Work Text:
It’s late. Well past midnight, but Hyunjin isn’t ready to go home yet, at least not now. His fingers ache from hours of typing, his feet are cramped from staying in the same position, and his eyes keep threatening to close, heavy and unwilling.
But he doesn’t care. No matter how late he stays in the empty office, with no coworkers around, he refuses to stop working. Even exhaustion pressing down on him isn’t enough to make him quit, because he knows exactly why he’s doing this, and that alone keeps him going, pushing him to ignore every pang of fatigue that begs him to rest.
He’s still a rookie, and proving what he’s capable of matters. Proving he deserves a place at one of the country’s top tech companies matters too. He ignores that he was chosen from hundreds of applicants. He ignores that he graduated with honors only a few months ago, along with the congratulations from his professors and the compliments from his boss. He ignores all that, because now he isn’t doing this for himself.
He’s doing it for his new family. His beautiful new family, the one he wants to spoil with every luxury possible, even if Seungmin also works and keeps telling him they don’t need it. For Hyunjin, it will never be enough. He won’t rest until he’s brought them the moon and the stars, and even then he’d probably only rest for a moment before diving back into work, ignoring his omega’s scoldings. The thought of not giving them everything, of not being able to provide the life he dreams of for them, gnaws at him relentlessly.
He limits himself to quick sips of the cheap, bitter coffee from the office’s old coffee maker, cracking his knuckles every so often like a nervous tic, his movements automatic and precise, trying not to waste a second. His gaze stays fixed on the screen while he types slower than usual, drained by the long hours he’s forced himself through. Every sound in the empty office seems amplified, from the click of keys to the hum of the air conditioner.
Ignoring coworkers who tell him to relax has become almost automatic. Their insistence keeps growing, and their reasoning is starting to make sense, but Hyunjin is too stubborn to give in. Even when his body reminds him it isn’t a superhero’s, when his eyes start to droop and he rests his head against the palm of his hand as fatigue spreads through him, he tells himself he won’t stop, clenching his jaw and reminding himself of the family waiting for him at home.
“What if I rest for a few minutes?” he murmurs as sleep slowly tugs at him, but he quickly straightens again.
No.
Do it for him.
Do it for them.
He shakes his head and slaps his own cheek, desperate to stay awake. Almost like a sign from above, his gaze falls on the framed picture on his desk.
The ultrasound of a tiny three-month-old Jeongin, something he treasures with all his heart, even though that was nearly six months ago. The little image, frozen in time, carries every hope and excitement he’s felt since he knew his son existed.
It’s in a beautiful wooden frame he bought just for that moment. He remembers Seungmin scolding him for spending so much money on a piece of wood, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing compares to the happiness his husband and pup bring him every day. Nothing compares to the impatience to see him already, or the thrill of kissing and talking to the rounded belly where their son rests. He touches the frame lightly, tracing its edges with reverence, letting the warmth of the memory steady him.
“Still here, Hwang?” his boss’s voice pulls him from his thoughts, making him lift his gaze from the screen.
Bae Joohyun walks into the office and casually leans on the doorframe. Hyunjin swallows. The omega is strict and intimidating, even if she’s an excellent boss.
“Yes. I’m just finishing up.”
She gives him her most terrifying look, the kind that makes the hair on his arms stand on end. He expects a lecture for not doing enough, maybe being told to stay longer, but not what Joohyun does next.
She walks toward him, more specifically toward his computer, and after checking that the files are saved, shuts it down and turns off the monitor.
“Go home, kid.”
“Excuse me?” he asks, confused.
“I said go home. You’ve been getting ahead on your work since day one. I appreciate efficiency, but you need to rest.”
Hyunjin can hardly believe those words are coming from the same woman who fired two employees for incompetence on his first day.
“Miss Bae, I can’t do that.”
“Isn’t your omega pregnant?” she interrupts, her voice sharp but carrying a hint of concern.
Hyunjin nods. “Yes, Miss Bae. He’s thirty-five weeks.”
“Thirty-five?!”
He nods again, but this time a soft, silly smile spreads across his lips as he thinks about how fast time has flown and how badly he wants to hold his pup, imagining every tiny kick, every little flutter, and the way Seungmin’s face lights up when they feel him move.
“All the more reason! What are you doing here? Go home and spoil your omega. Pamper him. Give in to every one of his whims,” Joohyun says, her voice carrying a playful, almost theatrical insistence that makes him pause.
It’s hard to believe it’s his terrifying boss saying this, but her words make him rethink if he’s been overdoing it.
He wants to be with Seungmin more than anything. His hands itch to touch him, his lips burn to kiss him. The only reason he’s stayed so focused on work is because he believes he must give his family financial and professional security. The thought of their tiny family waiting, of Kkami snuggling against Seungmin’s belly, sharpens the ache in his chest.
But now he’s starting to think maybe he’s gone too far.
“But what about work?” he asks, hoping for an answer that will ease his doubts.
“You’ve been doing an excellent job, Hwang, and of course that will be rewarded. But nothing is more important than being there for your omega right now. Look at me, my alpha barely spent any time with me when I was pregnant, and now he’s my ex-husband paying a generous child support,” Joohyun adds, her tone a mixture of warning, humor, and genuine concern.
That’s all Hyunjin needs to hear.
He grabs his things and finally leaves. He’s going back to where he belongs. He will never, never let himself drift from Seungmin again.
After saying goodbye to Joohyun, he kisses his fingertips and gently presses them against the frame holding the ultrasound before leaving. He lingers there for a moment, letting the warmth of that tiny image seep into him, calming the anxious flutter in his chest. It’s the third thing that soothes him about his pup. The second is doting on his omega’s belly, the feeling of the soft, rounded skin beneath his hands, warm and alive with the life they created together.
The first will be when he finally holds Jeongin in his arms, feeling every inch of him, breathing him in, counting the tiny fingers and toes he’s only imagined until now.
The drive to their new house, small but warm and cozy—the one he and Seungmin bought and fixed themselves—feels torturous. Every bump in the road makes his chest tighten, every stoplight is a test of patience. Not because of the anxious tremble in his hands, nor because every traffic light seems determined to turn red just before he reaches them.
No, the real problem is the junk he calls a car, the same one he’s had since eighteen, squeaking and rattling with every turn. But that won’t be an issue much longer. In a few days, he’ll get the paperwork for a new car. First he’ll check that every safety feature works, then he’ll install the most expensive baby seat he can afford, making sure it’s perfect. Because his son deserves it. Every decision he makes is for him, every penny he saves or spends is for his omega and that tiny life growing inside him.
Finally, he arrives home, parking the tin can as best he can and fumbling with his keys in record time. The house is dark except for a faint glow from the living room, and he moves quickly, eager to see them.
The first thing he notices is Kkami sleeping on the fluffy rug. Thankfully, the dog no longer barks when he comes home this late, because Seungmin’s pregnancy pheromones seem to have mellowed him more than ever. Hyunjin feels a pang of jealous affection, how can the pup stick so closely to his omega, leaving him to feel like a guest in his own family sometimes?
The second thing he sees is the love of his life, curled on his side, softly snoring, peaceful and vulnerable. The sight makes his chest tighten with longing and relief all at once.
Carefully, Hyunjin goes to the bedside table, turns on the dim lamp, and lies down on his side of the bed. He moves closer to the large, round belly of his omega, pulling the blankets down just enough to feel the skin beneath his hands. Seungmin’s pajama shirt has ridden up, leaving soft, warm skin completely exposed to Hyunjin’s touch, and he can’t help but run his fingers lightly over every curve.
“Hi, sweetie,” he whispers, approaching the smaller belly and speaking softly to his puppy so as not to wake Seungmin. “How have you been? I hope you haven’t been too bad with daddy, because he loves you so much and will give in to all your little cravings.”
He’s not stupid. He knows his puppy won’t answer, at least not with words, but that doesn’t stop him from pressing closer to the warm, alive belly, letting it rise and fall against his chest as he tells him over and over how much he loves him and how eagerly he’s waiting.
“Not much time left, huh, excited puppy?” he murmurs, and immediately feels a small, eager kick in response. “Seems like you’re more anxious than I am. You have no idea how much I want to see you and hold you in my arms. Do you think your first word could be ‘Daddy Jinnie’? Your dad insists you’ll say his name first, but maybe I can bribe you with some toys.”
While his puppy takes a moment to respond, he lets himself linger, tracing every detail of Seungmin’s skin with delicate fingers. The faint pink stretch marks are few, thanks to the care Seungmin has taken, and Hyunjin runs his fingertips along the subtle textures that mark how much their little one has been growing. He’s in love with every nuance of that skin because it belongs to his omega, because it carries their child, and because it represents the life they’re building together.
Every touch prompts another tiny kick, pronounced under his fingers. Either that, or Jeongin is practicing some vigorous breakdancing inside his dad’s belly, and Hyunjin chuckles softly at the thought.
“You have no idea how hard it was to convince your dad not to paint a DAY6 mural in your room, but you’ll thank me later,” he says with a laugh, remembering the playful—and completely non-aggressive—argument he had with Seungmin over the room’s decor. “I hope you can forgive me for being away lately. You know I love you with all my heart, puppy.”
The same response he’s been getting shows up again, a small but insistent kick, and it seems Jeongin has grown even more enthusiastic about moving.
He’s about to speak again, but then he feels Seungmin move. When he looks up, he realizes his omega is awake, alert and aware, probably having been awake for some time already. The sight sends a warm rush through him, a mixture of embarrassment, relief, and happiness, knowing they are together now, awake or asleep.
“How long have you-”
“Since you started talking to him,” Seungmin replies without needing Hyunjin to finish his sentence because they understand each other perfectly. “What do you mean you’re going to bribe him to say your name first?”
Embarrassment washes over him from head to toe, and his cheeks and ears flush bright red. He knows Seungmin loves seeing and hearing him talk to their child; he’s scolded him countless times for speaking to Jeongin while he’s asleep, but that doesn’t stop him from feeling shy whenever he’s caught. He’s naturally shy, you can’t blame him.
But he’s getting better, so with that and the guilt of spending more time at work than he should, he decides to push that shyness aside.
“I’m sorry for waking you up so late. I promise I’ll be quieter next time.”
“It’s not your fault, honey,” Seungmin says, then lifts himself slightly, supporting his weight on his forearms and looking down at his belly. “It’s this little devil who seems to be having a party every time you talk to him. I swear he doesn’t get this rowdy even when I talk to him.”
Hyunjin smiles at the confession and carefully moves closer to the big belly, leaving his lips just inches away.
“Puppy, I know you’re as excited as we are, but please don’t hurt your dad, okay? He needs to rest too,” the baby seems to listen, responding with even more kicks.
“He’s hopeless. I think he’s going to be a soccer player.”
“Then he’ll be our soccer player.”
The next few minutes pass like this, with Hyunjin telling his son over and over how much he loves him, and Seungmin running his fingers through his alfa’s hair, completely softened watching them.
Neither of them can believe how fast and slow time has passed. Fast because it feels like just yesterday they met at that bar where the omega sang, just yesterday when the alfa fainted from joy after asking the younger to be his boyfriend, and just yesterday when Seungmin told Hyunjin he was expecting a child. But also slow, because each day they fall more in love with their little family, and the wait feels endless.
Time seems to move everywhere except the comfort of their room, where there’s nothing but affection, love, and longing.
“Hyunjin,” the younger says after a while, as both begin to drift off to sleep.
“Yes, love?”
“Can you sing something for Jeongin and me?”
“Don’t you want to do it yourself?”
“Nope, Innie’s pretty restless today, and he always calms down when he hears you sing,” Hyunjin thinks for a moment, considering it carefully. “Come on, please.”
The musician between them is the omega, literally, since that’s what he does. Angels must envy his beautiful voice, and another thing Hyunjin loves most in the world is hearing him sing. But he isn’t lying when he says their child calms down when hearing him sing, unlike when he hears his omega father and seems to be celebrating a concert inside his stomach.
Hyunjin theorizes it’s because the puppy gets bored or prefers sleeping over listening, but Seungmin says it’s because he has a magical, soothing voice that makes you feel like you’re floating in the clouds, and he loves it. His omega has told him so many times that he sings beautifully, and Hyunjin has started to believe maybe it’s not so bad, and even if he sometimes wants to refuse, it’s impossible to fight the puppy eyes and pouty lips Seungmin gives him to get what he wants.
And, unfortunately for Hyunjin, that’s exactly what he’s doing now. How can someone look so cute while playing dirty?
“Okay,” he finally says, settling on the mattress, resting his head on his hand.
There’s a song he’s been listening to over and over lately, and from the first time he heard it, he couldn’t help but think of his omega. He thinks it’s the perfect song for the occasion.
Without saying another word, he starts to sing.
“There are some of those days, days when I suddenly feel all alone…” His voice is low, almost hesitant at first, but the look in his eyes—soft, enamored—keeps him going. “When I feel like I don’t belong anywhere, and my head is hanging down.”
Whenever those days come, you tell me
How precious I am
At those words, everything feels alright
From nobody to somebody
I become a special me
He glances at Seungmin, noticing his eyelids drooping, the slow, inevitable surrender to sleep. His body is relaxed, warm against the mattress, and Hyunjin’s heart swells with tenderness. He keeps singing, letting the melody carry him, painting the image of his omega lying there, peaceful and trusting.
I just wanted to hide
Didn't wanna face the world
As if everything has lost meaning
I just sat there still
Then you appeared
With a warm smile, holding out your hand
From nobody to somebody
I become a special me
Seungmin exhales softly, a little smile tugging at his lips even in sleep. Jeongin responds with a small kick, his movements slowing as drowsiness settles in. Hyunjin rests his hand on Seungmin’s belly, feeling the gentle, rhythmic nudges of their little one inside.
You make me feel special
No matter how the world weighs me down
Even when hurtful words cut deep
I smile again, because you're there
The last notes drift in the quiet room, and Hyunjin’s gaze softens as he watches his partner surrender to sleep. The warmth, the calm, the absolute trust... it fills him completely. He bends down, pressing a gentle kiss to Seungmin’s rounded belly, then to his forehead.
“But then, when I hear you calling me…” He murmurs, his hand still resting on his omega’s chest, “I feel loved, I feel so special.”
Finally, he lets himself rest too, head on Seungmin’s chest, surrounded by the kind of warmth only a family can give. A warmth he would never trade for anything.
Because he loves them.
Because they are his entire world.
Because they make him feel special.