Broadcast Quality for admortems
Title: Broadcast Quality
For: admortems
Pairing: Baekhyun/Kris, minor!Sulli/Krystal
Rating: NC-17
Length: 5,808
Summary: In which Baekhyun and Krystal are ultra diva, mega bitches, and Kris is just trying to be a producer (who does not have any digestive problems, thankyouverymuch).
------------------
“You can do this,” Kris said seriously, meeting dark eyes in the mirror, “You're totally ready. This is why you went to college. This is what all of those terrible jobs were preparing you for. You're qualified.”
Taking a deep breath and trying to smile (though it came out looking suspiciously like a grimace), he tore his gaze from his own reflection and picked up his shoulder bag. Glancing around his apartment, Kris tried to think if there was anything he forgot.
Cell phone, check. Laptop, check. Wallet, check. Notebook, check. Pen, check. Painkillers (just in case), check. Ipod (for the commute), check.
He was pretty sure that was everything.
His apartment might have been kind of a wreck (he'd changed shirts four times and then he'd changed his pants at the last minute), but he was as prepared as he could be. It was going to be fine.
So with a final glance at the coffee mug and cereal bowl in the kitchen sink and the pair of pants on the kitchen floor, Kris stepped out of his apartment and toward his first real producing job.
---
“Omo! Have you seen the new producer?” Sulli asked, bursting into the dressing room where Krystal was doing Baekhyun's makeup.
“Oh yeah, it's the new guy's first day, isn't it?” Baekhyun mused disinterestedly, glancing at Sulli in the mirror as she returned to steaming the dress shirt that Baekhyun was to wear for the broadcast that evening.
“Well, he's really handsome, I'll say that,” Sulli giggled, turning a grin on him before she focused on her task again.
“Your girlfriend is so pleased to hear you say that,” Krystal said drily, rolling her eyes as she worked product through Baekhyun's hair.
“Yes, by saying that he's handsome, I'm practically licking him,” Sulli laughed, theatrically grabbing Krystal's ass on her way out of the room.
Krystal huffed and rolled her eyes again for good measure even though Sulli was already out of the room.
Baekhyun would have rolled his eyes, but it seemed like Krystal had that covered, so instead he sighed.
“I hear this is his first real job,” Baekhyun said, closing his eyes so Krystal could apply a light layer of eyeshadow to his lids, “I hope he's competent at least.”
Baekhyun didn't give the new producer another thought until he was on his way to the set, hair and makeup done and dressed in a neatly pressed suit.
“Baekhyun!” the assistant producer called, grabbing his attention. Baekhyun looked over to see Amber standing next to a tall man with severe brows and dyed blonde hair. The man looked a little like he was in pain when he attempted to smile at Baekhyun. Digestive problems maybe?
“Baekhyun, this is Kris, the new producer,” Amber said, “Kris, you know who Baekhyun is, I presume.” She laughed as Kris stuck out a monstrous hand to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, doing that kind of smiling thing again.
“You too,” Baekhyun replied, his on camera smile in place- just genuine enough without making him look like a kid like his real smile did.
“I'm just giving Kris the full tour,” Amber told him, “And then he'll observe tonight's broadcast.”
Baekhyun nodded like that might have interested him, itching to go grab a cup of coffee before he had to be on set.
“It was nice to meet you, Baekhyun,” Kris said again and Baekhyun returned the sentiment before hurrying away in search of caffeine.
---
Kris had watched from beside Amber as the evening news was filmed and aired live all over the country. He'd watched live broadcasts before at his previous jobs, but knowing that he would be producing this show- that his name would be in the credits starting the following day- had him sucking in a deep breath before he started panicking or laughing or something equally embarrassing.
Seeing Baekhyun do his job live was nearly as exciting as it had been to see his favorite band live when he was sixteen (with less headbanging, of course). He wasn't exactly as he was on screen in real life, but his professionalism on camera was no less impressive. Even coming into the job, Baekhyun had been one of his favorite news anchors, which was a normal thing to have in the industry he was in. And it wasn't just because the other man was totally Kris' type. Or at least, that wasn't the only reason.
Baekhyun working for this network had been one of the reasons that he'd been so excited about landing this job. Though it wouldn't do to be starstruck while he was trying to do his job.
Which was why he was trying to forget that Baekhyun was sitting right there while he stood in front of a room full of employees, ready to introduce himself and express his gratitude for getting this job and how he hoped to make an even better show together, blah blah blah.
He'd been a good public speaker in college, but this was a lot more intimidating than presenting something to a room of twenty year olds who were only half listening.
“Hi everyone,” he began, picturing the speech he'd written out over and over in his head, “I'm Kris and I'm very happy to meet you all.
Amber was grinning at him from her seat while Baekhyun picked at some fuzz on his shirt. But that was better than the way the girl next to Baekhyun was glaring at him. Had he even met her yet?
“I am honored to be working here and I have a lot of ideas...”
---
“Did you see the way he carefully looked at every single person when he talked?” Baekhyun asked Krystal the next night as she straightened a section of his hair, “Like, he was going through a mental checklist of things to do while giving a professional speech.”
Krystal nodded, hissing when the edge of the straightener bumped against her finger, “He was so stiff,” she agreed, “I don't see what's so great about him. He's not nearly as good looking as Sulli let on.”
“He's inexperienced so he's overcompensating with professionalism,” Baekhyun complained, “It's so obvious that this is his first real job.”
“No, but really, he's not that handsome, right?” Krystal pressed, working some wax into Baekhyun's bangs to make them stay in place.
“You're more handsome than he is,” Baekhyun teased, knowing exactly what Krystal was getting at and ducking when Krystal made to smack him on the back of the head, “But seriously, you're more of a catch than he is. At least you don't look constipated.”
Krystal snorted out a laugh, going back to styling Baekhyun's hair rather than threatening violence.
“Have you noticed that?” Baekhyun asked, enjoying Krystal's positive reaction to the observation, “How he looks like he's in pain when he smiles? I think he must have some intestinal issues.”
Krystal giggled indulgently behind her hand, pleased, and Baekhyun grinned at her in the mirror.
His previously sour mood was lifting. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
---
Kris had been working as the producer for the five o'clock news for two weeks now and he'd learned a few things.
1) Amber was more of a bro than any of his male friends and she'd taken it upon herself to become Kris' personal cheerleader.
2) Krystal from makeup and Sulli from wardrobe were dating. Krystal also seemed to hate him for no reason whatsoever. At least, he couldn't figure it out for the life of him. He'd mostly just given up trying.
3) The coffee was good as long that skinny intern with the lack of emotional range didn't make it.
And finally:
4) He and Baekhyun weren't going to be friends because it seemed that Baekhyun was perpetually unimpressed with his existence.
It was somewhat disappointing, sure, given that he'd have liked to be friends with the anchor, but it wasn't anything he couldn't live with. However, Baekhyun's attitude toward him was going to prove to be very inconvenient when Kris approached him after filming to make a suggestion.
He had a feeling that it wasn't going to go over well.
---
“Why would I do that?” Baekhyun asked, probably looking at Kris like he'd suggested that he wear women's clothing on air.
Kris' eyebrows were drawn together before he carefully smoothed his facial features out. For some reason, that just annoyed Baekhyun even more.
“I've just noticed, since coming to work here, that you hold yourself back on air a lot,” he said carefully, “I think you could relax a little and people might even like you more.”
Baekhyun had painstakingly crafted an image for himself when he'd started working as a news anchor. Studies showed that he was the most popular news anchor by far among women 40-65 years old. He knew what it was that they were looking for- a charming young man that they'd be happy for their daughters to bring home that they also might find a little handsome. If (when, really) he met them in person, he'd flirt a little, just enough to get them to laugh, both pleased and embarrassed by his smile directed at them. It had been working, so Baekhyun couldn't figure out why Kris was talking to him like he needed to improve- like he was incompetent and inexperienced.
“I don't really want to put all my faith in might,” Baekhyun snapped disdainfully, “I know what I'm doing. Thanks.”
Baekhyun didn't care that Kris looked like he was about to refute what Baekhyun had said. He could practically see the apology on Kris' lips. But he could also see the but.
Without another word, Baekhyun spun on his heel and walked briskly down the hall, not wanting to stick around so Kris could pull rank on him. He was the one who'd been working here longer. He shouldn't have to listen to some insecure newbie. So he wouldn't. It was that simple.
---
Kris' talk (if it could even be called that) the previous day hadn't gone well. He wasn't surprised, but...what was so offensive about telling Baekhyun that he could be himself on air? It was basically just Kris telling him, “I like your real smile better than your fake one,” only in a more professional way.
But Kris knew that Baekhyun took his job very seriously and that he had a lot of pride in what he did. He could kind of understand that it would be hard to take advice from a person who'd really only just started working with him.
What he needed to do was find Baekhyun and, hopefully, talk to him before the show that night. If Baekhyun didn't want to take his suggestion, fine, but it wouldn't do to have the other man seething about the interaction yesterday. Left alone, their already rocky professional relationship could really go to hell.
Kris hovered outside Baekhyun's dressing room door, getting ready to knock when he heard his name. He knew he should just knock, but the temptation to listen was too great.
“Can you believe that?” Kris heard Baekhyun say, sounding positively affronted, “Mr. I-google-how-to-talk-to-my-employees is telling me how to do my job? Excuse me, but I think I know more about what people are looking for than he does.”
Kris frowned.
“He certainly doesn't have anything to complain about, what with the ratings you bring in,” he heard another voice add. He was pretty sure it was Krystal.
“Right?!” Baekhyun replied immediately, “I feel like he's just making random suggestions so it looks like he's doing something, when in reality, he has no idea what to do.”
Krystal agreeing was the last thing Kris heard as he walked away, able to feel anger rolling through him. He could respect that Baekhyun's opinion on his public image differed from his own, but to trash talk him to other staff members was unacceptable.
Kris closed the door to his office behind him and raked a hand through his hair, forcing himself to take a few deep breaths. It would do him no good to get worked up, but it was so frustrating to have someone undermine his authority when he'd been working so hard to prove himself.
This couldn't go on. Baekhyun couldn't keep talking about him like he was incompetent to people that he worked with. If he did, it wouldn't be long before any respect they might have had for Kris would be gone.
Maybe a quick chat before going live wasn't a good idea. This was a conversation that was going to take more time and need more privacy than that.
Resolving to ask Baekhyun to dinner to discuss their issues, Kris left his office. He had a job to do, after all.
---
Baekhyun watched as Kris slid into the booth across from him, smiling at him in that courteous way that made Baekhyun want to punch him in the jaw.
He was surprised to have gotten to the restaurant first since it had been Kris to invite him and Kris just seemed like the type to be early. But evidently Kris was the type to be exactly on time, while Baekhyun was in the habit of arriving five minutes early for nearly everything.
He'd been positively dumbfounded when Kris had asked him to dinner the day prior. When he'd cornered him, Baekhyun had expected to be reprimanded for not taking Kris' suggestion. He had definitely not been expecting an invitation to dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in town (Kris had promised that he'd pay, but Baekhyun intended to pay for his part of the bill- he wasn't a total dick).
Despite the fact that it was to discuss work, sitting there with Kris as they both sipped at their waters felt strangely personal.
“The reason I asked you to dinner,” Kris finally said after the waiter had taken their orders, “Isn't because you didn't like my suggestion the other day.”
Baekhyun felt himself frowning. If that wasn't why, then-
“I was coming to talk to you about that yesterday and I heard you talking to Krystal about me.”
...Oh. Baekhyun actually felt himself flush at that. He knew that bitching about Kris like he had been was extremely unprofessional, but he'd just been so angry! He'd needed to vent his frustrations to someone and he'd known that Krystal would be willing to indulge him since she was still holding some pointless grudge against Kris because Sulli thought that he was handsome. He'd never intended for anyone other than Krystal to hear him, least of all Kris.
“You are entitled to your own opinion, but I take issue with you speaking badly about me to the other staff members,” Kris was saying evenly, and god, didn't he ever just get angry?
“Look,” Baekhyun started, feeling as annoyed with Kris' staunch professionalism as he was embarrassed by his own behavior, “I shouldn't have said those things about your digestive problems-”
“What about digestive problems?” Kris interrupted, eyebrows looking even more like a cartoon villain's than usual.
“Er...” Baekhyun cleared his throat awkwardly, “anyway, I shouldn't have been talking about you like that, but just so you know, it's just Krystal that I spoke to. I'm not so unprofessional as to spread rumors about you or something.”
Kris sighed and took a gulp of water and Baekhyun found himself watching the other man's throat as he swallowed.
“You really haven't complained to anyone besides Krystal?” he asked, looking tired.
Baekhyun quickly shook his head, feeling a bit sorry for the man in front of him for the first time. It must have been hard coming into a new job and having to prove himself to a large staff who'd been doing fine before he'd arrived.
“I'd really appreciate it if you didn't talk behind my back,” Kris told him, looking him in the eye and Baekhyun found himself readily agreeing, despite the fact that he'd really miss gossiping with Krystal about the different ways that Kris looked like he was constipated during the work day.
Kris nodded in response, eagerly testing the red wine that he'd ordered a bottle of when the waiter brought it over.
They were silent as they sipped from their respective glasses and Baekhyun could feel the tension between them in the tightness of all of his muscles.
“Why does Krystal hate me?” Kris asked out of the blue and Baekhyun nearly jumped in surprise at the sudden question before he laughed, watching as Kris raised his eyebrows while he waited for an answer.
“Sulli said that you were handsome on your first day, so Krystal hates you on principle,” he explained, watching as Kris' brows climbed even higher on his forehead, “Oh, they're dating, Krystal and Sulli, if you didn't know.”
“I knew, but...really? That's it? That's why she doesn't like me?”
Kris looked so thrown off that Baekhyun was taken by anther wave of mirth that had him leaning back in his chair as he laughed.
“Guess I can't really do anything to fix that,” Kris said with a wry smile and Baekhyun found that he already liked Kris more now that he was showing real person emotion instead of just the practiced calmness of a businessman who was afraid to show his true self in fear that his employees wouldn't take him seriously.
“What? About being handsome?” Baekhyun asked with a grin, “No, probably not.”
“Oh, you think I'm handsome?” Kris fired back immediately, smile stretching wide and showing his gums.
Baekhyun's mouth hung open as he tried to think of a way to backtrack, but Kris was already laughing at him, looking inordinately pleased by the idea that Baekhyun might find him attractive.
“Just don't tell Krystal,” Baekhyun finally said, chuckling even as he felt his cheeks heat, “Loyalty and all that.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Kris told him, eyes sparkling in amusement.
“It's not a secret,” Baekhyun protested, trying to fight off the mortification that was spreading through his limbs like the alcohol that was coursing through his veins.
“You tell lots of people that you think I'm handsome?” Kris asked, cocky smirk on his face. And wow, if he acted like the cocky sonofabitch that he seemed to actually be, people would take him way more seriously.
“Oh fuck off, you know that's not what I meant,” Baekhyun scoffed before freezing upon the realization that he'd basically just told his boss to fuck off.
But before he could apologize Kris was cracking up and clapping his giant hands together in amusement.
Baekhyun found himself unable to stop from laughing along. Maybe dinner wasn't going to be as painful as he'd thought.
---
Kris didn't know how to explain how he'd ended up pulling Baekhyun into a cab with him and giving the driver his address. He knew that they'd both had nearly a bottle of wine each (yeah, he probably shouldn't have ordered that second bottle) and that he'd been attracted to Baekhyun since before he'd even started working with him, but that really wasn't enough to justify the way he had Baekhyun stretched out across his bed after practically tearing his clothes off the moment they stepped into his apartment.
This was all probably extremely unprofessional (psh, probably- he knew it was), but was he honestly supposed to care when he had Baekhyun spreading his plush thighs and arching into the kisses that Kris was peppering over his torso? Because he didn't. All he cared about was the little whimpering sounds that Baekhyun made whenever he'd slide a hand over his hip and nearly touch his cock, hard and dripping a trail of precum onto his stomach, but not quite.
“Kris, fuck, are you serious,” Baekhyun complained, hips twitching and hand reaching out to attempt to grab Kris' wrist to guide his touch where he wanted it.
Easily evading Baekhyun's grasp, Kris smirked, leaning over to look at Baekhyun's face- brows drawn together and lips parted and shiny form their desperate kisses in the cab ride on the way here, the elevator ride up, and those first few fumbling steps into the apartment.
“I'm your boss, you know,” he told him, enjoying the rush of power that was whirling through him at having Baekhyun pliant and desperate for him.
“Not true,” Baekhyun argued even as he tried to press his erection against Kris' hip, “The network is both of our bosses and they'd fire you before they'd fire me.”
It was probably true, honestly. Baekhyun had proven himself to the network over the past few years while Kris was, at this point, still expendable. But still. That wasn't the point.
“You're still supposed to listen to me,” Kris said.
“And what happens if it don't?” Baekhyun challenged, a defiant shit even when he was aching for Kris to fuck him.
Kris grabbed his cock roughly, squeezing just this side of uncomfortable and bringing his thumb up to slide through the moisture gathered on the head.
“You'll jerk me off?” Baekhyun asked breathlessly, half smirking even as he pushed his length into the circle of Kris' fist, “I guess I'll just have to keep defying you then.”
Kris scoffed and rolled his eyes, though he kept his long fingers wrapped around Baekhyun's dick, enjoying the little whines that Baekhyun was trying to swallow with each flick of his wrist too much to stop.
“Is it that bad if I like your real smile better than your on screen one?” he asked, not thinking about anything other than the trembling body beneath his and the ache in his own groin.
Baekhyun's eyes flashed with something that Kris was in no state to analyze before he'd shut his eyes and gasped at the feel of Kris' fingers trailing over his entrance.
It wasn't long before Kris was three fingers deep in the smaller man, twisting his wrist and watching Baekhyun writhe and groan, telling him to hurry the fuck up.
Slicking himself up, Kris eyed Baekhyun spread out for him, eyes begging him to hurry up as his thin fingers worked over his own cock, lower lip clamped hard between his teeth. With a hand on Baekhyun's thigh to hold steady, Kris pressed in- moving forward smoothly until his hips were against Baekhyun's ass.
“Move,” Baekhyun grunted, the hand on his erection that had stilled for the slide in moving again.
Kris wanted to make a comment about Baekhyun giving orders when he should have been taking them, but the feel of tight muscle clenching around his dick was enough to have him forgetting about any good-natured jibes he'd wanted to make in favor of pulling his hips back only to snap them forward again, pulling a gorgeous moan out of Baekhyun's throat.
It was probably only a couple of minutes before Kris felt the tug in his abdomen signaling his impending release, and while he might have been worried about coming too soon, he could see the way Baekhyun's hand was flying over his cock- hips jerking against Kris' thrusts like he had no control of the movement.
“Are you close?” he managed to ask, panting as he watched Baekhyun's lust fogged eyes focus on his face.
“Yeah,” Baekhyun gasped, squeezing Kris's hips with his muscular thighs and urging him faster.
It was with a broken groan that Kris came, his dick twitching as he emptied himself into Baekhyun.
Kris opened his eyes in time to see Baekhyun grit his teeth and shoot over his stomach and chest, elegant fingers milking out every last drop before he let his arm fall to the side- his body going limp.
With the satisfaction from his release sinking into his bones along with the alcohol in his system, Kris only managed to roll off Baekhyun and get his head on a pillow before he was asleep.
---
“So you just left?” Chanyeol asked in disbelief, mouth hanging open unattractively, “Before he'd even woken up?”
“I didn't know what else to do!” Baekhyun exclaimed, making dramatic flailing motions with his arms to illustrate his distress.
“You could have, you know, stayed,” Chanyeol pointed out with a shrug. Baekhyun rolled his eyes so hard it almost gave him a headache.
“Gee, you think? I hadn't considered that,” he intoned sarcastically.
“I'm just saying,” Chanyeol said, hands up in surrender.
“But what am I gonna do tomorrow at work?” Baekhyun wailed, tugging at his hair as he collapsed on Chanyeol's couch, nearly managing to sit on a bag of chips.
“If you'd just stayed, you wouldn't have had to worry about this,” Chanyeol told him, taking a drink from the can of soda in his hand.
Baekhyun narrowed his eyes at his best friend.
“No shit.”
Chanyeol shrugged and moved to turn on the TV.
Baekhyun whined, flopping against Chanyeol's bigger frame before deciding that he was too bony and sitting up again.
When he'd woken up that morning in Kris' bed...naked, he'd panicked.- memories of the previous night coming back at rapid speed. Before he'd even had a chance to think things through, he had gotten dressed and was out the door, speed walking toward the subway.
The twenty minute ride back to his apartment gave him time to reflect on what happened between himself and Kris- remembering how different Kris had been at dinner as opposed to how he was at work. The Kris from the previous evening was the kind of guy that Baekhyun could fall for. But what an absurd thought to have about Kris, his boss...kinda.
And then there were the recollections that had him flushing and trying not to get worked up on the train. There was no denying that the sex had been amazing.
But...
“Stop picturing your boss naked,” Chanyeol suddenly said very loudly right next to Baekhyun's ear.
“Yah! I wasn't, pervert,” he replied, turning and socking Chanyeol in the arm hard enough to hurt.
No, he wasn't picturing that. Those particular images were best saved for a time when he was alone.
---
“And when I woke up, he was gone,” Kris finished, looking beseechingly at his friend across the cafe table.
“Maybe you imagined the whole thing,” Lu Han finally said, taking a leisurely sip of his coffee.
“I did not imagine-”
“He's been your wet dream for who knows how long-”
“He isn't...Lu Han!” Kris interrupted, scowling, “The problem that I need help with is what to do at work tomorrow when I see him.”
“Why don't you just call him now?” Lu Han suggested, “Get everything sorted out before you get to work?”
“I don't have his number,” Kris said through gritted teeth.
“Whoa, no need to look at me like that. It's not my fault you don't have his number,” Lu Han pointed out.
Kris let out a frustrated sigh.
“Look, you obviously like him,” Lu Han said after another minute of Kris glowering at his coffee.
“So?”
“So,” Lu Han parroted, “I think you already know what you're going to do. I don't know why you're asking me.”
“I can't just go up to him and tell him that I like him and that I hope we can repeat last night's performance infinite times in the future,” Kris hissed.
“Why not? That's what I'd do,” Lu Han grinned, “Except I wouldn't pussyfoot around saying that I wanted to bang the guy again.”
“But he left,” Kris argued, choosing to ignore Lu Han's personal opinions on what was acceptable behavior for human beings, “If he doesn't want anything to do with me-”
“Then he's already fucked because you're his boss.”
“But my asking could ruin our work relationship-”
“Which is already down the drain because you fucked him,” Lu Han finished for him, “Just talk to him.”
Kris knew that he could either speak to Baekhyun tomorrow or he could wait a few days, during which he went crazy, and then talk to him. The choice was pretty clear.
“So did he live up to your fantasies?” Lu Han asked, apparently having decided that the problem was solved.
“There were no fantasies-”
“Aw, c'mon,” Lu Han cajoled, “You never watched him on the news and imagined him sucking your dick?”
“No!”
“Why not? I have,” Lu Han shrugged.
“You know what? Let's just drop it,” Kris suggested.
Lu Han was silent for a moment before asking, “So did he suck you off?”
Kris let his head thunk against the tabletop.
---
Baekhyun felt like he was running from the law on Monday at work with the way he checked around corners before turning down any hallways. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Kris. Because, in all honesty, he kind of really did. But running into him while he was getting ready to go on air seemed like a bad idea.
Baekhyun was almost amazed that he was able to avoid Kris all the way up until he was sitting behind the news desk, watching the countdown until they went live. But right then, with six seconds left, Baekhyun caught sight of Kris with his headset on standing right next to the close-up camera. And he was looking right at Baekhyun.
Baekhyun felt his stomach knot itself in just the split second before he looked away, having been able to see Kris' lips start to curve up into a smile. Not no, not right now. Right now, Baekhyun needed to focus on his job. No matter how much he kind of wanted to look over and see Kris' ridiculous grin.
---
Kris had seen Baekhyun trying to be stealthy before the show that evening, but rather than call him out on it, Kris decided to just let him be. As much as he was dying to demand to know why Baekhyun had left without waking him up and why he was avoiding him now, he knew that now wasn't the right time. Not when they had a show to do.
But as soon as Kris had seen Baekhyun emerging from his dressing room in his street clothes, he'd fallen into step with him (and from the looks of it, scared the shit out of him) and calmly asked him to come to his office.
With the door shit, Kris imagined that he could hear his own heart beat echoing against the white walls of the room. And Baekhyun looking like a deer caught in the headlights only served to heighten his nerves.
He just needed to stay calm and not freak Baekhyun out.
“Why did you sneak out?” he blurted before he could stop himself.
Baekhyun visibly winced, though whether it was from the straightforward question or because he'd been called out, Kris didn't know.
Baekhyun chuckled nervously.
“I panicked?” he said, voice going up at the end of the statement like a question.
Kris raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't been expecting such an honest answer. Unless it was along the lines of because that was a giant mistake and I wanted to get the hell out of there.
“Why did you panic?” Kris asked, steepling his fingers with his elbows resting on the desk. He could work with this.
“You're being the weird businessman again!” Baekhyun exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
Kris couldn't help the laugh that escaped at that, immediately relaxing his posture.
“Better,” Baekhyun grinned and Kris felt affection flare in his chest.
“But really, Baekhyun,” Kris asked again, “Why did you panic?”
“Why wouldn't I panic?” he challenged, half laughing, “We work together, you're kind of my boss, we hated each other up until two days ago...”
“Did we?” Kris questioned.
“Did we what?”
“Did we hate each other?”
Baekhyun frowned like he didn't know what Kris was getting at, “Well, I mean, I thought you were attractive, but we didn't get along.”
“I wasn't fishing for that, but thank you,” Kris grinned, “I was asking because I didn't hate you. I think that was a one-sided emotion.”
“Oh,” Baekhyun looked sheepish.
“But that doesn't really matter now since, as I am to understand, we don't hate each other anymore?”
Baekhyun snorted, “Right.”
“So the real question is if you don't hate me enough to maybe come to dinner with me again tonight?”
Baekhyun's eyes widened, his mouth falling open before he laughed.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Kris nodded, unable to squelch the hope blossoming in his chest at Baekhyun's seemingly positive reaction, “And not for work, this time.”
“So the weird businessman persona isn't coming?” Baekhyun teased and Kris rolled his eyes fondly.
“No, he's not.”
---
“Kris has been looking less constipated lately, don't you think?” Krystal asked Baekhyun while she applied translucent powder to his face.
“About that...”
“Oh my god!” she gasped, stepping back to look Baekhyun in the eye, “You're fucking him, aren't you?!”
“I know I'm supposed to hate him on principle with you and everything, but-”
“You're fucking,” Krystal finished drily, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
Baekhyun waited for Krystal to tell him that he was sleeping with the enemy or something, but instead she smirked.
“Can't say I didn't see it coming.”
“Wait, what?”
“Please,” Krystal rolled her eyes and continued applying Baekhyun's makeup, “He's exactly your type and the sexual tension between the two of you has been through the roof since day one.”
Baekhyun gaped until Krystal repositioned his mouth to apply lip gloss.
“So you're not mad?” Baekhyun finally decided to ask.
“Better him fucking you than Sulli,” she shrugged.
“I was never going to fuck Sulli, just to be clear,” Kris announced as he let himself into Baekhyun's dressing room. Krystal flushed as Baekhyun laughed.
“Kris, you're not supposed to just barge into people's dressing rooms!” Baekhyun admonished, mock-scandalized, “What if I had been changing?!”
Kris rolled his eyes and didn't even justify Baekhyun with a response.
“I just came in here to show you this.”
With that, he dropped a newspaper clipping into Baekhyun's lap.
The headline read: News anchor gets record ratings for network with just a smile.
“I'm not even going to bother gloating,” Kris said on his way out the door.
“Krystal, tell Sulli she can have him,” Baekhyun said loudly enough for Kris to hear.
“No way,” Krystal immediately replied, “You're stuck with him.”
Baekhyun scowled at Kris' laughter from the hall before yelling, “Yeah, well, at least people didn't think I looked constipated before!”
Krystal nearly toppled into the vanity from laughing when the intern with emoting problems walked by and shot Baekhyun a weird look through the open door.
But hey. Baekhyun couldn't really complain. His ratings were higher than ever and he got to go home with his very attractive kind-of boss. Things were looking pretty good for him. Even if said kind-of boss looked like he had digestive issues sometimes. It was only sometimes, after all.
a/n: I know nothing about the inner workings of news stations. At all.
For: admortems
Pairing: Baekhyun/Kris, minor!Sulli/Krystal
Rating: NC-17
Length: 5,808
Summary: In which Baekhyun and Krystal are ultra diva, mega bitches, and Kris is just trying to be a producer (who does not have any digestive problems, thankyouverymuch).
------------------
“You can do this,” Kris said seriously, meeting dark eyes in the mirror, “You're totally ready. This is why you went to college. This is what all of those terrible jobs were preparing you for. You're qualified.”
Taking a deep breath and trying to smile (though it came out looking suspiciously like a grimace), he tore his gaze from his own reflection and picked up his shoulder bag. Glancing around his apartment, Kris tried to think if there was anything he forgot.
Cell phone, check. Laptop, check. Wallet, check. Notebook, check. Pen, check. Painkillers (just in case), check. Ipod (for the commute), check.
He was pretty sure that was everything.
His apartment might have been kind of a wreck (he'd changed shirts four times and then he'd changed his pants at the last minute), but he was as prepared as he could be. It was going to be fine.
So with a final glance at the coffee mug and cereal bowl in the kitchen sink and the pair of pants on the kitchen floor, Kris stepped out of his apartment and toward his first real producing job.
---
“Omo! Have you seen the new producer?” Sulli asked, bursting into the dressing room where Krystal was doing Baekhyun's makeup.
“Oh yeah, it's the new guy's first day, isn't it?” Baekhyun mused disinterestedly, glancing at Sulli in the mirror as she returned to steaming the dress shirt that Baekhyun was to wear for the broadcast that evening.
“Well, he's really handsome, I'll say that,” Sulli giggled, turning a grin on him before she focused on her task again.
“Your girlfriend is so pleased to hear you say that,” Krystal said drily, rolling her eyes as she worked product through Baekhyun's hair.
“Yes, by saying that he's handsome, I'm practically licking him,” Sulli laughed, theatrically grabbing Krystal's ass on her way out of the room.
Krystal huffed and rolled her eyes again for good measure even though Sulli was already out of the room.
Baekhyun would have rolled his eyes, but it seemed like Krystal had that covered, so instead he sighed.
“I hear this is his first real job,” Baekhyun said, closing his eyes so Krystal could apply a light layer of eyeshadow to his lids, “I hope he's competent at least.”
Baekhyun didn't give the new producer another thought until he was on his way to the set, hair and makeup done and dressed in a neatly pressed suit.
“Baekhyun!” the assistant producer called, grabbing his attention. Baekhyun looked over to see Amber standing next to a tall man with severe brows and dyed blonde hair. The man looked a little like he was in pain when he attempted to smile at Baekhyun. Digestive problems maybe?
“Baekhyun, this is Kris, the new producer,” Amber said, “Kris, you know who Baekhyun is, I presume.” She laughed as Kris stuck out a monstrous hand to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, doing that kind of smiling thing again.
“You too,” Baekhyun replied, his on camera smile in place- just genuine enough without making him look like a kid like his real smile did.
“I'm just giving Kris the full tour,” Amber told him, “And then he'll observe tonight's broadcast.”
Baekhyun nodded like that might have interested him, itching to go grab a cup of coffee before he had to be on set.
“It was nice to meet you, Baekhyun,” Kris said again and Baekhyun returned the sentiment before hurrying away in search of caffeine.
---
Kris had watched from beside Amber as the evening news was filmed and aired live all over the country. He'd watched live broadcasts before at his previous jobs, but knowing that he would be producing this show- that his name would be in the credits starting the following day- had him sucking in a deep breath before he started panicking or laughing or something equally embarrassing.
Seeing Baekhyun do his job live was nearly as exciting as it had been to see his favorite band live when he was sixteen (with less headbanging, of course). He wasn't exactly as he was on screen in real life, but his professionalism on camera was no less impressive. Even coming into the job, Baekhyun had been one of his favorite news anchors, which was a normal thing to have in the industry he was in. And it wasn't just because the other man was totally Kris' type. Or at least, that wasn't the only reason.
Baekhyun working for this network had been one of the reasons that he'd been so excited about landing this job. Though it wouldn't do to be starstruck while he was trying to do his job.
Which was why he was trying to forget that Baekhyun was sitting right there while he stood in front of a room full of employees, ready to introduce himself and express his gratitude for getting this job and how he hoped to make an even better show together, blah blah blah.
He'd been a good public speaker in college, but this was a lot more intimidating than presenting something to a room of twenty year olds who were only half listening.
“Hi everyone,” he began, picturing the speech he'd written out over and over in his head, “I'm Kris and I'm very happy to meet you all.
Amber was grinning at him from her seat while Baekhyun picked at some fuzz on his shirt. But that was better than the way the girl next to Baekhyun was glaring at him. Had he even met her yet?
“I am honored to be working here and I have a lot of ideas...”
---
“Did you see the way he carefully looked at every single person when he talked?” Baekhyun asked Krystal the next night as she straightened a section of his hair, “Like, he was going through a mental checklist of things to do while giving a professional speech.”
Krystal nodded, hissing when the edge of the straightener bumped against her finger, “He was so stiff,” she agreed, “I don't see what's so great about him. He's not nearly as good looking as Sulli let on.”
“He's inexperienced so he's overcompensating with professionalism,” Baekhyun complained, “It's so obvious that this is his first real job.”
“No, but really, he's not that handsome, right?” Krystal pressed, working some wax into Baekhyun's bangs to make them stay in place.
“You're more handsome than he is,” Baekhyun teased, knowing exactly what Krystal was getting at and ducking when Krystal made to smack him on the back of the head, “But seriously, you're more of a catch than he is. At least you don't look constipated.”
Krystal snorted out a laugh, going back to styling Baekhyun's hair rather than threatening violence.
“Have you noticed that?” Baekhyun asked, enjoying Krystal's positive reaction to the observation, “How he looks like he's in pain when he smiles? I think he must have some intestinal issues.”
Krystal giggled indulgently behind her hand, pleased, and Baekhyun grinned at her in the mirror.
His previously sour mood was lifting. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
---
Kris had been working as the producer for the five o'clock news for two weeks now and he'd learned a few things.
1) Amber was more of a bro than any of his male friends and she'd taken it upon herself to become Kris' personal cheerleader.
2) Krystal from makeup and Sulli from wardrobe were dating. Krystal also seemed to hate him for no reason whatsoever. At least, he couldn't figure it out for the life of him. He'd mostly just given up trying.
3) The coffee was good as long that skinny intern with the lack of emotional range didn't make it.
And finally:
4) He and Baekhyun weren't going to be friends because it seemed that Baekhyun was perpetually unimpressed with his existence.
It was somewhat disappointing, sure, given that he'd have liked to be friends with the anchor, but it wasn't anything he couldn't live with. However, Baekhyun's attitude toward him was going to prove to be very inconvenient when Kris approached him after filming to make a suggestion.
He had a feeling that it wasn't going to go over well.
---
“Why would I do that?” Baekhyun asked, probably looking at Kris like he'd suggested that he wear women's clothing on air.
Kris' eyebrows were drawn together before he carefully smoothed his facial features out. For some reason, that just annoyed Baekhyun even more.
“I've just noticed, since coming to work here, that you hold yourself back on air a lot,” he said carefully, “I think you could relax a little and people might even like you more.”
Baekhyun had painstakingly crafted an image for himself when he'd started working as a news anchor. Studies showed that he was the most popular news anchor by far among women 40-65 years old. He knew what it was that they were looking for- a charming young man that they'd be happy for their daughters to bring home that they also might find a little handsome. If (when, really) he met them in person, he'd flirt a little, just enough to get them to laugh, both pleased and embarrassed by his smile directed at them. It had been working, so Baekhyun couldn't figure out why Kris was talking to him like he needed to improve- like he was incompetent and inexperienced.
“I don't really want to put all my faith in might,” Baekhyun snapped disdainfully, “I know what I'm doing. Thanks.”
Baekhyun didn't care that Kris looked like he was about to refute what Baekhyun had said. He could practically see the apology on Kris' lips. But he could also see the but.
Without another word, Baekhyun spun on his heel and walked briskly down the hall, not wanting to stick around so Kris could pull rank on him. He was the one who'd been working here longer. He shouldn't have to listen to some insecure newbie. So he wouldn't. It was that simple.
---
Kris' talk (if it could even be called that) the previous day hadn't gone well. He wasn't surprised, but...what was so offensive about telling Baekhyun that he could be himself on air? It was basically just Kris telling him, “I like your real smile better than your fake one,” only in a more professional way.
But Kris knew that Baekhyun took his job very seriously and that he had a lot of pride in what he did. He could kind of understand that it would be hard to take advice from a person who'd really only just started working with him.
What he needed to do was find Baekhyun and, hopefully, talk to him before the show that night. If Baekhyun didn't want to take his suggestion, fine, but it wouldn't do to have the other man seething about the interaction yesterday. Left alone, their already rocky professional relationship could really go to hell.
Kris hovered outside Baekhyun's dressing room door, getting ready to knock when he heard his name. He knew he should just knock, but the temptation to listen was too great.
“Can you believe that?” Kris heard Baekhyun say, sounding positively affronted, “Mr. I-google-how-to-talk-to-my-employees is telling me how to do my job? Excuse me, but I think I know more about what people are looking for than he does.”
Kris frowned.
“He certainly doesn't have anything to complain about, what with the ratings you bring in,” he heard another voice add. He was pretty sure it was Krystal.
“Right?!” Baekhyun replied immediately, “I feel like he's just making random suggestions so it looks like he's doing something, when in reality, he has no idea what to do.”
Krystal agreeing was the last thing Kris heard as he walked away, able to feel anger rolling through him. He could respect that Baekhyun's opinion on his public image differed from his own, but to trash talk him to other staff members was unacceptable.
Kris closed the door to his office behind him and raked a hand through his hair, forcing himself to take a few deep breaths. It would do him no good to get worked up, but it was so frustrating to have someone undermine his authority when he'd been working so hard to prove himself.
This couldn't go on. Baekhyun couldn't keep talking about him like he was incompetent to people that he worked with. If he did, it wouldn't be long before any respect they might have had for Kris would be gone.
Maybe a quick chat before going live wasn't a good idea. This was a conversation that was going to take more time and need more privacy than that.
Resolving to ask Baekhyun to dinner to discuss their issues, Kris left his office. He had a job to do, after all.
---
Baekhyun watched as Kris slid into the booth across from him, smiling at him in that courteous way that made Baekhyun want to punch him in the jaw.
He was surprised to have gotten to the restaurant first since it had been Kris to invite him and Kris just seemed like the type to be early. But evidently Kris was the type to be exactly on time, while Baekhyun was in the habit of arriving five minutes early for nearly everything.
He'd been positively dumbfounded when Kris had asked him to dinner the day prior. When he'd cornered him, Baekhyun had expected to be reprimanded for not taking Kris' suggestion. He had definitely not been expecting an invitation to dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in town (Kris had promised that he'd pay, but Baekhyun intended to pay for his part of the bill- he wasn't a total dick).
Despite the fact that it was to discuss work, sitting there with Kris as they both sipped at their waters felt strangely personal.
“The reason I asked you to dinner,” Kris finally said after the waiter had taken their orders, “Isn't because you didn't like my suggestion the other day.”
Baekhyun felt himself frowning. If that wasn't why, then-
“I was coming to talk to you about that yesterday and I heard you talking to Krystal about me.”
...Oh. Baekhyun actually felt himself flush at that. He knew that bitching about Kris like he had been was extremely unprofessional, but he'd just been so angry! He'd needed to vent his frustrations to someone and he'd known that Krystal would be willing to indulge him since she was still holding some pointless grudge against Kris because Sulli thought that he was handsome. He'd never intended for anyone other than Krystal to hear him, least of all Kris.
“You are entitled to your own opinion, but I take issue with you speaking badly about me to the other staff members,” Kris was saying evenly, and god, didn't he ever just get angry?
“Look,” Baekhyun started, feeling as annoyed with Kris' staunch professionalism as he was embarrassed by his own behavior, “I shouldn't have said those things about your digestive problems-”
“What about digestive problems?” Kris interrupted, eyebrows looking even more like a cartoon villain's than usual.
“Er...” Baekhyun cleared his throat awkwardly, “anyway, I shouldn't have been talking about you like that, but just so you know, it's just Krystal that I spoke to. I'm not so unprofessional as to spread rumors about you or something.”
Kris sighed and took a gulp of water and Baekhyun found himself watching the other man's throat as he swallowed.
“You really haven't complained to anyone besides Krystal?” he asked, looking tired.
Baekhyun quickly shook his head, feeling a bit sorry for the man in front of him for the first time. It must have been hard coming into a new job and having to prove himself to a large staff who'd been doing fine before he'd arrived.
“I'd really appreciate it if you didn't talk behind my back,” Kris told him, looking him in the eye and Baekhyun found himself readily agreeing, despite the fact that he'd really miss gossiping with Krystal about the different ways that Kris looked like he was constipated during the work day.
Kris nodded in response, eagerly testing the red wine that he'd ordered a bottle of when the waiter brought it over.
They were silent as they sipped from their respective glasses and Baekhyun could feel the tension between them in the tightness of all of his muscles.
“Why does Krystal hate me?” Kris asked out of the blue and Baekhyun nearly jumped in surprise at the sudden question before he laughed, watching as Kris raised his eyebrows while he waited for an answer.
“Sulli said that you were handsome on your first day, so Krystal hates you on principle,” he explained, watching as Kris' brows climbed even higher on his forehead, “Oh, they're dating, Krystal and Sulli, if you didn't know.”
“I knew, but...really? That's it? That's why she doesn't like me?”
Kris looked so thrown off that Baekhyun was taken by anther wave of mirth that had him leaning back in his chair as he laughed.
“Guess I can't really do anything to fix that,” Kris said with a wry smile and Baekhyun found that he already liked Kris more now that he was showing real person emotion instead of just the practiced calmness of a businessman who was afraid to show his true self in fear that his employees wouldn't take him seriously.
“What? About being handsome?” Baekhyun asked with a grin, “No, probably not.”
“Oh, you think I'm handsome?” Kris fired back immediately, smile stretching wide and showing his gums.
Baekhyun's mouth hung open as he tried to think of a way to backtrack, but Kris was already laughing at him, looking inordinately pleased by the idea that Baekhyun might find him attractive.
“Just don't tell Krystal,” Baekhyun finally said, chuckling even as he felt his cheeks heat, “Loyalty and all that.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Kris told him, eyes sparkling in amusement.
“It's not a secret,” Baekhyun protested, trying to fight off the mortification that was spreading through his limbs like the alcohol that was coursing through his veins.
“You tell lots of people that you think I'm handsome?” Kris asked, cocky smirk on his face. And wow, if he acted like the cocky sonofabitch that he seemed to actually be, people would take him way more seriously.
“Oh fuck off, you know that's not what I meant,” Baekhyun scoffed before freezing upon the realization that he'd basically just told his boss to fuck off.
But before he could apologize Kris was cracking up and clapping his giant hands together in amusement.
Baekhyun found himself unable to stop from laughing along. Maybe dinner wasn't going to be as painful as he'd thought.
---
Kris didn't know how to explain how he'd ended up pulling Baekhyun into a cab with him and giving the driver his address. He knew that they'd both had nearly a bottle of wine each (yeah, he probably shouldn't have ordered that second bottle) and that he'd been attracted to Baekhyun since before he'd even started working with him, but that really wasn't enough to justify the way he had Baekhyun stretched out across his bed after practically tearing his clothes off the moment they stepped into his apartment.
This was all probably extremely unprofessional (psh, probably- he knew it was), but was he honestly supposed to care when he had Baekhyun spreading his plush thighs and arching into the kisses that Kris was peppering over his torso? Because he didn't. All he cared about was the little whimpering sounds that Baekhyun made whenever he'd slide a hand over his hip and nearly touch his cock, hard and dripping a trail of precum onto his stomach, but not quite.
“Kris, fuck, are you serious,” Baekhyun complained, hips twitching and hand reaching out to attempt to grab Kris' wrist to guide his touch where he wanted it.
Easily evading Baekhyun's grasp, Kris smirked, leaning over to look at Baekhyun's face- brows drawn together and lips parted and shiny form their desperate kisses in the cab ride on the way here, the elevator ride up, and those first few fumbling steps into the apartment.
“I'm your boss, you know,” he told him, enjoying the rush of power that was whirling through him at having Baekhyun pliant and desperate for him.
“Not true,” Baekhyun argued even as he tried to press his erection against Kris' hip, “The network is both of our bosses and they'd fire you before they'd fire me.”
It was probably true, honestly. Baekhyun had proven himself to the network over the past few years while Kris was, at this point, still expendable. But still. That wasn't the point.
“You're still supposed to listen to me,” Kris said.
“And what happens if it don't?” Baekhyun challenged, a defiant shit even when he was aching for Kris to fuck him.
Kris grabbed his cock roughly, squeezing just this side of uncomfortable and bringing his thumb up to slide through the moisture gathered on the head.
“You'll jerk me off?” Baekhyun asked breathlessly, half smirking even as he pushed his length into the circle of Kris' fist, “I guess I'll just have to keep defying you then.”
Kris scoffed and rolled his eyes, though he kept his long fingers wrapped around Baekhyun's dick, enjoying the little whines that Baekhyun was trying to swallow with each flick of his wrist too much to stop.
“Is it that bad if I like your real smile better than your on screen one?” he asked, not thinking about anything other than the trembling body beneath his and the ache in his own groin.
Baekhyun's eyes flashed with something that Kris was in no state to analyze before he'd shut his eyes and gasped at the feel of Kris' fingers trailing over his entrance.
It wasn't long before Kris was three fingers deep in the smaller man, twisting his wrist and watching Baekhyun writhe and groan, telling him to hurry the fuck up.
Slicking himself up, Kris eyed Baekhyun spread out for him, eyes begging him to hurry up as his thin fingers worked over his own cock, lower lip clamped hard between his teeth. With a hand on Baekhyun's thigh to hold steady, Kris pressed in- moving forward smoothly until his hips were against Baekhyun's ass.
“Move,” Baekhyun grunted, the hand on his erection that had stilled for the slide in moving again.
Kris wanted to make a comment about Baekhyun giving orders when he should have been taking them, but the feel of tight muscle clenching around his dick was enough to have him forgetting about any good-natured jibes he'd wanted to make in favor of pulling his hips back only to snap them forward again, pulling a gorgeous moan out of Baekhyun's throat.
It was probably only a couple of minutes before Kris felt the tug in his abdomen signaling his impending release, and while he might have been worried about coming too soon, he could see the way Baekhyun's hand was flying over his cock- hips jerking against Kris' thrusts like he had no control of the movement.
“Are you close?” he managed to ask, panting as he watched Baekhyun's lust fogged eyes focus on his face.
“Yeah,” Baekhyun gasped, squeezing Kris's hips with his muscular thighs and urging him faster.
It was with a broken groan that Kris came, his dick twitching as he emptied himself into Baekhyun.
Kris opened his eyes in time to see Baekhyun grit his teeth and shoot over his stomach and chest, elegant fingers milking out every last drop before he let his arm fall to the side- his body going limp.
With the satisfaction from his release sinking into his bones along with the alcohol in his system, Kris only managed to roll off Baekhyun and get his head on a pillow before he was asleep.
---
“So you just left?” Chanyeol asked in disbelief, mouth hanging open unattractively, “Before he'd even woken up?”
“I didn't know what else to do!” Baekhyun exclaimed, making dramatic flailing motions with his arms to illustrate his distress.
“You could have, you know, stayed,” Chanyeol pointed out with a shrug. Baekhyun rolled his eyes so hard it almost gave him a headache.
“Gee, you think? I hadn't considered that,” he intoned sarcastically.
“I'm just saying,” Chanyeol said, hands up in surrender.
“But what am I gonna do tomorrow at work?” Baekhyun wailed, tugging at his hair as he collapsed on Chanyeol's couch, nearly managing to sit on a bag of chips.
“If you'd just stayed, you wouldn't have had to worry about this,” Chanyeol told him, taking a drink from the can of soda in his hand.
Baekhyun narrowed his eyes at his best friend.
“No shit.”
Chanyeol shrugged and moved to turn on the TV.
Baekhyun whined, flopping against Chanyeol's bigger frame before deciding that he was too bony and sitting up again.
When he'd woken up that morning in Kris' bed...naked, he'd panicked.- memories of the previous night coming back at rapid speed. Before he'd even had a chance to think things through, he had gotten dressed and was out the door, speed walking toward the subway.
The twenty minute ride back to his apartment gave him time to reflect on what happened between himself and Kris- remembering how different Kris had been at dinner as opposed to how he was at work. The Kris from the previous evening was the kind of guy that Baekhyun could fall for. But what an absurd thought to have about Kris, his boss...kinda.
And then there were the recollections that had him flushing and trying not to get worked up on the train. There was no denying that the sex had been amazing.
But...
“Stop picturing your boss naked,” Chanyeol suddenly said very loudly right next to Baekhyun's ear.
“Yah! I wasn't, pervert,” he replied, turning and socking Chanyeol in the arm hard enough to hurt.
No, he wasn't picturing that. Those particular images were best saved for a time when he was alone.
---
“And when I woke up, he was gone,” Kris finished, looking beseechingly at his friend across the cafe table.
“Maybe you imagined the whole thing,” Lu Han finally said, taking a leisurely sip of his coffee.
“I did not imagine-”
“He's been your wet dream for who knows how long-”
“He isn't...Lu Han!” Kris interrupted, scowling, “The problem that I need help with is what to do at work tomorrow when I see him.”
“Why don't you just call him now?” Lu Han suggested, “Get everything sorted out before you get to work?”
“I don't have his number,” Kris said through gritted teeth.
“Whoa, no need to look at me like that. It's not my fault you don't have his number,” Lu Han pointed out.
Kris let out a frustrated sigh.
“Look, you obviously like him,” Lu Han said after another minute of Kris glowering at his coffee.
“So?”
“So,” Lu Han parroted, “I think you already know what you're going to do. I don't know why you're asking me.”
“I can't just go up to him and tell him that I like him and that I hope we can repeat last night's performance infinite times in the future,” Kris hissed.
“Why not? That's what I'd do,” Lu Han grinned, “Except I wouldn't pussyfoot around saying that I wanted to bang the guy again.”
“But he left,” Kris argued, choosing to ignore Lu Han's personal opinions on what was acceptable behavior for human beings, “If he doesn't want anything to do with me-”
“Then he's already fucked because you're his boss.”
“But my asking could ruin our work relationship-”
“Which is already down the drain because you fucked him,” Lu Han finished for him, “Just talk to him.”
Kris knew that he could either speak to Baekhyun tomorrow or he could wait a few days, during which he went crazy, and then talk to him. The choice was pretty clear.
“So did he live up to your fantasies?” Lu Han asked, apparently having decided that the problem was solved.
“There were no fantasies-”
“Aw, c'mon,” Lu Han cajoled, “You never watched him on the news and imagined him sucking your dick?”
“No!”
“Why not? I have,” Lu Han shrugged.
“You know what? Let's just drop it,” Kris suggested.
Lu Han was silent for a moment before asking, “So did he suck you off?”
Kris let his head thunk against the tabletop.
---
Baekhyun felt like he was running from the law on Monday at work with the way he checked around corners before turning down any hallways. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Kris. Because, in all honesty, he kind of really did. But running into him while he was getting ready to go on air seemed like a bad idea.
Baekhyun was almost amazed that he was able to avoid Kris all the way up until he was sitting behind the news desk, watching the countdown until they went live. But right then, with six seconds left, Baekhyun caught sight of Kris with his headset on standing right next to the close-up camera. And he was looking right at Baekhyun.
Baekhyun felt his stomach knot itself in just the split second before he looked away, having been able to see Kris' lips start to curve up into a smile. Not no, not right now. Right now, Baekhyun needed to focus on his job. No matter how much he kind of wanted to look over and see Kris' ridiculous grin.
---
Kris had seen Baekhyun trying to be stealthy before the show that evening, but rather than call him out on it, Kris decided to just let him be. As much as he was dying to demand to know why Baekhyun had left without waking him up and why he was avoiding him now, he knew that now wasn't the right time. Not when they had a show to do.
But as soon as Kris had seen Baekhyun emerging from his dressing room in his street clothes, he'd fallen into step with him (and from the looks of it, scared the shit out of him) and calmly asked him to come to his office.
With the door shit, Kris imagined that he could hear his own heart beat echoing against the white walls of the room. And Baekhyun looking like a deer caught in the headlights only served to heighten his nerves.
He just needed to stay calm and not freak Baekhyun out.
“Why did you sneak out?” he blurted before he could stop himself.
Baekhyun visibly winced, though whether it was from the straightforward question or because he'd been called out, Kris didn't know.
Baekhyun chuckled nervously.
“I panicked?” he said, voice going up at the end of the statement like a question.
Kris raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't been expecting such an honest answer. Unless it was along the lines of because that was a giant mistake and I wanted to get the hell out of there.
“Why did you panic?” Kris asked, steepling his fingers with his elbows resting on the desk. He could work with this.
“You're being the weird businessman again!” Baekhyun exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
Kris couldn't help the laugh that escaped at that, immediately relaxing his posture.
“Better,” Baekhyun grinned and Kris felt affection flare in his chest.
“But really, Baekhyun,” Kris asked again, “Why did you panic?”
“Why wouldn't I panic?” he challenged, half laughing, “We work together, you're kind of my boss, we hated each other up until two days ago...”
“Did we?” Kris questioned.
“Did we what?”
“Did we hate each other?”
Baekhyun frowned like he didn't know what Kris was getting at, “Well, I mean, I thought you were attractive, but we didn't get along.”
“I wasn't fishing for that, but thank you,” Kris grinned, “I was asking because I didn't hate you. I think that was a one-sided emotion.”
“Oh,” Baekhyun looked sheepish.
“But that doesn't really matter now since, as I am to understand, we don't hate each other anymore?”
Baekhyun snorted, “Right.”
“So the real question is if you don't hate me enough to maybe come to dinner with me again tonight?”
Baekhyun's eyes widened, his mouth falling open before he laughed.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Kris nodded, unable to squelch the hope blossoming in his chest at Baekhyun's seemingly positive reaction, “And not for work, this time.”
“So the weird businessman persona isn't coming?” Baekhyun teased and Kris rolled his eyes fondly.
“No, he's not.”
---
“Kris has been looking less constipated lately, don't you think?” Krystal asked Baekhyun while she applied translucent powder to his face.
“About that...”
“Oh my god!” she gasped, stepping back to look Baekhyun in the eye, “You're fucking him, aren't you?!”
“I know I'm supposed to hate him on principle with you and everything, but-”
“You're fucking,” Krystal finished drily, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
Baekhyun waited for Krystal to tell him that he was sleeping with the enemy or something, but instead she smirked.
“Can't say I didn't see it coming.”
“Wait, what?”
“Please,” Krystal rolled her eyes and continued applying Baekhyun's makeup, “He's exactly your type and the sexual tension between the two of you has been through the roof since day one.”
Baekhyun gaped until Krystal repositioned his mouth to apply lip gloss.
“So you're not mad?” Baekhyun finally decided to ask.
“Better him fucking you than Sulli,” she shrugged.
“I was never going to fuck Sulli, just to be clear,” Kris announced as he let himself into Baekhyun's dressing room. Krystal flushed as Baekhyun laughed.
“Kris, you're not supposed to just barge into people's dressing rooms!” Baekhyun admonished, mock-scandalized, “What if I had been changing?!”
Kris rolled his eyes and didn't even justify Baekhyun with a response.
“I just came in here to show you this.”
With that, he dropped a newspaper clipping into Baekhyun's lap.
The headline read: News anchor gets record ratings for network with just a smile.
“I'm not even going to bother gloating,” Kris said on his way out the door.
“Krystal, tell Sulli she can have him,” Baekhyun said loudly enough for Kris to hear.
“No way,” Krystal immediately replied, “You're stuck with him.”
Baekhyun scowled at Kris' laughter from the hall before yelling, “Yeah, well, at least people didn't think I looked constipated before!”
Krystal nearly toppled into the vanity from laughing when the intern with emoting problems walked by and shot Baekhyun a weird look through the open door.
But hey. Baekhyun couldn't really complain. His ratings were higher than ever and he got to go home with his very attractive kind-of boss. Things were looking pretty good for him. Even if said kind-of boss looked like he had digestive issues sometimes. It was only sometimes, after all.
a/n: I know nothing about the inner workings of news stations. At all.