117. Waging War

"The standard unit of measuring scents is called Naks abbreviated as NK. The scale of measurement specifically begins at 0 to 5, 5 being the strongest."

"What's yours?"

Yeon looked away from Stan and adjusted his white lab coat. "Let's talk about yours since I've experimented on it more thoroughly. During your coma it was 2.3Naks but post recovery, it rose 3.2Naks. You'll notice your scent improved by a larger mirgin since before your accident while conducting my first project, it used to be much lower scaling at 3.0Naks."

"A difference of 0.2? I woundn't call that much.."

"It is much. This is not economics Stan. In medicine it's a big deal. If your temperature rose to 38 on a Celcious scale instead of a normal 37, we'd have to find out why that happened, and probably administer some fever reliever. That 0.2 difference is enough to change your cellular respiration...." Yeon halted suddenly upon noticing his fated's look of disinterest. "You know what, let's not discuss this further."

"Thank you. My brain can't explode this quick just when we've started working together."

"You shouldn't be in the lab." Yeon went about changing his gloves and began winding up his duties as Stan swirled around on the seat his uncle ussually occupied.

Upon realizing his uncle's absentia around Yeon during his shift, Stan had jumped at the opportunity to sneak into the lab, knowing Yeon would be there. He'd been given a walkaround at the hospital by one of his uncle's staff and was adviced to wait for him in his office.

Stan had hoped him and Yeon would be sharing the same work space but that wasn't going to be so. His uncle too had been from one surgery after another that he'd gotten bored staying in his office and went to the lab, which was on a diferent building separte from the main hospital alltogether.

He hadn't realised just how much time apart Yeon and his uncle spent working that he wondered why his uncle often bragged about being in the lab with Yeon all day and whenever he'd asked after his uncle, Stan was informed to wait in his office since after scrubbing, he was not to be disturbed unless there was an emmergency.

"What about uncle's scent."

"3.8 Naks."

"What? He has it higher than mine? And aunt's?"

"3.9Naks."

"No way! If what you said earlier about each number being a great deal then how come mine is much lower?"

"I don't know...it's just you. You may share an almost similar DNA with your uncle but that doesn't mean you'll have the same scents."

"What about yours? Tell me..."

"Nope." Yeon shook his head in dissaproval. "Let's talk about something else. Elric and Niel visited this facility together with his mom a few days ago and I got their samples. You should probably check on Elric, he was quite unwell..."

"What did they get?" Stan asked eagerly, showing no interest in the health of his friend.

"You wouldn't believe, Niel's is 4.2Naks! I was shocked! It owepowers Elric's by a difference of 4."

"So Elric's is 3.8?"

"Yes!" Yeon couldn't hide his enthusiasm. "I'd thought Elric's would be more actually! This is why I love silence."

"And the mom?"

"It's similar to yours."

"This sucks. I wish I didn't have to know."

"You asked dummy! Now get out I need to focus and lock up..."

"But you're almost done. Let me help out." Stan spoke while reaching for a pair of gloves to put on.

"Don't mix up the colonies. That would be a huge mess so make sure to not touch them. Just help me take out the trash and do not dispose anything inside. There are a number of syringes in there that will be disposed seperately so only take out the biohazard bag and the regular trash can while I sort out my handover before Dr. Jiwon finds you here."

"What is this about?" Stan asked upon noticing a label on a seperate transparent box labelled 'Important'.

Yeon face lit up as he explained after rushing to Stan's side. "As per the DNA, it shows some form of resemble shared in first colony but a mild reaction from the second and third. Seems some form of contamination occurred. So I'm using the third DNA sample which is shared with these two to less contaminate the first one through scent unification."

"You lost me again..."

"Walk with me. These two colonies have a resemblece to the third colony, more like that shared by parents with their child. Now the colony on the right is extremely contaminated but if I induce a little of the DNA from the colony on the left, there is a mild reaction but not much or enough to unify so I need to administer the colony on to the third DNA and voila! Scent unification is achieved. Well, it's not really much unification but a major improvement."

"Are these from volunteers?"

"Nope. Your uncle gave them to me to work on a few weeks ago. I've already emailed him my findings so he'll be barging in here shortly. He should have been done by now since he only had a minor procedure today afternoon."

"Yea." Stan stood from his seat and grabbed Yeon's arm. "...But before you play smart with me, I want to know how strong your scent is."

"That's personal information."

"You just practically shared everyone's measurements moments ago!"

"That's because you are constantly hovering around me! Your uncle was right to refuse you not enter his office let alone the lab! You'd have snooped over business that isn't yours!"

Letting go, Stan spoke. "You owe me Yeon, remember? For experimenting on me."

"Stan, let's just agree that what I did was selfless since it saved your life. How could I ask an unconscious person consent anyway?"

"You could have asked my parents."

"I'm your fated mate. Who else will speak on your behalf except me?"

Yeon's declaration made Stan get flustered. He smiled but didn't object. It were times like these that he cherished most whenever his fated wouldn't realise the depth of his words and how much they meant to him. Advancing foreward, he planted a kiss onto Yeon's lips and walked past him to get the trash.

"Stan, you're frustrating to deal with sometimes."

Yeon went about his handover duties as Stan helped the best he could, following Yeon's directions and once done, they both washed their hands. It was only then that Yeon began to feel the stinging stare from Stan.

"What?" Yeon asked but didn't reject his fated when he kissed him again, this time, for much longer.

"Come on! You're just like your uncle whenever your aunt brings us lunch!" Yeon pushed Stan from him when he'd began to grope his behind. "Enough! We are at work!"

"How can you expect me to act unresponsive after saying such sweet words to me earlier?"

"You sound just like your uncle..."

"Eeew!"

"That's right! Now let me go." Yeon reached for Stan's hands around his waist to free himself. "I have to show you something."

"What is it?"

"Let me lock up first. I told your uncle I'll be leaving early today."

"What's this about?" Stan wondered aloud while he followed behind Yeon once outside.

"Can you just be a little patient?"

"No."

Yeon laughed and looked back at his fated. "You only say no whenever it suits you. Anyway, remember during your birthday... I mean before your birthday you gifted me something... That playlist which we listen to everyday before bed?"

"The one you fall asleep to?"

Yeon's smile dissapeared. "Stan, I'm trying to concentrate."

Stan gestured in response in a manner of zipping his lips.

"Thank you. Anyway, what I wanted to tell you was since you gifted me that, I figured I'd gift you something too for my birthday so if you have planned up some surprises I'd rather you cancel."

"..."

Yeon sighed. "You're too predictable. At least tell me your dads are not in on it too?"

Stan stared at his fated blankly, his eyes unwevering.

"Wow. It surprises me you told them. I'd thought you'd want to keep me that day all to yourself"

"It's tomorrow..."

"I know dummy! My dad made sure I remember!" After a brief silence, Yeon shook his head in surrender and added. "I'm not good at this. I'll just go straight to the point. I found a place for us to move into."

"You...went house hunting without me?"

"What the- That's all you care about?"

"I thought I was in charge of that!"

"You can't be in charge of everything Stan and I know what you are going to say. It doesn't burden me to put effort in our relationship so finding a place for both of us to live in is me playing my part."

Stan chuckled. "When did you become so passionate about our future? You are always so...."

"I dare you to say rigid."

"I'd rather not. 'Cluesess is more like it...'"

"....So that's why I requested your uncle for an early release."

"Did you take pictures before we go and waste on fuel?'

"Are you doubting my taste?"

"If it's uncle that helped you search, it must be a place he knows I'll say no to."

"How'd you know he helped me..?" Yeon paused briefly as if to think. "Okay maybe I am rigid."

"You think?"

"You wanna die?"

"By your hands, yes."

"Ugh!" Yeon grimaced while reaching for his phone. "Just take a look at the pictures!"

Stan didn't take long before he appeared dissapointed. "It is a shared accommodation?"

"Yes. It's cheap for one and close to the lab."

"Nope." Stan handed the phone back to Yeon. "I'd rather we stay with my parents."

"Why? You're the one who wanted us to move."

"Yeon, please leave gifts to me. Don't even lift a finger. Focus on the lab and your many experiments but finding a place for us, I'll take care of that."

"Why don't you like it?"

"I don't want to share a place with other people."

"But you're the one who likes public displays of affection!"

"It's not the same thing. I'd rather we live with dads."

Seeing that Stan had made up his mind, Yeon shrugged his shoulders. "That goes our appointment. I guess I'll have to turn down the offer."

"Yup. Lets go now." Stan urged his fated to enter the car as soon as he spotted his uncle approaching.

"Leaving without saying goodbye? It's unlike you Yeon. As for Stan, I'm dissapointed but that's to be expected."

"I never can tell if you two are serious or not." Yeon glanced at Stan and then back to his uncle. The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife. "Nope. I'm not gonna get in between again."

"Running away like a coward Yeon!"

"I'm not getting involved Dr. Jiwon." Yeon replied, jumping into the car and closing the door shut.

"You seem upset." Stan's uncle grinned.

"You seem amused."

"If you attack me, I'll tell your beloved..."

"That trick will only work with Yeon a few times. You heard him already. He doesn't want to get involved."

Sighing in defeat, Stan's uncle asked. "What is it this time? You're both leaving early today, no working overtime so what now?"

"You intentionally chose a place you know I'd dislike uncle. Yeon doesn't know but I do. You could have just turned down the offer to help..."

"Yeon wanted to surprise you. Would you rather I suggest another banquet of roses?"

"You don't want him to move do you?"

"Actually I support you two moving out of your parens home. Yeon can stay with me and my wife. As for you...well, you wouldn't fit in..."

"Uncle, I grew there half of my life."

"Bingo! You've overstayed your welcome."

Sighing, Stan asked. "What do you want?"

"Actually, your parents and I have a bet on who gets to keep Yeon. My brother wants to explore the world of pairs with him while I want to explore on fateds."

"And dad Robin wants to raise our babies..."

"Wait, what?" Stan's uncle frowned. "He is in too? How can anyone win against him now?"

"All of you should stop making plans with Yeon. He is mine..."

"You already have him all the time! Yeon is skilled and talented. Why would I let such talent go to waste?"

"What about me?

"What about you?"

"What the? I don't mean it like that! Yeon is my fated. All of you should just stay away from us..."

"If you convince him to work with me for six more months, I can recommend a nice place for you two to move into. I know a great realtor who can find a place beffiting of your tastes."

"You chose a shared accommodation uncle."

"Sabotaging your moving has been a mission between your parents and I."

"So you finally admit it."

"Do you want help or not?"

"Three months."

"Deal."

"And before I forget, what is...the quantity of Yeon's scent?"

Stan's uncle laughed. "I doubt you'll understand the jargon behind it but it's 4.8Naks."

"What?"

"I knew it." Stan's uncle patted his nephew's shoulder and laughed as he walked away. "Study medicine if you wish to comprehend that."