Morning in the penthouse rarely felt normal.
For six of the most feared mafia leaders in the city, "normal" didn't exist. Their lives were built on strategy meetings, illegal deals, intelligence reports, and enemies waiting for a single mistake.
But for Hoseok… they tried to create something close to it.
Sunlight spilled across the enormous living room windows as the city slowly woke below them. The penthouse—three floors of sleek glass, marble, and security systems—was quiet for once.
Too quiet.
In the middle of the living room, curled inside a mountain of blankets, Hoseok slept peacefully. A soft plush tiger was tucked beneath his chin, and his thumb rested near his lips, his breathing slow and gentle.
He looked small.
Not physically—Hoseok was a grown man—but emotionally, mentally, in the way he relaxed when he felt safe.
Especially when he slipped into little space.
Right now, he looked about two years old in mindset.
Jungkook sat on the couch nearby, watching him with the quiet focus of someone guarding something precious. His tattooed arm rested along the back of the couch, while the other loosely held a tablet displaying security feeds.
Across the room, Yoongi sipped coffee lazily.
"Still asleep?" Yoongi murmured.
Jungkook nodded.
"Little space?"
"Yeah," Jungkook said softly. "He regressed last night."
Yoongi hummed. "Stress?"
Before Jungkook could answer, the elevator doors opened with a quiet ding.
Namjoon stepped out, already dressed in a tailored black suit. His expression carried the calm authority of someone who commanded entire criminal networks with a few words.
"Morning," he said quietly.
His eyes immediately went to Hoseok.
His voice softened.
"How's our sunshine?"
Jungkook glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping dancer.
"Still tiny."
Namjoon walked over slowly, careful not to make noise. When he crouched beside the blanket pile, his large hand gently brushed Hoseok's hair away from his face.
Hoseok stirred slightly, letting out a tiny sleepy whine.
"Mmm…"
Namjoon smiled faintly.
"Still our baby."
From the kitchen, Jin's voice suddenly echoed dramatically.
"BREAKFAST IS READY!"
Hoseok startled awake immediately.
His eyes blinked open slowly, confused and soft.
For a moment he looked around like a toddler waking from a nap.
Then his gaze landed on Jungkook.
"Koo…"
His voice was small.
Jungkook stood instantly and walked over.
"What is it, baby?"
Hoseok rubbed his eyes, clearly still in little space.
"Hungry…"
Namjoon chuckled quietly.
"Perfect timing."
Before Hoseok could even sit up fully, Jimin appeared beside him like a mischievous cat.
"Well good morning, sleepyhead."
Hoseok blinked up at him.
"Chim…"
Jimin grinned and gently pinched his cheek.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. You're tiny."
Taehyung suddenly dropped onto the couch beside them dramatically.
"Did the baby wake up?"
Hoseok giggled softly.
"Baby not baby…"
Yoongi snorted.
"Sure."
Hoseok pouted instantly.
That pout could melt all six mafia bosses instantly.
Jungkook scooped him up without hesitation, lifting him easily into his arms.
"There we go."
Hoseok immediately cuddled into his chest.
Tiny. Safe.
Jin leaned over the kitchen counter watching them.
"You all spoil him too much."
Namjoon raised an eyebrow.
"You made dinosaur pancakes for him."
Jin gasped.
"That is different."
Hoseok peeked over Jungkook's shoulder.
"Dino pancakes?"
Jin beamed.
"Yes, baby."
Within seconds Hoseok was squirming excitedly in Jungkook's arms.
The fearsome mafia leaders of the city watched their little dancer wiggle happily about pancakes.
It was ridiculous.
And they loved it.
Breakfast was chaotic.
Hoseok sat between Jimin and Taehyung, still in a semi-regressed state while Jin fed him pieces of pancake dramatically like he was royalty.
Yoongi watched the scene with mild amusement.
"This is our life now."
Namjoon checked his phone.
"It's better than gunfights."
Jungkook leaned back in his chair, watching Hoseok carefully.
Hoseok's little moods were delicate.
One wrong moment could make him anxious or overwhelmed.
But right now he looked happy.
Sticky syrup on his fingers.
Giggles when Taehyung stole his pancake.
A quiet hum as he swung his legs beneath the chair.
For a moment… it almost felt peaceful.
Then Namjoon's phone buzzed again.
His expression changed instantly.
Serious.
Dangerous.
Yoongi noticed immediately.
"What happened?"
Namjoon showed him the screen.
Yoongi's eyes darkened.
"Rival family?"
"Yeah."
Jungkook sat up straight.
"What?"
Namjoon spoke quietly.
"The Black Lotus group is moving again."
The room went still.
Everyone knew that name.
They were ruthless.
Unpredictable.
And they had been trying to challenge their territory for months.
Jimin frowned.
"Already?"
Namjoon nodded.
"Three of our warehouses were attacked last night."
Taehyung leaned back slowly.
"So war then."
Yoongi sighed.
"Looks like it."
Hoseok looked around the table in confusion.
"…war?"
The six men froze.
They had forgotten he was listening.
Namjoon immediately softened his tone.
"No, sunshine."
Hoseok tilted his head.
"But you said war…"
Jungkook reached over and wiped syrup from Hoseok's cheek.
"Just work talk."
Hoseok stared at him for a moment…
Then leaned into his hand.
"…okay."
Relief moved quietly through the room.
They never wanted Hoseok to feel that danger.
But unfortunately…
He lived in the center of it.
Later that afternoon the penthouse shifted into work mode.
Security systems activated.
Phones rang.
Messages flew between mafia networks across the city.
Yet in the middle of it all…
Hoseok danced.
Music played softly from the studio room upstairs.
His bare feet moved across the wooden floor with natural grace.
Dancing had always been his escape.
His peace.
Even when his mind was fragile.
Even when the world outside was dangerous.
Jungkook stood in the doorway watching quietly.
Hoseok spun once…
Twice…
Then noticed him.
"Koo!"
He ran over immediately and hugged him.
"Look!"
"Show me?" Jungkook smiled.
Hoseok nodded excitedly and ran back to the center of the room.
He danced again.
Light. Free.
Innocent.
Jungkook's chest tightened watching him.
Because outside these walls…
Enemies were already preparing their next move.
And if anyone ever touched Hoseok—
The entire city would burn.
That night…
Namjoon stood on the penthouse balcony looking over the glowing city.
Yoongi joined him quietly.
"Thinking?"
Namjoon nodded.
"They'll come for our weakness."
Yoongi already knew what he meant.
Hoseok.
Inside the living room, Hoseok was curled between Jungkook and Jimin watching cartoons, half-regressed again after a long day.
Taehyung played with his hair.
Jin wrapped him in blankets like a burrito.
Six of the most powerful men in the city…
Completely soft for one dancer.
Yoongi exhaled slowly.
"They won't get near him."
Namjoon's voice was calm.
"No."
His eyes hardened.
"They won't."
Because anyone who tried…
Would learn very quickly why the seven of them ruled the city.
And why Hoseok was the most protected person alive.