Chapter Text
"Be careful on your way home, it's getting pretty dark out. Would you like me to walk you home?" Namjoon asks with a small smile gracing his lips, revealing his two dimples.
"Thanks, Joonie, but I think I can manage. It's only a 20-minute walk," you chuckle as you reach a hand up to scratch behind his left ear affectionately. "Besides, I don't think a big goofball like you can protect me much, anyway."
"Hey, don't underestimate me. I may be clumsy but I'm still a wolf hybrid," he playfully growls as he nips at your wrist gently.
"I know. How could I forget? You're practically an overgrown puppy," you tease further, throwing your head back in laughter at the deep frown that settles on the hybrid's lips.
"Now, don't you go comparing me to Taehyung and Hoseok. I really don't understand how Jimin puts up with them every day," the older male chides jokingly while poking fun at the two Golden Retriever hybrids. "I already get enough slander from Yoongi, I don't need it from you too."
"Oh, don't say that about the pups. They're a lot, but they're so adorable and you know it," you gush. "And you know Yoongi and I only tease you as a joke. We all know you're a big, strong, capable-"
"Don't forget mature!" Namjoon adds with his tail wagging in excitement at the compliments being thrown his way.
"-and mature wolf hybrid," you finish with a firm nod causing the older male to break out into a happy chuckle. "Well, I best be on my way before it gets too late. Tell Yoongs and Jin I said bye."
Namjoon nods slowly with a slight pout and his ears and tail begin to droop, signaling his distress.
"Stop worrying, okay? I'll be fine. Here, I'll give you a call when I make it home if you're really that worried," you bargain as you rub behind his other ear. "I literally walk home by myself every night and I'm fine."
"I literally offer to walk you home every night," the wolf hybrid retorts back trying his best to mimic the tone you spoke in. "And I'll continue to offer to walk you home every night."
"I know, Joonie," you smile up fondly at him. "I really appreciate your offers, but I'm pretty sure Jin would kill me if he found out I made you walk home by yourself especially since you guys live in the opposite direction. You know it's just as unsafe for either of us to be walking home alone at this hour. It's probably even more unsafe for you since you're a rare breed."
Namjoon opens his mouth to rebuttal your argument but his words get caught in his throat. You both know you're right. But that still doesn't settle the nervous feeling biting in the pit of the wolf hybrid's stomach each night you walk home alone.
"Okay, please stay safe," he finally relents with his tail wagging slowly.
With one last pat to Namjoon's head, you're heading out of the hybrid clinic that you and Seokjin have been running since you both completed your medical residencies two years ago.
As soon as you're outside the clinic, the warm summer air hugs your body uncomfortably which only pushes you on your journey home even faster.
About a quarter way through your walk home, you hear a light crash coming from an alley on your left. You jump at the sound and you look over, expecting to see an animal digging through the dumpster for food. However, there's nothing in the alley except for an empty McDonald's bag. You furrow your eyebrows and decide to shrug it off as your imagination.
Just as you are about to continue walking, you hear movement again and a faint whimper. You stop in your tracks and strain your ears to listen for another sound but you can't seem to hear anything. A small frown tugs on your lips but you shrug off the feeling of uncertainty before continuing your trek home.
When you finally reach the comforts of your own home, you hastily toe off your shoes before dragging yourself into the living room to allow your body to fall onto the couch. It had been a long day at the clinic packed with scheduled appointments and a few walk-ins. You didn't even have time to eat a proper lunch as you were busy answering emails and phone calls flooding in non-stop.
After allowing yourself to roll around comfortably, you pull out your phone and dial Namjoon's number, knowing the hybrid is patiently anticipating your call. You can't blame him since it's driven into his genes to care for his pack and the wolf hybrid makes it very clear he considers you to be a part of his pack.
"Y/N!" Namjoon's voice booms from the other end of the line.
"Hi, Joonie," you giggle at his excitement. "I made it home all safe and in one piece."
"I'm glad," he hums. "Go eat some dinner and get some rest. Today was a pretty busy day at the clinic."
"Yeah, it was a pretty long day," you sigh with exhaustion. "But I'm glad I was able to help all of those hybrids. Thanks for looking out for me," you smile when you hear his tail thump against a surface. You quickly bid your farewells before hanging up and heading into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
While you're cooking, you can't help but let your mind drift back to the noises you heard near the clinic. Although you had brushed it off as your imagination earlier, all of your years of experience are leading you to think there is a hybrid in need. A deep frown settles on your face the longer you think about it.
When you finish preparing your meal, you place it on your dining table before pulling out your phone again.
"Y/N?" a seemingly tired voice speaks from the other end of the line.
"Hi, Jin," you greet before quickly checking the time on your microwave. "Sorry to bother you this late."
"No, don't worry about it. I just finished cooking dinner for the boys and me. What's up?"
"Well, I heard some noises on my walk back home," you start. However before you can continue your story, all chaos breaks loose from the other end of the line.
"What? I thought you said you made it home safely! You lied to me!" You hear Namjoon's voice yell in the background.
"Sit down you big dog. You're so loud. It's too late to be yelling this loud," Yoongi, Seokjin's cat hybrid, hisses.
"Will you two shut up? I can't hear Y/N," the oldest males scolds the hybrids.
"But Y/N lied to me! Someone could be stalking her right now!" Namjoon proclaims urgently. You can only assume Seokjin sent the wolf hybrid one of his infamous glares because the other end of the line goes silent almost instantly.
"Am I on speaker?" you chuckle. "I didn't lie when I called Joonie to tell him I got home safely."
"Sorry no, you're not on speaker. Sometimes I forget that I need to be in a different room when I answer calls since these two brats have better hearing than us," the oldest male sighs. "Sorry, go on. What were you saying?"
"Oh, that's right. I might come in a little late tomorrow morning," you state as you take a seat at the dining table.
"Oh, that's no problem. Did something come up?"
"Well, as I said before, I heard a noise while I was walking home and I think it was a stray hybrid? Maybe a stray dog or cat? I'm not sure, but I just want to double-check in the morning when it's brighter outside."
"Would you like me to come with you?" Seokjin offers.
"No, it's fine. I'll probably get up a little earlier to go anyways," you shake your head even though he can't see you.
"Are you sure? I can make Joon go? Or Yoongi?"
"I am not getting up that early to look for a stray," the cat hybrid grumbles.
"No, no. I'll be fine. I don't want to wake Yoongi up from his beauty sleep," you tease, eliciting a small huff from said feline. "I'll call you guys if I need backup, alright?"
"Okay. If you do find a stray, bring it to the clinic. I don't want hybrid services picking it up off the street because we all know they don't do shit," Seokjin instructs with a slight hint of anger in his voice.
"Yeah, I know," you sigh at the sensitive topic. "Go eat dinner and get some rest, okay? I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Jin, goodnight Joonie, goodnight Yoongs," you sing, knowing the hybrids are still listening in on the call. You hear a chorus of goodnights from the three males before the call ends and you finally begin eating your long-awaited meal.