[exo] honey&lightning - ii

[printedapples]

Title: Honey&Lightning
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: total ~50k
Pairing: BaekYeol
Genre: hurt/comfort, heavy melodrama
Summary: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Warnings: Highlight for full list mentions of past domestic violence, illness, animal death



He falls in love with Baekhyun on the bus ride home, hands clasped and fingers intertwined while Baekhyun he leans into Chanyeol's side, dreaming against his shoulder. He watches streetlights ghost over his face, hazy yellows swooping across Baekhyun’s washed out cheeks. A bump in the road has him pressing closer, reaching out an arm across his torso to hold him safe.

Chanyeol indulges himself with a quiet kiss, pressing chapped lips onto Baekhyun's crown.

*

“Come in with me,” Baekhyun says as the nurse calls his name. His fingers press into Chanyeol’s forearm as he stands and Chanyeol can’t help but follow. Yixing had called Baekhyun in for one last check-up to make sure there were no problems with his hand. Unfortunately, the doctor had scheduled his appointment early on a Saturday morning and both of them had fumbled half asleep and tiredly out of their respective beds and into the bathroom, standing side by side while they brushed their teeth. Baekhyun had hardly gotten more than two hours of sleep, so Chanyeol suggested the bus in favour of his bike, afraid that he might fall if he fell asleep during the journey. Baekhyun had dozed off while they waited for his turn. Chanyeol had scooted closer so the shorter one could lean comfortably against him.

Chanyeol personally hates clinics and hospitals, but Baekhyun’s presence by his side made sitting in the sterile place tolerable. He hasn’t been in to see a doctor in over a year, preferring to buy his medications over the counter at pharmacies instead.

“Hey Baekhyun,” Yixing greets when his patient pushes the door open, knocking politely before stepping into the consultation room. His eyes widen when Chanyeol files into the room behind him. “Oh, Chanyeol. Did you need something? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine,” he answers back plainly with a forced smile. “I’m here with Baekhyun.”

“I’m going to have to ask you to wait outside to give Baekhyun some privacy since this is a full body check up.” Yixing says firmly. Chanyeol makes to excuse himself from the room but Baekhyun catches hold of his fingers, squeezing them tightly.

“I don’t mind, Yixing,” he speaks up, pulling Chanyeol back towards him. “Can he stay? Please? I feel better with Chanyeol around.”

Yixing eventually concedes, looking from Baekhyun to Chanyeol curiously. He gestures towards the chair in front of his desk, telling Chanyeol to take a seat. Yixing is efficient and quick to the point, looking over Baekhyun’s hand thoroughly before instructing him to take his shirt off. Baekhyun shrugs out of the large knit sweater and tee shirt. Chanyeol takes them from him and folds the clothes neatly, letting them rest warmly in his lap. He tries hard not to stare too intently at Baekhyun’s body when he looks back up.

The bruises are completely gone now, a huge improvement from the time Chanyeol had helped him with the ointment in the bathroom. Baekhyun’s torso is pale and smooth, unmarred if not for the tiny scars left over from small cuts under his ribcage. The shorter one has his hands folded across his chest to hide his pinkish nipples in embarrassment, and Chanyeol finds the action overwhelmingly adorable. He looks away politely when Yixing instructs Baekhyun to stretch out his arms properly, followed by another few minutes of gentle poking and prodding.

Chanyeol reaches across to return Baekhyun his clothing when Yixing moves back to his desk to retrieve his stethoscope, feeling heat rise to his cheeks when their eyes meet briefly.

“Your hand’s completely healed, and you’ve more or less fully recovered from all your previous injuries,” Yixing smiles kindly. “I just need to check your breathing and then we’re all done! Hopefully I won’t be seeing you in here for a while.”

“Actually,” Baekhyun speaks up as he moves to the chair next to Yixing’s desk, back to being fully clothed. “I’ve been having trouble sleeping. It might be insomnia? But I can’t sleep no matter how tired I make myself. I usually manage to pass out for a while sometime around five or six in the morning. It’s really inconvenient and I feel really bad for disturbing Chanyeol as well.”

“Well, if you really want to I could prescribe you sleeping pills,” Yixing pauses. "But that's only a superficial solution." He taps his pen against the polished surface of the desk. "Typically for your kind of, um, case we'd refer you to counselling...and the sort."

"Oh," Baekhyun looks apologetically at Chanyeol, biting on his bottom lip. "I don't really like pills."

"It's fine, you don't need to take them." Chanyeol reaches out to rest his hand on Baekhyun’s knee. "Your insomnia doesn't bother me at all."

"Are you sure? I guess we could wait and see if it goes away eventually?"

"It's a good thing I'm pretty nocturnal then," Chanyeol laughs, before realising the implications of his words. He quickly adds on, "I mean, I like doing things at night. That sounds equally weird doesn't it…”

Yixing snorts while he files Baekhyun's patient sheet away. Chanyeol sighs heavily, not daring to turn to look at Baekhyun, who he's sure is as red as a tomato by now. Yixing holds Chanyeol back when they leave, handing Baekhyun his file, asking him to give it to the reception.

"Chanyeol?" Yixing motions for him to shut the door. He lowers his voice to a hush, tone serious. "You haven't told Baekhyun yet have you?"

He leans against the wall, expression dark. This was not a topic he wants to broach. He shakes his head silently, no.

"Be fair to him, he's had his heart and his body broken in so many ways I don't think he'll be able to handle it again. He's a strong one, that Baekhyun, awfully sweet too." He leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "I don't know what your relationship is, but I'm not here to preach to you."

Chanyeol feels a weight lift off his chest at the change in subject.

"I have a message from Wufan," Yixing's eyes have a spark in them now as he leans forward. The same spark Chanyeol thinks he'd see in his own if Baekhyun was involved. Wufan. Kris. Chanyeol had never really used Kris' Chinese name when they were together, though he certainly knew of it.

"He's paid for all of Baekhyun's medical bills, from the day you picked him off the streets, everything, including today's appointment. He says he's sorry, and he hopes you can forgive him."

Chanyeol sighs, rubbing his temples with his thumbs. He looks up at Yixing with sincere eyes. "I forgave him a long time ago,"

"Well he certainly doesn't think so," Yixing scowls in frustration. Chanyeol doesn't take it to heart.

"Thank him for me?"

"Do it yourself!" Yixing huffs and spins around on his chair. "Maybe then he'll actually believe you."

*

Baekhyun is waiting for him on the couch when Chanyeol leaves Yixing's office. He does not notice Chanyeol approaching, watching a young family with two sons seated on the opposite side of the room with wistful eyes and a slight frown worrying his brows. He looks tense, posture stiff and rigid, hands hidden in his sleeves. He jumps when Chanyeol places his palm on his shoulder.

"Baekhyun? You okay?"

Baekhyun blinks back at him for a second or two before his features rearrange into a soft smile. "I'm sorry. I spaced out and didn't see you there," He stands up and dusts off his trousers. "Is it okay if I ask what Yixing talked to you about?"

"Oh, just your medical bills," Chanyeol shrugs casually, almost bursting into laughter at the pale and petrified look on Baekhyun's face. His eyes go as wide as saucers, eyebrows raised high, and he stops in his tracks to cover his face, letting go of the hem of Chanyeol's sleeve.

"O-Oh my god I'm so sorry Chanyeol they must have cost a bomb!" Baekhyun stutters in dismay, peeking between the gaps in his fingers to see if Chanyeol is upset. "What have I done?! I've probably put you into debt now haven't I?"

Chanyeol takes a step forward and pats his hair gently, speaking only when Baekhyun looks up at him. He's pretty sure the family is staring at them now, but he pays them no mind. "It's alright, Baekhyun. Your bills have been sorted and fully paid for."

He blinks in confusion at Chanyeol. "What? How? How come?"

Chanyeol hesitates a moment before answering. "Kris paid for them. You might not remember but he was there that night when Yixing first came to see you."

"But, why would he?"

"He thought he owed me a favour."

"What kind of crazy favour is that?!" Baekhyun whispers loudly, looking distressed. Chanyeol ruffles his hair until he calms down a little, frown turning into a pout. "Why would you use such a huge favour on me?"

Chanyeol doesn't answer. Instead he lets his hand slide down the back of Baekhyun’s head, resting it gently at the back of his neck, fiddling with the ends of his hair. "He did it of his own accord. We should thank him the next time we see him."

Baekhyun nods fervently. His cheeks are tinged pink, belatedly realising their proximity. Chanyeol tries to dissipate the awkwardness by grabbing a hold of his hand and leading him through the glass doors, turning back to wink at Baekhyun.

"Cold today isn't it? I know just the perfect thing for this weather. Come on," he switches sides so he's holding on to Baekhyun’s left hand, lacing their fingers together. He walks briskly but not too quickly, making sure Baekhyun has no problem keeping up.

"Where are we going?" Baekhyun asks curiously from his side, and Chanyeol looks down to see his cheeks flushed from the cold, nose red and sniffly from the wind. The urge he feels to hug Baekhyun right there and then is rather alarming.

"You'll see, soon enough!" Chanyeol answers enigmatically, smirking, which only makes Baekhyun pout harder. "Or you'll smell it maybe, right about now."

He gestures at the brightly lit pastel storefront, guiding Baekhyun through the doors.

"Waffles!"

*

Chanyeol cooks them dinner that night for a change, while Baekhyun naps, bundled up in his blanket cocoon on the couch. They had taken Chorong to the small, nearby park earlier, Chanyeol watching fondly from the bench while Baekhyun played with her, tossing balls and frolicking, for lack of a better word, in the piles of fallen leaves scattered across the grass. He had dozed off while they were watching the weekend music show, but while he was awake Chanyeol could have sworn he heard him humming along to SNSD's newest song, eyes widening with excitement when the cameraman zoomed in on Taeyeon.

Chanyeol takes his time with cooking, letting the kimchi and pepper paste boil in the pot while he slices the rest of the vegetables for their stew. The screen of his phone lights up with a message alert. It's from Kyungsoo, asking him to come out for a spin. He glances up at Baekhyun's sleeping figure and then back down at their pot of stew, putting the knife aside to type out a quick reply.

Sorry Kyungsoo, maybe next week.

It has been a while since he has gone out with the others on one of their escapades, busy with Wolf's activities and Baekhyun. But he feels comfortable with Baekhyun, at ease and warm, and the need for the thrill of adrenaline and recklessness seems to fade into the back of his mind. He picks up his phone again to send another text, feeling guilty for ditching Kyungsoo.

Call me if anyone needs tech help though. I’ll come right away.

He puts his phone aside when Chorong nudges his leg with her nose, sitting down by his foot. Chanyeol washes his hands before bending down to play with her for a second, letting her lick his cheek before pushing her gently away from the stove and fire, telling her to go cuddle with Baekhyun on the couch. She limps away eagerly, hopping onto the sofa with some trouble, lying on top on Baekhyun’s legs and shimmying her head under his palm, waiting to be pet. She takes a much longer time than usual though, and Chanyeol frowns in worry, recalling how much slower she had been in the park too.

The ping of the rice cooker disrupts his thoughts, and Chanyeol shrugs off the feeling when he catches her licking Baekhyun's face eagerly, chuckling at his dog's assault of her new victim. He switches the television channel to the weekend drama before waking Baekhyun up, shaking his shoulder gently, resting his head on Baekhyun's blanketed side, watching him as he stirs.

"Nnnnghhhuh?" Baekhyun groans as his eyes flutter open. He pouts sleepily in protest, attempting to roll over on his side

"Wakey wakey,"

"That's gross, Chanyeol," he cringes, and Chanyeol laughs fondly. Baekhyun yawns with his eyes half closed, still wrapped up in his blanket as he slides off the couch and into a seating position. He mumbles his thanks when Chanyeol puts the pot and their bowls of rice on the table. Baekhyun's bed head is painfully adorable, reddish locks standing up in cute unkempt tufts. The shorter one grins contentedly when Chanyeol pats his hair back into place, smoothing his fingers over soft locks, tucking a stray strand behind his ear. He lets his hand linger a little longer than necessary before moving it away, picking up the remote to turn up the volume. Baekhyun's hair has grown out nicely, and Chanyeol thinks he looks much more relaxed without the super neat short cut he had when he found him, back in autumn.

Baekhyun sidles up to his side when Chanyeol sits down, crossing his legs under the table. He raises an eyebrow at Baekhyun when he scoots even closer, pressing against his arm.

"It's cold," he explains while he shivers, adjusting the blanket so it's draped over his shoulders. The opening theme to the drama starts and Baekhyun sits up attentively, chewing punctuated by muffled laughs and pouts as the romance of the high school protagonists plays out on the flickering screen.

“My life was never that exciting,” he chuckles once the credits are rolling. “I like living vicariously through those dramas, silly as they may be.”

Later that night, while Baekhyun is in the shower, Chanyeol carries Chorong's dog bed along with Baekhyun's blanket and pillow to his room, setting aside an extra blanket for Baekhyun and placing the dog bed in the corner, close to the heater. Chorong hobbles over to the radiator and curls up in the heat, whining loudly until Chanyeol comes over and strokes her head.

Baekhyun gives him a questioning look when he exits the bathroom and sees his blanket on the bed, next to Chanyeol's.

"I thought it might be a good idea for you both to sleep in here from tonight onwards," Chanyeol gestures at the radiator. "This is the only room with heating in the apartment, and it's cold outside."

The expression on Baekhyun's face is hard to read, and Chanyeol quickly adds on "That's if you're okay with it, of course."

Baekhyun hmms, fluffing his damp hair with the towel, sitting down on the edge of the bed before raising his eyes to meet Chanyeol’s. He quickly diverts his gaze from where his over sized shirt is slipping off Baekhyun's pale shoulder, revealing the dip at his collarbone.

"Are you trying to sleep with me, Chanyeol-ssi?" Baekhyun asks coyly, and Chanyeol splutters as he tries to regain his composure, shaking his head quickly.

"Oh god no. I'm sorry Baekhyun," he apologises, reaching for the spare pillow, laying it down in the middle of the bed. "We can sleep with a pillow barrier in between, I won't touch you or anything."

Baekhyun chuckles before sliding under the covers, taking the pillow from the middle and propping it against the wall as a backrest.

"It's okay," he says quietly with a sweet smile, and Chanyeol thinks he sees pink on his ears and cheeks. "I trust you. Just, uhm, it would be great if you kept your pants on."

"I like it airy," he quips in reply, to which he earns a pillow in the face, laughing as Baekhyun huffs and tries to roll away. "I'm joking, I'm joking!"

He ends up falling asleep with his ankles crossed with Baekhyun's under the blankets, toes touching. He's not sure if he's dreaming or not when he feels a cold hand searching for his, and the gentle press of lips to his forehead whispering ever so quietly goodnight, rest well, sweet dreams.

*

They wake up to a world speckled in hazy white as snow falls in flurries from the pale grey sky. Baekhyun's legs are tangled with his own and his arm splayed across Chanyeol's chest, fingers pressing into the fabric of his shirt. Chanyeol marvels at the way the light shadows flutter across his eyelids and the tip of his nose as warm breath tickles his collarbone. He's still debating whether to wake Baekhyun up or not when the shorter one begins to stir, snuggling closer into his side with a soft, drowsy whine.

"Baekhyun," Chanyeol shakes him softly. "Wake up, it's snowing outside."

"Snow?!" Baekhyun sits up sharply, suddenly too awake, burst of energy dispelling the still morning calm. He tugs on Chanyeol's arm while he keeps his eyes trained on the window, eyes sparkling with wonder. He doesn't seem bothered by how they had woken up in a rather intimate position, too busy kicking off the blankets and pulling on Chanyeol's hand, trying to get him out of the very appealing warmth of his bed.

"Come on Chanyeol! It's the first snow!" Baekhyun's voice is shrill with excitement, despite being coarse from sleep. "Let's go outside? Please?"

It's hard to refuse Baekhyun when he's already tossing socks at Chanyeol’s face, grabbing the hooded sweater Chanyeol had been wearing the night before and pulling it on, fidgeting impatiently while Chanyeol searches for his jacket groggily, wriggling his toes into his socks. Baekhyun steps behind him and pushes him out of their bedroom towards the door, slipping on his canvas trainers and waiting eagerly while Chanyeol laces up his own high tops. He presses the button for the elevator enthusiastically as Chanyeol locks up, and he whines loudly when Chanyeol deliberately takes his time just to tease him, but only so he can wonder at the way Baekhyun's eyes are lit up like stars and the way his smile colours his handsome features with such charm.

"Chanyeol," he pouts while they wait for the lift to lurch downwards, too excited to mind the cold.

Baekhyun speeds out of the elevator the moment the doors open, squealing in excitement and running ahead until he realises Chanyeol isn't following, trailing more than a few paces behind. Chanyeol blinks in surprise when Baekhyun comes back for him and hooks his arm around his elbow, tugging on his arm until they're both in the middle of an expanse of already sullied white.

Chanyeol feels ice pressed to his cheeks when he lets his guard down, yelping loudly from the sudden contact with the cold. Baekhyun’s giggling at him with mischievous glee, feigning innocence despite his snow covered hands. Their playful banter turns into a full out snow fight when Baekhyun stuffs snow down his shirt, causing Chanyeol to lose balance and fall over, landing with a thump on his butt. He groans when he feels ice in his boxers, glowering weakly at Baekhyun, who’s doubled over laughing, some twenty meters away now.

“I’m gonna get you, Baekhyun!” Chanyeol calls out, brushing the excess snow off his now damp sweatpants. He stoops over to pat some ice into two snowballs, carrying them in his palms as he chases after Baekhyun, who shrieks and flees when he sees Chanyeol approaching.

They spend the most part of the morning behaving like children half their age, ignoring the odd looks they get from the people passing them on the street. Thoroughly soaked in melted snow and panting in exhaustion, Chanyeol finally surrenders to Baekhyun, who tackles him to the ground with glee. He brushes the snow off of Chanyeol’s forehead when some of it gets into his eyes, and wipes at his red and runny nose.

"That was fun," he beams down at Chanyeol. "Thanks for playing with me."

"I may have lost the battle! But I haven't lost the war!" Chanyeol jokes weakly, still trying to catch his breath. "Aren't you tired Baekhyun? I'm dead beat." He laughs as Baekhyun rolls off him.

"Nope! But I'm starting to feel kind of cold," Baekhyun shivers next to him. "Can we go back inside?"

He catches Baekhyun sneezing a couple of times on their way up, and the other shoots him a sheepish grin. "We should get changed."

They both strip and put on new sets of clothes facing away from each other. Maybe it's the leftover adrenaline, or just the sheer cold, but Baekhyun isn't shy about it like usual, deftly removing articles of clothing and stepping out of soaked through sweatpants and into clean, dry boxer shorts and a t shirt. He crawls into bed and huddles under the blankets with a muffled achoo. Chanyeol joins him soon after with a dry, fluffy towel for them to share.

"You're not wearing pants," Chanyeol says quietly, smirking as he helps towel Baekhyun's damp hair, wiping off the droplets on his forehead, neck, and behind large, cute ears. He smiles when he sees the little mole on his temple, one he has not noticed before.

"Skin is warmer than fabric," Baekhyun replies simply, slipping his knee playfully between Chanyeol's knobbly ones under the blanket, relaxing at the heat of physical contact. A comfortable silence falls over them while Chanyeol finishes up with Baekhyun, handing the towel over to the shorter one when he's done.

Baekhyun flips them over so that he's now straddling Chanyeol, resting his weight on Chanyeol’s thighs. Chanyeol feels his heartbeat thundering in his ears when Baekhyun reaches out to cup his cheek, sending shivers of a different kind skittering down his spine when icy cold fingers brush against heated skin. He busies his right hand with ruffling Chanyeol's hair through the towel, touch always firm, but gentle.

Baekhyun tosses the towel aside when he deems Chanyeol’s hair dry enough, leaning in closer and closer until their postures are undeniably intimate.

"You like the snow that much?" Chanyeol asks, more of a whisper than a question. He can feel the rise and fall of Baekhyun's breathing through his shirt, the faint ba dump ba dump of his pulse quickening when he slides his arms around Baekhyun's waist, holding him safe and secure.

"I love the snow," Baekhyun says confidently, as if it's the only thing he's sure of. Chanyeol can feel his smile even as their foreheads touch, resting lightly against each other.

"Tell me more about you, Baekhyun, tell me about the other things you love, the things that you hate," Chanyeol pulls back so he can look Baekhyun in the eye. "Tell me about your favourite stories and what makes you happy, and sad."

Baekhyun nods, okay, threading his fingers through Chanyeol's hair. "My name is Byun Baekhyun. I like the colour blue." He presses a kiss to Chanyeol's forehead before continuing.

"My favourite instrument is the piano, and I used to have two dogs." He presses another kiss to Chanyeol's cheek. "Bugs terrify me," he admits with a cringe, and Chanyeol laughs, tightening his grip around Baekhyun’s body.

“They terrify me too,” he shares timidly with Baekhyun.

"I used to dream of becoming a singer. I studied music at university. My favourite Girls’ Generation member is Taeyeon." Baekhyun kisses his other cheek. "I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the guitar."

He pauses this time, taking a deep breath before speaking, voice quiet and strained. "I miss my family, even though it's been years since I've seen them." His lips brush against the tip of Chanyeol's nose, quivering.

"But you make me happy," he ends, tilting Chanyeol's chin up ever so slightly, closing the inches between them. Baekhyun kisses him surely, kisses him until his lips are swollen and bruised, and Chanyeol tries not to drown as he drinks in Baekhyun in moans and pants and gasps, wanting more and more and more and more of the sweetness at the back of his throat, on the roof of his mouth, at the tips of his tongue.

*

“Sweetest thing, isn’t he?” Kyungsoo muses from where he’s sitting on a creaky wooden stool. Chanyeol almost doesn't hear him over the noise of the workshop. “Jongin’s taken quite a liking to him too.”

“Baekhyun?” Chanyeol rolls his way out from under a car, wiping his grease-covered hands on his work pants. Kyungsoo hums in reply, recoiling at the streaks of dark oil on Chanyeol’s clothes.

“Yes, Baekhyun, your latest puppy, kitten, pet, whatever it is that he is to you.” Chanyeol tries to speak in protest, but Kyungsoo beats him to it. “Jongin and you both, with your penchants for abandoned things.” He sighs, handing Chanyeol a bottle of water.

“Baekhyun isn’t a pet,”

“Then stop treating him like one.” Kyungsoo cuts in bluntly. “It’s obvious you’re sweet on him, Chanyeol, but you can’t hide from him forever. He’ll want to know, he deserves to know, especially if you’re planning on keeping him. He’s not a dog you can just give away or leave at a shelter when it becomes physically impossible for you to ta - ”

“ - Kyungsoo, stop, don’t say it,” Chanyeol begs. “Please.”

“I’m just trying to knock some sense into you before you end up breaking something you’ve tried so hard to mend.” His tone is dead serious. “I don’t fancy you’d like to be the one leaving others out in the cold.”

“Kyungsoo - ”

“Think about it,” he says, giving Chanyeol’s shoulder a pat. Chanyeol watches him as he goes, feeling lost words creep into his chest like poison.

*

He doesn’t get much of a chance to really mull over what Kyungsoo had said. Needless to say, he had realised it himself a while ago, but courage has never really been part of the better half of Chanyeol, and he had been dreading having to confront himself, and his possible illness, instead preferring to live in a delayed state of contented recklessness. But Kyungsoo is right, as much as he hates to admit it.

“Chanyeol?” Baekhyun calls from the kitchen, voice carrying through the living room to the door. There’s an urgency in the tone of his voice that makes him worry and his pulse quicken. “Chanyeol? Is that you?”

“Baekhyun?” he answers back, slipping off his boots in haste and hurrying towards him. “Baekhyun? What’s wrong, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

He arrives at the kitchen to find the shorter male on his hands and knees, mopping up a yellowish liquid with paper towels. The smell of urine reaches his nose slightly after, and loud, pained whines draw his attention to his German shepherd, lying distressed on her side.

"I think she might be hurt!" Baekhyun's panicking, voice shrill with worry. He looks up at Chanyeol with furrowed brows and wide eyes filled with concern and not an ounce of disgust, and Chanyeol’s heart trembles in fear of hope. He falls to his knees behind Baekhyun, burrowing his face into the crook of his nape, breathing in his scent as Baekhyun relaxes at the contact.

“...Chan…yeol?” he asks, worried. “Hey, are you alright? Did something happen at work?”

Chanyeol shakes his head twice. Baekhyun sighs in relief, trying to turn around so he can take a look at Chanyeol. He allows himself just a few moments more of comfort, only letting go of Baekhyun when Chorong lets out a pitiful whine.

Moving sideways on his knees, he reaches for the roll of paper towels by Baekhyun’s leg. He strokes Chorong while he wipes at the damp spots of her fur with his other hand, trying to clean off as much liquid as possible before lifting her in his arms when she’s calm enough. Her legs feel oddly limp against his elbow, and he berates himself for not noticing the decline in her condition, even if he knew it was just a matter of time.

“Should we get her to a vet?” Baekhyun asks gently as he trails behind Chanyeol into the bathroom. He lurks by the door, peeking over Chanyeol’s shoulder as he turns on the shower and grabs the dog shampoo from the shelf. He slides himself into the narrow space once Chanyeol has Chorong lying on her side in the shower area, squatting down so he can help massage the soap into her now matted fur. She looks even thinner with her usually fluffy fur now soaked through, and his heart aches at how scared she looks.

Chanyeol tries not to meet Baekhyun’s gaze, keeping his eyes trained on the gaps in the tiles instead. He shakes his head again and takes a deep breath before he tries to speak. “Chorong...she…”

Baekhyun scoots over so their thighs touch, waiting patiently for Chanyeol to continue.

“I found her, two years ago, in the parking lot of the supermarket I used to go to. She was eleven then. At first she just kept following me around whenever I was there, probably because I smelled like dogs, you know? So I played with her when I could, and that’s when I started noticing that she had a tendency to drag her hind paw.”

Chorong bumps his palm with her nose when his hand passes her snout.

“I thought it was because of an injury, since it’s pretty common for abandoned animals to get into fights. She was all big and scary and it took a while for me to approach her, but when I did she turned out to be really sweet and affectionate,” Chanyeol hops around to the other side so he can massage her back and legs. “All she wanted was an owner that could love her.”

“Anyway, I brought her to the vet before I took her home, and they said her limp wasn’t because of an injury. She has a progressive disease called degenerative myelopathy.” It’s getting harder for Chanyeol to speak, his throat closing up, tongue awkward and heavy in his mouth. Baekhyun reaches out from across the shower stall to cover his trembling hand with his own.

“That basically means her spinal chord degenerates and that she'll lose control of her hind limbs." He pauses again, and Baekhyun squeezes his hand, prompting him to go on.

"Its a common disease with German Shepherds. The paw dragging and limping are only the beginning. Eventually the dogs lose control of their hind region, so incontinence can happen too, like just now, and she's going to be paralysed, she won't be able to walk, she's going to pee herself all the time and eventually her lungs will give out, and her brain won't work, and soon I'll have to decide between being selfish and keeping her with me or letting her...go."

The last word comes out in a choked sob and he opens his eyes just as Baekhyun lifts his clean hand to his cheek, thumb brushing away quiet tears. Chanyeol grimaces when he feels Chorong nuzzle his leg, frustration and helplessness pinching his heart. He guides her head onto his lap, sinking down in the pooled water, biting down hard on his lip as he continues washing out the rest of the shampoo. Baekhyun stays quiet opposite him, doesn't speak patronising words or false reassurances. Chanyeol can't bring himself to look up at Baekhyun again. Trying to force himself to move his hands mechanically, he concentrates on the thinning soap suds with his head held low, pausing occasionally to sniffle.

But when air leaves his lungs and his rib cage quakes, when his vision goes blurry and tips over the edge, Baekhyun is there, silently wiping away the tears, keeping them all, not letting a single drop fall to the ground.

"Chanyeol." He says his name once, in a voice so tender it leaves a deep cleft in his heart.

*

Chorong doesn't eat or drink much in the following days, turning her head away from her food and water bowls and only eating when Chanyeol or Baekhyun sit down with her and feed her out of their hands. The dropping temperature also leaves her weak and drowsy, curled up feebly in her bed with the extra blankets Chanyeol had bought for her. Taking her out for actual walks is close to impossible now, since her hind legs can barely move, but Baekhyun still carries her out for fresh air anyway, pressing his face into her fur, mumbling and giggling while he tells her stories.

Baekhyun becomes significantly more talkative and lively, humming along to Wolf's songs when he thinks Chanyeol can’t hear, and singing along excitedly to the pop tunes on the music station. Sometimes Chanyeol catches him dancing when he's mopping or sweeping the floor, grooving and shaking his hips to the music while he mouths the lyrics. He drops the broom and covers his face in embarrassment the one time Chanyeol decides to come out of hiding and hug him from the behind, squeaking in shock when arms suddenly wrap around his waist and hoist him up. He stays embarrassed for all of five seconds before trying to get Chanyeol to dance along with him, pecking him on the nose and cupping his ears, wiggling. When Chanyeol puts him down he grasps his hand firmly and spins around, laughing and egging him on.

Chanyeol almost feels spoiled by him, leaving for work daily with an apple and variations of toast, a neatly packed bento left on the counter next to his keys. Baekhyun likes to experiment with his food. Sometimes he comes up with things so delicious Chanyeol wishes he could have ten servings more, but sometimes he gets a little too creative and combines things that have Chanyeol promptly declaring an outing to the supermarket the moment he reaches home.

Their late night trips to the convenience store have turned into dates of sorts, Baekhyun always reaching for Chanyeol's hand, grasping it firmly as they walk together through the darkness. Chanyeol likes resting his chin atop Baekhyun's head while the shorter one flips through magazines, talking excitedly about new music albums and how cute the puppies in the pet magazines always are.

Tonight, however, Chanyeol has a different idea. He grabs his keys and slips them into his pocket, popping by their room to get an extra jacket for Baekhyun.

"Are we going somewhere?" Baekhyun asks as Chanyeol plops his helmet onto Baekhyun's head.

"You'll see," he smirks and Baekhyun pouts, climbing onto the bike. "But first, to the store as usual!"

Baekhyun tickles his sides playfully while he sticks the keys into the ignition, and Chanyeol squirms in his seat until Baekhyun's fingers stop fluttering, locking his hands into place against Chanyeol's tummy.

The ride to the store is short, and they get two cans of hot milk tea (less sugar for Baekhyun, and regular for Chanyeol), his favourite blueberry bread and Baekhyun's apple one, and a packet of crackers to share. Chanyeol notices Baekhyun lurking at the back corner of the store, pondering over a small section of disposable cameras on the shelf.

"Chanyeol?" he asks, lifting up one of the small boxes.

"Hmm?"

"Is it okay if I get two of these?"

"Sure, why not?" Chanyeol smiles gently and takes another one of the boxes, dropping it into the basket. Baekhyun thanks him politely, bowing on instinct all “Chanyeol-ssi” again, and Chanyeol scowls jokingly at the formality, ruffling Baekhyun's hair.

They pass by a small night market on the way, and Baekhyun's wistful sigh at the smell of spicy rice cakes has Chanyeol stopping his bike so he can buy them both portions, along with some fish cake soup and black bean noodles as well.

"We both like eating, don't we," Baekhyun laughs when he sees Chanyeol return with his arms full. He sticks his arms out and poses cutely so Chanyeol can loop the bags onto his forearms.

"We need our energy," Chanyeol grins and Baekhyun chuckles in reply, shaking his arms excitedly so the bags rustle in the wind.

It becomes increasingly obvious where he's taking Baekhyun as they near their destination, Baekhyun's muffled but excited voice ringing in his ear when they finally catch sight of the water and Baekhyun exclaims, "The Han river!"

It's nice and quiet at this hour. They are the only ones here at this portion of the bank, Chanyeol notes, and he's glad for the privacy. He parks his bike by a street lamp and dismounts before helping an excited Baekhyun with the bags of food, who trails behind him afterwards while he chooses a spot and sits down. Chanyeol puts down the bags but remains standing for just a while longer, enjoying the refreshing feeling of the cold wind on his skin, breathing in the nostalgic smell of tempered water. He re-ties his hair after he stretches, watching the capital's skyline squiggle and float on the surface of the river.

"It's been ages since I've last been here," Baekhyun sighs happily. "I used to come here all the time whenever I needed a change of scenery or to...just get out."

"Really?" Chanyeol asks in surprise. "I used to come here all the time too, with the Wolf guys. When we were still in high school we would cycle here after band practice, and Kris would treat us all to fried chicken while the rest of us talked about our dreams of playing in proper live houses and venues instead of just performing in school."

Baekhyun hands him his rice cakes and chopsticks. "It's kind of cool, how we were both here, sitting along the same bank."

"And here we are now, sitting together. Two dots on a line, finally meeting." Chanyeol laughs. "We sound like a terrible manhwa."

“There were many dots on that very large line, Chanyeol.” Baekhyun laughs amiably and they gobble up the rest of their food in a comfortable silence, occasionally pausing to comment on something or the other, or to pass around the spoon for the soup. They both lie down side by side when they're full and content, staring up at the dark night sky.

"Chanyeol?"

"Hmm?"

"Is it okay if I ask you about Kris?" Baekhyun's voice is unsure, careful. "It's alright if you don't want to tell me, but I've just been really curious. About why he paid for my medical bills."

"Ah," Chanyeol starts, scooting over so his side is pressed against Baekhyun's, reaching for his hand and twining their fingers together. "Kris was my best friend. We grew up together - same elementary, middle and high schools, even if he was two years my senior."

Baekhyun nods quietly, and Chanyeol continues.

"We were both into music, but Kris' favourite thing will always be basketball - he was on the school team and they were great, nationals and all that - and one day I heard Jongdae singing in class, and I was completely sold on his voice so I tried to start the band. We spent a lot of time together because of Wolf, and often we had to work closely too, so somewhere along the line I developed feelings for my best friend.

“Which was a pretty disastrous idea, in retrospect. He didn't react too well to it at first, didn't want the jocks on the basketball team to find out his awkward, gangly best friend was gay for him. I've had girlfriends before, as serious as you can get in high school, but none of those worked out either."

A cold gust of wind has Baekhyun shivering, and Chanyeol slips their hands into his coat pocket, palms overlapped.

"But when university started we got closer again, and my feelings returned and I couldn't help it. After our first big performance I was pumped with adrenaline and foolish courage and I kissed him and he kissed me back, and I guess you could say Kris was my first love.

"We were together for about a year, maybe, but then something with my family happened and he ditched me when I needed him the most, not as an almost lover but as my best bud, my friend. Things just sort of went downhill from there - I had decided to defer from school for a while, so we hardly saw each other or talked after that, and we just grew distant."

"Does it still hurt?" Baekhyun asks softly, more like a whisper into his ear, and Chanyeol shakes his head in reply.

"Not at all. I've forgiven him long ago, though he seems to be under the impression that I haven't. I'm really glad he met Yixing. They’ve done tons of good for each other."

Baekhyun presses a kiss to the space between his jaw and the shell of his ear, and Chanyeol does the same in return.

"So what's your story?" Chanyeol whispers into his ear, letting his lips ghost against Baekhyun's earlobe.

Baekhyun shifts so he's half lying on top of Chanyeol, resting his ear against Chanyeol's heart. He watches the back of Baekhyun's head as he begins to speak.

"I was trained in classical music from as far back as I can remember. My hyung Baekbeom played the violin, and I played the piano. I was quite indifferent to music since I was so young, but we were drilled really hard and I came to detest it. I would tear up scores and run away, skip lessons just to escape it, break CDs, throw away tapes. I used to hide in arcades and libraries, where it would be hard to find me."

Chanyeol chuckles, threading his fingers through Baekhyun's hair. "Rebellious Baekhyun."

"But then when I was seventeen my dad brought Baekbeom and I to see the Christmas performance of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. I fell in love with classical music, and the handsome, talented piano soloist." Baekhyun smiles, voice full of nostalgia.

“I still remember it now, they were performing Rachmaninoff’s second concerto and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. I had a change of heart, practiced like crazy and got myself into the school the soloist was from the following year. I skipped my last year of high school and headed to uni early.” Baekhyun turns so he’s facing Chanyeol. “I still don’t know if I regret that or not.”

“He was a third year senior by then, and also one of the teaching assistants. We met quite often because we were in the same department, and a few weeks into the term, he asked me out. Naturally I was elated, and a few dates turned into a proper relationship, and eventually we wanted to move in together somewhere. I told my family about our relationship then; my mom and brother took it pretty well - I guess they kind of knew all along? But my dad was furious and appalled that I had fallen in love with another man, prodigy or not, so he kicked me out." He smiles sadly, kissing the tips of Chanyeol’s fingers. Baekhyun takes a deep breath before continuing.

“I haven't been home since then. I’ve tried going back, but my dad won’t even look at me, much less let me through the front door. Anyway, I took a liking to jazz piano at the beginning of my last year, and when I graduated I worked for a couple of posh hotels as a pianist. They paid me good money,” he chuckles softly, reaching out to trace along Chanyeol’s jaw. Baekhyun opens his mouth, as if to speak, but then changes his mind. His eyes are slightly watery and red rimmed. Chanyeol isn’t sure if it’s from fatigue or something else.

Baekhyun closes his eyes, smiling contentedly. "The rest is a tale for another time."

Chanyeol nods in understanding. He loosens his grip so Baekhyun can shimmy up and rest his head comfortably in the crook of Chanyeol’s neck, holding him close again once the smaller one is settled.

Much like the way Chanyeol had told Baekhyun about Kris, he's sure Baekhyun's simplifying things, and that, like Chanyeol, there are emotions he can’t quite verbalise, can’t speak out, and feelings far more complex than words belie. They lie together in comfort, just enjoying each other’s company for a while more, until Baekhyun bumps his nose lightly against his cheek, whispering "it's late, Chanyeol, let's go home."

*

Getting out of bed is a daily struggle with Baekhyun curled into his side, their limbs a tangled mess and his body heat irresistible and addictive. He allows himself some indulgence on weekends, clinging to Baekhyun as much as the other clings to him, letting shirts ride up and hands roam uninhibited, leaning in eagerly into every touch and caress. Baekhyun usually sleeps late into the afternoon most of the time, so it is with much difficulty that Chanyeol forces himself out of bed early on a Sunday morning.

Christmas is in just a few days and Chanyeol wants to give Baekhyun some presents. He knows Baekhyun will oppose receiving gifts, but he figures he'd be able to get away with items that he actually needs, like a scarf, or a pair of new shoes. Baekhyun's canvas trainers aren’t at all suited for the snowy weather, and Chanyeol's feet are much too big for them to share his footwear.

Making sure to tuck Baekhyun back into the blanket before he showers, Chanyeol reluctantly pulls himself away before grabbing some clothes and ducking into the bathroom. He presses an affectionate kiss to Baekhyun’s forehead as he leaves their bedroom, brushing Baekhyun’s bangs away from his brows. Chanyeol peeks at the label in Baekhyun's shoes when he's at the door, taking note of the size as he slips on his own well-worn boots.

The early morning air is clean and calming, refreshingly chilly. A small puff of smoke floats past his eyes as he yawns and exhales, stretching out stiff muscles and popping his spine back into alignment. It had snowed again the night before, and the roads are covered in a thin layer of white. Coupled with the Christmas lights and decorations hung up on the streets across Seoul, it put Chanyeol in an extremely cheerful mood, and he can't help but hum along to the holiday tunes blaring from the shop fronts along the streets. He makes a mental note to bring Baekhyun on a ride around town at night, so they can see the Christmas lights together.

Chanyeol makes sure to take care on the road, riding slower than usual to avoid skids and slips. He drops by Hongdae first, navigating his way through narrow streets until he arrives at Kyungsoo's live house. A quick glance at his phone tells him it's only ten in the morning. Naturally, the place is closed, but Chanyeol's sure Jongin and Kyungsoo are sprawled in bed together in the flat above the venue, Jongin's two adopted poodles Monggu and Jjangu huddled at their feet. He retrieves their presents from his backpack and leaves them by the door, ringing the doorbell thrice for good measure before hopping on his bike and speeding off, terrified of facing a grumpy Kyungsoo.

He makes quick work of his shopping at the mall, wanting nothing more than to go home and hop back into bed to cuddle with Baekhyun. The first place he heads to is a shoe shop, popping by a few others afterwards when he fails to find something Baekhyun would like. He finds the perfect pair in the departmental store: light mocha coloured leather ankle boots with firm soles and darker mahogany trimmings. He asks a salesperson in a Santa hat for a pair in the right size and heads eagerly to the counter to pay for them. Once he's done with the shoes, Chanyeol wanders around looking for a warm scarf, picking up a nice dark grey rib knit beanie as well, recalling how Baekhyun had mentioned his ears were hurting from the cold.

His last stop is the stationary store, where he buys everything on a list Baekhyun had given him the week before. It was mostly an assortment of coloured and textured paper, glittery markers, glue, poster paints, scissors and string.

Chanyeol sneaks up on Baekhyun when he gets home, quietly closing the door behind him and taking off his shoes. He can hear the radio playing a peppy Christmas tune, and as he nears the kitchen he catches Baekhyun's lovely timbre harmonising with the higher pitched voice that Chanyeol recognised as Taeyeon's. Baekhyun is dressed in Chanyeol’s clothes as usual, hair still damp from his shower. He observes how his baggy clothes drape over his shoulder blades, lower neckline revealing more of the skin at his nape. His sweatpants fit him surprisingly well, even if they are a little too long, clinging snugly to hipbones and thighs that have filled out nicely in the past months. He's tried countless times to convince Baekhyun to let him buy him some clothing of his own, but to no avail.

Baekhyun has pretty broad shoulders and hips for someone his size, and Chanyeol finds the contours of his body dangerously attractive. He chokes and tries not to stare too hard at Baekhyun's butt when he starts bopping to the music, swishing his spatula like a wand.

It's only when Chanyeol fails to smother a laugh at one of Baekhyun's poses that the smaller one notices him there, dropping his spatula in shock with a loud groan.

"Chanyeol!" he mumbles, purposely turning away. "You creep. I change my mind, no food for you!"

Chanyeol leaves the presents on the counter, sidling up behind Baekhyun and sliding his arms around his waist.

"Honey toast and eggs," he sniffs at the same time his stomach lets out a loud growl. "You made my favourite."

Baekhyun hmphs and attempts to squirm out of his grip, trying to bump Chanyeol away weakly with his butt. "No. Nope. None for you. All mine." He holds the plate full of warm bread away from Chanyeol's grasp.

"Baekhyun, please? Just one? I'm hungry." Chanyeol whines, trying to swipe the top slice as the shorter one swings the plate around.

"I can't believe I just spent the last two minutes wiggling my ass and you just stood there watching quietly, Park Chanyeol. You deserve punishment," Baekhyun squeaks indignantly, struggling with the plate. "I am going to let you starve."

"Until lunch," he adds quietly, acquiescing when Chanyeol starts pressing kisses to his neck, giggling as he lowers the plate so Chanyeol can reach. "That tickles."

"Thank you, my sweet." Chanyeol whispers into his ear, smirking when the pet name has Baekhyun all warm and flustered. "I have something for you too," he says as he spins the smaller one around.

"What," Baekhyun deadpans when he sees the boxes on the counter.

"Merry Christmas?" Chanyeol tries cheerily, nudging Baekhyun towards the gifts.

Baekhyun turns around and hugs him tightly, voice a conflicting mix of gratitude and frustration when he speaks, trying and failing to sound angry. "You really shouldn't have, Chanyeol."

"Open them," he prompts, moving to the opposite side of the counter so he can face Baekhyun.

"But it's not Christmas yet," Baekhyun resists, shaking his head. "It's been a while since I've gotten gifts. They're from you and they're special. I want to save them for Christmas Day."

"We can keep these two for later, but I kind of need you to try these on to see if they fit." Chanyeol relents, setting the bag with the scarf and hat aside, leaving only the box with the boots on the counter. He didn't want to pressure Baekhyun or make him feel uncomfortable.

"Can I really?" Baekhyun asks, fingers playing with the lid, lifting it quickly with glee when Chanyeol nods in reply.

He puts on the right boot first, and then the left, looking rather hilarious in his baggy sweats. "These are really nice," He looks up at Chanyeol, shooting him a toothy smile. "Thank you so much."

"How do they fit?"

"Perfectly," Baekhyun comments, walking over to where Chanyeol is, taking tentative steps in his new shoes. Chanyeol is caught by surprise when Baekhyun hooks his fingers into his shirt and pushes him backwards firmly, guiding him to the couch.

"Baekhyun?" he exhales, as the back of his thighs bump into the arm of the couch.

"You make me so happy," Baekhyun laughs as he falls onto Chanyeol. "So, ridiculously happy," he beams brilliantly before he shoves Chanyeol hard into the worn cushion of the couch so he can cup his chin and kiss him silly.

*

They spend the afternoon making decorations and a pseudo-tree out of scraps of cardboard they find by the recycling bins.

Baekhyun googles some craft tutorials on Chanyeol's laptop while he goes to fetch Chorong from their bedroom, returning to the living room with two blankets and his companion in his arms. He sits with his legs crossed, resting her in his lap.

Baekhyun smiles in thanks when he wraps one blanket around his shoulders. Chanyeol shifts a little so he can tuck Chorong’s stiff hind legs snugly under the fabric, scratching behind her ears and ruffling her fur. "You're good with your hands aren't you?" Baekhyun wiggles his fingers at Chanyeol, holding up the neatly hemmed patchwork on the corner of the blanket.

“My sister taught me how to quilt and sew.” He has to try very hard to keep his eyes from drifting back to Baekhyun's red, bruised lips every time he speaks, hyper aware of his own softly throbbing ones. Baekhyun's cheeks are still flushed red, colouring his features lusciously. “I’ve always been decent at building things too. Almost did an architecture degree.” Chanyeol explains.

"I noticed you hardly ever throw things away. Almost all the stuff at home has been repaired instead of replaced." Baekhyun shimmies over so his thigh is resting against Chanyeol's. "You even sew up the holes in your boxers."

"Unconscious habit, I guess," Chanyeol shrugs, blushing, embarrassed that Baekhyun had noticed such an awkward detail. He starts sorting out the sheets of paper by colour. “Why replace it when you can repair it? Nothing is ever really completely broken.”

Baekhyun nods in agreement, turning the screen towards Chanyeol. “This one is cute,” he says, gesturing at the paper reindeer design. They pick out a few more designs before starting - Santa, elves, snowmen - falling into a comfortable silence as they focused on their respective tasks: Baekhyun carefully drawing and folding, while Chanyeol cuts and assembling the pieces, leaving them in organised little heaps on the table.

"Moustache!" Baekhyun suddenly exclaims, holding a cut piece of blue paper to Chanyeol's philtrum. Chanyeol snips another one out of the little scraps of paper and holds it to Baekhyun's face, bursting into a fit of giggles.

When they run out of construction paper Baekhyun starts working his way through the white stack, snipping deftly at the paper and cutting slits to create a variety of pretty, geometrical snowflakes.

Chanyeol, having decided that he preferred watching Baekhyun work instead of helping, moves Chorong to the couch before lying down with his head in Baekhyun’s lap, pillowed comfortably by his plush left thigh.

“Tired?” Baekhyun asks in concern, putting down the scissors so he can thread his fingers through Chanyeol’s long hair, tucking the stray strands that have fallen across his face behind his ears. His fingers linger on his nape as Chanyeol shakes his head, grinning contentedly. Baekhyun holds still when Chanyeol sits up and crawls onto him, trying to negotiate awkwardly long limbs so he can cling to Baekhyun the way the shorter one likes to cling to him.

“You look so much more graceful when you do this,” he mumbles into Baekhyun’s shoulder. In return, Baekhyun holds him safe and secure, hands wrapped around his waist firmly, the same way Chanyeol usually likes having Baekhyun close. “I think my limbs are a tad too long.”
Baekhyun laughs and shifts to accommodate him. “You fit perfectly, silly.”

“This is nice,” Chanyeol smiles, lips moving against the side of Baekhyun’s neck. He closes his eyes and relaxes when Baekhyun cradles his head, pressing soft kisses to his temples. “You’re so...” Chanyeol pauses, searching for the right words. “Squishy,” he jokes, laughing as he speaks. “Warm. Cute.” Baekhyun jabs him in the ribs with each word, hmphing in mock annoyance.

“You’re lovely Baekhyun,” Chanyeol kisses his nose, and then his awaiting lips. “So very lovely.”

They cuddle in a comfortable silence, occasionally giggling or squirming when Baekhyun grumbles about not being able to feel his toes, relishing in the reversal of their usual physical dynamic.

Baekhyun is fiddling with his ears when Chanyeol feels a change in the air, a short pause of hesitance overcome by courage before he speaks. “You’re the same as Chorong, aren’t you, Chanyeol?” Baekhyun whispers quietly into his ear, more akin to a knowing statement than a question to be answered.

His heart quivers in fear, muscles hardening like glass in panic, but Baekhyun runs soothing hands down his back, placing a quick peck on his cheek, slowly coaxing Chanyeol back into being pliant. Chanyeol doesn't know how to respond, never anticipating that Baekhyun would guess. Worry yanks at his brain and etches crevices in the form of frowns - the last time he'd told someone else things had turned out disastrous. He considers denying it at first, but Kyungsoo and Yixing's words echo in his mind, and Chanyeol nods, slowly, still not daring to breathe.

"She's special to you isn't she?" Baekhyun asks again, lavishing Chanyeol with, tender touches. Chanyeol nods once more, still not daring to speak. "I thought so."

"Will you tell me properly when you're ready?"

Chanyeol pulls away from Baekhyun's shoulder so he can look at his face. His eyes are kind, patient, soft, searching. His lips tremble as he nods silently, afraid to hold Baekhyun's gaze until the other raises a hand to his jaw and kisses the side of his mouth, resting his forehead gently against Chanyeol's when he feels relief toying with his heart, nodding one last time.

"Yes."

part: iii/vi