Chapter Text
Life wasn’t great, there was no denying that, but Seokjin knew life could never be perfect, and he appreciated how his life turned out compared to others in the world. He didn’t have a life filled with money, he lived in a tiny one-bedroom house, with a barely functioning shower or fridge, but none of that mattered because he had his children. Yes, Kim Seokjin was only 26 years old but he was already the proud father of 5 beautiful and precious children.
He lived a simple, quiet, and peaceful life, filled with laughter and love.
Not really, but that’s what Seokjin liked to tell himself, to avoid the memories of the screams, the bruises, the pain and the tears. But all of those only ever happened to him. Yes, only him, because Seokjin would rather kill himself than to let anything happen to his precious babies.
His kids were his light, his sunshine, his…only reason for living.
Said man took a deep breath and opened his eyes, letting it out in relief as his eyes landed on the empty side of the bed, barely big enough for two people. But he wasn’t allowed anything bigger, no, Seokjin didn’t deserve anything, except for the pain and suffering. He sat up quietly, mind still on alert for any warning sounds, even though he knew there was no-one else around. Walking silently down the short corridor, the brunette poked his head through the only other bedroom in the house, only to smile softly at the sight that greeted him.
Hoseok, his oldest lay buried under his brothers, but he didn’t seem to be bothered by it, if his snores were any indication. Namjoon lay across his chest, head resting on Hoseok’s arm, with the older’s hand in his pink hair, and with Jimin’s head on his back. Jimin, as usual was curled up in a ball, hugging his younger brother Taehyung against his own chest and unsurprisingly Taehyung let it happen, just as satisfied with his placement as his brother. Seokjin’s last son, Jungkook lay slightly further away from his siblings, but Seokjin noticed his tiny hand bunched up around the back of Jimin’s pajama pants.
Yes, Seokjin didn’t deserve anything nice but his sons, these wonderful boys, they deserved the world and more. There was nothing Seokjin wouldn’t do to give them all what they wanted, because these boys, they were worth it. Worth the punches, the kicks, the cuts and the burns it took to protect them, to make sure they had food in their bellies and beds to sleep in.
With the memories threatening to surface and make him cry, the 26-year-old made his way to the sorry excuse of a kitchen. He had to make breakfast for the 5 kids before dropping them off to school. Yes, Seokjin thought, school, because the boys deserved a decent education, and yes that privilege had cost him a huge sacrifice, with scars to prove it. But again, anything to ensure his boys could have the best life he could possibly offer them. Seokjin busied himself with the cooking, mind always alert to catch any potential threat, but all that could be heard throughout the tiny house was the sizzling of the eggs in the frying pans. That is, until he heard the distinct and very recognizable pitter patter of children trying to be what they would call ‘stealthy’. He smiled faintly and played along, keeping his attention and gaze locked on the eggs, hearing the soft giggles coming from Taehyung who was convinced he was fooled. He waited until the last second, turning the gas off – for safety – when he felt his closest victim right at the back of his legs. In an instant he had turned around, uttering a soft ‘boo’. The reaction he got was better than he could have hoped for. He began laughing as Taehyung’s eyes widened impossibly, trying to take a step back only to knock into Jimin, who in turn pushed one of his brothers and the result were 5 boys splayed across the floor, trying to crawl over each other to escape the man that surprised them.
Seokjin spoke in a growl, walking toward them slowly.
“Hm, I’m pretty hungry and, just my luck, I have 5 juicy little boys to eat all by myself!”
He was met with various shouts and squeals, all 5 of them bolted towards their bedroom as they laughed.
Seokjin chuckled, going back to his cooking and laying out the breakfast plates as he called out to the hiding children.
“Come on out now boys, or the monster will end up eating your food and you won’t have anything to fill your bellies with!”
He was met with the desired effects, serving the eggs on the plates as the squealing boys ran back in the opposite direction, taking their seats at the small table. It was a tight fit, with barely enough place to set the plates or move much, but it was all they had, and no one complained, not all that bothered to have to share space with each other.
To anyone watching, they were the perfect little family, but if you looked closer, you would notice the deep bags permanently etched under the man’s eyes, the constant flickering of eyes towards the door and clock and you would wonder, what could this man possibly be nervous about?
The answer came later, at night, when the kids are most often asleep and not there to witness the horrors that take place in the tiny house, and too young to understand anyways.
The children finish their meals, with Seokjin helping the youngest get the food to his mouth rather than on his shirt, putting a stop to the bickering threatening to become an argument between his twins Taehyung and Jimin, as well as keeping poor Namjoon awake enough to not sleep in his eggs. The brunette checks the cracked clock on the wall and bites his lip, noticing the time. He orders the five of them to hurry and get ready for school as he rushes to prepare their lunches. He curses softly as he notices that there isn’t enough bread for the 6 of them but doesn’t think twice before placing what they have in his kids’ lunch bags. He’ll just have to figure something out for himself, or he won’t eat, it wouldn’t be the first time, and he’s had worse before. Just as he’s about to shout for them to hurry, they all walk out of their room mostly dressed, with Hoseok and Namjoon latched on to the twins, trying to get their coats on right, leaving Jungkook to drag his pants behind him, and his other hand clutching his bunny plush. Seokjin thanks them in his head, rushing to Jungkook and helping him in his pants before rushing them all out in the cold with Jungkook in his arms. They all speed walk down the sidewalk, and it only took a few second for Seokjin to realize he’s missing two things; the lunches and his coat. He’s about to tell his kids to wait when Jimin’s soft voice reaches him.
“Appa, don’t worry, we took our lunches!”
“And Kookie’s too!”
Their father lets out a huge sigh of relief, thanking both his twins for being so smart and independent while smiling down brightly at them. They set off again, Jungkook telling him about last night’s dream while the other 4 pair off in conversation. Seokjin sometimes has to remind them not to stray too close to the road, and 10 minutes later they get to school. He stops them all at the gate before kneeling to give them each a big kiss, telling them to be careful and fixing their coats. It may only be autumn, but the wind has no mercy and is biting sharply at the man’s bare arms and hands. The pain means nothing to him, but he doesn't want his babies to get cold or sick.
With one last 'I love you' to each, Seokjin waves them off, staying outside until he sees them all enter the building safely. Hoseok and Namjoon stay at Jungkook’s sides, holding his tiny hands in theirs and Jimin and Taehyung race each other to class as they laugh. He knows he’s being paranoid and that he should rush home - he’s freezing without a coat - but he can’t help himself and stays to the last minute, making sure nothing happens to them.
He can't believe Hoseok and Namjoon are already 6 going on 7, that Jimin and Taehyung are already 5 and Jungkook 3. How could time pass so fast? How did they turn into such big boys so fast?
He’s about to turn around and leave when a rough but not unkind voice distracts him.
“You really shouldn’t be out here with such a light sweater, you’ll freeze to death.”
And although Seokjin shouldn’t be talking to anyone, he can’t help but face this person, just to see who he is.