Pursuit of a Santaroni (Chapter 10)
Title: Pursuit of a Santaroni 10/?
Author: kikiiovesmusic
Genre: Fluff, Romance, Humor, Crack, AU (for this chapter)
Rating: PG-15. (PG for this Chapter)
Pairing(s): Haehyuk
Minor Pairing(s): Jongkey, Slight!kid!Kyumin, Slight!kid!Sibum (More later)
Characters: Eunhyuk, Kyuhyun, Henry, Kibum, Donghae, Yesung, Sungmin, Zhou Mi, Amber, Siwon, more to come...
Warning(s): Tantrum Henry
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this fic/idea. I wish I owned more.
A/N: Double update because I talk too much
Summary: After the divorce, Hyukjae struggles to mend his family back together. After a thoughtful conversation with his youngest, he buys a rabbit thinking the soft, furry thing would be able to bring peace once again with his three sons: Kibum, Kyuhyun, and Henry. When the rabbit escapes, they find themselves going through a series of adventures; making great new friends, gluing pieces together that were long since shattered, and perhaps finding.. love?
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Kibum had been quietly scuffing his shoes against the carpet, eyes glued to the floor as he was most likely trying to avoid being noticed.
Hyukjae just smiles lightly and bravely walks up to the boy, tightly grabbing his small hand before pulling him from the shadows and into the brightly lit living room. The young father walks up to the couch and sits down, dragging a hesitant Kibum down to sit on his lap as Henry and Kyuhyun happily run and jump to sit next to them. “Hi Kibum-ah,” he coos, smiling at the light, embarrassed blush that appears on Kibum’s face.
Kibum looks down stiffly at his lap, sitting upright as if uncomfortable, yet not moving, so Hyukjae assumes that Kibum might let him get away with it.
“Hi appa,” his voice reluctantly mutters, making Kyuhyun, Henry, and Hyukjae smile giddily at the response.
Key rolls his eyes at the sappy family on his couch, deciding to cut in and invite them to dinner.
“Hey why don’t you guys join us for dinner? I’m in the middle of teaching about different cultures to the kids and we’re on the culture in Peru, so we’re eating Peruvian foods. Want to join us?”
Hyukjae, still in his happy high since he wasn’t ignored or shoved off, just laughs and pulls Kibum closer, moving around a bit to sit more comfortably and position Kibum to rest against his chest. He feels Kibum tighten a bit but he ignores it, praying that the forced affection might actually make Kibum cave in.
For a brief moment the image of Donghae pulling him up close and forcing him to become weak flickers across his mind, but he shakes it off, thinking it was only because he was hoping Kibum would somehow react in the same manor.
He smiles at Key, gently stroking the soft black waves on Kibum’s hair.
“Yeah, sure, sounds great,” he answers, making Key nod and drag his two kids to help him prepare for dinner.
Hyukjae relaxes into the couch and hums contently, continuing his comforting touches. Well, at least until he feels a left -out Henry stand up on the couch, most likely stumbling over to stroke Kibum’s hair too.
Hyukjae chuckles, moving his hand down to instead caress circles on the boy’s back so Henry could have a turn to sweetly play with Kibum’s hair. The small 3.11 year old happily sticks both hands in Henry’s hair, gently patting it from time to time as he leans over to whisper ‘sleepy time now princess-hyung’ into his hyung’s ear, making Kibum visibly soften up and giggle at the childishness. He really had a soft spot for the youngest.
Kyuhyun, on the other hand, also wanted to join in on making Kibum giggle, so he crawls over to cuddle Kibum too, squeezing himself in to play with Kibum’s hair as Henry squeals and crawls over to the other side, settling on grabbing Kibum’s free hand and kissing it loudly multiple times.
All the loving gestures make Kibum relax and melt. Curling up against his father’s chest he sighs in contentment, throwing all negative thoughts of his father out the window as he just lets his family love him, just for one moment, like Hyukjae had hoped.
The young father closes his eyes and sighs in bliss, letting his kids play around quietly on his lap as he cuddles Kibum closer, bathing in the feeling that Kibum is actually letting him be this close. The day has been strangely good, and he wonders where all this strange luck came from. Henry’s weird proclamation, Donghae’s weird bipolar-ness that has strangely made him laugh more than he ever had in these last couple of years, Yesung, his new weird hyung, and now the bunny, that is weirdly calming to be around..
Is this some type of weird conspiracy to let him be happy for one day? It’s weird, but he’s ever grateful for this moment to be with his kids and have such cute pet waiting for him at home. Which reminds him, he should probably bring the kids by to see her.
Eh… after dinner. Whatever Key’s making smells good.
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“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-”
Stomping and running is heard throughout the Lee’s residence, along with the sound of karate fighting quietly coming out of a TV.
Kyuhyun and Kibum are calmly playing video games on the couch, already bathed and ready for bed while Hyukjae chases around a fully naked Henry, holding the boy’s underwear in one hand and a towel in the other as he tries to catch the still soaking-wet toddler.
“Come on Henry-ah, you just got out of the bath and you need to get dry!”
Henry hides underneath the coffee table located in the middle of the living room and glares, shaking his drenched brown hair and getting water all over the carpet. “NO! I DON’T WANNA!”
Hyukjae runs his hand through his own wet hair, having gotten soaked while he was bathing the kids.
“Now look Henry-ah, look at your hyungs. See how they’re all clean and into their pajamas? That’s why I let them play video games until bedtime. Don’t you want to play before bedtime too?”
Henry sticks his head out from underneath the table, giving Hyukjae a sliver of hope.
“NO!” and the naked boy grins and goes back into his hiding spot.
Hyukjae groans, rubbing his face as he forces down the irritation building in his chest.
Patience, Hyukjae. Patience.
“Henry,” he says sternly, causing the boy to poke his head out again.
Henry grins innocently.
“Yes daddy?” he replies sweetly in English.
“Lee Henry. If you don’t come out and let me dry you right now, NO MORE LUCKY CHARMS FOR BREAKFAST.”
Henry’s jaw drops, a scandalized look forming on his face as he stares at his appa incredulously.
“Appa noooooooo! I WANT LUCKY CHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR---“
Kyuhyun rolls his eyes at his younger brother’s sudden tantrum, pausing the video game to look at his hyung.
“Imma go get some milk, hyung. Want some?”
Kibum nods and both boys get off the couch and into the kitchen, going around the boy screeching on the floor.
“--RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM--“
Henry continues, never stopping to breathe as Hyukjae walks over and lifts the coffee table to reveal the boy rolling on the floor in all his naked glory.
“-RRRMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS-- Oh.
Hi appa.
…
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-“ Henry screams, scrambling up to start running again as his father tosses the table to the side.
“Oh no you don’t!” Hyukjae exclaims, pouncing on the boy and tickling him. “GOTCHA!”
“AHAHAHAHHA- No! Appa! Sto- AHAHAHAHAHAHA- S-STOP- AHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHA!”
Hyukjae giggles as well, throwing the towel on the boy and starts drying vigorously, making sure to stop occasionally to tickle him once more. Once he slipped the boys briefs on he let Henry go, the boy removing the towel off his head with an irritated huff, face pink from all the giggling and short brown hair sticking up in feathery puffs.
“Perfect,” Hyukjae beams, picking the pouting boy up and smothering kisses all over his tummy, making the boy squeal and laugh, instantly acquiring forgiveness.
“AHAHAHAHA-Appaaaaaa~ Stop it appa~ You’re silly! Hahahaha.”
Hyukjae pouts at his youngest, making the boy squeal again and kiss his appa’s nose. “Perfect <3” he cutely says, eyes going up to do his famous eye smile as he watches his father’s face flush.
Hyukjae’s blushing face beams once more, about to attack his son again with tons of kisses before hearing a shriek and a crash come from the kitchen.
“KYUHYUUUUUN,” he calls sternly, already knowing the sound has something to do with the boy.
Excited footsteps rush into the living room, Kyuhyun’s cheeks glowing with pure joy. “Appa you didn’t!”
Hyukjae chuckles knowingly, patting Henry’s hair down as the younger looks curiously between him and his hyung.
“What’s wrong hyung?” He asks, shaking his father’s hands off before scooting closer to his hyung.
Kyuhyun shakes Henry, bouncing up as excitement ripples off him. “Come look Henry-ah! Come on!”
Kyuhyun pulls Henry to his feet and drags the boy into the kitchen.
Hyukjae gets up slowly from where he was sitting, bending over slightly to dust himself off when he grins brightly, hearing a loud squeal come from the kitchen.
He feels the anticipation build in his chest as he walks towards the kitchen, hearing his boys chat excitingly amongst themselves as he comes to stop at the doorway.
The sight stops his heart and he leans against the doorframe for strength, heart growing more with love as he takes in the Kodak moment.
There Kibum was, cradling the bunny in his lap as Kyuhyun and Henry chatted colorfully about what to name her.
But that wasn’t the point.
The point was his Kibum was smiling, very happily at that, a smile so bright it could rival the sun as he gently stroked the soft fur on her small head, touches so soft it was as if he were afraid to break her. The seven year old’s cheeks were rosy with delight, eyes in happy crescents so much like his own as the boy glowed with the epitome of pure happiness, a look he hasn’t been able to see since the boy’s mother left. He wanted to cry, but he held it in for the sake of walking up to the three with a non-teary face.
He squats down in front of Kibum, gently petting the soft ears of the bunny as he looks at Kyuhyun and Henry beaming beside him.
“Do you like it?” he asks, hiding the pleased look on his face when Henry and Kyuhyun nod with excited assertion. Henry opens his mouth.
“APPA.
ITSTHECUTESTFLUFFIESTBUNNYEVERANDITSSOCUTEANDFLUFFYANDSMALLANDFLUFFYANDSMALLANDILOVEITANDLIKEIT
ANDITSPRETTYANDCUTEANDSMALLANDPERFECTANDILOVEITSOMUCHAPPAANDILOVEYOUANDITSSOCUTEANDSMALLAND-”
“Whoa whoa whoa slow down Henry, okay I get it. You like it, thank you, now relax before you frighten her,” Hyukjae laughs, quieting Henry down as the toddler realized the bunny might get scared of him.
“Well, what’s his name, appa?” Kyuhyun whispers, taking into consideration that the bunny may get scared of him too.
Henry nods and whispers, too. “Yeah, appa, what’s his name?”
Hyukjae laughs quietly, looking over at a Kibum who’s engrossed with petting the soft bunny to pay any heed to their conversation.
“It’s a ‘her’,” he whispers quietly to Henry and Kyuhyun, playing along with a smile. “And I’m not sure yet. Why don’t you guys let your hyung name her, hmm?”
Hyukjae looks at Kibum, watching his son look up at him with blank eyes at the mention of his name.
“Go on,” Hyukjae affirms, giving an encouraging smile at the quiet boy. “Name her.”
Kibum looks back down and frowns; confusion filling the seven year old’s face as thoughts fill the boy’s mind.
“Appa,” the quiet voice pipes up, gaining Hyukjae’s attention.
“Yes Kibum-ah?”
“Why did you get this.”
Hyukjae freezes at the strange direct question. Or, umm, statement?
Kibum was just smiling a second ago, and now he’s sounds upset?
“W-Well,” the blonde stutters, “it’s because Henry asked me to. He asked me earlier today and I thought about it and felt you guys would like a pet. You kids are good boys, so you deserve one.”
Kibum looks back down at the bunny, a shadow going over his eyes. Hyukjae panics inwardly, afraid he may have said something wrong.
He watches in silent dread as Kibum pets the soft bunny a few times, seemingly contemplating something as the fur-ball moves to hop around and curiously lean towards Kibum’s hand, making the boy pause his motions. He feels Henry and Kyuhyun tense up too, unsure with what will happen next.
The bunny sniffs Kibum’s hand, standing up on her hind legs to get a better scent of Kibum.
Everyone holds their breath, all waiting for a reaction. Any type of reaction. Even negative reactions.
Hyukjae tilts his head in confusion.
Do rabbits even react negatively?
…
Well I guess they could bite him. And maybe pee on him. Or perhaps be magical and cast a curse on hi---
His thoughts are interrupted when he suddenly hears Henry cheer, the rabbit having hopped onto Kibum’s chest, causing Kibum to catch her and cradle her in his hands.
“He likes you hyung!” Henry cheers, arms going up in victory. Kyuhyun giggles and claps with Henry in congratulation, causing Kibum to smile once more.
Kibum glances over at his dad and nods, a small smile still playing on his lips. “I like her a lot appa. But Henry can name her, since it was his idea...”
Hyukjae smiles widely, mentally cheering at the long, positive response as he turns to sit and pull Henry and Kyuhyun into his lap.
“Alright then Henry-ah, your hyung said you can name her. So what’s it going to be?”
Henry beams quickly before looking over at his hyung, eyes concentrating as he hums out loud in thought.
“Ummm… Well, she’s pretty. And beautiful. And soft. And fuzzy. And appa got her. And she’s little. And she’s cute. And she’s soft. And she’s fluffy. And she’s cute. And she’s pretty. And appa likes her. And hyung likes her. And Kyuhyunnie hyung likes her. And she’s soft. And she’s brown. And she’s white. And she’s soft. And sh- ”
“Yes yes yes, she’s soft, she’s cute, and we all like her, so what are you gonna name her?!? Hurry up!” Kyuhyun exclaims irritatingly, impatient for the moment of truth.
“Ummm.. Got it! I got it appa! I’m gonna name her… ummmm… Santaaaaaaaaa….roni!”
They all look at him dumbfounded. Even the rabbit stopped with her nose twitching to hop around in Kibum’s hand to turn around and stare at him.
Hyukjae shakes his head, looking at the boy in confusion. “Why.. Why do you want to name her that?”
Henry bounces on Hyukjae’s lap, too pleased with himself to notice everybody’s looks.
“Cuz’ she the best cutesy fluffy bunny EVER.”
The youngest Lee giggles to himself as the other three look amongst one another, shrugging with acceptance since none want to argue with the toddler.
“Alright then! Santaroni it is! Now guess what~” Hyukjae says excitedly. The three boys look up, two with anticipation and one in mild curiosity.
“What?!” the two youngest animatedly chime together.
“BEDTIME.” Hyukjae happily shouts, arms rising in a mock dinosaur position in attempt to grab them.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~” they squeal, jumping hastily out of his lap.
And with that the two boys run away, leaving Kibum to sigh and start to put the bunny back in its cage; which happens to be on the floor since Kyuhyun knocked it down when trying to get the bunny out.
Hyukjae laughs at the two that ran away before noticing Kibum’s actions, instantly jumping up to help his eldest clean up the fallen food. How come he didn’t notice the mess before?
“Here Kibum-ah, I got it,” he says, quickly grabbing the fallen bowl out of the boy’s hands before smiling at him. “Go on ahead to bed, okay? It’s already almost 8 ‘o clock and I have tons of homework to do. Do you think you can settle the boys down in the room for me? You can put on a movie til’ you fall asleep.”
Kibum quietly nods and places the rabbit on the kitchen table, walking around the mess to head out the door.
Hyukjae contently sighs and starts to pick up the mess again, lost in mentally scolding Kyuhyun for not picking it up his self when he feels a pair of soft, small lips hit his cheek. He looks up, startled and completely baffled to see Kibum’s blushing face in front of him.
“K-Kibum-ah?!”
Kibum bites his bottom lip, holding back a small smile before shuffling away to go to bed with a small “Goodnight appa”, the words whispered so quietly Hyukjae had to blink twice to make sure that that had even just happened.
Kibum hasn’t gone up to kiss him on the cheek willingly since… never. So this is the very first time this happened!
He really can’t hold back a smile now, feeling a surge of energy and delight fill him to the brim as he gets up and places the cage on the table, quickly finishing cleaning up before placing Santaroni inside of it. He hastily turns to run out of the kitchen and into the bedroom, grabbing all of his kids out of their respective beds and tucking them all into bed with him, giggling at all of their childish shouts and protests though they aren’t really protesting, all boys scooting closer to snuggle up next to him despite their complaints.
Even his Kibum.
Hyukjae gazes fondly at his sons as he feels Henry and Kyuhyun cuddle up into his side, Kibum scooting closer to curl himself around Henry while the other two boys sleepily yawn, rubbing their eyes cutely. The blonde father leans over to kiss them all on the tops of their soft little heads before tucking the large, red and silver comforter around them more comfortably.
Homework can be done later.
Right now, his air, heart, and life all need to be put to bed.
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A/N: If you are new and just randomly found this, please comment <3 It makes me feel all bubbles and hotcakes I swear ^-^ <3
Kibum finally lets some of his feelings go for once! But please take note, it's only for once.
Seungji darling I hope you finally caught up and read this ^-^ <3 Love you darlin!
Oh! And this is how our beautiful Santaroni looks <3
Hope to hear what's on your mind!
A pikachu for a dragon? :D
P.S. I'm a very nice person lol And love making friends! So please click here to get to know me better and hopefully, I can get to know you as well :D
P.P.S. I love hugs and comments, so if you'd like a spot (not that this fic is acually good enough for spots lol) I'll be happy to give one, just ask haha ^-^