Chapter Text
The streets of Seoul were empty in the evening, and most people stayed at home to hide from the cold December wind outside. A few cars were brightening the streets with their lights, leaving tracks in the freshly fallen snow. The winter this year was colder than the last one. Harsher. With cruel icy wind biting at the bone without mercy.
A young omega sat alone in a coffee shop. Protected by a glass front from the cold weather outside, doing what he liked to do the most at such relaxed times. He simply observed the world outside and enjoyed every minute of it while it lasted.
He held a cup with his slim fingers in an elegant posture close to his face, the eyes moving up to the dark sky. The falling snowflakes, brightened by the streetlights, were covering the streets in a soft, fluffy-looking layer of snow. The view was breathtaking. Peacefully.
Jazz music was filling the coffee shop, at the perfect volume, not too loud to block any conversations but not too quiet either. The male tilted his gaze off from the wonderful view outside, sipping the hot chocolate that had been added last week to the assortment of drinks.
The sweet chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, elicited a hum out of the omega. He leaned back, legs crossed, the thumb running over the white porcelain of the cup. Someone stopped at the table, coughing shortly to get the male's attention.
“Boss? The last customer left a minute ago, should I lock the coffee shop and start cleaning?” He asked carefully while holding a tray in front of his body. The beta was a new employee since last month. Or 'newbie' as they liked to call him, but in a lovely and friendly way. The beta liked to work in such a great coffee shop and he did not want to mess this chance up. The omega's lips were pulled into a soft smile.
“Jungwoo, I told you to call me Taeyong. Or Tae, I don't mind. I may own this coffee shop, but I don’t want this formality in here. We don't live in this hierarchy style in here. We're like a second family. Yeah, I’m still your boss, that’s true, but I want you to call me Taeyong. Just like everybody else,” Taeyong said smiling, sipping the chocolate, and stood up when the sweet liquid was gone.
“Please lock the shop, we won’t get any customers at this late hour anymore. I take care of the earnings of this day while you and Taeil can clean up. When you’re done, you both can leave and enjoy the evening," Taeyong took the cup he just had used and watched Jungwoo irritated when he took it out of his hand.
“I need to check the kitchen anyway, I take care of it,"
“That's kind of you, thanks," Taeyong smiled appreciating, taking a deep breath. “I’ll stay another hour, paperwork. I’m in my office if anything should be the matter. Alright?”
“Okay,” Jungwoo smiled shyly. This was his fourth day of working and he didn’t want to mess things up, especially not with a kind boss like Taeyong and the workmates.
Taeyong patted his shoulder in a calm but grateful manner and walked into his office in the back of the store. Starting his laptop he took the letters that laid on the desk since this morning, reading one after one, focused and calm. When a knock filled the silence he looked up from his laptop, seeing Jungwoo and Taeil standing in the doorframe.
“We finished Taeyong. Is there anything else we can help you with?”
“Oh, no. I’m just doing some paperwork,” He said assuring. “You two can go home, but take care. The streets are frozen and it’s dark already. Make it home safe,”
“Don’t stay too long or overwork yourself. I see you in the morning!”
Taeil waved with a light smile and led the way for Jungwoo who had a few troubles to orientate himself in this coffee shop. Taeyong heard the backdoor being closed, rolling his shoulders carefully when the silence surrounded him again.
To open and own a coffee shop had been a big dream of Taeyong for years. It had started with the first time visiting his grandparents at their workplace. They had owned a coffee shop, and it just had been a wonderful time whenever he could stay with them during their work.
He got free cookies, and cacao, and adored the way his grandparents were always happy and kind. Not like his parents when they returned from work. Mostly stressed or exhausted.
His parents had to close the business when his grandparents died because they didn’t have any knowledge nor did they want to run this place.
When they passed, god may bless them, he had been too young and still in high school, to run the place on his own was no option. To keep something of them alive in his life, Taeyong decided back then that he wanted to own a coffee shop as well.
And here he was now. And he fucking loved it.
Being only twenty-five years old, Taeyong was the owner of the famous coffee shop he named ‘Neo Zone’. The beginning had been rough, multiple ups and downs were his daily companion but now, after hard work and a lot of support from his friends and family, it was going pretty well.
The ‘Neo Zone’ had gained popularity among college students mostly, the campus being only twenty minutes of walking.
The coffee shop was his everything and like a second home. Every time he entered, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastry filled his nostrils, making him think back to the good old days with his grandparents. Taeyong had organized the shop in a cozy, relaxing style. Dark wooden tables, flowers, and plants in every corner to make it look comfy and alive, and soft cushions on the benches against the wall.
A glance at the clock pulled the omega out of dreaming, forcing him back into reality. It had gotten late and he should head back home. Sliding into the coat he grabbed his bag, left the building through the back door, and locked it with shivering hands by the coldness.
The wind was biting at his bones, forcing his body to shiver out of the cold. He pulled the beanie deeper into his face, looking up into the sky, a chuckle passed his lips when the snowflakes were touching his face, melting on the skin.
Taeyong reached the building complex he lived in after a small walk of fifteen minutes, taking the stairs up to the sixth floor for his body's sake. Rumoring through his bag for the keys, he didn’t notice the apartment door opposite his was being opened.
“Hey! Tae!”
He jumped thrilled, and spun around to see the source that was calling out for him. His neighbor, and best friend since childhood Doyoung, was waving at him excitedly. Even tho the post-heat symptoms were taking a toll on his body, he seemed okay. He was leaning against the doorframe, a knitted sweater being pulled tighter around his cold body.
Taeyong smiled caring, touched his forehead in concern but sighed relieved. He had looked after Doyoung during his heat and it was relieving that the fever went down completely.
“You should stay in bed Doyoung. You’re still smelling after your heat, and you have not recovered enough,”
“I’m fine Tae,” The omega smiled weakly and took a deep breath. “I just needed some movement inside my apartment,”
“Ahh, okay. But get back to bed soon, alright? I head out to get groceries after a quick shower and then I cook some dinner for us. Sounds good?”
“That would be great,”
Taeyong patted his friend’s shoulder caring before he pushed him back inside. Waving smiling he turned around to get into his own on the other side. After a quick shower, he heated the leftovers of yesterday and checked the input of his fridge. Writing a few notes down he slumped at the table, starting to eat with some classical Christmas songs from the speakers he got last year from his parents.
He hid a yawn behind his palm, pushing the plate away to rest his upper body in exhaustion on the wooden table. Eyes falling close he focused on breathing calmly through his nose, letting the music relax his tense muscles and mind. Brows pulled together he made a distress sound, opening one eye to look at the phone when the music was interrupted by the ringtone. Rubbing his eyes he took the call, observing the snow falling outside.
“Hey Mom,” He said soft, dreamy even. “Why are you calling?”
“Does a mother need a reason to call my only son?” The soft tone in his mother's voice was making him forget everything that busied his mind. Taeyong walked slowly to the window to have a better view of the snowflakes.
“No, not really. I was just curious that you call at such an hour. Somethings happened?”
“Don’t worry, your dad and I are fine. How is the coffee shop going? Everything’s fine?”
“It is running so good Mom!” Taeyong smiled brightly, sitting on the couch. “I might, if things are going pretty well for the next few months, expand! Like, opening another coffee shop in another part of the city. The shop is overrun by customers lately and it’s going pretty awesome.”
“That sounds great. We’re proud of you Taeyong even tho we had our thoughts,” He smiled brightly when his mother praised him. “Even tho the coffee shop is going pretty well, I have another question. Is there any news concerning the relationship topic?”
“Oh god, mom! I knew this call had another meaning as well,” Taeyong laughed loudly, scratching his scalp. “Unbelievable. But no. There is no person in my life that I call my lover or partner. No boyfriend at the moment. I just didn’t find the right guy or someone I’m attracted to. Sorry to disappoint you, mom,”
“It's alright. I wouldn’t want to force you into anything, it’s your life after all. Just remember, you won’t stay young forever, and the alphas are neither. Keep that in mind.”
“Will do. As soon as I meet someone, I tell you. I promise. However, I need to head to the grocery store. My fridge is empty and Doie needs something as well. I’m calling you again soon, alright?”
“It’s fine. Have a good night and we love you. Maybe we stop by sometime at the ‘Neo Zone’ coffee shop to try that amazing coffee our pup is making,”
“I’d love to. I have to go, bye!”
Taeyong ended the call and slid into his shoes and coat. Pulling the beanie over his face, Taeyong left the building to reach the grocery store before closing hours. Doyoung had texted him the list of things he would need.
Slowly he stepped through the store, trying to find every single product that was on his list. Five minutes before closing he paid for everything, and put the products carefully into his bag.
The wind had gotten rough when he stepped out of the building. Arms crossed he stepped through the snow that was crunching under his feet. He decided to take a small walk through the park to take in the view of the frozen lake, the snowed-in meadows, and the trees. The weather report mentioned a blizzard by tomorrow, so he should use the chance he got for today.
The park was empty, not many people were walking around, most of them already in their homes to keep themselves warm. No surprise at this late hour. Hands buried in the pockets that protected them from the cold, Taeyong walked peacefully through the park, inhaling the cold night air that was dancing around his nose. Trying to push his body around like a ball.
Taeyong left tracks of his feet in the untouched snow. It was a shame but joy at the same time. Stopping at the lake he took a deep breath, arms crossed slowly. The small moments and gifts life was giving, were something Taeyong loved to enjoy. Just like now. The snow was only permanent and would fade when winter was over, this beautiful view would be ruined by children playing snowball fights or making snowballs. He closed his eyes for a while to take in the peaceful silence surrounding him until the snow was getting heavier.
Taeyong headed to the nearest exit to his home and stopped abruptly when he passed by a bench. Blinking irritated he turned his body lightly to a second glint just to make sure he hadn’t imagined it.
On the bench, in this cold weather and snow, sat a little child that was swinging its legs back and forth. Its gaze was tilted to the ground, nose as red as a cherry. He was watching the snow fall onto earth out of curiosity. It was normal that children would sit on benches and observe the snow or even play in it. But what irritated Taeyong the most was the fact, that the boy couldn’t be older than five and it seemed that he sat there for a while already. With no adult nearby to look after him. Children would normal be asleep or in bed at this hour and not on a bench in the middle of a park
A small layer of snow was on his legs, hair was wet from the amount that had melted on it. He wasn’t even wearing any gloves or a beanie to protect his thin body from the cold. The pup was definitely not properly dressed for such a kind of weather. Especially not for the cold December month.
Taeyong spun around, observing the park for somebody, hoping that the parent or another family member was being around. He even called out for anyone nearby in hope his parents would be around somewhere but he received no reply. Someone had left the child out here on his own, but where was that person? And why leaving a child out here by himself??
Sighing he turned his head back to the child, biting his lower lip. The child’s body was shivering hard from the coldness, hands clung tight to the straps of his bag. Taeyong couldn't just witness this child all by himself in the park and go home without checking if he was alright. It was too cruel and something inside of him ordered him to stay. To make sure the child was alright, or anyone nearby to take him home.
Carefully, not to frighten that poor thing, he walked closer in small steps and crouched down to look that boy properly into the eyes. Taeyong gifted him with a soft, but worried smile when he looked into big brown eyes.
“Hey Sweety, is everything alright? Where are your parents?” Carefully, not knowing how the boy would react, he cupped one of the ice-cold cheeks, warming it softly with his body heat. “You are way too cold pup,”
The boy's cheeks and nose were red, caused by the cold, and his breathing was short. He was clothed in a thin cotton jacket, pants, and drenched shoes. Taeyong assumed that the boy had probably played a bit in the snow a while ago out of boredom or for fun. The boy was leaning into the soft, soothing touch of the warm palm, shrugged helplessly, and avoided the eye contact.
“M-my nanny said I need to stay until s-someone named, umm…, Yu-yunjin is picking me up,”
“Oh, okay. That’s alright. I this Yunjin nearby?” Taeyong caressed the cold cheek with his thumb and held back a sigh when the boy only shook his head. “Do you know when your nanny left? Or... did she tell you when she is coming back?”
“N-nanny left when the sun was gone. Yunjin is picking me up. And that we meet at Yunji’s place again,”
Taeyong gasped shocked, eyes wide open. The sun had sunk four hours ago, if not even longer. Licking his lips he wiped the snow slowly off the child’s legs, pulling his black beanie over his head to warm him a bit. The boy lifted his head trembling, touching the fabric of the beanie carefully. A sweet smile appeared on the child’s face when he retook the straps of his bags.
Taeyong couldn’t understand how someone could be so cruel to such a sweet child.
Who would leave a child alone during this weather all by himself? In this cold? Especially with a blizzard coming up?! Who dressed him in thin clothes that weren’t able to keep him warm during these temperatures? Whoever this nanny was, she should be fired. Put into jail even. Gifting the small boy with a soft smile, Taeyong took his trembling hands, leaning forward to rest them against his cheeks.
“Did your nanny say when Yunjin is going to pick you up?” He asked worried, pulling his lower lip between his teeth when the boy shook his head. “Alright. What’s your name sweety? I’m Taeyong.”
“J-jeno, Mr. Taeyong.”
“It’s nice to meet you Jeno. Please call me Tae. Do you mind if I sit here with you until this Yunjin shows up? To give you some company?”
Jeno was wiggling with his feet, staring at his slightly blue hands. Slowly he looked up to the adult and nodded with a weak smile. Taeyong wiped the snow off the bench and sat close to the shivering boy. He put his arm around Jeno and pressed caring into his side to give him support and warmth.
“Jeno?”
“Hmm?” Jeno had pressed his body into the welcoming warmth, eyes already closed.
“How old are you?”
Jeno looked up with his big brown eyes, holding four fingers toward the adult's face. Taeyong rumored in his bag for his gloves, helped the boy to slide his shivering hands into it. The gloves were way too big but did their job at the moment. The child’s fingers and toes must be numb by the cold, the tummy growling for something to eat.
Taeyong dropped his bag on the ground, checking the products he had bought, and tried desperately to find something that the boy could eat to soothe his tummy. Unwrapping a sandwich he had planned to eat in the morning, he held it up in front of Jeno’s face, encouraging him with a smile to eat it.
Jeno took it carefully, eyes sparkling up with happiness, drool barely sliding out of his opened mouth. Taeyong observed him quiet, rubbing his arm with slow motions before he dared to ask this child another question.
“Do you know this Yunjin, Jeno? Did your nanny introduce you two?”
“No,” He answered honestly, sneezing loudly when a snowflake landed on his nose. “Nanny said I need to be a good boy. Papa raised me to be good, so I wait,”
“I see. But there is a huge storm coming up tonight. You can not wait any longer out here by yourself. It is getting colder, the snowflakes are getting thicker and a park isn’t a good place for a boy like you. Why don’t you come with me? My place is close, and I could cook us something delicious. You must be freezing and your body needs some rest. We go to the police tomorrow so your nanny can find you again. Or your papa. He must be worried already and look out for you,”
“Nanny said papa is busy. And that we do an adventure. Like a really big adventure!” The boy looked with big eyes at him, an adorable yawn leaving his mouth. “Papa said never go with strangers. Yunjin is a friend of nanny so Yunjin is not a stranger,”
“Your papa taught you well,” He said proudly, rubbing his back encouraging. “But it's cold and I think you could use a warm bath and something to eat. I promise I am not harming you, I want to help you. I’m an omega, just like you and if you feel uncomfortable, you tell me immediately. Alright? I cook something for us, you can take a long hot bath if you like, and tomorrow we look out for Yunjin,”
Jeno was looking at him in hesitation. His Papa always told him not to go with strangers, and that he needed to scream very loud if he felt in danger. But somehow he trusted the adult. He was really kind, and pretty and even gave him the beanie and gloves to warm up! Oh, and something to eat.
Jeno nodded after a short moment carefully, rubbing the hands together. Taeyong took off his coat, wrapping it around the shivering child to keep him safe and sound. Smiling he pulled the beanie down to Jenos eyebrows and rose to his feet. With patience and care, he picked the child up, pressed the boy against his chest, and reached for his grocery bag.
Taeyong had one hand safely underneath the legs of the young boy, keeping him close to his body. A shiver ran down his spine when Jeno buried his face out of reflex into his neck, seeking warmth and comfort.
Taeyong carried the boy immediately into his apartment, to get him out of the cold. After sliding out of his shoes he rushed into the bathroom where he put Jeno onto the closed toilet seat.
When the child whined due to the lack of physical contact he took his hand into his with a slight smile. Taeyong put the coat off the boy's body, dropped it on the floor, put the bag of Jeno onto the tiles, and helped him out of the drenched clothes that clung to his body like a second skin.
“Cold,” Jeno whined tired, eyes tearing up out of the pain the coldness was causing. “It hurts,”
“I know Sweety, I know. It will be better once you are in the bathroom. You just need to be brave a bit longer, can you do that?”
“D-don’t know if I can,” The tears were sliding down the red chubby cheeks of Jeno, dropping onto his legs.
Taeyong huffed helplessly. This situation was new to him. He had never taken care of children that age nor in this situation. It didn’t happen that often that he finds a child, in the middle of the night in an empty park during December. He tried his best to stay calm to not panic the child further. Carefully he lifted Jeno and lowered him slowly into the warm water to not overwhelm his ice-cold skin or body.
Jeno winced when his feet were underwater, and pulled them close to avoid contact. After a while, he relaxed and held his breath when he was lowered deeper into the bathtub. Taeyong rubbed his back comforting, booped the red nose of Jeno, and smiled when he heard his adorable giggle between the hiccups.
“I just have my body lotion, but it will probably do it,” Taeyong mumbled to himself, reached over to the body lotion, and rubbed it slowly into his skin.
Booping Jeno’s nose he smiled shortly when the child giggled between quiet hiccups before he continued to cry. The boy felt his toes and fingers coming back to life slowly, the warm water making the pain fade away. After fifteen minutes he lifted Jeno out of the bathtub, wrapped him into one of his big fluffy towels, and held him close to his chest while heading into the bedroom to find some fitting clothes for him.
“My clothes might be a bit too big for you Jeno, but I hope that’s okay,”
Taeyong put the boy onto his bed and pulled a hoodie and shorts out of his wardrobe. He watched the child observing the hoodie, and it was pretty adorable how he played with the long sleeves. He stroked over his head silently and crouched in front of him while straightening the hem of the hoodie.
“Are you feeling a bit better Jeno?”
“Uh-huh!” The four-year-old smiled happily, waving with the long sleeve. “Thank you, Mr. Tae!”
“Just Tae, Sweety. Why don’t you get super comfortable in the bed while I make you something small to eat?”
“Umm…,” Jeno looked over his shoulder before he crawled further onto the bed and slumped into the pillow at the head. Taeyong chuckled softly, walked around, and pulled the blanket up to his back.
“Or maybe the meal can wait till tomorrow,” Taeyong mumbled whispering as soon as he noticed the steady breathing of the child. “This day must have been exhausting. Good night Jeno,”
Taeyong checked once again if Jeno was safe and perfectly tucked into bed to get a good rest. He tip-toed out of the room to avoid any loud noises and rushed into the kitchen. He still needed to bring Doyoung something to eat and the groceries. With a pot in his hands, he left his apartment, knocked three times at his friend's door, and smiled when he was allowed to enter. Taeyong walked straight into the kitchen and put the pot on the heat and the groceries on the counter.
“I got everything you needed and made you some soup. I also got you some vitamin pills, thought they might be a little help. However, I need to get back to my place,”
“Already? I thought we could eat together,”
“I’d love to but there’s a crazy story I need to tell you,”
Taeyong leaned against the counter and stared with big eyes at his friend who stopped by his side, nudging his shoulder encouraging. “I’ve got time and would like to listen to it,”
“I was out to get groceries and took the shortcut through the park. But I spotted a little boy on a bench, body covered in a layer of snow, and thin clothes and he was lost. Or had been dropped there without any help. I talked to him and tried to find anyone nearby who belonged to that child but there was none. I couldn’t ignore him, knowing that a blizzard was coming up. He’s sleeping in my bed, his name is Jeno and he’s four years old. Only four Doie!”
“Woah, wait,” Doyoung put his hands together in front of his face, trying to process the information. “You found a four-year-old in the park at this hour all by himself?”
“That’s what I’m talking about! He explained that his nanny told him to stay there until someone named ‘Yunjin’ would pick him up. But he sat there for hours, alone! Anything could have happened to him!”
“Shit…,”
“Yeah, shit,” Sighing Taeyong bit his lower lip, and crossed his arms. “That’s why I need to get back. I can’t risk him waking up without me near, you know? Let’s talk about it tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure! No pressure, just make sure the child is okay. I text you tomorrow, okay?”
“Sounds great. And get some rest,”
Taeyong hugged Doyoung caring, rubbed his back before he let go, and headed back into his apartment. He closed the door behind him quietly, got ready for bed, and sneaked into the bedroom where Jeno was still sleeping like a rock. When he had changed the clothing, he sat on the edge of the bed and just watched the child sleep.
It wouldn’t be great if he slept in his bed as well. He wanted to give Jeno enough space to get used to everything. Soothing he caressed the child’s back before letting go. With another set of blankets and pillows, he got comfortable on the couch in the living room. The wind was howling outside, making him pull the blanket even tighter around his body to get some rest.
He was barely asleep when he heard a quiet voice calling out. Irritated he sat up, threw the blanket off his legs, and got onto his tired legs. He walked barefoot towards the bedroom, pushed the door open slowly, and spotted Jeno sitting in the middle of the bed. Concerned that something might be wrong he sat next to him, pat his head softly, and swallowed when Jeno was hugging his arm immediately.
“Everything’s okay Jeno, I’m here,”
“C-cold…I-I want my papa,”
“I know, I know,” he pulled him onto his lap and caressed his cheek with his thumb soothing. “I can stay with you in this bed tonight if you want,”
Jeno looked with big teary eyes at him and simply nodded. Smiling he nodded, slid down onto the bed and underneath the blanket. Lying on his side he lifted his arm when the child pressed into his chest, head tucked underneath his chin, his tiny hands resting against his chest.
“Good night Jeno,” He mumbled smiling, pulled the blanket up to Jeno’s chest, and waited until he was asleep before he tried to do the same.