“Kyungsoo?”

He heard his name being called from somewhere far off on the other side of the house, probably the front door because it was that time in the evening when Joonmyun typically came home. Kyungsoo's name was a beacon, part of the constant rotation of life now that he lived in Joonmyun's home. It was the human's way of developing a constant friendly atmosphere. He checked in on the hybrid first thing every time he stepped into the house. 

Kyungsoo didn't answer, knowing that if he didn't (and he usually didn't) that Joonmyun would take a minute to set down his things and trod down the hallway to see him for himself. A minute later, sure enough there was a little knock on the door and Kyungsoo did not bother to say anything, knowing as he did, that as long as he didn't yell out for Joonmyun to not come in, the man would know he could open the door, just a little.

“Kyungsoo?” he said again, softer now as his face peaked through the open doorway. “How's it going in here?”

Joonmyun's smile was another constant now in Kyungsoo's life, the first thing Kyungsoo usually saw of him at the end of a long day. He turned his head from the computer screen and smiled back. “Fine. Quiet day. No visitors, no doorbells, one phone call but who knows who it was.”

“Good. That's good. I'll check it in a minute. Hey, what do you want to eat for dinner?” 

“Uhm,” Kyungsoo frowned. “Sorry, I didn't cook anything today... I forgot to...”

“Hm? Oh that's alright. I don't mean for you to have to cook every day,” Joonmyun rushed to assure him. “What about ordering something instead? Do you want take-out or do you want to go out and pick something up?”

Kyungsoo tried to keep his face from expressing distaste at the last suggestion. He liked food that came already prepped, but the idea of actually going outside with Joonmyun to get it was less appealing. His erratically swishing tail, sneaking out from between the seat back and chair pad probably tipped the human off to this. 

“Or, I can go out and bring something back myself,” Joonmyun said quickly. “Got any ideas of what you want to eat?”

And there was another dilemma of course. Kyungsoo might not appear to make a single effort when it came to socializing, but he couldn't deny to himself that being home all day was boring, and he really liked Joonmyun's company in the evening. Especially on days where he was gone for a long time, like today. Not greeting him at the door or saying hello first was just Kyungsoo's way of punishing the man. Now though...

“Order something for delivery?” he pleaded, knowing he'd get exactly as he wanted. Joonmyun couldn't resist his eyes like this, and Kyungsoo knew that very well. He knew how to play it up, the kitten look, and truthfully he felt kind of guilty most days because the human was rather pitiful like that: under Kyungsoo's spell. 

“Sure. I'll call something in.”

“Okay,” said Kyungsoo happily, turning back to his computer immediately like he was no longer concerned with Joonmyun's presence. He heard the door shut softly behind the retreating man, waited a minute longer until he heard Joonmyun getting off the phone, and then he finally said his goodbyes to his hybrid twitter friends and shut down the tab. 

He rolled away from the desk, admiring greatly Chanyeol's handiwork as part of Kyungsoo's newly refurbished bedroom. It included a built-in shelf with lots of places for his gadgets and games, and the short stacks of books for those rare days when the internet failed and Kyungsoo needed something to do. Plenty of growing space for whatever stuff he might get in the future. He'd made his bed extra cozy too, thanks to the allowance Joonmyun gave him-something Kyungsoo didn't think too hard on because then he felt less like a guest and more like an owned cat. The pile of fluffy pillows and blankets and even half of his wardrobe were all new, presents in a way from Joonmyun, whose credit card he'd let Kyungsoo use to purchase whatever he wanted online. Sometimes, the feeling of being owned wasn't too bad... although Kyungsoo definitely appreciated having his own space and time to himself, and he decided when he wanted to be social, not Joonmyun. It was a good arrangement, and still the hybrid felt bad. Like he was living too well on Joonmyun's generosity and contributing nothing in return.

Perhaps his fellow hybrids thought Kyungsoo was moving in like a boyfriend might have done, but Kyungsoo was way more cautious than that. He knew Joonmyun liked him, but that was part of the problem. If Kyungsoo gave into his feelings and liked him back, publicly, non-secretly, then things would change... They were already changing, or had changed. But as long as Kyungsoo kept to the human-hybrid aspect of their arrangement then he wouldn't have to find out officially: if Joonmyun liked him as a cat, or as a human being. And Kyungsoo wasn't sure he was ready to be loved like a human being... he'd already spent so much of his life living like a hybrid, it was easier to just continue doing that.

He slunk out of his room, ears sensitive to Joonmyun's whereabouts. He found the man sitting on the couch, his phone on the armrest beside him and his cat-his real cat- demanding attention on his lap. Kyungsoo almost hissed. Joonmyun didn't hear it, but the animal certainly picked up on his intents. It fixed a surprised look on Kyungsoo and then jumped off. Joonmyun looked up, almost startled to see him come so soon. 

“Food will be in here in twenty. Want to see what's on TV while we wait?”

Kyungsoo didn't respond, neither saying anything nor nodding his head. He did, however, crawl onto the couch on the empty spot beside Joonmyun, knees sinking into the cushion as he crouched there for a moment before sinking into the couch and laying his head down right next to Joonmyun's thigh. He watched the TV lazily while the human flipped through the channels, purring when he felt the first hand graze unconsciously across his left ear. 

Joonmyun had taken so well to his warnings: You can pet my left ear, but not my right... touch my tail and you may die... touch my stomach and you will definitely die. Perhaps Kyungsoo had taken that a little far, but Joonmyun knew him well enough to make jokes about it. He intentionally never scratched behind his right ear, even when Kyungsoo begged silently for it, turning over and wiggling his head invitingly. He also occasionally plucked at his tail when he thought Kyungsoo was in a good enough mood, and usually earned himself a scowl and a playful hiss. He never touched his stomach though, or any part of his body really. Kyungsoo was starting to think that was a shame. Perhaps he shouldn't have acted so stern.

He rolled over, head a little closer, legs unfurling a bit to find a better position on the couch. Joonmyun almost didn't notice the switch, he was so into the TV and used to the fact that Kyungsoo didn't crave attention all too often. He sat up five minutes later when nothing happened, grumpier now, and scooted so that there was a foot of space between them. Then he continued to sulk and tried to curl up against the opposite arm rest. Only then did Joonmyun notice him.

He laughed. “What's the matter? Hungry?”

“Sort of,” said Kyungsoo. 

Joonmyun saw right past his petulance. “Just sort of? What's wrong, not enough pets today?” 

“Nope,” Kyungsoo agreed sullenly. He sat up a little straighter though in anticipation for the hand which came down heavily on his head. 

“That better?” Joonmyun chuckled. 

As usual, Kyungsoo didn't say anything, but he folded himself quickly towards the human until their sides were pressed together, Joonmyun's hand hesitating before sneaking around his neck, bent at the elbow as he fondled Kyungsoo's hair. He did purr though, to make sure Joonmyun knew his attentions were well received.

He was so careful with him, all the time, that it was sometimes so frustrating. Like Kyungsoo was a porcelain doll, fragile, breakable, or easily upset. When truthfully he was none of those things. Just a hybrid that wanted attention and space and some kind of companionship. He thought it would be enough to just live here like this. That he'd be content with only seeing Joonmyun part of the day and sharing a little time together. Kyungsoo never realized though how standoffish Joonmyun would become, thanks in part to Kyungsoo's initial attitude. He was barely prepared himself for how much more he wanted than to just be a cat. 

“Joonmyun?” He swerved his head around, looking the human in the face, or rather at his profile.

“Hm?” It took a moment before the man looked at him too. “What is it?”

Maybe it was now or never, but Kyungsoo had no idea what he was doing anymore. Watching how others were with each, other hybrids, other human-hybrid couples... all of that made him ache. 

When he didn't say anything, Joonmyun turned his head again, but this time Kyungsoo moved his hand and swatted at his chin, forcing it back on the second try. 

Joonmyun smiled, amused and a little wistful. “What?” he asked again, almost laughing at the hybrid. 

It's now or never, Kyungsoo thought, as he leaned forward and put his lips squarely to Joonmyun's. 

It was odd how different the house looked, now from the outside, now that he didn't technically live there anymore. Physically, nothing had changed, except for Tao the entire world had changed since the day he first arrived. Now, walking up the driveway with Sehun by his side, Tao was a visitor to the shelter home he'd lived in for such a relatively short time. 

“You ready?” Sehun asked him, and Tao laughed.

“For what?”

Sehun shrugged. “I don't know. Could be a war zone in there, who would know from the outside?”

“You think it could seriously change so much in what- a week's time?” asked Tao as they approached the front door, fist held out and ready to knock.

There was suddenly the sound of something crashing from within, followed by several yelps, a howl, and a couple good laughs. Both Sehun and Tao stood there stunned, jaws hanging open, and then Sehun said, “Yeah, doesn't sound like anything too different.”

“Right. Let's go then!”

Nobody actually met them at the door, so they let themselves in just in time to see the final bit of commotion that was Jongdae sprawled out on the floor belly up, knees to the ceiling, his head hiding beneath the coffee table and his arms outstretched. On the other side of the table on the floor was Young Ji playing with a blanket (and Jongdae) while her mother hovered over her on the couch keeping watch. And by Jongdae's feet was the newly tripped Luhan, a tray of plates and bowls now scattered across the floor. Kai was the one now laughing, while Luhan continued to wail alternately at Jongdae for tripping him, or for Minseok to come and rescue him. 

Tao did the honors instead, pulling the fallen hybrid to his feet while Jongdae assessed that they had visitors.

“Oh, it's just Tao and Sehun? Sorry, I thought it would be somebody cool.” Then he went back to teasing his niece under the table. Victoria playfully kicked at his head and chided him for being rude. 

Having two new permanent guests hadn't changed much about the routine of the house. The eldest cats were still very much the same, keeping to themselves except when they were placed on babysitting duty. Luhan was a little more disgruntled about the noise level in the house, but Minseok swore he was complaining unnecessarily (since it was only for him that Luhan was irritated). On the other hand, Kai still had his work, although Tao had it on good authority from Minseok that the once-grumpiest-hybrid was now one of the most social, after Jongdae of course. Kai spent much more time actively doing things with the hybrids, and no one was fooled by his apparent admiration for Victoria, if admiration was all it was. Jongdae didn't think so, but when he wasn't scolding Kai for sitting too close to his new and precious sister, Jongdae was preoccupied with the baby. Discovering he had a family was life-changing, someone to call his own, flesh and blood, and a kitten, an honest to God kitten that he could cuddle and love on till death. He and Kai fought all the time for the rights to play with her, as they were doing now. 

“Isn't it time for her nap?” Kai asked petulantly. 

“I think you're the one who needs the nap,” said Jongdae, still on the floor, although Young Ji was looking a bit peaky. Her smiles were still wide and bright, but starting to fade.

As Tao and Sehun helped Luhan pick up his fallen dishes, Luhan continued to mumble under his breath about kittens these days while he wiped the dust from his clothes and swiped his tail once across Jongdae's face. Then he took himself off to the kitchen, and Sehun excused himself when he caught a glimpse of Baekhyun in the backyard. The two had become friends, somewhat. If anyone was ever allowed to become friends with the cheerfully standoffish hybrid. Tao pushed Kai out of the way and sunk down on the couch next to Victoria. 

“How do you even manage to sleep with all the racket these guys make?”

She smiled, a chuckle caught in her chest as she smiled fondly down at her family, Kai trying to pick up Young Ji and Jongdae swatting his hands away to let him do it instead.

“All noise and fussiness I'm not used to,” Victoria confessed. “But I like it. Being around... people like this.”

Tao tried not to remember the place he and Yixing had found her in, secluded quarters and literally days away from losing her child. Since she'd moved her, she looked less tired, less frightened. Her face was still pale in a sickly kind of way but there was a hint more color. Her eyes, now that she was relaxed, were a bit softer, a little cheekier. The longer he stared at her the more she looked like her brother. The more she acted like him too. Mid-conversation with Tao she suddenly snapped her head and scolded Kai for getting in the way and making Jongdae (playfully) cry. 

“You're hindering my brother's naptime!” she warned the other hybrid with a hint of a humor beneath her icy tone. Tao guessed she did this a lot because Kai literally wilted before her, and then smiled when he was reprieved. “But he is more of a baby sometimes than even Young Ji, so I guess I shouldn't blame you,” she said. Then she laughed outright. 

“Quit mocking my napping habits,” Jongdae warned her, winking one eye. “Someone in the house should be in charge of sleeping soundly in the afternoon. And it's definitely going to be me. And the kitten.” He cradled Young Ji fondly as her eyes fluttered close, small kitten ears twitching against the crook of his arm. “Thanks, sis. See you for dinnertime.”

Dinnertime, Tao knew, would include Yixing, and Joonmyun and Kyungsoo. Chanyeol too probably, because the shelter house was now such a happy source of life. If their known circle of humans had gravitated around there before, they did so even more now. Even Amber from the hybrid activists' office had shown up a couple times in the past week to meet and get to know Victoria, and to sort of stand as a shield between her and the overwhelmingly male dominated home. It was a good thing though that Victoria was not intimidated by them in the least. She craved companionship for her and her baby so much that none of that mattered, not even the frightful energy that peaked at least once or twice during the day, when all the hybrids were awake from their naps.

“Have you gone out at all?” Tao asked her now, anxious to know if she'd at least gotten to live a little. Tao hadn't exactly lived a secluded, slave-like life but he knew he sure enjoyed getting to see what the world looked like beyond the walls of a house. 

“Into the city? No, not yet. Although Sehun volunteered to drive us out some day this week to go shopping.”

Tao smirked because Sehun hadn't offered at all; his dad had volunteered him in his stead. Sehun was incredibly grumpy about errands although he refused not to take her, now that the outing had been planned. Tao had promised his boyfriend he would go with them as well, for moral support. It had nothing to do with wanting new things instead and now that he'd compiled a little spending money for himself...

“Well,” Tao told Victoria, “We all thought you could do with some sightseeing. It'll be fun! Hey, have you ever been through a drive-through? It's really cool! And they have these things called fries that-”

The back door opened again as Sehun came back inside, and Tao immediately shushed. Not because he was embarrassed to be caught ranting about fries again (maybe just a little) but because Sehun was actually smiling. Something that was uncommon after most of his interactions with Baekhyun. Also, the hybrid had followed him inside and they were laughing together. Tao's eyes immediately narrowed and Sehun paused when he realized he was being stared at.

“Someone's jealous,” Victoria hummed.

Tao immediately coughed. ”What? I'm not.”

She smiled mysteriously though, and under her breath she said, “I wasn't talking about you.” She inclined her head towards the front door instead. Tao hadn't noticed Chanyeol coming in either. Neither Sehun nor Baekhyun contrived, however, to look guilty, Sehun just laughing when he plopped down on the couch next to Tao, crowding the hybrid out. Tao squawked because he'd sat on his tail.

Baekhyun greeted the room, and though he appeared slightly more cheerful than Tao had seen him in recent weeks, there was still a disconnect between the smile on his lips and the blank expression in his eyes. “It was... too hot outside,” he explained casually, although no one had asked. “Is Luhan downstairs yet? I said I'd help him with dinner today.”

“He's in the kitchen already,” Victoria supplied. 

“Need any help?” Chanyeol asked as he he hovered awkwardly in the entryway. 

“Uhhm, probably not. Thanks,” said Baekhyun. And Chanyeol smiled glumly when he walked away. 

Tao tried not to speculate, and that was easy to do anyways because Sehun kept mashing his side, trying to get comfortable against the cushions. It was all Tao could do to not fall over into Victoria's lap, the latter watching them amusedly while they fidgeted and vied for couch space. Tao wouldn't say that everything about Sehun was roses and sunshine. All too often they squabbled over little things, and now that they lived together they bumped proverbial elbows often during the day. Plus, Sehun's bed was too small. Yixing had tried to get them a larger bed but Sehun was uncommonly stubborn about wanting to keep his old twin mattress set. Instead, the fought over pillow space, much like they were doing now with the couch, and on some nights Tao accidentally shoved him off the bed. No matter though because come morning Sehun was resolutely back in his space and cuddling wordlessly, and to be honest Tao didn't mind it. Not really. 

Things would change for them no doubt, when Sehun went back to school in the fall and Tao would need to figure out what he was doing with his life. For now though, Yixing promised to take him under his wing as they'd discussed so long ago. Visits to agencies and adoption centers, checking up on the child-adopted kittens. Last week he had gone with the man to visit little Ricky and see how he was doing, adjusting to his new life with human parents. Next week he was supposed to go with Yixing and Kai to see the girl twins Choa and Way, something he knew the other hybrid was extremely happy about doing. There was also talk about Tao working with Amber at the activists' home office, and for this he'd be considered a part-time worker. Either way he was acquiring small paychecks here there. It was a start, and it would give him purpose. Sehun, when he wasn't busy hugging and kissing him or playing with his tail, was extremely supportive. 

“What were you talking to Baekhyun about?” Tao whispered once Sehun had found his cozy spot and pulled the hybrid's back to lay against his chest. Sehun breathed over his shoulder and tickled his neck, but his hands held fast to Tao's, their fingers entwined. 

“Hm? Oh, just laughing about Jongdae. How happy he is now.”

“And Baekhyun?” Tao asked. 

Victoria was busy trying to make Chanyeol welcome, engaging him in discussion since he seemed bummed out.

“What about him Baekhyun?” said Sehun, not getting the hint, and Tao let it drop. 

Half an hour later, Luhan was crying against Baekhyun's wishes for people to help in the kitchen as they prepared a larger than normal meal. Five minutes after that they had kicked Baekhyun out of the kitchen, period. Twenty minutes later the rest of their 'guests' arrived, all the familiar faces, all the people and hybrids who once were strangers but now counted as family. Yixing, who enjoyed teasing his son, Joonmyun who smiled at everyone, and was especially bright towards Kyungsoo. Minseok joined them finally from his nap, and Jongdae woke up too, carrying his niece and keeping her from Kai. Both he and Victoria chased him around the living room trying to recover the kitten but to no avail, while Tao and Sehun sat back and watched it all.

They pulled out every chair in the house to crowd around the table, elbow to overlapping elbow and the only thing that could have made it better was if Tao's parents could still be alive, and his old master as well. Instead, he had to be content with a house b with friends and Sehun at his side, and an uncertain future but that was alright. 

Baekhyun left the table early, his belly already full and halfway into a comatose from all the sickly sweet couples sitting around the table. For once, he wished he was the kind of hybrid who liked going on walks like either Tao or Kai, just so that he could get away for a bit and find himself. Instead, he just had his backyard and that was a sanctuary enough but sometimes he wanted more.

He went out there instead, just to breathe the late night air and check on parts of his garden that didn't need any more attention than he'd already given them. It kept him occupied for a quarter of an hour, and then he laid in the hammock and watched the cloud cover because no stars were actually visible tonight. There hadn't been a cool front for a while, and the night was warm. Perfect for sleeping outdoors just as he typically liked. Instead, he found himself growing bored with his own company and getting up, he sneaked around the side of the house, let himself in the front door. All of their guests would still be in the living room, and he really didn't feel like socializing anymore today, at least not verbally.

He went to Minseok and Luhan's room, because he knew they wouldn't press him. On rare occasions, theirs was the bed he liked to curl up on when he just wanted a body. A hand on his shoulder, a tail across his thigh, light breaths from Minseok or snores from Luhan, just enough to remind Baekhyun that he wasn't alone.

He crept down the hall, not exactly stealthily but quiet enough in case he'd drawn any attention from those down below. He put a hand to their door and quietly pushed it open, head poking around the wood frame to see inside. Sure enough they had gone to bed already. A small corner lamp remained on, dimly lighting the sparsely furnished room. Only their ears were visible above the covers though. Minseok's dark fuzzy hair, and Luhan's lighter hair, one tail poking out from the side of the comforter, and both so impossible close beneath the blankets. One lump where there were actually two. For a moment it actually caused Baekhyun to catch his breath, air catching in his lungs as he observed the two hybrids who'd grown as close to each other in the second phase of their lives than any two people could be.

Baekhyun still remembered arriving at the shelter, himself jaded and burned by human interaction, and yet carrying the torch for what he'd lost. Minseok had been just the opposite: hopeful in spite of his past, his body still bearing the signs of abuse, his instincts blazing whenever someone touched him and yet he'd tried so hard to fix himself, to heal himself. He'd let Luhan in, the younger hybrid's fastidious advances being too sweet and gentle to spurn. They were near to falling in love when Baekhyun first met them, and how he'd hated it, watching as their loved tipped and fell, and their smiles blossoming. Everything he'd had before and wanted more of. Everything that was denied him.

By his family, rejected, by his second owner, found defective. By his lover, only tears shed in private and then none at all.

One of the hybrids shifted under the covers, either Minseok or Luhan, Baekhyun could not tell which. Where there was one, there was always the other, living in tandem. They hadn't noticed him entering, and when one of them whined or moaned, Baekhyun didn't want to stay long enough to find out which, he backtracked as silently as possible and closed the door.

Two options were left to him: sneak back downstairs and return to the garden, or seek company elsewhere.

Somehow, however, he chose the third option. He didn't go anywhere. Instead he about-faced and stared at the his new bedroom door, the one where his bed had been moved, now sharing with not only Kai but Jongdae, now that Tao and Kyungsoo had moved out. He hadn't actually visited it more than once when he'd overseen the location of his bedside table and drawer, and some of his clothes. He never slept in there, although they kept his bed made up for him. It called to him now though, his things, his pictures. How long had it been since he perused the photograph Chanyeol had brought for him.

Chanyeol... Baekhyun nearly jumped when he found the human inside his room, sitting on his bed like he'd been waiting for him. And yet, Chanyeol was just as shocked to see him as Baekhyun was to find him there.

“What... I mean, hello,” said Baekhyun.

Chanyeol gaped at him, caught like an intruder and shocked into wordlessness. “Baekhyun... hi! Sorry, I... I...” he trailed off.

Baekhyun took pity on him. “Looking for a quiet spot?” he asked. “I noticed it was a bit loud downstairs.”

“Huh? Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I just needed a minute or so.”

“So, you came to my bedroom?”

Chanyeol grinned, but he stood up guiltily and tried to straighten out the blanket covering Baekhyun's bed. “Well, you're rarely in here. I didn't think...” He accidentally pulled the comforter too hard and it became untucked from the other side. “Damnit,” he muttered.

“It's okay,” said Baekhyun. “You can leave it like that. I don't mind. Sit. You looked comfortable. I'm sorry I even bothered you.”

Of course, now that Chanyeol had taken his advice and sat down, that meant there wasn't any place of Baekhyun to sit, except on someone else's bed. He perched on the end of Kai's, mind almost numb to everything, except perhaps to the past.

“Did you... how come you came up here?” Chanyeol asked him after a minute or so had passed.

Baekhyun shrugged. “Just tired of being outside.” Lonely, looking for a cuddle, he didn't add.

“You? Tired of your garden? Unbelievable,” Chanyeol joked lightly. Baekhyun rewarded him with a short-lived smile, before he sighed and lost it all completely.

So many memories returning all at once, it almost made him dizzy. Just seeing Chanyeol like this brought them back. It didn't happen every time he saw the human. In fact, most of the times Baekhyun successfully shut out everything, treating the man like normal. He'd grown so good at it over the years. But now though, he felt a little weak, and his thoughts drifted back years to the last time he'd seen Chanyeol like this... in a bedroom. In Chanyeol's to be exact.

'I'm being sent back to the agency, Chanyeol. I think we should just... quit this.'

'What? Baekhyun, what?'

There'd been such a long silence following his pronouncement, Baekhyun thought Chanyeol may have lost his voice forever.

'I said, they're sending me back and I think it's a sign. We should end this, before things get complicated. Thank you Chanyeol, it was fun. That's... all I came over to say so, Goodbye.'

The second he tried to move, however, Chanyeol found his words.

'Goodbye? Goodbye?! Baekhyun, what do you mean? That makes no sense!'

'Chanyeol, I'm going back to the agency!' Baekhyun had snapped, because how dense could Chanyeol be. 'That means I won't live next door to you anymore. I'll probably get sold out again to new owners. Who knows where they'll live or what they'll be like. And I don't want to burden you with this anymore. This.... thing we have... No ones knows about it, so you're safe. You can go back to the land of the humans and nobody will fault you for loving a cat. Me, I'm going back where I belong, apparently.'

How hurt Chanyeol had been to be spurned like that, but Baekhyun knew it was for the best. He'd already been spat at and cursed and damned by his house family. Accused of bewitching their daughters so that they only loved him, accused of seducing their brother--when it was everything but that. Baekhyun hadn't given one thought for the older boy in that house. His eyes had always been on Chanyeol, Chanyeol whom he'd loved in secret, dated in secret. The end had come when the boy him. Not content with Baekhyun's platonic-only interest, he'd spread lies to his parents and essentially kicked Baekhyun out.

'I'm not interested in complicating your life either, Chanyeol,' he'd said. 'So let go of me and let's move on with our lives, huh?'

How sad he'd looked. 'Baek, just because you're going back... I... I can get you out. I can-'

'Don't, Chanyeol. Don't say it. Please,' he'd practically begged. Silently pleading that his boyfriend wouldn't empty his savings just to buy him out, to save him. They'd had this conversation plenty of times. Baekhyun didn't want to be owned. He'd accept it from the world, because that's how life worked, but to have Chanyeol be the one to pull the strings... that was something he couldn't, wouldn't accept. 

But Chanyeol wouldn't let it go. 'I can get my family to...'

'Your family despises me as much as mine does because of what that boy said. I'm glad they don't know about us, because then they'd probably reject you as well and-'

'I don't care about that though! Baekhyun, they can think what they like and that's...'

It had taken so long for Chanyeol to agree though. To persuade him that Baekhyun just wanted another start with another life and another family. And the more he said it the more he started to believe his own lies, to live them out, to own them.

'If we by chance meet again, let's say Hi and that'll be all,' he said finally to the assortment of tears Chanyeol had become. Then he left and never looked back.

“Chanyeol,” he said to him now, every awkward, torturous memory back in place. “You know, if you're tired of hanging out here you could just go home.” He tried to make it sound natural, pretending he had his voice under control, that no cracks were seeping through.

“I should,” said the man, almost defeated. Almost, but not quite. “Guess I just wanted to see you again though...”

“What?”

Baekhyun's eyes followed Chanyeol's gaze, at a photograph placed on top of Baekhyun's bed, at the open drawer where Baekhyun had earlier put it when he changed clothes. The photograph they had of them. Taken by timer at the heyday of their relationship, newly in love and all the world to live for. 

Baekhyun had given that all up because that seemed easier. Chanyeol in turn gave up his family and his entire life, because to him that was easier. And all this time Baekhyun refused to start it all over again. Why do it? Why subject them both to the hassle, to the stigma of a hybrid-human relationship when the world would only frown on them, and possibly force them to part. 

Seeing the other hybrids come to their own terms with life had affected Baekhyun though. Minseok and Luhan he understood in a heartbeat, Kyungsoo and Joonmyun he'd side-eyes because it never looked like they'd worked. Tao and Sehun, however, that was the catalyst behind which all of Baekhyun's fears clashed with his wants. And then now, at dinnertime when he'd caught the sly way Joonmyun found Kyungsoo's hand under the table, and the secret smiles they shared when they thought no one was looking. When the hybrid's tail had covertly hooked itself around Joonmyun's thigh.

“Chanyeol...” Baekhyun almost whined.

The man looked up at him concerned, photograph left forgotten because the real deal stood before him now.

“Chanyeol,” he said again, now hovering right next to him in front of the bed.

“Baekhyun? What is it? Are you alright?”

The hybrid shook his head. “No.”

“No? What's the matter...?” He held up one hand as if to clasps him around the waist, but Baekhyun saw the hesitation in his manner, as if Chanyeol was trying to restrain himself from touching because those were Baekhyun's unspoken rules.

'How come you're here?' he'd said to the man when Chanyeol first reintroduced himself into their lives, sneaking in on Yixing's approval to work repairs on the house, play with the garden, make and fix the things that would be a comfort to Baekhyun, even when the hybrid refused to acknowledge him.

'I missed you.'

'So?' Baekhyun had been so direct, so cold. Emotionless even when he heard the story of how Chanyeol had left and restarted his life and followed the trail to where Baekhyun had ended up.

'Hi?' Baekhyun had said, and Chanyeol had smiled so big, so wide, so sadly.

'Hi.'

'Nice to meet you, Chanyeol. I'm Baekhyun. Hey, I heard there were a lot of things that could be adjusted in this house. Yixing pays the bills. He's not my owner though, and not all that rich himself, so please don't overcharge him if you can't help it. This is just a shelter house for hybrids. We live simply and don't like interference. I'll be asleep on the porch if you need anything, which I trust you won't need anything.'

Baekhyun took Chanyeol's hand now though and put it around his waist, so tired of playing this game. So tired of denying everything. What the others had now, he could have too, couldn't he? Wasn't he allowed as much?

“Baek?” Chanyeol voice had grown low, more than curious, positively alarmed.

“Chanyeol... can I just... for a minute... get a hug?” he asked, even as he sunk across the man's lap and entwined his arms around his neck. Chanyeol's arms instantly enveloped him, one around his back, the other darting up to his neck and hair and across one sensitive ear as Baekhyun's eyes lifted back the dam and his tears spilled out.

His simple solution of stepping away, from leaving everything so no one would hurt again- it had all backfired, slowly, painfully. But Chanyeol was there to catch him one last time.

“Anything, Baekhyun. Anything you want, and I'm here.”

End.

6,140 words

Yes, dear readers, this concludes this fic. One day last July I literally woke up, said, 'I'm going to write a kitty!au' and started it. No plot, no master plan, just a house full of hybrids and a lot of feels. It's sad to say goodbye to all my characters, all of whom I loved so so much, especially my dear Tao who I created as the main character. It was nice he let me share with everybody else too though :)

Please let me know how you liked this! A lot of tears and sweat went into this work, and I almost certainly won't be writing more of this au. I'm thinking about merpeople next. How's that idea sound? Hahaha

A big thanks to my sister BlueVIP and mom for alternating proofing, and to London_Calling and Byberry for walking me through certain steps of the plot. Also to my husband, who just kind of side-eyed me without judgment when he overheard me talking about Tao's tail. It was weird, okay. Wonder what he'll think about fins...

♡ Rosie

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By the way, here's a list of some of the other fics I've written/posted in recent weeks, as well as some upcoming projects. Please check them out, thank you!

• Mercy is a Human Luxury (Suhan, oneshot)
• Wounded Pride (ABO drabble series)
• On Such a Full Sea (Seho, pirate!au)
• Why Talk About the End (Kaiho, oneshot)
• More Than a Neighbor, Never Quite a Friend (Baekyeol)
• Late Night Drabbles (with London_Calling)
• The Stars Seldom Speak (Planned, angsty Xiuhan fic)
• Well of Emerald Waters (Xiuhan fantasy, ongoing series)
• Chanxing Letters (Ongoing)