“Kookie, you know you can’t be chewing on that here.” Hobi whispered in his ear, taking the his phone away from his mouth.

 

 “It hurts.” Jungkook whines, trying to put the phone back into his mouth, but is stopped by a hand to his thigh. He looks towards his other side and sees Namjoon giving him a look that tells him he better not. His hyungs didn't usually care if he chewed on stuff if they were in private, but right now they were being set up for an interview and soon the cameras would be and facing them. They couldn't risk everyone seeing Jungkook mouthing and drooling on his phone.

 

 “This will be done soon and then you can have my fingers, okay? In the meantime, chew on this.” Hobi says, trying to comfort the maknae of the group. He hands Jungkook a piece of gum and although gum was never something that really helped Jungkook, it took the edge off during times like these where he didn't have a choice in the matter.

 

 “You're not the only one who has to be a big boy right now. Remember Tae does too and so far he’s been a good boy, you need to be too.” Namjoon says, jestering towards Tae, who was wrapped around Yoongi.

 

 “That’s only because he's sat with yoongi.” Jungkook says in his own defense. He knew how Tae got when Yoongi wasn't near him. it wasn't fair that Tae got to have his comfort with him and Jungkook couldn't.

 

 “Be good.” Was all Namjoon said and Hobi gave the maknae a sympathetic look. Jungkook felt like crying.

 

*******************************

 

  As soon as they were done with the interview and into the car to take them home, Jungkook couldn't keep the tears in. Hobi was there like he promised, cuddling him and letting the maknae on three of his fingers. He hated that he needed to always be or chewing on something. It made him feel like a baby and he wasn't the baby of the group only Tae was and Yoongi was his appa. Jungkook didn't have or want an appa in the group, but sometimes he felt like the rest of his hyungs treated him like a baby.

 

Tae was asleep in his appa’s arms. And Yoongi wish they could just go home and cuddle but that wasn't the case. Everyone knew that the rap line had to go record a few songs today and so Tae would be left with Jin, Jimin and Jungkook. As much as Tae loved all his hyungs, he was especially clingy to Yoongi who took on the role as Tae’s appa. Whenever Yoongi would leave Tae by himself for too long Tae would have a meltdown. He hated being without his appa. However, sometimes there were circumstances that Yoongi couldn’t help and this was one of them.

   Once they made it back to their place, they all piled out of the car. Tae still asleep in Yoongi's arms as he carries him inside. Luckily, Tae wasn't awake to see that the car did not drive away, he would of caught that something was up. With Hobi's fingers removed from Jungkook’s mouth, he began to hurt again. He really couldn't go very long without or chewing on something, unless he had too. When they walked inside, Jungkook placed his own fingers in his mouth, chewing on them slightly. He didn't chew on his other hyungs fingers, because it would hurt them, but he could chew on his own as long as it wasnt hard enough to bleed. That happened once and Namjoon got mad at him, making him wear Band-Aids on all his fingers so he wouldn't be able to chew on them for a month. Since then, he's learned to be a lot more careful with himself.

 

Jungkook sat on the couch in the living room and watched as Yoongi placed a sleepy Tae gently on the couch beside him. He looked at Jungkook and placed a finger to his mouth, gesturing to stay quiet. He gave Tae a kiss on the forehead goodbye, whispering that he’d be back soon.

 

“Don’t worry Yoongi, we'll take care of TaeTae while you're gone.” Jimin said talking about him and Jin. Jungkook would be there as well but as much as the maknae doesn't like to admit that he needs someone to care for him, he does. The others are used to taking care of Jungkook's oral fixation, as they think that's what it is. They couldn't figure out what else it could be. Their place was packed with stuff for Jungkook to chew and on. They even included themselves in that list, as Jungkook liked to on their fingers all the time, amongst other areas if they were in that mood.

 

“C’mon Yoongi, let's leave before Tae wakes up. We don't need another goodbye tantrum.” Namjoon says, tugging Yoongi and Hobi out the door. Yoongi gives one last glance to a sleeping Tae before the door shuts, silently hoping that his baby would be a good boy for Jimin and Jin (although he’s pretty sure that won't be the case once he wakes up).

 

*************************

 

“Hurts.” Jungkook whines once more around his fingers. It’s been quiet in the Bangtan house. Jin left Jimin in the living room to watch over Tae and try to keep him asleep as long as possible, while him and Jungkook went into their room to watch tv. They were going to play video games but Jungkook couldn't keep his fingers out of his mouth long enough to hold a controller properly, so they opted to cuddle on one bed and watch netflix. Jin had offered his own fingers to Jungkook, but he denied them, mumbling something about not wanting to hurt Jin by chewing on his fingers.

 

“Stop chewing on your fingers then if it hurts. You know Namjoon doesn't like that.” Jungkook shook his head, taking his fingers out to point inside his mouth.

 

“Your mouth hurts?” Jin asked and Jungkook nodded in the crook of Jin's neck, whimpering in pain. “Open.” Jin told Jungkook, lifting the maknae’s head as he opened his mouth. Jin winced as what he saw, Jungkook had made his gums red and swollen from the constant and chewing he has been doing. It looked like if he didn't take a break he would make them bleed.

 

“Hold on Kookie, I’ll be right back. Don’t put anything in your mouth while I’m gone okay? Be a good boy.” Jungkook glared at Jin for treating him like a baby, but he didn't have the effort to complain. His mouth really hurt. He nodded in understanding as he watched his hyung leave the room, hopefully to be back soon.

 

Jin walked into the living room as quietly as possible. He saw that Jimin had laid on the couch and had gotten Tae's body on top of his, cuddling into him, still fast asleep. Jimin looked up from his phone, seeing Jin walk into the living room.

 

“What do you need?” He whispered and Jin pointed to the kitchen mouthing that he was getting Jungkook’s numbing gel. “Be careful.” He told Jin and turned to go back on his phone. Jin quietly reached the kitchen that was connected to the living room and carefully opened drawers to find the gel. He couldn't remember which drawer they put what in. This is why Jin always stressed that they needed to be more organized. If that was the case he wouldn't have to be looking through every single drawer right now. Jin finally found it on a top shelf behind their plastic bowls. He sighed in annoyance. Why on earth was it here? Reaching to grab the gel, Jin’s arm got caught around the bowls and that's when the peace ended.

 

All the plastic bowls fell to the ground making a loud clattering noise. One of the bowls landed right on Jin's barefoot, making him yell “Ow!” And clench his foot in the unexpected pain.

 

Both boys in the living room jumped at the unexpected noise. Tae’s head lifted up violently, eyes wild and scared at the noise. Jimin reached to calm the boy down, but Tae shoved him away.

 

“Want appa. Where’s appa?” Tae whined, tearing up when he noticed he wasn't in his appa’s arms. Jimin looked up at Jin worriedly, not knowing what to say. Jin hopped over to Tae, trying not to put pressure on his still throbbing foot and leaned down to Tae’s level.

 

“TaeTae, Yoongi had to go with Namjoon and Hobi to record some songs. He’ll be back soon, I promise.” Jin said gently, wiping the stray tears away. Tae wiped his head away from Jin’s touch as more tears began to fall.

 

“I want appa!” He screamed, wailing and throwing his arms up in a fit. Jin and Jimin looked at each other in worry. Yoongi wasn't supposed to be home until 8 and it was only 6. They knew that Tae had the willpower and the lungs to throw a two hour long tantrum.

 

“Tae, baby, calm down sweety. Yoongi will be home real soon. You can cuddle with me.” Jimin suggested, holding his arms out for the boy.

 

“No! No! No!” Tae continued to shout. Tears were pouring out of Tae's face, hitting at Jimin’s arms when the boy tried to grab him to calm him down. He didn’t want Jimin. He wanted his appa and he wanted him now.

 

Jimin rubbed his arms in pain. Even though Tae acted like a baby, he still had the strength of a man. Jin knew what he needed to do to get Tae to calm down and it was going to involve getting smacked and screamed at, but he could handle Tae’s tantrums.

 

“I-I’m sorry. Couldn't wait any longer.” Another voice came into the living room. Jimin and Jin looked up from a wailing Tae, barely being able to hear the other voice because of Tae's screams. Jin felt horrible at what he saw. Jungkook stood crying, with four fingers in his mouth, chewing on them with what he could tell was far more aggressive than he should be. Amongst all the commotion with Tae, Jin had completely forgotten that Jungkook was still waiting in their room for the numbing gel.

 

“Oh Kookie, I’m so sorry. Jimin I’ll try to get Tae to calm down. The numbing gel is still in the kitchen can you put in on Jungkook?” Jin shouted over the sounds of Tae’s screaming. Jimin nodded and quickly got up from the couch to the kitchen to get the gel.

 

“C’mere Kookie, sit on the counter please.” Jimin told Jungkook and the maknae did as he was told, sniffling and hiccuping with his fingers in his mouth. Jimin carefully pulled the makae’s fingers from his mouth, telling him to, “Open up.” Jimin winced at Jungkook’s mouth, seeing that it was bleeding slightly from all the pressure the maknae had put on his mouth from chewing. He took the gel and smeared it around Jungkook’s gums, making sure to be very thorough.

 

“Go sit on the couch while I get something cold to for you to on.” Jimin told Jungkook, “Yes, Hyung.” He mumbled out a reply and went to sit on the couch. His mouth felt better now that it was numb but hearing Tae cry was not pleasant in the slightest. Jin had a struggling Tae in his arms, bouncing him up and down while moving around the room to try to get him to calm down. It wasn’t working very well. Tae continued to cry his heart out, hitting Jin on the chest to try and get him to let go of him, but Jin didn’t give up easily. He was built like a rock, used to the hitting and the slapping and the screaming. He could deal with it better than Yoongi sometimes, but then again Yoongi never usually had to deal with the tantrums.

 

“Tae baby, I know you’re upset, but crying isn’t going to get Yoongi to come back sooner. Please calm down baby, I don't want you getting yourself sick.” Jin said while rubbing Tae’s back once he started coughing from all the crying he was doing. Tae stopped hitting Jin, instead coughed into Jin's chest, vigorously rubbing his eyes with his fists.  

 

“I-I wahnt ap-appa.” Tae hiccuped on Jin”s chest, drool and snot getting on his shirt. “I know. I know. Shh, calm down baby, it’s okay. I have you.” Jin whispered to Tae, his hair and calmly rocking him.

 

“Here Jungkook,  on this don't chew.” Jimin said when he came back to the maknae with a frozen teething ring for him. The ring would help bring down the swelling in Jungkook’s gums. The maknae grabbed the ring and placed half of it in his mouth, on it gently, drool started to pool around his mouth from the numbness.

 

 Once Jin got Tae to calm down to just small tears, he sat down on the couch next to Jungkook, placing Tae in his lap chest to back. Tae looked over at Jungkook, tear stained face and reached out to him making grabby hands at the maknae. Jungkook loved Tae with all his heart of course he wasn't going to deny the baby a cuddle. He scooted over so he Tae could grab onto him, still sitting in Jin's lap while hugging Jungkook into his side. The maknae had the teething ring sticking out on the side towards Tae and the baby saw this as an opportunity to use his own mouth and on the other side of the ring. Jungkook didn't mind, having the babies head leaning on his head was endearing and the maknae knew Tae needed the comfort for the next hour.

 

“Awe look at our babies!” Jimin squealed from the opposite couch. Jungkook glared at Jimin but didn’t say anything as he didn't want to disturb Tae to where he was comfortably leaning against him, calmly on the ring and no longer crying.

 

“Jimin, go get a movie for us to watch, I’m kind of stuck.” He giggled at the two, both now basically sat on top of him. “Yes, hyung.” Jimin said, going to get a movie for them to waste the next hour on.

 

*************************

 

It was their most peaceful hour yet. The four sat there on the couches, Two piled on Jin and Jimin sat cooing at the two cuddling each other while sitting on top of Jin. The frozen ring now completely warm from their mouths and had landed on the floor sometime during the movie. Jimin thinks he’s never seen Tae so calm without Yoongi with him.

 

They hear the door move, indicating that the other three were home from their recording session. Tae bounced off of Jin's lap, startling Jungkook who was falling asleep.

 

“Appa!” Tae screamed, leaping into Yoongi’s arms. Yoongi smiled with joy at the sight of his baby and wrapped his arms tightly around him, twirling him around.

 

“TaeTae missed appa.” Tae said, putting his head in his appa's neck. Yoongi grabbed Tae and bounced his body up so he wouldn't fall.

 

“I missed you baby boy. Were you a good boy while I was gone?” Jin barked a laugh at the question.

 

“Oh, he was a perfect angel.” Jin said sarcastically and Yoongi mouthed an ‘I’m sorry.’ at him, getting a half hearted thumbs up in return. Yoongi placed his mouth close to his babies ear, whispering so no one else could hear.

 

“You’re still my good boy no matter what, let’s go give you a reward.” Tae giggled and nodded into his appa’s neck and the two headed off to their shared room.

 

“Ugggghhhhhh.” Jin groaned and the others laughed at him, even Jungkook, feeling much better despite their evening problems.

 

“What's wrong hyung, tired? Tae give you a tough time?” Namjoon asked and Jin nodded. “Wasn’t just Tae.” He responded, playfully glaring at the maknae. Jungkook blushed in embarrassment.

 

“Don’t be like that Jinnie hyung, you know you love them both.” Jimin declared. Jin looked at the maknae, seeing the boy smiling sheepishly at him.

 

“I do.” He agreed, ruffling the Jungkook’s hair.