Chapter Text
„Jimina?“ Jin frowned at his watch.
Indecisively he stared at his bandmates bedroom-door, when no answer was forthcoming.
Jin and Jimin where the only ones left in the dorm. The whole group had individual schedules today and they had been the lucky ones, who were gifted with a few more hours of sleep. Despite that Jin felt like he needed two full days of sleep, considering the stress of the last week. Comeback-time had not allowed them to see much of their beds, as always.
“Jiminie? Are you okay?” the eldest BTS member waited another second and then declared “I am coming in on the count of ten.”
He needed to be in the studio to record his new song in less than 45 minutes and Jimin had declared that they should drive together yesterday… He was not the biggest fan of the traffic in downtown Seoul.
Jin had reached “10” and opened the door to peer into the dark bedroom. Was Jimin really still asleep? Being this tardy was not usual for his dongsaeng.
With an irritated sigh he strode over to the bed – determined to chew out the lump under the sheets.
Showing no mercy, he ripped the blanket off Jimin.
A little squeak could be heard, before the younger boy turned around to blink up at his Hyung with bleary eyes. Jin had to shove aside his urge to coo, because Jimin looked unbelievable squishy with his bedhead and the pillow-crease imprinted on his cheek. Instead he opened his mouth to deliver the prepared rant.
But in that moment Jimin lifted a little fist to his eyes, rubbed them cutely, fixed his glassy gaze on Jin and asked “Appa?”.
Jin froze.
Slowly he sat down on the side of the bed and his dongsaeng instantly robbed over to climb into his lap. Jimin yawned unashamedly in the crook of Jins neck and whined in a high pitched voice “So sleepy, Appa.”
Automatically Jin put his arms around the Little to steady him. Gently he put a finger under Jimins chin and angled his face up to get a better look.
His heart squeezed in sympathy, when he took in the dark circles under Jimins eyes. Jimins hollow cheeks hinted that he did skip a few meals in the last month and the faraway look in his eyes confirmed that he was deep in little space.
Jin sighed for the second time in under five minutes and sent a glare towards the ceiling, cursing the god of timing.
Jimin was so much in control of his Little-side, that an involuntary slip only ever occurred if he had denied himself for far too long. And really, Jin could not remember the last time Chimmy had come out to play. Instantly Jin felt guilty. Of course it was mainly Jimins responsibility to monitor his own state of mind, but as the oldest and main caregiver Jin always tried to keep an eye on his hard working dongsaengs.
Chimmy had obviously chased away the last tendrils of sleep and now entertained himself with ripping on Jin´s necklaces to make them tinkle prettily. Jin knew, he had to make a plan… not only to keep himself from being strangled by his baby, but mainly, because he had to meet a very important oversees producer in 40 minutes, who could not see Jimin in little-space.
Jin had to suppress a curse. He already knew, that none of his members were available to babysit.
The easy things first… “Come, angel, let´s get some breakfast into you.”
“Fruity Loopy” Jimin demanded enthusiastically.
Normally such an unhealthy breakfast would just be allowed by Namjoon or possibly Jungkook, but because Jin really had no time and still needed to find a solution to the babysitting-problem, he would make an exception.
The caretaker tried putting his Little on the floor, but Jimin was having none of it. Like a Boa Constrictor he wrapped his arms and legs around Jin and innocently looked up at him from under long lashes. “Brat” Jin grinned and carried his precious load to the kitchen. Chim just smiled triumphantly.
15 minutes later found Jimin dividing his cereal fairly between his mouth and his pyjamas, while Jin hung up the phone for the 7th time with a “Of course I understand, that you do not have time, Jackson. You don´t have to apologize. I will surely find somebody else. Yes, I am sure, Namjoonie still likes you.”
Absentmindedly he saved another spoonful from landing on the table and directed the food into Jimins mouth.
“Appa” the Little complained with a full mouth “Boooring!”
“Chewing, angel” Jin admonished while scrolling through his phone “Be a darling and let appa make one last call.”
Jimin grumbled indignantly and let the next spoonful miss his mouth on purpose.
Jin meanwhile stared at the end of his contact-list and felt himself starting to panic. There had to be someone he could trust with his baby for a few hours! He started to scroll up again, searching frantically, but all his usual contacts had already been called or were out of the country. He was nearly at the point, that he thought he should just cancel the recording-session, he had looked forward to since weeks, when his eyes fell on a relatively new contact.
Ateez-Seonghwa
Could he really? Jin glanced at Jimin, who was currently stirring the leftover milk with an earnest expression, while reciting a self-made spell.
Jin could never bring himself to force his angle out of headspace.
The caregiver indulged in a third deep sigh and pressed down on the call-button.
***
Seonghwa made the sound of propellers, while “flying” a fork full of scrambled eggs into Mingis mouth. “Helicopter ready for landing” he warned in a silly voice – but it was worth it, seeing his little (relatively speaking) pumpkin munching excitedly, clapping his hands.
“Mama, Mama” somebody was insistently tugging on his sleeve “Your phone is disturbing my concentration!”
Seonghwa put the fork back on the plate to look at his second Little of the day.
Wooyoung was holding out his vibrating phone with an exasperated frown on his face.
Normally Seonghwa would have had quite some questions in such a situation: Firstly, what could somebody in the head-space of a four year old be concentrating on, that was so important. Secondly, why was most of his phone green instead of silver and lastly, when had Wooyoung turned into an Oger-Baby?
But as things stood, the only information he could concentrate on, was that his screen was flashing the words “incoming call – Kim Seokjin.”
The eldest Ateez member felt his heart leap in his chest. He tried to remember what he could have done to warrant a call from his sunbaenim.
“Mama!” Wooyoungs voice reached undiscovered hights “Art has a time-limit!”
“What are you on about?” Seonghwa asked his Little distractedly, while reaching for the phone like it could explode.
He got up from the table and ruffled Mingis hair “Stay right like that for a second, pumpkin. Mama has to take this.”
On shaking legs, Seonghwa stepped out of the kitchen. He was half sure, that Jin-sunbaenim would tell him that he made a wrong call and why Seonghwa thought, a worm like him had the right to have the BTS-members numbers saved in his phone… Not that Jin had done anything to warrant such self-sabotaging thoughts.
The vocalist took a deep breath before he dared to take the call and press the newly coloured phone to his face.
“Good morning, Park Seonghwa here.”
“Seonghwa-ssi!” a famous voice answered immediately “ It´s Jin from BTS. I hope I am not disturbing you?”
“Äh.. yes, sunbaenim” Seonghwa stuttered “..I mean no, you are not a disturbance. Of course not!”
There was an awkward pause on the other side and Ateez´ eldest silently hid his face behind his free hand – unknowingly getting green paint all over his cheek.
“Uh. That´s good. Thank you” Jin continued “I know my call has to be a bit surprising, because until now our leaders were the only ones communicating, but I found myself in quite the predicament.”
There was another pause, but this time it seemed, as if Jin was trying to gather the will to speak.
“It is terrible inconsiderate of me to ask this of you… And you are really my last resort, or I would not plead for such a big favour… But I really have nobody else… And there is this producer from oversees…”
Seonghwa was staring at his phone in confusion. Was his sunbaenim rambling? Should that not be his job?
Finally Jin managed to come to the point “Jimin regressed involuntarily and I really am in need for somebody to look after him. Only for a few hours… I know, it is a lot to ask of you, but I can´t trust him with anybody else.”
Seonghwa let out an audible breath in relief and dared to interrupt his sunbaenims rant softly.
“You called at a perfect time, sunbaenim. Yeosangs therapist suggested, that we should set a schedule for `regressing-days`, so our members can train to regress voluntary. Today is exactly such a day. I will be home as a caregiver the whole time. At the moment Sangie, Mingi and Wooyoung are regressed and the others plan to join in the afternoon. I will of course watch over Jimin-sunbaenim. I am really honoured that you would even consider me.”
“Oh god. Thank you, Thank you!” Jin sounded alleviated.
“It really is no problem” Seonghwa assured his elder “I will send you our address.”
“You are my saviour!” Jin started, but then stopped Seonghwa from ending the call “Wait. You already have three Littles with you? I really can´t demand from you to look after a fourth.”
Now Seonghwa had to chuckle “I doubt Jimin-sunbaenim is nearly as taxing as San and Wooyoung in one room.”
Jin coughed a little “Uh. I am not so sure about that, but nonetheless... I will be there in half an hour.”
Seonghwa lowered his phone, trying to determine if he had really not dreamt that call.
After a second he sprang into action in a panic. Jin and Jimin-sunbaenim would visit their inadequate flat in half an hour. When was the last time he cleaned the bathroom? Hopefully Yeosang and Wooyoung had not destroyed the living room since breakfast. And apropos breakfast – he still had to get Mingi ready!
Ateez´ eldest nearly fell over his own feet trying to reach the kitchen, determined to first feed his waiting Little.
In the entryway he halted suddenly to stare incredulously at Mingi.
“Oh pumpkin” he shied “When I said, `stay like that`, it was not meant literally.”
Mingi just continued sitting on his place at the kitchen-table, hands in his lap and mouth wide open, waiting for the next Egg-helicopter to land.
“But Mama” he explained patiently “When there is a lot of sky-traffic, you have to be ready for landing all the time!”
Considering all he still needed to do, Seonghwa decided it was better not to argue that point and went back to feeding his little airport.
After two bites Mingi interrupted his breakfast again to put a hand on his Mamas face.
“This colour is really all wrong, Mama” he declared earnestly “If you want to play pretend, you should play Toothless. And he is black, not green.”
Confused Seonghwa searched his own reflection in the surface of the fridge.
“JUNG WOOYOUNG!”
***
Meanwhile Jin was swooping Jimin up in his arms in joy.
“What do you think of a playdate, Jiminie?” he asked his Little happily.
Instantly Jimin forgot his magic-game and his eyes started to shine.
“Sangie?” he asked excitedly.
Since their meeting at MAMA there had been no opportunity for the boys to meet again, but BTS´ only Little had begged his caretakers for a playdate relentlessly.
“Yes, you will be staying with Sangie and his brothers and Mama to have fun. But Appa will have to leave you alone with them for a few hours. Do you think you will be ok with that, Angel?”
Jimin just looked at his caretaker with empty eyes, before he bolted from the room, screeching “Pretty clothes, pretty clothes.”
Slightly offended Jin followed, muttering to himself “No, Appa, please don´t leave. I love you so much…”
***
“Yeosang, love, you are really not helping Mama at the moment.” Seonghwa threw over his shoulder while kneeling next to the bathtub to scrub green paint from Wooyoungs skin “Could you please go play with Mingi in the living room.”
But his little prince was having none of it. Yeosang sat on the toilet glowering at Wooyoung and clutching the toys Jimin had gifted him to his chest.
“No” the usually well-behaved Little protested “Mingi is too little to play with. And I want Youngi to promise!”
“I will not” Wooyoung shook his head vehemently “Youngi is allowed to play with Chimmy too. Tell him Mama.”
Seonghwa found himself at a loss.
Ever since MAMA there had been tension between Yeosang and Wooyoung as soon as they entered little space together. Usually the best friends, they now were often found to be fighting because of the animal-toys.
It was obvious that they both took some frustration from their adult lives with them while regressing.
Wooyoung had been devasted, that he was so only one who had not been able to meet the BTS-members. His little-self had always been just as enamoured with their sunbaenims as the grown-up Wooyoung. As soon as he had understood, where the toys came from, he had wanted to play with them too.
But to Ateez astonishment, Yeosang, who normally shared everything with his `Youngie` with joy, claimed, that he had been told to look after the toys and could not let them out of his sight because of that.
On top of that, Yeosang vocalized another worry only when regressed.
“You chose Sani as your new best friend and only play with him, when he is here” Yeosang confirmed his caretakers thoughts in that second “So I want a new best friend too.”
Seonghwas heart constricted, when he detected the insecurity in Yeosangs words and simultaneously saw Wooyoungs eyes fill with tears.
“Prince” he tried to pacify Yeosang “Our Wooyoungie has a lot of love in his heart and you are still very very special to him, even if he is also friends with San. “
But the words did not reach Yeosang. “Sangie will go wait for Chimmy in the living room with Mingi.”
With that he strode out of the bathroom determinedly.
Seonghwa had to suppress a smile. As mad as Yeosang was with Wooyoung, he still cared enough for his family to know, that it had been unfair to call Mingi `too little` and leave him alone. Mingi usually regressed to the head-space of a three year old and the five-year-old-line of course thought, that they were far more advanced.
Wooyoungs little sniffle got Seonghwa out of his musings.
“Oh no, Honey” he cooed.
“Is Sangie not my friend anymore?” Wooyoungs asked in an usual tiny voice.
“Of course he is, Honey” the caretaker reassured “But sometimes even best friends fight a little. That does not mean they don´t love each other anymore. It is just very important to be honest and try to understand, why your friend is sad.”
Wooyoung let himself be lifted out of the bathtub and rubbed down without complain. Thoughtfully he asked “Like you and Papa, when he comes home too late?”
Seonghwa winced “Yeah. Exactly…”
Wooyoung looked up at him with earnest eyes and said “I love Sangie sooo much. But I love Sani too and Mingi and Papa and Mama. And I am sorry, that I want to play with Jiminie too, but I don´t understand, why Sangie is so mad.”
And as an afterthought he added “And I am very sorry for panting Mama green.”
Seonghwa levelled his Little with a questioning look, while puling a new shirt over his head. “Thanks, Honey. But you are not sorry for painting our phones green?”
Wooyoung scrutinized the cleaned phone next to the sink with disgust an declared “Papa paints his clothes prettily, so Wooyoung should be allowed to do the same with phones.”
Seonghwa happily decided to leave that talk to Hongjoong, because their Littles creative choices were obviously his fault.
The caretaker had just managed to put on Wooyoungs socks, when the doorbell rang.
“Oh my god. Here we go” he tried to calm himself, earning a confused look from his Little.
Seonghwa hoped that the presence of Jimin-sunbaenim would be the key to dissolving the fight between his babies.
Mingi and Yeosang stood impatiently in front of the door holding hands. They knew, they were not allowed to answer the bell while in their headspace.
Seonghwa glanced one last time around their mediocre flat before opening up.
He was met with a stressed looking Jin and an excited Jimin-sunbaenim.
The BTS´ Little looked up at him with crinkled eyes and clapped his hands happily. “Sangies pretty Mama” he exclaimed, before bowing low “Hello!”
Seonghwa bowed back frantically. It still felt weird to treat his sunbaenim as kid, because he was engraved as an elder in his mind.
“Jin-sunbaenim, Jimin-sun…Jimina” he managed to great their guests “Please come in.”
“I will never be able to repay you” Jin said, while ushering Jimin into the flat.
As soon as BTS` Little caught sight of Yeosang he squealed and rushed forward to envelop him in a hug.
Sangie was just as happy about the reunion and started to hop around with his new friend. Wooyoung was standing to the side, watching them with a guarded expression on his face.
Mingi on the other hand observed Yeosangs reaction and then decided to also great their guest.
That was, how Jin suddenly found himself enveloped in the hug of a very tall Little.
“Me Minki!” the Little declared.
“Mingi” Seonghwa tried to pry his baby away scandalized “What are you doing? That is not the way to great your sunbaenim.”
But Jin just ruffled Mingis red hair with a laugh “You are a sweetheart, aren´t you?”
Seonghwas was blushing “I am sorry, Sunbaenim. He never met anyone outside the family while in head-space.”
“Oh, do not worry. I like cuddles a lot more than bows” Jin assured his dongsaeng, before turning to look at the last occupant of the room.
“And who are you, darling?” he knelt down to greet Wooyoung.
The younger boy was still a little shaken from the fight with his best friend and now felt even more unhinged by the appearance of his favourite artists.
Wooyoungs eyes started to flicker and he wrung his hands desperately. It was, as if someone was repeatably dunking him under water. He was absolutely aware that he was Little in one second and then again felt like he forgot something important the next. Wooyoung did not want to come out of little-space, but the situation triggered a panic in him, that seemed to force his adult self out.
As soon as his breathing started to quicken, Jin and Seonghwa turned on full-caregiver-mode.
“Honey, what is wrong?” Ateez´ eldest asked confused.
Jin, who had a few more years of experience under his belt, watched Wooyoungs eyes dart around and came to a conclusion. “Sweety, are you feeling a little big?” he asked gently “But you don´t want to?”
Wooyoungs gaze fixed on Jin´s face and he nodded with teary eyes.
“Oh Baby” Jin cooed “You don´t have to be big for us. Look, there is your Mama. Why don´t you just cuddle with him? Everybody else is Little, too. And Jiminie was looking forward so much to meet Sangies dongsaengs.”
Seonghwa was really grateful for Jin´s help, because he had never encountered a similar experience with is Littles. Gladly he excepted Wooyoung into his arms and started rocking his baby gently.
Yeosang and Jimin had stopped their greeting-ceremony to stare at the others. As frustrated as Yeosang was with his best friend, it still hurt to see him suffer. Furthermore he felt guilt creeping up on him.
Tugging Jimin along he made his way over to his Mama and brother to join in the hug.
“No be sad, Youngie!” he patted Wooyoungs hair “We can both play with Chimmy.”
Jimin nodded “I really wanted to meet Sangies brothers and make lots of lots of friends. I even brought presents, so we can all play together.”
The way the older boys treated Wooyoung helped him to gradually settle down into his mindset again. And he really could not deny himself to be close to Jimin, while in the same head-space.
For a moment he closed his eyes, squeezed his Mama tighter and took a whiff of his calming scent. Then Youngie was back again and turned around with big eyes. “Chimmy got us presents?”
Jimin grinned widely, always eager to meet other Littles.
He turned to Jin and asked politely “Appa, can I please give Mingi and Youngie their presents?”
Jin smiled indulgently and pulled two small wrapped bundles from his bag.
A little shy, because he was not sure, that Sangies brothers would like the toys too, Jimin gave one present to Mingi and one to Wooyoung.
They instantly teared into the wrapping and each found a Schleich-animal of their own. Mingi got a cool looking Dino-statue and Wooyoung was graced with a wolf-pup. Both boys were ecstatic.
“Look Sangie” Wooyoung held up his gift “Now, I don´t have to play with yours anymore, but we can do the biggest game all together.”
Turning around to Jimin, Wooyoung started blushing and hopping from one foot to the other. Finally he was able to pull all his courage together, enveloped Jimin in a hug and screamed in typical Wooyoung-fashion “THANK YOU!”
Seonghwa massaged his temples while admonishing his Little routinely “Indoor voice, Honey”. Actually he was for once happy to see Wooyoungs outgoing persona again.
Next to him Jin stood up “This is too sweet. But I really have to get going. Thank you again, Seonghwa-ssi. One of my dongsaengs will get Jimin as soon as they are free.”
Seonghwa waved his sunbaenims worries away “Please, just Seonghwa, sunbaenim. And there is really no hurry…”
He was interrupted by Jimin and -surprisingly- Mingi both running over to clutch at Jins arms.
“Are you leaving, Appa?”
Earlier Jimin had been too excited about his playdate to care about this part of the babysitting, but now the idea of being without his caretakers for the first time seemed daunting.
Jin patted Jimins hair lovingly “Me or one of your Hyungs will be back to get you in no time. I promise, Angel. You will not even recognize how the time goes by while playing with your new friends.”
Jimin looked back at Yeosang and Wooyoung unsurely, before letting go of Jin´s pants.
Bravely he muttered “Oki. Will miss you Appa.”
Jin nearly melted on the spot. “Appa will mis you too” he smiled and kissed Jimins forehead “If anything is the matter, Seonghwa will call me for you.”
Instantly Ateez´ caregiver took Jimins small hand and promised him, everything would be fine.
“I love you, Angel” Jin made his goodbye.
But he still was not able to move, because a certain red-haired Little was holding his hand in a tight grip.
“What can I do for you, Sweetheart?” Jin asked with an amused smile.
Mingi scrutinized him, before demanding in an earnest voice “Will you visit Minki again?”
“I would like to do that” Jin promised him.
“Good!” Mingi let go of Jins arm, declaring “Because we will marry! Minki needs the prettiest bride.”
Seonghwa was not even able to come up with any scolding words this time and Jin tried to hide his laughter with a cough.
“If you say so my handsome prince” Jin bowed with flourish, before winking at Seonghwa and backing out of the flat.
Seconds after the door fell shut, Wooyoung started tugging Jimin and Yeosang to the living room, shouting “Let´s build a farm for our animals.”
Mingi chased them with his Dino-toy making roaring noises.
Slowly Seonghwa followed the giggling group, sending a short prayer up to the sky begging for the remaining bit of his sanity to survive the day.
Surprisingly the next hours went by smoothly.
The Littles had a blast building the animal-farm and playing with their new toys.
Seonghwa even believed that the animosity between Yeosang and Wooyoung had cleared away for now – at least in Little-space. Wooyoung was clearly in love with Jimin, judging by the stars in his eyes, every time he looked at the BTS member. This shy side was an interesting break from the normal overly self-confident Wooyoung. Exactly because of this star-struck awkwardness, Wooyoung turned to Yeosang a lot for guidance.
When Jimin proposed building an outdoor area with a lake and paddocks, Wooyoung started fidgeting in his seat. A minute long he just stared at BTS´ singer, before turning to Yeosang and whispered “I have a blue blankie. We could use I for water? Good idea or bad? Will Chimmy like it?”
Yeosang looked at his friend confused and gestured to Jimin “You can just ask.”
“Noo, Sangie” he pleaded “Sangie ask please. Youngie too scared. You said, he is your new best friend. I don´t want him to hate me, because than you will hat me too.. and and then…”
Wooyoung threw his hands in the air, not able to communicate, how Yeosang despising him would be the end of the world.
His friend of 5 years gaped at him, then he suddenly dropped the block he was holding to squish Wooyoungs cheeks between his hands in an attempt to make the other boy look at him.
“Me was a bad boy” he admitted, throwing a quick gaze towards the kitchen, where their Mama was preparing lunch. “Sangie lied!” he confessed, making Wooyoung gasp, “Sangie likes Chimmy a lot, but I don´t know him that long and Youngi, we have been together forever and forever. You are more than my best friend! I was just mad, because I thought you like San more than me now.”
Now it was Wooyoungs turn to squash Yeosangs cheeks between his hands – making them both look ridiculous.
“That is not true” Wooyoung tried to explain “It is like Mama and Papa always say, that their heart is so big that they can love us all. And then it is like… like I love San a lot, but I love you longer, so it is different.”
Despite the cryptic explanation, Yeosang seemed to understand him without problems and gifted Wooyoung with a happy smile.
“You should get the blue blanket” was the closure of the whole argument “Jimin will love the idea.”
Jimin did not seem to pick up any of that. He was far too busy processing all the new sensations. The BTS-singer gifted all three boys with the same amount of attention, curious about everyone and everything.
When it was time for a little relaxation after lunch, he even cuddled up to Seonghwa to look at a picture-book together.
Mingi was the only one, who was put down for a nap. Which he conceded to only after having been allowed to take his Dino with him to bed.
The older Littles were quietly working on a big picture together, when Mingi shuffled back into the living room after a few hours fully dressed.
Seonghwa looked up from his phone and was met with a relaxed smile.
“Are you out of head-space?” he asked his dongsaeng.
Mingi threw himself on the coach next to his Hyung and wrapped a long arm around his shoulder.
“Yeah. Just as I planned to be. I told you, I wanted to get a few hours of studio-time in this evening.”
Seonghwa patted his arm “I am happy, your transitions works so smoothly now. You are doing great.”
Mingi pulled the oldest Ateez member closer and whispered with an earnest tone “It is all thanks to you, Hyung. Really. Thank you for this morning. I feel so refreshed. You don´t know how much you are doing for us.”
Seonghwa felt his ears heating up and his heart fluttering warmly.
To chase away his embarrassment he turned around to look at Mingi and smirked teasingly “And my little pumpkin, do you remember asking Jin-sunbaenim to marry you? Or demanding… I think you skipped the proposal.”
Mingi whined loudly, covering his face with both hands “Hyung, please never ever let me meet Jin-sunbaenim again… I will drop dead on the spot.”
Seonghwas evil cackle followed him out the door.
In that light, the day had been perfect… until the rest of Ateez made their way home.