Chapter Text
The first time Jungkook shifts in front of his members happens a couple of weeks after Jungkook officially joins the band. The kid is only fifteen, doe-eyed, and incredibly shy. Namjoon doesn't really know what to do with him. He's just so young, bless him. Namjoon feels all over the place – annoyed about being responsible for a literal child. Amazed by his insane talent and ambition. Flattered by Jungkook's open admiration for his leader. Incredibly fond and protective of the boy who has already entered Namjoon's heart and etched his name there. It's safe to say Namjoon is a little obsessed with the boy, and he's sure the others feel the same.
Jungkook had been the missing piece. They're complete with him. They make more sense with him. His talent is what has been missing. His hard-working attitude leaves even Yoongi startled and amazed. Even if Jungkook is the most talented kid Namjoon has ever seen, he's still so young.
Being a trainee is tough, and their patience is tested daily. Seven boys living together in the tiniest space, being stressed out to the max – it's tough.
So, it's only understandable when Taehyung snaps after Jimin accidentally tips over his glass of coke. But their yelling triggers the other boys in the dorm. After ten minutes, five boys yell at each other at total volume – Jimin and Taehyung, Hobi, who snaps at Taehyung, Yoongi who tries to ease the tension; and Namjoon, who loses his shit at the extreme noise in the tiny dorm.
During all the yelling, they don't even notice how innocent, confused Jungkook holds his ears in extreme discomfort, eyes panicky and alarmed, cheeks ashy, and lips trembling. Jin, however, sitting on the couch next to Jungkook, notices. He always notices. It's his special mission to take care of their youngest. It's like he has a personal radar constantly directed toward Jungkook. Jin would do anything to make sure Jungkook is well and healthy.
"Jungkook?" Jin asks, shuffling closer to the youngest, his little Maknae, his baby, who looks like he is about to cry. Jungkook seems overwhelmed and stressed, and Jin wants to hug him. But he knows that Jungkook, being an insecure and awkward teenager, doesn't like physical touch. Hence, he settles with a careful hand on Jungkook's shoulder. "Are you all right?"
In the corner of Namjoon's eyes, he notices how Jungkook shifts in his seat, looking uncomfortable. Namjoon stops shouting immediately, his head turning to the youngest in worry. He might be tense, but his worry for his bandmates (especially their youngest) takes over.
"Jimin, I swear to god," Taehyung screams. The kid has a strong voice that echoes through the tiny dorm. "This is the third time you're knocking shit over. I know you're doing this on purpose —"
Jungkook begins shaking, and Namjoon steps forward.
And then, poof.
Jungkook is gone. Just like that.
Seokjin lets out the loudest scream possible, forcing the boys to stop shouting immediately. They turn towards the couch and freeze in their spots. Namjoon panics, his eyes searching for Jungkook, his heart beating rapidly inside his chest, and the fight is long forgotten now.
But where Jungkook used to sit a second ago, there now sits a tiny black bunny. Floppy ears, fluffy fur, bushy paws. The bunny has Jungkook's enormous eyes, and something about its mouth reminds Namjoon of Jungkook too. And the color is obviously Jungkook's hair color. Everything about the bunny screams Jungkook.
In Namjoon's brain, he already concludes that this bunny must be Jungkook. He's not fully registered it yet, but he knows it's true.
Namjoon steps forward, wanting to reach out to the bunny and make sure it's doing okay. However, as soon as he moves, the bunny jumps five feet up in the air. At lightning speed, a black ball of fur sprints through the living room and disappears down the hallway, leaving the other six men behind and speechless.
The silence that follows is tense. All the boys are frozen in their steps, staring at the empty space where Jungkook used to sit seconds ago. They are too shocked to speak until Taehyung breaks the silence.
"Jungkook is a bunny hybrid?" Taehyung squeaks in delight, his hands clapping together. His eyes shimmer with excitement. "Namjoon Hyung, did you know about this? Why didn't you tell us?"
Namjoon stares at the empty hallway, puzzle pieces slowly coming together. He shakes his head. "I did not know about this. I didn't even know hybrids got accepted as trainees."
"He probably didn't tell anyone," Seokjin thinks out loud, slowly getting over the initial shock. "If it is allowed, Bang PD would have told us."
"Poor Jungkook," Hobi mumbles, scratching his chin with worry. "We must've startled him with our shouting. We triggered his bunny instincts."
Namjoon doesn't understand a word. Sure, he knows that hybrids exist, but they are extremely rare. He has never met a hybrid before and has never even met anyone who knows a hybrid. In his world, hybrids are so far away that they seem like mythical creatures. So, seeing Jungkook transform into a fluffy black bunny right in front of his eyes leaves Namjoon speechless.
"What should we do?" Jimin asks with watery eyes. The boys all know that Jimin has a special soft spot for Jungkook. He nervously fumbles with his sweater paws and looks lost in the living room. "This is our fault! We scared him."
"He's a bunny, Minnie," Yoongi explains calmly. "Bunnies are flight animals. Give him some space, and he'll come around for sure."
"Shouldn't we check up on him?"
Yoongi shakes his head. "Not now. We'd only make him uncomfortable. He might find our presence nerve-wracking, and he won't be able to transform back. Or if he does transform back into his human form, he'll be naked. And he definitely won't want us around for that."
"How do you know so much about that?" Namjoon asks curiously, finally finding his voice again after being too stunned to speak.
Yoongi shrugs as if all of this were totally normal. Namjoon still has a hard time wrapping his head around it all. "My grandma is a cat hybrid."
"Really?" Tae squeaks in delight. "Oh my god, how cool! A cat hybrid." He claps his hands together. "But guys, isn't Jungkook the most adorable bunny? Jungkook's bunny form is probably the cutest thing I've ever seen."
"Yeah," Hobi agrees, eyes still focused on the empty hallway as if he hopes Jungkook will walk around the corner and join them again. "Yeah, he's super cute."
"I wanna touch his floppy ears," Jimin pouts.
"Nobody touches Jungkook," Jin declares, leaving no room for discussion. "He might be cute, but he's not a teddy bear. Jungkook doesn't even like to be touched in his human form. We still respect him, okay?"
They all agree, flopping down on the couch and waiting patiently for Jungkook to return.
***
Eventually, after forty minutes or so, Jungkook shuffles back into the living room, ears bright red and head hanging low with shame. Jimin jumps up the second he sees Jungkook and opens his arms for the youngest, but Jungkook only shies away from the hug. He always does.
"Kook-ah," Jin greets him with a gentle smile and pats the space next to him on the couch. "Come, sit with Hyung."
Yoongi returns from the kitchen, and once Jungkook is seated between Jin and Hobi, he hands Jungkook a cup of hot chocolate. "Here, bun."
Jungkook blushes at the fitting nickname and takes a careful sip of the hot chocolate. He shuffles deeper into the couch cushions and avoids the curious gazes.
"Wanna explain what's going on, hm?" Hobi nudges Jungkook with his elbow. "Seems like we have a bunny in our ranks."
Jungkook hides his face behind the huge cup. "I should have told you. I'm sorry."
"We're not mad," Namjoon reassures him quickly. "But why didn't you tell us?"
Jungkook sighs. "It's not that easy! I – I wanted to tell you, but I had some bad experiences as a hybrid. Many people have weird prejudices and aren't exactly nice about it. And being an idol – well. I thought it would be easier to just… hide it, you know?"
"But you shouldn't hide who you are, Kook-ah. Especially not around us," Jimin tells him in a soft tone. "And what's even more important: you can't hide who you are. You have instincts, right?"
Jungkook scratches his ear, looking awkward and so, so young. God, he's so young, Namjoon realizes with an ache in his chest. He wishes he could bubblewrap Jungkook and protect him from the world. "Um. Well. Yeah. I should probably explain how this works, right?"
The boys nod and all shuffle closer to the youngest, eyes eager and curious.
"I can usually control my shifting," Jungkook begins. "But I accidentally shift when I feel uncomfortable, nervous, shy, or anxious. It's instinctual, and I can't really control it yet. I'm working on it. "
"That's why you shifted today, hm?" Hobi asks, tilting his head and watching Kookie carefully. "Because we made you uncomfortable."
Jungkook's eyes grow big, and he frantically shakes his head. "No, no, no. It wasn't you. It was the noise and the tension in the room. It startles the bunny in me."
Jin clicks his tongue, feeling frustrated with himself and the others. "We will be more careful from now on, Koo, I promise. It was too loud, and the fight was unnecessary anyway." He looks sternly at Jimin and Taehyung, who duck their heads in shame.
"It's okay," Jungkook mumbles. "It will probably happen every once in a while anyway. Because I'm anxious sometimes, you know?"
Taehyung coos. "Jungkook, you can shift as much as you want! Bunny-you is adorable! God, I love the ears. One day you have to let me touch them, please, Kookie, please!"
Jungkook furiously blushes, ducking his head and hiding behind the mug again.
"Taehyung," Jin scolds him with a frown. "We won't do anything Kookie is uncomfortable with; we already agreed on that."
Jungkook clears his throat. All eyes land on him again, and Jungkook bravely sits up straight. "It's not – petting my ears isn't uncomfortable. It's actually quite... nice. So, yeah. Maybe one day."
Taehyung's hands clap together as he nods delightedly.
Well, Namjoon thinks. Things are definitely only getting more interesting from now on. He doesn't only have to manage six teenage boys... no. Now, he also has to manage a bunny.