Chapter Text
Jooheon had been the only one of his siblings to be born as a naga. The others from his clutch had been both like proper hybrids: two legged humanoids. Well, his closest brother also had a tail but that was deemed acceptable since he could more or less fit in ‘normal’ society. People would pay handsomely for a hybrid that could seamlessly blend in with their lives, even venomous ones. Any hybrid that required special considerations were generally taken in by conservation groups, zoos and rich people looking to blow their money on exotic pets. Jooheon with his long, long body covered in dusty gray scales that shimmered in the sunlight fell into that category.
It was not just being a black mamba that drove people away. There was the whole being fifteen feet from head to tip that terrified most people. Even his family did not know how to really approach him once he had gotten large enough to wrap around the couch. It hurt to be seen as scary so he had learned ways to make himself more palatable. He could make silly faces that would not flash his fangs or signature black mouth. Jooheon had a whole range of voices that he could use to put others at ease while they were around, especially if they were children.
However, he was still lonely.
Once he turned eighteen, he was sold to some rich family that gave him a lavish enclosure filled with everything he could want. Everything but another person for companionship. Even his owners had no interest in him outside of watching him from behind the thick glass. He was too monstrous for them to allow their children to play, so he learned games they could do between the glass. Tic-tac-toe, charades, painting. But year by year the little ones grew up and started to have other interests. Phones, internet, friends. Occasionally the little ones would bring their friends to the enclosure to show off their exotic pet and Jooheon pretended like it did not hurt. Jooheon would get close to the glass answering questions and playing games or doing tricks until eventually the humans were called away. Rarely did they ever come back.
The loneliness grew until it swallowed him.
“We think he’s sick.” Jooheon’s ears picked up the muffled tone of his owner as he approached from the doorway. “He hasn’t moved in a few days, not even to eat.”
“Let me take a look.” A new voice, deeper than Jooheon had heard before. “Unlock the door please.”
“He’s a naga.” His owner spoke again, trying to convey a warning. It was not as if Jooheon had ever hurt anyone, even his hybrid specialized vet raved about how friendly he was each time she visited. “And very large.”
“With a human brain and emotions.” The stranger’s voice went flat in disapproval. A trace of amusement flickered in Jooheon’s chest. “You said he has no violent history with either your family or his home clutch. I’ve read all the paperwork that Doctor Jenny sent over, nothing about his files say that he needs to be muzzled or bound.” Against his will, Jooheon felt his eyes burn as he pushed back tears. “Please, open the door so I can assess him.”
There was a semi-familiar thunk of the lock unhooking in the mechanisms followed by a mechanical chirp that announced his door was opened. If it remained that way for too long, an alarm would go off. Opening both of his lids, Jooheon took in the stranger standing at the threshold of his enclosure. A flick of his black tongue to taste the air told Jooheon that the man was human, cautious but not afraid and that he did not carry a tranquilizer gun on him. His hair was longer than Jooheon had seen most of his owner’s friends but it suited the soft face. The black strands were pushed back so that Jooheon did not have to get close to read his expressions.
“Hi.” The stranger bowed low in respect. Weird. “My name is Changkyun, may I enter your home?”
Jooheon watched him, unblinking. Changkyun did not move. Behind Changkyun, his owner shuffled foot to foot anxiously, eyeing the alarm box and Jooheon. It was clear that having the door open was causing distress and despite his annoyance with his owner, Jooheon did not like to cause other distress. For all the things that Jooheon secretly resented about his home, he was aware he lived a good life. Putting that in jeopardy to play a game would end up in him being skinned for boots.
“Sure.” His voice was dry from being under the heat lamps without drinking anything. Had it been two days? Probably. Time was impossible to tell from his spot.
“Thank you.” Changkyun bowed again.
To Jooheon’s endless surprise, Changkyun blocked his owner from entering - much to the other man’s relief. The large door was closed behind the new man and Jooheon realized for the first time in years, he could touch someone that was not a vet who had no interest in more than necessary contact. It was nearly enough to make him move from the spot he decided to lie down and die. Changkyun looked around the enclosure, eyes flitting from place to place with an unreadable expression. Only once did he frown, and it was at the drawer mechanism they used to pass through his meals.
“May I sit?” Changkyun looked back at him, a smile on his face.
“Sure.” Jooheon shrugged.
He expected Changkyun to stay by the door. He was a fifteen foot venomous snake monster, afterall. Instead the man cautiously approached the rock he was lying on with measured steps, clearly trying to gauge Jooheon’s comfort level. Ignoring the rocks around, Changkyun sat down on the ground making them nearly level. Now that he was closer, Jooheon could see more details. Earrings that shimmered like stars that Jooheon had not seen in years were half hidden by the black hair. An eyebrow piercing that caught the light. Changkyun was dressed like no vet Jooheon had ever seen. He sat in a loose t-shirt, black cargo pants and some kind canvas shoe with stars on the side. There was a bag at his side but it was made of clear plastic so Jooheon could see inside.
Some dumbass human really came into his enclosure with notebooks, pens and no way to defend himself.
“What’s your name?” Changkyun leaned back on his hands, making himself more vulnerable.
“You don’t know?” There was a plaque on the door he came in with Jooheon’s name on it.
“I’d like you to tell me.” A small smile tugged at the corner of Changkyun’s lips.
“Jooheon.” Out of curiosity, he lifted himself up to lean closer. “Why are you here?” A little closer, the dense muscles of his spine allowing him to bridge some of the distance without his arms. “You’re not scared?”
“No.” The smile got softer, his head tilting to the side so Jooheon could smell him. Clearly he was used to being around hybrids. “I specialize in exotic hybrids, I know when I’m in danger.” Curious. “I’m here because they’re worried you’re sick.” Changkyun lifted an arm, slowly for Jooheon to inspect. “I want to help you.”
A few more feet and he was in Changkyun’s space. Immediately his nose and tongue were filled with the smell of the human. He confirmed Changkyun was used to dealing with hybrids since he did not wear any fragrance sprays like most humans did. It allowed Jooheon to inhale deeply without hurting his senses. Without really thinking about it, Jooheon swayed side to side as he inspected the human. No fear rose, just a curiosity that twinned Jooheon’s own. The smile got bigger, making the corners of Changkyun’s eyes crinkle slightly.
Pretty. Jooheon thought to himself.
“Can I touch you?” Jooheon moved his lower half closer to lessen some of the strain on his spine. Still no fear.
“Of course.” Changkyun offered his arm again, palm up to show he was not a threat.
Jooheon touched the fingers with his own. He trailed them over the ridges of knuckles, the flat plane of the palm that led to a thin wrist. Entranced by the softness, Jooheon pressed the hand to his face. The warmth seeping into the scales made his eyes flutter closed. For a moment he was a little boy and his mama was comforting him after being made fun of by his clutchmates. Tears burned along his eyes. A second hand cupped his face, gently guiding him closer.
“May I hold you?” Changkyun asked, his voice as warm as his hands.
“Please.” Jooheon could not explain why, but he was weeping.
Humans were strange. No sane one would allow a naga, regardless of their snake parentage, to rest their lethal mouth by their neck. Or they should not. Yet Changkyun guided Jooheon down, fitting his face into the crook allowing Jooheon to be surrounded by his scent. One of Changkyun’s hands carded through Jooheon’s dusty silver hair in the way his mama used to, the other caressed the scales that trailed from his neck and down his spine. It was so warm.
A little awkwardly, Jooheon brought the rest of his body to coil loosely around the human. The tears did not stop but neither did the comforting motions. Despite stealing the body warmth from him, Changkyun made no complaints. Not even when he began to shiver a little. Changkyun leaned comfortably against his coils, allowing Jooheon to engulf him. Between long, shuddering sobs, the human hummed a low tune. He neither scolded or rushed Jooheon for the sudden crying fit. He wanted to stay in the embrace forever.
“I’m sorry.” Jooheon sniffed when the worst of the crying finally passed. He tried to move but Changkyun kept him tucked close, nuzzling against Jooheon’s hair. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s alright.” Changkyun continued to card his fingers through Jooheon’s hair. Jooheon could hear his heartbeat, unsteady and unafraid. “How long have you felt like this?”
“Since I was born.” Jooheon nosed at Changkyun’s neck, leaving traces of his scent. “I’m a monster.”
“That doesn’t make you monstrous.” That made him cry again, albeit with less intensity. “Would it be okay if I come back to visit you?” Changkyun rubbed his face on Jooheon’s cheek to scent him back. “I can’t stay too long today since this is an assessment, but I would like to come back if you’re comfortable with talking to me.”
Jooheon’s body constricted in despair. He did not want Changkyun to leave. He did not want to be alone again. Everyone always said they would come back but they never did.
“Careful.” Changkyun murmured into his ear, still scenting him. “Your coils are getting too tight.”
“I’m sorry.” He forced his body to relax. Changkyun had nearly been crushed but he simply smiled at him. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“It would only be for a couple days.” Jooheon could do a couple days. Afterall, he’d gone years. “I promise. And I’ll be able to visit for longer.” Jooheon rubbed his face harder against Changkyun’s chest. “Hang on.” Changkyun pushed Jooheon up for a moment and then took off his shirt before bringing him back down. “I know reptiles scent better through skin contact.”
He was so warm. Jooheon went nearly cross-eyed at the influx of skin against scale-skin. Wrapping his arms around Changkyun's waist, Jooheon soaked the scent as deeply into his body as he could. He probably looked ridiculous to the humans on the other side of the glass, clinging like a child to a stranger. Later they would probably laugh at him in the comfort of their own bed as they held onto one another. But Changkyun? The sweet smelling human would not laugh. He understood.
“I can leave my shirt here, if you’d like.” Changkyun offered quietly, the long pretty fingers once again scratching at his scalp. “A promise that I will be back.”
“Okay.” Finally looking up, Jooheon smiled so wide he knew it had to be unsettling. “Please come back.”
“I will.” Changkyun pressed their foreheads together, dark eyes intense as he made the promise. “Do you have a way to tell the time?” Jooheon nodded. He had a whole TV set up on the other side of the glass but he had not turned it on in ages. “Three days. I will be back on Friday the tenth, at noon.” Jooheon held onto those numbers like his life depended on them. “Do you promise to take care of yourself until then? I’ll be so sad if I come back and you’re sick.”
“I will.” He was hypnotized by Changkyun’s dark eyes. “Will you bring a new shirt for me?” Changkyun smiled and nodded. “Okay. I promise to take care of myself.”
Jooheon hated watching Changkyun walk out of his enclosure. He was still scent drunk with the shirt bundled up in his hands. Pulling the material over his head, Jooheon shivered at being surrounded in the scent again. It was a completely new sensation for him. No one had ever smelled so good before. Of course Changkyun’s scent was as nice as he was.
Three days. He could survive three days.
That night when food was pushed through the mechanism, Jooheon ate without complaint. He drank deeply from cups of water filled at the small filter station. Placing the shirt in his nest, Jooheon went and soaked his dry scales in the large pool. Stretching out completely, Jooheon felt better than he had in years. Every part of him remembered the warmth of the human body against his own. The gentle scrape of nails against his scalp.
Later, when his scales stopped itching, Jooheon went to his nest. Sleepily, he tugged the shirt back over his head so he could be rescented by the material.
Three days was a long time when he had nothing to do. By the time noon flashed on the clock, Jooheon was pacing around his cage trying not to be anxious. He was worried that he’d been lied to - again. Changkyun would not lie right? He had left the shirt for Jooheon. He had promised. Jooheon was not sure what he would do if Changkyun did not come. Having a visitor was the only thing that was keeping him going. Without the promise of another visit, Jooheon would have remained in his spot to slowly die.
Beep-beep!
Over in the far corner the mechanics of the door turned over. Walking into his enclosure was Changkyun, a clear backpack over his shoulder and a bright smile flashing white teeth. Today he was in a purple shirt, shorts and the same canvas shoes. His hair was also pulled back into a small bun. Joy exploded in his chest at the sight of the human. WIthout thinking how it would look, Jooheon darted forward with the intent to wrap him in a hug.
“Wait.” Changkyun dropped his bag and raised a hand to the doorway. “It’s okay. He isn’t going to hurt me.”
At the door a security guard stood holding a tranquilizer gun, the tip pointed at Jooheon. When the muzzle did not move, Changkyun moved to stand between them. The two humans stared each other down before the other sighed and slammed the door shut behind him. Jooheon got to see Changkyun roll his eyes in annoyance as he turned around.
“Sorry. I know it’s their job but they’re always so damn jumpy.” Changkyun held his arms out and Jooheon slowly slithered into them. The moment he was in the embrace, Changkun's scent flooded with contentment. Changkyun was happy to see him and Jooheon could have cried.“I’ve been told that you’ve kept your end of the bargain.” Jooheon nodded, face rubbing against Changkyun’s neck. “I’m so proud of you for taking care of yourself, Honey.” The words made Jooheon shiver. Honey. After almost thirty years, he had a nickname. “I see three days is too long to go between scent items for you.”
Jooheon followed the human’s gaze to the lump of shirt that sat on the outside of the nest. It had stopped smelling like Changkyun after the second day. Once the scent was too dissipated, Jooheon did not want it in his sleeping space. Blushing, he mumbled an affirmative.
“It’s alright.” Changkyun’s shirt came off and Jooheon wished he had a way to purr or something. The only way he could show his happiness was to flick his tongue out and try to bring as much scent into himself as possible. “I have this one for you. Did you know, purple is my favorite color?” Jooheon did not and he was not sure what to do with the information. “What is yours?”
“Reds, some blues.” Jooheon lifted Changkyun to carry him to the nest and settle them in it. “All the comfortable things are in here.” He placed Changkyun on a large cushion before curling up on the human’s bare chest. “How long can you stay today?”
“Couple hours.” The gentle fingers started to card through his hair, his lips brushing against Jooheon’s forehead. “I have hybrids at home who also need me. They’ll be very upset if I don’t come home.” Jooheon thumped the end of his tail in annoyance, trying not to huff too loud. “Don’t be like that, Honey. Pack is important.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Jooheon pouted, trying not to drive the human away. “I haven’t been allowed to have one.” There was a trace of sadness in Changkyun’s scent. “Tell me about them?”
“Hyunwoo is a brown bear hybrid, he’s our pack leader. He’s sweet and makes sure everyone is taken care of, including me.” It was good to know someone was taking care of this wonderful human. “I met him when he was owned by a circus and they got shut down.” Changkyun’s scent fluctuated. Jooheon wondered if the human was the one who got it shut down. “He had hurt himself during a trick so I brought him home with me.” Oh yeah, Changkyun definitely got it shut down.
“He sounds nice.” Jooheon whispered forlornly.
“Kihyun is his mate and the second of the pack. His hybrid heritage is a bit of a mixed bag, but it’s mostly wild cat. He’s a little more temperamental but he has a good heart. When Hyunwoo can’t get us to listen he sends Kihyun to come scowl at us.” Jooheon laughed, the memory of his mom and how she would scold them coming back. “Hyungwon is my best friend. We spend a lot of time reading at night under heat lamps while his mate runs around with Hyunwoo.” At his questioning look, Changkyun added, “Hyungwon is a pit viper.”
Jooheon sat up so fast he nearly clipped Changkyun’s chin on his head. “A pit viper?” His heart beat wildly. This trusting, delicate human put himself in proximity of a hybrid that he had no chance in out running or surviving if he got bit.
“Hyungwon has been with me since I was sixteen.” Changkyun tucked a lock of hair behind Jooheon’s ear. “He taught me that a hybrid’s animal genes don’t make them bad and helped keep me safe when I started fostering hybrids in my home.” Shame flooded Jooheon’s chest. He of all people should know better than to judge a hybrid for their animal genes. “It’s okay to be worried for people. Just as long as you trust me when I say that he’s my best friend and wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I believe you.” Jooheon laid himself back on Changkyun’s chest, burying his face in the warm neck. “Any others?”
“There is Hoseok, Hyungwon’s mate, we’re not sure where he came from. He just showed up on the porch one day.” Changkyun’s lips twitched up playfully. “He’s a samoyed hybrid. If he’s not curled up as Hyungwon’s personal heater, he likes to lift weights with Hyunwoo. They could probably carry you around.” Jooheon snorted. He was fifteen feet long and a few hundred pounds. “Last is Minhyuk. He’s…” A full smile broke out, shifting Changkyun’s demeanor and scent. “Minnie is a honey badger. I think you’ll like him, he’s very playful.”
“He’s your mate.” Jooheon could tell by the face Changkyun was making. For reasons he could not name, Jooheon felt his heart breaking.
“Yes.” He tapped a small bite at the base of his neck that Jooheon had been lying on. It was old, probably a few years by the way the skin had settled. “He knows what I do and that I am tactile with others. He doesn’t mind.” Jooheon felt conflicted about curling up with another hybrid’s mate. “He says you smell too sad, which is why he wanted me to offer one of his shirts before I go.”
“Maybe.” Jooheon wasn’t sure how to feel about that either. “What’s it like at your home?”
“Chaos.” Changkyun laughed, full of fondness. “Just, so much chaos.”
Closing his eyes, Jooheon listened to Changkyun talk about his pack. He was not sure if he could believe there was a human that did not keep enclosures in their home. Changkyun did not believe in shock collars, muzzles or any other means of protection against hybrids that could kill him. His pack had free reign of their home including the kitchen, a fully stocked library and acres of land to run around. It sounded like heaven. Jooheon wished he could go with him.
“I also foster hybrids.” Changkyun shifted to get comfortable again, though he made no motion to escape the coils. If anything, Changkyun nestled deeper to maximize their skin contact. “Usually just for a few weeks until we can find them proper homes. Hyunwoo keeps saying we’re a closed pack and I’m inclined to believe him.”
A knock came to the door on the other side of the enclosure. The security guard who had been trigger happy in the beginning tapped his watch. Changkyun frowned deeply, glancing up at the clock on the wall and then made some kind of hand sign. The guard nodded, returning to reading something on his phone.
Mister Im, time is nearly up. A woman’s voice came over the intercom.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Changkyun grumbled. Then louder, “I’ll be wrapping up soon.”
Wrapping up. Changkyun had to leave and Jooheon would be left alone again. Three hours was not enough to make up for all the hours he spent alone. Jooheon did not want to be left with nothing but a shirt and memories while other hybrids got to cuddle the human. He could share as long as he was not forgotten again.
“Come back.” Jooheon scented Changkyun as deeply as he could, mate be damned.
“It will be a little longer, but I’ll be back.” Changkyun curled around Jooheon’s head so the only thing he could smell was the two of them. In a whisper, he asked, “do you want to stay here, Jooheon?”
“No.” Jooheon whispered just as quietly. Pitfully. Pleadingly. “ Don’t leave me here. I don’t want to die in this place, alone and cold.”
“Okay.” A kiss was placed on his forehead, filling Jooheon’s eyes with tears. “It will take some time, but I’ll start working on the paperwork.” Changkyun kissed away the tears in the corner of his eyes. “Next time, I’ll bring something with pack scent.”
“Am I pack?”
“We don’t know yet.” Changkyun smiled gently. Like he had when he had talked about his mate. “I hope so, we all do.” Jooheon hoped so too. He wanted a family again, to be part of something where people loved him despite his monstrous body. “Would you like to see if Minhyuk’s scent is okay?” Jooheon shoved his face into Changkyun’s neck one last time, inhaling deeply.
Outside the nest, Changkyun pulled a separate shirt out of the clear backpack and placed the old one inside. In a separate, heavy vinyl bag, Changkyun pulled out a bright yellow shirt. Jooheon leaned in close, tongue flicking out to taste the air. This shirt smelled…wild. Like the wind when it came whispering through the woods. There was tree sap and pine and mud that combined together to make Jooheon’s spine shiver. Pulling the shirt to his face, Jooheon breathed deeply. Once. Twice. A third time. He breathed until he was dizzy with it.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Changkyun grinned, his scent deeply pleased that his mate’s scent had not been rejected. “I’ll present this shirt to the others.” He lifted the bags onto his shoulders with a sad look. “C’mere, Honey.” Jooheon drunkenly lowered himself, careful not to crush Changkyun with his bulk. “Take care of yourself while I’m gone, okay? Please.” Then, in a whisper. “You won’t be here longer than necessary, Honey. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Hurry back.” Jooheon hugged him and lifted until Changkyun was on his tip-toes, laughing bright as the sun. “I miss you, Kyunnie.”
It took six months for Changkyun to get custody of Jooheon to the surprise of everyone but the tenacious human. Jooheon still was not sure how the human had managed it considering how wealthy his owners were, but he had. Jooheon suspected it had something to do with their weekly visits where Changkyun still cuddled him, but gradually started to take notes. He had Jooheon explain his daily life - boring as fuck. How much socialization he got - none. How he felt about his enclosure and diet - great but also boring. Changkyun had taken notebooks worth of observations the longer their visits went on. At some point he started bringing a handheld to record their conversations about Jooheon’s mental health. Sometimes it would just be minutes of him crying while Changkyun held his hand.
“Are you ready?” Changkyun stood in the doorway of the enclosure he was leaving.
“You can say no.” His former owners stood off to the side looking oddly sad.
“I need to go.” Jooheon gave them a smile.They knew as well as he did that if he stayed, he would die. “Thank you for giving me home for as long as you did.” He bowed his head.
Jooheon followed Changkyun outside to the large truck he kept to do his work out of. Jooheon was grateful he could coil himself comfortably otherwise it would have been a long drive. Security watched him with distrust but no one was willing to cross Changkyun’s polite smile. His former owners had offered to send his items to Changkyun’s home but Jooheon had declined. What little he wanted to keep he could carry in the duffel bag. Some art from when the little ones still played with him, a tattered doll his mama had made for him as a child, some knick knacks that he’d gotten from the adults and a shiny rock that he had taken a liking to when he was brought here.
“Goodbye.” Jooheon smiled at the line of people.
“Bye, Jooheon.” The oldest of the little ones gave Changkyun a hard look. “You better be nice to him.”
“Cross my heart. I’ll make sure he’s happy and taken care of.” Changkyun gave her a bow. When he straightened, he asked. “You ready?”
“Yeah.”
At his request, all the windows were rolled down while they drove. Jooheon sat in the back seat laughing as the wind tunnel made his hair flutter around his face. Every time they passed something interesting he asked and Changkyun patiently explained what it was. He kept waiting for the human to get annoyed or to tell him to stop asking but it never came. Just as Jooheon took joy in learning about the things catching his eye, Changkyun was genuinely pleased in answering him.
It took a long time, traveling through large expanses of city blocks and empty fields before they arrived Home. Changkyun’s house was large and sprawling where it sat tucked against a treeline surrounded by a large open yard that seemingly went on forever before it hit another tree line. Jooheon had originally worried about not having enough space to stretch out but told himself that he’d make it work. Anything was better than being in the box. He’d spent ten years locked away and he was ready to do anything to taste fresh air. However as they pulled up in the long driveway, Jooheon saw two hybrids running around the massive yard with two more off to the side. A big fluffy hybrid sprinted after a bigger bodied one before they collided filling the air with laughter.
“Hoseok and Hyunwoo.” Changkyun parked the car and nodded at the two hybrids rolling in the dirt trying to pin the other. “Kihyun is the one currently trying to drown Minhyuk in the pool. Hyungwon is on the rock watching.”
“Aren’t you worried?” Jooheon peeked out the window. There were indeed two hybrids by a pool and the hands of a third poking out of the water. “About Minhyuk actually drowning?”
“If Minhyuk wanted he could get away.” As if the badger heard them, he twisted out of Kihyun’s grip and bobbed up in the pool only to drag Kihyun in. “He likes to poke fun, but if you tell him to stop he will. Just give him a little patience while he learns your boundaries, okay?”
Jooheon was hesitant to get out of the car. He was worried if he did, it would break the bubble he found himself in. He was afraid there would be people with muzzles and chain and needles to drag him somewhere. But he trusted Changkyun. Changkyun felt safe and Jooheon’s instincts had never been wrong. So when Changkyun opened the trunk, Jooheon slithered out.
“Welcome home, Jooheon.” Changkyun held out a hand. “Let me introduce you to our pack.”
The sunlight on his scales was nice. As was the wind in his hair and the taste of trees on his tongue. He was outside, free to do what he wanted. Without being told, if he wanted to let go of Changkyun’s hand and explore he would be allowed to. He could lie in the mud without being scolded for ruining fancy clothes he didn’t even like. He could slither as fast as he wanted for as long as he wanted and not run into glass walls. He had a pack.
“Why is he crying?” The five others gathered around, but Minhyuk had come the closest. “Honey, why are you sad?”
“Give him a moment.” Changkyun squeezed his hand as Jooheon sobbed into the other. “Today is a big day for him.”
“I knew he would be cute.” Minhyuk grinned up at him through the thick wall of tears. The badger, like Changkyun had promised, radiated mischief. “Look at how pretty his scales are. Kyunnie, you didn’t tell us that he was so handsome.” Then there was a honey badger in his space tracing a finger up his arm. Up his neck and then brushing tears off his face. “You smell even better in person, even though it’s still too sad. Don’t worry Honey, we’ll fix that and make sure you’re too happy to be sad again.” Jooheon could only blink in shock until Kihyun dragged Minhyuk back by his ear. “Ow ow ow. I was being nice! Why am I being punished?”
“You’re overwhelming him, dummy.” Kihyun scolded before turning a smile to Jooheon. “Minnie forgets to leave maknae antics for the actual maknae.”
“Who is the maknae?” Jooheon cleared his throat in an attempt to fix the first impression he was probably failing. He and Changkyun had not gotten the chance to talk much about the pack dynamics since he needed to document things to get custody.
“Me.” Changkyun sighed, a smile still curling the corners of his mouth. “And they won’t let me forget it.”
“You’re the baby?” Jooheon lowered himself a little to look at him in the sunlight. Changkyun nodded, tucking hair behind his ear. “Even to me?” Changkyun nodded again.
“I hope I’ll be enough, the others are older than both of us.” Changkyun looked over, chin inclining. “You’ve met Kihyun and Min.” Kihyun kept his grip on a pouting Minhyuk’s ear. “This is Hyungwon.” A tall, gorgeous man with the sulfur green scales of a pit viper. “Hyunwoo.” A bulky man who was clearly the bear hybrid. “And Hoseok.” The even bulkier man with fluffy white hair and a big smile.
“It's been so long since we've had a new face.” Hoseok grabbed his other hand, the samoyed’s dark eyes sparking with genuine joy. “Want to see the house? Of course you do. C’mon, I’ll give you the tour and later I can show you the yard so you know the property lines.”
“I’ll grab the bags.” Hyunwoo offered as if Jooheon had any actual bags.
“Minnie and I will get dinner started.” Kihyun proceeded to drag the badger away with many complaints. “If you didn’t want to be scolded then you should have minded your manners.” Jooheon heard the exasperated sighs until the front door closed behind the two.
That left the fellow snake watching him. Hyungwon was everything that his home clutch hoped he would be. Jooheon did his best not to feel too self conscious about his long, trailing tail. Or the t-shirt, Changkyun’s favorite purple one that Jooheon had been unwilling to part with. It was comfortable but it did not go long enough to hide the cloacal on his long stomach that his dick rested in. The only thing that kept Jooheon from being too upset was that for how gorgeous Hyungwon was, he was not Changkyun’s mate. When Jooheon would inevitably be compared in Changkyun’s mind it would be to a mammal and not another reptile. He did not mind being found lacking in comparison to a hybrid that did not share a genus with his genetic makeup.
“Changkyun.” Hyungwon gave a warm smile, the slitted eyes thinning. “Can you please give me a moment?”
“You’re not threatening our new housemate before he steps inside.” Changkyun leveled an unimpressed eyebrow. The human did not put himself between the two of them but he did not need to. His tone alone drew a line in the sand. “Say what you have to say, and we can address it together.”
Jooheon shrunk back from the slitted eyes turning back on him.
“If you hurt anyone here, you’ll answer to me.” Hyungwon was potentially the only thing lethal enough in the house to actually be a threat. Not that Jooheon planned on hurting anyone, but it was good to know that someone was looking out for the others. “Hyunwoo is our pack leader, you don’t get to change that.” Hyunwoo gave him an uneasy smile. “Changkyun is our baby. Just because he has a big heart doesn’t mean any of us won’t drop you if you become a danger to him.”
“I understand.” Jooheon had no way of making himself smaller to show submission.
“Good.” The slits widened and the stance relaxed. Hyungwon, for all of his terrifying intensity, clearly cared for his pack and wanted to ensure their safety. “I’ll go help with dinner.”
“Don’t worry, we all got that talk.” Hyunwoo lifted the single bag higher on his shoulder. “He’s been with Kyunnie the longest so he’s the most protective.” All of them looked at Changkyun who was pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “And Kyunnie is kind of an idiot when he’s trying to help.”
“Am not.” Jooheon bit his lip to hide a grin at Changkyun’s glare.
“Baby, you nearly got mauled a week ago.” Hyunwoo ruffled his hair with all the love of an older brother teasing a younger one. “By a goat.” Changkyun groaned, his free hand covering his face. “Don’t worry, Honey, nothing bad happened.” Jooheon hadn’t even noticed he’d begun to coil up aggressively. “Anyway, let’s get inside before Changkyun decides he’s really going to run away and leave us.”
“Leave you. I’ll take Jooheon with me, he hasn’t done anything.” Changkyun took a step and the three of them instantly began to move. “We’ll start a new house.” He winked up and Jooheon’s heart did a little flutter. “After dinner I’ll show you to your room. Minhyuk and I finished the wiring for the lamps and rocks last night.”
“Thank you.” Jooheon rubbed his face against Changkyun’s face to the cooing of the hybrids around them.
Dinner was a lively affair. Changkyun was passed around by each of the hybrids for scenting, something that Minhyuk informed him was a nightly tradition since Changkyun worked with so many hybrids. To Jooheon’s surprise, once released from his mate’s embrace Changkyun climbed into his coils to feed him by hand. After the first few bites, the table stopped watching so closely and began to have conversations. It felt decadent to be hand fed. Especially when Changkyun did not shy away from how wide his mouth opened or how dark the inside of it was. To his delight, Changkyun accepted bites of food in return. If this was going to be his life, ten years in a box was a small price.
"Eat slow." Changkyun warned when Jooheon swallowed a large piece, his throat expanding to allow passage.
"I swallow things whole all the time." Jooheon pressed a much smaller piece of spiced meat to Changkyun’s frown. “I’ll be okay.”
"You’re starting a diet change, even with bland food it’s going to make your stomach ache." A cup of cool water was pressed to his lips. "Slowly." Jooheon obeyed with a good natured roll of his eyes. "Good job, Honey."
A bloom of warmth filled his chest when he was called good by the human. Curling down, Jooheon rubbed their noses together, eyes closed in contentment while Changkyun’s scent filled his head. It had been three days since he’d seen the human while paperwork was processed. Even the shirts that had been left were not enough to satisfy him anymore. He needed to get it directly from the source otherwise it made him anxious. As if he was a hybrid himself, Changkyun leaned into the embrace to scent him back.
"Looks like we're gonna lose our maknae." Minhyuk grinned around a piece of red meat from his seat at the edge of the table. "At least he's cute."
Jooheon looked up in surprise, aware once again they were not alone. They were no longer in his enclosure being watched through a series of cameras. Now they were in the middle of a kitchen with their pack surrounding them. Changkyun was still in his coils, face a bright red but smiling around just as relaxed as if the two of them had been talking about the weather and not being borderline indecent. The rest of the pack were watching with looks that went from embarrassed to amused. Or, in Minhyuk's case, horny. Was it normal for a hybrid to be okay with another scenting their mate so much? This was such weird fucking pack.
"I'm not going to steal him." Jooheon started to defend himself.
"Ignore Minhyuk, he's teasing." Hoseok tugged playfully at the badger's ear. "It's still pretty early in the night, do you want to watch a movie with us?"
"Can I?" The question spilled out before he could catch it. God it sounded pitiful.
"Of course." Changkyun drew his face back down to look him in the eyes. "You don't have to, but we would like you to."
Jooheon had never been in love. He had never kissed anyone romantically or touched another person beyond a few hand shakes. That would have required him to meet others in a way that allowed for intimacy. To be something besides an exotic showpiece deep in a rich man's home. But looking into Changkyun’s eyes he thought he might be. Remembering all the touches and kisses to his face, Jooheon hoped he was.
"I would like to." The smile he received was so soft that Jooheon thought his heart might burst.
"Minnie," Hyunwoo cleared his throat to clear the tension. "Help them get set up?"
"That's-" Hoseok started but jumped at something Jooheon could not see.
"Go on." The bear waved them off. “We’ll get the kitchen cleaned up and come in after dinner is put away.”
Jooheon simply picked up Changkyun in his arms while Minhyuk stretched up from his chair. There was clearly a whole lot that he was missing but there was a pretty boy in his arms and another waiting for them. Dutifully, Jooheon followed Minhyuk through the wide hallways and into the large living room. Jooheon had no idea where he was going to sit that would not take up the entire couch, but he hoped Changkyun would be close. Maybe he could stretch out the end of his tail out long enough for another one of the pack to lean against him. If they wanted Jooheon as part of their pack it did not feel too much to hope that they would allow him to be close.
"You can put me down." Changkyun grinned up at him from where he was comfortably resting in Jooheon’s arms.
"Hush, you don't ever let anyone baby you anymore." Minhyuk tutted as he walked beside them. "Well, except Hoseok but good luck getting out of his grip." Changkyun's laugh filled Jooheon's head pleasantly. “Take advantage while you can, Jooheon. Soon he’ll be trying to baby you and then it’s all over. Changkyun grumbled something that sounded like ‘traitor’ but did not outright deny it.
At Minhyuk's instruction, Jooheon stretched out his long body across the large cushions of the couch. He wiggled a little bit, to get comfortable on the wide cushions, pleased when he got to be the one with Changkyun’s head on his chest. As he settled, two large heating blankets were set on low and placed over his body. The implication immediately made his heart twist. There were heating blankets that were large enough for him,meaning that he could spend time outside of his room and not get cold. Unlike Proper Hybrids, Jooheon lost body heat faster than he could produce it. There was too much snake and not enough human in his DNA.
“Do you need these higher?” Minhyuk smoothed the fabric over his midsection.
“No.” If he hummed a hair too close to a moan, neither one of them said anything. “Do you need help?”
“You’re already helping.” Minhyuk dropped a kiss on his head and then Changkyun’s. “You make sure our maknae actually relaxes. He’s been arguing with lawyers for weeks and hasn’t been sleeping.” Jooheon frowned at that.
“I’m not going anywhere.” Changkyun yawned, a hand drawing lazy patterns across Jooheon’s stomach. “I’m happy you came home to us, Honey.” The smile he got made Jooheon’s chest explode in butterflies. “No scary movies tonight, Minnie.”
The badger grunted something as he moved over another section of the couch to press them together. With them laid front to front, Jooheon felt like he was back in his nest. He could coil himself in more comfortable ways but it did not leave anywhere for the others to sit. Jooheon wanted to voice his concern but Changkyun yawned again, rubbing his face against Jooheon’s chest . He had never seen Changkyun sleep but today was a day for firsts. Like the human did for him, Jooheon began carding his hands through the soft black hair.
Within minutes Changkyun was asleep and Jooheon was sure he was in love.
"Honey." Minhyuk crawled over the back of one couch to get close. “We really are happy to have you here.” His fingers brushed some of Jooheon’s hair back with the same gentleness that everyone in this house treated their human with. "You can have him tonight," they both looked down at Changkyun who curled more around Jooheon’s chest. "But you have to share. Okay?"
"I'm sorry." He felt tears begin to rise.
"Shhh," Minhyuk brushed their faces together like Jooheon had done to Changkyun. "Don't be sorry. We understand. Kyunnie is very easy to love." A kiss was placed on his cheek and then on Changkyun's lips.
Jooheon's heart picked up. "I'm not trying to steal your mate."
"You couldn't if you wanted." Minhyuk grinned playfully, scattering more kisses across Jooheon’s face. "But, you're cute and he likes you so I can share." Jooheon's heart was so confused at what it should feel. "Changkyun doesn't take to people easily, not even hybrids. You're special to him which makes you special to me."
"You don't know me."
"Not yet, but I want to." Minhyuk kept brushing his hair back, allowing their scents to exchange. "Some things are instinctual. Just like I knew when I met Changkyun that he was mine." Changkyun shifted closer in his sleep, sighing softly across Jooheon’s collarbone. "You're mine are mine too, but I can wait.” Was he? Jooheon didn’t know what to do with any of this information. “You deserve a chance to learn about yourself and what you want without feeling like you have to accept me." Then, just to make his poor heart flutter, Minhyuk whispered into his ear. "Kyunnie likes sweets. If you ask Kihyun nicely, he can teach you how to make his favorite cookies."
“What do you like?” Jooheon asked as Minhyuk pulled away.
“When pretty boys are happy.” That wasn’t an answer but the badger was already waving to the others.
The four other members of their pack cautiously made their way into the living room. When it was clear that nothing bad or obscene was happening, they visibility relaxed. Jooheon was once again worried about where they would sit since he took up both couches. As it turned out, he didn’t need to worry all that much. This pack was more than willing to crawl onto the couch with a giant black mamba. Jooheon was close to crying again.
"Is he really sleeping?" Hyungwon slid under the heated blanket, his own eyes half closed. “We didn’t even start the movie yet.” The feel of their scales resting against one another made Jooheon think back to when he cuddled with his family clutch. With that simple gesture Hyungwon made Jooheon feel more at home than even Changkyun curling ever closer.
"That’s bold coming from you, Hyungown. When was the last time you made it more than twenty minutes in?” Kihyun laid on another section of his body, above the blanket but one hand slid under to pet his scales. Jooheon moved the coil a little so the cat would be more comfortable. "Hope you like cuddling." Jooheon did. “We’ll get you some scale softener, your poor tail is dry. I don’t want you to start cracking and bleeding.”
Hyunwoo was a little more awkward but cuddled up close to Kihyun, the two of them already talking about making adjustments to the house so Jooheon could move around easier. Hoseok gave Hyungwon a kiss before wiggling them so that he cuddled both snakes.
Eventually, Minhyuk was pleased with the nest set up and crawled back to the spot next to Jooheon and curled up on his chest, opposite of Changkyun. "Remember." Minhyuk kissed both of his cheeks, soft brown eyes entrancing Jooheon just like Changkyun’s had done before. "Tomorrow you have to share."
Jooheon had no worldly idea what movie they played. He had six people curled up around him. All of them caressing his scales, crooning at how pretty he was, and asking him what he liked. He had Changkyun sleeping in his arms, sometimes making soft hums when the talking would get too loud. The scent of pack, potential mates and home filled Jooheon’s senses. All his thoughts kept going back to love and wanting to love and praying to whatever god that would listen that with enough time he could be loved in return. It was honestly the best night of Jooheon’s life.
“Close your eyes, Jooheon.” Minhyuk whispered when Jooheon’s eyes started to slip closed. “You’re home now. We’ll still be here when you wake up, and every day after that.”