Chapter Text
He didn't get it.
Okay, he didn't get the hype.
He adopted Mark a couple years back, picking him up from one of the shitiest shelters he has ever seen. He wasn’t even there to adopt at the time, Jaebeom was honestly just walking around trying to cool off from his stupid disagreement (it wasn’t a fight okay, he just had very strong opinions about how to properly clean the kitchen and Jinyoung had his own inputs as well) with Jinyoung, and the next thing he knows he’s going into the shelter. He goes into the shelter and sees the prettiest cat hybrid he has ever seen, all pale skin and bright light blonde fur curled up in one of the smaller cages.
He leaves with the prettiest cat hybrid he has ever seen.
He leaves and that should have been the end of that
It's not.
Jinyoung ends up moving out sometime later, maybe a year or two after Mark is properly introduced into their little home dynamic. Jinyoung leaves with all his things packed in his car, a flick to Jaebeoms’ forehead, and a kiss to Marks’ with a teasing warning that Mark is in charge of the house now. Jaebeom’s happy to say good riddance to the little pest but truthfully, as he watched Jinyoung leave from the driveway, he couldn't help the watery smile as he waved goodbye to his longest and bestest friend. It was just going to be him and Mark from now on and even then it wasn't going to be that different since Mark didn’t give anyone too much trouble with his quiet nature.
It's not even two months since Jinyoung has moved out that he announces he's got a surprise for Jaebeom and to come to his apartment without Mark in tow. As soon as he flings the door open unceremoniously (because Jinyoung gave him a spare key just like Jinyoung still has his old keys from Jaebeoms’ place) Jaebeom is fucking trampled to the floor by a muscled body he knows isn’t Jinyoung and then he feels a wet tongue just slobber the entire right side of his face.
“Surprise Hyung, I decided to get a hybrid too”, JInyoung's standing over the both of them, Jaebeom and the hybrid that's still on top of him licking his face in what he assumes is a greeting. All he can do is glare at Jinyoung's pleased expression.
“Get him off me Jinyoung-ah before I get rid of him for you”, is all he says before he feels the hybrid sit up all on his own, sits in his lap really, and gives the brightest grin as he introduces himself to Jaebeom, “Hi! I’m Jackson, what's your name?”
As soon as Jaebeoms off the floor he sees the real reason why the hybrid rubbed him the wrong way. “Really Jinyoung-ah? A dog?”
Jinyoung just smirks. That fucking bitch.
Look Jaebeom isn't really a dog person. Never has never will be. He just doesn't get what's so great about having a dog. Let alone a dog hybrid who seems twice as troublesome. This is why he got Mark, gentle, sweet, independent Mark who will go to him when he needs it but will usually be fine being left alone, prefers it even.
He wonders if Jinyoung thinks he's funny.
He meets Jackson properly that day, sits down on the couch and lets the dog hybrid sniff to his heart's content, because while Jaebeom may profess loudly and proudly he's not a dog person, he's not going to be a dick to the dog when he's going to be in his space quite frequently. So Jackson sniffs him and in the end (surprise surprise) he takes an extreme liking to Jaebeom. Its cute, if Jaebeom’s going to be grudgingly honest (he's not, that detail is going to the grave with him when he dies).
And then comes Jaebeoms fucking nightmare upon nightmares. Getting Mark and Jackson to meet.
Jinyoung says it's fine, Jackson’s well behaved (as much as he can be with all his hyperactive energy and endless enthusiasm) and will most definitely try to not scare Mark, but Jaebeom for once is worried Mark won't like Jackson. If he’s learned anything about his precious furbaby it's that if Mark doesn't like something he won't bother to give it a second chance. And Jaebeom can't have that when Jinyoung is basically Mark's other dad and he'll have to interact with Jackson eventually whether he wants to or not. Whether Jaebeom wants them to or not.
And so it goes like this:
Jinyoung brings Jackson over to Jaebeom's house, new territory to him, but Marks’ territory, to prevent him from getting spooked. Jaebeom gave Mark a little briefing before everything, a week in advance because as much as he doesn’t get the hype for dog hybrids, he likes Jackson well enough to hope that his cat likes him too. Mark is as cool as ever, gives a little purr in understandment and then proceeds to knead Jaebeoms’ thighs and lays his head there for his afternoon nap. God his cat is so cute.
“Jackson I swear to god if you don't behave I’m having Jinyoung take you home do you understand?” Jaebeom’s in front of the door trying to barricade it as much as possible because the little mutt is trying his damn hardest to get in. hes not calm, no matter how many times Jackson says he is, because both Jinyoung and Jaebeom can see his tail wagging a mile a minute and he's panting, tongue lolling out, a cute expression he always has whenever he's excited, and he's always excited.
“I’m calm Jaebeom hyung I promise! Can I go inside and see the kitty?” Jackson all but warbles out, he’s so damn excited. Jaebeom sighs and just gives Jinyoung this look before he lets him in and Jackson just goes barreling in, barely any pretense to rip off his sneakers so he doesn't track dirt into the house.
And then he sees him.
And Mark sees him.
And well and truthfully Jaebeom wants a fucking refund because honestly what the actual fuck.
He expects Mark to hiss lightly, maybe swat at all three of them with his tiny hands and tinier claws but no. When he looks at Mark all he sees are fucking supernovas exploding in his doe brown eyes as he stares at Jackson from his spot on the couch. And Jackson? That little mutt is just as starstruck as Mark is. He's in the middle of the living room not moving, just paused midstep, and Jaebeom’s not even sure the fucker is breathing. And then Mark gets off the couch.
Now Jackson isn't the biggest hybrid they have ever seen, in reality he's pretty small, a medium sized dog, a type of shepherd dog he can't remember the name of, and yet it's fucking insane to see him tower over Mark because Mark is just naturally tiny. Mark is so small and lithe and lean while Jackson is all muscle mass and force, both Jinyoung and Jaebeom fear the worst when Mark shakes his hand out of a sweater paw and lightly touches Jackson’s cheek with delicate little claws and a head tilt in curiosity.
And then Jackson tilts his head into that small hand.
Mark smiles and purrs lightly before he turns to look over Jackson’s shoulder at Jinyoung and then at Jaebeom, “I like him, can we keep him Jaebeom-ah?”
And Jaebeom actually fucking wants a refund because what the fuck.
Out of all the fucking cat hybrids he could have picked he just had to pick the cat hybrid who just happened to love dogs. The fucking audacity.
---
And so things are the same as ever, Jinyoung would babysit when Jaebeom's at work or Jaebeom would, because as much as Jackson and Mark are their own individual responsible people they’re still pets by law (which is just stupid and Jaebeom doesnt know how many times he's had to hear Jinyoung rant about it to him in person and over the phone). Jackson and Mark somehow get closer with one another (a little too close for comfort if you asked Jaebeom) and Jaebeom always catches Jackson where his nose should definitely not be and Mark with his hands where they should never be allowed to be in, and honestly why are they like this they are siblings damnit. Jinyoung thinks it's cute that they have a pair of horny hybrids, Jaebeom is going to have a fucking aneurysm if he catches Jackson sniffing Marks' crotch one more fucking time.
Through all this, Jaebeom manages to score a date with the cute barista from across his apartment building. His name is Youngjae and he's so beautiful and is always smiling when he sees Jaebeom, and he even draws a heart on Jaebeom's cup every time without fail. He's been going to that cafe for about 3 months just to see him, just to pine from afar, before his cute barista did his dirty work and asked him out for lunch. When he told this to all three members of his family Mark (the only fucking angel in their house) was the only one to congratulate him while Jackson laughed at his plight (that fucking pest), and Jinyoung looked so disgusted and disappointed at the fact that Jaebeom was pining for so long only for the object of his affections make the first move (that even bigger fucking pest).
All's well that ends well he guesses because now he has a cute cat and a cute boyfriend, with a couple of troublesome gremlins but even then, Jaebeom’s content.
He’s running late for work when he suspects another fucking event about to happen. He just gave a kiss to Mark's forehead telling him to behave until Jinyoung comes with Jackson, and Mark telling him with doe eyes shining with mirth and trouble that he's always good. He's still on the phone with Youngjae, and also shoving his shoes on while grabbing his keys and waving goodbye to his furbaby for the 5th time that day. Now he's told Youngjae about his pet hybrid. He's even sent pictures because he's a proud cat dad who just loves his cat hybrid. As he’s leaving his apartment building with Youngjae on speaker he casually mentions that he should meet Mark in person. It's been 3 months since they've been dating officially and every single time without fail he ends up at Youngjae’s place, having to deal with his tiny rat of a dog Coco. She's cute he guesses but Mark is ten times cuter. Youngjae knows his dislike for dogs and still chose to date him, even laughed and said he'd like Coco soon enough.
So tell him why Jaebeom is confused when Youngjae says, “ I don't know Hyung, I’m not sure that's a good idea. I think it's best if we just keep doing what we're doing now. Just pictures.”
He's not even confused anymore he's just blatantly offended now. It's 8:23 in the morning and the person he's been dating for almost 4 months just told him he doesn't want to meet Jaebeom's cat, his literal child?
"What's that supposed to mean?", Jaebeom dares to ask and he knows the contempt and bitterness has seeped into his words when he hears Youngjae come up with different excuses that don't do anything to calm his disbelief. "You know what Youngjae-ah? We can finish this up later, I'm going to be late for work."
He abruptly hangs up and it doesn't even matter that he's 10 minutes late to his office job because his boyfriend just said he doesn't want to meet his baby and with literally no good reason for it. He slams the car door when he gets out and jams the elevator button when he's near it. He just doesn't get it.
He goes to work, he does his 9 to 5 at a pretty infamous record label that usually gets him pretty excited but today he's just muddled with bitterness and anger because he doesn't understand how someone wouldn't want to meet Mark. He thinks about the first month of when he brought Mark home and how skittish he was around everything, especially Jinyoung.
He thinks about how Mark overheard Jinyoung telling him they couldn't afford to give Mark a good home when they could barely take care of themselves and later found the cat hybrid jammed in one of the kitchen cupboards crying silently because he thought he was a burden.
He thinks of the first time Mark said something to the both of them, how shy and fragile and deep and smooth his voice sounded. The first time he heard him laugh.
He knows Mark didn't necessarily come from a good shelter, Mark doesn't ever want to talk about it, says "Why do you need to know? Shouldn't we focus on me being happy here instead?".
He knows all these things and it still baffles him how Youngjae, the literal sun, wouldn't want to meet the second brightest star in Jaebeom's solar system.
At lunch he eats quickly and dials up Jinyoung, "Hey can you do me a favor Nyoung?"
"Sure what do you need?", is his reply and Jaebeom can't help but smile because even though he's usually a complete idiot Jinyoung would still follow him no questions asked.
"Can you get Marks' bag ready? I'm taking him to meet Youngjae after work today. Oh tell him to get ready as well", he says with an entire half of a sandwich stuffed into his mouth.
The line goes silent for a bit before, "First off, you're disgusting, swallow your god damn food before you talk. What are you 3 years old? Second, I'm surprised you waited this long for them to meet. I expected you to introduce Mark to Youngjae right away."
Jaebeom gets up to throw away his trash, phone balanced between his ear and shoulder, "Something came up and I just figured let's do it now, you know?"
Once more the line goes quiet before, "Don't do anything stupid Jaebeom hyung, we don't want Mark or Youngjae to feel bad about it"
"It'll be fine"
It is one hundred percent not fine.
It goes like this:
Once he finished up work he ran down to the parking garage and drove like a fucking madman back home to pick up Mark. He gave Jinyoung a ring and Mark was sent down to meet him, and oh my god Mark was the cutest thing ever. His usual skinny jeans with the rips he himself made because he likes the feel of his claws digging into denim, coupled with Jaebeoms' giant red hoodie making him look waifish and small. Absolutely adorable in Jaebeoms' mind.
Once in the car he gave Jaebeom a quick lick in greeting before he put on his seatbelt and dropped his bag with millions of fish keychains at his feet. "Jinyoungie didn't tell me where we were going today...am I having a playdate?"
"Something like that," Jaebeom gripped the steering wheel a bit, "We're actually going to go see Youngjae today."
From the corner of his eye he can see Mark stiffen, and then he relaxes quickly adjusting his hoodie and his jeans and his bag, anything his little hands can reach, "You should have told me, I would have worn something else."
"You look adorable, don't worry." That was Jaebeom's job.
He finds a decent parking spot and gets out of the car, spots Youngjae's beat up old four door down the street as he's helping Mark out of the car. He's definitely home then. He takes Mark's smaller hand and leads them to an apartment complex across from where they parked and makes his way to the elevator, letting Mark hit the button for floor 7. He looks at Mark and can't help but smile as he sees him holding his bag with both hands, tails swishing anxiously, ears flat against his head. "Don't worry so much Mark-ah."
He looks up with a sweater paw covering his mouth, doe eyes glancing at the elevator door, "It's hard not to when this meeting is the make or break of your love life."
Mark's been spending way too much time with Jinyoung.
"Quiet pest." he says as he boops Mark's straight little nose a little too hard, evident by the whine his cat gives him in response.
The elevator stops and dings, doors parting and once more they're on their way to see Youngjae. Jaebeom gives his door a hard knock and is greeted a minute later by bright brown eyes and a loud yap not far behind.
"Hyung!? What are you doing here?" Youngjae exclaims, stepping back just a bit, brushing up against Coco as she worms her way outside.
"I figured we could speed up the process from earlier this morning." he says with a shrug and steps away so Youngjae has a clear view of Mark lightly petting Coco. Mark looks up and immediately snatches his hand away with a guilty look on his face.
"Sorry, I like your dog", he smiles cute fangs on full display.
Of course he likes Youngjae's rat dog, Jaebeom can't help but roll his eyes.
And shit somehow hits the fan when Youngjae starts sneezing uncontrollably and quickly yanks Jaebeom into his apartment but closes the door on Mark and Coco.
"Babe what the-"
Youngjae smacks his shoulder with no warning and Jaebeom can't help the surprised look on his face because he was not expecting to get smacked today. “I can't believe you brought your cat here after I told you not to!”
Youngjae is one hundred percent glaring at him but Jaebeom can't really take it seriously with his cute red nose, water eyes and full pouty lips. “I don't understand why you don't want to meet my baby.”
While looking at that cute face Jaebeom awkwardly leans against the door frame, crossing his arms to appear every bit as tough as he can, straightening his expression into something of a scowl, but one look at Youngjae has him looking every bit like a pathetic boyfriend.
Youngjae sighs, “I didn't want to tell you to be honest.”
“Tell me what,” Jaebeom questions.
“Im allergic to cats,” Youngjae winces, “I thought it was unfair that you met Coco, even though you don't really like dogs all that much but you did it anyways for me, and I can't even return the favor because my face ends up like this every time I”m near a cat, hybrid or not.”
Jaebeom stares, “ Babe I thought you hated Mark.”
“What! No!” He wails, “From all the pictures you've sent I thought he was super cute and friendly. I just wish I could meet him without me triggering my allergies, you know? Even with my allergy medication it doesn't really do much when I’m surrounded by their fur.”
Jaebeom’s getting a headache he knows he is, he can feel it, “Babe we could have avoided all this if you just told me instead of just telling me no.”
“I know I’m sorry.” Youngjae wrings his hands as he leans up and chastely kisses the corner of Jaebeoms’ mouth.
Jaebeom isn't a soft person but he will melt wholeheartedly for Youngjae and Mark but that secret is for him and him alone.
Oh shit, Mark.
Jaebeom quickly pushes Youngjae back and opens the door to see Mark sitting on the floor with Coco in his lap, the little dog at peace, the first time Jaebeom has seen her like that since he’s met her.
“Baby come here so you can meet Jae, but don't get too close he's allergic to cats.” Jaebeom says as he reaches a hand out to help Mark stand. Mark takes his larger hand with one and uses the other to hold Coco as he gets up slowly. He gives a shy smile to Youngjae and as an afterthought, hands over Coco back to her rightful owner.
Mark then gives Jaebeom a deadpan stare, “Jinyoungie told you not to do anything stupid to make Youngjae feel bad.”
Shit, he heard his and Jinyoung’s conversation earlier, “Quiet pest.” and gently shoves his whole hand in Mark’s face who in retaliation scraps the palm of his hand with tiny sharp fangs.
Youngjae laughs brightly, “Hi Mark-ah! It's so nice to meet you in person and not just through pictures! You're a lot cuter in person!”
“Pictures?” Mark asks as he tilts his head curiously.
“Anyways Jae you two have met, and I gotta get him home so he can say bye to Jackson properly before the other throws a fit. We can set up a skype call for you guys later! Bye babe!” Jaebeom rambles as he grabs Mark’s tiny hand in his larger one and grabs his bag with the other. He leans over, gives Youngjae a chaste kiss and hightails it out of there with Youngjae’s bright laugh following right behind them. If theres one thing he doesn’t want Mark to know about its the 3 entire fucking folders of pictures and videos of him Jaebeom has saved onto his laptop.
Mark would delete all of them and then Jaebeom would have zero proof of how cute his tiny kitty really is.
In the end Mark and Youngjae have weekly skype calls and weekly game nights where they constantly play League or something else but also Mark just uses them to see Coco more often.
---
Mark is preening in Jaebeom's lap when he hears the front door open and in comes Jackson barely taking off his outerwear before he barrels into Mark and therefore onto Jaebeom. Jackson golden dog tags smacking Jaebeom right in the eye, and Jaebeom can't help but regret ever giving Jinyoung a spare copy of his house keys. “Get off me brat.”
Jackson whines before giving Jaebeom a lick on the cheek as an apology before all but ripping Mark from his lap, depositing the cat hybrid into his own lap, beginning their usual greeting process which is just Jackson sniffing Mark’s neck and Mark turning into a purring puddle of goo in the dog hybrids lap. Jaebeom sighs and gets up and heads towards where he thinks Jinyoung went, into the kitchen. He passes the front door and sees two extra pairs of shoes and can only groan as he heads into the kitchen and sees Bambam and Yugyeom sending Jinyoung into an early grave.
“Oh come on Hyung why don't you just ask him out already, he always flirts with you!”, Bambam says as he rifles through Jaebeoms fridge like it’s his own fucking house, the audacity of these children.
Jinyoung loudly smacks the counter with all their bags on it quite loudly. It gets a yelp from Jackson in the next room, and actually, Jaebeom should go back there before Mark’s naked on the couch….again.
“First off, Wonpil's my best friend, second of all he has a boyfriend already so I have no idea what either of you are getting at that he’s constantly flirting with me.” Jinyoung states, as he looks through their drawer of utensils, but if you ask Jaebeom it looks like he's looking for a knife.
What Jinyoung said sadly drags Jaebeom right into the conversation instead of walking out to see what their pets were up to, a safe zone, “Hold on Wonpil is your best friend? You whore, I’ve known you since we were seven. What the hell am I then?”
Jinyoung whirls around actually holding a knife (see Jaebeom knows his best friend) and points it in his direction, “Not now Im.”
Jaebeom gulps, looks at the knife and then looks back at the fire in Jinyoung’s eyes. He huffs and turns right around in retreat, he's not running away. He leaves Jinyoung to prepare dinner with both of their maknae children to give him no peace. He makes his way back to the living room and sees Jackson situated in between Mark's thighs, nose once again near his crotch and Mark looking absolutely blissed out.
“Oh hell no, Jackson move,” Jaebeom rushes in sees a pile of random magazines on their coffee table, grabs one, proceeds to roll it and intends to fucking smack Jackson with it if he doesn’t move now. Jackson whines and quickly moves, causing Mark to pout up at Jaebeom with a scrunched up red face. Jaebeom will not be swayed, not on this anyways. Jinyoungs’ dog is not about to defile his fucking cat, his precious kitten.
“Jaebeom-ah ruins everything,” Mark pouts in his direction as he quickly goes and huddles near Jackson for comfort, Mark's collar jingling all the way there.
“Jackson so much as puts his dick anywhere near you and it's getting chopped off.” Jaebeom says as he sits on the couch with them, the TV controller in one hand, the rolled magazine in the other.
“I wasn't doing anything Hyung, honest!” Jackson yelps as Mark hisses at Jaebeom screeching a “mean!” in his direction.
In that moment all three turn to see Jinyoung deposit Bambam and Yugyeom in the living room leaving with a huff and a threat that they’re not allowed in the kitchen unless they want to die. Jaebeom gives them a sympathetic look as both mope their way to their direction, Yugyeom taking the armchair near the hybrids and Bambam all but flopping himself on the rug in front of the TV and coffee table.
“What did you two even do for him to kick you out of the kitchen,” Jackson says as he gently licks Mark’s ears, quickly stopping when Jaebeom throws him a rough glare.
“Dude all we were trying to do was get him laid or at least a date and he's being a complete prude about it!” Bambam cries as he sits up and throws his hands in the air in utter disbelief.
“In Jinyoung hyung’s defense you did try to set him up with his best friend”, Yugyeom states as he scrolls through his phone.
“I’m his best friend!”
“Dude whose side are you even on?”
Yugyeom at least has the decency to look a little spooked but even with his friends outbursts he just looks at them, smirks, and goes back to his phone. Jaebeom finds Yugyeom infuriating.
Mark pipes up with Jackson practically draped over his lap, rough big hands cradling Mark's hips, “Maybe Jinyoungie doesn't want to date anyone.”
Bambam leans against the coffee table and looks on in deep thought before stating, “Okay but maybe he just needs to get laid and even then he doesn't really want to, isn't that a bit weird?”
“Bam I just caught these two about to fuck on the couch again, they get no say in whether Jinyoung not wanting to get laid is weird or not,” Jaebeom says as he finally turns on the TV and flips through the channels.
Both Yugyeom and Bambam look at the two intertwining hybrids with disgust, “Hyung why don’t you just let them fuck, isnt Mark-ah’s heat coming up?” Yugyeom says as he glances at Jaebeom.
Jacksons’ head immediately perks up from his spot on Mark's thighs, ears perked all the way, tail wagging in excitement. Jaebeom can't even begin to count the number of ‘nos’ filtering through his head as he sees Mark's eyes go glassy with the idea. Thats his fucking baby right there. It's like seeing a child bride or something, Mark may be a legal adult (along with Jackson)but he's raised Mark since he was a scrawny teen. He can't imagine his literal child mated, oh god or with kids of his own. Jaebeom’s 27 he is not ready to be a grandpa damnit.
“Hell no, If Jinyoung finds a fucking date then maybe but even then”, He regrets the moment it leaves his mouth because Mark all but tramples over Jackson to get to Jaebeom. He sits in his lap and holds his hand with his tiny ones. Jaebeom just looks on warily, sees the way the bow behind Mark's silk collar ruffles, bells tinkling ever so softly as Mark practically vibrates in his lap.
“You mean it? If Jinyoungie finds a date, Jackson can mate me?” Mark's eyes go wide and glitter with all the stars in the night sky.
“Date who, mate what?” They all turn to see Jinyoung coming out with his apron still tied, damp towel in hand, probably to wipe off some grease, eyes locked on all 5 of them.
“Jinyoungie! Jaebeomie says if you find a date that means Jackson can mate me!” Mark all but beams, and okay now Jaebeom feels a little bad because he didnt know Mark would be this fucking happy at the idea of Jacksons teeth imprint being on his neck. Jinyoung's face goes bitter, something akin to a pitying gaze.
“Mark-ah go with Jackson-ah to the bedroom,” Jinyoung sighs as he sits on the arm of Yugyeom’s arm chair.
Mark trills in confusion, head tilting “Why?”
And for all that Jackson jokes and plays, he understands the gravity of the situation more than the humans expect him to, he holds the same pitying smile his owner does. He silently gets off the couch and cradles Marks hands in his, gently helping him off Jaebeoms’ lap whispering, “Come on Yien, let the humans talk.” and ushers the tiny cat hybrid to the room. No one lets out their breath until they hear the door shut and Marks whines of confusion.
Bambam, as usual, is the first to break the silence, “What the hell was that?”
They all shush him because even though the hybrids are in the farthest room in the house, they still can hear better than all 4 of the humans planted in the living room.
Jinyoung sighs and pushes his bangs away from his forehead, “Look this wasn’t even supposed to be sad, but as always, Jaebeom has to go ahead and fuck everything up.”
“Me?” Jaebeom squawks and almost stands up in defense, “What the hell did I do? And that's Hyung to you asshole!”, everyone quickly shushes the oldest.
“You dumbass you had to go and promise Mark that!” Jinyoung harshly whispers ignoring Jaebeoms’ hurried, “I didn't promise shit!”
“Anyways this isnt how I wanted to tell you but since Jaebeom made this whole thing tragic,” Jinyoung rolls his eyes and quickly settles, eyes hard and not really looking anyone in the eye, but proceeds anyways, “I’m asexual.”
It's silent, and Jaebeom is given the opportunity to observe his best friend. He sees hard eyes, staring at the wall, brows furrowed and a set jaw, in any normal situation Jinyoung looks like he's angry at anything, but 20 years have given Jaebeom the benefit of the doubt, let him read Jinyoung in the way the younger two cant, he's scared.
Jaebeom remembers that fear, remembers the struggle of finally telling Jinyoung first, always Jinyoung first, that he was gay, and waiting to be accepted and loved and cherished for who he was not for who he loved. He remembers Jinyoung saying , “I’m glad you told me, but that doesn't mean shit when it comes to everything weve been through”, he remembers crying and Jinyoung holding his 17 year old self, he remembers calling Jinyoung right after telling his parents, he remembers Jinyoung always being there and he cant help but have so much pride and love and affection for his best friend of 20 years in this moment.
“I’m glad you told us,” Jaebeom breaks the ice, because if not him, who else,” but this doesn't mean shit when it comes to everything we've been through.”
Jinyoung's eyes go glassy as he stares at Jaebeom, his oldest friend, and gives a firm nod before the maknaes lose themselves and congratulate Jinyoung for coming out and being honest with everyone,
“Sorry Hyung, if I had known I wouldn't have tried to set you up with Wonpil hyung.” says Bambam sincerely because at the end of the day he just wanted his hyung to be as happy as he is with Yugyeom or Jaebeom and Youngjae.
Jinyoung smiles, gives them all this look of contentment and the air in the room is light once more until their terrible maknae has to point out that Jaebeom fucked up, again, “Wait so since your never getting a significant other, doesn't that mean Mark and Jackson can't be mated?”
And three pairs of eyes all shift to Jaebeom who tried to sputter his way out of this situation.
“Hyung I dont get why you just won’t let them be, I mean Jackson seems to be eating out of the palm of Mark’s hand, its not like hes gunna fuck and dip you know?” Bambam says as he looks at his nails. Jinyoung glares and rightfully smacks Bambam in the back of the head for how crass he said it. It was crass but it was true.
“Jae, you know Jackson wont do anything Mark doesn't like, if anything we should be worried Mark won't rip his dick off in anger,” Jinyoung says as he looks at Jaebeom, he tilts his head and continues, “I don’t think thats the real issue though, what are you afraid of?”
Jaebeom bristles at that, “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Then why are you fighting this so hard?” Yugyeom asks.
Jaebeom looks at all three for a hard minute before the fight leaves him completely and he sighs, melts back into the couch and spills. Spills all his worries he has with the act of Mark and Jackson mating. He doesn't want to go through empty nest syndrome.
“Idiot,” Jinyoung says with a soft smile on his face, and doesn't continue until Jaebeom is looking right at him,”Just because he's getting older and starting to have a life with a partner doesn't mean you aren't going to be a part of it. How do you think I feel? I'm basically Mark's other dad.”
And truthfully Jaebeom didn’t think about how Jinyoung felt about everything. That was pretty selfish of him. He sighs, looks at the ceiling and mumbles, “They’re going to fuck regardless arent they?”
All three laugh at Jaebeom's misfortune (those assholes) and all fall silent until Yugyeom points out, “I'll be surprised they arent fucking right now!” and that has Jaebeom scrambling off the couch in seconds leaving all three of his asshole friends to laugh at him.
He doesn't even knock, he just barges in like a linebacker, coming close to breaking his own door to his room. He sighs when he sees the two hybrids managed to make a nest on the floor out of Jaebeom’s blankets and pillows, Mark pressed between the wall and Jackson. The dog hybrid tilts his head up, face heavy with sleep, both ears drooping heavily, that just makes Jaebeom realize how soft and puppy-like Jackson really is. He sighs one more time and looks at Mark's sleeping form before he tells Jackson to go back to sleep. He stays and watches Jackson once more tighten his hold on Mark's waist, nosing Mark's fluffy light hair and drifts off.
He closes the door and heads back to the living room with a heavy heart, their pets are getting older and Jaebeom is quite frankly not alright with that.
---
Jaebeom’s cutting up some pear slices to hand feed Mark because even though Mark is fully capable of feeding himself, there's something sweet about having Mark in his lap as he hand feeds him fruit slices. He explained it one day to Jinyoung and got called weird so now it's just a Mark and Jaebeom secret. He hears the doorbell ring and hears Mark skid to the entry of the kitchen where he tells Jaebeom to hurry up and open it, all with wide brown eyes.
“I’m going I’m going jeez.”
Mark follows right behind him, because again even if Mark is old enough to open the door hes not technically allowed to do it by law, which is stupid. Jaebeom opens the door and sees a delivery man with a package, holding a pen and tablet, asking for his signature. Jaebeom casts a glance at Mark and realizes his cat must have ordered a package, he quickly signs it, hands the pen back to the man and with a small thank you, shuts the door and hands the package to Mark’s eager hands.
He never really questions society's laws alone, he usually does when he's with Jinyoung and they've had at least two glasses of brandy or wine. But today is different, maybe it's because Mark didn't answer the door, or maybe because Jaebeom had to sign a package that was clearly not for him but still had his name on the shipping label. He wonders how Mark and Jackson feel about everything, how they are forced to be infantilized, forced to be treated like children even though both are within their early twenties. The infantilization that society placed on hybrids and the babying Jaebeom does are two different things he thinks, because while he knows Mark is somewhere within his early twenties he still likes to do things for him, but as his caretaker because he likes it, like with the fruit slices. Society thinks hybrids are incapable of going to mere stores across from their house and know the way back home. Mark can't even go to the mailbox by himself without people asking why he's out of his owner's sight. It's stressful Jaebeom understands, and he hates it just a bit more that Mark and Jackson don't have the same freedoms that Jaebeom and Jinyoung do.
“What did you order?”
Mark smiles bright at him, fangs glinting in the morning light, “I didn't, Gyeomie ordered it for me.”
Oh no. That could be very bad.
“What did Gyeomie order you then?”
“He said one was a surprise for you and one was a surprise for Jackson, he said it was a gift for my birthday.” Mark says as he begins to open the package.
Gift for Jackson? That is definitely sounds like trouble and Jaebeom doesn’t like it one fucking bit. Mark opens it and rips the tissue out of the way and stares with a bright smile for two seconds before his face erupts into flames and carries the box back to his room screaming for Jaebeom not to follow and he just pulls his phone out to call Yugyeom, he doesn't care if that brat’s in class or not.
It rings twice before he hears a hushed “What Hyung, I’m in class.”
“The fuck did you send Mark you little ingrate.”
He can fucking hear Yugyeom’s smirk forming. Jaebeom doesn't hear anything for a while and suspects Yugyeom’s stepping out of his class to finish the conversation. “ I got him lingerie, Hyung!”
This fucker says it with such cheeriness and if Jinyoung didn't promise to cause him bodily harm he would have throttled Yugyeom on the spot. He hears Mark’s giggle in the background and he wonders if he managed to sneak into his room again. “I will fucking kill you Kim Yugyeuom.”
“I’m a bad bitch you can't kill me!”
Jaebeom sighs and pinches his nose to suppress anything else from slipping, Bambam is such a bad fucking influence.
“Also,” Yugyeom continues, “ Jinyoung hyung would castrate you if you ever hurt me or Bam….or Jackson for that matter!”
Jaebeom is going to kill this crow laughing maknae he swears it.
“Besides I got it so Mark has something nice to wear when his heat comes around, figured Jackson would like it.”
The more he hears the closer an aneurysm is coming, he knows it. “Watch yourself Kim, their mating isnt for a while but your death could definitely be sped up”. He hears Yugyeom warble out a quick goodbye and an ‘I love you you're my favorite hyung ever please don't kill me” and the line goes dead.
He sighs and is reminded that Mark is old enough now where he's going to need a mate and he just had to choose the stupidest person for the job. He heads to Mark's room and knocks, once, twice and hears a squeak and then a shuffle of fabrics and then Mark is at the door, flushed and breathless in nothing but one of Jaebeom's old hoodies. Jaebeom sighs again.
"I know what that idiot got you," He leans against the door frame and watches Mark scramble for something to say, wringing his sweater paws. "Can you show me my gift though?"
Mark's eyes glitter and he lets go of his bottom lip he was chewing on this entire time. He bounces back to the box that's at the foot of his bed and he kneels on the carpet before moving the box onto the floor with him. He tries to hide the lingerie from Jaebeom but the older sees it anyways and tsks with a grimace on his face. Mark pulls out a simple baby pink ribbon and holds it out for Jaebeom to take.
Jaebeom inspects it for a bit before he realizes Yugyeom meant for this to be a collar, like Mark's silk blue one he always wears. "Ah, it’'s supposed to be a collar baby," he explains and turns to face Mark, "Wanna wear this one?"
Mark grips his immediately, afraid it will disappear if he doesn't. The one he has was once a soft pastel blue, a satin ribbon Jinyoung had lying around that both styled into a collar for Mark when they first brought him home. It was long enough to add his tags to, and long enough for Jaebeom to create a large bow in the back in place of a clasp. But over the years of constant use, the edges have begun to pray and the once sleek pale blue has faded to a creamish white.
"I like this one Jaebeomie, both you and Jinyoungie gave it to me," He says earnestly, and Jaebeom fears the day that collar rips because he knows how much it means to Mark.
"Alright then we'll still keep the one Gyeomie sent though, just in case." He offers with a smile, ruffles Mark's hair and gets up to leave. Sometime later when Mark has time to settle and Jaebeom has had his coffee he calls Mark so he can feed him his pears.
In the middle of the day when Jaebeom is in his study and Mark is out in the living room playing some game he hears a loud bang of the door slamming shut and a softer "Gaga wait!" He gets up to stretch and then goes out to greet his two guests(he doesn't understand why Jinyoung still wants his own place; he and Jackson should just move back in).
Before he can utter a single hello he notices Mark trying his hardest to console an angry looking Jackson with soft licks to his cheek and soft kneads to his shoulders. He hears banging pots and pans and heads there next. Banging pots and pans means an irritated Jinyoung.
"What happened?" Jaebeom doesn't even get the full question out before Jinyoung actually explodes on him.
"I went to the grocery store with Jackson and he wanted to stay outside so I let him, he has his dog tags and collar, he was fine! He's a big boy, he knows when to stay put. When we're getting ready to leave I have this old bat on my case about how I shouldn't have left my pet out all alone and scared while I went shopping. What does she know?" Jinyoung doesn't even look up from the rant and Jaebeom just decides to take a seat because he knows Jinyoung isn't anywhere near done.
"I was over it you know? Some stupid bitch who's all about hybrid safety and doesnt know how to mind her own business, but when Jackson started to speak she shushed him! She shushed my fucking dog Jae, said he was supposed to be seen not fucking heard. I was ready to go to jail for assaulting an old hag because where does she come off from, getting to talk to Jackson like that?"
Jaebeom doesn't know what to say, what to do to make Jinyoung and Jackson feel better. This stuff happens constantly and there isn't much to be done. Punching that bitch for talking down on Jinyoung for how he cares for his hybrid isn't the right answer but it sure as hell should be.
"I'm sorry Nyoung." Because what else can he say? And Jinyoung knows that because he begins to cool down, taking deep even breaths and on his third one, looks at Jaebeom and gives him a bitter smile.
"How do you deal with it Jae?" and it's a valid question because out of the two of them Jaebeom is much more likely to go to jail for assault.
He sits there and contemplates because how does he handle it when he's out and about with Mark? With people who scrunch up their noses at just the sight of the cat hybrid, people who scoff at the fact that Jaebeom talks to Mark like a functioning adult, people who leer at Mark a little too uncomfortably for the both of them.
"The best I can do is just tell people off, I can't really risk anything you know? Mark's under my care and if I do something stupid that lands me in jail he wont have anyone, he'll go right back to a shelter before you, Bam or Gyeom, hell even Youngjae can get your hands on him. I don't want him to go back to that place, not even for a second Nyoung. And if empty threats are the way to do it then so be it. It doesn't make me feel better, but it's better than nothing."
He looks up and sees Jinyoung looking at him with new eyes, something like understanding and relief and pride all swirl within his brown eyes and all Jaebeom can offer is a warbly smile.
"Come on, let's calm the last one before he smothers Mark," and that puts a genuine smile on Jinyoung's face.
He doesn't really have a full grasp on why society is built and structured the way it is, but he understands how to work around it and that's good enough for now.
---
It's been two months since Mark and Jackson have been mated and one since Jackson and Jinyoung have moved back into the Im household (fucking finally) and Jaebeom says its going...okay. If he's not at home he's out at work with Youngjae, but even in Youngjae's presence he can't really relax all that well without having to send a text to Jinyoung to get an update on Mark's health.
Because even though it's been almost three months since the mating occurred (and Jinyoung had to drag Jaebeom out of the house and stash him at Youngjae's for 3 days) Mark hasn't been feeling all that well and every single human has been on edge ever since. Because it's somewhat obvious what the problem is, isn't it?
Youngjae has been tasked to keep Jaebeom as calm as possible with all of this because their entire family unit is just buzzing with tension and no one needs Jaebeom to murder Jackson in clod blood and leave Mark mateless 3 months into their mating. Mark and Jackson seem to be the only ones ecstatic about the situation, but even then, it always seems like hybrids tend to bear children way too early for human comfort. Jinyoung has kicked out Jaebeom indefinitely and thus has fallen to Youngjae to house and take care of him (sorry Youngjae).
All Jaebeom does is pace, stop, and pace again, it's driving Youngjae insane. All he can really do is try to be as understanding as possible, it would be as if Coco was pregnant and that just scares him endlessly which is why he got her spayed the moment she was old enough.
"Hyung do you want to call Mark? I know you're not allowed in the house at the moment but I don't think Jinyoung hyung will have a problem with you calling them just to check in?"
And Youngjae is a fucking genius and the best boyfriend ever, Jaebeom says so as he plants a firm kiss onto plush lips, and begins to dial Jinyoung's number.
"You can't come home yet, Hyung," Jinyoung says, not even letting his phone ring.
"Fine but can I talk to Mark?"
"Sure but if you stress him out im castrating you next you hear me?" Jinyoung says.
Jaebeom can't help but smirk and ask ,"Does that mean Jackson's all neutered up?"
"Do you want to talk to Mark, yes or no?"
"Yes please."
"Jaebeomie?" and Jaebeom is once more at peace, Mark sounds fine if not just a bit sleepy.
"Hey baby, how are you feeling?" he asks.
"I'm okay, Jinyoung and Jackson are taking really good care of me!" He can just feel the brightness of Mark's smile. It physically hurts not being able to see it , but that's on him he guesses. "When are you coming home? I miss you."
He hears Jackson scream, "When he stops wanting to kill me!" and snorst because even tho Jackson is stupid when it comes to thing not invloving Mark, he knows the source or why Jaebeom isnt allowed at home.
"That's not true Gaga, Jinyoungie would kill Jaebeomie before he could even lay a hand on you!" Jaebeom can't even deny that because it's true and it's infuriating.
"How was your appointment?"
"It was good..we don't know if it will be a kitten or a puppy yet but that's okay, we'll love it all the same."
Jaebeom cringes because the more he talks about the tiny life growing inside Mark, the more real their situation becomes. Jaebeoms' barely 28 and already on his way to becoming a grandpa. He sighs, Jinyoung has it worse, he is still 26 and already a parent of five (six if you include Jaebeom) and about to be a grandpa too.
He sighs once more and spares a glance at Youngjae who has been supportive and helpful this entire time. He'll give him a celebratory blowjob, he promises. He talks a bit more with Mark and then a quick goodbye to Jinyoung before he plops next to Youngjae on the bed.
"I'll go home tomorrow," He says and Youngjae can't help but smile. As much as he loves having his boyfriend here with him, he knows how badly Jaebeom wants to go home and check in on Mark and everyone, they have time. The smile is wiped off his face as Jaebeom rolls over and pins him to the mattress, "But first I have to thank you for housing me these past few days".
He grins wolfishly before leaning down and capturing Youngjae's lips in a solid, heated kiss.
---
Jaebeom is pacing the waiting room, and can't seem to stay in one spot for too long. He constantly checks the double doors and his watch and repeats the cycle all over again.
Jinyoung isn't any better, and that gives him some semblance of peace, his left leg bouncing a mile a minute with hands tapping the arms of the uncomfortable chair he's made his home in. He does the same thing Jaebeom does where he looks at the double doors, clicks open his homescreen on his phone to look at the time, closes it when no time has passed and repeats the process once more.
The rest of their little pack is all there as well, Youngjae trying his best to calm both grandparents to be and keeping their maknaes as entertained as possible. Bambam has taken to playing with the tiny blocks the hospital waiting room has (that's meant for actual children) to cure some boredom and Yugyeom hasn't looked up from his phone once since they arrived. As much as Bambam and Yugyeom claim they aren't nervous or anxious, just bored, Jaebeom can tell from the tick Yugyeom's fingers do and the way Bam subconsciously looks at everyone, before he looks at the double doors from the corner of his eye before going back to messing about with the blocks in splayed out in front of him, that they're just as worried as the rest of them are.
They've been waiting for about five hours now nothing has changed and no one comes out to give them any updates and it's killing Jaebeom. He just wants to see Mark and they're grand baby.
Another two hours pass before something happens. They hear a shout and all spook up from what they were doing to bare holes into the double doors, to see what happened. And out comes Jackson, all covered in scrubs that leaves only his face visible, a bright grin on his face and damp cheeks. They all rush over immediately and Jackson has to stop before he trips (because the scrub pants the nurses lent him are way too long for his short legs) and drops his precious cargo. His smile is so big it looks like it hurts but it's infectious enough where everyone soon sports a grin as they all peer down to see what he's holding. And they all gasp.
A small baby is in his arms, lightly tanned skin and soft tufts of light blonde hair peek out through their cap. They have a round face with chubby cheeks and a permanent pout made by full lips. They're gorgeous. Absolutely perfect in Jaebeom's eyes.
And soon the questions begin:
"What is it?"
"What name did you guys pick?"
"Is it a puppy or a kitten?"
"How's Mark?"
And Jackson takes them all in stride as a proud parent for his first child. He puffs out his chest when he tells them it's a puppy, and Jaebeom can't help but groan because he really can't escape these dog lovers can he? Its a boy he states, they named him Yue, even though everyone knows that the naming falls to Jinyoung and Jaebeom which is a different can of worms for a different day, they don't want to sour the mood, not when everything is turning out so right for Jaebeom's little family.
They decided on Yue, wanted a Chinese name, wanted their puppy to be as much theirs as he could be under federal law, so Jaebeom and Jinyoung agree that Yue is perfect and can't wait to welcome their grandson into their home.
And then Jaebeom asks again, "How's Mark?"
Jackson all but beams, like a supernova crashing into a million stars, "Yien's doing great! He's resting now but I know he'd want to see you guys." so everyone begins to follow Jackson back to his mate. Yue cries as soon as he's in Mark's room, craving the stability and scent his Oma can only give. Everyone looks in awe as soon as the baby is placed on Mark's chest the cries drop to soft whimpers before it's replaced by quiet suckling noises. Jaebeom gravitates towards Mark almost instantly and begins to comb his fingers through Mark's damp and sweaty hair. Mark purrs and opens his eyes and smiles just as wide as Jacksons, albeit justifiably tired.
"Isn't my baby perfect?" He whispers looking at everyone with so much pride, the same Jackson had when he held his child outside those double doors, something that screamed we made that. Jaebeom leans down and kisses his cat on the forehead and hums in agreement, "You got the prettiest baby ever Mark-ah."
Supernovas explode in Mark's doe eyes, the same way they did the moment he laid eyes on Jackson and, ah Jaebeom thinks, I get it now.