Chapter Text
If someone had asked Jungkook how he felt about having kids at 19, he would've said it was a waste of an omega's prime years, years they should spend finishing education, finding experience, meeting people, travelling the world even, things omega's could only do for a short while before society decided to hit the countdown clock and set a date for familial responsibilities and pack loyalties, caging omegas away for house duties and pup minding.
Jungkook would've urged any omega that said they wanted pups so early on to take advantage of the few years of freedom they were allowed and build themselves to be responsible and independent members of society. Lest life (or alphas) decided to bury them in the ground, in which case those omegas that took for granted their opportunity to stand on their own two feet, would meet the dirt and allow it to swallow them under alive, but the omegas that learned, the omegas that gained their independence would be able to stand up again, not as societies desirables but at least they had a chance to survive.
Jungkook had had that mentality drilled into him by his mother; he'd clung on to it all his life.
Until two years ago.
Two years ago, when he held that damned stick in his fingers and looked on horrified at the two pink lines.
Jungkook was only 19, and he was pregnant.
-
"I'm sorry Mr Jeon, but it seems you do not have a sufficient amount to make that withdrawal" Jeongkook’s brows furrowed, there was a sticky wet hand pulling at his hair, one that didn't yield when he gently pried it away, another hand trying, with as much strength as a small pup could muster, which seemed to be a lot, to pull away from his hold and run for what Jungkook assumed was a dog, hearing the words "doggie, woof woof.." squealed over the bank assistants voice every two seconds.
He was overstimulated, to say the least, and the woman whose nose turned upwards at his poor show of parental discipline was just sending him over the edge.
"That can't be, I got paid this morning," He urged, keeping his voice low so that the betas and alphas standing in the line behind him wouldn't hear how pathetic he sounded.
The woman didn't seem to share the same sentiment, answering as if mocking him, "The balance on your account is 5000 won. I’m sorry, but you can't withdraw 35,000"
5000? That wasn't even enough to buy him one packet of diapers,
"There must be some mistake," the hands in his hair tugged a little too harshly, and he ground his teeth, "Your systems mustn't have updated yet, I'll... I'll come back later"
"Our systems refresh at midnight every day. If there is no money in now, there will be none at the end of the day, you'll just be wasting your time" he didn't miss the whisper of ‘and mine’. But he didn't have the energy, nor the time to argue with the women now. Muttering a quiet thank you, he hoisted the pup in his arms higher and tugged the one holding his hand, making a quick exit from the bank.
He needed some money, and he needed it now. Jungkook had been skimming his last few resources for two weeks before he got paid. He couldn't last another day; the twins needed new diapers, and powdered milk, and he needed wipes and cream for the small rash one of his pups had managed to attract. But how was he going to get 35,000 won?
"Eomma, doggie, no bye bye" Suhan's rounded eyes met his mother's, hand outstretched to where they had left the bank.
"Not right now, Hannie, we can say hello to the next dog, okay" The pup's mouth turned down, but he did hum in understanding.
"'ung-ie Eomma, I hungie'" Hansu whined, pushing his head into Jungkook’s neck from where he was perched against his chest.
"We're going home now, su, I'll make you something to eat" What he'd make Jungkook didn't know yet, but that was a problem for when he got home. If he thought too hard now, he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it there without breaking down.
-
"Your father wanted to see you, Joon-ah" Namjoon’s eyes fell, closing the laptop with company archives, deciding to occupy himself with old stock sheets, anything to clear his mind of his father's current condition.
"How is he?" Namjoon watched his eldest lover cascade into the room, the picture of elegance as he sat down on the chair opposite the desk.
"Worse," The other nodded, clasping his hands, and breathing through his nose, he'd known the answer to the question, known since the doctor had told them last week that his father didn't have much time left in him, lung cancer, unsuccessful treatments and now his deathbed. But something in him, childish and naive, hoped someone would come in and tell him there was a chance, even if a small one, that his father might get back up and carry the weight of Namjoons' miseries.
But that wasn't the case.
"Are my brothers still here?" Kim Jongin and Kim Yeosung, both older than him, and both as insufferable as each other.
"They left a moment ago, Jimin's seeing them out" Namjoon's jaw tensed, eyes hardening when they locked with Jin's.
"They insisted he join them, I don't like it either, but I have no say, you know more than anyone what they are like", and did he know? As if the two didn't torment him enough through childhood, they seemed to be tormenting him even now as adults. When Namjoon had let their petty remarks and oafish brutality flit over his head, they had gone for the next thing they knew would twist his screws. His mates, specifically his omegas.
It had been a dark day when they shamelessly put their hands on Taehyung for the first time three years ago. Hoseok had made a move before Namjoon could and almost slit his brother's throat, the knife only skimming the alpha's chest before Seokjin had got in between. Namjoon hadn't held back when his pack left the room. Granted he had received the brunt of the beating, but Jongin's broken nose and Yeosung’s blood-stained shirt had satisfied that vengeful urge in him.
Since then, they had calmed their advances, calmed but not stopped; it was as if getting under Namjoon’s skin helped them breathe better.
"I'll bring him in" Namjoon moved to leave,
"And see your father", Jin reminded, catching his wrist as he swept by him and pulled him to land a soft kiss on his jaw. He hummed absentmindedly in return, leaning down and placing his own kiss in the beta's hair.
"Namjoon-ah, you must, he hasn't much left in him and avoiding him won't make this all go away, you'll come to regret it if you do" He knew Jin was right, knew Namjoon was only avoiding him for his own selfish reasons, but screw him for not wanting to see his fathers near death eyes looking up at him.
-
After boiling a sweet potato and mashing it to mimic some sort of baby food, Jungkook plated it for the twins, letting them make a mess of it on the kitchen floor.
"Eomma no like!" Suhan exclaimed, throwing his spoon across the room. Hansu, bless the pup, watched his brother with wide eyes, orange mash covering his face as he stood on wobbly legs to retrieve the spoon.
"But Suhan, sweet potato is your favourite" Jungkook tried fake happiness on his face, as he hoped the positive words would convince the younger to finish it.
"No! No! No! No! no like!"
"Well, what would my baby like to eat?" Suhan finally giggled and started crawling for his mother,
"Eomma..Eomma baby," Jungkook smiled, genuinely this time as he leaned down to pick up his boy.
"Yes, you are, Eomma's baby" He scrunched his nose, Eskimo kissing the younger as he felt a tug on his pant leg.
"Mama 'poon", Hansu presented the thrown spoon with a bewildered look, and Jungkook pulled him into his arms too.
"My good boy", Jungkook held them tightly, peppering both boys with kisses. "My perfect boys"
-
"Ahbu-ji", Namjoon greeted, entering the room after leaving a frustrated Jimin with Yoongi.
"aaa...Joon-ah" His father croaked, attached to drips, head lolled backwards, not seeing him but recognising his voice. This is not how Namjoon had wanted to see him.
"Where have you been?" Every word sounded like it would be his last, breathless and pained. This was not the great Kim Soojin,
Kim Soojin who built a trillion won empire in 10 years, Kim Soojin who was unknown yet known as the most untouchable man in the east, Kim Soojin who had held the world in his hand and gave every last bit of it to his sons, Kim Soojin who had brought his boys to him and loved every single one of them as if they were his own.
The strongest man Namjoon had ever known, taken by something so pathetic as a lung disease. Kim Soojin had once entertained the idea that the only way death would ever meet him would be at the hands of his own blood, a joke that weighed heavily, knowing that the three brothers, despite their differences, would have painted the globe red before ever laying a hand on their father.
The great and brilliant Kim Soojin was on his deathbed in front of his son’s eyes, and Namjoon couldn't come to terms with it.
"Taking care of business, " his father scoffed, at least Namjoon thought he did; it came out more as a wheeze if anything.
"Business is not...life joon-ah..."
"Family is, I know" Those words Soojin had pressed into him since he was young, the empire was nothing if Soojin didn't have love in his heart for his sons and his people, Namjoon knew that well.
"Yet you hide from me, have I..have I upset..."
"No" Yes, Namjoon wanted him to get back up, stand on his feet and take back what was his, take back his chair and his place as their father.
"Joon-ah, I-I don't have too long." The reminder felt like a knife in his heart "If I have..."
"Father, please..”
"Let me finish, boy", as stern as one could be with laboured breaths, "if I have wronged you. Forgive an old man hmm" Namjoon had tried so hard to stay composed, to stay strong for his boys who openly wept in his arms over the state of his father, for his brothers who despite their age, lacked the maturity to handle anything other than themselves, for the people that depended on Soojin to lead them, he had tried to hold himself together.
"I have only wished...to give you everything." A deep inhale followed by several coughs, and Namjoon was frozen in place. "I wanted my boys to see all, all this world could offer. Never to be...afraid, never..unloved. And forgive me... I know I couldn't give you enough..."
"Father it was more, you gave us more than we could have ever dreamed of" Namjoon reassured, he'd asked for a toy car, and his father had gotten him a rover-styled boogie, he'd asked for ice cream and his father had built an ice cream parlour in the basement, he'd asked for a friend and his father had brought him his love’s, Namjoon didn't doubt that had he asked for the stars, his father would have given him the moon.
"My Namjoon-ah, you were...you were twice the man I could ever be, everything I wished to be" Tears fell from the younger's face, "you keep your boys... close, family is everything... your brothers..your brothers too, difficult I know..but they are your blood..."
"Father..."
"Family is the foundation... of the empire, if one pillar crumbles, it will fall..." The breaths were slowing, "Come...hold your..appa's hand" Namjoon scurried over, composure be damned, not here, not in front of his dad.
"I love you, Joon-ah, ...it was a blessing from god that you were my son" It was too soon, Namjoon couldn't do this without him, it was too soon,
"Please..." he dropped his head at the sound of the flatline beep and felt the hand in his hold go limp.
It was too soon, but Kim Soojin was no more.
-
Daycare was closed, a spread of lice amongst the kids, and they had closed it for the day at least. But the day was too much. Jungkook had to get to work, and his two pups running around him would just not do. He couldn't stay off because he had to know why his manager hadn't paid him, and it's not like his manager excused days off for his pups.
So here he was, in a white shirt tucked neatly into black trousers. His boys in matching black hoodies and shorts, all the staff running like crazy around him in preparation.
"ok, Eomma has got paper and pens"
"dawin!" Hansu exclaimed, reaching for the paper before Jungkook could hand it to him.
"You have to sit here..." Jungkook sat them on a table in the far corner, close to the staff point, so he could keep an eye on them whilst he worked. "Do not move from here, okay?" He waited for the two little ones to nod, "If you listen to Eomma, I'll buy you some candy"
"Jungkook-ah, come Pilwon's calling for you" Mingyu rushed, pulling him along as he passed with a tray. Jungkook followed, tightening his apron around his waist. Slipped through the double doors and into the kitchen.
"We must all be working at our optimum today! Shirts tucked, aprons tied, and faces stoic, we are catering for a funeral, and these people do not tolerate mistakes. I can not stress that enough...Jungkook-ah!" Jungkook dropped his head at his boss's attention,
"Come here, everyone else, to your assigned spots" He made his way over, watching anxiously as everyone else left the room.
"I see your pups in the back."
"I'm sorry, Pilwon-ssi, daycare was closed because of..."
"I don't care," he snapped", A single distraction and you can kiss this job goodbye, do you hear me?"
"Yes, sir" The discussion on his pay could wait.
"You're at the front, taking care of the hosts." He couldn't see his pups from the front, but they were well-behaved. As Jungkook left the double doors, he prayed that the two would listen to their mother and stay put.
-
A hand squeezed Namjoon’s knee, Jin’s warm eyes smiling up at him, "It's just three hours, we'll be out as soon as the guests settle"
"Did you speak to the attorney?" Jimin sat beside him, hair tucked behind his ears, directing the question at Seokjin,
"Yes, he's agreed to do the reading of the will in private, at nine tonight"
Taehyung, who sat next to Namjoon, scooted closer, "hyung" The whine was enough to pull Namjoon from his frozen state of mind, knowing exactly what the younger wanted without asking. Hand on his jaw, he pressed his nose against the boy's scent glands, releasing his pheromones, filling the car with sandalwood and ash.
Seokjin looked at the two eyes full of adoration, watching as they parted and the alpha gestured to Jimin, who was next to Seokjin, to get scented also.
The blonde omega awkwardly moved forward, in the little space they had and perched on Namjoon's knee, sighing heavily as he licked that sensitive patch on his neck, then covered it with peppered kisses, the cute affection interrupted when the car engine halted, signalling they had arrived at the hotel.
"Everyone stays together, no one wonders, Seokjin hyung with me, Taehyungie with Hobi and Jiminie with Yoongi hyung. I'll answer any questions. You do not under any circumstances speak to the families, we can't afford to slip here."
The driver knocked three times on the door, a sign to be ready before he opened it, and the four braced themselves, faces hardening and muting their scents, except for Namjoon; the alpha's sandalwood was a reminder to whom the boys belonged.
Namjoon exited the car first, offering his hand for Seokjin to follow behind him, Jimin and Taehyung in tow, standing, awaiting the four in the second car to arrive, watching on at the few people lingering still at the doors.
Hoseok and Yoongi met them in minutes, standing with the group. It had been purposeful to sit them with his brothers. Namjoon didn’t trust the two with his omegas in his presence, never mind in a secluded car. Jongin and Yeosung, close behind, eyes narrowed on the crowd of people standing by the door to pay their respects.
As the elders it was the job of the two brothers to step forward and lead the rest in, however, the sheepish look they shared with Namjoon and the lack of movement made it apparent that the two were making a statement at this event, a silent indication that neither of them would stand in their father's place, a cowardly move considering they both were more than aware of the disdain Namjoon had for the idea of him taking on the legacy of his father. The glare he shot at the two, Namjoon hoped, reiterated how displeased he was.
Nevertheless, the youngest brother walked in, the beastly gazes of his father’s closest relations harrowing down on him as he made his entrance. God knows how much he couldn’t wait till this was over.
-
Jungkook had kept an eye on his pups for two hours, commemorations were made for the man who had passed, Jungkook wasn’t able to hear as the staff got ushered into the waiting area for the members to be given their privacy, now the food was being served, with minimal to no exchanges done with the guests Jungkook was able to give his full attention to the back of the room.
As promised, his pups were quiet, heads down and busy in their drawings, the table was left vacant, safe for his boys, the black ties not wanting to sit near children during the service.
He had hoped for this evening to be done quickly so that he could leave, no problems and his money paid; however, Jungkook had always known trouble to find him in the most inconvenient of times, and with all his bad luck, today happened to become one of those inconvenient times.
"Who brought children to this funeral?!" Jungkook froze, the tray in his hands threatening to fall as he set his eyes on the brooding figure towering over his pups.
He was done for now. Pilwon would fire him and keep last month’s pay, as well as the hours Jungkook had put in today. Fuck he'd been so stupid, he should've found a sitter, anyone, at least he'd be able to pay them and keep some money to survive the week.
"eomma.." Hannie's whine had the omega moving on instinct, the tray forgotten on the table as he rushed forward to shield his fear-stricken babies from the alpha glaring at them.
"I'm sorry, sir, excuse us...I..I'll take them away" The man was tall, 6'2 maybe, whatever it was, he managed to tower over Jungkook, his dragon-like eyes refocusing their anger onto him. Suhan had jumped from his chair behind his mother's back and clung to his legs,
"They're yours?" Sandalwood invaded his senses, burnt smoke clouded his brain and jumbled his thoughts.
"Y..yes, alpha-nim, I'm sorry, I'll take them..."
"Get out", he grits, the hostility in his tone pulling a cry from his pups, no, no, he couldn't leave, he couldn't, the money, the job, his bills, the food, he couldn't leave, needed to do something, needed to...
"Leave before someone drags you out!" The room went silent, the only sound being the whimpers of his twins, Jungkook glanced at Pilwon, the other signalling for the door, and Jungkook knew there was no saving this. This alpha had got home sacked,
"Sir, please I.."
"It would be a shame for these pups to lose their mother" The threat was enough to have ice-cold fear shoot through the omega's spine. He hadn't even noticed how he'd gotten out, but the cold air had him and his pups pressed against him, one to his chest and the other to his calves.
-
The silence after the omega left didn’t last long. The clinking of tableware as the hosts seemed to continue with their work spurred on the hushed chatter of the guests, which gave Jin the distraction he needed to pull Namjoon to the side, out of the doors and away from prying eyes.
“Namjoon-ah breath” As if Jin had been the one to cause disruption, the alpha hurled around at him, eyes narrowed and scent so suffocating that Jin almost choked; he couldn’t imagine how that poor omega must have felt under the threatening behaviour if it startled him this much.
“The disrespect... people saw..an omega ruining..”
“Namjoon stop it” The alpha closed his mouth, gaze still challenging but slowing at his hyungs stern reprimand, “We’ll speak of this later, the omega has gone and you need to control yourself, as you said, people are watching” Jin pushed his scent, rubbing up Namjoons arms and quickly pressing a kiss into his brow, which seemed to do the job, his face falling back to that stoic expression and his scent evening out.
-
The venue wasn’t too far from their apartment, a thirty-minute walk maximum, had Jungkook been on his own and able to walk his normal pace, but with two pups, one dragging his feet and the other shivering in his arms, that time was doubled. He deemed himself lucky that Mingyu had offered to give him a lift this morning, however, that luck was now coming back to bite him in the ass seeing as he’d left the house with no cash, and his card had barely enough for one bus ticket, he could do the undignified thing and beg any passing stranger to lend him some change for the fare but given all the disapproving looks he was receiving Jungkook didn’t think anyone would be willing to hand anything to a frazzled omega lugging around two pups.
“Eomma carry me, Hansu be carry long time now” Suhan whined and had been whining for the past five minutes, which was all they’d managed to walk, the large event hall still in sight.
Jungkook sighed, arms sore from carrying one pup just this long; he couldn’t imagine how he’d give them turns in his hold. But he had to promise him something to stop the babe from complaining.
“Five more minutes, okay, Hannie, then Eomma will hold you too” The puppy whined again, close to a cry.
“No, no! Tooooo long”
“Suhan, please, okay, Eomma's tired too” Jungkook knew he was being unreasonable; he was only two little legs taking three steps just to catch up with Jungkook’s single step, but what could he do?
“Then why come here! Eomma says fun, Suhan no fun, mean mean man, shouting Su and Hannie,” Why Jungkook felt like he was being scolded, he didn’t know, but the threat of tears building behind his eyes from inside the hall, where just about ready to fall, hearing his two-year-old recount all his mistakes. “Wan’ go home!” He enunciated, stomping his foot on the gravel and refusing to continue. Folding his small hands and pouting up at him.
“You won’t get home if you just stand there, so come on” It wasn’t fair on the youngling, wasn’t fair at all for Jungkook to ask so much, but there was nothing else he could do if he had the strength he’d carry both pups, but he just didn’t.
“No!”
“Suhan”, he spoke firmly, kneeling so he could drop Hansu for a moment and rest his sore arm. He was going to cry, but god knows he wouldn’t cry in front of his pups.
“Won’ “
“Excuse me?” Oh, what now? Jungkook turned his tired eyes to the sound of the voice, instinctively shifting closer to the tantrum-addled boy protectively but not getting off the ground.
A tall man stood before him, black suit, must’ve just come from the funeral, hair pushed back with a headband and a heart-shaped smile as he glanced at the crying boy. “Are you giving your eomma a hard time, pup?’ Suhan, bless him, didn’t reply, wrapping his chubby fingers in Jungkook's shirt and hiding behind him; it was evident the boy had had enough of alphas for a day.
“Is there something you need, alpha-nim?” Maybe the man had considered him staff, he’d just politely direct him inside, to the staff who still had their jobs and find some way to drag his pups along.
“No, no, I just thought I might be of assistance. I’m very good with pups, you see, used to work at an elementary school” The alpha didn’t look at Jungkook while he spoke, kept his eyes trained solely on the defiant boy shying away behind his mother now.
“That’s very kind of you, but we’re fine, he’s just tired, that's all”
“Aaah, ok”, but the man didn’t leave, stayed fixed in his spot observing the family, and Jungkook really couldn’t decipher what it was he’d wanted.
“Come now, Suhan,” The boy, despite the stranger being present, didn’t want to give in; he simply shook his head and decided sitting on the floor would help his case.
“You’re going to get your trousers dirty, Hannie. Please stand up,” Jungkook tried pulling him, but the boy seemed to be glued down.
“You want to be picked up, huh, pup?’ The alpha decided not to so helpfully state, and Jungkook almost snarled, would have too if he wasn’t so shaken up by the threat he’d received only a few minutes ago.
To Jungkook’s utter disbelief, his pup stood, eyes fixed on the man and started walking. When the omega turned, he found the alpha crouching behind him, his arms open, and his puppy falling into them.
“Suhan don…”
“It’s okay, you seem to have a lot on your hands. I was heading out anyway, maybe I can walk you to wherever you’re headed?” This man couldn’t possibly walk them to their house. He could lie and say he was headed for the bus stop, but Jungkook wouldn’t put it past him to stay until he got the bus, he could ask him for some change, ugh, no, the alpha would just laugh and leave.
“There’s really no need, alpha-nim," He whispered, picking Hansu up and balancing him on his other arm.
“I insist” Bus stop it was, Jungkook would just decide from there how he dealt with the alpha.
“What’s your name, trouble?” He asked the pup in his arms, to which he whined a petulant.
“Suhan no t’ubble, Suhan best boy” In hindsight, letting a strange alpha that had just exited the funeral of ‘a very important person’ carry his pup and walk him home, seemed like a terrible idea, seemed exactly like how all those vulnerable omega kidnappings happened on the news, but in this position, Jungkook had no other options, he’d doubt he’d be able to turn the insisting man away, doubt he could fight against him if needed doubted his pups wouldn’t somehow get harmed. Ridiculously, this seemed like the safest option.
“My name’s Hosoek, Jung Hoseok,” Jungkook looked up to see a heart-shaped smile directed down towards him, it was a cute smile, one that lit his whole face up. The man was good-looking without a doubt, maybe too good-looking to be a murderer or a kidnapper. What on earth was he thinking he should introduce himself to?
“I’m Jungkook, that’s Suhan and this...” Jungkook slightly nudged the head that was tucked into his shoulder to look up, two Bambi eyes poked out to glance before spotting the alpha and hiding himself again with a whine, “...is Hansu”
“Suhan and Hansu..”
“They’re twins, I thought it would be cute” Jungkook had been laughed at many a time before for giving his boys such similar names, he’d been scorned by his family for doing something so silly, worried afterwards that maybe they’d get mocked in school, however, he’d thought it was a good idea, and he’d given birth to him, he should be allowed at least the right to name them what he wanted.
“It's adorable, my sister is called Minseok, although she’s a few years older than me, and my parents called me Hoseok” Jungkook knew it wasn’t unusual, “They thought they were real clever by doing that” Now that pulled a giggle from the omega's lips,
“Great minds think alike”, the alpha chuckled too,
“It seems so," ok, so maybe not a murderer.
They walked in silence after that, the bus stop coming in sight just as they rounded the corner out of the gates, “Well, here we are”, Jungkook voiced hoping that would be the alpha's cue to leave, so he could figure out how to get the pups home.
“It says... ah, lucky there should be one in a couple of minutes” Hoseok hummed, still holding Suhan, who had decided to rest his head all too comfortably on the man's shoulder,
“I shouldn’t keep you, you can hand me Suhan..”
“Nonsense, I’ve got nothing better to do, and it seems this one's tired, I can wait with you” Great, how perfect, there wasn’t much choice he had, wait for the alpha to find out he didn’t have money, walk home with his pups, or just ask, what’s the worse that could happen, he says no, if he did its not like Jungkook would ever seen him again to be wary of his embarrassment.
“Can I ask you a favour?” The turmoil wasn’t worth it. Maybe the world would go easy on him today and let kindness finally do its job,
“Ask away”
He chuckled nervously, “It's quite embarrassing, erm, I just forgot my wallet inside” Yeah, that was a good excuse “Yeah, and I don’t really have anything on me to pay for the…”
“You should’ve said sooner here” the man fished inside his blazer, pulling out a leather wallet, “will that be enough” 50,000 won, this man was giving him a 50,000 won bill, for a 900 won bus fare, Jungkook gawked at it, it was evident that the man was rich but Jungkook hadn’t known any rich person to go around handing out cash like that, from his experience they had all been scrooges with money, as one guest at an event he’d served had told him, ‘the rich are only rich because they hold tight to money, if we all started giving it away to charity there wouldn’t be anything left for ourselves now would there’
“I really can’t accept that much Hoseok-ssi”
“Nonsense, ahju-ssi’s gifting the rest to these two” Hoseok nudged the baby, slipping it into his clenched fist, “they deserve something nice for being so good for their eomma, right?”
Before Jungkook could continue to reject the money Suhan spoke of, his voice lulled slightly with his fatigue, “Suhan, best boy, Hannie, and me get sweet” Hosoek smiled.
“Really, it's too much, and the bus won’t accept that Hoseok-ssi” The other seemed to reconsider that, shaking through his pockets again and pulling out the wallet. Jungkook spotted the familiar shade of that 5000 bill, which he handed over reluctantly, allowing Jungkook to shove the larger bill back into his hands during the exchange.
“Please, keep it”, he held onto his hand, the warmth of it igniting something in Jungkook he hadn’t felt in forever,
“I really can’t, Hoseok-ssi, it's too much, thank you though, the bus seems to be pulling around the corner too, come Suhannie” The alpha lowered the pup, who begrudgingly went over to his mother.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Jungkook-ssi”
“You too, Hoseok-ssi”
“And you puppies as well”, Suhan waved at the elder, and Jungkook nudged Hansu, who delivered a tired wave without lifting his head from the omega's neck.
Taking their seats on the bus, the omega looked outside once more, meeting the cheery smile of the alpha, which he wholeheartedly returned. Jung Hoseok-ssi was a very nice alpha, and Jungkook hoped he’d be able to cross paths with him again, at least so he could return the money.
-
"You took it too far with that omega today, Namjoon" Namjoon spun round on his heels, facing Hoseok, who had spoken as soon as they entered the privacy of their home. So that's why everyone was side-eyeing him in the car.
"The nerve to bring pups to a funeral, they were giggling during the speech."
"They were pups, Namjoon," The alpha scoffed, chucking his coat and tie onto the couch,
"Next, you'll tell me that their mother was just an omega” Hosoek raised his brows at the statement. It wasn’t like Namjoon to speak so ignorantly,
"Yes, you threatened an omega, you scared his pups."
"They shouldn't have been there, what's it to you,” what was it to him, what was it to Hoseok who had just escorted two of the sweetest pups and their distraught mother to the stop, even if he hadn’t smelt the fear and stress in that omegas scent Hoseok would have still pointed it out, but seeing as he had seen the effect Namjoon had left on him, it only disappointed Hoseok more.
"No matter what is to me, it shouldn't have happened" A growl left the younger lips, face scrunching in a way that never suited their baby alpha,
"You're telling me,"
"I'm telling you, Kim Namjoon, as your hyung, I expect better from you" Namjoon stepped closer, brown eyes almost looking black, carrying a challenge that the younger hadn’t held towards his hyung, not since their younger, more immature days. Had it been any other day, Hoseok would never have let it go, but not today.
“Namjoon-ah” he hummed lovingly, stroking the back of the other's neck as someone would do to a disturbed pup, which seemed to work as he watched the alpha's gaze soften “Today's been hard hmm, why don’t you clean up and go to the nest, have a few minutes, hyung's will be here if anything comes up”
“The reading of the will...” he muttered, eyes drooping, enunciating the fatigue that was clouding the worried alpha,
“I’ll call you just before, now go and rest” Namjoon looked down his head, falling against Hoseoks, a sigh leaving his pouted lips,
“I'm sorry, hyung, I shouldn’t have...” Hoseok stopped him, thumb caressing his cheek “Later, Joon-ah, we can speak later, now go” This time, he pushed him towards the room, not allowing the man to stall any longer.
-
“I am extremely sorry for your loss, Kim-ssi. Your father was a close friend of mine. Unfortunately, he was taken so soon” Namjoon simply hummed. His father had never liked the solicitor, too greedy for money, a small-minded man, his father would say, and Namjoon would completely agree. The brothers had joined Namjoon, Jongin and Yeosung, neither changed from their funeral attire, outfits however more unkempt, shirts untucked, blazers discarded, and ties loose, both sat on the furthest couch, Seokjin had been the only one allowed to join the group, being the only other person written in the will and Namjoon had been quite surprised at that, Soojin had loved his boys, like his own sons, promising them fortunes in tandem with Namjoon’s, of course the others were never accepting of any of the things Soojin promised them, assuring him that his love and kindness was something they remained undeserving of, never mind his money, regardless the four accepted without so much as changing their expressions and left the room.
“Now I wouldn’t want to waste too much of your time, I’m sure you’re very busy, erm..” The man pulled out a stack of papers, handing the first to the eldest son, Kim Jongin, your father left you his collection of suits and his watch, his one condition other than his passing was that you read the letter before coming into possession of them” Jongin didn’t even bat an eye, placing the papers down and leaning further back on the couch. “For Kim Yeosung” the solicitor paced the paper on the coffee table sliding it towards the second son who didn’t even move from his spot next to his brother, staring as if unbothered by this whole conversation, “the Bentley and the estate in Jeju again the condition is that you read the letter” Yeosung lifted his hand to chug down whatever alcohol he’d mixed in his champagne glass, “for Kim Seokjin erm, two letters” Seokjin took them tucking them into his lap “and Kim Namjoon-ssi, for you your father left his estate in the Hong-dong distract” and finally, the part they had all nervously been waiting for, who had their father chosen to continue the empire? Although everyone had known and expected it to be Namjoon his father had never actually admitted who he would hand his position over to, reasonably the eldest, Jongin, or the strongest Yeosung or if the smartest than himself, but if all three brothers were honest Namjoon knew that none of them wanted the responsibility, rather than anticipating the position the three sat tight and nervous dreading the possibility that it could be them expected to fill Kim Soojins shoes…
“Now I will just need the four of you to sign the papers accepting the terms and conditions of the will, and that will be all from me today” That couldn’t be right.
“That’s…all?” Seokjin questioned, ghosting a hand over Namjoon's knee, an act that was supposed to soothe but didn’t help in the impending confusion of the situation.
“Yes, well, the matter of inheritance, we skipped over…”
"Why did we skip over that?" Kim Namjoon, though he knew what his father's assets were worth, was unsure who had inherited them, but Kim Soojin was a fair man; Namjoon didn't doubt his father's justice in splitting those assets equally, but it would be nice to know.
"Well, Namjoon-ssi, you haven't been written down by Soojin-ssi" Three gasps were heard alongside his own. This couldn't be.
"and..and my brothers?" The lawyer simply shook his head,
"That can't be... what, what did he do with his assets?" The lawyer flicked through some pages,
"They have been written off to someone your father considered dear to him"
"And who is it that has my inheritance?"
"Let's see...someone called...ah, Jeon Jungkook."