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It was a long day for the little family of three, starting with a morning at a relative’s wedding, followed by shopping for little Riki’s baby needs, a stop at the nearby park to satisfy the child’s longing for outdoor play, and finally, returning home to their small flat to rest.
Jaeyun asked his husband to go upstairs earlier so he could tuck Riki into bed while he carefully secure their little house.
Heeseung hummed affirmatively and dropped a peck on Jaeyun’s lips before heading upstairs with a sleeping Riki in his arms.
Once they reached Riki’s bedroom, Heeseung opened the door quietly and laid the small child in his bed, letting his feet hang off the bed so Heeseung could untie his shoelaces.
Not even a minute or two when he was undoing his laces, the child squirmed in his sleep, feeling uncomfortable in his new position.
“Hello, bud,” Heeseung greets his son gently, combing through Riki’s hair as soon as he opened his eyes.
“Daddy… milk?” Riki seats on his bed slowly while scratching his eyes, looking around the room, and finally gazing at his dad.
Heeseung crouches so he’s at the same level as Riki’s. “Mhm? Papa said you’ve had enough milk for today, bud. Let me just clean you up, okay?”
Riki nods at him, a small pout forming on his lips upon the rejection of a milk request.
“Okay, Daddy... But... where is Papa?”
Heeseung lifted little Riki into his arms again and headed towards the bathroom.
“Papa is in the kitchen downstairs. Are you sleepy? Let’s brush your teeth, baby.”
“Uh-huh. ‘m kinda sleepy.” Riki smiled sheepishly and yawned cutely, proving his point. “Please brushie my teeth?”
“Aren’t you a big boy now, Riki?” Heeseung smiled but still obliged to his son’s request.
It was a rare occurrence for his son to ask him for help, as Riki usually insisted that he was a big boy and didn’t need assistance from his parents. However, moments like these proved otherwise.
Heeseung grabbed Riki’s Spiderman toothbrush and applied a pea-sized toothpaste on it. When he was satisfied with the amount, he offered a mug of water to the child so the kid could gargle first.
“Open your mouth, please.”
Riki did as he was told, giggling when his father tickled his cheek and tongue with the bristles of the brush.
“Did you had fun today, buddy?”
Riki nods his head happily.
“Daddy… Can I- play-” Riki struggled to speak, so his dad paused his action. “Can I play with Jungwonie hyung again?”
Heeseung smiled at his kid. “Mhm? You like your Jungwonie hyung that much?”
It was one of the few times his son had a new playmate that he asked about.
“Yes!!! Jungwonie hyung is kind.” Riki brings up a finger like he’s counting, “He’s cute,“ he counts two, “he has a very nice smile,” three, “and he plays with me.” Four. “I want to play with Jungwonie hyung again!” Riki rambled on happily.
Heeseung chuckles at the eagerness displayed.
“We can play with Jungwonie hyung again tomorrow, baby. Let Dad finish your brushing, and then we can sleep so tomorrow comes faster, okay?”
“Uh-huh. Thank you, Daddy! You are the best Daddy in the whole wide world!” Riki gestured with his hands as he spoke, his genuine pride and happiness evident in his tone. The little lilt in his voice reached something in Heeseung’s chest that made him want to cry at that very moment.
Heeseung just smiled warmly at his child and kissed his forehead gently. “Thank you, bud. Please wash your mouth now so I can tuck you in.”
Riki followed instructions. Once Heeseung had wiped his face and hands dry, Riki looked up at his dad and gestured his arms up, wanting his dad to carry him to bed.
Heeseung’s brows shoot up in a teasing manner. “Dad and Papa’s big boy wants to be babied tonight?” Heeseung teased as he proceeded to carry the little bundle of joy in his arms. Riki just whined as he embraced his dad’s neck, making himself small and comfortable.
As soon as Riki was laid down in bed, he looks at his dad expectantly.
“Daddy... can you please sing? ‘coz I sleep nice when you sing...”
That was something that brought a warm smile to Heeseung’s face once again.
“Sure, baby. What do you want Dad to sing?”
There was a solid second before Riki excitedly shouts, ”The one you sing to me and Papa!”
Heeseung smiled again as he tucked his child into bed. He sang Riki’s request, watching how his son closed his eyes and let himself fall asleep to the mellow voice of his father’s singing.
Heeseung didn’t notice Jaeyun’s presence behind him, the latter resting on the doorframe of Riki’s bedroom. He just stood there, smiling and watching the lovely scene unfold before his eyes.
Heeseung proceeded to hum the song until he realized that Riki was already asleep. He fixed the comforter over the child’s small frame and dropped a soft kiss on his head before whispering, “I love you, little prince.”
Jaeyun left when he sensed that Heeseung was about to stand up. He went to their bedroom and decided to wash up.
Jaeyun thought and smiled to himself as he reminisced about the memory he witnessed earlier. He was extremely lucky to have a very loving husband, taking care of their child tenderly. He smiled to himself once again as he exited the bathroom when he finished washing up.
“Hey, love,” Jaeyun acknowledged his husband’s presence, his back facing Jaeyun. The lamp was still on, so he reckoned his husband was still awake, but there was no response from the other. Maybe he had fallen asleep?
Jaeyun settled on the bed and went under the covers, intending to hug his husband since they agreed he would be the big spoon tonight. However, as soon as he hugged Heeseung, he paused, noticing how his shoulders were moving up and down, as if vibrating, and there were sounds of sniffing.
Jaeyun sat up and looked over at Heeseung.
“Hey. Everything alright, love?” He gently made Heeseung face him. By the time he saw his teary eyes and red nose, worry overcame him as he comforted his husband.
Heeseung sat up and hugged Jaeyun as he cried in his arms like a little kid seeking comfort from a parent, as if he were Riki.
Jaeyun sighed. “I’m really getting anxious, Dad. Are you alright? Tell me, please?” Jaeyun tried to console his husband, rubbing circles on his back. When Heeseung’s sobs subsided, he finally met Jaeyun’s eyes and sniffled.
“Love… our son... He just told me that I’m the best dad...”
A smile slowly crept up Jaeyun’s cheeks as he tried to stifle his giggles. Did Heeseung really cried because he got called the best dad?
“Well... you are, love.” Jaeyun wiped the tears off his husband’s cheeks. “You are our best dad.”
Heeseung whines as he buries his face in the crook of Jaeyun’s neck. “Come on, don’t make me cry more, love.” He embraces Jaeyun, trying to hide his face as he feels a bit embarrassed because of the situation.
“Whaaat? Why, you’re so cute, Dad!” Jaeyun giggled as he hugs Heeseung back and plants a kiss on his hair softly.
Heeseung whines again, but still, he welcomes the gesture. “Papa, you’re mocking me, aren’t you?”
“I’m not! You’re just so cuteee right now. I never expected that Riki could make you cry like this.” Jaeyun chuckles and parts away from the hug. “I didn’t know you were such a crybaby.”
Heeseung pouts more. “That’s mean, Papa.”
Jaeyun laughs and kisses the pout away. “I love you, best dad.”
And that’s how Heeseung and Jaeyun slept late because the former had another round of a crying session.