VHope Fluffshots

Nesting

When Taehyung discovered that his health was beginning to deteriorate, he spent weeks searching for someone to take care of him. He was going to go through many surgeries and just as many bad days, if not more; he needed someone to help him recover and continue to push on, even when life seemed to detest his existence. 

He ended up finding a website advertising hybrids for caregivers. The site listed many nannies, housekeepers, personal assistants, and even a few hybrids that allowed themselves to be treated as pets. 

Of course, hybrids did have their place in society: they had rights just like humans, ran businesses, had jobs, families, and owned houses. Due to decades of persecution and slavery, there were still plenty of people who ignored these laws and continued to oppress hybrids. 

But the site Taehyung stumbled upon was for a company created by hybrids who couldn't find their places in society and needed help. They all lived in a community created by the founders of the company; the ones brought in as children were given education there and started on the career path of their choosing. Every hybrid's resume was posted on the site. 

Jung Hoseok was the only squirrel hybrid listed under the caregivers. He was two years older than Taehyung and currently worked in the company's nursery to gain experience. He has worked in several other sectors of the company, and his resume constructed him to be Taehyung's ideal caregiver. 

The only issue with hiring Hoseok was that he was no longer a part of the company; he was, essentially, Taehyung's servant. That didn't sit well with him, not at all. 

When Taehyung drove Hoseok to his home, he promised him that he saw the squirrel hybrid as an equal; he would pay him every two weeks, let him do as he pleased and, as soon as Taehyung was better, Hoseok would be free to live his life as he always dreamed. Hoseok was not his servant, nor was he beneath Taehyung in any way. 

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"Taehyung, lovely, you gotta get up." 

Taehyung let out an annoyed groan, remaining unmoving in his bed. He refused to face the day, already knowing it wasn't going to be a good one; he didn't want to deal with all the obstacles that would no doubt occur today. 

But Hoseok was patient. He had been living with Taehyung for about a year and a half now and understood how the younger man worked.

Mornings were dreaded: Hoseok always woke Taehyung up an hour before he had to actually be up, knowing it would take the whole hour to coax him out of bed. If it was a bad day, he would help Taehyung dress and prepare for the day. They would eat breakfast together, then Taehyung would have to do some paperwork for his job; that left Hoseok to do whatever he pleased until dinner. 

During the year and a half, Hoseok witnessed plenty of meltdowns, endured bouts of angry shouting, accepted just as many apologies, and took everything else the younger man threw at the hybrid. Taehyung had no one but Hoseok to lean on, and Hoseok understood that. 

Besides, no matter how many rough times they went through together, all the good times made everything worth it. 

So Hoseok was patient. 

He sighed and shook his head. "Come on, baby. You can't hide away in your bed forever and you know that," he said, leaning down to shake the younger man a bit. 

"Just watch me," Taehyung growled, sending the hybrid a sideways glare when the shaking got a bit more aggressive. 

With that, Hoseok ripped off the comforter, casting it to the floor. "Don't be a child, Taehyung. Let's get you ready for the day."