Chapter Text
Hybrids, as far as society went–were well respected. Their nature was looked after with all different kinds of treatments suited for the half-animal-half-human biology. They were expected to live and work as humans, but also thrive in their natural forms when needed, no matter how beastly.
Jongho never exactly fit to be a “normal” hybrid. Most weren’t sure if his sassiness and stubbornness came from the cat-half or human-half of him.
It is for these reasons that Jongho finds himself in yet another kennel with workers who cannot handle him and his strong character.
“Jongho, I am not going to ask you again, you must go ahead and have your fill” The worker sighs. She’s a generally nice lady but, like everyone else, she struggles to put up with Jongho’s behaviour.
The hybrid in question continues to look down at his paws, he figures that if he’s in his full cat form, he can get away with acting cute.
It doesn’t work. It never works.
The worker gives up in an instant, leaving the cheap wet food in the bowl next to him instead of switching it out for his favourite.
_________________________
Jongho’s ears twitched as he listened to the workers gossip just outside the room. He kept his pose—curled up, eyes shut, feigning sleep—but his keen hearing caught every word.
“Did you hear who’s here to see him?” one of the workers whispered excitedly.
“Of course! The potential adopter. He’s so sweet, so handsome…”
“And he’s from the Kim family!”
Jongho’s tail gave an involuntary flick at that, betraying his interest. The Kim family? …Who?
“Wait, seriously?” another worker gasped. “Why would someone like that come here for a hybrid like Jongho?”
“Apparently, he’s been looking for a companion for a while, someone who needs a little more care. And you know, Jongho’s... unique,” she replied, her tone careful.
“Unique is one word for it,” the other worker muttered under her breath.
The first worker sighed, ignoring the snide comment. “Do you think he’ll be able to handle Jongho, though? I mean, the little guy’s adorable but so high-maintenance. It’s like he’s always testing people.”
“Well,” the other worker mused, “if anyone can handle him, it’s someone like that. You know how the Kim family is. Patient, disciplined... rich enough to spoil him rotten.”
“Don’t forget gorgeous,” the first worker added with a giggle.
Jongho’s ears flattened slightly, both annoyed and intrigued. He wasn’t high-maintenance—he just had standards. But if this man they were talking about could meet them…
He cracked one eye open just as the door creaked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The workers instantly straightened up as a tall man stepped into the room. His confident stride, paired with an easy smile, immediately drew Jongho’s attention. He was impeccably dressed, but not in a way that felt showy—more like he belonged in those clothes.
“This is where Jongho is?” the man asked, his deep voice calm and measured.
“Yes, sir,” one of the workers said, her tone unusually formal. She gestured toward the kennel. “He’s right here. He’s, um... pretending to sleep, probably.”
The man chuckled softly, crouching down in front of the kennel. “Pretending, huh? Smart guy.”
Jongho’s heart skipped a beat. The man’s scent was warm and steady, laced with something calming yet intoxicating. It was enough to make him peek out fully, his big, round eyes locking with the man’s.
“There you are,” the man said gently, his smile widening. “Hi, Jongho.”
The workers exchanged glances, visibly surprised at how quickly Jongho responded.
“Well, he’s already showing more interest than he does with most people,” one of them said.
The man glanced up at them. “Good sign, then?”
“It’s an excellent sign,” the worker replied. “He’s usually... let’s say, "selective.”
Jongho studied the man in front of him, trying to gauge if this stranger could really be the one to take him home.
Jongho flicked his tail dismissively, barely sparing Yunho a glance. He was used to people trying to charm him, thinking they could win him over with sweet words and flashy promises. This Yunho guy seemed nice enough—handsome, even—but Jongho wasn’t about to trust someone just because they smelled good and had a soft voice.
The workers, oblivious to the hybrid’s inner skepticism, continued their hushed conversation.
“Can you believe it? The Kim family,” one whispered, barely containing her excitement.
“I know,” the other replied, her voice tinged with awe. “But do you really think they can handle Jongho? He’s not exactly easy, you know.”
Yunho overheard them but didn’t react, his focus remaining on Jongho. “We’re not looking for easy,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “We’re looking for someone who fits with us, and we’re prepared to put in the effort. Jongho’s personality isn’t a problem—it’s part of what makes him unique.”
The workers exchanged uncertain glances, but Yunho’s confidence seemed to soothe their concerns.
Jongho, however, wasn’t impressed. He curled up tighter, pretending to sleep but keeping his ears tuned to the conversation. He’d heard it all before—sweet words, empty promises, and people who thought they could tame him like he was some cute little kitten.
“Jongho,” Yunho called gently, his voice cutting through the hybrid’s feigned nap. “I know you’ve had a rough time here. You probably don’t trust anyone, and I don’t blame you. But I’m not here to force anything on you. I just want to give you a better chance—if you’ll let me.”
Jongho cracked an eye open, his gaze sharp and skeptical. He didn’t like the way Yunho seemed so calm and understanding. People like that always turned out to have an angle.
The workers watched nervously as Jongho shifted slightly, his tail flicking once before settling.
“Stubborn little guy, isn’t he?” one worker murmured.
“Always,” the other replied with a sigh.
Yunho chuckled softly. “That’s okay. Stubbornness just means he knows what he wants. I can respect that.”
Jongho huffed internally. Of course, he knew what he wanted—to be left alone. He didn’t need anyone fawning over him or pretending they could make his life better. Still, Yunho wasn’t leaving, and his scent wasn’t awful, so Jongho decided to tolerate his presence—for now.
“Take your time,” Yunho said, standing up slowly. “I’ll be back tomorrow, Jongho. No pressure—just think about it.”
As Yunho turned to leave, Jongho narrowed his eyes, watching him closely. There was something different about this man—something that annoyed him as much as it intrigued him.
But for now, Jongho decided he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to make it easy for anyone, not even someone like Yunho Kim.
____________________
Yunho pushed open the front door, the comforting scent of a warm meal greeting him instantly. In the kitchen, Wooyoung—his fox hybrid ears twitching ever so slightly—was at the stove, humming softly. Yunho couldn’t resist stepping over and placing a chaste kiss on his forehead.
“Smells amazing, Woo,” Yunho said, grinning as the younger hybrid turned to flash him a bright smile.
“Welcome home, Yuyu,” Wooyoung chirped, tail swaying behind him.
The rest of the pack trickled in from various parts of the house, drawn by the aroma of dinner. By the time they all gathered at the table, it was clear they were more interested in Yunho’s news than the food in front of them.
“So, Yuyu…” Hongjoong started, his tone sly as he leaned forward on his elbows. “Mind telling us all the details?”
Yunho chuckled, taking a sip of water before replying. “Hm, well, he’s a stubborn guy indeed. But adorable, I tell you. Couldn’t keep my eyes off the little guy.” His expression softened, and the corner of his lips tugged upward. “And to think we still haven’t even gotten a glimpse of his human form.”
“Stubborn and adorable, huh?” San chimed in, raising a brow. “Sounds like a certain fox we know.”
“Hey!” Wooyoung pouted, flicking his tail indignantly, but the teasing only made everyone laugh.
“Anyway!” Yunho continued, his tone growing more serious. “I’m getting off course here. He seemed very cautious. I’m not sure what kind of owners he’s dealt with in the past or what kind of kennels he’s been through—we haven’t been able to get our hands on those documents yet. But there’s something about him.”
“Something?” Seonghwa prompted, his voice gentle.
Yunho nodded, setting his glass down. “I want him. No—our family needs him. I can tell he’s so tired of holding everything up by himself. He needs us.”
The table fell quiet for a moment as everyone absorbed Yunho’s words. Then, Hongjoong leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
“Yunho…” the leader started, his voice soft but firm. “If you think he’s the one, then we’ll trust you. But this won’t be easy. A hybrid like him… he’s not just going to fall into place overnight.”
“I know,” Yunho replied, his gaze unwavering. “But I’m willing to put in the time. I know we all are. He’ll be worth it.”
Mingi cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Actually… speaking of the documents, I did find a little something about him.”
The pack’s heads all perked up at the announcement, their interest instantly piqued.
“What did you find, Min?” Yunho asked, leaning slightly forward.
“I dug really deep—don’t ask how,” Mingi began, his tone slightly sheepish. “But I found out that his first owner has records of mistreating hybrids… that might explain his caution around grown human figures.”
Seonghwa’s eyebrows furrowed, his usually calm demeanour faltering. “Min… what do you mean by that?”
Mingi swallowed hard, clearly uneasy about elaborating. “I-I don’t know the exact details. All I found were records from when his owner had charges pressed against him for… assaulting young hybrids.”
The room went dead silent, the air heavy with the weight of Mingi’s words. Yunho’s jaw clenched, his usually soft expression hardening, while Wooyoung fidgeted in his seat, his ears twitching nervously.
Finally, Wooyoung broke the silence. “Do you… do you think he’s been…?”
“No, Woo,” Seonghwa interrupted firmly, his voice laced with urgency. “No. We are not assuming anything before we hear it from Jongho himself. I think we all know how brutal some egotistic hybrid owners can be, but it’s too early to jump to such negative conclusions.”
The pack collectively nodded, though the unease lingered in their expressions. Yunho, still visibly tense, sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair.
“Well, no matter what happened, we’ll give him all the time and space he needs,” Yunho said, his voice steady but laced with hope. “And we’ll make sure he knows he’s safe with us.”
“That’s a given,” Hongjoong said softly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. “But we need to focus on making him feel welcome. Let’s keep things light, yeah?”
The shift in tone was subtle but much needed, as Wooyoung chimed in with a small smile. “Speaking of, we should start thinking about what to buy for him. Both forms, of course.”
“Definitely,” Mingi said, relaxing slightly. “We need to get him one of those fancy scratching posts. You know, the ones with multiple levels and hidey-holes.”
“And blankets,” Seonghwa added, his brows lifting in thought. “Soft, warm ones for his nest. He’s going to need plenty of them, especially if he’s a cuddler.”
San snickered. “Imagine him curled up in one of those little donut beds, looking all grumpy. Adorable.”
The group burst into lighthearted laughter, the tension from earlier beginning to dissipate.
“Don’t forget human stuff too,” Yunho reminded them. “Clothes, shoes, whatever he might need when he’s not in his kitty form. We want him to feel comfortable no matter how he chooses to present.”
“Got it,” Hongjoong said with a small smile, jotting down a mental list. “We’ll make sure he has everything he could possibly need.”
As the conversation carried on, the pack’s excitement grew, their plans for Jongho becoming more detailed with each passing moment. Despite the weight of Mingi’s earlier revelation, their bond and determination shone through—ready to give their new family member a fresh start filled with love, care, and acceptance.