Chapter Text
Tick.
Darkness engulfs the atmosphere in obscurity, restrained and inhospitable and unforgiving. It settles into every crevice and corner until it devours any semblance of life, suffocating anything daring enough to produce light within the confines of its vicinity. It hangs in the air like a ghastly cloud of poison, so impenetrable and cumbersome that it wraps around Jimin’s throat while it squeezes every last particle of oxygen from his struggling lungs.
Tock.
A deafening, encompassing silence menacingly seeps through the grimy cracks in the walls, a ravaging flood that hastily rises as it melts away the foundations of existence. Quiet loneliness drips from the ceiling and crawls down the walls leaving no inch uncovered on its mission to destroy everything it touches. It roars in Jimin’s ears until he hears nothing except silence.
Tick.
Memories creep into Jimin’s mind without warning, shrieking and scratching and mangling their way to the forefront as they consume every pleasant thought in their way. Pain wraps around his head over and over again until it fractures his tender skull under the pressure of relentless remembrance. Nothing but black in his vision, yet vivid flashes of splattering blood and devastating explosions and shiny knives flit through his brain as they play in his head.
Tock.
Gasping breaths rip from Jimin’s raw, battered throat as he writhes in agony on the bed, victim to the weight of his tormenting circumstances. The throbbing bite on his neck sets aflame, seared from the inside out by the decision that permanently sealed his fate and altered the course of his life forever. His heart constricts and aches and wilts inside of his chest until it barely possesses the will to continue beating through the onslaught of hurt surging through his veins.
Tick.
Tears stream from his red-strained eyes, nose running and stomach churning so violently that he heaves until his muscles burn. He claws at the fabric draped over his gasping chest, a measly attempt to rip his heart out through his rib cage and save himself from the eternal torture of his pathetic existence. Jimin’s sobs rip from his throat and echo off the meager walls of his teeny bedroom, cries of desperation and anguish and destitution that go unnoticed with no one to rescue him from the voracious turmoil raging inside of him.
Tock.
The passage of time continues even when Jimin’s life terminates every night, unforgiving in its pursuit of constant change and evolution. Seconds turn into hours that turn into days, every moment morphing together to create the most mundane, empty excuse of life that Jimin has ever had the misfortune of knowing. The glowing sun peeks past the clouds on the horizon and rises once again, chasing away the darkness and its vice grip on his throat until he finally breathes a lungful of crisp, fresh air.
Screeching, ringing sounds reverberate through the air as the alarm clock on Jimin’s nightstand goes off and signals the start of another dreary day, pulling a heavy sigh from his lips as he blindly flails his arm around until he smacks the button to turn it off. His muscles cry with every slow, pained movement of his aching body and he easily ignores it, more than used to the hurt after years of practice. He tilts his head to the side and cracks his neck, shoulders sagging as his feet hit the frigid ground before carrying him off to begin all over again.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Jimin says with a bright smile, every drop of anguish fleeting the moment he lays eyes on his chubby cheeked baby laying safely in his crib. His brimming, shiny eyes blink slowly as he looks up at Jimin leaning over him, a toothy grin immediately tugging across his lips. “Hi! Good morning, bunny.”
Minjae turns over and crawls onto his knees, standing up on shaky legs until he reaches the wooden rail of his crib. He coos and squeals, hands clapping together as he extends his little arms and grabs ahold of Jimin’s silky pajama shirt. Jimin leans down and plants a fat, wet kiss on his forehead with an obnoxiously loud smacking noise, his soul settling and relief flooding through his veins just from the simple contact with his precious baby.
“Good morning! Can you say it back? Can you say good morning?” Jimin asks with his cheery voice, picking Minjae up and holding him tightly. The baby babbles incoherently, happy noises falling from his lips as he bounces in Jimin’s arms. “Oh, you’re happy today! My happy little baby. Say ‘good morning daddy.’”
“Dada! Dada!” Minjae says excitedly amongst his string of noises, leaning forward to press his drooly, open mouth to the column of Jimin’s neck.
“Wow, good job! You’re so close. Can you say ‘good morning?’” Jimin asks again, carrying him over to the changing table for a fresh diaper change. “Good morning!”
“Dada… Dadadada! G’moonie!”
“Yes! Good job, Minjae. Good morning! You’re so smart.” Jimin replies with a big smile, tired eyes burning from the bright sunlight piercing through the window. “Are you hungry?”
Jimin makes quick work of changing Minjae’s diaper, talking to him throughout the whole process. He asks him questions and engages in whatever sort of conversation he can, listening intently as Minjae babbles and repeats words that Jimin can clearly understand. They head into the kitchen and Jimin places him down at his high chair at the kitchen table while he prepares breakfast.
Minjae coos and mindlessly chatters to himself while he waits for his food, banging around his dinosaur toy and occasionally roaring as he plays. Jimin quickly whips up some eggs while he chops a few different types of fresh fruit, making enough for both of them before he returns to the table and plops down beside his son. He puts a good helping on Minjae’s tray and waits for him to dig in before he starts eating himself. Minjae adores strawberries, diving in for them before he even looks at anything else. Jimin finds himself easily distracted when it comes to his baby, often ignoring his own needs and wants to just stare at the preciousness in front of him.
“How about some grapes now? Hmm? Grapes are so good! Watch, daddy will eat them too.” Jimin pops an entire grape into his mouth and hums, shooting him an exaggerated smile to show how great they taste. “Minjae too! You try. Eat some grapes like daddy.”
Minjae does as Jimin commands, grabbing a little sliver of a chopped up grape and shoveling it into his mouth. He squints his eyes and nose to make a funny face as he chews with an open mouth, barely swallowing it before he grabs another strawberry. Jimin laughs and shrugs, just happy that he likes fruit at all. He tries several times a week to introduce him to new things and refresh his palette, but he still doesn’t like grapes. Oh well.
They eat together at the table until they both finish their food, Minjae loud and rambunctious the entire time. He smears his eggs all around the tray before he even attempts to eat them and Jimin lets him be, still internally cringing at how unbelievably messy babies can be. He spends a good chunk of his day sweeping the floor clean of random food bits and wiping Minjae’s hands and face. All in a day’s work.
“Come on, follow daddy into the living room. That’s right, you can do it! You’re so fast now, I can barely believe it.” Jimin says after he places Minjae on the floor and urges him forward to the next room. He gestures with his hand and slowly walks across the space, constantly turning back to ensure his son follows him. “Good job, sweetheart. You walk so well, gonna be running after daddy in no time.”
After breakfast they sit on the big mat splayed over the living room floor, playing with blocks and little dinosaur figures for quite a while. Jimin builds a tower and Minjae knocks it down every time, roaring and laughing while his dinosaur drops every wooden block to the ground. Jimin feigns disappointment and sadness, crying out “oh no!” before he ultimately rebuilds it again. Once they get tired of that, they play with something else. Jimin made little puzzles and games for Minjae to exercise different physical and mental skills, gently helping him when he matches colors or shapes with their correct pair. He encourages him and watches as Minjae gets quicker and more capable every day, something aching and distraught swirling inside of him as he thinks about how quickly time passes.
Minjae gets a quick snack a couple of hours after breakfast, munching on soft crackers and drinking some milk. Jimin floats around the kitchen and dining area as he lets Minjae finish his food, taking care of some chores while he has the chance. He wipes down the counters and table, puts away the dishes in the dishwasher, and manages to load the dirty dishes into the empty dishwasher before Minjae starts hollering to get down from his high chair. It doesn’t take much longer for him to start getting tired so they only play for a bit before he comes crawling into Jimin’s lap, face buried against his marred scent gland for comfort as he drifts off to sleep for his mid-day nap. His sweet, milky baby scent drowns under Jimin’s brown sugar and honey, the tiny hints of sandalwood and spice still making Jimin’s stomach turn.
Jimin does a good chunk of his housework while Minjae takes his nap, putting away his grocery delivery as quietly as possible. He grabs the hamper full of dirty clothes and throws them into the washer, sighing as he realizes the dryer currently sits full of clean clothes from the last time he did laundry. He grabs them and shoves them into a basket, tossing it onto his bed to deal with later. He opens the windows before he wipes down all of the important surfaces across the apartment with disinfectant and mops the floor. He manages to clean almost everything in the bathroom except the bathtub before he hears whining and light crying coming from Minjae’s open door, leaving the task for the next time he gets a chance to clean.
“Hello, sweetheart. No need to cry, daddy’s right here. Always here, yeah? Don’t worry, my precious bunny. Daddy will never leave you.” Jimin says mindlessly, bouncing Minjae back and forth in his arms. The sleep riddled baby just lays his head on Jimin’s shoulder and noses against his neck, quickly settling as Jimin gently pats his back. “I love you so much.”
The day flies by like usual, Jimin and Minjae following a similar routine nearly every day. Not much deviation occurs when they spend almost all of their waking moments inside of the safety of their apartment, away from prying eyes and dangerous figures waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. They make do with what they have, playing with toys and watching silly tv shows and dancing around the living room. Jimin tries to supplement outside play time by taking Minjae out on the balcony and letting him get some fresh air and sunlight. They eat nice, healthy meals since they only eat home cooked food. Jimin wishes things could be different—that he could provide Minjae with the life he deserves—but some things remain out of his control.
“Ba!” Minjae squeals, slowly winding his little arm behind his head before he swings it forward and tosses the blue ball at Jimin. “Dada, ba! Dada!”
“Wow, you’ve got a strong arm on you already! Good job, Minjae. Try again and daddy will actually catch it this time. Maybe, no promises.” Jimin says, sitting on his knees with his hands held out to catch the ball. Minjae throws it again and it goes too far left, but impresses Jimin all the same. “Good job, bunny! You did so good!”
“Ba! Dada, ba!” Minjae says excitedly, clumsily walking around the living room while he claps his hands together. He runs over to get the ball and then throws it at Jimin again.
Jimin plays with Minjae for quite a bit of his day, playing ball and reading and cooking with him at his kitchen play set. He can’t find any reason to complain when Minjae makes everything so easy, always happy and smiley whenever he does anything. Jimin may not be able to give him the world, but he gives him his time and devotion as a substitute. He pours out all of the love and tenderness his body contains through his sweet words and shows of affection and constant attention. He gives his son everything he has, the emptiness inside of him momentarily subsiding when he focuses on the only thing in the world that truly matters to him.
They eat dinner together at the kitchen table, Minjae throwing kimchi onto the ground instead of putting it in his mouth. Jimin simply smiles and tries to gently correct him, plopping a piece of it into his mouth before he feeds himself. The atmosphere grows quieter as the day passes, Minjae slowly getting less rambunctious and wild when he becomes tired. He sits at the high chair and kicks his legs while Jimin cleans up, watching him with a smile on his face and babbling adorable nonsense.
Jimin gives Minjae his nightly bath, one of the only times he struggles with his baby. Minjae hates washing his hair and lets out a pitiful cry whenever Jimin puts shampoo on his head, looking at him with big, watery eyes that make Jimin want to cry too. He touches him as gently as he can, releasing calming pheromones in droves to soothe him.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Don’t cry, I won’t get soap in your eyes. I promise. Daddy won’t do that ever again. Just gotta get you nice and clean so you stay healthy, okay? It’s alright. You’re okay.” Jimin reassures him the whole time, heart aching in his chest while he pushes forward and does what needs to be done.
He holds a washcloth to Minjae’s forehead to cover his eyes, tilting him back so that all of the water pours down the back of his neck instead of going anywhere near his eyes. He wrestles to keep his baby’s hands down as they flail around and try to get away, but the ordeal is over before either of them go through too much trouble. By the time Jimin gives Minjae one last rinse and wraps him up in a soft towel, the baby returns to his smiley, happy self like nothing ever happened.
Jimin dreads night time more than anything. As the sun starts to set and Minjae grows tired, Jimin’s world begins to crash around him. His heart slowly squeezes until every beat hurts, pain shooting through his chest. His stomach twists and turns, lurching into his throat until bile eats away at sensitive flesh and makes him choke. He struggles to breathe and function, mind overloaded with thoughts of agony and torturous memories. His limbs tremble and shake as he tries to push it all away, omega only quelled by holding his baby in his arms and guaranteeing his safety from the cruel horrors of the world. Jimin stays on the couch for hours with Minjae’s sleeping form in his arms, warm and sweet and innocent. He buries his nose in his fluffy hair and breathes in deep lungfuls of his precious scent, covering him with brown sugar and honey until the strength of it burns his own senses.
He detests putting him to bed, but forces himself to do hard things for the wellness of his baby. Jimin cries most nights when he carries Minjae into his bedroom and lays him in his crib, checking his window so many times that his arms ache from the repeated strain. He checks the lock on the front door and every other window and the balcony several times to ensure they remain locked and no one could possibly get in. Jimin sets the house alarm and turns on the camera in Minjae’s room before he finally allows himself to calm down, deeming it safe enough to head into his own room.
Jimin takes a shower, changes his clothes, and gets himself ready for bed, distraught every time he looks in the mirror and sees his sunken face, dark eye bags, and long, unkempt hair. He sighs, forcing himself through his minimal self care routine because he wants to take care of himself and be around for Minjae as long as possible. He slathers on moisturizer and brushes his teeth for two minutes, slipping into his baby’s room one last time to make sure he still lays in his crib fast asleep. His body aches and burns as he crawls under his covers and into bed, unable to shake the uneasy feeling bubbling inside of him.
If he gets lucky, Jimin sleeps for a few hours off and on throughout the night. He constantly wakes up and checks the big screen on his nightstand that connects to the camera in Minjae’s room, frequently getting up to make sure he still breathes. Some nights he sleeps in the chair in his son’s room since he struggles to stay away and his omega gains comfort from his scent. Other nights, he gets not one ounce of shut eye and ends up tossing and turning all night while the terrors of the darkness devour him whole.
Soon enough, night will fade into day again. The darkness will be chased away by the sunlight and all of the evilness of the world will be gone when he sees Minjae’s smiling face. Jimin holds onto his hope and reminds himself why he ended up here in the first place, every agonizing moment worth it when he saves his son from the clutches of his alpha father, his mate.
The clock on his nightstand reminds him that time continues forward whether he wants it to or not, turning over and closing his eyes to hopefully get some rest.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Prisoners forcefully contained in their home.
Danger lurks around every corner, living in the shadows and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Every turned back, any sign of weakness, blinking for even a millisecond too long—vile creatures hide in plain sight to attack whenever they can. When any step outside of the walls of home equals a possibly devastating, catastrophic event, the desire to leave entirely disappears. Instead, it becomes an overwhelming fear.
How unfair.
A precious, innocent little baby who has no capacity to do wrong remains stuck inside of a measly apartment, robbing him of all the beautiful wonders and experiences life offers when people have the luxury of freely existing. No sunshine or flowers or butterflies. The joys of feeling sand beneath his toes, sitting on a blanket in the grass and having a picnic, and walking through the grocery store all serve as tiny moments in life that Minjae rarely gets to experience. He misses out on so many simple, special things through no fault of his own. He had no choice in who his alpha father was and yet he still bears the devastating consequences of his parents’ decisions.
Jimin—filled with devotion and guilt and sorrow—attempts to let Minjae live a normal life whenever he can. Even though it terrifies him more than anything in the world, Jimin works up the courage to take his son out of the safety of their apartment and let him experience the joys and happenings of everything life can offer. He puts himself through endless torture with the hope that Minjae never grows up and resents Jimin for the sad life he had to live.
“Hi, bunny!” Jimin says with a big smile, voice light and sweet and soft. He pushes Minjae on a baby swing in the playground right outside their apartment building, space mostly empty except for the two of them. He greets his baby every time he swings back to him, heart positively bursting with love at his squeals of excitement and happiness whenever he sees his daddy. “Hello, Minjae! I see you!”
Jimin pushes Minjae for as long as his arms will allow him, thrilled to provide so much joy with such a simple gesture. He stays as close as possible and soaks up Minjae’s laughter and happy squealing, never letting his guard down for even a second. He constantly looks over his shoulder and takes in his surroundings, heart beating while he searches for anyone or anything that might serve as a threat. He refuses to be blindsided. Something as pure as taking his son to play on the playground feels like an ordeal and he hates himself for that.
“You ready to get down? Huh? You wanna get down and walk around?” Jimin asks, grabbing ahold of the swing to slow it down after pushing Minjae for nearly half an hour. The bright, blue sky and warm sunshine make for the perfect day, too beautiful to resist. “Here, hold daddy’s hand. Good boy, you listen so well!”
Little pitter patters fill the air with every clumsy step of Minjae’s feet, his tiny fingers gripping Jimin’s hand as they stumble around the toys and equipment. He coos and babbles and looks around at absolutely everything, a green hat pulled over his head to block his face from harmful sun rays. Jimin dutifully follows wherever Minjae leads, mind overwhelmed with thoughts and responsibilities as he simultaneously watches his son, searches the environment for danger, and keeps himself steady on his feet.
“Wee!” Jimin calls out with a high pitched voice, hands hovering over Minjae when he goes down the slide. “Ooh, so fun! You like that? Yeah, I know. Let’s go again!”
Jimin picks Minjae up and places him at the top of the slide, both of them laughing and smiling as he floats down to the ground. Minjae claps his hands and screams with excitement, bouncy and joyful. He immediately reaches out for Jimin and wants to go again.
“Din! Din! Dada, din!” Minjae exclaims, kicking his feet against the hard plastic once Jimin places him back at the top of the slide.
The process repeats far too many times, Jimin staying at the slide until Minjae eventually grows bored of it. He tries to let Minjae take the lead and just follow along since he wants his son to live as freely as he can with their given circumstances. Jimin controls everything about their lives—more than normal parents—since he needs to protect them, Minjae not getting many choices to make his own decisions except for moments like these.
“Dadadadada.” Minjae mumbles with no real meaning behind it while they sit on the bench and take a break, perched in Jimin’s lap with his tiny hands gripping his face. “Tiss!”
Jimin automatically puckers his lips, aware of what Minjae wants as soon as he says it. His son leans up and gives Jimin a big kiss, wet and sloppy and endearing. Jimin chuckles, body shaking as he slightly grimaces at the sensation.
“Thank you, sweetheart. You’re so nice to daddy. I love you so, so, so much. Did you know that? I love you.” Jimin says with a smile, holding Minjae tightly as he looks into his big doe eyes that serve as an exact replica of his alpha father’s eyes.
“Wuv you! Wuv dada!”
“Oh, my sweet baby. Thank you! I love you, I love you, I love you!” Jimin replies, peppering Minjae’s face with kisses while he squeals and thrashes in his arms. Peals of laughter fill Jimin’s ears as Minjae squeezes his cheeks and tries to get away from the onslaught of affection.
Minjae stumbles to his feet once he grows tired of sitting, grabbing Jimin’s hand and pulling it as hard as he can to try and lift him off the bench. Jimin laughs and watches with rapt attention, Minjae struggling and grunting obnoxiously while giving it his best attempt. He pulls Jimin with both of his little hands, falling on his butt because he pulls with all his strength until he gives up. Jimin finally relents and stands up on his own, protectively holding Minjae’s hand so he doesn’t run off too far on his own.
“Where are you going? Hmm? You have somewhere specific in mind or are we just walking for the fun of it?” Jimin asks, heart falling out of his ass when he looks up and sees a darkly clad figure standing beside a parked car along the sidewalk.
They keep moving forward as Minjae talks to himself and points at all of the things surrounding them. Jimin can’t take his eyes off of the man across the way, his shifty eyes and baggy clothes making him assume the worst. The air forcefully expels from his lungs as rocks form in his throat and panic races through his veins, setting his body on fire with urgency and desperation. His heart pounds painfully hard against his rib cage until it feels like a heart attack, lightning bolts shooting through his chest.
Wrong. Everything feels wrong. Danger. Not safe. He needs to protect his pup. They want to hurt him and take his baby. Run. Get away. Wrong. Death. Pain.
“Come here,” Jimin says breathlessly, feet halting against the pavement as his stomach churns and threatens to regurgitate the few contents inside of it. “Minjae! Come here, sweetheart. Let daddy hold you. Come on.”
His hands shake and his knees go weak, every cell in his body screaming in terror when he makes eye contact with the man standing against his sleek, black SUV. The dark look in his eyes and the expression on his face send a shiver down his spine, body immediately jolting into panic mode. He scoops Minjae up in his arms and turns back, practically running as he rushes back to the apartment like their lives depend on it. They basically do.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
Rationally Jimin knows that not everything and everyone in the world has a vendetta against them, plotting their downfall with some horrific plan to rip him limb from limb while his baby watches before they snatch him away and raise him to be a ruthless murderer like them. He knows this, repeats it in his mind like a prayer every day of his life. The rationality of things doesn't matter when anything could be a legitimate threat. The only way to know who poses true danger is to have it actually happen and Jimin intends to never get that close.
They stay in their apartment for the rest of the day, Jimin more on edge and terrified than usual. He constantly looks out the window and checks the lock on the front door, not letting his guard down for a single moment. Minjae remains none the wiser, even happier than normal since he got to go outside and play for nearly two hours. Jimin considers it worth it at the end of the day, willing to put himself through anything to make his precious baby happy and safe and give him a good life. Being here in these circumstances proves that tenfold.
“Jimin, it’s me.”
Jimin’s head jerks around to the front door, hand frozen in the air with his spoon gripped tightly in his fingers. His eyes blow wide, heart frozen in his chest before his body realizes the person poses no threat. He sags into the wooden chair beneath him and breathes a sigh of relief. A familiar face pops around the corner of the dining room and Minjae squeals extremely loud, hands waving wildly in the air.
“Yoon! Yoonie! Eek! Yoonie!” Minjae calls out with a big, strawberry filled smile. He walks into the room and his peppery, lavender scent wafts in with him, the comforting smell instantly soothing to Jimin’s soul.
“Hey, baby. Did you miss me? Yeah? I’m happy to see you too.” Yoongi says with a chuckle, walking over and placing a kiss to the top of Minjae’s head. He gets a handful of strawberries smashed against his face when he leans in closer. “Oh, god.”
“Minjae! Be nice to your uncle Yoongi, don’t smear strawberries on his cheek!” Jimin exclaims loudly, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, you know how it is. He loves to share.”
“He does.” Yoongi nods, nuzzling his dirty face against Minjae’s chubby cheek. He giggles and talks excitedly, moving his head back and forth as he kicks his feet against his high chair. “Did you have fun with your daddy while I was gone? Did you do anything exciting?”
“Side! Side! Dada, side!”
“Oh, you went outside?” Yoongi asks with an animated expression, looking over at Jimin with a raised eyebrow. “That’s nice. I bet you had so much fun, didn’t you?”
“Eat? Yoon eat?” Minjae asks, raising up a few slivers of grapes in his messy fingers. “Eat?”
“That’s okay, I already ate. Thank you though. You’re so sweet.” Yoongi smiles down at him, giving him a soft pat on the head before he walks back to the doorway. He turns to Jimin with a heavy gaze. “Everything alright? Anything happen while I was gone?”
“We’re fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.” Jimin answers and shakes his head. He pushes his food around on his plate, pretty much done eating at this point. “How was your trip? You look tired.”
“I am,” Yoongi says with a groan, dark eye circles matching Jimin’s. “I’m so fuc—flipping tired. Those greedy… idiots tried to cheap out on hiring enough guards so I had to work with no sleep.”
“Better paycheck though, right?” Jimin asks, standing up to clean the table and Minjae after a fruitful breakfast.
“God yeah, double my normal pay since they tried to break contract. Can’t really complain about that, I guess.”
“Good. Go and get some sleep, I’ll try to keep Minjae quiet.” Jimin says as he takes his plate into the kitchen, grabbing a baby wipe to clean his face and hands. The day just started and he already wants to mop, pushing the urge away since it only gets worse as the day goes on.
“Don’t worry about it. I sleep better when I can hear you guys in here anyway.” Yoongi says before he disappears down the hallway and the soft click of his bedroom door sounds in the background.
Their day truly continues as normal now that Yoongi returned home. Jimin always tells himself that he does fine on his own and can take care of Minjae without any help, but he quickly figures out the harsh truth whenever Yoongi goes away for work every once in a while. He gives Minjae his all and pours every ounce of himself into being a good parent and also recognizes that having someone by his side to assist in raising a child helps tremendously. The burden doesn’t only fall on his shoulders, Yoongi providing so much valuable assistance and acting as a good alpha presence in Minjae’s life. Even if just for now, Yoongi essentially serves as his second parent whether they acknowledge that or not.
“Yoon? Yoonie? Go?” Minjae asks, standing in the hallway and pointing down to Yoongi’s bedroom.
“He didn’t go, he’s just sleeping. He’s home now. He’ll come out and see you again soon, okay?” Jimin replies, walking over to scoop him up and bring him back to the living room before he gets any bright ideas.
“Seep? Yoon seep?” Minjae questions further, eyebrow furrowed as he looks at Jimin’s face with undivided attention.
“Yeah, bunny. Yoongi’s sleeping. That’s right.” Jimin nods. “Here, you wanna play ball with daddy? You want to play catch?”
The house fills with adorable giggling and squealing and babbling nearly all day, Jimin unable to keep Minjae quiet even if he wants to. They play around in the living room before Minjae has his snack and then cuddles up on the couch with Jimin as he gets ready for his nap. He glues himself to Jimin’s chest and buries his nose against his scent gland, only falling asleep after he feels thoroughly scented and calm. Jimin always fills with pride, omega puffing his chest with satisfaction knowing his pup finds so much comfort in his scent. He never goes a day without surrounding himself in Jimin’s sweet scent.
Yoongi wakes up just after Minjae and Jimin finish eating lunch, dark hair messily strewn about his head and baggy pajamas hanging from his body when he walks into the living room and plops down on the opposite side of the couch. Minjae runs across the room with a shout, eyes lighting up the moment he sees Yoongi’s familiar face. He doesn’t even have time to raise his arms and ask to be held, Yoongi picking him up automatically.
“Hug? Yoonie hug?” Minjae asks, arms spread wide from where he kneels in Yoongi’s lap. Yoongi smiles and pulls him in tightly, giving him a big bear hug. Jimin’s heart swells in his chest, unbelievably lucky to have found a friend that loves his son like he would his own child. “Tiss?”
Yoongi holds Minjae for as long as he wants to be held, tickling him and kissing him on the cheek and letting him breathe in his unique, peppery scent. Minjae climbs all over him like some kind of jungle gym, ending up on Yoongi’s shoulders as he walks through the apartment. Minjae wraps his little arms around Yoongi’s neck and squeals with excitement every time they turn a corner, never a doubt in Jimin’s mind that he’s safe and protected with the alpha.
“What do you want to have for dinner? Kinda feel like cooking after eating straight trash for the past week.” Yoongi asks, looking over at Jimin on the other end of the couch. Minjae sits in his daddy’s lap while he watches a movie on the tv.
“I’m good with whatever. I have some pork and chicken in the fridge that you can cook if you want, but otherwise I’ll eat anything you make. Except salmon, never salmon.”
“I made salmon one time like a year ago and you’re never going to let me live it down. How was I supposed to know you hated it that much?” Yoongi asks, Jimin scrunching his nose up in disgust at the thought of it.
“Ew, I feel nauseous just remembering that moment. Pregnancy ruined my taste buds.” Jimin says with a shudder, Minjae absentmindedly playing with his fingers while he stares at the tv.
Yoongi ends up taking a short walk to the grocery store to pick up some things after being away for a week, grabbing stuff to cook for dinner and sweets for dessert. He tosses Minjae a new dinosaur figure when he walks past the living room to head into the kitchen and he screams with joy, immediately preoccupied with his new toy. The alpha ends up making steak and pasta with a creamy garlic sauce, doing all of the work before Jimin can even attempt to offer his help. He gives everyone a heaping serving of food, cutting up everything on Minjae’s tray into tiny pieces so he doesn’t choke.
They eat dinner together—just the three of them—like they always do, long since developing a routine after knowing each other since right before Minjae was born. They talk and laugh and enjoy one another’s company, Jimin’s heart fulfilled. Minjae tries to feed both Jimin and Yoongi some of his food, a good chunk of his meal ending up on the floor rather than in his mouth. Jimin and Yoongi discuss their time apart and share stories of how the past week went. A wonderful, delightful meal with their makeshift family. Jimin adores every moment of it, searing it into his memory so he never forgets it even after this phase of their life ends.
“You want me to give him a bath while you clean up? Or do you want me to wait so you can do it?” Yoongi asks, bouncing Minjae in his arms.
“Sure, go ahead. Just make sure you put him in a onesie after you’re done. His pajama sets are getting too small now and he always wakes up with his belly hanging out, don’t want him to get cold during the night.”
“Will do.” Yoongi replies, whisking Minjae away and down to the bathroom. His laughter and squeals filter into the quiet dining room as Jimin cleans up his high chair and the floor around it. Music to his ears, truly the best sound in the world.
“Yoongi! Don’t get soap in his eyes when you wash his hair!” Jimin shouts down the hallway.
“I know, I won’t. Don’t worry.”
Jimin trusts Yoongi, he does. He trusts him with his life and Minjae’s as well, absolute trust of the highest caliber. He still spends every moment of bath time worrying that Yoongi will get soap in Minjae’s eyes and make him cry even more than he already does. He thinks about it the whole time he sweeps and while he wipes down the table and when he loads the dishwasher. He thinks about it until he hears soft pattering down the hallway, gentle hands wrapping around his thigh. His heart stutters when he looks down and sees his precious baby looking up at him with big, shiny eyes, smiley and happy to see him even after being separated for a few minutes.
“Did you have a nice bath with uncle Yoongi?” Jimin asks and receives a nod in response. He leans forward and presses a kiss to Minjae’s puffy cheek, unable to hold back. “Good. He’s so nice, isn’t he? Always takes such good care of you.”
“Dada pway?”
“You want daddy to play with you?” Jimin asks, adjusting Minjae on his hip as he turns out the kitchen light and heads to the living room.
The three of them sit around and play for a while longer until Minjae grows more and more tired, the lights turning off before Jimin sits back on the couch with Minjae in his arms. He rubs his hand up and down his son’s back in a comforting gesture, happy to let him lay against his chest and breathe in his scent for as long as he wants. He occasionally raises his head and says something or asks Jimin for a kiss, slowly drifting off to sleep with his nose buried against his daddy’s scent gland.
Jimin hates nighttime all the same with or without Yoongi’s presence, but he can never deny how much better he sleeps when he knows the capable alpha sleeps in the next room over. He would likely catch a threat long before Jimin, his entire life revolving around doing exactly that.
Life has been extremely difficult for Jimin for the past few years, but he wouldn’t change it for a thing if it meant he would never have days this sweet and special ever again.
Jimin waddles to the bed with a sigh—stomach rounded and swollen beneath his baggy pajama shirt—absolutely exhausted after spending all day running errands and cleaning the house. Only six months pregnant and he barely feels capable enough to function, still three months to go and no sign of things getting any easier. It takes him forever to get adjusted once he crawls beneath the covers, back sore and hips aching no matter what position he tries. He ends up on his back as he stares ahead into the dark emptiness of their expansive bedroom, quiet and lonely and haunting. The weight of the day slowly creeps up on him once he no longer occupies his mind with mundane tasks and simple distractions.
The hole in his heart aches something fierce, wound rotten and festering where it remains untreated inside of his chest. Every breath hurts, constantly reminded what has become of his life—what has become of his mate. He only thinks of these things in the dark safety of his own bedroom and hardly wants to allow it at all, mind swirling with fear and desperation and urgency. The panic grows stronger every day and even though the idea has him gasping for breath as tears streak down his face, he knows something must be done. Time waits for no one and eventually it will be too late.
“Jungkook?” Jimin mumbles, eyes still squeezed closed from where he fell asleep a couple of hours ago. His body breathes a sigh of relief at the strong arms wrapped around his body, drowned in his mate’s deep sandalwood and rich spice. “S’you?”
“Yeah, baby. It’s me.” Jungkook answers with his deep, gruff voice. His body rests warmly against Jimin’s back as he kisses his scent gland and mating bite, omega sated immediately. “Had to stay late at work to take care of some things, but I’m finally home. Longest fucking day ever.”
“Missed you.” Jimin whispers, falling in and out of sleep with every passing second.
“I missed you too.” Jungkook replies, kissing Jimin’s neck once again while his big hand caresses the swell of Jimin’s belly. “And our little peanut.”
They lay like this for a while, Jimin forcing himself to stay awake even though the claws of sleep keep trying to pull him under. He barely sees Jungkook anymore, his mate gone from sun up to the late night hours as he stays busy with work and setting things straight in the business. They only see each other here—in bed during the middle of the night when Jimin attempts to rest his tired body—a sad reminder of what their relationship has become over the past several months. The person who used to make Jimin feel the safest in the world has morphed into someone unrecognizable and he finds himself struggling to reckon with that, floods of terrifying thoughts rushing into his mind any time they talk these days.
Jimin turns over and faces Jungkook, his dark eyes barely visible with only the moonlight illuminating their bedroom through the windows. He crinkles his nose the moment he gets a whiff of the metallic smell tangled in the alpha’s scent, stomach churning so violently that he has to hold back a gag and breathe through his mouth to avoid it.
“Can’t believe there’s only three months left until we get to meet him. It feels like just yesterday we found out you were pregnant. Our world has turned on its head in such a short amount of time, hardly feels real anymore.” Jungkook says, more chatty than usual after coming home from a tiring day of work.
“Probably feels even crazier for you since we don’t see each other that much. My bump grows a ton every week, you might not even recognize me anymore.” Jimin replies, twinges of pain and bitterness welling up inside of him.
“Don’t say that.” Jungkook quickly retorts, hand sliding under the hem of his baggy shirt to touch the bare skin of his belly. “Of course I would recognize you, you’re my mate. I could find you with my eyes closed in a room full of people. Even if I couldn’t smell you or touch you, I would always find you. That’s how this works, right? We’re mates. We couldn’t hide from each other even if we wanted to.”
Jimin’s heart sinks, breath caught in his lungs as he processes Jungkook’s words. A knot starts to build in his throat and he doesn’t want to think about why he suddenly feels so distraught. It may be an exaggeration for most people, but he knows Jungkook speaks the truth. He would go to the ends of the earth to find Jimin, a fact that makes the omega’s plight even more difficult as he contemplates what he plans to do next.
“Have you been thinking about what we should name him?” Jungkook asks after a bout of silence, hand still warm where it splays across Jimin’s belly. “Every time I see a name I find myself considering whether it’s a good, strong name or not. So many choices.”
“N-Not really. I read some lists a week or two ago, but nothing stood out to me.”
“We need something powerful and commanding since he’s going to have such an important position. It needs to be even stronger than my name. I understand now why my dad always thought he should’ve made my mom choose a different name. It’s too weak.” Jungkook says, so many things coming out at once that Jimin’s sleepy brain struggles to comprehend it all.
“I… I thought we weren’t worrying about that kind of thing yet. You agreed that we were going to let him have his own identity and give him time to have a normal childhood. It’s not—“
“That was before my father died and left everything on my shoulders. We couldn’t have known that it was going to happen, but it changes everything now. As the sole heir to the business, he needs to be raised as a leader from the start. We don’t have time to wait.” Jungkook explains, clueless to the way Jimin’s heart shatters into a million pieces. Time stands still as everything comes crumbling down, the last blow.
“No! No way, that’s not fair. He’s just a baby! You can’t rob him of a normal life.” Jimin exclaims with far more panic than he intends, heart pounding until it rings in his ears. “You promised, Jungkook! You fucking promised me that he would be happy and safe.”
“Baby, you knew it would happen one day. What difference does it make? I’ll make him strong and tough and capable. We have no other choice. He can stay home with you for a few years before he gets involved. Don’t worry.”
“A… A few years? Are you out of your mind?” Jimin asks, acid rising in his throat until it burns and he chokes on it. He sits up and pushes away from Jungkook, unable to believe everything he hears. A nightmare, it must be. Jungkook can't actually be saying this right now.
“Calm down. Everything will be fine. You know I would never let anything happen to him.” Jungkook says, sighing as he turns over in bed and stares up at the ceiling. “Let’s talk about this another time. You don’t need to get so worked up, it’s not healthy.”
A mixture of thoughts fly through Jimin’s mind so quickly that he has no time to focus on any one in particular. He wants to spit in Jungkook’s face, getting the urge to hit the alpha for the first time since they met. He wants to scream and cry and change Jungkook’s mind so he can protect his precious, innocent baby. He wants to fall to the floor and crumble into little pieces, washing away with the wind to save both himself and his son from the horrors Jungkook plans to subject them to. Jimin feels a lot of things, but his mind makes one, clear decision.
Run.
“Where are you going? Don’t go. I’m sorry, I never should’ve brought it up. I shouldn’t worry you over things out of your control.” Jungkook says, hand reaching out to grab Jimin’s arm before he can get off of the bed.
“It’s not that.” Jimin replies, lie falling from his lips so easily. “Morning sickness, I think. Might be sick.”
“Oh, are you okay? I can go with you.” Jungkook starts to get up too and Jimin wants to scream.
“No, that’s okay. You should sleep since you had such a long day. I’ll be fine, probably gonna take a shower to soothe my stomach. Get some rest.” Jimin says quickly, rushing to the bathroom and locking the door before Jungkook has time to chase after him.
Jimin ends up puking his guts out, body sitting on the cold marble floor for far longer than necessary as he heaves and gags and cries. He stays as quiet as possible when his world feels like it’s ending, desperately wishing things could be different for everyone’s sake. He sits on the floor until his butt grows numb and pins and needles tingle in his feet, eventually forcing himself up and over to the shower.
He tears his clothes off and turns on the hot water, sitting on the shower floor under the usually soothing stream with steam fogging up the air. Everything comes out then, hysterically crying until he struggles to breathe and wonders if he might actually die of a heart attack in his own bathroom. After months of deliberation and pushing away traitorous thoughts, Jimin lets himself think of all of the forbidden things that he knows he needs to do. He seriously contemplates what his next moves should be and makes a haphazard plan to slowly execute them over the coming month, sitting in the shower until the water turns cold and forces him out.
Running away will be the hardest thing he ever has to do and yet, he feels no qualms once he makes his decision. He won’t let anyone ruin his baby’s life for their own personal gain, not even Jungkook. When he crawls back into bed and smells the familiar twinge of metal lingering in Jungkook’s scent, Jimin finds peace in his decision.
When Jimin finally works up the courage to travel to Seoul for a doctor’s appointment, he immediately realizes that something dastardly awaits him.
It hangs in the air like a cloud, thick and palpable and suffocating. He remains in a constant state of paranoia due to his extremely unpredictable circumstances, always hyper vigilant and looking over his shoulder every moment he spends outside of his apartment. He hopes for the best and expects the worst, fears proven wrong nearly every time he worries over some random stranger or a black car passing down the street. Most things turn out to be a mere figment of his imagination and nothing more.
Most.
Today Jimin knows he feels more than simple paranoia. It simmers in his veins and puts his omega on edge, unable to settle for a single moment when he walks to the bus station and takes the trip to the capital city. It prickles in his mind as he exits the bus and heads through the terminal until he reaches the subway station. It never goes away for the entire day, a feeling of being watched and followed. It thrums with pulsating energy beneath his skin and Jimin finds himself barely able to breathe while he goes about his day. He refuses to eat or stop for a bathroom break until he reaches the hospital, heart pounding even when he sits in the gigantic building full of people.
It builds and builds and builds until it comes to a head. Every hair on Jimin’s body stands on edge when he sits down on a bench underground and waits for the next subway, goosebumps erupting across his skin. He remains covered in black from head to toe, scent hidden with suppressants. It doesn’t matter. Jungkook finds him anyway.
His heart lurches in his chest until it almost jumps through his skin, body frozen in complete and utter shock when an eerily familiar person sits down on the bench beside him. They both stare straight ahead, but Jimin holds no doubts over the mystery person’s identity. His mating bite throbs and stings, Jimin trembling under the extreme pain and fear coursing through his veins. His body feels one spark away from catching on fire and burning to a crisp, throat filled with rocks.
Two excruciatingly long years.
“Where is he?” Jungkook asks with a deep, rough voice, quiet enough that Jimin barely hears it beneath the loud commotion and chaos of the subway terminal. Jimin detests the way his omega finds delight in hearing his alpha speak after so long.
“Not here.” Jimin says simply, skin crawling as he sits beside the person he fears most in the entire world. He forces himself to not move a single muscle, mustering up all the bravery inside of him as his brain conjures images of the precious baby waiting for him at home. He can do this, would do anything for him.
“Then where?” Jungkook asks, tone curt and annoyed with no attempt to hide it. His words come out slightly muffled due to the mask covering his face and Jimin wishes he never came to Seoul.
“Safe.” Jimin says confidently, no hint of fear in his voice. Away from his horrible alpha father. With Yoongi. Happy and healthy and loved. Protected.
A long hush falls in the air between them, tension so thick that Jimin practically chokes on the anticipation rising inside of him. He hears every beat of his own heart and wonders if Jungkook feels the same way. He closes his eyes and waits with bated breath for Jungkook’s next remark, unable to think about the hustle and bustle happening around them when Jungkook—his mate—sits so close after all this time. He silently prays to the universe that the subway comes soon.
“I could come take him anytime I wanted.” Jungkook says, words like daggers as they stab straight through to Jimin’s heart.
“I know.” Jimin agrees, refusing to poke an angry bear that truly holds enough power to do anything he wants. No matter how much Jimin wants to protest and deny it, Jungkook would win every time if he truly attempted to kidnap their son. Jimin and Yoongi wouldn’t go down without a fight, but Jungkook wins on sheer power of numbers. He accepts that, but refuses to be defeated so easily.
“It would be a fucking walk in the park. You know that, right? No matter where you go or try to hide, I can find you. A snap of my fingers and I’m at your front door. I could waltz right in and take my son and there’s nothing you could do about it.” Jungkook says with a slight growl, angry and displeased.
The acid brewing in Jimin’s chest rises up into his throat until it eats away at his esophagus, hot and venomous and painful. He sees Jungkook’s posturing and understands why he feels the need to make idle threats, but it never makes it any easier to hear. Jimin wants to scream and fight and say all of the things he kept bottled up inside for all these years, he doesn’t. Instead, he tells Jungkook what he wants to hear to preserve his and Minjae’s safety.
“Yes.”
Another pause, even longer than the last one. Everything booms in Jimin’s ears, people rushing through the halls and constant chatter and the ding of the intercom system alerting them to an announcement. People live out their lives all around them, going on with their normal days with no clue about the torture occurring right next to them. Jimin opens his eyes and does everything in his power to avoid glancing at Jungkook through the corner of his eye.
“But I don’t do any of that.” Jungkook eventually adds, something soft and vulnerable to the tone of his voice. He moves around slightly and fidgets with his clothes before he speaks again. “You know why?”
This causes Jimin to falter.
He spent the past two years rehearsing this conversation in his head nearly every day. He mulled over all the things Jungkook could say and how he would respond, driving himself to madness with the non stop arguing and fighting he created in his own mind, trying to prepare for the day when it inevitably occurred. He refused to let himself get caught off guard or display weakness.
The Jungkook he pictured never asked this.
“Why?” Jimin asks.
“Because I'm weak.” Jungkook speaks so quietly that Jimin almost misses it, hardly a whisper. His soft words disappear into the air as soon as he utters them, vulnerable and raw and secretive.
Something about his admission puts Jimin on edge, even more than before. Unnerving. Scary. Odd. Never once in the past two years has Jungkook ever conveyed any vulnerability or openness like this. He left demanding voicemails and wrote intense letters, always boisterous and assertive over getting what he wants. He commanded Jimin like a subordinate and made it clear what his intentions were.
Jimin doesn’t know what to make of this Jungkook.
“Jimin,” Jungkook says, turning to stare a hole in the side of his face. Jimin gulps, breath halted in his lungs. “Look at me.”
Jimin’s heart skips a beat and stutters in his chest. He wants to deny and walk away like this never happened, refusing to give in to his mate’s clear demand. He doesn’t want to relent, to show even a single sign of weakness in the face of the person who wishes to destroy his baby’s life. He wants to remain strong and confident and powerful.
Jimin turns his head and faces Jungkook, barely able to see anything with both of them disguised in black from head to toe. He barely meets Jungkook’s big, dark eyes and finds his resolve crumbling when he sees his own pup in the reflection staring back at him.
“I want to see my son.” Jungkook pleas earnestly, quickly rising to his feet and walking away to disappear into the crowd.