Guardian

14

Barely hours later, Jimin's friends piled into the living room and surrounded them. Namjoon laid across the couch with his head in Jimin's lap, hands twitching as Jimin ran his hands through his hair. Taehyung met his eyes and smiled, scooting close and resting his head against the couch.

Everything alright?

Yeah, Namjoon thought. Jimin's really nice.

Told you so.

"You're not gonna leave me out, are you?" Jimin teased, sweeping Namjoon's bangs out of his face and smiling down at him. Namjoon gave him a hesitant smile back, shaking his head, and looked to Taehyung, who sobered.

"Just checking in with him," he said. "He says you're nice."
Jimin chuckled, patting Namjoon's side. "Glad to hear it," he said. "Uh... should we talk about it now?"

"Better than later," Taehyung sighed, sitting up.

What is it? Namjoon asked, anxiety burning low in his stomach.

"We..." Taehyung hesitated, glancing down at his hands, then took a deep breath and said, "We wanted to know how you want to go forward. With this."

Oh.

Namjoon hummed, shifting and closing his eyes. Jimin continued carding his fingers through his hair, soothing him as he considered the question.

How did he want to go forward?

The answer was surprisingly easy, but putting it into words wasn't. It was a combination of Jimin's hands in his hair-- not his fur-- and the feeling of snuggling close to him in bed without being so small he could be squashed by accident. At the same time, memories of his time walking the streets in cat form melted in, mixed with the distinct sensation of comfort he always felt when Jimin would cradle him against his chest.

Could he?

Could he live as both?

He opened his eyes, frowning, and met Taehyung's, flinching when he found them wet.

"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Taehyung asked softly.

"What?" Jimin asked, leaning over to see Namjoon. Namjoon smiled shyly, turning and burying his face in Jimin's stomach, and nodded.

He didn't have to look to see the grin that split Taehyung's face. He could hear it in the mind-reader's voice.

"He says he wants to be human more often."

"Really?" Jimin asked softly, still running his hands through Namjoon's hair. Namjoon reached up, wrapping an arm around Jimin's waist and lifting his head. When he saw the tears in Jimin's eyes, he let go and pushed himself up further, pressing their foreheads together and humming under his breath.

Taehyung was a jerk, he thought.

"Hey!"

But you've all been so kind to me. Despite this. Despite everything. I... I want to be friends with you. As myself.

"Holy fuck," Taehyung croaked.

"What? What did he say?"

Namjoon didn't bother listening as Taehyung recounted his words, caught up in rubbing noses with Jimin and resting his head on his shoulder. Jimin sniffled, wrapping his arms around him, and Namjoon hugged him in return, shifting so he could pull Jimin on top of him. Jimin laughed wetly, and Namjoon smiled up at him, tightening his grip and blinking slowly.

Jungkook gasped. Namjoon lifted his head, meeting the other shapeshifter's eye, and smiled, shaking his head. Jungkook pressed a hand to his mouth, eyes sparkling, and turned to Taehyung, whose eyes grew the size of saucers.

Namjoon rested his head against the couch and blinked at Jimin again, slowly. Slower. Jimin's face split in a smile, and he shook his head, leaning down to kiss Namjoon's forehead again.

"You make me so happy," he said.

You make me happier, Namjoon thought.

And he meant it. He was going to do it. For Jimin, he could be human again.

He knew it.