Chapter Text
The last few months had been unimaginably hard for Taehyung. A whole month and a half of it had been spent staying with his parents. After losing practically everything, his house, his car, his job, his money, his savings, his reputation, and damn near his sanity...he had to start over. Tae tried to go about every route he could possibly think of to try and get his life back but there was nothing he could legally do. Chae had spent months organizing before she made her move and ruined his life. He felt like he had no other choice but to give in and try to make the best of the situation.
He had found a small job to try and make some kind of money but it didn't pay very well and he didn't get very many hours. Despite having a business degree, no one wanted to hire him because of all the bullshit his now ex-wife had created. His name was practically tarnished and dragged through the mud. Tae's parents never asked him to pay for anything while he stayed there so he was able to save up a little money in order to get his own place. It was nothing like the house he had but it was something. A small little dank one bedroom apartment on the south side of town.
The apartment was only a one bedroom unit consisting of the bedroom, a kitchen, bathroom with a shower stall only, no tub, and a living room that was basically connected to the kitchen. The only way you could tell where the kitchen ended and the living room began was the kitchen had linoleum on the floor and the living room had a thin layer of cheap carpet.
Tae had a small twin sized mattress and box spring for himself and set up across the bedroom was his son's crib. He had minimal furniture too. He had one of those folding card tables in the kitchen that he used to eat on and a single chair for himself plus a high chair for Jonghyun. In the living room he didn't have any furniture. Only a couple of bean bags that he used to sit on but he did have a small area rug that had colorful pictures on it. The ones meant for children to play on. On one of the walls in the living room he had a picture hung up. It was one that had been taken a couple of months after his son was born. It was of his family, himself, Chae and their new born baby boy.
Two weeks had passed since he moved in but he still had boxes everywhere full of things that he couldn't bring himself to unpack either because it was too emotionally stressful on him or because he was too busy trying to work his job and take care of his son alone. Of course in the past he always helped his wife take care of Jonghyun but she had been the one who did the majority. He wasn't ignorant on how to take care of a child but trying to do it alone was definitely a new experience for him and one that he wasn't acclimating to very well. His mother had offered for him to stay longer if he needed to but he just couldn't bring it on himself to be such a burden to her or his father and even though he knew they didn't feel that way, he felt it.
From the time he first moved out to go to college, Tae had been an independent soul. Back then he had a good job, it was more of an internship that paid very well while he was still in school. Things were not so easy this time around while trying to make a living for himself. Now he had a 1 year old to fully provide for and take care of. He was in no way a bad father. He did everything he could but he felt like it wasn't enough. He had saved up just enough money to pay his first and last month's rent on top of the deposit for the apartment and a deposit to have his utilities turned on. Luckily he had enough left to buy a little bit of food for himself and enough supplies for Jonghyun. If he calculated everything correctly, he would be able to make it until his next paycheck. Hopefully.
There were nights when he didn't sleep at all due to Jonghyun being fussy and crying all night long. It didn't help that they weren't really in the best of neighborhoods either. Most of the time he spent crying at night was due to being woken up by random arguments, fighting amongst neighbors and even the occasional gunshots followed by police sirens or the flashing lights through his windows from the trucks of first responders.
Tonight just happened to be one of those nights and honestly it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Taehyung had just laid down after getting Jonghyun to sleep. That had taken forever because some idiots outside decided to bring their arguing out of their apartment and yell it out for the entire complex to hear. Tae was so exhausted. He laid there listening to the fire truck sirens, hoping, praying that his son wouldn't wake up.
Then it started. Jonghyun began screaming from the otherside of the room and Tae just wanted to scream with him. His nerves were shot and he was so on edge. His son was only a few feet away in his crib but Tae only wanted to cry in frustration. He grew so angry. He just wanted to go outside and strangle whoever was causing all the damn noise now but instead he rolled out of bed and went over to pick up Jonghyun from his crib. Taehyung put the boy over his shoulder and started pacing around the room to try and calm him down but it wasn't working. Another siren sounded loudly, causing the small boy on Tae's shoulder to jump then his crying got louder. He couldn't imagine why so many would show up for a domestic dispute but there they were.
"Hyunie Hyunie, it's ok. Daddy's here" he whispered before walking out of the bedroom. All the commotion seemed to be coming from the front of the building so he thought maybe it would be more quiet out back. Maybe the fresh air would help sooth his son. He was running out of ideas. Tae stepped outside and sat on one of the chairs that someone had out there, hoping it wouldn't be an issue. It wasn't as loud out back but the rumbling of the engines out front could still be heard. Jonghyun still hadn't stopped crying and Tae was feeling so helpless at that moment. Lack of sleep mixed in with over working and exhaustion had him so messed up. He had run an entire business before so why was this so hard?
Taehyung was so caught up in trying to comfort his son and not lose his mind that he didn't notice the other person sitting only a few feet away from him in another chair.
"Would you shut that kid up!? People are trying to sleep!!" a voice yelled out suddenly
Taehyung shot his head up to the apartment building across from him, some random dude just standing at his door, staring at him. His first reaction was to apologize but before he could do anything a scoff sounded. He looked over to finally notice the other man that had been sitting in the other chair.
"Oh shut the hell up and go back to cheatin on your girlfriend. Of all the noise going on out here, a baby is what you're worried about? His kid wouldn't even be crying if the dumbasses out front knew how to sleep at 2am instead of causing drama. So if you wanna yell at somebody, go yell at them. Otherwise, shoo shoo, fuck off with you" the man snapped as he dismissed the guy with a wave of his hand, a click of his tongue and a hard eye roll.
Tae stared at him in shock, somewhat grateful, but mostly speechless. That was the last thing he'd expected to happen.
The man turned to look at Tae and gave a soft friendly smile, ever his eyes had their own little crescent smiles, despite all the sass and attitude he'd just given the other man from across the yard that separated the buildings. "Don't worry about them. He's just another idiot who likes to start unnecessary bullshit. He's all bark and no bite."
The man must've really had one hell of an effect because not only did the other guy go back inside, Jonghyun actually stopped crying. The small boy turned his head from his father's shoulder to look over and just like Tae, he stared. Taehyung was more confused by that though but he wasn't going to complain. "I..uhm..thank you for that..." Taehyung finally spoke to break the awkward silence that had formed, other than the commotion happening out front at least.
"It's no problem, really. That guy is a dumbass anyway." Tae couldn't help noticing the guy's delicate features and his normal speaking voice was so soft, a bit higher pitched than most males. "You're new here, right?" The man asked, "I've seen you coming and going a few times."
"Yeah, I've been here for a couple of weeks now. I usually stay to myself." Tae replied as he rocked a bit where he sat. Jonghyun was quiet now but he was facing away so Tae couldn't tell what he was doing. He hoped that maybe his son was falling asleep but that wasn't the case. His tiny brown eyes were wide with curiosity and he watched the other male intently while sucking on his little thumb. Either way, he was calm and Tae was beginning to feel just a tiny bit less stressed.
"That's not a bad plan in a place like this. You're almost guaranteed to not be involved in any of the drama around here….almost." he chuckled lightly "I'm not sure I'd have moved in a place like this with a baby though. I'm not judging, just saying. It's not very kid friendly. The ones that do live here are either part of the drama or they've just gotten used to it." He looked over to Tae and smiled, even his eyes smiled. "Your baby is precious though. Such a cutie."
"No one told me it would be like this when I filled out the application to move in.." Tae said quietly, his voice low. "and thanks. He's my entire life." He shifted a bit and brought Jonghyun into his arms so he could cradle him. That's when he saw just how awake his son was. Tae smiled just a tiny bit then looked over again, following his son's gaze. "I'm Taehyung by the way. Kim Taehyung and this is my son, Jonghyun."
The man couldn't help smiling more. The way Tae handled his son was just as precious. It was clear and evident just how much he loved and cared for him. "It's nice to finally have a name to put with the face I've been seeing since you moved in. I'm Jimin, Park Jimin. It's a pleasure to meet you, Taehyung."
There was a bit of silence that passed between the two men but it was broken by Jimin. "So, you don't sound too thrilled about this place. Are you planning on moving to somewhere better in the near future?" It was random, sure but Jimin was the curious type and most times he had to voice his thoughts.
"Mm...not exactly." Tae said, pausing as if he really had other options. "As nice as that sounds, I'm stuck here unfortunately. Partially because I'm bound by a 12 month lease and the other reason is I don't really have any other choices. This was literally the cheapest place I could find and I see why."
Taehyung looked down at his son. "Money isn't that great right now and I don't see that changing any time soon." He wasn't the prideful type but it still hurt him a little to admit that out loud given how his life used to be. Honestly, he was still trying to adjust. "Between transportation to work, paying for a sitter for my son, food, rent, bills….I may end up having to walk to work some days just to save money. Ubers are too expensive."
Jimin listened quietly, then shook his head. "Do you work downtown or something? Why are you taking Ubers? Not even people who are well off can afford to do that on a daily. There are literally busses and the subway that you can take to get downtown if that's where you work and it would be a lot cheaper than paying for an Uber. There's actually a bus stop about 2 blocks away from here."
Taehyung felt ignorant to say the least. He didn't know how all of this worked. He never had to worry about it before. The most he had to worry about was traffic on the way to work and back. Public transportation wasn't something he thought he would ever need. He tried thinking about it but just the thought of it confused him. What if he got on the wrong bus or made a wrong transfer and ended up on the opposite side of town he needed to be on. He glanced at Jimin "I never really gave that any thought. I don't know how any of that works and I'm pretty sure I would only get lost" Tae admitted with a small sigh.
Jimin looked half surprised. Was this guy serious? The way he already looked so defeated from only thinking about it made Jimin want to chuckle but he didn't. It wouldn't have been a mean laugh or like he was making fun of Taehyung. Jimin only thought his lack of knowledge on public transit was too damn adorable but he didn't want to send mixed signals especially when Tae was already having an rough night. "Do you need help learning your way around the subways and bus systems? I wouldn't mind showing you one day." There he went again, going on and blurting out what was in his mind but he couldn't help it plus his natural instinct of wanting to help was too strong and Taehyung really did seem like a nice sweet guy who was having a rough time.
Instantly out of habit, Tae declined the offer, earning a pout from Jimin. He wasn't used to being offered help and he certainly wasn't used to actually needing it. However, that little pout of Jimin's. His squishy little cheeks and poked out lips, just that alone made Taehyung want to accept Jimin's offer. "I mean...I suppose it could really help but I don't want to be a burden or take up your time. I'm sure you have a life of your own and I don't want to impose."
"Ha, don't worry about that," Jimin responded with a wave of his hand. "I'm the one who offered and I take the bus practically every day to get the work so it's no big deal." He smiled once more then looked at Jonghyun who had finally fallen back asleep in Taehyung's arms. " I've seen you in the mornings with him, do you take your son to work with you?"
Tae carefully adjusted the baby in his arms then shook his head. " I take him with me when I leave but not to work. I drop him off with his sitter first then go to my job"
Jimin thought for a moment and was about to say something but Tae beat him to it.
"I should probably get inside and put him to bed…it's so late and I think things have finally calmed down out front." Taehyung paused for a moment, giving Jimin just enough time to almost form another pout but it quickly disappeared when Tae spoke again. "Maybe tomorrow, you could….show me around? I don't have work so it would be a good chance to go out and attempt to get a feel for things"
Jimin's expression lit up in a soft glow. "I can do that, I don't work until tomorrow night so I have plenty of time. Do you want me to come over at a certain time?"
"10am would be good. This little guy wont let me sleep past that"
"10am it is then" said Jimin as he watched Taehyung finally stand up.
Tae gave him a tired smile "thank you again for earlier…with the guy. Have a good night Jimin" he said before turning to go inside.
"It's no problem at all, any time. And you have a good one as well, both of you."