#lay request

You lean up against the doorframe, happily unnoticed for now, and listen to their quiet singing voices. Your daughter stumbles over her words and flushes brightly. She bows her head, drops her gaze, shuffles her feet and links her hands behind her back - the image startles you, the shy bashfulness so familiar it makes your heart squeeze. You draw your lower lip in and gnaw at it, throat tightening as you hug your arms around yourself.

Yixing laughs at her and presses a light kiss to her nose. “Baby, my baby,” he coos, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “You were doing so well.”

She twists side to side, still not lifting her gaze, and mumbles something quietly to him.

“Hmm?” he hums, fingers still curling softly around her ear. “That’s ok. That’s ok, my baby~” He stands, knees cracking, and notices you. Your eyes are wet, arms still tight around yourself, but you smile at him. He doesn’t say anything, just smiles back, soft and knowing, before he nudges your daughter gently with his knee and turns her attention to you. “Show mummy,” he says, prodding her forward whilst he turns to put your son in his cot.

And there it is again, that shy bashfulness, but this time there’s a childish, almost petulant pout to go along with it, and you let out a laugh, wiping at your eyes.

“I don’t wanna,” she says, twisting side to side again. She glances up at you shyly. “Daddy is better.”

He drops a hand to her head, laughing. “Shh, baby. You’re wonderful.” He ushers her off to bed and she scampers past you, giggling as she races down the hallway, knowing there’s a bedtime story in store for her.

“Hey,” you say softly, word croaking out of your throat.

He comes to stand in front of you and smiles, dimple evident. “Hi,” he breathes, reaching out to rub his thumbs under your eyes. His eyes widen when he accidentally bumps your nose with his palm.

“I need to sneeze now,” you tell him, laughing as you tip your head back.

He kisses you quickly and walks you back into the hallway. “No, no, no,” he whispers, closing the door behind him. “You can’t wake him, I’m sorry, please don’t sneeze.” His eyes are still wide, truly apologetic, and you wonder if your daughter will pick this trait up too.