Chapter Text
A joyful shriek greeted Hongjoong when he entered the dorm and entirely unconsciously a huge smile appeared on his handsome face.
His smile didn't leave as he took off his shoes and jacket, placing it alongside the other members', another happy shriek reached his ears.
He practically ran towards their shared living area and was promptly met with the sight of San and Yunho tickling Seonghwa. The tv was still on playing a cartoon, there was a little bowl with some left over bits of apple, an abandoned tea set right next to it. He leaned against the doorway and watched the scene with a smile.
He didn't have to wait too long before someone noticed him.
"Appa!"
Hongjoong grinned, "Yes my little star?"
"Appa!" A squeal with a little hand reaching out for him.
San laughed as he stood up holding up Seonghwa on his hip. "Well guess our funtime is over isn't it, now that appa's home."
"Just give me my baby Sannie."
"Pa!" Seonghwa pouted up at San and threw his hands to Hongjoong. "Appa!"
"Ok ok, one little baby coming right up."
As soon as Seonghwa was close enough Hongjoong snatched him out of San's arms making Yunho laugh at his eagerness from where he was still seated on the couch.
"How's my little star doing today? Did you have fun with your pa and daddy?" Hongjoong cooed at Seonghwa, easily holding him on his hip. "And who dressed you today hm? Did pop dress you?"
Seonghwa merely blinked his big eyes at his appa, dressed in an entirely too cute fluffy bear onesie (little bear ears on the hood included). As his appa looked him over he started to shove his hand in his mouth.
"No no baby, use your paci for that."
He gently pushed the light purple paci with colourful stars on, conveniently clipped to the onesie, in between Seonghwa's lips. Hongjoong smiled as the boy immediately started sucking on it eagerly while his hands grasped onto his appa's clothes.
"I missed you too my little star," Hongjoong rubbed their noses together, immediately being rewarded with the most adorable light hearted giggle.
"Still seem unreal to you too to see hyung coo and be all mushy?" San glanced at Yunho.
"Not even the most stone cold person on this planet would be unaffected by our baby's mere presence." The taller just looked at the two eldest of the members. Well… one currently mentally eldest and one currently being a one year old.
"Is it hyung hogging Hwa time again?" Wooyoung stepped out of his room, slurping on a smoothie and plopped down right onto San's lap.
"For crying out loud, Woo! Warn a guy!"
Wooyoung grinned and wriggled extra, making San groan, and then stopped when Hongjoong's eyes flashed over to them. No one wanted to make appa Hongjoong mad at them. Regular Hongjoong was bad enough, Hongjoong in appa mode was… kind of terrifying.
"Do you remember when we found out?" Yunho's near whisper was almost missed by the other two. As they turned to look at him, Yunho kept gazing with a fond look towards Hongjoong and Seonghwa. "It seems like ages ago and… look at how far we came with Hwa? How much he trusts us … "
San and Wooyoung looked back at the pair. Hongjoong was now sitting on the couple's couch with Seonghwa curled up on his lap sideways, his head resting on his appa's shoulder as he looked at him like Hongjoong hung up the sun and stars, a look which Hongjoong wholeheartedly returned.
"He was so scared," The soft voice that popped up from behind them nearly made the trio tumble of the couch.
"Yeosang!" A squeak left Wooyoung making San snicker.
"Shh! Don't disturb them." Yeosang moved to sit next to them, an equally fond look on his face.
"I wish we had found out sooner though," Yunho continued, "Imagine all the adorable moments we could have had extra."
"True but I feel like the timing wouldn't have been right you know?" San muttered. "I mean we already found out by accident and like Sangie said, he was so scared and hesitant… Remember how long he cried and slipped into his little space for 2 full days?"
"Yeah, at least now when he slips for that long it's because he wants to and feels safe. Not because he's scared and stressed."
The four quieted down and smiled as they watched their hyung with their baby. They had come a long way and seeing Seonghwa now as a little so free and happy they wouldn't want it any other way.
They hadn't know for certain that Seonghwa's classification was as a little even if there had been clear signs. Some things, no matter how he had tried, couldn't be hidden. Like the sucking on his thumb (or any other of his fingers really) and the enjoying of stuffies to the extreme. But they hadn't want to push him into stating it out loud, figuring there must've been a reason for their hyung to keep this from them.
It had all come to a head with their Guerilla comeback. Comebacks were in general quite stressful and tiring, all of them were at the end hanging on by a tread. And they all saw how Seonghwa had struggled.
Their lovely sweet hyung.
Despite trying to take care of all of them there simply was no hiding in how absolutely tired he was. And then his back injury started to act up again.
In fact, if it weren't for that injury rearing it's head up again they might not have realized it.
Seonghwa never full out mentioned his classification and so everyone, management included, had simply assumed that he was a neutral. A neutral with caregiver tendencies because their hyung was darn good at taking care of them. Everyone fondly calling him eomma, they knew that he didn't mind. What they didn't know is that every time they called him that he winced inside. Because sure, he didn't mind taking care of them even when they were all caregivers. But he just wanted to be taken care of.
He wanted to lay in their arms, being softly soothed. To be given a bottle while being cradled. To play with soft toys together with them, watch children's movies in a cuddle pile with his caregivers. Heck, he even wouldn't mind them putting a diaper on him and bathing him.
He craved it.
But he was scared. Being an idol and being the eldest of the group made it feel wrong to him to be a little in the presence of of his friends, his family. He didn't have any doubt that they would all be amazing caregivers but at first he didn't want the attention to shift away from their soon to be debut. And then they did debut and it was such a whirlwind ever since and then came that point where it just felt way too late to mention it.
And now here they were.. Four years later and he still hadn't told and now he was too scared.
He had only slipped into little space while alone, though he hated that cause he never felt safe, or when he had a rare day off and was at home with his brother. Lately though he could feel his control slipping. He was tired, so tired. Their days filled with training, concept photoshoots, shooting their video, the occasional live, interviews, costume fittings, … They would come home, collapse on their beds and fall asleep. Only to repeat it the next day.
Seonghwa was simply getting too tired and just wanted to sit down on the floor and cry.. And be held. But he kept pushing himself and he pushed too far.
During training a week before their comeback, he simply made a slight wrong move. Just a slight move done incorrectly and his entire back locked up. With wide eyes he looked straight at the mirror and then crumpled to the floor.
The pain bringing tears to his eyes.
To say the others were surprised would be an understatement.
As caregivers they all love to well.. give care to others. Their hyung taking care of them was something they had all gotten used to at this point. No one knew his classification, not even Hongjoong and they didn't want to push and so the assumption that Seonghwa was a neutral with caregiver tendencies was born and never left.
Though sometimes… sometimes they would notice little things that made them second guess that assumption. It only ever happened when their Seonghwa was extremely tired.
Then sometimes they would catch him sucking on his thumb, another time he'd be holding a plush in a choking hold while drool chewing on said plush's ear.. Or that one time where he downright let out a whine when he had to move but was too tired.
And it wasn't a grown up whine…
Oh no, it was the kind of whine that made any caregiver stand to attention to help their little in distress (and possibly kick someone's teeth in). The reactions of any of the member's nearby when that had happened would have made one think someone was about to lose their head.
But he always acted later on that nothing had happened and lately it hadn't been happening at all with how busy they had been.
Some of them were convinced Seonghwa was in fact a little. Them being Hongjoong, Yeosang and Wooyoung. While the others thought that maybe he was just a neutral with little tendencies and didn't want to simply assume. Hongjoong and Yeosang were content to let it just happen, if Seonghwa was indeed a little then sooner or later it would come out or he'd come to them to say so. Wooyoung, however, wanted to purposefully place Seonghwa into situations where he'd have no choice but to regress.
Every day was a struggle to hold him back.
So when Seonghwa gasped and crumpled to the floor and started to sniffle, they were kind of prepared. Or so they thought.
None of them could stand the sight of their gentle hyung crying on a good day.
But to see their little crying? It broke their hearts.
Because he was their little, whether he knew it or not.
They immediately rushed over but by the time the first member got there, it was Hongjoong to no one's surprise, Seonghwa was full on crying.
"Seonghwa.." Hongjoong said ever so softly and equally as softly touched Seonghwa's arm.
Upon spotting Hongjoong the little took a shuddering breath, threw his hands out to him and wailed, "A-Appa.."
Some would say that Hongjoong was wrapped around Seonghwa's finger since they met, others since Seonghwa said Hongjoong should be their leader and others maybe since they became roommates. (Seonghwa himself would absolutely deny this) And they would all be right except for the fact that hearing Seonghwa call him appa, it turned his world upside down and firmly cemented the fact that he was wrapped around not one… or two fingers but all of them.
"Oh my star," Hongjoong cooed, immediately giving his little what he wanted and gathered him in his arms. "It's okay love, it's okay. Appa's here." His hand softly rubbing down the hurting back.
Seonghwa burrowed his head into his appa's neck and kept crying.
The others crowded around them in worry, each of them trying to softly touch Seonghwa to reassure him while also trying not to overwhelm him.
"Wait, I have meds with me!" Mingi jumped up and walked to his bag.
"Can we just give him that though?" San bit his lip, "Shouldn't it be little approved medication?"
"But… we don't have that," Mingi said frustrated as he walked back with the bottle in hand.
"I'm sure it's fine, I mean.. Seonghwa's body is grown.." Wooyoung patted San's hand.
"We'll get some after this." Yeosang's voice had never sound so decisive and firm as his fingers combed through Seonghwa's hair.
Seonghwa's crying had by now tapered down to hiccups and sniffles, at hearing Yeosang's voice he peered up.
Yeosang's heart skipped a beat, he was sure. Seonghwa had always had fairly big eyes. As their fans had affectionately nicknamed it boba eyes and they were right.
But now… oh those big round slightly red and puffy eyes stared at him seemingly down to his soul. The glaze in his eyes made it clear that this was very much little Seonghwa and not their hyung. That usual sparkling quality held a childlike glimmer.
Anyone hurt his baby and they would never be found again.
He gestured with his hand to Mingi, not once breaking eye contact with his little.
"Hi baby," said Yeo softly, "Is your back hurting a lot?"
Seonghwa nodded his head, bumping slightly into Hongjoong's cheek. Their leader was content to just cradle him while Yeosang talked to him.
A slightly more bossy move from his hand, Mingi pressed a pill into it very fast and a water bottle appeared next to him.
Yeosang kept smiling at their little, "I have something that will make it go away baby," He held up the little pill.
"You'll have to lift your head up a little bit though and take a little sip." Yeo showed the water bottle and gave it a little shake.
Big wary eyes looked at the pill and then back at him, slowly he got a tiny nod.
Seonghwa was so focused on Yeosang that he didn't even notice how all other five members were gathering behind Yeosang to watch the interaction.
"Open up wide, aaaah," Yeosang opened his mouth and Seonghwa easily mimicked him, he quickly popped the pill in Hwa's mouth and pushed the tip of the bottle against his lips.
Seonghwa kept looking at Yeosang as he drank a bit of water. He didn't so much drink from it as he tried to suckle.
"Good boy, you're so brave." Yeosang cooed and oh how they all got hearts in their eyes seeing him flush, his lips forming into a tiny shy smile.
Hongjoong couldn't see what was going on but at hearing the praise he couldn't help but press a kiss to Seonghwa's round cheek.
The little promptly pressed his face into Hongjoong's neck, hands gripping onto Hongjoong's shirt.
"Aww our Hwa is such a shy boy," Wooyoung happily quipped, hands itching to just snatch the boy out of Hongjoong's hold. Even if Hongjoong would want to give over Seonghwa he wouldn't be able too, his little star had a very tight grip on his clothes and his legs were firmly wrapped around his waist by now.
Yunho glanced away and winced, "I'm pretty sure our baby should be in bed by now.." He trailed off and almost as if on que Seonghwa yawned, adorably rubbing into his eye.
"Are you getting a bit sleepy love?" Jongho's voice had never before been this tender, which would have surprised them if it hadn't been for the fact that they knew it was for their little, it made perfect sense. San and Wooyoung would definitely tease him for it later in good fun but for now they didn't dare to.
Not when their Seonghwa tiredly looked up, tiredly resting his head against Hongjoong's, chin propped on his shoulder. His eyes were still red and drooping. Contrary to what they thought would happen, he didn't throw a fuss. He merely gave a tired little nod.
"Let's get you to bed then hmm, nice and cozy?" Jongho reached out to pet Seonghwa's hair.
"I'm going to need help getting up," Hongjoong said somewhat amused. Seonghwa wasn't all that heavy and with having a caregiver's strength it concerned him, it was more the position they were sitting in made getting up rather unpractical and he didn't want to jostle Seonghwa around too much.
"You could just let one of us take him.." Mingi flinched at Hongjoong's look, "Or you know not.. Not is good too.."
Yeosang rolled his eyes, "Be practical hyung, it'll be easier if you hand Seonghwa to one of us."
"… Fine," Hongjoong grumbled, he hadn't even finished saying that one word or 6 pair of hands were reaching out and instantly they were all glaring at one another.
"Sweetie," Wooyoung cooed, "Wanna come to me?"
Seonghwa blearily looked up and with a tiny yawn he nodded, hesitantly releasing Hongjoong's shirt and before any one could register anything Wooyoung had a sleepy little propped up on his hip grinning triumphantly. Seonghwa's eyes slipped closed and before they could do anything, started to suck on his thumb.
"We're going to need supplies."
"How is it that we kind of suspected yet.. never got supplies?" Mingi scratched his head.
Yunho threw his arm around his best friend's shoulder, "It's good that we didn't. I think he's way littler in age than I thought he'd be."
"Mhm.. I think he can slip into baby space though."
They all looked at Yeosang. "How could you possibly know that.." Wooyoung eyed him.
He just grinned, "Call it a feeling Woo."
"Ok guys, we can go supply shopping online when we get home and talked to him but first, we have to get our little home and into bed." Hongjoong clapped his hands, softly as to not wake up Seonghwa.
In record time they had been ready and on their way to their dorm. With their little.
They all knew they had to talk with Seonghwa about being little once he was big again. They discussed every possible out come, while doing some online shopping, from him not wanting to be their little to him saying yes (He called Joong-hyung Appa of course he wants to be!). Needless to say they all couldn't wait for the next day, even if they wanted him to still be little. Seeing Seonghwa so tentative when he woke up big and wrapped in Yunho's arms only served them to reassure him of the obvious.
"We love you Hwa."
"You silly boy, why would we mind you being a little?"
"You were such a good little boy.."
"So you… y-you really wouldn't mind?" Seonghwa's voice was fragile as his fingers played with his sweaterpaws.
"Seonghwa," Hongjoong grabbed his hands in his, thumbs caressing the fair skin. "We already see you as our little. There is no doubt in any of our minds that we want this. Want you. The question is do you .. do you want us as your caregivers?"
The second it took for him to reply seemed like ages.
"Yes please.."