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The dog groans as it transforms back to human form, holding his jaw. Baekhyun sits on the porch, wincing at the pain in his mouth. His teeth are taking too long to grow in his hybrid form, causing problems with his nerves now. It’s painful and he’s barely managing to sleep, rest or eat. He needs a break from the pain in his mouth - Taemin has an appointment set up next week but the week is dragging slowly .
Baekhyun stands up from the porch, opening the back door and stepping into the kitchen. He creeps slightly, desperately trying not to make too much noise. It's two in the morning and Taemin will be asleep - he's been working night shifts all week and now, finally back on day shift, he's doing his best to change his sleep schedule around. The last thing Baekhyun wants to do is wake him up.
He opens the freezer, pulling out an ice pack and moaning softly as he holds it to his jaw. The pain abates, slightly, and he walks through to the living room. His nest is in here, bundled up between the couch and the wall, and he fully intends to collapse in it and fall asleep watching Netflix.
That is his plan, however, until the lamp next to the armchair turns on.
Baekhyun jumps, looking around to find Taemin, nursing a cup of soju with raised eyebrows. "I was wondering when you would get back from running around."
"Taemin, hey." Baekhyun smiles awkwardly at his lover, making his way to the unruly pile of blankets in the corner. "Why aren't you in bed?"
"I was waiting for you."
"Oh? Do you want me to come sleep upstairs with you?"
"No, I had a question about something."
Baekhyun raises an eyebrow, curling into the blankets. "One second." He shifts around, getting comfortable before finding a comfortable position to lay that holds the ice pack to his jaw. He huffs, settles and fixes his gaze on Taemin. "What's up?"
"Well, I got home this morning and found a few things."
"What's that?"
"Baekhyun. I understand you are a hybrid and you really need to see a hybrid doctor about your teeth and jaw."
Baekhyun blinks, entirely lost.
Taemin places his glass on the coffee table before he picks something up from below it. He holds up a chewed up shoe, scowling. "But if this happens again, I will not hesitate to make you sleep outside until you've seen one and the problem is fixed."
Baekhyun blinks a little, more confused than ever. "That wasn't me?"
"What do you mean it wasn't you? Chewed up shoes and a dog hybrid living in the house… Do we have ghosts now?"
"No, Taemin, it wasn't me. I'm not eating because chewing hurts. Why would I chew your shoes for relief when it's only going to make it worse?"
"What do you mean it isn't..." Taemin places his glass on the coffee table, frowning. "If it isn't you eating my shoes then who is it?"
"I don't know, but I promise it isn't me."
Taemin slumps in the armchair, frowning a little. "That's... is someone breaking into the house just to eat my shoes?"
Baekhyun is about to reply when a banging noise comes from the upper floor of the house. Taemin jumps, on his feet, and behind the armchair in seconds, panting as fear takes him over. Baekhyun is on his feet, creeping towards the living room door, peering around it to look upstairs.
"Baek..."
"Stay there, I'll check."
Baekhyun waits a moment, making sure that no one can see him before slowly creeping up the stairs. Adrenaline pumps in his body, his heart pounding in his ears as he gets to the top of the stairs. There's a clattering noise to the right and Baekhyun slowly makes his way down the hallway. As he approaches it, the linen closet door swings open. Baekhyun prepares to transform, to take the intruder by surprise and pin them to the ground only… to stop.
He scoops it up, chortling as he heads downstairs. "I found the shoe eater."
"Huh?"
Taemin is half hidden behind the armchair, phone in hand, ready to call the police as Baekhyun comes in. The hybrid smiles, wide, and holds up the - now very confused - tiger cub, one of Taemin's shoes still in his mouth. Taemin blinks rapidly, taking in the situation. Baekhyun quickly puts the cub down on the couch as he feels it shifting, watching a young boy appear.
He can’t be much older than five or six and he stares at the floor, wringing his hands. "I'm sorry I didn't... I didn't know anyone lived here. I thought it was empty."
Taemin and Baekhyun look at each other before Taemin crouches down. "What's your name?"
"M-Mark."
"How did you get here, Mark?"
"My owners threw me out. Said I was too much work compared to my siblings and I... I just. I came around this area a while ago and the garage was open and it was really dusty and messy in there and I thought that... no one lived here. I didn't mean to break into your home, I'm really sorry."
Taemin glowers at Baekhyun as he shoots him a look that says it all - I told you we needed to clean the garage out .
"When's the last time you ate actual food, Mark?"
Mark shrugs and Taemin frowns. "I'll make you something to eat. Especially after eating all that fabric, your stomach must be begging for some food."
Mark watches as Taemin walks out the room, Baekhyun following him. Baekhyun gets a ramyeon pot out of the cupboard as Taemin sets the kettle to boil.
Baekhyun is the first to break the silence, voice quiet so he can't be overheard. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, if he has nowhere to go, we can't exactly throw out a child in the cold, can we? He can stay here at least for tonight. The poor thing must be terrified."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Taemin looks back through the kitchen door, taking in the frame of the small boy. Without them there, he's curious again, pawing at the couch cushions, jumping as the sequins come into contact with his fingers. "In the morning, we'll file a safety report. We'll take him in for now. Maybe they’ll let us keep him for a while whilst they figure out what to do with him… It would be nice to have another body around the house."
"For clarification," Baekhyun opens the cupboard, getting another ramyeon pot out the cupboard for Taemin. Taemin slowly stirs the one for Mark, sniffing. "We weren’t thinking the same thing.”
“We weren’t?”
Baekhyun shakes his head, adding the boiling water to the pot and getting a glass of water. “I was thinking… I mean… Taemin, last year we were discussing pups.”
“We can’t have pups. I can’t impregnate you. You can't get me pregnant. I’m a human, you’re a hybrid.”
“I know. But how often do you stumble on a cub chewing on a trainer in the linen cupboard?”
“Wait…” Taemin stares at him, eyes widening a little. “Are you suggesting we… adopt him?”
"Don't you want to?"
Taemin looks over Baekhyun’s shoulder at the now shifted tiger cub pouncing on something running across the floor - probably a spider. He hesitates a moment, licking his lips before looking back at Baekhyun, excitement in his eyes. "Yeah. Let's do it. Let's give him a home."
Taemin smiles and Baekhyun leans in, pressing a kiss to Taemin's lips. Taemin returns it, breathing slowly before laughing as they split.
They return to the living room, Taemin patting the couch for Mark to hop up. He does, changing, meek again as Taemin looks at Baekhyun. Baekhyun places the ramyeon pots on the coffee table and Taemin wraps one of the couch throws around Mark. “Do you know how to use chopsticks, Mark?”
The boy nods, perking up a little. “My big brother taught me! I still get a little confused with them but I can eat with them!”
Baekhyun coos, sitting on the floor and stirring Mark’s ramyeon pot. He makes sure it’s cool enough before handing it to Mark. Taemin hovers, making sure he doesn’t spill it before relaxing. Taemin takes the second pot from Baekhyun and leans back, slurping some noodles.
Mark looks at Baekhyun, tilting his head. “Are you not going to eat?”
“I have a poorly tooth. It hurts to eat right now, but I’ll have some breakfast in the morning when it doesn’t hurt so much.”
Mark nods and focuses on his food; Baekhyun puts the television on and Mark’s eyes widen, being absorbed into the television show. Taemin laughs softly, rubbing Mark’s back.
“Mark.”
“Well, Mark, I’m Taemin and this is Baekhyun.”
“Hello.”
He looks between them and Baekhyun smiles. “You don’t have anywhere to live, right?”
Mark shakes his head, struggling with his chopsticks for a moment, tongue sticking out. He gets it after a moment, kicking his legs as he chews on some of the vegetables. “I don’t.”
Taemin smiles. “Well… Baekhyun and I were talking and if it’s alright with you… why don’t you stay with us?”
“Like, owning me?”
Taemin’s face falls a little and he shakes his head. “No, not like owning. Like parents and a child.”
Mark looks up, a small, hopeful look on his face. “Like mummies and daddies?”
“Yeah, like a mummy and a daddy.”
Mark seems unsure for a moment, staring into the pot of food before looking up. “I think that would be nice. If that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay. We wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t.”
Mark nods, perking up a little. “Yeah! Yeah, I want a mummy and a daddy. Or two daddies or… I want parents!”
Taemin laughs as Mark wriggles across the couch, carefully focusing so he doesn’t spill his ramyeon. He presses himself into Taemin’s side, smiling wide and Taemin laughs. Baekhyun smiles, getting onto the couch, rubbing Mark’s back.
Taemin and Mark eat and Baekhyun gets up, checking over the house. When he’s sure Mark is the only intruder - or, was - he makes sure all the doors are locked. He returns to the living room to find Taemin yawning and shaking his head. “I’m going to go up to bed. Come on, Mark, it’s really late. You should be asleep this time of the night.”
Mark looks up, holding his pot up. “Can I finish my ramyeon?”
“Quickly.”
Mark nods and has the last few mouthfuls and stares at the pot, unsure what to do with it. Baekhyun takes it with a smile and Taemin stands up, leading him upstairs. Baekhyun bins the pots, making sure to wash up the chopsticks and put them away. He gathers the chewed up shoes Taemin brought into the living room, placing them by the door - he supposes Mark can have them or Taemin can get them repaired if he doesn’t want to throw them out.
He walks around downstairs and makes sure that everything is in order - he won’t clean tonight, but he will straighten it up. Heading upstairs, he finds Taemin shut the linen closet already and he heads into the bathroom. He takes some painkillers then heads into the bedroom.
Baekhyun finds his heart… melts .
Taemin is asleep on his back, breathing slowly and Mark is in his cub form. He lays on Taemin’s stomach, head on his chest, making soft sounds in his sleep. He smiles, changing quickly and getting into bed.
Taemin, in his sleep, automatically rolls over, hand carefully balancing Mark. The cub sniffles, shifting and settles back down. Baekhyun wraps his arm around Taemin’s waist, hand resting on Mark’s back.
This was ridiculous, completely wild and out of nowhere, and nowhere near how anyone should end up acquiring a child.
But, as he slowly falls asleep, Mark snuffling softly in his sleep, Baekhyun decides that this does , indeed, feel like a misshapen little family, accidental or not.