Eunho's fingers shook as he waited in the lobby, his pants still gone and his shirt still tiny. "When..when is he coming back?" He whispered to the boss. The older man had come back, dressed in slacks and no shirt—eccentric tattoos coated his lean chest, muscles obvious from under his shirt. He held Jia on his lap because shocker—that's his daughter. And her said mom isn't her mom.
The boss glanced at it from the side, feeding small candies to Jia. "He should be back in a few minutes. It's already five in the morning, you know." He did. That's why he's been vibrating for the past hour. His heat has been medicated because Lorenzo wasn't there to comfort him, but fuck. He missed his baby. "Are yall dating?" The big man asked. Eunho sniffled. "No. Should we..date?"
"It'd be safer for you if someone claimed you. I don't have control over these people here."
Eunho turned to him, his legs shifting from over the arm to the regular piece. "W-what?" He whispered. The man hummed. "I'm their boss but not their mother—it's different for you, obviously—but I have no control over what they do. That's why you should be wearing pants. Everyone else who doesn't is a whore." Eunho swallowed. "I-is that..l-like a l-lifestyle choice..?" Even Jia stared at him like he'd said something stupid. The older man shook his head. "It's not a bad thing. Maybe whore was the wrong word. They're escorts. Money for massages because they need it."
"O-oh.. is that what I'll have to do..?"
"No. You don't do anything, kid. We just need you here."
"B-but..Lorenzo does stuff." He frowned. The boss pat Jia's little head. "He has a debt to pay back; you don't. And you don't have to date—I'll punish anyone who hurts you—I'm saying it'd be better. Because earlier, you guys seemed a little.. close. And that's not a bad thing." He paused, "most people think it. So you're good. Just stay close to him and only talk to him. Lorenzo." Eunho nodded at the advice. A cramp curried his organs from up to down. Down. Tearing through him like the five am sun tearing through the morning gleam. "Lorenzo's a bit young.. for me."
"He's okay, mentally he's older than he seems. He is only sixteen, though. But you're both kids, it's whatever. Unless you touch him, then it's different. Let him do it first."
"That's..amazing advice, thank you.." Eunho whispered. The man held the bag of candy to Eunho. "Here," he murmured. Eunho took it with soaking fingers, wet from sweat. He watched as the alpha pulled Jia off his lap and pressed her to his chest, she stretched her fatty little arms and clutched his pec. "Seriously." He licked his lips. "I'm not saying be passive and let him assault you—if he does any of that, hit him, hurt him or something—just don't touch him inappropriately without his consent. Because that is still assault. As much as it would be on you."
"I..know that."
"You should."
"I-I do..I don't..I don't want to have that..with him."
"It doesn't seem like it. But I don't want to know. I'm just telling you to be safe."
"It's scary, sir, don't say..that." Eunho clutched his eyes like he could hide them from the scent of alpha and cigars. "These kids should stop smoking," it was as if the older man read his mind. He smelled big—loud. Like peppermint or sandalwood or something. Something fatherly and familiar. And Eunho wasn't sure if it was because of the little girl clutching him like he was her bear or if it was just the immediate persona he radiated. Eunho had no trouble believing everything; why would he lie to someone as worthless as Eunho?
Eunho stared at him. Analyzing every bit to save to his own mind and heart. "Do you..have any more kids?"
"Mhm."
"H..how many?"
"Four."
"O-oh..a-altogether?"
"Six, then."
"O-oh..h-how old are y-you, s-sir..?"
"I'm only 28. Most of my kids are adopted. Three bio and the others I saved from homes like yours."
"Y-you want to adopt me..?" Eunho's body flicked. The boss looked him up and down. "Homes that gave those kids away. Your parents want you, don't forget that." Eunho nodded. "Wh..what about..Rennie..? H-he—his dad.."
"Yeah, I know. I won't adopt him."
"W-why?"
"Because he doesn't want me to. He despises me, even if he tries to act like he doesn't. It's obvious. It's whatever, too. He's just a kid."
"H..he doesn't mind you."
"That's fine. You okay? Heat still bothering you?" He looked at him. Caught eyes. Eunho gulped down, the tattoos shielding the alpha's neck were signature. Like he'd branded himself to this clan. It was sad in a way. He's only 28, it repeated back. That means he's been groomed into this. Or his dad died or something. "Wh—you're the boss..right?"
"No."
"What..?"
"I'm the oreunpal. The boss is my brother." He yawned. "He's kind of like you. Never wears a shirt. Or pants, to be fair. He's an omega and he's small. He's kind of scary, though. A psychopath, you'd call it."
"D..does he want to hurt Rennie.?"
"No. Why would he do that?"
"Why..why is Rennie here?"
"He probably wouldn't want me to tell you."
"Why.." Before Eunho could finish his stupid sentence, the clear doors stumped closed and a figure stumbled in. Stumbled as in sighed as he stepped. He looked healthier now, his skin clean and his eyes light. They weren't as dark as the previous night—luckily. Eunho jumped up. His feet carried him to the boy and he pulled him in, kissing his neck. It was like every thing he'd been told left the market like the piggies. "I missed you so much, alpha…you're so—I'm so happy you're back." He said it loud enough for everyone to hear.
His fingers danced around Lorenzo's waist and the young alpha let out a soft, fleeting laugh. The McDonald's bag in his hand smelled lovely, like happiness. "I was only gone for an hour, Hyung." The alpha smiled. "It felt too long. I never want you to leave again."