If Only Baby Comes From Stork
Title: If Only Baby Comes From Stork
Author: pseudo_shigure
Pairing: Hyukjae/Donghae
Word Count: 7,811
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Disclaimer: na-ah, not mine
Summary: Donghae bit his lower lip and seemed unsure. "I met someone."
Notes: Series Masterlist
“You said you’re gonna be home earlier!!” accused Hyukjae from where he was sprawling on the couch when he heard the front door opened. He knew it was more fitting for the other man to pout, but he just couldn’t help it.
Donghae said he’d be home before Hyukjae and would buy their dinner. But he was half an hour late and Hyukjae was damn hungry. All those dancing burned calories, you know.
“I’m sorry,” the brunette man answered, peeking his head on the door way with childish grin, before running to the kitchen.
“Oh my god, Hae! Don’t tell me you forgot to buy the dinner!”
Hyukjae heard strings of apologies from the other man, and reassurance that he wouldn’t need to do anything because he would be the one who order their dinner and all Hyukjae needed to do was to relax.
“I’m sorry,” said Donghae once again as he sat down on the edge of the couch where Hyukjae was lying on. He pecked the older man’s cheek to calm him down. Hyukjae was trying to still look mad, but failing as Donghae noticed the slight tug on his lips after he pecked him.
“What now? What last minute amazing discovery that you found that makes you late to come home and forget about our dinner?”Hyukjae asked with an amused smile. His hand held Donghae's in his. He didn't always understand what the other was explaining, but he loved to watch Donghae talked about his work in great details and with such passion.
But instead of the light in his eyes, Hyukjae saw hesitance. Donghae bit his lower lip and seemed unsure. "I met someone."
Hyukjae stunned for a moment before he repeated, "You met someone," and he suddenly sat up straight.
"Yeah." Donghae was puzzled by Hyukjae reaction. "I met... someone..." And the realization hit him, "Oh God, Hyukjae, not like that!" he exclaimed defensively.
"Well you started off with 'I met someone' and you look unsure..."
"How could you think I cheat on you? That's silly..."
"...so how should I know."
"You're such a drama queen."
"Okay, I'm sorry, I shouldn’t have doubt you. But I'm not a drama queen." Donghae only rolled his eyes. "So who did you meet?"
"So I was walking home and... Do you know that like 5 blocks from here there's an orphanage?"
"What are you doing walking 5 blocks to home? The bus stop isn't that far away."
"Since I got off work earlier I just thought I would enjoy the afternoon. Anyway, answer my question."
"No, I don't know."
"Well, there's one there. And when I passed it, suddenly there's a ball stopping on my feet. And a kid from behind the gate, asked me to pick it up. His name is Andy. And he's so very cute."
At this point Donghae's eyes were already so big and Hyukjae just knew where this was going.
"No," he said before Donghae could finish his story."
"No, what?"
"You have this look whenever you beg me to let you pick up a cute puppy or kitten from the street."
"We're not talking about a pet."
"All the more reason for me to say no."
Donghae's pout wasn't a surprise for Hyukjae. Nor did the way he suddenly distance himself from Hyukjae.
"I want a kid, Hyukjae. I want that kid."
"But-."
"You don't trust me. You think I'm not capable to take care a child."
"I didn't say that."
"But you're thinking it," he acused and knew he wasn't wrong. "And don't use excuses like we're not financially stable, because I know we are." the pout on his lips was only getting even pronounce by each words.
Hyukjae sighed and slumped back against the back of the couch. There went his excuse to object Donghae.
"Okay," he started, "Then what about me?"
"You don't want a child?" Now Donghae was getting seriously worry that Hyukjae's answer would be a "no".
"I don't... know. I've never think about that."
"We've been married for almost five years..."
"Yes. And I thought we would have one in our thirties. Or even forties maybe. But not now."
Donghae huffed and slumped back next to Hyukjae. "Fine. I won't force you to do this. But just promise me you'll think about it."
"Okay," Hyukjae answere with a reassuring smile. He pulled Donghae closer and held him from the back to calm him down.
"Like, seriously thinking about it."
"Yes. Promise."
***
"I don't know. He's Asian, but the head of the orphanage doesn't know exactly from what country. I mean, he might be Korean."
Hyukjae heard Donghae talked on the phone with his mother, Hyukjae's mother, as he prepared to go to bed. He would've remind them that it'd be cost free to talk over Skype, but knowing that his mom even only had a cellphone a few years ago, he decided it'd be useless.
"Still thinking about it," Donghae said after a long pause, and with a glance to Hyukjae's direction.
And Hyukjae just knew they were talking about him. He rolled his eyes and padded across the room, to his side of bed. After slipping under the cover, he half hugged Donghae and talked to the receiver.
“Mom, can you let us sleep now? It's really late here."
He heard his mother nagging voice and Donghae was grinning at him listening to what she says.
"She's scolding you," he whispered.
"Figured."
After minutes of what Hyukjae sured was words of advice-“Don't tire yourself”, “Don't forget to eat”, “Call home regularly”, Donghae finally hung up the phone and snuggled against Hyukjae side.
"I'm just glad she's the one who call us this time." Hyukjae said through his yawn.
"Hyukjae," Donghae cupped his lover's jaw, as talking to a naughty yet very cute kid. "You're a studio owner now, all thanks to the money your father let us to borrow. I think we could afford a long distance call evey once in a while."
"Doesn't mean every once a week." The older man swatted away Donghae's hand from his face.
Donghae only shrugged. "Mom said you need to stop to overthink everything."
Hyukjae knew what this was about. And he wanted to say that he couldn't just change his mind and decided to adopt a kid in only a few days. Bur he knew it'd lead to an argument. And he didn't want to have one. So he just shut his mouth and turned away.
"What?"
He should've known it wouldn't go unnoticed by Donghae.
"Nothing," he replied shortly, thumb pushing the silver band on his ring finger around.
"Don't lie to me. I know when there's something on your mind."
"We'll talk about it in the morning."
"I'll forget by then. What?"
"Just sleep, Hae."
"You know I won't stop until you tell me."
With a groan, Hyukjae turned to face the other man. "Look, I don't want to have an argument, okay."
"We're arguing already."
"So just drop it."
"No. You're thinking about something that could cause us fighting. And I want to know what it is. Let's talk about it."
Their voice rose by each words, face reddened by the bubbling emotion inside.
"Listen, I said I need more time to think about the whole adoption thing, right?"
"And I did that. Am doing it."
"But you bring that up whenever you got the chance to."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. You just did it. You said I should stop to overthink everything."
"I-" Donghae started. Everything was getting out of hand. And he was too tired to argue. So he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, maybe I did it without even meaning to. And I'm sorry. I'm not going to talk about it again."
This time Donghae was the one who turned away. And Hyukjae was left with sleepless night.
***
Donghae kept his promise and didn't talk about the matter. Or talked at all to Hyukjae, really. It had been days and all Hyukjae got was nothing more than the necessaries-"Breakfast's ready", "I'll be home late", or a yes, a hmm, or a no. And he hated it. He also hated to go to bed alone and wake up in the middle of the night to find the other side of the bed was empty. And he hated that they moved to a bigger apartment with a study room for Donghae to hole himself in.
Irritatedly, he kicked away his cover and walked acroos the hall to where he knew his mate was. The door to the room was opened and the light was on. Hyukjae leaned against the door frame and watched the other man working for a moment. Donghae glanced up from his laptop, before averted his gaze back to the LCD monitor.
"Hey, are you going to sleep on the bed tonight? Or..." Hyukjae eyed the couch on the side of the room, where he could find blanket and cushions that Donghae'd been using all those nights he spent sleeping there.
The younger man shrugged. "I have some work to do."
"Is it due tomorrow?" Hyukjae braved himself to step inside the room and set on the chair across from Donghae.
"No."
"So you're just avoiding me."
Once again, Donghae glanced up from his laptop, but didn't say anything.
"Okay, look. I admit I was being a jerk for not letting you to talk about something that's really important to you. And I'm sorry, okay." Donghae still didn't talk, but Hyukjae knew he had his full attention now. "Can we just..." Hyukjae reached across the desk to run the tip of his fingers along Donghae’s, tracing lines along the other man's wedding ring, "Can we just make up. Please."
“Fine,” Donghae replied after a while.
Hyukjae’s smile was so bright when he walked around the desk to kneel in front of Donghae’s chair and held him by his waist. “Come to the bed with me?”
“Ermmm… I don’t know. I mean my work is…” But by the faint pink on his cheeks, Hyukjae knew he was just acting difficult.
“Come to the bed with me?” asked Hyukjae once again, with much huskier voice this time, and string of butterfly kisses along the underside of Donghae’s jaws. “Please?” Hyukjae nuzzled the other man’s Adam’s apple for a good measure.
And his answer came in a soft sigh that marked an end of resistance.
***
Donghae sighed again before rolled around on the couch in living room. The TV was on, volume almost reached maximum to drown out the noise from outside.
He reached for his phone and pressed the first speed dial on it. But when it wasn't picked up, he whined.
"Lee Hyukjae, where are you!" he groaned against the soft cushion. And as if on cue, the thunder roared outside, making him whimper pathetically and and hide his head under the cushion. "Hyukkie."
"Hae!"
He heard his name being called out, followed by a closing of the front door and hurried steps into the apartment. Donghae immediately got up and and rushed to the hall.
"Hyukkie, you're completely soaked." He starred at the other man who was shaking droplets of water from his dyed red hair. "Why do you walk home under a thunder storm, you silly?" he asked before dragging Hyukjae to bathroom.
"Obviously because I know there's a certain someone who's afraid to be alone during thunderstorm."
"Not afraid. Just hate it."
"Whatever."
"Yeah, whatever. Now get in there and take a hot shower before you get sick. I'll make something warm for you." He was tiptoeing a bit to kiss the other man's lips. "God, you're freezing."
Donghae left Hyukjae to take his shower while he went to the kitche to fix Hyukjae with a simple soup and a cup of tea for himself. He chopped and put every vegetable he could find into the broth he cooked on the stove.
He was just standing against the counter when a pair of stromg arms wrapped around his waist, surprising him.
"Hey," Hyukjae whispered huskily into his ears, sending shivers along his spine and blood rushing downright. Hyukjae's damp hair stuck against Donghae's cheek. But he felt so warm and smelled soapy fresh. Hyukjae sent kisses down Donghae's neck. His hand slipped into his shirt, finger traced circles around his navel.
"Don't start," protested Donghae, tried to free himself, although his lips was smiling. "The soup's ready. And you need to eat."
"Can I just eat you up instead?"
"Later maybe. If you behave."
Hyukjae only groaned, but he picked up two bowls and gave it to Donghae anyway.
After they were properly tucked under the blanket on the couch, with their empty bowls and cups put down on the table, Hyukjae snuggled closer against Donghae's neck, inhaling his scent. They were lying on their sides, Hyukjae was behind Donghae, half watching the TV.
"Did I tell you I got a job offer?" Donghae asked, "I think I'll take it."
"Another reaserch job? Teaching job?" asked Hyukjae against his lover's shoulder.
"No. At the SeaWorld actually. They need like an in house researcher for the marine section."
Hyukjae pulled away slightly. He propped his head with his hand so he could see Donghae properly.
"Why do you want to take it? Isn't it going to limit what you want to study?"
"Well, a bit." Donghae shrugged. "But I can live with it."
"But it's not what you want, Hae."
"Please don't tell me what I want or don't want," the younger man said seriously.
"No, I just thought you want to be a real marine biology researcher."
"Working at the SeaWorld doesn't make it any less of a researcher."
"I know, but it's not your dream."
"Well apparently my dream has changed." He looked intently into Hyukjae's eyes. "Listen, I don't want to spend months, or even year, out in the sea, somewhere far from home, okay. I want to come home to my family every night."
"Is it because of me?" Hyukjae asked, worry was obvious in his eyes. "Is it because I left my carrier in Korea and you feel like you have to make it up to me?"
"No. I mean, I wouldn't think twice if right now you told me that we have to move to another city. Of course I would follow you too. But it's just..." Donghae shrugged. "Now, instead of only doing what I want, I also have you and Andy in my dream. So I know I have to find a middle ground where I can have all those things."
Hyukjae was quiet. He only stared at his lover with a frown, which was disheartening for Donghae.
"Say something," Donghae prompted.
"Just... Wow." Hyukjae finally said. "I'm surprised. You're so serious about this."
"About having a family? Well, of course I do, Hyuk."
"It's not a negative respond. I'm just surprised. I thought you just said you want to have a kid without giving much thought about it."
"No, I'm serious. So you better be too." And Hyukjae looked away. "Hyukkie," Donghae started to whine, "You've promised you would."
"I know." Hyukjae smiled, half embarrassed because he had slightly disregard the other man and thought that it was just another of his whim. "I'm seriously thinking about it, okay." He pecked Donghae's lips. "Why did you get home so early today?" Hyukjae tried to change the subject. "I thought I could be home before you, so you wouldn't have to be alone when the storm came."
"My schedule was done before lunch. So I had my lunch at the orphanage. And played with Andy until the sky started to get too dark." How Donghae's face suddenly lit up was impossible to miss. "I swear he's the smartest kid I know."
"He's the only kid you know."
"Details," protested Donghae. "Ever since I told him I study, you know, fish and stuff, he always gives me trivias about see creature. Like today, we were playing as two defenders of the Earth, saving the world from alien invasion..." Hyukjae couldn't help to laugh, but unsurprised. "...and just out of the blue he told me, 'do you know that the biggest creature living in an ocean is not a fish?' I mean, at his age I still thought that whale is a fish, so I wouldn't know. I don't even know from where he learns that. I think we should buy him more books. Right, Hyukkie?"
"Can he even read?"
"I suppose. Well, I can teach him anyway."
"Hmm."
"Wow. I'm blinded by your enthusiasm, Hyuk," Donghae remarked sarcasticaly.
"I'm sorry," Hyukjae laughed, a bit bitterly. "What else did you two do today?"
"Just..." Donghae shrugged. "Ugh. Why can't you just pretend like you care about this? Even just a bit?"
"Wh-wh... It's not like I told you to stop talking about him. I listen to your stories, okay. Every single day."
Well, Hyukjae obviously did. But it wasn’t enough. If Hyukjae did seriously want this to work, then Donghae just wished he would at least try to get to know the boy. Hyukjae always had excuses whenever Donghae ask him to go to the orphanage.
Seeing the tension evident from Donghae, Hyukjae decided to let the other man to cool himself down. He wasn't sure he could keep his own temper checked if he stayed there any longer.
"I still have to work on my choreography." He reluctantly slipped out from under the blanket. He usually did some dancing in their bedroom when he felt like it. They had some space and a pretty big mirror there. "It's for next week, so..." He shrugged and stood up.
"Next week?" Donghae suddenly perked up. "Is it still the same one you've been working since last month?" Hyukjae nodded. "You don't usually take this long to finish a routine. What's wrong?"
Hyukjae paused before answering. "I don't know." He finally said. "It just never felt quite finished."
He looked completely lost in Donghae's eyes that Donghae didn't have the heart but to pull him back down to sit next to him.
"How long have you been stuck with this?" Donghae asked. His index finger mindlessly twirling Hyukjae's crimson lock. His earlier tension suddenly gone.
"Few weeks."
"Why you didn't say anything?" Now that he thought about it, Hyukjae did look a bit occupied every now and then lately. "I know this is important to you."
"Well, you're..." Hyukjae took a glance at the other man. "...busy." For lack of better word, he thought.
"I will always have the time for you, Hyukkie."
"Yeah, but you have other things in mind. I don't want to bother you."
"You mean Andy?" Hyukjae only gave him a look, not annoyed or mad, just pointed it out. "I- Hyukkie, are you sulking because I give more attention to him?"
"I'm not sulking." Hyukjae answered defensively.
"Are you seriously jealous of him?"
"I'm not-."
"Aww. So cute." Donghae squished Hyukjae's cheeks playfuly.
"Bu-." He stopped, seeing no point in arguing. "Fine. I'm jealous of a six years old kid." He admitted in defeat.
Donghae chuckled. He threw his arms around the older man's body and pulled him close.
"Maybe you're right." He whispered. "Maybe we're not ready for a kid."
***
"Donghae!!"
The second Donghae stepped into the orphanage little lawn, a kid ran and jumped to hug his leg.
"Andy!!" Donghae bent over to pick up the kid, even though he was a quiet heavy 6 years old kid.
"You didn't come yesterday," said the boy with a pout.
"I know. I'm sorry. I was busy with my work all day. And Hyukjae had a show last night. So I couldn't come." The pout Donghae was showing could rival with the kid's.
"Hmm that's okay. You can take a break from visiting me every... Um... Once a month?"
Donghae chuckled and laid a peck on Andy's cheek. "I wouldn't miss visiting you if I can, baby. Tell me about your day yesterday."
"My tummy hurted yesterday."
"Why?" asked Donghae slightly shocked. He carried the boy to sit on one of the benches on the small front lawn.
"I ate too much cake because we had a party."
"But the party must be so fun, rigt?"
"Kinda," Andy shrugged, "It's a goodbye party though. So a few girls are crying."
"Someone's leaving?"
"Yeah. She has new family now. We're happy for her. But I think some of the kids are jealous."
It dawned then on Donghae, that this was an orphanage. Kids got adopted. It might not happened everyday, but it still could happen. And it'd be best for Andy to get a family sooner too. But he knew, he didn't want to have to force himself to be happy for Andy if the kid got adopted by another family.
***
"Hey." Hyukjae greeted his lover when the other man stepped into the living room. "How's your day?"
"Have you made your decision?" asked Donghae stiffly.
Hyukjae raised his eyebrow. He was asking nicely, there was no need for Donghae to be so rude and ignore his question.
"Well, my day's been great. Thanks for asking," Hyukjae replied sarcastically.
"Hyukjae," Donghae said desperately and plopped down on the couch next to the other man. "Answer it." He demanded.
"We just talked about it a week ago. And you know my answer."
"It's been months, Hyukkie! How much longer do you need to think about this?"
"Hell! I don't know, Hae!"
"Are you even seriously thinking about it?"
"I am!"
"Then I don't understand what you still worry about!"
"Everything!"
"What!? Tell me what, Hyuk!"
"Okay, first," Hyukjae raised a finger, "I don't know if I can love him like my own child or not. Second," He raised another digit, "I'm not sure I'm a good enough person to be an example for him. Third, I don't think I'm ready to raise another human being. And do a decent job at it." He showed his three fingers to Donghae. "How many more reasons do you need?!"
Donghae slumped against the back of the couch. His breath was shaky. "You haven't even tried it," he whispered, and ran his hand against his face.
"You want me to experiment on this kid's life?"
"Well, then how else do you want to do this?! Do you want take a course on how to be a good parents first? 'Cause I don't think there's any." Donghae's voice was getting more unstable, eyes brimming with tears. His head hurt. He tried to massage his temples, but it only made his tears to flow down his cheeks.
"What's wrong with you?" Hyukjae asked, sounding desperate. He took Donghae's hand away from his face.
"Hyukjae, it's an orphanage," Donghae sobbed. "Kids got adopted. They're supposed to be adopted. And it'd be good for them." Each word turned Donghae's cry uncontrollable to the point of bawling. "But if someone adopted Andy before you can even made up your mind, I swear, I'll... I will..."
Donghae couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence, but Hyukjae had a good guess that it was something along the line of 'Hate you forever'.
"Hae." Hyukjae called softly.
He probably should felt angry that Donghae could even think like that. Hated him just because of a kid he only knew a few months ago. But Donghae looked so broken. And Hyukjae's first instinct was to pull him close and hold him instead.
The gentle act only made Donghae cry harder. "Oh God, Hyukjae.” The younger man wept against Hyukjae's shirt. Donghae felt stupid and awful that he could think of hating Hyukjae, when the only thing Hyukjae knew was to love him. “I'm sorry." He sobbed. “I’m sorry.”
***
The past few days were rough for the two of them. Donghae felt guilty, but on the other hand, he wanted to have the kid so bad that he wouldn't just back down about it. He subconsciously kept a distance from Hyukjae. And Hyukjae noticed it. And he was tired that they keep fighting about it.
Hyukjae huffed. "The things I do for you, Hae," he grumbled to himself before pushing open the gate.
He stepped into the small lawn. There were kids everywhere. But there was one Asian kid on the corner who played by himself, kicking a ball against the wall. He turned around as he heard the front gate clanked as it opened by the red haired. Hyukjae watched the kid gasped and his black eyes widened as he saw him.
The kid ran up to him. "Hyukjae!" he shouted, pointing his index finger at the man. "The red ranger!"
Hyukjae chuckled to himself. Yes, this was Donghae's kid alright.
"Hi." He crouched down to the kid's level. "You must be Andy."
But the kid didn't seem to be listening to him. He was mesmerized by his hair instead.
"Your hair is really red! Awesome!" He jumped up and down.
"And so I'm the red ranger?"
"Donghae said so. Besides, he said you always protect him and will protect me too. Uh. Where's Donghae? He still in that co.. Con..."
"Conference. He'll be back tonight."
"So he sent you to me?" The kid tilted his head as if considering. "Um... I guess you're okay too," he said with a shrug. Hyukjae chuckled. "But you have to make a vow as the Defender of the Earth first, like me and Donghae."
"Okay," Hyukjae answered to humor the kid. He led him to the steps in front of the building and sat down. "Do you always play with Donghae?"
"Sure. He's my best friend."
Hyukjae eyed their surrounding. Most of the other kids didn't seem to pay any attention to them. And the ones that did seem to be angry or jealous.
"You don't play with the other kids?" Andy shook his head. "Why?"
"Because I don't look like them."
Then Hyukjae realized, he was the only Asian there. Andy was smaller than most of them, and looked different. And suddenly he was worry for him.
"Do they do something bad to you?"
"Sometimes. They ripped the book that Donghae gave me. And I duct taped it back together. Sometimes they hide my ball." The kid shrugged. "But I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."
"Sure." Hyukjae patted his head and smiled.
Although, he still felt like he didn't want to stay there anymore. Not with the animosity he could feel in the air. The kids might only do not understand that it was okay to be different. But he just wanted to take Andy away from that place, even if only for awhile.
"Hey, can I take you somewhere else?"
"Yes." The kid nodded eagerly. "Donghae takes me out all the time. But you have to ask Ms. Johnson for permission first."
"Okay." Hyukjae stood up to get inside. "You want to come with me or..."
"You just go. I wanna put my ball in my secret fort first."
Hyukjae laughed. From Donghae's story, he knew that the "secret fort" was actually a closet at the basement that no other kids had ever come to.
"Hyukjae!" The kid called up before the red haired could enter the building. "Donghae said you're a dancer." Andy told Hyukjae as he stood at the bottom of the steps, hugging his ball that was bigger than him. "Can I see you dance then?"
"Of course." And this time he smiled wider and warmer.
***
Hyukjae spooned the fried rice he just cooked to taste it. And he cringed instantly. It wasn't burnt or bland like the last two times he attempted to cook, but it salty.
He was just trying to figure out how to fix the food when he heard the front door slammed open and an announcement of "I'm home" from Donghae.
"In the kitchen," Hyukjae told his lover.
"Hi," Donghae greeted Hyukjae once he entered the room. "You cook?" he asked, seeing the wok on the stove and how the kitched seemed used.
"Well yeah." The red haired sighed. "It's fail though. Too salty."
"What's the occasion?"
"I just want to cook." Hyukjae shrugged.
Donghae crossed his arm and stared at his lover in disbelief. "You would never cook if you can. What's going on here? Is this a peace offering? 'Cause I think," He pointedly avoided Hyukkae's gaze on him, "I'm the one at fault here."
"Not a peace offering." The dancer kissed Donghae's temple resolutely. He just really missed the other man.
"Okay." Donghae grabbed a plate and put on some of the fried rice on it. He was walking to the dinner table when Hyukjae tried to stop him.
"It's salty," he warned.
"You've cooked it." Donghae smiled and sat down. "I don't want it to get wasted."
Hyukjae followed what Donghae did, reluctantly. And he laughed when the brunette trying hard not to spit out the rice in his mouth.
"We really need to work on our cooking skill," said Hyukjae as he sat down next to Donghae. "I mean, we can't feed the kid with take-out foods all the time. That can't be healthy."
Donghae perked up suddenly. "What did you just say?"
"That can't be healthy?"
"No, before that."
"We can't feed the kid... Oh. That." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I met him today," he admitted.
"And?" Donghae bit his lower lip to hide his overflowing curiosity, excitement and bit of worry.
"He's... Okay."
"Okay." Donghae repeated.
"Well, I mean he's cute, and smart, and polite. So it's cool. And I told the head of the orphanage that we'll adopt him."
"Hyuk," Donghae warned, "don't joke with me."
"I'm not. She said there's another couple that also considering taking him, so I convinced her that we'll adopt him. She's starting to work on the paper right now, but it could take more than-."
He couldn't finish his words since Donghae already sat on his lap and kissed Hyukjae senseless. Strings of "thank you" and "I love you"s flowed from his lips between their kisses.
They pulled away slightly. Donghae's fingers were curling against Hyukjae's red locks on his nape. The lust in Hyukjae's eyes was evident, and he was sure it mirrored in his. It had been too long since the last time they had sex. Their busy schedule and constant tension in the house certainly weren't helping.
Donghae crushed their lips again. His tongue pushed into Hyukjae's mouth, stroking the other man's palate, before Hyukjae stopped him and sucked on the intruding organ. Donghae moaned into Hyukjae's mouth, and Hyukjae pulled him closer by his waist, causing their half-hard member rubbed against each others'.
The shirt Hyukjae was wearing was pushed up and thrown somewhere across the room. Donghae appreciatively kissed his way down Hyukjae's neck, shoulder blade, and his chest. His hands followed the lines of Hyukjae's defined abs. Roaming even lower, the hands found the waistband of Hyukjae's sweat pants and he pulled it down as he stood up from Hyukjae's lap and left the dancer naked.
Hyukjae groaned when he watched his lover make a show of taking off his clothes so very slowly, popping every buttons as he watched Hyukjae watching him with his alluring half lidded eyes. Hyukjae reached up to help him unbuckled his belt. But Donghae slapped his hand away and insisted that Hyukjae should just watch.
Once he was naked though, Donghae asked, "How do you want to take me?"
Hyukjae made a sound from the back of his throat, and it was feral. How that simple question turned him on completely was beyond him.
"Turn around." He twisted Donghae's body by his waist. He stood up from his chair and pulled Donghae down so he was leaning against the dinner table on his forearm. His body was slightly arching, ass high in the air and slightly parted, and all that Hyukjae wanted was to shove his dick into that red, twitching, inviting hole.
"Lube?" he asked with shuddered breath.
"Olive oil. In the cupboard above the stove."
Donghae listened to Hyukjae's steps anxiously. He heard him opening and closing the cupboard. He felt Hyukjae's warmth return on his back. The small bottle of olive oil unscrewed and finally put down next to him.
Hyukjae came closer to him. Donghae bit his lip when he felt the blunt tip of Hukjae's hardened member teasing his opening. Hyukjae's oil slicked finger trailed along his spine, and he was inevitably arching even more from the touch, whimpering. Hyukjae's other hand rested on his ass cheek, kneading it like it was a fucking dough.
"God, just fuck me," he begged.
"You'll sulk all week if you couldn't walk to campus tomorrow."
"No, I won't. Promise."
"Hm... You'll be good?" Hyukjae's whisper was low and husky that it sent shiver down his spine.
"Hyukjae," Donghae moaned, completely drown in want, "Just..." He only bucked his hips slightly upward, and Hyukjae tip slipped into him.
They both moaned. Hyukjae gripped Donghae's hip as he pushed himself ever so slowly, trying hard not to hurt Donghae even more. All that Hyukjae felt was tightness and heat, and it took all his sanity to not just thrust up hard into his lover.
The amazing thing about their sex was that they understood each other beyond verbal instruction that Hyukjae knew when Donghae was ready for his thrust, when he could pick up his pace, and how hard and deep he could fuck the other man without breaking him. And he could never break Donghae, because he knew he like it rough. He knew that slow lazy sex was for second round when they were half spent.
Hyukjae lifted one of Donghae's knees to rest it on the edge of the table so he could go deeper and hit that spot inside Donghae. Their position was obscene, and so did the noises that Donhae made when he tried to breath out the syllables of Hyukjae's name.
It always came out as, "Hyuk. Jae," initiated by the red head's hard hitting thrusts and in time with the slamming of the table against the wall. Their cutleries were clattering, threatening to fall off the dinner table. The uncapped bottle of olive oil had tipped over, with its content pouring down to the floor, from the first hard thrust Hyukjae gave to the other man.
Hyukjae reached over with his lips and bit down, hard, the mole on the left side of Donghae's neck. He hummed, satisfied, as he heard the other man's gasp. Hyukjae didn't let go of his mouth on Donghae's neck. The tilt of Donghae's head only gave him better access to bruise that patch of skin.
Donghae gripped the edge of the table that his knuckles turned white. His legs had turned into jellies that Hyukjae's hold on his waist was practically the only thing that support him. And the way Hyukjae hitting the bundle of muscle inside him, so hard and precise, tightened the coil inside him with every thrusts that when it sprung he came with choked moan and waves of what seemingly never ending blinding white pleasure flowing out of him.
Hyukjae fucked the other man's almost limp body harder. He needed to come inside this hot inviting body now. And through his orgasm induced daze, Donghae must had notice it, because he started to meet Hyukjae's thrust mindlessly, started to tighten the wall inside him to clamp Hyukjae harder.
"F-fuck, Hae!"
"Mmm..." Donghae dazedly moaned.
He dragged Hyukjae's hand from his hip to his mouth, licking the tip of his index finger before taking the whole length into his mouth. Oral fixation. Hyukjae knew how Donghae loved to have something in his mouth. Then Donghae took the middle finger and started to suck on the two digits that Hyukjae felt it was his dick that was being sucked, when he knew exactly he was buried deep inside the other end of Donghae's body.
The sensation made his face contorted in pleasure. He was so close.
"Hyukjae," Donghae murmured around Hyukjae's fingers. And all Hyukjae could sense was vibration reverberating from those fingers and down to his hardened length.
"Come inside me." And Hyukjae gave him one particularly hard thrust. "Ahh! Please, just fill me, Hyuk."
The plea made Hyukjae came with strings of, "Fuck! Fuck, Donghae, fuckfuckfuck!" He saw stars and burst inside the other man.
And the feeling of those warm, thick liquid filling his body was even enough for Donghae to spurt out whatever left inside him.
Hyukjae rode his orgasm until he was completely spent and plopped down against the back of Donghae's shoulder, breathing hard against the dampened, flushed skin.
"I swear that could get me pregnant," Donghae finally said, panting, once he came down from his high.
"Consider it done, and skip six years."
Donghae chuckled and said that that was true.
Hyukjae pulled out from his lover's body. He kept Donghae in place just so he could watch his own cum dripping out from Donghae's body. For Hyukjae it was satisfying, it screamed MINE!
He gave Donghae's ass a light smack before sitting down and picking the plate of rice he had intended to eat before; half of its content already spilled on to the dinner table.
"Gross. My cum is all over the place," exclaimed Donghae with a cringe, "And you could at least put on your sweatpants first."
"Not the first time we mix sex and food." Hyukjae shrugged casually. "And beside, soon there'll be a kid running around this place and only God knows when I can bend you over the kitchen table and have a random sex with you again. Or eat my dinner naked," He argued, pointing his spoon at Donghae. "I wouldn't mind it either if you have your dinner naked, you know," he added with a wag of his eyebrow.
Donghae only stuck out his tongue in return. He cleaned up the mess they both had created before settling down on the chair next to Hyukjae.
For a moment Donghae only watched his lover eating, until Hyukjae heard his stomach grumbled. Of course Hyukjae was laughing at him. But then he spooned some of his food and fed it to Donghae. Donghae tried not to think why the rice tasted suspiciously saltier.
"Is it because I'm too pushy?" Donghae asked suddenly. "I am, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The adoption." His voice, his face suddenly stiffened, although Hyukjae was still nonchalantly feeding him dinner.
"No. That's..." Hyukjae waved his spoon vaguely, but Donghae eyed him with wariness. "Okay, maybe a little bit." He admitted. "You were crying and everything, how could I not do something about it. And you know, just the circumstances."
"Because there's another couple interested in him."
"Yes, that. But..." Seeing the worry in Donghae's feature, Hyukjae shook his head and put his plate down. "Listen, I want to adopt the kid, okay. From the first time you told me you want to have a child, the whole time I've been thinking that we'll bring him home, someday. So when I heard there's another couple that wants him, I felt like they're going to take what supposed to be us. And I like the kid, okay. I don't want to give him to someone else."
There was a content glint in Donghae's eyes. And his face contorted in between smile and cry out of happiness. A squeal escaped from the back of his throat.
"I have the best husband ever." He once again moved from his chair to Hyukjae's lap, his arms around the other man's neck. They kissed languidly. And Hyukjae's palm on the small of his back was strong and warm, keeping him feeling safe and taken care of, as always.
"This means second round, right?" asked Hyukjae when they pulled away to breath.
Donghae only laughed and let his boxers pulled down.
***
"Fair warning," Hyukjae muttered before Donghae pushed open the wrought iron gate, "Don't expect me to be Dad of the Year just yet. We've only met a few times and--."
"Relax, okay." Donghae took Hyukjae's slightly sweaty palm and held it. "You'll be fine. We'll be fine."
"Okay." The red haired huffed. "Just so you know."
The brunette smiled up at him. "Ready now?" Hyukjae nodded a bit uncertain. But Donghae opened the gate anyway and stepped into the small lawn the two of them had kept visiting the past few weeks.
But before they could walk far into the place a loud squeal, followed with a small pair of hands latched itself against their legs.
"Are you guys really going to take me home today?" asked the kid, obviously couldn't contain his excitement any longer. He shot up his hand, asking Hyukjae to pick him up.
"Yes, Kiddo." Hyukjae settled the child against his hip.
"Now you can finally officially call me Daddy," Donghae told Andy as excited as the kid was.
"Daddy!"
Hyukjae chuckled at the scene. The two had been practicing to use the word every other day, but Donghae thought they would jinx it if they used it before the paperwork was finalized. So it was really cute to see the two so happy to be able to finally use the word.
"And what do I have to call you, Hyukjae?"
The question caught Hyukjae off guard. He hadn't been thought much about it. He felt like he couldn't just tell a kid to call him father when the kid might not think of him like one.
"Um... Well, what do you want to call me?"
"I don't know." Andy shrugged. "That's why ask you, silly."
"What about, until you know what you want to call me, you can just call me Hyukjae or whatever you want. Except 'silly'. I don't think I want you to call me that." Hyukjae patted the kid's hair gently, avoiding Donghae's half disapproving glance.
Donghae really thought that if they wanted this whole family thing to work out, then Hyukjae should tell Andy to call him something that shows that he was his parent. But of course Hyukjae was too awkward to even do that.
***
Later on that night, after an argument (Donghae wanted to let Andy sleep in their room, instead of in the study room that they had purposely turned into the kid's room, because, "It's his first night here, Hyukkie, he'll get scared if he had to sleep alone. I know I’d be scared.") Or two ("God, you spoil him rotten already. We can’t raise a child like this. Let him sleep alone in his room, Hae.) the new parents finally left the kid to sleep alone in his room. Although it took Donghae more than an hour to read him bed time story before finally, actually, leave the kid alone.
Hyukjae woke up around 1 am. After moved Donghae’s hand carefully from his waist, he got off the bed and went into the bathroom down the hall to relieve himself. And he almost got a heart attack when after he did his business he found a little kid standing in the hallway. This whole having a kid thing was definitely needed a getting use to.
“Hyukjae,” the small voice called him. Andy was standing in the doorway of his room, clad in his cartoon printed pajama that Donghae picked out for him.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” Hyukjae walked up to him, and somehow, the kid’s first instinct was to put up his hands so Hyukjae could pick him up.
“Do you have flash light?”
“Umm… You need it for what?”
“To light it under my bed.”
Hyukjae sighed. “Is this related to monster or-.”
“Troll. Lots of them. I think they follow me from my old bed. ”
“You know that they don’t exist, right?”
“Of course they are,” answered the kid defiantly.
Hyukjae sighed once again. Oh this was not going to be easy, he thought.
“Can you just give me the flash light?”
On any other day he would convince the kid that there were no such things as trolls and monsters. But it had been a long day full of excitement and laughter-and some disagreements here and there with Donghae of course-that Hyukjae didn’t have the energy to argue with him. And beside, at least Andy wasn’t too dependent that he asked Hyukjae to stay with him or asked to sleep with him and Donghae in their room.
“Why don’t you just sleep in our room tonight?” The kid nodded happily. “But only for tonight. You have to promise me you’ll fight each one of those trolls every night until they’re all gone, okay.” He said as he walked them down to his room on the other end of the hall.
“Okay. Okay. Promise.”
Hyukjae was just about to warn him not to wake Donghae up when he stepped inside the room. But the kid already slipped himself down from Hyukjae’s hold and ran across the room to jump on the bed. Hyukjae knew Donghae would be startled if he wasn’t already half awake and welcomed the kid with hands opened wide instead.
“Look who’s spoiling the kid,” Donghae said in Korean complete with a teasing smirk.
“Shut up,” Hyukjae responded also in their native language.
“Hey! Stop saying words I don’t understand!” protested the kid that had settling down between them, snuggling comfortably against Donghae’s side.
“Yes, sorry, baby.” Donghae kissed his son’s cheek. “Why don’t I teach you some Korean, so you can understand what we’re saying.”
Hyukjae slid down the cover next to Andy, mindful to keep some space from him to keep the kid comfortable. He was still unsure as to how close he should be with Andy, despite the kid had obviously thrown any inhibition toward Hyukjae since the first time they met. He couldn’t tell when he could be as close to Andy as Donghae was with the kid.
Watching Donghae teaching the kid to count in Korean looked right, like they were truly father and son, by blood. Hyukjae didn’t even dare to impose the moment with his existence.
But Donghae caught his eyes. He gave him a knowing look and smiled warmly at him. Donghae took Hyukjae’s hand, pulling him closer so that his arm embraced Andy’s and Donghae’s body, letting Hyukjae knew that the two of them needed him, that they weren’t complete without him. And when Hyukjae thought all of Andy’s attention was on Donghae, the kid turned around to ask him what were six to ten in Korean that Hyukjae had to stop and thought that they could work out. And they could work out well, as a family.
END
Author: pseudo_shigure
Pairing: Hyukjae/Donghae
Word Count: 7,811
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Disclaimer: na-ah, not mine
Summary: Donghae bit his lower lip and seemed unsure. "I met someone."
Notes: Series Masterlist
“You said you’re gonna be home earlier!!” accused Hyukjae from where he was sprawling on the couch when he heard the front door opened. He knew it was more fitting for the other man to pout, but he just couldn’t help it.
Donghae said he’d be home before Hyukjae and would buy their dinner. But he was half an hour late and Hyukjae was damn hungry. All those dancing burned calories, you know.
“I’m sorry,” the brunette man answered, peeking his head on the door way with childish grin, before running to the kitchen.
“Oh my god, Hae! Don’t tell me you forgot to buy the dinner!”
Hyukjae heard strings of apologies from the other man, and reassurance that he wouldn’t need to do anything because he would be the one who order their dinner and all Hyukjae needed to do was to relax.
“I’m sorry,” said Donghae once again as he sat down on the edge of the couch where Hyukjae was lying on. He pecked the older man’s cheek to calm him down. Hyukjae was trying to still look mad, but failing as Donghae noticed the slight tug on his lips after he pecked him.
“What now? What last minute amazing discovery that you found that makes you late to come home and forget about our dinner?”Hyukjae asked with an amused smile. His hand held Donghae's in his. He didn't always understand what the other was explaining, but he loved to watch Donghae talked about his work in great details and with such passion.
But instead of the light in his eyes, Hyukjae saw hesitance. Donghae bit his lower lip and seemed unsure. "I met someone."
Hyukjae stunned for a moment before he repeated, "You met someone," and he suddenly sat up straight.
"Yeah." Donghae was puzzled by Hyukjae reaction. "I met... someone..." And the realization hit him, "Oh God, Hyukjae, not like that!" he exclaimed defensively.
"Well you started off with 'I met someone' and you look unsure..."
"How could you think I cheat on you? That's silly..."
"...so how should I know."
"You're such a drama queen."
"Okay, I'm sorry, I shouldn’t have doubt you. But I'm not a drama queen." Donghae only rolled his eyes. "So who did you meet?"
"So I was walking home and... Do you know that like 5 blocks from here there's an orphanage?"
"What are you doing walking 5 blocks to home? The bus stop isn't that far away."
"Since I got off work earlier I just thought I would enjoy the afternoon. Anyway, answer my question."
"No, I don't know."
"Well, there's one there. And when I passed it, suddenly there's a ball stopping on my feet. And a kid from behind the gate, asked me to pick it up. His name is Andy. And he's so very cute."
At this point Donghae's eyes were already so big and Hyukjae just knew where this was going.
"No," he said before Donghae could finish his story."
"No, what?"
"You have this look whenever you beg me to let you pick up a cute puppy or kitten from the street."
"We're not talking about a pet."
"All the more reason for me to say no."
Donghae's pout wasn't a surprise for Hyukjae. Nor did the way he suddenly distance himself from Hyukjae.
"I want a kid, Hyukjae. I want that kid."
"But-."
"You don't trust me. You think I'm not capable to take care a child."
"I didn't say that."
"But you're thinking it," he acused and knew he wasn't wrong. "And don't use excuses like we're not financially stable, because I know we are." the pout on his lips was only getting even pronounce by each words.
Hyukjae sighed and slumped back against the back of the couch. There went his excuse to object Donghae.
"Okay," he started, "Then what about me?"
"You don't want a child?" Now Donghae was getting seriously worry that Hyukjae's answer would be a "no".
"I don't... know. I've never think about that."
"We've been married for almost five years..."
"Yes. And I thought we would have one in our thirties. Or even forties maybe. But not now."
Donghae huffed and slumped back next to Hyukjae. "Fine. I won't force you to do this. But just promise me you'll think about it."
"Okay," Hyukjae answere with a reassuring smile. He pulled Donghae closer and held him from the back to calm him down.
"Like, seriously thinking about it."
"Yes. Promise."
***
"I don't know. He's Asian, but the head of the orphanage doesn't know exactly from what country. I mean, he might be Korean."
Hyukjae heard Donghae talked on the phone with his mother, Hyukjae's mother, as he prepared to go to bed. He would've remind them that it'd be cost free to talk over Skype, but knowing that his mom even only had a cellphone a few years ago, he decided it'd be useless.
"Still thinking about it," Donghae said after a long pause, and with a glance to Hyukjae's direction.
And Hyukjae just knew they were talking about him. He rolled his eyes and padded across the room, to his side of bed. After slipping under the cover, he half hugged Donghae and talked to the receiver.
“Mom, can you let us sleep now? It's really late here."
He heard his mother nagging voice and Donghae was grinning at him listening to what she says.
"She's scolding you," he whispered.
"Figured."
After minutes of what Hyukjae sured was words of advice-“Don't tire yourself”, “Don't forget to eat”, “Call home regularly”, Donghae finally hung up the phone and snuggled against Hyukjae side.
"I'm just glad she's the one who call us this time." Hyukjae said through his yawn.
"Hyukjae," Donghae cupped his lover's jaw, as talking to a naughty yet very cute kid. "You're a studio owner now, all thanks to the money your father let us to borrow. I think we could afford a long distance call evey once in a while."
"Doesn't mean every once a week." The older man swatted away Donghae's hand from his face.
Donghae only shrugged. "Mom said you need to stop to overthink everything."
Hyukjae knew what this was about. And he wanted to say that he couldn't just change his mind and decided to adopt a kid in only a few days. Bur he knew it'd lead to an argument. And he didn't want to have one. So he just shut his mouth and turned away.
"What?"
He should've known it wouldn't go unnoticed by Donghae.
"Nothing," he replied shortly, thumb pushing the silver band on his ring finger around.
"Don't lie to me. I know when there's something on your mind."
"We'll talk about it in the morning."
"I'll forget by then. What?"
"Just sleep, Hae."
"You know I won't stop until you tell me."
With a groan, Hyukjae turned to face the other man. "Look, I don't want to have an argument, okay."
"We're arguing already."
"So just drop it."
"No. You're thinking about something that could cause us fighting. And I want to know what it is. Let's talk about it."
Their voice rose by each words, face reddened by the bubbling emotion inside.
"Listen, I said I need more time to think about the whole adoption thing, right?"
"And I did that. Am doing it."
"But you bring that up whenever you got the chance to."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. You just did it. You said I should stop to overthink everything."
"I-" Donghae started. Everything was getting out of hand. And he was too tired to argue. So he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, maybe I did it without even meaning to. And I'm sorry. I'm not going to talk about it again."
This time Donghae was the one who turned away. And Hyukjae was left with sleepless night.
***
Donghae kept his promise and didn't talk about the matter. Or talked at all to Hyukjae, really. It had been days and all Hyukjae got was nothing more than the necessaries-"Breakfast's ready", "I'll be home late", or a yes, a hmm, or a no. And he hated it. He also hated to go to bed alone and wake up in the middle of the night to find the other side of the bed was empty. And he hated that they moved to a bigger apartment with a study room for Donghae to hole himself in.
Irritatedly, he kicked away his cover and walked acroos the hall to where he knew his mate was. The door to the room was opened and the light was on. Hyukjae leaned against the door frame and watched the other man working for a moment. Donghae glanced up from his laptop, before averted his gaze back to the LCD monitor.
"Hey, are you going to sleep on the bed tonight? Or..." Hyukjae eyed the couch on the side of the room, where he could find blanket and cushions that Donghae'd been using all those nights he spent sleeping there.
The younger man shrugged. "I have some work to do."
"Is it due tomorrow?" Hyukjae braved himself to step inside the room and set on the chair across from Donghae.
"No."
"So you're just avoiding me."
Once again, Donghae glanced up from his laptop, but didn't say anything.
"Okay, look. I admit I was being a jerk for not letting you to talk about something that's really important to you. And I'm sorry, okay." Donghae still didn't talk, but Hyukjae knew he had his full attention now. "Can we just..." Hyukjae reached across the desk to run the tip of his fingers along Donghae’s, tracing lines along the other man's wedding ring, "Can we just make up. Please."
“Fine,” Donghae replied after a while.
Hyukjae’s smile was so bright when he walked around the desk to kneel in front of Donghae’s chair and held him by his waist. “Come to the bed with me?”
“Ermmm… I don’t know. I mean my work is…” But by the faint pink on his cheeks, Hyukjae knew he was just acting difficult.
“Come to the bed with me?” asked Hyukjae once again, with much huskier voice this time, and string of butterfly kisses along the underside of Donghae’s jaws. “Please?” Hyukjae nuzzled the other man’s Adam’s apple for a good measure.
And his answer came in a soft sigh that marked an end of resistance.
***
Donghae sighed again before rolled around on the couch in living room. The TV was on, volume almost reached maximum to drown out the noise from outside.
He reached for his phone and pressed the first speed dial on it. But when it wasn't picked up, he whined.
"Lee Hyukjae, where are you!" he groaned against the soft cushion. And as if on cue, the thunder roared outside, making him whimper pathetically and and hide his head under the cushion. "Hyukkie."
"Hae!"
He heard his name being called out, followed by a closing of the front door and hurried steps into the apartment. Donghae immediately got up and and rushed to the hall.
"Hyukkie, you're completely soaked." He starred at the other man who was shaking droplets of water from his dyed red hair. "Why do you walk home under a thunder storm, you silly?" he asked before dragging Hyukjae to bathroom.
"Obviously because I know there's a certain someone who's afraid to be alone during thunderstorm."
"Not afraid. Just hate it."
"Whatever."
"Yeah, whatever. Now get in there and take a hot shower before you get sick. I'll make something warm for you." He was tiptoeing a bit to kiss the other man's lips. "God, you're freezing."
Donghae left Hyukjae to take his shower while he went to the kitche to fix Hyukjae with a simple soup and a cup of tea for himself. He chopped and put every vegetable he could find into the broth he cooked on the stove.
He was just standing against the counter when a pair of stromg arms wrapped around his waist, surprising him.
"Hey," Hyukjae whispered huskily into his ears, sending shivers along his spine and blood rushing downright. Hyukjae's damp hair stuck against Donghae's cheek. But he felt so warm and smelled soapy fresh. Hyukjae sent kisses down Donghae's neck. His hand slipped into his shirt, finger traced circles around his navel.
"Don't start," protested Donghae, tried to free himself, although his lips was smiling. "The soup's ready. And you need to eat."
"Can I just eat you up instead?"
"Later maybe. If you behave."
Hyukjae only groaned, but he picked up two bowls and gave it to Donghae anyway.
After they were properly tucked under the blanket on the couch, with their empty bowls and cups put down on the table, Hyukjae snuggled closer against Donghae's neck, inhaling his scent. They were lying on their sides, Hyukjae was behind Donghae, half watching the TV.
"Did I tell you I got a job offer?" Donghae asked, "I think I'll take it."
"Another reaserch job? Teaching job?" asked Hyukjae against his lover's shoulder.
"No. At the SeaWorld actually. They need like an in house researcher for the marine section."
Hyukjae pulled away slightly. He propped his head with his hand so he could see Donghae properly.
"Why do you want to take it? Isn't it going to limit what you want to study?"
"Well, a bit." Donghae shrugged. "But I can live with it."
"But it's not what you want, Hae."
"Please don't tell me what I want or don't want," the younger man said seriously.
"No, I just thought you want to be a real marine biology researcher."
"Working at the SeaWorld doesn't make it any less of a researcher."
"I know, but it's not your dream."
"Well apparently my dream has changed." He looked intently into Hyukjae's eyes. "Listen, I don't want to spend months, or even year, out in the sea, somewhere far from home, okay. I want to come home to my family every night."
"Is it because of me?" Hyukjae asked, worry was obvious in his eyes. "Is it because I left my carrier in Korea and you feel like you have to make it up to me?"
"No. I mean, I wouldn't think twice if right now you told me that we have to move to another city. Of course I would follow you too. But it's just..." Donghae shrugged. "Now, instead of only doing what I want, I also have you and Andy in my dream. So I know I have to find a middle ground where I can have all those things."
Hyukjae was quiet. He only stared at his lover with a frown, which was disheartening for Donghae.
"Say something," Donghae prompted.
"Just... Wow." Hyukjae finally said. "I'm surprised. You're so serious about this."
"About having a family? Well, of course I do, Hyuk."
"It's not a negative respond. I'm just surprised. I thought you just said you want to have a kid without giving much thought about it."
"No, I'm serious. So you better be too." And Hyukjae looked away. "Hyukkie," Donghae started to whine, "You've promised you would."
"I know." Hyukjae smiled, half embarrassed because he had slightly disregard the other man and thought that it was just another of his whim. "I'm seriously thinking about it, okay." He pecked Donghae's lips. "Why did you get home so early today?" Hyukjae tried to change the subject. "I thought I could be home before you, so you wouldn't have to be alone when the storm came."
"My schedule was done before lunch. So I had my lunch at the orphanage. And played with Andy until the sky started to get too dark." How Donghae's face suddenly lit up was impossible to miss. "I swear he's the smartest kid I know."
"He's the only kid you know."
"Details," protested Donghae. "Ever since I told him I study, you know, fish and stuff, he always gives me trivias about see creature. Like today, we were playing as two defenders of the Earth, saving the world from alien invasion..." Hyukjae couldn't help to laugh, but unsurprised. "...and just out of the blue he told me, 'do you know that the biggest creature living in an ocean is not a fish?' I mean, at his age I still thought that whale is a fish, so I wouldn't know. I don't even know from where he learns that. I think we should buy him more books. Right, Hyukkie?"
"Can he even read?"
"I suppose. Well, I can teach him anyway."
"Hmm."
"Wow. I'm blinded by your enthusiasm, Hyuk," Donghae remarked sarcasticaly.
"I'm sorry," Hyukjae laughed, a bit bitterly. "What else did you two do today?"
"Just..." Donghae shrugged. "Ugh. Why can't you just pretend like you care about this? Even just a bit?"
"Wh-wh... It's not like I told you to stop talking about him. I listen to your stories, okay. Every single day."
Well, Hyukjae obviously did. But it wasn’t enough. If Hyukjae did seriously want this to work, then Donghae just wished he would at least try to get to know the boy. Hyukjae always had excuses whenever Donghae ask him to go to the orphanage.
Seeing the tension evident from Donghae, Hyukjae decided to let the other man to cool himself down. He wasn't sure he could keep his own temper checked if he stayed there any longer.
"I still have to work on my choreography." He reluctantly slipped out from under the blanket. He usually did some dancing in their bedroom when he felt like it. They had some space and a pretty big mirror there. "It's for next week, so..." He shrugged and stood up.
"Next week?" Donghae suddenly perked up. "Is it still the same one you've been working since last month?" Hyukjae nodded. "You don't usually take this long to finish a routine. What's wrong?"
Hyukjae paused before answering. "I don't know." He finally said. "It just never felt quite finished."
He looked completely lost in Donghae's eyes that Donghae didn't have the heart but to pull him back down to sit next to him.
"How long have you been stuck with this?" Donghae asked. His index finger mindlessly twirling Hyukjae's crimson lock. His earlier tension suddenly gone.
"Few weeks."
"Why you didn't say anything?" Now that he thought about it, Hyukjae did look a bit occupied every now and then lately. "I know this is important to you."
"Well, you're..." Hyukjae took a glance at the other man. "...busy." For lack of better word, he thought.
"I will always have the time for you, Hyukkie."
"Yeah, but you have other things in mind. I don't want to bother you."
"You mean Andy?" Hyukjae only gave him a look, not annoyed or mad, just pointed it out. "I- Hyukkie, are you sulking because I give more attention to him?"
"I'm not sulking." Hyukjae answered defensively.
"Are you seriously jealous of him?"
"I'm not-."
"Aww. So cute." Donghae squished Hyukjae's cheeks playfuly.
"Bu-." He stopped, seeing no point in arguing. "Fine. I'm jealous of a six years old kid." He admitted in defeat.
Donghae chuckled. He threw his arms around the older man's body and pulled him close.
"Maybe you're right." He whispered. "Maybe we're not ready for a kid."
***
"Donghae!!"
The second Donghae stepped into the orphanage little lawn, a kid ran and jumped to hug his leg.
"Andy!!" Donghae bent over to pick up the kid, even though he was a quiet heavy 6 years old kid.
"You didn't come yesterday," said the boy with a pout.
"I know. I'm sorry. I was busy with my work all day. And Hyukjae had a show last night. So I couldn't come." The pout Donghae was showing could rival with the kid's.
"Hmm that's okay. You can take a break from visiting me every... Um... Once a month?"
Donghae chuckled and laid a peck on Andy's cheek. "I wouldn't miss visiting you if I can, baby. Tell me about your day yesterday."
"My tummy hurted yesterday."
"Why?" asked Donghae slightly shocked. He carried the boy to sit on one of the benches on the small front lawn.
"I ate too much cake because we had a party."
"But the party must be so fun, rigt?"
"Kinda," Andy shrugged, "It's a goodbye party though. So a few girls are crying."
"Someone's leaving?"
"Yeah. She has new family now. We're happy for her. But I think some of the kids are jealous."
It dawned then on Donghae, that this was an orphanage. Kids got adopted. It might not happened everyday, but it still could happen. And it'd be best for Andy to get a family sooner too. But he knew, he didn't want to have to force himself to be happy for Andy if the kid got adopted by another family.
***
"Hey." Hyukjae greeted his lover when the other man stepped into the living room. "How's your day?"
"Have you made your decision?" asked Donghae stiffly.
Hyukjae raised his eyebrow. He was asking nicely, there was no need for Donghae to be so rude and ignore his question.
"Well, my day's been great. Thanks for asking," Hyukjae replied sarcastically.
"Hyukjae," Donghae said desperately and plopped down on the couch next to the other man. "Answer it." He demanded.
"We just talked about it a week ago. And you know my answer."
"It's been months, Hyukkie! How much longer do you need to think about this?"
"Hell! I don't know, Hae!"
"Are you even seriously thinking about it?"
"I am!"
"Then I don't understand what you still worry about!"
"Everything!"
"What!? Tell me what, Hyuk!"
"Okay, first," Hyukjae raised a finger, "I don't know if I can love him like my own child or not. Second," He raised another digit, "I'm not sure I'm a good enough person to be an example for him. Third, I don't think I'm ready to raise another human being. And do a decent job at it." He showed his three fingers to Donghae. "How many more reasons do you need?!"
Donghae slumped against the back of the couch. His breath was shaky. "You haven't even tried it," he whispered, and ran his hand against his face.
"You want me to experiment on this kid's life?"
"Well, then how else do you want to do this?! Do you want take a course on how to be a good parents first? 'Cause I don't think there's any." Donghae's voice was getting more unstable, eyes brimming with tears. His head hurt. He tried to massage his temples, but it only made his tears to flow down his cheeks.
"What's wrong with you?" Hyukjae asked, sounding desperate. He took Donghae's hand away from his face.
"Hyukjae, it's an orphanage," Donghae sobbed. "Kids got adopted. They're supposed to be adopted. And it'd be good for them." Each word turned Donghae's cry uncontrollable to the point of bawling. "But if someone adopted Andy before you can even made up your mind, I swear, I'll... I will..."
Donghae couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence, but Hyukjae had a good guess that it was something along the line of 'Hate you forever'.
"Hae." Hyukjae called softly.
He probably should felt angry that Donghae could even think like that. Hated him just because of a kid he only knew a few months ago. But Donghae looked so broken. And Hyukjae's first instinct was to pull him close and hold him instead.
The gentle act only made Donghae cry harder. "Oh God, Hyukjae.” The younger man wept against Hyukjae's shirt. Donghae felt stupid and awful that he could think of hating Hyukjae, when the only thing Hyukjae knew was to love him. “I'm sorry." He sobbed. “I’m sorry.”
***
The past few days were rough for the two of them. Donghae felt guilty, but on the other hand, he wanted to have the kid so bad that he wouldn't just back down about it. He subconsciously kept a distance from Hyukjae. And Hyukjae noticed it. And he was tired that they keep fighting about it.
Hyukjae huffed. "The things I do for you, Hae," he grumbled to himself before pushing open the gate.
He stepped into the small lawn. There were kids everywhere. But there was one Asian kid on the corner who played by himself, kicking a ball against the wall. He turned around as he heard the front gate clanked as it opened by the red haired. Hyukjae watched the kid gasped and his black eyes widened as he saw him.
The kid ran up to him. "Hyukjae!" he shouted, pointing his index finger at the man. "The red ranger!"
Hyukjae chuckled to himself. Yes, this was Donghae's kid alright.
"Hi." He crouched down to the kid's level. "You must be Andy."
But the kid didn't seem to be listening to him. He was mesmerized by his hair instead.
"Your hair is really red! Awesome!" He jumped up and down.
"And so I'm the red ranger?"
"Donghae said so. Besides, he said you always protect him and will protect me too. Uh. Where's Donghae? He still in that co.. Con..."
"Conference. He'll be back tonight."
"So he sent you to me?" The kid tilted his head as if considering. "Um... I guess you're okay too," he said with a shrug. Hyukjae chuckled. "But you have to make a vow as the Defender of the Earth first, like me and Donghae."
"Okay," Hyukjae answered to humor the kid. He led him to the steps in front of the building and sat down. "Do you always play with Donghae?"
"Sure. He's my best friend."
Hyukjae eyed their surrounding. Most of the other kids didn't seem to pay any attention to them. And the ones that did seem to be angry or jealous.
"You don't play with the other kids?" Andy shook his head. "Why?"
"Because I don't look like them."
Then Hyukjae realized, he was the only Asian there. Andy was smaller than most of them, and looked different. And suddenly he was worry for him.
"Do they do something bad to you?"
"Sometimes. They ripped the book that Donghae gave me. And I duct taped it back together. Sometimes they hide my ball." The kid shrugged. "But I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."
"Sure." Hyukjae patted his head and smiled.
Although, he still felt like he didn't want to stay there anymore. Not with the animosity he could feel in the air. The kids might only do not understand that it was okay to be different. But he just wanted to take Andy away from that place, even if only for awhile.
"Hey, can I take you somewhere else?"
"Yes." The kid nodded eagerly. "Donghae takes me out all the time. But you have to ask Ms. Johnson for permission first."
"Okay." Hyukjae stood up to get inside. "You want to come with me or..."
"You just go. I wanna put my ball in my secret fort first."
Hyukjae laughed. From Donghae's story, he knew that the "secret fort" was actually a closet at the basement that no other kids had ever come to.
"Hyukjae!" The kid called up before the red haired could enter the building. "Donghae said you're a dancer." Andy told Hyukjae as he stood at the bottom of the steps, hugging his ball that was bigger than him. "Can I see you dance then?"
"Of course." And this time he smiled wider and warmer.
***
Hyukjae spooned the fried rice he just cooked to taste it. And he cringed instantly. It wasn't burnt or bland like the last two times he attempted to cook, but it salty.
He was just trying to figure out how to fix the food when he heard the front door slammed open and an announcement of "I'm home" from Donghae.
"In the kitchen," Hyukjae told his lover.
"Hi," Donghae greeted Hyukjae once he entered the room. "You cook?" he asked, seeing the wok on the stove and how the kitched seemed used.
"Well yeah." The red haired sighed. "It's fail though. Too salty."
"What's the occasion?"
"I just want to cook." Hyukjae shrugged.
Donghae crossed his arm and stared at his lover in disbelief. "You would never cook if you can. What's going on here? Is this a peace offering? 'Cause I think," He pointedly avoided Hyukkae's gaze on him, "I'm the one at fault here."
"Not a peace offering." The dancer kissed Donghae's temple resolutely. He just really missed the other man.
"Okay." Donghae grabbed a plate and put on some of the fried rice on it. He was walking to the dinner table when Hyukjae tried to stop him.
"It's salty," he warned.
"You've cooked it." Donghae smiled and sat down. "I don't want it to get wasted."
Hyukjae followed what Donghae did, reluctantly. And he laughed when the brunette trying hard not to spit out the rice in his mouth.
"We really need to work on our cooking skill," said Hyukjae as he sat down next to Donghae. "I mean, we can't feed the kid with take-out foods all the time. That can't be healthy."
Donghae perked up suddenly. "What did you just say?"
"That can't be healthy?"
"No, before that."
"We can't feed the kid... Oh. That." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I met him today," he admitted.
"And?" Donghae bit his lower lip to hide his overflowing curiosity, excitement and bit of worry.
"He's... Okay."
"Okay." Donghae repeated.
"Well, I mean he's cute, and smart, and polite. So it's cool. And I told the head of the orphanage that we'll adopt him."
"Hyuk," Donghae warned, "don't joke with me."
"I'm not. She said there's another couple that also considering taking him, so I convinced her that we'll adopt him. She's starting to work on the paper right now, but it could take more than-."
He couldn't finish his words since Donghae already sat on his lap and kissed Hyukjae senseless. Strings of "thank you" and "I love you"s flowed from his lips between their kisses.
They pulled away slightly. Donghae's fingers were curling against Hyukjae's red locks on his nape. The lust in Hyukjae's eyes was evident, and he was sure it mirrored in his. It had been too long since the last time they had sex. Their busy schedule and constant tension in the house certainly weren't helping.
Donghae crushed their lips again. His tongue pushed into Hyukjae's mouth, stroking the other man's palate, before Hyukjae stopped him and sucked on the intruding organ. Donghae moaned into Hyukjae's mouth, and Hyukjae pulled him closer by his waist, causing their half-hard member rubbed against each others'.
The shirt Hyukjae was wearing was pushed up and thrown somewhere across the room. Donghae appreciatively kissed his way down Hyukjae's neck, shoulder blade, and his chest. His hands followed the lines of Hyukjae's defined abs. Roaming even lower, the hands found the waistband of Hyukjae's sweat pants and he pulled it down as he stood up from Hyukjae's lap and left the dancer naked.
Hyukjae groaned when he watched his lover make a show of taking off his clothes so very slowly, popping every buttons as he watched Hyukjae watching him with his alluring half lidded eyes. Hyukjae reached up to help him unbuckled his belt. But Donghae slapped his hand away and insisted that Hyukjae should just watch.
Once he was naked though, Donghae asked, "How do you want to take me?"
Hyukjae made a sound from the back of his throat, and it was feral. How that simple question turned him on completely was beyond him.
"Turn around." He twisted Donghae's body by his waist. He stood up from his chair and pulled Donghae down so he was leaning against the dinner table on his forearm. His body was slightly arching, ass high in the air and slightly parted, and all that Hyukjae wanted was to shove his dick into that red, twitching, inviting hole.
"Lube?" he asked with shuddered breath.
"Olive oil. In the cupboard above the stove."
Donghae listened to Hyukjae's steps anxiously. He heard him opening and closing the cupboard. He felt Hyukjae's warmth return on his back. The small bottle of olive oil unscrewed and finally put down next to him.
Hyukjae came closer to him. Donghae bit his lip when he felt the blunt tip of Hukjae's hardened member teasing his opening. Hyukjae's oil slicked finger trailed along his spine, and he was inevitably arching even more from the touch, whimpering. Hyukjae's other hand rested on his ass cheek, kneading it like it was a fucking dough.
"God, just fuck me," he begged.
"You'll sulk all week if you couldn't walk to campus tomorrow."
"No, I won't. Promise."
"Hm... You'll be good?" Hyukjae's whisper was low and husky that it sent shiver down his spine.
"Hyukjae," Donghae moaned, completely drown in want, "Just..." He only bucked his hips slightly upward, and Hyukjae tip slipped into him.
They both moaned. Hyukjae gripped Donghae's hip as he pushed himself ever so slowly, trying hard not to hurt Donghae even more. All that Hyukjae felt was tightness and heat, and it took all his sanity to not just thrust up hard into his lover.
The amazing thing about their sex was that they understood each other beyond verbal instruction that Hyukjae knew when Donghae was ready for his thrust, when he could pick up his pace, and how hard and deep he could fuck the other man without breaking him. And he could never break Donghae, because he knew he like it rough. He knew that slow lazy sex was for second round when they were half spent.
Hyukjae lifted one of Donghae's knees to rest it on the edge of the table so he could go deeper and hit that spot inside Donghae. Their position was obscene, and so did the noises that Donhae made when he tried to breath out the syllables of Hyukjae's name.
It always came out as, "Hyuk. Jae," initiated by the red head's hard hitting thrusts and in time with the slamming of the table against the wall. Their cutleries were clattering, threatening to fall off the dinner table. The uncapped bottle of olive oil had tipped over, with its content pouring down to the floor, from the first hard thrust Hyukjae gave to the other man.
Hyukjae reached over with his lips and bit down, hard, the mole on the left side of Donghae's neck. He hummed, satisfied, as he heard the other man's gasp. Hyukjae didn't let go of his mouth on Donghae's neck. The tilt of Donghae's head only gave him better access to bruise that patch of skin.
Donghae gripped the edge of the table that his knuckles turned white. His legs had turned into jellies that Hyukjae's hold on his waist was practically the only thing that support him. And the way Hyukjae hitting the bundle of muscle inside him, so hard and precise, tightened the coil inside him with every thrusts that when it sprung he came with choked moan and waves of what seemingly never ending blinding white pleasure flowing out of him.
Hyukjae fucked the other man's almost limp body harder. He needed to come inside this hot inviting body now. And through his orgasm induced daze, Donghae must had notice it, because he started to meet Hyukjae's thrust mindlessly, started to tighten the wall inside him to clamp Hyukjae harder.
"F-fuck, Hae!"
"Mmm..." Donghae dazedly moaned.
He dragged Hyukjae's hand from his hip to his mouth, licking the tip of his index finger before taking the whole length into his mouth. Oral fixation. Hyukjae knew how Donghae loved to have something in his mouth. Then Donghae took the middle finger and started to suck on the two digits that Hyukjae felt it was his dick that was being sucked, when he knew exactly he was buried deep inside the other end of Donghae's body.
The sensation made his face contorted in pleasure. He was so close.
"Hyukjae," Donghae murmured around Hyukjae's fingers. And all Hyukjae could sense was vibration reverberating from those fingers and down to his hardened length.
"Come inside me." And Hyukjae gave him one particularly hard thrust. "Ahh! Please, just fill me, Hyuk."
The plea made Hyukjae came with strings of, "Fuck! Fuck, Donghae, fuckfuckfuck!" He saw stars and burst inside the other man.
And the feeling of those warm, thick liquid filling his body was even enough for Donghae to spurt out whatever left inside him.
Hyukjae rode his orgasm until he was completely spent and plopped down against the back of Donghae's shoulder, breathing hard against the dampened, flushed skin.
"I swear that could get me pregnant," Donghae finally said, panting, once he came down from his high.
"Consider it done, and skip six years."
Donghae chuckled and said that that was true.
Hyukjae pulled out from his lover's body. He kept Donghae in place just so he could watch his own cum dripping out from Donghae's body. For Hyukjae it was satisfying, it screamed MINE!
He gave Donghae's ass a light smack before sitting down and picking the plate of rice he had intended to eat before; half of its content already spilled on to the dinner table.
"Gross. My cum is all over the place," exclaimed Donghae with a cringe, "And you could at least put on your sweatpants first."
"Not the first time we mix sex and food." Hyukjae shrugged casually. "And beside, soon there'll be a kid running around this place and only God knows when I can bend you over the kitchen table and have a random sex with you again. Or eat my dinner naked," He argued, pointing his spoon at Donghae. "I wouldn't mind it either if you have your dinner naked, you know," he added with a wag of his eyebrow.
Donghae only stuck out his tongue in return. He cleaned up the mess they both had created before settling down on the chair next to Hyukjae.
For a moment Donghae only watched his lover eating, until Hyukjae heard his stomach grumbled. Of course Hyukjae was laughing at him. But then he spooned some of his food and fed it to Donghae. Donghae tried not to think why the rice tasted suspiciously saltier.
"Is it because I'm too pushy?" Donghae asked suddenly. "I am, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The adoption." His voice, his face suddenly stiffened, although Hyukjae was still nonchalantly feeding him dinner.
"No. That's..." Hyukjae waved his spoon vaguely, but Donghae eyed him with wariness. "Okay, maybe a little bit." He admitted. "You were crying and everything, how could I not do something about it. And you know, just the circumstances."
"Because there's another couple interested in him."
"Yes, that. But..." Seeing the worry in Donghae's feature, Hyukjae shook his head and put his plate down. "Listen, I want to adopt the kid, okay. From the first time you told me you want to have a child, the whole time I've been thinking that we'll bring him home, someday. So when I heard there's another couple that wants him, I felt like they're going to take what supposed to be us. And I like the kid, okay. I don't want to give him to someone else."
There was a content glint in Donghae's eyes. And his face contorted in between smile and cry out of happiness. A squeal escaped from the back of his throat.
"I have the best husband ever." He once again moved from his chair to Hyukjae's lap, his arms around the other man's neck. They kissed languidly. And Hyukjae's palm on the small of his back was strong and warm, keeping him feeling safe and taken care of, as always.
"This means second round, right?" asked Hyukjae when they pulled away to breath.
Donghae only laughed and let his boxers pulled down.
***
"Fair warning," Hyukjae muttered before Donghae pushed open the wrought iron gate, "Don't expect me to be Dad of the Year just yet. We've only met a few times and--."
"Relax, okay." Donghae took Hyukjae's slightly sweaty palm and held it. "You'll be fine. We'll be fine."
"Okay." The red haired huffed. "Just so you know."
The brunette smiled up at him. "Ready now?" Hyukjae nodded a bit uncertain. But Donghae opened the gate anyway and stepped into the small lawn the two of them had kept visiting the past few weeks.
But before they could walk far into the place a loud squeal, followed with a small pair of hands latched itself against their legs.
"Are you guys really going to take me home today?" asked the kid, obviously couldn't contain his excitement any longer. He shot up his hand, asking Hyukjae to pick him up.
"Yes, Kiddo." Hyukjae settled the child against his hip.
"Now you can finally officially call me Daddy," Donghae told Andy as excited as the kid was.
"Daddy!"
Hyukjae chuckled at the scene. The two had been practicing to use the word every other day, but Donghae thought they would jinx it if they used it before the paperwork was finalized. So it was really cute to see the two so happy to be able to finally use the word.
"And what do I have to call you, Hyukjae?"
The question caught Hyukjae off guard. He hadn't been thought much about it. He felt like he couldn't just tell a kid to call him father when the kid might not think of him like one.
"Um... Well, what do you want to call me?"
"I don't know." Andy shrugged. "That's why ask you, silly."
"What about, until you know what you want to call me, you can just call me Hyukjae or whatever you want. Except 'silly'. I don't think I want you to call me that." Hyukjae patted the kid's hair gently, avoiding Donghae's half disapproving glance.
Donghae really thought that if they wanted this whole family thing to work out, then Hyukjae should tell Andy to call him something that shows that he was his parent. But of course Hyukjae was too awkward to even do that.
***
Later on that night, after an argument (Donghae wanted to let Andy sleep in their room, instead of in the study room that they had purposely turned into the kid's room, because, "It's his first night here, Hyukkie, he'll get scared if he had to sleep alone. I know I’d be scared.") Or two ("God, you spoil him rotten already. We can’t raise a child like this. Let him sleep alone in his room, Hae.) the new parents finally left the kid to sleep alone in his room. Although it took Donghae more than an hour to read him bed time story before finally, actually, leave the kid alone.
Hyukjae woke up around 1 am. After moved Donghae’s hand carefully from his waist, he got off the bed and went into the bathroom down the hall to relieve himself. And he almost got a heart attack when after he did his business he found a little kid standing in the hallway. This whole having a kid thing was definitely needed a getting use to.
“Hyukjae,” the small voice called him. Andy was standing in the doorway of his room, clad in his cartoon printed pajama that Donghae picked out for him.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” Hyukjae walked up to him, and somehow, the kid’s first instinct was to put up his hands so Hyukjae could pick him up.
“Do you have flash light?”
“Umm… You need it for what?”
“To light it under my bed.”
Hyukjae sighed. “Is this related to monster or-.”
“Troll. Lots of them. I think they follow me from my old bed. ”
“You know that they don’t exist, right?”
“Of course they are,” answered the kid defiantly.
Hyukjae sighed once again. Oh this was not going to be easy, he thought.
“Can you just give me the flash light?”
On any other day he would convince the kid that there were no such things as trolls and monsters. But it had been a long day full of excitement and laughter-and some disagreements here and there with Donghae of course-that Hyukjae didn’t have the energy to argue with him. And beside, at least Andy wasn’t too dependent that he asked Hyukjae to stay with him or asked to sleep with him and Donghae in their room.
“Why don’t you just sleep in our room tonight?” The kid nodded happily. “But only for tonight. You have to promise me you’ll fight each one of those trolls every night until they’re all gone, okay.” He said as he walked them down to his room on the other end of the hall.
“Okay. Okay. Promise.”
Hyukjae was just about to warn him not to wake Donghae up when he stepped inside the room. But the kid already slipped himself down from Hyukjae’s hold and ran across the room to jump on the bed. Hyukjae knew Donghae would be startled if he wasn’t already half awake and welcomed the kid with hands opened wide instead.
“Look who’s spoiling the kid,” Donghae said in Korean complete with a teasing smirk.
“Shut up,” Hyukjae responded also in their native language.
“Hey! Stop saying words I don’t understand!” protested the kid that had settling down between them, snuggling comfortably against Donghae’s side.
“Yes, sorry, baby.” Donghae kissed his son’s cheek. “Why don’t I teach you some Korean, so you can understand what we’re saying.”
Hyukjae slid down the cover next to Andy, mindful to keep some space from him to keep the kid comfortable. He was still unsure as to how close he should be with Andy, despite the kid had obviously thrown any inhibition toward Hyukjae since the first time they met. He couldn’t tell when he could be as close to Andy as Donghae was with the kid.
Watching Donghae teaching the kid to count in Korean looked right, like they were truly father and son, by blood. Hyukjae didn’t even dare to impose the moment with his existence.
But Donghae caught his eyes. He gave him a knowing look and smiled warmly at him. Donghae took Hyukjae’s hand, pulling him closer so that his arm embraced Andy’s and Donghae’s body, letting Hyukjae knew that the two of them needed him, that they weren’t complete without him. And when Hyukjae thought all of Andy’s attention was on Donghae, the kid turned around to ask him what were six to ten in Korean that Hyukjae had to stop and thought that they could work out. And they could work out well, as a family.
END