Chapter Text
As the second oldest member in the group, Jeonghan was used to showering the younger boys with praises and giving them his undivided attention. He cooed whenever they looked or acted cute, whether they meant to or not. The maknae line, especially, seemed adorable to Jeonghan even when they were just sitting still and playing silly hand games out of boredom.
He didn’t particularly enjoy giving aegyo, so their arrangement worked perfectly as far as the blonde was concerned--the others did something cute and he cheered them on like a proud mom. He embarrassed them too, of course, but that was just part of the package. He liked showing the world how adorable his boys were, regardless of the context or time of day.
However, that was Jeonghan. As far as little Jeonghan--Hannie--was concerned, there was no extra room for cuteness. He allowed it from Dino because even in his smallest headspace, Jeonghan couldn’t help but view the maknae as his baby. When he was little, Dino just reminded him of a same-age friend. Everyone else was his hyung, caretaker, or parental figure.
So, when Seventeen met with the Nu’est boys for a littles playdate, Hannie was horrified to find himself no longer the only adorable one there.
Right now just Jun, Seungkwan, and Jeonghan were little from Seventeen, but the rest of the boys’ ages fluctuated every few minutes as more toys and stimulation came out. While Boo was a natural entertainer and emcee in his regular headspace, baby Boo hid behind all his hyungs. He mainly lingered beside Vernon or Wonwoo for their height and since he knew they would keep him safe. As for little Jun, he made plenty of noise for all three of them combined.
The Nu’est members were all in their grown headspaces, save for their own maknae. Usually Jeonghan loved playing with Ren and being compared with the latter. They were known as the pretty boys of Pledis for a reason, after all, and they became even more stunning when together.
Today though, Hannie’s bottom lip couldn’t stop wobbling as he watched Seungcheol and Joshua--his favorite caretakers--fawn all over the other little. They tickled Ren whenever he ran up and tried to scare them, his laughter high-pitched and innocent. For some reason, the little had decided to play with these two Seventeen members out of all other eleven of them, and Hannie couldn’t decide which person to be most mad at.
Ren was obviously to blame for actively stealing his hyungs, squealing and giggling under their attention. Yet, Hannie also couldn’t help but think the little had good taste. Seungcheol and Joshua were the top caretakers in his opinion, and clearly Ren had seen something nurturing in them as well.
Hannie huffed as he considered how much the pair were at fault. While he and Ren were only a few years old mentally, Seungcheol and Joshua were grown-ups. They should have known better! Sure, it was okay to let Ren play with one of his toys, but not his appa and daddy!
Unless…what if they wanted a new little?
Hannie gasped out loud at the thought. Why wasn’t he enough for them? Maybe sometimes he could get a little whiny before bedtime or bathtime, and occasionally they needed to scold him. However, all things considered, wasn’t he still a pretty good little? He liked to think he was…he always said ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and he gave the best koala cuddles out of everyone else in the group. Appa--Seungcheol, as the others called him--had even said so himself!
Swallowing down the sob that threatened to escape, Hannie scanned the room and looked at all the other caretakers there. Vernon was probably a safe option, but Boo would have no doubt had a hissy fit if Jeongahn tried to squeeze himself in between them. Minghao was another reliable caretaker, but Jun was kind of scary when running wild, and Hannie really didn’t want to get on the Chinese little’s bad side. Everyone else he trusted to read him a bedtime story or fix his sippy cup, but not practically adopt him while in little space.
There was a reason Hannie had picked Seungcheol and Joshua as his caretakers.
He felt his lip start to tremble again, until one of the Nu’est hyungs suddenly held out a hand. “Hey, baby,” Baekho chuckled at Jeonghan’s startled expression, his smile wide. “What’s got you so lost in thought, hm?”
Before Hannie could answer, Minhyun added, “Don’t you want to play with your friends and the toys we brought over? Rennie’s been so excited all day to play with you!”
Jeonghan glanced over to find the little in question tossing a rubber ball with Seungcheol, and his spirits sank a little deeper. Ren definitely didn’t look like he needed any extra company. Turning back to the Nu’est members, Hannie mustered all his strength and pleaded, “Can I play with you instead?” He pouted his lip for good measure, knowing how irresistible the combination of it with his sparkly eyes could be.
“Of course you can, cherub,” Aron cooed, and Hannie couldn’t help but smile and blush prettily at the pet name.
He climbed onto Baekho’s lap first, the latter’s size and demeanor reminding him of Seungcheol. Even as a little, Jeonghan had never understood why other people often called Nu’est’s giant scary. He wasn’t intimidating…they were just intimidated. In Jeonghan’s eyes, Baekho was just a big, cuddly bear.
Unfortunately, Hannie began to feel like Goldilocks as he found the other’s lap firm but not very comfortable. It was strong and muscular, traits he’d probably appreciate in his regular headspace. Heck, grown Ren had salivated over Baekho’s body in front of Jeonghan numerous times, and Jeonghan could understand why.
Yet, Hannie just found it too hard for his liking. Without a word he crawled over Baekho’s lap onto Aron, the eldest surprised but amused once he made sure Hannie wouldn’t fall. Playdates always ended abruptly when someone got hurt.
Aron’s embrace was…better, but still not what Hannie wanted. The oldest member was much softer than Baekho’s body, but now he was too soft! Hannie needed to be held by a caretaker, not a rock or a pillow.
Sighing to himself, he moved on to JR next. Now this was perfect--not too hard, not too soft…just right. JR gathered and readjusted the little carefully so that Hannie could both feel coddled and see everyone in the group. Clearly this was not JR’s first time holding a little, as his experience shone through his attentive care.
“Is this better, baby?” JR asked once Hannie finally relaxed.
Hannie smiled and nodded excitedly. “Thank you, hyungs,” he sang.
“You must have missed hyungs, huh?” Baekho teased gently. “You really don’t want to play though? We can bring a coloring book or race car over if you just want to stay here.”
Hannie started to answer positively, until he heard the unmistakable, shared laughter of his two favorite people across the room. He frowned instead, remembering what he had been thinking before the Nu’est members had grabbed him. This time he couldn’t hide his pout or the sad, teary look in his eyes.
“What’s wrong, Hannie?” Minhyun hurried, voicing the rest of the group’s concerns.
“They don’t want me anymore,” Hannie sniffled. “They like Rennie better.”
Their eyes following the boy’s line of vision, it only took a moment for the Nu’est members to understand. “That’s not true, cherub,” Aron promised, though they weren’t sure how much Hannie would believe him. “Seungcheol and Joshua told me just the other day that you’re the best baby in the entire world!”
“Rennie’s better,” Hannie whimpered, shaking his head stubbornly.
JR just smiled as he petted the boy’s flushed face. “Will one of you bring those three over?” he asked his own group. “I think Hannie needs to see this for himself.”
Baekho volunteered and retrieved the Nu’est little and Seventeen pair seconds later. They followed as soon as they found their own little one on JR's lap. However, to Hannie’s surprise, Ren pulled his hands out of their grasps and ran straight for the leader.
“Appa!” he cried, his own tears falling freely now. “Appa, noooo!” Baekho hushed the little softly, but Ren jerked away and whined louder.
“Spoiled little thing,” Minhyun snorted. “Our own fault though.”
Understanding Ren’s complaint, Hannie jumped down from the other man’s lap before Ren could become even more upset. “It’s okay, Rennie,” he tried to soothe. “I’m not taking your appa.”
Ren sulked as he stared at the other little for a moment, only to take Jeonghan’s place in JR’s arms. “Appa, just me,” he sniffled. “No other babies for Appa!”
JR grinned then, so amused and enamored with the boy. “I’m not his appa, love,” he quieted, kissing the tear tracks down Ren’s face. “Hannie was sad and needed cuddles because his appa was busy too.”
“You were, angel?” Seungcheol gasped, and Joshua mimicked his stunned expression. “Love, why were you sad?”
Hannie hesitated after seeing Ren go through the same fear, but he reminded himself that at least the little had received hugs and kisses for his trouble. “Appa and Daddy just wanted to play with Rennie,” he mumbled, cringing when his voice cracked. “Got scared that Rennie’s a better little than Hannie.”
“That’s not true, sweetheart,” Joshua cooed, kneeling down to pull the older boy into his arms. “We love Hannie the most!”
“Really?” Hannie whimpered, and they couldn’t understand how Jeonghan didn’t automatically believe them.
Seungcheol sat down beside them next, and Hannie naturally slid into the leader’s embrace. “Really, love. We think you’re the cutest, bestest little we could ever want. We pinky-promise!”
Jeonghan smiled then, because a pinky-promise was law in the world of little space. “Then can we all play together?” he asked hopefully.
“If Rennie wants,” Joshua chuckled.
Jeonghan turned around then and gave the boy a small, peace-offering smile. “Do you wanna play together, Rennie?”
Ren nodded slowly, though he clung to JR’s shirt with a tight fist. “Otay,” he agreed. “But I stay with Appa.”
“That’s okay!” Hannie answered more brightly this time. “I’m staying with my appa and daddy too.”