Chapter Text
Jungkook is out, heading to the grocery store and minding his own business. His boyfriend, Min, sent him out to get some chocolate chips to make muffins, and he’s trying to walk as quickly as he can. Doesn't want to dilly dally but also finds himself admiring the afternoon sky, loving the thin clouds that calmly drift above.
“My boyfriend says it’s not nice for people to make fun of others for their differences!”
The nervous exclamation makes Jungkook pause his train of thought, but his feet continue walking. He slows down, just slightly, turns his head to look to the side of a building. There's a large magnolia tree above him, keeping him nice and shaded in this heat, but the men he sees takes away that pleasant feeling almost immediately.
He hears cackling, like whatever the cornered guy yelled was absolutely hilarious, and all thoughts of hurrying to the grocery store halt, feet solid on the sidewalk.
Two guys are crowding around a smaller one. Well, he doesn't look that small, but the way he's cowering into himself makes him so little, shoulders hunched up and back pressed against a wall. Jungkook can say with pretty good certainty that he's always had a radar for hybrids, and this boy is setting off every single alarm in his head. He’s started to get one of those nauseous cramps in his stomach, like something is crumpling his organs up in an irritated ball.
“Can I please leave?” the smaller guy says timidly, but the others are already opening up their big mouths.
“Your boyfriend? How the fuck do you have a boyfriend? Is he as creepy as you?”
“No!" the boy yells, obviously upset. "He’s really pretty!”
The guy with the black cap twists up his mouth, disgusted. "Honestly? Do you kiss your mom with a mouth like that?" He points at the guy's lips, and the other flinches away. "You even have a mom?"
"Why wouldn't he have a mom?” the other scoffs, nudging his friend. “The real question is, does your mom have the same things as you?”
The boy nods his head, glancing towards the side. His mouth is now sealed shut, probably realizing that trying to argue with them isn’t working, and he's somehow gotten even smaller.
“Eww!” he spits, reeling back. "So there really are more of you? You've gotta be fucking kidding."
“Things like you shouldn't fuckin' exist. Can't believe hybrids like you are out there populating the earth with your shit." The man with the hat rubs his temples while the taller guy groans. "What is wrong with this fucked-up world, I swear. We don’t deserve this insanity."
By now, the hybrid has his eyes squeezed shut, clutching his hands together against his chest, and Jungkook isn't thinking. He isn't thinking because he's shifting, and he's about to rip some people's heads off. And let me tell you something, the guys take one look at Jungkook, at his massive spider form, cold as death and ready to fight anyone who dares come in his path, and skedaddle the fuck outta there, oh no siree they're not messing with a hybrid on a mission. Especially not a hybrid with eight bloody red eyes popping out of its face, fangs extending down and torso the emptiest white, like there isn't even anyone left alive in there. Legs, black and hairy, sprout out of its waist, and the men might have both just pissed their pants, shrieking as they take off.
It's all noise and instinct. He hears sounds, hears them screaming. Feels his body responding, focus centering, ready to chase and pounce and restrain. But... there's another creature here. A creature that somewhere in the shred of a human memory, he recognizes. He has to stay, he doesn't remember why, but he's supposed to stay here where the other is.
It's hard shifting back. It's really fucking hard to when he's so amped up, ready to defend "his territory" who's really just another hybrid he's vowed to protect. His mind isn't thinking, maybe even more vulnerable in this huge state, sensing movement more than seeing it, more than actually processing it.
Eventually he's able to calm down and start the horrid process of shifting back. He doesn't know how much time has passed, but the sun is lower in the sky, shadows stretching across the grass and pavement, and there's a guy staring at him in… awe.
The hybrid.
"Are you feeling small again?"
"Small?" Jungkook croaks, still getting his voice back.
"Yeah." The guy is really close, a pleasant scratching on his back, and Jungkook groans in delight at the feeling. It's connecting slowly, Jungkook realizing the other hybrid was petting him as he shifted back, massaging his shoulders and tracing soft, clammy fingers along the slope of his nose, between his eyebrows and along his forehead. It's touching that he would get so close to Jungkook, even when he's so daunting in his other form. It reminds him of Min, of how Min never fails to smile and hold him while he's dazed and sensitive.
"When I shift to a human, I go from little to big. But since you're a large spider, I thought shifting to a human would make you feel small. We're opposites," the guy excitedly tells him, and Jungkook hisses as a final bone settles into place.
"I guess I am… feeling small." Less confident, less rash. Small. Sure.
"It'll be okay then," the guy reassures, crossing his legs on the grass. "I can protect you 'til you're feeling better."
The guy isn't particularly threatening, delicate nose and soft skin, looks sweet as the pink lollies Min buys on rainy days, but Jungkook thanks him for it anyway. It's nice. He protected the hybrid; the hybrid is returning the favor.
It takes him awhile to feel human, and he's a bit smitten with how the stranger keeps rubbing him tenderly, like he can simply sense that Jungkook isn't fully there yet still. And when Jungkook is, the man helps him up to his feet, holding his elbows even though he doesn't need to in order to make sure Jungkook doesn't fall.
“Why were those guys making fun of you?” Jungkook asks. The other man is really pretty, has been absolutely wonderful and understanding so far. Normal. Jungkook doesn’t understand how anyone could want to bully him.
“My teeths...” the boy mumbles, mouth barely parted. In fact, Jungkook hasn't seen him with his mouth completely open throughout this conversation. Things had been blurrily coming together in one mess, and he hadn't realized how odd it was until now.
“Your what?”
The guy shuffles, dusting off his knees and clearing his throat. "My teeths. Teeth." He points to his lips, but Jungkook can't see anything when they're pressed so tightly together. The hybrid looks down, talking lowly. “They said I looked really pretty. Were offering me a… I think it’s called a modeling job?” He sniffs, wiping his nose. “Then I smiled really wide ‘cause I got excited and… yeah.”
"You got braces or something?" Jungkook questions dumbly.
"No." The guy's mouth bulges, pushing his tongue around. “You’re not gon’ judge me? 'Cause you’re a hybrid too?”
“Well yeah.” Jungkook raises his arm, scratching the back of his neck. “I can’t really judge, I guess. You saw my spider form. It can be freaky.”
“I thought ‘s cool,” the guy says, very quietly. "Your spider is so gentle." He smiles with his lips closed, like he’s sharing a treasured secret. "Was really sweet."
Jungkook chuckles. "Eh, I don't know if 'sweet' and 'gentle' are the best words, but thanks.” Sure, his boyfriend may think he's a gentle giant in his spider form, but that's only because they've known each other for years and he's very biased. New people don't usually take Jungkook for kind when he reeks of death.
"You stayed with me," he tells Jungkook, like that's something Jungkook should find impressive. "You came over to me, and — " the boy's smile shyly widens, " — and shoved your head into my chest when you were trying to shift back. Spidey was very polite, let me move us to a comfier part of the grass. Never even got grumpy with me."
"Oh." Jungkook doesn't really know what to say. He can't really remember that. It's a little embarrassing. His boyfriend is the one who usually calms Jungkook down from his shift, so his spider... his spider was probably searching for that same comfort, got all up in the other hybrid's space because it wanted the reassuring pets it's so used to. The spoiled thing. "Well I'm glad I didn't scare you, but when I saw them I just." He grits his teeth, trying to keep his tone level. "They made me so angry. They should never have been so cruel to you."
Jungkook doesn't know what he said to make the guy decide, but the hybrid suddenly declares, “’M showin' you,” and it’s still hard to hear with how he’s speaking, but the finality in it is clear. He tilts his head up, meeting Jungkook, gains his confidence. And then his mouth is opening, wide, wider, wider.
“Woah! Those are awesome!” The guy must have hundreds of teeth. Holy hell. He thought his own fangs were cool, long and a shiny black, but this is something else. “What kind of hybrid are you?”
He can't even think of one that would fit. A shark? Sharks have a lot of teeth, right?
He notices the guy hasn't answered yet, slouching a little. Almost looks uncomfortable. “Oh, uh, I'm sorry. You don’t have to answer that. I get it’s personal.”
“No, it's okay." He rubs at his nose, peering to the side. He sighs, nibbling at his bottom lip, heavily considering something, before bashfully whispering, "Leech... ’M a leech."
The tiny hairs on the back of Jungkook's neck stiffen, mouth twisting up in repulsion. Ewww, fuck no. He really just bumped into a parasite hybrid? A fucking leech? He looks up and down at the boy in newfound horror, suddenly realizing all those teeth aren't for protection but for sucking some poor person's blood. What the hell?
The guy senses the sudden hostility, face draining a paler white and taking a tiny, uncertain step back. It’s like even now, he’s still trying to be polite, not wanting to upset Jungkook by running from his presence, and Jungkook immediately wants to slap himself.
He's a person. A leech person, yes, but still a person, and Jungkook is not going to judge someone without getting to know them. This man has been nothing but kind.
“I’ve never met a leech hybrid. Nice to meet you," Jungkook greets, sticking out his hand to shake. He's trying to fix it, but the leech is glancing to the side like he wants to cry or run or both. He’s already been made fun of once, and now he’s having to deal with an asshole like Jungkook. Good job, idiot.
The hybrid raises up his hand, gently shaking Jungkook's, and his hands are, um, sticky? Jungkook panics, yanking his hand back without thinking, and then he starts shouting at himself internally when the hybrid's eyes glisten. Upset. He anxiously mumbles, "Thank you, mister, but I'm going to go now — "
“I can shoot webs out of my butt!” Jungkook blurts, frantically trying to apologize in his nonsensical, panicked way. He's really questioning his own intelligence right now, but his mouth is moving faster than his brain is, “Okay, well, technically not my butt, but very close.”
He thinks he’s just absolutely fucked everything up, good going Jeon Butt-Webs Jungkook, but the other hybrid looks down at his feet, squishing up his lips, and mutters, “I can suck blood with my bottom when I'm a leech. Every time I mention it, my boyfriend starts giggling, but then he’ll shove a hand over his mouth and pretend he isn’t. I still don't understand why.”
Fuck, Jungkook don't laugh, don't laugh, don't — a giggle escapes his lips, slapping a hand over it because he's not about to offend this poor man for the millionth time, yet the hybrid looks at Jungkook's hand like he's pleased with his reaction.
The man starts smiling, a giggle escaping his own lips, and the sound is so lovely that Jungkook finds himself melting. Soon they're both giggling, the hybrid wrapping his arms around his own waist, eyes in crescent moons as he laughs.
“Oh god, where did I learn small talk?” Jungkook groans, grinning and internally bouncing because he's made the guy happy! Finally! “Because I really need to go back and smack that person.”
The hybrid gets very excited, hands bunching up into the cutest little fists like he's squeezing them to relieve his energy. “My boyfriend helped me with small talk! And his friends are helpful too! I’ve been talking to them for years now. I’m really good!”
“That’s cool,” Jungkook responds, surprised that he means it. And though normally a conversation like this would bore him to death, he’s finding it easy to like this man, to want to know more. He’s never met another hybrid with an unusual form.
“It’s hard sometimes. I lived away from humans for almost all my life. Then a few years ago, I found a really sweet one, and he’s my boyfriend now!”
“Oh?” Jungkook takes another peek at the man’s mouth, trying not to be rude, but now that the hybrid is calm and talking, he's not hiding his rows of teeth. “Is that why you can’t fully shift back into your human form? Because you’ve been a leech for so long?”
The hybrid nods. “I think so. And I’m normally more careful, take my face mask around with me ‘cause some people don’t like hybrids, but Kookoo accidentally put it in his suitcase when he left.” A gurgling sound is suddenly in Jungkook’s ears, and the guy stops talking, looking at Jungkook sadly.
“What’s wrong?”
"'S silly."
"I'm sure it's not," he assures. Hell, he told this guy about his webs.
The hybrid's hands find his stomach, rubbing it and humming in discomfort. “‘M really hungry. Kookoo jokes I get whiny when ‘m hungry.”
Jungkook is going to try and ignore that a leech being hungry means blood. Hungry for blood. “Who’s Kookoo?” But then again, he's always been a meat-lover, likes it on the rarer side, so maybe there's some similarity?
“My boyfriend. He’s been visiting his mom in Busan for almost two weeks, so I’ve been lonely. And I don’ like sucking from people other than Kookoo. It makes him nervous 'cause they could be mean and hurt me.” He frowns. “And I also don’ like other people’s blood as much as his. I'm picky.”
“What can you do about your hunger?”
“Kookoo left me some of his blood. He’s gonna be back today, sometime aroun’ five. What time’s it now?”
Jungkook checks his phone. “Four o’clock.”
“Ah,” the hybrid sighs disappointedly. “I forgot to bring a bag, ‘n ‘s been six hours, ‘n now ‘m hungry." His words are already starting to slur, like realizing how uncomfortably his stomach is protesting is making it worse. "Wanna eat. Sometime’ if I don’ eat, I get leechy.”
“Huh?”
The guy looks at him a little drowsily, stomach grumbling more. “I get back in my leech body. Don’ wanna morph. ‘S dangerous to morph in the streets.”
That actually makes Jungkook nervous to hear. He knows he’s safer; his other form can easily defend itself. But a leech? A small little guy squirming around on the sidewalk, struggling to protect itself from something as unmenacing as a shoe?
“I could walk you home?" Jungkook offers immediately. "Keep you safe?”
The guy's breath hitches a little, like he's so shocked that Jungkook would want to hang out with him longer. “Really?"
"Yeah, if you want me to."
"Dat be very much ‘ppreciated, spidey. Thank you. My name’s Jimin.”
“You can call me Kook.”
“Nice name,” he says like he really believes it. “Very pretty.”
It makes Jungkook smile. “You too.”
They start walking together, through an area Jungkook sort of knows. It doesn't take long for him to notice Jimin is getting really loopy, slower, trying to keep up but always a step behind. He thinks about asking if he's okay, but Jimin is soon directing him to the subway, so Jungkook lets him guide the way. They take it for quite a few miles, heading away from the city to an area a little greener and fresher, almost rejuvenating, but Jimin is gradually slumping more in his seat. He affirms that he's alright, telling Jungkook where his stop is and letting him take his hand to help him up, stepping off onto the platform.
They're probably a few minutes from where Jimin said his house is when Jimin starts seriously lagging behind, his tummy gurgling even more to the point worry is sloshing in Jungkook's own. “Are you okay?”
The hybrid stares off, a heavy frown on his face. They're still on a semi-busy street, businesses alive around them, and Jungkook doesn't know if they'll need to stop somewhere and get him a bite to eat. Can he eat regular food like Jungkook can?
Jimin mumbles that his house is the small blue one, mentions the house number in a slurred whisper, and then stops entirely on the sidewalk. Jungkook immediately moves closer to him, ready to support him if he trips. And it’s damn lucky he does because Jimin falls against him, Jungkook barely catching him. He’s apologizing profusely, mumbling, “Sorry, s’rry, spidey,” but he’s also snuggling closer, holding onto Jungkook’s jacket like it's the only thing keeping him standing.
“It’s okay, don’t worry,” he reassures, holding the other’s light weight up. He takes them both off of the sidewalk, into an area with less people where there are clovers and little yellow flowers under their feet. He’s starting to notice just how pale the guy is, almost the color of Jungkook's torso when he's shifted. He’d originally thought the guy just had naturally white skin, but Jungkook isn't convinced that it's healthy anymore, not with how he's sagging.
“Feel small. Gon’, gon’ morph nows, s’rry, ‘m real sorrys, spidey.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he soothes, rubbing the hybrid’s back. He knows Min does it when Jungkook is morphing, helps him ground himself, so he mimics it for Jimin, hoping it's helping the other feel safe to shift. “Go ahead, I know you’re feeling small.” He wishes he had his boyfriend now. The guy’s always been better at helping others, and Jungkook feels like he’s doing a pretty poor job of it. “I’ll protect you.”
“Tank ‘ou.”
Jimin’s naturally moist skin starts dripping more, becoming a black shade of forest green. He's shimmering dully, skin even softer to the touch, and even now, Jimin pouts like he’s embarrassed. Jungkook wipes a stray glob of slime that's trying to seep into Jimin's eyes, trying to stop the baffled expression from showing on his face, knowing it probably looks like he's disgusted even though he's actually just entranced. He rarely ever meets other hybrids, and he can count the number of times he’s seen another morph with one hand. Min has described what Jungkook looks like when he does, but actually seeing it? Awesome.
When Jimin’s body starts rapidly shrinking, arms and legs sucking up into his body, Jungkook freaks out. It all suddenly catches up to him.
Jimin is a leech. A wiggling, baby leech who has entrusted dummy Jungkook to get his ass home safe.
He swiftly picks Jimin off the pile of clothes he had been wearing, putting the little guy in his hand and cooing as he starts squirming in his palm. What does Jungkook do now? He's at a loss, admiring how tiny the creature is, exploring his hand and nestling against his thumb. Slime is being rubbed onto his skin. The baby chooses a spot and settles down, and Jungkook bites his lip, looking for, looking for — Coffee shop! A coffee shop will work, right?
He takes off, unsure if he should be running this quickly, but he doesn't know how long Jimin's leech body can survive in this heat. It can't be comfortable to be a hybrid used to shallow ponds near the center of a bumbling city.
Entering into a small shop, he's grateful when one of the employees gives him a free cup. He quickly fills it up as he cradles the hybrid in his large palm. There's the sound of plates and cups clinking as people eat all around them.
"Is this okay?" he asks, tilting his hand into the glass, enough that Jimin can decide if he wants to be in the water. Jungkook is pretty lost at the moment, but Jimin seems pleased, slipping down his fingers like they're a slide and diving in. "Okay, okay, Jungkook," he mutters, talking to himself and feeling very stupid as he does, but whatever. "Need to get him home, number two sixty-five, two sixty-five."
He turns with the clear glass in his grasp, the employee who helped him proceeding to shriek when she sees the little muddy-green baby swimming happily in the water, but Jungkook is already out of the shop. He whispers comforting words to Jimin, telling him, “Don’t worry. Some people are just dramatic. Absolutely busted my eardrums.”
And even though the leech has no way of responding back, he could swear the small creature is giggling.
He carries Jimin to his home, making sure to pick up his clothes from the grass. The number Jimin told him almost leaves his mind, but the baby blue house alerts him that he's there. He stands at the door dumbly for a moment, holding a cup with a stranger he's just met inside it and trying to process everything. Okay. Well. What now? He knocks, spying around him at the other houses. They probably think he's come to break into it considering how jumpy he's being but he can't really stop — The shorts! Jimin has to have his keys on him, and they're probably in the shorts!
He's congratulating himself for his superior intellect when he finally finds the keys, opening the door and carrying his little cup inside the house. It's nice, large and clean, but Jungkook doesn’t let himself dawdle. He finds a kitchen, tenderly putting the cup down on the counter and searching in the cupboards and freezer for the blood Jimin mentioned before. It doesn’t take long. There are a ton, and he realizes that for a however many days of this “Kookoo” being gone, the bags look barely used.
He frowns, but quickly uses a fork to poke a hole in one, unsure if Jimin could suck on the opening in his leech form. He puts his hand in the water, asking Jimin to sit on his fingers, and then he takes the wiggly little guy out of the cup, placing him and the bag of cold blood down on the table.
He waits about ten seconds, observing the leech with his face only inches away and probably intruding on his personal space.
Jimin isn’t doing anything.
What! Freaking out, he pulls out his phone to call Min, wondering if he’s killed the other hybrid. He’s about to dial 911 instead, Min taking forever to answer, when someone enters the house, announcing, “Jiminie! I’m home!”
“Are you his boyfriend?” Jungkook yells, scrambling over to the front door, and the guy looks him up and down, head to toe, mouth open like he’s about to scream.
He does indeed do just that, the suitcase handle he'd been pulling clattering to the floor. “Holy shit!” And yeah, maybe Jungkook should’ve thought this through. “Who are you! Are you a burglar? Oh my god, where’s Jimin? Don’t hurt my baby! Jimin! JIMIN?”
“No!” Jungkook basically squawks at the man, pointing at the kitchen. “Your boyfriend was walking — was walking with me and got hungry. Morphed into his leech form! I didn’t know what to do — He won’t drink the blood!”
The boyfriend’s eyes blow wide, stalling for a second before he decides that he’s more worried about Jimin than a potential murderer. The guy runs into the kitchen, to the table that currently holds Jimin. Jungkook watches the boyfriend frantically poking his finger near Jimin, and then the baby is latching on, happily sucking on his finger. Oh thank god.
It’s several minutes of stressful waiting before the leech starts morphing into his human form, sitting on top of the table, and Jungkook and the man both sigh, the tension in their ribs loosening. He's naked, so Jungkook politely looks away, only turning back to face them when Jimin has his boyfriend's large white shirt swallowing his form. Jimin pouts, demanding the finger back, and his boyfriend gives in, letting Jimin continue sucking on it until the color in his cheeks returns to a pinky rose. His cheerful smile is finally back.
“Hand me the bag please, dude,” the now-shirtless boyfriend grunts, but Jimin wraps his hands around Jungkook’s wrist, glaring.
“No! No, I don’t want the bag! ‘S cold. Not as yummy as you!”
“Is that why you haven’t been eating? Please tell me you ate some this week.”
Jungkook checks the bags. “Uh, there’s a few half-full ones in here, but most are...” He pauses for a second, noticing how Jimin is giving him a shut up right now stare. But Jungkook has never been one to control his mouth, so he finishes with, "...full."
“Jimin! You’re supposed to eat!”
“It’s not the same!”
The boyfriend groans, obviously worried, and Jungkook suddenly feels very, very awkward. Why is he still here? Should he go? “You have to promise me if I ever have to leave that you’ll eat more. I want to come home to a happy, healthy baby. Don’t you wanna welcome me home with lots of energy?”
“Yeah...” Jimin scrunches up his face, sad to have made his boyfriend upset, but then the guy kisses his nose and rubs his thighs assuredly.
“Then please eat some more. I love you, want you to be safe.” He starts kissing Jimin more, forgetting that there is another man awkwardly standing in the middle of their kitchen.
“I promise I will," Jimin says, kissing his boyfriend back and pulling him into a hug. "I’m so happy you’re home.”
This moment is making Jungkook think of his own boyfriend, needing to get home soon. It’s getting a little late, and he still hasn't gotten those chocolate chips. “I probably need to head out.”
The boyfriend's head turns, enough that he can lazily meet Jungkook's eye. “I don't know who you are, but thank you for caring about Jimin. That was kind of you.”
“No problem.”
Jimin starts giggling, and both men look over at him. “What’s so funny?” his boyfriend asks, brushing the hair from Jimin's eyes.
“Oh, I dunno. I didn’t realize it before, but you two look kinda similar,” he says, smiling so widely that all his teeth are proudly on display.
Jungkook looks at the man, and the man looks back at him, inspecting each other.
“Nah,” Jungkook says, shaking his head. “I don’t really see it.”