Qifrey x F!reader Modern AU
Qifrey and Olruggio run a daycare center and you’re taking over drop-offs and pick-ups in place of Coco’s parents because they’re so busy at work.
The first thing Qifrey noticed every morning was who walked through the front door.
Some parents rushed in with a coffee in one hand and their child’s backpack in the other. Others lingered, accepting one more hug before heading off to work. A few children arrived still half-asleep, clinging to a favorite blanket, while others burst through the doors with enough energy to wake the entire building.
He greeted every one of them with the same warm smile.
“Agott, I see you’ve brought another rock for your collection.”
“Richeh, your dinosaur socks are different colors today.”
“They’re supposed to be.”
The daycare erupted into cheerful laughter. Behind the reception desk, Olruggio glanced over the attendance sheet without looking up.
“You’ve got ten minutes before the paint comes out.”
“You said that yesterday.”
The familiar chime above the entrance interrupted their conversation.
A little girl in bright yellow rain boots barreled through the doorway, abandoning all sense of decorum as she sprinted across the room.
He crouched just in time for her to throw herself into his arms.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
She proudly held up an entire sheet of glittering stars.
“That’s very thoughtful of you.”
For nearly a year, Coco had been one of the first children to arrive each morning and for nearly a year, she had always come with her father. He was punctual, friendly, and never forgot to remind Coco to use her indoor voice, a reminder that never seemed to work.
Qifrey had grown used to their routine. So when the bell chimed again the following Monday, he barely looked up from the attendance clipboard.
Instead of Coco’s father stood a woman he had never seen before.
She couldn’t have been much older than him, dressed neatly for work with a tote bag over one shoulder and Coco’s tiny backpack dangling from the other. She looked slightly flustered, as though she’d spent the entire drive convincing a five year old to wear matching socks.
The moment Coco spotted him, she wriggled free. “Mr. Qifrey!”
“There she is.” He laughed as he caught her effortlessly. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
“You always want pancakes.”
“I suppose that’s a fair argument.”
Only then did he turn his attention back to you. You smiled apologetically.
“Sorry. She gets excited.”
“I’d be worried if she didn’t.” He shifted Coco onto his hip before extending his free hand. “I’m Qifrey.”
You accepted it. “[name].”
“It’s lovely to meet you.”
There was a brief pause. Then, with his usual easy smile, he said,
“It’s nice to finally meet Coco’s mother.”
A laugh escaped you before you could stop it.
Coco tugged frantically on your sleeve. “I forgot my lunch!”
You looked down. Sure enough, the little pink lunchbox was still hanging from your arm.
As you knelt to hand it over, Tetia appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“Coco! Come see my fairy drawing!”
“It needs more sparkles,” Agott declared from across the room.
Within seconds, Coco had disappeared into the classroom, dragged away by her friends before either of you could say another word. You stood, brushing your hands together.
“Well… I should probably get going.”
Qifrey smiled. “Have a wonderful day.”
The front door closed behind you. For a moment, Qifrey simply watched through the window as you crossed the parking lot.
“Nice woman,” he murmured.
Olruggio snorted from behind the counter.“Who?”
Olruggio glanced up for half a second before returning to the attendance forms.
The conversation ended there. Neither of them noticed the emergency contact binder lying open on the desk. Under Relationship to Child, next to your neatly printed name, were two simple words.
By the second day, Qifrey was convinced of one thing. Coco had inherited her smile from you. It was the same kind, bright without trying, the sort that made people smile back before they even realized they were doing it.
Tuesday mornings were always busier than Mondays. One child refused to let go of their father’s leg. Another proudly marched in carrying a worm they’d found outside. Tetia had already convinced three of her classmates that today was “Princess Day,” despite nobody else receiving the memo. The daycare buzzed with the usual controlled chaos. Right on schedule, the front door chimed.
Coco burst inside first. “Mr. Qifrey!”
He barely had enough time to crouch before she wrapped her arms around his neck “Good morning.”
She shoved a folded piece of paper into his hands before running off to find Tetia. Qifrey laughed softly before unfolding it. It was a crayon drawing. Him. Coco. A sun with sunglasses. He wasn’t entirely sure why the sun had sunglasses.
“It’s because he’s cool.” You say.
He looked up to find you smiling.
“She explained it to me all morning.”
You both laughed. “You’ve survived another morning?”
“Barely.” You rubbed your temple dramatically. “She insisted her stuffed brushbuddy needed breakfast before she did.”
“I think the brushbuddy would’ve been quite hungry.”
You stared at him for a moment before shaking your head. “I see why she likes you so much.”
The compliment slipped out so naturally that neither of you seemed to notice.
“Well,” he replied with a small smile, “I like having her here.”
For just a second, neither of you spoke.
A shrill voice echoed from the art room. He sighed.
He excused himself with an apologetic smile before disappearing down the hallway. You watched him go. Not because he was particularly handsome
Though…he was... but that wasn’t the point.
It was the way every child instinctively reached for him. The way he knelt until he was eye level with them. The way he listened like every tiny problem was the most important thing in the world.
It wasn’t something you saw often. Most adults talked to children. Qifrey talked with them. You found yourself smiling before heading back to your car. By afternoon pickup, the daycare had settled into a calmer rhythm. The children were scattered around the room, coloring quietly while soft music played in the background.
You stepped inside just as Coco proudly held up a paper crown.
“I made one for Mr. Qifrey too!”
Sure enough, a matching crown sat crookedly atop Qifrey’s white hair. He looked utterly ridiculous. He wore it with complete confidence.
“It suits you,” you teased.
“I’ve been informed I’m the King of Snack Time.”
“That’s a prestigious title.”
“I worked very hard for it.”
Neither of you noticed Olruggio walking past carrying a stack of folded blankets. He looked from Qifrey to you then to the paper crowns.
“Nothing.” He kept walking.
Qifrey frowned after him. “He’s been strange all afternoon.”
From the laundry room, Olruggio called back without missing a beat. “I always act like this.”
“…He’s right,” Qifrey admitted. “He is.”
You laughed. It was easy. Too easy. The sound lingered in the room long after it faded. For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Qifrey hoped tomorrow morning would come quickly.
Wednesday morning arrived with a thunderstorm. Rain pattered against the daycare windows, turning the playground into a sea of puddles that had already become the subject of disappointed protests from several children.
“No outside time?” Tetia gasped.
“I’m afraid not,” Qifrey said sympathetically.
“But the puddles need us!”
“I think they’ll manage until tomorrow.”
He bit back a smile. “I’ll let them know.”
The front door chimed. Qifrey looked up instinctively. There you were, balancing an umbrella in one hand while Coco happily stomped through every puddle she could find before reaching the entrance.
“I jumped higher that time!”
By the time the two of you stepped inside, the hem of Coco’s raincoat was dotted with muddy water. Qifrey chuckled as he handed her a towel.
“Looks like someone found every puddle.”
“They were calling my name.”
You gave him an apologetic smile. “I tried to stop her.”
“I believe you.” He crouched, gently drying Coco’s boots before helping her out of her raincoat. “You’ve got a busy day today?”
You nodded. “Meeting after meeting.”
“I hope it goes smoothly.”
Before either of you could continue, the office phone rang.
“I’ll be right back,” Qifrey said.
Olruggio wandered over from the art room just as Qifrey disappeared into the office. “You can leave Coco’s extra clothes here.”
You knelt beside Coco’s cubby, pulling out a neatly folded change of clothes.
Olruggio glanced at the label inside the backpack.
“Looks like her dad remembered the spare socks this time.”
“He almost forgot.” You laughed. “My brother would’ve driven halfway to work before realizing.”
Olruggio paused. “…Your brother?”
“Oh.” Olruggio looked toward the office where Qifrey had just disappeared. The corner of his mouth twitched. “Oh, this is going to be good.”
Before he could answer, Qifrey returned, setting the phone back on its cradle.
“Everything alright? It was just one of the parents calling.”
He smiled at you. “I’m sorry about that.”
Olruggio casually leaned against the reception desk, arms folded. “So.”
Qifrey looked at him. “So?”
Qifrey nodded. “Of course.”
Olruggio raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“I’ve been talking to her all week.”
“No, you’ve been talking to who you thought she was.”
The room fell strangely quiet. You looked between them, confused. Qifrey blinked.
“…I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”
Olruggio looked positively delighted.
“You thought she was Coco’s mom.”
Qifrey slowly turned toward you. You offered him an awkward little smile.
“I… may have tried to tell you on Monday.”
His eyes widened. “…What?”
“And then every other time, something happened.”
Qifrey’s ears began turning pink. He looked absolutely horrified.
“Oh…” He covered his face with one hand.“Oh, dear. I am so sorry.”
You couldn’t help it. A laugh escaped you.
“It honestly became kind of funny.”
“I called you her mother.”
“I complimented your parenting.”
“I told another parent Coco looked like you.”
Qifrey let out the quietest groan imaginable.“I think I’d like to disappear now.”
You laughed harder, the sound bright enough to fill the lobby.
He lowered his hand just enough to peek at you.
“You’ve been laughing about this?”
“Mostly because you looked so confident every time.”
His shoulders slumped in defeat. “I was, wasn’t I?”
Even Olruggio couldn’t hold back anymore. A low chuckle escaped him as he shook his head.
“I figured you’d eventually read the emergency contact forms.”
Qifrey froze. “…The forms.”
“The forms.” Olruggio repeated.
He looked toward the binder sitting innocently on the reception desk.
“…I never looked past the first page.”
You smiled at the two of them, slipping Coco’s backpack onto her cubby hook.
“For what it’s worth,” you said, “I don’t mind being mistaken for her mom.”
Qifrey looked up. “You don’t?”
“No.” You shrugged with an easy smile. “I love her like she’s my own.”
Something in his expression softened. Not because of the misunderstanding. Because of the sincerity in your voice. He’d always known Coco was a happy child. Now he understood why. She had an entire family who loved her enough to rearrange their lives for her. Including the aunt who now stood in front of him, rain speckled from the morning commute, smiling as though accidentally embarrassing him was the funniest thing to happen all week.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, he found himself smiling back. The misunderstanding had changed something. Not in an awkward way. If anything, it made everything feel lighter.
Thursday morning arrived just as every other weekday had. Coco ran straight into the classroom after a quick hug from Qifrey, proudly announcing she’d brought enough crayons “for everybody this time.” The moment she disappeared around the corner, an unusual silence settled between the two adults standing by the reception desk.
Qifrey cleared his throat. “…Good morning.”
You smiled. “Good morning.”
Olruggio, who had been reorganizing cubbies a few feet away, glanced over once.
Qifrey rubbed the back of his neck. “I realized…”
“I never actually welcomed you properly.”
“The first time I greeted you, it was as Coco’s mother.”
A laugh escaped you. “I suppose that’s true.”
“So…” He offered his hand again, though this time it was accompanied by an amused smile. “I’m Qifrey. Coco’s daycare guardian.”
You looked at his outstretched hand before taking it. “It’s nice to meet you, Qifrey.I’m [name]. Coco’s aunt.”
“I think this introduction went much better.”
Neither of you seemed in any hurry to let go. It was only when a tiny voice shouted—
“MR. QIFREY, HE ATE THE GLUE!”
—that you both realized your hands were still joined.
You let go first. “I should…”
“I’ll see you this afternoon.”
As you walked out the door, Qifrey caught himself watching you through the front window. Again.
Qifrey nearly jumped. Olruggio was standing beside him, holding a roll of paper towels.
“You watched her drive away.”
Qifrey busied himself straightening a stack of coloring books. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hm.” Olruggio wasn’t convinced.
Not even a little. That afternoon, pickup was unusually quiet. Most of the children had already gone home, leaving only Coco and Agott sitting at a small table with a thousand-piece puzzle that absolutely did not have a thousand pieces. You stepped through the door just as Qifrey was helping Coco zip up her little cardigan.
“Sorry I’m a few minutes late.”
“You made excellent time.”
“You don’t have to be nice.”
“I wasn’t.” He smiled. “I was honest.”
Coco looked between the two of you. Then, with all the subtlety of a five year old, she grinned.
“You and Auntie are talking lots now.”
The room fell silent. You felt your face warm. Qifrey blinked.
“I think that’s nice.” Coco beamed.
“So do I,” Tetia announced from under the reading table.
Agott looked up from the puzzle. “I thought everyone knew.”
Tetia crawled out, dusting imaginary dirt from her knees. “Mr. Qifrey always smiles when Coco’s Auntie comes!”
“I smile all the time. ” Qifrey replied a touch too quickly.
“You do,” Coco said. “You smile different.”
“Mhm!” Tetia nodded enthusiastically. “Like this!”
She stretched her mouth into the widest, goofiest grin imaginable. Coco copied her.
Agott sighed dramatically. “They’re exaggerating.”
Qifrey visibly relaxed. “…Thank you, Agott.”
She looked him dead in the eye. “It’s actually much worse.”
Olruggio chose that exact moment to walk through the doorway carrying a box of art supplies. He took one look at Qifrey’s increasingly pink face, the three children staring at him expectantly, and you trying very hard not to laugh.
Without missing a beat, Agott answered, “Mr. Qifrey has a crush.”
The box slipped from Olruggio’s hands. Markers scattered across the floor. Silence. Absolute, crushing silence.
Qifrey’s eyes widened. “I—I do not—I mean—”
Words failed him completely. You bit your lip, trying and failing to hide your smile. Olruggio slowly crouched to pick up the markers.
“…Kids really do say the funniest things.”
There was just enough amusement in his voice that Qifrey shot him a pleading look.
Olruggio only smirked. He wasn’t about to rescue him. Not this time. The children forgot about it by the next morning. Qifrey did not. Every time he thought about Agott’s declaration,
“Mr. Qifrey has a crush.”
he felt the tips of his ears warm all over again.
Objectively, it was ridiculous. Children made things up all the time…right?
He blinked. Coco was standing in front of him, lunchbox in hand.
He smiled apologetically before reaching into the desk drawer. Every child received a sticker at drop off. It had become one of the daycare’s little traditions. Coco always chose the sparkliest one. Today, she proudly selected a glittery frog.
She beamed before skipping off toward the reading corner. The bell above the entrance chimed. Qifrey looked up. There you were.
You stepped inside carrying an insulated lunch bag and a travel mug.
“I think someone forgot this.” You held up a navy blue thermos.
Qifrey stared. “…That’s mine.”
“It was sitting on top of Coco’s cubby.”
He accepted it with both hands. “I didn’t even realize I’d left it.”
“I figured.” You smiled. “You strike me as the type who remembers everyone else’s things before your own.”
He laughed softly. “…You’ve only known me for a week.”
He glanced down at the thermos before shaking his head. “…No.”
“You would’ve probably noticed by lunchtime.”
“But then you wouldn’t have had any coffee.”
“…That would’ve been tragic.”
For a brief moment, neither of you moved. It was nice. Comfortably quiet. The kind of silence that didn’t feel like it needed filling.
“You know,” you said eventually, “Coco talks about you a lot.”
His expression softened. “Does she?”
You laughed. “Mostly she tells me about the games you make up.”
“The pirate treasure hunt?”
“Apparently it lasted three days.”
“It was a very difficult treasure to find.”
“She came home insisting our living room was haunted by sea monsters.”
“…That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“I don’t think she minded.”
“Actually…” You smiled fondly. “I haven’t seen her this excited about daycare before.”
He looked toward the classroom, where Coco was helping Tetia build an impossibly tall tower from wooden blocks.
“No.” Your voice grew quieter. “I’m grateful.”
“My brother’s promotion has him leaving before sunrise. My sister gets home after dinner most nights. So…” You shrugged. “I worried Coco would feel…forgotten.”
The words hung gently between you.
“But every evening…she tells me a new story.”
“‘Mr. Qifrey read us a dragon book.’”
“‘Mr. Qifrey helped me paint a rainbow.’”
“‘Mr. Qifrey said I was brave because I tried broccoli.’”
A smile tugged at your lips. “I don’t think she realizes it yet…but you’ve made this transition so much easier for her.”
Qifrey wasn’t sure what to say. Compliments from parents happened often. They thanked him. Brought homemade cookies. Wrote holiday cards, but hearing it from you…Somehow, it settled differently. He looked down with a sheepish smile.
“I just want the children to feel safe here.”
“I know, and they do.” Your answer came without hesitation. “They really do.”
The bell over the door jingled again as Agott arrived with her older sister. Duty called.
He gave you an apologetic smile. “I’ll see you this afternoon?”
You started toward the door before stopping.“Oh.”
From your tote bag, you pulled out a small paper bag. “My brother baked too many blueberry muffins yesterday.”
“I don’t believe that’s possible.”
“I said the same thing.” You held the bag out. “He insisted I bring these for everyone here.”
Qifrey accepted it carefully. The warmth still lingered through the paper.
“You’ll have to thank him for us.”
“And…” He looked up. “…thank you.”
Your smile returned. “It was nothing.”
For a heartbeat, neither of you looked away. Then Coco’s voice rang through the daycare.
You both got startled before laughing at the same time.
“I really should go now,” you said.
The door closed behind you. Qifrey remained where he stood, the warm paper bag still in his hands. Olruggio appeared beside him a moment later, carrying a basket of clean towels, he had already helped with Agott since Qifrey was taking a while.
“…You gonna stand there all morning?”
“You’ve been smiling at a bag of muffins for a solid thirty seconds.”
Qifrey immediately looked down. “…I have not.”
“You absolutely have.” Olruggio peeked into the bag. “Blueberry?”
“Yeah…she remembered my favorite.” Qifrey froze. “I…I never told her that.”
Olruggio slowly looked up at him. Then toward the front door. Then back at him.
By Friday, your morning routine had become second nature. Wake Coco up. Convince her that, yes, she really did have to brush her teeth. Pack her lunch. Double check her backpack. Leave the apartment before she remembered the stuffed rabbit she’d inevitably forgotten.
Coco patted her backpack proudly. “Mhm!”
She gasped dramatically. “I forgot!”
You laughed as you retrieved the bottle from the kitchen counter.
The bell above the daycare door chimed. Qifrey looked up almost immediately. He told himself it was because he always greeted families as they arrived. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it was almost eight thirty or that you usually arrived at eight twenty eight.
“Good morning,” he greeted.
“Morning.” You smiled as Coco wriggled out of your grasp.
She didn’t even make it three steps before she tripped over absolutely nothing.
Qifrey caught her before she could hit the floor.
Coco looked up at him sheepishly. “I meant to do that.”
“I’ll be cheering for you.”
She giggled before taking off again, this time at a slightly safer speed. You let out a quiet sigh.
“I swear she has endless energy.”
“It tends to rub off on everyone else.”
Qifrey’s eyes drifted toward the classroom, where Tetia was already trying to organize a game involving scarves, stuffed animals, and a cardboard box.
You laughed. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“Keep up with all of them.”
He considered the question. “I don’t think about keeping up.”
You tilted your head. “What do you mean?”
“If they’re pretending the playground is a pirate ship…it becomes a pirate ship. If we’re reading about dragons…there are dragons.”
“No wonder Coco adores you.”
His heart gave an embarrassing little skip. He was saved from answering by Olruggio, who emerged from the supply room carrying a folded play mat.
“You left your coffee in the microwave.”
He looked at you with a sheepish grin. “I’ve been doing that a lot lately.”
“You have.” Olruggio didn’t even look up. “Three times this week.”
Olruggio’s reply was so unconvinced that you had to bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing.
That afternoon, rain forced everyone inside again. The children had turned the dramatic play corner into a pretend grocery store. Tetia was the cashier. Agott insisted on being “quality control.” Coco had somehow become the manager. When you arrived, you found Qifrey standing at the tiny plastic checkout counter while Coco scanned a toy banana across a wooden block.
“That’ll be… um…” She frowned in concentration. “…seventy two dollars.”
Qifrey gasped. “For one banana?”
“And…” Coco leaned closer. “…Mr. Olruggio grew it.”
Qifrey nodded solemnly. “That explains the price.”
You covered your mouth, trying not to laugh. Qifrey noticed you first.
He reached into the tiny shopping basket beside him and held up a plush carrot.
“I was just about to buy dinner.”
“That’s an expensive carrot,” you teased.
“It is if Coco’s in charge.”
“I heard that!” Coco called. “It’s premium!”
You wandered closer, crouching beside the play counter. “I’d like to buy an apple.”
Coco’s face lit up. “Okay!”
She immediately abandoned Qifrey in favor of helping you. He stepped aside with a laugh, making room. As the children busied themselves ringing up imaginary groceries, you found yourself standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Neither of you spoke. There wasn’t much room behind the tiny counter. Your sleeves brushed. Just barely.
Neither of you moved away.
“You know…” you murmured, watching Coco carefully wrap a wooden apple in tissue paper, “I was nervous about bringing her.”
“My brother found this daycare before his promotion. I was worried she wouldn’t adjust to me doing the drop offs instead.”
“But every morning…” You smiled to yourself.
“…she can’t wait to get here.”
“That’s because she knows someone’s excited to see her.” His words were gentle.
As though it were the simplest thing in the world.
You looked at him. “And she’s right.”
Your eyes met. The laughter of the children faded into the background. For just a moment, it felt as though the two of you were the only adults in the room.
The spell broke. He turned.
She held up two pieces of construction paper taped together.
Across the front, in enormous, uneven crayon letters, she had written:
MR. QIFREY + AUNTIE = BEST FRIENDS
Decorated with far more hearts than either of you thought necessary. The room went completely silent. You stared at the sign. Qifrey stared at the sign. Then, very slowly, both of you looked at Coco. She smiled proudly.
“I made it because you’re always happy when Auntie comes.”
Before either of you could recover, Olruggio walked in carrying a fresh box of crayons. He glanced at the sign. Then at the two of you. Then back at the sign.
“…Best friends, huh?” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I think the kids are being pretty conservative.”
Qifrey let out the longest, most defeated sigh of his life. “…Olruggio.”
“I’m just reading the artwork.”
a/n: this is happening simultaneously with the Olruggio one. I thought it would be fun if they were in the same timeline 😋 and yes Easthies will have his turn too
