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Yuuta’s nerves had teeth tonight.
He paced the length of the common room with such agitated energy that every few steps his nails lengthened and sharpened, the faint clicks betraying just how tightly strung his nerves were. His wolf wasn’t surfacing, not fully, but the edge of it pressed against his skin in restless waves. He could feel the ghost of a tail swishing behind him, ears threatening to prick into sharp points at the faintest sound.
The clock ticked on, life seemed to continue with no sense of urgency while the air was empty of the one scent he craved.
Maki had given up rolling her eyes and settled onto the couch stretched out with a book as though she had all the time in the world. Her expression said she was deeply entertained even while her eyes stayed fixed on the page. Beside her, Panda lay sprawled on his back across most of the cushions, a massive bowl of popcorn propped lazily on his belly. He crunched happily with each bite, flicking stray kernels at Yuuta whenever he got too close.
“You’re going to put a trench into the floorboards.” Maki drawled finally, not bothering to glance up; instead she only turned the page with a pointed certainty.
Yuuta’s steps faltered, running a hand through his hair and tugging at the roots. His throat was dry, mouth filled with the taste of nerves. “He should’ve been back by now.”
“He’s fine.” Maki’s voice was ironclad with confidence, though there was a subtle softness tucked behind it.
“Probably just stopped for a rice ball.” Panda added with his mouth full. “You know Toge.”
Yuuta wanted to believe them, find comfort in their assurances, but his wolf didn’t. Every beat of his heart was an echo of too long, too long, too long.
“You’d think the big bad werewolf could track his mate down instead of pacing like a nervous puppy. We can practically see your ears twitching to every noise made.” Maki said, lips pressed tight after.
Yuuta froze, shoulders stiff. “..My ears don’t twitch.” He muttered.
“They do.” Panda said around another mouthful. “Like this- ” He waggled his furry ears in an exaggerated flick, grinning.
Heat crawled up Yuuta’s neck, but he didn’t argue because he knew the truth. His body betrayed him every time Toge was away too long. He ached without him, like the moon pulling tides.
The faint scrape of the door sliding open sent his whole body rigid and his head whipped toward it, lungs filling in a rush.
Toge stood framed in the doorway, shoulders drawn, collar tugged high. His silver hair was mussed from wind and battle, pale lavender eyes shadowed with fatigue. The heavy scent hit Yuuta before words did: burnt air, charred curse-rot, the metallic tang of blood that had hints of Toge’s own that was unavoidable, but mostly of something foreign. Under all of it, his scent, the steady anchor Yuuta had starved for.
The wolf in him surged forward and Yuuta was across the room in a heartbeat, steps almost predatory, a low rumble vibrating in his chest. His arms wrapped around Toge before he could think better of it, nose buried against his shoulder, dragging in lungful after lungful while ignoring all the viscera and whatever else. He couldn’t stop himself, tugging down at the zipper of the collar before he pressed along the line of Toge’s throat, committing every note of his scent to memory until the taut coil inside him began to slowly and painfully release.
“Kelp.” Toge rasped, voice crackling with the raw scrape of cursed speech. The single syllable carried heavy meaning: I’m here.
Yuuta shivered, the sound anchoring him deeper than any chain could.
“Mustard leaf.” Toge added, voice low, throat scraped raw but settled Yuuta’s restless wolf at once as he reached out, running his hand along Yuuta’s arm gently.
Behind them, Maki shut her book with a heavy thud. “There. Happy?” She asked dryly, though her smile was more tender than sharp.
Panda crunched another handful of popcorn flopping sideways across the couch to get a better view, making the cushions dip with his weight.. “Hopeless.” He muttered cheerfully. “Completely hopeless.”
Yuuta ignored them, holding tighter, he didn’t care about what either of them said when his world was right again. The relief hit him so hard his knees nearly buckled. Yuuta pressed his forehead to Toge’s temple, breath shaky. His body still hummed with restless energy, the wolf demanding proof, absolute and unshakable proof that his mate was whole.
He forced himself to draw back just enough to look him over. His hands moved without thought, cataloging everything smoothing down sleeves, pressing along ribs, brushing down to wrists. Toge didn’t resist. He simply stood in patient silence, gaze steady, eyes softer than his body language allowed.
“Let me.” Yuuta whispered, almost pleading despite Toge’s lack of dispute. “Please, I need to know you’re okay.”
Toge’s lips moved against the edge of his collar. His chest rose with the breath it cost him, and then hoarse, rasping, heavy with power he said. “Yuuta.”
The word sank deep, weighted by cursed speech, and Yuuta’s wolf whimpered at the binding truth. His shaking eased fractionally, but not completely.
“You used too much.” Yuuta murmured, thumb brushing the steady beat at Toge’s pulse. “Your throat, you should be more mindful.”
Toge tilted his head slightly, the gesture both weary and indulgent. He could have stepped away, could have insisted on a shower on his own first, could have shrugged Yuuta off. Instead, he surrendered, letting Yuuta’s hands catalog every line of him, every scar and bruise. It was as much a promise as any word he might have spoken.
“Not until I’m sure.” Yuuta whispered, inhaling against the warm skin of his neck. The wolf in him keened, greedily memorizing the clean lines of Toge’s scent beneath the layers of curse laden residue and stink. “I promise I won’t take too long.”
“Mm.” Toge hummed, soft and gravelly. He forced the word past the ache in his throat: “Salmon.”
“I know.” Yuuta kissed the edge of his jaw, tender and reverent. “I’ll let you rest soon. Just a little longer.”
From the couch came a loud, pointed crunch of popcorn. Panda chuckled, voice rumbling. “What’d I tell you? They’re made for each other, only Inumaki can tame him.”
“Completely domesticated.” Maki added, smirk sharp but eyes fond.
Yuuta didn’t bother acknowledging either of them, lowering his voice to a vow the wolf in him recognized as bond and oath. “Never again will you come back to no one waiting. I’ll always be here.” His arms tightened. “Always.”
Toge’s eyes softened further. He let out a small, cracked syllable, voice like gravel dragged across glass: “Tuna mayo.” It carried deep, unspoken affection.
And Yuuta finally exhaled, the wolf inside stretched out like a hound before a fire, content at last. The pack was whole again. He slightly shifted, reluctant to release him, but Toge leaned just enough into his side that Yuuta got the message he wasn’t asking for space, only for guidance toward rest.
“Come on.” Yuuta murmured, sliding an arm beneath Toge’s. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Toge’s lips curved faintly behind his collar, eyes half lidded with exhaustion. He gave the smallest nod, the tiniest sound of agreement and let himself be led wherever Yuuta would deem fit.
They slipped down the hall together, Yuuta slowing his stride to match Toge’s dragging steps. Panda’s chuckle and Maki’s muttered “pathetic” followed them out, the teasing laced with warmth. To Yuuta, it sounded like extra confirmation that they were all safe and steady.
The shower room was filled with lingering gentle steam, curling warm around them. Yuuta worked quickly once at one of the stalls, fingers deft as he tugged away Toge’s jacket and shirt. He checked each piece for tears, any more blood as if he hadn’t already looked a moment ago, then dropped it aside. Toge didn’t resist, he simply lifted his arms when guided, bowed his head when Yuuta smoothed damp hair back. The quiet obedience wasn’t submission, it was trust born from countless nights like this.
The shower itself was quick, more ritual than luxury. Yuuta guided him beneath the spray once every fragment of clothing had been removed from Toge and then himself, careful hands washing away sweat and debris, smoothing soap over tired shoulders and down his arms. Toge closed his eyes, letting the warmth soak into sore muscles, leaning faintly against the tiled wall while Yuuta rinsed him clean.
When they were done, Yuuta wrapped a towel around Toge and dried him off in practiced motions, working gently at his hair until silver strands clung damply to his temples. Toge’s voice rasped once, almost inaudible from the tenderness of overuse. “Spicy cod roe.”
Yuuta’s chest ached. He pressed his lips to the crown of his head. “Always.”
In their room, Yuuta pulled open the dresser and fetched the soft flannel pajamas Toge liked best. The shirt went over his head, sleeves guided down his arms, then the pants tugged up with steady, careful hands. Toge only followed his lead, his body pliant in Yuuta’s care, eyes heavy with sleep but softened in a way that said this was safe.
Yuuta tucked him into bed, smoothing the blanket over him. Only then did the wolf in him relent, allowing himself to put on something for bed as well before climbing in and curling close, arms wound protectively around Toge’s waist. His nose buried against clean hair, he inhaled until all that was left was warmth and the undeniable scent of home.
Toge stirred just once, his voice cracked and hoarse but sure as he rasped into Yuuta’s collarbone: “Tuna mayo, Yuuta..”
Yuuta answered with a low hum that rumbled like a purr in his chest, tightening his hold. “I’ll never leave you, you can sleep as long as you like.”
Toge drifted into sleep within moments, breathing slow and even. Yuuta stayed awake a little longer guarding him, the wolf finally able to fully rest.
His pack was safe and his mate was home.