He was waiting in the middle of the living room, his tail thumping to the ground as soon as he heard footsteps coming close: when a key inserted into the lock he automatically scrabbled at the door.

Jihoon walked in, a hand pressed to his side. When he struggled through the doorway and stood against the closed door, blood began to drip on the floor.

Seungcheol sniffed at the blood instantly, ears flattening to his head. He let out a little unhappy growl. “What happened?!”

“I’m sorry,” Jihoon coughed. “…I’m late.”

“You’re bleeding!”

Jihoon smiled weakly, wincing as he struggled over to the bathroom, sitting down on the lid of the toilet. “Listen, Cheollie, can you do me a favour?”

“What?”

“…under the sink in the kitchen there’s a big red box, could you get it for me please?”

The hybrid bound off on four legs, too concerned to be bothered with the two-leg rule, and quickly came back with the handle of Jihoon’s first-aid kit in his mouth, dropping it in his owner’s lap. He whined loudly, pressing his face against Jihoon’s legs as the man opened the box up, quickly gripping a sterilized needle and thread.

“Master, what can I do?”

“Shhhh for a bit, Cheollie. I need to concentrate.” It was a painful experience, but for sure not one he hadn’t had before: the man stitched himself up and bound the wound in gauze and bandage. “There, now.”

Seungcheol was in acute distress: his forehead was pressed up against Jihoon’s calf so harshly it was actually hurting, his fingers scrabbling hopelessly against the tiles. Jihoon slowly managed to pick Seungcheol up and put him in the bathtub before joining him, letting the hybrid lay on his lap. “Hey, shh it’s okay.”

“Master, master you’re bleeding,” he whimpered, pressing his face into Jihoon’s chest. “Blood, blood, so much blood.”

“Shhhhh. It’s alright. I’m okay now. I’m not bleeding anymore.”

“I can smell it.” The hybrid’s voice was haunted, hoarse and high: Jihoon gently petted his back.

“…I’m sorry, Cheollie. It’s alright. There is nothing to be afraid of. You’re here with me now, you’re safe, I’m safe… I’m sorry I was late. I came home as fast as I could.”

“Stop bleeding.”

“I’m trying. Shhhh, it’s alright now.” The man’s warm hands rubbed comforting lines up and down Seungcheol’s back. “It’s alright now. I’m going to be alright, and you’re going to be alright.”

The hybrid whimpered, keening a little.

“…how was the movie?”

Even though there were tears in his eyes, his tail slowly began to wag from one side to the other. Almost as if it were slow-motion.

“…it was nice.”

“Yeah? Did you learn anything from it?”

Seungcheol thought about it. “…sisters are cool. Don’t lock your door.”

Jihoon frowned. What Disney movie had he played for his hybrid? He wasn’t paying attention the first time.

“And sometimes, rocks are cool.”

Jihoon had to chuckle at that, even though he had no idea what it meant.

“Am I funny?” The tail wagged harder.

“Yes you are.” Jihoon smiled. “Were there any songs in the movie?”

“Yeah!” The tail was going strong now. “Um, there was this one… um, how did it go…” The hybrid began to sing in a low voice. “How’d it go, how’d it go, I don’t remember the words, how’d it go, how’d it go-”

Jihoon broke out into a loud laugh. “Frozen! You watched Frozen. Now I understand.”

Seungcheol smiled up.

“Did you like it?”

“I liked it! There was this little guy called Olaf. He was cool!”

“I like Olaf, too.”

“He’s happy!”

“He is.”

“I want to be happy like him, too!”

Jihoon cupped Seungcheol’s face. “And I’ll do everything I can to help you be that happy. I promise.”

They eventually moved to the bed: Seungcheol wouldn’t let his master sleep alone so they slept together again, Jihoon taking care to stay off his wounded side. The hybrid was certainly not happy with the smell of blood in the air, and his owner could only guess at what kind of memories it brought back for him.

But the morning brought both of them relief: Jihoon had stopped bleeding, and they were able to have a very nice breakfast together.

Jihoon offered no explanation of why he was late or how he got wounded, and Seungcheol never asked. The hybrid was more than happy to sit with his bowl of his honey loops and croon out Frozen tunes all morning.

The next few days were spent in peace: Seungcheol’s clothes and toys all arrived, and he was taken out to the mall and the park with his owner. The two spent plenty of time together, and Seungcheol was simply a very happy puppy.

“Where are we going? Huh? Huh?” His tail wagged happily, chin leaning on Jihoon’s seat. The hybrid was getting used to being in the car, and even enjo