Chapter Text
Namjoon had come to think he’d never be adopted. He’d spent his whole life locked up in shelters and hybrid facilities. Always in rooms and cages that were a tad too small for him. But despite the countless rejections— he’s too big, he looks scary, he seems aggressive— Namjoon remained hopeful. He wags his tail and smiles whenever someone comes to see him. He stays quiet and tries not to be too rough in his excitement. But he can’t help it sometimes, he has to admit he’s not used to his own strength and size although he really tries.
Taehyung has needed the company for a long time. His house is too big and he feels too alone. He desperately needs something to care for, to look after but he’s been too nervous to go for it when he can’t even keep his plants alive.
“Adopt a hybrid,” Yoongi tells him like it’s obvious. “They mostly watch over themselves and I’m sure there are lots that need a home. Until I met Hobi-” Taehyung snickers because Yoongi is always talking about Hoseok but he’s got a point. Hoseok is great company, he’s such a fun and charismatic man that the fluffy ears on his head have come to mean nothing to Yoongi and his friend group. Maybe Taehyung could find someone like that too, someone who’d fit right into his life like they were always meant to be there.
Namjoon distinguishes the approaching steps of one of the staff members among the commotion the other hybrids are making from their cages. They must be bringing along someone looking to adopt! He sits up far too quickly and smacks the top of his head on the roof of the cage. It’s fine though, he pays the throbbing pain no mind and instead moves to sit more neatly. His tail wags behind him, making a mess of his things on the floor as it sweeps over them repeatedly. He smiles big and proud and then, oh.
Oh!
The man that walks by followed by the bored-looking staff member must surely be some sort of deity. Never in his whole life has Namjoon seen someone as exceptionally good-looking. He gives a little bark in excitement and fondly watches him walk by.
“He’s not going to want you,” the cat hybrid on the cage across from his hisses once the two men are gone. Namjoon’s tail stops wagging and he tilts his head in confusion. “Did you even see him? Surely he’s looking for something more… elegant .”
“I can be elegant,” Namjoon argues, tilting his chin up. The cat shakes his head.
“You’re a mess.”
The doors open once more and although Namjoon has been told worse things in his life he can’t help the sadness that settles in his heart. He curls up on the floor of the cage, making himself as small as he can. The cat might be right, Namjoon is a little too much.
He closes his eyes so he won’t see the man walking past his cage once more and clutches his tail in his hand to stop it from moving. Namjoon can tell when the man is close, his perfume fills his nose and he has memorized it already. He expects the scent of it to fade as they walk past but it lingers. So curiously Namjoon opens one of his eyes to come face to face with the handsome man. He jumps, squishing his tail with his own weight in the process as he scoots back into the cage.
“I like this one,” the man says with a fond smile and Namjoon blinks at him.
“Sure,” the clerk says, uninterested. “He’s a bit of a handful but whatever you say. I’ll fill you in on our return policy while we sort the paperwork.”
Namjoon stares wide-eyed at the stranger as they walk back through the doors to the office. Maybe he misunderstood, he shouldn’t get too excited. But even as he is considering this possibility, his tail is attempting to wag under him and he can’t help the accelerated pace of his heart.