Work Text:
As Yoongi took off his shoes in the entryway, the acute silence of the apartment started settling in.
It wasn’t as if Sooyeon misbehaved like a spoiled brat, filling the air with constant cries and whines when she didn’t get her way. Far from that. Sooyeon was well-mannered, polite, and simply the sweetest angel with chubby cheeks and huge, dark eyes. Eyes that bent Jungkook to her whims too many times.
But Sooyeon wasn’t here anymore, and her gurgling laughter, her gleeful shrieks, her high, clear voice were all absent. The room felt too empty without Sooyeon’s vivacious aura filling it up, making it really feel like home.
Yoongi threw the keys into a bowl, sighing and loosening his tie. He had picked Sooyeon straight from school today, leaving work early so that he could personally see his baby girl off to her first ever sleepover. The sleepover had long been overdue - Sooyeon had complained often about how her classmates were having playdates and dinners and sleepovers before they were 6, so why couldn’t she? - but both Yoongi and Jungkook were adamant that Sooyeon’s safety came first, that she wouldn’t go anywhere until they knew for sure that the other parents were kind, decent, and would treat Sooyeon like she deserved to be treated.
It was still quite early, and Jungkook wouldn’t return for at least another 40 minutes. Yoongi took it upon himself to pick up the stuffed animals scattered about their living room, to rub uselessly at an unfortunate juice stain on their second-hand rug, and to reheat some braised pork Jungkook’s parents had been kind enough to make the last time they visited. As the pork bubbled on the stove and the rice cooker beeped, Yoongi dialed Jungkook’s number.
“Hey babe, are you heading home soon?” Yoongi put the phone on speaker and moved to the bedroom, planning on changing out of the stiff office wear.
“Yes- fuck!” A loud clang ringed on the other end. Yoongi stripped off his shirt and slacks before slipping into a well-worn t-shirt and sweatpants that smelled like they were clean - no one said parenthood was perfect. “Be careful with the goddamn frame! Those vases cost more than you!”
Yoongi flopped down onto the bed, wincing when he felt an unfamiliar object poke into his spine. He quickly removed the plastic tiara before settling down again. “Tough day getting the vases?”
Jungkook huffed. “Yeah. It was already a damn pain getting through the Chinese bureaucracy and having all the paperworks filled. And now they’re finally here - and only for a week, mind you - I have to worry about them getting smashed before the exhibit even starts.” Yoongi hummed, encouraging Jungkook to keep going. “Anyways, I won’t be home until I know that these vases are properly stored and out of their containers. I’m sorry baby. How was Sooyeon?”
Yoongi grinned like a fool to the phone. “She was so excited, and so, so cute. The whole drive, she was chatting my ear off about the life cycle of rocks and different dinosaurs and what games they plan on playing during the sleepover. And do you know what she said before I left her?”
“What did she say?”
“She said ‘papa, you and daddy don’t miss me too much, okay?’” Upon hearing this, Jungkook let out a sweet giggle, not unlike that of his daughter. Yoongi chuckled too.
“Oh man, what a little angel.” Jungkook must’ve moved to a quieter location, for the ambient noise wasn’t as prominent as before.
“She’s the best.” Yoongi agreed. “I’m so glad we have her.”
“Can’t believe she’s already off to her first sleepover,” Jungkook says. “Before we know it, she’s gonna be going out with friends to parties and stuff. And then she’s gonna go to college.” There was a brief pause. “Oh my god Yoongi. She’s gonna go to college soon and we’re gonna be so old and uncool and she won’t be with us anymore!”
A more logical side of Yoongi knew that Jungkook was just exaggerating, that Sooyeon was still a kindergartener who couldn’t quite reach the dining table without cushions on her chair, who loved to hold Yoongi’s and Jungkook’s hands whenever they go to the park or the arcade, who held surprisingly serious conversations about managing kingdoms with her stuffed animals when she thought Yoongi and Jungkook weren’t paying attention, when she thought they weren’t secretly filming the whole thing with muffled laughter and extraordinarily complicated camera angles.
But the silence of the apartment was bearing down upon Yoongi, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Sooyeon growing up, Sooyeon scoffing at her dads, Sooyeon leaving.
“Oh my god. Sooyeon’s gonna leave soon.” Yoongi said with a quiet voice.
Jungkook sensed Yoongi’s change in mood. “Babe, you okay? You know I was just kidding; Sooyeon’s gonna be back by morning.”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine Jungkook-ah.” Yoongi stood up and moved to the kitchen, too restless to stay lying down. “I was just overthinking. You get home when you can, okay? I’ve got dinner ready.”
//
It started like this.
Yoongi came to the States with a limited knowledge of English and an even more limited grasp of surviving in a new country. After orientation, Yoongi wandered aimlessly around the campus, trying to imagine himself making this foreign world his new home. As the sun began to set, Yoongi arrived at the beachfront, watching waves crash and recede from the California sand, as bright as gold in the blazing sunlight.
This was how he met Jihoon, who was taking photos of his friends when Yoongi accidently walked into his shot. Shortly thereafter, Yoongi met the rest of Jihoon’s friends: Seungcheol, Namjoon, Hoseok, Mingyu,
And Jungkook.
All of them were ethnically Korean, though they all grew up in the States. Yoongi was relieved to return to the familiar vowels and intonations of his mother tongue after struggling through English the whole day. Namjoon invited Yoongi to dinner with the rest of them, and Yoongi learned that they were all students at the same university as him, and that Hoseok was getting a masters in software engineering, just like him.
Yoongi learned that Jihoon DJed for a local radio station. He learned that Namjoon could be trusted with your most vulnerable secrets, but not a platter stacked high with ribs (“The shirt was Gucci, and you got sauce all over it!”). He learned that Hoseok danced on the side, and actually won some serious cash before he got injured (“It was just a sprain.” Hoseok waved Yoongi off, but Yoongi noticed the tightness around his lips).
Yoongi learned that Jungkook’s ears became red when he was embarrassed. He learned that Jungkook preferred sweet over savory, that he was a beast at karaoke (and sports, and drawing, and playing instruments, and anything he set his mind to). Yoongi learned that when Jungkook laughed, he looked like seasalt spray, like a popsicle on a summer day, like orange blossoms.
Yoongi learned that he quite liked Jungkook’s red ears and orange-blossom smile.
//
It went like this.
Jungkook’s parents took an immediate liking to Yoongi, despite his mint green hair and piercings (“That’s considered pretty tame here, hyung.” Jungkook’s fingers brushed over Yoongi’s silver studs as they lay in bed, one lazy morning after Mr. and Mrs. Jeon called, asking to meet Yoongi. “You haven’t seen some of the kids I went to school with.”). It was quite a bizarre experience at first, not having adults nag him for his “rebellious” style like his parents did, but Yoongi adjusted to the change pretty fast.
Yoongi’s parents, on the other hand, were much more cautious of Jungkook. They didn’t get to meet in person until summer break, after Yoongi finished his first year. It had been difficult to gage his parents’ true thoughts through video chats, but Yoongi was determined for them to see what a wonderful, brilliant, beautiful partner Jungkook is, even if he wasn’t the doting girlfriend they had dreamed of.
The lunch was pleasant enough, any potential tension soothed by polite small talk and the gorgeous California weather. However, Yoongi couldn’t enjoy the sunlight or the carbonara in front of him. He clutched Jungkook’s hand tightly under the table, palm freezing and clammy.
“Well, this has been lovely, right dear?” Mrs. Min daintily dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
“Absolutely. I’m glad you decided to take us out.” Mr. Min set down his knife and fork, expression turning serious. Yoongi braced himself, and Jungkook tensed next to him. If there were any signs of disapproval, it would come first from Yoongi’s father.
“Yoongi, your mom and I have discussed your...preferences between us.” Here they go. Yoongi bit his lips. He didn’t like disappointing his parents, who guided him with a gentle and firm hand through life, filled with unconditional love. His parents respected his decision when he decided to emigrate to America, supported him financially and never complained about his absence once. If they asked him to choose between them and Jungkook… Yoongi didn’t know what to do, what even to think.
“I’ll be frank, we had disapproved of this. We didn’t understand why you didn’t like girls like all your other friends.” Yoongi gripped Jungkook’s hand like a lifeline. “But we finally came to the root of our disapproval, which we’d like to discuss with you now. And Jungkook-ssi too, since he’s proved himself an important figure in your life.”
Yoongi didn’t trust himself to speak. The leftover sauce on his plate never looked more interesting. Mrs. Min shared a meaningful glance with her husband, and then carried on where he left off. “We want grandchildren, Yoongi.”
Yoongi looked up so fast his neck popped. Beside him, Jungkook sputtered on his lemonade. One look at his parents confirmed that they weren’t joking. One look at Jungkook confirmed that he wasn’t in immediate need of the Heimlich maneuver.
Mrs. Min acted as if she didn’t just completely confuse her son and his boyfriend. “When you first told us you liked boys, not girls, we wondered what we did wrong in raising you. We always considered ourselves open minded, but surely this was too much! So we talked, and thought, and we understand now that we weren’t scared of you marrying a boy, but of you giving up children altogether.” Mr. Min patted his wife on the back, and wordlessly took over the conversation from her. Yoongi wondered distantly if they had always been this in sync with each other, if Jungkook and he would ever get to that stage.
“Raising you has been such a joy, so we want you to have the same opportunity. Jungkook-ssi, please know that this is our wish, should you pursue a serious relationship with our Yoongi. This, and treating Yoongi with all the love, respect, and kindness he deserves.” Jungkook’s eyes were still wide, but they held a hint of understanding, a hint of determination. Mr. Min turned his attention fully on Yoongi.
“Yoongi, we’re getting old, and we know that it’s no use fighting with you over your piercings and your hair and your...your boyfriend.” Mr. Min uttered the last word with some difficulty, but Yoongi appreciated him trying anyways. “We can only take our blessings as they come, and we have been blessed with a filial son whom we can brag about, strong bodies to visit you in America, and the opportunity to have this conversation like proper adults, unlike so many other people that we know.”
Yoongi left the cafe with pink-rimmed eyes and sniffling nose, one arm wrapped around his mom and the other hooked with his dad’s. Jungkook followed behind without a word of complaint, letting the family have their moment together. The way that Yoongi basked in the sunlight, filled with love and joy; the way he grinned dopily as his eyes sought out Jungkook’s; the way he clasped his dad on the shoulder and kissed his mom’s hair. Jungkook thought this moment felt like a promise, felt like the beginning of an infinity.
Jungkook was there when Yoongi dropped his parents off at the airport. Mrs. Min pulled him aside an hour before, apologizing for any hostility he may have felt and reminding him once again to treat Yoongi properly with the grace of a mother. Jungkook rested a hand at the base of Yoongi’s spine as Yoongi waved a final time at his parents’ retreating silhouettes.
As they drove back from the airport, Jungkook couldn’t help but glance over at Yoongi and chuckle.
“Focus on the road, babe. What’s so funny?” Yoongi was sadly pouting, that big baby, but Jungkook didn’t have the heart to tease him for that. Yet.
“I was just thinking that we should start saving up for a down-payment. Houses located in good school districts aren’t cheap.” Jungkook said, mischief twinkling in his eyes. Yoongi gently slapped Jungkook’s shoulder, heat blooming on his cheeks.
“That’s not funny!” Yoongi stared petulantly out the window, curling away from Jungkook. Sensing a change in the mood, Jungkook risked a glance over. Yoongi didn’t look simply embarrassed; he looked unsure, nervous, anxious.
“Is...is everything good?” Jungkook asked.
“Kook... what my parents said...I don’t want you to...feel pressured? But I don’t want to joke about it either.” Yoongi trailed off towards the end, refusing to meet Jungkook’s gaze. He hated that he couldn’t just laugh along to Jungkook’s joke, that he couldn’t just brush it off, that he couldn’t just behave like a college boyfriend instead of something else. Something more.
Jungkook turned into the campus. Mingyu was going back home soon, and Jungkook was planning on saying goodbye before they left. Jungkook killed the engine, but made no move to get out of the car.
“Yoongi, I-” Jungkook started, but Yoongi cut him off at once. “Just forget about it. Mingyu’s probably waiting for you.” Yoongi muttered, twisting his hands together. He needed to get himself together.
“No Yoongi, I’m not gonna forget about it.” Jungkook stated firmly. “I know that we’re in college, and this is way down the line, but I’m serious about us, and I want you to know that. I appreciate that your parents thought so highly of me to say that stuff, and we don’t gotta think about it now, but I know it’s serious, and I’m sorry I joked about it.” Jungkook looked as if he had more to say, but Yoongi’s quivering lips halted him in his train of thought.
“Yoongi? Babe?” Jungkook reached out a hand to brush against Yoongi’s cheeks, Yoongi’s soft fringes. At this moment, Yoongi looked like something fragile, something precious and vulnerable, so different from the tsundere exterior he typically erected around himself. There were tears welling in his eyes, and the gaze he was directing at Jungkook was unbearably soft and fond.
“Thank you.” Yoongi grabbed Jungkook’s hand, still brushing his hair, and kissed its palm. He didn’t elaborate, didn’t say thank you for not making fun of me, or thank you for taking it seriously, or thank you for not leaving me.
But he didn’t have to. Jungkook knew. He, his seasalt eyes, and his orange-blossom lips always did.
//
The front door opening dragged Yoongi out of his thoughts, out of the silence.
“Honey, I’m home!” Jungkook called from the doorway, trying to toe off his loafers without using his hands like a proper adult. Yoongi snorted from the kitchen, and then joined him in the entryway.
“Does that make me the doting housewife, welcoming my bread-winner with dinner and a kiss on the cheek?” Yoongi joked, watching Jungkook set down his suitcase and run a distracted hand through his hair. Jungkook looked good; he always did. Working as a curator meant that he had to maintain a certain degree of professionalism at all times, and for Jungkook, this translated to fitted slacks and fitted shirts. Yoongi didn’t even care that Jungkook only ever bought plain white shirts; they were tight, and that was enough for him.
“I mean, you did make dinner, and I wouldn’t mind a kiss.” Jungkook said, pulling Yoongi by the hips so that they were chest to chest, confident as anything. It’s been years since they were together, but Yoongi blushed all the same, still a bit in disbelief that Jungkook chose him, over and over again, through thick and thin, through the good days and the bad.
Yoongi pecked Jungkook chastely on the cheek, but Jungkook wasn’t letting him off so easily tonight, pulling Yoongi closer to himself instead.
“Aw, are you getting shy?” Jungkook murmured against Yoongi’s forehead, snaking his arms tightly around Yoongi’s waist. Yoongi sighed into the embrace, and settled for resting his head above Jungkook’s collarbone, nestled into Jungkook’s neck.
“Huh, not shy. Just feeling quiet, you know?” Yoongi melted in Jungkook’s hold. This was what he was missing the whole day, ever since they parted this morning. It was as if there was an ache in Yoongi’s bones, something he could live with but always caused him discomfort. And here was Jungkook, making everything better, everything lighter, everything softer.
“Hmm, is it Sooyeon?” Jungkook started peppering kisses on Yoongi’s forehead, Yoongi’s eyes, and Yoongi’s cheeks. Yoongi giggled a bit from the ticklishness. His giggles only encouraged Jungkook to continue in his efforts.
Yoongi gently nudged Jungkook’s lips away. “Yeah, but not just her. I was thinking about us too.”
Jungkook stayed silent, encouraging Yoongi to go on. Yoongi ran his thumb along Jungkook’s jaw, then started speaking.
“D’you remember when we first got her?”
//
It changed like this.
Yoongi’s right leg bounced up and down, his body filled with nervous energy. The waiting room was painted in bright colors to alleviate stress and anxiety, but the pastel yellow seemed artificial and synthetic to Yoongi.
The phone in his lap buzzed to life, startling Yoongi. He didn’t bother checking the caller I.D.; he knew exactly who was calling.
“Traffic’s an absolute disaster. I’ll be there in 5, 10 minutes at the latest.” Jungkook cursed creatively as cars honked incessantly in the background. Yoongi couldn’t help his hands from becoming even more clammy than before. He hastily wiped them off on his jeans.
“Take your time, Kook. Nothing’ll get done without the two of us here, anyways.” Yoongi assured, though his words didn’t sound very convincing even to his own ears.
“I know. God, I shouldn’t have waited around for the doll. The road was probably better half an hour ago.” Jungkook muttered darkly.
“I’m sure Sooyeon will love the doll.” Yoongi assured. “She’ll forgive you for showing up late.”
Yoongi hung up shortly after and went back to bouncing his leg up and down. He wished that he hadn’t convinced Jungkook to stay behind, waiting for the toy they both picked out for the newest addition to their little family. He wished that Jungkook was here now, so he would have someone to quietly panic with instead of fidgeting ridiculously alone.
The first time Yoongi and Jungkook laid eyes on Sooyeon, the first thought that flashed through Yoongi’s mind was finally. Finally, after months of applications and contracts and meetings and inspections, finally he and Jungkook were considered fit parents. It had been almost 10 years since that first conversation with Yoongi’s parents, and their words stuck firmly to both Yoongi and Jungkook. These words manifested into something more tangible throughout the years, as Yoongi received his master’s degree, and then Jungkook graduated, and then after they had better settled in their jobs and their shared bed every night.
It wasn’t as if Yoongi’s parents insisted on it. In fact, the topic never really came up after that lunch. Yoongi’s parents still seemed wary around their son’s relationship, and they never achieved that same ease Jungkook’s parents had, but Yoongi and Jungkook were grateful for their efforts nonetheless. They made sure to invite Mr. and Mrs. Min alongside Mr. and Mrs. Jeon for a Sunday brunch whenever they were both in town, and the four parents seemed rather satisfied by that.
It wasn’t as if there were any pressure for a baby, yet...the apartment was too quiet whenever Jungkook came home from a late shift or when Yoongi woke up early to put on the coffee. It was too quiet on lazy weekends and sunny afternoons. The quiet didn’t go unnoticed by either Yoongi or Jungkook, and it had been Jungkook who brought it up first.
//
“Honey,” Jungkook started as the two of them reclined on lounge chairs, the rumble of the ocean and the conversation of tourists ringing in the background. Yoongi slightly turned his head to indicate he was listening.
“Have you, uh,” Yoongi took off his sunglasses when he noticed Jungkook hesitating. Jungkook almost never hesitated, always so sure of himself, at least around Yoongi. Distantly, Yoongi took in how attractive Jungkook looked in dark swimming trunks and a white shirt, a thin silver chain curling around his throat, resting atop his collarbones.
“-adoption, maybe a surrogate, but that’s hella expensive, so. What do you think?” Yoongi only caught the tail end of Jungkook’s ramble.
Yoongi dragged his eyes away from the divot between Jungkook’s pecs, barely visible through the white shirt. The action didn’t go unnoticed.
“Honestly, can you stop ogling me for 5 seconds to listen to what I have to say? I’m beginning to think you married me for my body.” Jungkook huffed, but purposefully lounged back on one elbow so that his biceps became more pronounced. Yoongi chuckled, then patted Jungkook’s forearm to indicate that he was really listening this time.
“Your body’s pretty great, baby. So it’s really your fault I got distracted.” Yoongi could tell Jungkook was still anxious and tense, so he simply waited for Jungkook to pick up where he had left off.
“Anyways, I was asking if you thought about getting a kid.” Jungkook’s words came out in a rush. His eyes focused on somewhere over Yoongi’s left shoulder. Yoongi sat up.
“Of course I thought about it.” Yoongi mused. “We’ve talked about it a lot before. But there’s never been any rush, you know? You’re still in your twenties, and our life’s so good as it is.”
“I’m 29, Yoongi, I don’t think that counts as “being in my twenties” anymore.” Jungkook quipped. Yoongi slapped Jungkook’s thigh, briefly relishing in the feel of firm, smooth skin underneath his palm.
“Our life’s been good, yeah. But we’re really in a place where we can afford to be parents, and, like, I don’t know.” Jungkook trailed off. Yoongi waited patiently. Jungkook eventually gathered his thoughts enough to continue.
“If you don’t want kids yet that’s fine. And it’s not like I want kids now or anything. But now that we can if we wanted to...do you wanna at least really talk about it?” Jungkook finally met Yoongi’s eyes.
Yoongi considered Jungkook’s words. On one hand, life was pretty great. He had a comfortable routine with Jungkook, and he enjoyed being able to order takeout and drink beer on the living room floor whenever he didn’t feel like cooking. Yoongi liked long, hot showers and lazy makeout sessions. He thoroughly enjoyed watching Jungkook reading his thick history volumes with gold-rimmed glasses that he swore he didn’t need. Yoongi reveled in working on his programming projects deep into the night, with nothing but Jungkook’s soft snores accompanying him. Somehow, it felt as if he’d have to give it all up and become a proper, responsible adult should he get a kid.
Yoongi wasn’t sure if he was really up for it. What if he fucked up?
And yet, whenever Yoongi and Jungkook spoke about their future, a kid was always in the picture. They would speak at lengths about where they’d take their child, what they’d eat, what they’d do. They would admit their faults, and reassure each other of their best qualities. However, all the talk was something akin to fantasy, something they figured would come later. Being parents was something they’d both wanted, but both ignored for the time being.
It seemed that they couldn’t procrastinate on the topic like naive college students anymore.
“Kook, if we’re really gonna do this, we gotta really evaluate ourselves, and I don’t mean just about money.” Yoongi began cautiously, choosing his words carefully as he navigated uncharted territory. Jungkook stared at him intently. “We gotta figure out our work schedules, our insurance policies, and talk to our parents. And then we gotta do some research on state laws and paperwork. We gotta make sure that our child is treated like any other child, legally and otherwise.”
Jungkook’s eyes softened as Yoongi rambled on about logistics, action plans, and stuff he’d otherwise consider “boring.” Then, it was Yoongi’s turn to chastise him for staring and not listening.
Jungkook couldn’t help it. He was just too lucky to have a husband like Yoongi.
//
Jungkook bursted through the adoption center door much like how he had bursted into Yoongi’s life: haphazardly but definitely not unwelcome. Yoongi appreciated his presence, immediately feeling a warm rush of relief flow through his veins. The same could not be said for the front desk secretary, who nearly dropped his lukewarm coffee in surprise.
“I’m so, so sorry I’m late. I’ve got the doll though! Can we go see her?” Jungkook’s words tumbled over each other; Yoongi wiped off his sweaty palms once more as he stood up, stretching his joints.
“Yes, right through this way.” The front desk secretary looked disgruntled as he set down his coffee, leading Yoongi and Jungkook down the hallway and away from the waiting area.
Soon, they arrived in a nursery, and inside was Mr. Smith, the man they had first met when they came to the adoption center. In his arms was a gurgling baby, vigorously waving her little fists when she saw Yoongi and Jungkook in the doorway.
Mr. Smith looked up, wrinkles forming around his eyes as he smiled at the pair. “Well, don’t just stand around, come greet little Sooyeon.” Jungkook stepped forward first at his urging. Yoongi followed and peered at the baby from behind Jungkook’s shoulder. Sooyeon was little more than 8 months old, wrapped snugly in a cozy purple blanket. Without speaking a word, Yoongi took Jungkook’s briefcase so that he could free up his arms to receive Sooyeon.
“Oh, oh my little princess.” Jungkook cooed as Mr. Smith gingerly transferred Sooyeon to his arms. Yoongi crowded closer to get a better look. “You’re so strong, sweetheart, yes you are,” Yoongi whispered as one of Sooyeon’s hands batted at Yoongi’s finger, bringing it closer to her mouth as a pacifier. “You got stronger since the last time I saw you.”
Mr. Smith gently cleared his throat to bring the new family out of their little dreamland. “The papers are ready, if you’d follow me to my office.”
Yoongi reluctantly withdrew his finger from Sooyeon’s mouth. Sooyeon’s face immediately started contorting, little lungs drawing air in to signify the start of a truly tremendous wail. Jungkook tried rocking her, shushing her, but the wail nonetheless came, briefly robbing Jungkook of his hearing with its volume.
“Kook, why don’t you play with her outside with the doll while I take care of the paperwork? We can switch off when you need to sign your part.” Yoongi frowned as fat teardrops rolled down Sooyeon’s smooth cheeks. An unexplainable sense of guilt stabbed through his chest as Yoongi realized that It hadn’t even been half an hour, and his daughter was crying.
Yoongi quickly opened Jungkook’s briefcase and handed him the new doll. After tucking the doll under his arm, Jungkook quickly paced back to the waiting room. The secretary spared a disgruntled glance at the crying baby, but he seemed too used to these occurrences to really make a fuss. As he sat down, Jungkook balanced Sooyeon on his lap to wave the doll in front of her. The crying gradually stopped and turned into a curious gurgle.
The doll resembled a traditional Korean princess, complete with a voluminous hanbok and a proper hairpiece. Sooyeon let out a little giggle as Jungkook brought her finger to the doll’s face, gently brushing over the doll’s eyes and nose. Jungkook sighed in relief at Sooyeon’s obvious pleasure.
That was how Yoongi found them when he came to get Jungkook to sign his part of the paperwork. He found Sooyeon listening attentively as Jungkook wove a fantastical story of princesses, friendship, treachery, and taxes, of all things. Yoongi wasn’t about to complain; he was actually impressed with how Jungkook simplified the concept of taxes without making it totally confusing.
//
It ended like this.
A male, English voice crooned over the speaker, soft and low. Yoongi floated in the sway of the music and the support of Jungkook’s body, Jungkook’s affection. The braised pork was reduced to almost nothing, sticking to the bottom of the pot. Yoongi knew it would be a pain to scrape off the next day; maybe he could coerce Jungkook to do it while he picked up Sooyeon.
The pair of lovers swayed back and forth under the pale, fluorescent light, intertwined in one another, lost in their love. There hadn’t been any real sob stories to their journey; they’d had it much luckier, much easier than most. Though sometimes they get weird glances from parents, sometimes they were denied service at bakeries, sometimes Sooyeon whined and pouted the whole day because her daddies couldn’t get the cake she wanted from the aforementioned bakery, those weren’t the worst that could’ve happened, and they knew it.
Yoongi was glad that it went like that. He was glad that they were spared the unnecessary complications and tears. Just because they fell in love and fostered their love quietly, it didn’t mean that their love was worth any less than love won through hurricane and hellfire, love gained through severed relations and phone calls that were never answered.
So maybe Sooyeon would grow up within the blink of an eye, maybe she’d rebel and dye her hair crazy colors and wear too much eyeliner. Maybe she won’t become fascinated by Yoongi’s animation programs or Jungkook’s stories anymore. Maybe she’d push her daddies too far away before she realized what she had done. Maybe Sooyeon didn’t know how much Yoongi and Jungkook loved her until there wasn't enough time left for her to tell them just how much she loved them too.
But maybe Sooyeon would also agonize over who to bring to the father-daughter dance in 3rd grade. Maybe she would also spend a whole day baking Jungkook the best cheesecake ever for his birthday, topped with extra whipped cream, because she knew what a sweet tooth Jungkook had. Maybe she would also spend her first paycheck on a brand new mouse for Yoongi. Maybe Sooyeon would immediately turn to her dads when she had her heart broken, being fully vulnerable with the two people she trusted the most. Maybe Sooyeon would wring her hands nervously as she introduced her boyfriend, excitedly clutching Yoongi and Jungkook’s hands later as she confided that I think he’s really the one.
Maybe Yoongi and Jungkook would fight, fight, fight until there was nothing left to fight about. But maybe they’ll always go to sleep wrapped up in one another. Because life wasn’t perfect and it never will be, but for Yoongi, Jungkook, and Sooyeon, it was real. It was real in the way the three of them argued and yelled and cried and laughed, all at the same time.
It was real in the way their love made it to be.