Joong sat on the couch long after the call ended, the house quiet except for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. His thoughts churned, bouncing between Fourth’s words and the piercing look Dunk had given him earlier.
Kian deserved to know his family. But how could Joong face everyone after hiding him for so long? The fear of rejection—or worse, Kian being taken away—gnawed at him.
He glanced at the clock. It was late, but sleep felt like an impossible dream. Instead, Joong got up and headed to Kian’s room.
The door was slightly ajar, allowing the soft glow of Kian’s nightlight to spill into the hallway. Joong stepped inside, his heart softening at the sight of his son curled up under the blankets, his stuffed rabbit tucked securely in his arms.
Joong sat carefully on the edge of the bed, brushing a strand of hair from Kian’s forehead.
“You’re my everything, you know that?” he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’d give up the whole world to keep you safe.”
Kian stirred, his eyes fluttering open. “Daddy?” he murmured sleepily.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Joong said softly. “I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.”
But Kian reached out, his small hand grasping Joong’s sleeve. “Why are you sad?”
Joong froze, his chest tightening. He forced a smile, leaning down to kiss Kian’s forehead. “I’m not sad, baby. Just thinking about how much I love you.”
Kian studied him for a moment before nodding, seemingly satisfied. “I love you too, Daddy,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
Joong stayed with him until his breathing evened out again, his little chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
---
The Next Morning
Joong woke early, the weight of his thoughts from the night before still heavy on his shoulders. He made Kian breakfast—oatmeal with honey and fruit, carefully avoiding anything dairy—and sat with him at the small kitchen table.
“Are we going to the park today?” Kian asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Joong hesitated. The park was one of Kian’s favorite places, but it was also where they had run into Dunk. Joong wasn’t sure if he could handle another chance encounter.
“We’ll see,” Joong said carefully. “Maybe we can go somewhere else today. What about the zoo? You’ve been asking to see the pandas again.”
Kian’s face lit up. “Really? The zoo?”
Joong smiled, relieved to see his excitement. “Really. Finish your breakfast, and we’ll head out soon.”
As Kian dug into his oatmeal, Joong’s phone buzzed on the counter. He glanced at the screen, his stomach flipping when he saw Dunk’s name again.
This time, Joong let it go to voicemail. He wasn’t ready to deal with Dunk yet—not when his emotions were still so raw.
---
At the Zoo
Kian was in his element, running from one exhibit to the next with boundless energy. Joong kept a watchful eye on him, his heart swelling at the sight of his son’s joy.
“Daddy, look!” Kian called, pointing at the pandas lounging in their enclosure. “They’re eating bamboo!”
Joong chuckled, walking over to stand beside him. “They eat a lot of bamboo. It’s their favorite food.”
Kian nodded seriously, his eyes wide with wonder. “I wish I could be a panda. They just eat and sleep all day!”
Joong laughed, ruffling Kian’s hair. “That does sound nice, doesn’t it?”
For a little while, Joong allowed himself to forget the worries waiting for him outside the zoo gates. He focused on Kian’s laughter, on the way his face lit up with every new animal he saw.
But as they passed a family taking pictures together, the sight of a father lifting his child onto his shoulders brought Joong back to reality.
Kian deserved moments like that—not just with him, but with all the people who could love and support him.
Joong’s thoughts were interrupted when Kian tugged on his hand. “Daddy, can we get ice cream?”
Joong hesitated. “You know we have to find the dairy-free kind, sweetheart. Let’s check the snack stand and see what they have, okay?”
Kian nodded eagerly, and they made their way to the nearest stand. Joong ordered a fruit sorbet for Kian and a coffee for himself, grateful for the momentary reprieve.
As they sat on a bench, Joong watched Kian happily devour his treat. The sight filled him with both joy and a deep sense of longing.
---
That Evening
Back home, Joong put Kian to bed and sat in the quiet of the living room. Fourth’s words echoed in his mind, mingling with Dunk’s demand for the truth.
He knew he couldn’t keep running forever. Sooner or later, Dunk would find out the truth about Kian. And when that happened, Joong wasn’t sure he could handle the fallout.
But one thing was clear: whatever happened next, Kian’s happiness had to come first.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath The spotlight
FanfictionTHIS IS A ROUGHTL DRAFT You have to read to find out LOL , this was requested by someone. Only Dunkjoong , I don't play about this ship
