Work Text:
1
The camera crew has gone home but their security staff stays, just in case. The company have rented the entire of the theme park but BigHit can never be too safe with their beloved Bangtan Boys. One of the managers stops to talk to Namjoon but Taehyung doesn’t wait,
“Let’s go!” He grabs Jungkook’s hand and runs, Jungkook follows,
“Where?”
“Let’s play hide and seek.”
“Against each other?”
“No silly, against everyone else.” Taehyung explains. They keep running until everything is quiet, the sun has gone down and only the bright strobing on the rides light up the way.
Jungkook thinks Taehyung’s idea is dumb, how can you play hide and seek when the other people don’t know you’re playing? But he goes along anyway, because he’s pretty sure he’d follow Taehyung anywhere.
There’s still staff operating the rides and Jungkook chases Taehyung around in the bumper cars until they hear someone calling their names. They giggle and run off. Not before telling the staff member,
“We were never here! Don’t tell them! We’re playing hide and seek and we’re winning!” Taehyung insists and the staff member shrugs, Jungkook doesn’t think the staff member cares about their game but he follows with a quick,
“Thank you!” As he bows politely and Taehyung drags him further into the park. They almost run into Yoongi, who’s pacing around with his phone pressed to his ear but they duck behind a food cart before he can see them.
In the dark they crouch shoulder to shoulder, they’re still holding hands and Taehyung is grinning so hard that Jungkook can’t help but laugh. Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up and he moves to slap his hand over Jungkook’s mouth but Jungkook licks it and then Taehyung is laughing too.
“Taehyung? Jungkook?” Hobi calls them, they fall silent.
“We’re leaving in 15 minutes, meet us by the entrance!” He calls and Jungkook goes to stand up.
“You don’t want to loose, do you?” Taehyung taunts him and Jungkook knows he’s being played but he really does hate losing. He briefly thinks that he hates being scolded too but the Taehyung calls him a chicken and he caves just like that.
They ride the merry-go-round and try and see how many horses they can climb on and off in one ride. 18 thank you very much. One of the security guards gets close and Jungkook jumps from the carousel while it’s still moving and this time Taehyung follows.
Then,
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea.” Taehyung mumbles and Jungkook groans,
“You said let’s hide somewhere they’ll never find us!”
“Yes, but eventually they will find us and I’d prefer to be alive!”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. He’ll admit, climbing the structure of one of the roller coasters probably wasn’t the safest idea. He looks down, they’ve climbed higher than he’d realised.
“Jungkook? Taehyung?” Jin is calling them now, he sounds annoyed.
Jungkook makes eye contact with Taehyung who’s climbed as high as his knees. He knows Taehyung’s about to break and call them for help,
“Don’t you dare, this was your idea!” Jungkook snaps, Taehyung always does this! Gets him into trouble then backs out.
“I don’t want to get in trouble.” Taehyung worries.
“Let’s just climb back down first, he’ll never let us come back if he sees us up here. He’ll scold us so hard.”
“I don’t want to fall.”
“You won’t fall, just wait there and I’ll go first.”
Jungkook moves slowly and finally he climbs down lower than Taehyung, like he said he would, then his phone starts vibrating in his pocket and he almost slips.
“Hold on, I think they’re calling us, your phone-“
“Ah!” Taehyung shouts, startled despite the warning, his foot slips.
Jungkook’s body reacts before his brain and he’s reaching out to steady Taehyung, straining something in his side. They eventually reach the bottom and Taehyung is quiet, like he gets sometimes, and Jungkook holds his hand.
“Hyung!” Jungkook calls, and immediately Jin is summoned.
“Where have been? We’ve been calling you for ages!”
“Sorry, I- We were playing hide and seek together and I almost fell and hurt my side. I didn’t think we’d been gone for so long.” Jungkook explains and he squeezes Taehyung’s hand. Taehyung squeezes back.
“Are you okay?” Jin’s irritation dwindles as he looks the maknae over, he doesn’t look hurt.
“I think so, I’m sorry.”
“Are you okay?” Jin turns to Taehyung, he’s pretty sure Jungkook wouldn’t lie but Taehyung is a terrible liar when he’s unprepared.
“I don’t like it here when the lights go off.” Taehyung says quietly and Jungkook looks up to realise all the ride’s lights have shut off.
Jin waits to watch Taehyung’s expression, looking for a tell the younger is lying, trying to get out of being scolded. But there’s no sign of it, he’s not fidgeting or avoiding eye contact, or talking in circles trying to distract him. He figures the dark in a strange place must have spooked him after all.
“Come on. Let’s go home.” Jin sighs and takes Taehyung’s other hand, towing the two youngest members to the waiting van. In the future the other members will think back to tonight and wonder how they missed it.
2
They’re at a photoshoot, the concept seems to be to make them look as cute and childlike as possible. Yoongi hasn’t said a sentence without cursing all day. Jimin is loving all the attention and keeps making everyone laugh with his over the top aegyo.
Taehyung is playing the “copy me” game with Jungkook. Everything Taehyung does, Jungkook has to copy or he’s the loser. Taehyung takes a drink, Jungkook takes a drink. Taehyung sits down, Jungkook sits down. Taehyung whines for a snack, Jungkook does too.
Jungkook doesn’t think anyone even notices the games he and Taehyung play anymore, but this time he’s not going to loose. Last time Taehyung woke Yoongi from a nap and Jungkook wasn’t brave enough to copy once hyung had fallen back to sleep so Taehyung won.
They’ve been playing for close to an hour now and Jungkook can see Taehyung running out of ideas.
They’re called back for more group shots and the game is put on pause. The photographer arranges them on a comfy mattress laid on the floor, it’s more than big enough for all of them. There’s soft pillows, blankets and then their BT21 character plushies are given to them. Jungkook takes Kooky and smiles back at the pink bunny, the photographer snaps a picture.
It’s inevitable once they’re all asked to pretend they’re asleep that one of them actually falls asleep. Thankfully the photographer planned for that and it’s the last set of pictures needed for the day.
Once the photographer has left Jungkook knows the game is back on and he sits up to find Taehyung fast asleep with his head in Jimin’s lap, Tata crushed against his chest. Jimin coos and Yoongi’s gone to change before someone can ask for another round of pictures.
The rest of the hyung line take pictures with their phones and Jungkook wonders if Taehyung is still playing the game. He shuffles over and looks at him closely but Taehyung really does seem asleep.
“Leave him there for a little longer.” Hobi says and Jimin wriggles his way out from under Taehyung who stays fast asleep.
“I’ll stay with him while you guys change.” Jungkook decides, and he lays down to watch for the moment the game will restart, only to fall asleep too.
Namjoon comes back to find them both asleep, Taehyung’s on his tummy with his head on Tata and Jungkook is curled on his side with Kooky in his arms facing Taehyung. Namjoon is reminded how young they are all the time, but it’s almost a punch in his stomach when Taehyung wriggles and starts to suck his thumb. He wakes them both up gently tries to pull Taehyung’s hand from his mouth.
Jungkook wakes up as soon as Namjoon calls his name, his leader’s voice is better than any alarm clock. As soon as his eyes are open he sees Taehyung still fighting for sleep and Namjoon tries to wake him up, trying to pull his thumb from his mouth? Jungkook wonders if they’re still playing, he doesn’t want to suck his thumb too.
Namjoon pulls Taehyung up until he’s sitting and thankfully Jungkook watches as Taehyung uses both hands to clutch Tata tighter, his own hands grip Kooky a bit tighter in response.
“Up we get, come on. You need to get changed out of these clothes.”
“Mine.” Taehyung says, his eyes aren’t all the way open and Jungkook watches confused.
“You can’t keep the clothes.” Namjoon explains gently and pulls Taehyung to his feet.
“No, mine.” Taehyung shows Namjoon his Tata and oh,
“Yeah Tata is yours, you can keep him.” Namjoon smiles,
“And Kooky?” Jungkook asks, to make sure he’s not losing, of course.
“Yes Jungkook you keep Kooky, Taehyung you keep Tata. Now go get changed.” Namjoon humours them and the youngest two seem pleased at that and he usheres them to one of the dressing rooms before they can change their minds. Namjoon would definitely remember this time in just a few months.
3
They’re playing uno at home, on a Monday night, because why not. Jungkook is close to winning for for the third time when Jin lands him with a pick up 4 cards and Jungkook groans out loud.
The game lasts a long time and Taehyung starts a chant and gives up playing completely, he never really did understand the rules anyway. Jungkook ends up loosing and Taehyung coaxes him into playing pretend with him instead. They pretend they’re waiters and take orders off the members and bring them drinks and snacks while over acting.
The hyung line and Jimin end up a little tipsy from the over enthusiastic “waiters” and when Taehyung knocks Yoongi’s drink over and it spills on his lap he shouts,
“Ah, Tae! Stop messing round.”
“I didn’t mean to.” Taehyung defends, but Jungkook notes the way Taehyung licks his lips, a nervous habit.
“Whatever.” Yoongi stands up to change and everyone decides call it night. Jungkook waits for Taehyung, he’s still standing in the middle of the living room like he’s waiting for something.
“What are you two doing?” Jimin asks, back to get a drink. Of water this time.
“Is Yoongi angry with me?“ Taehyung mumbles.
“He’s just tired don’t worry about it.” Jimin ruffles Taehyung’s hair but he doesn’t look pacified.
“Should I go say sorry?”
“I think he’s in the shower.”
“Oh.” Taehyung looks down at the ground and his hands come up to play with the hem of his shirt.
“Go get ready for bed and I’ll bring him to you, you’ll see he’s not mad.” Jimin promises and Taehyung takes Jungkook’s hand and they go to their room. They’re the only two sharing a room anymore, and that’s out of choice.
They get changed and decide to shower in the morning, they brush their teeth together and Jungkook shares out their vitamins like every night.
“Can I sleep in your bed tonight?” Taehyung whispers as they reach their room. It’s not unusual, Jungkook knows Taehyung is sensitive especially when it comes to the members. He feels everything so deeply, even though Yoongi hasn’t done anything wrong Jungkook still feels a bit angry with him because he’s made Taehyung sad.
“Of course.” So they get in Jungkook’s bed, Taehyung steals the side nearest the wall and Jungkook shoves him playfully in response. They pull the blanket over their heads and Jungkook switches his phone torch on and makes shadows on the blanket that Taehyung holds up over their heads, then the door knocks.
“It’s me and Yoongi, can we come in just for a minute?” Jimin calls. Jungkook turns to Taehyung who is ignoring them, still watching the shadows.
“Uh, sure!” Jungkook shouts back and the door opens.
“I’m sorry I snapped Tae, I didn’t mean it. I’m not angry or upset with you.” Yoongi apologies and Taehyung peeps out from the little shadow show they’ve got going on.
“Really, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.” Yoongi repeats. Jungkook turns the torch off and Taehyung sits up.
“I didn’t mean to spill your drink either.” Taehyung counters.
“I know, do you forgive me?” Yoongi does look sorry, Jungkook thinks, good enough for him.
“I don’t know, will you take me to the Han River tomorrow?” Taehyung asks.
“Sure?” Yoongi looks confused.
“Okay then. Good night hyung, night Jiminie.” Taehyung smiles and turns over to go to sleep. Jungkook watches Jimin and Yoongi shrugs at each other and they say goodnight and leave.
“Are you asleep?” Jungkook asks in the dark.
“Not yet.” Taehyung says, voice low with tiredness.
“Why did you want to go to the Han River?”
“I want ride my bike.”
“Oh. Can I come too?”
“Obviously you’re coming too.” Taehyung says and Jungkook can hear him rolling his eyes. So he shrugs and lays down to fall asleep too. That time they all miss what’s happened right in front of them.
4
Jimin’s pulled a muscle in his knee and he’s been stopped from participating in all physical activities until he gets an all clear from their doctor.
When he comes home Jin is helping him support his weight and Jimin limps to the sofa. Once Jimin is sat down Jin goes to make him a hot drink and Jungkook wants to go and say the right thing but he doesn’t know how.
Then Taehyung appears, he walks straight over to Jimin and stops in front of him.
“Does it still hurt?”
“Yeah.” Jimin’s voice is tight and Jungkook thinks Taehyung is very brave for going over there.
“Which side?”
“My left.”
“Wait here.” Taehyung instructs and Jungkook just watches as Jimin puts his head in his hands.
“Hold this.” Taehyung appears from nowhere shoving a blanket and pillows into his hands. Jimin doesn’t look up. Taehyung runs off and comes back again a moment later and slows to a walk in front of Jimin.
“Can you lay down?” Taehyung asks and Jimin raises his head to nod.
“Lay down.”
“Why?”
“So I can make you feel better.” Taehyung says, his expression is so serious that Jimin must cave as he lays down on their sofa, carefully with his left leg.
“Bring that here.” Taehyung waves Jungkook over.
“Bossy.” Jungkook comments but he does as he’s told. Jimin gets a pillow under his head and one under his knee. Then Taehyung kneels and starts pulling out bandaids with rockets and spaceships on.
He gently focuses on covering Jimin’s knee with plasters over his grey sweatpants, Jungkook watches carefully ready to stop him in case he accidentally hurts Jimin’s injury more. Jimin notices him hoovering and says,
“Relax, he’s fine. You’re being careful right Taehyungie?”
“Of course I’m being careful, you’re hurt.” Taehyung replies, not taking his eyes off his work. Jungkook holds the blanket in his arms waiting to be told where to put it.
Eventually Taehyung runs out of plasters and Jin comes back with tea. Jin places the mug on their coffee table and sits down on one of the other sofas and turns on the TV with the volume low.
“Tuck him in. I’ll be right back.” Taehyung tells Jungkook who lays the blanket over Jimin gently, wrapping him up.
“You don’t have to.” Jimin says but Jungkook carries on avoiding Jimin’s knee.
“Here, you can borrow this until you’re feeling better.” Taehyung holds out one his Tata plushies, it’s neck is a bit floppy from where Taehyung has been hugging it.
“Thanks Tae.” Jimin takes the toy very carefully and brings it to his chest, then he makes a fuss of tucking Tata into the blanket too and Taehyung beams.
“Feel better?” Taehyung asks and Jimin nods,
“Yeah, you made me feel a lot better. Doesn’t even hurt anymore. Thank you, both.” Jimin makes sure he includes Jungkook and Jungkook feels shy and goes to sit down in front on the TV by Jin’s feet.
“One last thing, close your eyes.” Taehyung sing songs.
“Taehyung, let Jimin take a nap now he’s tired from the hospital.” Jin says, Jungkook knows it’s late, no way is Jimin taking a nap now but Taehyung looks upset.
“It’s okay, one last thing before bed?” Jimin smiles and Taehyung moves slowly, kneels by the sofa and places a loud kiss on the palm of his hand and then holds his hand over Jimin’s knee leaving a space so he’s not actually touching. Taehyung makes a kind of high pitched noise and then sits back smiling. Jimin watches Taehyung fondly who leaves immediately after to go to bed, Jungkook assumes.
“You shouldn’t let him play with you when you’re actually hurt, he could have hurt you more. Accidentally.” Jin tells Jimin and Jungkook watches the cooking show that’s playing on TV.
“I know but wasn’t he-“ Jimin gets cut off by Jin,
“I know.”
“What do you know?” Jungkook pipes up, distracted from the show.
“Do you wanna watch a video on my phone of all the times Namjoon-hyung breaks stuff in RUN?” Jin waves his phone and Jungkook is up on the sofa on an instant.
“It’s getting more obvious isn’t it?” Jin talks over Jungkook’s head, who doesn’t hear a thing.
“Or are we finally paying attention?” Jimin counters. This time, they knew something was different, they just didn’t have a name for it yet.
5
“I’m hungry.” Taehyung announces as he flops down onto Jungkook’s bed.
“I’m actually still asleep.” Jungkook groans, covering his eyes with an arm.
“People don’t talk when they’re asleep.”
“Yes they do it’s called sleep-talking.”
“Like sleep-walking?”
“Exactly.”
“Can you sleep-cook me breakfast?”
“In a minute.”
“I’m hungry hyung.”
“Don’t try that, you’re older than me.”
“Please?”
“Cuddle for a minute then breakfast.” Jungkook pulls Taehyung against him in a bid to get five minutes more sleep but instead of laughing Taehyung stays quiet. So Jungkook sits up.
“What’s wrong?” Jungkook worries, pushing back the fluffy curls from Taehyung’s eyes.
“My tummy hurts.”
“Oh. Come on then. Help me up! I’m too tired to get up by myself I need you to help me.” Jungkook pretends and Taehyung giggles before pulling Jungkook up.
Jungkook starts to look around the kitchen and decides on making waffles.
“Can you cut up the fruit?” Jungkook pushes a chopping board, knife and fruit at Taehyung who nods. Jungkook uses a box of mix and pours it into the hot waffle iron.
“What you doing?” Namjoon walks in, his shorts and t-shirt creased from sleep.
“Helping Jungkook make breakfast.” Taehyung says, he brandishes the knife and Namjoon’s eye go wide.
“Oh! Wow, good job Tae. Can I help too? Please?”
“Okay.” Taehyung drops the knife and Namjoon takes his place. Taehyung wonders off and Namjoon sighs,
“That was close.”
“What was close?” Jungkook’s confused.
“Uh, I almost cut myself.” Namjoon lies quickly.
“Taehyung was doing fine you should have left him.”
“Right.” Namjoon doesn’t know what else to say. They’ve all been seeing it for a while, but Jungkook appears to be oblivious. Sometimes Taehyung is silly, or hyper, quiet or moody, and that’s not abnormal. Not for anyone. Sometimes Taehyung plays games that don’t seem to make sense, he’s too serious about them.
The other members have been talking about it for months now. Jimin brought it up first, the fact that Taehyung seemed extra silly, overexcited or too shy for a situation that he shouldn’t feel shy in. Namjoon agreed straight away, he’s been on the internet long enough to know, he blurted out,
“Isn’t it little space?” Just like that and the other members stared at him with differentiating amounts of horror.
It takes a while for them to pay attention, figure out fact from fiction. Then another while longer to conclude that as far as they can tell, yes sometimes Taehyung slips in a headspace where’s he’s younger, little. It’s clear in the way he talks, his manic grin, his mischievous eyes, his shyness, to everyone but Jungkook.
Yoongi thinks that if Taehyung is slipping into little space it’s triggering something in Jungkook too. Some instinct that just tells Jungkook what age to act, how to mirror his best friend perfectly. Jimin disagrees, he thinks Jungkook is just being himself, the baby of the group going along with what his youngest hyung wants.
Hobi and Jin don’t know what to think, but Namjoon thinks Yoongi might be right, although he doesn’t say it. It just makes sense that is Taehyung has fond a way to de-stress and that Jungkook is unknowingly using the same tools to cope. Kind of like folie a deux, but Namjoon isn’t calling it crazy, he actually thinks it’s really cute.
They miss out on a lot being idols, and it’s worth it. But Namjoon really likes kids and being hyung to the maknae line has always brought him some kind of peace. Watching Taehyung giggle, play games and fall asleep on the sofa is just therapy he didn’t know he needed.
Still, Taehyung with a knife is fine, Taehyung in little space with a knife, not fine. Namjoon thinks the time for ignorance is over, they’re overdue a family meeting anyway.
💜
They wait until the moment is right, although Yoongi keeps insisting there’s no such thing. The others agree to wait until they’re home, Jungkook and Taehyung are on the sofa together then everyone else joins and they bring it up. Jimin prints a pdf document with pictures and puts it in a soft binder, just in case the lengthy explanations that Namjoon has collected is too much to understand.
So all seven of them sit in the living room, a film playing that no one’s really watching. Taehyung and Jungkook are watching videos on Jungkook’s phone and Namjoon says,
“Do you ever wish you could go back to being a kid?”
“Really?” Yoongi deadpans.
“Sometimes.” Jimin shrugs, “But I prefer being grown up.”
“You’re too short to be grown up.” Jungkook digs, not even taking his eyes off the video. Jimin takes a breath and lets it go as Hobi pats his arm.
“Taehyung?” Jin calls, “Can you listen to me for a moment?”
Taehyung looks up and Jin continues,
“We’ve been noticing for a while that sometimes you seem to appear, more childlike. We all think that you’re really cute when you’re happy, carefree and it makes up happy knowing you’re happy. Does that make sense?”
“Sure?” Taehyung sits up and the action makes Jungkook pause the video and sit up too.
“Great. I know your personality can be excitable, perhaps even childlike sometimes. But I’m not talking about when you play pretend, I’m talking about when you feel like you’re younger. Do you ever feel like you’re younger?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean?” Taehyung frowns, “Am I in trouble?”
“No, you’re not in trouble.” Hobi takes over, “What we’re trying to say is we think that as a very clever tool for dealing with our stressful lives that sometimes you slip into a headspace that’s younger than your actual age.”
“Like little space.” Namjoon clarifies and Taehyung cocks his head.
“Not in a kink kind of way.” Yoongi explains, “In a healthy, innocent kind of way.”
“I don’t understand.” Taehyung looks at his hyungs confused, do they all know something he doesn’t?
“I don’t understand either.” Jungkook admits and Taehyung resists the urge to climb into Jungkook’s lap and hide.
“Well, that’s the thing.” Namjoon turns to Jungkook, “You’ve never seemed to notice if Taehyung is Taehyung or if Taehyung is in little space.”
“Here.” Jimin gets up and gives Jungkook the folder, “Read this and we’re going to give you a minute. Call us when you’re ready and we’ll come back in. Know that this is something we’ve been aware of for a while, it’s not new to us. We love you just the way you are.”
The older members leave and Jungkook and Taehyung look at each other, sharing a look. What the fuck?
“What just happened?” Jungkook can’t stop himself asking.
“Did they just say I’m a little? Like, what we see on fansites and tumblr?”
“I think so.”
“Did Jimin print us a guide to little space with pictures?”
“I think so?” Jungkook repeats, opening the folder.
“Right, alright. Read me a story I guess like the baby I am.” Taehyung makes himself comfy on Jungkook’s lap and Jungkook reads it out loud, he even uses a funny voice on the bold and italic parts and Taehyung relaxes and laughs.
Once they’ve reached the end Taehyung says,
“So… Can this really have been happening without me knowing? Without you knowing? I don’t think I’ve ever felt little… Not like 3 or 4 years old or anything like that.”
“I think we would have noticed, right?” Jungkook bites his lip.
“Do you think I act my age?”
“Not always, but none of us do.”
“It’s kind of sweet they’re willing to baby us though.”
“Yeah.”
“Although you already get babying, little maknae.”
“I’m bigger than you!” Jungkook defends himself.
“I’m older than you!” Taehyung shoots back.
“I’m stronger than you!”
“I’m more handsome than you!”
“You got me there.”
“Yeah.”
“I do miss being a kid sometimes.” Jungkook shrugs.
“Me too.”
“Let’s just carry on being us, and if all this is nothing then it’s nothing. If somehow we’re slipping into little space and regressing to actual childhood then, I guess we have enough hyungs to babysit us?” Jungkook suggests.
“Alright. Cool, let’s call them back in.” So they do, and the decide to carry on as they are and Jungkook and Taehyung promise not to pretend they’re “big” if they’re feeling younger and the other members promise to treat them like normal unless one of them seems little and in need of help.
It doesn’t take long for Taehyung to slip.
“Please.” Taehyung pulls on Namjoon’s studio desk chair to get his attention.
“No. I’m not teaching you English curse words.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t need to know them.”
“I bet I already know them all anyway.”
“Taehyung.”
“Yes?”
“Sit down on the sofa, play on your phone and I’ll be done in about twenty minutes.”
“It won’t work.”
“What won’t work?”
“Won’t open!”
“Your phone?”
“Mmh”
“Just put your passcode in”
“I don’t know it.”
“Of course you know it, it’s your phone.”
“I don’t.” Taehyung goes quiet, looking at his phone with lip between his teeth and he brings his thumb up to chew his nail.
“Oh. Never mind, come here and you watch mine okay? What do you want to watch?” Namjoon speaks slowly and clearly and Taehyung looks up, worry gone. Taehyung let’s go of Namjoon’s chair and tries to sit on his lap.
“I want to watch you break stuff.”
“What?” Namjoon winces as Taehyung’s knee digs into his thigh but doesn’t stop him. He really does need to finish working on this.
“On YouTube the videos of you breaking stuff.”
“Of course you do, hang on.” Namjoon sighs and turns the age filter on to 12 and under, just in case. Then he finds one of those fanmade complications of him being the god of destruction and gives his phone to Taehyung who giggles all the way through. YouTube is a never ending collection of BTS embarrassing themselves and Namjoon manages to finish what he does doing while Taehyung is on to watching a video of them trying to speak English.
Taehyung notices the attention and puts the phone down.
“Can you practice with me?” Taehyung asks.
“Practice what with you?”
“English?”
“Oh, sure.”
“Ask me stuff.”
“How are you?” Namjoon switches to English and watches carefully as Taehyung thinks it through.
“I’m good.” He speaks slower in English but Namjoon nods encouragingly.
“What colour is your hair?” Namjoon asks,
“Black. Yours is too.” Taehyung’s voice is a little higher pitched in English, Namjoon thinks, slower too.
“Oh.” Taehyung jumps up before settling back down on Namjoon’s lap, switching to Korean, “I forgot to ask how you were, wait there.”
A few moments and Namjoon waits while Taehyung goes back to English,
“How are you?”
“I’m great thank you. I’m a little bit hungry. Do you want to go eat?”
“McDonald’s!” Taehyung shouts and Namjoon winces and just about stops himself from covering his ears in response.
“You want McDonald’s?”
“Please, please, please” Taehyung bounces and says the last “please” in Japanese like he’s trying to impress Namjoon, who would have given in anyway.
“Wow, you know Japanese too? You’re smart.”
“Uh huh.” Taehyung agrees, “Where’s Jungkook?”
“Shall we call him and find out?”
“Call Jungkook?”
“Yeah, look here, we’ll video call him.” Namjoon picks up his phone taps at the screen and the video call rings out, Taehyung makes faces at himself in the screen until Jungkook answers.
“Hello?” Jungkook picks up, he looks like he’s in the dance studio.
“Kook-ah! Hyung is gonna get me McDonald’s.” Taehyung tells Jungkook as he leans towards the screen.
“What! Without me?” Jungkook eyes Namjoon, scandalised.
“No I can wait for you. Are you hungry?” Taehyung asks hopefully.
“Yeah I’m always hungry.” Jungkook smiles and Taehyung grins. Namjoon watches their interaction carefully, they talk back and forth but really is this Taehyung little or just Taehyung? He can’t miss this opportunity to find out for sure. He ends the call after telling Jungkook to meet them at home and Taehyung stands up ready to leave. Namjoon turns off everything at his desk and tries to think of things only big Taehyung would know.
“What time is it” Namjoon nods to the clock and Taehyung studies it for a moment before telling him the correct time.
“Can you still not open your phone?” Namjoon tries, and Taehyung pulls it out but can’t seem to remember the number.
“No?“
“Never mind, oh. Can you drive us home instead of waiting for a driver?” Namjoon asks and Taehyung looks confused.
“I can drive?”
“Can’t you?”
“I don’t… I don’t know.” Taehyung stutters, “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, of course not.”
“I don’t feel hungry anymore.” Taehyung fiddles with the drawstrings on his hoodie.
“Tae?”
“Mmm?”
“Do you know old I am?”
“Uh, 20 something?”
“And Jungkook?”
“Younger than you?”
“Right, well done. Are you older or younger than Jungkook?”
“Older”
“Yeah? Do you feel older than Jungkook right now?”
“I am older.”
“I know but do you feel older?”
“Not always. Can we go now?”
“Yeah, okay.” Namjoon is pretty sure.
Namjoon orders McDonald’s for everyone and Taehyung is building a kind of nest in the living room. Hobi and Jungkook get home and Jungkook runs to help Taehyung with the blanket fort.
“I thought it would be more obvious but I think Taehyung is little right now.” Namjoon says and Hobi watches the youngest members in the living room.
“What made you think that?”
“He couldn’t unlock his phone and said he didn’t know if he could drive. He didn’t seem to understand why, it’s like it’s not aware he’s regressing?“
“Maybe he’s resisting it? Not even consciously” Hobi suggests.
“So let’s go ahead and treat him like he’s little, see what happens?”
“Why not, show him he can be as little or not as he wants.”
“Alright. Follow my lead.” Namjoon walks over to the living room and asks,
“What you doing?”
“Blanket fort.” Taehyung says distractedly and Jungkook nods.
“Your food is almost here, go wash up. We haven’t got any plans for the rest of the day.” Namjoon tells them and with no arguments they leave the leave the fort and head to the bathroom. Hobi puts Pokémon on the TV and gets out Kooky and Tata water bottles from their line, and puts them on the table with two glasses next to them, a subtle test.
Jungkook and Taehyung appear in their comfy clothes and Taehyung deliberately shows Namjoon’s his hands,
“See?“
“Very clean, well done now sit down and watch cartoons until the food gets here. I’m going to see where the others are.” Namjoon tells Taehyung and Hobi takes over.
“You heard your hyung, sit down, look! Which Pokémon is that?”
“Caterpie?” Taehyung sits down and grabs the Tata bottle as his gaze is snagged by the cartoon.
“Jungkook, can I talk to you?” Hobi calls Jungkook away from the TV slightly so Taehyung won’t hear their conversation.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think Taehyung is in little space right now?”
“What’s little space?” Jungkook looks back at the TV as Pikachu makes another move in battle.
“Nothing you have to think about Kook, sorry, go back and sit with Taehyungie.” Hobi smiles and watches the two boys sit cross legged side by side with matching zoned out expressions on their faces.
Namjoon comes back with the food order and Hobi takes one of the bags from him,
“I asked Jungkook if he thought Taehyung was in little space and he didn’t know what it was. If Taehyung isn’t, Jungkook is.” Hobi tells Namjoon who’s eyebrows raise slightly.
“Interesting, he doesn’t seem to behave as young as Taehyung though.”
“I bet he’s still got his appetite no matter what.” Hobi jokes.
“Actually, I got them these.”
“You got them happy meals?”
“Yeah, I mean I got extra too but I wanted to see their reaction.”
“Fine but you’re the one giving them it, you’re on your own.” Hobi sits on one of the other sofas and watches curiously.
“Here, one for you and one for you.” Namjoon wastes no time and sets a happy meal in front of both boys,
“Mmh” Taehyung pushes it away and Hobi thinks Namjoon’s pushed him too far.
“Okay.” Jungkook sits up on his knees and opens Taehyung’s box, tearing the sides and opening the little bag of fruit inside too.
“Thank you.” Taehyung says and Jungkook hums back and goes to opening his own.
“Can I change the channel?” Namjoon pushes and Hobi watches the younger two freeze.
“Don’t you want to see what happens?” Taehyung’s eyes are wide.
“I guess, I didn’t want to miss the news.” Namjoon shrugs.
“The news?” Jungkook repeats in disbelief, “Just read it on your phone.” Jungkook rolls his eyes and goes back to watching the TV.
Hobi can’t stop himself from laughing, Namjoon shots him a look.
“Sorry, what do you think then?” Hobi apologies.
“As far as I can tell they’re both in little space but I really don’t know how to check for sure.”
“Should we just, I don’t know, look after them while they’re letting us?”
“Yeah, okay.”
So they do, they let Jungkook and Taehyung eat as much as they want then Namjoon and Hobi look up on naver how to babysit children.
“What I can’t remember! I just liked reading and riding my bike!” Namjoon defends himself and Hobi laughs,
“Of course you did. Well go get a book a little kid would understand.”
“I think I have Alice in Wonderland?”
“Alright let’s try that. Then if that doesn’t work we’ve got painting, video games, board games.”
“Okay wait here.” Namjoon leaves and Hobi watches as Jungkook and Taehyung continue to watch Pokémon.
“Last episode.” Hobi warns, he doesn’t think they hear him.
“Taehyung, Jungkook, did you hear me?” Hobi repeats and Jungkook looks up,
“What?”
“Last episode then we’re doing something else.” Hobi tells him and Jungkook nods, Taehyung copies. The episode ends and Hobi turns the TV off half expecting one of them to throw a tantrum but they just sit back and look at him, waiting. Thankfully Namjoon comes back with a small pile of books in arms,
“Look what I found.” He brings out some books, there’s some children’s classics in Korean and some mock ups of their BT21 character stories too, as well some of their photobooks.
“I like reading.” Taehyung tells them and Jungkook says,
“I like drawing more.”
“We can draw after.” Namjoon assures him and the he picks one the photobooks up and turns it to a page with writing, “Can you read this for me?”
Taehyung takes the book and his eyes scan the words,
“Something about hyung and us, music, fishing, food or eating food?” His face is pinched in concentration and Namjoon assumes he’s picking out the words he recognises easily.
“You’re right! That’s an interview with Jin-hyung.” Namjoon smiles at Taehyung who’s already flipped the page. Jimin, Yoongi and Jin arrive home together and Hobi goes to intercept them before they reach the living room.
Taehyung is still flicking through Jin’s photobook when Jungkook nudges him.
“Are hyungs acting strange?” Jungkook asks.
“No?”
“Okay.” Jungkook accepts it easily and gets up to go to the bathroom. Namjoon is looking down at his phone when Jungkook leaves the room and when he looks back up Taehyung is flicking through the books alone.
“Where’s Jungkook?” Namjoon tries to ask in a way that doesn’t sound like he’ll be trouble if he answers, he needs to do more research on communicating with children.
“He went that way.” Taehyung points.
“Hobi! Check on Jungkook he went your way!” Namjoon calls and Jimin appears.
“Taehyung! Come say hi I haven’t seen you all day.” Jimin demands and Taehyung drops the book to run at Jimin, who catches him and then falls over straight away giggling.
“You’re so cute.” Jimin rubs in nose against Taehyung’s cheek to make him giggle.
“Hyung got me McDonald’s.” Taehyung brags, they’re hardly ever allowed to eat junk food without a reason.
“He did?”
“Yeah for me and Kookie.” Taehyung tells Jimin as he scrambles to get up. Taehyung leaves the room and Jimin lays on the floor confused. He follows Taehyung who’s looking for something,
“Can I help you find something?” Jimin offers
“I can’t find my phone.”
“It’s on the kitchen counter.”
“Why?”
“I’m guessing you left it there?”
“No it was in my… Wait. Did Namjoon give me a happy meal?” Taehyung asks in disbelief. “Wait, and Hobi put Pokémon on?”
“You remember doing all that?” Jimin asks curiosity getting the best of him.
“Well yeah but it doesn’t feel like I did it, I just remember it. Kind of like when your parents tell you that you liked eating pears as a kid but you don’t remember you just believe them?”
“Do you think you were little?”
“‘Maybe?”
“Jungkook might have been too, he still might be.” Jimin gives the heads up and Taehyung nods confused but then he sees Jungkook sitting on the floor on his knees, using professional artist grade markers to colour in one of their own BTS colouring books.
“Oh my god he looks so cute!” Taehyung whispers to Jimin, shaking Jimin’s arm to convey how fucking cute Jungkook looks and Jimin can’t disagree,
“I know right, watch this. Jungkook! You haven’t said hi to me yet come give me hug!” Jimin grins and shouts across the living room, Jungkook’s head snaps up at his name and he springs to his feet and tackles Jimin in a hug. Taehyung watches, transfixed, Jungkook likes hugs sure but not that much, especially when he’s in the middle of something.
“Were you colouring?” Jimin plays with Jungkook’s hair fondly
“Yeah and drawing.” Jungkook replies, letting Jimin go he realises Taehyung is there too.
“Where’d you go?” Jungkook questions him, Taehyung tilts his head,
“I’ve been here.”
“But you’re not, I… Taehyung?”
“What’s wrong Kook-ah? I didn’t go anywhere I’m right here. I just lost my phone and went to find it.” Taehyung steps closer and reaches out to touch Jungkook, to show him that he’s really here. Up close he can see Jungkook’s eyes are different, wider? More questions behind them maybe? Then Taehyung touches Jungkook’s arm and Jungkook blinks and it’s gone.
“Where is everyone?” Jin calls from somewhere.
“In here!” Jungkook calls back, he smiles at Taehyung and Jimin and goes back to the TV where he sees the blanket fort and the colouring pens. He blinks once, twice, then he turns back,
“Is that, what I think it is?” Jungkook’s voice comes out a lot stronger than he expected.
“I think they were right Kookie.” Taehyung says and Jungkook just says,
“Oh.”
💜
They’re at a water park and they’re filming a RUN episode, the members watch their youngest two closely through the day. It’s been months since that day when they watched Pokémon and ate McDonald’s in their fort and lots has changed but really, from the outside at least, nothing was different.
Jimin seems the most in tune with their little personas, he can tell the best if Taehyung and Jungkook are just playing or actually little. As the third youngest member Jimin doesn’t take on the role of play mate as much as he does parent. He seems to fall into role easily which is amusing to the others until they one of those stares and they quickly shut up. The hyung-line have a harder time telling and Hobi struggles not the baby the two of them even when they’re not little.
It was no suprise Yoongi has been the most awkward, he won’t pander to them and doesn’t stop what he’s doing often to play with them. Sure they prefer to play with Jin and Hobi, go on adventures with Jimin and Namjoon but when they’re sick or hurt they only want Yoongi.
Namjoon makes sure to tell them often he loves them big or little, he worries he favours them too much when they’re little but he can’t help himself, he always knew he was a paternal person. He takes them to galleries and on bike rides and always answers their never ending questions. Why do dogs have four legs? Why do people have to go to work? Why is the colour blue sad? Why is the number four called four?
Jin is an absolute nightmare with them, despite being eldest he winds them up, gives them way too much sugar and tells them scary stories before bed. He lets them watch whatever they want on his phone and Jimin is the one who scolds him for it.
Hobi is an angel sent straight from heaven on their hyperactive days, he does simple work outs and dance routines with them and once they’ve calmed down they do animal yoga together until one of them inevitably gets bored but also wonderfully calm. He’s also the best at hide and seek if you ask Taehyung.
Taehyung is completely nonchalant about the entire thing, he accepts it and gets almost complete control over it. Able to push himself in and out of little space at a whim, most the time. He finds his acceptance has made it easier to remember the things that happen while he’s little, and sometimes if they’re very busy and stressed he regresses younger to bring himself round quicker.
Jungkook had struggled more, he couldn’t tell when he was little, it was a like a fog that came over him, until recently. Taehyung had snapped his favourite stick when they’d been playing a tournament of sword fights and for some reason he cried, a lot.
Namjoon pulled him for a hug and Hobi wiped his tears. Jin made silly faces at him behind Namjoon’s back to make him smile again. Jimin led Taehyung away before he could start crying too and Yoongi flat out ran to the nearest connivance store to buy tape to fix his sword in hopes it would stop him crying.
Jungkook doesn’t cry much, he’s said before he only rarely cries and when he does it’s because his hyungs are hurting. Little Jungkook is too busy following little Taehyung around to worry about crying, and even if he falls or gets scolded it doesn’t matter because hyungs make it better. But after that moment, having his little heart broken over a stick, he knew could trust his hyungs completely. He knew that without a doubt they weren’t playing along just for his sake or even for Taehyung’s sake. They accepted him. Maybe he didn’t believe it until that moment.
Now he’s playing the “I bet you can’t” game with Taehyung who started it by saying,
“I bet you can’t do a handstand in the water.” Jungkook could.
Then Jungkook had said,
“I bet you can’t go down the biggest slide with your eyes closed.” So Taehyung did.
“I bet you can’t hold your breath underwater longer than me.” Taehyung challenges and it’s game on for real no take backs game on.
They dive under the surface and scowl at each other until someone pulls them both up, by their arms. It’s not one of the members, it’s someone who works at the waterapark. Jungkook yelps at the rough grip around his upper arm. The man goes to open his mouth but something in Taehyung switches and he realises he was slipping, not anymore.
“Don’t touch him.” Taehyung let’s his voice drop, he uses his meanest idol stare and as the man drops his hands Taehyung moves Jungkook behind himself, pointedly.
“Someone wasn’t taught to respect their elders were they. Your bosses paid a lot of money for you to be here just for two be act like children. Who’s in charge of you?”
“I am.” Yoongi appears, he’s technically not in charge but Taehyung appreciates the back up.
“Kook-ah, go find Joon.” Yoongi says and Jungkook doesn’t need to be told twice, he leaves, but doesn’t run away because running at a swimming pool isn’t safe, obviously.
“You’re responsible for him?” The man sizes up Yoongi, between staring daggers at Taehyung.
“He’s responsible for himself, I’m his hyung. Is there a problem?”
“I wonder how your boss would like to hear about how you’re slacking off, two of your members playing childish games you should be ashamed of them, tell them to act their age.”
Anger rolls off Yoongi in waves and Taehyung smirks.
“Tae, go check Kookie found hyung.” Yoongi says, sharing a smile with his member, Yoongi doesn’t have to hold back if his younger members aren’t around to scare. And with the rest of hyung line not around to hold him back, no, this will be fun.
They go back to filming and when they’re leaving a manager comes out and apologies to them for their staff being rude to them, Namjoon has no idea what she’s talking about but accepts the apology and assures her they’ve had a great day and will recommend their company books them again. She’s visibly relieved and tells them the rude staff member has been fired.
Jungkook is none the wiser as his hyungs talk about the incident until he realises he’s not little anymore, then he feels embarrassed for the first time since this all started. He can’t control it like Taehyung does, Jungkook doesn’t know when he starts to slip, he’s much more aware as he slips out of little space, like now. But dropping into it, he’s still a bit lost.
Even when he does slip into little space, he’s aware he’s not actually that young. He can still cook simple things, his abilities like riding a bike, drawing and reading don’t seem to be much different just with a short attention span. He’s always old enough to look after Taehyung, even though there’s never really a time that happens anymore, Taehyung always waits until they’re home and someone else is there now.
Jungkook decides, as he overhears Namjoon scolding Yoongi for saying whatever he said to that man that he’s going to stop slipping, he doesn’t know how but if he’s not even slipping to an age that much younger, then what’s the point? He can act silly and get doted on by the members at any age, they’ve proved that. It works fine, until it doesn’t.
A couple of weeks later and Jungkook seems to have worked out his triggers for slipping, certain theme songs, cuddling stuffed toys, the members being overly fussy with him, which are generally easy enough to avoid. But nothing triggers him like little Taehyung, who he doesn’t want to avoid. But eventually Jungkook gets himself under control and finds playing with Taehyung is a good enough distraction, and plus he’s really cute.
A few days later Taehyung is waiting outside Yoongi’s room, he’s not supposed to disturb his hyung when he’s little unless he’s hurt or sick when the door is closed. But he’s a kind of hurt only Yoongi can fix so he knocks on the door anywhere. There’s no answer.
“Uh, Yoongi-hyung?” Taehyung tries to call through the door but his voice comes out quiet and he realises he’s about cry. He knocks again. Still no answer. Taehyung doesn’t know what to do, he wants Yoongi but doesn’t want to get in trouble.
“Hey, we’ve told you not to bother hyung when he closes his door Tae, come on.” Jimin appears and tries to take Taehyung’s hand to lead him back to the living room, but as Taehyung turns Jimin sees how upset he is,
“I’m sorry Tae I didn’t know you were feeling sad, do you still want Yoongi?”
Taehyung nods. Jimin opens Yoongi’s door after knocking and he’s fast asleep.
“Hyung, I’m sorry to wake you up. Taehyungie needs you, he’s sad.” Jimin shakes Yoongi’s shoulder gently and he blinks sleepily,
“Taehyungie’s sad?” He repeats, sitting up confused and half asleep, he sees Jimin holding Taehyung’s hand who’s clearly trying not to cry.
“Come here.” Yoongi holds his own hand out and Taehyung takes it, Jimin leaves. Yoongi pulls Taehyung to sit on his bed and asks,
“Are you hurt?”
“My sad is hurting me.”
“Yeah? What’s making you sad?”
“Kookie doesn’t like me anymore.” Taehyung sniffles and Yoongi rubs his back.
“Did he say he that?”
“No.”
“Why do you think Kookie doesn’t like you?” Yoongi always makes sure he doesn’t invalidate their feelings, it’s one of the reasons they come to him, they don’t want to told “don’t worry” or “it’s okay”, it’s not what they need.
“I know he’s been playing with me but, it’s not like before. He’s just pretending it’s not, really, it’s…”
“Okay, shhh just breathe for moment.” Yoongi comforts him, wary Taehyung is going to push himself out his little headspace if he tries to process emotions too big for him right.
“It used to be different. I miss him.” Taehyung gets out and Yoongi understands. They’ve all noticed that Jungkook has stopped slipping in little space recently.
“I understand what you mean kiddo.” Yoongi wipes away Taehyung’s tears with his sleeve gently.
“Did I make him sad? Is he mad at me for eating the last banana?”
“No he’s not mad at you, maybe he’s sad though, I’ll talk to him and make him feel better if he’s sad. You’ve done nothing wrong though. Trust me.” Yoongi comforts him and there’s something about the trust Taehyung puts in him to look after when he’s so vulnerable that makes his chest ache.
“Trust you.” Taehyung says and he does.
Jungkook ends up admitting he’s been trying to stop himself slipping into little space, he says he doesn’t feel like he needs to anymore and the members tell him it’s his choice and he can change his mind anytime. That night Jungkook climbs into Taehyung’s bed and makes sure his best friend knows nothing will change between them.
Little Taehyung still asks for Jungkook sometimes, even when Jungkook is right there, and Taehyung will get confused and one the other members will have distract him. It turns out that Jungkook isn’t as in control as the thought when he next slips for the first time in well over a month.
Jimin and Yoongi are bickering like always but then suddenly they’re shouting and something in Jungkook gives, it’s like the fog drops quicker and thicker than ever and when he blinks and hears shouting and he’s scared. Jungkook isn’t scared of shouting but little Jungkook is apparently. He’s sitting on the sofa next to Namjoon who’s reading, Yoongi is sat on one of the other sofas and Jimin has stood up to wildly throw his hands around while they argue.
Jungkook always goes to Yoongi when he’s scared but now Yoongi is the one scaring him. He covers his ears and moves closer to Namjoon as subtly as he can manage and then Jimin swears and Namjoon scolds him,
“Enough, both of you.” Namjoon warns them and goes back to reading, not noticing the way Jungkook is trying to disappear next to him. Jimin snaps at Namjoon then too, Yoongi shouts back and Namjoon turns sharply at the same time, because Jungkook is tugging on his sleeve and he’s… Crying?
“What’s wrong?” Namjoon drops his book on the floor and studies Jungkook’s face quickly, trying to figure it out, and he sees straight away, Jungkook is in little space.
“Oh, hey Kookie. You didn’t like the shouting?” Namjoon checks and Jungkook shakes his head as he rubs his teary eyes.
“Shouting is naughty isn’t it? Yoongi, Jimin go to your rooms.” Namjoon says carefully, giving them both a look. Thankfully they understand and Yoongi looks worriedly at Jungkook and Jimin mumbles an apology, although as they leave someone’s door bangs loudly and Jungkook flinches.
“Can I give you a hug?” Namjoon asks, he doesn’t want to overstep and isn’t sure what kind of headspace Jungkook is in. Especially if he didn’t choose to slip which could mean he may have regressed from stress which isn’t good.
Jungkook hesitates, then buries his head into Namjoon’s shoulder and let’s himself cry freely. Namjoon holds him carefully as his head spins with concern for their maknae. Then Jungkook cries,
“I’m sorry.”
“Little bunny what are you sorry for?”
“I didn’t tell the truth before.”
“You can tell me now.”
“That man scared me.”
“What man?!” Namjoon fails at controlling his volume as his temper flares, luckily Jungkook has buried his head so close he seems unaffected.
“At the water park, he said I was trouble for being childish.”
“Aish, kiddo that was ages ago now.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay he did say anything to you? Or find you later?” Namjoon worries they’ve missed something incredibly important but Jungkook shakes his head,
“No I just, I didn’t want to get in trouble or get hyungs in trouble because I couldn’t be normal.”
“You are normal, there’s nothing wrong with you.”
“Why do I feel so bad then?”
“Bad about being little? You don’t need to feel bad, we all love looking after you and playing with.”
“I feel sad and my tummy aches, I just want to go to bed.”
“Do you feel… Guilty?”
“What does guilty feel like?”
“I feel guilty if I do something wrong like if I say I’ll have a song finished by Friday and then I don’t get it finished because I was being lazy instead. I feel guilty. It makes me sad, embarrassed and that can make you want to hide or cry.” Namjoon tries to explain, hoping isn’t over complicating things.
“I felt embarrassed at the water park, hyung. It’s okay when it’s us but I don’t want anyone else to know.”
“No one else needs to know, that man didn’t know Kook, he was just a bully.
“Really?”
“I promise you.” Namjoon rubs Jungkook’s side gently until the he sits up. Namjoon puts his hands on Jungkook’s face carefully and wipes the tears away.
“Are you feeling better?” Namjoon asks, watching Jungkook’s eyes carefully.
“I think so.”
“Is there anything else you need to tell me? Or want to tell me? You won’t get in trouble.”
“I miss playing with Tae.”
“He misses you too.”
Namjoon makes himself pay attention to all of Jungkook’s worries with the upmost focus as he pets the younger’s hair affectionately, a little worried it won’t get another chance.
“Are you sad? You look kind of sad.” Jungkook’s eyebrows furrow as his hyung listens to all his worries and answers all his silly questions.
“No I’m not sad, I guess I missed you, like how Taehyung missed you like this.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I just… Sorry you shouldn’t have to worry about grown up things right now Kook-ah.”
“Tell me.”
“I just really like looking after you, I don’t know if that makes me selfish. I don’t want to see you upset or stressed but knowing you trust me enough to look after when you’re little really makes me happy, it makes me feel like you need me, I guess.” Namjoon confesses, trying to articulate what he means in a way little Jungkook can understand.
“I always need you.” Jungkook says, like it’s just that simple and Namjoon hugs him again because maybe it is.
Yoongi looses patience first and slinks back into the living room, he pauses in Namjoon’s line of sight and waits to be called over.
“Hey, can Yoongi come and say sorry for shouting earlier?” Namjoon waits for Jungkook’s permission and nods to Yoongi who comes to kneel by the sofa they’re on.
“I’m so sorry I shouted Kookie, I was being a bad hyung and fighting with Jimin when I should have used my words and counted to 10.”
“You scared me.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you, I’m sorry. I’ll try really hard not to shout again.” Yoongi feels his heart breaking a little, “Will you still come to me if you get scared or hurt?”
“Will you ever shout at me?“
“No little one, I won’t ever shout at you. Unless you do something really dangerous like run into the road. Then I don’t think I could stop myself.”
“That’s okay, you can shout at me if being that stupid I guess, I know not to run into the road hyung.”
“Of course you do. Sorry.” Yoongi pushes his hair back self conscious, he’s almost forgotten what it’s like to talk with little Jungkook.
“You know…” Namjoon intupts them, “Taehyung should be finished with his tutor now, shall we go see he wants to play?”
“Yes!” Jungkook bounces and Yoongi can’t agree more, he shoots Namjoon a thankful look and they go to knock on Taehyung’s bedroom door.
“Just a minute!” Taehyung calls as he puts his saxophone away. Then he opens the door and Jungkook and Namjoon are standing there, Jungkook is standing behind Namjoon, almost like he’s shy.
“Hey Tae, Kookie said he missed playing with you. I told him you’d missed him too.” Namjoon says, exaggerating the lilt in his voice slightly, Taehyung looks between them, like he can’t believe it.
“Really?” Taehyung steps forward and Jungkook peeks at him from behind their leader’s shoulder.
“Yeah, we wanted see if you’re busy or if you could come and play?”
“Yes! No! I mean, yes- Play!” Taehyung starts hopping foot to foot and Namjoon sees him slipping. Jungkook peeks a little further.
“Kookie?” Taehyung gasps, he shoves Namjoon out the way who stumbles at the force and Taehyung presses his nose to Jungkook’s. Namjoon let’s it slide and rights himself as Taehyung appears to stare into Jungkook’s soul.
“Hi?” Jungkook mumbles, it’s quiet but Taehyung pulls back and grins. Then he jumps into Jungkook’s arms, Jungkook sways momentarily before being knocked the floor, Taehyung ends up in his lap and just doesn’t let go.
“I’m sorry I ate the last banana and made you go away.” Taehyung squeezes and Jungkook coughs.
“I didn’t go away because you ate the last banana.” Jungkook scrunches his nose at the very idea.
“Then why?”
“That man at the water park scared me, I was embarrassed. I thought he knew but hyung said he didn’t know he was just a bully.”
“He was a…” Taehyung pauses then whispers something in Jungkook’s ear that makes him giggle, “But Yoongi-hyung looked after us.”
“Yoongi-hyung scared me.”
“What? Hyung? When?” Taehyung gives up his death grip octopus hug and he takes Jungkook to their room so they can talk, Namjoon watches them a little bit and decides they’re fine to be left alone for a while. At least while he tells the others.
Jungkook stays in little space for the rest of the evening and Taehyung chooses too as well, they sit on the floor legs crossed and eat in front of the tv while everyone else watches them fondly. They play hide and seek after dinner and then try and collect everything yellow from everyone’s room to make a shrine to the sun on the kitchen table.
Trying to put them to bed is a nightmare, they’re both too excited to settle down and Yoongi feels himself loosing his patience so Hobi talks him for a walk. Jin gets scolded by Jimin again for sneaking them chocolate and they both get banished to another room to argue behind a closed door. Namjoon just smiles, he really did miss this.
“Come on just change into your sleep clothes?” Namjoon half pleads, it’s almost midnight and while they’ve never truly figured out how “little” Jungkook and Taehyung get he’s aware midnight is too late for any kid.
“I don’t want to.” Taehyung complains and Jungkook copies him. Namjoon looks between them, Taehyung seems actually upset, whereas Jungkook appears to copying him.
“Why don’t you want to sleep Tae?” Namjoon sits on Taehyung’s bed, tossing the pile of sleepwear he was holding down next to him.
“I don’t… I don’t want…” Taehyung trails off, turning to look at Jungkook, who’s half laying down, upside down on his bed, looking up at Taehyung with a smile.
“You don’t want to go to sleep and not see Jungkook again, do you?” Namjoon realises.
“No.” Taehyung shakes his head, licking his lips.
“You staying awake all night won’t change that Tae.” Namjoon says softly, he wants to reassure Taehyung but he doesn’t know if Jungkook will be little again, especially not if this time it wasn’t a choice.
“Please.” Taehyung looks up at Namjoon, those puppy dog eyes shiny with tears and Namjoon feels his heart hurt.
“Listen to me, both of you. Change into your sleep cloths, brush your teeth, come back here. I’ll get you stuff to play with and I’ll leave the lamp on. You don’t have to go to sleep, but you have to play quietly. No jumping on the bed or shouting. If you need someone, come get me or call for me, got it?”
He gets two blank stares in return and Jungkook slowly sits up.
“If one of the other’s catches you up this late they’ll scold you, especially Jimin. Do you understand?” Namjoon watches and tears gather in Taehyung’s eyes and he gets up off the bed slowly and comes to grab his sleep clothes off the bed and says,
“Thank you hyungie.” In the smallest, more sincere way and Namjoon hugs him tight making him squeak.
“You’re welcome, I’ll tell them you’re going to read before bed. Have fun.” Namjoon leaves so they can change and he watches from the sofa as they trail quietly to the bathroom to brush their teeth.
While they’re in the bathroom, Namjoon gets some books for them to read, a big blanket and he hides colouring pages and pens inside the folds on the blanket along with some snacks. He puts the bundle on Taehyung’s bed and turns off the light, leaving the just lamp on and closes the door smiling to himself.
“What did you bribe them with? They’ve gone suspiciously quiet?” Jimin asks, meeting him in the hallway.
“I told them they could read before bed. I left them a couple short stories and a blanket.” Namjoon can’t stop his smile, Jimin has no reason to be suspicious, right?
“Fine. I guess.” Jimin’s eyebrows furrow slightly and Namjoon reaches out to smooth out the skin there.
“You worry about them too much Jimin-ah.” Namjoon leads Jimin away, back to the living room and Yoongi and Hobi are back from their walk.
“Don’t fuss with me I’m not little.” Jimin whines but he’s smiling,
“Well you’re littler than me.” Namjoon points out, poking Jimin’s cheeks fondly.
Jin joins them after showering and they settle down to watch a film until they’re tired.
Jungkook is colouring while Taehyung whispers the story outloud from one the books Namjoon left them. Taehyung gets bored quickly though, even quicker than usual.
“Let’s make up our own story.” Taehyung suggests from the bed, Jungkook is focused on his drawing but hums back. Taehyung huffs, he doesn’t like it when he’s not the center of Jungkook’s attention.
“Kookie?”
“Mmmh?”
“Are you going to go away again?”
“Huh?” Jungkook looks up, drawing forgotten. Taehyung sounds sad,
“Why do you look sad?” Jungkook drops his markers, not even taking the time to put the lids back on because Taehyung looks sad, and Jungkook climbs up on the bed too.
“Are you going to go away again? Like before?” Taehyung repeats, looking down at his hands that are playing with the hem of his shirt.
“I wasn’t mad at you.” Jungkook says, he wasn’t, “I was… I was embarrassed.”
“Of… Me? The way… The way I am?” Taehyung can’t bring himself to look up, he doesn’t really want to know unless the answer is no.
“Never.” Jungkook promises. He holds out his pinky under Taehyung’s nose and Taehyung takes it hesitantly, loosely.
“I won’t go away like that again, I pinky promise.” Jungkook smiles and Taehyung’s pinky holds his own tighter.
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
Namjoon stays up after everyone else has gone to bed, he turns off the tv and stretches. He goes to Taehyung’s and Jungkook’s room, opening the door slowly. They’re both fast asleep in Jungkook’s bed, cuddling like puppies. There’s wrappers from the snacks and pens to clear up so Namjoon quietly starts tidying everything away so no one else will notice, when he gets to a notebook.
He sits down on the floor and sees Jungkook’s drawings with Taehyung’s words at the bottom. Namjoon realises quickly they’ve written their own story about two brothers who make friends with all the animals in the magic forest. Magic because all these animals come from different places but still ended together.
They meet Joonie the koala bear first, Joonie tells them if they want to really be part of the magic in the forest then they have to follow him through an archway of tree branches and flowers, which Jungkook has drawn beautifully.
Once they pass under the arch way Taehyung is transformed into a bear cub and Jungkook is now white bunny rabbit. Namjoon smiles and carries on reading as they meet a cat in a tree suspiciously named Min. Min tells them he doesn’t have time to play with them, and a squirrel appears, Hope. Hope says never mind Min, he’s grumpy because he’s tired and tells them to come and meet the rest of their family.
Chimmy is a yellow lab puppy, he licks everyone to say hello and his tail wags a lot, Taehyung writes he wants to stay here with them forever, even though he doesn’t know them well yet. Then a hamster appears, and Namjoon laughs out loud because they’ve given the hamster, called Handsome, an tiny walking stick because he’s old.
“Hyung?”
“I’m sorry Kook, I didn’t mean to wake you up.” Namjoon gets up and tucks the rest of the things away the draw by the bed.
“What’s going on?” Jungkook mumbles, voice thick with sleep.
“You must have fallen asleep after drawing. You and Taehyung make quite the storytellers.” Namjoon smiles and Jungkook just blinks, staring for a while then,
“I didn’t mean to slip.”
“No?”
“I remember shouting, and then. Oh.”
“Do you remember everything?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?” Namjoon worries, he kneels down by the bed and Jungkook turns to face him, eyes still half closed.
“Yeah. I am.” Jungkook smiles, he missed everything about tonight.
“No more hiding?” Namjoon asks, reaching out to the push Jungkook’s hair back from his face. The maknae sighs, content, sleepy.
“No more hiding.” Jungkook whispers back, sleep dragging him back under. Namjoon makes himself take his hand away. Watching them both sleep peacefully for just a moment longer before shutting the door.
Namjoon feels a peace he didn’t know he was missing and grins to himself, looking forward to tomorrow when he could show Jin that story the kids wrote. The kids, yeah. They feel like the something the other members have been missing out on. Now they get to have it all, their own (not so magic) family.