Take a Chance
Suho/Sehun, 6539
Sehun needs a nanny. Joonmyun is not what he expected.
A/N: Originally written here.
He looks out over the hectic traffic down below and tries to find tranquility in the frazzled swerving of cars in the streets. It’s just starting to get congested, everyone returning from work to curl up and pretend that tomorrow they won’t have to do the same thing. Breathe in, breathe out. A car honks. He curls his hand into a fist.
It’s not working.
“Hello?” The voice is pleasant, but it still manages to set his teeth on edge.
“Mother,” he greets, “could you please tell me why there is a man in my apartment claiming to be my son’s private tutor when I am absolutely sure that I never mentioned the need for one?”
“Why, of course.” Her tone is unnecessarily chirpy. “My dear Sehun, I saw the need and filled it. He comes with references, of course. Only the best for my precious grandson.”
Sehun closes his eyes and brings a hand up to massage his temples, a habit. “You fired the nanny. And the cleaner.”
She laughs. “He insisted! Isn’t it great? Less hassle for you. Now, I really must be off. I’m late for a lunch date. Call me when you have a more pressing issue.”
The line goes dead and Sehun takes the phone away from his ear, stuffing it in his pocket and taking a deep breath before he turns away from the window to face the man who’d been standing silently behind him the whole time. “So, you were right.” The man nods, but says nothing more. “I’m going to be honest. I’m not comfortable with you watching my child.”
“I understand, Mr. Oh. Really, I do. I have children of my own,” the man placates, “but I promise to treat your son as if he was my own. You have nothing to worry about.”
Sehun frowns at that. It was not what he was hoping for. “Follow me.” The man had shown up on his doorstep only minutes ago, and Sehun had whipped out his phone while leading him into the living room. “I’ll show you the apartment. You start immediately, but think of it as a trial period. If you mess up, even once, you’re out.”
“Understood.”
The taller cocks an eyebrow, but continues on to lead the man around the apartment. He shows him the kitchen, dining room, guest room, guest bath, his office, and his bedroom. The man stops. “What is it?”
“Your room…” he shakes his head and offers an embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry. It just looks very clean.”
“It should be,” Sehun agrees. “I don’t believe I’ve ever spent more than ten minutes inside. I usually sleep at work or in my office.” He takes a step forward, but comes to an abrupt stop. “I never caught your name.”
“Hmm? Oh, it’s Joonmyun. I mean, Kim Joonmyun.”
“Mr. Kim,” Sehun chuckles. “How original. Follow me, I’ll show you to my son’s room.” It’s just down the corridor from his own, but when he turns the corner there’s a little boy dressed in star-covered pajamas rubbing his eyes.
“Daddy!” Arms outstretched, the boy runs forward on short legs to jump into Sehun’s open arms.
“Jongin, you’re up,” Sehun remarks, pulls the small boy up onto his hip, and offers a small quirk of his lips that the boy answers with a beaming grin. He looks past the boy to his watch and presses his lips together. “I should be going.” He sets Jongin on the ground and fixes his gaze on the tutor. “This is my son, Jongin. I expect him to be well taken care of. You can find his schedule on the fridge, and my number is on the same paper, should you have any emergencies. But you shouldn’t.” He bends down so that he’s on the same level as Jongin. “This man is going to look after you. Call me if you need anything.” The little boy nods seriously. Sehun musses his hair and stands. “Goodbye.”
“You’re leaving already?”
Sehun turns, halfway to the door. “Yes.”
Kim Joonmyun frowns. “It’s barely seven in the morning.”
“Do you have a point?” Sehun snaps. “No? Good. Then I’m off. I’ll be back late tonight.” He closes the door behind him with the air of finality.
-
“Postpone my first meeting.”
“Sir?” The secretary glances up, startled. She hastily ends her call, and follows him into his office. She waits until he’s removed his coat and thrown his briefcase on the chair across from his desk. “What should I tell them?”
“Tell them I am otherwise preoccupied and reschedule for sometime tomorrow morning.” When she’s left, he pulls up a browser and types in the name of his newest personal employee. After an initial search, he finds that the man is harmless. There's something about a master's degree from a no name college, but most of what he finds talks about a year long volunteer program in a third world country. He will have to keep an eye on Jongin, then. Make sure his son doesn't suddenly end up at a soup kitchen. He shudders at the thought.
His secretary returns and Sehun stops her. "I've changed my mind. My situation wasn't as urgent as I had thought."
-
By the end of the week, they have something of a system. Kim Joonmyun enters promptly at quarter to seven, as Sehun had given him the pass code for the apartment and the building itself after the first day. Sehun leaves for work right at seven. He checks his phone for messages throughout the day, but hasn't received one yet, which is a little comforting, Sehun's not going to lie. He leaves the office at eleven and returns before midnight.
"Hello."
Sehun grunts in reply, tossing his briefcase onto a kitchen counter and pulling out a Tupperware container out of the fridge before sticking it in the microwave. When he drags himself into the living room, he stops to assess the situation.
"Did you have a good day at work?" Kim Joonmyun asks, remote in one hand and the other hidden in Jongin's messy hair, the younger boy lain upon his lap, sleeping quietly. The caretaker notices Sehun's growing displeasure and stares at the boy, hand massaging the back of his small neck. "Sorry. He couldn't sleep so I put on a movie."
"I don't remember adding that to the schedule," Sehun comments, watching as the man quickly untangles himself from Jongin and picks the slumbering boy up, retreating. He returns minutes later with his jacket on and bag in hand.
"I had a question about the schedule, actually." He waits, Sehun motioning for him to go on after a second. "There's nothing on there about play dates or anything about games. When does Jongin play with his friends?"
"Why would my son need friends?" Sehun asks seriously, eating leftover soup slowly. "Why on earth would I allow my son to waste valuable time that could be spent learning and studying?"
Kim Joonmyun gapes. "Jongin is five!"
Sehun stands. "Kim Joonmyun, I believe it is time for you to go home." He watches as the man sighs, nods, and then heads out the front door. Sehun checks the clock. It is still before twelve. They are on time.
The only variable to the schedule is Jongin.
Sehun is at the dining room table, working, when he hears soft footsteps that stop at his side. He scoots his chair out and allows his son to clamber onto his lap while he sneaks a glance at his watch. Five till six. "You're up early."
Jongin nods vigorously in agreement, staring at the papers on the table, face stretching into a cute frown. "You're still doing work?"
Sehun laughs, hugging his son to his chest. "When you become the CEO of one of the top hotel chains in the world, you will be working this hard, too." He wipes away spit from the corner of Jongin's mouth as the boy looks at the papers again, this time with more interest.
"Daddy," he murmurs, fighting a yawn, "they talked about you on TV."
"Ah," Sehun muses. Then he remembers. They were doing a story on the youngest CEOs in the country and wanted to feature him. "You're right."
"If I get your job," Jongin wiggles to face his father, eyes puffy with sleep, "will I be on TV, too?"
Sehun pretends to mull it over. "No." Jongin pouts. "They'd give people heart attacks if they put someone as adorable as you on TV," he reasons, mercilessly tickling his son until he's stopped by the sound of the front door opening.
"Joonie!" Jongin screams, jumping out of Sehun's arms and running into the foyer. Sehun stands and smoothes the wrinkles out of his suit before packing up all the papers in his briefcase. He passes by Kim Joonmyun and they exchange a nod before Sehun walks down the hall and takes the elevator to the garage.
-
"There is nothing else on the agenda for today," his secretary reports, wringing her small hands anxiously. "That said, Sir, I was wondering if I could have the rest of the day off."
"You may," Sehun allows, shutting down his computer and standing. At his secretary's incredulous look, he lets out a short sigh. “Well, there’s no point in staying here if there’s nothing to do, is there?”
“No, Sir.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he finishes, and then motions to the door when she doesn’t take it as a cue to exit. She scampers out and he shuts the door behind her. As he packs up and heads out of the office, a small smile appears on his face. He imagines the look on Jongin’s face when he opens the door unexpectedly early, and allows Kim Joonmyun to head home deservedly-he admits begrudgingly-early, while the sun is still up, even. He parks his sleek back sedan into its designated spot and locks it, taking the elevator to his floor and entering his apartment.
Sehun is met with silence.
“Jongin?” He calls out, dropping his briefcase by the front door. He checks the time. It’s three, way past any acceptable napping time. He goes through every room in his house, including his own, but finds nothing. No note or explanation whatsoever. Sehun fumes, trying to think of any reason they may have had to leave the apartment. Groceries are delivered on a weekly basis, so that is not a problem; the apartment is stocked with everything they could possibly need so there’s really no reason at all why-
The doorbell rings.
Sehun stomps over and throws open the door. “Where were-” Wait. This is not Kim Joonmyun. The two boys blink up at him and then sidestep their way into the apartment. Sehun does a double take, slams the door shut, and then makes his way into the living room where the boys have made themselves at home. "Who," he hisses, "may I ask, are you?"
The boys share a look and Sehun steels himself a glance at both of them. He groans inwardly. These kids are identical.
"I'm Kim Jeno and he's Kim Mark," the first introduces formally. "Our dad's name is Kim Joonmyun and I believe he works for you?"
Sehun blinks. Yeah, the man had mentioned something about children fleetingly, but nothing about ages or names. Not that Sehun cared.
"You sound so pretentious," the other boy scoffs. "Dad said to come here if we ever needed him, and since he practically lives here, we thought we'd be better off actually coming here than calling the number. So where is he?"
"I don't know," Sehun snaps, crossing his arms as his face hardens. "And he has my son."
The boys shrug and make for the remote, settling on a movie channel while the suited man behind them fumes.
The door opens two hours later just as the credits start rolling for the worst action flick Sehun's ever has the misfortune of watching.
"Daddy!" Jongin shouts, running into the room and despite himself, Sehun scoops his son up and swings him in a circle before placing him back on the ground. Then he glares over at Kim Joonmyun, who is smiling sheepishly and walking over slowly. "Why are you back so early?" Jongin asks, positively elated.
"I had an empty afternoon and I came home to this," he points behind him and Kim Joonmyun hastens forward, eyes widening in surprise.
"Dad!" The boys chorus before hurrying over to their father.
"Why are you two here?" The man questions through clenched teeth.
"We lost the key," they admit with equally large grins.
Kim Joonmyun sighs and clears his throat. "Mr. Oh, these are my sons Mark and Jeno. Boys, this is my employer and his son."
Jongin hides behind Sehun's legs and Sehun runs his fingers through his hair fondly. He averts his attention to fix a glare back on the caretaker and Jongin darts out from behind him, out of reach before Sehun can do anything. The boy tugs on the sleeve of one of the two boys-Sehun can't tell which one-and all eyes are on him.
"Do you want to see my room?"
The Kim boys shrug. "Sure."
Jongin's face breaks out into a grin and he drags one of the two down the hall as the other follows. "Hurry up!" A door slams shut and then it's just the toe men left in the living room.
"Mind telling me where the two of you were?"
The man looks anywhere but at Sehun. "We were... out. I don't know if you were aware, but there is a very nice playground in the park just down the street and Jongin is quite the social butterfly-"
"You took my son to a playground?" Sehun interrupts, lip curling slightly in disgust. "You skipped his English lesson to take him to a playground?"
"With all due respect," Kim Joonmyun begins, looking distressed, "Jongin is a five year old, not an adult. He needs time to play and just enjoy his life and a schedule doesn't cut it!"
Sehun stops, takes a deep breath, and stares at the door. "Kim Joonmyun, I think it's time for you to leave." The man nods meekly. "And if I ever-ever-hear about my son spending time at some park again, you'll need to find a new job."
The man nods, fetches his sons, and leaves. Jongin totters out, frown on his face, and fists a hand in Sehun's suit pants. "I liked them. Are they going to come back?"
Sehun sighs. "Maybe."
-
A few days later, Sehun is parked at the marble table, papers strewn about him and pen clutched in his hand.
The sound of bare feet slapping against tile brings him back to the present, and he looks up as the chair across from him is pulled out and a tired face pops up in the faint light thrown by the lamp at Sehun's side. Jongin straightens his back and clasps his hands together. Sehun chuckles and decides he's due for a break.
"It is well past your bedtime, young man."
"Couldn't sleep," Jongin explains, but doesn't move.
Sehun smiles, reaching across the table and tangling their hands together, Jongin's small digits twisted in his much longer ones. "Something you wanted to talk about?"
"Joonie used to take me to the park, but he doesn't anymore." Jongin stops to yawn. "I liked it there. Every time I ask him if we can go back, he says we can't. Daddy, can you ask if I can go? Maybe if you ask, he'll say yes."
Sehun is a strong, determined man who answers to none.
Except when it comes to Jongin.
"I'll try my best."
-
Sehun gets through two blissfully uneventful weeks that start with a change in Jongin's schedule to make time for play. Kim Joonmyun smiles when he sees it and Sehun pretends not to notice.
But then he comes home and knows something is up when Kim Joonmyun doesn't immediately up and leave.
"I think Jongin should be enrolled in school."
Well, at least he's frank about it. "And why would you think that?"
"Jongin needs to meet more people. If he spends all of his time here, he's not going to get that experience. He needs to be taught by people other than me, learn which methods work for him, and school is he perfect way to do that."
Sehun blinks. "You've been thinking about this for a while."
"I prepared the speech, yes." He sighs. "Just, think about it? The school my sons attend is very highly rank and came with a list of recommendations. I've heard that the children of many politicians go there. They do tours!"
Sehun watches the man flash a nervous smile and then leaves.
The next day, Sehun calls and schedules a tour. He has Jongin enrolled in kindergarten by the end of the week, but makes it clear to Kim Joonmyun that he will still be expected to act as a tutor and caretaker. The man agrees with a wry smile.
-
Mark and Jeno accompany Jongin back to the apartment each day and Sehun returns home to a full house, where Jongin is usually the only person asleep, the older boys still going at homework.
A paper is flashed in his face.
"What is this?" Sehun hisses quietly so as not to disturb the boys. He reads the paper twice. "A field trip?"
"To the zoo!" Kim Joonmyun finishes with a smile. "It's very fun. I've been to the zoo a couple of times and they're very good about the animals. Tons of space to roam and all that. It's a great learning experience."
There's that word again. Experience. Sehun rolls his eyes and signs on the line, noting the date and the extra form for accompanying parents.
"Jongin asked me if you were going to come, too." The man taps his fingers on the desk restlessly. "I didn't know what to tell him."
"I can't go." Sehun can't even imagine trying to explain to his advisors that they'll have to postpone his meetings because he needs to go to the zoo. "But I'm sure Jongin would be delighted if you went in my place."
-
The clock ticks slowly, almost as if it's making fun of him. Finally, Sehun gives up. He stands, grabs his jacket. And heads out of the office.
"Wait!" His secretary looks alarmed. As she should be. It's not even noon. "Where are you going?"
"Urgent business," Sehun answers in a clipped tone, heading into the elevator and down to the garage.
He reaches the zoo just as the school bus is pulling up, and then the students pour out, one running over and burying his face in Sehun's chest.
"Daddy! I thought you weren't coming!" Jongin exclaims, looking at his father in awe.
"Surprise," Sehun says with a grin. "It looks like your class is going to leave without you."
Jongin starts and runs over to a group of kids who laugh and pull them into the huddle. Sehun allows a small smile to slip onto his face.
After the horror of the admission gates, the group heads over to start with the reptile house. Sehun hangs back a bit, painfully aware that his suit will smell like animals and swear by the end of the day.
"What a surprise, Mr. Oh."
"I am full of them, Kim Joonmyun," Sehun replies without lifting his gaze from his son.
The other man laughs. "I have been working for you for three months now. I think you can call me by just my first name."
"How unprofessional." Sehun tsks, chuckling as Jongin gapes at a rattlesnake. "But okay. Joonmyun it is."
The man beams and they head on to the small aquarium.
Sehun is never really certain what exhibit they're at, eyes trained on Jongin the entire time. He looks so happy. Sehun feels his heart swell. When they break for lunch, Sehun watches as Joonmyun attempts to help the teachers hand out lunch before spotting him and making his way over. They sit beside each other on a bench in surprisingly comfortable silence before Joonmyun speaks.
"It must be hard," he nods towards Jongin, chatting with his classmates, "without his mother."
Sehun thinks of all the nannies that have come and gone since Jongin was born. Sehun wonders vaguely if he could even be considered a main figure in Jongin's life. Then he dismisses the thought. "I suppose so."
"I understand. My wife died just after Mark and Jeno were born from-"
"Jongin's mother isn't dead," Sehun interrupts right before the guilt hits him because he just talked over a man who was about to tell him about his dead wife. Joonmyun doesn't seem affronted, though. In fact, he seems more surprised than anything else, so Sehun continues. "Actually, I think she'll be in a new movie this fall. Her husband is the director. They have an adorable two year old together. The tabloids say she's already a heartthrob, which is mildly disconcerting."
Joonmyun appears to be speechless.
"Joonmyun, I am twenty three. No one wants a child when they're eighteen." He shrugs. "But I didn't mind. Being a single parent has never been an issue. I wouldn't trade Jongin for the world."
Joonmyun hums. "Then we're in agreement."
For the rest of the excursion, Sehun's attention is shared between Jongin and Joonmyun, who never strays too far and is constantly whispering odd jokes under his breath. Sehun feels a burst of camaraderie that grows each time Joonmyun smiles before leaning over and whispering something in Sehun's ear.
-
They take to talking when Sehun gets home, which means that more than often, Mark and Jeno deviate into the guest bedroom, and Sehun’s pretty sure that they’ve actually filled the drawers in their with clothes brought in suspicious garbage bags. It’s nice though, coming home to dinner on the table and the boys messing around in the living room, if Jongin’s still awake. Then Joonmyun will sit across from him, gentle smile on his face, and he’ll talk about how Jongin’s doing in school, that he’s joined an after school dancing club, which is easier for Mark and Jeno since they now have to take cram courses immediately after school ends, and can just swing by the studios to pick up Jongin on their way home.
“He’s really quite good,” Joonmyun adds while running around the kitchen, warming up a bowl of rice that had gone cold while he’d been watching the boys. “He showed me something his class was working on the other day. He’s surprisingly determined for a boy his age.”
Sehun nods in agreement. Jongin’s always been a little on the serious side. Probably his fault.
A crack of thunder interrupts the casual conversation and both men look over to the windows, and the three boys pressed up against them, watching the rain fall in torrents and lightning light up the sky, followed by the low bellow of thunder, this time much closer.
Joonmyun sighs. “We’d better head home now if we don’t want to be caught in the middle of it.”
“No,” Sehun says resolutely, staring at the near-black sky outside. “You can stay here tonight. It’s too dangerous. I don’t think you even have an umbrella.”
Joonmyun’s sheepish smile is a confirmation of that. Mark and Jeno fall over each other in a mad dash to secure a favorite side of the guest bed and Jongin follows, demanding to sleep with them tonight.
“You don’t have to do this. I can still tell the boys we have to go home.”
Sehun shakes his head. “It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. You can take my bed. I haven’t slept there in months, anyway.”
Joonmyun frowns. “No, I’ll stay here.”
The easy chatter starts up again, halting for a moment as both men check on the boys, Joonmyun’s hands flying up to his mouth so he doesn’t wake them with his cooing. Mark and Jeno are on either sides of the bed, backs turned to the wall, and Jongin is snug in the middle, just a head of unruly hair visible over the sheets. They turn the lights off and head back out into the dining room.
“They’re not identical, but they like to pretend they are,” Joonmyun says, leaning on his arm, “I humor them sometimes.”
Sehun doesn’t add much to the conversation, but listens as Joonmyun talks.
“Jongin’s a good kid.”
Sehun looks up. Joonmyun’s eyes are closed, mouth slightly open as he sleeps, head cushioned on his arm. Sehun smiles and grabs a throw blanket off the couch, laying it over the man.
Jongin, ever the early riser, totters out a few hours later, motions a quiet gesture with his finger over his lips when he spots Joonmyun, and clambers up onto Sehun’s lap.
“Daddy,” he whispers, “I’m in a dance club.”
Sehun hums. “Joonmyun told me.”
Jongin grins. “We have a recital at the end of the year. All of the parents are going to come. Can you come?”
Sehun thinks about it. “I’ll try my best.”
-
Things take a turn for the worst. A new competitor appears, a national chain that wants to go international, and Sehun’s stocks dive down. Lack of sleep and stress make work a living hell and paperwork piles up on his desk until he has trouble locating his phone.
Joonmyun is understanding, taking care of the house and of Jongin when Sehun comes home, collapses in a chair, and spreads out leftover paperwork on the table.
“Today is a special day,” Joonmyun sings, fixing Sehun’s tie as the TV chatters on behind him.
Sehun frowns. He has a meeting with the board, yes, but Joonmyun wouldn’t know that. “What is today?” He asks, latching his briefcase with only about half of the papers inside completed in full and signed.
Joonmyun looks mildly alarmed and Jongin runs into the room, throwing his hands in the air. “It’s my dance recital, Daddy!”
Oh.
“It’s right after school in the studios. There’ll be signs. You can’t miss it,” Joonmyun adds.
Sehun purses his lips. “I will try my best.”
Work is hell.
The board is obstinate to disagree with Sehun in every possible way. They’ve never liked him, thought he was a bad choice even though his grandfather-the previous CEO-had taught and groomed him well for the position. They think him too young and irresponsible to fulfill the duties, even though he’s been working for the company since he was sixteen, and the stocks and locations have only increased under his lead.
He can’t reason with these men, though.
The clock on the far wall hits the exact time Jongin gets out of school and Sehun closes his eyes in apology and feels a brief flash of violent envy towards Joonmyun. The man doesn’t need to worry about board meetings and endless paperwork. He can give Jongin the world without upsetting thousands of employees. Sehun mourns the loss of missing his little boy dance and then enters the fray.
-
Sehun throws his door open and collapses in one of the lounge chairs, dropping the briefcase by his side and stretching his legs out in front of him. The meeting had ended in the close refusal of his proposals. He had won the majority by only one vote. The next meeting promised to be so much worse and Sehun thanked his lucky stars that such meetings only occurred on an annual basis. He was still recovering from today; the victory was hollow and he was still physically and emotionally drained.
A piece of paper on the fridge catches his eye. It isn’t the schedule, and he’s sure that he hadn’t put anything else on there. As he gets closer, he realizes that it is a drawing. A messy Jongin is signed at the bottom, and Sehun smiles through his fatigue. His son is not an artist by any means, but the figures in the picture a decipherable. A small figure and a larger one are holding hands in the front of the picture, and a third stands off to the side. While the first two are smiling and dressed in multicolored outfits, the latter is dressed in drab monochrome and has a mean scowl on his face. Sehun needs no further explanation.
He is inexplicably mad as he crumples the paper up in his hand and throws it into the trash. Kim Joonmyun has barely taken part in Jongin’s life. Sehun has been there through thick and through thin, a comfortable constant that provides food, shelter, and everything Jongin could possibly want, and he is rewarded with being cast as the secondary figure, a black storm cloud in his son’s otherwise cheerful life. Sehun will not accept that.
The door opens and two people march inside; a sulking child and a worried adult.
“Here you are,” the man exclaims, hand still held by Jongin, “Sehun, we were-”
“I am your employer, not your friend,” Sehun sneers, “you will address me as such.”
Kim Joonmyun flinches. “Did something happen?” Then he collects himself and manages a weak glare. “We were expecting you at the recital. You told Jongin you would come and then you never showed. We were worried something had happened to you. You can’t just raise Jongin’s hopes like that just to let him down.”
Sehun bristles. “I am his father. Not you. And I will decide what is best for my son. You have made yourself far too at home and I don’t think that you are quite what Jongin needs anymore.” Sehun summons all of his strength and squares his shoulders, glaring the man down. “You are dismissed. I will pay you for this week and then find a replacement next week. You are free to go.”
Jongin looks between the men, eyes glistening with tears.
“Yes, Sir,” Joonmyun answers stiffly, bending down to give Jongin a quick peck on the head, as he swiftly untangles their joined hands, and then he’s gone.
Sehun feels winded, all his previous conviction and rage has disappeared and he is instead filled with a sense of dread. He winces as something hits his thigh, and looks down to meet eyes with a crying Jongin, face red and tears falling down his round cheeks.
“I hate you,” the boy states, clear and concise, before running over to his room and slamming the door shut.
Sehun slumps onto the counter, leaning his head on the cool granite. What has he done?
-
At one in the morning, he calls a number that he knows will be answered, day or night, because the woman on the other end battles the same insomnia that he does.
“Hello?”
“Mother,” Sehun greets, “I’ve made a mistake.”
There’s a sharp intake of breath, then a chair scrapes tile on the other line. “Oh, darling. You don’t have to pretend to have everything under control. It’s okay to slip sometimes.” She sighs. “Your father didn’t want you to have to face the world until you absolutely had to. But then he was gone and you had to stand on your own two feet. I still think-I’m sure your father would agree-that you were forced to be an adult far too quickly. Sehun, honey, it’s okay if you’re not perfect.”
“Thanks, mom,” Sehun sighs. It’s a pep talk risk whenever he talks to the woman. He’s heard this speech far too many times.
“In fact,” she goes on, “I’d say the same to that new nanny of yours. The poor boy came to me asking if he could pay for his room a little later because he didn’t have the money right then, but after talking to him I found out he had a teaching degree and I thought he’d be perfect for you. He had children when he was young, too, you know. Two, I think. He’s a lovely young man.”
Sehun pales. “I have to go.”
“Oh. Call me again soon! I haven’t seen Jongin in a while, you two should stop by some time.”
“Yes, mother,” Sehun consents, then drops his phone onto the table.
He has royally fucked up.
Sehun runs down the hall and into Jongin’s room, knocking briefly before entering. There’s a lump under the covers and it moves slightly when he nears. “I need your help.” He receives no response. “I need to apologize to Joonmyun.”
A little face pokes out of the sheets. “You were very mean to him.”
Sehun sighs and cards his fingers through tangled strands, smiling when Jongin lets him do so. “I know. I’ve been under a lot of stress because of work, but there’s no excuse for me acting that way.” His hand stills for a moment. “Did you have fun at your recital?”
Jongin nods enthusiastically. “I didn’t mess up once! But, it would have been better if you were there,” he admits shyly.
“Next time. I promise,” Sehun swears, laughing when the boy jumps up and throws his arms around his neck. “But right now we have to go find Joonmyun.”
Jongin nods seriously and jumps out of bed, running down the hall and beating Sehun to the door. Hand in hand, the duo take the elevator down and clamber into Sehun’s BMW, the man in his disheveled suit and the boy in his cartoon pajamas. Sehun realizes he has no idea where Joonmyun is staying and wings it, driving to the most popular-and most affordable-of their hotels in the city, leaving his car with a sleepy valet and speed walking down the clean red carpet, Jongin racing to keep up with him.
“Can I help you, Sir?” The girl at the front desk looks mildly annoyed. As she should, Sehun supposes. It is a quarter after one.
“I need to know if there is a Kim Joonmyun staying here.”
The woman sighs. “I am sorry but I cannot release information about any-”
“My name is Oh Sehun.”
That seems to wake her up. “Right away, Sir.”
“Jongin!” Two boys race over and pick Jongin up, crushing him between them. Sehun startles before noticing that the two boys are almost identical and his heart races. They’re in the right place.
“You’d better hurry,” Jeno warns, looking right at Sehun. He can tell which one the twin is because of the serious demeanor. He’d been paying attention the last couple weeks, determined to narrow down the differences. “I don’t know what you said to dad, but he’s upset. We were on our way out.”
Sehun notices the backpacks on the boys and the suitcases piled behind them. He bolts for the elevators.
“We’ll take care of Jongin!” Mark shouts at the same time as Jeno yells, “room eleven twenty-five!”
The elevator ride is maddening and takes far too long, and Sehun almost runs right into the man waiting when the doors open. He stops himself a second before the collision happens and the doors close behind him. “Oh,” he breathes as he makes out the distinct features of Joonmyun’s face.
Chocolate eyes narrow and thin lips press into a line. “What do you want?”
“I am sorry.” Joonmyun’s eyebrows rise in surprise. Sehun goes on. “I didn’t mean a word. Just because you have more time to give to Jongin is no reason for me to get so upset and he really likes you. I really like you. Don’t go. Please.”
Joonmyun blinks. “I-um. I already paid and checked out. There’s really nothing I can do till morning. And. I accept your apology.”
Sehun beams. “Thank you.”
“But, like I said, there’s really nothing I can do but wait to check in when business hours start.”
Sehun shifts from one foot to the other. “Then, I suppose this would be a good time to ask you to move in with me.”
Joonmyun blinks. “You’re certainly in a good mood, aren’t you?”
“I mean, it really wouldn’t be anything different. Just more stuff in the apartment,” Sehun shrugs, “also, I’m pretty sure that the twins still have clothes hidden in drawers all over the house, so it would be a hassle if they just left them there.”
“Sneaky,” Joonmyun murmurs. “Alright. I guess we’ll see how this plays out, then. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“No,” Sehun argues, smoothly bending down and grabbing a solid gray bag by Joonmyun’s feet and pressing the button for the elevator. “You get my bed.”
“We shall see,” Joonmyun says coolly.
As they step into the elevator, Sehun covertly tangles his fingers with Joonmyun’s and grins when the man beside him chuckles and threads their fingers together.
Sehun feels warm and is sure his cheeks are rosy, if not red. But he also feels like he’s done something very important for himself. And for Jongin.
-
The man stares into the mirror, making sure every single hair is in place and his custom fit suit is impeccable. He spies a faint stain on his shoulder and groans. Well, hopefully no one will notice. He heads out into the living room and is immediately assaulted by a shorter man.
“Your tie is crooked,” he explains, fastidiously fixing the piece of gold and red cloth, the colors of success. At least, that’s what his self-help book had said. The one his father had lent him.
“Dad,” he groans, standing as still as possible, “I’m going to be late.”
Another man walks over, taller than the both of them, and fixes his gaze on the nervous man. A stranger would find the stare unnerving, but after years of experience, the younger can spot the warmth in the way his lips twitch upward and cause his eyes to close slightly, crow’s feet scrunched in the corners.
“Jongin, you will do absolutely fine.”
“You only say that because you run the place,” he mutters under his breath, glaring at his father Oh Sehun, owner of one of the most successful hotel chains in the world, as Joonmyun continues to mess with his tie. “What if they don’t like me?”
“It is impossible not to like you. There. Now you look perfect.” Joonmyun steps back and admires the twenty year old, grinning when the boy turns the glare on him. “So you have practice after the interview?”
“Yes, I’ll get back just in time for dinner with Jeno,” Jongin confirms, striding over towards the door, looking over his shoulder just before he exits, “don’t forget. He’s bringing his fiancée. Play nice.” He glares at both men before leaving.
Sehun tsks. “So serious.”
“He gets that from you,” Joonmyun sings, tapping taller man on the chin before heading into the kitchen.
“Yeah, well he gets the annoying part from you!” Sehun shouts back, following his husband into the kitchen.
Mark stumbles into the living room in the middle of a food fight, whipped cream covering most of Joonmyun’s face and strawberries smashed on the side of Sehun’s neck and in his hair. The man sighs and heads into the bathroom, hoping that he won’t be hit by a wayward egg on the way.
Sehun needs a nanny. Joonmyun is not what he expected.
A/N: Originally written here.
He looks out over the hectic traffic down below and tries to find tranquility in the frazzled swerving of cars in the streets. It’s just starting to get congested, everyone returning from work to curl up and pretend that tomorrow they won’t have to do the same thing. Breathe in, breathe out. A car honks. He curls his hand into a fist.
It’s not working.
“Hello?” The voice is pleasant, but it still manages to set his teeth on edge.
“Mother,” he greets, “could you please tell me why there is a man in my apartment claiming to be my son’s private tutor when I am absolutely sure that I never mentioned the need for one?”
“Why, of course.” Her tone is unnecessarily chirpy. “My dear Sehun, I saw the need and filled it. He comes with references, of course. Only the best for my precious grandson.”
Sehun closes his eyes and brings a hand up to massage his temples, a habit. “You fired the nanny. And the cleaner.”
She laughs. “He insisted! Isn’t it great? Less hassle for you. Now, I really must be off. I’m late for a lunch date. Call me when you have a more pressing issue.”
The line goes dead and Sehun takes the phone away from his ear, stuffing it in his pocket and taking a deep breath before he turns away from the window to face the man who’d been standing silently behind him the whole time. “So, you were right.” The man nods, but says nothing more. “I’m going to be honest. I’m not comfortable with you watching my child.”
“I understand, Mr. Oh. Really, I do. I have children of my own,” the man placates, “but I promise to treat your son as if he was my own. You have nothing to worry about.”
Sehun frowns at that. It was not what he was hoping for. “Follow me.” The man had shown up on his doorstep only minutes ago, and Sehun had whipped out his phone while leading him into the living room. “I’ll show you the apartment. You start immediately, but think of it as a trial period. If you mess up, even once, you’re out.”
“Understood.”
The taller cocks an eyebrow, but continues on to lead the man around the apartment. He shows him the kitchen, dining room, guest room, guest bath, his office, and his bedroom. The man stops. “What is it?”
“Your room…” he shakes his head and offers an embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry. It just looks very clean.”
“It should be,” Sehun agrees. “I don’t believe I’ve ever spent more than ten minutes inside. I usually sleep at work or in my office.” He takes a step forward, but comes to an abrupt stop. “I never caught your name.”
“Hmm? Oh, it’s Joonmyun. I mean, Kim Joonmyun.”
“Mr. Kim,” Sehun chuckles. “How original. Follow me, I’ll show you to my son’s room.” It’s just down the corridor from his own, but when he turns the corner there’s a little boy dressed in star-covered pajamas rubbing his eyes.
“Daddy!” Arms outstretched, the boy runs forward on short legs to jump into Sehun’s open arms.
“Jongin, you’re up,” Sehun remarks, pulls the small boy up onto his hip, and offers a small quirk of his lips that the boy answers with a beaming grin. He looks past the boy to his watch and presses his lips together. “I should be going.” He sets Jongin on the ground and fixes his gaze on the tutor. “This is my son, Jongin. I expect him to be well taken care of. You can find his schedule on the fridge, and my number is on the same paper, should you have any emergencies. But you shouldn’t.” He bends down so that he’s on the same level as Jongin. “This man is going to look after you. Call me if you need anything.” The little boy nods seriously. Sehun musses his hair and stands. “Goodbye.”
“You’re leaving already?”
Sehun turns, halfway to the door. “Yes.”
Kim Joonmyun frowns. “It’s barely seven in the morning.”
“Do you have a point?” Sehun snaps. “No? Good. Then I’m off. I’ll be back late tonight.” He closes the door behind him with the air of finality.
-
“Postpone my first meeting.”
“Sir?” The secretary glances up, startled. She hastily ends her call, and follows him into his office. She waits until he’s removed his coat and thrown his briefcase on the chair across from his desk. “What should I tell them?”
“Tell them I am otherwise preoccupied and reschedule for sometime tomorrow morning.” When she’s left, he pulls up a browser and types in the name of his newest personal employee. After an initial search, he finds that the man is harmless. There's something about a master's degree from a no name college, but most of what he finds talks about a year long volunteer program in a third world country. He will have to keep an eye on Jongin, then. Make sure his son doesn't suddenly end up at a soup kitchen. He shudders at the thought.
His secretary returns and Sehun stops her. "I've changed my mind. My situation wasn't as urgent as I had thought."
-
By the end of the week, they have something of a system. Kim Joonmyun enters promptly at quarter to seven, as Sehun had given him the pass code for the apartment and the building itself after the first day. Sehun leaves for work right at seven. He checks his phone for messages throughout the day, but hasn't received one yet, which is a little comforting, Sehun's not going to lie. He leaves the office at eleven and returns before midnight.
"Hello."
Sehun grunts in reply, tossing his briefcase onto a kitchen counter and pulling out a Tupperware container out of the fridge before sticking it in the microwave. When he drags himself into the living room, he stops to assess the situation.
"Did you have a good day at work?" Kim Joonmyun asks, remote in one hand and the other hidden in Jongin's messy hair, the younger boy lain upon his lap, sleeping quietly. The caretaker notices Sehun's growing displeasure and stares at the boy, hand massaging the back of his small neck. "Sorry. He couldn't sleep so I put on a movie."
"I don't remember adding that to the schedule," Sehun comments, watching as the man quickly untangles himself from Jongin and picks the slumbering boy up, retreating. He returns minutes later with his jacket on and bag in hand.
"I had a question about the schedule, actually." He waits, Sehun motioning for him to go on after a second. "There's nothing on there about play dates or anything about games. When does Jongin play with his friends?"
"Why would my son need friends?" Sehun asks seriously, eating leftover soup slowly. "Why on earth would I allow my son to waste valuable time that could be spent learning and studying?"
Kim Joonmyun gapes. "Jongin is five!"
Sehun stands. "Kim Joonmyun, I believe it is time for you to go home." He watches as the man sighs, nods, and then heads out the front door. Sehun checks the clock. It is still before twelve. They are on time.
The only variable to the schedule is Jongin.
Sehun is at the dining room table, working, when he hears soft footsteps that stop at his side. He scoots his chair out and allows his son to clamber onto his lap while he sneaks a glance at his watch. Five till six. "You're up early."
Jongin nods vigorously in agreement, staring at the papers on the table, face stretching into a cute frown. "You're still doing work?"
Sehun laughs, hugging his son to his chest. "When you become the CEO of one of the top hotel chains in the world, you will be working this hard, too." He wipes away spit from the corner of Jongin's mouth as the boy looks at the papers again, this time with more interest.
"Daddy," he murmurs, fighting a yawn, "they talked about you on TV."
"Ah," Sehun muses. Then he remembers. They were doing a story on the youngest CEOs in the country and wanted to feature him. "You're right."
"If I get your job," Jongin wiggles to face his father, eyes puffy with sleep, "will I be on TV, too?"
Sehun pretends to mull it over. "No." Jongin pouts. "They'd give people heart attacks if they put someone as adorable as you on TV," he reasons, mercilessly tickling his son until he's stopped by the sound of the front door opening.
"Joonie!" Jongin screams, jumping out of Sehun's arms and running into the foyer. Sehun stands and smoothes the wrinkles out of his suit before packing up all the papers in his briefcase. He passes by Kim Joonmyun and they exchange a nod before Sehun walks down the hall and takes the elevator to the garage.
-
"There is nothing else on the agenda for today," his secretary reports, wringing her small hands anxiously. "That said, Sir, I was wondering if I could have the rest of the day off."
"You may," Sehun allows, shutting down his computer and standing. At his secretary's incredulous look, he lets out a short sigh. “Well, there’s no point in staying here if there’s nothing to do, is there?”
“No, Sir.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he finishes, and then motions to the door when she doesn’t take it as a cue to exit. She scampers out and he shuts the door behind her. As he packs up and heads out of the office, a small smile appears on his face. He imagines the look on Jongin’s face when he opens the door unexpectedly early, and allows Kim Joonmyun to head home deservedly-he admits begrudgingly-early, while the sun is still up, even. He parks his sleek back sedan into its designated spot and locks it, taking the elevator to his floor and entering his apartment.
Sehun is met with silence.
“Jongin?” He calls out, dropping his briefcase by the front door. He checks the time. It’s three, way past any acceptable napping time. He goes through every room in his house, including his own, but finds nothing. No note or explanation whatsoever. Sehun fumes, trying to think of any reason they may have had to leave the apartment. Groceries are delivered on a weekly basis, so that is not a problem; the apartment is stocked with everything they could possibly need so there’s really no reason at all why-
The doorbell rings.
Sehun stomps over and throws open the door. “Where were-” Wait. This is not Kim Joonmyun. The two boys blink up at him and then sidestep their way into the apartment. Sehun does a double take, slams the door shut, and then makes his way into the living room where the boys have made themselves at home. "Who," he hisses, "may I ask, are you?"
The boys share a look and Sehun steels himself a glance at both of them. He groans inwardly. These kids are identical.
"I'm Kim Jeno and he's Kim Mark," the first introduces formally. "Our dad's name is Kim Joonmyun and I believe he works for you?"
Sehun blinks. Yeah, the man had mentioned something about children fleetingly, but nothing about ages or names. Not that Sehun cared.
"You sound so pretentious," the other boy scoffs. "Dad said to come here if we ever needed him, and since he practically lives here, we thought we'd be better off actually coming here than calling the number. So where is he?"
"I don't know," Sehun snaps, crossing his arms as his face hardens. "And he has my son."
The boys shrug and make for the remote, settling on a movie channel while the suited man behind them fumes.
The door opens two hours later just as the credits start rolling for the worst action flick Sehun's ever has the misfortune of watching.
"Daddy!" Jongin shouts, running into the room and despite himself, Sehun scoops his son up and swings him in a circle before placing him back on the ground. Then he glares over at Kim Joonmyun, who is smiling sheepishly and walking over slowly. "Why are you back so early?" Jongin asks, positively elated.
"I had an empty afternoon and I came home to this," he points behind him and Kim Joonmyun hastens forward, eyes widening in surprise.
"Dad!" The boys chorus before hurrying over to their father.
"Why are you two here?" The man questions through clenched teeth.
"We lost the key," they admit with equally large grins.
Kim Joonmyun sighs and clears his throat. "Mr. Oh, these are my sons Mark and Jeno. Boys, this is my employer and his son."
Jongin hides behind Sehun's legs and Sehun runs his fingers through his hair fondly. He averts his attention to fix a glare back on the caretaker and Jongin darts out from behind him, out of reach before Sehun can do anything. The boy tugs on the sleeve of one of the two boys-Sehun can't tell which one-and all eyes are on him.
"Do you want to see my room?"
The Kim boys shrug. "Sure."
Jongin's face breaks out into a grin and he drags one of the two down the hall as the other follows. "Hurry up!" A door slams shut and then it's just the toe men left in the living room.
"Mind telling me where the two of you were?"
The man looks anywhere but at Sehun. "We were... out. I don't know if you were aware, but there is a very nice playground in the park just down the street and Jongin is quite the social butterfly-"
"You took my son to a playground?" Sehun interrupts, lip curling slightly in disgust. "You skipped his English lesson to take him to a playground?"
"With all due respect," Kim Joonmyun begins, looking distressed, "Jongin is a five year old, not an adult. He needs time to play and just enjoy his life and a schedule doesn't cut it!"
Sehun stops, takes a deep breath, and stares at the door. "Kim Joonmyun, I think it's time for you to leave." The man nods meekly. "And if I ever-ever-hear about my son spending time at some park again, you'll need to find a new job."
The man nods, fetches his sons, and leaves. Jongin totters out, frown on his face, and fists a hand in Sehun's suit pants. "I liked them. Are they going to come back?"
Sehun sighs. "Maybe."
-
A few days later, Sehun is parked at the marble table, papers strewn about him and pen clutched in his hand.
The sound of bare feet slapping against tile brings him back to the present, and he looks up as the chair across from him is pulled out and a tired face pops up in the faint light thrown by the lamp at Sehun's side. Jongin straightens his back and clasps his hands together. Sehun chuckles and decides he's due for a break.
"It is well past your bedtime, young man."
"Couldn't sleep," Jongin explains, but doesn't move.
Sehun smiles, reaching across the table and tangling their hands together, Jongin's small digits twisted in his much longer ones. "Something you wanted to talk about?"
"Joonie used to take me to the park, but he doesn't anymore." Jongin stops to yawn. "I liked it there. Every time I ask him if we can go back, he says we can't. Daddy, can you ask if I can go? Maybe if you ask, he'll say yes."
Sehun is a strong, determined man who answers to none.
Except when it comes to Jongin.
"I'll try my best."
-
Sehun gets through two blissfully uneventful weeks that start with a change in Jongin's schedule to make time for play. Kim Joonmyun smiles when he sees it and Sehun pretends not to notice.
But then he comes home and knows something is up when Kim Joonmyun doesn't immediately up and leave.
"I think Jongin should be enrolled in school."
Well, at least he's frank about it. "And why would you think that?"
"Jongin needs to meet more people. If he spends all of his time here, he's not going to get that experience. He needs to be taught by people other than me, learn which methods work for him, and school is he perfect way to do that."
Sehun blinks. "You've been thinking about this for a while."
"I prepared the speech, yes." He sighs. "Just, think about it? The school my sons attend is very highly rank and came with a list of recommendations. I've heard that the children of many politicians go there. They do tours!"
Sehun watches the man flash a nervous smile and then leaves.
The next day, Sehun calls and schedules a tour. He has Jongin enrolled in kindergarten by the end of the week, but makes it clear to Kim Joonmyun that he will still be expected to act as a tutor and caretaker. The man agrees with a wry smile.
-
Mark and Jeno accompany Jongin back to the apartment each day and Sehun returns home to a full house, where Jongin is usually the only person asleep, the older boys still going at homework.
A paper is flashed in his face.
"What is this?" Sehun hisses quietly so as not to disturb the boys. He reads the paper twice. "A field trip?"
"To the zoo!" Kim Joonmyun finishes with a smile. "It's very fun. I've been to the zoo a couple of times and they're very good about the animals. Tons of space to roam and all that. It's a great learning experience."
There's that word again. Experience. Sehun rolls his eyes and signs on the line, noting the date and the extra form for accompanying parents.
"Jongin asked me if you were going to come, too." The man taps his fingers on the desk restlessly. "I didn't know what to tell him."
"I can't go." Sehun can't even imagine trying to explain to his advisors that they'll have to postpone his meetings because he needs to go to the zoo. "But I'm sure Jongin would be delighted if you went in my place."
-
The clock ticks slowly, almost as if it's making fun of him. Finally, Sehun gives up. He stands, grabs his jacket. And heads out of the office.
"Wait!" His secretary looks alarmed. As she should be. It's not even noon. "Where are you going?"
"Urgent business," Sehun answers in a clipped tone, heading into the elevator and down to the garage.
He reaches the zoo just as the school bus is pulling up, and then the students pour out, one running over and burying his face in Sehun's chest.
"Daddy! I thought you weren't coming!" Jongin exclaims, looking at his father in awe.
"Surprise," Sehun says with a grin. "It looks like your class is going to leave without you."
Jongin starts and runs over to a group of kids who laugh and pull them into the huddle. Sehun allows a small smile to slip onto his face.
After the horror of the admission gates, the group heads over to start with the reptile house. Sehun hangs back a bit, painfully aware that his suit will smell like animals and swear by the end of the day.
"What a surprise, Mr. Oh."
"I am full of them, Kim Joonmyun," Sehun replies without lifting his gaze from his son.
The other man laughs. "I have been working for you for three months now. I think you can call me by just my first name."
"How unprofessional." Sehun tsks, chuckling as Jongin gapes at a rattlesnake. "But okay. Joonmyun it is."
The man beams and they head on to the small aquarium.
Sehun is never really certain what exhibit they're at, eyes trained on Jongin the entire time. He looks so happy. Sehun feels his heart swell. When they break for lunch, Sehun watches as Joonmyun attempts to help the teachers hand out lunch before spotting him and making his way over. They sit beside each other on a bench in surprisingly comfortable silence before Joonmyun speaks.
"It must be hard," he nods towards Jongin, chatting with his classmates, "without his mother."
Sehun thinks of all the nannies that have come and gone since Jongin was born. Sehun wonders vaguely if he could even be considered a main figure in Jongin's life. Then he dismisses the thought. "I suppose so."
"I understand. My wife died just after Mark and Jeno were born from-"
"Jongin's mother isn't dead," Sehun interrupts right before the guilt hits him because he just talked over a man who was about to tell him about his dead wife. Joonmyun doesn't seem affronted, though. In fact, he seems more surprised than anything else, so Sehun continues. "Actually, I think she'll be in a new movie this fall. Her husband is the director. They have an adorable two year old together. The tabloids say she's already a heartthrob, which is mildly disconcerting."
Joonmyun appears to be speechless.
"Joonmyun, I am twenty three. No one wants a child when they're eighteen." He shrugs. "But I didn't mind. Being a single parent has never been an issue. I wouldn't trade Jongin for the world."
Joonmyun hums. "Then we're in agreement."
For the rest of the excursion, Sehun's attention is shared between Jongin and Joonmyun, who never strays too far and is constantly whispering odd jokes under his breath. Sehun feels a burst of camaraderie that grows each time Joonmyun smiles before leaning over and whispering something in Sehun's ear.
-
They take to talking when Sehun gets home, which means that more than often, Mark and Jeno deviate into the guest bedroom, and Sehun’s pretty sure that they’ve actually filled the drawers in their with clothes brought in suspicious garbage bags. It’s nice though, coming home to dinner on the table and the boys messing around in the living room, if Jongin’s still awake. Then Joonmyun will sit across from him, gentle smile on his face, and he’ll talk about how Jongin’s doing in school, that he’s joined an after school dancing club, which is easier for Mark and Jeno since they now have to take cram courses immediately after school ends, and can just swing by the studios to pick up Jongin on their way home.
“He’s really quite good,” Joonmyun adds while running around the kitchen, warming up a bowl of rice that had gone cold while he’d been watching the boys. “He showed me something his class was working on the other day. He’s surprisingly determined for a boy his age.”
Sehun nods in agreement. Jongin’s always been a little on the serious side. Probably his fault.
A crack of thunder interrupts the casual conversation and both men look over to the windows, and the three boys pressed up against them, watching the rain fall in torrents and lightning light up the sky, followed by the low bellow of thunder, this time much closer.
Joonmyun sighs. “We’d better head home now if we don’t want to be caught in the middle of it.”
“No,” Sehun says resolutely, staring at the near-black sky outside. “You can stay here tonight. It’s too dangerous. I don’t think you even have an umbrella.”
Joonmyun’s sheepish smile is a confirmation of that. Mark and Jeno fall over each other in a mad dash to secure a favorite side of the guest bed and Jongin follows, demanding to sleep with them tonight.
“You don’t have to do this. I can still tell the boys we have to go home.”
Sehun shakes his head. “It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. You can take my bed. I haven’t slept there in months, anyway.”
Joonmyun frowns. “No, I’ll stay here.”
The easy chatter starts up again, halting for a moment as both men check on the boys, Joonmyun’s hands flying up to his mouth so he doesn’t wake them with his cooing. Mark and Jeno are on either sides of the bed, backs turned to the wall, and Jongin is snug in the middle, just a head of unruly hair visible over the sheets. They turn the lights off and head back out into the dining room.
“They’re not identical, but they like to pretend they are,” Joonmyun says, leaning on his arm, “I humor them sometimes.”
Sehun doesn’t add much to the conversation, but listens as Joonmyun talks.
“Jongin’s a good kid.”
Sehun looks up. Joonmyun’s eyes are closed, mouth slightly open as he sleeps, head cushioned on his arm. Sehun smiles and grabs a throw blanket off the couch, laying it over the man.
Jongin, ever the early riser, totters out a few hours later, motions a quiet gesture with his finger over his lips when he spots Joonmyun, and clambers up onto Sehun’s lap.
“Daddy,” he whispers, “I’m in a dance club.”
Sehun hums. “Joonmyun told me.”
Jongin grins. “We have a recital at the end of the year. All of the parents are going to come. Can you come?”
Sehun thinks about it. “I’ll try my best.”
-
Things take a turn for the worst. A new competitor appears, a national chain that wants to go international, and Sehun’s stocks dive down. Lack of sleep and stress make work a living hell and paperwork piles up on his desk until he has trouble locating his phone.
Joonmyun is understanding, taking care of the house and of Jongin when Sehun comes home, collapses in a chair, and spreads out leftover paperwork on the table.
“Today is a special day,” Joonmyun sings, fixing Sehun’s tie as the TV chatters on behind him.
Sehun frowns. He has a meeting with the board, yes, but Joonmyun wouldn’t know that. “What is today?” He asks, latching his briefcase with only about half of the papers inside completed in full and signed.
Joonmyun looks mildly alarmed and Jongin runs into the room, throwing his hands in the air. “It’s my dance recital, Daddy!”
Oh.
“It’s right after school in the studios. There’ll be signs. You can’t miss it,” Joonmyun adds.
Sehun purses his lips. “I will try my best.”
Work is hell.
The board is obstinate to disagree with Sehun in every possible way. They’ve never liked him, thought he was a bad choice even though his grandfather-the previous CEO-had taught and groomed him well for the position. They think him too young and irresponsible to fulfill the duties, even though he’s been working for the company since he was sixteen, and the stocks and locations have only increased under his lead.
He can’t reason with these men, though.
The clock on the far wall hits the exact time Jongin gets out of school and Sehun closes his eyes in apology and feels a brief flash of violent envy towards Joonmyun. The man doesn’t need to worry about board meetings and endless paperwork. He can give Jongin the world without upsetting thousands of employees. Sehun mourns the loss of missing his little boy dance and then enters the fray.
-
Sehun throws his door open and collapses in one of the lounge chairs, dropping the briefcase by his side and stretching his legs out in front of him. The meeting had ended in the close refusal of his proposals. He had won the majority by only one vote. The next meeting promised to be so much worse and Sehun thanked his lucky stars that such meetings only occurred on an annual basis. He was still recovering from today; the victory was hollow and he was still physically and emotionally drained.
A piece of paper on the fridge catches his eye. It isn’t the schedule, and he’s sure that he hadn’t put anything else on there. As he gets closer, he realizes that it is a drawing. A messy Jongin is signed at the bottom, and Sehun smiles through his fatigue. His son is not an artist by any means, but the figures in the picture a decipherable. A small figure and a larger one are holding hands in the front of the picture, and a third stands off to the side. While the first two are smiling and dressed in multicolored outfits, the latter is dressed in drab monochrome and has a mean scowl on his face. Sehun needs no further explanation.
He is inexplicably mad as he crumples the paper up in his hand and throws it into the trash. Kim Joonmyun has barely taken part in Jongin’s life. Sehun has been there through thick and through thin, a comfortable constant that provides food, shelter, and everything Jongin could possibly want, and he is rewarded with being cast as the secondary figure, a black storm cloud in his son’s otherwise cheerful life. Sehun will not accept that.
The door opens and two people march inside; a sulking child and a worried adult.
“Here you are,” the man exclaims, hand still held by Jongin, “Sehun, we were-”
“I am your employer, not your friend,” Sehun sneers, “you will address me as such.”
Kim Joonmyun flinches. “Did something happen?” Then he collects himself and manages a weak glare. “We were expecting you at the recital. You told Jongin you would come and then you never showed. We were worried something had happened to you. You can’t just raise Jongin’s hopes like that just to let him down.”
Sehun bristles. “I am his father. Not you. And I will decide what is best for my son. You have made yourself far too at home and I don’t think that you are quite what Jongin needs anymore.” Sehun summons all of his strength and squares his shoulders, glaring the man down. “You are dismissed. I will pay you for this week and then find a replacement next week. You are free to go.”
Jongin looks between the men, eyes glistening with tears.
“Yes, Sir,” Joonmyun answers stiffly, bending down to give Jongin a quick peck on the head, as he swiftly untangles their joined hands, and then he’s gone.
Sehun feels winded, all his previous conviction and rage has disappeared and he is instead filled with a sense of dread. He winces as something hits his thigh, and looks down to meet eyes with a crying Jongin, face red and tears falling down his round cheeks.
“I hate you,” the boy states, clear and concise, before running over to his room and slamming the door shut.
Sehun slumps onto the counter, leaning his head on the cool granite. What has he done?
-
At one in the morning, he calls a number that he knows will be answered, day or night, because the woman on the other end battles the same insomnia that he does.
“Hello?”
“Mother,” Sehun greets, “I’ve made a mistake.”
There’s a sharp intake of breath, then a chair scrapes tile on the other line. “Oh, darling. You don’t have to pretend to have everything under control. It’s okay to slip sometimes.” She sighs. “Your father didn’t want you to have to face the world until you absolutely had to. But then he was gone and you had to stand on your own two feet. I still think-I’m sure your father would agree-that you were forced to be an adult far too quickly. Sehun, honey, it’s okay if you’re not perfect.”
“Thanks, mom,” Sehun sighs. It’s a pep talk risk whenever he talks to the woman. He’s heard this speech far too many times.
“In fact,” she goes on, “I’d say the same to that new nanny of yours. The poor boy came to me asking if he could pay for his room a little later because he didn’t have the money right then, but after talking to him I found out he had a teaching degree and I thought he’d be perfect for you. He had children when he was young, too, you know. Two, I think. He’s a lovely young man.”
Sehun pales. “I have to go.”
“Oh. Call me again soon! I haven’t seen Jongin in a while, you two should stop by some time.”
“Yes, mother,” Sehun consents, then drops his phone onto the table.
He has royally fucked up.
Sehun runs down the hall and into Jongin’s room, knocking briefly before entering. There’s a lump under the covers and it moves slightly when he nears. “I need your help.” He receives no response. “I need to apologize to Joonmyun.”
A little face pokes out of the sheets. “You were very mean to him.”
Sehun sighs and cards his fingers through tangled strands, smiling when Jongin lets him do so. “I know. I’ve been under a lot of stress because of work, but there’s no excuse for me acting that way.” His hand stills for a moment. “Did you have fun at your recital?”
Jongin nods enthusiastically. “I didn’t mess up once! But, it would have been better if you were there,” he admits shyly.
“Next time. I promise,” Sehun swears, laughing when the boy jumps up and throws his arms around his neck. “But right now we have to go find Joonmyun.”
Jongin nods seriously and jumps out of bed, running down the hall and beating Sehun to the door. Hand in hand, the duo take the elevator down and clamber into Sehun’s BMW, the man in his disheveled suit and the boy in his cartoon pajamas. Sehun realizes he has no idea where Joonmyun is staying and wings it, driving to the most popular-and most affordable-of their hotels in the city, leaving his car with a sleepy valet and speed walking down the clean red carpet, Jongin racing to keep up with him.
“Can I help you, Sir?” The girl at the front desk looks mildly annoyed. As she should, Sehun supposes. It is a quarter after one.
“I need to know if there is a Kim Joonmyun staying here.”
The woman sighs. “I am sorry but I cannot release information about any-”
“My name is Oh Sehun.”
That seems to wake her up. “Right away, Sir.”
“Jongin!” Two boys race over and pick Jongin up, crushing him between them. Sehun startles before noticing that the two boys are almost identical and his heart races. They’re in the right place.
“You’d better hurry,” Jeno warns, looking right at Sehun. He can tell which one the twin is because of the serious demeanor. He’d been paying attention the last couple weeks, determined to narrow down the differences. “I don’t know what you said to dad, but he’s upset. We were on our way out.”
Sehun notices the backpacks on the boys and the suitcases piled behind them. He bolts for the elevators.
“We’ll take care of Jongin!” Mark shouts at the same time as Jeno yells, “room eleven twenty-five!”
The elevator ride is maddening and takes far too long, and Sehun almost runs right into the man waiting when the doors open. He stops himself a second before the collision happens and the doors close behind him. “Oh,” he breathes as he makes out the distinct features of Joonmyun’s face.
Chocolate eyes narrow and thin lips press into a line. “What do you want?”
“I am sorry.” Joonmyun’s eyebrows rise in surprise. Sehun goes on. “I didn’t mean a word. Just because you have more time to give to Jongin is no reason for me to get so upset and he really likes you. I really like you. Don’t go. Please.”
Joonmyun blinks. “I-um. I already paid and checked out. There’s really nothing I can do till morning. And. I accept your apology.”
Sehun beams. “Thank you.”
“But, like I said, there’s really nothing I can do but wait to check in when business hours start.”
Sehun shifts from one foot to the other. “Then, I suppose this would be a good time to ask you to move in with me.”
Joonmyun blinks. “You’re certainly in a good mood, aren’t you?”
“I mean, it really wouldn’t be anything different. Just more stuff in the apartment,” Sehun shrugs, “also, I’m pretty sure that the twins still have clothes hidden in drawers all over the house, so it would be a hassle if they just left them there.”
“Sneaky,” Joonmyun murmurs. “Alright. I guess we’ll see how this plays out, then. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“No,” Sehun argues, smoothly bending down and grabbing a solid gray bag by Joonmyun’s feet and pressing the button for the elevator. “You get my bed.”
“We shall see,” Joonmyun says coolly.
As they step into the elevator, Sehun covertly tangles his fingers with Joonmyun’s and grins when the man beside him chuckles and threads their fingers together.
Sehun feels warm and is sure his cheeks are rosy, if not red. But he also feels like he’s done something very important for himself. And for Jongin.
-
The man stares into the mirror, making sure every single hair is in place and his custom fit suit is impeccable. He spies a faint stain on his shoulder and groans. Well, hopefully no one will notice. He heads out into the living room and is immediately assaulted by a shorter man.
“Your tie is crooked,” he explains, fastidiously fixing the piece of gold and red cloth, the colors of success. At least, that’s what his self-help book had said. The one his father had lent him.
“Dad,” he groans, standing as still as possible, “I’m going to be late.”
Another man walks over, taller than the both of them, and fixes his gaze on the nervous man. A stranger would find the stare unnerving, but after years of experience, the younger can spot the warmth in the way his lips twitch upward and cause his eyes to close slightly, crow’s feet scrunched in the corners.
“Jongin, you will do absolutely fine.”
“You only say that because you run the place,” he mutters under his breath, glaring at his father Oh Sehun, owner of one of the most successful hotel chains in the world, as Joonmyun continues to mess with his tie. “What if they don’t like me?”
“It is impossible not to like you. There. Now you look perfect.” Joonmyun steps back and admires the twenty year old, grinning when the boy turns the glare on him. “So you have practice after the interview?”
“Yes, I’ll get back just in time for dinner with Jeno,” Jongin confirms, striding over towards the door, looking over his shoulder just before he exits, “don’t forget. He’s bringing his fiancée. Play nice.” He glares at both men before leaving.
Sehun tsks. “So serious.”
“He gets that from you,” Joonmyun sings, tapping taller man on the chin before heading into the kitchen.
“Yeah, well he gets the annoying part from you!” Sehun shouts back, following his husband into the kitchen.
Mark stumbles into the living room in the middle of a food fight, whipped cream covering most of Joonmyun’s face and strawberries smashed on the side of Sehun’s neck and in his hair. The man sighs and heads into the bathroom, hoping that he won’t be hit by a wayward egg on the way.