Embracing Power. ✅

Who let the dogs out

Namjoon pulled into the shelter's parking lot at 11 am. He managed to get ready so quickly that he had torn from the house much earlier than expected in his eagerness. Now he was faced with the choice of waiting in the truck for an hour or going in now. Deciding that every extra minute he spent in the truck was a minute wasted that he could be with Jimin, he slid from the vehicle and walked into the shelter.

"Oh, you're back! Good morning!" The young girl from the day before was sitting at the desk, the calico cat on her lap. "If you head down the hallway, take a left, and Jimin's is the 2nd door."

"Thank you." Namjoon bowed to her.

"Oh, no problem, welcome to the team!"

Following the directions, Namjoon soon found him in front of Jimin's door, butterflies fluttering around in his chest. He wouldn't admit it to Jungkook, but he wanted Jimin back just as badly as the younger boy did. He, too, had felt like something was missing, but he loved Jungkook so much that he would have never told him that not to make him feel bad. Knocking on the door, he waited for Jimin to call him in.

"Hello, Jimin." He had been watching Jimin so intently that he seen the boy visibly shudder when he said his name.

"Hello, Namjoon. I thought we decided on noon. You're early." The dark-haired boy looked up from the chart he was looking at on his desk.

"You know I have a phobia of being late."

"Mmm. Guess that hasn't changed since school."

"No, Jimin, some things have stayed the same since Hogwarts." The tone and innuendo were evident in Namjoons voice, and he noticed by the slight stiffening of Jimin's shoulders that the smaller man noticed them.

"Not now, Namjoon." Jimin shakily set the chart down on the desk, looking over at a calendar that was sitting there.

"That's fine, but when?" Namjoon sat in the empty chair across from Jimins desk. "Us three really need to talk, Jimin."

"I know, just not yet." Jimin nervously licked his lips, Namjoons eyes zeroing in on this innocent gesture. "I'm not prepared for that yet. I didn't think I would ever see any of you again; part of me hoped I wouldn't. It wasn't until... anyway. Since you're here, let me show you around the facility, so you'll know where everything is at." He stood up, pushing away from the desk, motioning for Namjoon to follow him. He spent the next 40 minutes showing Namjoon everything Meow or Never had to offer. All the programs they offered for pet training, even the fundraisers they did to earn more money for the facility. They finally made it to the dog wing, letting all the dogs out to play, and they got to work cleaning cages and putting fresh food down, for then the animals were let back in.

"How's Cypher settling in?"

"Oh god, he loves it. Jungkook and I got a place near the country that has a big yard bordering the woods." Namjoon explained. "We originally got it so I could let Wolfy out now and then."

Jimin chuckled, "You named your wolf Wolfy?"

"Seemed to fit at the time. We did fence in part of the yard for RapMon, though, and Cypher loves it. Last night he kept wanting out to go play, then plopped down across Kookie when he got tired." Namjoon told the younger boy, shooting him such a big smile that Jimin had to hold himself from poking the dimples he used to love playing with.

"I'm so happy he found a home. We were losing hope."

"Mmm, that's what the young girl said yesterday. I'm glad we could save him from a fate like that." Namjoon admitted, stopping to look over all the cages lining the hallway. "I wish we could do more, but we don't want to be overwhelmed with animals."

"Well, you saved one life; that counts." Jimin admitted, "And it's more than some people do."

"Um, I'm supposed to invite you to the dinner we have weekly with Jin and Yoongi." Scratching his head in nervousness, Namjoon passed along the message Jin wanted him to.

"Jin and Yoongles are still together?" A happy look flashed across Jimin's face. "I am so happy to hear that. They were so adorable back then."

"Yeah, well, the adorableness has worn off," Namjoon admitted. "Now they are both such perverts, Yoongi especially."

"Well, as long as he treats Jin like the treasure he is, it's none of my business."

"Oh, he does. One thing Jin will never have to worry about is how much Yoongi treasures him." A smile took over Namjoons face once again. "What Jin wants Jin gets, usually without even asking for it. If Yoongi even sees him look at something like he wants it, Yoongi buys it for him."

"And... you and Jungkook?" Jimin was nervous to ask, but he had to know. "You take good care of Kookie?"

"Heh, sometimes too good. The boy knows how to get his way, that's for sure." Namjoon chuckled, thinking about Jungkook getting his way just the day before in bed. "Things aren't perfect, they haven't been for six years, but we make it work."

"Namjoon.."

"It's fine, Jimin. I didn't say that to make you feel bad; I'm just being honest. Just talk to us when you're ready, yeah?"

"Yeah, I will, I promise."

Namjoon laughed, "You two boys and your need for promises. You both are going to kill me."

Now Jimin was the one who laughed, "There are worse ways to die. Trust me, I would know."