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Rang wasn’t sure when their relationship had started being like this, but for certain to him it had been even long before he had finally obtained his brother back. His childish attitude had been accompanying him for as long as he could remember, and he had made no resolution to push it back now that he was an adult. Instead, he would cradle in it comfortably, completely unbothered by the trail of trouble his behaviour would leave behind.
That night was no different than the ones that had preceded it.
Since they had started living together with the human, he had taken the habit of getting out when Yeon and Ji-Ah would be together in the bedroom at night, often dragging himself in bars and drinking alone. At first he would come back the day after, the pungent smell of alcohol stuck on his suit and a smug smile adorning his face when his brother caught him sneaking back in early in the mornings. But since that attitude of his had earned not much of a reaction from Yeon, often times just a frown and a stern glaze when Rang passed by him to get to his room after the night out, he had been prompted to do worse. And now he would disappear for days, often times sleeping in hotels, coming back only when he deemed it was time to. His efforts did not go to waste, and in fact that had seemingly stirred something inside his brother, but, while he had gotten scolded more than once by Ji- Ah, Yeon only limited himself to sarcastic remarks. With Rang being the way he was, that obviously hadn’t satiated his hunger, and naturally he went on like this for months while never having enough.
In truth, he knew there was a faster way to make Yeon jump at his neck, and that would obviously be to turn back to his previous behaviour, doing something as simple as to harm a single hair on Ji-Ah’s head. The only problem with that plan would be that it was highly risky, for it could lead to a loss he wasn’t ready to consider (and never would be). For sure Rang didn’t want to hear his brother tell him again that he was going to cut all ties between them, not now that he could so easily twist him against his fingers.
So, resorting to a more practical plan, he decided it would be wiser to just disappear for a while (two weeks, to be more precise) and see how his beloved would act; to somehow prove that in reality he was right in thinking that Yeon held Ji-Ah in higher regards that him. To sort of give himself a sense of fulfilment in a situation in which he only wanted to scream and cry.
Thinking all of this by himself in a new bar tonight, he let his index finger trace the border of the glass in front of him, his eyes distant. The people at the table close to him were being quite noisy, some already drunk, but other than that the rest of the place was only filled by chit chatting and music. The walls were all red in colour, and thanks to the soft lighting coming from the lamps scattered around, they contributed to giving the whole place a sensual and intimate aura. Black metallic beams covered the ceiling, and while tables were round and black at the centre of the room, there were some rectangular ones just next to the walls and bigger in size, made so that one could get some privacy.
Rang was leaning on the counter, perfectly joint to his surroundings with his signature Bordeaux suit. While the jacket was now next to his drink, his button up, darker than the rest of his outfit, perfectly covered his torso and squeezed around his toned body voluptuously when he moved around. His hair was parted the usual way, and for one of his ears, he had added a ring-shaped earring with a dark stone hanging by it, now shining in a deep burgundy thanks to the lighting of the place.
Letting his thoughts travel again, he took the glass with his right hand and spun the liquid within it slowly. Naturally his head would visualize that face quite immediately, his sharp features, his copper hair, the way the corner of his mouth drooped, his defined cupid bow.
How he’d give up everything to have something as simple as peck from those lips.
In the months he had spent with him and Ji-Ah, Yeon hadn’t touched Rang at all, often times because his little brother would sneak out and go God only knew where (but there was no way he’d admit it was his fault). And the matter of the Ji-Ah being nothing more than a human didn’t help their cause, since Yeon would get anxious easily and try to escort her as much as he could. Even though Rang knew all of that, he still decided to quell in envy, playing tricks to catch his attention, so that one day he’ll finally have his eyes on him, and on him alone. How nice will it feel then, to at long last get shred to pieces by his dear brother? Really, he just wanted to be ruined prettily.
Chuckling softly by himself, he brought the glass to his lips and drank a small sip, the bitter taste filling his mouth. Licking his lips, he savoured the sweetness on them, feeling satisfied.
He wondered, do Ji-Ah’s lips taste as sweet as mine? Are they sweeter than honey, and is that why you wouldn’t even brush mine?
Still in his world, he was suddenly caught offhand by someone sinking in the place next to his, a too familiar smell hitting his nostrils. So he lifted his glaze slowly from his drink, capturing his surrounding little by little, his face now a mask of indifference and boredom. A beautiful beige suit, a golden wrist watch, a casual white shirt fitting perfectly on the body of the one that had invaded his space so brazenly, and then a pair of beautiful black eyes, but Rang could see the golden shine they emitted from time to time. A daring smirk blossomed on his lips, thought on Yeon’s face the only emotion that could be discerned would be indifference, annoyance even.
“ Of all the places, who could’ve thought you’d be here?”
Rang smirk widened then, a soft laugh escaping his lips.
“Never thought you’d waste your precious time in finding me”
“Oh yeah?”
Yeon didn’t bother in hiding a rebuke in his tone, the sarcasm tangible. Because obviously he knew the game Rang was playing quite well already and, as much as he hated it, he had been forced to play it too. Excitement then sparked in Rang’s stomach, and feeling even more daring now that he had achieved to finally make his brother lose a bit of his temper, he rebutted:
“Yeah”
All while making sure his voice was as velvety as possible.
His brother mask did not fell though, his eyes fixed on the younger fox’s ones, two black puddles full of threat. Rang wasn’t expecting it to with something as simple as that, and he knew the older fox was by now accustomed to his way of talking.
Therefore for a bit they just stared at each other, one smiling, the other emotionless, acknowledging one another’s presence.
Then when Rang brought his glass to his lips again, Yeon’s long fingers intercepted it and quite easily snatched it, only to place it on the counter again, but farther to Rang. So far apart that If he wanted to take it again, he’d have to lean completely on his brother frame.
Not that Rang wouldn’t dare to, but he choose to give a sarcastic reply instead.
“You’re no fun as usual, you really are an old hag”
One would agree how questionable It was to make fun of a thousand years old fox God, especially now that he had recently taken back his domain, but no worries clouded his mind, his confidence coming not only from the fact that he himself was part fox, but also because, knowing his brother, he wouldn’t hurt him.
“I can’t kill you”
he had said at that time on the rooftop, when he had handed him a knife.
“Why? Why can’t you do it?” Rang had replied, tears welling in his eyes.
He quickly drove the memory away, slowly blinking. It was common knowledge that he was the emotional one, his brother always composed for stuff that had no connection to Ji-Ah. How he wanted him to lose mind for once, to wreck him without mercy.
I want to see your mask break, I want to savour your anger when it’s spilling from all of the cracks in there, when you can’t no longer control it so that all is left for you to do is sink in it.
Yeon had probably noticed his thoughts drifting away, so he leaned closer and locked their eyes together again, one arm sitting comfortably on the counter, his body facing Rang’s side. Crossing his legs comfortably, he brushed the calf of the younger one with the tip of his shoe, succeeding in switching his attention back at him. Only then he let a smirk be plastered on his own lips, savouring the hint of confusion in Rang’s eyes.
Lifting his left hand, that had been on his pocket since he had slipped on the seat at the counter, he gently brushed his brother cheek and reached for the earring, turning it slowly in his fingers, admiring the changing glow of the gem as light reached it differently. Rang did not move away, but felt his heart sting painfully at the other’s touch.
Ah, how he’d wish he touched him that way in other places too.
Something shiny at the corner of his eye caught his attention then, and he let his eyes travel down to look at his brother’s long fingers just right when Yeon was retracting them. The golden ring on his left annular shined menacingly, and a bitter taste formed in the younger’s throat as he held a grimace back.
Yeon caught the glass discarded prior and gulped the liquid slowly, his body now facing the shelves filled with shiny bottles of liquor, his eyes fixed there but at the same time distant. Was he in no mood to talk? Apparently, that little play of his still needed yet to spark a bigger reaction in Yeon, while on the contrary, just the sight of that goddamn ring was enough for Rang’s bile to rise up and well on his chest. So now that he was facing away, he couldn’t help but scoff and shake his head lightly, letting some sarcastic words leave his mouth:
“Don’t you need to go back to your wife now? As you can see, I disappoint you in being still alive. Nothing noteworthy in here.”
Something seemed to awake in Yeon then, and Rang hated himself for letting it happen in the wrong way. Is talking about her the only way I can get your attention?
The older fox threw him a glance then, his eyes mocking:
“Don’t you need to get back to your husband too?”
As much as he hated it, Rang’s heart stung painfully again at that word, his stomach now a turmoil. For a moment he considered being the one jumping at his brother neck, baring his fangs and getting a bite of his pale skin; but knowing he wouldn’t get far he resorted to smirking and rebutting in a tone that was way too daring:
“And who would that be?”
They were now staring at each other again, so Rang could see the way Yeon’s pupils enlarged and shrinked in just a fraction of second, and felt a chill of excitement going down his spine.
Yes, this worked too.
“Ah, you see” he continued, sounding so reasonable for once that he was scary at the same time “Apparently I’m not an adequate person to marry.”
The way he talked, as If his interlocutor was clueless about the situation, while at the same time throwing a dart at him, he knew it would make Yeon want to shut him for good.
“Show me you care” someone screamed in the back of his mind. But he knew better than saying that out loud.
Yeon scoffed, then answered, his voice close to an hiss:
“You’ll soon get scalded by playing with fire.”
Rang smiled again.
“Oh, I know that very well dear brother. But maybe this time I’ll drag someone else with me in the flames.”
Then, while leaning in, he added: “Maybe the human would gladly be my chaperone.”
There it was; cold fury quickly filled Yeon’s eyes, which were by now getting golden in colour, his lips in a tight line. A warning to not continue any further, but Rang was having too much fun.
“Or maybe she’ll be dead by then. You know humans live pretty short lives.”
Dragging his right fingers slowly on the Bordeaux jacket sitting in between them on the counter, he made a sound as If he was deep in thought and added:
“But you, you will live eternally. As the great god you are.”
Paying particular attention to putting some stress on the word “great”, mocking.
Of course he knew this was a particularly sensitive topic for his brother, and had taken that up purposefully so that it would hurt him right where he wanted to.
How wicked.
“But I can do it” he had said then, swinging his knife and cutting a piece of Yeon’s suit.
“Do you know why I’m holding back?” a pause, then, with a smirk “Because I want to see…I want to see the look on your face when she dies again!”
Thinking back now, little had changed to him. Even If half of his brother belonged to him already, the thought of not being able to have the entire “cake” was making him even crazier than when he had only crumbs on his hands. He knew that he was being a petulant child but didn’t want to stop. Would the fire he had started burn him to the crisp eventually? So be it If it meant finally ending this torment.
Thought he’d rather have Yeon end his life.
The person he so longed for then stretched his left hand, placing it menacingly on his thigh. Rang regarded it with a glance, before lifting his eyes again, smiling. A soft squeeze followed.
“Stop acting like a child already, Rang.”
Then Yeon added mockingly: “I’m getting tired of it.”
Rang couldn’t help but chuckle at that, feeling exalted.
“Get angry then.”
He dared again that night, now painfully aware of his surroundings, of the music, of the people talking in the background, who were totally uncaring of what was happening right in front of them.
The squeeze on his thigh got sharper, and he had to bite down the yelp that threatened to escape his mouth.
His brother’s eyes were fully fixed on him now, seizing his attention: the cold ire in them giving Rang chills all over. Then Yeon exhaled, closing them slowly. Rang felt his irritation rise up at that, his smile almost dying.
What do I need to do more?
With a click of his tongue, his brother spoke again, now dragging his thumb in a slow caress on his thigh, his glance lowered:
“I won’t be dragging you out of trouble anymore If I get too tired of your games, Rang.”
Rang’s annoyance got even worse at that, but he hid it with a laugh.
So you’re threatening me now?
“You? You’ve abandoned me more than once and you’ll do it again.”
By instinct, his hand got to his stomach. The scar Yeon had given him was covered by the fabric of his button-up, but his older brother knew it was there as much as he did. He lingered on the zone for a while, then he let out a sigh. Yeon rebutted, his tone flat:
“You’ll need to stop fooling yourself like this one day.”
Then:
“You never change, don’t you, even after everything that has happened. All these years alive and you’re still a child.”
Rang took a sharp breath in at that.
Swallowing, he reached for the other’s wrist and carefully removed his hand from his thigh. Yeon let him do that, his expression unreadable.
“Now that you’ve fulfilled your duty to check on me, I must not keep you anymore.”
Rang stated uncaring, the heinous smile back on his lips.
“The human tends to get worried, no?”
Of course he wouldn’t come back home right away, but since he had had a fair amount of fun that night, he’d consider it in a couple of days. Maybe by then, by leaving Yeon alone in his anger, he would get what he so wished for.
He had started walking out uncaring of his brother’s glance, now going through the narrow corridor that would bring him to the exit, the red lighting getting so weak there that the place was almost pitch black. But right when he had reached for the door handle, he felt his arm getting yanked and his body got dragged inside again. Before he could react or do something as simple as protesting, he had gone through a door and had been slammed roughly on the wall next to it, his arm now twisted behind his back painfully. Having turned his head to the side to avoid crushing his nose on the smooth surface of the wall, Rang could make out the black washbasins and the mirrors hanging over them on his left side as the ones one could find in any fancy restroom. And making his glance travel just a bit up on the mirror, he could recognize the figure crushing onto his body, holding him in place.
Though he already had had an idea on who that was when his scent had hit his nose.
Chuckling lowly, he let himself curse under his breath:
“The fuck”
His brother’s breath was now so close that it brushed the skin on his neck sensually, getting Rang covered in goose bumps. Sharp chills started going down his spine as he felt Yeon’s scorching hot body pressed on his, feeling his anger deep down his bones.
“Why” Yeon inquired logically, in the same tone his brother had used not so long ago “It seemed to me that you wanted our chat to lead exactly to this.”
Rang couldn’t help but laugh at that. Really, that night was turning out to be more interesting that he had thought it would.
With only as much as a single pull of his bent arm though, the older fox was able to shut him up for good, making him yelp from pain instead. Pushing him closer to the wall, Yeon took a deep inhale on his neck, his eyes closed. Then he reopened them as he exhaled; Rang saw they were by now the honey colour he loved so much, glazed. He recognized the ire from before, but also saw some bitterness in them, a trace of resignation.
Beautiful.
Yeon started dragging his nose up and down his brother’s nape, nuzzling him and savouring his scent for a while, then placed a soft kiss on his neck. Rang felt his breath hitch at that and, judging by the way his brother scoffed against his ear, he probably had heard that too. Wanting to get him off, he tried getting his other hand free, the one belonging to the bent arm held too firmly for him to do anything. Yeon’s left hand was over his though, hence he held it in place on the wall easily, now intertwining their fingers.
Rang hated his face was facing exactly that way, that he had to see that ringed hand trapping his, a very sick metaphor of how their situation felt. The fox god’s breath trailed from the nape to his ear, and in there another soft kiss was placed, making Rang flinch harder. Then he felt teeth, gently nibbling.
As restlessness built up inside him, he raised his eyes on the mirror he was facing, meeting Yeon’s golden ones just as he sunk his teeth on his ear’s helix. A gasp escaped his lips, accompanied by a whine caused by the sharp pain he felt.
That would surely bleed.
His elder brother didn’t leave him in pain for long, and was now licking the blood away, never diverting his sigh from the younger’s one. Then he placed another kiss on the back of his ear, a hum escaping his lips. Trying to get back as little as he could of his lost pride in a situation like that, Rang smirked, inquiring sarcastically:
“I really must be yummy.”
Sharp pain followed again just beneath his mandible. This time a distinct grunt could be heard, the younger fox grinding his teeth together, his eyes full of rage. Yeon raised a brow at that, sneering:
“Aren’t you starving for attention?”
He hissed, his voice sending strong chills down his little brother spine.
“Don’t get angry when you get what you ask for.”
Rang laughed at that. Ignoring the newly added bruise, he replied:
“Oh, I’m really enjoying this, I assure you.”
He really must have gone crazy.
Yeon scoffed.
“Stubborn fool. Know when you should back down.”
With that, he abruptly pulled the other on his frame, capturing his jaw with his right hand, the other still holding his brother’s one.
With his newly freed arm, Rang searched for something to attach to now that his body had left the wall, his back leaning on the fox god’s torso. Reaching behind himself, he held on his brother hip for dear life, pulling him even closer. This newly found touch made his head spin: he could now feel his heat quite distinctly, the way his lean body moved with every shifting.
Yeon dragged them both back a few steps and leaned on his back on the washbasins, so Rang was now facing the fancy doors to the restrooms. Lifting the younger’s face slowly, the fox started nibbling at his neck, adding some soft kisses here and there. Rang’s eyes shut on instinct, his emotions now a chaotic tangle. His body went tense with every bite and melted when the pain had left the area, his heart painfully throbbing right as he felt his brother’s soft lips on his skin.
For sure that bastard knew what he was doing.
When a particularly sharp bite was placed at the base of his neck he couldn’t help but grunt again, but it got mixed with a moan was well.
“Ah fuck” he thought to himself then, “I’m loving this way too much”.
His grip on the other’s hand got stronger. Yeon didn’t comment on the moan, and started dragging his fingers further down from his jaw, reaching for Rang’s clavicles and caressing the skin there. Then he stretched for the skin under the button-up, drawing circles with his long fingers. Rang flinched hard at that, and his previously closed eyes opened slowly, now glazed. His free hand got on Yeon’s one on instinct, grabbing his wrist with force.
“What am I? Your chewing toy?”
He jokingly complained in between soft breaths. His older brother let a low chuckle out, resting his face on the curve of his neck. The place was now covered in bruises, the skin flushed. Rang couldn’t see it, but he surely felt the stinging in there so he quickly drew his conclusions. Knowing his blatant self, he’ll go around showing off his neck to anyone for the following week. Slowly turning his head, he met the other’s glance, the honey coloured eyes already fixed on his face. And for a moment he got lost in there, his breath heavy.
Then Yeon moved again; he slowly brought their intertwined fingers to his lips, placing a fleeting kiss on Rang’s ones, then another on the back of his hand. Rang wondered if he did that to Ji-Ah’s too. The thought that he probably did brought pain on his chest, and he drew his lips in a thin line. Feeling tears swelling in his eyes, he quickly turned his head the other way, now looking at the floor under their feet.
The kisses trailed down to his wrist and, now that he was feeling resentful, the younger fox couldn’t help sniffling at the goose bumps he felt all over, hating how his body reacted. This treatment was not an exclusive just for him, and knowing it made his heart throb painfully. The next feeling would probably be anger.
But why, why aren’t you angry at me too.
“Rang.”
His brother’s voice softly called.
Please, hate me.
Rang squeezed his eyes closed, taking one sharp inhale. Then he heard the door to the restroom open. Caught off guard, he hastily freed himself from Yeon’s embrace in a panicked move, the other letting him go, probably having abruptly gotten out of his stupor too. Rang rolled on the washbasin next to the one his brother was sitting on, clenching the edge and facing the mirror. Luckily the red light would cover the embarrassment he felt, his entrails intertwined just like their fingers had been not that long ago. The person was drunk too, so he probably didn’t realize what had been happening just a moment before as they approached the first restroom to threw their guts out.
Rang took advantage of that moment to steady his breath, blocking his eyes from getting more teary than they already were. As his glance moved to the mirror in front of him involuntarily, his reflection made him realize of wrecked he looked: his hair was beautifully messed up, his glazed eyes standing out on the flushed skin on his face; the collar of his button-up had come undone, showing his clavicles and fully exposing his bruised neck. His helix had coagulated blood on the zone his older brother had bitten, and he wondered how it hadn’t fallen off already. Watching it even made him realize of how acute the pain on his ear actually was, his hand reaching to touch it on reflex making him flinch. Sarcastically, he whispered in a low voice:
“Have you forgotten to eat this evening? Geez”
Yeon leaned on the sink to take a look at the ear, aided by the reflection on the mirror, his arms now crossed on his chest. A part of Rang regretted speaking up, completely aware of how ruined he looked now that he had checked himself on the mirror; the other felt excited, wanting for his brother to look at the mess he had done.
It was no surprise that Yeon wanted him, Ji-Ah knew it too, and it was the reason they were living together in the present time. Ji-Ah had probably become accustomed to it by now; while in the beginning it had been hard to endure for her, she probably felt that when she would die at least Yeon will have someone to rely on. And it was probably better to know the person he would spend eternity with, rather than dying with no assurance of who would the next one be. But the younger one wasn’t sure how much she knew about the feeling his husband held for him. In truth Rang should’ve been long gone by now, but his brother had made sure to keep him alive by giving him the remaining ground cherries from when Imoogi had died. Who had benefitted more from that decision, he didn’t know.
With a click of his tongue, Yeon turned again to look at the person in the restroom, that was now dragging himself out to reach for a sink. With a swift movement he moved closer to Rang’s side, sneaking a hand on his waist while the person washed his face and then got out of the restroom, swaying. Rang was still checking his ear, but noticed their closeness again.
“I’ll treat it when we get home. Refrain from touching it right now.”
“Get home?” Rang rebutted, defiance in his words: “It’s common knowledge that I’m a brazen bastard, but you? You’ve got no issues in showing me off to your wife?”
That word still left a bitter after taste in his mouth, but he wanted to push his brother to the edge a little more. Seeing how their small talk had led to him almost chewing his ear out, one day he may rip his guts from his stomach. Yeon’s hand reached for his jaw again, leaning dangerously closer, so that their noses almost brushed together. Letting his thumb caress his brother’s lower lip, he answered in a low voice:
“But you love it, don’t you? Such an attention seeker you are.”
Rang smirked at that, opening his mouth just as much as it was needed for Yeon to push his thumb in, then sucking it gently. That got an approving hum from Yeon, whose eyes were fixed on the other’s lips, pondering.
“I’ll give you a gift.” he then added, freeing his thumb.
Rang laughed hard at that.
“Oh my, how kind of you.”
Then his brother took his left hand in his, bringing it to his lips. Softly kissing his palm, he then got his third finger into his mouth, giving a sharp bite to it. Rang hissed a cuss, getting his hand away as soon as Yeon softened his hold on it. Ready to jump at the god’s neck, the younger fox held his hand close to his chest, observing the blood in his ring finger, before turning to his older brother with an expression of rage.
It was quickly replaced by a quizzical one though, as Yeon was now removing his wedding ring with a serene expression. Bringing his ring finger to his mouth as he had done with his brother’s one, he bit down with the same force, leaving the same bloody mark in there, then showing it to the other person. As Rang was about to utter something, he felt another sharp pain on the bitten finger. The wound had turned scorching hot, and it felt as If someone had tied a thin thread around it and was now tightening it more and more with each passing minute. In a moment though, the bloody sign was replaced with an incredibly thin golden ring, tattooed on the skin. When the pain had finally ceased, Rang stared at his brother again, noticing that on his ring finger the same sign had been engraved.
Then he realized.
Yeon was putting his wedding ring on again, covering the new sign on the skin. Incredulous, his younger brother muttered:
“Have you lost your mind?”
A hysterical laugh following the words. For sure no one would expect for their engagement to happen in a restroom.
“I’m very much sane.” Yeon replied with a smile, coming closer to him again.
His hands reached for his nape, bringing their faces only inches apart, their noses brushing together. Yeon’s eyes were now their normal reddish brown, a sign that he had regained his composure. Rang, on the contrary, was feeling too much all in once. Was he still angry and resentful? Yes, but he was also feeling the not quite light brush of butterfly wings in his stomach, accompanied by a huge weight on his chest.
“I’m not a child so why am I getting so excited, dammit” he thought, irritated.
Yeon softly caressed his hair for a moment, then leaned to brush his lips on his forehead first, trailing down to softly kiss his brow bone, his nose and then, finally his lips. Caught off-guard, Rang’s breath hitched, and his body went as still as a board. But then, when Yeon gently nibbled at his lips, he finally let himself melt into his touch, sliding his arms on his hips and then finally grabbing his back, hugging him closer. Their kiss got deeper by the moment, the fox god pulling at the other’s hair from time to time, making Rang give soft hums of approval against his lips.
When they slowly broke apart, while the other’s eyes were still their beautiful brown, one of Rang’s ones had changed into a honey marble. Yeon smiled again when he saw that, leaning for a final soft kiss.
Rang thought it could be fine to not be angry for just a moment.