Chapter Text
Felix 🐥
He loved his job. Children were innocent and sweet souls, uncorrupted by the world. He wanted to give them their best start and the kids loved him. He shuffled across the floor like Edna Mode when he wanted them to laugh. He wore costumes that matched the story time books that he read to the kids. He made silly faces, used funny voices, whatever helped them to learn and smile.
The kids were charming and cute, bouncing with excitement every time they ran from the bus to his classroom.
Except for that morning.
Minyoung was a pretty little girl with silky black hair and wide, dark eyes. She had the cutest little cheeks ever and always smiled, her laughter light and full of joy. She brought Felix drawings she had made every week, presenting them with such pride that Felix kept every single one on display in the classroom or at home as if it were fine art.
It was all the more upsetting to him then when her light faded and Minyoung had stayed rooted in her seat all day, her pigtails messy and askew and her lips wobbling with barely contained sorrow. Her eyes stared tearily ahead, on a point vaguely in the distance.
“Minyoungie,” Felix said quietly, kneeling next to her and leaning on the little table with her untouched art project. That was usually her favorite subject. “What’s wrong?”
She sniffed, looking up at him and blinking away the tears. Her tiny hands fisted in her pink dress, wrinkling the fabric with the force of it. “My momma left.”
Felix stared at her, mouth parting in shock. He remembered only meeting her mother at parent teacher events. She was a beautiful woman but completely opposite of Minyoung. She always seemed to scowl and flip her hair, arrogance laced through her perfect frame. She had never seemed interested in Minyoung and it always bothered him.
“What do you mean? What about your dad?” Felix asked, brow furrowed in concern.
“He tried to get me ready for school but he tied my pigtails wrong. They’re pulling my hair.” Minyoung sniffled louder, big, fat tears beginning to pour down her round cheeks.
“Oh, Minyoungie. Don’t cry.” Felix cooed, reaching out to gently untangle the strands from the elastic. “I’ll help you.” He patiently untied the hair and combed it with his fingers until he could place each pig tail in neat, painless sections. He had sisters and had grown accustomed to playing with hairstyles. “How’s that?”
Minyoung wiped her face, managing a brave little smile for him. “Thank you, Mr. Lee.”
He gave her his warmest smile, knowing it usually set people at ease. “Do you feel better enough to draw me another picture? I still have an empty spot.” He pointed to a section of the classroom that was perfect for her masterpiece.
Minyoung nodded enthusiastically, brightening considerably. She started scribbling on her paper with the crayons right away, pouting thoughtfully in concentration. Felix had to attend to other students but he couldn’t shake the feeling as if he needed to keep an eye on her to make sure she was okay.
The day felt long, even though he loved it. He was glad when the students grabbed their backpacks and ran to the door, lining up to leave.
He felt a tug on his pant leg and he looked down, surprised to see Minyoung holding her drawing.
“Oh, you finished it?” Felix held out his hand expectantly, smiling again. Minyoung handed him the paper, beaming with pride.
It was a blonde man, from what Felix could see, with angel wings behind him.
“It’s you, Mr. Lee. Mrs. Kim from down the hall said that angels look out for us when we need help.” Minyoung explained her drawing, eyes shining with pure sincerity. “I think you’re my angel.”
The prick of tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, moved by the sentiment. He could have protested that he was nothing of the sort but seeing her earnest expression moved him to play along.
“Thank you, Minyoung.” He held the drawing to his chest like it was something precious. She was absolutely precious. “I love it a lot.”
“Oh! There you are!” Felix hadn’t noticed one of the parents stopping by, so distracted by Minyoung’s gift. He glanced up, parting his lips to greet the child’s father when the words died in his throat.
The man that stepped in was the most gorgeous being to grace the planet. Tall, elegant, dark haired. Like a kdrama lead, but possibly more perfect. His hair was swept back from his face, a beauty mark dotted underneath one of his eyes. The eyes were captivating and beautiful, the lips full and pink. The jawline — oh dear lord.
Not to mention his long, lean body wrapped in a perfectly tailored suit.
Then the man looked at Felix, his panic shifting to an amused spark. His gorgeous lips twitched into a half smirk.
Felix quickly reached up to check if he drooled a little, the kdrama music playing in his head coming to an abrupt stop as he realized that he probably looked like a gaping fish.
“Are you Mr. Lee?” The handsome stranger asked, eyes flitting over Felix briefly. Felix’s cheeks burned, his pulse kicking up without his permission.
“Yes!” Minyoung chimed in, grabbing Felix’s hand. That snapped him out of his daze. He nodded hastily, offering a nervous smile to the man.
“Hwang Hyunjin,” the man nodded in Felix’s direction. “Minyoung’s father.”
“Oh!” Felix nodded in understanding, still flustered by his presence. “Y-you can call me Felix.” He blurted out without thinking.
Hyunjin raised an elegant brow, amusement still dancing in his deep gaze. “Oh? Are you foreign?”
“Yes, Australian.” Felix answered, unconsciously licking his lips out of nervousness. Hyunjin tracked the movement with his eyes.
“Do you always…wear that?” Hyunjin gestured to Felix’s head and Felix suddenly remembered the white cat ears perched upon his blonde hair that he had worn for story time. He felt his entire body burn in embarrassment.
“Oh!” Felix moved to take them off. “I dress up when I read to the kids.”
“Leave it.” Hyunjin’s voice was playful, his own bottom lip dragged between his teeth as he bit it. “It looks good on you.”
Felix blinked, frozen in place. Was Minyoung’s father hitting on him? That was so many levels of wrong that Felix tried to remind himself to be professional and brush it aside, no matter how much he liked the idea of it.
“I’m hungry.” Minyoung spoke up, running to hug Hyunjin’s legs. “Are we going to have anything other than instant ramen tonight?” She stared up at the man with pleading, large eyes.
Hyunjin sank down to her level, cupping her chubby cheeks in his hand. “I’m sorry, Minyoung. I forgot to go grocery shopping and I don’t know how to cook. I’ll pick something up on the way home.”
Minyoung burst into tears again, flinging herself in his arms. “Why can’t mommy come back and cook for us?”
The expression on Hyunjin’s face moved him. It was so devastatingly crushed, the pain as clear as day.
It was such a bad idea. Felix shouldn’t get involved, especially because he thought Hyunjin was attractive.
But he cared about Minyoung and whatever happened with her mother was clearly upsetting her.
“I was going to make some stew.” Felix spoke up, holding Minyoung’s drawing closer to his chest. His heart pounded even as he offered his help. “Would you like to come over and have some? It’s lonely to eat alone and I always make too much.”
He was over sharing. It was so inappropriate to ask a parent of a student over for dinner, even if his intentions were not to pursue Hyunjin. At least not intentionally.
He really did hate eating alone and he usually would invite Seungmin from a few apartments down or his best friend, Jisung, and Jisung’s boyfriend, Minho. It was better to share.
Hyunjin stared at Felix in disbelief, lips parting in awe. Minyoung nearly bounced out of his arms, clapping her hands together excitedly.
“Oh, say yes, daddy!” She squealed in delight. “Felix is such a good cooker! He made us brownies before.”
Felix tucked his hair behind his ear, fidgeting shyly. He was so embarrassed that he felt like rescinding his offer but Minyoung was so excited.
“Okay,” Hyunjin’s answer startled him. The man rose to his full height, stepping closer to Felix. He noticed then their size difference, Hyunjin’s tall form dwarfing Felix’s slight frame.
Felix quickly averted his gaze, unable to control his face because he couldn’t process just how instantly attracted to the stranger he was. It was really killing him to stay composed. What was he thinking?
“Okay,” he repeated, as if needing to confirm it himself. “I just need to finish up here and then I will meet you out front.” He said, daring a quick glance at Hyunjin.
“Hooray!” Minyoung cheered, jumping up and down.
Hyunjin smiled at her response, his eyes holding so much warmth for his daughter but also towards Felix.
“You really are like she always described you.” Hyunjin’s voice was silky smooth, entrancing in its tone. “An angel.”
Felix nearly died on the spot, lifting a hand to feel his pulse to see if he still had one. Hwang Hyunjin was a problem. A big problem. To be that charming and good looking — lord have mercy.
He forgot to speak — or breathe for that matter. Which was fine because Minyoung and Hyunjin headed out of the classroom, leaving him to have a complete meltdown in his classroom alone.
Felix screamed silently, itching to send Jisung a text about how insanely hot Minyoung’s father was and his even more insane invitation. He was really digging himself deep in a hole with that.
~~~~
Normally, Felix took the bus home. That day, he had the privilege of riding with Minyoung and Hyunjin, since Hyunjin insisted he drive Felix home if he was making them dinner.
Felix chewed his lip, staring out the window and trying not to focus on how good Hyunjin smelled — like citrus and woods. He wanted to bury his face in his neck and inhale like he was a drug.
But that was totally weird so he determinedly stared out the window instead. Minyoung was singing along to Red Velvet’s Psycho from the back seat, kicking her legs happily.
Felix glanced at Hyunjin long enough to see him smile into the rear view mirror. The sight was so sweet and soft, the genuine affection bleeding through. Felix mirrored the soft smile, enchanted by the man’s love for his daughter.
Hyunjin parted his lips, singing along with Wendy’s line, his voice sounding sweet and light. Like his favorite strawberry chiffon cake. He openly stared, lips parting in awe.
Hyunjin noticed, his voice trailing off with an embarrassed laugh. “Sorry, our drives are usually karaoke time.”
“I don’t mind.” Felix hurriedly cut in, wanting to hear that pretty voice again. “You’re really good.”
“No,” Hyunjin shook his head, ducking his head shyly. “Minyoung’s mother had a much prettier voice. That’s where Minyoung gets it from.”
Felix secretly thought to himself that thankfully Minyoung inherited her father’s manners and humility, but he kept that one to himself.
They arrived at his apartment building moments later and Felix took the lead, heading down the hall. He tried to remember if there was anything embarrassing out in his apartment that he would have to hide before he bumped into someone in the hallway.
“Lixie!” Jisung cried out, grabbing on to his friend. “I got locked out again and Minho isn’t home for another hour. Can you let me wait in your place?”
“Again?” Felix sighed in exasperation, moving to unlock his door.
That’s when Jisung noticed Minyoung and, specifically, Hyunjin. His eyes trailed up and down Hyunjin, lingering in such an obvious way. “Goddamn.”
“Jisungie,” Felix sighed, feeling his face warm in embarrassment for his friend. “This is my student, Minyoung, and her father, Hwang Hyunjin.”
“Is there a Mrs. Hwang?” Jisung asked with absolutely zero shame. He winked in Felix’s direction as if he was doing him a favor. Felix sighed, slapping a hand over his face.
Hyunjin’s lips twitched in amusement as he placed his hands on Minyoung’s shoulders. “No, I never married Minyoung’s mother.”
“Oh? The mother still in the picture?” Jisung pressed, leaning against the wall next to Felix’s apartment casually.
“Han Jisung,” Felix chastised, absolutely mortified. Especially given that Minyoung was already crying over that just that morning.
Hyunjin laughed, a bitter edge to it. “She’s not. I’m flattered, by the way, but you aren’t my type.”
Jisung’s mouth fell open in shock, losing his balance against the wall as he stumbled. “What? I’m a ten!”
“You’re also taken.” Felix added, gesturing to Jisung’s apartment. “Remember Minho?”
“I was asking for yo-” Felix slapped a hand over Jisung’s mouth, sweating hard already.
“My mommy left last week.” Minyoung spoke up, her wide eyes staring at Jisung. “She took all her shoes.” She paused, shuffling her feet and rubbing her nose with the back of her hand. “Daddy said she isn’t coming back.”
Silence fell between them and Jisung glanced apologetically between the other three. “Shit, I’m sorry.” He then gasped, realizing his mistake. “I mean-”
“You look like a hamster.” Minyoung spoke up again, puffing out her cheeks and poking them. “Cute.”
Hyunjin coughed to hide a laugh, ruffling Minyoung’s hair. Jisung melted immediately, dropping to his knees to squish her chubby cheeks too. “Oh, not as cute as this sweet dumpling!”
Felix pushed the door to his apartment open, crossing into the entryway while Jisung was distracted. “I’m sorry about him.” He apologized on behalf of his friend.
Hyunjin shrugged it off, smiling sweetly. “I know I look stuffy in this suit but I can assure you that is not me at all.”
He slipped out of his shiny dress shoes and shrugged off his suit jacket, hanging it up next to the door. The tie was almost immediately tugged loose, the relief palpable. “I hate ties.” Hyunjin confessed, rolling up his sleeves and undoing the top few buttons on his shirt.
Felix forgot to breathe, staring at the exposed forearms.
Veins. Hot.
Then the exposed collarbones and hint of chest.
Felix wanted to bark but he was still in his kitty ears. He made a soft whine sound instead — much to his embarrassment.
Hyunjin caught him, his lips curling into a slight smirk. He had the grace not to say anything but the way he held Felix’s gaze was lethal.
Fuck him and his stupid perfect face.
“Cat got your tongue?” Hyunjin teased, raising a brow.
He wished Hyunjin had his tongue.
“That was such a dad joke.” Felix retorted, tugging the ears off his head finally. If he wore them any longer, he was going to look like a furry.
“Guilty as charged,” Hyunjin grinned at Felix’s teasing, the tension easing a little with their banter.
“You’ve been replaced as my bestie.” Jisung announced as he entered the room holding Minyoung’s hand.
“Sungie has a lizard!” Minyoung announced, bouncing on her toes. “He’s going to show me later.”
“Ask him about dinosaurs.” Felix prompted, knowing that would keep Minyoung entertained for a while. He moved to grab his apron to put on to start cooking, realizing belatedly that it was covered in ruffles and strawberries, with little strawberry pockets. It was a bit of a gag gift from Jisung but he genuinely liked it.
“Cute,” Hyunjin commented as he followed him into the kitchen. “Can I watch you so I can learn how to cook?” The question was so genuine and sweet, especially with the earnest way he followed Felix around. If what he heard earlier was accurate, Hyunjin was struggling with that.
“Sure,” Felix grabbed the ingredients from the fridge and the pantry, lining them up on the counter. He began explaining what he was doing as he prepped each ingredient, glad to have his focus shifted on something he was confident in.
Hyunjin assisted in chopping the ingredients, taking meticulous care to slice them evenly and pretty. Felix smiled at that detail, finding it cute.
“How am I doing, chef?” Hyunjin asked playfully, pausing in his cutting to glance at Felix.
“Excellent,” Felix replied warmly. “I may want to hire you full time.”
“Full time, huh?” Hyunjin’s signature smirk returned, clearly enjoying their teasing exchange. “Does it come with benefits?”
Suddenly Felix felt like it wasn’t just harmless teasing that was going on. He couldn’t be imagining the flirting. He must have fallen silent in a contemplative panic because Hyunjin turned to him suddenly, the playfulness dropping from his face.
“I’m sorry, Felix. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable with that.” He apologized, looking contrite. “I just got carried away.” He continued to ramble nervously. “You’re just, well…” He gestured vaguely at Felix.
Felix knew he was pretty and charming. He even used it to his advantage sometimes because pretty privilege was really fun to wield, but also with great power came great responsibility, and he tried not to overdo it.
It was really mind blowing to have Hyunjin of all people admire him though.
He needed to focus. Hyunjin was in another relationship just a week ago.
What if she left because he was a cheater?
“Hyunjin, you’re…the most gorgeous person I have ever met,” Felix began, trying to figure out how to let him down easy. “But I can’t be a rebound, especially with a student’s father.”
The panic must have been obvious because Hyunjin started panicking too. “Hyerin and I hadn’t been intimate in two years. Our relationship had been over for a while.” He paused, realizing he was oversharing. “I mean…”
Felix felt a smile creep back on his face because for how pretty Hyunjin was — the man was awkward as fuck. It was crazy how he could alternate between smooth and sexy to someone so fumbling and uncomfortable.
“Two years?” Felix repeated, biting his lip, trying not to laugh. “No wonder you’re flirting with your daughter’s teacher.”
Hyunjin pouted at him, returning to chopping the vegetables and ducking his head to hide the flush in his face. “Not all teachers look like you.”
He tried not to let that statement go to his head but it was a struggle not to give in. He didn’t know much about Hyunjin but he did know there was a lot of baggage there and it was delicate because Minyoung was involved. He had to be careful.
“So what happened between you and Hyerin?” Felix changed the subject, moving to add ingredients to the pot for the stew. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t,” Hyunjin answered, taking a deep breath. He looked towards the living room where Jisung was imitating several different dinosaurs for Minyoung, making the young girl giggle hysterically. “We were young, met through friends in our early twenties. She was pretty, looked like a model and I was willing to do anything to catch her attention.”
Felix listened to the story quietly, eyes drifting towards the dark haired man next to him every once in a while.
“When she got pregnant,” Hyunjin’s voice faltered a bit, shaking just a little. “She said she didn’t want it. That she had bigger plans for her life. I begged her to keep it — not because it was in my plans but I just couldn’t stomach the feeling of losing something that was a part of me.”
Felix felt the urge to comfort him but he held back, his knuckles turning white as he stirred the ladle in the pot.
“She kept it — obviously.” Hyunjin glanced at Minyoung’s joyous face, hands stilling again over the knife. “But she never let us forget that we ruined her life.”
Emotion welled in Felix’s chest, the kind of stifling feeling that made it hard to breathe. He felt Hyunjin’s pain so poignantly. He reached over, finally giving in to place a hand on his shoulder.
“I can’t have kids.” Felix finally spoke up, letting one of his own insecurities through. “At least, not the usual way.”
Hyunjin turned to him to give him his full attention, Felix’s hand sliding off his shoulder.
“To have a kid as sweet and wonderful as Minyoung would be such a privilege in my opinion. I’m sorry she doesn’t feel that way.” He finished, awkwardly letting his hands fall by his sides. It felt vulnerable to say it but Hyunjin had revealed such a painful wound to him so he felt the urge to reciprocate.
The softness that crept into Hyunjin’s gaze was so captivating that Felix had to remind himself not to fall. The magnetism that he felt in that moment was gripping him, pulling at the last strings of his sanity.
“Me too.” Hyunjin whispered, voice barely audible.