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“Don’t go, Jiminie!”
Jimin groans at Hoseok’s words. He’s been freaking out ever since he said that he’s going to the lake. He hasn’t swam in that lake for three years.
He’s going to that lake.
They’re currently in Namjoon’s grandparents’ lake house. They used to visit it for a week every summer with their family. It stopped when they moved out and Namjoon got several jobs to support them both, which led to him having no time to take a day off because they couldn’t afford it. But now that Namjoon and Seokjin, Namjoon’s boyfriend, live together and contribute to the bills equally, Namjoon was able to quit his jobs and find a job with a less demanding schedule and more vacation days.
Namjoon’s grandparents passed away a few months ago. They left Namjoon the lake house, so he, Seokjin, Hoseok, and Jimin left Seoul and went to Daejeon to clean out the house and fix it up. Namjoon is already talking about returning here every summer for at least three weeks, which pleases Jimin very much.
He’s always loved water, which other cat hybrids found odd. Maybe it is because he’s a Turkish Van Cat hybrid, a breed that often spends more time in the water than they do on land. If you couldn’t find him, he would most likely be at the apartment swimming pool or chilling by the Han River. If it was raining, he’d run outside and play around in it, much to the chagrin of Hoseok and Seokjin.
Jimin loves water. He lives and breathes for anything that has to do with it. So it’s irritating when he’s being begged to not enjoy one of the things he loves the most.
“Hobi, for the last time, I’m not going to die.”
Hoseok huffs, his cheeks puffed out and his small soft green and white wings flapping in indignance. “You never know!” he shoots back, scrambling for an excuse.
Jimin rolls his eyes as Hoseok begins to list off things that could potentially harm him or whatever. His ears twitch and turn at the sound of approaching footsteps.
His savior comes in the disappointing form of Namjoon. He’s walking to the dinner table with plates in his hands that are full of steaming hot food that Seokjin made, barely managing not to trip and spill the food everywhere. It smells absolutely divine. Seokjin is a total beast in the kitchen, and with him around, Jimin never has to worry about eating a dull, sorry meal ever again.
Jimin’s stomach growls eagerly.
“Joonie-hyung, save me from Hobi!” Jimin cries, hoping that Namjoon would be of use.
The human looks over at them like a deer in headlights. He takes in the sight, his mouth dropping open to let out a long, very eloquent: “Uh…”
He’s hopeless.
“Tell Jimin that it’s too late to go to the lake! Tell him, Joonie!” Hoseok says, his eyes round with a semi-crazed look to them. Namjoon’s eyes widen before he shakes his head and steps back with his hands in the air.
“No. I am not getting involved in one of your arguments.”
Jimin whines, pouting at Namjoon. “But, hyung! You have to back me up!”
“No. I want no parts.”
The cat hybrid scowls, tail lashing at the betrayal. He’ll make sure to handle Namjoon later. He hopes that Namjoon likes salty cupcakes.
Thankfully, his actually useful savior, Seokjin, enters the room, a few more dishes in his capable hands. Jimin perks up. Hoseok’s human is reliable and wise. He’ll help Jimin out. If anyone can reason with Hoseok, it’s him.
Jimin pulls away from Hoseok and runs up to the older human, latching onto his side like a sticky barnacle after he puts down the plates. Stumbling at the sudden force, Seokjin looks down at him after stabilizing himself, eyebrows furrowed in concern.
“What’s wrong, Jimin-ah?”
“Hyung,” he says, his voice a whiny plea, “you gotta save me from Hoseokie.”
Seokjin pets his head, making Jimin purr softly. Seokjin’s so nice. He always pets Jimin. He’s so smart.
Namjoon doesn’t deserve him, he thinks bitterly.
“What are you guys fighting about now?” he asks, a hint of mirth in his warm voice.
“Tell Jiminie he can’t go to the lake now! It’s too dark out! What if a shark gets him? What if there are piranhas that have a taste for cat hybrid meat? What if there are—“
“Uh, Hoseok, there's still light out. I think you’re just being anxious again,” Namjoon interrupts, scratching his head.
“I’m not!” Hoseok squawks, stamping his foot in frustration. The feathers dappling his body fluff up as he grows more upset. His face takes a pink tint to it. “I have completely valid reasons!”
“Just because you hate bodies of water doesn’t mean Jimin does,” Seokjin reminds Hoseok gently. There’s another squawk.
“I do not hate bodies of water! I just…”
“You freak out when you step in puddles, Hoseok,” Namjoon points out with a fond smile. The man is not lying. Jimin’s seen Hoseok jump ten feet in the air when he unexpectedly dips a toe in an unseen puddle.
“That’s besides the point!” the parakeet hybrid shouts angrily. Jimin tenses as he senses the sudden, very real and desperate tone in Hoseok’s voice. He sounds like he’s scarily close to tears. If they aren’t careful, he’ll slip into one of his moods. “Tell Jimin he has to wait until the morning. He has to!”
“Hoseok,” Seokjin says, his calm, smooth voice a stark contrast to Hoseok’s pitchy one, “you know how Jimin is. He can handle himself just fine. Right, Minie?”
Jimin hums, nodding and rubbing his head against Seokjin’s neck. Seokjin smells nice, like vanilla and lavender and all the comforting things in the world. He always does.
“But—But, Jin-hyung—“
“I know that you’re concerned for Jimin. Which is great. But you can’t stop him from doing what he wants just because you don’t feel comfortable with it, birdie.”
“But—“ Hoseok cuts himself off. He sighs, shoulders sagging as his wings and feathers droop and settle against body. “Okay.”
“Hug?” Seokjin says, holding out an arm. Hoseok quickly shuffles closer and deposits himself in Seokjin’s embrace. Jimin hears him take in a deep, shaky breath. “We’re not mad at you. You were just having one of those moments, and that’s okay. We just need to recognize it as it happens and work on it, yeah?”
Jimin can feel Hoseok calming down, his breaths evening out and body unwinding. “Okay. I’m sorry, Jiminie. Sorry that it happened again,” Hoseok murmurs, sounding embarrassed and sorrowful.
Jimin rushes to console him, knowing that Hoseok will go on to beat himself up about this if he doesn’t verbally reassure him. At the end of the day, Jimin knows that he can’t help his spiraling anxiety. It’s the same as Jimin being unable to resist knocking delicate things off of counters and tables.
It’s not his fault that they’re so enticing and just begging to be knocked over.
“No, no, it’s okay, Hobari. I forgive you.”
Seokjin hugs them tighter.
Seokjin is great for Hoseok. Seokjin is Hoseok’s owner—has been since they were little—but he’s always treated Hoseok with respect. Hoseok is very high energy—that’s just who is as a person and a hybrid, and it tends to show in his thoughts and actions. When left unchecked and ungrounded, Hoseok can come up with some of the most outlandish thoughts Jimin has ever heard, and the parakeet hybrid wholeheartedly believes them at times, leading him to be somewhat anxious and skittish most of the time.
Jimin thought Hoseok was strange and annoying when they first met. Hoseok is simultaneously the most trusting and distrustful person he’s ever met. But if it is within some form of reasoning, he will believe whatever he is told or sees, be it good or bad. That’s one of the reasons why Hoseok can’t stomach horror movies at all—especially ones that involve stalking. He ends up thinking that he is being followed shortly after and can’t sleep, leaving him anxiety-riddled and shaking for days on end.
Jimin used to take advantage of this and would regularly trick him for his own entertainment. He’s ashamed to admit that he thought the parakeet’s suffering was funny. To him, he was just a funny, stupid bird that believed anything that he was told. He could tell Hoseok that the sky was falling and the bird would believe him.
He finally stopped when Hoseok broke down after Jimin told him that he overheard Seokjin was thinking about disowning him and putting him up for adoption. He’ll never forget the gut-wrenching smell of fear and despair that permeated the air. It lifted the selfish fog clouding his mind and made him confront his shitty actions.
Yeah, Jimin wasn’t exactly the nicest person before… he was more than a selfish asshole. Jealousy tended to guide his thoughts and actions before he actually thought about the consequences. The many years of being spoiled by Namjoon’s family turned him rotten, and he loathed the fact that Namjoon and Seokjin gave attention to Hoseok. But it wasn’t the parakeet’s fault. He just needs a little more attention than others to function properly. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Most would scold or ridicule or yell at Hoseok for being the way he is but Seokjin doesn’t, and instead, he finds ways to calmly talk Hoseok down from whatever he is thinking. He’s patient and never blows up at him for whatever reason, even when Hoseok is caught up in one of his moods and can’t be talked out of it.
Despite what it seems like, Jimin cares for Hoseok deeply. Possibly past the point of deep companionship. He’s sweet, friendly, and is like the sunshine Jimin loves to laze around in during the early morning. He’s highly intelligent and wise when his judgement isn’t being clouded by misguided fear. Jimin has learned many things from the parakeet hybrid.
Jimin isn’t stupid. He notices all of the restrictions that are placed on hybrids, keeping them dependent on humans no matter what. That hybrids can be treated like trash and can’t do anything because it is not within their rights to do so. And so humans generally treat hybrids like objects that should be seen but never heard.
Seokjin could easily be one of those humans, but he isn’t. He’s even nice to Jimin despite him being his boyfriend’s hybrid. He’s the first partner of Namjoon’s out of the many before him that Jimin has met to still be with them after four months because they usually do something to Jimin that makes Namjoon kick them to the curb.
Seokjin sees both hybrids as equals, as little brothers he takes care of. He supports whatever they’re interested in, but he doesn’t smother them with his love or treat them like they’re helpless kits. He allows them to be as independent as they can be in their society and is there for them if they need someone to fall back on. He’s truly one of the nicest people ever, and Jimin loves him for that.
Namjoon is the same way. He encourages them whenever they want to learn something and would often try his hand at whatever they were doing even if he would do terribly at it. Even when Namjoon was in school, he’d come home and teach Jimin the material he learned that day, even when he was sick or really busy. He’s the reason why Jimin likes writing poems and reading books today.
In short, Jimin loves his family.
“I want a hug too.”
Jimin lifts his head out of Seokjin’s neck to look at Namjoon. The grown man is pouting pathetically at them, looking like a kicked puppy.
Jimin barely resists the urge to roll his eyes.
God, Namjoon is so whipped. It’s disgusting.
“You can join too.”
Hissing, Jimin pulls away before he can be smothered by Namjoon. The man is like an overgrown dog that doesn’t realize it’s not a puppy anymore. Whenever Namjoon hugs someone, they’re at risk of being squeezed to death—unless you’re Hoseok, who he treats like the most delicate piece of fine china known to man.
Hoseok has pulled away also and is watching the pair of fond humans with fond eyes. Jimin’s heart sings with admiration. He senses Jimin’s gaze on him and smiles. Jimin returns the gesture. Then, it turns into a plotting smirk.
Jimin jerks his head in the direction of the food. He doesn’t speak, but Hoseok knows him well. The parakeet hybrid barely represses his snickers and nods. Hand in hand, they walk to the dining table, the smell of the food luring the two hungry hybrids in.
Jimin is halfway into his meal when Seokjin yells, “Yah! My pork belly!”
————
After waiting 45 minutes because of Hoseok’s insistence (they had to satisfy him somehow), Jimin heads out to the lake with a final hug from Seokjin, Hoseok yelling at him to be safe, and Namjoon telling him not to overexert himself.
Jimin laughs.
Ha!
As if can overexert himself while swimming! He’s the master of the waters, the conqueror of oceans and seas! Overexerting himself while swimming is like saying that pigs can fly. It’ll never happen!
He’s almost vibrating with giddiness as he approaches the familiar shore of the lake. The formerly colorful sky is now giving way to darkness, the moon shyly peeking out the horizon of trees.
Jimin quickly sheds his clothes until he’s left in his wetsuit. He doesn’t really like wearing them—doesn’t like the way they cling to his form, but Seokjin made him compromise.
“It’s either the wetsuit or pajamas,” the human said with the most gentle yet threatening smile Jimin had ever witnessed.
Seokjin can be quite scary.
Not wasting a single moment, he wades into the water, smiling uncontrollably at the familiar, sorely-missed sensation. It’s been way too long since he’s swam in a natural body of water. Chlorine leaves his fur feeling all icky and matted. It’s nice to not have to slather his tail and ears in fur shampoo and conditioner every time he takes a swim.
After a bit, his toes leave the bottom of the lake, and he ventures further out at a casual, unhurried pace. His ears swivel and twitch as he picks up the sounds of nature around him. It puts him at ease, calms him like nothing else can.
Jimin swims around for a bit, purring in content before flipping onto his back. He looks at the starry sky, watching the moon as it rises. With a smile, he closes his eyes and lets himself just float aimlessly, becoming one with nature.
That’s until something brushes against his leg.
He squeaks, flailing in panic before remembering that he can tread water. He looks around warily, searching for the thing responsible for touching him. Only fish and vegetation should be in this lake. Nothing else. Maybe it is a branch from a t—
He startles, quickly swimming a few meters to the side.
There it is again!
Huffing, he dives under the water to investigate, cheeks puffed as he holds his breath. He then releases that breath as he screams in shock when his eyes meet two glowing blue ones, and he quickly resurfaces, coughing.
A splash sounds quite a bit ahead of him. He quickly looks at it, only to see nothing. Suddenly, something that glows a gentle blue approaches him steadily, and Jimin swims back hesitantly, unnerved at how fast and smoothly it advances. Nothing should move that fast in water. Unless it’s an alligator.
Is there such a thing as a bioluminescent alligator?
His stomach twists. Jimin isn’t one to put stock in Hoseok’s anxious thoughts, but maybe the parakeet hybrid was right. Maybe some type of fish unknown to mankind resides in this lake and it’s looking to get a taste of hybrid flesh.
Just before he can make up his mind and flee, the water in front of him ripples, and a human head appears, the lower half of their face hidden. Jimin almost freaks out, thinking it’s a dead body, but eyes open to reveal glowing blue irises. Something scaly brushes up against Jimin’s feet.
“Uh, hi?” Jimin tries. No response. They just stare at him, their eyes wide and observant. He tries smiling. Hoseok says smiling will make anyone open up to you. And the parakeet hybrid never lies. He can’t lie. He’s absolutely terrible at lying. So—
“Hello! I’m Jimin.”
A blink.
The head disappears and doesn’t reappear.
Disappointed, Jimin sighs, body slouching. Then, he remembers that he’s in water. And that he’s treading said water.
Jimin looks at the shore, and he realizes he swam further than he usually does—he got carried away. But it’s not his fault. Jimin hasn’t swam in this lake in forever, plus he was spooked by that random person, so he thinks it’s justified.
Jimin decides to call it a night and begins to swim to the shore, but his limbs grow heavier and his strokes weaker with each passing moment. Jimin tries not to grow alarmed.
Don’t get him wrong. He’s an amazing swimmer. He can swim faster than anyone. Jeongguk hates him for it. But the rabbit hybrid tends to be a sore loser. So that means nothing.
Jimin can absolutely make it back to the shore without any struggle. He’s not a weak kit. But it’s proving to become a challenge.
Instead of water, it feels like he’s swimming through molasses. Grunting and gritting his teeth, Jimin tries to push through, trying to beat the sluggishness that slowly yet steadily overtakes him. The shore’s just in front of him. If only he could just…
But he’s tired. And his head slips underneath the surface of the lake, his eyes transfixed on the moon above him as his bubbles of air escape and rise towards it. Weakly, he thinks he should’ve listened to Namjoon, scolding himself for brushing off his concerns.
Before his eyes close, an ocean of blue replaces the moon and hands grab his arms.
———
Jimin wakes with a violent cough after something smacks his chest harshly, water spilling out of his mouth as he hacks and heaves. It feels like his lungs are trying to break free from his rib cage.
Jimin groans tiredly when he finishes, flopping onto his back as he tries to ignore his burning throat and chest. Jimin’s ears twitch as he hears something dragging against the earth. With much effort, he sits up and opens his eyes.
He freezes as he meets aquamarine eyes. They stare back at him, wide in shock and alarm. His eyes drink in the person in front of him.
Their skin is pale, somewhat reminding him of a ghost. Their body resembles a human man with toned arms and torso. Their face can only be described as cute, round and soft but also sharp and defined where it counts. Long, black hair falls down and past broad shoulders like a gentle waterfall.
Then Jimin notices the long, beautiful fish tail that trails behind them in place of legs.
The tail is deep, vibrant blue, the color of a never ending ocean lightly dappled with white and black, and fluke is a translucent white with long, flowing and thin tips. A long, frilly fin just a tad darker than their tail starts at the mid-back runs down their spine and stops about one-third into their tail. Two pairs of smaller fins adorn the tail, more white or black than blue.
Jimin looks up again. It’s then when he notices missing ears. Where there should be ears are a pair of round fins that flap like little, miniature elephant ears periodically. There are also three pairs of slits on the side of their neck under the jaw and another three, larger pairs on the sides of their torso.
“Uh…”
The person drags themself closer. Too shocked, Jimin doesn’t move away when they pull themself over his body, which makes his back hit the ground again. Their face is mere centimeters away from Jimin’s own, and he can feel their harsh exhales of air fan across his face.
It’s very awkward.
So imagine how awkward it is when they begin to examine him with prodding fingers and investigating sniffs. They seem to murmur to themself in quiet croons and quick clicks. He decides to speak when they tug on and nip at his ears with their teeth.
“Uh, what are you doing?”
The person quickly scrambles off of him with a speed that he thought wasn’t possible with a large fish tail. They retreat a few meters, gazing at him warily. The slits in their neck, which must be gills, open and close rapidly. Their tail glows in light blue flashes in different spots like fairy lights, a clear warning.
They’re scared.
Immediately, Jimin tries to comfort them. He slowly moves onto his knees, his hands out in front of him as a sign of peace. “Ah, it’s okay. I’m sorry if I scared you. Thank you for saving me.”
They shrink back but their head tilts like a curious animal. Jimin realizes that they probably don’t understand Korean. Or any human language at all.
Resisting the urge to facepalm for his own stupidity, Jimin smiles, hoping that it doesn’t translate as a sign of anger or aggression. Some actions don’t translate well across species. It took some time for his best friend, Taehyung, a fox hybrid, to realize that Jimin wagging his tail didn’t mean he wanted to play.
They smile back—well, it is an attempt at it. It’s awkward, too taut and tense around the edges. But it’s a good attempt with good intentions.
Jimin giggles at the sight, amused. They blink, shocked, before they curl in on themself in a shy manner with their head bowed, and Jimin thinks that if it wasn’t dark, he would see blush on their pale face.
He shuffles closer until he’s just in front of them, crossing his legs as he sits. They look up at him, and Jimin can hear them gasp faintly.
Jimin smiles brightly. “Hi. I’m Jimin.”
Their eyebrows furrow in concentration. “Ee-min.”
After staring at them in shock for a few seconds, he shakes head and corrects them, “No. Jimin.”
They huff. “Ee-min.”
“Jimin.”
Their tail smacks against the water. “Ee-min.”
Jimin sighs. He doesn’t correct them.
They smile triumphantly. Then, a sudden determined look dons their face. Like Namjoon does when he’s working on lyrics to a song.
“‘Oongi.” They growl in frustration, shaking their head. “‘Oongi.” Another hiss.
“Yoongi.” It’s said with a very strong accent, their voice lifting wispily in odd places, but Jimin can make out the words. They look up at him. “Name Yoongi.”
Jimin smiles, tail curling around his arm. “Hi, Yoongi.”
Yoongi smiles proudly and happily. It’s as bright as the sun, and it shows off sharp teeth and pink gums. It reminds him of Jeongguk—very adorable and mildly terrifying.
“What are you doing out here late at night, Yoongi?”
Yoongi frowns sadly. Jimin decides he doesn’t like the look on their face.
“L… L-Lonely. V-Very. N-Nobody come. Ever.”
Jimin’s heart aches. “I’m sorry,” he says truthfully. “That must be hard.”
They answer with a sad hum. Jimin frowns in thought. He speaks.
“Well, my family and I come here every summer yet I’ve never seen you. Did you just arrive here?”
Yoongi bows their head, fiddling with their long fingers. They’re blushing.
Jimin is confused at the reaction. He waits for them to explain.
“Live i-in salt water for long time. After… after t-time, b-become nasty. So Yoongi leave. Live h-here now. Clean. Yoongi l… like very. Yoongi n-not know h… how long. Y-Yoongi very, um… not brave. Yoongi watch Ee-min e-every… time, but today Yoon… Yoongi follow Ee-min.”
Jimin makes a sound of understanding. Then, he grins teasingly. “So you’ve been here for a while yet you never said hi? Is that what I’m hearing, Yoongi? That you’re shy?”
Yoongi hides their face in their hands, making an embarrassed, clicking noise. Giggling in amusement, Jimin guides their hands away from their face, smiling widely at Yoongi.
“It’s okay. We’re friends now. You won’t be alone anymore.”
Yoongi blinks him. Their eyes, which really remind him of a cat, shine with tears. “R-Really?”
Jimin nods. “Really.”
A sound that can only be described as true happiness comes from Yoongi, full of lilting trills and rapid clicks. Before Jimin knows it, he has an armful of Yoongi, and they are rubbing their cheek against his with light purrs. He can feel their tail wiggling in between his legs. Jimin would hug them back, but he’s afraid of hurting the delicate-looking fin on Yoongi’s back.
After a while, Yoongi slides off him, smiling at Jimin. Jimin can’t help but smile back at the infectious smile. It’s adorable.
“Do you want to play with me, Yoongi?”
Yoongi slouches. Their ear fins droop in sadness. “Yoongi cannot s-swim on l-land.”
“But I can swim in water.”
Jimin stands and runs past Yoongi, easily steps into the water and continues until he has to tread. Clearly surprised, Yoongi chirps, turns around fully, and slips into the water gracefully, gliding over to Jimin with ease. They resurface, face concerned.
“B-But Ee-min can… cannot swim. Ee-min sink l-like rock. Yoongi h-have to s… save Ee-min.”
Okay, ouch .
“That’s because I was tired,” he protests petulantly under his breath, pouting. Yoongi tilts their head, eyes shining with worry. “But I am not tired now! I can swim forever! You just caught me at my weak point!”
Yoongi’s ears perk up. They flap a bit, and Jimin thinks he’ll never get over how cute it is.
“Really?” Yoongi sounds skeptical. Jimin takes offense. Extreme offense.
“Uh, yeah ! I’m, like, the best swimmer ever! The best that has ever lived! I’ll… I’ll prove it to you.”
Yoongi giggles. The sound is one of the cutest things he’s ever heard. It’s possibly even cuter than when a sleepy Hoseok chirps quietly while waking from sleep. And that’s really cute. It left Namjoon so devastated when he heard it for the first time that he cried like a baby, much to the confusion of a groggy, hungry Hoseok that just wanted his breakfast pancakes.
“Okay.”
Jimin continues to boast. “I have to warn you though. I’m pretty fast. I don’t think you can keep up with me.”
Yoongi smirks, clearly amused, “Oh, really?”
Jimin nods. “Let’s have a race to see who’s fastest! I’m going to win though.”
Yoongi tilts their head, making an inquisitive sound. “What a race?”
“A race is where two or more people compete to see who’s fastest.”
Yoongi’s eyes light up. “Sound fun!”
Jimin nods eagerly in agreement, grinning excitedly. Yoongi quickly positions themself next to Jimin, body tense.
Jimin’s cheeks hurt with how hard he’s smiling. Yoongi’s so much fun. They’re sweet, caring, and most importantly, they can keep up with him when swimming.
They’re going to be great friends.
“Go!”
Jimin swims off, kicking up water in his wake. Yoongi remains in place, terribly confused. “What?”
Then, they realize as Jimin hastily moves further and further away.
“Oh!”
Yoongi laughs. They swim after Jimin, a happy smile on their face.