— taeyong.

@✽ felix l. "So what's a person like you doing here?" There was no way in hell Taeyong was going to let go, not when there was a supposed threat here right in the form of his babysitter. However, he tried his best to clear his mind, not pushing the makeshift weapon into him, but instead holding the position in a tense manner until he got the answers he seeked. "Tell me your motive, and be truthful." He requested, speaking in a hushed voice, not wanting his daughter to know anything he was doing right now.

@✽ taeyong l. Felix had raised most of his siblings so it wasn't really a big deal when he decided to do babysitting. Eunchae was an easy case after all, obedient and the kind of playful that his collected self could handle. Her father was a good man too, always paying him generously and on time. Chit chat wasn't really a favorite for Felix, what he really appreciated though was the fact that Taeyong was involved with the army and somehow he didn't seem to mind having him around and hiring him. Over the years he had experienced way worse racist behavior from local villagers who knew nothing of politics and the current status of their respectful country.
The sound of the door opening woke him up from his daze as he stood up from the couch to greet the man, bowing slightly. "Are you alr-" he made to ask once he noticed the sweat on the elder's forehead but he thought twice about it and paused. It was non of his business, he just wanted to get paid and leave. Getting himself involved with the village's drama would do him no good.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he let out a long sigh before his breath hirched as his back hit the wall all of a sudden, knocking the air out of him. By instinct he caught the arm pressed against his chest, tightening his hold around it just in case Taeyong decided to attack. It took Felix some seconds to understand what was probably going on.
"I thought you knew." He stated like a matter of fact, staring straight at the other to show him he wasn't intimidated.

@✽ felix l. "."
Lee Felix, his babysitter was always nice and kind, always did his job well and Eunchae was actually comfortable around him, which was why he had been with the family for quite a while now. Never would Taeyong have thought that the man hailed from North Korea, what was he doing here, in such a small quaint town such as Dandelion of all places? Defector? Spy? Multiple questions formed in his mind as Taeyong drove like a madman from the main city all the way back, questioning why he didn't do a background check on the younger male himself before hiring him. Call him stereotypical, but Taeyong was hostile towards North Koreans, especially when he had patrol duty along the DMZ which resulted in tension and bullets shot after both sections came upon each other. Slamming on the brakes when he parked the car, he dashed up the stairs to his apartment unit, heaving a sigh of relief when he spotted Eunchae busy doing her homework, with Felix minding his own business. "Daddy!" His daughter called out, and Taeyong could only give a weary smile, beads of sweat formed on his forehead before he ushered Eunchae into her room, closing the door afterwards after coaxing her for a bit. Then, taking a pencil, a makeshift weapon he could find at this moment, he pinned Felix onto the wall, arm pressing on his chest, tip of the pencil aimed for his jugular before he glared deep into Felix's orbs, commanding in a firm voice full of threat. "Who the are you, Lee Felix."

-----

"Come, let's go home, Eunchae-ah."

It was the usual routine for Taeyong after ending his work at the kindergarten, one of the last few teachers to leave while his daughter usually waited for him at the staff room after finishing her class, either reading storybooks or busy playing with the toys he bought for her. It was different today, however, the usual bubbly cheerful self turning into a more quiet, somewhat deep in thought demeanor which Taeyong couldn't help but to notice as they walked out of the school, slinging her school bag, a hand holding hers.

"Anything wrong today, Eunchae? You're being awfully quiet... do you want burgers today? I'll buy them for you~" He crouched to her eye level as they waited for the pedestrian light to turn green, brushing her cheek lightly with a finger, but there was no sort of reply whatsoever, even though he enticed her with her favourite burgers, a rare treat. "Or melon-candied bread? Shall we go see Chaewon eonni?" No reply yet again, and he was starting to feel a little bothered by it, mind going straight towards the worst scenarios he could think of. Maybe she was getting bullied. Maybe she was sick. Still, he tried his best to keep calm, going over his day as they walked back to his apartment, talking about her favorite books, cartoons and movies, anything to have a conversation with her, and it soon got a little better.

Entering his simple studio apartment, he placed Eunchae's bag in the usual spot, preparing to make dinner for the both of them, before his daughter called for him, the first time she did so today, and of course, he immediately rushed over right in front of her while she sat on the couch, bending lower, not wanting to appear threatening but rather a source of comfort, patiently waiting for her to speak up about the issue a 6 year old could have.

"Yes, my baby? Dad's here."

"Daddy, why don't I have a mommy? Hyunseo's mom picks her up every day and they're going to visit an amusement park tomorrow. Jiwon's mommy is also bringing her to a barbecue for dinner afterwards. Yerim makes fun of me saying that my mommy doesn't want me. Does she really not want me? Is that why she never appears?"

All of Eunchae's questions tugged at his heartstrings; it was at the age where kids would be curious at everything and some could be harsh like Yerim, and he wasn't sure of how to broach the topic, moving to the couch and slinging an arm over her small shoulders, lightly rubbing it before he spoke in a way that she could understand, even though it reopened his wounds quite a bit.

"Eunchae ah, it's not like that. It's not that your mommy doesn't want to be there for you, it's because she can't."

"Why?"

"You know... remember the movie about fishes that we watched, Finding Nemo? Nemo doesn't have a mommy too, right?"

"Mmhmm."

"Do you remember what happened at the start of the movie when he was still an egg?"

"Yes! A fish protected him."

"That was Nemo's mommy. Your mommy protected you too."

"Did she die while protecting me? Is that why she's not around?" Eunchae looks back at Taeyong with her wide eyes, and his heart clenched with her every word, knowing that it was true but how could he ever bring it up to her? But seeing the way it was now and they were already in the topic, he could only reply with a nod, holding her closer so that her tiny body was now in her arms, unsure and avoiding the fact if she could fully grasp the fact that her mom was dead.

"Then she was a good mommy." The next words were she spoke were not what he was expecting; he expected her to bawl and throw a tantrum, but now he was the one crying, tears flowing out of his eyes, the pain in his heart wrecking his war-torn body. How was she so mature for her age?

Holding back his sobs and dabbing away at his tears, he asked if she blamed her for doing so, and Eunchae shook her head, a soft smile coming out from her and reaching Taeyong's eyes while she held his hands.

"It's okay, I don't need a mommy. Nemo didn't have a mommy too. And his dad saved him from the fish tank! His daddy is strong, just like my daddy too. But I won't cause any trouble like Nemo, I will be a good girl so daddy, you don't have to worry about me. Don't cry, daddy."

A laugh escapes his lips when he heard her words and felt her tiny hands brushing away at his tears - he really did love his daughter so much, and she filled the void that was left in him with her childlike innnocence and her stubbornness, and he couldn't imagine a life without her.

"I love you, Eunchae-ah."

"I know, daddy, you tell me that every morning when you make breakfast for me, when you send me to class, when you tuck me into bed. And I love you too - I love you a lot."

"Thank you, Eunchae-ah." He let out a genuine smile, kissing his daughter's forehead, just seeking warmth and comfort in her hold as his tears fell, before a tug to his sleeve catches him out of his thoughts.

"Can we have burgers tonight?"

"Yes, yes we can."