Archive of Our Own

The first time he sees him, Jungkook’s only 7 years old, holding his father’s hand and an ice cream from the nearby CU in his other. It’s late summer, a month long break just beginning from school, and he’s excitedly told his father all the things he wants to do - go to the ocean, play with his friends in the park, go to a PC room and play games.

He’s in the middle of telling his father all about his best friend, Park Jimin, who he sits next to in classes. His father hums at all the right times, too busy looking at his phone to really pay much attention to his hyperactive son. The afternoon has been long for both of them, but Jungkook’s just getting started, ready for more play time with his favorite dad!

“Appa, did you know that Jiminie has a kitty?” Jungkook tells him, licking at his ice cream as it melts over his hand, making it sticky. “He says I can come over and play with it with him! His name is Yoonie!”

“Uh huh,” his father mumbles, his phone ringing, cutting off Jungkook’s next round of questions and stories. “Hang on, Kook. Just sit here, okay? Appa has to take this call.”

Jungkook sits on the bench and nods, watching as his father steps away a few feet to talk on the phone. His voice is angry and Jungkook’s shoulders slump. He hates when his dad is angry, uses that mean voice like he might start yelling any second. Jungkook’s just glad that he isn’t directing it at him .

A soft shuffling sound behind him makes him jump, turning around with his knees still on the bench. There he sees him - shuffling around in an old, worn down cardboard box, wearing a shirt that used to be white, probably, but was now stained grass green, brown and grey. His ears are fluffy looking, sticking up over his soft brown hair, and a long tail wraps protectively around his middle.

He has really big, wide brown eyes that are staring up at Jungkook, who stares right back, just as curious.

A hybrid.

“Hi!” Jungkook says, his voice maybe a little too loud because the boy shrinks in on himself, flinching away from him and trying to hide himself in his box. Jungkook wastes no time, getting up from the bench and walking around so he can squat down in front of the box next to him. “My name’s Jungkook! What’s yours?”

The hybrid blinks owlishly at him, eyes moving from Jungkook’s curious face to the melting ice cream in his hand. His tongue instinctively pokes out to lick at his lips, mouth watering.

Jungkook seems to notice, immediately pushing the rest of his ice cream cone into the hybrid’s chest, waiting for him to take it.

“You can have it!” he tells him happily, giving him a big, big smile. “I like your ears and tail. Pretty.”

The hybrid slowly accepts the ice cream, holding the cone with both hands as if it’s the most precious thing he’s ever had. Jungkook smiles, his arms wrapped around his knees, and watches as he eats the rest of it, frowning once it’s gone. 

“Don’t be sad,” Jungkook says with a pout, “I can bring you more snacks!”

“R-really?” the hybrid’s voice is quiet, more of a whisper, as he looks up at Jungkook with big eyes again. When Jungkook nods his head vigorously, a small smile finally appears on his face and it makes Jungkook smile, too.

“What’s your name?” Jungkook asks, tilting his head.

“Taehyung,” he replies.

“Taehyungie, Tae… Taetae!” Jungkook giggles when the boy in front of him smiles again, his mouth turning into the shape of a box. “Taetae why are you in this box?”

Tae looks down at his box, sitting on his blanket, which is no longer as soft as it used to be. Inside the box, under the blanket, is his old collar, but he doesn’t tell Jungkook that. Instead, he shrugs, a frown returning to his lips.

“It’s my home,” he tells Jungkook, who gasps in surprise.

“That’s not big enough to be a home!” Jungkook says, as if he doesn’t know and understand that himself, despite being the one living in it. “Where is your mom or dad?”

Another shrug, Tae’s head hangs sadly.

Jungkook can’t imagine not having his parents… Even if his dad works a lot and isn’t around much, he still has his mom who he sleeps next to every night! And he has a proper home with a bathroom and a bed, not just a box.

“C-can I pet you, Taetae?” Jungkook asks, wanting to make the boy smile his box shaped smile again. Maybe if he asks real nicely, he can bring Taetae to his house and he can spend the night! 

Taehyung nods slowly, chewing on his bottom lip as Jungkook slowly raises his hand to touch the top of Tae’s head. His short fingers work through his brown hair, and it’s soft, though definitely greasy, and he scratches at one of his ears. It’s orange with stripes, and the fur on them is really, really soft.

“Jungkook!”

Suddenly, he’s ripped away from Tae so forcefully he lets out a loud gasp. His father holds him in his arms, cradling him to his chest, as if the hybrid would attack his son at any moment. Taehyung blinks, confused, and then shrinks again, trying to hide back in his box.

“Appa! It’s my new friend, Taetae!” Jungkook tells him, trying to understand why his father is looking so angry. “Taetae, come over to play-”

“No Jungkook,” his father says, his tone stern. He turns to look down at Taehyung, who cowers, wrapping his arms around his legs to make himself as small as possible. “Go on, get! Filthy animal.”

He starts walking away, still holding Jungkook, who starts to cry as he reaches a hand out over his father’s shoulder towards Tae. He can see his new friend’s shoulders shaking with tears and it makes him so sad again. He wriggles in his father’s grip, wanting to make him smile again, instead.

“Jungkook you can’t just go around touching hybrids like that,” his father says, tone still angry, as they walk the last block to their apartment building. “They have diseases! They could be rabid and could hurt you. Promise you won’t ever touch a hybrid like that again, okay?”

Jungkook sniffles and shakes his head. “Appa was mean! Taetae is m-my friend! He wouldn’t h-hurt me! Ever!”

His father sighed and set him down, still holding his hand and tugging him to the apartment building. Once they return home, Jungkook angrily stomps to his room and slams the door so his father knows how angry he is. He flings himself onto his bed and cries into his pillow, feeling so sad and wishing that Tae was with him now, not stuck in his little box outside all alone. 

He can hear his parents muffled voices talking outside of his room, but neither make a move to come into his room until dinner time.

It rains that night. 

Jungkook can’t stop thinking about Taetae sleeping outside in a box in the pouring rain, even if it’s summer and it’s warm, he doesn’t want him to get sick. So he packs his backpack up with fresh, comfy clothes for him, a flashlight (because it’s getting dark and it’s kinda scary at night) and his kakao friend umbrella, his very favorite one. Then he sneaks as quiet as he can to the kitchen while his parents sleep in their room, the sounds of his father snoring so loud it scares him every time he hears it, thinking that he’ll wake up and yell at him for sneaking around.

But if Tae can be brave living outside in the box, then Jungkook thinks he should be brave, too, so he can take care of his new friend!

He raids the cabinet of snacks, bringing whatever he can reach and get his hands on, stuffing it into his backpack. Then, he’s pulling on his rain boots and his backpack, umbrella in hand, and he quietly sneaks out the door.

Once he’s outside, he runs with the flashlight shining, holding his umbrella with his other hand. He’s scared of the dark, so being outside so late at night is so scary for him, but he thinks again of Tae and just runs faster, hoping to not be alone in this weather for long.

The park is only a block away from his apartment, but it feels like it’s really far to Jungkook’s short legs. He’s glad to see the streetlights there are on, so he doesn’t need his flashlight anymore, and he clicks it off as he slows to a walk, breathing heavy from his panicked run. When he spots the bench and rounds it, he gasps, finding the box empty.

“Taetae?” he whispers, looking under the bench, before turning his flashlight on again to look for him. He can feel the panic growing in his chest again, thinking about being all alone out here, and how Tae isn’t even here . “Taetae!” he cries out, his voice catching on a sob in fear, spinning around, looking for the boy. 

“Jungkook?” 

He whirls around, only to come face to face with Taehyung. He’s holding his blanket over his head to shield himself from the rain and he blinks, surprised to see him, and then lets out a loud gasp when Jungkook flings himself into his arms, dropping his umbrella and just wrapping his arms around the other’s waist, burying his face into his dirty and damp shirt.

Taehyung tenses for a second before pulling his blanket up higher over them, covering Jungkook to protect him from the rain, too.

“Taetae I’m sorry,” Jungkook sniffles, then frowns when he pulls away just enough to look at the hybrid. “My appa was mean to you. But I want to be friends still! I’ll take care of you.”

Taehyung smiles, small and shy, and ducks his head a little. 

“Where were you?” Jungkook wipes at his eyes, trying to dry his cheeks from his tears. “I was so scared you were gone forever when I didn’t see you at your home…”

“I was hiding under there because of the rain,” Taehyung replies, pointing to the covered gazebo just a few feet away. 

They both move until they’re standing under it, and Jungkook sits down with a loud huff, tugging his backpack forward and unzipping it to show off all the goodies he’s brought for his new friend. Taehyung slowly sits down, too, watching him with curious but guarded eyes.

Jungkook pulls out all the snacks first, lining them up to show them off to him. Taehyung leans closer to them, eyeing the packages and sniffing at them, cocking his head to the side before watching as Jungkook sets his flashlight down to use as light for them. Then, he pulls out some of his clean, comfy clothes and hands them to Tae.

“I brought you clean clothes since yours are kinda dirty,” Jungkook says and Tae slowly takes them, his fingers moving gently over the fabric, staring at them so intently. “If you want, you can change and I’ll take yours back home and clean them for you! And these are all snacks for you!”

Taehyung blinks, finally lifting his gaze to look at Jungkook again.

“Thank you,” he whispers, tears welling up in his big eyes.

“No, no! Don’t cry, Taetae!” Jungkook moves so that he’s sitting right next to him, pressed into his side, and he wraps his arms around him again. Taehyung is bigger than him, taller, but much skinnier. Jungkook wraps his arms all the way around him from his side and pulls him close, until Tae’s burying his face into his neck. “I’ll take care of you, Taetae. Don’t be sad, okay?”

Taehyung nods against his neck and sniffles, clutching the clean and soft clothes in his arms so tightly. For the first time since he was a baby, wrapped up in his mother’s arms, he feels safe and warm. He shuffles closer, tucking himself into Jungkook’s arms, and a soft purring starts from deep in his chest.

Jungkook seems to understand and smiles, lifting one hand up to pet his head gently and scratch his ears, like he had earlier.

The next weekend, Jungkook’s father goes away on a business trip to Japan.

Jungkook usually misses him when he’s gone, but this weekend, he can’t hide his smile as he says his goodbyes to his father. He’s spent the last three days begging and pleading his mom to let him bring Taetae over for a sleepover, and to his surprise, she finally said yes once she knew that his father would be gone for a couple of days.

“I’m gonna go get Taetae now!” Jungkook tells his mom, pulling his shoes on at the door. His father left less than 10 minutes ago.

His mother smiles, ruffling his hair. “Okay baby,” she replies. “I’ll start making some lunch for you two to enjoy when you get back.”

He heads out, skipping the whole way to the park and even stopping at the CU to get them both an ice cream with the couple thousand won his mother gave him. When he reaches the park, he runs the rest of the way to the bench, finding Tae sleeping curled up in his box. His tail is wrapped around his middle, body curled into a small ball to fit inside, and he’s got his nose tucked under the fresh shirt that Jungkook gave him last night.

“Taetae,” he whispers, gently scratching his ears and petting his head as he sits down next to the box. “Taetae, wake up!”

Taehyung blinks his eyes open, brown eyes immediately landing on Jungkook leaning over him with a big, bright smile on his face. Taehyung wishes he could wake up this way every day, seeing Jungkook smile like that at him, scratching his ears while he purrs and slowly stretches his limbs, letting his legs dangle over the side of the box.

“Taetae guess what?” he says and Taehyung blinks again, a big yawn working its way out of his body. He hums in response and as soon as Jungkook holds out an ice cream cone - brand new! - he scrambles to sit up, almost tipping his box over in the process, making his friend giggle. “I got us ice creams! And my eomma says that you can stay with us this weekend!”

Taehyung takes the ice cream from his hands, stomach growling as he unwraps it and starts to lick away the melting vanilla ice cream.

“Won’t your appa be mad?” he asks, tiling his head in question, watching as Jungkook opens his own ice cream to start eating it. 

“He’s away for the whole weekend! So you don’t have to worry about him being mean to you,” Jungkook tells him happily, smiling again when Tae smiles, too, enjoying his treat.

Jungkook has brought him many snacks over the weeks. He’s grateful to have food, but snacks only stave off the hunger for so long… It’s been almost a month since he was abandoned, almost a month since he’s had a full, real meal. He knows Jungkook has been helping him a lot and he’s so grateful to have a friend like him, but he can’t help but selfishly hope that this weekend will also include real food…

They sit together on the bench while they finish their ice creams, swinging their legs that don’t reach the ground. Taehyung listens intently to all of Jungkook’s ramblings about the games they can play, the food they will eat (he can barely keep himself from drooling at the mere mention of rice and ramen) and how fun it will be to be able to cuddle all night!

“Come on Taetae!” Jungkook shouts excitedly, dragging the taller lanky boy behind him toward his home. Taehyung feels shy, wondering if Jungkook’s mother is kind like he is, unlike his father. He hopes so, wants to make a good impression on her so she lets him and Jungkookie keep playing together. “Eomma! I’m home and I brought Taetae!”

A woman with long, dark hair pulled up in a clip approaches them as they remove their shoes at the door, hands still intertwined together. She has dark doe eyes, just like Jungkook, and a kind smile that makes wrinkles appear around them.

“Hi Taehyung,” she says, holding a hand out for him. “I’m Jungkookie’s eomma. I’ve heard so much about you.”

He swallows nervously, glancing over at Jungkook, who just nods his head and gently pulls him forward with him. Jungkook’s mom must understand, because she smiles again and gently pats his shoulder, welcoming him into the home and guiding them to the table where an entire spread of food is set out - rice, a big bowl of jjigae, even fish, kimchi, bean sprouts! - and has them sit down.

“Go ahead and eat some lunch,” she says, serving the jjigae to each of them in bowls. “I’m sure you must be hungry, Taehyung. Eat as much as you want, okay?”

Both boys eat their fill, not stopping until they’re sitting back in their chairs with bloated bellies and content sighs. Taehyung eats so much that he feels sick, because he’s starving and it just tastes so good and he doesn’t know when his next meal like this will come by. Jungkook’s mom doesn’t mind, happily serves them more food when they want and even gets them banana milks to finish with, ruffling her son’s hair as she starts to clean up the table.

“Jungkook, why don’t you let Taehyung wash up in the shower?” his mom says, gathering the dishes to wash them. “And give me his clothes, so I can wash them while he’s over this weekend.”

Jungkook nods, tugging a quiet Taehyung along behind him to the bathroom. It’s small, but it has a small bathtub full of action figures and other water toys, which Jungkook tells him all about. Then he starts running the water, making sure it’s nice and warm, and adds bubbles (his all time favorite part!). But he can’t help but feel kind of jealous… Jungkook loves baths!

“Let’s play together!” he says and Taehyung blinks at him, confused, his shirt halfway over his head. Jungkook runs back to his room to pull out his swim shorts, both pairs, and he and Taehyung change into them, taking off the rest of their clothes before getting into the bathtub together. 

Jungkook stands up over Taehyung, using his little bucket to pour water over his head while Taehyung plugs his nose and squeezes his eyes shut. 

“I’m gonna wash your hair!” Jungkook tells him, squeezing a bottle over top of Tae’s head. He feels cold liquid there, and then the bottle drops into the water with a small splash. Jungkook’s fingers start to lather his hair, bubbles forming as he scratches his head and Tae can’t help but close his eyes, his mouth hanging open and letting out happy purrs while Jungkook works, tongue sticking out in concentration. “You look funny,” he tells Tae with a giggle.

Tae smiles up at him, leaning into his touch, feeling so safe and comforted.

“Okay, keep your eyes closed otherwise it will hurt!” Jungkook warns him as he fills his bucket up with more water. Tae does as he says, eyes closed and plugging his nose again as a waterfall of water washes away the shampoo from his head, leaving him soaking wet again but head feeling much better, less itchy.

When Jungkook sits back down, Tae picks up the bottle and squeezes some on his head, trying to mimic the action of scrubbing his head lightly. It bubbles up under his fingers and he watches in awe, making Jungkook giggle, and keeps going until bubbles are falling over onto his face. Jungkook dunks himself under the water to wash away the shampoo and Tae immediately reaches for him, pulling him up as an overwhelming fear builds in his chest that he might drown.

“What?” Jungkook asks, confused, as he pushes his hair away from his face.

“W-what if you drown?” he whispers, eyes wide as he squishes his cheeks together, sniffling. “Don’t like underwater.”

Jungkook smiles then, laughing and pulling his hands away from his face to intertwine together, instead. “I won’t drown here, silly! But if you don’t want me underwater, I won’t!”

“T-thanks,” he murmurs, looking away shyly, making his friend laugh again.

They play with his action figures in the bathtub until the water gets cold, then towel off and dress into clean pajamas from Jungkook’s room. His mom makes them ramen to eat while they watch movies, Taehyung absolutely fascinated by the cartoons on the screen while Jungkook pets his drying hair and scratches his ears.

And at night, when it’s time for them to go to bed, they curl up together on Jungkook’s bed, tucked underneath his Iron Man blankets. They smell like strawberries from the shampoo and bath, and Taehyung can’t help but burrow his face into Jungkook’s neck, nuzzling into him and the pillow that smells like him. But Jungkook doesn’t mind, even lets Tae wrap his tail around his waist and curls up into the taller boy.

“G’night Taetae,” he whispers, eyes closed and smile on his face when he hears his best friend purring beside him, all warm and cuddled with him.

“Night Koo,” he hears whispered back, and he smiles even more before letting out a content sigh and falling asleep.

Jungkook is a talkative kid, it’s no secret. In fact, he doesn’t even have secrets, because he gets so excited to tell someone that he can’t hold it back.

That’s why best friend Park Jimin knows all about Taetae, the hybrid that lives at the park in a box, except on weekends when his father is away so he can stay with him in his room. Ever since the first sleepover, his mom makes sure to pack extra food for Jungkook to drop off to Taehyung, as well as fresh clothes and other things he may need, even going to the park on her own sometimes to check on the hybrid, bringing him home to let him wash up and feed him food while her husband is at work and son is at school. 

Taehyung has never felt so cared for, even if he is still, technically, homeless and alone.

He’s the opposite of Jungkook. Shy, reserved, skittish around new people… He’s only been around for 9 years, but his life has always been hard and lonely, so meeting new people is so scary for him. Will they hurt him or be kind to him? Yell at him or pet him gently? He never knows until it’s too late.

That’s why when Jungkook comes to the park one day after school, skipping and holding hands with another boy with plump lips and a smile so wide it makes his eyes turn to crescent moons, Taehyung can’t help but feel just a little bit nervous.

“Taetae!” Jungkook shouts happily, letting his friend’s hand go to run and envelop the hybrid in a warm embrace, which he clings to, wide eyes staring at the other boy behind him. “I brought my friend, Jiminie, here to meet you! And his hybrid, too!”

Taehyung shrinks himself a little, cowering behind Jungkook as the other boy steps forward slowly, holding a hand out, palm up, as if to convey to him that he means no harm. A second later, there’s movement behind him, brushing against his tail and he yelps, turning around only to be face to face with another hybrid.

He has black hair and small eyes, black pointed ears poking up over his hair. His face is round, lips downturned slightly into a frown, a fluffy, black tail twitching behind him.

“Yoongi! Don’t scare him!” Jimin scolds and his hybrid - Yoongi - pouts, ears flattening against his head for a moment. “Aish, sorry Taetae. Yoongi’s never met another hybrid that isn’t his family, so he’s very curious. But don’t worry, he won’t hurt you!”

Taehyung watches him, unsure but slightly comforted that it’s a fellow hybrid instead of a human, and lets Yoongi step closer. Yoongi smells like sandalwood and fresh cut grass, very earthy, but he finds that he doesn’t mind so much. Doesn’t mind even when the black cat hybrid tentatively reaches out to touch his ears, nose twitching as he smells Tae’s natural scent, too.

And just like that, suddenly, Tae’s entire body relaxes and a big, boxy smile appears on his lips when Yoongi scratches behind his ears.

Jungkook watches as the two hybrids finally start to relax around each other, grinning beside Jimin when they even start to chase after one another, running up and down the park area with loud shouts and laughter.

Jungkook’s never seen his Taetae so happy, never played with him like that since he’s always so skittish, even around him sometimes, still. So he and Jimin sit on a swing set together, watching their friends wrestle around in the grass playfully, laughing and having fun. And eventually, they even bring the other boys into it, playing a long and exhausting game of tag.

But by the end of that afternoon, they’re all lying in the grass, staring up at the blue sky, hands intertwined with each other’s.

Family, Taehyung thinks as he closes his eyes against the bright sunlight.

The boys grow older, their bodies growing taller and bigger and their hair longer.

Jungkook starts middle school, 13 years old now. His favorite thing is still playing with Taetae, his very best friend. Taehyung, now 15 years old, is no longer homeless or lonely or scared. He spends a lot of him time living with Jimin and Yoongi, curled up with the black cat hybrid to sleep, tails intertwined together. On days where Jungkook’s father is out of town or away, he stays with Jungkook in his room, snuggling and purring as he falls asleep to pets and ear scratches. 

Weekends when Jungkook’s father is out of town are both of their favorite, so they can have sleepovers and stay up all night telling each other secrets and playing video games.

Life is pretty happy for them. Taehyung feels at peace, grateful to have the friends (his family) that he has, happy to have his Jungkookie. His mind is no longer skittish at meeting new people, no longer afraid if they will hurt him or yell at him. Because he has his family behind him now, has people that love him and care for him.

No more wondering when his next meal will be. No more cardboard box behind the bench.

Things are great, until they aren’t anymore.

“You’re… moving?” Taehyung asks, tilting his head to the side, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Sitting on the edge of his bed is Jungkook, head hanging sadly as he gives a short nod of his head. “B-but if you move… what about me?”

Taehyung’s chest feels so tight he can barely breathe. He stumbles back slightly, his knees wobbling, and trips over a toy, falling backwards into the wall behind him. He can feel himself panicking worse than ever before, tears clouding his sight as he struggles to get air into his lungs.

Jungkook is there in a second, holding his hands to Tae’s cheeks, his lips moving but Tae doesn’t know what he’s saying. He can’t hear him over the loud and fast beating of his heart.

“Eomma!” Jungkook shouts, turning his head away and no , Tae can’t stand it when he’s not looking at him. Tae’s fingers grip Jungkook’s forearms, his eyes wide, tears rolling down his face at an overwhelming rate. 

“Oh baby, let me help him.”

The next thing he knows, Taehyung’s wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket in Jungkook’s mother’s arms on the couch in the living room. Jungkook is sitting on his other side, his hands under the blanket, holding onto Tae’s tightly. He helps ground him as his mind clears, the panic slowly dissolving as he works on his breathing, following Jungkook’s mom.

Exhausted, Taehyung closes his eyes and leans more heavily into Jungkook’s mom’s side, letting his fingers squeeze Jungkook’s softly.

“Taetae,” Jungkook whispers a little while later, making him open one eye to look at him. He’s still on the couch with Jungkook, though his mom is in the kitchen making dinner, he can tell by the smell wafting into the room. Jungkook has his arms wrapped securely around Tae, who is still a blanket cocoon, both of them lying side by side on the couch, facing each other. “You okay?”

Tae sniffles a little but nods, pulling his arms out from under the blanket so he can wrap them around Jungkook’s neck, hugging his best friend tightly.

“Don’t want you to go,” he whispers into his neck, feeling tears well up in his eyes again. “I’ll miss you too much, Koo.”

“My parents are getting a divorce,” Jungkook whispers back to him, burying his own face into Tae’s neck for comfort. “Dad’s moving to Seoul and making me come with him for school, but my eomma is staying here still… She said you can stay here permanently, in my room. If you, you know, want.”

“Don’t wanna stay without you…” Tae whines, clinging more tightly to him now. 

Jungkook huffs against his hair, a light laugh, but it sounds more sad than happy.

“I know, me either,” he admits. “But I won’t be gone forever! I’ll come home for breaks from school, and long weekends… I’ll still come back.”

Taehyung pulls away with wide eyes, meeting Jungkook’s gaze. He trusts him, wholeheartedly, at that. But the last time someone said they were moving… they left him behind in an old cardboard box that they didn’t need in a park. 

He can feel his anxiousness returning, can feel that same drop in his stomach when he realizes that he’s going to be left behind by someone he loves, again.

“Y-you promise right?” Tae asks, his voice shaking with a fresh wave of tears. 

Jungkook frowns but reaches his hand up with his pinky out, locking it with Tae’s and pressing their thumbs together before leaning forward to kiss their intertwined pinkies.

“Promise promise,” he says. “I won’t ever leave you behind for real, Taetae. I’ll always come back.”

It’s two weeks later that Jungkook’s stuff is all packed up in boxes and put away into a truck outside. Taehyung glares at the boxes, watching as Jungkook puts the last one in before closing the truck doors of the u-haul. His mother is standing by the doors of the truck, letting her son say goodbye before she drives him from Busan to Seoul to drop him off at his father’s new apartment.

Jimin and Yoongi both wrap Jungkook up in their arms, hugging him real tight and blubbering about how much they’ll miss him. Jimin makes him swear that he’ll call every weekend! And promises to go visit Koo for a weekend soon.

Taehyung is jealous.

He wishes that he could go visit Koo for a weekend. But being a hybrid when Jungkook’s father clearly doesn’t like them, makes that an impossible feat. Sometimes, he really wishes he was just a human, too. Life would probably be easier.

Jimin and Yoongi step back and watch as Jungkook reaches Taehyung in a few short steps.

Jungkook pulls Tae into his arms, hugging him so tight around the waist that it makes him gasp before he can wrap his arms around Koo’s neck. Tae buries his face into the crook of his neck, inhaling his sweet and soft scent, knowing that in a matter of days, it’ll be gone from his life for a long time. The thought alone brings tears to his eyes, making them glassy as he shuts them.

He can’t help the tears that fall from his eyes, can’t help the soft hiccups of sobs as he clings to his best friend in the whole wide world. The only person that Taehyung feels truly himself with, the only person he lets touch his tail and that he likes to snuggle up with the most. 

The only person that he really, really loves.

And he’s leaving today.

“I’ll be home again soon, Taetae,” Jungkook whispers, holding onto him just as tight. His voice wobbles and he sniffles, too, next to Tae’s ear. “I’m sorry that you can’t come with me.”

“Don’t want you to l-leave me too,” Tae cries harder, pushes his face into his shirt. This is so much worse than when he was abandoned as a baby. So, so much worse.

Like there’s a big, fat Koo shaped hole in his entire, gaping chest.

“I’m going away for a little while,” Jungkook says, soothingly running his hands over Tae’s back and then into his hair to scratch at his ears, just the way that he likes best. “But I’ll come back for you. Remember? I promised.”

Taehyung nods and slowly, they step away from each other, but keep their hands linked. Jimin is visibly crying, clutching onto a frowning Yoongi, and Jungkook’s mom is watching them with sympathetic eyes.

Taehyung walks Jungkook to the door and keeps holding his hand even as he buckles in. And when it’s time for him to close the door and leave, Tae leans forward to press a soft kiss to Jungkook’s hand, squeezing it one more time before they slowly let go and the door closes between them.

And Taehyung falls into Jimin and Yoongi’s arms as they watch the truck drive away, putting what feels like oceans between him and his Koo.

High school turns out to be some of the worst years of both Jungkook and Taehyung’s lives. The separation is hard on both of them, but at least for Tae, he still has Jimin and Yoongi and Jungkook’s eomma to rely on when he’s sad.

Jungkook moves to Seoul and is alone, rarely sees his father who is busy at work, and goes to a brand new school where he knows no one.

So for the first year, Jungkook spends all his free time on the phone with Taehyung or playing online games with the other, constantly talking with him and telling him how much he misses him. He counts down the days for long weekends and breaks so he can take the KTX back to Busan to spend time with Taetae and his mom.

But during his second year, even if he still misses his old life and his Taetae, he does manage to make friends with an energetic boy named Jung Hoseok, who teaches him how to dance during their free period together. Hoseok has other friends, too, and he brings Jungkook under his wing to introduce him to Seokjin and Namjoon, both of whom are dating. 

So while it’s definitely still hard to be away from Taehyung and his mom and of course, Jimin and Yoongi, Jungkook starts to not mind Seoul too much. He starts to enjoy his school days again, especially telling all his new friends all about his best friend back home and how much fun he is. 

“Jiminie got his acceptance letter today,” Taehyung says and Jungkook smiles, laying down on his bed, his phone held up to his ear by his shoulder. “So he’s going to Seoul when he graduates this year, too…”

“I haven’t got my acceptance letter yet, but when I do, me and him are going to get an apartment together,” Jungkook replies casually, knowing that Tae has no idea about their plan.

“So now it’ll just be me and Yoongi here, huh.”

Jungkook almost feels bad saying the next part, “Well, actually Taetae… Yoongi will be coming with Jimin to college.”

A sniffle, “I’ll be all alone?”

Jungkook opens his mouth to reply but Tae’s already talking, his voice wavering with sadness.

“Stupid Seoul,” he grumbles, his voice catching. “Seoul is mean! It takes everyone I love away from me, Koo. It took you and now Jiminie and Yoongi? What am I meant to do? Your eomma is even looking at apartments there, I saw her computer the other day!”

“Tae when me and Jimin get an apartment together next year, you’re coming to live with us, too.”

“And another thing! Seoul doesn’t even sound that great - wait,” he pauses for a moment. “What?”

Now Jungkook’s laughing, imagining his best friend on the other end with his confused pout on his lips. “We’re going to get an apartment so the four of us can live together, Taetae. You’re coming to stupid Seoul, too.”

Then a second later, when Tae hasn’t replied and he gets nervous, he adds, “Like, you know, if you want to…”

Jungkook picks at his blanket’s fraying edge while he waits, listening to the sound of Tae just breathing, wondering if he hates the idea of moving to Seoul for him. But it is what they’ve talked about. Whenever he’s home visiting for break or a weekend, late at night while they cuddle on Jungkook’s old bed (or Tae’s bed, now), they always whisper about how much they can’t wait to be real adults, so they can live together again wherever they want.

And Jungkook’s heart might flutter a little at the idea of living with Tae. Getting to wake up next to him in the morning and cook breakfast with him and cuddle him during movie nights and spend their video game chats next to each other instead of on the phone.

Maybe, just maybe, Jungkook’s been thinking of Tae as someone really special to him.

Maybe.

“Koo you dummy,” Tae finally says and Jungkook releases all the air in his lungs in one fell swoop, “of course I want to live with you! That’s all we talk about! I miss you so, so much and and and-”

Jungkook laughs, feels his eyes well up with tears for some reason he doesn’t understand.

“And I just can’t wait to have you forever instead of just for a few days! Oh, and we can cuddle all the time !”

Jungkook’s doing his big, dumb grin that makes his whole face scrunch up, but he can’t help it. The feeling of love and acceptance sits so well in his chest, butterflies flapping in his tummy as the simple thought of them living together so domestically. 

“I can’t wait,” Jungkook whispers with a content sigh.

“Me too,” Tae giggles on the other end, “so hurry up and get your acceptance letter! I wanna come to Seoul and live with you right now suddenly!”

He laughs at that, “Just now? Not before?”

“I didn’t know it was an option before…” he replies shyly and it makes Jungkook’s heart swoop again. “But now that it is, I’m gonna do whatever I have to do to come live in Seoul with you!”

They talk for hours and hours, until Taehyung falls asleep and the only reason Jungkook knows is because he can hear his soft snoring. He smiles, his own eyes slipping closed, but doesn’t hang up, yet. Hearing Tae’s snores fills him with comfort, reminds him of all the times they’ve slept together, and when his eyes are closed, he can almost imagine that it’s him laying beside him now instead of his comfy body pillow. 

He hugs his pillow and buries his face into the fabric, his ear still filled with Tae’s even breathing and snores, and it’s like this that he falls asleep, too.

Taehyung is finally an adult. Twenty years old, ready to take on the world, while simultaneously, not ready at all.

The day he moves with Jimin and Yoongi to Seoul is terrifying. Saying goodbye to Jungkook’s eomma is sad, and he cries when she runs her fingers through his hair and tells him how proud she is of him. Packing up his room (Jungkook’s old room) into boxes and putting them into the truck beside his other friend’s stuff is sad.

Some of his very best memories are here in Busan, in that room, at the park behind the bench.

But his Koo is waiting for him in Seoul, already moved into their new home. So he has to go, has to say goodbye, so that he can be with his favorite person again.

Forever, this time.

Tae sits in the middle, between Jimin and Yoongi, as they drive from Busan to Seoul. It takes almost 7 hours, especially with their stops at rest stops to buy tteokbokki and sausage rice cake skewers. But the drive is fun! Tae sees so many things he’s never seen before - the mountains, lakes and rivers that run through landscapes, all the trees that are still full of green leaves as summer comes to an end. 

And they sing lots of songs together, laughing at how they know all the words and seem to have a similar dance, without ever having choreographed one together. 

At the halfway point, Taehyung calls Jungkook to tell him where they are, about the sights he’s seeing for the first time, how delicious the greasy rest stop food is, and how much he misses him.

“Are you excited about starting your classes?” Jimin asks as they drive, closer and closer to their new home. Taehyung is now against the window, Yoongi in the middle, the two hybrids cuddled together. Yoongi’s asleep, head resting on Tae’s shoulder and fluffy, black tail wrapped around his waist to keep him in place.

Seoul is ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to hybrid freedoms. Hybrids are still mostly treated as pets, but in Seoul, there’s been protests and movements and parades, fighting for freedom. So hybrids in Seoul can have regular jobs, just like everyone else, and they can even attend some classes at certain universities. The best part, too, is that they’re free education, since hybrids didn’t get to attend normal school growing up, though they’re definitely trying to change that.

Maybe someday, Tae thinks, when he has a kid of his own. Maybe his kid can go to school and live a normal life, even if they are a hybrid.

“Yeah!” Tae finally answers, giggling when Yoongi shifts on his shoulder, irritated by his loud voice near his ears. “Yoongi hyung and I both enrolled for as many as we can. I also want to find a part-time job so I can help you and Koo with bills and stuff…”

Jimin smiles over at him, “I’m sure you’ll find something that you like. I’ll help you, Tae.”

“Thanks Jiminie,” he giggles back, reaching up to pet Yoongi’s ears. “Are you excited about your classes? Koo is, he talks about it all the time. He has a class with Hoseokie, too!”

“I am excited, but also nervous since I’ve heard university is much harder than high school…” Jimin replies after some thought. “But since I’ll have you, Yoongi and Jungkookie by my side, I’m sure it’ll be great! Plus, I’m excited to see Hoseokie, Jin and Namjoon again, too! You’re gonna really like them, Tae.”

Taehyung grins, excited at the thought of having more friends! Koo’s talked all about his hyungs since he moved to Seoul, practically. Tae was so glad when he finally started to have friends, telling him about hanging out with them and all the fun they four had together. It made Tae feel relieved at the time, knowing that he wasn’t lonely anymore.

When they arrive in front of the apartment building, Taehyung and Yoongi are both overwhelmed with the scents of the city, the amount of people walking around the sidewalks, and the tall buildings. Even if Busan is a big city, the two of them rarely went into the downtown area… It feels like a lot, Seoul, and Tae feels a little dizzy as he buries his nose into Yoongi’s jacket, trying to drown out the scents.

“Yeah, we’re here!” Jimin is saying into the phone, opening the back of the truck. “Okay, see you in just a minute, then.”

“It smells here,” Yoongi grumbles to Jimin, who just laughs in response, handing him a box.

“Go ahead inside, then,” he tells him fondly, leaving a light kiss to his head. “Take Tae with you, he looks like he’s going to pass out. It’s apartment 806.”

Yoongi carries the box and starts walking to the doors of the building, Tae shuffling along beside him with his face still buried deep into his clothes, having to pant through his mouth to avoid the smells coming and going so rapidly. He feels a little sick now, his fingers gripping Yoongi’s hoodie as he follows him to the elevator.

When the doors slide open, Jungkook is there, amongst a group of three other boys.

“Taetae!” he shouts with glee, rushing out to his side. Taehyung doesn’t waste a second, immediately letting go of Yoongi to wrap his arms around Jungkook’s neck, burying his face into his skin there to inhale his scent. When he feels arms around his waist, holding him gently to his chest, all his muscles relax at once. “Here, lemme just take him upstairs. This is probably a lot for him.”

The other guys all murmur agreements before Jungkook pulls Tae into the elevator beside Yoongi.

“Hi Yoongi,” Jungkook says, feeling Tae practically constrict around him, the need to be closer filling his every pore. “How was the drive?”

“I slept for most of it,” he replies with a shrug, stepping out of the elevator once it arrives on the 8th floor. “I forgot how much cities smell. Tae’s probably going to need to lie down for a while before he gets used to it.”

Jungkook hums, and Tae feels fingers caressing through his soft hair, gentle as they touch his ears and massage the base of them. Tae coos, practically melting into his arms at that, and Jungkook laughs, reaching down to get his hands under his thighs to just carry him the rest of the way.

“Still a big baby,” Koo giggles, making Tae smile as he pulls his face away from his neck to look at him. His nose scrunches when he smiles at him and it makes Tae smile, too, his senses slowly coming back now that they’re not around so many people. “Hi Taetae.”

“Hi Koo,” he whispers back, leaning back into his neck to close his eyes and hold onto him tighter. “Missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” he replies without missing a beat. “Welcome home, Taetae.”

He pulls his face away again to look around as Jungkook removes his slide on sandals to carry him inside. The apartment itself is nice, white cabinets in the small kitchen with a lime green backsplash, a marble tile bathroom, a big living room area that already has a green couch and TV set up. There’s a small balcony that looks out over the city, a fresh load of clothes already hanging outside on the rack to dry. Jungkook carries him to one of the two sliding doors, and inside is a big bed with comfy looking black blankets and pillows.

The entire room smells of Jungkook.

He inhales and slowly lets himself down from Koo’s arms, looking around and checking it all out. There’s a closet with some of Jungkook’s clothes already hanging up, a picture of him and Tae from when they were kids framed on a bedside table.

It’s perfect.

It’s home.

“Go ahead and sit down for a little bit, okay?” Jungkook says as he leads Tae to sit down on the bed, ruffling his hair. “I’m gonna help the hyungs carry the rest of the stuff upstairs.”

“I can help,” he tries, but thinking about going outside again makes his nose wrinkle, and Jungkook just laughs.

“You can organize boxes as we bring them in, how about that?” Taehyung nods and stands up immediately when Jungkook starts back for the door. He clings to him, hugging his back the whole way, even when he starts to slide his shoes back on. 

He only lets go when Jungkook heads out the door, only for Jimin and another boy Tae doesn’t know yet to step inside, each carrying a box or two.

“Ah, this is Taehyung,” Jimin says as they both set their boxes down. “Tae this is Seokjin hyung. He’s the one that’s dating Namjoon.”

“The one who cooks for Koo a lot of delicious food!” Tae says with glee, reaching forward to give the tall, broad shouldered man a big hug. “Koo tells me all about you guys. He says that he would die here without you and your cooking. He didn’t tell me you were so handsome, though…”

Jin laughs at that, the sound loud in the mostly empty apartment, but it makes Tae happy.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, too, Taehyung-ah,” he replies fondly, eyes twinkling. “Jungkook never stops talking about you. I’m excited to finally meet you. I’ll cook you a big welcome home dinner tonight, how does that sound?”

Tae claps his hands at the offer, “I can help cook! I helped Jungkook’s eomma a lot.”

Jimin grins and the two head back out to get more boxes. Tae takes care of the ones they brought in, setting them both in Jimin and Yoongi’s room, which is empty besides the bed. When he goes back to the living room, he greets Yoongi at the door along with Jungkook and two other boys.

“Taetae, this is Namjoon and Hoseok,” Jungkook says as they set their boxes on the floor. Yoongi moves the one he was carrying directly to his and Jimin’s room. “Guys, this is my Taetae!”

Taehyung tries not to let his heart flutter at being called my Taetae .

“Namjoon and Hoseokie!” Tae immediately wraps his arms around both the boys at the same time, surprising them. Hoseok laughs, though, and eagerly returns the hug, while Namjoon is slightly more awkward about the sudden skinship between strangers. But Tae has heard so much about them that they don’t feel like strangers at all. “I’m so happy to meet you! Koo tells me all about you!”

“Aw, really?” Hoseok grins when they pull away. “He talks about you, too. All about his big, fat cru-”

“We should probably go help Jiminie,” Jungkook cuts him off, elbowing his side hard enough for Hoseok to sputter, sending him a glare. Tae smiles and waves them off, moving the boxes to their designated rooms based on labels written in sharpie marker. 

Yoongi stays with Tae for the rest of the moving process, helping him move boxes to where they need to go while the other five boys bring them up from the truck. With all the help, it doesn’t take too long before everything is moved in, the truck long since returned, and they all hang out together in the living room area. 

Jin sets to work in the kitchen, preparing beef bulgogi, rice, side dishes and lettuce wraps. Taehyung helps him, as promised, and chats happily all about things he’s excited to do and see in Seoul. Ever since Jungkook got his acceptance letter last year and they confirmed that he would be moving to Seoul, too, Tae’s done extensive research on landmarks and places to see.

He tells Jin all about signing up for classes with Yoongi, too, and his desire to find a job.

“You know, Hoseok works at a cafe that hires lots of hybrids,” Jin tells him, chopping the last of the vegetables to put in the pan while Tae stirs it around with a spatula. “I’m sure he could help you get a job there.”

He turns to him with wide eyes, “Really? He would help me, you think?”

Jin coos, pinching Tae’s cheek, making him grin happily again. They finish prepping the meal and everyone eats together, sharing food and happily making each other wraps. Jin and Namjoon are a cute couple, Taehyung thinks, but he can’t help but blush, tail twitching nervously when he sees them kiss, Jin seated in his boyfriend’s lap, feeding him a lettuce wrap shortly after.

Beside him, Jungkook seems to notice his embarrassment, because he reaches his free hand over to calmly stroke his tail until Tae seems to melt into his side. His tail wraps around his waist, pulling himself closer, and Jungkook just smiles down at him, so happy to be reunited again.

And at the end of the night, when everyone else has gone home, and Tae climbs into the bed beside Jungkook, they can’t help their fluttering hearts. When Taehyung curls into his arms more, wrapping his own around Koo’s middle so he can tuck his head under his chin and sleep with his face buried into his neck so he can scent him, he feels nervous in the pit of his stomach. Even if they’ve done this a million and one times, this time feels different.

Tae lifts his head to look at Koo only to find him already staring at him, his eyes fond and a warm expression on his face.

“I’m glad I’m here with you,” Tae whispers, giggling when Jungkook moves closer, until their noses boop together. All he can smell around him is Jungkook, Jungkook, Jungkook .

“I’m happy you’re here with me, too,” he whispers back, moving even closer then.

Taehyung’s stomach turns, so nervous as his breath hitches in his throat. He can smell Jungkook’s scent spike, as if he’s nervous, too.

“Tae,” Jungkook whispers his name so sweetly, making him close his eyes and breathe in his scent deeply. His lips part slightly, his entire body feeling like he’s alight with nerves. Every tiny touch or movement is making him feel more and more nervous. “Can I kiss you, Taehyungie?”

His eyes fly open, wide as a blush dusts across the apples of his cheeks.

He doesn’t trust his voice, so he just stares at him and slowly nods.

Jungkook gulps audibly before he moves even closer , his eyes slowly closing. Tae watches as his long eyelashes flutter across his cheek before he closes his own eyes, his heart beating so fast that he thinks maybe he’ll die if it continues like this.

There’s a soft press to his lips, a ghost of a kiss. 

Jungkook pulls away slightly and Tae whines, reaching his arms around his neck to pull him back before he can stop himself. A second later, Jungkook’s lips capture his again, this time more sure, but still gentle. His lips pull away only to go back again, slow as they capture Tae’s bottom lip between them, earning a shuddered sigh from the hybrid. He turns his head slightly before kissing him more deeply, letting his tongue slip into Tae’s mouth. He tastes like mint toothpaste and something sweet - maybe the chocolate cake they had together earlier. 

Jungkook kisses him slow and lazy, gentle but meaningful. He moves, his arms tightening around Tae’s waist, until he hovers over the other. He has to let go of him to rest his weight on the bed beside his head, pulling away to let them both breathe.

Taehyung’s eyes are still closed, his lips parted as he breathes unevenly. His cheeks are pink, his lips swollen and red and slick with spit.

And when he slowly opens his eyes to look up at Jungkook, he can’t help but say what’s on his mind.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, letting one of his hands caress his cheek, running his thumb over his lips. The compliment makes Tae’s cheeks turn even more red, and he bites his lip, smiling shyly up at him. “So, so fucking beautiful.”

He leans back down, kissing him again, tilting Tae’s chin so he can kiss him deeper, better. He kisses him like he’ll never get another chance to again, kisses him like he deserves: Full of love and adoration. 

They kiss and kiss, until they’re both breathless again, and Tae can’t help but squeal and bury his face into Jungkook’s chest again, suddenly shy. He can only laugh as Tae clings to him, his arms around his shoulders and a leg around his waist, face buried deeply into his t-shirt. 

And Jungkook wishes he was brave enough to tell him what he really thinks again.

I love you.

Taehyung loves being an adult, loves living in Seoul, and loves Jungkook.

Since he moved to Seoul 6 months earlier, he has started attending art and painting classes at the same university that Jungkook and Jimin attend (Yoongi does, too, but he took music classes instead of art, so they hardly see each other on campus), and gotten himself a part-time job with Hoseok’s help at the cafe that’s nearby his apartment. Tae kinda hates coffee, because it’s too bitter, but he gets a free hot cocoa every shift and he really loves getting to talk to so many new people every time he works.

And Jungkook, well, he loves him more than he ever thought possible.

Since their first kiss, they officially decided to start seeing how it goes with occasional dates here and there, and lots ( lots ) of kisses before bedtime and in the morning and while they watch movies in the living room and-

Jimin and Yoongi, to say the least, are sick and tired of their kissing (even if they kiss, too, sometimes).

“Hi Taehyung!” Jin says as he approaches the counter at the cafe where he’s currently working, behind the counter, making a latte for the customer. He waves happily, seeing him and Namjoon holding hands as they walk over. “When does your shift end?”

“At five,” he replies, handing the customer his latte and telling him to have a nice rest of his day. “What are you guys doing tonight?”

“It’s date night,” Jin replies happily, lifting their clasped hands to show him.

“We’re just stopping for a coffee before we head to the park to walk around,” Namjoon adds, pulling his wallet out to pay for their drinks. “You and Jungkook have any plans tonight?”

Taehyung shakes his head in response. Tomorrow’s actually his birthday, though all he’s planned for that is a cute date with Jungkook during the day and probably a simple dinner with Jimin, Yoongi and Jungkook at their home. Jungkook’s eomma is supposed to be coming to town, too, to visit over the weekend to celebrate together.

“Nah, not tonight,” he replies cheerily, making their drinks. “I think maybe we’ll just watch movies? We’ve been having a Harry Potter marathon the last two nights.”

“It is the best time of year to binge watch Harry Potter,” Namjoon agrees and Jin laughs.

“Joonie we watched them during fall, remember?” Jin says and his boyfriend pouts, making him roll his eyes as he accepts the drinks from Taehyung. “Well, we’ll see you this weekend, Taehyungie!”

“Okay, bye hyungs!” he shouts after them, waving excitedly.

When his shift ends at five, he takes his time walking home. Hands in his pockets, snow crunching under his feet with each step, and fresh snowflakes falling from the twilight sky. Some businesses still have Christmas decorations up in their windows, adding to the festive and fun atmosphere, despite the cold, and it warms Taehyung’s heart.

When he gets home and puts in the passcode, sliding out of his boots and hanging his coat up, he lets out a happy sigh. It smells yummy, like someone is cooking something spicy and warm, and the TV is on some reality show that sounds funny.

Home, he smiles, heading into the living room.

“Surprise!”

His eyes go wide, taking in the scene of everyone standing there, happy birthday taped up on the wall behind them, party hats on each of their heads. Jungkook is in the center, holding a cake with candles on it, a bright and happy grin on his lips.

“Happy birthday, Taetae,” he says.

Taehyung swallows, feels tears welling up in his eyes as he moves closer so he can blow out the candles. 

“B-but my birthday isn’t until tomorrow,” he says with a small smile.

“And we wanted to celebrate with you the moment it turns midnight,” Jimin tells him and he laughs, the sound a little watery.

They’re all here. Jungkook, Jimin, Yoongi, Hoseok, even Namjoon and Jin.

“Make a wish baby,” Jungkook murmurs, stepping closer.

Taehyung closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, concentrating to make his wish fly all the way to the stars in the sky, hoping with every fiber of his being that it will come true. And then he leans forward and blows the candles out and everyone claps and cheers, Yoongi leaning forward to place a party hat on his head for him, a soft and fond smile on his lips.

They spend their evening together eating a home cooked meal made by Seokjin, drinking soju and beer, eating cake and above all, lumped together in the living room with a movie playing in the background. Tae sits between Jungkook and Jimin, cuddled up between them with his tail splayed over Jimin’s lap to link together with Yoongi’s. On the floor in front of him is Hoseok, leaning back against his legs as if he’s a pillow. Namjoon and Jin cuddle together on the big chair, not too far from reach, either.

Tae’s heart has never been more full. He’s never felt so much love at one time, never truly understood what ‘family’ means until this very moment.

Just sitting together, just being able to enjoy their presence and know that he’s cared for.

His eyes move to Jungkook, who has one hand in Tae’s hair, playing with the strands and occasionally petting his ears. He’s watching the movie, too entranced to really notice him staring right at him, and that thought makes more warmth bloom in his chest.

Jungkook’s not even paying attention, but his fingers are still playing with his hair, as if the touch alone is the most comfortable thing in the world. And it is, especially for Taehyung, who has spent most of his life looking forward to those hands playing with his hair.

Now, Taehyung smiles as he leans into the touch, his nose brushing against Jungkook’s neck as he lets out a quiet and happy purring sound, closing his eyes.

I wish that we can all be a family forever.

Jungkook loves living in an apartment with Tae, Jimin and Yoongi. Really, he does.

But sometimes, he just wants to be able to be intimate with Taehyung without having to be quiet or worrying about one of their friends walking into their room to ask what to order for takeout (again) while they’re half naked, grinding on each other. Jungkook just wants to be able to have actual, real sex with his boyfriend without the sound of the TV in the living room and of his two friends talking just on the other side of the wall.

The opportunity finally presents itself during Spring break, when Jimin and Yoongi head back to Busan to visit his parents for a week. A whole week of uninterrupted time with his boyfriend, with no one to hear them, and no one to walk in on them.

“Bye guys!” Tae says at the door, helping them get their suitcases out the door. “Call us every night! Oh, and when you go to the ocean, video call us, too! I miss Busan.”

“You’re always welcome to come with us, Taehyungie-” Jimin starts, cutting himself off when he sees Jungkook glaring at him from Tae’s side. “Maybe next time? But don’t worry, we’ll call. You guys have a good week here!”

“And use protection,” Yoongi adds, though he’s not joking as he stares at Jungkook.

Tae’s face blushes bright red and he laughs nervously, turning himself into Jungkook’s arms while he just coughs awkwardly. 

“Yoongi leave them alone,” Jimin laughs, pulling on the black cat hybrid. “See you guys next week.”

It’s almost instant. As soon as the door clicks closed and locks, Taehyung’s back is pressed against it, pinned there at Jungkook leans in and kisses him, holding his wrists over his head. Tae’s eyes flutter closed, his tail swishing over to Jungkook to wrap around his middle and tug him closer, flushed against each other as their tongues explore each others mouths, taste each other. 

Tae giggles when Jungkook’s kisses start to trail down his jaw to his neck, shifting his head to the side to let him mark him. He sighs dreamily when Jungkook’s lips press to his pulse, where his scent is the strongest. When he feels teeth bite down before he sucks there, he can’t help but let out a quiet moan, his hips kicking forwards in search of friction. He’s half hard already, just knowing that they can finally do this.

“J-Jungkook,” he whimpers, eyes slowly opening when his boyfriend pulls back to admire the new purple mark on his neck. He sounds wrecked already, feels like he is, and the sight of him makes Jungkook feel like he’s going crazy.

That he’s the one doing that to Taehyung.

God, he’s so lucky .

Jungkook picks him up easily, hands sliding down to his ass to hold him while Tae’s legs join his tail in wrapping around his waist, his arms sliding around his shoulders effortlessly. It’s only a few steps to reach their bedroom, but Taehyung takes advantage of Jungkook carrying him, peppering his neck with kisses of his own, scenting him to leave his mark so any other hybrid would know that Jungkook is his .

As he nuzzles his face into Jungkook’s pulse, he starts to purr, body tightening his grip on his lover as he’s carried to their bed. 

“Fuck baby,” Jungkook whispers, pressing him into the mattress, hovering over him. Tae’s legs are still wrapped around his waist and he tugs him down, their half hard cocks rutting against each other, the friction from their pants start to feel too constricting. “Fuck. You have no idea what you do to me, Tae.”

Taehyung smiles at that, puckering his lips, asking for a kiss. And who is Jungkook to deny his baby of all the kisses he wants?

As soon as their lips are pressed together again, Tae’s fingers tug on Jungkook’s shirt before sliding up under it, feeling his warm, toned back. Jungkook’s own fingers are trailing softly against his side, tickling him and causing goosebumps to rise on his skin, his back arching to chase the feeling, laughing when it reaches his belly button and he has to pull his lips away to breathe, pressing his forehead against Jungkook’s.

“You’re so beautiful,” Jungkook whispers as he pulls away just enough to pull his shirt up and over his head, leaving Taehyung half naked on the bed under him. The sight is almost enough to have him creaming in his pants, especially when he looks up at him from under fluttering eyelashes, the apples of his cheeks a brilliant pink color. “Fuck Tae, you’re perfect. So, so beautiful. Perfect for me.”

Tae’s eyes roll closed at the praise, a soft keen escaping his lips as Jungkook’s lips trail down his neck and collarbones, littering them with butterfly kisses. His hips buck up when Jungkook reaches his nipples, his tongue flicking over one while his fingers reach up to give attention to the other, twisting and pulling gently, rolling his hips down against Tae’s just to hear more of his pretty sounds and moans.

“Oh fuck Jungkook!” Tae moans, his entire back arching off the bed beautifully, his hips meeting Jungkook’s, trying to get more of Jungkook’s mouth on him. He feels like he’s on fire, his entire body hot as he starts panting, fingers reaching up to dig into Jungkook’s hair, tugging at the long, black strands. “Fuck, fuck, t-too much.”

Jungkook pulls away, placing a soft kiss to each nipple before he continues his way down. Tae flops back on the bed, body pliant and limp from the stimulation, breathing hard. He watches Jungkook kiss down to his soft tummy, feels as his fingers reach his waistband of his jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping them before pushing them down to his thighs. 

Seeing his boyfriend between his knees never gets less arousing for him. 

Once Jungkook gets his jeans down, he’s faced with how beautiful and sinful his boyfriend looks wearing red lace panties.

“Holy shit,” he whispers, wide eyes looking up to take in the flushed face of his boyfriend.

“I-I went shopping with Jimin a couple days ago,” he admits shyly, biting his bottom lip as his hips wiggling a little. “Um, do you…” he licks his lips nervously. “Do you like it?”

Jungkook’s speechless, fingers dipping just under the waistband of the panties before pulling out to run them over the fabric, across his hips and to his ass, squeezing as he pulls their crotches together, earning another moan from Tae.

“I love it baby,” he whispers, lips hovering just over Tae’s. “God you’re perfect. Don’t even wanna take them off, you look too pretty with them on.”

Tae smiles again, still blushing, and closes the distance between their lips in another wet kiss. He lets Taehyung have his way, his fingers busying themselves with touching him everywhere, gripping his hips and pulling him up to grind together again, catching all of Tae’s moans and whimpers in his mouth.

“If-if you don’t stop, I’ll come this way,” Tae manages to get out. “Wanna feel you, Koo. P-please.”

Jungkook presses a final peck to his lips before finally standing up, removing his own shirt and yanking off Tae’s jeans the rest of the way, tossing them to the floor. He reaches for the bedside table, grabbing the strawberry lube and condoms there.

“Lay on your stomach baby,” he says, voice husky and causing another shiver to run down Tae’s spine. He immediately flops himself over, grabbing a pillow to place under his chest while Jungkook situates himself behind him, between his legs, fingers finally reaching up to peel the panties off his body.

He takes his time, placing soft kisses to his skin as he pulls them down, revealing his plush, perfect ass and freeing his tail from the underwear. He kisses down his thighs, squeezing one with his free hand before the panties are on the floor underneath him and he’s bare and exposed in front of him, practically shaking in anticipation.

Jungkook is slow, trailing his kisses back up before he spreads Taehyung’s cheeks, exposing his pink hole. And fuck , even that is pretty, trying to clench around nothing when the cool air hits it. 

He places a soft kiss there, surprising Tae, before leaning down to lick a stripe from his balls to his hole, fingers reaching across the bedspread to find the lube, popping the cap open. He pulls away to squeeze a bit directly onto him and Tae hisses, hips bucking forward, trying to get away.

“It’s cold!” he whines, looking over his shoulder to glare at him. 

“Sorry baby,” he laughs, leaning over to place a gentle kiss to the small of his back. “I’ll make it up to you, promise.”

He spreads his cheeks again, using a thumb to smear the lube around his hole and gently press against it, pulling it open slightly. Tae slowly starts to relax at the motion of his thumb prodding at his entrance, body melting into the sheets, legs spreading slightly wider to give him more room to work.

When his tongue returns, licking another strip from his balls to his hole, tongue dipping into the hole with just the tip, Taehyung’s hips jerk forward again, a loud moan escaping his lips as he ruts against the sheets below him. Spurred on by his pretty sounds, Jungkook continues his ministrations, tonguing at his entrance, thumbs pulling his hole to give him more access as he slowly opens up.

“F-fuck Jungkook! ” he moans out, pressing his face into the mattress and moving up to his knees slightly, pressing his ass back to his face, seeking more friction. “God, oh my god.”

Jungkook’s fingers squeeze at his ass, kneading the warm, golden skin there as he finally opens up enough for his tongue to slip inside. Tae gasps, his entire body tensing up for just a second, while Jungkook pulls back out to suck at his rim again, relaxing him. He holds his hips steady when he laps at his entrance, his chin messy with spit and strawberry lube, before diving his tongue back in and out, reaching as far into him as he can get.

Taehyung collapses back onto the bed, hips stuttering against the sheets as he keens, gripping the pillow under him tightly.

“Oh my god Jungkookie,” he slurs out, his voice completely wrecked as his hips fight between rutting down into the sheets or pressing his ass back against the tongue working its way further inside of him. “S-so good, so good for me.”

Jungkook hums, switching between fucking his tongue inside and sucking loudly on his rim. Taehyung’s cock is dripping with precum at this point, the tip flushed red and practically begging for direct stimulation.

Taehyung’s so busy fucking his hips back on Jungkook’s tongue that he doesn’t hear the lube cap pop open again. A moment later, though, he does notice a slicked up finger pressing at his entrance beside the tongue and he cries out, moaning as he reaches down to touch his cock, smearing his precum all over it to make the glide easier.

Jungkook pulls back, wiping his chin as he works his finger in and out of Tae.

“No touching yet, love,” he murmurs and Tae whimpers but complies, dropping his hand from his cock to grip the pillow again.

When he presses a second finger in, Taehyung whines, the feeling more painful than pleasurable. Jungkook presses kisses everywhere, slowing his pace, waiting until Tae’s body relaxes around him again, unclenching so he can press in further. A few more thrusts and he starts to scissor his fingers, opening Tae up as best he can before hooking against his walls.

Taehyung jerks with a loud, high pitched moan, his face falling flat into the pillow when Jungkook’s fingers find his prostate. 

“Feel good, baby?” he whispers, lips still pressed to his skin. Taehyung can only offer a nod and whimper when fingers brush against that bundle of nerves again before pulling out completely.

“No, come back,” Tae whines, pressing backwards to try and get them back inside of him, trying to chase the feeling. Jungkook laughs quietly before pressing back to his hole with three fingers this time, and he moans out when they press inside him, filling him so well. “F-fuck,” he whimpers, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. 

Taehyung’s hips buck back against his fingers as they hit his prostate over and over, drool escaping the corner of his mouth as he lets out loud, lewd moans, his cock leaking steadily now.

When the fingers pull out this time, Jungkook reaches up to help Tae flip so he’s laying on his back, hair spread over his head like a halo, ears twitching atop his head. His cheeks are flushed, his neck sporting a few purple marks from Jungkook’s earlier ministrations, and his cock is leaking precum all over his soft tummy, looking absolutely sinful, yet pure at the same time.

Jungkook removes his jeans and boxers, finally, letting his own cock spring to his stomach. He’s hard, dick twitching once it’s exposed to the cold air, and he can’t help but moan out as he grips himself, ripping open a condom wrapper with his teeth. He gives himself a few pumps before rolling the condom on, slicking it up with more lube.

“You ready?” Jungkook whispers, his cock pressed at his entrance, arms holding himself up over Taehyung with his hands supporting himself on either side of his face. 

Slowly, Taehyung nods, leaning up to capture Jungkook’s lips in a soft and gentle kiss, despite the heat of the moment. He returns it, taking Tae’s bottom lip between his and sucking softly before pulling away to press his forehead against his.

When he starts to push in, it’s slow with pauses so that Taehyung can get used to the stretch. Jungkook’s arms shake, fighting his urge to push all the way in, the feeling of Tae’s heat surrounding him almost too much. Tae is just as wrecked, whining and whimpering, a few tears sliding down his cheeks as he bites at his lips, trying to keep all his sounds down.

When Jungkook finally bottoms out, he has to lean down to rest his head against Tae’s shoulder, breathing deeply. He can feel sweat collecting in his hairline, his whole body tense. It feels so fucking good, like Tae’s body is sucking him in, clenching and releasing every couple of seconds.

“You’re so tight, fuck,” Jungkook whispers against his collarbone. Tae shudders, eyebrows pinched as he forces himself to relax around Jungkook. “Fuck, Tae.”

“O-okay,” he stutters out quietly, “you can move.”

Jungkook lifts his head, his arms moving around Tae’s so that he can lean even closer, giving a small thrust of his hips. Tae’s face scrunches up when a jolt of pain shoots up his back, but it eases away as Jungkook places tender kisses all over his face, cheeks, forehead, nose, everywhere he can reach.

On the next thrust, Jungkook goes even deeper and Tae moans, back arching off the bed as his hips buck desperately to meet the next thrust. The pain ebbs away, his entire body seeming to grow taut as pleasure takes over, building with every thrust of their hips. 

“J-Jungkook,” he moans, arms wrapping around Jungkook’s shoulders, panting when the thrusts start to speed up. Jungkook moans, too, his sounds so pretty and breathy.

It’s just a few thrusts later that Jungkook seems to find his prostate again. The first time he hits it, Taehyung practically screams, his fingernails sinking into Jungkook’s shoulders as his entire body clenches around him. Jungkook keeps going, hitting that spot over and over, relentless, until tears are running down Tae’s cheeks.

“Y-you feel s-so good, Kookie,” Taehyung stutters out in a breathless voice, reaching up to push his boyfriend’s hair back from his forehead when it falls into his eyes. “Fill me up so good, oh my god.”

“Yeah?” he whispers back, voice sounding equally wrecked, as his thrusts start to grow more and more sloppy. One of his hands reaches down to grip at Tae’s painfully hard cock, earning another keen from him as he ruts into his fist, moving up and down in time with their hips.

Tae pulls him down by his neck for a heated, sloppy kiss, swallowing down all of his moans. When he moans his name, he slips his tongue in, the kiss growing deeper, his body’s pleasure building higher and higher until he’s seeing stars.

“J-Jungkook, ah, I’m getting close,” he warns, whimpering at a particularly hard thrust. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Jungkook !”

Taehyung’s entire body tenses for a moment, shaking as his cock shoots milky white cum up his stomach and chest, spilling on Jungkook’s fist around him, still working him through his orgasm. He moans loudly, arched up, eyes closed as he gasps, clenching hard around Jungkook’s cock inside him.

His body falls limp to the mattress, Jungkook’s hand finally releasing his cock as it starts to go soft. But his hips continue their thrusts at a brutal pace, chasing his own orgasm, even as Tae’s thighs shake, whimpers and moans getting louder and louder as the overstimulation fades from good to too much to painful second by second.

Taehyung does his best to clench around him, trying to coax his orgasm from his boyfriend, and after a few more powerful thrusts, he presses in deeper, rolling his hips and grinding against his abused prostate. He cries out, tears flowing down his cheeks, his entire body hypersensitive at this point. 

“Fuck,” Jungkook finally grunts, his dick twitching inside. His lips are right by Tae’s ear as he moans out his name, finally coming into the condom inside him. “Fuck Tae, baby, jesus christ.”

When he finally stills inside of Tae, they’re both panting heavily. Taehyung reaches up to wrap his arms around his shoulders, easing him down on top of him as his cock softens inside of him. He easily finds his hand, fingers lacing together; Jungkook places a delicate kiss to the back of his hand, and Tae smiles fondly, tilting his head down to press a soft kiss to the top of Jungkook’s head.

“I love you, Koo,” he whispers into his hair, not minding that it’s sweaty when he buries his nose into it. “Fuck I love you so much, Jungkook.”

Jungkook lifts his head when he hears how teary his boyfriend’s voice sounds. He reaches his free hand up to wipe away the stray tears from his wet cheeks, eyes soft before pressing a peck to his lips.

“I love you, too, Taehyung,” he says quietly.

Tae hiccups and sniffles, “You do? You don’t have to say it j-just because I did.”

Jungkook laughs lightly, stroking his ears and nuzzling his nose against his.

“I’m not just saying it ‘cause you did,” he whispers to him, voice sincere and honest. “I love you so much, Taehyung. I’m in love with you. Crazy love, the kind where I would do anything to make you happy.”

Tae lets out a watery giggle at that and nods.

Jungkook pulls away and pulls out, earning an oversensitive whine from Tae. He disposes of the condom and heads to the bathroom to get a wet towel to clean himself and Tae off, pressing kisses to his marked skin as he cleans him up. 

And then he’s crawling into bed beside him, wrapping them both up in their comforter as Tae snuggles into his chest, tail wrapping around his waist.

“You’re the most beautiful person in the world,” Jungkook whispers with his lips pressed to his forehead. “Inside and out, Tae.”

Tae smiles, eyes closed as he presses his nose right against Jungkook’s neck.

“You’re the one with the heart of gold, Koo,” he whispers back, feeling his fingers against the bare skin of his hip. “I’m so glad that you found me that day. You’re like a real life angel, you know?”

Jungkook hugs him tighter, engulfing him in his arms as his own eyes slip shut.

“Goodnight Taetae,” he says, just like always.

“Goodnight Koo,” Tae always replies.

Adulthood, Jungkook and Taehyung find, is incredibly ordinary.

They still live in Seoul, though now they live in a nice apartment in Gangnam with a beautiful view, and it’s just them. Jimin and Yoongi have long since gotten their own place, somewhere closer to Namjoon and Jin and Hoseok. Their apartment is lived in and cozy, decorated with houseplants everywhere and too many cute pillows on the bed.

But it’s home.

Jungkook works at his father’s company, a simple job that pays well and is a little mind numbing, but overall not too bad. He makes friends with coworkers, invites them over for dinner sometimes, and is never in too bad of a mood when he comes home.

Especially when he gets to come home to his fiance and their recently adopted puppy, Yeontan.

Taehyung excelled in his art classes and has long since made a name for himself in the art community. His paintings sell for high prices - everyone wants a Vante painting in their home or office. But no one knows that Vante is a hybrid, and no one besides their close friends know that it’s Taehyung. 

And buyers don’t know that more than half the money he gets for each painting they buy goes towards the Hybrid Foundation, working and fighting hard to get hybrid freedom rights, shut down adoption and breeding centers, and get hybrids into the public school system. 

“Tae baby?” Jungkook calls as he steps into the apartment, slipping off his sleek black work shoes and already loosening his tie. “I’m home!”

“In the kitchen!” Tae’s voice shouts back. 

When he looks in, leaning against the entryway with a fond smile on his lips, he finds the love of his life with an apron on, cooking something that smells amazing on the stove top with tiny fluff ball Yeontan chasing his feet around when he moves. He’s dressed in one of Jungkook’s comfortable shirts, oversized and hanging off one of his shoulders, exposing fresh marks on his skin that Jungkook left there last night. Under the shirt, he’s in nothing but a pair of lacey panties, his tail swishing side to side as he hums to the song playing on the bluetooth speaker.

God, Jungkook thinks as he finally moves toward him, wrapping his arms around his waist and hugging his back to his chest. I must be the luckiest man in the world .

“How was work, Koo?” Tae asks, giggling when Jungkook starts to leave sweet kisses against his nape. He moves his head to the side, giving him more room to press his lips to his skin. 

“Boring,” is his response, a soft huff against his warm, golden skin. “How was your day?”

Tae finally turns off the stove, turning around in his fiance’s arms to warp his own around his neck. “Mmm, was a little boring, too. Missed you too much to focus on anything.”

Jungkook grins, leaning down to press his lips to Tae’s, earning another sweet giggle from him. He licks into his mouth, tasting something spicy there, and lets his hands wander lower and lower until they reach his ass, squeezing it as he pulls Tae flush against his body. Taehyung laughs into the kiss, tugging at Jungkook’s hair as he opens his mouth, lets him press his tongue in and deepen the kiss even more.

Just as Jungkook finally lifts Taehyung and sets him down on the counter behind him to kiss him deeper, Yeontan lets out a shrill bark at the loss of Tae’s feet to follow.

Tae giggles, pulling back only slightly to coo at the puppy while Jungkook takes the opportunity to trail his kisses down the hollow of his throat, his fingers grazing over his bare thighs. With a soft sigh of pleasure, Tae opens his legs more, allowing Jungkook to get even closer, press his abs against his half hard cock.

“Mm baby, you know as much as I would love for you to fuck me right now,” Tae murmurs as Jungkook’s fingers tease at the hem of his oversized shirt, “dinner’s almost ready and I’m sure you’re starving.”

Jungkook sighs, letting his head fall to his exposed shoulder.

“If my stomach wasn’t literally growling I would tell you that I’d rather just eat you for dinner but-”

His stomach makes a loud complaint and Taehyung laughs loudly, throwing his head back. With a final peck to his fiance’s lips, Tae gets down from the counter and pushes Jungkook out of the kitchen to go get changed into comfy clothes while he sets the table for them. 

Jungkook steps into their bedroom, grabbing sweatpants and a t-shirt to change into, and his eyes fall on a picture in a frame hanging on the wall. One taken many, many years ago at a park in Busan, where a young boy found an abandoned hybrid in a cardboard box behind the bench. He smiles at the photo, letting his finger gently brush over their child forms, grinning ear to ear as they hug, Tae’s tail wrapped around him. 

And maybe adult life is a little bit ordinary, but Jungkook wouldn’t trade that for anything.