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When Yooho first realized that Jin Cheonhee had turned into a baby, the first thing he did was tell Jaegal Lin, and once Jaegal Lin saw his baby disciple, naturally he picked up his baby. Ever since that moment, Jaegal Lin and baby Cheonhee were inseparable — Cheonhee in his baby form had lost all of his memories, but for some reason, it was embedded in his mind that Jaegal Lin was his Master.
As time passed, though, Jaegal Lin realized that no matter how much he loved his baby, he would have to let someone else hold baby Cheonhee sometimes. After all, he wanted to keep the fact that his disciple had turned into a baby from prying eyes (the Murim was not a safe place after all, and who knew how many people would try to do something to Cheonhee if they got the chance), which meant that when he met with high-ranking individuals who needed medical treatment, he had to leave Cheonhee in the care of someone else.
One day, Yooho told Jaegal Lin that he was needed, as guests from a certain clan had arrived. Jaegal Lin sighed, looking at his baby who was nestled comfortably in his embrace.
It was time to hand over baby Cheonhee to someone else — and that person would be Yooho, since he was his right-hand man.
“Yooho,” Jaegal Lin beckoned towards the red-head.
“Yes, Master?” Yooho asked, looking at him questioningly.
“I’ll attend to the guests, you will take care of Cheonhee,” Jaegal Lin said lowly.
Yooho’s eyes widened for a split second before he nodded in understanding.
“Excuse me, Young Master,” Yooho said, gently placing his hands under baby Cheonhee's armpits and lifting him from Jaegal Lin's embrace.
Feeling the weight and warmth of his baby disappear, Jaegal Lin frowned involuntarily — yes, it was his idea for baby Cheonhee to be held by someone else, but seeing it happen for real was… irritating.
Baby Cheonhee, on the other hand, had a blank look on his face, and Jaegal Lin was disappointed when he realized Cheonhee wasn't throwing a fit.
He remembered that babies would usually cry or get upset when they left their mother's arms for the first time, but Cheonhee seemed unfazed.
Was it because he wasn't Cheonhee's actual father? Jaegal Lin pondered, feeling his heart sink lower and lower.
Meanwhile, Yooho was holding baby Cheonhee carefully, Cheonhee's back resting on Yooho's chest and one of Yooho's arm supporting Cheonhee's bottom.
“Alright then,” Jaegal cleared his throat and hid his disappointment that Cheonhee wasn't crying and stepped back.
He was about to bid the other two goodbye when he noticed Cheonhee sitting straighter.
Baby Cheonhee looked down at his hands, turned to look at Yooho, who was behind him, and then whipped his head to look at Jaegal Lin.
Realization dawned on baby Cheonhee — he wasn't in his Master's embrace!!!
A stranger was holding him!
And worse, still, was his Master… moving backwards?!?!
Baby Cheonhee whimpered, stuck out his bottom lip, and promptly erupted into loud wails.
“WAAAAAAA!!!!” Baby Cheonhee shrieked, face scrunched up in a mixture of anger, pain and betrayal.
Tears streamed down baby Cheonhee's face and he made grabby hands towards Jaegal Lin, kicking his feet, wailing and crying with all his might, trying to kick Yooho away and jump into Jaegal Lin's arms.
Jaegal Lin was first stunned, and then he swiftly moved to take Cheonhee from Yooho's arms and hug his baby back in his embrace.
Cheonhee, though, wouldn't stop crying.
“Waaaaa!!!!” Baby Cheonhee wailed, hiccuping and whimpering — the moment baby Cheonhee realized that he was back in his Master's embrace, he clung to he man like he had found his lifeline, clutching Jaegal's lapels so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Cheonhee was still crying, and big fat tears were cascading down his face, wetting his chin and dripping unto his clothes. In no time at all, Cheonhee's robe was drenched, and Jaegal had a wet spot on his shoulder.
“Cheonhee, Cheonhee don't cry!” Jaegal Lin exclaimed, rocking from side to side and hoping it would soothe his baby.
“Mash,ter,” baby Cheonhee said timidly, looking at him through his tears but stubbornly refusing to wipe his eyes. Wiping away his tears meant that he had to let go of Jaegal Lin, and baby Cheonhee didn't want that!!!!
In the midst of his tears and hiccups, baby Cheonhee called out his Master sadly, sniffling and choking back his sobs.
“There, there,” Jaegal Lin whispered. Gone was his feeling of wanting baby Cheonhee to throw a fit, and Jaegal Lin felt guilty for even thinking that.
Well, Jaegal Lin felt a twinge of happiness also, knowing that his disciple loved him too and didn't want to be apart from him.
So what if he wasn't Cheonhee's biological father? His baby loved him so!
“Cheonhee, Cheonhee don't cry, okay? Master was wrong, Master is here,” Jaegal Lin coaxed.
Baby Cheonhee sniffed and buried his head in the crook of Jaegal Lin's shoulder, his body shaking with his sobs.
Jaegal Lin hugged his baby tighter than before.
Jaegal Lin knew he was supposed to attend to his guests.
He also knew that one day, someone had to carry baby Cheonhee, someone other than him….
But for now, he wanted to stay this way and comfort his baby.
He would try to make someone else carry Cheonhee… another day.
He wanted to be selfish for a little while longer.
“I shall tell the guests you are not available, Sir,” Yooho said, and Jaegal Lin nodded appreciatively.
“Yes. Hee… don't cry anymore, okay?”
“Hic, hic!”
Judging by the sounds, it would take a while for Cheonhee to calm down….