jairang

Stepping into the air-conditioned building feels good. The main hallway is stuffy and smells oddly like stale beer and burnt popcorn, but Jungkook’s dorm room smells clean and citrusy. Yoongi’s scent was the first thing Jungkook noticed about him. Scents are important to Jungkook, who has always been sensitive to smells.  

“Shit, Jungkook, you’re a lot stronger than you look,” Yoongi remarks with his eyes zeroed in on Jungkook’s biceps. It takes him a moment to get out of the way, sidestepping so Jungkook can squeeze through the front door of their dorm room. 

“There was this gym–” Jungkook grunts as he sets the box on top of a small stack of other cardboard boxes, “–that I used to train at back at my old college, doing kickboxing!” 

Yoongi shuffles around to stand on the opposite side of the boxes with his hands on his hips. Wearing an oversized black t-shirt and loose black basketball shorts, he looks adorably small. Although they’re both prey hybrids, there is something incredibly gentle about Jungkook’s new roommate. He’s got older brother vibes. They’ve only known each other for a few hours, but Jungkook already trusts Yoongi with his life. 

“They let prey hybrids kickbox with predators?” Yoongi’s feline eyes follow Jungkook’s movements as he starts unpacking. His long, orange tail swishes behind him with curiosity, and his cat ears occasionally flick. 

“No,” Jungkook twists around to scrunch his nose at Yoongi. What a silly question. “There weren’t any predators at our university. They weren’t allowed.” 

“Shit, I keep forgetting you said your old school was prey-only.” Yoongi whistles and shakes his shaggy black hair. “I can’t even imagine what that was like.”

“Growing up, all the schools I went to were prey-only. My neighborhood was only for prey hybrids, too. I guess I never thought about it much…”

Jungkook wants to tell Yoongi that being in such homogeneous spaces is boring, but he keeps the comment to himself as he works on unpacking. It would be weird to talk about it. He has already received slight comments from other students during new prey student orientation, most of them calling him privileged and sheltered for never having interacted with predators before. It’s a bit disheartening because Jungkook has been so excited to move to a new city and transfer to a new college. For months, he’s seen this as an opportunity to figure out himself – to live independently, away from his overly-protective parents, and have a real college experience. Independence is important to Jungkook, especially now that he’s attending a college of his choosing rather than staying at the one his parents picked for him – the safer one. 

With a drive to prove his parents wrong, Jungkook is determined to take care of himself. He’s twenty-one years old. It’s about time he got some freedom.

Besides, what does it matter that Jungkook has supposedly been sheltered from the world? Everyone knows there’s a social hierarchy, and hybrids like Jungkook certainly aren’t at the top. He can’t honestly blame his parents for wanting to protect him from an unequal society for as long as they could. Rabbits aren’t known for being well-respected, even amongst other prey hybrids. 

Luckily, Yoongi seems kind and accepting, even for a tabby cat hybrid. So Jungkook steers the conversation toward a more comfortable topic while he sets up his half of the bedroom. Their dorm is an upperclassman dorm with a small living room, kitchen, and private bathroom for the two of them to share. They also have to share a bedroom, but Jungkook doesn’t mind. 

Yoongi’s half of the room is tidy. His slate grey comforter is oversized and fluffy, neatly tucked in at the sides of the bed. His laptop sits open on his desk, quietly playing a lo-fi playlist in the background. If the minimalism of Yoongi’s half of the room is indicative of the kind of roommate he’ll be, Jungkook doesn’t have any concerns about living with Yoongi. 

“Do you need any help?” Yoongi hovers at Jungkook’s side. “I feel bad; I didn’t even do anything.” 

“No, no, it’s okay! It really wasn’t much.” 

Jungkook is nearly finished organizing his laundry in his closet, sorting the clothing first by season and then by color. He waves off Yoongi’s concern, suddenly feeling shy. 

“Are you sure?” 

Jungkook nods hard enough that his fuzzy black bunny ears sway with his hair. “I’ve got some decorations I want to put up, but that might be a whole process, so I’ll deal with it later.” Turning around, he gives Yoongi a shy smile and brushes his sweaty bangs off his forehead. “But, maybe after I take a shower, you could show me around? I never got a chance to tour campus.”

Yoongi makes a strange sound, something in between a hiss and a scoff. “They didn’t show you around campus during new student orientation? Ridiculous. The predators get a whole fucking ceremony, and what do we get?” 

“A free water bottle,” Jungkook pipes in, shaking the cheap plastic bottle at Yoongi. 

“Ridiculous!” Yoongi eyes the water bottle as if it has personally offended him. “Go get ready. I’ll show you everything you need to know.”

Still grumbling, Yoongi meanders into the living room. Jungkook watches him plop onto the couch with a scowl and tries to hold in his giggles. Despite a somewhat shakey start to the day, Jungkook feels good about his transfer decision. He ended up with an awesome roommate in a decent dorm. He already logged into his online student portal to view his class schedule and got all the classes he wanted as a junior computer science major. What more could a guy want?

Jungkook's stomach rumbles as he grabs clean clothes that are a replica of what he's already wearing and realizes the thing that would make this day better is probably ramen or fried chicken. Or both. Definitely both. He's pretty confident that Yoongi will know somewhere good to eat on campus or in the surrounding neighborhood. 

Hunger makes Jungkook fly through showering. Rubbing his head with a towel to quickly sop up his wet hair and ears, Jungkook slams his elbow into the wall. The yelp torn from his chest is rather unbecoming, and the clatter of his toiletries bag exploding onto the floor doesn't help.

"Are you okay, Jungkook-ah?" Yoongi calls from the living room, further embarrassing Jungkook without meaning to.

"Yeah, hyung! I'm okay!"

Jungkook must also mention how cutely the two men engage with each other, with Yoongi speaking to him in diminutives and letting Jungkook call him hyung already. What was Jungkook's parents' fuss about attending a large university? So far, Jungkook is loving it. 

In his excitement, Jungkook doesn't bother organizing his toiletries and hopes Yoongi is okay with the temporary mess, making a mental note to work on the bathroom next when he gets home. For now, a tour and food are his top priorities. Socializing and moving all day can make a person ravenous. 

"Okay, I'm done. Can we eat?"

"Shit, kid, yeah, we can eat," Yoongi grunts after being jostled around when Jungkook practically launches himself onto the couch. "What kind of food do you like? Salad?"

"That is not funny." Jungkook's pout earns him a hearty chuckle deep inside Yoongi's chest. "I like meat."

Yoongi snorts. "Good to know, kid. Let's get outta here." 

-

The university campus is relatively large, but Jungkook quickly discovers that half of it is off-limits to him, much to his surprise. He'd been under the assumption that, as a university that serves all hybrids, the entire campus would be open to everyone. The thing is, Jungkook still has to learn about inhabiting a world with predator hybrids - and Yoongi is determined to teach him. 

"So, the east half of campus is the predator side. All their dorms are over there, along with their gym and dining hall," Yoongi gestures down the sidewalk where the path goes through an archway between the stone walls that border the east side of campus. "Super gothic architecture and shit. It's because they're pretentious. Our side of campus is more modern because we're ahead of the times."

Yoongi continues rambling about the differences between the two halves of campus and how the library is the only genuinely coed space as he travels down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. Still, Jungkook finds himself staring past the stone archway.

A group of predator hybrids crosses through the archway, their voices echoing against the stone walls as they pass. They're boisterous and animated as they talk, occasionally all bursting into laughter when one of them says something. Jungkook has good hearing but is too caught up in watching the group to pay attention to what they're saying. 

"Jungkook-ah, come on. Aren't you hungry?" Yoongi gripes, suddenly at Jungkook's side again. "Close your mouth, aish. You act like you've never seen a predator hybrid before." 

"I haven't..."

"What?" Yoongi looks at him incredulously. 

"I've never seen a predator before. Well, not in real life." 

The group heads down the same sidewalk Jungkook and Yoongi stand on, slowly approaching the pair. Jungkook can't take his eyes off of them. There are four of them of various species, but one in particular steals Jungkook's attention. He's taller than the other three, with broad shoulders and long legs. Despite the chiseled look of his high cheekbones and sharp jawline, there's something boyish about how he laughs with a box-shaped mouth and how the breeze ruffles the unruly mess of coppery curls resting atop his head.

Always attentive to scents, Jungkook takes a deep breath of petrichor as the breeze carries the hybrid's scent to him - the deep, earthy smell of fresh rain falling on parched soil. There's something strangely nostalgic about the scent. It envelopes Jungkook, wrapping him in a comforting blanket that feels like childhood memories of playing in the creek that runs along the edge of the forest behind his neighborhood. 

Jungkook opens his eyes, not having realized he'd ever closed them. When he does, he finds a pair of sharp, feline eyes staring back at him. They're critical, deftly slicing into every inch of Jungkook's soul because he can't look away. 

"Hello," the hybrid greets with a deceivingly soft voice.

Jungkook has heard horror stories about predator hybrids all his life, and today, he thinks he finally understands. The hybrid is mere inches from Jungkook, close enough that he could easily snatch him up. How had he gotten so close? Jungkook feels as though he blinked, and suddenly, the other hybrid was there, having quietly crept up on him. It's Jungkook's overactive imagination, considering he quite literally watched the group approach him, but he's still intrigued.

The hybrid stands with an air of nonchalance, but Jungkook isn't stupid. He may not have any experience with predators, but he can sense the power in this one, even if his outward demeanor is relaxed. Jungkook's instincts are speaking to him.

This hybrid is dangerous.

When the breeze ruffles his hair again, Jungkook notices the pair of striped ears poking out from between his curls. If he'd been paying attention earlier, he would have noticed the striped tail, too, but he is too busy admiring the tiger's asymmetrical eyes and the little beauty mark artfully placed along his waterline. 

"H-h-hi-" 

"Sorry, he's new here," Yoongi interrupts and grabs Jungkook's wrist, pulling him to one side of the walkway to allow the group to walk past them.

"Oh really? I could show him around," one of the other predators says with a snicker. He licks his lips as he looks over Jungkook's body, but Jungkook misses it because he's still locking eyes with the tiger hybrid. 

"Yeah, show him around a knot," another says with a snort and reaches up to high-five the fourth predator, who throws his head back and starts howling. Or maybe laughing - Jungkook isn't sure. Whatever the sound, it stops abruptly when the tiger hybrid raises his hand. 

"Shut up," he says, glaring at the other three sharply. "You're acting like animals." 

The tiger's gaze slides back to Jungkook. He knows his usual floral scent is spiking with anxiety, but it isn't because he's afraid of the men in front of him. If anything, he's exceptionally curious and afraid of looking like an idiot by doing the wrong thing. Not that he's doing anything aside from standing with an awed look on his face. 

"Jungkook," Yoongi hisses and yanks on his wrist harder than the first time. "Ramen. Fried chicken. Let's go." 

Reluctantly, Jungkook lets Yoongi drag him away from the group of predators who have now started up again with their obnoxious laughter, though this time Jungkook is sure that he's the butt of whatever jokes they're telling. It makes his face feel hot, but he mostly can't stop thinking about how pretty that tiger hybrid was. From what Jungkook was taught as a child, predator hybrids are big and scary - which is undoubtedly true of the predator hybrids he just met. But the tiger hybrid had a certain aura to him that Jungkook can't quite name. 

"You're ridiculous," Yoongi grumbles his favorite word. "Stuttering and ogling like that. They're gonna eat you alive and pick at your bones if you're not careful." 

Once they're a decent distance from the group of predators, Yoongi slows down his speedwalking to a casual saunter toward the prey dining hall. Maybe Jungkook should be a little bit more concerned about what Yoongi means, but instead he asks, 

"What's a knot?" 

Yoongi nearly chokes on his next inhale. 

"I'm not gonna be the one to tell you that," Yoongi sputters, "You can fucking look it up. Wait! Just not right now! Oh god." 

With a furrowed brow, Jungkook slides his phone back into his pocket. All he wanted to do was understand the joke. He supposes he'll just have to look it up later like Yoongi said. 

"Do you know him?" Jungkook finally asks. 

"Who?" Yoongi gives Jungkook a suspicious look, but Jungkook's head is floating in the handful of clouds barely working to give them much needed reprieve from the sun.

"The pretty one," he sighs, "The tiger hybrid." 

Rolling his eyes, Yoongi opens the door to the dining hall. It's fairly crowded since they're nearing the lunch hour. Jungkook sticks close to Yoongi's side to avoid getting lost or doing something incorrectly. 

"Don't even go there, kid," Yoongi says with a shake of his head. "There's a reason we're on this side of campus, and they're on the other." 

Jungkook looks around at the other prey hybrids in their dining hall and doesn't find anyone as interesting as the tall boy with coppery curls and dangerous eyes.

The start of the semester is a disaster, to say the least. Jungkook quickly realizes he didn’t pay enough attention to Yoongi’s campus tour. 

Despite the seemingly clear distinction between the two halves of campus, Jungkook gets lost. On his first day, he accidentally shows up to the wrong class. Not only is it embarrassing that he sits down in a psychology class when he’s supposed to be in a computer science class but it’s also a predator class. 

Jungkook has never felt his face burn as hotly as it does when he leaves the classroom – which takes entirely too long since he chose to sit at the front of the room. He grips his backpack by the straps and holds his head high despite his pinkening cheeks.

It doesn’t help that a rumble of dark chuckles, snickers, and a few whistles follow him out the door. In his periphery, Jungkook thinks he spots one of the predators that had been in the group with the tiger hybrid. It’s the wolf who commented on showing Jungkook around – which, apparently, had something to do with his knot. 

(Jungkook looked up knots on the internet later that night and was, to put it simply, scandalized.) 

Jungkook flings the classroom door open and slips out of the classroom, but not fast enough to have missed the wolf. He shoves his tongue against the inside of his cheek and makes an obscene gesture with his fist. 

Lovely. 

The thing about Jeon Jungkook is that he has never let anything stop him. No amount of inappropriate comments or intimidation tactics will prevent him from having a fulfilling college experience. Predators be damned! 

Once Jungkook memorizes his class routes, the next step is to establish a routine. This is an essential part of college life, considering Jungkook has a habit of getting a bit… off track. It’s only been a few weeks, and Yoongi has already commented on what he has dubbed Jungkook’s “loading face” that pops up whenever he gets lost in thought. Jungkook thinks Yoongi is being playful and not mean when he calls it that, but he can’t be entirely sure.

Still, Jungkook understands this aspect of his personality, so he’s very pleased with himself when he finally figures out what to do with the random gap of time in his daily schedule in the afternoons between his last class of the day and the start of his shift working at the campus library. 

-

Across the street from the east side of campus is a little coffeehouse called Venor Cafe. Jungkook, never being one to study languages, doesn’t think much of the establishment’s name as he stops at the chalkboard A-frame sign on the sidewalk outside the cafe’s front door. The large, bubbly handwriting advertising discounted flavored drinks for college students catches Jungkook’s eye. He’s a broke college kid living far from home, and he hasn’t eaten lunch yet – he might as well take advantage of what little rewards his student ID can get him. 

The shop isn’t one that Yoongi included in his list of restaurants for Jungkook to try, but Jungkook remembers Yoongi mentioning wanting to cut back on his coffee intake. Perhaps that’s why the nearby coffeehouse isn’t on the list. 

The bell hanging above the front door chimes when Jungkook slowly opens the door and slips through. It’s dimly lit inside the cafe, with most of the light coming from the large front windows facing the street. It takes a few seconds for Jungkook’s eyes to adjust after being in the summer sun. The air conditioning is welcomed, as is the array of mouthwatering aromas that greet Jungkook as he ventures further into the building. Something about the rich smell of ground coffee beans and sharp spices like nutmeg and chai makes Jungkook’s skin tingle. 

Wooden tables with colorful, mismatched chairs are placed throughout the cafe. A large couch and a few well-worn leather armchairs crowd around a glass coffee table in the corner of the room near the register. Jungkook sits at a table by the front door to look out of the large windows and people-watch. 

Removing his backpack, Jungkook places it on the empty chair opposite his seat and pulls it closer to him for easier access. The metal scrapes against the concrete floor, making Jungkook cringe.

It’s strangely quiet in the cafe. Chill lo-fi music plays from the overhead speakers, but it’s quiet enough that Jungkook almost doesn’t notice it. Somewhere in a back room, he can pick up on dishes clattering in a sink and the murmur of voices, and there’s the hum of machines behind the front counter. 

Surprisingly, the cafe is nearly empty. There’s no one at the counter, and Jungkook spots only one other occupied table toward the back of the cafe where what looks like three college students sit, hunched over laptops. Maybe it’s dead in the cafe because other students are still in class. 

Since there’s still no sign of any employees, Jungkook ignores the rumbling in his stomach and pulls out a tablet and stylus. He uses a napkin to brush off the little crumbs on the table and gets to work on his latest project. It’s a comic, less Marvel and more BL manhwa webtoon, and nothing he plans to show the world. Drawing is a creative outlet for Jungkook when he’s tired of writing code all day. Sometimes, he comes up with a story to tell, but he usually just likes taking little scenes from his everyday life and adding something to them that makes the world feel a bit more exciting and much less ordinary. 

A part of Jungkook wishes he’d decided to attend a university for graphic arts rather than computer science. Unfortunately, the promise of a high-paying, stable job and his pushy parents makes him stick with the path he has paved for himself. 

The sudden harsh sound of a coffee grinder startles Jungkook, forcing his gaze from his half-finished drawing to the cafe’s long counter. From this angle, Jungkook has to look over a glass case displaying various baked goods to see the employee behind the counter, who is now adding to the noise by brandishing a whirring frother. All Jungkook catches a glimpse of is a puff of coppery curls, but that, paired with the sudden earthy scent of summer rain, is enough to make Jungkook jump from his seat. 

Jungkook has to say something cool. In the few steps it takes to approach the register, Jungkook has gone through about seven hundred options. He reminds himself that this is a totally normal scenario. He’s just a guy at a cafe to get a sandwich and a latte. The barista is just a guy working part-time to get through college. That’s it. There’s no reason for Jungkook’s hands to be clammy or for his heart to stutter as he leans against the counter, wide eyes tracking the tiger prowling on the opposite side. 

Taehyung.

The barista is close enough for Jungkook to read his nametag, close enough for Jungkook to see the little beauty marks dotting his face like constellations or little flecks of chocolate on caramel skin. Sweet. 

“Hi–” 

“What are you doing here?” 

“Um…” Jungkook resists the urge to shrink away from the counter, the harshness of the barista’s question digging into his flesh like sharpened talons. “Coffee?” 

So uncool. 

Taehyung’s striped tiger ears lay flat, disappearing into his curls, and his sharp eyes flit toward the group of people sitting in the corner of the cafe.

He looks so much bigger now than he had before. Maybe the apron he wears accentuates his proportions, showing off how broad his shoulders are and how prominent his chest is. Jungkook can’t help but follow his body, taking note of the raised veins of his forearms and his large hands compared to the coffee mug he holds between them. There’s an elastic hair tie around his wrist. Jungkook imagines what it would be like to play with his curls and tie them back out of his pretty face. 

“You’re new, right?” Taehyung asks, pulling Jungkook out of his stupor. His voice is rich and deep, like the chocolate mocha Jungkook is considering ordering. 

“Oh, you remember me.” 

They slip out, words meant to remain a thought but escaped before Jungkook could stop them. He feels his face grow hot, but the little smirk that tugs at Taehyung’s lips makes his stomach flip. 

“Of course I do.” Taehyung sets down the ceramic mug, now dry from him rubbing it down with a clean cloth. With his palms flat on the counter, Taehyung leans forward. “Couldn’t forget a pretty little bunny like you, could I?” 

No one has ever spoken to Jungkook with such blatant flirtation before. At least, Jungkook thinks Taehyung is flirting with him. There’s already a little imaginary Yoongi on his shoulder telling him that Taehyung is a predator who is more likely hunting than he is flirting, but Jungkook would rather watch Taeyung’s tongue swipe across his bottom lip than pay attention to what the Yoongi in his subconscious is saying. 

“Thank you?” Jungkook asks with a little scrunch of his nose, an expression that accentuates his front teeth. “I think?” 

Taehyung’s gaze drops to the counter as he laughs lowly with a slow shake of his head. 

“Here’s the thing, bun,” Taehyung’s fingers tap against the marble counter in tune with the music overhead. Jungkook can’t help but admire how long and pretty they are. “You can’t be here.”

Jungkook is so caught up in the new nickname that he almost forgets to ask, “Wait, why?” 

“You’re on the east side. Predators only.” Everything about Taehyung’s presence is intimidating as he utters those simple words, but Jungkook can’t find it in him to be afraid, even as a chill creeps down his spine. “And judging by those floppy ears and little cotton-ball tail, I’d take it you don’t belong over here.”

The bell above the front door rings, interrupting Jungkook’s response. It’s for the best; Jungkook isn’t even sure how he would have responded to such an embarrassing read. All he can think about is how Taehyung managed to notice his tail, which he thought was hidden by his baggy t-shirt. The floppy bunny ears are inescapable, unfortunately. They’re smaller than other rabbit hybrids but still there, with black fur that doesn’t quite blend in well with his hair. 

Two snake hybrids get in line behind Jungkook. He doesn’t look at them, even though his curiosity makes him want to. They’re whispering to each other with words that slip around Jungkook’s eardrums. They’re whispering about him. 

With a sigh, Taehyung straightens his posture. He drapes the rag over one shoulder and gives Jungkook a stony expression. 

“Please leave.” 

“What?” Jungkook’s eyebrows lift into his bangs. “I haven’t even ordered my coffee yet!” 

Taehyung’s jaw flexes as he hollows his cheeks, gaze sliding from Jungkook’s face to the snake hybrids behind him. 

“You’re taking it to-go. What do you want?” 

“What do you recommend?”

“I don’t drink coffee.” 

“Then why–” Jungkook presses his lips together and tries not to laugh at the desperate look on Taehyung’s face. “Never mind, just an iced mocha latte, please. And one of those.” Jungkook points to the sandwich he wants. 

After paying, Jungkook steps to the side to let the snake hybrids order. By this point, another employee appears from the back room. He’s a panther hybrid with a silky-looking tail and rounded ears. His pale eyes lock on Jungkook, and his lips curl into a scowl when Jungkook smiles. The poor guy clearly woke up on the wrong side of the bed. 

The panther takes over the register so Taehyung can finish making Jungkook’s order. When Taehyung hands Jungkook his drink and sandwich, his fingers brush against Jungkook’s palm. The touch leaves Jungkook’s entire arm tingling long after he’s packed up his backpack and left the cafe to head toward the library. 

Sure, it wasn’t an ideal first meeting with Taehyung. Jungkook even forgot to tell Taehyung his name! But now Jungkook knows there’s the possibility they’ll cross paths again, especially since Venor Cafe’s food is pretty good, and it’s only a short walk from the library. Maybe this little cafe can be part of Jungkook’s routine, too.

-

Later that night, after an uneventful shift at the library, Jungkook still buzzes from the high of seeing his mystery tiger hybrid for the second time. It’s almost too much for his little body to contain, and he struggles to keep his cool when Yoongi eventually gets home from his part-time job at a local record store. 

“Jungkook,” Yoongi sighs with his head in his hands, “I specifically told you not to go over there.” 

“Yeah, but it was fine.” Jungkook slurps more noodles, unintentionally spraying little droplets of broth on the kitchen table. It’s an instant ramen kind of night. Luckily, Yoongi is a decent cook, so he added shrimp and fresh vegetables to the broth to “elevate it,” in his words. 

“You said people were gossiping about you at the cafe! How is that fine?”

Jungkook shrugs. “Maybe they’ve never interacted much with prey either. You never know.”

Yoongi gives Jungkook a deadpan expression. “You’re being too naive.” 

Maybe Jungkook is naive, but he prefers that over pessimism. Life is too short to be worried so much. Yoongi already acts like an old man. 

Yoongi pushes his empty bowl away and opens his laptop again. Bulky headphones wrap around his neck and rest on his collarbones. The headphones are designed to fit his ears much better than any headphones Jungkook has used. Jungkook can hear some type of electronic music beeping and thrumming from them—the life of a music major. Jungkook doesn’t understand it, but he respects it. 

Until transferring to his new university, Jungkook had never been the type to stay up late. It seems that little parts of Yoongi’s personality are rubbing off on Jungkook because he has found himself working on assignments well into the night to keep Yoongi company while he works on his music. 

After a few minutes of silence, with only the sound of the two men clicking around on their laptops echoing through the quiet kitchen, Jungkook finally lets out the little secret he was hiding when he relayed his earlier cafe adventures to Yoongi. 

“I saw the pretty tiger again.” 

Yoongi groans loudly, pulling his headphones off again. He gives Jungkook another judgemental look that does nothing to curb the giddiness stirring in Jungkook’s chest. 

“You need to stop.” 

“Why?” Jungkook whines. Moving his laptop, he folds his arms on the table and rests his head on them. “He’s so pretty, hyung. He’s got these sharp eyes that dip a little in the corners. When he smiles, his mouth makes this, like, rectangle shape that may sound weird, but it’s so cute in person and, like, not at all scary. Well, he is kind of scary, but not in a bad way. It’s actually kind of hot. And he smells so good–” 

“Jungkook!” Yoongi presses his palms to his cheeks and stares at Jungkook with a look that borders on horrified. “This never works, okay? Predators and prey aren’t meant to go together; we’re literally hardwired to avoid them. They’re gross, disrespectful, and aggressive. They let their animal sides totally control them. He was probably trying to come onto you!” 

With a roll of his eyes, Jungkook huffs. “Taehyung is nice. I can feel it. Besides, I could kick a predator’s ass if I needed to. I do kickboxing, remember?” 

Yoongi ignores the kickboxing part, commenting, “Oh, so you’re on a first-name basis with a tiger now?”

Jungkook’s cheeks heat up, and he responds a bit too quickly. 

“Yes!” 

Sort of. 

Yoongi doesn’t need to know the details about that.

“Whatever, I warned you. Don’t come crying to me when he turns out to be a douchebag,” Yoongi grumbles and refocuses on his laptop. 

It’s a discouraging conversation, but Jungkook doesn’t let Yoongi’s grumpiness dissuade him. He has seen a predator-prey relationship work out; at least, so far, it has. There’s a girl in one of his classes, a mouse hybrid with the cutest ears that twitch whenever someone makes a loud noise and a flighty but sweet personality. Jungkook knows for a fact that she’s dating a fox hybrid; he saw the two of them holding hands in the library– the only place on campus that isn’t separated by hybrid type. They are adorable. The way her boyfriend looks at her is with love, not intimidation. 

Other students whisper about them, primarily predators who disapprove of their relationship, but it doesn’t seem like the couple cares about what others have to say. 

Jungkook doesn’t care, either. Maybe he’s getting ahead of himself, considering Taehyung doesn’t even know his name, but he’s determined to befriend the tiger, at least. Something about him makes it difficult for Jungkook to let him go. 

Undeterred, Jungkook spends the rest of the night finishing assignments that aren’t even due yet; that way, he knows he has time to kill tomorrow before his work shift. He’ll go back to Venor Cafe and properly introduce himself to Taehyung. He’ll prove that he’s more than the stereotypes about prey. He’s accepting of all people and unafraid to make friends with people who aren’t like him.

-

Jungkook’s chance to improve Taehyung’s first impression of him comes sooner than expected and in an unlikely place. 

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jungkook’s last class of the day is a random elective he chose because he had the room to add a fun class to his schedule. It’s an Art History class, specifically one that focuses on ancient Egyptian art and mythology. As someone who appreciates art and dabbles in it, Jungkook enjoys the class, even though he’s one of the few third-year students out of a lecture hall of primarily first-years. Stuff like that has never bothered him; Jungkook just likes to learn. He doesn’t care if people think he’s weird for being older or for choosing a course that has nothing to do with his major studies. 

As is the case with all his classes, Jungkook likes to sit at the front of the lecture hall. It’s a little life hack since he’s self-aware enough to know that paying attention can be difficult. The closer he is to the professor and the learning materials, the easier it is to focus. If he sits in the back, there will be too many other things to distract him. 

Unfortunately, today, Jungkook is late. 

His previous computer science class ends late, and Jungkook has to sprint across campus to get to the Humanities building. With the weather still clinging to the summer heat, Jungkook gives himself a moment to stand outside the classroom doors to catch his breath and hopefully let his sweat dry. The only thing more embarrassing than showing up to class late is showing up sweaty and panting. 

Flapping his t-shirt to get some circulation, Jungkook takes a deep breath, adjusts his backpack, and slips into the lecture hall as quietly as possible. He doesn’t bother being strategic about where he sits; there’s no way he’s going to draw further attention to himself by walking to the front of the room. 

He drops into the first empty seat at the end of the last row. It’s far from ideal, but only a few students turn their heads to look at him, so Jungkook takes it as a small victory. 

Taking out a notebook and pen, Jungkook tries to figure out where the class is at in the lecture. He didn’t miss much, but it’s hard for him to catch up when the adrenaline of needing to sprint to class is still flowing through his veins. 

What makes it worse is that only a few minutes after he calms down, the door to the lecture hall opens again. Another late student with few seating options, it’s no surprise that they take the seat next to Jungkook. 

What is surprising is that the person is a certain fluffy-haired barista. 

More heads turn this time, and a few whispers create a quiet buzz throughout the room. The professor continues the lesson on hieroglyphics – the part of the course that Jungkook is the most excited to learn about – but Jungkook hardly notices. All he can do is stare at Taehyung. 

He wants to say something, but they’re in the middle of class, and Jungkook has no idea what he would say.

Hello? Why are you in a class for prey students? Why are you here when school started three weeks ago? Why is your profile so pretty? Did God personally sculpt the slope of your nose and the pout of your bottom lip? Are there little beauty marks scattered all over your body or just on your face? 

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook tries to force out the delusion in his brain and focus on the ancient symbols the professor shows on the screen. He’s being weird; he doesn’t even know Taehyung. He’s fawning over the first predator he’s ever spoken to, and it’s weird. 

Jungkook needs to be normal about this. 

Except, he can’t. 

He’s just so intrigued by Taehyung. Yoongi’s scolding replays in the back of Jungkook’s mind, but he can’t see what the big deal is. Taehyung is just like all the prey hybrids in the room. He takes notes in a leather-bound notebook as though he’s always been in this class. When he isn’t writing, he brings his pencil to his mouth and gently bites on the eraser with his front teeth. It should be gross, but Jungkook finds it endearing. Here is this big, intimidating predator nibbling on the end of his pencil and practicing writing his name in hieroglyphs. 

If Taehyung notices Jungkook staring at him, he doesn’t show it. His eyes never stray from the front of the room unless he’s looking down to take notes. He sits slightly slumped in his seat, with his thighs spread as far as they can. He’s too big for the furniture and is clearly uncomfortable, Jungkook realizes. Prey are typically much smaller. Even Jungkook, who works out religiously, is smaller than Taehyung. Something about it makes Jungkook’s stomach feel weird. 

“Jungkook?” 

Blinking away the blur of his vision, Jungkook looks up at the mouse hybrid with the fox boyfriend, Suyun. She gives Jungkook a puzzled look, ears wiggling and nose scrunched the way Jungkook’s nose often does. Suyun is the only other third-year student in the class, so Jungkook usually sits with her… when he’s on time. 

“Yeah?”

“Class is over… I thought maybe I could go over my notes from the first part of the lecture with you since you missed it.” 

“Oh, um, yes, please!” Jungkook shoves his stuff into his backpack and stands up, twisting around to see that Taehyung is already gone. How had Jungkook blanked for half the lecture? 

“Want to go to the library?” 

Suyun leads the way out of the lecture hall. As they pass through the doors, Jungkook realizes that Taehyung is speaking with the professor at the front of the room. For a moment, Taehyung’s gaze meets Jungkook’s, but Suyun quickly ushers Jungkook into the hall. 

“Do you know that student? The tiger hybrid?” Jungkook asks as they leave the Humanities building and walk to the library. 

Suyun shakes her head. “Do you think I know all the predators just because I’m dating Jackson?” 

It’s a teasing question, but Jungkook ducks his head in shame. He shouldn’t have made the assumption. 

“Sorry, that was silly.” 

“It’s okay. I actually assumed the two of you were friends or something,” Suyun says with a shrug. She carries her things in a tote bag that is half her size. It swings dangerously when she rounds a corner. 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, he kept looking at you like he knew you,” Suyun explains, though Jungkook doesn’t understand what she means. “Wanna get a study room so we won’t have to deal with all the noisy predators?” 

Jungkook nods and follows along with Suyun’s plans, too busy mulling over her words to help them plan their study session. He supposes he won’t have time to go to the cafe before his shift, but maybe that’s for the best. It might be weird to see Taehyung three times in less than twenty-four hours, even though the second time wasn’t Jungkook’s fault. 

“Are predators even allowed to take prey classes?” Jungkook asks as Suyun leads him up the library stairs. 

She takes a moment to think, letting out a soft hum. The study rooms are on the second floor, away from the chaos of the library’s main level, where the predators tend to hang out. They pick one of the smaller rooms since it’s just the two of them, equipped with a single table and a few chairs, plus a whiteboard mounted on the wall. 

“They can, but I'm pretty sure it’s only for special circumstances. Like, if they really need the class and it’s only offered at a certain time or they’re trying to graduate early. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it happen, though.” 

Jungkook sits down beside Suyun at the table and waits patiently for her to get out her notebook. He wonders what’s so important about Art History that Taehyung must take it with a bunch of prey. 

“Do you think it’s awkward? Being the only predator in a class?” Jungkook wonders aloud. The question makes Suyun laugh. 

“Nah, they’re all so self-assured. That guy’s probably loving the attention he’s getting from it. Everyone was talking about him after class.” 

Something akin to jealousy flares in Jungkook’s chest, but he does his best to stamp it down. What does he have to feel jealous about? 

“Yeah, probably,” Jungkook agrees half-heartedly. 

Suyun gives him a strange look but doesn’t push the conversation further, which Jungkook is grateful for. He’s not sure what he’s feeling anymore, but he knows his Tuesdays and Thursdays will be much more interesting now.

Yoongi hyung: Where are you. You better not be going to that fucking cafe Jeon Jungkook Jungkook JEON JUNGKOOK DON’T GO TO THAT CAFE

Biting his bottom lip, Jungkook stares at the text message’s timestamp from five minutes ago. He cups his phone in his hands to block anyone from peering at the screen and dims the screen’s brightness, just in case the predators standing in line with him get nosy.

He’s at the cafe. 

Obviously, he’s at the cafe. 

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and Jungkook has no idea if Taehyung works weekends, but he’s here at Venor Cafe, waiting in line between a lizard hybrid and a jaguar hybrid. This time, though, Jungkook came prepared. He’s wearing a pair of loose sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt that falls past his butt. He used one of Yoongi’s hair ties to secure his ears and stuff them inside his bucket hat. Totally incognito. He could be a tiger, for all they know! 

The thing is, Jungkook genuinely needs some caffeine. He’s taking a break from studying with Yoongi in the music studios, and Venor Cafe is the coffee shop closest to campus that isn’t overpriced. The possibility of seeing Taehyung is an added bonus, just a tiny extra component to the self-care errand Jungkook was planning to run anyway. 

At least, that’s what he tells himself. 

There’s a little jitter to Jungkook’s movements as he approaches the counter. His wide eyes scan the employees, and his heart sinks when there’s not a single copper curl in sight. 

“Hello! Welcome to Venor Cafe; what would you like today?” the hybrid at the register greets. She’s a snow leopard with beautiful blue eyes and a spotted tail. 

Exhaling the air he’d been holding in, Jungkook rambles off his order without any mishaps. He even orders something for Yoongi, hoping it can be a sufficient apology for going against his hyung’s advice. It’s nice of Yoongi to be worried about Jungkook, but at this point, Jungkook thinks he has made it clear that he can take care of himself. Just look at him now! A prey in disguise. 

Despite the crowd that has gathered in the cafe, Jungkook receives his order fairly quickly. He lingers for a bit, folding napkins into the pockets of his sweatpants and unwrapping straws for both drinks he bought. Eventually, he runs out of things to keep himself busy and can no longer stall. 

“Um, excuse me?” Jungkook calls out from the side of the counter. 

The snow leopard hybrid looks up from the drink she’s preparing. “Yes?”

“Is, um, Taehyung working today?” 

“Who’s asking?” Her tone isn’t necessarily aggressive, but the downturn of her mouth and the wrinkles between her eyebrows match the defensive question. 

“Jungkook,” he replies, too caught off guard to know how else to answer but with the truth – even if Taehyung won’t even know who Jungkook is if his coworker mentions it to him later. 

After appraising Jungkook and likely deciding he doesn’t look like a threat, the snow leopard replies with a simple,

“No.” 

“Cool, cool. Um, thanks!”

Jungkook lifts the drinks and paper bag of mini donuts he’d bought with gratitude before ducking out of the cafe through the front doors. So much for fixing his bad first impression. Or was it his second? Third? At this point, Jungkook can’t keep track of all the failed opportunities to introduce himself to Taehyung as a normal person would.

Jungkook treks back to the library, balancing the drinks and snacks rather precariously through doors pushed by his hips and kicked open by his sneakers. He and Yoongi have reserved a study room similar to the one Jungkook often books with Suyun. Private study rooms are handy when he and Yoongi don’t feel like dealing with predators misusing the library space and treating it like a social hour.

Yoongi is curled up in the corner of the study room. He decided to forgo the table and sat on a beanbag he dragged from another room in the library. Jungkook thinks it’s typical cat behavior, though he doesn’t dare comment on it. Yoongi might not have claws, but his eyes shoot daggers.

“You went to the damn cafe, Jeon Jungkook.” Yoongi’s tail swats at the ground before flicking back up in the air.  

“I brought back snacks!” Jungkook hip-bumps the door to close it and plops on the floor with Yoongi, holding out the iced Americano he knows his friend will like. “A drink for you, a drink for me, and donuts to share. I’m an amazing roommate.”

“You’re a pain in my ass,” Yoongi complains around a mouthful of donuts.

“You love me.”

“Sometimes, Jungkook, I think you are a bit naive.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes and gets up onto his knees to reach his laptop on the table. Careful not to knock anything over, he settles on the floor with his laptop on his thighs and his back leaning against the wall.

“Optimism and friendliness are different than naivety. You wouldn’t know because you’re a grumpy old man,” Jungkook points out as he pulls his hat off. When he finally unties his ears, he massages the base of each as they flop back into place, sore from being pulled backward at such an unnatural angle. 

Yoongi closes the book he’s reading and smacks Jungkook in the shoulder with it.

“Take that back.”

“No!”

“Hmph,” Yoongi grunts, sounding just as grumpy as Jungkook knows that he is.

The two hybrids are silent for a while, both focused on their studies. Jungkook is working on designing a mobile app for one of his classes— it’s a video game similar to the Pokemon games he would play on his GameBoy when he was younger. From the looks of it, Yoongi is reading a novel, though Jungkook isn’t sure if it’s for fun or for class. That’s always how it is with the creative types, he supposes.

“Well,” Yoongi says slowly after clearing his throat. It comes out stunted, a little awkward. “Did you see your tiger?”

Cheeks heating up, Jungkook slumps against the wall and shrugs his shoulders to his ears.

“I didn’t…”

“But?” Yoongi gives Jungkook a sidelong look.

“But… he’s kind of in one of my classes now, so I’ll see him on Tuesday…”

Bewildered, Yoongi sets his book down and turns to look at Jungkook. His tail smacks Jungkook’s leg and wraps around his ankle, though Jungkook doesn’t think Yoongi even realizes it due to how excitable he’s getting. Jungkook still doesn’t know why this is such a big deal.

“How is he in one of your classes?”

“Hyung, I’m trying to do my assignment.”

“How, Jungkook?”

With a sigh, Jungkook puts his laptop on the floor and shakes his leg free of Yoongi’s tail.

“I don’t know. He just showed up last week. My friend said sometimes predators get to take classes with prey if they want to overload their courses to graduate faster.”

Suyun is probably correct; she’s one of the most intelligent people Jungkook knows. Jungkook doesn’t mention that she was the one who told him, though. He doesn’t want Yoongi coming up with any ideas about Jungkook being friends with one of the only prey students dating a predator on their campus.

“Jungkook,” Yoongi gives him an exasperated look, “I’ve heard bad things about that specific group of predators that Taehyung hangs out with.”

The confession doesn’t sit right with Jungkook. It feels like Yoongi is overreacting, and it reminds him of his parents. So many prey hybrids let fear and paranoia dictate how they live and who they spend time with. Jungkook doesn’t want to be like that, not anymore.

“And where did you get this information?” he challenges with his arms crossed.

Yoongi waves his hand, gesturing all around them.

“Everyone knows this. It’s common knowledge. They’re shady, okay? Starting fights at parties, drugs, sleeping around, stuff like that.”

Jungkook has lived a sheltered life, but everything Yoongi lists sounds like typical college behavior — at least, what Jungkook has heard about predator college students. Maybe he is naive.

“I promise I won’t do any of that stuff, hyung,” Jungkook says with a tug of Yoongi’s ear. “I’m a good kid.”

Yoongi scowls and smacks at Jungkook’s hand.

“A nuisance is more like it. Now do your assignment.”

-

On Tuesday, Jungkook arrives at his class on time, not out of breath and not sweating through his clothes. He crosses through the double doors at the back of the lecture hall and eyes the tiered seating as other students shuffle down the aisles. There are plenty of seats available since class hasn’t started yet. Near the front of the room, Jungkook spots Suyun talking with another student. Jungkook would immediately head for the fold-down seat beside Suyun any other day. He’d pull out the adjustable desk attached to the seat and prep his notebook for the day’s lesson, maybe even get out his phone to record the audio in case he got distracted. Jungkook wouldn’t hesitate to go to his usual seat any other day. 

But today, Taehyung is on time.

The tiger hybrid sits in the back like he did the week prior. Again, Jungkook thinks Taehyung looks too big for the seat, his long legs and broad shoulders sticking out compared to the smaller frames of his prey classmates. His striped tail drapes over the armrest of the seat next to him, and his ears flick as Jungkook approaches him.

“Can I sit here?” Jungkook asks, the words nearly sticking in his throat. 

Setting down the pencil he’d been twirling between his fingers, Taehyung turns his head to look Jungkook up and down. The slow drag of his gaze makes Jungkook’s skin prickle. Taehyung’s sharp, feline eyes trigger Jungkook’s fight-or-flight response. It takes tensing his muscles for Jungkook not to bolt down the aisle and sit with Suyun instead.

Part of Jungkook knows that this is an instinctual response to being near a predator. He wonders if Suyun still feels this way about Jackson or if she has gotten used to him enough that her body doesn’t react like this anymore. 

An even tinier part of Jungkook thinks that, maybe, he kind of… likes it… 

The adrenaline is exciting, and the dangerous energy Taehyung gives off makes Jungkook feel wanted – in a way he never has before. 

Jungkook may be a bit naive, but he’s not stupid. He notices that Taehyung’s eyes linger on the smooth expanse of skin his shorts reveal. Jungkook silently thanks his morning self for picking a cute outfit for the day. He feels much better in cute jean shorts, a striped rugby shirt, and his artfully dirty white Converse than the usual athleisure he wears when he’s feeling lazy. Still, Taehyung’s predatory gaze makes Jungkook’s cheeks heat up, yet he refuses to look away when Taehyung’s feline eyes meet his again.

“Of course, bun,” Taehyung finally responds with a low purr that vibrates from his chest.

“Um, thanks!” A bit flustered by the unexpected use of the nickname in the middle of class, Jungkook quickly sits down beside Taehyung. 

Jungkook tries retrieving his notebook from his backpack, dropping it on the floor twice before finally getting his desk in order. He can feel Taehyung’s gaze while getting his phone out to prepare the audio recording. A text message from Suyun is the first thing that pops up on his phone screen, and he sincerely hopes Taehyung doesn’t see it because it’s a complaint from Suyun about Jungkook ditching her for a predator.

Digging around in his backpack, Jungkook’s fingers scrape the bottom and find his back empty aside from his tablet and a binder. He’d been so worried about getting to class on time that he forgot his little sparkly gold zipper bag that carries his pencils and pens. This is what he gets for being old school and enjoying a break from electronics in his courses that aren’t for his major. 

With a sigh, Jungkook leans back in his seat and weighs the pros and cons of asking Taehyung for something to write with or just using his laptop to take notes like most other students. He doesn’t have to worry about it for long before Taehyung decides for him. 

“Need one of these, bun?” Taehyung whispers close to Jungkook’s ear, his breath tickling his neck from Taehyung leaning in. 

With a shiver, Jungkook gently takes the pen Taehyung offers. It’s lightweight but smooth and inky, satisfyingly gliding across the page of Jungkook’s notebook. 

“This is a nice pen,” Jungkook whispers back and feels silly for complimenting Taehyung’s pen. 

Taehyung winks at Jungkook with a low chuckle before returning his focus to their professor. 

Jungkook tries not to show how flustered he is, but he’s sure his scent sweetens with how embarrassed and nervous Taehyung makes him. 

Unfortunately, class passes the same as it had last time– with Jungkook daydreaming about Taehyung and all the questions he has for him, and Taehyung being such a diligent student that Jungkook never catches him looking his way. Whatever Suyun said about Taehyung watching him must have been a figment of her imagination because Jungkook is positive he would notice if it was true. 

Jungkook notices everything. 

Taehyung’s fuzzy ears flick every time Jungkook shifts in his seat. He switches hands to write halfway through the lecture, perhaps because one of them got tired.  His scent spikes closer to the end of class, that soothing smell of summer rain that makes Jungkook tingly all over. 

It should be embarrassing how much time Jungkook spends thinking about the predator beside him and not what his professor is teaching, but it’s not his fault Taehyung is so alluring. 

“And as a reminder,” Professor Jung raises his voice in anticipation of the noisy buzz that comes with the end of class as students pack up, “We’ll be choosing final project topics soon, so please don’t let that fall by the wayside.” 

Jungkook has definitely let his project ideas fall by the wayside. It’s fine; he performs well under pressure. 

Catching Suyun’s eye across the room, Jungkook sends a silent prayer that she doesn’t come charging up to him with Taehyung still in his seat. He tries subtly shaking his head at her, but he’s not sure his point gets across. 

“Thanks, by the way.” Jungkook holds out the pen, but Taehyung doesn’t even look at it. 

“Keep it.” 

“But,” Jungkook watches Taehyung pack up his backpack, “It’s yours.” 

“And now it’s yours.” 

“But I don’t need it.” 

Wearing a lazy grin, Taehyung grips the edge of Jungkook’s desk and leans in slightly, even as Jungkook subconsciously leans back. 

“Y’know,” Taehyung begins with a lick of his bottom lip. When the grin returns, Taehyung reveals sharp canines that extend slightly further than the rest of his teeth. “I heard you missed me over the weekend, Jungkook.” 

Before Jungkook’s cheeks even flush a deep pink, Taehyung is already pushing himself up to stand at full height. He gives Jungkook one last look and slips past him down the row of seats, never leaving Jungkook’s sight until he’s through the classroom’s double doors. 

“What the hell was that?” Suyun is on Jungkook with a quickness, her large, rounded ears sticking up out of her straight hair. 

Jungkook exhales slowly. “I… don’t know?” 

Gathering his notebook and Taehyung’s pen, Jungkook almost misses the slip of paper folded in half and teetering on the edge of his desk. It’s intentionally folded and perfectly aligned at the edges, and the paper looks different than that of Jungkook’s notebook.

He doesn’t mean to be secretive, but Jungkook twists in his seat to hide the note when he opens it. Suyun is trustworthy; there’s no questioning that. Still, Jungkook wants to have the chance to process whatever this note is before he shares it with anyone else. 

It’s a good call, considering what’s scrawled on the inside in small, messy lines. 

vante95 2 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays  10 am Saturdays

Jungkook refolds the paper and shoves it in his pocket. His entire face burns like a summer wildfire. He can barely stand up without tripping over himself, and he slings his backpack over his shoulder with shaking hands. 

Taehyung gave him his KakaoTalk and work schedule. 

Taehyung essentially invited Jungkook to text him and visit him at work. 

Jungkook thinks he might be sick from how nervous he suddenly feels. 

“Earth to Jungkookie,” Suyun shoves Jungkook in the arm as they go about their typical routine of walking to the library after class to study. “What is going on with you and that tiger, huh? You’ve been acting so weird the last week.” 

Chewing his bottom lip, Jungkook contemplates how to answer Suyun’s questions. He opts for the truth, spilling his little no-so-secret infatuation with the predator in hushed whispers as they cross the main quad in front of the library. 

“Do you think I should text him?” Jungkook holds the wrinkled note out for Suyun to read. A curious smile brightens her face, exposing her cute buck teeth. 

“Oh my gosh, yes. He’s so cute, Jungkook! Don’t believe all that silly stuff about predators being bad. They’re not all so terrible,” Suyun urges. 

If anyone knows what it’s like to trust a predator, it would be Suyun. Her encouragement is all the permission Jungkook needs to open the app on his phone and type in Taehyung’s KakaoTalk ID. 

jkookie: Hi This is Jungkook

Jungkook doesn’t know why he expects an immediate response; he already knows Taehyung has work right now. Still, he feels disappointment sink like a rock in his gut after five minutes pass and his message is still unread. Should he have waited to text him? Does it seem desperate to send him a message so quickly after receiving his contact info? 

Trying to pull himself together, he gets settled in a study room with Suyun and puts his phone on Do Not Disturb. He may be determined to get to know the mysterious tiger hybrid, but school will always come first. 

Suyun stands at the whiteboard, which takes up an entire wall. She works diligently to draw diagrams of something chemistry-related that Jungkook doesn’t understand– many lines connecting hexagons and acronyms he doesn’t recognize. Jungkook may be studying science, but not that kind of science. 

“So,” Suyun asks as she writes mathematical equations in pink marker that look more confusing than the hieroglyphs they were just studying, “Do you like going here better than your other school?” 

“I do, but I think it’s a lot harder here. I feel like all I do is study.” 

Suyun laughs and smiles over her shoulder at Jungkook. 

“I totally get that. We need to do something fun, maybe go clubbing. I could see if Jackson’s friends are throwing any house parties. I feel like there’s usually a few of them right before finals, as like, a morale boost.” 

“I’ve never actually been to a party…” Jungkook admits quietly, though rather than embarrassment, he feels giddiness at the prospect of experiencing another new college experience he was previously denied. 

Suyun whips around and accidentally flings her marker across the room. Giggling, Jungkook gets up to search for the marker.

“Oh my gosh, Jeon Jungkook, we are going to a party. What else haven’t you done? I need to pop your cherry.” 

“What!” Jungkook nearly shrieks. The shock of her statement makes Jungkook mess up his throw, and he ends up nearly chucking the marker in Suyun’s face. 

“Sorry, that came out wrong. I’m not, like, trying to take your virginity. Is that what you thought?” 

Jungkook hides behind his laptop once he returns to his seat. He’s not ready to admit that, yes, he is a virgin. Admitting that usually gets him weird stares and inappropriate comments. One time, an old friend of Jungkook’s said he “screamed virgin”– whatever that means!

“Maybe we can start with a house party and go from there…” Jungkook offers with a suspicious look thrown at Suyun’s back. Maybe dating a predator has had an impact on the mouse hybrid, who otherwise should be naturally timid and prudish. 

“Sure, sure. I’ll text Jackson right now. We’ll have all week to figure everything out.” 

When Suyun reaches for her phone, Jungkook impulsively checks his as well. His heart leaps into his throat, and his palms sweat when he checks the notifications he’d silenced during their study session. 

vante95: hey bun what’s up?

“Suyun! Suyun! Suyun!”

Jungkook launches himself from his seat and bolts to the opposite side of the room, where Suyun is still drawing her scary equations and chemistry things on the whiteboard. He shoves his phone in front of her face and waggles it until she grabs his wrist to hold him in place.

“Calm down, young man.” She glares at Jungkook, but it’s not at all menacing, and they both know it. 

It would be nice, but Jungkook can’t calm down. Every vein in his body jitters with something terrifyingly electric, like he stuck his finger in an outlet and tried to walk through the aftershocks. It makes him feel like he might pass out, but in a good way.

Maybe Jungkook needs to chill out.

Maybe Jungkook isn’t worried about that, though. What’s so bad about having a little crush? Jungkook has never actually had one, not a real one, so he thinks it might be nice to lean into it. Suyun encouraged him to reach out to Taehyung anyway. Jungkook would argue that he can’t be held responsible.

“What should I say?” Jungkook bounces on the balls of his feet, and he’s glad his shirt is long enough to hide his tail because it might be wiggling. Perhaps. No one needs to know.

“Oh no, I’m terrible at this,” Suyun hands Jungkook his phone. She pouts with a shrug. “I don’t even know how I got Jackson to date me. I’m terrible at small talk and flirting.”

Looks like Jungkook is on his own.

He plops in his seat, homework assignments forgotten. With his chest pressed against the edge of the table and his arms stretched out in front of him, Jungkook lets out a long, pitiful groan.

jkookie Just studying with my friend 😊 What about you?

vante95 that’s cute i’m taking a break at work yknow at my job at a cafe for predators only

jkookie 🫠 I don’t think it’s fair to ban prey from going! The donuts are so good

vante95 so the donuts are why you keep showing up that the only reason?

jkookie ... Yes

vante95 mhm interesting

jkookie Is it?? They’re good! I love the powder sugar ones and the sprinkles

vante95 i would’ve thought you’d like the striped ones

jkookie I I’ve never had the striped ones before

vante95 lol cute anyway if you’re gonna keep being difficult about this at least promise me something

jkookie 👀 What?

vante95 only come during my shift

jkookie Why?

vante95 so i can make sure no one eats you

“Oh, that’s kinky,” Suyun announces over Jungkook’s shoulder. “Tell him you want him to eat you.”

“Suyun!” With a gasp, Jungkook turns in his chair to stare at Suyun, wide-eyed and innocent.

“I don’t know. It seemed like a logical next step. He kind of lobbed it to you, right?” Suyun shrugs and returns to the whiteboard. “Make the basket, Jungkookie.”

Suyun has definitely been spending too much time with Jackson.

jkookie Am I supposed to believe that your being there will matter?

It’s a risky text to send. Jungkook worries he comes off rude, especially when it takes a bit longer for Taehyung to respond than it did for his other texts. Before he can get too worked up about it, Jungkook reminds himself that Taehyung is at work. He might be slow to respond because he’s busy — which technically Jungkook is, too, but he decides that taking a little break from homework is needed.

Taehyung’s following text message comes a few minutes later, and Jungkook lets out a little groan because why is Taehyung’s level of cockiness so attractive? It shouldn’t be a surprise; Taehyung carries himself confidently, which was apparent from when Jungkook first met him.

vante95 i’m kind of a big deal

jkookie What are you, their alpha??

vante95 did you really just ask that

jkookie I have to go now Bye

vante95 lol see you tomorrow bun

Cheeks aflame, Jungkook slips his phone into his pocket and tells himself that he will not, under any circumstances, look at it until later tonight, after he’s finished his homework and gotten dinner with Yoongi. It’s their night to cook together once Yoongi gets home from work.

It doesn’t take long for Jungkook to finish the work that requires his immediate attention. He’ll deal with the other assignments later, like the Art History assignment Professor Jung referred to during class. Jungkook still hasn’t settled on a topic for that one yet. It isn’t that he’s slacking; in reality, he has many potential project topics he’s interested in and is having trouble narrowing down the list. Perhaps he’ll find time to stop by Professor Jung’s office later in the week to ask for help.

Saying goodbye to Suyun, Jungkook braves the dying evening heat to head to the train station. There isn’t a grocery store within walking distance of the university with all the ingredients he and Yoongi need for dakgalbi, so Jungkook has to travel a few blocks south to reach the neighborhood grocery store. 

Jungkook doesn’t mind the commute or having to meander through aisles looking for red chili paste, shishito peppers, and cooking wine. Growing up with overprotective parents meant Jungkook spent much time trailing behind them, running errands, and learning about adult responsibilities. Time spent alone or with kids his age wasn’t a luxury he got to experience often, though he cherished those moments when he got the opportunity to.

So, Jungkook enjoys searching for groceries. He likes the colorful products lining the shelves, the slightly stale smell of some older grocery stores, and the dark markings of rubber-soled shoes smudged on the linoleum. Lately, errands like this have made him miss his parents, but not enough to truly consider himself homesick. His drive for independence prevents him from getting too nostalgic. 

Hunger encourages Jungkook to finish up his grocery shopping quickly. He forces himself only to buy what’s needed and manages to fit most of the items in his backpack. With the wine in a grocery bag looped through his fingers and his backpack sitting on his lap, Jungkook watches the neighborhoods blur on the train ride back to campus.

The train isn’t separated by predators and prey like the university is. Most of the public isn’t, at least not legally. Jungkook has noticed that prey tend to flock together, rarely intermingling with predators unless necessary. It’s hard in an oppressive society where predators are always on top, even in a progressive city like Seoul.

Jungkook never thought about how predators and prey interact until he moved. Now, though, he notices so much more — like the group of predators who enter his train car a few stops before they reach the university. He recognizes a few of them, particularly the wolf hybrid from Taehyung’s friend group. The group doesn’t pay Jungkook any mind, quickly shuffling past him toward the back of the car, where there are more seats. 

Disappointment uncoils inside Jungkook when he doesn’t see a messy head of copper curls follow the wolf hybrid when he walks past where Jungkook sits, but he reminds himself that Taehyung is at work. 

It’s for the best that Jungkook has no distractions on his way home. Poor Yoongi will be waiting for him.

-

The third time Jungkook visits Venor Cafe, Taehyung is working behind the counter. He stands with his hip propped against the edge of the counter and talks to the snow leopard hybrid while she counts money at the register. The bills make a papery sound as she flips them between her fingers with practiced precision. She doesn’t look up when the bell over the front door rings, but Taehyung does.

Taehyung easily maintains his conversation with his coworker while his sharp feline eyes stalk Jungkook to the counter. The look on Taehyung’s face is nothing short of predatory, but all Jungkook can focus on is his comforting scent. He wonders whether Taehyung’s scent spiked when Jungkook entered the cafe or if it’s all in his head.

“Give us a sec,” the snow leopard gestures to the open register drawer when Jungkook approaches.

Jungkook nods and gives himself a moment to check out his surroundings. A handful of other customers are scattered around the cafe, none that catch Jungkook’s attention. He only has eyes for the tiger behind the counter, and Taehyung definitely has his eyes on him, too.

“Bun.” Taehyung leans his forearms on the counter, bringing him closer to where Jungkook stands just half a step back.

“Hi,” Jungkook says with a cheerful smile that isn’t returned. “How are you doing today?”

The snow leopard snorts, and Taehyung’s pretty mouth twitches at the corners. His dark eyes flit to the backpack slung over one of Jungkook’s shoulders, and Jungkook notices that Taehyung is wearing thin, black eyeliner, making his expression pointed.

“I’m assuming you plan on staying in here?”

He ignores Jungkook’s question about his day. It’s rude, but Jungkook will let it pass because Taehyung looks exceptionally fluffy today, and it’s doing something to his chest.

“Yup. I’m starting a new routine.”

“Oh?”

“Mhm, this is my time to decompress after class before my shift at the library starts.”

Taehyung bites the inside of his cheek, eyes flashing with something Jungkook can’t read. He straightens up to let his coworker pass, taking her apron before she disappears into the backdoor marked for employees only.

“That’s nice,” Taehyung comments, tone flat and almost bored. “Listen, bun, you’re gonna do me a favor and sit right there.” Dipping his head, Taehyung gestures to the large couch and well-worn leather armchairs directly across from the register.

Jungkook turns around to look at the seating arrangement. The chairs surround a glass coffee table stacked with old university event fliers and a few tiny potted succulents. The furniture looks comfortable, and Jungkook spots an outlet nearby.

“Why?” Jungkook asks, turning back to face the counter.

“I already told you.” Taehyung’s eyes travel down Jungkook’s body, pausing where his crop top exposes a hint of his midriff. “Gotta make sure nobody eats you.”

Blinking rapidly, Jungkook hurriedly breaks eye contact with Taehyung as a flush spreads up his neck and across his face. Never has he felt so attuned to his instincts as he does now, his entire body prickly and on edge. Taehyung makes Jungkook want to run.

No, Taehyung makes Jungkook want to be chased.

Shaken by that realization, Jungkook jerks into action. He gives Taehyung a quick nod and turns to the leather couch. On his way to getting settled, he nearly knocks over the succulents and sends a few fliers shooting into the air and fluttering to the floor like autumn leaves.

“Sorry, sorry,” Jungkook murmurs, snatching the papers and trying to ignore the low chuckle coming from behind the counter, eventually drowned out by the sound of the espresso machine.

Despite the unexpected start to his “Decompress Time,” Jungkook finds his rhythm rather quickly. The leather couch is worn but comfortable, with plush cushions that form to Jungkook from years of being well-loved by loyal customers. He rests his tablet on the arm of the couch to prop it up at a comfortable angle so he can work on his comic. 

A busy schedule has prevented him from progressing much, but Jungkook has learned not to shame himself for moving slowly. Hobbies are meant to be fun; there’s no use making himself miserable over something that should bring him joy.

Perhaps Jungkook enjoys it a little too much, getting lost in the colorful worlds he creates with furrowed brows and a stylus gripped in one hand. After a while, the rest of the world grows fuzzy and desaturated, like the unfinished background of a lesser scene in Jungkook’s comic. He doesn’t notice the figure looming over him until his backpack is pushed to the side on the glass coffee table.

“One iced mocha latte.”

“But…” Jungkook watches Taehyung place the drink on the coffee table in front of him. “I didn’t order anything.”

Taehyung gives Jungkook a blank expression for half a beat before turning his back on Jungkook’s confusion and returning to the register as a few more customers trickle in. There’s no use in calling after him; Jungkook would prefer not to draw attention to himself, and he wouldn’t want Taehyung to get in trouble — since it mustn’t be allowed, right? To give away free drinks?

It’s hard to ignore the fuzzy feeling Jungkook gets in his chest when he picks up the drink and gives himself a moment to process that Taehyung remembered his order from weeks ago. Jungkook has seen the cafe during busy hours; he’s sure Taehyung has far too many customers to remember orders, yet Taehyung remembered his.

The drink is in a disposable paper coffee cup. Disappointment nips Jungkook in the heart when he realizes Taehyung has put his drink in a to-go cup as if to subliminally tell him to leave. Jungkook twists the cup in his hand and notices something scribbled with a permanent marker on the side — a small cartoon bunny with floppy ears and large, starry eyes. Underneath the drawing in messy handwriting is the simple greeting, Hi, bun.

Jungkook isn’t sure how much blushing he can take today. His body is heating up so severely that he’s worried his scent might start spiking from embarrassment in the middle of a predators’ hangout.

Taking a deep breath, he risks looking at the counter. Perhaps there is a different edge to Jungkook’s scent, or Taehyung has an uncanny sixth sense, but his eyes immediately lock with Taehyung’s. Like before, Taehyung’s expression is unreadable. Their connection is broken with a blink, and Taehyung focuses on tending to the next customer in line to order. Only the twitch of his striped ears give a hint that he might still be paying attention to the bunny across the room.

Jungkook takes a sip of his drink to stop himself from grinning.

Over the next few weeks, Jungkook visits Venor Cafe fairly regularly. He doesn’t come in during all of Taehyung’s shifts; Yoongi thoroughly explained how creepy that would make Jungkook seem. Jungkook doesn’t see the harm in it, but he trusts his hyung to know about these things — even if Yoongi tends to overthink quite a lot.

Besides, Jungkook knows that Taehyung enjoys having him around. Why else would he continue drawing adorable bunnies on Jungkook’s cups and leaving little messages on his napkins?

Sometimes, Taehyung is too busy to talk to Jungkook. On those days, Jungkook receives even more hidden messages accompanied by drinks and snacks that Jungkook doesn’t order but appear on the coffee table anyway.

From what Jungkook has observed, most of the employees are college students who aren’t the most ambitious and don’t always take their jobs seriously. They aren’t like Taehyung, who works hard and is attentive to his customers, no matter how tired he may seem. It’s admirable, and Jungkook likes how the more he gets to know Taehyung, the more he proves those terrible stereotypes people feed about predators wrong.

Even the other predators at the cafe don’t seem too bad. By now, Jungkook has spent hours on the leather couch that always seems free, even when the rest of the cafe is crowded, and he has never been treated poorly by the other customers. He’s starting to think everyone is overreacting. What are they seeing in the world that Jungkook can’t?

Considering he has no other predator friends, Jungkook figures he may as well ask Taehyung all his questions. But, first, he has an important matter to settle.

“So, why are you in a prey class?” 

“I can’t talk to you, bun. I’m working.” 

“You were behind the counter texting someone not even five minutes ago,” Jungkook challenges with a toothy grin, “Answer my question.”

Looking up from where he’s wiping off one of the tables, Taehyung gives Jungkook a long stare. His hair is pushed away from his face today, held back by a black bandana to match his all-black outfit. Nothing should be so attractive about a black t-shirt and jeans, especially not all-black Air Forces, yet Jungkook can’t get over how pretty Taehyung is.

What’s even more adorable is how the two of them probably look together, staring each other down in the back corner of the cafe, Taehyung in all black and Jungkook in pastels.

“I thought bunnies were supposed to be timid,” Taehyung finally comments with an arched brow. 

“I’m not like most bunnies.”

Jungkook regrets his response the moment he gives it and internally cringes. Taehyung’s laughter makes it worse. 

“Cute.” Taehyung smirks, the tip of his striped tail flicking from where he tucks it in the string ties of his apron. The placement keeps his tail out of the way as he works. Earlier, Jungkook almost stepped on it while following Taehyung around the cafe, and he isn’t particularly interested in finding out what an angry tiger looks like.

“I’m taking it because the timing for our class session conflicted with my schedule, and I needed to take this one now since I want to graduate a semester early. Trust me, I wouldn’t take a class with prey if I didn’t have to. No offense.”

“Why not?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “You’re something special, aren’t you?” 

“Yes, I am,” Jungkook agrees with more confidence than he should have for someone unsure if Taehyung’s comment was a compliment. 

With a shake of his head and a laugh that’s a rush of air through his nostrils, Taehyung fights the urge to smile as he resumes cleaning the messy table. Jungkook should probably return to his seat, but he’s having more fun bouncing on the balls of his feet while Taehyung scrubs at a sticky spot on the table. Part of that fun might be because the veins in Taehyung’s forearms become more defined as he scrubs harder and his bicep bulges against the tight cuff of his t-shirt.

“Bun.”

Blinking, Jungkook looks up to meet the heartstopping smirk on Taehyung’s face.

“Um, yes?”

Taehyung gestures to the side of his head, grin growing wider when Jungkook lifts his hand. One of Jungkook’s ears has fallen from inside his bucket hat, exposing it to the whole cafe. Jungkook quickly shoves it back inside the hat, having sworn he’d tied both back adequately, stress radiating from his trembling body.

“Hey, hey,” Taehyung’s warm fingers encircle Jungkook’s wrist and pull his hand away from his head. “It’s okay.”

“I’m not—”

“Can I tell you something?” Taehyung interrupts. He waits for Jungkook to nod before continuing, “It doesn’t matter if you hide your ears or tail, bun. We all know what you are, even without seeing them.”

“What do you mean?” When Jungkook’s face scrunches with confusion, Taehyung taps the tip of Jungkook’s wiggly nose with his index finger.

“Our senses are sharper than yours. Prey smell different.” Taehyung slips the cleaning rag into his apron’s pocket. He looks amused, as though there’s a secret joke to what he’s said that Jungkook doesn’t understand.

Unsure of how to respond, Jungkook stands with his fingers nervously tapping against his thighs and waits with bated breath as Taehyung plucks his hat from his head.

“I like your ears. They’re cute,” Taehyung murmurs just quiet enough for Jungkook to hear. He holds the hat out for Jungkook to take, then turns on his heel without another word, leaving Jungkook flustered — not for the first time, and certainly not for the last. 

At some point, Suyun starts hanging out with Jungkook at Venor Cafe. The first time she visits the cafe is with Jackson, who Jungkook is surprised to learn is friends with Taehyung. Considering how tall and athletic they are, the fact that the two predators play on the university’s basketball team makes sense to Jungkook. A fox hybrid, Jackson moves elegantly and is quick on his feet, bouncing around as he playfully tussles with Taehyung before the start of his shift. The obnoxious display of predatory behavior makes Suyun roll her eyes, though her cheeks grow pink whenever Jackson smiles at her from across the cafe.

It’s disgusting couple behavior in the kind of way that Jungkook thinks he would quite literally die to experience himself.

Luckily, Jackson doesn’t frequent the cafe — not that Jungkook doesn’t like him. It’s merely that Jungkook enjoys spending time with Suyun, and it’s easier when Jackson doesn’t serve as a distraction.

Suyun argues that Jungkook gets distracted by a particular employee, but she doesn’t tease him too badly about it. Jungkook is grateful for that, considering someone else does enough teasing.

“Two spooky pumpkin cinnamon donuts with chocolate drizzle.”

Taehyung places two small plates on the coffee table in front of the leather couch — which has become Jungkook’s couch at this point. He has yet to arrive at the cafe to find it already occupied. What strange luck.

“We didn’t order—”

“Shhh,” Taehyung interrupts Suyun with a finger to his lips. “It’s officially autumn, and Jungkook has never had striped donuts.”

A wink is Taehyung’s goodbye as he returns to his work duties, leaving the pastries behind. They look delicious, and having tried the cafe’s other donuts, Jungkook is confident they won’t disappoint. He picks one up and cups his other hand underneath it to catch the cinnamon crumbles that might fall from it when he takes a bite.

“Jungkook,” Suyun whispers as she watches him chew.

“Hmm?”

“He gave you an orange donut with brown stripes.”

Jungkook nods with a little hum of appreciation. The donut is really good.

“Do you not get it…?” Suyun’s eyes widen, and her large, round ears perk up. She smacks Jungkook on the thigh with her whip-like tail when he doesn’t say anything, making him yelp. “Orange with stripes! Jungkook! The tiger just fed you an orange donut with brown stripes.”

Jungkook’s entire body shivers with realization. “Ohh…”

“Yeah,” Suyun scoffs, shaking her head. “Yeah."

“I mean, it’s just a seasonal donut. It doesn’t, like, mean something.” Jungkook gestures to the cafe’s large front windows as if to point out the trees' changing color and the skittering leaves along the sidewalk. “Right?”

Suyun shrugs and reaches for her own donut. “I don’t know… Is it normal for him to give you free food like this?”

Jungkook nods, and something weird inside him makes his stomach flutter when Suyun hums in surprise.

“Well… That’s… I mean, that’s interesting.”

Setting his tablet and stylus on the coffee table, Jungkook turns on the couch to face Suyun. “What do you mean? What’s interesting?”

When Suyun shakes her head, Jungkook musters up the most pathetic pout he can come up with.

“Suyun, please tell me. I don’t understand.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she mutters with a roll of her eyes. “It probably doesn’t mean anything at all. It’s just that sometimes gift-giving is a, um, it’s a component of—”

Before Suyun can finish her botched explanation, Taehyung appears beside the couch. He’s engrossed in something on his phone and no longer wearing his apron.

“Scoot over, bun. I’m taking my break,” Taehyung demands as he wiggles in between Jungkook and the arm of the couch.

Startled, Jungkook scrambles to the middle of the couch, giving Taehyung more room. He’s reminded of how big Taehyung is, with spread thighs and broad shoulders that brush against Jungkook’s. Today, they’re both in jeans, though Jungkook is wearing an oversized v-neck sweater, whereas Taehyung is in a plain t-shirt. It’s getting cold outside, but Taehyung’s body seems to run hot.

This is the closest they’ve ever been, and Jungkook feels like he can’t breathe.

“Is that me?”

Suyun smacks Jungkook on the arm, bringing his attention to Taehyung’s gaze. Following it, his stomach overturns with nausea when he realizes what Taehyung is looking at.

“What? No!” Jungkook snatches his tablet and holds it to his chest like a teenage girl who has had her diary read. “Why would it be you?”

Taehyung rests his elbow on the arm of the couch and holds his chin in his hand. His boxy mouth curves into a small smile, though Jungkook isn’t fooled. The giddy look on Taehyung’s face is mocking.

What can he expect, really? Taehyung has just seen the portrait Jungkook has been drawing of him.

“Let me see it.”

“No.”

“If it’s not me, why can’t I?” Taehyung’s grin is sharp, canines glinting in the natural lighting.

Jungkook thinks about how Suyun said he should let Taehyung eat him.

“It’s not good…” Jungkook makes up an excuse. The portrait is good; Jungkook has been working on it for weeks. He told himself he needed a break from working on his comic and wanted to practice realism.

Really, he just likes looking at Taehyung.

“Y’know, bun, I’m majoring in Museum Studies and Studio Art,” Taehyung speaks casually as though he isn’t at all phased by the fact that some prey hybrid who thrust himself into his life has been creepily drawing him while he works. “I know a thing or two about good art.”

Jungkook knew this. He was surprised when he first learned that Taehyung wanted to work as a curator or exhibition designer in a museum. It was a cool career aspiration that Jungkook had never considered, probably because his mind was always clouded by the financial stability entering the tech industry could bring him. Now that he knows more about what’s out there in the world, he sometimes has his regrets.

“That makes me want to show you even less,” Jungkook mumbles, sneakily turning off the tablet and returning it to the coffee table. “Maybe some other time.”

Jungkook doesn’t know why he pseudo-promises a future where Taehyung may see his artwork, but he can’t help it. Maybe it’s the enthralling look in Taehyung’s eyes when he realized the drawing was of himself. Maybe it’s the warmth of Taehyung’s tail resting on Jungkook’s thigh.

Maybe Jungkook is actually losing his mind.

“I’ll hold you to that, bun,” Taehyung says with a grin. His eyes roam Jungkook’s face like he’s committing it to memory or searching for something amongst the scar on his cheek and the beauty mark under his bottom lip.

The bell above the cafe’s front door rings, drawing Taehyung’s attention away from Jungkook. A group of predators enters, led by the wolf hybrid Jungkook has unfortunately run across far too many times lately. It’s odd to see the same person so often, especially in such a large city as Seoul.

“Hoseok hyung!” Taehyung waves at one of the men. For a moment, Jungkook fears that Taehyung is calling over the wolf hybrid, but instead, a snake hybrid breaks off from the group to weave through the tables.

“Taehyungie, what’s up? Are you not working today?”

Jungkook doesn’t miss how Hoseok eyes him and Suyun. However, he doesn’t know how to interpret the snake hybrid’s expression. The slitted eyes throw him off.

“Nah, I’m just taking a break. You guys still going over to Byungchul’s later?”

When Hoseok nods, the white scales that contour his face and collarbones glitter.

“Are you?”

“Of course. I need a fucking break,” Taehyung groans, leaning his head back on the couch.

“Bringing your… friends with you?” Hoseok’s eyes sweep over him and Suyun, again hard to read.

Taehyung shifts slightly, and Jungkook tries to scoot over to give him more room. Taehyung stops him by wrapping his arm around Jungkook’s shoulders and gently drawing him into his side. Rather than be startled by Taehyung’s sudden out-of-character behavior, Jungkook melts into his embrace. Taehyung’s body is warm and firm, and his scent is so calming that Jungkook feels like he can fall asleep from how comfortable he is. He doesn’t even bother wondering why Taehyung is acting this way.

“Oh! I’m hanging out with Jackson’s family this weekend,” Suyun turns to give Jungkook an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, I completely forgot to tell you.”

As part of their Art History class final project, they’re supposed to visit a new ancient Egyptian art exhibit at the National Museum of Korea. Jungkook and Suyun had plans to go together over the weekend.

“It’s okay,” Jungkook reassures her with a small smile. He doesn’t mind going to the museum alone.

Taehyung squeezes Jungkook’s shoulder. When Jungkook turns to look up at him, he still has his eyes on Hoseok. It’s a nice view, though. Jungkook can admire the curl of Taehyung’s pretty eyelashes and the jut of his plump lips. He has to fight the urge to nuzzle into his neck.

“He better not fucking bring any prey.”

Jungkook feels Taehyung tense as the wolf hybrid saunters to stand beside Hoseok. There’s something slimy about him, even beyond his gross comments toward Jungkook on his first day of school.

“That’s no way to speak about your hyung, Byungchul.” Taehyung’s response is clipped, a tone Jungkook isn’t familiar hearing from him.

Byungchul crosses his arms against his chest as if to puff himself up. He’s more muscular than Taehyung, but he isn’t as tall or broad, and he looks silly, forcing himself to seem bigger than he really is.

“You’ve already tainted the only predator cafe in the neighborhood by letting them in,” Byungchul gestures to Jungkook and Suyun, who frowns at him in a way she probably thinks is intimidating. “There’s no way you’re ruining our hangouts, too.”

The words don’t necessarily sting because Jungkook doesn’t know Byungchul, but they make him uneasy. It seems like a threat, something Jungkook has never experienced before. He’s never experienced any kind of discrimination before.

Standing up, Taehyung gets in Byungchul’s face, though Byungchul doesn’t back down.

“If you have a problem with them being here, you can leave.”

Jungkook, Suyun, and Hoseok watch silently as the two predators size each other up. Clearly, neither wants to back down, but Taehyung has an advantage over Byungchul because of his age and the fact that he works at the cafe. Eventually, Byungchul backs away with a glare in Jungkook and Suyun’s direction.

“Fine,” Byungchul grunts. He’s quick to turn his back on the group and shoulder through the front door, flinging it open hard enough that it’s loud when it slams closed behind him.

“What a little shit,” Hoseok says with a cackle that shows all his teeth. They’re pointy, too. Never has Jungkook been around so much danger. “He’ll never survive in the real world.”

Taehyung isn’t as amused. He motions for Jungkook and Suyun to get up once Hoseok has fallen into the line at the register.

“Can you please leave?” Taehyung asks with a weary sigh. Jungkook knows he and Suyun don’t have a say in the matter.

On another day, Jungkook would be sad, but he feels relieved to leave the cafe when Taehyung asks. He and Suyun don’t bother looking back when they slip out the front door like teens sneaking out of the house, careful not to draw attention to themselves.

“What bullshit,” Suyun huffs once they’re out of earshot of the cafe. She kicks a stray pebble on the sidewalk and watches it ricochet off a nearby tree.

“Do you have to deal with that kind of stuff a lot? Because of Jackson?” Jungkook asks quietly. He’s still shaken up, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

Suyun shakes her head. “Most of his friends are pretty chill. Byungchul has something wrong with him.”

Clearly, Jungkook thinks as they make their way to the library. Maybe some predators are rotten apples. 

Convincing Yoongi to join Jungkook at the on-campus fitness center isn’t as tricky as Jungkook expects. All it takes is the promise that Jungkook won’t leave Yoongi alone in the weight room with all the confusing weightlifting equipment and the intimidating gym bros — because, as Yoongi quickly learns, even the prey fitness center has gym bros.

Luckily, Jungkook isn’t one of them.

“You’re a gym bunny,” Yoongi snickers as the two cross the fitness center’s parking lot, nearly getting hit by a car driven by a lamb hybrid cutting through the lot.

“Isn’t that term only for girls?” Jungkook asks with a scrunch of his nose. He must drag Yoongi by the long sleeve of his dri-fit shirt to avoid getting run over by more cars.

“You’re literally a rabbit.”

“Not literally.”

“You’re half-rabbit.”

“I guess.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes and pushes the front door of the rec center open for Jungkook. His statement still isn’t entirely true, though understanding hybrids is difficult. They’re not quite half-human, half-animal, but something entirely separate.

The most disappointing part of being what they are, in Jungkook’s opinion, is that they can’t shapeshift. What is the point of having animal features if Jungkook can’t fully turn into a rabbit? It seems lame.

After scanning their student IDs at the information desk at the entrance of the fitness center, Jungkook leads Yoongi down a long hallway leading to the weight room. They pass the doors to the indoor pool and a few gymnasiums lined with bleachers. Most rooms are occupied by varsity athletes or students just there to have some casual fun with friends. Jungkook has made friends with other students who like working out; there usually isn’t a ton in the weight room. He supposes the stereotypes about prey not being particularly muscular prevent many from exploring the weightlifting world. It’s unfortunate; Jungkook doesn’t believe in letting societal norms dictate what he does with his body.

“They offer fitness classes?” Yoongi peers at a corkboard with announcements and class fliers tacked to it. The board is mounted on the wall just outside the weight room door.

“Yup! Yoga, different dance genres, martial arts, even some unique sports like archery and fencing,” Jungkook explains as he digs to the bottom of his backpack.

“Fencing sounds sick.” Yoongi jabs into the air like he’s holding a weapon, his sleek black tail vigorously flicking behind him.

Just inside the weight room entrance are a few rows of small lockers against the wall. Jungkook shoves his backpack inside one of them after taking out a combination lock and two insulated sports water bottles — one for himself and one for Yoongi (since Jungkook knew Yoongi would forget to bring his own).

“You should sign up for a class!” Jungkook hands Yoongi one of the bottles and gives him an encouraging smile. “I can go with you if you want, so you won’t be alone.”

Yoongi seems to contemplate the idea but quickly gets distracted by a group of domestic cat hybrids stepping past them to reach the half of the room that holds all the cardio equipment. That’s likely where Yoongi should begin his workout journey, but he has been insistent on learning how to lift weights. To get swole or whatever. Jungkook tries not to laugh.

“Let’s go this way,” Jungkook gently steers Yoongi toward the other side of the large room.

There are fewer workout machines on this side of the room, which is fine. Jungkook wants to teach Yoongi some basics about exercises he can do with his body weight and smaller weights he can hold without a spotter. For now, their gym sessions are about ensuring Yoongi feels confident and comfortable with what Jungkook has planned for him. The more intense exercises will come later.

Jungkook begins by showing Yoongi the correct posture for simple exercises like arm curls and squats. It doesn’t allow Jungkook to get much working out in, but he finds that he enjoys teaching Yoongi just as much as he enjoys working out on his own.

“Keep your toes pointed like this,” Jungkook demonstrates the correct way to squat, gesturing at his feet, “And angle your back like this,” he then gestures to the mirror wall in front of them to show Yoongi his form.

“How do you even know how to do all this?” Yoongi grunts as he picks up one of the weights and holds it while slowly easing into a standing squat.

“Youtube, mostly. And after a while, my kickboxing instructor helped with the stuff I didn’t pick up on my own. It just takes time to figure things out.”

Yoongi shakes his head slowly.

“You’re so different, Jungkook-ah. It’s good, though. Really good.”

Jungkook shrugs and pauses for a moment to have a sip of water. It’s pretty early on a Saturday morning, so few people are working out. Jungkook prefers to get his workouts in early so he has the rest of the day to do other things.

On most Saturday mornings, Jungkook doesn’t have much to do besides hanging out with friends or finishing homework since he doesn’t work his library shifts on the weekends. This morning is far different than most Saturday mornings, though. Jungkook has actual plans for the rest of the day, plans that make his stomach flutter just thinking about them.

Jungkook and Yoongi spend an hour in the weight room before Yoongi eventually taps out. He manages to last twice as long as Jungkook had expected, much to Jungkook’s excitement. Working out may seem simple, boring even, but something about being strong makes Jungkook feel euphoric. Perhaps it’s the endorphins, but he thinks it can’t just be that.

Regardless of the exact reason, he feels on top of the world as he drags Yoongi to the communal bathroom. He’s overcome with a slap-happy kind of energy he gains after pushing his body to its limit.

Quickly, he shows Yoongi how to work the showers and exchanges their sweaty workout clothes for the clean clothes they packed together before leaving their dorm. Yoongi only minimally complains about having to use a shower other people have used, and Jungkook manages not to spend an eternity shampooing his ears.

“I feel like I’m going to die,” Yoongi complains once they’re back in the fitness center lobby. He grips his water bottle like a lifeline and glares at Jungkook.

“What?” Jungkook grins as he scans their student IDs to notify the security system that they’re leaving the center. “You did such a good job! Now you can load up on some protein and take a nap.”

“I guess that sounds nice…” Yoongi mutters, taking his ID back from Jungkook and pulling the long sleeves of his sweater over his hands to protect them from the chilly autumn breeze when they step outside.

The morning sun is finally poking through the clouds. Jungkook flips the hood of his hoodie over his head and tightens the strings slightly, making the fabric scrunch around his face. Wet hair and a cool breeze are never a comfortable combination in autumn.

“Are you coming back home?” Yoongi asks as the two cut through the parking lot toward the west side of campus, where the prey dorms are.

Jungkook shakes his head and adjusts the straps on his backpack. Once they meet a fork in the road, Yoongi heads left while Jungkook twists to the right.

“I’m going to study at Venor…” Jungkook mumbles, eyes cast downward. When Yoongi doesn’t respond immediately, Jungkook peeks at him through his wet bangs.

Yoongi rolls his eyes, but his smile is genuine.

“Like a lovesick puppy, I swear to god.”

“Hyung!” Jungkook whines, kicking at a loose chunk of sidewalk with the toe of his Nikes.

“I’m just pointing out the obvious!”

With an exaggerated sigh, Jungkook throws his head back and stares at the sunrays muted by milky clouds.

“I’ll be home after, okay? You have to help me plan my project, anyway.”

Grumbling a reluctant agreement that isn’t as hesitant as he plays it off to be, Yoongi waves Jungkook away and heads toward the dormitories. Jungkook watches him go with fondness warming his chest even as the breeze springs up goosebumps along his skin.

Now that he’s alone, Jungkook takes his phone from the pocket of his hoodie. His stomach grumbles as he walks across campus, but he knows food will be waiting for him at the cafe. He opens his text conversation with Taehyung, rereading the last few texts they shared the night before.

vante95 did you fucking fall asleep on me bun damn it’s like that huh making me quadruple-text you like a loser see you tomorrow bun sweet dreams 🐇

Smiling like an idiot, Jungkook nearly runs into a light pole when he veers to the right on the sidewalk. He’s saved by a stranger grabbing his arm and yanking him back on track.

“Oh, thank you,” Jungkook gasps, but the person is already walking away, shaking their head at his foolishness.

Maybe he is a lovesick puppy. He can barely keep himself together.

It only worsens as Jungkook approaches Venor Cafe, and his stomach falls slightly when he notices the lights are off inside and the sign hanging on the front door is still flipped to closed . Checking his phone, Jungkook frowns at the time. Taehyung opens the cafe at ten o’clock on Saturday mornings. It’s currently fifteen minutes past ten.

Taehyung is always on time.

Well, he was late to class that one time, but that was it! Otherwise, Taehyung is always early. Jungkook is the late one, always meandering even when he knows where he’s going, usually lost in some daydream he’s crafted that makes him lose himself in the clouds. Over the past few months, Jungkook has learned that Taehyung is firmly grounded, responsible and reliable.

Everything is fine, Jungkook tells himself as he waits at the corner of the cafe. There’s no need to jump to terrible conclusions about Taehyung’s welfare. He likely slept in.

With that thought in mind, Jungkook decides to call Taehyung. If he has overslept, perhaps a phone call will wake him up. Jungkook wouldn’t want him to get in trouble for being late.

Nerves make Jungkook tap his foot against the cracked sidewalk while the phone rings. Each ring’s tone reverberates through Jungkook’s body, zapping his nerves even more. When the automated voice message announces that Taehyung is unavailable, Jungkook feels like his entire body will vibrate off the side of the building.

“Hi, Tae. I’m at Venor, um, I can hang out for a bit, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Can you call me or text me…”

Jungkook trails off, and the automatic voicemail system eventually saves his message and hangs up due to inactivity. He doesn’t notice; his attention is on the two individuals approaching from the neighborhood's east side.

It takes everything in Jungkook’s power to stop himself from tapping his foot faster. He goes as far as stepping on one foot with the other, terrified of letting the predators notice how distressed he is.

“Well, look who it is,” Byungchul smirks as he speaks, his mouth pinching with ugly amusement that doesn’t reach his cold, dark eyes. “Our little bun.”

The snake hybrid beside Byungchul laughs, the sound nasally, more of a hiss than what Jungkook would recognize as genuine laughter. At first, Jungkook thinks the hybrid is Hoseok, but when the snake turns to him, Jungkook realizes he doesn’t recognize who he is.

There’s a war inside of Jungkook, one he was unaware of until he moved to Seoul. The independent, confident part of him wants to stand up to these predator bullies. He wants to snap at Byungchul, to tell him not to call him a nickname only Taehyung has ever used. He wants to tell Byungchul that he doesn’t care about whatever rude things he has to say.

Instincts, however, tell Jungkook to flee.

His mouth goes dry, and the euphoria he’d felt earlier drains from his system as every muscle in his body weakens. He thinks of Yoongi’s warnings about the aggressive behavior of predators and Suyun’s insistence that not all of them are bad.

“Byungchul has something wrong with him.”

Suyun’s voice echoes in Jungkook’s head as Byungchul advances, his silky wolf’s tail swaying side to side. It might be cute on someone else, but Jungkook’s automatic response is to flinch at the behavior.

“What’s wrong, bun?” Byungchul asks with a mocking pout. “Don’t tell me the cat’s got your tongue.”

The snake hybrid hisses again, scaly hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. He glitters red in the weak sunlight.

“I’m shocked Taehyung hasn’t torn him to pieces yet,” the snake’s voice slices through the breeze, sharp and clear.

“Same,” Byungchul turns to look at his friend when he talks. Jungkook doesn’t get much relief, Byungchul’s mean stare returning just as quickly as it left. “Our hyung should be careful. Unclaimed prey are fair game, aren’t they, Minsu?”

Unclaimed prey. 

Jungkook doesn’t know what that means, but his body stiffens when Byungchul speaks. It sounds violent and possessive. Jungkook’s eyes fall on Byungchul’s sharp canines, and the cold floods his veins when he realizes Taehyung isn’t coming.

Jungkook will never tell anyone, but he runs.

The fear of being chased by Byungchul and his friend doesn’t leave a sweet taste of longing on his tongue like when he lets his mind wander to the strange desire for Taehyung to chase him. Instead, the fear tightens Jungkook’s chest until he has to stop running and bend at the waist, heaving as cold air freezes his lungs, making breathing painful. He grasps at his chest and rips his hood from his head to get rid of the claustrophobic feeling suffocating him.

When he closes his eyes, all he sees is Byungchul’s face shadowed by contempt. 

-

vante95 aw shit i forgot to set my alarm sorry you still there? gimme like 10 min hey if you still wanna hang im here now or we can meet up after my shift? lmk hey bun where do you want to meet? im done now fuck im sorry i was late but i still want to go with you today are you ok?

Jungkook tosses his phone on the coffee table and snuggles deeper into the blankets he has wrapped around himself on the couch. Yoongi stares at him from the other end of the couch with a suspicious look, but he doesn’t push Jungkook to explain what has gotten him so shaken up, and for that, Jungkook is grateful.

“Can I do anything for you, Jungkookie?”

Yoongi’s tail swats the back of the couch in a steady rhythm that Jungkook finds strangely comforting.

“No.”

“Nothing at all?”

Jungkook shakes his head.

With a sigh, Yoongi stands up. He gives Jungkook a look that is both frustrated and endeared. Jungkook is sure it’s an expression only Yoongi could master.

“Can I at least feed you? I was thinking of making fried chicken in the air fryer.” Yoongi waits, not discouraged when Jungkook stares off into space. “It’ll be really crispy.”

Jungkook sighs like Yoongi had. His gaze slides from the blank TV screen to Yoongi’s soft expression.

“Yes, hyung. That would be nice.”

Pleased to have a purpose, Yoongi heads to their small kitchen to prepare the chicken. He calls out if Jungkook also wants rice or noodles, and Jungkook can’t say no to carbs, no matter how upset he is.

It isn’t just that Byungchul encroached on Jungkook’s personal space and clearly tried to intimidate him. What has Jungkook more disturbed is what Byungchul said about Taehyung. The two predators are friends. Wouldn’t Byungchul know Taehyung well? So what is all this talk about Taehyung being, well, a predator?

Jungkook may have spent significant time with Taehyung in class and at Venor, but today was supposed to be the first time they hung out alone. Taehyung had agreed to go to the art museum with him since Suyun is busy. Now, Jungkook isn’t sure if he feels like he wants to. He’s not sure if he can.

A knock on their front door startles Jungkook out of his stupor. His voice is weak when he calls out to Yoongi, “Hyung, is that for you?”

Yoongi’s head pops out of the kitchen doorway to look at Jungkook, who is still sitting in the living room.

“Jungkook, I have, like, two friends, and you’re one of them.”

“Okay, but same,” Jungkook admits, nose scrunching with confusion. The knock at the door could be Suyun, but she’s with Jackson and his family this weekend. Besides, she would have texted Jungkook if she planned to come over.

“Can you get it for me?” Yoongi shouts from the kitchen.

Part of Jungkook thinks Yoongi probably could get the door himself, but instead, he’s forcing Jungkook to get off the couch. It’s fine. Jungkook does what his hyung wants, even if he keeps a blanket wrapped around his body as he drags his feet to the door. For a brief moment, he wonders if it might be Byungchul. The thought sets Jungkook’s heart into overdrive, thumping in his chest like his foot wants to thump against the floor.

A predator stands on the other side of the door, but it isn’t Byungchul.

“Bun, what happened?” Taehyung rushes to speak before Jungkook has a chance to say anything. “I called and texted you.”

Taehyung looks disheveled. His curls are frizzy and sitting a bit higher than usual on his head, as if a gust of wind had hit him and he didn’t try to smooth his hair back down. His white t-shirt is wrinkled beneath the light blue jean jacket he has on, one sleeve pushed up while the other hangs down at his wrist. Jungkook tries not to stare at how long his legs look in his skinny jeans or how cute his leather boots are — an outfit so different than Taehyung’s usual look. He’s dressed like he’s planning to go out, and technically, he is.

Jungkook drops his chin to stare at his own body, loose sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt hanging on his frame in a rather unflattering way underneath his blanket. He was supposed to be dressed to go out, too.

“Byungchul said I’m unclaimed prey,” Jungkook blurts out. His voice wobbles, and he turns away when Taehyung’s eyes narrow. The look is scary and makes Jungkook feel like he’s done something wrong.

“He said what ?”

Taehyung’s voice is gravelly, nearly a growl. The sound of it makes Jungkook’s skin prickle and draws goosebumps up his arms. Behind a twinge of fear, a tiny bit of heat stirs in Jungkook’s stomach.

“Hey, what the fuck is going on here?” Yoongi appears behind Jungkook, brandishing a pair of greasy tongs.

Jungkook isn’t sure if Yoongi is holding the tongs simply because he forgot to put them down or if he’s planning to use them as a weapon. It’s silly either way.

Yoongi’s question reminds Jungkook that predators aren’t allowed to be on the prey’s side of campus and they definitely aren’t allowed in prey dormitories. It’s one of the highest offenses a predator student can make.

“Come on, before someone sees you,” Jungkook urges, grabbing Taehyung by the arm to pull him inside.

It’s strange having Taehyung in his dorm. He looks too big, an oppressive presence barely contained by the tight space of the entryway. Yoongi stares at Taehyung with suspicion, still clutching the tongs. Taehyung eyes them, and Jungkook is shocked to see Yoongi’s cheeks flush.

“I’m making fried chicken…” Yoongi mumbles, quickly looking away from Taehyung to stare at Jungkook with wide eyes.

“Oh, um, this is Yoongi, my roommate,” Jungkook gestures toward the cat hybrid, “And this is Taehyung. Uh, you know.”

Perhaps if the situation wasn’t so tense, Taehyung would have used this as an opportunity to tease Jungkook. Instead, Taehyung stares at Jungkook with a heavy gaze that weighs on Jungkook almost worse than the stress of confronting Byungchul alone.

“What happened, Jungkook?” Taehyung asks quietly. The question is deceptively calm.

Sensing their stress, Yoongi slowly inches toward the kitchen.

“I’m… going to finish… cooking…” Yoongi mumbles before disappearing through the door. Neither Jungkook nor Taehyung pays him any mind.

“I was waiting for you,” Jungkook doesn’t mean to sound accusatory, but his tone comes out that way regardless. “He was there with one of his friends and said…”

Wrapping the blanket tighter around himself, Jungkook takes a deep breath. To his credit, Taehyung stands with his hands in his pockets and waits patiently despite the anger simmering just below the surface of his relaxed demeanor.

“Well, first his friend said you would, you would…”

“I would what?” Taehyung’s nostrils flare, but he keeps his mouth shut beyond the probing question.

“His friend said you’d tear me apart,” Jungkook whispers, “And then Byungchul said you needed to be careful because I’m unclaimed prey.”

Taehyung barks a cruel laugh, loud with an edge that makes Jungkook’s body tingle. His ears fall flat, and his tail flicks much like Yoongi’s when he’s irritated.

“The son of a bitch.”

“What does it mean?”

Taehyung shakes his head, and his gaze falls to stare at the space between them.

“It doesn’t matter what it means.”

Stomping his foot, Jungkook lets out a tiny, frustrated growl. It’s not intimidating in the least bit, even though Jungkook thinks he seems tough. Despite being furious, the corners of Taehyung’s mouth twitch in amusement.

“It does matter. They were talking about me, so I deserve to know what they were saying.”

With a sigh, Taehyung rolls his shoulders and lets his arms hang limply at his sides. After taking a deep breath, the hard lines of his face soften until he looks much calmer.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with them,” Taehyung begins, holding up his hand when Jungkook starts to protest, “And I want to make it very clear that I would never do anything to hurt you. I swear on my life, bun. I am not like that.”

Jungkook nods. Instinctually, he wants to burrow in his blankets and hide from this conversation, but he knows he needs to have it to decide if he can trust Taehyung in the future. He wants to believe that Taehyung won’t hurt him, but nothing makes sense anymore. Honestly, nothing made sense even before. 

“Unclaimed prey…” Taehyung inhales sharply, his tone deepening when he spits out, “God, Byungchul is such a bitch.”

“Taehyung…” Jungkook calls out softly.

“Sorry,” Taehyung nods, eyes never leaving Jungkook’s. “Some predators who grow… fond of certain prey like to… claim them as their own, so other predators know not to pursue them, I guess you could say.”

Jungkook shifts on his feet, eyes dropping because he’s finding it too difficult to look Taehyung in the face. This conversation is making him uneasy, but not in the way Taehyung likely thinks.

“I’m really sorry, bun,” Taehyung takes a step forward and slowly holds out his hands as though he’s afraid Jungkook will run away if he moves too quickly. “I wish I had been there. I would have—”

“It’s not your fault.”

Jungkook lets Taehyung rest his hands on his shoulders and lightly squeeze them. It isn’t the hug Jungkook wants, but he has a feeling that this is a lot for Taehyung, who seems far more reserved than all of Jungkook’s other friends.

“How do predators…”

“They scent them, usually,” Taehyung answers so Jungkook doesn’t have to finish asking.

His hands are hot, the warmth bleeding through Jungkook’s blanket and shirt enough that Jungkook can feel it on his skin. It’s comforting, especially when Taehyung is close enough for Jungkook to breathe in his scent, even though it’s spiked and bitter with anger.

Jungkook stares up at Taehyung with wide eyes and tries to ignore the heat building in his body.

“Will you scent me?”

Taehyung’s fingers flex around Jungkook’s shoulders, and he inhales sharply. His feline eyes search Jungkook’s face like he’s waiting for there to be more to Jungkook’s question. When nothing else comes, he wets his lips and squeezes Jungkook again.

“I don’t think you fully understand what you’re asking of me.”

“I understand enough,” Jungkook challenges, brows furrowed and nose scrunched.

Taehyung stares at Jungkook for a bit longer. Jungkook is about to snap at him for acting as though he’s stupid when Taehyung slips his fingers around the edge of the blanket and slowly pulls it away from Jungkook’s shoulders. The soft fabric pools around Jungkook’s elbows, exposing the top half of his torso. Despite his sweatshirt, Jungkook shivers from the exposure.

With gentle, intentional movements, Taehyung reaches up to cradle the side of Jungkook’s face. His fingers brush against Jungkook’s floppy bunny ears and Jungkook has to bite his bottom lip so he won’t make noise. Keeping quiet becomes more difficult when Taehyung leans in, tilting his face down while angling Jungkook’s head up and to the side. Using his other hand, Taehyung curls his fingers around the collar of Jungkook’s sweater and pulls it back while dragging his nose up the length of Jungkook’s neck.

Jungkook inhales sharply, letting go of his blanket to grab the lapels of Taehyung’s jacket instead. His skin tingles as Taehyung repeatedly nuzzles his neck, each time starting at his collarbone and trailing up to the edge of his jaw. After a few agonizing seconds, Taehyung presses a light kiss on the soft spot just below Jungkook’s ear.

Before Jungkook can speak, Taehyung lifts Jungkook’s head back to nuzzle the front of Jungkook’s throat, then swipes around to repeat the scenting process on the other side of Jungkook’s neck.

Taehyung finishes scenting that side of Jungkook’s neck with a kiss, too, and Jungkook’s stomach swoops so severely that his body trembles.

“How do you feel?” Taehyung asks quietly, pulling back far enough for them to look each other in the eyes. He doesn’t move his hands from the side of Jungkook’s neck and the back of his head.

“G-Good.”

Taehyung’s dark eyes drop to Jungkook’s mouth where Jungkook has bitten his bottom lip.

“I need to scent you every time you come to Venor, okay?” It’s a question, but Taehyung speaks it like a command. Jungkook is more than willing to accept it.

“And I’ll scent you, too,” Jungkook says, gently tugging at Taehyung’s jacket lapels, only just realizing he’s still got an iron grip on them.

Taehyung’s eyes widen, and he steps back, making Jungkook stumble forward against his chest.

“You, it’s, the scenting is to protect you,” Taehyung sputters.

It’s the first time Jungkook has seen Taehyung so shy and unsure of himself. It’s cute, and it makes Jungkook feel a little cocky to know he’s the cause of it.

“But I want to do it, too,” Jungkook tugs on Taehyung’s lapels again, “And it’s not fair that your scent is on me, but mine isn’t on you, is it?”

There’s no way for Taehyung to argue against that logic. Silent, he nods and holds still when Jungkook grabs his shoulders to balance himself as he stands on his tiptoes to reach Taehyung’s neck more easily.

Taehyung’s skin is soft against Jungkook’s lips. Scenting doesn’t go as smoothly when Jungkook does it compared to Taehyung. Jungkook is slightly clumsy as he nuzzles Taehyung, his movements not as sure. A twinge of jealousy pierces Jungkook’s chest when he realizes Taehyung must be good at scenting because he’s scented someone else in the past. 

Chasing that thought away, Jungkook focuses on the smell of Taehyung’s skin. It must not matter that he doesn’t know what he’s doing because Taehyung’s breath hitches when Jungkook kisses the corner of his jaw. His large hands fall on Jungkook’s waist to help hold him steady when he switches sides. It feels nice to have the pressure and warmth of Taehyung against his body. Jungkook tries to avoid getting lost in it. Finished, he forces himself to finally step back, letting his arms fall as Taehyung’s do.

“There,” Jungkook says with a smile, that fuzzy euphoric feeling he had earlier in the day returning to him.

Taehyung clears his throat and looks off to the side, “Yeah.”

If it weren’t for the pink blush spreading across Taehyung’s cheeks and the way his tail swishes behind him, Jungkook would think the tiger was angry.

“Do you still want to go to the art museum?” Jungkook asks as he gathers his blanket from the floor. He keeps his face neutral when Taehyung clears his throat again, but inside, he’s a mess of butterflies and somersaults.

“Sure, I’m down.”

“Okay! I just need to get dressed. You can wait in the living room.”

“Cool, cool.” Taehyung nods a few times and awkwardly follows Jungkook down the hall, plopping onto the couch that Jungkook gestures for him to sit on.

Jungkook hides the bottom half of his face in his bunched-up blanket, so Taehyung can’t see him smile, and spins around to scurry to his bedroom. This time, the nerves making his body tremble are from excitement, not fear.

As Jungkook strips his clothes and looks for something cute to wear, he can’t help but notice that his own natural floral scent smells lovely mixed with Taehyung’s. He wonders if Taehyung thinks so, too.