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Gyeol
"Why is it you?!"
"Does our Gyeol want some ice cream?"
"Don't speak like Dad! And Dad said that Grandpa was coming to get me!"
"Our young master is throwing a tantrum. The old mister is calming him down."
Gyeol eyes him suspiciously.
Sung Hyunjae smiles.
"I got kicked out by my dear partner, so I asked Yeonri for a little help."
"How is Dad kicking you out related to you making Grandpa stay home so that you could come instead?"
Gyeol's round eyes are widened. Sung Hyunjae doesn't remember his eyes being quite so round in the past. Is that another way Yoojin has influenced the child?
"I'm bored, and my partner forbids me from bothering Song Taewon."
Gyeol gets flushed with anger. "Gyeol...I'm telling Dad!"
"Of course. Tell your other dad to come."
"My only dad!"
"Do you want brownie ice cream? Or strawberry?"
"Hey!"
"Gyeol is indeed the most similar to Yoojin among his children."
Gyeol suddenly stops, the corners of his lips almost lifting.
"...Since it's your birthday tomorrow, I'll go get ice cream with you. I want two flavors."
The way he's honest and dishonest at the same time is very much like Yoojin, too.
Yerim, Seol, Byeol
"...What are you doing here?"
"Uncle!" Gyeol awkwardly lifts the two tubs of ice cream in his hands, looking up at Han Yoohyun, who's now slightly taller than even Sung Hyunjae. Sung Hyunjae picks Gyeol up with both hands. Gyeol almost drops the ice cream in shock.
"What are you doing?!"
"Our Gyeol shouldn't have to look up at anyone other than me or Yoojin."
"Leave yourself out!"
Han Yoohyun's expression turns complicated. He's likely wondering how the boy becomes more and more similar to Yoojin, too.
"Gyeol! I hear our dear Gyeol!"
Bak Yerim shouted from inside while running out with audible pit-a-pat. She runs so loudly on purpose even though she could make no sound at all most likely to make Byeol happy, who's stomping her way to the door.
"Hyung!" Byeol declares. "Ice cream!"
Gyeol smiles so widely that his eyes curve into crescents. With the wings he conjures, he pushes Sung Hyunjae's hands away and lands before Byeol, lifting the tubs of ice cream high.
"Byeol's recent favorite, passion fruit! And vanilla for Seol!"
Seol and Byeol, who have recently decided to be girls together, say thanks in unison. Those with lesser hearing would hear only Byeol's high-pitched shout, but everyone present is S-class or above, so they can all hear Seol's calm, composed voice.
It's clear who Seol resembles, but not so much Byeol. Although she looks identical to a little Han Yoojin, her personality doesn't bear the same resemblance to his. Her expressions and actions are more similar to Bak Yerim's. It'll probably always be a mystery who a child grows to resemble. Not even Sung Hyunjae can make an accurate prediction.
"Why are you the one with Gyeol today, Seseong-ahjussi?" Bak Yerim asks while pushing Han Yoohyun to the back. "I was making soup, Han Yoohyun. Go take over!"
Han Yoohyun shoots her an irritated glare, but does as she said.
"Gukbap for the second lunch!" Byeol explains in a bright voice. "Are you hungry, hyung? We'll have ice cream together after lunch. And Sparkly-ahjussi is making pudding."
"Oh?" Sung Hyunjae crouches down. "Am I making pudding?"
"Milk tea pudding!" Byeol skips the agreement part and goes straight to ordering. On her side, Seol stares at Sung Hyunjae threateningly and turns the screen of her watch phone to him. She's one click away from dialing Yoojin. Gyeol's eyes shift from Byeol to Sung Hyunjae. It seems that he feels guilty about ordering someone around the day before his birthday, but still wants to fulfill his baby sister's wish, so he gives Sung Hyunjae an imploring look without realizing it.
"Seseong-ahjussi," Bak Yerim calls out with a grin. "I'll pay for the pudding with my gift to you. I'll have the same flavor as the kids."
Sung Hyunjae laughs, rolling his sleeves up as he gets to his feet.
"The young lady does make a better guild master."
Young Chaos, Yeonri
"Gyeol!"
"Yeonri!"
When the two children throw their arms around each other, Young Chaos turns to Sung Hyunjae with a murderous glare. Sung Hyunjae smiles in response and presents his ear to Young Chaos.
One of the three existences more powerful than he is in the world seizes his ear just hard enough to make him feel pain, but it doesn't seem to help appease his anger. Instead, Young Chaos scowls even harder.
Gyeol seems to be feeling secondhand embarrassment, while Yeonri quietly tugs at Young Chaos' shirt. As Sung Hyunjae's accomplice, he feels guilty to Young Chaos and bad for Sung Hyunjae getting punished alone.
Yes, Sung Hyunjae is certain that Yeonri hasn't been punished. The rule of the family is that if a child does anything wrong, it's Sung Hyunjae's fault, and if Sung Hyunjae does anything wrong, it's sixty percent his fault, thirty percent Yoojin's fault, and ten percent Song Taewon's fault.
"Grandpa Chaos, Gyeol wants to give the puddings to Yeonri and Bin. Is that okay?" Gyeol blinks with his big, round eyes. Standing by his side is Yeonri with round eyes and a round everything. He looks up at Young Chaos too.
Sung Hyunjae briefly considers joining them, but in the end, he decides to contain himself a little after making Young Chaos angry. Otherwise, Yoojin's going to complain about him being a bad influence on Yeonri again.
"Bin's still asleep. Put his pudding in the fridge. You and Yeonri should eat at the dining table." Young Chaos looks sideways at Sung Hyunjae. "What are you even wearing on your head?"
"A flower crown, a birthday gift from the young lady and Byeol."
"...Right. It's quite well made."
It is, if one ignores the parts of the flowers that have been bitten off and the thorns that haven't been completely removed from the vines that serve as the base. It embodies Bak Yerim's carefree nature, as well as Byeol's appetite.
While the children are having pudding, Sung Hyunjae finishes the prep work for dinner in the kitchen. Later, Young Chaos will only have to pop the ingredients into the stock and simmer until everything's cooked through. He claims he's making amends, but Sung Hyunjae doesn't actually feel guilty at all.
Young Chaos knows it, and even Yeonri knows it. After all, Young Chaos always uses Sung Hyunjae as an example of what not to do. The addresses for Sung Hyunjae that Yeonri is most familiar with are probably "hey", "brat", and "that guy" from Young Chaos and "that" from Gyeol. Only Yoojin calls him by his name and "Yeonri's Dad".
If one day Yeonri calls Sung Hyunjae "hey" and "that", too, it'll probably be considered ninety percent Sung Hyunjae's fault, and ten percent Young Chaos' fault.
"Hey." Young Chaos creates a soundproof barrier before saying to Sung Hyunjae, "Don't let Yeon-ah find out that you've already noticed when he gives you the gift tomorrow."
"Of course. Yeon-ah will make a good artist."
"I wonder where he gets that from. The firstborn is only one step away from being colorblind."
"He gets that from me, of course," Sung Hyunjae says, and Young Chaos glances at him like he's swallowed a fly.
After a moment of silence, Young Chaos hands him a potion. "From the little fox. It can help reinforce one's plate for mana."
Sung Hyunjae cocks his head. Young Chaos sighs softly. "Don't play dumb. What else do you want but for him to stay with you a little longer?"
Sung Hyunjae smiles.
"You really do like me a lot, Master Chaos."
"...You're turning a year older. Will you act like it?"
Song Taewon
Sung Hyunjae strides through the door as soon as it opens. Song Taewon doesn't say anything. He's used to Sung Hyunjae acting like others' home is his. Song Taewon doesn't even frown.
"Is Han Gyeol with Young Chaos-nim?"
"Having a sleepover with Yeonri and Bin tonight. The three children are already having fun. Song Taewon is most likely going to be summoned to help soon."
Song Taewon's expression doesn't change, but Sung Hyunjae knows that just like how the man cautiously grew attached to the black lamb, he's both unnerved and drawn by the goodwill the children show him.
Perhaps due to Song Taewon helping with taking care of Han Bin quite often when he was younger, the child of the fifth source is particularly fond of the former eclipse. And Song Taewon is more relaxed around Han Bin than other children because Han Bin stabilizes his power.
A part of it may be the fact that despite how weak the children of sources look, they are more powerful than anyone.
"Are you not going home yet?"
"My dear partner hasn't told me to."
Song Taewon nods and returns to the living room to sit on the couch. The house has been nothing but walls before; now, there are not only items for the black lamb, but also traces left by the children.
Sung Hyunjae smiles at the group photo Song Taewon has framed. Song Taewon isn't even in it. There are only Han Yoojin and his precious kids. The young lady took the photo the last time they went to the amusement park together.
Gyeol had wanted to yield the spot next to his dad to his younger brothers and sisters, but the moment before the photo was taken, Sung Hyunjae remotely lifted him to Yoojin's shoulders. The child looks both panicked and pleasantly surprised in the photo.
"It breaks my heart that you didn't pick the ones with me."
Song Taewon is silent for a moment. "In those, Han Gyeol is pulling your hair, and Han Yoojin's twisting your ear."
"Doesn't that look lively?" Sung Hyunjae asks with a smile.
Almost imperceptibly, Song Taewon's lips curl up a little.
"For this year's birthday...are you just going to be with your family?"
"Feels odd to say for you, doesn't it? The monster you used to pursue is now accepted into a family—not a house, but a family."
Song Taewon frowns. "It's your and Han Yoojin's family."
"And many children and adults'. Our Yoojin's embrace is too wide, and he has too much love to give." Sung Hyunjae narrows his eyes slightly. "How little is the time he can spare me."
Song Taewon doesn't react to that. Sung Hyunjae sighs in disappointment.
"Before, you would've warned me not to start anything."
"You...have come to treasure more people."
That is true. Even though Han Yoojin and Song Taewon will always be special to him, even though he can't say that Yoojin has nothing to do with how he started caring about Yeonri, even though he got involved with Gyeol in the beginning because the child was linked to both him and Yoojin, even though he only tolerates most of those Yoojin treasures for Yoojin—with young lady being one of the few exceptions that he has genuine affection for—Sung Hyunjae has come to care about a lot more.
After all, he's failed to prevent his worlds from dying countless times. How can he not treasure the one he belongs to now?
"Then Song Taewon, who I'm very fond of, where's my birthday gift?"
Song Taewon shakes his head in resignation before taking a small accessory box out of his pocket that's only half the size of his palm.
"Aigoo." Sung Hyunjae gasps dramatically while covering his mouth. "It seems that I've caused a misunderstanding. I'm sorry. Although you are important to me, I've already established an exclusive relationship with Han Yoojin-gun. I'll only accept a marriage proposal from him."
Song Taewon doesn't even bat an eye as he opens the box and pushes it to Sung Hyunjae. Inside are a pair of wedding bands.
Sung Hyunjae pauses. Then he comes to a realization after eyeing the rings and measuring them.
"Ah, will Song Taewon be my best man or Yoojin's?"
"Yours, since no one else will be willing to."
What a day it is.
Song Taewon joked. Sung Hyunjae received wedding rings. He's going to propose later. His birthday will be their anniversary.
He wants nothing but to rush home.
Yoojin
The couches are pushed to the walls of the living room. Pillows pile up to form walls, and bedsheets and blankets are put up as a makeshift tent, the center of which tied to the ceiling with a rope. Sung Hyunjae can imagine Yoojin busying about while grumbling why he would go to the length. A slowly quickening heart is beating in the blanket tent, joined by a soft sigh.
Sung Hyunjae moves quietly toward the tent. When he's only a step away from the heartbeat, a hand reaches out and pulls him in.
"I put up a camera. You're not catching me off guard."
"I wouldn't dare."
It's not terribly spacious inside. Trying to build sturdy walls with pillows would do that. And for comfort, thin mattresses and rugs are laid down on the floor. All the cushions at home must be here, too, as well as many that are borrowed.
Lying in the embrace of piles of pillows, Yoojin's wearing comfortable pajamas, looking like he'd melt into the background.
"Hello, Sung Hyunjae. I heard that you took Gyeol to have ice cream, and you made puddings. What sugar did you use?"
"Mana sugar like the desserts I make for Yoojin. The children are young."
"Good." Yoojin pats him on the head. "I thought I made this quite big, but it became so cramped as soon as you came in."
"Is this our newlywed room?"
"What nonsense is that?" Yoojin snorts. Then he extends his arms and introduces, "This is a pillow fort. You should know since you grew up in a Western country, right? Have you not seen it in television shows?"
"I knew about it, but never saw one in person."
"Now you do." Yoojin starts playing with his hair subconsciously. "I was so envious when I saw it on TV when I was little. Isn't it cool to build your own home? But we didn't have this many pillows, so Yoohyun and I propped up the blanket with our hands and hid under it instead. Then I forgot about this strange dream of mine."
"Did one of the kids bring it up?"
"Gyeol seems very interested. The first home I built, I invited you as the first resident. Aren't you moved?"
"What a shame that I don't have a skill that makes me cry in three seconds."
"You spoiled the mood." Yoojin pinches his cheek. "Alright, it's your turn."
"Yoojin doesn't seem to care about being romantic."
"I want to have a home with you. How much more romantic do you want me to be? I built the pillow fort. I bought the rings."
"My bad. Shouldn't have let you wait this long." Sung Hyunjae takes his left hand and drops a tender kiss on the tip of his finger. "I was going to make it big."
"Giving me flowers again?"
"A garden. How about I name it after Yoojin?"
"Wanna get divorced immediately after getting married?"
Sung Hyunjae laughs and puts one of the rings Song Taewon handed him on Yoojin's ring finger. "I want to have many anniversaries with you. On our sixtieth anniversary, you will have warmed up to the idea of me gifting you a garden."
"What's with you and flowers? Were you a flower fairy a few lifetimes ago?" Yoojin mumbles and puts the other ring on Sung Hyunjae's finger. Then he quiets, staring at it.
Pretty eyes blink slowly, much more slowly than usual, like he's reluctant to lose the view for even a second. His lips itch to curl up, but he tries hard to control his expression. His face, therefore, seems a little rigid. Sung Hyunjae pokes him in the cheek. That immediately garners him a glare from Yoojin. It lacks any heat, though. Not even Gyeol would think Dad's angry if he saw him.
Cute.
"I wonder how Gyeol will react tomorrow."
"I'll try my best to build an identical fort after it collapses."
"You're breaking it down? Do you know how long I spent on this?"
"You knew it would collapse and spent more time preparing for tomorrow's meal and cake."
"Baseless accusation."
"There's a bottle and a box hidden in the pillows behind you."
"Do you see through things now, too?"
"Only guessing. Did you really prepare a whole box, Yoojin-ah? Is that why we're having dinner to celebrate tomorrow rather than lunch?"
"I hate you."
"I love you."
Yoojin blinks with his pretty eyes and can't help but break into a smile. Crossing his arms behind Sung Hyunjae's back, he brings Sung Hyunjae down onto the pile of pillows with him.
Lying in his embrace, Sung Hyunjae rests his chin on Yoojin's chest and looks up at him at an angle that he knows is Yoojin's favorite. That earns him a kiss on the corner of his eye.
"Happy birthday, Sung Hyunjae. Although you were brought to this world under unusual circumstances, I want you with me, always."
Someone asked the moon for him but ended up unable to hold him in their arms. He was planted in this world after countless failures, and he thought that he would one day lose the garden he could stay in once more.
But a stubborn man refuses to let go of him. He wants him with him, always.
"Yoojin-ah, at this rate, I truly will only allow death to separate us."
It's a confession wrapped up in a threat.