[Fic] Little Duckling Part 2
Jongdae reaches forward and squeezes one of Sehun's hands encouragingly.
“It's okay, I was just teasing,” he jests. “I get that quite often, and honestly, it's one of the reasons why I'm good at my job. Or so I like to think.” Jongdae rises to his feet, and Sehun follows his motion, standing uncertainly as Jongdae circles to desk to stop in front of him. They're standing in front of each other now, and Jongdae gently pats Sehun's upper arm.
“Don't worry too much about Sarang,” he says. “I personally think it’s just a phase, and who knows? Maybe you'll find a new special someone who'll become her mother- who puts an end to her yearning.” His words are meant encouragingly, but Sehun is only focusing on the heat that lingers on his shoulder where Jongdae's hand rested only a moment ago.
“Yea, maybe,” Sehun murmurs distractedly, completely focused on their closeness. He doesn't even think as he reaches out and swipes his thumb over Jongdae's prominent cheek bones, wiping away some dough that had been bothering him since before they sat down. Sehun simply licks the offending treat off of his thumb as if it were Sarang in front of him and not her (unexpectedly and admittedly) hot preschool teacher.
There’s a pause, an awkward silence that follows Sehun’s action before his eyes widen and he stumbles backwards, head spinning and legs tangling.
“I-I'm sorry,” He coughs out. “Your face was covered in dough, and I just-” He congratulates himself for being completely off his game and ruining even the tiniest chance to ask Jongdae out. Sehun wishes he could hide in the deepest, blackest hole when Jongdae again breaks into a fit of laughter, supporting his weight by bending forward and clutching his knees.
“You are a special cookie, aren't you Mister Oh?”
“Just Sehun is fine,” Sehun corrects weakly. It leaves his lips sounding more like a quiet demand than a request, and Sehun receives a nod and brilliant smile in return from Jongdae. The teacher’s eyes crinkle into beautiful crescents.
“Lucky for you, I like weird. So come on, let's check on your daughter.” Jongdae simply takes one of Sehun's hands and marches out of the office, all but dragging Sehun behind him.
Love at first sight doesn't exist Sehun. You have a daughter - think rationally! Sehun's mind tries to reason as he stumbles after the preschool teacher, but then his gaze falls onto Jongdae's swaying behind in the skinniest jeans one could possibly fit in and, oh. Well. Sehun swallows hard, cursing inwardly. Those jeans cannot possibly adhere to the dress code!
Suddenly, Sehun isn’t thinking as a rational man anymore. It’s some sort of animalistic instinct that has him stopping in the middle of the hallway, forcing Jongdae to turn and look at him.
“You wouldn't happen to have time for a drink tonight?” Sehun says, and Jongdae stops abruptly, slim body angling to meet Sehun's gaze with an amused grin.
“I’m not sure here or now is the most appropriate place for that. And you hardly know me.” The reply has Sehun's shoulder slumping visibly, but then there is a loud squeal. A second later a small body barrels into Sehun, arms wrapping around his legs, and Sehun smiles at Sarang's flour covered face.
“Hello, baby doll,” he greets her, crouching down to lift her up into his arms, pecking her cheek. Sarang copies him, pressing her own sticky lips to her dad’s cheek gleefully.
“I made heart cookies,” she announces proudly and points in the direction of what Sehun assumes is the kitchen. “You have to try them!” she adds quickly, flailing her legs to signal for Sehun to put her down. He does so carefully, setting her back on the floor and allowing her to tug him to the kitchen by his black coat.
It's a small kitchen, decorated with drawings by the kids, and Sehun has problems sitting on the tiny, child sized chair like Sarang has commanded him to while she proudly shows her good-looking dad to her classmates.
Within seconds, Sehun finds himself surrounded by a crowd of three boys and four girls who all try to feed him with their self-made cookies, and Sehun silently groans about the amount of sugar that’s being shoved down his throat even as he plays along, smiling brightly and goofing around with the excited bunch.
~*~
Sarang is quietly standing next to Jongdae, lacing their hands together and tugging. Jongdae look down at her quizzically. The little girl tip toes, motioning for her teacher to crouch down and Jongdae obliges, letting her rest one hand over his ear as she whispers to him.
“He is a nice dad,” she tells him, tickling his ear. “You should marry him.” Jongdae chuckles at her cuteness. Jongdae loves Sarang. He can’t lie to himself. Out of all the children in his class, she is his favorite with her good manners and her kind heart. Now that Jongdae met her dad, Sehun, he knows exactly who she is taking after, and he finds himself equally smitten with him.
It's rather funny how all Jongdae had been worrying about this morning were his broken pipes back home, but he is currently more concerned with his thundering heart beat in his chest at the sight of Sehun feeding a star-shaped cooking to Minah whose pigtails sway softly as she crunches on the treat.
He thinks back, remembers the gentle and undeniably in love way Sehun treats his daughter. He thinks about the man’s body line, how he easily stands a head over him, and mentally smacks himself for thinking it while Sehun’s daughter is right next to him.
Jongdae feels his fingers brushing through Sarang's soft hair. He glances down to see her pushing her small head against his stomach, and Jongdae wishes he could indeed be her mother, to fill the spot that has been left open within her golden heart. He wonders if there is a space there for him to claim as his own?
~*~
Sehun playfully wrestles with a boy named Jimin, grabbing him by his waist and spinning him around. The boy spreads his short arms like an airplane, pretending to be one by adding the accurate sound effects with his mouth.
There is a soft chuckle behind him, and then there are hands squeezing his broad shoulders.
“Looks like the kids adore you more than me,” Jongdae says. “But put little Jimin here down, or you'll upset his stomach.” Jongdae's breath is warm where it ghosts over his cheek, and Sehun obliges, letting Jimin run back to the other's while Sehun remembers that he is actually not a preschool teacher but here to pick up Sarang.
“Wouldn't want to steal your job, Jongdae.” With a burst of confidence, a playful smirk builds on Sehun's lips, and he feels a small victory rising inside of him as Jongdae's cheeks color in a faint pink.
“No flirting in front of the kids,” comes a snarky comment from the side, and Sehun glances over to see the guy from earlier walk in - Baekhyun if Sehun remembers correctly. Baekhyun gives Sehun an unfazed once over. “You don't happen to be able to fix pipes, do you Mr. Oh?”
“Baekhyun!” Jongdae squeaks loudly before shoving a broom into his coworkers hand and ushering him outside to 'clean the bathroom or something'. Instead, Baekhyun calls for the kids to follow him to the washroom to clean their hands and cheeks. When Jongdae returns to stand in front of Sehun, his face is flushed, and Sehun laughs lightly.
“So, your pipes are broken?” Sehun bites his bottom lip, trying to fight the laughter that is bubbling up in his throat while Jongdae shoots him a warning glare.
“Yes, and my heater. So if you don't mind, spare me the malicious glee.” Jongdae runs his fingers through his brown hair, and Sehun's heart speeds up. Since Baekhyun left with the kids, they’re alone, and nervousness turns Sehun’s stomach again.
“I apologize,” Sehun says, earnest. “Let me try again. Do you want to join Sarang and me for dinner tonight?” Sehun leans against the wall as he watches Jongdae shift from one leg onto the other, visibly conflicted by the kind offer,
“Do you always take people home whom you’ve just met?” Jongdae counters, but his eyes reflect concern like he has been hurt before and Sehun finds himself shaking his head.
“No, only cute preschool teachers that my daughter picks out for me,” he returns. “She's got good taste.” His chest is ridden of the weight and his stomach unknots as Jongdae's smile reaches his eyes genuinely.
“I hope you know how to cook,” he says. He smiles. “I'm rather picky.”
Sehun simply waves that snarky remark of and let's it slide into his brain, information saved for later. He can’t stop himself from returning Jongdae’s smile as he realizes he has succeeded in talking Jongdae into coming over tonight even if it's just for a free dinner and to escape a cold apartment.
Sehun never imagined, as he made his plans earlier in the morning and left with Sarang, that he’d finally have the opportunity to set the table for three instead of just two.
Baekhyun turns out to be quite alright, even agreeing to lock up and stay behind until the last parent shows up to pick up their 'little beast', as he put it while pinching Jimin’s cheek and wincing when the kid kicks his teacher’s shin in return. Despite Jongdae’s concern, a howling, limping Baekhyun all but forces Jongdae to leave along with Sehun and Sarang even though his shift hasn’t officially ended yet and that, as the owner of this preschool, he is supposed to be the last to leave.
To say that Sarang is happy would be an understatement. She spends the car ride singing along to some random love song on the radio, and Sehun wonders how she even knows this song until he hears Jongdae harmonize with her. He thinks love might be waiting to hit him like an oncoming train.
When they arrive, Sehun, like a gentleman, opens the door for both his bouncy daughter and Jongdae who smiles warmly at him.
It's a little awkward at first with Jongdae standing in the middle of their tiny kitchen while Sehun chops vegetables and Sarang runs around the table full of energy, but eventually, Sarang seems to sense the tension and drags Jongdae to the cupboard, asking him to help her set the table. The two of them do just that while Sehun starts frying the meat inside the pan.
“Thanks for inviting me over.” Sehun almost jumps out of his skin when Jongdae's head suddenly pops up next to him, but he catches himself quickly.
“I'm glad you agreed, since you hardly even know me,” he confesses before adding some salt and pepper to the sizzling meat on the stove.
“I know your daughter,” Jongdae promptly answers, but when he sees Sehun's confused expression he continues. “And you were kind of cute standing shyly in my office, so I didn't think of you as a threat.”
Sehun gently elbows Jongdae's side, and the other squeaks in surprise before covering his mouth in shock over the high pitched sound he has just made which had Sarang giggling delightfully in her seat.
“Are you laughing at your teacher?” Jongdae surges forward and tickles her sides, which has her little frame twist and turn on top of her chair, trying to get away without much success.
Sehun watches them attentively, wondering why he doesn't feel jealous. Shouldn’t he find it strange or uncomfortable to watch his daughter showing affection towards someone who isn’t him? Instead, everything feels gentle and right, like Sehun has known Jongdae for much longer.
As they sit and eat dinner together, Sehun quietly listens to Jongdae's cheerful chatter about how he became a preschool teacher, about his adoration for children, and about his passion for teaching them how to sing and to be themselves in this 'dangerous' world.
Sehun could definitely get used to hearing Jongdae and Sarang bicker together over the tiniest things such as why Sarang should eat her carrots and not only the meat. He could get used to Jongdae wiping tomato sauce off of Sarang's chin with a napkin while telling her to be careful not to stain her pretty dress.
Yes, Sehun could definitely get used of having the cute preschool teacher around more often.
It's getting late, and Sarang is almost falling asleep while sitting on her chair, eyelids fluttering shut and head swaying dangerously. Sehun rises and gathers her into his arms. Sarang doesn't say anything, closing her eyes and letting her father carry her into her bedroom with Jongdae trailing behind them. Jongdae helps her remove her clothes while Sehun shifts the covers back and hands Jongdae her pink pajamas before tucking her under the blanket with her fluffy bunny plushie.
Sehun leans down and plants a kiss on her soft forehead and walks over to the door frame where Jongdae is watching him enviously but Sarang's little hand reaches out for him and Sehun’s chest swells with adoration when Jongdae hesitantly walks up to her to let her hug him and press a kiss to his cheek,
“Night night, mummy,” she whispers, and Sehun just thinks the image will be forever etched in his memory. Jongdae blushes, again, before stumbling back nervously looking back and forth between Sehun and Sarang, but Sehun just leads him out of her bedroom and turns of the light after wishing his daughter a good night and sweet dreams.
“It's alright,” he begins as Jongdae shies away from his gaze. “You are kind of cute, so I'll forgive you for stealing my little princess's heart so easily.” That seems to put Jongdae at ease, and he sits down next to Sehun on the brown, leather couch.
“She is adorable and lucky to have such a caring dad by her side,” Jongdae admits as he takes a sip of his water, and Sehun studies him intensely.
Jongdae meets his gaze, and they hold eye contact for crazy moment in which time seems to have stopped. They both lose themselves in countless thoughts of what if? and this is crazy! Jongdae rises to his feet a little bit too fast, swaying, suddenly unstable, as a consequence.
Sehun is on his feet within seconds, steadying Jongdae with a firm grip on his hip and breathing in Jongdae's alluring cologne. They stay frozen, both taken aback by the sparks that the small touch has triggered inside of them.
“I- I should go. I have to be at work tomorrow.” Jongdae is cute when he loses his superior aura and turns into a stuttering boy, Sehun thinks as he reluctantly lets go of the other.
“Yes, my shift starts early as well.” Sehun rubs his neck regretfully and helps Jongdae into his warm winter coat, taking his own navy scarf and wrapping it around Jongdae’s exposed neck.
“I can’t have you catch a cold,” he explains. “Sarang will kill me if her favorite preschool teacher falls sick because of me.” Jongdae tightens the wool scarf around his neck, ducking his head down. It’s too late though; Sehun has already seen the blush on his cheeks.
They stand face to face, and maybe it's the heat of the moment or all the chemistry between them which they ignored all evening, but Sehun’s self control falters, and he pulls the scarf out of the way to close the last distance between them and gently press his lips to Jongdae's soft ones.
Sehun's heart beat is ringing loudly in his ears, but all doubt comes to a halt when Jongdae's hands tangle in his hair and he tip toes for more, tongue swiping over Sehun's bottom lip. Hot breath tickles Sehun's cheek, and steps forwards until Jongdae's back is pressed against the door. Sehun swallows a small groan, sucking Jongdae's tongue into his mouth and allowing him to mess up his hair.
They don't let go of each other until they need to fill their lungs with fresh air, both panting heavily.
Sehun is the first to break the silence, gazing at Jongdae through hooded eyes before gently lacing one hand with Jongdae's and pecking the back of it fondly. “I'll see you tomorrow then?” He asks cheekily, and Jongdae just rolls his eyes before wrapping his arms around Sehun's neck and planting another kiss on his lips.
“We'll see,” is all he leaves Sehun with before he shuts the door behind himself, and Sehun already fears that it will stay just like that. To his surprise, only an hour later he receives a text.
Do you think I'd make a cute mum?
Sehun can't stop the knowing grin that spreads all over his face as he types his reply.
Definitely. That means you can wear cute aprons for me whenever you come over from now on.
Sehun comes back from the bathroom and sees the little green light blinking up at him from his phone. He quickly unlocks his phone to read Jongdae's message.
Don't push your luck. I expect to be wooed like a real lady.
Sehun laughs at the funky icons that follow, but he ends up replying with a simple note of his own.
I'll pick both of you up after work tomorrow, and then take you out for dinner.
He receives a thumbs up emoticon in reply, and he questions Jongdae’s mental age. Then again Jongdae is a preschool teacher, and as Sarang herself has taught Sehun, age is just “stupid number.” Sehun thinks that maybe- just maybe- one is never too old for butterflies in their stomach.
~*~
Jongdae is worth the butterflies and inner conflicts Sehun struggles with, he discovers. He watches Jongdae cradle Sarang in his arms a few months later, smiling to himself at the memories.
It took Sehun two bouquets of red roses, two cheesy movie dates, and a kiss in front of a startled looking Baekhyun to have Jongdae agree to officially become his boyfriend. It took a few more dinners and surprise coffee dates for them to reach this point: happily in love and living together.
Sehun only regrets that he hadn’t gone in to seek advice from Sarang’s preschool teacher earlier.
The sight of Sarang in Jongdae’s lap being lulled to sleep by her papa’s gentle voice has already claimed a special place inside Sehun’s heart along with the memory of convincing her that Jongdae could not be her mum, but he could be a myriad of other decidedly masculine titles.
Sehun finishes the dishes, wiping some foam off his cheek before quietly taking the seat next to Jongdae, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. His boyfriend beams up at him.
“She just fell asleep,” Jongdae mouths to him, and Sehun is careful when he takes her from Jongdae and carries her to her room.
When he returns, he finds Jongdae spread over his couch, mischievously peeking up at him.
“Will you reward me with a massage?” Jongdae almost purrs, and Sehun's body is suddenly feeling a little bit too on edge as he pulls Jongdae into his lap instead and kisses him slowly, chests pressed together. and with Jongdae panting against his lips.
“Take your clothes off.” His voice is low, and he feels Jongdae shiver on top of him. Sehun slides his hands up Jongdae’s thighs, making his boyfriend release a whine in the back of his throat. Jongdae enjoys teasing him, fingers slowly falling to the hem of his shirt, about to unbutton his pants and abandon his shirt when suddenly loud footsteps echo from the wall and a scandalized, “Daddy! What are you doing to papa?!” knocks both of them off the couch in shock.
Jongdae is the first to gather himself, jumping to his feet but not without hissing at the icy cold of the tiles under his bare feet, cheeks burning as he rushes over to a pouty Sarang and heaves her up into his arms.
“Nothing baby doll,” he assures her. “Your daddy was just, um - showing me how much he loves me.”
“Loves you?” Sarang asks suspiciously and blinks at Sehun as he comes up to stand behind Jongdae.
“Yes pumpkin,” he agrees. “I'm sorry for startling you. Let's go back to bed, okay?”
Sarang nods but not before giving both of them a very judgmental look that Sehun, in his panic, interprets to mean she is perfectly aware of what both of their 'daddies' had been up to. She doesn’t say anything however, and Sehun enjoys the stillness of being with her and Jongdae as both men rub soothing circles on her back and brush through Sarang’s hair until the little girl drifts off to sleep.
About thirty minutes later finds Sehun back on the leather couch with Jongdae's head in his lap and his fingers stroking through brown locks. Jongdae grabs his hand and presses a kiss to his palm. They really ought to head to bed soon, Sehun thinks, looking at the clock.
“What do we do if she starts asking for a sibling soon?” Jongdae groans suddenly, and Sehun laughs wholeheartedly at that before he has an idea and abruptly gets up. He simply throws a bewildered looking Jongdae over his shoulder and marches off to their bedroom.
“We’d better go practice then, just in case she asks us if we've been even trying.” It's the dead serious sound of Sehun's voice that has Jongdae giggle and slap his hand against Sehun's butt from where he is dangling over his shoulder head first.
“Why am I dating you again?” He jests as Sehun gently lowers him onto their bed, crawling over him and leaning in so that their lips are ghosting over each other.
“Because,” Sehun states. “I'm a weird formerly single dad, but you love weird, so you love me.” Sehun seals their lips together, and Jongdae just hums in agreement before pulling the covers over the two of them for some private practising.
~The End~
“It's okay, I was just teasing,” he jests. “I get that quite often, and honestly, it's one of the reasons why I'm good at my job. Or so I like to think.” Jongdae rises to his feet, and Sehun follows his motion, standing uncertainly as Jongdae circles to desk to stop in front of him. They're standing in front of each other now, and Jongdae gently pats Sehun's upper arm.
“Don't worry too much about Sarang,” he says. “I personally think it’s just a phase, and who knows? Maybe you'll find a new special someone who'll become her mother- who puts an end to her yearning.” His words are meant encouragingly, but Sehun is only focusing on the heat that lingers on his shoulder where Jongdae's hand rested only a moment ago.
“Yea, maybe,” Sehun murmurs distractedly, completely focused on their closeness. He doesn't even think as he reaches out and swipes his thumb over Jongdae's prominent cheek bones, wiping away some dough that had been bothering him since before they sat down. Sehun simply licks the offending treat off of his thumb as if it were Sarang in front of him and not her (unexpectedly and admittedly) hot preschool teacher.
There’s a pause, an awkward silence that follows Sehun’s action before his eyes widen and he stumbles backwards, head spinning and legs tangling.
“I-I'm sorry,” He coughs out. “Your face was covered in dough, and I just-” He congratulates himself for being completely off his game and ruining even the tiniest chance to ask Jongdae out. Sehun wishes he could hide in the deepest, blackest hole when Jongdae again breaks into a fit of laughter, supporting his weight by bending forward and clutching his knees.
“You are a special cookie, aren't you Mister Oh?”
“Just Sehun is fine,” Sehun corrects weakly. It leaves his lips sounding more like a quiet demand than a request, and Sehun receives a nod and brilliant smile in return from Jongdae. The teacher’s eyes crinkle into beautiful crescents.
“Lucky for you, I like weird. So come on, let's check on your daughter.” Jongdae simply takes one of Sehun's hands and marches out of the office, all but dragging Sehun behind him.
Love at first sight doesn't exist Sehun. You have a daughter - think rationally! Sehun's mind tries to reason as he stumbles after the preschool teacher, but then his gaze falls onto Jongdae's swaying behind in the skinniest jeans one could possibly fit in and, oh. Well. Sehun swallows hard, cursing inwardly. Those jeans cannot possibly adhere to the dress code!
Suddenly, Sehun isn’t thinking as a rational man anymore. It’s some sort of animalistic instinct that has him stopping in the middle of the hallway, forcing Jongdae to turn and look at him.
“You wouldn't happen to have time for a drink tonight?” Sehun says, and Jongdae stops abruptly, slim body angling to meet Sehun's gaze with an amused grin.
“I’m not sure here or now is the most appropriate place for that. And you hardly know me.” The reply has Sehun's shoulder slumping visibly, but then there is a loud squeal. A second later a small body barrels into Sehun, arms wrapping around his legs, and Sehun smiles at Sarang's flour covered face.
“Hello, baby doll,” he greets her, crouching down to lift her up into his arms, pecking her cheek. Sarang copies him, pressing her own sticky lips to her dad’s cheek gleefully.
“I made heart cookies,” she announces proudly and points in the direction of what Sehun assumes is the kitchen. “You have to try them!” she adds quickly, flailing her legs to signal for Sehun to put her down. He does so carefully, setting her back on the floor and allowing her to tug him to the kitchen by his black coat.
It's a small kitchen, decorated with drawings by the kids, and Sehun has problems sitting on the tiny, child sized chair like Sarang has commanded him to while she proudly shows her good-looking dad to her classmates.
Within seconds, Sehun finds himself surrounded by a crowd of three boys and four girls who all try to feed him with their self-made cookies, and Sehun silently groans about the amount of sugar that’s being shoved down his throat even as he plays along, smiling brightly and goofing around with the excited bunch.
~*~
Sarang is quietly standing next to Jongdae, lacing their hands together and tugging. Jongdae look down at her quizzically. The little girl tip toes, motioning for her teacher to crouch down and Jongdae obliges, letting her rest one hand over his ear as she whispers to him.
“He is a nice dad,” she tells him, tickling his ear. “You should marry him.” Jongdae chuckles at her cuteness. Jongdae loves Sarang. He can’t lie to himself. Out of all the children in his class, she is his favorite with her good manners and her kind heart. Now that Jongdae met her dad, Sehun, he knows exactly who she is taking after, and he finds himself equally smitten with him.
It's rather funny how all Jongdae had been worrying about this morning were his broken pipes back home, but he is currently more concerned with his thundering heart beat in his chest at the sight of Sehun feeding a star-shaped cooking to Minah whose pigtails sway softly as she crunches on the treat.
He thinks back, remembers the gentle and undeniably in love way Sehun treats his daughter. He thinks about the man’s body line, how he easily stands a head over him, and mentally smacks himself for thinking it while Sehun’s daughter is right next to him.
Jongdae feels his fingers brushing through Sarang's soft hair. He glances down to see her pushing her small head against his stomach, and Jongdae wishes he could indeed be her mother, to fill the spot that has been left open within her golden heart. He wonders if there is a space there for him to claim as his own?
~*~
Sehun playfully wrestles with a boy named Jimin, grabbing him by his waist and spinning him around. The boy spreads his short arms like an airplane, pretending to be one by adding the accurate sound effects with his mouth.
There is a soft chuckle behind him, and then there are hands squeezing his broad shoulders.
“Looks like the kids adore you more than me,” Jongdae says. “But put little Jimin here down, or you'll upset his stomach.” Jongdae's breath is warm where it ghosts over his cheek, and Sehun obliges, letting Jimin run back to the other's while Sehun remembers that he is actually not a preschool teacher but here to pick up Sarang.
“Wouldn't want to steal your job, Jongdae.” With a burst of confidence, a playful smirk builds on Sehun's lips, and he feels a small victory rising inside of him as Jongdae's cheeks color in a faint pink.
“No flirting in front of the kids,” comes a snarky comment from the side, and Sehun glances over to see the guy from earlier walk in - Baekhyun if Sehun remembers correctly. Baekhyun gives Sehun an unfazed once over. “You don't happen to be able to fix pipes, do you Mr. Oh?”
“Baekhyun!” Jongdae squeaks loudly before shoving a broom into his coworkers hand and ushering him outside to 'clean the bathroom or something'. Instead, Baekhyun calls for the kids to follow him to the washroom to clean their hands and cheeks. When Jongdae returns to stand in front of Sehun, his face is flushed, and Sehun laughs lightly.
“So, your pipes are broken?” Sehun bites his bottom lip, trying to fight the laughter that is bubbling up in his throat while Jongdae shoots him a warning glare.
“Yes, and my heater. So if you don't mind, spare me the malicious glee.” Jongdae runs his fingers through his brown hair, and Sehun's heart speeds up. Since Baekhyun left with the kids, they’re alone, and nervousness turns Sehun’s stomach again.
“I apologize,” Sehun says, earnest. “Let me try again. Do you want to join Sarang and me for dinner tonight?” Sehun leans against the wall as he watches Jongdae shift from one leg onto the other, visibly conflicted by the kind offer,
“Do you always take people home whom you’ve just met?” Jongdae counters, but his eyes reflect concern like he has been hurt before and Sehun finds himself shaking his head.
“No, only cute preschool teachers that my daughter picks out for me,” he returns. “She's got good taste.” His chest is ridden of the weight and his stomach unknots as Jongdae's smile reaches his eyes genuinely.
“I hope you know how to cook,” he says. He smiles. “I'm rather picky.”
Sehun simply waves that snarky remark of and let's it slide into his brain, information saved for later. He can’t stop himself from returning Jongdae’s smile as he realizes he has succeeded in talking Jongdae into coming over tonight even if it's just for a free dinner and to escape a cold apartment.
Sehun never imagined, as he made his plans earlier in the morning and left with Sarang, that he’d finally have the opportunity to set the table for three instead of just two.
Baekhyun turns out to be quite alright, even agreeing to lock up and stay behind until the last parent shows up to pick up their 'little beast', as he put it while pinching Jimin’s cheek and wincing when the kid kicks his teacher’s shin in return. Despite Jongdae’s concern, a howling, limping Baekhyun all but forces Jongdae to leave along with Sehun and Sarang even though his shift hasn’t officially ended yet and that, as the owner of this preschool, he is supposed to be the last to leave.
To say that Sarang is happy would be an understatement. She spends the car ride singing along to some random love song on the radio, and Sehun wonders how she even knows this song until he hears Jongdae harmonize with her. He thinks love might be waiting to hit him like an oncoming train.
When they arrive, Sehun, like a gentleman, opens the door for both his bouncy daughter and Jongdae who smiles warmly at him.
It's a little awkward at first with Jongdae standing in the middle of their tiny kitchen while Sehun chops vegetables and Sarang runs around the table full of energy, but eventually, Sarang seems to sense the tension and drags Jongdae to the cupboard, asking him to help her set the table. The two of them do just that while Sehun starts frying the meat inside the pan.
“Thanks for inviting me over.” Sehun almost jumps out of his skin when Jongdae's head suddenly pops up next to him, but he catches himself quickly.
“I'm glad you agreed, since you hardly even know me,” he confesses before adding some salt and pepper to the sizzling meat on the stove.
“I know your daughter,” Jongdae promptly answers, but when he sees Sehun's confused expression he continues. “And you were kind of cute standing shyly in my office, so I didn't think of you as a threat.”
Sehun gently elbows Jongdae's side, and the other squeaks in surprise before covering his mouth in shock over the high pitched sound he has just made which had Sarang giggling delightfully in her seat.
“Are you laughing at your teacher?” Jongdae surges forward and tickles her sides, which has her little frame twist and turn on top of her chair, trying to get away without much success.
Sehun watches them attentively, wondering why he doesn't feel jealous. Shouldn’t he find it strange or uncomfortable to watch his daughter showing affection towards someone who isn’t him? Instead, everything feels gentle and right, like Sehun has known Jongdae for much longer.
As they sit and eat dinner together, Sehun quietly listens to Jongdae's cheerful chatter about how he became a preschool teacher, about his adoration for children, and about his passion for teaching them how to sing and to be themselves in this 'dangerous' world.
Sehun could definitely get used to hearing Jongdae and Sarang bicker together over the tiniest things such as why Sarang should eat her carrots and not only the meat. He could get used to Jongdae wiping tomato sauce off of Sarang's chin with a napkin while telling her to be careful not to stain her pretty dress.
Yes, Sehun could definitely get used of having the cute preschool teacher around more often.
It's getting late, and Sarang is almost falling asleep while sitting on her chair, eyelids fluttering shut and head swaying dangerously. Sehun rises and gathers her into his arms. Sarang doesn't say anything, closing her eyes and letting her father carry her into her bedroom with Jongdae trailing behind them. Jongdae helps her remove her clothes while Sehun shifts the covers back and hands Jongdae her pink pajamas before tucking her under the blanket with her fluffy bunny plushie.
Sehun leans down and plants a kiss on her soft forehead and walks over to the door frame where Jongdae is watching him enviously but Sarang's little hand reaches out for him and Sehun’s chest swells with adoration when Jongdae hesitantly walks up to her to let her hug him and press a kiss to his cheek,
“Night night, mummy,” she whispers, and Sehun just thinks the image will be forever etched in his memory. Jongdae blushes, again, before stumbling back nervously looking back and forth between Sehun and Sarang, but Sehun just leads him out of her bedroom and turns of the light after wishing his daughter a good night and sweet dreams.
“It's alright,” he begins as Jongdae shies away from his gaze. “You are kind of cute, so I'll forgive you for stealing my little princess's heart so easily.” That seems to put Jongdae at ease, and he sits down next to Sehun on the brown, leather couch.
“She is adorable and lucky to have such a caring dad by her side,” Jongdae admits as he takes a sip of his water, and Sehun studies him intensely.
Jongdae meets his gaze, and they hold eye contact for crazy moment in which time seems to have stopped. They both lose themselves in countless thoughts of what if? and this is crazy! Jongdae rises to his feet a little bit too fast, swaying, suddenly unstable, as a consequence.
Sehun is on his feet within seconds, steadying Jongdae with a firm grip on his hip and breathing in Jongdae's alluring cologne. They stay frozen, both taken aback by the sparks that the small touch has triggered inside of them.
“I- I should go. I have to be at work tomorrow.” Jongdae is cute when he loses his superior aura and turns into a stuttering boy, Sehun thinks as he reluctantly lets go of the other.
“Yes, my shift starts early as well.” Sehun rubs his neck regretfully and helps Jongdae into his warm winter coat, taking his own navy scarf and wrapping it around Jongdae’s exposed neck.
“I can’t have you catch a cold,” he explains. “Sarang will kill me if her favorite preschool teacher falls sick because of me.” Jongdae tightens the wool scarf around his neck, ducking his head down. It’s too late though; Sehun has already seen the blush on his cheeks.
They stand face to face, and maybe it's the heat of the moment or all the chemistry between them which they ignored all evening, but Sehun’s self control falters, and he pulls the scarf out of the way to close the last distance between them and gently press his lips to Jongdae's soft ones.
Sehun's heart beat is ringing loudly in his ears, but all doubt comes to a halt when Jongdae's hands tangle in his hair and he tip toes for more, tongue swiping over Sehun's bottom lip. Hot breath tickles Sehun's cheek, and steps forwards until Jongdae's back is pressed against the door. Sehun swallows a small groan, sucking Jongdae's tongue into his mouth and allowing him to mess up his hair.
They don't let go of each other until they need to fill their lungs with fresh air, both panting heavily.
Sehun is the first to break the silence, gazing at Jongdae through hooded eyes before gently lacing one hand with Jongdae's and pecking the back of it fondly. “I'll see you tomorrow then?” He asks cheekily, and Jongdae just rolls his eyes before wrapping his arms around Sehun's neck and planting another kiss on his lips.
“We'll see,” is all he leaves Sehun with before he shuts the door behind himself, and Sehun already fears that it will stay just like that. To his surprise, only an hour later he receives a text.
Do you think I'd make a cute mum?
Sehun can't stop the knowing grin that spreads all over his face as he types his reply.
Definitely. That means you can wear cute aprons for me whenever you come over from now on.
Sehun comes back from the bathroom and sees the little green light blinking up at him from his phone. He quickly unlocks his phone to read Jongdae's message.
Don't push your luck. I expect to be wooed like a real lady.
Sehun laughs at the funky icons that follow, but he ends up replying with a simple note of his own.
I'll pick both of you up after work tomorrow, and then take you out for dinner.
He receives a thumbs up emoticon in reply, and he questions Jongdae’s mental age. Then again Jongdae is a preschool teacher, and as Sarang herself has taught Sehun, age is just “stupid number.” Sehun thinks that maybe- just maybe- one is never too old for butterflies in their stomach.
~*~
Jongdae is worth the butterflies and inner conflicts Sehun struggles with, he discovers. He watches Jongdae cradle Sarang in his arms a few months later, smiling to himself at the memories.
It took Sehun two bouquets of red roses, two cheesy movie dates, and a kiss in front of a startled looking Baekhyun to have Jongdae agree to officially become his boyfriend. It took a few more dinners and surprise coffee dates for them to reach this point: happily in love and living together.
Sehun only regrets that he hadn’t gone in to seek advice from Sarang’s preschool teacher earlier.
The sight of Sarang in Jongdae’s lap being lulled to sleep by her papa’s gentle voice has already claimed a special place inside Sehun’s heart along with the memory of convincing her that Jongdae could not be her mum, but he could be a myriad of other decidedly masculine titles.
Sehun finishes the dishes, wiping some foam off his cheek before quietly taking the seat next to Jongdae, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. His boyfriend beams up at him.
“She just fell asleep,” Jongdae mouths to him, and Sehun is careful when he takes her from Jongdae and carries her to her room.
When he returns, he finds Jongdae spread over his couch, mischievously peeking up at him.
“Will you reward me with a massage?” Jongdae almost purrs, and Sehun's body is suddenly feeling a little bit too on edge as he pulls Jongdae into his lap instead and kisses him slowly, chests pressed together. and with Jongdae panting against his lips.
“Take your clothes off.” His voice is low, and he feels Jongdae shiver on top of him. Sehun slides his hands up Jongdae’s thighs, making his boyfriend release a whine in the back of his throat. Jongdae enjoys teasing him, fingers slowly falling to the hem of his shirt, about to unbutton his pants and abandon his shirt when suddenly loud footsteps echo from the wall and a scandalized, “Daddy! What are you doing to papa?!” knocks both of them off the couch in shock.
Jongdae is the first to gather himself, jumping to his feet but not without hissing at the icy cold of the tiles under his bare feet, cheeks burning as he rushes over to a pouty Sarang and heaves her up into his arms.
“Nothing baby doll,” he assures her. “Your daddy was just, um - showing me how much he loves me.”
“Loves you?” Sarang asks suspiciously and blinks at Sehun as he comes up to stand behind Jongdae.
“Yes pumpkin,” he agrees. “I'm sorry for startling you. Let's go back to bed, okay?”
Sarang nods but not before giving both of them a very judgmental look that Sehun, in his panic, interprets to mean she is perfectly aware of what both of their 'daddies' had been up to. She doesn’t say anything however, and Sehun enjoys the stillness of being with her and Jongdae as both men rub soothing circles on her back and brush through Sarang’s hair until the little girl drifts off to sleep.
About thirty minutes later finds Sehun back on the leather couch with Jongdae's head in his lap and his fingers stroking through brown locks. Jongdae grabs his hand and presses a kiss to his palm. They really ought to head to bed soon, Sehun thinks, looking at the clock.
“What do we do if she starts asking for a sibling soon?” Jongdae groans suddenly, and Sehun laughs wholeheartedly at that before he has an idea and abruptly gets up. He simply throws a bewildered looking Jongdae over his shoulder and marches off to their bedroom.
“We’d better go practice then, just in case she asks us if we've been even trying.” It's the dead serious sound of Sehun's voice that has Jongdae giggle and slap his hand against Sehun's butt from where he is dangling over his shoulder head first.
“Why am I dating you again?” He jests as Sehun gently lowers him onto their bed, crawling over him and leaning in so that their lips are ghosting over each other.
“Because,” Sehun states. “I'm a weird formerly single dad, but you love weird, so you love me.” Sehun seals their lips together, and Jongdae just hums in agreement before pulling the covers over the two of them for some private practising.
~The End~