# 3
Eyes on Me
"Oh, finally... here we are!"
Hyukjae crouches to Eunji's level. Opens his arms. She laughs. Babbles. Climbs up on him. He has to pick her up. Turn his body away. From the Blue Fountain. The sound of its water is softer today. But Donghae's still surprised. At Hyukjae's success.
So far.
Usually... Eunji moves away. Toddles towards the fountain. She never misses it. The fountain's huge. Low and wide. In the center. Not child safe at all. But it's gorgeous. Gold and blue. It has shimmering lights at the bottom. Its water reflects on the ceiling.
It steals Eunji's attention every time.
"That was great walking, Eunji! You're a champion!"
Hyukjae's holding her. Preventing her from seeing behind. But she's also too interested in pulling herself up on him.
"Oh, no, you want to get on my shoulders?" Hyukjae tries to turn her. To the paintings. That he keeps bringing her for. But Eunji whines. Starts to wail. "Okay, I'm sorry! Here--"
Hyukjae lifts her onto his shoulders.
Eunji instantly giggles. Curls her tiny fists into his hair. Shouts out happily.
"Alright, princess, are you paying attention?"
Hyukjae walks backwards. Careful. Away from the massive portraits on the walls. He is getting too close to the fountain. Donghae steps behind him quickly. Places a hand on his back.
"Oh!" Hyukjae stops. Laughs at finding Donghae there. "Thanks -- I guess this is far enough." He speaks louder. Over the sound of the water. "Can you see, Eunji?"
Eunji is playing with Hyukjae's hair. Yelling. Or singing. She just seems to enjoy her own voice.
"Baby princess, look, up there," Hyukjae says. He points at the wall. Waves his hand. It gets Eunji's attention. "Are you looking? I can't see what you're doing when you're over my head, baby..."
"She's looking," Donghae says. "Your highness."
"Oh, good," Hyukjae says. "Eunji, baby, who do you see up there?"
Eunji has grown quiet.
"That's dada up there, isn't it?" Hyukjae says.
"Dada!" Eunji shouts.
"Yeah! And that's mama!"
"Mama!"
"That's right," Hyukjae says. He takes a quiet breath. Stands there. Silent. Eunji's gone back to playing. With Hyukjae's hair. Making noise. Hyukjae turns slightly. Catches Donghae's eyes. Smiles. "Yay, I did it?"
"Now you have to keep facing up front, your highness. Or she'll want to jump into the fountain."
"So stay behind me."
Donghae chuckles.
"Eunji, princess, you can't stay on my shoulders because I can't see you."
He tries pulling her away. Donghae places a hand on his back again. Eunji shrieks. Hyukjae whines in pain too. She's forced to let go of his hair. Donghae reaches up. Before he's thought at all. He brushes Hyukjae's hair down. Murmurs.
"Seems I have to protect you from her, your highness..."
Hyukjae laughs. He turns Eunji again. His mouth immediately pouts. At the hairs in her hands. "Eunji, baby... you don't want me to go bald, do you?"
Eunji opens her hands. Mumbles something unintelligible. Lets Hyukjae remove the strands. He pecks her forehead.
"It's okay, I forgive you. Don't do it again, please." Hyukjae points at the wall again. "Okay, now look up there, princess. It's dada, right?"
"Dada," Eunji says. Hyukjae tilts his body. To make sure the fountain's not visible.
"Good job, princess," Hyukjae says. He points at the portrait beside it: Queen Sora. With features very much like Hyukjae's. Rounder cheeks. The smile on her face is soft. "And who's that?"
Eunji's eyes are on Hyukjae. "Dada!"
"Yes, up there. And mommy too -- look, that's mama!"
Eunji little head turns. "Mama."
Hyukjae beams. "That's right, baby girl."
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