The Right Reasons 6/13
Title: The Right Reasons
Pairings: 2U, father!son HoSu, bff!JaeSu
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Yunho is a single father and happy with his stable life together with his four year old son.
Yoochun's life is a mess. But he is good with kids.
Yunho’s heart started beating faster during the drive back to the school.
He wasn’t sure how Yoochun would react, and he had thought about what to do next all day long - someone had even made a comment on the distant look in his eyes - but he still didn’t know that either.
He ended up entering the building with the intention of asking Yoochun out, on a date that would begin as perfect as their first and would end very differently.
Yunho heard a loud squeal and a tiny body almost ran into him, followed by another. He recognised a boy called Donghae in the second.
As soon as Donghae spotted him and realised that his original target had escaped, he touched Yunho’s leg with a loud “Tag, you’re it!” and sprinted away.
Yunho smiled and looked around. He didn’t see Yoochun but he discovered Junsu on the other side of the room. On his way there he tagged a girl called Jinri, who was hiding under a table.
“Appa!” Junsu smiled and practically jumped into his arms. “Higher!”
Yunho lifted Junsu higher but pretended that he was heavy and Jinri got Junsu's leg. Junsu pouted at his father.
“Ah, Jung Yunho-shi,” Yunho turned around in the direction of the voice that hadn’t been Yoochun’s and saw one of the younger female teachers, holding a little boy called Taemin who currently had puffy cheeks with clear traces of tears. “I see you’ve come to pick up your son.”
Yunho tried to look around for Yoochun again without coming off as weird or rude. He gave up and replied: “Yes, I am.”
The woman, Kim Sun Ah, looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry they’re like this. I just.. they were really calm all afternoon but when I took over it got a bit out of hand.” She let out a nervous giggle. “Children have a lot of energy, don’t they?”
Took over? Did this work in shifts? Was Yoochun gone already?
Yunho walked back to his car with a strong feeling of disappointment. He knew he’d get a lot of other chances to ask Yoochun out, that wasn’t so much the problem. It was that he’d looked forward to seeing him again, hoping find him happy and smiling, the way he liked him most.
He really liked Yoochun. Picking up Junsu had always been something he liked only because of Junsu, and now Yoochun was on his way to become a similar highlight in his life.
Small lips touched his cheek. Yunho turned his head, only now realising that he was still carrying Junsu.
“You looked sad. I kissed it better,” Junsu explained, dead serious.
Yunho laughed and opened the car door to help Junsu in his seat. “Thank you.” He ruffled Junsu’s hair and Junsu tried to escape but couldn’t move far because of the seatbelt.
Yunho walked to the front of the car, hoping to have better luck the next day. Actually, he could just ask Junsu, maybe he knew more.
“Su, did you have fun today?”
“Yes, Park-sonsaengnim was really nice! Siwon said that my drawing looked bad, but Park-sonsaengnim said that it was actually the best, but he said I can’t tell anyone because they get jealous.”
Yunho smiled. “Why did Park-sonsaengnim leave early?”
“To go to work,” Junsu said. “He has really stupid work because he had to go before his story was over.”
Yoochun had another job? Maybe he was working hard to pay off his debts.
During dinner Junsu refused to eat any vegetables and he was hyperactive, to the point where he ran around yelling things and Yunho had to catch him and tell him to be quiet because of the neighbours.
It was a sign that he was tired. After a whole day in the company of other children and a chaotic end of the afternoon, Yunho wasn’t surprised.
He sighed and prepared himself for the impossible task that would be putting Junsu to bed.
It had been a long day for him as well, so he went to sleep not long after Junsu had finally given in to his exhaustion. He didn’t think about Yoochun again that evening, apart from making the decision that he’d try again the next day.
Yunho was distracted during breakfast.
He vaguely noticed that Junsu was excited about something, but despite being glad that he wasn’t too tired, Yunho didn’t pay him much attention.
He stared at his hands as he prepared Junsu’s lunch, trying to keep his mind blank.
The not thinking but feeling had worked really well up till now, and everything seemed fine. But it was part of him, part of his job, to gather as much information as possible.
He did trust Yoochun, but it was just easier to do if he kept his imagination from running wild and coming up with the ways things could go wrong.
Somehow he ended up being a bit late and he didn’t have time to stay at the school for longer than strictly necessary to drop off Junsu.
He really couldn’t afford to be late for work, so he gathered his self control and didn’t search for Yoochun. He’d see him this afternoon, he had to. He’d heard that Yoochun was almost always the one who looked after the small group of children that stayed after school.
And today he’d finish extra early so that even if Yoochun had to leave for this other job again, he’d still catch him.
He hoped that Junsu would also be less tired if he’d only be in Yoochun’s care. Yoochun was really good with children. Yunho smiled at that thought.
Yunho was going through some files when his phone rang, not the one on his desk, but his cellphone. It was a number he didn’t recognise, so he probably sounded a bit guarded when he picked up.
He was very surprised to hear Yoochun’s voice, saying Yoochun’s name, but he was also immediately twice as wary as he clearly recognised panic.
What Yoochun said next stopped his heart.
“Yunho, Junsu is gone.”
Yunho shot up so fast his chair hit and possibly broke something, but he didn’t pay attention to that.
“What do you mean?”
Yoochun was panting, like he had been running. “He was here all day, and then when most of the children went home and I gathered the others, he was suddenly gone. I’m sorry, I don’t know.. I.. I must have let him out of my sight for too long. Yesterday he just stayed in his seat. I have no idea where he went, I searched the entire area around the school.”
“I’m on my way.”
Yunho told a secretary that he was leaving, without giving an explanation, and ran to his car.
His parents were the first he thought of. It was a Friday and it wouldn’t have been uncommon at all for them to pick Junsu up. But they were on a holiday and would be away for at least two weeks.
Junsu wouldn’t leave on his own.
Immediately an image of someone taking him away flashed through Yunho’s mind, but he rationalised that by telling himself that Junsu would have to leave the building first.
And something like that would never go unnoticed by the mothers of other children. They knew him, they knew his parents, they’d recognise someone else as a stranger, right?
What if Junsu had gone home with a friend? But another parent would never just take a child like that. They’d inform him, and when they figured out that Junsu would be staying at school they’d ask Yoochun.
He hoped that someone had just forgotten.
“Keep looking, I’m going to call some people.”
“Wait, Eunhyuk and Kibum were still here when I noticed he was gone. Jaejoong wasn’t so I called his parents, they didn’t pick up, maybe because they were still on their way back home, you should try them.”
“Thank you.” This would save time, although it also very quickly narrowed down possible safe places for Junsu to be. Somewhere in the back of his mind Yunho noted that Yoochun already knew who Junsu’s friends were, he was observant.
He hung up, got into his car and called Jaejoong’s house. He started the car and held his breath until he heard the click of someone picking up. The voice of one of Jaejoong’s sisters sounded through the speakers.
“It’s Junsu’s father, is Junsu with Jaejoong?”
“Um.. I don’t know,” the girl sounded like she didn’t really care.
“Can you please check? I don’t know where he is.”
She seemed to recognise the worry in his voice, because she didn’t protest. Yunho waited for a long long thirty seconds and then she was back. “No, he’s not here, I checked the entire house.”
Yunho felt a big part of his hope scatter. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” the girl sounded serious. “I’m sorry, he really isn’t.”
“Okay, thank you, can you tell your parents and call me if you see him?”
He ended the call and hit the steering wheel.
Yunho had called the parents of a lot of Junsu’s classmates without success when Yoochun called him again.
“Did you find him?” Yunho asked as soon as he’d picked up.
“No, and apparently you haven’t either. Where are you?”
Yunho told him what street he was driving on.
“That’s really close to where I am.”
“I’ll pick you up.” Yunho really needed someone next to him to tell him that ideas like Junsu getting kidnapped were insane.
Yunho was focused on Junsu, finding Junsu, making sure Junsu was okay, but when Yoochun stepped into the car he couldn’t help but notice how sweaty and tired he looked.
“Did you run all the way over here?” The school was close, but still quite far away by foot.
Yoochun tried to catch his breath. “I searched all the dangerous streets and any other place he could be in the neighbourhood. Yunho, I’m so sorry, I-”
“Stop. We need to find him first.”
Yoochun stopped apologising and Yunho rested his forehead against the steering wheel. He didn’t drive further. He didn’t know where to go.
“Maybe I missed something,” Yoochun said, and Yunho immediately pulled up.
They started at the school and searched, while Yunho called everyone who he knew had a child at this school and then just everyone he knew.
He was afraid to look at roads, because the thought of Junsu’s small body being hit by a car or even a bike felt like the sight would leave a gaping black hole in the place his heart used to be.
“I don’t understand,” Yoochun said. “He wouldn’t just.. He was talking with Jaejoong all day, even more than usual. Are you sure he isn’t with him?”
Yunho was about to smash his cellphone in frustration. “I told you I called! And Jaejoong’s parents would never just take him with them without telling me or without..” he stopped. “.. without.. without me knowing beforehand.”
Yoochun turned and looked at him. “What is it?”
Yunho couldn’t keep in a laugh as immense relief washed over him, further confusing Yoochun. He buried his face in his hands. “God, I’m so stupid.”
Yoochun came closer. “You know where he is?”
“Yes.” Yunho rubbed his face and shook his head. He’d been so distracted, busy with work but mostly because the entire day, the entire week really, he’d been so focused on seeing Yoochun again.
“He and Jaejoong had been begging for weeks to go to the zoo, so quite a while ago I agreed with his mother that she’d take them. We picked today because she works during weekends and Junsu couldn’t go to my parents this afternoon anyway. Jaejoong’s sister probably didn't know and just forgot to mention that Jaejoong and her mother weren’t home either.”
Yunho saw Yoochun breathe out in relief and lean back against the wall as obvious tension left his body. “I’m so glad.”
Until now Yunho hadn’t really thought about anything but Junsu. He also hadn’t had time to blame Yoochun and get angry at him. He was glad about that now.
They walked back to the car together and Yunho’s mind started to analyse what just happened. “Didn’t you have to stay with the other children?”
Yoochun sat down next to him. “No, someone took my place so I could search.” He leaned back against his seat. “I’m sorry. Usually I stay calm and professional, because panic won’t help you find a child, but I just... I couldn’t help but remember that you lost your... I just.. I know Junsu is all you have and if you’d lost him because of me..” Yoochun pressed his palms against his eyes and made a sound like he was just barely keeping in tears.
Yunho felt worse than he’d ever felt before. Yes, worse than when she left him, or well, for as far as he could remember. He suddenly couldn’t remember the feeling as clearly anymore, like he was starting to forget. It seemed so distant.
But this was close, and killing him. It was his fault, all his fault. Yoochun should yell at him, throw things, hit him, damage his car, not feel guilty himself.
“Yoochun, this was planned before I knew I would let Junsu stay at school longer. I asked you to look after him while I should have known he’d be picked up by someone, I’m so sorry, so sorry for making you worry.”
Yoochun looked at him.
“Thank you for helping me search," Yunho continued. "I really didn’t deserve it. I feel like I can’t ever make this up to you.” He banged his head back against his seat. “I’m so stupid.”
“You’re busy, you forgot, I understand.” Yunho could hear the genuine smile in Yoochun’s voice. “I’m just glad Junsu is okay.”
Yunho nodded, still feeling like he really didn’t deserve Yoochun to be nice to him at all.
“If you want to make it up to me though..” Yoochun’s voice was careful and Yunho looked at him, wanting him to continue. “You could.. buy me ramen?”
Part 7: Family Sleepover
Part 5: An Answer in Trust
Part 4: Drunk Denial
Part 3: Emptiness and Replacement
Part 2: Tulips in February
Part 1: Valentine's Flowers
Pairings: 2U, father!son HoSu, bff!JaeSu
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Yunho is a single father and happy with his stable life together with his four year old son.
Yoochun's life is a mess. But he is good with kids.
Yunho’s heart started beating faster during the drive back to the school.
He wasn’t sure how Yoochun would react, and he had thought about what to do next all day long - someone had even made a comment on the distant look in his eyes - but he still didn’t know that either.
He ended up entering the building with the intention of asking Yoochun out, on a date that would begin as perfect as their first and would end very differently.
Yunho heard a loud squeal and a tiny body almost ran into him, followed by another. He recognised a boy called Donghae in the second.
As soon as Donghae spotted him and realised that his original target had escaped, he touched Yunho’s leg with a loud “Tag, you’re it!” and sprinted away.
Yunho smiled and looked around. He didn’t see Yoochun but he discovered Junsu on the other side of the room. On his way there he tagged a girl called Jinri, who was hiding under a table.
“Appa!” Junsu smiled and practically jumped into his arms. “Higher!”
Yunho lifted Junsu higher but pretended that he was heavy and Jinri got Junsu's leg. Junsu pouted at his father.
“Ah, Jung Yunho-shi,” Yunho turned around in the direction of the voice that hadn’t been Yoochun’s and saw one of the younger female teachers, holding a little boy called Taemin who currently had puffy cheeks with clear traces of tears. “I see you’ve come to pick up your son.”
Yunho tried to look around for Yoochun again without coming off as weird or rude. He gave up and replied: “Yes, I am.”
The woman, Kim Sun Ah, looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry they’re like this. I just.. they were really calm all afternoon but when I took over it got a bit out of hand.” She let out a nervous giggle. “Children have a lot of energy, don’t they?”
Took over? Did this work in shifts? Was Yoochun gone already?
Yunho walked back to his car with a strong feeling of disappointment. He knew he’d get a lot of other chances to ask Yoochun out, that wasn’t so much the problem. It was that he’d looked forward to seeing him again, hoping find him happy and smiling, the way he liked him most.
He really liked Yoochun. Picking up Junsu had always been something he liked only because of Junsu, and now Yoochun was on his way to become a similar highlight in his life.
Small lips touched his cheek. Yunho turned his head, only now realising that he was still carrying Junsu.
“You looked sad. I kissed it better,” Junsu explained, dead serious.
Yunho laughed and opened the car door to help Junsu in his seat. “Thank you.” He ruffled Junsu’s hair and Junsu tried to escape but couldn’t move far because of the seatbelt.
Yunho walked to the front of the car, hoping to have better luck the next day. Actually, he could just ask Junsu, maybe he knew more.
“Su, did you have fun today?”
“Yes, Park-sonsaengnim was really nice! Siwon said that my drawing looked bad, but Park-sonsaengnim said that it was actually the best, but he said I can’t tell anyone because they get jealous.”
Yunho smiled. “Why did Park-sonsaengnim leave early?”
“To go to work,” Junsu said. “He has really stupid work because he had to go before his story was over.”
Yoochun had another job? Maybe he was working hard to pay off his debts.
During dinner Junsu refused to eat any vegetables and he was hyperactive, to the point where he ran around yelling things and Yunho had to catch him and tell him to be quiet because of the neighbours.
It was a sign that he was tired. After a whole day in the company of other children and a chaotic end of the afternoon, Yunho wasn’t surprised.
He sighed and prepared himself for the impossible task that would be putting Junsu to bed.
It had been a long day for him as well, so he went to sleep not long after Junsu had finally given in to his exhaustion. He didn’t think about Yoochun again that evening, apart from making the decision that he’d try again the next day.
Yunho was distracted during breakfast.
He vaguely noticed that Junsu was excited about something, but despite being glad that he wasn’t too tired, Yunho didn’t pay him much attention.
He stared at his hands as he prepared Junsu’s lunch, trying to keep his mind blank.
The not thinking but feeling had worked really well up till now, and everything seemed fine. But it was part of him, part of his job, to gather as much information as possible.
He did trust Yoochun, but it was just easier to do if he kept his imagination from running wild and coming up with the ways things could go wrong.
Somehow he ended up being a bit late and he didn’t have time to stay at the school for longer than strictly necessary to drop off Junsu.
He really couldn’t afford to be late for work, so he gathered his self control and didn’t search for Yoochun. He’d see him this afternoon, he had to. He’d heard that Yoochun was almost always the one who looked after the small group of children that stayed after school.
And today he’d finish extra early so that even if Yoochun had to leave for this other job again, he’d still catch him.
He hoped that Junsu would also be less tired if he’d only be in Yoochun’s care. Yoochun was really good with children. Yunho smiled at that thought.
Yunho was going through some files when his phone rang, not the one on his desk, but his cellphone. It was a number he didn’t recognise, so he probably sounded a bit guarded when he picked up.
He was very surprised to hear Yoochun’s voice, saying Yoochun’s name, but he was also immediately twice as wary as he clearly recognised panic.
What Yoochun said next stopped his heart.
“Yunho, Junsu is gone.”
Yunho shot up so fast his chair hit and possibly broke something, but he didn’t pay attention to that.
“What do you mean?”
Yoochun was panting, like he had been running. “He was here all day, and then when most of the children went home and I gathered the others, he was suddenly gone. I’m sorry, I don’t know.. I.. I must have let him out of my sight for too long. Yesterday he just stayed in his seat. I have no idea where he went, I searched the entire area around the school.”
“I’m on my way.”
Yunho told a secretary that he was leaving, without giving an explanation, and ran to his car.
His parents were the first he thought of. It was a Friday and it wouldn’t have been uncommon at all for them to pick Junsu up. But they were on a holiday and would be away for at least two weeks.
Junsu wouldn’t leave on his own.
Immediately an image of someone taking him away flashed through Yunho’s mind, but he rationalised that by telling himself that Junsu would have to leave the building first.
And something like that would never go unnoticed by the mothers of other children. They knew him, they knew his parents, they’d recognise someone else as a stranger, right?
What if Junsu had gone home with a friend? But another parent would never just take a child like that. They’d inform him, and when they figured out that Junsu would be staying at school they’d ask Yoochun.
He hoped that someone had just forgotten.
“Keep looking, I’m going to call some people.”
“Wait, Eunhyuk and Kibum were still here when I noticed he was gone. Jaejoong wasn’t so I called his parents, they didn’t pick up, maybe because they were still on their way back home, you should try them.”
“Thank you.” This would save time, although it also very quickly narrowed down possible safe places for Junsu to be. Somewhere in the back of his mind Yunho noted that Yoochun already knew who Junsu’s friends were, he was observant.
He hung up, got into his car and called Jaejoong’s house. He started the car and held his breath until he heard the click of someone picking up. The voice of one of Jaejoong’s sisters sounded through the speakers.
“It’s Junsu’s father, is Junsu with Jaejoong?”
“Um.. I don’t know,” the girl sounded like she didn’t really care.
“Can you please check? I don’t know where he is.”
She seemed to recognise the worry in his voice, because she didn’t protest. Yunho waited for a long long thirty seconds and then she was back. “No, he’s not here, I checked the entire house.”
Yunho felt a big part of his hope scatter. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” the girl sounded serious. “I’m sorry, he really isn’t.”
“Okay, thank you, can you tell your parents and call me if you see him?”
He ended the call and hit the steering wheel.
Yunho had called the parents of a lot of Junsu’s classmates without success when Yoochun called him again.
“Did you find him?” Yunho asked as soon as he’d picked up.
“No, and apparently you haven’t either. Where are you?”
Yunho told him what street he was driving on.
“That’s really close to where I am.”
“I’ll pick you up.” Yunho really needed someone next to him to tell him that ideas like Junsu getting kidnapped were insane.
Yunho was focused on Junsu, finding Junsu, making sure Junsu was okay, but when Yoochun stepped into the car he couldn’t help but notice how sweaty and tired he looked.
“Did you run all the way over here?” The school was close, but still quite far away by foot.
Yoochun tried to catch his breath. “I searched all the dangerous streets and any other place he could be in the neighbourhood. Yunho, I’m so sorry, I-”
“Stop. We need to find him first.”
Yoochun stopped apologising and Yunho rested his forehead against the steering wheel. He didn’t drive further. He didn’t know where to go.
“Maybe I missed something,” Yoochun said, and Yunho immediately pulled up.
They started at the school and searched, while Yunho called everyone who he knew had a child at this school and then just everyone he knew.
He was afraid to look at roads, because the thought of Junsu’s small body being hit by a car or even a bike felt like the sight would leave a gaping black hole in the place his heart used to be.
“I don’t understand,” Yoochun said. “He wouldn’t just.. He was talking with Jaejoong all day, even more than usual. Are you sure he isn’t with him?”
Yunho was about to smash his cellphone in frustration. “I told you I called! And Jaejoong’s parents would never just take him with them without telling me or without..” he stopped. “.. without.. without me knowing beforehand.”
Yoochun turned and looked at him. “What is it?”
Yunho couldn’t keep in a laugh as immense relief washed over him, further confusing Yoochun. He buried his face in his hands. “God, I’m so stupid.”
Yoochun came closer. “You know where he is?”
“Yes.” Yunho rubbed his face and shook his head. He’d been so distracted, busy with work but mostly because the entire day, the entire week really, he’d been so focused on seeing Yoochun again.
“He and Jaejoong had been begging for weeks to go to the zoo, so quite a while ago I agreed with his mother that she’d take them. We picked today because she works during weekends and Junsu couldn’t go to my parents this afternoon anyway. Jaejoong’s sister probably didn't know and just forgot to mention that Jaejoong and her mother weren’t home either.”
Yunho saw Yoochun breathe out in relief and lean back against the wall as obvious tension left his body. “I’m so glad.”
Until now Yunho hadn’t really thought about anything but Junsu. He also hadn’t had time to blame Yoochun and get angry at him. He was glad about that now.
They walked back to the car together and Yunho’s mind started to analyse what just happened. “Didn’t you have to stay with the other children?”
Yoochun sat down next to him. “No, someone took my place so I could search.” He leaned back against his seat. “I’m sorry. Usually I stay calm and professional, because panic won’t help you find a child, but I just... I couldn’t help but remember that you lost your... I just.. I know Junsu is all you have and if you’d lost him because of me..” Yoochun pressed his palms against his eyes and made a sound like he was just barely keeping in tears.
Yunho felt worse than he’d ever felt before. Yes, worse than when she left him, or well, for as far as he could remember. He suddenly couldn’t remember the feeling as clearly anymore, like he was starting to forget. It seemed so distant.
But this was close, and killing him. It was his fault, all his fault. Yoochun should yell at him, throw things, hit him, damage his car, not feel guilty himself.
“Yoochun, this was planned before I knew I would let Junsu stay at school longer. I asked you to look after him while I should have known he’d be picked up by someone, I’m so sorry, so sorry for making you worry.”
Yoochun looked at him.
“Thank you for helping me search," Yunho continued. "I really didn’t deserve it. I feel like I can’t ever make this up to you.” He banged his head back against his seat. “I’m so stupid.”
“You’re busy, you forgot, I understand.” Yunho could hear the genuine smile in Yoochun’s voice. “I’m just glad Junsu is okay.”
Yunho nodded, still feeling like he really didn’t deserve Yoochun to be nice to him at all.
“If you want to make it up to me though..” Yoochun’s voice was careful and Yunho looked at him, wanting him to continue. “You could.. buy me ramen?”
Part 7: Family Sleepover
Part 5: An Answer in Trust
Part 4: Drunk Denial
Part 3: Emptiness and Replacement
Part 2: Tulips in February
Part 1: Valentine's Flowers