sugar babysitter ➟ muke

one

a/n hi, michael's to the top/side. so basically early 2014 michael in this fanfic :-)

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"michael, just because you put your two weeks' notice in, doesn't mean you can slack off now!" michael's shitty manager snapped from behind him, making him wince silently before sliding his phone into the front pocket of his black skinny jeans. dammit, he got caught for being on his phone yet again.

"i'm sorry, ma'am, but the store's completely empty and we close in five minutes, so what's the difference?" michael asked, turning around to meet the stone cold blue eyes of the lady that stood there, tilting his head to one side innocently and pushing his lower lip out in a pout, attempting to get out of this situation like he would with any other by charming her.

"i see a man coming in, so go help him while i go tidy up the aisles," she scowled at him, running some fingers through her greying hair before walking off. michael dramatically sighed to himself before walking around the counter he was standing behind, resisting the urge to take a cookie as his feet carried him to the front entrance. his bakery section of the store was closest to the entrance, so michael usually had to greet people.

he worked in a supermarket called 'aesthetic market,' where one could shop for groceries and also go to the deli or bakery. it was like your typical shoprite or publix, but kind of put together to create a supermarket.

"hi, welcome to the aesthetic market, can i help you with anything?" michael was asking before his green eyes settled on the customer, who was balancing two giggly children in his arms. he felt his jaw nearly hit the floor when his eyes locked with a beautiful pair of navy blue ones that bore into his for a brief moment before directing his attention back to the two struggling kids in his arms.

"can you just show me to the vitamins?" he asked, his voice sounding so smooth yet rough in michael's ears. michael blinked before nodding, watching as the blond let go of the little boy to set him on the floor and then grasping his hand. the little girl was still wrapped around his torso with his arm supporting her rear, and michael had to admit that both kids were beautiful.

"so, are you from australia?" the blond man was suddenly asking as he followed michael to the supplements aisle, causing michael to turn around to face him with a confused expression, "oh, sorry, it's just that i heard that accent of yours and couldn't help but become curious."

"yeah, but i moved here when i was fourteen," michael replied, offering the man a smile before he went down the supplements aisle, "um, is there any specific vitamins you're looking for?"

the blond hummed before setting the girl down on the floor so that he could pull out his cell phone from the front pocket of his -very tight- black jeans, his tongue slightly sticking out in concentration as he went to an app on the phone, "mhm, but i forget the name; i have to check."

the little girl and boy kept staring up at michael, and he stared right back awkwardly. he was never really good with kids and he knew that they were probably wondering about his hair, because it was looking unnaturally fluffy today.

"oh, here it is," the man finally spoke up, holding his phone out to michael and then frowning when he realised that his kids were staring at michael, "matt, mazie, quit your staring; that's rude. where are the manners mummy taught you?"

"you're married?" michael couldn't help but ask as the little girl outstretched her hands towards her father, asking to be picked up. the man sighed before bending down to pick her up, letting her wrap her limbs around his torso before supporting her bottom again.

"hm, no. my wife passed away two years ago when these munchkins were only three," he smiled sadly for a second before glancing to the vitamins michael had found and was holding out towards him along with his phone hopefully. the man reached out to accept them, and his light blue eyes scanned michael's name tag as he did so, "thanks, michael. isn't there a bakery over there? can you help me pick out cookies?"

"of course i can," michael smiled toothily, having always loved the bakery most about the store. he didn't like that he had to quit, but the management was always up his butt and always had to criticise him about everything he did. that kind of negativity was what michael wanted to distance himself from.

"daddy, look!" the little boy, matt, exclaimed, jabbing his small finger at the glass case containing some small cakes. michael smiled as he slipped behind the counter of the bakery section, meeting the warm eyes of the blond customer before the man was glancing down at his son.

"what're your favourite kind of cookies, michael?" the man asked, leaning back to glance at the displays in the glass counter michael was leaning against.

"the ones he's pointing at," michael admitted when he noticed the little boy gesturing towards the chocolate cookies, making the five year old named matt grin widely. the man chuckled to himself before picking up a box full of the chocolate cookies, balancing the vitamins on top before bouncing the little girl in his hold.

"i can ring those up for you," michael offered, rushing to get around the counter and walk towards the cash register. the man just chuckled at the bounce in michael's steps and the excitement in michael's voice before taking matt's hand and following the teenager towards the cash register.

michael stood behind the cash register as the blond placed his two items on the conveyor belt, setting the little girl down on the floor so that he could pull out his wallet from the front pocket of his black skinny jeans. michael pulled up the total (twelve dollars and fifty four cents) after scanning both items, then the blond was pulling out two twenties and a ten, extending his arm towards michael.

with a small smile, michael accepted the money and began to figure out the change, but then the man was saying, "keep the change for yourself, michael," as he shoved the items into one of the plastic bags resting on the counter.

"o-oh, thank you," michael replied with a surprised tone of voice, offering the two kids a smile as he got himself the change. he watched the man walk off with his two kids, somehow managing to hold both of them and the bag with his vitamins and cookies.

and all michael could think about was how hot that single dad had been.