Between Blood and Desire ~ YoonMinSeok

Morning Sunlight.

Authors pov

The golden rays of the morning sun seeped through the thin curtains, casting soft shadows over the room. Hoseok stirred under the blankets, his body stretching lazily as his eyes fluttered open. The ceiling above came into focus slowly, and for a moment, he felt the weight of reality pressing down on him.

He sat up on the bed, running his hands over his face to clear the remnants of sleep. His first thoughts immediately went to Lila. She was his priority, his everything. He turned to look at her crib with heavy eyes, expecting to see her small form peacefully nestled in her blankets.

The sight of the empty crib made his heart skip a beat.

"Lila?" Hoseok's voice trembled as his eyes darted around the room, hoping she was just hidden in the folds of her bedding or tucked into a corner.

Nothing.

His breath quickened as panic surged through him. His feet hit the cold floor as he bolted toward the door, shouting, "Jimin!"

The hallways blurred as he ran, his mind racing with every worst-case scenario imaginable. The sound of muffled laughter and a television reached his ears from downstairs, and he hurried toward it.

Bursting into the living room, Hoseok froze, relief washing over him in waves. There, on the couch, sat Jimin with Lila in his lap, her tiny hands clapping along to the colorful cartoon characters on the screen.

Hoseok took a deep breath, his chest heaving as he walked closer. His glare landed on Jimin, who finally glanced up with a raised eyebrow.

"Why the hell did you take her without telling me?" Hoseok demanded, his tone sharp with residual fear.

Jimin’s brows furrowed, his face twisting in confusion. "I can take her whenever I want. She’s my daughter, for crying out loud," Jimin shot back, his voice calm but firm.

Hoseok rolled his eyes, unwilling to engage further. "Just... tell me next time," he muttered, turning on his heel.

As he made his way toward the stairs, a loud knock echoed through the room. Hoseok groaned under his breath, already dreading who it could be. He opened the door and cussed softly when his eyes met Yoongi’s smug face.

"Morning, sunshine," Yoongi greeted, waving casually before stepping past Hoseok and into the house without waiting for an invitation.

"Make yourself at home," Hoseok mumbled sarcastically, shutting the door behind him as Yoongi strolled into the living room.

Jimin’s expression darkened the moment he saw Yoongi, his lips pressing into a thin line. "What are you doing here?" he asked coldly, his arms instinctively tightening around Lila.

Yoongi smirked, unbothered by Jimin’s hostility. "Came to see my beloved brother," he said, plopping down on the couch right beside Jimin. His sharp gaze shifted to Lila, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "And my adorable niece."

Yoongi reached out to take Lila, but Jimin immediately shifted her away from him, his glare cutting. "Don’t touch her," Jimin snapped.

"Relax," Yoongi said, feigning innocence. "I’m just saying hi."

Hoseok watched the scene unfold from the doorway, biting his lip to stifle a laugh. Yoongi’s audacity was almost entertaining.

Jimin’s eyes flicked toward Hoseok, catching the faint chuckle that escaped him. "Oh, so this is funny to you?" he asked, his tone laced with irritation.

Hoseok held up his hands defensively. "No," he said quickly, clearing his throat. "Why would I think this is funny?"

Jimin let out a frustrated sigh and, without another word, thrust Lila into Yoongi’s arms. He stood up abruptly, his jaw tight. "Fine. You deal with him," he muttered before storming out of the room.

Yoongi grinned, clearly pleased with himself, as he cradled Lila in his arms. The little girl giggled, tugging at the collar of his shirt with her tiny hands.

Hoseok let out a long sigh and walked over to sit beside Yoongi on the couch.

"How’s life treating you, Hoseok?" Yoongi asked softly, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.

Hoseok leaned back against the cushions, his gaze distant. "Miserable," he admitted with a bitter laugh.

Yoongi hummed thoughtfully, his expression softening. He shifted Lila to one arm and reached out to intertwine his fingers with Hoseok’s.

"You’re stronger than you think," Yoongi said, bringing Hoseok’s hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to his knuckles. "Things will get better soon. I promise."

Hoseok glanced down at their joined hands, then at Lila, who was now playing with Yoongi’s collar. A small, tentative smile broke through the storm of emotions clouding his face.

"Yeah," Hoseok murmured, nodding slightly. "Things will get better."

But deep down, he knew there was still so much he needed to figure out—so much to settle with the men who had turned his life upside down.

For now, he’d hold on to the fleeting sense of peace.