BB x Bobby? As in what if them two got freaky with each other AND reader? Throuple?
okay so this is the final evolution of the dynamic and it’s the one that makes the most narrative sense even though it takes the longest to get there and let me explain why.
because it starts as a V. obviously it starts as a V. you’re the hinge. you’re the only point of contact. bobby wants you. bb wants you. they tolerate each other because you made it clear that tolerating each other is the price of admission and they both decided independently that the price is worth paying. the early days are exactly what we’ve talked about: the pouting, the seesaw, the aggressive emanating of displeasure, the coffee left on the counter without eye contact. two men orbiting the same woman and pretending the other one is furniture.
but you’re patient. you’re so patient. you see what they can’t see yet because they’re too busy being territorial and insecure and running the same broken emotional software. you see that they’re mirrors. that the things bobby lacks are the things bb has in excess and vice versa. that they don’t just fit with you. they fit with each other. the edges match. the gaps align. and you start nurturing it the way you’d nurture anything fragile and important. gently. without forcing.
you stop rationing your time. that’s the first deliberate thing you do. instead of “bobby gets tuesday, bb gets wednesday” you just. stop splitting. you’re on the couch and you pull them both in. you’re in the kitchen and you touch them both at the same time, chatting away, hand on bobby’s chest, fingers laced with bb’s. you create proximity. you make them share space with you and therefore with each other and at first it’s stiff and awkward and the seesaw creaks but gradually. gradually. the stiffness fades.
they start developing their own thing. not because of you. adjacent to you. the banter comes first. bobby’s dry wit finding a sparring partner in bb’s flat deadpan and the first time bb actually makes bobby laugh (really laugh, the full one, the one he hates) something shifts in the room that has nothing to do with you. bobby looks at bb with surprise and bb looks at bobby with something that might be pride and you’re sitting there watching it happen and you say nothing because saying anything would break the spell.
the biting humor develops. the roasting. bobby calling bb a freak with increasing affection. bb responding with observations about bobby’s habits that are so precise that bobby just stares at him and then grudgingly respects it. they develop inside jokes that you’re not part of. you come home and they’re in the kitchen and bobby is laughing and bb is doing the almost-smile and neither of them will tell you what’s funny and for the first time you’re the one on the outside and instead of feeling excluded you feel… relief. joy. something unclenching in your chest because they found each other. they actually found each other. not through you. next to you.
and then the night.
it’s not planned. it could never be planned. planning would involve acknowledging and acknowledging would involve vulnerability they don’t share with each other just yet. it just happens. the three of you are together and the heat has been building for weeks. not just your heat with them but the ambient temperature of the arrangement itself, the closeness, the way bobby’s hand on your hip is inches from bb’s hand on your thigh, the way they’ve stopped flinching when they brush against each other reaching for you.
and you want them. both. simultaneously. not in sequence. not taking turns. together. and you say so. or maybe you don’t say so. maybe you just pull them both in and the geometry makes itself clear and they look at each other across you and the question is there, hanging in the warm dark, and nobody says no.
and something changes.
it’s not the sex itself, though the act is… a lot. it’s what happens during it. the moment where bobby’s focus shifts. where he’s with you and then his eyes catch bb’s and there’s a recognition that goes deeper than rivalry or tolerance or even the grudging friendship they’ve built.
it’s the recognition of someone seeing themselves reflected and finding the reflection compelling. bb’s intensity meeting bobby’s rawness. bb’s control meeting bobby’s chaos. the same face making completely different expressions of the same overwhelming feeling and both of them realising simultaneously that the mirror isn’t just a mirror. it’s a window.
and the after is where the real shift lives.
because the next morning the banter is different. the tension is different. what was genuine standoff has become something tighter, hotter, more charged. bobby makes a comment and bb responds and the exchange has teeth but the teeth aren’t biting to wound anymore. they’re biting to feel. you watch it happen over days, over weeks. the way bobby’s eyes linger on bb a half second longer than they used to. the way bb’s flat stare develops a warmth at the edges when it’s aimed at bobby. the way they exist in proximity to each other without you as the buffer and the space between them is no longer empty.
you encourage it. of course you do. you kiss bobby’s jaw and turn and kiss bb on the mouth and the triangle tightens. you put yourself between them and then you step back and let the gap close and they look at each other and the gap is very small now. very small.
the first time their mouths find each other you’re right there. watching. and your face breaks into the beaming they both love, the radiant delighted thing. and they both feel it. your happiness. your approval. the warmth of being seen and celebrated for wanting something they didn’t know they were allowed to want.
it takes a while to fully take shape. there are stumbles. there are nights where bobby’s avoidance kicks in and he retreats and bb has to learn that chasing makes it worse. there are moments where bb’s intensity overwhelms bobby and you have to be the buffer again, the translator between loud and quiet. there are mornings where someone wakes up tangled in someone else and panics and you talk them down with your hands in their hair and your voice steady and patient.
but eventually. eventually.
there is no shape. there is no tension. there is no seesaw and no V and no carefully maintained geometry. there’s just the three of you. sharing a bed and a kitchen and a life that doesn’t have a template because nobody has ever done this before. a boy and his mirror and the girl who showed them both that the reflection was worth loving.
bobby reaches for bb without thinking about it. bb leans into bobby without calculating. you lie between them and on top of them and underneath them and sometimes you watch them together without you and the warmth in your chest is so vast it could heat the whole apartment.
no more rationing. no more turns. one thing. three people. sharing everything.
Wang Yixiang (Nicholas) x female reader x Maus Riki (Maki)
Poly but not really, it's mostly platonic
Wordcount ≈ 22.3k
Warnings: mentions of past abuse, trauma recovery, hybrid exploitation and captivity, emotional distress, slight PTSD triggers, protective behavior, I think that’s it.
Taglist: @voucearse
By popular demand (or like 2 people who requested it), I give you more &Team hybrid content! This is continuing ‘The Weight of Silver’ but in theory it could be read as a stand alone, but I recommend checking out part 1 first for full context to everything. This was actually the original idea for the first part, reader adopting both of them at the same time. But I didn’t like how that turned out, so I changed it to a two parter where reader first adopts Nico and then finds Maki!
Please reblog, comment and like if you enjoyed this!
Network: @k-records
Part 3
Two months had passed since (Y/n) had officially adopted Nicholas, and life had settled into a comfortable rhythm. Mornings were quiet, with the soft hum of the city outside their windows, and Nicholas moving through the apartment like it had always been his home. He spent his days in the gym, pushing his limits and perfecting his form, while (Y/n) immersed herself in her work, the occasional clatter of a keyboard or the soft strum of guitar strings drifting from her music studio.
When the workday ended, they carved out time for each other. Sometimes it was long walks through tree-lined streets, the kind of gentle, ordinary moments that felt almost magical in their simplicity. Other times, it was evenings sprawled across the couch, movies playing while (Y/n) ran her fingers through Nicholas’ hair, smoothing it back or scratching behind his ears, the panther purring softly in response.
Nicholas had grown in more ways than just strength. (Y/n) had patiently taught him to read and write properly, correcting mistakes with gentle nudges and encouragement, and he had taken to music like it was second nature. Piano keys no longer intimidated him; he could play complicated pieces with surprising ease, and now he was venturing into guitar, fingers learning the strings and chords with meticulous care. Sometimes he sang along while driving, his voice strong and clear, making (Y/n) forget that he hadn’t had professional training; his music felt like a gift she could hear only when she was with him.
Their life was simple, yes, but it was perfect in its own way. Calm. Joyful. Harmonious. Every small moment, the way Nicholas would nudge her hand for a scratch behind his ears, or the way she would laugh at his growing obsession with fashion videos, added to a sense of peace neither had expected to find. It wasn’t just living together. It was a rhythm, a melody, a kind of quiet happiness neither wanted to disturb.
There was one thing that wasn’t perfect in their life, something neither of them had yet admitted, even to themselves. Nicholas loved living with (Y/n), cherished having her close, and reveled in the quiet, possessive satisfaction of knowing she was his. But even with all the routines, the gym, the endless experimentation with clothes and fashion, a shadow of loneliness crept in whenever she was locked away in her music studio. She worked a lot, more than he often realized, and the apartment felt emptier than it should have.
The truth of it had hit him sharply after Taki had asked if one of his, Harua, and Jo’s hybrids could stay with (Y/n) and Nicholas for a weekend. Having that company, a friend to play with, to share energy and mischief with, had lit something in him he hadn’t expected. Nicholas had felt genuinely happy, laughing, and moving with someone else for a change. Yet, the very thought of admitting it made him uneasy. Because wanting company didn’t erase his possessiveness, he still wanted (Y/n) for himself, and the idea of sharing her attention, even in small doses, made his chest tighten. It was a complicated feeling, one he wasn’t sure he could put into words, and one he certainly wasn’t ready to confess.
(Y/n) had thought about it too. Sometimes, she got so swept up in her work that hours passed with barely a moment to spend with Nicholas, and she knew he felt it too, she could see it in the way he lingered by the studio door, tail flicking impatiently, or the way he sometimes slumped on the couch after a long day, the energy from his morning gym session fading into quiet restlessness. She wondered if maybe it would be good for him to have a friend, another hybrid to share his time with, someone he could run around with, play with, and just… be himself.
But she also knew Nicholas well. His possessiveness was a trait that couldn’t be ignored. When they had Jake over, the golden retriever hybrid Taki had asked them to watch for a weekend, Nicholas had been ecstatic at first. They had raced through the park, tumbling and play-fighting, tails wagging and paws skidding across the grass. Yet every time Jake came anywhere near her, even just leaning too close, Nicholas’ hackles would rise. He’d growl low and warning, making it clear that he wasn’t letting anyone, not even a playful friend, get too close to her. It was part of who he was, protective, territorial, fiercely loyal. And (Y/n) had to admit, part of her found that… comforting, even if it complicated things.
And so, while Nicholas was in one of the exam rooms with Taki for a routine check-up, (Y/n) found herself talking quietly with Jo and Harua a few steps away. She kept her voice low, glancing once toward the door Nicholas had disappeared behind before speaking. “I’ve been thinking about something,” she said, rubbing her thumb against the side of her coffee cup. “What do you think about… adopting another hybrid?”
Jo raised his eyebrows slightly, exchanging a look with Harua. “For you?” he asked. “Or for Nicholas?” “For Nicholas,” (Y/n) answered honestly. “I mean, us. But mostly him. I just don’t know if it’s a good idea with how jealous he can be.” Harua hummed thoughtfully. “It’s hard to say,” he admitted. “It could be difficult. Or it could go really well.” Jo nodded along. “There’s no clear answer. But as long as Nicholas is involved in the process, it’ll probably be okay.”
(Y/n) let out a small sigh. “It went… okay with Jake, I guess.” Jo smirked. “That sounds like there’s a ‘but’ coming.” She snorted despite herself. “Sure, he didn’t kill him,” she said dryly, “but Nico growled every single time Jake looked at me for more than two seconds.” Both men laughed. “Panthers are territorial,” Harua said, smiling. “Very territorial.” “Which is exactly why,” Jo added, “it’s important that Nicholas has a say. If he meets the hybrid first, if he approves of them, it’ll be much easier for everyone involved.” (Y/n) nodded slowly, letting their words sink in. “That makes sense,” she said. “I just… I need to bring it up with him first. See how he reacts.” Harua smiled gently. “That’s the right place to start.” (Y/n) glanced back toward the exam room again, her expression thoughtful now. Whatever happened next, one thing was clear: she wasn’t making this decision without Nicholas.
After Taki finished checking on Nicholas, the two of them stepped out of the exam room together, still laughing quietly at something Taki had said. Nicholas looked relaxed, shoulders loose, tail swaying lazily behind him in a way that always betrayed his mood. Taki clapped him lightly on the shoulder before turning his attention to (Y/n). “Well,” he said, smiling, “I’m happy to say that as of today, Nicholas is fully recovered.” (Y/n)’s face immediately brightened. “Fully?” she asked, hope creeping into her voice.
“Fully,” Taki confirmed. “Every injury has healed properly. He’s at a good weight, he’s strong, his reflexes are great, and mentally?” He glanced back at Nicholas, who was already preening a little under the attention. “He seems better than ever.” (Y/n) let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, smiling wide. “That’s amazing,” she said, reaching out to rest a hand on Nicholas’ arm. “I’m really proud of you.” Nicholas straightened at the praise, chin lifting slightly. “Told you I was fine,” he said, though the pleased rumble in his chest gave him away.
Taki chuckled. “And because of all that,” he continued, “we don’t need to do check-ups every two weeks anymore. Once a year should be plenty, unless something happens, of course.” Nicholas’ ears perked up instantly. “Once a year?” he repeated. “Once a year,” Taki said. A visible wave of relief washed over Nicholas. “Good,” he muttered. “I don’t like these.” (Y/n) laughed softly. “You like Taki now.” “I like Taki,” Nicholas agreed, nodding at him. “I don’t like being poked.” “That’s fair,” Taki said with a grin. After a few more light words, they said their goodbyes to Jo and Harua as well, exchanging hugs and promises to visit again soon. Then (Y/n) and Nicholas headed for the exit together, stepping out of the shelter side by side, the afternoon light greeting them as they walked away.
(Y/n) asked if he wanted to get some ice cream and take a walk in their park, the same one they used to visit back at the beginning, when she had just started fostering him. Nicholas didn’t even hesitate. “Yes,” he said immediately. “Strawberry!” She giggled, shaking her head fondly. “You know you can get whatever you want, right?” “I want strawberry,” he replied, completely serious.
So they went. They bought their ice cream, Nicholas happily holding his strawberry scoop like it was the most important thing in the world, and walked through the park at an easy pace. The air was nice, the paths familiar. They wandered without any real goal, just watching people pass, listening to the sounds around them, enjoying the quiet comfort of being together. Eventually, they stopped at a bench and sat down. Nicholas focused on his ice cream, tail flicking lazily, while (Y/n) stared ahead for a moment, gathering her courage. Her fingers tightened slightly around her cone.
“Nico,” she said softly. He hummed in response, still eating. She turned toward him, her expression a little unsure. “How would you feel about… potentially adopting another hybrid?” The change in him was immediate. His ears flattened against his head, his shoulders tensing as a low growl built in his chest, instinctive and protective. His grip on the cone tightened, claws pricking into the paper. (Y/n) quickly continued, not wanting him to shut down. “I just, sometimes I feel bad,” she admitted. “I work a lot. You’re alone a lot. And I know you go to the gym, and you have your clothes and all that, but… it might be nice for you to have someone. Someone you can really play with. Roughhouse with. Someone who’s like you.” She gave a small, apologetic smile. “You can’t really do that with me.”
Nicholas’ growl slowly faded. His ears lifted just a little, the tension easing from his shoulders as he processed her words. He looked at her instead of his ice cream now, eyes searching her face, realizing she wasn’t trying to replace him, just worried about him. “Oh,” he said quietly, understanding settling in. (Y/n) continued, her voice gentle but honest. “Seeing you play with Jake really made me think about it. About what you might be missing out on.” She hesitated, then added quietly, “But I also know you don’t like sharing. Or, well, sharing me.”
Nicholas didn’t answer right away. He looked away, eyes drifting toward the open field where two dogs were sprinting after a frisbee, bumping into each other as they ran. Their owner laughed loudly, clapping and calling out encouragement, completely carefree. Nicholas watched them for a few seconds longer than necessary. “I don’t,” he said finally. “I don’t like sharing you.” (Y/n)’s chest tightened, but she didn’t interrupt.
“It’s not because I’m selfish,” he continued, his voice lower now. “It’s because I’ve never had someone before. Not like this. And I’m scared that if I share… I’ll lose it again.” His tail flicked once, restless. “I don’t want to go back to being alone.” She listened, heart aching, letting him speak. “But,” he admitted after a moment, quieter, “having Jake around did make me realize something.” He glanced back at the dogs, now tumbling together in the grass. “I was… really happy. I didn’t think I would be, but I was. I didn’t have to hold back. I didn’t have to be careful.”
He exhaled slowly. “You’re right. I do need someone I can go all out with. Someone I won’t hurt. Someone who understands that part of me.” Then his ears dipped again, uncertainty creeping back in. “I’m just… still scared,” he said honestly. “About sharing you. I don’t know how to do that yet.” (Y/n) reached out, resting her hand over his, her thumb brushing against his knuckles. “We don’t have to adopt anyone tomorrow,” she said softly. “Or next week. Or even this year. We can take our time. As much time as you need.”
Nicholas looked at her, listening closely. “We’ll only do it if it feels right,” she continued. “If you feel right about it. Someone you approve of. Someone you’re comfortable with.” She smiled faintly. “If that takes a week, a month, a year, or longer, then that’s okay.” She tilted her head, thinking. “And if you want, we don’t even have to jump straight into that. We could start small. Maybe have Jake over more often. Just to get used to sharing the space.” She chuckled. “I’m sure Harua, Jo, and Taki wouldn’t mind having one less hybrid underfoot for a few hours now and then. Their place is always buzzing anyway, partly because of Taki, but mostly because of all the hybrids.”
Nicholas let out a short laugh at that, his shoulders relaxing. “Yeah,” he said. “I don’t think sharing the apartment is the problem.” He glanced at her sidelong, a little sheepish. “It’s sharing you.” (Y/n) laughed, warm and fond, squeezing his hand. “I figured.” He smiled back, then added, half-joking, half-serious, “I probably just need to find the right hybrid to accept that.” She turned fully toward him then, her expression soft but certain. “Nico,” she said gently, “I’ll never love you any less just because we add another person to our family.”
His chest tightened at her words, and for a moment, the fear eased, replaced by something steadier, something that felt a lot like trust. “Can we look at the shelter, then?” Nicholas asked, his voice quieter but steady. (Y/n) giggled, nudging his shoulder lightly. “Where else would we look?” she teased. “Just let me know when you feel ready to actually start.”
Nicholas nodded, turning his attention back to the ice cream in his hand. It had softened into a melty mess, dripping dangerously close to his fingers. He frowned at it for a second before quickly taking the last few bites, finishing it off before it could cause any more trouble. “We could go this weekend,” he said casually, licking a bit of strawberry from his thumb. “It’s Tuesday. That gives me three days to prepare.” (Y/n) blinked, surprised. “Are you sure?” He nodded again, more firmly this time. “Yeah. I’m sure.” She smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. “Okay. I’ll text Harua when we get home.” Then she added, lighter, “For now, let’s focus on us.”
She reached up, scratching gently behind his ear. Nicholas instantly leaned into her touch, a pleased sound rumbling in his chest as his tail wagged happily behind him, far too openly, far too enthusiastically, in a way that looked more like a dog than a panther ever should. (Y/n) laughed softly, watching it swish back and forth. She’d once thought he might’ve picked up the habit from Jake, but thinking back, she realized he’d always done it, even before they’d ever met the golden retriever hybrid. Some things, she decided, were just uniquely Nicholas.
~~~
Over the following days, (Y/n) made sure to check in with Nicholas whenever she could. Sometimes it was over breakfast, sometimes during a quiet walk in the evening, sometimes just a soft question murmured while her fingers carded through his hair. Every time, she reminded him that nothing was set in stone, that if he decided he didn’t want this, all he had to do was say the word. They could stop immediately. Stay exactly the way they were.
Nicholas appreciated the reassurance more than he let on. It soothed something deep in his chest, eased the tight coil of possessiveness that flared whenever he thought too hard about sharing his space, her attention, her affection. But more than anything else, it was her words, steady, sincere, that grounded him. She’d never love him any less. That thought stayed with him, curling warmly in his chest, and slowly, the apprehension gave way to something else entirely. Excitement.
~~~
Saturday arrived far quicker than he expected. And now they stood inside the shelter once more, familiar scents filling the air, a low hum of life echoing through the halls. Harua and Jo stood in front of them, calm and professional, going over the usual procedures in practiced voices. “General rules first,” Harua said, holding a clipboard. “No entering enclosures without permission, no sudden movements if a hybrid seems overwhelmed, and no promises made to any of them today.”
Jo nodded beside him. “This visit is just to look, interact, and observe. Nothing more. We want what’s best for everyone involved.” Nicholas listened closely, ears flicking now and then, his posture attentive. (Y/n) stood beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed, a quiet reminder that she was there. (Y/n) had heard versions of this before, back when she was fostering hybrids, although the one for Nicholas had been quite different, just like the one today.
Once the formalities were done, Jo led them deeper into the shelter, past the familiar corridors and into the wing that housed the hybrids currently up for adoption. The atmosphere shifted almost immediately, lighter, more expectant. Some of the hybrids pressed close to the glass as they passed; others lingered farther back, watching with cautious curiosity. They moved from room to room at an unhurried pace. The first few hybrids were clearly too young, barely out of their early developmental stages. (Y/n) smiled softly at them, but Nicholas barely slowed, instinctively knowing they weren’t what either of them was looking for. In other rooms, the hybrids were older but subdued, calm to the point of passivity. Sweet, perhaps, but not a good match. Nicholas could feel it in his chest, a quiet certainty that none of these would fit into their life.
With each room they passed, his confidence waned. Maybe he’d been wrong. Maybe this had been a mistake. Then they reached the second-to-last room. Inside was a golden retriever hybrid, bright-eyed and friendly, tail wagging in wide, sweeping arcs as soon as he noticed them. Nicholas paused despite himself. The sight tugged at something familiar, memories of Jake, of roughhousing and laughter, of uncomplicated joy. He watched as the hybrid bounded closer to the glass, pressing a hand to it with an eager grin. They’d played well together. Maybe… maybe he could have that again. But as much as the thought tempted him, something still felt off. The pull wasn’t strong enough. Not quite right.
Jo gestured them onward. “One more.” The last room. Before they had even fully stopped, something slammed gently, but insistently, against the glass. Nicholas startled, eyes snapping up. A hybrid was pressed flush against the barrier, face far too close, eyes bright and locked onto them with unmistakable excitement. A thick tail wagged so fast it blurred, thudding faintly against the wall behind him in a frantic rhythm.
Nicholas took a step closer, heart picking up speed. As he really looked, his breath caught. Wolf ears. Sharp, alert eyes. Boundless, barely contained energy radiating from every movement. A wolf hybrid. Nicholas felt it instantly, something deep and instinctive stirring in his chest, a spark he hadn’t felt with any of the others. Jo caught the way Nicholas had stopped, the way his posture had subtly shifted, attention fully claimed by the last room. With a small, knowing smile, he stepped closer to the glass.
“This is Maki,” Jo said gently. “He’s nineteen, turning twenty in about a month. About one-eighty-three centimeters tall. Wolf hybrid.” Maki, as if on cue, straightened a little, trying to look presentable, his tail still wagging furiously behind him. “He’s known for having a lot of energy,” Jo continued, his tone even and professional. “Very helpful around the home. He likes having things to do.” Maki’s smile widened at that, shoulders lifting just a touch with pride. “And,” Jo added, more carefully now, “unfortunately, he’s also known for being… a bit much. He can get too rough when playing. He tends to underestimate his own strength.”
The change was immediate. Maki’s bright expression faltered, his smile fading as if someone had flipped a switch. He took a small step back from the glass, ears lowering against his head. The frantic wag of his tail slowed, then stopped entirely, falling limp behind him. His gaze flicked away from Nicholas and (Y/n), dropping to the floor instead. Nicholas noticed it at the same time (Y/n) did. The way Maki’s body folded inward. The way his excitement collapsed into something quieter, smaller. Clearly, he thought that was it, that they’d lost interest the moment they heard the bad part.
(Y/n) frowned slightly, her eyes never leaving Maki as she spoke. “Why are those things written down like that?” she asked quietly. “They don’t sound like flaws. They sound like circumstances.” Jo let out a slow breath, folding his arms. “We wish we didn’t have to,” he said. “But eventually, we do.” Maki shifted inside the room, ears twitching as he heard his name, though he still didn’t quite look at them. “He’s been in and out of shelters most of his life,” Jo continued. “When he was a pup, he was misidentified as a husky hybrid instead of a wolf.” Nicholas’ ears flicked back sharply.
“It happens,” Jo said, voice even but tired. “Because of that mistake, he was grouped with domestic hybrids. Dogs that are encouraged to be gentle, endlessly playful, and, most importantly, not taught to be mindful of their strength.” (Y/n)’s jaw tightened. “No one trained him like a wolf,” Jo went on. “No one taught him how to regulate himself. He was, basically, raised to act like a golden retriever.”
Maki’s shoulders sagged, his tail drooping completely now. “When he got older,” Jo said, “he grew bigger than expected. Stronger. Someone finally realized the mislabeling.” Nicholas’ claws pressed lightly into his palms. “But by then,” Jo continued, “he didn’t behave the way people expected a wolf hybrid to behave. He was loud. He had too much energy. He played rough without meaning to, while still quote ‘looking too cute’ for people’s liking.”
Jo glanced briefly toward the glass, then back at them. “So he was returned,” he said simply. “Again and again.” Maki’s hands curled into the fabric of his shirt, fingers tightening. “Every return came with complaints,” Jo added. “Nothing extreme. Just the same words, over and over.” Too loud. Too energetic. Too much. Too strong. The hallway felt quieter somehow. “Eventually,” Jo finished, “we had no choice but to document it. If we don’t disclose what previous owners reported, Hybrid Protection Services can shut us down for withholding information.” His expression softened, just slightly. “We hate doing it. But if we don’t write it down, we lose the shelter.”
For a moment, no one spoke. Maki finally lifted his head just enough to glance at them through lowered lashes, ears pinned back, tail still. He looked like he was waiting, for disappointment, for rejection, for the moment they’d turn away like everyone else had. (Y/n) felt something twist painfully in her chest. Were people really returning hybrids for not acting like machines? For not fitting into some narrow mold someone else had decided was “right”? Hybrids had personalities. Wants. Feelings. Just like any other living being. She couldn’t imagine returning Nicholas for being too gentle, or not aggressive enough, or for simply being him. Excitement wasn’t a flaw. Energy wasn’t a defect.
Nicholas was the first to break the silence. “How long,” he asked, his voice low and tight, “since he was returned last?” Jo glanced down at the papers in his hands. He hesitated, then sighed. “He’s officially been with us for a year,” Jo said. “A full year without anyone showing serious interest in adopting him.” Nicholas’ growl rumbled deep in his chest, instinctive and sharp. (Y/n) immediately placed a hand on his arm, grounding him, her touch gentle but firm. She didn’t want the sound to carry, didn’t want to distress the other hybrids nearby.
She looked back at Jo. “Can we talk in your office?” she asked. Jo nodded without hesitation. “Of course.” He turned and started down the hallway. Nicholas followed, but just before he did, he glanced back through the glass one last time. Maki was still there, standing too still now, ears low, tail barely moving, watching them leave like he already knew how this usually ended. Nicholas’ jaw tightened. Then he turned away and walked after (Y/n) and Jo.
Once in the office, they found Harua and Taki already there, sitting with casual attentiveness, waiting to hear what (Y/n) and Jo had to say. Harua leaned back slightly in his chair, tilting his head. “So… any luck? Found anyone that caught your interest?” (Y/n) offered a small, hesitant smile, her eyes flicking to Nicholas. “Well… Nicholas seems to have an interest in one of the hybrids. The wolf hybrid.” Taki’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. “Really? The wolf? No joke?” Harua raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Is that true, Nicholas?” Nicholas didn’t hesitate. He nodded firmly. “Yeah. For some reason… he’s the only one that actually… makes me feel something.”
Jo and (Y/n) shared a brief glance, then all three, Jo, (Y/n), and Nicholas, sat down, the room quieting around the weight of the moment. (Y/n) leaned slightly toward Nicholas, her voice soft but insistent. “What are you feeling, Nico? What are you thinking?” Nicholas looked down at his hands, absently playing with one of the rings he wore, the faint clink echoing in the quiet office. “None of the other hybrids… made me feel what I feel now,” he admitted, voice low. “None of them felt right. Sure, it’s only the first time we’re trying to look for a new… roommate, but… something about Maki just… it feels right. I haven’t even felt weird about sharing you with him yet. But with all the others? I did.” He looked up for a brief second, eyes serious, almost vulnerable. “Maki… he’s different. And I think… I think he could actually fit in with us.”
Harua tilted his head slightly, watching Nicholas closely. “Would you like to meet Maki properly? No glass, no barrier. You can talk to him.” (Y/n) turned to Nicholas immediately, not saying a word, just looking at him, giving him the space to decide. Nicholas met her gaze, held it for a few quiet seconds, his tail giving a slow, thoughtful flick behind him. Then he nodded. “Yeah. I want to.” Jo straightened. “Alright. I’ll go get him ready.” He paused, then added, “Harua, Taki, you can bring them to the cafeteria in a few minutes.” With that, Jo left the office, the door closing softly behind him.
(Y/n) turned fully toward Nicholas, her voice gentle but steady. “Just remember, you don’t have to rush anything. This isn’t a commitment. You’re in control here. If at any point you don’t want to continue, we stop. Okay?” Nicholas nodded again. “I know.” He reached out, taking her hand, his thumb brushing over her fingers as he absentmindedly played with her bracelet, the silver one with the small panther charm that matched his necklace. “I’m okay,” he said quietly. “There’s just… something about him. I don’t know how to explain it. He just… speaks to me.” Taki leaned back against the desk, arms crossed, thoughtful. “Could be because you’re both exotic species,” he said. “Both wild types. That kind of connection isn’t uncommon.” (Y/n) nodded slowly. “I hadn’t thought about it like that,” she admitted. “But… yeah. That makes sense.” Nicholas hummed in agreement. “Yeah. It does.”
~~~
A little while later, Harua and Taki led them toward the cafeteria. The space was open and bright, the low murmur of other hybrids and staff echoing softly through the room. In the middle stood Jo, his tall figure impossible to miss, and at one of the tables nearby sat Maki.
His tail was wagging at an incredible speed, thumping lightly against the chair, the table, the floor, everything within reach. He hadn’t been brought out to meet potential adopters in over a year, and the nervous excitement sat just beneath his bright expression. He told himself it would be fine. The human already lived with a panther hybrid. A hyperactive wolf should be a piece of cake, right?
As (Y/n) and Nicholas approached and took their seats across from him, they could feel the table vibrate faintly from the force of his wagging tail. Maki’s ears perked up, his nose twitching as he leaned forward slightly, eyes shining. “Hi!” he said, the word bursting out of him, accompanied by a wide, hopeful smile. “Hi,” (Y/n) replied warmly, smiling right back at him. Nicholas’ eyes narrowed for a brief moment, a low, instinctive protectiveness flaring in his chest as he registered how focused Maki was on her. His tail flicked once behind him. But the feeling didn’t swell, didn’t turn sharp. He took a slow breath, grounding himself, then looked back at the wolf.
“Hi,” he said, his voice calm, steady. Maki immediately launched into a barrage of questions, barely stopping to breathe. Why was she looking for another hybrid, why him, why now, how long had she had the panther, did they already live together, was he allowed to play rough, what did she do for work? (Y/n) couldn’t help it, she smiled and let out a small giggle, glancing over at Jo, Harua, and Taki. “You really weren’t exaggerating when you said he’s energetic.”
The effect was instant. Maki’s ears lowered, his tail slowing before coming to a stop, his bright smile fading as he pulled back slightly. “Sorry,” he said quickly, eyes dropping. “I can… I can be quiet.” (Y/n) turned back to him right away, her expression soft. “No, no, it’s not a bad thing,” she said gently. “It’s kind of cute, actually.” Maki looked up again, ears twitching in uncertainty. “But,” she added with a light smile, “one question at a time. And maybe we start with our names.”
She shifted slightly in her seat. “I’m (Y/n).” Nicholas followed after her, his posture relaxed but attentive. “Nicholas.” Maki straightened up at once, as if this were an interview. “I’m Maki,” he said quickly. “I’m nineteen, almost twenty, I’m one-eighty-three centimeters tall. I’m really good at cleaning, and I can cook too, and I learn fast. I’m good at helping, and I don’t mind chores at all.” He paused, fingers curling into the fabric of his pants, tail giving a small, hopeful wag again. “I won’t be a nuisance,” he added softly, clearly trying to make himself sound like the best possible choice.
(Y/n) felt her heart twist painfully at the way Maki spoke, at how quickly he listed off his usefulness, as if that was all he had to offer. Had people really made him believe his value only existed in what he could do for them? Nicholas picked up the conversation, answering some of the questions Maki had fired off earlier. “I’ve been with (Y/n) for about two months now,” he said calmly. “Before that… I was in a fighting ring.” Maki’s ears twitched, but he didn’t interrupt. “And we’re looking for another hybrid,” Nicholas continued, “because I need someone I can actually play with. Roughhouse with. And, well,” he glanced briefly at (Y/n), “having more company might be nice.”
Maki studied Nicholas more closely then, eyes roaming over his build, his posture. “We could probably play pretty rough together,” he said, a spark of excitement slipping into his voice. Nicholas chuckled. “Yeah,” he agreed, a grin tugging at his mouth. “I think we could.” (Y/n) stayed quiet as the two hybrids talked, simply listening. Nicholas described the apartment, the balcony that overlooked the city, the park just a short walk away, the gym he went to every day. He talked about their routines, their space, the way their life fit together. Maki listened with wide eyes, his expression slowly turning soft and distant, almost dreamy. A home. A real one. Not a temporary place, not a return date hanging over his head. Something he had always dreamed of having, yet had never truly been allowed to keep.
Slowly but surely, (Y/n) noticed how Nicholas’ tail had begun to wag in that unmistakably dog-like way, a clear sign that he was both comfortable and excited, though the bright, genuine smile on his face already gave that away. They had been talking for almost an hour when Harua finally cut in, gently but firmly, reminding them that the meeting time was over, as decided by Hybrid Protection Services. Adoption meetings cannot be longer than an hour. They’ve never given a good reason, but it’s the law.
Maki’s smile fell instantly. His ears flattened against his head, his tail coming to a complete stop. He nodded, trying to hide the disappointment, but it was written all over him. He hadn’t wanted it to end. He hadn’t wanted to go back to his quiet, lonely room. As Jo stood and guided him away, Maki glanced back just once. In his mind, the conclusion felt already written. He was sure he would never see (Y/n) and Nicholas again.
~~~
After Maki was taken back to his room, Nicholas turned to (Y/n). His eyes were glossy, his jaw tight, like he was holding back something strong and sudden. “We have to adopt him,” he said. It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t even a plea. It was a statement. “We can’t leave him here.” (Y/n) didn’t hesitate. She squeezed his hand, grounding him, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. “I agree,” she said softly. “I don’t want to leave him either.”
Harua smiled at the exchange, warm and knowing. “Then we should talk about what the process will look like,” he said. “Maki’s adoption will be different from Nicholas’. Since you’d be adopting him directly from the shelter instead of fostering first, it’ll take a bit longer.” Nicholas frowned slightly, but listened.
“You won’t be able to take him home today,” Harua continued. “Probably not tomorrow either. There’s more paperwork, more evaluations, and a few extra steps we’re required to follow.” (Y/n) let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Every time, there’s more paperwork.” Harua groaned dramatically in response. “Unfortunately,” he said, “that is absolutely the case.”
After they moved back into the office, Harua reached into a drawer and placed a thick stack of papers on the desk in front of (Y/n). She stared at it for a moment, disbelief flickering across her face. It was easily twice the size of the paperwork she’d been given when she adopted Nicholas.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath, before pulling the stack closer and starting to flip through it. Most of it was what she expected, forms, evaluations, legal jargon, but then she turned a page and froze. Her breath caught sharply in her throat. Stamped across the page in harsh red lettering were words that made her stomach drop. Her fingers tightened around the paper as she reread it, hoping she’d misunderstood, hoping it was some kind of mistake.
She looked up at Harua, holding the page out toward him, her hand trembling slightly. “Why,” she asked, her voice tight, “is this in here?” Harua’s expression fell immediately. The warmth he usually carried dimmed, replaced by something heavy and tired. He sighed before answering, rubbing a hand over his face. “It’s a regulation from Hybrid Protection Services,” he said quietly. “One that doesn’t feel very protective at all.” Nicholas leaned forward, eyes narrowing, a low, dangerous growl starting to rumble in his chest.
Harua raised both hands slowly, palms out. “If a hybrid is returned more than ten times,” he continued, voice strained, “they’re deemed defective. A fault in the hybrid. And if an adoption falls through after that point… they’re put down.” The growl in Nicholas’ chest deepened, his claws digging into the arm of the chair as his tail lashed behind him. “I don’t agree with it,” Harua said quickly, meeting Nicholas’ glare without backing away. “If I could remove that law, I would. I’ve tried. Jo, Taki, and I, we made a petition last year to have it repealed.” His shoulders slumped slightly as he finished, frustration evident in every line of his posture. “But we didn’t get enough signatures. Not enough for anyone to take us seriously.”
(Y/n) lowered her gaze to the desk, the realization settling heavily in her chest. That petition… it must have been during the time she was still with her ex. Back when he wouldn’t let her see the shelter boys. Back when he isolated her from the very people she always helped. She swallowed hard, guilt twisting in her stomach. She would have signed it. She always did. Jo noticed the shift in her expression, the way her shoulders tensed. “One name wouldn’t have made a difference,” he said gently. “And we can always try again.”
(Y/n) nodded, even if the words didn’t fully ease the weight she felt. She squeezed Nicholas’ hand a little tighter, grounding herself, before turning her attention back to the stack of papers. As she read, it became clear why there was so much more this time. Two hybrids in one household meant additional evaluations, safety clauses, shared-living agreements. It was overwhelming, but it made sense.
When she finally reached the last page, she paused. She turned to Nicholas, her expression serious, searching his face. “I need to ask you one more time,” she said softly. “Are you sure this is what you want? Once I sign these, there’s no backing out.” Nicholas’ grip on her hand tightened immediately. He met her eyes without hesitation, nodding. “I’m sure,” he said. “I want this. I want Maki.” (Y/n) nodded slowly, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She turned back to the desk. “Can I get a pen?” Taki was quick to hand one to her.
She didn’t hesitate this time. She signed her name, page after page, the sound of the pen scratching against paper sealing the decision with every stroke. When she finished, she set the pen down. And just like that, it was official. Maki was her hybrid. And he didn’t even know it yet.
Harua explained that he would go through the remaining shelter paperwork first thing in the morning. If everything went smoothly, even with it being a Sunday, there was a chance Maki could come home the next afternoon. But he warned them that it might just as easily take until Monday for the system to approve everything. Either way, they were free to come visit Maki the next day and tell him about the adoption themselves, that part was up to them, not the shelter staff.
(Y/n) nodded, relief and anticipation mixing in her chest. She told him they would be there, and asked him to let her know the moment they were cleared to bring Maki home. Until then, at the very least, she and Nicholas could spend the rest of the afternoon getting some basic things for him. She didn’t want his room to feel empty when he finally arrived. Goodbyes were exchanged, softer now, weighted with something hopeful.
Outside, the air felt different. They got into the car, doors closing with dull thuds, and for a while neither of them spoke. The engine stayed off. The world outside the windshield moved on as usual, people passing by, cars rolling through the parking lot, completely unaware that something monumental had just happened inside that shelter. Nicholas stared ahead, his hands resting on his thighs, tail flicking slowly behind him. His chest felt tight, emotions tangled together, excitement, protectiveness, fear, certainty. He replayed Maki’s smile in his head, the way his ears had fallen when the meeting ended, the way his tail had wagged so hard the table shook.
(Y/n) leaned back in her seat, fingers still curled as if they expected to be holding paperwork. Her heart hadn’t slowed down yet. She felt heavy with responsibility, but not regret. Not for a second. Eventually, she reached over and laced her fingers with Nicholas’. No words were needed. They sat there like that for a moment longer, letting the silence settle, letting the reality sink in. Then, finally, (Y/n) reached for the key and started the car. They had a room to prepare.
~~~
They went to the mall, and at first it felt almost like any other day. They wandered through familiar stores, drifting from aisle to aisle, laughing at décor that was wildly impractical or outright ridiculous, stopping to admire things that caught their eyes. Nicholas made faces at abstract sculptures he didn’t understand, and (Y/n) teased him for gravitating toward anything black or patterned. But beneath the normalcy, everything was different.
This time, every stop came with the same quiet thought: Would Maki like this? They lingered over throw blankets, debating textures and colors. (Y/n) picked up a soft one in muted greens and browns, thinking of the wolf’s fur, of something that felt warm and grounding. Nicholas ran his hand over it, nodding slowly before placing it in the cart. They chose a lamp for the spare room, something gentle, not too bright. A laundry basket. A mug with a small crackled glaze that Nicholas insisted felt right.
Clothes were harder. They stood in front of racks, guessing at sizes, holding shirts up between them, Nicholas squinting critically. Broad shoulders, long arms, long legs, taller than him. They settled on a few basics: loose shirts, a hoodie, sweatpants, underwear, socks. Enough for Maki to change into when they brought him home. Anything else could wait. They could take him out later, let him choose for himself. By the time they left the mall, the car was fuller, quieter. They stopped by the grocery store next, moving through the aisles with tired efficiency. Nicholas grabbed familiar things, then hesitated, adding extras almost unconsciously. More milk than usual. Extra bread. Snacks he didn’t even like that much, but something about them felt… right to have.
When they finally got home, the sky was already dark. They carried everything inside, unpacked slowly, setting bags down, putting things away where they could. A few items meant for Maki were placed neatly in the spare room, still bare, but no longer empty. The door was left slightly ajar, as if the room itself was waiting. Exhaustion settled in once everything was done.
They ended up on the couch without really discussing it. (Y/n) leaned back, and Nicholas followed, stretching out before laying his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair, scratching gently behind his ears, feeling him melt into the touch with a low, content rumble. The apartment was quiet. Peaceful. And yet, there was a hollow space in it now, one shaped like a too-energetic wolf with a wagging tail and hopeful eyes. They sat like that, neither speaking, both thinking of the same thing. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
As night settled in, the apartment grew quiet, the city outside dimmed to a soft glow through the windows. (Y/n) and Nicholas went through their usual routine together, brushing their teeth side by side, the mirror fogging slightly as they talked about nothing in particular. Nicholas carefully followed each step of his skincare, brows furrowed in concentration as he mimicked what she did, something that still made her smile every time. Two months ago, he wouldn’t have touched any of it. Now it was routine.
When they were done, they stood in the hallway, the familiar pause before splitting off to their separate rooms. Nicholas lingered. (Y/n) took a step toward her bedroom door when she noticed he hadn’t moved. She turned back to him, finding his tail flicking slowly behind him, ears tilted back just a little. His hands fidgeted at his sides, claws flexing and retracting as if he couldn’t quite settle. “Hey,” she said softly. “You okay?” He hesitated, then looked at her, eyes unusually uncertain. “Can I… sleep in your room tonight?” The question hung in the air.
In the two months since she had adopted him, they’d never shared a bed. Not once. They’d curled up on the couch together, dozed during movies, leaned against each other countless times, but this was different. (Y/n) trusted him completely, that wasn’t the issue. It was the line she hadn’t crossed yet, the one she wasn’t sure was appropriate to blur. But tonight felt different too. The apartment felt too quiet. Too empty. And the thought of closing her door and lying alone, knowing Maki was still at the shelter, not knowing yet that they were coming back for him… it made her chest ache.
She studied Nicholas for a moment, the vulnerability in his posture, the way his tail stilled as he waited for her answer. “…Yeah,” she said quietly. “You can.” Relief washed over his face instantly. His shoulders loosened, tail giving a small, happy flick. “Thank you,” he murmured, voice low and sincere. They moved into her room together. Nicholas hovered awkwardly at first, unsure where to stand, until (Y/n) gestured to the bed. She climbed in, settling against the pillows, and after another brief hesitation, he followed, carefully lowering himself beside her as if afraid of taking up too much space.
They lay there, side by side, not touching at first. The silence stretched, heavy but not uncomfortable. Eventually, Nicholas shifted closer, inch by inch, until his shoulder brushed hers. She didn’t move away. Instead, she reached out, resting a hand lightly on his arm. After a moment, he exhaled shakily and turned onto his side, tucking his head against her shoulder, one arm curling loosely around her waist. (Y/n) adjusted without thinking, one hand sliding into his hair, scratching gently behind his ear. A low purr rumbled out of him, quiet but steady, his body relaxing against hers.
“I don’t like leaving him there,” he admitted softly, almost too quiet to hear. “I know,” she replied, just as softly. “But we’re going back. He won’t be alone much longer.” Nicholas nodded against her, gripping her shirt just a little tighter. “I just… didn’t want to be alone tonight.” “Me neither,” she said. They stayed like that, breathing slowly, the tension of the day gradually easing from their bodies. Outside, the city hummed faintly, but inside the room, everything was calm. They both fell asleep knowing one thing for certain. Tomorrow, they were going back.
~~~
They slept in that morning, neither of them stirring until the soft light filtering through the curtains said it was already well past early. When (Y/n) finally blinked awake and checked the time, it was 10:30. She barely had time to process that thought before she became aware of warmth, solid, steady, wrapped around her. They had moved during the night.
Nicholas was behind her now, spooning her closely, one arm draped securely around her waist, the other tucked beneath her head. Her back was pressed flush against his chest, fitting there as if it had always belonged. His breathing was slow and even, his nose buried near her hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her shampoo. (Y/n) lay still for a moment, heart beating a little faster than usual. She would never admit it out loud, not to anyone, but the butterflies were already there, fluttering insistently in her stomach. It felt wrong to label it as anything more than comfort, than closeness, but her body didn’t seem to care about the distinction.
As if sensing her waking, Nicholas shifted slightly. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her just a fraction closer, and a deep, rumbling purr began to resonate from his chest. It was loud, unrestrained, vibrating through her back. “Good morning,” he murmured into her ear, his voice low and raspy with sleep. The sound sent another wave of warmth through her, the butterflies multiplying despite her best efforts. His breath brushed her skin, and she felt the subtle nuzzle of his cheek against her hair as he breathed her in again, content and unguarded.
“Morning,” she replied softly, her voice still thick with sleep. He hummed in response, the purring never stopping, his grip remaining firm but gentle, as if he were afraid she might disappear if he let go. For a while, neither of them moved. There was no rush, no pressure, just the quiet comfort of being there together, wrapped up in each other as the day slowly began outside their room.
Soon enough, they got out of bed and started getting ready for the day. (Y/n) moved into the kitchen and began making breakfast, but her attention kept drifting back to her phone. She checked it once. Then again. And again. No messages. No calls. Just silence. She tried to tell herself it was still early. That Harua had said it might take time. That everything was probably fine. It didn’t stop the knot in her chest. Nicholas noticed almost immediately. The way her shoulders stayed tense. The way her eyes kept flickering to the counter where her phone lay. He walked over without saying anything at first, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his tail curling loosely around her waist as well.
“It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair. “He’ll call.” (Y/n) leaned back into him, letting herself relax just a little at the warmth and pressure. “I know,” she said quietly. “I just… hate not knowing.” He tightened his hold slightly, chin resting on the top of her head. “Me too.” She turned in his arms, burying her face briefly against his chest, breathing him in. “Thank you.” He smiled softly down at her, brushing his thumb across her shoulder in a comforting motion. But even as she felt calmer, Nicholas felt his own unease beneath the surface. Not about the paperwork. Not about the shelter. About Maki.
He wanted him there. He really did. Something about the wolf had felt right in a way nothing else had. But there was a part of him, quiet, instinctive, territorial, that worried about what it would mean to share space, to share attention, to share her. He didn’t want that part of himself to ruin this. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. Still, he said nothing, just holding her a little closer, hoping that everything would work out the way it was supposed to.
As they sat down to eat, (Y/n) glanced up at Nicholas. “Do you want to go to the gym before we head out, or later?” He checked the clock, then shrugged. “Later. Or I can skip today. It’s not a big deal.” His ears flicked slightly. “I’d rather go see Maki.” (Y/n) smiled softly. “Yeah,” she said. “That sounds like a good plan.” Nicholas’s gaze drifted toward the balcony doors, sunlight spilling across the floor. Not a single cloud in the sky. His tail swayed lazily as he stared out at it for a moment before turning back to her. “Do you think… if we can’t bring him home yet, we could still take him to a park or something? Just for a bit.” (Y/n) followed his gaze, looking outside too. “Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. “We can ask. I’m not sure what the rules are for that, but it doesn’t hurt to try.”
After eating and rushing through the dishes, they got dressed and headed out to the car. (Y/n)’s phone stayed in her hand longer than usual, her thumb hovering over the screen as if willing it to light up. Harua still hadn’t called or texted, which meant the paperwork probably hadn’t gone through yet. The thought made her chest feel tight. She hated the idea of leaving Maki there for another night. But at least today he’d know. At least he’d know he had a home waiting for him.
During the drive, Nicholas turned the radio up and sang along loudly, confidently, and almost entirely wrong. He laughed every time he messed up the lyrics, sometimes stopping mid-sentence just to start again with even more enthusiasm. (Y/n) couldn’t help but laugh too, the sound easing some of the tension in her chest, if only for a moment.
After parking, they walked into the shelter. Jo was sitting at the front desk, phone pressed to his ear, his brows knit together as he sighed heavily, rubbing his temple. Whoever was on the other end clearly wasn’t being pleasant, and even Jo looked irritated, something that was extremely rare. He glanced up when he noticed them, nodding in greeting and giving a small wave. They waved back before continuing down the hall toward the office, hoping to find Harua or Taki. Their luck held. Taki had just hung up his own call, and unlike Jo, he looked relaxed, even cheerful. When he spotted them, he stood up immediately, smiling wide.
“Hey! Morning,” he said brightly. (Y/n) smiled back. “Busy Sunday? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you guys on calls during weekends.” Taki shrugged lightly. “Some are worse than others. I just had to call an owner with good news about some test results their hybrid took.” He tilted his head toward the front desk. “Jo’s dealing with… less good news. Someone wants to adopt, but they don’t have the space or money for one, not to mention, they’ve been marked by Hybrid Protection Services for negligence twice.” Nicholas frowned faintly at that, ears twitching, but stayed quiet as (Y/n) nodded sympathetically.
(Y/n) asked if Taki knew anything about the status of their adoption. He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Harua did the paperwork at seven this morning,” he said. “Since then, he’s basically been stuck on call after call trying to push it through, but as far as I know, nothing’s gone through yet.” Nicholas’ ears twitched, and he cut in, “If we can’t bring him home yet… could we at least take Maki out? Like, to a park? Just for a few hours.” Taki hummed thoughtfully. “Technically, since you’ve already signed the papers, Maki is (Y/n)’s hybrid. So she should be allowed to take him out, even if he can’t stay overnight yet.”
(Y/n)’s eyes lit up slightly. “But,” Taki added quickly, lifting a finger, “you should double-check with Harua or Jo. They’re way more up-to-date on the rules than I am. I’m the vet, I deal with injuries and checkups, not paperwork and bureaucracy.” Just then, Harua walked into the office, greeting them with a tired smile. “Hey,” he said. “Hey,” (Y/n) and Nicholas replied in unison. (Y/n) got straight to the point, asking about taking Maki out for a few hours. Harua paused, thinking it over, tapping his fingers lightly against the doorframe.
“That should be okay,” he said after a moment. “You can take him out for about three hours. But,” he added, holding up a finger, “I have one condition.” Nicholas tilted his head. “You have to take Jake too,” Harua continued. “The golden retriever is losing his mind with pent-up energy, and he’s driving me insane.” (Y/n) chuckled. “Yeah, okay, we’ll bring Jake. That’s fine.” Harua sighed softly, then added, “As for the adoption… it looks like you won’t be able to bring Maki home until tomorrow. I’ve been calling all day, but no one wants to sign off on it early, even though it’s literally just a formality.” (Y/n) nodded. “It’s okay. We understand. You’ve done everything you can.”
Harua led them down the hallway toward Maki’s room while sending Taki off to get Jake ready. When he unlocked the door and opened it, Maki was lying on his bed with his back to them, staring at the wall, just like he had been since yesterday. “Maki,” Harua called gently. All he got in response was a low grunt. “Maki,” Harua tried again, “you’ve got visitors.” That did it. Maki turned around instantly, eyes wide, scrambling upright when he saw (Y/n) and Nicholas standing in the doorway. They came back for him? His heart stuttered in his chest before hope rushed in all at once, his tail starting to wag so fast it was almost a blur.
(Y/n) stepped forward, her voice soft. “Hey, Maki… could you come out here for a second? We want to talk.” Maki was on his feet immediately, nearly tripping over himself as he hurried into the hallway. His hands fidgeted at his sides, ears twitching, tail swaying nervously behind him as he waited. (Y/n) took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, blinking hard before speaking. “So… after meeting you yesterday, Nicholas and I talked a lot. And we both agreed that you’re the other hybrid we’ve been looking for.” She smiled softly. “I signed the papers yesterday. We’re adopting you.”
For a second, Maki just stared at her. “…What?” he whispered. Nicholas watched his face carefully as the words sank in. Maki’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. “You’re, you’re serious?” (Y/n) nodded. “Completely.” Maki’s tail froze… then exploded into motion, wagging so hard his whole body wobbled. (Y/n) laughed softly, tears finally slipping free. “We can’t bring you home today because the system’s being slow, but we wanted to take you out to a park. So you and Nico can run around and get to know each other better. If you want to, that is.” “Yes!” Maki blurted instantly. “Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” Before either of them could respond, he spun around and bolted back into his room. “I’LL BE RIGHT BACK!!!”
They heard drawers opening, things shuffling, and Maki muttering to himself in excited chaos. Nicholas looked over at (Y/n), a wide smile spreading across his face, ears tilted toward Maki’s room, tail wagging in that unmistakably happy, dog-like way. The second Maki came out of his room, shoes on and a light jacket pulled over his shirt, he bounced on his heels. “I’m ready.” (Y/n) laughed softly at his enthusiasm and turned to Harua. “Is there anything else we need?” Harua shook his head. “Nope. The jacket and shirt Maki’s wearing have the shelter logo on them, so if anyone asks why he’s not wearing a collar, you can just say you’re in the middle of an adoption. That’s completely fine.” He paused, then added, “Jake’s wearing his collar, so no worries there.”
Maki’s ears twitched at the unfamiliar name. “Jake?” he asked quietly, glancing between them. Nicholas noticed immediately. “He’s a friend,” he explained. “Another hybrid. We’re bringing him too, so he can run around for a bit.” “Oh,” Maki said, nodding. “Okay.” But even as he said it, something tight curled in his chest. A friend. Another hybrid. Someone else who already knew Nicholas… and (Y/n). His tail slowed slightly, ears flicking as an unfamiliar feeling crept in, not fear, not sadness, but something sharper. Jealousy.
Suddenly, it felt like a competition, even though no one had said it was. Like he had to prove he was the better choice. The better fit. The one who deserved to stay. Nicholas didn’t seem to notice, yet, but (Y/n) caught the shift in Maki’s posture, the way his shoulders tensed just a little. She gave him a soft smile, reassuring without saying anything out loud. And slowly, his tail started wagging again.
Maki was practically bouncing as he followed (Y/n), Nicholas, and Harua toward the entrance. His steps were light, restless energy buzzing through him, tail swishing behind him as if it had a mind of its own. The second they stepped outside, he spotted Taki, and beside him, a hybrid with golden ears and a golden tail wagging so fast it was almost a blur. That had to be Jake. Maki straightened instinctively, standing a little taller, chest out, tail flicking with quiet pride. He was definitely taller. Bigger too. Stronger-looking. He liked that.
Nicholas noticed, of course, but didn’t say anything. Jake, meanwhile, was already trotting toward them, grin wide. “Hi!” he said brightly, arms opening as he moved toward (Y/n), clearly about to hug her. Before he could get close, a low growl rumbled through Nicholas’s chest. Jake froze mid-step, eyes widening. He slowly lifted his hands in surrender and backed up a pace. “Whoa, okay, okay, I got it, no touching.”
Maki’s ears flattened slightly as he watched, a knot forming in his stomach. Would (Y/n) be mad? Would she scold Nicholas? Would this ruin everything? But instead, she laughed. “Nico,” she said teasingly, “he’s not trying to steal me.” Nicholas shrugged, completely unapologetic. “Still. I don’t want you smelling like a stinky dog.”Jake blinked. “Rude,” he said mildly, though his tail kept wagging anyway. Maki relaxed, the tension draining from his shoulders. If anything, (Y/n) seemed amused, fond, even, and Nicholas didn’t look guilty in the slightest. Somehow, that made Maki feel… better.
(Y/n) asked if they were ready to head out. Jake answered first, bouncing in place. “Yes!” he said loudly, tail wagging like it might take flight. Maki mirrored him instantly. “Yeah!” he said, practically vibrating. Nicholas chuckled. “Alright, alright.” They waved goodbye to Harua and Taki, and to Jo, who was still somehow stuck on the same phone call from when they’d arrived, before heading down the sidewalk toward the nearby park.
The entire walk, Jake talked nonstop. “So what are we doing? Can we play? Do you have a frisbee? Or a ball? Or both? We could race!” Even though Maki still felt that strange, competitive tension in his chest whenever Jake got too close to (Y/n) or Nicholas, he couldn’t help responding. Jake’s energy was infectious, and their personalities matched in a way that made conversation effortless, loud, fast, overlapping, and enthusiastic. (Y/n) nudged Nicholas gently. “Go on,” she said. “Don’t just walk behind them.” He rolled his eyes but moved up beside them anyway.
The second their feet hit the grass of the park, Nicholas suddenly darted forward, tagging Maki on the shoulder. “You’re it.” Before Maki could react, Nicholas grabbed Jake by the wrist and bolted. “HEY!” Maki burst out laughing as he chased them, legs pumping, tail flying behind him. Nicholas was easily the fastest, weaving through trees and benches like it was nothing. Jake, unfortunately, wasn’t built for wild-breed speed, and quickly started lagging behind, laughing breathlessly as he tried to keep up. They were all having too much fun to care. When Maki finally caught Jake and tagged him, he barely had time to celebrate before Jake spun around, pointing at Nicholas. “Get him!” And suddenly it was two against one. Nicholas cursed under his breath, grinning as he took off again, Maki and Jake chasing him together, trying to box him in from both sides.
From behind them, (Y/n) watched it all unfold, smiling softly as she saw how happy all three looked, tails wagging, laughter carrying across the park, sunlight catching in fur and hair. For the first time since yesterday, her chest felt light. The trio chased each other for nearly twenty minutes without stopping once, tackling each other every now and then and rolling around in the grass, laughing so hard it was impossible to tell who was winning. (Y/n) sat on a nearby bench, watching them with a soft smile, her heart feeling lighter with every second she saw them together.
Eventually, all three came jogging over, breathing hard and grinning. Nicholas dropped down beside her on the bench, Jake plopped onto the ground in front of them, and Maki followed, sitting cross-legged next to him. Their ears twitched, tails swished, and laughter still bubbled out of them as they tried to catch their breath. Nicholas leaned closer to (Y/n), lowering his voice dramatically. “Can we get ice cream?” She turned her head toward him, amused. “You know you don’t have to whisper. And yes, of course.”
After resting for a bit, they walked over to the ice cream stand. Nicholas, as always, chose strawberry. (Y/n) picked mango. Jake went straight for chocolate without hesitation. Luckily, hybrid dog breeds were not allergic to it, or else Jake would be one very sad golden retriever. Maki stood there for a moment, staring at the menu like it was the most serious decision of his life, before finally choosing pear.
Once they had their cones, they headed back toward the bench, tasting their ice cream as they walked. The second Maki tried his, his eyes lit up, and his tail began wagging so fast it looked like his whole body was vibrating. He stared at the cone in disbelief, then back at it again, like he couldn’t quite process that something could taste this good.
“This is heaven,” Maki said seriously, staring down at his cone like it was sacred. Jake immediately nodded in agreement. “Right? Honestly, I would’ve hated being an actual dog. Imagine not being allowed to eat chocolate.” Maki blinked. “Is it really that good?” he asked, glancing at Jake’s cone. “I’ve never tried it.” Before Jake could answer, Nicholas chimed in, “Chocolate is amazing.” Jake grinned and held his cone out. “You can try a bite if you want. I don’t mind.” Maki hesitated, ears flicking as he glanced over at (Y/n). Sharing food like that had never been allowed with previous owners, honestly, most of what he’d done today wouldn’t have been either. But (Y/n) noticed his look and smiled softly, nodding. “If Jake’s okay with it, you can try.” So Maki leaned in and took a small bite. His eyes immediately went wide. “Oh,” he breathed. “Oh wow.” Jake laughed. “Told you.”
While everyone was distracted, Nicholas seized the opportunity to steal a bite of (Y/n)’s mango ice cream. She gasped and shoved his shoulder lightly. “You could at least ask!” He smirked. “Why ask when I already know the answer’s yes?” She shook her head, laughing despite herself, before taking another bite of her cone as the hybrids continued comparing flavors like it was the most important debate in the world. After they finished their ice cream, (Y/n) checked the time and saw they still had about an hour left. She looked around the park and noticed a few guys around her age throwing frisbees back and forth. Figuring she might as well ask, she walked over to see if she could borrow one, or maybe even buy one.
Nicholas did not like that idea at all. He stayed behind with Maki and Jake, eyes locked on her, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he watched the guys smile and flirt with her. His fangs showed, claws digging into his palms as his tail lashed behind him. Whatever she said must’ve worked, though, because the guys laughed and handed her not one, but two frisbees. She waved them excitedly as she walked back toward the hybrids. What she didn’t see was the way the guys froze once her back was turned, their eyes landing on the very unhappy panther hybrid and the towering wolf beside him, both staring them down from across the grass.
When (Y/n) reached them, she held up the frisbees and asked if they wanted to play. All three immediately said yes, and as she threw both, Jake and Maki bolted after them, laughing as they raced across the grass. Nicholas stayed behind this time, walking closer to her and rubbing his head against her shoulder, deliberately brushing against her and leaving his scent behind, marking her as his. It wouldn’t mean anything to humans, but he wanted her to know exactly how he felt about her walking over to those guys. (Y/n) giggled, ruffling his hair. “Was it really that bad?” “Yes,” Nico mumbled in response, tail flicking.
Jake and Maki soon returned with the frisbees, and this time, when (Y/n) threw them again, Nicholas and Jake chased after them while Maki stayed behind with her. “Thank you,” Maki said quietly. She turned to him. “For what?” He gestured vaguely around the park. “For… this. For taking me out. For letting me feel happy again.” (Y/n) softened. “It’s the least we can do, especially since we probably can’t bring you home until tomorrow afternoon.” Maki hesitated, then looked at her, ears twitching. “You’re really… adopting me? Not Jake?”
She chuckled. “Jake belongs to Harua, Jo, and Taki, he’s one of their many hybrids. He’s not up for adoption. And while Jake’s great, he’s not the hybrid Nicholas chose.” She smiled at him. “You are. So of course, I’m adopting you.” Maki glanced over to where Nicholas had just caught the frisbee, hesitating before turning back to (Y/n). “Can I… hug you?” She opened her arms immediately. “Of course.” If Nico got jealous, they’d deal with it. The second Maki wrapped his arms around her, she understood exactly what people meant when they said he didn’t know his own strength. He lifted her straight off the ground, arms a little too tight, but there was no malice in it, only love, warmth, devotion, dreams, hope. She laughed as he spun her around once before carefully setting her back down.
“Was that a good hug?” he asked nervously. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.” (Y/n) smiled, reaching up to scratch behind one of his ears. “It was great. Unique, but really nice.” Nicholas and Jake came back soon after, Nicholas looking a little upset, but nowhere near as jealous as he would’ve been with anyone else.
Soon enough, it was time to head back to the shelter. (Y/n) was sure Harua would be thrilled with how much energy Jake had burned off, the retriever was practically dragging his feet now. Nico and Maki were tired too, but nowhere near as dramatically. With every step closer to the building, Nicholas felt worse. He didn’t want to leave Maki there for another night. But he also knew they couldn’t bring him home until the paperwork cleared the system, otherwise (Y/n) could get in trouble, and worst case, lose both Maki and him. And that was something he never wanted to risk.
Maki, meanwhile, kept asking questions. “So… how do you stay in shape like that?” he asked, eyes wide as he glanced at Nicholas’s arms. “The gym,” Nicholas answered easily. “I go whenever I want.” Maki nearly tripped. “Alone? And that’s… allowed?” Nicholas laughed. “Yeah. No one cares.” Maki just stared at him in awe. “And you said you sit on your balcony and watch people walk by?” “Yeah.” “And cuddle on the couch during movies?” “Sometimes.” “And you have a park nearby?” Each answer only made Maki’s ears perk up more, his tail swishing softly behind him. Everything Nicholas described sounded unreal, like something out of a storybook. A home. Freedom. Comfort. Safety. A dream. And Nicholas walked beside him, hands shoved in his pockets, silently promising himself that tomorrow, that dream wouldn’t stay one.
When they arrived back at the shelter, Jo was finally off his call, though he looked completely exhausted. (Y/n) tilted her head. “Rough one?” Jo let out a long sigh. “They screamed at me for most of it. When they weren’t screaming, I was explaining why they weren’t allowed to adopt a hybrid, which somehow led to more screaming. Eventually, I think their phone died. Or they hung up on me. Either way, it’s over.” (Y/n) winced. “That sounds… awful.” “Yeah,” he muttered, rubbing his face. “Part of the job.”
Then she gestured toward Jake and Maki. “So, what do we do with them now?” Jo checked the clock on his wrist. “Jake can go find Taki in the office or med room; he’s probably going to be heading home soon.” Jake nodded immediately. “Okay!” He waved at all three of them before jogging off down the hallway. Maki took a small step closer to (Y/n) after that, not close enough to touch her, but close enough that his shoulder nearly brushed her arm, his tail swaying low and hopeful. Nicholas noticed, but didn’t comment.
Jo stood. “Follow me.” The three of them did. They passed a hallway where Harua was crouched in front of a family with a young child, showing them a small hybrid pup. Harua glanced up, waved, and said, “I’ll be with you in a few minutes.” (Y/n) nodded. “No rush.” Jo led them into the cafeteria, gesturing toward one of the tables. “You can sit here.” They did.
Maki sat stiffly at first, hands folded in his lap, ears twitching every time someone walked past. Nicholas leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes drifting toward the hallway Maki’s room was down, like he could will time to move faster. (Y/n) sat between them, hands folded around her phone, heart heavy with the knowledge that in a few minutes, she’d have to walk Maki back.
None of them said anything for a moment. Then Maki cleared his throat softly. “So… uh… you really can’t take me home today?” (Y/n) turned to him, her expression gentle. “Not yet. But tomorrow. As soon as the system clears it.” “Tomorrow,” he repeated, like he was testing the word. His tail gave a small, hopeful wag. “Okay.” Nicholas glanced at him. “We’ll be back. Promise.” Maki looked up at him, eyes bright. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” Maki’s shoulders relaxed a little at that, and for the first time since they’d come back inside, the tightness in his chest eased just a bit.
Jo asked how the park had been. Maki lit up instantly, words spilling out of him as he explained everything they’d done, the running, the frisbees, the ice cream, the tackling. He leaned forward over the table as he talked, tail swishing wildly behind him, especially when he got to the part about how he’d managed to tackle Nicholas. “I won,” he said proudly. “Like, actually won.” Nicholas snorted. “Barely.” “But you were laughing,” Maki pointed out quickly. “You didn’t even get mad.” Jo smiled at that. “Sounds like a wonderful day.” “It really was,” Maki said, glowing. “He didn’t tell me I was too rough or anything. Didn’t say I was bad.” Jo’s smile softened even more at that, and he nodded. “I’m glad.” Then he turned to (Y/n). “And thank you for bringing Jake too.” (Y/n) smiled. “No problem. He’s got a lot of energy, but he’s really well-behaved.”
Just then, the cafeteria doors opened. Harua stepped inside, walking toward them. (Y/n) tried to read his expression, but couldn’t, he looked upset, and happy, and sad all at once, like every emotion was fighting for space on his face. As Harua sat down beside Jo, he looked at all of them. Nicholas’s ears flattened into his hair, his eyes sharpening as he stared back at Harua with the unmistakable gaze of a predator. It sent a small shiver down Harua’s spine, even though he knew Nicholas would never attack him.
Maki, on the other hand, looked nervous, his tail swishing uncertainly behind him. (Y/n) felt her leg bouncing anxiously under the table. With the look Harua was giving her, she was sure something had gone wrong, that she was about to lose not only Maki, but Nicholas too. Then Harua spoke. “You’ll need to pack up your things before going home,” he said. He paused. “All three of you.” He broke into a smile. (Y/n) felt like hugging him and throwing a rock at him at the same time for scaring them like that. “How?” she asked. Harua sighed softly. “I’ve been making calls since seven this morning. About thirty minutes ago, I finally got through to someone who approved the paperwork.” He looked at her. “You can bring Maki home today.” Maki and Nicholas both shot up from their chairs at the same time. “Yes!” they shouted, jumping into the air.
As (Y/n) stood up, Maki was quick to wrap his arms around her, pulling her into the second hug of the day. Once again, he lifted her straight off the ground, laughing loudly, his face glowing with pure joy. (Y/n) giggled as he spun them around, gripping onto his shoulders until he finally set her back down.
Nicholas joined the hug then, slipping his arms gently around (Y/n), and a little around Maki too. Maki’s ears twitched as he noticed just how careful Nicholas was, how soft his grip felt compared to his own. For a second, he felt a little bad for being rough, but that feeling faded quickly, replaced with something warmer. He could learn. Because they accepted him exactly as he was.
As they walked to Maki’s room at the shelter, they all felt lighter, easier, happier. (Y/n) thanked Harua quietly for everything he’d done, and Harua only smiled, saying it was the least he could do. When they reached the room, Maki hurried inside. Jo handed him a bag, and at first, (Y/n) thought it looked small, until she saw what Maki packed. One extra outfit besides the one he was wearing, and a small, worn blanket, edges frayed from years of use. That was it. That was everything he owned. The clothes weren’t even really his, they belonged to the shelter. (Y/n)’s chest tightened, and she already knew she’d be dragging him through a clothing store later. He deserved things that were his. Things he could keep. Nicholas saw it too. He knew that feeling. He’d had even less when (Y/n) first fostered him, and now he had so much. And soon, Maki would too.
As Maki stepped out, holding the bag close to his chest, (Y/n) asked if there was anything else they needed to do or know, vet visits, special care, anything like that. Harua shook his head. “As far as we know, Maki’s healthy, so he won’t need frequent visits like Nico did. The paperwork’s signed and approved, so unless something unexpected comes up, it’s just regular annual vet checkups. And those won’t be for another year.” (Y/n) nodded. “Alright.” Then she turned to the two hybrids, smiling softly. “Ready to head home?” Nicholas nodded immediately, then looked over at Maki. The wolf stood stiffly, clutching the bag like it might disappear if he let go. His eyes were glossy, throat tight, and it looked like he was fighting a losing battle with tears. After a moment, he forced out a shaky, breathless, “Yeah.”
They walked out to the car, the evening air cool and quiet around them. Nicholas offered the front seat to Maki, but the wolf shook his head quickly. “I, I’ll sit in the back,” he said. “Don’t wanna take your spot.” Nicholas studied him for a second, then nodded, understanding. He knew that one day Maki would feel comfortable enough to take the front without hesitation, for now, the fact that he spoke up at all was enough.
Once they were all in the car, Nicholas instinctively turned on the radio, bumping the volume up a little. The moment he recognized the song, one of the songs (Y/n) had written he started singing along, with full confidence. Maki blinked in surprise, ears twitching as he listened. “You… know the lyrics?” Nicholas grinned, still singing, shrugging like it was the most natural thing in the world. (Y/n) glanced back at Maki through the rearview mirror, her heart softening at the sight of his smile as he watched the city slide past the windows, his head bobbing gently to the rhythm. This was good. Things would be good. She was sure of it.
Once they parked the car in the garage, they all got out. (Y/n) turned to Maki, smiling softly. “We’ll have to get another set of keys made for you,” she said. “So you’ll have your own. It might take a few days since we’ll need to order a third gym tag and everything, but still.” Maki blinked. “My… own keys?” Nicholas noticed his reaction and chuckled. “Yeah. She doesn’t treat us like pets. More like roommates. Friends.” Maki smiled at that, his tail giving a small, happy swish. “Thank you.” (Y/n) smiled back as they walked toward the elevator, showing him how the key fob worked, how to call it, which button did what. Maki watched carefully, committing everything to memory.
Then his eyes drifted to Nicholas’s keys, dangling from his hand, pink and black details, a little charm clipped on the ring. “…Why are your keys pink?” Maki asked, tilting his head. (Y/n) giggled. “Because the terrifying panther loves everything pink. He’s even thinking about dyeing his hair.” Maki slowly looked between the pink keys, Nicholas’s very intimidating build, and (Y/n)’s amused expression. “…Is that allowed?” (Y/n) nodded. “We just haven’t found hybrid-safe dye yet.” Maki smiled, something warm settling in his chest. Yeah. This really was a home.
Once they reached the apartment, Nicholas unlocked the door and stepped aside, letting Maki go in first. The wolf froze the moment he crossed the threshold. It wasn’t loud or overwhelming, but it was warm. Open. Real. He barely saw anything yet, and still, his chest felt tight with something unfamiliar. He slipped off his shoes immediately, lining them up by the door before taking a few careful steps inside. Every couple of seconds, he glanced back at Nicholas and (Y/n), like he was checking that he was allowed to be here. That he wasn’t doing something wrong.
They followed him in, until Nicholas gently took the lead. “Okay,” he said, tail swaying slowly behind him. “Tour.” He started with the living room, gesturing to the couch, the TV, the shelves filled with books, games, and random decor. Then the kitchen, opening cabinets as he went. “This is where we keep plates and stuff. That’s the coffee machine. That cabinet,” he pointed, “is the snack cabinet, the best one.” Maki’s ears perked instantly. Then Nicholas showed him (Y/n)’s music studio, explaining what everything was, the mic, the keyboard, the guitar stands. Maki looked at everything like it was fragile, sacred. Next came the bathroom, the balcony with its view over the city, then (Y/n)’s bedroom, and Nicholas’s.
Finally, they stopped in front of the last door. “This one’s yours,” Nicholas said, opening it. The room was empty, except for the basics, a bed, a dresser, a closet, a window letting in soft light. But to Maki, it looked massive. Full of possibility. “…Mine?” he asked quietly. (Y/n) nodded. “Yours.” Maki stepped inside slowly, like the room might disappear if he moved too fast. He reached out, touching the edge of the bed, then the wall, then the window frame, grounding himself. His tail swayed behind him in slow, stunned motions.
He turned back to them, eyes glossy but bright. “This is…” He swallowed. “…this is really mine?” Nicholas leaned against the doorframe, smiling. “Yeah. Welcome home.” (Y/n) walked over to the closet and opened the door, pulling out a bag she’d tucked inside earlier. “It isn’t much,” she said softly, holding it out to him, “but we hope you’ll like it. And in a day or two, we’ll go out and get you everything you want and need.” Maki took the bag from her like it was fragile, then carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and started pulling things out.
Clothes. A hoodie. A tank top. Nicholas perked up at that. “I really like those,” he said. “So we got you one too.” Maki smiled at that, tail giving a small wag as he pulled out sweatpants made for hybrids, with a hole for his tail, then a t-shirt. Beneath that, there was a box with a phone pictured on the front. His ears flicked in surprise. “…A phone?” he asked quietly. Then he reached the bottom of the bag. A silver chain. It looked a lot like the one Nicholas wore around his neck, just smaller. Maki held it in his hands for a moment, staring at it like he wasn’t sure it was real.
(Y/n) spoke gently, “It’s just a bracelet for now. Until you can choose your collar yourself. Like Nicholas did.” Maki looked up at her, eyes brighter than ever. “…Could you help me put it on?” She smiled instantly. “Of course.” She took the bracelet from him and stepped closer, carefully fastening it around his wrist. As the clasp clicked into place, Maki stared down at it, then up at her, tail wagging so hard it brushed the bed behind him. “Thank you,” he said, voice thick with emotion.
(Y/n) smiled at him and asked, “Do you want to take a shower and change into the clothes we got you? Hopefully they fit. Then we can make dinner and watch a movie.” Maki nodded immediately. “Yeah. I’ll shower, and then I can help cook.” She shook her head gently. “You don’t have to. I didn’t adopt you so you could do chores. I adopted you because we wanted you.” His ears flicked, and he hesitated. “I just… want to help.” “Then you can,” she said softly. “Just not because you feel like you owe us.” He nodded, smiling a little. “Okay.”
Nicholas went with him, showing him how everything worked in the bathroom, where the towels were, how the shower knobs turned, handing him a clean towel before stepping back out. Meanwhile, (Y/n) headed into the kitchen, pulling ingredients from the fridge and cabinets. A moment later, she heard the shower start. Nicholas padded over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, tail curling loosely around her legs, a deep purr rumbling in his chest. “I’m happy,” he murmured into her shoulder. “Happy we did this. It feels good.” She leaned back into him, smiling. “I’m happy too.”
He leaned forward, peering at the ingredients she’d taken out, immediately frowning when he spotted the pile of vegetables. “Hey,” he said, squinting at them. “That’s… a lot of green.” (Y/n) giggled. “You need to eat vegetables too, not just meat and milk.” He muttered something incoherent under his breath before finally sighing. “Fine.” Releasing her, he stretched, then wandered over to the fridge, pulled out the milk, grabbed a glass, and filled it up before taking a small, very satisfied sip. (Y/n) laughed again. “You really are a cat.” He shot her a grin. “Who can resist a nice, cold glass of milk?”
Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Maki stepped out. He was wearing the sweatpants and tank top they’d bought him, and they fit just right. His hair, though, was dripping wet, water trailing down his neck and shoulders. He looked mildly frustrated by it, but also clearly unsure what to do. (Y/n) walked over. “Want help?” He hesitated, ears tilting back a little, like he was worried about bothering her, but then nodded. “Yes… please.” She went back into the bathroom and grabbed a second towel. “Sit down somewhere.” In his haste, he sat straight down on the floor. She laughed softly. “That works too.”
Standing behind him, she gently started drying his hair, careful and patient. “I’ll show you how to use the blow dryer next time,” she said. “It’s way faster.” Maki relaxed almost instantly under her hands, tail flicking lightly behind him as he let her help. (Y/n) tilted her head slightly as she worked through his hair. “How did you deal with it before?” Maki hesitated before answering. “Either my previous owners cut it all off… or I just waited for it to dry.” He glanced down. “It always bothered me, though. And I couldn’t use the same towel for my hair that I used for my body, because my tail soaked up so much water that the towel was already too wet.”
She paused. “You never got a second towel?” He shook his head lightly. “No.” (Y/n) smiled gently. “Well, here you can grab a second towel. Or a third. Or however many you want.” Then she added, “Still, I’ll show you how to use the blow dryer next time. It’s faster, and probably easier for your hair. Might be good for your fluffy ears too.” “Thanks,” he said quietly. She finished drying his hair until it wasn’t dripping anymore, then used the towel to wipe up the few drops of water on the floor. “Sorry,” Maki said quickly. “It’s fine,” she replied easily. “I leave way bigger puddles than that on days I don’t feel like blow-drying my hair.”
Once she dropped the towel into the laundry bin, (Y/n) headed back to the kitchen. Maki was already there, standing by the counter, eyes flicking between the ingredients, clearly trying to piece together what she was planning to make. “You really don’t have to help,” she said again. “But if you want to,” “I want to,” he said quickly. She smiled. “Alright. Can you cut the vegetables while I prep the meat? I’m thinking oven-roasted veggies and steak. Easy, but good.” Maki nodded. “Okay. How do you want them cut?” She explained, showing him the rough size and shape, and he listened carefully, then washed his hands, grabbed a knife, and got to work.
(Y/n) glanced over a few seconds later, and nearly stopped what she was doing. He was fast. Like, really fast. His hands moved with practiced precision, slicing through carrots, potatoes, peppers, and onions with clean, even cuts. She blinked, realizing she’d seriously underestimated just how good he was at this. Within minutes, everything was chopped, tossed with oil and seasoning, and arranged neatly on a tray before he slid it into the oven. “Done,” he said, sounding a little proud, a little shy. “Wow,” (Y/n) said honestly. “You’re really good at that.” His ears flicked. “Thanks.” She finished seasoning and cooking the steak, and soon enough, everything was plated and ready. The kitchen smelled warm and savory, the kind of smell that made a place feel like home.
They carried their plates and drinks into the living room, Nicholas already sitting on the couch with the remote in hand, a movie queued up and paused at the opening screen. Maki lingered a bit by the doorway, shifting his weight, clearly unsure whether he was allowed to sit on the couch. (Y/n) noticed immediately. She sat down and patted the spot beside her. “Come on.” He hesitated for half a second, then carefully sat down next to her, like he was afraid he might somehow break the furniture just by existing. She smiled at him. “Dig in.”
Nicholas hit play, and the movie began as they started eating. Nicholas took one bite of steak and immediately lit up. “This is really good.” (Y/n) grinned. “Told you.” Then he took a bite of vegetables. His face… fell. He chewed slowly, brows knitting together, ears tilting back just a little, like he was enduring something tragic instead of eating perfectly good roasted vegetables. Maki noticed instantly. His smile faded, ears dipping as worry crept in. He looked between Nicholas, the vegetables, and his own plate. He’d tasted them, they seemed fine to him. Good, even. (Y/n) wasn’t reacting strangely either.
Still, he swallowed nervously before asking, “Um… did I… do something wrong with them?” (Y/n) turned toward him right away, hearing the anxiety in his voice. “What? No, Maki. They’re delicious.” She glanced at Nicholas, who was still frowning dramatically at his plate. “He just doesn’t like vegetables.” “I eat them,” Nicholas muttered. “I just don’t enjoy it.” “That’s exactly what I mean,” (Y/n) said, amused. “You didn’t mess anything up.” Maki let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, his shoulders relaxing. “Oh… okay.” Then he took another bite, tail giving a small, relieved wag as the movie continued and the apartment settled into a calm, comfortable quiet.
After they finished their plates, all three still felt hungry. Nicholas stood up first, already heading toward the kitchen. “You want more?” he asked, looking back at (Y/n). “Yes, please,” she replied with a smile. He took her plate, then glanced at Maki, who was clearly debating whether to say anything. Nicholas raised a brow. “You too.” Maki hesitated. “I can wait. You guys can take more first,” “Don’t be silly,” Nicholas cut in, already grabbing his own plate. “There’s more than enough for all of us to have a second serving. Maybe even a third.”
That was enough to convince him. Maki stood up with his plate and followed Nicholas into the kitchen. They filled their plates again, and when they returned, Nicholas handed (Y/n) hers. “Thank you,” she said, then looked over at Maki, smiling when she saw how full his plate was. “Did you like the food?” “Yes,” he said quickly. “It was really good.” “I’m glad,” she said. “Do you have any favorite foods? Or anything you don’t like? Like how Nicholas hates vegetables.” Maki shook his head. “No, I eat pretty much everything.” (Y/n) nodded. “Well, if there’s ever something you don’t like, you don’t have to eat it.” Nicholas immediately frowned. “Then why do I have to eat vegetables?” “You don’t have to eat all of them,” she shot back. “You just have to eat some of them.” “That’s cruel,” he muttered, making both of them laugh as they dug back into their food.
After eating, Nicholas stood up, already gathering the plates. Maki moved to follow him, but Nicholas stopped him with a small shake of his head. “It’s fine,” he said. “You helped make the food, so I’ve got the dishes.” Maki hesitated. “Do you always do them?” Nicholas shrugged. “Most of the time. Been doing it since I first came to (Y/n). She never expected me to, but I’m a terrible chef, so this is how I contribute.” (Y/n) chimed in from the couch, smiling. “We just found a routine that works for us. We help each other out, but nothing here is an obligation you get punished for. Some days you don’t have the time or energy to vacuum, and that’s fine. You just say so, and someone else can help.” “Yeah,” Nicholas added from the sink. “Team effort.” Maki listened closely, his tail swaying slowly behind him. A home where chores weren’t threats or rules carved in stone, but just… shared things people did for each other. It felt unreal. And somehow, perfect.
(Y/n) glanced at the clock and sighed softly when she saw it was only around eight. Still, she knew tomorrow would be brutal, her meeting started at five in the morning. “I’m gonna shower and head to bed,” she said, standing up. “But tomorrow, after my meetings, they end around two, we can go to the mall and get you some more clothes and whatever else you want, Maki.” Maki’s ears drooped just a little. “Okay…” “In the morning,” she added, glancing toward the kitchen, “Nicholas can help you with breakfast. And there’s frozen leftovers in the freezer you can heat up for lunch.” She walked into the kitchen to give Nico the rundown too, then headed to her room, grabbed her pajamas, showered, and disappeared into bed.
A few minutes later, Nicholas finished in the kitchen and came back to the living room, stopping beside the couch where Maki was sitting. “Hey,” he said, holding up the phone box. “Wanna set this up? There’s a ton of fun games you can play.” Maki nodded immediately. “Yeah.” So they sat together, Nicholas guiding him through the setup, explaining apps, and laughing quietly when Maki accidentally opened things he didn’t mean to. Soon enough, the two hybrids headed to bed as well. They agreed on a time to wake up, eat breakfast, and then Nicholas would show Maki the gym in the building before (Y/n) got home from her meetings.
~~~
Night passed quickly, and much earlier than she wished, (Y/n)’s alarm went off. She quietly made herself a cup of tea, moving around the apartment in soft steps so she wouldn’t wake either of them, before heading into her studio and preparing for her meetings. A few hours later, sunlight filtered into the apartment, landing right on Maki’s face. His ears twitched, nose scrunching as he shifted, before his eyes finally fluttered open. For a second, he forgot where he was, then he saw the unfamiliar ceiling, the soft blankets, the open door to a real hallway instead of a shelter corridor, and his tail immediately started wagging against the mattress.
He sat up, grinning to himself, before glancing over toward Nicholas’s room. The door was half open, and inside, the panther was completely sprawled across his bed, face buried in his pillow, tail hanging off the side. “Mornin’,” Maki whispered, walking over. No response. He tried again, louder. “Nicholas.” A low, disgruntled groan came from the bed. “Too early,” Nicholas muttered into his pillow. Maki laughed softly. “It’s, like, almost ten.” “That is early.” Maki tilted his head, amused, before gently nudging Nicholas’s shoulder. “You said we were going to the gym.” Nicholas cracked one eye open, golden gaze unfocused. “I did?” “Yes.” “…Rude.”
Still, after a few more seconds of grumbling, Nicholas rolled onto his back, stretching his arms over his head, claws extending slightly as he yawned. His tail flicked lazily behind him. “You’re way too awake,” he said, squinting at Maki. Maki shrugged. “I always wake up early. Shelter habit, I guess.” Nicholas’s ears twitched at that, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he sat up, rubbing his face. “Fine. Breakfast first. If I go to the gym without food I’ll pass out and that’s embarrassing.” Maki smiled. “Got it.”
They headed into the kitchen, Maki looking around like he still couldn’t quite believe this was real. Nicholas opened a cabinet and pulled out cereal boxes. “Any preference?” he asked. “Uh, I eat anything.” Nicholas snorted. “That’s gonna change. Pick one.” Maki studied the boxes seriously before choosing one at random. “This one looks… powerful.” “That’s honey oat,” Nicholas said flatly. “Exactly.” Nicholas shook his head, amused, as he grabbed bowls and milk. They sat at the counter, eating quietly for a moment, until Maki spoke again.
“So,” he said carefully, “you go to the gym every day?” “Pretty much,” Nicholas replied between bites. “Keeps me sane. Also keeps me from breaking furniture, from restlessness.” Maki blinked. “You break furniture?” “I used to,” Nicholas said casually. “A lot.” Maki laughed. “Good to know.” After breakfast, Nicholas rinsed his bowl and grabbed his gym bag. “You ready?” Maki nodded instantly. “Yeah.”
They headed out into the hallway and into the elevator, Maki watching the numbers change with fascination. “So,” he said, glancing at Nicholas, “what kind of stuff do you do there?” “Strength training mostly. Some cardio when I feel like suffering.” Maki’s ears perked. “Can I try?” “Obviously.” The elevator dinged, and they walked toward the gym entrance. Nicholas pulled out his tag and showed Maki how to scan in. “Yours’ll look like this once you get one,” he explained. Maki nodded seriously, committing it to memory.
Inside, the gym was mostly empty, the quiet hum of machines filling the space. Maki’s eyes widened slightly as he looked around. “This is… huge.” Nicholas smiled faintly. “Yeah. First time I came here, I thought it was fake.” Maki followed him over to the weights, watching as Nicholas began his warm-up routine. “So,” Nicholas said, stretching his shoulders, “you said you like roughhousing.” Maki’s tail wagged. “Yeah. But I’m bad at knowing when to stop.” Nicholas glanced at him. “We’ll fix that.” Maki blinked. “You will?” “Yeah,” Nicholas said simply. “You’re not too much. You just never got taught.” Something in Maki’s chest felt warm at that.
They started with basic exercises, Nicholas showing him how to properly use the machines, adjusting weights, correcting his posture when needed. “Like this?” Maki asked, gripping the handles. “Yeah. Slow down, though, you’re not racing the machine.” “Sorry.” “No need to apologize,” Nicholas said. “Just… don’t hurt yourself.” Maki smiled. “You’re good at teaching.” Nicholas shrugged. “Had good teachers, I guess.” After a few sets, Maki leaned against the wall, breathing a little heavier but grinning. “This is awesome,” he said. “Way better than running in circles in a yard.” Nicholas snorted. “Yeah, this is controlled destruction.” Maki laughed. “You’re weird.” “You’re loud.” “Fair.”
They moved on to free weights, Nicholas spotting Maki as he lifted. “You’re strong,” Nicholas commented. Maki shrugged. “People used to say that like it was a bad thing.” Nicholas frowned slightly. “It’s not.” Maki glanced at him. “I know. I think. I’m starting to.” Nicholas met his gaze briefly, then nodded. “Good.” After about an hour, Nicholas finally called it. “Alright. That’s enough for your first day, gym wolf.” Maki groaned dramatically. “But I was just getting started.” “You’ll survive,” Nicholas said dryly. “Come on.” They wiped down the equipment and headed back toward the elevator. “That was… really fun,” Maki said quietly. “Thanks for taking me.” Nicholas looked over at him. “Yeah. Anytime.” As the elevator doors closed, Maki’s tail swished happily behind him, and Nicholas found himself smiling without really meaning to.
Once they were back in the apartment, Nicholas kicked off his shoes and stretched his arms over his head. “You should shower first,” he said to Maki. “Then I’ll go, and after that we can figure out lunch.” Maki nodded immediately. “Okay.” He went to his room, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed into the bathroom. He still hadn’t been shown how to use the blow dryer, but he remembered what (Y/n) had said the night before and grabbed a second towel before stepping under the water. The shower felt… unreal. Warm, steady, private. No timers. No knocking. No one yelling that he was taking too long. When he was done, he dried off, used the second towel on his hair until it wasn’t dripping anymore, and changed into clean clothes, his tail swishing lazily behind him.
When he stepped out, Nicholas was waiting in the hallway, already tying his hair back. “All good?” he asked. “Yeah,” Maki said, smiling. “Your turn.” Nicholas disappeared into the bathroom, and Maki wandered back into the living room, sitting on the couch and glancing around the apartment again, still half-expecting someone to tell him he wasn’t allowed to touch anything. Instead, everything was quiet. Safe.
A few minutes later, Nicholas came out, hair damp, ears relaxed. “Alright,” he said. “Food.” They walked to the kitchen together, standing in front of the freezer as Nicholas opened it. “Okay,” he muttered, scanning the neatly stacked containers. “Chicken stew… vegetable curry… stir-fry… oh, yes.” He grabbed one container triumphantly. “What’d you pick?” Maki asked. “Chicken stew,” Nicholas replied. “It’s really good. Spicy but not too spicy.” Maki peered into the freezer, suddenly unsure. “Uh… I don’t really know what to choose.”
Nicholas glanced over. “What do you usually eat?” “Whatever’s given to me,” Maki said honestly. Nicholas paused for a second, then softened. “Okay. Then pick whatever looks good.” Maki studied the labels like they were exam questions before finally grabbing one. “Pasta bolognese?” “Solid choice,” Nicholas said approvingly. “You can’t go wrong with pasta.” They both closed the freezer and turned toward the microwave. Maki hesitated. “Should we heat one for (Y/n) too?” he asked. “So she has food ready when she’s done?” Nicholas shook his head. “Nah. When she’s working, she doesn’t really eat. Says it messes with her focus. She’ll eat later, either before we go to the mall or at the food court.”
“Oh,” Maki said quietly, nodding. Still, something about that didn’t sit right with him. He filed it away in his mind, thinking maybe… maybe he could help with that. If she forgot to eat when she worked, maybe he could make sure she didn’t have to think about it. They put their meals in the microwave, leaning against the counter while they waited. “So,” Maki said, glancing over, “do you always work out like that?” “Pretty much,” Nicholas replied. “Some days harder, some days lighter. Depends on my mood.” “You’re really strong,” Maki said. “Like… really strong.” Nicholas shrugged. “So are you.” Maki blinked. “Me?” “Yeah,” Nicholas said casually. “You’re built like a tank. And, that’s a good thing.” Maki felt warmth bloom in his chest. “Thanks.”
The microwave beeped, and Nicholas grabbed both containers, handing one to Maki. “Careful, it’s hot.” “Got it.” They moved to the table, sitting across from each other as they opened their food. “This smells really good,” Maki said, eyes lighting up. “It is,” Nicholas said. “You’re about to understand why I hate cooking.” Maki laughed softly. “She said you’re a terrible chef.” “Rude but accurate.” They started eating, and Maki took his first bite of the pasta, eyes widening slightly. “Oh,” he said. “This is… really good.” “Told you.”
They ate in comfortable silence for a moment before Maki spoke again. “Hey, Nicholas?” “Yeah?” “Thanks for… this morning. The gym. And everything.” Nicholas looked up. “You don’t have to thank me.” “I know,” Maki said, smiling. “I just want to.” Nicholas studied him for a second, then nodded. “Anytime.” Maki’s tail wagged faintly behind him as he went back to eating, feeling, for the first time in a long time, like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
After eating, they moved to the living room and turned on the TV, scrolling through games until Nicholas picked one that looked simple enough. “This one,” he said confidently. “Easy.” Fifteen minutes later, they were both losing horribly. “How did you fall off again?” Maki laughed, clutching his controller as his character respawned for the third time in a row. “I didn’t fall,” Nicholas shot back. “I was pushed.” “By who?” “…The game.” Maki snorted, leaning forward on the couch. “You literally walked off the edge.” “Strategic retreat,” Nicholas said seriously, then immediately ran his character straight into a wall. Maki laughed so hard he almost dropped the controller. “You’re terrible.” “Excuse you,” Nicholas said, ears flattening slightly in mock offense. “You just lost too.” “Yeah, but I lost with style.
They kept playing anyway, trash-talking each other, accidentally hitting the wrong buttons, celebrating small victories like surviving ten seconds longer than before, and groaning loudly every time the screen flashed Game Over. At one point, Nicholas flopped backward against the couch cushions. “This game hates me.” “It doesn’t hate you,” Maki said. “It’s just honest.” Nicholas growled playfully and shoved his shoulder, and Maki laughed again, tail thumping against the couch as he nudged back. Neither of them noticed the soft click of the studio door opening.
(Y/n) stepped into the living room quietly, pausing just inside the doorway. She watched them for a moment, Nicholas leaning forward with intense focus, tongue slightly caught between his teeth, Maki practically vibrating with excitement as he mashed buttons, both of them laughing so loudly it filled the room. Nicholas hadn’t laughed like that on workdays before. Not like this. Her chest felt warm as she leaned against the wall, just watching them, the easy smiles, the way they leaned into each other’s space without hesitation, the comfort already forming between them. She was so, so glad they had done this.
She cleared her throat softly. “Hi.” Both hybrids jolted like they’d been caught doing something illegal. “(Y/n)!!!” they shouted in unison, whipping around to stare at her, ears up, eyes wide. She laughed, walking closer. “Wow, dramatic. Are you two having fun?” Nicholas nodded immediately. “Yes.” Maki nodded too, just as fast. “No.” Nicholas turned to him. “What do you mean no?” “The game is bullying us,” Maki said seriously. “It says ‘easy mode’ but that’s a lie.” (Y/n) snorted. “I’ll have a talk with the TV later.”
She glanced between them. “Did you eat?” “Yeah,” Nicholas said. “Chicken stew.” “Pasta bolognese,” Maki added quickly, like he wanted to make sure she knew. She checked the time on her phone, 1:30 p.m. “Good. I’ve got time to eat too before we head to the mall. You two keep playing.” “Okay,” Nicholas said, already turning back to the screen. “Good luck,” Maki added to the game. “You’re going to need it.” (Y/n) shook her head fondly and walked into the kitchen, pulling a container from the freezer and heating it up while the sound of dramatic groans and loud laughter echoed from the living room.
~~~
After eating and changing clothes, (Y/n) was ready to go, and so were the two hybrids. Soon enough, they were sitting in the car, Maki automatically taking the backseat while Nicholas settled into the front beside her. As (Y/n) started driving, Nicholas glanced over. “So… how were your meetings?” She sighed lightly. “Mostly good. But there’s this one guy I really don’t like. Super arrogant, and unfortunately he’s a big part of this project.”
Nicholas frowned. “Do I need to bite him?” She laughed. “No.” “Scratch him?” he offered. “Also no.” Maki leaned forward between the seats. “Verbally or physically?” She snorted. “Neither. He’s just annoying. Always pointing out things that we’ve been over a hundred times, he keeps asking to change things back and forth, like one lyrics been changed between the same three alternatives 8 times at this point, all because of this guy. But it’s fine, I don’t have to deal with him much, outside of the meetings, the other have to deal with him way more.” Nicholas relaxed again, nodding. “Good.”
Soon enough, they pulled into the mall parking lot. It was busy, much busier than usual for a Monday, cars everywhere, people streaming in and out of the entrance. (Y/n) glanced back at Maki. “You okay with this many people?” He blinked. “Yeah? Why?” “Some hybrids don’t like crowds,” she explained. “Nicholas didn’t at first. They reminded him of his fighting ring days.” Nicholas looked away slightly, ears flicking. “I’m better now.” “I know,” she said softly, smiling at him. Maki nodded, understanding. “Yeah, I don’t mind crowds so far. Just means more smells and more stuff to look at.” “That’s… one way to see it,” Nicholas muttered. (Y/n) laughed as she parked the car. “Alright. Let’s go get you some clothes.”
They walked into the hybrid clothing store, the familiar mix of fabric, detergent, and new clothes filling the air. (Y/n) turned to Maki with a smile. “Go wild,” she said. “Pick anything and everything you want.” Maki blinked. “I… I should probably ask about a budget?” “There isn’t one,” she interrupted easily. “I can afford the whole store without worrying.” He looked at Nicholas, unsure. Nicholas nodded immediately. “She’s serious.” Maki stared at them for a second longer before his ears twitched upward. “…Okay.” And just like that, he started browsing.
At first, he moved slowly, fingers brushing uncertainly over hangers, clearly not used to having options. He picked up a hoodie in a deep forest green, then hesitated. “What size?” he asked. (Y/n) stepped closer, glancing at the tag. “Based on your shoulder width, mmm, large, maybe extra-large?” Nicholas tilted his head. “Grab both. Try them on.” Maki nodded and took both, still looking a little stunned by how casual they were about it.
A few minutes later, he held up a pair of pants, then immediately frowned, ears flattening. “…No,” he muttered, staring at the fabric like it had personally offended him. (Y/n) laughed. “What’s wrong with them?” “They’re… itchy-looking.” “Valid,” Nicholas said seriously. Maki snorted before he could stop himself, then froze, glancing at them like he wasn’t sure if laughing was allowed. (Y/n) smiled at him. “You’re allowed to hate clothes.” That earned her a small smile back. He moved on, this time pulling out a soft-looking hoodie in a pale blue. His tail gave a hesitant swish. “This one’s… nice.” “It is nice,” (Y/n) said immediately. “That color would look really good on you.” Nicholas nodded. “Yeah. It would look good on you.” Maki’s ears heated, flattening just a little as he muttered, “Oh. Uh. Thanks.” Still, he added it to the growing pile in his arms.
Every few minutes, he’d hold something up. “Too bright?” (Y/n) shook her head. “Nope. Fun.” “This one’s weird.” Nicholas squinted. “Okay, yeah, that one’s weird.” Maki laughed, more freely this time. When he picked up a sleeveless top, he frowned again. “Is this… too much?” (Y/n) tilted her head. “Do you like it?” “…Yeah.” “Then it’s perfect.” That made his tail wag softly as he added it to the stack.
Soon, his arms were full, hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, jeans, jackets, and he kept glancing down at the pile like he was afraid someone might tell him to put it back. Nicholas noticed. “You’re allowed to take all of that.” “All of it?” Maki echoed. “All of it,” Nicholas repeated. (Y/n) smiled warmly. “And more if you want.” Maki swallowed, ears twitching as he nodded. “…Okay.” Then he spotted a rack of hybrid-tailored jackets and actually gasped a little. “Those have tail slits and ear hoods,” he said softly, like he was afraid to scare them away. Nicholas grinned. “You’re definitely getting one of those.” Maki grabbed two.
At one point, he picked up a bright orange sweater, stared at it for three seconds, then made the most dramatic disgusted face. “No.” (Y/n) burst out laughing. “That bad?” “It’s attacking my eyes.” Nicholas nodded solemnly. “That sweater is a crime.” Maki laughed again, louder this time, the sound surprising even himself. As they headed toward the fitting rooms, his arms were overflowing, clothes nearly slipping out of his grip. (Y/n) blinked. “You sure you’ve got enough?” He hesitated, then glanced back at a rack of soft flannels. “…Maybe one more.” Nicholas chuckled. “That’s the spirit.” For the first time since walking in, Maki wasn’t just picking clothes. He was smiling while doing it.
Once in the fitting room area, Nicholas took the pile from Maki’s arms and started sorting through it, laying pieces across the bench and hooks. “Okay,” he said, focused. “These go together. These too. And these… absolutely not together, but we’ll see.” Maki tilted his head. “Why not?” “Because I refuse to let you wear lime green with mustard yellow,” Nicholas said seriously. (Y/n) laughed. “Fashion crimes already.” Maki grinned, ears flicking. “Noted.” Nicholas handed him the first outfit. “Go try these.”
Maki nodded and disappeared into the fitting room. About a minute later, the curtain shifted, and he stepped out wearing grey sweatpants and a black long-sleeve shirt. The clothes themselves looked fine, but Maki didn’t. His shoulders were tense, his arms held slightly away from his sides like he didn’t quite know where to put them. (Y/n) noticed immediately and walked closer. “Hey… can I touch you? Just to check the fit?” Maki blinked, then nodded quickly. “Yeah, that’s okay.” She gently pressed her fingers to his shoulders first, then along his upper arms, lightly near his sides. The fabric pulled tight when he moved even a little.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “This one’s too narrow.” Nicholas crossed his arms. “It’s fighting your shoulders.” Maki let out a small breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “It feels… tight. Like I can’t move right.” (Y/n) smiled softly at him. “Thank you for telling me. That’s really good, you’re allowed to say when something feels wrong.” His ears twitched. “…I am?” “Always,” she said. “Especially here.” She tugged lightly at the fabric near his shoulder seam. “This shirt’s probably tailored for smaller hybrids. Wolves tend to have broader shoulders and chests. I’ll find you something similar, just with more room.” Maki nodded, visibly relaxing. “Okay.”
Nicholas grinned. “Next outfit. Redemption arc.” Maki laughed quietly and ducked back into the fitting room, already feeling lighter than when he’d walked in. (Y/n) waited by the fitting room curtain. Soon he stepped out in the next outfit. This time, he looked completely different. He was wearing dark-wash jean shorts, long enough to cover his knees, but still clearly shorts, and an oversized t-shirt with a bold graphic across the front. The fabric hung loose on his shoulders, falling comfortably over his chest instead of clinging to it. His tail was wagging fast enough to blur as he turned toward the mirror, lifting his arms a little and twisting side to side.
“Oh,” he said softly. “This one feels… good.” Nicholas looked him up and down, then gave a firm nod. “Yeah. That’s a win.” (Y/n) smiled instantly. “You look great.” Maki’s ears flicked back shyly. “Really?” “Really,” she said. “That fit actually suits you.” She took the long-sleeve from his hand. “I’m gonna go find something like this, but that actually fits your shoulders. Stay with Nico.” Maki nodded, turning back toward the mirror while Nicholas leaned against the wall beside him.
As (Y/n) walked out into the store, she headed toward the long-sleeve section, then paused and waved down an employee. “Hey, quick question,” she said. “Do you have long-sleeves made for broader builds? Like… wolf hybrids?” The employee, a guy maybe a few years older than her, glanced up and immediately did a double take. His eyes flicked over her before he smiled, a little too smoothly. “Uh, yeah, definitely,” he said. “Right this way.” As he walked, he kept glancing back at her. “You said wolf hybrid?” “Yeah,” she said easily. “Just adopted him.” “Oh,” he said, surprised. “Those are… rare.” She smiled. “He’s really sweet. Just like my panther hybrid.” The man froze mid-step. “…Panther?” he repeated slowly. “Yeah.” He blinked, took a very subtle step away from her, and cleared his throat. “Uh. Long-sleeves for larger builds are right here.” (Y/n) hid a grin as he gestured to the rack, suddenly very professional, very distant, and very aware that she was absolutely not someone to mess with.
They kept going for nearly an hour, trying on outfit after outfit, sorting everything into piles, yes, no, maybe in a different size, until Maki had what basically amounted to an entire new wardrobe. Clothes for lounging, clothes for going out, workout clothes, pajamas, hoodies, jackets, and even something nicer for when he wanted to dress up. Nicholas had somehow ended up with a new jacket too, one he absolutely didn’t need but clearly loved, so (Y/n) didn’t even argue.
When they finally checked out, the two hybrids immediately grabbed all the bags. “I can carry some,” (Y/n) protested, reaching for one. “Nope,” Nicholas said, shifting them higher on his arms. Maki nodded firmly. “Absolutely not.” She sighed dramatically. “You know I’m perfectly capable,” “Not happening,” Nicholas said again. Maki added, “Team effort.” She laughed, giving up. “Fine, fine. Do you guys want something from the food court? Ice cream? Pretzels?” “Not yet,” Nicholas said. “Yeah,” Maki agreed. “Later.” “Alright,” (Y/n) said. “Then jewelry store first.”
They headed down the mall corridor, Nicholas carrying most of the bags while Maki took the rest, both of them clearly proud of not letting her lift a finger. Inside the jewelry store, everything sparkled under warm lights. Necklaces, bracelets, charms, and chains were laid out behind glass cases. (Y/n) explained what they were looking for, a collar for Maki, similar to Nicholas’ necklace, and a wolf charm for her bracelet to match the panther charm already hanging there.
Maki wandered slowly along the displays, his fingers hovering over the glass, eyes scanning carefully. He didn’t want something flashy. He didn’t want something heavy. He wanted something that felt… right. Then he stopped. “…This one,” he said quietly. Nicholas and (Y/n) turned toward him. He was pointing at a smaller silver chain, simpler than Nicholas’, thinner and lighter. Hanging from it was a tiny lock charm, engraved with a delicate flower design. A few chain-lengths up, there was a small safety pin attached, decorative, but functional. “I don’t know why,” Maki admitted, ears flicking as he tilted his head, “but I really like it.” (Y/n) stepped closer, smiling softly. “It’s beautiful.” Nicholas nodded. “Yeah. That suits you.” Maki’s tail wagged.
(Y/n) waved over an employee and asked to see the necklace. The employee unlocked the case and handed it to her, the silver chain cool against her fingers. She turned to Maki with a soft smile. “Can you turn around for me? And maybe crouch a little?” He immediately did, lowering himself so she could reach his neck. She carefully lifted the chain and clasped it around him, fingers brushing lightly against his skin as she adjusted it. “How does it feel?” she asked. “Too tight? Too loose?” Maki lifted a hand, touching the charm, his tail starting to wag. “It’s… perfect,” he said quietly. (Y/n) smiled. “Good.” Then she gently unclasped it again. “Just for a second while we pay.” He nodded, still smiling, clearly pleased just having worn it at all.
As they headed to the register, (Y/n) turned to the employee. “Do you happen to have any wolf charms for bracelets?” “I think so,” the employee said. “Let me check.” Behind the counter, they pulled out a small box filled with charms. (Y/n) leaned over it, sorting through tiny moons, stars, hearts, animals… until her fingers stopped. “There,” she said, lifting a small silver wolf charm. “That one.” The employee smiled. “Good choice.” “I’ll take that,” (Y/n) said, “and the necklace, and also a tag with my information engraved on it.” The employee nodded, writing everything down while heading off to prepare the tag. (Y/n) paid at the register while Nicholas and Maki waited nearby, Maki shifting on his feet with barely contained excitement.
Once everything was done, (Y/n) turned back to him and gently fastened the necklace around his neck again. “There,” she said softly. Maki immediately went to the nearest mirror, touching the charm, turning his head slightly left and right. His smile grew wider by the second. “I love it,” he said. The employee then helped (Y/n) clip the wolf charm onto her bracelet, right beside the panther charm. She lifted her wrist, admiring it for a moment, before looking back at the two hybrids. “Perfect,” she said.
Once they were done in the jewelry store, they headed to the food court, ordering iced coffee and a couple of pastries before sitting down at a small table near the windows. People passed by in steady waves, voices blending into a low hum around them. (Y/n) took a sip of her drink before looking at Maki. “Is there anything else you want to get while we’re here?” He thought about it for a moment, eyes drifting to her phone as she set it on the table. Noticing the case around it, he tilted his head slightly. “Well… I don’t have a case for my phone,” he said. “And I guess… you’re supposed to have one, right? So it doesn’t break.” (Y/n)’s face lit up. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that,” she said with a small laugh. “Good catch.”
Nicholas hummed in agreement, sipping his coffee. “Okay,” (Y/n) continued, “after we eat, we’ll go to a phone store and get you a case. And maybe some hybrid earphones too.” Maki’s ears perked up. “Earphones?” “So you can listen to music at the gym, or whenever you want,” she explained. His tail gave a hopeful little wag. “That sounds… really nice.” Nicholas smirked. “Trust me. Music makes workouts way better.” Maki nodded seriously, clearly taking that advice to heart, as he took another bite of his pastry, smiling to himself.
~~~
Once they stepped into the phone store, (Y/n)’s heart dropped. Her throat tightened, breath catching as she recognized the guy behind the counter. Daniel. Her ex’s friend, the one who had basically chased her and Nico a couple of weeks ago. Nicholas felt the shift in her instantly. Her body stiffened, her scent changed, and his eyes snapped around the store, searching for the reason, until they landed on the familiar face. A low, dangerous growl rumbled from his chest.
Maki didn’t know who the guy was. He only knew one thing. We don’t like him. He stepped forward too, placing himself slightly in front of (Y/n), shoulders squared, tail stiff, a warning growl vibrating in his chest. (Y/n)’s pulse spiked. This was bad. Public place. Wild breeds. Stares. The last thing she needed was people thinking her hybrids were dangerous. She gently placed her hands on their shoulders, grounding, steady. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “Calm down. I’ve got this.”
Daniel had already noticed them. He recognized the panther immediately, and then he spotted (Y/n), partially hidden behind the two towering hybrids. Nicholas didn’t like the way Daniel’s eyes lingered on them, but he forced his growl down at her request, jaw tight, muscles still coiled. Maki quieted too, though a faint rumble still vibrated in his chest, barely audible but very much there.
(Y/n) looked between them and the counter, breathing steadily, hoping, praying, this wouldn’t turn into something worse. (Y/n) forced herself to act like nothing was wrong as they walked toward the wall of phone cases. “Maki,” she said lightly, like her heart wasn’t racing, “your phone model is written here, make sure it matches so it fits properly.” Maki nodded, stepping closer to the display, scanning the options. Nicholas, meanwhile, never took his eyes off Daniel, standing rigidly between him and (Y/n) like a living wall, ears pinned, gaze sharp, daring him to move.
Daniel didn’t. He stayed behind the counter, heart pounding, painfully aware of the two wild hybrids watching his every breath. Maki eventually picked out a case he liked, holding it up with a small smile. They moved to the earphone section next, finding a pair made for hybrids, grabbing those too. Then came the register. (Y/n) wished desperately for self-checkout. There wasn’t one. So she walked up anyway, setting the items on the counter without a word.
Daniel swallowed. “Can we talk?” She didn’t look at him. Just shook her head once. “Please,” he said, voice tight. “Just, just for a minute. About… about everything.” Nicholas growled, low and threatening. Maki joined in, louder now, his shoulders squaring instinctively. Daniel raised his hands slowly, palms out. “I’m not here to hurt anyone,” he said quickly. “I know I was wrong. I know. But I’m not the same anymore, I’m not even friends with your ex.” That made (Y/n) look up. And meet his eyes. “How do I know that’s the truth?” (Y/n) asked.
Daniel nodded slowly. “Fair enough.” He took a breath before continuing. “After you broke up with him… I got a reality check. He started abusing me too. Once you escaped, he took all of it out on me instead. That’s when I realized just how bad things really were, how bad I’d been too, for standing by and letting it happen.” He swallowed. “So I cut ties with him. Moved. Started over. When I saw you last time, I just… wanted to apologize. But I get why you didn’t want to talk to me.”
(Y/n) turned to Nicholas and Maki. “You guys don’t have to growl anymore. It’s okay.” Maki’s rumbling faded instantly, his shoulders relaxing. Nicholas didn’t stop. Instead, he leaned forward over the counter, eyes glowing faintly as he bared his fangs. “I don’t like you,” he said lowly. “And I don’t trust you. So you better be careful.” Daniel nodded quickly. “I will. I promise.” Nicholas stepped back, his growl finally dying down, though his ears stayed tilted in warning. Daniel glanced between them before looking back at (Y/n). “So… are you fostering again?” She shook her head. “No. Not exactly. When you saw me last, I was fostering Nicholas,” she said, pointing to the panther. “But I adopted him. And just yesterday, we adopted Maki.” She gestured to the wolf. Daniel’s expression softened. “I’m glad to see that. You always loved fostering… loved having hybrids around.”
Daniel apologized again, quieter this time, then asked if maybe they could stay in touch. (Y/n) frowned slightly. “I’m glad you seem like a better person than you were a few months ago,” she said honestly. “But you’re not someone I can forgive. At least not now. Maybe not for a long time. We can say hi if we run into each other, but I can’t be friends with you. It’s still too painful. Too close to the past.” Daniel nodded, not looking offended. “Yeah… I’d probably feel the same.” He hesitated. “Is there anything I can do? Not for forgiveness, just… something that shows I’ve changed.” She thought for a moment. “If you want to, you could donate to the hybrid shelter Harua, Jo, and Taki run.” His eyes softened. “Yeah. I can do that.” He packed the phone case and earphones into a bag, then handed it to her. “I hope you have a good afternoon,” he said, glancing at Nicholas and Maki. “All of you.” Nicholas watched him closely, but didn’t growl. (Y/n) nodded. “You too.”
As they left the store and headed back toward the car, Maki glanced up at (Y/n), ears twitching. “What… was that about?” he asked carefully. She stopped walking for a moment, then blinked. “Oh. Right. You don’t know.” She gave a small, apologetic smile. “I’ll explain in the car, okay?” Maki nodded. “Okay.” Once they reached the car, the trunk was quickly filled with shopping bags, Maki insisting on stacking them neatly while Nicholas handed them over, and soon they were all inside, the doors shutting with soft thuds as (Y/n) pulled out of the parking lot.
The drive was quiet at first. Then (Y/n) took a deep breath, fingers tightening slightly around the steering wheel. “So… that guy at the register. Daniel. He was my ex’s best friend.” Maki’s ears tilted back slightly. “My ex was… abusive,” she continued softly. “Controlling. He decided who I talked to, where I went, what I did. He hated hybrids and didn’t want me fostering, so eventually he forced me to stop. He also kept me away from Harua, Jo, and Taki.” Nicholas’ jaw tightened in the passenger seat, tail flicking slowly. “Daniel never stopped him,” (Y/n) said. “Sometimes he joined in. Sometimes he just stood by. Either way, he didn’t help.”
Maki’s hands curled in his lap. “But eventually,” she went on, “with help from Harua, Jo, and Taki, I got away. I left him. And after that… I started fostering again.” She glanced at Nicholas with a soft smile. “That’s when I met Nico. And then… we met you.” The car fell quiet again, heavy but safe. “I’m really glad you escaped,” Maki said quietly. “Me too,” she replied. He hesitated, then added, “I understand you better now. Why you always ask instead of tell. Why you treat us like people.” Her chest warmed at that. Nicholas glanced back at him with a small smile. “Yeah,” he said. “She’s like that.” Maki nodded. He knew what it felt like to be treated like property instead of a person. And sitting there in the backseat, surrounded by shopping bags and warmth, he knew one thing for sure, whatever she’d been through, she had turned it into something gentle.
~~~
Days slipped into weeks after that, a gentle routine settling into place almost without anyone noticing. While (Y/n) worked in the mornings, Nicholas and Maki handled breakfast together, Nico usually half-awake and grumbling, Maki oddly cheerful for someone who’d just rolled out of bed. After eating, they headed to the gym, where Nicholas stuck to his familiar routine and Maki followed along, quietly competitive in a way that made Nico laugh more than once.
Back at the apartment, Maki often cleaned. Not because anyone asked, in fact, (Y/n) reminded him regularly that he didn’t have to, but because he liked it. He said it made his mind feel calm, like everything was in the right place when the apartment was. Nicholas always did the dishes, no exceptions, and Maki took on a lot of the cooking too, especially lunches. Dinner usually turned into a joint effort between him and (Y/n), full of easy conversation, teasing, and the occasional stolen bite.
Weekends and (Y/n)’s days off were for parks and couch time. At the park, the two hybrids wrestled and chased each other across the grass, laughing loudly while (Y/n) sometimes joined in, sometimes just watched from a bench with a smile and a coffee. Other days meant video games, movie marathons, or spontaneous road trips just because they felt like it.
Evenings were Maki’s favorite. He loved sitting out on the balcony, wrapped in a hoodie, tail curled around his legs, staring up at the stars and the moon. Sometimes Nicholas joined him, sometimes (Y/n) did, sometimes he just sat there alone, peaceful, safe, and quietly amazed that this life was his now.
Three months later, the trio thought life was wonderful. Maki was fully out of his shell now, loud, expressive, and unashamedly excited about everything from new recipes to dumb commercials on TV. Nicholas was just as energetic, constantly messing with him, stealing his snacks, flicking his ears, or deliberately mispronouncing his name just to get a reaction. Maki always gave it right back, whether by flicking Nico’s tail, stealing his hoodie, or tackling him onto the couch when he least expected it. They both loved it, and (Y/n) loved them even more for it.
Some of her favorite moments were the quiet ones, though, evenings spent on the couch, movie after movie playing while the three of them cuddled together. She’d be sandwiched between them, Nicholas purring softly on her left, Maki making that low, rumbly sound on her right, not quite a purr, but close enough, a habit he’d clearly picked up from Nico. And Nico, in turn, had started acting even more dog-like sometimes, tail wagging when he was excited, leaning into pets without even realizing it.
(Y/n) no longer felt guilty about working long hours. Nicholas wasn’t alone anymore, and Maki had a home too, a real one, not just a place to sleep, but somewhere he belonged. If time ever turned back, she knew she’d make the exact same choices again, without hesitation. Because there wasn’t a single thing about their life now that she wanted to change.
Kim Gunwoo x reader x Hong woojin headcanons please, whatever comes to mind, I just need more content from them 😮💨
Boyfriend!Woojin who had been your boyfriend for three years. You had recently arrived in Korea, so lost in your mind that you bumped into him, dropping your phone in the process, and your fingers touched as you both reached for it. After the first date, it was history.
Your boyfriend was a packaged deal turns out.
Boyfriend's Best friend!Gunwoo who was nothing short of shy around you, eyes always looking to the floor when you addressed him or even tried to speak to him. Woojin spoke up for him most of the time but you learned to let it slide.
Boyfriend's best friend!Gunwoo who was too ashamed to speak to you or hardly look into his friend's eyes. Knowing he spent lonely nights imagining what it would be like to have you under him, to feel your wet, spongy walls around his cock like a vice as he slowly dragged his dick back and forth within you.
Boyfriend's best friend!Gunwoo, Who, like a pervert, listened to Woojin fuck you beside the room he was staying, his groans muffled behind one hand and gripping his member as he tried to imitate his best friend's thrusts from the banging headboard rhythm. Who strained his ears to hear your sweet moans, the dirty words spoken in between, and the harsh sound of slapping skin.
Boyfriend!Woojin who knew all about Gunwoo's crush on his girlfriend. And he had to admit it was fun teasing his best friend but it was time to end this.
Boyfriend!Woojin who invited Gunwoo to his shared home with you while you were away to buy some groceries and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
"Ah, it feels good doesn't Jagiya?" Woojin coos naughty in your ear, his firm chest against your back as he holds your legs apart. His breathing was heavy as yours while he watched your pretty cunt take two of Gunwoo's fingers, your slick coated the boxers palm and thumb as he rubbed your clitoris raw.
Woojin smirked. Oh, this was gonna be a fun night.
(I hope you don't mind the smut..got thirsty. Because 🥵. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it, and thank you for requesting it!)
Could be the Mombert or Z-team poly au but it's the Z-team (plus Chase and everyone else you want ofc) celebrating Robert’s birthday when they find out that it’s today, and since they know him enough that Robert never really celebrated his birthday due to his father never being around, they throw him a surprise party :)
I love this idea!!!
It can work on either one as they all would go out of their way to throw him the best surprise party ever!
When they find out from Chase that Robert never had Bday parties as a kid they lowkey go far out: like they get a fully stocked bar, snacks/food Robert likes, a big cake with Robert’s face on it, a piñata shaped like Toxic, a banner that says “happy bday fucker!” And decorate the whole office.
Like everyone puts they’re all into it and like they have music, entertainment and like gifts (each of them got him something memorable)
Poly LADS scenario where all the guys are trying to sneak back into the house after a boys night went sideways. They're trying to get in without you noticing but of course you catch them. Full waiting in the dark style with the full chair spin.
~~~~~~
"Where were you?"
You caught them sneaking in through the front door. Caleb has a passed out Xavier on his back, Rafayel is missing both shoes, Zayne's tie is tied around his head and clearly inebriated, and Sylus has soot on his face and is trying to keep Zayne upright.
Sylus starts to speak up. "We were out bowling like we said."
Your eyes narrow. "The bowling alley closes at ten. It's almost two in the morning."
"We stopped off for hot pot." Caleb chimes in.
Xavier, waking up instantly. "When the fuck did we get hot pot?!"
"Xavier!" Rafayel snaps. "Shut up! Go back to sleep."
You pull out your phone to show news footage of the five of them piled on one motorcycle, driving away from an on fire EVER lab. "Wanna try lying to me again?"
Zayne points to Caleb. "His idea."
"Dude! What the hell? United front!"
"All of you are on probation for a month. I'm not doing a single thing on that chore chart during that time." You stand up. "And no cuddles for a week!"
Graphic description of miscarriage. Grief. Uhhh, angst and sad shit.
Harlequin and Sadie attempts to have another child together. This occurred when all ten children were present, but Doctor's hatchlings were around three years old now. She wasn't opposed to it nor enthusiastic, but she was willing.
Everyone pulled their weight, their family was protective of one another and they fared really well all these years. She intends for this to be her last child.
The first trimester was relatively normal. They've gone through this routine countless of times so everyone knew the drill by now. Ever changing diet, late night cravings, mood swings, the whole package. But along the way, in the middle of it, Sadie experiences deep abdominal pain. Not the normal kind. Not even as bad as her worst period cramps.
She seeks out Doctor immediately and he ushers her to his tent. Checking her over.
He finds that her cervix had already begun to open. Too early. It was supposed to be later. He tries to keep her calm and she's trying.
Trying to process the implication that was slowly, dreadfully, clearing and making sense at the moment even if she didn't want to believe.
Harlequin was called, he ran out in the middle of an act, bursting through the tent flap of Doctor's private tent where he sees Sadie. Just staring blankly. Doctor explains as best he can. Breaking the discovery to Harlequin gently.
The green clown tries to stay calm, trying not to show his grief, not with how Sadie looked so fragile and small. He asks Doctor to do what's best and leaves his tent abandoned the entire day. Leaving Jester and Pierrot to discover Harlequin's absence from Ticket Taker who was checking in on him when he noticed that people were leaving his tent earlier than the regular show runtime.
Sadie goes through with the miscarriage, more emotionally painful really than the real small labour. The absence of crying tore through her heart, the silence deafening, despite hoping to feel relief from the pain. She just clutches at herself tightly, painfully, angrily.
There was noone to blame here. Not even herself but she felt like she should.
Pierrot, Jester and Ticket Taker arrive after, confusion and worry as they notice Harlequin hunched over in the corner. A distance away from Sadie as she sobbed brokenly into her pillow. Once Doctor tells Pierrot, Jester and Ticket Taker, were obviously devastated.
When Sadie finally does utter Harlequin's name, he was by her side in an instant, crouching beside the bed and holding her hand tightly, only to be met with red puffy eyes and hiccuping apologies for something that was out of her control. He soothes and reassures her gently, holding her close through her grief as he was trying to stay strong for her.
The other three were unsure of how to tell the children that they may not be getting another sibling afterall...
Sadie may not have met Columbina. But she has learned the truth of her existence from Pierrot a while ago. She trusts that Columbina would look over her child in the afterlife.
Word Count: 8.5k
No smut in this chapter, purely plot (Last non-smut chapter for this series)
Morning came too clean for what the previous night had done to us. The Top Floor was quiet. Not ambush quiet. Not emotional tribunal quiet. Actual quiet. Which somehow felt more suspicious.
I woke up before my alarm, stared at the ceiling for three full minutes, and tried to remember what part of yesterday had been real. TWICE had visited the Top Floor. ITZY had signed the NDAs. Jihyo had revealed the TWICE arrangement with John. Mina and I had almost been accused of planning a polite corporate takeover. Ryujin had demonstrated things with couch cushions. Yuna had narrated her first time like a coming-of-age film with legal protection. Nayeon had asked John to punish her in front of everyone. I had smoked. Yeji had kissed me in front of the room. Then told me that was the last kiss I would get if I didn’t stop smoking.
Then I had apparently survived dinner, tattoo accusations, almost-wife allegations, and an impending temporary tattoo appointment that now involved Yeji choosing placement and font.
I closed my eyes “Outstanding.”
Beside me, Yeji shifted. Not fully awake yet. But awake enough “You’re thinking too loudly.” I turned my head. She was lying on her side, hair loose against the pillow, eyes still half-closed but already judging me with terrifying accuracy “I am silently suffering.”
“You do that loudly.”
“That feels unfair.”
“You earned unfair.”
I smiled despite myself. She opened one eye “Don’t look cute. I’m still mad.”
“That implies I look cute.”
“Benjie.” I immediately stopped smiling. Mostly. Yeji sighed and sat up, pulling the blanket around herself. The morning light softened her face, but not enough to hide the fact that she was already preparing herself for the day.
Leader mode. Girlfriend mode. Wife voice in reserve. Terrifying combination “We need a gameplan,” she said. I pushed myself up against the headboard “For JYP?”
“For everything.”
That was worse because it was correct. She counted on her fingers “JYP. The retreat cover. Mina and the money. John and Jihyo’s role. The tattoo appointment. Yuna’s vacation plan. Ryujin not committing crimes. Chaeryeong and Lia shopping. And you not buying another establishment because someone annoys you.” I looked at her “That last one feels targeted.”
“It is.”
“Good to know.”
Yeji reached for her phone and checked the time “We leave in two hours.”
“For JYP.”
“For JYP first,” she said. Then her eyes narrowed slightly. “Then Frankie.” I had made the mistake of telling her the tattoo artist’s name last night. Now she said it like someone had entered a witness protection list “It’s temporary,” I reminded her.
“And I choose placement.”
“You choose placement.”
“And font.”
“And no portrait.”
“No portrait.”
“And no wedding date.”
“For now.”
She turned her whole head toward me. I looked away “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
“No, I’m not.” She threw a pillow at me. I caught it. That was when the bedroom door opened without permission. Ryujin leaned in “Are you decent?” Yeji clutched the blanket higher “Ryujin!” Ryujin looked at her. Then at me. Then at the pillow in my hands.
“Emotionally, no. Physically, probably.”
“Get out,” Yeji said.
“I’m here for the morning briefing.”
“There is no morning briefing in our bedroom.”
“Our?”
The silence changed. Ryujin’s smile widened. Yeji closed her eyes “Leave.” Ryujin pointed into the room “She said our.”
“I heard it,” Yuna called from the hallway. Lia’s voice followed, tired and resigned “Everyone heard it.” Chaeryeong added softly, “I was trying not to.” I looked at Yeji. Yeji looked at me. Her face turned pink before she pulled the blanket over her head. Ryujin grinned.
“Great. Breakfast in ten. Your wife has assignments.”
“I am not his wife!” Yeji shouted from under the blanket.
“Yet!” Yuna shouted back.
Ryujin closed the door before Yeji could throw the second pillow. I sat very still. Under the blanket, Yeji said, “Do not laugh.”
“I would never.”
“You’re smiling.”
“I am emotionally licensed to be happy.”
The blanket lowered just enough for one eye to glare at me.
“I hate that sentence.”
“You loved it last night.”
“I tolerated it under duress.”
“Marriage duress?”
The pillow hit me directly in the face.
Breakfast was less a meal and more a tactical deployment. Yuna had taken over one side of the kitchen island with a notebook, a tablet, two pens, and the expression of a woman who had been given responsibility and planned to make it everyone else’s problem. Chaeryeong was checking the pantry. Lia was making a list on her phone. Ryujin was eating cereal directly from the box again, which meant civilization had already failed. Yeji sat beside me, still radiating mild anger, while pretending she was not leaning close enough for her knee to brush mine.
I accepted this as progress. Yuna tapped her pen against the notebook “Okay. Vacation pitch.”
“No,” Lia said immediately.
Yuna frowned “You haven’t heard it.”
“You started with a title voice.”
“It needs a title.”
“It needs JYP approval first.”
Yuna waved a hand “Details.”
“They are not details,” Chaeryeong said from inside the pantry.
Yuna ignored that “I am preparing the vacation activities pitch for everyone. If we’re getting a week—”
“If,” I said.
Yuna looked at me “When.”
“That is not better.”
“It is more confident.”
“It is more dangerous.”
Ryujin lowered the cereal box “What if JYP says no?” Yuna looked personally offended “Then Ben and Mina accidentally become a problem again.” Yeji turned toward her “Yuna.”
“What? I said accidentally.”
Lia looked at me over her cup “Your influence is terrible.”
“I have been saying that.”
Chaeryeong came out of the pantry with a haunted expression “Momo sunbaenim ate everything.”
Ryujin nodded solemnly “Biblical.”
Chaeryeong looked genuinely distressed “I stocked for three days.”
“She is TWICE’s final boss,” Yuna said.
“Momo is not a final boss,” Lia said.
“She ate like one,” Ryujin replied.
Chaeryeong looked at me “I need to restock.”
“Use my card.” Yeji turned toward me immediately. I lifted both hands “Not buying the grocery store. Just groceries.” She watched me for a second. Then nodded “For now.” I sent a quick message to my accountant. Before I could put the phone down, it buzzed. I read the reply and sighed. Lia noticed “What?” “My accountant says he is happy to oblige as long as the shopping request is from Chaeryeong.”
Yuna slowly looked up from her notebook “Excuse me?” I read the message aloud “‘If it is Ms. Chaeryeong, absolutely. Please tell her she may purchase whatever pantry supplies she needs. If it is Ms. Yuna, I require itemized pre-approval after the spa incident.’”
The kitchen erupted. Yuna’s mouth dropped open “That was one time.” Lia looked at her “It was not one time.”
“It was one spa arc.” Ryujin pointed at her “You traumatized the man.”
“I improved his exposure to luxury wellness.”
“You submitted a reimbursement request that had aromatherapy candles categorized as emotional infrastructure.”
Yuna lifted her chin “They were.”
Chaeryeong looked between us “Should I itemize?”
“No,” I said. “Buy everything you need.” My phone buzzed again. I glanced down “He added a smiley face for you.” Chaeryeong blinked “For me?”
“Yes.”
Yuna gasped “He never sends me smiley faces.” Lia sipped her drink “That is because you send him invoices that make him question morality.” Yuna pointed at her “You’re also going shopping.” Lia nodded “For vacation needs.” I forwarded her accountant access too. A second later, my phone buzzed again. I read it “‘Approved for Ms. Lia. Sensible purchases expected.’” Yuna slapped the table “This is discrimination.”
“It is pattern recognition,” I said. Ryujin leaned over “What does he say about me?” I stared at her “You are not shopping.” She looked offended “Why?”
“Because your assignment is to try not to do any damage that can’t be undone.” Ryujin froze. Then slowly smiled “That leaves a lot of room.”
“No, it does not.”
“It does if you’re creative.”
“Ryujin.”
Yeji finally spoke, calm and dangerous. “Do not make me assign you to JYP aegyo TikTok preparation.” Ryujin sat down immediately “Understood.” Yuna whispered, “Wife authority.” Yeji pointed at her without looking “I heard that.” Yuna went back to writing. I stood and adjusted my watch “Yeji is coming with me to JYP.” Everyone looked up. Ryujin grinned “For emotional support?”
“Yes.” Yeji blinked. I continued, “I need my wife around for emotional support during this coup.” The room froze. Yeji turned bright red “Ben.” Ryujin screamed. Yuna nearly fell off her chair. Lia closed her eyes like she had been spiritually defeated. Chaeryeong looked down, smiling despite herself. I corrected smoothly “Jokingly.”
“That correction came too late,” Lia said.
Ryujin pointed at Yeji “She reacted before the correction.”
Yuna nodded “She liked it.”
“I did not like it,” Yeji said.
I looked at her. She looked at me. I smiled. She kicked my ankle under the table, then her hand found mine anyway.
We left before Ryujin could make it worse. Unfortunately, the day had already decided worse was the theme. JYP’s office felt different when there were five of us walking in. Jihyo first, because she had the folder. John beside her, because suffering was apparently his full-time position. Mina behind them, quiet and composed, carrying no visible threat but somehow radiating legal consequences. Then Yeji and me.
JYP was already seated when we entered. He looked from Jihyo to John. Then Mina. Then Yeji. Then to me. His expression settled into the weary calm of a man watching a storm arrive with paperwork “Why do I feel,” he said slowly, “that this meeting will cost me money?” John muttered, “Because you’re learning.”
Jihyo elbowed him lightly. I bowed “Thank you for seeing us.” JYP looked at me “Benjamin, when you speak politely, I become extremely more concerned.”
“That feels unfair.”
“It is experience.” Mina took a seat without being asked. JYP looked at her. Then at me. Then at Jihyo’s folder. His eyes narrowed “You brought both of them…” Jihyo smiled “I brought structure.” JYP did not smile back “You brought financial equivalent of a small country.” Mina blinked. I blinked. John whispered, “He’s not wrong.” JYP pointed at him.“Do not help them.”
Jihyo opened the folder “We are proposing a senior-junior wellness retreat.” JYP stared at the folder “For TWICE and ITZY.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
I answered before anyone else could “One week.” Mina said nothing. Yeji sat beside me, straight-backed and composed, looking every bit like the leader who had walked into meetings like this for years and survived worse rooms than this one. JYP looked at the proposal. Then at me. “One week?”
“Yes.”
“And the purpose?”
Jihyo took over “Recovery, mentorship, privacy, and controlled decompression after Waterbomb. Publicly, it becomes a senior-junior wellness retreat. TWICE and ITZY. Company-approved. Clean narrative. No speculation.”
JYP listened. He did not interrupt, that somehow felt worse.
Jihyo continued “Schedules would need adjustment. Staff compensation would need coverage. Transportation, security, lodging, privacy, and contingency logistics would all be handled externally.”
“Externally,” JYP repeated. I nodded “I’ll cover ITZY.” Mina nodded “I’ll cover TWICE.”
JYP closed his eyes. John leaned toward him “That reaction is normal.” JYP opened his eyes again “How much?” I slid the estimate forward. Mina placed a second document beside it. JYP looked at the numbers, then he looked at us. Then looked at the estimates again. His face did not change. But his soul did. “You are both insane.”
Mina’s expression remained calm “The numbers are conservative.”
“That makes it worse”. I nodded “It does, actually.” JYP looked at me “You are agreeing with me?”
“On accounting language, yes”. JYP leaned back “I have concerns.”
“Expected,” Jihyo said.
“Good. Then expect many.” He lifted one finger. “First. Moving schedules for one week is already difficult.”
“Yes,” Jihyo said.
“Second. Moving both TWICE and ITZY creates speculation.”
“We have a cover plan.”
“Third. A private location reduces risk but does not remove risk.”
“Agreed,” Mina said.
“Fourth.” His eyes moved to me. “I do not like how Ben solves everything by means financial flashbanging.”
Yeji’s posture shifted. I looked down. JYP noticed. His voice softened by one degree “I am not saying the care is wrong. I am saying the method is dangerous.”
“I know,” I said.
“Do you?”
Yeji answered before I could “He does.” Everyone looked at her. She sat straight. Calm. Leader-like “He knows. That is why he did not come alone.”
That landed. On JYP. On me. On everyone. Yeji continued “ITZY can keep working. We can keep performing. We can keep smiling and doing schedules. But that does not mean we are okay.” Jihyo’s expression softened. Mina watched Yeji quietly. JYP’s face changed.
Not much, but enough. Yeji took a breath “The Top Floor helped. Ben helped. But it is still attached to everything. The building. The schedule. The pressure. Staff. Reports. Calls. We need space away from all of it before we start treating containment like recovery.”
Silence.
Then JYP looked at me “You said that?”
“No,” I said quietly. “Lia did.” His eyes shifted “Smart girl.”
“Yes”. JYP looked at the folder again. Then at Mina, towards me, then at Jihyo. For a moment, nobody spoke. He tapped one finger against the desk. Once. Twice. Then he said “No”. John whispered, “Here we go.” Yeji’s hand tightened slightly on her knee. Mina was reaching for something in her bag, I leaned forward “Sir—”
“One week is not enough.” The room completely stopped. Jihyo blinked. John’s head snapped toward JYP. Mina’s hand was still in her bag, and her expression did not change but her eyes sharpened. I stared at him.
JYP leaned back in his chair like a man who had decided the best way to survive a storm was to control where it landed “I will give you two.” Nobody moved. John was the first to fail “Wait. That worked?” JYP pointed at him “Do not make me regret this faster.” Jihyo recovered first “Two weeks?”
JYP nodded “If this is recovery, one week will become a countdown. The first three days will be spent adjusting, the last two preparing to return, and everyone will pretend the middle was enough. Two weeks gives them time to settle. It also gives the company one clean explanation instead of repeated schedule reshuffling.”
I stared. Mina nodded slowly “Efficient.” JYP pointed at her “And that brings me to the conditions.” John whispered, “Peace treaty.”
JYP ignored him. “First. You cover all costs.”
“Done,” I said.
“Split,” Mina added.
JYP’s eye twitched.
“Second. Staff compensation, schedule adjustment fees, security, lodging, transportation, medical standby, privacy measures, and contingency costs will be covered before anyone leaves, and anything else that comes up regarding you ‘retreat’ in any form.”
“Done,” I said.
“Split,” Mina said again.
JYP rubbed his forehead.
“Third. Legal documentation.”
Jihyo lifted her pen “Expected.”
“No,” JYP said. “Not only for the retreat.” The room shifted. His eyes moved to Mina. Then to me.
“Both of you will sign an agreement that neither of you, alone, together, directly, indirectly, emotionally, financially, strategically, through shell entities, friends, family offices, investment vehicles, private holding companies, anonymous proxies, or any other creative nightmare you can invent, will attempt to acquire, influence, pressure, restructure, destabilize, or otherwise interfere with JYPE.”
Silence. Absolute. John slowly turned toward me. I looked at Mina. Mina looked at me. JYP slapped one palm lightly on the desk “Do not look at each other like that.”
John whispered, “Oh my God.” Jihyo covered her mouth. Not to hide shock. To hide laughter. Yeji stared at me “Ben.” I looked at her “I didn’t say anything.”
“You thought something.”
“That is not illegal.”
JYP pointed at me “It will be if I ask legal.” Mina tilted her head “Restructuring is not inherently destabilizing.” John stood halfway “No.” Mina looked at him “What?”
“You are proving why he needs the clause”. JYP nodded “She is.” Mina paused. Then folded her hands again “Reasonable.” I looked at her “Reasonable?” She looked back “Under the circumstances.”
John pointed between us “See? This is exactly what terrifies everyone. You two just negotiated not buying the company like normal people discuss not ordering dessert.”
JYP looked exhausted “Fourth. If anyone asks, this retreat is company-approved. Not Ben-approved. Not Mina-approved. Company-approved.” Jihyo nodded “That protects the narrative.”
“Fifth. No public-facing signs of anything that makes me need a medical team before noon.” John muttered, “That is broad.”
“It needs to be.”
JYP looked at each of us “Two weeks. Costs covered. Legal agreement. Company-approved narrative. No corporate interference. No public scandal.” He paused “Do we understand?”
Jihyo nodded “Yes.”
Mina nodded “Yes.”
I nodded “Yes.”
John nodded “With fear.”
Yeji nodded “With supervision.”
JYP looked at her for a second. Then, for the first time, smiled faintly “Good. Someone has to.”
The meeting ended with more signatures than I liked. Mina signed the anti-interference clause without hesitation. I signed after reading every line, mostly because JYP watched me like I might discover a loophole mid-stroke. Which was offensive— not entirely inaccurate. But offensive.
John read over my shoulder and whispered “No shell companies.”
“I can read.”
“No emotional acquisitions.”
“That is not a legal term.”
“It is in spirit.”
Jihyo gathered the signed copies. Mina looked quietly satisfied. Yeji looked relieved. JYP looked like a man who had bought himself two weeks of peace by selling his legal department’s soul. As we stood, he looked at me one last time “Ben.”
“Yes, sir?”
“No buying restaurants.”
Yeji’s head snapped toward me. I stared at JYP. John slowly turned. Jihyo closed her eyes. Mina blinked “How did you know about that?” JYP leaned back “I have instincts.” John whispered, “He’s evolving.” I bowed “No restaurants.” Yeji folded her arms.
JYP looked between us. Then sighed “Good luck.” I frowned “With the retreat?” His eyes moved to Yeji “With you.”
We left before Yeji could agree too enthusiastically. In the hallway, John exhaled like he had been holding his breath since 2023 “Two weeks.” Jihyo looked at the folder “Two weeks.” Mina adjusted her bag “Efficient outcome.” John pointed at her “You are banned from saying efficient for the rest of the day.” Mina pouted at John “Why?”
“Because every time you say it, someone signs away corporate sovereignty.”
I looked at Jihyo “I did offer for you to come with us.” Jihyo looked up “To the tattoo appointment?”
“Yes.” John immediately stiffened. Jihyo’s smile turned slow “No.” John relaxed. Then she added “If I went, I would end up making John get one too.” John stopped breathing. Nayeon was not even there, but somehow I felt her approval in the universe. Jihyo continued calmly “All nine names.” John looked at her “You would not.” Jihyo looked back “I absolutely would.” He stared at her. Then looked at me “Help.”
I lifted both hands “No. If Jihyo decided that, you would have no way out.” John looked horrified because he knew it was true. Mina looked thoughtful “All nine names would require planning.” John pointed at her “Stop contributing feedback to the tattoos.” Jihyo smiled sweetly “Relax. I’m not going.”
“That does not make me feel safe.”
“It should not.”
We separated at the parking level. Jihyo and Mina headed back toward the company wing to begin the official retreat paperwork. John, Yeji, and I headed for the tattoo shop. Or as John called it “Evidence creation.”
Frankie’s studio was private by design. No walk-ins. No visible signage. No social media tags unless he approved them himself. The kind of place that looked like nothing from the outside and too expensive from the inside. John still looked ready to scan the walls for cameras “This is insane,” he said as we entered “It is temporary ink.”
“You keep saying that like the problem is the ink.” Yeji was beside me, sunglasses on, cap low, mask in place. She looked like an idol trying not to be recognized. Which was accurate. She also looked like an angry girlfriend trying to pretend she was not excited— also accurate.
Frankie looked up from the counter. He was broad, tattooed up to his neck, with silver rings on three fingers and the expression of a man who had seen too much to be surprised by normal things. Then he saw Yeji. He stopped. Looked at me. Looked at Yeji, then back to me “Boss.”
“Frankie”. He blinked once. “When you said Yeji, you meant Yeji—Yeji.” Yeji stiffened. John’s soul visibly exited his body. I nodded “Yes.” Frankie stared for half a second longer. Then sighed “Honestly? Baffled. Not surprised.” John turned toward me “That is not comforting.” Frankie looked at John “You must be John.” John’s eyes widened “Why do you know that?”
“Boss said a tired manager might come in sweating through his spine.” I looked away. John turned to me “You described me like a medical warning.”
“The Boss’ description was accurate”. Frankie lifted both hands before John could spiral “Before anyone panics, not a word leaves this room.” His tone changed. Less joking. More certain “I don’t post clients. I don’t talk clients. I don’t hint clients. I don’t leak clients. Especially not his.” He nodded toward me “I still remember what he did for me with that investment broker.” Yeji looked at me. John stiffened.
Frankie continued while setting out the temporary ink materials “Guy thought because he had money and connections, he could walk out on my bill. Boss asked for a name. Next thing I knew, the man who was at the top of the food chain in his line of work was now bussing tables for tips.”
John went pale “You kept tabs?” Frankie smiled “Of course I kept tabs.” Yeji slowly turned toward me “Benjie.” I sighed “Please do not start here.” Frankie looked between us. Then grinned “Oh, that’s the voice.” John pointed at him “You hear it too?”
“Man, I tattooed him through worse ideas than this. I know when his woman is the only thing keeping him alive at the moment.” Yeji turned pink “I am not—”
“His wife?” Frankie guessed. The room froze, Yeji stared, John made a helpless sound. I closed my eyes “Frankie.”
“What? Lucky guess.”
“It was not a lucky guess.”
Frankie looked at Yeji “Girlfriend?” Yeji lifted her chin “Girlfriend.” Frankie nodded seriously “Understood. Girlfriend with wife privileges.” John whispered, “I hate how fast everyone gets there.”
Frankie slid a paper across the counter “If it gives you peace of mind, I’ll sign whatever. NDA. Confidentiality. Blood oath— well not literally, unless the boss is paying extra.” John grabbed the paper “Yes. Thank you.” I looked offended “You do not need that.” John was already reading “I absolutely need that.”
Frankie looked at me “With respect, boss, the people around you look like they rarely experience peace of mind.”
“That is unfair.” Yeji looked at me. John looked at me. Frankie looked at me. I sighed “Somewhat unfair.” Frankie laughed “That’s why I like you, boss. You have more money than a small country and yet you’re pretty much down to earth.”
John slid the confidentiality paper back “Sign.” Frankie signed without hesitation. Then slid it back “Better?” John clutched it like scripture “A little.” Frankie turned toward Yeji “Alright. Temporary chest piece. Original draft was ‘Ben + Yeji.’” Yeji immediately shook her head “No.”
Frankie nodded “Good. It was corny as hell.” I looked at him “You were supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on the side of decent composition.” Yeji stepped closer to the stencil samples “It should be ‘Yeji + Ben’, that sounds and looks better.” I looked at her. John looked at her. Frankie looked at her, Yeji froze “What?” I smiled “Nothing.”
“You are smiling.” Yeji pointed out.
“I am emotionally licensed.”
“You are not.”
Frankie leaned over the page “Yeji + Ben balances better.” Yeji nodded, suddenly focused “And this font is too sharp.” Frankie blinked “Oh.”
John whispered, “She’s actually doing it.” Yeji ignored him “This one is better. Still readable but softer.” Frankie nodded “Good eye.” Her confidence grew “And little hearts.”
I slowly turned toward her “Little hearts?” She pointed at the paper like a woman commanding an army “Not big ones. Small. Around the names. Maybe one between.” Frankie looked at me, I looked at Yeji. Her cheeks were pink, but her eyes were serious. I shrugged “Whatever the wife wants, man.”
Yeji snapped toward me “Girlfriend.” Frankie lifted both hands “Whatever the girlfriend with wife privileges wants.” John muttered, “This is a disease.”
Yeji glared at both of us “I am choosing design quality.”
“Of course,” I said.
“And preventing disaster.”
“Obviously.”
“And the hearts are ironic.”
Frankie looked at the hearts “They are not ironic.”
“They are artistically necessary,” Yeji corrected. Frankie smiled “I am not going to debate that.” then he glanced at me “So we’re using the gun, right?”
I paused “What?” Frankie lifted the machine from his station with a grin that immediately made me distrust him “Temporary ink through the gun. All the pain of a real tattoo, none of the permanence— it also makes the temporary ink last longer.” John slowly turned toward Frankie. For the first time all day, he looked hopeful “That is an option?”
Frankie nodded “Sure.” Yeji looked at the machine. Then at me. Then back at the machine “I like that option.” I stared at her “B-babe…”
“You wanted drama.”
“I wanted temporary romance.”
“You can have temporary romance with consequences.”
John pointed at Frankie “I like him now.”
“You hated this place thirty seconds ago.”
“I have evolved.”
Frankie looked at me with no sympathy whatsoever “Boss, you did say whatever the wife wants, the wife gets.” Yeji lifted one finger “Girlfriend.” Frankie nodded. “Whatever the girlfriend with wife privileges wants, the girlfriend with wife privileges gets.” I stared at him “You just met her, Frankie...” Frankie shrugged with a grin “Composition has consequences, and I’m just following instructions”
John sat in the corner with the confidentiality paper in hand, looking like he had just found religion “This is the safest I have felt all day.”
“That is deeply offensive,” I said.
Yeji crossed her arms “Shirt off.”
I looked at her. She looked back. Not smiling. But almost “Placement review,” she said.
“Of course.” Frankie prepared the stencil. Temporary. Harmless. Ridiculous. And now apparently painful because everyone I loved had betrayed me in under three minutes. Yeji watched every adjustment. Font. Spacing. Heart placement. Whether the plus sign looked too childish. Whether it should be slightly tilted. Whether the names should sit centered or angled over my chest.
Finally, Frankie held up the finished temporary stencil. Yeji studied it. Then nodded once “That one.” I looked at the design. Yeji + Ben. Small hearts. Soft font. Over the left side of my chest. Not too high. Not too obvious under normal clothes, exactly where she wanted it.
“Approved?” Frankie asked. Yeji crossed her arms “For temporary.” I smiled faintly “For now.” She turned toward me “Do not start.” Frankie applied the stencil. Then the machine started buzzing. I looked at him “You are enjoying this.”
Frankie smiled “A lil’ bit.” The needle touched skin. I exhaled through my nose. John leaned forward. “How is it?” I glared at him “I can feel the love.”
“That does not answer the question.”
“It answers enough.”
Yeji stood beside me, watching with far too much satisfaction for someone who claimed this was only damage control “You okay?” she asked. I looked at her “Yes.”
“Good.”
“That sounded affectionate.”
“It was.”
I smiled. Then the needle moved over a more sensitive patch. My smile died but Yeji’s smile grew. That was when I realized I was in love with a dangerous woman. Frankie worked quickly, but not quickly enough for my dignity. Temporary ink was nothing compared to the hours I had spent under real needles, but the room treated it like I was signing a marriage contract on my skin— which, given the past twelve hours, was not entirely inaccurate.
When Frankie finished, he stepped back. “There.” Yeji went quiet. John lowered his eyes from the ceiling. Even he stopped joking. The temporary tattoo sat over my chest.
Yeji + Ben.
Small hearts. Ridiculous. Soft. What was supposed to be mine, now hers too. Temporary… for now. Yeji stared at it for a little too long. Then looked away “It’s stupid.”
I smiled “You like it.”
“I hate it.”
“You like it.”
“Benjie.”
Frankie nodded “She likes it.” John pointed at him “Do not join him.” Frankie shrugged “I know happy panic when I see it.” Yeji covered her face “I hate everyone today.” I pulled my shirt back on slowly enough that she noticed. Her eyes narrowed “You did that on purpose.”
“Yes.”
“At least you are honest.”
John stood “Great. We have evidence, paperwork, temporary body art, pain compliance, and no leaks. Can we leave before he buys the building?” Frankie looked at me “You want to buy the building?”
“No,” Yeji said immediately. I looked at her “I didn’t say anything.”
“You thought of something.”
“That is not illegal.”
“It will be if I ask JYP.”
John pointed at her “Good. Use that.” Frankie walked us to the private exit. Before we left, he looked at Yeji “For what it’s worth, I really won’t say anything.” Yeji’s expression softened “Thank you.” Frankie nodded. Then looked at me “And boss?”
“What?”
“If the permanent one happens after the wedding, please let her choose the font again.”
Yeji made a strangled sound, John pushed the door open “We’re leaving.” I smiled “You can ink it in front of the crowd during the wedding, Frankie.”
“Benjie!”
We left the studio with John muttering about confidentiality, Yeji pretending not to look at my chest every few seconds, and me feeling strangely lighter than I probably deserved. Outside, John stopped beside the car “Tomorrow we are turning JYP’s private approval into an operational nightmare.”
“We got approval.”
“We got private approval. Now we need schedule coordination, staff instructions, cover story consistency, security routing, and whatever additional clause JYP invents because you keep revealing new problems.”
Yeji looked at me “No new problems.” I nodded “No new problems.” My phone buzzed. All three of us looked down. Yuna had sent a message to the group chat.
YUNA: Vacation plan draft ready. Do we think “Healing Retreat” sounds too boring? I have alternatives.
RYUJIN: Call it Hostile Wellness.
LIA: Absolutely not.
CHAERYEONG: I restocked the pantry. Please do not invite Momo unnie again without warning.
NAYEON: I vote Hostile Wellness.
John stared at the phone “When did Nayeon get into this chat?” I looked at Yeji. Yeji looked at me. Neither of us answered, John closed his eyes “I hate all of you.”
Yeji looked at my chest again. Just once. Then looked away. I smiled. She pointed at me “Do not look excited.” Too late. Tomorrow, we would begin turning the retreat from permission into reality.
Two weeks, TWICE and ITZY. JYP-approved. Legally protected against hostile rich-people nonsense. Publicly wholesome. Privately impossible. And tonight, apparently, I had survived the temporary tattoo appointment… Mostly.
Yeji slid into the car beside me and muttered “Show me again when we get home.” I looked at her. She stared out the window, cheeks pink “For placement review.”
John made a sound from the front seat like his soul had finally quit. I smiled “Of course, you can look at it anytime you want.” Because apparently, the easier problem had still found a way to ruin us.
By the time we returned to the Top Floor, the place had somehow become a headquarters.
Not officially. Officially, nothing was happening yet. Officially, the retreat still needed final schedule coordination, staff routing, transport assignments, cover story alignment, and whatever corporate language Jihyo planned to use to make “two groups of idols disappearing into privacy with two managers and too much money” sound like wellness.
Unofficially, Yuna had already taken over the main table. There were papers everywhere.
A tablet. Three pens. A color-coded list. A separate page titled POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES, with the word “Hostile Wellness” crossed out so aggressively it had almost torn through the paper. Ryujin was lying sideways on the couch, looking suspiciously proud of herself. Lia sat near the kitchen with shopping bags at her feet, calm in the way people became after surviving war. Chaeryeong was restocking the pantry with the solemn focus of someone rebuilding civilization after Momo.
TWICE had arrived again in clusters. Jihyo and Mina were already seated with the documents. Nayeon was too comfortable. Sana was too delighted. Dahyun was too ready.
Momo was already looking toward the pantry. Chaeryeong noticed and froze “No,” she said softly. Momo blinked. Chaeryeong immediately bowed her head “I mean… not yet.” Momo nodded, accepting the terms of war.
John stepped out of the elevator behind us and stopped “No.”
Jihyo looked up “What?”
“This is a meeting.”
“Yes.”
“With everyone.”
“Yes.”
“After the day we’ve had.”
“Yes.”
John looked at me “You did this.”
“I did not.”
“You created the conditions.”
“That is different.”
Mina looked at the folder “It is structurally similar.” John pointed at her “You are still banned from helping.” Mina blinked “I was clarifying.”
“That is helping.” Yeji walked in beside me and immediately straightened. Leader mode returned as naturally as breathing. No hand-holding. No softness. No obvious girlfriend anything. Not because she was hiding from them anymore. Because this was the final meeting. And Yeji respected the difference. Unfortunately, the room did not.
Ryujin’s eyes moved from Yeji to me. Then to my shirt. Then back to my face. Slowly. Dangerously. I knew that look. I should have stopped there. I should have sat down quietly, let Jihyo take over, and avoided giving the room any reason to remember what had happened at Frankie’s studio. Instead, I chose violence. Not loudly. Not obviously. Just a tad bit enough.
I reached up, adjusted the collar of my shirt— acting like I was trying to fix something in my clothing, and let the fabric shift half an inch lower than necessary. Only for a second. Only enough. A small curve of temporary ink appeared near the left side of my chest. Not the whole thing. Not the hearts. Not even the full name. Just the beginning “Yej—"
Ryujin sat up so fast the couch cushion nearly slid with her. Yuna stopped writing. Nayeon’s mouth opened. Sana gasped. Dahyun’s imaginary microphone appeared out of pure instinct. Yeji turned toward me slowly. Very slowly. I looked straight ahead. Like an innocent man. John stared at me.
“You did not.”
“I adjusted my shirt, can’t a man try to adjust for comfort?”
“You exposed evidence.”
“I adjusted my shirt.”
Ryujin pointed at me like she'd just solved a murder case “He did it.” Yuna slapped both hands over her mouth “He actually did it.” Nayeon stood halfway out of her seat “No, no, no. Show us the rest.”
“No,” Yeji said immediately.
Sana leaned forward “Yes.”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
Dahyun lifted her imaginary microphone “Breaking news: partial tattoo reveal causes immediate public demand for full disclosure.”
“I am not disclosing anything,” Yeji said.
Mina glanced up from her folder “Technically, it is not your tattoo.”
Yeji turned toward her “Mina…”
“It is a factual statement.”
John stood there for another second, staring at me. Then his face changed. Not surprise— decision “Oh,” he said quietly. I looked at him “No… You did not?” He reached into his pocket “Yes.”
“JOHN.”
He pulled out his phone. I pointed at him “Don’t you fucking dare.” Yeji looked between us “What?” John was already connecting his phone to the television “I have documentation.”
The room froze. Then every head turned toward him. Yuna whispered, “Documentation?” Ryujin slowly rose from the couch like a spirit summoned by gossip “You recorded it?” John looked at me, completely shameless “For identity protection.”
“That is not why you recorded it.”
“It began as identity protection.”
“And then?”
John tapped his phone, the television came alive. Frankie’s studio appeared on the screen. There I was. Shirt off. Sitting under the lights. Frankie standing over me with the machine. Yeji beside me, arms folded, looking terrifyingly focused. The entire room went silent for exactly half a second.
Then the Top Floor detonated.
“OH MY GOD,” Yuna screamed. Ryujin grabbed a pillow and nearly threw it at the screen. Nayeon clapped once. Sana covered her mouth, delighted. Dahyun’s imaginary microphone returned with renewed purpose “Breaking news: private evidence enters public record.” Yeji turned scarlet “John!” John lifted both hands “You chose the hearts. They deserve context.”
“I chose them privately!” Nayeon gasped “She chose the hearts?” Ryujin spun toward Yeji “There are hearts?” Yuna looked ready to ascend “There are actual hearts?”
The video continued.
Frankie’s voice came through the speakers “Whatever the girlfriend with wife privileges wants.”
The room exploded again.
Yeji covered her face with both hands “I hate this.” Sana leaned toward Nayeon “Girlfriend with wife privileges.” Nayeon nodded solemnly “Accurate title.”
“I am not his wife,” Yeji said through her hands. Dahyun lifted the imaginary microphone “Sources confirm wife privileges remain under dispute.” Jihyo pressed her fingers to her forehead “I cannot believe this is the meeting.” Mina studied the screen with surprising seriousness “The stencil placement is tasteful.”
“Mina,” John said.
“What? It is.”
Onscreen, Frankie lifted the machine “So we’re using the gun, right?” The room paused. Then my voice came through the TV “What?” Frankie grinned onscreen “Temporary ink through the gun. All the pain of a real tattoo, none of the permanence.”
Ryujin fell backward onto the couch. Yuna screamed again. Nayeon pointed at the screen “He suffered for it?” John turned toward everyone “He did.” I stared at him “You sound proud.”
“I am.”
Onscreen, Yeji said “I like that option.” The room turned toward her. Yeji lowered her hands just enough to glare at the floor “It was fair.”
“It was betrayal,” I said.
“It was consequences.”
The video showed the needle touching skin. I exhaled through my nose onscreen. John, from the video, asked “How is it?” My recorded self glared “I can feel the love.”
The room lost whatever composure it had left.
Even Lia was laughing now. Quietly but visibly. Chaeryeong smiled behind one hand “That is actually kind of cute.” That somehow embarrassed Yeji more than the screaming “It was supposed to be damage control,” she mumbled. Ryujin pointed at the screen as Frankie finished “There. Pause it. Pause it there.”
John paused the video. The final shot froze on the temporary tattoo
“Yeji + Ben”
Small hearts. Soft font. Over the left side of my chest. Ridiculous. Embarrassingly sincere, and very, very visible.
Silence. For one full second.
Then “She picked the hearts!” Ryujin shouted. “I knew it,” Nayeon said. Sana clasped her hands “That is disgustingly cute.” Dahyun lifted the imaginary microphone “Breaking news: tattoo confirmed. Hearts confirmed. Victims include everyone present.” Momo nodded toward the screen “Frankie is good.” Mina nodded “The line work is excellent.”
“Mina,” John said again.
“It is.”
Chaeryeong looked between me and Yeji. Then smiled softly “It’s actually really pretty.” Yeji’s shoulders dropped. Just a little “Thank you,” she mumbled. Ryujin immediately pointed at her “She likes it.”
“I picked it.”
“You love it”. Yeji buried her face in both hands again. Yuna grabbed her notebook and began writing furiously. Lia saw it “Do not add tattoo evidence to the meeting minutes.”
Yuna paused. Then slowly crossed something out. John disconnected his phone from the TV and looked at me with the expression of a man who had done a public service. I stared at him.
“You betrayed me.”
“You weaponized your chest first.”
“You streamed my suffering.”
“For transparency.”
“This was not a government inquiry.”
Dahyun lifted a finger “It became one.” Jihyo finally opened the folder with enough force to silence most of the room “Meeting,” she said.
The room settled. Not because the chaos was finished. Because Jihyo had decided it was. That was different. She looked around the table “JYP approved the retreat.” Everyone froze for the second time. This time, it was not because of my chest. Yuna lowered her pen “The week?” Jihyo looked at me. I looked at Yeji. Yeji exhaled. Then said it “Two weeks.”
For half a second, nobody moved. Then the Top Floor detonated again.
Yuna screamed first. Ryujin shot upright. Sana clapped. Nayeon grabbed Dahyun’s arm. Momo looked pleased for reasons that were probably food-related. Chaeyoung laughed under her breath. Tzuyu smiled faintly. Chaeryeong stood frozen beside the pantry, holding a bag of rice like it had become emotionally significant. Lia closed her eyes and smiled. Just a little. Like relief had found her before she could stop it. Yuna pointed both pens at me “I knew it.”
“You knew nothing.”
“I manifested it.”
“You did not.”
“She kind of did,” Ryujin said.
“No,” Lia said.
“Emotionally, yes.”
Jihyo tapped the folder “Two weeks with conditions.” That sobered the room enough. Not completely. Enough.
Mina spoke next, calm and precise.
“Costs are split. ITZY under Ben, TWICE under me. Staff compensation, transport, private lodging, security, medical standby, and contingency coverage are included.”
John leaned back “And because Ben and Mina scared JYP enough— they signed a legal promise not to buy, influence, restructure, destabilize, pressure, or creatively interfere with JYPE.”
Ryujin slowly turned toward me “You had to sign a no-coup paper?” I looked away “It was more nuanced than that.” Mina nodded “Barely.” Nayeon’s eyes widened “A no-coup paper.” Dahyun lifted her imaginary microphone again.
“Breaking news: wellness retreat approved after anti-takeover peace treaty.”
Jihyo pointed at her “Do not make that the title.” Yuna immediately wrote something. Lia leaned over “Yuna.” Yuna covered the page “It is not the title.”
“It is absolutely the title.”
Yeji glanced at me “No loopholes?” I looked offended. She waited. John waited. Jihyo waited. Mina looked mildly curious. I sighed.
“Ironclad, no active loopholes. I should have my lawyers check that.”
The room groaned. Yeji stared at me “Ben.”
“I am joking.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
Mina looked at me “Mostly.”
“Mina.”
“What? Accuracy matters.”
John rubbed his face with both hands “I am begging one wealthy person in this room to be normal.” Mina and I said nothing. John lowered his hands “That was the worst possible response.”
Jihyo returned to the plan before the room could spiral again “We leave tomorrow morning. The official announcement goes out as an internal senior-junior wellness retreat. No public location. No livestreams. No staff posting. No casual hints. No accidental spoilers.”
Her eyes went to Nayeon. Nayeon gasped “Why me?”
“Because I know you.”
“That is profiling.”
“That is leadership.”
Dahyun raised one finger “What about creative hints?”
“No.”
“Symbolic hints?”
“No.”
“What if the caption is just a cloud emoji?”
“No.”
Sana smiled “What if it is two cloud emojis?” Jihyo closed the folder “No weather-related crimes.” Ryujin whispered to Yuna “She’s good.” Yuna nodded “Terrifying.”
Mina took over the logistics “The vans will meet in the private parking level. TWICE and ITZY will separate for departure routes, then converge outside the city. Phones stay normal until we reach the first checkpoint. After that, private devices only.”
Chaeryeong raised a hand slightly “Food?” Momo also raised a hand. Jihyo looked between them “Food has been accounted for.” Chaeryeong relaxed. Momo looked satisfied. Lia looked at Yuna’s activity sheet “What is ‘voluntary emotional sunrise session’?”
Yuna looked proud “It’s a wholesome bonding activity.”
Ryujin leaned over “It says mandatory in parentheses.”
“That was a draft note.”
Lia kept reading “And why does one item just say ‘Ben trial by water’?” Yuna took the paper back “Still workshopping.” Yeji turned toward me “No.”
“I didn’t even do anything.”
“You looked interested.”
“I did not.”
The meeting moved faster after that. Mostly because Jihyo refused to let anyone rename the retreat. Yuna presented three activity categories: healing, bonding, and “things that would be funnier if Ben was involved.” Lia deleted the third category. Ryujin brought it back under a new title. Chaeryeong volunteered to help with meals and immediately became Momo’s favorite person again.
Nayeon suggested group games. John said no. Nayeon asked what kind. John said that was not what he meant. Sana asked if the retreat had couple activities. Jihyo told her to define couple. Sana smiled. Jihyo withdrew the question.
Eventually, the meeting ended not because everything was solved, but because everyone was too excited to be useful. That was enough. For now.
Jihyo stood, folder under one arm “Tomorrow morning. Parking level. Do not be late.” Mina looked at me “And do not buy anything overnight.” I frowned “Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“Because you hear limits as suggestions,” John said. Yeji nodded “He does.” I looked at her. She smiled sweetly. It was not sweet. Jihyo started herding TWICE toward the elevator. Nayeon paused beside Yeji “So.”
Yeji looked at her suspiciously “What?” Nayeon pointed subtly at my chest “Did you choose the hearts?” Yeji’s face went red. Sana appeared behind Nayeon instantly “She chose the hearts?” Yeji closed her eyes “They were artistically necessary.”
Ryujin screamed from the couch “I knew it.” Yuna wrote something down again. Lia took the pen away. John looked at me “You see what you did?”
I adjusted my collar back into place “Leadership requires sacrifice.”
“That was not leadership.”
“It created morale.”
“It created paperwork.”
“Same thing today.”
John looked like he wanted to argue. Then realized I might be right. That hurt him more. The elevator doors closed on TWICE’s laughter. ITZY stayed behind for a while after. Not talking much. Just moving. Packing lists. Charging devices. Laundry. Small questions. Soft excitement. The kind that grew when nobody wanted to scare it by naming it too loudly.
Two weeks.
It had sounded impossible yesterday. Now it was a departure time.
The next morning, the private parking level looked like the beginning of a secret operation badly disguised as company logistics. Two vans idled near the far end. Black. Tinted. Clean enough to look official and suspicious at the same time. Security stood in quiet positions near the exits.
Staff loaded bags with the mechanical precision of people who had been told not to ask questions and paid enough to obey.
TWICE arrived first.
Of course they did not arrive quietly. Nayeon stepped out of the elevator mid-sentence. Sana was laughing. Dahyun was carrying a small camera case that Jihyo immediately confiscated. “It is not for posting,” Dahyun said. “No.”
“It is for memories.”
“No.”
“It is off.”
“No.”
Dahyun sighed and handed it over “Cruel.” Momo had a snack bag. Chaeryeong saw it and visibly relaxed. Jeongyeon noticed. “You brought backup food?” Chaeryeong nodded. Momo smiled at her like they had achieved peace between nations. Mina arrived last among TWICE, checking something on her phone. John saw her and immediately said “No more efficiency.” Mina blinked “I was checking route timing.”
“That sounds efficient.”
“It is.”
John looked toward the ceiling “I am surrounded.”
ITZY gathered near the second van. Yuna had her vacation notebook tucked under one arm. Ryujin wore sunglasses indoors and refused to explain why. Lia looked comfortable enough to be dangerous. Chaeryeong had somehow packed snacks for both vans. Yeji stood beside me, arms folded, pretending not to be excited.
I noticed. Of course I noticed. She noticed me noticing.
“Do not say anything.”
“I was not going to.”
“You were.”
“I was going to say you look happy.”
Her face softened despite herself. Then she looked away “I am.” That was enough to make the noise around us fade for half a second. Then Ryujin appeared beside us “Gross.”
Yeji sighed “You were not invited into this moment.”
“I live here emotionally.”
Yuna joined from the other side “Are we doing seating arrangements?”
John immediately straightened “No.” Nayeon smiled “Yes.”
Jihyo stepped between them with the authority of someone who had prevented wars before breakfast “Assigned vans. Assigned routes. Assigned silence until the first checkpoint.”
Ryujin lifted a hand “What about emotional noise?”
“No.”
Yuna lowered her notebook “What about activity planning?”
“No.”
Dahyun raised her hand “What about documenting no one talking?”
Jihyo stared at her, Dahyun lowered her hand.
“No.”
Mina glanced toward me “Did you remember the anti-interference clause?”
I stared at her “Why would I need to remember it in a parking lot?”
John pointed at me “Because you might see a toll booth and buy the highway.”
Yeji turned to me immediately “You are not buying a highway.”
“I was not planning to buy a highway.”
Yuna whispered, “Planning.”
Lia nodded “He said planning.”
Ryujin grinned “So spontaneous highway acquisition is still possible.”
“Everyone get in the vans,” Jihyo said. The command worked. Mostly. Bags were loaded. Doors opened. TWICE separated into their assigned vehicle with John, Jihyo, and Mina coordinating like this was normal. ITZY moved toward ours.
Before Yeji stepped in, she looked at me. Her eyes dropped once. Very briefly. To my chest. Then back up “Is it covered?”
“Yes.”
“Fully?”
“Mostly.”
“Benjie.”
“It is covered.”
Ryujin, already inside the van, leaned toward the open door “What’s covered?”
“Nothing,” Yeji and I said at the same time.
Yuna gasped “Tattoo.”
Lia closed her eyes “Too early.”
Chaeryeong climbed in quietly, smiling to herself.
John shouted from the other van “If I see even one letter during travel, I am filing a report.” Nayeon’s voice followed “Make sure it’s Yej—” the rest of her sentence vanished when Jihyo shut the van door.
Yeji looked at me. I looked at her. For once, I behaved. I buttoned the top of my overshirt. She smiled. Small. Proud “Good boy.”
From inside the van, Ryujin screamed “I heard that.” Yuna laughed. Lia sighed. Chaeryeong made a tiny sound that might have been a laugh too. I looked at Yeji. She looked back, cheeks pink but chin lifted. Then she stepped into the van. I followed. The door slid shut.
For a moment, the world became tinted glass, low engine vibration, quiet breathing, and the strange realization that we had actually made it this far. Two weeks. TWICE and ITZY. Company-approved. Legally anti-takeover protected. Publicly wholesome. Privately impossible.
The van started moving. Yeji’s hand found mine between the seats. No one said anything. Not at first. Then Yuna whispered from the back “So… Hostile Wellness?”
“No,” Lia said immediately.
Ryujin whispered, “Temporary title.”
Chaeryeong whispered, “Maybe something gentler?”
I looked out the window as the parking level lights slid past one by one. For the first time in days, we were not walking into a meeting. Not a confrontation. Not a secret. We were leaving. And maybe, if the universe was feeling generous, we would come back a little less broken than when we left.
Then Ryujin leaned forward and whispered “Ben.”
I closed my eyes “What?”
“Can we see the tattoo at the first checkpoint?”
Yeji’s hand tightened around mine. The van erupted. And just like that, vacation began.
pairing: soft yandere!bakudekutodo x willing!reader
genre: fluff, poly au, pro hero, gender neutral reader
synopsis: there's nothing more relaxing than taking a nice, hot bubble bath when you have the entire apartment to yourself with your playlist playing and the bathroom door locked.
word count: 4.8k
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The apartment is quiet and empty for the entire day since this morning, and you seized the chance for some much needed alone time. SWV’s Rain is playing from your bluetooth speaker, set on a low volume, softly bouncing echoes around the bathroom walls. You dipped your fingers under the running tap to test the temperature.
Hot. Perfect.
Smiling and humming to yourself, you pour in the scented bubble bath. As the bubbles formed a delicate, foamy blanket covering the tub, you turned off the tap.
You strip off your robe and sink slowly into the piping hot bubble bath. You let out a sigh of relief as you submerged your entire body into the bathtub, keeping your head above water. Thanks to your boyfriends’ unrelenting remodeling of the entire house, especially the bathroom, your bathtub is now big enough to be a sensory pod. You closed your eyes and let out another relaxing sigh, letting your body float and sway with the water.
“Fuck…” you moan. “I really needed this.”
You can’t remember the last time you had a bubble bath let alone the apartment all to yourself. Your boyfriends had to leave super early in the morning, leaving you alone once again. You wished you could enjoy your days out like before, but you had a feeling your boyfriends would tie you to the bed and never let you out ever again. Though you did have sun, or as much fun as you could, running small errands.
“I fucking love bubble baths!” you yell, splashing around and pumping your fist.
After floating and soaking in the comforting scent, you raise up and reach for your new book you bought this afternoon. You lean back and sigh again.
“Haah… this is the shit right here. All alone, 90’s R&B playing, and the latest new smut to hit the shelves for desperate housewives.”
You flip open the book and begin to read:
“In the barn where the shadows danced along the wooden walls, she walked alone, veiled in candle light. Her heart beat in a melodic rhythm longing to have a partner join in.”
“Ooh~. A spicy slow burn~.”
You continued reading, losing yourself in the novel and feeling your muscles relax in the water. For a while, nothing else existed but you, your hot bubble bath, your music, and the story unfolding in your hands.
That is, until you heard the front door of the apartment open and close. You lowered your book a bit and listened out for the sounds of who came home. You’re immediately dreading the inevitable. There’s a good reason you wanted to take this bath alone. You heard a voice call softly. The master bathroom is a bit far from the entrance. Soft beats of feet quickly turned into panicked thuds. Thuds that sounded like running. The thuds came to a halt outside the bathroom door and the doorknob jiggled stiffly/ You must’ve locked the door on instinct.
“(Y/N)?” A gentle but panicked voice called out, a bit muffled. Izuku Midoriya, the number one hero of Japan. You smile to yourself, hearing his worry. The man can knock down a building using only his pinky but can look so cute while doing it. His baby face doesn’t match his buff and scarred body and you often tease him about it, calling him the baby-faced hero.
‘It’s rare that he’s home first. That’s surprising…’ you think to yourself. A knock brought you out of your thoughts.
“Baby… are you in there?” he asked, sounded even more worried the longer you stayed silent. There’s no point in staying silent. Not only is the locked door a dead giveaway that you’re in here, but Lauryn Hill’s Ex-Factor is echoing throughout the bathroom.
“Yeah, baby. I'm in here.” you answer. “How was your day? It’s rare that you’re the first one home.”
“Oh! Good. And yeah! Things ended early at the agency so I came home as soon as I could.”
Jiggle Jiggle
“Oh really? That’s even rarer! You’re really lucky.”
Jiggle Rattle Jiggle
“Yeah! And I have even tomorrow off so we can spend all morning sleeping in together!”
Rattle Rattle Jiggle
“That’ll be fun! It’s been a while since you had a day off.”
BANG
There’s a pause on the other side of the door.
“Baby…” His voice is quiet. “Why is the door locked?”
“Because I’m in here?” you chuckle at the question. “I’m taking a bubble bath.”
“Oh, I see.” It got quiet again. “Can you come out please?”
You sigh, knowing this would happen eventually but you thought you’d be done and at least clothed. Izuku is the clingiest one out of your boyfriends, a close second to a certain icy-hottie. “I would, buuut I just got in and it’s a bit ridiculous to get out the tub, dry off, welcome you home, and get back in the tub.”
“I can get in the bathtub with you!” Izuku is no longer turning the doorknob. It sounds more like he’s pushing his weight onto the door.
“Izuku, I would really like some alone time right now.”
“What.” His tone sounded somewhere between hurt and distressed. “Are you saying you don’t want to be with me? What’re you doing in there? Are you doing something that you don’t want me to see? Why would you have the door locked in our house? What’re you hiding from me? I don’t like secrets, (Y/N). (Y/N)? Open the door. Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you really hiding something from me? You can open the door for me, right? If you can open the door that means that you have nothing to hide, right? I want to hug you and kiss you so much. Don’t you want to kiss me too? Don’t you love me anymore? Open the door please…!”
Loud banging rattled the walls as Izuku forcefully tried to get in the bathroom, muttering his feelings out loud. You, on the other hand, remained calm. You’ve dealt with this situation before and knew how to handle his spirals. You also know that the door isn’t going to budge even with Japan's strongest hero banging down on it.
“Hey Izu?” you called out, sweetly. “You’re not trying to use your quirk to break down the door, are you?”
The banging and rattling immediately stopped and was followed by a long pause.
“H-Huh?”
“Right. You wouldn’t do that because you know that during the remodeling you replaced all the doors and windows with a specific material that can’t be broken or shattered by any quirk including abnormal strength quirks, right?” You try to mask your teasing tone, but can’t help but slyly smile, imagining the embarrassed look on his face.
“N-No! I mean yes! I do remember that…” he mumbled sheepishly.
You stifle a giggle. Izuku is always fun to tease. “Zuzu. How about we make a deal?”
“A deal?”
“Yeah. If you set a time for an hour I promise, even when the rest of the boys come home first, you will be the first one to get welcome home hugs and kisses.”
This is a big deal in the apartment. It’s become routine that when the boys come home you greet them with a hug and kisses. Normally, only a certain hothead has been the reigning champion of that routine since they’re always the first one home. Izuku has always wanted to be the first one home so he can love you first, but his schedule never gave him the opportunity, having to settle for second place and, sometimes, third place. You can tell from the happy mumblings behind the door that he’s ecstatic about it, however…
“An hour? I don’t know if I can wait for an hour.” he whined.
You hum and think for a minute. “Okay, how about 45 minutes? You can get started on dinner so the time goes by faster. I’d really love it if you made me your delicious Karaage.”
“Okay! It’s a promise! I’ll get started right away!” You can hear the excitement in his voice as his footsteps headed towards the kitchen.
You laugh lightly at your goofy boyfriend and relax back into the tub, reopening your book.
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Time passed and you are at a particularly steamy moment in the novel –
“Farmhand Ben ran his calloused fingers through her hair – his hot breath causing a shiver to run down her spine. This feeling was new to Dorothy. Sparks of heat were radiating from her womanhood that couldn’t be smothered by the stormy flood that soaked her cotton panties. Her nipples stood erect at the scent of a dominant man’s musk.”
“...Her what now?”
Suddenly, the front door slammed shut and heavy and impatient footsteps could be heard throughout the apartment. You jump at the sudden noise only to calm down once you recognize the shouting – Bakugou Katsuki, your second boyfriend and Japan’s number two hero. His shouts can be heard all the way to the bathroom. Again, the kitchen and the master bathroom is far so the fact you could hear him only made it more prominent how loud he’s being. You roll your eyes when you hear him shout at Izuku.
“Oi! (Y/N)! Where the hell are you?!”
Normally, Bakugou is the first one home so it’s become routine that you’re the first one he sees and he’s the first one to receive a welcome home hug and kiss. He always brags about it to make the others jealous.
You groan inwardly. You love your boyfriend, but sometimes he’s too damn loud. Before you could respond, Bakugou’s already in front of the bathroom door, hammering and rattling the door and doorknob harder than Izuku had. Izuku must’ve told him where you were.
“Welcome home, Katsuki.” you greet nonchalantly.
“Don’t fuck with me! What the hell’re you doing in there with the door locked?!” he asked, his voice full of aggression and annoyance. Typical Bakugou.
“I’m doing my taxes.”
“(Y/N).” he warned.
“I’m taking a bubble bath, Katsuki.”
“Why the hell are you taking a bath?!”
“Um, to smell good obviously.”
“Then why don’t you take a shower, dumbass?!”
“I’m not having this argument with you again!”
Another big bang came from behind the door.
“Get the hell out here! I want my hugs and kisses!” he demanded.
“I’m kinda naked and wet right now!”
“You’re always fucking wet and naked!”
Blushing, you stuttered and quickly changed the subject. “D-Didn’t you yell at Izu yesterday for tracking water on the bathroom floor after his shower?”
“That’s different! That shitty nerd can barely dry his hair and he’s always wandering around the house half-dry!”
You sigh heavily and lean back, resting your head against the edge of the tub. You refuse to let his temper ruin your mood. “Well, I’m not done yet. I’ll give you a proper ‘welcome home’ when I’m done, okay? Just be patient.”
A tense silence filled the air only lightened a bit by your music before he spoke again. “I’m not in the mood to be ignored, babe.”
“I’m not ignoring you! I just want to take a bubble bath in peace.”
You hear the muffled popping of his quirk against the door. Bakugou is a very needy person. Clingy and needy might sound the same, but between Izuku and Bakugou it’s a huge difference. Izuku is the clingy type in the same sense that he pleads and holds onto you 24/7 begging for kisses and whispering ‘i love you’s’ all day long. Bakugou is the needy type to where if you forget to give him a kiss once he’ll have a temper tantrum and demand double kisses and never let you forget it again. Whatever he wants is a need and whatever he needs he wants. You sigh again quietly hearing the muffled booms get louder and louder, the slight smell of smoke seeping into the bathroom.
“Hey Katsuki?”
“Hah?!”
“I’d really love it if you made us your spicy ramen for dinner tonight.”
“Haah?!!”
“If you make it, I promise that as soon as I’m done I’ll give you double the kisses and sit on your lap during dinner.”
There was a pause as the booms came to a stop. “You promise?”
“I promise.” you reassure.
He let out a huff. “Tch, fine! But you better keep your damn promise! Or I’m busting this damn door down!”
With that, he stormed off, grumbling loudly under his breath. You knew he wouldn’t really break down the door. Not only because it was an idle threat, but also because after Izuku made the windows and doors virtually unbreakable, he hired someone to make the doors fire retardant as well. You remember him calling Izuku an idiot for not thinking about the “obvious”. You returned back to your book, raising the volume of Mary J. Blige’s I’m Going Down slightly to drown out Bakugou’s yelling.
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You lost track of time as you continued to read your novel, nearly reaching the end:
“Dorothy ran away from the ranch that night. Ran away from the barn where she became a woman. Ran away from Farmhand Ben. Ran away from the only place she ever called home. She couldn’t describe the betrayal she felt nor the heartbreak that racked her body. Heavy rain poured down on Dorothy’s small frame, soaking her white attire. She ran far on the winding dirt road, her breasts bobbing boobily with every bounce. Her nipples twirling–”
“Okay, what the actual fuck am I reading? Who the fuck wrote this?” You look at the front and back of the book. “T.I.A Morison? …There’s no picture either? Oh my god, this was written by a fucking man, wasn’t it?!”
“(Y/N), are you in there?” A soft voice called out to you, surprising you from your rant. Shoto Todoroi, your third boyfriend, is finally home. You were so wrapped up in this shitty smut that you didn’t hear the front door or his footsteps approaching the bathroom door.
“Oh, yeah Shoto. I’m in the bath,” you answer, placing your book down on the floor. “Welcome home.”
“I’m home.”
“...”
“...”
“Shoto?” you called out, wondering why he’s being silent. “Do you need something?”
“I need you.” he answered, quickly and bluntly.
You laugh. “I’m taking a bubble bath right now, honey. Can you wait until I finish?”
He pauses before speaking again. “I heard you talking about a man.”
“Oh yeah.” you grumbled, thinking to yourself that you should return the book tomorrow.
“Why?”
“Um…”
“Are you thinking of other men? Why were you shouting about another man? Is that why the door is locked?”
You sigh to yourself. Shoto is the most obsessive out of the other two with a big mix of clingy and needy. He’d burn down an apartment building at the slightest mention of you being chilly. He’s actually the one that “suggested” that you stay at home. Well, his actual first suggestion is to keep you locked in the bedroom so you won’t get hurt wandering the apartment.
“Answer me, (Y/N).” An icey bitterness blows from under the door and sends a chill down your spine, making you sink a little deeper into the now lukewarm water.
“Woah, calm down, honey.” you soothe. “I was just talking about the author of this novel I’m reading. Clearly there are men walking this earth that don’t know a goddamn thing about female anatomy!” You’re getting riled up thinking about the paragraph.
“So… you aren’t thinking about men?”
“Absolutely not. You, Katsuki, and Izuku are all I think about.”
“Prove it.”
“Um… prove what?”
“Prove that you weren’t thinking about another man. Show me the book.”
“Haah… Shoto, baby… I know that’s just a ploy to get me to open the door, but I promise that once I’m done, I’ll show you the book so that you can burn it because honestly it’s not even worth the hassle of returning it.”
“...”
“Shoto?”
“I don’t like this.”
“Hm? Don’t like what?”
“Talking to this door and… only hearing your voice. I want to see you and touch you and hold you when we talk. I don’t like it when you’re away from me.” he explained, a pleading tone evident in his voice. “It makes me… anxious.”
You feel a bit guilty. Shoto’s always the last one home so he’s always in last place to everything happening in the relationship. Cuddles, kisses, hand holding, movie nights, dinner times, date nights, etc.. Even though he never mentioned it, you always got the feeling he felt left out when it came to together and alone time since Bakugou and Izuku would swoop up and steal you. Especially during bedtime.
“I’m sorry, Sho. I didn’t mean to make you anxious.” you apologize. “To make it up to you, I will… cuddle you for the next 3 nights and make you your favorite food for those days as well. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“You promise?” he asked, his voice soft.
“I promise.” you replied.
Just then, rapid footsteps approached the door.
“(Y/N)! (Y/N)! It’s been 45 minutes! Remember your promise!” Izuku announced, knocking impatiently.
“Yeah yeah! Okay, I’m getting out now.”
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You emerged from the bedroom and walked into the living room, fully dried off and wearing Shoto’s shirt with your comfy dolphin shorts. You smile seeing all your boyfriends setting up the table in their own casual pajamas. Thank goodness this apartment had more than one bathroom. Once Katsuki notices you, he groans and rolls his eyes, making his way to you.
“Fucking finally! Thought you were gonna be in there all night!” He raises his arms to hug you, but you stop him.
“Nuh-uh.” You step aside.
“Huh?! The fuck you mean “nuh-uh”?!”
“Izuku got home first and I promised him that I would greet him first.”
You walk up and hug your smiley freckled boyfriend. Katsuki clicked his tongue.
“Shitty Deku! Don’t think you’re hot shit just ‘cause you got home first! If I weren’t busy dealing with idiots and shitty villains, I’d be home first! I’ll be here first tomorrow so fall back behind me, shitnerd!”
“I just got lucky to get home first, Kacchan. Don’t be selfish.” Izuku responded calmly with a smirk. He cupped your cheek and placed a gentle kiss on your lips.
“I missed you…” he murmured into your shoulder, placing soft kisses along your clavicle.
“It was only 45 minutes, silly.” you say with a laugh. “But I missed you too.”
Izuku raised his face to look at you with a soft look in his eyes that still had a hint of neediness in them. “Yeah, but it felt like forever…” he mumbled, reluctantly letting you after a few minutes.
Katsuki stared at you intensely as you approached him. He hates being in second place, especially to Izuku. His usual scowl fixed to his face, but you know deep down he’s just as eager to get a kiss from you as the others.
“Took you long enough, dumbass.” he grumbled, his hands immediately settling on your waist and pulling you in close.
You roll your eyes playfully and wrap your arms around his neck. “Yeah, yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
He clicked his tongue and leaned in close, his lips barely touching yours. “Damn right, you should be.” he muttered, his expression softening as he leaned in for a kiss. His kisses are rough and demanding, but have an unmistakable sense of warmth and neediness. As promised, you gave him double the kisses which he took full advantage of, taking his chances to shoot boastful glares at a jealous Izuku. When he finally pulled back, he pressed his forehead against yours and stared lovingly in your eyes.
“Lock me out again and I’ll destroy every damn door in this place, got it?” he ordered, his voice taking on a commanding tone.
“Got it.” you whisper back, giving him one last peck on the nose before moving onto Shoto.
Shoto’s gaze remains unwavering as you approach him, his heterochromatic eyes staring deeply into your soul. He didn’t say a word, just simply grabbed onto your waist with a firm grasp.
“I’m home.” he whispered softly, possessiveness in his tone as he smiled at you. Before you can greet him back, he quickly leaned in and captured your lips with a slow, deep kiss that left you breathless. His cool fingers traced the line down your back causing a shiver to run down your spine. He chucked against your lips, savoring the shivers from your body pressed against him. When he pulled back, he buried his face in your neck. “Next time, let me in with you. I can’t stand being away from you too long.”
You chuckle softly and nod. “Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.”
With all three of them satisfied – at least for now – you pulled away and looked at your chefs for tonight’s dinner.
“Now, can we eat?” you ask, licking your lips. “I’m starving and the food smells soo good.”
Izuku nods eagerly, his eyes brightening. “Yes, of course! I hope you like it! I tried really hard to make it extra yummy for you!”
Bakugou sucked his teeth and crossed his arms. “If it tastes like shit, I’m killing you, shitty nerd!”
You giggle lightly at the banter happening between two of your boyfriends and take a seat next to Bakugou as promised, which made him smirk in silent pride. He nearly pulled you into his lap, that’s how close he wanted you next to him. However, you weren’t focused on that. You were focused on the delicious aroma of fried chicken and spicy ramen that filled the living room. The combination of food in front of you makes your mouth water and the table is soon filled with the chattering of chopsticks and the satisfied slurps and hums of approval.
“Mm! You really outdid yourself, Izu!” you exclaim between bites, munching eagerly on the chicken. “This is amazing!”
“I’m glad you like it! I tried my best!” Izuku beamed, a light blush dusting his cheeks.
Katsuki huffed. “It’s not that amazing. It’s under-seasoned and the chicken is chewy as hell.”
Yet, you saw that he continued to eat the non-amazing chicken. “Aww~! Are you jealous, Ka-tsu-ki~?” you tease.
A bright red blush covered Bakugou’s cheeks and the tip of ears. “H-Hah?! Fucking no!”
“I love your spicy ramen too, Katsuki. You’re such an amazing chef.” Sometimes it helps to stroke his ego to yield his jealousy.
Bakugou huffed again, clearly pleased with your praise, but trying to play it off. “Of course it’s good. I made it, didn’t I?”
You laugh at his tsundere-like response, but before you could tease him anymore, Izuku interjected. “So, how was your day, (Y/N)? What did you do while we were out?”
“Oh, not much.” you answer, taking a bit of spicy ramen. “Just ran a few errands, went to the bookstore, not much else.”
They all stopped immediately and gave you varying looks of surprise and concern.
Shoto raises his eyebrow. “You went outside?”
“Mhm.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah, but just for a bit.” you reassure, already sensing the possessiveness radiating from them. “Plus, I wasn’t gone all day. Maybe 2 or 3 hours max and just to a couple of stores.”
Each of your boyfriends exchanged knowing looks as you continued.
“Oh! I also ran into Sero and Kaminari while I was out.”
That set them off. Izuku’s eyes darkened at the mention of their names, small lines of smoke rose from Shoto, and Bakugou scowled harshly, snapping his chopsticks in half and pulling you closer to him tightly.
“Those two extra?” Bakugou growled irritably. “What the fuck did they want with you?”
“They just said hi and asked how everyone was doing,” you tell them, shrugging. “Oh! And Kaminari said that there’s going to be a drinking party this Friday and they want you to come, Katsuki. He said Mina, Kirishima, and Ochako are gonna be there too–”
“Fuck that!” he spat. “Why the hell would I want to waste my time with those bastards when I can come home and drink for free and be with people I actually care about?!”
“Aw Bakubabe–”
“Shut the fuck up, Icy-hot!”
“Well, they knew you would say that so they told me to tell you that they're gonna go ahead and reserve the restaurant anyway. They didn’t tell me the name because they were afraid you’d call and cancel, but they did say that it was a place that had your credit card on file.”
Tiny sparks popped from Bakugou’s clenched fist, burning his broken chopsticks. “Those damn bastards…”
Shoto’s expression remained neutral, but the grip on his chopsticks tightened, freezing it nearly solid. “I don’t like the idea of you going out alone.” Shoto said firmly.
Izuku, trying to stay calm but visibly anxious, chimed in as well. “I agree with Todoroki! W-What if something happened to you and we couldn’t get to you? There’s been an increase in villain attacks lately and I’d never forgive myself if–”
“Woah there, Zuzu. Breathe, all of you. Nothing happened I swear. I was careful and made sure to stay in the safe areas. Besides, I’m pretty capable of defending myself with all the stuff you guys gave me. The pepper spray, taser, pocket knives, mace, bear mace, brass knuckles, brass knuckles with a taser in it–”
“W-What?! I never gave you any of that stuff!”
“I gave it to them. You can never be too cautious with these fucking people.” Katsuki grumbled, his grip tightening on your thigh.
“Katsuki’s right. And I promise, it was just a quick trip. I just didn’t want to be cooped up inside all day. I really don’t mind staying inside, but I really had an itch to go outside today. I’ve even read every book in this house, even the manual for the dishwasher, refrigerator, and toaster oven which is why I went to the bookstore. Oh, that reminds me. Shoto sweetie, I need you to burn a book for me.”
Bakugou grumbled something under his breath, still clearly annoyed, but he didn’t push it further since the bigger problem of Sero and Kaminari abusing his card in a random restaurant made him angrier. Shoto’s gaze lingered on you a bit longer before he sighed and nodded, accepting your explanation.
“Wait… burn your book?”
To ease the tension, Izuku quickly perked up. “Oh! I know! Since I’m off tomorrow, if you want, how about we go on a date? Just the two of us.” His eyes sparkled with excitement.
You smile at him. “We haven’t been out together in a while. I’d love that.”
“Yay! It’s a date!” he exclaimed, giddy with anticipation.
The rest of dinner became relaxed again as you all talked about your day, the current hero gossip, and the latest on villain activity in the city.
꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷
After dinner, you all heated to bed. As promised, you cuddled up next to Shoto, who’s already lying under the covers waiting for you. He pulled you into his embrace the moment you slipped into bed, his blend of cool and hot soothing you.
“I’ve been looking forward to this since dinner.” Shoto whispered against your ear, his breath tickling your neck and sending shivers down your spine. His grip on you is firm, almost like he’s staking his claim on you, but there’s a gentleness in how he holds you close.
You snuggled closer into him, feeling his heartbeat steady against your back. “I promised, didn’t I?” you murmured back, smiling.
Meanwhile, Izuku and Bakugou stood at the foot of the bed, looking at you two with a mixture of resignation and jealousy. Izuku pouted, clearly wanting to be the one holding you and Bakugou just crossed his arms, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
“Tch! You’re hogging them, you icy-hot bastard.” Katsuki complained.
Shoto simply closed his eyes, content with having you in his arms. “You’ll get your turn in 3 days.” he sighed calmly.
“What the hell?!”
“3 days?! That’s not fair!”
“A promise is a promise, Zuku. Don’t be selfish.” you say, throwing his words back at him.
It was Izuku’s turn to huff with a pout. He climbed into bed, facing you while Bakugou settled in behind him. “Fine,” he grumbled, a pout on his adorable lips. “but I’m not letting you get away with this again.” He reached out his hand to gently touch your, interlocking your fingers with his. Katsuki grunted in agreement, sleep taking over him.
As the night grew quiet, the soft sound of their breathing lulled you to sleep. Shoto’s arms were wrapped securely around you and Izuku intimately held your hand even in deep sleep. Bakugou’s soft snoring even sounded melodic. Their combined warmth surrounded you in a cocoon of affection.
Maybe next time you’ll invite them to your next bubble bath.
─── ⋆⋅ ❤︎ ⋅⋆ ───
a/n: making my first poly mha fanfic so i hope i did good! also trying out a new new style and format so let me know if you like it! my inbox is open so if you have a suggestion, shoot me one. i'm not the best at answering, but i do my best!♡
