Work Text:
“Uh… So do I just push this?”
They were outside of a scary looking place. Well, to them, a scary place – for any other person, this was just an apartment with a doorbell. Haechan nodded, yet hid before the man that was about to press at a very red, very weird looking… thing. He did it, he finally pressed the thing, when a loud sound of something akin to a bird's chirping alerted both hybrids. Mark jumped, and Haechan clutched his husband's shoulder a tad bit too tight. To ease out the other's nervousness, and to mask his own seeping into his posture, Mark reached out his hand to settle on the hand that sits atop his right shoulder. The strong hands are pawing on his hand-knitted sweatshirt, and Mark can't help but feel a bit giddy.
“-Ugh! And then I tell him-” before Mark and Haechan can even comprehend what's going on, a man, hair pink (wait, hair what color now?) and with something very weird looking pressed to his ear, walks out of the scary looking, big door, and halts upon noticing the two men, standing there, looking like lost puppies amidst rain.
He eyes them both, before “Uhhh... I'll get back to you. Ciao!”, he snaps the… thing? Shut, and shoves it into his pocket, rocking on his heel once, twice, he looks at the two hybrids expectantly.
“...You guys are?” He questions, yet his stance doesn't seem to be threatening, nor ill-mannered. So Mark relaxes. But not Haechan. Haechan was not an easy cub in his childhood, nor is he an easy baby bear now. Mark takes a great pride in being able to be the only one to calm his bundle of joy down. However, he does have to say, sometimes the bear hybrid plays dirty, since God sees, the latter is way more stronger than kitty hybrid Mark, and possessed far greater muscle mass, as well. Not to count the time when Haechan hibernates. Oh God…
“Uhm, I-I'm Mark! And this is my ma-I mean husband! My husband Haechan! We have been brought here and told to come inside this… uh… construction? To talk with a man named Johnny Suh.” Mark finished his rant rather in an awkward manner, but seeing the man before him suddenly light up, he feels the tension leave his body. No misunderstandings are good. He is far too tired for anything else as if right now. He needs a good sun puddle nap.
“Oh! You guys must be the new neighbors that are settling in! So nice to meet you! I'm Jaemin. Jaemin Na!”, the pink haired man extends his hand enthusiastically, eyes crinkling with excitement. Mark doesn't refuse the gesture, though shrinks a bit, extending his own slightly clawed hand and letting Jaemin shake it. “Oh, you must be so confused! Johnny is not here today, he has some hybrid matters to attend to, however I am here! I have a hybrid roommate so I'm like, the next best person to settle you guys in! Come on!” When the human lets go of Mark's hand, Haechan immediately goes to grab it, setting it against his cheek, rubbing into it with an intent to scent.
“Jealous cub.” Mark teases, but Haechan rolls his eyes with a grumble. Haechan was always more attuned with his… bear side. Meanwhile Mark grew up more or less in a domesticated manner, even back in their own lands.
“You always smell like me…” Haechan complained, as they trailed right before the loud and obnoxious human being.
“And?” Mark teased, knowing Haechan didn't like not having his scent on Mark. As a bear hybrid, he had much more to give in a sense of smell, than anything else. His vision was bad, his posture lacked, he was highly unathletic, and such a sweet tooth. Sadly, a very easy way to kidnap Haechan would be a jar of honey. It wasn't his main course, yet it was like the best dessert that could've ever been offered to him. So in short, Haechan mostly was the more animalistic one, rather than the kitty hybrid Mark, who aside the tail, ears and the claws, didn't have much to show for his kittiness.
“So, your number is here, eighty-two! I'm guessing you have little keys on you?” Jaemin turns to them, and Mark, who has been struck with a sudden question, scrambles, before fishing out the thing called “keys” from his pocket, handing them to the pink haired man. The man purrs (like a real cat!), and shoves the thing inside the little hole that the door has. Turning it once, twice – the door opens, and Jaemin steps aside to let the hybrids welcome themselves inside.
“So! This is your number! Don't lose your keys, because without them, you won't be able to enter your house, okay?” Both males nod, Mark's right ear flicking when Jaemin turns the light switch open, “So, a very simple apartment number. There is different stuff here, and I know hybrids aren't attuned with technical stuff, so I will leave a manual on how to use everything tomorrow! Till that time, just stay out of trouble, don't touch anything that looks weird, and please, don't claw at furniture.”
The man, as if sensing where the issue would come from, glances at Mark after those words, before huffing, “Oh, and no late night matings! The walls are thin, and many students live here. I mean, at least those who are able to afford… Anyway! Good luck, and be careful! And I-” the human glances at his clock that is set on his wrist, “Gotta go! See you later!”
And so, he scurries away. He doesn't even give the couple to process what he just said. Mark stands there, cheeks red and tail tucked – Haechan stands there, uncaring and sleepy. Probably ready to plop down on any available surface and nap. But luckily for him, Mark is also a staminaless kitten that loves to curl around himself and tuck Haechan in.
He moves and takes Haechan's warm hand in his, dragging him towards the room that he thinks will have something akin to a nest or a den. Cats don't really need stuff like that, but Haechan loved to stay in “dens” even as a hybrid and Mark never questioned it. Hybrid perks, he dubbed those as. Haechan had many, Mark indulged fairly most of them. Aside from the play-fighting when he just got out of hibernation. Mark would rather die in a ditch all alone and cold than let Haechan play-fight with him at those times. The black bear didn’t know how to use his strength well, at all!
Back in their land, their world, Thophi, they used to have more or less animalistic habits. Hybrids have improved and found a way to live in more comfort, however best they could do is simple cottages and humble nests inside. Ever so the beginnings that graced the round earth way before, and now, humans have revolutionized everything to the minute detail. In Thophi, it was more so out of need of inventions that didn’t go out and beyond.
Every little detail of this new world was scary. To those who already settled in, surely, the weird mechanical things might look like any other normal thing they come face to face every day, however to hybrids that have never seen such stuff? More like a nightmare-labyrinth with no exit! And not to mention how ugly everything was. They were used to nature, to breathing fresh air – the shift from clear oxygen to a polluted one elicited an immediate reaction from them. They got used, thankfully, even though it didn't get better, per se; they just adapted. As hybrids, they had better luck getting used to new things, especially ones that are natural. The habitat they lived in was different, surely, yet they don’t really have any other option but to accept the upcoming questions about… well, everything. They have to look at the bland streets and wonder how people can even take strolls when everything looks this grey? A few trees here and there is not a save!
“Mark? Stop…” Haechan pried his eyes open with great effort, and pinched Mark’s shoulder. The latter flinched at that, but kept his expression schooled – realizing he had been mute, he settled his hand in Haechan’s locks and pushed them both on the big bed. It was easy, since Haechan was practically going limp – he was splayed on the soft mattress, as Mark invited himself in, pulling the younger into his embrace. Haechan loved to be the big spoon, since he was, practically, bigger – however Mark won with his height and stubbornness. Plus, the bear hybrid was already out of it, probably ready to nap for twelve hours straight. So the cat hybrid allowed himself to be selfish for once, and pulled the covers over them both.
“And this-” Jaemin pulled at the handle of the big, white… thing? That opened to reveal an empty storage area, cold air emitting from the devil possessed portal (Mark had a good imagination!)
“Is the fridge! Here you store food, but beware, do not pull raw fish here in no bag! Keep it clean, so it doesn’t smell. And this here is- ”
The teachings went on. Jaemin, the kind hearted man he was, explained everything in great detail, shoved a manual in Mark’s hand, and bid them goodbye with a cat-like grin. If anything, he was more cat-like than Mark, a real cat hybrid himself. It didn’t look like anything too hard. The washing machine is a thing to keep the clothes clean. A microwave is to keep things warm. A TV… Well, they will get back to that one. One day. Somehow?..
“I’m now even more confused,” Haechan grumbled from his seat, pouting. A cute habit, in Mark’s humble opinion. Mark nodded, and opened the manual – eyes skimming over the pictures. Because Jaemin is smart and has realized that hybrids probably can’t read in English whatsoever. “But I like the idea of a fridge. It will be a lifesaver in Winter!”
Mark gave Haechan a pointed look, as if to say “You won’t be going inside that.”
“I will.” Haechan made a face, to tease Mark, because apparently his husband was able to read his mind.
The kiss was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one – sweet and short, just a peck to Haechan’s lips, to soften him and his defiant attitude. Mark used that tactic too much lately and Haechan didn’t like that. He whined at the loss of warmth, but the kitty shook his head, not letting Haechan chase his lips. He waved the manual in front of Haechan’s face and smiled, “Let’s get learning”
“Don’t wanna.”
“...A jar of honey.”
“Three.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
“Three is my final.”
“Two and a grooming session.”
“Deal!”
Mark shrugged nonchalantly, setting the manual on the table and getting ready for magic. And some memorizing.
He didn’t think much of the new lifestyle – he was forced into it, more like. He didn’t have much choice, did he now? He is just glad that he has Haechan by his side. If anything could make him calm, it’s his husband being by his side and aiding him in everything he does. Mark was a bit of a… Mmm, how do people say it? A nerd. It wasn’t a negative thing, even back in Thophi, the cat hybrid was the curious one of the bunch. They say curiosity kills cats, yet there is a solid reason why they have nine lives. And each one of them is as important as the last one. Of course it’s just a saying, but Mark thinks that he already wasted a few of his lives. One when he met Haechan, specifically.
Being pounced on by a black bear hybrid is an experience only some get to live and then tell.
Mark is just lucky Haechan isn’t a grizzly. Though he assumes even then, he’d be just as cute. Haechan always tells him to take the bear hybrid more seriously, treat him less like a child, yet Mark cannot help it. He obsessively gushes over how cute his husband is. See, late twenties, still in love like the first day… It was quite shocking for everyone, back in Thophi, a cat hybrid and a bear hybrid… Truly a pairing not even God could come up with. But something clicked – in its place, the moment Mark locked his eyes with the dark voids of Haechan’s. He has just woken up from his hibernation, going out to seek food. Colliding with a cat hybrid was the least thing he expected to do that night.
Going back, Mark ponders how lucky they were. To meet each other, fall in-love, over and over again, every day, as if it’s the first day. It is more thrilling than nostalgic, a voice in the back of Mark’s head always reminding him of how beautiful the love they built is.
“This manual is making me feel stupid.” Haechan sighed out, after about thirty minutes, leaning back in his chair. Mark’s ear twitched, as he glanced at the man, an apologetic expression on his baby face. Haechan wanted to kiss the life out of that stupidly attractive face, yet held himself back. Soon, baby bear, soon…
“I find it fascinating”
“Of course you do, dear”
“Dude, it's like, so simple!”
Haechan scoffed, “Stop calling me that, we are married.”
“Why, can't I call my husband ‘dude’?” Mark raised an eyebrow, and Haechan grimaced, looking his husband up and down in a judging manner.
“After I called you dear? Fuck no!”
“Language” The cat hybrid noted sternly, watching Haechan smirk and burst into a fit of giggles.
“I’m twenty-six”
“Still!”
“Okay. Let me rephrase myself,” Haechan leaned onto Mark’s shoulder, eyes locking with Mark’s lips, and then climbing up, to his eyes, “Hell no.”
“Tease” Mark dismissed, rolling his eyes with fondness, at which Haechan mock gasped, hand clutching at his pink sweatshirt and all.
“You cannot accuse me of that!” Haechan withered dramatically, eyes hurt, but the smile on his face was anything but sad.
“Come on, baby, last few pages?” Mark begged, seeing that they were getting side-tracked. Like always.
It was such a bad habit. They tried to fix it. Tried to stop and fall into their own bubble, but Gods, it was the most satisfying thing to do. Only listening to Haechan, his voice, seeing him, analyzing him – everything. Everything gave Mark a rush of euphoria, and it doubled when they fell into a back-forth. The bubble they created was always warm and homey, wherever they were, be it a dangerous, life-threathening situation, or a chill evening in a den. Or well, house, as of now…
“...” Haechan seems to ponder, but then remembers their deal. With a deep groan, he nods. Getting back to the manual, he sets his head on Mark’s shoulder and makes a show of his tiredness. The usual, Mark notes, and lets Haechan plaster himself all over him.
“Dress me.”
Haechan is demanding, Mark learnt that the hard way. Although it wasn’t an issue whatsoever, Mark loved to be a service to his husband. Taking care of him, his sleeping schedule, his everything – Mark didn’t think much of it. The other hybrids always questioned Mark. How do you even keep up with him? And they weren't wrong, either ; Haechan was a lot. A paradox, if you will – he gave so much love, however, he also demanded equal amounts of care. But that’s not his fault, his biology was to put front when those issues were of importance.
Yet, requests like these? Haechan was making them on purpose.
Mark smiled sweetly from where he was seated, putting on fluffy socks – he took a look at Haechan, who was standing in front of the full length mirror, checking himself. A bad habit, Mark always nagged. Haechan put on weight easily, yet lost it just as easy. And for a bear hybrid, maintaining a good diet was important. Can’t eat too little, then you won’t power through hibernation; can’t eat too much, then you will have health problems. All should be in a golden balance, and Haechan hated that. He also hated his body. It was a given, bear hybrids go through many changes, very fast; where a real bear won’t care how it looks, a hybrid one is a totally different case. And Mark couldn’t help but feel sympathetic towards the younger hybrid. He changed constantly, and couldn’t fix it, yet always was unhappy with appearance. One thing made him confident; Mark’s words.
Mark was out-spoken about how much he loved Haechan and how he looked. Even from the first day when they met, when they were barely adults – honey dripping skin that shines under the sun, fluffy and wavy, brown hair that reminded Mark of the sand beaches back home, those moles he likes to trace and kiss. Those droopy, adorable eyes, that looked so pretty, especially when Haechan put on some weight… Mark will never forget when he saw a pre-hibernation Haechan for the first time. Those chubby cheeks and that dazzling smile… Oh Gods, might he survive another one this year, Amen. Nine years went by and Mark is still acting like a loser.
“Stop glowering at your own reflection” Mark paced onto Haechan’s side with swift steps, hugging the male from the back and nicely nuzzling into the empty neck, “You are beautiful”
“I am confusing”
“A charm of yours, if anything”
“You are my husband. Of course you think so.”
“Lies. Everyone thinks you are pretty”
Haechan raises an eyebrow at that, hand coming to pinch himself at his side – Mark slips his hand into Haechan’s, gently holding it out and dragging it up, to land a kiss on the pinkish knuckles, away from pinching and deterring his own body. Haechan giggles at the tender display, but Mark is serious. About what he says, about the way he sees Haechan.
“Sap” Haechan accuses with a half-hearted glare, and Mark shrugs, letting go of Haechan’s hand, he turns to the wardrobe to pick out something for the bear hybrid.
“Can’t I dote on you?”
He doesn’t get an answer. Instead he picks out a simple combo of a cardigan and sweatpants, motioning Haechan to turn and extend his hands. It’s a fairly domestic scene, to them – maybe some find this weird. Dressing up your partner, and for what? But Mark is a romantic man. Always was. He thinks close proximity is also a way to share love, be it simple gestures or something more serious. Cats were clingy by nature. He liked when Haechan clung to him, and vice versa. He didn’t understand people, with their… complicated relationships. Maybe hybrids just operated differently…
He finishes taking care of Haechan’s wear, patting the latter's head, as the bear hybrid leans into the touch, hypnotized into a sleep hypnotize. He tugs at the set of fluffy ears on the base of those sandy locks, waking Haechan up. Haechan can’t purr like Mark, he can, however, grumble. A very animalistic and deep sound, one that mostly scares others off. Yet, of course. Mark was nothing but drawn to it. He loves it when Haechan makes noises; all kinds of it. And trust Mark, Haechan loves to be loud.
“What if we stay in?”
Mark pouts at that, shaking his head, “And what about the groceries?”
“Mmh… You go.”
“Uhuh. And you stay alone?”
“...”
A second passes. Two, a top.
“Fine, let’s go.”
And they finally set their course. It has been a week. Lots of studying and figuring things out. They still are very much unfamiliar with many things, yet since they are highly adaptive, they learn fast. Just struggle to implement their studies in real life. Who knew paying for something is this hard? Back in Thophi they just traded…
“I feel like a teddy bear” Haechan grumbles, slipping into the coat. He does; he looks absolutely like a life-sized plushie.
“Cute” Mark remarks, grabbing an umbrella from where the hangers are set. Turning to Haechan, they confirm they have everything they need, and leave the apartment.
The walk is simple. Mark talks about new things he learned, and Haechan listens. Though a bit in a sluggish manner, since he still is adapting to life here. This adventure had more of a toll on Haechan than Mark thought it would. He was used to seeing strong and independent Haechan, one that does everything himself, and only asks of something just to be a menace. Back at home, he would bait Mark into hunting with him. Mark would always end up in waters because of him, sulking at the bear hybrid. Mark, as known in every old tale, hates water. Not so much to not shower, thankfully.
Haechan at some point, yawns, and Mark coos a little. Sue him, he still thinks his husband is the cutest thing he has seen from the day he met him.
“I had a dream last night…” Haechan drawls between his yawns, barely audible, “I had cubs.”
Mark raises an eyebrow at that, a question laying on his tongue, before Haechan continues.
“Not mine. Or… Maybe they were. I protected them from a male.”
“Does… it mean something?” Mark ponders, but Haechan shakes his head.
“Most likely not. I’m not a female bear hybrid, am I?”
Mark shrugs at that, feeling a bit perplexed. It was a usual occurrence – for Haechan to see weird dreams. His biology didn’t allow him to be too active, so he spent most of his time napping. And even though Haechan always slept as hard as a rock, he still never struggled to recall his dreams. Again, being a hybrid and all, there are bound to be differences in their bodies and minds, unlike humans, who have a much more simple way with dreams and REM.
Haechan might not be a female bear hybrid, however he possessed the same protectiveness they had. Mark dubs those familiarities with the fact that gender doesn’t really matter when it’s a hybrid being who is the subject of dreams. He is pretty sure he can’t get Haechan pregnant. But pretty sure doesn’t cut it, does it? Haechan dreams of cubs, like many hybrids would. Sometimes to an extent, where he just wants to take care of a few pups, but other times, it’s his offspring. Be it an animal instinct or not, Mark is pretty sure his husband would like to have children one day…
“Do you think I would be a good father?”
Mark smiles at those questions, few scenes flashing in his mind, before he nods, sheepishly, “Yeah. The best ever.”
“You think so? I think you’d be a great dad as well…” Haechan chuckles, looping his arm around Mark’s and pulling him closer, basking in the adoring gaze Mark rewards him with.
The rain around them calms down as they walk. At some point Mark pulls the umbrella shut, seeing that the gloomy clouds are gone, and a rainbow is to be seen in horizons. It was a peaceful walk so far, as it’s expected – they pull by the super market soon enough. Though with a bit of hesitation, they walk in. It wouldn’t be an issue if hybrids weren’t wary of… well, their special parts? You can’t explain kitty ears to a human being. Especially if they don’t watch the news.
Haechan pulls a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, eyes skimming through the stuff they need to buy, “First… We need vegetables and fruits”
“The important stuff” Mark nods, and tries to navigate through the big mart by following the signs above each section. It has been a week and thankfully, Mark was sensible enough to learn a bit of English.
“Woah…” it comes as a shock, when you realise that the human world has so much more variety when it comes to food. Because there are things Mark, nor Haechan, has ever seen in their life.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“We are not stealing!”
“Your telepathy is horrible, Mark. I meant we should buy much more stuff that we have written.”
Mark threw a quizzical look at his husband, before shrugging, “Same. I’m very curious about some of these.”
“Well, for starters…”
And the rest was history. How both of them came from the store with full hands is a tale for them to tell. Mark was curious, okay, but Haechan was no better. There should be a limit of how much honey flavored products you can buy. What even is cereal?! Doesn’t matter. They already bought four bags of it because the packaging looked cute. Honey roasted, it said, and Haechan’s eyes lit like a child’s that had seen a table full of candies. The cashier who was standing there definitely casted too many looks at both of them, but more so at Mark, because unfortunately, cat ears and tail are much harder to hide, compared to bear shticks. At least that distracted the cashier from realizing she just scanned four bags of the same cereal, and five jars of honey. Wait. Five?!
“Haechan!”, Mark hissed, and Haechan shrunk against the glare his husband gave him.
“What! It’s essential!” he defended himself, but not before Mark shook his head, and asked the girl if she would so kindly put three of the five jars away. The girl just nodded without any words to spare, as Mark nagged Haechan in front of a long line. Yeesh. Embarrassing.
“You are on a diet, mind you!” Mark reminded Haechan. When the girl finally had scanned every item, Mark extended a card, still focused on glowering at his stubborn husband, who now is pouting. Using Mark’s weaknesses, basically. Despite being much stronger, Haechan loved to make himself small when the situation called for it. Like right now, when Mark wants and needs Haechan to look him in the eye and stop being a trouble.
At home they started organizing everything in places like Jaemin recommended them to. It takes no more than an hour, and everything looks pretty good. Haechan argues against the fact of where to put the honey, but Mark keeps him in the dark.
“You hate me” Haechan sighs stubbornly, plopping down on the couch that is located in the living room. It’s an old thing, though still cushy enough; red and huge.
Mark collapses right beside his husband, shaking his head, as his tail curls around the bear hybrid’s wrist, “I love you”
“Do you?” Haechan shoots back, arms crossed and an evident pout on his heart-shaped lips. Mark chuckles at that, and nods with thinly veiled amusement.
“Wouldn’t mate you otherwise?” he offers, but Haechan seems to take it as more of a statement, than an attempt at flirting. He fishes for the remote controller from the dips of the sofa.
“What do we watch?” he murmurs, burying himself into Mark’s side; hand finding the fluffy and well groomed tail. He toys with the appendage, knowing well that Mark only allows him to do that. It stirs a possessive feeling in Haechan’s tummy, unlike any other.
“Johnny said we should start with classics” Mark grabs the TV manual from the coffee table, letting his tail swish in front of Haechan’s face. The latter being the menace he is, yanks it, making Mark yowl pitifully. Haechan stays laughing at Mark’s pain, but it doesn’t last long, when Mark pounces on him.
Play-fighting is a common thing between them. Despite being a cat hybrid, Mark spent a respectful amount of time with Haechan to get used to this commotion. Back in the “den”, Haechan was the most fragile baby bear. He wasn’t as huge as his peers, which made him more so insecure, than unique. It was pain, to see Haechan come back with scars and wounds because the other babies back in his home didn't know how to control their power with such a lithe hybrid. Of course, the animalistic instincts would leave their bodies as they grew up, because they were no more driven by sheer, impulsive needs.
Mark was lucky, because even though Haechan was stronger and arguably bigger, it wasn’t enough to hurt the cat hybrid. So it was just claws, tugs and sometimes tickles. Haechan was short on claws, Mark though…
“Mark, okay, I’m sorry-” Haechan gasped for air, as he found Mark, on him, pushing his body on the bear hybrid’s. Haechan reached for Mark’s tail, in efforts to get him weak, yet to no avail, Mark had good reflexes, and Haechan was slow and on low stamina. They both were giggling, both satisfied with the close proximity and the adrenaline rush the little fight gave them. Haechan tries to push Mark’s body off of him, while Mark is clinging to him like a lifeline. He also knows where the bear hybrid is vulnerable, knows the places that make Haechan cry out loud. Yet holds back and settles for a pinch at the base of the bear ears. Haechan thrashes at that, but Mark quickly easies the pain out by rubbing them right after the pull. The bear hybrid stops his tantrum, but not without trying to fight back for the upper hand. He does, at the end, get what he wants, when he pulls at Mark’s hand harshly and lets the man fall on his body. From there on it’s a full blown war.
War of tickles. At the end, they are both left tired and look like a hot mess. Haechan smiles, despite it all, splayed on the carpeted floor.
“I’m beat…” he huffs out, having a hard time sitting up. Mark helps him gently, and buries his nose into Haechan’s hair, a show for his like towards malleable male. It was a common thing, Mark liked to be clingy after play-fights, especially inhaling Haechan’s scent and burying himself in every nook and cranny he could find.
“I wonder why” Mark muses, voice muffled.
“My fault, yeah yeah…”
Before Mark can open his mouth, a doorbell ring snaps him out of the trance. A deep growl builds up in him, before he pushes it down. Haechan stays rooted on the floor, eyes shut, Mark is pretty sure he will fall asleep in a few minutes. So he leaves a butterfly kiss on the man’s nose, that twitches ever so cutely, before dragging himself to get the door.
Turning the key, once, twice – he spots Johnny, looking expectantly at him. Mark jumps at the sudden visit, but tries to act nonchalant, tail fluffing in involuntary response.
“Were you… busy?” the man asks, and Mark shakes his head, to indicate that no, you didn’t just disturb me and my husband from almost cuddling on the floor
“I’ll take your word for it,” he eyes Mark up and down, and the latter blushes at the attention. He knows he looks… roughened up, to kindly put it, “I’m here to pass you this”
Mark takes the letter Johnny is holding up, raising an eyebrow, “What is this?”
Johnny shrugs, “Came from International Hybrid Association, demanding a meet-up, most likely. Since the Constitution states that hybrids are owed a few months of free living, after which… I’m afraid we might need you to get to work.”
“Work? But we are in our late twenties, we don’t even have… What do you humans call it? Diplomas!”
“Let me worry about that, okay? We are trying to do our best. In a few months, varying between 5-6, we will find you suitable jobs. So do not worry, leave it to me.” Johnny smiles sweetly, and Mark nods dumbly. He is kind half-asleep, worn out from the play-fight, and mildly amused from the news…
He isn’t against working. It’s just that work here and work back here are different. He and Haechan saw the movies – you need so much even to try and apply for a job. But since Johnny is saying this…
“Okay… Thanks Johnny.” he murmurs, and seeing the other male nod and move upstairs, closes the door.
Uhuh.
“Dear, stop pulling at Chenle’s tail!” Haechan cries out, desperate, to get the little panda hybrid to let go of the little boy's appendage. She does, thank God, but runs off to plunge at the plushie nest. Haechan sighs, tending the sobbing boy that just had her tail tugged at.
It has been a year. A year since the change, since the settling. More so, everything was… peaceful. Mark worked as a florist in a little shop down the alley where they lived, and Haechan started working in a kindergarten soon enough. Both were satisfied with what they did. Mark always was attuned with nature, as you’d expect from a hybrid, so his job was ideal. Haechan struggled a bit, with jobs and all. Many required too much attention and focusing, which Haechan was able to do, but not while being a bear hybrid. So the best decision was to put him with cubs.
As someone who is used to family life, Haechan didn’t have any issues with warming up to the idea – he liked children. He was like a cuddly teddy bear to them, always running to him for comfort and warmth. Working with hybrid kids is far easier than Haechan expected, well, aside the usual chaos that comes with it. Of course, the hybrids were divided into groups, depending on how easy it was to handle them, and who could not get along with who. For example, putting bunnies with tigers, or sharks with crabs would be a disastrous idea. Surely, they wouldn’t try to nib on each other, however the power imbalance was overwhelmingly strong, which caused bullying to occur. So Haechan mostly dealt with bear hybrids. All kinds; pandas, grizzlys, polar bears, red pandas…
Johnny, as he promised, made the interviews and all go smoothly. In the end, both parties were satisfied with the outcome.
It was a simple life routine, that they settled in with Mark; they would come home, eat, cuddle and sleep. To some, this life might be a bit dull, or monotone, never to them, however. Haechan is happy; despite losing his home, he is happy. It was a long road, he accepted many things along the way, and all with the help of his husband.
“Chenle, come on, brighten up baby” he cheered up the little red panda hybrid, but the other wouldn’t stop sobbing, “You know? Jisung said he will visit you today”
Chenle, the slick little thing he is, visibly lights up at that, pulling at Haechan’s sleeve.
“Really?” he mumbles through tears, and Haechan nods frantically, and watches a sweet smile grace the little boy’s lips. Minx.
At the end of the day, he is beat. It is past six, some parents and guardians are running late. His coworker, Renjun, approaches the black bear from behind, settling his paws on Haechan’s shoulders.
“Yours are already dismissed?” Haechan wonders, throwing his head back to look at Renjun, who nods. Renjun, the fox hybrid, who worked mostly with those like him, was a kind soul and caring soul. They became friends quite fast, especially considering how easy Haechan made friends.
“Mmhm. And I see yours are late, like always” he giggles, the high sound making Haechan roll his eyes.
“We bears are not known for our punctuality” Haechan remarks with a tired smile.
“Don’t I know”
“You are so mean”
“You love that”
“Greatly, mind you”
Renjun pats Haechan’s shoulder once, before leaving the room, as he bids goodbye to the little bear cubs.
Thankfully, in ten minutes or so, Haechan finally has an empty room, and a little migraine. He inhales, exhales – finds the power in him to stand up and get ready to leave. He slips into his coat and grabs his gloves, ready to walk out of the -
“Oh!” he stumbles. Upon a figure, hands full of flowers, and an awkward smile on his face.
“Sorry honey…” Mark apologizes, swift hand catching Haechan’s waist just in time.
“You-You scared me!” Haechan heaves out with a relieved smile, leaning onto the gentle and careless touch.
“Didn’t mean to. Wanted to surprise you” Mark shrugs, albeit docile, and Haechan strands his gaze towards the flower bouquet he is holding.
“The occasion?” he purrs, much unlike a real cat that stands before him, free hand slipping to take the flower frenzy into his hands and sniff. Goodness, did Mark know what he likes.
“None”
Being struck by Haechan’s perplexed look, Mark scrambles to explain himself, “Really! I just… Thought it would be neat”
“Neat?” Haechan raised an eyebrow, thoroughly amused now. Oh, might Cupid’s arrow find him again and again. He cannot with this man.
“Mmm” Mark hums, and Haechan is on his last strand, when he decides to fuck it, and dive for a kiss.
Mark, fortunately, is an experienced man. Man that held, and holds, Haechan, with so much fondness and affection, to this day. Yet still manages to stumble, manages to melt a tad bit too fast, when Haechan pulls him closer, demands higher, loves harder.
An experienced man he is, a love sick idiot he will always be. No matter time, place, or world.