[ After all the time that he's spent here, there isn't anyone that he trusts like he does Thomas. It doesn't occur to him that he could be taking him somewhere unpleasant in the slightest, because he's always been honest with him when he's needed to take him to get shots (he still doesn't get why he needed to get them, considering he's been out in the wild and survived perfectly fine without them), or for the vastly unpleasant sanitation room which is absurdly cold and wet. The others that work on the project tell him lies constantly, as if they expect him to not know when they do.
This is not a lie, because Thomas wouldn't lie to him, regardless of whether he'd hear it in his heart or not. He hasn't heard a lie once. Not when he's done his tests, not when he's taken him somewhere, not when he's read to him.
Maybe that's why it doesn't occur to him that he could escape. For as much as Minho wants to leave this place, be with his pack again, he enjoys Thomas' company more than anything. Sometimes he thinks about taking him out of this place-- which he figures should be funny because he's the one that's trapped here, but sometimes he thinks maybe that the scientist is stuck here just as much as he is. It wouldn't shock him, with the way that he acts sometimes, like he loves the idea of his work but doesn't love the way it's done.
Really, he only seems happy when it's just the two of them and there are no other subjects or tests or people.
So he goes along with him silently, bristled and alert but holding onto his hand, and waits with a small measure of patience for the doors to be opened. Which he should be praised for, because patience isn't really his greatest virtue in the least, especially not in a place so quiet as WICKED.
But the moment the door opens, and he actually feels the moon on his skin in the light that's let in from the doorway, a smile splits his face. An actual smile, not a baring of teeth or a small quirk at either corner of his mouth. All teeth and excitement. ]
[ watching minho smile like that is...honestly kind of magical. thomas almost can't help the warm feeling in his chest; a part of him is proud, another just completely overcome with affection for minho. he looks absolutely thrilled to be out of the building, and thomas doesn't blame him--he's been trying to get his supervisors to let him take minho out on "walks", but they've been less than cooperative. so, really, this is his first time outside since they'd originally taken him into the facility.
the rest of thomas is the part that turns his own smile a little sad, a little bittersweet. he knows minho deserves to be free for as much as anyone else does--he can't imagine that he enjoys this life, considering he can't even get him to properly enjoy pants. he's a wild thing, and thomas can see it in his motions, in the light of his eyes, the way the moon falls across his face.
honestly, if he ran? thomas would let him go. he'd take the heat, because if it meant that minho was this pleased every day, he could be satisfied with it.
carefully, he unlaces his fingers from minho's, but doesn't take a step away. thomas leans in a little, rather, and places one hand between his shoulder blades, his voice soft. ] Go. Run as much as you want. I'm not going to follow you, okay?
[ he shouldn't have to swallow a lump in his throat--but he does, because this just feels like goodbye. ]
[ Despite the exhilaration that comes with fresh air-- actual air, none of that filtered klunk that they bring into the facility-- and the moon, especially after missing the last one, Minho can't ignore that sad weight that's suddenly in the air. He looks to Thomas when he lets go of his hand, settles his own between his shoulders, smile fading slowly until his brow furrows the slightest bit. He doesn't need to sniff at the air or blatantly scent, not when it's right there.
Thomas is upset. He doesn't know why, but he's upset.
Angling his head in towards him a little, and completely disregarding the personal space that people try to tell him exists, he reaches for him. His fingers curl into the bottom of his shirt, just this small gesture that he's picked up doing ever since he started to become attached to the only human that's really shown him sincere kindness. It's how he follows him around, and how he frequently gets his attention if he's not outright butting his head up against him, nipping at his shoulder, things they've been trying to discourage. ]
You should come, too. [ He says it simply, blunt and to the point as always when he decides to speak. He gives a little tug to his shirt, a little rumble in the back of his throat that's almost questioning. For as much as he itches to get out of his skin, he doesn't want to go anywhere without Thomas.
[ that one thomas was not expecting. he pauses, not even really bothered by the way minho is up in his space--honestly, thomas is used to that, it'd be weird if he wasn't basically breathing the same air as him all the time--and just looks at him for a second, eyes a little wide in wonder.
minho is amazing, he really is. he continues to show himself as amazing every single day. there's a reason why thomas has been so fiercely defensive of this project, if only because he saw a potential in minho that so few of his coworkers did. he was a lot more than just their little project, a wolf they were trying to turn into a man. he was his own person, human and wolf all at once, fascinating and maddening and perfect, and thomas sometimes felt like he could get lost in teaching him, in watching him learn for hours on end.
so he does have to swallow a lump in his throat, then, his hand still resting on his back, fingers spreading wide as he leans forward and bumps his forehead into his, a gesture he himself had learned from minho. ] I can't. Not like you.
I'll go slow. [ His tone is almost teasing, and Minho nuzzles up against his face with blatant affection in every movement. But a part of him knows that he means more than that, and it's the part that's saddened that Thomas won't be able to experience things the same way he does. It's a real shame, but all the same he'll do what he can to share it with him. After all, Thomas has shared this humanity that he'd never known before with him, so why can't he return the favor somehow?
He doesn't even realize that what he's doing is some great wonder to anyone here. Every time, his behavior has simply been him being... well, him. There's no other concept in his head but to be who he is, regardless of how different he is. Of course he's a wolf, but at this point he's learned that yes, he's also a man. It's a simultaneous state of being, even if being a man apparently involves clothing.
Still not too fond of that part, but he'll keep the pants on for Thomas since he worked so hard to convince him to wear them. ]
Won't go far. [ Bumping his nose into the upturn of Thomas', he gives a small tug to his shirt. ] Just far enough.
[ he hopes--god, he hopes--that minho's telling the truth. he doesn't really have any reason to lie to him, but he also knows that he could get caught up in being free again, and he's...well, shuck it, he's scared. he's really, really scared that he's going to lose the person who has basically become his best friend, even in the most roundabout way, to the call of the wild that sings through his veins.
he doesn't fight the affection at all, fingers even curling a little at his bare skin, and it makes a little bit of a smile break out onto his face, a crooked thing as he tries to look back just a little and take him in, just in case. just in case this is goodbye. ]
I know. [ and he says it with conviction; thomas lifts his hand again, but this time it finds minho's cheek, thumbing gently at the bone there and looking him in the eyes. ] I trust you.
[ and he does. he really does, he trusts minho big time. but he just can't help being afraid. ]
[ Some of that twist to Thomas' scent leaves him, and that relieves Minho. After the time he's spent here, he's started to think of Thomas as pack, against all odds. The rest of them? Not so much-- Rat Man, as he's taken to call him much to the man's chagrin, is the recipient of most of the hate he has in his body. Which is, actually, a lot.
Letting him pull back, he regards him in return, quiet and thoughtful but a little bit fond, too. For as much as he's learned so far from the books that they've been reading, there's one particular thing that's stood out to him the most. And it's been the bond that's there, now.
Maybe that means he'll remember it, when he shifts. ]
Good. [ Leaning into his touch, he smiles a bit again, eyes crinkling before he starts to draw away, reaching up to take his hand again as he does. ] So c'mon.
[ some of the human gestures minho picks up on from him are definitely not lost on thomas, and he can't help the little smile that curves up his mouth as minho takes his hand. it's not really conducive to him full shifting, but he won't complain. (although he'll certainly urge it--give it a little while.) for now, he just makes a noise that's just barely a chuckle and slides his hand into his, threading their fingers together.
vaguely recalling an old fairytale--just to see if you'll get chased, I think I ought to walk with you for a ways--thomas nods. thomas isn't aware of his thoughts, what he means about pack (and about jansen--although thomas had taken up calling him "rat man" in his head, too) all he knows is that he's bonded with "subject A5" a lot more than anyone may have originally planned.
some of his fears silenced, he makes a gesture at the forest ahead of them.] Lead the way.
[ yeah he fully expects to start running. minho is energetic normally, let alone in a boundless space. ]
[ Promptly leading Thomas away from the door, away from the sterile brightness that is the depths of the facility, Minho does in fact speed up the moment he starts to move. It's not an outright run, at least not right away, but he gets to get away from there. He needs to get Thomas away from there. It's not a place for someone like him, who cares more about the individual than the project.
Leading him along, he turns around partway as he moves, feet bare but sure as he faces him a little more. He doesn't know the landscape, but he wants to get a good look at him before he shifts, to just... make sure that he doesn't forget him with it. It's happened before, he's forgotten himself between one form and the next.
From what he's gathered of the tests and the people here, he's sure they'd find that interesting. But he doesn't. Not really. And it's a threat to Thomas, if he does forget him. Minho could very well attack him, and it's not something he wants-- he'd never want to hurt him.
[ there's just something so wild about the way minho lets go like that, dashing off with the WICKED labs behind them, and thomas can't help the laugh that escapes him when he stumbles forward, still connected to him by the hand and trying to keep up. he's inhumanly fast, tommy already knew that, and he hates to think what minho'd be like if he was running full speed. (thomas'd probably be in the dust, honestly, and he's not a slow dude.)
the labs get further and further behind them as they fly out into the woods--everything smells fresh out here, compared to the sterile interior of the complex, and it's. he gets it. he knows why he would have wanted to get out now, because thomas, somewhere underneath it all, feels the same way. about his job, his bosses, everything but minho, and the studies he does on him. ]
Min--where are we going? [ he doesn't really care, but it's important to ask, and when he meets his gaze when minho looks at him, thomas flashes him a real, genuine smile. ]
[ A part of Minho, one that frequents the forefront of everything, wonders if his pack is somewhere out here. If they're still looking for him, or if they've moved on since he was left unfound. He'd understand if they'd left, to be perfectly honest, but his heart breaks a little at the idea of it. That's his family out there, somewhere. The only one he's ever known.
He tries not to think about it, and instead focuses on making sure not to rush too far ahead. Thomas is fast, they've played before, but he's not going to just let go and run when he could lose him or trip him up. This is for Thomas, as much as it is him.
But when he looks back at him, perking at the nickname, he almost trips over his own feet at the smile on his face. It causes something to burst in his chest, bright and warm, and he twists around until he starts to slow, only coming to a stop after a moment of consideration. ] Here. Here is good, I think.
[ thomas can't help but look down when minho twists around to look at him, if only to make sure that he won't trip--he knows he won't, but at the same time, thomas'd sprint forward to catch him if he did. he's laughing and breathless and when they finally slow to a stop, he raises his eyebrows for a second, panting a little.
time to shift, he must mean.
it's a litlte exciting--this is the first time he's gotten to see it, hell, the first time anyone's gotten to see it--and thomas steps back a respectable distance and pauses for a second, cocking his head. ] Should I cover my eyes?
[ Eyes catching in the light of the moon, there's a flash of gold that comes and goes as he looks around, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. It's different out here than it is in the facility, alive and breathing and natural. There's none of that sterile scent, and he feels more free and alive than he has in a while.
Letting Thomas recover, it takes him a second to turn back towards him. Instinct tells him he should bolt, go find his pack and get away. But his heart stays here.
Nudity is a new concept to Minho, but he still catches the joke that Thomas makes. He grins at him, sharp but not quite feral, and moves to start taking off the sweats that have been forced on him repeatedly until he's kept them on. ] You've seen me naked more'n clothed.
[ Teasing right on back, he tosses the pants at him before stretching his arms above his head, spine cracking both from the movement and something more. ]
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Damn right.
This is not a lie, because Thomas wouldn't lie to him, regardless of whether he'd hear it in his heart or not. He hasn't heard a lie once. Not when he's done his tests, not when he's taken him somewhere, not when he's read to him.
Maybe that's why it doesn't occur to him that he could escape. For as much as Minho wants to leave this place, be with his pack again, he enjoys Thomas' company more than anything. Sometimes he thinks about taking him out of this place-- which he figures should be funny because he's the one that's trapped here, but sometimes he thinks maybe that the scientist is stuck here just as much as he is. It wouldn't shock him, with the way that he acts sometimes, like he loves the idea of his work but doesn't love the way it's done.
Really, he only seems happy when it's just the two of them and there are no other subjects or tests or people.
So he goes along with him silently, bristled and alert but holding onto his hand, and waits with a small measure of patience for the doors to be opened. Which he should be praised for, because patience isn't really his greatest virtue in the least, especially not in a place so quiet as WICKED.
But the moment the door opens, and he actually feels the moon on his skin in the light that's let in from the doorway, a smile splits his face. An actual smile, not a baring of teeth or a small quirk at either corner of his mouth. All teeth and excitement. ]
puts a gold star on your head
the rest of thomas is the part that turns his own smile a little sad, a little bittersweet. he knows minho deserves to be free for as much as anyone else does--he can't imagine that he enjoys this life, considering he can't even get him to properly enjoy pants. he's a wild thing, and thomas can see it in his motions, in the light of his eyes, the way the moon falls across his face.
honestly, if he ran? thomas would let him go. he'd take the heat, because if it meant that minho was this pleased every day, he could be satisfied with it.
carefully, he unlaces his fingers from minho's, but doesn't take a step away. thomas leans in a little, rather, and places one hand between his shoulder blades, his voice soft. ] Go. Run as much as you want. I'm not going to follow you, okay?
[ he shouldn't have to swallow a lump in his throat--but he does, because this just feels like goodbye. ]
bears proudly
Thomas is upset. He doesn't know why, but he's upset.
Angling his head in towards him a little, and completely disregarding the personal space that people try to tell him exists, he reaches for him. His fingers curl into the bottom of his shirt, just this small gesture that he's picked up doing ever since he started to become attached to the only human that's really shown him sincere kindness. It's how he follows him around, and how he frequently gets his attention if he's not outright butting his head up against him, nipping at his shoulder, things they've been trying to discourage. ]
You should come, too. [ He says it simply, blunt and to the point as always when he decides to speak. He gives a little tug to his shirt, a little rumble in the back of his throat that's almost questioning. For as much as he itches to get out of his skin, he doesn't want to go anywhere without Thomas.
Funny how things change like that. ]
no subject
minho is amazing, he really is. he continues to show himself as amazing every single day. there's a reason why thomas has been so fiercely defensive of this project, if only because he saw a potential in minho that so few of his coworkers did. he was a lot more than just their little project, a wolf they were trying to turn into a man. he was his own person, human and wolf all at once, fascinating and maddening and perfect, and thomas sometimes felt like he could get lost in teaching him, in watching him learn for hours on end.
so he does have to swallow a lump in his throat, then, his hand still resting on his back, fingers spreading wide as he leans forward and bumps his forehead into his, a gesture he himself had learned from minho. ] I can't. Not like you.
[ even if he could keep up, he's no wolf. ]
no subject
He doesn't even realize that what he's doing is some great wonder to anyone here. Every time, his behavior has simply been him being... well, him. There's no other concept in his head but to be who he is, regardless of how different he is. Of course he's a wolf, but at this point he's learned that yes, he's also a man. It's a simultaneous state of being, even if being a man apparently involves clothing.
Still not too fond of that part, but he'll keep the pants on for Thomas since he worked so hard to convince him to wear them. ]
Won't go far. [ Bumping his nose into the upturn of Thomas', he gives a small tug to his shirt. ] Just far enough.
no subject
he doesn't fight the affection at all, fingers even curling a little at his bare skin, and it makes a little bit of a smile break out onto his face, a crooked thing as he tries to look back just a little and take him in, just in case. just in case this is goodbye. ]
I know. [ and he says it with conviction; thomas lifts his hand again, but this time it finds minho's cheek, thumbing gently at the bone there and looking him in the eyes. ] I trust you.
[ and he does. he really does, he trusts minho big time. but he just can't help being afraid. ]
no subject
Letting him pull back, he regards him in return, quiet and thoughtful but a little bit fond, too. For as much as he's learned so far from the books that they've been reading, there's one particular thing that's stood out to him the most. And it's been the bond that's there, now.
Maybe that means he'll remember it, when he shifts. ]
Good. [ Leaning into his touch, he smiles a bit again, eyes crinkling before he starts to draw away, reaching up to take his hand again as he does. ] So c'mon.
no subject
vaguely recalling an old fairytale--just to see if you'll get chased, I think I ought to walk with you for a ways--thomas nods. thomas isn't aware of his thoughts, what he means about pack (and about jansen--although thomas had taken up calling him "rat man" in his head, too) all he knows is that he's bonded with "subject A5" a lot more than anyone may have originally planned.
some of his fears silenced, he makes a gesture at the forest ahead of them.] Lead the way.
[ yeah he fully expects to start running. minho is energetic normally, let alone in a boundless space. ]
no subject
Leading him along, he turns around partway as he moves, feet bare but sure as he faces him a little more. He doesn't know the landscape, but he wants to get a good look at him before he shifts, to just... make sure that he doesn't forget him with it. It's happened before, he's forgotten himself between one form and the next.
From what he's gathered of the tests and the people here, he's sure they'd find that interesting. But he doesn't. Not really. And it's a threat to Thomas, if he does forget him. Minho could very well attack him, and it's not something he wants-- he'd never want to hurt him.
So, he can only hope. ]
no subject
the labs get further and further behind them as they fly out into the woods--everything smells fresh out here, compared to the sterile interior of the complex, and it's. he gets it. he knows why he would have wanted to get out now, because thomas, somewhere underneath it all, feels the same way. about his job, his bosses, everything but minho, and the studies he does on him. ]
Min--where are we going? [ he doesn't really care, but it's important to ask, and when he meets his gaze when minho looks at him, thomas flashes him a real, genuine smile. ]
god just 7 more to go.
He tries not to think about it, and instead focuses on making sure not to rush too far ahead. Thomas is fast, they've played before, but he's not going to just let go and run when he could lose him or trip him up. This is for Thomas, as much as it is him.
But when he looks back at him, perking at the nickname, he almost trips over his own feet at the smile on his face. It causes something to burst in his chest, bright and warm, and he twists around until he starts to slow, only coming to a stop after a moment of consideration. ] Here. Here is good, I think.
sprinkles with tags vuv
time to shift, he must mean.
it's a litlte exciting--this is the first time he's gotten to see it, hell, the first time anyone's gotten to see it--and thomas steps back a respectable distance and pauses for a second, cocking his head. ] Should I cover my eyes?
[ thomas made a funny. be proud. ]
returns favor uwu
Letting Thomas recover, it takes him a second to turn back towards him. Instinct tells him he should bolt, go find his pack and get away. But his heart stays here.
Nudity is a new concept to Minho, but he still catches the joke that Thomas makes. He grins at him, sharp but not quite feral, and moves to start taking off the sweats that have been forced on him repeatedly until he's kept them on. ] You've seen me naked more'n clothed.
[ Teasing right on back, he tosses the pants at him before stretching his arms above his head, spine cracking both from the movement and something more. ]