Chapter Text
Taehyung had a son at an early age. He became one of the teen pregnancy statistics. A young omega coming from a poor background had more chances to get pregnant before their twentieth birthday. Statistics blamed restricted access to medical care, and no sex education classes in rural communities. Taehyung did not blame anything or anyone but himself. He had been young and reckless. He met an alpha and thought the man was it. It turned out that it was a simple summer romance. The alpha’s family shipped him away as soon as Taehyung broke the news. The young omega was left alone with a protuberant belly and judgmental stares.
However, it never deterred Taehyung. He finished high school among the first ranked students. He went on to college. His family had been supportive. His grandmother taught him everything there was to know about childcare. She was old and very wise. While Taehyung’s parents were busy working in the fields, the grandmother watched over the baby. Taehyung had been able to accomplish his goals thanks to them all.
It takes a village to raise a child. It was what his grandmother used to say. Taehyung agreed. His family helped greatly. It was why he missed them deeply when he moved to the city for college. The first year had been tough. Minjun, his son, would cry and look for the others in their tiny apartment. Taehyung had sleepless nights. He had frights when the boy got sick. He did not have his family close by any longer. He let panic overwhelm him at times. Then, the second year passed much more easily. He learned a lot by living on his own. He had a job. He had a babysitter for his son when people his age were hired as such. It was always caught interest and raised eyebrows. He lived in a quiet neighborhood. There was a park nearby where he took his son every now and then. There was a cheap restaurant down the street where he treated himself when he could. His neighbors, mostly students, were calm and helpful as well.
However, during his third year, expenses increased. He blamed inflation and the high cost of kindergarten.
“I need a new phone,” Taehyung sighed throwing his broken one on the couch. It bounced and somehow it only worsened Taehyung’s frustration.
“New phone, mama?” Minjun asked putting down his plushy. Taehyung arranged a corner of the small flat into a play room for the boy. Minjun was always careful with his belongings. Taehyung was more than grateful for it. Buying toys was apparently expensive too. He could afford only the cheapest brands, or the one people threw away. When he brought those home, he always cleaned them thoroughly before handing him to his son. Minjun always smiled brightly and never minded if a truck was a bit broken, or the colors were fading. He played with all his toys regardless.
“Mama needs a phone,” Taehyung nodded. His heart ached when Minjun presented him with a plastic telephone. Taehyung never understood the need to put faces on every toy. The plastic telephone looked at him with a fading smile and a bright red nose.
“Mama, you can call grandma now,” Minjun explained. He even showed Taehyung how the toy worked. The blearing music filled the room as Minjun pushed the buttons. The boy grinned happily and handed the handset.
“Hello,” Taehyung pretended to take the call. Minjun giggled with glee. “Yes, it is Junnie’s mommy,” Taehyung carried on. The boy stared at him with bright eyes. “Oh, the nuggies are ready? You want me to come now and get them?” he asked. Minjun gasped at the prospect of fried chicken. It was his favorite meal. “I will come now with Junnie. Add potatoes for my Junnie, please. Thank you,” he ended the call.
“We go now?” Minjun clapped his hands with delight. It took mere minutes for the boy to be ready when usually it took an eternity, and made Taehyung almost always late.
The restaurant was not far from their home. It was just down the street. As usual, it was filled with goons of the local clan. Taehyung did his best to ignore them. However, with Minjun it was always a hard task. The boy loved to stare at their tattoos. He never understood why their mommy let them draw on their skin. Taehyung patiently tried to answer each time the question came up, and inevitably followed by hundreds of whys.
Taehyung took their order. He never lingered there when the goons were there. They scared him, and their salacious comments made him nauseous. Being a male omega was always a source of troubles and of unwanted desire. Taehyung noticed that the restaurant was more crowded than usual. He did not pay it any mind. He took his order, his son, and left for the park.
They went back home later that afternoon. Minjun fell asleep for a well-deserved nap. On their way, Taehyung frowned at the several men on the street. The goons, as he liked to call them, crowded the path. They seemed agitated. Taehyung winced hearing their loud voices, and snarls. Whatever happened must have been serious. Taehyung made sure to close all windows and blinds. He stayed away from them just in case. Being a witness was the last thing he wished for.
It was only at bedtime that Minjun unraveled his treasure to Taehyung. “It is for you, mama,” he said handing Taehyung a brand new phone. Taehyung gasped. He only saw the model on television, and the price was worth a year or more of bills. “Now, we call grandma and Jiminie,” he grinned.
“Baby,” Taehyung cleared his throat. “Where did you get this phone?” he asked fearing the answer. He tried to unlock it but it had a passcode. The background was a basic one with a deep purple color. Surely, it was the default setting. The phone started vibrating. Taehyung startled and threw it on the pillow.
“Mama?” Minjun tilted his head confused. He pushed the phone towards his mother again. “We call Jiminie, please?” he asked oblivious.
The events of the day played in Taehyung’s mind; the goons crowding the street, them in the restaurant. His breath quickened. His head ached. “Where did you get the phone, baby?” he asked again keeping his voice as soft as possible.
“In the restaurant!” Minjun said with a bright smile. “The uncle had many many phones. This one is for you, mama.” He looked quite content of his little hunt.
The phone started vibrating again. An incoming text, Taehyung noticed. He couldn’t read it. He did not want to.
Taehyung spent a sleepless night trying to come up with a solution. The lack of sleep did not help, nor did the anxiety. The next morning, he dressed his son in his best outfit. Taehyung took a quick shower. He took the phone and headed to the local loan company. It was a loan shark company owned by a man that haunted many people’s nightmares. Taehyung was sure of it. He even heard that the man owned most of the shops on the street for money laundering. Taehyung did not understand how it all worked. He did not care. Their presence lowered the rents in the area. Taehyung was grateful for that, and only for that.
“I came to give back a phone that my son took by mistake,” Taehyung explained at the goon guarding the entrance. The man towered over Taehyung. His lips curved into a vicious smirk. The tension almost suffocated Taehyung. He was let in. Minjun looked around with wide eyes. He asked endless questions. Taehyung felt too sick to answer. He kept the boy close to his side instead.
Taehyung was guided to an office in the back. It had a small window that barely let in any light. The artificial lights almost blinded Taehyung. It took a moment to adjust to the room. A man, Taehyung recognized him, entered shortly after. He was tall with broad shoulders. He oozed power and danger. His eyes skimmed over Taehyung and Minjun.
“I heard that you had my phone?” the alpha, with no doubt, said. Taehyung nodded. “Pray tell why my phone was with you?” the man asked as he sat at the desk. Taehyung fell small and terribly intimidated.
“My son took it by mistake,” Taehyung tried to sound confident. Minjun pouted. “He heard me say that I needed a phone. He found yours at the restaurant, and took it. We are here to return it. He also wishes to apologize.”
“Is that so, little man?” The alpha asked looking at the boy. His lips stretched into a smile. His gaze turned softer when on the toddler.
“Mister,” Minjun jumped down from his seat. He went around the desk. Taehyung held his breath. “I am sorry for taking your phone, mister shark,” he said. Taehyung paled at the name. He cursed himself.
“Mister shark?” The alpha asked confused. Taehyung looked at his son trying to urge him to not speak anymore. Minjun was too busy with the alpha to even glance at his mother.
“Yes,” Minjun said with an innocent smile. “Mama says you are a shark,” he nodded to himself. The alpha laughed deeply, a rumbling sound that had Taehyung on edge. “You live in the sea? Why do you have drawings on your skin? Your mama did not ground you?” he asked walking closer to the alpha. His little hand rested on the man’s knee. “Mama says I cannot draw on my skin, ever!” he pouted. “Why are you a shark?” he asked again.
The alpha chuckled. Taehyung tightened his fists. “You sure ask a lot of questions, little man,” the alpha reached to ruffle the boy’s hair. “I am not a shark though,” he explained. “It just happens that people call me that because of my job,” he shrugged. Taehyung felt nauseous. “And I am big enough to draw on my skin. My mama doesn’t mind now.”
“What is your job?” Minjun nodded. His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Junnie,” Taehyung called softly for his son. His heart threatened to explode. “Come here, baby. You have to apologize properly and not ask questions like that,” he said.
“I don’t mind,” the alpha said with a smile. He brought the boy to sit on his lap instead. “My name is Jungkook, kiddo not shark,” he added giving Taehyung a pointed look. “Your name is Junnie? My best friend’s name is Joonie too!”
Minjun smiled and nodded eagerly. “I am Kim Minjun! I am four,” he presented four little fingers. “I live with mama, and I like chicken!” he introduced himself with glee.
“Well,” Jungkook chuckled once more. “I am Jeon Jungkook. I am thirty years old,” the alpha said. “I live with my brother, and I love ramen.”
“How old is thirty?” Minjun asked trying to make the number with his fingers. Taehyung ran a hand over his face. Leave it to his son to socialize with criminals.
“Way older than you,” Jungkook explained. “It means I can eat as much chicken as I want, and I can draw on my skin,” he added with a laugh.
“I want to be thirty too,” Minjun whispered with awe. Taehyung watched his son settled comfortably on the man’s lap. Minjun did not seem to mind the tension in the air, if he ever noticed it. He asked endless questions. Jungkook laughed and indulged.
“So your mama doesn’t have a phone?” Jungkook finally asked. Taehyung watched the exchange. He had no opportunity to jump in. Jungkook and Minjun left his aside. It only worsened his anxiety.
“Yes,” Minjun nodded, “my mama doesn’t have a phone. You have one and it is pretty. I am sorry I took it, mister Kookie” he bowed his little head. Taehyung suppressed the urge to groan at the new nickname. Apparently, Jungkook was a mouthful. Minjun decided to shorten it. Jungkook did not mind. If anything, he laughed at it.
Against all odds and Taehyung’s deepest fears, Jungkook took his phone and let them go unharmed. Minjun ranted about Jungkook the rest of the day. He wondered when the alpha can come play with him, if he liked chicken too, and many others innocent questions.
The next morning, Taehyung went to get his mail as usual. He did his best to forget about Jungkook and the unfortunate stolen phone. It was with a great surprise that he found a small package with his name on it. Inside, a phone and a business card waited for Taehyung.
I hope that you like this model better than mine, the card said. If you don’t, tell me. I will get you another one.
Taehyung swiftly went back to his apartment. He unboxed the phone and marveled at it. He stared at the business card for a moment before daring to text the number on it.
It was how the story officially started, as easy as a curious toddler and a stolen phone.