When 6 became 7

Chapter 28

The days after the incident with the stylist were awkward. Whenever the group was in the same room with their staff, a weird and tense tension was palpable in the air and it made everyone on edge. Despite the incident only involving one person who was immediately send back to Korea by Sejin, it left a much bigger impact than first expected. Not only had Jungkook turned into the shyest toddler ever as he was too afraid to say or do something that could upset the big people around him, but the brothers were also watching everyone with hawk-eyes. They will never ever allow someone to shout at their youngest again, so whenever someone just looked or came closer to Jungkook, at least 3 of them stood up to gather Jungkook in their arms.

Even security started to get involved when they had heard about the stylist. The 6 big and strong men in black had protected the members since their debut, so they were fuming and decided to watch over Jungkook more as well. Normally, they would only be seen when the group traveled from one place to another, but now they were also found in their dressing rooms or in lunch rooms when the boys were eating. The bodyguards meant well, but their presence didn't really bring anything positive with the already pressing atmosphere.

"Namjoon, can I talk to you for a second?" Sejin asked the leader when he found him sitting with Seokjin and Jungkook in the break room. The rest of the group was still rehearsing on stage because Yoongi needed some extra help from the dance line members.

"Sure" Namjoon answered but with no intention of getting up. The rapper even gestured to their manager to sit down next to them, but Sejin shook his head. "Outside please"

Namjoon put his glass of water back on the table and swallowed nervously before glancing around the room. Besides themselves there was only a bodyguard in the room, so nobody else of the staff, but still... What if the stylists and make up artists decided to take a break as well? He knew it was wrong to assume that all stylists would act the same and form a threat, especially since he knew most of them for years but the incident earlier was still too fresh on his mind.

"Namjoon please. Lee hyung is here to watch over them. It will only take a few minutes"

"Can't we talk here? You can say anything to Seokjin hyung as well" the leader said, but once again Sejin shook his head. The older man then tried to gesture at Jungkook with his eyes without being too obvious and whispered "But we don't know how many ears are also listening"

Namjoon looked at Jungkook and sighed when he saw the tiny human. Jungkook was sitting on Seokjin's lap with a sipping cup in his hands, but his big eyes were watching Namjoon and Sejin the whole time. Over the years they had gotten used to the kid's doe eyes that could bore into your soul, but usually they shone with mischief and love. But none of that was seen right now, because Jungkook looked constantly anxious despite being surrounded by his hyungs. It tore their hearts apart and they tried everything in their power to make the kid laugh again, but it wasn't easy. Especially not when they were out in the open with strangers around them. The only moments they could see Jungkook relaxed and happy nowadays was when they were back in the hotel room, with the door closed and only hyungs or Sejin present.

"It's okay Joon" Seokjin said as well and he tried to give the rapper a reassuring smile, but he was failing miserably. The oldest was struggling as well and crumbling under the pressure of being Jungkook's guardian, because everything about his little brother felt off. He was even considering to end their tour early because with weeks passing, he felt like Jungkook was only getting worse. It all started when he was tested positive on Covid and needed to be separated from his baby brother, and since then Seokjin felt like Jungkook wasn't himself anymore. The toddler was getting more withdrawn, less energetic, anxious and in constant need to be close to his brothers. And bad things like the playground attack with Taehyung and the stylist a few days ago had really done a number on his behavior. So the oldest of the group was fearing what would happen to Jungkook if something else would happen before they could finally go home and let Jungkook rest in their comfortable dorm.

"Are you sure?" Namjoon asked again

"Yes, like Sejin hyung said: Lee hyung is here as well"

Namjoon nodded and looked at their bodyguard who was keeping his distance from the three adults, but the man had heard everything and gave the boy a firm nod. It was enough to reassure him to leave Seokjin and Jungkook alone for a few minutes and left the room with Sejin.

"Hyung?" Jungkook asked when Namjoon was gone.

Seokjin hummed and looked down at his brother in his lap. He didn't need to ask what was wrong, because Jungkook was already holding his sipping cup in the air to show it was empty.

"You want more water?" the oldest brother asked as he kissed the top of Jungkook's head and nuzzled his nose in his hair for a second to smell the boy's shampoo. It smelt like peaches which Jungkook loved the second smelt it in the store where they had bought it months ago. It reminded him of the day they all went to the shopping mall and had one of the best days of their tour so far. Just hanging out, shopping, eating nice food and enjoying their lives like all twenty-year olds should. It was a happy memory, but right now it also made Seokjin sad when he realized that he didn't feel happy the past couple of weeks.

"I have some water" a male voice joined them, causing Seokjin to look at his right side. Their bodyguard had come closer and showed a water bottle in his hands. "Thank you hyung" Seokjin said as he was grateful that he didn't need to stand up to get something for Jungkook.

The man smiled and knelt down next to them to make himself small when he looked at Jungkook. "Hey buddy, I got some special water here. Don't tell anyone, but it will give you very big muscles"

Ah, that seemed to catch Jungkook's attention because the kid's eyes were glued on the bodyguard. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were watching the man closely, but not in a bad way. It almost seemed that Jungkook was fascinated by the man, and it made Seokjin chuckle silently.

"You're big" Jungkook even whispered. It was a miracle that Jungkook was speaking to anyone besides his brothers and Sejin, but the small voice still showed that he was too shy to fully speak for himself.

"He's very strong, isn't he Jungkookie?" Seokjin said and kissed his brother's head once again. "Lee hyung can lift very heavy things, like your big brother"

"Really?!" the toddler gasped and turned his head upwards to look at Seokjin. He then focused back on the bodyguard "Can you cawwy a...... cow?"

The unexpected question made Seokjin and Lee laugh out loud, causing Jungkook to get confused and snuggle closer against his brothers chest again. But the bodyguard was quick to comfort him and flexed his big biceps "I can carry an elephant and a cow!"

"Wow" Jungkook breathed out, but he remained close to Seokjin who had wrapped his arms around his middle. "I wants to be big!"

"Then you got lucky today, because I have some special water left that makes me strong!" Lee said and carefully took the sipping cup from the toddler's hands. He opened the bottle a bit clumsily because he wasn't used to these cups, but that didn't bother Jungkook who only had eyes for his big upper arms. The kid even gathered some courage to lean forwards to touch the bulky muscles with the tip of his finger.

"Ohhh"

"Ohhh?" Seokjin echoed his brothers reaction with a chuckle.

"There you go" the bodyguard said when he was finished and gave the cup back to Jungkook "In a few years you will also have big arms like me"

"Coolie" Jungkook answered while sipping on his water again. Seokjin thanked their bodyguard who stood up again to return back to the door and continued to enjoy his brother for a moment. He maybe didn't had a great day the past couple of weeks, but he did realize he still had precious moments with his baby brother that he should not forget.

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Short chapter with some angst and fluffffff <3

I'm sorry for the ones who like fluffy chapters: I have some angst/hurt/comfort ideas coming soon :)