Chapter Text
“Fuck.”
The easiest way to explain this situation was with a single word. A word in which, when used, normally relaxed an individual and helped them calm down if even the smallest bit. A word that, typically, was released by impulse and under stressful situations. However, today was not a day that was a normal level of stress.
It was a stress volcano. A tsunami.
What started as a normal Monday had now evolved into some sort of revenge against Jungkook and he wasn't sure if it was due to something he'd done in his past, or if the world had just decided to give him a big middle finger. All he knew was that even his favorite word was not enough to relieve his stress.
Fuck did not even come close to calming him down.
Jungkook had been going to get the bus seeing as it was nearing midnight, but it seems somewhere along the way he'd managed to drop his wallet. Either on the walk to work, or inside the greenhouse, he could only hope that it was inside the flower shop. Who really knew.
All he knew was that it had been snug in his coat pocket.
“Fuck.” He whispered again, trying to find any sort of comfort as he sat down at the bus stop. The light was annoying, it was flickering ahead and had flies buzzing around attracted to the warmth. He glared at it as though that would do something to make them go away.
Luckily, he had his phone. Jungkook could call a taxi, but the truth was he was broke. He'd only recently managed to pull together enough money to get a teeny tiny one room in town, let alone afford to pay for a taxi that was double the fare around midnight.
Jungkook wanted to cry. He didn't want to walk home this late, he was tired, and a big baby. Even though he was twenty five years old, his best defense mechanism had always been to either curse or cry and nothing in between.
Thus, instead of doing anything, Jungkook plopped his knees close and rested his chin utop them. He grumbled and frowned until, out of the corner of his eye, he was drawn to light across the street.
The bus stop opposite this one had a light that was fully functional. And it was partially blocked by an outline.
For a moment, Jungkook stared. Mostly because it seemed the outline was facing him, too, but he brushed it off and rolled his eyes after a moment. Then, he turned to his phone and rubbed his eye as he opened it.
Footsteps sounded.
It was late and the only sounds around were the buzzing lights and bugs, so the sound of shoes on gravel yanked Jungkook's head up immediately.
Holy shit.
Holy shit.
Rationally, Jungkook should be a lot more worried about a random man approaching him this late, but that thought came and went as soon as he saw said man because he was hot. Gorgeous really. His black hair was pushed back and his black coat hugged around muscled arms. Jungkook couldn't help but swallow and quickly throw his legs off the bench so he didn't appear to be a child.
Then again, Jungkook shouldn't really care so much given he was sure he looked like he was dragged through the gutter and such an attractive man wouldn't care anyway. Plus, he likely just wanted to wait for the bus.
Still, Jungkook couldn't help but to worry, not because the man may be a psycho - but then again has there ever been a hot psycho? Maybe he should google that. Now he was curious and—
“Hello.”
Jungkook's eyes grew huge. He stared straight ahead at the road as though he hadn't heard a thing. Only for a throat to clear and another, louder, “Hello.”
Then, Jungkook turned to look at the man.
It was unfair to look so good this late.
“Hi.” Jungkook murmured with big eyes, shifting to stand up.
That only made the man look confused. He chuckled and motioned at the seat. “Aren't you taking the bus? You don't need to stand.”
“I…” Jungkook's hand fisted his phone. “I lost my wallet so like, yeah. I'm just gonna walk and-”
“Is it this one?”
The man, so easily, looked down and reached behind the bench. He pulled out a duck printed wallet and held it between two fingers. Jungkook felt his heart stop.
Defense mechanisms kicked in immediately, Jungkook's mouth began to churn out useless and ridiculous words.
“Oh, fuck. Yeah- it's mine, but I mean it's not mine mine. Like, it was my cousins that's why it's childish -- I'm not a child! I lost mine, so I found that one and used it, but like, I'm going to change it and all! I'm twenty five, not two, but even if I did pick that one…” Jungkook trailed off as he snatched the wallet, his cheeks bright red as he looked down to sort through it and make sure nothing was missing. He puffed his cheeks out and grumbled.
“Ah, I understand.” The man mused, when Jungkook peeked at him he saw a small smirk forming. “For the record, I enjoy ducks, too.”
“They're cute.” Jungkook whispered, then plopped down on the bench again.
“I've seen cuter things.” There was a pause. “I'm Hoseok. Jung Hoseok.”
To which Jungkook replied, dumbly, “Cool.”
“And you are?” Hoseok asked, sitting down and beginning to drum fingers on his own knee.
Jungkook's eyes flickered to his hand. His nails were a dark shade of black and he tilted his head, interestingly looking over the man again.
He didn't exactly appear to be someone who would paint his nails. He looked rather professional beneath his coat. He wore slacks and shiny new shoes. He smelled like trees and a tad of cologne.
“What shade is that?” Jungkook wondered, eyebrows raised, “I've been looking for that exact shade, I love painting my nails but I haven't had the time. You know, once I even painted some spiders on my nails all by myself.”
“You're an artist then.”
Jungkook only realized his rambles had been said after that and he scrunched up his nose and wanted to hit himself. He shook his head and met the man's eyes just as he sniffed and wet his lips. Very nice lips. They were very colored almost like he wore makeup, his skin too seemed rather clear and even. Incredibly so.
Before his perhaps offensive question about makeup wanted to vomit out, Jungkook managed to hold eye contact for a moment. A moment in which Hoseok's anxious tapping stopped and he sniffed a bunch.
“Jungkook- Jeon Jungkook. But you can call me Jungkook, so I guess I could've just said Jungkook, but… formalities and all…”
Jungkook was a professional at socializing. Definitely, most certainly, he didn't want to throw himself in the middle of the road right now. Fuck.
“Jeon Jungkook.” Hoseok hummed and his lips curled up into the most beautiful smile Jungkook had ever seen. “What a beautiful name.”
“Thanks.” Jungkook said, lamely, “I got it from my mom.”
Hoseok began to laugh and Jungkook found red crawling up his neck, but managed a small snort at himself. Clearly, he hadn't exactly been too popular with others. He'd always kept to himself.
“Who'd have known.” Hoseok mused under his breath, he eyed Jungkook with these dark, almond shaped eyes. Utterly amused. There was something very light in his eyes, not an ounce of maliciousness. Nor teasing. Jungkook was unfamiliar with this look. He was unfamiliar with banter that was not at his own expense.
Jungkook was strange. He knew that. He'd always been the awkward, funny kid that sat in the library and turned red when someone tried to approach him. He'd never been bullied per say, but he'd certainly been laughed at rather than with.
Hoseok was doing neither of those things. He seemed as though amused with some other thoughts rather than Jungkook. Either way, whatever it was, it seemed calming. Jungkook calmed down some, too.
Around the corner, Jungkook heard the bus turn towards their street and stood, but Hoseok did not.
“It's the last bus.” Jungkook warned, “You'll be stuck here if you don't get on.”
Hoseok smiled, “I drove.”
“Why are you at the bus stop then?”
“You were.”
Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows and pulled out his bus pass, he raised a brow at Hoseok just as the bus pulled up. “Okay weirdo.”
Hoseok snorted and shook his head. “You looked upset,” he shrugged, “Now you aren't. It costs nothing to make people feel better.”
“Okay, Therapist.” Jungkook snorted, “Bye.”
“Have a goodnight, pretty.”
Pretty.
Hoseok thought he was pretty even though he was filthy and had eyebags down to the floor. Now Jungkook really wanted to die. It didn't seem an option, so he settled on throwing himself into the bus and hiding beneath the window. The smell of the bus at midnight was akin to a grave, so it was close enough.
***
The thing about being part wolf was they, well, everything had a scent.
There were scents everywhere, one's mortals didn't pick up on like plants pollinating, or the smog in the air, so it was important for someone of their kind to learn early on how to get used to the scents and how to deal with such sensitive senses.
It had been well over a hundred years since Hoseok had been unable to control himself, but the second he'd gotten a whiff of something utterly unfamiliar -- peaches, strawberries, flowers, a hint of sugarcane and cotton -- he had to stop in place and figure out where it had come from.
Jeon Jungkook had to be a dream. He was gorgeous with those huge, starry eyes and beauty marks kissed on his skin. He'd appeared a bit intimidating from far away, someone so handsome was bound to be difficult to approach even for a wolf who'd been alive so long.
He was a pup. Only twenty five years old with such jumpy behavior it was as though Hoseok melted. He'd longed to tug the nervous pup closer, but settled for watching the mortal stutter over words.
It came as no surprise to Hoseok, too, that Jungkook's scent in itself would draw a crowd as soon as he arrived in the driveway. For if he had been able to pick up on the pup from clear across the road where the smell of dirt and smog and the iron scent of mortals lingered than it was incredibly easy to pick up on as soon as it entered the peacefulness of their property.
“What is that?” Jimin demanded. The wolf was jumping off of the porch as soon as Hoseok opened the car door. He was sniffing like an immature pup again and running a circle around the vehicle when Hoseok bypassed him. “What is that?”
“You reek.” Taehyung laughed, amused. His smirk faulted when Hoseok stepped into the house and walked by him. Then, the youngest grew a more serious and sober look on his face. “Hyung.”
Hoseok ignored them to kick off his shoes, only to stop when spotting Yoongi lingering in the kitchen rather than following him around like the youngest three. He was stiff and frozen. His nostrils flared.
Seokjin was tidying up the common room. He didn't look at Hoseok as he said, “Hello.”
“Finally someone sane,” Hoseok released a breath and dropped his coat. Immediately, Namjoon picked it up to smell the fabric and Hoseok rolled his eyes. “Hyung-”
“I am not going to pester you.” Seokjin looked at him with a huge grin, “Of course I know already. Such a smell is difficult to ignore.”
“What smell?” Jimin blabbered, “Hyung! What smell-”
“He was gorgeous.” Hoseok sighed and laid back on the couch, throwing an arm across his eyes and wetting his lips. “You're going to adore him. He's just perfect.”
“As expected,” Seokjin grinned and took a seat, eyes crinkling as he laid his chin on his palm. “Only the best for us after all. We deserve an amazing mate.”
“Mate.” Namjoon jerked up in alarm. “Did you say mate?”
“Yes.” Seokjin chuckled and sat up, motioning towards the kitchen, “That is why Yoongi is as white as a ghost at the moment.”
Yoongi was, indeed, as white as a ghost. He dropped the glass in his hand into the sink with a shatter and that sound was what startled him out of his thoughts. He hissed and swiftly exited the kitchen; his fingers mused through his hair rapidly.
“What's wrong?” Taehyung asked, his smile slipping. “This is good, isn't it?”
It had been quite some time since they'd explained the concept to Taehyung, and to most wolves perhaps they'd be jumping with joy at the concept line he had, like Seokjin had, however Yoongi did not appear nearly as happy.
Namjoon did, though, and he swiftly wrapped an arm around the youngest and assured, softly, “It is. It's amazing.”
Taehyung seemed to forget all about the looks the eldest two shared and beamed, a boxy grin as he laughed all cute and excitedly. Namjoon kissed his cheek a few times until Taehyung was jumping out of his arms and at Jimin. He didn't mind, the duo were best friends.
“Chim!” Taehyung bounced on his feet before jumping at Jimin for a kiss, he didn't seem to notice the lack of reply, “We'll get a mate, isn't it wonderful?”
Jimin pet his cheek, patting it twice before giving a bitten grin and nodding. His smile didn't meet his eyes. “Yes, Tae.”
He walked by him, towards the stairs, “Just wonderful.”
It seemed Yoongi and Jimin were in agreement about one thing: they shouldn't be too excited about finding Jeon Jungkook. Perhaps just the opposite.