Little Lino

Chapter 11

"I think the bath is ready, the temperature seems fine" comes from Hyunjin.

"Did you hear that? Let's get you into the water".

When Chan moves to stand up, the little immediately lets out a protesting whine not appreciating the distance between him and his Baba, quietly chuckling Chan reaches out again and picks the squirming little up. With the help of Hyunjin they manage to remove the last item of clothing and lower the boy in the warm water of the tub.

A small sigh leaves Minho, the warm water soothing his aching muscles and washing away the uncomfortable feeling the clothes and sweat left on his body. Seeing the reaction Chan and Hyunjin exchange a relieved smile, already feeling more at ease. It's going to be okay.

Not wanting to prolong the day any further than necessary, Chan reaches out to grab the shampoo and shower gel, starting to wash the littles hair and body. The massaging of Chan's hands slowly starts to relax the boy and when Hyunjin begins to hum a quiet melody, while moving the rubber duckie in front of Minho in the water, Chan nearly starts crying himself when he catches the faintest hint of a smile on the face of the little.

"There we go" Chan starts softly "All done. Let's get you out and into your comfy pajama, yeah?"

While Minho lifts up his arms, wanting to be picked up again, Hyunjin's already moving around the bathroom, grabbing a big towel and waiting next to Chan in order to wrap the little into it. With gentle touches the little gets dried up and afterwards Chan helps him to step into his sweatpants and pull his head through the hole of his shirt. Chan doesn't remember getting new clothes for the little but guesses that Jisung must have brought them.

"You can already get him ready for bed, I'm just gonna clean the bathroom up and take a shower myself" Hyunjin mutters towards Chan.

Nodding Chan picks Minho back up and walks out of the bathroom. The moment the cool air of the corridor fully hits them, he hears the little quietly whining and pressing himself further into Chan's body. Hearing the sound Chan feels his heart stopping, please don't cry, please don't cry, please don't cry. After finally having been able to stop the seemingly endless tears during bath time, he only wants to tug the boy into bed, ending the day without further sobs and hoping to send the little into dreamland as gentle and soft as possible.

"Ohh Minnie, look who's there!" Chan doesn't think that he's ever been as thankful to see Changbin stumbling through the door as now. "It's Binnie! And I think he has a little present for you, doesn't he?" the last part clearly directed at Changbin.

Slightly overwhelmed with the sudden attack, Changbin needs a moment to gather himself. During the time Changbin fumbles with his bag pack, Chan manages to place Minho on his hip allowing the boy to stare with expectant eyes towards the boy with the promised present.

"Hmpf, yes, here we go." With a big smile Changbin pulls the plushie out of the bag.

"BunBun, D'annie D'annie! It's Mishter BunBun" with a big gasp the little makes grabby hands in the direction of his precious plushie.

"Yes, it's Mr. BunBun" Chan laughs, relieved to finally see another reaction besides tears and sobs. "Let's go get him, yeah?"

Still somehow struggling with the content of his bag, Changbin stumbles forwards, quickly catching himself and holding the bunny in the air while moving it with a whooshing noise towards the little. He stops in front of the boy and lets the bunny move with flopping ears the last few centimeters before the little gets a hold of one of its ears and pulls the plushie into his arms.

"Thank chuu Binnie" muffled by one of the ears which already found its way into the mouth of the boy.

"Ohhh of course, look at you, all warm and cozy. I bet your hyungs took great care of you and all..." - "Changbin! You back?" Jisung calls from the kitchen, not a few seconds later peeking around the corner of the kitchen door and immediately a guilty expression covering his face upon seeing Chan with a now sleepy Minho on his hip.

"Oooops" the p popping in the air.

Fortunately for Jisung, the little doesn't even stir at the loud interruption, distracted with sucking on the ear of his plushie and tiredly resting his head on Chan's shoulder.

"I prepared a bottle, I mean not completely because I didn't have the bottle yet but I have some warm milk with honey ready, if he's still awake enough? If not, I'll drink some myself" he winks at Chan, now with an appropriate volume.

Chan looks down at Minho, considering if he should just let it be but then nodding at Jisung, "yeah that would be great thank you, you don't need to fill it up completely tho, I don't think he will drink too much anyways and if you really want some as well it's fine" Chan laughs the last part.

For some reason Changbin is still fighting with one of the zippers on the bag when Chan glances back down at him and after yanking the small baby bottle, along with one of little-Minho's favorite hoodies and his coloring book out, he kicks the bag into the corner of the corridor.

To be honest, after seeing how distressed the little had been after the performance, Chan had been prepared to do more damage control than actually calming the boy down, but now, with the little closely tucked into his body and droopy eyelids following the movements around him, he couldn't be happier at the familiar atmosphere settling around him. The faint splashing of the shower Hyunjin was taking. The previously loud voice of Jisung, which he probably would have been really mad about if it led to the little crying again, but somehow just belonged to their dorm, leaving it rather quiet and depressing when the younger one wasn't at home. And the now grumpy and betrayed look Changbin was giving his bag. All making him feel at home and the tension of the last hours slowly leaving his body.