Work Text:
Click, swish, click, swish, click, squeak-
Click, swish, click, swish, click, squeak-
Click, swish, click-
“Jimin sweetie, just sit down for a moment.”
Jimin runs a hand through his hair, messing up the perfectly placed strands he’d done just a mere few hours ago. He’d left the apartment in tip-top shape with his hair done to a T and his clothes ironed and pressed in all the right places, not a wrinkle or displeasing stain in sight. His shoes were polished and the bag of items they’d bought recently was secured on his back, the straps tied in a seemingly perfect alignment around his shoulders. He’d then walked to their car with purpose, much like how he was strutting around the adoption office now.
Only he was more nervously striding back and forth than actually walking with confidence at the moment. His shirt had come un-tucked and his shoes made clacking scuffs along the tiled floor. He was pacing, a habit he only did when he was nervous and unsettled.
Namjoon was more or less the same, except his nervousness was portrayed in the way he clenched his clammy hands onto the armrests of his chair, his foot tap tap tapping away and his knee bouncing along with it. He rubbed his hands across the front of his slacks and then went to run his fingers through his soft hair but thought better of it, remembering how much time Jimin had spent this morning fixing it for him.
Their bag of diapers, toys, and other baby supplies sat in the chair next to him where Jimin was supposed to be sitting. Namjoon reaches a sweaty hand over to straighten the flap that keeps it closed, adjusting the ties again for the fifth time since they’ve been here. He fixed it to his liking, tapping his finger on the small bear patch that adorns the front of it.
His stomach erupts in a fit of endless butterflies when he remembers why they’re here.
“Jimin, seriously, you’re going to work yourself into a frenzy.” He tries again, but it falls on deaf ears.
Jimin continues to stride back and forth across the ten-foot span of the room, marching back and forth and back and forth. Namjoon won’t be surprised if there’s a strip worn into the tile by the time they leave the cramped office.
Suddenly, Jimin stops, his hand coming to rub at his chin as his head whips up. His mouth falls into an O and his voice rises an octave.
“Did we pack the bottle? I don’t think I packed the bottle.” He says, taking a step towards the bag sitting in his chair.
Namjoon holds out a hand to stop him, resting his large palm on Jimin’s wrist and holding him in place, “The bottle is in the bag, along with everything else.”
“Are you sure?” Jimin asks.
“Jimin, we checked three times at home and twice on the way here, it’s in there.” Namjoon reassures.
It doesn’t help to quell Jimin’s thoughts, “It could have fallen out though when we got out of the car.”
Namjoon raises a brow.
“Just let me check again-”
“Jimin, it’s in there.”
Namjoon runs his hand around Jimin’s waist, the other rubbing small circles along the skin of his exposed wrist. Jimin sighs, brows furrowed in disbelief, but he steps away from the bag in contempt. He’s about to go back to his pacing when there’s a knock on the door.
The both of them stand up straight, small smiles on their faces in anticipation. They watch as the door opens and a man walks in with a woman in tow behind him, a small figure held in her arms.
“Jimin, Namjoon, I apologize for the wait.” The man says, ushering the woman away after she sets the figure in her arms safely on the ground.
“This is Jungkook.” He says, gesturing to the smaller boy next to him.
Jimin stills beside Namjoon, his nervous jitters finally getting the better of him it seems- actually getting the both of them.
They’ve been waiting ages for this moment to come, and now that it’s here, they’re not sure how to handle it.
The other man knows, though. It’s his job after all. He’s used to this. He smiles at Jimin and Namjoon before bending down to the smaller, whispering in his ear. The boy can’t speak yet, only a year and a half old according to the chart Jimin and Namjoon had read about him. But he seems to register what Mr. Kim says nonetheless.
The boy, Jungkook, looks to Mr. Kim and smiles a bit, his two front teeth showing. He takes a hesitant step towards the couple on the other side of the room, and then another, and then another.
His knees wobble and his hands flail a bit, but he seems eager to get across the few feet between him and his awaiting parents.
Jimin finally snaps out of his daze, bending down and stretching his arms out towards the smaller boy, cooing as he does so.
Jungkook’s smile widens and he hobbles over as fast as he can towards the awaiting arms. His giggles fill the room as he falls into Jimin’s chest and buries his face into the starched fabric of his dress shirt. The boy has remnants of food smeared around his lips, the remains smearing Jimin’s freshly pressed button up, but he doesn’t care. He’s just happy to have the giggling boy in his arms.
Namjoon bends down to their level, eyes bright and chest filling with warmth. There’s a kiddish grin he can’t seem to wipe from his features no matter how hard he tries. His eyes roam over the little boy's appearance, taking in the smaller’s entire being. A bowl of dark hair sits atop his head, brown eyes scrunched up and mouth open with tinkling laughter spilling out as Jimin gives him noisy kisses along his cheeks and neck.
Jimin’s laughter falls out as well, both boys giggling and snuggling into one another. Namjoon places his hand on Jimin’s back, rubbing circles into the fabric. It’s then that Jungkook takes notice of him. His head turns to take in Namjoon’s features, seeming to size him up. His stare is cold for a few moments, hesitant of him. Namjoon attempts to give his most comforting smile and holds his hands out in front of him, inviting the boy in. In an instant Jungkook’s eyes light up and widen and he launches himself towards Namjoon, the older thrusting his arms out to quickly grab the boy to keep him from toppling over.
The same childish laughter erupts into the room once again as Jungkook collides into Namjoon’s hold. His feet kick and his arms flail in excitement as Namjoon holds him closer to him. Jimin sits on his heels, wiping at his eyes and nose as he watches Namjoon talks away at the not-quite toddler, Jungkook bumbling out incoherent words at him. Jimin can’t help but think the child looks so small wrapped in Namjoon’s long arms with his equally large hands holding him around the boys middle. It’s endearing, and everything Jimin has imagined for the two of them for the seven years they’ve been together.
They’re finally going to grow their own little family.
Mr. Kim clears his throat, a fond smile adorning his young complexion, “I’ll leave you with him for a moment. The other two children should be done eating by now. Once we’re done with the rest of their paperwork you all should be ready to head out.”
Jimin and Namjoon both still, heads whipping up in curiosity and surprise.
“What do you mean ‘other children’.” Jimin asks.
Mr. Kim halts halfway out the door, head popping back into the room. He looks a bit taken aback at Jimin’s question. “The other children- Jungkook’s older brothers,” he says.
Namjoon’s eyes widen, and from Mr. Kim’s expression, he’s sure they look like they’re about to pop out of their sockets. Glancing at Jimin, Namjoon can tell he mirrors the same look as him.
“We didn’t know he had older brothers.” Jimin’s voice wobbles out.
Mr. Kim’s face falls, the color draining from his skin. “That shouldn’t be, though. You’re last case worker said so himself that you knew of the other two boys and that you filled out their paperwork as well.”
“I can assure you that we didn’t,” Namjoon says.
The three stare at one another, unsure of what to say exactly. It isn’t until Jungkook squeezes his hands around Namjoon’s neck that he startles out of his surprise. He raises Jungkook to his hip and stands, the boy burying his nose into the fabric of Namjoon’s jacket. He grabs for the dangling earring hooked in his lobe, small hands fisting the tiny object and pulling.
Laughter tinkles from Jungkook’s tiny lips and his smile shines bright. Babbled squeals are shouted from him as he gets excited and pulls on Namjoon’s earring with a fervor, laughing at the older’s wincing expression.
“There’s some misunderstanding here, Mr. Kim.” Jimin says. “We only went through the process of adopting Jungkook. One child, not three.”
Mr. Kim nods, “I see. Something must’ve been shuffled or rewritten in the process of your transferring over to this department. I’ll look into it and try to figure out what happened as best as I can. If you’ll excuse me.”
Mr. Kim walks out the door fully and closes it, leaving the two men in silence.
“Joon did you know anything about this?” Jimin asks, turning to him.
“Of course not. I’m just as much in the dark as you.”
This was outrageous. It took them long enough to be able to adopt Jungkook, and now they’re trying to say they’ll be getting three children? The thought alone terrifies him. He was ready to take on Jungkook and had been preparing for it for months on end- him and Jimin both had. They’d specially decorated the second room of their apartment and had been updating the interior of their home slowly but surely. Their friends had been sending them items that they’d used for their kids, handing down clothes and whatnot. He and Jimin had set up a banner and bought a cake for Jungkook’s arrival when they went home with him for the first time.
They didn’t have room for three kids. They didn’t have all the extra clothes or necessities they’d require. Hell, he didn’t even know how old they were. They could be teenagers for all him and Jimin knew. The both of them had barely gotten through their late teens and early twenties, how could they take care of two children who’d been through the foster system and probably through a worse life than them combined. He and Jimin narrowly made it together themselves. How could they raise two more children on top of the baby they would now be having too?
“Sorry to interrupt your session together, but the other two boys are done with their meals-” The same woman that’d brought Jungkook steps into the room. Two boys hold each of her hands, standing on either side of her. “Here you boys are.” She gives Jimin and Namjoon an unaware smile and walks out, leaving the two once again in looming silence.
Jimin stills, mouth shut and palms sweating. His eyes roam back and forth between the boys in front of him. Both are lanky, one taller than the other, with mops of dark hair the same as Jungkook’s, but their features are different. One has a longer face and high cheekbones and thin lips, the other more rounded with larger ears and long lashes. Same mother with different fathers, most likely. They all resembled the mother in Jungkook’s file.
They stand side by side, looking over Jimin and Namjoon in much the same fashion. They aren’t teenagers, like Namjoon had thought they might be. They’re both young, no more than seven and five respectively.
Jungkook squirms in Namjoon’s hold and wails until he’s set down on his feet. Namjoon settles him down gingerly, overly careful with him. His little legs instantly carry him over to the two boys, the taller of the two scooping him up in his arms and nuzzling into his neck. The other boy leans in close to Jungkook, widening his eyes and scrunching up his face. Jungkook laughs at him, clapping his hands and placing his small palms on the other's apple cheeks. They’ve all but forgotten the two adults in the room.
“What’re your names?” Jimin asks, cutting the silence between them.
Namjoon hadn’t even noticed the younger slowly walking towards the group. He kneels down to their heights, his small eyes crescent as he gazes at them. It’s such a timid approach, like he’s just as nervous as the other two boys must be.
“Hoseok.” The taller of the two says. Jungkook mouths at his cheek, trying to give him kisses. Or eat him. Namjoon isn’t too sure anymore.
The other boy doesn’t answer, hiding himself behind Hoseok. He peers over his shoulder as he looks at Jimin, flitting his eyes to Namjoon and seeming to shrink even further into himself.
Hoseok huffs and rolls his eyes, “Taehyung stop it, don’t be rude.” Hoseok turns and pushes Taehyung forward with the arm that doesn’t hold Jungkook in its grip. The smaller boy stumbles forward and almost right into Jimin, but he halts himself, eyes wide and lip trembling.
Jimin’s face falls at the sight, his small hands reaching out. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m not gonna bite.” He says softly. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
The boy clasps his hands together in front of him, thumbing at the fabric of his shirt. He looks back at Hoseok, and the older boy gives him a nod and a reassuring smile.
“My name is Taehyung.” He says.
Jimin’s smile instantly alights his features. “It’s nice to meet you Taehyung. I’m Jimin, and this is my husband, Namjoon.” He points to Namjoon’s looming figure a few steps behind him.
Taehyung quietly hums at him, eyes turning down and his head bobbing in a curt nod. He turns to take his place behind Hoseok again. The two boys huddle together and play with Jungkook in their hold, going back to an unaware state and forgetting Namjoon and Jimin exist all-together.
They’re cute, Namjoon thinks. Shy, but cute.
His heart pangs in his chest at what he’ll most likely have to tell them- that him and Jimin won’t be able to take care of them.
It throbs even more when Jimin stands up and whips his body around towards Namjoon, that pleading look in his eyes. His hair’s now flopped haphazardly on his forehead and his makeup is smudged around his eyes from his earlier tears.
“Namjoon, hear me out-” Jimin starts.
Namjoon sighs and takes in a choked breath. Jimin steps in front of him, eyes looking up at him and his hands gripping the sides of his shirt. A sniffle escapes his red and bitten lips and his voice quivers from the emotion he’s attempting to repress.
A whisper of words fall through Namjoon’s ears from the group of boy across from them.
“Hoseok, are they the ones we’re going with?” Taehyung asks.
“Yeah, Tae. They’ll be our new family.”
“Jungkook too?”
“Of course you dummy. Who else is going to take care of him besides us two? He needs his loving and caring brother Taehyung to look after him.”
“Well he needs you too, Hoseok. You protect us from all the scary things.” Taehyung whispers into Hoseok’s shoulder, hands caressing Jungkook’s mop of dark hair.
Namjoon physically feels his heart break inside his ribcage, the fragments splintering into his chest and the blood in him dripping cold in his veins.
“I know it’ll be hard, I know it will, but Joon they need us.” Jimin pleads.
“Jimin-”
“And I know we don’t have a big enough space and we’re nowhere near being able to buy everything for them right now but I think we can do it Joon. I really really do.”
“Jimin-”
“I can do overtime at work or maybe they’ll give me more hours in the evening if I explain the situation to them, but please Namjoon I know we can do it.”
“Jimin!”
Namjoon’s stern tone startles Jimin out of his rambling, and a flash of hurt crosses his features, his eyes welling up with unshed tears again. He goes to argue with his husband but Namjoon speaks before he can get a word out.
“Jimin, I understand all of that, but we can’t take them in when we barely have the combined salaries to take care of Jungkook alone.”
Tears stream down Jimin’s cheeks at Namjoon’s reasoning, knowing all of it is true and hating the reality of the situation they’re in.
“But that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to take them home in the future.” Namjoon adds.
Jimin’s eyes perk up and his lips turn at the corners, a look of hope on his features.
“I got a promotion at work that goes into effect at the end of the month. Means a bigger office, a harder role to take on, and a raise. Quite a big one at that.” He says.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Jimin asks, frustrated. With all the tension coiling in his muscles and his shoulders rigid, it’s like a flashback to their first fight all those years ago.
Namjoon hadn’t been able to pay the bill for their dinner, while being late on top of said dinner because his car had broken down, and had went on like nothing had happened for the rest of the evening. He hadn’t wanted to worry Jimin over small endeavors he couldn’t control and stress the younger out even further. Between Jimin’s job and keeping up with his last year of school, the other man had been exhausted and at his wits end the majority of everyday that year.
Namjoon had been his saving grace and escape from all of his worrisome duties then. Jimin’s words, not Namjoon’s.
The end of their disaster date was followed by several apologies on Namjoon’s part once he’d realized how frustrated and upset Jimin was over him being so late, and then taking a complete 180 when Jimin had finally found out all the reasons behind Namjoon’s absence. He’d asked the same question that night, as he’s done several nights over their years together.
Namjoon has always just wanted to make Jimin happy, and if that means keeping the upsetting truths from him for a bit longer than necessary, then so be it.
“I wanted to surprise you.” Namjoon said. “I also didn’t want to take away from Jungkook’s special day, either. We’ve been so busy preparing for this I thought the news would be a big breath of relief for us, you know?”
Jimin sniffles again, waiting for Namjoon to continue.
“But, I think if we budget right and figure out new room situations, I’m sure we’ll be able to make it work. Eventually, that is.”
“Joon, we need to take them home today. Not tomorrow, not a week from now, not even three weeks from now. It needs to be today.”
Jimin’s eyes bore into him like they never have before. Namjoon’s seen his husbands eyes dig daggers into him when he’s angry, seen his eyes crinkle and gaze over him like he hung the moon himself, but he’s never seen the ferocity of sadness that wells and simmers in his eyes right now. All their years together and Namjoon has never seen Jimin more sure or desperate for something in his life.
It makes it even harder to say what he’s about to knowing it’ll surely break Jimin’s heart.
“Jimin we won’t be able to take them all home right now.” His hand comes up to wipe at the tear streaks on Jimin’s cheeks. “You know that.” He whispers.
Jimin’s eyes harden, but he seems to finally understand. He sniffles and turns to the other three in the room, walking as delicately as he can to them and kneeling. He brushes a hand through Jungkook’s hair, and moves to do the same with the other two but hesitates. Instead, he drops his hand to his knee. More tears flow as he looks between the boys.
“I’m so sorry.”
——————
“Jimin.”
“In a minute, Joon.”
Jimin holds Jungkook to his chest, rocking him back and forth in their shared chair in the living room. Jungkook is asleep. His fists are held tight and little breathy noises leave him every so often.
Namjoon watched them from the kitchen, wiping absentmindedly at the plate in his hand. When he finishes he walks as softly as he can over to the pair, placing a large hand on Jungkook’s soft head of hair. The baby yawns and the two men tense waiting for the worst, but the boy only smacks his lips together and falls back into slumber.
Jimin shifts in the chair and stands. He ignores Namjoon, making his way to Jungkook’s crib. The action doesn’t deter Namjoon, though, and he follows. Jimin places Jungkook gently onto the mattress, cooing to himself at the sleeping boy.
Namjoon and Jimin watch their child for a moment, a quietness settling over them. Jimin steps closer to his husband and leans his head on the others shoulder. Namjoon places a soft press of his lips to Jimin’s hair, inhaling his scent.
“I love you.” He whispers.
“Love you too.”
| 3 Years Later |
“Hoseok stop!”
“Give it to me!”
“I want one too!”
“Jungkook go away!”
“Boys knock it off right now .”
Namjoon rushes towards the living room with his work tie in hand and one shoe placed snugly on his foot, ready to pounce on the three boys if need be and knock them into next week if they keep arguing with one another.
Hoseok sits on top of Taehyung, the younger boy holding the last remains of a one of the many cookies Jimin had made just last night. The two struggle with each other, Hoseok attempting to use his weight to deter Taehyung into dropping the food. Taehyung on the other hand keeps his arms extended and knee in Hoseok’s stomach to keep him from reaching it.
And Jungkook.
Jungkook circles them endlessly, screaming and crying, trying to include himself in the mess the older two have, once again, gotten themselves into.
“Boys!” Namjoon yells as loud as he can and storms over to them. He’s got Hoseok by the color of his shirt and his hand on Taehyung’s chest pushing and pulling the two away from each other. Jungkook grabs onto his socked clad foot and pulls as well, thinking he’s helping the situation some.
It only further irritates him because Jimin is nowhere in sight and it’s almost time for Namjoon to leave for work and he’s nowhere near ready and the kids need to get to school too and by god where is his husband at when he needs him most.
With a grunt Namjoon finally splits the two apart and shoves them to either sides of the living room.
“Dad he-“
“Taehyung wouldn’t-“
“Daaaaaaaaaaaaddy!”
Taehyung and Hoseok and Jungkook holler over one another and it grates on Namjoon’s ears.
“Not another word out of either of you! Throw the damn cookie away.”
“But-“
“Now, Taehyung.”
Taehyung huffs and stomps to the kitchen.
“Hoseok go brush your teeth, for the love of god I can smell your breath from here.”
“Fine.” Hoseok mutters, leaving the room.
And Jungkook.
Namjoon looks in front of him to see his youngest son, hands on his hips and only clad in a pair of pants, staring up at him. His bottom lip pokes out and his stomach flops a bit over the waistband of his pants.
“Let’s go find your dad.” He says.
Jungkook jumps and steps into Namjoon’s outstretched arms. Taehyung flies out of the kitchen and towards his and Hoseok’s shared bedroom, not sparing Namjoon a glance.
Namjoon and Jungkook check the kitchen, their bedroom, the hall bathroom, and even out in the corridor, but no luck.
The last place they check is the balcony, and low and behold, there sits Jimin in his work attire with a cup of coffee in his hand, rocking back and forth in his rocking chair with his mouth hung open.
A fly swarms around his husbands face and he swats it away. Jimin continues to snore lightly, oblivious to the goings on around him.
Namjoon sets Jungkook on the ground and watches him hobble over to his dad. He uses his tiny hands to climb and pull his way up into Jimin’s lap and sits there
He stares at the other for a moment before standing himself up on his thighs and leveling himself face to face with Jimin, and he screams.
“Daaaaaady wake up!”
And sure enough, Jimin startles awake and drops the mug in his hold, furtively whipping his head in all directions and coming to a stand with Jungkook in his arms.
“Oh my god what? Daddy’s here, what happened? Namjoon is everything okay?”
Jimin looks to him for answers, but finds none. Namjoon chuckles at his husband and Jungkook laughs. Jimin only sighs, understanding what happened, and makes his way inside to finish getting ready.
Thirty minutes later, the five of them are heading out the door and on their separate ways to their own transportation.
Jimin stops Namjoon before he leaves their apartment, hand gripping his bicep through his suit jacket, “Forget something?”
Namjoon looks at him, confused, until Jimin holds up his other hand, Namjoon’s other shoe dangling from his finger.
“Oh.” He says, cheeks reddening. “Thank you.” Namjoon says, taking his shoe.
Jimin chuckles, kissing him briefly on the lips before making his way to the other three boys waiting for them outside. Taehyung and Hoseok gag at their father’s actions and make noises. Jimin ignores their remarks and kisses the tops of their heads, and then Jungkook by the hand, leading him towards the elevators to bring them down to the ground floor.
Jimin will leave to go take Jungkook to his babysitters and will pick him up after work.
Namjoon motions for the other two boys to follow him, heading in the opposite direction of Jimin and towards the stairs. The three of them race down the few flights and out the exit door, racing again towards the bus stop.
Of course, Hoseok wins, the ever studious track athlete he’s roaring to become. It ends with Taehyung in second and Namjoon in last. Like always, he receives remarks and taunts from his competitors.
His bus comes first, the one that takes him away from his little family he loves so much, and to the gray and drab walls of his office. A hell hole of a home away from home.
Namjoon gives Taehyung a kiss first, on his cheek and then in his head, moving to Hoseok next. He gives them two loud snacks to embarrass them a little in front of the awaiting crowd. Even though they hate it and groan at the actions, they still whisper into their fathers ear that they love him.
The bus stops in front of them, and Namjoon lets himself on. He watches from the window, looking at his two sons standing their waiting to go to school.
A moment later, when the boys are out of his line of sight finally, his phone beeps. A message from Jimin. It’s a picture of him and Jungkook grinning at the camera, with the words attached to the message that Namjoon always loves to see.
‘Be home around six. Can’t wait to have a family meal tonight, I’m making your Taehyung has a presentation and Hoseok has a test today, so be sure to root for them today! Love you bunches and we’ll see you when we get home.’
A smile curls up the ends of Namjoon’s lips.
He loves his family with all of his heart.
Swish, swish, swish, badump-
Swish, swish, swish, badump-
The thumping and bumping of the bus as it rolls along the roads lull’s Namjoon into a peaceful state, bringing him to remember all the good things that’s come to him and Jimin, and henceforth their little, imperfectly perfect, little family.
Namjoon loves Jimin and his children with all of his heart.