Chapter Text
In the past, Namjoon was never one to see himself with children.
Not to say he hates them or anything, he loves kids actually. It’s just the idea of having children wasn't all that entertaining to him. He didn't quite see himself with another person either. Not that he hates people or anything either, but...
He's more of a nature person. Someone who loves to sit alone and watch the sunrise with a cup of tea and breathe the crisp air to chill his lungs. To just relax and watch his farm animals go about their business and graze on the grass.
"It’s a beautiful morning, isn't it Kookie?"
Namjoon looked down at his small companion currently attached to his hip, who in turn looked up at him.
So while he was very much alone, he also wasn't. And while he didn’t have children at all, he... kinda did. A certain, black lamb who stuck by his side at all times.
It was almost like a full time job, aside from farming, to take care of the tiny runt. Not that Namjoon minded. From last spring, Namjoon found one of the newborn lambs often left from the herd. The poor thing was trying his hardest to get a bit of fresh milk and grass, play with the other lambs and be just like any other lamb.
Of course, the herd rejected him. He was scrawny and weak, too slow to keep up with the herd. Didn't show any good traits, so they just dropped him. And Namjoon didn't have the heart to sit and watch the lamb deteriorate, so he took him in.
Namjoon pushed himself off the porch and the lamb quickly followed in his trails. There were a few errands that he had to run today, which he would certainly procrastinate on if he didn’t get started right away.
He glanced down and smiled at Kookie, who eagerly looked up with a tiny bleat, “Ready to get started with the day, Kookie?”
The lamb’s tail wagged in response. Black hooves tapped impatiently on ground, waiting for the human to start moving. If that wasn’t the lamb’s way of talking to Namjoon, then he didn’t know what was.
Ever since Kookie could venture off on his own, there was a routine that they both fell into.
On Monday’s they’d go over to Jin’s, which was a half mile down the road, and stock up on any feed and equipment that was needed. Sometimes, if the day was cool, Namjoon would walk there as Kookie trotted right by his heels. Other days when the sun was blistering, he’d ride his bike with a little red wagon in tow designated especially for the lamb.
Jin would always greet them with a welcoming smile, offering Kookie his freshest batch of homemade treats that the lamb would gobble up within seconds with his constant, ravaging appetite. Namjoon’s not complaining though.
When weaning the lamb off of milk, he’s never developed a proper appetite and was on the skinnier side. Some days he would eat a handful while other days not.
It was thanks to Jin that Kookie’s just about insatiable with hunger nowadays. The special blend that the older man milled specifically for young lambs, mixed in with a bit of milk and sweet treats, had Kookie begging for more. The tiny wool tail wagged for miles as he always munched on the food that Jin gave him.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays were reserved for tending to the greenhouse and the corn fields. Namjoon would always start with the greenhouse first. While he watered and potted all of the different types of herbs and delicate vegetables, Kookie would watch him closely. His ears tuning in to Joon's soft humming and occasional steps around the aisles.
There wasn’t much for the tiny lamb to do in the greenhouse other than lap at the puddles of water leaking from the hose or take a nice nap on the cool bag of dirt.
And as Wednesday came the next day, Kookie would be the first to wake up before Namjoon. Always tapping him with his hooves and nibbling his fingers to get the human up on his feet. Cornfields meant adventure to young lambs like Kookie. Of course after doing his daily rounds around the farm to feed the animals and eating food himself, Namjoon was the one to scurry after Kookie out the front door.
While he would check the corn for hydration levels, any pests, bugs and unwanted critters, the lamb would venture through the tall stalks of corn. He didn’t go too far though. Just far enough to where Namjoon could hear the silver bell around his collar jingle with a shake of his head.
Joon didn’t know why the lamb was so excited for the cornfields. It’s just rows and rows of corn. But he’s learned not to mind it, seeing how invested the lamb can be in a simple ladybug crawling up a strand of grass.
Thursday’s were the dreaded ‘bath days’. Well...dreaded for every other farm animal but Kookie, as he quite liked his bath. Namjoon would first head over to the stalls where the cows and horses resided and individually gave each animal the attention they needed, whether it was a good brushing or a quick rinse.
Kookie would always slip between the stalls, bleating and galloping between the legs of the tall creatures, who didn't seem to mind at all. The large animals would always entertain the little lamb as they responded with huffs and moos to the tiny bleats resounding the stalls. Namjoon didn’t doubt there was some type of communication going on there, which he only thought of as adorable.
After a quick exchange for fresh bedding, the two made their way towards the fields. As Namjoon rounded up the sheep into a bath of their own, Kookie made a beeline towards the pig pen.
The pigs were always quite social and accepted Kookie every time he came hopping up to the fence. It was really peculiar and made Joon laugh whenever he glanced over to see the lamb rolling in mud. He could swear that if Kookie wasn’t a lamb, he would definitely be a piglet.
That is, if he wasn't already one at heart, with his voracious appetite and mud baths.
Once Kookie’s had his fill of rolling in the cool mud, Joon would swoop him up and carry him inside for his own special spa day. Being the only animal that sticks to Joon’s side came with its perks, one of them being a personal bubble bath in the bathtub. Kookie would always preen under the extra attention as Joon was always careful to untangle the mud from his coat. After a quick scrub and rinse, he’d take the fluffiest towel to wrap the lamb in and pat the wet curls until he was dry.
Friday was always Kookie’s favorite day. It was a grocery shopping day for Namjoon, but for Kookie it meant seeing his best friends, Tae and Minnie.
It was quite a distance away for walking or biking, so Namjoon always drove the truck. Using his truck was not something he’d normally do and there were tons of farmer markets that were within walking distance, but it was worth it if it meant seeing Kookie excitedly wagging his tail in the passenger’s seat.
The second Namjoon pulls up to Hoseok’s farm, the lamb goes bursting out the door galloping towards the two, bright-eyed shepherd dogs standing on the driveway. As they go running off into the fields and tumbling around, Namjoon goes his own direction to start his shopping, which never lasts long. Since he comes on a weekly basis there isn’t much that’s needed, so he’s done shopping within 20 minutes tops.
Though the trip always ends up going on for hours for the sake of Kookie. Namjoon never has the heart to interrupt Kookie and his friends, so he sticks around Hoseok’s farm longer than expected.
Hoseok understands and is more than okay with that, glad that his dogs found themselves a friend as well. The happy farmer loves to strike up conversation with Joon, inviting him to try the most recent pie he’s made or exchanging tips about different techniques.
It would be until the sky is changing color when the three finally mosey their way back to the porch, clearly exhausted but content. Kookie would plop by Namjoon’s side while Tae and Minnie stretch out on a nice shaded portion of the porch.
Saturdays were reserved for any repairs at Yoongi’s repair shop. With the hard work that Namjoon does every single day, there’s often one or two things that need a touch up. Whenever they walk in to see the man, Kookie bleats and trots up to him which Yoongi returns the greeting.
It’s almost never busy, with an exception of a customer here or there. And it’s always nice and calm in the shop, the only ambience coming from the dim television and Yoongi’s tinkering.
Though Kookie is quick to change that. The lamb is always peering over Yoongi’s shoulder, curious as to what the man is tinkering on, with his ears pricked in interest. Occasionally, Kookie would bleat at the human as he watched the crafted hands work their magic, Yoongi entertaining the lamb and telling him everything he was doing, even asking how the lamb’s day went and what he did so far.
Yoongi wasn't always this willing to talk, especially to a lamb nonetheless.
It was around the second visit, Yoongi and Namjoon were confused with Kookie’s constant vocalizations. The lamb staring up at Yoongi and bleating every few seconds until Yoongi decided to answer back one day. Joon could see his lips quirk into a grin as the lamb bleated in response, quickly figuring the lamb just wanted to talk to him.
It was always quite amusing to watch. Namjoon knows Yoongi can’t understand Kookie, so to watch a one-sided conversation between a human and a fascinated lamb was a sight to see.
Finally, Sunday was the designated rest day. Aside from feeding the farm animals and watering a few plants here and there, Namjoon made it known to Kookie that this was their day to stay in and relax. Kookie didn’t have a problem with that at all.
He’d start the day off early with a nice hearty breakfast, slipping a few pieces of bread and fruits to the lamb while he was cooking. After eating and sipping on a warm cup of tea, Joon would go shower and get dressed for their early morning walk.
With a light jacket, he and Kookie would head out the front door and hop into their truck to head towards the mountain line. Compared to the miles of crops and flat land that they’re used to, walking along the trail surrounded by trees was a nice change of scenery.
They’d pull up to the park and greet the park ranger before heading off into the trail, the smell of sweet dew and gritty earth filling their senses. Kookie would always stare off into the forest with wide eyes, ears swiveling at every bird song and eyes tracking the movements of squirrels scurrying up the trees.
The lamb was in awe, curiosity peeking up as they’d walk along the river and see tiny fish swimming near the surface. It would prompt Namjoon to take a quick stop and sit on the river’s edge, the lamb taking his spot next to Joon and dipping his hoof in the water for the fish to nibble on.
After they’d have their fill, it was time to leave the park and head back home where Joon would spruce up the house with the help of Kookie. He wasn’t terribly messy, but the life of being a farmer can often result in a few things being misplaced. So with a bit of music from the radio, Namjoon would have the help of his little worker to clean up the home. Well...as much help as Kookie could provide.
He knew the lamb tried his best to help, but he didn’t have the heart to correct Kookie that his work shoes didn’t belong on the coffee table or that the blankets weren’t meant to be on the ground next to the grandfather clock. Instead he resorted to carefully picking up the items and putting them where they belonged. Kookie never seemed to notice anyway, if it wasn’t by the way he turned to Namjoon with bright eyes and a tail wag once they were done.
And as their little reward for cleaning up, Namjoon would make them a nice healthy lunch that they would eat on the back porch underneath the warm sunlight. Joon would sit on the porch swing with Kookie right beside him, his head resting in the human’s lap with a full belly. And if Mother Nature felt merciful and provided a gentle breeze for the unrelenting sun, it was almost impossible to not take a nap right then and there.
The two would slowly swing as the weather felt nice against their skin and the farm animals chittered in the background.
When night would approach, Joon would make them both dinner and indulge in a sweet treat afterwards, with Kookie’s dessert as a scoop of whipped cream. They’d lumber up to Joon’s room where Kookie would be quick to hop up onto the bed and curl up while waiting for the human to complete his nightly routine.
Sometimes Joon would go straight to sleep after brushing his teeth, but the times he didn’t and picked up a book instead made Kookie’s tail twitch. Late night book reads meant soothing pets and story time.
The lamb would press himself into Joon’s side as a calloused hand would work through his wool. His eyes closed but ears pricked up to listen to every word that Joon uttered out. The smooth and low voice in the quiet of night lulling him to sleep. Once Joon would see the lamb’s breath even out, he would lean over and turn the lamp off, inviting the embrace of sleep to await for his first day of work the next day.
Joon doesn’t know if it was some type of fate that he ended up with a lamb like Kookie. And that’s saying a lot, considering all of the different personalities from farm animals he’s taken care of. It’s just that Kookie was very peculiar. Extremely unique for an animal. Throughout every interaction, the lamb’s behavior could almost be labeled as human-like.
Just the simple way the lamb looks up at him and listens to him speak always fascinates Joon. The way he follows the human around and answers back when Joon calls out to him. Everything from the body language the sheep uses to communicate to the way he neatly eats from his bowl. Namjoon shouldn’t be one to look a gift horse in the mouth and decides to push those thoughts away.
For now, he’s grateful for the opportunity to raise such a special little lamb and all of his personality. Namjoon glanced down at the lamb impatiently waiting by his side before grinning, “Let’s get started, yeah?”
Kookie bleated, looking up at Joon making his collar jingle.
Namjoon was sure that was an answer, if anything, and set off on foot to start their Monday routine.