⊱┊ʙᴇɢɪɴ ༊*·˚

Ever since the name Kookie fell from his son's lips, he couldn't stop thinking about it. The funny thing is that he doesn't know anyone in the kindergarten to whom he could assign the name. He just worries and thinks so much about who this could be that his son has been talking about so saintly. At some point he will find out, he is almost sure of it.

“I still can’t believe that the neighbour gave you his kitten, baby. You know it’s a big responsibility to have a pet?” Jimin speaks with disbelief and groans at the adorable sight of Minjun jumping energetically beside him, making sure from time to time that the sleeping kitten is feeling well in his arms.

It’s a miracle to him how a cat can sleep that peacefully when Minjun is the opposite of being calm.

“Can do it!” Minjun exclaims excitedly while petting the kitten in his arms. The edge of his lips curled into a big grin.

“Okay, big boy,” his father acknowledges and runs his fingers through Minjun’s hair, making the small boy pout.

“Not my hair,” he grumbles, causing Jimin to grin at him.

The taller one gives in and takes Minjun’s hand in his. “Alright, alright.” 

“What do you say if we bring the kitten home and then go shopping for her, hm?”

Minjun sulks and averts eye contact. That’s exactly what he doesn’t want. “But I want to take her with me…”

Jimin crouches down in front of him and makes his son look him in the eyes before he speaks up with a dazzling smile. “But then it won’t be a surprise for our new family member.”

Besides, cats may not even be allowed in the stores, so he would rather go home than take the risk of getting thrown out of a store or being prohibited to enter. 

He can clearly see the cogs turning in Minjun’s head and how he’s debating with himself. Fortunately, he agrees with his father soon enough as they’re already near their apartment, needing only to walk a few more minutes.

As soon as they reach the door of their cosy home, Minjun can’t stay calm.

“Minjun, stop jumping around. You will wake up the kitten,” Jimin lectures his son to which Minjun obeys rather fast for he doesn’t want to risk waking up his new friend.

“Tomorrow when I go to nursery… I need to tell Kookie.”

“Do you want to take a picture with the kitten to show him your new friend?” Jimin asks and opens the door, receiving in turn an eagerly nod as an answer. He might print out the picture and give it to Minjun.

“Alright let's make you look extra good.” Jimin giggles and claps excited in his hands. Minjun only grumbles but lets his father have his way, tugging at his clothes and his hair.

After the short photo shooting Jimin and Minjun leave the kitten sleeping on the sofa with a pile of covers and exit the apartment for the big supermarket, near where they live. They cross the streets while holding hands and Minjun kicks some branches with his foot when no one comes from the opposite direction. The birds chirp in unison, making the surroundings seem much more peaceful. The leaves of the trees also shine in colourful hues.

Arriving at the supermarket, Jimin grabs a shopping trolley and puts Minjun in it, because Minjun likes to be driven around in the supermarket. 

They go through each aisle while Jimin goes through in his head the things they need. They have food for dinner, baked goods too... the only thing they still need are the cat accessories, which are further back in the store. At some point Minjun wants to explore the aisles as well, so Jimin helps him out of the shopping trolley.

Jimin hums quietly to himself, crouching in front of one of the many shelves and next to the shopping trolley, which his son meanwhile holds onto from the outside and then lets go as soon as he spots a familiar person.

“Kookie! Kookie!” He yells, causing not only Jungkook but also Jimin to flinch in surprise. Both are startled and before Jimin can utter something or even react, Minjun runs off to a man in a black t-shirt, ripped jeans and massive boots. But that’s not what catches his attention in the first place really, it’s the tattooed arms that are now circled around his little boy.

For a moment he thinks his heart stops beating. Adrenaline pumps through his body as he takes a closer look and his eyes glide over the man's face. Isn’t that the man who held Minjun in his arms when he had a stomach ache?

The man with those enchanting brown eyes and the many earrings and piercings. That's Kookie?!

His eyes glide along his arm again, ignoring the fact that his arms bulge in the t-shirt and land instead of on the small tattoos that are all too familiar to him.  Now it makes so much more sense but on the other hand, it doesn't. He was the one in black clothes standing in front of the kindergarten at that time, next to a man in a suit. Jimin bites his lip uneasily as he decides to approach them.

By the time Jimin stands in front of the handsome man, the latter has Minjun in his arms and listens to what Minjun animatedly says. A soft smile graces his lips, Jimin almost coos at the sight if it weren't for Minjun cuddling into his embrace as if it was the most casual thing and talking like he never did before. Jimin is shocked, to say the least. Never has the parent seen Minjun being so casual with someone apart from his family. 

Additionally, Jimin has wondered when the point comes that his little one would say longer sentences as other kids do at his age. Jimin can only guess that this is his breaking point.

There’s an uncomfortable silence coming from Jimin as he doesn’t know what to say or where to look. He feels awkward standing there but doesn’t want to interrupt the conversation when his son looks so happy while talking to someone. Jimin doesn't want to be rude and take Minjun out of his arms or ask him to put Minjun down on the floor. 

His thoughts are interrupted by Kookie's voice as he clears his throat. “I’m sorry… Uhm-” 

Dark chocolate eyes bore into his and Jimin looks down shyly with a tint of pink that hushes over his cheeks. Why is he blushing all of a sudden? What is so special about this man that he makes Jimin blush—

"Appa, that's Kookie." His little one beams and points with his finger to Jungkook, to his trained chest to be more precise. "Kookie that's my appa." 

"Hi again," Jungkook nervously chuckles, making sure not to let Minjun fall. "I'm Jungkook."

Oh, so he does have a real name. 

"Jimin," he introduces himself and whips nervously on his feet. "Sorry, I don't want to be rude, but Juju, I think we should go back and get the rest of the things we need for the cat. She might get hungry soon."

"Yesss." Minjun suddenly squeals and squints up at Jungkook, jotting his bottom lip into a pout and digging his small fingers in the fabric of Jungkook's t-shirt. "Kookwie come with us, please. Want to show you my cat."

"Minjun, I don't think that's a good idea… Jungkook might not even have time today, hm? Maybe another time—" Jimin tries to reason, not knowing how to feel about Minjun inviting Jungkook, a near complete stranger in Jimin’s eyes, to their apartment.

"Actually… I'm free and I have nothing to do. I could help with the shopping bag, but I don't want to impose myself." 

"Yes, Kwookie come with us. Appa, please. Make that Kwookie can come with us." The little one continues to pout, making it difficult for Jungkook to hold in the laugh that threatens to go past his lips. It's so endearing. He doesn't know any other child who can pull that off as well as Minjun. Jungkook can also see the hesitation in Jimin's face and honestly, he can't blame him. It would be something different if they had talked more up until now, but they haven't - barely even five sentences.

Jungkook, however, sees that as an opportunity to get to know the other male more and spend some more minutes with both even if it just means to carry some bags to Jimin's apartment. Once again he doesn't exactly know what it is about the other that makes the student so curious and intrigued but he's willing to find out just like he did with Minjun. 

"Alright, whatever." Jimin admits defeat and sighs, hand going automatically up to his soft brown hair that falls back and exposes his forehead as he tilts his head back. 

That's how they find themselves gathering all necessities for the kitten and then leaving the stores after paying at the cashier. It's odd for Jimin to have company in the form of a person his age, for the longest it has only been Minjun and him. He feels warmth blossoming in his chest as he squints at Jungkook carrying a shopping bag and holds Minjun's hand with his other, almost as if they were a family. 

Jimin pushes the thoughts away and immediately stores them in the furthest corner of his mind. So far, they have also managed without any help. They do not need anyone else.

"...and my cat is this small." Minjun shows excitement about the size of the cat with his hands and stumbles his way to the lift in the apartment house. Jimin wants to say thank you to Jungkook when they reach the dark red  apartment door, willing to take the full shopping bag from him and slam the door close behind him, however, he's making the mistake of putting the key in the door and turning it around in the lock.

It gives Minjun the opportunity to push the door open and drag the muscled and handsome man inside in a flash of what he calls home. Noticing the perplexed expression on Jimin's face, Jungkook can only give him an apologetic smile in return as he's dragged past Jimin, to the living room. "Come, Kwookie!" 

Jimin's eyes trail to the man beside his son, observing them for a moment as he leans against the door, shopping bag and keys still in his hand. He doesn't know how he should feel. Jimin feels conflicted that another man is suddenly inside his home, invited by none other than his son. 

Jimin doesn't know Jungkook enough to know how his character is, for all he knows is that he could be a serial killer. But then, Minjun wouldn't be that fond of him and wouldn't know him from kindergarten which leads him to another question. What exactly is he doing there? Jungkook can't be a kindergarten teacher, can he? It's the visual all together, meaning age and what he has seen so far that let's Jimin doubt.

"Look, kitty," Minjun brambles and points to a small bundle of fur, rolled together on the sofa.

"Does it have a name yet?" Minjun shakes contemplating his head, leans closer to the fur ball and is careful when patting its head. The small yawn from the kitten elicits a giggle from the three year old boy. 

"Appa, want to give her tweats,” the smaller one chimes and sits down in front of the sofa, allowing his gaze to not travel somewhere else in the room. His name being called, pulls Jimin out from his reverie and notices that he's still standing in the entrance. He sets down the shopping bag and hangs his coat onto clothing hangers next to a mirror in the corridor. 

"Alright, but not too much," the elder exclaims and carries the bags into the kitchen, pulling out the cat treats they bought.

"Oki," Minjun exclaims, delighted that he gets the permission from his appa. Therefore he runs into the kitchen and gets the bag of treats Jimin puts on the counter. Moments later when the parent puts the convenience store products away, he's first greeted by a voice and then the sight of Jungkook who puts the shopping bag on the counter and stands there with his hands in his front pockets.

"Can I offer you some help?" Jimin squeaks, not having expected for the other male to say something, much less to offer his help.

"Oh- no, it's fine. Would you like a glass of water?" How rude of him. Jimin notices only now that he hasn't offered him anything to drink. He feels his cheeks tint in a light pink shade, hoping that Jungkook will not see. 

“Sure, thanks.” Jungkook shrugs, nonetheless Jimin can see he’s grateful for asking.

“So, Koookie, huh?” Jimin teases and fills a cup of water, putting it on the counter near where Jungkook is standing. He tries to not let his gaze stay at his tattoos for longer than a few seconds. “Tell me, what’s your secret to having Minjun basically wrapped around your finger? I mean it’s not every time that I ask him about something and Kookie is the word that comes every so often over his lips.” 

"If I'm honest, I haven’t done anything special. I…” Jungkook holds his breath and chooses his next words wisely. "In some way, we just clicked because I think we are more alike than one might first think. We both are more unique?"

He doesn't know where the sudden confidence for a conversation with Jimin came from. So far, he has only been interested in his family and he hasn’t given a fuck about other people. However, this seems not to be the case with Minjun and Jimin. 

Jungkook turns his gaze to the glass of water in front of him and clears his throat. The man intimidates him a little, rightly so, Jungkook is at his house and Jimin has never really agreed to let him come in. Guilt pools in his stomach. Jimin doesn't seem too upset though.

“Unique?” The single parent asks with a raised eyebrow and wonders how exactly the other means it. He had already heard from other kindergarten teachers that Minjun doesn't talk, but in what way does he mean unique?

“I just mean that we are both quiet and don't like a lot of people. I can't deny and say it was easy to approach him because it wasn't, but look at him." Jungkook chuckles and thinks about the way here to their flat. “I have honestly never heard him talk so much as today. He seems so happy about the cat, just like the stuffed cat I gave h-" 

Fuck. He panics.

“-the stuffed cat I found in one of the rooms and gave him to play with.” He corrects himself, unaware that Jimin already knows about the cat and doesn't quite know what to do with the information. 

See it from Jimin's perspective. He takes him to kindergarten and one day he comes back with a stuffed cat and gives it to him. Wouldn't you be suspicious?

“Jungkook, I’m sorry for being that straightforward, but what do you do at the kindergarten? Are you a teacher?”

“I- uhm-” Jungkook stutters and doesn't quite know how to answer. Luckily, he is saved by his mobile phone, which rings the next moment and makes the awkward tension evaporate. He looks at the caller with bewilderment and returns his gaze to Jimin with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but I think I need to go. Please tell Minjun I left and uh, I'll see him again on Monday.”

Jimin's eyebrows furrow and as he can only silently watch Jungkook grab the jacket shoes and quickly put them on before disappearing through the flat door. 

What the hell just happened?