Chapter Text
Wednesday nights are family dinner nights.
No exception.
There was a family dinner on the Wednesday Namjoon had surgery for his deviated septum, Hoseok managing to bring a meal, their newly adopted son - a distressed Jimin who thought that Namjoon not being there meant he was never coming home again - and Hoseok surviving on no sleep, nights spent comforting the 6 year old.
They had a family dinner night when Minji was running a fever of 106, all gathered around his bed when she’d cried in her fever induced state that her new family would forget about her like her old one did.
They had a family dinner when they were forced to evacuate from their building due to a fire in one of the units - sacrificing a home cooked meal for ramen and kimchi from the convenience store, all huddled together in the small seating area. Yes, Wednesday nights are family dinner nights.
Which is why Hoseok is in big trouble.
He didn’t mean to be late. Wednesday night is such an institution in his family that all his staff know that he leaves at 5:30 to get home in time. Which is why Momo was so apologetic when she emerged from the staff toilets, pale faced, to tell Hoseok that she didn’t think she could teach her hip-hop fusion class. Hoseok took it in his stride. He could still teach her class and make it home in time for dinner. He wasn’t expecting an injured dancer and traffic on the way home. Add a dead phone into the mix and his husband was going to kill him.
He took a deep breath outside the apartment door before steeling himself to glance at his watch. He was only two hours late. That wasn’t bad, was it?
Knowing he was going to incur his husband’s wrath if he wasted anymore time, he punched the code into the keypad and entered his apartment.
He was expecting to be accosted as soon as he crossed the threshold, so the silence that welcomed him was disarming. He slid his shoes off and placed them in the shoe rack. He had barely straightened up before the sound of socked feet on the floor gave him short warning before he had two small arms wrapped around his middle, his daughter squeezing him tight.
“Papa! Papa you’re home! You’re never going to believe what we have in the living room. Guess, Papa, guess! But you’ll never guess. You’ll be so surprised. Oh can we keep her, please say we can keep her. Appa said maybe but you’ll want to I just know it and…”
“Minji!” Hoseok interrupted her excitable chatter by raising his voice just a little. It was enough for her to pause and look up at him. Her eyes were widened and she bit on her bottom lip, waiting for the scolding that her younger years had trained her for. Hoseok shook his head quickly and squeezed her back.
“Minji, sweetheart, I’m not mad, don’t worry. But,” he smiled at his daughter, “what are you talking about?”
“Sorry Papa, I’m a bit excited.” She released Hoseok from her hold and put her smaller hand into the elder’s. “Come see, I know you’ll love her.”
Hoseok allowed himself to be pulled along the hallway to their living room, completely bemused by what had gotten his 10 year old in such a state. On entering the room, his eyes meet with his husbands, a look telling him that he’s not off the hook at all. He can’t focus on them for two long, as his eyes are drawn to a moving ball of fluff in his son’s arms. Minji releases him from her grasp and runs over to the sofa, throwing herself excitedly onto the seat next to Jimin.
“Careful Minji, you need to be gentle with her,” Jimin reminds her, before taking his sister’s hand and guiding it to the kitten’s head. “She’s still small and doesn’t know us well yet. She needs a little time, like when you first moved here with us.” Minji scrunches her eyebrows together in thought before nodding decisively and leaning closer to the kitten.
“Sorry kitty,” she whispers, “I’m just very excited to have you here. Please don’t be scared.” The kitten scrambles towards her lap, the girl staying very still until it curls up against her tummy, squeaking a little as she resumes her light pets of it’s head.
“Umm,” Hoseok starts, looking to both Namjoon and Jimin for answers, “why is there a kitten in my living room?” He stands at the edge of the sofa, hands on both his hips as he raises his eyebrows expectedly at Namjoon.
“I brought her here.” Jimin starts, before Minji clears her throat and levels a huffy stare at him. “We brought her here, we found her on the way home.” Jimin gets up from the sofa and wraps his arms around Hoseok’s waist. “Hi Papa.”
“Hi sunshine.” He returns the familiar hug easily, before taking his son by the shoulders and putting some distance between them to continue the conversation. “But how do you find a kitten on the way home - in this weather too? It’s freezing out.”
Jimin nods rapidly, keen to start his story. “I know Papa, that’s why I brought her home.”
“Those boys were mean.” The angry look on his daughter’s face made Hoseok want to coo, but he knew better than to risk upsetting the girl just because she looked cute.
“Boys?” he questioned.
“Hmmmm.” She nodded, crossing her arms tightly. The kitten mewed at the withdrawal of her arms, but Minji was too caught up to notice. “They were teasing her, pulling her by her tail and swinging her around.” She looked up at Hoseok as though the memory of it was causing her to relive it. “It was horrible Papa.” Hoseok sat down next to her, pulling her tightly against his side, free hand reaching to the kitten’s ears to scratch gently between them.
“I’m sure it was sweetheart, but it’s over now. This little one is safe and you’re safe so those boys can’t hurt either of you anymore, okay?” Minji nodded as she snuggled herself further into her father’s chest, little hand joining Hoseok’s to resume the kitten petting.
“Jimin intervened and got the boys to leave the cat alone,” Namjoon spoke up from the other end of the sofa. Hoseok’s head whipped round to fix his son with a stare.
“Park Jimin!” At least he had the sense to look somewhat guilty, Hoseok thought.
“I’m sorry Papa,” he mumbled, gaze clearly fixed on his feet, “I know you tell me not to do things like this but you should have seen it.” He lifted his gaze to meet his father’s eyes, looking at Hoseok beseechingly through watery irises. “The sounds coming from the kitten were horrible and Minji was so upset by what was happening that I couldn’t just…” he paused slightly to collect himself. “I couldn’t just do nothing Papa.”
“It’s okay Jimin-ah.” Hoseok reached out to pull his son onto the sofa on his free side. Jimin allowed himself to be tucked under Hoseok’s arm, the elder reassured that at least this time both his children are okay. “It’s okay, I just worry.” He felt Jimin’s head nod against his side. “You’ll understand when you’re a parent, all we do is worry.” He let a half hearted laugh fall from him, his gaze meeting Namjoon’s in solidarity, feeling a little better when his husband returned a half-smile. “Just, I know you want to help everyone Jiminie but please take care of yourself too. You can’t help anyone if you get hurt, okay?” Jimin nodded again, before replying half to Hoseok’s chest
“I understand Papa. I promise I’ll think more carefully next time.” He reached over Hoseok to join his sister in petting the kitten. Hoseok lent down and pressed a kiss into Jimin’s hair, before turning his head and doing the same to Minji.
“Thank you. Now,” he removed his arms from each of them, reaching to Minji’s lap to pick up the kitten. “I guess we need to find somewhere for this one to sleep tonight before we work out what to do with her tomorrow.” Hoseok knew what would come next, but he still had little time to prepare himself for the double attack of puppy eyes - which was ironic considering they were pleading for a cat to stay.
“Can we keep her Papa?”
“Please, Papa! Appa said maybe but you love her already right, we can keep her?”
“She can be my responsibility, I am 16 now so I should learn and have more responsibility right?
“She can sleep in my room Papa. My bed is hhhugggeeeee,” Hoseok moved his head quickly to avoid a small hand in his face, “and she’s so tiny that I don’t mind sharing.”
“Okay enough!” Hoseok mentally gave himself a pat on the back that he was managing to resist the onslaught of emotional blackmail from the two. “Looking after a pet is a big responsibility, and Jimin you are going into your busiest years of school.”
“But Papa. Appa?”
“Appa and I will discuss it. Now why don’t you both go and find her somewhere safe to sleep tonight, and we can talk more tomorrow. Okay?” They both nodded, faces mirror images of each other that it took Hoseok everything in him not to laugh at their matching pouts. He allowed Jimin to take the kitten from his lap, carefully carrying it out of the room while Minji trailed behind.
“Arrgghhh. That boy’s going to worry me into an early grave.”
“Me too babe.” Namjoon tugs him closer and pecks him lightly on the forehead. His lips ghost across his skin as he pulls away slightly to continue. “But he wouldn’t be Jimin without a heart the size of Korea.”
“I know,” Hoseok groans in response, “but could he maybe just have one the size of Seoul. I’d like grandkids one day.” Hoseok feels Namjoon chuckling, his chest moving gently with his laughter. As much as he’d like to ignore his responsibilities and snuggle deeper into his husband’s chest, Hoseok straightens himself up to look at Namjoon. “Do you think we should get Jin-hyung to talk to him?” Hoseok doesn’t like the feeling of powerlessness that washes over him. If it were up to him his children would never leave the apartment. Namjoon shakes his head, softly rubbing his thumb over the edges of Hoseok’s frown to encourage it to disappear.
“No, I don’t think so. From what the kids said, the boys were younger, Minji’s age maybe? They quickly left once someone older intervened. Besides, he had Minji with him. Regardless of his desire to help the kitten, you know he would have left it if he felt his sister was in any danger.” Hoseok hummed in response, letting his eyes close slowly as he thought about Namjoon’s response. His husband always knew how to calm him down. “Besides, maybe I should get hyung to talk to you about your punctuality.” Hoseok froze, meeting Namjoon’s gaze to see a seriousness behind his teasing. He exhaled slowly, pulling his face out of Namjoon’s hold to take both his husband’s hands in his. Better to get it over with now.
“I’m sorry. Momo got sick so I had to take her class, and Seunghoon got injured and by the time I got…”
“Hobi, babe, breathe. Why didn’t you call? Things happen I was just…” he tugged on Hoseok’s hands to get him to meet his gaze. “I was worried. Why didn’t you call.” Hoseok cringed as he knew what his response would be.
“My phone died,” he answered sheepishly.
“Hoseok! How many times?”
“I know I know. I’m sorry. Next time I promise I’ll call from the studio before I leave if I’m going to be even a minute late.” He wasn’t sure how far he could push his luck this evening, but he risked it anyway. “Besides, soon it won’t even matter once we’re in the new building, I’ll just be downstairs - zero commute.” He beamed at Namjoon, a combination of trying to charm his way out of the bad books and being genuinely excited about their future studio plans. Namjoon shook his head in exasperation, a grin on his own face pulling his dimples out.
“Ah, I should stay mad at you, but you know fine well I can’t. Cheater.”
“Years of practice.” He grabbed his husband’s collar, pulling him close but stopping just far enough apart so their lips couldn’t touch. “I know how to press all your buttons.” Namjoon twisted his lips as though he was in thought, which made Hoseok want to kiss him even more.
“After 19 years, is it too late to exchange you for someone who can’t manipulate me so much.” Hoseok could tell he was trying to hold back a grin.
“Mmm, much. You’re pretty much stuck with me now Joonie.”
“Guess you’ll have to do then.” He let him close the gap between them and felt the soft and familiar press of his lips against his own. There was a time when Hoseok panicked that this would become boring, that the sheer fact that they had kissed each other countless times would make every kiss the same. Now he understood it never could. Kissing Namjoon was familiar, but it was his familiar, and he wouldn’t change it for the world. He also was not going to complain when he felt his lips be prised apart, Namjoon’s tongue joining his own in a deep, sensual slide. Because he wasn’t blind either - his husband was still hot.
Being familiar with each other also had it’s downsides. His husband also knew exactly what to do to get his stomach flipping in anticipating. Namjoon moved away, Hoseok whimpering a little as he chased his lips. Before he could reconnect them and continue, they both felt the sofa cushions move as a small body threw themselves onto the remaining space.
“Appa, Papa, we’ve put the kitten to sleep.” Hoseok mourned the loss of the moment for a brief second before turning and dragging Minji into his lap.
“Well done. She’s safe is she? Not going to hurt herself or get lost?”
“No.” They both turned towards the doorway where Jimin was stood. “Minji has this enclosure for her dolls and it’s the perfect size for the kitten. She won’t get out but she’s safe.” Hoseok nodded in reply, ready to ask a follow-on question before a loud gurgling sound came from Namjoon’s stomach, sending all four of them into fits of giggles.
“I guess we should probably have some dinner,” Namjoon started, “any suggestions?”
“Can Jimin-oppa pick? For saving the kitten?” Minji suggested, looking between her two fathers.
“Sure sweetheart. That’s a really good idea.” Hoseok turned to Jimin who had sat himself in the space vacated by Minji. “What do you want sunshine?” Jimin looked a little hesitant as he made his reply.
“I know it’s not Friday, but could we have pizza?” Hoseok nodded, and a bright grin spread across Jimin’s face.
“Sure. And since Papa was sooooo late, I guess it’s his treat.” Namjoon teased. Hoseok pretended to be scandalized by this suggestion, drawing laughter from his two children.
“Sigh, I suppose so. Jimin, you know where the menus are, go and order for us all.” Jimin nodded before heading towards the kitchen where the takeout menus were kept, careful to not get knocked over by his sister who had ran towards the same destination to help. Hoseok looked after her wistfully. Where did she get all her energy from? His husband clearing his throat pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Pizza on a Wednesday? Are you sure we can afford it?” A smile was present on his husband’s face, which let Hoseok know he was forgiven for his lateness.
“I’m sure we can stretch to pizza just this once Joonie. Though if we go bankrupt because of it, I’m blaming you. Why didn’t I marry someone older who would spoil me? If only I’d met Jin-hyung first.”
“Sure babe, you tell yourself that.” Namjoon got up and gave his husband a chaste kiss before heading towards the kitchen himself. “Now I’m going to go make sure that Jin-hyung’s influence doesn’t encourage our children to order everything from the menu.” Hoseok snorted at that, watching as Namjoon left the room before allowing his body to entirely sink into the sofa cushions. As he listened to Minji’s attempt to get her choice of pizza, he mentally started to make a list of all the things he’d need to buy tomorrow for the kitten. Yup, Hoseok was whipped for his children.