Tangled Hearts And Classroom Smiles

Heat I

The morning air was quiet in Fourth's apartment as he moved through the space, his movements a mix of nervous energy and focus. He was gathering the last of his things, stuffing them into a bag he'd prepared for his stay at the penthouse suite. His heat was approaching fast, and he could already feel the telltale signs—his skin sensitive, the air feeling warmer than usual, and his senses heightened. He knew he needed to get to the suite soon before the worst of it hit.

Just as he zipped up his bag, the front door creaked open, and a familiar voice called out, "Mama! I'm home!" It was Nan, back from her sleepover, her small face lighting up with excitement as she saw Fourth. She ran over, throwing her arms around his legs in a tight hug.

"Hey, sweetie!" Fourth greeted, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes!" Nan said with a big grin. "We made cookies and stayed up late, and Auntie gave us ice cream for breakfast!"

Fourth laughed softly, ruffling her hair. "Sounds like you had a great time."

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Fourth straightened up to open it. Standing there was Dunk, smiling brightly, a small bag of snacks in hand. "Hey, Fourth. Hey, Nan," Dunk greeted warmly, his eyes softening as he looked at the little girl.

"Uncle Dunk!" Nan squealed, running over to Dunk, who knelt down to give her a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, clearly delighted to see him.

Fourth took a deep breath and crouched down to Nan's level, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sweetie, listen," he began softly, trying to find the right words. "Uncle Dunk is going to stay with you for a few days while I'm away. I have to go take care of something important, okay?"

Nan's face fell slightly, her eyes wide with concern. "You're leaving, Mama?"

Fourth gave her a reassuring smile, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Just for a little while," he said. "But I'll be back soon, I promise. And Uncle Dunk knows all your favorite things, so you're going to have lots of fun with him."

Nan looked up at Dunk, then back at Fourth, her lower lip trembling slightly. "Okay, Mama," she said in a small voice. "But you have to come back soon."

Dunk smiled at her gently, giving her another squeeze. "Don't worry, Nan. I'll make sure you have so much fun, you won't even realize how fast the time goes by," he said, then glanced at Fourth. "Why don't you tell me her routine? That way I can make sure to stick to it."

Fourth nodded, grateful for Dunk's support. "She usually has lunch around noon," he said, listing off the details. "After that, it's nap time for about an hour. She likes to read her storybooks before bed, and she prefers them in a specific order. Her favorite is the one about the bunny, so always read that last."

Dunk listened carefully, nodding as he made mental notes. "Got it," he said, giving Fourth a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll be just fine."

Just as Fourth finished explaining, there was a knock on the door. He turned to see Phuwin standing there, looking as stoic and composed as always. "Ready to go?" Phuwin asked, his tone neutral, though his eyes softened slightly when they met Fourth's.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Fourth said, swallowing the nervous lump in his throat. He turned back to Nan and kissed her forehead. "Be good, okay? I'll be back before you know it."

Nan nodded bravely, though she still clung to Dunk, her small face looking worried. Dunk gave Fourth a thumbs-up, mouthing, "We'll be fine," as Fourth took one last look at his little girl.

Phuwin held the door open for Fourth, and they stepped out into the hallway. Fourth felt the weight of Phuwin's presence beside him, the steady calm that the Alpha radiated, and it made him feel slightly less on edge. As they reached the car, Phuwin opened the door for him, helping him into the passenger seat before getting in himself.

The drive to the penthouse was quiet, Phuwin's eyes focused on the road while Fourth stared out of the window, his thoughts a tangled mess. Finally, Fourth broke the silence. "Thanks for doing this," he said quietly, glancing over at Phuwin. "I know you didn't have to."

Phuwin gave a small shrug, not taking his eyes off the road. "Pond's busy, and someone had to do it," he said matter-of-factly. Then, after a pause, he added, "Besides, it's not like I'm going to let you suffer through your heat alone."

Fourth's lips twitched into a small smile at that, feeling a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with his approaching heat. "Thank you, Phuwin," he said again, softer this time.

They pulled up to the grand entrance of the penthouse, and Phuwin turned off the engine. "Pond's already made all the arrangements," Phuwin said. "You should be comfortable here. If you need anything, just call. We'll all be close by."

Fourth nodded, taking a deep breath as he gathered his things. As he stepped out of the car, Phuwin caught his arm gently, holding his gaze for a moment. "Take care of yourself," Phuwin said, his voice low and earnest. "And if it gets too much, don't hesitate to call for any of us."

Fourth felt his heart skip a beat at the intensity in Phuwin's eyes, the protective tone in his voice. He nodded again, unable to find the right words, so he just squeezed Phuwin's hand briefly before turning to head inside.

As he made his way to the suite, Fourth's mind was a whirl of emotions. He was grateful for this newfound support system—Gemini, Pond, Joong, Dunk, and even Phuwin—each of them stepping in to make sure he wasn't alone. It was more than he ever thought he would have, and he wasn't sure how he got so lucky.

When he finally entered the suite, Fourth set his bag down and took a deep breath, letting the scent of the familiar clothes wash over him. It was going to be a long few days, but he knew that with all their help, he could get through it.

And somewhere deep down, Fourth allowed himself to hope that maybe, just maybe, he was starting to find a place where he truly belonged.