#mongryong

“oh my god,” you gasp, immediately crouching down, arms outstretched like you’ve been waiting your whole life for this moment. “hi, baby! who is this handsome little guy?”

mongryong doesn’t hesitate to jump into your lap, licking at your fingers, your wrists, anywhere he can reach. you giggle, running your hands through his soft fur, completely enchanted. “you’re the cutest thing i’ve ever seen,” you coo, scratching behind his ears as he nuzzles into your touch.

baekhyun, standing behind you, clears his throat. loudly. obnoxiously.

you don’t even look up.

“so this is what betrayal feels like,” he mutters, crossing his arms over his chest.

still, you don’t acknowledge him. you’re too busy letting mongryong lick your cheek, melting at the tiny excited noises he makes.

baekhyun scoffs. “are you kidding me? i invite you over to introduce you to my son, and you forget i exist?”

you finally look at him, blinking innocently. “oh, were you saying something?”

his jaw drops. “are you being forreal right now?”

mongryong lets out a little yip, almost like he’s laughing at baekhyun, which only makes you giggle more. you hold his tiny face in your hands and pepper kisses all over his forehead. “sorry, b, i’ve made my choice. it was nice knowing you.”

baekhyun groans, dragging a hand down his face. “i brought mongryong into this world, and now he’s stealing the love of my life.”

“seems like a skill issue,” you tease, finally standing up with mongryong still cradled in your arms.

baekhyun glares. “i hope he sheds all over your clothes.”

“worth it,” you hum, pressing another kiss to mongryong’s fluffy head while baekhyun watches, utterly defeated.

the rest of the day is war.

baekhyun starts off subtle. or at least, what he thinks is subtle.

you’re settled on the couch, legs tucked comfortably beneath you, scrolling through your phone with mongryong curled up in your lap like a tiny, fluffy king. baekhyun “accidentally” bumps into you as he plops down beside you, stretching so dramatically that it looks more like a performance than a casual movement.

his arm just so happens to land over your shoulders.

he exhales loudly, head tilting back like he’s carrying the weight of the world. “wow,” he sighs, voice rich with manufactured exhaustion. “i’m just so tired.”

he sneaks a glance at you from the corner of his eye, waiting for some kind of reaction. any reaction.

you hum—barely—still scratching behind mongryong’s ears, completely absorbed in your screen.

baekhyun’s eye twitches.

round one: unsuccessful.

his next attempt? food.

he marches into the room with a plate of neatly cut fruit, holding it up like he’s a divine provider, a generous god bestowing gifts upon his most precious disciple.

“babe,” he sings, stepping in front of you, blocking your view of mongryong like some kind of desperate human eclipse. he waves a strawberry in front of your face, tone dripping with sugary temptation. “open wide.”

you glance up for half a second, pluck the strawberry from his fingers, and pop it into your mouth without ceremony.

“thanks, babe,” you mumble, chewing, before immediately turning your attention back to the tiny ball of fluff in your lap.

baekhyun stares at you. that’s it?

his lips part. “what about me?” he demands, voice full of the betrayal of a man scorned. “you’re supposed to feed me too.”

without even looking away from mongryong, you reach for another strawberry and offer it to him blindly.

baekhyun blinks. he accepts the fruit in stunned silence, placing it in his mouth, but it tastes bitter.

round two: complete and utter failure.

by midday, he’s desperate.

he creeps up next to you on the couch, too close, his thigh pressing insistently against yours. the air shifts as he leans in, radiating heat, his presence demanding to be noticed. but you? you’re unfazed, still cradling mongryong in your lap, fingers idly scratching behind his ears like baekhyun isn’t suffering beside you.

he clears his throat. “hey.”

you hum, barely acknowledging him.

“hey,” he tries again, nudging your leg. “hey.”

you exhale a slow, amused breath. “what?”

his lips ghost along the shell of your ear as he lowers his voice to a husky whisper, words dripping with mischief.

“i’m not wearing any underwear.”

he pulls back slightly, waiting—no, anticipating—your reaction, the scandalized gasp, the flustered glance, the way you might finally look at him.

instead, you snort. “okay? good for you.”

and then, as if to drive the humiliation deeper, mongryong sneezes.

baekhyun gapes.

a sneeze? a sneeze gets more of a reaction than his most devious, shameless confession?!

he stares at mongryong, betrayal etched across his features. the fluffy traitor snuggles closer to you, completely unbothered, while baekhyun sits there, shattered.

round three: humiliating defeat.

by the time evening rolls around, baekhyun has reached his limit.

you’re sprawled on the couch, warm and content, with mongryong curled up on your chest like a tiny, fluffy prince. the soft rhythm of his breathing rises and falls against you, a gentle weight that makes you sink even deeper into the cushions. and then—

a shadow looms.

baekhyun stands over you, arms crossed, his silhouette cutting sharply against the golden glow of the living room light. his lips press into a firm line, his gaze flicking between you and mongryong, who—completely oblivious to the brewing storm—nestles closer into your embrace.

“alright, that’s it,” baekhyun declares, voice thick with exasperation. “hand him over.”

you blink up at him, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “who?”

his eye twitches. “you know who.”

with the precision of a man on a rescue mission, he reaches down, fingers just brushing against mongryong’s tiny body—only for the little traitor to burrow deeper against you, whining in protest.

baekhyun recoils, clutching his chest like he’s just been stabbed. “you’re turning him against me.”

you fight back a smirk. “i didn’t do anything.”

his arms flail. “exactly! that’s the problem!”

before you can respond, he collapses onto you, draping himself over your body with all the grace of a man who has truly lost it. the weight of him presses mongryong between you, and the pup lets out a soft huff of displeasure, but baekhyun doesn’t care—he's too busy whining into your shoulder.

“baby, please,” he muffles against your skin, dragging out the last syllable in pure agony. “i need love too.”

you laugh, the sound vibrating through both of them. finally, finally, you give in, threading your fingers through his hair, nails scratching lightly at his scalp.

“you’re so needy,” you tease.

he perks up instantly, lifting his head just enough to flash you a triumphant grin. “you finally noticed!”

you roll your eyes, but the fondness in your touch betrays you. with a sigh, you pull him closer, letting him tuck himself against your neck, his breath warm against your skin. mongryong wiggles between you, but ultimately, he stays put, resigned to sharing.

baekhyun smirks against your throat. “guess i won.”

without hesitation, you flick his forehead.

“shut up.”

he grins, but there's a softness to it now, something quieter, something full. his arms tighten around you, a content hum vibrating against your skin.

“love you,” he murmurs, and just like that, the fight is over—not that it ever really was one.

you sigh, exasperated but helpless against the warmth blooming in your chest. your fingers slip back into his hair, slow and indulgent.

“yeah, yeah,” you mutter, pressing a lazy kiss to his temple. “love you too, you big baby.”