Work Text:
"I don't know what to do Sky," Rain mutters, sitting cross legged on the floor next to the other Omega, and his daughter. Sky and Chaisee are both lying on their tummies, while the pup squeals in delight.
Sky tickles her chin, cooing at her as she squeals again and kicks her legs.
Rubbing his hand over his neck, Rain scratches over his scent gland. It itches– it oozes his pre heat scent and it's– it's annoying. It makes him jittery, which in turn makes his pup feel fuzzy and uncomfortable too. Rain nearly whines as he rubs his wrist over his scent gland harder. He doesn't want his heat. He can't have his heat. Not now.
"I can take care of her," Sky offers, pushing himself up and into a sitting position. "You reek, Rain. It's almost upon you."
It is. It's been four months since Chaisee was born and now his heat has returned. It should've come back sooner but his body apparently didn't want to work the way it should. But now it's here. Rain can feel the pre heat shivers underneath his skin, the warmth that threatens to take over, the need for his Alpha, the want in his chest.
"I know," Rain says. "But..."
Sky looks at him expectantly, but he's not annoyed, not suspicious like he usually would be, like he was in university whenever Rain was doubting something. No, this time, and loads of other times since they grew into real adults, this time Sky lets Rain take his time.
"But?" Sky asks.
The thing is... Rain doesn't want Sky looking after the pup. Don't get him wrong, he loves Sky! Sky is family, he's pack! But it feels– wrong.
Rain bites his lip and furrows his brows. How can he tell Sky without hurting him? Sky, his best friend. His closest confidant, his platonic soulmate.
They've been through so much together, so much. Why wouldn't he trust Sky with his pup?
Sky, who's been coming round his house so much. Anytime he had some spare time after work, Sky would come over to see Rain and his niece. It drove Phayu a little crazy sometimes, who wanted some time with Rain and his pup alone, but he also understood.
Sky would never be able to have his own pup. Not biologically at least.
"What do you want, Rain?" Sky asks, sounding soft and reassuring. "What do your instincts tell you?"
Rain knows what he wants. His instincts are screaming at him from the inside. They're screaming at him to not leave his pup alone, to never leave her side. To power through his heat and let it pass while staying with her. But Rain also knows that's not an option. He can feel his insides clenching together occasionally, craving his Alpha.
There's only one other thing Rain wants, someone else he wants to care for his pup.
"I want Saifah."
—
When Phayu had called Saifah to ask for a favor, Saifah had been ready to be a shithead and say no, just because he could. He’s in his thirties, not dead, mind you. He still messes with Phayu whenever he can, teasing his twin, annoying him. Just because they don’t live together anymore doesn’t mean their shenanigans between each other have stopped.
But then Phayu had cut his antics short and asked him the question Saifah had been waiting for, for months.
Taking care of his niece for a few days, just the two of them. Of course Saifah agreed, before even knowing the reason. He would have anyway, but the fact that Rain specifically wanted him to look after Chaisee, filled Saifah’s heart with love.
His little niece, the most adorable puppy to ever exist. Saifah couldn’t wait to spend all day with her.
Saifah was happy to oblige any and all requests they had for the care of their pup, however there was one request Saifah wouldn’t be able to oblige. Rain wanted the Alpha to stay home and look after the pup all day long, to not let her out of his sight, not even for a second. But unfortunately, duty calls and Saifah has to keep managing the garage, even more so when Phayu is not available to help run it.
So with some grumbling and bickering, Rain eventually agreed with the garage being a secondary location Saifah got to take Chaisee to.
“But no other places!” the Omega had warned him, teeth bared. “Just the garage.”
And because Rain is scary when he’s upset, Saifah gives him his word. More notably, he tells Phayu their old codeword, the one from their teen years that promises loyalty and prudence.
🌸
Driving with someone so precious in your car is– well for Saifah it’s a wild experience. It’s scary, knowing that anything could happen and that he can’t control other drivers’ behavior is terrifying. Saifah doesn’t understand how Phayu does it. He makes a mental note to take most of his and the pup’s stuff with him tomorrow so they can stay over in the crash pad for the rest of the week.
Heavy raindrops fall from the sky, landing on Saifah's shirt and darkening it as he steps out of the car and rounds it. With some difficulty, some growling and some curses almost slipping out of his mouth, Saifah finally gets the maxi cosi detached from the carseat. What a hassle, the Alpha thinks. It’s even worse in the rain. The back of his shirt is soaked from bending over, but the pup is protected by the visor of her maxi cosi, shielding her from the rain.
"Khun Saifah," Aon greets him with a wai, holding the door open for him. "Is that–" he starts, but cuts himself off quickly. "Welcome back, come in quickly," he ushers Saifah inside.
Nui, however, can't contain herself when she sees Saifah with the pup.
"Oh my goodness!" she squeals. "Ohhh is that her?! What a cutie!" She makes grabby hands as soon as Saifah takes her out of the maxi cosi and holds her to his chest. Saifah is quick to turn away from Nui, who takes the hint immediately. She wai’s in apology, but still coos at them.
“Oh just look at her,” she says, instantly smitten. “She’s a little K’Phayu!” She really is. It’s uncanny how much she looks like Phayu.
Saifah protects the pup by placing his hand softly over the back of her head. “She’s going to be joining us in the next few days,” he says, thumb carefully and sweetly caressing her soft hair. Chaisee tries to look around, wide eyes shifting from point to point before settling on Nui.
Nui coos again, eyebrows furrowing and lips forming a pout. “Oh K’Saifah,” she sighs enamored. “I don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate with this bundle of joy around,” she says, reaching out her hand when Chaisee makes a grabbing motion for her.
Saifah chuckles softly. Neither will he. How is he expected to work while his niece is only an arms length away from him at all times, looking as comfortable and cutely as she does?
“I know,” Saifah agrees. “It’s going to be difficult, but we’ll manage, won’t we, puppy?” The Alpha presses his lips to the pup’s forehead and kisses her softly. At the same time, he smells her thick baby scent, mixed with a hint of mist after a storm. It’s sweet, it’s warm, it’s nice. It’s her. Saifah instantly understands why Phayu has her in his arms so much, or why Rain can’t stop sniffing her, scenting her.
The pup gurgles softly, drool seeping from her mouth a little as she parts her lips to squeal. It’s a shrill and loud sound that pierces all of their eardrums but if that’s how Saifah goes deaf… well then so be it. He loves hearing her little voice, her squeals and her laugh. Carefully, he wipes away the little bit of drool dripping over her chin and tightens his grip on her.
"It's you and me for a few days, puppy," Saifah coos at Chaisee, caressing her cheek with the back of his pointer finger.
The pup gives him a cute gummy smile as she gurgles and wiggles in his hold. She's adorable. Saifah can't believe his twin made her. That she is his twin's offspring.
Saifah loves her already. So much and forever.
"You and me, and a whole bunch of paperwork."
The first day goes by fine. The pup is calm and collected. Saifah feeds her exactly the way Rain told him to, keeps himself to the schedule the Omega provided him with. He rocks her to sleep while he signs document after document containing private information.
Saifah can’t nearly believe his luck, how calm the pup is, how she sleeps so soundly even when there’s so much sound outside. He had half a mind to tell the mechanics to work as quietly as they could but– but that’s ridiculous. You can’t test an engine ‘quietly’.
But Chaisee does wonderfully. She only fusses once the entire day when she’s tired and Saifah was a little too engrossed in his paperwork. Nui keeps popping into his office with new excuses every time, saying she needs this for that client, or she needs those files for that one bike that was serviced a week ago and a client had questions, but Saifah thinks she just wants to sneak a peek at the pup.
He can’t blame her. Chaisee has only once been at the garage before, securely attached to Rain who came with Phayu after the Alpha had forced him out of the nest for the first time. While most of their employees had met the pup that day, Nui had been out sick and thus never seen the pup before today.
The fifth time Nui pops her head around the door to ‘ask something really important’, Saifah is sitting on the couch with the pup in his arms, gently rocking her to sleep.
“I know you want to see her,” he says, waving her over to them. “She’s about to go down for a nap, but come meet her.” The only reason Saifah allows it is because one, Saifah has the pup in his arms and nothing can happen to her, and two, Phayu trusts Nui, he knows her, knows she would never harm the pup.
“She’s so precious,” Nui coos softly, sitting down on the couch next to Saifah. Her eyes travel all over the pup, taking in every single detail: the cute little onesie covered in cartoon wolves she’s wearing, the soft patch of raven black hair on top of her head, the way her adorable little eyes keep falling shut until she eventually falls asleep.
“You must be a very proud uncle, Khun Saifah,” Nui comments.
He is. Saifah is very proud. He couldn’t be prouder of his brother and his mate for making such a precious little bean.
🌸
The second day, Chaisee is inconsolable. She cries and cries, nothing seems to calm her down, not even her plush teddy bear.
"Poor puppy," Saifah winces at a particularly loud cry. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, it'll be okay."
She doesn't need anything in particular. She's been fed, changed, had her nap an hour ago... What could she possibly need– other than her parents. She probably misses them. This is her first time without her parents for so long. Their scent must be fading from her system, making room for Saifah’s and everyone else’s scents.
Maybe it’s the overwhelming experience that’s troubling her? But how does he fix that? How can he make her calm down without– without being able to contact either Rain or Phayu?
What did Rain say he does when she's like this? When she’s inconsolable? Saifah digs through his brain, thinking back to the conversation they had before they left the pup with Saifah.
Something something comfort.... something something skin...
It's like a lightbulb lights up above his head and Saifah snaps his fingers together.
Skin to skin contact!
Oh but– he's at the garage. He's at work, he's… Oh to hell with it, Saifah thinks. The pup is more important. Moving from his desk to the couch, he unbuttons the top part of his coveralls and tugs his shirt over his head. If skin to skin contact is what she needs, then she’ll get it. Anything for his precious niece. Saifah can only hope his scent is comforting enough, that it’s enough like Phayu’s to settle her.
“Come here, puppy,” he says and lifts her from her crib. “It’ll be okay,” he hushes her. “Promise, yeah?” He settles them comfortably on the couch, placing her on his chest and pulling her fluffy blanket around her.
Her tiny hands claw themselves into the Alpha’s skin, clenching and unclenching constantly. The poor babe, she must be exhausted. She must miss her parents. Maybe there’s a piece of clothing Phayu left behind at the garage that he can get for her? Phayu is usually very thorough in his cleaning though, never leaving anything behind. But this time, Saifah hopes his twin was a little untidier than normally.
“Shhh,” he hushes the pup again, softly rubbing soothing circles over her back. “It’s okay, puppy.”
Chaisee cries for a little while longer before her cries turn into tiny hiccups and she eventually quiets down.
“There’s a good pup,” Saifah says with a soft smile. He did it. He did it. He got her to calm down. Pride flushes his chest. He did that. Him. She trusts him enough to settle down and now– now her adorable little eyes are drooping already, falling closed every few seconds as she rubs her cheek against Saifah’s chest.
Comfort washes over the Alpha, almost falling asleep himself. He’s glad the crying has finally stopped. It drove him crazy, hurt his head. The shrill sound of Chaisee crying her little lungs out simultaneously hurt his head and his heart.
But she’s calm now and that’s all that matters.
Sometime later, when Aon knocks on the door to ask Saifah about one of the cars he’s servicing, Aon sees that Saifah has fallen asleep with his hand holding the pup securely to his body.
Aon pities them both. They’ve all heard the pup crying all day, heard her screams and her fusses. He closes the door softly again and steps back. The information can wait a little while longer. It’s not top priority, so Aon decided to let his boss slumber.
🌸
The third day a client demands to talk to Saifah while he's in the middle of feeding Chaisee. When Nui quietly knocks on the door to let him know, Saifah refuses.
“Tell him I’ll be with him in twenty minutes, okay?” the Alpha says, tightening his grip on the bottle and gently angling it to give Chaisee better access to the milk. It should be weird, maybe not weird but just– a little weird, to feed the pup with milk that comes from Rain but it’s surprisingly normal. Like he’s done it so many times already. “I have to finish feeding her and then I can come help him after I put her to sleep.”
“Of course,” Nui nods and leaves them alone again.
Saifah hums softly, looking with a loving gaze at the pup. “What a sweetheart you are, huh?” he coos. “Such a good pup, yes you are!”
She makes these itty bitty grunting noises that Saifah can't get enough of, as if she can't get enough of it, greedily drinking from her bottle. She's halfway to finishing already, eyes constantly drooping as she's nestled comfortably in Saifah's arms on the couch, spout of her bottle firmly locked in her mouth.
"Such a good puppy," Saifah coos. He can't stop praising her. She's just– she's so– Saifah loves her.
He feels grateful to have been there when she was born, well, sort of been there. He feels grateful for Phayu, for Rain, for their bond, for their love because their love created this little angel, this bundle of joy.
"Best puppy in the entire world, that's who you are," Saifah coos again.
Chaisee lets out soft, content little sighs every so often, her little hands reaching up and resting on Saifah's hand holding the bottle.
"Mmmh, you want to hold the bottle, pup?" Saifah murmurs. "Here, we'll hold it together."
But before Saifah can so much as move, a knock on his office door interrupts them again.
"Khun Saifah," Nui says as she opens the door quietly. She bows her head to the floor, unable to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry, Khun, I really tried to make them wait, but the client insisted..."
Saifah sighs. "Is there no way he'll wait for another twenty minutes?"
"No, Khun," Nui says, shaking her head. "I fear he'll get upset and cause a scene." And they can't have that, not so close to a race, not when there's precious cargo stored away in the back of the garage.
"It's alright," Saifah sighs. Slowly and carefully so as not to disturb Chaisee, he gets up from the couch. "I'll come out to see him."
"But Khun, what about–" Nui starts, looking up at Saifah. "Surely you won't–" she continues, eyes shifting over to the pup in his arms, still happily and calmly drinking.
"I can't stop feeding her, she'll fall asleep right after, so she's coming with me." Holding the bottle to her lips, Saifah shifts the pup more comfortably in his arms, tightening his hold on her.
If there's one thing Saifah has discovered these past few days, it's that the pup loves to be held tightly, as tightly as is healthy for an infant of course. She’s just like Rain, who needs the comfort and the weight of a body when he’s upset or anxious.
Rain had needed Saifah once, when Phayu wasn’t available. Anxious out of his mind and alone, Rain had called Saifah, begging him to come over and just– help him, soothe him, calm him down. They’d cuddled nearly all day, on the couch first and later in the nest when the comfort level hadn’t been enough.
The Omega had needed his comfort, his warmth, needed to feel his weight to calm down from whatever was going on. He never actually told Saifah what had happened but it wasn’t important anyway.
Chaisee is much like her Papa, needing and enjoying physical touch.
So, will Saifah let her go while she’s feeding just because some client demands his attention? Absolutely not.
Nui holds the door open for him, letting him pass her before leading him to where the client is probably waiting. “He mentioned needing his engine checked immediately, as he’s going on vacation soon,” she informs Saifah, who dutifully follows her, still feeding the pup in his arms. “I gave him options for next week, even tried offering him the VIP appointments, but he refused, saying he wanted it done today, because ‘the owner has serviced my car before and he can do it quickly and efficiently, like he needs.’”
Saifah frowns. Demanding and spoiled.
“Alright, thank you, Nui. I’ll deal with him,” Saifah says as he sees the client standing outside, arms crossed over his chest and tapping his foot.
Nui wai’s politely, and it makes Saifah think about giving her a bonus, or a raise. She’s dealt with so many assholes and spoiled brats – she deserves a little extra.
“Ah, finally!” The man outside rolls his eyes. “I’ve been waiting here for too long already. Are you the manager here? Let me tell you a little something about customer service and–” but he falls silent when his eyes fall on the pup, still drinking from her bottle happily and without any care in the world.
She makes the cutest little suckling noises that keep Saifah calm and collected in the face of this asshole.
“Yes,” Saifah says, collected. “I am the manager, and as you can see I’m busy.”
The man can’t be older than Saifah himself, is probably a lot younger actually. He looks the epitome of ‘showing off with daddy’s money’ with a gold chain around his neck, his designer clothes and the gold signet ring around his pinky finger.
However calm Saifah tries to remain, the man is getting on his nerves. It’s always the spoiled brats flaunting daddy’s money that cause a scene, throw a tantrum and demand to be serviced no matter what.
“No– but– last time,” the man suddenly stutters. “Last time someone else–”
“Serviced your car? Helped you out when you came in?” Saifah can feel his patience slipping. “I believe that was my brother, co-owner of Liberty Walk,” he comments, a little less customer friendly than he should.
He really, really, doesn’t want to be here right now. Saifah wants to be back on the couch, have his focus fully on Chaisee, drown in her adorable suckling noises and content sighs. But leaving his employees to deal with a difficult client like this is not an option.
“Now, tell me what is so important that needs my attention right now and can’t wait for another twenty minutes,” Saifah says, looking down at Chaisee to not have to look at this brat in front of him anymore.
Chaisee however, doesn’t seem bothered by the situation at all. Unfortunately, her eyes have opened fully again, probably having woken up by the multiple voices surrounding her.
“I-I–” the man stutters, scratching behind his ear. “I need my engine checked?” he finishes his sentence with a question. “As soon as possible…”
The audacity of the man still demanding Saifah’s services as soon as possible makes the Alpha look up in annoyance. “You think your engine is more important than my pup being fed?” The growl slips out before he can stop himself and Saifah cringes a little inside, but he also really isn’t amused by this man’s attitude.
“No! No, of course it isn’t!” The man holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he says and bows in front of Saifah. “Take all the time you need, I can wait.”
Good. And wait he will.
“Like my receptionist told you before, I’ll be with you when I’m available.” and with that, Saifah turns around to walk back to his office.
He’s annoyed, he’s angry, he feels worked up, but as soon as the door to his office closes, and the sounds from outside are muffled, Chaisee’s little suckling noises calm him down.
“Look at you, sweetheart,” Saifah says, lowering himself onto the couch again and removing the now empty bottle from her mouth. “You finished your whole bottle!” Even with Saifah being distracted like he was, she still kept on feeding, like nothing was going on. “What a trooper you are, puppy.”
Nothing is more important than the pup in his arms, not the garage, not the clients. Nothing.
🌸
On the fourth day, Saifah receives a call from Phayu.
It’s a slow day at the garage. There’s very little to do and Saifah doesn’t mind one bit. It only means he can spend most of his day sitting with the pup, cuddling her and spending time with her.
When Phayu calls, they’re sitting on the floor, Chaisee on Saifah’s lap as she plays with one of Phayu’s mechanics uniforms that Saifah finally found this morning. As soon as he’d found it, he’d tried to keep his own scent away from the fabric as much as he could. Chaisee deserves her father’s scent surrounding her, she doesn’t need Saifah’s.
"Saifah," Phayu says, and he sounds tired, he sounds exhausted. "Fah, how are you, how is she?"
Saifah snorts. Ever the worried parent, his twin. "She's fine, brother." Because she is. She's more than fine. Phayu shouldn't have to worry about his pup when he doesn't have time. "How are you? With– with as little detail as possible, please."
It prompts a breathy laugh from the Alpha. "Fine. We're fine."
Saifah loves his brother and he loves his brother's mate, but he really, really doesn't need to know about their personal business.
"I know I said four days," Phayu starts. "But Rain is– he's– he needs–"
"It's okay, Yu," Saifah cuts him short. "Take your time, take care of your mate. Me and puppy are having so much fun, you wouldn't believe it." He can practically see the purse of Phayu's lips and the furrow of his brows through the phone.
"Hey," Saifah says soothingly, trying to placate the unhappy mood he can practically feel through the phone. "Look, it's only for another day or more if you need it, if Rain needs it. It'll be fine, I promise." And because he knows it's what Phayu needs to hear to settle down he adds; "No one's touched her, she's safe with me, promise."
It's silent on the other side of the line for a little while, no doubt Phayu contemplating strategies and worries.
"Okay," he eventually says. "Okay, I'll let you know as soon as possible."
"Of course, Yu," Saifah reassures him again. "You take care of Rain and I'll take care of my most precious family member."
“I miss her,” comes Phayu’s voice quietly. “So much.”
It must be hard for them, for both Phayu and Rain. The past four months, they’ve been together constantly, only parting when Phayu has to work and even that he chose to do from home more often than not.
Saifah smiles softly. “I know, Yu, but you’ll have her back soon.”
“I know, I know,” Phayu sighs. “Alright, well, I have to go,” he says after a little while. “Take care of my pup, Fah.”
“Always, Yu. Always.” With that, Saifah hangs up and puts his phone away.
Suddenly, as if it took her a while to realize, Chaisee perks up from Saifah’s lap. She tries to turn around and looks up to him with wide eyes. Then, her eyes shift through the room, clearly looking for something, looking for Phayu probably.
“Uhuuhh,” she babbles.
When she doesn’t find him, her chin starts quivering and tears form in her little eyes.
“Oh puppy, come here,” Saifah hushes her as he lifts her from his lap and into his arms. “It’s only for a few more days, sweetheart,” he says and holds her against his chest. Rubbing soft and soothing circles on her little back, Chaisee sniffles and whines softly.
“I know, I know puppy,” the Alpha says, gently rocking side to side. “It’ll be okay.”
🌸
On the fifth day, Saifah has to work on a car. He can't avoid it any longer, can't push it back, but Chaisee's been crying all morning. She once again refuses to settle down, only when she's in Saifah's arms, cuddled up to his chest.
So Saifah does the only thing he can come up with, and straps her to his chest underneath his coveralls.
"Come on, puppy," he says as he zips up the coveralls. "We're going on a little adventure." Chaisee still sniffles a little, releasing soft hiccups as she finally, finally calms down again. She looks around the room with big, teary eyes before she bumps her head against Saifah's chest again.
The Alpha coos as the pup rubs her cheek against his exposed skin. It took him a little while to understand what it is she's doing and why she does it, but once the quarter dropped, Saifah couldn't stop his heart from melting and tears from welling up in his eyes.
Scenting. The pup is scenting him, taking in as much of the Alpha's scent as she can and douse herself in it. It's a loving gesture, of comfort and trust.
As young as she is, as tiny a babe as she is at four months, Saifah has very strong suspicions about her second gender.
“Ohhh, look at us,” he coos as he walks up to a mirror, standing in front of it. “We are adorable,” he says. Her raven hair sticks out of the coveralls, pointing in all directions while she snoozes against his chest
Getting his phone from his pocket, Saifah opens the camera and quickly snaps a picture of the two of them together, and then another one, another one, and then one from above, aiming at her little face resting against his chest.
“Gosh you’re the cutest little pup ever,” Saifah says for what he thinks is the thousandth time. “Your Dada will be mad at me for taking you with me to work, but needs must, sweetheart. Let's go work on a car.”
He might not be able to do all of the tasks he needs to do, like the ones that require him to check underneath the car, but it’ll be fine. He’ll have others do that.
It’s a little clumsy and difficult to navigate. It’s scary too, Saifah constantly thinks the pup is slipping from his hold, but she can’t. She’s snug as a bug against his chest.
Together they do a bunch of work. She wakes up only once, at the sound of an engine being tested, but she doesn’t cry. Not a single tear. She laughs. High pitched and shrill sounding.
Interesting.
However, she’s a hit with the female customers as they linger around Saifah for much longer than they usually do, cooing at the pup but respectfully staying a safe distance away from her. Her sweet baby scent mixed with the mist after a storm fills up the whole garage, nearly over taking the smell of oil and leather.
Saifah knows that baby’s scents are strong, even stronger when they’re comfortable so… that must mean she’s comfortable, right? God, he hopes she is. After the morning they had… he’s glad she’s at least not crying anymore.
🌸
On the sixth day, Saifah receives a call very, very early on in the morning, startling him out of bed and eyes shooting in the direction of where Chaisee is in her crib. Luckily, she’s still sleeping soundly.
The Alpha groans as his phone rings a second time. Who the hell has the guts to call him at – Saifah peeks at the alarm clock next to the bed – 6:45AM?
Rain. Rain is calling him. It’s not just a normal call, the Omega is facetiming him.
“My favorite brother in law,” Saifah greets Rain as he answers the call. “Glad to know you’re still alive, but couldn’t you have given me a little more sleep?”
“P’Fah,” Rain nearly squeaks, looking more awake than he should be on this early morning. “How’s she been? Is she okay?”
“Good morning to you too, Rainy boy,” Saifah continues as he gets up from the floor. Someone’s definitely gotten all his energy back and it’s not Saifah.
“P’Saifah,” Rain nearly growls. “Show me my daughter.”
“Yes, yes, impatient one, here look.” The Alpha walks over to the crib and flips the camera, showing the still sleeping pup and the teddy bear sitting in the corner dressed in Phayu’s mechanic coveralls. “She’s fine, she’s asleep, yes, she’s still breathing,” Saifah answers all of the questions he can see forming on Rain’s face.
“I’m coming to pick her up right now,” Rain says as the camera shows him getting up from bed. The movement causes Saifah to catch a glimpse of Phayu on the bed, also still sleeping. Like father, like daughter. “Give me like, half an hour? I’ll be there, okay?”
“Take your time, Rain,” Saifah comments. “Why don’t you wake up Phayu first and take your time going out and about again.” But Rain doesn’t listen to him, he usually doesn’t when he’s got a goal in mind.
“No,” the Omega says steadfastly. “I’m–
“On your way, got it,” Saifah flips the camera again, showing himself. The Alpha swears to god he hears Rain whine when the picture changes from the pup to him, but it’ll have to do for now. “I’ll get her up and feed her, drive safe.”
“Twenty minutes and I’ll be there,” Rain says in a rush, putting his phone down. The rustling coming from his side of the connection indicates the Omega getting dressed.
“Oh and Rain,” Saifah tries to get the Omega’s attention before he forgets that he’s still on a call. “Don’t forget to wake up Phayu.” Saifah hears the Omega curse and footsteps fading in the background. “Language,” he teases, smirking at the screen.
Picking up his phone again and appearing in front of the camera again, Rain glares at him. “Shut up,” he grumbles, rolling his eyes. “Seriously, I’m on my way.” And there he goes, hanging up and leaving Saifah alone with the pup again.
In reality, it takes Rain almost forty minutes to arrive at the garage. Saifah comes walking out of the lobby when he hears the familiar rumble of Rain’s BMW pulling up. The Omega jumps out of his car, slamming the door shut and rushing to where Saifah is standing, with Phayu following closely behind.
"Oh my sweet pup," Rain coos as he comes to a stop in front of Saifah. "Oh baby, puppy, Chaisee I missed you so much." The Alpha readily hands over the pup to Rain when his arms reach out for her. Rain looks good. A lot better than he did at the beginning of the week. He looks taken care of.
“Thank you, Fah,” Phayu says, placing a hand on Saifah’s shoulder. “Really, thank you.”
Saifah smiles. “Anytime, brother. Anytime.”
“How did she do?” Phayu asks, stepping closer to Rain who has the pup in his arms and kisses all over her little face, nuzzling his nose over her cheeks and pressing their noses together. Soft and sweet purrs come from the Omega, his scent sweetening sickeningly.
“Wonderful,” Saifah said. “She did amazing, she’s amazing,” he continues. Phayu gazes at him with a look akin to pride. “There were a few hiccups along the way, not wanting to sleep, missing you guys, unable to settle down, but we got there in the end.”
In all honesty, Saifah thought it’d be harder, looking after a newborn pup. Yes, it was challenging, trying to navigate feeding times around appointments with his clients, getting her to sleep when she’s wide awake at 11PM in the evening, waking up at ungodly hours because apparently Chaisee thinks 5AM is an appropriate time to wake up and start making sounds, but it was all worth it. It was all worth it to see her happy smile and hear her contagious laugh.
“Me and puppy had a great time together,” the Alpha says. “It’s not long before we can employ her!” he jokes. “She seems to love the sound of engines rumbling.”
Phayu glares at him for a second. “Saifah Chantara,” he nearly growls as his voice deepens. The slightest hint of his fangs can be seen through his pulled up lips. “Did you work on cars with my daughter near you?” The hand that’s still on Saifah’s shoulder digs in harder, almost painfully so.
“Calm down, Yu,” Saifah says calmly, prying the fingers from his skin. “She was strapped to my chest and very much safe.”
Phayu looks at him with his brows pulled tightly together. But before he can so much as open his mouth, Rain interrupts them.
“Want to go home, Phi,” the Omega says, still nuzzling the pup’s hair. “Want the nest.”
Whatever emotions Phayu feels at that moment seem to fall away at the mention of their nest. His expression softens, and he steps impossibly closer to Rain, almost as if he wants to crawl inside him. Simp, Saifah thinks. There’s nothing left of his big, bad older brother, who secretly has always wanted a big family.
“We’ll go home,” Phayu agrees. “Let me get her stuff and we’ll go.” With that, Phayu disappears up the stairs into the crash pad.
Meanwhile, Rain gently rocks the pup in his arms, humming quietly and purring every few seconds. “Papa’s missed you so much, sweetheart,” he murmurs with closed eyes. “Never going to let go of you again, ever.” Chaisee chirps in contentment, rubbing her cheek against Rain in a way Saifah now understands instantly.
They make for a beautiful image, father and daughter, enjoying each other's presence. Saifah can’t resist pulling his phone out of his pocket and snapping a picture. He’ll send it to Phayu in a little bit, after they’ve gone home and Saifah has gotten some rest because damn looking after a baby is exhausting. The Alpha feels like he could sleep for days on end.
But again, it was absolutely worth it and he’d do it all over again if he has to.
Saifah loves his family, his ever growing family.