Single Father • Namjoon + BTS!Kids

lxxxii.

"I'm really sorry, honey, but I got called in to work the day shift today, and I can't leave you home alone, and since Yoongi has internal suspension anyway-" Namjoon said to Jimin while buttoning up Jimin's jacket before turning to give Yoongi a glare. Then he turned back to Jimin, smiling apologetically and patting Jimin's head. "-you're going to spend the day with him. The principal said it'll be fine, given..." Namjoon cut himself off. Given your circumstances was a phrase he'd grown to hate since everybody seemed to be saying it to him lately, but he couldn't deny that all the extra help was appreciated and downright necessary. "Well, you know." He finished buttoning Jimin up and stood, pinching Jimin's cheeks lightly, and Jimin squeezed his eyes shut.

"All right, everyone in the car," Namjoon instructed. "And don't forget your lunches."

Everybody scrambled to the kitchen, and Jimin hopped along after them after remembering that Namjoon had made a lunch special, just for him.

He peeked inside, too excited to wait until later, and couldn't help letting out a disappointed frown.

"What's wrong?" Hobi asked, looking over at Jimin in concern.

"Nothing," Jimin said before pouting slightly. "It's just that Yoongi said I'm old enough to get two cookies now, but Dad still only gives me one."

"Oh." Hobi blinked before pulling a cookie out of his bag. "Here, you can have mine."

Jimin's eyes widened. "Are you sure, hyung?"

"Yeah, I'm not going to ea- Wonpil will share with me if I get hungry," Hobi said, dropping the cookie in Jimin's bag and delighting in the glowing smile that lit up Jimin's face.

Hobi felt odd all of a sudden and left the kitchen, getting into the car and sitting there by himself. He remembered when they were all younger, before Jimin had been abducted, when they'd all teased each other. Jimin had actually taken quite a bit of teasing, since he'd always been the most sensitive of the six of them, the crybaby of the family.

But now, he couldn't imagine teasing Jimin. He was too scared to do anything to make Jimin unhappy. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

He didn't have time to figure it out though, because soon enough, everyone else got into the car, and Namjoon went about his rounds, dropping each of them off.

***

"So this is the internal suspension room," Jimin said, his eyes wide as he took in every detail. Not that there were many details to take in.

The room was square and small, the walls made of white bricks, sealing inside a pocket of dead air. Not a pleasant place to be. Not that Jimin seemed to mind.

"Yeah, this is my room," Yoongi said, hopping up to sit on top of a desk and gesturing grandly before folding his arms. "My own little slice of paradise."

Jimin hesitated, unsure as to whether he was supposed to sit in the metal chair or on the desk like Yoongi.

Yoongi noticed and cocked an eyebrow. "Really? You're going to play the good boy today?" Yoongi rolled his eyes. "What are they going to do if you sit on the desk, give you internal suspension? Just do it."

Jimin hesitated another second before careful turning around and placing his palms on the desk, craning his neck to make sure they were lined up. "Hyung? Am I doing it right?"

Yoongi sighed impatiently and grabbed Jimin under his arms, yanking him up and setting his butt down on top of the desk. "There."

Jimin wobbled from side to side slightly before stabilizing at smiling nervously at Yoongi. "Thanks, hyung."