N͜͡i͜͡c͜͡h͜͡o͜͡J͜͡o͜͡o͜͡

𝕻𝖔𝖛: Nicholas, Euijoo
𝕾𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘: K, Fuma, Taki
𝕿𝖆𝖌𝖘: fluff, mates, rivalry, friendship, bromance, hugs, comforting, empathy 
𝕹𝖔𝖙𝖊:
- this oneshot is dedicated to YeonJeanLynn, who also helped me with the second part of this short story - most of the time figuring as Euijoo, her bias~ 🤎 and so some very important amount of credits go to her as well 💛 thank you, dear✨️
- please, comment if you see something I should correct, I have no more power to check it again XD 

.°«•☽︎♥︎☾︎•»°.

.°«•☽︎♥︎☾︎•»°.

Four young men emerged from the sea of ​​golden wheat and looked around at both sides of the railway track in front of them. A wave of wind that whispered loudly through the stalks brushed against their faces, throwing strands of Koga's dark hair into his eyes.

"Okay," said the oldest, and at the same time the tallest, with a clap, attracting back the attention of the other three excited expressions. While Nicholas' eyes were burning with competitive spirit, Euijoo was smiling widely and Fuma's eyes were brimming with enthusiasm that grew to the corners of his mouth.

"The train will meet this spot in a couple of minutes. The rules are clear - overtake the others and the train before it enters the village. The first one back in human form wins. Feel free to play the dirty game, but I don't think you have time for that," Koga explained, his gaze moving from one pack member to another. Euijoo smirked.

"... and to keep it from being boring and predictable... I'll give y'all whole three second lead," the silver wolf provoked, bringing even more competitiveness into the others.

Three seconds?

"Since when am I just entertainment for lycanthropes?" mumbled Euijoo.

"Sheesh, is he for real?" Nicholas chuckled in disbelief, touching the tip of his nose.

Fuma just friendly put his arm around the confident shoulders next to him and strained between his teeth: "Don't you have too much ego, K-hyung?"

Me? Koga indicated with his lips, pointing to his puffed chest, an innocent doe look in his dark chocolate eyes.

"No, actually I think he's still just very modest and generous," came an unexpected telepathic voice from the side, after which a smaller wolf-garou emerged from the wheat, its fur shining slightly in purple tone in the bright sun.

"Taki?" Fuma was surprised. He still couldn't get used to the younger one's tracking skills. Not only was he good at detecting and following scents, but he was also good at using wind direction to his advantage so that others would not quickly notice his presence.

That's my kid - that was what the sparks in Koga's eyes clearly whispered as he placed his hand on his hip proudly.

"Great, so now he even has his cheerleader here, heh," Euijoo noted quietly getting annoyed, but his sweet smile was perfectly hiding it on the outside.

"Jealous?"

"As if-" Joo retorted as he began to flex his limbs briefly.

So so... Nicholas thought, unintentionally squinting from K to Euijoo. My goal is to beat only Juju anyway.

"... a-and don't try to tell me it's dangerous and I should leave - that would be hypocritical. Here you yourself run the risk that someone will see you transform directly in the daylight like a mirage," Taki blurted out as soon as he changed into his human form before anyone could open their mouths and complain.

The elders exchanged a look. Among them, only K's turned into a benevolent smile, as he walked towards the youngest.

"Taki, you really should not-"

"Sure you can stay~ You can count down to the start for us," Koga suggested, interrupting Nicho and patting the shorter boy's shoulder. Taki's face immediately brightened.

Well... until Nicholas approached them and hissed to K: "Don't make me look too strict and overprotective. Since when do you think you decide what he can do?"

"Probably since I became the alpha of the pack?" the silver wolf fought back.

Taki's jaw dropped as he hung onto K's arm lightly.

"He's my younger brother, I am responsible for him," responded Nicho, feeling affected.

"I- I am still here, guys."

"So am I~ Chill and remember I'm here only to cover your freakin' back, Wang~" the alpha quietly sang out through his teeth, shown up in the forced smile, as he tilted his head in the direction, from where he saw Euijoo step forward through his peripheral vision.

However, Fuma stepped in between them sooner.

"Okay, stop the needless barking, puppies," he giggled, creating some space between the alpha and the "big brother". He actually understood Nicholas very well... he felt the same way about Harua.

"Right, it's just a freight train after all. There will be no one in it except the driver." If that's what Euijoo, their best informer, was claiming, it must have been truth... That successfully calmed Nicholas down and he stepped back, relaxing his slightly enraged face.

Right... it's gonna be safe and Koga is playing my game, anyway - he reminded himself and swallowed the rest of his rage with a slight nod, while eyeing the other pack members.

"You're so hyped and raged today," Euijoo remarked quietly with a smirk and slightly touched Nicholas's shoulder.

The young man sourly smiled at his peer.

Then suddenly the roar of an oncoming locomotive caught everyone's attention.

"Okay guys, get in the line - palms, feet to ground, no cheating - and prepare to change. On Taki's 'go' the front of the locomotive will be level with us. You all start, I count to another three. Let's go!" Koga gave out instructions, gesturing with his hands like a pro train dispatcher. Then he put his palms in line with Fuma's, Nicholas's and Euijoo's as well.

"Fine. So- Three!" Taki exclaimed.

Remember, stay close to the track, so you'll get the shorter arc. Euijoo won't dare to run so close to the train...

"Two!"

Nicholas glanced at the silver wolf behind Fuma's stout garou silhouette and nodded with a gulp, before his hands turned into paws covered with longer ivory fur.

"One!"

His claws dug into the ground as he snorted.

"GO!"

The locomotive reached their level and three wolves indeed left the start line with full determination to win. So did later the lycanthrope.

However, as soon as the expected situation occurred and Fuma was ready to use his saved energy to get in front of both Nicholas and Joo rivalling, silver wolf added speed and jumped at the red rust garou to bring him to the ground.

He almost immediately changed back to his human form so as not to accidentally hurt the slightly smaller wolf... or possibly himself.

Following that Fuma transformed back as well and grabbed the arms towering above him.

"Dude, what are you doing?!" he shouted as he was drowned out by the noise of the wagons hurtling down the track beside them.

"I'm helping the birth of love!" Koga exclaimed, his eyes obviously shining in excitement.

What? Fuma's expression soured.

"Because I'm such a romantic soul," K smiled amused.

"Get off me...," the telepathy was accompanied by a low growl.

"C'mon, get off me!" Fuma repeated out loud, as the elder began to laugh at him and trapped him in his loving brotherly embrace.

***

Meanwhile, Nicholas kept up with Euijoo. The big finale of this game was close. It was actually only a matter of a few measly seconds, as it was clear that the smart garou running next to him would soon find it really strange that no one had yet overtaken him. Even the only one Euijoo could at least compare himself to was stuck right behind his back, despite the fact that the ivory wolf certainly had a few chances to get in front of him. 

Okay, now is the time... before his mind starts to question the situation too much. 

Another turn gave Nicholas more speed. He finally took the chance to commit his planned attack on Euijoo... First he briskly jumped against the wagon full of logs, then bounced from it straight after the hunter-green shaded coat. 

He actually wasn't consciously quite sure if he rather wanted Euijoo to predict this attack or not... but somewhere inside, for some deeper reason, he willed him to expect it. 

And of course, Euijoo's senses were strong as always. He noticed the bigger wolf jumping after his back immediately and tried to dodge closer to the train, against the trajectory of the flying body. 

Ahh sh- 

However, that evasive maneuver was not enough. Nicholas collided with him, the speed he gained causing them both tumble down a little hill in one big fluffy ball. Not gonna lie - it wasn't very pleasant to feel every bump and stone on their backs, even though they were used to pain. 

"Hey!" Euijoo growled at the other, despite the fact that his heartbeat was quickening from him just being so close. It made Nicholas growl back in surprise... but soon, as they finally landed and fell apart, he swept it away with a heartful laugh Euijoo could hear telepathically. 

That act threw the informer off guard. His ears fell back and he looked into Nicholas' eyes: "What's so funny?" The hunter-green wolf shook his head so the dirt and leaves would fall from his fur. Nicho did the same and rolled through his back to face Euijoo. 

"You- you know me so well, Juju," he laughed some more before their eyes met. 

Ah, why's his laugh so cute? The informer thought, as he got on all four and shook his whole body. Dirt fell from his fluffy coat. "I can read you like a book," he also let out a little chuckle. It was true - the 'older' was easy for him to read. 

Nicho couldn't hold back his chuckling. He didn't plan to dash-roll down like that, but in the end it was funny and Euijoo's expression was just so lovely... The reassurance that the informer really knew him well was just so comforting and warm. Yes, this decision to say my feelings out loud must be the right one. 

"Are you mad?" a smirk could be heard in Nicholas' voice. 

Mad? How could I be mad at him? He's too adorable now. Euijoo gently pawed the top of the ivory wolf's head where a tiny leaf clung to his fur. 

"I'm furious," he replied sarcastically, falling in love again with this side of Nicho that acted like a pup. 

Like this, Euijoo couldn't really see him blushing and that was the advantage of being in wolf form... but yeah, Nicholas wanted to show as much of his affection as possible now. And so, although he felt so warm because of blush and nervousness, he turned back into human and sat up in the grass with a light smile in his eyes and corners of lips. Other loup-garou followed these moves, sat down in front of him and fixed his hair. 

"You probably already guessed that this is not an actual race," Nicholas giggled with his smily expression getting even more shy. 

Euijoo felt like he knew what thoughts were causing those rosy cheeks. Trying to hold in his smile and calm his racing heart, he couldn't hold in a little chuckle anyway: "Riiight." 

K was a fast runner... when he and Fuma were gone, as Joo looked back during the race, he knew immediately something was up. "I had a feeling it wasn't. But what is it then, Nicho?" smiling Euijoo nudged the nervous boy to answer. He wanted to hear him say it. 

So here it is... there is no way back. Nicholas exhaled the tension and brought his palms to his lips in a subtle prayer. 

"Well... I just wanted K-hyung to help me have inconspicuously my last race with you before it could be all possibly ruined by what I need to tell you," Nicholas touched his ear and bit on his lip before he dared to look in those big eyes again. "You know... I love to run by your side, Juju." Oh gosh, running was supposed to relieve my stress, but my heart is still in racing mode. 

The addressed boy looked away and glanced at the surrounding trees, nodding... it being his own way of hiding the blush creeping on his cheeks. "I know...," he chuckled lightly and kept tucking his hair behind his ear, without actually realizing how flustered it was making him look. 

Just like he always tried to make others feel heard, Nicholas waited for this brief acknowledgment as well. Then he nodded to himself and reached for the fidgety hand close to Euijoo's ear to carefully grab it and make the shy doe eyes look back at him. 

"I- our lives are dynamic... and each day can be the last one for us but... as I say - life is a series of choices and you understand me so well, Euijoo. You're always here by my side... both in good and bad times... and with your warm smile everything seems to be so much easier. I can be just fine knowing you're right here around me all the time but still-" 

Nicholas embraced Euijoo's hand with both of his slightly shaking ones and again focused to look at the blush and lovely doe gaze in front of him... his eyelashes and voice trembled a bit: "I want you to know... that I chose to tell you - I really like you, Juju."

The informer knew many things... and he also knew this confession would eventually happen. But God, he didn't expect it to make him feel like this. He had to remind himself to keep breathing. His heart was beating hard, and with their werewolf senses, he was almost certain Nicholas could hear it. A shy smile formed on his lips. 

"I'll always run by your side, Nicho..." Euijoo placed his other hand on Nicholas' as well and intertwined their fingers. "Just as I always did. But...," he chuckled nervously, trying to tell his heart to relax and let him speak properly for once. 

While sensing Euijoo's reaction, expressions or the way his chest was raising faster, Nicholas barely realized his own is going crazy, as he was listening to the sweet alike honey voice. Being wolf, his ears would be perked and maybe even twitching, yet now he only could feel his eyes shining and smile becoming wider and brighter as happiness filled his whole body with excitement and expectations... and a bit of worries. 

"But! Let's be more than just friends." 

After this final added sentence, Nicholas couldn't stay chill and jumped around Juju's neck to hug him, causing him to burst into laughter and to almost fall backwards, if it wasn't for his arm that caught him from it to happen. Then Joo wrapped his arms around Nicholas' warm body and pulled him closer. He could feel his heart racing just like his. 

"So you- will you really be my mate? Can we be together?" Nicho asked excitedly while hugging Euijoo happily alike a puppy. 

"Yeah... let's be mates," mellow voice agreed in a chuckle, released because of the cuteness he was holding tightly in his arms... "I really... really love you...," Euijoo said quietly, as if he had just told his little secret for the very first time and smiled like crazy.

Suddenly, Nicholas felt so complete. His presence soothing and his time slowing down between their synchronizing beats. His heart close to Euijoo's felt so incredibly right and it pounded so fast above his words that he thought he could forget even how to breathe. He felt so so happy in his embrace and listening to his soft smiley voice. 

"Me too... I do love you too... I love you so much, Juju," Nicholas replied close to the other's ear with a smile he couldn't resist. Luckily, he suppressed the urge to bite Euijoo's ear playfully out of the excitement and only leaned his forehead to his neck for a while... breathing out. 

Euijoo's heart skipped a beat... shiver ran down his spine. It was clear from the beating of Nicholas's heart that he really meant what he said. 

When the older raised his head and looked into the doe eyes again, he could see the little flames caused by his warm breath he blew against Joo's hearing and bare skin on his neck just a moment ago. 

Euijoo reached his hand up to brush Nicho's dark bangs from his lovely eyes. He really wanted to tell them something nice... although it took him a little while to come up with something, given his shyness. 

"The race is over... but my heart won't stop racing," Euijoo chuckled finally expressing his thoughts, then bit his lower lip. His cheeks turned red, hoping he didn't sound so cringe. 

Unfortunately for him, honest Nicholas couldn't help himself and indirectly confirmed that yes... yes, it did.

"You're really bad at this kind of words," he giggled, frowning in the shared embarrassment and cupping Euijoo's rosy cheeks. 

"Shut up... do you want me to change my mind?" a sour smirk ran into the blush under the warm palms. 

"Nono," Nicholas shook his head, toothy smile not leaving his happy expression, as he lovingly caressed Euijoo's cheekbones with his thumbs... 

He knew their redness will forever remind him of playful long summer days in the golden fields... soaked in the blood of the past... his eyes hypnotizing him, being brighter than the sun and more captivating than the Moon... drowned in the glow of his lips... so soft, so fitting, so fulfilling... and so... so encouraging...

Yes, he kissed them... He kissed Euijoo so devotedly, feeling like with him by his side, every war that broke out would be their fateful victory. 

For this moment, they ruled the world, the bond between them became their crown...  its shine reflected in the warm smile of their lips... slowly pulling away from those sealing kisses. 

.

"You sound even more awkward... just so you know...," Euijoo whispered with a puckish smirk. 

"I'm very much aware..." 

.°«•☽︎♥︎☾︎•»°.

♥︎Chose this short cut from the last episode, because this show is just nichojoo's teasing, embarrassing and shy core♥︎

https://youtu.be/6QJMuv9KH7s

I hope you guys enjoyed this oneshot XD it was supposed to be published a month ago... but yeah... you know, I know, Leeknow. Seeyou again in five years XD love you~ bye~ <3