Chapter Text
Hoseok is eating ramen at the convenience store when Namjoon texts him.
Daewon-noona’s here.
Daewon?
Why—?
He suddenly remembers what day it is.
Oh.
Oh fuck.
Hoseok promptly stuffs as many noodles into his mouth as he can before standing and tossing his trash. He hurries towards his apartment, nearly choking as a single noodle tickles his air way to torment him.
Luckily, the dance studio he had just had an interview at is a ten minute walk from his apartment. Even knowing that, the trek feels too long at the expense of his older sister waiting for him at home.
“I’m here!” He gasps, nearly falling into the entryway when the door swings open too hard. Luckily, it doesn’t bang, but Hoseok still flinches from expecting it to. “Sorry sorry, the dance studio was farther than I thought!”
That was a lie. But no one needed to know that.
“And here I thought you’d forgotten,” Daewon laughs, watching Hoseok slip off his shoes and enter the apartment properly from the couch. Nari is sitting on Daewon’s lap, looking drowsy and like she might fall asleep at any second.
Is it her nap time? It was almost two in the afternoon, last he checked.
“Hey sweetie,” Hoseok coos, kneeling to better be at eye level with Nari. He reaches forward to ruffle her hair, and even though he’s careful to touch her lightly, she’s so sleepy she nearly topples over from the weight of his palm. “Ohft—” Hoseok’s hands catch her under the shoulders, and he doesn’t hesitate to lift the four year old into his arms.
He straightens, letting Nari curl against his collarbone and exhale heavily there, “Sham-choh.”
Hoseok feels his heart give a tight squeeze in affection.
She’s. So. Cute. He mouths at Daewon, almost wanting to cry from how much he loves his niece. He adjusts his grip on the toddler as Daewon stands, she’s quick to flash him a grin and a piece sign upon reading his lips.
“Thank you,” She says, sounding cheeky, “I worked hard.”
Well. He can’t deny that.
“Did I keep you?” He asks, following his older sister to the entrance. Only now, as he watches her slip on shoes the same shade as her belt, does he start to feel a little guilty at having forgotten his promise.
She had reminded him last night and this morning too...
“Not really,” She answers, pivoting to face the mirror at the entryway. She starts adjusting her hair, and Hoseok doesn’t know what it is—whether it’s Nari snoozing against his neck, or the highlight bouncing off of his sister’s cheek at this angle—that he’s reminded of how beautiful his sister is.
“Just our luck that you had an interview right around the drop off time, Hobi.” She says. He knows she doesn’t mean to, but the childhood nickname makes him feel all the more guilty for having forgotten his weekend with Nari... “Oh,” She says, turning to him, “I’m sure you did well on the interview. Don’t worry about it.”
Hoseok smiles at her.
He hadn’t even said anything, but Daewon had somehow already known he would be thinking about his interview and his performance for the next day and a half. “Thanks,” He says, and he genuinely means it. “You should head out soon.” He says, and his voice comes out softer than he intended it to, “Will you make it to the conference on time?” Daewon’s work conference is supposed to last three days in Jeju. And while it would generally be easy to take Nari with her...
He had volunteered to take Nari for the weekend.
Because Daewon is going to Jeju. And he’d rather she get a break she genuinely deserved than worry about who would take care of Nari while she was running around the island for her meetings.
At least this way, she’d have some time to herself.
She’s a single mother working full time. It’s hard enough for her as it is.
Besides, he liked the idea of spending more time with Nari. She was growing up so fast. Too fast. The reminder made his heart hurt.
“The company dinner is tonight,” She answers, prompting Hoseok to shift with her hand. He does so, letting Daewon near Nari without leaving the entryway, “The plane leaves in four hours. The conference starts tomorrow morning.” Judging by her composed attitude, he guesses that she doesn’t need to be there until tonight.
She had plenty of time to make it then.
He feels a little relieved now.
Hoseok hears a smooch, and while he can’t look over his shoulder to see what Daewon is doing, he knows enough from experience and the sound itself that she had just kissed her daughter goodbye. “Take care of her, Hoseok. And yourself.” She says, quick to emphasize the last word with a pointed look. He can’t help but smile when he sees it. “Text me if anything happens, okay?”
“Un.” He says, then, “Have fun,” He waves with his right hand, adjusting his hold on Nari to better support her, “Namjoonie and I will take care of Nari. Text me when you land.”
She makes a sound of affirmation. And the look she throws over her shoulder at him is one of gratitude.
And then the door locks with a beep.
And she’s gone.
Hoseok sighs, physically deflating a little. Now that Daewon is gone—now that she’s officially left Nari in his care... He’s a little worried. But it isn’t that he hasn’t babysitted Nari before. He’d raised Nari just as much as Daewon had, or (at least) he would like to think so.
What worried him was that this would be the longest Nari would be separated from Daewon.
And he didn’t know how she would handle it.
To Nari, Hoseok came and went. But to Nari… her mother was her everything.
Hoseok sighs again. Well— “It’s naptime now,” He mutters to himself, I can worry about that later. He heads towards his room, wondering what he would be making for dinner. Admittedly, he and Namjoon aren’t the best cooks. If he were to think about it now he can probably accurately guess on how low their stock of side dishes in the fridge would be.
Even then, he wanted to make the effort for Nari.
She wasn’t used to eating out much, he couldn’t resort to delivery as much as he would like.
Hoseok tucks Nari into his bed and hopes he’s doing a good enough job.
Three days was a short time compared to the years Daewon has raised her.