Jeonghan felt like his heart was going to stop. The boy's presence, while loved and wanted, was a sudden and unexpected reminder that there was more to their lives than this tense, emotional bubble they were in.

Seungcheol looked torn for a moment, his eyes flicking from the door to Jeonghan, then back again. But eventually, he sighed softly and called out, "Just a moment, buddy. We're almost done."

There was a slight pause from the other side of the door, then a small sigh. "Okay." Haneul said, his voice still soft, yet a hint of impatience in it. "But hurry up, okay? I want cuddles."

Jeonghan felt a pang in his heart at the boy's innocent plea for cuddles. It was a stark contrast to the serious atmosphere in the room, a reminder that life still went on, even in moments like these.

Seungcheol stood up from the bed, pushing down his own tangle of emotions. "Yeah, we'll be there in a sec." he called out to the door before turning to Jeonghan. "Talk to him." he said, his voice soft but firm.

Jeonghan nodded, his heart still hammering in his chest. He knew he needed to keep the conversation going, otherwise he might never find the courage again.

He got up from the bed and went to the door, opening it just enough to see Haneul standing outside, his small face looking up at Jeonghan with a mixture of expectancy and hope.

"Hey buddy." Jeonghan said, forcing a small smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Haneul pouted a little. "You said you'd be quick." he whined, his small voice brimming with disappointment. "I've been waiting for so long."

Jeonghan's heart ached a little at Haneul's petulance. The boy's disappointment was tangible, his pouty expression a clear testament to his dissatisfaction with the waiting.

Jeonghan knelt down to the boy's height and stroked his hair gently, his smile a mixture of apology and understanding. "I know." he said soothely, his tone gentle. "I'm sorry. But Daddy still needs a few more minutes. Okay?"

Haneul's pout only deepened, his small arms crossing over his chest in a sulky gesture. "But I want cuddles now." he protested, his voice almost a whine. "I've been on my best behavior and I've been waiting and I-"

Jeonghan's expression softened and he gently put a finger to Haneul's lips, preventing him from speaking further. "Haneul.." he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Daddy needs some time to talk with Seungcheol. We'll give you cuddles as soon as we're done, okay?"

Haneul's petulant expression didn't change, his small frame radiating discontent. "But it's taking so long," he argued, his voice still tinged with a hint of grievance. "You said you'd be quick- ow!"

Jeonghan gave Haneul a small smack on his arm, his small act of discipline catching the boy off guard. "Haneul." he said, his tone slightly more authoritative than before. "No buts. We said we need a few minutes, so you'll wait a few more minutes. Understand?"

Haneul looked up a little stunned, the small smack having surprised him out of his pouting. "But it hurts." he mumbled, his small voice filled with childish complaint.

Haneul's pout intensified, the tiny hand he'd brought to his arm rubbing the spot where Jeonghan had struck him. Tears brimmed in the boy's eyes, the hurt and frustration welling up inside him. But after a moment, he sniffed and nodded his agreement, even though his body language indicated he was still unhappy about the situation.

Jeonghan felt a pang of guilt, seeing the tears in Haneul's eyes and the way the boy rubbed the spot he had hit. It wasn't a hard smack, but it was enough to startle and maybe even hurt the boy a little. Jeonghan was firm, he had to be, but he never wanted to truly hurt the child.

Jeonghan reached out again, his hand gently wiping the tears from Haneul's face. "I didn't mean to hurt you." he said quietly. "I just needed you to listen to me, okay?"

Jeonghan’s fingers lingered on Haneul's cheek, wiping away the stray tear that had begun to slide down his face. He felt his heart tighten at the sight of his son’s sad eyes. The last thing he wanted was to hurt him, even in such a small, corrective way.

"I’m sorry." Jeonghan whispered, his voice softer now. "I didn’t mean to make you cry." He reached out, pulling the boy into his arms, his embrace a silent apology. Haneul hesitated for a moment, his small body stiff in Jeonghan's arms, but soon enough, the boy's little arms circled his father’s neck, pressing his face into his shoulder.

"I don’t like waiting." Haneul muttered, his voice muffled against Jeonghan’s shirt.

"I know." Jeonghan murmured, holding him tighter. "But sometimes we all have to wait. Just a little longer, okay? Then I'll cuddle, just like you want."

Haneul sniffled but didn’t argue. His body slowly relaxed into his father’s arms, the tension easing from his small frame. Jeonghan gave him one last squeeze before pulling back, his hands still resting on Haneul’s shoulders as he looked into the boy's eyes.

"You're the best, you know that?" Jeonghan said with a soft smile, brushing Haneul’s hair back from his forehead. Haneul managed a small, tired smile in return, his pout still lingering, but fading.

"I’m still mad." Haneul declared, though the fire had gone out of his voice. "But I’ll wait."

"Good boy." Jeonghan replied with a gentle nod. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Haneul's head. "Thank you for being patient."

Haneul nodded solemnly, and Jeonghan watched as the boy turned to leave, his little feet dragging slightly as he walked away. The door clicked shut behind him, and Jeonghan’s gaze lingered on it for a long moment, his heart heavy with the weight of what had just transpired between him and his son.

Jeonghan’s gaze lingered on the closed door for a moment, then shifted to Seungcheol, who was sitting silently on the bed. The air in the room felt heavy with unresolved tension, a silence that was louder than any words they had shared before.

Seungcheol looked up at Jeonghan, his face filled with a mixture of concern and something deeper something more complicated than just worry. It was clear that the conversation they needed to have wasn’t going to wait much longer.

Finally, it was Seungcheol who spoke, his voice lower than before, but still steady.

"Jeonghan… when you hit him..." He trailed off, looking down at his hands. "I know you didn’t mean it, but... you know that he’s just a kid, right? He’s not... not just someone to manage or correct. He's hurting, too."

Jeonghan’s heart twisted at the words. He had wanted to make sure Haneul understood the importance of waiting and respecting boundaries, but the way it had happened the way the boy had looked at him in shock, then in hurt made him question everything.

"I know." Jeonghan said quietly, his voice strained. "I didn’t want to hurt him. I just... I didn’t know how else to make him understand. Sometimes, I feel like I’m failing him. Like I’m not doing enough... especially with everything between us."

Seungcheol remained silent for a while. "You’re hiding something, Jeonghan," Seungcheol’s voice was steady, but his eyes were sharp, pressing. "You’ve been avoiding talking about it for so long, but I can see it. It’s tearing you apart, and it’s making you distant. What is it? What’s your secret?"

Few minutes passed in silence as Seungcheol listened to Jeonghan words as he spill everything his been holding on for the past few weeks.

Jeonghan’s chest tightened as the conversation lingered in the air between them. His heart raced with fear of what could happen next. He’d held this secret for so long, and now, finally, it was out in the open. Yet, the burden didn’t feel lighter; it felt heavier, with the weight of Seungcheol’s gaze pressing down on him.

Seungcheol watched him carefully, his expression a mixture of confusion and understanding. "So, you’re saying you were part of something dangerous with your old boss and you hurt people?" His voice was steady, but there was a hint of disbelief in it, as if trying to process everything Jeonghan had just revealed although he knew half of it.

Jeonghan’s throat tightened again, and he nodded slowly. "I wasn’t the person I am now. I made terrible decisions back then selfish ones. I hurt people who trusted me, and I abandoned them. It wasn’t about power or money it was about my own flaws and of course Haneul's safety. I betrayed people who depended on me and I still can’t shake the guilt of it."

Seungcheol stayed silent for a long moment, his gaze never leaving Jeonghan. "I don’t understand," he said softly, "You were...you were part of something dangerous not just a theif and you’re telling me you left it all behind? That you just… disappeared? What happened to those people you left behind?"

Jeonghan clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the guilt pressing down on him once more. "I ran. I left everything behind, hoping to start over and forget. I told myself it was the only way forward, but the truth is, I can’t outrun it. And now, it’s creeping back in, and I’m afraid it’s going to hurt you, or Haneul. I don’t want to bring that darkness into this life."

Seungcheol stood up stepping closer, his eyes softening. "I don’t know everything about your past, but I know the man you are now. You’re not that person anymore, Jeonghan. You’ve changed." His voice was steady, but there was a depth to it that Jeonghan hadn’t expected. "You made mistakes, sure, but you’re trying to be better now. You’re trying to be a father and that matters."

Jeonghan shook his head, feeling a wave of frustration. "It’s not that simple. The past never just disappears. I can’t erase what I’ve done, and I can’t protect Haneul from it. I’ve already messed up once by keeping this secret. I don’t want to make the same mistakes."

Seungcheol sighed and placed a hand on Jeonghan’s shoulder, his touch grounding him. "I’m not saying you can forget the past, but you don’t have to carry it alone. You’ve carried that burden for so long, and it’s clear that you’re still fighting it." His voice softened. "But I’m here, Jeonghan. I’m not going anywhere."

Jeonghan met Seungcheol’s gaze, feeling a surge of emotion. It was almost too much to take in. "But what if I can’t change?" Jeonghan whispered, his voice trembling. "What if I’m always haunted by who I was?"

Seungcheol squeezed his shoulder, a small, reassuring gesture. "Then we’ll face it together. You’re not alone in this, Jeonghan. You don’t have to fix everything by yourself. I’m here. We’ll figure it out."

The words were simple, but they held so much weight. Jeonghan felt a small spark of hope flicker inside him. Maybe Seungcheol was right maybe this didn’t have to be a battle fought alone. Maybe he could change, and maybe he could find peace with his past, with Seungcheol by his side.

Jeonghan let out a shaky breath, his body relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice full of raw gratitude. "I’m sorry for hiding this from you. I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t want you to think less of me."

Seungcheol smiled faintly, the corner of his lips lifting. "I don’t think less of you. AlthoughI have knowneverything." he said firmly. "I think you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’ve come a long way. And I’m not going to turn my back on you now."

Jeonghan swallowed hard, the lump in his throat easing just slightly. The weight of his past wasn’t gone, but for the first time, he felt like he could breathe a little easier. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t beyond redemption.

"I’m not sure what’s going to happen next." Jeonghan said quietly, his eyes still searching Seungcheol’s face. "But I know I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you, or Haneul."

"You won’t." Seungcheol replied, his voice steady and reassuring. "I’m here. And we’re in this together. All of us. Maybe it's you being a thief, a spy or just a normal human being. Past is past okay. I know you can change maybe it will take time but you will."

Jeonghan felt the knot in his chest loosen, and a wave of emotion threatened to spill over. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to hope for the future, for redemption, and for the family he’d almost lost.

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