“Hyung, you’d better not be getting into trouble over there,” Kangin demanded over the phone.

Leeteuk’s laughter crackled through the phone’s connection. “I’ll do what I can. You’re taking care of the kids, right?”

Anyone overhearing the conversation from Leeteuk’s side would have thought he was talking to a lover about his children. But, of course, he really meant the younger members.

Kangin turned around to look at Heechul, who had Kyuhyun by the ears and was demanding the maknae stop speaking informally to him.

Kangin turned back around. “Yeah, Hyung, they’re getting along with each other really well.”

There was a thud from behind him, but he was afraid to see what it was. “What was that?” Leeteuk asked.

“Nothing.”

“Ya, Kim Youngwoon, don’t you dare lie to me! I’m still your hyung, even if I’m not there!”

Kangin rolled his eyes and turned back around to see what had occurred. “Kyuhyun hit his head when he was crawling out from under the table.”

“Why was he under the table?!”

“He was trying to get away from Heechul-hyung.”

“What? What was he doing?!”

Kangin couldn’t help but laugh to himself. Kilometers away in a military base, and Leeteuk was still acting like SuJu’s leader. Practically their mother. “Ya, Hyung, do you call me just so you can ask about everyone else?”

Leeteuk laughed again, the same laugh Kangin remembered, loud enough to make him move the phone away from his ear. He missed that laugh. “Sorry, Youngwoon-ah. I miss everyone a lot when I’m this far away for this long.”

“You’re okay, though, right, Hyung?” Kangin asked, slightly concerned. “The sergeants can be mean. And you really can’t keep those kinds of magazines in your bunk, because the other guys will find it…”

“Ya! What are you saying about me?!”

“I say it because I know you too well, Hyung.”

It was quiet on the other end for a long moment. Kangin almost thought that the phone call had been disconnected. He was about to ask if Leeteuk was still there when Leeteuk spoke again.

“Yes, you know me too well. Thank you for worrying. You know I miss you, too, right?”

Kangin’s lips twitched, and he turned around to make sure that none of the other members were listening. They weren’t. They were too busy hovering around Ryeowook while he made supper.

“I know, Hyung. Come back right away, alright?”

“I will. I have to get back as soon as I can before those crazy kids can get too out of hand. And I have to come back for you, too. You know I love you, right?”

Kangin bit the inside of his cheek, once again checking to make sure that none of the other members were listening.

“I know.”