# 3
MM&YxMagician
It's a little troubling. Eunhyuk stands quietly. Accepts immediately. Stares around timidly. He has the same features as Hyukjae. But he behaves differently.
There isn't the contagious energy of Hyukjae. The brightness. The joy. The overflowing interest. With Eunhyuk... it feels contained. Restricted. Donghae can't understand. Is it from being here? Or is it an inability to express?
"Okay, okay, now it's the last one!" Hyukjae says to Eunhyuk. "Do you want to try?"
Eunhyuk nods. Hyukjae stands back. Lets Eunhyuk take the spatula.
"Here you go," Donghae says. Slowly pours the batter into the pan. "Now we wait for it to cook first..."
Eunhyuk is wearing Donghae's apron. Because he confusedly asked for one. Hyukjae was ready to give him his own. But he has more accidents than Donghae. So Donghae had to intervene.
"Brown edges," Eunhyuk says. Points at the pan.
Donghae gives a nod. Hyukjae instantly moves to Eunhyuk's side.
"Yeah, okay, just carefully, slow, yes -- now twist your hand, over -- yes! That's perfect! Hae, did you see that?"
Eunhyuk's smile isn't as wide. As gummy. His eyes aren't crinkled at the corners. But there's a shine in them. He's pleased.
"That was really good," Donghae says. "You're a natural."
"He is! I wasn't -- Hae, remember when we were making pancakes, I broke one?"
"You did fine, sweetheart."
He gets hugged tightly. "No, you're being a sweetheart, I was really terrible!"
"No, you weren't."
"Haee," Hyukjae whines into his shoulder. "Tell me I did terrible."
Donghae turns off the stove. Removes the pan with care. Hyukjae's clinging to him. Donghae slides the crepe onto the plate.
"Okay, to be honest, your pancakes were bad. They were burnt on both sides and then uncooked inside."
Hyukjae laughs happily. Pecks his cheek. "But Hae baby, doesn't that mean you taught me wrong?"
"What--?" Donghae turns around.
Hyukjae releases him. Scampers away. He's giggling. A hand's covering his mouth.
"Get the table ready, you brat."
"Okay!"
Donghae shakes his head. Looks at Eunhyuk. He is still standing with the spatula. It's held in both hands. Donghae smiles at him.
"We're done, so I can take that," he says.
Eunhyuk passes the spatula to him. Donghae drops it in the sink. Along with everything they used for preparation.
"Eunhyuk must do the dishes?"
"Huh? No, let's go eat first. Hyukjae likes to do them anyway."
"You have to let everything soak and you have to fill the sink with bubbles!"
"Right," Donghae says. "Oh, Eunhyuk, do you want to take off the apron?"
Eunhyuk nods. Quickly removes it. Hands it back. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Donghae hangs it on a hook. By the cabinet. He forgets it most of the time. Hyukjae insisted they buy these matching aprons. He makes him put it on.
"Eunhyuk, you can sit here!" Hyukjae calls. "Do you want milk? Do you want tea? Do you want juice?"
Their guest steps around quietly. Gets to the table. Sits in the chair Hyukjae's pulled out.
Hyukjae is waiting for an answer. He tilts his head.
"You don't want coffee, do you? Are you a coffee drinker?"
"Babe..."
Hyukjae puts up his hands. "Hey, I drink coffee too! When I can't stay awake and I must write a lot! It is useful!"
"Eunhyuk must choose?" Eunhyuk asks.
Donghae brings a bowl of cut up strawberries. Places it on the table. Why does he say must?
"Well no, but you can choose? If you want? What do you prefer? Or you can ask for anything else -- I mean, if we have it..."
"Anything else?"
Hyukjae frowns. Sits next to Eunhyuk. "What do you usually have?"
"Usually..." Eunhyuk says. Blinks. His lips pout slightly. "Tea."
"We have tea," Donghae says. "What kind of tea?"
"No, wait," Hyukjae says. Touches Eunhyuk's arm. "Do you like tea?"
Donghae finds himself being looked at. Briefly. Eunhyuk's eyes flick to the table.
"Eunhyuk... likes tea. He must wait for it to cool down. Eunhyuk has anything. Eunhyuk does not choose."
Hyukjae exchanges a glance with Donghae.
"Okay, Eunhyuk, what would you like?" Hyukjae asks. "If you could choose..."
Eunhyuk's eyes move to Donghae again. They blink down too fast. He speaks slowly.
"Eunhyuk... doesn't understand... Eunhyuk has anything..."
"Hyukkie," Donghae says. "Why don't you give him whatever you get?"
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