Oh baby, I’ll keep you warm ii/ii
▲▼▲
After a long chaotic day of working at the coffee house Sehun enters his warm apartment and grins widely.
The apartment smells like cinnamon and chocolate and peanut butter. Tao is standing in the kitchen mixing something in a large bowl.
“I made cookies!” Tao says excitedly. “Kris always said that my cookies could make millions.” he adds.
Sehun just stares at Tao. He hasn’t had home baked cookies in so long, even before the storm came he hadn’t had them for a while.
“What kind of cookies?” Sehun asks as he takes his coat, hat and gloves off by the front door.
“Chocolate chip peanut butter.” Tao says.
Sehun watches Tao make the cookies finishing the second batch as the first batch comes out of the over.
Sehun is salivating from the smell alone and can’t wait to shove one into his mouth. Tao takes the cookie sheet out of the over and places it on the counter. Then Tao takes the second cookie sheet with the unbaked cookies and puts into the oven.
Sehun can’t wait any longer and reaches for one of the freshly bakes cookies on the cookie sheet. Tao slaps his hand away before he can grab one.
“You have to wait, it’s hot.” Tao chides.
Sehun pouts but pulls his hand away from the cookies.
Tao waits a few minutes then grabs one of the finished cookies taking a huge bite out of it. “So good.” he says with his mouth full of cookie. Tao grabs another one and hands it to over to Sehun.
Sehun shoves the whole cookie into his mouth.
“Oh my god,” he says chewing. “It’s so fucking good.” he savors the taste and grabs another cookie before he swallows his first. “Where did you learn to make these?”
Tao laughs. “My mother taught me. She told me that whenever I was sad I should make them. They were always my comfort food.” Tao shrugs.
Sehun beams. “They’re so fucking good.” Sehun closes his eyes as the peanut butter and chocolate coat his taste buds. “Mmmm.”
Tao smiles. “I’m glad you like them, Kris did too.”
The good mood is ruined at the mention of Kris.
Realizing he just brought Kris up, Tao turns around and starts fiddling with the stove.
Sehun decides not to say anything, he can tell that Tao is in deep thought now. So instead of being burdensome Sehun takes a plateful of cookies and settles down on the couch while Tao stays in the kitchen.
“I’ll clean up!” Sehun yells to Tao after a few minutes pass.
“No, I made the mess I can do it!” Tao says back.
Sehun doesn’t argue, just shoves another cookie into his mouth and lets the taste soothe him.
A little bit later after Sehun has eaten almost all the cookies single handedly, Tao joins him on the couch.
“Are you going to that party Friday?” Tao asks.
“No, parties aren’t my thing.” Sehun replies.
Tao grunts. “Who doesn’t like to go to a party every now and then?” Tao raises his eyebrows.
Sehun is suddenly suspicious of Tao. Why is he trying to get Sehun to go all of the sudden?
“What if I go with you? Will you go then?” Tao asks, tone a little too hopeful.
Sehun considers it for a second. “No.”
“Please Sehun? I really want to go to a party. I haven’t been to one since I came here.” Tao whines.
“No.”
“Then no more cookies for you.” Tao threatens.
Sehun turns and glares at Tao. “I don’t like parties Tao.”
“I think we should go, it will be fun and besides I think you need to get out of this tiny apartment at least once this month.” Tao argues.
“I get out of the apartment once everyday.” Sehun says.
“For work.” Tao is suddenly standing in front of Sehun holding onto his shoulders. “What if this is the last party you will ever get to go to? We’re going.”
Sehun doesn’t argue. He hasn’t seen Luhan in a while now so maybe he should go to the party. Jongin is probably going too. “Fine.” Sehun finally says albeit in defeat. “But I’m not going to be any fun.”
Tao smiles seemingly pleased with himself as he sits back down next to Sehun.
A few minutes later Tao suddenly gets up and goes to the window in a hurry.
“What’s wrong?” Sehun asks.
“Whoa Sehun you have go to see this.” Tao answer ignoring Sehun’s question.
Sehun gets to his feet and meets Tao at the window. He moves the curtain aside so he can see better and looks out.
The first thing he notices it that the snow is heavy but there is something different too, something that hasn’t happened yet. He can’t even see a few feet away from the window because the wind is blowing so hard. Sehun doesn't know how he couldn’t have heard the wind before.
“The storm changed.” Tao whispers. “It’s not just snow now, it’s...”
“A blizzard.” Sehun finishes for him. “This is bad. Look at how hard the wind is blowing.”
The two of them stare outside transfixed on the sudden change of weather for another ten minutes. They watch it intensify right before their eyes.
“Maybe we should check the news.” Tao says.
Sehun agrees and the both of them sit back down on the couch. Sehun turns it to the local news channel.
“The storm has turned to a full blown blizzard now.” The reporter states. “At this point we are advising everyone to stay indoors.”
Tao scoffs. “Like we don’t know how to walk during a blizzard. It’s been snowing for the past year and a half.” Tao says sarcastically to the television screen.
“As of right now,” the reporter continues. “The blizzard is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. Stay tuned for live coverage of the storm when we come back.” It then cuts to a commercial. Sehun turns the television off.
Sehun doesn’t want to get his hopes up but he does anyway. “This could be it. The final blow before the snow stops.” He says out loud.
Tao shakes his head. “I doubt it.”
▲▼▲
A few days later Sehun goes out to shovel even though he really doesn’t want to. It’s the last time he has to do it today at least. He hesitates at the door and Tao notices.
“Can’t you wait until tomorrow?” he asks. “What if you can’t see and you fall off the side of the building?”
Sehun laughs nervously. “I have to do it. If the roof caves in it will be my fault.”
Tao doesn’t look happy. “Just wait until tomorrow morning. It’s dark out now.”
“There’s light on the roof.” Sehun replies. “I’ll be fine Tao. Don’t worry about me. I’ve shoveled the roof enough times, I know where the edge is.”
Tao still doesn’t look convinced but he doesn’t argue anymore.
Sehun puts his heaviest coat on, he doesn’t use that one much, and then shoves his hat over his head. Sehun even grabs a pair of goggles so the wind and snow hitting him in the face doesn’t completely blind him . “I’ll be back in ten or fifteen minutes.” he tells Tao right before he leaves.
Tao nods. “Be careful.” he says voice full of concern.
Sehun opens the door and leaves.
▲▼▲
Sehun only shovels half the roof. Tao’s worrying about him falling off made him nervous so he didn’t go near the edge at all. Not to mention that Sehun is colder than he has been in a long time. Sehun doesn’t even care that he will have to do twice as much work tomorrow. He’s cold and he’s hungry.
Sehun leaves the roof behind and quickly goes back to his apartment.
He opens the door and is assaulted. Tao envelops him with strong arms. “I thought you fell off the edge.” Tao says holding onto Sehun tightly.
Sehun’s heart speeds up. He hesitantly wraps his arms around Tao. “I’m fine.” he whispers.
They break apart and stare at each other.
“Oh Sehun.” Tao says. “I’m glad I met you.”
Sehun smiles. “I’m glad you met me too.” Sehun says.
Tao punches him lightly on the arm. The air between them thickens with tension.
“Sehun?”
“Yeah?”
“I think that I’m getting over Kris.” Tao says looking at his feet. “Thanks to you.”
Sehun laughs. “Really after only a week?”
Tao sighs. “Kris and I, we hadn’t been happy together for a while. We stayed with each other because it was comfortable. I don’t know if I ever even loved him.”
Sehun grabs Tao’s hand firmly in his own. “This storm changed everything.”
Tao nods. “It did.”
The space between them is electric and Sehun knows what is going to happen next. Life is too short to wait around for these things, especially now when they could die at any given moment.
Sehun is tense and waiting for something to happen.
Tao makes the first move.
Sehun stays completely still as Tao leans in slowly. Sehun’s lips are parted and anticipating what’s to come. He wants this to happen.
“I wanted to do this since the moment I met you.” Tao confesses and inch away from Sehun’s lips. His breath ghosts along Sehun’s bottom lip and Sehun’s body breaks out into goosebumps.
“Then do it.” Sehun challenges. Sehun bites his lip trying to hold himself back.
“Oh I am going to.” Tao says voice husky.
Tao leans in so that there is almost no space between their mouths. Sehun sucks in a small breath through his already tingling lips.
A knock on the door scares both of them and they jump apart acting as if they were caught doing something horrible.
“Who could that be?” Sehun asks shakily.
“Whoever it is they have really bad timing.” Tao says with a chuckle. Tao’s face is flushed and light blush creeps across his cheeks.
Sehun swallows hard before turning and opening the door. As soon as it’s open he immediately wants to slam it shut.
“Is Tao here?” Kris asks. Sehun notices that his words aren’t slurred together for once. Sehun nods to kris curtly and opens the door wider so he can see Tao.
Sehun glances at Tao who in turn is glaring at Kris.
“What are you doing here?” Tao snarls at the taller man.
Sehun steps out from between the two to stand a little behind Tao. He probably shouldn’t listen to them but it’s his business now too.
“I wanted to apologize to you.” Kris says.
Tao scoffs. “Apology not accepted. Tao goes to slam the door shut in Kris’ face but Kris throws his arm out and holds it open.
“Just hear me out,” Kris runs a hand through his disheveled hair. “I’ve stopped drinking and I want to make things right between us.”
Dread pools in Sehun’s stomach. He doesn’t want Tao to leave. He doesn’t want Tao to go back to Kris, Tao deserves so much better.
“I’ll listen to what you have to say,” Tao says. “Speak.”
Kris looks at Sehun over Tao’s shoulder. “I would much rather do this in private.”
Tao sighs and turns to face Sehun. “I’ll be right back.” Tao says with a soft smile and a wink.
Sehun just nods barely noticing the wink at all.
Kris and Tao leave together and Sehun wants to curl into a ball and cry. Why did Kris have to interrupt?
Sehun realizes then how deep he is in right then. He’s fallen for Tao, so much so he doesn’t even want Tao to leave his sight. He just wants Tao to stay in his little apartment and be happy with him, not with Kris, not ever with Kris.
▲▼▲
Tao returns after an hour. An hour in which Sehun paced back and forth, his mind conjuring up the worst case scenarios.
Tao carries a box inside the apartment with him. Sehun looks at it questioningly.
“Kris quit drinking, he told me to take all the alcohol so he wouldn’t be tempted.” Tao says.
Sehun nods. “What happened?”
Tao doesn’t answer.
“Did you guys fix things between you two?” Sehun asks.
Tao looks at Sehun confused. “Sehun we’re done, we’ve been done since that day on the roof.”
“So you didn’t fix things?”
“Sehun I don’t want to fix things with him. I want to stay here with you.” Tao says. “If that’s ok?”
Sehun doesn’t say anything to Tao for a moment. “You can stay as long as you want.” Sehun finally says.
Tao puts the box of alcohol down on the counter. “Thanks Sehun,” Tao grins. “Now where did we leave off?” Tao asks voice low and dangerous.
Sehun swallows hard. His eyes lock onto Tao’s form moving slowly toward him.
Then Sehun’s eyes catch the time on the clock behind Tao.
“Oh shit.” Sehun says stopping Tao in his tracks. “Luhan’s party is in an hour. I completely forgot!”
Tao’s head whips around to look at the clock. “Shit.” he utters. “Let’s get going.” He doesn’t sound happy to be interrupted yet again.
▲▼▲
Luhan’s party is in his home which turns out to be way too small for so many people. It’s suffocating how many people are crowded in such a small space. Sehun hates the noise and just wants to go home to his quiet apartment. If it wasn’t for Tao, Sehun would’ve left as soon as he arrived but Tao was enjoying himself as soon as he walked through the front door. Tao was talking to everyone he came across, smiling, and having fun.
Sehun decided he could suffer another few hours so that Tao could have some fun.
“You’re so screwed.” Jongin says coming up behind Sehun. “Again.”
“How so?” Sehun takes a long sip of his drink. He ignores the again part Jongin tacks on at the end.
“Since the moment you got here all you’ve done is watch the black haired dude with this strange look on your face.” Jongin says.
Sehun nods. “He’s staying with me.”
Jongin’s mouth drops open. “What do you mean he’s staying with you?”
“He needed a place to stay so I gave him one.” Sehun explains without getting into that much.
“And you couldn’t call me and tell me?” Jongin shakes his head like he is disappointed. “We barely talk anymore man.”
“Things have changed.” Sehun says simply.
“I know. I miss the old days when we could actually hang out. Now we’re lucky if we talk twice a week.” Jongin finishes his beer in one swallow.
Tao approaches the pair hesitantly taking Jongin in. “Sehun, I need to go outside and get some fresh air,” Tao says. “Too many people.”
“I’ll go with you.” Sehun puts his drink down on the table beside him.
Tao shakes his head. “No it’s fine stay inside where it’s warm. I’ll only be a minute anyway.”
Sehun nods then watches Tao as he makes his way through the crowd to the back door.
“How long has he been staying with you?” Jongins asks getting Sehun’s attention off of Tao and back on their conversation.
“Um, about two weeks now.” Sehun answers.
“That was quick.” Jongin waves to someone across the room. “Didn’t he ruin your routine?”
“What was quick? And yeah but I don’t mind.”
“You falling in love in with him. You hate when your routine is fucked with. You never even let me sleep over.” Jongin says with furrowed brows.
Sehun scoffs. “I didn’t fall in love with someone in two weeks Jongin.”
Jongin shrugs. “Whatever you say Sehun but I’ve seen you look at someone like that before. I know what it means.” Jongin takes a sip of his beer as he studies Sehun’s face.
Sehun stares at Jongin but he isn’t really seeing him. Sehun is thinking about Tao. He really has grown close with him but to be in love with him? No way, he hasn’t even known him for a whole month.
“I know you don’t believe in love at first sight and all that shit but it’s a different world now. The rules have changed.” Jongin says.
Sehun stares at his best friend. “You’ve changed Jongin.” he says softly.
“We’ve all changed Sehun. Change is part of life.” Jongin looks off into the crowd.
“JONGIN!” Luhan yells as he pushes his way through the crowd coming toward them.
Luhan stands in front of Sehun and jongin. His eyes widen when they land on Sehun. “You actually came?” Luhan asks stunned.
“Couldn’t miss the biggest part of the year.” Sehun says faking a smile.
“I didn’t think this many people would actually show up.” Luhan says ignoring the slight tension. “I didn’t even invite this many people so how this many people found out about the part I don’t know.”
“It’s because you’re pretty.” Jongin says smirking at Luhan.
“Shut the fuck up Jongin. Don’t call me that or I’ll have to kick your ass again.” Luhan throws his fist up ready to fight right there.
“Oh I’m so scared.” Jongin mocks.
“You should be.” Luhan says. He puts his arms back down at his sides and turns to Sehun. “So Sehun,” he starts. “How has Minseok been?”
“Fine I guess. But don’t you two see each other every day?” Sehun asks in confusion.
“He doesn’t know.” Jongin whispers loudly to Luhan.
“Oh yeah. We broke up.” Luhan tells Sehun. “He said that I was too clingy,” Luhan scoffs. “I am not clingy.”
“Yes you are Luhan.” Jongin says grinning. “You’re the clingiest person I know.”
Luhan punches Jongin in the stomach. Jongin doubles over in pain. “That fucking hurt Luhan.” Jongin coughs out.
“Good.” Luhan says. “I’m not clingy and I am most definitely not pretty. You need to get it straight.”
Sehun laughs but it’s not a real laugh. He misses hanging out with Jongin and Luhan so much it hurts. He feels like he doesn’t even belong with the two of them anymore. He has drifted away from his old circle of friends. The worst thing is that’s it’s only a dull ache, he doesn’t feel that torn up about it.
“Is Minseok coming tonight?” Sehun asks trying not to let his thoughts bother him. He doesn’t know when the next time he will get to see Luhan or even Jongin will be so he should make the most of this moment.
“He said he was but he might have been lying to me.”Luhan says.
“He seemed pretty excited on Monday when he asked me to come here.” Sehun says.
“We broke up Tuesday.” Luhan says sadly. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
Silence fills the air between the three of them. Sehun doesn’t know what to say and Jongin is too busy staring at a girl across the room who isn’t wearing a top.
Luhan follows Jongin’s gaze. “Go Jongin you know you want to. I just hope she slaps you in the face for being a pervert.”
“Girls can’t resist all of this.” Jongin says posing. “I’ll talk to you two later though.” Jongin leaves the two of them with a small wave.
Luhan and Sehun both stay quiet for a little bit.The two of them used to be really close but then Sehun ruined it all with his stupid feelings. Now they are two strangers.
“So,” Luhan says slowly trying to make things less awkward. “How have you been?”
“Good considering.” Sehun answers.
“Yeah same here I suppose. I mean besides the thing with Minseok things haven’t been all that bad.” Luhan says. “I graduated, did Jongin tell you?”
Sehun shakes his head and is about to speak but someone cuts him off before he gets the chance.
“Luhan! Come here.” They yell.
Luhan rolls his eyes. “The host of the party is always needed,” he says. “It was nice talking with you Sehun.” Luhan smiles before he leaves.
Sehun looks around the room searching for Tao but he can’t find him. He has to be inside by now it’s been almost twenty minutes and it’s freezing outside.
Sehun gives Tao another ten minutes before he starts to really worry. He finds Jongin in the crowd talking to some of his co-workers.
“Jongin have you see the guy I came here with?” Sehun asks pulling Jongin aside.
Jongin shakes his head. “The last time I saw him was when he told you he was going outside for air.”
Sehun doesn’t stick around to hear what else Jongin says. He only has one thing on his mind.
Sehun’s phone rings from his pocket. He fishes it out quickly. “Tao, where are you?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t go far from the party but it’s a whiteout, I got lost. Sehun my battery is going to die, the cold drained it.” Tao says through shivers.
“Tao where are you?” Sehun asks frantically. He is shoving his arms into the sleeves of his coat as fast as he can.
“I don’t know. Sehun my batt--” The line goes dead.
Sehun panics and rushes out into the blizzard with only finding Tao on his mind at this point. He doesn’t even care that he isn’t dressed for the weather like he should be. Sehun doesn’t have time to search for his hat in the pile.
Sehun starts walking.
Sehun doesn't get very far when he sees how Tao got lost. He’s only a few dozen steps from the house but he can’t even see the lights from the party anymore. The snow is heavy and with the wind it’s impossible to see where you’re going or where you came from.
Sehun walks straight, or at least he hopes straight, for a few minutes, or maybe longer he’s not sure anymore.
Sehun doesn’t come across any other people, he’s the only one, well him and Tao are the only ones stupid enough to venture out during the blizzard at almost midnight.
Sehun searches, or well at least tries to search. He realizes too late that maybe he should have asked Jongin or Luhan or anyone to help him out because it was a terrible idea coming out here, especially alone.
Sehun walks forward for another few minutes but he knows he made a huge mistake.
Sehun pulls his phone out of his pocket and quickly calls Jongin. It takes him almost a full minute before he’s able to press Jongin’s name on his phone because his fingers are so cold.
“Sehun where are you?” Jongin demands upon answering.
“I,” Sehun has a violent attack of shivering. “I went out looking for Tao.”
“You’re so fucking stupid. Where are you?” Jongin sounds pissed.
Sehun’s whole body shivers violently and he loses grip of his phone.
“Shit.” he says aloud.
Sehun gets down on his hands and knees and searches for his phone but it’s beneath the snow and he doesn’t have gloves on to dig it out.
Real fear finally sets in. Sehun swallows his panic and gets back on his feet.
Sehun is lost in his own city with no phone and no idea how to get back to Luhan’s house. He doesn’t have gloves and his toes and ears are painfully cold. He doesn’t know what to do.
Sehun walks still, his only option really. He can’t turn back now and it’s better if he keeps moving. Maybe by some miracle Sehun will make it back to his apartment building where it’s warm and safe. Tao is probably there right now making some hot soup to warm up from the walk.
▲▼▲
Sehun walks for god only knows how long before the shivering has become so bad that Sehun can barely walk in a straight line. He keeps having to remind himself of what he is doing because he keeps forgetting. His mind is wandering and he knows something it really wrong with him.
Sehun can feel that he is dying slowly, becoming hypothermic with each passing minute but there isn’t a thing he can do about it. It’s too late to enter a shop, the remaining open ones aren’t in this part of the city and they’re rare anyway.
Another half an hour or maybe less, Sehun isn’t sure, he stops walking and sits down on the sidewalk. There isn’t anything he can do. He’s going to die out here.
Tao is probably dead too, unless he managed to make it to shelter. Sehun hopes that against all odds Tao is safe and warm right now unlike himself.
Sehun shuts his eyes feeling suddenly warm all over. He feels like he is sitting in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate between his hands. He smiles to himself enjoying the warmth even if it isn’t real.
He loses consciousness with a smile painted on his lips.
▲▼▲
Sehun peels his eyes open slowly. His head is pounding and he can’t remember anything. Arms encircle his waist but Sehun has no idea who they belong to or how they even got there in the first place.
“You’re awake.” A soft voice says hot breath ghosts on the shell of Sehun’s ear.
Sehun would recognize that voice anywhere.
“Tao,” he breathes. “You’re alright.” Sehun slowly rolls over to his other side so that he is face to face with Tao. “Are we dead?”
Tao laughs. “No Sehun we’re very much still alive. This is your bed.”
Sehun lifts his head and looks around his familiar room. “What happened?” he asks.
Tao closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “I stupidly wandered off into the blizzard and then I called you for help. My battery died but according to Jongin you went out looking for me without telling anyone,” Tao looks worried for a second before going on. “I guess you got lost out there. You were dying when me and the police found you.”
Sehun tries to remember but the last thing he can remember is talking to Luhan and Jongin at the party, nothing else. “What happened to you?”
“When Jongin called the police they went out searching, they found me first, I was five minutes from Luhan’s house. Five minutes” A tears trickles from the corner of Tao’s eye. “I almost got you killed and I was right by the house.”
Sehun says nothing as he pulls Tao to his chest.
“Shh. I’m fine,” he says when Tao still hasn’t stopped crying after a few minutes have passed. “I’m right here nothing happened to me.” he reassures.
“But it could have Sehun and it would’ve been my fault. When we found you, you were almost dead.” Tao says shakily through his tears.
“Tao stop.”
“Sehun, I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had died. I love you.”
Sehun tightens his arms around Tao. “Tao, I love you too.” he whispers. The words are true even if it has only been two weeks.
Tao leans into Sehun slowly. He gently places his lips against Sehun’s.
Sehun isn’t having gentle kisses though, not after what they had just gone through. He deepens the kiss his tongue making it’s way into Tao’s mouth as he pushes Tao onto his back.
Sehun breaks away and stares down at Tao taking in his whole body.
Tao smiles brightly, beaming like the sun that’s been hidden behind grey clouds for so long. “I guess I’m not moving out too soon.” Tao says with a smirk.
Sehun leans down and kisses Tao with all the emotions of their new found love.
▲▼▲
Epilogue: six months later
The blizzard hasn’t stopped and it only made things more difficult for the world but Sehun couldn’t care less.
As long as he has Tao he doesn’t pay much attention to the snow.
Tao managed to bribe Minseok into letting him work at the coffee house with Sehun, which was a terrible idea. Every time there’s a slow spot during their work day Sehun and Tao sneak off to the backroom to make out. Minseok has had to yell at them over twenty times in the first week alone.
Sehun doesn’t have to shovel the roof as much as he had to before. Kris and his “friend” Yixing do it along with Sehun and Tao. It gets shoveled four times a day and no one worries about the roof collapsing half as much as they had before. Four shovelers it better than one by far.
Jongin tries to visit Sehun as much as he could and Sehun did the same. Tao and Jongin got along well and became friends which of course made Sehun slightly jealous but he got over it quickly.
Their lives are all difficult but they continue to live on changing when the weather requires them to change but staying true to themselves.
END
A/N: I don't even know what this is tbh. I think there are some issues with the timeline though I am not sure. :/