Chapter Text
Jongdae walks to his place, following Baekhyun’s magic. He doesn't know why he is at home when he clearly transported him with the elders, but he has a pretty good idea.
“I'm home, Baek” he places his bag full of flowers at the entrance, taking off his dragon cape, ready to throw it at one of the mismatched chairs.
“What are those disrespectful ways of calling your mate, young man?” the voice of Junmyeon comes from the kitchen, as well as the smell of recently baked berry pie, which is weird, since Jongdae doesn't remember having all the ingredients for that recipe.
“What-? No, I-”
“Leave the kid in peace, Myeonnie” Yixing comes to his rescue, as always. He's bringing with him a pot of water, probably ready for being put at the fire and prepare some tea (Yixing prepares the most delicious mixes in the world. “He just arrived, right?” Jongdae nods and gives back the smile the Chinese healer is offering him. “Hey, Dae”
“Hey” he greets back, giving him a hug. It's been a few weeks since they last saw each other, and it's good to have them back at home (they don't leave far from them, but life is busy and they usually don't have much time to visit each other, though Jongdae always calls them using magic).
“Where's Baekhyun?” Junmyeon rolls his eyes.
“Good day to you too, Jongdae. It's nice to see you” Jongdae has the decency to blush.
“Sorry” he walks to Junmyeon and hugs him too “Thanks for coming, dad” he smiles and Junmyeon smiles too. “You didn't need to cook anything, I was going to prepare breakfast as soon as I arrived-”
“It's fine, herb picking is tiring” Junmyeon justifies himself.
“You know he likes to cook, Dae” Yixing adds, because in reality Junmyeon loves to spoil his child, either cooking or bringing him some stuff, sometimes clothes he purchased or made, sometimes something for their house that he found somewhere. “Or organizing stuff” Jongdae frowns this time.
It's not that he doesn't like Junmyeon and Yixing visiting them, he loves to have them with him and his boyfriend, but Junmyeon always makes himself too much at home, and finds it as his duty to organize everything in their cupboards. He's thankful for it, but then he can never find anything.
“Did you-?” the younger potionist stares at his dad, who looks like a deer caught in the headlights. He nods and smiles apologetically. Jongdae sighs. “It's fine, it's fine. Thanks, dad”
“You know I can't stand-”
“Yes, yes. Sorry about my messy cupboard. It's hard to find time to order when all I do is prepare potions. Thanks again, I'll try to keep it more organized” everyone in that room knows that is a lie. Jongdae is messy, but somehow he's able to find all his stuff among his mess. His work system allows him to put his bottles and labels all over the cupboard and still be efficient.
“Hyung, the breakfast is ready!” Baekhyun’s voice is inviting and warm. Jongdae stares at the point his boyfriend is coming from, wearing one of the aprons he uses for chores (why his white apron never looks dirty, he wonders).
“You cooked, hyung?” the look in Jongdae softens nos Junmyeon and Yixing can't do anything but smile.
“I helped, your dad was the one who cooked” Junmyeon and Yixing don't care that he doesn't call them something related to father or father in law when talking directly to them, Baekhyun has always been somehow different.
“He's a really good assistant” Junmyeon compliments, but Baekhyun dismisses him with a hand gesture.
“You're just a really good chef, hyung. Even I can cook under your command” he winks at Jongdae’s direction, playfully. “Just let me set the table and we're all done”
“What a sweetheart” Yixing is very proud of Jongdae for getting himself such a wonderful lover. “Let me help you with the dishes and some tea”
The potion maker listens to his family chatting about different topics. Baekhyun told him about mushrooms in the forest and Yixing tells him about his medicinal properties. Junmyeon asks him if he was able to find poison ivy, and how much he would like to have some in his garden, Baekhyun compromises himself to bring some in their next trip to the forest.
“Do you want me to pick up your plate, Xing?” he never got used to call Yixing ‘father’, it sounded too formal for him, and to be honest, the Chinese man doesn't care. “Or do you want some more pie?”
“Yes, please” his dimple shows when he smiles.
The conversation keeps going as he walks to the kitchen, Jongdae is not someone who likes to talk, not even with his family, he's more comfortable listening and talking when a question is directly asked to him.
“Dae, can you please bring me some more tea, too?” Baekhyun grounds him, anchoring to Earth.
“Yes, hyung” Baekhyun can practically hear his smile and thankfulness for taking off the pressure of talking.
Junmyeon and Yixing leave their house with a spell, with Jongdae and Baekhyun waving them goodbye at the door.
“There's enough food for the rest of the week” Baekhyun inquires, amused.
“I know, sorry” Jongdae sounds slightly frustrated.
“Don't apologize. Your parents love you, it's their love language” Baekhyun kisses his hand, before guiding him inside their hut.
“Like the cupboard-” Jongdae regrets, and Baekhyun laughs.
“We tried to stop your dad” Yixing should have tried to help too, but a lot of years living with Junmyeon had taught him it's better not to get in his way.
“I know, he never listens”
“Do you want me to help you reorganize your containers?” Jongdae hugs him and hides his face in his chest.
“Tomorrow” Baekhyun smiles and nods.
“Tomorrow then” he knows that it won't happen and Jongdae will complain for the next few days that he can't find anything. “Let's go get some rest, babe”