#before settling junhwan didn't shift much in public. usually picked some big predator and stuck to that. glowering to ward people off

[wovenstarlight]

(on ao3)

It's kind of eerie, how little hyung and his daemon talk now. Yoohyun remembers months upon years of waking up to the sounds of them arguing in the kitchen, exchanging sleepy blinks with Junhwan as they both listened to Haeun whine and Yoojin complain, still half-dozing in the warmth of morning. He remembers their silent agreement to pretend to still be asleep when hyung and noona finally quieted down and came to their door, slipping in to pet Yoohyun's hair and nose at Junhwan's fur and feathers and scales, gently coaxing them to wake up.

Yoohyun sits at the foot of his bed, now, with Junhwan leaning against his legs, and they both listen to the sounds of the TV coming from the living room.

...

Yoohyun and Junhwan don't talk much. They've never needed to. They've never wanted to, not when they could be listening to hyung and noona instead, answering them and basking in their affection and attention. When it comes to each other, they move in silent synchronicity most of the time, communicating with glances and subtle shifts in body language, and it's only really when they need to be absolutely certain of the situation that they exchange words out loud.

They don't argue. Not really. Not when they both know what's most important. Not when they know how willing the other is to fight for it.

(The last time Yoohyun remembers Junhwan ever challenging him is that night he left home, three years ago. He'd opened the door, and before he could step over the threshold, Junhwan had moved smoothly to stand in his way, twisting to look up at him. He'd been a tiger, still holding the form from when he'd playfully flopped over a yowling Haeun earlier that evening. There was a bit of fur on his forehead standing up straight where Haeun had resigned herself to defeat and licked it uncomfortably against the path of his fur in revenge.

Yoohyun had stared at him. Junhwan had stared back, eyes luminous in the bit of light reaching the door from the living room. For a moment, they'd stood there quietly. Then Junhwan had opened his mouth.

"Are you sure?"

Yoohyun's grip had tightened on the strap of his backpack. For a moment, he'd been still, then he'd reached out a hand to smooth his daemon's fur down. "I need to keep hyung safe," he'd said in lieu of an answer.

There'd been a rustle from the living room sofa. A sleepy, confused call of his name. Yoohyun had tensed, fingers tightening in Junhwan's fur. "Move," he'd said.

Junhwan had stared up at him.

"...Yoohyun-ah? What's... Where are you going?"

He'd passed through the door. Yoohyun had followed right behind him. They'd walked away together. Silent synchronicity, as always.

"Yoohyun-ah? Wait- Wait, where are you-"

They both understood what was important, after all.)

From the other room, hyung snorts, clearly audible over the low murmurs of the TV. Maybe in response to whatever he's watching. Maybe in response to something noona said. Yoohyun doesn't know. He didn't hear anything from her. Hyung doesn't say anything back, either.

Junhwan leans harder against Yoohyun's legs, and he glances down at him. He's still a tiger—has been ever since that night three years ago—and today, the white fur of his forehead is marred by where Haeun had nuzzled her face into it, blurring the solid lines of his stripes. For a moment, Yoohyun almost reaches a hand out to smooth down the fur.

Yoohyun and Junhwan don't talk much. They don't need to, not when they know what's important. What they both need, what they both want, what they both think.

It's why Yoohyun is startled when Junhwan looks back up at him and opens his mouth to ask, "Is it our fault?"

He's not surprised, really. The thought has been running through his mind ever since he stepped into the room with his brother earlier in the day and was given both a close hug and a distant smile. Did I do this, he'd wondered as hyung had stuttered his way through a stiff goodbye to him and Junhwan. Is it my fault, he'd wondered as they'd given their own farewells to their hyung and noona, only to get that same distant smile back from Yoojin and a silent, wide-eyed stare from Haeun.

Do they not trust me anymore?

He's not surprised by the question. He is surprised that Junhwan bothered to ask. They both already know the answer, after all.

Yoohyun suppresses the urge to comb fingers through his daemon's fur until it lies flat. Maybe they'll ask noona to groom him tomorrow.

(Maybe she'll even say yes.)