"Kid, get your ass moving. I don't have all day," a deep voice growled, snapping Jungkook out of his thoughts.

He sighed as he met the furious gaze of his manager.

"I'm sorry, Sir."

"Fucking useless," he heard the man grumble as he walked away, frowning.

It was midnight when Jungkook was finally done cleaning the store. His body was aching, head pounding against his skull. Locking the store, he began to walk back home when a shout caught his attention. He quickened his pace in the direction of pain-filled whimpers and that's when he saw it.

A figure lying on the ground as an elderly male towered over him, sending kick after kick to his abdomen. The figure curled in on himself in a fetal position.

"Hey!" Jungkook found himself yelling as he rushed towards the two and pushed his body between the elderly male and the man on the ground, "What the hell are you doing?"

"This kid is a witch! A fucking witch, I tell you! I tell you. His eyes . . . They changed colour," the man spat as he tried to push Jungkook out of the way, but the younger stood his ground, glaring at the elderly male.

"So let me get this straight. You're here literally abusing someone because of their eye colour. Are you fucking kidding me? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"His eyes changed colour! Like they changed from brown to green. He's freaking abnormal. A freak, that's what he is," the man spat and Jungkook felt his blood boil.

"The only freak here is you. Leave him alone. Leave now before I do something I regret!" Jungkook yelled as he clenched his hands into fists. Seeing the look on Jungkook's face, the man realised he wasn't kidding. He grumbled under his breath as slowly turned and left.

No sooner did the man leave, Jungkook turned to the boy on the ground. His face was bruised, his legs and arms were scratched up but nothing looked broken. The boy looked to be in his early twenties, probably a little older than Jungkook.

He snarled defensively like a wounded animal as Jungkook took a step towards him. Jungkook immediately raised his hands in surrender to show the other he meant him no harm.

"Hey. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I just want to help you. I need to take you to my apartment and get your wounds cleaned up, alright?"

The green-eyed man continued to stare at the other, as though contemplating whatever Jungkook said, before giving a slight nod in agreement.

"Can you tell me your name?" Jungkook asked gently as he knelt before the other.

"Taehyung."

"That's a nice name. Taehyung-ssi, do you think you'll be able to walk?"

Taehyung hissed slightly in pain and it was answer enough for Jungkook.

"Here, I'll help you. Wrap your arm around my shoulder and lean on me. I'll help you. My apartment's just a few blocks away from here."

——

Jungkook pushed open the door to his apartment and helped Taehyung onto the couch, before he disappeared in the bathroom and reappeared a minute later with a first-aid kit and a pair of clean clothes. As he began to clean the male's wounds, Taehyung let out a pained noise.

"Sorry," Jungkook whispered softly, wincing in empathy.

"There, all done," he said after a minute and discarded the bloodied cotton.

"Thank you so much," Taehyung said as he smiled for the first time that night, "I didn't get your name though."

"Oh, I can't believe I forgot to introduce myself to you. My name is Jeon Jungkook."

He then handed the other a white tee and blue shorts, "This should fit you. Try it on. You can use my bedroom to get dressed. Till then I'll prepare something for us for dinner. I'm pretty sure you're hungry."

"Thank you, Jungkook-ssi. You're really kind," Taehyung smiled and Jungkook blushed a little, "But, um...could you please help me get dressed? I don't think I'll be able to put on these shorts without falling."

"Oh, sure. I'll help you then."

"How old are you, Jungkook-ssi?" Taehyung asked, as Jungkook helped him into the shorts.

"Nineteen."

"You're nineteen? Whoa, I'm Twenty-one. That makes me your hyung," Taehyung cried, excitedly.

Jungkook laughed.

"You seem really excited about that, Taehyung-ssi."

"Aye, please call me hyung and yeah, I'm excited. In my family, I'm the youngest and it's nice to know that I have a dongsaeng," Taehyung explained, his smile brightening.

"Dongsaeng?" Jungkook whispered, smiling. It felt weird to hear it. A good kinda weird.

"Thank you so much, Kookie. I can't thank you enough for all you've done", Taehyung smiled, golden eyes turning a shade of light brown.

Wait a second, weren't they green just a few minutes ago?

"Your eyes, hyung. They turned brown," Jungkook observed and Taehyung visibly tensed.

"I think it's really cool, hyung," Jungkook continued and Taehyung's eyes widened before a boxy smile stretched across his lips.

"Thank you, Kookie. Most people think I'm a freak because of that."

"You're unique, hyung. You're no freak and if people can't accept you for it, fuck them," Jungkook stated firmly and Taehyung couldn't help but tear up a little.

Before the older of the two could say anything, the door was slammed open, startling them and all Jungkook saw was a flash of black before he was pinned against the wall, sharp claws digging into his skin.

14 March, 2023