Baby (Jin Centric) | By Dew

Chapter 27

T/W: None
Words: 1300

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Seokjin twisted the last stem in it's place, completing the white flower crown. He turned to look at Moon who was struggling with his own, RJ snuggled in his lap. Seokjin could not stop the soft smile from spreading over his face, eyes fond as he looked at Moon pouting in defeat.

"Why can't I do this?" the teen whined cutely, looking frustrated with himself. Seokjin stared at the soft features of the twelve year old, wondering not for the first time what was real and what was not.

The flower garden around him was engulfed in a sheet of mist. It wasn't as thick as before but Seokjin could only barely make out the trees at the perimeter. According to Moon, the sun was high in the sky and the air was clear but Seokjin hadn't spent enough time in the inner world to see it clearly.

"Don't worry, hyung has done it for you", Seokjin whispered the words that he had previously said only to his six maknaes. The affection wasn't any less even if this seventh maknae was a new addition. Moon grinned as the elder man reached out to place the crown on his head, gentle and careful. The white and green contrasted beautifully against his dark brown hair and Seokjin had the sudden urge to ruffle them.

So he did.

"Hyung!" Moon whined as the elder messed up his hair, "It took me so long to tame those curls! Do you have any idea how hard it is to comb curly hair?"

"Hyung has an idea of everything", Seokjin's eyes twinkled, mouth set in a proud smile. He got up and moved towards the large closet standing close by, as white as the frame of the bed, "Turn around, hyung will comb your hair."

Seokjin wasn't sure how long he had been in this place but after some time of getting used to this world, he had started asking questions. And he started by asking why did Moon only had a huge bed and an equally huge closet in this garden. He knew, at some level, that inner world could be changed at the will of the alter. So why hadn't Moon tried to make a house?

"House for only one person?" Moon had replied with a sad, yearning smile. Seokjin's hurt clenched painfully, wondering not for the first time how long has this kid been alone, "This is enough for me, don't worry, hyung."

"You will comb my hair?"

Seokjin was snapped out of his thoughts by the soft, hopeful question. He looked at his maknae, at his teary eyes and messy strands of hair framing his small face. The elder smiled, coming to sit behind Moon.

"I'll be gentle, promise."

Seokjin took hold of the crown and set it aside gently. Moon sat stiff with his back straight, his posture both melting and hurting Seokjin's heart.

"Relax", he whispered, starting to comb the brown hair with utmost care, "It's just combing."

"No one has ever done this to me."

No one has ever been with me.

Seokjin gulped down his tears, a familiar protectiveness growing in his chest, "Hyung will do it."

The air warmed up as time passed, the mist drifting away a bit, enough to let Seokjin see the green grass more clearly. The two sat in a calm silence, Seokjin counting every stroke of the purple comb. He heard Moon humming a song after a while, soft and imperfect but still cute. It took him a few seconds to understand what the kid was mumbling.