Work Text:
No
He can't be. There's no way that he's starting to slip here, on set for the shoot for their 2026 Fan Club membership, but he is. The theme is soft and cosy, basically. Seungmin has been surrounded by plushies and blankets the entire time, while also being cooed at by all the members. He never slips like this. Never.
"Seungmin, we need you over here to pose with Jeongin for your group shot." Some lady with a headset gestures for him and he stumbles his way over.
Jeongin greets him and Seungmin makes an attempt at calling him the baby, because he looks it. Jeongin is wearing a huge oversized sweater that practically engulfs him. His make up is done softly today and his hair has been curled slightly. Though he fails horribly at trying to vocalise it beyond just saying "Baby."
Jeongin chuckles, "Last I checked, that was you." He jokes back as one of the photographers tugs them into position slightly.
"Can you guys pout?" Someone calls out and Seungmin immediately juts out his bottom lip, which is easy because he wants to pout already about slipping here of all places, but he can't. He has to keep it together. Only the members know about his little space. The absolute scandal that would erupt if anyone else knew, including their managers.
They pose a bit longer as cameras click around them until Seungmin is being bustled over to a set with Chan now. He can't tell any of them he is slipping. Chan would have an actual panic attack about it, let's be real. Seungmin just has to tough it out himself and just hope. Hope it goes away. Hope he doesn't slip. Hope no one notices.
"How's our Minnie doing?" Chan asks him as a make up artist touches up his blush.
Seungmin shrugs. He can't even risk speaking. What if his baby talk comes out? That would be the most obvious thing. That's how the other members usually tell when he is slipping. Though Chan merely raises an eyebrow, prompting more of an answer.
"Sl-sleepy," Seungmin manages to mumble out. Tired probably would have been a more grown up word to use, but hopefully he doesn't catch on to this.
Some random PA hears him though and is back in a flash with his usual coffee order. Seungmin takes it from him with a small smile and bow, but ends up handing it off to Chan. He shouldn't drink coffee in this head space. He's not fully sure how coffee would affect his slipping.
"Oh?" Chan lets out a noise of surprise as he is given the coffee but takes it nonetheless. "Make sure you rest some during our breaks."
Seungmin lets out a noncommittal hum and focuses back on the people telling him to pose this way and that. He needs to keep his head above water and not slip into the head space he really wants to right now. It would be so stupid.
They do more shoots of the groups and then hand off phones for them to take selfies for the photocards. Seungmin finds himself in a secluded corner with a giant teddy bear and ends up cuddling it some for his selfies. The bear is just so soft and cuddly and…and…
"Stays are going to love those photos." Jeongin's voice brings him out of the little floaty space he was starting to slip into. Seungmin flinches away from the bear. It was stupid to come over here. He's not helping himself at all.
Jeongin sits down next to him, "Chan said you're feeling quite tired." It's an open question really, even though it's stated as an observation. Jeongin is inviting him to say what's on his mind. Of course Chan would have known that Jeongin is the best person for that. Seungmin and him have always been close, well before…this issue of his. His habit to slip. Before, he would never let Jeongin take care of him. It's embarrassing enough when he's had to go to Chan, Minho, or even Changbin to help him when he's feeling little. He's managed to grow used to Felix, now that they live together, but Jeongin? Jeongin is his baby, the baby of all of them. It took way too long, and Jeongin practically forcing his way in, for Seungmin to let him in and trust him with this.
Seungmin just waves off a dismissive hand. If Jeongin knows, then Chan will know, and then everyone is going to be stressed out and on edge the entire time they're on set. He can't let anyone know.
But…
But it seems one might already know.
Jeongin reaches out and gently brushes a loose curl of Seungmin's away from his face, "Seung, Minnie-baby, where's your head at?"
Seungmin has to use every bone in his body to keep from crying immediately with that question. He's not supposed to slip, he knows that. He's not supposed to be little. He's not supposed to risk everything, not right now. Not in front of everyone.
Jeongin risks bringing his arms around Seungmin, the bear hides them from a lot right now, but there are still a few set workers milling around. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Now that I know, I can help, okay?"
Seungmin is warmed by those words and pulls back. A quick hug is okay, that can be passed off, but not much else.
"I–I'm little." He slurs his words, trying to stay coherent. "Ch-Channie can' know."
A couple emotions flick past Jeongin's face before he settles on acceptance. "I get you not wanting him to know. It'll be easier if he did, it'll be easier if everyone did, but…but I'll do my best." He lets out a quiet hum in thought, "You trust me and I don't want to hurt that, but if it gets too much, for either of us, we have to tell him, okay?"
Seungmin nods. That's okay. That's, honestly, more leeway than he was expecting to get from the other.
"Seungmin, Jeongin! Group photo time. Turn in the phones." Someone calls over the speakers and Jeongin helps Seungmin to his feet, taking the phone for the selfies from him, "You go over to the rest of them, I'll take care of these."
Seungmin watches him depart before heading over to the group photo area on wobbly legs. He's happy Jeongin is taking care of the phones. He doesn't want to risk having to discuss anything with anyone else right now.
"Seung, you okay?" Felix's voice pulls his attention and he becomes aware that everyone is watching him on his shaky legs approach. Seungmin just fakes a yawn in answer, hopefully they'll just accept that it's been a long day.
"Can someone touch up Seungmin's makeup?" One of the directors calls out, "He needs to look more awake than he actually is."
Seungmin winces at that statement and joins the others on the set for the group shots. It's a giant bedroom, which is not helping his little mind. It's much past his normal bedtime as a little and he would love to climb into this giant, comfy bed and sleep the night away.
"It's the bed. Making us all wish we could sleep on it." Someone jokes, he's pretty sure it was Jisung, or maybe Changbin. Doesn't matter at the end of the day. The attention has moved off of him and that is what matters the most as the guys make jokes about just taking naps and letting that be the photo shoot that Stay see.
Someone is adding more blush under his eye and highlighter to his inner eye, when Jeongin joins them, situating himself right next to Seungmin.
"Look at our Seung, so cute with the pretty pink." He teases and the others join in on the jest, but Seungmin feels like slipping even further. He is just a cute little thing isn't he? Just their little baby to love on.
Seungmin wants to cuddle into Jeongin, but forces himself to stay still and grip the ends of his sleeves in his hands instead. It'll be enough—hopefully.
They make it through all the group shots fairly easily. Jeongin helps guide him in minute ways for Seungmin to be exactly where everyone needs him to be. No one seems the wiser about his condition. Jeongin makes sure to whisper little praises to him when no one can hear them.
"Little Minnie-baby is so cute in his sweater. Isn't that so?"
"Should buy you a big teddy bear for you to cuddle when you sleep."
"That's it. You're doing so good for the photographers. No one can even tell. I'm so proud of you, baby."
“You’re being so big right now. You’ll be able to be as little as you want soon, I promise.”
Each little word draws him further into his little space, to the point that at the end of the day when the make up has been wiped off and the clothes changed back to his sweats, he finds himself clinging to Jeongin. It's really late at night and he feels so little. He's at the point that he knows if he opens his mouth to talk, the only thing that would come out is an incomprehensible babble—baby babble. He never gets this little, not often, it's been months since he did last time.
"Minnie-baby." Jeongin whispers into his scalp when no one is paying attention as rides start to show up and get arranged, "You going with Lixie?"
Seungmin shakes his head. He can't be away from Jeongin, not right now. He needs his care giver—because that's what Jeongin has become. Jeongin is his caregiver. Yes, the others do help, but Seungmin wouldn't have trusted any of them with today. Everyone of them would have been worried and stressed to the point that Seungmin would have noticed and it would've negatively affected his little space. Unlike Jeongin, who may have been stressed and worried the whole time, but he kept an easy demeanor with every interaction with Seungmin.
"Okay, but that means Channie is going to have to know about today."
That really doesn't matter anymore since today has finally come to an end and Seungmin is okay. No one knew. No scandal is going to erupt that one of the Stray Kids members slips into a child-like headspace when life gets too much.
Felix is climbing into his van and sends a look towards Jeongin and Seungmin. Jeongin shakes his head, answering for them both, and Felix simply smiles and closes his door. Jeongin guides Seungmin over to the van with Chan and helps him climb in. They don't need to pretend anymore once the partition is put up.
"Does Minnie-baby want a bath tonight?" Jeongin asks Seungmin, but it's phrased so specifically to key Chan in on what is going on.
"Minnie-baby?"
Jeongin nods, "He's been feeling a little…little today, but we made it through the day, didn't we? I'm very proud of our Minnie-baby."
"Why didn't you tell any of us? We could have helped." Chan's voice isn't accusatory but worried and confused. Seungmin wiggles closer into Jeongin's space, seatbelts not helping.
"Minnie-baby wasn't comfortable with that. He knew if it got too much for either of us, you guys would be brought in." He wraps an arm around Seungmin's shoulders. "He was worried about you guys and, well, that wasn't going to be helpful in little space."
"How–how little?" Chan asks, eyeing Seungmin who sinks further into Jeongin's side.
Seungmin can't answer, he's that little, so he just looks up at his Jeongin to do it for him.
"I think," Jeongin fiddles with Seungmin's hair with the hand on his shoulder, "He's gotten pretty little today. Our true little Minnie-baby."
Chan just watches them in silence for the rest of the ride and then helps Seungmin, alongside Jeongin's help, to get him up to their apartment and disappears into the bathroom to run the bath for him.
Seungmin doesn't have his travelling little bag with him. He's usually so good about bringing that when he knows he is going to slip, but he didn't know this time. So, he has none of his usual items that would help in little space.
"Channie is getting a bath all ready for you, baby. Let's go see how he's doing." Jeongin holds Seungmin's wrist gently as he pulls him towards the bathroom. Seungmin keeps stumbling and tripping over his feet to the point in which Jeongin turns back towards him with a questioning look.
"Our little baby is so small, isn't he? Walking is a bit hard. Does Minnie-baby want upsies?" Jeongin holds out his arms and Seungmin nods vigorously. One of his thumbs have slipped into his mouth as well.
Jeongin bends at the knees and helps Seungmin put his arms around his shoulders and lifts him up by the hips so Seungmin can wrap his legs around him. He's careful as he supports Seungmin's entire weight, but he manages to get them to the bathroom just fine. He sets Seungmin down on the toilet and Chan is just staring at them.
"Our baby was having some difficulty on his feet." He explains as he helps Seungmin take off his shirt.
"Oh?" Chan approaches and quirks his head to the side as if assessing Seungmin, "Our little baby…and he managed to stay big the entire time on set today?"
He leans in to whisper in Jeongin's ear for a few moments before pulling back and getting an enthusiastic nod from Jeongin. Chan then gives Seungmin a pat on the head before disappearing back out of the room, with a big smile on his face.
Seungmin just blinks at Jeongin who helps him out of his pants and then half guides, half carries him over to the tub, which is full of bubbles and the few toys that were brought over from their tour in America when Seungmin needed to be little for a while.
Jeongin settles him in and begins gently scrubbing Seungmin with a wash cloth. Seungmin bats at the bubbles and finally lets himself make the baby babble he has been wanting to.
"Bubba bubba!" He squeals as he cups some bubbles and holds them out to Jeongin.
Jeongin is all smiles, "Pretty bubbles, aren't they?" He scoops up some and plops them on Seungmin's nose.
Seungmin lets out a yelp and swats at them until they come off. As they float down to the water, he claps his hands in excitement.
They continue this for a while. Just playing in the tub. Jeongin does his best to wash Seungmin, but he's okay losing the battle when it comes to trying to wash Seungmin's hair.
"I know, I know. Water on our heads can be really scary. I think we can leave this until tomorrow, when you're big again." He says after trying for the third time to wash Seungmin's hair and finally giving up.
Once Seungmin's fingers are all pruny and the water starts to turn cold, he pulls the drain and lets the bubbles wash away. He keeps Seungmin sitting as he turns on the shower head to rinse the rest of the bubbles off of Seungmin's body. Once that's completed, he hooks his hands under Seungmin's armpits and pulls him out of the tub and plops him onto a towel on the floor.
"Gotta get the baby all dry." He mumbles, right as Chan comes back with towels in hand.
Jeongin takes them and wraps them around Seungmin. Seungmin lets out more babbles as he realises the towels are warm.
"Gow Gow wom." He holds a corner of the towel out to Jeongin.
"Yes, the towels are warm Minnie-baby. Channie put them in the dryer for us." His love and warmth is so obvious to Seungmin when he talks. It's hard sometimes to think that guys really are okay taking care of a literal big baby in their free time. He can never thank them enough for not only accepting this, but also being a part of it.
Once Seungmin is thoroughly dry, another surprise awaits him. Chan produces a large onesie, the kind you might see highschoolers wear for pajama day. It's a puppy onesie and Seungmin cannot contain his glee at the sight of it. He crawls, crawls, over to Chan to put it on him.
Chan simply chuckles out of fondness and puts it on him, only after putting some boxers on as well. Seungmin sits down on the floor and holds his arms up towards Jeongin to pick him up again to carry him. Which he does and Suengmin snuggles into the other's neck as he moves them into his bedroom, not the living room which is where Seungmin thought they were going to go.
He's gentle as he lays Seungmin onto the bed and then climbs in with him. He helps rearrange them so Seungmin is sitting on his lap, head turned back towards his neck, so that when Chan comes in again, it's a surprise for Seungmin.
"Channie went out and bought you a bottle and some milky, baby. He also got some stuffed bears and a few more items for a more permanent little space set to have here." Jeongin whispers into his scalp and Seungmin perks up in an instant.
"Mil-ge?" He mumbles into Jeongin's shirt.
"Yes, baby. We got you milky."
He coaxes Seungmin out of his spot in his neck and holds a small sippy cup towards him. It's not a baby's bottle with a nipple and Seungmin is kind of glad about that. He doesn't think he would actually enjoy sucking it. The sippy cup was a good call and proof that his Jeongin knows him best.
Jeongin wraps his arm around Seungmin and allows Seungmin to take the bottle to start sipping it by himself. What happens next surprises Seungmin the most.
Jeongin starts singing a lullaby. A sweet lullaby you would sing a baby to sleep with.
The milk is about half finished when Seungmin finds himself nodding off to the song. He keeps trying to stay awake to hear more, but it's a losing battle, like washing his hair. Just as he's about to drift away, he finds it in him to get out one last coherent sentence.
"Nigh nigh dada." The bottle slips from his hand as he fully falls asleep.
A sharp intake of breath stops the song and then…
“Goodnight, my precious.”
The bottle is removed from his grasp and a pair of lips meet his forehead.
“My little Minnie-baby.”