Single Father • Namjoon + BTS!Kids

lxii.

"The soul is healed by being with children."

-Fyodor Dostoyevsky

***

It had been decided that Jimin would get to spend one day with each of his brothers, mainly because Namjoon was worried about overwhelming Jimin with too much at once.

Namjoon was all right with the arrangement even though he would have to wait. It was enough for him just to see Jimin, just to know that he was okay, just to be able to touch him, even though his hands still shook as though he were afraid that Jimin would disappear into dust at the slightest touch.

Being able to tuck Jimin into bed - Namjoon almost started crying. He managed to hold off long enough to kiss his three youngest sons goodnight and rush out of their room, closing the door and leaning against it as he closed his eyes and let the tears run down for a second before blotting them out with his palms.

He'd finally gotten the corners right.

No more monsters would be coming for Jimin. Not now, not ever.

So it was enough.

It was enough for him just to have his son back.

***

Jin was excited because he got to have Jimin first. Namjoon had even given him the day off of school just so he could play with Jimin.

He woke up too early but was too excited to fall back asleep, so instead, he ran to the kitchen, his toes curling when they hit the cold hardwood floor, and grabbed two bowls, two spoons, Jimin's favorite brand of cereal (or at least what it had been 5 years ago), and the milk.

Then he sat and waited, swinging his feet back and forth because they were cold.

Jimin didn't come to the table for another thirty minutes, tugged along by Tae and followed quietly by Jungkook.

Jin brightened seeing the triplets - all three triplets, as it should be. "You're awake," Jin said, grinning at Jimin, who smiled back shyly, slightly uncomfortable. Jin understood somewhat; it had been 5 years. Jin had changed. Jimin had changed. It would take some getting used to, but Jin wasn't scared. He was excited, eager to explore every new facet of Jimin, from the way his hair was starting to curl in slightly at the edges to how he was self-consciously tugging his sleeves down past his fingers as he hopped from his left foot to his right foot.

And that's how Jin knew it would all be okay, because Jimin's feet were cold just like Jin's. They'd have differences, sure, but they were still brothers, and that was all that mattered.

"I got you a bowl," Jin said brightly, patting the seat next to himself. "And I saved your seat."

"What about our bowls?" Tae asked, mock-sulking, but he was in too good of a mood to actually be annoyed.

Jungkook was unusually quiet, and as Tae clambered to reserve the seat to Jimin's left, Jungkook just sat down next to Tae, not putting up a fuss.

Jin was a little bit worried, but he would talk to Jungkook later or maybe tomorrow.

Today was his day with Jimin.

"Aish, hyung, you're not supposed to leave the milk out!" Tae said, wrinkling his nose when he opened it and smelled it. "It's going bad! Seriously, you maybe be older but it's not true what they say about being any wiser."

"Oops," Jin said, winking at Jimin, who giggled before biting down on the inside of his left lip, looking guilty. "It's okay, you can laugh. You won't hurt my feelings."