Myungsuk clutched his backpack straps as he hid behind Insoo, forcing himself to only focus on Insoo's scent. Mr. Cheung glared at them from the bottom of the stairs, Myungsuk staring at the way he cracked his knuckles. "Who is that?" Mr. Cheung asked through gritted teeth.

"No one, just a friend," Insoo said, avoiding eye contact. "He's just leaving" Insoo stepped down, but his father didn't budge.

"A friend? Who's an omega?" Mr. Cheung tsked.

"Can't we talk about this later?" he asked calmly, despite his hands shaking. He turned to Myungsuk, holding his hand out. "Come on."

"I'm talking to you!" Mr. Cheung grabbed Insoo's collar, pulling him down the last three steps. Myungsuk shrieked and slapped his hands over his mouth. "What makes you think you can bring an omega into this house?" Mr. Cheung snarled.

Insoo stumbled to his feet, grabbing his father's wrist, struggling to pull them off. "Dad. Just– please!" Insoo pleaded.

Mr. Cheung tightened his grip. "How dare you sneak behind my back and bring an omega into this house?"

Myungsuk trembled, his ears ringing. Stop.

"I've told you a million times they're nothing but trouble."

"Don't! Dad!" Insoo struggled to break free.

Myunguk's body buzzed and moved on its own. Stop.

"You stupid child!" Mr. Cheung raised one hand in a fist and–

"Stop!" Myungsuk screamed, shoving Mr. Cheung off of Insoo.

Mr. Cheung stumbled back and Myungsuk gaped, as he stared wide-eyed at him. But a split second later, Insoo grabbed his hand and ran to the door as Mr. Cheung's face morphed back into a terrifying snarl. "Why you–"

Myungsuk stumbled to scoop up his shoes as Insoo pushed the door open, the ringing in his ears growing louder and shrill. As he lifted his head, Mr. Cheung grabbed his backpack and violently pulled him back. "No!" Myungsuk yelped, paralyzed by the crushing pheromones.

Insoo grabbed Myungsuk's sweater and pulled him towards him. Myungsuk's arms slipped out of the straps and without a second thought, they bolted out the door.

Myungsuk ran behind Insoo, his heart pounding in his ears, the distant yells of Insoo's father muffled by the gusting wind. Myungsuk's head was about to explode. Insoo fumbled to grab his hand and squeezed.

They ran and ran, his feet pounded against the cold pavement, Each step piercing his soles. They ran until Myungsuk's knees buckled and they were no longer surrounded by rows of soulless houses. Stumbling into a bus stop, Myungsuk dropped onto the bench, heaving. Insoo dropped beside him. Their laboured breathing filled the silence.

The static buzzed in Myungsuk's head at a troubling frequency. His nose still stung with the thick alpha pheromones that made his teeth ache. He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his free hand against his chest.

Insoo hung his head and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Myungsuk blinked and shook his head frantically. "No, I'm sorry," he said. Myungsuk cupped Insoo's cheeks, sucking in his breath when loose tears flowed down his face. Myungsuk's gut twisted. "I should have left before he came home."

Insoo sniffled and nuzzled Myungsuk's palm. "You didn't know that. It's not your fault," he muttered. "Come on, let's put our shoes on. It's cold."

Nodding, Myungsuk hesitantly slipped his sneakers on, counting in inhales and counting down his exhales.

Insoo tied his laces and sat up. He stared ahead, his eyes watering as cracking a smile. "Taeyong was right. My family does suck," He chuckled as he wiped away a loose tear. "But truthfully," he said and wrapped his arm around Myungsuk's shoulder, nuzzling his temple. "I hope this is the end of it," he confessed.

Myungsuk closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Me too." Insoo settled his scent and it returned to its calming warmth. Myungsuk purred as the ringing in his ears slowly died down. "I love you, Insoo."

"I love you too," Insoo whispered against Myungsuk's lips before kissing him tenderly. "We should go somewhere safer," Insoo suggested after pulling back, rubbing his hand over his arm.

Myungsuk pouted and nodded. Insoo didn't even grab a jacket. At least he managed to get proper shoes this time.

Pulling out his phone, Myungsuk stared at his home screen and frowned.

"What is it?" Insoo asked, shifting closer.

Myungsuk shrugged. "I have a lot of missed calls from Taeyong-hyung," he said. He pressed the notification and held the phone up as it rang.

"Oh my Gods, Myungsuk!" Taeyong gasped as soon as the phone picked up. "I woke up and you were gone. Where are you?" Taeyong sobbed out and Myungsuk's eyes widened.

"Uh..." Myungsuk blinked rapidly. "I'm with Insoo and we're at a bus stop," he said, looking around.

"What?" Taeyong breathed out. "W-which bus stop?"

"Which bus stop?" Myungsuk repeated and turned to Insoo. Insoo nodded and got up, looking for the sign.

Taeyong sobbed through the line and Myungsuk bit his lip. "Hyung, why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"Just– it's fine. Which bus stop are you at?" Taeyong repeated.

"Gilsangsa," Insoo said.

"We're at Gilsangsa," Myungsuk said. When there was no answer, Myungsuk furrowed his brow. "Hello? Hyung?"

He pulled back his phone and gaped at the black screen with the dead battery sign. He needed his charger. Myungsuk whimpered.

His charger, his wallet, his headphones, his masks, his bear; everything was in his backpack. The backpack that Mr. Cheung ripped off him. Myungsuk bit down on his lip and squeezed his phone between his hands until his arms shook.

"Myungsuk. Myungsuk," Insoo called out and kneeled in front of him. "Myungsuk, look at me," Insoo said, taking his hands.

Myungsuk let out a laboured breath and whimpered. "My stuff... "

Insoo gulped and nodded. "d-Do you want to go back and get it?"

Myungsuk squeezed his eyes shut, his brain ringing in his skull. "We can't go back! Y-your dad is there." Myungsuk curled up. This was all his fault.

"Hey, hey, hey." Insoo stood up and pulled Myungsuk to his chest, holding him close. "It's okay. We'll figure it out."

"w-We will?"

Insoo nodded softly and nodded. "We will."

The optimism was short-lived, with the screeching of a bus piercing Myungsuk's ears. Myungsuk whined and Insoo quickly pressed his hands over Myungsuk's ears. The two looked up at the bus in front of them and a lump grew in Myungsuk's already dry throat.

The bus was packed. Pouring over with rowdy people in costumes with the scent of alcohol oozing out. Myungsuk gagged.

"Are you getting on? The bus driver asked.

Even if Myungsuk had his stuff, he wouldn't be able to get on.

Insoo silently shook his head. The driver huffed, closing the door and driving off down the silent street.

"I'm sorry," Myungsuk muttered. "t-This is all my fault."

"It's okay," Insoo said. He sat down and pulled Myungsuk to his lap, nuzzling his shoulder.

Myungsuk whimpered and wiped his eyes. He was supposed to be the one to console Insoo. Insoo just got kicked out of his house. Yet, he was back to his normal, gentle self.

"h-How are you so calm?" Myungsuk muttered.

Insoo let out a sigh. "Because"–Insoo pressed their foreheads together–"I'm happy as long as we're together"

Myungsuk paused. "That's it?"

Insoo chuckled, "Yeah." He pulled back and wiped a stray tear from Myungsuk's face. "I'm serious when I said you're my fated mate," he said. "I don't need anything but you by my side. Isn't that how you feel about me?"

Myungsuk gnawed his bottom lip and nodded. "Yeah," he breathed out.

Insoo smiled, his eyes forming beautiful crescents. "Then we can wait here until you've calmed down before we think of a plan." Insoo brushed his fingers through Myungsuk's hair. "Okay?"

Purring, Myungsuk leaned into his touch and nodded. He rested his head against Insoo's shoulder and cuddled him. They were finally back in each other's arms. As they should be.