Chapter Text
It’s a Sunday morning.
The little angel sleeping peacefully a few minutes ago groans and whines as the blinding rays of sunlight peek through the windows. Jungkook chuckles, as his beautiful daughter, Aera squirms under her blanket, mumbling and complaining softly.
“Good morning, princess.” Jungkook whispers, as he tucks Aera’s brown messy hair behind her ear, peppering her squishy cheeks with soft feather light kisses.
Aera smiles at her father, crawling on his lap. They have the same bunny smile, big doe eyes. Beautiful and Captivating. Jungkook takes his time admiring his pretty angel’s face, thanking the lord for the umpteenth time for blessing him with Aera. “G’morning, Koo.” The little girl replies, nuzzling her face in her father’s neck.
“It’s 8 AM. D’you wanna sleep more, baby?” Jungkook cards his fingers through her hair. Lays on the bed with his little ball of sunshine on his chest as she nods in response. They end up laying on the bed for the next few hours lazily, snuggled close to each other.
Sunday morning means no work for Jungkook and no school for Aera.
Jungkook works at Lotte Corp. as a Data Analyst. His job is nothing too exciting, a plain (shitty, in Jungkook’s words) 9 to 5 job with Saturdays as half-days and Sundays as day-offs, but it pays him well enough to have his own place in Itaewon and have his daughter live the best life he could provide her. Sometimes he thinks his 7 years old daughter has a more interesting and exciting life than him.
Aera is a second grader at Yongsan International School. A brilliant student. Not a straight A, but a creative mind, with artistic abilities. Loves participating in various activities. A social butterfly, pretty opposite to her father.
Being a father is difficult, Jungkook knew it ofcourse. But, being a single father with a seven years old daughter, who can be bratty and stubborn just like him at times— now that was a real pain in the ass.
Aera is an angel, their bond is so precious and their communication is on point, for sure. However, there are times when Jungkook just doesn’t know how to deal with her daughter’s tantrums. Nonetheless, he was thankful for having her in his life.
Aera was, and will forever be a blessing to Jungkook. For she is the reason he could ground himself, the reason his mundane life feels elated, the reason he smiles and the reason he feels alive.
The father-daughter duo wakes up after a good few hours of peaceful, deep slumber. Aera’s stomach rumbles and they end up snorting and laughing hard at the sound. “Come on Angel, go get fresh. I’ll warm the Kimchi toast for you.” Jungkook says, as he carries his precious baby to the bathroom.
“Hot choco?” Aera asks, her eyebrows are furrowed. She knows her father probably did; it was her Sunday breakfast routine. But well, reassurance won’t hurt, right?
Jungkook rolls his eyes playfully, earns a glare from the little one, kisses her head before making his way to the kitchen. “Of-course, your highness. How could I forget,” He replies, before warming the pan to heat the Kimchi Toast.
The rest of their morning goes by with playful bickering, animated talks by Aera about her school and other extracurricular activities and a delicious, fulfilling breakfast.
“Do you wanna go out today?” Jungkook asks as he helps his daughter choose an outfit. His little cutie taps her chin, lips morphed into a pout and eyes squinted as she thinks of what they could do.
“Mmhh.. yes. But I have a playdate with Tete.” Aera excitedly replies, but then pauses for a moment when she watches her father’s smile turn into a frown. Sundays are supposed to be their day. Jungkook and Aera day. She’s not supposed to have a playdate with this Tete or whomsoever.
“Who is this Tete now and why do I not know of them? Is that a boy or a girl? Are they your age?” Jungkook fires one question after the other, neither breathing nor giving the little girl a chance to breathe.
“Koo… breathe! One question at a time, okay?” Aera suggests, and Jungkook stops immediately.
Jungkook takes a deep breath, smiles softly at his daughter, strokes her hair and then asks, “Okay— okay. So, who’s this Tete?” Aera grins widely before she speaks. Her father finds her smile a little too captivating even if they both have the same. His little baby always has this effect on him. And on others as well.
“Tete. You don’t know him? He lives next to us, daddy. This is why you should so-socil-socilise.” Aera dramatically sighs, rubbing her forehead with little fingers.
Jungkook finds it endearing. The way she is so keen on learning new words, uses them whenever she gets a chance. Her little animated gestures and postures to justify her statements. “It’s socialise, baby. And how am I supposed to know when I’m either working or sleeping, hmm?,” He says, pauses for a while when his baby makes a displeased face, then continues, “Anyway, next question. What is his age?”
“He is,” Aera starts, thinks and counts in her mind and then answers, “24 years old.” She answers proudly.
“24!!? What!? How!? Why do you play with him, baby? What did I tell you?” Jungkook once again bombards her daughter’s tiny self with his countless questions. Aera looks annoyed, but Jungkook is more irked than her daughter right now.
The little girl sighs, shakes her head and takes his father’s hand in her own, pulling him towards the door. “You know what, let me introduce you to him. He’s so cute, papa. He looks like a teddy and he’s so, so pretty.”
“Wait! What? What even is his name?”
Aera slaps her hand on her forehead, yet another dramatic reaction but it’s cute. “His name is Tete... no Taehyu… ugh! Taehyung. But I call him tete, okay? And only I get to call him that. So you can call him Tae or by his name. Now let’s go, Koo. You’re wasting our time.” Jungkook laughs at his daughter’s ministrations, lifts her in his arms and pecks her forehead.
“Okay, let’s go meet this tete of yours.” He says, as he locks the door and makes their way towards Tete’s house.
Taehyung, on the other side of the door is painting peacefully, when a sudden knock on the door startles him. ‘Must be Princess.’ He thinks, as he wipes his hands with a clean cloth so that he could open the door.
“Hello princ— oh.”
Taehyung opens the door with a cheerful, chiming voice but sucks in a deep breath when he notices Aera in the arms of a charming, handsome man. Blood rushes to his ears, tainting his neck red in the process and he watches the other man scan him from head to toe.
Taehyung groans internally, for he is wearing a simple grey baggy t-shirt with his infamous olive green sweatpants. His brown hair is ruffled, messy and there’s even paint on his damn cheeks and hands. This is embarrassing. Taehyung thinks, but smiles and bows in front of the other man to show respect earning the same gesture in response.
The man carrying Aera is… charming. He’s wearing a plain white dress shirt with blue jeans. His brown locks falling on his eyes which the little girl removes with her teeny tiny fingers. He’s tall, almost the same height as Taehyung and he has big doe eyes just like Aera. And now that he thinks of it, they both look pretty much similar.
Jungkook clears his throat, breaking both of their chain of thoughts, “Hi. Uhm.. I’m Aera’s father, Jungkook.” He speaks after a good minute, passing a warm smile and holding out his hand to Taehyung.
Oh.
“Hello Jungkook-ssi. I’m Taehyung.” The young guy responds, shaking the other’s hand softly with his signature boxy smile plastered on his face, eyes forming crescents. ‘No wonder Angel calls him pretty.’ Jungkook thinks, his smile even wider at the thought. “Hi princess, you didn’t tell me our play-date will include your dad as well, hm.”
Jungkook grins widely as Aera waddles in his hold and squirms her way out into Taehyung’s arms. “Just how did you get along too well?” He asks amusingly. Of-course as a father he is wary of his daughter being so friendly and chime-y with someone who’s a stranger to him, but Jungkook knows whom to trust.
Call it knowledge, experience or whatsoever, he’s been a particularly picky person when it comes to having friends and acquaintances and a genius when it comes to finding if he can trust them or not.
So, with the way Taehyung’s sharp feline eyes sparkle when Aera talks to him is a big give away as to whether Jungkook should trust him or not.
“Please come inside Jungkook-ssi. I suppose you have a few questions to ask me?” Taehyung murmurs. His voice is followed by Jungkook’s own daughter’s when she excitedly speaks, “Koo wants to know you too, Tete. He asked me so much, now it’s your turn.”
The elder flushes due to embarrassment. His daughter really just... gave him away like that. Perfect. Taehyung looks like he’s holding back a laugh. Of-course he is. Jungkook doesn’t speak anything, simply makes his way inside the house following Taehyung and Aera.
The house is nice. It’s comfy. The walls are painted warm brown and coffee coloured and there are paintings hanging on many places. Jungkook assumes, which is correct, Taehyung enjoys painting, maybe he’s an artist. The furniture is cream coloured which makes Jungkook wonder how even does he manages to keep it clean, considering the excess amount of paintings in the boy’s home.
He wanders a bit in the house, takes a seat comfortably on the couch in the living room. Aera can be seen clearly from here. The little munchkin is picking up some paints and brushes.
There are two canvases in the other room where Aera is, one has an unfinished painting which probably Taehyung was working on. And the other is small, and blank. Must be for Aera, Jungkook thinks, which is true.
Jungkook sits quietly, wondering when he got so busy in his life that he doesn’t even know his daughter has little play-dates and painting sessions with their neighbour. Hell, he didn’t even know there’s a cute neighbour living next to them and Aera is so friendly with him.
He hears someone clear their throat and it brings him back to the world of living. “Would you like to have coffee, Jungkook-ssi.” Taehyung asks, he’s holding a tray which has three different drinks. There’s a banana milk bottle, a strawberry milk and a glass of water for Jungkook. “Uh… I do not have an idea if you’d prefer these, so.. coffee?”
He asks again, while Jungkook; he’s too busy with how pouty and soft Taehyung’s lips look while talking. He doesn’t even realise he’s been staring for too long until the other guy waves his hand in front of him, once again snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Oh—uh… yeah. Coffee. Yes, coffee would be nice.” It isn’t. It will never be nice. Jungkook despises coffee’s bitter taste. Just what was he thinking while agreeing. But he knows it's too late when he watches Taehyung grin at him and walk past him to the kitchen.
‘Fuck. Snap out of it, Jungkook. Stop acting like a teenager with a newfound crush.’ The eldest mentally curses himself for even gazing at the boy’s lips. Just what mind-space was he in?
Taehyung comes back a few minutes later, with a cup of coffee in his hand. Jungkook is too busy admiring his little angel spreading out all the paints and brushes to create her own piece of art. “She’s a great artist, Jungkook-ssi. And a curious one, I must say.” Jungkook averts his gaze from his daughter as soon as Taehyung’s voice fills the room.
“Ah! I know that very well. She’s always been a curious little cat. And, you can call me Jungkook or just hyung. Jungkook-ssi sounds so formal.” Jungkook replies, smiling as he accepts the cup of coffee Taehyung offers him.
“Sure. Hyung. ”
There is something in the way of the simple honorific rolling off from the younger’s mouth, which makes Jungkook feel a spark ignite in his veins. He releases a deep breath before sipping the coffee, trying his best not to make any weird face as a reaction.
They sit in silence for a few moments, unsure of what and how to converse.
Taehyung shifts in his place, the uncomfortable silence surrounding them being too thick, it suffocates him. Jungkook is no better. His mouth gapes often. Trying to talk about something but has no idea what exactly he is supposed to say.
“So..”
“So..”
Both male start at the same time, giggling at the situation. The tension in the air slowly fading.
“You go first.” Taehyung gestures to him, his blinding smile making Jungkook dizzy.
Jungkook turns a little, now facing Taehyung completely, “So, my Aera is a little too fond of you. How did you two get so familiar? Don’t get me wrong, but I’m just… concerned and cautious about her a little too much.” He says, carefully inspecting the younger’s face for any sign of offence.
“I understand Jun—hyung. Aera is an Angel. She told me she doesn’t have a mother. So, I assume you two live alone? It’s given that you’re protective over her. I’d be too, if she was my daughter. But yeah, I recently moved here, like… two months ago. Had some difficulties and that little princess and her friends helped me move some stuff.” Taehyung explains everything to him, right from how he faced issues moving his huge canvases and art supplies to setting up his newly bought furniture and how Aera and her friends helped him across.
Jungkook listens to him patiently, endeared by how cutely the younger’s eye sparkle everytime he professes his love for art, how he sold his first painting in his own art gallery. The soft tone and gaze, the way he melts talking about Aera and her cute habits.
“She’s an amazing kid, Hyung. I must say you’ve raised her to be an extremely kind and generous human. If you won’t mind, can I ask you about her mother? You can always say No of course haha, I’m just.. It’s strange how mature she is for her age. I hope I’m not intruding.”
Taehyung scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment right after asking the question. Did he cross a line? Was it too much for a first interaction? Well, it doesn’t matter now that the arrow has already left the bow.
To his surprise, Jungkook passes a soft, reassuring smile to him. “Definitely not. Aera’s mother left her with me when she was two. It’s been tough, but like you said, sometimes she surprises me with her intelligence too.” The elder chuckles and glances over the corner of the room where his little Angel is deeply enthralled in her painting.
“Must have inherited from you.” The younger male blurts out, blushing profusely right after speaking. Great! Now Jungkook might think he’s flirting!
“I-I mean, she’s really smart, Hyung.”
There’s a moment of silence, and the next second Jungkook’s cheerful, amused laughter fills the room making Taehyung sigh in relief. He really would just have hid in a corner and never came out had Jungkook misunderstood him.
“You don't like coffee, do you?"
Jungkook flushes due to embarrassment and hides his face with his hands groaning in response.
He passes a shy smile to the younger before asking, "How did you know?"
"Your face contorted very badly when you sipped the coffee. Should've told me, hyung. Wait, I'll get you banana milk." The younger responds, throws his head back and laughs out loud in amusement.
They quickly indulge in the conversation, only stopping when Aera’s voice blooms from the other room indicating that she’s now completed her own masterpiece.
The eldest feels enamored by the talent his daughter bears. The painting is of a sunset. Pink, purple and orange hues dispersed in the sky, a park with a lake where three swans swim gracefully. A bench where a man sits wearing a long brown checkered coat with a camera in his hand. If looked at carefully, he resembles Jungkook.
And now Jungkook remembers clearly, it was the day when the father-daughter duo went for a picnic. It was... months ago, and now Jungkook feels guilty for not being able to spend time with his most precious treasure—his own daughter.
Though Aera never blames him or complains, there still are times when he can feel the sadness and longing in her voice when he returns late from his work. Or when he has to cancel on their plans because of additional work-load.
Aera jumps in her place, nudging her father to pick her in his arms, which Jungkook complies easily. Taehyung cherishes the way the elder peppers soft kisses on his daughter’s face with praises and sweet nothings. Almost moves ahead to wipe that single drop of tear that rolls from Jungkook’s eye on his left cheek, but Aera beats him to it. Cups her father’s face and smothers him with kisses, as if reassuring him for anything and everything.
Taehyung carves this image of the duo in his mind, making a mental note to treasure this moment he witnessed, forever. Though Jungkook and Aera are still practically strangers, or maybe neighbours and now acquaintances to him, he finds the soft moment a little too personal and endearing.
The rest of their day passes by with both men familiarising with each other, Aera’s giggles and soft laughter filling the room. Jungkook invites the younger to their home for lunch, orders some take-out, since he’s too tired after playing around with two power-packed babies who team up against him at times just to win a game of hide and seek or tag.
It feels content, light and warm. There is something about Taehyung’s presence that fills the room with so much happiness and joy that Jungkook finds himself being drowned in it in just a single day.
✰✰✰
Another few long weeks full of boring paperwork, unpleasing meetings and exhausting deadlines for submitting reports, data and emails. Routine- was what Jungkook’s life has become after he started working at Lotte in 2018.
It has been three years already but nothing except Aera’s giggles and laugh kept him sane.
But now, with Taehyung, things seem to be different . How? Even Jungkook has no idea. There’s a shift in air he feels every day when he comes back to home and watches Aera giggling, running around the house with Taehyung or jumping around showing him different paintings or just casually laying on the carpet floor playing board games with him.
Was it like this for the past two months since Taehyung shifted next to their place? Was he too ignorant to notice this? Or maybe it changed after he met Taehyung and only then the younger started spending time in their home as well.
Whatever it was, however it was, Jungkook finds a sweet, soothing aura surrounding Taehyung.
He ignores the sparks he feels at the slightest touch or the warmth that spreads across his features every time he's with Taehyung. There's something Jungkook couldn't point his finger at, but he feels a gush of emotions coursing through him at the mere thought of the young artist.
And he ignores how his throat clogs up, breathing going uneven, heart wilding his chest, whenever Taehyung just as much as hugs him excidetly. A hug which is a mere form of affection making him feel so, so fluttery.
“Hey, Angel!” Jungkook exclaims, discarding his tie and laptop bag on the couch. Taehyung and Aera, who’re too busy playing Jenga, startle and look at him smiling widely.
The guy gets up first, followed by Aera.
The little one dashes across the living room and jumps in her father’s arms, making Jungkook chuckle softly at her excitement. “What got you so excited hm?”
“Saturday!! It’s our Noraebang night tomorrow!!” The little one excitedly shifts in Jungkook’s hold, squirming in excitement. Her eyes shine like the brightest stars in the universe, Jungkook smiles widely looking at his daughter’s obvious anticipation.
Being a single parent is difficult. Jungkook, many times, found it difficult to separate his work life from his personal one. Aera, no matter how smart and understanding she is, somehow longed for his presence more than what she already got.
Though his job profile was a typical 9-5 one, the stress he sometimes had was clearly visible even when he was at home.
Maybe this is why Aera is so excited for a simple Karaoke with her father on a weekend night.
“Tete, will you have a karaoke night with us?” Aera asks, shifting her gaze towards Taehyung who’s now collecting the discarded Jenga pieces. Her voice is joyous and laced with hope.
Taehyung passes an apologetic smile, scratches the back of his head before replying, “Um.. I’m sorry but I have to go out with some friends. They.. well they made some plans.. you know like.. hangout and I already agreed. I didn’t know you had plans too, Princess. I’m sorry.” He replies, and Jungkook notices how genuine the younger is.
Of course, he isn’t obliged to spend every weekend or every day with them. But he would be lying if he said Taehyung’s rejection, no matter how polite it is, didn’t hurt him as well. But the sadness and genuinity in his voice is enough to make him understand how Taehyung does want to be with them too.
It is in this particular moment, when Jungkook realizes. No matter how comfortable or friendly Taehyung is with them, their lives are poles apart.
Taehyung is merely a twenty-four year old boy, while Jungkook is in his late twenties. His life is artistic, outgoing, fun-filled, a social butterfly he is; while Jungkook’s is calm and composed, repetitive if not for Aera’s weekend plans.
The elder male presses his lips in a thin line at the realization before passing a tight lipped smile to the younger.
“Hey, hey. It's alright, Taehyung. Why even are you apologizing!? Have fun with your friends, okay? We can have a karaoke night together maybe someday later. Right Angel?”
Taehyung still feels bad for declining the offer, even though he knows Jungkook is right. He doesn’t even have an idea why he feels bad about it. It has been barely a couple of months since he got familiar with Aera and barely a week with Jungkook.
Yet, somehow he felt more homely and content with them.
“Yes, Tete! We will have karaoke later. You go with your friends. Koo, can we call Chimmy and Joonie, please?” The little one even pouts cutely and who is Jungkook to say no to it!
“Of course, my Angel.”
Taehyung looks at the father-daughter duo lovingly. There’s something so adorable in the way Jungkook keeps nuzzling his nose on Aera’s squishy cheeks while talking, or the way Aera keeps carding fingers through her father’s brown hair.
Even the way the eldest animatedly talks to her while explaining something warms Taehyung’s heart in an indescribable manner. His heartbeats flutter and there’s a pleasant feeling in his stomach everytime he looks at them. It’s strange.
“I’ll get going then. Good night, hyung. Goodnight, Princess.” The younger man bids his farewell before leaving the duo on their own.
“Good night, Tete!”
“Good night, Tae!”
Jungkook prepares dinner for them and calls Jimin and Namjoon, inviting them over as demanded by the little angel.
He helps his daughter change into her night wear and tucks the little one in her bed, cards his fingers through her hair until he feels her excited talks turn into low murmurs and silent, even breathing.
The man keeps admiring his daughter for a while. How her lips form a deep pout, her hair falls onto her face which he keeps tucking behind her ear, how she holds on to that plushie her tete got for her.
There’s something… strange. When he thinks about Taehyung. It’s not the usual acquaintance, neighborhood feeling he gets. There’s a certain kind of warmth, a grounding emotion he feels when Taehyung is around. His aura is so strong while his presence, so sweet.
Maybe he’s overthinking, maybe it’s just what Taehyung is. Whatever it is, Jungkook finds himself smiling at the simplest thought of his daughter’s tete.
Taehyung looks pretty. He’s a young artist. He’s talented, charming. His aura is calming. His sharp eyes are captivating and the way he speaks is alluring. It might feel foolish, but there’s something about the younger male that keeps drawing Jungkook’s attention onto him. And Jungkook is ready to give into it, gladly, very glady.
sigh
“Kim Taehyung. You pretty boy, what are you doing to us?” Jungkook sighs, thinking deeply before drifting off to sleep.