Chapter Text
Hybrids are a creation of the city, of the scientists and the rich investors. Unequals because their existence was granted by pure humans, by the superior species that they claim to be. They are supposed to bow down to humans, as if the latter were their gods.
Hybrids are abused, they are sexualized, they are treated as lesser beings. Something pretty to look at, something to order around. Something that should keep its mouth shut. And definitely something that should not show its displeasure and cry .
Jungkook was awfully bad at the latter. "Whiny", the lady called him. "Ungrateful", the master said. "Pitiful", their eldest added. Their youngest would "play" with his ears, like the parents stated, tugging them and pulling so hard Jungkook was sure they would snap. No one was supposed to touch his ears in the first place, it was a topic that all bunny hybrid owners were educated about, yet they didn't bat an eye when it happened. "He is just a child, let him play", the lady would say, and her husband would nod and agree, "it can't hurt that much, just bare with it". And he would try his best, biting his lips and wishing for it to be over soon. Maybe it would be more bearable if it was just an innocent kid, naturally curious about the bunny ears on top of Jungkook's head. But the kid's eyes shone brighter whenever Jungkook let out a whimper, whenever it was clear it hurt. And then the kid would pull harder.
Hybrids weren't allowed to wander around on their own in the first ten years since they were basically put on the market. Now they have permission to move more freely but there is an official curfew of nine o'clock and places that are off-limits. And of course, there are still owners who don't follow the guidelines and keep their "pets" locked up. Jungkook is mostly expected to stay home, except when he is sent to run errands.
On a rainy day in May, he is sent to do groceries. He doesn't mind as rainy days are his favourite. Jungkook has grown to like the sound of rain, how it drowns out other sounds, makes it so the family doesn't hear if he happens to cry at night. It falls on him like a safe blanket, dripping from the edges of the umbrella. He reaches the store safely and undisturbed, another thing about rain he likes. People are in more hurry than usual to get to places, they don't just hang around in the rain to wait for a hybrid to pick on. Most people don't even look his way and the umbrella covers his ears partly, makes them less noticeable. He has a hood or a hat on most of the times he steps out of the house but let's be real, those are very uncomfortable and he only wears them when he has to.
Jungkook breathes in and out and pulls his hood on right before he steps in. There are less customers, thanks to the rain. He is still inspecting a shelf near the door when someone else comes in.
A tiger hybrid, ears and tail very much on show. He is intimidating in the way he does not care to hide his self, how he carries himself so confidently. Maybe it has something to do with being a tiger, a rare predator.
When he walks in Jungkook's direction, Jungkook turns back to look at the varieties of rice on the shelf. He doesn't want to get caught looking. He waits for the other hybrid to go past him but instead gets startled as he stops at the same shelf.
"Oh right, we are almost out of rice too..." the tiger hybrid mumbles, voice a low rumble that sends shivers down Jungkook's back. Jungkook feels himself tense, ears trying to rise but the hood is in the way.
Jungkook picks something randomly, not caring to take his time to choose carefully like he normally would. He tries not to appear affected and move away without drawing attention.
If the other notices, he doesn't show it.
Jungkook feels a little embarrassed, rushing through his grocery shopping just because of another hybrid. It's not like the other is acting in a threatening way or that Jungkook even believes that predator hybrids are necessarily something to be scared of. Not in public places such as this store at least. He also feels embarrassed of the fact that he is hiding his ears while the other is showing his own so shamelessly. Jungkook might actually admire him for that. He goes through the shelves with mixed feelings and messy thoughts.
It just so happens that they reach the queue at the same time and their gazes meet. Jungkook looks at those warm eyes dumbly, mouth open yet not forming words.
"You can go first", the tiger offers, tilting his head towards the counter.
"Ah", Jungkook blinks, "Thank you."
The politeness of the other hybrid makes him feel flustered all of a sudden. He suddenly concludes that he's a nice person and if Jungkook sees him again, he will not repeat what happened today. He won't run away from him like that.
"Don't mind it", the tiger waves off with a smile. Jungkook answers with a little smile of his own before he turns towards the cashier.
It's a subconscious action when Jungkook removes his hood after stepping outside. He doesn't really think about it as he opens his umbrella next, doesn't think of the person behind him who sees his bunny ears. Does not realize it before he hears a voice say:
"Oh, you were a hybrid too."
Jungkook jumps, shocked as he turns around.
"That hood must have felt uncomfortable", the tiger hybrid is saying next and although what he says is true, Jungkook looks at him with a blank expression.
"You bought so much stuff, do you need any help carrying them?"
That wakes Jungkook from whatever haze he had been in.
"What, are you implying bunny hybrids are weak?" Jungkook pouts. The other hybrid's eyes widen at this.
"No, I'm sorry. I was just trying to be helpful", he reasons.
"I don't need help. Thanks but no thanks", Jungkook says, turning his back on him.
"If you say so."
Jungkook raises the bag higher and leaves.
He doesn't see the tiger hybrid again before a week and half passes. Jungkook was sent to a bakery and the first face he sees when he steps inside is that of the tiger, head turned to the door as the bell on top of it rings.
"Oh, it's you", the tiger wonders aloud, voicing Jungkook's exact thoughts.
Jungkook only nods, noting how the other has his ears on full display yet again.
"What did you come to buy?" He asks and Jungkook has never met a hybrid that is this chatty with strangers.
"The lady has ordered a cake, I'm here to pick it up", Jungkook tells because there is no reason not to.
"Lady?" The tiger hybrid is cocking his head, tone curious.
"My owner. One of them."
"She told you to call her lady? That's so... pretentious", the tiger hybrid frowns.
"Pretentious", Jungkook repeats, staring at a wall emptily.
"Wait! I'm sorry, I shouldn't say that about your family member."
Family. Jungkook has heard that word many times, heard people refer to his owners as his family. But Jungkook has never felt like it is. In that house, he doesn't feel like he belongs. He doesn't feel like he's part of the same world as his owners are.
He shakes his head.
"It's okay, you can say that."
His voice sounds cold to his own ears and it makes the other hybrid's brows rise. Jungkook does not quite understand why he looks so surprised.
"You...I'm sorry, I should just keep my mouth shut."
The ears on top of the tiger hybrid's head curl in a bit and he looks at the ground. Jungkook sighs yet doesn't say anything. Doesn't know what to say. He gets the cake his owner ordered and leaves with a curious look in the other hybrid's direction.
"What took you so long?" is how the master greets him when Jungkook gets back.
"There were other customers in the bakery", Jungkook answers nervously. He doesn't mention the other hybrid.
"You should have gone earlier then", the master dismisses. He always needs to get the last word in and Jungkook has learnt not to protest.
"Yes", he says quietly. Master isn't looking at him anymore and it's easier to breathe when he isn't. He rarely gets physical but today he seems to be in a bad mood and Jungkook wants to stay as far away from him as possible.
It's always hard to fall asleep. It has less to do with his hard mattress and more to do with the thoughts in his head and with the fact that the house he is supposed to call home feels nothing like home. Jungkook always ends up going through his day before he sleeps. Every chore, every word exchanged, the faces people make at him. Tonight his brain is particularly set on making him think of the tiger hybrid he has met twice now and it is only then when Jungkook realizes that he doesn't know the other's name. That he wants to know his name. If only for being able to think about him with a name and not just "that tiger hybrid".
But putting a name to that face could be dangerous. Jungkook is the type to get easily attached to people who treat him kindly. People who are unlike his "family". He tries to avoid getting too close. He had a friend once, a hybrid that belonged to the master's sister. Yoongi was a cat hybrid, quiet with their owners but friendly when it was just them two. Jungkook never got the full details but one day he "rebelled" and was sent away to the facility for misbehaving hybrids. Jungkook never saw him again.
Maybe the tiger is better off staying as a tiger. Tigers and bunnies aren't supposed to be friends anyway.
It only takes two days for Jungkook to run into the tiger hybrid again. This time Jungkook has not only covered his ears but also his neck and arms, everything he can. He is visiting the library for some books the eldest child needs. The library is probably Jungkook's favourite place, it's always peaceful and quiet and the books smell nice. Jungkook doesn't really read, barely knows how to, but he likes riffling through comic books or other books with pictures.
Jungkook is in no hurry to get back. After he gets the books he came for, he sits down with a few comic magazines and loses himself into them for a moment. Today he randomly picked up some superhero comics. They are fascinating, yet Jungkook still has hard time accepting that violence could be used for good. His own throat still hurt and the bruises on his arms look and feel disgusting.
"So you like Marvel stuff?"
Jungkook feels like his soul just jumped out of his body for a moment. He quickly whips his head to face the smiling tiger.
"Hm? Nice to see you again?" he cocks his head, ears yet again on show.
"I don't know... They are so violent", Jungkook answers to the other's first question.
"The bad guys deserve it though, don't they? It's necessary evil", he shrugs.
You deserved it for being so useless. I'm only doing this to teach you some manners.
Jungkook has a bad taste in his mouth and he gulps, looking at a panel of the comic where the hero punches the enemy. Did I deserve it?
"You're hiding your ears again", the other comments, eyes curious.
"And you're not", Jungkook replies immediately, meeting his eyes.
"Covering them is so uncomfortable, plus it's just who I am. There's no reason for me to hide it", he reasons. "It must be uncomfortable for you too."
"Maybe, but... it's better than having them on show."
"Well, do as you like. Just..." This time it's the tiger hybrid who faces away. "If it's your owners who tell you not to, you don't have to listen to them. They won't know anyway."
Jungkook can't help but stare. He never disobeys, never except when he cannot help but cry, never does intentionally. It's crazy that another hybrid would tell him this. He stares and suddenly the other hybrid's eyes widen.
"I haven't even introduced myself! How can I forget-"
Jungkook puffs a laugh at how wide the other's eyes have gotten. It's the closest thing to an actual laughter that has left his mouth in...ever.
"Don't laugh at me", he whines.
"I'm not. And Jungkook, my name is Jungkook."
"Well Jungkook, I'm Taehyung but you can call me Tae. Since we're both hybrids, doesn't that already make us friends?"
And maybe being a bunny or a tiger doesn't matter. Not when there is nothing threatening in the way Taehyung smiles at him and speaks to him as an equal.
It's when Jungkook meets Taehyung in the library again -this time the meeting is planned- and uncovers his ears that Taehyung notices. He tries not to show it on his face or look at it for too long to get caught but Jungkook knows. Knows that Taehyung saw the ugly marks on his skin. Knows that people don't normally hurt their neck, knows that it's obvious what the bruise means.
But Taehyung doesn't ask about it. He doesn't even mention it. He smiles like he did earlier, but in his eyes and his voice is a new kind of softness. He sounds more careful, thinking about his words more. Jungkook appreciates it, he doesn't want to talk about it either. And in some way, he feels relieved. Relieved that someone else knows. Relieved that it doesn't make Taehyung look at him with disgust, only makes him even kinder. It's almost like Jungkook was the one who was wronged, not the one who only makes mistakes and deserves a beating. It makes him feel so warm.
Jungkook and Taehyung have been friends for a month, having met here and there both by chance and by having planned it. It's been a month and Jungkook is disobeying for the first time. It's not because he wants to but because Taehyung still hasn't shown up and Jungkook is getting worried. He should be home by now but he's still waiting for the older. It's getting darker and the national curfew for hybrids is nearing. The park is empty and it makes him nervous.
Is he not coming? Did something happen? Or did he forget?
Jungkook is about to leave when Taehyung finally, finally shows up. Jungkook feels relieved enough to tear up. He waves but Taehyung doesn't wave back. It's his first cue that something really did happen.
Taehyung looks like he has been crying and Jungkook doesn't know what to do. He doesn't get half a word out before Taehyung speaks.
"I'm leaving, Jungkook."
It strikes him in the chest, like he was punched by the words.
"W-where? Why? For how long?"
"Away", Taehyung only says and it's not enough. Not when the only friend Jungkook has had before Taehyung left and never came back.
Jungkook can only shake his head, getting teary for a completely different reason than when he first saw the other walking towards him.
"Kookie... Won't you look at me?"
He does, tries to glare at him through the tears.
"Why are you leaving me?" he asks, going for an accusing tone but his voice breaks and betrays him.
Taehyung's eyes are a mix of pain and hope. Jungkook doesn't understand how those two can ever coexist, not before Taehyung takes his head in his hands, wipes a stray tear away and asks:
"Then, would you run away with me?"
One month. Jungkook had been friends with Taehyung for one month. He barely knew him, how could he agree to do something so outrageous? Jungkook would have to either be crazy or downright desperate to agree. It was true that Jungkook wanted to get away, true that he hated living like he did. But could he really trust the older enough to do this? Where were they even going?
Yet he could not ignore the way his heart beat, the way the words left his mouth so easily, the way those butterflies fluttered in his stomach... It's like there was never more than one imaginable answer.
And how could he regret it, how could he when Taehyung's hand took his and was so warm around it? He wouldn't, he needed to know. Know if there was another, a better, life for him.