Little Things

Daddy's Here

Leeteuk does not have nightmares often. When he does, it's usually because he fell asleep alone. His boyfriend Kangin does everything in his power to prevent that from happening, with the aid of their friends, of course. But some nights just can't be helped.

~~~~~~

Today is like any other day where Kangin had to leave for work, a shift that went from morning to night, and he made sure someone could look after Leeteuk just in case he slipped into his headspace. It's not that Kangin didn't trust leaving his boyfriend alone when he was big, he just needed the extra reassurance Leeteuk would be okay until he got home. Today, Shindong, Eunhyuk, and Yesung looked after their eldest hyung for as long as they could. But Shindong and Yesung had to leave early in the afternoon for work and now at 9 pm, an hour before Kangin would be home, Eunhyuk had to leave to pick up Donghae.

"Try not to fall asleep before Kangin hyung gets home," Eunhyuk calls out as he opens the front door and pauses to see if he gets a response.

"I won't." Leeteuk retorts petulantly, narrowing his eyes at his dongsaeng. Eunhyuk snickers as he waves goodbye and finally steps out the door, quietly closing it behind him. With the younger gone, Leeteuk is left alone to watch the remainder of Peter Rabbit.

As exciting as the movie is, a full stomach and a warm blanket makes Leeteuk a sleepy boy... Makes Teukkie sleepy.

"Nu fall asweep." The little grumbles, sitting up straight. He promised his daddy he would never ever fall asleep by himself...

"Bu' Teukkie ish sweepy." Teukkie whines, flopping back over onto his side. The little blankly stares at the screen, eyes drooping before he remembers his daddy would praise him if he found Teukkie still awake.

"Teukkie be Daddy's good boy." The little states, sitting up again and widening his eyes.

"Nu sweeps."

.

.

.

Teukkie really did try to stay awake but eventually he closed his drowsy eyes and was unable to open them again. 30 minutes before Kangin would be home.

~~

Kangin knew something was wrong when he found their apartment door unlocked. A sense of dread filled him as he steps into their mostly-quiet apartment, void of the sounds of the TV yet filled with whimpers of a certain little.

Kangin sighs as he runs to the kitchen, not allowing his eyes to wander to the living room where his baby is suffering. The caregiver sets about to pouring milk in Teukkie's favorite bottle and warming it up.

As soon as Kangin walks into the living room, Teukkie jolts up on the couch, tears streaming down his face as he begins to wail.

"Daddy!"

Kangin scoops Teukkie up and the little buries his face in the man's shoulder.

"It's okay, angel. Daddy's here," Kangin mumbles as he bounces the little on his walk to their bedroom, "He has your baba." Teukkie whimpers at the mention of his bottle but he still doesn't lift his head. Not until his daddy turns on his colorful nightlight as soon as they enter the room. The familiar and mesmerizing colors help take the little's mind off the nightmare just a little.

"There's my little angel," Kangin coos as he sits down in the rocking chair in the little's reading corner, "Ready for baba now?" Kangin brings the warm bottle up to Teukkie's face for the little to see and the little sniffles and nods. Kangin smiles at his baby before shifting the little around so his back is pressed against the caregiver's chest.

"Here ya go, bub." Kangin places the bottle in the little's hands who eagerly drinks from it. Kangin rubs his little's tummy as he begins to rock the chair back and forth. It doesn't take long for the little to fall back asleep with a warm belly and the comforting touches of his Daddy.

Kangin chuckles when the bottle slips from the little's hands as Teukkie's head lulls to the side. The caregiver hums as he sets the bottle aside and carefully stands up with his sleeping angel. He puts the little into bed and climbs in beside him just as carefully, hugging the boy to his chest.

"My precious angel." The man hums, pressing a kiss to Teukkie's temple before falling asleep soon after.