Work Text:
★
It wasn't something particularly deep.
Nor was it something Eugene actually thought about before saying.
It was just a random, unusual thought that crossed the redhead's mind, and he uttered it before he could truly process it.
Let's give some context first, shall we?
They were in the kitchen. All of them. Of course, six of them were mere helpers. Moondae is the only one who can cook decently, without culinary crimes or losing a finger. But that is just a small detail.
And in the kitchen, they found themselves making American pancakes, at Eugene's request. The entire process had been chaotic—from the ingredients that needed to be gathered to the batter that needed to be made. Ahyeon had dropped an egg, Raebin had let the bag of flour fall and got everyone dirty with flour, Eugene had nearly added enough sugar to the batter to give the entire TeSTAR diabetes, among other mishaps...
Fortunately, Moondae was relatively more patient today, so he would overlooked the clumsy cooking mistakes of his inept bandmates. When the batter was finally ready after much struggle, the main vocalist began pouring some batter into the pan to make the pancakes. When he takes control and monopolizes the stove to prevent further accidents, everything almost calms down.
Almost.
If it weren't for Eugene and Raebin, who started arguing about their previous cooking mistakes while Moondae just struggled to fry the pancakes. Sejin held back a laugh, and the older Sejin sighed and shook his head. Chungwoo and Ahyeon tried to separate the younger ones who persisted in their teasing; they promised they tried.
They tried, but failed.
Eugene and Raebin continued their argument, which had become more like Eugene enjoying teasing Raebin, who didn't realize Eugene was just deliberately making fun of him.
Raebin tried to run after the redhead, who in one swift move grabbed Chungwoo as a human shield and dragged him along until he reached Moondae, stealthily grabbing the spatula the blond was about to use to flip the pancakes in the pan. Eugene pointed the spatula at the other maknae as if wielding a sword.
"I have a spatula, and I am not afraid to use it!"
He roared fearlessly, swinging his ''sword" like a knight ready to attack. Raebin stared at him in disbelief, telling him to stop playing with kitchen utensils and disturbing the hyungs. Moondae turned with a sigh to face the spatula knight with a weary expression.
"Please give me back the spatula. The pancakes will burn like this."
He said calmly with his usual impassive face. Eugene didn't flinch in the slightest.
"Hyung! I need to defend myself! Raebin is being a meanie to me, he wants to attack me!"
Moondae glared at him.
He wasn't paid enough for this. He didn't have enough patience for this.
"Eugene, come on, stop it."
"Tell Raebin to stop first, then!"
"I am not even doing anything! You are the one who keeps teasing me!"
And the pancakes continued to fry. They threatened to burn if they weren't flipped.
And since Eugene was being especially petulant today, it seemed Moondae wouldn't succeed in retrieving the spatula. Well, he still needed to flip the pancakes.
Without much thought, Moondae reached into the circular batter being fried and flipped it with his bare fingers. Right on time. The pancakes were cooked perfectly.
The act made Eugene fall silent. The red-haired maknae stared at the main vocalist's hand. And then at the frying pan. And then at the blond's hand. At the frying pan. At the hand. At the frying pan. Hand. Frying pan. Hand. Frying pan.
And it was at that random moment that the even more random thought crossed Cha Eugene's mind. Something he hadn't really registered before saying, but which made so much sense in that second that he blurted it out as if it were the truest truth of his life.
"Wow! Moondae-hyung has mom hands!"
Silence.
Eugene excitedly pointed to the scene that led to his statement. While he marveled at his new discovery, the rest of the group absorbed the information. Moondae narrowed his eyes.
"How...did you come to that conclusion?"
That is the only thing that came out.
Eugene puffed out his chest, happy to be able to share an explanation. Man, it made so much sense. He promised it did.
"It's just that Moondae-hyung can flip pancakes with just his bare hands. And I have only ever seen mothers do that because they have a special kind of stamina! It's always something mothers can do after years of feeding their kids. Isn't that cool?~"
Silence again.
And then, laughter.
Lots and lots of laughter.
Eugene looked at the five laughing men in confusion. 'Why are you guys laughing at my amazing reasoning?'
Moondae looked at the redhead in confusion.'Why the hell did you say that? Mom hands, seriously?'
"BWAHAHAHAHA! Moondaemoondae is a mother hen feeding her chicks!"
Even Ahyeon and Sejin-hyung couldn't help but laugh. Moondae shot them betrayed looks. "Even you two? Traitors!"
Raebin's earlier frustration vanished. He chuckled softly.
Chungwoo shook his head. It was ridiculous. But, right, it made sense.
"Moondae is our mom, how cute."
"Momdaeeeee! I am hungry!"
"Please feed us with your...pff...mom hands, hahahaha!"
Moondae sighed.
He definitely, definitely, wasn't paid enough to put up with this.
Wait.
What is that smell...?
Oh no.
"The pancakes!"