blue jeans | dotae

9

9:00am. Taeyong's place. 3rd May 2019.

"Taeyong stop it!" Doyoung groaned as the smaller held onto his leg, preventing him from leaving the flat "I have to go home, baby"

"I don't want you to leave!" Taeyong wailed "Stay, I need you. I can't be alone, please stay"

"Taeyong, what the hell is wrong with you?!" the taller growled in irritation "Why are you being so clingy?"

"N-no reason just don't go" Taeyong whimpered "Don't go please"

"Tell me what's wrong and I'll gladly stay" Doyoung folded his arms across his chest expectantly.

Taeyong looked up at him with his large pleading eyes and his lips pressed firmly shut.

"Fine then" the taller turned away "I'll just be on my way"

Taeyong began to cry but didn't speak a word of protest, letting the taller have his way and walk out of the door.

Doyoung's stomach churned as he left the crying boy behind him, closing the door. But he had to do it. The taller couldn't let them cling to each other 24/7. There were things that he needed to do.

The churning of his stomach increased as he walked into his neighbourhood. His neighbours and people of the area all stared and whispered obviously with shock, disappointment and horror at his freshly dyed hair. He tried to shake it off but failed, his heart hammering in his chest.

The children of the street were out playing on their scooters near his house and they all ran over to him as soon as they saw him, hoping he would give them money for sweets and comics as he often did.

"Hyung! Hyung!" they jostled with wide smiles and pink cheeks "It's Doyoung Hyung! Hyung is here!"

"Hey kids" Doyoung grinned feeling some of his nerves seeping away "Hey Jeno, hey Jaemin. And is that little Chenle, have you grown? You're almost as tall as me! And hello Mark and Donghyuck I hope you're playing nicely. Hi Renjunnie, why so quiet hmm? Wow, Jisungie I love your red hat it looks great on you!"

Doyoung always preferred children to adults. The way kids didn't judge based on hair colour, skin colour, height, wealth, weight. They saw past all that, down to what was really important. Down to love and happiness.

"Hyung!" Jeno grinned "I like your hair!"

"Thanks kiddo" the eldest chuckled, sitting down on the curb and letting the kids crowd around him.

"I wanna change my hair too! Want pink hair!" Jaemin happily spoke while the other boys laughed at him, causing him to pout "What?! What's so funny?"

"You'll look like a unicorn!" Chenle cackled.

"I like unicorns" Renjun mumbled "They're nice"

"I like unicorns too" Jeno smiled, his eyes turning to the prettiest crescent moons "They can run really fast!"

"They can't go fast as a Ferrari!" Mark cut in with a knowing expression "When I grow up I'm going to have a Ferrari in every colour of the rainbow!"

"I don't like Ferrari's" Jisung quietly stated with worry "I just want my scooter"

"He's too little to understand" Donghyuck clucked his tongue like a mother hen.

"It's okay guys" Doyoung laughed pulling Jisung on to one knee and Renjun onto the other "Everyone's different but we're all equal. You guys need to look after each other. Promise me?"

They all nodded and promised with big eyes.

Renjun wrapped his skinny arms around Doyoung's neck and buried his head in the tallers chest.

"What's up with Renjun, guys?" Doyoung asked, kissing the top of Renjun's head. Renjun was always a quiet child but he was never down like this.

"Bunny got in trouble from his Mama and Baba" Chenle frowned.

"Why?!" the eldest gasped. He was shocked as Renjun was the most well behaved, polite and least chaotic of the pack.

"He got into a fight at school" Jeno explained "Someone was being a meanie to Jaemin"

"Jae was playing with the dolls, Hyung" Donghyuck spoke with a tense expression "And a boy from Markie's class went to him and pushed him! Then Renjunnie came and saved him and he punched that meanie really hard!"

"Is this true, Injun?" Doyoung asked seriously, gently moving Renjun so he could look at him properly.

"Y-yes Hyung it's true" Renjun whispered as his bottom lip wobbled, eyes filling with tears.

"Please don't shout at him Hyung!" Jaemin cried on the verge of tears himself "It was my fault for playing with girl toys and not playing football like the other boys and and and not standing up for myself! Please don't tell Bunny off!"

"Nana" Doyoung smiled, shocking all of the children "I couldn't be more proud of you all. There's nothing even wrong in the slightest with playing with dolls Jaeminnie. And Bunny you did such a good job looking after Nana like that! I'm so happy and proud of my little brothers. Of all of you"

"We're your brothers?" Jeno gasped excitedly.

"Of course" Doyoung nodded with a wink making all the boys laugh and grin with pride.

"E-even me?" Jisung lisped out, pointing to himself with doubt.

"Of course, Jisungie" the eldest hugged them all close before fishing out his wallet and handing them each a couple of bills "Here you go boys. You've earned it"

"Wow, look Hyuckie I'm rich" Mark laughed holding up his money.

"I'm going to buy a Ferrari!" Chenle squealed.

"I'm going to buy a new scooter" Jisung mumbled while everyone laughed fondly with their youngest brother.