jangmi (장미) ● taejoon

f o r t y f o u r .

  With one arm, he carries Jangmi to the kitchen. Her tears had dried once she saw the man, and now she rested her head against the crook of his neck. He walks to the kitchen, trying his best to mask the pain that ignites through his body - he should be resting in bed.

Instead, he walks past the staring maids. "... You must be hungry," he says softly, "Why not sit down and I'll make something for you."

Jangmi fumbled with her fingers, still hiccuping despite finally calming down. "Did papa take you here?" She asks, "Did he hurt you?"

Namjoon places Jangmi on the stool, bending down slightly so she could look at him. With a gentle smile, "... No Mimi, he didn't hurt me," he says reassuringly. "I came here when you left for school to see how you've been. Have you been a good girl?" It was a lie he needed to sound a truth for her sake.

"Your cheek," she murmurs, "He did hurt you, you have a bandaid."

Her small hand cupped Namjoon's cheek, over the bandage over the scar he'd have for a long time. "Papa hurt you."

Namjoon shook his head. "No, no no. I just was clumsy on my way here."

The maids had cleared out of the kitchen (after Taehyung said "leave them be") and the man appeared by the doorframe. Crossing his arms, looking at his daughter and the man who were fond of each other. He doesn't say anything, but he looks at the look of relief on Jangmi's face. Her cheeks were still rosy, but her eyes had cleared up.

"Your papa cares about you, Jangmi," Namjoon says, placing his larger hand over hers. "He worries about you lots."

Jangmi shook her head. "... He-He's always so mean," she mumbles, "I never get to see him without him looking grumpy or-or we never get to play with each other. I wanna go to the playground with him, I wanna go swim with him, I just want a better papa! He's always such a meanie."

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but Namjoon continues to listen. The poor girl had to hold so many emotions these past days. "... Papa doesn't love me..."

"Yes he does," Namjoon suddenly grabbed her hands and held them together with his. "Your papa loves you so, so much. Don't ever doubt it."

"He doesn't make me feel like it!" She cries, "He's not like mama, he's-he's not like you, daddy. I wish you were my real papa."

"You take care of me like mama did before papa took me away," she sobs, "I-I don't want you to go away like Mama! I hate it here, I wanna go back or stay with you."

Namjoon went silent, looking somberly at the crying little girl. Sighing softly, pulling her back into another hug. "It's okay, princess... It's okay."

Jangmi cried louder into his chest again. "Mama and papa don't love m-me! Mama would've come back and took me home! It's not fair!"

Taehyung watched as Namjoon presses a kiss against her temple.

Softening his eyes at the man whose been a better father to his daughter for the past year.

[unedited]