Embracing Power. ✅

Asking for help

Tae came home to Hobi's house that day in the best of moods. Hobi had taken that day to work from home, so he was relaxing on the sofa in just a pair of dark sweats, flipping through Netflix in search of something to watch.

"Honey, I'm home," Tae exclaimed, taking his shoes off before venturing further into the room and sitting on the other end of the sofa.

"Well, welcome home, dollface." Hobi snickered. "How was your day with Jin?"

"Oh my god, Hyungie, it was amazing!" Tae raved. He went on to tell Hobi all about being offered the position of Headmaster and turning it down before being offered the job of his dreams.

"I am so happy for you, Taetae. And judging by the beaming smile you've been wearing since you walked in, you're pretty happy too." Hobi reached over, giving his dongsaeng a tiny hug. "I'm going to miss you at There's Always Hope, but I can understand wanting to live your dream."

"That would have been my other choice if I didn't get this hyung. I enjoyed piecing the puzzles together there. It was just different enough to make it a new challenge every time." Tae answered, slightly flustered at feeling Hobi's naked chest pressed against him.

"Ah, I'm glad. Well, since you're going to be dealing with college-aged students needing jobs, feel free to send me a few good ones."

"Will do Hyung. Um, do you think we could maybe talk?" Tae pulled at a loose thread on his pants, wanting to talk to Hobi, but not sure if he should.

"Of course, Taetae. You can talk to me about anything!" Hobi paused the movie he had finally decided on, turning his body to face the shy, nervous boy next to him.

"So I know you, well you know way more about these things that I do, so I was wondering..."

"Lol, say it, Tae. It can't be that bad." He interrupted.

"Well, see, the realtor called and said she has a few houses for me to look at. And since you know what the housing market is life, and what a fair deal is, I was wondering if you would go with me to look at them?"

"That's what you were nervous to ask me? Of course, I will, Tae, it sounds like fun actually!" Hobi rubbed Tae's knee. "So nervous for nothing. I remember you saying you wanted a lot of land. About how big a plot of land were you thinking?"

"Oh well, I want to be able to have a nice big fenced in area for any pets I get. And I definitely want room for that greenhouse too." Tae gushed, his face getting excited. "I'd love a nice big back patio as well, so I could get a nice firepit, and we could all sit out there some nights after dinners. And I definitely want to put flowerbeds around the perimeter of the house. Maybe add the pool house on, too, if there isn't one, so there has to be room for that too. So geesh, I don't know if we include the woods like 20 acres or so?"

"Ah, so you definitely want to be out in the country. There are some nice houses out there, but what if you don't find anything?" Hobi questioned. "Are you willing to move closer to town and settle for something without the amenities you want?"

"I mean, yeah, if it comes to it, I will. But I'm sure there's something out there for me."

Their heads turned as Jimin finally walked into the house, his demeanor melancholy and his adorable face set into a pout. He plopped onto Hobi's lap and just buried his face right in his neck, his arms wrapping around the older man.

"What's wrong, Jiminie?" Hobi kissed the side of his boyfriend's head, wondering what got his normally cheerful Jimin so down today.

"We had to put two doggies down today. I hate this part of the job." He whined. And nobody could blame him. That part of the job absolutely sucked and would make anyone sad.

"I'm sorry, baby. How bout you take a nice hot soak, and I'll give you a massage afterward. I know it won't make up for what happened today, but maybe it will help you feel a tiny bit better."

"Ok, I'll go do that."

"Hi Taetae, bye Taetae."

"Goodnight, Jiminie."

AN. So short, I'm sorry, but it's a set up for some bigger chapters coming up.