Taekyun cleaned Haneul slowly.
Every movement was careful, restrained, as if he was afraid even the slightest pressure might hurt him.
He wiped away the traces left on Haneul's body, helping him dress while keeping his gaze averted.
When he pulled his own shirt over Haneul's shoulders, his fingers lingered for just a second too long.
Haneul looked up at him.
Taekyun avoided his eyes, lifting his hand to gently wipe away the dried tear marks on Haneul's cheeks with his thumb.
Haneul lay back against the bed, exhaustion settling into his bones.
As Taekyun straightened and turned to leave, Haneul reached out and caught his hand weakly.
His fingers wrapped around Taekyun's.
"Can you…... not go?"
His voice was quiet, fragile, eyes wide as he looked up at him.
Taekyun froze.
Slowly,
He loosened Haneul's grip, guiding his hand back onto the bed.
His body was still burning.
Even after four hours.
Even after everything.
Haneul's pheromones clung to him stronger than anything he had felt during his rut.
Stronger than the Omegas he had spent days with. It terrified him how little control he had left.
"I'll take a shower first,"
He said hoarsely.
"You sleep."
Haneul watched him closely, then nodded.
Taekyun left.
The moment he stepped into the bathroom, he leaned his forehead against the door, breathing hard.
Why couldn't he control himself?
His rut was ending.
It should have ended already.
And yet Haneul,
Haneul made everything worse.
He turned the shower on.
Hot water spilled out, steam filling the space. Without hesitation,
He twisted the knob, switching it to freezing cold.
The water slammed against his skin.
His breath hitched.
His muscles tensed violently as the cold seeped into his bones, his body shuddering uncontrollably.
His face turned pale, lips losing color, but he didn't move away.
He stayed there until the heat finally dulled.
Until his body stopped reacting.
Only then did he turn the water off.
When he stepped out, dressed quickly,
He reached for the dryer but his eyes drifted toward the bed.
Haneul was already asleep.
Completely still, wrapped in the lingering calm of Taekyun's pheromones.
Taekyun put the dryer down.
He dried his hair with a towel instead and walked back to the bed quietly.
The lamp on the side table cast a soft light over Haneul's face.
He looked thinner.
The dark circles under his eyes were impossible to miss now, his features sunken, exhaustion etched into every line.
The past days his anxiety, fear, sleeplessness were written clearly across his face.
Taekyun's chest tightened.
Unable to stop himself,
He moved closer, careful not to wake him.
One arm slipped around Haneul's back, the other resting gently over his head, pulling him closer.
Haneul's warmth seeped into him, slowly thawing the cold still clinging to Taekyun's body.
As,
Taekyun closed his eyes.
[Morning]
Around eight, crying echoed through the room.
"No..... no, let's go, Haru-ah,"
Bora's voice followed, strained.
But Haru only cried louder.
"No! No!"
Taekyun's eyes snapped open.
Haneul was still asleep, his face pressed into Taekyun's chest.
At the doorway,
Bora stood helplessly as Haru cried, her small body tense with frustration.
"I'm sorry, sir,"
Bora said hurriedly.
"I woke her up for school, but she couldn't find Haneul in her room.
Since then, she's been running around and came here."
She bowed, reaching for Haru.
Haneul stirred.
His eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first then widened when he saw Haru.
"Oh….. Haru"
Haru climbed onto the bed and suddenly slapped Haneul's arm.
"Umma not mine!"
She cried, hitting him again.
Haneul flinched from the sudden sting.
Taekyun's jaw tightened.
"Haru,"
He said sharply.
"Behave."
Haru looked at him with tear-filled eyes and hit Haneul again.
Taekyun grabbed her arms, holding them firmly.
"I said stop crying,"
He said coldly.
"Why are you hitting him?"
"Sir, I'm sorry,"
Bora rushed in.
"It's my fault, I"
"Go prepare her breakfast,"
Taekyun interrupted.
"She's coming now."
Haru stared at her father.
Her eyes were red, wet but the look she gave him was cold, unsettlingly similar to his own.
Her face turned pale under his gaze, lips trembling into a pout.
Before Taekyun could say anything else, Haneul pulled Haru back into his arms.
"Don't scold her,"
He said immediately.
"What are you doing?"
Taekyun looked at him, irritation flaring.
Why was he taking her side?
Haneul hugged Haru tightly, rubbing her back slowly, shielding her as he looked at Taekyun with disappointment.
"You're scaring her."
Bora quietly left the room.
"Haru, don't.... look at me "
Haneul whispered.
But Haru stayed in his lap, eyes locked onto Taekyun with a defiant stare.
Taekyun's anger simmered.
"Get her ready for school,"
He said coldly, turning toward the bathroom.
Haneul exhaled shakily.
He cupped Haru's face gently, turning her toward him.
"Haru, you shouldn't act like this with your Abba,"
He said softly.
"It's bad."
She glared at him.
For a split second,
Haneul felt something wrong.
Dangerous.
A strange pressure brushed against him like pheromones.
But she was only five.
It wasn't possible.
The feeling reminded him too much of Taekyun.
He pushed the thought away and hugged her tightly.
"Haru-ah,"
He murmured.
"It's not that I love Abba more.
I was sick last night and came here for medicine….... and I fell asleep."
Haru slowly pulled back.
She raised her hand suddenly and placed it against Haneul's forehead.
Haneul froze.
She was checking his temperature.
Her touch was oddly deliberate, almost adult-like.
"No sick,"
Haru said quietly.
Haneul smiled weakly.
"Huh.... Yes…... yes. I took medicine.
I'm fine now."
He hugged her close.
Too touched
"I won't ever hurt you,"
He whispered.
"Umma will always protect Haru. You won't leave me, okay?"
Her eyes were still red, but she calmed slightly.
Haneul shifted his legs carefully.
Pain shot through them sore, weak but he endured it, looking for his slippers.
Taekyun came out of the bathroom and silently slid the slippers in front of Haneul.
Haneul looked up at him.
Taekyun lifted Haru into his arms, holding her firmly so she wouldn't resist.
"You take a shower first,"
He said.
"I'll get everything ready."
"I'll prepare her,"
Haneul tried to insist.
"I need to talk to her too,"
Taekyun replied.
"I'll help."
Haneul tried to protest, but Taekyun steadied him with one arm while carrying Haru with the other, guiding him toward the bathroom before leaving the room and heading to Haru's.