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"Kookie," Namjoon says, trying to keep the stern expression on his face from slipping. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
The toddler stares up at him, blinking his doe eyes innocently, and lets out a happy gurgle in response.
Namjoon sighs, rubbing his face tiredly. "Kookie, baby, you gotta work with me here. What am I gonna say to Jinnie when he comes home and finds out that you somehow got into his pantry when I was supposed to be watching you?"
Jungkook, instead of being helpful and offering solutions to Namjoon's grief, just rolls over onto his back and tilts his head innocently, sending his dad an angelic look. He still looks adorable, even when guilty, and Namjoon almost breaks.
Until he blows a loud raspberry and squeals at Namjoon's offended expression. The disrespect.
"Yah, Kim Jungkook, don't you dare give me that face," Namjoon says, glowering down at his son. "It's not my fault you found out how to climb out of your crib. How did you get past the railings, anyway?"
Jungkook giggles at his words, making grabby hands up at Namjoon, and he softens. Jungkook's laugh has always been one of his weaknesses, ever since the first day after he adopted him, when they played with him all afternoon and just listened to him laugh. Namjoon never thought he'd be one of those parents that were so enamored with their child that their laugh sounds like music, but here he is. He'll never admit it, but whatever he produces at the studio can never match up to that sound.
Namjoon bends down and picks up Jungkook from the sofa, holding him up to inspect that damage. There's flour in Jungkook's hair and dusting his cheeks, and tomato sauce all down his onesie. It's quite disgusting, frankly; Namjoon doesn't know why he put Jungkook on the sofa when Seokjin would murder him in his sleep for staining the leather.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Namjoon sighs, holding Jungkook a safe distance away from his shirt and nudging the bathroom door open with his foot. Jungkook babbles in delight as Namjoon starts filling the bathtub and grabs a bottle of bubble bath soap, and he nearly falls out of Namjoon's grip struggling towards the rubber duck placed on the sink. Bathtime always involves a near life-or-death situation when it comes to Jungkook, Namjoon has learnt.
"Alright, Kookie, we can do this," Namjoon says determinedly, lowering Jungkook into the tub. "Everything will be okay if you co-operate-"
Jungkook squeals when his feet hit the cold surface, and he kicks out, splashing the freezing water all over the front of Namjoon's shirt.
"Oh, fuc- I mean, um, dang," Namjoon stares down at his soaked shirt in disbelief. It's his favourite shirt, bought from Supreme as a birthday gift from his sister. It's his favourite shirt, designed by Supreme, and Jungkook just splashed bath water all over it.
He looks up, sees the saint-like bunny smile on Jungkook's face, and silently declares war.
Namjoon pools a little cusp of water in his cupped hands and pours it over Jungkook's head. The toddler squeals again, louder, and smacks his hands against the water, hitting Namjoon's face full force. He swipes at the droplets clinging to his cheeks and turns his mock-murderous glare onto Jungkook. Oh, it's on.
Seokjin always makes it a point to tire Jungkook out before bathing him, and Namjoon suddenly understands why. The kid is hyperactive enough as it is when he's not surrounded by so many dangerous playthings. He almost cracks his skull on the surface of the tub a couple times, trying to reach for the duck on the sink, and he makes sure to let Namjoon know how big of a mistake he's making when he does get ahold of it. Namjoon has never taken a rubber duck to the face, but with parenthood comes a bunch of new experiences, some more painful than others.
Jungkook's squeals of laughter and Namjoon's indignant yelps echo in the small bathroom, until Namjoon has tired Jungkook out enough for the toddler to lean against the side of the tub, his eyelids almost closing. Namjoon lets him get in the last word, offers up his cheeks for Jungkook to press his wet hands against, before he bathes him quickly, tomato sauce and flour swirling down the drain.
Namjoon carries a clean and drowsy Jungkook to his and Seokjin's bedroom, laying him down on the bed before changing his own clothes and drying his hair. He turns around to see Jungkook curled up on Seokjin's side of the bed, sucking on his thumb as he sleeps. Namjoon smiles, unbearably fond, and climbs onto the bed beside him.
"Jungkook-ah, don't make things so hard for me, 'kay?" Namjoon says, faking annoyance as he nuzzling the top of Jungkook's head. "You nearly gave appa a heart attack when you climbed out of your crib. Cheeky little shit, don't splash me next time; that shirt is expensive."
Jungkook yawns and rolls over, barely awake enough to register the warmth of Namjoon's presence as he cuddles into his side. Namjoon just laughs softly, kisses Jungkook's forehead, whispers, "I love you too, Kookie."
He lies back against the bed and instantly feels his eyelids drooping. He hadn't realised how tired he has gotten from Jungkook's antics; maybe he'll just take a little nap...
Seokjin finds them, hours later, curled up together on the bed, Namjoon's arm wrapped protectively around Jungkook as the toddler drools on another one of his branded shirts, and just closes the door quietly, not wanting to wake them. He'll ask why there's flour all over his pantry another time.