[Fic] Rainbow Curve
Title: Rainbow Curve
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Rating: R
Warnings: sexual situations, fluff!
This follows Rundown and Relay in the baseball AU.
Summary: Miyun has a special request for her sixth birthday, and school events lead to family explorations.
***
On Kyuhyun’s long list of things that scared him about being a parent, asking Miyun what she wanted for her birthday wasn’t one of them. Or at least, it wasn’t until the year she turned six, and instead of toy lizards or trips to the zoo, her one request was:
“I want to make cookies.”
And he did what any rational adult man did when faced with a sweet-faced five-year-old asking what seemed like such an innocuous request. He agreed.
His cook looked at him with a little bit of pity when he let her know about Miyun’s request. Because it wasn’t that she wanted to make cookies with their cook, with years of experience, no. She wanted Zhou Mi and Kyuhyun to bake with her, and just them. He almost felt like he wanted to apologize to Zhou Mi for agreeing on his behalf, but on the other hand, there was no way he was going to do it alone. And he figured it surely couldn’t be that hard.
“It’ll be easy, right?” he asked, hoping Zhou Mi would have words of comfort. Instead, he got a look that was quite unsure.
Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi were outfitted with two of the kitchen aprons, plain and white. Miyun had one made just for her, courtesy of the staff for her birthday. He half suspected that they had orchestrated the whole thing, waiting to see what a mess they made so they could laugh. He didn’t begrudge them that. But he couldn’t deny Miyun looked cute in her pink apron, her hair clipped back with little pink bows.
On a little step-stool between them, she was looking up between them as they stood at the counter. Kyuhyun had the recipe in front of him, and he’d drawn the line at hunting through the cupboards, so all the things they needed had been put out by little cooking elves.
“What do we do first, Daddy?”
“I guess we measure stuff,” Kyuhyun said, moving the recipe a full inch toward Zhou Mi. “Flour?”
He heard Zhou Mi sigh. “Let’s turn on the oven.”
Miyun read the temperature, and Zhou Mi turned it on to her approval.
They measured butter and sugar, and Zhou Mi hefted Miyun up so she could watch the two ingredients mixing together in the stand mixer. And thinking of that, he left her there, sitting on the counter to her delight.
“Okay. Eggs!” Zhou Mi said.
Most of the egg Miyun cracked went onto the counter, but they mopped it up and made sure most of the eggs went in, shell not included.
“I like chickens. We saw baby chicks at school? Could we get a chicken?”
The only chicken they were getting was going to be the ones going on their plates, but he patted her back and kept reading the recipe via Zhou Mi’s eyes.
Salt. Vanilla. Baking soda.
“Do you know what this does?” Zhou Mi asked Miyun, showing her the baking soda. Kyuhyun knew Zhou Mi had done a little reading up for their experience. He listened as Zhou Mi explained how leavening worked, making it sound like a bit of baking magic. The expansion of the ingredients they were using.
Finally, to Kyuhyun’s reading skills, flour. It looked like a small snow field, with Kyuhyun dipping into the container, leveling the measuring cup, and then sprinkling some off of his hand the whole way to the mixer.
“Looks like we might have cookies after all,” he joked, as Miyun helped him tip the flour in.
“Daddy,” she scolded, as though she’d had no doubt. She wasn’t relying on the ingredients to be magic, but she was relying on them. That was a little scary itself.
The chocolate chips went in last, and it looked like some strange studded goo.
“Is it supposed to look like that?” he asked quietly, hoping Zhou Mi’s research would tell him that much.
“I think so? Maybe? I think?”
Kyuhyun puffed his cheeks out at Zhou Mi. Well, the worst they could be was inedible.
They let Miyun use a spoon, scooping out spoon after spoon, laboriously. Careful and awkward, making them roughly the same size.
“Taadaa!” she said, when she’d finished filling the tray. “How long do they bake for?”
“Twelve minutes,” Zhou Mi said, kissing the top of her head. And Kyuhyun cautiously put them in the heated oven, and closed the door. Timer set.
Then he turned back and saw his trail of flour. He laughed, sliding his finger along it and then swiping it on Miyun’s nose.
She blinked back at him, startled and wondering what he’d just done, what he’d put on her. And then he did the same thing to Zhou Mi, leaving a white trail along Zhou Mi’s cheek. And her giggles led their’s as first Miyun and then Zhou Mi left white finger marks on his face too.
“Can I see the cookies?” she asked.
It took a little hunting with two adult men, and Miyun was still the first person to figure out how to turn the oven light on.
And she knelt there, commentating on the cookie process, for almost the entirely of the remaining time.
“They’re spreading! Oh, they’re shiny!”
“As long as they don’t poison her, we’ve done good,” Kyuhyun murmured
“She had fun. Even if they’re gross, she had fun,” Zhou Mi told him.
Zhou Mi’s lips curved, and it gave him a flash of the night before when he’d been cushioned on top of Zhou Mi’s body. He’d have rolled off but Zhou Mi had his hips firmly between his thighs, and he figured if Zhou Mi wanted squished, then he was not volunteering to move.
Though he’d known if he stayed there long enough that they’d end up repeating what they’d just done. Especially with the way Zhou Mi had been humming into his neck. And he’d been right, only Zhou Mi had reversed their positions with a grin. Not the best topic to be focusing on, since they still had more cookie dough to go.
But Kyuhyun crouched down beside Miyun for the last minute countdown. Miyun scrambled to stand in front of Zhou Mi, his hands on her shoulders as the timer went off. To his amazement they actually looked like cookies as he took them out of the oven.
Miyun gleefully portioned out more dough until they could put a different pan in, and by then Kyuhyun couldn’t stand it. He broke a cookie apart, still oozing, and blew on it to cool it. He’d have tasted it himself, but he didn’t think Miyun would forgive him. So he waited until she took a bite, cautious that it might be hot.
“Mm,” she said, looking up at him with stars in her eyes.
He looked at Zhou Mi in terror. We should’ve made something really disgusting. She’s going to want to do this again.
But the cookies were delicious. And after Miyun got bored with the process and skipped off to play, tasting the chocolate on Zhou Mi’s lips had been delicious as well.
***
Miyun was a sweet child, most of the time. That wasn’t to say she was perfect, because she had her moods and her own personality, and times she disobeyed. Even the sweetest child when turned down a request sometimes got pouty, and there were certainly episodes of frustrated tears. Mostly from Miyun, but Kyuhyun had to walk away a couple of times.
Zhou Mi generally left the parenting to him, the hard stuff. And he understood that, appreciated it in many cases. It wasn’t easy, the parenting stuff, but he’d been doing it on his own for a while, plus the nanny’s help. He was, and nothing could change that, her father. But he wondered at times, how he’d done it on his own when he was able to look to Zhou Mi or be soothed himself as Zhou Mi stroked his back and gave him silent support. And those times Zhou Mi was there, he was a voice of reason. Of course, that also meant he sometimes saw his frustrated child shun his arms in favor of throwing herself at Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi’s smile was often wry above her head, but his voice was calm as he cuddled her. The harder times were when Zhou Mi had to sit her back, so they could keep talking. Especially when she was being punished, and not just consoled.
She’d fallen asleep more than once like that, her head cradled on Zhou Mi’s shoulder. And sometimes, of course, on his own. She felt, maybe in some way, that Zhou Mi could protect her. Or maybe he was just an extension of the koala that she clutched to sleep at night. Or maybe…
Miyun came to them one day after school. Kyuhyun had collapsed after a long run and shower, keeping in shape for his next album and upcoming concerts. And Zhou Mi hadn’t been playing that day, so he was home and their ankles were intertwined from adjacent couches as they read and caught up. Not that their hour apart left them much to catch up on, but Zhou Mi could’ve had the scoop on all the news on the internet, and twitter trends, and baseball news. That and Zhou Mi kept a close eye on Kyuhyun’s fanbases. Kyuhyun secretly suspected Zhou Mi had memberships on all of the sites and just went around making peppy comments.
But Miyun came in the door, having been picked up by her nanny, and immediately made a break to Kyuhyun’s lap, backpack and all.
“Daddy!”
“Hi baby,” he said, grunting as her full weight squashed him for a moment.
He watched, grinning, as Miyun gave Zhou Mi a high five, and Miyun straightened like a startled deer.
“Oh! My class is having a party. They’re having cake! My teacher said our daddies and mommies can come and I told her I didn’t have a mommy, but I had a daddy and a Zhou Mimi,” Miyun said, and Kyuhyun saw Zhou Mi’s head shoot up. “Was that okay? She didn’t know what I meant.”
Kyuhyun thought his heart would get too light and fly right out of his chest, having his daughter look at him like that, having told him in the simplest terms just how she felt their family fit together. No, she wasn’t calling Zhou Mi her mother, or equating him as such. But saying in no uncertain terms that he was an equal to him, her father. She saw Zhou Mi as a parent, as Kyuhyun’s partner. One of a set that greeted her in the morning, and played with her, and held her hand, and dried her tears. Zhou Mi, who was more than just a partner or a bedmate to Kyuhyun, but also the first person he went to when he had a question on how to deal with his child. Valuing Zhou Mi’s opinion, his compassionate nature, and his love for Miyun.
He could have dated any number of men, but of those, he had no idea how many of them he would have trusted, or found joy in knowing that Miyun looked up to him as a man who would help her grow, and help shape her future. To be a team with him. To be a parent, with him. To share his precious child, and her seemingly infinite love, with the man whose chin was trembling across from them. He was going to suggest a group cuddle, but he saw Zhou Mi violently shaking his head. Still composing himself after Miyun’s innocent, heartfelt bombshell.
“Yes, baby, you did well,” Kyuhyun said, squishing her and making her giggle. “And I’ll talk to your teacher again so she knows. Would you like to see your mommy more?”
One thing Kyuhyun had not done was try to keep Miyun from knowing her mother. Even if they hadn’t been suited for each other, and even if the visits to Miyun were far between, he needed to know. Needed to know, in case Miyun was festering some need. He was fairly certain his grudge, of having his ex-wife give Miyun up almost entirely, festered far deeper than Miyun’s did. And not because he’d have changed anything, given up one moment with Miyun, but he wasn’t sure how anyone could have given Miyun up. And for Miyun, he worried. Having him and Zhou Mi was one thing, and knowing she loved them. But other children could be cruel, and sometimes ideas were planted too deep.
But Miyun’s eyes were huge, and her chin trembling not unlike Zhou Mi’s had been moments before.
“I like seeing her,” Miyun said, her voice tiny as though she didn’t want anyone else to hear. “But…Would Zhou Mimi have to go away?”
“No. No! Zhou Mimi belongs here with me, and you. I know she lives a long way from us, but if you want to talk to her, or see her, you can tell me. It’s okay. Wanting to see her sometimes doesn’t mean you love us less, okay? You don’t have to choose between her and Zhou Mimi.”
“Okay.”
And he wasn’t giving Zhou Mi a choice any more, jerking his head to force Zhou Mi to come closer and wrap his arms around them. “Your Zhou Mimi looks like he needs a hug.”
Her giggle was a bit damp, as Zhou Mi’s head came to rest on Kyuhyun’s shoulder, and they were both pulled closer to Zhou Mi.
“You’ll come to the party with me?” she asked Zhou Mi, gripping his shirt sleeve.
“I’ll have to see, but I want to,” Zhou Mi told her.
Kyuhyun let his head rest against Zhou Mi’s, and stroked Miyun’s back. The visits with her mother got a bit easier as she grew a little more self-possessed. Gone were the days when she’d hide behind his legs, or cry when this strange woman he called her mommy came to see her. Zhou Mi had been there for the last visit, and that had been a bit of an emotional revelation for all four of them. Mostly because instead of clinging to Kyuhyun, as Miyun usually did, Miyun had gripped Zhou Mi’s hand with both of hers. Like he was a tree that she was tying herself to. And it had been the first time he’d seen his ex-wife interact with anyone he’d slept with, much less the man he was living with. Zhou Mi was charming, gracious, which wasn’t unusual. But he could almost feel Zhou Mi weighing meeting her. Her pretty face, slender figure. There was no denying she was a beautiful woman. His father wouldn’t have settled for less for his only son. But Zhou Mi also knew better than any other living soul, just how little care had been in the marriage. Neither of them had married for love, and the little girl shyly greeting her mother had been the best thing to come of it.
Kyuhyun’s small talk had faded, inquiring politely how she was doing, and it had been Zhou Mi to gently suggest that Miyun get some of her favorite toys to start a bridge. There had been gifts for Miyun, and mother and daughter after a little while had gone to get a meal together.
And it had been Zhou Mi then, who’d consoled Kyuhyun. He didn’t fear Miyun would be kidnapped or her affection stolen, but it was a strange feeling to know Miyun was off with another adult. A feeling totally different to the one he got when he left Miyun with Zhou Mi. No, he wasn’t sure what he’d done before Zhou Mi.
Miyun had come home full of stories of what she had eaten and seen.
And Kyuhyun had thanked the woman who’d shared his life for such a brief time, sincerely, for spending time with Miyun.
There’d been a call when rumors really started surfacing that Zhou Mi had moved in. It had been something that made him glad, for Miyun’s sake, that there was still care there for her wellbeing.
There were provisions with his lawyer, that should anything ever happen to him, that if Zhou Mi were willing and able, Miyun was to stay with him. And if not, then, and only then would she go to her mother, and if not there, to her grandfather.
He hadn’t expressly asked Zhou Mi, not yet, not even able to think of that occurring, but he’d left a letter on file explaining his decision. One day they’d talk about it. Every moment like the one on the couch, Miyun’s Zhou Mimi, her parent. Her second father. He thought every moment like that would show Zhou Mi just why he’d made that choice. It proved to Kyuhyun too, for Miyun’s sake, when he left Zhou Mi and Miyun dozing against each other, to go make a phone call.
***
Zhou Mi yelped, almost whining when Kyuhyun poked his exposed underarm. With Zhou Mi sprawled almost bonelessly on their bed in just a pair of briefs, the tease had been impossible to resist.
“Good day,” Kyuhyun said, settling closer.
“Mm,” Zhou Mi agreed.
“I’ll swing by Miyun’s school tomorrow, talk with her teacher. It could’ve just been a misunderstanding, but it can’t hurt to refresh her memory. Just in case, so she can keep an eye out for kids picking at Miyun.”
Zhou Mi’s face went a bit stormy at that, and Kyuhyun concurred. He couldn’t protect Miyun from everything, but he damn well could try.
“And the party date?” Zhou Mi asked. “I shouldn’t be away, but just in case.”
“Me either.” And Kyuhyun kissed the point of Zhou Mi’s shoulder. “I hope they don’t want us to bring food.”
“Oh.”
“I happen to employ a very good cook who can bake, what am I talking about,” Kyuhyun said, laughing. “I think I’m traumatized. Neither of us are going to open up a bakery after this.”
He reached out with one finger, and traced gentle circles around Zhou Mi’s navel.
“What are you thinking?” Zhou Mi asked, voice amused as Kyuhyun’s finger flirted with the edge of Zhou Mi’s underwear.
“Nothing to do with cookies, or school parties,” Kyuhyun said, lips curving as he looked up at Zhou Mi through his lashes. “You?”
Considering the way Zhou Mi cupped his jaw and guided him closer, Kyuhyun wasn’t the least surprised when Zhou Mi’s answer was, “Same.”
He hummed in pleasure, when Zhou Mi moved behind him. On their sides, Zhou Mi against his back, and sliding together. Slow, but certainly not lazy. Zhou Mi rubbed up against the side of his head like a cat, and it made him laugh. The things that Zhou Mi was doing to his neck, to his body, got a far different response. It reminded him of the way they’d begun, so hungry for each other. Zhou Mi had been so desperate to please him, so frustrated by his injury. The first few weeks after Zhou Mi had moved in had been Zhou Mi showing him all the ways he could destroy Kyuhyun’s concentration with two working hands. And not all of that had even been things they’d done in bed.
“How long are you going to keep teasing me?” Kyuhyun grumbled, as Zhou Mi stroked him to keep him hard.
“As long as you like it,” Zhou Mi promised him.
And that was the truth.
***
They were climbing back into bed, getting ready to sleep, when Kyuhyun had a thought. One of those thoughts he couldn’t squash down, even if the urge to ignore and let it go was strong. He waited until Zhou Mi got settled, curving against Kyuhyun’s back for another snuggle.
“Hey,” he said, and waited for Zhou Mi to nudge the back of his head to indicate he was listening. “I was thinking about earlier, with Miyun. I am 'Daddy' to her. Maybe 'Dad' one day. What will you be?”
Zhou Mi was quiet, thinking through Kyuhyun’s question. And his voice was a bit unsure. “Kyuhyun?”
“It might be a little confusing if she calls you Kyuhyun,” Kyuhyun said, and broke down laughing as Zhou Mi bit his shoulder in retaliation. “But no. Today showed us, in her mind… You’re more than just a friend, a nice guy in her eyes. One day, she’s going to come to me, or to you and ask… What to call you as her father.”
Kyuhyun’s grip tightened on Zhou Mi’s fingers, when he felt him go silent and still.
“It might not be for a while,” Kyuhyun continued. “And we can steer her away from that if you’d rather. But you can think of what you’d like to be called.”
“You want that?” Zhou Mi asked, the sound tentative. Of course, Zhou Mi would be concerned for Kyuhyun's feelings. Not wanting Kyuhyun to feel as though his place was usurped. Kyuhyun wasn't sure that was possible. When he considered Miyun, he knew that the child he had was happier, a richer person, for having Zhou Mi, too.
“I want it, and I know it’ll be about what she wants. But yeah.” He winced, feeling how cheesy the words were going to be even before he said them. “You’re the most important person to both of us.”
Zhou Mi’s breathing changed, rough and quick, and his brain scrambled for something to help avoid an emotional meltdown.
“You’re going to be there. I can barely manage to make cookies on my own. I mean, what if she starts dating? You might have to give me oxygen.”
Zhou Mi gave a little hic and Kyuhyun realized he wasn’t getting emotional to the point of tears, but he was quite nearly crying with laughter.
“Oh Kyuhyun. I love you.” And Kyuhyun was slightly mollified, as Zhou Mi kissed under his ear. “She can call me anything she wants, any time she wants. She can call me Zhou Mimi until she’s sixty, and I’d be happy.”
“But?” Kyuhyun asked, feeling that wasn’t quite resolved.
“But I’d be happy…”
“Baba?” Kyuhyun offered.
“Oh,” Zhou Mi said, as though Kyuhyun had offered him a plate full of diamonds, and Kyuhyun chuckled.
“Are we going to be that couple? Never calling each other by our names because we’re calling each other Daddy or Baba.”
“Just not in bed,” Zhou Mi murmured against his neck.
Kyuhyun hummed in agreement, feeling tiredness settle on him. “Tomorrow, things?”
“Sounds good.”
Kyuhyun smiled against Zhou Mi’s arm, and got some well-deserved sleep.
***
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Rating: R
Warnings: sexual situations, fluff!
This follows Rundown and Relay in the baseball AU.
Summary: Miyun has a special request for her sixth birthday, and school events lead to family explorations.
***
On Kyuhyun’s long list of things that scared him about being a parent, asking Miyun what she wanted for her birthday wasn’t one of them. Or at least, it wasn’t until the year she turned six, and instead of toy lizards or trips to the zoo, her one request was:
“I want to make cookies.”
And he did what any rational adult man did when faced with a sweet-faced five-year-old asking what seemed like such an innocuous request. He agreed.
His cook looked at him with a little bit of pity when he let her know about Miyun’s request. Because it wasn’t that she wanted to make cookies with their cook, with years of experience, no. She wanted Zhou Mi and Kyuhyun to bake with her, and just them. He almost felt like he wanted to apologize to Zhou Mi for agreeing on his behalf, but on the other hand, there was no way he was going to do it alone. And he figured it surely couldn’t be that hard.
“It’ll be easy, right?” he asked, hoping Zhou Mi would have words of comfort. Instead, he got a look that was quite unsure.
Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi were outfitted with two of the kitchen aprons, plain and white. Miyun had one made just for her, courtesy of the staff for her birthday. He half suspected that they had orchestrated the whole thing, waiting to see what a mess they made so they could laugh. He didn’t begrudge them that. But he couldn’t deny Miyun looked cute in her pink apron, her hair clipped back with little pink bows.
On a little step-stool between them, she was looking up between them as they stood at the counter. Kyuhyun had the recipe in front of him, and he’d drawn the line at hunting through the cupboards, so all the things they needed had been put out by little cooking elves.
“What do we do first, Daddy?”
“I guess we measure stuff,” Kyuhyun said, moving the recipe a full inch toward Zhou Mi. “Flour?”
He heard Zhou Mi sigh. “Let’s turn on the oven.”
Miyun read the temperature, and Zhou Mi turned it on to her approval.
They measured butter and sugar, and Zhou Mi hefted Miyun up so she could watch the two ingredients mixing together in the stand mixer. And thinking of that, he left her there, sitting on the counter to her delight.
“Okay. Eggs!” Zhou Mi said.
Most of the egg Miyun cracked went onto the counter, but they mopped it up and made sure most of the eggs went in, shell not included.
“I like chickens. We saw baby chicks at school? Could we get a chicken?”
The only chicken they were getting was going to be the ones going on their plates, but he patted her back and kept reading the recipe via Zhou Mi’s eyes.
Salt. Vanilla. Baking soda.
“Do you know what this does?” Zhou Mi asked Miyun, showing her the baking soda. Kyuhyun knew Zhou Mi had done a little reading up for their experience. He listened as Zhou Mi explained how leavening worked, making it sound like a bit of baking magic. The expansion of the ingredients they were using.
Finally, to Kyuhyun’s reading skills, flour. It looked like a small snow field, with Kyuhyun dipping into the container, leveling the measuring cup, and then sprinkling some off of his hand the whole way to the mixer.
“Looks like we might have cookies after all,” he joked, as Miyun helped him tip the flour in.
“Daddy,” she scolded, as though she’d had no doubt. She wasn’t relying on the ingredients to be magic, but she was relying on them. That was a little scary itself.
The chocolate chips went in last, and it looked like some strange studded goo.
“Is it supposed to look like that?” he asked quietly, hoping Zhou Mi’s research would tell him that much.
“I think so? Maybe? I think?”
Kyuhyun puffed his cheeks out at Zhou Mi. Well, the worst they could be was inedible.
They let Miyun use a spoon, scooping out spoon after spoon, laboriously. Careful and awkward, making them roughly the same size.
“Taadaa!” she said, when she’d finished filling the tray. “How long do they bake for?”
“Twelve minutes,” Zhou Mi said, kissing the top of her head. And Kyuhyun cautiously put them in the heated oven, and closed the door. Timer set.
Then he turned back and saw his trail of flour. He laughed, sliding his finger along it and then swiping it on Miyun’s nose.
She blinked back at him, startled and wondering what he’d just done, what he’d put on her. And then he did the same thing to Zhou Mi, leaving a white trail along Zhou Mi’s cheek. And her giggles led their’s as first Miyun and then Zhou Mi left white finger marks on his face too.
“Can I see the cookies?” she asked.
It took a little hunting with two adult men, and Miyun was still the first person to figure out how to turn the oven light on.
And she knelt there, commentating on the cookie process, for almost the entirely of the remaining time.
“They’re spreading! Oh, they’re shiny!”
“As long as they don’t poison her, we’ve done good,” Kyuhyun murmured
“She had fun. Even if they’re gross, she had fun,” Zhou Mi told him.
Zhou Mi’s lips curved, and it gave him a flash of the night before when he’d been cushioned on top of Zhou Mi’s body. He’d have rolled off but Zhou Mi had his hips firmly between his thighs, and he figured if Zhou Mi wanted squished, then he was not volunteering to move.
Though he’d known if he stayed there long enough that they’d end up repeating what they’d just done. Especially with the way Zhou Mi had been humming into his neck. And he’d been right, only Zhou Mi had reversed their positions with a grin. Not the best topic to be focusing on, since they still had more cookie dough to go.
But Kyuhyun crouched down beside Miyun for the last minute countdown. Miyun scrambled to stand in front of Zhou Mi, his hands on her shoulders as the timer went off. To his amazement they actually looked like cookies as he took them out of the oven.
Miyun gleefully portioned out more dough until they could put a different pan in, and by then Kyuhyun couldn’t stand it. He broke a cookie apart, still oozing, and blew on it to cool it. He’d have tasted it himself, but he didn’t think Miyun would forgive him. So he waited until she took a bite, cautious that it might be hot.
“Mm,” she said, looking up at him with stars in her eyes.
He looked at Zhou Mi in terror. We should’ve made something really disgusting. She’s going to want to do this again.
But the cookies were delicious. And after Miyun got bored with the process and skipped off to play, tasting the chocolate on Zhou Mi’s lips had been delicious as well.
***
Miyun was a sweet child, most of the time. That wasn’t to say she was perfect, because she had her moods and her own personality, and times she disobeyed. Even the sweetest child when turned down a request sometimes got pouty, and there were certainly episodes of frustrated tears. Mostly from Miyun, but Kyuhyun had to walk away a couple of times.
Zhou Mi generally left the parenting to him, the hard stuff. And he understood that, appreciated it in many cases. It wasn’t easy, the parenting stuff, but he’d been doing it on his own for a while, plus the nanny’s help. He was, and nothing could change that, her father. But he wondered at times, how he’d done it on his own when he was able to look to Zhou Mi or be soothed himself as Zhou Mi stroked his back and gave him silent support. And those times Zhou Mi was there, he was a voice of reason. Of course, that also meant he sometimes saw his frustrated child shun his arms in favor of throwing herself at Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi’s smile was often wry above her head, but his voice was calm as he cuddled her. The harder times were when Zhou Mi had to sit her back, so they could keep talking. Especially when she was being punished, and not just consoled.
She’d fallen asleep more than once like that, her head cradled on Zhou Mi’s shoulder. And sometimes, of course, on his own. She felt, maybe in some way, that Zhou Mi could protect her. Or maybe he was just an extension of the koala that she clutched to sleep at night. Or maybe…
Miyun came to them one day after school. Kyuhyun had collapsed after a long run and shower, keeping in shape for his next album and upcoming concerts. And Zhou Mi hadn’t been playing that day, so he was home and their ankles were intertwined from adjacent couches as they read and caught up. Not that their hour apart left them much to catch up on, but Zhou Mi could’ve had the scoop on all the news on the internet, and twitter trends, and baseball news. That and Zhou Mi kept a close eye on Kyuhyun’s fanbases. Kyuhyun secretly suspected Zhou Mi had memberships on all of the sites and just went around making peppy comments.
But Miyun came in the door, having been picked up by her nanny, and immediately made a break to Kyuhyun’s lap, backpack and all.
“Daddy!”
“Hi baby,” he said, grunting as her full weight squashed him for a moment.
He watched, grinning, as Miyun gave Zhou Mi a high five, and Miyun straightened like a startled deer.
“Oh! My class is having a party. They’re having cake! My teacher said our daddies and mommies can come and I told her I didn’t have a mommy, but I had a daddy and a Zhou Mimi,” Miyun said, and Kyuhyun saw Zhou Mi’s head shoot up. “Was that okay? She didn’t know what I meant.”
Kyuhyun thought his heart would get too light and fly right out of his chest, having his daughter look at him like that, having told him in the simplest terms just how she felt their family fit together. No, she wasn’t calling Zhou Mi her mother, or equating him as such. But saying in no uncertain terms that he was an equal to him, her father. She saw Zhou Mi as a parent, as Kyuhyun’s partner. One of a set that greeted her in the morning, and played with her, and held her hand, and dried her tears. Zhou Mi, who was more than just a partner or a bedmate to Kyuhyun, but also the first person he went to when he had a question on how to deal with his child. Valuing Zhou Mi’s opinion, his compassionate nature, and his love for Miyun.
He could have dated any number of men, but of those, he had no idea how many of them he would have trusted, or found joy in knowing that Miyun looked up to him as a man who would help her grow, and help shape her future. To be a team with him. To be a parent, with him. To share his precious child, and her seemingly infinite love, with the man whose chin was trembling across from them. He was going to suggest a group cuddle, but he saw Zhou Mi violently shaking his head. Still composing himself after Miyun’s innocent, heartfelt bombshell.
“Yes, baby, you did well,” Kyuhyun said, squishing her and making her giggle. “And I’ll talk to your teacher again so she knows. Would you like to see your mommy more?”
One thing Kyuhyun had not done was try to keep Miyun from knowing her mother. Even if they hadn’t been suited for each other, and even if the visits to Miyun were far between, he needed to know. Needed to know, in case Miyun was festering some need. He was fairly certain his grudge, of having his ex-wife give Miyun up almost entirely, festered far deeper than Miyun’s did. And not because he’d have changed anything, given up one moment with Miyun, but he wasn’t sure how anyone could have given Miyun up. And for Miyun, he worried. Having him and Zhou Mi was one thing, and knowing she loved them. But other children could be cruel, and sometimes ideas were planted too deep.
But Miyun’s eyes were huge, and her chin trembling not unlike Zhou Mi’s had been moments before.
“I like seeing her,” Miyun said, her voice tiny as though she didn’t want anyone else to hear. “But…Would Zhou Mimi have to go away?”
“No. No! Zhou Mimi belongs here with me, and you. I know she lives a long way from us, but if you want to talk to her, or see her, you can tell me. It’s okay. Wanting to see her sometimes doesn’t mean you love us less, okay? You don’t have to choose between her and Zhou Mimi.”
“Okay.”
And he wasn’t giving Zhou Mi a choice any more, jerking his head to force Zhou Mi to come closer and wrap his arms around them. “Your Zhou Mimi looks like he needs a hug.”
Her giggle was a bit damp, as Zhou Mi’s head came to rest on Kyuhyun’s shoulder, and they were both pulled closer to Zhou Mi.
“You’ll come to the party with me?” she asked Zhou Mi, gripping his shirt sleeve.
“I’ll have to see, but I want to,” Zhou Mi told her.
Kyuhyun let his head rest against Zhou Mi’s, and stroked Miyun’s back. The visits with her mother got a bit easier as she grew a little more self-possessed. Gone were the days when she’d hide behind his legs, or cry when this strange woman he called her mommy came to see her. Zhou Mi had been there for the last visit, and that had been a bit of an emotional revelation for all four of them. Mostly because instead of clinging to Kyuhyun, as Miyun usually did, Miyun had gripped Zhou Mi’s hand with both of hers. Like he was a tree that she was tying herself to. And it had been the first time he’d seen his ex-wife interact with anyone he’d slept with, much less the man he was living with. Zhou Mi was charming, gracious, which wasn’t unusual. But he could almost feel Zhou Mi weighing meeting her. Her pretty face, slender figure. There was no denying she was a beautiful woman. His father wouldn’t have settled for less for his only son. But Zhou Mi also knew better than any other living soul, just how little care had been in the marriage. Neither of them had married for love, and the little girl shyly greeting her mother had been the best thing to come of it.
Kyuhyun’s small talk had faded, inquiring politely how she was doing, and it had been Zhou Mi to gently suggest that Miyun get some of her favorite toys to start a bridge. There had been gifts for Miyun, and mother and daughter after a little while had gone to get a meal together.
And it had been Zhou Mi then, who’d consoled Kyuhyun. He didn’t fear Miyun would be kidnapped or her affection stolen, but it was a strange feeling to know Miyun was off with another adult. A feeling totally different to the one he got when he left Miyun with Zhou Mi. No, he wasn’t sure what he’d done before Zhou Mi.
Miyun had come home full of stories of what she had eaten and seen.
And Kyuhyun had thanked the woman who’d shared his life for such a brief time, sincerely, for spending time with Miyun.
There’d been a call when rumors really started surfacing that Zhou Mi had moved in. It had been something that made him glad, for Miyun’s sake, that there was still care there for her wellbeing.
There were provisions with his lawyer, that should anything ever happen to him, that if Zhou Mi were willing and able, Miyun was to stay with him. And if not, then, and only then would she go to her mother, and if not there, to her grandfather.
He hadn’t expressly asked Zhou Mi, not yet, not even able to think of that occurring, but he’d left a letter on file explaining his decision. One day they’d talk about it. Every moment like the one on the couch, Miyun’s Zhou Mimi, her parent. Her second father. He thought every moment like that would show Zhou Mi just why he’d made that choice. It proved to Kyuhyun too, for Miyun’s sake, when he left Zhou Mi and Miyun dozing against each other, to go make a phone call.
***
Zhou Mi yelped, almost whining when Kyuhyun poked his exposed underarm. With Zhou Mi sprawled almost bonelessly on their bed in just a pair of briefs, the tease had been impossible to resist.
“Good day,” Kyuhyun said, settling closer.
“Mm,” Zhou Mi agreed.
“I’ll swing by Miyun’s school tomorrow, talk with her teacher. It could’ve just been a misunderstanding, but it can’t hurt to refresh her memory. Just in case, so she can keep an eye out for kids picking at Miyun.”
Zhou Mi’s face went a bit stormy at that, and Kyuhyun concurred. He couldn’t protect Miyun from everything, but he damn well could try.
“And the party date?” Zhou Mi asked. “I shouldn’t be away, but just in case.”
“Me either.” And Kyuhyun kissed the point of Zhou Mi’s shoulder. “I hope they don’t want us to bring food.”
“Oh.”
“I happen to employ a very good cook who can bake, what am I talking about,” Kyuhyun said, laughing. “I think I’m traumatized. Neither of us are going to open up a bakery after this.”
He reached out with one finger, and traced gentle circles around Zhou Mi’s navel.
“What are you thinking?” Zhou Mi asked, voice amused as Kyuhyun’s finger flirted with the edge of Zhou Mi’s underwear.
“Nothing to do with cookies, or school parties,” Kyuhyun said, lips curving as he looked up at Zhou Mi through his lashes. “You?”
Considering the way Zhou Mi cupped his jaw and guided him closer, Kyuhyun wasn’t the least surprised when Zhou Mi’s answer was, “Same.”
He hummed in pleasure, when Zhou Mi moved behind him. On their sides, Zhou Mi against his back, and sliding together. Slow, but certainly not lazy. Zhou Mi rubbed up against the side of his head like a cat, and it made him laugh. The things that Zhou Mi was doing to his neck, to his body, got a far different response. It reminded him of the way they’d begun, so hungry for each other. Zhou Mi had been so desperate to please him, so frustrated by his injury. The first few weeks after Zhou Mi had moved in had been Zhou Mi showing him all the ways he could destroy Kyuhyun’s concentration with two working hands. And not all of that had even been things they’d done in bed.
“How long are you going to keep teasing me?” Kyuhyun grumbled, as Zhou Mi stroked him to keep him hard.
“As long as you like it,” Zhou Mi promised him.
And that was the truth.
***
They were climbing back into bed, getting ready to sleep, when Kyuhyun had a thought. One of those thoughts he couldn’t squash down, even if the urge to ignore and let it go was strong. He waited until Zhou Mi got settled, curving against Kyuhyun’s back for another snuggle.
“Hey,” he said, and waited for Zhou Mi to nudge the back of his head to indicate he was listening. “I was thinking about earlier, with Miyun. I am 'Daddy' to her. Maybe 'Dad' one day. What will you be?”
Zhou Mi was quiet, thinking through Kyuhyun’s question. And his voice was a bit unsure. “Kyuhyun?”
“It might be a little confusing if she calls you Kyuhyun,” Kyuhyun said, and broke down laughing as Zhou Mi bit his shoulder in retaliation. “But no. Today showed us, in her mind… You’re more than just a friend, a nice guy in her eyes. One day, she’s going to come to me, or to you and ask… What to call you as her father.”
Kyuhyun’s grip tightened on Zhou Mi’s fingers, when he felt him go silent and still.
“It might not be for a while,” Kyuhyun continued. “And we can steer her away from that if you’d rather. But you can think of what you’d like to be called.”
“You want that?” Zhou Mi asked, the sound tentative. Of course, Zhou Mi would be concerned for Kyuhyun's feelings. Not wanting Kyuhyun to feel as though his place was usurped. Kyuhyun wasn't sure that was possible. When he considered Miyun, he knew that the child he had was happier, a richer person, for having Zhou Mi, too.
“I want it, and I know it’ll be about what she wants. But yeah.” He winced, feeling how cheesy the words were going to be even before he said them. “You’re the most important person to both of us.”
Zhou Mi’s breathing changed, rough and quick, and his brain scrambled for something to help avoid an emotional meltdown.
“You’re going to be there. I can barely manage to make cookies on my own. I mean, what if she starts dating? You might have to give me oxygen.”
Zhou Mi gave a little hic and Kyuhyun realized he wasn’t getting emotional to the point of tears, but he was quite nearly crying with laughter.
“Oh Kyuhyun. I love you.” And Kyuhyun was slightly mollified, as Zhou Mi kissed under his ear. “She can call me anything she wants, any time she wants. She can call me Zhou Mimi until she’s sixty, and I’d be happy.”
“But?” Kyuhyun asked, feeling that wasn’t quite resolved.
“But I’d be happy…”
“Baba?” Kyuhyun offered.
“Oh,” Zhou Mi said, as though Kyuhyun had offered him a plate full of diamonds, and Kyuhyun chuckled.
“Are we going to be that couple? Never calling each other by our names because we’re calling each other Daddy or Baba.”
“Just not in bed,” Zhou Mi murmured against his neck.
Kyuhyun hummed in agreement, feeling tiredness settle on him. “Tomorrow, things?”
“Sounds good.”
Kyuhyun smiled against Zhou Mi’s arm, and got some well-deserved sleep.
***