Blended

An Unenthusiastic Apology

Namjoon sniffled from his spot on Jin's lap, hiding his face in the man's broad chest. He'd finally been allowed out of time out after ten minutes. He'd had to apologize and help clean up to be allowed up but he'd managed. He really hadn't wanted to apologize but he knew with certainty that Jin would have put him right back on the step if he refused.

The baby didn't quite know what to think, he'd never been disciplined before and hadn't really understood what was happening. He thought he could just wear Jin down like he always did to Yoongi but it hadn't worked. He really hadn't liked that he got his backside smacked. He had heard Jungkook and Jimin say they got spankings if they were naughty but Namjoon hadn't thought a smack would sting so much. He felt bad for thinking Taehyung overreacted when he got a spanking now. Namjoon never been spanked before and after that swat, he'd like to keep it that way!

Namjoon was interrupted from his musing with the door to the bedroom finally opening for the first time since that morning. Everyone looked towards the door, surprised at the sudden interruption and Jungkook made a beeline to the couch, climbing up and cuddling safely between Yoongi and Jin while Jimin hopped down from his spot where he'd been playing quietly with Taehyung, a big smile on his face.

He had the opposite reaction than Jungkook, running right over to Hoseok and jumping into his arms. Hoseok for his part, smiled sheepishly at Jimin, pulling him tightly in his arms and kissing his head, apologizing quietly to the baby for leaving him all day.

Jin pat Jungkook's head as the baby cuddled into him. He was honestly a little curious about Hoseok's behavior. It wasn't like him to abandon Jimin like that. Jungkook yes, he'd done that plenty but Jimin was his baby. The man couldn't even manage to put the boy in timeout because he hated upsetting him so much, leaving him knowing it would cause Jimin stress was practically unheard of.

Hoseok didn't look at the others, able to feel their judging gaze without a glance. Instead, he sat down in one of the armchairs, cuddling Jimin into his lap. Coddling him as an apology for leaving him like that. He felt extremely guilty. Jimin was so used to being the absolute center of his daddy's universe, he didn't understand why he'd had to leave him so quickly.

"I'm sorry baby," he whispered, softly in between kisses to his head. "Daddy's sorry he left."

"I play with TaeTae," Jimin smiled up at his caregiver, ever forgiving of his favorite person. "Didn't even get in trouble like Joonie."

Namjoon for his part, finally lifted his head from Jin's chest to glare in Jimin's direction. Offended that his punishment was getting announced to strangers.

Jin chuckled and tossled the baby's hair, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about baby, everyone gets in trouble from time to time. Jiminie's been in time out and gotten his bottom spanked more times than I can count. He's not judging you."

"Didn't like it Appa," Namjoon whined.

"That's why it was a punishment silly," Jin replied and tapped his nose. "Are you going to be good and listen to Yoongi now?"

Namjoon side-eyed the other caregiver, keeping his mouth shut.

"Joon..." Jin scolded, giving his hip a tap which was quick to get the baby's attention. "You were in timeout and got your bottom swatted because you were not listening. You need to listen to me and Yoongi. If I see you treating Yoongi like you did today you will be getting a real spanking and you can ask Jungkook or Jimin, you do not want that."

Jin knew he was being firm but he was not going to allow the baby to continue acting so disrespectfully. Had he seen Jimin or Jungkook act the way Namjoon did today they were be nursing very sore backsides right now. He was going easy on the newest baby because he was still adjusting to his little side, but he still couldn't continue to let Joon get away with that kind of behavior.

"Joonie," Yoongi finally spoke up, moving Jungkook onto his lap so he could scoot closer to Jin. "I want to understand why you're so mad at me. I just want to take care of you."

Namjoon huffed, turning his face away from the man.

"Namjoon," Jin scolded, getting tired of the attitude. "For someone who is saying they didn't like a sore bottom, you're sure acting like you'd like another one."

That got Namjoon whining and turning back around. He kicked his feet a little in frustration. He was so used to acting like this with Yoongi. If he didn't want to talk about something he would just be mean to him and Yoongi would go away. Jin, it seemed, would not allow this. He was not a fan of being called out on his behavior.

Yoongi shifted Jungkook a bit and rubbed his back, the baby getting a little uncomfortable at watching his new friend being scolded. "Joon, I love you. I've always wanted to care for you. I don't understand why you don't like me so much."

Namjoon was silent for a moment, a big pout on his face until a soft tap on his cheek from Jin got him talking. As much as he wasn't really liking the reinforcement, these physical reminders that he was going to have to do what was asked of him helped get him out of his head.

"You're not my Appa." Namjoon muttered, subconsciously grasping onto Jin's shirt.

"I want to be your caregiver," Yoongi said, hugging Jungkook's waist. He was trying not to be hurt by that comment, but it was hard. He'd tried for such a long time to take care of Joon only to be pushed away. He didn't understand what he was doing wrong.

"Brother," Namjoon replied shyly. Now that he was out of his mood he didn't like that he'd made Yoongi sad.

Jin took Joon's hand when it subconsciously started making it's way to his mouth. It sounded like just what the man expected. Joon had seen Yoongi as an equal, not a caregiver, that's why he wasn't listening. He was viewing Yoongi as a brother who was trying to boss him around, not an authority figure guiding him.

"Yoongi is still the one caring for you and you need to listen," Jin added, when Yoongi remained silent. "Even if you view him as your brother he is still in charge and you need to listen to him. There's going to be no more of this fighting every word he says and definitely no more hitting."

"Jin's right," Yoongi said, finally finding his voice again with the help of the other caregiver. "I love you Joonie and want the best for you. If you don't want me to be your Appa, that's okay but you need to respect me."

Namjoon pouted but nodded. He didn't feel like he had much of a choice. Even if he didn't like it, this seemed to be how the dynamic was now.

"No more hitting," the baby agreed. He wasn't quite ready to agree to listen to Yoongi completely and accept him as his caregiver but it was a step in the right direction.