Brother Stealer

Jihoon is five when his brother, Yoongi, brings him to their house. Jihoon is playing with his plastic guitar and mike, jamming out to the wiggles when he hears the door open. Yoongi must be home. O h boy, how excited Jihoon felt now that he could finally play with his big brother. The familiar figure of his brother steps through the door and Jihoon immediately drops everything, hoping down the sofa while his little feet pad over to his brother hurriedly.

"Hyung!" the toddler says as he jumps onto the older boy's arms, giggling when they almost fall over. His chubby arms enclose themselves around Yoongi's neck, fighting against his brother's pleas to get off him. He felt as if he hadn't seen him in years! His mother say it's only been a few hours since Yoongi had dropped Jihoon off to school (their mother works early in the morning, leaving Yoongi to drop off his brother), but she must be wrong because it feels like an eternity!

It isn't until Jihoon opens his eyes that he notices another boy standing behind Yoongi who's watching their embrace.

"Jihoon! I almost fell over!" Yoongi exclaims as he finally manages to put his brother down. Jihoon, who was still eying the stranger, ran behind Yoongi, hiding behind the older's legs as he peered around to see the other boy.

"Oh, Seungcheol, this is my little brother Jihoon," Yoongi says as he pries Jihoon's hands away from his legs.

The stranger, Seungcheol, smiles down at Jihoon. "Hi, Jihoon," Seungcheol greets him, crouching down to come to eye level with Jihoon. Seungcheol extends a hand for Jihoon to hold, but Jihoon shy's away because his mother told him never to talk to strangers. Jihoon's mom comes inside shortly after, watching as Seungcheol keeps his hand in midair, waiting for the toddler to accept his hand.

"Jihoon honey, where are your manners?" She questions, ushering Jihoon to return the gesture, but the toddler doesn't budge, opting instead to eye this Seungcheol guy. Its beyond Jihoon why his mother would want him to talk to a complete stranger.

"I'm sorry, he's just shy," his mother says and Seungcheol nods in understanding, getting back up as Jihoon runs behind his brother.

They head up the stairs while his mom prepares them dinner. Jihoon remains by Yoongi's side, clutching at the older's hand as they walk up to his brother's room. Jihoon keeps looking up at the stra- at Seungcheol as the two 15 year old boys engage in small talk that Jihoon can't quite comprehend, but Jihoon does understand when the word 'play' comes out of Yoongi's mouth. Jihoon has only ever played with Yoongi. The games they have can only be played with two people, so he doesn't know what the three of them can possibly play together, but as they enter the brothers shared room, Yoongi stops Jihoon right before the toddler could accompany them inside.

"Jihoon, go down stairs," his brother orders.

"But Jihooonie wanna pway too." Yoongi shakes his head. "No, go down stairs." Jihoon's lip starts to quiver as tears start to prickle his eyes. Yoongi has never said no to him, they always played together, it's what brothers were meant to do.

"Bu-"

"-No buts, Jihoon," Yoongi interjects. Jihoon notices Seungcheol taking out a black box type thing from his backpack and hooking up the colored wires into the television.

"This game is for big boys only, not babies." Jihoon pouts in protest. "Jihoonie not a baby! Jihoonie is fwive, a big boy" the little one says as he holds up four little fingers instead of five. There's a slight chuckle from inside the room and Jihoon pouts when he realizes his brother won't let him play.

Jihoon's bottom lip juts out and he starts to sob. His tiny hands rub at his eyes. "Jihoonie wanna pway wif hyung!" Yoongi sighs, crouching down to take the crying toddler into his arms.