Chapter Text
“Hoshi, it's dinnertime!” Junhui calls, entering the tiger Cub's room. He balanced the tray of food on one hand, closing the door behind him with the other. As he looked around the room, he panicked only for a moment after not seeing the young tiger anywhere.
He placed the tray on the bed, Crouching down to peek under it.
“Hello Hoshi, would you like some food?” He spoke quietly, seeing the boy huddled up in the corner by the vent, nibbling the tip of his finger as he drew circles in the dust. Once he heard Junhui, he startled. Eyes dilating as his tail begins to thrash. His ears pressed flat on his head as he stepped back, hissing- well, trying his best to… his slight lisp makes it sound like blowing raspberries.
Junhui just smiles, taking the tray from the bed and setting on the floor next to him. “Come on now, It's just me.” He said, grabbing the plate of Mac’ n Cheese and sliding it a bit forward.
Hoshi paused, sitting up a bit with his ears raised. He slowly crawled out from under the bed, sitting across from Junhui. He looked down, sitting cross-legged and switching his attention from the food on the tray to Junhui’s smile. The tiger cub then hesitantly reached for the plate, his fingertips touching the rim before pausing and looking at Junhui as if for permission.
“Go ahead, it's yours” Junhui nods, sitting back against the bed. The tiger boy just chuffed, picking some noodles up with his hand and shoving them in his mouth. He took another handful with his other hand, continuing to eat with a fistful for later.
“No no, remember our manners?” Junhui corrected lightly, picking up the fork from the tray. Hoshi is a rescue hybrid, who lived mainly by sleeping near power boxes for warmth and getting food samples from the market. Often times when he found thrown out orders from restaurants, he'd have to eat it quickly before a worker took it from him to throw away. So he developed a habit of eating with his hands to save time and food.
Although Junhui wasn't the one who found him, it seemed the cub took a liking to him the best. He was the only one who wouldn't lose his patience when he couldn't understand, or didn't listen well. Instead, he tried to teach him. Things like fine motor skills and language had decreased in place of survival. So now that he's safe they've been trying to bring them back.
“Here, remember this?” He asked, using the fork to scoop a bite. He did it slow, for sake of demonstration then put the food back. Offering the fork back to the tiger, he gently took the Cub's hand and wiped the cheese off with a napkin.
“Let's put that down, okay? You can have more whenever you want, we won't take it from you.” He tried to coax him to open his fist, gently holding it and prying his fingers. Hoshi frowned, pulling his hand away. He tightened his fist, accidentally squishing the Mac’n Cheese in the process. He whined at the feeling, and Junhui quickly wiped of his hand, uncurling his fist to clean the rest.
“its okay. look, there's more.” He encourages, handing him the fork and gesturing to the plate. “Just do what we’ve been practicing.”
Hoshi frowned, picking up the fork in a knife-like grip. He hasn't quite developed a muscle memory for this yet, so his hand begun to shake, slightly tremoring. From there he tried to repeat the action shown before, stabbing the plate and sliding the utensil across. It made an uncomfortable screeching sound, and Junhui winced. Hoshi just grunted, trying the same tactic again and failing to pick anything up. This obviously upset him, as a small whine came from the back of his throat. His grip tightened on the fork, and he stabbed the plate a few times in frustration.
Thankfully, before things escalated any further the stabs had picked up a couple noodles. Junhui smiled, “there you go, good job.” He spoke softly, trying not to aggravate the cub but offering praise where he can. Hoshi lit up a bit, proud of the progress. Shakily, he lifted his hand with focus, angling the fork awkwardly towards him. Just as he tried to eat it, the tremors in his hand worsened and the food fell.
There was almost no time to react as the tiger cub raised his arm to throw the fork. Junhui grabbed his arm, and for a split second Hoshi looked up at him in fear. Junhui reacted quickly, gently taking the fork in one hand and holding Hoshi’s in the other. “We don't throw,” he spoke low, giving a look while holding up the fork. Hoshi was about to cry, his bottom lip trembling.
“It's okay bud, we all make mistakes.” He coaxed, rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of his hand. He put the fork down, now ruffling the Cub's hair. Hoshi tried (and failed) to keep his tears in. The first tear fell and Junhui deflated, feeling sympathetic for him. He wiped Hoshi's face, grabbing the plate and fork.
“Here, let's try again. I'll help you.” Hoshi shook his head, rubbing his eyes rather aggressively. Junhui put the food down, scooting forward to guide the boy's hands away from scratching his eyes and nose.
“Tell me what's-”
“NO!” The tiger screeched, pushing Junhui's hand away and slapping his hands on the floor. “I cand’ do it!” He cried, slapping the floor again at the end. Junhui sighed, expecting this reaction. He moved the plate and leaned over to pick up the cub.
“tell me what's wrong” he said softly and quiet, that way the boy would have to be quiet if he wanted to respond. Hoshi wiggled and squirmed in the hold, but Junhui held tight.
“NooOOO-AHHH!!” the boy screamed, kicking his legs before going limp.
“Hoshi, I'm just trying to understand-” Junhui grunted, struggling with the new dead weight in his arms. It was a bit pointless, there was no sign of compliance which meant he'd have to wait. Shifting his weight, he moved the young tiger into laying down in his lap.
He sighed, Hoshi’s tantrums were always so unpredictable. Something that triggers one today could just make him laugh tomorrow. Wild, loud, active and unpredictable. Despite this, he would continue to do everything he could to get this kid out of the system.
With that thought, he brings back his patience and waits for the tiger to calm down.