Work Text:
Caffeinated Cat Cafe 2
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“Come on, come on '' Millie tugged on her papa’s arm as they began to reach the newly decorated ‘Caffeinated Cat Cafe’ shop.
“Mill, slow down” Jisung chuckled as he pulled the girl back towards him before the girl took off and rushed across the road or caused a disturbance.
“Wanna see Appa” the girl pouted lightly as Jisung picked her up making sure her skirt was neatly tucked under her so it wouldn’t fly around. Her coat hood fell down exposing her slightly messy hair.
“We will, but it’s a surprise, remember?” Jisung smiled lightly and brushed a few stray hairs that had come out of her braids that Minho had woken up extra early to do for the girl.
The pair eventually crossed over and reached the entrance allowing a couple to leave before they walked into the warm building.
It was the start of December and Minho had gone all out with decorating for the festive season. A tall Christmas tree -fake of course- in the corner was decorated in warm reds and greens, he had to trap the cats away just so he could decorate without the felines’ causing a mess. Among the usual yearly fairy lights that are up, Minho had added some more to add to the seasonal tinsel hanging around.
Jisung placed Millie back onto the solid ground so that she could run over to the counter.
“Appa!” She giggled as she stood on her tiptoes to peer over and see Minho cleaning down the counters.
A wide smile grew on the older boy’s face as he heard the familiar voice and turned to see Jisung picking Millie up so she could sit on the counter before immediately getting attacked with cuddles by Doongie.
“Hey, baby” Minho kissed his daughter on the forehead, pushing back the flyaway hair.
“I thought I was your baby” Jisung jokingly pouted as Minho gave him a grin.
“Hello to you too Babe” Minho leaned over the counter to give a quick chaste kiss.
“I thought you were working late today?” Minho asked as he started to make up a small babychoco for Millie and an iced Americano for Ji.
“Nope, I finished up a song early in the morning and then I just helped around with some of the trainee auditions and then left because the studio was booked out for interns” Jisung explained as he held Doongie to stop him from climbing over Millie.
“Extra marshmallows please Appa” Millie asked as she eyed up her babychoco.
Minho tutted, “You shouldn’t have any more sugar today Mils, maybe if you eat your veggies this evening I’ll give you some extra chocolate for dessert”
“Want now” Millie huffed and crossed her arms pulling a grumpy face.
Jisung chuckled at his daughter's behaviour and watched how Hyunjin poked his head around the corner at the small whine.
“Is that my favourite niece I hear??” Hyunjin let out a pretend gasp and rushed over to pick up Millie whose eyes widened and her frown flipped as she made grabby hands towards Hyunjin.
“Jinnie!” Millie giggled as Hyunjin picked her up and rested her on his hip.
“She’s your only niece Hyunjin” Minho rolled his eyes but smiled softly as Millie clutched onto his uniform and started babbling nonsense to him.
Minho made quick eye contact with Jisung and motioned him over to the table in the corner. Ji nodded and took the drinks from Minho as he quickly fixed up his own small snack to eat as a late lunch.
“Innie! I’m going on my break, so make sure Hyunjin doesn’t cause a mess and please make sure Hyunjin doesn’t let Millie touch anything. If anything, just get him to bring her back to me and Sung” Minho popped his head into the kitchen.
“Oh? Millie is here?” Jeongin perked up.
“And Jisung, but I’m sure you only care about my daughter” Minho acted slightly hurt.
Jeongin laughed and lightly pushed Minho out to the front and towards his fiancé. Finally, after three years Minho had gotten the courage to get down on one knee and only weeks later Jisung and himself were signing adoption papers to adopt Millie, she was only 3 at the time and the pair were absolutely smitten for the girl.
Minho made his way over to the small seating Jisung had chosen, he had now stripped from his beanie and coat showing off his blue jumper newly dyed blonde hair and very ripped jeans which ‘the cats attacked and pulled the threads’ making them bigger.
“How’s your day been?” Jisung asked as he took a sip of his iced americano as Poppy jumped up onto his lap.
“Been steady, but for the last hour we haven’t had many customers, you came at a good time, I don’t think Millie would’ve liked it much if you came during a busy hour” Minho hummed as he began cutting his almond croissant.
“Yeah, she seemed a bit stressed and anxious when I picked her up early from her school, the teacher told me that she was hiding away in the small kitchen playroom” Jisung tugged on his sweater as he peered over at the girl who seemed completely different now she was with Hyunjin and playing with one of Doongie’s paws.
Minho let out a small sigh hearing how she hadn’t improved much in the last few months.
“Do we think that she should change schools?” Minho questioned as he cut up some of his croissant to eat.
“I don’t know Min, I don’t want to make her move schools, she’s already struggling enough, will changing halfway through the school year do her any good?” Jisung bit his lip.
Before they could contemplate more over the topic Millie came bounding over dragging Doongie by the paw as if he was a plushie.
“Millie, baby, don’t hold Doongie like that, I don’t think he appreciates it” Minho gently separated the girl's grip from Doongie. The cat quickly retreated to the counter as Minho pulled his daughter onto his lap.
“Come on, drink your choco, I thought you were excited about it?” Minho bounced her lightly.
“But the extra marshmallows….” Millie pouted but still picked up the drink anyways.
“You remember what Appa said, if you eat your veggies you can get some chocolate later, and if you also stop complaining then maybe when we go to the shops I’ll let you buy something extra special” Jisung spoke to the girl as he leant across the table so he could keep eye contact with her.
“But….” Millie started.
“Nope, no buts Millie” Minho stopped her from trying to give a bizarre excuse as to why she should get extra sweets.
“Now come on Mills tell Appa what you did today, you kept talking all about it to me on the way here, I’m sure he’d love to know as well” Jisung motioned to the girl to prompt her to speak.
“I got to learn about stars and planets!” Millie grinned and she turned in Minho’s lap to look up at him with ease.
“Oh? Really? What did you learn?” Minho asked interested in why his daughter was so excited about it.
“I-I find out that you can play connect the dots with stars to make a shape”
Minho let out a small ‘ahh’
“Do you remember which ones you learnt?” Minho asked as he moved one of his hands to hold the drink Millie was now carelessly holding and could drop any second.
“Mmm, there was a bunny one! And some guy with a belt I think?” Millie frowned slightly as she tried to remember the different star patterns she had learnt.
“Oh! There was a large dragon one as well! That one is cool” Millie looked across to her Papa for help in remembering the others.
“Do you remember the planets you learnt? You know the small red one?” Jisung leant forward and stole a small slice of Minho’s almond croissant.
“I forgot..” Millie pouted but hopped down off Minho and quickly rushed off to go find a cat.
“Gosh, how does she still have so much energy after today?” Jisung sighed as he watched his daughter chase around one of the newer cats that had arrived only a week or so ago.
“You’d think she’s be exhausted after the days she’s had, I suppose she’s in a place she’s comfortable with and around people she knows so that helps.” Minho hummed as he snatched Jisung’s americano and took a few sips of it.
“Well we do have the parent's conference meeting thing next week so we’ll be able to find out more about it then” Jisung moved his hand forward to interlink his own hand lightly with Minho’s that was resting on the table, his thumb running over the silver band on his fiance's hand.
Minho glanced down at their linked hands and smiled softly, he gave Jisung’s hand a small squeeze.
“It’ll be okay, right? I don’t want Mills to be struggling all the time at school” Jisung glanced back over to Millie who had collapsed onto a beanbag hugging Rolo, clearly slowly crashing from the sudden rush of energy she had.
“We’ll figure it out baby, we can talk to her teacher about it next week and then decide on the different options, I know Mills would also appreciate getting the help she can get to get her more comfortable in the school setting and being around so many kids. She’s just not going to be vocal about it”
Jisung nodded and moved their connected hands up to his lips and kissed Minho’s hand lightly.
“I should get her home, luckily it’s not far away” Jisung chuckled as he started to gather up his coat and slide his beanie back on.
“I’ll be finished earlier today, Hyunjin and Innie have the closing shift so there’s only about two hours left for me.” Minho also stood up and made his way over to Jisung, closing the gap with just a couple of steps. Bringing his hand up to tug the beanie down just a tad more to cover his ears.
“You better get home quickly because I have a lot of new wedding ideas!” Jisung grinned as Minho took it upon himself to zip up Jisung’s coat.
“If it has anything to do with a cheesecake cake, you already know my opinion on that” Minho grinned as he pulled Jisung in for a kiss by the collar of his coat.
It was only a quick kiss nothing too passionate, but Jisung could tell immediately that Minho was still hooked on the idea of a massive cheesecake as their centrepiece, he had brought it up in conversation probably a week after they got engaged and Minho thought it was a genius idea and whenever Jisung wants to add more ideas, Minho is always adamant to stick with their cheesecake cake. He grinned lightly as he pulled the older closer before parting and making his way over to Millie who was lazily stroking Rolo, her eyes closing before she blinked them back open.
“Ok, come on sleepy head, let’s get you home” Jisung picked up Millie, allowing her to wrap her tiny arms around the boy’s neck.
“Bye bye Rolo” Millie gave a small wave to the cat who had moved further onto the beanbag to soak in the warmth of where Millie had been laying.
Minho approached the pair and gave Millie a small kiss on her forehead as she curled up and tucked her head into Jisung’s neck.
“See you when I get home” Minho smiled at his two loves and Jisung gave a small smile before waving and making his way to the door, he waved goodbye to Hyunjin and Jeongin who were serving a couple at the counter.
And when Minho came home that evening to see Jisung fast asleep on the sofa with Millie tucked against him, a blanket slowly falling off the pair, Minho’s heart felt just a tad bit fuller that evening.