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As the sun descended on their third wedding anniversary, both Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja found themselves yearning for something more in their lives. Despite basking in three years of wedded bliss, a deep desire for a fresh chapter stirred within them – one that would involve nurturing and caring for someone or something beyond themselves.
The notion of expanding their family was undeniably thrilling, yet the prospect of parenthood also felt daunting. Neither felt fully prepared to adopt a child, particularly when they already served as parental figures to several young adults - albeit unofficially. Nonetheless, they remained determined to give their boundless love to someone special, someone who might be with them always.
So, after a while of careful consideration, they found themselves drawn to adopting a beautiful white-furred kitten, whose bright eyes immediately locked onto the pair.
Now, with a week having passed since they welcomed Biyoo, as they named her, into their home, they find themselves settled cozily on the couch. Nestling onto Kim Dokja's lap, Biyoo purrs contentedly – it was as if she had found her soulmate in the gentle, caring man who holds her close at all times.
Though feeling a tinge of envy at Biyoo's clear preference for Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk can't help but admire the way they look together, two souls intertwined in perfect harmony. It was as if they had found each other at precisely the right moment, completing a missing piece in each other's lives.
"Looks like she's really taken a liking to you," Yoo Joonghyuk speaks softly as he brushes away some cat hair from Kim Dokja's clothes.
"Doesn't seem to be the case for you," Kim Dokja replies lightly, leaning his head against Yoo Joonghyuk's chest and smiling fondly.
Yoo Joonghyuk chuckles softly, "I guess I'll have to work harder to win her over."
He reaches out to pet Biyoo but she only turns her head at the gesture and nuzzles even further into Kim Dokja's chest. "But I'm glad she's found someone to love."
Kim Dokja hums in agreement, reaching out to scratch at Biyoo's ear when she stretches up on her hind legs to get closer.
In the midst of their conversation, Kim Dokja's stomach lets out a loud rumble, causing him to sheepishly rub his belly. He quickly averts his gaze, seemingly hoping that his husband hadn't noticed the noise, but when he glances up he meets Yoo Joonghyuk's knowing eyes.
"Someone's hungry," Yoo Joonghyuk teases.
Kim Dokja gives him a playful glare. "Between you and your clingy child," he gestures to Biyoo curled up on his lap, "I've barely had a moment to myself."
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes glint with warmth, a small smile playing on his lips. He gives a subtle nod in the direction of the kitchen. "I'll go make us something, then."
Kim Dokja's stomach rumbles in anticipation as he nods eagerly. "Please do."
Yoo Joonghyuk leans down and presses a kiss to his forehead before rising to his feet. "Be right back."
As Yoo Joonghyuk focuses on the task of cooking, the sounds of clanging pots and sizzling oil filling his ears, he can't help but overhear Kim Dokja's conversation with Biyoo from the living room.
"You know, Biyoo," Kim Dokja says, "I think we lucked out with him.”
Biyoo responds with a soft meow, and Yoo Joonghyuk feels a warmth in his chest at the thought of being appreciated by both Kim Dokja and their kitten.
He takes a quick glance over his shoulder to see Kim Dokja leaning back on the couch, his eyes closed in relaxation. He looks so at peace, with Biyoo curled up in his lap.
Yoo Joonghyuk's heart swells with contentment so profound it threatens to consume him entirely. He longs to embrace his little family and cling to them forever, never allowing the happiness they share to slip away.
So, he can't help but feel a sense of serenity – and it isn't because of the delicious smell of the food wafting through the air or the warmth of the stove at his front; it's the comfort of knowing Kim Dokja and Biyoo are just a few steps away, safe and content.
His family is safe and content.
And for Yoo Joonghyuk, that is enough.
For nearly two hours straight, Yoo Joonghyuk has been intently staring at the screen in front of him, his fingers poised above the keyboard as he tries to figure out why he can't pass the game level for the fifth time in a row.
Frustration etches deep lines across his forehead and he lets out a defeated grunt, a sound of surrender that is uncharacteristic for him. He slumps forward, weariness weighing heavily upon him, and buries his face in his hands.
Just as he's about to reset the game, a faint muffled sound reaches his ears from outside. The noise, though barely audible, captivates his attention in an instant. Intrigued, he rises from his seat and approaches the window. There, in their snow-covered yard, his eyes are drawn to a tiny kitten standing amidst a cluster of towering, snow-draped trees.
In perfect synchrony with the sound that captured his attention, a knock echoes from the door behind him. He turns around, and unsurprisingly he finds none other than Kim Dokja peeking his head inside. "Are you busy?"
His face brightens with a smile as he responds, "Not anymore." Closing the distance between them, he crosses the room and envelops his husband in a warm embrace. "What's wrong?"
In the shelter of Yoo Joonghyuk's arms, Kim Dokja releases a weary sigh and he buries his face against his chest. "I can't find Biyoo."
At that, Yoo Joonghyuk raises his eyebrows while tenderly running his fingers through the back of Kim Dokja's hair. "She's outside."
Kim Dokja's head lifts, hope flickering in his eyes as he processes Yoo Joonghyuk's words. "She is?"
"I just saw her outside in the snow."
"Oh." After another moment of silence, Kim Dokja continues, "Okay, I'll go get her."
Before Kim Dokja can move though, Yoo Joonghyuk gently grasps him by the waist, halting him in his tracks. "I'll come too." He quickly reaches for his thick sweater hanging from the nearby coat rack, deftly pulling it off and handing it to Kim Dokja. "And wear this."
"Sure thing," Kim Dokja agrees, giving Yoo Joonghyuk a peck on the cheek before heading off. "I'll wait downstairs."
Yoo Joonghyuk swiftly shuts down his computer and makes his way toward the living room. Immediately, his keen eyes catch sight of the door to their yard, ajar, allowing a glimpse of the snow blanketing the ground.
Yoo Joonghyuk approaches the sliding glass door with careful strides, his eyes fixed on the adorable ball of fur standing right behind it. With a gentle smile spreading across his face, he kneels down to greet the tiny kitten – but just as he's about to scoop her up, a sudden jolt of icy coldness crashes into him from behind, catching him off guard.
Startled by the unexpected impact, Yoo Joonghyuk gasps in surprise and swiftly pivots around to catch the source of the cold assault. Unsurprisingly, he finds that the perpetrator is none other than Kim Dokja, who is now convulsing with laughter at his expense.
"You're playing a dangerous game," Yoo Joonghyuk remarks playfully as he brushes off the snow in his hair.
"That I am," Kim Dokja responds, closing the distance between them until he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Yoo Joonghyuk. Tenderly, he scoops up Biyoo in his arms and presses his nose against hers, evoking yet another contented purr from the tiny feline.
"Let's get her inside. She looks like she's shivering already," Yoo Joonghyuk says, casting a quick glance toward the living room.
Kim Dokja responds with a soft hum of agreement, cradling Biyoo more securely in his arms. "Come on then," he says, signaling for Yoo Joonghyuk to follow.
As they make it back inside, Kim Dokja gently places Biyoo on the floor, allowing her to settle down in a cozy spot. They both settle on the floor next to the kitten where Kim Dokja grabs the blanket from the arm of the sofa and drapes it over Biyoo's small frame with tender care and she immediately snuggles into the soft fabric.
Once her usual warmth starts seeping through the blanket, Biyoo begins to calm down and seems content enough to curl up in Kim Dokja's lap. Kim Dokja pets her softly, his long fingers tracing a gentle path across her soft, fluffy fur, down to the tip of her tail.
Biyoo emits one final purr, a gentle melody of contentment, before her eyes gradually close and she succumbs to sleep. Her breathing steadies into a peaceful rhythm, indicating that she's thoroughly satisfied for the time being.
Yoo Joonghyuk can only stare, awestruck, at the scene unfolding in front of him. The sight before him is so beautiful and domestic, tugging at his heartstrings, it almost feels wrong to disrupt such a loving moment. He yearns to preserve this moment of pure bliss forever in his memory.
However, before he has time to ponder on these thoughts for too long, Kim Dokja speaks up again. "I love us."
Kim Dokja's voice, though hushed, resonates through the room as if carried by the wind. He draws Biyoo closer to his chest, his eyes fixated upon Yoo Joonghyuk, shimmering with an unmistakable adoration. "I love you," he murmurs once more, even quieter than before.
Kim Dokja's hands ascend with a slow, tender grace, cradling Yoo Joonghyuk's face in a gentle embrace. Their lips meet in a delicate, affectionate kiss, suffused with a depth of emotion that words could not possibly convey. "You're an amazing father," he murmurs softly against his lips.
"Oh yeah?" Yoo Joonghyuk's voice carries a soft, teasing tone as he leans closer, his lips capturing another kiss from Kim Dokja. "I could say the same about you, although you lost our daughter just half an hour ago."
Kim Dokja releases a melodramatic sigh, as if resigned to his fate, and attempts to pull away from Yoo Joonghyuk's grasp. However, Yoo Joonghyuk tightens his hold, refusing to let him escape. "I'm just teasing," he reassures, a playful glint dancing in his eyes.
A chuckle escapes Yoo Joonghyuk's lips as he observes Kim Dokja's momentarily sour expression. Undeterred, he leans in and plants another affectionate kiss on his lips. Breaking the kiss, he gazes into Kim Dokja's eyes, a warm smile gracing his face. "I love you more. I love us more."
Kim Dokja lets out another sigh, but this time it carries a sense of contentment rather than any hint of irritation. His smile grows slightly, and he surrenders to the comfort of Yoo Joonghyuk's touch. "Good," he whispers, capturing the corner of Yoo Joonghyuk's lips in another tender kiss.
They continue to hold each other closely, savoring the serene moment together, with the soft sound of Biyoo's slumber creating a soothing backdrop. If Yoo Joonghyuk possessed the ability to shape his life across multiple universes, he would choose to mirror this life without hesitation – because what more could he possibly ask for?
He can't fathom a universe where he would be devoid of Kim Dokja's unwavering, unconditional love – can't imagine one in which they would be strangers at all. The joy of sharing his life with Kim Dokja is what makes it all worth it after all.
He envisions himself rearranging the stars, traversing different dimensions, and exploring countless worlds, all with a single purpose: to guarantee that his and Kim Dokja's paths intersect in every possible universe. In his dreams, there is no reality in which they never cross paths and where their love could never flourish.
But for now, Yoo Joonghyuk is content savoring the moment of simply being with Kim Dokja – feeling their bodies pressing against each other and intertwining their fingers together. He brings their hands up to his lips, pressing feather light kisses on Kim Dokja’s soft skin, eliciting an affectionate giggle which he feels against his chest. And that simple act – something so small yet so significant – brings him infinite happiness and deep in his heart, he knows that it will continue to do so for the rest of his life, be it in this universe or any other.