like to play with your food."

"Don't be crass," Joshua smacks him. "He's still Princess' vet. And he seems special. I have to be careful about it."

"Ah~ You like him~" Jeonghan's voice softens. Suddenly, he jumps to lock Joshua into a hug, squeezing him hard until hes fighting to let him go. "How sweet."

Joshua pushes him away. Annoyed but pleased. "Nothing has happened yet."

"No more hiding from me." Jeonghan nags.

His phone pings with the delivery, so he tasks Jeonghan with choosing a bad movie to have their dinner with. Princess jumps onto the dinner table, even though he's tried over and over again to stop her from getting up there. He sighs, but his heart feels warm from having both of their presences in his place to keep him company tonight.

He wakes up on Sunday with Jeonghan's cold knobby knees stabbing his back, and Princess inches from his face, staring. Quiet, lonely mornings suddenly seem ages away.

"I missed you," Seungcheol whines into Jeonghan's shoulder as soon as he comes in through the front door.

"I was gone for less than ten hours," Jeonghan replies, tangling his fingers in the mess of Seungcheol's hair.

It was a little more than that. Jeonghan ended up convincing Joshua of going for breakfast, but only if he went with Joshua for a run. He played the part well. Said yes, ran for ten minutes, then complained of a debilitating cramp when they passed the restaurant he wanted to eat in. Joshua rolled his eyes but said nothing. He didn't even want to run anyway. Jeonghan knew he was nursing a headache from their drinks. Could see it in his expression. They enjoyed some unnecessary mimosas instead.

So he was a little tipsy, when he arrived home and found himself with a bundle of clingy boyfriend. He puts his cold hands to his neck, but Seungcheol just shivers and kisses him. Jeonghan can't quite keep the smile off his face.

"Ah, Cheollie, we need to get ready to have double dates in the future,"

"You were right?"

"Why are you surprised? I'm glad it's going to be Junhui," Jeonghan sighs, as he lays his cheek in Seungcheol's steady shoulder. "Kkuma's going to be ecstatic."

Though he isn't sure it's reason to panic, Joshua still dials Junhui's number.

Maybe he is taking a bit advantage to his unlimited access to his personal number. He definitely lost every last bit of shyness he had towards contacting him after the first time he nervously texted to ask him about the color of Princess' poop.

Not the most romantic first text, but Junhui was still eager and excited to answer.

They've texted a little bit since, but as soon as Joshua placed the first call, he hasn't been back. It's something he much prefers, anyway, and Junhui doesn't seem to mind. Joshua likes listening to his voice, deep and clear over the line, explain things to him Joshua probably already looked up but wants to hear him say. It's soothing.

Now, he listens to Junhui calmly explain why Princess is moving less and less. Though Joshua has been reading about cat pregnancies, it still shocks him when he sees such a change in personality. Junhui eases his worries.

The cat in question is in the middle of his bed, a big circle surrounded by a puffy white duvet. If he looks closer, he can immediately spot dark strands of fur she has left everywhere. Not only there – his couch, his clothes, his blankets. He's since accepted his destiny, carries a roller everywhere to try and clean off as much cat hair as possible to look presentable.

Joshua lays down next to her, running his fingers through her silky hair. She sighs deeply, curling even closer together in her sleep.

"What are you doing right now?" Junhui asks, over the phone.

"Hm? Nothing really. I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your work," He answers. Not really sorry.

"Haha, you're not. Yeojin is in charge right now. She needs to learn," Junhui pipes. There's a low bark in the background, and Junhui speaks to the owner. "I know you're hungry, but dinner time is still hours away. No, I already gave you a snack."

Joshua laughs. He's grown used to Junhui's conversations with the animals under his care when they talk while he's at the clinic. The few times Joshua has caught him at his place, it's been strangely quiet.

"Do you have any pets of your own?" Joshua asks.

Junhui hums, "No, I've always… Been too busy, I suppose."

Suddenly intrigued, Joshua chirps, "That surprises me,"

"Ah well, it's actually a bit difficult to leave work behind." Junhui explains, but he sounds strangely cagey about it.

"I see." Joshua wonders, "But you haven't left me behind?"

He turns a little charm into his voice, hoping Junhui can respond to it, wishing desperately he'd take the first step. It's fine if he doesn't, Joshua can do it. But it's different when you're pursued.

He can hear Junhui's smile even through the phone, "You're no longer just work."

There's a nice fluttering in Joshua's chest. "Really?"

"I have a personal interest in seeing Princess through a successful birth."

Joshua giggles, maybe he's laying it on too thick. "I'm glad."

There's another bark that interrupts them, and his giggle turns into a real, loud laugh when Junhui loudly shushes the dog that wants his attention so badly. He's silent for a moment, before he tells Joshua, "I gave in and gave him another treat. Bad, bad, bad."

"Ah, I'd love to see you some other time," Joshua tries.

There's a beat of silence, then Junhui laughs, "Princess just had an appointment!"

"I know, but–"

"Oh! I have to go. I'm sorry, send me pictures of Princess, please!"

Joshua sighs, but grins out an, "Bye, Junnie," Before they hang up.

He drops his phone into the bed. Cuddles into Princess' warm body, and wonders if he was doing it on purpose. Not one to think people are oblivious, Joshua questions the signs he's read off Junhui, and whether he wants to – or is even ready – to go out with him.

"Maybe I should wait a little bit, until the kittens are born and healthy?" He asks out loud. Partly directed at Princess, though she knows she won't answer. Still, she moves positions, rests on her side, so Joshua can cuddle her even closer. He looks on in awe as he softly pets her, decides to think about it a little bit more. Give them some time. Especially to let Princess complete her term without any outside tension.

God, he's talking like he has a kid. What has become of him?

Chan is helping Yeojin get a huge Golden Retriever into the table when Junhui bursts into the room. They all turn to look at him in surprise – dog included – and stare inquisitively. He was taking a break. Or, that's what he said. But both Chan and Yeojin know that he went into one of the rooms to go talk to Joshua, like he's been doing in increasing recurrence. His sudden arrival sends them into question.

"Hyung," Chan starts, when the dog is safely placed onto the table. "Is everything okay?"

"Hm?" Junhui suddenly turns, like he just realized where he is. "Oh, yeah. Fine."

He keeps nervously touching his face, turning in place, acting as he's looking for something before he turns around and leaves the room.

They stay in silence. Then Yeojin breaks it, asking "What was that?"

"I have no idea. I've never seen him like this."

"And you've been working here for so long, you're a dinosaur." She snaps, while she looks for the shots they're about to administer the dog.

"Wha– Hey! I'm only three years older than you. You have to respect me."

"Sure, Ajhussi."

Joshua returns from a run thinking about Junhui. He'd seen the very first cherry blossoms of the season along the river, and taken a picture to send to Junhui. He'd told him the night before that there was a surgery scheduled that morning, so he'd been busy until late. Still, Joshua wanted him to have something to look forward to after he finished his long work day.

Personal conversations have become much more of a staple. He's learned a lot: Junhui was born in Shenzhen, and moved to Korea when was eighteen. He loves spicy food. His best friend is a pro LOL player but he only plays gacha games and doesn't understand when he watches his matches. Junhui is passionate about his work, his love for animals and special spot for cats, and proud of the little clinic he built all by himself and the little family it has. Every new thing Joshua learns about him just makes him want to kiss him more. He's determined, now, to ask him out for real tomorrow – after Princess' appointment.

He walks into his apartment, feeling it strangely still. Only the sound of the water fountain's steady trickle. He doesn't find Princess anywhere. Joshua doesn't panic, at least not yet. By now he understands cat's need to find the most obscure hiding place to stay for hours. Still, even when he calls her, he usually gets an answer. Even if it's the most far away mreow in the world. He goes looking for her in her usual spots. Unsuccessfully. Joshua's heart is beating out of his chest by the time he finds her – curled over in one of Joshua's closet drawers. How she opened it, he doesn't know. But she made a nest out of all his sweatshirts.

Not one to panic, he immediately let's Junhui know. He doesn't call. He knows he must be busy – but he still wants him informed. Princess blinks at him, meowing increasingly until he comes close and pets her. Maybe she's nervous, but she seems to enjoy his presence. Nothing seems to be happening yet, so he feels okay to go shower and eat a light dinner, though he keeps his bedroom door open and keeps his eyes peeled open.

Junhui responds with a call.

"The queen!" He yelps."It's happening!"

"Junhui," Joshua starts, "You didn't have to call. Did you finish your surgery well?"

"Yes, Hwaseong is good! Recovering perfectly." His voice is low, rough around the edges.

"You must be tired,"

As if on a cue, Junhui yawns. "I'm not, really. I have a lot of stamina,"

Joshua feels his ears heat up, "Yeah?"

"I'll show you some time," Junhui's smile is audible. "Are you feeling calmer now?"

He does. Joshua hadn't even realized he was anxious – but he takes a deep breath and relaxes his tense shoulders. "How did you know?"

"Your text," Junhui responds as if he's stating a fact, "It was out of character."

"I just want everything to be okay,"

"It will be!" Junhui soothes him right away, "What is she doing right now?"

By now, Joshua is sitting on the floor next to his drawer. She chose the bottom one, opened it almost to its entirety. He had no idea she had the strength to do that. "She's very vocal, and she keeps grooming herself."

Junhui hums, "She must be close,"

"I don't know what to do," Joshua admits.

"There's not a lot. She knows what to do." Junhui's clearly moving around, sound muffling for a second before he sounds clear again. "But…"

"But?"

"If you want, I can come," He finally bursts out. "Keep you– both of you! Company."

"Oh," Joshua murmurs.

"In case anything goes wrong. Which it won't!" Every sentence comes out quicker than the last, but in the end he settles with a: "I don't want you to feel alone."

There's honey coursing through Joshua's veins. He's suddenly completely calm, certain that everything will turn out okay and Junhui will be at his side, just like he wanted but didn't want to ask. "That would be very nice, Junnie. Thank you."

"Send me your address! I'll be right there!" Junhui went on, "Just let me change from my scrubs,"

"There's no rush!" Joshua added, in a hurry, even though he wanted him to get there already. "Have you eaten anything? I'll get something for you."

"Ah, thank you, hyung." Junhui calls, "Anything is okay."

The honorific is new. It shouldn't feel as good in Joshua's ears as it does currently. He likes it a lot. "I'll see you soon, then."

"Meow!" Junnie peppers, before hanging up.

Now having something to do, Joshua gets right on it. Feeling thankful for having something to distract himself with, he checks the contents of his fridge and takes out a few leftover vegetables and tofu. Sundubu jjigae will do. When the soup starts bubbling, he quickly prepares a quick cucumber kimchi as banchan. He even warms up some rice he already had. Junhui lets him know he arrived right when Joshua finishes plating everything.

He's quite nervous, he realizes. Mostly for his cat, actively in labor, who wormed her way into his heart after quite literally showing up on his doorstep. But opening the door for Junhui to a set table – feeling strangely like a date – takes precedence over his thoughts and make him feel as though he's about to burst at the seams.

Junhui looks handsome. He always does, but he's wind swept and pink – probably from coming to Joshua's place so quickly. His hair is pushed back, clearly styled at the start of the day but now trying its best to fight gravity and laying almost flat against his head. It's a bit longer than the first time Joshua met him.

"Hyung," Junhui immediately greets, "Your place is really nice."

It's pleasant, for someone to notice something he takes pride in. He's spent a long time carefully decorating and curating his space, hunting for just the right furniture and decorations. He hasn't really had anyone new come in for the first time in a while.

"Please, come in. There's some slippers for you," He gestures him in. Watches Junhui as he carefully sheds his shoes. Joshua already knew he was tall, he's seen him at the clinic, but it's different out of that space and in Joshua's home. The clothes make a surprisingly stark difference too. Used to seeing scrubs and white coats, the tight jeans emphasizing his long, long legs keep stealing Joshua's attention. He doesn't even really notice his graphic tee with three cats stacked on each other, each with a sillier expression than the last one. Once he does, Joshua can't help but huff in barely restrained laughter.

"It's the only thing I had in my bag," Junhui sulks, "I would've liked to dress better for this momentous occasion, but Chan and Yeojin are several sizes smaller than me."

Joshua can't help but imagine Junhui in a small, tight shirt, riding up to show off his midriff. He looks away to try and act like a sane person.

"I made this shirt though, so I'm happy to wear it today," Junhui beams, "It's good luck."

He takes a better look, focusing on the details of the print when Junhui pulls the fabric to show it more clearly. Now that he mentions it, Joshua can tell the print is wonky and slightly faded.

"It's really cute."

"I have this friend, Heejin, who does screen printing. She made me learn how to print after a rough breakup, so now I have a bunch of really bad prints. Got a couple of cool shirts out of it though!"

Joshua grins, because he can understand a friend pulling him into a stupid hobby after a bad relationship. He remembers when Jeonghan made him join a team puzzle competition. They went to three different events and ended on the bottom 10 every time, but Joshua laughed like he never had in the last year of his life, so he looks back at it fondly. Knowing Junhui will understand, he tells the story, and is rewarded with a lovely loud laugh that seems to bounce off the walls. He wants to tell him how seeing him in the doorstep of his apartment, in his slippers, feels just right. How Joshua wishes they could sit and learn about each other for hours until there's nothing more to tell. Instead, he asks if he's ready to eat.

As Junhui nods, they hear a loud, irritated, yowl coming from Joshua's bedroom. They both look at each other at the same time and burst into giggles, like they've been caught doing something they shouldn't.

"Sorry, should probably go and pay respects to the Princess first," Joshua leads the way to his bedroom. It feels a bit strange, taking a man to his room without the pretense of sex.

There's a pep in Junhui's step, as he follows Joshua close by, hand skirting his fingertips. "How rude of me, it should've been my number one priority."

Princess looks just like Joshua left her thirty minutes before. Curled in the drawer, though panting slightly now. Junhui starts talking to her in a soothing, low tone, one that even settles Joshua as he sits back and watches them. He asks her about her pain, like she can answer as though she is a patient in the maternity ward. Princess simply blinks back at him, but he nods like she told him her pain was at a seven. He checks the stomach, and then grins so big Joshua can see almost every single one of his teeth.

"Look, come feel," Junhui takes one of Joshua's hands, guides it slowly until he presses it against Princess' lower stomach. Junhui's hands are slightly narrower than Joshua's – even though he's the taller (and wider), one of the two his hand cannot fully envelop Joshua's. He's momentarily so mesmerized by the image that he doesn't notice what Junhui is asking him to touch.

He's startled by the sudden movement inside the tight stomach. He wants to move away, afraid of hurting her, but Junhui keeps his hand steady.

"That's crazy," is the only thing that he manages to say.

Junhui laughs, "Still some time to go, but she's perfectly fine."

"Thank you for coming, seriously," Joshua notices, then, that the are sitting almost in each other's laps. Legs touching and trying to find a place in the tiny corner of Joshua's closet means knowing how hot Junhui feels under his clothes. The way he smells, faintly like antiseptic and nitrile, layered over the distinct smell of sweat and body. Joshua's mouth actually waters, and he stands up to get them out of there before he does something uncouth.

Dinner is quick – Junhui does not stop praising his cooking skills, and they share recipes in between bites. He also enjoys cooking, Junhui tells him, though lately he has been too busy to truly get to it the way he enjoys, which is often times slow and tentative, trying out recipes he's tried before and wants to recreate in his own kitchen. Joshua is once more taken by surprise by how well they come together about certain things. It's a bit electrifying, getting to be able to articulate in a way someone will truly understand how at odds it feels to live in a place not your home. Though Hansol could share some of Joshua's experiences, it's not the same to move at five years old than as an adult. Junhui understands moving into a strange place where you don't speak the language, and having to navigate what that means.

Eventually, they end up sharing coffee Joshua brews for them, sitting on the floor of the living room, leaning over the coffee table to laugh at simple childhood stories they've never really talked about with anyone else.

Joshua notices the way Junhui's hair is not completely limp and flat now, glossy and pretty. How he is flushed, soft around the edges in a way he just does not see when he's working. It makes him curious.

"Why did you decide to be a vet?" Joshua asks him, repositioning his body so he's better leaning towards Junhui.

"Well, I can talk to animals. So it would've been a waste not to become one," He answers, tapping his cup.

"Okay," Joshua laughs, caught off guard. When Junhui doesn't elaborate, he goes, "What?

"I'm serious. I can talk to animals." Though he's still grinning, eyes glistening dangerously, Joshua reads complete assurance in his face. He believes what he is saying.

"I don't–" Joshua shakes his head, ending up laughing once more. "Okay?"

"The first time you came to my clinic, Princess told me she scouted you for weeks before deciding to go for you. She really did choose you."

Joshua's smile falls, as he realizes Junhui is doubling down on what he is saying. He would have never taken Junhui for a prankster, but he needs to recalibrate what he knows of him to accommodate to a second trickster personality in his life.

"Tell me something she's said about me, then," Joshua decides. He wonders how long Junhui is willing to stretch the joke.

"Well, when you asked why she came to you, she said she really really wanted to hack up hairballs on your couch. Said it looked expensive," He strokes a hand on the soft fabric, "I can see what she meant now."

"Oh, you definitely just made that up right now," Joshua chuckles, even though it is Princess' favorite spot to leave gross hairballs.

"Alright, then what about…" Junhui wonders, "You think I'm special, but still want to make me work for it. Princess' words!"

Joshua stares at him, mouth agape. Junhui bites his lip, and hides his face for a second beneath his hands. He's not quite sure how Junhui found that out; if Jeonghan told him, or what. It's eerie, how exact he got the words. The alternative is impossible, something he cannot even begin to wrap his head around.

Still, it's Junhui. Even if he means it, if he's still joking with Joshua, whatever it may be – he likes him, a lot. With the glistening eyes that sometimes look amber under certain light.

"I think you're crazy," Joshua decides, nodding. He sits up on his knees, begins to crawl his way towards Junhui. He straightens up, arms and legs opening for him. "And yet, that is actually driving me crazy."

He stops moving before he touches Junhui, the edge of the table between them. The rug feels rough under his hands, already leaving red spots all over his palms. Junhui is clearly trying to hold himself back from reaching for him.

"I know that," He replies, "I've known for a while."

His gaze is smoldering, burning Joshua inside out. There's nothing to do except give in, let him combust and set everything around them on fire.

Joshua jumps, the corner of the table digging into his side, but he pays it no mind – too focused on taking Junhui's face and kissing him. He tastes like the food Joshua made him, warm and wet and immediately holding tight to his waist. He opens him up, trying to crawl into him, sighing in relief from all the time he's wanted to have him. Junhui hums as he sucks Joshua's tongue, sending shivers all over his body. The angle is uncomfortable, so he tries to sit on Junhui's lap without the table poking him any longer.

As he does, Junhui attacks his neck, sucking and kissing down the line, until he reaches his collarbones and he has to pull his shirt down. After the third pull, Joshua is sick of the fabric getting stretched out, so he kisses Junhui's ear and just tells him to take it off already.

Junhui immediately sneaks his hands into his waist, burning hot prints into his skin, as he takes the shirt and pulls it off Joshua. As he does, one of his necklaces tangles with his hair, and he has to ask Junhui to stop before he pulls them even tighter together.

"Ow, hold on–" He tries to free his arms to reach his head, but he cannot find the neck hole. Sight obscured by his shirt, he can only hear and feel Junhui as he tries to help.

"Wait, let me–" Junhui starts, as he feels his arms moving. There's a dull noise, a rattle in the coffee table, and then he yelps, "Ouch."

Joshua can't help but laugh. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, but I knocked the candle you have on the table. At least it wasn't lit." Junhui giggles, "Here, I'll set you free."

Finally, his shirt is off, his necklace back on his chest free from his hair. He starts taking it off before anything, not wanting a repeat later in the evening, but Junhui takes over his fingers and finishes the job. He sets it gently on the table, and then straightens the candle he knocked over. Once he looks back at Joshua, they burst out into laughter.

"You're sweet," Joshua says, as he wraps his arms around his neck. He thinks of saying something else, but decides instead to attack him once more. Bites his lips until they're bright red and Junhui is moaning, hips jumping against Joshua's weight on his lap. He's clearly trying to be polite, which Joshua finds cute.

Grinding down slowly and filthily, until Junhui punches out a moan, Joshua tells him, "Don't hold back."

Junhui hums, hiding his face into the crook of Joshua's neck and taking a firm hold of Joshua's waist, helping him find a rhythm until they're both panting into each others mouths. His sweatpants are tight around his dick, wet spot soaking through, and he knows he could come just like this.

"Junnie," He says, lowering his voice so he can see the way Junhui's eyes flutter, "I need you to fuck me, right now."

He sees the way Junhui swallows, the sharp movement of his pronounced Adam's apple bobbing in time. Joshua thinks he would be able to tell Junhui with his eyes closed from the shape of his face and neck alone.

"I'll get you ready, then," Junhui groans, then picks Joshua up and turns them around, guiding him towards the arm of the couch. Joshua holds himself steady with a hand on the back of the couch, and the other on Junhui's waist. It's futile, though, since Junhui drops to his knees and his hand has to travel upwards until he's holding Junhui's head and he's lowering his sweatpants.

He sighs Junhui's name as soon as he takes Joshua inside his mouth.

Junhui licks a hot stripe along Joshua's dick, and there's nothing he can do but pull his hair and let his body go in pleasure. Eventually he realizes, over the roar on his ears, that the person moaning high is him. Joshua feels himself pulled apart, his body coiling pleasure deep in his navel. Urgently, he taps Junhui's shoulder.

"Junnie, ah– If you keep going, I'm going to come."

He pulls off Joshua's dick with a pop, switching to his hand, relentlessly stroking slow and tight, torturing Joshua.

"Can you come twice?"

Writhing with pleasure, Joshua decides that yes, he needs Junhui to make him come with his mouth. He nods, desperately, "For you, I can do anything."

Junhui smirks, "Dangerous," and swallows Joshua's cock.

This time, he keeps going, opening up his throat until Joshua is completely sheathed by him. Junhui's chin is dripping, a disgusting combination of spit and precum that Joshua wipes with his hand and licks clean. He's usually a clean freak, but there's something primal in him that switches on when it comes to Junhui.

It feels too good; but as Junhui's mouth goes slack, he tries to control his twitching to a minimum, not wanting to choke him. Junhui's groan sends waves of pleasure up Joshua's body. He taps Joshua's thighs in a peculiar rhythm, and he realizes Junhui wants him to fuck his throat. He bites his tongue, knowing it's his fault for asking him not to hold back. Swallowing any concern, he strokes Junhui's hair, slightly damp from sweat, and begins fucking him.

It doesn't take long: a couple of strokes, and he's coming down Junhui's tight throat. He makes a sound he's never heard himself make as he feels him swallow, his muscles working around his dick. As soon as he's sucked clean, Junhui slowly pulls apart, coughing and choking as he's free.

Though he doesn't want to pull away, Joshua gets up to get him a glass of water. Needing to pull his pants halfway through, almost tripping while getting up with them around his ankles.

Junhui drinks the water, mouth and chin bright red, and smiles sweetly and thankful when he's done. His eyes are glazed over, lidded, and Joshua can't help but kiss the mole on the tip of his eyebrow. He's now sitting on the couch, legs wide open and cock tenting his jeans in a way that looks painful. As a thank you for the exceptional blowjob, Joshua decides to tease him. He sheds his pants and underwear, and sits right over his bulge, bunching his shirt over his nipples, and taking one into his mouth. The fabric is rough, chafing against his ass – but a part of him enjoys the uncomfortable feeling, knowing Junhui's dick is what's causing the pressure. He teases and rolls the other nipple, and with his free hand twists his fingers in Junhui's hair. Four different types of touch and pleasure, carefully working until Junhui is moaning and grinding relentlessly against him. Suddenly, he goes tense, the fabric under Joshua's ass feeling hot and sticky. The smile on his face feels crazed, as he bites a circle around Junhui's nipple before taking the hard bud into his tongue and nipping.

"Already?" He teases, can't help but tinge his voice with a teasing tone, "In your pants?"

Junhui whines, tries to hide his blushing face by turning it away.

Joshua clicks his tongue and he looks back at him.

"I thought you wanted me to fuck you," Junhui says.

"You told me once you had great stamina," Joshua says, "Or was that a lie? Don't tell me you can only come once."

Junhui narrows his eyes. In a second, he grabs Joshua and turns them around, pushing him against the couch seats. Joshua lets him press his arms away from him, holding them in place. Junhui grins deviously, licking his lips. He grinds into Joshua's crotch, pushing a moan from him. He's still not fully hard, but his dick is starting to chafe against the jean, the intense feeling feeling overwhelming.

"I'm not done with you," Junhui mutters, licking into Joshua's mouth. He's salty, musky. The taste of Joshua's cock and cum. He lowers his head, sucks Joshua's sweat off his neck.

He can't help it, he giggles. "Gross," he sighs, pushing Junhui's sweaty hair away from his face.

Junhui looks up at him, a playful glimmer in his eyes, "You taste good."

He scrunches his face in response, but gets distracted when Junhui trails a hand under his ass, teasing a finger along his cleft.

"Stop teasing," He demands, after Junhui dips a dry finger into him, "Get on with it."

"Bossy," Junhui raises an eyebrow, "Do you have lube? Condoms?"

"I'm clean, and you already sucked me off." Joshua shrugs, "I'll get the lube."

He gathers every bit of energy he has and tries to make his walk into the bathroom seductive and alluring, and not at all as awkward as he feels walking butt naked around his very bright house. He knows Junhui is watching him go.

"I'm clean too!" Junhui yells.

So, Joshua comes back only with a bottle of the expensive lube he prefers and hasn't shared with anyone in a long time. Tragically, Junhui is still clothed, though his shirt is all wrinkled, and his jeans have a dark spot right on his crotch, sitting over the arm of the couch. Joshua smirks.

"I want you out of this," Joshua paws at Junhui's shirt, "Now."

"Hm," Junhui mumbles, "I'll think about it,"

Joshua narrows his eyes, but he only gets halfway through opening his mouth before Junhui stands behind him and pushes him against the back of the couch. He takes the lube from Joshua's limp hand, saving it from falling into the ground at the last second, and he shivers as he hears the lid open and the lube squirt out. His dick is already filling out again. He tries to keep himself from grinding against the couch, knowing anything Junhui will do to him is going to feel a million times better than any object could. He doesn't think he'll ever be able to fuck anyone – or anything – else after this. His dildos are going to be forever forgotten at the bottom of his drawer.

There is one finger, circling his rim, slowly entering him. It's hot and slippery, easing in so quickly he gasps at the sensation. Junhui lets him get used to it, then begins slowly pumping it in and out, until Joshua is grinding back against him and asking for more.

Quickly, he's three fingers deep, touching his prostate every other push. He has Joshua moaning against the fabric, completely bent over. "Please, Junnie. Give hyung want he wants."

"Is hyung really ready?" He says, sweetly, into Joshua's ear.

He nods, whining in pleasure. "Look, I'm hard again, I'm ready."

Junhui's other arm wraps around his waist, stroking his length and smearing Joshua's precum everywhere. "Okay."

Then – Junhui pushing in. He bigger than he thought, though he should've expected it, from the way his bulge was showing even under jeans. Joshua moans, feeling it rattle even his bones. It's wet, and filthy, and so good Joshua feels like he's being split open. There's nothing he loves more than this feeling.

"God, yes," Joshua whines, sending a quick apology to God. Though he figures he was made to love dick, so he can't be that mad about it.

Junhui quickens the pace as soon as Joshua can fit all of him comfortably. He doesn't hold back, just like Joshua asked. He keeps a steady rhythm and a pleasant strong thrust, skin slapping obscenely every time he sinks into Joshua. The angle is delicious, Joshua feels perfectly fucked, not needing to touch himself or grind against the couch. Sometimes Junhui's strength pushes him against the furniture, and he grazes against it, but the momentary soreness sends shivers down his spine.

He keeps moaning Joshua's name, hitting every thrust with a sugary tilt of his voice. He lets Junhui hold his entire weight with the hand around his waist, letting his body go limp and losing himself in the sensations and pleasure coursing through him.

Junhui tenses, like a rubber band about to snap, and Joshua feels his dick pulsing inside him, filling him with his cum. It's such a hot sensation that Joshua comes right away, letting out a long and sustained note that peters out into a breathless inhale.

He thinks he comes all over his couch. Fuck. Cleaning that is going to be a nightmare.

Junhui eases out of him, slowing his grinding until he's almost out of Joshua, but he can tell, at the last second, that he's still hard. While he's still leaning over the couch, Joshua catches his breath, mouths a curse in surprise at Junhui's endurance. He wasn't really downplaying it.

He fully pulls out, and Joshua turns around. He can finally get a good look at Junhui's chest, he pulled his shirt off at some point. His skin is flushed red, bite marks around his nipples stark against the color. There's a constellation of moles dotting his chest, and Joshua trails a hand on them like they're a connect-the-dots drawing. His throat goes dry, as he looks down to see Junhui's bright red cock nestled against his clothes. He didn't pull them down fully to fuck Joshua, just enough to free his dick, still rock hard and waiting. Joshua swallows, mouth watering like he hasn't eaten in days and a full meal was presented in front of him. In a way, it is. It's been a long time since he's been with another man.

Now, Joshua pulls his pants down the whole way. He's quick, so Junhui yelps in surprise and leans against the couch, right on Joshua's cum spot. Gross.

"We're making such a mess," Joshua chides, but still reaches for the lube and coats his fingers. He's ready to devour.

"Ah– You're the one that wanted it right here," Junhui whines, "I simply follow instructions."

"And you're so good at that," Joshua pats his ass, delighting in the way Junhui's ears flush pink. He doesn't pull his hand apart, instead following the curve and teasing Junhui's rim. He figures he can return the favor once more.

It's not enough to only finger him – he takes his dick in his mouth. Junhui is big though, so while his right hand is pumping fingers inside him, his other hand strokes what his mouth cannot reach. His wrist starts hurting, but Junhui has gone silent, drawing out breathy gasps, as he continuously hits his prostate. He times his strokes and thrusts with swirls of his tongue, managing to continue non-stop even when Junhui starts twitching, pushing his body every other way, finally lost with pleasure. His third orgasm spurts even less cum, but it's not underwhelming. On the contrary, he seems to lose control for once, making sounds Joshua had never heard before. As he cleans him up, he flushes with pride, knowing he's finally gotten him spent. Junhui's eyes are fluttering, delirious with pleasure, but Joshua still licks his palm clean right in front of him, making sure to show off his tongue swirling over each and every one of his fingers.

Junhui licks his lips, "You don't have to keep showing off. I'm blown away."

He laughs, feeling strangely victorious. "You've hypnotized me. Ruined me for everyone else forever."

"Good. I'm not planning on ever letting you go," Junhui pulls him close, kissing him in a way that could not really be called kissing, as his mouth sloppily covers Joshua's. He sighs. "I truly wasn't expecting this today. I would've dressed better, to impress you."

Junhui's pants are around his ankles. The rest of their clothes are scattered around their corner of the living room – they didn't even bother going anywhere else. Joshua squishes his cheeks with one hand, "You don't need to impress me." He kisses him properly this time.

He drags him to the couch, slowly laying over it. It's a tight fit, but Joshua enjoys feeling Junhui's body splayed over him, wrapping him. Still coherent enough, he thinks to grab a blanket off of one of the baskets he keeps in the living room, and roughly covers them with it. They're both boiling currently, but he figures that'll change as they come down.

They breathe as one for a while, and Joshua thinks Junhui is falling asleep, until he says out loud, "I was a bit apprehensive about you, at the start."

Joshua hums, "I could tell. Not everyone turns me down like that."

He can't see him, but he feels Junhui smile against his nape. "It's been too long. My last relationship didn't work because I was too married to my work."

At this, Joshua turns around. Junhui releases his grip momentarily so he can settle in place again, tucking his arms against Junhui's naked chest. His finger strokes bite marks, and Junhui's nipple pebbles with a shiver.

"You understand, right?" Junhui suddenly asks, voice laced with tension, "That it's not going to be just you."

Joshua gets it. He understood the moment he walked into Junhui's clinic, built by himself, to see the pictures of adored patients – friends, really – adorned on his walls. He nods, kissing his cheek, and chin, and lips, to soothe him. "I know, Dr. Wen Junhui. It's why I love you."

It slips out, but judging by the way Junhui's eyes sparkle, he's not deterred by his premature words. He whispers into Joshua's ear, "Wo ai ni," right before they fall asleep.

Hansol wakes up far too late, after staying up until the early hours of the morning working on last minute translation changes, to kittens on his phone. His heart soars, eyes misting over. He sits up on the bed, and holds Lydia close as she hops into the bed to say good morning.

"Did you see?" He turns the phone towards her, and the response is to purr and rub her face against his phone. "I know,"

Wow, he whispers again, shaking his head in disbelief. Six kittens!

"Did you hear?" Seungkwan comes in, sweaty and flushed from a run. And a Pilates session, judging by the time on Hansol's phone.

"Yeah, six kittens! That's crazy," Hansol beams.

Seungkwan frowns. "What? No. Junhui stayed the night at Joshua's place. They finally fucked about it."

"Oh," Hansol realizes, drawing out the sound, "That's why he texted me the kittens first. Trying to do damage control"

Snorting, Seungkwan starts peeling his clothes off. "It didn't work. But he did invite us to meet the babies later today."

"Awesome," Hansol says, patting Lydia's back.

Seungkwan stands in the doorway, clad only in underwear, expecting. "So?"

"Hm?" Hansol asks, distracted by the glistening sweat on his skin.

"Are you joining me in the shower or not?"

He gets up in record time.

Joshua wakes up with cherry blossoms in full bloom outside his windows and a grumpy cat with six fresh kittens cuddled around her. Junhui checked on her and the babies, and then taught Joshua how to hold them correctly under Princess' watchful eyes. He tears up, feeling the tiny body in his hands. He then focuses on giving Princess his full attention, pampering her with pets and food.

"She's pissed we were otherwise occupied last night," Junhui says, snorting when he looks at Princess' frown. "Sorry, she'll probably hold a grudge forever."

Joshua rolls his eyes, "I didn't judge her when she showed up on my doorstep pregnant. She needs to pull it together."

It's ridiculous, but he laughs with Junhui. He's still not sure he quite believes Junhui can talk to animals, but he's willing to let himself play a little bit with it.

He lays his head against Junhui's shoulder, clad only in a borrowed tank top, and finds comfort in the warmth of his skin. Junhui seems mesmerized on a specific kitten, a tiny ball of white fur, its color lighter than its siblings, who followed on the mother's darker face coloring. He pets its little head, smiling when it lets out a tiny little meow.

Joshua stares at them for a second, and then tells him, "You should keep one."

He startles, turning to see Joshua with wide eyes. "You think?"

"Why not? Open your heart to more creatures." Joshua kisses his shoulder. "Not just me."

"I've always held back from having a cat of my own. I thought it would be too hard, being able to listen." Junhui hums, "But maybe… It's Princess' baby, after all."

Joshua plays with his hair. Waits, as Junhui makes a decision.

"Wangzi?" He whispers, touching the kitten's back. "Do you want to be a prince?"

There's a tiny meow in response, and Junhui's face breaks open in a boyish, boxy smile. Joshua adores the line of teeth he gets to glimpse, the moles dancing above his lips. He kisses the one on the corner of his mouth.

"Okay, this is officially too much for me," He stretches out his back, feeling the delicious ache of a well fucked night.

Junhui laughs, bright and defined,"It does seem a little too corny right."

He stands up, lets Junhui have more time with the kittens if he needs. "Come on, I'll make you coffee and breakfast."

"And a sweet treat?" Junhui blinks up at him, eyes traveling down to Joshua's legs, bare except for his underwear and Junhui's shirt.

"If you're nice, I'll eat you out." Joshua strokes Junhui's face, holding his chin and leaning down for a kiss.

── .✦