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There was a street that wasn't listed on any of the tour guides because it was that small and not remarkable from the historical value's point of view. It was only popular with locals and all businesses there were kept afloat by them almost solely.
The street was located in a quieter area of the city. The old buildings had picturesque facades, the nearby alleys looked cozy from the trees people kept in their inner gardens. There was a beautiful park nearby and the infrastructure was great, not as overwhelmed as in the city centre. Yoongi loved that neighborhood a lot even if he himself wasn't very familiar with it or any other in this city just yet.
The owners of one of the spaces were pretty quick to get rid of it and set a wonderful price. Yoongi couldn't quite phantom why. Because it was the perfect place, at least for his goals. He never thought he would manage to get anything similar to this. The location was great: the families from all around the area would definitely go to shop here because there wasn't many similar businesses like his around and because he was going to have an atelier here as well. It would thrive even more than just a clothing shop.
There was another huge advantage. There was an apartment just above it which meant he could live right where he worked and not worry about prices for public transportation, he didn't have to consider getting a car or travel kilometers per week just to do his daily job. It was amazing. Less expenses, considering he wasn't that eager to go out to town much. Yoongi was content where he was, for the most part.
It wasn't so easy to get a place for a decent price here in the city as huge as this. There were many troubles that he faced, being an omega, and he guessed that's just how things were in this world and he simply had to try harder instead of feeling sorry for himself. So every time he failed, he tried again. And every time he got lucky, he celebrated it.
This space was the perfect start of his chapter here.
Yoongi opened up his clothing shop a couple of years ago and he rose from his knees, literally. He put his everything in it. He made sure it was always kept in good condition, oftentimes fixing things with his hands. He checked and double checked everything and he personally assessed all the clothes that was given for distribution along with the models that he has designed and sewn himself.
He was really proud of the work he did. He made it in the capital, what could be better than that? Then he started putting some money on the side, finally getting rid of all his debts. Yoongi didn't feel jealous of the other omegas that had sponsors and parents who helped them because he did something on his own and that feeling overshadowed everything that he had to go through while he was in college and after.
Now he had his own employees, now he had his own designs that he created and that were sold online. He had kind of a little name he made for himself in the area and on social media. Quite a few people knew that if they wanted an exclusive yet reasonably priced and high quality items, they need to go here, to Min Sewn.
Yoongi got lucky not only with the customers but with the employees too. There were a couple of them that worked part time and one more, Hoseok, who was taking full shifts. He's been there from the very start and Yoongi cherished the kind and hard-working beta a lot. They had excellent chemistry and understood each other with few words.
They went from a boss and an employee to friends rather quickly and were used to each other's likes and quirks. Hobi often got Yoongi his favourite coffees and somehow guessed which one he wanted on a particular day. He sometimes helped him out with the clients of the atelier when Yoongi had a bad day for being communicative. He guessed the right moment to step in and could charm anyone, even the most demanding of his customers.
And Yoongi often gave back just as much. He came over to his place when Hobi felt particularly lonely after another breakup, he would cook for his birthday as a surprise or fix something he was able to around his flat. Yoongi sometimes gave him presents for his niece who was growing as fast as dough, creating the lovely sundresses or the most adorable toys out of scraps of material. He suspected Hoseok took half of them for himself though.
They often hung out in the shop past closing hours, discussing the most outrageous customers of the day or making plans of special offers or simply chilling in the staff area. Their dynamic created a wonderful atmosphere inside the establishment and Yoongi often took strength from it on especially straining days.
Just as they knew their cute habits, they also were familiar with some other, not so positive qualities. It was something they received support for from each other but just as equally they could joke about it, in a friendly way.
It was a well known fact that Hobi was a scaredy cat. The omega was too, albeit of a smaller scale. Yoongi could list various instances when he would himself jump on the spot from the beta's sudden screeching.
It could be anything from an innocent bug to a sound of piled up snow falling off the roof. And to Hoseok's own demise he would sometimes fall into a rabbit hole of mystery videos and stories on the internet. Yoongi didn't understand him watching them when they scared the living daylights out of the beta but to each their own, he guessed.
So he wasn't at all surprised when he was about to close for the night and saw a frantic looking beta scurrying towards him.
"Hyung, umm, just listen to me, seriously this time", he started, wringing his hands together.
"What have you been reading last night again?" Yoongi asked calmly.
"Nothing! Not a single thing! Actually, not a single mystery story for whole two weeks! I just went to the deposit area and I swear I could hear something that shouldn't be there".
"My impressionable friend, this is probably a stray animal or something", the omega tried to reason as he was checking the cash register and closing it up.
The day was almost over. Though it wasn't very hard today, Yoongi anticipated a warm shower and a long peaceful read before bed.
"No, hyung. It didn't feel like an animal, not the same vibes".
"And what about your sense of smell? Have you used it?"
"My nose is still a little bit stuffy", he complained petulantly.
The corners of his lips turned downwards and that was a sight that Yoongi couldn't possibly take. He tried to slither out of the duty to check the place himself.
"Come on, think. What could it possibly be? It's just the wind hauling in the trash".
"I tell you, this is probably a ghost".
"A ghost!" Yoongi chuckled, "What would a ghost do in a place as our deposit area! It isn't attractive to ghosts, where's the logic?" Yoongi rased his hands upwards.
"Hyung, could you just check, please? I'll be thinking about it now all night long. I won't be able to sleep!"
"You won't be able to sleep in your house because of the possible ghost in the deposit area here?" he mused.
"So you consider this a possibility?" Hoseok latched onto his words and made a pleading gesture with his hands, "Hyung, do you magic of bravery and have a look? Wait I have an amulet here..."
"No amulets, please. I can do it on my own", Yoongi refused and headed towards the back door with an exasperated sigh.
"What if it latches onto you? Then you'll bring it here!"
"I'll just try not to do that", Yoongi assured him in a kind tone.
He could laugh probably but this time his friend seemed really serious and he felt slightly uneasy himself. So he decided to deal with this possible ghost. Yoongi didn't quite believe in them, at least he didn't believe they could be here. This should be a special place for them to hang out and it was not the back alley of a random street.
The deposit site area was quite dark. Yoongi has already replaced a couple of light bulbs recently that kept going out in the small lamp, the only one that was there hanging above the door. The light from it was nearly not enough to get a thorough look in every corner. There was nothing suspicious in there, the omega was sure it was the wind or something else equally as harmless.
He breathed in with his whole chest and his inner wolf stood concerned. There was a multitude of various smells and they were mixing and matching together into a jumbled up piece that was hard to decipher. And yet. Something prompted him to investigate further, something was definitely in there but he struggled to say exactly what. Maybe it was truly just a stray animal, although he wondered what it could have forgotten here.
They weren't a restaurant or the food store and they didn't have that many stray animals to keep the food out there for them. And Yoongi reckoned that the food was the only possible reason for any cat or dog to wander in here.
"Is anybody there?" he asked out loud and heard nothing in return.
Yoongi walked up to the bigger pile of rubbish. It was some waste from construction that has been going on somewhere in the area. He had called a couple of times for it to be removed already but so far nothing has been done about it. It wasn't food waste so he was quite patient about the issue but it did irk him that somebody was that lazy to get rid of their waste not in the proper way but by dragging it to the site that didn't belong to them. He should probably deal with that as soon as possible.
Yoongi heard that snakes loved to make nests in piles of rubbish from construction. He didn't know how true was that fact, he heard it from one of the aunties on the train that he once took to the countryside. The omega took another step further towards the pile of rubble. There were wooden planks, uneven and broken, and there were rolls of wallpaper that was somehow torn or unfitting for use. He thought that if it was a dog, for example, then it wouldn't be sensible to look for a shelter here soon as it couldn't be a warm enough place.
Just as we took another step forward he heard a quiet hiss.
"Oh, no", he thought, "There could truly be some snakes after all".
He inhaled deeply again and now it was more clear. It was a scent of another person. The human part, for sure, mixed with something else. Yoongi assumed it smelt very much like another omega.
"Hello, I can smell you", he said, "Do you need any help? Should I call the emergency?"
His mind already painted several quite gruesome pictures. Noone was truly safe, even in their seemingly quiet area. And what if they were unable to respond? The hissing was throwing him off, his inner wolf was protesting against approaching but at the same time wanted to get closer. There was possibly another omega there, in danger or need of help.
"I'm coming closer, I mean no harm! I'm an omega, my name is Yoongi. I own a shop..."
He peeked inside the pile of rubble and the hands that he was holding up in a placating manner started to go limp.
"...in here", he finished on autopilot.
There was a person inside the pile, almost in the centre. There were torn pieces of wallpaper everywhere and other stuff was surrounding the figure in what seemed like a frantic attempt of a nest. An omega nesting on the streets, it could never mean that everything was going peachy.
"Hey", Yoongi called softly, trying to produce calming pheromones, "I can see you. I mean no harm, just want to help. Can you hear me?"
His soothing tone and his chill scent must have done the trick because the person that was covering their head with a piece of cloth lowered it down. Yoongi was able to see their face. It was obvious from the two fluffy feline ears on top of their head that they were a hybrid. And they were pissed and upset.
"Are you okay? Can you speak?"
The hybrid hissed at Yoongi again but he wasn't going to back down. The scent coming off them was worrying. It was anxious and worried but at least Yoongi didn't smell any blood.
"I would like to offer my help. If not, I'll go away. But just so you know, I'm going to inform the services. I can't just leave you here like this", Yoongi said to them calmly, looking in their blue slitted eyes.
"Don't call", they said, "You say it's your shop? I'll leave, just give me time".
"No, no, please, I don't want to kick you out. I suggested helping. Would you like to come inside my shop? There's warm tea in our staff room".
The hybrid's nostrils flared. He still sort of hissed at him but it wasn't half as loud as the previous couple of times. Yoongi tried to keep himself open so the other could feel some of his emotions in his scent. It seemed like they deemed them genuine enough because the hybrid gave Yoongi a curt nod.
"I'd love some tea", they finally said, and Yoongi noticed them shivering.
The omega shrugged his cardigan off and showed it to the other.
"Would you like to throw this on? It's quite a chilly night", Yoongi suggested.
He made no attempts to approach the hybrid. They were evidently distressed so anything could set them off. The look in their eyes was alarmed. What could have scared them so badly?
The hybrid quickly took the cardigan and hastily put it on. They looked at Yoongi's outstretched hand in suspicion but took it nevertheless. The omega internally exhaled in relief. That encounter made him work up a sweat. He had no idea how to talk in these kinds of situations so he simply remained genuine and compassionate.
Yoongi slowly led the hybrid towards his shop. Before entering, he paused at the back door.
"There's another person inside, my employee and a good friend. His name is Hoseok, he's a beta. He could be a little loud, but he's harmless. Should I tell him to go?"
The hybrid shook their head.
"No, I...", they raised their shoulders and took a deep breath, "I'm not going to cause trouble".
"Of course you won't! If you hiss at him, he'll probably scream in terror", Yoongi chuckled and he saw the corner of the hybrid's lips twitch, maybe in a hint of a smile.
Yoongi knocked on the door to let Hobi know he was coming back.
"Hob-ah, I'm here with someone else", he called out, opening the door ajar, "Please keep it down".
They went inside and Yoongi immediately headed for the staff room. It was empty, with the kettle having recently been boiled.
"Ah, just on time. You can sit here", he gestured at the couch, "It's quite comfortable".
The hybrid slowly stepped into the room and awkwardly shuffled to the couch. They sat at the corner and took their shoes off, putting their knees up. Yoongi opened the chest of drawers and took out one of the blankets he kept there for himself. Sometimes he ended up staying late, preparing documents to pass onto an accountant that did their taxes and he was too tired to go up to his place. So he stayed to sleep on the couch and had everything he needed handy.
"You can have this too. It must have been so cold out there", he passed the blanket towards the hybrid and they cautiously took it, immediately wrapping it around themselves, "Do you like green tea? Or maybe you'd like some coffee instead?"
"Tea, please", the hybrid said quietly.
Yoongi picked a big mug and started brewing the tea. He felt a little awkward with a stranger on his territory but much more than that he was encompassed with the desire to help them. He started humming quietly as he poured water and looked for a clean teaspoon.
"Sugar? Milk?" Yoongi asked the hybrid and received two affirmative nods in response.
When Yoongi was done he approached the hybrid with a mug of tea in his hands and they suddenly spoke again.
"I'm Jimin", they said and their ears twitched, "A male cat hybrid".
"It's nice to meet you, Jimin", Yoongi smiled and passed him the cup.
The omega couldn't help but notice that Jimin's scent lost some of the sharp notes of fear. From what he knew about all feline hybrids, they were just as naturally strong as werewolves and it was impossible to tell who would win in the fight because of their insane agility. Of course he wasn't going to fight but Jimin must have assessed all the possibilities and realised that he was quite safe even with the two wolves inside. He could easily overpower them, simple shopkeepers.
Yoongi heard approaching steps and both him and Jimin turned their faces towards the door.
"Umm, hyung? I'm going to go. I heard voices and I don't like it at all", the beta sounded desperate.
"What are you talking about? Come in, say hi to our guest".
"No, no! Can I take a day off tomorrow? If you're planning on keeping your guest here I'd rather stay away".
"Tsk, didn't know you were that hostile, Hoba", Yoongi crossed his arms at his chest.
"I don't like ghosts! I told you, it would latch onto you..."
Yoongi heard a quiet hiss coming from the couch. He looked Jimin and saw him covering his mouth with the mug. It sounded like he was snickering.
"I can hear it!", Hobi whispered dramatically, "How could you have befriended it?"
"Stop being silly, it's not a ghost. I met someone hiding in our deposit site. It's Jimin and he is lovely. Come and say hi!".
Hoseok peeked around the corner. His eyes landed on Jimin and they widened. Yoongi gave him a gesture with his palm, asking to stay quiet and the beta understood him right away, just like he always did.
"Hello, I'm Hoseok", he waved at Jimin and the hybrid nodded.
"Jimin", he replied, taking another careful sip of the steaming drink.
"And not a single ghost ", Yoongi jabbed and Hobi pouted.
"Just you wait, hyung. I'll catch the evidence that you sometimes aren't better than me about it. He can't watch horror films", he whispered to Jimin and the hybrid smiled.
"I can't either. Not on my own at least".
That was a good conversation starter. Hobi stayed for a little bit but then he had to go home. He left the two alone, telling Yoongi he can ask him for anything he needed.
Jimin looked like he got much more comfortable there, on the couch and under the soft blanket. He got visibly warmer, having drunk his tea. His cheeks didn't look as pale anymore and even got a hint of rose on them. The blanket that he wrapped himself in almost fully has fallen down on his lap. As they talked about something meaningless Yoongi threw another look on him and noticed that the cardigan that he was wearing now was slightly curving at his midriff. The omega tried to take a sniff of the air as secretly as he could. It was still confusing him though not as much as in the beginning where it was mixed with dozens of scents interfering with it but it was still undefined, way too complex.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to but is there any chance that you're carrying, Jimin?"
Jimin's shoulders got tense. They raised and he wrapped his arms around his middle protectively.
"I'm not going to harm you", the omega said again, "If you need anything regarding your state just tell me. Actually, my apartment is right above, I can get you something that I don't have here".
"I'm okay", he said, "I don't really need anything at the moment".
Yoongi latched onto that "at the moment" part.
"It's getting rather late. Maybe you would like to spend the night here or in my apartment? It would be better upstairs, the heating is working well and I have food. We can have dinner, if you'd like? I have a separate space where you can sleep too".
Jimin took his time to mull over the suggestion. Eventually he agreed and Yoongi felt relief yet again. It was obvious that Jimin was in some kind of a difficult situation. On one hand the omega didn't want to overstep but on the other he wanted to offer the hybrid more than just tea in the staff room of the shop. He felt that it was the right thing to do, especially now that he could see that the hybrid was possibly pregnant. Now it made so much more sense why he was so agitated and why he was hiding in such an unsuitable place and nesting out of all things.
They headed upstairs and Yoongi gave Jimin a little tour of his small cozy habitat. Jimin seemed to like it. He looked at everything with attention, curiosity even, and he went inside every room Yoongi showed him. He still stepped carefully, as if he was ready to flee at any moment. But the omega remained patient and stayed in as much calm state as he could master.
They ended up in the kitchen and Yoongi started on dinner. Luckily he had some groceries he could use to put together a simple stew with plenty of meat and vegetables. He asked the hybrid and about every ingredient, if he could eat it, and Jimin nodded affirmatively to everything. He even helped to cut some of them staying a little bit further away from Yoongi on the other side of the stove but it was okay. Yoongi respected his space. He hasn't experienced it himself but he heard that being pregnant changes the way you behave sometimes, especially with instincts involved.
It was in the middle of them having their dinner when Jimin decided to open up a little.
"I think you have a lot of questions", he started and Yoongi set his spoon back inside his bowl.
"I may have", he agreed, "But it doesn't mean that I'm going to ask them. I don't think that is fair to you".
"You have been very hospitable towards a stranger".
"A stranger in a tight situation. I know that anybody can find themselves facing difficulties suddenly and if I were to be there instead of you, I would have liked to be treated the same way".
Jimin looked at him attentively and Yoongi hurried to add:
"You don't owe me anything for it, no explanation needed and no questions answered, okay? Just tell me if you need anything. But also, if you want to share something, I'm here to listen".
"You're really kind, Yoongi", he said and after a long pause he added, "I honestly don't remember coming here".
Yoongi waited for him to continue and Jimin eventually did.
He didn't remember coming to that alley, didn't remember how he nested in the rubble. His instincts might have taken over in order to protect him. He had nowhere to go because his parents kicked him out of his own home. The hybrid hasn't been out on the streets for a very long time but it was enough for someone who was used to a different kind of lifestyle. It's been a struggle but he happened to be lucky to have being born as a cat hybrid.
Jimin used his natural abilities to survive but his pregnancy started to taking a toll on him. The term wasn't that big but the feeling of being unsafe, being threatened by the circumstances he found himself in was really affecting his rationality. He couldn't concentrate on anything but finding some kind of hidden secluded spot where he could feel at least a resemblance of safety. It was all he could think about and it prevented him from just sitting still and thinking about what to do next.
At the moment he had nothing on him and he was lost at what to do. When Yoongi found him he was barely recognizing his surroundings. All he could think about was the fact that he needed to provide a spot for him and his young and he was failing to do so.
"I'm sorry you happened to be in such a situation, Jimin. This is truly horrific and shouldn't have happened to you absolutely no matter what. How are you feeling at the moment though? Are you hurt or injured?"
"No, I'm not injured. I feel so much better now", he replied, "When I don't have to think about a safe space and food I can think so much more clearly about my situation".
"Well, you know what they say? The morning is wiser than the evening. So how about we retreat for the night and if you want to we can think about something in the morning or you can do it on your own. I'll be here if you need anything".
"Thank you again. I really appreciate it. I'm really lucky to have met you tonight".
"You would have done exactly the same, I'm sure of it", Yoongi smiled at him warmly.
They finished their dinner and Yoongi showed him a bed settie that he had in his lounge. He also showed him the whole chest of drawers where he kept all his nesting materials, fresh and clean and ready to use.
"You can take everything you want from here and make yourself as comfortable as you'd like. Feel free to use the kitchen, the shower, everything you want. And there's also some clothes here", he pointed at one of the drawers, "Just make yourself at home. You're safe now. Don't think about anything but rest at the moment".
"Thank you", he said quietly.
The corners of his lips were lifted upwards and Yoongi felt great at seeing them like that.
The next morning when Jimin tried to leave and Yoongi did his best to convince him to stay. It wasn't an easy ordeal but eventually the hybrid agreed to stay longer. Of course Yoongi knew it wasn't his home or the place where he would be totally and completely peaceful and safe but it was so much better than the crisis centre or the streets, especially with the weather growing cold, the temperatures going down rapidly, moreso at night.
Jimin spent several more days up at Yoongi's apartment, mostly sleeping his days away in the nest he built and eating as much as he could to restore his energy. It was so evident that he was simply exhausted from being out on the streets and Yoongi didn't bother him much, only asking if he needed anything. The omega often went up during the day to check up on him or bring groceries that he bought during his lunch break.
A couple of times he found Jimin down in his shop and gladly offered the hybrid to join him at the register or in the staff room. He noticed that from day to day Jimin looked and smelt even more relaxed than before. He mostly lost his defensive demeanor and didn't look that cautious and alarmed anymore. The hybrid started walking normally, without turning his back towards anything that was approaching him, shielding his belly.
Hoseok too got a little closer to the hybrid. Without any hints from Yoongi or Jimin himself he realised that the hybrid was expecting. He was much more vocal in expressing his delight at learning the news and that emitted a soft smile from Jimin, the one Yoongi hasn't seen on him yet.
It was beautiful and cute. When Jimin cleaned himself up and brighten up a little, Yoongi could see something he didn't pay attention to at their first meeting. The cat hybrid was beautiful, magnificent even. He had a great posture, proud and powerful. The omega could see that inner feline in him that was slowly raising his head and Yoongi felt delighted.
One of the evenings after Yoongi closed the shop and went upstairs to his place, they were having dinner together again and Jimin felt comfortable to open up some more about the events that happened before they met.
It turned out that Jimin's parents kicked him out because they were unhappy with him ruining a chance to marry somebody from a rich family. They really wanted to arrange the marriage for him and had several candidates in mind. They didn't really care that Jimin wanted a say in his future. They thought that just because they raised him, fed and clothed him, they could decide who he was to marry and create a family with.
"You belong to us, they said", Jimin chuckled bitterly, "We put so much effort into you and of course we want something back".
Yoongi was petrified by that statement. It was insane.
They were from high and quite traditional circles. So the marriage wouldn't be simply a contract on paper but a proper mating and when Jimin found out about that fact he rebelled. He decided that he wasn't going to put his freedom and his will aside for that stupid choice that didn't belong to him. After thinking things over he realised that his only chance was to become unsuitable for that kind of union.
He took the nearest opportunity to sleep with someone, anyone he found available, somebody he didn't even know the name of during one of the business trips that his family sent him to. And he got pregnant. It would have become such a big problem to fix what he has done that his parents decided not to bother with him anymore.
They didn't even let him pack anything, they simply threw him out with the help of the security and threw him all the "good" wishes they could come up with at that point in time. They also vowed to take him off the family register and this was how he was left out on the streets. Jimin didn't have true friends, only the acquaintances from the same traditional and snobbish circles. None of them would host him even for a while and frankly Jimin didn't feel safe in any of their mansions or penthouses. Those were not the people, not the crowd that he could trust.
He gathered his belongings that he had hidden previously and decided to work out a plan. He never looked much further and didn't have anything under his name yet. He decided to cope on his own like many others did. Unfortunately he didn't take into consideration how much of a stress it would put on his body and mind. He got caught up in survival instinct and wandered around, sleeping everywhere he could, mostly away from people, somewhere where nobody could find him.
Jimin didn't even think of applying to any kind of crisis centre, his head was a mess. He spent a couple of weeks like that but to Jimin it was two weeks to many and Yoongi totally understood that. It wasn't a pretty story and of course the omega was on his side completely.
"You did the right thing, Jimin", he said, "You could agree and live with that for the rest of your life, regretting that awful choice you agreed to. You did whatever was possible at the time. You took the only available option and frankly I'm really proud of you and your bravery".
"You are?" Jimin looked surprised.
"You got yourself out of that horrible arrangement. Who knew what would have happened to you if you would to agree with it?
"Exactly. I've had enough stories about them. I just didn't think that my parents would do something like that to me. We've always had distant but okay kind of relationship. I didn't know they're going to use me as a pawn in their business game. I would rather live on the streets than live like an animal for breeding and deals".
"I admire you for that", Yoongi said softly, "But you don't have to leave out on the streets. You could settle here for now".
Jimin shook his head, placing a hand on his tummy.
"I can't just disrupt your routine like that. It's not just a hobby that you can take up, I'm a whole other person and then some", he lovingly caressed his small bump, "Wouldn't it feel like a burden? And how much would it last? I can't agree to something and then... I can't agree to something so unsafe, if you see what I mean".
"I see", Yoongi nodded, "Then how about I offer you a job? One of my part-time employees finished their studies and they want to do an internship so they don't have any more time to work in my shop. You could shadow Hoseok and learn things at your pace, help here and there as much as you can. That way you wouldn't feel so dependent, right?"
"I suppose", Jimin replied carefully.
"It's not huge money but you can also stay here".
"I won't take the money on top of living", Jimin retorted petulantly and he looked so much younger at that moment, around his own age.
The omega chuckled.
"Fine, I'll just put it into your account and do what you want with it", he said with the challenge in his tone and he saw Jimin smiling back just as widely.
Being off the streets really changed him. It was a traumatic experience for sure but now he could see the other side of Jimin slowly beginning to shine through. It was amazing.
Slowly Yoongi began to notice much more visible changes to Jimin's behaviour that were the confirmation of his successful settling in the new place. The hybrid began slowly bringing his stuff over to Yoongi's apartment. He had no idea where the other had it hidden but he was glad Jimin took as many precautions as he could in his time.
The first thing to appear were prenatal vitamins. A big bottle of them appeared next to the kettle one day in the Yoongi's kitchen and since then Jimin religiously took them everyday. He even murmured something to himself or maybe the baby as he was doing that. The omega saw a peek of that and hurried away from the kitchen, not to disrupt that moment.
The next one was a set of Jimin's personal documents that Yoongi gave him a small separate safe for. There were some of his trinkets like jewelry too and it was astonishing how little he had left from his previous life, at least to the omega's knowledge. It was definitely not a lot and nearly not enough to exist on his own, never mind with a baby who would demand all his attention for quite a while.
Jimin had no bank card in his name, no property and no car. All his clothing was left in his parents' house safe for some of his favourites that he packed with him. Soon as he walked for his parents' business they somehow managed to lay a hand on his accounts, not only cutting him off from their family but also leaving him with no means to exist. Yoongi felt he would never be able to understand them. No amount of profic acquired from those deals could compare to your own child's well-being.
The clothes Jimin brought were not fancy items at all. Most of them were things for staying in or sleeping: a cute fluffy robe, some sweats and t-shirts. Luckily the lack of clothes wasn't that big of a problem, Yoongi had tons of it and except for some necessities, he could always just make something in his atelier. He noticed that Jimin loved the elder's clothing even if they still smelt like the omega. Yoongi thought the hybrid would want something unscented but Jimin claimed he quite liked the smell. It was soothing for him. He dragged plenty of pieces into his nest and Yoongi, of course, didn't mind.
One evening Yoongi came home before the hybrid and later saw him coming in with another bag. The omega pointed him the drawer that he could use and Jimin seemed to hesitate to show what was in it. Yoongi was about to leave to give him privacy but Jimin changed his mind and he began unloading the items out of the bag. They were all children's clothes, baby clothes to be exact, with the addition of some accessories abd bottles.
Yoongi recognised some of the brands, they weren't cheap at all. Jimin must have been seriously preparing for the whole ordeal, expecting to simply stay at his own home, raise his kid on his own. He felt safe and to have that feeling ripped away from him just because he didn't comply to the immoral conditions was inhumane.
Soon Jimin started getting his salary and despite Yoongi's protests he began bringing food, especially more of the different kinds of meat he knew the omega liked. Yoongi cooked everything for them both, still insisting that he didn't need to do that. But Jimin was adamant on taking at least some of the living expenses on his shoulders. He guessed it just was in his nature.
"Jimin, you're going to need so much stuff soon", Yoongi said, "Why don't you save your money for that?"
"Let me treat you too, hyung. I only think this is right", he replied and the pattern continued on.
It felt like Jimin had this feeling, the need to provide for Yoongi too and the omega couldn't deny that it felt nice. He didn't get a lot of that in his past, whether from elders or romantic partners. Jimin calling him "hyung" was a new development too and Yoongi felt that the the recent changes in his life were nothing but pleasant.
Jimin was an enigma, a mystery that Yoongi would have liked to solve if given the chance. He kept those thoughts to himself, obviously being mindful of Jimin's situation and mental state. It has definitely improved a lot recently and he didn't want to disrupt it in any way, especially with his curiosity. Whether it was an omegan trait or it was his personal one, he didn't want to make Jimin uncomfortable with his questions.
There were a few things that he was wondering about but didn't feel right asking Jimin about directly. One of them was the younger's rank. Surely when they first met Yoongi thought he was an omega. It was confusing, the way he smelt, and Yoongi later wrote it off to him being pregnant and also to him being a feline hybrid. He did have many encounters with them throughout his life so of course a cat hybrid omega could smell a little unconventional to the wolf.
Yet the more time passed, Yoongi began to realise that it was not the baby smell that was confusing to him, it was Jimin's. It wasn't like anything he has ever caught before. Sometimes he thought Jimin could well be a beta. He even talked to Hoseok about it while Jimin was away delivering an order to a house nearby.
"No, he is definitely not", Hobi shook his head, "He is not a beta".
"Because he's pregnant or?"
"No, betas, as you know, can sometimes get pregnant but he does not smell like a beta to me".
"Okay, I thought I'd just ask because I was curious. Don't mind me", Yoongi waved his hand.
"Of course you would be curious. The whole cat hybrid living at your place and working with you, the one who is expecting on top of it. It must have been affecting you, right?"
Yoongi took some time to think about it. That was something he too didn't think from the very start when he offered Jimin a place to stay, but yes, that happened also. Jimin's scent, him living in close proximity couldn't have gone without absolutely any consequences for him. He started to get that faint feeling of wanting Jimin in his pack, that's if he had one.
"If only just a little bit", Yoongi confessed, "It's like my inner wolf gets all excited every time I see him. Must be the pregnancy thing. Don't you think?"
Hoseok wasn't quick to agree with him.
"It could have been if you cared that much about having kids yourself but you don't so... I think it's something else, hyung", Hobi was about to go but then he turned around and added, "He's so pretty, isn't he?"
"What are you talking about?"
"He's gorgeous, isn't he, our Jiminie?"
"Our? Don't you have better things to do than looking at other employees?" Yoongi felt ready to growl.
"Gotcha, hyung", the younger threw him finger guns and Yoongi hated the implication.
As if I would do anything like that to someone in such circumstances, he thought to himself. That wouldn't be fair to either of them. Right?
And yet the thought remained sitting in the back on his mind. It wouldn't go away, especially as Yoongi realised with time that Jimin's scent mixed with baby's started being appealing to him, in a platonic way. And Jimin's separately - not in a very platonic one. He had an urge to keep close to him all the time. There was no point hiding this from himself, he was fascinated with the younger. And if Jimin tried he could have caught on it just by using his senses.
They really spent a lot of time together and got pretty close. More and more often the omega found himself enjoying their quiet chill evenings together when they would cook and have dinner, sometimes with Hobi, more often with just them two. They would comfortably sit in the lounge afterwards, with Jimin settlingb in his nest and Yoongi situating nearby.
Gradually Jimin opened up more and more about himself and Yoongi collected all those pieces of precious information in his memory. There also came a day when the hybrid finally told him about his rank.
"No, I'm an alpha", he said simply when the omega was offered to guess it and failed. Yoongi didn't expect such turn of events.
"Traditionally we don't have kittens but frankly, it's been something that I've been thinking about for several years prior. I've always pictured myself with a child that I would carry on my own despite the warnings and medical issues that might arise.
"It must have been really difficult to get pregnant. How did you manage to do that, if you don't mind me asking?" Yoongi wondered curiously.
"It's all science", Jimin replied with a smile, "I've been preparing for that in advance, been taking medications. Had a couple of courses too before everything went down. That's why I knew it was one of the options that would definitely work. I was already preparing for something like that. If this hasn't happened the way it did, then it would eventually anyway".
"It probably would be as awful".
"True. My parents were rather disappointed that their only alpha son got pregnant. They think it's disgusting and unnatural".
"I think it's the most natural thing in the world", Yoongi said immediately, "And it's so obvious how it suits you so much and how much you want this baby. Anyone with eyes could see that. So please, forget what they said. They were wrong".
"Thank you, hyung", he said softly, "I guess this is why they disowned me, not to be associated with an alpha who would have this child himself, without an omega. As if it isn't happening all of the world".
"You'd be the best dad, I just know it", Yoongi said confidently and Jimin reached with his hand to squeeze Yoongi's bicep.
"I know you worried about me, but don't worry that much".
"What do you mean?"
"Don't think I haven't noticed your latest stats on your desk. You started putting money off somewhere else. I'm just telling you that you don't have to, if that's what you are doing".
"I haven't been noticed, haven't been caught", Yoongi looked elsewhere, feeling his cheeks getting hot, recalling the name he chose for his account.
He really did start putting some money off towards the baby's needs, even though it was none of his business and even though it was not a lot, he just wanted to help because he felt that's was not only right but that's what he wanted to do himself.
"I have much more saved up than in the beginning".
"I'm glad you thought everything through".
"If only! I actually managed to get a hold of some of my savings recently. I threatened to go public with the evidence I have and of course people like them don't want to be painted a thieves, even though they could be stealing in broad daylight through the companies or whatever. But in my case the media would have eaten that up".
"And they agreed?"
"They wanted to keep the whole story quiet and I don't mind that. I don't want to be associated with them either. I only took what's mine, what I earned myself. So I think I'll have enough for us at that moment".
Yoongi stayed quiet. He gave Jimin one of his content smiles but on the inside he caught himself wishing that this "us" would include not two but three people.
With time Jimin let Yoongi do more and more things for him. Now that Yoongi knew he was an alpha he understood why it was hard for him to accept someone's help. It made so much more sense. He was probably molded differently or at least they tried to shape Jimin the way traditional alphas were. Yet despite everything Jimin remained himself, his own person with strong opinions on life and his own dreams he was pursuing.
Yoongi already picked up quite well on Jimin's preferences and adorable habits but with time he found himself discovering more and more of them. It was the way he would scrunch his nose when he was trying not to laugh at something funny on TV when they were watching it together. It was the way he would knead the soft padding of his nest before settling there. It was the way he would try to stretch his body, probably like he used to doing in his other form. Only now here remained human.
Yoongi didn't ask him about it but it was quite possible that he travelled through the city while shifted. The omega offered the hybrid to have the apartment for himself if he wanted to do that in private but Jimin refused.
"I don't want to banish you from your own place".
"Sometimes hybrids are sensitive, hell, some wolves are sensitive about their other form. I just wanted to give you some privacy in case you want to shift".
"Can I do it with you present?"
"Of course".
And just like that there was sometimes a huge cat with a slightly protruding belly laying in Jimin's fluffy nest. Sometimes the hybrid would get there over Yoongi’s lap, low key rubbing against his abdomen and the omega welcomed that contact.
Yoongi studied all Jimin's favourite dishes and had no trouble cooking them for him. The hybrid tried to deny but Yoongi kept insisting. He also insisted on putting warm socks on him when Jimin would forget about it, he would bring him copious amount of drinks and snacks while he was resting. His inner wolf sensed were he could push and where he should let go for the time being.
But resting was not the only thing Jimin did. He was quite energetic and active. Since he felt much more relaxed and settled, his sassy and flirtatious side began to show more. And Yoongi was living for it.
Slowly he lowered most of his defenses and had no qualms teasing Yoongi and getting the same treatment in return. The omega could see how much more playful the cat hybrid was on more active days: he cracked jokes and even played pranks on the two of his hyungs, scaring the living daylights out of Hobi and making Yoongi screech inhumanly. He would get a much softer payback considering his state but Yoongi vocally let him know that he was keeping tabs so he could get back at him after he had a baby.
There was this thing that none of them spoke about and it was Jimin's living situation. When they initially agreed on the hybrid staying with him it was temporary, but Yoongi couldn't imagine parting with him now. He was at a loss of what to do, of how to begin that conversation. He was scared that Jimin, once he gets back on his feet emotionally, would want to move on have a place to himself only. What would happen to them then?
Of course they could still meet but living together was so much nicer. It was pure bliss, with those domestic moments they had and flirting behind the counter. It never got old it. It could seem cringe to anybody else but Yoongi loved it.
Jimin repeated this thing at least several times a week. In the hour where the customers weren't as frequent, the door to the shop would open and Jimin would walk in, strutting as if he was on the fashion runway. He would walk around, meticulously picking an item he most liked, of course choosing the one that Yoongi made himself. He would carefully pick it up and take it to the register where the omega would be waiting for him with fed up expression on his face.
"I love this design a lot", he would say, sliding the tips of his fingers on the soft material, "But I don't really recognize the brand".
"It's an exclusive design. You won't find it anywhere else".
"Oh! Who could be the one who created such marvelous piece?"
At this point Yoongi would hold himself back as hard as he could from laughing because Jimin spoke in a language that none of them already used in daily speech. It was pompous and kind of old fashioned but he freaking loved it because it was, well... it was Jimin who was doing it.
"You're looking right at him", he would answer and Jimin would gasp dramatically.
"You? May I express my gratitude for creating such peace? You truly have hands of gold!"
And then he would look at his hands and slide his fingers just shy of touching them. He knew what he was doing, he was teasing him and then he would rant about his hands and then somehow about some other body parts but in such a non-greasy way. Yoongi found it amusing and hot.
When Hoseok witnessed that encounter for the first time he ran back to the staff room and Yoongi could hear him laughing there despite the two closed doors. He didn't care. He loved it, what could he say?
And then these flirting sessions transferred onto outside of the working hours. It grew larger than a simple role play they did when they were bored on the shift. It would happen in the lounge, it would happen in the kitchen and in the supermarket where they went together now because doing things together felt so much better.
Jimin would endlessly tease the omega that his nest was better than his and how he was sure Yoongi would love to lay in it until Yoongi blatantly said that yes, he would actually love to lay in this nest but only with one exception: with Jimin staying it too. And that finally made Jimin stop and he was sitting there with his face blushy until he replied with a curt "I'll consider it".
It all came to a near boiling point one of their usual evenings. Yoongi was cleaning up in the kitchen after dinner, having sent Jimin to rest in his nest after a hearty meal. He got carried away and hasn't noticed it's been over an hour of rearranging, organizing and cleaning. It must have been a way his mind found to unwind, to set his recent thoughts aside.
Jimin appeared at the threshold but didn't walk in right away. He took his time watching the elder, eyeing the way his hands and his body moved. Yoongi knew he was being watched but he simply let Jimin do his thing like he often did. He kept going until it was impossible to ignore it anymore. He heard the hybrid's careful steps approaching him from behind. His delicate hands laid on Yoongi's waist and stayed there, sharing warmth of the younger's body with him.
"You're taking so long here, hyung", he murmured, "Maybe you'd like a little help?"
"No, Jiminie. I actually finished a while ago. Just one thing led to another, you know how it is".
"I know".
He placed his head between Yoongi's shoulder blades. The omega carefully turned around in the semi circle of Jimin's hands and they came to be face to face. The alpha looked slightly troubled and just like plenty of times before Yoongi emitted calming pheromones and waited for the younger to speak on his own accord.
"Actually, there is something I've been wanting to talk to you about, hyung".
The omega's limbs began to lower. He felt weak all of a sudden. If it was what he thought it was then, as dramatic as it sounded, it could well be the end.
"I'm listening, Jimin-ah, you can tell me what's bothering you".
Jimin swallowed audibly and started talking.
"For the last couple of months I felt the best I've ever felt in my life. But I also understand that I found you in time of need and none of this was truly planned. I enjoy living with you, it's truly the best, something I could never imagined happening".
"I love it too. It's the best time", Yoongi agreeed.
"But I also understand that it wouldn't be fair on me to keep living like this, knowing full well that I have funds to live separately. I have had them for a while but I kept postponing this because I didn't want to leave. And now I think it might be the time for me to find place of my own and start settling there. I have a lot of stuff to prepare for when I have a baby and everything. And it's totally nothing you signed up for".
Jimin confidently finished his speech but the omega wasn't fooled. He had an amazing sense of smell, especially when it came to a certain stubborn alpha. Yoongi tipped Jimin's head up by the chin. Then he traced his cheek and put a stray lock of hair behind his ear gently.
"And so what?"
"Mm?"
"So what if it wasn't planned? Plans change. Yes, I haven't signed up for it but I was pleased to discover how well we work together and we have great chemistry. I think it may be the best time I've had also. I don't think it would be unfair for you to stay, if that's what both parties want".
"What are you trying to say, hyung?" Jimin whispered with his ears perking up on top of his head.
"I'm trying to say that it would be nice if you stayed. I want you here, Jimin. With all your habits and all the changes that you have in your life. Please consider this. It might not have been planned but I started to love being with you and began to expect this baby too".
Jimin paused for a moment. He probably recalled all those times when Yoongi spoke to the baby too, along with Jimin. He would lean over the edge of the hybrid's nest where Jimin beckoned him and whisper and coo with the little one, hoping Jimin didn't hear every single word. Which he totally did. Those were some of the most endearing sights he's ever seen in his life.
"I promise to think about it", he said.
He visibly brightened up. If he was worried about it, he was worrying for nothing because Yoongi welcomed him here, both Jimin and his baby in his life, in his apartment and in his heart as well.
Jimin came impossibly close and hid his face in Yoongi's chest. It felt really nice. They were around the same height and the alpha had to awkwardly bend to do so.
"Ah, so much for trying to get comfortable", he grumbled, rubbing his lower back.
"I know a position where height doesn't matter", Yoongi blurted out and saw Jimin waiting for him to continue, "A horizontal one, obviously".
Jimin snorted. He laughed at Yoongi's words but then his face got slightly more serious.
"Are you by any chance trying to get into my nest?" he asked in a playful manner.
"See, this is where you're wrong", Yoongi replied, "I was actually trying to get you to lay in my nest instead".
"You're asking me to join you in your nest?" Jimin's cheeks went slightly pink, "I would love that a lot, hyung".
Yoongi took his hand and led him to his own bedroom. His nest was probably the same size as Jimin's now and he was really proud of it. It was his safe space, his safe heaven and he would love to spend some time with the hybrid there. When he was struggling to sleep some nights he thought the it has become way too big for just one person.
One day he envisioned three people laying in there silently or talking about something, huddled all together under the warm covers.
Jimin settled beside him and they turned to face each other. At this point it was impossible to hide how Yoongi's wolf felt for the pretty feline, how attracted he was to the expecting alpha. He placed his hand over Jimin's belly, keeping it there for a while before moving upwards and stopping at Jimin's chest.
"I've wanted to do it for a while", Yoongi confessed quietly.
"To nest together?" the alpha asked.
"Among other things, yes".
Jimin shuffled even closer, so close that their breaths were mingling.
"You could if you want. After all, I think it's what I wanted for a while too".
Yoongi hesitated to cross that line but the alpha didn't want to wait any longer. He slid his lips over the omega's gently, simply giving them a warm touch. That prompted Yoongi to finally seal their mouths together, trying to express everything he wanted through that one kiss.
Jimin eagerly reciprocated. His happy scent intertwined with Yoongi's beautifully as he let his hands explore his hyung's body. He felt the happiest at that moment. Yoongi felt so much like a mate. Jimin couldn't even imagine how he would feel when one more addition to this nest will arrive. Probably like all his aspirations and dreams combined.