Chapter Text
Mina rested her hands on the bottom of her steering wheel, looking at the front door of the adoption agency she was about to walk into and make a big change in her life. One she needed and wanted, but she still had reservations. Over the last few months, she’d been visiting and getting a feel for what it would be like to have a hybrid, and she clicked instantly with one.
Dahyun.
She was quiet when they first met. Very much someone that stood off to the side and observed more than played with the others around her. She also always carried a stuffed bee with her and when she thought no one was looking, she would chew and suck on the antennae. Mina found that slightly curious. But over time, they got closer and Dahyun would always seek her out when she came to the shelter.
After taking a deep breath, she got herself out of the car and into the agency.
“Oh! Miss Myoui, it’s good to see you again.” The older receptionist greeted her.
“I’m here for a different reason today.” Mina smiled softly.
“What can I help you with?”
“I’d like to take Dahyun home with me. If that’s possible.”
The receptionists face lit up. “Yes! Yes, of course. Have a seat and I’ll get the papers drawn up for you to fill out. Would you like to sit with Dahyun in the meantime? It could take a while.”
“Can I?”
“Come on.” The woman made a motion with her arm and Mina followed eagerly, wanting to see Dahyun and tell her herself they would be leaving together.
“Dahyun, you have a visitor.”
Dahyun looked up from her bed and beamed when she saw Mina poke her head in. “Mina!”
Mina quietly thanked the receptionist and went into Dahyun’s room to sit on the bed with her. “Hi.”
Dahyun purred quietly, nuzzling into her side. “I didn’t think you’d come again today. You usually come on Friday.”
“I’m here for a special reason today.” Mina put her arm around Dahyun, feeling her relax even more.
Dahyun looked up at her with wide eyes. “What is it?”
“I’m going to take you home with me.” Mina watched Dahyun’s eyes process what she said then giggled loudly as she tackled her into a hug.
“Yes!” Dahyun hooked her legs around Mina and held on tight. “No one has ever wanted me before you.”
Mina frowned and rubbed her arms that were still around her midsection. “I can’t see why. You’re great.”
“I think it’s because I was quiet and didn’t come up to anyone.”
“You just need a little time is all. You were like that with me then you opened up. You still sometimes only open up to me. I feel special.”
“You are special.”
Mina smiled at that and ran her fingers through Dahyun’s hair, hearing her purr moments into it. “So are you.”
They lay there in a comfortable silence, enjoying their time together until she heard a soft knock on the door. “Miss Myoui? I’ve got the papers ready if you’d like to come with me.”
“Can I come too?” Dahyun sat up, her hair messy from where Mina was playing with it.
“How about you stay and pack your things so that when she’s finished you will be ready?”
“Oh. That’s a good idea.” Dahyun nodded and grabbed her stuffed bee. “I’m ready.”
Mina mashed her lips together to hold in a laugh. “Your clothes too, sweetheart. I won’t be long, I promise.”
Dahyun stuck her lower lip out. “Okay.”
Mina stood and felt Dahyun grab onto her hand for a few seconds before letting it go, almost feeling like she wouldn’t come back. She noticed it and turned to give her a kiss on the top of her head just between her ears. “I’ll be right back.” Mina made sure Dahyun was okay before leaving the room to fill out the adoption papers. Once they were done, she quietly made her way back to Dahyun’s room, finding her turned away completely still. Mina peeked over and found her eyes closed and her mouth secure around the antennae of the bee again.
“Dahyun?”
Dahyun jumped, making a startled mewling sound and instantly dropped the bee looking embarrassed. “All done?”
“All done. Got tired after packing?”
Dahyun swallowed and nodded. “Can we go now?”
“Yes we can.” Mina held up the papers. “It’s official.”
Dahyun bounced on the bed then shot up to grab her bag then her bee. “Come on!”
Mina took Dahyun’s bag to help her out, watching her excitedly run up the hallway toward the door only for her to skid to a stop.
“Come on, come on.” Dahyun bounced on her feet.
Mina smiled to herself and picked up the pace, opening the door for them and leading her to the car. She put her bag in the back seat then opened the passenger door for Dahyun, reaching in to put her seat belt on.
“I haven’t been outside in a long time.” Dahyun looked through the windshield.
“It was pretty cold out. It’s spring now.” Mina noticed her ears fall then quickly jogged to the driver's seat and got in, heading back home. “I hope you don’t mind, but I stopped yesterday to get a few things for you. I have them at home.” She changed the subject, clear that she’d said something Dahyun didn’t like.
“Oh? Like what?”
“I got you a collar with some information on it just in case something happens. A few toys,” she listed on her fingers. “Treats. Usual things.”
“Thank you.” Dahyun held her bee tighter to her chest and rested her cheek on it, looking at Mina.
“No problem.” Mina reached over and rubbed her thigh. When they got home, Mina once again took Dahyun’s bag and let her take her time. She stood back and watched her closely. It almost seemed like she was scared of being outside, jumping and hissing at anything that made a noise she didn’t expect. Surely the agency gave her time outside. Mina took over then and put a gentle hand on her lower back to guide her into the house, where she seemed to relax.
“Wow.” Dahyun looked in all directions. “It’s so pretty.”
“Thank you.” Mina took Dahyun’s bag to her bedroom then came back to see her crouched on the floor, looking under the couch. “See something?”
“Just looking. The couches at the shelter have toys under them.” Dahyun spotted a reclining chair and looked under it as well, her tail raised high as her body got lower.
“No toys under these.” Mina got on her stomach on the rug, her feet in the air as she held herself up on her forearms. “Come here. I want to show you what I got for you.”
Dahyun moved to lay on her stomach too, her tail swishing contently behind her. Everything in the house smelled of Mina, so she was on cloud nine. Mina pulled out the collar she’d gotten for her, a white one with a yellow and black bee on the front.
“I thought you might like this one because of the bee.” Mina explained, seeing Dahyun nod then hold her hair up for her to put it on. She let out a soft grunt as she held herself up with only her midsection to put it on her then put her arms back down. “You look cute in it.”
Dahyun’s cheeks tinted red easily against her pale skin. “Thank you.” She stuck her head in the bag to see what else she’d gotten her. When her nose caught the scent of something she’d never smelled before she pressed her nose against it more firmly. Mina tilted her head and pulled the bag away, seeing her pupils blown.
“What?”
Dahyun rolled onto her side and rubbed her head on the carpet then searched for the same item again. Mina sat up and went through the bag to see what it was, spotting something labeled with ‘catnip’.
“Shit.” Mina grabbed it and stood up to take it away from her, but Dahyun scrambled after her. She jumped and tossed it onto the top of the cabinets but Dahyun leapt over her onto the countertop then climbed onto the cabinet to get to the toy. “Oh.”
Dahyun pulled the packaging away and put it into her mouth, her eyes darting for a way to get away from Mina so she wouldn’t take it again. She jumped down and leapt over her head, landing soundly on the floor then running down the hallway, Mina hot on her heels.
“Give me that!”
Dahyun jumped over the bed and poked her head up from the other side, her ears twitching. “No.” Her tone was muffled, speaking around the toy.
“You can’t have that. It’s like drugs.” Mina opened her hand.
“No.” Dahyun shook her head fast enough that the tips of her ears bent. “Mine.”
“Dahyun.” Mina said firmly.
Dahyun looked past her and tried to make it, but Mina caught her around the waist and tossed her onto the bed, straddling her. Dahyun wiggled under her and when Mina finally got the toy away from her, she yowled loudly at the loss. Mina tucked it into her back pocket and cupped Dahyun’s cheeks.
“You can’t have too much of that at once, sweetheart. I don’t want you to get hurt.” She ran her thumbs along her cheeks and that seems to calm her down. The more she relaxed, Mina carefully moved off of her. She could see Dahyun’s eyes already drooping, so she went through her bag to get her pajamas to help her change into. Once she got settled into the bed, Mina went into the en suite to change herself, shedding her jeans and her shirt.
Dahyun looked around then mewled like she was pained, so Mina quickly ran out to see what was wrong. “My toy…”
“Toy?” Mina whispered to herself then remembered. She walked to the living room and got Dahyun’s bee, bringing it to her. “Here, baby.”
Dahyun took it from her, purring the loudest she’d heard as she wrapped her lips around the antennae. Mina knew it was the catnip that made her inhibitions a little lower. She went back to the bathroom to finish changing for bed, feeling eyes on her the whole time. Mina put on her sleep shorts and a tank top, heading to lay down with her.
“Busy day.” Mina turned onto her side to look at Dahyun, whose eyes were still wide and blown.
“Mmhmm.” Dahyun let go of her bee and cuddled into Mina’s side, tossing a leg over her hips to get as close as she could. She pressed her nose against her neck and inhaled slowly, wanting to be overwhelmed with Mina’s scent.
Mina rubbed Dahyun’s arm, letting her get comfortable, but when she felt a rough tongue slide along her skin, she gasped quietly. Dahyun’s purrs reached a whole new level of volume as she did.
“Dahyun-ah?”
Dahyun seemed to catch herself then at the sound of Mina’s voice, pulling back. “Sorry…”
“Do you need something else?” Mina carefully broached the topic of the bee. “I noticed you favor this.” She ran her finger along the antenna and could see the shame in Dahyun’s eyes when she mentioned it. “No, sweetheart, no. I’m not making fun of you. I just want to know if you need help. If you’re comfortable.”
Dahyun seemed to struggle with herself a little then nuzzled into Mina’s hand, her fingers on her cheek. She ran her tongue over the pad of her thumb and looked at her questioningly.
“This?” She pressed her thumb against her lower lip and Dahyun wrapped them around the tip, sucking gently. Dahyun nodded slowly, taking it deeper. Mina could feel the texture of her tongue on the whole length of her thumb, finding it a little rough but soft at the same time. At a particularly hard suck, Dahyun’s chest rumbled.
“Good girl.” Mina praised quietly, kissing her forehead.
Dahyun’s tail flicked behind her and Mina could see in her eyes that she was fully relaxed for the first time.
~
The next morning, Mina woke up with a gentle weight on top of her and a wet spot on the front of her shirt. Dahyun was on top of her, her hands framing a space on her chest by her collarbone, her tank top tucked into her mouth.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” Dahyun whispered when she pulled away. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay.” Mina ran her fingers through her hair, rubbing her ears. “We should get some food anyway.”
“Fish?”
“Sure. I think I have tuna.”
Dahyun’s eyes lit up and she shot off the bed, sprinting down the hallway. Mina shook her head with a smile, knowing it was going to be some interesting times now that Dahyun was opening up even more. She padded slowly down the hallway and saw her perched on the counter, waiting patiently. Mina prepared them both breakfast.
“Let’s eat outside.” Mina tested and instantly saw Dahyun stiffen but follow her out onto the grass in her backyard. She kept an eye on her as she ate. It seemed like she was on high alert. “What’s wrong?”
“The outside is scary.” Dahyun whispered. “At the shelter I stopped going because of the others.”
“What happened?” Mina scooted closer and let Dahyun lean on her.
“They would…” she stopped, the thought clearly upsetting for her.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to tell me.” Mina put her bowl down and kissed her temple, wrapping her arms around her shoulders from the side. “Let’s not think about them anymore, okay? Only good thoughts from now on. I’ll make sure the outside feels safe for you again.”
Dahyun climbed into Mina’s lap, tucking into her neck. “Thank you. I do like it out here more than there. It’s greener. And more colorful.”
“Oh, those are my flowers.” Mina pointed to them. “Want to see?”
Dahyun nodded, walking with her to the flowerbed, hand tight in hers. “They’re pretty.”
“Mmhmm. Just like you.” Mina crouched down, Dahyun following her.
“No, like you.”
Mina smiled softly. “Oh!” She pressed her finger to Dahyun’s lips. “A bee.” She pointed. “Now, make sure not to disturb them or they might hurt you.”
“Hurt me?” Dahyun’s ears went down, but was completely fascinated by the small flying insect.
“Like on your toy.” Mina held her hands up and made a motion with her fingers. “There’s a little sharp thing on the back end. That’s their stinger. If they feel threatened, they’ll sting you. It hurts a lot.”
Dahyun’s curiosity seemed to get the better of her so she leaned in closer. “What are they doing?”
“Bees carry pollen from the flowers and help other plants and flowers live.” She explained simply. “And they take nectar to make honey.”
Dahyun nodded along and reached her hand up absentmindedly then pulled it back with a cry of pain. Her ears were flat against her head and her tail still as she lay in the grass, clutching her hand. “Ow!”
Mina rushed over to her and picked her up, carrying her inside to the hall bathroom. “It’s okay. It’s okay.” She took a look at her hand and rushed off to make an ice pack. When she came back, Dahyun had tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m right here, baby.”
Dahyun whimpered and pressed her face into her neck. Mina pulled the stinger out and placed the ice on. “I need to take you to the vet, sweetheart. We need to make sure you don’t have any allergies.”
“I don’t like the vet…”
“I’ll be with you the whole time.”
Dahyun took a shaky breath. “Okay.”
Mina got them both dressed and ready, taking her to the vet just to be safe. Once they got there, she kept her arm around Dahyun like she promised, never leaving her side. When they were called back, Mina led them, lifting Dahyun onto the exam table.
“I-I usually bring my bee.” Dahyun whispered.
“Oh. Do you need..?” she lifted her hand.
“I don’t want anyone to see.” Dahyun dipped her head. “They don’t knock.”
Mina looked at the door and turned them away from it, putting her hand on Dahyun’s cheek and letting her take her thumb into her mouth to calm her down. She carefully listened for footsteps and when she heard some that approached their door, she quickly pulled her hand away and turned them again.
“I see we have a bee sting.” A loud, booming male voice filled the room and Dahyun ducked at the volume of it. Mina instantly got annoyed and protective of Dahyun.
“Yes.”
“Let’s take a look.” Thankfully, his voice lowered in volume as he examined Dahyun’s hand. “Looks good. She doesn’t seem to be having any adverse reactions. How long has it been?”
“An hour at most. We came immediately.”
“Keep some ice on it and put a bit of ointment on the area to prevent any infection. She’ll be right as rain.”
“Thank you.” Mina seemed to relax a little more and so did Dahyun, purring gently.
“Oh, there’s more bees in there.” He joked, but clearly it sent Dahyun into a panic, looking down at her chest.
“What?!”
“That’s what that noise is you know.” He hadn’t picked up on her mild panic. “The purring is all those bees.” He laughed, clearly having little bedside manner.
Mina clenched her jaw. “Thank you, Doctor.” She gritted out through her teeth.
“Have a good day! Keep that iced.” He exited the door and Mina went into protective mode again.
“He was joking, baby. It’s not bees. There are no bees inside you.”
Dahyun trusted Mina, so she relaxed, slumping against her shoulder. “Why did he say it then?”
“It’s a joke some people use.” Mina rubbed her back slowly. “Because purring can sound like the buzzing of bees, so a joke was made that purrs are because of bees inside you.”
“I don’t like that joke…”
“I don’t either.” Mina helped her down. “Let’s go home and we’ll cuddle on the couch all day. How does that sound?”
“Good.” Dahyun stayed glued to her side until they got home, all but dragging Mina to the couch and laying on top of her, head resting on her chest. Mina wrapped her arms around her tightly.
“If you want to take a nap, you can. The sun hits this spot pretty nice.”
Dahyun nodded, reaching down for Mina’s wrist. Even in the short time of them being together, she felt comfortable enough now not to ask. Mina let Dahyun do what she needed to feel calm even if it would make her thumb look like a raisin in an hour.
She kissed the top of her head, straining to hear something Dahyun said. “Hmm?”
“Love you.” She muttered around her thumb, eyes on the TV.
“Love you, too, kitty.” Mina smiled, her chest swelling.