Chapter Text
Hoseok smiled happily as he walked out of Dance Soul’s Dance Company. One of the most high end and prestige dance company’s in all of Korea. They were known for teaching some of the most famous dancers and rockettes in the industry. They were also national winners ten years in a row.
The company was so strict about their dancers that the dancers had to turn in an application just to be considered to audition. The auditions were even harder and only about ten dancers out of hundreds would be accepted into the company. But it’s low acceptance rate only made dancers want to be accepted even more, since being accepted would mean they were the best of the best.
However, not only was their dancers’ acceptance rate low, but also their employee acceptance rate. Only the best and most experienced dancers , who have studied far and wide, were allowed to teach at their company.
Job applications were only accepted if the person had a letter of recommendation from a notable person. And interviews were followed with a dance audition to see if their skills were impressive enough.
Working there was a dream job for almost all dancers and dance majors. Being a dance teacher at Dance Soul’s Dance Company was almost as impressive as dancing on Broadway.
However, Hoseok was different. He never dreamed of working at an over priced dance Company that worked their dancers to the bone and gave them minimal breaks. He dreamed of teaching dance to young passionate students. He wanted to give dancers a safe place to openly express themselves.
But oddly enough, Hoseok’s dance professor had fell in love with Hoseok’s dance style and immediately wrote a lengthy and outstanding letter of recommendation for the young dancer. Then proceeded to beg Hoseok to apply at Dance Soul’s Dance Company because he believed that Hoseok had so much potential and would be a great fit for the Company.
After some time Hoseok got tired of his professor always begging him and decided to apply at the company to get his professor to leave him alone, with the thought that he would never be accepted.
But little did Hoseok know that his dance professor was also the brother to the co-owner of the company. And apparently, even though the company was sweeping trophies all around the world, they still lost their hip-hop competitions.
The dance company decided they wanted to break this curse and were looking to hire dance teachers who specifically specialized in b-boying and hip-hop. Which is why Hoseok’s professor was so persistent on making Hoseok apply. His professor had told Hoseok that none of the other students in his hip-hop class had shown any promise like Hoseok.
Hoseok was shocked when he got the news that he had passed the interview and they wanted him to come in for an audition, which is why he had come in today. He was even more shocked when they congratulated him at the end of his audition and told him he passed.
He hadn’t even graduated college yet, he still had one month left, and he already had a job. However, since he was not certified yet, the company took him on as an inter and told him once he graduated he would be officially hired.
Of course Hoseok was excited. It was very rare for people to get a good stable job straight out of graduation, and this took a huge stress off of the young dancer’s shoulders. Now he needed to look for a place to stay.
As soon as Hoseok walked out of the company he pulled out his phone and dialed the Group FaceTime he had with Namjoon and Jin.
The phone rang a few times before Namjoon and Jin answered.
“Hey, Hoba!” Greeted Jin as he shoved a piece of food in his mouth, he was currently on his lunch break at work.
“What’s up!” Smiled Namjoon, who had been in the middle of studying for his exam.
“Oh my gosh!” Squealed Hoseok very loudly. “You will not believe what just happen!”
Jin and Namjoon smiled widely as they watched the happiness radiate off their friend.
“What? What happen?” Eagerly asked Jin.
“They accepted me!”
“What?!” Gasped Namjoon and Jin.
They had known that Hoseok passed the interview and was going in for an audition. But Hoseok had told them that it was rare to pass the auditions so they shouldn’t get their hopes up. Therefore, this news was beyond exciting.
“That’s amazing!” Cheered Jin.
“Congratulations!” Shouted Namjoon.
“Thank you so much!” Blushed Hoseok as he made his way to the bus stop to take him back to campus.
“We need to celebrate, tonight we’re going out to eat. We can go anywhere you want, my treat!”
“Thank you, hyung. But you don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do. Now I have to go because my break is over, but text me where you want to go. I’ll pick you guys up at 6’ o’clock sharp, so be ready.” With that Jin hung up.
Hoseok sighed and put his phone away just as the bus pulled into the stop. He quickly got on and made his way to his and Namjoon’s shared dorm room.
“Hey!” Greeted Namjoon, when Hoseok walked through the door.
“Hey, Joona!” Greeted back Hoseok.
“I’m so happy for you, you definitely deserved that job!” Congratulated the younger male. “If they didn’t hire you then that would mean something was very wrong with them.”
“Thank you!” Laughed Hobi as he made his way to his room.
It was Friday and he only had one class in the morning (that he went to before his audition), so that meant the rest of his day was free.
The dancer decided to take a warm bath after a quick shower so he could relax his tired muscles before he got ready for his dinner with his friends that night. He had been so nerves for the audition that all his muscles had been so tensed while he danced, which made him more sore than he usually was after dancing. He couldn’t wait to soak his sore body in the warmth of the bath water.
Before long it was 6 o’clock and just like promised Jin pulled into the drive way of the dorm building Namjoon and Hoseok were staying in.
“Wow, I miss this place.” Sighed Jin as the two younger friends got in the car. “I had some crazy nights here.”
“We’re very aware, hyung.” Snorted Namjoon. They all bursted out into loud laughs before Jin put the car in drive and left.
“So where do you want to eat, Hoba?” Questioned the eldest of the three.
“Let’s go that that Mexican restaurant that sells the huge burritos that are drowned in melted cheese.” Suggested the dancer.
“Alright.” Hummed Jin as he turned the car to head in the direction of the restaurant.
It was a short drive and soon they were all sitting at a booth near the back of the restaurant. They placed their orders and began chatting while they waited for their food.
“So how are things going this semester?” Asked Jin.
“Good, but they could be going better. I’m just so stress since finals are coming up.”
“Understandable.” Knowledge Jin.
“My semester is pretty chill, I only have three classes left to pass and then I graduate.” Smiled Hoseok. He was happy that he took summer classes for two semesters because now he got to graduate a year early.
“But now you have to entire this cruel and bitter world.” Joked Jin.
“Yeah, but I at least have a job already planned. Things seem to be working out well for me. All I need is to find a place to live and I’ll be good.”
“Talking about places to live, my apartment building has a few apartments available for leasing. You should go check them out, and they’re having a special deal right now. The rent will be very low for your first year.”
“Ugh!” Sighed Namjoon. “That’s not fair, I don’t want to have to live with a stranger next year. Things are gonna be so awkward.”
“Maybe you should get an apartment too? Does your internship pay you enough to afford one?”
Namjoon thought for a moment then nodded. He was on a full ride scholarship at the university, so he didn’t have to worry about paying for a dorm room. But he had started a paid internship with BigHit the year before. They paid him well and he also had a lot saved up since he didn’t have to pay any college expensives, so he should have enough for an apartment.
“Go with Hoseok to look at the ones in my building.” Suggested Jin.
“But your building is far away from campus and I don’t own a car. The bus ride to and back from campus will be so annoying.”
“Hypothetically speaking, if we do get a place at hyung’s apartment building. I’ll be able to take you to campus and back home since I have to pass by the campus to get to the dance Company.”
“Really?! You’ll do that?”
“Yeah, of course!” Smiled Hoseok.
“Well technically, you’ll only have to drop me off. After class I can take a bus to my internship and then after work I can take the bus back home.”
“Or I could pick you up as well, since BigHit is just down the street from the restaurant I work at.” Suggested Jin.
Namjoon thought about it for a moment, and hummed in agreement. “Okay, I’ll go look at the apartments with you, Hoba.”
The men continued their conversation as they ate and after they were done, Namjoon and Hoseok begged Jin to let them stay the weekend at his apartment. The two boys had the habit of spending most of their weekends at Jin’s place. They both hated the dorm room beds and they especially hated the dorm room cafeteria.
At Jin’s apartment they could sleep in the guest room and share the most comfortable queen size bed they had ever slept in, or sometimes one of them would stay on the couch; but either way, the couch was still 100% better than the dorm beds.
Plus, at Jin’s apartment they got to eat the most incredible home cooked meals for free. The eldest would sometimes joke about charging the boys for staying with him, because they always ate all his groceries when they came over. But he never actually meant it, his friends’ presence was payment enough. Jin always felt happiest when they were around.
After a long battle of begging, Jin finally caved and agreed to let his friends stay the weekend at his place. Even though Jin was always cool with them staying over and already had it in mind to allow it, he liked to teased them a little before giving in, that way they had to work for it.
“Can we have a movie marathon?” Suggested Hoseok.
“No, we need to sleep.” Grumbled Jin as they left the restaurant.
Namjoon and Hoseok smirked at each other, already knowing that Jin was gonna let them have a movie marathon despite his answer.
______
A week later Hoseok official began his internship. When he walked into the dance company he was met by an older woman who looked to be in her late 40s and was dressed in a black dress. She walked around with her nose in the air, like she thought she was better than everyone else, and strutted with perfect pointed toes.
“Hello, you must be Jung Hoseok.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Smiled the young male.
“Good, follow me.” She began walking down a nearby hallway until they were standing in front of a studio door.
“During your internship you will be shadowing Kiaraa-ssi, she’s one of my best instructors who works here. You will be assisting her with her classes and doing whatever she asked you to do. This will give you an opportunity to get an idea at how to run a dance class. You’ll get your own classes to teach once you’re officially hired. But for the mean time try to learn as much as you can from Kiaraa.”
Hoseok nodded his head in understanding before the woman opened the studio door and walked in.
“Hello class.” She said loudly.
“Hello.” Repeated the group of 15 children.
A younger looking woman walked up to where Hoseok and ,who he assumed was, the owner of the company were standing.
“Hello, Misun-nim.” She said with a bow.
“Hello, Kiaraa. This is Hoseok, he’s the one I told you about. The one who will be your assistant for a couple months.”
“Oh, great. This is perfect timing. Can you set up all the mats on the floor, we’re working on tumbling today?” Said Kiaraa as she pointed to rows of mats leaning up against the wall.
“Sure.” Hummed Hoseok as he walked to where the dance teacher was pointing.
“I’ll leave you be then, let me know if he gives you any trouble.” Spoke Misun.
“I will.” Replied Kiaraa before giving a bow and walking away as Misun left the room.
Hoseok tried not to show how offended he felt as he set the mats on the floor. It’s like they expected him to mess up. By the tone of their voice Hoseok could tell the two woman thought of him as a child. But he pushed his feelings aside and continued with the task he was given.
Two hours later, Kiaraa told Hoseok to pick up the mats and put them back against the wall while she had a meeting with her students.
“Alright, class! Tomorrow we will be starting the choreography for a new piece that you all will be competing with.” Announced the dance teacher.
Once Hoseok finished putting away the mats he walked over and sat down next to Kiaraa.
“The dance with be a beautiful mature lyrical piece about identity. With that in mind, I have assigned you homework. Tomorrow you are all to bring something that represents you and your identity. We will take a few minutes in the begin of class to do a quick show and tell. Okay, I hope you all have a good night. Class dismissed!”
All the children stood up together and did a bow in unison. “Thank you, seonsaengnim!” They shouted before walking off.
“Don’t you think a lyrical piece about identity is a little too mature for a group of 5 to 9 year olds?” Whispered Hoseok as he watched the children leave the room.
“I do not!” Shot back Kiaraa. She narrowed her eyes at Hoseok and set him with a firm look.
“If you treat children like children, then they will act childish and give you mediocre performances. Here at Dance Soul’s Dance Company we train our students to give the best and most beautiful performances no matter the age. Not to mention this is our advance mini group, they have higher expectations and are fully capable of performing this piece. Goes to show you know nothing at all. I told them they shouldn’t hire a rookie, but they didn’t listen. I know my students well, better than you ever will, so don’t question me again!”
Hoseok frowned at the strict tone and looked down at his feet, to hide the blush forming on his cheeks from being scolded like a child.
“Now go get a mop and clean the floors before our next class starts!” Ordered Kiaraa before she left the room.
The young dancer sighed sadly and went to find a mop, being scolded on his first day did not feel good at all. But he felt even worst when Kiaraa went the rest of the day being very cold and rude to him.
When Hoseok got home that day, he collapsed on the couch and let out a loud broken groan. Namjoon immediately ran out of his room to make sure his roommate and best friend was okay.
“Hey, Hoba! How was your first day as an intern?” He asked carefully, from the look on Hoseok’s face, it must have been bad. The poor dancer looks so broken hearted.
“Terrible, I don’t think they like me very much. They made me clean all the floors, and all the mirrors in the building before I was allowed to leave. Like isn’t that the janitors’ job? But I did get to help teach a few classes, so that was fun. The students seem to like me, but the person I’m shadowing definitely doesn’t.”
“It’s okay, it’s only the first day. I’m sure you’ll grow on them. Just give it some time. Starting a new job is always hard until you get the hang of things. It’ll get better.” Encouraged Namjoon while he gave Hoseok and comforting shoulder squeeze.
“Yeah, I hope so.” Sighed Hoseok.
The next day the dancer dragged his feet into work. He was still feeling sad that Kiaraa was being mean to him, but he hoped to turn that around.
“Good afternoon!” He greeted cheerfully when he walked into the studio.
“You’re late.” Retorted Kiaraa.
“I’m sorry, my professor dismissed us a little later than usual, so I missed the bus I usually take.” Quickly apologized Hoseok.
“I didn’t ask for excuses!” She spat before walking away.
Hoseok frowned and went to stand near the back of the room while he waited for the rest of their students to show up.
After 10 minutes, Kiaraa shut the studio door and called all the students to sit at the front of the room.
“Alright class, like I said yesterday, we’re going to do a quick show and tell. Did you all bring your item that represents you?”
“Yes!” Responded all the dancers.
“Good. You will come up one at a time show your item and explain why it represents you.” Explained Kiaraa.
“Now who would like to start. How about—” Kiaraa’s sentences was cut off as she gasped loudly.
“What is that?!” She shouted as she pointed towards a puppy hybrid sitting next to all her students.
“He’s my hybrid!” Excitedly yelled a little girl.
“I can tell he’s a hybrid. But what is he doing here? Pets aren’t allowed in here.”
“But, seonsaengnim, you said to bring something that represents me. And he represents me. He’s my best friend, I love him so much.”
Hoseok couldn’t stop the smile from forming on his face as he watched the hybrid happily wagging his tail as the little girl hugged him.
“Hoseok!” Yelled Kiaraa. The young dancer winced at the loud volume of her voice, but quickly looked over at her with wide confused eyes.
“Yes?”
“Get that animal out of here now! If Misun finds out an animal is in her building, she’ll throw a fit!”
“W-what am I supposed to do with him?” Asked a confused Hobi.
“I don’t care. Just keep it out of this building until this class ends.”
Hoseok looked at the students then at Kiaraa, he was still very confused, but he was scared that she’ll get mad at him if he asked more questions.
“Come here puppy.” Cooed Hoseok as he walked towards the door.
The hybrid looked over at the little girl, silently asking for permission before he followed Hoseok.
“It’s okay, you can go. I’ll see you after dance class.” Assured the little girl. The puppy hybrid immediately stood up and ran after Hoseok.
The human took hold of the hybrid’s hand and walked him outside of the building.
“What should we do?” Asked Hoseok as he looked at the puppy.
The pup just shrugged his shoulders and looked around happily. He tried to chase after a butterfly, but Hoseok kept a firm grip on his hand so he couldn’t run away.
“How old are you, pup?” Questioned the human.
“I’m 20!” Grinned the hybrid. “I just turned 20 last week!”
“Wow, happy late birthday.” Smiled Hoseok. He didn’t have much experience with hybrids, but he knew enough to know that the pup was still a child.
When he was little, his neighbors use to own a hybrid and Hoseok used to play with her all the time. His neighbors had informed him that their hybrid was still an energetic child even though she was 24 years old. They had even thank Hoseok for playing with the hybrid and helping them tire her out, because sadly, they were too old to keep up with her hyper energy.
“Maybe we should go to the park? Do you like the park?” Suggested Hoseok.
“Yes! I love the park! Let’s go to the park!” Yelled the hybrid. The pup tried to pull out of Hoseok’s grip so he could run away, but Hoseok’s fingers stayed glued around the hybrid’s hand.
“Okay, let’s get in my car. The hybrid park is he few blocks away.”
The human gently dragged the hybrid towards the parking lot and put him in his car. He made sure the hybrid was buckled in before he went to the driver’s seat and got in.
“So what’s your name?” Asked Hoseok as he drove down the street.
“Jae!”
“Jae, what a wonderful name.”
“Thank you!”
Hoseok smirked as he watched how the hybrid vibrated in his seat.
“You’re quite energetic, aren’t you?”
Jae nodded his head proudly.
“Good thing we’re going to the park then, that way you can put that energy to good use.”
The hybrid laughed as he sniffed around the car curiously.
Soon they got to the park and Hoseok quickly parked the car and helped Jae out of the seat belt. The puppy had managed to tangle himself in it while messing around with it.
“Come on, pup. Let’s go play.” Cooed Hoseok as he lifted the hybrid out of the car.
Once the puppy’s feet were on the ground he took off running towards the play ground. Hoseok quickly followed, but he stopped at a near by bench and sat down. He had a clear view of the pup, and it was easy to keep an eye on him so he decided to sit and watch him play.
Since it was a weekday morning, the park was completely empty aside from another hybrid and it’s owner sitting on the opposite end of the playground.
Jae and the other hybrid quickly became friends and began playing with each other.
They chased each other and jumped all around the playground that was specially built for hybrids.
Hoseok stared with a fond smile, he felt tired just watching them play. But the joy that was glowing all over Jae’s face made Hobi’s heart melt.
He began daydreaming about how it would feel to come to the hybrid park every week with his own hybrid and all the fun things they could do together.
Ever since he was a little kid he had always wanted a hybrid, but he had grown out of the phase when he realized how much hard work it took to raise one. But now, he couldn’t stop the soft warmth blooming in his heart as he began craving the need to hug his own hybrid.
Suddenly a loud cry echoed in the park, interrupting Hoseok from his thoughts. The dancer immediately jumped out of his seat and ran to the playground where he found Jae sitting on the floor, crying.
“He fell.” Frowned the other hybrid as he stared down at the crying puppy.
“Oh no, Jae are you okay?” Asked the human.
Instead of answering the question the pup threw his arms around the dancer and sobbed into his shoulder.
“Shhhhh, it’s okay pup.” Cooed Hoseok as he wrapped his arms around the hybrid and lifted him into his arms.
The human felt a warm feeling spreading through his heart as he hugged the hybrid close.
He wanted this, he wanted his own hybrid so he could hug and cuddle him all the time.
___
“I want to adopt a hybrid.” Announced Hoseok as he and Namjoon sat at the kitchen table eating their dinner that night.
“You want to adopt a hybrid?” Repeated Namjoon in a confused voice.
Hoseok’s declaration had been very sudden, and unexpected. One second they were eating in silence and the next Hoseok burst into loud cries of wanting a hybrid.
“Yes!” Confirmed the older human with a wide smile.
“Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, but pet’s aren’t allowed on campus property.”
Hoseok sighed sorrowfully, “I know.” He frowned as his shoulders slump. “But I really want one.”
“Maybe when you get your own apartment you can get one. I think hyung’s apartments allows pets.”
Hoseok’s sad frown quickly changed into a happy smile. “Yeah, we only have a few months of school left. Then I can move into my apartment and adopt a hybrid.”
Namjoon watched as his friend’s face lit up with joy.
“We have our appointment to go look at the apartments next week, so if you like one of the apartments you can sign a lease and start looking for hybrids.”
“Yes! I can’t wait!” Squealed Hoseok excited. “When I get my own hybrid I’m going to make sure to spoil the crap out of it!”
“Then you’re going to have to work very hard, because owning a hybrid is very pricey and that’s only considering the necessities that they need.”
Hoseok sighed, but kept the smile on his face. He wasn’t very concern about money at the moment, he would worry about that once it became an issue. All he wanted to think about right now was hugging and cuddling with his little hybrid.