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“Say Uncle Joonie.” Namjoon pouted, his mouth making chomping sounds as he lifted the babies hands to his lips, little fingers hitting at his lips as they stretched.
The tiny baby who laid on the floor in front of him made a gurgling sound as she looked up at her uncle with big, round eyes.
“Unc-,” He tried again, enunciating the words. “-cle. J-oo-nie.” His eyes grew wider as a sound exploded from the babies lips, only for it to turn into a screech, more interested in playing with the vocal chords she had just discovered she possessed.
His phone signalled an incoming FaceTime call from somewhere behind him, his hand grabbed blindly at the couch, bringing it in front of him once he felt the cool glass screen under his finger tips.
“Stop trying to teach Min Jae how to say Uncle Joonie.” Namjoon watched his sister, Nari, laugh through phone screen at him. His head turned on a swivel looking for places she could have hidden a camera. “I thought we agreed, we’re working on Eomma first.”
“I never agreed to that.” Joon grins at the camera, placing the phone down on the coffee table to the side of him, propping it up on one of his many books so they can look at one another. “Her first words will be Uncle or Joonie. Even if I have to die trying.” He picked up the baby girl from her mat on the floor, her body becoming restless at the sound of her eomma’s voice.
“Who’s that?” He pointed to the screen. “Is that eomma?” He gasped in fake surprise, as Min Jae giggled excitedly, her hands coming out to grab in the direction of the screen.
“Hi baby.” Her mother cooed through the screen. “Eomma misses you so much. Are you being good for Uncle Joonie?”
Min Jae let out a lot gurgle, her hands grabbing onto the material of Namjoon’s t-shirt. “I think that means yes.” He giggled, watching as the baby was transfixed by her mother on the screen.
“Is everything okay? I’m not putting on you too much?” She bit her lip as she looked at her brother. “I can ask eomma and appa to pitch in.”
Namjoon shakes his head, bringing the baby closer to him. “No way, we’re having tons of fun aren’t we Minie?” He attempts to look down at her big eyes but all her attention focused on her eomma. “We went to the park yesterday and saw a huge dog.” His eyes went wide. “Then we visited Uncle Hobi and Uncle Jin, and played with Mickey for a while.”
A little voice picks up at the name Mickey. “Pu- !” She tried before turning it into babbling sentence that neither of them understand.
“Puppy?” Nari raised a brow at Namjoon through the phone.
“That would be my guess.” He laughed, brushing his fingers through her hair.
“We’re going to the museum today.” He held up her small feet so Nari could see the little booties he had already put on her. “We’re going to look at some paintings. Then we’re going to feed the ducks. Can you say ducks Min Jae? Duck.” He pulled the baby away from him. “D-uck?”
“‘Uc’.” She cried, pleased with herself.
“Close enough.” Her mother laughed.
“Then tomorrow, Uncle Joonie needs to get some actual work done, so we’re going to Uncle Yoongi’s apartment so she can expand some energy there.” He laughed. “Plus he needs to get out of his apartment and not be in the studio for once, so he’ll probably enjoy taking her to the park with Holly.”
He bounced the baby as she started to get fussy in his arms. “How are the meetings going?” He asked, a quiet sadness to his voice as he thinks of his sister all the way in New York City.
“They’re going well, I just wish I could see my baby more.” She pouted, her long dark hair moving forward as she shakes her head, attempting not to cry.
“Hey.” Namjoon says seriously. “She misses her eomma too, but she’s happy and healthy.” Nari nods her head slowly, taking the words in. “You’re doing all this for her. You’re being an incredible single eomma who somehow holds down a full time job and is going to probably be a CEO by the time she’s 30. You’re her inspiration.” He kisses the small bundle in his arms.
“I know, I know that.” She nods quietly.
Namjoon grabbed one of Min Jae’s teething toys from the side, sliding it into her hands so he can distract her from their conversation. Not that she could understand a word of it, but she knows enough to understand her mother's emotions, even through a screen.
“You’re doing great ‘Ri.” He looks at her sincerely.
“You’re the best brother.” She laughs, wiping away some of the tears that had fallen through laughter.
“I’m the best big brother.” He corrected her.
She laughed at that, throwing her head back. “You’re older than me by like five minutes, please don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Namjoon giggled, chomping at the top of his nieces head who squealed in delight.
“I promised you I’d always be here for you when you found out you were pregnant. I meant it. I’m taking my role as Uncle extremely seriously.”
“I know you are.” She nodded, a sad smile forming across her face, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks.
“It’s like 8pm there, right? Why aren’t you schmoozing some big wig over dinner?” He smiled at her.
“I’m just about to leave, I just wanted to check on my two favourite people first.”
“I’m flattered.” Joon grinned. “By the way, fix your eyeliner.” He winked at her.
“Did it run?” Joon cringes at her, nodding. “Shit.”
“Language.” He looks at seriously, although soon falls apart in giggles as she flips him the bird while Min Jae is otherwise distracted by her toy.
She waves her goodbyes through more tears to Min Jae as he disconnects the phone, the baby waving through the screen.
The tears start the second the phone goes black and Namjoon can only rock her back and forth as she misses her mother once more.
“You’re gonna be so proud of your eomma one day.” He whispers into the crown of her head. “She’s a superhero.”
Sometime after the crying had died down, Namjoon pulled the baby up from their seated position on the floor, throwing his phone into his pocket. “Are you going to be the best girl in the museum for Uncle Joonie?” He asked her, watching her eyes go wider as she looked at him.
“Are you going to be a famous painter?” He tickles her side as he sets her down softly in the pram.
“How does that sound? Do you want to be an artist?” He spoke excitedly to her, causing Min Jae to giggle, her hand coming into her mouth as she began to chew on it.
“Remind me to buy you more teething toys.” He mutters as he gently pulled her hand away from her mouth, earning a small little cry of disappointment. It’s quickly replaced by gurgling sound as he replaces it with a more sensible toy.
She hits at the air excitedly in front of her as they make their way through the cool November morning. Her voice making excited little exclamations each time another baby crosses their path, the cries of excitement becoming louder whenever a dog passes them.
Namjoon pulls them both to a stop in front of a pond they pass, pointing at the ducks floating in the water. “See that Minie? That’s a duck. Duck.” He repeats the word slowly, watching her eyes grow wider as she nods. “They’re beautiful, just like you.” He boops the baby on the nose, watching her giggle with excitement. “You nearly said it earlier… duck.” He looks at the little one expectantly.
“‘Ug.” She repeats part of the word that she can remember.
“You’re getting there.” He laughs to himself, kissing her forehead, before bringing himself back up to the back of the pram.
He walks them through the park and down into the underground station below the city. Made all the more difficult by the pram in front of him as he attempts to traverse staircases and lifts that are not made for his two left feet and clumsy hands.
Eventually he breathes a sigh of relief as he squishes the two of them onto a train, just a little past rush hour, the last of the commuters grumbling at him taking up space with his pram. An elder lady on the row of seats in view of where they stand plays peek-a-boo with Min Jae much to her amusement. Her giggles and squeals bringing even the most tired commuter a slight smile.
“Did you make a new friend?” He asks Min Jae when he gets them both off the train, pulling her hood over her ears to block out the cold. Knocked off in all the excitement of the many games she played with her new best friend. “Look at my polite little girl.” He pouts.
“You know Min Jae, we’re going to have the best time today. You’re going to see so many pretty colours, and statues, and honestly - it’s going to blow your little mind.” He grins, “are you excited?”
He nods his head, and Min Jae copies, a smile exploding across her face at her Uncle's happiness. The little dimples she had inherited from her mother on display. Just slightly further out onto the cheek than Namjoon’s own dimples.
He manages to manoeuvre them both into the outside world. Min Jae becoming fussy halfway, so he brought out one of the biscuits she likes to suck on as they move.
“It’s chilly out here isn’t it?” He looks down at the little one who just ignores him, mouth occupied by the biscuits, her two tiny hands surrounding it.
“I should probably stop talking to you like you understand me.” Joon mumbles to himself, surprised when her head whips back to stare at him, a pout to her lips.
“Don’t do things like that.” He clutches his heart. “I’ll come up with a conspiracy theory that you can understand me.”
“‘oo’’.” She squeals. Going back to the biscuit in her hand.
“I’m not sure if that was Joonie, or Joon, or Moon, but I’m taking it. You’re getting closer baby girl.” He giggles, pushing them forward to the museum.
He moves them through the modern entrance, dropping the pram off. The large open plan area gleaming from all angles. He puts Min Jae into a forward facing baby carrier that he had slipped into his bag before they left his apartment that morning.
The babies face lights up as she sees everything from a new, higher, angle. Her feet bouncing in excitement and her hands grabbing at the air surrounding them. She lets out a little tune as she enjoys her new vantage point, kicking at the map currently spread out in Joon’s hands.
“Let me figure out where we’re going first.” He mumbled into her head, his finger tracing the pathways until he gets hit once more with two little booted feet.
“Okay, I guess we’re just gonna wing it then aren’t we?” He sighs, kissing her hair softly.
“So this is the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art.” He talks towards her head. “We have to be respectful of the other people here, so you be a good girl for me, okay?” Namjoon pulls his hand up next to them, smiling softly as Min Jae hits it with her own, grabbing his fingers occasionally.
“Okay.” He takes a deep breath and walks them through to the first part of the museum. Saying a silent prayer to the universe that the little one strapped to him will behave.
He walks through the first part of the museum at a leisurely pace. Behind the glass screens sit hundreds of ornate pieces of traditional Korean ceramics, his mind blown as he looks at each piece individually. Min Jae stays quiet, occasionally making a cooing sound as they reach something particularly ornate.
Her feet begin to kick in excitement as she looks at one particular vase, a large blue dragon, painted on a white background. She makes an awe inspired sound, her hand reaching out to grab at the glass. “You can’t touch it sweetie.” He puts his hand in front of hers, knocking lightly on the glass with his knuckles. “See, it’s protected.”
She makes a confused gurgle as she reaches forward once more. Her eyes still wide as she stares at the dragon. “Ah!” She cries when the dragon stays inaccessible.
“I know you want it, but it’s not for you.” He pets her hair, making a sympathetic sound.
“Hey, look at this one.” Walking the two of them over to an admittedly not as exciting porcelain jar, a black pattern etched into a white vase, Namjoon would guess they’re supposed to represent leaves.
Min Jae understandably turns herself back to try to return to the roaring dragon, making a grunting sound when Namjoon walks away even further. Namjoon holds back a giggle as she folds her arms in disgust at her uncle.
“I know, I know.” Namjoon soothes.
He walks them over to another pot. Pointing at the blueish green undertones of the ware. “This is buncheong.” He points at the piece in front of them. “It’s traditional Korean stoneware.” He moved his fingers towards the decorate design on the piece. Taking Min Jae’s hand as he traced it. “It’s painted using an iron pigment.”
She looked at him like he’d just told her something fantastical, her eyes wide as she listened to her uncle’s voice. Namjoon knew she was only enjoying the rumbling of his voice against her back, enjoying the attention being solely on her but it didn’t stop him from ruffling her hair as he spoke more about the piece itself.
“Come on, let’s go through to part 2.” He snuggles his head against the top of hers, placing a kiss there. Trying to hold back his amusement as she tries to turn back around for her beloved dragon piece.
“There might be something in here.” Joon whispers.
Namjoon walked them through into the next part of the museum, the previous ceramics replaced by ornate tapestries that hung against the wall. He watches in amusement as Min Jae makes grabby hands at one of them. “You can’t touch.” He reminds her.
She squirms in her baby carrier, her legs going long until they practically hurt Joon’s stomach where they dig in. She pushes her little body forward, trying to get closer to the pieces. Namjoon can't help but start to giggle as he watches her struggle, her body unable to move, but her determination seeing her through into the strangest positions.
She squeals loudly when Namjoon doesn’t give her what she wants after another moment, fighting with her makeshift seat, her hand pushing back at Namjoon’s chest. “Okay, okay.” He mumbled, holding in a giggle as he releases her from her confined space.
He holds her in his hands in front of him, his hand propping her up from underneath her, one hand snugly holding her against her belly so she’s unable to fall. Pointing her in the direction of the tapestries. “Is this what you wanted?”
Her hands go flat against the glass as she stares at one piece in particular, the black lines of the painting coming to life in front of her eyes. He cringes as her fingers leave obvious sticky stains on the glass, a day of biting them and food consumption leaving messy prints in her wake.
“Aaah.” She says. Pointing at one particular part of the painting and then looking back toward Namjoon.
“Yes.” Namjoon nods as if he understands every word.
She furrows her brow, staring at him. “Aaaah.” She says more insistent this time, pointing her finger at the painting.
Namjoon almost feels as if he’s living in some kind of cartoon universe as he looks at the baby in his arms insistently pointing at a piece of art that is somehow making her feel something. “I know baby.” He giggles.
She continues to point insistently, her eyebrows knitted together as she stares at her uncle. “I don’t know-,”
“I think she misses your voice.” He hears from the other end of the hallway, cutting him off. A small blonde figure smiling softly at the baby in his arms.
Namjoon turns his head and is partly ashamed at how quickly he almost loses his grip on Min Jae, his hands going lax as he looks at the gorgeous man staring back at him.
He starts to giggle softly at the way Namjoon fumbles with the baby, bringing her back to his chest, safely crushing her against him.
She soon makes a crying sound at the loss of the picture in front of her, struggling to turn around in his arms.
The man from the hallway giggles as he inches closer. “Hi.” He waves lightly. Walking up to the smaller person in his arms. “Hello.” He waves directly to her, stooping so he’s at height level. “And what’s your name?”
“This is Min Jae.” Namjoon answers, pushing her hair back gently. “We’re still struggling with the whole talking thing, aren’t we?” He looks towards her, smiling.
“Ah.” She says as if agreeing with the situation.
“No words at all?”
Namjoon shakes his head, “unfortunately. We got close today, ‘duck’ has officially become ‘ug’ or ‘uck.” He giggles at the silly nature of their conversation.
He smiles softly, before focusing his eyes upwards at Namjoon, straightening to his full height, although he still remained a good head or so shorter than Namjoon. “I’m Jimin.” He automatically puts his hand out to shake before realising Namjoon is encumbered with a baby and changes it to a wave.
“Nice to meet you Jimin-ssi.” He smiles. “I’m Namjoon.”
“I saw you in the other room.” He admits. “Someone was quite fascinated by the blue and white dragon piece. Weren’t they?” He directs the question down at the small person in Namjoon’s arms. “It was part of the Joseon Dynasty by the way, we believe it was brought to life in the 15th century.” Namjoon nods amazed, Min Jae staring up at the new man in interest.
“I think she just liked the dragon to be fair.” He laughed, slotting Min Jae back into the carrier.
“Well, it doesn't matter what piques you're interest in here, as long as something does. You're never too young to get into art.” He smiled knowingly.
Namjoon tilts his head to the side in interest. “That sounds like someone who is speaking from experience? I am very much an avid lover of the arts, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert. I just want to make sure this little one gets as much exposure to as many different forms of creativity while she’s still young. Even if she won’t even remember this moment in a years time.”
He nods along to Namjoon’s words, smiling at the baby strapped to his chest, waving intermittently. “I was, well, I still am, a dancer in my spare time, so I was always in the ‘arty’ group at school. My best friend Kim Taehyung is an artist, he is actually starting to become a bit well known.”
“Wait. Taehyung… The Kim Taehyung?” Namjoon’s eyes grew wider as he looked at the other man.
His breath catches in his throat as Jimin nods shyly. Taehyung was Korea’s newest upcoming artist, his work already displayed in multiple galleries and museums across the globe from Paris to Tokyo. His work sold for millions in galleries. All this and the man was somehow still only 23.
“He’s…” Namjoon blinks. “He’s a huge deal.”
“He is.” Jimin laughs. “He also talks with his mouth full and can get lost walking in a straight line, but don’t tell anyone I told you that.” He winks.
Namjoon shakes his head, awe still evident in his voice."Wow, that's... wow." He sighs as his brain processes the information. "Incredible... But, you say you were part of the arty group?”
Jimin giggles. “Wow, you’re willing to go back to my story even after I tell you who my best friend is, most people just ask me for his autograph.”
Namjoon crinkles his nose in confusion. “Wait, really? How? Do people think you just carry signed pictures of your best friend around with you?”
Jimin throws his head back laughing. “Exactly! That's what I always say.” He bounces on his feet, his voice probably too loud for a museum, but he didn’t seem to care.
Min Jae giggles as she watches Jimin laugh, her hand reaching out towards him, grabbing at the air.
“Oh, hi sweetie.” Jimin giggles. “Can I?” He waits for Namjoon’s approval, his hand half way out in the air.
“Of course.” Namjoon laughs, watching as Min Jae vibrates with excitement grabbing hold of one of Jimin’s fingers, her hand taking up half of the length of one of his fingers.
“I know I have small fingers, stop looking at them like that.”
“I wasn’t.” Namjoon lied.
Jimin snorts, shaking his head. He looks back up to Namjoon, swinging his hand back and forth, entertaining Min Jae to no end as she follows their fingers. “So I started to get interested in art, and I was always pretty good at school? One thing led to another and before I know it I’m majoring in Art History and Literature at SNU.”
Namjoon creases his forehead in sympathy. “That must have been a difficult few years.”
Jimin shrugs. “I’m now the youngest curator the Leeum Museum has ever seen, though.” He grins wide, winking as he shows off.
Namjoon’s eyes go wide. “Oh. You work here? And you're the... Oh crap. I didn’t… I didn’t butcher the name of anything in here did I? I-I promise, I’m literally talking to a baby, I have no real formal knowledge.”
Jimin giggles, swatting his free hand at him. “It was cute. She was very interested.”
“She just likes the noise.” Namjoon shrugs him off. “She has no clue about any of this.”
“I think she seems really interested.”
Namjoon shrugs, leaning forward to kiss the back of her head.
“Either way, it’s a very supportive appa move.”
“Oh, no. I’m not her appa.” He shakes his head vehemently.
“Oh...” Jimin shakes his head surprised. “You... literally look identical.” He furrows his brow, staring between the two of them as if trying to solve a mystery.
“No, no. She’s my identical twin sister’s daughter, she heavily resembles her, and by extension me. My sisters literally just a prettier version of me.” He giggles. “She’s travels a lot for business, because she’s wonder woman.” He laughs. “But we’re the real fighting team aren’t we kiddo?”
Min Jae gurgles up towards him, her hand still clutched tightly around Jimin’s fingers.
“Oh.” Jimin smiles. “Well she’s adorable just like her uncle.”
Namjoon freezes, his mind unable to formulate words as he stares at the gorgeous blonde man in front of him referring to him as adorable. Him. The man who can’t open a bottle of water without spilling it and almost breaks everything he touches.
“I…”
He starts but is cut off by a very loud scream coming from the tiny person in front of him. Her vocal chords going lower and higher as she requests everyone's attention back on herself.
“Do you want attention?” Jimin giggles, his smile creasing his eyes up into little half moons.
Namjoon almost melts as Jimin boops her nose, his tongue poking out as he does, his eyes going wide and crazy.
Jin Mae giggles, her hands swatting at the air in front of her as she motions Jimin closer to her.
“I think she’s bored of the museum.” Jimin smiles softly.
“She’s probably just hungry.” Namjoon laughs, “she gets cranky when she’s hungry.”
“Well there’s a park nearby with a huge pond. I can take you, if you want… we can go look at the ducks?” He directs his question at the younger one, but his eyes flick up to Namjoon’s afterwards.
“‘Ug!!!” Min Jae cries at the word once more, giggling as Namjoon tickles under her arms.
“She is determined to say the word duck first I think. I’m still pushing for Uncle or Joonie.” Namjoon smiles, holding one of her hands in his letting her hit it repeatedly with her first. “I’d love to take you up on your offer.” Namjoon looks towards the man with wide eyes. “If you can get out of work…”
“I’m the curator. I can do what I want.” He winks. “And this little one is far too cute for me to walk away from.” His body language makes it seem as if the comment is directed at Min Jae, but Namjoon gets the feeling it’s actually directed at him and a warm feeling runs through him at the thought.
They walk slowly back towards the entrance, Min Jae becoming more and more cranky as time goes by, her legs kicking outward whenever Namjoon begins to walk too slowly, or the attention isn’t on her. “I have a packed lunch in my bag.” He mumbles, “she’ll be fine after that.”
“We’ll go see the duckies and get you some food, huh little one? That sound good?” Jimin tilts his head to the side as she reaches out towards him, her eyes entranced by Jimin’s facial features.
“She is never usually this good with new people being this close.” Namjoon remarks as he takes her out of her carrier when they reach the pram.
“Oh she’s just a sofie.” Jimin pouts. “Do you want me to help?” He lifts his free arms in indication he can do whatever Namjoon wants to do.
Namjoon feels himself hesitate for a second before finally deciding he can trust Jimin, depositing the baby in his arms for a moment while he unfolds the pram.
Jimin is making faces and noises at Min Jae as she giggles loudly, the sound echoing around the hall. “I’m sorry, she’s not normally this loud.” Namjoon cringes to Jimin.
“It’s okay.” He giggles. “You’re with me, no one’s going to complain.” He winks, waving at one of the receptionists who smiles softly at Jimin holding the baby girl in his arms. “See?” He whispers.
Namjoon holds his arms out to take the Min Jae back, but instead she clings to Jimin’s shirt, her voice babbling things very insistently as she wraps her tiny legs around Jimin’s upper torso.
Jimin’s eyes fly up to Namjoon in a slight panic, breaking to amusement as she insistently shakes her head no.
“Min Jae…” He sighs. His hands gripping her waist as he tries to pull her back.
She babbles louder, her hands now completely fisted in Jimin’s shirt in a sign that she is not letting go.
“I think she’s staying put.” Jimin laughs as Namjoon practically stumbles backwards in his attempt to remove her.
“I’m so sorry, she’s never like this, she’s usually an angel.” He tries again, wrapping his arms around her torso, pulling her backward, but her hands pull Jimin’s shirt forward with her. The small man almost losing balance himself as he stumbles forward.
Jimin head goes back as he laughs, wrapping his arms around the little one clinging to him so she stays steady and up right. “Let me just hold her for a bit, I don’t mind.”
“I…” Namjoon bites his lip with worry.
“Look I promise, she’s safe with me, and she’s not going anywhere. I don’t mind.” He pulls his lips into a pout as Min Jae looks up toward her uncle with wide sparkling eyes.
“Clearly she likes you.” Namjoon tilts his head to the side.
“She’s my new best friend.” Jimin giggles, leaning his head against hers. "Taehyung, move aside." He smiles brightly up at the taller man.
“Okay.” Namjoon breathes out heavily. “Just... if she becomes too heavy you let me know.”
“Promise.” Jimin squeezes her close, much to the little ones delight, a happy giggle spilling from her.
They walk outside into the fresh air, Namjoon cringing at the amount of time they spent attempting to unwrap Min Jae from Jimin in order to place her warm, bear themed coat on her, the small hood pulled up around her head with the two ears poking out from the top.
“So, I’m technically ditching work right now... but, how does a seemingly well adjusted, and well dressed, adult have time to take his niece to a museum in the middle of the day?”
“Ah.” Namjoon laughs, nodding his head. “I appreciate you adding in the well dressed part as that’s actually part of the reason.”
Jimin looks at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. Min Jae’s head snuggled in against his shirt, her eyes peeking out to look across at her Uncle every once and a while.
“I’m a free-lance writer. Well, I used to be employed, but when this little one was born, I switched to free-lance and it kind of suits me better as I can write about a lot of things rather than being restricted to one small column online or in the newspaper.” He shrugs. “Plus, just before she was born my fashion blog started to really take off, and running it became more and more of a full time job anyway.” Namjoon huffs. “I don’t want to sound like I’m a big deal, or that I’m tooting my own horn, but having to fly to a fashion show in Japan is not always possible when you have a day job.”
Jimin laughs at him. “So that’s why you’re wearing an up and coming designer I’ve heard Taehyung go on about and shoes that I’m pretty sure cost my monthly salary.”
Namjoon holds his feet out to the side of him as they walk, the pram not making it any easier. “Ah, yeah, these were sent to me.”
“So you are a big deal.” Jimin laughs, cradling Min Jae closer after she starts to stretch in his arms.
“I wouldn’t say that-,”
“How many instagram followers do you have?” Jimin looks at him, his eyes dancing with laughter, as he waits for the answer.
“Probably… I dunno… A few million?” Jimin barks out a laugh, jostling the baby in his arms who looks up towards him with a pout.
“Oh I’m sorry.” He coos towards her, stroking the fur of her hood, settling her back against him. “You’re a big deal then.” Jimin winks. “I’m ashamed to say that most of my feed is art, ceramics, K-Pop girl groups and memes.”
“Eclectic mixture.” Namjoon laughs.
“I’m very cultured.” Jimin winks. “But we support and stan girls who are working their butts off and becoming rich and famous whilst doing it - don’t we?” He bounces Min Jae in his arm who giggles excitedly.
“That’s what her eomma’s doing.” Namjoon ruffles her little hood, her head leaning into his hand. “She’s vying for the CEO position in her company as the current one is due to retire soon without a successor, so we’re all pitching in so she can at least stand a fighting chance against the competition.”
Jimin whistles. “That’s one role model she’s got there.”
“That’s what I keep saying.” Namjoon nods. Sitting himself down on a bench near the lake with Jimin next to him, setting out some lunch boxes to the side of him. “This is usually when she gets fussy.” Namjoon sighs, taking her from Jimin’s lap, and settling her in his, passing her the first small triangle sandwich from the box. She shakes her head vehemently, turning her nose away from the food.
“You would think finally being able to have real human food would fill her with tons of joy after being on baby food and milk for months.” Namjoon sighs, trying again with the sandwich, biting some of it himself and making loud sounds of enjoyment.
Min Jae eventually accepts the sandwich with the bite already taken out of it, munching against the corner suspiciously. Eventually she decides it must be to her taste as she starts picking the food apart and eating it. Namjoon’s leg kicking out every now and then so they don’t become swarmed by pigeons thanks to her droppings.
Jimin brings out his phone as they talk idly, his fingers swiping and going back and forth. “So what is your handle? I guess I should attempt some style tips.”
Namjoon giggles, his dimples shining. “You’re doing just fine without me.” He motions at his dark suit and chanel pin twinkling brightly in the mid afternoon sunlight.
“Is that you’re way of telling me you don’t want to follow me back?” Jimin pouts to him, smiling brighter as Namjoon looks at him in crestfallen confusion.
“No! No!” He shouts, making Min Jae stare up at him confusion from where she was currently babbling to one of the pigeons that managed to sneak past Namjoon, singing a song only she understood.
Jimin giggles, looking to Min Jae and making a silly face directed at her uncle. She giggles along without understanding.
“It’s DailyKim.”
“Ah, found you!” Jimin cries, skimming through the posts Namjoon already had up. He snorts at one particular post from that morning, Min Jae’s socked foot kicking at his smiling face. “94 line?” He points towards his bio, Namjoon humming in agreement. “‘95.” He points to himself. “Hyung.” He winks.
Some time later as Namjoon feeds Min Jae another corner of the sandwich Jimin begins to talk once more, breaking Namjoon from the comfortable spell he’d been put under.
“I’m not very good with subtle so I’ll just ask.” He holds up the phone towards Namjoon. “Boyfriend?” Namjoon brows furrow in slight confusion, then widen in humour as he can see where the question is coming from. He stands with his best friend Hoseok, their arms wrapped around one another as Namjoon looks at him with stars in his eyes.
He shakes his head. “No.” He giggles. “That is Hoseok, one of my really good friends with a slightly drunk me wrapped around him. I think I might have just given him a five minute speech on how much I love him directly before this picture was taken.” Jimin giggles at the picture now.
Namjoon swipes to the next in the set. “That’s his boyfriend, Jin. My Hyung.”
“Wait isn’t that the guy from that new drama?” Jimin snaps his fingers as he tries to remember.
“Yeah.” Namjoon nods, laughing. “I can never remember the name of it and he hates me for it, but yes, that is the Kim Seokjin.”
“I walk past his billboard every day on the way home.” Jimin giggles excitedly.
“And that is my best friend Yoongi.” He points at the smallest figure of the group.
“Wait, why do I recognise him too?” Jimin furrows his brows in confusion.
“Agust D?”
“No f-ing way!” He masks his swearing with the young ears present. “You know Agust D?!” He gasps in astonishment. His body bouncing in excitement. “Oh my God, me, Taehyung and our best friend Kookie, we always listen to his music! We’ve even been in a hotel room where we’ve blasted it so loud we got a noise complaint.” He giggles at the memory. “Wow, Taehyung has such a crush on him.” He shakes his head in amazement.
Namjoon falls back giggling. “Really? Our lil’ meow meow?”
“Oh crap, you have cute nicknames for him? My heart is gonna explode. I can’t wait to tell Taehyung.”
“Can you believe Jimin is so impressed by Uncle Yoongi?” Joon looks towards Min Jae who perks up at the name Yoongi, her arms flapping excitedly. “Oh, apparently she is too.” Namjoon giggles. “You'll get to see Uncle Yoongi tomorrow.” He boops her nose, handing her one of the grapes from the other box.
“Uncle Yoongi?” Jimin squeals in excitement.
“To be honest she gets more excited about his dog. Watch this.” He winks. “Min Jae?” She looks up at him after a second. “Are you excited to see Holly tomorrow?”
With that she bounces on Namjoon’s lap, her hands clapping together in excitement as she tilts her head from side to side, an excited cry coming from her lips as she looks at the two of them expectantly.
“Oh my gosh, my heart, it actually hurts." He clutches at it and pretends to melt into the bench below him. "So, hang on, wait, how do you know Agust D?”
“Oh! We went to college together.” Namjoon shrugs. “It really wasn’t that exciting. I was doing English language and literature whilst he was majoring in music production. He saw me reading a poetry book one day and gruffly asked me to go to a poetry reading with him as he didn’t want to go alone but was attempting to find inspiration. I went, and yeah, we’ve been best friends ever since.” He shrugged.
Jimin raises an eyebrow at him, and Namjoon shakes his head before he can ask the question sitting on his tongue. “No, that was his way of asking me on a date, and yes we tried it, but no. We argued way too much, we were much better as best friends.”
“So you do… you do like guys then?”
Namjoon feels the apple of his cheeks redden as he nods silently. Jimin’s own face morphing into one of triumph.
Min Jae clambers off of Namjoo’s lap and his hands go out to catch her before she crawls once more into Jimin’s. Her hands reach out to grab Jimin’s in hers as she babbles to him about something neither of them could understand.
Jimin gasps as he listens to her, making sounds of agreement or disagreement based on her tone. “Uncle Joonie did what?!” Jimin gasps, bringing his hand to his chest as he listens to Min Jae babble. “Scandalous!” Min Jae looking enthralled that Jimin was communicating with her.
“Well I for one thoroughly agree.” Jimin nods. “Milk just isn’t what it used to be is it?”
Min Jae shakes her head sadly, her babbling matching up scarily with Jimin’s random words.
Namjoon head falls back laughing as he watches them interact, handing grapes and carrot sticks to Min Jae randomly who eats them without realising. Her mind too focused on Jimin’s reactions to care about being fussy.
He hears the FaceTime call a few moments later, bringing the phone out in front of him as his sisters face pops into view.
“I thought you’d be finished with the museum by now.” She smiles.
“‘Ri.” Namjoon pouts. “It’s like 3 in the morning, why aren’t you asleep?”
“I just got back from dinner and I wanted to see my baby once more before I got into bed.” she makes a sound of relief as she kicks her shoes off, a makeup wipe to her face as she talks.
She screams as Namjoon turns the phone to face Min Jae, Jimin still talking to her. “Who’s the stranger with my baby?” She cries, face panicked.
Namjoon laughs, Jimin’s head turning towards the phone. “Oh! Whoa - Hi - You’re literally identical.” His eyes grow wider, his eyes swinging between the pair.
“Yeah that comes with the territory of being twins.” She huffs, staring daggers through the screen at her brother. “Who is that?”
“It’s fine, we met at the museum. Jimin is the curator.” He smiles excitedly. “He showed me some of the exhibits. Then he helped me sort the pram to get ready to leave and Min Jae just... refused to let go… So he ditched work and we came to look at the ducks together.” He spins the camera so Nari can see the lake in front of them, facing it back towards him seconds later.
“Look Minie’s fine.” He puts the camera face level with the little one who waves excitedly at her mother through the screen, her voice babbling as she tells her eomma all about her new best friend Jimin.
“So everyone’s safe?” She looks around the screen worriedly. “I don’t need to call the police.”
“Everyone is safe.” Namjoon soothes her.
She breathes a sigh of relief at her brother’s words, facing Jimin through the phone. “Hi I’m Nari.”
“Hi Noona.” He waves at her. “I’m Jimin. Sorry I gave you a fright, Min Jae’s just become quite clingy with me.” To emphasise the point Min Jae climbs up Jimin until she’s seen on the screen again. She babbles towards her eomma whose face grows softer at the sound.
“Hi baby.” She sighs happily. “Are you being good for Uncle Joonie?”
Namjoon holds the phone lower to Min Jae, looking at Jimin sympathetically. “I’m sorry.” He mumbles.
Jimin only waves him off. “She’s her eomma, I wouldn’t expect anything less, I am a stranger after all.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.” Namjoon mumbles.
“No, I guess not.” He smiles.
They stare at each other for what only feels like a second when they’re interrupted by a cry through the phone. “Joon! Stop flirting and pay attention to Minie!” She cries.
Namjoon’s head turns instantly to look down at the baby next to him. His eyes growing wide, and then wider as he realises nothing’s out of place. “What? You scared me!!!”
She cackles through the screen. “Made you panic.”
“I hate you.” Namjoon mutters, as Jimin giggles in the background.
“Well, I’m sorry I had to meet you through a phone screen, and with only half a face of makeup on.” She holds the wipe at the screen, causing Jimin to laugh harder, shaking his head. “But Min Jae and Joon seem fond of you.” She smiles.
“Min Jae and me are becoming fast friends aren’t we?” He looks down at the little one in his arms, smiling at her. She doesn’t quite understand what is happening but she grabs at his cheeks, squishing them between her small chubby fingers.
“I like this one Joon. Keep him!” She raises a brow.
“We haven’t even…”
“I was about to ask him out when you called.”
She giggles at Jimin, winking at Joon. “Yep. I definitely like him, make sure you say yes Joon. I trust Yoongi Oppa to watch Min Jae alone. Go.” She looks to Jimin. “He always thinks he can’t do anything that doesn’t involve Minie when I’m not there, force him to please? For me?” She pouts at Jimin. “Eomma loves you Minie. Be a good girl, I’ll be home soon. I’m sorry Joon, I’m just half asleep here.”
Namjoon sighs sympathetically, nodding. “Go sleep, FaceTime me when you’re awake and we’ll talk properly, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing.”
She nods with a small sad smile on her face, blowing kisses at her daughter. Min Jae curling closer into Jimin’s arms as her mother's face disappears from the screen.
“And that’s Min Jae’s eomma.” Joon sighs, his hand coming up to his face.
"She seems lovely."
"She is." Joon smiles fondly at the thought of his sister.
"You didn't answer, but you didn't say no either. So, does that mean it's a yes?"
“A yes?”
“On the date.” Jimin tilts his head to the side. Min Jae squeals in excitement for some reason, her face peeking out as she recovers from her mother's disappearance. “See, even this little one thinks it’s a good idea.”
“You know, regardless of what she says I spend about fifty percent of my time looking after a baby.” He raises a brow at Jimin.
“I like kids.”
“She usually ends up coming first.”
“I’m very busy with work.” Jimin whispers.
“When I’m not doing that I’m writing.”
“Can you cuddle me while you write?”
“Yes?” Namjoon looks at him with brows raised.
“Then I think we’re going to do just fine.” He smiled. “I’m a very cuddly person.”
“I… I like being cuddled.” Namjoon’s cheek flush at the admission.
“Oh. Your uncle is adorable.” He cries, looking to Min Jae.
He slides across the bench, slotting into his side, picking up Joon’s arm so it slips around his shoulder.
“How about we count this as date number one?” Jimin looks up at him.
“Yeah. Yeah I’d like that.” Joon mumbles around a smile.
“Date number two next week?”
“How about tomorrow?” Joon bites his lip, bravely asking the question while his cheeks flame.
“Tomorrow it is. Tell Agust D to cancel his plans.”
With that Namjoon throws his head back giggling. Min Jae looking up at her uncle with wide sparkling eyes.
“Do you like Jimin?” He asks head tilted the side.
“‘SSSS.” She replies, nodding her head vigorously, hugging his front.
“Skipping work was the best idea I've had in a while.” Jimin smiles, it only growing bigger as he catches Namjoon's own smile grow out of the corner of his eye. He holds his hand out, pointing to the ducks on the lake.
“What’s that?” He asks Min Jae, eyes wide.
“UG!!” She cries, her body vibrating with excitement.
“She's getting there.” Namjoon laughs.