Chapter 25

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Unlike he had expected Taehyung didn't come back another ten minutes later. After waiting for about half an hour Jungkook decided that maybe it was time to focus back on the stuff he had been working on before.

He ended up getting lost in the numbers and awful equations, completely losing any sense of time as the sky slowly started growing darker. At least Jungkook was dressed in warm clothes this time as he sat there. The sun was probably going to set soon when Jungkook's gaze fell back on the shells that he had received.

If they really were what Jimin had claimed they were... then Jungkook appreciated the sign. Even if Taehyung was scary and clearly incapable of thinking the way Jungkook did... maybe things could get a little better.

Maybe establishing some clear rules from Jungkook's side would help.

He was still angry about what had happened at the swimming pool. That had been a fucking awful feeling and he hated being that weak and helpless.

But if it really had been a misunderstanding and Taehyung hadn't had any ill intentions... and he was willing to respect Jungkook's boundaries just as much as Jungkook respected his... maybe Jungkook was willing to forgive him and give this whole thing another try.

Like a fresh start. With a clear set of rules and without the constant thread of Taehyung possibly killing him looming over him, maybe it wouldn't have to be as bad as Jungkook had expected it to be after what had happened at the pool.

There was a good chance that Jungkook was just stupid and naïve, but if Taehyung was willing to learn from his own mistakes, Jungkook was willing to give him a second chance.

It was around nine when Taehyung eventually did return. Jungkook only noticed that he was back when Taehyung was already entirely out of the water. It wasn't that easy to hear him with all the noise surrounding them and especially... Jungkook did tend to forget about everything going on around him whenever he started to really focus.

"You're back." Jungkook smiled when he finally noticed Taehyung, who was in the process of shifting. The size of his tail slowly shrinking until it was gone and there were legs instead. Taehyung's head turned into his direction, slowly tilting to the side like he was confused at the tone of Jungkook's voice. Because he was clearly a lot friendlier than before.

Fair enough. Jungkook had been kind of... cold to him since the thing at the pool had happened, but he was going to try being nice again. If he was, maybe that would change things. Finally shift the dynamics to something less scary and more normal.

Jungkook was willing to show Taehyung around. Honestly, usually he would have been stoked at being able to spend so much time with a mythical creature. It was just that the whole "You might die" thing had put quite a damper on his mood.

"I-" Jungkook hesitated. "I wanted to thank you for the shells. They look pretty." Wow, he was fucking awkward. This felt weird. Especially after he had previously decided he was done being nice.

Taehyung seemed just as confused. At least he wasn't completely oblivious to Jungkook's emotions and the way he acted. The fact that Taehyung was intelligent - he just didn't talk much - made things a little easier.

Or more awkward in this case.

"I was confused about what you were trying to do with these shells, since as you may know... I was pretty angry about yesterday and suddenly you were giving me shells. I had no idea what to think about it... so I asked Jimin and he said it was probably an apology... is it an apology?" Jungkook lifted one of the shells up as if to emphasize his words. "Are you trying to say you're sorry with this?"

For a few seconds Taehyung didn't react. Just looked at him, still naked, skin glistening in the moonshine since the sky had cleared up. Then he slowly nodded. "It's an apology."

Every single time Jungkook heard Taehyung's voice it was like a slap in his face. For more than one reason. For one, it wasn't what he expected looking at Taehyung's face. It was too deep, but then again it was so smooth and almost melodic.

Jungkook knew it was one of Taehyung's deadliest weapons, so he held a certain respect for it... but he couldn't help acknowledge how beautiful it was. If he could he probably would have loved listening to Taehyung talk for hours.

But secondly... every time he spoke, what he said was completely clear. It lacked the mistakes someone who had just started talking usually made. He wondered whether that was a siren thing and Taehyung could just learn quickly or whether he could talk more than he was letting on. It certainly seemed like it even though he only ever spoke when it was really necessary.

"Good. I forgive you then, but under one condition." Jungkook declared, a little bit of anxiety flaring up inside of him when he saw the way Taehyung grew a little more tense. Maybe he was taking this too far and testing out his limits too much. Taehyung was already doing a lot and the game Jungkook was playing was risky.

When Taehyung finally gestured for Jungkook to continue he felt a little nervous.

"I want to sit down with you once we're back at my place and establish some boundaries. Tell you what makes me uncomfortable so you can avoid those things when you're not activly trying to make me uncomfortable."

Slowly Taehyung nodded. For a few seconds they just stared at each other, an awkward silence hanging in the air.

"Good. Uhm..." Jungkook cleared his throat because his voice had clearly cracked in the middle of that 'good' and he didn't want to show just how much his heart was racing in his chest. But Taehyung had accepted that... maybe he was actually willing to try. Jungkook sure hoped so.

"Wanna go grab some food at one of those stalls? I'm really hungry right now."

Once again Taehyung nodded before getting up and grabbing his clothes. Jungkook would have to start bringing a towel with him when they were going to come here. Taehyung always slipped into his clothes still completely wet. He didn't seem bothered by it, but Jungkook felt cold just watching him like this.

They ended up going to a take out place maybe fifteen minutes from Jungkook's flat. He really liked that place and it was rather heavy on meat, which seemed to be Taehyung's overall preference. He ate vegetables and fruits without much of an issue, but Jungkook could tell he liked dishes that were based on mostly meat far more.

While everything else was kind of accepted, his eyes actually seemed to sparkle whenever he tried different kinds of meat. It wasn't much of a surprise. He doubted Taehyung had even known too many spices before coming up here.

Maybe he genuinely liked the food Jungkook prepared for him. A nice thought, although Jungkook probably never would dare actually asking him.

They didn't eat at the place though. Instead they grabbed their food and walked home with Jungkook, as usual, trying to keep the conversation alive. He really was trying to make the whole situation between them less tense again. It had been for a while. Just for some time Jungkook had managed to forget who Taehyung was and treated him relatively normal.

He wanted to have that again. Something less tense and more comfortable.

"I visited a good friend of mine while you were gone." He could practically see the way Taehyung's posture got a little stiffer, so he quickly added. "I didn't tell her anything about you. At least not aside from the fact that a cousin is staying at my place. That was my excuse. We're related now. Totally believable." He pointed at Taehyung's pale complexion. "We almost look like brothers."

Taehyung almost looked amused when he raised an eyebrow at Jungkook. At least he had understood that Jungkook was joking.

"So I visited my friend... and it was kind of great to meet other people again. No offense, but spending all day with you is a little depressing." Jungkook didn't look at Taehyung. He didn't want to see what expression he was going to make at that. "Sorry for getting drunk there. I just started and ended up drinking more than I should have and then I lashed out on you."

"It's okay."

Again. It was weird. Jungkook was so used to having to feel bad about everything he was doing because every mistake could cost him his life. So why was hearing Taehyung say that it was okay, so... relieving? Maybe Jungkook had been a little too deep in his head. Maybe the threat he had been so worried about hadn't been as bad.

Jimin had claimed so. One month ago Jimin had told him he doubted Taehyung would kill him. Maybe he had been right then. Admittedly... Jungkook couldn't even really remember Taehyung actively threatening him since then.

Of course he was a ticking time bomb. At the restaurant, Taehyung had seemed just about ready to kill the waiter. When they had gone to the library and someone had bumped into Taehyung Jungkook had been scared for the guy's life and quickly tugged Taehyung with him, and at the pool Taehyung really had been... tense with all the children running around.

All those times the reason Jungkook had worried hadn't been because of the threat Taehyung had posed to him but to his surroundings. And while Jungkook had felt like Taehyung was a constant threat to him... he really hadn't done much to give Jungkook reasons for that feeling, at least not for a while.

Aside from the accident at the pool... Taehyung had been relatively nice to him. Barely had hissed at him and when he had it had been more of a warning when Jungkook got a little too close for comfort or did something Taehyung really didn't like, rather than an active threat.

Jungkook had been... a little hard on Taehyung... hadn't he?

Yeah, of course, Taehyung was a siren that had kind of forced himself into Jungkook's life. Had almost drowned him. Repeatedly threatened to kill him and never really said he wouldn't kill Jungkook. Okay, maybe it had been fair, but Jungkook knew Taehyung was trying.

It was obvious. He had been somewhat aware of it. But at the same time, the constant fear that had still lingered in his mind from before they had gone to Jimin's place had clearly affected the way he had perceived how Taehyung had acted around him.

"I was really harsh." Jungkook sighed. "I know you're trying to be nicer, but being scared to die really isn't fun."

This time Taehyung said nothing. They just continued walking in silence, but Jungkook got it. There really wasn't much Taehyung could even answer.

"But I feel a little better now. It was kind of cute that you brought me shells."

Jungkook looked to the side, just in time to see Taehyung scrunch up his nose in distaste, which was awfully cute.

"If I end up surviving this, they will make a good keepsake."

Taehyung looked like he wanted to answer something, but instead he turned his head, looking to the other side of the street. There, in the middle of the sidewalk, sat a gray cat. Jungkook instantly recognized her by her white right front paw.

The cat seemed to recognize him too, getting up from its comfortable spot before making its way over to them. Jungkook squatted down, offering his hand. A little hesitant, probably because Jungkook hadn't pet her in quite some time, she came closer, first sniffing his hand before finally allowing him to pet her.

She seemed a little wary of Taehyung though. Deeply mustering him for a couple of seconds before walking to the side further away from him.

When Jungkook looked up at Taehyung he found him watching the cat with an unreadable expression. But then his eyes slowly started changing and Jungkook quickly picked the cat up, more so for the cat's safety than anything else.

Luckily this wasn't the first time he had done this, so the cat only seemed a little startled but didn't try to scratch Jungkook. "You're not eating the cat."

For a few tension filled seconds Taehyung didn't say anything. Just stared straight at the clearly unsettled cat that tried to wiggle out of Jungkook's hold, but then he slowly nodded and Jungkook could feel relief washing over him.

"Have you ever seen a cat before?" Jungkook asked, genuinely curious. Taehyung was old, but he had spent most of his life in the ocean, so it was possible.

"I've eaten some." Taehyung stated in a flat voice, his eyes still set on the small, fluffy animal. Jungkook's arms automatically tightened a little around the small body, the cat mewling in protest.

"You won't eat this one." Jungkook repeated once again and Taehyung nodded.

"I won't." He was talking so much... Jungkook wasn't used to this.

"Cats are usually kept as pets by people. We feed them and they get to live under our roof, but in exchange they let us pet them. Look how soft she feels." Jungkook lifted the cat up, who meowed weakly in protest but didn't do much more.

She was clearly scared of Taehyung, but Jungkook wasn't going to let him harm her, so everything should have been fine like this.

He couldn't help smiling when he watched as Taehyung lifted his hand, clearly a little hesitant, before he put it on the cat's back and started stroking it... which admittedly looked really awkward. It was pretty clear Taehyung had never petted an animal before.

But he seemed to get the hang of it rather quickly, running his hand over the cat's head and scratching it behind its ear. Finally the cat seemed to relax, a soft purr rumbling in its chest as Taehyung rubbed the spot behind its ear.

"Soft, right?"

Taehyung nodded, his eyes still fixed on the small animal.

"Wanna hold her?"

This time Taehyung seemed a little reluctant, but even so he took the cat when Jungkook handed it to him. To his surprise the cat seemed rather comfortable in Taehyung's arms, who didn't look half as relaxed. It was still purring, rubbing its head against Taehyung's arm, seemingly waiting to be scratched some more.

Jungkook did, kind of forgetting about Taehyung being uncomfortable with Jungkook being too close for a moment. But when he didn't react badly Jungkook took it as a sign that he could continue.

"She's a stray." When Taehyung tilted his head he elaborated. "She doesn't have any owners. People in this area feed her usually because she has been around for so long and is this... trusting." He made a vague gesture at Taehyung.

"I used to meet her all the time whenever I walked to my ex's place because she tends to hang around that area." He rubbed the cat's chin, accidentally touching Taehyung's arm in the process.

It really seemed to be okay right now.

Taehyung seemed too focused on the animal in his arms right now... although it didn't seem like it was bothering him. The opposite actually. Jungkook could tell how careful he was being and how hard he was trying not to squeeze the cat uncomfortably or hold it weirdly, all while still trying to look at its face.

Jungkook couldn't help smiling as he watched him. It was always nice to see Taehyung not looking scary. When he was smiling or laughing, or even being careful like right now. It was so different from the picture Jungkook had, but it fit really well too.

"It's nice, isn't it? It's why people like having a pet."

Taehyung nodded, still completely focused on the cat.

"You should let her down now though. Our food is getting cold." Not just the food. Maybe the temperatures didn't do anything to Taehyung, but for Jungkook sitting outside for hours was quite... cold.

Taehyung didn't put the cat down. Instead he shook his head.

"Please. I'm also freezing."

Taehyung opened his mouth as if to say something but then he closed it again. For a few seconds he seemed a little unsure of what to do, furrowing his brows a few times as if he was thinking about something before he finally looked back up at Jungkook.

"Let's take her with us." Okay, that had been a full on sentence... A perfectly grammatically correct full sentence. Taehyung was totally choosing not to talk, wasn't he?

"We can't." Jungkook declared. They couldn't just pick her off the street, no matter how friendly she was.

"Why?"

"That's... we would have to take her to a vet and I don't even know if that's legal." Jungkook tried explaining. Admittedly the vet wasn't that huge of a problem, and neither was the law since Jungkook knew for a fact that the cat didn't belong to anyone here, and he'd kind of always wanted to have a pet as a child but... this felt too simple.

Taking a pet in came with a lot of responsibilities and Jungkook had uni to attend and lots of homework and studying. He felt bad not being able to give the animal the attention it would need, and it was just...

"Please?" Oh no, since when was Taehyung capable of looking that cute? Actually, not really. It was just the cat in his arms that made him seem so much softer than usually. His expression was the same as it always was. Maybe a little less intense and attentive, but not much had changed.

For a second Jungkook seemed to get caught up looking at Taehyung's face for like the hundredth time, thinking about how pretty Taehyung really was with his long lashes and soft hair and cute nose and... this really had to stop. There had to be some way for Jungkook to stay in control of his own mind even when he looked at Taehyung.

"It's a lot of work."

Taehyung continued looking at him, still with that cute cat in his hand. Jungkook probably hadn't stood a chance in the first place.

"Okay, okay. We'll take her home under one condition. You take care of her. I'll show you what you need to do, but I don't have the time for doing all the work right now."

He half expected Taehyung to shake his head because he was too proud to actually do those kinds of jobs, but to his surprise Taehyung nodded, his eyes going back down to the cat.

And Jungkook couldn't help wondering why Taehyung seemed so keen on keeping it when he'd just wanted to eat it earlier. Jungkook didn't get it. He didn't get Taehyung, but for some reason it made him happy. It made him happy to see how carefully Taehyung was handling the cat because it gave him hope that maybe Taehyung wasn't that bad and they had just started off on the wrong foot.

It gave him hope that maybe he and Taehyung could actually end up getting along better now, that they were finally on somewhat equal footing.

A/N

What did you think of the chapter?💕

Any thoughts or things you liked because there certainly were quite a bunch of things I liked!

Also I finally have a kofi now so if you guys wanna support me financially you can there! The link to my account is in my description when you scroll down and on my message board right now!

Also since I've been asked for a date in the predator fanart thing and I'd say I'll post it probably with either the update in two or in three weeks.

But if you guys take longer than that I can always add it afterwards no stress! I just thought maybe a deadline could help<3

If you draw something just dm me once you're done!

Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter... Tae was rlly cute wasn't he? Maybe I have stockholm too now...

But who cares when it's Tae🤧