Chapter Text
“Can I go outside and play, Hobi?” Jimin asks, tugging on Hoseok’s sleeve while jumping up and down. Hoseok didn’t know how he had this much energy at the end of the day, especially since he’d spent the day at the daycare, running around and playing with all his friends.
“Yes, but just for a few minutes, Minnie,” Hoseok replied, the grin on Jimin’s face growing. “I just have to finish a couple of things and then we’re heading home.”
Jimin barely waited for him to finish his sentence before running out the door to the playground. Hoseok shook his head and laughed at the little’s antics. He’d never get over how cute Jimin was and how excited he got over the smallest of things.
Hoseok turned back to his computer and got to work. He’d been up since the crack of dawn, and now the sun was already setting. Running a daycare for littles was hard work, but he loved what he did. And it was always a bonus when Minnie tagged along, loving the moments when he’d get to poke his head into one of the classrooms and see Jimin playing with one of his friends. He was a social butterfly.
Hoseok finally finished the last of the paperwork and had started turning off all the lights and locking all the classroom doors, making sure everything was ready for the next day, when he glanced out the window to see what Jimin was up to. Maybe he’d catch him doing something extra adorable and he’d get to take a photo to send to the others.
Jimin was sitting at the top, next to one of the slides, and he was looking into the tunnel that was on his other side. Hoseok thought maybe he was trying to decide what to do, either slide or go back through the tunnel, when Jimin began talking. And not just a few babbles to himself like he was known to do. It looked like an entire conversation. He was even pausing, like he was waiting for someone else to talk.
Hoseok was a little confused, but he figured it was just one of Jimin’s imaginary friends. He’d been known to have a few over the years.
Finishing his walkthrough, Hoseok headed out the playground door to collect Jimin.
“Minnie! Come on. Time to go home!” Hoseok called.
Jimin looked up, a small pout forming on his face.
“I know, but you can come back anytime you want,” Hoseok tried to convince the little. “Come on. Take one more go down the slide and let’s go. I bet Jinnie has got dinner on the table!”
Jimin’s face lit up at the mention of one of his hyungs. He turned back toward the tunnel, covering his mouth to whisper something, waved, and then crawled over toward the slide.
“Who were you talking to, bud?” Hoseok asked once Jimin ran over, leaning down to fix the baby’s jacket, which had slid off his shoulders.
“Oh, that’s Y/N,” Jimin promptly replied.
“Oh?”
“Yeah! She’s a baby, like me! But smaller than me. She can’t count to 100 like I can,” Jimin bragged, puffing out his chest slightly.
Hoseok was a little confused. Usually Jimin’s imaginary friends were animals or characters from TV shows he had recently watched. He’d never had another little as an imaginary friend.
Before Hoseok could begin to process his thoughts about this new friend or try to herd Jimin to their car, the little turned back toward the playset.
“Bye!” Jimin yelled, waving his hand as fast as he could.
Looking back toward the playground, Hoseok felt his heart drop to his stomach. There, poking above one of the little windows in the tunnel, was a set of wide eyes, a small hand slowly coming up to wave back.
“Honey, stay right here. Don’t move,” Hoseok commanded, not wanting to have to worry about Jimin accidentally scaring this other little off. You definitely weren’t a little that visited the daycare. He knew every little by name and face, and he’d never seen you before. That meant you most likely were an abused and homeless little.
Hoseok slowly made his way toward the playset, not wanting to scare you himself, carefully climbing up the steps next to the tunnel.
“Hi baby,” Hoseok gently called once he reached the top. He sat down right outside the tunnel, trying not to seem big and intimidating.
Once he was settled, he got a good look at you. Your hair was a mess and you had dirt covering your entire body. Your clothes, or what was left of them, were in tatters and were covered in even more dirt. There were some dark patches, which Hoseok would really like to believe weren’t dried blood, but he knew they had to be. You were looking at Hoseok with wide eyes, lower lip trembling and hands shaking.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you,” Hoseok soothed. “I just want to help you. You met my little, Jimin.” Hoseok pointed to where the little was still thankfully waiting by the doors. You turned and looked, catching Jimin’s attention, who in turn, waved shyly.
“My name is Hoseok, but you can call me Hobi, okay?” Hoseok waited for a response, but none came. Your hands stopped shaking, so he took that as a win anyway. “Would it be alright with you if you came home with me and Jimin? We can get you in a nice warm bath and some fuzzy pjs?”
You stared at Hoseok, not sure if you should go with him or not. Jimin seemed to be a well taken care of little, so that had to mean something, right?
“I bet you that there’s even a warm bottle of milk waiting with your name on it, too,” Hoseok tried again, remembering that Jimin said that you were younger than he was. Jimin was typically around three or four when he regressed, sometimes a little older, sometimes a little younger, depending on what had been happening in big Jimin’s life recently.
At the mention of a bottle, your eyes got even wider, which Hoseok didn’t think was possible.
“Yeah? You want a bottle? Why don’t you come home with us, and I’ll make sure we have a bottle ready as soon as we get you cleaned up. How does that sound, honey?” Hoseok asked, hoping that that would convince you.
You took a second to think, peeking another quick glance over at Jimin, who had now started shifting from foot to foot with impatience, before nodding your head. Hoseok let out a small sigh, grateful that you’d agreed. He really didn’t think that having to forcefully pull you out of the tunnel would end well.
“Alright, good girl,” Hoseok cooed. Your cheeks heated up and your chest swelled with the praise. “Can you come over here and I’ll carry you to the car?”
You listened to Hoseok, crawling over to his waiting arms. You latched your arms and legs around Hobi’s body, sticking your face in his neck as he carried you off the playset.
“Is she coming home with us?” Jimin asked excitedly. You looked up and saw your new friend jumping up and down.
“Yes, now come on,” Hoseok herded Jimin back in through the door. “We’d better get home before one of the hyungs calls and wonders where we are!”
Jimin ran down the hallway, waiting at the front door, Hoseok slowly following behind. He was trying not to jostle you too much, not knowing if you had any injuries. You had seemed okay when you’d crawled over, but if you’d been living on the streets and had dried blood on your clothes, you had to have gotten injured at some point.
Locking the front door behind him, Hoseok made his way over to his car, grateful that he had both car seats in the car today. He buckled you into Kookie’s car seat while you stayed quiet and stared at him. Once he’d clicked the last piece into place, Hoseok stepped back a bit to make sure you were secure.
“Alright, honey, let’s go get you that bottle,” Hoseok cooed. A small smile tugged at your lips, and Hoseok counted that as a win. Right as he was about to close the door, you brought your hand up to your face, sticking your thumb in your mouth.
“Oh baby, no,” Hoseok quickly leaned forward and pulled your hand out of your mouth, though still gently as he didn’t want to scare you. “Your hand is dirty and we don’t want yucky germs in our mouths. Here.”
Hoseok quickly grabbed a wipe from the box between the two car seats, thankful that he was always prepared, which he and the other learned to be with two messy boys. Wiping both your hands and your face, Hoseok tickled your chin before pulling away. This time, a real smile graced your face, making Hoseok beam with pride. You were starting to warm up, it would just take a bit of patience and loving, which they all had plenty of.
Throwing the wipe in the mini trash can, Hoseok shut the car door, your thumb already making its way back to your mouth. Unfortunately, he didn’t have any pacifiers on him or he’d gladly have given you one. Kookie was never young enough to need one, and Jimin was old enough most of the time to go without. All his stuff for when he was younger was at home.
Hoseok quickly walked around the car and buckled Jimin into his seat, the boy babbling away, telling you about his day and how he played with all his friends, though you weren’t paying much attention, too focused on your thumb.
By the time Hoseok climbed into the front seat and backed the car up, you were asleep, your thumb falling out of your mouth. Jimin was still telling his story, uncaring if you were awake or asleep to hear it.
Hoseok smiled. He couldn’t wait to bring you home and tell the others about you.