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It had been about two weeks since Mingi had returned to the ATEEZ dorm when he asked Seonghwa and Hongjoong is he could chat with them privately. After a lot of stalling and nervous chatter, Mingi finally brought up that he wanted to try little space. It took a lot of explanation and questions for the two eldest to understand, but once they did they were 100% on board to help Mingi regress and introduce it to the rest of the group.
It took a lot of effort from all of the members of the group, especially Mingi himself, but after three weeks and a good 18 attempted little sessions, Mingi finally slipped and they met his little side. But then came the real issue; what is Mingi’s little nickname?
Yunho and San were firmly on the side of ‘Princess’.
Hongjoong, Seonghwa and Yeosang like ‘Minki’.
Jongho suggested ‘MinMin’.
And Wooyoung’s contribution was ‘Bubba’, which no one, not even Wooyoung, was really convinced was gonna stick.
They had all been subtly arguing the point on car rides, in dressing rooms and anywhere that Mingi wasn’t, because Mingi himself had left it up to them to decide. Money had even been bet. It had been just over a week since the argument had started and no real progress, each member had stuck to their guns, minus Wooyoung, who had switched to team ‘MinMin’ after finally accepting defeat.
Its now about 10pm and Yunho has just finished helping Mingi get changed into little clothes after the boy had expressed a wish to slip tonight. Mingi isn’t little yet, but he can feel himself slowly tipping over the edge of little space. Yunho hands him a teddy and pacifier once the little is dressed and takes his hand to lead the boy out to the living room, where Yeosang and Jongho had been tasked with setting up some toys.
As soon as they enter the room Mingi slips, seeing the train track play set spread out on the floor, ready to be constructed to his desire. All off the caregivers coo at the squeal that the little lets out as his bottom his the floor. Immediately the little starts building the tracks, a huge smile on his face as he rambles to the caregivers about what they want him to do.
While they start building the tracks, Seonghwa walks around the corner. As soon as he sees Mingi is little his eyes light up. He approaches the little and crouches down, “Hey Mingi-ya.”
Mingi looks up at the caregiver. “Hi Ddeongha-hung,” he lisps through the pacifier.
“Can I ask you a question, bubs?” Seonghwa asks. The other caregivers in the room immediately look suspicious, having a good idea of what Seonghwa’s about the ask.
“Yesh.” Mingi nods, handing Seonghwa a train at the same time.
“Thank you bubs.” Seonghwa holds onto the train, “What’s your nickname, baby?”
“Nick..nicky name?” Mingi looks adorably confused. Yeosang lets out a little laugh at the side.
Seonghwa thinks for a second, looking at the train and fiddling, “Like.. What name do you want the hyungies to call you?”
“Oooooh.” Mingi looks down at his trains, a very concentrated look on his face. All of the caregivers in the room hold their breath. After a minute Mingi looks back up at Seonghwa, “Like Minnie.”
Seonghwa’s eyebrows raise, as so those of the rest of the caregivers, no one had suggested Minnie, “Well, Minnie it is. Thank you bubs.”
Minnie doesn’t answer, going back to playing with his trains. All of the caregivers share a look.
“Do… do we just give the money to Mingi?” Jongho asks.
“Huh?”
Jongho explains, “The money we bet on the nicknames.”
“I guess so,” Seonghwa shrugs.
“He probably planned this.” Yunho suggests.
“Probably.”