A/N: Okay~ people seemed to like the glimpse I gave them for the Eunhae plotline, and there is more to come! But for now, let’s turn our heads to the kids again!

...

By the time they got back from the sitting room, all of the people in there were worried about him, thinking that he had some sort of breakdown.

Hyukjae had to assure them that he was fine and that he just needed a little break.

Seeing as the kids were not trying to eye-murder anyone should they say something that can trigger another round of Bad Mood Eunhyuk, they figured that everything went well on their end. “Are you sure you’re okay Eunhyuk?” Shindong wondered.

Hyukjae had to roll his eyes, “I’m telling you, I’m fine. We need to get going and return to rehearsals.” He said as he looked at Donghae.

The man, instead of simply agreeing, shook his head, “We better do the D&E rehearsals tomorrow if you’re not feeling like performing.” He said with concern laced in them that it shocked him and the nine kids at the change.

“Alright.” Hyukjae found himself agreeing, knowing for himself that he would not be able to contain his emotions when singing with Donghae after Growing Pains. “That leaves me with today’s schedule as…” he then turned to look his sons. “Boys, show me what you have been working on since this morning before Changmin kicked you out. Begin with light dancing and more on vocals.”

“Yes.” They replied as one as they got into position.

“Light dancing? Is that even in your dictionary in the first place, Hyuk?” Sungmin asked over the sound system.

Hyukjae shrugged, “This is just a light run through, and I need to know the division of the lyrics.”

“Ooh this is going to be interesting!” Ryeowook said as he shook his husband’s arm in anticipation. Yesung couldn’t really fight back as he had an iron grip on the appendage.

The boys immediately stood in attention as they all went to their formation except for Siyoung, who had made a beeline to the sound system and handed Sungmin the flash drive that contained the remix songs that he had been working on with Suren and Jongwoon.

As Sungmin accepted the drive, Siyoung got in position with his brothers as the first beat of ‘U’ started to play.

[English Translation of ‘U’]

[All]

Cause I can’t stop

[Suren]

Yeah you ready? Ah, ah! Here we go

[All]

No I can stop

[Suren]

Let’s go! Verse 1!

[Seunghwan]

The first moment I saw you

I couldn’t help but want you, hey

[Junseo]

Don’t look at me like that

I haven’t started the game with you yet

[Shihyun]

Focus on my fortune telling skills

I will find your perfect match

[Byeonghee]

I will be that man

[All]

Cause I can’t stop thinking about you girl

[Doyum]

I’m going to make you mine

No I can’t stop thinking about a girl

[Siyoung]

I want us to be together

For some reason, after the first verse, they seemed to have left the part blank as they all went to their next set of formation. It did not escape his notice that his boys—especially Doyum, might have something in store for that part. He decided to keep his comments to himself until they were done with the performance to see what they were up to with mashing U and Black Suit in a single performance. After all, someone like Doyum who choreographs almost everything has multiple tricks up his sleeve that always leaves everyone mesmerized.

[All]

Cause I can’t stop thinking about you girl

[Jongwoon]

I want to be with you

[All]

No I can’t stop thinking about you girl

[Shihyun]

Don’t just leave me here

[All]

Cause I can’t stop thinking about you girl

[Doyum]

I’m going to make you mine

[All]

No I can’t stop thinking about you girl

[Siyoung]

I want us to be together

[All]

Cause I can’t stop!

The next round of unfamiliar beat hit the speakers as the boys got out of their half-kneeling position and got into a break dance that they have been planning since they had heard that they would be performing last week. The boys had done well in keeping their progress hidden from the eyes of their father when he had work to do in his own office, speaking to Siwon via video chat on what they needed to hash out before coming to Seoul.

He had noticed that they had been working on a lot of things that pertained to his old songs with the group, but never did Hyukjae imagine that his kids would know the original choreographies by heart even before deciding on the songs to perform by vote. It seems that their daily Random Play Dance battles have their own perks.

As he watched the break dance that was created by none other than Doyum, he couldn’t help but gloat at s on how his children had performed one of their old songs and had managed to push in a break dance.

But Hyukjae knew that it was just halfway done. According to Doyum, they were planning on doing Black Suit as well, add to that, Wumuti was yet to sing a part on his own.

And what happened next impressed him to no doubt.

After Doyum’s marking of a flip, the music went silent until they heard the middle part of Black Suit.

[English Translation of Black Suit]

[All]

A black suit to steal your heart

*[Seunghwan]

Your lips are so clear, feels like I can touch them

My heart spills on top, I want you

[Byeonghee]

I wanna hold you and dancing in the dark

Without anyone knowing

Forget everything and follow me, yeah yeah yeah

[Shihyun]

Your eyes only have me in them, the whispers and

[Wumuti]

Even the breathing trembles in my ears

The moment I see a chance

[All/Wumuti]

A black suit to steal your heart [Wumuti] (Yeah)

Shindong, Yesung Ryeowook and Kyuhyun’s brows rose the moment they heard the high note from Wumuti, who was successful in maintaining a high long note that only a few can pull off in Black Suit. Yesung could only count on one hand those who can pull a long high note like he can, and two of them were working with him. And from the looks of it, young Wumuti has been included in his list.

[All]

Your rouge smudges on my clothes [Wumuti] (Oh baby)

[All]

A breathtaking feeling

Heat it up, all night, it burns up

[Wumuti]

(All night, oh baby)

[All]

Even the sound of our breathing is hot, mood

A black suit to steal this night

[Shihyun, Wumuti, Doyum, Byeonghee, Siyoung, Suren]

Don’t lose me, hey

This chance won’t come back

[Seunghwan, Junseo, Jongwoon]

Heat it up, all night I’m gonna shake you up

Even the sound of our breathing is hot, mood

[All]

So you won’t forget me

A black suit to steal your heart

As the final note and stance came to a close, there was silence in the practice room. There were only hearing the pants of teenagers who had forgotten to hold back with the dancing halfway, being too into the music than paying attention to the ones observing them—who happened to have been the original singers of the songs they just played.

The first noise that they had heard afterwards was the clapping of the SM Training Head, who also had a satisfied smile on his face. A feat that was rare when he is in front of their SM Trainees. This was the face of a man who was satisfied of what he is seeing in trainees. His expression that many of their existing trainees strive to achieve, and to think, nine teenagers from different companies had managed to do so was a feat in itself.

“Very good.” He let out. “Now that is a performance worthy of a skilled idol trainee.”

Hyukjae’s chest puffed with pride at his statement, “See? My kids know what they’re doing.” He boasted. “Now, boys, I noticed some empty spaces in the formation and some moves were quite unfinished. Any idea why, Doyum?”

Doyum scratched the back of his head, “Well…when we were rehearsing it…there are still some things I wanted to add but I can’t put my mind on it…” he excused.

“Well, seeing as we do have two months, you still have time.” Hyukjae said. “And I noticed that some of you were not in sync with the music and each other yet during the break dance, so that’s one point worth polishing even for a light run through. Muti, your lines may be minimal for Black Suit, but important all the same. Try to maintain that kind of tone a bit longer and not to strain yourself with your vocal training too much.” He pointed out. “Other than that, it was a pretty good run through. Keep that momentum going and we might beat Solji and Crush’s students the next time we plan the joint summer camp.”

“YES!” the boys replied enthusiastically. They never really forgave the Hi-Vocal kids for besting them last summer with their performances of Love Me Right and I Need You that beat them by a mere three points on the live performance.

“Hey Eunhyuk! This is not the time to be encouraging them to beat other kids!” Shindong chided, remembering that time as he was the acting MC for that summer camp event as a favor to Hyukjae. At that time, he never knew that nine of his students were his kids, and he himself was surprised when they first laid eyes on the nine teenagers.

“But I can’t help it!” Hyukjae protested. “Solji hit me where it hurt and I have every intention of getting revenge. Right boys?”

“Right.” The boys replied with fire in their eyes.

The fourteen adults groaned. “Oh no here we go. He also passed down his want for performance revenge.” Zhou Mi let out.

“Silence!” Hyukjae snapped at them. “We want revenge and we will get it!”

“YEAH!”

The others couldn’t really do anything else once the father and the sons started to be vengeful performance-wise. There was no turning them back.  

…

“By the way, Doyum, don’t you have to go and meet Jinsung after practice?” Suren reminded him.

Doyum, who was in the middle of packing up, shot his head up, indicating that he had forgotten the meet-up. “Ah you’re right!” he then turned to his father who heard the conversation while he was speaking with Siwon. “Appa, can I go now?”

Hyukjae simply nodded, “You can go as soon as you’re done packing up. Don’t want to make Jinsung waiting. He hates being late.” He reminded him.

In a flash, Doyum picked up his bag, bid his father and the adults goodbye, and rushed out of the training room, earning snickers from his brothers in the process.

“He’s always forgetful of his dates I wonder why Jinsung is not mad at him yet.” Seunghwan said. “Even in the middle of our training, when he would rush out with us, he would forget that he and Jinsung planned something.”

“This is the reason why Jinsung is always jealous of you and Byeonghee.” Siyoung pointed out.

“And in the wrong way, too.” Byeonghee supplied.

Wumuti rolled his eyes, “And we’ve been telling him to let him in on the secret seeing as Appa already said it was okay, but he doesn’t want to. Even Yongha-hyung knows because we had to assure him that Junseo is not in a relationship with Seunghwan. There was a time during camp when he was glaring daggers at me because of a part Doyum and I had to do in our Shangri-La performance. We’re risking the same thing with him.” He stated. “Stubborn idiot.”

“On the stubborn part, pot calling the kettle black, Muti. Does the name Xukun ring any bells?” Shihyun pointed out.

“Shut it! We are already over!” Wumuti hissed.

Jongwoon rolled his eyes, “Whatever floats your boat Muti.”

“Yeah, because the poster of Nine Percent in our room shows that you are really over him.” Seunghwan pointed out.

“One more word Lee Seunghwan and I will not be responsible for what I will spill to Yechan the next time I see him.” He threatened.

In surrender, Seunghwan held up his hands, “Shutting up.”

…

Hyukjae laughed as his children were in a huddle discussing their love lives. As much as it pains him to see some of the boys dating, he had to remind himself that he started liking Donghae at around that age and should give the boys freedom to love.

“Ah. I never thought my parenthood time skipped to teenagers who are already old enough to date.” He sighed.

“Aw come on, they’re teenagers, and you really can’t help the fact that someone will like them.” Sungmin stated.

Hyukjae raised a brow, “Sungmin, just you wait, in another ten years, your daughter will be on the phone with her boyfriend.” He pointed out to him.

“That’s…” Sungmin tried to retort, but Hyukjae was on a roll, letting out his protective father side.

“Believe me ten years is only a short period of time.” He said, “You have another girl on the way right? You’ll get double. Two rings.”  

Sungmin made a pained expression and clutched his heart with his hand.

“Uwah. Way to hit it where it hurts Hyukkie-hyung.” Ryeowook praised with Kyuhuyn as the two merely clapped for teasing’s sake.

“Remind me to adopt boys when we get approved…” Jungsoo whispered to Heechul.

Heechul looked at Jungsoo incredulously, “What are you saying? Having a baby girl is my dream! I won’t give up on getting a girl just because you don’t want to give them away!” he protested.

“Either way, depending on how they swing, you’ll never know until they start liking someone.” Shindong hammered in.

“Boy or girl, no one is safe from the inevitable that you have to give them away.” Kangin supplied, which bothered Sungmin the father of two little girls, and Jungsoo and Siwon, the father hopefuls, which amused their spouses to no end.

“I also want a little girl, but the boy will have to get through me first before even thinking of dating her.” Henry said.

“Same.” Zhou Mi replied. “Since they might be my only kid, I won’t hand them over without a fight.”

Their conversation was interrupted when Changmin entered the room. “Hey guys.”

“Changmin-hyung!” the boys greeted with bows. The other adults in the room wondered how Changmin managed to convince the boys to call him ‘Hyung,’ but since it was Changmin with the brain of a teenager, they didn’t really want to question it.

“Eunhyuk-hyung, can I kidnap your kids for a dessert run? You’re already done, right?” Changmin asked Hyukjae.

“I would, but I need them back before dinner at home. Mom and Sora-noona will be coming over to see them.” Hyukjae replied.

Changmin mock-saluted, “Aye, aye!” he then noticed something strange and did a headcount. “Huh? Where’s the cute one?”

“Oh, you mean Doyum? He’s on a date with his boyfriend.” Suren answered.

“Did they say where they would meet up?” Hyukjae asked. Forgetting that Doyum never told him where they will go.

Suren nodded. “He said they would be going to a cat café, but they would be meeting at Café J Holic as usual.”

The name of the café seemed to have an effect on Changmin, which the boys noticed right away. “J Holic, huh? They have the best food, the last time I went there.” He commented with less vigor.

“Of course they do. Doyum’s boyfriend, Jinsung’s family runs and owns the place, and his dad made the menu himself.” Siyoung said innocently.

At his statement, Changmin’s head immediately snapped to Hyukjae, who looked somewhat guilty at something, and only the adults knew why.

But of course, even if the boys picked it up, it was not their place to pry into another’s affairs. After all, they have to deal with their father’s. Whatever link Jinsung’s family has with Changmin and the other adults, they were not going to pry.

Changmin, snapping out of his stare at Hyukjae, shrugged, “Going back to my offer, what say you boys accompany me downstairs to try the SM Café’s new dessert line? I’ve been dying to taste their melon parfait!” he offered, bringing back his enthusiastic mood. “I’ll pay, of course.”

“We’re in your care, Changmin-hyung!” they replied.

Changmin then motioned them to exit the room with him going out last, but not before looking back at Hyukjae, “We’ll talk later Hyukkie-hyung. I’ll need answers.”

Hyukjae sighed, giving up, “I’ll answer what I can. I promise.” He assured him.

When Changmin and the boys are gone, the others looked back at him,

“What was that all about, Eunhyuk?” Jungsoo asked.

“Let’s just say…my son is dating the son of someone who is taboo for SM.” He hinted.

“What? But…” Hangeng started.

Hyukjae raised his hand up, “Not now, Hangeng-hyung. **This will be a story for another time, and I’m in no position to tell.” He told them, indicating that the subject needed to be dropped, and it did, in respect to the person.

…

When Doyum arrived at the café, he saw his blond boyfriend still serving the customers at the café, looking good in a white dress shirt over a black apron with the logo of the café on it.

Even though his father practically owns the business, Jinsung made it a point to himself to help out with the staff, as it also helps him build up his confidence in speaking to people he is not particularly close to. Doyum can still remember the time when he first met Jinsung, he was not approachable at first, but once you get past his unintentional sharp stare and sometimes too-passionate eye expression, he is a lovable person who is addicted to a lot of fluffy stuffed toys.

When he entered the café, he was greeted by the manager, “Ah, Doyum-sshi. You’re here already?” she asked.

“Eunbin-sshi, good afternoon. Am I a bit too early?” Doyum asked as he saw his boyfriend run around the café with orders.

Eunbin shook her head, “No, you’re just in time. He’s just finishing up the last of the orders before one of our staff clocks in and takes over.” She said as she led him to his usual seat by the window. “He’s been enthusiastic for the past few days since his father will be coming home from Japan tomorrow.”

“Oh. So that’s why he wanted us to go on a date today instead of tomorrow.” Doyum concluded.

“He’s been so excited to see him again, and his uncles will be returning with him too.” She shared.

“Then I guess I better enjoy the day then.” Doyum told her.

As soon as he said that, Jinsung was already out of his café apron and ready to go. “Sorry. I had to finish the onslaught of orders.” He apologized. “Eunbin-sshi, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Do take care, Jinsung-sshi, Doyum-sshi.” She bid the two of them as they got out of the café.

Doyum and Jinsung strolled down Gangnam square to their date destination: a cute Cat Café.

They could have just had dessert at J Holic, but Jinsung finds it uncomfortable as his father’s staff would see and hear their conversations, which is very awkward. For the past few years, the café staff had practically seen him grow up, and he would definitely not risk being teased by the staff.

As they both sat at their table with two cute little balls of two month-old kitties while waiting for their orders, Jinsung spoke, “So, care to tell me why you’re here in Seoul and not in Incheon with your donor family?” he asked.

Ever since they started dating a year and half ago, Jinsung had known that Doyum was donor-conceived, but as per their ‘Spencer Lee Secrecy Pact’ as they called it, they cannot divulge exactly who their father is and who are their brothers without the express permission of their parents and the nine of them as a whole. Even if Hyukjae had given Jinsung’s case the okay, Doyum was still skeptical and hesitant in telling Jinsung that his brothers were just right under his nose, watching his every move.

“I was. I spent a week with them, and then things happened. I’m not supposed to say anything as it involves Eunhyuk-seonsaengnim though. Everything is confidential.” He explained.

Jinsung understood immediately. It would do them no good if he asks of it more. Even Solji is very particular about discretion when it comes to them. “Okay. Are you still participating in the joint training camp in two months?”

Doyum laughed, “Are you kidding? Eunhyuk-seonsaengnim cannot wait to get his revenge on you guys for winning last year.”

“And I suppose you’re not?”

“That’s a stupid question coming from my boyfriend.” Doyum answered.

Jinsung smirked, “I was hoping you’d let it go.”

“Not in your life.” His boyfriend responded.

Interrupting their conversation, Doyum’s phone rang with a distinct ringtone, indicating that the call was important and needed to be picked-up. Doyum gave Jinsung an apologetic look, but one small waive of assurance from him, Doyum answered it. “Hello? Oh, Muti.”

At the mention of the Chinese trainee, Jinsung’s face darkened a bit, which thankfully went unnoticed by Doyum. In order to hide it before Doyum looked back at him, he picked up one of the kitties who was rubbing on his leg and pat them in the head, soothing his mood dramatically.

“Huh? What? And I was only gone for twenty minutes!” he replied on the other line. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll meet you later. I’m at a cat café now with Jinsung…shut up. Fine. See you later.”

When Doyum cut the call, Jinsung had already hidden is green-eyed monster. “Was that Wumuti-sshi?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. There was something that happened after our practice run today. I’m meeting him to talk about something regarding that.” Doyum replied.

“Just the two of you?” he wondered.

“Not really, but he’s coming to pick me up later after our date. Why?” he asked innocently.

The blond haired boy simply shrugged. “No reason.”

Still oblivious to Jinsung’s surfacing green-eyed monster, Doyum simply tilted his head in wonder as he was caressing the cat he picked up until their order arrived.

Thankfully, the entire afternoon, Jinsung had hidden it skillfully, making Doyum believe that things were okay.

But as Jinsung had learned, his green-eyed monster would not be taken down that easily.

TBC

*In Episode 12 of Under Nineteen, that was originally the part Eunhyuk sang in the Collaboration Mission performance.

**Ha ha ha…I can’t explain. Yet. XD

And here we are, my U19/1the9 ships sailing with a good dash of teenage drama!

I really have to stop sending ETAs on the next chapters. When I say it will take a week, it actually took me less than 48 hours to do this. It’s insane. But I really can’t blame my brain as I have a lot of free time in my hands for this week, so I’m actually grateful that I get to update this often. I’m telling you guys now, this does not happen to my Anime/Manga fanfics, if you’re going to look at my AO3 account, the updates are months in between.

I guess this is what enjoyable RPF does to my brain, and it doesn’t help that 1the9 debuted last week and D&E had made a comeback with Danger and were being all shippy in The Show a mere four hours ago.

See you next chapter~!