Chan was nineteen, working two jobs already. He was always glad for his hyungs for being able to help, and not complaining about it especially when he dropped a three-month-old Minho off at their houses or they came to his house. Oh yeah, that was the whole reason that Chan was working two jobs: he had a kid. He never thought that he would have a kid before twenty-six but here he was, nineteen with a three-month-old.
"Minho, please sleep" Chan pleaded but the baby remained wide awake, staring at Chan with big eyes.
"What's it going to take for you to sleep?" Chan wondered, getting a little annoyed. It was almost two in the morning and he was tired, he just wanted to sleep. With that goal in mind, he started singing softly, a song that had never been made before. He just sang as the words came to him.
"Little one, it's time to sleep. Close your eyes, don't make a peep" Chan kept his voice low, ensuring that Minho would have to stop crying in order to hear the words. It actually worked so Chan kept singing up until the child finally closed his eyes and slept. Chan would have to remember that lullaby, for the future. He had a feeling that he would need it. Chan continued humming the tune of the song, making it up as he went and rocking Minho in his arms until he was sure that the child would not wake up again and he finally set Minho back down in his crib and went back to bed, hoping to get a little more sleep before waking up for work.
"You look like you didn't sleep" Young-Hyun knocked on the door, already holding a bag of toys that were from his own (grown up) kids and slipping into the house.
"Come in, why don't you?" Chan muttered, closing the door.
"Thanks, I will. Where's my favorite nephew?" Young-Hyun set the bag of toys down and looked around the house.
"Hyung, you know he's not actually your nephew right?" Chan followed him but Young-Hyun was too busy trying to find Minho to answer.
"Oh there he is!" Young-Hyun walked over to the crib, picking up Minho and cuddling him. Minho woke up slowly, looking at the stranger holding him and then recognizing him and giggling, spitting everywhere. Chan sighed again.
"Okay, well have fun with your nephew then. I'm going to work, your going to be okay?" Chan grabbed his work stuff and prepared to leave.
"Say bye to daddy!" Young-Hyun waved Minho's hand in Chan's direction. Chan just turned and left, hoping to get out before his kid realized that he was leaving and started crying. On the way to work, Chan called Young-Hyun to make sure everything was okay.
"He didn't start crying, did he?" Chan wasn't sure what kind of answer he would want. He definitely didn't want his kid crying but he also didn't want Minho to feel like Chan was always going to be gone and to get used to it.
"No" Young-Hyun answered, holding Minho in one arm with the phone pressed to his shoulder and boiling a milk bottle.
"He's actually been pretty chill. Right now, he's sucking on my shirt and giving me a death glare". Young-Hyun added in, glancing at Minho who was staring back while sucking on the sleeve of his babysitter's shirt. Chan almost laughed; that sounded like Minho.
"Yeah, that's something new that he does now" Chan warned.
"A little warning ahead of time would've been nice. Your psycho baby looks like he's plotting my murder" Young-Hyun huffed, grabbing the bottle out of the pot and testing it on his wrist before giving it to Minho.
"Psycho baby?" Chan did laugh this time.
"Yes! Your little murder child, psycho baby, maniac offspring" Young-Hyun listed off. Chan pulled into the studio that he worked at, making music for new and upcoming bands.
"Are you done?" He got out of the car, locking it and going inside to his office.
"Unfortunately" Young-Hyun set Minho down in his playpen and settled down on the couch to watch TV.
"Alright, well I'm at work now so I'm going to hang up. If anything happens, just call me and I'll come home" Chan switched the phone to his other hand, scanning his badge to get into the building.
"Okay, see you later. Say bye, Min-min!" Young-Hyun held the phone out to the baby but all he got was silence in return and then the line went dead. Chan shook his head fondly.
"Min-min?" He muttered; the name was actually kind of cute, but he wished that he had thought of it. Maybe he could give a nickname to the next one? Chan shook his head. There wasn't going to be a next one. He was too young for another kid. But a girl would be nice or maybe another boy, so Minho had someone to play with...no, he didn't need any more kids. One was enough, at least for the time being.
At the end of the day, Chan carried all his things back out to the car and drove him, ready to see his little boy again and just relax for the rest of the day.
"Young-Hyung! Minho!" Chan unlocked the door, stepping out of his shoes and dropping his things on the couch. Young-Hyun came out of the bedroom, not holding Minho. Chan's brow furrowed with worry.
"Don't worry. He's just sleeping. I think his allergies are acting up a bit now that it's getting colder" Young-Hyun assured the new dad before Chan could start thinking the worst.
"Allergies? Why didn't you call me?" Chan wondered, even more worried now.
"Chan. I've been helping raise two boys for the past ten years. I know how to take care of a baby with allergies" Young-Hyun reminded the younger man.
"I know, I just..." Chan rubbed his face tiredly.
"It's okay. I get it, I was a nervous wreck too. Just go rest, I'll take care of Minho until your better rested and ready to take over. You don't have to do this alone" Young-Hyun patted Chan on the shoulder, sending him off to get a shower and some sleep before taking over on baby duty. After a while, Young-Hyun did leave, needing to get home before his own brother Sungjin left for work and his younger brothers were home alone with no one to watch them. Chan was quick to let him go. At that some moment, Minho started crying so Chan went to check on him, restarting the entire cycle that was a nightly ritual at this point.
