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Chapter Text

Chan decides that he could never work in law or anything to do with legal work because he would probably be incredibly frustrated and impatient all the time.

Go Youngmin was technically “missing” – or at least the police can’t find him to make the arrest and once again a warrant was issued by the court. But now it was for a full blown out arrest for contempt of court and violating the restraining order. His family hadn’t issued a missing person’s report, because of course he wasn’t missing, most definitely hiding out somewhere.

As they didn’t have reason to believe he was hiding in any one of their penthouses and suites they couldn’t obtain any search warrants – besides that was up to the court and two accounts of contempt of court wasn’t enough to get that warrant apparently.

It’s frustrating at every level and also stressful.

Thankfully Minho isn’t too preoccupied by this, but that was because he’d been so worried about Soonie which was also not good.

Chan didn’t need any incentive to agree to temporarily “co-parent” Soonie though he did appreciate the hotteok.

They also talked about their bond, discuss Minho’s Magick and the insight he received from his own friends. Minho had been worried that he might have been experiencing some sort of adverse effect from all of this which was so far from reality but Chan is touched that Minho was looking out for him in this.

But overall it also did back up what Chan had been thinking about Soonie’s situation and Chan is reassured that Minho came to the same conclusion too; at least that meant he wasn’t being mental.

Chan was also somewhat reassured to learn that the reason why he wasn’t seeing much of Minho’s magick was because he was training himself to be aware and gain control over it. Chan feels guilty because it was their proximity that was causing this reaction and Minho had to put effort in just having a sense of privacy regarding his emotions that he wouldn’t have to it wasn’t for him.

But Minho didn’t seem bothered, just a little embarrassed at the realization that Chan, amongst others, could see his Magick here and there.

Again he was mostly, and understandably, worried about Soonie.

Soonie, cat-son.

There was a soft sparkle of light around Minho when Chan explained his reasoning, stars blossoming on his cheeks briefly, a few clinging to his lashes as he smiled.

So now Chan has two cat beds in his flat, some pretty cool corner scratch posts to use to protect his nice couch, a feeding table and mat, a nicer litter box that Chan can keep on his little balcony, a whole care package that was mostly for Chan’s use like a lint roller and refills, several satchels to absorb odours and smells (Chan should personally invest in this more because it’s not that his place stank but he can’t believe how incredibly efficient they were), lots of cleaning wipes (pet friendly), and a plethora of snacks and toys, and a few packets of Soonie’s actual food just in case.

Minho explains each thing to him, even putting the scratch posts on his couch to ensure they stayed on properly. He shows Chan the best way to hold Soonie and also how he liked to be held. He shows him how to put food into the slow-eater bowl as Soonie sometimes ate too fast. He explains his behavior, when it came to things like wanting to use the litter box or wanting attention or just wanting to be played with.

Soonie was very well behaved and though he couldn’t be considered a senior cat, he wasn’t young and as energetic anymore so he was satisfied with the mental stimulation he got twice a day with Minho before and after work.

‘I wonder if the rules of threes applies with this situation,’ Minho had sighed as Chan successfully plays with Soonie using the wand with the little bait at the bottom.

Chan tilts his head questioningly.

‘I mean, all pets take time to get used to a place- for cats and even domesticated wolpertinger we usually asses in threes – three days, three weeks, three months,’ Minho explains, ‘I wonder if this is Soonie’s own rule of threes but with our Magick.’

Our Magick. Our Magick.

Minho says it so easily, like it made sense and he was accepting it as a permanent fixture in his life.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see? Chan offers.

Minho nods, looking intently at his cat before frowning a little.

‘Soonie-yah, come here a moment, do you have something in your ear?’

Minho gets a hold of his cat and carefully inspects Soonie’s ear before snorting.

‘Just fluff.’

It was obvious that Minho was worried. Him doing this was a clear sign that he was desperate and Chan takes it very seriously that his legal-husband was trusting him with his cat, his cat-son.

What are some food things that I shouldn’t even have in the place? Chan asks, wanting to show Minho he was very serious about this.

Minho glances back at his kitchenette with a smile, ‘Hyung, you don’t even have food things out.’

Just in case Chan tells him seriously I know dogs cannot have chocolate and raisins, but I realized I don’t really know what food stuff cats cannot consume.

‘Honestly, any sort of human food in general,’ Minho tells him with a shake of his head, ‘Anything with salt – I mean if he was to lick up like, drops of soup or something it won’t be bad, but he just can’t be straight up eat it.’

Chan nods in understanding.

‘And yeah, chocolates and raisins too,’ Minho grins before adding more seriously, ‘Any sort of bread stuff that has yeast too, and they’re definitely not like dogs and other carnivorous pets and so they can’t eat leftover bones. Also onions and garlic but we did have this one case some months ago when a woman came in with her 14 year old cat and she said she lived that long because she cooked her meat with garlic.’

Chan gives him an incredulous look.

‘I know!’ Minho laughs, ‘Obviously with a lot of things it really depends on the case and like, who knows, exposure to allergens from when they’re kittens, but I think it’s better to be safe.’

Chan nods quickly to that.

‘And no protein powder,’ Minho tells him strictly, pointing to the tub of protein powder that was on top of his counter that he forgot to put away. ‘I don’t need Soonie building muscle.’

Chan wheezes, the idea of a muscly house cat tickling his imagination.

If he were to hurt himself, what would be the first thing I should do?

‘Call me,’ Minho says at once, ‘Because this really depends on the situation. If he starts throwing up or has really weird excrement then take a picture of it, I know that sounds gross, but it can really help diagnose what’s wrong.’

Chan’s heard of that regarding a lot of animals.

‘Soonie hasn’t thrown up in years, I’ve always been careful with what I feed him and so was Jisungie,’ Minho tells him, ‘His digestion isn’t a problem – in fact I’d say it’s too good and I really need him to lose weight.’

Chan pretends to gasp and goes and covers Soonie’s ears.

‘Oh, he knows he has to lose weight,’ Minho laughs, glancing at the time and then saying, ‘Okay, I should get going now hyung.’

Okay Minho.

‘If you need anything, call me or the clinic,’ Minho tells him as they get up from the floor. ‘Soonie-ya, I’m leaving.’

Soonie just looks at him, as though asking him why are you still here? and then turns away.

‘Wow okay, demoted parent again today I see,’ Minho pretends to grumble.

Laughing, Chan goes and picks up Soonie and follows after Minho to the door and lets the cat try and wave. Soonie only tolerates it for about 3 seconds before he objects.

Minho rolls his eyes before he signs bye Chan-hyung, bye Soonie, be good to ladder-dad.

Soonie doesn’t even look at him, instead whole body trying to twist around in Chan’s arms to go back inside.

Chan giggles to himself, taking Soonie back in and gently placing him on the island top. But Soonie meows at him, turning back to bump into him, so Chan takes him in his arms again, doing his best not to squeal a little and heading for the couch.

He strokes down Soonie’s back, again still a little taken aback by how large he was. Cats were always some small in Chan’s mind. But Soonie was sizeable and just really nice to cuddle with like this.

Soonie has enough cuddles a few minutes later and goes to inspect all of the things Minho had placed for him. Chan watches him move around, quietly sniffing something and reaching out a paw to touch and investigate.

Chan is then reminded that he should tell Changbin about Soonie staying over, berating himself a little because he’d completely forgotten.

He takes a picture of Soonie now on top of his desk, peering out of the windows, looking rather regal in the process, and sends it to Changbin.

Me:

just letting you know that I have company and will continue to do so for about a week

Binnie:

Is that

Minho’s cat

Me:

Yes that’s Soonie

Changbin immediately calls him.

‘Are you cat-sitting?’ Changbin demands.

Something like that Chan replies, putting the phone down on the table and propping it up.

He then explains the situation to Changbin whose expression shifts from confused and, much to Chan’s increasing regret over informing his friend, sly amusement.

‘I see,’ Changbin hums, lips quirked up in a smile.

Chan narrows his eyes at him before continuing.

So I'm just letting you know about allergy possibilities and what not.

‘You’re very kind,’ Changbin smiles and asks, ‘So I see you gave him and Minho-shii matching names?’

Chan sighs and nods.

Changbin cackles.

‘Hyung, be honest, are you starting to like your husband?’ Changbin chortles.

I’m legally required to I think Chan says, pulling a stern expression and fighting the urge to squirm. This would be ten times more difficult if they were face-to-face.

‘Hey! There are worse people to like than your husband!’ Changbin says gleefully.

It’s not like that! Chan says with emphasis, grateful that the lighting from the window and his distance from the phone was washing him out so his cheeks that were definitely turning pink don’t show up on the video. He’s a good guy, we’re friends! Of course I like him! And this situation is my fault, I’m doing my best to make up for all of the issues I’ve caused him!

‘Hey, I’m just teasing hyung,’ Changbin says gently, ‘Also this isn’t-.’

Yes I know it’s not my fault Chan grumbles.

Changbin gives him a critical look before saying, ‘I don’t want anyone taking advantage of you; and I’m not saying Minho-shii will, but you know I worry.’

Chan sighs and nods, quickly apologizing as well.

‘I was actually going to message you,’ Changbin tells him, ‘Jaebum-hyung’s coming to dinner later tonight back home, mum and dad said you should come eat dinner, maybe he has some more information about what’s going on with Youngmin?’

Tonight? I finish at 8 though Chan reminds him.

‘Yeah I know, so think of it as dessert instead,’ Changbin chuckles.

Well, Chan does want to find out more so he agrees.

I know your dad said he doesn’t want you to build muscle, but wanna do some weights with me? Chan asks Soonie who perches up on his desk, apparently Soonie’s favourite spot.

Soonie loafs on the desk as Chan later switches on his computer, getting a head start on writing out his monthly report on the classes he was coaching. As they were entering the start of the university semester, and with practice already being scheduled, he was going to have work around that as priority. Chan would be the assistant coach for the swimming tournaments, working with freshmen for this year.

After a moment Soonie makes his way to his lap and settles there to nap. Chan types one-handed for a while as he pets the cat.

Rather abruptly, as Chan was getting into the flow of his report, Soonie swiftly jumps off his lap and onto the desk again, heading straight for the window and meowing.

What is it? he asks the cat when he glances back at Chan.

Soonie just meow, a bit more incessantly. Chan gets up from his desk, leaning over to look out of the window. He doesn’t see anything or anyone.

He goes back to his report and Soonie just sits there, maybe he was watching some of the pigeons?

Around 10 minutes later, Soonie lightly jumps off the desk and heads for the balcony door. Did he need to use the litter box?

Chan goes and opens the door for him but rather than go for the litter box Soonie steps outside, meowing and laser focused on something.

Chan does his best to find whatever it was that Soonie was seeing and meowing at. He’s not worried Soonie might slip out of the balcony as the metal lattice work was quite narrow and Chan had placed additional netting over larger areas for both privacy and also to keep out large bugs and insects.

Soonie meows again and in response, Chan hears a meow.

He can’t see past the lattice but after a minute or so, the grey and white cat that Chan sometimes saw appears, peering up at them and meowing.

Chan doesn’t know if this would start a territorial dispute. If he’s not mistaken the grey and white cat was also male and generally speaking this area could be his territory. With dogs it was obvious when they were defending their territories or putting on a show of dominance. But cats?

But the grey and white cat disappears under the thick shrubbery that lined up the back of this block of duplexes next to the partition wall. Soonie stays outside for a while longer before coming back in and heading to his bed, stretching a little.

Chan makes a mental note to tell Minho about the grey and white cat and to ask him what to do if he appeared again.

Making sure Soonie’s water bowl was filled, and also giving the smallest of treats because Chan can’t help it, he leaves his place and heads to work. To his surprise, in a good way, he’s told that his last couching schedule for the day was cancelled. This meant he could head over to Changbin’s at a better timing. He shoots his friend a message and Changbin tells him he was in for a delicious treat and Chan doesn’t doubt it.

Changbin’s family home was a bit further than what Chan was used to travelling so he hopes he doesn’t become too sore after the bike ride. At least it wasn’t winter like the last time he went to visit for Christmas, it took him an hour to thaw out, especially his knees.

He arrives around the same time Lawyer Im arrives, and they’re instantly seated for dinner.

One thing Chan really appreciated about Changbin’s family was despite their clear wealth, they didn’t live in a lavishly large location and didn’t overdo their home to the point where it looked like a hotel penthouse. Once both Changbin and his sister moved out, his parents didn’t think it was logical to continue staying in their previous home with so many rooms. They moved to a smaller condo though of course it had spare rooms in any case either of their kids wanted to stay with them or a relative stayed over.

Hyunjin is also there, because of course he was – Changbin’s parents adored Hyunjin and would show up to his tournaments and matches whenever they could.

Changbin’s mother takes his arm the moment he walks through, and excitedly asks him about how his work was going and of course about his husband.

She asks if he has a photo and Hyunjin exclaims that he has wedding photos and Chan shows them to her, face turning red.

‘He’s handsome!’ she exclaims, getting her glasses out to see better. 'And he works with animals, amazing.'

Changbin’s dad also comes to look and nods in serious agreement.

‘And now he’s taking care of his cat as well,’ Changbin adds uselessly.

‘Just for a short while,’ Chan says hastily, ‘The move and everything is giving him separation anxiety we think.’

‘We think,’ Hyunjin echoes to Changbin in a loud whisper.

Thankfully Lawyer Im comes and joins them after washing up and the topic of conversation changes.

They do have an incredibly delicious meal, though Hyunjin can’t eat the carb-heavier food and he looks so genuinely but comically distraught that Changbin’s father actually pushes the dish away from view to spare him.

For dessert they have fruits which Hyunjin more or less hoards, Changbin’s mother selecting strawberries for him and nearly feeding him herself as Changbin watches with a grumbling pout, asking why he wasn’t being given any strawberries too.

The talk of course leads to Go Youngmin and while there was no update regarding his whereabouts, and even his social media accounts were inactive, Lawyer Im believes he was definitely in the country. Lawyer Im does have some information about Youngmin’s family though, something he learnt in passing the other day from an associate who was working in collaboration with one of Youngmin’s brother’s company.

Apparently Youngmin’s actions had caused quite a stir with a potential business partner.

As it would turn out, Youngmin’s brother was a stakeholder of a major hospital in another city and news regarding Youngmin’s drug abuse (his ability to access the drugs in the first place now somehow unfortunately making sense) and sequential dismissal from the university as well as the permanent ban from the athletic world had reached other circles of society.

In a sense, more than the Court or any legal action Chan could take towards Youngmin, he knows that only Youngmin’s family would be able to stop him from acting out. Ultimately for Youngmin, he had no saving qualities that would allow him to become financially stable. His drug abuse record as well as criminal record would never get him any sort of sponsorship, and it would most certainly be a huge issue in terms of finding any sort of work or even establishing any business. He would be completely reliant on his family, and his future inheritance, to continue his preferred lifestyle.

But as his reputation was now bleeding onto other family member’s business ventures and prospects, it was extremely possible that they would put a permanent stop to his idiocy by threatening to pull any financial support for him.

Both Changbin and Hyunjin give him a hopeful look, all of them coming to the same sort of conclusion.

This could actually be an incredibly fortunate outcome for them.

Feeling lighter and reassured by this information, Chan makes his way back home.

It’s close to 11 and though he doesn’t think Minho would wear him making his way in, he moves as quietly as he can.

When he opens his door Chan nearly drops his keycard when Soonie meows and shoots his way out and to the stairs.

For a moment Chan is frozen, bag awkwardly dangling in the crook of his elbow before he drops it and follows Soonie up the stairs, all sorts of thoughts flying through his mind.

He quickly knocks on Minho’s door as he digs his phone out of his jacket pocket, Soonie meowing again.

There’s no response to the knocking and Chan finds a short message from Minho, sent about an hour and a half ago, apologizing to Chan and telling him that there was an emergency at work and he didn’t know when he’d be done.

Chan hadn’t checked his phone since he got to Changbin’s place and he instantly feels really bad.

He messages Minho to apologize to him and lets him know that he would take care of Soonie for the night if needed.

He scoops the cat up, pressing his face in between his ears as Minho usually did with him, and takes the cat back downstairs, making soft humming sounds as soothingly as he could.

Once inside Chan notes that Soonie hasn’t messed up anything though the scratching board has been scratched up some more, and one of the two pillows on his couch has been knocked over.

Soonie I’m sorry Chan says to the cat as he places him on the island top, I’ll get you food okay?

Chan carefully measures out the food as per Minho’s instructions and places it in the slow-eater and Soonie happily eats it. His water bowl was half finished so he fills it back up. There’s no significant mess in the litter box and Chan places it outside on the balcony as Minho had recommended to him.

He checks his phone again and there’s no response from Minho.

Chan sorts his bag out and changes into home clothes and sits on the couch with Soonie who, though he didn’t want to be cuddled, was still clearly anxious and was staying just close enough to Chan as though still seeking comfort. He occasionally meows, as though asking where Minho was.

Chan is playing with Soonie, getting him interested in little toy mouse that was remote-control operated and has the cat chase is around when his phone buzzes with a notification.

It’s Minho, letting him know he was on his way and apologizing again.

Your dad is on his way Soonie-yah Chan tells him.

Around 10 minutes later Chan hears their main door opening and so does Soonie, immediately perking up. Chan immediately goes and opens his door just as Minho closes the main-door.

‘Hi hyung,’ Minho says and he looks incredibly tired. ‘I’m so sorry, was Soonie behaving okay?’

He didn’t just look exhausted, there was that heaviness to him, a physical darkness clinging over his shoulders like when he’d been sick.

No, not at all Chan shakes his head at once and steps aside for Soonie to meow and make his way over to Minho.

He didn’t need to see Minho’s Magick to know he wasn’t doing well – it was obvious he was physically tired, but this was somewhat different from the time he’d been sick.

Minho immediately crouches down and picks up Soonie, cuddling him close and sighing out loud.

‘Hi baby, sorry I’m late,’ he says quietly.

What happened? Chan asks as he walks over to him.

‘A lot,’ Minho sighs, ‘We were contacted to support another clinic for several emergency treatment and surgeries. Dr. Kwon is connected to a lot of shelters and rescue centers, and they found a truck of really terribly treated animals – dogs, cats, roosters, rabbits, even a kappa.’

Chan tries to smile with Minho at that but he can see just how drained the man was and he feels hopeless in how to make him feel better.

‘We were asked if we could go on site, so I went with Dr. Kim and Younghyun-hyung so we could support the rescue center that found them,’ Minho explains, ‘Around 50 different animals, most of them dogs who were badly injured, we suspect it’s from illegal fighting rings and these animals were being taken to be, well, disposed off we suspect. We had to quickly coordinate with another clinic and the rescue center on how many we could take and take care of. We also had to talk things out with animal control as well as the police, that was a whole other mess unfortunately as we were running out of time. Dr. Kwon is an excellent surgeon so we took the most complicated cases. We took in 18 of the animals, 4 of whom needed emergency surgeries.’

Minho absentmindedly tucks Soonie in close, pressing his nose down between his ears.

‘We lost two on the way back to the clinic,’ he says quietly, ‘Another in the middle of surgery, and we don’t know if a couple will make it through the night. I would have stayed the night over but as intern I was already pushing my limit in being there this late out.’

Chan hesitates a moment before he holds his arms up to Minho.

Minho sighs and gives him a small smile before taking a small step forward and allows Chan to hug him. Gently patting his back, Chan can practically feel how drained he was – this wasn’t physical exhaustion, this was emotional and mental exhaustion. Chan wants to take Minho and tuck him into his bed and feed him soup or something.

He doesn’t think he can do all of that, but he can offer something to eat for sure.

Do you want something to eat? I can quickly heat something for you Chan asks once they separate, typing rapidly.

‘No it’s okay hyung,’ Minho smiles, ‘I have to get back to the clinic quite early tomorrow and take over for Younghyun-hyung, he’s watching the animals overnight with Dr. Kwon and Dowoon-hyung.’

What time? Chan asks.

‘At 7-.’

I’ll take you Chan tells him.

‘Ah, hyung there’s no need-,’ Minho starts to say but Chan shakes his head.

You can sleep in longer that way, it won’t even take 15 minutes to get there at that time Chan tells him.

Minho thinks this over before he nods, ‘Thank you hyung, I’m sorry you had to watch him for so long. If it takes long tomorrow too, I’ll let Jisung know so he can stay with this one.’

I don’t mind at all Chan tells him before adding I’m sorry I didn’t see your message earlier, I was with Changbin and his family

‘Oh- oh, is there any update or-?’

Not really, but that’s not important right now, go rest Chan tells him, I’ll take you tomorrow, don’t worry about it.

Minho thanks him again and gently tells Soonie to say goodnight to him. Soonie only has eyes for his dad and doesn’t pay Chan much heed.

Chan later scours the internet to see if there was any report regarding the rescue seeing as police had been involved but he supposes maybe tomorrow instead, if at all.

He hopes Minho will be able to sleep well and recover a little.

And come morning Minho still looks a bit tired but he definitely got some sleep, that heaviness not as obvious over him.

‘Good news,’ he tells Chan as he makes his way down the stairs, ‘Juhyun-noona told me all of the animals that required surgery are recovering well and stabilized.’

Chan does a little cheer and claps his hands.

‘They’re discussing shifts, as we might have to put some of the animals with us for a while before they’re okay to go to a shelter for further recovery and even physiotherapy,’ Minho tells him.

Chan nods in understanding.

‘I might be gone for longer, I don’t know though, I’ll let you know when I find out,’ Minho tells him, looking a bit guilty and adds again, ‘If it continues, I’ll ask Jisung to watch over him.’

I really don’t mind him staying with me Chan tells him, my own schedule has lessened right now because of the semester starting up soon so we’re reorganizing too.

Minho nods thoughtfully to that.

I can bond more with Soonie that way Chan adds.

Minho laughs, small sparkles bursting near his lashes briefly. Soonie has already gone into his place, and Chan had laid out his seal-skin on the bed solely so that the cat would go there.

All good to go? Chan asks as he goes and gets the second helmet for Minho.

All good Minho signs back and adds, ‘Glad it’s not raining this morning.’

I have rain gear for both of us if needed, Chan tells him reassuringly, I always have extra.

‘Has anyone told you that you’re very dad-coded?’ Minho remarks before bursting out into laughter at Chan’s expression.

Minho waves goodbye to Soonie and the cat looks somewhat confused that Chan was leaving too, or at least he thinks he does, Chan could be projecting.

I’ll be back Soonie Chan tells the cat before closing and locking his door.

Chan doesn’t drive too fast, there was no need. The traffic was smooth what with how early it was, and they get there in just about 10 minutes.

Avoiding one of the larger puddles of rain Chan stops the scooter a little ahead of the complex where the clinic was. Minho hands him back the helmet as Chan also gets off.

‘Thank you again hyung,’ Minho tells him, quickly adjusting his hair.

I can pick you up too, I don’t mind Chan tells Minho, some of these upcoming days I might be done around the same time as you’re usually done.

Minho doesn’t immediately tell him it wasn’t necessary, instead clearly thinking it over.

Chan places the spare helmet over the seat for a moment before opening the bag he was carrying and retrieves a cooled sports drink and hands it to Minho.

Thank you Coach Minho signs to him just as Younghyun steps out, another man with him.

‘Oh, perfect timing Minho-yah,’ he says before grinning at him, ‘Chan-ah, taking husband duties very seriously?’

Minho chuckles and Chan just nods solemnly.

Minho waves goodbye to him and Chan mimes at him to call him, and Minho rolls his eyes but nods.

‘Maybe I should invest in a scooter too,’ Younghyun says thoughtfully before he introduces the man next to him as Yoon Dowoon and it takes a moment for Chan to get used to how low and deep his voice was, even more than Felix and that way saying something.

Later in the day, Minho messages Chan to let him know he’d be an hour and a half later than usual, and that Dr. Kim would be dropping him off. Chan lets Minho know that he would be home an hour and half earlier than usual as they were implementing the new changes in their schedules.

Many of the coaching lessons would come to an end, especially for the younglings seeing as their schools would start soon. Chan would however be working with a few Undine families and some of their very young pups and fry as it was pivotal for their development at certain ages.

When he gets home he first immediately feeds Soonie, knowing this was roughly the time Minho usually fed him when he came back home.

‘Your dad is working really hard to help save other babies like you,’ Chan tells Soonie, ‘Don’t be mad at him okay? For now I’ll watch you and we can hang out.’

He plays with Soonie after he eats, laughing as Soonie slides and slips across the floor, chasing after the mouse. When he had come back from dropping off Minho, Soonie was curled up in his seal-skin just as he expected and just as he had hoped.

Was it because of their Magick that Soonie felt a sense of comfort from the seal-skin the same way it did for Chan?

Picking Soonie up when he hears Minho coming back, they open the door just as Minho was making his way towards his place.

Soonie meows and shifts a bit in his arms and Chan lets the cat down.

Minho looks better than last night and the smile he gives him is genuine and not tinged with sadness.

‘Hey hyung, hi baby,’ he adds softly as Soonie meows and Minho picks him up, ‘Had a good time bonding with step-dad?’

Chan chuckles.

How are things? How are the animals recovering?

‘So much better,’ Minho tells him with visible relief, ‘A few will need secondary surgery, and we’re going to transfer two to a specialist once they’re more stable. But other than that, most of them are really doing much better.’

I’m so happy to hear that Chan tells him genuinely was it okay with the police and other things?

‘Ah, it’ll take time to explain,’ Minho says.

Chan gestures to him to come inside.

‘Oh- I’m not intruding?’ Minho asks.

If you’re not too tired, I would love to hear everything Chan tells him.

Minho smiles, looking down at Soonie.

‘Wanna hear your dad yap at your step-dad about cleaning pus-filled infections?’

It’s the only thing I want to hear tonight Chan tells him as he opens the door wider.

Minho throws his head back laughing, stepping into the doorway and toeing his shoes off.

‘Well, you’re in for a treat then.’

*

Chan hands Minho another sports drink, today a grape-flavoured one.

He’d been dropping him off a couple of days now and Minho is endlessly grateful. The buses weren’t as frequent that early in the morning, and he’d have to get out of his place much earlier to catch it on just in time. Taxis were expensive, and even though Dr. Kwon had reassured him that he’d be paid extra to cover transportation for this week specifically (seeing as he was coming in earlier than his usual schedule and staying back as well) Minho doesn’t want to socialize that early in the morning with strangers. So he accepts Chan’s very gracious offer. And even though Chan had absolutely refused any attempt of paying him back even in the form of refilling his petrol, Minho is determined to pay him back for his generosity one way or another.

He has to, because Chan was not only dropping him off but watching over Soonie.

But Minho can tell Chan wasn’t just saying it or offering it out of obligation. He’s always so pleased to have Soonie and very determined to drop Minho off, and always reminding him that he could pick him up to go back home too. Though at that offer Minho has to put his foot down because that felt too much. He wouldn’t let Jisung do that for him either.

Thankfully this would only last this week and Minho is relieved.

Soonie was behaving quite well too despite Minho’s longer time away from home, reassuring him that his cat was indeed being very well taken care of by Chan and that Soonie really did like his legal-husband a lot.

Today would be the last day for this schedule, at least for Minho as it was now a Friday as well. He’d be going to the rescue center tomorrow but it would be in the afternoon so Minho would be able to sleep in longer and rest a while.

What a week.

Not just the intense care and attention that they animals needed but also having to sit for his final exams. Chan was plying him with energy bars and snacks and drinks as they waited outside the exam hall. Minho had to rush back after the exams and head straight back into the fray, Chan insisting on taking him back, look of worry permanently etched on his features.

But thankfully a majority of the animals who were stable enough had been slowly taken to several shelters and rehabilitation centers through out the week, Minho joining Dr. Kwon and Juhyun for these trips and meeting with many shelter works and other vets, nurses, and techs.

A lot of Minho’s work was fulfilling and challenging in the best way possible. However there were times like these when it weighed heavily on him, when it strained him in ways he didn’t think possible.

He always looked forward to going home during such days, to hold Soonie close and feel his little heart beating, hear his breathing and smell his biscuit head. And this time around it came with a bonus of a comforting smile and warm eyes as he recounts the day to Chan over a cup of tea, helping him unwind.

‘I think this one is my favourite,’ Minho tells Chan as he puts his helmet into the boot of the scooter.

I like the pineapple Chan tells him.

‘I’m guessing that’s why I’ve never had it?’ Minho grins.

Maybe Chan signs and continues to add in Speak, call me if you need me to pick you up. I’ll be done at 6:30 today.

At this point Minho was really learning a lot of Speak on the go.

He briefly watches as Chan drives off as usual before heading in.

‘The centers are packed,’ Dr. Kim tells him before he’s even two steps inside.

‘What?’ Minho blinks.

‘All of the centers,’ the vet sighs, ‘We’re going to have to reach out to our usual fosters but I don’t know how quickly they can take them. Juhyun is already reaching out, but do you think you could ask your friends or even lecturers and ask if they know any people willing to foster?’

They had 10 animals under their care right now, which wasn’t too bad. But they would soon need more space as the kennels were made for temporary housing purposes and they didn’t have enough staff to care for the animals in individually. They would see need supervised exercise, a place to actually go for walks and not to the small park-walkway close by where Minho and Juhyun took turns to take the stronger animals for short walks and bathroom breaks for those who could.

‘Yeah of course,’ Minho nods at once.

‘Okay great,’ Dr. Kim claps his hands together, ‘All right, let’s go check on our kiddos, Younghyun told me we have a biter who won’t stop gnawing off her cannula so they’ve put a cone on her but she’s getting around that too.’

Putting the all too smart black cat in a slightly DIY donut cone to stop her from biting off her cannula that she’d need for her medication Minho immediately starts messaging everyone he can think of. Of course he messages Jisung first, knowing his older brother’s partner sometimes fostered animals time to time.

Minho reaches writes quick emails to all of his professors and lecturers and messages the ones he was closer to as well. He messages the group chat of his fellow graduating classmates to ask if they or anyone else they knew would be available to foster or even knew of rehabilitation centers or shelters in and around the city.

Minho doesn’t hesitate to message Chan about it too, telling him the situation with a bit more detail and contact information of their clinic to forward to anyone who could possibly help.

Chan immediately responds that he’d start asking.

The entire day Minho is answer all sorts of calls and messages and emails and in a way he wasn’t expecting Chan to message him (this quick) to ask if he was free for a bit after lunch hour. Minho tells him that he could meet him if he wanted more information but Chan tells him that it’s Yuna and Ryujin who want to talk to him.

Minho tells him that they were welcome to come any time and that he could give the girls his contact information.

Not even 5 minutes later Yuna is messaging him and lets him know that she would be coming by at 1 in the afternoon and if that was okay.

He lets her know that it was completely fine and exactly at 1 in the afternoon Yuna and Ryujin show up, looking a bit sheepish but eager.

‘Our roles are a bit reversed now,’ Minho chuckles as he hands them both slippers to wear further inside the clinic where they did their best to keep things sterile as a few of the animals were in delicate stages of recovery.

Yuna giggles at that and thanks him for the slippers.

‘We currently have 10 animals with us, 7 who will need foster homes by this weekend if possible,’ Minho explains, ‘Most of them cats, and if I understand rightly, you have a cat of your own?’

The two girls nod at that.

‘Have you fostered before?’ he asks as they pause before the door to the kennels.

‘We both have,’ Ryujin replies, ‘My family fostered a lot of animals since I was young, I’ve let them know too, but they live far out from the city.’

‘My cat is a foster-failure,’ Yuna grins, ‘I was supposed to foster for three weeks but she’s been with me for four years now.’

‘That does happen,’ Minho chuckles, ‘So you’re both aware that it could be challenging?’

‘We do,’ Ryujin nods seriously, ‘We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we couldn’t handle it.’

Minho believes them.

‘Dr. Kim has a potential foster parent for two of the dogs,’ Minho tells them as they enter the kennel, ‘And just half an hour ago we got a call regarding this cat.’

He points to the black cat with the donut and it elicits giggles from the girls at the sight of the chunky donut.

‘These three cats are looking for fosters,’ Minho tells them, showing them the remaining three cats. ‘As quickly as possible.’

The two girls immediately coo and exclaim softly.

‘She looks like my Byullie,’ Ryujin smiles softly at one of the cats who they had to shave nearly completely due to the excessive matting of her fur which was causing infections and was on her way to developing sepsis. She looked truly miserable but was definitely improving quickly.

‘Oh, she really does,’ Yuna says tearfully, ‘Hi sweet angel.’

‘We will provide all of the medical treatment she’ll need until she recovers,’ Minho explains, ‘For her it’s mostly ointments and she’ll be done with the antibiotics tomorrow.’

He gestures to the curled up snowy-white cat that they all thought was grey but was in fact just extremely filthy.

‘I won’t go into detail but we had to intensely de-worm her and remove non-food items from her gut,’ Minho explains, ‘She’s the healthiest out of all of them, and though her gut is sensitive so she’s on a careful diet.’

‘My dad’s cat had this habit of ripping up towels and eating the bits,’ Ryujin tells him, ‘We had to operate on her twice before we realized she didn’t like the microfiber towels and replaced every towel in the house with those.’

Minho chuckles at that before pointing to the last of the three.

‘He has those socks on because 3 of his paws had severe cases of ingrown nails,’ Minho explains, ‘We had to unfortunately remove the worst case infections but the others will be all right with continuous antibiotic treatment for another week.’

‘They were really neglected,’ Ryujin says sadly, ‘Was this some sort of like, illegal breeding situation or something?’

‘Something like that,’ Minho nods, ‘There was also illegal animal fighting dens involved, animal parts, and just really terrible things.’

Ryujin’s frown gets deeper and deeper, shaking her head in disbelief and horror.

‘What about that one?’ Yuna asks, pointing to the cat at the far end.

‘Oh, he’s still in recovery, it’ll take time for him I’m afraid,’ Minho tells her, ‘We had to remove parts of his intestine, he’s basically under what you could call intensive care but he’s stable and will make a full recovery. It’ll just take time.’

Yuna walks over to the smaller kennel as Ryujin looks back at the cat with bandage-socks who blinks at her from his corner, nose twitching.

‘He’s so sweet,’ Ryujin says softly, ‘I wish we could take all of them.’

‘Unnie,’ Yuna warbles.

‘Aw, Yuna,’ Ryujin smiles, walking over to the Rusalki to comfort her. Yuna’s eyes are filled with tears as she points to the cat inside the carrier.

Minho gives them a moment and checks in with the other slightly dopey animals including the sweet pure-bred poodle that was going to be taken to his foster home later today by Dr. Kim and Dr. Kwon’s close friend. He was terrified of him, more specifically terrified of men and only Juhyun and Dr. Kwon could handle him.

He makes sure his water was filled, checks his bandages and cone, and turns back around when Ryujin walks over.

‘Ah, she’s already attached,’ Ryujin says but she looked misty-eyed too and when Yuna turns around to give them both a pleading look Ryujin sighs as though she knew where this was already headed.

‘He’s breaking my heart,’ Yuna practically sobs out, ‘Oh, I need to take care of him.’

Minho smiles, understanding Yuna’s emotions very well. Honestly if he could he would take all of them too, dogs and one rabbit included. But he barely had time right now for just Soonie so it wouldn’t be fair to them in the slightest.

As they had never fostered animals from this clinic Minho registers them both and takes them to be interviewed by Dr. Kwon. Though nervous they do very well and it was evident from how they spoke and their eagerness to provide information of all sorts (maybe too much sometimes) that they really wanted to do this.

Despite the urgency they had for foster homes they couldn’t rush the process. Ryujin and Yuna would have to have their shared apartment assessed and they both immediately agree, even saying they could show them the place today if needed but Dr. Kwon laughs and tells them probably this weekend instead.

The girls are in high spirits and go see the cat one more time before waving and giving each animal a cheer and sweet words before they leave. Minho would personally pack the thank you package they gave to their registered foster-homes and sneak in some extra things.

‘They’re adorable,’ Dr. Kwon tells him after they’re gone, ‘I think we’re looking at a foster fail.’

Minho laughs because he agrees.

‘Are you sure you’re good for tomorrow too?’ Dr. Kwon asks.

‘I am,’ Minho nods. He wants to do this for more than just assisting the others as they go support the rescue center with the other animals but also wants to prove that he would be an extremely good permanent employee. He’s been here for a good period of time now, and he knows his internship period would come to an end next month, he needs to show that having him on the team permanently would be beneficial for the clinic.

It would be exhausting but Minho knows that a good night’s rest well into the morning tomorrow would fix him up and he could crash on Sunday instead.

When he gets home he’s greeted as usual by Chan and Soonie at his door.

‘I heard from Yuna that they’ve applied to be fosters,’ he says, looking excited as Soonie walks over to him.

Minho scoops him up at once and slightly aggressively squashes him close, nuzzling his whole face into his cat who only mildly protests.

‘Yeah,’ Minho nods, ‘They were great, thanks again hyung for helping.’

‘I only forwarded the information,’ Chan tells him with a shrug, ‘I hope more will get in contact with you and the clinic soon.’

‘So far we have fosters ready to take in 6, just four left,’ Minho tells him, rummaging in his bag and producing their clinic’s baseball cap merch. It’s in the clinic’s colours, a blue-grey with orange and white outlines of a different paw and claw prints. ‘For you hyung.’

Chan’s eyes light up at once, excitedly clapping before taking it and jamming it over his head.

‘Honourary member of the SC Clinic,’ Minho chuckles.

Chan laughs before turning to Soonie.

‘How do I look?’ he asks.

Soonie doesn’t even look at him.

‘Jisungie is coming tomorrow to stay with him,’ Minho explains to Chan as the man pretends to be wounded by Soonie’s lack of appreciation for his baseball cap.

‘Oh,’ Chan’s expression genuinely drops.

‘I don’t know how long it will take, working at the rescue center,’ Minho explains quickly, ‘And I know you said you don’t mind, but I don’t want you to be stuck taking care of him and further causing allergens to steep in your place and drive Changbin-shii away.’

Minho did feel guilty over that – he was essentially asking Chan to make it impossible for one of his closest friends to come visit him because of his cat.

‘Besides, Jisung pretty much demanded he take care of Soonie and unfortunately, I also think it’s with ulterior motives to talk to you about building lats or something else again,’ Minho snorts.

Chan throws his head back as he laughs.

Jeongin had gone back home for the weekend before university semester would start to visit his grandparents and Jisung had genuinely begged to stay with him. So of course Minho was going to rope him in to watch Soonie. Besides he misses Jisung and he’s sure Soonie would love to have him too.

‘Have you eaten?’ Chan asks.

‘Dr. Kwon has been ordering food for all of us this past week now,’ Minho chuckles, ‘As we’re all working overtime and especially for Younghyun-hyung and Dowoon-hyung who are staying overnight to watch the animals.’

‘I hope they’re able to get rest,’ Chan says with a wince.

Minho is personally very glad that he didn’t have to do the night shift even if temporary, but they sort of have double duties as a result during normal work hours of keeping an alert eye on the recovering animals and also tending to their usual clients and walk-ins.

‘Okay say goodnight to step-dad,’ Minho tells Soonie, ‘You won’t be seeing him tomorrow!’

Chan exaggerates a distraught look, hands clutched over his heart.

However that was incredibly unlikely because of course Jisung and Soonie are in Chan’s place, sending him hilarious selfies barely an hour after Minho leaves the next day, Chan in the background looking like he was caught unaware.

Bug:

asked bro-in-law if he wanted to eat with us

Like that explained why Jisung was at Chan’s place with Soonie.

Bug:

Soonie was also meowing for his step-dad

You weren’t exaggerating

Kinda embarrassing

Im also officially heartbokrnen

Im no longer #2 in his heart

Minho sighs, shaking his head.

Bug:

Are YOU even #1 anymore

Lol

Minho immediately spams Jisung with a plethora of knife emojis before returning to the examination room with clean hands.

His lecturers and professors always said that the best way to be good at what they did was simply practice – textbooks and videos and lectures could only help you so much but practice was what determined improvement of skill, sharpening your instincts, and refining your assessment.

And Minho gets a lot of practice today at the shelter.

Dr. Kim wasn’t kidding when he said they were really running out space and in desperate need for fosters.

Amidst the chaos and concentrated work Minho is able to meet with a few old classmates who were working in other clinics also in partnership with this shelter, and meets other fellow junior vet techs as they were basically forming the entirety of the examination process to sort and situate every animal that comes their way.

While exhausting it was definitely fulfilling.

With aching feet and the burning desire to shower with the hottest water he can tolerate, Minho makes his way back home, Dr. Kim dropping him off at the end of his street.

It’s near 10, which isn’t too bad, but just in case, Minho gets in quietly and heads up to his place.

Jisung opens the door before he reaches his landing, Soonie in his arms who meows softly at him.

‘Woah, you look like death,’ Jisung says with a wince.

‘My feet feel like death,’ Minho chuckles, ‘No Soonie, I have to shower first and put everything in the machine, you’ll hate how I smell.’

‘I hate how you smell,’ Jisung points out, wrinkling his nose in exaggeration.

Minho sticks his tongue out at his best-friend before immediately heading to the bathroom.

When he comes out, clean and smelling good and feet still aching a ton, he scoops up Soonie and collapses onto his bed with a groan.

Jisung wheezes at him from the futon rolled out on the floor for him to sleep on.

‘Was he good?’ Minho mumbles.

‘The best of course,’ Jisung says, crawling over and slumping on his bed.

‘Thanks again Sunggie,’ Minho says with a yawn.

‘Honestly I barely took care of him so no need to thank me,’ Jisung laughs, ‘He really likes Chan-hyung.’

‘Oh so now it’s hyung to you,’ Minho points out, raising an eyebrow.

‘Well, duh,’ Jisung snorts, ‘He told me that as he’s my brother-in-law it didn’t make sense to be so formal and hey, I’m not about to disagree with a dude who has my dream lats.’

Minho laughs a little hysterically at that.

‘Did you have a gym-bro talk?’

‘You’d have hated it,’ Jisung grins before adding, ‘Don’t you want to dry your hair?’

‘Ugh, let me rest my feet,’ Minho scowls.

Wheezing, Jisung goes and digs out his hairdryer.

Unsurprisingly Soonie squirms out of his hold at the sight of the hairdryer and Minho lays face-flat on the bed as Jisung dries his hair, doing everything he could to make it as fluffy as possible no doubt.

‘I found a really cool couch by the way,’ Jisung tells him once he’s done and Minho probably looked like dandelion fluff. ‘I think you’ll like it.’

Lifting his head up to look at Jisung’s phone in an angle that would probably make physiotherapists shudder Minho squints at the very nice warm brown single couch.

‘The armrests are the kind you like,’ Jisung tells him excitedly, zooming in on the thick padded armrests.

‘Send me the link,’ Minho says at once before pushing himself up.

‘Apparently the fabric is pet-proof,’ Jisung tells him.

‘I highly doubt it.’

‘I saw Chan-hyung’s couch, the scratching posts are doing really well to protect it,’ Jisung snickers.

‘I’ll buy the taller ones this time,’ Minho says thoughtfully, sitting up and feeling his hair moving about in a way that was defying gravity. ‘Now get off my bed, I need to sleep.’

‘Soonie-yah, come to your samchon,’ Jisung croons to Soonie who was in his cubby, ‘At least I know you still prefer me over Yang Jeongin.’

‘How is he with Chan-hyung?’ Minho asks in a mumble as he falls into his pillows.

‘Honestly so sweet,’ Jisung laughs quietly from near the foot of his bed, ‘It’s like he’s known him his whole life.’

Minho snorts quietly.

‘I think in a way he doesn’t really see the difference between your Magick and Chan-hyung’s Magick,’ Jisung hums, ‘Like Jeongin pointed out, I think to Soonie, Chan-hyung is like, an extension of you or something.’

‘Guess that’s nice for him,’ Minho mumbles.

‘Oh yeah, two doting dads who spoil him rotten? Absolutely,’ Jisung snickers again before saying, ‘Go to sleep hyung, you worked really hard today.’

‘Hm,’ Minho manages before knocking out.

Minho knocks out hard.

He doesn’t wake up even when Jisung leaves to go and get them coffee and comes back with some sandwiches from a nearby café. He only wakes up because Soonie decides he’s had enough sleep and more or less falls onto his head.

‘Why would you do this to me,’ Minho grumbles at Soonie who gives him a baleful meow in response.

Minho is still tired but he’s feeling better, feet no longer hurting.

He eats breakfast with Jisung, now properly looking at the link with the couch. Mouth still stuffed with sandwich, Minho walks over the living room section and starts measuring, reading out the dimensions to Jisung who jots it down.

‘I think this will work,’ Minho nods thoughtfully, ‘Pet fur repellent or not, the price is really decent and I need structure in the apartment.’

‘Also it’s a pull out which is great as I need an elevated place to sleep on,’ Jisung adds.

‘I’m contacting the sellers,’ Minho decides.

They’re looking over some more items Minho was considering when he notices that Jisung kept glancing at his phone.

‘What’s up?’ he asks.

‘Oh, I’m going to the gym with Chan-hyung,’ Jisung explains, ‘I’ve asked him to show me some pointers and he said he was leaving at 11 and would message me to let me know when we’d be leaving.’

‘Oh.’ Minho blinks.

‘He does assists in the gym!’ Jisung says at once, ‘He said he could show me any time and I asked if he was free today and he said he absolutely would!’

‘You’re taking full advantage of my marriage,’ Minho says as he narrows his eyes at Jisung.

‘You know I’ve been trying to bulk up!’ Jisung whines, ‘But I get too anxious to go to the gym and ask the trainers! Chan-hyung is so chill and nice! I don’t think he’d judge me for having the wrong form.’

Minho smiles, reaching over to aggressively (but not painfully) squeeze Jisung’s cheeks.

‘Go build the lats of your dreams,’ Minho snorts.

‘I’ve already bought protein and it’s going to be delivered later today,’ Jisung informs him happily.

Chan messages Jisung and he cheers a little before hurriedly grabbing his things and attempts to kiss Soonie and attempts to kiss him too but they both fight him till Jisung gives up with an exaggerated distraught wail.

‘Go kiss your boyfriend,’ Minho grumbles as he grabs their trash from breakfast and also just in general the trash that’s piled up a bit in the past week including disposing of Soonie’s litter box contents.

‘I would but he’s not here,’ Jisung wails, ‘Never get a partner or you’ll have to sometimes suffer not being able to kiss them.’

‘Wise words,’ Minho snorts as they leave.

Minho is pleasantly surprised that Soonie doesn’t try to follow them out, instead still calmly lounging in his window perch.

‘You’re married, that’s a different story,’ Jisung teases as they step out and Minho can hear Chan downstairs, clearly getting ready.

‘Chan-hyung,’ he calls out, ‘Jisung is talking trash about our marriage.’

‘I’m not!’ Jisung splutters, rushing down the stairs, ‘I swear I’m not! Minho-hyung is a lying liar!’

Minho follows Jisung down the stairs, chuckling under his breath.

He sees them off and hopes that it wouldn’t rain on their way there as the sky was pretty dark and it was surprisingly cooler than expected. Which was nice. But he knows that there’s a possibility for the upcoming week to become a bit hectic and his energy levels would appreciate brighter lighting he knows.

However despite the continuous cloudiness of the weather, Minho is able to recover well. His mother sends him homemade food and that definitely helped too.

Thankfully the following day is pretty easy going at work.

The rainy season meant one of two things when you were a vet: a high influx of walk-ins and appointments being scheduled for rain-related issues (mostly infection of paws or ears), or literally nothing.

Today happened to be the latter.

Minho is working with Juhyun in the back, organizing and putting together care packages for the animals that were still here who would be headed to their foster homes later this week. Nearly half had already been taken to their foster homes during the weekend, and the last animal needing a foster home had been claimed just that morning.

The care package was mostly for the animal, but they were also packing small gifts for the foster parents, mostly their clinic merch like the cap Minho had given Chan, t-shirts, mugs, and the very seasonal umbrella. This was something else Minho could definitely give Chan. As Chan didn't appear to be the type to accept gifts or any sort of gesture and seemed wildly uncomfortable at the very idea of it. So Minho was going to have to find clever ways to "repay" him for everything he was doing for him.

Dr. Kwon calls him to her office as he was repacking lint-roller refills into their clinic-branded baggies.

‘I’ve just approved of your friends,’ she tells him with a smile, the printer next to her running. ‘They were approved by the shelter just half an hour ago, and now all that’s left is my signature.’

Minho knows Yuna and Ryujin were going to absolutely lose their minds.

‘Juhyun was telling me they were the sweetest,’ she adds, ‘And that their cat was really nice too – it would be great to have them on as continued members.’

‘I’ll let them know,’ Minho smiles.

‘Great,’ Dr. Kwon chuckles before adding, ‘Has Kibum talked to you about joining him at the shelter this week?’

‘He did,’ Minho nods, ‘He said he’d first have to talk to some people.’

‘You’ll be good to go? It’s a lot of work, no specific schedule,’ Dr. Kwon tells him.

‘I understand,’ Minho replies, ‘But I want to do this, and I will do my best to support Dr. Kim.’

Dr. Kwon smiles to that and quickly signs her name and puts the official stamp over the official certification qualifying Ryujin and Yuna as foster parents.

‘I’ll call them right now,’ Minho grins.

‘I can’t wait for our little guy to get the comfort he deserves,’ Dr. Kwon says.

Minho goes and immediately calls Yuna, being professional and official and using the clinic’s official number to contact her.

‘Hello?’ Yuna answers a little tentatively.

‘Yuna-shii, this is Lee Minho and-.’

‘Oh my god-!’ Yuna shrieks before rapidly apologizing, ‘I’m so sorry oh my god, oh my god-!’

‘You and Ryujin-shii have both qualified to be foster parents-.’

There’s delighted squeals from Yuna’s end of the line before she comes back to be able to talk.

‘Unnie is going to be so upset that she can’t make it today,’ Yuna giggles, ‘She’s attending a funeral.’

‘Ah. Um-?’

‘The really nice nurse-unnie told us we would get a certificate? Should I pick that up?’ Yuna inquires. ‘I’m actually at the university already and I can come pick it up after my work hours?’

‘I can come there,’ Minho tells her. He wouldn’t want Yuna to just walk by herself all the way here from the university. It wouldn’t be that late, but Minho was going to be done the same time as her and hey, this way he could go back home with Chan too.

Yuna thanks him profusely and Minho chuckles to himself, packing up the certificate in their nicest folder. He would personally pack their care package.

Minho leaves at his usual timing though not before having a quick talk with Dr. Kim regarding what they’d be doing from tomorrow.

He shoots Chan a message even though he’s pretty sure the man won’t be able to check on his phone until after he was done. It was also possible Yuna might have told him in passing.

The moment he walks in Yuna cheers, jumping up and down happily.

‘Minho-shii!’ she exclaims, ‘I’ve been waiting impatiently for hours!’

Minho chuckles, taking out the neat and careful file and handing it to her.

‘We’re very proud to have you as part of our foster care system Yuna-shii,’ he tells her.

‘Oh no I might start crying,’ Yuna wails before glancing around worriedly as though realizing she was in public and people could hear her. But thankfully there’s no one around close enough to hear her.

‘You can go see him tomorrow, or anytime you’re free,’ Minho tells her, ‘We will have to watch him for a few more days, but after that you can take him.’

‘Thank you so much Minho-shii,’ Yuna sniffles a bit. ‘Ah, he just really reached out to me you know? I don’t know how to explain it.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Minho smiles, ‘That’s how it was for me with Soonie.’

‘Your cat! Channie-oppa tells me about him,’ Yuna smiles brightly, ‘He sometimes asks for advice too.’

‘Really? He keeps saying he’ll take Soonie in the divorce, I think he might just succeed,’ Minho sighs dramatically.

Yuna laughs brightly before asking, ‘Will you wait for Channie-oppa to be done?’

‘Yeah, but I didn’t tell him so I hope I don’t get in way of his plans or anything,’ Minho chuckles.

‘I highly doubt that; oppa is boring and predictable like that,’ Yuna snorts before adding, ‘I think you can go and sit in again! He’s at the Lake today though, he’s doing some additional tutoring, otherwise he’d be done about now too.’

‘Oh, is it really okay?’ Minho asks.

‘Yes,’ Yuna nods and takes out crocs for Minho, ‘With semester starting up soon, a lot of the coaching sessions have already started being shifted to make more time for students; so most additional tutoring classes, especially for Seely younglings, have shifted either earlier in the morning or later in the evening.’

‘Ah, I see,’ Minho replies though he didn’t really see much, ‘I would think it was more practical during the day time?’

Yuna giggles at him, ‘Yes! Ah, I forget you don’t really know much about us Undine, but so much of our Magick is somewhat the opposite to that of the Fae for example.’

‘Oh- oh yeah of course,’ Minho nods. That made sense – the Fae and much of the other Seely folk had their Magick revolve around the sun and light in general. So for the Undine, folk of the sea and deep waters, their connection to the night and the moon made complete sense.

‘I used to hate swimming during daytime,’ Yuna tells him, ‘It’s worse for Selkie pups.’

Once again, Minho was learning so much every time he came here.

They enter the largest of the natatoriums and Minho is a little surprised that there are people in here. To the side of the lake that was more shallow, Minho spies a couple of young and small families. All Undine, though none appeared to be Selkie. Yuna waves at someone amongst the glimmering scales and fins before taking him further in towards the small rocky pools.

As they make their way further in, a petit woman was making her way out. She was already dried and changed out, her seal-skin is elegant almost robe like, in a surprisingly dark almost black colour with hints of ashy brown here and there.

‘Unnie,’ Yuna says excitedly as they approach her, ‘This is Minho-shii, he’s the one who’s been helping with all of the foster process!’

Hyerim’s eyes light up, smiling warmly at Minho before saying, ‘It’s so nice to meet you Minho-shii!’

‘Nice to meet you too,’ Minho replies with a short polite bow.

‘And correct me if I’m mistaken but,’ Hyerim glances at Yuna and then back at Minho, ‘Are you Chan’s husband?’

Minho pauses a brief second before he nods.

‘Yes,’ he manages, ‘Yes, I am.’

She was a Selkie. Selkies had that really strong sense of cultural pride and rigidity and Minho doesn’t know what this woman knew so he wasn’t going to mess anything up for Chan.

‘That’s how I knew about where to apply to be a foster-parent!’ Yuna cuts in smoothly, ‘Minho-shii’s clinic also works with shelters and adoption centers.’

‘That’s amazing,’ Hyerim tells him sincerely, ‘I always encourage people to adopt from shelters too.’

After a bit more conversation where Minho gives Hyerim the card for the clinic.

‘Thank you,’ the Selkie smiles, ‘May the moon always guide you.’

‘I- y-yes, you too,’ Minho stammers.

Once Hyerim is far enough Yuna gives him a small wince.

‘Sorry about that,’ Yuna whispers apologetically. ‘News like this spreads quickly.’

‘Do um, do people know we’re getting a divorce?’ Minho asks quietly as they approach the rocky outcrops.

‘I think they know,’ Yuna tells him, not looking sure, ‘But a Selkie marriage is considered a major event.’

Minho winces a little at that. He read that up, watched a 45 minute long video online regarding the entire event. In a way, with Chan not belonging to a registered pod here, and with Minho not being Undine or even Seely, they were spared a lot of ceremonial aspects regarding their marriage even if it was accidental.

But any and all thoughts about their marriage and subsequent divorce is completely wiped clean out of Minho’s mind when they walk past a thick rocky pillar.

Minho is nowhere near mentally prepared for a shirtless Chan.

He’s standing in the water, wet hair pushed back, his seal-skin loosely draped over his shoulders, not quite wearing it but appearing almost like a cape instead. He’s wearing half of a wet-suit, just the bottoms, but otherwise completely shirtless.

There are two younglings before him and somewhere in the back of Minho’s mind he puts two and two together. Hyerim was the mother of the two Selkie pups who were doing small stretches on the rocky shelf, water lapping around their feet. They both have their seal-skin on but as they weren’t submerged in water, were not transformed.

Chan was listening to something Jisoo was saying and he’s smiling gently at him before he glances up as they approach.

He does a double-take, eyes only on Minho before turning to Yuna who does a sort of flourish with her hands to him as though saying ta-da~! and then holds up her file.

Chan is a bit frozen, a myriad of emotions passing over his face.

Minho realizes he should probably communicate to Chan that everything was all right, and he was just here to give Yuna the official certificate and nothing bad had happened.

Everything okay he signs hastily all goodness.

Chan looks a bit relieved but then there’s a cheery call of his name from Jisoo who then immediately turns shy.

‘Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow!’ Yuna tells him, ‘Thanks again for coming all the way here Minho-shii.’

‘No problem at all,’ Minho tells her sincerely, ‘I have to thank you and Ryujin-shii for becoming fosters, your new foster-baby is going to be so happy, I just know it.’

With a happy smile Yuna pretty much skips away, holding the file close to her chest.

When Minho turns his attention back to Chan (a mistake in many ways, as he still isn’t prepared for him being half-naked and to see his lats and understand why Jisung was holding it in such high regard) and the two younglings.

He now recognizes the woman from earlier, having seen her from a distance when he was bombarded with questions from a group of Undine younglings. She was definitely Jisoo and the smaller boy’s mother.

Chan is saying something to the two small younglings, the smaller of the two, definitely Jisoo’s baby brother, looks close to tears.

Chan glances over at him, clearly thinking hard before he says something again. Both boys nod and Chan holds his hands out to them both.

Taking Chan’s hands the three of them step out of the pool and and make their way to Minho.

‘Hello, nice to meet you again,’ Jisoo says politely and then squirms a bit shyly.

‘Hi Jisoo-yah,’ Minho smiles, glad to have two kids to focus on instead of a shirtless Bang Chan who does nothing to adjust his seal-skin, looking like he didn’t even realize he was shirtless and distressingly toned. ‘It’s nice to see you again.’

‘Jimin, say hi,’ Chan tells the smaller boy gently.

The smaller boy tries to hide behind his brother but manages a small, ‘Hello.’

‘Okay let’s take a water break,’ Chan tells them and the two boys nod and head for their colourful backpacks to the side.

‘Sorry for the sudden appearance,’ Minho tells him, ‘I came to give Yuna the official letter of approval to become a foster-home with our clinic.’

‘Oh!’ Chan gasps, ‘Oh that’s amazing, I know she was really nervous about it and was saying she should have cleaned the apartment more.’

Minho chuckles, eyes never straying lower than Chan’s neck.

‘Considering she already has a cat, a very docile one at that too, she had nothing to worry about,’ Minho says.

‘This will only take another 20 minutes or so,’ Chan tells him quickly, ‘Their mum asked if I could have some additional time with them, and then we can go back home.’

‘It’s no problem hyung, again, sorry for just showing up.’

Chan waves him off, smiling in amusement, ‘I always say I’ll take you back, I’m honestly just surprised you’re here.’

‘I can just go on my own then,’ Minho deadpans.

‘No no!’ Chan laughs, quickly waving his hands.

‘I’ll just sit here and try not to get fur everywhere,’ Minho says with a sigh as he takes a seat on the bench, now a bit too eye-level with Chan’s toned wet torso.

‘Are you guys good to try again?’ Chan asks the two boys.

Jisoo nods again, twisting his seal-skin around himself and making it flap like he had wings. The younger boy, Jimin, just shakes his head a little.

‘We’re doing some really cool training today,’ Chan says to him but in a way where the kids would hear and be included, ‘It’s a bit tough, but they’re both doing their best.’

‘You guys can do it!’ Minho tells them, making fists and making a cheering motion.

‘Yeah!’ Jisoo yells before turning to brother, ‘Right Jiminie?’

Jimin still looks down, looking close to tears.

‘Come with Channie-saem?’ Chan tells him gently, ‘I won’t let you go okay?’

After some seconds Jimin nods and takes Chan’s outstretched hand.

Minho watches as Chan guides the two boys back into the pool that was still connected to the Lake but had partitions made somewhat very naturally with rocks, separating them from the deeper water. Leading down to the small pool zone are rocky steps and Jisoo is already at the main area, happily swimming about, but Jimin refuses to move past the second level.

His brother stops swimming and comes up to try and get his brother to come in but it doesn’t work.

Then Jimin starts tearing up, twisting away from his brother who groans and splashes away, frustrated.

Chan stops the boy, telling him to take a seat at the flat rocks to one side before addressing the younger of the two. He’s saying something, using Speak as well, and Jimin responds slowly, completely curled up. Jimin seemed to prefer using Speak it would seem, signing up to Chan hesitantly.

Chan seems to be thinking, glancing over at him before he calls Jisoo over. Minho can’t hear what they’re saying but after a while Jisoo hands his brother his seal-skin and Chan takes Jimin’s hand and they exit the pool.

When they reach him Chan gives him a quick eyebrow raise and nods down to Jimin.

Message received.

‘Hi Jimin,’ Minho says gently, adopting the tone he used when talking to anxious or stressed puppies and kittens.

Minho has found that talking and interacting with children was very similar to talking and interacting with animals, not that he’d admit that out loud.

‘You can sit with Minho-hyung for a while,’ Chan tells the boy gently, directing him to sit down on the bench next to Minho.

The boy looks at him with wide teary eyes and Minho is vividly reminded of Jisung when they first met.

Sit together? Minho asks him, hoping he doesn’t make dumb mistakes with his Speak.

‘You can teach him Speak,’ Chan tells the boy who blinks at him as though surprised an adult would need help from a child.

Yes, Minho signs quickly, my teacher is many lazy these days.

Chan gives him a look but he’s fighting a smile.

There’s a tiny nod from Jimin and he even smiles a little, clutching his brother’s seal-skin tighter.

Chan then quickly mouths help me? to him before crouching down to talk to Jimin.

Minho can’t follow all of it, but he thinks Chan is telling him to watch his brother. Jimin nods quietly to what Chan was saying. Then Chan turns to him.

‘Could you watch over this?’ Chan says as he takes off his seal-skin.

Minho could scream but he nods, understanding that Chan was showing Jimin that it was okay to take off your seal-skin and it wouldn’t hurt.

He takes the seal-skin, somehow still incredibly fluffy and soft even though it was soaking wet.

‘Jimin and I will sit here and cheer you and Jisoo, right?’ Minho says to the small boy, wildly aware that he was holding on to Chan’s seal-skin.

‘Saem!’ Jisoo calls, ‘Can we do some diving?’

‘Okay,’ Chan nods, not at all bothered at the fact that he just handed Minho his seal-skin, seemingly not at all worried even if it was an example to Jimin.

And then as though just realizing he was half-naked, Chan’s eyes widen just a little and immediately looks down at him. But Minho looks away, hoping it came off as natural and addresses the boy again.

‘We can watch and also become coaches.’

Chan steps to the side where his stuff was and pulls out the missing half of his wet-suit and hastily pulls it on.

Predictably, not the easiest thing to wear. Because as Chan pulls on the wet-suit top he struggles a bit, making funny groans and grunts mostly to make the boys giggle at him.

The cord to the zipper at the back has looped away and Chan does a funny spin, arm twisted behind him trying to reach it but he’s just unable to.

This makes both Jimin and Jisoo giggle because Chan was not doing this for a bit, he was truly struggling.

Minho wheezes and gets up, gesturing to him and giving the two boys an embarrassed look Chan walks over to him. Minho, still wheezing, tugs at the cord to pull it out and zips up the wet-suit, making sure the lapel covered the top part securely.

‘Thank you,’ Chan says, sounding genuinely a little embarrassed, ‘Okay, come join us any time you want okay?’

Jimin nods and Chan heads back to the pool.

Absentmindedly fiddling with the soft material of the seal-skin, Minho watches as Chan smoothly enters the water, barely making a splash.

Chan is so obviously at home in the water that it makes Minho automatically smile, watching him smoothly and easily tread water, moving faster than Minho could ever hope to try.

Jisoo has definitely grown more confident in the water and tries to swim after Chan. They both break water at the same time, laughing together.

They swim around a little more, Jisoo trying to chase after Chan who isn’t even treading the water, Minho thinks, encouraging Jisoo but still being playful.

After a while he waves to Jimin.

‘Jimin-ah,’ Chan calls to the smaller boy, ‘Wanna try and come in?’

The boy shakes his head, holding his brother’s seal-skin closer.

‘I wish I could swim,’ Minho tells the young boy softly, ‘It looks like so much fun.’

Can’t swim? Jimin asks with confusion.

Minho is going to have to get used to the Undine folk being shocked that there were people who couldn’t swim.

‘I find it scary,’ Minho tells him, ‘I didn’t have a cool hyung to help me when I was younger.’

Jimin frowns and then points to Chan.

‘You think Channie-saem can help me?’

Jimin nods enthusiastically.

‘Did you really marry Channie-saem?’ he asks curiously.

‘Yeah,’ Minho nods.

Why?

‘Uh- well, we’re good friends,’ Minho manages, ‘He’s also very kind. He loves my cat too.’

Jimin’s eyes widen at that and Minho quietly congratulates himself for creating a topic of interest.

‘Cat?’ he asks.

‘Yes, Soonie,’ Minho smiles, adding it in Speak, ‘Do you want to see what he looks like?’

Jimin nods at once, his clutch on his brother’s seal-skin relenting just a little.

Minho shows Jimin photos of Soonie and Jimin asks him a ton of questions. Minho is at least prepared for this, and also this time it’s just one boy and not four separate children asking him questions and making him fight for his life.

‘Can I also see?’ Jisoo asks once he comes out of the Lake.

Minho shows him photos of Soonie, feeling very pleased when Jisoo tells him that Soonie was a very handsome cat.

Chan has an amused smile on his face, like Minho’s reaction was funny to him.

‘Jisoo-yah! Jimin-ah!’

A man Minho assumes is their father walks over to them. He’s also completely dry, seal-skin a nice deep brown with tan spots here and there.

Minho is suddenly very aware that he’s holding Chan’s seal-skin and it would seem Chan is also now aware of this because the man looks at Chan, and then at Minho, and then at his hands.

Thankfully the man doesn’t comment, doesn’t seem to think much of it probably assuming (correctly) that Minho was Chan’s husband and it wasn’t unusual for a Selkie’s marital partner to be holding their seal-skin. In fact, in some ceremonies and situations Minho would be expected to wear it.

The two boys thank Chan and Jimin asks Minho to please pet Soonie on his behalf and they head out of the Lake with their dad.

‘I’m sorry-.’

‘-I’m sorry.’

They both speak at the same time.

Chan winces a little.

‘Yuna was telling me that for the people who know, they know we’re divorcing already,’ Minho says quietly, ‘Does this uh, make things weird for you or-?’

‘No no,’ Chan shakes his head quickly, ‘Just-…I don’t want you to get caught up in Selkie stuff I guess.’

‘I’ll make sure to let you know next time I drop by hyung, I don’t want this to be uncomfortable for you too,’ Minho says, ‘I know you said you weren’t in any official pod here but it would-.’

‘-but I do have one,’ Chan smiles, taking a seat next to him, ‘You said so yourself.’

‘…well yes,’ Minho blinks, ‘But you know what I mean.’

‘It doesn’t really matter to me,’ Chan tells him honestly, lifting the towel to cover his head properly, ‘But Hyerim-noona and Minchul-hyung are nice; it’d just be weird for you I thought.’

‘Honestly I don’t know them so I couldn’t really care,’ Minho shrugs.

‘Okay, so not a problem for me, not a problem for you,’ Chan nods, holding his fist out.

Minho chuckles and bumps his fist back.

‘By the way, uh Hyerim-shii said something along the lines of like, may the moon always guide you? Something like that?’ he asks.

‘Ah,’ Chan nods, ‘It’s kind of like, a Selkie term we say in farewells, it’s a bit formal, but Hyerim-noona was probably saying it to you as a gesture of um, like welcome, to the Selkie community.’

‘Should I have like, said something back? Because I just said “you too”,’ Minho frowns.

Chan wheezes, shaking his head, ‘You could say the same back, but there’s no specifics.’

‘Ah, well. That’s good to know,’ Minho nods and looks down at his hands, ‘Okay but please take your seal-skin back, I think I’ll start sweating out of anxiety if I hold on to it any longer.’

Chan laughs, taking his seal-skin back.

‘That’s how I initially felt when Soonie first stayed with me,’ he says.

‘It’s hardly the same,’ Minho frowns at once.

‘He’s the most important thing to you,’ Chan shrugs, ‘And you trusted him with me, I was always worried but now I’m truly his step-dad.’

Minho snorts, rolling his eyes.

‘I can’t be your seal-skins step-dad so this is not the same hyung,’ Minho huffs.

‘You could wear it-?’ Chan offers, holding his seal-skin up.

‘Wow you’re really fucking insane,’ Minho splutters, rushing to put space between them.

Chan just laughs, pulling his seal-skin on and coming to walk next to him.

‘But you know that I trust you with it right?’ Chan asks.

‘Because we’re married?’ Minho asks slowly. Minho was, both legally and Magickally, obligated to protect and care for Chan’s seal-skin as it was an extension of his Magick, therefore an extension of their Magick.

Chan just chuckles a bit before he says, ‘Yeah.’

Minho feels like he’s missing some information here but he’s not sure how to ask. Another Undine thing? So he chooses to change subject.

‘By the way the kappa that was rescued last time laid eggs this morning, turns out she was pregnant.’

‘What?!’ Chan gasps, ‘Oh my god? How many eggs?’

‘5 healthy eggs, we’ve been given the honour of naming each egg, I was thinking I’d pitch in to name one Chan.’ Minho grins.

Chan’s look of excitement abruptly morphs into resignation.

‘Well, I guess I’ll have no choice but to cheer on Chan the Kappa,’ he says.

‘That’s the spirit.’

*

Chan opens his door just as Minho sneezes, back turned to him.

Bless you he signs as Minho turns back around to face him but then twists away as he sneezes again.

They both pause and Soonie meows, making his way into Chan’s apartment.

‘Thanks-!’ Minho sneezes again.

Bless you again.

‘Ugh yeah this-,’ Minho pauses, nose twitching. ‘This is-!’

…bless you?

‘-this is fine,’ Minho says thickly, not sounding fine.

You’re not catching a cold are you? Chan types worriedly, zooming in on his words so Minho could read it from the distance and through watering eyes.

‘I don’t think so,’ Minho says, sounding very much like he was catching a cold, blinking rapidly, ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to sneeze all over your doorway, just close the door-!’

He sneezes again and then pauses, staring down at the floor.

‘Did you know you lose a brain cell every time you sneeze?’ he asks him quietly.

What?!

‘I think I’m losing brain cells that are holding core memories of my mathematics knowledge,’ Minho tells him calmly. ‘I’m getting a mask.’

Should you go to work? Chan asks worriedly, knowing Minho knew enough Speak to understand what he was saying.

‘It’s the weather,’ Minho sighs out thickly, going all the way back to the stairs and putting distance between them.

Probably the weather and his work load.

Even if Minho was now no longer having to do the earlier hours, he was still staying back later and later the whole week. Minho was working alongside Dr. Kim this whole week and doing a lot of field work following the events of last week. Chan understands that it’s a really good opportunity and a very good way for Minho to gather a lot of beneficial experience but he is worried that he would burn out. He only

The weather was really not helping.

‘Jeonginnie said he’d give me one of his sun-quartz,’ Minho explains as he trudges back upstairs for a mask, ‘I’ll be okay hyung.’

The next couple of days Minho is not okay but he was still powering through with a sort of hysterical energy that Chan knows will result in a terrible crash once the week was over. One good thing though is that despite his obvious drain, Minho was satisfied with his work.

He’ll quickly share something from the day with Chan, small faint glowing orbs appearing around him at random when he tells him about a litter of puppies, or how a chicken chased him, or how they lost a snake in one of the sanctuaries and found it in a potted plant.

When he returns one night Chan can tell he was visibly doing better and when he remarks on it Minho shows him a little sun-quartz pendant attached to the sea-glass necklace.

‘Jeonginnie gave me this, literally showed up and nearly shoved it down my throat,’ Minho wheezes, ‘But I guess this is going to be the new norm for me and my 25% Light Fae ass.’

But still, physical exhaustion and mental drain was very real even if you enjoyed your work. There was undoubtedly a heavy emotional toll too, and Minho was working so intensively with animals that required urgent care most times.

Chan is relieved for Minho when Friday rolls in and he more or less sends his husband off with a sports drink and two packets of energy bars, Soonie tucked in his arms.

It also becomes one of the nights where Minho returns the latest. The weather and Friday night traffic delaying his journey back, Chan guesses.

He goes to greet Minho with Soonie as per usual and he’s taken aback by how diminished Minho appeared.

‘Honey I’m home,’ Minho says, putting his umbrella into the bucket by the door. He started saying that a couple of days ago with a teasing lilt to his tone but today he just sounds completely drained.

‘Hey,’ Chan says softly, walking over worriedly. Chan usually replied with some variation of welcome home darling and they both shared some laughter. But Chan doesn’t quite have the heart to try and make light of the moment.

Minho groans, clearly exhausted, barely managing to keep his umbrella away in the bucket.

‘Sorry,’ he says and he meant it, ‘The rain really didn’t help, and wow the traffic too.’

‘But today is the last day right?’ Chan asks him as Soonie meows and makes his way over. He really hopes it will be the last day unless Minho is roped into something more during the weekend.

‘It is,’ Minho says before turning to address his cat, ‘Hi baby, I know I’ve been away a lot these days, I’m sorry, but from now on we’re back to our normal schedule.’

Soonie meows turning around him, and trying to get Minho to pick him up.

That’s when Chan notices that Minho’s pant legs are damper than it should be.

‘Did you walk here from the bus stop?’

‘Yeah, Dr. Kim had to attend something else, and he was already running late, so I asked him to just drop me off not too far off,’ Minho adds.

‘Minho,’ Chan frowns, ‘You should have called me.’

‘It’s okay hyung, the walk was nice,’ Minho smiles.

‘Have you eaten?’ Chan asks worriedly.

‘No,’ Minho replies as he picks up Soonie, briefly pressing his face on the top of his head, ‘But it’s okay, I’ve got leftovers I think.’

‘I made pasta and it’s still hot,’ Chan tells him, pointing back to his own door.

There’s the briefest hesitation in Minho’s action, eyes widening a little. Chan always asked Minho if he’d eaten but Minho always replied saying he did and Chan believed him.

‘With bacon,’ Chan adds for further enticement, ‘And no, none of that weird healthy ingredient protein powder thing either.’

‘Oh my god,’ Minho groans again before asking hesitantly, ‘Is it really okay?’

‘Very okay,’ Chan smiles, trying to sound light-hearted. ‘Come in Minho-yah, even if we’re divorcing I can still make you dinner.’

Minho chuckles, small little stars bursting alongside the flecks of light reflecting off of the stray rain drops on his clothes and even on his hair. The sun-quartz was definitely helping him.

Chan is only a little nervous as he plates the pasta up and serves it before Minho. He asks if he wants anything to drink, juice, tea, maybe a protein drink which makes his legal-husband hysterically giggle.

Minho quietly eats for a minute or so before giving Chan a thumb’s up as he nods in approval.

‘Do you not drink soda for like, health reasons?’ Minho asks as he takes a gulp of water, leaning comfortably against the seat of his couch. Chan had told him to sit on the couch to be more comfortable but Minho chose the floor instead, leaning against it with the wall supporting him to the side. Soonie is at his feet, content and occasionally flicking his tail.

‘No,’ Chan laughs, ‘It’s actually really lame, hurts my throat.’

Minho’s expression is a little incredulous before he says, ‘I guess that’s not something you have to worry about for like, when you have to go on a diet. I thought maybe that was how you were maintaining a 6-pack.’

‘I don’t!’ Chan splutters.

Minho snorts at that, ‘Just because I can’t see my own Magick doesn’t mean my vision is compromised.’

‘Don’t you wear contacts?’

‘Precisely!’ Minho argues, trying to keep a straight face but failing and wheezing, falling against the couch, eyes closing.

Chan doesn’t mean to stare, doesn’t mean to just take in this relaxed and almost vulnerable moment in so carefully, committing this moment to memory, but he does.

Clearing his throat a little, able to tell that he would lose his voice within the house, Chan entertains Minho with updates about Jisoo and Jimin, telling him that Jimin was getting a little better now at being in the water and not immediately shifting.

Usually Minho displayed a very wired sense of fatigue, still alert despite being obviously drained. But Chan can understand he wasn’t really allowing himself to relax just yet because it would mean crashing too hard and not being able to go back to focus the following days. He used to do that a lot during intense training periods for tournaments.

But now it was the weekend, this schedule was over and Minho was able to fully relax.

He also understands why Minho wanted to take that walk, shedding the stiff exterior of being constantly alert and giving that final push and embrace his tiredness.

Minho eats a lot.

He must have been really hungry. Chan hopes he had some form of snacks or something because lunch hour would have been a good 10 hours ago and Minho was doing a lot of intensive work, both physically and mentally.

Chan takes his bowl, telling Minho it was okay when he offers to was up and that he would just soak it.

Something tells Chan that Minho was truly too tired to really argue him for now so he quickly takes his bowl and utensils away.

He soaks the bowl in the sink and makes his way to the fridge.

‘Do you want ice-cream?’ Chan asks, feeling his voice grow hoarser with each word. ‘Or would that be too heavy? What about fruit?’

He steps back from his fridge door when there’s no answer.

Chan can’t see Minho from this angle so he steps over quietly and finds that his legal-husband has fallen asleep.

Chan is torn.

He felt really bad for Minho, and obviously concerned.

The couch was comfortable enough to nap on, no problem. But Minho was barely on it and that too not in the best position. He would definitely have a lot of body ache if he stayed like this.

The idea of waking him up makes Chan hesitate though. Minho was so exhausted.

But he deserved to sleep on his own bed, changed out into comfortable clothes, probably take a really nice shower.

So Chan gently shakes Minho. He barely has to do much as Minho wakes up at once.

‘Oh, fuck, I’m sorry hyung,’ Minho says, eyes widening and then blinking rapidly, ‘Ah, this is so embarrassing.’

‘It’s okay, you were out for just a few minutes,’ Chan says quietly, hoping he was still audible enough, ‘I was just worried about your neck.’

‘We’ll go now,’ Minho tells him, looking embarrassed and getting up quickly. ‘Soonie, let’s go, come on, we can’t sleep at your step-dad’s place, we’re getting a divorce!’

Chan wheezes, reaching out to balance Minho as he tilts a little in his haste to get up.

‘Honestly if I fall let me fall,’ Minho groans.

‘No falling in my house,’ Chan smiles.

‘Thank you for the food hyung,’ Minho tells him as he gets to the door, picking up his bag. ‘Very proud of you for not using protein powder there.’

Chan wheezes.

‘Say goodnight to your step-dad,’ Minho tells Soonie as usual after picking him up.

Chan bids them both goodnight and waits a bit to hear Minho make it up safely and into his own flat.  

He sorts out Soonie’s scattered toys back into the small bucket Minho had packed them into when he brought them down and washes out Soonie’s bowl as well as Minho’s bowl. He read up that pet water-bowls had to be cleaned regularly, even every day, so that it would remain hygienic and stop build up of bacteria.

He puts out Soonie’s litter box outside, making sure it wouldn’t get splashed by the rain even though it did have good coverage when he hears Minho’s balcony door sliding open.

The sound of the rain drowns out most of everything but Chan thinks he hears a soft meow from Soonie and maybe Minho saying something before the door closes again.

Smiling to himself Chan makes sure everything was secure and closes the balcony door as well.

His seal-skin has already dried so he shakes it off a little and pulls it on before heading straight to bed. He would also start a new schedule soon and he’d have to wake up early for a couple of days in the week so it was probably good to start getting into bed early from now to hammer in a new sleeping habit.

He’s shaking out his bedding when Soonie’s favourite toy rolls out from behind his pillow. With a chuckle Chan grabs it and places it on his nightstand. Soonie would definitely want this tomorrow.

He goes to charge his phone and notes that there were messages from his mother and father as well. He clears the notification though not before noticing that his sister had also messaged him, probably giving him a heads-up about some new angle his parents had cooked up to try and use to get to him.

He would deal with it (or not, Chan has ignored most things from his parents for some years now) tomorrow.

As he gets into bed Chan glances at the toy on the nightstand for a moment before grabbing it and placing it over on his bedframe.

He looks up at his ceiling.

Goodnight Minho he signs, and then with a smile adds, goodnight Soonie.

He stares at his bracelet for a while on his extended arm before looking back up at the ceiling.

May the moon bless your dreams.

*