Chapter Text
Heeseung sets the phone down with a shiver. The apartment is cold - colder than it felt a moment ago. The bundle in his arms shifts, whining quietly, and he looks down, meeting the baby girl's dark eyes - his sister-in-law's eyes, eyes that would never -
He presses a soft kiss to the baby's forehead, closing his eyes.
He has - he has the emergency kit in his apartment. He has the bottles they left him with in his kitchen cabinet. He can handle this for tonight. Tomorrow -
Tomorrow, might be a different story.
Tiny little fingers tangle themselves into Heeseung's hair, tugging sharply, and Heeseung winces in pain, trying to gently free himself. But she pouts as her newfound toy is taken away, lip trembling.
"Don't cry, Soyoung-ah," Heeseung breathes, almost a plea. "For me, please?"
She lets out a soft little coo, lip still trembling, and then the waterworks start. Heeseung hushes her as gently as he can, rocking her back and forth, but the wailing only grows louder.
His brother used to play a little game with her when she cried to calm her down. But Heeseung doesn't remember what the game was - doesn't know if Heedo had even ever told him - and he can't exactly... can't call him up and ask.
"Come on, Soyoung-ah," he tries, tilting his head back down and pressing her tiny hand into his hair, "Samchon's sorry, you can play with it if you want," but she only cries harder, refusing to grip on.
Heeseung's never been the best with kids. He doesn't...
"Please calm down," he tries again. He gently presses his mouth to her little stomach, blowing gently - she always used to giggle when he or Heedo did that - and that's when he hears it.
A soft, low rumble.
"Oh," he realizes, "Oh, you're - you need to eat."
Fuck. How is he supposed to do any of this?
Gently, he shifts her higher in his arms and stands up, walking through his cold, dark apartment to the kitchen. He fumbles around to turn on a light, frowning in passing at the mess on the table that he hasn't cleaned since lunch. But he bypasses it in favor of the kitchen cabinet, fumbling through as he digs out the bottle Heedo left here last time - the last time he would ever be over.
Heeseung's hands won't stop trembling, but the motions of preparing it are simple enough and soon he's settling back into a chair.
Soyoung's still fussing, but her cries quiet into little whines as she spots the bottle, squirming around in his arms. "Shh," he whispers gently as he guides the nipple of it to her mouth.
She latches on, thank God, and her cries fade to soft gulps. A wave of relief rushes through him and he exhales deeply, stroking her soft hair.
"That's it," he whispers as she drinks greedily, fists clenching and unclenching against his chest. "Good girl."
When he pulls the bottle away, she lets out a small gurgle, and for a moment he thinks she's going to cry again - but instead, she bursts into a little laugh, beating her tiny fist against his chest, and then the noise softens to just her quiet breathing, and fuck.
He doesn't know how to do this. He doesn't know how to do any of this. But - But he has to, for her and for Haeyoung.
Fuck, he thinks, looking up at the ceiling of the room. It isn't anywhere near a powerful enough word for what he's feeling right now - but it's all he has.
He knows he's not supposed to curse around the baby - Heedo had gotten so, so mad last time. But Heedo's not here to get mad anymore.
"Fuck," he breathes out into the silence, closing his eyes.
Two years later.
"Haeyoung!" Heeseung called from the kitchen. "Hurry! It's almost time to go!"
He flips the pancake on the pan, then takes it off the stove, placing it neatly on the plate. The can of whipped cream comes next, and he shakes it hurriedly - it's almost out, he'll need to buy more soon - before makes a little smiley face on top of the stack. The last couple of blueberries go right on the little whipped cream eyes, then finally he sets the plate on the kitchen island - just in time, as Haeyoung comes skidding into the kitchen.
She's gotten taller over the last couple of years, but she's still small for her age, only a little above half Heeseung's height. Her dark hair falls a little past her shoulders, and bright almond-shaped eyes light up at the food on the table.
"Lucky pancakes," she breathes. "You remembered!"
"Don't run in your socks," Heeseung scolds, but she's already scrambling into a chair, reaching for a fork. As she takes a bite, Heeseung glances over at the door, wiping his hands on the pink apron that he'd gifted Jay as a joke back in college yet had somehow ended up re-gifted right back to him, before untying it and taking it off. "Bag all packed?"
"Since last night," she replies through the mouthful she's just taken.
Heeseung grins. "Good job," he compliments, ruffling her hair as he passes by, and she beams at him. Then, she takes another bite of her pancakes, and her brow furrows.
"Are there no chocolate chips in these..?" she asks, face falling, and his heart drops. He knew she would notice.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he says softly, "We were out. I'll head to the store and buy more later..."
"It's fine, samchon!" she says, mustering up a smile, but he knows how important the pancake recipe is to her. Haeyoung tries her best not to ask for much, but that recipe is one thing she cares deeply about - Heedo used to make it for her on special occasions. Mixing it with him is a cherished memory of hers, and he knows how special today is for her.
"You excited?" he asks, trying to change the topic, and her face lights up. She's been gushing about starting school for the past month, ever since her friend Ahri's older sister told them about it.
"Unnie said they give us nametags with our names on the first day. I'm in the Cherry class, so mine's going to be shaped like a cherry!" she babbles excitedly. "Ahri's in the Lemon class, so she gets a lemon nametag," she leans in like she's telling a secret, "Ahri hates lemons, so she's really mad about it. She says she won't wear it."
"I see," Heeseung comments with a smile. He'll never get over the drama six-year-olds seem to have. "Finish your food," he reminds, checking his watch, "Sunghoon will be here soon."
Haeyoung's eyes light up. "Sunghoon-samchon is taking me?" She shovels the pancakes into her mouth as fast as she can. "Is Yeji-unnie coming too?"
"Unnie?" a littler voice repeats, and Heeseung's eyes fall to where Soyoung has stumbled out of the bedroom the two girls share. The little two-year-old rubs her eyes - probably surprised by all the noise this early in the morning - and Heeseung has to stifle a laugh at the rat's nest that her hair has become by reminding himself that later it'll be his job to get that all untangled.
"Good morning," he greets as Soyoung makes her way over to the island. She holds her arms out toward him expectantly, and he scoops her up, helping her into the seat next to Haeyoung.
She lights up at the sight of her sister's pancakes, reaching out with a little chubby hand to steal a bite - but Heeseung hurriedly pulls her away. "That's Haeyoung's," he scolds, "I'll make you some of your own after unnie goes, okay?"
Soyoung tilts her head, confused. She looks at her sister. "Unnie goes?"
"Yes," Heeseung replies, running a hand over her messy hair to at least pet it down a little bit, "Unnie is going to school today."
Soyoung pouts.
"Don't cry, Soyoung-ie," Haeyoung says, holding her head up self-importantly - clearly (and cutely) trying to act older than she really is, patting her on the head, "I'll be back this afternoon! And I'll tell you all about it."
"Not crying," Soyoung sulks, but Heeseung knows she'll probably be unhappy all day without her sister home.
"Anything else you need?" he asks as she finishes off her pancakes.
"No, samchon!" Haeyoung says, picking up a napkin and wiping her face.
"Okay," he says with a smile, "Why don't you go get your shoes and a hair-tie and go over to the couch, yeah? I'll get Soyoung-ie here a glass of milk."
Soyoung perks up slightly at that, though she's clearly trying to remain sulky. "Choc-lit?" she asks suspiciously.
Heeseung laughs. "Yes, chocolate," he agrees, pulling the cocoa powder out of a shelf.
A few minutes later, he makes his way over to the couch, as Soyoung, now slightly more agreeable, sips out of her favorite purple bendy straw. Haeyoung is brushing her hair as she kicks her feet, shoes lined up neatly in front of her.
"When is Sunghoon-samchon coming?" she asks, looking up at him with bright eyes.
Heeseung checks his watch. "In a couple of minutes, probably. Do you want me to help you with your hair?"
"Yes, please!" she says, handing the brush over to him and turning around. He gathers her hair together, running the brush through it a couple extra times for good measure - though it's really not necessary, Haeyoung is usually very carefully to brush out every tangle - before tying it into two little pigtails. Haeyoung brought him the hair-ties with bows on them, he notes with amusement, so he's careful to line it up nicely so that the bow is facing outward.
"Thank you!" Haeyoung says when he's done, already playing with one of the bows and looping it around her finger.
Heeseung's learnt from experience that it's not worth it to remind her not to tug, so instead he drops down to his knees, helping her into her shoes. "Make sure you thank Sunghoon-samchon for taking you, okay? Pay attention to your teacher, and -"
"I know, samchon," she huffs as Heeseung ties her shoes, "You told me yesterday."
"Sorry," Heeseung laughs, "Am I being over-the-top?"
"A liiiiittle," she says, squeezing her fingers together.
"I'll tone it down," Heeseung assures, but he can't quite help himself from being a little worried. It's her first day, and he won't be there if anything happens, after all -
The doorbell rings.
"I'll get it!" Haeyoung hollers, scrambling to her feet. Heeseung sighs before getting up and heading to the kitchen first, to fetch Soyoung, and then following her.
By the time he arrives, Yeji is already squealing, spinning Haeyoung around in her arms. It's her final year in high school, and she's clearly decided to stand out a bit - her uniform ever-so-carefully misaligned, her tie (intentionally, knowing her) loose. Her hair's been chopped short, Heeseung notes, to a bob length - looking eerily similar to her favorite idol, Chaewon.
"-so cute!" she's gushing, "Did Heeseung-oppa help you pick your clothes?"
Haeyoung wrinkles her nose. "I picked them," she explains proudly. "Samchon doesn't have any style."
Heeseung winces, but the accusation hits true.
Yeji, catching sight of him, grins. She leans down to boop Soyoung on the nose - much to Soyoung's displeasure, already in a bad mood as she is, her pout deepening as she hides behind Heeseung's leg.
"Hey, Yeji," Heeseung greets. "Is Sunghoon with you?"
"He's on his way up," Yeji rolls her eyes, "Had to find his keys first. He's so slow, oppa, he took two hours in the bathroom this morning."
"Yah, are you trash-talking me?" another voice asks, and Heeseung is met by the sight of his old friend coming down the hallway. Even dressed casually with just a white t-shirt and sweatpants, he looks stylish, running a hand through his hair. "Hey, hyung," Sunghoon greets, "Hey Haeyoung-ie, Soyoung-ie."
"Thank you for doing this, Sunghoon," Heeseung replies before the siblings can start bickering.
"It's no problem," Sunghoon dismisses, "The elementary school is right across the street from Yeji's school. It'd be a waste if I didn't."
"Still," Heeseung says, feeling a smile start to spread unconsciously as Sunghoon awkwardly accepts the compliment, a light blush spreading across his cheeks as he avoids eye contact.
He's still as shy about being appreciated as he was when they first met about a year ago, right after Sunghoon moved into the apartment complex. They had a rocky start (literally, with Jay throwing a rock at Sunghoon's head), but running into each other around the neighborhood brought them closer together - until one night in a convenience store at 2 A.M. sealed their friendship as set in stone, when Sunghoon admitted to being irritated at being forced by his parents to taki in Yeji, and Heeseung had quietly told him the story of his brother's death.
"We should probably get going," Sunghoon says now, rubbing at his shoulder, "or these two'll be late to class."
Yeji rolls her eyes. "If we're late because of anything, it'll be your two-hour showers, oppa."
"Yah-"
Haeyoung nearly scrambles out of Yeji's arms, running to get her backpack. In a flash, she's back, tugging on Yeji's arm while looking up at her with wide eyes. "Come, unnie, I can't be late on my first day!"
Yeji melts instantly. "Okay," she agrees, letting Haeyoung drag her along.
"Remember," Heeseung calls after them, "If anything happens, go to a teacher, or call -"
The girls are already gone.
"I'll remind her in the car," Sunghoon offers.
"Thank you," Heeseung mumbles, running a hand through his hair as Sunghoon jogs after the girls. "Just you and me now, huh?" he sighs as he scoops up Soyoung again, pressing a kiss to her hair in one last attempt to soften her scowl before he heads to work.
It doesn't work. His poor babysitter, Ta-ki, is going to have his hands full today.
<>
"So," Heeseung says with a smile as Haeyoung climbs into the backseat of the car, "How was your first day?"
"It was amazing," Haeyoung babbles, clearly buzzing with excitement. Even as she puts her seatbelt on, she's rocking back and forth, kicking her feet. "There was a girl named Mihee, and she's from Australia, samchon, and I talked to this boy named Wonbin but he was mean and tried to pull Mihee's hair, and..."
As she chatters, Heeseung feels his own worries start to lift. His day had been awful - one of his superiors had managed to delete some critical files for their next release and then forcing Heeseung to rebuild everything by hand, insisting they didn't trust these "newfangled technology machines" - but hearing her excitement makes all that stress loosen from his shoulders. He can't wait to get home and pick up Soyoung, and maybe make a nice kimchi jjigae to celebrate Haeyoung's first day -
Bzzt, bzzt.
Heeseung glances at his phone as the car slows down at a red light. His heart sinks when he sees the caller ID.
Boss No. 3
"Sorry, sweetheart," he interrupts softly, "I have to take this. You can finish your story right after, okay?"
He hits the accept button, wedging the phone between his shoulder and his ear.
"Hi, sir," he greets.
"I need you to cover a shift," his boss snaps bluntly.
Heeseung bites his lip, thinking. His schedule is pretty busy this week, but he could use the extra pay - he can afford to make time. "When for?"
"Tonight. Seven to one."
Heeseung frowns. He lowers his voice so Haeyoung can't hear the irritation creeping in. "I told you I couldn't do tonight two weeks ago, sir. I have other plans."
"You make tonight, or you lose this fucking job," the man explodes, and fuck, he's definitely drunk, his words slurred and angered. "I can't keep putting up with your bullshit. Anywhere else would've fired you after the first time you called out last minute because of your fucking kid - "
Fuck. Drunk or not, he sounds serious. And even if he's not, Heeseung can't risk it - he doesn't have the time to go on the job search again. Still, he tries, "Please, sir - "
"No fucking pleases, Heeseung. You're good enough, but you're not worth all your crap. You come in tonight or you never come in again."
The line goes dead.
Heeseung lets out a long, exhausted breath.
Fuck.
"Samchon?" a little voice asks timidly from the backseat, and its only then that he remembers where he is.
"Sorry, sweetheart," he replies, forcing a smile, "I might not be able to have dinner with you and Soyoung today. I have to go to work."
Haeyoung's face falls, and he knows, he's upset about it too. "Are we going to eat at Jay-samchon's again, then?" she asks, still holding onto a little bit of hope, and Heeseung's about to say yes when he remembers.
"We'll see," he hedges instead, "But don't worry, samchon will figure something out. Do you want to keep telling me your story?"
"No," Haeyoung says, clearly a little sad, "That's okay."
"You sure?" Heeseung presses. When she nods quietly, he sighs dramatically. "Then I guess you'll have to leave me on a cliffhanger of what Ahri had to say at lunch. How will I survive?"
Haeyoung tsks with an expression so self-important she has to have learnt it from Jay. "It wasn't what Ahri said, samchon, its what she did."
"Let me guess," Heeseung shakes his head with fake disappointment, "She played with someone else during lunch?"
"Mhm! I had Mihee, so it was okay, but we promised..."
Heeseung's forced smile softens into something more real as Haeyoung continues talking, clearly feeling a little better. But he still had to sort something out for the night...
<>
"Ah, Heeseung-ssi!" Ta-ki says, bolting up from the couch as soon as Heeseung unlocks the door. The high-schooler is clearly exhausted - Heeseung suspects he was right when he guessed Soyoung would run him ragged - but he doesn't complain. "I made fried rice for lunch from the stuff you had in the fridge, and she ate a decent amount. We watched TV for most of the day, but I made sure she took breaks and played with her stuffed animals too."
Haeyoung slips past them, taking off her shoes and running off to go find her sister as Heeseung forces a smile. "Thank you, Ta-ki." He lowers his voice to something softer. "Is there any chance you'd be willing to stay overnight today?"
Ta-ki looks genuinely apologetic as he shakes his head. "I would if I could, but I have a big math test tomorrow, and I really need to study."
Heeseung sighs, pulling out his wallet. "I figured I'd ask," he says with a smile as he pulls out the cash for today and hands it over.
He's lucky to have Ta-ki, he really is. Most babysitters aren't nearly as accommodating of Heeseung's constantly changing schedule. So he makes sure to throw in an extra five, pressing it into Ta-ki's hands despite his protests.
"Thank you, Heeseung-ssi," Ta-ki says, genuinely grateful, before heading out.
"Ah, wait," Heeseung says, as he remembers, "can you watch them for just a few more minutes? I need to run downstairs quickly."
"Okay," Ta-ki agrees, settling back onto the couch, and Heeseung all but sprints back downstairs to the floor below theirs, hurriedly knocking on the door.
It's not long before the door creaks open, revealing Sunghoon standing there, looking confused. "Hyung?"
"Sunghoon-ah, would you be able to watch the girls tonight?" he asks, "I got called in last-minute, and I..."
His voice dies out as he realizes its a lost cause, registering Sunghoon's outfit. He's dressed in his classic First Date clothes - a black shirt with a neck just low enough to show off his collarbone paired with a thin silver necklace, F1 jacket he bought for far too much money, and jeans that accent his long legs and waist.
More than a first date, it's his Get Lucky outfit.
"I'm really fucking sorry, hyung," Sunghoon says, fidgeting with his hands - he's always hated saying no to Heeseung, "But Yeji's out for a sleepover with her friends, and I'm not going to get this chance again for a long time. And it's just - "
"I understand," Heeseung says dimly, taking a step back, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him for even asking, at Sunghoon's distraught look.
"Really, hyung, if it were anyone else, I would cancel in a heartbeat," Sunghoon continues, "You know how much I love the girls. But it's just..." he fidgets with his wrist again, shyly, "He told me he would only give me the one chance..."
"It's fine," Heeseung laughs, waving it off, "I can't expect you to drop everything for them, I get it."
Sunghoon's frown grows. "But the girls - do you have anyone else to ask, hyung?"
"Don't worry about it," Heeseung dismisses, though he's afraid of the same thing. "Just focus on your date."
"Is something wrong with Jay?" Sunghoon presses, "Usually you go to him first."
Heeseung looks away. "It's not a big deal, just - " he worries at his lip with his teeth - "Jay's cousin is here, and I know he's having dinner with him tonight."
"Oh, that's it?" Sunghoon grins, relieved. "I thought it was something serious. I'm sure his cousin wouldn't mind the girls being over while he's there - in a house as big as Jay's I bet they might not even interact."
Heeseung shakes his head. "It's not that, it's... Jay already does so much for the girls. I know he's really been looking forward to tonight, and I don't want to ruin his one day with his cousin because I can't find someone else to watch them for a few hours."
Sunghoon leans against the doorway. "Hyung, no offense, that's stupid," he says bluntly. "Call Jay and see what he says."
Heeseung shakes his head again. "I can't."
"Then I will," Sunghoon says, and before Heeseung can react, heslams the door in his face.
"Yah, Park Sunghoon," Heeseung bangs on the door, "Let me in!"
Through the door, he can hear Sunghoon's voice - intentionally loud enough to carry outside. "Jay? Hey, this is Sunghoon - you remember me, Rock Guy. Can you watch Haeyoung and Soyoung tonight?"
There's a long pause. Heeseung groans in disbelief.
The door swings back open, revealing Sunghoon with phone in hand - call still connected. "He says yes!" he announces cheerfully. "He's offended you asked me first, I think, judging from the curses he was spewing. I stopped listening half-way through."
Even from here, Heeseung can hear Jay's shouts through the phone. Sunghoon grins as he ends the call.
"Problem solved," he says brightly, and for the first time Heeseung understands why Jay is always threatening to punch him.
"Sunghoon, you can't just..."
"Shoo, hyung," Sunghoon says, maneuvering Heeseung and pushing him away from his door. "I have a date, and you have work to get to and kids to drop off."
Before Heeseung can reply, the door slams shut again.
He wonders, not for the first time, why all his friends are like this.
<>
"Why did you ask Sunghoon first, hyung?" Jay demands through Heeseung's phone speaker. He had called almost immediately after Sunghoon had slammed the door, but Heeseung had put off answering until Haeyoung and Soyoung were buckled into the car, overnight bags ready to go. "Those are my god-daughters, I get priority!"
"What's a god-daughter?" Haeyoung pipes up the backseat.
"It means if for some reason I'm... not there, Jay will take care of you," Heeseung explains.
"Oh," Haeyoung nods in understanding. "Were you our god..."
"Father," Heeseung supplies, his grip on the wheel tightening. He knows what she wants to ask.
"Godfather before, when eomma and appa were alive?"
"No, that was different," Heeseung explains as lightly as he can. "I'm your appa's brother, so of course I was going to take care of you. I didn't need to be your godfather. Since Jay-samchon and I aren't related, though, we made it official that way."
Haeyoung nods slowly, though she still seems a little confused.
"Back to the point," Jay cuts in, "What the... heck, hyung?"
Heeseung sighs. "Shouldn't you be entertaining your cousin?" he asks pointedly.
Jay snorts. "He's having the time of his life right now watching this from the couch. I've never seen him laugh this hard."
Heeseung hesitates. "Is he - are you really okay with having the girls over? It's not too late for me to find something else," he offers quietly.
"You don't get it. I'd kick this loser out for the girls in a heartbeat - I've been trying to get rid of him all night."
There's a muffled protest in the background.
"...If you heard what he said, it's not true."
"I heard nothing."
"Good. I hate this guy."
"No, you don't," Heeseung says at the same time as another muffled reply in the background that he suspects says the same thing, judging by the way Jay immediately starts arguing back against both of them. "Look, I'm pulling into your driveway now, yeah? I'll call you back."
Haeyoung makes a confused noise. "But samchon, we're not at their house yet..."
Heeseung ends the call.
Haeyoung looks between the phone and Heeseung. "You adults are weird," she proclaims, before turning back to her attempts to braid her half-asleep sister's hair.
A few minutes later, they do pull in, to Jay already waiting outside, arms wrapped tight around his thin silk robe, with a half-hearted glare. "You made me come out in the cold," he grumbles, and Heeseung can't help but laugh as Jay pulls the robe tighter.
Together, the two of them help the girls gather their things. Heeseung hoists a sleepy Soyoung up further into his arms as Haeyoung clings to his free hand, tugging him toward the house.
"It's cold out, samchon," she says, making a face, "Hurry up!"
"I agree," Jay replies, shooting Heeseung a pointed look before leaning in closer to Haeyoung, taking her hand with a faux-whisper, "We should go inside, and lock your samchon out here to suffer."
Haeyoung grins a little wickedly, letting go of Heeseung to follow him.
"You wouldn't do that!" Heeseung calls after them. When Jay speeds up, he says, "I have Soyoung with me!"
Jay groans, slowing down and turning around. "Hurry it up!" he yells.
Heeseung catches up to them soon enough, and together, they enter the house.
The warmth of Jay's house, as always, hits immediately, the fireplace in the entryway crackling away merrily. The scent diffuser today smells like a soft lavender - a scent Soyoung seems to dislike, from the way she nuzzles further into Heeseung's shirt.
"Looks like she's already out," Jay notes quietly. "Has she eaten yet?"
Heeseung shakes his head. "Didn't have time."
"I'll wake her up for a little food and let her go back to sleep," Jay says. He starts to reach out, as if to offer to take her, but with one look at Heeseung's expression he backtracks. pretending to fuss with his robe instead. Heeseung is grateful - he's not ready to let her go this soon.
"I'll - " Heeseung pauses, clearing his throat, "I'll get them both set up in their room, and then go."
"Alright," Jay says softly.
They both avoid eye contact.
"I'll make them something nice for dinner," Jay says awkwardly, after a moment, "I bet it's been a while since they've had a nice, home-cooked meal."
"I cook for them at home!" Heeseung protests.
"I said nice."
Heeseung rolls his eyes. "My cooking isn't that bad anymore! I've come a long way since high school."
Jay gives him a dubious look.
"Is your cousin still here?" Heeseung asks curiously, glancing around before realizing the pointlessness of the gesture. If he was, he'd be somewhere deeper inside, after all.
"Yeah, he's staying overnight," Jay glances over at Heeseung, "I hope you're okay with that? Like I said, I'd kick him out in a heartbeat. He's been here long enough already."
"Why wouldn't I be okay with it?" Heeseung asks.
Jay starts leading them toward the living room. Haeyoung's already slipped off somewhere - probably to go to the guest room she and Soyoung usually share and claim her side of the bed first. "I don't know. A guy you don't know in a house with your kids..."
Heeseung shrugs. "Yeah, but it's your house. I trust you. If he wasn't safe, you wouldn't keep him around."
Jay grins - something natural and at ease - and Heeseung knows he's been forgiven for what happened earlier.
"Complimenting me won't make me forget you asked Sunghoon first."
Never mind.
"I mean really, hyung," Jay continues, going into full-blown rant mode, "After everything? I've been with you and the girls from the start - I was the first one they called samchon who wasn't you!"
"I didn't realize it'd hit your pride so hard," Heeseung tries to joke. When it doesn't quite land, he adds, "It's because you've spent so much time with them, and with me, helping us. I wanted you to get a day off."
"You say that like I'm doing a job, or something," Jay replies, meeting Heeseung's eyes with something more serious. "It's not - I never need a day off from..." He cuts himself off before he can finish the sentence, looking away again, but Heeseung has a suspicion he knows what Jay wanted to say.
"Thank you," Heeseung says, a little softer, more earnest than before.
Jay clears his throat. "I can take care of the girls tomorrow morning too, if you want to sleep in. I can bring them to school and everything - "
"Don't push your luck, Jongseong," Heeseung says, but he's smiling. "Mornings with them are my thing and you know it."
When they arrive - at the dining room, Heeseung notes, not the living room like he'd expected - Jay opens the door for him, letting him step in first. "I already set up the taller chair for Soyoung," he explains. Sure enough, the table is already set, too, with plates laid out for four people.
Gently, Heeseung taps Soyoung's head. "Hey, sweetheart," he says when she blearily looks up, "Jay-samchon made dinner for you and Haeyoung-ie."
At the sound of Jay's cooking, Soyoung lights up, foggily squirming around in Heeseung's arms to look. He sets her down in her seat, then looks back at Jay.
"If you want to go call Haeyoung and get their stuff set up," Jay offers, holding Soyoung's overnight bag out, "I'll get food out, so they can eat and get some rest."
"Alright," Heeseung nods. But before he goes, over his shoulder, "Jay."
"Yeah?" Jay asks.
"Today was Haeyoung's first day of school, and she's really excited about it. Can you - "
"I'll let her talk my ear off, don't worry," Jay says with a grin, and Heeseung smiles back at him, then finally heads for the guest room.
When he arrives at the room, he finds Haeyoung's bag on the bed, on the side she always claims, like expected - but Haeyoung herself is nowhere to be found. Assuming she's probably in the attached bathroom washing up, Heeseung starts unpacking their bags, setting out the girls' nightclothes for bedtime and placing Soyoung's favorite stuffed animal on her side.
By the time he's nearly finished, he knocks on the door of the bathroom. "Haeyoung? Are you done?"
Nothing.
After a few moments, he opens the door. It's empty. He places their toothbrushes in the little cup next to the sink, before stepping back out.
"Haeyoung?" he calls, louder, "Where are you?"
He has a suspicion already.
Haeyoung had developed a fascination with pianos after Ahri started getting lessons - and Jay had a beautiful grand piano in the living room.
"Haeyoung?" he calls again, as he walks closer to the living room, and sure enough, he can hear a girl's voice in there. "Haeyoung," he sighs, exasperated, as he opens the door, "What have I told you about - "
Oh.
Haeyoung's in the room, like Heeseung expected - but she's not alone, and she's not messing with Jay's expensive piano either. She sits, deep in what seems to be (on her end, at least) a very serious conversation with a young man who Heeseung is sure he would remember having seen before. He's good-looking in a way that would be hard not to notice, with dark hair falling in loose waves that framed sharp, almost feline eyes, shining with a light humor to them. He wore a grey tank top that showed lean muscles, paired with black jeans, and he was nodding along to everything Haeyoung said, listening very intently.
He glances up as the door opens, and smiles at Heeseung, subtly pressing a finger to his lips in a gesture to let her finish.
Heeseung's eyes land on the picture book laid out on the table in front of them - one of more than a few he remembers Jay buying to gift to Heedo for the girls, back before... before everything happened. He hasn't seen them in ages - he wonders where Haeyoung found them.
"...and samchon sings to us before bed, when he can, and in one of his songs there's a kitty, and when I picture that kitty it looks a lot like you too." Haeyoung finishes earnestly. It's then when Heeseung notices the picture book is open to a page filled with cats.
The young man nods, considering her points thoughtfully. "You make a good argument," he says, before playfully nudging her, "But don't you think Jay's more like a cat than I am?"
Haeyoung shakes her head furiously. "No way! Jay-samchon's not a cat. He's a Jay! It's in his name!"
"But I'm a cat?" the young man asks ruefully, though he's still smiling.
"I don't know your name, mister," Haeyoung says bluntly, and that's Heeseung's cue to step in before she can offend anyone.
"Haeyoung," he says softly, and she looks up at him wide-eyed, "Jay-samchon's made dinner for you."
Haeyoung gasps, brightening up - before hesitating, glancing back at her new companion.
"Soyoung's already there. If you don't hurry, she and Jay-samchon will take all the best bits of meat," he adds, and that clinches it for her. She scrambles to her feet, bidding a quick goodbye to her new friend and racing out.
"Sorry about that," Heeseung says, stepping further in and bowing politely, "She tends to get a little excited."
"No worries," the young man replies with a grin, "I'm glad she's having fun." He gets to his feet - he's a little shorter than Heeseung, but not by that much - and holds out his hand to shake. "Heeseung, right?"
Heeseung tilts his head. "Have we met before?" he asks curiously. There's an above-zero chance of it - he and Jay have known each other since they were kids, he's met several of Jay's relatives - but he feels somehow like he would remember this one.
The young man shakes his head, which is somehow relieving. "If we have, it wasn't in a way that matters. I just figured it was you. Jay never stops talking about you, you know."
"Oh?" Heeseung asks, startled.
"Also," the young man admits, "I heard your call with Jay earlier, and he told me you were coming over."
Heeseung flushes slightly, embarrassed. "Ah. Right," he clears his throat, "Well, nice to officially meet you. I'm Lee Heeseung."
"Yang Jungwon," the young man greets easily. "Nice to meet you, Heeseung-ssi."
"You too," Heeseung replies, almost automatically. It's only after that he realizes he probably can (and should, considering how close he knows this cousin is to Jay) correct him. "You can call me hyung, by the way."
Jungwon flashes a grin at him. "Heeseung-hyung, then. And your daughter...?"
"Not my daughter," he corrects, "My niece."
"Right, sorry," Jungwon says with a quick nod that shows he knows at least some of the story there, probably from Jay. "I didn't catch her name."
"Haeyoung," Heeseung replies, a soft smile forming unconsciously.
Jungwon nods. "Pretty," he compliments, "Easy to remember."
Though the compliment isn't aimed at him, something about it makes him glance away, oddly flustered.
His eyes land on the clock.
6:52 P.M.
Shit. "I have to go," he says hurriedly, panic setting in. He's going to be late, and his boss is already pissed. "But I'll see you again soon?"
The words come out more questioningly than he intended, but Jungwon only smiles. "I hope so," he says, voice a little softer than before, and Heeseung is reminded that Jay had mentioned his cousin being a little lonely.
But Heeseung doesn't have time to dwell on his words. He calls a quick goodbye in the direction of the dining room in hopes that Jay or the girls will hear him, and bolts for the car, muttering a quick prayer that he'll make it in time.