At first, Leeteuk didn’t really believe Heechul when he said that Kibum was like a duckling, always following him around everywhere. When they had come to visit the one time, Leeteuk didn’t think that the boy clung to Heechul too much. But now his he was beginning to understand the truth, that Kibum really was like that, because for the last two days the boy had been stuck by his side constantly.

If Leeteuk was busy preparing a meal for the kids, Kibum would be right there next to him helping in every way he could. When Leeteuk was bustling around the house cleaning, Kibum would be following after him holding the dust brush. At night he would crawl into bed and snuggle up close with the older man, holding onto his arm as if it was a teddy bear. It was cute and Leeteuk couldn’t resist doting on the boy as if he was a child.

But the time had come that they would need to separate for a little while, because Leeteuk had to leave soon to take Henry to his violin lesson. It was late in the afternoon and all four boys were in the living room playing a game of Aggravation, which Henry and Sungmin were losing epically. Leeteuk stepped into the room and smile at the sight of them looking so eager and determined to win the game. He was glad that Kibum felt at home here and was able to bond freely with Henry, Sungmin, and Eunhyuk some more.

“Henry, we need to leave for your lesson,” he said, breaking everyone’s concentration.

“But umma, I have to win!” Henry pouted, standing up from where they were all sitting around the coffee table with the game board spread out in front of them.

“Then you all can pause the game and continue playing when we get home. Go get your violin,” Leeteuk told him, glancing at the clock to check the time.

“They’ll all probably cheat and move the game pieces around,” Henry muttered, walking past his mother to retrieve his violin from his bedroom.

“We’ll be back in two hours, don’t leave the house and don’t touch the oven, blah blah blah,” Leeteuk said. When Henry returned they left the house together, leaving the three boys behind.

“I thought they’d never leave,” Sungmin said with a sigh, standing up from his position on the floor and stretching his legs out.

“Min, maybe you shouldn’t do it,” Eunhyuk said carefully. Sungmin had been waiting for the time Leeteuk left so he could sneak and call his father. Both Leeteuk and Heechul had told him not to contact Kangin, but Sungmin really missed his father and just wanted to hear his voice.

“I’m an adult, I’ll do whatever I want,” Sungmin replied crossly, taking Eunhyuk’s phone from the table and walking out of the room.

He walked upstairs to his bedroom and closed the door behind him and then went to go sit on the edge of the bed. He typed in his father’s number and hit the call button and waited while the phone rang. He was a little nervous, what if his appa didn’t answer the phone? Or what if he was drunk or hung over. Or – worst of all – what if he was mad at Sungmin for running away?

“Yoboseyo.”

Sungmin’s thoughts came to a halt as he heard the deep voice that belong to his father. But the best part about it, he sounded completely sober.

“Appa? It’s Sungmin,” He said, hoping that his father wouldn’t be too angry with him for leaving.

“Sungminnie, hey! How are you?” Kangin’s voice asked brightly, glad to have finally heard from his son.

“I’m okay, I just miss you a lot,” Sungmin replied, fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

“I miss you too, kid, come back home soon, okay?” Kangin told him, which caused Sungmin to smile widely and his heart soared to the high heavens.

“Appa, I’m sorry that I left, but I-“ Sungmin began.

“Min, I have to go,” Kangin’s voice cut him off.

“Oh. Okay. Bye, appa, I love you,” Sungmin replied, a little crestfallen because he just wanted to talk for a few more minutes. At least I got to hear his voice, that’s good enough.

“Love you too, bye.”

Love you too.

Love you too.

Love you too.

“Appa loves me! I knew it! Yay! Appa loves me!” He exclaimed happily, throwing himself back on the bed and squirming around gleefully.

Meanwhile downstairs, Eunhyuk and Kibum were still sitting down by the coffee table. Trying to be quick and sneaky while Sungmin was gone, the two boys were moving the little colorful marbles around on the game board, giving them each an advantage over Henry and Sungmin. While they did this, Eunhyuk kept sneaking glances at Kibum. He knew all about what went on between him and Donghae, as his boyfriend texted him the entire week it was happening.

He’d been quite shocked to see this side of Donghae; he was used to him being playful, cute, nice, and just overall amazing. But he knew that Donghae would come around eventually, he was too kind-hearted to stay in a fight with anyone for long.

“Hey, Kibum?” Eunhyuk asked a few minutes later.

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Mhmm.”

“Does…Do you and Donghae…I mean, well…It’s just that –“ Eunhyuk tried to get out, but failed miserably trying to get his point across.

“Yes, Donghae talks