Archive of Our Own ^beta

Most people deeply despise and hate hybrids, Jungkook is lucky enough to live in one of the rare area where things are a little more peaceful, at least in appearance. No one usually hears news about harassment, attacks or murder towards the few hybrids who are out in town and not hiding.

Hybrids are a taboo, no one wants to blame or be blamed for how things have been for decades now. For the fact that lots of groups spread the agenda that hybrids are savage, inhumane, violent beings when humans are actually the ones ostracizing and harming them. Because it'd make everyone have to face why they're so okay with people who are almost just like them suffering on the sidelines, while they turn a blind eye. Or because they're simply cruel yet ashamed, and it makes them happy in a way, because it's cathartic to be inhumane. 

Jungkook doesn't care much about hybrids though, he's never seen any but the mouse hybrid mother with her child that lives a few blocks from his house since he was little. He's so used to her that he's not fazed anymore.

For him, hybrids are at worst weirdos, he thinks they must be losers if they can't fight back against humans when they literally have a part of sanguinary animal in them. Jungkook would kick everyone's ass if he was an hybrid.

But he's not, and in his sixteen years old mind, hybrids hold little to no place.

Jungkook has bigger things to think and worry about. He has swimming classes too early in the morning, his close friends to catch up with, his favorite cousin to text back, the girl who's been crushing on him to reject, his history classes to focus on more if he wants to score his year, his brother to annoy. 

Everything else instantly bores him to death, or is utterly unimportant.

So he doesn't care, not even when he learns that two hybrids will be transferred next week in their highschool. Some integration project their school signed to get some financial advantages from the government— boring.

Everyone in school is ecstatic though, ready to meet and treat them the way the world taught them to.

If it made Jungkook a bit uneasy, no one could've known.

A damn squirrel, oh my god

The other one is scary, but I don't get it, is he supposed to be some sort of cat?

Nah I'm 100% sure this a mutt

It throws me off to be in the same class as them, not gonna lie–

You guys better leave them alone, the last thing the school wants is a bullying scandal with the first schooled hybrids in town

Everyone was so damn infuriating this morning. So what if the hybrids ended up in their class? Jungkook did not care. They were insignificant, and all this fuss was so immature. Hybrids were freaks but still at least half humans, they weren't this interesting.

Or so he thought.

Jimin and Hoseok are apparently a bit older yet still in Jungkook's grade, since they have never been schooled anyway a lower grade would be better. They've arrived an hour ago, silent and looking apprehensive compared to their classmates who spent the past hour excitedly whispering about these two.

Jungkook wouldn't indulge in any of that, though he secretly wishes them good luck for putting up with this bullshit for an entire year.

Hoseok is older than Jimin yet the latter feels like he needs to protect him from everyone. Not only because he's a squirrel –thus more vulnerable– but also because he's more quiet and plucky than him.

Jimin held his trembling hand all thorough the principal's introduction to them and until they got to class. He kept an eye on him during the morning too, where they were sat apart so they could fit in "naturally".

Bullshit.

He detests how they ended up being toyed in some wacky social experiment for the school and government's benefits. Sure it's better than spending the whole time shifting to survive or stuck in hybrid districts and dorms, but humans were so.. obtuse, absurdly simple-minded, ill mannered and overall annoying. Jimin for sure would soon go batshit crazy around them.

When the other students try to talk to him, or even touch him during their lunch break, he simply ignores them, feeling a bit disgusted and like snarling at them.

Everything is just too much for hybrids like him, the constant noise giving him a migraine might be the worst, but the lingering smell in the air makes him nauseous too, while the desk and chair he has to sit on for hours are so uncomfortable, all he wants is to lay over, tuck his tail under his paws and head after this morning– this whole school thing isn't for him, for them, hybrids get tired and need to nap long hours during the day, he can't believe no one cared enough to think about all these things before sending them into this hellhole.

So he ignores the other groups of students picking on him, he can't stand wannabe bullies.

And he might be petty but he's already so annoyed by the rude girls and boys asking if he's supposed to be a cat or a dog, since when have humans lost so much touch with reality and nature that they can't recognize the orange fur he adorns or the shape of his tail when they've been obsessively staring at them all morning?

He's a fox hybrid for god's sake, and he's immensely proud of it. Jimin is happy he's a hybrid and not a human.

For now Jimin has not time to sulk around or indulge his classmates, he's hungry and has to check on Hoseok, it's only their first day after all.

Jungkook doesn't want to admit it, but one of the hybrid is really cute. Cute enough that he feels an urge to draw him, which he will not do because he's not a creep. But he's weirdly fascinated by him and the rose on his cheeks, the way his eyebrows and plump lips frown as if the entire room was maddening him.

He tries very hard not to stare, he doesn't want to come off as a weirdo like his obsessed classmates.

Jungkook is normal and he doesn't care.

Jimin is dropping off a tired Hoseok at the door of the rodent dorm. Hoseok has promised him he had snacks in to eat for the night, since they haven't eaten enough at school today. They'll have to prepare proper meals next time to last the long days at school eventually.

The walk to his own dorm is quick, the moon is shining bright ahead of him while he can hear plenty of hybrids hiding, drinking, sniffing, digging, howling all around the district and forest.

He's still hungry, no snack waiting him at home for him, so he contemplates hunting tonight. It might take long and he might not sleep enough to keep up with tomorrow's classes but the animalistic hunger is like a gaping hole in his abdomen. He suddenly feels like he's been starving for weeks and will go insane if his sharp canines aren't piercing fresh flesh very soon. 

His hair stands all over his body just as his pupils blow dark and a deep faint growl suddenly erupts from his throat. He knows what's about to happen and as much as he wishes he could pretend he can control it— he can't. If the animal within him decides to shift, he will. That's how he is and Jimin adores this thrilling chill of liberty shifting makes him feel, everything feels raw and grounded and grandiose. He's animal through and through. No amount of human cells, traits and socialization will take the urging call from nature and every element to come back to his core being.

It'll only take a few minutes for Jimin to search through the forest nearby their district for a prey with his keen sense of smell and sharp sight, always careful of not catching a shifted hybrid (it's still a crime to kill hybrids after all, even for hybrids themselves).

Jimin only feels this fine when he's full and has spent the evening as a fox in the forest. But he has to get back to his ridiculously small dorm before the curfew, a bitter reminder that he'll forever be a caged animal, no matter how reliving it feels to pretend to be free in the last hours of his limited day.

There's something a bit eery about hybrids, Jungkook remarks after some time. They're less human than he thought, you wouldn't spot one with eye bags or wrinkles, wouldn't hear them speak much, wouldn't witness them trying to have fun or relax like humans, instead they're always on alert and discreet. They live among humans, yet they look so guarded and isolated.

At least that's what Jimin always looks like.

Jungkook has been thinking about these pointless facts more lately. Not like cares, but he can't help but stare at the little fox a few row of desks in front of him. He doesn't care about him, but he can't ignore the obvious. He's so engrossed that he even dares to sketch a bit of the moving tail he has to tilt his head a little to see better, there's nothing wrong with that, he convinces himself. He's just inspired.

Sometimes, he stays a bit longer to hear Jimin talk with Hoseok after class. Hopefully, no one notices him eavesdropping.

He just feels like he's pulled to do this kind of weird stuff lately, when he would be running out to meet his friends and chat with them before heading home, habitually.

But he needs to hear Jimin's raspy yet soft speaking voice to his hybrid friend, after an afternoon of plain silence. They talk about things he doesn't understand, about quarters and humid forest and other hybrids and mating seasons.

Jungkook is intrigued, to say the least.

One day, Hoseok stops showing up to school.

Jungkook seems to be the only one confused, not a lot of people pay attention to the quiet hybrid anymore after all.

But Jimin is now alone, all day. He doesn't seem fazed, albeit more closed off than he already was.

It doesn't stop Jungkook though, instead it's like a breach has just opened for him. 

He's been wanting to do that for a long time.

After classes, on a sunny but cold winter day when they are out early, Jungkook approaches Jimin.

Walking behind him to catch him before he leaves the school, he remarks how quick Jimin actually is, marching rapidly and swiftly, with his head held high, without ever looking around him, to quickly reach his destination and be anywhere else but here. 

Jungkook isn't one to back off though, he speeds up too, long legs guiding him, and he calls Jimin's name, making sure to not be too loud to not get noticed, even though the corridor they're in is almost empty. Jimin wouldn't like to be more the center of the attention than necessary, Jungkook guesses.

Jimin stops, obviously startled. He slowly turns around, confused, with a closed and almost irritated face. 

He looks good in Jungkook's eyes. His gaze first finds his golden dark blond hair falling on his forehead, then a small hand holding the strap of his black backpack tightly on his shoulder, and finally the long royal blue jacket he wears because of the cold lately, it makes him look taller and princely.

Jungkook's eyes never really lingers on his ears and tail, in fear of coming off as too impudent, or obsessed.

He doesn't want to be yet another annoying classmate Jimin is used to.

Jimin waits for him to talk, so he does just that after gathering his thoughts.

"Where is Hoseok?" his voice comes out more fragile than he intended. It makes him internally cringe.

"Why would you care to know?" Jimin replies after looking dumbfounded for a second, his tone not hiding the irritation he must feel. 

Jungkook doesn't care, he's a curious boy, and Jimin still looks pretty cute when he's mad.

"I don't know, he hasn't been around lately, is he okay?" Jungkook doesn't really like explaining himself. 

Jimin stays still for a moment, something passing on his face. He looks around them then, and behind Jungkook, as if searching for something.

"He can't come for a while," he says under his breath, before turning around to leave quickly. 

Jungkook is surprised by his act, he swiftly runs after him, determined to not let the boy go.

"But why?" he sort of shouts.

"None of your business."

Jungkook is facing Jimin's back, and his behavior is starting to upset him too. He's just asking a question.

"Then I'll ask a teacher," he's a little childish for that, he admits.

He hears Jimin breathing in loudly, his fists clenching on his sides. Jungkook feels a little bad for making him mad, but he also finds it hot. And where he stands behind him, he can see a peek of his tail under his coat, it's moving in large but slow motions, probably because Jimin is pissed of. 

Jimin turns around, showing him his teeth angrily.

"Don't you dare," he almost growls, approaching him.

Jungkook takes on his furrowed brows and tired eyes. He's now so close he can see freckles on his nose and cheeks. Jimin is breathing hard, as if he can't keep whatever he feels inside, as if his anger burns him. And he does feel warm. Jungkook wants to touch him. He can't.

"I'm just asking."

Jimin considers it, maybe a little taken aback by how calm Jungkook remains.

When he stays silent, Jungkook pushes a bit more.

"At least, when is he coming back?"

Jimin swallows, it wouldn't do any harm to answer that.

"After this winter," he mutters, before finally leaving. 

This Jungkook kid has been bugging him. He never noticed it, but Jimin guesses he's been observed for some time. Because he feels it now, a pair of eyes following him when he leaves the classroom, or piercing on his back when they're seating.

It bothers him slightly, but really, the boy looks harmless. 

And Jimin is bored without Hoseok.

It's not that he wants to befriend a human by any mean, but he could buy himself some entertainment.

So when he feels the familiar presence behind him at the school's entrance, instead of avoiding it and walking away like he always does, he turns around, and smiles.

Jungkook is fidgety in the store they're in. It's owned by a hybrid of an animal he can't really recognize, the music here is a little loud and Jimin has gone somewhere.

He looks through the discs in front of him aimlessly, the place is actually cool, he just obviously stands out like a sore thumb here, especially now that Jimin went to talk with a hybrid who didn't look like a vendor nor a client.

Jimin is weirdly relaxed. More than he was when they walked next to each other in the streets, and definitely more than he is usually at school. He looks older, too, with the scarf and vest of his school uniform discharged.

When he comes back, he smiles big, and Jungkook's uneasiness fades out.

Jungkook hasn't expected Jimin to talk to him, let alone ask him if he wanted to hang out. He appeared more aware of Jungkook's eyes on him since their first interaction, and he thought the boy was still mad. Guess he wasn't, since he offered him to hang out together, which jungkook could only accept.

When they're getting out of the store, Jimin plays with a key in his hand as he happily hums a melody, walking somewhere, almost forgetting that Jungkook is right here too. They're not even in a part of the city Jungkook knows, there are a lot of hybrids around, more than Jungkook has seen all his life.

"Where are we going?" he finally asks, curious.

Jimin's side profile looks good, but he looks even better when his foxy eyes are on him when he turns his head.

"My friend's place." 

And just like that, Jimin continues to hum as they go.

Jimin thinks Jungkook is a little too careless following him anywhere he drags him, and he wonders if his parents have taught him anything. 

Jungkook should know better than to follow a hybrid alone to unknown places on the late afternoon, without warning anyone either.

But Jimin isn't cruel, so Jungkook has nothing to fear with him, and even if people are afraid of hybrids out of pure prejudice, he's still glad Jungkook followed him and not some other random hybrid.

When they reach his friend's apartment, Jimin beams. He loves the place, it's spacious, full of plants and well arranged wooden furnitures, the sunset's light reflects on the parquet floor prettily as they enter. It's Jimin's favorite place to be especially at that time of the day.

He doesn't really know why he brought Jungkook here, he guesses he's really gotten bored. They even got mini gimbaps and ice creams on the way, Jungkook still licking his as his big eyes grow bigger when he enters the place.

The place is particularly nice for Jimin because it's so big he can shift freely, and since his friend is a lynx hybrid, he installed plenty of ropes, ladders, hammocks, scratching posts, tents and other plays for himself to enjoy when shifted.

Jimin might not be a feline, but he shares a lot of traits with one, so he loves it here a lot.

It's better than his cramped dorm.

"It's so freaking cool here, didn't know you had rich friends," Jungkook jokes.

"You don't know much," Jimin hides a smile, he points at the big white leather couch. "Sit here."

The time they spend here goes weirdly.. well. Jimin gives Jungkook food and drinks, they mostly play video games and rest on the comfy couch like every other teens would.

Jungkook is competitive, but he doesn't sulk when he looses, he just tries to win the next round they play. Jimin finds him funny, and Jungkook must think the same of him with the way he scrunches his nose and shakes his head in disbelief when Jimin is being sassy.

Jimin doesn't even know how they ended up like that, all comfy in his literal safe place– he doesn't want to think about it.

His life is never really exciting, when he doesn't shift or is with Hoseok, he's just bored out of his mind. He doesn't like wandering around the city, especially in streets that aren’t filled by hybrids mostly. He'd rather sprint to his dorm, or come here.

Here is always better.

Today is even better.

At some point, Jungkook's eyes widen when he brings two bags of chips and snacks with new cans of drinks.

Somehow Jimin wants to feed the younger. Surely he must usually eat a lot, he's bigger than himself too.

"You'll empty your friend's pantry! Jimin, you don't need to–"

"Aish, don't worry, he doesn't care, and we're teenage boys, we can eat more than that," Jimin grins, because they do end up finishing the bags of chips in five minutes. The time goes by so fast this day, Jimin notes.

"Will I meet your friend when he comes back home?" Jungkook asks, when the clock hits 7p.m.

"I don't know, he doesn't always get back here."

Truth is Jimin never brought a human before, his friend is older, and nice and wise. He wouldn't be mad at him for that. But still, Jimin doesn't fuck with humans. Hybrids simply don't, in general.

He doesn't want to explain himself or make this uncomfortable for anyone, so he hopes it'll be one of these days where his hyung works overnight, or comes back later.

Jungkook seems to sense his uneasiness. He doesn't say anything, only munches on his food.

One hour later they get ready to leave. Jungkook has to take the bus and Jimin feels a little restless.

Jungkook is chatting about things Jimin half listens to. He decides he should shift a little before heading to bed, to clear his head.

"And he has the coolest bike ever! My mom tells me to stop my nonsense, and I know it's super dangerously, but still," Jungkook whines next to him, his hand making grand gesture as he gets engrossed in his talk. " I want a bike one day, it's not some immature caprice I have. Maybe I can get one for a few years before I settle for a car, what do you think?" 

Jimin snaps out of his own thoughts. He didn't really listen but he can tell Jungkook is really comfortable with him, it's almost like they've been friends forever. Was Jungkook a bit weird before because he wanted to genuinely befriend him?

Humans can't be trusted, he reminds himself. No matter how easy it is to be around one. 

"I think you'd look cool on a bike. But I can see why your mother is worried. You'll be an adult then though, and you'll fully decide for yourself what to do. I'm sure you'll choose wisely what's the best," Jimin smiles. He doesn't know himself what his life will be like soon, when he'll be adult.

For now, he'll play around with Jungkook until Hoseok comes back. It's not cruel, he reassures himself, he's a good hyung to him; he feeds him, gives him advices, and has fun together for now.

Whatever happens, Jimin has it handled. He is allowed to be free spirited for once too.

The next day, Jungkook doesn’t want to come off as pushy, so he only waves at Jimin and greets him before classes, not over sharing first thing in the morning like he did yesterday. He’ll spend the rest of the day observing and sketching him anyway.

And maybe Jimin was just in a good mood yesterday, Jungkook will only try to talk with him again if Jimin really doesn’t make a move, he decides. Jimin might be cool, pretty and fun, but he can’t just get Jungkook like that.

Jungkook doesn’t even care that much.

During lunch, Jimin disappears somewhere, so Jungkook opts for a meal with his friends at the canteen, albeit a little pouty, he loves having the fox near where he can glance at him.

But after classes, he’s met with an arm dropping some snacks on his table. Jungkook frowns before he feels the warmth that is so distinct of Jimin, he’d recognize the small hand before him anywhere too.

He looks up at Jimin who is biting his lip. It makes Jungkook’s chest clench a certain way, it clenches again when Jimin asks “Let’s go?” with a tilt of his head towards the door.

Jungkook nods, wherever Jimin is headed, he will follow.

They end up in an empty but cute park, sat on swings. Jimin had snacks and juices for both of them, always looking at him in an intense way as he’d watch Jungkook eat the food. And when he’d finish, Jimin would look content and pleased.

They were chatting like yesterday, without video games to play, but with the chilly late afternoon air that feels so special around them, swinging slightly as they talk for hours.

Eventually they talk about Hoseok— finally answering Jungkook’s very first question he had asked him.

Jimin tells him that Hoseok is actually hibernating, like most rodent hybrids in their dorms at the moment, until warmer days come back. He needs to tell him about their dorms then, and their districts, where it’s located, in the suburbs of the city, behind high barriers, resembling a prison. He tries not to show anger or frustration as he explains, but Jungkook must sense it, Jimin detests these places, and how they’re kept locked away.

Jungkook mostly listens quietly, face forming grimaces sometimes, looking pensive the other times.

And Jimin doesn’t know why, maybe because he needs it, maybe because he has enough of bottling everything up, maybe because Jungkook’s presence is comforting and he’s a great listener, but he starts rambling, opening up to him, answering each of Jungkook’s innocent questions he starts to ask when Jimin notices that he, like every other human, is absolutely ignorant about how hybrids actually live.

Jimin, deep down, is also basking in the attention and how the younger remembers each detail of what he says. Like he cares. He probably does.

Jungkook gets to make him laugh when he asks dumb things, it lightens the mood and makes him feel all fuzzy.

“Wait but Hoseok— aren’t squirrels preys? Don't you want to eat him? Sometimes?”

“Oh my god!” Jimin yells, disgusted. “And in his human form? I’m not a cannibal, no, I don’t want to devour him, of all people.”

Jimin keeps laughing at him for the next few minutes, and if it were anyone else, Jungkook would’ve gotten upset, but Jimin’s laugh is like crystals colliding together, it sounds clear and loud when Jimin is at ease, and his whole body– it almost falls from the sling more than once.

Jungkook notices that it’s getting late, but he doesn’t have the heart to stop Jimin who’s still talking.

“We don't have the right to own property, or live in one. Lots just live in dorms, some in the street, or the forest. You just shift to feel safer. Some stay shifted forever, because yeah, the world isn't accepting at all but when you're an hybrid you feel the deep urge to both live as a human and the animal you are. You can't choose. Both are part of you.”

Jungkook understands, he thinks. He admires Jimin a lot, he remarks after this afternoon, he wants to tell him, but he stops himself. He doesn’t know anymore.

Jimin insists on walking Jungkook until his bus stop at least, it got pretty dark outside anyway.

“How long will you march until the dorms?” Jungkook demands, also worrying for Jimin.

“Forty minutes from here.”

“You don't take the bus at all?”

“No, it's like their eyes are asking me why am I here. Can’t stand it.” Jimin replies, hands in his pockets as he looks away on his right, his fox ears guarded. Jungkook wonders if they get cold like human ones do, if Jimin is sensitive there.

It’s with a reassuring smile from Jimin and a wave from Jungkook that they part.

Meeting Jungkook after school becomes a routine quickly. It just happens, and it keeps Jimin from wandering around outside or in other hybrid’s houses instead of being back to the dorms. If Jimin had a mother, he imagines that she would scold him for being friend with older sketchy hybrids and spending time in the houses they own more or less legally. He snorts at the idea, he often wishes he had someone to reminds him good from wrong, but he doesn’t.
So at least he has Jungkook, a small solace.

The boy is like a magnet to him, he wants to be around him, and the more he does, the less he pretends it’s just to compensate for Hoseok’s absence. Jungkook makes him talkative too, open, naive. The last things he should be with a human. He shouldn’t trust Jungkook one bit, but the younger has always been normal with him. He has never tried to bully him like their classmates, or never threw disgusted glances at him, he’s never took part in the weird rumors they were sometimes making up about him and Hoseok either.

Surely, Jungkook is harmless.

“You don’t look good,” Jungkook says one day.

“Couldn’t sleep. My back hurts too, I’m so tired.” Jimin yawns in response, he had a terrible night. “You wouldn’t believe it if you saw the shoe boxes we sleep in.”

Jungkook looks pained, as always when Jimin talks about how hybrids live. “I’m sorry,” he mutters, even if it’s not his fault.

A hand finds his neck, massaging here and easing the knots. Jimin sighs, closing his eyes, Jungkook is sometimes physical, which used to make him jerk away and almost snarl before, but he quickly started appreciating and welcoming the nice appeasing rubs.

When Jungkook’s hand travel lower, flat against his ribcage then moving on his sides, he fights back the purrs. Jungkook’s hand never comes close to his tail though, he’s respectful like that.

“You’re so good at it,” Jimin praises in a moan, because he really is, or maybe Jimin isn’t used to physical touch at all. Do human massage each other’s backs often? Hybrids don’t.

Jimin doesn’t like thinking too much about how humans work anyways, because all he needs to do is look in pain or express it for Jungkook to puts his hands into work, and Jimin will always remind him that he does it well, just to see the red tint appear on his ears, and his shy smile growing.

Jimin really misses Hoseok, so he’s a little down today, and he doesn’t feel like doing much. But he still wants Jungkook around, so he drags him to his friend’s house again, like the first time.

But today, as they eat their usual snacks on the couch, his friend comes back earlier than he expected, stopping in his track when he sees the two boys.

“Jimin! And..?” he looks at a startled Jungkook for a second before he goes back to focus on Jimin. ”Uhm, Jimin! Haven’t seen you in a while even if you’re always here,” he says loudly, ruffling Jimin’s fluffy hair.

Jimin pouts and frowns cutely, he allows himself to be a little childish around Sunwoo who is almost in his thirties. Even if Jimin calls him his friend, the latter would definitely call him his little baby brother, mostly to annoy him even if that's what he is to the older. But Jimin is glad he’s friend with him, for more things than the amazing apartment he can always crash in.

“And Jungkook, my friend,” he apprehensively tells. He never brought anyone here, let alone a human.

“No way, you made a friend outside of Hoseokie? I’m proud of you,” he praises Jimin with the kind of voice people use for little kids before he turns to Jungkook. “Hi baby, make yourself at home here okay? Jimin’s friends are my friends,” he smiles big and bright before ruffling Jungkook’s hair too.

“I’ll shower and cook you guys something right after,” he says as he leave the room.

“Sorry he’s a lot when he wants,” Jimin sighs.

But when he looks at Jungkook he’s met with him fully blushing, expression bewildered. Jimin curses internally, there’s no way Sunwoo just made Jungkook flustered.

Jimin knows he can’t blame him though, Sunwoo is older, rich, charismatic and hot, if Jimin didn’t know better he’d think he is a lion hybrid with his long golden hair around his perfect goddamn face. And Sunwoo was just wearing these cropped white linen shirts he loves even if it's freezing outside, with buttons open and short enough to show a bit of his toned abs and happy trail. In short, Sunwoo was perfect and gorgeous, so Jungkook wouldn’t be the first human to fall for him.

Jimin isn’t so wrong. Jungkook might have just fallen. The eurasian lynx hybrid was gorgeous and had this warmth resembling Jimin’s coming out of him, but his, unlike Jimin’s comforting one was almost burning. This wasn’t the reason his ears and face were completely red though, he felt instantly enticed by Sunwoo, which is a first, since he’s never seen boys like that, and definitely wrong because he was much older and Jimin’s friend.

Sunwoo was definitely mixed, but he looked like Jimin a lot in his eyes, it wasn’t just the blond hair, the tail and ears and warmth, but a certain aura they both had. One that confident hybrids were carrying with them, and Jungkook was fascinated.

His last thoughts made him quirk his eyes on Jimin, hot red still coloring his own cheeks. Jimin was observing him, like he’d do when he was watching him eat, his fierce eyes studying his every move, it was like he could trace each breath he’d take in until he breathed it out, like he could gauge the pulse in his arteries, like he could know his every thought.

“You okay?” he hears Jimin’s voice, but it takes him a second to register the words.

“I’m fine,” he blurts. And Jimin chuckles, shaking his head.

When Sunwoo comes back, he cooks an early dinner for them, and Jimin is delighted to be eating something that is not the school’s lunch or snacks.

Sunwoo joins them on the couch, eating eagerly, he talks with him a little, and when he talks with Jimin, their tails wags a little in the air.

Sat next to each other like that, Sunwoo looks like an adult version of Jimin, he notices. They bicker and eat and scrunch their noses similarly. Their blond hair looks soft just the same. Jimin looks open and so content with him here, he's not guarded or fidgety and anxious. The sight makes him flutter and all warm deeply somewhere in his chest, neck and face, so much that he has to look away to compose himself. 

Jungkook might really be into boys.

It’s a cold day, and Jimin looks restless. He’s in that pretty blue coat he wears sometimes and that makes him look magical in Jungkook’s eyes, but today he’s been fidgety and on edge all day.

After classes, Jimin makes a sign with his hand to Jungkook that he’ll be out, and it’s weird because he usually waits for him.

So Jungkook rushes to check on him after gathering his things, seeing him outside breathing the cold air deeply. “I’m sorry Jungkook, I can’t stay today," he explains when Jimin notices him next to him.

“Why? What’s wrong?” he urgely aks, always worried when Jimin isn't feeling good.

“Usually I can stand it, staying on a chair, the noise and smells and everything but today it’s too much, I need to go.”

Jungkook understands, he knows how uncomfortable the whole thing is to him and that he does a lot to put up with it, especially now that he’s the only hybrid at school and that their classmates and teachers don’t make it especially easier.

“Where are you going?” Jungkook doesn’t want to leave Jimin alone, to leave his side.

“Anywhere but here really, in the forest then the meadow I guess, I just need to— to shift,” he declares.

And a million things pass through Jungkook’s head, shifting? As an actual real fox? What does he do when he's shifted? That’d be really cute to see Jimin like that.

“Can I come?” he asks bluntly.

Jimin looks at him like he just grew two heads.

“What, is it not safe? You can say no. But I’d like that, I think.”

Jimin seems to think about it as he frowns, putting his freezing hands in his pockets.

“You want to see… that. Me in my fox form? I mean it’s not dangerous, I won’t suddenly lose sense and attack you– but are you sure?”

“Yeah!” Jungkook says excitedly.

“Alright,” Jimin says with a chuckle like he doesn't believe it, “we’ll need to walk," he’s already walking to where they’re headed. “And don’t make fun of me when you see it!”

Jungkook laughs as he starts walking too to catch him up.

The smell in the forest seems to already make Jimin feel more at ease. He takes his coat off and throws it in the floor.

“If by any mean, you get lost, try to head towards here, where I’m leaving my coat, I’ll come back to it if I lose you,” Jungkook nods, trying to remember his words and their surroundings, the distance from the entrance of the forest isn’t so big, the view is still clear here. “But stick by me, I don’t shift often lately so I’ll enjoy it and we might end up far from here.”

“Now, turn around,” Jimin orders and Jungkook does so.

He hears rustling leaves and something moving swiftly, just after the bottom of his pants gets tugged.

Jungkook sees him then, gracious red fox, more small than he excepted, his sleek fur is glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Jimin is looking at him from below, head titled, most probably trying to see if Jungkook is till fine with it and not freaked out.

Jungkook remains still for a moment, taking in the view before him. The animal, Jimin, the other part that makes him. Jungkook hasn’t see much wild animals in his life, let alone foxes, and he doesn’t know if it’s because it’s Jimin and he usually finds the boy super cute, but Jimin in his fox form is adorable. All Jungkook wants to do is pet him.

So he crouches down, seeing Jimin from closer, appreciating all the details of what he thinks is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. He offers his hand to his nose then, like he’d do to a cat, and lets him sniff it. Jimin puts his muzzle on his head after, looking so cute Jungkook coos.

Jungkook doesn’t hesitate to pet him slowly under his chin, and fox-Jimin closes his eyes, he must be enjoying it as much as he enjoy Jungkook’s usual massages. He goes to his long pointed ears then, he finds them so pretty, with their blacks tips, the fur soft and warm. Jungkook good to caress his back, and he thinks he hears Jimin purring at some point. He wonder if he would be able to earn his thrust enough to be able to rub his belly one day.

When Jimin deems it enough, he starts striding in the forest, sniffing the ground here and there as he does.

Jimin walks and walks for a long time, he’s agile and rapid on his legs, climbing on big rocks and stopping with ears titled at any sound, he seems to know the forest by heart, and Jungkook is happy to see him in his element.

He looks free. No longer confined, made to be quiet, small and immobile.

After some time, and as the air around them gets colder, they arrive to a beautiful meadow Jungkook had no idea was behind the big forest. There is grass and a few yellow flowers fighting the cod to stand strong as far as the eye can see. Jungkook is amazed, he almost forgets Jimin is here, the one who guided him here and is now sprinting everywhere, excited.

Jungkook laughs watching Jimin plays around like a puppy, he sits on the floor, a little tired from all the walking after a day at school. He wishes he was a hybrid for a second then, just to be tireless too, and to understand these feelings of freedom and carelessness Jimin must feel right now.

Jimin joins him after a while, breathless and seemingly satisfied. He lays next to Jungkook, curls his fluffy tail against himself, and puts his head on Jungkook’s thigh, just like he’s done it before with in his hands. Jungkook’s takes it as a cue to pet him again, which he does, soft purrs erupting from the fox after a minute.

They stay in this position, close and in harmony. It feels intimate to Jungkook, he’s often physical with Jimin, but it took a while for the older to get used to it, yet in his animal form he welcomes it eagerly.

Staying unmoving is freezing Jungkook in place though, and even if he doesn’t want to break the moment, he starts trembling. Jimin levels his head up when he notices, eyes growing slightly bigger, he stands up on his paws, and nibs once at his pants to warn him before he walks back in the forest. They reach the blue coat when the sun starts to set, Jungkook turns around without being asked this time, and lets Jimin shifts back.

Seeing human Jimin after hours of him as a fox is weird, but he appreciates hearing his voice again and seeing his human limbs moving, he’s glad Jimin looks so much more relaxed now.

“Did I tire you too much?” Jimin asks, taking Jungkook's hand to get out of the forest completely.

“A little, but it was fun. You were super cute. And tiny,” he smiles, the image of Jimin’s petite fox form won’t leave his mind, he might have to doodle it later.

“I know,” Jimin whines. “I need to eat more and work out to become a big fox, I would if I was living int the forest all the time,” he tells him.

Jungkook doesn’t know what to say, he wonders how things would be if Jimin was one of these hybrids who do not want to be forced in districts and dorms with curfews, the ones who live in the mountains or forest. They wouldn’t have met then.

“I need to bring you with me more often, I’ve never been pet, I only heard that it feels really good, and it does,” Jimin says happily, his hand squeezing Jungkook’s.

“I can be your personal petting cuddler if you want,” Jungkook lets out with a big smile.

“I can't say no to that.”

Jimin’s walls fall down so easily and naturally around him that Jungkook forgets that Jimin isn’t like that with everyone. He snarls and curses if his tail as much as brushes with someone, or when their classmates are on then umpteenth attempt at picking on him. Jungkook told him that he could put them in their place if he wanted, but Jimin didn’t want him to have any issue with their classmates and in school in general.

Speaking of issues, last night’s dinner with his mom brought a new one.

-

Jungkook is eating with his mom, it’s only the two of them now that his brother has started his independent life.

He can sense the tense air from his mother’s endeavor, she’s been throwing glances at him all evening.

Eventually, she speaks up.

“Jungkook, the parents of your friends told me you weren’t hanging out with their sons as much,” she starts. “Is everything okay at school?”

Jungkook swallowsn down, he can already tell where this is going.

“Yeah, it’s fine. I see them here and there, not like we’re drifting apart we just don’t have the same interests lately.”

Jungkook likes them, and they’re not part of the people who annoy Jimin, so he has no reason to cut them off, but he’d rather be with Jimin. He doesn’t want to let Jimin eat lunch or stay after their classes alone either.

“You’re sure? It’s important to keep your friends, you should go out and do some fun activities outside of school with them again soon, what do you think?”

Alright. Jungkook wonders how much their parents gossip, and what has exactly reached their ears. Because Jungkook used to go out for bowling, ice skating, karaoke and shopping often before, but these stuff would make Jimin uncomfortable so instead he just hangs out wherever Jimin is okay with, he often either goes in the forest or at Sunwoo’s, which he loves to do as much as his previous usual outings, if not more.

“It’s okay, I’m saving money now too.”

It’s not completely a lie, but he doesn’t want to say more. It’s not that his mom and him are not close, but she’s too protective and afraid, she’d faint if she knew he was hanging out around the hybrids’ district in the suburbs, deep in the forest, or that he was actually saving because he wanted a motorbike as soon as he could.

“That’s nice, that’s nice,” she mumbles. "And I’ve heard you’re close with that hybrid in your class.”

Jungkook freezes, his mom is the last person he wants to open the Jimin topic with.

“That’s very kind of you, to befriend one of them,” she continues, the honestly barely present in her tone. “But I don’t know if you should be, they’re not like us, you know.”

Jungkook doesn’t like the taste of the words he hears, is his mom prejudiced against hybrids?

“You shouldn’t replace your actual friends with that, it can’t be good for you.”

Jungkook seethes. "You don't know hybrids at all. They're better than most of you ignorant people," he says as he tries to stay calm when he's fuming.

"I only care for you. Hybrids are the last people you should frequent. What will people say? What happens when he injures you inevitably?" she slaps her hand against the table, not appreciating her son talking back to her.

Jungkook wants to throw up. It's his very human classmates who've been terrible to Jimin, not the opposite. How is Jimin the worst person Jungkook could be seen with? 

"I can’t believe you’re like everyone else," he says, disappointment's evident in his voice. "And I won't let you tell me what to do or not," he says finally before leaving the room with a scoff, ignoring her mean glare. If there's one thing Jungkook has always been doing, it's following her rules and orders. 

-

They haven’t been talking since then.

A part of him hopes she’ll backtrack and comes to him to tell him that it’s okay, you can stay friend with him and should bring your friend over like she’d sometimes do after a fight, baking cookies and showing him that she’s entirely fine with the situation. But she’s adamant on staying upset, and it worries Jungkook, because that must mean she really has something against hybrids, something she can’t grow past.

Jungkook doesn’t like the thought of more animosity to Jimin and his kind than what already exists, let alone coming from the one who raised him.

Jimin stopped a while ago fighting back against his instincts telling him to not get closer to Jungkook, and he listens to his real self instead, enjoying his presence, his touches and their moments.

They get more touchy too, Jimin has started letting Jungkook pet his tail and fox ears, which are actually super sensitive. Jungkook does it naturally, but only when they’re alone at Sunwoo’s place where Jimin can purr as loud as he wants.

But Jimin also initiates the cuddles himself too now. Instead of beating himself up after it happens for being weak to a human, Jimin is now proud he opens up to Jungkook. He says he allows himself to be vulnerable and not that he’s naive anymore, he's trustful and not stupid.

Jimin and Jungkook crashes into one of Sunwoo’s spare bedrooms like they do sometimes, to be more comfortable like they are now. Jimin is laid on his tummy on the cozy bed while Jungkook is next to him, rubbing his back and tail. The red on their cheeks is subtle, but Jimin still hides it in the pillow under him. And if he can’t help but arch his back against Jungkook’ hand, none of them comment on it.

Today, Jimin is waiting in front of Hoseok’s dorm because it’s the day he’ll be back to school. Jimin is excited, he hates that part of the year where he stays alone because his only friend hibernates while foxes like him handle the winter just fine.

But today Hoseok is back, and Jimin has many things to tell him.

The return of the second hybrid of the school made some people curious again, to Hoseok’s despair, he might be handling this school thing worse than Jimin, especially after leaving the cocoon of his hibernated stance. But Jimin will chase anyone away if they look for too long or approach Hoseok anyway.

Jungkook, late for class this day, greets them from with an enthusiastic wave from where he sits after he notices Hoseok is here too.

After classes, Jimin brings Hoseok to Jungkook, he’s told him they were friends now, and eased his apprehensions, Jungkook was nice and great, he reassured.

Even if they’re both shy at first, Jimin introduces them to each other, smiling widely seeing Jungkook trying to make Hoseok comfortable and asking questions, always so curious.

There’s no reason for them to not get along, Jungkook just has this thing that makes him so easy to like and trust, and Jimin can already imagine the three of them enjoying the coming spring together.

Jimin, Hoseok and Jungkook work just fine as a trio, they balance each other. Jungkook is protective of Jimin, who is protective of Hoseok, and Jungkook’s hyungs are both looking out for him. Hoseok and Jungkook became good friends, and it made Jimin a little jealous when he saw that they went into cuddling quickly, but Jungkook looks so cute in anyone’s arms that he can’t be mad. He just wishes he’d be the one Jungkook would snuggle with all the time.And it’s not to boast, but Jungkook only blushes, sighs in contentment and feels safe enough to nap with him.

Jimin doesn't want to share his Jungkook with anyone but maybe Hoseok, and only a little.