paperback
title paperback
pairing Jongdae/Baekhyun
rating PG
length 2,708
summary Jongdae has a paper heart, and it beats only for Baekhyun.
a/n Originally written for everyone at thedaelight. This was short, sweet, and to the point. It'll take a bit longer for me to like this one.
The first thing Jongdae remembers making was a paper crane. He remembers staring at the construction paper and wishing it would transform into something beautiful. Slowly, the edges folded over, into itself, and a crane was created. It only ended up becoming a strong memory when the crane began to flap its wings, carrying itself through the air like it’s been given the breath of life.
And the rest was history.
Paper is something that Jongdae’s grown up with his entire life. For him, paper is synonymous with water, something he cannot live without. To detach himself from paper would be like stripping himself of his own happiness. To take away the very thing that brings him joy.
Even now as an adult, he can’t explain how his gift works. It just happens. He attaches his thoughts to paper, and they obey him, molding into anything he wishes. A simple flower, an animated frog, even a parasol-anything he can imagine in his mind becomes reality, and he wills it with only his mind. To say the least, he never gets bored by himself.
But sometimes, he does feel a bit lonely being the only person he knows with these powers. It’s like he doesn’t have anyone to share his feelings with, to share stories and the more, personal thoughts. The Jongdae that people know is not the Jongdae that can move paper on a whim.
It’s almost like having a secret to hide. Jongdae is terrible at keeping secrets.
“What an engaging story,” Baekhyun notes sarcastically with a slow, very slow clap.
Jongdae rolls his eyes as he slides further up the couch to get a better view of the TV. “Like yours is any better.” His voice grows nasally as he recalls Baekhyun’s story, “I first discovered my powers when I walked through my clothes. That’s it. That’s the story.”
“It was much scarier than that,” Baekhyun says. “My body just felt cold when I passed through, like I was made out of air or something. I nearly threw up.” His body shivers at the memory.
“But you didn’t.”
Baekhyun stretches out against the cushions. “Yeah, I didn’t. And I guess I’m much happier with these powers.” He phases his hand through the armrest in amusement, wiggling his fingers when he pulls them out. “At least I won’t have to worry about getting anything thrown at me.”
“Yeah, that’s the least of your worries,” Jongdae comments. When Baekhyun raises an eyebrow, Jongdae just shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Do we have anything to eat?” Baekhyun asks when his stomach starts to grumble. It’s almost dinner time, but these sorts of meals are always done with leftovers because they’re both too lazy to cook. “Wait, hold on.” Dragging himself over to the fridge, Baekhyun takes a moment to concentrate before slipping his hand through the door.
“What are you doing?” Jongdae is actually unsure because from this angle it just looks like Baekhyun’s stuck to the door like a magnet.
Baekhyun waves him off with a hand. After a few minutes, his search ends up fruitless. “There’s nothing.”
“I could’ve told you that,” Jongdae says, deadpan.
Baekhyun makes a face, but Jongdae ignores it for the cartoon superheroes fighting across the TV screen.
Even in the comforts of his own bed, Jongdae sometimes feels like an alien.
He’ll lie awake in his comforter, tearing out sheets of notebook paper as he shapes them into little animals, like his own little zoo. He’ll make them walk across his blankets, interact with each other and even give them names. Sometimes he’ll make a few birds and just let them fly out of his window, across the open air to wherever they can reach before his hold over them disappears.
“Jongdae are you awake?” Baekhyun asks through the darkness.
From here, Jongdae can see the shape of his friend in the opposite bed, twisting over as he tries to get to sleep. Baekhyun has a hard time sleeping these days. Jongdae chalks it up to how much he leans on him.
Jongdae met Baekhyun through mutual friends, which ended up becoming mutual enemies, and the two of them have grown closer because of it. When he learned that Baekhyun was just like him, with his own gifts, he knew that this friendship was meant to be much stronger than his previous friends. That they were meant to be something more.
“I am,” Jongdae answers. “Can’t sleep?”
Baekhyun hums quietly. “It’s obvious isn’t it.”
It isn’t a question. It’s a statement because Jongdae knows him like his favorite novel.
“Can you sing for me?” Baekhyun asks, and Jongdae chuckles because of course, it’s just like him.
Folding a sheet with his fingers, Jongdae starts to hum a little lullaby from his childhood, the same one that he sung to Baekhyun the first time he came to Jongdae late at night, unable to dream. The notes drift through the air delicately and land on tired ears, ushering sleep.
The butterfly in his hand starts to bend its wings, slowly stretching into its skin as it comes to life. With a gentle tap, Jongdae sets it free, guiding it into the air and out of the window. Like a small sprite, the butterfly glides off towards the moon, disappearing into the night. When it’s gone, Jongdae finishes his lullaby, and just like that, Baekhyun’s fast asleep.
“Good night,” Jongdae says as he follows soon after.
There’s still moments where Baekhyun seems to be unfamiliar with his powers.
He’ll head towards the bathroom, only to fall through the door and stumble across a flustered Jongdae. Thankfully, Jongdae’s used to his company, but the intrusions sometimes catches him off-guard. Baekhyun apologizes quickly soon after, saying his powers sometimes activate when he least expects it to, and Jongdae forgives him easily.
“It’s like I’m touching nothing,” Baekhyun explains as he phases his hand through the sink faucet. “I don’t know how else to explain it. It just feels like I’m touching air.”
Jongdae scoots over and bumps his hips against Baekhyun to get control over the sink. Spitting his toothpaste out, he wipes his mouth clean before reaching for the mouthwash. “So, it doesn’t hurt?”
“Not really,” Baekhyun says as he holds up his hand. “I feel like I should feel something, but I don’t. I’m happy it hasn’t disappeared yet, I mean I’m still trying to get used to it.” He quickly reaches for his own toothbrush, pushing his hand straight through Jongdae to get it.
Jongdae nearly spits out his mouthwash at this.
“Relax,” Baekhyun laughs. “I promise, you won’t feel a thing.” The sensation is odd, like his mind and body are trying to send him two different reactions. He knows he should be feeling something with Baekhyun’s arm inside of him, but there’s nothing, like Baekhyun was a ghost or something supernatural. “There we go.”
Toothbrush in hand, Baekhyun slips his arm out of Jongdae, a small grin on his face.
Jongdae glares in return.
Sometimes Baekhyun will come up to Jongdae out of nowhere and reach up like he wants a high five.
Being the gullible person he is, Jongdae will oblige, only for his hand to pass right through, followed up with a nasally laugh from Baekhyun.
“How many times can you fall for that?” Baekhyun starts counting on his fingers, only to run out of fingers before bursting into a hearty laugh. “Not enough I suppose.”
Jongdae narrows his eyes.
“My bad,” Baekhyun backs away with a laugh. “I forgot this is a no fun zone. I’m sure there’s someone out there who appreciates my humor.”
“You can’t count yourself you know.”
Baekhyun stops laughing.
“Do you think it’s odd that we have these powers and no one’s, I don’t know, come for us yet?”
Jongdae lowers his book. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, like someone from a big company trying to persuade us to come with them for experimentations or secret services, that kind of thing.” Baekhyun looks almost excited as he continues. “Or maybe even superheroes.”
“I think you’ve read too many comic books,” Jongdae notes before returning to the line he left off at.
Baekhyun shakes his bangs out of his eyes. “I’d like to think I’m preparing for the day I get taken away in the middle of the night. You’ll see me one day in spandex or something on the five o’ clock news.” He flexes into a mock superhero pose. “Byun Baekhyun, at your service.”
“I do think you need to be competent to be superhero,” Jongdae flicks his wrist and instantly the textbook on the coffee table turns over to a particular chapter in musical theory. “It all starts with good grades. You should study while we have some free time.”
Baekhyun grumbles something about know-it-alls, but Jongdae takes it in stride when Baekhyun actually starts to read.
There was one time where they had to use their powers out in the open, and it almost revealed their secrets to the world.
Jongdae was leaving his job assisting the library, catching up with Baekhyun at the corner table like they usually would. Today, their spot was filled with children from a nearby elementary school, and much to Baekhyun’s dismay, they wouldn’t leave them alone. Jongdae wasn’t as depressed with the company, since he’s rather fond of children.
It was a faulty lock, or something similar that the librarians described it to be. One of the paper displays broke free from its wire and fell on top of their area.
“Look out-”
Jongdae wasn’t sure if it was his voice or Baekhyun’s, but when he spotted the dragon falling towards them, his body reacted almost instantly.
Leaning over the group closest to him, Jongdae shielded the children with his body, bracing for the inevitable pain. Only, it never came. The paper dragon to shred upon impact, breaking into millions of fine strips of reds and yellows around them. It wasn’t a solid force that hit him, but more like the weight of a cloud. Weightless.
A subconscious effect of his powers saved him and the children that day. Like his body knew it had to survive. He didn’t doddle on his thoughts, helping Baekhyun pull themselves out of the paper pile and into safer ground.
Before anyone could see them, they quickly left the library, avoiding the dreaded questions that were desperately trying to leave the children’s lips.
When they got back to the apartment, Baekhyun grabbed hold of Jongdae in the tightest hug he could offer, quiet sobs escaping his lips in a gently cadence. There were words coming out of his mouth, in between his tears, but they were muffled against Jongdae’s shoulder.
Jongdae didn’t say anything, merely returning the hug with his own. He held onto Baekhyun through the night, as if he were afraid he would lose him if let go.
“Did you actually get any reading done today?” Jongdae asks as he takes a bite out of his take out.
Baekhyun doesn’t reply.
The paper rose on the table starts to wilt.
In the lonely hours of night, Baekhyun woke Jongdae up with an alarming shriek.
Jongdae sprung out of bed as soon as he heard the noise, jumping into the living room with a heart beating twice as fast. When he arrived, Baekhyun was sitting at the edge of the kitchen counter, wrapped up in himself and looking much smaller than he usually is.
“What’s wrong?” Jongdae asks as he grasps at Baekhyun’s shoulders.
Baekhyun shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
As soon as Jongdae tried to return to bed, Baekhyun held onto his arm, his lips pursed and his eyes bright with fear. He’s scared. Shaken up by the earlier events. It still has a grip on his mind, creating nightmares where there shouldn’t be any. The tremble in his fingers is too clear for Jongdae to just ignore, and clearing his thoughts, he tugs Baekhyun by the wrist.
“Sleep with me,” Jongdae says quietly as he opens up a space for Baekhyun to slip into. It’s quickly filled without a second thought.
His bed is a bit cramped, but with Baekhyun, it doesn’t matter to him. They rest side by side, back to back as the minutes pass by. It doesn’t happen fast enough for Jongdae to notice right away, but he feels it behind him, Baekhyun turning in his spot so that his face is staring straight into Jongdae.
“I can’t lose you.” It’s so quiet, Jongdae almost imagines he heard Baekhyun saying it.
Slowly, there’s arms coming up around Jongdae’s waist, shy, as if unsure what his boundaries are. Fingers tremble atop skin and Jongdae doesn’t want him to feel scared. He wants him to feel safe. To feel secure in his own home.
So Jongdae does the best thing he can think of at this hour. Taking his own fingers, he threads them with Baekhyun’s and guides them around his chest. At first, his fingers grasp at nothing-he realizes that Baekhyun’s powers are activating out of fright. Baekhyun’s arms are frigid, still with shock. He’s surprised, Jongdae can tell.
“It’s okay.” Jongdae says to no one, but Baekhyun relaxes at his words.
The grip around his chest becomes tighter, solid against him, and soon Baekhyun’s warmth is spreading over his body as he snuggles closer. He can feel Baekhyun’s heart beating against him, and this is much better, Jongdae thinks. He takes the touch and carries it with him to sleep, transforming nothing into something important.
Something he doesn’t want to lose.
When Jongdae wakes up the next morning, he’s met with a big surprise.
The whole room is filled with thousands upon thousands of paper cranes, a rainbow of bright colors and designs. It’s beautiful, like a painting come to life. It’s when he looks over does he see Baekhyun napping away at the side of the mattress, a few empty books of origami paper at his side. In his hand, there’s an unfinished crane and Jongdae smiles at this.
Carefully, he shapes the crane to its finished form, letting it float over to join its family.
Baekhyun wakes only after Jongdae attempts to leave the bed, gentle creaking guiding him from his dreams. “Good morning,” he says lazily, rubbing at the sleep in his eyes.
“Good morning,” Jongdae repeats back. “I see you’ve been busy.” He motions towards the entire room and Baekhyun flushes.
“I uh, yeah. It’s no big deal.”
Jongdae’s eyes crinkle. “What do you mean? This is amazing.” He reaches over for a small baby blue crane and cradles it in his palm. “I didn’t know you were into origami.”
“I’m not,” Baekhyun replies too quickly. “I just, I didn’t know how else I could say…”
“Say what?”
Baekhyun bites his bottom lip. “Thank you.”
Jongdae tilts his head. “If you mean about last night, it’s no big deal.”
“But it is though and you know it.” Baekhyun brushes his bangs back. “I really mean it. I’ve been thinking about us, and I mean, after what happened…” He gulps once. “I just can’t imagine anything ever happening to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
Baekhyun closes his eyes. “I just want us to stay together. Whether it be three years from now, or even twenty, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” He smiles. “I like you Jongdae.”
“I like you too,” Jongdae says. When Baekhyun tries to open his mouth again, Jongdae pushes a finger against his lips. “Don’t worry, I know exactly what you mean. You don’t have to say it.”
Baekhyun’s smile is just as bright as the first time they met, the first time Jongdae was able to feel the tug at his heartstrings.
As if capturing his happiness, the cranes all come to life at once, flapping gently as life washes over them. It’s amazing, and Jongdae’s grinning at how happy they all look. Baekhyun is happy as well, not only for the cranes, but also for Jongdae. For his words.
Jongdae lets Baekhyun rest his forehead against him, and it feels right. He knows this is where he was meant to be.
They were meant to be something more.
♔
pairing Jongdae/Baekhyun
rating PG
length 2,708
summary Jongdae has a paper heart, and it beats only for Baekhyun.
a/n Originally written for everyone at thedaelight. This was short, sweet, and to the point. It'll take a bit longer for me to like this one.
The first thing Jongdae remembers making was a paper crane. He remembers staring at the construction paper and wishing it would transform into something beautiful. Slowly, the edges folded over, into itself, and a crane was created. It only ended up becoming a strong memory when the crane began to flap its wings, carrying itself through the air like it’s been given the breath of life.
And the rest was history.
Paper is something that Jongdae’s grown up with his entire life. For him, paper is synonymous with water, something he cannot live without. To detach himself from paper would be like stripping himself of his own happiness. To take away the very thing that brings him joy.
Even now as an adult, he can’t explain how his gift works. It just happens. He attaches his thoughts to paper, and they obey him, molding into anything he wishes. A simple flower, an animated frog, even a parasol-anything he can imagine in his mind becomes reality, and he wills it with only his mind. To say the least, he never gets bored by himself.
But sometimes, he does feel a bit lonely being the only person he knows with these powers. It’s like he doesn’t have anyone to share his feelings with, to share stories and the more, personal thoughts. The Jongdae that people know is not the Jongdae that can move paper on a whim.
It’s almost like having a secret to hide. Jongdae is terrible at keeping secrets.
“What an engaging story,” Baekhyun notes sarcastically with a slow, very slow clap.
Jongdae rolls his eyes as he slides further up the couch to get a better view of the TV. “Like yours is any better.” His voice grows nasally as he recalls Baekhyun’s story, “I first discovered my powers when I walked through my clothes. That’s it. That’s the story.”
“It was much scarier than that,” Baekhyun says. “My body just felt cold when I passed through, like I was made out of air or something. I nearly threw up.” His body shivers at the memory.
“But you didn’t.”
Baekhyun stretches out against the cushions. “Yeah, I didn’t. And I guess I’m much happier with these powers.” He phases his hand through the armrest in amusement, wiggling his fingers when he pulls them out. “At least I won’t have to worry about getting anything thrown at me.”
“Yeah, that’s the least of your worries,” Jongdae comments. When Baekhyun raises an eyebrow, Jongdae just shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Do we have anything to eat?” Baekhyun asks when his stomach starts to grumble. It’s almost dinner time, but these sorts of meals are always done with leftovers because they’re both too lazy to cook. “Wait, hold on.” Dragging himself over to the fridge, Baekhyun takes a moment to concentrate before slipping his hand through the door.
“What are you doing?” Jongdae is actually unsure because from this angle it just looks like Baekhyun’s stuck to the door like a magnet.
Baekhyun waves him off with a hand. After a few minutes, his search ends up fruitless. “There’s nothing.”
“I could’ve told you that,” Jongdae says, deadpan.
Baekhyun makes a face, but Jongdae ignores it for the cartoon superheroes fighting across the TV screen.
Even in the comforts of his own bed, Jongdae sometimes feels like an alien.
He’ll lie awake in his comforter, tearing out sheets of notebook paper as he shapes them into little animals, like his own little zoo. He’ll make them walk across his blankets, interact with each other and even give them names. Sometimes he’ll make a few birds and just let them fly out of his window, across the open air to wherever they can reach before his hold over them disappears.
“Jongdae are you awake?” Baekhyun asks through the darkness.
From here, Jongdae can see the shape of his friend in the opposite bed, twisting over as he tries to get to sleep. Baekhyun has a hard time sleeping these days. Jongdae chalks it up to how much he leans on him.
Jongdae met Baekhyun through mutual friends, which ended up becoming mutual enemies, and the two of them have grown closer because of it. When he learned that Baekhyun was just like him, with his own gifts, he knew that this friendship was meant to be much stronger than his previous friends. That they were meant to be something more.
“I am,” Jongdae answers. “Can’t sleep?”
Baekhyun hums quietly. “It’s obvious isn’t it.”
It isn’t a question. It’s a statement because Jongdae knows him like his favorite novel.
“Can you sing for me?” Baekhyun asks, and Jongdae chuckles because of course, it’s just like him.
Folding a sheet with his fingers, Jongdae starts to hum a little lullaby from his childhood, the same one that he sung to Baekhyun the first time he came to Jongdae late at night, unable to dream. The notes drift through the air delicately and land on tired ears, ushering sleep.
The butterfly in his hand starts to bend its wings, slowly stretching into its skin as it comes to life. With a gentle tap, Jongdae sets it free, guiding it into the air and out of the window. Like a small sprite, the butterfly glides off towards the moon, disappearing into the night. When it’s gone, Jongdae finishes his lullaby, and just like that, Baekhyun’s fast asleep.
“Good night,” Jongdae says as he follows soon after.
There’s still moments where Baekhyun seems to be unfamiliar with his powers.
He’ll head towards the bathroom, only to fall through the door and stumble across a flustered Jongdae. Thankfully, Jongdae’s used to his company, but the intrusions sometimes catches him off-guard. Baekhyun apologizes quickly soon after, saying his powers sometimes activate when he least expects it to, and Jongdae forgives him easily.
“It’s like I’m touching nothing,” Baekhyun explains as he phases his hand through the sink faucet. “I don’t know how else to explain it. It just feels like I’m touching air.”
Jongdae scoots over and bumps his hips against Baekhyun to get control over the sink. Spitting his toothpaste out, he wipes his mouth clean before reaching for the mouthwash. “So, it doesn’t hurt?”
“Not really,” Baekhyun says as he holds up his hand. “I feel like I should feel something, but I don’t. I’m happy it hasn’t disappeared yet, I mean I’m still trying to get used to it.” He quickly reaches for his own toothbrush, pushing his hand straight through Jongdae to get it.
Jongdae nearly spits out his mouthwash at this.
“Relax,” Baekhyun laughs. “I promise, you won’t feel a thing.” The sensation is odd, like his mind and body are trying to send him two different reactions. He knows he should be feeling something with Baekhyun’s arm inside of him, but there’s nothing, like Baekhyun was a ghost or something supernatural. “There we go.”
Toothbrush in hand, Baekhyun slips his arm out of Jongdae, a small grin on his face.
Jongdae glares in return.
Sometimes Baekhyun will come up to Jongdae out of nowhere and reach up like he wants a high five.
Being the gullible person he is, Jongdae will oblige, only for his hand to pass right through, followed up with a nasally laugh from Baekhyun.
“How many times can you fall for that?” Baekhyun starts counting on his fingers, only to run out of fingers before bursting into a hearty laugh. “Not enough I suppose.”
Jongdae narrows his eyes.
“My bad,” Baekhyun backs away with a laugh. “I forgot this is a no fun zone. I’m sure there’s someone out there who appreciates my humor.”
“You can’t count yourself you know.”
Baekhyun stops laughing.
“Do you think it’s odd that we have these powers and no one’s, I don’t know, come for us yet?”
Jongdae lowers his book. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, like someone from a big company trying to persuade us to come with them for experimentations or secret services, that kind of thing.” Baekhyun looks almost excited as he continues. “Or maybe even superheroes.”
“I think you’ve read too many comic books,” Jongdae notes before returning to the line he left off at.
Baekhyun shakes his bangs out of his eyes. “I’d like to think I’m preparing for the day I get taken away in the middle of the night. You’ll see me one day in spandex or something on the five o’ clock news.” He flexes into a mock superhero pose. “Byun Baekhyun, at your service.”
“I do think you need to be competent to be superhero,” Jongdae flicks his wrist and instantly the textbook on the coffee table turns over to a particular chapter in musical theory. “It all starts with good grades. You should study while we have some free time.”
Baekhyun grumbles something about know-it-alls, but Jongdae takes it in stride when Baekhyun actually starts to read.
There was one time where they had to use their powers out in the open, and it almost revealed their secrets to the world.
Jongdae was leaving his job assisting the library, catching up with Baekhyun at the corner table like they usually would. Today, their spot was filled with children from a nearby elementary school, and much to Baekhyun’s dismay, they wouldn’t leave them alone. Jongdae wasn’t as depressed with the company, since he’s rather fond of children.
It was a faulty lock, or something similar that the librarians described it to be. One of the paper displays broke free from its wire and fell on top of their area.
“Look out-”
Jongdae wasn’t sure if it was his voice or Baekhyun’s, but when he spotted the dragon falling towards them, his body reacted almost instantly.
Leaning over the group closest to him, Jongdae shielded the children with his body, bracing for the inevitable pain. Only, it never came. The paper dragon to shred upon impact, breaking into millions of fine strips of reds and yellows around them. It wasn’t a solid force that hit him, but more like the weight of a cloud. Weightless.
A subconscious effect of his powers saved him and the children that day. Like his body knew it had to survive. He didn’t doddle on his thoughts, helping Baekhyun pull themselves out of the paper pile and into safer ground.
Before anyone could see them, they quickly left the library, avoiding the dreaded questions that were desperately trying to leave the children’s lips.
When they got back to the apartment, Baekhyun grabbed hold of Jongdae in the tightest hug he could offer, quiet sobs escaping his lips in a gently cadence. There were words coming out of his mouth, in between his tears, but they were muffled against Jongdae’s shoulder.
Jongdae didn’t say anything, merely returning the hug with his own. He held onto Baekhyun through the night, as if he were afraid he would lose him if let go.
“Did you actually get any reading done today?” Jongdae asks as he takes a bite out of his take out.
Baekhyun doesn’t reply.
The paper rose on the table starts to wilt.
In the lonely hours of night, Baekhyun woke Jongdae up with an alarming shriek.
Jongdae sprung out of bed as soon as he heard the noise, jumping into the living room with a heart beating twice as fast. When he arrived, Baekhyun was sitting at the edge of the kitchen counter, wrapped up in himself and looking much smaller than he usually is.
“What’s wrong?” Jongdae asks as he grasps at Baekhyun’s shoulders.
Baekhyun shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
As soon as Jongdae tried to return to bed, Baekhyun held onto his arm, his lips pursed and his eyes bright with fear. He’s scared. Shaken up by the earlier events. It still has a grip on his mind, creating nightmares where there shouldn’t be any. The tremble in his fingers is too clear for Jongdae to just ignore, and clearing his thoughts, he tugs Baekhyun by the wrist.
“Sleep with me,” Jongdae says quietly as he opens up a space for Baekhyun to slip into. It’s quickly filled without a second thought.
His bed is a bit cramped, but with Baekhyun, it doesn’t matter to him. They rest side by side, back to back as the minutes pass by. It doesn’t happen fast enough for Jongdae to notice right away, but he feels it behind him, Baekhyun turning in his spot so that his face is staring straight into Jongdae.
“I can’t lose you.” It’s so quiet, Jongdae almost imagines he heard Baekhyun saying it.
Slowly, there’s arms coming up around Jongdae’s waist, shy, as if unsure what his boundaries are. Fingers tremble atop skin and Jongdae doesn’t want him to feel scared. He wants him to feel safe. To feel secure in his own home.
So Jongdae does the best thing he can think of at this hour. Taking his own fingers, he threads them with Baekhyun’s and guides them around his chest. At first, his fingers grasp at nothing-he realizes that Baekhyun’s powers are activating out of fright. Baekhyun’s arms are frigid, still with shock. He’s surprised, Jongdae can tell.
“It’s okay.” Jongdae says to no one, but Baekhyun relaxes at his words.
The grip around his chest becomes tighter, solid against him, and soon Baekhyun’s warmth is spreading over his body as he snuggles closer. He can feel Baekhyun’s heart beating against him, and this is much better, Jongdae thinks. He takes the touch and carries it with him to sleep, transforming nothing into something important.
Something he doesn’t want to lose.
When Jongdae wakes up the next morning, he’s met with a big surprise.
The whole room is filled with thousands upon thousands of paper cranes, a rainbow of bright colors and designs. It’s beautiful, like a painting come to life. It’s when he looks over does he see Baekhyun napping away at the side of the mattress, a few empty books of origami paper at his side. In his hand, there’s an unfinished crane and Jongdae smiles at this.
Carefully, he shapes the crane to its finished form, letting it float over to join its family.
Baekhyun wakes only after Jongdae attempts to leave the bed, gentle creaking guiding him from his dreams. “Good morning,” he says lazily, rubbing at the sleep in his eyes.
“Good morning,” Jongdae repeats back. “I see you’ve been busy.” He motions towards the entire room and Baekhyun flushes.
“I uh, yeah. It’s no big deal.”
Jongdae’s eyes crinkle. “What do you mean? This is amazing.” He reaches over for a small baby blue crane and cradles it in his palm. “I didn’t know you were into origami.”
“I’m not,” Baekhyun replies too quickly. “I just, I didn’t know how else I could say…”
“Say what?”
Baekhyun bites his bottom lip. “Thank you.”
Jongdae tilts his head. “If you mean about last night, it’s no big deal.”
“But it is though and you know it.” Baekhyun brushes his bangs back. “I really mean it. I’ve been thinking about us, and I mean, after what happened…” He gulps once. “I just can’t imagine anything ever happening to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
Baekhyun closes his eyes. “I just want us to stay together. Whether it be three years from now, or even twenty, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” He smiles. “I like you Jongdae.”
“I like you too,” Jongdae says. When Baekhyun tries to open his mouth again, Jongdae pushes a finger against his lips. “Don’t worry, I know exactly what you mean. You don’t have to say it.”
Baekhyun’s smile is just as bright as the first time they met, the first time Jongdae was able to feel the tug at his heartstrings.
As if capturing his happiness, the cranes all come to life at once, flapping gently as life washes over them. It’s amazing, and Jongdae’s grinning at how happy they all look. Baekhyun is happy as well, not only for the cranes, but also for Jongdae. For his words.
Jongdae lets Baekhyun rest his forehead against him, and it feels right. He knows this is where he was meant to be.
They were meant to be something more.
♔