𝙱𝚃𝚂 𝙸𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚂

↳ ᴘᴀɴɪᴄ

*Non-Idol AU*

(Parents!VMin x Child!Male Reader)

The four-year-old pulls up his coat sleeve and glances at his [favorite cartoon character] watch, the smaller handle slowly approaching the seven and the big handle just before the three, but it made no difference because the child couldn't tell time yet, and pulls his sleeve back down. He draws his coat around him even tighter, burying the lower half of his face into his scarf, and sighs.

Due to the transition from autumn to winter, the sun sets earlier in the day and graces the city with chilly afternoons and freezing nights. M/N's teeth chatter inside of his mouth and he shivers at a particularly-cold gust of wind that blows the hair out of his face and painfully nips at his cheeks, but he refuses to move from the park bench he currently sat on.

'Mommy always told me to stay here if daddy was ever late,' M/N's breath comes out in puffs of smoke as he gives a huff of determination, 'and that's what I'll do!'

Another strong wind makes the child's eyes sting with the buildup of tears.

'But,' M/N internally monologues, his body vibrating from a violent shudder, 'it's so cold!'

M/N's elementary school had started to let the children out a bit earlier than normal because of the sun setting early in the winter, so, understandably, most parents were a little late in picking up their kids after school due to the sudden change in pace. But, M/N's eyes dart around in the pitch black park, the only lights being the moon and a street lamp a little down the sidewalk, and whimpers.

A few hours late?

M/N's daddy was never this late in picking him up, so you can just figure out how much the boy's mental capacity not unlike that of a small teaspoon was running with all sorts of crazy ideas as to why he is as late as he is.

'Did he die?' Is the child's first thought, inevitably jumping the gun in this scenario.

But, what can you do?

'Daddy did look a little tired today...'

"That's it," M/N sighs and pushes himself off of the bench. "Daddy's dead! I need to go home and let mommy know."

The child moves to start his walk home that he was never taught (so, he wouldn't really have been able to get home on his own) until a hand pulls at the back of his backpack.

"Whoa there, little guy." An amused voice calls. "Where do you think you're going?"

M/N turns around and looks up at the person, staring at his friendly smile and colorful hair in silence.

"Home," the child finally answers after a few seconds.

"Home? In the dark?" The stranger questions, slightly lowering himself down to the boy's eye level. "Where are your parents?"

"...My daddy's dead and my mommy's at work."

The male reels back, visibly surprised at M/N'a blunt nature, but the smile still remains on his face.

"Well, do you want to stay with me until someone can come and get you?"

M/N purses his lips.

"I don't know... My daddy always told me not to talk to strangers."

"And, your daddy taught you well! But, it's too cold for you to be outside right now, little guy. Here," the man holds out his hand for the boy to take, "why don't I take you someplace warm and get you something to eat? We can talk and get to know each other, so then we won't be strangers anymore!"