You Light Up My Life (And I Like You In Silver Tights)
Title: You Light up my Life (and I Like You in Silver Tights)
Author: Anonymous until 1/30/14
For: minwhore
Pairing: Baekhyun/Chanyeol
Word Count: 7,306
Summary: They hate each other in real life, they’re in love on Kakao Talk.
Warnings: None
Rating: PG-13
One
Vitamin1127 says:
I love Seoul around Christmas time. When it’s getting chilly and couples walk about aimlessly, looking at illuminated trees in Myeongdong or window-shopping in Gangnam. Their eyes sparkle with love, they bask in each other’s warmth for their winter clothes aren’t quite enough, conveniently. I’m not particularly fond of the way South Korea progressively Americanises itself, but if anything, Christmas is one of the western traditions that I love the most.
÷
Real_Luxman says:
I have a cat. He’s called Chen Chen and he’s really whiny. As far as cat food is concerned, he’s got ridiculously high standards. For example, he won’t eat fish mash unless it’s one hundred percent filet or if it contains too much oil. He doesn’t drink skimmed or half-skimmed milk like me, so I have to buy whole milk especially for him. I also have to walk him outside like a dog when he feels down. But he’s so cute I can’t help granting his every wish and he seems to get sassier by the day.
÷
The first thing Chanyeol does in the morning is to check his phone for any new Kakao Talk messages. He’s been involved in a digital relationship for a few weeks now, and each time the gentle bike bell he set as ringtone jingles, his heart flutters pleasantly in his chest. He knows he shouldn’t be that excited, especially because he’s dating someone, but he can’t help it and silently thanks Kris for not being nosy.
What’s most striking though is that Chanyeol is currently chatting with none other than Luxman, the famous superhero who’s been saving the day in Seoul for nearly a year. Each time Chanyeol remembers how he got to this point, he smiles to himself and inwardly pats his own head. He can’t believe his luck.
÷
Chanyeol was walking back home from a long day at the shop. He had to close that day, because he and Kyungsoo had switched shifts. Normally, he would have taken the bus, but in the snow the buses didn’t run really well, and Chanyeol just wanted to get home as soon as possible, to enjoy the fireside, a hot chocolate and a blanket. He had the choice between walking back taking the main streets (the longer, but safer way) and taking dark, narrow alleyways to guarantee him a sooner arrival. Chanyeol just shrugged and chose the second option. The thing is, these streets were safe during daytime, but became slightly shadier come nightfall.
Not ten minutes into his walk home, Chanyeol had been mugged by three angry teenagers, two holding him up still while the third one rummaged through his things for a phone or some cash, probably. Chanyeol could only ever guess, for a few seconds after his assault, a blinding light flashed in front of him and the guys holding him had to let go to protect their eyes. The rest was a bit of a blur, but from what Chanyeol remembered, there was a man in white and silver tights fighting the thieves away thanks to a few capoeira-like moves and glaring light. Chanyeol immediately knew it was Luxman and he was so dazed that he didn’t even realise that he was alone and safe again in the blink of an eye.
That was how Chanyeol began to develop a (creepy) passion for Luxman. He started collecting pictures and stickers of him, cutting articles about him out of newspapers, buying all kinds of goods related to him and covering his bedroom walls with posters of him. Kris raised a brow at that but shrugged it off. He merely said something that, ironically, led Chanyeol to go even further into his crazed infatuation with the superhero.
“He’s not from a comic book, you know. He’s someone real, like you and me, and you don’t even know his face. Isn’t it a bit creepy?”
And then it clicked.
Chanyeol got his hand on Luxman’s fan mail address and sent him a letter. It was simple and heart-felt, and he didn’t forget to leave his Kakao Talk ID at the bottom of the page, in the futile hope he would write him back.
Which Luxman did. The next day.
That was how it all began.
÷
“It’s going to be grand!” Luhan exclaims as they walk around the construction site.
“People will wonder how they made it without us!” Baekhyun laughs, nodding appreciatively at the workers making quick progress on the site. “I think we’ll be able to open Byun Supermart on time!”
“When discount food becomes noble!” Luhan chimes, quite dramatically. Baekhyun simply chuckles, used to his best friend’s antics.
÷
“Who are you so furiously typing to?” Kyungsoo asks, throwing a sidelong glance to Chanyeol, his boss. “I’d bet on that mystery guy rather than Kris, which is pretty sad.”
“He’s just told me that there would be a big change in his life. I wonder what it is. But he won’t tell me!” Chanyeol whines in Kyungsoo’s general direction.
“‘No specifics’,” Kyungsoo deadpans, making the inverted comma sign with his fingers, looking utterly bored. “You told me.”
“I’d like to give him details about my job, about you, about many things… but I can’t or it would mean that we’re taking it to the next level. And that scares me a bit.”
“Have you tried sex messages?” Kyungsoo offers as he’s rearranging shiny granny smiths in the display.
Chanyeol coughs and nearly chokes on the cappuccino he’s been sipping.
“It’s not like that!” Chanyeol argues.
Kyungsoo scoffs, looking highly unconvinced.
“Who knows, he could be the next person walking into the door.” He chooses to say instead of harassing Chanyeol any further.
As if on cue, the bell above the door jingles a few seconds later. Chanyeol and Kyungsoo look over expectantly, but their hope deflates as quickly as it came. It’s only Minseok, the owner of the coffee shop next door.
“Hi!” He sing-songs. “I’m here for a refill of your delicious Williams pears. The cream cheese and pear tarts are the hit of the moment!”
Chanyeol grins at his neighbour and friend and walks to the small but tidy and mouth-watering pear display. All the fruits are carefully ranked, pointing the same way towards the ceiling. Chanyeol made sure they were all perfect and bump-free before putting them on sale.
Needless to say he’s proud of his small fruits and vegetables shop.
“Please give me five kilos. It’s a bit off my budget but your fruits are the most delicious on this side of the Han River. I promise I’ll never buy the tasteless ones from that big-ass store across the street.”
Chanyeol perks up at that. “What store are you talking about?”
“What? You didn’t know? Man, how could you miss it? There are signs everywhere.”
“You know how he can be oblivious to his surroundings.” Kyungsoo adds in.
“They’re opening a Byun Supermart.” Minseok says, a bit of sadness seeping through his voice.
“Oh… shit.”
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
Hi. You know, I own a business. It’s quite small, but I love it like it’s my child. Well, not really but you get the idea. But today, I learnt that it’s in danger. It had never occurred to me before that I might encounter hardships like this one. It’s always been easy, I inherited the business and it flowed quite well. Now, it’s going to be more difficult, and I’m a little scared.
Real_Luxman says:
Don’t let yourself be scared. You’re not going to lose anything without a fight.
÷
Baekhyun shoves fish mash into Chen Chen’s dish, his cat looking at him with his big, brown judgmental eyes, as if saying ‘I almost waited, peasant’.
He slips in his white and silver tights and jumps out of his window into the darkness of a winter evening. He prevents a car accident on a main street in Apgujeong and saves a cat stuck in a high tree in a park. The old owner thanks him, offers him some of her homemade rice cookies and takes a selfie with him.
Baekhyun likes being a superhero.
After he deems he’s done enough good deeds for the day, he discreetly changes back to his normal clothes in the now deserted construction site and heads back home. On his way, he passes by a nice-looking, quaint little shop and decides to stop by and buy some veggies for tonight, before he can get them from his own shop and make this one sink.
“Welcome!” A booming voice calls from the back of the shop.
Baekhyun finds himself smiling back to a tall, brown-haired man with a humongous grin and a rather cute twitching face.
“I’ll be there in a minute, let me just help this lady before.”
Baekhyun hums as he takes in the fruit and vegetable neat displays and the way the shop keeper explains the customer how to cook leeks without making them become sour and losing too much water. He even adds a personal tip to put it in the oven with cheese and ham and Baekhyun’s stomach stirs at the idea. The lady smiles brightly and thanks the tall guy before paying and leaving. Baekhyun picks a few vegetables randomly and shoves them onto the counter. The shop keeper grins at him and weighs the vegetables before putting them gingerly into a nice wicker basket.
“Do you want to cook soup with these? You should put the carrot in first, because it’s got the longest cooking time. If you put everything at the same time, your mushrooms and soy will be all soggy. Oh, and add the chili paste at the very end or it’ll lose its taste if it cooks for too long.”
“Thank you uh…”
“Chanyeol! I’m Park Chanyeol, the owner of this shop.”
Baekhyun nods and when he looks up at Chanyeol, he notices a framed sepia picture hung behind him. It’s one of a woman and a chubby, smiley spectacle-sporting boy around six or seven years old holding a ferret in his curled right arm.
“Is that you on the picture?”
“Yes. With my mother. She was the one who opened the shop and left it to me. And I’ll leave it to my son in the future.”
“Oh. I see,” Baekhyun answers. “And how old is your… son?” he asks quite slyly.
Chanyeol flushes a bit and scratches the back of his head sheepishly. “I don’t have a son. I’m only speaking hypothetically, a-ha.” He turns to his cashier and taps on it frantically. “That’ll be 18,000 won, please.”
Baekhyun nearly chokes but refrains from doing so, afraid he might offend Chanyeol. Baekhyun must be very obvious because he seems to notice and snorts smugly.
“What you’ll find here is quality and service. You won’t have them in discount stores. Sure, the prices are low and a lot’s on bargain, but everything here comes from Korean soil and is picked up with the greatest care. Those matter to me, don’t they to you, sir?”
“Baekhyun, just call me Baekhyun.” He says hastily, avoiding mentioning his last name, for he doesn’t want to make the guy his instant enemy.
“Goodbye, Chanyeol,” he says as the shop owner hands him the basket full of vegetables. “And thanks for the basket, it’s really nice.”
“You can come back with it next time and we’ll be happy to fill it again!”
Chanyeol’s smile is as bright as day as Baekhyun walks out the door.
÷
Byun Supermart opens a few days later.
Chanyeol doesn’t want to admit it, but his revenues of the next week are distinctly lower than the same week last year. People are only curious about novelty, that’s normal, they’ll soon come back. Yeah. They’ll do.
Kyungsoo’s looks to Chanyeol are more worried than mocking now and his deadpan sense of humour seems to falter by the day.
÷
It’s Minseok’s pre-Christmas annual neighbourhood party and Chanyeol’s pretty much forced to come. He doesn’t want to, though, for he’s having a hard time keeping things afloat in his shop and doesn’t have a mind to party. He’ll drop by, say hi to Minseok, have a couple of petit fours and leave as discreetly as a 185cm-tall bloke can.
Things go rather smoothly according to Chanyeol’s plan until he bumps into a familiar face at the buffet.
“Oh. Hi,” Baekhyun says, looking sleek in a designer suit. “You’re Chanyeol from the corner shop.”
“Yeah,” Chanyeol tries not to feel underdressed in his own slightly wrinkled clothes. “And you’re Baekhyun from--”
He’s rudely cut off by Minseok dragging him across his apartment and cornering him in the kitchen.
“I can’t believe you’re speaking to this guy! I invited him out of social obligation but I didn’t think you’d--”
“Wait. I don’t follow you. Why shouldn’t I be speaking to him?”
Minseok rolls his eyes. “Chanyeol! You’re really behind things! He’s Byun Baekhyun, heir of Byun Enterprises and owner of the store making yours bankrupt!”
Chanyeol opens his eyes in disbelief. But instead of shying away, he bolts out of the kitchen and into the living room where the guests turn to him in surprise. He halts in front of Baekhyun, who is busy stuffing his face with bite-sized chocolate éclairs. He stops mid-chew and looks up at Chanyeol.
“You lied to me!” Chanyeol half-yells while poking at Baekhyun’s chest. “You never told me you were Byun Baekhyun, owner of the Byun Supermart currently trying to sink my shop.”
Baekhyun looks unimpressed, at most, as he resumes his chewing and swallows pointedly before answering. “I didn’t lie to you, sir, I just omitted to tell part of the truth.”
“That’s the same thing! You spied on me!”
Baekhyun scoffs haughtily. “You’re arrogant enough to believe I would spy on a small corner shop when I’ve been in the business for as long as you, if not longer. I just went there to buy food for my dinner and came out with a few ridiculously overpriced vegetables.”
Chanyeol opens his mouth angrily and hopes a witty retort will come out of it miraculously but he remains silent, awkwardly gaping at the short man in a suit probably costing a week’s worth of sales at his shop. So he closes his mouth into a disgusted frown and turns swiftly on his heels, reluctantly swallowing the humiliation before darting out of the door without even saying bye to Minseok.
When Chanyeol gets home, he flops on his bed, still fully dressed and rests his head on his folded arms. He twists and turns as sleep seems to avoid him, and looks longingly at a poster of Luxman plastered to his wall.
“I’m sure you would never do something like that…” he sighs.
He finally falls asleep feeling slight belated embarrassment for talking to a picture of a man in tights and dreams of flashes of light and sparks of silver.
÷
The next morning, Chanyeol wakes up to a KaTo message and is relieved that Kris has to attend an early broadcast at the radio station.
Real_Luxman says:
Hi. How are you doing?
Vitamin1127 says:
Have you ever felt like you have a ton of things to say to someone and when you open your mouth, nothing comes out. It happened to me, and I replayed the scenario in my head a hundred times later, but I’m sure that if it happened to me again, I’d still remain silent, because it’s just how I am. I would like to be able to come up with snarky comments and fight my way through a conversation.
Real_Luxman says:
That’s funny, because I feel the exact opposite. Sometimes, I would like to just be silent instead of attacking people with words. Recently, I said really harsh words to someone and now I regret it. I’m sure the person is hurt right now. Thinking back on it, I didn’t even believe what I said, but I put enough venom in it to sound convincing. I just wanted to win over that person, because I’ve been raised to be competitive like that. Your attitude is definitely less cowardly than mine.
Vitamin1127 says:
I can’t believe someone like you, who saves people daily, can be like that to people. I’m sure you’re being harsh to yourself.
Real_Luxman says:
The real me is the one outside the costume. And maybe I’m too ashamed of the real me to ever think of meeting you.
÷
Fate seems to make Baekhyun and Chanyeol run into each other multiple times.
Chanyeol first spots Baekhyun buying a bagel at the local sandwich shop. He hides behind a bouquet of parsley and deems it okay to go through the day without a bacon roll.
Baekhyun sees Chanyeol at the press booth and swiftly raises the magazine he’s reading to avoid his gaze (ironically enough, it’s Luxman on the front page). Luckily, Chanyeol is already leaving when Baekhyun pays for his Seoul Daily.
Chanyeol is queuing at a toy store, his hands full of presents for his nieces, already cringing at the hole buying them will leave in his bank account. When he comes up to the cashier and slides out his credit card, the sales person eyes him with disdain.
“Cash only.” She says bluntly, pointing at the glaring red sign above her head.
Chanyeol pitifully rummages through his pockets, nearly dropping Barbie’s pony in the process. The only note he finds is a poor 1,000 won.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have cash.” He says pleadingly, sounding as apologetic as he can. “But you have a card machine, could you please make an exception, I’m really, really sorry.” Chanyeol can’t possibly imagine getting at the tail of the credit card line, for the store is packed on Christmas Eve and he’s already late for work.
People behind him start grumbling and complaining and Chanyeol doesn’t know what to do.
“Hello,” an unpleasantly familiar voice says, addressing the sales person. “… Yerin.” As reads her nametag.
Chanyeol turns to Baekhyun, startled and dismayed to face his archenemy in such an embarrassing situation.
Baekhyun gives a sweet smile and Yerin returns it, a blush creeping to her cheeks. Chanyeol can’t believe his eyes but is once again mute in front of Baekhyun displaying his charms.
“Merry Christmas, Yerin. You are definitely brave to work in a toy store on Christmas Eve. I’m sure you’re really nice as well. And the sooner you’ll swipe this card in the machine, the sooner little girls will receive their gifts and be as happy as they can be on such a wonderful day.” Baekhyun croons as he hands Chanyeol’s credit card which he took from stiff fingers.
She proceeds with the payment, her smile never faltering. She doesn’t even look at Chanyeol when she hands him back his card.
“Thank you so much. And merry Christmas.” Chanyeol says to the girl who finally deigns glancing at him again, giving him a dirty look.
Chanyeol sighs, defeated, and when he turns to thank Baekhyun, he’s already vanished into cold winter air.
÷
Before going to his father’s house for Christmas, Baekhyun feels like he wants to help people. Coming to rescue Chanyeol at the toy store set him in a good mood, so he quickly changes into his tights and does his superhero duty. People spot him near the Han River and cheer at him when he saves an adventurous dog from drowning and take his picture. He goes home, body freezing but heart warm, takes a scalding shower and finally heads to his father’s. He offers a remote-controlled helicopter to the five-year-old who happens to be his little brother, offspring of the union between his old man and his sixth wife, Soojung.
Chanyeol, on the other hand, spends a quiet Christmas at his sister’s and her husband’s, spoiling his adorable nieces and singing Christmas carols. Kris can’t make it, for he has to DJ for the Christmas special broadcast.
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
Can I ask you for advice?
Real_Luxman says:
Go ahead. I’m not sure I can help you, though.
Vitamin1127 says:
My business is in serious trouble. I might even have to fold. What can I do?
Real_Luxman says:
It’s a little hard to give advice with so little detail but there’s one thing I can say: fight to the death. It’s not personal, it’s business.
÷
And so Chanyeol goes to figurative war. He deals tracts to his customers, who soon gather in front of Byun Supermart to protest against bargained food. He goes to the local TV and they accept to give him a nice slot for the prime time news. Articles are published in every local newspaper and Kris even dedicates a whole radio programme to save Chanyeol’s shop.
Baekhyun is at the gym with Luhan hitting the treadmill when he sees Chanyeol’s bright face on the large flat screen in front of them.
“I’m proud to defend quality and customer service against low prices and underqualified sales assistants. Count on me to fight to protect the shop my mother left me. It’s a pity that small family businesses close every day all around the country because of the extended monopoly of big companies.” Chanyeol is acclaimed by a substantial crowd revealed by the camera’s zoom out. Baekhyun nearly chokes on his bottle of water when his own face appears on screen, sitting at his desk looking smug with the logo of Byun Supermart hanging above his head.
“I sell cheap vegetables, sue me.”
The programme then switches back to Chanyeol in his shop, smiling while serving happy customers.
Luhan shoves Baekhyun in the shoulder and scowls at him. “Why did you have to say that on TV, Baek, are you unconscious?!”
“They cut me off!” Baekhyun yells indignantly. “That’s not all I said! I told them that we were great, that we were open seven days a week and that the opening of our store had boosted local employment!”
“That Chanyeol guy, he’s a tough one. You can’t deny it. Plus he’s kind of cute, in his own, twitchy way.”
“He looks better in person,” Baekhyun starts off. “But he’s a pest! A total nuisance!”
÷
Later at night, Baekhyun is petting Chen Chen on his couch, frowning at the muted TV still showing too much of Chanyeol’s smiley face when an idea flashes in his mind.
Real_Luxman says:
Do you think we should meet?
Never was it that hard to press send.
Vitamin1127 says:
Yes.
The belated response wakes Baekhyun with a start. He reads and rereads the simple word over a hundred times, not believing his eyes. He finally hauls himself up from the couch to redirect to his bedroom. He can’t close his eyes for more than a few seconds, now more than awake, so he decides to go save the night to occupy his mind elsewhere.
÷
Baekhyun hasn’t been this nervous in a long time. Years, if he’s being honest. That’s why he dragged Luhan with him to the café where he’s supposed to meet Vitamin1127. He told him he would wait for him with a macha latte and a white rose on the table. When the café is finally into view, Baekhyun freaks out.
“Go check him out!” he orders Luhan.
Luhan bats Baekhyun’s arm but agrees nonetheless, looking far too excited. He peers through the windows, a smirk settled firmly on his lips, and it takes him an excruciatingly long time before his eyebrows fly up his forehead.
“What? Did you see him? Is he handsome?” Baekhyun demands, hands trembling.
Luhan’s smirk falters and Baekhyun mentally prepares for a heart attack.
“He is.”
“I knew it!” Baekhyun cries, pumping a fist in the air.
“If you like them tall and slightly awkward.”
“I don’t mind the awkward. And tall is good, very good.”
“Actually, if you like the Park Chanyeol type, you’ll be happy.”
“Well, Park Chanyeol is handsome so it’s okay but why the hell are you talking about Park Chanyeol?”
Luhan gazes at Baekhyun, his features slightly strained in an uncomfortable expression.
“Because it is Park Chanyeol.”
Baekhyun barks an insincere laugh and shoves Luhan to the side to look through the window himself.
“Oh my God oh my God oh my God! It’s really Park Chanyeol.” He stammers as he takes a few steps back.
“What are you going to do?” Luhan asks.
“I don’t know!” Baekhyun silently screams, edging on panic.
Putting his hands firmly on Baekhyun’s shoulders, Luhan inhales and exhales slowly, enticing Baekhyun into doing the same. “Baek, calm down. I think you should go in there and talk to him.”
“Are you crazy? I don’t want him to hate me more than he already does!”
Luhan apparently doesn’t intend on yielding to Baekhyun’s fit, so he grabs him by the arms and pushes him through the door. “Good luck!” he chimes, patting Baekhyun’s back and leaving. There’s no turning point, Baekhyun has to do something, improvise, but right now, his brain is nothing more than a mush of blurry thoughts.
He steadies himself and finally strides further into the café. On his peripherals, he can see Chanyeol glancing up and probably spotting him. Feeling as unsure as ever, Baekhyun turns to him and feigns surprise, raising his eyebrows in what he hopes is a convincing mask of both recognition and curiosity.
“Park Chanyeol,” he starts off, walking up to the table where the taller guy is sitting. White rose and untouched tall green tea, complete with a horror-stricken faced Chanyeol. “Are you waiting for someone?”
Coughing into his fist, Chanyeol quickly composes himself and glares at Baekhyun. “Yes, I am. What are you doing here?”
Baekhyun ignores the question and takes a seat across Chanyeol.
“This seat is taken--go elsewhere!” There’s anger on Chanyeol’s face and in his voice and somehow, Baekhyun feels a totally misplaced guilt coil in his gut for causing it.
Pushing his game a little further, Baekhyun touches the side of Chanyeol’s tea cup. “Your drink is getting cold. You must have been waiting for a long time.”
“There must be a reason,” Chanyeol answers, face twitching and looking out of the window. “He’s a good man; he would never miss this date unannounced without a proper reason.”
“A date?” Baekhyun leans in and smirks. “I would rather say that he stood you up.”
Chanyeol eventually meets Baekhyun’s eyes. “Who are you to judge him?” He whispers, tone icy. “You’re just a cold-hearted cash machine interested in profit and nothing else! How could you understand normal people’s humane feelings when you have none?”
Something heavy falls inside Baekhyun’s chest at Chanyeol’s words. Before letting his face show too much, he fixes his expression into a stony one and stiffly stands up from the chair. Without another word, he walks out of the café, heart clenching as he leaves behind any chance of reconciliation with Park Chanyeol.
÷
Chanyeol plops down on his couch, nape resting on the back of it, his eyes naturally setting on one of his posters of Luxman.
“I’m sure you had someone to save or something more important to do when you didn’t come to the date. I trust you, Luxman.”
÷
Baekhyun’s sitting at his office desk, dainty fingers hovering over his phone keyboard and digging his brain for a good excuse to provide to Chanyeol.
I was stuck in heavy traffic, you know how Seoul’s streets can be blocked in the evening…
Nah, that’s so lame.
There was this guy who wanted to jump from a bridge so I had to rescue him.
Just how depressing is that?
Huffing in annoyance, Baekhyun shakes his head.
Real_Luxman says:
I am deeply sorry for not coming to our date. I have a reason, but I cannot tell you now. Please trust me.
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
Yesterday, someone came when I was waiting for you. For once, I was able to let go and I threw horrible words at him. And you know what? It didn’t feel good at all. I feel terrible.
Real_Luxman says:
You fought. Don’t feel too bad, he probably deserved it.
÷
Kris comes in at night, looking exhausted after a long day at work. After a quick shower, he slips into bed next to Chanyeol who’s been texting away on his phone.
“Kris,” Chanyeol begins, putting his phone on the bedside table and studying his partner’s sharp features. He used to really like these fierce eyebrows and sweet lips. But looking at them now does no longer wake anything up in his chest. “Can we talk?”
Kris hums in approval, watching Chanyeol with curious eyes.
“Do you love me?” Chanyeol blurts out.
Kris is taken aback and opens his mouth to reply, but no sound crosses his lips.
“Please don’t take it wrongly, okay?” Chanyeol hesitates a bit, for fear of hurting Kris’ feelings, but he’s determined anyway. “I don’t think I love you… anymore.” He pauses, searching Kris’ face for some kind of reaction, and all he can see is maybe a flash of relief in his dark brown eyes. “Do you love me?”
“I… don’t think so.” Kris says flatly.
“Great! We don’t love each other!” Chanyeol beams.
“We don’t.” Kris tilts his head to the side, apparently slightly perplexed by the situation. “And I hate your superhero posters.”
“That’s cool, because I hate your Chinese hip-hop CD’s!”
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Kris announces, a small smile dancing on his lips. “Goodnight, Chanyeol.”
÷
Kris leaves their shared apartment the next day with his things.
On the second day of the new year, Chanyeol closes down his business.
÷
Out of curiosity, Chanyeol decides to go to Byun Supermart. What strikes him first are the huge neon yellow signs hanging above every aisle, reading “bargain”, “-50% on bananas from Vietnam” or “buy two, get one free.” What’s also very shocking is that there are more employees, proudly walking about in a red vest, than customers.
Chanyeol wanders aimlessly but his ears perk up at the red fruits section.
“What strawberries are better to make a fruit salad with and how do I cut them?” an elderly lady asks one of the employees.
“Uh--well… these are--” the employee starts off, sounding less than assured.
“Use these ones,” Chanyeol walks up to them and points at a small display in a corner. “They’re big and juicy, and just sweet enough that you don’t have to add any sugar to serve them. Wash them first and cut them after, so that they don’t absorb too much water. They’re out of season, though. Please make sure to check the seasonal fruits, it prevents from importing too much.” Chanyeol adds with a sad smile.
“Thank you, sir. Do you work here?” the lady asks.
“I don’t. But I do love fruits, so if I can help, it’s only my duty to do so. Goodbye, ma’am, my best wishes for the new year.”
Unshed tears prickle his eyes and Chanyeol takes it as the cue to leave the premises before making an unwanted encounter, not noticing Baekhyun and his father watching from the other end of the aisle.
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
I’ve been feeling down lately. I fought for my business, but it wasn’t enough. I’m not bitter, though. I’ll move on, but for now, I’ll just enjoy a little bit of freedom.
Real_Luxman says:
I still want to meet you, if you’re okay with it. But I have something to do before. Will you wait for me if I promise I’ll come, this time?
Vitamin1127 says:
I will.
÷
On a cold January night, Baekhyun’s sitting with his father by the fireplace at his father’s manor.
“Where is your wife?” Baekhyun asks, watching his old man sipping French wine.
“Soojung? She left with the nanny.” He deadpans, popping a cherry tomato into his mouth.
“Oh. That’s a first.” Baekhyun can’t say he’s surprised. His father remains true to himself; unable to settle with anyone.
“Baekhyun,” his father calls, looking and sounding dead serious. “If you’re luckier than me and find someone you like very dearly, go for them and never let go.”
When Baekhyun walks out of the mansion, there’s a slight skip in his steps as his father’s words echo on the inner walls of his skull.
÷
Chanyeol is wakes up with a start at his doorbell ringing furiously. With his head spinning from having just gotten out of bed and a cold, Chanyeol wobbles on his legs and gingerly makes it to his front door. His apartment’s a mess, but in his current state, he just couldn’t care less. He merely shrugs on a kimono to avoid welcoming his unexpected guest bare-chested.
“Who’s there?” he calls through the door, his voice a bit hoarse from sleep and coughing too much.
“If I tell you, you won’t open the door.”
Chanyeol recognises Baekhyun’s voice and contemplates not answering for a few seconds but finally decides against it.
“What do you want?” He says, sniffing and taking a step back to let Baekhyun in.
Baekhyun casually takes off his shoes while shoving a bouquet of white roses into Chanyeol’s face.
“I heard you had a cold. So I’m checking up on you.”
Chanyeol finds a small, hand-written card, nearly lost within the bunch of roses.
Flowers of light for you to get well soon.
--Baekhyun
“Thanks. For the flowers.” Chanyeol stands there a bit awkwardly before walking to his kitchen and looking for a vase. He eventually finds an ugly one that Kris brought from his latest trip to China, that Chanyeol secretly suspects was bought at the local market.
The nice and delicate flowers somehow look out of place, but it’s still better than putting them in the bottom half of a bottle of water.
Chanyeol has a violent coughing fit and stumbles to his bedroom. “You don’t mind if I stay in bed?” he asks, reaching for a tissue from the box on his bedside table.
“I wanted to apologise for last time at the café. I was very rude and it was uncalled for.” Baekhyun declares as he takes a seat on the edge of Chanyeol’s messy bed. “I’d understand if you hate me now.”
“I don’t know why, but I can’t bring myself to hate you. And I was a jerk too. It wasn’t my place to say such harsh things to you and I’m sorry as well.”
“It’s settled, then!” Baekhyun beams at Chanyeol, and hesitantly reaches out for a hand shake.
Chanyeol whole-heartedly agrees and takes Baekhyun’s delicate hand in his; relieved that the disagreement between them is symbolically over. Baekhyun’s hand is soft and lingers a second too long. Chanyeol averts his eyes to the side and pretends he needs to take a fresh tissue. Baekhyun pats Chanyeol’s back as he’s shaken by yet another coughing fit.
“Can we be friends?” There’s hesitance in Baekhyun’s voice, and it’s the first time Chanyeol hears it. It’s like a new facet of Baekhyun has just come into the light and Chanyeol can’t say he’s displeased to discover it.
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
They both bask silently in the new feeling of peace floating about them for a few silent minutes before Chanyeol interrupts the moment.
“How’s Kyungsoo doing?” He enquires about his friend, now employed at Byun Supermart.
“Oh, he’s been a blessing for the store! But let’s not talk about work! I heard Kris left.”
“Are we already on ‘speaking about exes’ terms?”
“Only if you want to be. Friends are made to talk to them!”
“We broke up on a mutual agreement. We simply didn’t love each other anymore. And… you’re the first one I tell this but… I think I like someone else.”
Baekhyun perks up at that. “Who’s that? Do I know him?”
“In a way, you do. Many people do. But I don’t even know his real name.”
“Seems mysterious enough.” Baekhyun chuckles lightly.
“Yes. But I really want to meet him. He’s brave and a good person. I can always talk to him when I feel down, or when I need advice, or when I just want to share a happy moment.”
“He sounds like a really nice guy.”
“I’m sure he is.”
÷
A few days later, Chanyeol has recovered from his cold and is enjoying some quality time reading a book in a coffee shop. He starts when someone knocks on the window next to him. Baekhyun’s smiley face greets him and he waves cheerfully. Without wasting a second, Chanyeol gets up from the comfy chair and grabs his drink, heading outside to meet his new-found friend.
They walk the streets aimlessly, ending up on a market place they both don’t know. They sit at a food stall for spicy rice cakes and Baekhyun cackles when Chanyeol gets spicy sauce on his washed-out jeans.
“Maybe he’s married! I’m sure he’s married!” Baekhyun speculates about Chanyeol’s anonymous crush.
“No, I’m sure he’s not! He wouldn’t be speaking to me if he were.”
“You were dating Kris before, weren’t you?”
“Well, fair enough.” Chanyeol sighs.
The weather at the end of February is cold but clear, snow slowly disappears from the sides of the streets. It’s pleasant to walk side by side, secretly enjoying each other’s warmth. Well, not so secretly, because Baekhyun furtively links his arm with Chanyeol’s and looks up at him expectantly.
“Will you have lunch with me next Saturday?”
÷
“He said we would meet soon near Hangang Park.” Chanyeol tells Baekhyun as they’re having lunch on a heated terrace.
“Oh. It’s in the neighbourhood. Maybe you know each other.”
“Yeah. Maybe we see each other every day.”
“Do you want to know him that badly? It’s always nice to keep a bit of mystery.”
“Honestly, I’m a bit scared.”
“Maybe you’ll be disappointed. Imagine if he’s really fat.”
“I know for sure he isn’t!”
“How can you know that?” Baekhyun asks, eyes widening in disbelief.
“I know it, that’s all!”
They finish their meal in friendly chatter, punctuating their conversation with fits of laughter at lame jokes. Soon after, they walk along the riverside, looking at couples happily skating on a temporary outside ice rink. They reach Chanyeol’s apartment awfully too early.
Chanyeol walks up to his front door, pauses in front of it and turns around to face Baekhyun.
“Thanks for today. It was nice.” He says with a small smile.
Baekhyun takes a step forwards. “You know, Chanyeol. If I weren’t Byun Supermart’s owner, and if you weren’t the owner of the small corner shop. And if we had just… met.”
Chanyeol’s breath hitches in his throat at what’s to come.
“I would’ve taken your number--” Baekhyun adds.
“You still put me out of business…” Chanyeol cuts him off, somehow protecting himself against the gush of feelings assaulting him.
“--And I wouldn’t have waited for the conventional twenty-four hours to call you and ask you out.”
It’s suddenly hard to inhale properly, as Baekhyun takes another step in Chanyeol’s direction.
“If only…” Baekhyun whispers.
Chanyeol freaks out. “I…I have to go!” He blurts out before rummaging through his coat pockets for his keys clumsily and opening his door in record time. “Bye, Baekhyun.” And he slams the door in the other’s face, only to slide his back down against it, plopping to the floor in a mess of trembling limbs and pounding heart.
÷
Chanyeol is just out of the shower when someone rings his doorbell. He hastily hops in a pair of boxers and grabs his kimono, sliding it on as he makes his way to the door. He doesn’t even bother looking through the peephole and pulls the door open.
Luxman.
There’s freaking Luxman, all nice thighs and sparkly costume, standing on his doorstep.
Chanyeol has a hard time refraining from slamming the door in his face.
But that would be rude, wouldn’t it? One does not simply slam their door in the face of a superhero. Something must be really wrong with Chanyeol’s brain if he starts quoting The Lord of the Rings in his thoughts.
“Luxman.” Chanyeol says dumbly.
“Vitamin1127,” The hero replies shyly, and the voice is all too familiar. “Or should I say--”
Chanyeol grabs Luxman by the arm and drags him inside. He shuts the door and immediately hooks his fingers at the base of the white and silver mask. He slowly lifts it up, revealing a thin-lipped mouth, topped by a tiny yet unmistakable mole. Chanyeol can’t help a smile creeping up his lips.
“--Chanyeol.”
He can’t take it anymore and yanks the mask off all the way, only to unveil a face that he--he only understands it now--came to love.
“Baekhyun!” He beams, pulling the smaller man into a bear hug.
After a few seconds of surreal happiness, they pull away, looking fondly at each other.
“I wanted it to be you,” Chanyeol whispers, pressing his forehead against Bekhyun’s, arms still resting on the smaller’s waist. “I wanted it to be you so badly.”
Baekhyun then smiles, eyes disappearing into shiny moon crescents, and wraps his arms around Chanyeol’s neck pulling him down. He leans in and they kiss, slowly moving their lips, discovering each other’s taste and scent. And it’s possibly the best feeling ever.
“Was that a superkiss?” Chanyeol asks mischievously as they part for air.
Baekhyun hits his chest lightly, but chuckles nonetheless. “It was. And I have many other superthings I want to show you!”
“I can’t wait!” Chanyeol chimes, leaning down and capturing Baekhyun’s lips again.
÷
“Baek…”
“Hmm?”
“Where do your lights come from?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Ah! Tell me, please!” Chanyeol whines.
“No can do.”
“But why?”
“It’s always nice to keep a bit of mystery.”
÷
THE END
A/N:
Here. I hope you like it. I struggled with this, I seriously did. This was supposed to be a lot darker and angsty but I revamped the whole thing after sending the mods the second draft!!! So I’m really sorry for typos and mistakes because this is unbeta-ed u_u (and the style is really simple, looks like a 5-year-old wrote the fic OTL)
This is a crossover between the movie You’ve Got M@il and the superhero AU you wanted. I’m deeply sorry if it’s not up to your expectations (I took your prompt and flipped it upside down…). BTW if you haven’t watched You’ve Got M@il yet, I highly recommend it. It’s like one of the best romcoms of the 20th century! And yeah, Chanyeol is Meg Ryan, I’m not even sorry haha!
One
Author: Anonymous until 1/30/14
For: minwhore
Pairing: Baekhyun/Chanyeol
Word Count: 7,306
Summary: They hate each other in real life, they’re in love on Kakao Talk.
Warnings: None
Rating: PG-13
One
Vitamin1127 says:
I love Seoul around Christmas time. When it’s getting chilly and couples walk about aimlessly, looking at illuminated trees in Myeongdong or window-shopping in Gangnam. Their eyes sparkle with love, they bask in each other’s warmth for their winter clothes aren’t quite enough, conveniently. I’m not particularly fond of the way South Korea progressively Americanises itself, but if anything, Christmas is one of the western traditions that I love the most.
÷
Real_Luxman says:
I have a cat. He’s called Chen Chen and he’s really whiny. As far as cat food is concerned, he’s got ridiculously high standards. For example, he won’t eat fish mash unless it’s one hundred percent filet or if it contains too much oil. He doesn’t drink skimmed or half-skimmed milk like me, so I have to buy whole milk especially for him. I also have to walk him outside like a dog when he feels down. But he’s so cute I can’t help granting his every wish and he seems to get sassier by the day.
÷
The first thing Chanyeol does in the morning is to check his phone for any new Kakao Talk messages. He’s been involved in a digital relationship for a few weeks now, and each time the gentle bike bell he set as ringtone jingles, his heart flutters pleasantly in his chest. He knows he shouldn’t be that excited, especially because he’s dating someone, but he can’t help it and silently thanks Kris for not being nosy.
What’s most striking though is that Chanyeol is currently chatting with none other than Luxman, the famous superhero who’s been saving the day in Seoul for nearly a year. Each time Chanyeol remembers how he got to this point, he smiles to himself and inwardly pats his own head. He can’t believe his luck.
÷
Chanyeol was walking back home from a long day at the shop. He had to close that day, because he and Kyungsoo had switched shifts. Normally, he would have taken the bus, but in the snow the buses didn’t run really well, and Chanyeol just wanted to get home as soon as possible, to enjoy the fireside, a hot chocolate and a blanket. He had the choice between walking back taking the main streets (the longer, but safer way) and taking dark, narrow alleyways to guarantee him a sooner arrival. Chanyeol just shrugged and chose the second option. The thing is, these streets were safe during daytime, but became slightly shadier come nightfall.
Not ten minutes into his walk home, Chanyeol had been mugged by three angry teenagers, two holding him up still while the third one rummaged through his things for a phone or some cash, probably. Chanyeol could only ever guess, for a few seconds after his assault, a blinding light flashed in front of him and the guys holding him had to let go to protect their eyes. The rest was a bit of a blur, but from what Chanyeol remembered, there was a man in white and silver tights fighting the thieves away thanks to a few capoeira-like moves and glaring light. Chanyeol immediately knew it was Luxman and he was so dazed that he didn’t even realise that he was alone and safe again in the blink of an eye.
That was how Chanyeol began to develop a (creepy) passion for Luxman. He started collecting pictures and stickers of him, cutting articles about him out of newspapers, buying all kinds of goods related to him and covering his bedroom walls with posters of him. Kris raised a brow at that but shrugged it off. He merely said something that, ironically, led Chanyeol to go even further into his crazed infatuation with the superhero.
“He’s not from a comic book, you know. He’s someone real, like you and me, and you don’t even know his face. Isn’t it a bit creepy?”
And then it clicked.
Chanyeol got his hand on Luxman’s fan mail address and sent him a letter. It was simple and heart-felt, and he didn’t forget to leave his Kakao Talk ID at the bottom of the page, in the futile hope he would write him back.
Which Luxman did. The next day.
That was how it all began.
÷
“It’s going to be grand!” Luhan exclaims as they walk around the construction site.
“People will wonder how they made it without us!” Baekhyun laughs, nodding appreciatively at the workers making quick progress on the site. “I think we’ll be able to open Byun Supermart on time!”
“When discount food becomes noble!” Luhan chimes, quite dramatically. Baekhyun simply chuckles, used to his best friend’s antics.
÷
“Who are you so furiously typing to?” Kyungsoo asks, throwing a sidelong glance to Chanyeol, his boss. “I’d bet on that mystery guy rather than Kris, which is pretty sad.”
“He’s just told me that there would be a big change in his life. I wonder what it is. But he won’t tell me!” Chanyeol whines in Kyungsoo’s general direction.
“‘No specifics’,” Kyungsoo deadpans, making the inverted comma sign with his fingers, looking utterly bored. “You told me.”
“I’d like to give him details about my job, about you, about many things… but I can’t or it would mean that we’re taking it to the next level. And that scares me a bit.”
“Have you tried sex messages?” Kyungsoo offers as he’s rearranging shiny granny smiths in the display.
Chanyeol coughs and nearly chokes on the cappuccino he’s been sipping.
“It’s not like that!” Chanyeol argues.
Kyungsoo scoffs, looking highly unconvinced.
“Who knows, he could be the next person walking into the door.” He chooses to say instead of harassing Chanyeol any further.
As if on cue, the bell above the door jingles a few seconds later. Chanyeol and Kyungsoo look over expectantly, but their hope deflates as quickly as it came. It’s only Minseok, the owner of the coffee shop next door.
“Hi!” He sing-songs. “I’m here for a refill of your delicious Williams pears. The cream cheese and pear tarts are the hit of the moment!”
Chanyeol grins at his neighbour and friend and walks to the small but tidy and mouth-watering pear display. All the fruits are carefully ranked, pointing the same way towards the ceiling. Chanyeol made sure they were all perfect and bump-free before putting them on sale.
Needless to say he’s proud of his small fruits and vegetables shop.
“Please give me five kilos. It’s a bit off my budget but your fruits are the most delicious on this side of the Han River. I promise I’ll never buy the tasteless ones from that big-ass store across the street.”
Chanyeol perks up at that. “What store are you talking about?”
“What? You didn’t know? Man, how could you miss it? There are signs everywhere.”
“You know how he can be oblivious to his surroundings.” Kyungsoo adds in.
“They’re opening a Byun Supermart.” Minseok says, a bit of sadness seeping through his voice.
“Oh… shit.”
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
Hi. You know, I own a business. It’s quite small, but I love it like it’s my child. Well, not really but you get the idea. But today, I learnt that it’s in danger. It had never occurred to me before that I might encounter hardships like this one. It’s always been easy, I inherited the business and it flowed quite well. Now, it’s going to be more difficult, and I’m a little scared.
Real_Luxman says:
Don’t let yourself be scared. You’re not going to lose anything without a fight.
÷
Baekhyun shoves fish mash into Chen Chen’s dish, his cat looking at him with his big, brown judgmental eyes, as if saying ‘I almost waited, peasant’.
He slips in his white and silver tights and jumps out of his window into the darkness of a winter evening. He prevents a car accident on a main street in Apgujeong and saves a cat stuck in a high tree in a park. The old owner thanks him, offers him some of her homemade rice cookies and takes a selfie with him.
Baekhyun likes being a superhero.
After he deems he’s done enough good deeds for the day, he discreetly changes back to his normal clothes in the now deserted construction site and heads back home. On his way, he passes by a nice-looking, quaint little shop and decides to stop by and buy some veggies for tonight, before he can get them from his own shop and make this one sink.
“Welcome!” A booming voice calls from the back of the shop.
Baekhyun finds himself smiling back to a tall, brown-haired man with a humongous grin and a rather cute twitching face.
“I’ll be there in a minute, let me just help this lady before.”
Baekhyun hums as he takes in the fruit and vegetable neat displays and the way the shop keeper explains the customer how to cook leeks without making them become sour and losing too much water. He even adds a personal tip to put it in the oven with cheese and ham and Baekhyun’s stomach stirs at the idea. The lady smiles brightly and thanks the tall guy before paying and leaving. Baekhyun picks a few vegetables randomly and shoves them onto the counter. The shop keeper grins at him and weighs the vegetables before putting them gingerly into a nice wicker basket.
“Do you want to cook soup with these? You should put the carrot in first, because it’s got the longest cooking time. If you put everything at the same time, your mushrooms and soy will be all soggy. Oh, and add the chili paste at the very end or it’ll lose its taste if it cooks for too long.”
“Thank you uh…”
“Chanyeol! I’m Park Chanyeol, the owner of this shop.”
Baekhyun nods and when he looks up at Chanyeol, he notices a framed sepia picture hung behind him. It’s one of a woman and a chubby, smiley spectacle-sporting boy around six or seven years old holding a ferret in his curled right arm.
“Is that you on the picture?”
“Yes. With my mother. She was the one who opened the shop and left it to me. And I’ll leave it to my son in the future.”
“Oh. I see,” Baekhyun answers. “And how old is your… son?” he asks quite slyly.
Chanyeol flushes a bit and scratches the back of his head sheepishly. “I don’t have a son. I’m only speaking hypothetically, a-ha.” He turns to his cashier and taps on it frantically. “That’ll be 18,000 won, please.”
Baekhyun nearly chokes but refrains from doing so, afraid he might offend Chanyeol. Baekhyun must be very obvious because he seems to notice and snorts smugly.
“What you’ll find here is quality and service. You won’t have them in discount stores. Sure, the prices are low and a lot’s on bargain, but everything here comes from Korean soil and is picked up with the greatest care. Those matter to me, don’t they to you, sir?”
“Baekhyun, just call me Baekhyun.” He says hastily, avoiding mentioning his last name, for he doesn’t want to make the guy his instant enemy.
“Goodbye, Chanyeol,” he says as the shop owner hands him the basket full of vegetables. “And thanks for the basket, it’s really nice.”
“You can come back with it next time and we’ll be happy to fill it again!”
Chanyeol’s smile is as bright as day as Baekhyun walks out the door.
÷
Byun Supermart opens a few days later.
Chanyeol doesn’t want to admit it, but his revenues of the next week are distinctly lower than the same week last year. People are only curious about novelty, that’s normal, they’ll soon come back. Yeah. They’ll do.
Kyungsoo’s looks to Chanyeol are more worried than mocking now and his deadpan sense of humour seems to falter by the day.
÷
It’s Minseok’s pre-Christmas annual neighbourhood party and Chanyeol’s pretty much forced to come. He doesn’t want to, though, for he’s having a hard time keeping things afloat in his shop and doesn’t have a mind to party. He’ll drop by, say hi to Minseok, have a couple of petit fours and leave as discreetly as a 185cm-tall bloke can.
Things go rather smoothly according to Chanyeol’s plan until he bumps into a familiar face at the buffet.
“Oh. Hi,” Baekhyun says, looking sleek in a designer suit. “You’re Chanyeol from the corner shop.”
“Yeah,” Chanyeol tries not to feel underdressed in his own slightly wrinkled clothes. “And you’re Baekhyun from--”
He’s rudely cut off by Minseok dragging him across his apartment and cornering him in the kitchen.
“I can’t believe you’re speaking to this guy! I invited him out of social obligation but I didn’t think you’d--”
“Wait. I don’t follow you. Why shouldn’t I be speaking to him?”
Minseok rolls his eyes. “Chanyeol! You’re really behind things! He’s Byun Baekhyun, heir of Byun Enterprises and owner of the store making yours bankrupt!”
Chanyeol opens his eyes in disbelief. But instead of shying away, he bolts out of the kitchen and into the living room where the guests turn to him in surprise. He halts in front of Baekhyun, who is busy stuffing his face with bite-sized chocolate éclairs. He stops mid-chew and looks up at Chanyeol.
“You lied to me!” Chanyeol half-yells while poking at Baekhyun’s chest. “You never told me you were Byun Baekhyun, owner of the Byun Supermart currently trying to sink my shop.”
Baekhyun looks unimpressed, at most, as he resumes his chewing and swallows pointedly before answering. “I didn’t lie to you, sir, I just omitted to tell part of the truth.”
“That’s the same thing! You spied on me!”
Baekhyun scoffs haughtily. “You’re arrogant enough to believe I would spy on a small corner shop when I’ve been in the business for as long as you, if not longer. I just went there to buy food for my dinner and came out with a few ridiculously overpriced vegetables.”
Chanyeol opens his mouth angrily and hopes a witty retort will come out of it miraculously but he remains silent, awkwardly gaping at the short man in a suit probably costing a week’s worth of sales at his shop. So he closes his mouth into a disgusted frown and turns swiftly on his heels, reluctantly swallowing the humiliation before darting out of the door without even saying bye to Minseok.
When Chanyeol gets home, he flops on his bed, still fully dressed and rests his head on his folded arms. He twists and turns as sleep seems to avoid him, and looks longingly at a poster of Luxman plastered to his wall.
“I’m sure you would never do something like that…” he sighs.
He finally falls asleep feeling slight belated embarrassment for talking to a picture of a man in tights and dreams of flashes of light and sparks of silver.
÷
The next morning, Chanyeol wakes up to a KaTo message and is relieved that Kris has to attend an early broadcast at the radio station.
Real_Luxman says:
Hi. How are you doing?
Vitamin1127 says:
Have you ever felt like you have a ton of things to say to someone and when you open your mouth, nothing comes out. It happened to me, and I replayed the scenario in my head a hundred times later, but I’m sure that if it happened to me again, I’d still remain silent, because it’s just how I am. I would like to be able to come up with snarky comments and fight my way through a conversation.
Real_Luxman says:
That’s funny, because I feel the exact opposite. Sometimes, I would like to just be silent instead of attacking people with words. Recently, I said really harsh words to someone and now I regret it. I’m sure the person is hurt right now. Thinking back on it, I didn’t even believe what I said, but I put enough venom in it to sound convincing. I just wanted to win over that person, because I’ve been raised to be competitive like that. Your attitude is definitely less cowardly than mine.
Vitamin1127 says:
I can’t believe someone like you, who saves people daily, can be like that to people. I’m sure you’re being harsh to yourself.
Real_Luxman says:
The real me is the one outside the costume. And maybe I’m too ashamed of the real me to ever think of meeting you.
÷
Fate seems to make Baekhyun and Chanyeol run into each other multiple times.
Chanyeol first spots Baekhyun buying a bagel at the local sandwich shop. He hides behind a bouquet of parsley and deems it okay to go through the day without a bacon roll.
Baekhyun sees Chanyeol at the press booth and swiftly raises the magazine he’s reading to avoid his gaze (ironically enough, it’s Luxman on the front page). Luckily, Chanyeol is already leaving when Baekhyun pays for his Seoul Daily.
Chanyeol is queuing at a toy store, his hands full of presents for his nieces, already cringing at the hole buying them will leave in his bank account. When he comes up to the cashier and slides out his credit card, the sales person eyes him with disdain.
“Cash only.” She says bluntly, pointing at the glaring red sign above her head.
Chanyeol pitifully rummages through his pockets, nearly dropping Barbie’s pony in the process. The only note he finds is a poor 1,000 won.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have cash.” He says pleadingly, sounding as apologetic as he can. “But you have a card machine, could you please make an exception, I’m really, really sorry.” Chanyeol can’t possibly imagine getting at the tail of the credit card line, for the store is packed on Christmas Eve and he’s already late for work.
People behind him start grumbling and complaining and Chanyeol doesn’t know what to do.
“Hello,” an unpleasantly familiar voice says, addressing the sales person. “… Yerin.” As reads her nametag.
Chanyeol turns to Baekhyun, startled and dismayed to face his archenemy in such an embarrassing situation.
Baekhyun gives a sweet smile and Yerin returns it, a blush creeping to her cheeks. Chanyeol can’t believe his eyes but is once again mute in front of Baekhyun displaying his charms.
“Merry Christmas, Yerin. You are definitely brave to work in a toy store on Christmas Eve. I’m sure you’re really nice as well. And the sooner you’ll swipe this card in the machine, the sooner little girls will receive their gifts and be as happy as they can be on such a wonderful day.” Baekhyun croons as he hands Chanyeol’s credit card which he took from stiff fingers.
She proceeds with the payment, her smile never faltering. She doesn’t even look at Chanyeol when she hands him back his card.
“Thank you so much. And merry Christmas.” Chanyeol says to the girl who finally deigns glancing at him again, giving him a dirty look.
Chanyeol sighs, defeated, and when he turns to thank Baekhyun, he’s already vanished into cold winter air.
÷
Before going to his father’s house for Christmas, Baekhyun feels like he wants to help people. Coming to rescue Chanyeol at the toy store set him in a good mood, so he quickly changes into his tights and does his superhero duty. People spot him near the Han River and cheer at him when he saves an adventurous dog from drowning and take his picture. He goes home, body freezing but heart warm, takes a scalding shower and finally heads to his father’s. He offers a remote-controlled helicopter to the five-year-old who happens to be his little brother, offspring of the union between his old man and his sixth wife, Soojung.
Chanyeol, on the other hand, spends a quiet Christmas at his sister’s and her husband’s, spoiling his adorable nieces and singing Christmas carols. Kris can’t make it, for he has to DJ for the Christmas special broadcast.
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
Can I ask you for advice?
Real_Luxman says:
Go ahead. I’m not sure I can help you, though.
Vitamin1127 says:
My business is in serious trouble. I might even have to fold. What can I do?
Real_Luxman says:
It’s a little hard to give advice with so little detail but there’s one thing I can say: fight to the death. It’s not personal, it’s business.
÷
And so Chanyeol goes to figurative war. He deals tracts to his customers, who soon gather in front of Byun Supermart to protest against bargained food. He goes to the local TV and they accept to give him a nice slot for the prime time news. Articles are published in every local newspaper and Kris even dedicates a whole radio programme to save Chanyeol’s shop.
Baekhyun is at the gym with Luhan hitting the treadmill when he sees Chanyeol’s bright face on the large flat screen in front of them.
“I’m proud to defend quality and customer service against low prices and underqualified sales assistants. Count on me to fight to protect the shop my mother left me. It’s a pity that small family businesses close every day all around the country because of the extended monopoly of big companies.” Chanyeol is acclaimed by a substantial crowd revealed by the camera’s zoom out. Baekhyun nearly chokes on his bottle of water when his own face appears on screen, sitting at his desk looking smug with the logo of Byun Supermart hanging above his head.
“I sell cheap vegetables, sue me.”
The programme then switches back to Chanyeol in his shop, smiling while serving happy customers.
Luhan shoves Baekhyun in the shoulder and scowls at him. “Why did you have to say that on TV, Baek, are you unconscious?!”
“They cut me off!” Baekhyun yells indignantly. “That’s not all I said! I told them that we were great, that we were open seven days a week and that the opening of our store had boosted local employment!”
“That Chanyeol guy, he’s a tough one. You can’t deny it. Plus he’s kind of cute, in his own, twitchy way.”
“He looks better in person,” Baekhyun starts off. “But he’s a pest! A total nuisance!”
÷
Later at night, Baekhyun is petting Chen Chen on his couch, frowning at the muted TV still showing too much of Chanyeol’s smiley face when an idea flashes in his mind.
Real_Luxman says:
Do you think we should meet?
Never was it that hard to press send.
Vitamin1127 says:
Yes.
The belated response wakes Baekhyun with a start. He reads and rereads the simple word over a hundred times, not believing his eyes. He finally hauls himself up from the couch to redirect to his bedroom. He can’t close his eyes for more than a few seconds, now more than awake, so he decides to go save the night to occupy his mind elsewhere.
÷
Baekhyun hasn’t been this nervous in a long time. Years, if he’s being honest. That’s why he dragged Luhan with him to the café where he’s supposed to meet Vitamin1127. He told him he would wait for him with a macha latte and a white rose on the table. When the café is finally into view, Baekhyun freaks out.
“Go check him out!” he orders Luhan.
Luhan bats Baekhyun’s arm but agrees nonetheless, looking far too excited. He peers through the windows, a smirk settled firmly on his lips, and it takes him an excruciatingly long time before his eyebrows fly up his forehead.
“What? Did you see him? Is he handsome?” Baekhyun demands, hands trembling.
Luhan’s smirk falters and Baekhyun mentally prepares for a heart attack.
“He is.”
“I knew it!” Baekhyun cries, pumping a fist in the air.
“If you like them tall and slightly awkward.”
“I don’t mind the awkward. And tall is good, very good.”
“Actually, if you like the Park Chanyeol type, you’ll be happy.”
“Well, Park Chanyeol is handsome so it’s okay but why the hell are you talking about Park Chanyeol?”
Luhan gazes at Baekhyun, his features slightly strained in an uncomfortable expression.
“Because it is Park Chanyeol.”
Baekhyun barks an insincere laugh and shoves Luhan to the side to look through the window himself.
“Oh my God oh my God oh my God! It’s really Park Chanyeol.” He stammers as he takes a few steps back.
“What are you going to do?” Luhan asks.
“I don’t know!” Baekhyun silently screams, edging on panic.
Putting his hands firmly on Baekhyun’s shoulders, Luhan inhales and exhales slowly, enticing Baekhyun into doing the same. “Baek, calm down. I think you should go in there and talk to him.”
“Are you crazy? I don’t want him to hate me more than he already does!”
Luhan apparently doesn’t intend on yielding to Baekhyun’s fit, so he grabs him by the arms and pushes him through the door. “Good luck!” he chimes, patting Baekhyun’s back and leaving. There’s no turning point, Baekhyun has to do something, improvise, but right now, his brain is nothing more than a mush of blurry thoughts.
He steadies himself and finally strides further into the café. On his peripherals, he can see Chanyeol glancing up and probably spotting him. Feeling as unsure as ever, Baekhyun turns to him and feigns surprise, raising his eyebrows in what he hopes is a convincing mask of both recognition and curiosity.
“Park Chanyeol,” he starts off, walking up to the table where the taller guy is sitting. White rose and untouched tall green tea, complete with a horror-stricken faced Chanyeol. “Are you waiting for someone?”
Coughing into his fist, Chanyeol quickly composes himself and glares at Baekhyun. “Yes, I am. What are you doing here?”
Baekhyun ignores the question and takes a seat across Chanyeol.
“This seat is taken--go elsewhere!” There’s anger on Chanyeol’s face and in his voice and somehow, Baekhyun feels a totally misplaced guilt coil in his gut for causing it.
Pushing his game a little further, Baekhyun touches the side of Chanyeol’s tea cup. “Your drink is getting cold. You must have been waiting for a long time.”
“There must be a reason,” Chanyeol answers, face twitching and looking out of the window. “He’s a good man; he would never miss this date unannounced without a proper reason.”
“A date?” Baekhyun leans in and smirks. “I would rather say that he stood you up.”
Chanyeol eventually meets Baekhyun’s eyes. “Who are you to judge him?” He whispers, tone icy. “You’re just a cold-hearted cash machine interested in profit and nothing else! How could you understand normal people’s humane feelings when you have none?”
Something heavy falls inside Baekhyun’s chest at Chanyeol’s words. Before letting his face show too much, he fixes his expression into a stony one and stiffly stands up from the chair. Without another word, he walks out of the café, heart clenching as he leaves behind any chance of reconciliation with Park Chanyeol.
÷
Chanyeol plops down on his couch, nape resting on the back of it, his eyes naturally setting on one of his posters of Luxman.
“I’m sure you had someone to save or something more important to do when you didn’t come to the date. I trust you, Luxman.”
÷
Baekhyun’s sitting at his office desk, dainty fingers hovering over his phone keyboard and digging his brain for a good excuse to provide to Chanyeol.
I was stuck in heavy traffic, you know how Seoul’s streets can be blocked in the evening…
Nah, that’s so lame.
There was this guy who wanted to jump from a bridge so I had to rescue him.
Just how depressing is that?
Huffing in annoyance, Baekhyun shakes his head.
Real_Luxman says:
I am deeply sorry for not coming to our date. I have a reason, but I cannot tell you now. Please trust me.
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
Yesterday, someone came when I was waiting for you. For once, I was able to let go and I threw horrible words at him. And you know what? It didn’t feel good at all. I feel terrible.
Real_Luxman says:
You fought. Don’t feel too bad, he probably deserved it.
÷
Kris comes in at night, looking exhausted after a long day at work. After a quick shower, he slips into bed next to Chanyeol who’s been texting away on his phone.
“Kris,” Chanyeol begins, putting his phone on the bedside table and studying his partner’s sharp features. He used to really like these fierce eyebrows and sweet lips. But looking at them now does no longer wake anything up in his chest. “Can we talk?”
Kris hums in approval, watching Chanyeol with curious eyes.
“Do you love me?” Chanyeol blurts out.
Kris is taken aback and opens his mouth to reply, but no sound crosses his lips.
“Please don’t take it wrongly, okay?” Chanyeol hesitates a bit, for fear of hurting Kris’ feelings, but he’s determined anyway. “I don’t think I love you… anymore.” He pauses, searching Kris’ face for some kind of reaction, and all he can see is maybe a flash of relief in his dark brown eyes. “Do you love me?”
“I… don’t think so.” Kris says flatly.
“Great! We don’t love each other!” Chanyeol beams.
“We don’t.” Kris tilts his head to the side, apparently slightly perplexed by the situation. “And I hate your superhero posters.”
“That’s cool, because I hate your Chinese hip-hop CD’s!”
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Kris announces, a small smile dancing on his lips. “Goodnight, Chanyeol.”
÷
Kris leaves their shared apartment the next day with his things.
On the second day of the new year, Chanyeol closes down his business.
÷
Out of curiosity, Chanyeol decides to go to Byun Supermart. What strikes him first are the huge neon yellow signs hanging above every aisle, reading “bargain”, “-50% on bananas from Vietnam” or “buy two, get one free.” What’s also very shocking is that there are more employees, proudly walking about in a red vest, than customers.
Chanyeol wanders aimlessly but his ears perk up at the red fruits section.
“What strawberries are better to make a fruit salad with and how do I cut them?” an elderly lady asks one of the employees.
“Uh--well… these are--” the employee starts off, sounding less than assured.
“Use these ones,” Chanyeol walks up to them and points at a small display in a corner. “They’re big and juicy, and just sweet enough that you don’t have to add any sugar to serve them. Wash them first and cut them after, so that they don’t absorb too much water. They’re out of season, though. Please make sure to check the seasonal fruits, it prevents from importing too much.” Chanyeol adds with a sad smile.
“Thank you, sir. Do you work here?” the lady asks.
“I don’t. But I do love fruits, so if I can help, it’s only my duty to do so. Goodbye, ma’am, my best wishes for the new year.”
Unshed tears prickle his eyes and Chanyeol takes it as the cue to leave the premises before making an unwanted encounter, not noticing Baekhyun and his father watching from the other end of the aisle.
÷
Vitamin1127 says:
I’ve been feeling down lately. I fought for my business, but it wasn’t enough. I’m not bitter, though. I’ll move on, but for now, I’ll just enjoy a little bit of freedom.
Real_Luxman says:
I still want to meet you, if you’re okay with it. But I have something to do before. Will you wait for me if I promise I’ll come, this time?
Vitamin1127 says:
I will.
÷
On a cold January night, Baekhyun’s sitting with his father by the fireplace at his father’s manor.
“Where is your wife?” Baekhyun asks, watching his old man sipping French wine.
“Soojung? She left with the nanny.” He deadpans, popping a cherry tomato into his mouth.
“Oh. That’s a first.” Baekhyun can’t say he’s surprised. His father remains true to himself; unable to settle with anyone.
“Baekhyun,” his father calls, looking and sounding dead serious. “If you’re luckier than me and find someone you like very dearly, go for them and never let go.”
When Baekhyun walks out of the mansion, there’s a slight skip in his steps as his father’s words echo on the inner walls of his skull.
÷
Chanyeol is wakes up with a start at his doorbell ringing furiously. With his head spinning from having just gotten out of bed and a cold, Chanyeol wobbles on his legs and gingerly makes it to his front door. His apartment’s a mess, but in his current state, he just couldn’t care less. He merely shrugs on a kimono to avoid welcoming his unexpected guest bare-chested.
“Who’s there?” he calls through the door, his voice a bit hoarse from sleep and coughing too much.
“If I tell you, you won’t open the door.”
Chanyeol recognises Baekhyun’s voice and contemplates not answering for a few seconds but finally decides against it.
“What do you want?” He says, sniffing and taking a step back to let Baekhyun in.
Baekhyun casually takes off his shoes while shoving a bouquet of white roses into Chanyeol’s face.
“I heard you had a cold. So I’m checking up on you.”
Chanyeol finds a small, hand-written card, nearly lost within the bunch of roses.
Flowers of light for you to get well soon.
--Baekhyun
“Thanks. For the flowers.” Chanyeol stands there a bit awkwardly before walking to his kitchen and looking for a vase. He eventually finds an ugly one that Kris brought from his latest trip to China, that Chanyeol secretly suspects was bought at the local market.
The nice and delicate flowers somehow look out of place, but it’s still better than putting them in the bottom half of a bottle of water.
Chanyeol has a violent coughing fit and stumbles to his bedroom. “You don’t mind if I stay in bed?” he asks, reaching for a tissue from the box on his bedside table.
“I wanted to apologise for last time at the café. I was very rude and it was uncalled for.” Baekhyun declares as he takes a seat on the edge of Chanyeol’s messy bed. “I’d understand if you hate me now.”
“I don’t know why, but I can’t bring myself to hate you. And I was a jerk too. It wasn’t my place to say such harsh things to you and I’m sorry as well.”
“It’s settled, then!” Baekhyun beams at Chanyeol, and hesitantly reaches out for a hand shake.
Chanyeol whole-heartedly agrees and takes Baekhyun’s delicate hand in his; relieved that the disagreement between them is symbolically over. Baekhyun’s hand is soft and lingers a second too long. Chanyeol averts his eyes to the side and pretends he needs to take a fresh tissue. Baekhyun pats Chanyeol’s back as he’s shaken by yet another coughing fit.
“Can we be friends?” There’s hesitance in Baekhyun’s voice, and it’s the first time Chanyeol hears it. It’s like a new facet of Baekhyun has just come into the light and Chanyeol can’t say he’s displeased to discover it.
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
They both bask silently in the new feeling of peace floating about them for a few silent minutes before Chanyeol interrupts the moment.
“How’s Kyungsoo doing?” He enquires about his friend, now employed at Byun Supermart.
“Oh, he’s been a blessing for the store! But let’s not talk about work! I heard Kris left.”
“Are we already on ‘speaking about exes’ terms?”
“Only if you want to be. Friends are made to talk to them!”
“We broke up on a mutual agreement. We simply didn’t love each other anymore. And… you’re the first one I tell this but… I think I like someone else.”
Baekhyun perks up at that. “Who’s that? Do I know him?”
“In a way, you do. Many people do. But I don’t even know his real name.”
“Seems mysterious enough.” Baekhyun chuckles lightly.
“Yes. But I really want to meet him. He’s brave and a good person. I can always talk to him when I feel down, or when I need advice, or when I just want to share a happy moment.”
“He sounds like a really nice guy.”
“I’m sure he is.”
÷
A few days later, Chanyeol has recovered from his cold and is enjoying some quality time reading a book in a coffee shop. He starts when someone knocks on the window next to him. Baekhyun’s smiley face greets him and he waves cheerfully. Without wasting a second, Chanyeol gets up from the comfy chair and grabs his drink, heading outside to meet his new-found friend.
They walk the streets aimlessly, ending up on a market place they both don’t know. They sit at a food stall for spicy rice cakes and Baekhyun cackles when Chanyeol gets spicy sauce on his washed-out jeans.
“Maybe he’s married! I’m sure he’s married!” Baekhyun speculates about Chanyeol’s anonymous crush.
“No, I’m sure he’s not! He wouldn’t be speaking to me if he were.”
“You were dating Kris before, weren’t you?”
“Well, fair enough.” Chanyeol sighs.
The weather at the end of February is cold but clear, snow slowly disappears from the sides of the streets. It’s pleasant to walk side by side, secretly enjoying each other’s warmth. Well, not so secretly, because Baekhyun furtively links his arm with Chanyeol’s and looks up at him expectantly.
“Will you have lunch with me next Saturday?”
÷
“He said we would meet soon near Hangang Park.” Chanyeol tells Baekhyun as they’re having lunch on a heated terrace.
“Oh. It’s in the neighbourhood. Maybe you know each other.”
“Yeah. Maybe we see each other every day.”
“Do you want to know him that badly? It’s always nice to keep a bit of mystery.”
“Honestly, I’m a bit scared.”
“Maybe you’ll be disappointed. Imagine if he’s really fat.”
“I know for sure he isn’t!”
“How can you know that?” Baekhyun asks, eyes widening in disbelief.
“I know it, that’s all!”
They finish their meal in friendly chatter, punctuating their conversation with fits of laughter at lame jokes. Soon after, they walk along the riverside, looking at couples happily skating on a temporary outside ice rink. They reach Chanyeol’s apartment awfully too early.
Chanyeol walks up to his front door, pauses in front of it and turns around to face Baekhyun.
“Thanks for today. It was nice.” He says with a small smile.
Baekhyun takes a step forwards. “You know, Chanyeol. If I weren’t Byun Supermart’s owner, and if you weren’t the owner of the small corner shop. And if we had just… met.”
Chanyeol’s breath hitches in his throat at what’s to come.
“I would’ve taken your number--” Baekhyun adds.
“You still put me out of business…” Chanyeol cuts him off, somehow protecting himself against the gush of feelings assaulting him.
“--And I wouldn’t have waited for the conventional twenty-four hours to call you and ask you out.”
It’s suddenly hard to inhale properly, as Baekhyun takes another step in Chanyeol’s direction.
“If only…” Baekhyun whispers.
Chanyeol freaks out. “I…I have to go!” He blurts out before rummaging through his coat pockets for his keys clumsily and opening his door in record time. “Bye, Baekhyun.” And he slams the door in the other’s face, only to slide his back down against it, plopping to the floor in a mess of trembling limbs and pounding heart.
÷
Chanyeol is just out of the shower when someone rings his doorbell. He hastily hops in a pair of boxers and grabs his kimono, sliding it on as he makes his way to the door. He doesn’t even bother looking through the peephole and pulls the door open.
Luxman.
There’s freaking Luxman, all nice thighs and sparkly costume, standing on his doorstep.
Chanyeol has a hard time refraining from slamming the door in his face.
But that would be rude, wouldn’t it? One does not simply slam their door in the face of a superhero. Something must be really wrong with Chanyeol’s brain if he starts quoting The Lord of the Rings in his thoughts.
“Luxman.” Chanyeol says dumbly.
“Vitamin1127,” The hero replies shyly, and the voice is all too familiar. “Or should I say--”
Chanyeol grabs Luxman by the arm and drags him inside. He shuts the door and immediately hooks his fingers at the base of the white and silver mask. He slowly lifts it up, revealing a thin-lipped mouth, topped by a tiny yet unmistakable mole. Chanyeol can’t help a smile creeping up his lips.
“--Chanyeol.”
He can’t take it anymore and yanks the mask off all the way, only to unveil a face that he--he only understands it now--came to love.
“Baekhyun!” He beams, pulling the smaller man into a bear hug.
After a few seconds of surreal happiness, they pull away, looking fondly at each other.
“I wanted it to be you,” Chanyeol whispers, pressing his forehead against Bekhyun’s, arms still resting on the smaller’s waist. “I wanted it to be you so badly.”
Baekhyun then smiles, eyes disappearing into shiny moon crescents, and wraps his arms around Chanyeol’s neck pulling him down. He leans in and they kiss, slowly moving their lips, discovering each other’s taste and scent. And it’s possibly the best feeling ever.
“Was that a superkiss?” Chanyeol asks mischievously as they part for air.
Baekhyun hits his chest lightly, but chuckles nonetheless. “It was. And I have many other superthings I want to show you!”
“I can’t wait!” Chanyeol chimes, leaning down and capturing Baekhyun’s lips again.
÷
“Baek…”
“Hmm?”
“Where do your lights come from?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Ah! Tell me, please!” Chanyeol whines.
“No can do.”
“But why?”
“It’s always nice to keep a bit of mystery.”
÷
THE END
A/N:
Here. I hope you like it. I struggled with this, I seriously did. This was supposed to be a lot darker and angsty but I revamped the whole thing after sending the mods the second draft!!! So I’m really sorry for typos and mistakes because this is unbeta-ed u_u (and the style is really simple, looks like a 5-year-old wrote the fic OTL)
This is a crossover between the movie You’ve Got M@il and the superhero AU you wanted. I’m deeply sorry if it’s not up to your expectations (I took your prompt and flipped it upside down…). BTW if you haven’t watched You’ve Got M@il yet, I highly recommend it. It’s like one of the best romcoms of the 20th century! And yeah, Chanyeol is Meg Ryan, I’m not even sorry haha!
One