Feels Familiar But Different As Well (Showki)

~1~

The silence made the atmosphere awkward as the two families sat at opposite ends of Shownu's living room, the only sound was the heavy breathing and sniffles coming from Soojung. Shownu had his muscular arms wrapped around his daughter, patting her stomach, calming her down.

Kihyun on the other side of the small living room was staring at the scene, with his son Taehyun in his lap, also silent. The child was fiddling with his Batman costume, specifically the flowy cape, pulling out loose threads causing the edges to break. His dad would probably scold him about that later. The tense silence continued, hovering over the two families like a blanket draped over a child.

A Few Hours Before...

"Appa!" yelled Taehyun excitedly, "Hurry up! I want to go trick-or-treating now!"

Kihyun walked out of his room, wearing a long coat over casual clothing. "I'm here, I'm here!" said Kihyun, smiling slightly at his cute son bouncing up and down from excitement, "Remember to put on your shoes and jacket, Taehyun!" The boy nodded and put on his shoes and jacket quickly.

"LET'S GO!" exclaimed the boy, opening the front door. Kihyun quietly chuckled at his excited son and followed the young boy out of their house.

Taehyun quickly travelled from house to house, his Batman cape flowing behind him and Kihyun being a short distance away.

"Are you sure you don't want to go trick-or-treating with your friends, Soojung," asked Shownu kneeling in front of his daughter who was reading Harry Potter. Soojung nodded and turned the page of the book.

Shownu stood up straight and rubbed his head. He desperately wanted Soojung to interact with more people her age yet the person in question had no interest in people in general and much rather prefers book characters and imaginary friends.

"Can you at least help me give out candy for the kids coming to trick-or-treat?" asked Shownu walking over to the candy bowl that was on the kitchen counter, "You don't need to talk to them, you can just carry the bowl and hand out the candy." Soojung placed the book down and made a face showing that she was thinking. Shrugging, she stood up slowly. "I guess I can help appa," she said looking up at her father. With the candy bowl in his right hand, Shownu smiled and rubbed the top of his daughter's head.

"Thanks, Soojung," he said happily. The child smiled brightly at her father. "Can I get some apple pie tomorrow since I helped today?" she asked cutely. Chuckling, Shownu agreed. "Let's start filling the bowl with candy, " he said, taking Soojung's hand in his. The little girl giggled cutely and the daughter-parent duo went to the living room to get ready for the oncoming trick-o-treaters.

"One more house please, appa!" pleaded Taehyun loudly. Kihyun sighed. They have been out and about trick-or-treating for more than an hour, Taehyun's bag was overflowing with candy and his legs were getting tired. "I promise that this will be the last one," Taehyun said, looking into his father's eyes. One more wouldn't hurt, right?

"Fine," he said, "One more house and then we are going back home." The little boy cheered happily, almost spilling out some of his candy because he jumped so high.

The pair quickly walked to the last house on the street they were on, Taehyun basically pulling Kihyun along because the child was so excited. The child quickly walked up the steps and was now trying to ring the doorbell, which he couldn't reach since he was rather short. Kihyun, smiling at the cuteness of Taehyun, helped the boy by lifting him up, allowing the child to finally ring the doorbell.Kihyun lowered him back down on the concrete floor.