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It starts simple. When Renjun comes back to his and Jeno's shared apartment, he tells Jeno about the new restaurant his other friend Chenle has opened.
Jeno is not really a fan of leaving home, doing it only when it's necessary. As a hybrid, specifically puppy hybrid, he's a much smaller part of society, still not fully accepted to normally function in the presence of “normal people". That's why Jeno spends most of his time staying home, which is not a bother for him at all, since he really prefers it this way and enjoys his own, alone time, while Renjun is usually out most of the day.
The actual struggle is when he actually has to leave. Then he wears pants that can somehow hide his tail, always tucking it in one of the legs and puts on a beanie that can cover his white, perky ears. It's really uncomfortable, keeping them hidden all the time he's out, especially during summer, when it's simply too hot so the skin around his ears gets all itchy. Every time he comes back home, his ears hurt and it takes him some time to even make them perk again without scowling in pain after they were flattened for too long on some days.
Thankfully, he has a friend like Renjun, who is more than happy to massage his ears and help him take care of them.
“I don't wanna go,” Jeno says, sulking, as he looks at Renjun after he's done talking about his friends’ restaurant opening.
“But Jeno-ya,” Renjun sits beside him, snuggling to the man and scratching behind his ear. “They're amazing cooks, I've brought you that onion steak once, remember?”
Jeno's ears twitch at the mention of the food that almost made his tail fly away like a helicopter from all the wagging.
“Okay, I will go,” Jeno agrees, already feeling a saliva gathering in his mouth.
When they go a week later, Jeno's whining in the car because his ears are extra sensitive that day and the baby blue beanie he's wearing is making everything even worse. However, the food turns out to be good enough to somehow make him forget the pain at least for some time. Jeno's actually so into it, Renjun can't hold his smile as he can see the ears twitch faintly underneath the material, only noticeable for the people who know.
Jeno lets out a small purr, licking the sauce from the corner of his lips, when someone approaches them.
“Hello, is everything up to your liking?” the gentle voice asks, making Jeno's head snap up immediately.
“Hi, Chef-nim,” Renjun says playfully. “Everything's perfect, like always.”
“I'm glad, then. We were so nervous,” he admits with a little sigh, letting his professional side shatter in front of his friend..
And oh, Jeno's heart skips a bit as he watches the man standing right in front of him, with one of his hands resting at Renjun's shoulder. He's wearing a white button up that perfectly wraps around his muscles, with a black apron thrown over it. However, Jeno focuses on his face, beautiful with that bright, almost blinding smile and curious eyes, now looking directly at him.
“I think we haven't met before?” The man says, offering him his hand, as his eyes shortly flick to his beanie, but then right back to his face, still keeping that big smile. “I'm Na Jaemin, Renjun's friend and one of the owners.”
Jeno nervously wipes his right hand onto the material of his pants, because of course he's a little bit of a messy eater and he got his fingers dirty with a sauce.
“I'm Lee Jeno,” he finally introduces himself. A little bit breathless and with a shy blush making its way to his cheeks.
He can't control his ears twitching again, tail trying to move a little bit in an excited manner, but fully restricted with pants.
“Do you enjoy the food? Renjun always says it's perfect so I'm not taking his opinion seriously,” Jaemin admits, getting a little protesting yelp from the said man.
“It's really good,” Jeno says, honestly. Renjun wants to laugh, seeing the imaginary hearts forming in his best friend's eyes. Of course he notices the movement of his ears too. “I'm surely gonna go back.”
“Please do,” Jaemin enthusiastically nods his head. “And you're getting a discount. Renjun's friend is our friend, too.”
When they get back after the opening day, Renjun teases Jeno about the way his body reacted to Jaemin and how he surely has gotten a crush on him. Surprisingly, Jeno doesn't deny. He just asks Renjun to tell him more about the man. Then he's thinking about him while he is lying in his bed. With his tail wagging hardly, hitting the mattress each time and soreness of his ears almost not bothering him even a little bit.
So Jeno does go back. Not once, not twice. He comes back to Jaemin and Chenle's restaurant every weekend. At first he asks Renjun to go with him a few times, too insecure to go there completely alone, too awkward to eat on his own. And too worried it would look suspicious.
Food is amazing every single time and Jeno always orders something different to actually try a lot of the positions from the menu.
When he's wearing a yellow beanie, he's eating the best beef pasta in his life. He's so into it, he doesn't notice Jaemin and Chenle are watching him, while he has his mouth dirty all around and he nods his head satisfied, all together with his ears twitching underneath the beanie. When he actually wants to finally catch at least a glimpse of the boy that caught his attention last time, Jaemin is gone. Jeno is so sad, Renjun has to give him extra ears scratching that day.
With a navy blue one, the burger in his hands is so distracting, he can barely continue his conversation with Renjun. He's just eating happily, smiling softly with his eyes almost gone and his foot tapping under the table in a rhythm his tail would normally wag with all the happiness that overwhelms him. Then, when he's done, he gazes up and notices Jaemin serving the food to some other customers. He follows his body moving with a grace between tables, hoping that maybe he will see them and comes to say hi. On the way back he's sulking, with a big pout and loud sighs filling the silence in the car.
In the green beanie, he meets Chenle who's the other owner, while he brings them their food himself, to finally meet the boy Jaemin has been talking about. That day, Jeno for the first time notices that Jaemin is actually watching him. He's halfway through his spinach chicken pasta, with some green on his chin, head shaking and whimper leaving his lips, as he makes eye contact with Jaemin. He waves at him with a big smile, making Jeno gazes down in panic, before he actually locks his eyes with him again and waves shyly, too. Then Renjun offers him a napkin, only to make Jeno realize how dirty his face is and how he's just embarrassed himself in front of his crush. That night Jeno can’t stop whining about it.
The next time Renjun can't go with him.
“I'm sorry pup, my cousin asked me to pick him up from the airport,” he explains when sulky Jeno looks at him with a frown.
So he goes alone, feeling even more nervous than usual. He decides to put on his comforting white beanie with a puppy paw in the front. At least a little representation of his true self. It also has an extra space that makes it easier for his ear to move underneath. When he's at the restaurant, he takes his sweet time choosing the meal, glancing up at the door to the kitchen in hope to maybe get a glimpse of Jaemin passing by.
To his surprise, today Jaemin is the one collecting his order.
“Hello, alone today?” He asks with a sweet smile.
“Yeah, Renjun is busy today,” Jeno says with a little pout. “Still wanted to come.”
“And I'm so happy you're here, after all! I've already gotten so used to you being here every Saturday, I was expecting you!” Jaemin admits truthfully, making Jeno blush.
“Really?” Jeno gasps, feeling his ears twitching.
“Yeah, actually it's not really crowded today and I still haven't had my break, so what would you say if we eat together?”
“I- I would love to,” Jeno agrees, fighting hard the urge to let out an excited bark already rolling on his tongue.
“Good, do you have any picks or can I make something special for you?” Jaemin offers, titling his head still with that bright smile.
“Anything will be amazing, so you can surprise me.”
“Then, I will be back soon,” he says, turning sideways to leave, however he stops for a second and looks back at overjoyed, blushing Jeno, who's just a seconds from doing his zoomies. “Oh, and that beanie looks so cute on you. You look almost like a puppy.”
When Jaemin leaves Jeno alone, he can't stop his right leg bouncing like crazy for the next 10 minutes in the rhythm of his tail that would've been wagging like crazy right now, if not tucked in the pants.
That day Jeno might be the happiest puppy in the whole world.
🐾🐾🐾
It becomes some kind of tradition for them. Jeno would visit every Saturday, this time completely alone to have lunch or dinner with Jaemin. Sometimes they spend hours talking and getting to know each other. Jaemin turns out to be super funny and charming, not that Jeno doubted it, now making him fall even harder. He always watches with soft eyes how Jeno eats the food made by him so endearing and expressive. How he smells the food with his nose wrinkled, before he takes a first bite. How his eyebrows twitch at the sensation and he lets out a little whimper, enjoying it almost too much. Sometimes it tastes too good, he can't stop his leg bouncing under the table.
He's just so cute, Jaemin can almost imagine his tail wagging - if he had one, of course.
Sometimes the restaurant is too busy, so he just shares his spare 15 mins of a break with Jeno and then has to go back to work. Jeno then stays by the table, finishing his food and pouting deeply with his eyes mopping, lips jutted and ears laying flat on his head, not only because of the beanie. Whenever Jaemin gets back, passes by or just sneaks out of the kitchen for a second, he makes sure to give a little bit of his attention to Jeno, waving at him, flashing a beautiful smile or bringing him a free dessert. Anything to see his smile brightening his face again.
One day Jeno gets back home from the restaurant with his cheeks pink, eyes shimmering and a smile that big, it almost splits his face in half. He runs straight to Renjun's room, throwing his beanie away halfway, so his perky ears are now visibly twitching, too, as he gets inside to share the exciting news with his best friend.
“Injunnie!!!” Jeno barks out, jumping right on him at the bed, hovering above him like an overgrown happy puppy that he actually is.
“Woah,” Renjun gasps, looking at his friend's face right in front of him. “What happened, did Jaemin kiss you?”
“Oh, not yet,” he says, his mood sours for a second, before he shakes his head excitedly, causing his bangs to fall on his flushed face. “He invited us to the Halloween party at the restaurant and it's for special guests only. I am the special guest too!!!”
“I know, Chenle already sent me a text about it. He asked to not share it with you, though. Jaemin wanted to ask you in person,” he explains, making Jeno's heart skip a beat at the new piece of information.
“Really? Oh my god, he's so romantic,” he gasps dramatically, now fully giving up on his arms and falling on top of Renjun's body to rub his face onto his sweater. “I think I like him a little bit too much.”
“Oh, don't tell me,” the man beneath him rolls his eyes playfully, already reaching to the puppy's head to rub his sore ears. “Are you excited for the party?”
“Yes! Of course, Injunnie. Just think about it… I can dress as a puppy and show my ears and tail proudly!” He exclaims, raising his head to look at him with eyes shining happily. Renjun's face softens.
“You know, I think you can tell Jaemin the truth,” he suggests gently.
“But… what if he won't accept me?” He asks quietly, lowering his eyes. “It's scary.”
“I know, but why wouldn't he accept the sweetest, gentlest and cutest puppy boy you’re? You're so smart and responsible and so, so easy to love. And Jaemin is a sucker for cute things, he's gonna be obsessed with your ears and gonna make sure to make your tail wag at least once every 10 minutes.”
“That would be really nice,” Jeno whispers, the smile coming back at his face, only thinking about the situation turning like this.
“You definitely deserve that, puppyboy.”
🐾🐾🐾
On the day of the party, Jeno is overjoyed, but also really nervous. He's sitting by the desk in Renjun's room, where the man is putting some blush on his cheeks because, just like he said: “you're gonna look even more adorable this way, so Jaemin will immediately fall in love if he still hasn't done that”, so Jeno trusted him. He wanted to look extra pretty.
As he stares at his final look 30 mins later, he can't tell anymore if the blush on his cheeks is only thanks to the make up or maybe because he truly feels so pretty and it's something that does not happen to him often. His white hair is styled, puppy ears proudly perked out. Wrapped around his neck is a baby blue collar, his favorite one, he's been waiting for an opportunity to wear outside. As for the clothes, he's just wearing a simple sweater and his pants from the collection for hybrids with a special space for tails. The said tail is now out, brushed by Renjun with extra care, wagging like crazy, creating a wind in the room that makes Renjun laugh when some papers fly off from the desk.
“You look stunning, puppy,” Renjun says, standing behind him and scratching his nape.
“I really do,” he agrees, still a little bit in disbelief, feeling how heat spreads on his cheeks. “Do you think Jaemin is gonna think so, too?”
“Oh, don't worry, darling,” the man laughs softly, shaking his head. “I don't think the food will be the only thing there that Jaemin will want to eat tonight.”
Jeno whines embarrassed, however his tail betrays him, wagging even harder.
They arrive at the restaurant half an hour later. Renjun who's now in his fairy costume, notices how Jeno's ears are flattened and he's gripping his beanie with puppy ears on top of it, chewing on his lower lip. He's been whimpering quietly all the way there, completely lost in his thoughts, not answering to any words Renjun said.
“Hey, if you're not ready, you can wear the beanie, okay? You're still gonna be the cutest puppy out there.”
“I'm just nervous,” Jeno admits honestly with a sad whine rolling out right after.
He looks like a kicked puppy.
“Everything's going to be fine, okay? I'm gonna be there with Jaemin, and even Chenle. If anyone says anything bad I'm sure they're gonna react, too, so let's not worry in advance. What do you say? Do you need a moment longer?”
Jeno nods slowly, blinking at him with his scared boba eyes.
Eventually they go to the restaurant a few minutes later. It's not that crowded, since Jaemin and Chenle invited just some close friends or their most regular customers. Everything looks so cool, with all these Halloween decorations and food also fitting to the party's theme. Jeno is going right behind Renjun, his tail tucked down and ears still flattened, because of how nervous he still is, until they reach Chenle, who's checking on the drinks, wearing a Stephan Curry's costume.
Chenle first greets Renjun, then his eyes fall on Jeno and there's no reaction. He just watches him carefully, scans his outfit and finally he asks with confusion what exactly Jeno has dressed as.
“A puppy,” he says quietly, finally perking up his ears for Chenle to see, since they were less noticeable, flattened on top of his head.
Chenle gasps, getting closer and wrapping his hands around one of Jeno's arms excitedly. “I knew it!” He sing-songs. “Another hybrid, it’s almost like we’re a magnet to them!”
“Another hybrid?” Jeno asks, surprised.
“Yeah, our friend Haechan is a bear hybrid, he's always been hiding his ears with a beanie or hoodies outside, too so I suspected you might be the one as well.”
“Oh,” Jeno gasps, his tail slowly swaying behind at the thought of meeting another hybrid. “Is he going to be here, too?”
“Yeah, he might be late, though. As a bear he sleeps a lot, always being late,” he says, laughing shortly.
“I would love to meet him,” the puppy hybrid admits, glancing at Renjun who smiles at him, nodding his head, supportive. “So have you known? H-how about Jaemin” he asks unsurely, chewing on his lip.
“How about you ask him yourself?” Chenle says, pointing at Jaemin who just gets out of the kitchen, wearing a pink, silky shirt and a little tiara on top of his head.
“Go ahead, puppy,” Renjun encourages him.
“Haechan wants to meet you so much, actually,” Chenle's attention switches to Renjun now as he hooks their arms together and starts going with him in the direction of a pretty tall boy dressed as an astronaut.
Jeno is alone now. Feeling like his heart is about to jump off its cage and his tail is tucked down again. Yet, his ears stay up, twitching nervously, because Jaemin is already walking his way.
“Hi,” Jeno says breathlessly, looking at the man in front of him. Jaemin looks beautiful, his hair all sparkly, with the tiara on top and a few buttons of his pink silky shirt unbuttoned, exposing a silver of skin.
“Hi, puppyboy,” Jaemin's voice is gentle, as he steps closer, reaching for Jeno's hand to give it a squeeze in greeting.
“You look pretty,” Jeno's words come out shakily, he blushes hard, hoping that the make up covers everything.
“Yeah? Thank you,” he tilts his head, a soft smile spreading on his face. “And you look really adorable. Want to tell me what you are dressed up as?”
Jeno exhales slowly, lowering his eyes and the words just die on his tongue. He can hear his own heart thudding in his ears that flattens again and a low nervous whimper almost leaves his lips. Then a gentle touch on his chin, Jaemin's hand is there to lift his head up to look him in the eyes. And in Jaemin's eyes Jeno can only see the adoration. He looks at him with that calming look, making him believe that, even if he tells him the truth, everything is going to be fine.
Because Jaemin has already known - now it's time to address the unsaid truth hovering between them to make it official.
“I'm a puppy hybrid,” Jeno whispers, not breaking eye contact.
“Thank you for trusting me enough to finally show me this side of you, which is definitely my favorite one, if I'm being honest,” he replies, completely surprising the puppy hybrid, who's still spinning in his head, trying to figure out what's actually happening right now.
“So have you known, right?”
“Yeah, for a while. I've noticed, but it was so hard not to. You're just such a puppy boy,” the comment makes Jeno bite his inner cheek shyly. “At first I wasn't sure, I didn't want to assume, but it was just too obvious.”
Jeno tries to stop his smile.
Jaemin looks at him a little bit longer, the silence falls between them, until he takes a step closer, tilting his head. “Can I?” He whispers.
Jeno is now shaking. His tails start slowly wagging behind him, while his ears twitch. And he nods his head, then quickly closes his eyes and freezes in place, waiting. His lips parted, breath held in. He just waits for his crush to finally kiss him.
But nothing like this comes. Instead, Jaemin's hand touches his right ear very carefully, just a little brush, barely there. And Jeno realizes what really Jaemin meant while asking for permission. Jeno has never been more embarrassed in his life, he doesn't even want to open his eyes and look at Jaemin again, yet he doesn't want to make him think like he feels uncomfortable. So he opens his eyes, now meeting the view of Jaemin's fascinated face, focused on the top of his head, from close on.
Jaemin's really gentle with his movements. Tracing the ears slowly, then trying to scratch behind them, making Jeno's tail wag harder with each touch.
“You're so adorable,” Jaemin says with admiration, then leaning even closer and actually giving him some head pats. “Such a good boy, you were so brave, telling me,” he praises him.
And oh boy, Jeno's tail is now swaying faster, causing some wind behind him as his cheeks burn. Good boy. Jeno must've gone insane or he's just having some crazy dream right now.
“I wanted you to finally know, so… You don't hate it, do you?” He murmurs, again catching his lower lip in his teeth.
“Why would I? Don't be silly, baby,” he says, shaking his head and withdrawing his hand.
Jeno is ready to mourn the lack of the touch and the distance that is about to grow between them, however he doesn't get a chance, because Jaemin's arms are now wrapped around his waist, pulling him in for a hug. Jaemin holds him in the warmest embrace he has ever been in. His arms secure and comforting, chin resting on his shoulder so Jaemin surely can see his moving tail and it's given, when Jaemin suddenly giggles at the view.
“I like you, Jeno-ya,” he whispers, now closing his eyes and tightening the hug. “I've liked you since I first saw you, I liked you when I figured out you're a puppy and I like you even more now that you told me. And if you let me, I will like you even more in the future.”
“I like you too,” Jeno finally confesses. It feels so freeing. All his secrets out, nothing to hide anymore. His ears twitching, out for Jaemin to see, tail wagging like it's about to fly away and his heart beating loudly for Jaemin to hear..
“Then… Do you want to go out with me?” Jaemin asks, stepping back enough to see him. “This time no hiding, it's such a pity I couldn't see how your ears twitched and tail was wagging every time we talked,” he adds with a pout.
Jeno leans in and in a moment of bravery, he kisses Jaemin's pout away. Just a little peck that makes their heads spin.
“I would love to.”
The other man blinks at him, surprised before the biggest smile appears on his face and he pulls Jeno closer again, now being the one to close the distance between their lips, connecting them in a proper kiss. Jeno immediately melts into Jaemin's arms, letting him guide them through the kiss. Gentle hands at the small of Jeno's back caressing him right above the tail, so the puppy boy arches, to give him better access - sue the puppy for wanting to be patted. It's his favorite spot for it to be done there, right after his head (and maybe his belly too, but he's actually shy to admit it).
Jaemin can feel how Jeno's tail is going crazy, just centimeters under his hand gently touching him. When their noses bump and they break the kiss a little bit breathless, hence Jaemin not able to keep his smile anymore, Jeno lets out a little disappointed whimper and pouts, looking at Jaemin with pleading eyes, almost like he's going to die, if he doesn't kiss him again.
The man laughs, patting Jeno's head again, then tickling under his chin. “Cute,” he hums, smiling at him completely whipped. “Let's go, the food is getting cold. I've made your favorite steaks,” he adds, patting Jeno's pout with his thumb gently.
“Can we kiss more, later?” Jeno asks in a whisper.
“Oh, puppy, when we go on a date and you're gonna wear that beautiful collar again, I don't think we're doing anything else.”
Jeno's heart skips a bit, then he smiles, nodding his head. “Okay, then I'm gonna wear an even prettier one,” he decides.
Jaemin laughs, amused. “You're pretty anyway. Now… let's go?” He offers him his hand, so they intertwine their fingers together.
“As you wish, princess.”