Daddy - Kibum
100 THEMES CHALLENGE
Theme: 5 - Overworked [Ryeowook/Kibum]
Title: Daddy
Words: 1,524
Completed: October 5th, 2011
Genre: AU, family
Rating: G
Summary: It's not easy being a single parent, Kibum knows that well.
A man sat at his desk in two overlapping pools of light; yellow from the lamp at his left and headache-inducing blue-white from his computer screen on his right. His tie was a crumpled pile of silk somewhere by his elbow, his top buttons were undone and his glasses were crooked on his face. It was quarter to three in the morning and he decided that if he was going to survive the next day he had to stop working.
He glanced over at the bed. Despite the lights in the room its occupant was fast asleep, breathing loud but not a snore. He smiled vaguely to himself, switched off the monitor and went out to get himself some tea.
The other didn't wake as he returned, or as he showered, or as he clambered into sleepwear and slid into bed beside him, wrapping his arms around his body and kissing his forehead before drifting off himself.
* * *
"Kibum-ah, we're going for lunch, do you want to come?"
Kibum shook his head, not looking up from his papers. "I have stuff to do."
"Do you have stuff to eat?" The other raised an eyebrow.
Kibum mumbled something distractedly which his colleague took as a 'no'. "Do you want us to bring you anything?"
"Yes, please…" the younger wasn't listening and the other worker could tell. He sighed as he went off with another work friend of theirs to get some food.
Half an hour later they returned with a small bulgogi lunch set and set it on the least-touched-looking stack of papers. Kibum laid a pen across the page he was working on to mark his place and reached for his jacket on the back of his chair. "How much?" he asked, drawing out his wallet.
His colleague told him quietly, crossing his arms. "How much sleep have you been getting?"
"Enough."
A sigh. "Are you working overtime again?"
"I have to."
"Come out with us on Sunday. We're going to spend the afternoon by the lake. You can bring Wookie."
Kibum was shaking his head before he'd finished. "I have stuff to finish, I have a schedule so it all gets done." His voice and expression softened, and he played with some rice. "And I already promised Wookie I'd take him to a movie."
"…alright."
* * *
Kibum knelt beside the bed and smiled tiredly as he brushed dark hair from the boy's face. This was what he worked for. This was why it was all worth it. So that he could sleep peacefully and so that Kibum could see his smile when he woke up. He rested his chin on the mattress and stilled as the body beneath his hand stirred.
"Daddy?"
"Mm?" Kibum's hand went back to stroking his hair.
"I'm thirsty."
"I'll get you a drink." Kibum pulled back and stood up. He sighed to himself as he stood over the sink and filled a glass, glancing down at the pen-dent in his right middle finger. He walked slowly back to the bedroom where Ryeowook had shifted into a sitting position and was knuckling his eyes.
"Here," he murmured. The boy took the glass and gulped the contents down, spilling a bit onto his pyjama-clad chest. Kibum chuckled as he cleaned it up, placing the glass on the nightstand.
"Wouldn't you prefer to sleep in your own bed, Wookie?" he asked, smiling sadly when his son shook his head decidedly and lay back down. He picked up the worn stuffed bunny from where it had fallen onto the floor and tucked it back into the boy's arms, watching as the plump little lips curved slightly into a smile.
* * *
Today, meetings at 12:00, 3:00 and 5:00. Return calls for seven potential clients. Arrange daycare for Ryeowook on Saturday afternoon. Start report for department head. 7:30 meeting with Ryeowook's teacher. Take Ryeowook home from school. Cook. Complete first lot of data sets. Prepare English lesson for Thursday's class.
Tomorrow, meetings at 9:30am, 1:30pm, and 4:00pm. Return all calls missed the previous day. Soothe neurotic clients. Continue report for department head. Transfer first lot of data sets to the office system. Complete lesson preparation between picking Ryeowook up from school and having dinner. Write recommendation for senior student. Complete second lot of data sets.
Thursday, meetings at 1:00 and 2:30. Transfer second lot of data sets. Continue report for department head. Deal with client complaints. Deal with neurotic clients. Pass on complaints to boss and try to survive. Teach English from 6:00pm - 9:30pm. Survive. Pick up Ryeowook from friend's place. Cook.
* * *
"Daddy?"
"Hey… hey, Wookie. Still awake?"
"Can… can you read me a story?"
"I don't have time to read you a story tonight, Wookie."
"I can't sleep."
Kibum sighed and spun his chair around, considering Ryeowook for a moment before opening his arms. The boy trotted over to him and clambered into his lap, closing his eyes and clinging tight to the no-longer-crisp white shirt while he was wrapped in his father's familiar scent.
"You know why I work so much, right?"
Ryeowook nodded against Kibum's chest. "Yes, daddy."
"It's so you can go to school and take piano lessons and have nice things, okay?"
"Yes, daddy."
"And you need to sleep well, so you can work hard in school for me, alright?"
Ryeowook kept nodding, clinging tighter to his father. "Yes, daddy," he whispered.
Kibum stood up, Ryeowook still in his arms, and carried him to the next room, laying him down on the bed and tucking him in. He toyed with one of the bunny ears sticking up from under the blankets, kissing both of his son's cheeks. "I love you, Wookie. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, daddy." Ryeowook replied, large eyes following Kibum as he left the room and closed the door gently behind him.
* * *
"And if all three of those documents are not finalized and on my desk by noon tomorrow, you can kiss that bonus goodbye, do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Click.
Kibum sat still for a long time, phone still at his ear as he listened to the constant beep. Finally he placed it back in his cradle, rubbing his face briskly before setting down to complete the work he hadn't managed to finish yet, trying not to remember that the next day he had to return English assignments as well, some of which he hadn't finished marking.
There was a soft, tentative knock on his bedroom door. "What?" he snapped, harsher than he intended, sighing as the door opened a crack and his son's face peeped through.
"What is it?" he asked again, forcing his voice calmer.
"I need help with my homework… please…"
Kibum heaved a deep breath. "When is it due?"
"Wednesday."
Kibum hitched a smile onto his face and tapped his desk. "Well, mine is due in the morning, so I'll help you tomorrow, okay?"
"But I don't understand how this-"
"Wookie, I'm very tired and I have a lot of work to do, okay? I have to help you tomorrow." Kibum interrupted firmly. "In the meantime, just do the best you can, and finish your piano practice. I need to get this done."
"But-"
"Tomorrow."
Ryeowook stood in the doorway for a long time, watching his father ignore him and get back to his own work.
"Yes, daddy," he said finally, backing out and shutting the door again.
Kibum sighed when he heard the door click. He had rent, taxes and bills to pay, along with Ryeowook's piano teacher, his tuition, gas, groceries, and Ryeowook needed new pants too. Although the upright was relatively cheap as pianos went, it had taken a huge bite from his budget. His only comfort was that his son actually used it, and even now he could hear his practicing through the wall. He'd taken extra work at the office, and a new English student, using up even more of his time.
He sighed once more and started typing.
* * *
A smile spread across Kibum's face as he collapsed into bed. He'd gotten his bonus and had consequently dropped some of his overtime at the office, his students were taking a two-week holiday, as was Ryeowook, he was on schedule, and was able to be here, in bed, at 1:30am.
He was disturbed from his semiconscious state by a shifting in the mattress. His eyes cracked open, a small chubby face hovering in his vision.
"What's the matter?" he murmured drowsily as Ryeowook clambered into bed next to him.
"I don't want to sleep in there," Ryeowook replied, a little shakily. Kibum closed his eyes again, pulling the small, trembling body closer. "Bad dream?"
Ryeowook nodded twice, arms snaking their way around his father's neck.
"I'll always keep you safe," Kibum promised quietly, rubbing his son's back.
Ryeowook felt a bit better, but kept his grip on the dozing man. Kibum started drifting off again, feeling warm lips press to his cheek.
"I love you, daddy."
Kibum mustered the strength to reply before he fell asleep. "I love you too, Wookie-ah."