Chapter Text
“Hyuuung”
Like most of the trouble that ends up erupting in Hanbin’s face, it starts with Gyuvin. The alpha is on his feet in an instant, alive, alert, eyes wide open in case of a potential monster in the closet that he needs to fight scenario.
There’s no monster. Just an overgrown, whiney, pup barreling into his lap, knocking all the air out of his lungs and crushing him against the couch. Hanbin would scold him. Sure. Definitely. Except the pup starts pouting and immediately Hanbin’s on the lookout for the monster again.
“Yes Gyuvinie?” He manages to wheeze out despite the fact his diaphragm is still struggling against at least 60+ kg worth of pup.
Before he gets an answer, Ricky storms in, blond hair all ruffled up, Yujin trailing behind him. He proceeds to direct a look that would probably inflict the fear of god in Hanbin if he didn’t find all of his courtmate’s pups so adorable. Gyuvin narrows his eyes at the other and Hanbin suddenly feels as if he unknowingly and unwillingly got caught up in the storm. Like their guardian, all of Hao’s pups are forces of nature to be reckoned with.
“Jang Gyuvin.” The blond says icily. Hanbin suddenly gets a sense of deja vu. “Did you or did you not eat the last piece of strawberry shortcake in the fridge?”
Gyuvin looks at Hanbin with wide eyes reminiscent of a deer in headlights which tells the alpha that yes, Gyuvin definitely ate the last piece of cake that everyone knew Ricky had announced he was saving as a snack.
“I think he did, hyung.” Yujin mumbles at Ricky. Hanbin winces on Gyuvin’s behalf. The pup on his lap now looks like he’s about to bolt while the blond is beginning to resemble a cat with its hackles raised, fists clenched at his sides.
“Help me, hyung.” Gyuvin turns to him as Ricky takes one step forward and Yujin eyes all of them nervously.
It’s not that Hanbin wasn’t used to pups. It’s just that the closest thing his pack had to one was Gunwook and the alpha was generally automatically apologetic in the face of conflict. Not whatever….this was. The alpha in his head is already envisioning it. Ricky lunges at Gyuvin, punches him, the fight turns ugly, Yujin starts crying and Hao-hyung will come home to his three pups in such a sorry state that he loses it and blows up at Hanbin for not stopping them. Yeah, that definitely wasn’t happening.
“Ah, Gyuvin-ah,” Hanbin knows he’s waving his arms wildly as he gently shoves Gyuvin off his lap and he definitely realises he’s slotting himself between the pup and Ricky so that he could prevent the other pup from lunging. Nevermind all three of the pups are staring at him, completely befuddled.
“If you apologise to Ricky-ah for eating his cake, I’ll make another one for all of you to share.”
Bargaining works, right? And besides, it was technically his fault that this even happened since he was the one who brought the cake home from the cafe as a late gift for Ricky’s birthday. Regardless, he must have done the right thing because Ricky looks less mad.
“Sorry, Ricky-ah.”
Gyuvin looks so contrite that Hanbin almost melts, resisting the very visceral urge to coo and squish the pup onto the couch.
“Can I have cake too, hyung?” Yujin asks tentatively. Hanbin’s affronted the maknae even has to ask.
“Of course you can, Yujinie, hyung will make a big cake for all of you to eat.”
“Hyung can make it now?”
Three pairs of eyes stare at the alpha. Hanbin hesitates. On one hand, it was early enough that he did have time to make a cake. On the other hand, that wasn’t how he planned for his afternoon to go, he was supposed to do some groceries and go to the gym before his date with Hao tonight.
“Don’t be silly, Yujin, Hanbin-hyung probably has other things to do this afternoon.” Ricky chides softly, looking at the alpha with soft, pup eyes. Well, Hanbin thinks, he can go to the gym another day. And well, he was going to do groceries anyway so buying cake ingredients won’t be a bother. Hopefully, they had fresh strawberries.
“Now is good. I was planning to do groceries anyway.”
Gyuvin perks up. “Oh hyung, can we come?”
“Sure, get your coats and we’ll meet back here.”
And they’re off. Hanbin gets up to get his own coat and nearly has a heart attack when he sees Matthew standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall.
“How long have you been there Seokmae-yah?”
The omega grins up at him and does not dignify his question with a response.
“Can I have cake too, hyung?”
“What- sure?”
Matthew cackles and pats him on the shoulder before making his way to the kitchen.
"You're hopeless, hyung.”
Hanbin’s about to ask another question when their front door swings open and Yujin walks in, swaddled up in a thick puffer while Ricky and Gyuvin shove at each other behind him. Matthew’s gotten one of his smoothies out of the fridge and is watching them like they’re a particularly interesting commercial.
“Let’s go, hyung!”
They go. Hanbin drives. Ricky claims shotgun, sending Gyuvin flying to the back seat in a pile of limbs. Maybe the alpha caves once or twice (more than that judging by the amount of extra snacks that end up in the cart by checkout). But who can blame him when Yujin asks so politely and Gyuvin pouts so cutely and even Ricky is just plain adorable when he lets Hanbin insist he’ll pay for whatever snack the blond pup wants. The cashier looks faintly amused by them. Hanbin’s just grateful there are fresh strawberries.
Yujin sits in front on the ride back. They all insist on helping him make the cake. Maybe more strawberries make it into Ricky’s mouth than into the batter, Gyuvin manages to get his hands covered in flour and there’s a smear of frosting on Yujin’s face but they’re all giggling and Hanbin’s alpha is rumbling, content at the smell of sweet cake and happy pups.
“Were the kids nice to you?” Hao asks him later when they’re on their date.
“They were perfect.”