"Kook?"
"Hey Chim, I'm just heading back now and I was just about to go and buy us some dinner. Why'd you call?"
"Any chance dinner could wait?"
"Uh oh, what's wrong?"
"Tae needs picking up. He just called me because he's little, but I'm not gonna be back for another half an hour yet. I was hoping maybe you could go and get him, but if not I'll just ask Hobi Hyung. He seems upset so I'm just a bit concerned with him being alone and all."
"No no, I'll get him, don't worry. Is he at work right now?"
"He's outside it."
"...Okay, I'll get going. See you later, love."
"Thanks, bun."
Jungkook was still in his lifeguard uniform when he'd jumped into his car, throwing his stuff into the back and setting off as soon as he could. He knew that little Tae calling them in the first place meant that something was wrong, but Tae never slipped at work, hadn't slipped for days, and was in the middle of a shift. So naturally, Jungkook and Jimin were rather worried.
Jungkook actually managed to spot Taehyung before Taehyung noticed him, walking down the path from his parked car and finding the little hidden in a small alleyway, face buried in his knees.
"Baby bear?"
Taehyung's head shot up in that instant, and when he saw that it was Jungkook, he got up and jumped at him almost immediately, the younger catching him in his arms.
"Woah, what happened?" Jungkook hummed softly, gently stroking Taehyung's hair to try and soothe him when he realised that the boy was in tears, trembling in the younger's arms.
"W-wan go home... p-pease." The little practically pleaded, and Jungkook sighed, unable to tell if the boy was shaking because he was frightened, or shivering from being outside as it was rather cold. It could easily have been both.
"Alright, bub. You can tell me what's wrong when we get home then, okay?" Jungkook spoke, pressing a kiss to Taehyung's forehead and glaring at a passer by who was giving them a weird look. Jungkook let Taehyung down and took his hand, leading his upset little to the car and buckling him in the back, before hopping in the front to drive him home.
He could hear Taehyung softly crying in the back and it just broke his heart, glancing back at him through the rear-view mirror and letting his brows draw together with sympathy when he saw how the little was desperately trying to wipe the continuous tears from his face, putting on a brave expression.
"Darling, Papa's on his way home too. I'm sure he'll be more than ready for cuddles." Jungkook hummed, hoping to lighten up Taehyung's mood a little, but the little could only sniffle and nod, a look of fear in his eyes. He was scared to tell them that he'd been fired; he felt that they'd be disappointed and would scold him.
He started to panic a little when they pulled up outside their apartment, fidgeting in his seat and shaking his head vigorously when Jungkook came round to unbuckle his seatbelt, causing the maknae to frown with worry and move a little faster.
"Uh oh, up we go. Daddy's here." Jungkook quickly cooed when he saw the panicked expression on Taehyung's face, immediately lifting him into his arms again when Taehyung clung to him, a sob escaping his lips while Jungkook bounced him softly.
"Don't panic, tiny, you're okay. Whatever it is Daddy can sort it." Jungkook softly reassured him, carrying Taehyung inside and hearing a car pull up behind them. Jimin jogged into the house to catch up with them the moment he saw them walking inside, shutting the front door once everyone was inside and following the two into the lounge. Taehyung was still crying softly into Jungkook's shoulder when the younger sat down on the sofa with Tae in his lap, gently hushing him and casting his worried gaze to Jimin who came and sat beside them.
"Do you know what happened?" The ravenette whispered to him, and Jimin bit his lip and shook his head, though they both knew that it had to be to do with Taehyung's boss. That man had been stressing the poor boy out all week.
What they didn't realise was how Taehyung came out of headspace momentarily, letting out a shaky exhale and hiding his face in the side of Jungkook's neck.
"H-he... he fired me."
The others froze.
"I'm sorry, i-it's my fault. He grabbed me and pushed me a-an yewwed at T-Taetae... iss aww T-Taetaed fauwt! I-I so sowwy."
He'd slipped again before the first sob could leave his lips, and the caregivers looked at each other with wide eyes, immediately sandwiching Taehyung in a protective hug.
"God- baby, no. It's not your fault at all, don't be sorry. We're not mad at you." Jimin gasped softly, rubbing the little's back and kissing his shoulder when the brunette whimpered and rubbed his irritated cheeks on Jungkook's shirt.
"I think I need to go and have a word." Jungkook spoke in a pretty pissed-off tone, and considering he could see the anger in Jungkook's eyes, Jimin knew that he wouldn't just be talking to Mr Chen.
"Bun, that can wait." Jimin whispered, and Jungkook turned to him and paused before nodding, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"Right, sorry."
Jungkook turned his attention back to Taehyung, hooking his hands under the boy's arms to pull him back on his lap a little so that he could look him over.
"Did he hurt you? Any owchies?" Jungkook whispered, humming in question and pecking the upset little's nose. Taehyung sniffled and rubbed his eyes with little fists, a firm pout clinging to his lips.
"A wittle bit." He mumbled, looking down and plucking at the zipper of Jungkook's jacket to avoid eye contact.
"He did? Show me where, sweetheart." Jungkook sighed gently, and Taehyung huffed, lifting his index finger and pointing at his jaw and his wrist where he'd been grabbed. Jungkook was quick to kiss him in both of those places, ending with his forehead, and Taehyung couldn't help the tiny smile that pulled at the corners of his lips.
"Fankoo, Daddy. Iss aww bettew now." The little whispered shyly, causing Jungkook to coo while Jimin gushed over them.
"Of course, bub."
It was only a matter of time before Taehyung's face fell again, the brunette feeling gentle hands on his waist pull him into another lap.
"At least you don't have to go to that nasty job anymore." Jimin hummed in his ear, pulling Taehyung's back carefully against his chest and watching with careful eyes as Jungkook brushed the hair from Taehyung's sticky cheeks.
"B-but now Taetae haff to find anothew job." The little sniffled, eliciting a soft chuckle from Jungkook.
"No you don't, bubba. If you don't wanna work then you don't need to worry, Papa and I have enough money to pay for things. I know work stresses you out a lot, and we like happy little Taetae the most."
His tone was comforting, but Taehyung's bottom lip wobbled and he shook his head vigorously, making the others frown.
"Nuh uh! D-Daddy an Papa hewped Taetae wots an wots, so Taetae muss gib back. I-I hab to." Taehyung spoke with adamance, getting visibly upset again, so Jimin wrapped his arms around him while Jungkook gently wiped the tears from his cheeks with his thumbs.
"Pumpkin, as sweet as that is, we don't need your money. You give back to us in so many wonderful ways that are way better than that." Jimin spoke, pressing his lips to Taehyung's nape while Jungkook met eyes with Taehyung's big, glossy ones.
"W-Weawy? How?" He stammered softly, the others already prepared with their answers.
"You make us happy!"
"You give us cuddles."
"And kisses."
"And cookies."
"You help us when we're sad."
"And we enjoy looking after you, honest."
"All you need to do to repay us is just be here, bub. We love you, and your company is worth more than all of the money in the world." Jimin finished, opening his arms wide to symbolise how much Taehyung meant to them, and the little couldn't help but giggle softly, turning around and diving into Jimin's chest to hug him.
"I lub you... l-lub Daddy an Papa the mostest." Taehyung said, making his boyfriends smile fondly at him.
"We love you too, sweetheart. Now, why don't we go out for dinner tonight? Let's celebrate you finally getting rid of that horrible boss." Jungkook said, cocking a brow when Taehyung smiled softly and nodded timidly.
"C-can we get Panda Express instead? P-pease?" The little mumbled, giving his boyfriends the puppy eyes that they were weak to, but it's not like they were gonna say no anyway. It's was just good to see him smiling again.
"Sounds good to me."
"Yay!"
