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"Taehyung? Why are there huge gashes on the couch?"
The hybrid looked up from where he was sitting at the kitchen island. "Isn't it obvious? I scratched it."
"I know that. I want to know what possessed you to do it."
"I was bored."
Jimin didn't bother to question any further but instead took the bowl of cereal away from Taehyung's grasp. "Apologize."
"Why would I apologize if I'm not the least bit sorry?"
It was at these times where Jimin wondered why he brought Taehyung home. "Go to your room." But then he remembered the burn marks all over Taehyung's body. "I'll call you when I finish dinner." He couldn't find it in himself to be mad at him.
The wind blew as hard as the street lights flickered; the crisp smell of autumn mingled with the scent of day old bread as Jimin walked home after a long day baking with Seokjin. It'd been a long day and he couldn't wait to let himself relax with a warm bath. He hummed a tune before letting out a screech of surprise. The plastic bag was torn into shreds; the bread tumbled onto the sidewalk. A huge weight on top of Jimin's chest as a low growl filled the silence.
Not bothering to knock, Jimin silently walked over to where Taehyung was curled up in bed. The blanket barely covering his feet; Jimin made a mental note to buy bigger blankets. He made sure to tap on the hybrid's hand, anywhere else would have either hurt or scared the sleeping figure.
"Time to eat." Taehyung's long eyelashes fluttered and all Jimin wanted to do was to engrave the sight in his mind.
They ate in silence with the tv playing at a low volume, completely dismissed when Taehyung put his spoon down. "What are you scared of?”
Caught off guard, Jimin finished the spoonful of rice in his mouth. "What?"
"When was the last time you cried?”
"I don’t remember?"
"I’m still trying to see the good in you."
"I hope you don't have to look for much longer."
Taehyung looked around the small house as he kept his spot near the foyer. A bun in his dirt covered hand.
"I'll look for something to treat those burns, you can sit on the couch for now."
He was reluctant to follow the human home, especially after attacking said human. It was instinctive when he smelt the sweet aroma of the bread, he couldn't help himself after starving for a week. As he sat on the soft couch, the human who introduced himself as Jimin came back with a small jar.
"This cream will heal your wounds but you should clean yourself up first. You can take a bath upstairs."
Jimin let him stay in the guest room that night and the nights that followed. Whenever Taehyung had a nightmare, the human would rush into the room and grab his hands and whisper calmly. "You're having a nightmare! It's not real!"
Jimin dropped the new blankets when he saw the curtains ripped up and picture frames shattered on the ground. "Taehyung!" When he received no answer, he rushed to the guest room and felt his fist curl tighter at his sides. "I let you live with me and this is how you repay me?"
"It was your choice to invite me into your home. I'll leave as soon as you can't sustain yourself. If you're so mad, why don't you just hit me. I know my previous owners liked that method well."
"You obviously didn't learn a thing about me for the past month."
The hybrid only shrugged his shoulders. "I'm still curious as to why you let me stay."
"Because I was lonely!" Tears threatened to fall as he slammed the door along the way out. Taehyung's breath hitched, he was lonely too.
By the time Taehyung could think properly, the house was empty. He looked around and saw the floor swept of broken glass and the curtains pulled together despite the huge gashes. There was a large cashmere blanket kicked to the side of the room and it was softer than anything he had ever touched in his life. He knew the blankets in the house were long enough to cover Jimin's short stature but it barley reached his own ankles. He couldn't have bought it for me did he?
"I'll only stay with you if you can take care of me. I won't go through that ever again. When the time comes that you can't do me any good, I'll be gone."
The hybrid spoke in a tone that made Jimin think twice. "Make yourself at home."
Jimin walked around the neighborhood to clear his mind. Houses were all lit up with colourful lights as the Christmas season was coming up. He could hear the cars drive over the wet snow that covered the ground. Maybe in a few weeks time, his hearing would become more heightened. Everybody did say that when you lose a sense, the others come back stronger.
The snow was beginning to seep into his sweater and Jimin decided that maybe it was time to let Taehyung go. There was only so much he could try before giving up.
In the weeks that followed, Taehyung didn't ruin any laundry nor did he rip any pillows. Jimin could almost see the guilt that clouded the hybrid's eyes when he told him the blanket was indeed for him; it made him feel horrible at what was to come. They were only beginning to settle into a comfortable routine.
He was already in bed when he called Taehyung in, the latter had a bright smile that sank Jimin's heart.
"I think it's time for you to leave."
Taehyung's tail came to a sudden halt, his face rigid. "You just called me in here." Although it was a playful response, the wavering in his voice meant otherwise.
"Not my room Tae."
"You know, it didn't hurt so much at first. But then it felt like I was branded over and over again. I ran away from him and now I almost regret jumping on you that night just as much. I trusted you."
Jimin ran his hand through the hybrid's hair, fingers stroking the ear. "You shouldn't forgive me."
The next morning, Jimin could only remember Taehyung's face. He blinked twice, nothing. The silence in the home told him that he was truly alone. There wasn't any shows on in the living room, the rhythmic sound of Taehyung's breathing, or the sound of Taehyung's tail wagging as he looked outside the window. The silence mocked him as he reached around and made his way out of his room, he couldn't function and that was exactly what Taehyung had said.
The stick that he had prepared in advance could only help so much, there were still limits in how much it could do. He couldn't brew his own coffee properly nor could he put on his shirt rightwards, never mind picking the right colours. He spent the day sitting near the playground as he listened to the children throw snow and scream with joy. He could hear a pair of footsteps stop nearby and caught a faint murmur of their conversation.
"Poor thing. Such a pretty hybrid but such a shame for it to be an eye dog."
Taehyung only took the blanket when he left the house. He whimpered as he kicked snow onto the road; he had genuinely thought that he and Jimin were becoming closer. His ears were flat on his head when he looked back to the small blue house that he had considered his home. More so than when he lived with his previous owner. He should've known this was coming, Jimin never had him registered for a collar. A week passed and he didn't realize it but he was waiting to see him again. It wasn't until a few more days passed when the sun came out and so did his claws when he saw the little door open. Jimin came out wearing a bright yellow sweater with maroon slacks. What stood out the most from his unusual outfit was the white stick with the red band around it.
He followed Jimin to the park and sat next to him on the bench. He let out a loud growl when a young couple who had their own hybrid with a gold collar dared to bring an upset Jimin who let a frown sit on his face.
"I'm not an eye dog."
Jimin's head whipped towards the familiar voice and dropped his stick. "Taehyung?"
The hybrid made sure they were alone again before handing the stick back to Jimin. "You should've told me."
"Would you have stayed? Nothing would have changed from what happened last night."
Taehyung brushed off the snow that was collecting on his tail. "But we changed."
They sat in silence for a while before Taehyung spoke up. "I don't want to just be a chapter in your story."
Jimin's hand reached for Taehyung's face. "Even if I'm like this."
He caught the hand and brought it to his chest. "I'll follow you anywhere."