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Seong-Je had never been good with kids. Never really liked them either. They take one look at him and begin to wail loudly and annoyingly.
His sister always told him that he had no paternal instincts. No caring alpha instincts. She even laughed when he attempted to hold her baby for the first time.
So he chalked it up to him just… not liking kids.
They’re troublesome, loud, fussy and constantly snotty or drooling with their dirty hands trying to touch everything except what belongs to them and making a mess all over the place.
Babies on public transport are a whole other kind of bad, though. And it was the worst day for his car to have to be in the shop. The bus they’re in is so full with commuters, students and office workers that there’s a lot of people standing. Including a young father with a baby and Seong-Je fully expects that the baby would be all the horrible things he hates.
The baby staring wide eyed at him is none of those though.
He has big brown eyes and full cheeks that seem to be reddened by the cold. He’s bundled up very well. He’s wrapped up in a large chocolate fleece jacket with its hood pulled over his head and there’s adorable bear ears on the outside of the hood that stand in full attention.
He stares at Seong-Je with intensity and curiosity.
Seong-Je stares back, accepting the challenge.
He scowls at the baby. Fully expecting it to begin wailing.
But to his bewilderment—the baby’s eyes light up and he begins giggling gleefully.
This little thing that couldn’t be older than maybe 5 or 6 months, smiling and laughing as if Seong-Je is playing with him. His frown deepens and the baby’s joyous laughter gets louder. It’s much more pleasant than crying to say the least.
The small omega, almost a whole head shorter than Seong-Je, tries to settle the baby by shushing him softly and bouncing him on his hip. His other hand was occupied with the baby bag and other items so he just leaned his head toward his baby and pressed a soft kiss to the baby’s temple before whispering softly. “Jun-Ho-ya, let’s be quiet and not disturb others, hmm?”
The baby seemingly understood what the young omega was saying with a pout. “Mama…” He babbles softly before laying his head on his fathers shoulder. His eyes, though, are still locked on Seong-Je who feels a little guilty for getting the baby in trouble.
Seong-Je simply goes back to the court documents that he was reviewing, the baby intently watching him in silence as he had been doing for the past ever since they had gotten into the bus.
Then, in the very corner of his peripheral, there’s a tiny chubby hand reaching to him. He looks up and the baby- Jun-Ho, is reaching for his papers, his other hand near his mouth but not necessarily in his mouth.
Seong-Je frowns and shakes his head no. But the baby pays no mind to him, reaching for the papers again so he pulls the papers away and out of his reach.
He breathes out deeply and instead offers his hand, palm up, to the baby.
Intrigued by this, Jun-Ho places his hand on his palm and the juxtaposition of the size difference makes his heart stutter, overwhelmed by the warm cuteness that fills him that he almost coos. He wraps his tiny hand around his middle finger and pulls with surprising strength.
So Seong-Je lets him continue to play with his watch and fingers as he continues perusing through his document. He prepares for work while the baby continues being fascinated by his hand, babbling softly to himself.
He’s still keenly aware of his surroundings, despite splitting his attention with his work and the baby. So when the man ahead of them reaches ahead for his luggage in the compartment abovehead, his hand slips and the luggage comes tumbling. The young omega yelps, covering the baby’s head and takes a step back right into Seong-Je’s chest and before he could even acknowledge what he was doing, his arm shoots out and shields them from the falling luggage. It hits his forearm hard before unceremoniously thumping to the ground.
The baby, startled by the sound and the sudden movement, starts crying. His eyes become glassy and fat tears start welling up and falling down his chubby cheeks.
“Ya, be more careful next time.” Seong-Je snaps at the man who is a blubbering mess, apologizing and bowing.
Seong-Ge continues glaring at him hard even when he has turned to make his way to the front of the bus.
The omega in front of him tries to calm the baby. “Did that scare you, Jun-Ho-ya? It’s ok. You’re okay.” He speaks calmly, in a soft and reassuring tone and emitting the faintest of scents but Seong-Je still catches the hits of a deep woody smell tinged with vanilla. It smelled like a fireplace and baked goods.
The baby settles enough that there's just a few tears rolling down his cheeks and a wobble in his chin. His mouth was set in a frown as his father tried to wipe his tears away.
The omega turns back to Seong-Je, and the alpha almost jolts. He has soft, beautiful, sparkling eyes just like the infant, framed by round wireframe glasses. He smiles at him sheepishly and manages a small bow. “Thank you for that. You really saved us.”
Then the bus stops.
It wasn’t abrupt in the slightest, but still, the small omega holding his baby wasn’t holding onto anything, and he lost his footing. And again, without even thinking, Seong-Je grabs him by the waist, one hand settling over the small of his back and the other holding him by the arm when he carries the baby and he balances him.
“You should be careful too.” He says. This time his voice was much softer. Gentler almost. He himself was almost surprised by this. Not knowing that he was even capable of sounding so kind and gentle.
They’re close. Their faces are mere inches apart. And the omega blushes and stutters, “R-Right.”
Seong-Je releases him once he is able to get his balance. Jun-Ho, slightly started again, pouts and his bottom lip wobbles slightly. Tears start falling again, but he doesn’t cry loudly. He puts his arms out and reaches for Seong-Je.
The omega tries to hold him against his chest and bounces him gently to settle him. “Shh shh, it's ok.”
This only makes his start crying a little louder. Still stretching his arms out to Seong-Je. “Papa,” he whines, “Papa…” He looks at Seong-Je with big wet eyes and his heart aches just a little.
He’ll have to call his sister later and update her that maybe he does have paternal instincts after all. He reaches his hands out and the baby tries to get out of his fathers arms even more. The omega sees it and looks at Seong-Je, embarrassment burning at his cheeks. “You don’t have to.”
“It’s alright.” Is all he says, and he reaches for the baby and holds him under his arms. Seong-Je lets him sit on his hip and he settles against his chest and he can feel the baby’s quickened heartbeat even through all the layers they wore. He bounces the baby slightly and Jun-Ho sighs and seemingly melts into the warmth.
The omega only looks a little betrayed, a slight frown in his brow. Seong-Je can’t help a smirk and clears his throat. “It’s ok. I have a few nephews.”
The little omega nods and smiles warmly. He reaches a hand out to comb through the baby’s mussed up hair with his fingers. “Thank you, mister.”
“My name is Seong-Je.”
“Ah, very nice to meet you, Seong-Je-ssi. My name is Jun-Tae, and my little one is Jun-Ho.” He bows properly this time. He glances down, and sees the folder in Seong-Je’s hand. “Are you sure it’s okay? You seem to be busy with work.” Concern flashes in his eyes and Seong-Je really wants him to go back to smiling.
“It’s alright. I can still continue what I was doing.”
“Ah, okay.”
And so he continues reading his case file. The baby settled against his chest barely makes a difference. He even smells faintly like strawberry milk and feels soft and warm to the touch, and he seems to bask in the warmth radiating from Seong-Je too.
Every now and then he repeats a point under his breath to himself, and Jun-Ho would babble in response as if he was adding a thought. The first time he did it, Seong-Je thought it was coincidental. And then each time after that the baby would make mumbling babbles as if he were actually trying to talk.
He would say something, the baby would babble a response. “Hmm, you might be right.”
And the conversation would continue. “Yeah, they’re litigating because the report itself was defamatory.”
The baby babbled.
“No, it shouldn’t be a long process.”
This carried on until the baby’s babbling died down and his breath evened out. Seong-Je assumed he had fallen asleep, so he quietly continued his reading.
The omega- Jun-Tae whom he had been carefully keeping an eye on out of his peripheral, leaned closer to them. His voice came out in an almost whisper, trying not to wake the baby.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I can take him back if you want. I know he’s not heavy but holding him for so long might-”
“You’ve been holding him the entire time…” Seong-Je points out.
“Yeah, but I'm used to it.” He says proudly.
“Ah, Jun-Tae-ssi, do you think that I'm not strong enough to-”
His cheeks burn and he splutters, “Ah, no no, that’s not what I-I was implying I-”
Seong-Je grins, bouncing the baby gently when he stirs a little. “Then down worry about it. I’m fine. Just relax a little.” At that time, the student that had been sitting in the seat beside them got up to get off the bus. “See, there's a seat. Sit down and rest a little.” He reassures the small omega.
He opens his mouth to try and argue, but Seong-Je urges him gently with his eyes.
Jun-Tae begrudgingly, but obediently, sits. Peering up at Seong-Je with wide eyes that were a mirror image of Jun-Ho’s.
The ride continues for the next 15 or so minutes until Jun-Tae stands. “Our stop is coming up.” He admits when Seong-Je almost scolds him.
“Hmm, mine too.” Seong-Je lies. He’s still about 3 stops away from his office. But something tells him that if he doesn’t spend a little more time with this omega he’d definitely regret it.
His eyes shine, “Really?” If he had a tail, it’d definitely be wagging like a puppy’s. Seong-Je keeps this humorous thought to himself. “Then we can get off together.”
Jun-Ho wakes up when they’re off the bus, he yawns really big but doesn’t move from his comfortable spot. His little hand comes up to fiddle with the knot in Seong-Je's necktie.
Jun-Tae puts his hands out to take the baby back, but Jun-Ho refuses, mushing his face in the crook of Seong-Je’s neck. The omega can’t help the pout.
The older alpha just chuckles. “Where are you going? Maybe I can walk you.” And he knows in actuality that no matter where they’re going, he’s definitely gonna escort them.
“The hospital,” Jun-Tae rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “It’s our checkup day.” He explains.
“Ah, I see.” They begin walking, and Seong-Je clears his throat. “All by yourself? Where’s your alpha?” Because if Seong-Je is anything, it's interfering.
Junate wrinkles his nose, "There's no alpha.”
Seong-Je snorts. “Surely this one didn’t just fall out of the sky.” He jostles Jun-Ho in his arms a little. The baby babbles out what sounds like an argument. “Apologies, Jun-Ho-ssi.”
“There is no alpha.” Jun-Tae reiterates, averting his gaze a little. Seong-Je peeks and there’s indeed no mating bite on the nape of his neck. He smiles.
“Ah, I see. You’ve got a strong mama here, Jun-Ho. Be sure to take good care of him, okay .”
They arrive at the hospital, and there’s a man standing in the otherwise barren parking area.
The baby in Soeng-Je’s arms bounces and giggles gleefully. “ Shi shi !” He calls happily, flailing his arms in excitement.
“Si-Eun-ie, you’re early.”
Si-Eun doesn’t look at Jun-tae though. He keeps his eyes narrowed and focused on Seong-Je, wary as if he were a wild animal. “You are you?”
“Ah, Si-Eun-ie, this is Seong-Je-ssi. He saved me and Jun-Ho from some falling luggage. He wanted us to arrive at our destination safely, so he walked with us. Seong-Je-ssi, this is my close friend Si-Eun.”
Si-Eun steps closer, as if to challenge him. The baby reaches for him so he takes him from Seong-Je’s hold and presses him against his own chest. Seong-Je already misses the added warmth. “Seong-Je? As in Geum Seong-Je?”
“The very.” Seong-Je hums. He pulls out a business card from the inner breastpocket of his suit jacket. He offers it to Jun-Tae who accepts it with both hands.
“Oh, are you familiar with him?”
“I am familiar with his firm.”
“YA! Jun-Ho-ssi!” Another loud booming voice comes from across the parking lot, and another man makes his way to them. “Uncle Baku is here!”
Seong-Je raises an eyebrow at Jun-Tae who breathes out a laugh. Beside them, Si-Eun reprimands the approaching man. “Since there is no alpha, all my friends insist on being there for everything.” He turns to Baku. “Where is Tak-a?” The man named Baku only shrugs while he continues trying to take the baby from Si-Eun, who slaps his hands away each time.
Si-Eun turns his back to Baku, “He went to get some coffee with Suho. They should be back soon. Ya, Park Hu-Min go away.”
Seong-Je takes this as his cue to leave before more people arrive. He turns to Jun-Tae, “I will be leaving first. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like to repay me for rescuing you. Perhaps we can get coffee together. My personal number is on that one.”
Jun-Tae gasps and holds the card to his chest. “Ah, of course!”
“Great, then it’s a date.”
He turns on his heels to leave and as he’s leaving he could hear the conversation behind him.
“Who even is that guy?”
“Geum Seung-Je?”
“The lawyer? What’s he doing around here? His office is like two miles away from here.”
“He what!?”
His peacoat still smells like strawberry milk and he has the omega’s smile seared into the back of his mind. Seung-Je hails a cab and gets in.