Got my claws in you

Chapter 21- new experiences, new revelations

TAE POV:

Stepping out of the apartment with two people is an entirely new and exciting experience. Because it's not Hobi hyung and Yoongi hyung who naturally move to flank my sides and keep me between them, it's Jiminie all bundled up and adorable, a soft mintiness radiating off him even as the crisp air brushes across us, unable to be hidden or disguised but instead emphasises, a fresh coolness that teases and tickles my nose. And it's new because Jiminie doesn't move to flank me, rather it's the ever so teasing slight brush of his tail across mine before he's moving to let (Y/N) step between us, because this time I'm part of the protecting and the thought makes my tail move and curl quicker, has me eagerly stepping to her other side, taking one step to the side when my eyes see her ears nervously flick. She shoots me a small smile at that, mingled with apology, but a smile, nonetheless. A smile that has my own curling up to respond and her eyes soften as she turns to face the front, head ducked down slightly.

"What are you doing with the kids today Tae?" Jiminie asks from beside her, head curving forward to peep a glance, soft orange ears twitching as the wind brushes over them.

"We're going to be starting a mural project that'll run on for quite some time. So we're going to be drawing outlines of the children on the playcentre walls." I say happily, smile stretching at the thought of the children rushing around, giggles and shrieks and pens waving. At the thought of twitchy feet and restless bodies and fidgety, mischievous tails darting out to poke each other.

It was going to be fun. And really sweet that the children got to leave their mark behind, a version of themselves immortalised on walls- something that would show much they'd grown, would leave something to greet the new children at the centre with.

Jiminie giggles. An endearing sweet bubble of sound that cuts through the air, has (Y/N)'s lips curving up as her head turns to see him as we walk, my head cocks at the sight of him laughing, was it something I said?

"Aren't you sweet Taehyungie? You love working with the kids and the thought of them has made your scent all soft and sweeter." He remarks, eyes flashing with both softness and something deeper, something too muddled to decipher, nose purposely scrunching as he deliberately sniffs, lips parting to show a flash of pearly teeth and the curved sharp tips of fangs.

I duck my head down at the blatant appreciation and possessive flash of a packmate's eyes running over me that has my ears perking up at the attention and my tail curling and swaying.

"The fruity floral scent is Taehyung?" (Y/N) asks curiously, face now turning to look at me, the three of us still walking, there's something thoughtful and contemplative in them.

And if I can see that in her eyes, Jiminie can somehow sense it even if she's not facing him because he nudges her, draws her attention away.

"Something on your mind?" he astutely says.

What surprises me is that (Y/N) doesn't seem to recoil from the question, doesn't reject the touch, she seems unbothered by the inquisitive, prompting look in his eyes when she glances at him and the way his mintiness seems to sharpen with both curiosity and alertness.

She gives a small shrug, eyes forward as she walks. Walks ahead slightly and I see a frown on Jiminie's face, see the furrow between his brows form as he looks at her slightly hastened pace. I move forward to catch up with her, hand darting out to bunch into Jiminie's coat sleeve as I tug him along, silently moving him to flank her right side once more.

Whatever was bothering him, now wasn't the time. Not when it was cold enough to make my ears curl and try to fold in on themselves and my tail twitch at every sharp bite of the wind. Not when I could see (Y/N)'s own ears flicker with sensitivity to the cold. My hands reach out to tug her hood over her head, a slight barrier between the wind and the soft brown ears, before falling away- silently wondering whether that was too forward but her smile is soft and gentle.