Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The world was a scary place. Predators and prey, humans and animals, light and dark. Destruction and rebirth. All coexisting in the same universe, at the same time. But nature’s greatest power is the power of true transformation. As time went on, these things adapted and transformed to accommodate each other, ceasing to exist without one another. 

On the other hand, there were some things that just couldn’t exist at the same time as humans. Humans could be the most vile things on Earth, forcing unnecessary fears and hatred towards others that influenced the vast majority and those were the things that could not be helped. This bitterness and unadulterated alienation was what drove hybrids to become almost on the verge of extinction. One to one million. That had been the numbers in current times, in a time where Park Jimin had no choice but to live. 

To exist.

Humans had made him bitter. They had killed his parents for simply loving one another, for creating him in a world where he wouldn’t be accepted in his full form. He managed to escape their clawing hands and run away when he was nothing but a cub, forced to grow up and learn how to survive on his own. The world was a place where he didn’t like to exist, but he had no choice but to soldier on, trying to make his parents proud. They would want him to survive at the very least.

Jimin stayed in his full form for a long time after his parents were killed, but humans still provoked him, urging him to get angry and to prove that predator hybrids were dangerous. Jimin was none of those things. He had remained calm when calm wasn’t anything he felt inside, his claws protruding from his paws and his eyes turning to slits. Jimin would still walk away so that they were proven wrong. He decided that he didn’t want to continue to stay in full form when he had heard the loud laughter of children coming out of school. Jimin wanted to be a part of that, he wanted to learn and get an education and do something with his life, despite him being a hybrid. Jimin wanted to change the game. 

He breezed through the high school who accepted him, encountering few problems but one: it had been difficult to explain that he had no parents. When he was forced to tell them who he was, the headmistress looked at him in fascination and accepted him to come to the school, but not without conditions.

“You will hide who you are as much as you can and you are not to act on your predatory tendencies. If there is so much as a scuffle, Park Jimin, you will be expelled. Do you understand?” she said pointedly and Jimin nodded his head. “We will also wear down your... y-your fangs a little so it's not too obvious. And you will find someplace to live.” 

She looks condescendingly down at his dirt-stained clothes, but Jimin couldn’t argue with that since she had walked out the room, expecting him to follow. Jimin’s teeth were an integral part of him, he didn’t want them to be worn down or lose their sharpness. It made him who he was. It was unfortunate that it had to happen but Jimin would allow it if he could get an education, could get everything a normal child could get. 

That was not to say that his time was easy. Finding Taehyung was like a breath of fresh air and telling him was not hard. Not hard at all.    

When Taehyung had found him in his teens during high school in the street behind his house, he had done everything in his power to resist him. Jimin had turned him down at every single point when he had tried to talk because Jimin didn’t talk to anyone. He was angry at the world and vicious, a true ode to the word predator. Until the 16 year old boy offered him his hand and asked, so softly: 

“Would you like to play football with us?”

And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Taehyung had called them soulmates and Jimin had smiled for the first time although it came out more like a grimace, his teeth bared slightly and Taehyung didn’t even flinch. So, Jimin trusted one (1) human. His best friend, Kim Taehyung. He was sure he would be the first and last human he ever trusted.

Jimin hid who he was well. He failed to open his mouth so much in fear of scaring people away with his peculiar sharp teeth and he had no problem trying to control his ears from poking above his hair. He grew out his hair long enough so they would just flatten down with some hair gel and they pretty much stayed put. His tail was the easiest to hide, it was always curled behind one of his legs, wrapped tight so that no one could see the outline of it. 

“Hey Jiminie, one of your ears is showing you want me to pat it down again?”

“Yeah, thank yo-,” Jimin starts and then his hands move to cover both his panther ears in urgency, his eyes wide. “Y-you, wh-,” 

“Are you telling me you didn’t know that I knew you were a hybrid?” Taehyung says, his face mirroring Jimin’s horror. 

“Tae, I-I can explain…” 

“Explain? Jiminie you’re a hybrid what else is there to-,” 

“I’m sorry, I’ll leave. I d-didn’t mean to scare you,” Jimin’s heart breaks at the thought of losing Taehyung but Taehyung knew what he was and no one wanted to be friends with a hybrid. Especially not a predator hybrid.   

“Scare me?” Taehyung scoffs and Jimin packs up his studies and tries to leave their study session. “Hey, Minnie, you’re not scary to me at all, look at me.” Jimin does, blinking back tears. “You’re my best friend and just because you’re a hybrid, that means nothing to me because I know what kind of person you are. You don’t have to be afraid. Not with me.” Taehyung reaches out a hand, just like he did years ago and Jimin lets out a broken sob and falls into his chest. Taehyung finding out was the easiest thing in the world; he had never felt so accepted in his life.       

University was a different world altogether. He got accepted almost immediately based on his high grades, and he absolutely didn’t have to put down whether he was hybrid or human in the application. It upset Jimin that there wasn’t even an option for them anymore since they were so rare, but he’d take that over being exposed as a hybrid and not being accepted into college at all. 

Him and Taehyung moved to Seoul and lived together, went to the same university together and he was content enough. He never spoke to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary and kept to himself most of the time. When Taehyung had a free lunch they would eat together but it was rare since Taehyung was a social butterfly. But he found comfort in knowing he would be going to a warm home and someone to go home to. He didn’t feel so lonely anymore. 

Jimin quickly found that kendo was his forte, it covered up his whole body and he could let out his frustrations during a match without the fear of his ears or tail making an accidental appearance. It was definitely a calmer time for him and he felt like he had finally found a little bit of peace in his wild soul.

It wasn’t until a dreary Monday morning that his life would be turned completely upside down and twisted up. A blessing in disguise, Jimin just didn’t know it yet. 

Jimin had stayed till late for kendo practice the night before, his teacher harsh and merciless, so when he got home he was trying to cram in his revision but ended up falling asleep on his tattered copy of Microorganisms: Friend or Foe. It was no wonder he was late the next morning, throwing on whatever he had seen, grabbed his bag and bolted out of the door adamant not to miss this test. It was so important. 

“Hey, um, dude?” He hears someone say as he gets off the bus. Jimin takes a look at him with his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together. Jimin ignores him and continues to power walk towards the biology building, he only had ten minutes to get there. 

“Dude, hey?! Dude? Bro! Sir!!” The boy continues to follow him and Jimin was late, he had no time for breakfast or a coffee and he was stressed the fuck out. He definitely didn’t have time for some freshman kid to annoy him.  

“What do you want? I’m fucking late for something if you couldn’t tell…” Jimin’s resolve snaps and he storms off. He hears a quiet ‘what the fuck?’ muttered behind him but he had no time to-

Jimin chirps loudly as he feels his tail being pulled, effectively pulling him back and on to his ass.

“Toilets. Now.” The boy demands and Jimin looks around to see if anyone else had seen but there was no one around. Thankfully. Jimin scrambles up and grabs hold of his tail and wraps it around his waist and pulls his top down to hide it. He follows the boy to the closest toilets to them before the boy turns to face him. His eyes were wide and inquisitive, not at all invasive or full of fear or disgust. Jimin scans him from top to bottom and he didn’t seem like a threat so Jimin breathes, drops his shoulders. His instincts to transform into full form subsides.  

“You’re a hybrid?” 

“No, I’m a furry, what the fuck do you think?” Jimin rolls his eyes and grabs hold of his tail to try and tuck it into his trousers whilst the boy watches on with his brows creased. He needed to get to his class as soon as he could and this boy was a serious disturbance.  

“Wait, you’re a furry?!” 

“Listen, I appreciate you telling me but I’m really late for this test so I gotta go…” Jimin thinks too hard about the next words that escape his mouth but they come out anyway. “I’ll treat you to coffee sometime, you’re a freshman? Art, right? Cool, bye.” and Jimin is gone in a hurry with the boy left open-mouthed, his words failing him. Jimin hadn’t even got his name but then again, Jimin was never good with humans. 

🐾 

Jeongguk never thought his day would go like this. He never thought he would get to see a hybrid in real life. His father had told him many stories of the past of how they used to exist in the world freely but had been killed by none other than humans since they were seen as dangerous. Of course, some were and there were incidents to make people believe they were a threat as it was instinctual but they were also human. A part of them was human so Jeongguk didn’t understand the need to get rid of them. If they were even remotely dangerous then it would be humans who would be on the verge of extinction.

Jeongguk was fascinated by the hybrid’s tail. It was long, silky and curled round the tip and he was intrigued. Captivated. Jeongguk wanted to know more, wanted to know everything about this boy. 

So, he waited. Even though Jeongguk had classes to attend, he waited for him to finish his test right outside the door. He was promised a coffee after all.  

“Hey, furry!” Jeongguk shouts to grab his attention. An enigmatic smile makes its way across his face and he can tell the hybrid is embarrassed from the way he bows his head and stumbles his way towards him. His classmates look towards Jeongguk in confusion.  

“Will you keep it down? What the heck are you doing here?” The indignation rolled off of him in waves and Jeongguk smirked at him. His teeth were a little sharper, his canines pointier than that of humans and Jeongguk unknowingly fixates his eyes on them everytime he speaks. 

“I need coffee and you promised.” The boy rolls his eyes and Jeongguk follows him.  

That’s how they find themselves in the dip in between the biology building and music tech mobiles, nursing stale cups of vendor coffee since it was all Jimin could afford right now. Jeongguk leans back against the bricks, his knees pulled to his chest so they can hide away from other students. No one will come around here. 

“I’m Jeongguk,” a flash of recognition crosses Jimin’s face before it disappears and he hums. Jeongguk knew who Jimin was as soon as Jimin had introduced himself. “You’re Taehyungie hyung’s friend! He talks about you a little, he helps out with the freshman art classes.” 

“That’s where I’ve heard your name before then, he talks about you too.” Jimin nods. 

“So, what kind of hybrid are you?” Jeongguk asks, eager. Jimin waits for a moment but Jeongguk is patient. 

“Black panther.” Jimin whispers. Jeongguk couldn’t tell whether he was ashamed or he just didn’t want someone to hear them. His eyes linger towards his hands and he doesn’t make eye contact. It was enough of an indication to which it was.  

Jeongguk wants to express how amazed he is by that but he doesn’t want to scare Jimin away. He leans forward into his space instead, ingraining all of Jimin’s small details to mind. Jimin’s eyes had a yellow tinge to his outer irises, a smattering of freckles on his nose and cheeks and a little discolouration in the dip of his collarbones. “Pretty,” Jeongguk hums, the words meant for himself only but Jimin had heard and his back was against the brick wall in a second. A palm to Jeongguk’s chest. 

“I don’t fuck with people who pull my tail and call me a furry.” 

Jeongguk laughs, the sound loud in the space between them. 

“I would apologise, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be sincere,” Jeongguk’s teeth make a rare appearance because he was smiling so damn hard. “It was too funny, you chirped like a bird.”

“Shut up.” Jimin groans more to himself. 

“I thought you would roar or growl at me…” 

“Panthers don’t roar and we’re not dangerous to humans, if you think-,” 

“I don’t think you’re dangerous at all.” 

“Well then you’d be the first.” 

“Why?”

“Why?” Jimin raises an eyebrow.  “What do you mean? No one likes predator hybrids…” 

“I think they’re cool.” Jeongguk looks towards his music class and notices people starting to filter in. “I think you’re cool.” Jeongguk stands, hikes his bag over his shoulder and doesn’t wait for a reaction. “I’ll see you around, Jimin-ssi.” He throws a wave over his shoulder and then he doesn’t look back. 

Jeongguk doesn’t stop thinking about Jimin after that. He occupies his thoughts during the day and Jeongguk dreams about a large, black panther with yellow, beady eyes. When Jeongguk was this intrigued about something, it wouldn’t leave his mind; he wanted more. 

“Taehyungie hyung!” Jeongguk waves down at him. He didn’t exactly need help but it had been a week since he saw Jimin and he was itching to do something about it. 

“Jeonggukie, hey!” Taehyung smiles, soft and sweet. “What can I help you with?” 

“I just wanted your opinion on something.” Jeongguk flicks his sketchbook to the page where he had been sketching, water colours bleeding across the stiff paper. “Do the colours look okay on this?” 

Jeongguk had drawn a black panther among wild trees, someplace exotic, with orange fruits adorning the trees. It was just images from his dreams but he wondered if Taehyung thought it looked good.

“Wow…” Taehyung breathes, his long fingers running over the crusted paper. Over the face of the panther. “This is incredible, I love the introduction of orange and green and the stark contrast of the black panther. The water colour adds a bit of softness to it. What is it for?” 

“Ah, nothing in particular. Just something from my dreams that I wanted to draw.” Jeongguk says. Taehyung hums, still inspecting and still in awe. 

“I met your friend the other day, Park Jimin.” Taehyung stiffens.

“Jimin? He spoke to you?” 

“Mm, yeah.” Jeongguk nods, averting his eyes. Jimin hadn’t mentioned running into Jeongguk so maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal. To Jeongguk it was. 

“Jimin doesn’t speak to anyone,” Taehyung sighs. He looks at the black panther and then looks at Jeongguk. “He told you?” 

“Not exactly.” Jeongguk shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “His tail was out and I…” 

Taehyung nods in understanding. 

“He’s usually really careful about stuff like that, guess he was just late.” Taehyung averts his gaze back to the drawing. “I wish I could see him like this.” his index finger runs across the panther again. 

“You haven’t?” 

“Jimin doesn’t like it.” Taehyung whispers, quiet just for the two of them. Jeongguk doesn’t know what to say. He wants to say a lot but figures it’s all wrong for the moment so they sit in silence for several seconds, eyes fixated on the art in front of them. “I’m glad it was you. I’m glad you’re the only one that saw.” Taehyung smiles and pats him once on his back before he leaves to tend to another student. That was as good as an inclination as any to let him know he couldn’t tell a soul. 

Jeongguk wondered if him and Taehyung were the only ones that knew. 

🐾 

Jimin doesn’t see Jeongguk until much later than he anticipated. He had caught him a number of times waiting outside of the biology department and Jimin refused to believe he was waiting for him. He didn’t want an annoying freshman following him around just because he knew his secret. 

“Hey! Jeonggukie is here, you don’t mind, right?” Taehyung says when he returns home after a long day of kendo practice. Jimin was the star player so the coach had wanted him to brush up a little more for the tournaments that were coming soon. Taehyung throws him a bottle of soda and Jimin catches neatly. 

“No worries.” Jimin smiles tightly and looks over at Jeongguk. 

Taehyung never brought anyone round, preferring to meet them elsewhere since it made Jimin uncomfortable. To say it was a surprise would be an understatement. Jimin knew what it meant and he didn’t know if Taehyung was going to be mad at him for it.  

“Hi Jimin-ssi, nice to see you again.” Jeongguk pokes his head up from the back of the sofa with his sparkling eyes. Jeongguk looked at him in fascination and Jimin didn’t like it. 

“Likewise.” Jimin says. He makes a swift exit into his room and throws his bag down and his books tumble and sprawl across the floor. Jimin curses under his breath and kicks at them just to show he was angry at them for deceiving him. The knock on his door moments later is not unexpected. 

“You will get back out there and be a good host, we have guests.” Taehyung says with a hard glare. 

“Why did you think it was appropriate for you to start inviting guests all of a sudden?” Jimin hisses. 

“He’s your friend, Big.” 

“Like fuck he is, he fucking pulled my tail!” Jimin says through his teeth.   

Taehyung stands tall in his doorway, not backing down even an inch. Jimin sighs frustratedly and shoves past him. Jeongguk looks up from his sketchbook when Jimin enters, he huffs and throws his textbook down before curling up on the sofa. Jeongguk beams and Jimin rolls his eyes. 

“Okay! We can start studying.” Taehyung says, clapping his hands. 

Jeongguk and Taehyung have their heads leaning toward each other, working on some colour composition or some kind of artsy thing. Jeongguk seemed to have brought a speaker, some lo-fi music playing softly through them and was humming under his breath. Jimin loved lo-fi, too. Jimin didn’t mean to but his eyes kept shifting towards Jeongguk. It was weird to have someone else in their space, but he wasn’t as annoyed as he thought he was going to be.

“Pizza?” Taehyung says after some time. “Sorry Jeongguk, we barely know how to cook.” 

“That’s fine with me!” Jeongguk says, then frowns. “Although, you should let me cook for you both sometime. I couldn’t imagine life without home cooked meals.” Taehyung agrees enthusiastically at that and Jimin grunts. Taehyung glares. 

“That would be lovely.” Jimin smiles, a little too sweet. Taehyung lets out an exasperated sigh before he busies himself ordering the food. As soon as Taehyung is out of the room, Jeongguk shifts closer to him, his eyes peering over at what Jimin was reading. Jimin bares his teeth and hisses at him, his eyes slitted. 

Jeongguk looks at him and blinks, once, twice. 

“Help me.” Jeongguk says in the most blunt voice Jimin had ever heard.     

“Aren’t you scared?” 

“No…” Jeongguk looks to the side and then back at Jimin. “You're cute when you try to act scary.” He goes back to his drawing. Jimin notices the slight tinge of pink on his cheeks. 

“You’re annoying, you know that?”

“Or just curious. Depends how you look at it, Jimin-ssi.” he shrugs. Jimin scowls at his head. “You know you don’t have to hide when you’re at home.”  

“My home has a stranger sitting in it.” Jimin says, flicking through his pages. His brain was no longer working, not when he had Jeongguk to keep his mind running. 

“Can I see your tail again?” 

“No.” 

“Taehyungie hyung said you gel your ears down, can I see them?” 

“No.” 

“What about-,” 

“No.” 

“Hey!” Jeongguk frowns, a small pout to his lips. “You didn’t even know what I was going to ask yet.” 

“It would have been a no.” Jimin doesn’t look at him this time. Jeongguk was annoying but he was cute. Jimin didn’t know how to handle cute.

The rest of the night goes by in a whirl, they chat over pizza and Taehyung tries to involve Jimin as much as he could but Jimin was adamant if anything. He was fine with just Taehyung and he didn’t want another human in his life, even if he was cute. Jimin knew what Taehyung was trying to do but he didn’t need him to do it. 

“I just think it’ll be nice!” Taehyung says, too loud for the time of night it was. Jeongguk had said goodbye reluctantly, his eyes lingering on Jimin for a bit too long. 

“Tae, I have you as a best friend and I don’t need anyone else.” 

“I know that and I love you, Big. But it wouldn’t hurt to open up to someone as sweet as Jeongguk.” 

Jimin shakes his head no and screws his face up. 

“I just want you to be happy.” Taehyung frowns. Jimin cuddles into his side and sighs loudly. 

“I’m happy, I’m fine.” 

“You can be better than fine. Jeongguk is good.” 

Jimin thinks about it for a second. He wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of befriending another human he was just… 

“I know you’re scared. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you, Jiminie. But you won’t know if you don’t try.”

Jimin knew Taehyung was right, he did. But that didn’t stop the fear that had been instilled in him. The same night he dreams of humans coming to get him, clawing at his fur and ripping him to shreds, leaving him for dead just like his parents. 

Reluctantly, Jimin does try to make a bit more of an effort with Jeongguk. He was persistent and was the only one who actually seemed like he wanted to talk to Jimin. Jimin had to honor that. 

“Hey.” Jimin makes Jeongguk jump where he is leant against the music room door. Jeongguk turns to look behind him and then looks back at Jimin. 

“Me?” 

“Yes, dummy.” Jimin fights the urge to roll his eyes. He needed to be nice , like he promised.  

“Okay, yes, me. Hello.” 

It was awkward and Jimin didn’t know how to do this. He hated humans. Except Taehyung. Maybe Jeongguk would be an exception if he saved this conversation. 

“Do you have biology class?”

“Nope, I just finished!” Jimin scratches the back of his neck. All he had to do was ask Jeongguk to lunch or something, it wasn’t that hard.  

“Oh, me too!” Jeongguk laughs, a little forceful. “I was waiting for my hyung but if you’re free we could have lunch?” 

“No! No, you don’t have to cancel for me.” 

“It’ll be my pleasure. My hyung is sick of seeing my face, honestly.” Jeongguk takes out his phone, presumably to cancel his plans. He pockets his phone and they both make their way out of campus.  

“Oh, I don’t do too well with crowded places, Jeongguk.” Jimin says when he looks over Jeongguk’s shoulder and sees the map directing them to somewhere in the city.  

“That’s okay, we can go somewhere quiet.” Jeongguk says quietly and shifts the route on his maps. 

Jimin noticed a lot of things about Jeongguk. Jeongguk’s mannerisms and small habits were something Jimin maybe wasn’t expecting from him. He talked animatedly and didn't realise he went off on tangents, it was extremely endearing. He stopped by when someone in the street was playing a violin, waited until they had finished performing and clapped for them and dropped a few bills into their violin case. The resulting smile from the man was entirely fulfilling. Jeongguk does his best to make Jimin laugh with his expressions and impressions of others that Jimin had found himself laughing without even covering his mouth.

Jeongguk didn’t speak up once about the fact that he was a hybrid even though he knew . That made him feel a newfound respect for Jeongguk. Jimin was on the verge of believing that Jeongguk had some kind of obsession with him but Jeongguk was just treating him as though he was human, of all things. He was trying not to get too caught up on it, on Jeongguk but it was near impossible. It was easy to tell that Jeongguk had a nurturing nature, he was kind and the epitome of optimism. Everything he did resonated so loudly, it made Jimin’s heart hurt in the nicest way.   

They stop by at a quiet cafe, as promised, to continue to study. Jeongguk needed to finish off his portfolio for an assignment but Jimin didn’t get all that art talk. He tried to get Jimin to open up about his biology course but he didn’t want Jeongguk to know how nerdy he was. It would be hard to shut him up if he got started. Eventually, they settle in silence to work on their respective assignments.  

“You’re still annoying.” He says in jest, he still didn’t want Jeongguk to get too comfortable with this new thing. Friendship. Jimin shudders.  

“What?!” Jeongguk puts his pen down to stop writing. “I didn’t do anything this time.” 

“I know, I just didn’t remind you of it today.”

Jeongguk narrows his eyes at Jimin and gets back to work. Jimin scans his face for real. Jeongguk had round, pretty eyes that he accentuated with a little bit of eyeshadow and his nose was so cute, fit perfectly on his face and his lips were pink, a little bit of lip gloss smeared on the outer edges. The middle of his lips was currently where he had his tongue resting in concentration. Jimin looked away before he got caught and preoccupied himself with his textbook for the rest of their time. 

Jimin is a gentleman if anything which is how he finds himself walking Jeongguk home once they’re done. 

“It’s weird, right?” 

“What’s weird?” 

Jeongguk huffs out an incredulous laugh and nudges him with his shoulder. Jimin was thinking about how he hadn’t been outside for this long before. 

“That once upon a time, times were simpler and people could live freely. You know what I mean?” 

“I know.” Jimin nods. Jimin didn’t want to have this conversation yet. He didn’t want to get too inside of his head. Didn’t want Jeongguk to know all of his secrets. 

Didn’t want Jeongguk to know him . 

“I wish it could still be like that.” Jeongguk says contemplatively. “I wish I could see you smile more.” He looks at Jimin as though he could see right through him. Knew everything that was swimming around in his brain.  

“Go inside, Jeongguk.” Jimin says, quiet. A lump in his throat. Jeongguk was too honest and Jimin couldn’t handle it. 

“You look real pretty when you smile, hyung.” 

They’re the last words Jeongguk says before he turns and ascends the stairs leading to his apartment.  

That’s all it takes for Jimin to avoid him again. 

🐾 

It isn’t until Taehyung invites Jeongguk over again to cook for them that Jimin finally sees Jeongguk again. Almost a week later. He opens his front door to a heavenly, warm smell of fresh homemade haemul kalguksu but tries as quietly as he could to retreat. There was no way Taehyung had attempted to cook. Which meant only one thing.  

“Big!” Taehyung sees him before he could move another step. 

“Big? Who’s big?” Jeongguk questions, coming into view and locking eyes with Jimin. This was getting too normal and Jimin didn’t like a change to his normal. 

“Oh, it’s what I call him. You know, since he’s a black panther I figured a pet name would be good too. Jiminie says he’s big when he’s in full form but just tiny as a human.” 

“Big…” Jeongguk tests it out and Jimin found he didn’t mind it at all coming from his mouth.

“Jimin doesn’t mind either name,” Taehyung smiles.

“I’m right here.” Jimin crosses his arms. “And I’m not your pet.” 

“Yes, you are.” Taehyung grabs him by his shoulders and cuddles into his back. “He’s just a little cub.” 

Jimin’s growl rumbles within his chest, but it does nothing to phase Taehyung. 

“Jeongguk cooked for us, say thank you to him!” 

“Thank you to him.” 

Taehyung prods his finger deep into Jimin’s ribs and he chirps like he did when Jeongguk had pulled his tail.  

“It smells good, what is it?” 

“Seafood kalguksu, my mother taught me how to make it before she shipped me off to the big city.” 

“Panthers don’t eat seafood.” Jimin presses his lips together and Jeongguk looks at him in horror. Taehyung tries and fails to suppress his laughter behind him. 

“You eat meat! Seafood is a form of mea- hey, are you fucking with me?”

“Oh, Jeonggukie.” Taehyung laughs with his whole body and throws himself on Jeongguk’s shoulder. “You’re adorable, isn’t he adorable Jiminie?” Jimin can only laugh, his hand covering his mouth. He didn’t want a repeat of the last time. 

Jeongguk’s annoyance doesn’t last very long, not when Taehyung’s laughter was contagious.

Jeongguk dishes out the food he had made on plates and Jimin hates to admit to him that it was delicious. Jimin was certain this was the first time they had used their plates but he continues to eat. They finish their meals with mindless chatter and everything is normal until Taehyung has to go out and him and Jeongguk are both left for washing up duties. 

“Are you avoiding me?” He says as soon as Taehyung is out of the door. Jimin really had to get used to this kind of direct approach. Jimin puts the dry plate back where it belongs. He doesn’t think it’ll be used again for a while unless Jeongguk plans to make this a regular occurrence.  

“N-no.” 

“You stuttered, which means you’re lying, which means you are avoiding me.” 

“You’re annoying.” 

“So I’ve been told.” Jeongguk smirks. Jeongguk’s presence was annoying for sure, but Jimin felt this sense of anticipation and adrenaline whenever he talked. Whatever was supposed to come out of his mouth was unexpected and it left Jimin on his toes, waiting for more. Wanting more. 

“Why?” 

“I’m not-,” 

“Is it because I called you pretty? Called you hyung?” 

“Both.” 

“You don’t like it?” 

“I don’t like where you’re going with things, how fast you’re going.” Jeongguk frowns, his face showcasing discontent as though what Jimin had said had really hurt him. But Jimin was only being honest. “Just slow it down a little, okay? I’m not used to humans.” 

“Humans.” Jeongguk scoffs. “You’re part human.” 

“I’m a hybrid.” Jimin sighs. “If I was even remotely considered human then I would be accepted in this world.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” 

“A lot of things don’t make sense.” Jimin breathes. “Doesn’t mean we should question it.” 

“It means we should question it more.”

Jeongguk looks at Jimin for several seconds with tenacious eyes. Almost like he was challenging Jimin to disagree with him. Jimin changes course instead.  

“I never thanked you, for being so accepting and accommodating towards me.” 

“I see you as a human, as an equal.” Jeongguk’s eyes are avid, like he wanted to come closer to Jimin to shake some sense into him. His soaps hands drip against the floor and Jimin tries not to let it affect him. 

“In a time where the majority don’t. Thank you.” Jimin’s shoulder slump. “I don’t see the fear in your eyes so I know you’re not afraid.” 

“I can see the fear in yours.” Jeongguk says, a quiet confession. “You don’t trust me yet.” 

Yet. Jeongguk was awfully confident and sure of himself. 

“I thought I was good at reading people but you’re-” Jimin huffs out a laugh. “You’re annoying.” Jimin ends up saying and Jeongguk rolls his eyes good naturedly. 

“I’ll tattoo the words on my forehead.” 

Jeongguk washes the last plate in silence and Jimin dries it. “I don’t believe in treating anyone different because of who they are or what they look like. My parents didn’t raise me that way,”

Jimin nods and accepts that. He trusted Jeongguk a little more. 

“My parents taught me that, too.” Jimin smiles fondly at his distorted memories of his mother telling him to always be good. 

“Where are your parents?” 

“That’s a story for another time,” Jimin says softly and Jeongguk agrees. 

“Hey, can I watch you play kendo sometime?” Jeongguk changes the subject expertly. 

“You can come with Tae to the tournaments.” Jimin agrees in an instant. He only realises when it's too late and the words cannot be taken back.  

“Really?” Jeongguk’s eyes light up and Jimin refuses to acknowledge the flutter of his chest at the sight. Jimin nods and offers Jeongguk some tea. Something to calm his own nerves before he gets out of control and spills over with words he shouldn’t be telling Jeongguk just yet.

“Why did you decide to do kendo?” Jeongguk asks. His curious eyes were so captivating. 

“Why not?” Jimin shrugs. 

“True, but what’s your reason?”

“I like how I’m covered, not an inch of me can accidentally be revealed.” Jimin says. “It makes me feel safe.” Jeongguk nods at that but it seems like he had more to say. 

“Okay now tell me the real reason.” 

“What?” Jimin is confused for a second before it hits him. Taehyung. “Oh, he’s in big trouble.” 

“He told me by accident!” Jeongguk laughs into his hand before throwing his head back and howling with laughter. “Who cares if you picked kendo because you wanted to be like your favourite One Piece character, I would’ve done the same.” Jimin looks at him skeptically but decides to let it go. Taehyung would be the one paying for this.  

They settle in front of the TV to put on a rerun of an anime that was showing and they are quiet for the rest of the evening. Jimin appreciates the calmness more than he can express. That is, until Jeongguk's body sways and all of a sudden Jimin has a lapful of brown, messy locks and a drooling mouth.

“Jeongguk.” Jimin shakes his shoulder lightly. “Hey, bud, you can’t sleep here.” Jimin tried shoving his shoulder again but Jeongguk didn’t move a muscle. Jimin throws his head back against the couch and exhales deeply in frustration. He gently lifts Jeongguk’s head from his lap to lay him down gently on the couch and grabs a blanket to cover his sleeping body. Jeongguk was going to wake up with a bad back, his limbs aching but it wasn’t Jimin’s problem. He takes one more look at Jeongguk’s serene, sleeping face before he gets to bed. 

Jimin spends too long thinking of a boy with glistening eyes and a heart made of gold before sleep pulls him under. 

🐾

In the next few days that eventually turned into weeks, Jimin sees Jeongguk more than he sees Taehyung. It was a routine that took him some time to adjust to but surprisingly enough, he wasn’t too objective. He had been hanging out with Jeongguk a fair amount but it wasn’t intentional. Not at all. They bumped into each other a lot since their classes coincided, Jimin finished his biology class at the same time Jeongguk finished his music class. 

Sometimes, he would find Jeongguk waiting outside of his class for him, his classmates giving the two strange looks. It wasn’t nearly as strange as the looks Jimin received on his own, but it was still something. He was convinced all his classmates hated him when they looked at him like he was suspicious. It was no doubt Jeongguk had picked it up, too. Jimin doesn’t like to admit it but he sometimes walks past the music room a couple of times so it looks like he accidentally bumps into Jeongguk when he emerges. 

Jimin was thankful for Jeongguk, in a way. It was like Jeongguk knew the exact time he needed space. He knew when Jimin was overwhelmed with being outdoors or in another person's company and wanted a day to himself. But he also knew when Jimin just needed a presence around. Those were the days he would come around to cook for him and Taehyung, bringing along his sketchbook to work with them. Jeongguk was assertive and he regulated his behaviour to adjust with Jimin’s personality. Jimin wasn’t impartial to the change, he just didn’t like to admit it. 

“Takoyaki is the best, hyung.” Jeongguk says. “You’re lying to yourself when you say it’s not that good.” 

They both wait for their order of takoyaki on the street, in the midst of a busy area where street food was the most popular. Jeongguk wanted boba after this too and he wondered where Jeongguk stored all the food he ate. 

“Are you sure you can still have boba?” 

“Hyung, you made me like this!” Jeongguk accuses, shoving him in his shoulder. “You said you wanted to try out that place and I’m just following along but yes, of course I have space for boba. Are you kidding me?”

Jimin laughs at him and shakes his head. 

“Wow, your teeth are so sharp!” A kid is tugging on his t-shirt and looks up at him. 

Jimin panics. He had to be more careful about that, he sometimes forgot when he was so engrossed with whatever Jeongguk was telling him. 

“Hey kid, look at my teeth they’re sharper!” Jeongguk bares all his teeth to the child and the child does the same back. “You wanna show me how loud you roar…” 

Jeongguk’s eyes flutter to him momentarily before he continues to distract the child. Jimin sinks back into himself, stumbles back to let himself breathe. No one could know what he was and Jimin had gotten too comfortable in public. He needed to be careful. At uni, it was easy to hide his teeth because no one talked to him and he had minimalist conversations with his professors. But when Jeongguk made him laugh uncontrollably, there was no way to hide them. The mother of the child comes and takes the child away at some point with a polite smile and Jeongguk is by Jimin’s side in an instant. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk says, subdued. Like he didn’t know if it was okay. He puts out his hand to touch Jimin’s elbow and Jimin flinches away. Jeongguk retracts his hand and grabs their orders that were ready instead. “Let’s go?” 

Jimin nods and he follows Jeongguk through the crowd without a word. He latches on to the bottom of Jeongguk’s jacket so that he doesn’t lose him. Jeongguk still drags him all the way to the boba place and Jimin can’t help but frown. 

“Jeongguk, I think I should go home.” Jimin says and Jeongguk leans down just slightly to look into his eyes better. Jimin tries and fails to avert his eyes.  

“Hyung,” Jeongguk sighs. He puts down their takoyaki on the outdoor tables of the boba place and pulls Jimin closer to him slowly, gaging Jimin’s reaction. Jeongguk guides Jimin’s head into the crook of his neck and hugs him, holds him tight against his chest right there in the street. “I’m sorry.” Jeongguk whispers against his temple. 

Jimin was frozen in place for several seconds before he melts into Jeongguk’s embrace. Jeongguk tucks his chin over Jimin’s shoulder and squeezes harder. He hadn’t ever felt this kind of affection before. Taehyung cuddled him all the time but this… this was different. This felt different and he didn’t know what to do. There was a scintillating tingle buzzing under his skin and he felt warm. Jimin felt safe.  

“I’m fine.” Jimin pushes Jeongguk back lightly so as not to offend him. It was the complete opposite of what Jimin wanted to do but he was panicked. Instead of pulling him closer like he should’ve done, Jimin pushed him away.  

“We’ll get boba and then we’ll go to the library to study like we planned, okay? Eat your takoyaki, I’ll grab your order.” Jeongguk pushes him down into a seat before going into the shop. Jeongguk had understood without Jimin saying a word and he didn’t know how he felt about that. His mind was spinning with the thought of Jeongguk knowing so much about himself. Jeongguk had sort of found a loose thread of Jimin’s and he was slowly but surely unravelling it. Jimin could do nothing but watch it happen, if it was Jeongguk then it would be okay. He would let Jeongguk do anything, he decided. 

Jeongguk acts as though nothing had happened and Jimin couldn’t be more grateful for it. He was just his friend and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that. Not when Jeongguk bought so much light and joy into his life. He wouldn’t ruin it for anything.

Jimin was a predator hybrid. He knew he wouldn’t do anything at all to hurt Jeongguk, but Jeongguk didn’t know that. Yet he still continued to treat him with so much tender care and respect. Jimin didn’t think he deserved it. He didn’t deserve someone as good and sweet as Jeongguk was, but he would accept it all the same because he was selfish. Jeongguk was kind and reassuring, a comfort that Jimin seeked out without him even knowing him for very long. It was painfully obvious that Jimin wanted to keep him around for a long time, no matter what.  

“Hyung, are you still okay meeting my friends?” Jeongguk snaps him out of his own mind and brings him back to reality again.  

“Yeah,” Jimin sighs. He forgot he had agreed to that. “I have my cap and I’ll wear a mask. They won’t notice a thing.”

“I’m sorry, it’s because I always talk about you and they’re curious to get to know you too.” 

“I understand.” Jimin smiles lightly. Jimin thinks over the words for a second before- “You always talk about me?” 

“Not always, I mean I barely mention you but they pick up on these things, you know?” Jeongguk shrugs and Jimin puts on his mask to hide his smile. Jeongguk was hilariously wrong if he thought Jimin was going to buy that. 

“Why is it so easy for me to tell when you’re lying?”

“Not lying, I only tell the truth.” Jeongguk says, proudly. Jimin hums and they make their way to the library to study. It was a spot Jimin frequented, Taehyung tagging along with him at times so he didn’t feel so alone. But now, he was with Jeongguk and he was going to meet his friends. Jimin felt fine until they walked down the hallway towards the door that led inside. That’s when his anxiety kicked in. He breathed steadily through his nose and poised himself. If Jeongguk trusted them then he would be fine. 

His friends end up being… not that bad, like he half-expected them to be. Ever since he had met Jeongguk, there were a lot of things he didn’t like admitting but he quite enjoyed their company and their playful, quiet banter. It was like Jeongguk pulled him out of his own skin, tentatively but so carefully that Jimin almost didn’t realise. He was exploring things he would never do on his own and refused to do with Taehyung. But the way in which Jeongguk handled him was exactly what Jimin needed. He needed Jeongguk in a time where he felt so lost, like he was coming up to a dead end with no opportunities. Jeongguk might have just found him at the right time.  

“Jiminie hyung plays kendo!” Jeongguk whisper-shouts in the quietness of the room. They are huddled on a small table, papers with a variety of majors all merging together. 

“No way!” Seokjin says. “You could hurt us?” 

“Not really, not unless I have my armour and sword.” Jimin mumbles into his hand, goes a little quiet again. He liked that they were amazed by it, but again he couldn’t ever admit it out loud. 

“Jeongguk was almost going to choose kendo, right?” Yoongi whispers and Jeongguk nods. “He chose to do music with me instead.” Yoongi smiles smugly and his smile stays as he flicks through his book again. Hoseok clings to Jeongguk’s arm and laughs a little too loud, the librarian keeps coming over to them because of it and he apologises profusely every time. It doesn’t seem to stop him though. 

“You know, when Jeonggukie told us about you. I almost didn’t believe him.” Hoseok sips on Jeongguk’s drink. 

“It’s true. The cold hearted Park Jimin, making friends? I didn’t believe it for a second.” 

“Hyung doesn’t have a cold heart.” Jeongguk refutes. His hand flexes on the table before curling into a fist. Jimin doesn’t expect Jeongguk to get so worked up about the truth but his heart feels heavy in his chest at the action.  

“We can see that, it’s just rumours.” Hoseoks says and tilts his head to look at Jimin. Seokjin nods his head and looks a little bashful.  

“It’s fine. I know what others think of me but I don’t care. I just like to keep to myself, that’s all.” He rushes to say just to appease Jeongguk. It works. Jeongguk’s hand lays flat against the table instead of being balled up into fists. Jimin gently squeezes his thigh, just for good measure. A soft touch he knows Jeongguk will appreciate.   

“And that’s completely understandable. You’re not the only one who hates people.” Yoongi says, and shoves Seokjin in his side.

“It’s just that…” Hoseok starts, looks at Jeongguk for a second before he turns his attention to Jimin again. “All we hear is Jimin this, Jimin that. He never shuts up.” Jimin sees Jeongguk kick Hoseok under the table not so subtly, and he has to muffle his laughter in his hand. 

“Thank you for joining us today, Jimin.” Seokjin says, his smile soft and polite.

“It was really nice meeting you all, thank you for being so accommodating.” Jimin smiles, his expression composed. He didn’t want to get too ahead of himself but he was wondering if he had just made some new friends.  

“We’re really glad you’re here, Jimin-ssi.” Hoseok says with a bright smile. “Thank you for making our Jeongguk happy.”      

Jeongguk groans and shoves Hoseok before he looks over at Jimin, scrunching his nose at him. Jimin chokes on air at the sight. It makes them all snicker but Jimin distracts himself and  continues to complete his essay, his eyes wandering down towards his paper before he gets lost in Jeongguk’s eyes.  

Jimin liked who he liked, he had no restrictions about things like that so his sexuality wasn’t something he thought about too hard. But he liked Jeongguk. He maybe liked Jeonnguk a little too much to be considered normal.  

🐾

Jeongguk sits next to Taehyung in the dojo, abandoning his friends in the row behind because they were being too loud . Jeongguk hadn’t meant to mention it to anyone else but it had slipped out. He didn’t realise how much he spoke of Jimin, his thoughts preoccupied with the thought of him the majority of the time. And the next thing he knew, Seokjin was dragging Yoongi along with him and Hoseok was already walking ahead.

“How will we know when it’s Jimin?” Hoseok leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

“They’ll announce the names, hyung, be quiet.” He quickly whispers back and Taehyung smiles at them. His friends were excited and he couldn’t blame them, they had seemed to take a liking to Jimin. Jeongguk was a little jealous but he knew this would happen. Jimin was insanely polite and accommodating and just so nice . 

Jeongguk wishes Jimin could see himself the way Jeongguk did, maybe he wouldn’t be so afraid. Maybe he would laugh a little more without hesitating. Jeongguk would love to see him like that more but he understands. He understands how hard it must be for him. 

“It’s the only time I hear Jimin be so loud.” Taehyung murmurs under his breath as Jimin is called out, the match beginning. “He’s so fierce.” Jeongguk nods his head in agreement. Jimin was softly spoken and his voice was melodious and it did not correlate with the way he was growling with a shinai in his hand every time he mastered a hit. Jeongguk was in awe. His mouth dropped open at the sheer grace and skill that Jimin portrayed with his opponent. Jeongguk was enraptured by Jimin as it were, but seeing him like this, completely in his element made Jeongguk enthralled that little bit more. 

“You can go.” Taehyung nudges his arm as their match finishes up and he watches Jimin walk away. 

“Go? Go where?” 

“I usually go back to the changing room to fetch him but I think he’ll like it better if you went today.” Taehyung smiles, knowingly. Jeongguk doesn’t get a chance to say another word when Taehyung exits with his friends. He fit in so well with them it was almost like they had known each other before Jeongguk introduced them tonight. They leave Jeongguk to do the only thing he wants right now. To be closer to Jimin.

“Hyung? Jiminie hyung?” he shouts and the sound echoes off the walls in the hallway. 

“Hey, who’re you looking for?”

Jeongguk whips his head around to a broad man, wiping the back of his neck. He looked oddly familiar, Jeongguk didn’t know where he had seen him.  

“I’m looking for Jimin-ssi.” 

The man scoffs.

“The weirdo who doesn’t talk much? Why would you be looking for him?” it suddenly makes sense where Jimin had seen him. He was in Jimin’s biology class and always stared when Jeongguk would wait outside for him. 

“He’s my friend.” 

“Jimin doesn’t have friends, he’s weird.” 

“Jimin isn’t weird, you don’t even know him.”

“Hey, Jeongguk-ah.” Jeongguk feels a soft touch at the bottom of his spine. “I just need to grab my stuff, come with me?” 

“That’s right. Run along, little kitty.” the man laughs and Jeongguk is almost ready to turn around before Jimin grabs his hand and drags him along to the changing rooms. He turns the lock and his back faces Jeongguk as he leans against the bench. 

“Does he know?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Jeongguk watches as Jimin takes a deep breath. “It’s just a coincidence he chooses to call me that. There’s no way he can know.” 

“Hyung, does he-,” 

“Thank you for coming, Jeongguk.” Jimin interrupts and turns to face him. His smile overtakes what his real expression is and Jeongguk wishes he didn’t do that. Jimin ignores him because it was obvious what he was going to ask. Does he bully you? Does he treat you like that all the time? 

The space was pretty enclosed and felt charged with a kind of subdued tension Jeongguk hadn’t experienced before. He can hear Jimin’s rapid breathing and the heat from his body radiates off of him and makes Jeongguk hot under his collar. 

“You were great out there.” Jeongguk says. Soft, quiet. Almost a confession if Jeongguk was brave enough. 

Jimin looks at him, unfiltered and fearless. Jeongguk sees the way he stands tall, confident. Poised gracefully, almost like a panther would. Jeongguk takes a step closer, wanting to be as close to Jimin as possible. The way Jimin drew him in was uncontrollable, the need to be in his presence overwhelmed all of Jeongguk’s thoughts. He feels something wrap around his wrist and looks down to see the end of Jimin’s tail curled around his wrist and he gasps. Jimin pulls him closer by it so that they’re a foot apart. 

“I would hug you but-,” Jimin laughs, shakes his hair out and droplets of sweat shake out of his hair. “I’m still sweaty. Will you wait outside for a second so I can change?”  

But Jeongguk is not one to miss an opportunity. He grabs hold of Jimin’s tail and feels the silkiness in between his fingertips. He gets to stroke along it once more before Jimin pushes him back. 

“Another time, Jeongguk.” 

“You promise?” 

Jimin nods his head once. The smile that teases the corner of his mouth tells a different story but Jeongguk will accept it. He’ll accept absolutely anything if it came from Jimin. 

He leaned back against the door when Jimin shut it after him, his heart beating incredibly fast. Jimin had felt comfortable enough to let his tail come out and Jeongguk felt so relieved. So happy that Jimin was relaxed in his company. It was the only time he had seen it again after he first met Jimin. Jeongguk waited patiently for Jimin to find comfort in him and he knew he would take some time to put his trust in him. 

“I’ll walk you home.” Jimin says when they finally leave. The cold night of the air made Jeongguk shiver, but it was a break from the heat he was feeling under Jimin’s gaze. 

“I’ll walk you home.”

Jeongguk was cautious. He knew he was treading a fine line with Jimin and he didn’t want to ruin anything. He couldn't afford to. Having Jimin’s presence with him was soothing and he didn’t want to do anything that would lose that comfort. But god, did he ache. His fingers ached with the pure want to touch Jimin. He ached deep in his chest where the words he wanted to say were stored away. 

They walked for a while in silence, enjoying the warm air of summer. It was a nice night, quiet and tranquil which was what they both needed. Jimin had a cap on so it was hard to see his eyes and he was wearing a mask too but Jeongguk could tell from the way his body was lax, that he was tired but placid. 

“Can I come again? To watch?”

“You can come whenever you want to, Jeongguk-ah.” Jeongguk smiles at the response and tries not to look too much at Jimin, not whilst they were walking. “You bought your friends, too.” 

“Not intentionally, hyung. They knew I was coming and wanted to tag along.” 

“I never had anyone cheering for me except Taehyung, so it was weird.” 

“Good weird or bad weird?” 

“Good.” Jimin adjusts his cap on his head. “It was good. Felt nice.”

Jeongguk would ask them to come to every match and cheer him on if that’s what it took to make Jimin feel good. Jimin’s words melt Jeongguk’s insides and he turns to look at him. But Jimin stares steadily back at him. And if Jimin’s words melted his insides, then his unwavering stare turned Jeongguk into a puddled mess on the floor. 

“Whatever makes you happy, Jiminie. We can do anything that makes you happiest.” 

Jimin stops. He hadn’t realised but they were already outside his apartment. 

“You make me happy enough, Jeongguk.” Jimin says and Jeongguk can hear the smile he has on his face. He hesitates. Jimin was clearly thinking something but Jeongguk didn’t know . He takes his mask off and lets it bunch up under his chin. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” 

Tomorrow was a Saturday. They don’t tend to see each other on the weekends since they’re engrossed in their studying but Jeongguk nods. Jimin smiles, wide and unbothered in the darkness of the night. It was mesmerizing, Jeongguk was almost dizzy. Jimin nods in response but his feet stay planted on the ground. Jeongguk had no idea . 

“Well, I’ll see you then.” Jeongguk pockets his hand but neither of them move. Jeongguk hopes he looks at Jimin with the adoration and desire that he feels singing in his veins, he hopes Jimin picks it up. 

“Y-yeah, I’ll see you.” Jimin looks at Jeongguk one last time before he looks down with a gentle chuckle, breaking eye contact before he turns and makes his way into the building. 

It was only until Jeongguk got to his apartment that he realised the motions, the small prompts. What they all meant. Jeongguk curses and kicks at his door. How could he not have realised? He was tempted to go back all the way just to call Jimin back, but he was cowardly. Jimin wanted him just as much as Jeongguk did and it was a hard pill to swallow. Jimin surprised him in more ways than one but if Jeongguk had read it properly, a kiss would have been the thing that surprised him the most. Jeongguk collapses into his bed with a loud wail. This man will kill him. 

🐾

Jimin knew Taehyung didn’t mean to do this. Taehyung was his best friend and would never put him in an uncomfortable position but today, Jimin almost thinks he did it on purpose. Today was just not one of those days. Today, Jimin just needed some time to himself. 

“Soonshimie is not well, Big. I have to leave now to get on the last train and I promised him.” 

“Promised Jeongguk? Of all people?” 

“I don’t want to let him down. Namjoonie hyung is coming with me or else I would have told him to.” 

“He’ll understand.” 

“Jimin,” Taehyung sighs, the tiredness in his voice makes his heart pang. “You’re friends. It’s just this one time. I won’t ask you for anything if you do this for me, please.” 

“Fine.” Jimin gave in although it didn’t take much. Taehyung makes a sound and it's like he could see the exact expression on Taehyung’s face. An accomplished boxy grin. 

“This isn’t something out of the ordinary, just be nice! You know him better than I do by now...” 

It was true. That’s how it went and Jimin was not opposed to it. He was not opposed to Jeongguk. He was just not in the mood today.  

Jimin drove carefully through the rain making sure he was safe and checked all his mirrors as he drove back to campus. He hoped Jeongguk was not waiting out in the rain for him, he would be soaked to the bone. 

“You’re late!”

“You’re wet! Taehyung is gonna kill me.” He watches in dread as Jeongguk’s soaked body settles in the passenger seat. Jeongguk was drenched and the water was soaking into the seat of Taehyung’s most prized possession. Jeongguk shrugs, acts like he had done no wrong. Jimin groans before pulling away from the curb.

“Where are we going?” 

“I live on the other side of town, can we go to your place?” 

“I was only supposed to pick you up and drop you off to where you needed to be,”

“I’m gonna catch a cold,” Jeongguk sniffles for effect. “Taehyungie hyung said he was going to help me with my project too,”

“He had to tend to urgent matters back home.” Jimin focused on the road ahead and put the heater up so that hot air was blasting out of the vents. 

“Yeah, that’s why he told me you could help..” 

Jeongguk sits stiffly in his seat, afraid if he moved too much he’d get water everywhere. Jimin was certain he was sitting in a pool of water but it was the thought that counts. 

“Help with art? You have got to be kidding me..”

“He said you know a bit about art! I just need your opinion that’s all!”

Jimin doesn’t say a word. They drive in silence and Jimin parks up at their apartment. He would allow Jeongguk to shower and get into something warm and will wait for the rain to stop before he sends him back to his own home. 

“Stay there, I’ll bring you a towel.” Jimin leaves Jeongguk shivering at the front door and rushes to get the largest towel he could find. But when he comes back, he is not expecting to see Jeongguk the way he was. 

 “What the fu-,”

🐾

Jeongguk slowly undresses himself, the wet clothes on his body were making him feel weighed down and colder. He discards his jacket and peels off his t-shirt to leave it on the floor in a puddled mess. Jimin wasn’t going to be happy. 

“Towel, quick!” Jeongguk says, his upper half naked and his nipples perking up in the cold air. Jimin’s mouth pops open and he stares for a couple of seconds before throwing the towel at Jeongguk and averting his eyes. 

“Why would you take your clothes off?!” 

“I was cold, hyung.” Jeongguk rolls his eyes and begins to undo his jeans. 

“Jeongguk!” 

“I’m going to get the rest of the apartment wet if I walk in with them, I don’t know what you want me to do!” Jeongguk drops his jeans to the floor and Jimin flails. He turns back the way he came from whilst Jeongguk snickers. 

Jimin had left out a pair of loose shorts and a t-shirt for Jeongguk which he puts on after he is freshly showered. His hair was damp and he knew it was going to get all fluffy if he let it air dry. 

Jeongguk may have lied. A little bit. He didn’t really have much work to do, he got most of it done but he wanted to show Jimin something and that was the sole reason he wanted to be here. Jeongguk wanted to use it in his end of year art exhibition, but he wanted Jimin’s approval.  

“I’m hungry.” Jeongguk sighs and throws his feet across Jimin’s lap. Jimin looks at him before he looks at his feet on his lap. 

“Brat,” he mutters and throws Jeongguk’s feet off of him. “Food?” Jimin asks and Jeongguk smiles. So they order food and chat mindlessly about their day. When Jeongguk didn’t see Jimin it would be a weird day. When they wouldn’t talk at all, he would feel like a part of him was missing. Jimin had to be part of Jeongguk’s daily routine and it was insane but he misses Jimin dearly when they didn’t see each other. Jeongguk was enraptured by Jimin and he wondered if Jimin knew that.   

This was warm and comfortable. Jeongguk felt at peace, his body relaxed into the couch whilst the rain pounded against the window. The smell of rainkissed leaves followed them in and Jeongguk felt detached from the world, like only him and Jimin existed at this moment in time. Jimin eventually lets Jeongguk’s feet back in his lap and the hand over his bare calf was a comfortable pressure. His tail sneaks out from behind him and it curls around his other calf. Jeongguk nibbled on the chips that Jimin had thrown at him and they got lost in a series that Jimin had been watching whilst they waited for their food to be delivered.  

“Don’t you have work to do?” Jimin nibbles on a chip and then reaches to wipe his hand on the side of Jeongguk’s shorts. Jeongguk didn’t understand the logic; they were his shorts. 

“I just wanted to show you something. I wanted your opinion.” 

“Why mine?” 

“It’s a little…” Jeongguk sighs. “You’ll know when you see it.” 

“Okay go ahead,” Jimin turns towards him, giving him his full attention. Jimin watches him as he grabs his art portfolio and opens up his sketchbook. Jeongguk was nervous. His hands were shaking lightly and his heart was increasing its pace. He just wanted Jimin to like it and he most certainly didn’t want him to think he was overstepping. It was just a piece he wanted to include in his final exam and exhibition, but he needed to tell Jimin about it. 

Jeongguk opens up the piece and squeezes his eyes shut, scared of Jimin’s reaction. Jimin takes a sharp breath in and Jeongguk squints one eye open to see if it was okay. 

“I-it was from my dream, I had dreams about you before...” Jeongguk sighs, unable to finish the sentence but he urges himself to continue. “I needed to draw it because it was beautiful.” 

“Jeongguk…” 

“Do you like it?” 

“I-,” Jimin starts but doesn’t finish. “This is…” He runs his fingers over the painting, similar to what Taehyung did. Jimin’s eyes are wide and completely consumed with it. Jeongguk leaves him to take it all in, he was sure Jimin would find words eventually.          

“Why do you like me?” 

Jeongguk wasn’t prepared for that. He was prepared for Jimin to think his painting was too much, or for it to be beautiful. But he wasn’t expecting that. 

“I think you’re beautiful.” It was easy. Jeongguk was honest and it was so easy to be with Jimin. Jimin looks at him the same way he did some nights ago but Jeongguk was determined to do something about it this time. “I think you’re incredible.” Jeongguk shifts closer so that their knees touch where they’re sitting on the floor. Jimin was quiet for a moment, mulling over Jeongguk’s words for a moment before he began to lean in. Jimin’s hands held his face to bring him closer and the softest of kisses was placed on Jeongguk’s cupid bow. It was so sweet, it was almost unbearable but it communicated how touched Jimin was.

Jeongguk’s eyes are fluttered shut when Jimin pulls away. Jeongguk takes a breath and surges forward to capture Jimin’s lips properly, his lips still soft and plush against his. It wasn’t a moment where sparks flew or that made his heart beat out of his chest. It was comforting and safe. Jimin’s lips were warm as they moved against his, the soft sounds of their kissing filled the room and Jeongguk sags under the pressure of Jimin’s fingers. Against his neck, his shoulders, down his sides until they reach his hips. The action made a reticent buzz resonate under his skin, goosebumps raised on the pale skin of his bare arms. 

It’s Jimin who is first to brush his tongue tentatively against Jeongguk’s lower lip and he is more than willing to open up to him. If it was Jimin, it was more than okay. Jeongguk groans into the kiss, not expecting himself to be so loud when Jimin’s tongue reaches into his mouth to taste. Jeongguk moves closer, wanting to be so close he doesn’t know where his own body starts. Jimin pulls him closer by his hips and Jeongguk pushes him back until his back hits the couch. He climbs into Jimin’s lap without breaking their kiss and presses their chests together, not leaving an inch to separate them. Jimin is sure to feel the desperation in the way Jeongguk kisses him, the way he was breathless but continued to meet Jimin’s lips. The sounds Jimin made were barely there, soft mewls fed into Jeongguk’s mouth and it made him shiver, leaving his mind blank. 

“Jeongguk.” Jimin whispers softly. He ducks his head to press a kiss against his chin, against the mole that resides there. Jeongguk breathes, takes a deep lungful of air. Jimin kisses down his neck and nips at the skin with his sharp teeth. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk winces slightly, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. 

“I love it. It’s beautiful.” Jimin presses the words into his skin. Jeongguk nudged his nose against Jimin’s so he could kiss him again. 

“Wanted you to like it the most,” he sighs. Jimin presses a lingering kiss into his mouth before he leans back, effectively making the distance between them grow. Jeongguk will not have it. He scoots forward and leans against his chest, burrows into Jimin’s warm neck. “Wish I could see you like that.” 

Jimin’s silence makes Jeongguk wonder if he had said the wrong thing. Wondered if he heard it at all. But Jimin’s hand runs down the length of his back, a feather touch but comforting regardless. It was making Jeongguk sleepy. 

“You can.” The words are gently whispered against the brown tendrils of his hair. Jeongguk sits back to see Jimin’s expression. He smiles lazily and runs his hands softly down Jeongguk’s arms.

“No way…” Jeongguk breathes. He couldn’t believe it was that easy for Jimin to say yes to him. 

“I’d show you anything you want to see, Jeongguk.” Jimin laughs, Jeongguk’s favourite laugh. “I don’t know why you would want to see though.” Jimin’s hands settle on Jeongguk’s thighs. “You might get scared but-,” 

“I won’t!” Jeongguk objects. “I won’t, not of you. I’m not scared of anything.” 

“I do it out of primal instinct…” Jimin looked at him worriedly, the fear in his eyes was so clear when Jeongguk was this close. “I’m different when I transform.” 

“I want to see, hyung. Please let me.” Jeongguk cups his face in his hands and presses their foreheads together.  

“Taehyung’s going to kill me.” He says for the second time that day. Jeongguk smiles and pecks his lips because he couldn’t get enough. Jimin leans forward and kisses him deeper, indulging him and Jeongguk could tell just how much Jimin craved him too. Jeongguk relished every second of it.  

“I need to be naked.” Jeongguk almost chokes on the bite he had in his mouth. Their food delivery had interrupted their kissing and they were now sat with a considerable distance between them whilst they ate. “I meant, w-when I shift I have to be… naked.” 

“Okay, I won’t look.” 

“And I can’t talk, obviously, but I’ll understand what you’re saying.” 

“That would be kinda creepy, hyung.” 

“Why? We watched Jungle Book the other day, Bagheera could talk.” 

“That’s fiction, Jiminie!” Jeongguk shoves him on his side with a disbelieving laugh. 

“Reality is whatever you make it,” Jimin snickers. “But you’re right, it would be creepy.” Jimin scrunches his nose and Jeongguk holds himself back from kissing the soul out of him. 

“Just a little.” Jeongguk agrees, shoves another morsel of food into his mouth. He was impatient, he wanted Jimin to shift as soon as he could. “Are you okay with this?” 

“I trust you.” Jimin nods. 

“Why were you so hesitant?” 

“You pulled my tail.” Jimin says with a straight face.  

“You still haven’t let that go?” Jeongguk laughs incredulously.

“It’s the worst thing you could do!” Jimin defends. Jeongguk looks at him calculatingly and Jimin breaks with a grin. 

“It’s because I fear you’ll be scared of me if you see me as a predator. Panthers don’t hurt humans, they’re not bothered by them unless provoked but the fear is still there. It will always be there.” 

“You don’t scare me. You’ll still be the same to me, hyung. I will still like you and I’d still want you to be with me. You make me happy and being a hybrid isn’t going to change that.” Jeongguk reaches for Jimin’s hand and holds on to it tight. Jeongguk notices the way Jimin’s eyes get a little glassy before he untangles their fingers. 

“Turn around then.” Jimin says. Jeongguk does as he’s told and his heart begins to accelerate, the anticipation of seeing Jimin fully formed running through his veins. Jeongguk closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to calm himself, he needed to brace himself. He hears a small rustle behind him but he is rooted in place, not daring to turn around just yet. He feels a nudge on his elbow and Jimin comes into full view in front of him. 

Majestic. 

Jimin didn’t lie when he said he was bigger as a panther. He towered over Jeongguk’s kneeling figure. Jeongguk’s gasp gets caught in his throat and slowly but surely, he reaches out for him, to touch. Jimin comes closer slowly, like he was gauging Jeongguk’s reaction to him. Golden eyes stared right back at him, his pupils slightly dilated to make him look a little softer and not so fierce but it was so inadvertently Jimin that Jeongguk’s body rushed with excitement. He sniffs Jeongguk’s outstretched hand before rubbing his ear against his hand.  

“Jimin.” Jeongguk calls out softly. Jimin lies down before Jeongguk in all his glory, his head in Jeongguk’s lap. He can’t stop his hands from moving to pet his ears and Jimin purrs low in his chest. Jeongguk notices up close that Jimin wasn’t entirely black. He had a smattering of spots running along his body and Jeongguk wondered if it looked the same on his body as it did in the dip of his collarbones. 

Unknowingly, tears seem to collect at the corners of Jeongguk’s eyes. Jimin had his eyes closed, basking in Jeongguk’s touch so he couldn’t notice. His coat was silk beneath his fingers and Jeongguk couldn’t tear his hands away even if he tried. 

“You’re so beautiful.” Jeongguk whispers and Jimin growls in response. He gets up on all fours and comes face to face with Jeongguk, bumping their noses together just as a tear rolls down his face. Jimin whimpers when his bright eyes meet Jeongguk’s teary ones and Jeongguk never thought a sound could make him feel so helpless. He presses his eyes tight together to get rid of the tears whilst keeping his hands on Jimin. The place where Jimin seemed to like it the most was just in between his eyes, near his head so Jeongguk continues until he starts purring again. His eyes flutter closed but before he can even think, he feels Jimin’s tongue on his cheek. Jimin had licked him. Just like a cat would do if they liked their human. 

“Gross.” Jeongguk flinches, although there is no real disgust in his tone. “Your tongue is all furry.” 

It prompts Jimin to lick him some more, pushing him until Jeongguk falls to the floor on his back in hysterical laughter as Jimin continues to lick at his face. Jimin climbs over him and settles across his body and god, Jimin was heavy like this. He continues to lick until Jeongguk pushes his face away and grabs him around the neck to nuzzle his face into Jimin’s soft fur. Jeongguk strokes down Jimin’s sturdy back, past his jutting bones and down his strong trapezius muscles.

“I think I like it better when you can’t talk, you know.” Jeongguk says with a grin that Jimin can’t see. Jimin lifts himself a little bit and starts to paw at Jeongguk’s face which elicits a small giggle from his mouth. “I’m just kidding.” Jeongguk says, grabbing hold of Jimin’s paw and running his thumb over the large claw that protrudes when he squeezes. Jimin bites playfully at his shoulder with his sharp teeth and Jeongguk tries to push him off. Jimin rolls around on his back and Jeongguk can’t help but pet his underbelly. He squirms on the floor in delight and tries to grab hold of Jeongguk’s arm. 

“God, you really are something, hyung.” Jeongguk says in appreciation. He wipes under his eyes to catch the remaining tears and Jimin gets on all fours again and walks away from him. “Hey! Come back!” Jeongguk reaches out but Jimin is fast, moving to the back of their apartment where his bedroom was. He comes back several moments later in human form. He had on a pair of shorts with no top and Jeongguk thought he was going to combust right there. Jeongguk was right. The smattering of spots that were on his panther body was right there on his skin as small dots of discoloration. Jeongguk’s mouth waters.  

“Hyung, w-why did you..” 

“You were crying.” Jimin frowns and pulls Jeongguk to sit on the couch. “Were you scared?” 

“No! Of course not, I-...” Jeongguk’s throat was clogged up with too many words. Too many words that his mouth couldn’t spew all at once. “I was overwhelmed.” 

“It was too much?” 

“Overwhelmed by your beauty. How stunning and strong you looked like that.” Jeongguk laughs, at nothing in particular. Maybe because he was getting embarrassed. “Overwhelmed by how much you trust me.” 

Jimin wipes the corner of Jeongguk’s eye with a thumb and brings him closer towards him. Jeongguk rests a palm against Jimin’s beating heart, feels over the marks on his skin as he looks Jimin in the eye. This time, Jimin kisses Jeongguk hard. Completely takes his breath away and breathes him in. They kiss like air wasn’t needed, like nothing else mattered. Their tongues meld together and Jeongguk can’t help but bite down into Jimin’s full lower lip, making him moan and his fingers tremble against his face. Jimin was stubborn, not letting Jeongguk pull away but eventually they had to break away for air.  

“Tell me.” 

“What do you want me to say?” Jimin kisses his cheek and presses his nose against the softness. 

“Tell me how much you like me.” 

“I like you so much, Jeongguk.” Jimin’s gaze on him was making fire burn under his skin. The want and desire in his eyes couldn’t go amiss and Jeongguk was terrified. Terrified by how much he wanted Jimin. Jeongguk could do nothing else but convey it in a kiss, hot and heavy. His tongue laves over his strong jawline and down his neck nibbling into the skin. And Jeongguk couldn’t help but press his warm lips against the spots indented into his skin. The skin was raised just slightly and he hopes he was conveying how much he liked it, how pretty Jimin was.               

“I want my own pet name for you.” Jeongguk whispers against his ribcage, where the spots looked particularly pretty stretched against his skin.

“Not a pet.” Jimin says, almost a moan.  

“Not a pet name not because you’re a pet, but kind of like-” Jeongguk leans over Jimin’s naked chest and stops. He has to think about what he says before he says it because his mind runs faster than his mouth. 

“A lover?”

“Y-yeah.” Jeongguk flushes bright red. Jimin presses his fingers into Jeongguk’s shoulder, a soft touch to calm him. To let him know it was okay. 

“Okay.”

“I want to call you Kitty.” Jeongguk says and Jimin looks at him in disgust. He was baffled that the word even came out of his mouth.  

“Out of anything you could’ve chosen-,” 

“I don’t want you to associate that name with bullies anymore.” Jeongguk interrupts and Jimin’s face neutralises. “I want you to think of me. Just me.” Jeongguk says the words softly, runs the tips of his fingers against Jimin’s collarbones.          

“I always think of you, love.” 

The term of endearment makes Jeongguk’s breath hitch in his throat. The laugh Jimin presses into his mouth tells him that Jimin knew exactly what he was doing when those words left his mouth. 

Chapter Text

Jimin wakes up feeling way too warm. An arm is draped over his waist and Jeongguk’s face is pressed against the back of his neck. Jimin’s tail is curled around Jeongguk’s leg instead of his like it usually is, that may have to do with how Jeonggk’s thigh is slung over his own. Jeongguk is in a deep sleep, breathing heavily against Jimin’s neck and he tries not to move a muscle. He didn’t want to wake him up. A soft hand moves up and down his pecs mindlessly, Jeongguk’s need for touch doesn’t leave him when he sleeps. 

“Jimini- Oh shit, what the fuck?!” 

Jimin glares at Taehyung, a finger to his lips to tell him to shut up. If Jeongguk so much as moved a muscle then Taehyung was about to get it. If Jeongguk woke up from his precious sleep then Jimin was going to have to kill Taehyung. He wasn’t supposed to be back yet anyway.

“Did you guys fuck?!” Taehyung shouts, disregarding all of Jimin’s warnings. 

“Mmm, yeah.” Jeongguk’s arms leave Jimin’s body when he groans. He hums low in his throat whilst he stretches his arms above his head and untangles his legs to stretch them out too. 

“No! We didn’t.” 

But Jimin looked at the compromising position they were in, both of them had their torsos bare and Taehyung couldn’t see their pyjama bottoms from under the duvet. Jimin looks at Jeongguk, watches as he winks at Taehyung. 

“I knew it!” Taehyung claps his hands once and points at the two. “I called it, I’m gonna tell Hoseok hyung!” 

“Tae, wait!” Jimin sits up. Jeongguk doesn’t seem to like that and pulls on his arm so he falls back against his pillow again.  

“Hey,” Jeongguk says as soon as Taehyung is out of the door, presumably to ring Hoseok. He leans closer to press a kiss against his cheek. “Good morning.” Jeongguk smiles at him softly.   

Jimin gulps before he nods in greeting, not used to this kind of affection. They were laying in Jimin’s bed, the soft scent comforting them both beyond compare but this was new. It was strange but still, Jimin felt so at peace. Jeongguk more so when he sees him nuzzling his face into Jimin’s pillow. Jimin unravels the duvet from where it had bunched up between them and Jeongguk scoots closer to him under the sheets.  

“Did you sleep okay?” Jimin runs his hand through Jeongguk’s hair to push it back and away from his face. 

“Like a baby.” Jeongguk smiles again. Jimin wonders if Jeongguk was always this happy in the mornings. His head leans against Jimin’s shoulder and he gets fascinated with the marks on his skin again. Jeongguk’s soft mouth presses against his body, caressing all of his little spots on his skin. 

“Jeongguk.” Jimin says, a small whine in his voice. He wasn’t used to this, he had never felt so wanted before.

“Pretty hyung.” Jeongguk whispers against his nipple.

“I-I have to tell Tae,” Jimin’s breath gets caught in his throat. Jeongguk is soft and gentle, and he treats Jimin like he is too. Jimin was sure Jeongguk knew exactly what he was talking about. Taehyung had begged him for years, ever since they became friends but if Jeongguk wasn’t scared then he knew Taehyung wouldn’t be either. He wouldn’t lose him.    

“You should just show him.” Jeongguk murmurs. “Show him how beautiful you are.” 

Jimin’s palm presses against his chest to stop Jeongguk’s lips from moving against his skin. He wanted to think for just a moment. 

“I’ll speak to him first and then…” 

“You’ll show him?” Jeongguk finishes off. Jimin nods solemnly. The fear still lingered in his head because he was just so convinced that they would be scared of him. Scared of a predator. But Jeongguk had surprised him and he trusted Taehyung not to be scared of him too. “Can I have a kiss before you go?”

Jeongguk is unbelievably soft in the mornings, his voice was deep and words a little slurred. A little bit whiny, too. His movements are hazy and he pulls on Jimin’s arm to bring him closer. 

“Of course.” Jimin sighs and grabs Jeongguk’s waist. He brings him closer so their bodies are pressed flush against each other. “I would give you anything you asked of me” 

When Jimin finally manages to pull himself away from Jeongguk’s insistent kisses, he pulls on a top just in case and walks to the kitchen. Taehyung is eating a bowl of cereal and he reaches for Jimin as soon as he sees him. 

“Don’t say it.” Jimin grumbles. 

“I told you so.” Taehyung teases. “And now you’re fucking in my home, disgusting.” 

“We didn’t, we just… kissed.” 

“Is that what you guys are calling it?” 

“Taehyung.” 

“Okay, I’m sorry I’m sorry.” Taehyung laughs. “I believe you. I’m glad you kissed, it was getting unbearable to see you both wanting to jump each other but not doing anything about it.” Jimin ignores his crudeness. 

“I have something to confess.” Jimin says and Taehyung looks at him skeptically. Jimin takes a deep breath but his shoulders stay hiked up to his ears. “Last night... I shifted.” 

Taehyung’s eyebrows get lost in his fringe and he almost chokes on his cereal milk. 

“He got to see before I did?!” He shouts. “How could you? All of a sudden you get a boyfriend and you forget about me!? I’ve been begging you for years, Big!” 

“I-I’m sorry! He asked and I couldn’t say no, his eyes were so big and I was just caught up and he wanted to see-” 

“I’m gonna kill you!” Taehyung grabs him around the neck with his hands. 

“I’m sorry, hyung.” They whip their heads to see Jeongguk hovering by the entrance. “I’m sorry I made him do it.” 

“N-no, you didn’t make me Jeonggukie. It was my fault, I wanted to-”

“Hey!” Taehyung shouts. 

“See? That’s exactly what I mean, he’s like a little puppy! How could I have said no to that?” Jimin pushes Taehyung off his stool, playfully. He grabs his elbow to make sure he didn’t lose his balance entirely. 

“Jiminie, please show me too.” Taehyung’s volume lowers and he pulls at Jimin’s hands, his eyes soft. A complete contrast to the anger that was burning inside of them only seconds ago. “I’m a puppy too, I want to see too.”

“If you promise me you won’t fear me.” Jimin sighs. “Promise me you won’t treat me any different?”

“I would never, Big.” Taehyung pouts. “I haven’t ever.” 

“I know, and I’m sorry.” Jimin hugs Taehyung. “I’m sorry I didn’t show you all this time, I was just scared. For no reason, I know that now.” 

“You are forgiven but only because Jeongguk looks like he’s about to cry.” Taehyung holds him tighter so he can’t look at Jeongguk. “God, you were right about those eyes.” he giggles and Jimin clings to him for a while longer. 

“Turn around then.” 

Jeongguk and Taehyung face the wall like they had been scolded whilst Jimin undresses and shifts into his full form. He nudges his nose against Taehyung’s bottom and he turns and gasps. Jeongguk turns too and watches them, taking a step back and enjoying Jimin’s full form and allowing the two of them to have their moment.  

“Big…” Taehyung whispers. He kneels to the floor and reaches out to touch Jimin. He purrs to make Taehyung more comfortable and it urges Taehyung closer, bumping their noses together. He wraps his arms around Jimin tightly and Jimin paws at his stomach to stop him from suffocating him. “I can’t believe you never let me see you like this!” Taehyung strokes along his fur with interest, feeling the silk coat underneath his hands. Another hand touches him along his side and he knows it’s Jeongguk wanting to touch too, not being able to resist. 

“Hey Jeonggukie, you know we can talk about Jiminie now without him being cheeky and talking back.” 

Jeongguk sits to the side of him, fascinated by Jimin’s silky fur and getting entangled in his tail. 

“We can tell him how beautiful he is because he doesn’t let me say it when he can speak.” Jimin turns and presses his nose into Jeongguk’s neck, his whiskers tickling him and making him laugh. It was purely instinctual but he rubs his face along Jeongguk’s neck. Scent marking. Panthers only seemed to do it when they felt possessive over something or to mark their territory and he wanted Jeongguk to smell like him. He didn’t want anyone else near what was his.   

“And how strong.” Taehyung sighs, playing with Jimin’s tail and wrapping it around his wrist before he tugs. Jimin turns his attention back to Taehyung and licks at his face. He sees how happy Taehyung looks, how excited and fearless he was with Jimin’s full presence and it makes Jimin so happy. “You weren’t lying when you said you were big, you could smother me.” Taehyung sighs and Jimin does exactly that. His paws rest on Taehyung’s shoulders and his jaw sits on his head, engulfing his whole body. 

“Get off , naughty cub.” Taehyung reprimands and Jimin does nothing but lick the side of his face. Taehyung’s laughs are so rewarding, his best friend was happy and that’s all that mattered. “Thank you.” Taehyung whispers after being playful. “Thank you for letting me see, Big.” he says, scratching behind his ear. Jimin purrs and lets himself be stroked and petted. He loved all the attention he was receiving from the two of them.  

Eventually, Jimin shifts back after Jeongguk and Taehyung have had their fun. He goes back to the privacy of his bedroom to shift back and he showers and gets ready for the day whilst Jeongguk waits for him to drop him back home. 

“So…” 

“So?” 

“Taehyung called us boyfriends, are we?” Jeongguk was so direct and Jimin loved it. He didn’t like second guessing himself but it seemed as though Jeongguk wasn’t going to allow it. 

“We can be whatever you want us to be, love.” 

“Stop calling me that.” 

“Why? Because it makes your cheeks red?” Jimin snickers. “You’re cute.” Jimin boops his nose with his finger and momentarily forgets that he could kiss it now, so he does. 

“You’re going to kill me.” Jeongguk sighs but he means no harm. He pulls Jimin closer to press a sweet kiss to his lips. “I like you so much.” 

Jimin kisses him a bit more meaningfully this time, presses his tongue in his mouth just like Jeongguk likes. He loves when Jeongguk can’t control the sounds coming from his chest when they kiss this way.

“Let me take you home.” Jimin whispers against his lips, his hands still running through Jeongguk’s hair. He nods and Jimin places one last kiss against his lips before pulling away. 

“Thank you for not being scared of me, thank you for trusting me.” Jeongguk says when they take a walk, their hands clasped together tightly. Their hands sway gently in the breeze. He is sure that it should be him saying that but Jeongguk was so sweet. So kind and considerate, he didn’t expect anything less. Jimin turns to smile at him before looking away. But he is sure the blush on his cheeks gives him away. Jimin couldn’t express in words what he was feeling but he held on tighter, hugged Jeongguk that little bit harder. Hoping he felt what Jimin was thinking. 

And that’s how they find themselves becoming more than friends. Falling for each other as time goes by. Wanting every moment to begin and end with each other. Finding time to fit in with each other’s routines, their schedules automatically shifting to accommodate them. It was so, so easy. Jeongguk was comfort, patience and love personified. Jimin had found himself falling in love fast and hard, Jeongguk was someone he needed so badly in his life. He was so thankful that the world had gifted him someone so precious and kind. Someone who made his life better with just one text or one look or one touch or one kiss. It was everything Jimin dreamed of and more. Sometimes he couldn’t believe Jeongguk was his to have and to love.   

“And panthers are asocial cats, they hate people! That’s literally you!” Jeongguk says as they lay on his bed. Jeongguk is cuddled into his chest, telling him about his day but as usual he goes off on a tangent and began telling Jimin about panther facts he had read online. 

“And did you know that a black panther’s saliva stimulates Vitamin D absorption? You should lick me more so I can get more absorption, it’ll be good for me.” 

“Do you need a reason for me to lick you?” Jimin laughs. He hadn’t shifted again after the first time but Jimin knew how much Jeongguk wanted him to. It had been weeks but Jeongguk was waiting for Jimin to want it too because he didn’t want to cross any boundaries. Jeongguk was patient and Jimin was thankful for it. 

“And also! Black panthers love to swim, they love the water but we don’t have any water nearby.. Maybe if we drive out to Jinyang lake? That’s pretty much empty and we can have a day in the water where you can be yourself…” Jeongguk says. Jimin already knows his mind is working a million times a minute and he can’t help but press a kiss to his cheek, a trail down to his chin. To distract him. It doesn’t work. 

“And panthers can climb up trees to hide and rest there, did you know?!”     

“I’m literally a panther.”

“And I'm human, doesn’t mean I know everything about myself, hyung.”

Jimin rolls on top of him and smothers him in kisses this time with laughs pressed into his mouth. Jeongguk was so lovely, he was so special and Jimin had no idea what he did to deserve him. He mumbles a series of cute names into Jeongguk’s neck and buries his face there just to rest, settling in between Jeongguk’s legs. They both had an intense week of exams and this was their time to do nothing but enjoy each other. 

“You’re so special, hyung.” Jeongguk whispers, just as Jimin drifts off to the rhythmic way Jeongguk was stroking along his spine. He shakes himself awake and pulls away to look him in the eye.

“I’m not.” Jimin sighs and presses a kiss to his lips. “It’s funny, it’s exactly what I was thinking about you.”

“You’re more special than I am.” 

“Says who?” 

“Says me.” Jeongguk pushes him to lay back and rolls his body on top of Jimin’s and kisses his cheek. “Why can’t you see it?” 

Jimin waits a moment. Let’s the question sink in as he thinks about it, maybe a little too hard. But Jimin wants nothing more than to be honest with Jeongguk, he wants to show him everything. He wanted Jeongguk to know everything the same way he wants to know everything about him too. Jeongguk had shown him multiple times that he wanted him in his life, and wanted to be with him more importantly. It was only right if Jimin could reciprocate. 

“Because I can’t see it.” Jimin sighs and Jeongguk puts a little space in between them. So he can watch Jimin’s face. It was evident in the way Jeongguk looked at him. He knew Jimin was opening up to him. It took so long, months and months of Jeongguk persevering in chipping away at Jimin’s walls. Jimin could see the relief and wonder in Jeongguk’s eyes. Jimin cups his cheek in his hand, endeared and full of bewilderment. “All my life, I couldn’t see it. But you make me see it.” 

“My whole life I felt like a burden. An anomaly.” He takes a deep breath before he goes any further. But Jeongguk is staring right up at him, entranced and listening intently, looking at Jimin for the pain that he will inevitably see in his eyes. He thinks it will be okay. If it’s Jeongguk, it will be okay. “My parents were killed because people thought they were breeding hybrids but they just loved each other and wanted a family. Their intention wasn’t to breed predator hybrids, I was only six years old when they were killed but my mother-... She told me to run. To hide.”

Jimin sighs and Jeongguk shifts. Jeongguk’s palm rests on his chest, holding him down. A soft plea to stay right where he is, in fear that Jimin will turn away, push him back and close up again. To hide. Jeongguk shakes his head no, his eyes watery and his lips downturned slightly. 

“I’m not going anywhere, baby.” Jimin whispers. The name makes Jeongguk’s breath stutter, his body pressing into Jimin harder. 

“Jimin.” Jeongguk breathes before he reaches up and presses his lips against his chin. “Please talk to me.” Jimin nods at that, afraid of Jeongguk hurting. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. 

“I didn’t want to hide, not in the way she wanted me to but I was alone for a long time. Sometimes I thought maybe she was right, that I couldn’t do anything except hide. I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to be just like every other kid. I wanted a life.” Jimin brushes Jeongguk’s hair back and he hopes the water that lines his eyes will not spill over. Jimin didn’t want pity. 

“It’s not pity.” Jeongguk sighs and shuffles forward so he can bury his face in Jimin’s neck. “You’re looking at me like you know what I’m thinking but you have no idea…”

“It was a struggle but I’m fine now, I’m good.” Jimin smiles to himself. “I have you.” Jimin holds Jeongguk a little bit tighter, squeezes him to make sure he is okay. 

“You have me…” Jeongguk whispers. It seemed like Jeongguk liked the sound of that, the words a confirming statement to just how much he felt for Jimin. And Jimin was content with that, more than content. He was so happy to have his own person. His own Jeongguk.  

🐾

Jeongguk waits outside Jimin’s class like he usually does, leaning against the wall beside the door to avoid the rush when the class is dismissed. 

“He is so weird, the one time he decides to speak he messes it up.” A few girls come out of the class laughing and Jeongguk doesn’t want to believe who they were talking about. Jimin stumbles out but he doesn’t see Jeongguk pressed up against the wall as one of the guys from his class steps on the back of his shoes. He watches as Jimin looks across the yard towards Jeongguk class, maybe thinking he was still in there. 

“Oh come on, Park.” Jeongguk shuffles back to stand around the corner just as Jimin turns to look at the boy. “You’re not even going to fight back?” 

“Why do you want me to fight back so bad?” Jimin says under his mask. It was probably the most he has seen Jimin speak to anyone other than him and Taehyung.

“You really think you’re clever, Park?” the boy smirks and Jeongguk has to take a deep breath to hold himself back as he watches him get closer. If the man so much as lays a finger on Jimin, he would have to throw all his inhibitions out the window and attack. “You think I don’t know anything, right? Because you’re so clever, getting all the answers right but I know more than you think I do…” he grabs Jimin’s collar even though Jimin’s feet are firm on the ground but it is enough for Jeongguk to move. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” 

“Jeongguk-ah, hey, let’s go?” Jimin brushes the boy off, his hands leaving Jimin’s collar in the process and walks towards him. Jeongguk sees the way Jimin’s eyes smile but it wasn't true, it was fake. He was pretending like Jeongguk didn’t just walk into their almost fight. 

“What were you doing?” Jeongguk asks the boy again. Jimin tugs at his arm but Jeongguk stares the guy down. No one could be mean to his Jimin, he wouldn’t allow it. 

“We were just having a chat, I didn’t know it concerned you.” the man scoffs, looking Jeongguk up and down. “Are you his boyfriend or something? Got someone to protect you now, Park?” 

“Jeongguk-ah, let’s go?!” Jimin emphasises the words with a sharp tug to his arm. 

“I think I asked you what the hell you think you were doing?” Jeongguk steps forward, ignoring Jimin completely. He could see nothing but red, he was so angry. He was angry at Jimin too for hiding this from him. The man steps forward too and gets into his space. 

“I think I was teaching little kitty here a lesson. He needs to man up-,” 

“I ought to teach you a fucking lesson-,” Jeongguk grabs him by the collar but Jimin is pulling him back and away before he can do any harm. His arms wrap around Jeongguk’s waist and he is hauled away whilst shouting curses at the man who laughs in his face, continued to laugh even when he was metres away. 

“Let me go, you animal!” Jeongguk says through gritted teeth when they were far away enough. Jimin still didn’t let him go.  

“Animal?” Jimin says with hurt lacing his tone and Jeongguk realises his mistake. It was a spur of the moment thing to say, he didn’t mean it in the way Jimin may have thought. Jeongguk was the one being an animal right now. Jimin’s arm tightens nevertheless. 

“Jimin, let me go right now.” Jeongguk tries to unwind his hands but Jimin makes it difficult. He stops and just stands there holding Jeongguk up.

“Calm down, and then I’ll let you go.” he says against his back. 

“I’ll be fucking calm when you let me go!” Jeongguk wriggles some more in his hold and Jimin starts to walk again. Jeongguk can’t help but be subjected to this torture, no matter how much he tried not to think about how he was being manhandled, it wouldn’t get out of his mind. He crosses his arms with an intense frown on his face and lets himself be carried, without thinking too much into how Jimin’s arms might be flexing and how he was using his core strength to hold Jeongguk up. He wonders what it would be like if Jimin was in his panther form, his strong body carrying Jeongguk effortlessly on his back... 

“See? You just have to be a little calm. I’m going to put you down now, okay?” After a few minutes of silence, Jimin slowly puts him down and before he could even think Jeongguk was walking away from him. 

“Jeongguk!” Jimin shouts behind him but he was still so full of fury. “Where are you going?!” 

Jeongguk doesn’t answer and continues purposefully along the path to his home before he breaks out into a jog. If he was angry, he didn’t want to talk to Jimin at all. Besides, Jimin was probably angry at him for calling him an animal. He didn’t want to face it. Jimin didn’t let him hit the guy and that was all that was running through his mind, he needed a punch to his face to knock some sense into him and to stop him from bullying his precious boyfriend. Jeongguk would do anything to protect Jimin and to keep him safe because he knows that Jimin has had to fend for himself all of this time. Jeongguk wanted to be a remedy for Jimin, someone to lean on and rely on. That’s all he wanted. 

The hot tears of anger and frustration run down his face unknowingly and he wipes them away in a haste before increasing his pace into a run so he could get home quicker. Jeongguk hopes Jimin won’t follow him home, but he knew it was unlikely. When he gets home he collapses into his bed with defeated sobs, curling up into a ball and drowning the world out so he could deal with his emotions by himself. 

His phone buzzes a little while later and he unlocks it to see a message from Jimin through his tears. 

‘Can you please open the door for me?” 

‘If you need space that’s fine, but I really want to see your face right now.’

‘Go away.’

‘I just want to make sure you’re okay.’

‘I’m sorry for getting you involved in that situation, I didn’t want to put you through that.’

‘I’ll leave…’

‘I hope you have a good night, message me if you need anything or just call me. I’ll be right here for you, love <3’

Jeongguk stares at the messages for a few seconds, Jimin was just so nice and it made his heart ache. He throws his phone on the bed and rushes out of the room to hopefully get to the door in time. Jimin was at the top of the stairs ready to descend but he noticed Jeongguk before he could. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk tries not to whimper and he doesn’t want Jimin to know he had been crying . Jimin was in front of him in seconds, pulling him into his chest and cradling his head against his neck as he closed the door shut with his foot. 

“What’s wrong, baby? You had a bad day?”

Jeongguk sniffles in his neck and nods his head. 

“And I made it worse for you, I’m sorry.” Jimin whispers the apology into his hair but Jeongguk shakes his head no. Jeongguk drags him back to his room and they cuddle on his dishevelled bed, Jimin placing sweet kisses against his hair to help him feel better. 

“H-hyung…” Jeongguk says after a while, he turns in his arms to look at him and Jimin stares back with an expectant look. “I’ve never asked you before because I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. But this once, could you shift?” 

“You want me to shift?” Jimin asks and Jeongguk nods. 

“I want to cuddle and soft things make me feel better.” Jeongguk frowns, almost embarrassed with his confession. Jimin looks at the plushies at the bottom of his bed before he looks at Jeongguk again. Jeongguk’s cheeks turn red. 

“Anything for you.” Jimin whispers before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “We’ll have to close the curtains, we can’t let anyone…” 

“You can close them, it's okay.” Jeongguk says, squeezing Jimin’s hand in his once for reassurance before he lets go so Jimin can do what he needs to do. Jeongguk faces away from him to give him his privacy whilst he gets ready to shift and before he knows it, there’s a heavy weight making the mattress dip more than usual. Jeongguk turns around to see Jimin curled around his body, the length of him taking up most of the space and heavy on his bed. Jeongguk scoots closer, reaching out to feel the soft fur on Jimin’s belly before curling his hand into the fur and pressing up against him even closer. Jimin purrs and licks the side of his face before tucking Jeongguk’s head under his jaw.

“I don’t like to see anyone treat you like that, hyung.” Jeongguk whispers. However, it was loud enough for Jimin to hear. Jeongguk strokes down his back softly, so soft. Jimin whimpers quietly and they both knew this was exactly why Jeongguk needed him to shift. So he could talk. So he could make Jimin understand. 

“I get why you don’t say anything or stand up for yourself because if any of them found out…” Jeongguk shudders at the thought of what they would do. “But don’t shut me out. Let me help you fight your battles, don’t be so secretive with me.” Jeongguk suppresses his tears. “Not with me, please trust me.” Please love me. He wants to say but doesn’t. Jimin nudges his face towards Jeongguk and bumps his nose against Jeongguk’s, softly and full of trust and longing. He sees it in the way Jimin’s panther eyes stare right through him, a little dilated but so very pretty and heartwarming. He slings a heavy paw over Jeongguk’s waist and brings him a little closer into his body to hold and it makes Jeongguk let out the smallest of laughs. “You’re so beautiful… I’m so lucky.”

Jimin presses his face into Jeongguk’s neck, scenting him so he can no longer look at his beauty but Jeongguk knows if he was in his human form, he would be blushing red.

“I’m sorry for calling you an animal too, that was really insensitive of me but my mind was clouded with anger.” Jeongguk pets his ears and Jimin closes his eyes in bliss. “It’s not an excuse but I hope you will forgive me. I promise it won’t happen again, hyung.” Jeongguk frowns but Jimin’s throat rumbles in protest. Jeongguk scoots closer so he can lay against Jimin, surrounded by his softness and warmth.  

At some point, he wants to think they both drift off to sleep cuddled together but Jeongguk stirs awake to an empty bed some time later, the sheets rumpled but cold where Jimin should have been. He stretches his body out on the bed and chases the little warmth that he had. It was dim in the room, dark outside and he missed Jimin. He would still be here somewhere, he wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye so Jeongguk doesn’t worry too much. His body ached when he sat up. His bones crack when he stretches out his joints but the delayed onset muscle soreness settles in from this morning’s gym session and he winces in pain. The curtains had been opened again, the window cracked just slightly and he looked towards the lights of the city for a moment. The murky skies and the slight scent of rain made him shiver just a little. 

“Hyung,” Jeongguk rasped out when he finally felt human enough to get up. 

“In here, love.” Jimin’s muffled shout sounds from somewhere in his small apartment.  

Jeongguk finds Jimin in his kitchen, topless and cooking something that smelt like heaven. Jeongguk wraps his arms around Jimin’s bare waist and nuzzles into his neck. 

“What you doing?” Jimin elbows him in his side to get him away. But Jeongguk was still sleepy and very much cuddly and he missed Jimin’s warmth. 

“Scenting you.” Jeongguk murmurs and presses his nose harder against his pulse.

“Scenting me?!” Jimin says with an incredulous laugh. Jeongguk grunts at him and gives a kitten lick to his neck, the taste a little bit tangy with sweat. “Why in the fu-” 

“You do it to me, I want to do it to you too.” 

“You noticed that?” Jimin turns to look at him with a raised eyebrow. 

“Mm.” Jeongguk says with a grin pressed into his shoulder.

“Sorry, it’s a panther thing.” 

“I love your panther things.” Jeongguk sighs dreamily before he is trapped between the counter and Jimin’s hard body. Jimin smiles at him and presses forward to kiss him so softly. His tongue runs gently along his bottom lip before Jeongguk opens his mouth to suck it into his mouth. Jeongguk’s arms wrap easily around Jimin’s small waist, pressing them flush together and wiggling his hips a little to slot right into place. Jeongguk is so responsive under Jimin’s hands, his breathy sighs between their kisses portraying just how much he was enjoying Jimin’s mouth. They still hadn’t done anything much besides kissing but the way Jimin gripped at his hips, moving his own hips ever so slowly to grind into him to make him slightly hard had him holding Jimin so tight. Jimin kissed him some more until his mouth ached, his lips kiss swollen and so pink. 

“Jiminie, I n-need....” Jeongguk sighs when Jimin crushes his lips against his again. He switches off the stove to make sure he doesn't burn anything before he kisses him harder, like he wanted to consume Jeongguk whole. Jimin had never been this desperate before, it was always like he was holding back and Jeongguk was always wanting more and more and more. But here Jimin was, giving it to him. Finally making a move.  

“What do you need from me?” Jimin pulls back to ask and Jeongguk almost combusts at the sight Jimin was, his eyes were dark, predatory and full of want. But his lips, god his lips looked so plump and swollen. They were such a pretty colour, Jeongguk couldn’t stop looking at them. 

“Please can we-” Jeongguk arches his back slightly, so Jimin could feel how hard he was in his pants. He was still in a sleepy haze so he was being cuter than normal but he wanted Jimin to just ruin him. Jeongguk has wanted this for a long time. Jimin was so hot and Jeongguk was only human. Literally. Jimin pulls him hard against his body before walking him back into Jeongguk’s living space and pulls him onto his lap on the couch. 

“Take what you need, baby.” Jimin whispers, his hands gripping Jeongguk’s hips before he starts rocking them against his, guiding Jeongguk’s hips achingly slow against his own. Jeongguk throws his head back for a moment before his gaze settles on the way their hips grind together. Jeongguk was so hard and Jimin was going to make him come just like this. Jimin’s tail comes out from behind him and wraps around Jeongguk’s wrist, a soft comfort that makes him smile.

“Love this little thing.” Jeongguk pulls at Jimin’s tail and Jimin’s moan comes out unplanned, unhinged. Loud and obvious. Jeongguk raises an eyebrow. Suppresses a smile. “Oh?” 

“S-shut up.” Jimin’s eyes close momentarily and Jeongguk can no longer hold back his smirk. Jeongguk doesn’t hesitate to pull it again and it elicits an even bigger reaction, Jimin lifts his hips to press against Jeongguk’s crotch to increase the friction. “It’s sensitive.” 

“Why didn’t you just tell me it got you like this?” Jeongguk grins like a mad man, enjoying twisting his tail in his hand and pulling it hard.  

“Didn't want to scare you away.” Jimin says when Jeongguk kisses at his jaw.

“Hyung,” Jeongguk sighs. “Everything you think is going to scare me away only draws me closer to you, makes me like you more. You have no idea…” 

Jimin kisses him again in response. Jeongguk was sure Jimin was flustered with that, Jeongguk liked him so much that Jimin didn’t have a clue. Jeongguk wanted to show him. 

“Can I try something?” Jeongguk asks as soon as Jimin gives him a little space to breathe. 

“What is it?” 

Jeongguk pulls away and kneels onto the floor before Jimin. Actions speak louder than words. He didn’t want to have to say it out loud but Jimin’s eyes widened marginally and he grabbed Jeongguk’s elbow and brought him back onto his lap. 

“N-no.” 

“No?” 

“I want to try something first.” Jimin says but he looked slightly uncomfortable, like he didn’t really want this and it made Jeongguk wary. Gaging his every move. “Want you to be just like this, want to watch you get yourself off on me like this.” Jimin moves Jeongguk’s hips against his thigh desperately and he couldn’t help but let out the breath he was holding from the delicious friction Jimin was giving to him. He momentarily forgets about why Jimin was so hesitant when Jimin lets go of his hips so he can grind down harder on Jimin’s thigh, go at his own pace, drag it out slower than Jimin was guiding him. 

“H-hyung.” 

“You look so pretty, bun.” Jimin sighs, brushes his hair away from his face as he hitches his thigh up higher so it’s at the perfect angle for Jeongguk to grind down on. Jeongguk forgets about everything. He forgets where he was, what he was feeling when his head was this empty. The way Jimin looked slightly panicked earlier, he forgets it all. Because all he could feel was the fire burning under his skin, blooming from deep within him when Jimin kissed up his neck, his sharp teeth nipping at his sensitive skin. 

“Oh,” Jeongguk sighs, suppressing the moan that caught in his chest. 

“Don’t do that.” Jimin says, his voice deep and demanding. A frown marred his features and Jeongguk wanted nothing more to smooth it away. He presses his lips against his frown and his hips catch deliciously on his thigh, so good he almost shoves his fist in his mouth. “I want to hear it… want to hear how good you’re feeling.” 

Jeongguk can only nod but Jimin takes it upon himself to widen Jeongguk’s legs, separating them so that his legs are on either side of Jimin instead of having his thick thigh pressed against his erection. He whines in protest for just a second before Jimin is shoving him closer and Jeongguk grinds his hips down right on to Jimin’s big cock. The outline is evident in his sweatpants and Jeongguk salivates, wanting it so badly in his mouth. 

“Y-you’re so big.” Jeongguk gasps as Jimin manhandles him even closer, closer until their chests are pressed together. 

“Don’t look, just feel.” Jimin murmurs in his ear but Jeongguk couldn’t help thinking Jimin was almost telling him off. It was a little humiliating but it was nothing compared to how it made his stomach drop and then burn. Burn in shame. From looking without permission or the fact that he had got caught, spilling words from his mouth unfiltered. Jimin pulls him into a soft kiss that pulls him out of his head, smiles gently before urging him to roll his hips again. Jeongguk doesn’t hold back his moans this time, he lets them fall out freely and tells Jimin how hot this was. 

“You’re so hot.” Jimin whispers seductively, appreciative of all the sounds he was making.

“You want me to come like this, kitty?” Jeongguk says, his breath stuttered and careful. Jimin freezes at the word before his fingers dig deep into Jeongguk’s skin and lets out an almost feral growl. Jeongguk is immediately pulled into a kiss so hard he finds it hard to breathe, Jimin’s teeth biting his tongue, his lips, clashing their teeth together in urgency. Jeongguk has asked permission but this was more than enough of a response and with one final rub against Jimin’s hardened length, the drag slow and delicious, Jeongguk comes in his pants with a loud cry into Jimin’s mouth. 

Jeongguk’s arms wrapped around Jimin’s neck and his body felt so shivery, tingling under his skin from his orgasm and Jimin wasn’t stopping his ministrations. He rocked their bodies together slowly, making sure Jeongguk rode out his orgasm and he never felt more satiated than he did in this moment. Jimin wrapped all around him, his distinct scent prominent and their soft sighs mingled together. It was perfect. 

“I have to finish cooking, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin mumbles in his ear when he stops moving their hips together. He lifts Jeongguk ever so gently and places him beside him instead and presses a kiss to his hair. Jimin leaves Jeongguk in a mess, the stain on his pants wet and uncomfortable.  

“But-,” Jeongguk starts but Jimin is already walking away, his cock so obviously still hard in his sweatpants. Jeongguk wanted to reciprocate but it seemed as though Jimin didn’t want him to. Did Jimin not want him like that? 

Jeongguk had never felt so confused and he wondered why he felt like he had done something bad. Like maybe Jimin didn’t want that with him at all. Jeongguk doesn’t know why he felt so disappointed when Jimin brings him dinner and acts like nothing had happened, his boner long gone. He couldn’t help but blame himself for feeling so shitty about it. Maybe it was nothing. Or maybe it was him, maybe he was lacking in experience or Jimin wasn’t sexually attracted to him…  

Whatever it was, it made Jeongguk feel incredibly empty.  

🐾

Jeongguk wants the awkward thing that happened to be a one time thing. Anything sexual with Jimin shouldn’t make him uncomfortable, or either of them uncomfortable for that matter but that’s all he could gage when they had rutted against each other over a week ago. Jimin still behaved the same way with him, nothing had changed between them but Jeongguk was determined if anything to get closer to Jimin, to learn everything about him sexually too. He wanted to know what Jimin liked and he wanted Jimin to know what Jeongguk liked too. Jeongguk wanted to have sex with Jimin more than anything. He just didn’t understand why Jimin had acted so cautious and hesitant. Maybe he had misunderstood everything.    

In all honesty, Jeongguk was scared to try again. When it got a little too heated between the pair, Jimin had a knack at slowing things right down so that he didn’t notice that he was trying to push him away when they would eventually stop. But Jeongguk could see what Jimin was trying to do. He just didn’t know why . Jeongguk second guessed himself to the point where he even questioned whether he was attractive. Jeongguk was determined to keep trying but it always ended up with Jeongguk hard in his pants and Jimin pushing him away. He didn’t like the way it felt, the way it sat right against his chest and pressing down on him until it made him anxious. ‘Jimin doesn’t want me.’    

Jeongguk hits his limit soon enough though. 

When he meets Jimin at his apartment after a long day, he gets a little bit whiny. A little bit needy. And he wanted nothing more than Jimin’s hands all over him. Jeongguk wanted nothing more than to feel every bit of Jimin’s skin against his.

“Jiminie.” Jeongguk whines whilst pulling at his arm so he doesn’t get up. “Hyung.” 

“What is it?” Jimin laughs, a flush on his cheeks at Jeongguk’s insistence. He tries to get out of Jeongguk’s hold but he wraps his legs around Jimin’s waist and holds his head in place with a tight grip. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk repeats breathily. Jimin stays stock still and looks up at him expectantly. Jeongguk takes the dive. His hands move to Jimin’s buttons on his shirt and he takes one more look at Jimin, watches how his eyes dilate ever so subtly, and that’s all it takes for Jeongguk to know . Jimin wanted this just as much as he did. Jeongguk was so sure of it. He begins to unbutton his shirt, slowly. Dips down with his lips to press against Jimin’s raging pulse. And it’s fine, it’s perfect. Jimin’s soft sighs urge Jeongguk on, he presses kisses against his neck, nipping on the skin and making him squirm. Until. 

Until Jeongguk moves his hands to Jimin’s pants and Jimin pushes Jeongguk off of him in a second. 

“I-I need to study.” 

“Jimin.” Jeongguk frowns. “Is something wrong?”

“Actually, I think I forgot to get eggs! Taehyungie will kill me, be right back babe.” Jimin presses a kiss to his hair whilst doing up his shirt and then he is out the door. It was more than enough of an indication of what it meant. And Jeongguk was done trying anymore.  

Jimin didn’t want Jeongguk. And he didn’t know why it hurt so much when he already knew.  

Jeongguk was so confused. Jimin was giving him mixed signals and it wasn’t helping his sanity but the hurt was what was overcoming any of his logical thoughts right now. Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes as his mind conjured up thoughts of Jimin leaving, Jimin saying he didn’t want him, Jimin looking at him in disgust… it was almost unbearable.   

“Why did he just run out of here?” Taehyung comes in all bundled up. “He didn’t even take a jacket…” 

“Do you think Jimin hyung wants me?” Jeongguk asks, a lump lodged in his throat from his teary eyes and broken heart. He was sure his face was red from the crying but he needed to know and there was not a better person to ask than Taehyung.  

“Why would you ask that, cutie?” Taehyung furrows his eyebrows as he notices the state of Jeongguk. “Did he do something to make you think he doesn’t?” 

“I don’t know, hyung.” Jeongguk sighs. “He had to go get eggs.” Jeongguk was tempted to cross his arms petulantly. Taehyung raises an eyebrow and walks to the fridge and opens it before he shakes his head. 

“We have a full box of them.” 

🐾

“Jeongguk left.” 

“He did?” 

“Mmm.” Taehyung mumbles, a condescending expression as he looks up at Jimin above his glasses. 

“Oh.” 

“Where’s your eggs?” 

“My eggs?” 

“The eggs you had to urgently buy?” 

“I-,” Jimin slumps down next to Taehyung. “I’m such an idiot.” 

“Well…” Taehyung sighs. “I won’t argue with that.” 

“I’ll fix it… I’ve got this.” 

“Jimin, he thinks you don’t want him and we both know that’s not true.” Taehyung shuffles closer to him. “What are you scared of?” 

“It’s… not what you think. It’s not like that.” 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Taehyung asks politely. 

Jimin shakes his head but he does need to tell someone about it. If he lets it fester in his mind, he’ll explode in the worst way and no one deserves that. Especially not Jeongguk. 

“I just.” Jimin takes a deep breath and Taehyung pulls him into his chest. “I’m a panther, right?” Jimin says like Taehyung doesn’t fucking know. Taehyung pulls at his panther ears just to tease. 

“I couldn’t tell from the way your tail is wrapping around my arm.” Taehyung snickers but Jimin continues anyway. 

“We’re different, Taehyung. We’re born different, made different - however you want to think of it.” Jimin shakes his head and no, he will not cry about something like this. “Our...parts are different.” 

“Parts.” Taehyung says flatly. 

“Look, I’m just going to be blunt with you.” Taehyung hums and Jimin doesn’t know why he’s so shy. It was just his best friend. “I think Jeongguk wants to have sex and you know I’ve never done it before but it’s not just that, my dick has fucking spikes on it.” Jimin says it in one breath but it doesn’t make it any easier. His face flushes a bright shade of red. 

“Spikes?” 

“Yeah… like, fucking spikes.” Jimin gestures something with his hands and squeezes his eyes shut. “Spikes that hurt if…” 

“No, I get it.” Taehyung wasn’t a judgmental person at all but right now, he looked more curious than anything. There’s a moment of silence before “Can I see?” 

Jimin shoves Taehyung hard in his chest. “I hate you.”  

“No I’m being serious, I want to see-,” 

“My fucking boyfriend will have your throat if I showed you. I’m not even showing him!”

“Well, I know Jeongguk and I think he’d have the same reaction as me. He would be curious and with everything you have shown him, he hasn’t been scared or told you that he likes you less. In fact, Jeongguk is appreciative and completely in awe of you. Panther and human. He wouldn’t run for the hills, he would love you for who you are… spikes and all.” 

“L-love?” 

“Out of all that, that’s what you focused on?” 

“He doesn’t love me.” 

“Well it’s not for me to say, but I know love when I see it, Big.”

Jimin thinks about Taehyung’s words and knows himself that Taehyung was spot on. It was just his insecurities bubbling up and making him cautious and withdrawn. But Jeongguk didn’t deserve that. He deserved just as much love shown back to him that Jimin had been refusing to give him. God, Jimin was such an idiot. He turns on his back and badly wishes Jeongguk had been cuddled into his chest with him tonight. 

I miss you, baby.

Jimin sends the text and he checks it every other second to see if Jeongguk was awake. Jeongguk reads it after a couple of minutes but there is no response and Jimin knows he deserved that. He sighs deeply and falls into a fitful sleep and hopes he can make things better by tomorrow. But tomorrow comes and Jeongguk is nowhere to be found. He isn’t waiting for him outside of his class like usual and it makes Jimin’s heart clench painfully. Jimin didn’t want to make Jeongguk sad, not when Jeongguk made him so happy he was just being stupid. However, Jeongguk not being there today was a blessing in some ways. 

“Sorry, didn’t see you there, Park. You’re so small.” Mark says but it was fucking stupid. Mark was at least the same height as him, if not smaller. Jimin attempts to shake it off and walk away but his friends move to stand in front of him. “Is that Jeongguk guy your boyfriend or something?” 

“He is.” Jimin says with full assurance. 

“How did you get someone like him when you’re so… shitty.” Mark laughs. Scoffs. Insecurities were always swimming around him but Jeongguk wasn’t here, wasn’t talking to him and it makes it that little bit more believable. He wished Mark wasn’t right. “Seriously, you don't even talk I mean, you’re barely human. Do you both just sit in silence? Or does he do all the talking?” Jimin’s head snaps up at the ‘barely human’ but it couldn’t be. Mark couldn’t know, he was so careful. But the teasing remarks and snide comments makes him think maybe he knew something. And Jimin doesn’t forget the fact that everything Mark was saying was absolutely correct. Jeongguk didn't deserve someone like Jimin, he deserved much better. The confirmation of someone else saying made it hurt ten times more.  

“Hey Jimin-ah!” he hears a voice from behind him and he almost thinks it’s Jeongguk before he turns and sees Yoongi, Jeongguk’s best friend. “You ready to get lunch?” Yoongi asks but Jimin knows they had no plans for lunch. Jimin just wanted to go home. Jimin just wanted Jeongguk. 

“I have my eyes on you, Park Jimin.” Mark laughs condescendingly. “I could get you into a lot of trouble.” 

“Are you causing trouble, Jimin-ah?” Yoongi claps him around the back when they walk away and Jimin lets out a choked laugh.

“No more than usual, hyung.” Jimin says but he felt like he was suffocating. Did Mark know about him being a hybrid? It was practically impossible but there was always a slight chance that he could know. Somehow. It was so hard to know that he was in his final semester and if he had to run then it would be a shame, a waste of the past years in education. He didn’t want to run.  

“You want to stay away from those guys, it won’t do you any good.” Jimin nods his head at that but all he could think of was how he was going to save himself from the situation. He needed to be careful and not let it fog his mind or his thoughts. Mark was just provoking him, trying to get a reaction out of him because he was the quiet, clever kid in his class. That’s all it was. He didn’t know, he didn’t know, he didn’t know. No one knew. It was going to be fine. He tried to convince himself of that but he just couldn’t think straight. He needed Jeongguk. 

“Hyung, where’s Jeongguk?” 

“He didn’t come today, he said he wasn’t feeling too good.” Yoongi shrugs his shoulders. “I think he’s just wallowing in self pity and was too lazy to bother coming in.” Yoongi smiles and Jimin smiles beneath his mask too just out of courtesy. He knew what Jeongguk was like when he was tired and feeling lazy. He needed cuddles and a lot of love and attention… Jimin wasn’t about to let him go without it. 

“I n-need to go, hyung. Rain check on lunch?” 

“There will always be next time, Jimin.” Yoongi smiled understandingly. “Stay safe.” 

He realises far too long in his walk that he hadn’t even thanked Yoongi for pulling him away from Mark and his friends. Jimin would have to make it up to him soon when he gets a chance, maybe ask Jeongguk for his number so he could text him.  

“Go away.” he heard muffled from behind the door and there was a strong sense of deja vu. 

“Jeongguk, I’m not going until you talk to me.” Jimin sighs and leans his forehead against Jeongguk’s door. “We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” His voice is still muffled but it sounds much closer to the door. 

“Please, baby.” Jimin’s head presses hard into the door. He just wanted to see Jeongguk. Jimin knew that as soon as he did, all his worries would fade away into nothing as he got engrossed in the boy he lov- liked. Jimin’s heart clenches. He couldn’t believe he had found someone like Jeongguk and he was messing it up. 

“I’m sad so you’ll have to stay three feet away from me.” Jeongguk huffs when he leaves the door open for Jimin to come inside. Jeongguk’s home always smelt so much better than his, like sea salt and sage. Compared to the musky scents he and Taehyung always liked to burn in their home, Jeongguk’s preferred scent was like a breath of fresh air and he finally felt like he could breathe. 

“I missed you today.” Jimin shrugs his backpack off and gets rid of his mask so he can finally feel comfortable. Jeongguk doesn’t respond, he sits on his window sill looking out at the grey skies and the city beneath them. Jimin knows he’s messed up but he has never had to do this before. He doesn’t know how to do this. Jimin approaches Jeongguk with caution, afraid Jeongguk would refuse his touch or push him away. But Jeongguk doesn’t even flinch when Jimin slots in behind him, his arms around his waist and his face nuzzled into Jeongguk’s neck and he was finally home. Completely at peace. “Missed you.” Jimin whines again and there’s a small rumble in Jeongguk’s chest but he doesn’t say anything.          

“You don’t want me.” He whispers after a long beat of silence. The words shoot through his heart, he didn’t ever want Jeongguk to think that. It was entirely the opposite. 

“Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin sighs. “When have I ever said that?”

“You don’t have to say it, you show me enough.” 

“I don’t believe you.” Jimin says a little too quietly. He just wanted to hold Jeongguk and tell him how much he meant to him but talking about feelings was hard . 

“Why not?” Jeongguk stands with a frown at his face, annoyance directed at Jimin. “You just, just…” 

“I don’t believe that I show you that I don’t want you.” Jimin stands so their eye contact doesn’t waiver. “I want you so bad, so much that it scares me sometimes. Do you not see the want in my eyes? The hunger I have when I touch you?” Jimin reinforces his question in the way he grabs Jeongguk’s hips to pull him closer. “The desire I put into every kiss I give you?” 

When Jeongguk looks away, his cheeks flushed pink at the realisation, Jimin follows his eyes so he can look nowhere but right at Jimin.

“Then why don’t you let me touch you?” Jeongguk pushes Jimin’s chest lightly to push him away enough so he can take a step back. “Why can’t we go any further? You look so stupid when you’re holding yourself back… you want to fuck me so bad that it makes you look stupid! But you just won’t-,”

“There’s a reason I can’t, okay?!” Jimin says frustratedly. 

“If it’s small then I can fuck you, baby that’s not going to make me run away like you always think I am.” 

“What?!” 

“If your dick is small, hyung, then I can fuck you but I just want you. I don’t care abou-,” 

“It’s not small!” Jimin says defensively. He runs a hand through his hair, this conversation was going horrendously. 

“Then what the fuck is your reason?!” Jeongguk crosses his arms. “I didn’t think it was small, I felt it against mine and it was bigger than mine.”

“Jeongguk, for god’s sake, shut up.” Jimin laughs at how ridiculous this situation was getting but he pulls Jeongguk close again and buries his face in his neck, unconsciously scenting him. “I’m not ‘small’ by any means.” 

Jeongguk looks at him wide-eyed and nods his head. They move to sit on the couch and Jimin tests a kiss against his lips, to give him enough courage to continue. Jeongguk would understand, he knew he would but it still didn’t make it any less nerve wracking. 

“I’m sorry for making you feel like I didn’t want you, baby.” Jimin frowns and kisses Jeongguk softly with caution but Jeongguk willingly allows him to this time. “I wanted you so much but I couldn’t just… you could get hurt .” 

“Oh my god, hyung, are you too big?!”

“I thought I told you to shut up?” Jimin reprimands but Jeongguk can only pout and curl into Jimin’s arms, his shoulders relaxing into Jimin’s embrace. “It’s one of my panther things, I know you like most of them but I am not convinced you’re going to appreciate this one.” 

“What are you saying?” 

“My dick isn’t normal, Jeonggukie. It’s a hybrid just like me.” 

“Please talk to me in baby language.” Jeongguk’s face is small and Jimin wanted to kiss him all over. 

“The panther bit of it has spikes, well penile spines to be grammatically correct, and yeah it’s pretty big. If we have sex… first of all, you’d be scared at the sight of it and even if we tried the spines will catch and you’d get hurt.” Jimin tries not to tear up as he pets Jeongguk’s hair because he wants sex with him so bad but he knows it won’t be possible. “You deserve someone who can be normal, I’m sorr-,” 

“Don’t.” Jeongguk urges. “Don’t you dare apologise for what you are, hyung.” 

“But I can’t give you what you want. I wanted to be able to give you everything but I-...I can’t .”

“Let me see it.” 

“No, baby, that’s embarrassing.” Jimin lets out a watery laugh stopping Jeongguk’s hands from pulling at the waistband of his jeans. “I really wish I could make love to you, it just isn’t possible.” Jimin softens the words with a soft press of his lips to Jeongguk’s cheek.

“How do you know if you don’t show me?” 

“Don’t even think about it, cutie. It’s not going to happen.” Jimin hates the words coming out of his mouth but there was no way Jeongguk was going to compromise with him on this. “I never want to hurt you.” 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk whines. “Will you at least show me?” 

“I don’t want you examining me like a doctor…” Jimin rolls his eyes. “Plus, I’m sure I’ll get hard if you stare at it.”

“That’s good for my ego, now let’s go. Lay down on the bed.” Jeongguk manhandles him to stand up and almost carries him to the bedroom. 

“Jeongguk, we have to be careful about this. We need to talk about this.” 

“Do you want to have sex with me?” 

“I want to make love to you, yes.”

“Sap.” Jeongguk mutters under his breath with a look of disgust that lasts a total of two seconds. He gives Jimin a dazzling, cheeky smile after. “Let me make the decision for myself, I know my limits and I know what I can handle… okay?” 

“O-okay.” 

“Good kitty, now lay back.” Jimin goes down under the command of Jeongguk’s hands on him, unable to resist the soft voice of persuasion. He will let Jeongguk look and that is all. Then, he will deal with the breakup after. 

“Jeonggukie. Look at me.” Jimin asks softly. Wanting his eyes on him and only him for a moment, not on his crotch. “If we can’t… will you still stay with me or would you like me to leave?” 

“Hyung.” 

“I just need to know before I show you because I-I.” Jimin had the words at the tip of his tongue. I love you. But there was something stopping him from saying it. He couldn’t, it may ruin everything. Jeongguk was nice enough to stay with him if he said those words but Jimin didn’t want to be selfish. Jeongguk deserved someone who could make him happy. “I don’t want to lose you. But if it’s what you want then I won’t stop you, you deserve better than this. Better than me.” 

“We’ll make it work, Jiminie.” Jeongguk frowns and has an expression so hurt that Jimin immediately felt the urge to get rid of the pain in his eyes. “I want to be with you, for you not because of your spiky dick. I wouldn’t break up with you over something so trivial.”

Trivial. 

Jimin wishes he could think of it as that but Jimin was convinced it was the end of everything they had built. He was convinced that when Jeongguk saw it, he would break up with him and run for the hills. But Jeongguk was here, staring into his soul with longing and want and Jimin was incredibly impressed at how he seemed to amaze him every time. Jeongguk always stayed and he knew deep inside his heart that this time would be no different. 

“Okay, you can see.” Jimin lays back, his eyes trained on the ceiling instead of watching Jeongguk’s face like he wants to. Jeongguk unbuttons his jeans and pulls them down his legs, torturously slowly and then his underwear slips slowly down his thighs and Jeongguk gasps. His breath catches in his own throat, waiting for the inevitable. Jimin was entirely aware of what he was looking at. 

His thick, long length hanging between his legs but chubbing up with the way he could feel Jeongguk’s eyes on him. At the bottom, was where the spikes resided on top of a hidden knot that expanded just before an orgasm and that was when the spikes became erect and catch on whatever Jimin would be fucking into. In this case, Jeongguk’s rim and they would be locked in place for up to an hour before the spikes softened and he could pull out. But taking it out was the problem since the spikes were facing downwards. However, when his knot went down maybe it wouldn’t be so bad but he had never tested it. He hadn’t tested it on anything or anyone so he really wouldn’t know and Jeongguk wasn’t about to be his experiment. 

Jimin took a look down to see Jeongguk’s expression but his mouth was hanging open and his eyes were wide, maybe a little spit hanging down the side of his mouth. He didn’t know whether that was a good or bad thing. 

“I know i-it’s a bit much but… but. '' Jimin was at a loss of words. Jeongguk was going to run any second now. 

“You’re beautiful.” is what Jimin absolutely does not expect coming out of his mouth. “Fuck, hyung and you’re so big. Can I taste you?” 

“Jeongguk, what the fuc- oh .” 

Jimin didn’t have a chance to reply properly because Jeongguk’s mouth was already on his half hard length. 

“It’s like… fuck , so different to a human dick you know…” Jimin says and Jeongguk hums around his length bringing it all the way up to full hardness. “Because it has like a knot-”

“A knot?!” Jeongguk pulls off to ask. 

“A knot that expands as I’m about to come and then you know the spikes are on the knot so don’t, oh god ,” Jimin flings his head back as Jeongguk laps at the head of his cock with his tongue. “Don’t put your mouth on them, it'll hurt you.” 

“Oh my god, Jimin hyung, I’m going to make you come so hard… keep talking.” Jeongguk says breathlessly and Jimin doesn’t know how to respond to that. He was so sure Jeongguk was going to look at him in disgust but Taehyung was right, Jeongguk was intrigued and curious and wasn’t running away. Not at all. Jimin lets out a snort at how stupid he had been acting, wondering how he ever thought Jeongguk would break up with him over this. Jimin looks down at him and Jeongguk is staring right back at him with a mouthful. It was an obscenely delicious sight. The want in his eyes is all too good to be true but Jimin thinks it’s okay to let go of his fears, Jeongguk makes him comfortable enough to do so.  

“You want me to carry on talking about my knot?” Jimin asks and brushes his hand through Jeongguk’s soft hair so he can grab it at the roots to keep his eyes focused on him. “If you keep at it, my knot will stretch out your mouth so wide you’d struggle to keep it open. Your jaw will ache with how big it gets and you’d be locked in place like that for ages, can you imagine the pain?” Jeongguk’s mouth sinks down further with a soft mewl, his hips pressing down against his bed. He pulls off slightly to let his spit collect on his tongue, allowing it to rest right against his slit and it glides down before he takes Jimin’s cock down again making it wetter and the slide more easy. Jimin no longer has any more words. The back of his head hits the headboard when a growl rumbles deep within him at the way Jeongguk makes him feel. His knot pulses and Jeongguk brushes the tips of his fingers against it. The breath rushes out of him as he strokes along the spines, his fingers catching in between them.  

Jimin lifts his hips for a second, scared he was going to come right on the spot as he tries to tamp down on his impending orgasm just from looking at Jeongguk. Jeongguk has always been impressive to Jimin, but this absolutely takes the cake. His mouth is hot and his tongue is skilled as it kisses along his length and Jimin finds it hard to stay in place, his knot getting increasingly bigger. Jimin lets out a soft, contented sigh that encourages Jeongguk, a soft smile against his crotch when he looks down, his eyes sparkling. Watery from having his mouth stuffed. He inches down even further, his cheeks hollowed and sucking tightly and Jimin is gone. His lips barely brush against his knot but he is completely and utterly gone and- 

“Not yet, kitty.” Jeongguk says as he pulls off with a kiss to his tip and Jimin is stunned at the cheeky smile and the way Jeongguk had stopped him from coming. “Want you to come inside of me.” Jeongguk whispers against his lips and Jeongguk is under him in a second. 

🐾

Jeongguk lies beneath Jimin, his neck bitten raw. Bruised. The colour of deep red and purple littering down to the skin under his nipples. A work of art on his skin. A punishment from denying Jimin his orgasm but he was not complaining, not when it felt so good. His cock was hard in his sweatpants and Jimin’s teeth piercing lightly into his skin was clouding his mind, Jimin knew the exact fine line between pain and pleasure. Jeongguk was high off the feeling.

“Hyung, please.” Jeongguk begs. 

“We have to talk about this, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin says against his skin. “We can’t just fuck, I’ll hurt you.”

“I want it to hurt.” Jeongguk admits. “I like when it hurts.” Jeongguk’s face goes red at his confession but with Jimin it wasn’t hard to speak his mind. Jimin would never judge him for what he liked.  

“This is my first time, I don’t even know-, I don’t know a thing! Am I even making you feel good?” 

“You’re doing great, babe.” Jeongguk reassures. He didn’t want Jimin to feel scared of any of this, or hold himself back. Jimin knew exactly what to do to make Jeongguk feel good and that was enough. He hoped it conveyed well with the meaningful look he was giving him, the mindblowing kiss that he presses against his mouth. 

“I don’t want to test this out on you, maybe we should wait… prepare properly. It might hurt a lot and I don’t want to put you through pain. You’re too special and I won’t forgive myself for hurting you.” Jimin kisses him to soften the rejection. 

“You won’t know a thing if you don’t try .” Jeongguk wasn’t backing down on this. He wanted Jimin’s panther dick inside of him at the earliest convenience. “Let’s just try, I’ll tell you if it hurts too much and we can stop… but I want this. I want you.” Jimin still looks hesitant but Jeongguk brings his face closer so he can kiss against his lips as a form of persuasion. “Please, Jimin.”     

He is not above begging so he does just that. Jeongguk wants Jimin so bad but here he is, taking his goddamn sweet time to make a decision. Jimin resorts to kissing down his body and making him so hard it hurts. If he doesn’t get something inside of him soon, he will probably come in his pants just from the way Jimin looks at him. His eyes slitted and a deeper shade of yellow because of his arousal. It was making Jeongguk lose his entire mind. Never mind Jimin’s cock rutting against his thigh, the spiked knot catching against his sweatpants was insane. Jimin was insane.

“Did I get myself a little human knotslut? Hm?” Jimin smirks against the side of his neck, his voice was low and deep and Jeongguk was assured he wouldn’t survive this. “Why are you begging? You know you’re going to get what you want because you’re a brat. Especially with those pretty eyes…” 

“I want it now, hyung.” Jeongguk sighs. “I need it, fuck , now.” he chokes in the middle of his sentence when Jimin presses a hand to his crotch. 

“It’ll take a while, baby.” Jimin comforts him with his hands, dragging deliciously down the sides of his body. “Do you want me to make you come now and then open you up slowly?”

Jeongguk shakes his head no. He didn’t want to come until Jimin was inside of him, he could hold out for that long if he focused enough.

“I can do it, hyung. I can be patient.” 

“Good boy.” Jimin praises and grants him a soft kiss. One that Jeongguk chases and wants to have forever. “I’m going to grab a condom, okay?” Jimin presses one last kiss to his forehead and the sight of Jimin’s retreating back, his ass , will stay with him. It was glorious.

“Will your knot even fit in there?”

“In the condom? Probably not, but we have to be safe, my love.” Jimin smiles. “God, I can’t believe you’re letting me do this, I can’t believe you want me to make love to you.” Jimin says, his eyes scanning all over Jeongguk’s face in wonder. 

“Hyung, you underestimate how much you mean to me. Don’t be shy with me and don’t hide from me.” Jeongguk takes a deep breath. “Just let me show you how much I like you and I want you to do the same. Don’t hold back anymore.” 

“Okay…” Jimin nods. He wanted to show Jeongguk how much he loved him, it was way beyond a ‘like’ now but there was no way he could say that. He would eventually, but for now he would stick to showing him. Gently, softly, deeply. “Is this okay?” 

“Mmm, hyung, it feels nice.” Jeongguk says when Jimin presses the first finger deep inside of him, he goes slow as promised, but it was Jimin. It felt so different, so good when it was him. The way Jimin was looking at his exposed hole, watching as his finger rubbed inside of him, against the softness of Jeongguk’s ass. It was exhilarating. He had no shame with just watching himself move his finger in and out of him, opening him up slowly like promised. Jeongguk’s abs were clenched in anticipation, his fingers holding on tight to the sheets as he stared at Jimin’s beautiful naked body in between his legs. His brows furrowed, sweat collecting at his temples and his tail swaying back and forth behind him. Jimin was incredibly mesmerising and Jeongguk’s mouth was parched at the sight. “Another one, please.” 

“Of course, baby.” Jimin rubs a second finger around his hole and presses it alongside the first. “You’re so good, using your manners and telling me when you’re ready without me having to ask you. You’re doing amazing.” Jimin says before raising one of Jeongguk’s knees so the bottom of his foot is flat on the bed. He presses a kiss against the inside of his thigh and holds it there so he can litter kisses against the expanse of Jeongguk’s thick, inner thigh. Jeongguk doesn’t try to quiet down his moans and little whimpers, he lets Jimin hear exactly how good he feels. 

“Hyung, just- fuck .” Jeongguk sighs, reaches down to stop Jimin’s fingers with his fingers wrapped around his wrist. “Stop for a minute, let me just…” 

“Want to come?” 

“Y-yeah.” Jeongguk almost cries. “But I don’t want to yet.” 

“Just come, baby.” Jimin presses his fingers deeper, grazes the pads of them on the bundle of nerves that makes his cock twitch and moan out loud. “Let me see you do it.” Jimin bites into the meat of his thigh, his teeth catching the skin and Jeongguk’s nails press deep into Jimin’s wrist as he chokes on his breath and comes all over himself. 

“Jimin!” Jeongguk cries, his hips are raised off the bed but Jimin is quick to hold him down and let him take it. He continues to move his fingers slowly but it sends Jeongguk into overdrive, he was always so sensitive when he came. 

“Hyung to you, brat.” Jimin says with a pleased grin as he watches Jeongguk come down. He reaches up to kiss him and Jeongguk just melts into the bedsheets. Jimin was so attentive to him and Jeongguk doesn’t think he would ever get enough of him. Jeongguk whines when Jimin breaks the kiss and pulls him right back into him. He runs his tongue against the sharpness of his teeth and lets his tongue caress Jimin’s, they kiss messy and hot. Almost on the verge of suffocating until Jeongguk finally let’s Jimin go. 

Jeongguk reaches for a tissue to clean up the mess he made on his stomach until he feels something hot and wet right on his navel. 

“Hyung, no , what the fuck…” Jeongguk’s hand falls short and he turns his face to the side to shove into his pillow. Jimin couldn’t be this hot, he wouldn’t allow it. He couldn’t stand for it.

“Stop whining.” Jimin says once he licks Jeongguk clean. “It’s a panther thing.” 

“That’s your excuse for everything at this point.” 

“You taste good.” Jimin whispers against his lips before pressing a quick kiss against his mouth and turns his attention back to opening Jeongguk up again. Jimin goes a little faster this time much to Jeongguk’s advantage, he presses a third finger and then a fourth just to be extra cautious. When he pulls his fingers out and slowly rolls on a condom, Jeongguk almost combusts out of impatience. 

“Jiminie hyung, now please,” Jeongguk sighs, bracing himself for the best sex of his life. Jimin finally comes face to face with him and he can finally admire the way he looked, completely debauched and ruined from their activities. “You’re so pretty, hyung.” Jeongguk says when the tip of his cock pressed against his gaping hole. Jeongguk tucks a piece of hair behind his ear and moves his hand to play with his panther ears. Jimin growls before surging forward into a bruising kiss and effectively slipping right into Jeongguk. “Oh my god .” 

Jeongguk was sure he was seeing stars, Jimin’s width and length was everything Jeongguk imagined but amplified by ten. It was incredible. His knot was thick and the spikes were a little painful but more on the pleasurable side for now. 

“Are you okay?” Jimin asks but it was inaudible to Jeongguk. The pleasure was so intense that he couldn’t focus on anything besides Jimin’s cock inside of him. “Jeongguk-ah, are you okay?!” Jimin’s panic is evident in his eyes but Jeongguk was torn between answering and pressing him further inside. “Baby, do you want me to pull out? Is it too much?” 

Jeongguk eventually shakes his head no. 

“It’s perfect, you’re perfect, hyung.” Jeongguk says with a strained voice. “Fuck me, please fuck me.” and Jeongguk sees when Jimin lets out the breath he was holding and relaxes into Jeongguk’s hold.  

“I’m making love , Jeongguk.”

“Fuck that.” Jeongguk breathes. “Just go hard and fast, ruin me hyung.” 

Jimin tries and fails to contain his amusement and resorts to burying his face into Jeongguk’s neck. He began to move slowly but even that was a lot for Jeongguk to take; it was overwhelming how good Jimin felt. It was better than he ever imagined albeit he didn’t expect this. He never knew hybrids had different genitalia and Jeongguk was enjoying it a bit too much. Maybe he really did get lucky finding Jimin. 

“I want you to feel all of me.” Jimin says when he looks into Jeongguk’s eyes again. 

“I feel all of you hyung, I feel everything.” Jeongguk mutters, his words cut off slightly when Jimin goes deeper, the spikes catching on his rim. They weren’t too hard, enough to be bearably painful, but nothing he couldn’t handle. “You’re amazing, I’m so lucky.” 

“Think I’m the lucky one, baby.” Jimin says and kisses the tip of his nose. “You’re so warm, you feel so nice.” Jimin mumbles and kisses him for a moment. “I’m going to come too soon.” 

“Hold it in, hyung.” Jeongguk urges. “Want you to come with me, I’m not far off.” Jeongguk wraps his arms around Jimin’s neck and brings him into a searing kiss. All tongue and teeth and hard nips to bottom lips.             

“Yes, okay.” Jimin says into Jeongguk’s mouth. “Anything for you, my baby.” Jeongguk smiles at the words until Jimin goes a little harder, a bit deeper and the pain of the spikes catching on his skin makes him hiss. 

“Is it okay? Does it hurt?” 

“N-no, keep going Jimin.” 

And Jimin does, he keeps his pace steady until the familiar stirring at the pit of his stomach begins and Jeongguk knows he’s on the verge. He feels Jimin’s knot swelling up, getting bigger and bigger and stretching Jeongguk out everytime Jimin fucks into him. But Jeongguk is incredibly aroused by it, the pain morphing into pleasure as he continuously pounds into him. 

“K-keep going!” Jeongguk cries out with tears in his eyes. His mind was foggy with gratification and he had no idea what he was saying. He just knew he needed Jimin to come with him. “Don’t stop, hyung…” 

“Let’s come together, baby boy.” Jimin says the words in his ear, his mouth closing around his ear lobe and with one last thrust deep inside of him Jimin comes and the spikes press into his soft inner walls and that’s all it takes for Jeongguk to choke on his tears and come hard. Harder than he had ever before. His vision goes white for several minutes before he comes back to himself, comes back to Jimin pressing kisses into his tear-stained cheeks and closed lids. 

“Jeongguk-ah, I’m so sorry.” Jeongguk flutters his eyes open to Jimin’s troubled expression. Jeongguk was numb all over and still breathless but he had no idea what Jimin was sorry for. 

“Why?” 

“I was supposed to pull out before we got locked in place but I c-couldn’t…” Jeongguk strokes his cheek and tries to calm him down. “You felt so good, I couldn’t help myself and now we’re locked together for at least an hour I think, that’s how long it usually lasts.”

“You’re acting like that’s a bad thing, hyung.” Jeongguk smiles dazedly. “I would want to be locked with you forever if I could.” Jeongguk wrinkles his nose at his own cheesiness. 

“Disgusting.” Jimin says but his face is happy. Jimin looked happy and Jeongguk wanted to sleep now. “Does it hurt a lot?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk properly for a week.” Jeongguk groans but Jimin sports a panicked expression all over again. “That’s a good thing! Means you fucked me well.” 

“I hate humans.” Jimin rolls his eyes and nuzzles his face into Jeongguk’s warm neck.  

“That’s not what you should be saying when you’re balls deep in one.” Jeongguk smirks. 

Jimin bites him to shut him up.  

Chapter Text

“How did you find this place?” 

“I’ve been watching to see if anyone comes down here for about a week and no one does, hyung. We’ll be safe down here.” 

“You did this for me?” Jimin pulls Jeongguk back so he’s in step with him. 

“Of course.” Jeongguk shrugs like it’s nothing. “I wanted this day to be special for you, for us.” Jeongguk smiles at him so gently and it lodges a lump in his throat, unable to say anything more. Jeongguk was amazing at surprising him and showing him how much he cared for him. Jimin found that he couldn’t help wonder if Jeongguk knew it too. He wondered if Jeongguk knew that Jimin couldn’t function without him, that he loved him.

“Thank you.” Jimin pulls on his arm to nuzzle his masked nose into his cheek. “I don’t deserve you.” he mutters and receives a pinch to his side.

“You packed a change of clothes, right?! We’re going to go swimming in the lake!” 

“The clouds don’t look too promising…” Jimin squints at the sky. Grey clouds were rolling in and the wind was picking up. “We’ll be cold.” Jimin shivers in his jacket.  

“I’ll have you, you big fur ball. I’ll be fine!” Jeongguk seems to look very pleased with himself and Jimin looks at him with narrowed eyes as he speeds ahead to get to ‘their’ spot. Jimin shakes his head good naturedly and follows him down the dirt path to get to the lake. 

Jeongguk had gone all out for today, he had packed the most delicious food that Seokjin and Yoongi had helped him make and packed a few mangas for them to read together. It was a perfect day, even with the clouds rolling in that made the sky look gloomy and murky. A telltale sign of rain, maybe even a storm but Jeongguk wasn’t phased by it at all so Jimin knew he shouldn’t worry too much either. As long as he was with Jeongguk, they would be more than okay and have fun together. Even if it rained. 

“We should take a dip now!” Jeongguk says and flings his top off. He covers Jimin’s eyes when they widen appreciatively at Jeongguk’s naked torso and then makes him turn around as he puts a towel over his swim trunks. “You should shift now, it’s safe here.” Jeongguk rubs his back encouragingly and Jimin nods. He trusts Jeongguk more than anyone but he takes one last look around the area, it was deserted just like Jeongguk had said. Jimin takes a deep breath and begins to remove his clothes. 

“I’ll meet you there?” Jimin asks and Jeongguk nods and starts to walk towards the lake, removing his towel from his waist and Jimin watches as his strong, rippling back sinks slowly into the water. 

“It’s cold, hyung!!” Jeongguk giggles whilst talking and Jimin laughs in endearment at his happiness. He was so happy it was contagious; Jimin doesn’t think he had ever been this happy before. Jimin sheds the rest of his clothes and transitions into his panther form. As soon as the panther saw the water, he charged towards it, using every muscle in his body to make a run and dive right into the lake. He paddles around trying to find Jeongguk but the splash had been pretty big since he was so big. Jeongguk splutters to the surface seconds later, hacking up his lungs and Jimin makes a beeline for him and pulling him close towards him, his nose bumping against his shoulder. 

“That wasn’t nice, kitty.” Jeongguk coughs but brings his hands around Jimin’s neck and holds onto him. Jimin licks at his face before swimming towards the centre of the lake so they could both enjoy some peace and quiet. Jeongguk holds onto him, knowing the lake was deeper here but Jimin could hold the weight of both of them like this. 

“Whoa, you’re a really good swimmer!” Jeongguk laughs when Jimin twirls them in a circle. Jimin alternates going fast and slow in the water with Jeongguk hanging off of him and enjoying himself. “You’re having fun, Jiminie.” Jeongguk smiles, staring into his eyes. A statement he says from his observation, from how playful and happy Jimin was playing in the water. Jimin can’t help but dunk them underwater, swimming around Jeongguk in spirals before he nudges Jeongguk back up to the surface with just his nose, using his mouth to gently bite into his arm to assist. Once they’re above water, Jimin nibbles on Jeongguk’s hand playfully and Jeongguk tries and fails to push him off and get away from him. His laughter makes Jimin’s heart so warm, his teeth on show makes Jimin the happiest and he wishes he could make Jeongguk laugh like this forever. 

Jimin’s chest rumbles with a sound of happiness when he swims together with Jeongguk closer towards the shore and they paddle around for a little while longer. As expected, the skies completely opened up but they were wet anyway so it didn’t matter much. Jeongguk swims closer to him, teases him by pulling on his tail until he reaches for him and holds Jimin’s face in his hands, stroking his wet coat. His breaths were shallow and he was struggling to keep up with Jimin, trying to placate himself with his hold on Jimin. He comes closer and presses a kiss against the space between his eyes, where he loves it, and then a small kiss to his nose. 

“I love you.”

Jimin freezes in place, his eyes dilating until none of the yellow tinge was visible. His mouth drops open as he looks at Jeongguk, his eyes honest, bare and so telling. Jimin stays that way for several seconds, the shock of hearing those words not leaving him. Jeongguk just floats in the water, smiling at him unsurely. Jimin shakes him off, dives underwater to stop his thoughts from running so much for a moment before he shifts back and he swims to the surface again in his human form. But Jeongguk was swimming away, getting ready to leave the lake. Jimin pulls him back by his arm, right back into the water and close to him so they were chest to chest.  

“Jeongguk.”

Jimin stares at him with a straight face, trying to find what he had seen before but Jeongguk’s eyes had hardened a little, his eyes blank and Jimin didn’t know what he was thinking. 

“I don’t know why I-,” Jeongguk breathes, his face getting pink and Jimin is so in love with him. “It just came out, hyung. I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinki-.”

“I love you.” Jimin’s words rush out of him. He had been wanting to tell Jeongguk so bad but he didn’t want to mess up what they had, he didn’t want to scare Jeongguk away. But as usual, Jeongguk had beat him to it. “I love you.” Jimin repeats because he needed Jeongguk to know .

He wanted Jeongguk to understand that despite everything, Jeongguk had treated him as an equal when no one else had. In Jimin’s life where he hadn't been accepted or had been feared, Jeongguk was right here with him. Unafraid. Fearless. Everything that Jimin adored about him. Maybe Jimin didn’t deserve to have someone like him, that thought stuck with him the most. He felt undeserving of someone so beautiful but he would not ever jeopardise that. Jimin loved Jeongguk to the point where he was the sole reason for Jimin’s existence. Without Jeongguk there was no Jimin but he had no idea how to put it into words that would translate that. There were no words to explain it but Jimin was grateful for him and would do anything in his power to make sure Jeongguk stayed right beside him. Jimin would not give up on Jeongguk and he knows from the way Jeongguk’s eyes light up, his heart burning golden from within him, that Jeongguk would not give up on him.        

“Jimin…” Jeongguk lets out a breath with his name entangled in it and his eyes glisten. He swims closer, wrapping his legs around Jimin’s waist and burying his face into his neck. The hot tears are a clear distinction from the raindrops falling down on them and Jimin tries to pull him back, tries to see his face. 

“Jeongguk-ah, baby, don’t cry.” 

“I love you.” Jeongguk chokes. “I’ve loved you for so long. Maybe before I even knew you. I think I was made to love you.” 

“I love you, too.” Jimin sighs and really the feeling doesn’t dissipate, not even when Jeongguk told him that he loves him like this. In such an intimate manner that he wonders where the words came from. Jimin struggles to breathe. “Please don’t cry.” 

“I want to go home.” Jeongguk mumbles. “Please take me home.”

Jeongguk sobs all the way home when Jimin drives to his apartment. They both shiver from the cold but their hands are clasped tightly together, Jimin squeezes and Jeongguk squeezes back. He urges Jeongguk to stop crying with soft words, terms of endearment and all the kisses. But his eyes still leak when Jimin showers him down with burning hot water to warm them up faster. Jimin presses kisses against every inch of his body and holds Jeongguk close to him like he was the most precious thing in the world. They don’t speak and eventually Jeongguk cries so much that Jimin cries with him. He understands why but he can’t believe it. He just can’t believe he has someone who loves him to this extent. 

“Hyung?” 

It was insane that as soon as Jimin had started crying, Jeongguk had stopped and was holding his face gently with so much concern. 

“I’m crying because you are.” he says accusingly.  

“I’m done, I promise I’m done.” Jeongguk mutters and kisses his tears away whilst the hot water pelts down his back. “I’m sorry, I just love you so much, I don’t know what to do with it.” Jeongguk mutters and Jimin nods his head against his neck where he presses his face.

“Thank you for today, for loving me and planning such a special day for me.” Jimin kisses his nose and hopes his tears subside soon too. Jeongguk kisses him in response, gentle and slow, his lips moving against his like he wanted Jimin’s lips to last on his forever. 

“I want you to make love to me.” Jeongguk states against his lips, looking down at Jimin’s lips with hunger in his eyes. And Jimin could not refuse such a sweet request. 

“Lay down for me.” Jimin pressed Jeongguk’s now dry body against the sheets, his hair was still damp but Jimin loved when it got a little bit curly. It made Jeongguk look extra soft, extra warm. Jimin had prepped Jeongguk in the shower to the brink of an orgasm but he knew it still wasn’t enough. 

“C-can I…” Jeongguk starts but gets distracted with running his hands down Jimin’s lean body, down until it reaches his hard cock. He brushes his thumb gently against his spiked knot and watches Jimin’s face contort in immense pleasure. 

“Can you what?” Jimin whispers. 

“Ride you?” Jeongguk says nonchalantly but Jimin’s breath gets stuck in his throat. He chokes on his spit and if things couldn’t get any worse… “Ride your knot.” 

Jimin collapses to the side of him and stares up at the ceiling in shock but mostly wonder. 

“I’ll make it good, I promise.” Jeongguk whispers in his ear and comes closer to bite Jimin’s ear lobe into his mouth. He sucks on it, nibbles gently which makes Jimin moan loudly and flutter his eyes shut. Jeongguk was going to kill him. “Okay?” 

“Mmm… just go.” Jimin closes his eyes and waves his hand like he wasn’t at all affected by Jeongguk’s confession of what he wanted to do. Jeongguk giggles, the rumble of the sound transferring like a link through one chest to the other. It makes him smile. 

“Will you watch me?” Jeongguk asks when he straddles Jimin’s hips. 

“Of course, my eyes are always on you.” Jimin mumbles, watches as goosebumps rise on Jeongguk’s skin where he drags his fingertips. Along the sides of his body, up and down, to the rhythm of their heartbeats. And it was true, Jimin’s eyes were always on Jeongguk, always looking for him. 

“Look at me.” Jeongguk urges when Jimin gets distracted with the way his nipples harden between his fingers. The breathy whines as he rolls the hardened nubs between his fingers make Jimin ache painfully in the pit of his stomach. He doesn’t until Jeongguk’s fingernails dig into his forearm harshly. Jeongguk grinds his naked ass against Jimin’s hard length, it slips in between his ass cheeks and Jeongguk chokes out something incoherent before he repeats himself. “Look at me .”

Jimin does. Jeongguk’s cheeks redden when his eyes don’t leave his face, when Jimin’s hand reaches around him slicked with lube to press against his hole. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk moans. 

“I’m looking at you.” Jimin says, presses in deep and waits for Jeongguk to relax his muscles around two of his fingers. “I want to only look at you, like this.” Jimin says and Jeongguk can’t help but lean down and press his mouth harshly to Jimin’s, so hard that they must be bruised. He bites on Jimin’s bottom lip hard, enough so that he can taste his own blood between their mouths and it was only right if Jimin reciprocated. “Open your mouth, baby.” Jimin says the words right against his mouth. 

Jeongguk does, like the good, obedient boy he is. Let’s his tongue roll out too, he was high off of the feeling of pleasure pulsing underneath their skin. Jimin sucks his tongue into his mouth, pulls him closer and bites down sharply before pressing forward to take his mouth in whole. Jeongguk cries out in pain or pleasure, he isn’t sure but Jimin is quick to soothe it with his warm tongue. He bites Jeongguk’s bottom lip too before trailing hot kisses down his chin, his jaw and down the column of his throat.

Jimin’s fingers stay deep inside of Jeongguk, distracted with Jeongguk’s lips on his, but Jeongguk takes the initiative and he feels another finger press against his own. Urging him into action. Almost mocking. Come on, hyung, hurry up. His finger slides alongside Jimin’s and they move together to stretch him out, wide and gaping. 

“Should I do four, hyung?” 

“Yeah, go on baby.” Jimin sighs and lays back, relaxes more into the mattress. Jeongguk sits up again and he groans as he feels four fingers deep in his hole. Two of Jimin’s and two of his own; Jimin found it so hot. His other hand comes down to cup Jimin’s balls, holding them before moving up and wrapping around his spiked knot. Jeongguk holds it in his hand and closes his hand around the spikes. 

“Doesn’t even hurt.” Jeongguk mutters more to himself than Jimin. 

“You’re just a knot slut, a dirty little thing.” Jimin smirks from where he lays and takes in everything Jeongguk is giving him. The view, the touch, the warmth . Jeongguk doesn’t respond but his lips press together and his ears turn red. He liked being teased too much and maybe he was into all the degradation stuff, but now was not the time to pull it out, especially when they hadn’t spoken about it beforehand. 

“Just want it inside of me.” Jeongguk breathes as he rocks his hips on their fingers. “You’re too careful with me, too much of a scaredy cat…” 

Jeongguk bursts out into laughter then, his hand jumping out to stabilise himself on Jimin’s chest and Jimin cottons on to the pun. 

“Not funny.” Jimin grumbles.

“Little bit funny…” Jeongguk smiles and kisses his chest. Jimin pulls him up with one hand so their mouths can connect again, soft and warm kisses pressed into his mouth as they both work themselves up. “I’m ready,” Jeongguk sighs and Jimin nods. Jeongguk sits back again on Jimin’s lap and their fingers slip out of him with a wet sound. 

“God, I’m so ready.” Jeongguk says and Jimin imagines how his hole looks, wide and gaping. Just waiting to be filled completely to the brim. Jimin’s head falls back into the pillows as the head of his cock brushes against his hole and he can just feel how wide Jeongguk was opened up. “You said you were going to look at me.” Jeongguk says before dropping his hips down a little, tweaking Jimin’s nipple whilst he was at it. Sharp and punishing. 

Jimin forces his eyes open, trying not to let the pleasure of Jeongguk’s warmth completely consume him. Jeongguk reaches for his hands this time and intertwines them as he goes down further. Right until his spikes press inside of him. 

“Oh, fuck.” Jeongguk sighs out, his eyes rolling back and his head thrown back with his mouth hanging open. Jimin doesn’t think he had seen anything prettier than the sight before him. 

“Beautiful.” Jimin whispers but it is enough so that Jeongguk hears. He untangles one of his hands from Jeongguk’s so he could touch down his hot body, the planes of his chest and the dips of his stomach until he gets to his pretty cock that is hard against his belly. Precome smears against his toned abs and Jimin just wants to eat him, lick down his length until he comes in his mouth but Jeongguk is adamant to stay right where he is. He begins to thrust slowly, making soft noises every time he rides down on Jimin. Jeongguk’s voice was so sweet, thick with lust but so pretty. Everything about him was pretty. 

“You’re so good, baby.” Jimin murmurs under his breath and grips on to his hips to aid the movement. 

“D-do you feel good?” 

“So good, Jeongguk.” Jimin says with a small whine, like he couldn’t believe Jeongguk was asking such a question.

“You’re so deep inside of me.” Jeongguk says with his hold tightening on Jimin’s hands. “It’s so nice, I’m so glad I asked you to let me do this, fuck.” Jeongguk falls forward slightly when Jimin thrusts his hips up a little to meet Jeongguk’s pace. “Hyung!” 

“You’re perfect.” Jimin says before pulling him down into a bruising kiss. “Everything I don’t deserve.” Jimin feeds the words into his mouth as Jeongguk grinds down harder, a little faster. His knot catches on Jeongguk’s rim and he doesn’t understand how Jeongguk could just take it so well . 

“N-no.” Jeongguk shakes his head and lifts himself and goes faster, trying to chase the pleasure he so badly needed. There was a hidden message in the way Jeongguk moved his hips, showing Jimin how much he wanted him. How much he deserved him. It was painfully obvious and Jimin would be reduced to tears if Jeongguk wasn’t looking at him with pleading eyes. “I’m-, are you close?” 

“Not yet, baby.” Jimin was trying to hold out so he could savour this moment, trying to temp down on his orgasm so he could come blissfully, harder . “Nearly there.” Jimin says through gritted teeth. His sharp teeth bite down on his own bottom lip, trying to suppress his influx of lust and want. Maybe it was need. 

Jeongguk looked phenomenal on top of him. The way his eyes watered and the way sweat dripped down the sides of his face in rivulets. The quivering of his muscles on his body had Jimin on the verge of blanking out.   

“I’m gonna come- gonna come, now . Hyung, now, oh, fuck-,” Jeongguk grinds down deep, all the way to the hilt where the tip of Jimin’s cock was pressed harshly against his prostate and Jeongguk comes. Jimin watches when he does, his fingernails making indents on his skin leaving red, stinging scratches in their wake. His face is screwed up, eyes closed from the force of it and it's almost enough to make Jimin lose his shit when he felt the spurts of his come hit his chest and navel. 

“I watched you, baby.” Jimin says after a moment, when he could finally find his words again. “Watched you this whole time.” Jimin says and watches Jeongguk grin smugly before he is falling into Jimin and pouting for kisses. 

“‘M gonna have to go again.” Jeongguk mumbles in his neck where he is leaving soft kisses as he comes down from his high. Jimin is still painfully hard and still inside Jeongguk. 

“You’ve done it before,” A kiss. “You can do it again.” Another kiss. “I want to try something.” Jimin hesitates for a second before Jeongguk pulls back and looks at him with curiosity and want. His eyes were so expressive and Jimin was so grateful for it at this moment. Jeongguk nods all too quickly and it relieves all of Jimin’s hesitation. 

“I want to try lots of things with you, Jiminie.” Jeongguk kisses his nose and pulls out so he can sit on Jimin’s stomach more comfortably but right in the mess he had made. 

“I need you to tap my thigh when you want to stop, I’m trusting you enough to tell me, okay?” Jimin says, keeps a strong hold on Jeongguk’s chin to emphasize his seriousness. “And when I’m about to come, I’ll let you know and you have to immediately pull off, understand?” Jeongguk’s eyes widened but he nodded his head, something muffled out but Jimin’s hold was too strong to hear. “Do you understand?” Jimin’s hold tightens for a second before he releases and massages his jaw. 

“I understand, hyung.” Jeongguk presses a soft kiss to his lips, just a light brush.  

“Good, I’m trusting you.”

“Thank you, kitty.” Jeongguk says and leans down to take Jimin’s nipples in his mouth, one after the other. Then a hard kiss, just mostly teeth, but a kiss nonetheless. 

“Turn around for me, baby.” Jeongguk gets on all fours and turns himself around so Jimin is met with his stretched out hole. Pink around the edges, raw and used and Jimin has to bite his knuckles to muffle the loud groan he lets out. Jeongguk is so good, so aware and knowing. Jimin doesn’t have to tell him what he wants, his mouth is already on him, licking up his shaft and his fingers holding on to his spiked knot. 

Jimin spreads his cheeks wide open with both of his hands on his perky ass and Jeongguk clenches in anticipation, his cock chubbing up again even though he had just come.

“Are you just going to watch?” Jeongguk whines. Jimin gives him a little spank just to see the way his ass bounces and looks a little bit pinkier but it shuts Jeongguk up which is always a plus. 

“I’m admiring, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin teases, nips at the back of his thigh. “All of this in front of me and I can’t even look?” Jimin doesn’t tease for very long though, not when Jeongguk had given him all of this. Jeongguk’s mouth is back on Jimin and Jimin pulls his hips back so his mouth can close over his hole. Jeongguk tastes of cherry lube and something so Jeongguk that he can’t help but moan deeply, his lips vibrating a little against Jeongguk’s hole. Jeongguk jerks forward but Jimin’s grip tightens on his hips and just pulls him back onto his tongue this time. 

“Hyung, oh my god.” Jeongguk says, high pitched and breathy against his length. 

“Jeongguk, remember to pull off when I say, okay? I’m close, too close baby.” Jimin speaks the words against his wet hole. He blows cold air on it a little just to hear Jeongguk moan against his length and he chuckles before putting his mouth back where Jeongguk needed it most. He licks down his perineum, nipping at the sensitive skin with the sharpness of his teeth before moving back to his hole. Jimin reaches around to take hold of Jeongguk’s hard length because he wanted them to come together this time, and Jimin was so, so close. 

Jeongguk’s mouth was warm and wet and his throat relaxed for Jimin until the tip hit the back of his throat and then he went a little further, until his knot was pressed all the way into his mouth. 

“Fuck, Jeongguk .” Jimin pulled off for a second to breathe and collect himself because Jeongguk was incredible with his mouth, he was really showing Jimin how badly he wanted to please him and Jimin was frenzied. He wasn’t going to survive. 

“I-I…” Jeongguk’s jaw must be aching, his throat a little tired but before Jimin could ask him to turn around and stop, Jeongguk speaks again. “I love you.” Jeongguk says, a slight rasp to his voice. 

“I love you, baby.” Jimin says with a fond smile Jeongguk can’t see. “Do you want to stop? I want to look at you, kiss you.” 

“N-no, carry on.” Jeongguk reaches back and presses a hand to the back of his head to push his face into Jeongguk’s ass. Jimin takes it because he was so gone for Jeongguk, him and his bratty ass. He loved him and Jimin would do anything. So he licks deeper, tugs at his cock harder to bring him closer to the edge just as he was with Jeongguk’s beautiful mouth on his own length. His knot begins to grow as Jeongguk works harder, goes deeper and sucks harder. 

“Jeongguk-ah, now .” Jimin says, his nails digging deep into his skin to get him to stop. Jimin pressed his tongue inside Jeongguk again, thinking Jeongguk would pull off because he was good , and he listened to Jimin. But Jeongguk wasn’t stopping, he continued to work his mouth over his cock and Jimin’s patience was thinning. Jeongguk would be locked in place with his spiked knot in his mouth and it was too much for Jeongguk’s hole, never mind his mouth. “Jeongguk. Stop. Now.” Jimin’s voice is low and commanding. 

Jeongguk chokes around his length and then he is coming in Jimin’s hand from how domineering Jimin’s voice was and Jimin licks at his hole softly as he comes to ensure it was satisfactory. 

“Baby, please stop.” Jimin speaks against Jeongguk’s soft skin. “I’m going to hurt you.” Jimin screws his eyes shut. Jeongguk wasn’t listening and Jimin needed to stop his knot from hurting Jeongguk’s precious mouth. But he couldn’t. He tried and tried but Jeongguk was only pressing down deeper, trying to take his knot into his mouth and that was enough for Jimin’s knot to expand in Jeongguk’s mouth. 

“Jeongguk! Fuck, oh, no …” Jimin hiccups on his words before he comes into Jeongguk’s mouth, his knot locked in place. The spikes were pressing into the plushness of his mouth and Jimin hated to admit that it felt so good. Jimin’s orgasm was long and hard, just as he expected. His vision turned white as he mumbled out a slew of incoherent words and they didn’t make sense but he was sure he was cursing at Jeongguk. “Fuck you!” 

“Mmm.” Jeongguk hums contentedly. Jimin was about to lose his shit because the little fucker was enjoying this. 

“I’m going to punish you so badly when you can move again.” Jimin says, frustration leaks into his tone but only because Jeongguk could’ve really got hurt. His cock was not for the fainthearted and he wasn’t saying Jeongguk couldn’t handle it but they had to ease into this. Jeongguk was just too eager, too fired up and Jimin doesn't know what to do with him. They were stuck like this for a whole hour, maybe more since his orgasm had been particularly good. 

Jeongguk whines and his head leans against Jimin’s thigh, his body pressing up against all of Jimin’s body until his knee can nudge the side of Jimin’s head. 

Jimin sighs. 

“Are you okay, hmm?” Jimin asks, finally thawing and pressing kisses to the backs of his thighs. Jeongguk hums again and it makes Jimin jerk in his mouth, another trickle of come down Jeongguk’s throat. Jimin can feel the way Jeongguk smiles and then Jeongguk draws something on his thigh. 

A heart.

“Gross.” Jimin says but he smiles goofily. Jeongguk couldn’t see, it was okay. “We can’t move but are you comfortable like this?” Jimin asks, pressing his nose to Jeongguk’s skin. His hands move up and down Jeongguk’s thighs, pressing into his muscles and soothing him. Jeongguk throws a thumb up and it makes Jimin laugh. “Actually, I quite like this...you not being allowed to talk. Makes a change…” Jimin smirks against his ass cheek before pressing an open mouthed kiss against it. 

Jeongguk pinches his thigh.

He rests his head on Jimin’s thigh and strokes along his skin, paying particular attention to the smattering on his skin, his panther marks, whilst Jimin told him about the safety of having sex with him. 

“You have to listen to me, Jeonggukie. I’m doing this for your safety and I care too much about you to hurt you with something like this. I love you for god’s sake, do you think I would just rush into something? I just want you to be happy, make you happy because that’s how you make me feel. You make me so happy and I’d rather die than hurt you, do you understand? I just wan-” 

Jimin was sure he didn’t hear Jeongguk snore. What the fuck?

“Did you seriously fall asleep on me?!” Jimin says in disbelief. He giggles and waits for his knot to finally come down so he could kiss all over his face and tuck him into bed properly. 

Jimin was so in love with him, and he had no idea what he would do without him. 

🐾

“Why is your voice so rough?” Yoongi asks when they ask about his day at the lake with Jimin the next morning. It was a struggle to get out of bed this morning.  

“And why the fuck are you limping?!” Hoseok asks, looking at the way Jeongguk was shuffling. 

Jeongguk turns red. 

“Oh.” Yoongi says with a look of disgust. 

“Ohhh, ew!” Hoseok shudders. 

“Wow, was the dick appointment that good?” Seokjin laughs. 

“Wasn’t just his dick…” Jeongguk sighs dreamily as he thinks of last night again. “It was his mouth and his fingers and his voi-,” 

“Shut the fuck up, brat!” Yoongi grumbles and Hoseok laughs at him. 

“He’s just envious because he hasn’t had dick in a long time.” Hoseok chuckles. “I’m happy you had a fun time though, or sorry that it hurts.” he shrugs and follows Yoongi inside. 

“I feel like I can’t look at you both the same anymore…” Seokjin says with mild disgust but the fond look he gives him afterwards shows he means no harm. 

“I love him.” Jeongguk sighs and wants to see Jimin as soon as he can. Misses him already even though Jimin had kissed him goodbye this morning whilst he was running late to his class. Jeongguk had tucked in his tail for him and Jimin had left him a cup of hot coffee too. He was perfect and Jeongguk loved him. He laughs to himself and shakes his head, he was acting like a lovesick fool. Seokjin ruffles his hair with a bright smile and Jeongguk follows him inside. He would see Jimin in approximately three hours so they could have lunch-… 

“Jeongguk.” Hoseok breathes. 

The colour drained from his face and he was about to throw up. Panic settles, and that was never a good thing. This couldn’t be happening right now. 

“What the hell? A predator hybrid at our uni? Right under our noses and we didn’t even know...how scary.” a group of girls walk past him muttering to themselves with the pictures in their hands. The pictures that had been plastered everywhere of Jimin as a human and then Jimin as a panther. Out by the lake.  

“Is it safe to be here? I’m so scared right now, he was always so weird…” another person mutters. Jeongguk’s ears started to ring and everything blocked out, his eyes scanning every single picture. Jimin’s face was on the walls, on the floors, in people’s hands. This was all his fault, he was so sure the area he had picked was safe but he had been horribly wrong. So devastatingly wrong.

“Jeongguk…” Hoseok repeats softly, with a hand to his arm. A gentle touch to bring him back to reality. 

“I-It’s not what you think, hyung.” Jeongguk manages to choke out, pulling his arm out of Hoseok’s grip. “He wouldn’t hurt anyone, Jimin hyung wouldn’t hurt anyone!” 

“Shh, it’s okay.” Seokjin rubs his back. “We believe you, it’s okay.”

This was everything he didn’t expect this morning. Jimin had a month to go before he graduated and it was all ruined because of him. The person who did this had to be a real fucking coward to expose him in the way that they did and Jeongguk wouldn’t stand for it. There was no way he was letting this slide. 

“You h-have to believe me. Please believe me.” a sob comes out unplanned because this was all his fault. “Jimin, you-, you’ve met him! You all have, you have to know.” 

“Jeongguk-ah, tell us what we can do to help him?” Yoongi says and relief floods him. He knew he could trust them, of course he knew but he was panicked and he-

Oh god. He needed to find Jimin. 

“Jeongguk-ah.” Jeongguk whips his head around to find Taehyung, glossy eyed and the panic mirrored in his eyes. 

“Hyung, this is all my fault I-” 

“It’s not.” Taehyung grabs his arm and pulls him away. “It’s not your fault but we need to find him.” Jeongguk nods and follows behind him. His friends follow closely behind, wanting to do anything they could to help. 

They run through the halls, running to get to Jimin’s class just in case. For all he knows, Jimin could have seized up and ran back home but Taehyung would have known. If he went back to Jeongguk’s then Jeongguk would have known. He had to still be here. Jeongguk rings him for the tenth time and leaves a panicked voicemail just to tell him to come back. He just wanted Jimin to be safe, this was all on him and how stupid he was. Jimin would have been fine if he didn’t meet Jeongguk who wanted to take him out to the lake to have fun. Jimin would have been able to come back to finish his degree and he was so damn close. But now. Now it was ruined and it was all on him. 

“He’s not here.” Taehyung sighs in frustration, tears collecting in his eyes. “He’s gone. He’s gone and I don’t think he’s coming back.” 

“No.” Jeongguk says, shaking his head. It couldn’t be. 

“Jeongguk, he’s running.” Taehyung grabs hold of his hand and holds it tight. “He’s hiding.” Taehyung whispers, almost as if he said it any louder, it would shatter everything they hoped for. “It’s not your fault though, none of this is.”

“I can’t.” Jeongguk shakes his hair. “I can’t, something is wrong and I know it. Something like this wouldn’t just drive him away without telling us... ” Jeongguk panics, his eyes darting everywhere to find some semblance of control but he finds nothing. Just the picture of Jimin as a panther plastered everywhere. “He would have told me.” Jeongguk sobs. Hoseok is by his side in an instant and his hyungs look at him with mercy but he doesn’t need it. Jimin needed it the most but he wasn’t here.   

Jeongguk needs to find Jimin. He needed Jimin to be safe and the fear inside of him was building to a point where he couldn’t control it. Who could have done this? Jeongguk squeezes his eyes shut, wondering who could have known or who could have found out but it could have been anyone. 

“That guy, the one in Jimin’s biology class…” Yoongi starts and it clicks. Everything is clear.  

“Hyung, I think I know who it was!” Jeongguk breaks away from them, runs back towards where Jimin would be coming out of his class. He grabs Mark by his collar when he emerges and slams him back against the wall. 

“What the fuck?!” Mark splutters.  

“Where is he? What did you do to him?” 

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” 

“Stop fucking playing with me.” Jeongguk is almost growling, his anger overshadowing any of his logic. He was acting purely on impulse. “Where is Jimin?” 

“Did his predatory tendencies imprint on you too? That’s why hybrids are so fucking dangerous you sick fuck, now leave me alone.” 

“Jimin is not dangerous.” Jeongguk says in a deathly tone, his hold getting tighter and tighter till his breathing was hindered. 

“Jeongguk-ah, let him go…” Seokjin says the words from behind him but Jeongguk wasn’t letting go until he knew where Jimin was. 

“Tell me.” 

“Don’t worry, I made sure he was caged up where he belongs.” Mark has the audacity to smile, whilst saying words that ripped up Jeongguk’s insides. 

“You what?” Jeongguk’s hold loosens. 

“Oh come on, no one wants a predator as a friend, he could kill you! I can’t believe you were dumb enough to befriend someone so dangerous. Do you get some kind of rush out of it?” Mark laughs and Jeongguk didn’t think anything was funny. 

“Where is he? Tell me where he is?” Jeongguk’s voice raises, his knee ready and poised if he needed to attack. 

“Jeongguk, stop.” Taehyung pleads but Jeongguk can only think of Jimin. His Jimin.  

“You should listen to them. “

“I’m not letting go of you until you tell me exactly where he is.”      

“He’s locked up where he should be, they’ll put him in a zoo or something… maybe put him down-” Jeongguk doesn’t hold back on his anger anymore, he throws his arm back and lands a strong punch right on his nose and Mark yelps helplessly at the pain. 

“Tell me where he is. Now.” 

🐾

Mark had called in some kind of human protection programme and they had most likely taken Jimin away as soon as he stepped into uni. If it wasn’t for his hyungs, Jeongguk would have finished him off right there and then. He had no right to ruin Jimin’s life the way he did and Jeongguk’s chest wouldn’t stop constricting at the mere thought of what Jimin must be going through. 

“Hyung, can you drive any faster?” he asks Seokjin, his leg shaking wildly in the backseat. 

“I’m trying to go as fast as I can, we’ll be there soon.” 

Jeongguk looks at the traffic up ahead of them and he tries to just stay calm. If they hurt Jimin, Jeongguk doesn’t know what he would do. He won’t know how to go on or how to live. Jimin had become an integral part of his life and to lose him would be… crushing. Jeongguk shakes away his thoughts because it was needless to think of that right now when he still had a chance to save him. There was still hope. 

“You bought a panther hybrid in today, we need to see him. Please.” Taehyung talks to the receptionist who looks at them in dismay. 

“I’m afraid you can’t, the hybrids here are not things you can just come to visit. They’re here to be put in solitary, this isn’t a zoo.” 

“He’s my family , I need to see him.” Taehyung urges. The woman’s hand moves to her phone before she asks. 

“Are you saying you’re a hybrid too?” 

“No! What I’m saying is I need to see him!” 

Jeongguk blocks them out for a moment, tries to find a way he could get through the turnstiles without being noticed. If he could get through, he was sure he’d be able to find Jimin somehow.

“We’re protecting you from them, this is for your own benefit.” Taehyung slams his hands down and the lady picks up her phone to call security. He looks at Seokjin and he immediately knows what he should be doing. 

“No, listen don’t call security…” 

Jeongguk focuses on breaking through and gets down on the floor to crawl through the turnstiles, the security guard moving to help the woman deal with Taehyung and then he is through. He hopes and prays going right is the right decision, all doors seem to be locked though and need some kind of keycard to unlock it. Jeongguk is rapid in his movements, tries to open the door of each room before he gets to the end of the hallway and in big letters: 

PREDATORS  

Jeongguk sighs in relief because he was close, he just needed a way to get inside. Jimin was in there, he was sure of it. Jeongguk looked down the empty corridor and wondered how he was going to get in, he had no idea how to do this. 

“Oh, can I help you?” a timid girl walks down the aisle and takes in Jeongguk’s frantic state. Her voice made him jump slightly and she kept her distance from him.  

“M-my, fuck, my Jimin is in there.” Jeongguk shakes his head and knows he was going to get chucked out since he got caught. But he needed to try. He would do anything. “Please can you help me? I want to see him, I need to see him. Please .” Jeongguk would get on his knees. 

“Sir, you really shouldn’t be here.” she frowns and Jeongguk’s heart breaks. 

“No, please.” Jeongguk sobs. “Just once, I need to see him just once. You took him from me.” Jeongguk drops to his knees. Buries his face in his hands and lets himself cry. This morning couldn’t be the last time he saw Jimin. 

“Stand up, sir.” the girl puts her hands on his elbows and brings him up to stand again. “It’s too dangerous for me to let you, I’m sorry.” 

“Jimin knows me, he wouldn’t hurt me! He’s so-, so kind and soft and gentle… he wouldn’t hurt a soul, please . I know him!” Jeongguk clasps his hands together praying she would let him. It wasn’t looking good but Jeongguk just needed one chance. The girl looks back down the corridor before she looks back at Jeongguk in her arms. 

“I-I’ll get fired.” she shakes her head no. “I’m truly sorry, I wish I could help you.” she was apologetic at once and Jeongguk understood. She listened to him at least, didn’t throw him out of the place when he knew she should have. 

“I understand, thank you.” Jeongguk nods his head. His shoulders sag in defeat and he gets ready to think of something else. A plan B, but it was pointless trying to think of something logical when his mind was such a mess. When his mind was full of Jimin.  

“I’m so sorry.” she says and takes his hand in hers in a handshake before he could leave. 

But she leaves something in his hand. His eyes shoot up to hers. 

“We don’t allow visitations at all so you will need to leave for now. We close at 5pm,” her eyes are suggestive. Jeongguk knows what she means. “and open back up at 8am sharp but we do not let humans in here beside those that work here, do you understand?” she escorts him down the corridor again and back to where the security guard runs towards him immediately. “Don’t worry, he was just looking for the restroom. He is doing no harm.” the woman smiles before she leaves. 

“Jeongguk-ah, we need to leave.” 

“Yeah,” he looks back at the woman’s retreating back and he couldn’t be more thankful he had run into her. She was his own kind of angel, a saviour. He hopes he gets to tell her it. “Let’s go, hyung.” Jeongguk says and Taehyung is surprised at his stale tone. 

“Jeonggukie, we need to get inside there somehow. We need to find a way to get him out, fuck.” Taehyung punches a lamppost in anger as soon as they get outside. The air is bitingly cold, just like their moods and it was uncanny how the weather was so reflective of the situation. A cold, icy feeling settling into their chests.

“I’ve got a keycard, I know how to get to him.” 

“What?” 

“We just need to find a way to break into the building after closing time, the security guard stays overnight.” 

“Fuck, Jeongguk how did you manage to…” 

“I was crying… and desperate and the girl…” Taehyung nods in understanding and they sit out on the bench at the end of the street. “We just have to wait now.” Jeongguk leans his head back, the beginnings of a strong headache incoming but it was nothing compared to the pain in his chest. He couldn’t stop imagining Jimin all alone in that place, scared and precarious. Jeongguk’s heart hurts for him. 

“I’ll distract the security guard and you both try to sneak in. Whoever goes in first, just get to Jimin as soon as you can and get him out.” 

“It’s easier said than done.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“We can get him out if he’s in his human form, if he’s in his panther form then it will be ten times more difficult.” Taehyung leans on his thighs, his head hanging down. “Panthers can’t shift when they’re scared, it’s like a fight or flight response, he can only shift when he feels safe again.” Taehyung shakes his head, big tears line his waterline when he looks up. “You should go first Jeongguk-ah. I didn’t want to say this but the situation isn’t looking good and… a-and this might be goodbye.” Jeongguk suppresses a whine and a large lump lodges itself in his throat. “You’ll know what to say to him, it might be your last time to spend time with him and I want you to try as hard as you can to make him feel safe enough so he can shift.”

“Hyung… I-I can’t.” Jeongguk chokes because the lump gets larger and larger until he can’t breath and tears spill down his face.  

“You can!” Taehyung takes Jeongguk’s face in his hands. “Listen to me, you can . Tell him you love him and tell him he’s the most important person in your life. You have to do it for you and for him, okay?” Taehyung asks and Jeongguk nods his head because he doesn’t know what to say. He has no words and he definitely can't disagree with Taehyung when he had been so adamant.

Jeongguk would do his best.

🐾

Taehyung tries to distract the security guard walking in front of the door first and asking for directions. 

It doesn’t work.

Seokjin was the only other person who could but they had to wait another hour before he could to ensure it wasn’t too obvious. Jeongguk couldn’t be the one distracting because he had to be the one sneaking inside so they called back up just in case. Yoongi and Hoseok wait in the car park just in case they’re needed. 

“Jeongguk-ah, if you get him out then the car will be ready.” Yoongi whispers to him, presses a hand to the back of his head. “We’ll be ready, okay?” Jeongguk can’t find the words to tell him how grateful he was so he just nods, pressing his face into Yoongi’s shoulder. He didn’t know how to tell him that it was highly unlikely Jimin was going to come home with them.  

Thankfully, Seokjin is amazing at distracting the security guard. It takes a few tries before finally the security guard is coming towards the door and opening it up to tend to Seokjin being ‘injured’ and Taehyung is quick in his movements so he could get the door before it locked shut. The same time Taehyung does this, Seokjin yelps loudly to hide the sounds of their feet rushing and the security guard rushes towards him and Taehyung barely manages to hold the door open before he ushers Jeongguk in. 

“Run!” Taehyung whispers and Jeongguk does. He jumps over the turnstiles and makes a beeline for the predator room. He uses the key card to enter another hallway, he runs down it and opens another door with the keycard. Please, please, please. 

“Jimin!” Jeongguk whispers. He was aware there were other predators in the room, but Jeongguk wasn’t scared. All he could think of was getting to Jimin. A cacophony of sounds came out of the surrounding cages to the sound of his footsteps, an array of predators all locked up and nearing their gates but Jeongguk just wanted to find Jimin. 

“Hyung,” Jeongguk sobs and takes another look around and then he sees him. Jimin is standing up on his back legs trying to get his attention but Jimin was in a muzzle. His jaw locked up too so he couldn’t make much of a sound. “Jimin!” Jeongguk sobs in relief at the sight of him before he runs towards his cage. It was the epitome of isolation and Jimin didn’t belong there. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Jeongguk hiccups and tries to stop himself from crying so hard. “I’m so sorry, this is all my fault.” Jeongguk kneels on the floor and reaches for Jimin. Gets his hands on his soft fur and Jeongguk feels a knot loosen in his chest. Jimin was here and he was alive. Jimin was okay. His hands run over his muzzle and it only makes him cry harder because Jimin couldn’t communicate with him. “Hyung.” Jeongguk whines and he cries, he doesn’t want to but he couldn’t stop them. Not with the way he sees Jimin, not like this. Jimin whines low in his chest and Jeongguk’s heart breaks .         

“You can’t shift, baby? Is that it?” Jeongguk whispers softly. He needed Jimin to shift so they could escape but it wasn’t Jimin’s fault he couldn’t do it. When his instinctual fears heightened he would stay a panther until he felt safe again. Jimin whined against his hand, his eyes full of fear. Jeongguk stops his tears immediately, he couldn’t let Jimin see him so distraught. All Jeongguk wanted was to wail, cry until he ran out of tears and cursed the world for putting them both in this situation. It was so unfair .

Jeongguk needed Jimin not to be scared and his tears were only making Jimin more fearful of what would happen to him. Jeongguk needed to make him feel safe and he had to be quick.  

“I’m sorry, my love. This is all my fault...” Jeongguk tried desperately to keep his tears at bay. “I’m sorry they did this to you but I’m going to get you out, okay? I promise I’m going to save you.” Jeongguk pets his soft fur through the cage, pets just in between his eyes like he knew Jimin liked. Jimin’s whimpers eventually die down and he leans against the cage, his eyes struggling to stay open. “Hyung, listen to me. I’ll do anything to get you free, I’m going to be with you. Look at me, I love you okay? And I’m going to save you!” Jimin looks at him, a look of understanding shared between them before his eyes droop a little more. Wavering. Unsettled. 

“No…” Jeongguk whispers. No, no, no . “Jimin, wake up.” Jeongguk feels as Jimin’s head gets heavy in his hands as he loses control of his body and sinks all the way down to the floor. “Hyung, wake up!” 

Jimin goes completely boneless and limp on the cold, hard floor. His large body looked lifeless and unlike the strong panther Jimin was, the pride and eloquence all leaving him just as he slipped down to the floor with a small thud. Jeongguk stares at his body laying there in shock until Taehyung finds him like that, still holding onto Jimin’s face in his hands. Still holding onto whatever he could whilst the hope in his heart was slipping away from him. They couldn’t have done this to his Jimin, they couldn't have. 

Jeongguk didn’t even get a chance. Their destiny was so cruel. 

“Jeongguk-ah, look at me.” Taehyung’s voice filters into his ears in bits and pieces. “What happened?!” 

“T-they…. They…” Jeongguk’s eyes filter with water and his words choke as he looks back at Jimin, lying so still on the floor. His chest was raising up and down softly and that’s all the reassurance he could get because he doesn’t know what they did to him, it was too late. “I-I don’t…” 

“Shh, come here, it’s okay.” Taehyung pulled him into a hug and Jeongguk didn’t even realise he was shaking, his chest constricting severely. “We’ll get him out of there, we’ll bring him back home.” and Jeongguk shakes his head because they couldn’t. Not whilst he was still in panther form. Jeongguk had failed him once again. Jeongguk didn’t know what to do but he was desperate. 

“We need to save him, hyung.” Jeongguk wipes his eyes and Taehyung shakes his head apologetically, his tear stained face was making Jeongguk sadder. “We can do it.” Jeongguk tries to open the cage, a key was needed but if Jeongguk could just break in then they could lift Jimin out and they could take him home.

“Jeongguk-ah, stop.” Taehyung pulls at his wrists as he rattles the cage, trying to get it to unhinge. “Stop, please. This is it.” 

“This can’t be it!” Jeongguk pulls harder. Shakes the railings harder to try and get it open, he could do it and they could lift Jimin, they could . “I can do it! I’m going to save him.” Jeongguk’s knuckles go white and he tries harder, he pulls harder and harder. 

“Jeongguk!” Taehyung stops him again with a shout and Jeongguk falls on his back. 

“I can save him!” Jeongguk cries, tears blurring his vision again because Taehyung wasn’t helping.     

“We can’t, bun.” Taehyung cries too. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Taehyung whispers and falls to the floor to gather Jeongguk in his arms. 

“We didn’t get enough time.” Jeongguk sobs. “I didn’t have enough time with him, hyung.” Taehyung pulls him into his chest and lets him cry quietly there. Jeongguk knows he was being selfish, knows that Taehyung had lost his best friend and soulmate too but Jeongguk was inconsolable. He could only feel the hurt tearing him from the inside out. It was taking over his whole body and he couldn’t control it, the sadness, the pain, the loss . It was all too much. Taehyung’s sobs mingling with his own are too much of a reminder of how they had lost the best thing that happened to them, he didn’t know how he was ever going to survive without Jimin. How could life go on?

Jimin was right there but so untouchable at the same time and Jeongguk felt so helpless, he couldn’t do anything. Fate was fucking stupid. How could it be this bad for them? For Jimin? The worst thing of it all was that Jimin was the least deserving person. He didn’t deserve any of this. Jimin was good, he was so good and he didn’t deserve any of it. Jeongguk only cried harder, Jimin was still in his line of vision and it was the last thing he saw before he passed out.

There was nothing left for Jeongguk to do.  

🐾

“Jeongguk.” Jeongguk awakens slowly but painfully. His chest was tight and his head was pounding. “Wake up.” 

“Jimin!” he sits up in a second. 

“Shh, lay back again.” Taehyung presses a hand to his chest to make him lay back. 

“I-is it real, hyung? Is he gone?” the look on Taehyung’s face is enough. 

“Drink this, bun.” Taehyung presses a warm cup of tea in his hands. His voice was hoarse from all the apparent screaming he had done when he was dragged away from Jimin’s limp body. 

“They sedated him.” Taehyung sighs after a number of minutes in deathly silence and leans back into the pillows. They were in Jimin’s bed and Jeongguk sets down his cup before he buries his face in Jimin’s pillow. It makes him cry. “But it’s true what Mark said… they’ll put him in a zoo or something, maybe back in the wild but there’s a high chance he will come back because he has people. The more likely solution is a zoo but they work all over the world Jeongguk-ah. He can be put anywhere on this earth.” Taehyung sighs and Jeongguk can tell he’s trying to suppress his tears. 

“Yoongi and Hoseok followed the vehicle that Jimin was in and it took him all the way to the ports, it was going to Jeju but that’s where there’s a bigger port. He could be anywhere right now.” Jeongguk’s chest tightens and his fists clench in unadulterated anger and melancholy.  “He’s too young to be put down without a reason.” Taheyung says after a long moment of Jeongguk holding back on his tears. It should sound like good news but it leaves a bitter taste in Jeongguk’s mouth. 

“Why him?” Jeongguk whispers eventually. 

“Why us?” Taehyung whispers back. “I don’t know how to do anything without him. We don’t...we don’t deserve this.” Taehyung’s face crumples and Jeongguk can no longer hold back on his leaking tears. Jeongguk bawls. He cries and Taehyung hugs him until he tires himself out and falls asleep again, unintentionally. 

He needed Jimin. 

At first, Jeongguk thought it was just a want, something blooming in his chest as he spent more of his time with Jimin but months passed and Jeongguk knew. He knew it was more than a want. It was love, desire and passion for the man who treated him with so much respect. Who showed him how to be happy and unbothered, how to love himself and chase his dreams. Jimin had become a constant in his life that he didn’t ever want to lose but it had been his own fault. If he had just respected Jimin’s way of living, his privacy then no one would have found him out by that lake. No matter how much people told him, he knew this was always going to be his mistake. He felt guilty for feeling so broken and destroyed by Jimin’s abduction when it was all down to him.  

The dark days pass in a blur and Jeongguk rarely leaves Jimin’s bed, clinging onto his scent for as long as he could. Jeongguk wanted to hope that he was getting better at dealing with the absence of Jimin but he was only lying to himself. He was utterly crippled. His friends often check up on him and he was grateful Taehyung let him stay here. When Taehyung was feeling a little bit lonelier, he would slip into bed to hold Jeongguk and they would both cry themselves to sleep.  

“You’re allowed to be sad, Jeongguk-ah.” Yoongi tells him as he runs his fingers through his hair. “You lost the most important person in your life, you’re okay.” Yoongi says but it only makes him cry harder into Jimin’s pillow. He didn’t deserve to be told that. Yoongi knew the exact words he needed to hear and had told him but he didn’t deserve it. 

Jeongguk sleeps. That’s the one thing he hoped would give him a break from the consuming pain, from the voices in his head telling him this was all because of him. But it only lasted a few nights before he started to have vivid nightmares of Jimin getting hurt, of people torturing him. All his fault . After a particularly bad one, Jeongguk wakes up with tears streaming down his face and he reaches over to switch the bedside lamp on. There were no more tissues left so Jeongguk opened the bedside cabinet to rummage around and found something else instead. A book? A journal. Jimin’s journal.

Jeongguk didn’t want to, he shouldn’t have opened it up but he missed Jimin. He wanted to see if he could give his heart some solace and he thought this could be it. Jeongguk takes a deep breath.

‘Jeongguk is taking me to the lake today, I’ve never been so excited in my life!! I can finally have some freedom and do things I enjoy without fear. He makes me feel free, makes me feel like it's okay to be who I am. He makes me feel human and alive. I want to tell him how much I love him but I’m scared he won’t feel the same way. Is love always this hard? Jeonggukie is so good for me, I’m so glad I found him. He is the most precious thing to me in the entire world and I don’t deserve him. He is beautiful and kind hearted and I wish so badly that I could be more expressive so I could show him. Life isn’t that easy… I will wait for him forever. He is my forever. ♡ ’

Jeongguk’s sobs kept catching in his throat and he couldn’t breathe from how hard he was crying. His tears dripped down to the pages and against the picture Jimin had taken of him whilst he was in Jimin’s bed that same morning, half naked but glowing golden in the sunlight. It was everything he wanted to hear from Jimin and more; Jeongguk had no idea. Jeongguk needed to tell him the same. He needed the chance to express himself and show Jimin how much he meant to Jeongguk. It didn’t sit well with Jeongguk that he couldn't. And Jeongguk needed to do something about that.   

Jeongguk had enough. It had been over a week but Jeongguk had enough.    

He rushed into the living room (the first time he had stepped out of the room) and would tell anyone who would listen. It just so happened to be Taehyung, Namjoon - Taehyung’s boyfriend and Seokjin. 

“I’m going to find him.” Jeongguk says with determination, a fire burning at the pit of his stomach. “I’m going to save him.”       

Chapter Text

...2 years, 4 months and 17 days later…

Jeongguk steps down from the airplane stairs, the heat slamming into him with a force so harsh his breath escapes his lungs. It was suffocating and barely breathable. The desert sand whips around the small crowd of people leaving the small plane because apparently not many people wanted to visit a desert in the middle of sandstorms and rising temperatures. Jeongguk didn’t mind so much, not when he had only one goal in mind. Jeongguk squints his way through towards the miniscule airport, Namjoon hot on his heels. 

“Hyung, we gotta call Taehyungie hyung.”

“I won’t forget when we get indoors.” Namjoon says, muffled through the scarf wrapped around his face so he didn’t get sand in his mouth. Jeongguk wonders why he didn’t think of the same thing.

“Don’t be so disheartened this time around, Jeongguk-ah.” Taehyung says to him over the phone after they get to their accommodation. “Remember what I always tell you, if it’s meant to be then it will be.” 

“I know, hyung. I’ll try not to get my hopes up too high, not like usual anyway.” 

“You cried for three days the last time.” 

“I get it.” Jeongguk rolls his eyes knowing Taehyung couldn’t see. Namjoon still smirks at him. “We’re not staying long here, we’ll be back before you know it.” 

“Hopefully with an addition.” 

“Yeah… hopefully.” Jeongguk says resignedly. But this time was just as hopeless as the last time. As all the times for the past two years.  

🐾

The zoo manager takes them around the whole precinct the next day when they have just about recovered from the jet lag. It was more like a safari park than a zoo and this time, Jeongguk doesn’t have his hopes up at all. Nevertheless, it was a good adventure with Namjoon, the two of them had gotten used to travelling to and from different countries, working as they went along.  

“What made you want to be a zookeeper?” the manager asks. Jeongguk was bad with names and had forgotten his already. 

“I love animals, they make me happy.” Jeongguk smiles, petting the koalas that were clinging to him. Namjoon was in his element here, he was surrounded by a group of four of the babies and they were climbing all over him. He takes out his phone to snap a picture for Taehyung and knows how much he will appreciate it. Not even minutes later, Taehyung tells him he has it as his lockscreen and posted it to his Instagram too. Jeongguk smiles as he pockets his phone again and turns his attention back to the koala clinging to his leg. He didn’t think koalas could exist in this kind of climate but here they were, in the middle of a desert in Northeastern China. 

Jeongguk and Namjoon had both travelled to every single zoo they could find in South Korea, they had travelled to most in Japan and they were almost done with China. Still, they had not found the only thing they were looking for and Jeongguk’s hope at this point was almost dwindled into nothing. The promise he made to himself wouldn’t let him just give up, however. He would look for Jimin until the day he died. There was no way Jeongguk was just going to give up. 

But he was tired .  

“Jeongguk-ah, please don’t make us leave this place.” Namjoon pulls him out of his reverie as he cradles a koala in his arms.

“I wouldn’t but… Taehyung.” 

“Taehyung.” Namjoon nods and smiles sadly down at the koala clinging to his finger. It was nice for Namjoon to have someone to go home to, he was happy for the both of them. It was unnecessary of him to feel the sharp sting of envy when they would reunite after weeks of not seeing each other, knowing there was no one for him, when Jeongguk always came home disappointed and alone. Taehyung always knew and pulled him closer, crushing him between him and Namjoon and it was enough to stay above the water that threatened to pull him down under. He was so close to drowning ever since Jimin had gone but his friends always tried their best to make him feel better. 

It was nice to always have someone waiting for them at home even though the one person he wanted was never there. It almost felt like empty comfort and Jeongguk always did feel so terribly guilty for feeling that way but it just couldn’t be helped. He missed Jimin so much. His touch and his presence. So much that he would do anything to get it back. Just wanted Jimin back where he belonged, with them. With Jeongguk.  

“How are you with the predators?” 

Jeongguk tries not to look too shocked at the question. People often mistake it for fear but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Normally, he would have to persuade them to let him look after the predators but the man had jumped right into it without Jeongguk having to bring it up.

“I have a lot of experience with them.” Jeongguk smiles, more to himself than anyone else. “They seem to like me for some reason,” and he wasn’t just talking about the big cats. It was the snakes, the big bears and the eagles. Jeongguk just knew how to treat them.  

“You look like a cat person.” 

“I’m a dog person, actually.” Jeongguk sanitises his hands and arms when they leave the koala hut. “Guess I have a little soft spot for panthers though.” 

“Well, you’re in luck.” the man smiles knowingly. But Jeongguk knew. Boy, did Jeongguk know . “We have three of the beauties.” 

🐾

Jeongguk only travelled to the places where he knew for sure they had black panthers. He did enough research to know of all the places closest to them and he had visited them all. But Jimin was nowhere to be found. Jeongguk was aware that Jimin could be anywhere in this wretched world and that’s what made it harder. He didn’t even know if he would ever find Jimin but he knew that he had to try . It was the one thing he would not let go of. 

Jeongguk didn’t tend to speak of hybrids much to any of the zookeepers in the off chance that they would look at him funny and jeopardise his chances to find Jimin. He didn’t tell a soul. But he knows that he would know when it was Jimin. He had seen and been with a total of seven other panthers and although he grew fond of them, he knew that none of them were Jimin. Panthers were asocial cats but Jeongguk just had a way with them, knew what they liked and how they wanted to be treated. It was always hard to depart with them but Jeongguk had no choice, he just needed to find him .

The zookeeper was a nice person as Jeongguk grew to know him. His name was Chang and he was clearly very experienced and wise with all of the ins and outs of the zoo. He wanted to take them both out for dinner with his wife to get to know them a little better and Jeongguk was not against the idea. He knew he had to be able to trust them and in return, he would gain their trust. It’s just how things worked. 

“You worked in a lot of places previously, why is that?” Chang says conversationally, not an ounce of animosity in his words.  

“No reason really, me and Namjoon hyung don’t like to stay too long in one place.” 

“You want to explore the world? That’s honourable, you’re both young so why not?” he smiles and pats Jeongguk’s hand. Jeongguk smiles at the couple, they were so lovely and Jeongguk was glad to have such accommodating hosts.  

“We always have a home to go back to though, so maybe that’s why. We don’t like to linger.” Namjoon says and pats Jungkook on his back, a small comfort. If they knew the real reason they’d be told to pack up and go back home. But Jeongguk would just smile and attempt to hide his pain, another failed trip, another few weeks wasted without finding Jimin. He had no idea how long the cycle would repeat itself.

“The predators at the zoo, how are they?” Jeongguk risks asking. He wanted to know more, they hadn’t had the time to explore the whole zoo yet.  

“Ah yes, I was supposed to mention this to you earlier but I want you to take care of the panthers for me since you showed a great interest in them, you haven’t met them yet but I’m sure you’ll be fine since you have the experience. Maybe the lions too, I’d have to monitor you before I hand them over completely.” Chang says, the smallest of frowns on his face. Jeongguk thinks he sees a hint of sadness in his eyes and knows that these animals were all part of his life, Jeongguk understands him on a personal level. He would feel the same way. 

“He must really like you, he never gives away the predators!” his wife mentions, exasperation lacing her tone. “Not even when he comes home with his arms all bloodied when they get too excited.” she breaks out into a smile at Chang grumbling under his breath. 

“She doesn’t like it, clearly.” Chang laughs. “But they’re of no danger, just extremely underestimated that’s all. They’re wonderful..” 

“I know.” Jeongguk smiles, thinks of Jimin not longer than a few seconds in fear he’d start crying at the dinner table. “I’d love to look after the predators, it would make me happy.” 

Chang nods and turns to Namjoon. “You’ll be in charge of the koala’s and panda’s, they seem to think you’re their mother.” and Jeongguk laughs, thinking there was not a better role for Namjoon. 

“I will gladly accept.” Namjoon smiles. 

“I know you’ll both do well here.” Chang praises before his watch starts to buzz and then his phone. “Oh…” his eyes troubled in an instant. “An alarm was set off in the panther precinct, time to go boys.” he claps his hands and Namjoon and Jeongguk look at each other before following him obediently whilst his wife looks on with a fond headshake.

They drive in the darkness back to the zoo and of course, Jeongguk was a bundle of nerves, his legs shaking up and down in anticipation because this could potentially be the moment Jimin could be found. He keeps his hopes low, as always, but it was hard when there was a possibility. There were three of them after all. Namjoon put a hand on his knee to stop him shaking but it was hard. He was anticipating something, anything.  

“Looks like one of them just ruffled up the gates a little bit, they like to playfight a lot except Coal. He doesn’t tend to mix with anyone much.” They stand just outside the gates of the large precinct, a caged closure staring into the darkness with flashlights held up on the locks. “They do this sometimes.” Chang reassures when Jeongguk takes a look at the lock almost unlocked, like it had been tampered with. “We just have to come and check, we don’t want a panther on the loose now do we?” he laughs through his nose and Jeongguk smiles slightly and  nods his head. He looks through the darkness but can see nothing, the panthers seem to be asleep somewhere so Jeongguk is confused at who or what could’ve set the alarm off.  

“Which one is Coal?” Namjoon asks and Jeongguk looks at him, an eyebrow raised. 

“He’s one of the younger babies, very asocial but beautiful nonetheless. Very majestic and big.” Chang ensures the locks are secure again by pulling on them tightly. “He hasn’t been with us for very long but I’m sure you will get to meet him tomorrow if I can find him, their enclosure is huge and Coal likes to hide.”

“I’d love to see them all so I can get comfortable with them.” Jeongguk smiles and stares into the closure, the darkness felt eerie just like something was waiting for them there. Like something was waiting for Jeongguk. He shivers and tilts his head, is sure he meets a pair of eyes for a split second before Chang is calling out for him to follow him. Jeongguk walks away and takes a look back over his shoulder one more time but just sees the dark abyss. Nothing waiting for him, nothing there at all.  

“Chang, what do you think to hybrids?” Jeongguk asks when he catches up to them. His mouth was not filtered at all tonight, he had only one drink but it was making his mouth a little loose. And he would love to know Chang’s opinions, he seemed trustworthy enough.  

Namjoon coughs and splutters and looks at him with wide eyes, as if he couldn’t believe Jeongguk had asked him outright just like that. Chang slaps him on his back to make sure he was okay before turning to Jeongguk with a sigh. 

“Another underestimated and wonderful creation.” 

Jeongguk’s heart sings . He didn’t really expect an answer like that and he couldn’t trust Chang enough to tell him but he was so glad Chang was open to them. Just like him and his friends and his parents. It was such an alleviating feeling.  

“Yeah?” 

“Definitely, although when animals are given to us here we are not told if they are hybrids or real. They insert something into their human DNA to suppress it, it’s usually behind their ears but there’s no use going to look for it.”

“They do that?” Jeongguk is cut off by Namjoon’s question. Thankfully so, since Jeongguk was about to let out a string of curses. Of course he knew they did that, it was the most immoral thing they could do to them. It left Jeongguk wondering if he found Jimin, would he even recognise him? With his human side suppressed, it gave way to more of his predatory instincts so there was a likely chance Jimin wouldn’t be able to recognise. And that’s what would break Jeongguk’s heart the most.  

“Yes, you should know that by now…”

“Jeongguk is usually very reserved, as am I and we don’t like to talk about it too much...it's a touchy subject for some people.” Namjoon says and Jeongguk hums in response. “So we avoided the question.”   

“I agree, I just don’t see why.” Chang sighs, getting inside the car. “Hybrids are almost extinct because of people’s ignorance. We lived in harmony years ago and it could be the same if only people were a little open minded and not so fearful like us.” he chuckles.  

“Hybrids are beautiful.” Jeongguk says, his eyes watering just a little. He’d rather counteract the hatred and anger he felt bubble inside of him. It was no use getting heated about something he couldn’t control, he had learnt that the most from this whole ordeal.  

Chang looks him in the eye and nods his head before starting up the car to get them to the place that they’re staying at. 

“They are.”

🐾

The next morning, Jeongguk finally gets to see the panthers and helps Chang during their feeding time. No sign of Jimin, of course, but he tries not to look so sad.  

“He likes you…” Chang looks on in wonder as Jeongguk pets one of the panthers. He strokes along the fur and scratches behind his ear, he seems to like that and rolls over for Jeongguk to pet him some more.  

“I told you I’m good with them.” Jeongguk smiles proudly up at him before turning his attention back to Luna. The only female panther on the precinct.  

“I didn’t know you’d be that good,” Chang smiles and ruffles Jeongguk’s hair. “You’ll be ready by the end of the week to come and feed them by yourself, they trust you.” 

“There’s one more, isn't there?” 

“Ah, his name is Coal. He likes to play at night and laze about during the day, he’s the extremely asocial one I mentioned.” Chang chuckles and throws Ace a piece of meat. “You’ll meet him soon enough, especially if you have some catnip on you. He goes crazy for it and he is very loveable when he wants to be, hasn’t been here too long… I don't get him much though.” 

“Why not?” 

“It looks like he’s always in pain but we checked up on him, he seems fine but it’s just not usual panther behaviour, you know.” 

“He doesn’t play with Luna and Ace?” Jeongguk asks, Luna nibbling on his fingers. Usually, panthers were much more playful and excitable when they had a friend.  

“Not even with them, they like to annoy him but he just ignores them. He’s a funny animal.” 

Jeongguk nods, it didn’t sound like Jimin so his hopes are diminished for now. Jimin was extremely playful and not at all reserved like how Chang explained so there was no way that could be him. Jeongguk’s heart aches and his eyes burn, his nose stinging from oncoming tears that he tries his hardest to suppress.  

Jimin wasn’t here. 

“Any luck?” Namjoon asks when they meet up for lunch with a hopeful smile. 

Jeongguk shakes his head and takes his lunch outside so he could eat in solitary. Namjoon already knew what Jeongguk got like when it was another place, another city, another country and still no sign of Jimin. It was best to leave him be so Namjoon didn’t follow him out and neither did Chang; he was grateful for it. He knew it took a toll on everyone else, too. Both Namjoon and Taehyung, but he couldn’t help but feel more and more disheartened with every place that they visit. It was frustrating. 

“Jeongguk-ah, have dinner with me tonight?” Namjoon asks when their day finishes and they head back.  

“We always have dinner together, hyung.” Jeongguk replies, confused. 

“I know but today you won’t eat and will go to bed early and stop talking to me for a few days.” Namjoon sighs. “I don’t want that, I get lonely.” 

“I’m sorry, hyung.” Jeongguk mumbles immediately, his eyes full of regret and sorrow. He slides closer to him, presses his arm into Namjoon’s as they walk. 

“Don’t be.” Namjoon shakes his head and wraps his arm around Jeongguk’s shoulder. “It’s your coping mechanism but it’s not healthy, you need to eat and you need to let out your feelings and it’s okay if you do that with me but Jeongguk-ah...we will find him.”

“How much longer will I have to wait?” a slight hint of annoyance in his tone. Everyone always told him that he would find Jimin but it had been over two years and Jeongguk was tired. He was exhausted. 

“I don’t know, but we’re not giving up.” Namjoons squeezes his shoulder. “You made me promise to always remind you, remember?” 

Jeongguk nods his head and they walk in silence for a moment. Whenever he felt like giving up, Namjoon was always there to remind him that they couldn’t . They had to find Jimin no matter what. Jeongguk himself had made his friends make that promise to him so he couldn’t let them down either, and he most definitely couldn’t let Jimin down. 

“I never thanked you properly, hyung.” 

“For what?” 

“I know you were going into animals and veterinary study but you stuck by me all this time, came with me whenever I dragged you away from Taehyung. I owe you a lot for helping me.” 

“Jeongguk-ah, you’re sweet but this has always been a dream of mine. To travel around the world and tending to animals, I’m just lucky I get to do it with one of my best friends.” Namjoon smiles. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to, I should be thanking you. Please don’t apologise, not to me.” 

“Well, thank you for coming with me then.” Jeongguk cracks a smile. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without you... or Taehyungie hyung. You’re both too good to me.” 

“That’s what we’re here for, I’m happy to be here, okay?” 

Jeongguk nods and hopes Namjoon knows how grateful he truly was for him.

🐾

A couple of days later, Chang gives him the go ahead to feed the lions and panthers by himself and he gives himself a challenge. Working like this had left no time for workouts or any type of weight lifting so he decided to do a run around the panther precinct. Maybe this way, he’d also be able to find Coal and meet him. It was easily around 5-7km around the inside of the gates and Jeongguk could really do well with a workout. Him and Namjoon had eaten nothing but pizza for the past week and it was starting to show on his cheeks.  

He’s only supposed to give the panthers a treat once in a while but Luna and Ace were being particularly charming today, giving him a breezy first experience by himself. So he had no problem with opening a can of pilchards for them to snack on and rubbing some catnip on them too for even more of a treat. They deserved it for loving him and not biting his hands off. 

The day was warm, the sun beating down on his back as he played with the panthers. Luna was particularly needy today and wanted all of his attention but there was still no sign of Coal. Jeongguk rids himself of his top and thinks maybe he should begin that run now. It was also part of a patrol so he efficiently got two jobs done in one go. The panthers run with him for a while before they get distracted with some trees to climb up and laze about on. Jeongguk thinks they were just getting disinterested since he wouldn’t play with them anymore. He gets through about a quarter around the precinct before he starts to slow down, the area was huge and they had so much land to roam about on. Not to mention the fact that it was beautiful. Yards and yards of desert planes and shading trees to rest under; it was a panther’s heaven.

Jeongguk picks up his pace again and tries to keep his breath steady, his body clammy from the heat and sweat dripping down the sides of his face, it felt so good to workout properly again. He runs until a small hill comes into view and he aims to run around it but something catches his eye. A cat rests on top of a small hill and Jeongguk freezes for a moment. 

“Ah, Coal.” Jeongguk mumbles under his breath but Jeongguk’s feet stay planted into the ground, not moving an inch more. The cat rises up on all fours and stares at Jeongguk. Coal wasn’t used to Jeongguk so maybe he was wary and thought that Jeongguk was an intruder but Jeongguk had no idea why his stomach was filled with butterflies and his hands began to get sweaty. Maybe it was the heat and the run but Jeongguk was sure he was feeling a little lightheaded.  

It was a little too far for Jeongguk to take a proper look at the cat from where he was so Jeongguk continues round the perimeter carefully in a light jog in case the panther thinks he’s stepping unlawfully into his territory. Jeongguk had catnip in his pocket, maybe he could smell it from all the way over there. Panthers did have an excellent sense of smell. He approaches carefully, closer until their eyes are able to lock and Jeongguk knows. 

Yellow round eyes stare back at him. Wide and pensive.  

He knows and in a second the panther is descending the hill and running towards him at full speed. But Jeongguk knows .

“Holy fuck .” Jeongguk says with the biggest sense of relief flooding his entire being, a sob catching in his throat. Finally . His eyes began to water and his heart was beating in his mouth, his lungs unable to gulp in enough oxygen until he was choking with the sight that was coming towards him. He opens his arms up the widest they could go and runs towards him before they collide.   

“Hello, kitty.” Jeongguk says, muffled with a mouthful of fur. “Long time no see.” he says with tears spilling over his lash line.

Jimin was home.

Chapter Text

“Good morning, Jeongguk-ah. Feeling better?” 

“Mm, much.” he grumbles, still in a mood and Namjoon rolls his eyes good naturedly. “Needed sleep.” Jeongguk says, yawning and leaning his face on his hand at the table. When his eyes flutter shut, all he could see was Jimin’s eyes staring back at him. 

The night before, Jeongguk had rushed home after tearing himself away from him and went straight to bed sobbing his little heart out. He couldn’t believe he had found Jimin, after the wait and after the sadness he felt pounding him into the ground getting to the point of almost unbearable. He finally felt like he could breathe again and Jimin… Jimin had remembered him. Was all over him like a rash but because of the DNA suppressor, there was no way he could shift back to his human form. Jeongguk had cried into Jimin’s fur, dampening it with his tears as he sat there in the middle of the precinct with the big cat in his lap, his body wet with sweat from the burning sun. Jimin had let him cry and when he pulled back to look into his eyes, he hated the way he saw the panthers eyes wet and full of sadness. Loneliness.   

“Jeongguk-ah!” Namjoon had called for him, pounding on his door.  

“Go away.”

“Jeongguk, what happened?” Namjoon sighs, outside of his door. Can tell he’s been crying from the way Jeongguk’s voice shakes. From the way this has happened multiple times but this time it wasn’t for the sadness inside him. It was the sadness he could feel through Jimin. Namjoon eventually got tired and left him to simmer in pity. Jeongguk cried until his lungs burned with yearning. He thinks back to how he had left Jimin, he had followed Jeongguk to the gate and whined as Jeongguk locked him up again.

"Stay, baby." Jeongguk had to mutter, pushing his face slightly back so it couldn't get caught in the gate. "I'll be back, I'm not letting you go again. I promise." Jeongguk whispered with tears in his eyes, ones he thought had all dried up, and Jimin did nothing but look at him in longing and want. He watched as he got into the car and his eyes never left him as he drove away. Jimin had stood on his hind legs as Jeongguk got further and further away and it broke Jeongguk. Completely tore him from the inside out. And that's how he had found himself breaking down, years of yearning catching up to him all at once. Times he had forced himself to suppress those thoughts were all coming back to bite him in the ass with just one look into Jimin's eyes. 

If Jeongguk had a choice, he would never have left Jimin. He would have bought Jimin back with him right then, panther or not. But he had to be alone just so he could process his thoughts instead of doing something irrational and jeopardise his chances of getting Jimin back. But it was still utterly heart wrenching to leave him behind. It was like Jeongguk was promised a whole bottle of water and was only given a sip and he was thirsty. Had been thirsty for so long and he didn't know how much longer he could take. 

Jeongguk cries till the sun begins to breach the horizon, he looks out his window across the planes of land and wonders if Jimin was okay out there. The thing that hurt him the most was that Jimin had been so alone all this time. Out here, he was isolating himself and he had no one. Not a single person. Jeongguk was lucky enough to have his friends to lean on, to knock some sense into him when things got a little tough but Jimin had no one. It forces some more tears out of him before he gets exhausted and falls asleep against the window sill until the next morning. 

🐾 

"Hyung, come with me to see the panthers today?" 

"Okay, Jeongguk-ah, of course I will." 

"Then, I'll drop you off to your precious koalas." Jeongguk snickers and Namjoon punches him playfully on his arm. 

"Did you get to meet Coal yet?" 

"Mm." Jeongguk mumbles and gets distracted with plugging his phone to play some calming music to satiate his nerves. Namjoon doesn't bother asking further. A sharp knock on his window pulls him out of his thoughts. 

"Mind if I tag along today guys?" 

"Of course not, Chang." Jeongguk smiles softly. "Hop in!" 

"Just want to see how good of a job you're doing on my babies." he says and Jeongguk smiles again. His baby comes to mind and he can't wait to get to him again. He wonders if Jimin is waiting for him, too. 

The bumps in the road do nothing to calm Jeongguk's raging heartbeat, the anticipation of seeing his lover again is almost like the nerves he had to face on their first date. The first night they spent together; it was exhilarating and it was exactly what he feels right now. Namjoon puts a hand over his knee as he drives, making him aware of how hard he was shaking it and Jeongguk lets out a huff of air and a mumbled apology. Namjoon just stares at him, confused and a little wary.

"I-Is Coal waiting for you, Jeonggukie?" Chang says, sitting up in his seat and Jeongguk looks over the steering wheel a little and he sees a panther pacing back and forth behind the gate, almost like he was waiting. Expecting. Jeongguk's heart flutters. 

After so long without him, Jimin still made him feel so wanted. 

"Jeongguk, I-I'm speechless." Chang says and Namjoon looks at them both in confusion. It won't be long before he figures it out and Jeongguk is excited for his reaction.

“Hey, big guy!” Chang says but Jimin is focused on Jeongguk, attempting and failing to get the gate open quick enough. “God, he really loves you doesn’t he? How the hell did you manage that?!” he says in awe at the way Jimin couldn’t wait for the gate to open.  

“I’m a panther whisperer.” Jeongguk smirks. 

“Jeongguk…” Namjoon looks wide eyed as Jeongguk manages to get the gate open and Jimin goes straight for him, nuzzling his head into Jeongguk’s stomach. “Jeongguk.” Namjoon says again and looks at Jimin and then Jeongguk. 

Jeongguk nods his head, his eyes watering just the slightest again as he pets Jimin just between his eyes. Jimin leans his head in his hands, trusting him, as he pets behind his ears and gives him some well deserved scratches.  

“Oh my fucking god.” Namjoon breathes and his knees hit the floor, a chuckle finding its way out of his throat. Jimin walks towards him and bumps their heads together and Namjoon holds onto him tight, Jeongguk can tell Namjoon is crying into Jimin’s fur too. 

“God, you both?” Chang says in disbelief. “It took me weeks just to get him to even look at me…”

“Luna likes me a lot too.” Jeongguk says, taking the attention away from Namjoon and Jimin who were having a moment and pets Luna who also likes him a little bit too much.

“Well I have made my decision.” Chang says with finality and Jeongguk looks at him with a raised eyebrow. “You’re not leaving here, you’ll have to stay with us forever.” 

“I wish I could, it would be a dream.” Jeongguk laughs breathily. He feels a nudge on his thigh and Jimin is next to him again, his nose bumping into Jeongguk’s hand to prompt him to touch him again. Chang looks at them with wonder in his eyes, maybe even a little curiosity and Jeongguk knew they had to reign it in. He didn’t want Chang knowing because it could mean that they lose their chance. Jeongguk trusts Chang enough but there was always the possibility of Chang finding out and sending them right back where they came from as well as alerting authorities. And Jeongguk would lose. Jimin would slip right through his fingers again and Jeongguk couldn’t have that. He would have none of it.

“Coal, come here boy.” Chang says and pats his thigh, and thankfully Jimin goes to him and presses his nose against his hand. His tails curls around Jeongguk’s leg as if he were afraid Jeongguk was going to leave. Jeongguk wasn’t going anywhere, not without him. “God it’s like he’s a changed animal.” Chang laughs and pets his strong back. 

“I have that effect on them.” Jeongguk smiles and Jimin chirps low in his throat, it almost sounded like a scoff and Jeongguk looks at him with incredulous eyes. “What? Don’t you deny it, Coal !” Jeongguk mutters, pulling on his tail once, remembering just what it does to Jimin. Chang laughs fondly at that exchange and Namjoon finally recovers enough to join them. 

“Hyung, he’s a beauty isn’t he?” Jeongguk says when Chang leaves them to tend to Luna on the other side of the precinct.  

“He is… Jeongguk-ah, I—” 

“Later, hyung.” Jeongguk whispers and Namjoon nods, his eyes glassy. Namjoon reaches for him and Jeongguk presses his forehead against Namjoon’s temple shakily, a sign of relief and happiness and Namjoon chuckles lightly. 

“You did it.” Namjoon says and Jimin pushes his way in between the two to separate them. 

“ We did it, it was me and you.” Jeongguk laughs when Jimin whines against his hand. “I’m so proud of us.” Jeongguk sighs and leans down to press a kiss against Jimin’s nose. He receives a lick on his cheek in return. Then on his nose and his other cheek until he pushes Jeongguk back into the ground and licks at his chin until Jeongguk forces him off. They take a walk around the precinct this morning, Chang a few steps ahead of them with Ace whilst Luna and Jimin stayed with him and Namjoon. 

“How are we…?” 

“Tonight, I’ll get the car and we have the keys.” Jeongguk mumbles. “We will do it tonight.” Jeongguk looks at Chang and guilt rips through him. He didn’t want it to be this way but they were left with no other choice, Chang was not going to be happy with them but this was their only chance. 

“You know people will be after us, what do we do then? How do we get the suppressor removed? Jeongguk there’s so much—” 

“I know, hyung. I know there’s so much to think about but right now I only care about Jimin and having him safe and with me. I have waited long enough, do you not think I’ve had to wait too long?” Jeongguk pleads. He knows Namjoon will be too logical about this but he didn’t want to wait . Not a second longer.         

“Of course you have Jeongguk-ah but why not wait a short time more so we can do this with a proper plan in place? Hm?” Namjoon runs his hand down his back and Jimin nudges Namjoon to the side. Jimin’s eyes burn bright yellow and he hopes to god that it wasn’t the sting of jealousy he was feeling because it was pointless. Namjoon was Taehyung’s but Jeongguk was Jimin’s, always.  

“I don’t want to wait any longer.” Jeongguk sniffles, trying to hold back his tears but he was never so good at that. “I miss him .” Jeongguk’s hands are on Jimin but it felt futile. Like he was right there but Jeongguk couldn’t get to him. 

“I’m sorry.” Namjoon whispers as Ace comes back to them to hurry them along, Chang waits for them with a wide smile and the hole of guilt he feels in his chest widens a little bit more. 

“It will be tonight. My decision is final.” Jeongguk says, wiping away the wetness in the corner of his eyes before looking at Jimin, a ferocity in his eyes that he had missed but knew all too well. 

They were in this together. 

🐾 

“Jeongguk, what about the alarm?” 

“I know we’ll have enough time to get him out of there, Jimin will be right by the gate. It will be a matter of seconds.” 

“Okay, as long as you’re sure.” Namjoon nods. “You know I trust you, right?” 

“I know and if you didn’t then you wouldn’t be here with me right now.” Jeongguk smiles and holds on to Namjoon’s forearm. “But hyung…” 

Namjoon looks up at him, inquisitively because this is the first time there is any kind of uncertainty lacing his tone. 

“If anything happens, take Jimin hyung to Taehyungie hyung. If anything happens—” 

“No.” Namjoon clenches his jaw, tight. “Nothing will happen, you’re going to be together.” Namjoon grabs the back of his head and forces him to look into his eyes before pulling him into an embrace. Jeongguk nods resignedly, he wishes it was as easy as that but he had a feeling of dread at the pit of his stomach, blooming into a full blown feeling of anxiety and anticipation. It couldn’t be this easy, could it? 

“God, he really listens to you doesn’t he?” Namjoon chuckles when the headlights shine bright towards the precinct and Jimin’s eyes glow golden in the darkness. 

“I think he just wants to get out of there, hyung.” Jeongguk sighs, his heart deflating at the sight of Jimin. Jeongguk still couldn’t understand why he wasn’t at his epitome of happiness now that they had found each other, there was something about Jimin. He couldn’t put his finger on it but Jimin… didn’t seem himself. “We’ve got to be quick hyung, are you ready?” 

“I’m ready.” Namjoon nods and slips out of the car, to open the back door so Jimin can run inside as soon as he can. Jeongguk knew it wasn’t going to be so simple, he knew he would come across some mishaps and they arise as soon as the lock is tampered with. Luna seems to come from nowhere and pounces on Jimin, vying for Jeongguk’s attention. 

“Shit.” Jeongguk curses as he opens up the gate, he would have to try and get Luna to stay right where she was whilst he let Jimin out. She nudges Jimin out of the way and manages to get her head out of the gate. “Luna, no, please.” Jeongguk mutters, closing the gate again. He takes a deep breath and looks to Namjoon for some help, it wouldn’t be long before Chang was here. 

“Go to the edge of the gate and I’ll try to get Jimin out, go!” Namjoon says rushing towards him and Jeongguk does as he’s told and Luna follows him. 

“Good girl, come here…” Jeongguk leads her away from Jimin so Namjoon could get him out and as soon as he does, he closes the gate and Jeongguk rushes to lock it up. Luna whines behind it and Jeongguk’s eyes fill with tears. “I’m so sorry.” he chokes out but the way her eyes dilated and became downturned, Jeongguk could never forget that. This would stick with him forever.  

“Jeongguk.” 

Jeongguk freezes. 

Chang’s voice rings in his ears and his heartbeat was incredibly rapid already, he was about to ruin everything. When Jeongguk turns, his eyes search for Jimin first and he was already in the car along with Namjoon and all Namjoon had to do was drive. Drive him and Jimin away and find a safe space for them and then figure it out. Jeongguk would bear the consequences of this, it was his fault after all. 

“Chang, I-I can explain—,” 

He doesnt know how he was going to explain but he had to give them some time, he wishes Namjoon would just start the car and drive but fuck , Namjoon couldn’t even drive. Jeongguk lets out a shaky breath and tears burn his eyes. 

“Hey, there’s nothing to explain… listen, I think you should follow me. I can help you.” 

“W-what?!” 

“Let’s drive to my place, I have to show you something.” 

“But Coal, h-he…” 

“Listen to me, Jeongguk-ah.” Chang smiles, soft around the edges and his shoulders drooping ever so slightly. “Don’t try to escape, you’ll regret it. Now, you’ll listen to me, won’t you?” 

Jeongguk can do nothing but nod, his confusion and curiosity getting the best of him. He had no idea what was going on but he was expecting Chang to be mad at him, for abusing his trust and practically stealing his animal but Chang was calm and cool albeit a little annoyed. 

“Follow me.” Chang says and walks towards his car which was down the opposite way they had come, a little bit further away so they couldn’t hear him approaching. Jeongguk lets out the breath he had been holding and almost runs towards the car to get to Jimin. 

“What did he say?” Namjoon says, panic written all over his face. Jimin leans his head over Jeongguk’s seat and settles into the back seats.  

“We’ve got to follow him.” 

“Jeongguk.” Namjoon shakes his head. “Don’t do it, we’ve gotta leave now whilst we can. Who knows who he has back at his home waiting for us.” 

“Hyung, do you trust me?” Jeongguk repeats. Namjoon hesitates this time but eventually nods his head. “Okay.” Jeongguk says shakily and follows Chang like he had said he would. He didn’t know what was happening but if he knew Chang as well as he did then he wouldn’t be in trouble and Jimin would be safe. They all would be.  

“Take him out carefully, okay? We don’t want the neighbours to see.” Chang whispers to him when they arrive and Jeongguk follows his orders, Jimin follows him quietly into their house and they are met by his wife who is not phased by the sight at all. 

“Another one?” she questions.  

“This one looks likes its Jeonggukie’s.” Chang says and walks them to the back of his house, his wife following behind them. 

“I’ll tell you the truth, I’ll tell you everything just please, will you let us go afterwards?” Jeongguk pleads, he knew Chang wouldn’t keep them hostage whilst calling someone to report them. But just in case.   

“You think I don’t know everything already?” Chang chuckles. “The way you look at him is enough to give it all away, he’s yours. I already knew.”  

“You knew?!” Namjoon says in disbelief and Jeongguk was just as shocked as him.

“I have one of my own.” Chang nods towards his wife and Jeongguk gasps as small ears poke out of her hair, a tail unfurling from behind her. “She’s a tiger hybrid.” 

Evidently, Jeongguk and Namjoon are speechless, staring wide-eyed at her and Chang shows nothing but amusement on his face.

“I knew you guys were something special.” he smiles looking between Jeongguk and Jimin. He calls for Jimin and he obediently submits to his command and is in front of him in a second. “Now, let’s get this suppressor removed, hm? Did you bring him a pair of clothes, this big guy won’t be happy if people have to see him naked.” 

“Chang, I—” Jeongguk chokes on a sob and then his tears are cascading down his face. Jimin is by his side in an instant. 

“Oh come on now, Jeongguk. No need for such big tears, isn’t this what you wanted?” Chang puts an arm around his shoulder.  

“I t-thought you were going to report us, I thought we lost our chance.” Jeongguk wipes his nose on his sleeve and holds Jimin’s face in his hands. “I thought I was going to lose you again.” he whispers to Jimin, pressing their heads together.

“I couldn’t be so hypocritical when my love is right by my side.” Chang rubs his back as he tries to regulate his breathing, his sobs subsiding as he assesses Jimin and looks behind his ears. “Ah, found it.” 

“How do you know how to do this?” Namjoon asks.  

“I had to do it for my own wife, a couple of other hybrids too. We’ll get him back to normal in no time,” Chang says calmly and Jeongguk felt all the tension slowly leave his body. “What’s his name?” 

“Kitty.” Jeongguk mumbles and Jimin steps on his foot with his paw, a whine rumbling in his chest. “His name is Jimin and he’s my best friend.” Jimin steps on his foot harder and claws at his thigh for calling him that.  

“Ow! Okay, boyfriend.” Jeongguk moves his foot away from Jimin so he can no longer step on it. “It’s been over two years, hyung. How do I know if you’ve got another panther lover somewhere?” 

“Is that how long it’s been?” Chang’s wife comes to sit with them and pets along Jimin’s fur. 

“Yeah, it’s been a long time.” Jeongguk wonders if she can hear the exhaustion in his voice. 

“You did well, Jeongguk. You found him,” Chang says reassuringly before he turns his attention back to Jimin. “I’ll get him something to wear hold on,” 

“Um, Chang?” Jeongguk speaks up, he was grateful Chang was thinking of Jimin but Chang was a big guy and he knew none of what he had would fit Jimin.  

He turned to look at Jeongguk expectantly and he only hesitated for a second before he spoke. 

“Jimin is a little small in human form so...” Jeongguk’s hand is jammed between Jimin’s jaw in an instant and Chang laughs at the pain on Jeongguk’s face. 

“Don’t worry, I’m sure Mila has something for him to wear.”

Jeongguk waits in anticipation whilst Chang works on getting the suppressor removed so Jimin could shift into a human. Jeongguk’s hands shake as he waits outside the room; he refuses to watch the process. Chang had mentioned it would be painful and Jeongguk was a coward. He couldn’t watch Jimin go through that.

“He’s going to be fine.” 

“I know, hyung, I just—” Jeongguk breathes deep, lets out a small whimper. “I can’t believe I’ll see him again, I’m scared.” 

“You have nothing to be afraid of, you have both been waiting for each other.” Jeongguk looks at Namjoon and shakes his head. Jeongguk just didn’t feel right. 

“I missed him.” 

“He missed you too.” Namjoon smiles and he leaves Jeongguk alone, knowing exactly when he needs some time to just think and breathe again. Chang exits the room moments later and gives him a small, reassuring smile. A smile that told him lots of things; Jimin was okay, Jimin was waiting for him, Jimin was alive and within touching distance. Jeongguk’s heart skips a beat and his breath stutters as he stands outside the door. This was a moment he was waiting for, for the longest time. He was going to see Jimin, touch him and kiss him. Jimin was going to be with him.

“Hyung?” Jeongguk knocks once before opening the door and peeking his head inside. Jimin was waiting for him, just like Jeongguk had been waiting for him for all these years. Jimin’s eyes looked frightful, almost terrified as he looked at Jeongguk. His hair was a little shabby and he looked so small, even in Mila’s clothes. His back was hunched over a little and his skin was clammy from the heat and Jeongguk just wanted to gather in his arms and hold him close, never letting him go.  

“Jeongguk.” Jimin speaks, his voice dry and scratchy from disuse. It was as though Jimin had just blown some dust off of it when he said Jeongguk’s name. They stand metres apart and Jeongguk’s eyes water at the distance. They were so close but so far away, not close enough. After all these years… “Come here.” Jimin whispers, his eyes pleading and wide. “ Please. ”

Jeongguk lets out an involuntary sob and stumbles before he is falling into Jimin’s arms and into his chest. No words were spoken between the two, just the soft sounds of their crying and the shift of their arms wrapping tighter around one another. Jeongguk felt along his back, along the backs of his arms, his fingers buried into Jimin’s nape as if to make sure all of him was really there. There was so much Jeongguk wanted to say, needed to say but he found he couldn’t say them when Jimin was touching him. His mind was blank as he embraced this feeling again, something he hadn’t felt in over two years. Ever since Jimin had been ripped away from him without choice. Jeongguk deserved this. He deserved this moment and there was nothing he would do to ever ruin it. 

“I love you.” Jeongguk whispers into Jimin’s neck, his feelings overwhelming him to a point where he couldn’t help himself. Jeongguk feels Jimin’s smile against his temple before a soft kiss was placed so perfectly there. Jeongguk had missed him.  

“You looked everywhere for me? Is that true?” 

Jeongguk pulls away only to look Jimin in the eye and nod his head, he wipes his tears on the back of his sleeve. Jeongguk holds Jimin’s face in his hand and presses their lips ever so slightly against each other, just a small press but Jimin freezes up, straightens his back until Jeongguk pulls away, scanning Jimin’s face for any discomfort. He was afraid he had crossed a boundary that he wasn’t aware of. Stupid. Jeongguk was stupid for thinking he could do that so soon when they hadn’t seen each other for two years. Jeongguk had to consider the fact that Jimin didn’t want him like that anymore, it had been too long. Maybe… Jimin could have fallen out of love with him. 

Jeongguk takes a step back.  

“I-I had to find you.” The tremble in his voice is evident and Jeongguk wishes he could be a little stronger. 

“You found me, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin smiles. “I am so grateful to you.” Jimin holds on to Jeongguk’s hand tight, as though Jeongguk was going to pull away entirely and he wasn’t wrong. But Jimin wouldn’t let him move away, not even an inch. Jeongguk felt so overwhelmed with emotion he felt like running away but Jimin was looking at him with such fond eyes, so full of need and longing that Jeongguk found it hard to move at all. Jimin may not love him anymore but Jeongguk's love for him hadn't faded, not in the slightest. He would do anything for Jimin and if Jimin wanted him to stand right there with him then he would. Jimin always told him he would go to the moon with him but Jeongguk knew he would go beyond the galaxies for him, would go even further than Jimin could ever imagine. 

"You have nothing to be grateful for." Jeongguk shakes his head, surprisingly keeping the tears from the sting of rejection at bay. "I would do anything for you, hyung." Jeongguk says truthfully. Jimin looks at him with a small nod, his eyes pained and creasing up ever so slightly at the corners. Jeongguk wishes he could read Jimin's mind but Jimin had always been an enigma. Jeongguk steps away from him reluctantly and instantly misses the way Jimin's warmth had infiltrated his body, the way the warmth sung in his veins and made his body feel grounded. 

"We should go, it's late and you must be tired." Jeongguk says, collecting the last of his tears on a tissue. Away from Jimin so he couldn't see them escape his eyes.  

"Of course." Jimin says, his mind elsewhere and completely detached. Jeongguk frowns all the way home, unable to help the way he felt so disappointed and heartbroken. 

His Jimin wasn't the same. 

🐾 

"I'll take the couch." 

"Don't be silly, Jeongguk-ah." Jimin sighs when they get to Jeongguk's meticulously clean room. Jimin looked so out of sorts and Jeongguk wanted to help him but he didn’t know how to. "Come and lay with me. I can't sleep just yet." 

"Are you sure?" Jeongguk knows what he looks like, doe-eyed and scared. "I don't want to overwhelm you or make you uncomfortable." Jeongguk repeats the words Namjoon had said to him, could tell Jimin wasn't him and that maybe Jimin just needed some space to get back into the routine of being human again.

"You could never, sweetheart." Jimin says, so quietly Jeongguk could have missed it if he wasn't so fixated on Jimin's mouth. Jeongguk takes that as a cue to climb in beside Jimin, his eyes full of tears at how sweet Jimin spoke to him but refraining to cascade down his face. He really didn't want Jimin to get scared of why he was crying so much. The sight of Jimin in his bed... it was made out of dreams and Jeongguk couldn't believe it was real. That Jimin was right there beside him.

"You okay?" Jeongguk asks when they lay together, a foot separating them. 

"Yeah, I'm just—, I need some time to get used to it." Jimin sighs and turns to face him, Jeongguk can feel the way the moonlight kisses his face. "You didn't break your promise." Jimin says and brings a finger up to drag softly against the soft skin of Jeongguk's cheek. His eyes flutter shut at the contact and Jeongguk's heart kicks at the small gesture. 

"I don't break promises." 

"I'm so lucky..." Jimin shakes his head and lets out a small breath of air. His lips press gently against his forehead and he retreats, turns over so that his back is towards Jeongguk. The end of the conversation. The end of their time together for the day. It had barely been an hour and Jeongguk was hurting. He lays awake for hours after that, wondering how things were so right but so wrong. How could this have happened to them ? That feeling of uneasiness Jeongguk had felt was not futile, he knew there was something wrong but he couldn't blame Jimin. It had been a long time but Jeongguk was willing to do whatever it took to make sure he was there for him. 

Jimin had suffered through an insufferable amount of pain and torture and it was wrong of Jeongguk to expect him to be the same Jimin. Jeongguk had no idea what it was like to be prodded at and forced to be something that they were not. And because of that, he felt an immeasurable amount of guilt for feeling so disappointed and ignorant towards Jimin's approach in handling things. Jeongguk was expecting a Jimin that no longer existed and that was unfair of him, Jimin didn't deserve that. He deserved much better so Jeongguk makes the decision to be there for him no matter what, Jeongguk would love and cherish him like he deserved even if Jimin did not feel the same. Jeongguk scoots forward so he could feel a little bit more of Jimin's warmth and presses his forehead against Jimin's shoulder blade and he falls asleep lightly like that. 

Jeongguk dreams of a life where Jimin and him could have a future, where hybrids were not such a problem to society. Jeongguk wakes up crying, Jimin's arms wrapping all around him and his hands clawing at his own chest to get rid of the heaviness that resides there. Jimin’s arms are enough and the relief he feels is enough to tamp down the anxiety and uncertainty.   

🐾 

Chang manages to get Jimin a passport sorted so that they could be on their way as soon as it was possible. Taehyung and Jimin had cried on the phone to each other and Taehyung was ready to fly there at any given time but Jimin had reassured him that they would be home soon. Jeongguk doesn't know how he felt about home , all he knew was that his home would be wherever Jimin was. Jimin had still been distant, he didn't talk much about anything and only spoke when he was spoken to and Jeongguk was having a hard time trying to get anything out of him. But Jeongguk still did his best, he would always try his hardest for Jimin. 

"Hyung." Jeongguk sighs, a small whine caught in his throat that he didn’t mean to let out. Jimin had been quiet and Jeongguk was torn between leaving him to his own thoughts or getting him out of his head. However, when Jimin thought he wasn’t looking, his eyes would linger on Jeongguk for too long to be considered normal, he just didn’t know what it meant. Jeongguk wraps his arms loosely around Jimin's waist to ensure it didn’t make him too uncomfortable. "Are you ready to go home?" 

"I-I'm not sure, Jeongguk." Jimin speaks, his voice shakes with uneasiness. Jeongguk is sure it was the most he had said to him in the past three days. 

"You know we don't have to go anywhere you're not comfortable with." Jeongguk reassures, empathetic and consoling. 

"I know, I just—," Jimin sighs and stops. Doesn’t finish his sentences and leaves Jeongguk wondering how they had managed to get here, where Jimin could no longer feel like he could talk to Jeongguk.  

"Talk to me, baby." Jeongguk mumbles into his shoulder and Jimin stiffens again just like he did when Jeongguk kissed him. Jeongguk begins to pull away, crossing a boundary he couldn't see. And Jeongguk thinks the worst, of course he does. "I’m sorry, hyung." 

"Jeongguk, no, there’s nothing to be sorry about I just..." 

"Shh, it's okay." Jeongguk reaches for his hand instead, that seemed neutral enough, with a gentle but forced smile on his face. "You don't have to explain yourself, but please know that you can come to me whenever you need. I'm right here for you." 

Jimin nods and he holds on to Jeongguk's hand a little tighter. 

"I'm going to shower, I'll see you in bed in a minute okay?" Jeongguk tries his hardest to give Jimin a smile and he just about manages. Jimin nods again and Jeongguk leaves him. 

His sobs get muted by the sound of the water hitting the tiles.

🐾 

When Jimin lands back in Seoul, his mind drifts back to everything his life was and how good it was. How good it can still be. But Jimin couldn’t shake the feeling of doom, this was where his life had also been ruined and Jimin for the life of him had no idea how to act human. He had subjected himself to living like a panther for the rest of his life… he had no idea Jeongguk would persevere and actually find him. Sweet, lovely Jeongguk. Jimin gazes at the side of his face, the permanent pout to his lips and the crease between his forehead as they walk through the airport and Jimin was mesmerised by him. Jimin missed him so much that it was an unbearable pain not to be touching him at any given time, he just didn’t know how to behave anymore.  

“Jimin!” Taehyung is crying before he even sees him, his eyes rimmed red and Jimin can’t help but drop his bags and break out into a run to get to his best friend. 

“Taehyungie,” Jimin sighs, crashing into his hard chest and letting himself be whisked away in a warm embrace, a blanket wrapped all around him and the smell of home making him relax.

“Don’t you dare think about scaring us like that again, do you hear me?” 

“Like I had a choice.” Jimin scoffs but his argument is disregarded when the wetness against his cheek forces him to pull Taehyung tighter against him. Taehyung pulls Namjoon close to him and then Jeongguk too so that they’re huddled together.

“I missed you all.” Taehyung sighs. “Jeonggukie, are you happy?” 

“I found him, of course I’m happy.” Jeongguk smiles and Jimin knows he’s lying. Lying through his teeth and it was coming out bitter. Jeongguk wasn’t happy. Jimin wasn't giving him enough of a reason to be but he stays quiet and doesn’t utter a word. 

“I’m so glad.” Taehyung’s eyes shine with his remaining tears and insists on holding on to Jimin all the way to the car. “I left everything the way it was, Jeongguk wouldn’t let me get rid of anything.” Taehyung whispers and Jimin nods and glances back at Jeongguk for a moment and he is already looking at him, a soft smile plays on his lips but Jimin knows better. 

“You can drop me home first hyung, it’s on the way.” Jeongguk says when they get in the car.  

“If you think I am letting Jimin out of my sight for more than a minute then you’re wrong.” Taehyung shoves at Jeongguk’s shoulder. “You can both come home with us instead.” 

“Hyung, take me home.” Jeongguk takes a deep breath. “Jimin can stay with you.” 

“Jeongguk, please... “ Jimin starts, his voice a small whisper, but he doesn’t know how to ask him for what he wants. How badly he wanted Jeongguk to stay by his side so he felt a little more put together. Jeongguk blinks expectantly up at him, waiting for Jimin to tell him to stay. Jimin shakes his head and mutters a nothing under his breath. 

“What’s going on?” Taehyung asks, looking at the both of them through the rearview mirror. 

“Later, baby.” Namjoon says, patting his thigh. 

“I’m just tired and I’m sure Jiminie hyung is too, I’ll come by tomorrow morning first thing. I can never stay away for too long.” Jeongguk huffs out a breathy laugh and Jimin’s heart drops to the floor. If only he had the courage to reach over and comfort Jeongguk with his hands, or maybe even a press of their lips. But Jimin was a coward, he always had been. And just maybe, Jeongguk wanted some time away from him to breathe a little easy. Jimin could feel the negativity roll off of himself and Jeongguk didn’t deserve that. 

“You can come whenever you want, Jeongguk. I will always be waiting for you.” Jimin whispers, hopefully loud enough just so he could hear. Jeongguk nods and looks away from Jimin, out the window as they watch the lights of Seoul pass by them. Jimin doesn’t attempt to speak to Jeongguk for the rest of the ride. 

However, the moment Jeongguk leaves the car, Jimin’s hands begin to shake, the fear of being alone settling inside of his heart and making him struggle to breathe. Jeongguk hadn't left him alone for more than a few minutes at a time and he had no idea how he was going to get through one whole night without him by his side. But Jimin wasn't going to make him do anything he didn't want to. Jimin lets out a sound of discontent before he breaks out into full blown sobs, his chest constricting painfully as he watches Jeongguk leave, each step he takes is a stab to his heart. 

"Jiminie." Taehyung says, concern written all over his face as he twists his body towards him from the driver's seat.  

"Let’s go, please just go." Jimin pleads through his tears and he buries his head into his own lap as he tries to breathe. "I want to go home." Jimin says, more to himself than anyone but Taehyung drives away regardless. He feels Namjoon reach back to put a hand at the back of his neck, a placating touch to soothe him but it did nothing to stop the pain. Every metre that distances him away from Jeongguk breaks his heart a little more but this was his own fault, he had acted like a fool and not spoken to Jeongguk truthfully about what he was feeling. And it left Jeongguk feeling unwanted and unsure, Jimin was very aware of that. After all this time, Jimin still knew exactly how Jeongguk’s mind worked. 

“He loves you, Jimin.” Taehyung says later when they get home and over a cup of coffee, looking at Jimin with sad eyes. Jimin’s very own were rimmed red around the edges and so sore. 

“I-I know that, of course I know that.” 

“To me it looks as though you’ve forgotten.” Taehyung says, not bothering to hide his displeasure. Namjoon must have told him something. Jimin stares at Taehyung, he hated that he could see everything just from looking at him. His own eyes harden, dilate even, and he’s about to burst with emotion. “Stop.” Taehyung warns. 

“You’re so fucking-,” Jimin starts, his frustration beginning to bubble up to the surface. 

“Stop!” Taehyung says a little louder. “Breathe, and talk to me.” Jimin takes in a shaky breath and tries to get himself under control, tries to push the image of Jeongguk’s sadness to the back of his mind so he could think for a second without the guilt completely overtaking him. Taehyung approaches him carefully, his movements slow before he’s in front of Jimin pulling him into his chest and cradling Jimin against him. “You’re okay, you’re safe.” Taehyung whispers. Jimin feels himself relax, the tension of being back to the place where he had been abducted slowly settling into a low simmer again. He tries not to let the absence of Jeongguk panic him and tries to keep it suppressed so he could breathe. 

“I miss him.” Jimin says, a small whimper in his voice as Taehyung rocks him side to side gently.

“Imagine how much he misses you, Big.” Taehyung sighs and Jimin sniffles into his chest. “Will you talk to me?” Taehyung pulled back to look him in the eye, his eyes were full of trust and hope. Jimin couldn’t do anything other than make Taehyung still believe that they were the best of friends. 

“Of course, Taehyungie.” Jimin runs his hand through Taehyung’s hair and he smiles, any tension dissipating between them because they are and always will be best friends. He makes Jimin another coffee and they crack their apartment door open so they could talk whilst the smell of rain can wrap around them. The sounds of it hitting the buildings and the wet tarmac below them soothes Jimin, makes him believe he has the courage to tell Taehyung what’s going on in that crazy mind of his.

“I’m terrified.” Jimin whispers, too loud for himself but not loud enough to feel like he said anything at all. He can feel Taehyung’s gaze on the side of his face but Jimin looks ahead, keeps his eyes focused on the direction of where his heart is, tucked away in Jeongguk’s hands miles away from him. “I subjected myself to living my life as an animal and I—,” Jimin chokes on his breath but wills himself to continue. “I don’t know how to be human again. I don’t know how to love, how to feel, how to touch. I lost so much of myself in the years I’ve been gone that I can’t think of anything worse than being back here. I hate it, Taehyung.” 

“Jimin…” Taehyung whimpers with tears in his eyes. 

“Don’t,” Jimin shakes his head. “Don’t cry for me, don’t pity me. This is all my fault I did this to myself, to you, to Jeongguk.” 

“Why are you blaming yourself, Big.” Taehyung tugs on Jimin’s sleeve. “Like we can’t make our own decisions, like we’re fucking stupid or something.” 

“That’s not what I mea—”

“How could you?!” 

“Stop, I didn’t want to upset you.” Jimin shakes his head, his tears blurring his vision. He pulls on Taehyung’s hand to unravel them out of his clenched fists and interlocks them instead. “I just don’t know how to be .”

“We love you,” Taehyung says and squeezes his hand. “Look at me, Jeongguk loves you more than anything. He did so much just to find you, I don’t understand…” Taehyung pleads and Jimin tries to breathe, tries to speak but it comes out all too quick in a choked up sob eventually.  

“He deserves better.” Taehyung’s breath hitches, and before he can say a word Jimin continues. “What if it happens again? Will Jeongguk spend his life looking for me all the time? You know how hard it has been for him, you’re the one who knows the most and how do you expect me to do that to him every time? I love him too much to let him suffer like that, I won’t do it to him Taehyung.” Jimin sobs. 

“You need to talk to him, Big.” Taehyung says softly, comfortingly. “You’ll find a way to be together, you’ll find yourself if you just trust him,” 

“I’m so scared.” Jimin whispers. 

“You’re scared of the person who would do absolutely anything for you, the person who has not forgotten about you, who was willing to travel across the world just so he could find you and save you…” 

“If he says no—,” Jimin shakes his head and presses his fingers against his temple to suppress the oncoming headache. 

“You won’t know until you ask him.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow challengingly. 

Jimin nods his head, a few words from his best friend and he knew all he had to do was take the plunge. Jeongguk was the love of his life and he wouldn’t ever do anything to let go of that; he was just terrified of holding Jeongguk back from his own life and his own happiness. Jimin couldn’t live with himself if he did that whilst only thinking of himself and their future. 

🐾 

“Jeonggukie, I can’t believe you only came when I said we’d have pizza.” Taehyung says to him when he gets to his and Jimin’s apartment two days later. Jeongguk looks at him skeptically. 

“There’s no pizza, is there?” Jeongguk halts at the door. 

“No...but we have some milk! Make yourself some cereal.” Taehyung says with a smile that Jeongguk wanted to wipe off of his face. “Acting like you came here just for the pizza.”  

“Hyung!” Jeongguk whines but Taehyung hugs him instead. “I did come for pizza.” he mumbles.  

“It’s time for you to talk.” Taehyung whispers, nuzzling into his shoulder a little bit and Jimin walks down the hallway, his eyebrows raised in surprise when he notices Jeongguk. Jimin hadn’t called him so he assumed he didn’t want Jeongguk there at all.

“Jimin hyung.” Jeongguk says and Taehyung let’s go to look at Jimin. 

“Jeonggukie.” Jimin says, familiar and sweet. “It’s good to see you.” His fingers wring his wrists and he hesitates. As does Jeongguk. 

“God, you’re both a bunch of morons.” Taehyung rolls his eyes and pushes Jeongguk towards Jimin and he stumbles. Jimin catches him by the elbow and Jeongguk’s breath hitches. “I’m leaving.” Taehyung says with a frown on his face and shaking his head at the both of them. Jimin’s eyes are glued to the door as it slams shut behind Taehyung and Jeongguk watches as he gulps hard, avoiding looking at Jeongguk.  

“ ‘s just me, hyung.” Jeongguk whispers. Jeongguk for the life of him doesn’t know why Jimin looks so terrified. 

“I-I…” 

“Take a deep breath,” Jeongguk says when Jimin tries and fails to get his words out, his eyes lining with water. Jeongguk’s heart breaks, shatters into a million pieces at how distraught Jimin looked. If it was just at the sight of him then Jeongguk would leave, as long as Jimin didn’t look so broken.  

“I’m sorry.” Jimin manages to get out and Jeongguk feels dread fill the pit of his stomach. Jimin was crying and apologising and had been avoiding him, it could only mean one thing. Jeongguk knew if they were both crying then it would be a solution they couldn’t ever solve so he straightens his back, takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to smile softly. 

“Don’t worry, hyung.” Jeongguk reaches for Jimin’s cheek and caresses it softly, wiping away his tears in the process. “I understand, it’s okay.” Jeongguk’s hand drifts down to his shoulder and he squeezes once and makes sure Jimin is looking at him. “I just want you to be happy and free.” Jeongguk whispers, reassuring him when all he wants to do is run from there. Leave so the searing pain in his heart could be allowed to bloom into full fledged burns across his body. “Can I kiss you one last time?” he had no intention of the words slipping out but Jeongguk wanted it so badly. One last time. 

“Jeongguk, what—,” Jimin’s eyebrows crease and he wipes away his tears. “What are you talking about?”

“Before you leave me, just one more time.” Jeongguk asks. If Jimin ever refused him of this then he wouldn’t know how to go on. “Please.” Jeongguk’s voice cracks and he wishes he could better take control of his emotions. Wishes he wasn’t begging for Jimin’s affection in this way. 

“I—,” Jimin lets out a shaky sigh and pushes his hand away before he leans both his hands on the kitchen worktop, his head hanging low. “Baby, how could you ever think that?” Jimin’s voice breaks into sobs, his body shuddering as he tried to ground himself by holding on to the counter. “How could you think—” he stares accusingly at him then and Jeongguk has no idea where this anger was coming from. Jeongguk knows how hard it has been for Jimin all this time, that he couldn’t expect Jimin to just love him back still and pick up from where they left off. Jeongguk knew that but it didn’t make it any easier. Jeongguk didn’t mean to make him angry but he was just...sad. Heartbroken and so, so sad. 

“Hyung, don’t cry.” Jeongguk says, reaching to put a hand on Jimin’s back. “It’s breaking me seeing you like this.” Jeongguk rubs Jimin’s back as he tries to get a hold of himself, he doesn’t know what else to do besides be there for Jimin. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked Jimin to kiss him, maybe any type of contact with Jeongguk is making him cry so his hand stops, still on Jimin’s back, his touch lingering one last time before he forces himself to pull away.

"Can we at least stay friends, hyung?" Jeongguk asks and he feels so broken inside.

"You think I'm breaking up with you?" Jimin says, quietly as though if he spoke any louder it would shatter what little they had together. They were both holding on by a thread.  

"It's been a long time, hyung." Jeongguk says resignedly.

"After you spent all of your time searching for me, after everything we've been through that's what you really think I’d do? Break up with you?" Jimin says the words like they’re a personal attack to his heart, Jeongguk hears the pain crisp and clear. 

Jeongguk doesn't know what Jimin was trying to tell him. Jeongguk stares blankly back at him and tries to find something to say. Anything. But he came up short, he didn't know what else to think and he was uncertain of the boundaries between them. Jeongguk always did think the worst and there was nothing worse than Jimin having fallen out of love with him and breaking up with him. 

"I've been scared that you're disappointed in me, that you no longer want the person that I am right now. Things have changed Jeongguk-ah, but the one thing that hasn't changed is how much I love and want you." Jimin shakes his head, his emotions getting the best of him as he tries to keep his voice steady. Jeongguk can't help the sigh of relief he lets out at the words and then his knees are buckling and hit the floor, the exhaustion from wondering what was going to happen to them finally getting the best of him. It still didn't mean everything was okay but knowing that Jimin still loved him and wanted him, that was enough to calm the storm in his heart by a mile. 

"No," Jimin gasps and joins Jeongguk on the floor, pulling him into his chest. Jeongguk cries silently, tears slipping out of his eyes and running down his face slowly and staining Jimin's old t-shirt. Jimin ran his hand gently down his back and it was the most he had touched him since they had reunited, Jeongguk had missed it. 

"I was so scared, hyung." Jeongguk whispers, breaking the silence with something that needed to be said. "I found you but it didn't feel like it. I was so scared you didn't want me anymore." Jeongguk's breath was staggering, stuttered because he couldn't even bear the thought of it. 

"It was me that was scared, that thought I was holding you back from things all of this time and knowing you deserved better. I hated it and I didn't know what to do."

"Holding me back from what?" 

"Come and sit with me, sweetheart." Jimin says, looking imploringly at Jeongguk and caressing the soft tendrils of his hair. "We need to talk." 

They settle shakily on the couch. The couch where they had both confessed to each other and shared endless kisses. Everything was still the same except for them. 

"Jeongguk, I don't think I can live here anymore." Jimin says, his hands clasped together in his lap. Jeongguk reaches over to put his hand on top of both of his and looks at the frown marring his features, Jeongguk wants to smooth his fingers over the lines. He waits patiently for Jimin to continue, begging him to in his mind. "I got used to thinking all my life was ever going to be was a panther stuck in an enclosure, I didn't have any hopes to ever find you or leave that place because I had subjected my fate to that and now... now I don't know what to do." 

"You're lying." Jeongguk says. 

"I'm not, why would I lie?" 

"At the zoo, you always tried to escape and you'd set off the alarm." 

Jimin looked away and Jeongguk was not having this. 

"If you had no hope, Jimin, then you wouldn't have been trying to escape the goddamn place. You wanted to find me just as much as I wanted to find you, you were still trying hyung but you were the one who was locked away, you have to give yourself some credit."

"Jeongguk, I should have never put you in that position in the first place whether we both tried or not. It has and always will be my biggest regret."

“You regret me?” Jeongguk hates the way his voice comes out, choked up and wavering. 

“I would never, you’re the love of my life.” Jimin says, disbelief lacing his tone and Jeongguk’s heart steadies. His hand moves to stroke up Jeongguk’s arm. “You’re the best thing that happened to me and you deserve better than all of this.”  

"I don't deserve better than you or this situation. It happened to us and I am willing to work on it if you are, I don't want to lose you again, hyung, no matter what. I'm sticking with you through whatever it is you need, I'm always going to be by your side for as long as you allow me to be. You just have to let me." Jeongguk caresses his cheek and brings him closer.

"What if I want to move, Jeongguk?" Jimin says with tears burning in his eyes. "What if I want to move far away from here just so I can have some peace and freedom. Will you leave everything you have here just to come with me?" Jimin says but his expression is anything but of need. The look holds nothing but ridicule and confusion and Jeongguk pretends he doesn't notice the frustration that leaks into his tone. Jimin just needed reassuring that he was Jeongguk’s everything. 

"I have nothing here for me, my job allows me to work anywhere on this earth and you think I wouldn't drop anything for you? I love you, Jimin. I'd go wherever you are because you're my home, this place didn't even feel like comfort when you weren't here." Jeongguk squeezes his eyes shut and wills himself to do what he really wants to. He threw his leg across Jimin's lap so he could tower over him and hold his head in place. "I'd do absolutely anything for you, you big dummy. Maybe you forgot over the years but I am here and willing to remind you of it." 

"I'm terrified." Jimin whispers. 

"I know, baby." Jeongguk says softly but Jimin's pretty eyes were not calming his racing heart. "This time, no one is taking you away from me. Especially not you." Jeongguk's voice chokes up and Jimin just looks at him. 

"I think I want that kiss now." Jimin murmurs and for the first time in days, Jeongguk breaks out into a small smile and meets Jimin's lips. Jimin kisses him as though this was all he wanted to do since he laid eyes on him, kisses him hungry and hard as though Jeongguk was going to disappear and he could do nothing but take it. It seemed as though this was something Jimin needed and Jeongguk was happy to indulge him. "I love you." Jimin whispers against his mouth and Jeongguk's eyes stay shut, just enjoying the feeling of what it was like to finally come home and be at peace. 

"I'll follow you anywhere." Jeongguk says and presses his lips to Jimin's again, skirting around the edges and then delving into his mouth to memorise the way it felt again. Jimin nods at him whilst they kiss and Jeongguk just wants to hold on to him, not let Jimin out of his sight. "Want you to be happy, Jimin." 

Jimin smiles, soft and sweet. "I want it for the both of us." he says and Jeongguk kisses him again, a gentle press of their lips as a promise. 

🐾 

Jeongguk watches as Jimin thaws. He slowly settles into the sofa and his shoulders drop when Taehyung comes back with Namjoon in tow as well as his friends that he had dearly missed. He even manages to laugh at Taehyung, the tinkling sound of his giggle filling Jeongguk with so much warmth. Whatever Jimin thought, Jeongguk knew it would take much longer than a day to resolve but Jimin had the courage to speak up about it to him and they could only ever go up from here. Jeongguk was ready and willing to give Jimin anything, his absolute everything if it meant that they could be together. But Jeongguk knew he didn’t want it to be at the cost of Jeongguk’s hopes and dreams. And Jeongguk could do nothing but respect that. 

They drift towards each other even if Jeongguk still wanted to give him some space. There were some zookeepers who didn’t exactly treat Jimin well and Jeongguk knew it had left some lasting impacts on him mentally and physically. Jeongguk settles down next to Jimin, instinctively curling his body towards him as they settle in front of the TV. This used to be Jimin’s favourite thing to do but his attention was anywhere but there. Jimin stares above the TV, his eyes unsettled. 

“Hyung?” Jeongguk whispers, tilting his head towards Jimin slightly. Jimin only looks at him, smiles and puts a hand on his thigh, pulling him closer into his body. 

“Missed you.” Jimin whispers in his hair, his arms wrapping around his shoulders and Jeongguk feels the rush of emotion threatening to spill out through his fingers and his eyes. He smiles to himself and embraces the way Jimin breathes him in, making him snuggle a bit further into him and drifting into and out of a comforting haze. “Will you stay with me today?” 

“Of course.” Jeongguk frowns, his heart hurting at the thought Jimin had to ask. “I don’t want to be away from you, I just thought you wanted space...away from me.” 

“Never.” Jimin presses a kiss against his temple and stays there for several seconds. “Don’t want you to be away from me.” 

Jeongguk looks at the sincerity in his eyes and goes for Jimin’s hand and interlocks them together. When it gets late and everyone leaves, Jeongguk can finally snuggle up in Jimin’s bed, his nose inhaling his pillow absentmindedly, an act he would do all the time after Jimin had gone. Jimin joins him moments later, smiling at him softly and it almost felt like a lucid dream that Jimin was right here with him. They lay in silence facing each other for a while in the dim light coming from Jimin’s cat lamp that Jeongguk had bought for him years ago. 

“Do you still paint?” 

“As often as I can, sweetheart.” Jeongguk murmurs softly, he brushes Jimin’s hair back for him so it doesn’t crowd his eyes. Jimin nods his head at that, almost like he was scared Jeongguk was going to say no. Jeongguk can’t wait to show him everything he had painted in the past few years all hung up in his home. Sometimes, when he missed Jimin so much, it had translated from the tip of his paintbrush on to a canvas. It helped him live a little easier. 

“I don’t know how to be human anymore, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin says, interrupting his thoughts and his voice shakes and Jeongguk shuffles forward a little closer bringing all of his attention back to Jimin. 

“Then, let me show you again?” Jeongguk reaches for him, pulling him in so he fits right against his body and allows himself to be held. “And I’m not letting anyone take you from me again, no matter what.” 

“I’m so happy I have you.” Jimin says the words against Jeongguk’s neck and he feels as Jimin’s breathing gets heavier as he falls asleep in Jeongguk’s arms right where he should be. 

“You’ll always have me.” Jeongguk whispers before following Jimin right into a deep slumber.  

🐾 

“Big, we’re not watching that again .” Taehyung moans a few weeks later. Jimin had warmed up and he was almost his usual self, getting into a routine and living . He still refused to go out much but they were getting there, Jeongguk was making sure of it.  

“I have been missing for two fucking years, you will let me watch it.”

Jeongguk watches as they argue, a small smirk on his face because he knows Jimin is going to win this time. He always does when he pulls out the abduction card. 

“That’s your answer to everything, it doesn’t fool me.” 

“Fine.” Jimin huffs, chucking the remote towards Taehyung. “I’ll pack my stuff up and go live with Jeongguk.” 

“Wait, no.” Taehyung backtracks immediately, shuffling towards Jimin. Jeongguk’s face is red from how hard he is trying to suppress his laughter. “Don’t leave me for dick.” 

“Tae!” Jimin smacks him on his arm and he can only laugh, the tension dissipating within a matter of seconds with the sounds of their laughter and teasing. 

“I’m not even getting any dick.” Jeongguk mutters under his breath, not expecting it to be as loud as it is and continues to collect the chips in his bag. He tips it into his mouth and when he’s done, Jimin and Taehyung are looking right at him. Jeongguk’s eyes are wide and he decides to shrug it off. “Did I lie?”

“Ooo Jiminie.” Taehyung whistles. “You’re in trouble.” 

Jeongguk watches as Jimin pinches Taehyung’s side and Taehyung looks back at him and throws him a wink. They hadn’t done anything besides kissing and holding each other and Jeongguk knew it was because Jimin just didn’t know how to love him again. But Jeongguk was patient and wanted Jimin to treat him like he normally did whenever he was ready. Jeongguk understood. So when Jimin requests to go home with Jeongguk that night, he doesn’t think much of it. 

“Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin breathes into his mouth when he presses him up against the door before kissing him hard. “Let me fuck you.” he asks, biting at his lower lip. 

“What?” Jeongguk asks, stopping Jimin’s hand from pressing into his crotch. Jimin looks at him desperately, like he didn’t know what he was doing. Like he was lost and Jeongguk hated that. Jimin was always so sure of himself, so confident and sexy whenever they were intimate with each other but this wasn’t right. This wasn’t the Jimin he knew. 

“We’re going to sleep.” Jeongguk says, sternly. His eyes hard and Jimin looks at him, dejected. Almost like a kicked puppy but Jeongguk was going to stand his ground. Jeongguk takes his time in the shower and walks into his room, his bed warm and Jimin in his panther form. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk sighs and Jimin whines, pawing at the place next to him. “I’m not mad.” 

Jimin knew it was always easier for Jeongguk to speak to him when he was a panther so he listens to Jimin, gets into bed and cuddles into Jimin’s silky fur. 

“I’m not mad at you, baby.” Jeongguk whispers. “I just don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do. What I said earlier to Tae, I didn’t mean it. It was just a joke.” Jeongguk frowns. “I never want you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with. I’ll wait forever for your spiky dick.” Jeongguk says to lighten the mood and he is expecting the sharp pain of Jimin gnawing at his shoulder. “Now will you turn back so I can kiss you goodnight? I’m sleepy…” Jimin licks at the side of his face before he shifts and kisses Jeongguk until he can’t breathe. 

“I love you.” Jimin feeds the words into his mouth. 

“I know.” Jeongguk smiles. He gives Jimin a goodnight kiss and they fall asleep wrapped up in each other. 

When the morning comes, it doesn’t come easy. Jeongguk had forgotten that Jimin was naked since he shifted and he woke up to his ass rubbing against Jimin’s bare cock and he groans and pulls away slowly. He makes the mistake of looking back at Jimin who was fast asleep but his cock was lying there, between his legs, his spikes looking absolutely delectable and Jeongguk curses. Fuck, he had missed it so much. Jeongguk squeezes his eyes shut and scoots towards the edge of the bed to try and get some more sleep and to get rid of the image. Jimin seems to sense that Jeongguk moved away and he follows him, wrapping him up tighter in his arms and pressing harder into his back. Jeongguk could feel everything . 

“Jiminie.” Jeongguk whines, elbowing him in his ribs. 

“Mm, what’s wrong baby?” 

“Too hot.” Jeongguk says, flinging the covers off of him and Jimin finally pulls his arm away and lays on his back. Jeongguk’s cock lays hard against his thigh in his pyjama bottoms and he whimpers, his face pressed into his arm.

"Jeongguk-ah, it's cold." Jimin presses his cold feet against Jeongguk's warm shins and he winces at the feeling. 

"Put some clothes on then," Jeongguk grumbles. He didn't like the impending feeling of having blue balls, it wasn't nice for anyone and it was making him grumpy. Jimin slips his feet in between Jeongguk's legs with a small whine. 

"Why?" Jeongguk hears the pout in his voice and hopes he doesn’t come anywhere near him. But Jimin had a sixth sense for these kinds of situations and he decides to throw a leg around Jeongguk’s waist and pull him close again. It results in Jeongguk trying to push him away but he ends up on his back and Jimin is on top of him and then freezes as his hard length comes into contact with his stomach. . 

“Oh.” Jimin says, his eyes wide awake now and scrambling off Jeongguk. 

“Go back to sleep.” Jeongguk says with a hard frown before turning away from Jimin. He lets him. 

“Jeonggukie.” Jimin whispers, his hand fisting at the back of Jeongguk’s shirt.   

“I said go to sleep.” 

“Look at me.” Jimin tugs just once. His voice was laced with sleep but so deep and arousing, it wasn’t helping Jeongguk at all. 

“Hyung,” Jeongguk whines before turning around and getting tangled in the sheets again, he tries to get out of them in frustration and Jimin stares and waits for him patiently. 

“Come here.” Jimin mumbles and grabs his waist and face at the same time, pulling him closer and slotting their lips together. “Gonna love you, is that okay?” he asks when their lips pull away with a soft click. 

“Y-you don’t have to, I’m just— you’re naked.” Jeongguk says quietly against his lips. 

“That’s all that made you hard?” 

“What do you mean that’s all…” Jeongguk pushes his bottom lip out and Jimin doesn’t miss a chance to bite down on it, sucking it into his mouth and then licking into his mouth to kiss Jeongguk again. Jimin finally uses his sharp canines to bite on his lips and he lets out the most pained pleasurable sound possible. It was expected. He had been without this feeling for over two years and he was going to embrace it. He pulls back for a moment just to watch Jimin to ensure he is comfortable with it and he looks like his Jimin. A teasing glint in his eyes and the teasing smirk he loves so much. 

Jimin’s lips attach themselves to his neck and he leaves burning kisses against the column of his neck before he kisses down his body, ridding Jeongguk of his top. Jimin doesn’t waste any time, he gives Jeongguk what he wants because maybe he can sense how desperate Jeongguk would be if his hands and hips weren’t glued to the bed. 

“Please.” Jeongguk manages to let out, his hips fighting the urge to thrust up into Jimin’s hand wrapping around his cock. 

“I’ve made you wait too long, haven’t I?” 

“I’d wait forever for you,” Jeongguk says, chancing a glance down at Jimin who looks at him with glossy eyes. He presses a soft kiss at the tip of his cock and grips Jeongguk’s hand with one of his as tight as he can when he puts his mouth properly on Jeongguk. “Hyung, your fingers too, please.” Jeongguk requests when Jimin swallows him down. Jeongguk reaches for his bedside drawer and grabs the lube as fast as he can whilst Jimin chuckles against his hip bone. 

“So greedy, Jeongguk.” Jimin mutters and bites the skin covering his bones. “You didn’t change at all.” Jimin says, kissing the soft insides of his thighs but he obliges. Jeongguk doesn’t know what he would have done if Jimin had teased him and drawn it all out. Jeongguk deserved this and he knew Jimin knew it too. He presses one finger slicked with lube into his tight hole and then eventually a second all whilst licking up Jeongguk’s shaft. Jeongguk can do nothing but turn his face into his pillow and groan to his heart's content whilst Jimin works him up. Jimin stretches him and then looks for the sweet spot that has him thrashing against the mattress. 

“H-hold on—oh my god, you’re so, fuck!” Jeongguk grabs Jimin’s wrist, his stomach clenching with the action and tries to get him to stop so Jeongguk can catch his breath but Jimin doesn’t stop pressing into that wonderful bundle of nerves that has him jerking against Jimin’s open mouth. 

“Come for me, baby.” Jimin mutters against his length. “We have all the time in the world, I’ll make you come again, promise.” Jimin reaches up with his other hand and brings Jeongguk into a soft kiss before pressing him back down gently against the bed and continues. “Come on.” Jimin pleads and Jeongguk would be a fool if he didn’t give it to him. Jeongguk closes his eyes to focus on Jimin’s commands but suddenly the past few years flash before his eyes instead. The pain, the hardships, the uncertainty and the need for Jimin and now he was here, loving Jeongguk with all that he had. The reality of it crashes into him so hard that he comes with a cry, a wail at best, as he clutches the sheets in his fist as he comes into Jimin’s mouth. “Good boy.” Jimin whispers but he doesn’t stop his fingers from milking his prostate, pressing harder and harder. He captures Jeongguk’s tears with his lips and mutters sweet nothings against his glowing skin, against the shell of his ear. 

“I love you.” Jeongguk whimpers and cards his fingers through Jimin’s hair. “I’m so glad I found you, hyung.” Jeongguk sobs come out unplanned but he was just so grateful that Jimin was here with him. He was very aware that right now was not the time to be sentimental or emotional but he couldn’t help himself.  

“Baby,” Jimin sighs. He pulls his fingers out and focuses all of his attention on Jeongguk instead. “I’m right here, shh.” Jimin mumbles into Jeongguk’s neck. “I’m just here and I’m never leaving.” 

“Hyung—” Jeongguk’s sobs get caught in Jimin’s hair, his heart clenches painfully at the thought of losing Jimin again.  

“I won’t let them take me away, I promise.” Jimin says. “I’m never going to put you through that ever again.” 

“It wasn’t your fault.” Jeongguk sniffles, his emotions barely subsiding.  

Jimin shakes his head with a small grimace and he pulls back to wipe away Jeongguk’s tears with tears in his own eyes, not believing Jeongguk’s words. “Do you trust me?” 

“You’re the person I trust the most.” Jeongguk’s hands skim against the backs of Jimin’s arms as he melts into the mattress and brings Jimin towards him again. “I love you.” he repeats. 

“I love you.” Jimin’s voice breaks. “More than you will ever know, sweetheart.” he sniffles and Jeongguk wipes away his tears too and kisses every inch of his face until he is smiling again, he thinks the pain could wait for now. He could put a stop to it just for now as long as Jimin was smiling at him. Jimin gets comfortable on his side, his eyes gazing lovingly into Jeongguk’s and his hands running through Jeongguk’s hair. 

“Are you happier, hyung?” 

“I’m happy when I’m with you, Jeongguk.” Jimin smiles. The evidence is right there in the way he holds Jeongguk, touches him with the utmost care. 

“Your expressions are so full,” Jeongguk mutters, the product of his brain focusing on nothing but Jimin’s eyes and the way they glisten in the morning sunrise. Jimin lets out a puff of air from his nose in amusement and smiles gently. Jeongguk is afraid to tell him that he can see the love in his eyes from fear it would be too cheesy, too much of an affirmation and Jeongguk doesn’t want to believe in it so much just yet. They lay there in silence for a moment, Jimin’s hand stroking along his body and lost in each other's eyes before he gets bashful, the round of his cheeks turning the prettiest of pinks. Rosy and entirely kissable. 

“Cute.” Jeongguk can’t help but say. Jimin hides away in his neck, scooting closer and begins to press kisses into every inch of skin he could reach until Jeongguk gets impatient again. His soft moans didn’t stimulate Jimin to touch him and that was a problem.

“Want me to touch you again?” Jimin whispers, his breath warm against his nipple. Jeongguk nods his head slowly and mumbles a quiet please. “No more crying.” Jimin says, a kiss pressed against the swollen bud. Jeongguk guides Jimin to press his fingers back into him, this time four of them as he grinds into the stretch, preparing for what he had been waiting for, dreaming of. 

“What a cockslut.” Jimin says, his voice teasing and sharp. Jimin’s voice aroused a part of him that he hadn’t been in contact with for a long time, it made him feel submissive and docile just for him. Talked down to him as though he was only there for Jimin’s pleasure and he loved that. He had missed this more than he had thought.  

“Only for you, you’re the only one.” Jeongguk breathes into Jimin’s mouth. “Lay back,  my turn to love you.” Jeongguk commands when his confidence skyrockets, pressing a hand against Jimin’s chest to push him back against the pillows. Jimin couldn’t be the one in charge all the time and Jeongguk was ready to take what was being offered to him. Jeongguk leans down just to have a taste, licking up the precum and sucking the tip of his cock into his mouth and brushing the tips of his fingers against the rough spikes. Jimin’s breath gets caught in his throat as Jeongguk wraps his hand around the base of his cock, spikes and all. “Missed this pretty thing.” Jeongguks says, pressing an open mouthed kiss against the tip before scrambling up and straddling Jimin. 

“Yeah?” Jimin asks, breathy and lustful. His tail unfurls from behind him, cropping up at the best time and wraps around Jeongguk’s neck firmly, not enough to choke him but enough so that Jeongguk was heady with the feeling. The silkiness and length of it made Jeongguk flutter his eyes close for a moment, embracing the feeling that he had sorely missed. Jeongguk grinds his ass down against Jimin’s cock making him choke and instinctively grab at Jeongguk’s hips to steady him. “Come on,” Jimin pleads, spreading Jeongguk’s ass cheeks to hurry him along. 

“O-okay,” Jeongguk murmurs. “Okay, baby.” Jeongguk presses the tip of his full cock into his hole and reminds himself to go slow. Achingly slow when all he wanted to do was bury Jimin’s cock to the hilt, spikes and all. 

“Good boy.” Jimin almost whines, his tail tightening ever so slightly around his neck. 

“Jimin, oh—” Jeongguk breathes as he slips down further and further, the feeling of fullness appeasing him. His hands move to Jimin’s chest, pinching his nipples between his fingertips. It makes Jimin thrust his hips up and further into Jeongguk so he was taking all of him and Jeongguk collapses on his chest. “Fuck!” 

The tears burn in his eyes from the blurred lines of pain and pleasure but he circles his hips regardless, Jimin pressing into all of his warmth was something he wouldn’t ever tire of or take for granted ever again. 

“God, you feel so nice…” Jeongguk mumbles between clenched teeth, resorting to biting down on Jimin’s pec so he could feel how much Jeongguk appreciated this. “Always feel the best, hyung.” Jeongguk says, shifting his hips and biting into Jimin’s skin to leave a clean, red mark. A reminder for him to know exactly who he belonged to. Not any of the others who had claimed him, owned him and made him obey to his animal instincts. Jimin was his . 

“I’m yours.” Jimin affirms and grabs Jeongguk by his neck to pull him into a kiss so hard and lustful that he forgets to move for a moment, forgetting everything except Jimin’s mouth hot on his own. 

“Kitty.” Jeongguk says and pushes him back into the sheet softly before sitting up and rocking forward, his hips lifting up before slowly pressing down again. Slow and hard. Jimin’s spikes brush against his soft insides and Jeongguk mewls, throwing his head back and moving a little faster. 

“Just like that, fuck—” Jimin debates with himself whether he wants to screw his eyes shut or watch Jeongguk as he rides him. “It’s been years, baby, my knot is going to be big…you have to— god , have to pull out before I come.” Jimin grabs his hand to remind him and threads his fingers through them tightly. Jeongguk responds with a small grunt but Jimin was insane if he thought he wasn’t going to be coming in Jeongguk and knotting him. There was no way in hell that was going to happen. “I’m almost there, jesus baby.” Jimin cries and Jeongguk works harder. 

“A-am I doing good?” Jeongguk mumbles, his cheeks tinging a shade of pink that was a little too noticeable. 

“Jeongguk, I’m losing my fucking mind.” Jimin gasps, his hands pressing indents into the skin of Jeongguk’s hips that he will feel for days. “I missed you so much, you feel so nice. You’re doing so well, baby.” Jimin tries to sit up to kiss him and Jeongguk allows a small peck before he pushes him back down and goes a little faster, a little harder. It fills Jeongguk with so much pride and confidence, Jimin’s words always do.  

“Your cock is so fucking big, it’s not going to let me walk for days.” Jeongguk says, knowing how much Jimin gets off on dirty talk and praise. “It’s hitting me right there …” Jeongguk groans, one of his hands goes to his own chest, twisting his nipple and making himself feel good. 

“ Fuck , Jeongguk pull out now .” Jimin hisses and Jeongguk buries Jimin’s cock deep inside of him and circles his hips feeling his knot grow bigger before he comes and locks them in place, his spikes expanding outwards so Jeongguk couldn’t move. “Jeongguk!” Jimin yells, his hips arching from the force of his orgasm and coming so much inside the softness of Jeongguk’s warmth. He can only whimper at how big his hole was being stretched out but he holds on to Jimin and that’s enough to keep him there.  

“H-hyung, your hands please.” Jeongguk pulls at Jimin’s wrist to make him come too. Jimin sits up and brings Jeongguk into a harsh kiss and obliges, wraps his hand tightly around Jeongguk’s leaking cock and is relentless in how fast he moves, up and down Jeongguk’s hard length. He bites into Jeongguk’s lips and Jeongguk thinks it's almost a punishment for not listening, his tail a stark reminder around his neck.

“Come on,” Jimin whispers, his breath cool against Jeongguk’s wet lips and drooling mouth. “Come on, come— come.” Jimin demands and Jeongguk breaks into a sob, staring into Jimin’s eyes and comes . His body taut as he came, making him unwillingly let out groans and whines, his fingernails digging into Jimin’s shoulders painfully. His chest was heaving, his thighs shaking as Jimin drags his tongue down his chin and pushes his face into Jeongguk’s neck to kiss him through the intense aftershocks. 

“Naughty baby.” Jimin mumbles, a sharp nip to his neck. “You never listen to me.” 

“Love you too much.” Jeongguk manages to say. “Always want you to feel good.” He mumbles, his eyes fluttering as he leans his head on Jimin’s shoulder. The fullness of Jimin inside of him and the inebriating, satiating feeling from his orgasm had left him exhausted and ready to nap again. 

“You love me so much.” Jimin says against his neck, his lips pressed tight against his pulse. “I feel like I don’t deserve it.” 

“Bad kitty,” Jeongguk manages to pull his hair back just so he could slot their mouths together. “I love you, I’d do anything for you.” 

“I’d do anything for you, too.” Jimin smiles against his mouth. “You’ll see.” Jimin lays back, a lapful of Jeongguk, as they nap and wait for Jimin’s knot to die down to see the light of another day. 

Jimin’s promise comes to fruition a few days later when Jeongguk comes home from yet another day at their local zoo. He frequents it often and they always have a job waiting for him when he’s back at home. However, the uncertainty this time round with everything has made him a little doubtful of putting down the foundations of a secure job. He always told them he was a floater and with Jimin barely scraping through whilst living in Seoul, Jeongguk wonders where life will take them. 

“Baby, you’re home.” Jimin smiles when he walks through the door. He greets Jeongguk with a kiss and a warm hand to his neck. Jeongguk liked the image of Jimin welcoming him home, almost like it was theirs to share and he tries not to let it affect him too much. Jimin still made him blush like a schoolgirl either way. He wasn’t supposed to be here but Jeongguk wasn’t complaining. Not at all.

It also meant that Jimin had willingly come out of his apartment on his own accord and walked all the way here and Jeongguk’s heart filled with happiness at seeing how his confidence was starting to pick up. Jeongguk was so proud of him. 

“Shower with me?” Jeongguk pouts, grabbing Jimin before he could move away to bury his face at the back of his neck. 

“Of course,” Jimin giggles, putting his hands over Jeongguk’s around his waist. “But you have to let me show you something first.” Jimin walks him further into his home, not letting him go. But he doesn’t miss the way Jimin lingers on one of his paintings, his fingertips skimming the edge of the frame for a second. It was a piece that he painted when his fingers ached for Jimin, when all he wanted was to reach out and touch him. Everywhere. Maybe just on the bits of skin that were marked with his panther coat, the slight discolouration that Jeongguk loved to put his mouth over. It was a simple painting of just the column of Jimin’s panther neck, long and full of the pretty marks he loved so much. Jeongguk doesn’t know why Jimin likes that one the most but it was likely Jimin could feel the emotion poured through the piece. Art was something that made people feel differently and that’s why Jeongguk could never just give it up.   

“What is it?”

“I-I think I may have found a solution to all of this and where I want to start living my life.” Jimin drags him to his living room to where he has his laptop opened up. Jeongguk’s eyes widen. This was something he wanted for Jimin so badly, he just hoped and prayed that it was a place that could involve him too. “I want to be free and I don’t want to hold you back anymore.” 

“You aren’t.” Jeongguk shakes his head and tucks Jimin’s hair behind his ear. Jimin gives him the prettiest smile and his heart almost stops in his chest. Jeongguk can’t help but feel the rising fear and anxiety waiting to consume him. He trusts Jimin and that’s all he could go on. It didn’t mean he was any less nervous though.

“I want to do more, Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin says, a wistful smile on his face. “I want to live and just be normal for once.” 

“You can.” Jeongguk encourages quietly and squeezes Jimin’s hand in his. Jimin looks him in the eye, searching for any kind of animosity but Jeongguk knows he will find none because Jeongguk wants this for Jimin the most. He brushes their noses together and kisses him once on the lips, just a small touch but it feels like so much. 

“There’s a place that I think I would like to go back to, somewhere I felt safe and know that the people will do everything in their power to protect me.” Jeongguk thinks and he doesn’t think Jimin has mentioned this place that he talks about. “It’s almost a safari park where people can drive in their cars to have a look at the animals, there’s a job opening for a veterinarian and I think that I could do that.” 

“Of course you could, hyung, you could do anything you wanted to.” Jeongguk can’t help but feel excited for him because Jimin seemed so keen and this was the happiest he had seen him yet. The words hadn’t registered in his mind yet. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how far this place was but Jeongguk knew he would travel as far as he could just so he could see Jimin.     

“And-”

“And?” Jeongguk wishes this one time that his face was expressionless. He didn’t want Jimin to see the hope and yearning in his eyes at the prospect of him being included in all of this. Jimin could live his life without Jeongguk being involved, he knew that, but Jeongguk craved Jimin at every moment of every day. He needed Jimin.  

“And the panther precinct is in need of a good caretaker, the lions too.” 

Jeongguk’s face lights up.      

🐾 

“Hyung, we have to get ready for tonight too, don’t forget!” Jeongguk tries to remind him but Jimin was attached to his neck, nipping and kissing him and not letting him move out of his sight this morning. 

“Mhmmm,” Jimin mumbles, the vibration of his lips against his voice box made Jeongguk laugh out loud unceremoniously and shove him away. 

“Kiss, Jeongguk-ah.” 

“You kissed me like a hundred times already and it's only 8am.” Jeongguk rolls his eyes but pecks Jimin’s lips anyway. 

“Never enough.” Jimin says and pulls him back to kiss him properly. His teeth biting into his bottom lip, a small reminder to remember him during his day. Jimin knows it will sting him everytime he licks his lips and he will think of Jimin. Jeongguk had the attention of a lot of panthers but he needed to remember that he was the most important one. Jimin didn’t like sharing.

“Also, hyung, will you tell Chang that Namjoon hyung will be here, he’ll make sure he’s the first one to be here. Oh! And my dad, he wanted to meet him...” Jeongguk says, pulling away for a second with a thoughtful expression as his mind worked a hundred miles a minute. Their friends and Jeongguk’s parents were flying in this afternoon to their new place somewhere in the middle of Southern Eastern China. Chang had somehow managed to collect a few more panthers after Jimin had left, so he had a total of six, the panther precinct was where he had spent most of his time and felt the most comfortable. Knowing Chang had dealt with hybrids and knew how to take care of them, Jimin knew his heart would lie here. It was where he had felt the safest. When he had watched Jeongguk’s eyes light up, he knew he had made a good decision. That’s where they aimed to spend the rest of their lives.  

“Of course I will, baby.” Jimin says, staring earnestly at Jeongguk and his beautiful features. He strokes down from Jeongguk’s neck to rest his hand over his beating heart. “I love you.”

“Sap.” Jeongguk says with a cheesy smile and presses it into Jimin’s mouth before he moves to get all of his stuff. It was no doubt that Jeongguk wanted to get back to his panthers as soon as possible. He was the best at handling them after all. Jimin opted to work as the onsite veterinarian, he had mostly all the qualifications but had to take a small crash course to be fully qualified. Chang couldn’t be happier with the additions. Jimin couldn’t help but feel he had finally found his place, somewhere he could truly be himself.  

“Jeongguk-ah.” Jimin calls for him as Jeongguk walks towards the door, his voice choking up a little. Jeongguk turns to him, his eyes sparkling. “Are you happy?” he asks. It had only been a few weeks of their time here but Jimin wanted to be sure, he wanted Jeongguk to want this too. Jeongguk drops everything when he sees Jimin’s face and walks towards him to grab his face in his hands. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk whines and kisses forehead reassuringly. “I couldn’t be happier.” Jeongguk smiles and it is so genuine and bright that the tears he was trying to hold back had no choice but to cascade down the planes of his face. “My favourite person in the world is with me, I get to love him everyday and there is no way on earth I would be happier anywhere else.” 

“You love me?” Jimin sniffles and presses his forehead against Jeongguk’s chest, his name tag feeling cool against his head. 

“I was talking about Ace actually, he’s my favourite panther.” 

“Hey.” Jimin frowns and pinches his side. 

“I love you, Kitty.” Jeongguk smiles and catches his lips in a soft kiss. “I love you so much and I’m so happy.” Jeongguk’s tinkling laughter gratifies the rumbling of his heart and Jimin smiles. Jeongguk squeezes him hard around his neck and bites on his panther ear and Jimin can’t help but laugh along with him, the sound of their laughs combined is enough to make the tremble in his fingers subside for now.

Jimin just wanted to be happier, the greed sometimes made him feel guilty. But one look at Jeongguk, the way he was already staring back at Jimin, and he knew they were going to be happy no matter what. Happier and happier until it was all they could feel.