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perpetually-jungshook · 6 years

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Fauna: I Dream of Joonie

Genre: angst, fantasy, hybrid au

Summary: Seokjin is a rare type of fauna species. Highly sought after, he must stay hidden. But at what point might “hiding” become “imprisoned?”

Word Count: 2.6k

Fauna Lore Post | Series Masterlist

photo credit: merimask on etsy (go look their masks are super cool)

Seokjin sits in the beams of soft morning light that fall delicately from the window to the floor. Mornings are his favorite. Everything is peaceful, gentle. He does miss the birdsong though.

His white homo-felis ears flick subtly. The waves in the distance are constant as ever, but there’s a boat approaching. So early? Seokjin yawns and stretches, then lies down on his tummy, fluffy tail slowly swishing side to side. He hopes Namjoon is in a good mood today. Maybe he’ll even let Seokjin go out, back to the mainland soon. That would be nice.

The sound of rustling fabric causes Seokjin’s attention to drift down the hall. Namjoon moves aside the curtain that separates his room from the hallway.

“Good morning,” his voice is hoarse, sleepy.

Seokjin props himself up on his elbow, resting his chin on the heel of his palm, “Good morning to you too. How are you feeling?”

A crucial question, as Seokjin can’t see Namjoon’s eyes yet.

“I feel alright. A little tired, but when am I not?”

He smiles, bending down to gently push his fingers through Seokjin’s hair, careful to avoid his cat ears. The older boy tilts his head, naturally leaning into Namjoon’s touch. Both of his irises are a light grey, almost white. No darkness. Seokjin relaxes.

“How’d you sleep?”

The homo-felis keeps his voice soft, pleasant as he responds, “I slept alright, thank you. I made you breakfast. We didn’t have much but there’s some sausage and eggs.”

“That was sweet of you,” he withdraws his hand and stands up, heading toward the small table in the corner.

The room fills with the sound of utensils and distant murmurs of voices from outside as the Hive slowly wakes up. Seokjin rises and looks out the window, eyes searching the structures of sheet metal and wood down below for anything interesting. Namjoon doesn’t like company while he eats.

Ever since Seokjin came to the island with a young homo-oryctolagus, he’d pretty much been kept in this house. It’s the only stable structure here, built before the fauna arrived to make it their retreat from the world. Apparently this used to be a lighthouse, but got converted into a simpler building. Or something like that. Seokjin never heard the full story.

There are a few fauna talking, making large gestures. That’ll probably turn into a fight. Seokjin’s white ears flick in interest, though he can’t quite make out the words. The moment the claws come out, he turns away.

They speak simultaneously.

“Joonie, I was thinking-?”

“There’s a shipment— oh, you go first,” Namjoon prompts, setting down his utensils on the empty plate.

Seokjin’s cheeks heat up in slight embarrassment, voice getting quiet, “Well, I was hoping I might be able to… go to the mainland today.”

Namjoon gets up and walks over to stand next to Seokjin at the window.

“You want to leave?”

“Just for a little bit,” Seokjin backtracks to soften the request.

“We’ve talked about this.”

“Maybe just an hour or two?” he tries to soften the request further. “I’d like to see trees and hear birds that aren’t seagulls again. Or look at the bookstores myself. Please? You can send a guard with me or something.”

Namjoon takes a deep breath, “I’ll think about it, alright?”

“Okay,” the homo-felis tries to keep from emotionally deflating.

“Hey, don’t be like that,” Namjoon puts a hand on Seokjin’s lower back. “I just want you to be safe.”

“I know.”

Seokjin is a rare breed of fauna. He has a perfect pedigree, a completely balanced, fifty-fifty percentage of human and feline genetics. White Turkish Angora to be precise. While the general public seems to discriminate against fauna, someone like Seokjin would sell on the black market for millions of dollars, easily. That’s why he’s here, on the island, in the Hive. He’d already been abducted once, but he’d managed to escape with a young homo-oryctolagus named Jungkook. This is their home now, where it’s safe for fauna to live without fear of prejudice and abduction, though Seokjin hasn’t seen Jungkook since their arrival.

He leans against Namjoon, putting his head on the younger man’s shoulder, “What were you saying? Earlier, before I started.”

“Ah, there’s a shipment coming in today. It’s the medication, and Hoseok said he found a doctor.”

“For the homo-avian?”

“No, for Jungkook.”

Seokjin pulls away from Namjoon, “What? So he’ll be alright?”

“That’s what we’re hoping.”

It feels as if a heavy load lifts off of Seokjin’s chest. No one will tell him how Jungkook was injured, and Namjoon won’t let him outside the house to visit. Apparently, it’s too dangerous as there have been humans poking around lately, reporters and drones with cameras. All he can do is listen to what people tell Namjoon, or what Namjoon tells him.

“Would I be able to see him now? Just to ask how he’s doing?”

“Unfortunately, he’s still in recovery.”

Just like how Namjoon always seems to be busy.

Seokjin dismisses the negative thought. He shouldn’t think critically of Namjoon. He loves Namjoon. The Hive is a safe place.

“You’ll keep me posted though, right?”

“Of course.”

A knock on the door catches both of their attention and Namjoon moves away form the window to answer it. A woman, a human by the looks of it, steps inside, followed by a familiar young male homo-cervidae whose antlers have recently been shed.

“Hello, my name is doctor Martinez and I’m here to look at an injured homo-oryctolagus?”

“Welcome to the Hive,” Namjoon walks over to the table, removing his plate and placing it in the sink. “Can I offer you some coffee or tea?”

She looks around subtly, curiously, then shakes her head, “No I’m alright thank you. I’d just like to see the patient.”

Her gaze stops moving when she sees Seokjin. His skin prickles and he turns his back on her. She can’t possibly know who or what he is.

“We just need you to sign this.”

“What is it?”

“Think of it like a promise to not take, leave, or photograph anything that might be used to disadvantage the Hive as an organization.”

There is a long pause before Seokjin can hear the sound of a scribbling pen.

“Alright, Taehyung, please take doctor Martinez to see Jungkook.”

The homo-cervidae, Taehyung, is still in Seokjin’s peripherals. His eyes narrow as the doctor passes, though Seokjin can’t exactly tell their sentiment. The two guests depart, leaving him alone with Namjoon once again.

“I’m going to get dressed, then go oversee the doctor’s visit,” Namjoon says, walking back toward his room.

Seokjin turns to watch him, voice quiet, “And what we talked about earlier?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

As Namjoon leaves the house, Seokjin knows the chances of him actually departing from the island are decreasing. He doesn’t ask for or want much. He just wants to hear the birds… With a heavy heart, he goes over to his bookshelf and pulls a random novel from his collection. This will keep his attention for a while, though he’s already read it twice.

A few hours later, Seokjin’s white cat ears flick in interest as he hears familiar footsteps approaching the door. Namjoon lets himself in.

“Any news?” Seokjin stands, setting his book aside and walking over to greet the younger man. The change is apparent immediately. Even without seeing the single dark iris, he can tell Namjoon’s body language has shifted to something more assertive, even aggressive.

“The doctor is looking at Jungkook. She says he’ll be fine but it might take a while.”

“I don’t feel like that’s entirely good news.”

“It’s not. We don’t have enough money to keep her here for a ‘while.’ We might have to consider… other outcomes.”

Seokjin can’t find words to respond for a few moments, allowing Namjoon to walk down the hall. What’s odd is Seokjin hadn’t even known Jungkook that well, but they’d gone through so much together. How could Namjoon just give up on him so easily?

Normally, he wouldn’t argue with Namjoon when he’s in this state, when the darkness has started to take over. But this is important.

“Joonie, wait,” he rushes down the hall, catching Namjoon’s wrist. “Please, what can we do? Are there any other options?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“How long will it take you to think about this?” Seokjin’s chest tightens with an unfamiliar emotion, anger. “That’s what you’ll always say. You’ll think about it. But are you actually? Or is that just an easy way to get me to stop asking?”

“Calm down.”

“No, you keep me locked up in here all day every day. I want answers. I want solutions. I want to help.”

Namjoon takes a few seconds to respond, letting conversation fall into a heavy silence. Seokjin’s anger gradually starts to bleed into fear.

“Seokjin,” Namjoon’s voice is quiet, almost in a warning. His gaze rests on Seokjin with an almost tangible intensity, one iris light grey, almost white, the other dark gray, almost black. “We’ve talked about this. You will stay hidden, for your own safety. Do I make myself clear?”

The homo-felis shrinks back subtly, making himself smaller, “Yes Namjoon.”

“And you will not interfere with Jungkook. Understand?”

“Yes Namjoon.”

“And you will not, under any circumstances, leave the Hive.”

“But-”

Namjoon snarls, bearing his fangs, “Do not contradict me.”

Seokjin lets out a quiet whimper, tail tucking between his legs, feline ears folding back.

“Yes Namjoon.”

“Good,” the younger man visibly relaxes, but retains his intensity. “I need some time to think. Just… do whatever.”

Namjoon turns and continues into his room, pushing the curtain aside and effectively sealing himself off, the thick burlap cloth strangely seeming much heavier than any solid oak wood door.

Seokjin knows not to argue. He’s not sure what would happen if he did, but whatever the outcome would be, it wouldn’t be good. Namjoon is letting him stay in the Hive, free of charge, for his own safety.

But… he can’t help wondering if he’s a prisoner here too.

Seokjin pauses, staring at the book he’d set down, hand extended to pick it up. He is a prisoner here. What’s the point of being safe if he can’t even protect or at the very least help the people he cares about?

Memories start to float to the surface, things that Seokjin hadn’t understood at the time, or didn’t want to understand. Bits and pieces of conversations about people dragged back to the island, brought to Namjoon. Threats about betrayal. Hand tattoos on everyone except Seokjin. Exhausted faces, dark circles under eyes, malnourished bodies. Maybe this is a safe place for fauna, but…

Seokjin looks down the hall, his tail still tucked between his legs. An image of Jungkook, just a little scared boy with bunny ears, appears in his mind.

If only Namjoon had a consistently clear mind. If only he didn’t have to contend with the darkness, then maybe this place would’ve been the haven it was supposed to be.

His chest feels tight, thoughts buzzing, conflicted.

He knows what this is leading up to, but could he ever actually leave the island? Seokjin is not a brave person. He’d started out in an orphanage, but quickly got adopted once his genetic records were taken. It took getting abducted to get him away from his original adoptive “family,” who also never let him leave the house unless parading him around like a trophy. Now he’s trapped here too, in a place that’s supposed to give him freedom from fauna and species prejudice.

But really, there’s nothing literally holding him here, no armed guards or chains. Does he really have to be that brave? What if he simply insists on leaving?

Nodding to himself, Seokjin takes a deep breath and walks over to the door. His fingers brush the handle. This is the closest he’s been to going outside in months. Namjoon used to take walks around the island with him, but those had long since ceased. Now he’ll be going out alone.

Heart pounding at the thought of something unexpected, ears straining to hear if Namjoon notices, Seokjin turns the handle and pulls the door open. No one attacks him. No one even calls for him to stop.

The next few minutes are almost surreal, like Seokjin’s body is moving without his conscious thought. As he wanders through the maze of ragtag, sea salt dusted sheet metal structures, he wonders whether he should look for Jungkook. That thought comes to an end when he stumbles upon the dock.

What if he can’t find Jungkook? Then he would simply be wasting time. But… that raises another question. What is Seokjin’s goal? He’s neither a medical professional nor does he know one. Maybe he could get a job? Is that too unrealistic? No one would know his genetic history. Maybe he could be hired just like every other fauna. Namjoon would probably be mad, but Jungkook’s medical bills would be paid for and shouldn’t he be thankful?

The homo-equus that sits on the speed boat looks like he’s about to leave, so Seokjin hurries over. If he’s unsuccessful, then he’ll just come back later. Other fauna come and go all the time, so why not him too?

“Excuse me? Can I catch a ride with you?” Seokjin waves as he approaches the boat.

The boy looks up, horse ears flicking, “May I see your tattoos?”

“Tattoos?”

“On your hands. I need to see them to let you on. That’s the rule.”

Seokjin looks at his hands. Obviously, there are no tattoos. He’d never gotten any. But now it makes sense. That’s why everyone on the island has them. They’re needed for passage.

“The doctor didn’t have any tattoos on her hand,” Seokjin tries to buy himself some time.

“She was a guest.”

“And if I’m a guest?”

“You’re not. You’re Seokjin.”

He lets out an exasperated huff, “If you know who I am, then why won’t you let me on?”

“Because you don’t have the tattoos.”

“And I didn’t give you permission,” the familiar, deep voice causes Seokjin to turn.

Namjoon stands a few meters away, not yet on the dock. His arms are crossed and he has a look of irritation about him. One of his irises is still dark.

“What are you doing here?” he addresses Seokjin.

The homo-felis’s ears flatten slowly in growing alarm, “I’m leaving the Hive to find a job to help raise money for Jungkook.”

“No, you’re not.”

A shiver runs through Seokjin’s body. He isn’t sure if it’s a defensive or frustrated reaction.

“Yes I am. I’m tired of hiding here. I can do more than just sit around and read books and talk to you.”

“You won’t be safe-”

“Who would know, Namjoon? Who would know that I’m not like every other fauna?” Seokjin has never intentionally interrupted him before, but now is the time to do it. Now is the time to be brave. He needs to stand up for himself.

Namjoon takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, possibly calming himself. His voice is quiet, not quite threatening, but not quite nonthreatening either.

“The Hive is like a clock. For it to function, each cog has to do what it is assigned to do, what it is designed to do. And I am the clock maker. I plan each—”

“Your simile is outdated,” Seokjin cuts him off again, his throat pinching around the words. “Sometimes clocks are digital. I am a free person, so I’m leaving.”

Namjoon opens his eyes, both irises so dark that they almost appear black.

“You were never free. And you never will be.”

✩✩✩♔✩✩✩

Part of the Fauna Series.

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#bts fanfic #seokjin fanfic #seokjin angst #namjoon fanfic #namjoon angst #namjin #namjin fanfic #fauna #I dream of Joonie

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