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When Namjoon and Seokjin asked him if he could take care of their pet for two days, Jimin immediately agreed.
True, they had only been neighbors for a few months, but Jimin had gotten along well with them so far. He liked them, and since he had the opportunity to help them, he agreed to the offer.
Besides, what could be difficult about taking care of a cute puppy?
“Hi hyung.” greeted Jimin when Namjoon opened the door for him. A few steps behind him stood Seokjin, who was just putting on his jacket. They were ready to go.
"Thank you again Jimin for agreeing to help us. We really didn't want to leave Jungkook alone for these four days."
Jimin smiled radiantly at him.
"No problem hyung. I would love to meet your cute puppy."
The rustling of jackets and the putting on shoes was abruptly stopped, and silence fell around them.
Jimin knew that he had clearly said something wrong, but he could not grasp what he did wrong.
Namjoon quickly dispelled his doubts.
"Oh... did we say Jungkook is a dog?"
Seokjin burst out laughing at this. "Sorry for the confusion, Jimin-ah. Jungkook is not a dog though."
Jimin now looked at the couple with a disoriented look.
"Jungkook is our dragon hybrid." Seokjin said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, when in turn at the same time Jimin's mind was spinning at full speed. Millions of thoughts ran through his head, and all color from his face suddenly disappeared.
Dragon... hybrid.
"Oh." Jimin was unable to get anything smarter out of himself. He was taken by surprise.
“We hope it’s not such a big problem for you.” Namjoon snapped him out of his reverie. "You can still quit if you're not comfortable with it. We'll just have to look for someone else at the last minute."
These words effectively sobered Jimin up.
"No, no, no! Don't worry hyung, it won't be necessary. I don't mind." Jimin nodded, "I just didn't expect it." he sent a weak smile in the couple's direction, trying to salvage the situation somehow.
Jimin didn't mind the dragon hybrid. The thing is, he had been constantly setting his mind to getting to know the cute puppy for a couple of days, that it was now hard for him to accept that all this time, right outside his wall, such a rare hybrid was living.
"Are you sure?" Seokjin asked, looking a little worried
Jimin nodded. "Don't worry. I will do my best and take care of him."
"Sometimes Jungkook is a handful, but nonetheless he's a sweetheart. He shouldn't cause much trouble." Namjoon assured him, making Jimin all the more convinced in his decision.
He can do it.
Of course, a dragon is not a dog. But is it really going to be that hard?
He learned very quickly how wrong he was when big brown eyes appeared in his path and followed him step by step.
When Namjoon and Seokjin introduced Jungkook to him, the dragon hybrid only raised his head quickly to then scan him with his eyes from top to bottom. He didn't say a word while doing so. Jimin didn't know how to interpret this behavior. The dragon merely returned to his own activities and did not appear in Jimin's sight again.
When they were finally left alone in the apartment, having previously said goodbye to Namjoon and Seokjin, wishing them a pleasant journey, just after closing the door, Jimin felt a little uncomfortable.
At first he thought that maybe Jungkook didn't like him and the dragon preferred to stay away from him. Jimin wouldn't hold it against him, he knew that such a sudden change, and a complete stranger suddenly coming to his apartment was quite a stressful situation. Even so, Jungkook seemed to be more of a threat to him than Jimin was to him.
As for a while nothing was happening, Jimin reached for one of the books he had taken from home and settled comfortably in an armchair to then immerse himself in reading.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but at some point Jimin felt uneasy, and a shiver ran unpleasantly down his spine.
He felt he was being watched.
When he raised his gaze tentatively from above the book, his eyes met those red ones belonging to Jungkook.
He froze for one brief second.
Jungkook was a dragon, but he was also a hybrid of Namjoon and Seokjin, he was aware he wouldn't hurt him.
Jimin truly believed this thought, although it didn't change the fact that Jungkook's watchful gaze following him was still not very pleasant. He wasn't used to someone looking at him so ostentatiously.
"Is everything alright, Jungkookie?"
The cute nickname accidentally escaped his lips, but he couldn't help himself. The dragon could be unpredictable and Jimin certainly didn't know what was on his mind, but that didn't change the fact that Jungkook, in his own twisted way, was cute.
His red eyes were round and large, and his nose looked very boopable.
He could have been a noble kind of hybrid - dragons, after all, are very dignified creatures - which gave him seriousness and cool style, but he also had a touch of sweetness about him that Jimin couldn't just ignore.
"Yhm." Jungkook muttered under his breath barely audibly and nodded.
"Are you hungry?" Jimin glanced fleetingly at his watch, and indeed, the perfect hour for lunch was slowly approaching. He didn't feel very hungry himself, but Seokjin had mentioned to him how huge an appetite dragon hybrids can have. "I'll make us dinner, what do you think?" he kept trying to get some kind of reaction from Jungkook, but to no avail. The dragon once again merely nodded, then escorted him with his eyes all the way to the kitchen.
Jimin turned on his favorite playlist on his phone and got to work. He prepared the products and equipment he needed, and even tied a funny kitchen apron around his waist. He was ready, but not even five minutes had passed, and once again he felt the gaze drilling into his back.
He tried with all his might not to turn back, but the feeling was stronger. It was no surprise when he once again encountered Jungkook's gaze scanning him from top to bottom.
"You know... you can sit here next to me rather than hiding behind the door." Jimin said softly, as if afraid that his voice might unexpectedly startle him.
Jungkook didn’t move from his place. He didn't even blink.
Jimin sighed, but didn't intend to comment on the situation. He would not force Jungkook to do something against his will. He was only here for two days to take care of him as best he could. He didn't want to violate his comfort zone in any way.
When he turned around to start cutting vegetables, his hand with the knife suddenly froze. He stared confused for a moment, but after a moment he realized what was wrong.
Jungkook was very dangerously close to him and was holding his wrist in a firm grip.
"Stop." The dragon hybrid's voice was low and throaty, causing chills to run down Jimin's spine. These were the first words the dragon had ever spoken in his direction. Jimin was suddenly very confused and didn't know how he should act.
"W-what?"
"Give it to me." Jungkook reached for the knife with his other hand, and as if in a trance, Jimin didn't resist. He was too surprised to react in any way. "Sit down here." Jungkook continued to give orders, and Jimin meekly agreed to them.
His warm hand touched Jimin's back gently and guided him toward the small table where, just a second ago, it was Jimin who had offered Jungkook to sit here.
"Jungkook-"
He paused when the dragon looked at him with a watchful and investigative gaze. He was looking at him with incredible scrutiny. He grabbed him by both hands, turning him to one side, the other. Then he put his big warm hands on his shoulders to stare intently into his face.
"What are you-"
"Are you hurt?"
Jimin didn't know if he had misheard.
"What?"
"Are you hurt?" he repeated the question, completely unfazed by the fact that Jimin sat in a complete stupor.
“No? Why would I-”
“Great. Then sit here please. I will take care of it.”Jungkook didn't give him a chance to get any word out. He unexpectedly patted him on the head, something along as trying to caress him.
Was Jungkook stroking his head?
The dragon's movements were very slow and precise, as if he was afraid that one harder swing would ruin everything.
For now, Jimin decided not to confront the situation. He didn't even know where he could start. That's why he spent the next hour in a chair, watching in concentration as Jungkook prepared a meal for them. No words spoken.
If Jimin thought the strange moments ended there, he was apparently sorely mistaken.
As they sat down at the table, with the TV playing in the background, Jimin felt his shoulders tighten. Jungkook's gaze, which had been following him around all day, was still quite unusual. Jimin didn't know how he should interpret this behavior. After all, he had never dealt with a dragon hybrid.
He could only hope that it was nothing negative.
"Do you like it?" Jungkook broke the silence.
"Yes!" Jimin reached for another bite to emphasize his words in this way. Surprisingly, Jungkook really cooked well, so he didn't even have to pretend in any way. He was sincere in what he said. "You are a very good cook."
Jimin thought he saw a slight pink blush on his cheeks, but just as quickly as it appeared it disappeared, making him unsure if he was simply imagining it. Besides, dragons generally had a higher body temperature than humans. Maybe it was the nature of dragons to have their cheeks burning from time to time?
"I'm glad that you like it." Jungkook sent him a slight smile, and it was probably the first time Jimin had ever seen a hybrid smile in front of him. Until now, Jungkook had only bestowed him with an intense stare.
"Here, eat some more." Jungkook began to transfer additional bites of food from his plate to Jimin's one.
"Oh- No, no, you don't need to-"
"You need to eat more to have a lot of strength in you." Jungkook looked determined, so Jimin quickly realized that resisting would be futile. Then again, so was everything about the dragon. His behavior was quite unusual with regard to him, but apparently Jimin just had to get used to it.
"Don't worry Jungkookie." Jimin giggles "I may not look like it, but I really have a lot of strength inside of me."
As if deaf to his words, Jungkook continued to rearrange the food from one plate to another anyway.
Jimin quietly just accepted this state of things.
Dragons were really peculiar creatures.
+++
Jungkook felt the instincts inside him raging.
He had never felt like this before, and it seemed that as an adult dragon he knew how the things worked.
He was wrong.
And it was all because of Park Jimin.
When he first saw him on the doorstep, one and the same thing kept ringing out in his head, like a mantra.
Small little human. Protect. Protect small little human.
Jungkook didn't want this strange instinct to completely consume him, so he ran out of Jimin's sight with all speed to hide in his room.
That didn't last long, though.
His mind wouldn't let him rest, constantly thinking about Jimin, who is downstairs in the living room.
Protect.
Although he wanted to be far away from the source of those foreign thoughts in his head, he could no longer ignore it.
With that, he ended up behind the door frame, staring at Jimin like some kind of creep.
For Jungkook it was impossible to be such a small human being.
And on top of that, so soft!
He stared as Jimin's stature sank into the armchair, which only further made Jimin look smaller in his eyes than he actually is.
Then there were his small hands, which moved again and again across the pages of paper. He had short chubby fingers, and the hand seemed smooth and delicate.
Jungkook wanted to grab for it, but successfully restrained himself from doing so. He was a little frightened by the fact that although he doesn't know the boy, his dragon side had taken a liking to him and now wouldn't even let his eyes off him for a moment, as if in fear that as soon as he turned his head the other way something bad would happen to the boy.
When Jimin offered to make them dinner, his instincts went wild. The small human looked adorable in an apron that was too big for him, and his determined face was reminiscent of a cute little chick.
All this excitement quickly faded, though, when the small human suddenly grabbed a knife. Jungkook had never been at his side so quickly before, although he had previously promised himself that he would keep his distance.
However, this sight absolutely snapped everything in him.
Protect! Protect! Protect small human! He can get hurt!
Therefore, he sent him back to the chair next to him with all haste and offered to prepare dinner himself.
When Jimin didn't object, Jungkook breathed a sigh of relief.
Small human is safe.
This way, everything suddenly became much easier. Jungkook's instincts calmed down and he finally felt that he could breathe normally.
With a quick reaction, he rescued the little human and now the two of them, in each other's company, were able to prepare dinner. Or rather, Jungkook, since the dragon still wouldn't let Jimin lift even a finger.
In the meantime, while Jungkook was cutting vegetables, out of the corner of his eye he watched Jimin rhythmically nodding to the music coming from the radio.
Small human was so cute.
He smiled to himself under his breath at this thought. Indeed, Jimin was really cute. He had never met someone like him in his entire dragon life, and yet as a dragon he was skilled at finding nice and valuable things.
Jimin wasn't a thing, though, he was just as cute, and even surpassed in value all the things accumulated in Jungkook's horde.
As he sat down to eat, his dragon instincts once again kicked in as he watched Jimin slowly grab food prepared by him.
The small human was indeed tiny in size. His stature seemed very delicate at the same time.
"Do you like it?" Jungkook couldn't hold it in any longer. He wanted so badly to know if Jimin's expectations for this meal had been met.
"Yes! You're a very good cook."
His dragon nature absorbed these words like a sponge. He felt himself straighten more in his chair and push his chest up. Pride and contentment began to surround him from all sides.
He was glad that Jimin was happy, but also that perhaps now in his eyes he would be seen as someone who was able to take proper care of him.
"I'm glad that you like it." A smile involuntarily ascended to his lips. He could feel the heart in his chest beating like crazy. Such was the effect of this sweet little human. Jimin just made him go crazy.
"Here, eat some more." The dragon's nature took over and Jungkook didn't even notice when his hands began to move on their own and apply more food from his plate for Jimin.
Small human needs to eat more.
Jungkook explained in his head and nodded to himself each time.
Jimin was delicate, and when the sleeves of his sweater were too long he gave the impression of sinking into his own clothes. It added to his charm even more which Jungkook's poor heart couldn't bear so well.
So he had to provide as much sustenance as possible for the boy at all costs.
"Oh- No, no, you don't need it-"
Jimin began to protest, but Jungkook continued. Not even for a moment thinking to stop. Instincts were far more important than any protests.
"You need to eat more to have a lot of strength in you."
At that moment all Jungkook dreamed of was providing for Jimin as best he could. The small human deserved to have someone take proper care of him and never have to worry about anything again.
Jungkook wanted to be that person.
"Don't worry Jungkookie." Jimin giggles "I may not look like it, but I really have a lot of strength inside of me."
Jimin's sweet laughter only made Jungkook's cheeks blush.
In his own way, he found it extremely charming that the small human thought he was incredibly strong.
Jungkook didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise. He knew that in the blink of an eye he could knock Jimin to the floor or cause him pain with a slightly stronger touch. Therefore, at all costs, he had to be careful about how he handled this extremely delicate creature, who for some reason really thought he was a match for his strength.
Yes indeed, the small human was very cute and on top of that extremely funny.
Jungkook was so whipped.
+++
Another unusual thing that happened to Jimin happened not shortly after dinner. Jimin didn't know what he should do with himself for the rest of the evening. Jungkook had so far behaved very unusually, in a way Jimin couldn't have predicted, but either way the dragon wasn't causing quite as much trouble. Namjoon and Seokjin, when asking him to help watch over their hybrid, spoke of Jungkook as if he would at least wreck the entire apartment in their absence.
Meanwhile, Jungkook was extremely polite and calm. He practically didn't speak to Jimin at all, only kept following him with his watchful eyes. He cooked dinner for them, and to top it off, he also did the dishes afterwards despite Jimin's protests to help him do so.
Unfortunately, he failed.
Jungkook once again led him to a small table in the kitchen, only to have him sit down and not worry about anything.
Jungkook was a kind of enigma to him. He couldn't figure him out.
He only thought he was exceptionally cute when his big eyes wandered from one place to another.
Constantly the dragon surprised him, and although he thought nothing would surprise him again after dinner, he was quickly mistaken when it was time for sleep.
Jimin spread the blankets and pillows comfortably on the living room couch. Namjoon and Seokjin were already going home tomorrow night so one night sleeping on the couch made no difference to Jimin, especially since the one in his neighbors' apartment looked exceptionally comfortable.
For some reason, the whole process didn't please Jungkook, as the dragon looked at him with very serious eyes.
"What's going on Jungkookie?"
Jimin didn't expect any answer and he wasn't wrong, as Jungkook continued to remain silent. He merely stared at the couch with an unconcerned look.
"Is everything okay?" He asked again. After all, he was here to take care of Jungkook, so if he needed his help with something, he was ready to step in. "Is something wrong?"
Jungkook looked as if he was thinking about something, then after a moment he moved from his place by the door and found himself right in front of the couch.
He grabbed one of the pillows, then a second one and a third. As many as Jungkook was able to fit in his arms he took and carried them out of the room.
Jimin watched the whole process in a daze.
Why did the dragon take his pillows?
But Seokjin had shown him where he could get them from, so he wasn't stealing from the dragon in any way, right?
Jimin couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
When Jungkook re-entered the room, Jimin wanted to ask the questions that had been bothering him but instead yelped weakly when suddenly he was brought up into dragon's arms.
"Jungkook? Where are you taking me?"
Jimin had his arms entwined around Jungkook's neck, who was walking farther away from the living room with him on his arms as if Jimin weighed absolutely nothing.
Before Jungkook could answer, he placed Jimin on his own bed. The gesture was once again absolutely adorable in Jimin's eyes. The dragon seemed to treat him as if he were made of glass. He handled him gently, and when placing him on the mattress, he did so slowly and with precision.
"It's not very warm in the living room on the couch at night."
These were the words Jungkook spoke when he finally decided to speak up.
"Oh, that's no problem for me." Jimin waved his hand carelessly as if it was the most obvious thing. "Besides, it's your bed. I don't want to occupy it for you."
Jimin rose slowly from the soft mattress, only to be stopped by a hand on his chest nonetheless.
"No." Jungkook looked adamant. "Small human can't get cold."
"I'm not small." He immediately snapped in his defense. Jungkook, though, seemed to completely ignore his remark.
"Stay here." After a moment, "please."
Jimin didn't think he'd see a dragon like this, but like so many things that day - he was pleasantly surprised.
"Alright." Jimin nodded. In fact, Jungkook's company didn't bother him all that much. At first, it seemed to him that it was rather the dragon who saw him as an intruder in his own home, so he moved out of the way. However, not for the first time, it turned out that Jimin was completely unfamiliar with hybrids, much less dragons due to which they still remained nothing more than a mystery to him.
Jungkook seemed to beam slightly at his agreement, then busied himself with arranging the pillows on the bed. Jimin watched him in concentration.
"Lie down." He pointed with his hand to a pile of pillows, and Jimin didn't have the heart to refuse him. In fact, so far he was agreeing to anything the dragon came up with. He didn't know if that was good or bad.
Jimin settled comfortably in the middle of the bed, ideally in the spot the dragon had specifically designated for him.
Jungkook reached for a blanket, then covered him with it. Then another and another.
"Jungkookie."
The dragon lifted his head toward him.
"I think that's enough. I'll be too hot at night because of all those layers."
Jungkook nodded.
"Better too warm than too cold." He said after which he sat down in an armchair by the bed. Jimin furrowed his brow at this sight.
"Where will you sleep tonight?"
When Jungkook patted the back of the armchair, Jimin knew he couldn't leave it at that.
"We can share the space." He pulled one hand out from under the blanket burrito and patted the space next to him. Jungkook's bed was very large so they were easily able to both fit on it.
"B-but it's for you. I made a nest for you."
Jimin's heart beat faster seeing Jungkook looking innocently at him with those big eyes of his. The dragon was really cute.
"Oh. Then... thank you Jungkookie." He smiled at him, making the dragon look away from him for the first time, clearly flustered. On his face, adored by a few scales a lovely blush appeared.
"Can I invite you to my nest?"
Jungkook's head lifted upward with quickness, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. His cheeks seemed even rosier than before.
"If that's what you want then I can-"
"I want it." Jimin interrupted him, "Please join me."
Jungkook again acted as if everything around him was fragile and would collapse at any moment. He moved slowly and precisely, and when he lay down on the bed he kept a distance between their bodies.
"Don't you want some blankets to cover yourself? I can give you some."
Jungkook immediately shook his head intensely.
“My body is warm, yours not. You need it more than I do.”
Jimin felt his heart beating a little faster. Jungkook sounded absolutely adorable, and with his words full of caring he only made Jimin lose his head for him more. The dragon was really cute.
"You're really sweet, Jungkookie." He blurted out, unable to stop himself.
Jungkook nodded his head negatively.
"No. You are." He said it with complete seriousness which only made Jimin laugh.
"Whatever you say." His giggles spread around the room. "But if you get cold overnight you can.... you know. I'll be happy to share a blanket with you."
Jungkook smiled softly at these words. He said something under his breath that sounded like 'small human cute' however Jimin wasn't sure.
"Okay." After which, the dragon raised his hand to pat Jimin's head once again in that characteristic way.
Jimin still found it extremely cute when the dragon, trying to control his strength, smoothed his hair awkwardly, barely touching it with his fingertips.
"Goodnight Jungkookie." He closed his eyes and snuggled his head into his pillow. Just when he thought he wouldn't get an answer, Jungkook spoke up.
"Goodnight, cute human."
"Jimin." He added, "My name is Jimin."
"I know." Jungkook responded almost immediately. "I just like calling you that." After a moment of silence, "Goodnight cute Jimin."
Jimin smiled to himself, and for some reason, his sixth sense told him that Jungkook was also smiling right now.
+++
There were many things Seokjin and Namjoon expected when they returned home after being away for two days.
They knew their dragon hybrid and were aware that leaving Jungkook unattended was not always a good idea.
That's why they asked Jimin for help.
What they didn't expect to find, though, was the sight of Jungkook and Jimin in bed, cuddled up in each other's arms.
All the blankets had been kicked into the corner of the bed, and instead Jungkook with his warm embrace enveloped Jimin's body.
His big hand circled Jimin's narrow waist, while the boy in turn had his head snuggled into the dragon's chest.
They looked absolutely delightful together.
"Do you think-" Seokjin began, but Namjoon silenced him immediately when Jungkook's excellent hearing caused him to start moving restlessly in his sleep and only tightened his hands on Jimin more.
The pair left the room, as quietly as possible, closing the door behind them.
"Yes. I think we are thinking about the same thing." Namjoon nodded, giving final confirmation to Seokjin's supposition.
"Oh my god! Our little Jungkookie." Seokjin theatrically grabbed his heart, ready to wipe away tears of affection.
"I should have guessed when I first saw the expression on Jungkook's face when he saw Jimin." Laughed Namjoon under his breath, "Jungkook was too obvious."
"My little baby fell in love so easily. Do you think he's seeing Jimin as a part of his horde?"
"Did you see the hug Jungkook had on Jimin? I'd be surprised if he didn't see him like that." Namjoon shook his head, but the expression on his face still showed amusement.
They were happy that Jungkook had found someone. He deserved to be happy, especially since he was really a big, soft sweetheart. Namjoon and Seokjin had no doubt that both Jimin and Jungkook would treat each other with affection if only given the chance - assuming it hadn't already happened.
"What now?" Seokjin asked. "What should we do?"
Namjoon looked wryly at his boyfriend.
"How about another trip? Maybe a little longer this time?"
Seokjin placed a quick kiss on Namjoon's cheek.
“I like this plan. Let’s do this.”
Jimin showed up in Jungkook's life unexpectedly, but that didn't stop Jungkook from keeping him in it for the long term.