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Sharp, bright laughter is his greeting home.
Toeing off his shoes at the door, Seokjin can feel his chest tingling with love and affection as he hears the raised voices coming from the living room. He can vaguely hear the television in the background, maybe some Christmas music as well. Smiling to himself, he begins pulling off his coat and hat and scarf, dumping them unceremoniously on the ground near his bag.
Shuffling towards the kitchen, he takes a moment to watch his mother and step-dad. They’re talking quietly as they clean together, his step-dad’s arm wrapped tight around his mother’s waist. Clearing his throat quietly, he smiles as they turn towards him; his mother gasps, breaking free of her husband’s hold to rush towards her son. She sweeps him into a hug, Seokjin bending down slightly to return it.
“Welcome back, Seokjin-ah,” she says, voice wavering yet happy.
“I’m home, eomma, appa,” he murmurs, sharing a smile with his step-dad as his mother cries into his shoulder.
“Your train was later than you said it'd be,” Daesung says quietly, concern in his eyes, “everything was okay?”
Seokjin nods, smiling as Daesung rubs a hand across his shoulders.
“Good, good.”
Gently letting go of his mom, Seokjin smiles as Daesung wraps his arm around her again; sniffing a little himself, Seokjin wipes at his eyes with his sleeve.
“Jiminie missed you so much,” his mother says, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin, “he thought you wouldn’t be home for Christmas.”
Smiling fading, Jin nods a little; it was horrible, actually—being told he was the reason his little brother had been so upset. He’d had to cover for a manager at another store for a week after an unexpected death in their family. He didn’t mind doing it—would do it again in a heartbeat, had offered as soon as he found out—but it still hurt, knowing he’d been the cause of Jimin’s distress.
“How is Miyoung-ah doing?” his mother asks, pulling his attention back to his parents.
“Okay, for now,” he murmurs, clearing his throat a little, “the funeral was a day or so ago, and she said she’d be back after the holiday. I got her some stuff and left it at the store for her, and paid for her train ticket home.”
Nodding, Daesung claps a hand on his shoulder, thumb pressed to his neck before he turns back towards the sink. Seokjin’s mother frowns a little before she smiles, hands cupping Seokjin’s cheeks.
“You’re a good boy, Seokjin-ah, now go spend time with your brother and your friend,” she says, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Ears turning pink, Seokjin ducks his head as his mother moves to join her husband. Rubbing at his arm, Seokjin moves towards the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of water before he heads towards the living room.
He stops in the doorway, heart squeezing in his chest as he watches Yoongi standing near the tree, Jimin perched on his hip. They’re wearing matching Christmas sweaters with little gingerbread men, which does something funny to Seokjin’s heart.
“…Piu Piu and Molang are bestest friends,” Jimin says quietly, pointing to one of the ornaments.
“Oh yeah? Do you have a best friend?” Yoongi asks, grinning down the three-year-old.
“Mhm,” Jimin nods, head flopping around.
Yoongi’s grin widens, bouncing the three-year-old a little.
“Oh yeah? Who’s your best friend? Is it…Piu Piu?”
“No!”
Yoongi hums, pouting in thought.
“Is it…Jungkookie?”
“No!”
Seokjin suppresses a snort, thinking about how Jungkook would cry a little if he heard that. He takes a step forward, catching Yoongi’s attention. The younger man smiles at him, something big and wide and beautiful that it makes Seokjin’s breath catch a little. Smiling back, he puts a finger to his lips, winking at the younger man. Huffing a little laugh, Yoongi turns his attention back to Jimin, bounching the three-year-old a little.
“Is it me, Jimin-ah? Is Yoonie-hyung your best friend?”
“No! It’s Jinnie-hyung,” Jimin squeals happily, legs kicking a little bit as he laughs.
Yoongi’s grin softens, eyes gentle as he watches the toddler. Seokjin can feel his eyes stinging again, smile wobbly and fond and a touch sad.
“Of course I’m his bestest friend, Yoongi-yah,” Seokjin cuts in, unable to handle the feeling in his chest anymore, “stop trying to steal my baby brother, you animal.”
The screech Jimin lets out is so loud, Seokjin winces in sympathy for Yoongi’s eardrums. Jimin is pushing wildly at Yoongi’s shoulders, trying to get down; putting him down gently, Yoongi laughs as Jimin scrambles into Seokjin’s arms.
“Jinnie-hyung! You’re home!”
Seokjin sweeps his brother up, spinning him around before hugging him close. Jimin snuggles into his shoulder, face pressed against his neck. Nose pressed in Jimin’s hair, Seokjin can smell the sweet aroma of Jimin’s strawberry-scented shampoo, the lingering smell of detergent and something a little warmer, spicier.
“Hi, my little gingerbaby,” Seokjin murmurs, pressing kisses across Jimin’s face.
The toddler giggles, arms tight around Seokjin; Yoongi comes closer, reaching out to rub a hand across Jimin’s back. Seokjin smiles at him, pulling him into the hug. Immediately, Yoongi starts complaining, grumbling and scowling.
“Oh, stop complaining, I know you love love,” Seokjin says, chuckling as Jimin reaches for Yoongi.
As soon as Jimin touches him, Yoongi stops struggling, smiling lovingly at the toddler. He brings his arms up, wrapping one around Seokjin’s waist, the other pressed against Jimin’s back. He leans into Seokjin’s space, pressing a smile into the other’s shoulder. The same spicy, warm scent from earlier fills Seokjin’s nose.
“Yah, Yoongi-yah, are you wearing cologne?”
Yoongi groans, pushing away from Seokjin enough to swat at his side. Jimin giggles, small hands bunched in Seokjin’s collar.
“Don’t you groan at me, young man, what is the meaning of this? Did you have a date? Are you supposed to be on a date right now but you’re here instead because eomma bullied you into babysitting my Jiminie? Hmm? What is the meaning of this, Yoongi-yah?”
“Oh my god, stop,” Yoongi snickers, façade cracking as Seokjin’s expressions grow more and more exaggerated.
“I did have a date,” Yoongi admits quietly, face flushing a little as he glances at the ground.
Seokjin hums, holding Jimin a little closer. He tickles the toddler’s stomach, pressing a smacking kiss to Jimin’s cheek when he laughs.
“How was it?”
Yoongi glances up at him, a wry quirk to his lips.
“They were late.”
Seokjin grimaces a little, the back of his neck hot. Jimin leans towards Yoongi, reaching out to squish his face the way Seokjin and everyone else has done to him. He presses a little kiss to Yoongi’s nose, the display of affection making Yoongi melt and turn bright red.
“Yoonie-hyung was sad,” Jimin says, “but we played Legos and colored and watched Molang and Piu Piu. And I gave Yoonie-hyung lots of kisses until he got better.”
Seokjin watches Yoongi from the corner of his eye, the younger man’s face still flushed.
“Yeah? You made Yoongi-yah feel better?” Jimin nods, a cute little pout on his face, “That's really good, Jiminie. Hyung is proud of you.”
Jimin flushes, a pleased smile lighting up his face. Yoongi smiles at him, reaching out to tuck some of his hair behind his ear. Snuggling into Seokjin’s arms, Jimin yawns a little, eyes drooping.
“I’m sorry, Yoongi-yah. About your date,” Seokjin murmurs, looking from his brother to his friend.
Yoongi shrugs, a small smile on his face.
“It’s okay, hyung. They might have been late, but they showed up. So I forgive them.”
“You do?” Seokjin asks, turning to face Yoongi, expression nervous.
The younger man nods, reaching out to flick Seokjin on the forehead. He laughs as Seokjin squawks, Jimin’s sleepy giggles completing it. Jimin tugs on Seokjin’s collar, pulling his attention away from the other man.
“Hyung, Jinnie-hyung,” Jimin murmurs, “m’sleepy.”
“You’re sleepy? Guess we’ll have to get you to bed.”
Jimin whines a little, pouting up at his brother.
“Wanna stay with hyungs.”
Yoongi smiles, gesturing for Seokjin to hand the toddler over. Seokjin does so reluctantly, watching as Jimin snuggles into Yoongi’s shoulder.
“Of course, Jiminie. Hyungs will stay with you as long as you like.”
Seokjin purses his lips, trying to keep his smile small and gentle as he watches Yoongi carrying Jimin towards the hall. Fists clenched in Yoongi’s sweater, Jimin peers back at him from over his shoulder.
“Jinnie-hyung, come too.”
Seokjin lets his smile grow, moving forward to join the others. He runs a gentle hand down Yoongi’s back, settling it low on his side as he pushes the other forward. Huffing a little laugh, Yoongi twists their bodies to grab Seokjin’s hand, tugging him along and up the stairs.
“Are you excited for Santa, Jiminie? For presents?” Yoongi murmurs, letting go of Seokjin’s hand to open Jimin’s door.
The two adults maneuver around Jimin’s toys, his clothes, his little table and chair set until they reach his bed. Yoongi puts him down while Seokjin rummages in his dresser, grinning triumphantly when he pulls out a pair of pajamas and a set of pull-ups.
“Wanna see Santa Claus,” Jimin mutters, eyes blinking rapidly.
Seokjin coos at him, bending down to start changing Jimin’s clothes. Yoongi helps him, tickling the toddler to distract him as Seokjin pulls off his socks. Once Jimin’s undressed, he picks him up again, walking towards the bathroom door. Yoongi follows, settling on the closed toilet seat as Seokjin starts running a bath.
“No, no bath,” Jimin whines, “Jimin’s clean!”
“Sorry, baby, but you have to,” Yoongi says, pouting down at the toddler in sympathy.
Crossing his arms, Jimin sulks in the bathtub as Seokjin starts bathing him, running a soft cloth over the child’s skin and across his face.
“Just a quick one, honey. Then we’ll brush our teeth, and go to sleep. Wash our toes, then our nose,” Seokjin sings, grinning as Jimin reluctantly allows himself to be washed.
Yoongi watches them quietly, smiling slightly as Seokjin continues to singsong with Jimin, reaching around to grab Jimin’s towel. He holds it out, ready to receive a soggy toddler once Seokjin’s finished. Clambering out of the bath, Jimin crawls into Yoongi’s lap, snuffling as the man dries him.
“Okay, time for your pull-ups and pjs, Jimin-ah,” Yoongi says, pulling the clothes over, “do you need help?”
Jimin shakes his head, getting down to stand, “Jiminie’s a big boy.”
Chuckling, Seokjin starts to prep Jimin’s toothbrush, trusting Yoongi to help his brother if Jimin gets stuck pulling on his pajamas. A few seconds later, Jimin is standing on his stepstool, reaching for his toothbrush. Seokjin guides his hand, making sure the toddler doesn’t brush too hard, doesn’t brush too quick.
“Blegh,” Jimin spits out two minutes later, tongue sticking out.
Yoongi laughs, standing up to follow the brothers back into the bedroom. Jimin scuttles under his blankets, snuggling up to the multitude of stuffed animals on his bed. Shaking his head a little, Seokjin tucks him in, Yoongi coming to sit alongside him as Jimin starts to nod off again. Humming a lullaby under his breath, Seokjin rubs his thumbs across Jimin’s face, sweeping gently over his cheeks, his eyes; his forehead and chin.
“Sleep well, Jimin-ah,” Yoongi whispers, leaning around Seokjin to press a gentle kiss to Jimin’s forehead.
Smiling softly, Seokjin does the same, standing up and making sure to turn on Jimin’s nightlight. He gestures for Yoongi to follow him, the two slowly making their way out of the messy room before gently closing the door. Sighing, Seokjin slumps against Yoongi, his head falling to rest on his shoulder. The younger man chuckles, arms raising up to wrap around Seokjin’s back.
“I am so sorry,” Seokjin whines, rubbing his nose into Yoongi’s sweater aggressively.
Yoongi grins, scrubbing a hand through Seokjin’s hair, “I said it was okay, hyung.”
“Still. Thank you for staying until I came home. And for playing with Jiminie, and helping me get him to bed. Basically everything.”
Snorting, Yoongi pushes the taller man away, reaching for his hand. He links their hands together, pulling him back towards the stairs.
“Come on, hyung. Let’s grab something for you to eat, yeah?”
“I’ll be completely honest with you,” Seokjin says, smiling fondly, “that is the most attractive thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Yoongi’s answering cackle is loud and unrestrained and absolutely beautiful.