Guardian

5

Getting locked out was an accident.

Namjoon meowed at the back door for a few minutes, then the front door. Then he gave up and wandered off, down the street. His stomach growled. Maybe the grandmother three doors down had set some food out. He hoped so.

He sped to a run, not really watching where he was going, and slammed into the screen door at the next door neighbor's house as it opened in his face and a child ran out, shrieking joyfully. Namjoon tumbled back, landing on his rear end with his front paws splayed, and looked around wildly before trying to pick himself up off the ground and walk away.

He would have, if it weren't for the barely-disguised laugh behind him.

Namjoon might have lived years as a cat, but some of his instincts were still very human. He whirled around, bruised pride throbbing in his chest, and felt his mood take a dive as he saw Taehyung crouched by the curb, clearly trying to smother a smile in his sleeve.

"Hello," Taehyung said.

I can hear you smiling, Namjoon thought, sitting down and wrapping his tail around his legs. What do you want?

"I'm just saying hi," Taehyung said, frowning.

Sure.

"Really!" Taehyung said, throwing his arms out. "Why do you hate me?"
Namjoon got to his feet and started walking off, taking his time as he moved past the door again(he was not eager to relive that collision). Taehyung followed him, staying on the sidewalk but tailing him like he had something important to say.

"Namjoon!"

Would you shut up?!

Namjoon hissed, turning abruptly and leaping onto the lower ridge of the nearby fence.

"Hey, wait!"

Namjoon leapt down on the other side of the fence, raced across the yard, and used a flower pot to jump onto the fence at the opposite side. He looked back and nearly fell over in shock. Taehyung was trying to climb the fence, arms shaking as he hooked a leg over.

Are you crazy?!

"I told you to wait for me!" Taehyung huffed, grinning.

What the hell, Namjoon thought. Then he jumped over the other side of the fence, ignoring Taehyung's call. There was no way Taehyung could be that stubborn, right?

"Namjoon!"

Did he have to yell his name so loudly? Namjoon let out a strangled yowl of frustration, letting his body bend up into the ridiculous arch it always did when he was done playing games with the other cats. He knew it wouldn't be intimidating, but he tried anyway.

"You're fast," Taehyung said, sweeping him up into his arms, and oh hell no, Namjoon had not given him permission for that!

Namjoon swiped at Taehyung's face, and Taehyung moved back, dropping him. Namjoon scrambled away, hissing. Taehyung hissed, too, clapping a hand to his cheek and crouching down.

That wasn't fair. Namjoon hadn't really meant to hurt Taehyung, and the motion felt like a deliberate guilt trip. Normally he would be on his way, but he stayed, half crouched, staring at Taehyung and waiting for him to say something.

"Gguk's not gonna be happy with me," Taehyung mumbled.

Gguk? Taehyung was worried about his boyfriend? Namjoon crept closer, crouching lower to get a peek at Taehyung's face. Taehyung sighed, pulling his hand away. Five angry red lines dropped from his cheekbone to his jaw. Namjoon's ears flicked back.

"Know anyone who could give me something to clear it out?" Taehyung said.

Namjoon wanted to protest that his paws were clean, but given his scramble through the backyard reason was not on his side. He sighed, head drooping, and stood.

Sorry. We can see if Jimin's home.

"You don't have to apologize," Taehyung said, but Namjoon was already walking. He heard Taehyung hurry to catch up, walking by his side as if he already knew which way to go. Maybe he did. Namjoon didn't know.

"I don't," Taehyung said cheerfully.

Would you stop that?

"Okay, real talk," Taehyung said, stopping and crouching beside Namjoon. "What's your problem with mind readers? I'm not outing you to Jimin, am I?"

Namjoon met his eyes with a steady gaze. You could.

"And that's your entire reason?"

Namjoon laid his ears against his skull. You think it's not good enough?

"Frankly, no," Taehyung said. The scratches were beginning to bleed. Namjoon's gaze flicked to them as he wondered whether something terrible might actually be on his claws. Jimin was going to be upset with him for this.

"You care a lot about what Jimin thinks, don't you," Taehyung said.

Of course, Namjoon thought.

"Was it really as simple as all that? He just let you in one rainy day and you decided you wanted to be with him?"

Stop making it sound romantic.

"Isn't it, though?" Taehyung said. Namjoon noted the teasing light in his eyes and flicked his tail, looking away pointedly.

I'm not Jimin's stalker. He's been kind to me ever since he moved in and I want to be there for him.

"I see," Taehyung said. "And why can't you do that as a human?"

Namjoon sighed. I was a cat before Jimin came. This has nothing to do with who I am.

"How?" Taehyung said. Blood dripped down the side of his face, but he seemed completely sidetracked. "How doesn't it? I'm really confused, 'joon--"
Joon?

"That's what you focus on?!"

Namjoon shook himself, fluffing up his tail. I don't want to talk about this, he thought. Your face is bleeding. Let's just go to Jimin.

"This isn't over," Taehyung said, standing again.

I think it is, Namjoon thought. 

I caught myself avoiding writing. Like... lying in bed staring at my computer but not wanting to get up and get going. This is strange, and new, and it does worry me, but this chapter came out alright once I got going, I think.

You probably saw me ask this already, but how does one go about getting a sense of humor? I want to balance out all this angst I've been writing with some fluff and funnies but... my whole family agrees that I have no sense of humor. I certainly don't feel like I do. Especially smart humor like I feel Namjoon and Yoongi would use-- sarcasm, dry wit, that kind of thing. I know what makes me giggle, but I don't know how to set it up??? I guess? 

I'm being called for dinner. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! This book shouldn't be that crazy angst-wise. Namjoon doesn't agonize over his self-image, as I'm sure you've noticed. I feel like this is the perfect chance to try balancing my writing style. 

I purple you! Sorry for the long note, lol.