Louder than Bombs | KNJ

Two Dads

Lara watched as the team split into its parts and then when Namjoon tugged her hand, she followed him from Jin's office, up the stairs back to his own.

She started forward to one of the office chairs, but Joon surprised her and tugged her to sit next to him on the couch again. She sat next to him and for a moment he didn't speak, but then reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. A gesture that always made her eyes drift closed and made her want to curl into his embrace.

It was just the effect that being around Namjoon always had for her. Comfort, strength, and stability and she relished that feeling now as her eyes drifted closed.

"I know you want to get started on our next steps my Lara, and so do I, but I wanted to make sure you were ok first," he said softly, and Lara opened her eyes to watch Namjoon. He twisted slightly on the couch and scooped her up and lifted her into his lap, making her laugh helplessly as he tucked her against him once more.

"I can't always just sit on your lap to feel better Joonie," she teased, and she felt him laugh a little.

"I don't know Lara. It makes me feel better too you know," he teased back, and they both giggled for a minute before Lara's giggles turned into sobs. As he recognized the change, Namjoon shifted until his arms enclosed her in a tight embrace and Lara sobbed her worries into his shoulder.

"Ah. I thought that might happen," he murmured and stroked Lara's hair for a minute.

She took a minute, but eventually she pushed against him until his arms loosened and she sat up a little more.

"Crying won't help us find Appa," she said as she wiped her face, and Namjoon nodded slowly but embraced her once more.

"It won't. You're right. But I think it helps you a little," he said and while she started to shake her head no, Namjoon just spoke over her.

"I wasn't there the last time Lara," he said, and Lara stilled as she listened to his words. "I couldn't be there when your Abeoji was taken from you," he said, and Lara felt fresh tears at the reminder.

But she felt that strength in Joon's arms and remembered the words he'd sent to her that night, and all the nights after.

"You were there Joon. You were always there, even when you couldn't physically be there," she whispered and sat up again.

Turning slightly, she placed a gentle kiss against one cheek and then the other before softly pressing her lips to his mouth.

"You were there for me when I couldn't even see it," she whispered as she kissed him again. "You were there for me when I didn't even know it," she said as she leaned in once more, but this time Namjoon kissed her back. She felt his mouth open to accept her kiss, and she delighted in tasting his tongue with her own before drawing back once more.

"You're here now, and now I'm here with you too," she said, and he grinned at her words this time.