Taehyung unlocked the door of his new apartment, holding it open for Jeongguk who walked through and stood in the sparsely furnished space looking around with disinterest.

“You moved.” A dull statement.

“Ah, yes. I thought Mrs Kim told you. My father left it to me.” He looked around the space, faintly embarrassed by how spartan it was. “I, uh, I haven’t had a chance to buy furniture or anything. We’ll have to share the bed.”

“Ok.” Jeongguk dumped his bag on the floor and Taehyung frowned at the action.

“That doesn’t belong there.” He told the hybrid firmly. He wouldn’t abide mess.

Jeongguk looked at him, but it was as though he was looking through him, then he looked at the bag he’d just dropped.

“Bring it into the bedroom. I’ll assign you a drawer.” Taehyung instructed and Jeongguk mutely picked up the bag and followed him into the master bedroom. There was a second bedroom, but it was completely empty.

“So you can have the bottom three.” Taehyung indicated the drawers built into the walk in robe. “And this side of the hanging space if you need it.” He explained.

“Ok.” Guk said again in that listless voice as he began putting away his clothes where Taehyung indicated in a mechanical fashion.

“Are you hungry?” Taehyung asked after the hybrid completed the task.

Jeongguk shrugged. “Not really.”

“Oh. Ah, well, I don’t have much in the cupboards anyway.” He said weakly, the hybrid’s despondent mood seemed to be contagious.

Taehyung felt doubt creep into his thoughts. Had he done the right thing bringing Jeongguk home with him? He had been angry and indignant on the hybrid’s behalf, almost wild with concern and he had made the offer without properly thinking it through. As much as he knew about Jeongguk personally, he still didn’t know an awful lot about hybrid’s in general. How was he supposed to act? Like his friend? Like his owner? What did being an owner truly entail anyway? He wasn’t sure Namjoon’s relationship with Jeongguk was the best example. It had obviously been dysfunctional.

What did he really know about caring for a hybrid anyway? He’d let his emotions cloud his judgement, arrogantly assuming he was the best option for the hybrid. But was he really? He wanted to help Jeongguk get better, desperately. But he didn’t know how. He was probably just making things worse for the wounded boy, ripping him from his family home and thrusting him in a new environment that wasn’t even catered to his needs. He didn’t even have any food, for goodness sakes!

He took a deep, steadying breath, not allowing his anxiety to take control of him. He needed to remain calm and in control of the situation. Jeongguk needed him. He just had to approach the problem rationally. First things first, he would attend to the hybrid’s physical state. Jeongguk needed to eat, even if he wasn’t hungry. He was probably dehydrated as well. He also needed a shower and a changer of clothes. His hair definitely needed washing. His claws probably needed clipping again too. He should probably also take him to a hybridologist for a check up. He would message Mrs Kim and request the contact information of Jeongguk’s regular doctor.

Once his course of action had been decided on, he felt much better. “Jeongguk.” He called softly to get the attention of the hybrid who now sat on the edge of his bed staring at the pastel grey carpet blankly.

His ears twitched, but he didn’t respond. Pressing his lips together, Taehyung crouched before the boy, angling his chin up to meet his eyes. “Hey.” He murmured, giving him a small, encouraging smile. Jeongguk looked at him blandly for a second before his eyes slid away to stare at nothing again.

Taehyung’s smile faltered a little. “How about I order something in? What would you like? Noodles? Pizza? Burgers? Sushi?”

Jeongguk shrugged again.

“If you don’t pick something you know I’ll choose Panda Express.” He teased. 

“S’fine.” The hybrid murmured.

“Ok.” He sighed. “Any preferences? Chicken, beef, vegetarian?” He seesawed his hands.

“Whatever is fine.” Taehyung’s lips thinned again but he nodded.

“Ok, well I’ll order and while we wait you could have a shower?” He suggested, then his eyes lit up a little. “Oh! I have a bath now if you’d prefer that. I bought bubbles to celebrate.” He grinned, hoping to provoke at least an eye roll at his child-like enthusiasm.

“Doesn’t matter. Shower, I guess.”

“You’re right.” Taehyung agreed as though Jeongguk cared about his choice. “Bubble baths should be savoured. But good news, it has one of those detachable shower heads, so I can still wash your hair if you’d like.” He took ran a hand through the greasy hair, lifting the tresses.

Jeongguk’s eyes finally found his, misery swimming in their brown depths. Taehyung wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than the disinterest.

“Ok.” He agreed in a small voice, making Taehyung smiled sadly at him as he stroked a finger over his cheek.

“Ok” Tae agreed just as quietly, delving his fingers into Jeongguk’s hair and pulling his head down so their foreheads met.  “I know it hurts, Bun. I know it feels like everything’s wrong. But it will get better, I promise. I’m here now and I won’t leave you, not for anything, I promise. I’ll take such good care of you, you’ll see. Because your mine and I’m yours, remember?” He fought back the tightness in his throat, not letting his emotions overwhelm him. Jeongguk needed him.

“Ok.” Guk whispered again.

“Ok.” He let go of the boy’s head and stood up, offering his hand. “Come on.”

Taehyung thanked the delivery driver as he took their food. Jeongguk was yet to emerge from the shower. He frowned. The boy had been in there far too long.

“Guk?” He called, tapping his knuckles against the ensuite door. “Hey. Food’s here. You done yet?”

He knocked again when he got no answer. “Guk?”

After a time, he grew a little worried, knocking louder. “Guk? Are you ok? If you don’t answer me, I’m coming in. Speak now or forever hold your peace.” He warned. Nothing but the spray of the shower answered him. “Ok, I’m coming in.”

He turned the handle and pushed open the door, greeted by nothing but steam at first. When it cleared a little, rushing into the attached bedroom he finally saw Jeongguk’s huddled figure, sitting on the shower floor, his arms around his raised knees as the water cascaded down his head and back. Water had rendered his fluffy black tail thin and it drooped sadly. Taehyung’s heart clenched at the sight and his fists clenched in renewed anger at the Kims who had crushed the spirited, young hybrid.

“Bun?” He asked in concern. “Did you wash?” Jeongguk didn’t so much as turn.

“Hey.” He reached in, touching the boy’s shoulder. “Did you wash?” He repeated.

The shoulder under his hand lifted in a shrug. “Come on, bun, don’t you want to be clean? I know you hate feeling dirty.”

The shoulder lifted again.

“Ok.” He took a shaky breath as a very bad idea came to him. “Ok, w-what,” He cleared his throat and tried again. “What about if I do it? Is that ok?”

“ ‘k.” He mumbled, tightening his grip on his knees.

“Ok.” He took a moment to consider the logistics of washing the hybrid while he poured body wash onto a shower puff. “Ok.” He decided to draw the hybrid to his feet, a surprisingly easy task, running the sudsy puff over the expanse of his back and lifting his arms one by one, washing down them and under them like one might a child. When it came to Guk’s more intimate areas he tried to be as thorough but impersonal as possible, like a nurse might. Once he was as clean as possible, Taehyung directed the spray of water over the boy, chasing away the bubbles.

“You’re a bit tall to comfortably wash your hair.” He said conversationally, trying to alleviate his own discomfort. This was not the way he’d imagined seeing Jeongguk naked for the first time. Still, he tried to be as professional as he could be. He refused to look at Guk’s body in any other light. The hybrid was obviously depressed and he wouldn’t take advantage of the sick boy like that.

“Can you bend down a bit?” He asked.

Instead Jeongguk sank to his knees, hands limply at his sides, head bent down like he was praying. “That works too.” He said cheerfully, although he felt anything but cheerful.

Tae took his time washing the boy’s hair, shampooing twice to banish the stubborn oily residue that clung to his usually silken tresses. He hoped the sensation of it would elicit Jeongguk’s usual toothy purr, but apart from a few sighs that could have meant anything, the hybrid was eerily silent.

“All done.” He declared at last, shutting off the water and wrapping a towel around the naked boy.

When it became apparent he wasn’t going to dry himself, Taehyung saw to that as well. He also ended up dressing him like a small child, holding out clothes for Jeongguk to step into, or push his limbs into, doing the buttons on his pyjamas.

With each new task he had to complete for the usually feisty hybrid, Taehyung felt his concern rising. Jeongguk was in much worse shape than he thought.

“Don’t worry, baby.” He said softly, planting a kiss on one of his ebony ears. “You’ll be ok.” He promised quietly.

“Let’s go eat, hmm?”

“I’m tired.” He said monotonously.

“I know, but you still have to eat. Just a little bit. Please? For me? Then we’ll go to bed.” He cajoled.

Jeongguk gave him another one of his listless stares, but following Taehyung out into the kitchen. “I’m sorry, I don’t have a table or chairs. I usually eat at the bench.” He admitted sheepishly. “Hope that’s ok.”

“It’s fine.” He ate a few mouthfuls with Tae’s encouragement but hadn’t had even a third of the plate Taehyung had dished up before complaining that he was full. After that no amount of coaxing or insisting would get even another bite passed his lips.

“Ok, Guk. Brush your teeth and get into bed. I’ll clean up and join you in a bit.” He instructed.

Jeongguk immediately dropped his chopsticks and left the room and Taehyung closed his eyes, trying to push away the feeling of helplessness that threatened to destroy his confidence. They’d be ok. He would take Guk to the hybridologist as soon as possible. Tomorrow if they’d see him. And they would find a solution. Whatever it took, however long it took, he’d make his bun better.

A/N Still sick so only one update for today, I think.

Poor Gukkie is a sad bunny.

Anyways, remember to vote and remember that I purple you.