Work Text:
To get the full effect of this story as you read, listen to this song
The box sits on the coffee table, pictures spilling out onto the wood and the rug beneath, memories pooling in little puddles all over the floor. Jeongguk sits in the middle of it all, cross legged on the carpet, eyes scanning over the photos that are rather yellow and crinkled from age.
“Appa, Appa, Appa!!!”
Jeongguk’s five year old daughter, Juju, comes bouncing into the room, curly dark brown pigtails flying as she launches herself into Jeongguk’s lap. She’s young but full of energy and Jeongguk knows where she seems to have gotten that from.
“Look, look! I made a picture of you and Eomma!” Juju squeals, shoving a piece of paper into Jeongguk’s face.
He smiles, taking the slightly crumpled paper in one hand and pulling Juju closer with the other as he inspects the artwork. It’s definitely a five year old’s drawing with a row of three stick figures, two tall ones with a tiny one in the middle. But it has a familiarity to it, a sense of home and love that Jeongguk will never get tired of. He ruffles his daughter’s hair, handing her the paper back with a fond smile.
“Do you like it, Appa?” Juju asks, gazing up at Jeongguk with big brown doe eyes.
“Yes, baby. It’s really pretty,” Jeongguk replies, hugging her.
Juju snuggles down in Jeongguk’s lap, a familiar warmth and comfort. She eventually spots the pictures scattered on the floor.
“Appa?” She begins, picking up one of the photos and pointing at someone. “Isn’t this-“
Jeongguk interrupts her.
“Yeah.”
Juju looks up at Jeongguk, silently asking for the story behind the photo and the person. Jeongguk sighs.
“Juju, you know I was in a band before you were born, right?” Jeongguk asks and Juju nods.
“You remember meeting Uncle Jimin and Uncle Yoongi?”
Another nod.
“Well, this guy was in the same band. Here. There are lots of pictures of us. See?” Jeongguk says, handing his wide eyed daughter another picture.
Juju stares at it, looking astonished. Jeongguk goes on.
“The band lasted for almost thirteen years and then we decided to end it because everyone had their own lives to lead.”
“But you’re all still friends, right?”
“Of course we’re still friends,” Jeongguk replies, resting his chin on Juju’s head.
Juju reaches for another picture. It’s one of Jeongguk’s personal favorites and one of his fondest memories.
“You and this guy are still friends too?” Juju asks, innocently as she smiles up at Jeongguk.
Jeongguk laughs, picking Juju up and spinning her around. She giggles in delight.
“You, Juju, of all people, should know the answer to that question, right?” Jeongguk asks, pressing a light kiss to Juju’s nose.
As if on cue, there’s a clatter of keys at the door and Juju scrambles down from Jeongguk’s arms in excitement.
“Eomma’s home!” She screams, tearing down the hallway as fast as her little legs will carry her.
Jeongguk smiles and sits back down on the floor amidst the photos, listening to the sound of bags rustling, Juju shouting an enthusiastic “Eomma!”, and the hushed familiar voice that greets her.
Jeongguk reaches over to pick up the picture Juju had just been looking at. Two happily smiling faces look back at him. It’s a picture of two boys, both around the age of twenty, one with his arms wrapped loosely around the other’s neck as they both smile for the camera.
Unseen are the five friends gathered around behind the camera, grinning at the pair in loving adoration.
Unseen are the crowds of fans packing the stadium and shouting their names. Unseen but certainly not nonexistent is the love secretly shared between both boys and kept until further notice; a snapshot frozen in time.
Jeongguk gazes at the picture. He can still feel those arms encircling his neck in a loving embrace. It’s been almost sixteen years since then but, to this day, he’s happy to have that embrace coming home every evening to not just him but Juju as well.
“Baby? Jeonggukie? I’m home.”
Before Jeongguk knows it, those same arms are around his neck again, pulling him close. Juju is climbing back into his lap, leaning her head against his arm and Jeongguk feels so safe and happy in this moment that he wants someone to take a photo and freeze it in time forever. He tilts his head back for the tender kiss pressed against his lips that follows his soft murmur:
“Welcome home, Tae.”