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Seokjin held Jimin close to him as his fever raged, trying to lull the sniffling boy to sleep. They had been to the doctor earlier that day, and he had told Seokjin that it was just a common cold and to keep Jimin warm and hydrated, and it would be gone soon.
Seokjin sighs as he feels Jimin’s forehead again. The medicine the doctor had prescribed was working, and small boy’s temperature was slowly but surely going down, but Jimin was still distressed and crying in his arms— his large eyes filled with tears and pained whimpers leaving his mouth that shot straight at Seokjin’s heart.
“There there sweetheart. You’ll be okay.” he said as he tried his best to soothe the upset boy. Jimin had his head laid on Seokjin’s broad shoulders and his small body cradled against Seokjin’s chest. He was three now but he was still so small for his age that he easily fit into his arms.
Jimin started crying again when the doorbell rang and Seokjin draped Jimin’s baby blanket, that the boy still held close, around him, as he went to go get the door. The man looked through the eyehole and saw the familiar shock of blond hair as he clicked the lock open.
“Hey.” he said surprised, propping the door open with his other free shoulder. “I wasn’t expecting you today.” and Yoongi frowned slightly at him.
Yoongi was his good friend and he conveniently lived in the same apartment as him— though Seokjin thinks Yoongi moved here on purpose to help Seokjin when he was still a new dad suddenly raising a baby on his own. Yoongi had been there for him through everything.
“Yeah, I wasn’t planning on coming, but then I heard from Taehyung that Jimin was sick.” Yoongi said leaning over to brush fingers through Jimin’s sweaty hair and Seokjin turned a little so he could get a look at the boy. Jimin’s eyes were still wet with tears and he had his thumb in his mouth. “He only does that when he’s really upset.” Yoongi said and Seokjin nodded frowning.
“Yeah. I’ve been trying to get him to sleep for a while, but he just keeps crying. Want to come in?” He asked as an afterthought and Yoongi nodded stepping into the home and taking off his shoes.
Jimin looked at Yoongi and whimpered to be picked up, making grabby hands until Yoongi easily took the boys from Seokjin’s tired arms and held him close.
“Let’s get you to sleep sweetheart.” Yoongi whispered affectionately as he carefully switched to a position where Jimin was cradled close to his chest, and then started to rock back and forth soothingly as he headed to Jimin’s room.
Seokjin stood by the door and watched as Jimin was now pacified, but his eyes were still wide open and Yoongi smiled adoringly.
“Hey Hyung sing something for him, you know I can’t sing.” He laughed and Seokjin smiled.
“He still likes your voice though whether you can sing or not.” and Yoongi chuckled quietly.
“I’ll sing along then, but you start.” and Seokjin nodded before quietly beginning a children’s song from his own childhood, and Yoongi joined in after a few seconds. Soon Jimin’s eyes began to droop, and eventually, around the third song his breathing had evened out and he was out like a light.
Yoongi carefully placed him inside the crib he still slept in and tucked blankets around him as Seokjin switched on his baby meter and they both walked out quiety shutting the door behind them.
Seokjin took a big sigh of relief as he collapsed on the couch and Yoongi sat down next to him.
“Thank you so much Yoongi. It’s been such a stressful day and Jimin was so sick I didn’t know what to do.” Seokjin confessed as he leaned back into the couch and covered his eyes with an arm. It was the first chance he had ever really gotten to sit down all day. He had barely slept the night before because Jimin was being fussy and not going to bed— and now Seokjin knows why— and then he had to get up and go to work and then rush out a few hours later because his babysitter was calling him scared, because Jimin had a high fever. It had been an insane day.
“Seokjin why didn’t you call me.” Yoongi asks jerking him out of his thoughts and resting a comforting hand on his knee.
“I didn’t want to bother you.” Seokjin said, taking his arm off and looking over at Yoongi’s face. The smaller man is looking at him disappointedly.
“Why would anything that has to do with either you or Jimin be a bother to me Hyung. Why do you think like that?” Yoongi asks and there’s that same hint of anger and sadness in his tone that has Seokjin feeling bad. “You have been keeping a distance for some days now Hyung. Why?”
“I just, I’m always asking you to do things for us like babysit last minute when Hyosung can’t make it, and then that day when Jimin and I came over Jimin dropped liquid all over your sound equipment.” Seokjin says and he has to cover his eyes again. “I don’t want you to tire of us and leave. And so…”
“And so your trying to leave first?” Yoongi asks and his grip on Seokjin’s knees tightens and Seokjin gulps looking down at his pant leg.
“It’s not like that Yoongi…”
Yoongi takes a deep breath before he shifts closer to Seokjin. “Hyung look at me.” He calls softly so Seokjin looks up and Yoongi brings a comforting hand to his cheek where he rests it. “Hyung those things are not an annoyance or a bother to me, I’m always so happy to help you and Jimin, I’ve come to care about you both so much. Also I work from home, so looking after Jimin for a few hours is no problem, and he’s the most gentle baby I have ever met, I adore him. And another thing, it was my fault for putting drinks near the sound equipment, Hoseok always yells at me for that too, so it was bound to happen whether I did it or Jimin did. Plus that stuff was under warranty so I got it replaced free of cost.” Yoongi was babbling now and Seokjin smiled faintly, his cheeks warming under Yoongi’s hand. “Hyung please. Please don’t push me away. You guys are never a burden or a problem for me, I don’t know how else to say it. Please don’t pull away.” He pleaded, his face crumpling and Seokjin can’t help it when he hesitatingly pulls Yoongi close to his chest and Yoongi hugs him fiercely back.
“Hyung I really like you.” Yoongi whispers. And Seokjin thinks of all the times Yoongi has been there for him physically, but also emotionally, and helped him through so, so, much with Jimin. He’s known him for a years now, from when he was a carefree college student to when he was suddenly a dad raising a baby by himself, and Seokjin thinks that’s more than enough time for Yoongi to prove what an amazing boyfriend he can be, so Seokjin nods.
“I like you too Yoongi.”