101. Two Love Birds

"Damn, I have an annoying itch on my back, Stan can you help me out?"

"You only need me at times like this."

Yeon kept struggling to unsuccessfully reach for the center of his back but gave up and looked at his fated. It wasn't uncommon to have Stan sulking when they were together but this time, he wanted to address any issues without leaving them piling up. Knowing Stan, he'd happily lay out each and everything Yeon may have done to him whether knowingly or unknowingly.

Provokingly, he spoke. "If you don't want to help me I can just ask your dad." Stan crisscrossed his legs but didn't offer to hep. He was sitting atop Yeon's bed, watching him with a plain look on him.

Giving up on his quest to bait Stan, Yeon asked. "What's wrong with you these days? You're as grumpy as I used to be."

"Why can't we move in together?"

"This again? Hadn't we finalized on this matter...?"

"Aren't we going steady already?" Stan cut in.

"You're too needy Stan. We discussed this last week."

"We can discuss it again."

"You know the case is still going on hence it's not the right time to split up."

"Elric's mom has kept people watching us even though they don't make it that obvious. We are safe."

"Why do you want us to move in together this soon?"

"Why not." Stan replied sturbbonly.

"We are practically living together side you're always in my room."

"...But we aren't free. Last week, we stayed at your parents, shared your room yet you made me sleep on the floor the entire stay."

"You know what you did!" Yeon exclaimed defensively.

"Even so, I already apologized but you still left me in the cold."

Forgetting the itch on his back, Yeon decided to pay full attention to his sturbbon fated. "Stan, I get that you want me around all the time but let's be realistic. Time spent apart is important too. It gives each of us the space to do the things we like doing alone."

Predictably, Stan replied. "The only thing I like is being with you."

"Even so, It's not like you didn't have a life before we met."

"Whatever I used to do is not important any longer. You're are my intrest now." Rubbing his fingers across his hair, he added. "I can't believe I'm admitting this but I feel like I'm turning into my uncle. I want to be with you always and talk about you to other people, show you off and publicly express my feelings to you."

"You are your uncle! In fact a lot of people would think he was your dad."

Stan stared back at Yeon blankly.

"Look Stan, at some point having me around will become suffocating and it's too early in our relationship to get there. I want to take time to build my career. I'm at that critical stage where all I think of is my project and the outcome. Your uncle has networked me to a number of his conference meetings and I've met people who find my thesis promising. Do you know we currently have permission to test samples on humans, and there is already one positive result? When we get more volunteers, I could change a lot of peoples lives..."

"I volunteer." Stan interrupted. "If that will make us spend more time together."

"Stan, you already volunteered. Remember when I changed my project?" Yeon stated.

"So what are you working on now? Uncle won't allow me into his office let alone the lab."

Knowing Dr. Jiwon, that had to be true. He'd been adamant about even letting Stan pick up Yeon that he'd offered to drop him off himself to Stan's parents house. "Fine. I'll reduce my workload and we can spend time together. Will that make you bother me less?"

"At least let's go house hunting and before you object..." Stan gestured by raising his hand to stop Yeon from dismissing the idea. "I'll move in first, prepare the place up, warm it up for you so that when you finally move in, it will feel like our home."

After thinking for a while, Yeon responded. "You make me feel useless in this relationship. You're practically doing everything for both of us."

"All you have to do is love me Yeon."

Yeon wanted to argue with Stan but chose to take a different approach. Maybe this time, addressing Stan's insecurities might offer assurance to him so he can become less clingy. "I'm I doing it well?"

"Yes." Stan smilled, relieved that Yeon was cooperating. He'd prepared to counterattack every objection from his fated but this was a surprise.

"That's a relief." Yeon sighed. "I'm sorry I'm not good at showing how I feel but I'll do my best from now on. I got so good at revealing less of myself until it became a normal habit, which I tend to do subconsciously."

Seeing that their conversation was going smoothly, Yeon opted to at least do something Stan may like. He'd been too rigid in their relationship and having Stan take care of everything despite him not complaining still made him feel passive. "Do you want to listen to the playlist you made for me. It's kinda way past belated but I didn't want to listen to it alone."

Stan's eyes lit up. He seemed touched by Yeon's offer then nodded his head and to his surprise, Stan knew exactly where he had placed his Eyepod in his room. It was a relief since Yeon had forgotten about it from constantly procrastinating to listen to it later and much later until he felt it was too late to bring it up.

'Yea. Maybe the idea of listening to it will cheer him up. He did want us to play it together after all.'

"Why is it not working?" Yeon asked and watched Stan's face dropping again from disappointment.

'It's already hard enough dealing with him when he is happy. If he were to become more grumpier, how would I get him to relieve me from this annoying itch on my back?'

"Let's play the next song." Yeon suggested, his eyes still on Stan who seemed saddened as he stared at his Eyepod. "Did you at least crosscheck after making it?"

"No, I kinda did it in a rush... Oh! It's playing!" Stan exclaimed happily, pulling Yeon closer to him and kissed his forehead. However, his joy was short-lived when only one song played, the rest of them muted.

"This device is faulty." Stan concluded.

Looking to cheer him up, Yeon spoke. "It's a good song. It reminded me of your cheesy lines...or perhaps that's what I used to think you would say when you grew too quiet during your coma. You often seem to go overboard anyways so if I were to have a conversation with you at that time, I'd like to think you'd say cheesy things like that."

"But the other songs won't play..."

"I like this one." Yeon replied, hoping to end Stan's sulking.

"They were nice too...but if you like this one, then I'm relieved." Stan responded as he looked at his fated.

"Yea. I like it."

"Can it be our song?"

Yeon wanted to object vehemently but stopped himself. 'The urge to refuse strangles me.... Maybe for once, I won't fight him and let him have his way...but this is just too much. He'll make me listen to that song all day everyday...'

"Sorry. I'm always sentimental." Stan spoke up when he noticed Yeon's long silence.

"You don't have to apologize for that. I like the song. We both like it, and I think I'd like to listen to it sometime...but not always."

"Really?" Stan's face lit up again. He seemed deeply touched by Yeon's response.

"It especially suits you the most since you do careless things like using the power of fated mates."

Stan laughed, Yeon joining him afterwards.

" 'Climb every mountain and swim every ocean' my ass." Yeon added, prolonging Stan's laughter even more. "It's just a song but don't ever do that. You being in a coma tortured me and I don't want to have to go through that ever again."

"I promise." Stan replied in-between his laughter.

"Remember that promise. Keep it well too." Yeon cautioned, feeling more relaxed to see Stan happier now.

"I love you Yeon. I really do."

"Yea, I know."

"Can't you say it back?"

"If you know it already do I have to say it?"

"It would make me really happy to hear you say it."

"You're too needy."

"I know."

"...And don't apologize for it." Yeon cut in, knowing Stan would say sorry again. "I think it's kinda cool that you're like that."

Stan became speechless, his face suddenly turning completely red.

"Oh! I've never seen you get this flustered. So there is a first time for everyone." Pulling his fated towards him, he probed. "Come here."

"You're flirting with me Yeon." Stan spoke, his face buried on Yeon's shoulder.

"Thanks for believing in me even when I acted strong but felt like shit on the inside. Please don't ever change."

"Okay."

Yeon giggled. "I can't believe you are shy."

"You make me shy..."

"...And about us moving in, let me think about it a but longer."

"Okay."

After a brief silence, Yeon felt the mood was right to ask the favor again. "So will you help me with the itch on my back?"