Single Father • Namjoon + BTS!Kids

cxxiii.

Before Namjoon left, he pulled Yoongi out into the hallway to discuss something.

"It's about all of you, and it's about your mom," Namjoon said. They were outside the hospital room, and he cast a brief glance toward the window, but the blinds were drawn from the other side. "I didn't want to tell any of you this because I was afraid it would make you feel less wanted or something, but that's not true, okay? I'm telling you this upfront because..." He sighed. "I worry about you kids, and I worry that you aren't happy. And it's not that I don't miss all of you very very much, but if you're living with your mom, I don't want you to be miserable, okay? I just...maybe...maybe if you tried to understand her more..."

Yoongi nodded, waiting to see what his father had to tell him.

***

Their mom took the three of them home later that night, Yoongi silently fussing over Hobi by holding onto his arm and Jimin more vocally fussing over Hobi.

"W-Watch the s-step," Jimin said, eyes wide as he waited for Hobi to enter their house before him.

"I've lived here for years," Hobi said, rolling his eyes. "I know that there's an extra- ow ow ow," Hobi cut off, wincing after hitting his shin on the extra step that he always forgot about.

"Honey, be careful," their mom said, worried, and Hobi nodded before going in, Yoongi still holding onto his arm to guide him.

They'd taken a taxi home, as her husband had needed the car to do something business-related. That's all he ever seemed to do.

"After you, sweetie," their mom said, and Jimin nodded hesitantly, smiling before looking down guiltily and hurrying inside. He was confused now, about her, about their family. He'd always felt like she was the enemy, and maybe she was, but maybe she wasn't.

Could he forgive her?

Did he want to?

What did he win by holding on to his pain, his hatred? It only made life more difficult. Every day had been a battle of ignoring her or treating her harshly. If Jimin were to be honest with himself, being mean to other people hurt him, as well. He hated the feeling he got when he was mean. He felt cold, sharp, like a needle, ready to draw blood at any moment.

Wouldn't life be easier if he replaced his scowls with smiles, if instead of ignoring her, he asked how her day had gone?

If, when she said I love you, he said I love you back?

Even if it was hard? Even if he was still working on meaning it 100%?

But it was too much for Jimin to think about at the moment. He should just-

He stopped as he felt his mother's hands on his shoulders.

"I think he's in the kitchen," she said softly, hearing his voice filtering in from the other side of the house. "Maybe it would be best if you all stayed in your room, okay? I'll deal with him."

Jimin nodded before leaving her gentle grasp and following the others into their room.

The three sat on their beds, Jimin sitting next to Hobi on his, and waited in silence for one of them to say something.

"Give her a chance," Hobi said just as Yoongi said, "You need to eat something."

They paused, and it was up to Jimin to cast the deciding voice.

"W-Why?" he asked, and Hobi sighed.

"Because. Everybody deserves a chance to try. We all mess up sometimes. But she's trying to fix it. We should at least let her try, right? And besides, she's more or less trapped in another loveless marriage, and we're her only source of happiness." Hobi paused. "But don't tell her I said that."