Detonate Me, Granulate Me | BTS

Chapter O3

The Hybrida only get two hours of free time a day, and although Jungkook should be in the library brushing up for his upcoming grading, he spends most of it napping. He always does well without much study anyway, much to the chagrin of his classmates who spend the weeks preceding the exams curled up poring over books or practicing combat at the training rooms.

It's a lazy Thursday afternoon when Jungkook's nap is interrupted—yet again—by Taehyung.

"Hey," Taehyung whispers, snuggling next to Jungkook on the beanbag. Jungkook groans, curling up and covering his ears. "Hey, Jungkook, wake up, I have something to show you."

"It better not be your dick," Jungkook mutters irritated. Kim Taehyung is possibly the only Felidae Jungkook likes enough to keep around—although he'd never admit that to Taehyung's face—but right now he wants to stuff a gag in Taehyung's mouth to make him shut up. Taehyung pokes him again, and Jungkook bats his hand away. "Can this wait until after my nap?"

"It's not my dick, you'll see that when I'm scheduled for my heat," Taehyung says with a wink, tugging on Jungkook's arm and dragging him upright. Jungkook just glares at him, eyes barely open. "And it has to be now, or we'll miss the chance. Come on!"

Against Jungkook's better instincts, he ends up following Taehyung. Taehyung leads him through the corridors of the Institute, from the Quiet Zone to the training grounds, all the way to the back door of the Food hall, where they're served their meals each day. Before Jungkook can protest, Taehyung's levering the door open with an unsheathed claw, dragging Jungkook in with him as he slides the door closed behind them with a gentle click.

"Goddammit, Taehyung, we shouldn't be here, it's out of bounds until dinner, and our wristbands are still—" Jungkook starts, but Taehyung's already halfway across the empty hall, bounding towards the kitchen area. Jungkook sighs deeply, trudging behind. If they get penalties because of this...

Jungkook's going to fucking torch Taehyung's entire fur ball collection.

"Look, Jungkook, look at this," Taehyung says as Jungkook pulls up to him, voice brimming with excitement.

There's a small panel next to the waste disposal, and Taehyung lifts up the flap to reveal an opening just big enough for one person to fit through. Jungkook sniffs it gingerly. It smells of raw vegetables, fish, and fertilizer—foodstuff before they're processed for consumption. This must be the chute where the Felidae's food rations are sent up from the Food farms to the kitchens each day, which means...

"Are you crazy?" Jungkook hisses, grabbing Taehyung by the collar. "What are you doing? We can't go in there! Don't you remember rule five of the Commandments?"

"Don't worry," Taehyung says for the umpteenth time today as he deftly unclasps his wristband, setting it on the floor and squeezing himself into the chute. Jungkook gives a frustrated sigh and Taehyung pokes his head back up, grinning. "Rule five only says not to exit Paradisus grounds without permission. We're not leaving Paradisus, don't shit your pants. We're just exploring a little. Come on!"

Well, wherever Taehyung's going, Jungkook sure as hell isn't letting him stir up trouble on his own. Jungkook undoes his wristband before clambering in after Taehyung, closing the flap behind him. Kim Taehyung is going to be the death of him.

The chute is dark, cold, and slippery, and Jungkook can barely make out Taehyung in front of him, even with his brilliant night vision. He swivels his ears around, dragging himself forwards after Taehyung, jolting at the clanking of machinery and electric buzzing echoing in the tunnel. There's a strange smell permeating the air, getting stronger with every body length Jungkook moves. The stench is strange and unpleasant, but familiar, almost like last year's Domus Games where he'd been surrounded by a pack of Canidae...