The Warmth of Your Heart Leads Me Home

[xiuflakes]

Title: The Warmth of Your Heart Leads Me Home
Pairing: Baekhyun/Xiumin
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Baekhyun is sick of his life at the palace and runs away with his best friend, Kyungsoo, to explore the world. Amidst his adventures, he meets Minseok, a baker who shows him what home really is.

”Shhh, you'll wake them up!" Baekhyun chided, as if he wasn't the reason why they were sneaking past the palace guards at two in the morning. Kyungsoo scowled at the crown prince, with one hand clutching his foot that had just kicked the base of a tree.

"We're going to get into so much trouble for this." Kyungsoo grumbled. "No, scratch that, I am the one who's going to have his ass thoroughly whipped when they find out. I can't believe I'm going along with your stupid plan."

"Stop exaggerating, you know my parents like you too much to touch your precious ass. Sometimes I think they rather have you as their son.” Baekhyun snorted. “And my plan is not stupid. Now come on, before we get caught." The pair stealthily slipped past the palace gates onto the lone footpath. Soon, two horses came into sight - one a chocolate brown, another's coat as dark as night. Kyungsoo swiftly secured their belongings on the horses with experienced hands while Baekhyun looked on impatiently.

"Are you done yet?"

“Yes, yes. Stop hurrying me when you aren’t even helping in the first place.” Kyungsoo fastened the final knot and pulled himself atop his horse. Years of riding lessons had helped Baekhyun mount his own animal with equal ease and with a nudge of his foot, the two horses galloped off into the dark night.

Kyungsoo and Baekhyun passed through the first two villages rather quickly, with the latter deeming them too close to the palace for comfort. They only made quick stops to refill their supplies while allowing their horses to rest in the meantime. It was only when they reached the third town after a week of riding did something catch Baekhyun’s attention. It was not a large town by any means, but it was bustling with energy and life as people went about their daily lives, much unlike the dull palace life Baekhyun had experienced ever since he was born. What truly caught his attention though, were the numerous leaflets plastered along walls.

“Look, Kyungsoo! There’s a fair in town! What do you say we remain here a few nights and enjoy ourselves?” Baekhyun ripped the sheet of advertisement off the wall and waved it in Kyungsoo’s face. “I’ve never been to one of these and I’m sure the entertainment they provide would be much different from the one at the palace. Those silly old performers they hire every year are such a bore. You know-” Kyungsoo sighed wearily at Baekhyun’s rambles but how could he say no when Baekhyun’s eyes were practically shining in excitement?

The two men found accommodation at a rather nice inn, with delicious warm meals provided and large stables available for their horses. After devouring down their first meal of the day, they set off at a leisurely stroll towards the fair. Kyungsoo frowned at the rather pricey entrance fees but Baekhyun paid no heed as he looked around, soaking in the loud atmosphere of the surroundings. There was a certain childish wonder in his eyes that only a sheltered prince would have and Kyungsoo had to stifle a fond smile as Baekhyun drags him around the various stalls. No matter how annoying the prince may be at times, Kyungsoo was glad that his prince was having fun.

Later that night, as Baekhyun chattered on with his seemingly endless energy. Kyungsoo felt the slightest tinge of discomfort - as if someone was staring at them. He didn’t spot anyone though, when he stopped and glanced around with narrowed eyes, so he brushed the feeling of paranoia aside and let his feet catch up with Baekhyun, who had currently stopped and was staring at him curiously.

“What’s wrong?” Baekhyun questioned but Kyungsoo merely waved his hand in dismissal so Baekhyun continued to jabber on about each and every trinket he bought and every attraction he saw earlier, even though Kyungsoo had been right there with him.

They stayed in the town for a total of three days before Baekhyun was ready to move off once more. Baekhyun was a restless little soul, and it bored him to stay at a single place for an extended period of time. God knew how he had survived his life at the palace. They loaded up their horses and set off right away after a sumptuous breakfast of fresh bread with thickly sliced ham and cheese. “Your horse is going to collapse from all the rubbish you bought.” Kyungsoo retorted but Baekhyun merely let out a cheerful laugh, thrilled at the thought of exploring the world further.

Not too long into their journey though, the pair were halted by a group of men that stood in their path. There were five of them, seated on horses of their own, glowering at Baekhyun and Kyungsoo menacingly. Baekhyun remained undeterred however, nudging his horse forward while loudly, yet politely requesting for the men to move out of his way.

“Shut up!” One of the bulkier-sized men, whom Baekhyun presumed was the leader, growled and pulled out a dagger. Despite their precarious situation, Baekhyun had to hold back a snicker. The leader had such thick bushy eyebrows that they looked like twin rows of caterpillars sitting on top of his eyes. Caterpillar Man - as Baekhyun dubbed him in his head - waved his weapon threateningly, alternating between Baekhyun and Kyungsoo and the rest of his cronies followed his lead. “Hand over those pouches, now!” His free hand gestured towards the bags hanging from their horses.

Baekhyun snorted and if the men weren’t already waving those weapons in their faces, Kyungsoo would have stabbed Baekhyun himself. What was he doing, being so nonchalant in front of those thugs?!

“There’s nothing but mere junk in these pouches, my dear sir. Kyungsoo here would testify to it. In fact, he was complaining about the rubbish weighing us down just this morning.”

“Shut up and give me those bags if you know what’s good for you.” Caterpillar Man seemed to get angrier with each second, his face turning tomato red as he spoke.

“Please sirs, we are mere travelling merchants out to earn some money. We do not have much on us.” Kyungsoo piped up.

“Do you take us for fools? You are dressed way too nicely to be travelling merchants. And my men saw the two of you at the fair just a few days ago. The fair is nothing but a cheap ploy to con money out of rich nobles like you. Now do not test my patience, these daggers can slice you into bits if need be.”

Baekhyun’s eyes flashed in anger at those words. “How dare you, do you even know who I am? I am-”

“Baekhyun!” Kyungsoo interrupted the prince. “Just do as they say, we don’t want any trouble.” Kyungsoo detached their belongings from his horse and tossed them at the thugs, gesturing at Baekhyun to do the same. Baekhyun wanted to protest but reluctantly complied at the sharp look Kyungsoo shot him.

“Your bow and quiver too.” The leader beckoned impatiently. Baekhyun tossed his weapon over with a whimper and the thugs crowed over their new loot. The men hooted as they galloped away, leaving Baekhyun and Kyungsoo in the dust, with nothing but their clothes on their back, a few coins in their pockets and a small pocketknife that Kyungsoo had hidden in his boot.

“Why did you let them take our stuff? That was one of my best bows.” Baekhyun whined, to which Kyungsoo calmly said. “There was no choice. Revealing that you are the prince would not do much good. In fact, it may cause more harm instead. I’d rather we get out of the situation unscathed, albeit penniless.”

Baekhyun huffed but couldn’t rebut further because he knew Kyungsoo was right. “Fine, let’s carry on to the next town then.”

“You still wish to continue with your adventure?” Kyungsoo stared at him incredulously.

“Of course! When will I ever have a chance to explore like this ever again? A couple of thieves don’t scare me.”

“What about our supplies? Food?”

“We’ll figure things out along the way, now come on! We have to reach the next town before it gets dark out.” Baekhyun started to trot forward on his horse, beginning to whistle a merry tune as if he had forgotten all about the robbers already.

Kyungsoo groaned but followed along nevertheless.

The new town they arrived in wasn’t much bigger than the one before, but it was certainly more quiet and Kyungsoo liked the town better already. He appreciated the peacefulness after the previous loud and rowdy environment which gave him a terrible headache.

“Hey look, Kyungsoo! It’s the baker’s! I’ll see if I can get us some food.” Baekhyun hopped off his horse before Kyungsoo could say another word. Kyungsoo dismounted but made no move to stop the prince. For all his chattiness, the prince could be incredibly charming. Who knows, he might be able to earn them some bread. He only hoped that Baekhyun wouldn’t get them kicked out of town when they’ve just stepped foot into it. He was starving after the long ride and he was not looking forward to riding again until his stomach was filled.

Baekhyun hummed happily as he skipped lightly towards the baker, his mind already full of ideas on how to convince the baker to part with a few loaves of bread. He might not have money, but he still had his sweet tongue and alluring smile - his essential skills for charming the palace maids to spare him some snacks in between mealtimes. Baekhyun was hit with the delicious aroma of bread once he stepped past the threshold and his stomach immediately let out a loud growl. Baekhyun coughed in embarrassment as he scanned the room, looking for the baker, but said person was nowhere to be seen.

“Hello, is there anybody in here?” he called out but his question was met with silence.

His hands twitched in temptation as he considered taking a few loaves of bread, seeing that there was seemingly no one there. The baker probably wouldn’t miss it, he reasoned with himself as he squashed away the guilt. Besides he could always come back to pay once he had the money. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t afford it, his lack of money was merely a temporary situation, that was all. He was the prince for God’s sake, surely he was entitled to some bread? He nodded and gave himself an imaginary pat on the back for his reasoning. What would Kyungsoo do without him? His silly friend would probably insist that stealing was wrong and they would end up going hungry. Luckily for Kyungsoo, Baekhyun was around to save their stomachs. The prince gleefully reached for a sweet-smelling bun when he noticed a boot sticking out from behind the counter. He leaned over the counter curiously and let out what he would later deny as a very unmanly scream.

“Kyungsoo! Help! There’s a dead body in here!”

An hour after Kyungsoo had burst into the shop from Baekhyun's bloodcurdling and totally Not Embarrassing scream, they had the unconscious man lying flat on the floor, head pillowed by a sack of flour while Baekhyun hovered over the man in worry. It was the best they could do seeing that there was neither a sofa nor a bed in the shop. Baekhyun watched as the man's eyes fluttered open slowly, glassy and unfocused. Kyungsoo kept a hand on Baekhyun's shoulder to prevent the prince from throwing himself at the man. He knew that Baekhyun had an incredibly soft heart but he didn’t want the man to be overwhelmed when he had just regained consciousness.

"Are you alright?" Baekhyun blurted out as the man's eyes flitted about in confusion.

“Who...are you?” The man ignored Baekhyun’s question as he stared wide-eyed at the latter who currently had his right hand lightly gripped around the man’s chin. Baekhyun tilted the man’s head left and right and squinted at him, trying to judge the man’s condition from his appearance.

“I’m Baekhyun, and that’s Kyungsoo.” He muttered absent-mindedly and Kyungsoo frowned at how easily the prince revealed their true names. “You seem fine... do you remember what happened?”

The man grabbed Baekhyun’s wrist, pushing it away from his face as he retorted indignantly, “Of course I’m-” His words were cut off by a hacking cough and he immediately slapped his hand over his mouth. Baekhyun thumped his back lightly, for the lack of a better thing to do and when the man pulled away his hand, it was covered in blood.

“Holy shit, you are definitely not fine! You’re coughing blood, why haven’t you gotten yourself checked out? What if you end up coughing up your lungs one day?”

“I’m sure that’s not physically possible.” The man muttered, more to himself than Baekhyun, before raising his voice a little. “Anyway, I’m fine now so you two can take your leave. Thank you for your help.”

Baekhyun opened his mouth, possibly to declare that the man was indeed not fine, but Kyungsoo cleared his throat before Baekhyun could get a single word out.

“About your cough… I believe I have the cure for it.”

Twin pairs of shocked eyes darted to Kyungsoo and the two surprised men echoed in unison, “You do?”

“I thought we lost everything to the robbers?”

“Why should I believe you?”

Kyungsoo sighed deeply at the questions being shot at him. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small drawstring pouch. “The robbers didn’t take everything. Our medicine bag was so small that they didn’t notice it. Besides you didn’t think that I would be so foolish as to hand everything over to the thieves so easily right? And as for you,” Kyungsoo turned to address the baker, ”Your cough is rather severe, I bet it’s been going on for months, am I right? If you continue to leave it untreated, you may actually die. I know the medicine here is expensive and rather hard to obtain, so really, this is your best bet at recovery.”

The man gaped at Kyungsoo and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “What’s the catch? I’m not so stupid to think that you would help me out for free.”

“There is no-” Baekhyun jabbed Kyungsoo with his elbow before Kyungsoo could say anymore.

“We just have one teeny little favour,” Baekhyun grinned, “allow us to work at your bakery.”

“I can’t. I have nothing to offer you as payment for your work and there is not enough room in here for three workers.” Baekhyun’s suggestion was immediately shot down.

“It’s okay, you can just hire me, I’m great with my hands.” Baekhyun waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. ”Kyungsoo can look for a job elsewhere. And all we need for payment is accommodation.”

Kyungsoo held up his hand to halt the conversation. “Before we continue, I need to have a little discussion with Baekhyun here. Please excuse us.”

Baekhyun whined as Kyungsoo dragged him outside by his wrist.

“What are you doing?” He hissed and Baekhyun shrugged.

“We’re broke now, we need a job and I can’t possibly leave you to do everything. Besides, it’s partly my fault that we were robbed.”

“Doing hard labour and earning money is my job. You’re the prince, I can’t have you doing that!”

“You know I hate being called that, Soo.” Baekhyun frowned. “And just because I’m a prince doesn’t mean I can’t work. Besides, that man was rather hot, which is a definite plus point.”

Kyungsoo sighed in resignation. When the prince had his mind set on something, nothing would deter him from accomplishing it so Kyungsoo had no choice but to accept it. Baekhyun ushered Kyungsoo back into the shop and cheerfully made a deal with the baker, who reluctantly admitted that he could use another helper around.

“My house is small though, so you two would have to make do with the floor. I can only spare some blankets.” The baker informed the pair.

Kyungsoo was about to protest - how could the prince sleep on the floor, after all - but Baekhyun swiftly smiled and told their new host that it was fine, they could live with it. A little hardship wouldn’t kill anyone, especially not Baekhyun. He was determined to make the most of his freedom and would jump at any opportunity to prolong it.

The night saw the three of them standing outside a little cottage, nothing extravagant but not totally dilapidated either. The interior was plain - the house was barely furnished with the simplest of necessities enough for a single person living alone. Unfortunately, their host had no room to spare so they would have to sleep in the hall. Blankets were brought out, the thicker one was laid out on the floor while the thinner ones were folded neatly in a pile to be used when they slept. Kyungsoo handed over the vials of medicine, instructing the man to dilute half the vial of solution with water before taking it every night. The man nodded his thanks and told them to get some sleep, they were in for an early morning, especially Baekhyun since he was helping out at the bakery.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at the bakery at the first morning bell.” The man blew out the candle in his hand, leaving Kyungsoo and Baekhyun in darkness.

“Goodnight,” Baekhyun called out but was met with silence.

Baekhyun lowered himself onto the blanket, with Kyungsoo doing the same and Baekhyun was glad for the darkness that hid his wince from his friend. The floor was hard, much harder than what he expected. If he were to compare it to his bed back home, it was like sleeping on steel while his previous bed was made of air, but he sucked it up. He shouldn’t be complaining when there were other people out there suffering much worse fates than him. He was lucky to be born in a family of royalty, no matter how much he detested the stuffy lifestyle. He wanted to experience how it was like to live a normal life. He wanted to understand how it felt to earn something through his own hard work, from his own merit, instead of being handed to him on a silver platter. He wanted to understand how it felt to have real friends, not hundreds of servants and ministers who did not see him beyond his title. He had Kyungsoo of course, and he loved his friend dearly for sticking with him through thick and thin from childhood, but he still wanted to make friends without the position of the crown prince hanging over his head.

“I can hear the gears in your head turning, Baekhyun. Go to sleep.” Kyungsoo’s voice broke Baekhyun out of his reveries.

“You know me so well, Kyungsoo. I love you.” Baekhyun obnoxiously threw his arm and leg over Kyungsoo and pulled him into a hug.

“Get off me, it’s hot.” Kyungsoo complained but Baekhyun can hear the smile in Kyungsoo’s voice and he tightened his grip on his friend. Just like that, the two of them fell asleep with their limbs entangled.

Despite Baekhyun’s resolve to work hard at his newly acquired job, he overslept the next morning. Baekhyun, for one, was not a morning person. His lessons at the palace were all in the afternoon, specially tailored to suit his sleeping habits. He had always relied on Kyungsoo to wake him up whenever he had morning appointments, otherwise he would have slept till high noon. This time however, Kyungsoo was still knocked out over the sheets when Baekhyun opened his eyes. He must be tired from their travelling, Baekhyun felt a slight twinge of guilt. He was the one that insisted that they continued their journey after all, and the travel to the town they were currently in took longer than he expected, with no place to rest in between. It was no wonder that Kyungsoo was tired. He pushed the blanket off himself and sat up, letting out an undignified yawn. His etiquette tutor would be horrified by his unsightly behaviour but his tutor wasn’t here so he let his mouth fall as wide as he wished and he blinked blearily as he took in the surroundings.

The house was quiet and the sun shone brightly through the bare windows, indicating that the first morning bell had long passed. Oops, Baekhyun shrugged to himself as he attempted to shake Kyungsoo awake. Kyungsoo woke easily, years of working at the palace had gotten his body used to waking up at the slightest nudge, ready to serve whomever that needed his help. Baekhyun found a plate of buns on the table and eagerly bit into the sweet treat while handing one to Kyungsoo. He washed up rather quickly and was ready to leave in no time at all.

“I’ll see you tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. It’s just baking, how hard can it be?” Baekhyun laughed when he saw Kyungsoo’s worried eyes. Kyungsoo nodded doubtfully and told Baekhyun that he would spend the day looking for a job. Baekhyun acknowledged his plans with a thumbs up and with one last cheerful wave, he slammed the door shut.

“Good morning, hyung!” Baekhyun greeted brightly as he breezed into the bread shop and the baker looked up from his work.

“You’re late.” He frowned. “And who told you that you could call me hyung?”

“Sorry,” Baekhyun grinned none too apologetically. “Well you never told me your name so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Besides, I saved your life. Surely our relationship is intimate enough. Tell me who else in your life has ever saved you from a terrible illness?”

“I’ve already mixed the ingredients, so you can start kneading the dough.” The baker ignored Baekhyun’s words and gestured to the bowls around him. “And it’s Minseok. My name.”

Baekhyun’s face brightened at the small accomplishment of learning the man’s name. He washed his hands a bit too excitedly, water spraying all over the sink, before positioning himself in front of the countertop. He prodded the dough gingerly, staring at it with wide eyes as if it was some foreign object. Minseok saw his confusion and sighed heavily. He was starting to regret hiring Baekhyun. How could he trust the man to be of any help when he didn’t even know what dough was? Well it was too late to take back his words anyway so Minseok picked up another lump of dough and ordered Baekhyun to follow his movements.

Baekhyun watched as strong hands pressed expertly into the dough, punching it and kneading it into shape. He copied the motions clumsily to the best of his ability, slamming his palm into his own dough. Kneading was a tedious task - way more tiring than Baekhyun had expected. Luckily for him, his daily archery lessons at the palace ensured that he had strong arms, but he could tell that his arms were going to be sore by the end of the day. He was not going to utter a single word of complaint though. He would not appear weak in front of Minseok, not when Minseok already thought he was an idiot for not knowing how to knead the dough.

After kneading silently for a short while, Minseok finally paused and Baekhyun nearly let out a sigh of relief. The silence was killing him but Minseok looked so focused that Baekhyun didn’t want to interrupt. Now that they finally stopped though, Baekhyun was ready to brighten the atmosphere with his usual silly comments. However, before he could even open his mouth, Minseok walked over and began inspecting his work, effectively killing off whatever comment that was at the tip of his tongue. His heartbeat began to pick up speed and he licked his lips anxiously as he watched Minseok pat his dough. He could feel his palms starting to sweat too and he wiped them down on his pants. It was the first work he had ever done for himself, of his own free will and of his own determination to learn and earn his keep and he wanted to do well. And for some reason, he really wanted to impress Minseok too. He grimaced when he realised he had just ruined his pants from the flour but that thought was quickly forgotten when Minseok spoke up.

“Your dough is too sticky.” Minseok picked up Baekhyun’s hand by the wrist and guided it towards the spot that he was referring to on the dough. Suddenly, Baekhyun’s rapidly thumping heart stuttered for a whole different reason. It was not the fact that Minseok was checking his dough that made him nervous, instead it was the warm hand on his wrist and the close proximity of Minseok that had his heart beating furiously. He felt a flush crawling up his neck and he hurriedly retracted his hand from Minseok’s grip.

“U-Uh yeah I feel it.” Baekhyun mentally cursed himself for stammering.

Despite having withdrawn his hand, Minseok was still standing pretty close to him and he could feel Minseok’s warmth breath against his ears when he said, “You have to knead the dough more so that it’s no longer sticky.”

“Alright, I got it.” Baekhyun hoped that Minseok couldn’t hear the shakiness of his voice but his large clumsy movements gave away his unease anyway. Thankfully for Baekhyun, Minseok chose not to comment on his weird behaviour and instead informed him that he could start on the rest of the bowls once he was done with his dough. Baekhyun glanced at the surrounding bowls and groaned. Looks like he was in for a long day.

Thirty bowls later, Baekhyun’s arms were screaming in agony but the dough was finally in the oven and rising to form bread. He stretched his arm gingerly, groaning at the ache that was spreading through his muscles. It felt as if he had undergone a whole day of intensive archery lessons. His archery tutor would have laughed at him if he were to tell his tutor that kneading dough was as exhausting as pulling bows.

A sudden cold chill was pressed to his arm and he jumped in shock. He must have looked pretty surprised because Minseok took one look at his face and burst into laughter. Baekhyun pouted as he accepted the bag of ice Minseok offered to him but Minseok’s laughter was so boisterous and addictive that Baekhyun broke into giggles himself. His giggles intensified to full blown laughter and soon, the two of them were clutching their stomachs, no longer able to stand upright.

“I didn’t know you were capable of laughing like that.” Baekhyun gasped in between his fits of laughter.

“Shut up,” Minseok bit out, calming down somewhat, but there was playfulness in his eyes. “I’m fully capable of laughing, thank you very much. It’s just that you don’t know me well enough yet.”

“You’ve got a point.”

They fell into a comfortable silence soon after. Baekhyun examined his flour-covered fingers and with a sudden surge of courage, brushed his dirty fingers across the bridge of Minseok’s nose. Minseok looked so outraged for a moment that Baekhyun was afraid he had gone too far. He cleared his throat, ready to apologize but Minseok suddenly slapped both of his equally flour-stained hands onto Baekhyun’s cheeks, smearing the flour on his cheeks, causing him to squeal and drop his bag of ice. Baekhyun retaliated by scooping whatever flour he could salvage from the tabletop and scattering them all over Minseok’s hair. Their mini food fight escalated into them trying to throw whatever leftovers they could scrape at each other, filling the bakery with more squeals and snorts of laughter. Baekhyun was just picking up an egg (“No, put that down Baekhyun!”) when someone walked through the door and tapped the table lightly to get their attention.

“Oh, Kyungsoo! When did you get here?” Baekhyun whirled around while still holding onto the egg, and Minseok immediately let out a little cough, embarrassed that they were caught fooling around and making a mess. Kyungsoo, however, did not even bat an eye at the situation, clearly used to Baekhyun’s antics.

“Don’t worry, I just arrived. I decided to drop by to check up on you. I should have known better than to worry that you would blow this whole place up. You two look like you’re having fun. ” Kyungsoo eyed Baekhyun’s white powdery self. “Anyway, I’ve found a job at a nearby tavern and I’m starting work immediately so I’ll see you back at Minseok’s house after work.”

Kyungsoo does not bother to stay long, departing after delivering his news of his new-found job. Once Kyungsoo had left, Baekhyun smirked teasingly at Minseok, who stayed silent during the entire conversation and flicked hardened flour at him. “What do you say we pick up where we left off?”

Minseok regretted his food fight once the entertainment died out and they had to clean up. They created a bigger mess than they had realised and cleaning up was a pain. Customers were going to arrive in an hour and he was busy trying to wash the flour out of his hair when he should have been arranging the freshly baked bread on the counter. Baekhyun mopped the floor happily, seemingly having no regrets over making a mess and Minseok wondered how anyone could be so carefree. From the moment he had met the boy, Baekhyun was always in high-spirits. He was always playful, always teasing and always loud. Despite his effervescent character, Baekhyun was by no means flippant about his work. Minseok had seen the man put his all in baking, even though the bread turned out a little flat afterwards, but it was the effort that counted. Besides, there was always time for improvement. Minseok caught that thought before it could stray too far. Baekhyun is merely a traveller, he would probably be gone in a few weeks. Minseok chided himself for already feeling a tad bit fond for the man.

“Minseok?” The mention of his name shook him from his thoughts and he realised that he had left the tap running while he zoned out.

Baekhyun gazed at him inquiringly and Minseok quickly returned to washing his hair. “Just daydreaming for a bit,” He said as the water poured over his head.

Baekhyun laughed heartily at that, loud and unrestrained, and Minseok thought that he had never heard a more beautiful sound in his life.

Days passed and Baekhyun saw improvement in his baking, his bread finally rising up nicely and no longer flat as a pancake, leaving him with a sense of pride. Minseok’s customers were completely enraptured by the newest addition to the shop, cooing at Baekhyun’s cuteness whenever they drop by to pick up some bread. One thing that didn’t change though, was his tendency to wake up late. Kyungsoo’s job did not require him to wake up early and that traitor left Baekhyun to fend for himself, claiming that he deserved a break from his duties while they were out of the palace. Minseok always roused way earlier than Baekhyun, leaving the house early to make preparations at the shop. Hence, this left Baekhyun shooting out of his bed whenever he finally stirred from dreamland, tripping over own feet as he rushed around to get ready for the day.

It was only during their usual routine of kneading the dough when Baekhyun realised he hadn’t seen his horses in a while. Kyungsoo had them housed in a stable using the remaining money they had left but Baekhyun hadn’t visited them at all. He resolved to visit them the next day before work and ordered - more like pleaded, in Kyungsoo’s opinion - Kyungsoo to drag him out of bed at sunrise, even if he had to resort to kicking. Kyungsoo sighed reluctantly but agreed, telling Baekhyun it was only for their horses.

Minseok was surprised to see Baekhyun up and about at dawn the next day, though Baekhyun looked more dead than alive. The normally bright and bubbly young man was nowhere to be seen. In his place was a stone-faced, not at all enthusiastic zombie who barely spoke five words since he woke up.

"Good morning Minseok, I see that you haven't been coughing lately. I presume the medicine's working well?" Kyungsoo asked warmly as he bustled about the kitchen and it was evident that mornings were not his enemy, unlike Baekhyun.

Minseok nodded, conveying his unspoken thanks with a smile. He watched Kyungsoo prepare breakfast for Baekhyun - bread coated with grape jam - while Baekhyun slumped over the table, mumbling nonsense under his breath.

Baekhyun's liveliness gradually returned after breakfast and he hummed softly under his breath as he pulled on his boots.

“You seem to do that a lot.”

Baekhyun was startled by the comment and paused, his left foot half slotted into his boot. He looked up into Minseok’s curious gaze and chuckled. “It’s just something I like to do back home. I’ve always enjoyed singing but my father told me it’s unseemly so I resorted to humming instead.”

“Why would singing be unseemly?”

Baekhyun shrugged, shooting Minseok a mysterious smile, and extended his hand. “Would you like to visit my horses with me?”

Baekhyun breezed past the stalls briskly, excited to be finally seeing his horses. He cheerfully shouted his greetings to the townsmen setting up their stalls while Minseok strolled behind him, smiling calmly at the stall owners. The stable boy was present when they reached the stables, brushing the mane of a black horse and Baekhyun took the brush from him, relieving the boy of his duties. He gently ran his hand through the mane and his horse gave a little whinny.

“Hey boy, did you miss me? I’m sorry it took so long for me to visit. I didn’t bring any treats today but I’ll bring you some apples next time, for sure.” Baekhyun murmured tenderly. He straightened the tangles in the mane, continuously mumbling soft words. He was just turning to give Kyungsoo’s horse the same attention when he spied Minseok standing at the corner, biting his lips hesitantly.

“You’re not afraid of horses, are you?” Baekhyun teased and Minseok immediately sputtered his protest.

“N-no, of course not! It’s just… I’ve never had a chance to interact with them before.”

Baekhyun snickered and beckoned Minseok forward. “Come here, they won’t hurt you. They’re really gentle babies, aren’t you Brownie? Brownie baby, you miss Kyungsoo, don’t you?”

Baekhyun could see the corner of Minseok’s lips twitch as the latter inched towards the horses. “Don’t laugh! We named them when we were seven, we were dumb okay?” He whined although he didn’t really mind Minseok laughing all that much.

“What’s your horse called then?” Minseok asked, amusement colouring his tone.

“Blackie,” This time, Minseok didn’t stop his laughter from escaping his lips and Baekhyun whacked him lightly with the brush.

“Stop it! Here you can brush her mane, just be sure not to pull too hard.” Baekhyun abruptly shoved the brush into Minseok’s hands in an attempt to change the subject. Minseok ran the brush through Brownie’s mane unsurely and Baekhyun smiled encouragingly. “Look, her ears are tilted forwards, she’s happy and you aren’t doing anything wrong, so relax. You should scratch her too. She likes being scratched at her wither.” Baekhyun pointed to the spot he was referring to and Minseok complied.

Brownie let out a sigh and Minseok cooed gently, giving her a good scratch. Baekhyun turned back to Blackie and they bathed the horses with attention, settling down into a familiar silence between them. It was quiet except for the occasional whinnies and Baekhyun had came to realise that Minseok enjoyed working in peace, much unlike Baekhyun who preferred the liveliness that accompanied noise. It was okay though, Baekhyun had grown to appreciate the soothing tranquility between them and it left him with a sense of intimacy that he got to enjoy those peaceful moments with Minseok.

Baekhyun was humming a lullaby to Blackie when Minseok spoke up. “You know, I really like horses ever since I was a child. I always saw them from afar, looking all powerful and strong as they carried their riders. It was my dream to ride one of them, but my family could barely feed five children, let alone buy me a horse.”

Baekhyun hummed contemplatively. In the days he had known Minseok, it was rare for Minseok to open up. He barely knew anything about the man, even though strangers tended to warm up to him rather quickly due to his easy-going personality and his ability to coax things out of people.

“Where is your family now?”

“Back at home, in a village North from here. I came to this town in hopes of making more money to support my family.”

“I see. Well then, would you like me to teach you how to ride a horse? You look like you’ll be good at riding.” Baekhyun winked and Minseok shook his head exasperatedly.

“Yes, I would like that.”

They did not go right away, of course. They had a bakery to tend to and riding could wait but Baekhyun’s heart trembled at the prospect of spending more time with Minseok.

Baekhyun did not get to fulfil his promise to Minseok until a few weeks later, when town activities winded down in the early afternoon due to a holiday. The townsmen, including Minseok and Baekhyun, packed up early and headed home to rest and Baekhyun took this chance to drag Minseok to the stables, a bag of apple in his hands.

“Hey Blackie, Brownie. How are you guys doing?” Baekhyun’s fondness for his horses was evident in his tone. “Here, feed them the apples while I talk to the stable boy.”

Baekhyun disappeared momentarily and when he returned, lunge line in hand, the horses were crunching contently on their apples. Minseok chewed on an apple of his own while he watched Baekhyun bustle around, attaching the riding equipment securely to Blackie.

“I saw an empty field just a few miles from town. It’ll be better for me to teach you there, so we’ll ride double first to get to the field and I’ll lead you once we’re there.” Baekhyun explained.

They left the bag of apples on the floor for the stable boy to find and Baekhyun aided Minseok in mounting Blackie before he too, clambered on, positioning himself behind the saddle. He leaned forward to reach the reins, arms brushing against Minseok’s sides and his hands tremor slightly at their close proximity. Minseok’s back exuded a comforting warmth and Baekhyun could catch whiffs of the aroma of freshly baked goods. He took a moment to calm himself before nudging Blackie to trot off - it wouldn’t do for him to sit there and bask in the moment after all, Minseok would think something was strange.

They made small talk as Blackie trotted slowly through the town, reaching the field in good time. The field is huge, uninterrupted shades of green stretching on for miles and miles, perfect for teaching horseback riding. Baekhyun dismounted and fastened the lunge line while Minseok fidgeted nervously in the saddle, gentle breeze ruffling his hair.

“Relax, I won’t let you fall.” Baekhyun said jokingly but Minseok could see the hint of seriousness in Baekhyun’s words and he attempted to loosen up. “Straighten your back and shoulders. Hold the reins but don’t pull them.”

Minseok pulled his shoulder back and picked up the reins, expression earnest and Baekhyun burst into laughter. Minseok raised his eyebrows in confusion. He didn’t think he was doing anything particularly hilarious.

“Funny how our positions are reversed this time. Now you’re the one taking instructions from me instead. Isn’t this reminiscent of our good old days of baking?”

“That was only a few weeks ago.” Minseok commented dryly but Baekhyun paid him no heed, still chuckling to himself.

Minseok scowled and wished he had something to throw at Baekhyun’s head but alas, he was stuck on a horse. He couldn’t wait till they were back at the bakery though, he would assign Baekhyun a much harder task and he would see who would be laughing then.

When Baekhyun finally composed himself, Minseok was still looking at him with a cocked brown. “Done laughing? Now let’s get this show on the road.”

Minseok was a fairly quick learner, having the basics down pat in four months as opposed to Baekhyun’s six. It made Baekhyun feel a little jealous that Minseok was good at something that was supposed to be his forte, although it would take a few years before Minseok could catch up to his standards. But Baekhyun was more proud than anything, proud that his first ever student was able to ride successfully under his teachings. Four months into lessons and Minseok was already confident enough to ride by himself and move at a steady trot.

A hundred and twenty days since Baekhyun had settled into that town and nothing much had changed. He was still working at the bakery daily and giving Minseok lessons whenever he could. However four months into his new life also meant that Baekhyun was sick of the similar staple food they consumed each day.

“Meat is expensive,” Minseok would tell him whenever he brought up the topic so Baekhyun decided that he would take it upon himself to go hunting. He might as well put his years of training back home to good use anyway, and he could really use a change of diet.

He requested a day off from Minseok for the first time ever, and dragged Kyungsoo to the bowyer’s, explaining his hunting plans to his friend while on the way. A man with a sturdy back and strong arm muscles was bent over a half-made bow when they arrived but he immediately straightened at Baekhyun’s greeting.

“Hello, how may-” Baekhyun saw a flash of surprise cross the man’s face before it changed to something much more teasing. “Why, hello Kyungsoo. What a surprise to see you here. You’ve never told me you were interested in bows in the months I’ve known you. Have you finally succumbed to my charms and decided to drop by?” The man purred and winked flirtatiously.

“Shut up, Jongdae. My friend here is looking for a hunting bow.” There was irritation in his tone but after years of friendship, Baekhyun could tell that Kyungsoo wasn’t actually annoyed and Baekhyun was delighted.

Finally someone who could melt Kyungsoo’s frozen heart. It had been fifteen years since he had known Kyungsoo and he had never seen Kyungsoo show a romantic interest in anyone, ever.

The bowyer, Jongdae - Baekhyun filed that name in his head, anyone who could rile Kyungsoo up was worth remembering - was shooting Baekhyun suspicious glances until Baekhyun clapped his arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder and brought them closer towards Jongdae. “Who’s this, Kyungsoo? I don’t believe we have met. Is this because you’re afraid of losing our childhood bet of who would get married first? Don’t think I’m letting go of that bet so easily, I would love to see you running around our garden naked. I knew you would be the first to get married.”

“I hope I’m invited for the show,” Jongdae quipped, immediately losing his hostile nature at Baekhyun’s words. He didn’t let Kyungsoo’s narrowed eyes deter him, and Baekhyun liked him even more already.

“Of course you are. It’s only right when you helped me win my bet.” Baekhyun gave Jongdae a toothy grin and stuck out his hand. “I’m Baekhyun.”

“Jongdae, pleasure to meet you. I’m Kyungsoo’s most loyal customer at his tavern, isn’t that right, Kyungsoo?” Jongdae gave a firm shake to the offered hand and Kyungsoo snorted.

“Oh no, the pleasure's all mine. Do feel free to drop by the bakery anytime, I would love to share more stories about our dear Kyungsoo.”

Kyungsoo huffed and stomped outside and both Baekhyun and Jongdae laughed.

“Now, you wouldn’t happen to have a good old hunting bow ready to be sold, do you?”

It turned out that Jongdae didn’t have a hunting bow ready in stock and it would take a few weeks to customize a new one. By the time Kyungsoo passed along the message that his bow was ready, Baekhyun was itching to kill some deer and obtain some game. Despite his eagerness to hunt, he sent Kyungsoo to collect his bow in his place. Besides, he had work in the day, whereas Kyungsoo only worked at night, leaving Kyungsoo no room for excuses. Kyungsoo’s muttered complaints under his breath died out rather quickly when Jongdae lighted up at his presence, giving him a beautifully wide smile.

“Kyungsoo!”

“Jongdae.” Kyungsoo deadpanned. “Where’s Baekhyun’s bow?”

“Nuh-uh, no way am I handing it over to you that easily. Seeing that this is an exquisitely-made bow, with efforts from yours truly, payment would be a little expensive.” Jongdae held up his fingers in mock calculation. “Let’s see, I think a payment of three kisses would be appropriate.”

“Okay.” Kyungsoo shrugged and Jongdae raised his eyebrows in surprise. He wasn’t expecting Kyungsoo to actually agree, not when Kyungsoo had been shooting down all of his advances.

Kyungsoo stepped closer to Jongdae, leaning in slightly and Jongdae closed in eyes in anticipation, feeling Kyungsoo’s hot breath fanning over his lips. What came next was not the soft press of lips against his though. Instead, he heard a “You. Wish.” whispered against his ears before a painful flick was afflicted on his forehead.

“Ow! That’s mean!” Jongdae whined but he wasn’t really mad. How could he be when he opened his eyes to see a laughing Kyungsoo in front of him, lips upturned in mirth?

When Kyungsoo finally departed with the bow though, he left Jongdae with three promised dates instead of the three kisses and Jongdae supposed that was enough, for now.

Baekhyun was pouting at his failed experiment when Kyungsoo strided into the bakery. His attempt to make bread look more visually appealing resulted in lumpy and oddly shaped products instead, leaving Minseok sniggering beside him.

Kyungsoo shoved the bow in Baekhyun’s face, grumbling, “Here’s your stupid bow.”

“I take it that your meeting with Jongdae went fantastically, then?” Baekhyun was unperturbed by Kyungsoo’s grumpiness.

“Shut up.” Kyungsoo turned on his heels, exiting the shop while shouts of “Thanks, Kyungsoo! Love you!” echoed behind him.

Baekhyun placed the bow and quiver in a corner, careful not to let the bow topple over.

“Are you sure you know how to hunt?” A voice piped up behind him. Baekhyun turned around to see Minseok looking at the bow doubtfully, his disbelief as clear as day.

“Of course, I was the best hunter back from where I came from.” Baekhyun said boastfully.

“And where might that be?” Minseok questioned with an arched brow.

“A small village a few towns away. You wouldn’t have heard of it, it’s really quite small.” Baekhyun waved his hand dismissively. “Anyway, I would have to take the next day off to go hunting, you don’t mind do you?”

“Please, I’ve been handling the shop by myself long before you came.” Minseok scoffed. “I can live without you for a day. I might even get more work done.”

Baekhyun huffed and crossed his arms even though he knew Minseok was just teasing. “Just you wait, I’ll bring back some real food and you’ll be begging on your knees to have a share of it.”

Baekhyun managed to snag himself two rabbits and a deer. The deer was too large for him to lug back so he skinned it with his knife and brought back large chunks of meat in his bag. Despite his proficiency in hunting, he had no idea how to cook them whatsoever so he handed the meat and rabbits for Kyungsoo to skin and cook. He helped out with the simple tasks under Kyungsoo’s instructions and by the time Minseok returned from the bakery, they have a stew boiling in a pot and steaming meat served on plates.

“I must say, I’m impressed.” Minseok said when they all settle down for dinner. “For someone who comes from a small village, you sure know how to do many things.”

Baekhyun puffed up his chest at the compliment, even though he feels a little guilty for lying to Minseok. “Of course, I’m multi-talented. I’m pretty sure I was already hunting and riding horses as a baby.”

Kyungsoo snorted at that and Minseok shook his head, lips twitching as he fought the urge of breaking into a smile.

The guilt that Baekhyun felt brought back memories of cold dinners at his palace where he usually dined alone. Kyungsoo did join him occasionally but he couldn’t do that too often otherwise the servants would gossip. Hierarchy was very important in a palace, even amongst servants. Besides Kyungsoo, The King, Queen and his brother were often too busy with state matters to join him so it was just him and the neverending plates of food. Even though the meal he was having now only consisted of two simple dishes, it was one of the best meals he had ever had. No amount of delectable food could compare to the warmth and comfort he felt during their banters over dinner. Baekhyun knew that this was all temporary and he had to go back to the palace some day, but he hoped that he would be able to enjoy this feeling of home for a little while more, just a little longer.

In all the time Baekhyun had known Minseok, Baekhyun had always been the one suggesting their activities so it came as a surprise when Minseok proposed that they went riding together.

“Sure, where to? The field is-”

“I have somewhere to show you.” Minseok interrupted and Baekhyun blinked, a little surprised at the interruption.

“Alright, then.”

They closed up the bakery two hours before the sun set and set off towards the forest, with Minseok in the lead on Brownie while Baekhyun cantered after him on Blackie. They ride past rows of trees before Minseok veered off to a side path and Baekhyun followed suit. They ride on, the clopping of hooves disrupting the peace of the forest, until Minseok finally came to a stop in front of a lake. Minseok dismounted wordlessly, slipped off his boots and sat at the edge of the lake, dipping his foot in. Baekhyun settled down beside Minseok but kept his boots on.

Minseok stared silently at the lake for a few minutes before he finally spoke up. “I’ve never brought anyone here before. This is my favourite place. It’s peaceful, unlike the buzz of the town. I like to come here to think sometimes.”

“I see.” Baekhyun said carefully, unsure where Minseok was going with that.

“I just wanted to share this place with you. You… look troubled these days. I thought you could come here and calm your mind.”

A pleasant feeling bloomed in Baekhyun’s chest and his heart fluttered. He smiled softly and tentatively curled his fingers around Minseok’s. It had been nearly half a year since he left the palace and he knew that his freedom was going to run out sooner or later. He was touched that Minseok noticed his worries though and it gave him hope - a hope that he shouldn’t be having but he still had it anyway - that perhaps, Minseok observed him as much as Baekhyun noticed Minseok over the past months. “Thank you.”

Minseok entwined his fingers fully around Baekhyun’s and tightened his hand slightly, offering him unspoken comfort. They sat there, watching the water ripple as Minseok lightly kicked his foot, enjoying the tranquility the forest brought.

Minseok hummed a song under his breath, one that Baekhyun had been humming frequently, giving Baekhyun a sudden surge of courage to confide in Minseok, “I wasn’t happy, back home.”

Minseok looked at Baekhyun to show he was listening and Baekhyun took a shaky breath before continuing on. “My older brother has a weak body. My parents had always hoped that his condition would improve with age but it didn’t, so I’m going to have to take over the family business. Back when I was a kid, I didn’t get to enjoy the carefree childhood that everyone had. Instead of games, I had lessons. Instead of friends, I had teachers. Thankfully I had Kyungsoo by my side since I was six.”

Baekhyun paused and Minseok rubbed his thumb over Baekhyun’s knuckles encouragingly. “It wasn’t enough though. I was sick of being confined in a single place. I wanted to see the world. I wanted to experience things that I never got to since I was born. So… that’s why I’m here now. I ran away with Kyungsoo. Such a filial child, aren’t I?” Baekhyun twisted his lips wryly.

Minseok pulled Baekhyun against his side and wrapped an arm around Baekhyun’s shoulder, patting it in a comforting rhythm. “I’m sure your parents would understand. You know what I think? I think you’re brave. You’re brave enough to fight for your freedom, brave enough to explore the unknown world when you’ve been sheltered from it all your life. I bet other people in your situation wouldn’t dare to venture out of their homes and remain chained down by their own unhappiness. Nor would they be so willing to tackle a challenge as enthusiastically as you did when you learned how to bake. In fact, I’m glad you dared to escape your stuffy life so that I could have met you. You’re charming, witty and you have a mean aim with a bow. Anyone who meets you will be able to enjoy meat for life.” Baekhyun barked out a laugh at that and Minseok smiled fondly. “Anyone is very lucky to have you in their lives.”

Gentle fingers cupped Minseok’s cheeks and soft lips pressed against his own plush ones, first feather-light and unsure, then with much more pressure when Baekhyun felt Minseok moving his lips in tandem with Baekhyun’s. Minseok could feel his heart thumping wildly under his skin, his eyes falling shut as he swiped his tongue along Baekhyun’s lower lip. He tightened his grip on Baekhyun’s shoulder, feeling Baekhyun’s soft sigh against his lips when he pulled back slightly to rest his forehead against Baekhyun’s.

“Thank you.” Baekhyun breathed out. “And I don’t know if you noticed, but I really like you.”

Minseok’s eyes sparkled as he bumped his nose playfully against Baekhyun’s. “I had a feeling, but now I know for sure.”

Minseok beamed and for a moment, it felt like as if time had stilled for Baekhyun. His smile was so bright, so beautiful, that Baekhyun was entranced. Never had Baekhyun so desperately wished that time could stop and he could stay with Minseok forever. He knew that he shouldn’t be doing this. It wasn’t fair to him and it most certainly wasn’t fair to Minseok. Eventually, he would have to go back to the palace and Minseok would be crushed. At least he had the knowledge that he would be leaving one day so he could prepare his heart and steel himself for their eventual separation but Minseok had no idea. But for once, Baekhyun wanted to be selfish. He too, wanted to be happy and he was happy when he was with Minseok. I’ll tell him one of these days. Baekhyun thought desperately as he leaned in to capture Minseok’s lips in a kiss once more. I will definitely tell him.

Despite his guilt, Baekhyun never worked up the courage to tell Minseok. One look at Minseok always changed his mind each time he strengthened his resolve to tell the older man. The way Minseok looked at him was so loving and tender and he didn’t want to change that. Once he told the truth, he would lose everything. Just one more day, let me bask in this happiness for one more day. He told himself just before he closed his eyes to sleep each day.

The day Baekhyun’s happiness was snatched away was just like any other day. Baekhyun was placing the dough into the oven and Minseok was cleaning up the counter when they both heard distant shouting. Before any of them could open their mouths to ask the obvious question, the heavy thunder of boots clumping filled their ears and a group of soldiers burst into the bakery.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. We are the royal guards from the palace and we are looking for a young man who’s about your height, accompanied by another man and two horses - one black and one brown. He should stand out quite a bit from his rich clothes in this small town.” One of the soldiers boomed and Baekhyun’s blood ran cold. Shit, they were looking for him. And by that description it was obviously him. No one else had came by this town with a friend and two horses after all. He could feel tendrils of fear gripping his heart and panic rising up his throat. No, he didn’t want Minseok to find out this way. He wanted to be the one to tell the man himself. He-

“No, I haven’t seen such a person.” Baekhyun blinked. Minseok hadn’t sold him out. In fact, his voice sounded a little frosty directed at the guards.

“Is that so? I’ll have you know that you could be charged for treason for lying and hiding him. The King is of ill health and he needs his prince by his side.”

“Interesting that a kingdom could lose their prince. But I’ll contact one of your soldiers if I happen to see him. Wouldn’t want to miss out on the reward after all.”

Baekhyun heard a snarl, followed by more boots thumping before it was finally quiet again. He slowly turned around from the oven, letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He met Minseok’s gaze and felt a wave of relief rush through him when he doesn’t see any distrust or betrayal radiating from Minseok.

Why? How? He had so many questions but Minseok grabbed his wrist before he could voice any of them.

“Let’s go to the lake.”

The lake was the same, still as calming and soothing as before, unchanged despite the drastic events that have unfolded. The thought of his sick father niggled at the back of his mind but Baekhyun pushed that thought away, for now. One thing at a time, he told himself.

Minseok spent a long time staring at a distance in the general direction of the lake, just like the previous time, his eyes unseeing. Baekhyun stood beside him silently, waiting for Minseok, not daring to broach the topic himself.

“It was really obvious, you know.” Baekhyun took a peek at the older man but his face remained frustratingly impassive, tone neutral and untelling. “A young man like yourself, supposedly coming from a small village but not equipped with menial skills. Instead you go around wielding bows and riding horses like you were born to. You know not many of us can afford horses right?”

Baekhyun could feel his words stuck in his throat, explanations, excuses, everything that he wanted to tell Minseok but he swallowed them all down, not knowing where to begin.

“Of course, the fact that you had medicine was initially why I took you in. But then I realised you were not the poor boy you portrayed yourself to be. No matter how hardworking you are, how willing you are to adapt, it’s difficult to hide your prim and proper roots. I told myself to play along, to take you in, because I was intrigued by you. I wanted to know your story of who you are and why you came here. Also there were rumours in the market, vicious whispers and gossip about the runaway prince of the kingdom, but it was not until you told me your story when things really clicked. By then, it was too late. I was head over heels for you. I didn’t say anything because I’m selfish. I wanted to keep you by my side even though you could never be mine to begin with. Baekhyun, I love you.”

Baekhyun heard the desperation in Minseok’s voice and he felt tears welling up, flowing down his cheeks freely. “Minseok, I love you too, I really do. But you’re right, I don’t belong here. No matter how much I wish to stay, the kingdom needs me, our country needs me. I can’t leave everyone in the lurch just to fulfil my own happiness. I can’t be that selfish.”

Minseok pulled Baekhyun into a bone-crushing hug, gripping the back of Baekhyun’s shirt tightly in his clenched fists. Baekhyun inhaled deeply, letting the comforting scent of Minseok wash through him. As usual, Minseok smelled like bread, he smelled like home.

Minseok murmured in Baekhyun’s ear, “This is another reason why I love you. You’re not selfish.”

“I can’t promise that I’ll be back.” Baekhyun choked out, voice cracking on the last word. “Nor do I expect you to wait for me. But if I ever do return, will you at least remember me?”

“I’ll remember you.” Minseok whispered fiercely. “I’ll wait for you, Baekhyun, no matter how long it takes.”

Their fingers were intertwined tightly as they slowly strolled back, savouring each second they had left. The soldiers were already waiting at Minseok’s house when the pair returned. After all, it was impossible to keep such a big secret in a small town like this. Baekhyun knew the soldiers would find him in no time. Kyungsoo was present too, belongings packed and horses ready to go. Baekhyun could see the sympathetic look in Kyungsoo’s face and he hurriedly averted his eyes, not wanting to cry again. The palace men surge forward at Baekhyun’s appearance and he halted them with a raised palm. In an assertive voice fit for a prince, one that he hadn’t used in a long time, he commanded the soldiers not to arrest Minseok, telling them that Minseok had helped him a lot and he owed a lot to that man. Seeing that the situation was dire and they had to return to the palace without much delay, the soldiers let the prince have his way without putting up a fight.

The men got ready to depart, Kyungsoo swinging onto his horse swiftly. Baekhyun and Minseok walked hand in hand to Blackie and the feeling of dread in Baekhyun grew with each step. Baekhyun could feel the men eyeing their movements step by step and Baekhyun, uncaring of the numerous eyes on him, threw his arms around Minseok’s neck and kissed him firmly. His nose bumped into Minseok’s in his haste but neither of them could bring themselves to laugh. Minseok’s hands fell naturally onto his waist and Baekhyun moved his lips desperately, throwing everything into the kiss - his love, his despair, his gratefulness for Minseok. He buried his head in Minseok’s neck, inhaling the familiar scent one last time before someone cleared their throat rather pointedly and Baekhyun parted reluctantly.

“You’ll be a great king, Baekhyun. I believe in you. I love you.”

Baekhyun’s greatest regret was that the last smile he ever gave Minseok was a brittle one, cracked along the edges.

The time Baekhyun spent at the palace passed as a blur. He was instantly thrown into work, aiding his ailing father while re-familiarising himself with royal politics. His brother, Baekbeom, helped out the best he could but he was careful not to tire himself out. The kingdom didn’t need another sick person to take care of. Baekhyun worked day and night, negotiating and renewing peace treaties with neighbouring nations, overseeing the economy of his own, making sure his kingdom did not crumble. The stress weighed on his shoulders heavily but thoughts of Minseok kept him afloat. He couldn’t give up. Minseok believed in him. Minseok believes in me, was a mantra he repeated to himself every day as he faced new challenges.

Fortunately with the two brothers working together, the king managed to get sufficient rest to ensure a full recovery and in three months, Baekhyun found himself standing outside the doors of the bakery once more. So much had changed, he had more responsibilities now, but everything still felt the same when he stood there, staring at the entrance. Nervously, he massaged his lower lip with his teeth, legs feeling like lead. Would Minseok still welcome him? Or had Minseok moved on? Would he be angry that Baekhyun was here to disrupt his life again? He sucked in a deep breath, steeling himself for any potential heartbreak when he heard someone call his name.

“Baekhyun?” Said man’s heart leaped at the familiar timbre. He knew that voice, could imagine the very lips forming the syllables of his own name. Baekhyun turned around slowly, taking in the man standing behind him. Nothing much had changed, the man still had his usual strong arms, deceptively young face, bright gummy smile - everything that Baekhyun loved. The only difference he could see was that the man’s hair was now longer, fringe nearly brushing his eyes and Baekhyun’s heart swelled at how good the man looks. He finally locked eyes with the man and oh - he saw warmth, he saw tenderness and most importantly, he saw love in the man’s eyes.

“Minseok.” Baekhyun breathed and the man extended his arms in a gesture for a hug.

“Welcome home.”