Work Text:
seokjin and yoongi tried their best to raise jeongguk to be a well-mannered boy. the group also tried their best to help whenever jeongguk hung out with them together. a lot of people who dealt with jeongguk commented on how well-behaved and well-mannered he was, and the two would always preen whenever people praised jeongguk.
however, being well-mannered didn't mean he couldn't be straightforward.
seokjin was walking back home from the supermarket with jeongguk when he came across a coworker. a lot of them lived far from each other, so seokjin didn't expect to come across anyone nearby.
"oh, hey, seokjin," the man greeted as he waved at seokjin.
"hey, hyunjae," seokjin greeted with a nod, since he was carrying a shopping bag in one arm and his other hand was holding onto jeongguk's hand. "i didn't know you live close by."
"i don't, not really," hyunjae said. "i heard there's a good chinese restaurant near here so i thought i'd give it a try."
"oh, yeah, there's this nice dumpling place near our complex," seokjin replied with a smile. "we can walk together if you want, i mean, if it is the place you're talking about."
"i think so, the reviews talked about the pan fried dumplings," hyunjae said, then looked down at jeongguk who was staring at him curiously. "ah, this must be your son?"
"yeah, this is jeongguk," seokjin said as he smiled fondly at jeongguk. "say hi, baby."
jeongguk raised his free hand and waved at hyunjae.
"he's so cute," hyunjae said as he chuckled. "no wonder you never want to go on business trips. where's your husband, anyway?"
"he's got a cold, so he's staying home," seokjin said. "i actually went to the store to get some ginger and honey for him, because jeongguk was worried and wouldn't just let him sleep it off."
the trio then walked towards the dumpling place a block away from the apartment complex while seokjin and hyunjae talked about the upcoming work event, a fancy gala dinner that was held to reward the employees for a good quarter.
they arrived at the restaurant not long after, but the two were still discussing the event at length, wondering if they would be expected to wear suits.
"um, seokjin," hyunjae started.
"yeah?"
"why is your son waving at me?"
seokjin looked down and caught jeongguk with his arm sticking out while waving his hand. jeongguk noticed seokjin looking at him, and stuck out his arm even more, waving while saying "byeeee".
seokjin and hyunjae both burst out laughing at that.
"ah, well, i guess the baby is getting restless," seokjin said as he patted jeongguk's head. "i should check on yoongi too. i'll see you around, and enjoy the dumplings."
"i will," hyunjae said, then knelt down to wave at jeongguk. "bye, jeonggukie. see you."
jeongguk nodded, then pulled at seokjin's hand towards the main door of their complex while seokjin followed willingly.
after they went home and made some ginger and honey tea for yoongi, yoongi told the two to go to jimin and taehyung's place to play as he didn't want to make them sick and was planning on sleeping the day away.
jeongguk looked like he was going to protest, but ultimately agreed so yoongi could sleep in peace and because he wanted to play with jimin and taehyung's giant teddy bears again.
"oh, jeonggukie, hi!" jimin greeted when he opened the door and saw seokjin with jeongguk in his arms.
"yah, you're not even going to greet me? such disrespect," seokjin complained as he set jeongguk down on the floor.
jeongguk walked over towards the shoe rack and plopped down to take his shoes off. jimin ignored seokjin to help jeongguk take them off and seokjin only rolled his eyes as he followed them inside.
jeongguk made a beeline towards the teddy bears and pulled them both off the couch to snuggle with them while jimin and seokjin sat on the couch. taehyung joined them shortly after, bringing a packet of chips with him as snacks.
"so i heard you guys are starting children's dance classes now?" seokjin queried as he helped taehyung pour the chips onto a bowl for easier access.
"oh, yeah!" jimin said excitedly. "one of hoseok-hyung's students has a little sister and he was asking if we'd consider children's classes, so we're trialing some classes now. it's on the weekend though, since most parents are working during weekdays and don't want their little kids to be out late at night, so i can still look after ggukie if you guys need me to."
"you come over when we don't need you anyway," seokjin pointed out and jimin pretended not to hear anything.
the three continued to chat about work and their plans on the weekend, and about the dinner gathering that hoseok and namjoon would be hosting the weekend after.
the group tried to meet at least once a month, because they were codependent like that and because they wanted to see the star of the show, the baby who was currently...
"um, hyung," taehyung started uncertainly.
"yeah?"
"why is ggukie trying to put his shoes on?"
seokjin and jimin turned to look at jeongguk who was sitting down by the shoe rack, struggling to put his slip on shoes on and seokjin burst out laughing.
"aw, looks like ggukie is a bit grumpy because he didn't get his nap," seokjin said as he stood up and walked over towards jeongguk, who saw him and stopped trying, instead deciding to just wait for seokjin to put them on for him.
"so when he was waving earlier it was a wave bye?" jimin asked as he laughed. "i thought he just wanted a bit of attention, so i was wondering why he kept running off when i tried to cuddle him."
jeongguk sat with a pout and heavy eyes while seokjin put his shoes on for him and then raised his arms up while making grabby motions.
seokjin chuckled as he picked jeongguk up and held him close. "sorry, baby," he murmured as he kissed jeongguk's chubby cheek. "i didn't give you enough attention today, huh?"
jeongguk nodded in reply, still pouting.
"well, at least he'll grow up honest and straightforward, i suppose," taehyung commented as he smiled, poking jeongguk's cheek.
"well, i better go now," seokjin said. "thanks for having us over."
"ggukie is always welcome here," jimin said with a wide grin.
"oh, so--"
"byeeeee!" jeongguk said as he waved his hand, cutting seokjin off.
"okay, okay, it's really time for me to go," seokjin said as he laughed, bending down slightly to put his shoes on. "see you around, jiminie, taehyungie."
"bye, hyung, bye, ggukie," taehyung said as he waved at them.
jeongguk waved at them again, nodded in satisfaction when seokjin walked out of the door, and rested his head on seokjin's shoulder before closing his eyes.
"so," seokjin started, turning around to see jimin and taehyung who were standing at the door, "next week--"
"byeeeee," jeongguk said grumpily as he straightened up, staring at seokjin with accusing eyes.
"ok, ok, i'm going."
seokjin walked home with jeongguk in his arms and chuckled in amusement at jeongguk's bluntness.
"must be the min genes."