Chapter Text
"Then how about a small potted plant?", an eight year old Park Jimin asked sitting in the back seat of the car. Dressed in a crisp and tidy sailor uniform he was on his way to school with his mother driving.
Mrs.Park didn't look happy with how he was acting. Not flowers but she expected and wanted him to ask for video games or bikes to play with his friends. Being the son of two respectful alphas in the society, he should be behaving like the alpha he will be respected as in the future.
"Jimin!", she hissed.
The boy's face fell low understanding what it meant.
Alphas aren't supposed to act soft like omegas. It's not that his mother hated omegas but she still preferred alphas better than any other secondary genders.
But Jimin even secretly wished to be an omega so that he would be allowed to love his favourite things without restrictions. Like green plants that bloomed with pretty flowers. Like the pleasant smell of wet earth in the gardens he had visited so far. Like wearing clothes that were more comfortable than fashionable. And like dreaming about a heart fluttering love and his wish to build a warm family.
"...maybe he is an omega", Jimin's mother had her reasons to doubt his second gender. But she will have to wait until he became 18. And that will be 10 years later.
As a lonely boy's life rolled out like this, in the same town was a boy of the same age who lived doing what he loved.
"Woahhh!", a boy sang in wonderment.
"Namjoon-ah! Look at your son! Take him into the house!", a guy shouted as he stood behind the shop's counter, checking all the stock of flowers that had arrived in the morning.
It was a pretty and petite flower shop situated in a lovely neighbourhood. The place was unique in the city because all three genders lived in harmony in there. The safest place even for a omega, that's what people said. Only few such places exist in the whole country.
And the Kim family lived here managing their flower shop (attached house) named, "Hana".
Rushing into the shop from the back door, a tall man with tanned skin picked up the boy who was holding a little cactus and staring at it in awe. A cactus that was about to bloom it's first flower.
"Place it down, Tae!", he ordered the boy and at once the white marbel pot was carefully placed in its original position. But then the boy started pouting.
"Ok! Ok! I'll buy you a lollipop", his father Namjoon gave in to his son's cute pout. The eight year old was irresistibly adorable and the whole neighbourhood agreed too. Everyone loved Kim Taehyung. The lively boy who delivered both smiles and pretty flowers to their houses.
"But I want that!", the boy was adamant and wriggled in his father's arms, pointing at the cactus. Taehyung often told his parents about growing a garden filled with his favourite plants and how he would to take care of them just like they took care of him.
When asked why plants but not a human or a pet he replied, "They don't smell sweet"
Sighing out, Namjoon looked at the male at the counter for permission. Of course he has to consult with his husband before spoiling their child.
"I don't know. What if he pricks his fingers and comes crying? I can't control his tears. It flows nonstop once started", the guy replied looking tired from the early morning work. He was like the strict mother though he wasn't blood related to Taehyung.
Tapping his father's hand, Taehyung asked to be let down from his hold. Standing straight he walked towards his other father. His small body was completely below the white marble counter, so he looked up and extended only his pinky towards the man behind it.
"Kim Taehyung promises to not cry again. Can you please give me the cactus, dad?", it seemed like his little pinky was speaking to the guy.
"Seokjin hyung, let him have it", Namjoon persuaded the older guy who kept looking at his son's small finger.
The older's eyes twinkled in mischief and Namjoon knew he was going to do something stupid.
Leaning down close to the hand, Seokjin bit the tiny pinky.
"Ahhh!!!", Taehyung retracted his hand instantly, crying out loud from the sharp pain.
"Hyung!!", Namjoon rushed to console the small boy while glaring at the other. Hugging him, he rubbed his back gently.
"There, there. It's fine. Let me blow it for you", he took the small hands and softly blowed on the pinky that had a teeth mark.
Kim Seokjin really bit his son's finger.
Chuckling at the father and son, the older walked out and picked up the crying boy putting him on the counter.
"You promised me that you won't cry but the next minute you break the promise?", he asked holding the boy's hands in his.
"B-but...it h-hurts...", Taehyung managed to speak inbetween his cries.
"What have I taught you? You should never break a promise. And when it hurts too much.."
"Go to someone you love", the boy replied with teary eyes.
"Because?"
"Love can heal even the worst", Taehyung completed the sentence and looked up at his parents, "Then if both of you blow, my pain will heal faster", he extended his pinky towards them with eagerness.
Being taught the value of promises and love from a very young age and spending time with his ever poetic dad, Namjoon and his caring dad Seokjin, Taehyung was expected to grow into a fine man. Maybe he will in 10 years.
Both the men loved their adorable son too much that they would even kill to heal his pain.
Nodding with a smile, both blowed on the bitten pinky and gave it a tiny peck. Looking at each other, Namjoon and Jin shared a loving kiss in front of their son who immediately shut his eyes with those baby hands because 'kisses weren't for kids' he had heard someone say.
Giggling silently, the men left their son to sit on the counter while they ran away to hide from him. They loved to tease Taehyung. Peeping out from behind the back door they waited for his reaction.
"I bet he's gonna cry", Seokjin commented chuckling.
"He is my son. I bet he won't", Namjoon defended seriously.
Opening his eyes a tad bit and then fully, Taehyung looked around for his parents. Both disappeared from his sight and at once worry took over him. Forehead creases and his face twisted like he was struggling to control himself from crying. Climbing down the elevated place he started running within the shop calling for them, "Joon dad! Jin dad!"
His little legs couldn't keep up with him though. He soon got tired and stopped in the middle of the shop. He simply stood there looking down at the floor not knowing how to block the tears that were threatening to fall out. Afterall, a promise is a promise.
His body gave out tiny shakes as he clenched his shirt and teeth, controlling his eyes from shedding even a single drop. As he stood like this, he failed to notice the boy who entered the shop and was currently standing before him.
"Are you crying?", he asked.
Taehyung opened his eyes at the sweet voice. The first time he came to know that voices could be sweet too.
"Hey, what happened?", the boy asked again poking at his shoulder.
Clashing on him Taehyung hugged the boy tight while shouting, "Where should I go now? Both of them aren't here to blow my pain away!!"
He didn't cry though. His tears came out as shouts into the air.
"Who isn't here? Are you hurt somewhere?", the other asked immediately hugging him back, gently stroking his hair.
No one has been this soft to Taehyung. The other boy's hands were gentle against his body. His touch felt strangely comforting for a stranger. And the boy who he was hugging was the only human who....
"sweet", his mind whispered to him and he opened his eyes in surprise.
"People whom I love...", Taehyung mumbled into the other's shoulders pushing his strange thoughts aside.
"It's okay. I'm here. I'll heal it for you", the boy pulled away to look at Taehyung and at once he knew something was wrong with his heart and his body. A shudder spread through him, something addictive and thrilling.
Shaking out of his own strange thoughts the boy smiled.
"But I don't love you", Taehyung said with a pout and confused eyes, holding his pinky close to his chest.
"But you can learn to love", the guy replied blowing on the hurt pinky with his plump rosy lips.
"He is so pretty", Taehyung thought.
"I'm Kim Taehyung. You are?", he smiled.
"I'm Park Jimin", Jimin replied.
Taehyung leaned in front giving him a kiss on his chubby cheeks, "I'll learn to love you from now then", he gave his best heart smile.
"Me? Why?"
"Because you smell sweet like flowers"
Jimin blushed and nodded.
"Then me too", he mumbled.
"Do I smell like flowers too?", Taehyung asked eagerly.
"No...you are just...I don't know", Jimin's voice fell low in embarrassment.
Because the reason was confusing to him as well. Taehyung felt like a meadow of wild flowers under a warm sky he dreamt about everyday. Something he will never get to see or own. And as a little boy he didn't get enough words to explain them.
"Haha, Don't worry. I can love for the both of us", he gave the boy a wide smile showing off his pearly whites.
"Its like we are spying on our son during his date", Namjoon whispered behind Jin.
"Shut up! They are so cute. Aww...look at that little guy blushing", Jin was busy cooing at how adorable it was to see two little humans interacting.
"But", Namjoon turned Jin to face him, "i think I won my bet. My son didn't cry", he said with a smug face.
"Well, that's because", the other put his arms around his neck, "he found someone else to console him. Aren't you sad that our son might love him more?", he teased the taller guy. Jin knew his weakness.
Laughing it off, Namjoon pulled him closer by his waist, "I'm his father. I will be really happy for him-"
"You're lying", Jin deadpanned him.
Swallowing his saliva the other pretended to stay calm but soon broke out with the truth, "Fine. I am possessive"
Jin chuckled at his husband and gave him a peck on the lips but the other just turned away still sad about Taehyung getting consoled by his new friend.
"Come on, he just made a new friend. You act like it's a soulbond", Jin reasoned out.
Just as the other almost gave in Taehyung and Jimin, who was pulled along, stood before them. The little Kim looked a little annoyed.
"Oh! You found us!", Jin pushed away his husband and picked up his son and Namjoon picked up the other little guy. He was a little jealous about the baby cheeks though.
"What's a soul bond, dad?", Taehyung asked unconsciously fiddling with Jimin's index finger. Namjoon noticed it but was ashamed of being childish.
Suppressing a smile Jin answered, "Um...When two souls bond it means a soul bond!"
"What kind of vague explanation is that?", Namjoon furrowed his eyebrows.
"I know right. I'm no good with explaining things. You do it then", Jin smiled awkwardly. And he loved how his husband had a way with words.
"Hm...Taehyung-ah, what is a soul?", he asked the boy who was still playing with Jimin's chubby fingers.
"Hm...our heart?"
"No. It's something more fragile and valuable than a heart. It is what makes you Taehyung. Not Kim Taehyung but a pretty Taehyung"
"And a more pretty Jimin", Taehyung looked at the mentioned boy locking their fingers.
"...right", Namjoon muttered.
"Continue. I wanna hear more", Jin felt, it was like falling in love everytime Namjoon became poetic.
"So then, what is love, Jimin-ah?", he asked looking at the boy in his arms.
"Hm...giving someone your heart...?"
"Wow, Jimin's smart and poetic too", Jin commented poking the boy's fair cheeks.
"Then what is a soul bond?", Najoon asked this time.
"Giving someone your soul too!", Taehyung smiled guessing the answer.
"Woah, our Taehyung is smart as well", Jin kissed his son's pink cheeks. He felt that his skin was a little warmer than usual.
"Are you both a soulbond?", Jimin asked them.
"Um...Its just a fantasy dear", Jin smiled but stopped when he looked at Namjoon's eyes, a deep blush carpeting his fair skin. They were one of few pairs fated to live as soulbonds.
Two alphas becoming soulbonds is the most rare case. But both were only immensely happy when they found their fate to resonate with the feeling of love they had for each other.
After high school when Namjoon announced he would like to marry Jin, his mother rejected the decision at once but when she later found they were fated, the marriage was accepted. Yet, she wanted a grandchild to continue the family line. That's how Taehyung was born as Namjoon's child. Taehyung's biological mother who acted as the surrogate was an alpha, leading to the boy being born as a pure blood alpha, just like Namjoon and Jin. The latter had few disagreements in using a surrogate mother but all disappeared when his eyes met with baby Taehyung's.
"But you can always choose to give your soul to someone you love", Namjoon smiled, "but in the stories I have heard, soul bonds can also be formed without consent between two people. It is said a person's soul finding it's fated pair in another person is what leads to becoming a soulbond. It happens instantly and without warning. One can't deny such fates. It's said to be dangerous if we try breaking such bonds"
All the while, Taehyung looked like he was deep in thought. Like he was worried and confused. Jimin noticed it and when he was about to ask him, the shop door bell jingled letting in a solicitous women.
"Jimin-ah!"
"Mom", she heard her son's voice from the shop's behind and saw Namjoon carrying him towards her.
"Oh my goodness! I was searching for you all over the neighbourhood", she picked him from his arms and hugged him.
"I'm so sorry for the trouble", she said bowing her head.
"No. It's fine. It's not a trouble. I understand because I too have a child who likes to run around a lot", he said.
And Jin came to greet them but Taehyung wasn't with him.
"Where is he?"
Jin shrugged and greeted the lady with a smile.
"Kim Seokjin it is"
"Lee Minhee"
Both exchanged names.
"Jimin-ah, wait!", the little Kim ran towards them with small and hurried steps while carrying a piece of folded paper.
Mrs.Park was a little taken aback seeing her own son get happy like never before. Jimin had the widest smile just because of a voice calling his name.
"Your friend?", she asked and he frantically nodded.
"I'm still here", he replied seeing Taehyung's anxious face which then brightened a whole another level.
"Dad!", he pulled Namjoon's shirt and motioned him to bend down. Whispering something in his ears, he smiled as his father nodded in agreement.
The man walked away and came back with the cactus his son loved looking at.
Taking it from his hands Taehyung looked up at Jimin who was still his mother's arm. Mrs.Park smiled and let Jimin down.
Suddenly Taehyung got awkward carrying the plant and a paper that everyone knew was a letter.
"Let's get along well", he said giving Jimin the prickly cactus.
Jimin's eyes glowed like he had seen a treasure but remembering he wasn't allowed to own any plants he looked back at his mother. Mrs.Park gently nodded her head because if she could see such a smile on him, maybe one or two plants wasn't a bad idea..... still just one or two.
"Thankyou, Taehyung", Jimin was uncontrollably smiling at the little red bud on the cactus. It was a young plant so there weren't much spikes.
Taehyung was overjoyed by the reaction and his chest suddenly hurt when he noticed the crooked teeth in the other's smile. It was weird to like something that was imperfect but he wouldn't mind seeing the crooked whites peek out everytime along with the smiles. To him it seemed perfect on Jimin.
"Then we'll get going", Mrs.Park took the pot in one hand and Jimin's hand in the other and both bowed thanking the two men for their hospitality.
Taehyung was in Namjoon's arms as he happily waved at Jimin who sat in the back seat of the car.
Both hadn't promised to see each other again or later but Taehyung knew he will get to see him and Jimin was sure he liked being with the boy. They were in the age where pondering and searching for reasons about their happiness didn't matter. Being happy meant being happy. It was only weird to question such an emotion.
The car drove away and both the fathers went back into the shop along with their son.
"Aren't you sad that he left, Tae?", Jin asked resuming his work at the counter while Namjoon put Taehyung near him.
The little boy sat swaying his legs, "I am. But it's not like I won't see him again. We'll meet again", he said beaming with determination.
"You know where he lives?"
".....Ahhh!", realising the missed out point Taehyung finally felt the real sadness hit him.
Laughing at his son get dumb with the love for his new friend Jin said, "Don't worry. I'm sure he will visit again"
"Really? Then I am going to wait until then. I can still remember his sweet smell"
"Hm?", Jin wasn't sure what Taehyung was talking about but Namjoon interrupted them and asked his son to deliver a flower bundle to a family across the street.
The little boy obediently got down from the place and walked out carrying the big parcel of sunflowers that was almost his own height.
After he left the store, Namjoon turned to his husband who seemed to have already understood the situation.
"An omega, isn't he?"
"I'm afraid so", Namjoon nodded.
Both men were pure blood alphas living under the disguise of normal alphas. They were indeed rare in the community. Few lived in the capital but not much in remote towns like here.
And pure blood alphas had the ability to sense even the slightest of pheromones from a person. A child's body normally doesn't release much but a very little does come from close contact with their nape.
And both Namjoon and Taehyung held the boy close and was sure about the sweet fragrance.
"Is it alright they both meet again then?", Jin was getting anxious. He didn't want their identities exposed and end up getting treated like some experimental tools. Because pure blood alpha semen has an ability to impregnate an omega even when not in heat. Most of the times.
Also for a pure blood like Taehyung, it might only bring danger to their budding friendship.
"It's not like he fell in love. It should be alright"
"Come on, Namjoon-ah! I already ship them. And from all the plants in the shop he gifted him his favourite plant. A cactus at that", Jin teased.
(Gifting a cactus flower in Japanese culture meant "showing a person's sexual interest in the other" and the Kim family liked Japanese culture a lot. Even the store name was "Hana" meaning flower in Japanese)
"Shut up, hyung. He is an innocent child. Don't corrupt him"
"Aww...is daddy jealous again?", Jin cooed.
"Whose daddy?", Namjoon sideyed him.
"Ofcourse my daddy. You are Taehyung's d-a-d", he said pulling his husband closer by his collar for a kiss.
"I'm sorry Kim Seokjin. You are literally begging for it", he opened the counter door and swiftly picked up his husband bridal style and rushed into their bedroom with Jin giggling excitedly.
He had his husband wrapped around his little finger.
In 30 minutes, Taehyung arrived after giving out the flowers and getting in return a strawberry flavoured lollipop which he merrily licked as he entered the empty store.
"Dad! Aunty gave me a candy!"
No answer. Looking around he went through all the shelves, "Come out! I got one for you too!"
The bedroom door opened and Namjoon closed it gently and went to his son, leaving Jin to rest in the room.
Seeing his dad, he gave him a grape flavoured candy.
Picking up the boy, he took the candy and casually asked his son, "Taehyung-ah, do you like Jimin or Dad?"
He replied, " That is a hard question", and thinking for sometime he said, "Can't I like both?"
Feeling bad to have asked such an irrational question Namjoon kissed his son's forehead, "Ofcourse you can"
It has been more than ten times but still Jimin smiled everytime he opened the small letter Taehyung had given him. He was on his bed looking at the colourful scribbles.
"Jimin-ah, can you wait for me? My soul is still very young. I will give it to you once I become a big boy.
- Taetae"
"Taetae", Jimin giggled with pleasure reading the cute nickname.
"Will he like mine too? I hope my soul grows up beautifully enough to give it to him", the boy slept dreaming about the little flower from his cactus bloom into the most beautiful blossom he has ever seen.
Giving away a soul to a person no matter how much love is involved ain't an easy task. But without worries and doubts the boys were ready to grow their own souls for the sake of gifting it to each other. It happened instantly and on pure instinct.
Like a powerful yet delicate soulbond.