Jeongguk spent his two days in Seoul with Jimin, going to all the places the latter could think of that’s memorable to him. Jeongguk can tell that Jimin is as desperate as him- desperate for him to remember. For him to come back.

As Friday came, Jeongguk declines Jimin’s offer to have dinner with the rest of their ‘friends’ because aside from the fear of facing Taehyung bubbling inside his chest, he’s also not feeling well. His head had been aching recently and he swears he’s had enough pain reliever to get through it. Or so he thought.

- 🎨 -

To say that Jeongguk is nervous is quite an understatement. He’s a total mess but he can’t really show that to his son now, can he? Storm has been eyeing him for the past few minutes, lips forming into a small pout when he realizes how his father wasn’t really listening to his story about how his teacher gave him a /very/ big star just because he defended one of his classmates from the bullies who threatened to take his lunchbox away.

Jeongguk only stops pacing around their hotel room when Storm decided to stand up and drag him towards the couch. He looks at his son with a confused look but Storm pays him no attention this time. Once they’re settled down, Storm reaches out to hold his hand, eyes staring hard at his father’s own ones.

“Daddy, repeat after me,” he whispers to Jeongguk whose face is contorted in shock. “I will not turn into a fool in front of Papa Tata,” Storm continues. Jeongguk follows suit, dragging every word his son had said, but he dawns into a realization at the end of the sentence.

“Wait, did you just trick me into making a fool out of myself?” Jeongguk asks, voice mildly threatening and Storm instantly knew what’s going to happen.

“Daddy, no!” But before he can even escape, Jeongguk already had him caged in his arms, fingers already digging on his sides. They continued playing around until they’re out of breath, and they only stopped when Jungkook notices how red Storm’s face had become. He holds him close, brushing a stray hair away from his face since it was almost blocking his eyesight.

“Love you, buddy,” he whispers, lips ghosting over his son’s forehead. Storm’s eyes light up after hearing him say that.

“Love you too, daddy. Always.”

And if the corner of Jeongguk's eyes brim with tears after hearing those words, Storm doesn’t really need to know.

- 🎨 -

“Storm? What will you do when you see your Papa Tata?” Jeongguk asks the moment they pull over at the parking lot. He’s still nervous despite Storm saying that he can’t be.

“I’m just going to hug him so tight he couldn’t breathe. I miss him so much, daddy.” Storm sounds so upset, so hurt, and that doesn’t go unnoticed by Jeongguk. He takes his seatbelt off and turns to look at his son. He cups his cheeks and strokes it gently with his thumb.

“And that longing will end now, Stormy. Look behind you,” Jeongguk tells him.

Storm does so, removing his own seatbelt in the process. Once he’s out of the car, he’s met with the same man who made them feel loved and took care of them when he was barely learning the ways of the world.

He’s met with the same armsㅡ the same warmthㅡ that used to cradle him every night when he couldn’t sleep. He runs up to him, hands instantly clutching the strings of the man’s hoodie, as if he’s afraid that he’ll disappear in to thin air again.

“P-papa...”

“Hi, baby...”

Jeongguk's hugs are warm, so so warm, but Taehyung’s, Storm thinks, felt much warmerㅡ like home. His and his father’s home. And it’s good to be back, once again.

- 🎨 -

“Stormy, stay with your papa Tata as I go get ice cream, okay?” Jeongguk instructs his son who was busy talking to Taehyung, hand gestures frantically thrown everywhere because of giddiness. He stops to nod at his father and began to ramble things animatedly again.

Jeongguk gives him a small smile before walking away towards the ice cream truck. Taehyung, on the other hand, takes that as an opportunity to talk to Storm about him, about them, and leads the child to a nearby bench.

“Stormy? I never really asked you this the moment I saw you. How have you been, buddy?” Taehyung starts, making the kid stop with whatever he was saying.

“I’m okay, but sometimes, when I’m alone and daddy’s at his apartment in Busan, I think about you and I miss you even more,” Storm says honestly, not even sparing Taehyung a glance. He starts playing with his fingers, a habit of him that shows whenever he’s nervous.

“What happened back then, baby? Do you, at least, remember?” Taehyung knows how desperate he might sound right now, but he doesn’t care. He needs to know.

“All I can tell you is that it was a car accident. Daddy was driving and him and mommy were fighting. I was at the back seat, just staring at them as their fight grew heated. Mommy tried reaching out for the steering wheel but daddy won’t let her. The next thing I knew, daddy was all over me, covering me with his body as he took most of the impact from the accident,” Storm mutters, but it’s enough for Taehyung to hear. He sighs shakily, arms extending to reach for Storm and engulf him into a tight hug.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry. You must’ve been so scared, yeah? I’m sorry Papa Tata couldn’t protect you that time. I’m sorry,” Taehyung whispers to him repeatedly. Storm shakes his head, pulling away from his papa.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, papa. Don’t say sorry. Don’t be upset,” Storm assures him, little hands touching the apple of Taehyung’s cheeks. He wipes a stray tear away with his thumb and leans in to kiss Taehyung on his forehead.

“The first few months after the accident and daddy was discovered to have amnesia, mommy made him believe that you never existed at all,” Storm continues, hands pressed warm and steady on Taehyung’s cheeks.

“Grandma was the same. She’d always scold me every time I mention you, so I started to become very careful around her, no matter how much I wanted to cry and scream out your name. When Auntie Sana decided that it was enough, she sent mommy to seek for help as I stayed with grandma because daddy couldn’t take care of me yet that time,” he pauses for a while as he takes a deep breath.

“But believe me or not, papa, daddy’s brain might have forgotten you, but his heart didn’t. And I don’t think it ever will. He has no idea but every time, when he’s fast asleep, he mumbles your name with a small smile on his face. Daddy never really gave up on you, papa. I know how hurt you must’ve been when we disappeared, but all I know is that he fought for you...”

- 🎨 -

kim taehyung.

iMessage

Today at 18:24

Hey

Hi,  tae

I didn't get to say this
before we parted ways
But thank you
I always thought that spending
time with storm was a bad idea
I had an amazing day with Storm
Thank you

I'm glad
I was worried you know?
I thought of just leaving Storm with you
bc I know me being there would make
you feel uncomfortable
But before we could even leave the hotel
Storm talked to me and said that doesnt
want to spend time with just you
but with me also

I should be the one thanking you
You made him so happy

Storm is so dear to me
If you wont mind,  I can spend
time with him every weekend

Really?
Well then I'll make sure to tell
him that first thing tomorrow morning
He'll be so delighted.

Wait i almost forgot you
live in Busan again
I can drive myself every Saturday
so that I can pick him up

It'll be a hassle for you tae

Trust me it isnt
If it's for Storm,  then it's worth it

I-
Okay.
It's getting late,  tae.
You should rest.

You too.
And oh,  Jeongguk?
I'm sorry...

[Delivered.]