#Baekhyun fanfiction

[bbhfanfics]

Baekhyun Fanfics (aff)

GIF CREDIT Links in Green - Completed fanfics.

Links in Red - Incomplete/Not updated for a long time.

Links in Blue - Ongoing fanfics with regular updates.

Links in Pink - Ongoing fanfics with irregular updates.

Baekismet || Amorous Designs || Sleeping into Darkness || The Third Bride || His Plus-One Dilemma || Resonant || Ephemeral || 56% || Flirt 'n Flair || Straight To Hell || Distant Torment || There's Magic in You || Light Years || Finding Atlantis || Weeping Monsters || Crescendo || Bride of the Virtuous || Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea || The Color Red || R U Ridin'? || all the time in the world || Transit of Venus || Young & Clockwork (Sequel) || Between Day and Night || here's a fact, hating someone is exhausting || Blooming Day || Just one night || Meet Me At Sundown || CARUSO || Message in a Bottle || Nothing like us || Redamancy || Privacy || Mess We Made || Irreplaceable || 7 || Mellifluous || The Melody of His Heart || Touch It For Real || Scribble on my Skin || Strawberry Champagne on Ice || Feel it || Unloving Byun Baekhyun ||

Last Updated On - 15th February, 2025

[an-annyeoing-writer]

idol!Baekhyun x fan!Reader: truth be told.

Word count: 2382

Date of release: 11th November, 2024

Genre: angst, slice of life, half ounce of a fluff, established relationships, mentions of break up and dysfunctional relationships, way too much emotional yapping as for barely any plot.

I'm as surprised as y'all that I wrote something like this. You know, no vampires, no action, no one's actively dying? It's very much not my kind of writing, but I was feeling very emotional at the time. Just don't get used to it.

„It’s not good for you. I don’t think it’s good for me. It’s not healthy for either of us.”

He felt as if the knife you were cutting vegetables with cut right through his heart as well. You deliberately distracted yourself with the activity while he stood nearby, staring at you blankly, but not knowing how to respond.

In the recent weeks, he felt the two of you falling apart. It was like an avalanche that started with a small rock which he didn’t notice at the time, but which escalated into a disaster. Talking less, avoiding meeting up, and until today – the day you announced, as gently as you could, that you wanted to move out and live on your own. You said that it’s just because you want to become more independent, that you shouldn’t rely on him this much. But what will his apartment feel like without you? Your presence here, doing small things such as cutting vegetables, became a staple part of his life.

“Are you still talking about living together? Or about… us?”

Your movements were more frantic than he knew you for. With one a bit too sudden of a motion, the blade cut through the skin of your finger, and you let out a low murmur to cover up the hiss of pain, putting the finger to your lip in mild annoyance. It was more than clear that the cut was not the only reason behind your frustration.

Baekhyun didn’t move.

In any other situation, he would react – mock you a bit for being clumsy while being the first one to bring the first aid kid, maybe pretend to be a vampire struck by the scent of your blood, maybe even panic a little in this cute, puppy-like way if he felt that the amount of blood is greater than acceptable.

But now he didn’t, and it sparked a bit of hurt in you as well, but also brought your attention to the fact that maybe dismissing things and try to make them gentle only worsened the pain that would eventually come. The anxiety of the future that you exposed him to was not like the boil-the-frog that you planned to perform. You wanted to avoid confrontation for as long as necessary, until things dropped naturally. You didn’t expect him to hold onto it.

“Can you be honest with me? Are you able to?” His tone started to show that he, too, was growing frustrated. “Tell me what’s going on. Did something happen? I’m sorry if I can’t catch the clues, but if you made it obvious, then I’m just plain stupid.”

“Nothing… happened. And I’m sorry, I didn’t make it obvious. I didn’t know, how.”

He frowned ever so slightly, taking a step towards you. You backed against the kitchen counter, placing your hands on each side – your finger stung a little, but it was merely a scratch. The real wound was growing in your soul.

“If nothing happened, then why? Did you grow bored of me?”

“Of you?”

“Yeah. Please be honest with me. Just no more sweeting things up, alright?”

His tone was calm, but it lacked softness, it was almost business-like.

“I don’t know how anyone would get bored of you, Baekhyun” you admitted in a breathless whisper. You were starting to feel foolish, really. “And especially myself. That’s why I don’t think I can take it. I don’t think it’s fair to you. But I’m also not fair to myself. You just mean… too much to me.”

 “Too much?” The frown of the man’s face only deepened. “Why is something telling me I should not feel flattered?” A bit of frustration was slipping into his own tone as well.

You let out a deep sigh.

“I started off as your fan, Baekhyun. I thought that with time, it’ll be more… normal. That you’ll feel like a normal person. But somehow it’s not like that. Somehow… it feels like my life is even more about you than it was before. I feel like a creep. Like I’m using you to fulfill a fantasy.”

“Are you?”

“No!” You denied right away, but your voice faltered. “I… don’t know.” You crossed your arms on your chest, fixating your gaze somewhere down below.

To your surprise, Baekhyun let out a breathy laugh. The laughter didn’t feel light and cheerful, like his usual ones – it was heavied with worry, with some sort of underlying agony.

“Okay, let’s talk about this. We need to talk about this.”

His hand reached towards you and he pulled you by your arm, almost throwing you off balance when he pulled you towards the living room, snatching a paper towel on his way and putting it into your still bleeding hand. “You’re right. Do you think I didn’t consider it? That this wouldn’t work out? That it would feel fake? Heck, I talked to so many friends about it, and most of them said it’s not a good idea. But you know what?” He pushed you onto the couch and sat himself on the stool, bringing it close so that your knees almost touched – if only you let yourself relax, they would rest against each other naturally, but you were stiff and trying to almost shrink within yourself. “You know what? I’ve known you for a year. And I could always trust you. You’ve had so many chances to take advantage of me, and you didn’t. So I don’t want to think about how you could – potentially – hurt me. But we need to talk about the other part.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t it obvious that…”

“No, no. You’re thinking about what it’s like, for me, to date a fan.” He didn’t even let you finish, but it was as if he could read your mind, already knowing your thought process. “I want you to be honest and tell me what it’s like to date an idol. Because you’re right, you could be using me. But you also said it’s not good for you. And you’re right, because I could be using you, too. So be honest with me and tell me if I ever hurt you.”

So many memories came flooding at once – not of pain, not at all, but of all things that could have led to one tragedy or another. Your whole relationship, like a videotape.

Sure, your relationship was not always perfect. Barely a year has passed. Not long enough to develop a deep understanding of each other, but long enough for many things to happen, to get to know each other at least.

Not all of it was beautiful. There were arguments, some of which almost ended in a breakup. But they made you stronger, that much was undeniable – with each and every single time you almost fell apart, it felt like you knew each other a bit better, knew what things not to do and not to say, but which helped to soothe the atmosphere and help you get back along.

You had one, most important rule in your relationship.

That no matter what happened between the two of you, you would play fair.

That one time he lied to you about being at work while he was not – that one hurt. When you found out he’s not at the office in the first place, you even thought he was cheating. Wouldn’t that be understandable to assume in such a situation? You had every chance to cause a scandal on spot. But you didn’t. You knew that pulling his whole career down because of your relationship wouldn’t be fair. No matter how much it hurt, it was completely out of the equation.

It turned out he was with his friends – he really wanted to go out, but felt bad for not giving you much attention these days. You felt almost pitiful, seeing him crumble in front of you, all worried that you will feel like he doesn’t want you, when he genuinely didn’t have that much time, and it was just one evening with friends. You smacked him in the head for feeling bad about spending time with friends. And he learned that he can be honest with you.

Another time, you were all excited upon his album release. Seeing him on the stage later on made you feel all kinds of things, the way he moved, all the effects, clothing, makeup – all putting emphasis on his heavenly physique, as if you were watching an angel dance. He came back home disheveled, with remains of makeup on his face, but as excited as you were. You would give all of you to him at that exact moment, more than he would ask for, more than you would feel confident to give any other time.

But it was still early in the relationship, and Baekhyun knew that you weren’t ready. That, drunk on him as you were, you could regret it later, even feel disgusted with giving yourself in this easily, that your gentle mind wouldn’t be able to trust yourself with your own body. So he indulged you with kisses here and there, and then gently tucked you into bed, making sure that it all went smoothly, that it didn’t feel anything like a rejection, but a gesture of utmost care.

It took a few more months before you opened yourself to him fully, and he never rushed or reminded you of how eager you were back then. He could have had it all back then, but he decided to wait. That’s how you learned he’s more selfless than you ever even aspired to be.

“You didn’t” you spoke after what felt like ages, to the point you wondered if you even responded to the correct question. “You didn’t… hurt me. Did I ever hurt you?”

“No, you didn’t. You’re just hurting yourself all the time” he mentioned, jokingly motioning towards your hand, which you wiped hastily with the paper towel. “So if nothing bad happened, why the ifs? You realize it’s not going to stop if we just break up?” It was a rhetorical question, and you glanced up at him with a pout, feeling almost schooled by the way he talked. “You believe it’s a matter of just us, but, as much as it sounds ridiculous to say it, it’s all in your head. No matter who you’re with, you’re going to assume the worst. Won’t it be like that? Be honest with yourself.”

You crossed your arms again, feeling defiant for a moment, because his words were almost too much for your ego to take.

But there was some small part of you, somewhere at the edge of your consciousness, that not only knew that he’s correct, but also wanted it to be correct – because if it was just you, then you could learn to maybe keep those pessimistic parasites at bay, and… you wouldn’t have to suffer the loss that, despite weeks of preparation, didn’t feel like any less of a torment and regret that would come, were you to finish things as you originally intended.

All the beliefs, all the dogmas, that you carefully built over the past weeks, were falling apart in front of your eyes, confronted with very simple logic on Baekhyun’s end. You almost felt stupid for letting things get this far without confronting him earlier. Weren’t you the one who demanded honesty? Wasn’t he the one who proved you can trust him with your vulnerability?

“I’m… sorry.”

You felt yourself fall apart as well. Your body slumped down, relaxed knees rested against Baekhyun’s, and he put his hands on top of your thighs, as if in this exact moment, while knowing that he has you with him, he didn’t want to risk losing you again.

“Don’t be for feeling like that, things are never easy, now are they?” Here it was – the signature smile, the warm one that tore through the clouds of the darkest of your days, warm and welcoming. “But I am upset that you held it from me for so long” he whined. With the whine, he finally moved from the stool and onto the couch next to you. His arms shamelessly snuck around you, engulfing you in the close embrace that you knew so well, felt so good within. Partially pulling you into him, and partially leaning into the back of your shoulder, Baekhyun released a long sigh against the skin of your back, warm air slipping underneath your blouse – you missed it. You almost didn’t realize how distant the two of you became, and how long has it been since you felt his body against yours. But now, despite all of that, it felt good, it felt right. As if your souls have never detached from each other.

Maybe there was some form of destiny between the two of you; maybe it was not just a parasocial relationship that evolved into something that could turn dysfunctional so, so easily – maybe it was written in the stars that one way or another, the two of you would find each other, and it just so happened that you spotted him first, from afar, slowly making your way.

How else would the two of you find each other, after all?

Maybe you learned something this time, too. Maybe it wasn’t much, just the beginning of a stronger, even more intimate bond that would last years and years, and light years, and through all your reincarnations, with some of them as pitiful as they could be. Maybe it was just an accident that this time you were in such a position – in another life, would you be a princess, and he be a peasant?

But these were only some other ifs, fun to think about, but not worth spilling your heart over.

In this life, in this universe, you were his, and he was yours. And everything else was just more or less accidental circumstances that brought you closer together.

Only at the back of your head, you wondered if one day, the tale of hopes and stars would fall, and that dream would turn into a nightmare, fueled by your lives’ imbalance and selfishness that neither of you knew in each other.

Maybe you just didn’t have to think about it just yet.

[papermatisse]

Lost and Found || B.BH

♔ pairing: dionysus!byun baekhyun x f!ariadne!reader

♔ genre: angst, one-shot, fluff

♔ word count: 3.5k

♔ warnings: abandonment, murder

♔ abstract: Love comes with all kinds of sacrifices, and after everything she'd sacrificed for her own hopeful romance, all she really wanted was a lover to live with for the rest of her mortal existence. Though the universe—and for that matter the gods who inhabit it—has a cruel sense of humor.

♔ author's note: I've been thinking of writing a Greek mythology story for all of the exos (ot8 [minus Chen, the nation's husband and father]). I have a few plans already, though this one felt the easiest and quickest to execute cause I really wanted to test out and fix my link/tag issue on here 😔

for context, here's a rough synopsis of the Theseus story: the king of Crete angered Poseidon who cursed the queen into woohooing with the king's bull, thus creating a minotaur named Asterion. mortified by this creation, they banished him into a maze and alienated him as if he were nothing, thus creating the bloodthirsty monster he was. the king's son went to Athens bc they themselves had a minotaur problem, but their minotaur wound up killing him. the king of Crete blamed the king of Athens and after some altercations, it resulted in an annual tradition of sending a select few Athenians to serve as tribute and be eaten by Asterion. one of these tributes was Theseus, son of the king of Athens, and he actually defeated the Athenian minotaur. to help him in defeating Asterion, the Crete king's daughter, Ariadne, gave Theseus yarn so he'd be able to navigate the maze, which helped him in killing Asterion. afterwards, they sailed to Naxos, where he abandoned her. interpretations vary of course, but most involve Dionysus marrying Ariadne afterwards bc he fell in love w her.

masterlist

Nestled within the Aegean Sea, lost amongst the plethora of islands which dotted the cerulean expanse of the ocean, lays the idyllic yet ever forlorn island of Naxos. Viridescent fields of crops and greenery encompass the entirety of the island, sloped along the verdant hills which make up its landscape. The only obstruction to its rolling plains was that of its mountain at the very heart of the island, as well as the sandy beaches which encircled it all in a protective ring of golden grains.

Upon first arrival, it had seemed nothing short of picturesque—perhaps even going so far as being the most beautiful sight she'd ever observed in her rather dull and sheltered life thus far. The warmth of the sand which greeted her once she'd hopped off the boat felt like the welcoming embrace of a new start, the fine grains sinking beneath her every step as if accommodating to her new presence. The seas lapped against the shores as if reaching out to her, waving—both metaphorically and literally—like it were greeting an old friend. And the winds which carried with it the strong aroma of sea salt and petrichor encompassed her being in a cool and refreshing embrace, nearly cementing the thought that circulated in her head of what a perfectly quaint and romantic escape Naxos was for her and her lover to settle in and establish their new lives together.

At least that's how it had all felt no more than a day ago. It was astounding how much could change upon settling down to rest after the strenuous voyage to Naxos. A mere daytime nap, meant to simply reinvigorate her, had suddenly turned her whole world upside down, because upon opening her eyes, her lover, with whom she'd risked her entire life in order to save, had all but vanished: him, his boat, and by extension, her heart along with him. She couldn't even see a single speck of him remaining on the horizon, and the thought that he had left her the moment she'd fallen asleep felt ever more disparaging.

Now, she sat along the shore. The sands, cooled with the setting sun, cradled her dejected form. The cacophony of waves crashing against the island served to drown out her cries. And the winds, which had grown significantly weaker as the day waned, brushed against her face as if to gently wipe away her tears. Naxos, with its surreal beauty and tender acceptance, had become no more a prison prompted by her own circumstances just as her accomodations had been on Crete. Exchanging one pitiful excuse of a home for another, though now she was utterly alone.

And all she could do was cry to herself. Cry over her foolishness to have risked everything for a boy she'd fallen for so rashly. Cry over her imminent future and the dread of the unknown which lay in waiting for her. Cry over the abandonment and outright rejection from someone she once believed to be her soulmate.

What a miserable life she led.

What a tragic course of events she followed.

What an absolutely pathetic human being she was.

And how utterly vexing it was that she could not even wallow in her own self-pity by her lonesome for very long.

“(y/n)?”

Her body seemed to register the foreign voice before her mind had, as she slowly turned her tear stricken face towards the newcomer. Though once her eyes met those of the familiar deity, now standing a mere few feet away from her, she quickly turned back to her original position, staring out at the sea. By now, the harsh line of the horizon had become ingrained into her corneas, remaining in her vision even when her eyes were closed, yet she continued to stare forward, hoping to find a stray boat somewhere in the distance. Hoping to see her beloved rushing back to her as if his initial departure was nothing more than an accident. Hoping to fall back into his arms and forget the worries incessantly plaguing her mind.

Though once more, these desires went unanswered, and instead, she was met by this ever so gentle touch skimming carefully over her back.

“(y/n), look at me.”

The demand hadn't held much of an authoritative tone, more so that of an insistent plea, one where she could faintly discern the shreds of desperation laced in between. Yet she remained as is, eyes trained on the ocean, waiting. She thought by ignoring him, he'd leave her alone. Allow her to grieve in peace without his mischief and revelric tendencies. Let her sulk in her misfortune without being reminded of her affiliation with him. Yet he could not even spare her this one luxury.

Instead, in her periphery, she found him crouching onto the sand beside her, seating himself in a way so he could remain attached to her side. The heavy weight of his gaze lingered upon her, even as she attempted to ignore his presence as a whole. Though he seemed none the wiser to her efforts, or perhaps he merely couldn't care less what she thought of him—not that she's out right proclaimed her opinion of said god, but from mere context clues given their history together, she was sure he had a general understanding of where she stands with him.

It had been a few years since she first met Baekhyun. A rather untimely meeting with the god of wine and revelry, one marked by unrequited affections which has since plagued her every waking moment. She had never processed how burdensome it could become to be the apple of one's eye, especially if that particular person was a deity of Baekhyun's caliber, and one she felt nothing towards. And even now as she tends to a broken heart, abandoned on a remote island in the middle of nowhere with no means of escape, she still couldn't conceal the discomfort she felt in Baekhyun's presence, knowing fully well of his affections and how he had been waiting for her answer to his proposal.

Though unlike all the other times he’s randomly materialized before her, usually wreaking of that sickly sweet aroma of wine and teasing her relentlessly until she was pleading for him to leave her be, he sat there calmly and quietly, waiting for her to acknowledge him. It was a peculiar shift in his modus operandi, one that did not go by unnoticed by (y/n), yet even with the silence he granted her, she couldn't bear to speak to him as she usually would.

Humiliation silently lingered in the air even before she could say anything. She didn't know what she'd tell Baekhyun had he pestered her in his usual manner. The last thing on her mind was telling the man who proposed to her—with whom she'd essentially left unanswered—that the man she intended on running away with forever had all but left her stranded on an island to die in solitude. Though somehow, there was a small inkling in her that felt like Baekhyun already knew. And perhaps a smaller, more hopeful part of her believed he was here not to torment her, but rather to check up on her, ensure she was fairing well.

Hesitantly, her eyes strayed from where they'd been zeroed in along the horizon, sparing Baekhyun a small and brief glance.

It was odd. His eyes seemed duller now, a more muted umber tone devoid of that trademark glint he usually dons when running amok. He usually always bore this confident, bordering on cocky, grin that seemed all too pleased with himself and his shenanigans, yet now his lips were naturally downturned, perhaps the first time she's ever seen his mouth in its natural resting position. Even his scent was more subdued, and she was able to pick up the rich undertones of grapes usually concealed by his alcoholic carousing. His gaze was dropped, steadily trained on her hands laying in her lap, and the undivided attention only prompted more discomfort on her part as she fiddled with the fabric of her dress.

She had half a mind to ask him if he was okay, momentarily forgetting her own plight once she saw the shift in demeanor of Baekhyun. Though the silence that encompassed them prompted her own wariness in approaching the subject.

And so they remained as is, the sun now meeting the horizon, igniting the sky into a mural of warm, fiery hues. As the sun continued to set, it dyed the blue depth of the waters into a color akin to wine with its deep and rich crimson shade.

Without realizing it, her mind had begun wandering back to Baekhyun, curious as to why he remained by her side even as she ignored him. And though she didn't know for how long she'd strayed with these thoughts, she did know it was his presence alone that managed to briefly distract her from her current situation.

“Why are you here?” (y/n) asked, voice gravelly from misuse. For a moment, she was met with silence, the ocean serving as white noise to fill the void. But as she dared another glance his way, she saw his somber countenance. It was a foreign expression to be gracing his face, and she found herself intrigued by the furrow of his brow as he remained lost in thought.

“I went to visit you on Crete…” He finally responded, the timbre of his voice lowering with raw solemnity. “I know how you get with the annual tributes, so I wanted to be there for you.”

She shied away at this, never fully processing how Baekhyun's sporadic appearances coincided with certain times. And it was true. Every year as the Athenian tributes arrived on Crete, she distanced herself until after these events were done and over with. Though as she now recollected memories from recent years, she began putting together Baekhyun's arrivals were never truly as spontaneous as she first made them out to be.

He was always there whenever she was at her lowest. She thought it was intentional as a way of tormenting her when she's at rock bottom, but as he continued speaking, a pit of remorse began accumulating within her heart.

“Instead, I was met with… chaos. Carnage. Disorder.” He paused, turning his head in a direction she could only assume was where Crete faced. “Asterion was dead. A tribute had escaped. And the princess had all but disappeared.”

At his final statement, (y/n) stared down in shame. She knew there would be repercussions for her actions, but she thought she'd have been long gone at this point. Too far away to even spare a moment of regret for having abandoned her family and her kingdom. Yet it all came back to bite her. Her brother, cursed and estranged as he was, had been killed. Theseus, her lover who she assisted the entire way through, had been the one to kill him. And she, princess of Crete, had run off in the midst of this mayhem.

“I'm sorry…” (y/n) whispered, voice strained as she fought back tears. “I'm so sorry. I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't bear to see more death. Every single year without fail they'd send these Athenians off to die by my brother's hands. And we'd just have to sit there and watch. Watch as they all lost themselves to the labyrinth. And Asterion would…”

As if having finally broken the floodgates, tears began streaming down her face without fail. The tragic life of her brother, born a monster and treated as such. And even if she had never interacted with him, even as she witnessed his bloodshed year after year, the knowledge of his death being instigated by her own involvement was debilitating enough to ground her back into reality.

The gravity of her predicament began to settle in. Sitting on an island, hopelessly waiting for a guy she had only just met and was ready to run away with forever. The realization that he used her for his own benefit, exploited her blind affections towards him only to then leave her for dead. He had probably already returned to Athens, assumed the role of hero who killed the minotaur of Crete—as well as that of their princess. And she sat there, longing for him for hours at a time, seated beside Dionysus himself. The absurdity of it all was almost laughable, and she'd probably be doing just that if it weren't for the overwhelming humiliation she felt coiled and festering within her.

“I helped him…” She confessed aloud. “I gave him the thread so he wouldn't get lost in the maze. I was the one who helped him defeat Asterion. I was the one who helped him escape. It was all my doing. And he left me here as repayment.”

Before she could continue, Baekhyun had suddenly shifted from his position, arms wrapping around her tightly and dragging her into his embrace. Any other time, she'd probably have swatted at him whilst yelling profanities, all while he laughed in delight at her hostility.

Yet now his touch didn't feel repulsive.

She could feel his warmth fully encompassing her, shielding her from the outside world. His hands clung to her body as if afraid she'd slip away from him at any moment. And now closer to him than ever before, she could smell his true aroma past the wine. An almost woodsy scent, just as warm as he was. Fruits and earth and nature as a whole. Faintly, she could smell the ocean intermingling with his scent.

It was so peculiar the way that distinct saltiness had first felt like a refreshing start to a new life, though shifted into an overwhelming and paralyzing apprehension that infested every aspect of her being. Though now, in Baekhyun's protective arms, it felt comforting. As if he himself dispelled it and this island of any and all of its negativity that consumed her.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the tension from her body had melted away. The sound of his heartbeat coinciding with that of the calm waves was like a melodious harmony that transcended her into a state of utter tranquility. His breathing lulled her away from the worries that tormented her heart, and she finally felt at peace.

“Did you love him?” Baekhyun asked. His tone was more inquisitive than anything else. There were no hidden intentions with his question, and although hesitant to admit it aloud to him, for fear of hurting him, (y/n) felt at ease with telling Baekhyun the truth he sought.

“Yes,” she responded quietly. “But I regret it. I regret it all.”

“Don't.” His grip tightened around her, pressing his forehead against the top of her head. “You shouldn't regret the love you give people. Don't let this foolish boy disparage you from expressing yourself to your fullest potential.”

(y/n) remained quiet, surprised by the turn of the events, though still listening intently to Baekhyun's words.

“I've always held such deep admiration towards you. From the moment I met you till now. I could see the way you loved so genuinely and fully. And I thought it was beautiful. I thought you were beautiful. You shouldn't grieve over an unrequited love. Loss serves as a reminder of the love we once felt, and the remorse we feel further exemplifies that. Your love is something so wonderful. Something I adore greatly.”

As he spoke, his warmth seemed to intensify. Filled with familiarity and security, coaxing her further into his embrace until she buried herself into the crook of his neck. He held her as if she were everything he had ever asked for. His touch was like ambrosia and nectar, the sweetest of prose to ever be professed, a safety like no other.

“I find myself wanting to be inconvenienced by you. I want to have you distracting me by lingering in my thoughts. I want to take time out of my day just to see you. I want to love you, even if you don't love me.”

At this, a sob slipped past her lips, and she clung onto him harder. Away from it all, everything inside her felt tumultuous and heightened. All of the emotions she'd been bottling up for years seemed to overflow in Baekhyun's presence alone. Her heart ached with grief, remorse, hatred, anger, defeat. Yet it also sang like never before, healing itself from years of anguish and torment.

And after the cathartic intervention came to a conclusion, faces marred by dried tears and eyes reddened with strain, a peaceful serenity had settled over the two. By now, the sun had long set. The cool of the night had begun penetrating the warmth of their embrace. The sand beneath them no longer retained the heat of the afternoon sun. The oceans were calm and still. The winds now settled into a gentle breeze. The world was asleep, silent in every regard. The day had ended and (y/n) had made it out alive, no doubt due to Baekhyun's influence.

Panic begin settling in her as he shifted, rising to his feet and pulling her up with him. Though when she met his gaze, loving and sweet and attentive, she began to settle once more. His hands held her own, thumbs softly brushing over her knuckles, all the while maintaining his sight on her face.

“What would you like to do?” He asked. “I can build you a palace here on Naxos, away from the cruelties of the world and the people who inhabit it.” His smile grew wider, bearing that familiar wickedness whenever he was up to no good. “I could overthrow the monarchy of Crete and reinstate you as its sole sovereign, allow you to redeem yourself and your honor, perhaps even reestablish Crete as a just and fair kingdom.” Both options were tempting, neither having any inherent consequences as long as Baekhyun held sway in their components. And she could tell Baekhyun had more to say, but she quickly intercepted before he could propose another offer.

“I want to be with you.” Baekhyun blinked at this, chuckling as if she were telling a joke.

“I will be there. You can't get rid of me that easily.”

“No.” Her hands slipped from his, reaching forth to cup his cheeks and bring him closer. “I choose you, Baekhyun.”

She pressed her lips against his own, soft and delicate. He seemed stunned for a moment, his body moving subconsciously for the first second or two, but once he had fully processed where he was and what was happening, Baekhyun began reciprocating. He kissed back just as earnestly, his hands reaching up to hold onto her wrists as he poured every ounce of his adoration into her. And (y/n) couldn't help but think how perfect it was.

She'd always thought love at first sight was perhaps the most romantic of gestures one could have. The act of finding your soulmate from a single encounter seemed so otherworldly and unmatched. Yet here in this moment with Baekhyun's body pressed against her own as he drew impossibly closer to her, his hands softly wandering in an attempt to map her form into his memory, she found this very moment to be the epitome of what love should be. A gradual fall into love. In a way, she can reminisce on growth and development, reflect on what was not there and how it came to be.

One of his hands had wandered to her hair, gently carding his fingers through the strands, and the other drew patterns on her waist, amorphous shapes that each portrayed his unspoken love for her. She thought back on every encounter she had with him. Every laugh he coaxed out of her even as she tried to hide away from the world. The bittersweet smiles he gave her every time she rejected or delayed his proposal. His neverending determination and devotion, even when facing adversities like herself. And with each revelation, each tender kiss from Baekhyun, her heart seemed to swell with love for him and him alone.

Once more, he was the one to pull away first, perhaps more in control of his long-standing affections than her, yet he didn't draw too far from her. Just far enough for him to look over her countenance with a lovestruck expression of his own. His eyes glistened with this saccharine-like joy, crinkling at the corners with his sweet smile dedicated to her. And she found herself smiling back, an uncontrollable jubilance bubbling in her as she reveled in his affections.

“Come then,” he spoke softly, hands returning back to hers. He brought one up to his lips, pressing one final kiss to her fingers. “Let's go home.”

[kyoongboxi]

His Pervert Ass —

[Baekhyun AU]

Summary: Owning your own man which tied up into a sacred vow actually wasn't so bad afterall. Sometimes he behaves like a baby, sometimes he behaves like a puppy, and most of the time he behaves like that one pervert close friends who don't even hesitate to slap your butt in public.

Pairing: Baekhyun x Reader

Genre: fluff, cute

——

It was such a blissful moment when you let your body sink down into the warm water, letting out a relieved sigh. It was exactly what you needed after a stressful day at work. Nothing felt better than a warm bath at the end of a long day. You held your breath several seconds under the water before rising up to catch a breath.

Leaning back against the bathtub, you closed your eyes shuts. Feeling a little bit sleepy as your tensed muscles slowly loosen up. Several minutes passed as your eyes were still heavy with sleep but you were completely aware about the soft human contact against your arms.

You were too lazy to react because you are aware it is definitely someone no other than your husband. You feel yourself being lifted out of the water by your armpits before sinking down again back into the water. Instead of feeling the hard tiles, you feel your bum nestled into something warm, soft, yet firm— which definitely belongs to your husband.

He wrapped his arms around your body under the water as his soft lips peppering sweet little kisses along your neck and shoulder as he giggled happily. You just cut your hair short lately so he didn't bother to separate your hair from your skin every time he wants kisses.

His sweet gesture caused a smile to find its way into your lips but you also let out a sigh then. Eyes finally fluttering open slowly. "Why are you always following me when I'm trying to have a nice bath"

Because when you come home not so long ago, your husband has already come home before you and he was seen nestling against his gaming seat with his big ass headphones attached to his head.

"So.... There has to be a reason?" He replied while stealing a kiss from your cheek, pulling you closer to him. You actually enjoyed the warmth he radiates as your back was pressed against his lean body. The edge of his fingers tracing up and down along your curves, sneakily went into your thigh to squeeze it in a playful manner.

"Yes because every time you join me it will always lead to sex" You blurted out in honesty. Your husband answered with a deep grunt molded with a light chuckle coming from him as you could literally feel his hardness nudging you down there behind your back. You couldn't hold your laugh so you laughed.

Hands pulling against his arms before you stepped away from his embrace. Heading into the other side of the bathtub so now you were facing your husband. It was already the fifth year of marriage but you will always find that your husband is handsome and highly attractive.

He smiled at you while running his fingers through his slightly wet hair into the back. Revealing his perfect forehead. "Jeongie~"

He called you. He softly called you with those cute little lips that turned into a slight pout but then you shook your head. Lifting your arms in front of your own chest, trying to hold yourself together. "What?"

"Come here" The man gestured with his fingers. Eagerly wanting to flush himself against yours. Already looking a bit frustrated because he knows he won't get what he wants easily.

"No" You shook your head again, pointing your fingers at him along with your squinted eyes. "You're hard already don't you"

"Says who?"

"I can feel it!" A hearty laugh slipped your mouth as you found him hilarious. Your fingers splashing the water against his direction in a huge amount. Enough for him to raise his arms and cover his face with it.

"But you didn't see it" The husband intended to keep his answer but he didn't expect you would take the bait.

"Alright then show me" He raised his eyebrows and nodded against your full offer. He was beyond ready to tease you as he gripped the side of the bathtub using his palms to lift himself up from the water.

"Yah Byun Baekhyun!" A high pitched voice comes out too fast as a reaction from his wife when he stands out from the water right in front of her. The way your face gets immediately flushed and the way you hold your lips from the annoyed smile, he loves it.

Baekhyun loves it so he laughed before sitting back down into the bathtub, his whole body disappearing under the blurry water. "You sex fiend!" You widened your eyes and pointed your fingers into him again.

"Your sex fiend" The man answered proudly before he moved forward, raising his arms towards your cheek but you quickly reacted. You slapped his hand away as you stood up and stepped out of the bathtub. Headed towards the shower stall in quick steps because you know Baekhyun followed.

It was exactly just in time as you closed the glass door and locked it when Baekhyun caught up behind you. "Nooooo..."

The man dramatically slides down as he puts both of his palms into the glass door. He keeps his head down, knowing his wife was watching him in laughter. Baekhyun looked up, putting his bottom lip between his teeth as he sulked again. "Jeongie please.."

"No.. Stay there and watch me clean myself instead" You reached out to turn the water on from the shower head. You ignored him who purposely banged his fists slightly against the door as you stepped under the shower, swinging your hips intentionally to tease him.

"Jeongie...." This time, his sulk got louder. Trying to get louder more than the streamed down water from the shower head. He was no longer crouched down. He stands against his full height as his eyes follow your every move when you decide to turn off the water and walk towards your sulky husband.

"You wanna get in?" As soon as the offer rolled out of your tongue, Baekhyun's eyes immediately lit up along with a smile followed to appear against his lips. He nodded eagerly like a child.

"But you can't put that thing into me" You pointed out to his hardness. Couldn't hold back your laugh anymore as you could see his face dropped all of sudden. His lips curved into a slight pout.

"Okay alright. Just— let me in, please?" Baekhyun pleaded. You rolled your eyes then, fingers flicked against the lock before the man stormed inside.

Snatching your body into his tight embrace as he giggled happily. Slightly lifting your body off the ground. "Jeongie~" He whined.

"Stop acting like a child you're thirty" You let out a chuckle and wrapping your arms around his neck to kiss his cheek. Inhaling into his wet cheek until it makes a sound.

Baekhyun fully wrapped both of his arms around your wet body. Bringing you with him as he walked under the shower head and reaching out to turn it on. Warm droplets of water streamed down into their bodies from head to toes softly. You pulled back, cupping both of his cheeks as you smiled. Eyes lingering into his soft features which caused your heart to warm.

Those happiest memories you have created with him flooded back your mind when he cupped your hand as well, nuzzled his cheek more into your palm in closed eyes. You weren't interested to be engaged in a relationship before, even in a marriage. But then the universe decided to send you this pervert big baby, which you thanked the universe for that.

You chuckled softly, tracing your fingers into his neck, his collarbone, spreading his broad shoulders using both of your palm before stopping right against his broad chest. You leaned your head against it, pressing your cheek softly with your eyes closed as Baekhyun pulled you tighter into his embrace. Bodies flushed against each other warmly. Actually, showering with him wasn't so bad afterall.

Kyoongboxi's Works 🐾

[mybiasisexo]

41 and baekhyun pls and thank you!! 💙

Cute 👓

Genre: fluff Pairing: Baekhyun x f.Reader Length: 1.2k Warnings: Sexual Implications

a/n: ngl this is just me writing down a fantasy. it is what it is lol

DRABBLE GAME | MASTERLIST

It’s the end of a long day, and you’re ready to relax and spend some quality time with your boyfriend, Baekhyun. He’s already sitting on the couch when you enter the living room. Watching whatever show he put on for you to mindlessly watch. The first thing you notice as you approach is his hair. He finished his nighttime routine before you, so it’s still damp from his early shower. He didn’t bother messing with it, so it is now drying at odd angles. His body is fitted with a silky blue pajama set, and on his face is a pair of chunky glasses.

He looks like a child, and you have to physically hold your lips together to stop the cooing threatening to come out from his presence.

He spots you and smiles. He always smiles like that when you join his side, no matter where you are, and it makes your heart melt. “Hey, Baby.”

His voice is gentle, comforting. The tone deeper because of it. It drives you crazy, and he’s probably aware of that, but his intentions aren’t to arouse.

That being said, he draws his arms back, a wordless invitation you’re too eager to oblige.

You crawl into his lap, sitting sideways so that your back leans against the armrest and your legs drape over his thighs. He closes his arms around you, one going around your back, the other resting on one of your exposed knees.

He presses a chaste kiss to your cheek before giving his attention back to the show playing. You find his profile more entertaining. He can definitely feel your wandering stare, but ignores it, getting back into the show.

Your gaze is hard to ignore completely though, and the skin on his face tints pink under your stare.

You lift a hand to the back of his head, untangling his light-colored locks, fixing the mess he has going on back there. When he’s presentable again, you start combing your fingernails over his scalp. The action has him purring like a cat, his head leaning more into your touch.

You can’t help but smile at him, continuing the movement for a bit longer. You pull your hand away eventually and he groans in disappointment.

“Those glasses make you look so cute,” you finally say, your voice lilting like you’re talking to a baby. The compliment makes him drop his head to try to hide the pleased smile on his little lips.

“You think so?” he asks softly.

You hum in agreeance. “You should wear them more often.”

He lifts his head back up to look at you, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “Maybe I will.”

“So that I can gush about how cute my boyfriend is?” You question.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, turning back to the television, playing off the affect your words have on him. You can tell he can’t get back into the show, that you’ve completely distracted him, by the way he’s blinking. His cheeks and neck bloom a lovely red, and you think you’re going to explode with how endearing he is.

You can’t help but poke his cheek. “I think it’s adorable how easily you blush.”

“Yah,” he whines, pulling away from your touch.

You chuckle and lean in more. “What’s wrong?” You feign concern.

He cuts his eyes to you. “Stop calling me cute.”

You gasp dramatically. “But how can I not? With your cute little glasses? And your cute little pout?”

“I’m not pouting,” he denies, bottom lip gutting further out. “But if I was, it wouldn’t be cute.”

“Oh?” You reposition yourself, sliding your legs over his so that you’re straddling him. He falls back onto the couch, hands instantly going to your hips, squeezing them gently.

You cup his face, holding it so that he can’t avoid your gaze.

“That’s too bad,” you purr. “Because you’re my cute baby. My pretty boy.”

A grunt leaves those red lips of his and you feel him twitch underneath you. “Why did I kind of like that?” He mutters to himself.

A sly grin grows on your face that he notices with slight fear in those shiny eyes of his.

“I know you did,” you whisper. Slowly, you close the distance between you both, brushing your nose and lips against his. “I felt you.”

He gulps. Rarely do you take a dominate role in your relationship. Actually, this is the first time. Baekhyun’s a bit overwhelmed by the role reversal. His eyebrows are raised in surprise, his breathing becoming more ragged with anticipation.

You tease him a bit more, rubbing his lips with your own, the tip of your tongue curling over the sweet flesh. You finally kiss him when you feel his body shaking with need. It’s sultry and slightly vulgar. All teeth and tongue, languidly twirling together. There is no rush, no pressure for anything more even though you both know that’s where this is leading to, especially with him growing more turned on with every swipe of your wet muscle.

He pulls away suddenly, holding you back as he falls into the couch again. His features have grown mischievous as he takes in the way your pupils have blown out.

“You should reward me,” he says with his now husky voice. “For being so cute.”

“A reward?” You repeat and he nods. You play along, tilting your head curiously. “And how exactly should I do that?”

“I can think of a few things,” he pushes, pulling your hips forward to grind against the hard bulge in his pajama bottoms.

The action draws a moan from him, and you bite your lip. “I do need to hear more of those pretty moans leave your mouth.”

“Yeah?” He lets out in a breath. You’ve started trailing kisses down his jaw, his neck, his chest. Unbuttoning his shirt to continue your journey south, consuming every inch revealed to you. You slide down to your knees, and lean up at him between his legs. He takes you in hungrily, loving this view more than you’ll ever know. Little does he know, you do too. You lean against his knee as you lose yourself in the art he is. That pouty mouth of his has fallen open as he struggles to breath, his exposed chest slightly heaving, those glasses that are the reason you’re here in the first place askew on his nose.

Your man is cute, indeed.

“What?” He asks, grinning self-consciously as you continue to stare at him.

You shake your head, both as an answer for him as well as clearing your head. “I love you is all.”

A new layer of blush coats his face, but he doesn’t avert his gaze like had been doing before. Instead, he bends down so that your faces are level, and lifts up your chin with his finger. “I love you too.”

He gives you a quick kiss and leans against the couch again, expectantly. There is nothing ‘cute’ about him any longer, even with the crooked glasses. No. Now he only exudes manliness. His shoulders suddenly broader, the features of his blushless face sharper with lust, the silent demand in his glittery eyes causing saliva to flood your mouth. You fight the urge to swallow, knowing you’ll be making good use of it.

Not wasting any more time, you go for the band of his pajamas.

His quiet groans fill the room as his head falls against the couch, his back arching as you give him the reward he deserves.

And, god, is it cute.

[bl00mingday]

dance the night away,

ch. 3

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 <<

summary: you just graduated from the top ranked dancing university in the world, ready to take on whatever came your way. but before immediately getting involved with professional stuff, you wanted to cut yourself some slack. so when you and your group of friends went to South Korea for a trip you definitely weren’t expecting to get recruited while dancing to some random ass kpop dancing challenge. you were baffled when the recruiter uttered the word “EXO” to you, the group that got you into dancing in the first place. so when you accepted the offer you couldn’t help but think “what the hell am i gonna do?”

word count: 3.214

content: age gap (10 years), idol!baekhyun x dancer!reader, swearing, jealousy, will include fluff, angst and smut in the upcoming chapter

author’s note: hiii!! sorry this took so long, i’ve been thinking about plot ideas. also- smut incoming in the next chapter~ enjoy ❤️

why was he looking at… me?

i didn’t know what to think. he was pretty far away so i couldn’t read his expression. looking down at my watch i noticed i had 17 minutes of break left. gotta go about my day somehow after that embarrassing moment.

“WHAT?? PFFT GIRL- YOU DID FUCK UP A LITTLE” yunjin bursted out laughing as i told her and minji about my encounter with baekhyun. minji got super red while wheezing, i thought she was gonna turn into a tomato at some point.

“i knowww, UGHHHH. what a way to start the first day of the job.” i facepalmed while the girls kept bickering. as i was about to whine about them laughing i heard a mad sounding voice snapping at someone,

“what do you mean ‘mind your business?’ he IS my business. if i see you literally eye-fucking him ONE MORE TIME, you’ll be the one getting fucked- and NOT in a good way.” it was giselle. she looked livid as she was talking to a girl. the other girl scoffed,

“yeah as if you OWN him. we’ve been here for a day and it looks like YOU are the one that’s been eye-fucking people. i was just TALKING to him like a normal person. takes one to know one, cunt.”

“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?”

the others rushed in between them, some holding the distance and some holding the girls apart. damn, it has only been a day and people are FIGHTING over someone?

“what’s happening here?!” seulgi bolted in the room, yeji quickly catching up behind her. they seemed surprised and mad at the same time. everyone stopped in their tracks. no one said a word.

“i asked something didn’t i? WHAT is going ON?” pure silence. not even crickets were chirping.

“…she started it.” said the woman giselle was about to throw hands with.

“is that true?” asked seulgi.

giselle didn’t say a word but she looked sure of herself. a bit TOO sure.

“let’s get this straight. this is your JOB. not your hangout session with a group of friends. you get PAID to be here. yes, we might not work a 9-5 office job, but THIS is still a job- which you applied for, which you TRAINED for. i’m saying this to everyone. let this be a reminder that you all are grown ass women. act your age. giselle and julie, please meet me in my office during lunch break.” the girls gave each other death stares.

“..okay then shall we start?” asked yeji, trying to soften the atmosphere. “let’s revise ‘wolf’ one last time.”

. . .

“great job everyone! let’s move on to our next song, MAMA. you won’t need to move a lot for this song, so you’ll have plenty of energy for the one after this. just a little spoiler~” grinned yeji playfully. man was i hyped! all of those nights when i stared at the ceiling, dreaming about these days… they are finally coming true.

“will we have outfits for each song?” asked a girl with long wavy brown hair.

“yes, manon. but not for all. it’s not certain how many but i’d say you’d have at least 5 outfits.” answered seulgi, manon nodded.

“are we not gonna practice with the boys?” chimed in giselle.

“yeonjun informed me about their current situation with ‘wolf’. they have more stage time in wolf, so they’re a little behind but that’s okay. we will practice together after we complete MAMA.” answered seulgi rather coldly.

“finallyyyy~”

yeji looked at seulgi to see if their conversation was over. seulgi nodded.

“aaalrighty then! for the first move, you’re gonna make an “X” with your arms in front of your chest…”

lunch break was here. everyone scrambled to where the elevators were. i saw julie and giselle following yeji and seulgi from the corner of my eye. yunjin was looking at them.

“they got what they deserved. what are we? elementary school students? who fights over boys in their 20s for fucks sake?” she sounded unamused. minji giggled,

“do you have bad blood with giselle or what? you’ve been a hater since day 0- literally from the moment you saw her today.”

“no i don’t but people like her get on my nerves. black lipstick and a pushup bra to a fucking dance practice that’s literally your work? outrageous in my opinion.” minji hummed. although i don’t know if she was agreeing with her or was just acknowledging what she said.

. . .

“GUYSSS! over here!” sunoo waved at us,

“i saved you seats! also, this is hyunjin.”

hyunjin had medium length hair which was half let down. he was pretty attractive.

“nice to meet you guys.”

i swear i saw yunjin blushing a little.

“so we heard you guys are still doing wolf? when will it be over?” i asked.

“oh we just finished it. taemin said that we’ll practice with you and exo after the break.”

i choked on my caesar salad.

“LIKE THIS BREAK? IN AN HOUR?” i might’ve shouted a little because i received some confused looks from around. sunoo laughed,

“yes! i’m soooo excited! i can’t wait to dance with kai and yixing! they’ve been my idols since i was 12, so for 9 years i’ve been waiting for this day. i chose music as a major because of them.” he explained all giddy. it was super cute.

“i actually was never a fan of them until i applied for the job. they have some pretty sick moves and songs.” admitted hyunjin.

“kinda same here.” agreed yunjin.

“whaaaat? you guys are nuts! i’m 23 right? i’ve been an exo-l since i was 11! been here since debut.” exclaimed minji and saluted like a soldier. i laughed,

“i’ve been a fan since their call me baby era. i still remember the first time i saw them.” i sighed dreamily. then continued,

“my bias has always been baekhyun though. something about him just captivated me instantly. his looks, his voice, his personality… i saw him as a brother i never had for the most part. but during their obsession era..” i shook my head “and now seeing him in the flesh… it’s impossible not to like him.” wait. did i just confess my feelings for a celebrity in front of people that i’ve known for LITERAL HOURS? great job y/n. yunjin hummed,

“i mean i don’t blame you. they’re all super hot. even i got nervous from locking eyes with chanyeol.”

“gosh same! suho is my bias and i think i died a little when he smiled at me while he was introducing himself.” minji chimed in.

I WAS SO RELIEVED THAT I WASN’T THE ONLY ONE. sunoo and hyunjin agreed. they said that they looked… clean. and handsome of course.

minji choked on her Sprite. and pointed behind us. we all turned our heads. exo came to eat with us dancers! they lightly bowed to everyone looking at them. we also bowed with our heads when i noticed chanyeol looking at me and then snickering, turning to kyungsoo and pointing towards me with his eyes. kyungsoo, being the quiet guy he was, ever so slightly looked at me with his eyes, looked at chanyeol again. and my worst nightmare happened. he smiled. they know. THEY FUCKING KNOW.

something even worse happened. they started walking towards us. TOWARDS ME.

“hey! you’re y/n right? we’re chanyeol and kyungsoo, nice to meet you.” we shook hands.

“please eat well. you’re working very hard.” said kyungsoo calmly. chanyeol looked like he was fighting an “ijbol” forming inside him.

“s-so, is it true that baekhyun bumped into you totally spilling his iced coffee on the ground?” i could only stare with my mouth open. chanyeol laughed in a playful manner,

“that’s how he described you looking at him after realizing what had happened! i didn’t believe him but you really do look cute like th- OUCH!! KYUNGSOO WHY?”

“we must go now but please enjoy your meal, everyone.” said d.o. while dragging chanyeol by his arm after he seemingly stepped on his foot. he was a bit too late as we all heard what baekhyun said about me. cute. he found ME- ME. CUTE.

“am i hallucinating or did chanyeol accidentally admit that he AND baekhyun found you cute?” blinked minji.

“CARE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED Y/N?” a very expectant sunoo exclaimed along with hyunjin looking at me, eyes wide.

“um.. okay so…” i explained what had happened and, surprise surprise, they laughed.

“but hey, at least he found it- or should i say, YOU cute, y/n?” hyunjin wiggled his eyebrows. i threw a salt packet at him jokingly.

the rest of lunch was over in the blink of an eye. the dancing instructors led us to a much bigger dance room.

exo was already there. the members bowed once they saw us and vice versa.

“wolf and MAMA, right? is everyone ready!!” exclaimed minseok. a symphony of “yeah!”s echoed.

“alright, let’s get you all into position.” said taemin, signaling seulgi to explain how it was going to unfold while showing us our places.

“you guys will not appear until the very first chorus. 15 of you will come from the right and the others from the left. sort of like a “V” shape. you will have some ramps on stage to give you some depth, after that…”

. . .

whew. it was tiring alright. the dancing was okay but what’s really tiring is being super close to them. especially baekhyun. my body produces so much adrenaline that i get tired faster than i normally do. i was laying down on the ground with my eyes closed, panting heavily. MAMA’s choreography was much lighter than “wolf”. considering wolf being the first act of the night, seulgi and taemin sure did go all out for it.

i sensed someone hovering over me.

“tired already?~ it’s okay you have roughly… 40 more songs to go~” i opened my eyes to a very playful baekhyun looking down at me.

“a-ah. well, MAMA isn’t all that but “wolf”? yeah wolf is quite something alright.” i smiled at him. he chuckled, lending his hand for me to hold. when i held his hand to get up, he grasped it firmly and pulled me, making me stumble a bit towards him. why was he being so attentive? i mean, not that i DIDN’T like it. but the pop star incredibly handsome main vocalist and greatly successful baekhyun of exo paying attention to me felt… weird. in a good way.

we chatted a bit more about the choreography. my eyes started to wander around in order to see if we were being stared at or not.

everyone seemed to mind their own business- some were laying down, enjoying their 10 minute break. some were chatting and some were even talking to the members like i was. i saw giselle looking at us, her arms crossed, one eyebrow slightly raised. before i could respond with an inquisitive expression, baekhyun asked,

“so, how old are you?”

“im 22 as of now.”

“ahh, so we have 10 years between us.”

he seemed like he was contemplating something, brows slightly furrowed and the sliiiiightest most microscopic pout you could ever see. before i could ask why, yeonjun requested that we did the chorus part of MAMA one more time.

“alright! that’s all for today. congratulations for completing the first day everyoneee!” clapped yeji. finally the day was over. we rehearsed with exo like, 6 times and went back to our separate studios. we completed call me baby, love me right and overdose. we’re going quite fast in my opinion.

“you can go eat dinner in the cafeteria or you can go out. please return to your dorms at 22.30 at latest and don’t forget your keycards. see you all tomorrow.” smiled seulgi as she was packing up her stuff.

“yall wanna go and explore seoul? i’ve been living here for 12 years now so it’s safe to say i got some stuff down about this place.” said minji and flexed her arms. i laughed,

“fine by me! you owe me 200 dollars if we get lost though!”

. . .

we were waiting for sunoo and hyunjin to get out of their studio. the door finally opened, yeonjun and taemin smiled at us before heading towards the stairs. when we looked inside we found a very sweaty group of men. ew.

“o-oh,” sunoo panted “heyyyy girlsss…” he waved sloppily like an overcooked noodle.

“damn, did yall run to the moon and back? why yall looking like slime?” teased yunjin.

“ha-ha verry funny. laugh all you want but when it comes to some other songs, you’ll be the slime.” said hyunjin before throwing his sweaty towel at yunjin,

“EWWW, YOU PIG!” yunjin threw it back earning a playful scoff from sunoo.

“see you tomorrow, bro!” said a guy with a very sharp jawline. he looked at us and smiled- it was more of a smirk really.

“yeah, bye jay!”

minji explained our plan to go eat outside. they obviously both agreed. i felt happy knowing i had formed a great friend group from the very first day.

days after weeks after months.

it has been 3 months already.

it was october 2024. a year later this month, we will be very very close to our main goal.

the friendship group was going great! yunjin, minji and i- the perfect trio. sunoo and hyunjin was also keeping us company of course. especially hyunjin with yunjin, they were like siblings!

“okay girlssss! time to turn up the heat! we will be moving on to the sexy songs~” said yeji while wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

we were down 15 songs. only 31 left. after that, all we gotta do is practice, practice and practice. performing in front of an average of 55,000 people in each city shouldn’t be easy.

meanwhile, baekhyun and i have gotten closer. one time, he even said that we were friends!

“it feels so refreshing to talk to a person who doesn’t seem too interested nor too disinterested in order to make me feel,” he air quoted “normal.”

“yeah, well even though i am a fan of you and your work, i won’t let it disturb us from actually having a nice conversation.” i smiled at him.

“you’re one of the very few people i could call my friend that is also an exo-l.”

even the thought brings a smile on my face.

seulgi made me snap back to reality when she started explaining the first move to “playboy”. arguably one of the sexiest exo songs to date.

“… and then you hug yourself on ‘boyy~’ while making a cirlce with your head tilted backwards from left to right.”

. . .

after many body rolls, playboy was finally 90% over. it took longer than expected. 3 and a half hours. and we still needed to practice the parts where we exchange canes with the members and the other dancers. playboy might sound like a simple song. and it is; but that’s the reason for the dance being complicated- for it to not be underwhelming for the audience.

“let’s take 10 and we’ll head up to the boys to practice a bit before we go eat lunch.” said seulgi before calling someone on her phone. it made me realize how bad i have been neglecting karina, natty and chaewon. i couldn’t even text them properly, let alone call them in the last few weeks. i decided to FaceTime them. karina picked up,

“Y/NNN OH MY GODDDDD WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??? GIRLS SAY HI!” turns out all of them were together.

“HIIII, i knowww i’m sorryyyy. it’s just been so hectic these days.”

“BITCH WE MISS YOU SO MUCH!! THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!” exclaimed natty and drank a shot of tequila.

“so, how’s it going?” chaewon asked.

“pretty good! here look, meet minji and yunjin-“ i introduced them.

“sooo~ got a special someone? perhaps an exo member??” questioned karina. chaewon snickered.

“guysss pleaseeee. i’m not here for that. i’m here to dance with my idols.” even though i’d be lying if i said i wasn’t fantasizing about baekhyun fucking the absolute living shit out of me, in no way am i gonna confess it.

“okay okay fine. don’t come crying to us that you didn’t get fucked by baekhy-“

“OKAY BYE GUYS LOVE YALL.” i hung up upon hearing natty literally say my thoughts out loud. besides i didn’t have headphones in and i don’t want anyone hearing my silly banter with my best friends and misunderstand it and gossip about it and- whew. man i guess i’m overthinking but you never know. especially with people like giselle around.

“everyone! let’s go practice with the boys!” yeji exclaimed.

. . .

“so, what exactly are you and baekhyun?” my stomach dropped upon hearing the question. my head shot back. giselle was looking awfully innocent for a question that had bad intentions lurking beneath.

“uh, what? we’re colleagues i’d say. maybe a bit on the friendlier side but nothing more.”

“yeah like i’m gonna buy it.” she friskily pushed me.

“come on, what’s your deal with him?”

“i told you. there’s no deal.” she sighed, leaning in close to my ear she said with a low voice,

“look, i don’t know if you think i’m stupid but i’d have to be one to believe what you just said to me. i’ve heard about your little ‘first encounter’ with him. afterwards you both got closer and closer every day. you really think i don’t see the way yall look at each other? especially you, you are clearly dying to fuck him. or did yall fuck already? hah, never thought that i wouldn’t be the first one to get in an exo member’s pants-“

“what the fuck are you talking about giselle?” i pulled away from her. what was she on about?

“who are you to accuse me of such things?”

“he always picks you to dance closer to him out of all 10 of us. every. single. time. always talks to you when he gets the chance, is usually staring at you while you’re dancing… want me to continue?” ..i actually did want her to continue because she -as an outside viewer- was confirming all of the things i had noticed but left it be. however, i’d rather die than admit this to her so,

“if you talk such bullshit one more time, it’s not gonna end good.” she scoffed,

“yeah? worried that your secret will be out? what will you do huh you motherf-“

“heesung and y/n. the exo members are asking for you.” said a tall man. seems like he’s their manager or something. saved by him, i shot giselle a dirty glare and went out of the studio.

“hello, y/n and heesung.” said jongin warmly.

“we’ve been taking in weekly reports from your instructors, and during these 3 months both of you never dropped down from 1st place, with a few exceptions.” explained baekhyun.

“so that’s why we’re inviting both of you to have dinner with us today! our treat~” happily said chanyeol.

dinner with all 9 exo members? am i in a fan fiction or what?

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 <<

[soobadnoonecanstopher]

Can I Stay? (A Baekhyun Story) Part 3.

Pairing: You x Baekhyun

Rating: M

Word Count: 6.4K

Warnings: Unresolved sexual tension, apologies to anyone named Chet, contagious giggles, gratuitous use of the word cunt, an unspecified age difference, an English story that uses the word Noona for lack of another word in English that carries the same feeling, if you don’t like this, then don’t read this story.

Author’s note: remember all those years ago I said I’d write a Baekhyun x Noona fic? This is that fic.

Inspired by the Ray LaMontagne song Can I Stay

Tag List: @andimoon @his-mochi-cheeks

Story Links: Can I Stay? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

[WARNING- This is Part 3! part 2 was just posted a day before this. DON’T SKIP PART 2]

‘Noona, can I stay?’

Of course you wanted to tell him yes. Of course you had grown attached to him in ways you could never tell him. But how much power did this man really think you had in this company? Between the two of you, he had so much more influence here; heaps more than you had.

“Baekhyun, that is not a decision for me to make. You are a great assistant, but you are a more important person than just my assistant.” You made your best attempt at it. The sooner he understood the magnitude of his potential the sooner he would let go of this fixation on staying in this department as your assistant and the better off he would be. If for the sake of his future in this company, he should probably move on. Although, you also realized that part of what made you so damn good at your job was the years of experience you had with it.

“And…if the decision was yours?” His eyebrows were lifted and his expression challenged, as if he asked some mysterious, unsaid veiled question instead of this very obvious ‘Can't I just stay as your assistant’ question he was actually asking. You wondered what had made him so determined to get a response from you.

“I think with a couple of years here with me, you would get too good and surpass me.” You pursed your lips in contemplation. You saw his incredible potential the minute he walked through that door on the first day.

“And then I would have to kill you.” You said it with a straight face and it took him only a minute before his eyebrows dropped and he let out a half exhaled breath mixed with a loud laugh.

He’d spun on his heels and taken a step back from you, before turning back to look at your face again, his wide grin quite evident on his face. “This is the first time I’ve heard you make a joke.”

“What makes you think I am joking?” You deadpanned, no longer even looking at the man and he laughed out loud again.

“Oh my god,” he said out loud to himself. “I think this might be a new step in our relationship.”

“I beg your forgiveness, you kick me in the chest. I ask you to hold on to me and you threaten me with death.” He was talking only for himself now. Amusing himself with his little jokes like he often did. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of into it. I guess that ‘What Rihanna Song Are You’ quiz was right. Chains and whips do excite me.”

“Are you done?” You interrupted, actually unable to take any more after your started leafing through the pages and pages of work you had accumulated on your desk.

The more you looked the less you wanted of all of it. You began handling everything with rougher hands and eventually resorted to angrily tossing things into a miscellaneous pile you had just created that made no logical sense. If these things annoyed you the most, they landed in that pile. After a while, after every other toss a swift hand would come into your field of vision and pull something out of the pile.

You didn’t know where it went, but the pile was shrinking and your mood was feeling lighter because of it.

The only pile left after Baekhyun’s mystical sorting just needed signatures. You could do that and walk at the same time if you had someone watching for obstacles in your path.

“I have a meeting with Choi’s First AE in ten minutes and I needed all these signed like yesterday. Let’s go.”

“Now?”

“Now, Baekhyun. Sign and walk and don't let me fall into an open manhole cover.”

He did pretty good with it. “Step up,” He called out beside you and you stepped up when he told you, finding the perfect rhythm and finding the step he warned you about. “Four steps, then turn right,” he said again while also grabbing the folders and flipping to the signature pages that he had already pre-marked with brightly colored sticky tabs last week when he was desperately trying to get you to sign them. Apparently he had been getting emails about them. They were overdue. There might have been phone calls too. Not dangerously late, but you did feel guilty for the delay. Why didn’t you think of this before? You’d probably wasted hours of your life just walking. Those walking hours could have been used for signing. You were pretty sure you were a genius.

That was until your forward progress was abruptly and jarringly halted by a firm arm wrapped around your waist and you were pulled back violently. A loud sound like a beast’s roar echoed against your eardrums and you gasped out loud. Your stomach leapt up into your throat as a panic rose up inside of you from the shock of it.

You’d just stepped off a curb. He’d warned you about the step down, that wasn’t the unexpected part. The danger came too suddenly for either of you to prepare for right after that. You smelled the exhaust of a retreating motorcycle. You could see the crazy driver speeding off in your peripheral vision. You felt the trembling and the shaking inside of your chest as you tried desperately to breathe though the tightness of the arm squeezing around your waist, pulling you back to safety.

“Shit,” Baekhyun swore out loud sometime during the commotion and you’d cried out the same.

It took a few moments of steadying yourself. When your mind sharpened to what happened you found yourself having stumbled back two or three steps with Baekhyun’s arm still wrapped around your waist, the firmness of his forearm digging into the softness of the skin directly below your breasts and his hand you felt laid flat over your rib cage, fingers digging in hard. Tight and firm everywhere. You felt bound up entirely. A clattering of documents bounced onto the floor by your feet and your eyes blinked hard and fast as you tried your best to calm your breathing down. He was still holding onto you when you could feel the panic subsiding and your breathing returning to normal.

Baekhyun’s upset seemed to take longer to pass. You felt the rapid up and down breathing of his chest echoed through your back and his face was buried in the space just over your shoulder, against your neck and into your hair. You could feel the heat from his breath on your neck. It was warm and sticky.

You gave a light tap over his arm that still held you tightly around your waist. Trying to get him to loosen the hold and let you go. It took some convincing though. His arm was very firm and he was holding you very tightly. Close call with literal death aside, a new danger was quickly making itself evident. He felt incredibly warm and nice with his body pressed up against you like this and you recognized the need to separate yourself from him if you were going to keep any remaining bits of your sanity and self resolve intact.

“Are you okay? You aren’t hurt?” He asked from somewhere buried behind you and you urgently nodded. He needed to let you go. He smelled so good.

You tapped his arm again, faster and more insisting, nearly begging now.

“I’m okay,” you said as calmly and as convincingly as you could manage with the limited oxygen you had in your lungs. You could finally feel the tension in his body relaxing a little. But only a little. The longer he held onto you, the more you felt something else making the air around the both of you feel so heavy — something else making the heat spreading between your bodies somehow feel warmer.

Baekhyun was not letting you go, and this was changing for him too, it seemed.

It took no less than a miracle that you did not moan out loud when you felt the deep inhale he took into his lungs with his face still buried deep within your hair. That deep inhale was paired with the smallest sound that came from somewhere deep inside of his chest that, if you were thinking strictly with your rational brain, you could maybe contribute to the relief. He made that sound out of relief that you were not hurt. He pulled that warm breath into himself deep and slowly, savoring it for much longer than necessary out of…relief. A wave of warmth ricocheted through your chest and down into your belly and you closed your eyes through it, desperately reminding yourself that you and him were now, well out of harm’s way, standing on a sidewalk at your workplace where anyone with eyes could see this.

Your tapping was harder now. It woke him up.

As soon as his arm was loose enough, you made a quick and clean break of every and all bits of contact with his body. As abruptly as this happened, you extracted yourself and you ignored the way his eyelids fluttered slowly open and that fucking pink hue in his cheeks and lips that turned his face into one of the most attractive faces you’d ever laid your eyes on.

You squatted down, picking up everything that had fallen and soon enough he joined you, grabbing things from your hands to add to his piles without saying a thing about what maybe he also felt building between the two of you whenever you happened to get too close to each other.

It couldn't happen. It no longer mattered whether or not you believed it was happening. You knew for certain that whatever was or was not happening, it needed to stop here. You simply would never put yourself into any position for this man to need to touch you ever again. You could not trust yourself.

A moan. You almost moaned. You could practically feel the sound ready to come out of your chest if you’d only allowed your mouth to open, it would have. You were insane. You were a crazy person, a goddamned lunatic and a menace. He was your assistant for god's sake.

You steadied your breathing and your resolve and decided to allow yourself two entire minutes to sign the rest of these things on the spot. So what if you were late to your meeting. Punctuality be damned. Sure, the almost dying part was a little scary, but even you had your limits of what you could stand. You had almost moaned! What next? An orgasm right here on the sidewalk? Lock you up and throw away the key now.

You made it on time to your meeting. He was the First Assistant Editor to the Picture Editor Sophie Choi, with whom you had been working very closely with for months on this project. Sophie’s 1st was a man who simply went by Chet. No last name, just Chet. Apparently it was his thing.

He was nice. He was always polite with you even when he had some bad news to deliver, he always relayed whatever news, projects updates, or requests for your team he had for you with an empathetic and professional filter. Unlike some other utterly obnoxious 1st AEs that you’d worked with in the past, Chet was alright.

He was also tall and extremely handsome if you were into muscles, backwards ball caps, and men who looked like they probably moonlighted as underwear models in the back pages of GQ magazine. Not that you had ever seen him in his underwear, but you did follow his instagram and you always made sure to give him that little heart when he posted his pictures.

Chet was a hugger. When he saw you his smile was charming and inviting as he called out your name and he wrapped his big arms around you, pulling you in like a long lost friend. You weren't exactly friends with him. While you’d been invited for drinks with him and his team on many occasions your schedule had always been too swamped to take him up on the offers, but he was still just as friendly with you.

You didn't require Baekhyun to attend this meeting but he was weirdly insistent on tagging along after the quick introductions you made between the two men. They both shook hands and there were some formalities and awkward pleasantries exchanged between the two. Baekhyun whispered to you that he was sure that he should attend this meeting for learning purposes. You were sure nothing important other than networking was about to happen, but he insisted that everything was important in its own way. He was stubborn and after a few back and forths you finally just gave in to the man. If he wanted to waste his lunch hour, who were you to argue?

Chet made a kind of too loud joke about some rumors that you’d been saddled with some fresh meat intern and you were quick to assure him that Baekhyun had actually turned out to be the best assistant you’d ever had. After the harmless joke, you risked a careful glance at Baekhyun. If he’d taken any offense, he certainly didn't react. He spent much of the meeting sitting in the back of the room typing furiously on his cellphone, no doubt answering many emails on your behalf. Baekhyun was always busy on that phone, keeping your workload down as a side effect.

The meeting was about halfway through when your stomach growled noisily and embarrassingly, reminding you that yes, you were indeed human and you probably should eat something today.

“Why don't we take this downstairs—” Chet lifted an eyebrow in your direction, “—have some lunch… on me?”

You considered it. It didn’t sound like a bad idea. You had all of the materials already and you skipped dinner last night and now that you thought about it, you skipped breakfast this morning too. Your nerves about the presentation had kept your appetite muted. The last meal you had was something shoved into your mouth by Baekhyun sometime yesterday afternoon.

‘Eat this,’ he had said at the time and you blindly opened your mouth and received whatever he shoved in there.

“Some lunch sounds lovely, Chet. Thank you.”

“That does sound lovely, Chet. Thank you,” Baekhyun mirrored from the back of the room, obviously inviting himself along. You couldn’t be completely sure, and you definitely wouldn’t swear to it under oath, but there was something funny about his tone.

Chet’s wide smile had a microscopic hiccup as his eyes moved between you and Baekhyun and then back to you again.

“Great!” He said over-enthusiastically, almost manically and you also detected something just a little funny in his response as well.

You didn't know what, but something was up with these two men.

Lunch was delicious. Baekhyun took the spot directly beside you, took it upon himself to unwrap your utensils and he placed them just so beside your plate and Chet sat across from you and took it upon himself to unwrap your straw and place it inside your glass for you.

You weren't sure what kind of an imbecile you had appeared to be, but clearly they thought you needed help with something as simple as feeding yourself. You smiled politely to both men. Maybe they were both just overly polite people? Although you knew for a fact that Baekhyun wasn’t that polite when it was just the two of you alone.

Something was definitely up with these two men.

Oddities aside from them, you didn't realize just how hungry you were until you took the first bite of your pasta. If this was going to be your only meal of the day you were going to have some carbs dammit.

Baekhyun had grabbed a chocolate dessert with his lunch plate. You recalled him mentioning once that he wasn’t that into sweets but you didn’t want to pry. You did steal occasional glances at the chocolate layers and one such glance had your eyes bouncing up onto his face where he chewed lazily on his sandwich without any care in the world for how lovely those chocolate and vanilla cream layers looked and must taste.

His eyes slipped to the side and he looked at you as he chewed and swallowed casually. He put his sandwich down and his hand slipped over to the dessert plate. With a single fingertip he touched the edge of the plate and he pushed it quietly and carefully in your direction until it sat there beside your pasta as if it had belonged there all along.

Your eyebrows lifted and you widened your eyes in his direction, mouthing a silent and hopeful ‘me?’

He nodded his head once giving you the tiniest scrunch of his nose and he picked his sandwich back up and continued to eat until it was almost gone.

You had abandoned your pasta, you’d had your fill of it. You took the first bite of the chocolate cake and you were pretty sure you could weep. You were also pretty sure you had completely and thoroughly just fallen in love….with the cake. You could so easily be bought and sold with a good chocolate cake. Baekhyun was the winner. Whatever the competition was, if any at all, whatever these weird vibes between them were, as far as you were concerned, it was over with the first bite.

Then lunch and the meeting were actually over and you didn't catch any more strange interactions between Baekhyun and Chet. Perhaps you’d imagined it all. With your belly full and your workload even lighter you graciously accepted the goodbye hug from the tall well meaning man and you even promised that you’d make an attempt to meet him for drinks once this project wrapped. You did, afterall, have an end date in sight at last. And even if you only saw him at the wrap party where there would be drinks, you wouldn’t technically be lying to him right now. He accepted your promise with an extended pinky finger waved into the air as you walked away cheerfully.

Your mood was grand. It was probably the cake and the pasta.

“Ahh, he’s great.” You remarked out loud and from your left you heard a stifled scoff poorly disguised as a cough from Baekhyun. You turned to look at him with wide questioning eyes.

“Chet.” Baekhyun said his name out loud once with an audible emphasis on the T at the end. As if that T was its very own punctuation mark. As if it was its own hilarious punchline.

“What? He’s nice. He’s so good to work with and he’s never given me any trouble at all.” Why you felt the need to defend Chet to Baekhyun you couldn't quite explain.

Technically, Baekhyun hadn’t even said anything bad about him. He just kept saying his name as if that in itself was the problem.

“Chet.” He repeated the name again, slower this time and then he laughed outright into his hand as if it was the funniest joke he’d heard all day. You’d expected one or two chuckles from him. But strangely, and concerningly, it didn’t stop. And worse, it was weirdly contagious. You fought it all you could but you accidentally allowed a few giggles to escape when he was in the thick of the fits of laughter. It had gotten so bad in the elevator up to your office that you had to smack him on the arm to get him to stop laughing and breathe before he passed out. His eyes were watering from it. He was wheezing and he was gasping. You reached up and wiped a tear stain from his cheek and patted him right on the face kind of hard, almost a slap, anything to get it to stop. It didn’t.

You were feeling dizzy as well. You felt drunk on this madness you both found yourself trapped in. It was silly. It was childish. You couldn’t remember the last time you laughed so hard. Even something as simple as eye contact with Baekhyun from across the quiet office would set you both off again. And he’d reach for the box of tissues and cover his face completely all the while loudly cackling. You had been overworked, exhausted and stressed maybe and this was a side effect of all of it. Maybe you’d both finally just lost your minds.

He eventually wound back down, calming and then busying himself with actual work.

“Chet.” He said out loud almost an entire hour later, bursting into noisy laughter all over again. You had to actually bite down on your lip to keep yourself from laughing. You were sick of it. Your stomach muscles ached and you were so very, very tired of the giggles.

“No more,” you begged, holding your face in your hands. Your cheeks were sore, everything hurt. Finally you just gave up and left the room to go to the bathroom and splash some water on your face. What was this? You wondered if you’d ever be able to meet with Chet again and just act normal. You definitely couldn't ever meet him with Baekhyun again, that was for damned sure.

Sometime in between redoing your entire face full of makeup that the laughter and the face washing wiped it out, and taking your seventh brisk lap around this hallway you decided it was time to put your foot down.

You were in charge here. This was your department, you had twenty seven subordinates that, on a daily basis, treated you with the utmost respect and followed your orders to the letter. You had made a decision that it was time for Baekhyun to do the same. You didn't care what he called you or who his father was.

You marched back into your office to face him with a plan in place ready to set into motion and you found him in a spot you absolutely didn't expect.

He was sitting behind your desk, in your chair doing a little sideways back and forth wiggle in your spinning office chair. He was humming a soft tune to himself as he carefully and slowly wrote something down with your pen on your pack of post-it notes, underlining and dotting and crossing letters. Your office phone had been moved. You guessed you received a phone call while you were out.

When he saw you walk through the door he looked up at you briefly before looking back down at what he was doing.

“Assistant Byun,” you said firmly. He hummed out in response and continued to write without looking up at you. You were fired up and ready for this and no amount of his distraction techniques were going to work on you this time. You knocked twice on your desk. “Assistant Byun?” You’d called out again and his eyebrows shot up in the middle of his face.

“Yes, yes, I am here. Your Assistant Byun is here, what do you need my esteemed and magnanimous Manager Noona?” He was still in a playful mood it seemed.

“Byun Baekhyun, from today onward you, nor I, are not allowed to say the c-word inside of this office. Do you understand me? The c-word is banned.” You put on your angry and serious voice and Baekhyun’s eyes widened and he looked straight into your face.

“I’m not allowed to say the…c-word?” he paused and his eyes looked down at the post-it note that he had just pulled off the pack and was holding gingerly between his thumb and his index finger.

“The c-word. You are not allowed to say the c-word anymore.” You harnessed the annoyance for the time wasted today. You thought about the hours of work you’d have to do at home to make up for today and you used that to make yourself seem as authoritative as possible. You meant business now. Play time was over. This was serious.

Baekhyun’s eyebrows furrowed and he dropped his chin in confusion.

After a long moment of thought he spoke.

“Cunt?” He whispered.

You closed your eyes and inhaled a deep breath. You had completely forgotten about that c-word.

“No, Baekhyun. Not cunt, Baekhyun.” You gritted your teeth.

“The other c-word from earlier, from the past three hours Byun Baekhyun, the other c-word. You can say cunt,” you hissed in annoyance with a hand wave, “You are forbidden from saying that other c-word.” Your frustration from the day was mounting. You rubbed your temples with your fingertips, willing the headache you felt building to subside.

“So, I can say cunt in this office?” His voice was louder now and you closed your eyes, threw your head back and inhaled a deep breath. “Cunt is okay? The other c-word is not allowed, but cunt you are okay with. That right, Boss?”

“Yes. You can say cunt if you have to say cunt. Do not, under any circumstances, say the other c-word in this office. Am I clear?” When you opened your eyes he was leaning his head far back in your desk chair in a lounging position. He’d pulled the lever below the seat so the seat back leaned way back and he was watching you with that little post it still held gingerly between his fingers and there was a look of smug satisfied amusement on his pretty face.

“Did anything happen while I was away? Why are you in my chair?”

“Well,” he began, sitting up straight and pushing himself up onto his legs as he made his way back around from behind your desk where you were pretty sure you had never given him permission to be. Not that it mattered, he already had access to everything you had access to, just for the sake of the assistant’s job.

“Well?” You urged him to continue and he looked down at the note again, reaching once more for the pen he scratched something off very thoroughly and you caught a quick movement as he wrote something in its place. He stood up now, straightening his shoulders, looking as put together and professional as ever and he straightened his back as he began reading word for word from the post-it note.

“Cunt called while you were out and asked if you would like to meet him tonight for drinks. I was sure to let him know that your schedule tonight is full and would be full all week, and I made sure that he knew that you do not have space to fit him in for drinks tonight, as you will be busy all night long, with the wrap. Cunt sounded unreasonably upset and just a little bit like a c-word. You are more than welcome, but not in any way obligated, to call him back. From Baekhyun.”

He looked up from the note with wide innocent eyes and his lips pulled into the smallest little pout and you reached forward and grabbed it from him quickly. Sure enough the entire thing was there, word for word. He’d crossed out Chet, replacing it with the word with Cunt every time.

You were pretty sure you were about two seconds away from a complete nervous breakdown.

You knew when you were beat. It was close enough to quitting time that you merely wadded up the note and tossed it into the nearest trash can and began packing up your laptop and a few things you knew you could work on at home. You knew you had a hard deadline coming up tonight by midnight that you absolutely could not miss but everything was on your laptop, you could simply get it all done and submitted from home.

Your quitting time meant it was also Baekhyun’s quitting time. He helped you pack up a few of your laptop accessories, lifting a few peripherals into the air in silent question. You nodded or shook your head for what you would need and they either went into the bag or they went back to the desk. This quiet communication between the two of you was one of your favorite things about him.

The ride down the elevator to the lobby was peaceful. Today felt like running a marathon. This job was usually stressful and eventful but today had been a whole other monster entirely. You could feel the stress and tension in your shoulders and you longed for a long soak in your bathtub.

Baekhyun walked out of the elevator beside you but in no way did you both have the same destination. You knew he would go out to his car and you would make your way down to the subway. You knew he lived on the opposite side of town from where you lived. The distance had to be maybe a 40 minute drive with this office being a center point. You hoped he got some good rest at home and you knew with your workload you’d have to settle for a 30 minute nap at most.

You’d cleared the elevator hallway and stepped into the open hallway when you saw him. It was Chet, and you caught the back of him seated in a chair having a rather casual and loud conversation with a buddy. You’d recognize the 2nd AE’s toupee atop his head from a mile away. This was definitely not something you needed right now.

Your steps paused and you backed up a quick two steps, hiding behind the wall that divided the elevators from the lobby. You could clearly hear the two men laughing and reminiscing about whatever it was two buddies talked about.

Baekhyun who had been just a step behind you caught your rapid evasive motions and his eyes also zeroed in on and instantly understood the danger in the lobby.

“Oh shit,” he said under his breath. “He doesn’t even work in this building. I bet he’s waiting for you.”

“What do I do? I don't want to go out for a drink. I have a midnight deadline. Is there a back door?” Your voice betrayed your panic and Chet’s noisy words broke through the occasional squeaking of the wheels on the cleaning lady’s bucket as she mopped the hallway floor and curiously glanced at the two of you hiding here behind this wall.

‘Man, she’s got this new cockblocking assistant. Real fucking annoying, one of those pretty boys. I mean like I’m pretty but I’m still manly, you know bro? Anyway, I’ve been working on this chick for like six months which is fucking bullshit, for me, you know that. She’s a fucking tease, a sexy tease, but still. Dude, she likes all of my posts. Yeah, tonight’s the night. I’ve waited enough.’

The air felt thin and you could feel that suffocating sinking feeling in your stomach that sometimes came with these horrible realizations about people you thought you knew. Behind you, you felt his flinch as every muscle in Baekhyun’s body seemed to tense up and he took a step forward.

You reached out a hand and wrapped it securely around his arm and you pulled him back hard.

“I still have to work with him,” you said firmly and you did your best to keep the trembling out of your voice.

Baekhyun was frozen and his ears were bright red with a look of anger like you hadn’t seen before from him set deep inside his eyes.

He was eerily quiet save for the sound of his steady breathing and his fists were white from how tightly he clenched them. What was this strong reaction? It wasn’t like he had that much allegiance to you. Maybe he just hated the sight of those womanizing, degrading types of men who treated women like conquests and objects.

Baekhyun looked around at his surroundings and his focus stopped on the old woman with the mop and squeaky wheeled bucket. He was reaching into his pocket and he pulled out a crisp bill, you couldn't quite make out the denomination but it had to be at least $100 and he walked up to the woman with a smile on his face. A few words were exchanged and she quietly nodded and accepted the offering from him, turning and walking away quietly with the mop in her hand, leaving behind her bucket in the center of the hallway, close enough to where Chet sat for you to instantly understand Baekhyun’s intention.

Baekhyun was casual about it. You watched on in awe as he returned halfway to where you were and then made a quick circle, working up some speed he pulled out his cellphone and acted as if he was glued to the thing, completely immersed as he moved fast. He kicked the bucket with enough force for a wall of dirty mop water to go flying. The water was nearly black and it traveled with impressive speed, hitting Chet and soaking almost up to his waist. He yelped out in surprise and Baekhyun yelped out in surprise as he really sold it and fell down onto the floor, grabbing at his shin as if he were in great pain. The cellphone he had in his hands flew and clattered onto the carpet and Chet stood up half surprised, half enraged but too soaking wet to do much other than hobble around.

“What the fuck!?” Chet howled toward Baekhyun who was already being helped up by several concerned onlookers all who looked back at Chet in admonishment for instantly rushing to blame Baekhyun, who was clearly injured here. Chet was just wet. A few of the more sympathetic bystanders tossed a few take-out napkins in his direction.

“Who left that there?” Baekhyun called out in concern and groaned in fake pain.

“Oh no, Chet! Your pants, Bro!” Baekhyun said loudly and you had to cover your mouth with both hands to hide the loud snort of laughter that erupted from your mouth. The commotion itself lasted until Chet grumpily wobbled out of the front door, probably headed back to his own office for a change of clothes. The old woman returned shortly after that with her mop and began soaking up the remains of the liquid and Baekhyun straightened his posture, miraculously recovered from his injury and he sauntered his way back to you with a smile on his lips.

“My dearest Manager Noona,” When he reached you, he did so with his palm lifted into the air and a sweet little addition to your title on his lips, “Chet seems to have been called away on an urgent matter and is regrettably unable to join you for drinks this evening.”

“Oh no. What a shame,” you replied with a bright smile for him. You can't remember ever being quite this smiley at work before Baekhyun. If someone were to see you, they’d think you’d gone crazy. Maybe you had.

At least today was Friday. At least after you met your midnight deadline you had a late start tomorrow, you would be able to sleep in. You’d be able to eat breakfast and you’d be able to have a meal at a table like a civilized human. Your Saturday was relatively light compared to what today had been.

You said your farewells to him and you made your way to the subway, settling into the seat as you casually considered the quickest and most efficient way to make your deadline tonight. Your hand passed over the pockets, feeling for the blue external hard drive you always kept there in the pocket of this bag that had vital attachments that had been cleared and vetted by every important department at work to submit to the production teams. You felt with both hands over that space in the bag and found it suspiciously flat and terrifyingly empty. The pocket was empty. The hard drive was not in there. You were already nearly home and you searched your recent memory for clues, where had you left it. Where would it possibly be?

You searched through your memory and came up blank. Where had you seen it last? A feeling dawned suddenly and you remembered something Baekhyun had told you while you had been mentally occupied with something far more important at the time.

‘The blue hard drive is…’ His voice echoed…but you could not recall the rest of his sentence. Is where? Where was it?

You pulled out your cell phone and sent a text.

‘Blue hard drive’ you said those three words and only those three words and your phone was ringing.

You lifted the phone to your ear and before you even said a word Baekhyun was speaking.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I have it. I have the blue hard drive. Shit. This is make or break isn’t it? I forgot to give it to you. Where are you now? I’m turning around. I’m coming to you.”

“I just got home. I’ll text you the address.” You hung up the phone without saying anything else and you quickly sent him your home address. As soon as you’d done it you felt uneasy anxious butterflies swimming around inside of your belly when the realization of this hit you.

Baekhyun was coming to your house and you were about to have a full blown panic attack at the thought of that man alone in here with you.

Byun Baekhyun was coming to your house. He’d given a little thumbs up to the text message with your address and that meant that he was already on his way.

[To Be Continued]

Story Links: Can I Stay? - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

[oneskynground]

Keeping Up Appearances

• Genres: EXO Baekhyun Fanfic, college au, slice-of-life

• Written as: one short borderline just a prompt

• Authors note: literally the second thing I dropped here. Warning because this is some messy writing. Literally the first draft. Didn't proof read, hope I make sense. English is not my first language folks

Baekhyun is bothered that everyone around him seems to like Nia, the widely regarded student of the arts department. Having transferred in the second semester, the show was basically running when he got here. While hes only heard words of praise about her even from his friends — who'd been here since their first year, Chanyeol and Sehun. He just couldn't put a finger about what's off.

Nia seems to be friendly with everyone as well. Little miss congeniality couldn't pass the halls without smiling to someone, or nodding to someone else while catching up with another. In every department in this enormous college, she had built a connection. With people following and listening to her every word, Baekhyun couldn't exactly recognize if it was charisma, authority or confidence. Perhaps all three.

As the new comer, Baekhyun has the freshest set of eyes. With the point of view to watch and observe with a clean slate. No context of everyone or anything.

That's when he sees it. When as soon as they're out of her sight, those welcoming smiles would drop. She'd be the most reserved person in the room. Her presence is freezing the air.

Nia is friendly to everyone except for him. That is despite the fact they are roommates living in the same apartment. Although when you think about it, Nia is more like his landlord, or like an Airbnb host.

In an ocean of crowds he'd find her. When Chanyeol and the others began to hang out with her, he'd watch him in the corner of his eye. Anticipating how she reacts, how she smiles with every interaction with anyone. Then he'd be in awe of how swift her expressions change. Every now and then she'd catch him looking her way and Baekhyun would see how her brows twitch. That newly discovered dance they make every time keeps them equally on edge.

He was keen on figuring her out as if she's a puzzle with pieces he can't quite put together.

But Baekhyun knew better than to mess with the town's favorite. So he beat around the bush and this bothered ick of his evolved into intrigue.

[aqupistau]

— ☕️ⸯⸯ : g-docs chatroom﹙bbh﹚

warning: profanity

genres & trope: fluff, crack, and university!AU

pairing: byun baekhyun x gn!reader

word count: 0.89k (edited)

synopsis. an anonymous chinchilla has accessed the document.

An Anonymous Chinchilla has accessed the document.

"Who the actual fuck is with me in Google docs 3 in the morning?" You spat out loud, hair put up in a messy bun, and your wrists feeling like it would joint out of its socket any minute now. Being in the last years of high school wasn't lax like what you think it would be. Pressure of choosing the right course for college, financial plans for the future, you were in between the joys of high school and the dreaded phase of adulthood.

Currently, you were doing final editing and proofreading of the research paper of your assigned group, a work done by the group leader. Your group was a bit decent based on participation and team dynamic compared to others in the class, so there were times you suffered and times that you were a-okay, but they were never like you in terms of work ethic. You were active at night, you loved that everyone was asleep in the house, everything was quiet, and you could do anything without being spoken to in the middle of the night so who is this anonymous chinchilla in your document?

You brush your hands from the crumbs of your midnight snack and type on your keyboard on the chat room in the document.

Y/N: Who are you?

Anonymous Chinchilla: hi group leader! ( ≧∀≦)ノ

Their message and yours are sent at the same time and you flick an eyebrow up in curiosity. Emoticons? Who uses emoticons these days? Was it the assistant group leader? Or the one who hasn't finalized their part yet? No, that's too unlikely.

Anonymous Chinchilla: oh right, i'm baekhyun hehe. sorry, i didn't use my university acc to open this document (・＿・; i'm currently outside so i'm only using my phone (^人^)

Oh, it's Byun Baekhyun. That class clown, that noisy guy from the back rows of the classroom. He was, thankfully, a decent guy in your research group. Had a lot of questions, participative, consulted for your thoughts on his works, and would do their parts before their assigned deadline. Basically, the dream groupmate, but he never struck you as someone who was a night-owl. Although the more curious part of this is why would he be outside? Like outside of your house stalker scenario or outside of his house?

Y/N: …Why are you outside at 3 in the morning?

Anonymous Chinchilla: buying and eating midnight snacks hehe. i typically do this like 3x a week? but i'm currently frequenting the convenience store nowadays bcuz of research (||￣^￣||)

He's the oversharer type. How cute.

Y/N: Oh, I understand.

Anonymous Chinchilla: u're so stiff when you talk group leader just like irl ㅋㅋㅋ

Y/N: Sorry, I like my spelling and grammar right.

He takes a while to answer, and the three dots of him typing finally appear.

Anonymous Chinchilla: r u attacking me rn group leader? (;´д｀)

Y/N: No, please, I didn't mean it to insult you. It's just my habit when writing.

Anonymous Chinchilla: huhu, that's good. i thought u didn't like me or sumn but you can still understand my slangs right? i want to talk to u properly (ノ∀≦。)ノ

You snicker, a bit of your fatigue disappearing from your new entertainment. He's a fun guy, at least, and a good groupmate too. You haven't had a real conversation with him, nor anyone in your group too, so this was really fun and new for you.

Y/N: Your choices of emoticons are funny|

You take a while to send your message, contemplating if you should add emoticons just like what he does, just because. You decide to pick an emoticon that you can still remember.

Y/N: Your choices of emoticons are funny. XD

Anonymous Chinchilla: what is that…

Anonymous Chinchilla: is that the ancient laughing emoticon?

Anonymous Chinchilla: you're using boomer emoticons group leader HAHAHAHAH LMAO

How dare he. You were trying your best to make him feel included and he compares you to a boomer.

Anonymous Chinchilla: sorry, that was rlly cute. (≧∀≦*) i just had to.

Y/N: Yeah, right.

Anonymous Chinchilla: OH NO.

Anonymous Chinchilla: PLS I'M SORRY GROUP LEADER

Anonymous Chinchilla: I WON'T MAKE FUN OF YOUR CHOICE OF EMOTICONS AGAIN PLS DONT BE MAD !! ヽ(illﾟдﾟ)ﾉ

Anonymous Chinchilla: (*´Д`*)!! (⊃ Д)⊃≡ﾟ ﾟ(ﾟДﾟ≡ﾟДﾟ)ﾞ?

"Pfft—" You let out a laugh, no signs that you'd even be done any minute now. You hold your stomach as it starts to ache to the point your body warns you of the lack of oxygen and too much air coming out of your lungs, your hand smacking anything it lands on and claps enthusiastically like a happy trained seal. "Seriously, his choice of emoticons are hilarious. It's almost like I can hear and see him talking," While you were laughing your ass out loud and trying (yet failing) to calm yourself down, Baekhyun spams the chatroom anxiously.

Anonymous Chinchilla: group leader :"<<< im sorry pls forgive me. i just wanted to talk to you for once since you were always so occupied when i see you (/o＼)(/´△`＼) ○|￣|＿○|￣|＿ o(；д；o)

Anonymous Chinchilla: group leader?

Anonymous Chinchilla: group leaderrrr????

Anonymous Chinchilla: y/n??? (T0T)

You wipe tears of joy from your eyes and cheeks, exhaling out a sigh as a finale for your fit of laughter, and finally put your fingers on the keyboard, typing—

Y/N: I'm sorry for not replying. I had a hard time typing because you're so easy to tease HAHAH

Y/N: Thank you for making my night though =) You're very funny, Baekhyun.

And he takes a bit longer to reply after your message. What's wrong? Was he already on his way home? Was there no service in his area already? But he's still in an active status in the document.

Anonymous Chinchilla: what…what was that group leader… stop it, you're making my heart flutter (*/□＼*)

"This guy, really." You chuckle and take a bite of your bowl of chips beside the keyboard. You wondered why you haven't tried to have a real interaction with him before? You weren't aware that you didn't act approachable as a person, but you knew you were very hands-on as a leader.

Anonymous Chinchilla: oh! i have to get home now, group leader! are there any things you would like me to work on the research today? im willing to sleep late tonight even if we have classes later

Anonymous Chinchilla: (*・・)σo(ﾟ▽＾)ﾉ

Y/N: Nothing at the moment. We have a peer evaluation later with other groups from other classes in the afternoon so…

Why not be friends with him?

Anonymous Chinchilla: sooo????

Y/N: Are you fine if you can tag along with me later?

Anonymous Chinchilla: oh. my. god.

Anonymous Chinchilla: YES OFC

Anonymous Chinchilla: PLS LET ME ACCOMPANY U \( ´∀`)/~~

Anonymous Chinchilla: I WILL DO MY BEST GROUP LEADER (^–^)＼

He's very likable, you thought. Very easy to read and also expressive, for what you've seen. There are some cases where online and real-life people have different personas, but this didn't mind you. Unlike you, who has the same personality both online and in real life, you don't know if you'll be encountering the same Baekhyun you chatted right now. Even so, this conversation was enough for you to have the courage to approach him and befriend him later. You sincerely hoped you could be good friends with him.

Y/N: Okay. Have a good night, Baekhyun. Go back home safe =)

Anonymous Chinchilla: you too, group leader! good night ( ^-^)ノ∠※。.:*:・'°☆ wishing you a good sleep hehe

Anonymous Chinchilla: see you later in class! (^o^)／~~

The Anonymous Chinchilla has left the document.

© aqupistau. all rights reserved. ↬masterlist

[exosmutfactory]

Wanna Be Yours 001

Originally posted by tipannies

Maybe not all good girls are good, and not all bad boys are bad. It’s all about perspective and experience, for not everything in life is a clear black or white. Sometimes you will find gray, brown, or silver… Possibilities are endless. And Byun Baekhyun is too god damn fine to resist.

◤“Stop smoking, it isn’t attractive.” “Stop swearing, it isn’t either.” “Fuck you.” “When.”◢

Main Masterlist | Bookclub zone | Chapter 1✓

networks — @/superm-net @/bbh-net

pairing — Baekhyun x Monica (OC)

word count — 3.8k

genre — biker! baekhyun, bad boy! baekhyun, enemies to lovers! romance, slight angst, fluff, smut (one chap - eventually)

[ This chapter contains: an introduction 🚲 ]

A/N: Hello! I'm introducing one of my AFF-exclusive, BBH stories to Tumblr! I'm posting this chapter to see if readers on here want to read it 🥰 This story doesn't have a tag list, so let me know if you wanna be tagged for future chapters either in my ask box or the comment section! 🌸 I'll continue writing this when I finish my other story: Only Forever 🌊

Chapter 1

Look around, lovely

I’ve been through many things in my life. From my ex leaving me for a “slim thick” girl who lived three blocks away to my best friend, making it their goal to break my spirit from the inside out. I had to cut ties with my treacherous family. I had to change my name, eye color, and wear a purple wig to flee from another crazy ex to Hawaii. I almost had to file for bankruptcy when my twin sister bought three foreign sports cars in my name.

—I’ve been through a lot, but I never expected to find myself in the middle of this shitstorm.

“Yo, Chen, move your ass!”

“I’m almost there!” This so-called Chen hisses into his phone, tugging me behind him by my arm. He glares back at me when I stumble over a recycling bin. “Shut it.” His grip turns painful when I slow down my pace. He stomps hurriedly down shaded alleyways and dimly lit streets. I'd scoff at his audacity if I wasn’t so busy trying to form a plan to escape and not fall flat on my face in the process.

“Yo bitch.” He throws another nasty look over his shoulder, “keep up, will ya?”

My eyes narrow as I purposely stomp on the back of his foot. “Oops,” I chirp when he yelps, hiding my smirk while he curses and hobbles on one leg. “Guess that’s too close, eh?”

He bares his teeth at me. The smirk quickly falls off my lips when the ground is suddenly approaching my face at an alarming rate.

I brace my hands against the pavement at the last second, but my right arm buckles under my weight, sliding my frantic hands across the rugged surface, scraping against the sidewalk with a painful burn. I groan at the fire hot pain shooting up my forearm.

“Oops,” he mocks, his leather boots stepping into view. He bends down in front of me with a tilt of his head. “Guess that was too soon, huh?” His victory smirk on his curled lips would have been sexy if I didn’t have the urge to punch him in his pretty face.

I keep my eyes on him, slowly bringing myself back to my feet. It takes everything in me to ignore the pulsing pain in my knees and the warm liquid running down my elbow as he stands back to his full height. His unimpressive 5’8 stature seems intimidating while I’m poorly hiding my injured arm behind my back. It doesn't help that he has a tattoo of a snake on his bicep, the green ink peeking out from under the sleeve of his black t-shirt. He’s not tall, but he is buff, and that is enough for me to keep my mouth shut... for now.

He runs his eyes over my quiet defensive stance, his smirk turning even more cruel before he yanks me forward by my injured arm. “If we’re late, that’s your ass.”

I roll my eyes to distract myself from the tears threatening to fall, biting my tongue. My hands and arm throb painfully in sync. That hurt like a bitch and he’s two seconds away from being smacked like one.

After walking a few more empty blocks, the rev of an engine reaches my ears—and it’s not from a car. My heart plummets when the realization sets in and the beaming headlights of shiny black vehicles come into view. Two motorcycles stop a few feet away from us in a deserted parking lot. The riders are wearing black helmets with matching clothes, blending in with the night. Their faces are shaded under the dim light of the moon when they take their helmets off.

Dusk is on the rise, concealing the moon behind thick clouds as the world waits for the sun to peek over the horizon. The darkest hour of the night… Looking around at the buff asshole and two newcomers, I can only hope that I’ll make it to see the sunrise. I swallow my nerves while Chen impatiently drags me over to the others.

The guy on the left is the first one to notice us. He shakes his hair, the brunette strands catching light before he switches off the headlights. He’s tall with beautifully toned skin, whistling when we step off of the sidewalk. “Damn hyung, took you long enough.”

Chen shrugs. “Catching the prize was a bit of a struggle.” He rattles my arm for emphasis, his smirk visible under a flickering streetlight.

“Oh?” The brunette’s eyes trail over me, focusing on my pulsing arm before shifting back to the prick next to me. “Looks a bit like damaged goods, hyung.”

“That wouldn’t be the case if it had acted accordingly.” He shrugs, nonchalantly looking me over.

My eyes and mouth twitch. It is really taking everything in me not to say something.

“Hopefully hyung doesn’t mind,” The other tall guy speaks up, eyeing me warily while I stare at his unnaturally orange hair.

“Byun won’t do shit,” Chen waves him off, pulling me closer to a parked bike three parking spaces away. “He hasn’t before and he won’t start now.”

The orange-top guy starts to reply until a loudly revved engine fills the air, announcing the arrival of more motorcycles entering the deserted parking lot. I glare at the biker driving in front, from his laid back posture alone he must be the leader.

“Baekhyun!” Chen yells into the still night with a cocky grin, laughing gleefully. “So happy for you to finally join us. I feared we’d start without you.”

The leader calmly parks his bike a couple of feet away, pulling off his helmet while the other five bikers join him. I bite my cheek to hold back my gasp when his face is revealed. What I expected was some forty-year-old gang member with a huge tattoo, crooked beard, and salt/pepper hair. Not a twenty-something-year-old with one of the most attractive faces I’ve ever seen in my life.

His light brown hair ruffles in the wind, the salty scent of the sea rolling in. He shakes his bangs out of his eyes, looking at the man next to me with a blank expression on his face. Baekhyun’s eyes slowly follow Chen’s arm down to my own in his tight grasp. His eyes linger on my injured arm, the clench of his jaw and flare of his nostrils has my eyes shooting down to look at it myself.

The sight of blood steadily dripping from my ripped sleeve has me wincing. I bite my lip hard to hold back a pain-filled whimper.

Baekhyun cuts his eyes back to Chen with a murderous glare, “Jongdae.” He hisses venomously.

Chen stiffens, his grip loosening on my arm, “Byun?” He’s caught off guard, the confusion rings loudly in his uncertain voice.

“What the fuck is this?” Baekhyun looks at my arm then at him again, his voice growing louder by the minute. “Why the hell is she bleeding?”

“She wasn’t…” Willing to come? Willing to follow a stranger? Willing to get pulled out of a store for nothing? “Very compliant.”

“And you brought her here anyway?” Baekhyun gives him an incredulous look, his eyes narrowed at the latter’s silence. “What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Do.”

I shift on my feet, highly uncomfortable just witnessing this exchange. The other bikers watching them quietly doesn’t calm my nerves in the slightest. I know one thing for certain—the tension can be cut with a knife, and I’m not about to be in the middle of this hell much longer.

“I was walking with her down the street, and she fell.” Chen chooses to say.

I crack my neck when I whip it around to face him. “Really?” I snap. “You purposely yanked me forward and let go, yet dare say I fucking fell?!”

Chen scowls at me. “Well if you weren’t being such a bi‒” He pales when I sense a dark aura behind me.

I turn around to a furious Baekhyun. His brown eyes blaze brightly in anger amongst the pitch darkness of the night, the wind tousling his hair across his forehead. The urge to take a step back is high until I remember who is right behind me. Baekhyun takes one look at me then turns his fire-filled gaze to the fearful man behind me. “I’ll deal with you later.”

I look down at the sudden hand gently grabbing my uninjured arm, meeting Baekhyun’s eyes before he takes a step back. And for some reason; I follow. He keeps his eyes steady on mine before turning to address the others. “I’m calling it off.” His gaze meets every individual one of theirs. “Any objections?”

No one even so much as moves.

Baekhyun firmly nods, peering down at me with a raised brow. “Come with me?” Even while he asks, I’m already being led over to his bike. He grabs his helmet and pauses, turning to me, the dim street lights reflecting the mysterious glint in his brown eyes. “Have you ridden a motorcycle before?”

I look at the bike then back at him, narrowing my eyes. “Are you planning to kill me with it?”

The corner of his lips twitch up, “that’s a no then. May I?”

Eyeing the helmet in his hands, I nod, quickly muttering, “if I die, I’m suing you,” when he starts to place it on my head.

Baekhyun chuckles. “Don’t worry.” He adjusts the helmet with a teasing little grin, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “You’re in good hands.”

“Uh huh—oof!” I yelp when he suddenly lifts me up and sets me on the back of his vehicle—that seems one hundred times more intimidating now that I’m sitting on it. “I swear, Byun, if I fall‒”

“You won’t.” Baekhyun affirms. He throws his leg over the motorcycle and climbs onto it with grace, throwing one last look back at me before starting the engine. It purrs in a way I’ve never heard before. The low, crispy sound vibrates through my entire body when his deep voice reaches my ears. “Hold on tight.”

When he revs the engine, I wrap my arms tightly around his waist. The fear of death is greater than the pulsing of my bleeding arm. We speed out into the street, the others becoming mere specks of shadowy figures in the distance as we go further down the dirt road.

My eyes stay partially closed until I remember that I’m wearing a helmet, and if anyone has to do that its Baekhyun. Which is fucking scary considering the fact that he is the one driving! Steering this two-wheeled vehicle that tilts side to side depending on the gravitational pull of the earth and the wind.

I flinch when we roll over a bump in the road, gripping the front of Baekhyun’s shirt. I can’t tell if it’s the motorcycle or his chuckles causing the vibrations in his chest when I rest my head on his back. The sun is slowly rising, pale light peeking over the horizon. It bounces off of the calm ocean water in the distance. It’s fascinating, how the ocean and the cloudy sky meet, like a snowglobe full of cascading sparkles.

The blur of buildings comes into focus when we slow down, Baekhyun resting his feet on the ground when we reach a red light. Recognizing the slightly run-down buildings, my heart rate picks up. “Baekhyun? Where are we going?” I ask warily. Instead of replying, he pats my clenched fist in a pacifying manner and takes off once the light switches to green.

Gulping down my nerves, I make sure to take note of every street we go down in case I have to hightail my ass out of wherever we are headed. The sight of small brick houses and wide front porches brings a wave of nostalgia over me—and not in a good way. All I can do is hold onto him and hope I stay in one piece until we reach our destination. The weight of my knife concealed in my left boot gives me little reassurance.

We start to slow down on a street that welcomes us with the largest maple tree that I’ve ever seen, followed by small but surprisingly well-kept homes. It’s pretty for the infamous neighborhood that we are in, and the house we stop in front of in particular is the nicest one.

Baekhyun drives up the driveway and parks, getting off the motorcycle with grace before helping me down as well. I flinch when I try to straighten my injured arm. It hurts worse than it did earlier, burning every time my denim jacket sways in the wind and brushes against it. I keep my arm bent at the elbow while clutching it to my chest.

Baekhyun notices but doesn’t say anything. He walks up to the house while I linger behind, taking in the flower-filled yard. Pretty pink roses and beautifully bloomed dandelions take up most of the land. Growing steadily alongside the driveway and sidewalk, their healthy petals awaiting the sunlight.

“Hey.”

Turning back to Baekhyun, he crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe of the open door. The sun shines down on his caramel-colored coat, black graphic tee shirt, and leather pants. The more I look at him, the more confused I get. How on earth is he in a bike gang? He has no visible tattoos, no piercings. The only things “gangsta” about him are his sharp brown eyes, confident stance, and authoritative aura.

Baekhyun clears his throat, jolting me from my thoughts. He raises a brow with a tilt of his head, the corner of his lips twitching. “Come in.” He disappears into the house before I can give any sort of reply.

Pulling my phone out of my bra, I snap a picture of the street sign and send it to my friend so they know my whereabouts—just in case. I tuck it back under my shirt and take one last look at the quiet neighborhood before entering the house.

The only way I can describe the interior is warm. With light brown walls and darker carpeted floors. The living room alone is full of worn-in couches with pretty throw blankets. When I start to take off my shoes, Baekhyun pops up, shaking his head, “there’s more dirt on this floor than out in the yard.”

He walks off into another part of the house with his heeled boots and loud footsteps. I spot a bright orange crumpled leaf and a patch of dried grass in the center of the room. Heeding his advice, I take a wary glance at the unlocked door before going to look for him. Walking to the other side of the living room, I’m met with a doorway to the kitchen on my left and a hallway to my right. Finding no sign of Baekhyun in the tidy room, I venture down the hall.

“In here,” he calls out just as I pass the first door on the left.

Backtracking a few steps, I look inside the bathroom while he rummages in the cabinet under the sink. My eyes move back to him when he swears.

“I know I left it somewhere,” he mumbles just as his eyes caught sight of something. With a tug, he pulls back to close the doors, standing up with a familiar red box in his hands. “Have a seat,” he beckons me over, gesturing to the closed toilet lid with his chin.

I settle myself on the cold surface, the white porcelain chilling my skin through my jeans. Watching him carefully while he sets the first-aid kit beside the sink and takes out antibacterial wipes. When he reaches for my arm I flinch back.

Baekhyun gives me a look. “May I?”

Sighing deeply and gritting my teeth, I nod with a roll of my eyes, slowly taking off my ripped jacket and dropping it in the bathtub. I look away when he draws nearer with the wipe, clenching my hand into a fist. The sting brings tears to my eyes.

After what feels like hours, Baekhyun gets to work on the gauze, gently wrapping it around my arm and taping it together. I take a few deep breaths as he moves over to the sink, focusing on the sound of running water instead of the irritated skin of my scratched palms.

“You won’t need stitches,” Baekhyun murmurs thoughtfully, his voice breaking the silence, echoing across the tiled walls of the room. He dries his hands on an indigo blue towel hanging from a high bathroom rack attached to the wall. “...Are you okay?”

The hint of concern in his voice is surprising, it prompts my eyes shift over to him. “Yea—Fuck!” I hiss loudly, quickly bending my elbow back to its position. The tender wound throbs painfully in sync with my racing heartbeat.

His brows raise. He crosses his arms, leaning his hip against the counter and giving me another knowing look. I only glare back at him.

Baekhyun sighs tiredly. “I’ll get you an Advil.” He shakes his head, making his way out of the room and venturing further down the hallway. I clutch my arm to my chest, sending a quick text to my friend to come pick me up. Thankfully she’s right around the block, passing through the neighborhood on her way back home from work.

A smile curls on my lips when she sends a picture of the great maple tree at the nearest red light. The bandages crinkle when I stand up, grabbing my jacket and tentatively closing the first-aid kit before heading back towards the front of the house. Heavy footsteps have my head whipping back around to find Baekhyun in the hallway with a box of Advil in his hands. “Hey,” he cracks an awkward smile, his hair slightly disheveled.

I narrow my eyes at him.

The smile slowly falls off his face. He clears his throat, gesturing to the box in his hand. “I got you the Advil.”

“I see.” I don’t take my eyes off of him for a minute, shifting my weight so I can retrieve my knife if the need arises. His body language is off and his intentions are not clear. I make sure to keep distance between us; I’ve been in this situation a million times before. Whatever he is trying to achieve with this small talk, I am not up for sticking around to find out.

“Do you, uh‒” he runs a hand through his hair. “Do you need a ride?”

“No, I called a friend,” I smile tightly.

“Oh.” His hand falls down to his side. He shoves it into his pocket and outstretches the box in his hand towards me. “Here, half the box is left. You probably need them more than‒” his eyes catch mine and he clears his throat again, “me.”

I look him up and down and carefully take the box from his hand, avoiding making any contact. My lips twitch in a mixture of amusement and annoyance. “Thanks.”

Baekhyun nods, shoving both hands in his pockets, the velvet green underside of his coat showing when he parts his lips again. “About what happened earli‒”

The rev of a sports car engine cuts him off. “Hop in, bitch!” my best friend yells, breaking the tranquil atmosphere of this shady neighborhood in the early hours of the morning. “We’re going home!”

I glance at the open door then shoot him a forced, polite smile. “Thanks um… Baekhyun, was it? But there’s my ride. I got to go.”

Baekhyun nods while I make sure I have everything, tucking the box of medicine under my good arm. “See you around,” he speaks up when I’m halfway through the door.

Darting my eyes back to him with my hand on the screen door, I smile my fakest smile, letting it slam shut behind me. “Bye!” With a roll of my eyes, I match down the driveway to my friend’s car and hop in with a passive-aggressive smile.

“What the hell happened to your arm?” she raises a perfectly arched brow.

“A situation you never want to be in while shopping for hairspray, Alison. Now drive.”

Part 1✓ | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 |

A/N: If you would like me to continue posting this story on Tumblr, reblog or comment to let me know! (^-^)

[an-annyeoing-writer]

vampire!Baekhyun x Reader: enough, love.

Date of release: 7th December, 2024

Word count: 1 696

Genre: Steamy, suggestive... fluff nonetheless

Warnings: Mentions of blood and violence

„How does it feel?”

You caressed the bruised-up skin above his eyebrow with a wet cloth, gently scrubbing away at the dried out blood.

Baekhyun sat in front of you on the old couch, patiently enduring the treatment with an undisturbed look on his face, while you stood between his legs. He was resting his elbows on his thighs and, as if thoughtlessly, brushing his hands against the exposed skin of your own legs. His touch was non-intrusive, but, once in a while, his eyes landed on your skin, slightly damp from sweat, as if he was pondering over something really hard. You wondered how could he be so calm despite what happened; on the other hand, bruises were only temporary, and they healed on him faster than on a human.

“It stings” he replied simply.

“No, not that” you frowned slightly, moving to wipe his forehead instead, stained with sweat and some dirt. “How does it feel when you bite someone?”

His eyebrow twitched with a display of annoyance – your words served to remind him of today’s failure.

“It’s… relieving” he explained slowly. “But it makes you want more, too.” He let out a resigned sigh. “I’m hungry.”

You chuckled, wiping the blood off the corner of his split lip, and he instantly licked over them to erase the sensation of dryness that followed. Although you were adamant on cleaning the blood off, the longer you stood in the hot room filled with stuffy summer air, the more you were sure that a proper shower was in order. Both you and him were covered in sweat, although there was something comforting about the feeling of his warm, damp skin against yours. His hair was wet from it as well, but his hideout that you were now in wasn’t the cleanest place at all, serving only temporarily whenever things went wrong during the hunt. Nonetheless, you were sentimental about the dusty bed, graffiti-covered walls and broken, matted glass of the narrow window right below the ceiling.

You opened your mouth to say something, but before you could utter a word of comfort, Baekhyun spoke up again.

“I really planned it well, but I didn’t expect him to see me from afar… It’s not even that good for him, if I enchanted him on time he wouldn’t remember a thing. I just didn’t know he’s a professional boxer…” The whining made you chuckle more than anything. “Like I can’t even be mad, it’s just the way things are, but really, it would have been better for the both of us if he didn’t fight me.”

“Maybe stop going for the muscular ones” you suggested with a knowing smirk.

He let out an annoyed whine in response, but quickly silenced to hold onto his bruised lip.

“I’m going for the healthy-looking ones” he specified quietly.

Satisfied cleaning him up, you folded the wet cloth and pressed it into his neck, earning a relieved sigh.

“You look rather healthy, too” you admitted playfully. Now that the act of cleaning up was completed, you were eager to comfort him in other ways – instead of standing between his thighs, you moved to straddle him instead, and he inhaled sharply, leaning back into the sofa to give you the space to sit comfortably.

“Do I?” he teased.

“Yeah, let me just…”

Without waiting for his approval, you opened your mouth and bit into his neck. The sweetest moan reached your ears and the boy’s fingers grabbed your hips.

“N… not fair” he muttered breathily.

The mark you left on would heal faster than you’d like. Even if you gave him a hickey, it would be a matter of a day or two at best before it would be completely gone.

If not for long, need to give him a lot, you thought, parting your lips from his skin and then gifting him with another bite right below. Now, expecting the pain to come, his reaction was much softer, much more relaxed. Your bites were nothing, really – a mere proxy of what he was capable of, not even strong enough to pierce his skin and only leaving lovely marks behind. But the sensation and pain were still material, and Baekhyun relished in it.

Another bite, on his shoulder, right above the collarbone. He let out a sigh and his arms wrapped around your waist, fingers lifting the back of your shirt and rubbing circles into the exposed skin.

“If you wanted to taste me, you should have cleaned me with your tongue” he suggested huskily.

You giggled. You would love for him to whisper such words when it was him on top of you, but now, melting under your touches, they sounded like a distant attempt on saving his grace, especially when the next words he was about to speak died out into another sinful, yet delicious moan.

“Enough, love…”

You parted your lips from his neck and moved up to his lips. He was about to steal a kiss when you leaned forward and bit his jaw. Baekhyun hissed in surprise.

“I said, enough.”

His fingers took a solid hold of your hair, right by the root, gently enough for the pain to be deliberate and not too much, but making his point very, very clear. You moaned gently when the hold strengthened for just a moment before releasing, but his hand moved down to the nape of your neck and held it in place when he dived into it with his own mouth, scratching the soft skin of your throat with his teeth in a wordless warning.

“How does it feel?” he mocked in an annoying, almost childish voice. “Does it sting?” You were about to scold him for talking this foolishly, but it was time for your words to die unspoken when he pulled you by your neck, sprawling you over his lap with your face pressed into the mattress next to him. The motion pushed the air out of your lungs and you gasped helplessly, pressing your hands into the mattress to balance yourself, because your head spun a little. “It is yet to start.”

His fingers dug into the soft skin of the back of your thighs and strengthened in force until you let out a hiss of pain and wriggled in an attempt to get off his lap, but his other hand kept you in place.

“B-Baek, it’s uncomfy…”

“Yeah, I know.”

The hold was strong, and you knew that there is no way through it other than to take it.

Once you stopped wriggling, his hand clasped around the nape of your neck yet again, pressing just slightly to make sure you didn’t think of moving away when he hoovered above your bum. Your realization lasted a second at best, before you felt the warm breath on the outer side of your thigh.

“Baek, wait…!”

His fangs pierced your soft skin without an ounce of mercy or hesitation. Deep into the flesh, as if it was an apple rather than your body. You choked on a whimper, hands reaching back to hold onto any bit of him that you could grasp, being it his shirt or jeans, but the position was too inconvenient to twist your limbs like that and you eventually let them lie limp by your face, breathing heavily when your body accommodated to the pain and intrusion.

Your blood ran slow and steady.

Baekhyun didn’t feed on you often – a human body would not be able to sustain feeding him as regularly as he needed, and so his dietary habits didn’t include you on a daily basis. Before you met him, you wouldn’t even think of accepting such a deal in the first place, not to mention enjoying it.

But it would be a lie to say it was not enjoyable now.

The pain dulled out quickly, and the blood loss was not sensible at all; Baekhyun was taking his time, making sure that you weakened as he wished – slowly, feeling every single bit of it.

By the time his lips parted from your flesh, you were completely at ease, putty in his hands when he maneuvered you back onto his lap, nudging you to rest against his chest. The rough fabric of his jeans rubbed against the fresh wound, but you swallowed down the remains of pain, focusing on there new here and now.

Your rest was short-lived. His one arm was wrapped behind your back, supporting you and holding you against him securely, but the other reached to your hand and picked it up to his lips. Eyes meeting yours, satisfied with your ability to still keep them open rather than melting away completely, he slowly placed his lips against your wrist, leaving a single wet kiss before inhaling and biting into the new place with a hungry hiss and a clamp of teeth against your bone.

 You whimpered from pain – the bite was shallow, and Baekhyun pulled away almost instantly, making sure you watched as your own blood ran down your arm, down to your elbow, and dripped onto your legs.

With a hum, he stretched your arm forward and lapped the blood trail with his tongue, eventually reaching the wrist again and then wrapping his lips around it. His eyes closed in a silent focus, and your own followed the suit, but rather due to weakness and exhaustion.

“Enough, love~” you mocked in a lightweight voice.

His lips finally detached from your body in what would have been considered a seductive movement, was it not for the blood staining the man’s lips and teeth and running down his chin in a grotesque demonstration of greed. The lips curled into a smug smile as he tilted his head to the side, watching your delirious state with almost childlike curiosity.

“Oh, oh no…” you mumbled, reaching to his lips, and gently wiped his chin with your thumb. It was not very efficient, really, and just served to smudge the blood around. You were vaguely aware that you weren’t clean of it, either.

Baekhyun laughed softly.

“I don’t think that will do.”’

Maybe it meant that a shower was in order anyway.

[papermatisse]

Stranger || B.BH

† genre: horror

† word count: 3.6k

† warnings: imposter, gaslighting, paranoia

† synopsis: after her boyfriend left on a trip, (y/n) was excited to reunite with him once again. she wasn't expecting a man, whom she'd never met before then, seemingly assuming the role of her boyfriend.

† (a/n): the first installment of my spooktober anthology! I feel like it may be confusing for some, but rip. either way, this one was based on the Magnus Archives episode, The Kind Mother, because body snatchers scare me 👍

† taglist: @scuzmunkie @hipsdofangirl

anthology | main masterlist

It had been a week since she last saw Baekhyun. To others, it may not seem like a long time, but to her, it felt almost chasmous the stretch of time that had separated the two.

They had been one of those cliche, heartwarming stories of a childhood friendship flourishing into an unbreakable bond, growing up together side by side, facing the world and its challenges one day at a time. And as if an inevitable facet of such a close relationship, platonic emotions soon morphed into a beautiful and budding infatuation with one another.

Their anniversary was coming up, and although it's been years, it still felt like their first. That sweet and awkward time of unfamiliarity, a rarity in their lifetimes in which they had shared every thought and feeling, and they relished in the awkward exchanges of that first anniversary. Silly giggles and blushing faces, unsure of what was to be done on such a momentous occasion. But it was a time she cherished, and one she fondly thought of on the car ride to the airport.

Alongside his family, they waited at baggage claim, all mingling amongst each other to pass the time by. Though that time seemed to come to a standstill as the lot all began frantically calling out his name, displaying their excitement in this inevitable reunion.

All but (y/n), that is.

Because the man they cried for was not her Baekhyun.

It was a mortifying ordeal, to be fairly honest, turning around to greet her lover of so many years, only to see a man she's never once seen in her lifetime. He appeared youthful with dyed gray locks that lay against his head like an unkempt mop, short yet with a broad stature beneath his clothing. Brown eyes that disappeared as he smiled at the family that all ran up to him, embracing the boy like long lost loved ones. His grin was bright and beaming, reciprocating the affection tenfold, voices all overlapping as they reconnected.

And when he finally met her tentative gaze, she felt her stomach churn with unrest.

"(y/n), are you okay?" Baekhyun's elder brother asked, his laughter dying down as he instead went to approach the girl still standing as stiff as a board by the conveyor belts of luggage.

"Oh dear, (y/n) what's wrong?" The mother followed suit, taking up (y/n)'s other side, the two cradling the girl between them as she grimaced at the man stepping closer to assess her.

"(y/n), are you alright?" His voice made a wave of nausea run over her, grimacing as his eyes remained locked on her own. Though there was anything but concern in his gaze—instead he watched with a prying stare, as if unearthing whatever anxieties were broiling within her mind. The thought had her recoiling further into his mother.

"What is this?" (y/n) finally managed to get out, eyes remaining on whoever stood before her. "What's going on? Who is this?"

"Okay, now I'm genuinely concerned." The boy to her side pressed the back of his hand to her forehead.

"What do you mean?" The mother beside her squeezed (y/n)'s arms comfortingly. "Is there something wrong, sweetheart? You're not excited to see Baekhyun?"

She shook her head, brows furrowing at the man who feigned worry for her countenance.

"This… isn't Baekhyun."

At this, the whole family grew quiet, the father being the first to speak, approaching the growing situation and clamping a hand on the unknown man.

"(y/n), you good?" The repeated questions finally got to her as she aggressively shook off the two holding her, backing away from the group who watched with inbridled concern in their eyes.

"I don't know what's going on. I don't know what you're all playing at. I don't know if this is just a prank or something." (y/n) watched their gazes, though nothing seemed to shift even the slightest. "This… This isn't Baekhyun!"

Another round of concerned murmuring as they tried growing closer, though (y/n) continued to step back further. The man just watched her, head quirked to the side with a pout on his face, though his eyes seemed to be the one tell in his facade. They were too aware. As if watching the scene unfold, fully planned in its entirety. And suddenly that nausea from before came back, (y/n) having to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop the uneasy rise of bile.

It was all a rush from there, being guided out of the airport whilst wrapped in the mother's arms, then tucked away into the vehicle. They all spoke words of distress in regards to her mental state, though it all sounded like a jumbled mess in her head. From where she sat behind the passenger seat, she could see the rear view mirror ahead, and at the corner of its reflection was the man staring at her with such cold intrigue in his eyes. The man they all seem to be so well acquainted with, but one she had never met in all of her time growing up with the bunch.

His eyes felt penetrative, invasive. Uncaring and calculated, like a scientist watching a subject squirm beneath his glower. Though he maintained his composure so well, catching up and laughing along with everyone. Talking as if he truly were the Baekhyun she knew and loved. His clothing was much like Baekhyun's, though of a different size, and his mannerisms were practically identical.

It had to be a prank. A cruel prank. But her mind couldn't wrap around such a scheme. Whoever this man was made her queasy. He struck something in her, something primal and instinctual. A fear in her she never knew she had.

She wanted to ask once more where Baekhyun was, but her mouth had gone dry, too wary to speak in this man's presence until they had arrived in town. Her ever approaching doom seemed to grow nearer and nearer as she finally began processing her situation.

This was not a prank. This was not a joke. Something was horribly wrong. And she was about to be left alone in her apartment with a stranger. Though not just any normal stranger: an imposter.

"Could you… drop me off at my friend's house?" Her voice came out weak, barely above a whisper, but still heard by the father who merely nodded.

"Yes, I think that would be best given our… predicament."

Predicament. He spoke as if it were nothing of significance. As if the man beside him was truly his son, and it was just his son's significant other gone crazy. A hushed silence fell upon the vehicle, and with a tentative glance at the mirror, she confirmed her suspicions.

The imposter seemed displeased though not surprised. Finally tearing his eyes off the mirror to stare ahead at the road.

After a few mumbled directions, the car pulled up to the familiar apartment complex of her best friend, and with an abrupt farewell to the lot, she slipped out of the vehicle. She could feel his eyes trained on her as she rushed into the building, not wanting to turn back once for fear of meeting that cruel, dark, soulless stare.

Sehun was little more than surprised to open his door and see his best friend, rattled beyond belief and on the brink of a meltdown, but he attempted to mask his shock by ushering in (y/n).

"What's up? Are you okay?" She was silent for a second, hesitant to speak. Afraid his ears were just as invasive as his eyes were. Afraid Sehun would brush her off just as the Byun family had. Afraid she truly was just going mad after all. But she needed answers either way.

"You know… Baekhyun?" She asked aloud, stepping cautiously to the window and peering out. As she suspected, they had driven off by now.

This time, Sehun was silent, though only for a few seconds before he snorted.

"Yeah, I know your boyfriend." His voice had grown lighter, though still softened with concern. "Is everything alright?"

"How would you describe him?" Her response had come quicker this time, staring out from the apartment's vantage point as if maybe she could see them.

"I don't know. Hyperactive. Funny. Bit of a loser."

"Physical characteristics." Another moment of silence before Sehun sighed.

"Good looking fellow. Serious case of baby face. Bit of a shorty." At this, (y/n) whirled around, an aghast expression across her face as she stared at her friend in bewilderment.

"You can't be serious." Sehun was visibly perturbed, having taken a seat at his couch with his head leant against his propped arm on the headrest. His eyes widened, a slight frown marring his features whilst he digested the sudden shift in (y/n). "Baekhyun is tall, well above your height. He has big eyes and big ears. He has dimples and freckles and tattoos. He–"

"(y/n), what's going on?" Sehun cut her off, slowly standing to approach the now breathless girl who was steaming from her sudden outburst.

"You… They… Baekhyun… You're… You're all trying to make me lose my mind, and to be honest it's kind of working."

She began prattling on once more, descriptions of the Baekhyun she knew and loved, the one that is seemingly nowhere to be found. And as she did so, Sehun wandered off, letting her go off to absolutely no one at all, until he came back, picture frame in hand. Wordlessly, he handed it over to her, waiting until her shaky fingers grasped the image.

A group photo from their hiking trip last year, the three of them plus their friends, Jongin and Jongdae. It was one she was quite familiar with, one that hangs in the hallway to Sehun's room. And the order went as followed: Sehun, Jongdae, (y/n), Baekhyun, and then Jongin. Everything should've been as it usually is, all except one minor detail.

This was not Baekhyun. This was the imposter.

She revolted from the photo, gasping as she all but tossed it away from her. It landed on the couch with a muted thud, though Sehun couldn't care less about the image, more so focused on his friend who had now collapsed on the ground, gasping for air and clenching at her convulsing chest.

"(y/n), stay with me," he rushed to comfort her, gathering her in his arms and patting her back as soothingly as he could muster, though nothing seemed to do the trick. Her eyes had remained on the dreaded image where that creature had seamlessly replaced the real Baekhyun. It had to have been edited. It had to have been a cruel ploy. Her mind told her otherwise, but it couldn't be true. This couldn't be real. None of this made sense.

Frantically, she pulled out her phone, unlocking it with trembling hands before bursting into tears once more.

Right there, her home screen which usually displayed a photo of her and Baekhyun seated in front of a fountain was now replaced with that of her and the imposter. It felt sickening to see such an image. Leant against this thing with pure tenderness seeping from her eyes, all while he merely mimicked the sentiment, a smile on his face that made her skin crawl.

Suddenly, another wave of nausea hit, and she dashed out of Sehun's embrace and to the bathroom. By the time her friend had caught up, she had already emptied her stomach of its contents, now weeping at the toilet bowl with such hopeless resignation. An exhaustion weighed upon her shoulders as she sobbed recklessly to herself, and all Sehun could do was comfort her to the best of his abilities.

Cleaning off her face and helping her out of the bathroom, he guided her to the guest bedroom, laying beside her as she cried and cried until finally she gave up and fell asleep.

The next day, Sehun was driving (y/n) to her apartment. If she was going to be staying with him, she needed her necessary items.

She didn't want to come. She never wanted to see that imposter ever again. And while Sehun offered to retrieve her things on his own, she felt too grateful to her friend to have him do anything more. She'll collect whatever she needs and bid this imposter farewell. At least until she can find out where the real Baekhyun was.

The walk to the apartment was unnerving to say the least, as was willingly unlocking the door to the devil's den.

It was silent at first as they stepped in, and for a second she felt hopeful that maybe he wasn't here. Nevertheless, she clung to Sehun, eyes roving over the familiar yet ever foreign area. Bittersweet memories came flooding back to her as she scanned over the living space she had once shared with her boyfriend for years on end. Memories of the two cooking together, napping on the couch together, laughing and crying together. Living out their ever mundane lives, but doing so as a couple.

Fear laced her whole being, tentative steps guiding her further into the unknown. Her shaky eyes darted to and fro, awaiting for the creature to pounce upon her like she were some prey. And if she looked manic beyond belief, Sehun didn't comment, entertaining her suspicions by remaining as quiet as can be. Though even with these precautions taken, it was not enough to conceal their presence from the thing which lurked in the silence of the once warm abode.

"(y/n), is that you?" A voice rang forth from the hallway, startling and prompting her to whirl around and face the man who was beginning to haunt her every waking thought.

There he stood, light hair tousled haphazardly, cheeks rounded and red with mirth, the image of innocence, yet with those dark, perceptive eyes that burrowed into her being. With every approaching step, (y/n) ducked behind Sehun, discomfort riddling her body.

"I was worried after yesterday." The man chuckled weakly, still staring at (y/n) even as she attempted to hide from his view. "How's it going, Sehun?"

"As good as it gets, I guess," Sehun responded casually. His mannerism disturbed (y/n). This man shouldn't know who Sehun is, nor should Sehun know who he is. Yet they acted as if friends for years now. The images were damning, something which couldn't have been fabricated without her knowing, yet she refused to accept this development unfolding before her.

"Thank you for taking care of (y/n) for the time being. I can take it from here." Those words had a cold sweat forming over her skin, and she clung to Sehun's shirt with a desperate grip. As mundane as his intentions seemed, there was something sinister beneath the syntax of his phrasing—something she did not want to find out any time soon.

"Actually, given the circumstances and (y/n)'s condition, we thought it would be best if she stay at my place for a while. At least until things settle down."

The man was silent for a moment. A thick tension settled in the air, but perhaps it was only perceptible to her, as Sehun remained unmoving. With a daring glance, (y/n) looked at him from behind Sehun, though he seemed to have regained his composure, offering her another sly, mischievous smile.

"Of course. That seems to be the best option for now."

The Baekhyun imposter remained seated in the kitchen, his eyes trained on (y/n) as she piled up her bags at the front door. It left an ache in the pit of her stomach, removing herself from what she's always considered her home, but at this point, these four walls felt like a foreboding prison to her. Nothing like the tenderness offered by her real Baekhyun—her true home.

A momentary pang in her heart disrupted her momentum, and Sehun picked up on it, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Let's take a break for now, yeah? You've done a lot."

Bringing her to the kitchen was easier said than done. Baekhyun had laid out glasses of water for the three of them, and he merely sat there resting his chin in his hand, wearing that sickeningly sweet grin of his that had goosebumps appearing all along her body. Sitting across from him was unnerving, though bearable with Sehun beside her.

The two got to talking, discussing Baekhyun's trip and such. (y/n) paid no mind to his games, staring down at her drink and waiting for the time to pass. It couldn't come sooner. The longer she stayed, the further she grew from her sanity. As if in a perpetual panic mode, her body was beginning to grow weary from being on edge for so long.

"I'm going to use the restroom really quick." She shot upright at Sehun's announcement, looking at him with sheer terror in her eyes, but Sehun just shot his gaze over to Baekhyun and back to her. 'Talk to him.'

With Sehun gone, this marked the first time she'd ever be alone with this Baekhyun. It was difficult to move for a moment after he had left, that heavy yet increasingly familiar sensation of the man's eyes lingering on her was particularly daunting. Eventually, with all the gathered bravado she had left in her system, she slowly turned to face him, eyes shakily raising to meet his own.

And there it was. That cocky, egotistical smile, practically splitting his face with its breadth. His hands were neatly folded on the table's surface, his undivided attention on none other than her. And it seemed that innocent guise he'd been inhibiting since his untimely arrival had dissipated, fully showing his true character in all its conniving glory.

"Hello, (y/n)." His voice dripped with malice, and the sudden heavy state of the atmosphere had her feeling queasy as she recoiled into her seat. Though Baekhyun was undeterred by her reclusiveness, instead beginning to lean forward on the table. "I have a feeling you don't seem to like me anymore."

"You're not Baekhyun." (y/n) bit back, pushing through the quickly forming lump in her throat as the man opposite her glowered down at her. Though upon hearing her words, a smirk settled across his lips.

"I'm not Baekhyun?" His words were mocking, the sort of patronizing tone taken when dealing with children. His head quirked to the side, smile widening even more—almost unnatural for a human to produce with how it seemed to have no real end to it.

She shook her head, arms coiling around herself defensively as he watched her. The sensation of his eyes on her was quite possibly the most abnormal, hostile feeling she's ever experienced in all her life. Feeling like mere cattle fodder to him. As minuscule as humanly possible.

Though this sensation wasn't a mere predatory stance upon her. As she squirmed beneath his gaze upon her, the realization of it all slowly dawned upon her. This was beyond anything of this mortal realm. This wasn't anything human at all. The creature before her wasn't anything human.

Instead, with that twisted expression of his contorting his face entirely, dark eyes sharpened with something sinister broiling within them, it made more sense to attribute his existence to something… supernatural. Something which couldn't make sense. Something with the intention of causing harm at all costs.

To make matters worse, this disturbing, almost demonic chuckle resonated from the Baekhyun across from her. A boisterous laughter which wasn't anything like she'd heard before, yet retained his exact voice, stirring another bout of unease from her at the mere sound of it. Like he was nothing more than a puppet for someone's use. Like the Baekhyun across from her was just an illusion.

"Oh, you're so brave, (y/n)." The voice which came forth was laced with venom, practically all restraints for this persona he had taken now evaporated into nothing as he unveiled the full extent of his true character. "So naive, so stupid."

His hand slammed against the table, abrupt and violent in its manner, prompting a cry from (y/n) as she finally released the sobs that had been kept at bay throughout this endeavor, up until this point. A sickening crack coincided with the gesture, and she wasn't sure whether it came from the table splintering beneath his fist, or the bones of his hand which must've dealt damage with the ferocity of his action.

And in a most vile and malevolent manner, he spat out his next words, veins bulging from his neck with a sadistic scowl thrusted upon her, shooting forward as much as the table permitted him.

"I am Baekhyun, because the other guy no longer fucking exists."

Sehun came rushing in shortly afterwards upon hearing (y/n)'s cries, only to find her cowering in the corner, hands yanking at her hair as she released a guttural scream akin to someone bearing witness to atrocities beyond their recognition. All the while, Baekhyun remained seated, expression passive and unchanging, watching (y/n) lose her sanity as if the scene were nothing more than a spectacle for his own amusement.

He didn't know what happened between them. Even after she had gone through weeks of silence and listlessness, she never spoke of that fated conversation. And even if he wanted to get Baekhyun's take on the matter, he couldn't. Because shortly after he had come back from his trip, he disappeared without another trace.

† (a/n): I just think it's a cool concept yk?

[kyoongboxi]

Scented Roses —

[Baekhyun AU]

Summary: A baffling series of recent deaths has sent shockwaves through the city, as the mystery continues to terrify the public. Conspiracy theorists speculate that the culprit wasn't human, spreading fear through their chilling speculation.

Little did you know, you would soon find yourself being his next target, which securely got you wrapped around his fingers.

Pairing: Baekhyun x Reader

Genre: suspense, baekhyun is a sexy, possessive vampy 🤫

────────────────────────────Another busy day is approaching before it finally hits the weekend. The street has been busy since the morning as the temperature is dropping down, indicating that summer comes to an end. Some people could be seen walking quickly, their steps deliberate and hurried. Eyes occasionally glancing down at their wrists, afraid that they will not make it on time to their workplace.

And among the sea of passersby, no one seems to notice a non-human existence was currently lurking for his daily meal, blending perfectly with them. The city is in a state of terror in the start of fall, caused by his existence. The police reveal that the corpses discovered display similar characteristics, including being extremely pale and having the blood drained from their bodies.

The news causes the residents to be on high alert, but there is also a growing number of conspiracy theorists online who claim that a blood-sucking monster is responsible for the murders. They even air a live stream every night in an attempt to catch the killer. The internet is filled with speculation and debate, with some people genuinely believing in the existence of such a creature while others dismiss it as nothing more than a myth.

The blood-sucker himself smiled softly, walking in the opposite direction with his head high as the people rushing towards their destination. Baekhyun dressed in his usual attire, this time he styled his hair nicely with his forehead revealed. Fingers clutching the book which hides a razor blade tucked perfectly inside to test his meal.

While mundanes have a limited sense of smell, his was otherwise. He could detect more than just a general scent, he could pick up the aroma of fresh flowing blood. People walk past him, but he hasn't come across someone whose scent stirs up his desire. His senses are alert, looking for that sweet scent that would awaken his deepest cravings.

Until when he walked past a coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet, mundanes scent flared the man's nostrils. He took a deep breath, involuntarily closing his eyes as he inhaled the intoxicating fragrance. His desire was immediately ignited, and his eyes snapped open as he quickly scanned the group of people about to pass him by. It was the scent of a woman that had caught his attention.

And here you were, walking in hurried steps as you struggled to make it to work on time. A pair of earbuds attached into your ears, providing a distraction from the anxiety that often gripped you due to the heavy traffic by blasting your favorite playlist. As you hastened along, losing in your own thoughts and the music playing in your ears, you accidentally collided with someone walking in the opposite direction.

Your hurried steps and the unexpected impact caused one of your earbuds to slip out of your ear, and when you bent down to grab it, your eyes noticed a trickle of blood seeping from your wrist. "Oh shit— you're bleeding"

The voice of a man you had collided with came to your ear, and before you could even react, he quickly grabbed your wrist and attached his mouth to it with a light suction. The unexpected action caused you to freeze in place, the sounds of the bustling street and the music fading into the background as people walked without paying attention.

You finally snapped out of your daze and hastily pull your hand back, apologizing for your hurried steps. "Sorry—I'm in a hurry," you mumbled, feeling embarrassed and still overwhelmed by the situation.

But before you could even wonder how your wrist got the small cut, the man quickly shut off your thoughts, as if he knew what you were about to ask. "Sometimes paper can cut through the skin like a sharp knife. I apologize"

Baekhyun lifted his book, the edge of its paper now stained with a bit of your blood. He lowered his head slightly, offering an apology for causing you any discomfort. You nodded slowly in acknowledgment, silently accepting his apology before putting your earbud back in and continuing on your way. Shaking your head, tried to shrug off the strange encounter of his behavior.

Meanwhile the man remained in place, blue eyes watching your figure walk away. His grip on the book tightened until his knuckles turned white, almost crumbling the pages with his inhuman strength. He stood there, completely still as passersby bustled around him.

His heart pounded with a fierce desire coursing through his veins, the memory of her sweet blood and tantalizing scent lingering on his tongue. The taste awakened a desire within him, and he found himself replaying the same sentence over and over in his mind - he had to get you in his arms.

────────────────────────────

Baekhyun spent the day consumed by his thoughts about the taste of your blood, which seemed to linger in his mouth longer than he imagined it would. He retreated to the sanctuary of his mansion, hidden away somewhere in the city.

In his chair, he leaned back with eyes closed, feet propped upon the table, his heeled shoes tapping against the glass surface. Baekhyun struggled to control the growing hunger and intense yearning that consumed his own, his mind constantly replaying the moment he had tasted your blood.

"I have never tasted such a delicious one like you.." He whispered to himself, his thumb gently tracing his lips, gently gliding over the sharp points of his canines. It was a constant challenge for the man to keep his fangs hidden every time he ventured out, and it was quite a discomfort.

As the night crept over the city, Baekhyun had effortlessly discovered where you live. He now stood outside your apartment building, his hands idly tucked into his pockets calmly. His icy blue eyes glinted in the dim light as they scanned upwards, locking onto the high floor where you resided while the street lay hushed and quiet, as most mundanes had retired to their beds in search of their daily rest.

Despite his ability to take the direct route through the air, Baekhyun actually loves to do mundane things. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for your floor, quietly twirling a red lollipop in his mouth as he did so.

His once perfectly neat hair was now loose, slightly concealing his forehead, and he donned his favorite black silk dress shirt to meet his special guest. Several buttons were artfully unbuttoned, revealing a tantalizing view of his sculpted chest with a glimmering silver necklace hanging from his neck.

With purposeful strides, Baekhyun stepped out of the elevator and made his way down the hallway before halted in front of your door. The intensity of your scent grew stronger, filling his senses and stirring his desire to feed. He inhaled deeply, followed by a soft sigh. The man gripped the handle, gently prying the door open, trying his best not to make too much sound.

The sweet and intoxicating scent that greeted him as the door swung open sent a subtle dizzying sensation through Baekhyun's senses. He stepped inside, closing the door silently behind him, not bothering to remove his shoes. However, his steps were abruptly halted when he stepped on something— a pair of men's shoes. His expression darkened slightly.

"Ah fuck..." An intense wave of jealousy washed over him at the thought of you belonging to someone else. The sheer idea of a mere mundane having the privilege of holding a sweet precious human being like you ignited a fire of possessiveness in his heart.

But Baekhyun's uncertainty began to linger, he could only detect your sweet scent wafting through the room. There was no trace of anyone else, nor the scent emanating from the pair of shoes. He frowned then, finally taking another step further as he deliberately tossed his lollipop into the pair of shoes, shrugging his shoulder.

As Baekhyun walked through the living room, his feet automatically stopped by its own as the corner of his eyes caught a small photo frame sitting on the table. The man backtracked, making sure of what he just saw.

He crouched down then, picking up the frame and letting out an irritated frown as he eyed the photo. It showed a photo of you, kissing a man's cheek that he had never encountered before. And without thinking twice, Baekhyun walked into the glass door which leads to the balcony, throwing the frame away into the night air.

Baekhyun let himself settle on the couch as the moon lights illuminating his features. Attempting to soothe his growing anger because he feared he might completely lose control once he saw you.

Several minutes ticked by as the night deepened, and Baekhyun finally eased the door open, quietly entering your bedroom. The sweet fragrance of your presence hung heavily in the air, and he found himself smiling at the peaceful sight of you asleep.

Your soft lips were slightly parted, and the hem of your nightgown had ridden up slightly, revealing a glimpse of your creamy thigh. The blanket was bunched up around your waist, picturing an innocence and vulnerability, just the way he liked it.

He observed the small bandage on your wrist as a slight of guilt fluttering in his chest for causing you any discomfort earlier. The man quietly approached your sleeping form, softly seating himself on bed beside you. He delicately touched your cheek with his knuckles, the cool metal of his rings slightly brushed over your skin.

Slowly, he gently moved your hair, exposing the smoothness of your neck, the veins beneath the skin now fully visible. His icy blue eyes are fixated on the sight, the veins pulsing as if calling him to come closer. Out of his control, his tongue involuntarily grazed over his sharp canines, anticipating the taste he longed for since the beginning he met you.

Feeling the bed dip slightly and a gust of cool air brushed against your exposed neck, you stirred from your peaceful sleep. Your eyes fluttered open as a small frown formed in your forehead. Confusion flashed through your mind as you gradually saw the presence of someone sitting on the bed beside you, and your eyes widened in surprise.

Your body reflexively tensed, immediately flooded with adrenaline. In a quick decision, you scooted away and leaped out of the bed, attempting to flee from the stranger, but the blanket tangled around your waist hindered your escape. Causing you to stumble and let out a yelp before falling heavily into the ground. The impact of the fall sent a jolt of pain through your body, leaving you momentarily disoriented and vulnerable.

"Fuck.." A soft curse slipped past your lips as you lay on the floor, eyes squeezed shut in an attempt to bear with the pain that go straight up through your body.

"I'm not responsible for that. You did that to yourself" He taunted, his voice dripping with a hint of mockery as his slight chuckle filled the air. You gasped, eyes widening as a pointed shoe suddenly appeared in your line of sight, not knowing his movement.

Despite the lingering pain from the fall, you hastily pushed yourself up, scooting back until you felt the solid frame of the bed press against your lower back. Your heart thumped loudly within your chest, the sound echoing in your ears as your eyes widened with terror.

The ethereal moonlight streaming through the window enhanced his appearance, highlighting every sharp angle, emphasizing his otherworldly beauty, giving you a clearer view of himself.

He approached you with deliberate steps, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he purposely revealed his sharp canines. The sight of his fangs sent a chill down your spine, and your body tensed involuntarily as you pressed further into the solid frame of the bed, attempting to create as much distance between the two of you as possible.

Baekhyun chuckled softly as he lowered himself to a crouching position in front of you. "Yeah, it's been me all along," he confirmed, his icy gaze fixed on you in his droopy stares.

"Don't kill me" Your voice trembled as you whispered your plea, a single tear that escaped and rolling down your cheek as the fear etched on your pretty face.

"No, sweetheart. Trust me, I won't." His voice was steady and soft as he responded. He reached his hand out, gently wiped the tear away from your cheek with the knuckles of his fingers. His gesture alone carried a mix of comfort and an underlying possessiveness.

"What makes you to make up the lie about the shoes and the pictures?" Baekhyun inquired further, his fingertips gently moving through your hair as he tucked it behind your ear. Your eyes were brimming with tears, silently threatening to spill over at second.

The man's gaze lingered on the small bandage around your wrist as he asked another question, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and demand. "Who has been bothering you so you have to make up such a lie, hm?"

"Is it because of me?" His touch was gentle as he lifted your wrist, softly caressing the bandage with his thumb. Baekhyun lifted his head, his intense gaze locking onto your own frightened one as he firmly declared, "I'll protect you from now on. You're safe with me."

With a swift but deliberate movement, he peeled the small bandage from your skin, causing the hidden wound to be exposed once more. Fresh blood trickled out, bringing a wince of pain to your face as your body instinctively reacted to the sudden sensations.

Silent tears rolled down your cheeks, a mixture of pain and helplessness filled you as you realized the extent of your own fragility. Your zero attempts to pull your hand away from his grasp only served to highlight how powerless you truly were in this moment.

Baekhyun tightened his grip on your wrist, deliberately applying pressure to the open wound. Fresh blood welled up from the cut once more, and a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. Without hesitation, he swiped his thumb through the blood, coating it in your own blood.

His actions were deliberate and slow as he smeared your own blood across your lower lips with his thumb. Baekhyun's watchful gaze followed the path of his thumb, his eyes intently focused on the way the blood spread across your lips with his mouth slightly agape.

Blue eyes filled with an intense look as he observed the crimson liquid coating your lips. After a moment, he slowly pulled his thumb away, leaving your lips stained with a hint of crimson.

Your mind was frozen in shock as you struggled to comprehend his bold action. The tears continued to well up in your eyes, a clear sign of terror showed on your face. You desperately shook your head, silently pleading with him to stop, but he seemed to completely ignore your silent plea. Baekhyun moved his head closer, closing the distance between the two of you until he leaned in, his cold breath now falling upon your skin.

The man then lunged forward, pressing his lips firmly against yours. A deep, guttural growl rumbled within his chest, finally giving in to the craving that had consumed him throughout the day. His eyelids fluttered shut as he cherished the moment.

He shifted one hand to cradle the back of your head, holding you firmly against him as the kiss deepened. His tongue eagerly explored your mouth, ensuring that no trace of the precious blood was left behind as he savored the metallic taste.

Your fingers tightly grasping the blanket laying beneath you, tears keep silently streaming down your face as you struggled to process the conflicting mix of terror and inexplicable feelings that consuming you.

He finally pulled away ever so softly, his icy gaze held your's tear-filled in captivity, locking you in place. "Forget everyone but me— anyone else will be boring"

"Don't you ever look back to someone else, alright?" Each word he whispers brushed lightly against your lips, sending a shiver down your spine. And you find yourself nodded your head helplessly, realizing the way he had cast a spell over you.

[mybiasisexo]

First Word 🍼

Genre: Fluff | slight angst | Dad!au Pairing: Baekhyun x f.Reader Length: 827 Warnings: babies and tears

anon asks: baekhyun with 1 and 24 pleasee c:

a/n: my first drabble in years 😵‍💫. please be nice 🥺 also this is what i was curious if yall liked babies or not, but we all grown here right? personally i dont even like babies!!! but bbh was whispering this in my ear 🙄, what was i gonna say? no?!??

DRABBLE GAME | MASTERLIST

credit

Your daughter was your pride and joy—your life. She turned one a couple weeks ago, and it was a joyous, yet surreal moment for you and your dear husband, Baekhyun. It felt like time was going by so fast, that your baby girl was growing up too quickly. Already you missed her toothless smile and the restless nights.

You were in your room when you heard it. Baekhyun was putting the little one down for bed and you had the baby monitor on. You couldn’t help but smile as you listened to Baekhyun coo at your baby girl, hearing her infectious giggles. They were your little family, and you felt so blessed in this moment.

“Dada.”

The house grew silent. Your heart plummeted as you heard your daughter say her first word.

“What did you just say?” Baekhyun’s shocked voice came through the monitor. It raised higher with his growing excitement. “Did you just say ‘dada’?!”

“Dada dada dada!” She chanted, giggling all the while.

“That’s right! I’m your dada! I’m your dada and I love you oh so mu--”

You turned the monitor off.

You felt like you were going to be sick. You knew this reaction was kind of dramatic, but it hurt. You wanted it to be you, your daughter’s first words. You were hoping it would be you. As cute as the moment was, you just couldn’t find it in yourself to be happy with them.

It was a bit later when Baekhyun came barging in, having finally put baby to sleep.

“You won’t believe it!” He said, smiling from ear to ear, practically jumping with elation.

“Pumpkin said her first word! And it was ‘Dada’! She said my name!”

“Congratulations,” you said, voice void of any emotion.

He noticed that and deflated instantly. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” You turned your head away from him when tears began obscuring your vision.

You missed the way his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Are you…upset?”

You shook your head in answer, unable to speak without bursting into tears. When it came to your precious baby girl, you were a blubbering mess, and something this huge had you absolutely distraught. You felt like you were going crazy, but that didn’t stop you from reacting this way.

You were trying your best not to show just how affected you were, but you sucked in a shaky breath that made it all too obvious what you were doing.

“Are you crying?” He questioned incredulously.

You couldn’t hold it back any longer. You burst into tears, full on sobbing. Baekhyun took in your wailing form in utter shock, not expecting this reaction to his news.

“I just…really…wanted her to say…my name…first,” you revealed between sobs.

“It’s not a competition,” he said soothingly. “She might have said ‘dada’ first, but—”

Just hearing him say it again made you wail harder.

“For God’s sake, stop crying,” he groaned. It came off as irritated, but you heard the distress in his voice. He hated when you cried.

“I can’t help it,” you whimpered. “Our baby doesn’t love me.”

Baekhyun sighed before joining you on the bed, pulling you into him so that you’re crying on his chest. You didn’t fight him, letting him comfort you. He tucked your head under his chin and rubbed your back.

“Just because Pumpkin said my name first, doesn’t mean she loves you any less. She’ll be saying mama in no time, so there’s no need to be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous, you’re jealous,” you wailed, elbowing him in the stomach. He chuckled from the action, but grew serious quickly.

“Will you stop crying, please? You’ll make me cry.”

You could already hear the tears in his own voice, and that made you feel guilty.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized, finally calming down. You pulled away from him, taking in his red rimmed eyes. “I ruined this moment for you.”

He shook his head. “No, your reaction is valid. I would’ve been disappointed too, if the roles were reversed.”

You sniffed and Baekhyun cupped your face, wiping your river of tears. Once cleaned off, he pressed a loving kiss onto your forehead, and then your nose, and then a chaste kiss to your lips.

“I love you,” he said simply.

“I love you too,” you replied and then kissed him again. “Let’s go to bed, ‘Dada’.”

He grinned at that, nothing but pure happiness and love shining in his eyes. “It’s got a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

“It’s perfect,” you told him as you both got comfortable under the blankets.

It’s peacefully quiet for a moment before Baekhyun murmured, “you’ve been acting kind of sensitive lately. You don’t think you might be pregnant again, do you?”

You groaned at the thought. “God, I hope not.”

You could feel the pout on his little lips. “Why not? Pumpkin needs a sibling.”

“Good night, Baekhyun!”

You rolled over in bed, ignoring the way he whined when you did.

[hyuniebaby]

(un)certainties

Pairing: Byun Baekhyun x Reader

Word count: 0.9k

“You aren’t well versed in love. And the things that you do know of love, you’ve learned from Byun Baekhyun.”

You’re not sure how things ended up this way.

The air is stuffy and stale. No sound can be heard aside from the occasional scraping of the utensils against the plates and the clock ticking on the wall. It makes you a little bit self conscious about your own breathing — afraid that it would disrupt the atmosphere if you breathed too deeply.

You pretend to take a sip on your glass of wine and sneak a peek at the person in front of you.

Byun Baekhyun seems to be unperturbed. He maintains a blank, impassive face.

It makes you wonder, does this silence really not bother him?

A couple of years ago, at the very restaurant you’re both in, and on the exact same table you’re both seated at, things were a lot different. Back then, the air was filled with laughters and giggles, and random stories. At that time, conversation flowed freely, so much so that by nine in the evening you both barely even touched the food right in front of you.

But now, you’ve had your wine glass refilled thrice, and the night is just about to end without a single word being uttered.

It feels lonely, even with him there.

Just as you put your glass back down, Baekhyun raises his eyes to meet yours. You look away instantly when you notice him raise a brow.

You feel your ears burn from having been caught staring at him.

Fortunately, he doesn’t question your rather odd actions.

Unfortunately, he interprets your actions as something else, and the first words he tells you at this anniversary dinner is, “Do you want to go home?”

You suppose it’s pointless to stay much longer so you give him a curt smile and a nod.

Baekhyun returns the smile, but it doesn’t really make your heart skip. Not when it isn’t a genuine one. Not when it’s the practised smile he easily gives away to other people.

The car ride home isn’t silent, thanks to Baekhyun’s tendency to sing songs as he drives. At least that’s something that hasn’t changed over the years.

However, instead of admiring his talent, your mind chooses a different path for tonight. It goes wandering to uncharted territories, making you wonder if long term relationships are supposed to be this way.

Is it still considered normal if both of you make time for important events and go on dates but without talking to each other? Is it okay living under the same roof without connecting? Existing at the same timeline but moving on different paces?

The cold hard truth is you don’t actually know. You aren’t well versed in love. And the things that you do know of love, you’ve learned from Byun Baekhyun.

It is and has always been Baekhyun for you.

But is that the case with him too? Does he feel the same way with you?

You’re not sure — at least not anymore.

You go on with your separate routines by the time you get home. The night ends with Baekhyun leaving a kiss on your forehead before he turns his back to you to sleep.

It hurts. And before you know it, tears are falling from your eyes.

Is this really how it’s going to be in the long run? Are you supposed to get used to the silence and loneliness? Why does this make you feel miserable?

You stare at his back, and question whether it would be okay to reach out to him. Slowly, carefully, you scoot over towards him. Tentatively, you raise your arm to wrap around his torso.

You wait to see if he stirs awake, ready to pull away if he does. You watch for any signs of change in his breathing, but there isn’t any.

Despite the relief, your lips quiver.

He’s been so busy these past few months, he rarely ever goes home. You understand his duties and responsibilities, you really do. Besides, you’ve been through this before. You should be content that he’s here, that he’s taken a day off to spend with you. But why does it feel like he’s slipping through your fingers this time around?

You sigh and press your forehead against his back. You miss being this close to him. You miss his warmth. You miss his scent. You miss everything about him.

You press a kiss on his shoulder and pull back. Just as you start to lay on your back, you hear Baekhyun whimper faintly.

You suppose he too misses your warmth next to his, albeit unconsciously. It brings about a sad smile on your face. “What am I going to do with you?”

When you move closer to him, you gently rub your palms against his back. His whimpers immediately cease. You sit up to take a peek at his face and see him pouting in his sleep.

He’s adorable.

It temporarily eases your pain.

You run your hands through his hair and place a fleeting kiss on his nose.

You decide then and there that it wouldn’t be so bad if you poured more of your love to Baekhyun.

You’ll try harder for this. You’ll fight desperately for him. You’ll brave whatever sea or ocean despite the high waves and deadly currents, even if it means drowning in an endless abyss. As long as it means more time with Baekhyun. As long as it means more of him.

Because it is and has always been Baekhyun for you.

song references/inspiration: dinner by suho, jang jane, and let in by exo

[rancidtae]

ARCADIA’S LULLABY | CHAPTER 5

Genre: Mafia AU. Vigilante AU. Sci-fi (AI). Warnings: ANGST. fluff. mentions of near-death experiences. mentions of drug use. emotional tension during breakfast. chanyeol crying. Pairing: exo & Original Female Character (Jung Jiah/Kang Rina) - Kim Minseok/Original Female Character - Zhang Yixing/Original Female Character Word count: 11k+ chapter summary: the one where shit gets real and sehun just wants everyone to talk about their feelings and let him have his breakfast in peace. a/n: WE'RE SO BACK. (we're so over) but make it old-friendship-turned-sour core.

guess what you need isn't always what you want from me

masterlist - meet the characters

082809 - 5:34 pm.

13 years ago

“Yo, open up.”

It was the third time he knocked.

Chanyeol pressed his ear against the wood and heard the muffled murmur of a news anchor.

“C'mon, I can hear the TV, I know you’re in there.”

Not one to be patient when people were purposefully being assholes, he fished the set of spare keys Mr. Kang gave his mom from the pocket of his ripped jeans and jingled them extra hard. Just to piss her off and warn her.

“Wow, this is depressing.” he blurted out, closing the door behind him.

His 15-year-old neighbor did not look surprised, nor tried to pretend that his presence wasn't unwanted. Chanyeol, however, had never worries about being on her good side. They'd been annoying each other all their lives.

Tall piles of books covered the living room, some even went over his head. They were playing videos of the memorial with the president giving a speech in the background on the TV. A steaming bowl of noodles and some side dishes waited on the small dining table.

It was the anniversary of the Seoul Metro bombings. 

As always, every year the city shut down for the memorial. No one was allowed to forget such a dark stain on the country’s history. Over 900 casualties, even more injured.

Chanyeol remembered the day of the attack. His mom rushing to pick him, his sister Yoora and Rina from school, earlier than usual. She didn't answer their questions until they got home and she locked the door behind her. Mr. Kang didn't pick up Rina until the next afternoon, and he looked like a ghost.

That was the day he learned the meaning of the word terrorism.

He took a look at the family picture by the entrance and picked up the remote, turning the TV off.

“What is that?” Rina suddenly asked, making him jump on his feet.

She was curiously looking at the pale pink box under his arm, and it took him a second to remember he'd brought it with him. With every year that passed, Rina only looked more and more like her mother, the resemblance was scary sometimes.

He fixed his throat. “Pastries from Swimmy’s”

Of course, she knew that. It was her favorite bakery.

Rina, however, turned around with feigned disinterest.

“Ah. How’d you even get them? Aren’t they closed today?”

“I don’t know. Yoora’s boyfriend sent them, but she hates him right now so she gave them to me.”

“Cupcakes?” she asked over her shoulder, rattling things inside the fridge.

“Multiflavor.” he nodded, fighting back a cruel grin when she stills.

“You want some?” she asked, pointing at the bowl of steamy noodles.

Chanyeol couldn't remember her ever willingly offering him a bite of anything.

“Nope, I’m good.” he chirped.

Her face dropped. Suddenly deciding that there's nothing inside of her interest, she slammed the poor fridge door.

“Ok, let’s go,” he finally said, feeling like he annoyed her enough for the day. He did not lie when he called the scene depressing.

Her sitting down on the floor and eating overcooked noodles alone when there was a perfectly nice summer afternoon right outside kind of softened his heart.

“Where? Why?”

“Seriously? We’re not gonna sit here and eat them alone, that’s some loser shit. Plus, it’s way too much sugar.”

“It’s not” she protested, struggling to put on her worn-out white Converse.

“Maybe not for me, but it is when you spend your life slugging inside. When’s the last time you went for a run, huh?”

Naturally, they ended up making their way inside Arcadia, her father's arcade spot just a few blocks away. They entered through the backdoor, using Rina’s spare key that she religiously wore around her neck.

Baekhyun nearly landed on his ass when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, hand to his chest when he recognizes them and immediately lighting up at the prospect of eating pastries.

Rina found a seat on the countertop, while Chanyeol brought two chairs for himself and his legs from the backroom. Baekhyun picked up his copy of Rebirth and saved his strawberry-flavored gum for later, carefully wrapping it in a sticky note, much to Rina's disgust.

The three indulged in a cupcake each, humming in bliss.

“So," Baekhyun smacked "where you been?” 

“Busy.” she said, legs swinging happily, licking buttercream off her pinky finger.

“Doing what?"

"Stuff."

"Like what, sleeping inside a coffin? You look like you haven’t seen the sun in months.”

Chanyeol agreed. “You’re gonna regret staying inside once we’re back to school.”

Rina was not about to tell them she'd been reading those books at home, one per day like an apple. Her father kept bringing new ones, leaving them stacked up on every surface he could find, building a labyrinth out of them.

The last was Fahrenheit 451. Baekhyun would've liked it if, but he was more of a manhwa guy.

She took a look around the room, all the machines were on. She remembered something. “Wait. Why are you working today?”

Baekhyun pointed one finger at the door. The open neon sign was off, and the door was locked. “I'm not. My aunt and my cousins are visiting and I needed some alone time. And they’re all on because–”

“He doesn’t like the silence.” Chanyeol said, mockingly, with his cap on sideways and clearly finding Baekhyun childish.

“Please don’t tell your dad.” he requested with his customer service voice. “That reminds me, you think he’ll give me a raise if I ask him?”

“Aren’t you only covering shifts for Yuan? I don’t think he even knows you work here.”

He did not take well to that. Sitting up straight and dropping what was left of his cupcake on the box, he put his hands on his waist.

“Only covering– what are you talking about? I know this place better than Yuan ever could. I’m more of an Arcadia member of staff than he is or could ever be” he started counting down with his fingers, Rina took a deep breath. “I’m the general manager, I’m HR, marketing, I’m the cleaning and security staff, I keep an eye on Mintchoco at the back and even–”

Thank god, a knock at the front door interrupted his rant. Jongdae was leaning over the glass, cupping his face and pointing at the lock on the door. Minseok stood just behind him on the sidewalk.

Standing up with a groan and still complaining about the disrespect under his breath, Baekhyun let them in.

Minseok was hugging a ball against his side, had dry blood on his left knee, and his usually squeaky clean soccer shoes and white socks all dirtied up. Jongdae was no better, face dripping in sweat, fanning his shirt, complaining about the heat.

“Swimmy’s?” Minseok asked, eyes wide.

“Like I said” Baekhyun continued. “Arcadia is me. I am Arcadia. I know the consoles. I love this place. This is like home to me. I absolutely, totally, most definitely deserve a raise.”

“If you love it so much shouldn’t your pay be enough?” Asked Jongdae, standing under the a/c vent.

“Right. He makes a good point. You should be doing it for free, even”

Baekhyun glared at Chanyeol. “So what are you suggesting? Unpaid labor? I have a family to feed.”

“Your parents do the feeding in your family” Laughed Minseok, asking Rina to pass him a strawberry cupcake. One of the same strawberry cupcakes Rina had threatened Baekhyun and Chanyeol not to touch.

Chanyeol gave her an odd look, she pretended not to notice it.

“Just say you’re saving up to buy yourself a laptop.”

“That I will get my hands on soon if our dear Rinrin here tells Mr. Kang how good of an employee, and friend I am.” he paused. “Maybe just mention the employee part, nepotism goes against my values.”

"Ok” she agreed. But then she crossed her arms and lifted her chin, and Baekhyun’s cheerful grin crumbled. “But you’ll owe me”

“Ah. What’s this?” he sucked on his teeth “I thought we were friends.”

"You said nepotism goes against your values.”

“So you’re blackmailing me.”

“We’re negotiating.”

“Woah. This is unbelievable. You're really growing into an evil little thing.”

"Speaking about evil little things, we saw your boyfriend on our way here. He was totally asking to get his ass kicked.” said Jongdae through a full mouth. “Ith wath him, right Mintheok?”

Minseok tried to telepathically get him to keep his mouth shut, but he kept going, clueless.

“Looked like he pissed Youngjae off again. You know how he hates being stared at”

By her boyfriend, they were talking about Kyungsoo, who was nothing of the sort. He was, though, known for being excellent at getting on the bad side of people. It wasn't his fault, some just read him wrong.

Kyungsoo was just misunderstood. Often. And Youngjae was a bully.

“And now she has been summoned. Our peace maker.” Chanyeol announced, watching her expression drop. She jumped from the counter and started putting her hair up on a ponytail.

Extra tight, extra high. She meant business.

“Wait. For real?”

“You know, just because you’re a girl and your dad’s a teacher it doesn’t mean Youngjae and his friends won’t beat you up one of these days” Jondgae called out, finally noticing his mistake.

“Hold on, wait wait wait! You’ll tell your dad, right?” Baekhyun asked, watching her walk behind the counter and get the pepper spray from its secret spot.

“You’ll owe me.” she said, and walked out of the door.

The guys saw her cross the street and disappear from view.

"What was that?" asked Jongdae.

"Pepper spray."

Chanyeol groaned. “Dude, why did you tell her? Mr. Kang’s gonna be upset if she’s home late.”

Jongdae did not take well to that, and quickly started firing back questions about how is it his fault that she likes to take on other people's problems.

Sighing, Minseok rubbed the crumbs off his hands and silently made his way to the door.

“Really, you too?”

Minseok shrugged. “She shouldn’t be going alone. And you shouldn't have let her take the pepper spray.”

Jongdae, not at all surprised, only shook his head and stuffed his mouth with another bite. The outcome came as no surprise, he was just glad that the possibility of Rina getting in trouble and Mr. Kang being upset about it had significantly decreased.

Minseok wasn't much of a fighter, but he knew how to make younger kids respect him.

“Are these fresh?” Jongdae was frowning at the cupcake. “How’d you even get them today?”

“Mr. Kang asked me to pick them up. I don't know how he did it, but he got them to bake these for him.” Chanyeol answered, pausing for a bit before adding. “He asked me to get her out of the apartment.”

Jongdae and Baekhyun nodded in understanding, no more questions on the subject were asked.

081322 - 05:12 pm 

Consciousness comes in waves.

First, pain. Second, something warm and blinding.

Sunlight.

Third: white.

The room slowly comes into focus. White walls. Wood framing the window. Sheer curtains.

Fuck. It really fucking hurts.

She can deal with that. The disorientation? That’s different.

A burst of anxiety threatens to come to the surface at once.

Everyone has cycles waiting to be kickstarted at the beck and call of the smallest trigger. Good or bad, but most importantly, unavoidable.

Jiah spent a good chunk of her life testing out remedies for the bad ones. Prescriptions. Therapists. Thoughtfully curated lists of habits; healthy for the long term, destructive for a quick fix. 

And even though nothing could have prepared her for this, time has worked on her.

So as the events from last night come back to her and the doorknob turns with a click, she stays calm and lets her eyes close again.

The person lingers for a moment, doing god knows what. His shadow flickers through her eyelids. Eventually, she’s alone again.

When she opens her eyes again the drowsiness has faded. There’s a classic mid-century flip clock on the nightstand. A piranha plant figure stares back at her with its teeth all bared out, and her transmitter’s politely placed next to it.

She knows right away whose bed this is.

Painfully, she props herself up to a seated position and inspects the sling and the dressed wound. No ethical doctor’s gonna give her the dose of painkillers she’ll need for that.

She’s wearing a thin, depressing hospital gown, and that will not do.

He's definitely loaded. The house is enormous, enough to get lost in and fit her apartment maybe five or six times. Several doors line down the hallway leading to a vast, asymmetrical set of stairs. Vaulted high ceilings top up a communal area, with a long skylight that washes everything in abundant natural light.

She pads down the stairs, following the sound of voices and laughter.

And there he is, stomping out of what looks like some kind of office made of glass walls.

“Hey, hey, wait. No. That is not fair, how was I supposed to–”

He locks eyes with her.

Bewildered. Like he forgot she was there and that just a few minutes ago he was in that room with her.

She looks back at him, like she didn’t know it was him the second her eyes landed on that piranha plant.

A tremor goes through his body before he starts coughing violently.

“Fuck— what the fuck?” more coughing, he plucks something from his mouth. A ridiculously chunky piece of pink gum covered in thick saliva.

Heads turn at the rough edge of her voice “That’s what happens when you try to chew a whole wheel of hubba bubba tape at once.”

Byun Baekhyun stares back at her like she just said the most offensive thing possible, gum still between his fingers.

“Well you can’t just stand there and– lurk looking like– like Shanks and not expect to scare the shit out of innocent people.”

Two figures by the kitchen entrance watch them. One looks kind of confused, the other one crosses his arms and holds back a smile.

“One Piece? Are you twelve?”

“Says the grown woman who can’t get her arm through an oversized sleeve.”

“I'm wearing a sling, you asshole.” she snaps. Baekhyun looks down at the fluttering sleeve, sucking in his lips between his teeth.

And then, like switch is flipped, their expressions shift. Her brows soften, and a wry grin tugs at the corner of her lips. A lighthearted smile spreads across his face.

Jongin gives the person next to him a bewildered glance.

“What’s up with the hair?”

Baekhyun runs his fingers through it. “You don’t like it?”

“Let me rephrase that, did you go to Lady’s Room and talk to the girls?”

Silence.

“I don’t know what–”

“You still touch your hair when you’re lying.”

“Ok. Yeah. No.” He points a finger at her “You’re not going Sherlock on us when you just woke up after a near-death experience.”

“Says who?”

“Says me," he snaps with an attitude, quickly adding “Doctor’s orders.”

“So first Yixing’s a cop and now you’re a doctor?” Startled, Baekhyun opens his mouth and closes it. “What’s next, Kyungsoo’s a wedding planner?”

“Youth pastor, actually. Very successful. The youths love him. And I could be a doctor if wanted, by the way.” he scoffs.

She cocks an eyebrow.

“Whatever. Ah, this won’t do. You suck at reunions. Go back upstairs, we’re doing this again.” he waves his arms at her, urging her back up the stairs. Surprised, she spurts out a laugh. The rebound pain from her shoulder makes her stop and hiss.

“Alright, leave her alone.” 

That face she’d recognize anywhere. It’s unfair that they’ve all aged so nicely. Kim Jongdae looks like an upgraded version of himself, just with different hair and somehow, better skin.

“How are you feeling?”

“Lucid enough to steal my clothes, clearly.”

She realizes she's been staring at him like an owl and fixes her throat.

“Been better.” she nods, bowing quickly, awkwardly waving at the end. “Hi.”

Baekhyun snorts. "Did you just bow?"

Jongdae bows back and waves, amused but ignoring Baekhyun. “Wanna take a seat? I bet you're starving.”

She’s famished. The thought of food is enough motivation to postpone the thinking about everything that is happening right now. And since she's not escaping anytime soon, she might as well acknowledge the other person in the room.

“So, is Jongin your real name, or is this another Juyeon/Sehun thing?”

The kitchen is ridiculously huge, with another skylight at the top and an island at the very center. She sits down, leaving an empty stool between her and the impostor, who shares a look with the other two men.

“Yixing slipped up, wasn't hard to figure out.” she explains.

Jongin fixes his throat. “Jongin is my real name.”

“And how do you know Taemin?”

“We used to go to the same dance studio for a while.”

“And he just introduced us. By coincidence.”

Baekhyun steps in. “You had a horde of mercenaries on your track. We were trying to get them before they got you and Jongin was there to keep an eye on you. Him being Taemin’s friend was a happy coincidence.”

It's not convincing at all, and the thinking starts.

That’s for being so fucking stupid. Do you realize what you got yourself into?

Go ahead, big guy.

“Where’s Chanyeol?”

“What, are we not enough for the welcoming party?”

Jongin, however, knows what she's thinking. She doesn't like it.

"It wasn't him. The man in the bathroom came with backup. We thought we’d handled all of them, but a stray one took us by surprise and shot you.”

“I mean, we can show you the footage of him following the guy.” Baekhyun offers immediately. “But come on, you don’t think he–”

“No need.” patching her up defeats the purpose of taking her down, but that doesn't make up for several loose ends. “However, the manhandling was unnecessary.”

“You did kick Jongin in the balls.” Jongdae reminds her, putting a glass of cold water in front of her. 

“If you guys knew I was being followed then why didn’t you just give me a heads up?”

How did they know?

And where’s the rest?

Baekhyun smiles. "You made it abundantly clear to Yixing that you didn't want us near."

"So why didn't he come?"

“He was out of town, but he asked you to be careful. Several times, he said.”

He did. And she rejected his attempts at helping her beyond getting Haneul protection. Several times indeed. He was very insistent. She brushed him off every time.

Disoriented, she sticks to nursing her glass of water in slow sips. Several details keep her alert.

One, eyebrows/Tuxedo Mask/Sehun had or has been protecting Lee Chungjae, despite Yixing’s insistence that they’re not involved with his people.

Two, Baekhyun definitely went sniffing around Lady’s Room, and if she knows anything about him, he didn't just stop at that.

Three, Junmyeon and Minseok are members of the syndicate.

The sound of a motorcycle roaring outside grows closer and gets her out of her head. The conversation has moved in a completely unexpected direction without her.

“This might be out of my expertise, but I don’t think you can compare periods to getting shot.” Jongdae says, unbothered by the noise.

“Why? Blood is blood, no matter where it comes from” Baekhyun argues. “And I’ve heard scary stories about cramps” 

The steel door is slid open just enough for a tall man to come in, balancing piled up pizza boxes and complaining about someone needing to lube up the damn rail.

“This is the last time you use me as a delivery guy” he declares, dropping the boxes on the counter. He stops when he notices her. Stoic as ever, a face impossible to forget. “You look rough. Bet you wish you listened to my advice about not getting in the way of bullets.” 

She frowns, but then another figure walks in. He's holding two helmets, sliding the door shut with a nudge of his shoulder. He takes a look at her, evidently unimpressed.

“I heard you were begging to see me. How you managed to live all these years without me, now that’s an unresolved mystery, one of many.”

“I don’t know how I held up, honestly” she replies, voice flat. “Every day I woke up feeling like my life was missing something.”

“Poor thing.” He tsks, mockingly pouting at her, hanging both helmets on the wall. “But I heard you’ve had some interesting characters keeping you company, so at least you weren't lonely, right?”

The bitter undertone is unexpected.

“Rin,” Baekhyun calls, a smile on his face, and a sideways less friendly glare at Chanyeol. “You still like orange soda, right?”

They move like protocol, opening the boxes and taking drinks out of the fridge, Jongin walks out of the kitchen after losing a match of rock paper scissors to Jongdae.

Chanyeol stares at her like she's about to stab someone. The pizza looks too good for her to care.

“So, up to anything exciting?” 

“Not much. You?” 

“Oh, come on. Half of the city’s freelancers are searching for you as we speak. Those were some expensive mercenaries following you around.” 

“Makes you wonder how shitty the cheap ones must be.” she points out.

“You also looked too calm for someone who thought she had a gun pointed at her face.” he finishes, folding a piece of pizza in two and devouring half of it with one generous bite. "Definitely wasn't your first time."

“I didn’t think you had it in you.” she shrugs, taking a first bite. It's good. She has to close her eyes and sigh for a moment. “And it wasn’t my first time, he ruined my favorite jacket the other night, remember? Got my ear ringing for a few days.”

Sehun shrugs. "You got in the way."

“Right, how’d that happen anyway?” He points at his big ass ear. The left one. Eyeing hers like he didn’t get the point across. Her hair is covering the transmitter, but of course, they don't need to see it to know it's there.

She snorts, not amused at all. “Aren’t you too comfortable?”

Jongdae calls his name, something like a warning. Chanyeol drops the subject and focuses on getting his hands on a second slice, Sehun chuckles at the scene.

“You guys couldn’t wait for us?”

Jongin reappears, followed by a familiar face that feels like a punch to the chest.

His eyes scan the room, curious about the sudden silence. It ends when he notices her. There's a flicker there, but whatever he's really thinking is quickly guarded by a stoic expression.

“Why is she here?”

“She’s feeling fine,” Baekhyun shrugs. “I’d be dying to get out of bed after 15 hours of sleep too.”

Do Kyungsoo offers no answer, doesn’t even spare her or Baekhyun another glance. He washes his hands in silence, takes the spot next to Jongin, grabs a slice of pizza for himself and that's that. Her eyes stay on him, surprise slowly dissolving from her face.

And then Baekhyun claps, starling her.

“Shit, I almost forgot. Dessert first!”

It happens at once—a sloppy plan set in motion by Baekhyun’s insistence. Ignoring whatever he has in store, Jiah beats Chanyeol to the last slice of neapolitan while Jongdae helps Baekhyun look for something in their endless cabinets.

"The drawer by the coffee machine,” Kyungsoo mutters.

Someone must cover her eyes for this, Baekhyun insists. Jongin gives her a careful look waiting for her consent. She shrugs, pushing the last bit of crust past her greasy lips, and soon her eyes are engulfed in the warmth of his hands.

There’s the sound of hushing and Chanyeol’s poorly contained laugh, then a click.

“Ok, ready? Jongin, hands off. You can open them.”

She blinks away the flash of white and frowns at them before looking down.

Cake. 

Pink frosting and strawberries. It’s decorated in terrible piping work, topped with those colorful sprinkles that taste like nothing and several thin and tall candles scattered around.

There’s a message in red jelly, off-centered.

“Sorry you got shot on your–”

Whoever wrote it miscalculated the space they had available, so the word birthday has all the letters stuck together and get increasingly smaller.

Baekhyun’s satisfied grin stays put even when he ducks as a strawberry flies over him. Jongdae yelps dramatically when another hits his shoulder, his hyena laugh is interrupted by a long string of complaints.

Jongin warns her not to eat the frosting, because Baekhyun got excited with the food coloring and it tastes like medicine.

“Did you bake this?” she bites down on a strawberry. It's just a hint of sweet but perfectly juicy, it bursts in her mouth “It’s looks like a 4 year old decorated it.”

“Ok, It’s her." Baekhyun says. "Good job, team."

“Do you think I’m some kind of impostor?”

“You have a whole new name, we had to make sure.”

“Wait, so that was your birthday?” Sehun asks, shaking his head when Jondgae offers him a paper plate with a slice of cake. Only Chanyeol seems to be interested in trying it, taking his sweet time getting rid of the frosting.

The cake itself isn’t that bad. Just the usual vanilla cake mix flavor, a little dry but easy to eat.

“No, today is her birthday.” 

“Is it?” Jongin asks, scanning her face.

“Yeah. August 13th.” Baekhyun stops. “Wait, you didn’t–”

The question trails off when all she does is shove another piece of cake inside her mouth.

“I usually celebrate it in December.” 

Several weirded-out looks come her way. 

“Damn, that’s fucked up.” Sehun mumbles, and now he's getting looked at wrong. "What? I’m just saying, if I had two birthdays I’d celebrate both."

Jiah closes her eyes and blows on what's left of the candles. “That'd be hard to explain to other people, though. My friend Irene gets me flowers, but that’s about it."

Irene. Yeri. Taemin. How could she forget? They must be worried about her. Before she jumps down from the stool, once again Jongin answers a question before she gets to ask it.

"It's ok, I told Taemin we left together."

Jiah stares at him in disbelief. "No, it is not. He knows I don't leave parties with random dudes and--"

Jongdae makes a face. "Jongin's definitely not a random dude."

"He knows me too. He'll have fit, but he knows you're safe with me, trust me."

"But Yeri-"

"Fine. He dropped her off at her dorm."

"Where's my phone?" she asks Baekhyun.

"I'm afraid it didn't make it through the night, but--"

“Question,“ Chanyeol asks out of nowhere. "Why aren't you freaking out?"

"Excuse me?"

“Someone put a price on your head, and they’re being generous about it. But you're... worried that your friends won't believe you had a one night stand?”

“It's not my head they want.”

"Excuse me?"

Chanyeol’s lips part, a burst of surprised laughter escaping his mouth.

“Yeah. No, totally.” he frowns, nodding. “They put a hole through you just for funsies. They were just trying to start a tickle fight.”

“He could’ve easily taken me down in the bathroom, but he didn’t.” She gets different looks of disbelief.

Jongdae frowns. “You still got shot after that, and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t just a warning.”

“Those were expensive mercenaries, right? If they wanted me dead, I would be.”

“And this, everyone, is why they tell kids not to do drugs,” Chanyeol gives the room a look, pointing his hand at her “She wasn’t this delusional before.”

“Shut up and eat your pizza, Chanyeol” Kyungsoo says, much to her surprise.

Baekhyun agrees. “Yeah, don’t be a dick.”

Sehun sucks his lips inside his mouth, subtly eyeing everyone.

Jiah shakes her head. “That's fine, I’m not exactly worried about convincing you.” 

“They want you dead.” Chanyeol enunciates slowly, like he’s talking to a foreigner “You were lucky we were there.”

“Probably, yeah.” She’s not gonna deny that. “I appreciate what you did."

He shakes his head at her like she’s fucking stupid.

“What? You want me to suck your dick or something?”

“Alright, this is fun.” Jongdae exhales loudly, moving away to get a glass of water, slapping Sehun’s back.

Chanyeol pushes his tongue against his cheek, nodding at her. “Right. What’s dying for you anyway, right? You’ll just pop right back up in another decade.”

Jongin doesn’t let Chanyeol’s jab sink, he turns to her in genuine curiosity. “Sorry, but can you explain where you're coming from?”

“You leaked those voicemails. Your name might not be on the story, but they know it was you.” Kyungsoo turns, stirring iced tea with a glass straw “You destroyed Lee Chungjae’s reputation right after his father announced his candidacy.”  

“Im Nayeon leaked those voicemails.” she corrects him, and no one notices, but Baekhyun smiles, a spark set in his eyes. “I only did what was necessary to get them to the public. Therefore, I’m the only connection to her.”

“So what you’re saying is that you’re some– kind of medium?” 

“She’s saying Nayeon is alive,” Baekhyun says, leaning over the island and looking at her with excited eyes. “That’s what you’re saying, right?”

“Yes. How did you—?”

“A week after her death her name came up, just like yours.”

“Her name came up?”

Though Baekhyun’s smile stays intact, he visibly pales, and that’s when Jiah knows she just hit a spot.

The question has without a doubt and without her meaning to, landed somewhere. Jongdae and Chanyeol share a look. Only Sehun, Jongin, and Kyungsoo are doing a decent job of keeping their faces straight.

She just knows they’re gonna have a conversation about this later, once she’s gone.

“Why would someone put a mark on a girl who’s already dead?” They visibly relax at her answering her own question. Kyungsoo just barely squints at her. He knows better.

“Shouldn’t you know that? You’re the one claiming she somehow survived that fire” Chanyeol juts his chin at her.

If she had to put a name to the look on Baekhyun’s face, it’d be all work and no play.

“There’s something I think you’ll want to see”.

081422 - 02:58 am

“You know what’s weird?” Baekhyun mutters as she hands him a photograph.

Fresh out of the printer, the girl smiling in it is Yoo Jeongyeon. She was 23 the last time she was seen last year and attended the same university Nayeon did. The only string connecting the two is a few common friends on Facebook. 

Baekhyun tapes her picture next to the other seven photographs on the board. Like the rest of the room, the board’s made of glass, worn out and opaque by the constant use of tape on the surface, unlike the transparent, clean walls around them. 

The station is rather impressive, she had to just stand there when she first entered and stare at the computer station sprawled before her on the only brick wall at the back. 

A cluster of screens stands tall, commanded by a main, curved, and wide monitor, flanked by a couple more of them on each side. And just in case that’s not enough, an extra trio of monitors hangs above, suspended from the ceiling by sleek metallic arms that sell the illusion that they’re floating. All of them on cast a gentle light on the surrounding consoles, keyboard, touchpad, and devices she does not recognize, each meticulously organized and aligned for optimal efficiency.

Her curious eyes took it all in while Baekhyun scratched the back of his head and acted like it was just some humble setup. Honest work, he called it, still in progress. She still can’t figure out what else he can add, or how he can rearrange what’s an already pristine network of wires hidden at the back, and she’s too afraid to ask.

“None of Nayeon’s friends have posted anything about the investigation or the voicemails. That’s weird, isn’t it? If there was a possibility that your friend was murdered, you’d be outspoken about it, right? You’d want answers.”

“They could’ve been threatened” Jiah reminds him, staring up at the eight pictures on the board.

A line of girls stares back at them, all of them undergrad students, just like Nayeon. There’s a pattern in there, difficult financial situations, complicated and sometimes no familial affiliations or support network, and they’re all seriously attractive under current beauty standards.

Two of them are orphans. Two are foreign. The last one, Jeongyeon, makes an exception by keeping in touch with her mother until the time of her disappearance. Baekhyun started working on the list and gathering info with Yixing last year, and so far, every single case has turned cold. Not for a lack of investigating, she has their files, courtesy of Yixing, splayed around her.

“Still…” he mumbles, leaning his head to the side and reaching for his glass of iced coffee, looking startled when nothing but ice cubes hit his upper lip “If one of the girls at the salon were in that situation, you’d ask for the truth, threatened or not.”

Her stomach twists at the thought. She would not stop at asking for it, she’s confident that she’d turn the city upside down until she found them, but who’s doing that for these girls?

“It’s different. It’s my job.”

“Pretty sure you’ve gone past the limits of journalism.” Baekhyun tuts. “But you see it, right? There’s something here. I’m not being a conspiracy junkie.”

“I see it, yeah.”

“Have you tried talking to Nayeon’s friends?�� 

“I don’t think we should be focusing on her friends like that, we might not even be focusing on these girls the way we should,” she says, rushing to explain when Baekhyun opens his mouth “Don’t get me wrong, there’s a pattern, but Nayeon was– she left a message and everything, and these girls are all…”

“Silent?” Baekhyun offers.

“Yes.” she sighs, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling. “They’re all silent, it can’t be a good sign.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Baekhyun says, breaking her out of her trance. 

She frowns and snorts. “Did you just quote Wilde at me?”

“The Importance of Being Earnest” he smiles proudly. “Kind of out of context, but it’s true.”

She smiles at him, sighing and looking back at the board. “In my experience, most of the time the truth turns out to be boring and people end up disappointed. Everyone wants a conspiracy.”

“That’s true. But when it’s not boring–” He gives her a meaningful look, and she wonders if that’s what she looks like to other people.

“Yeah.” she agrees, he doesn’t need to finish that sentence for her to know what he means. “This doesn’t look boring at all”

“And it doesn’t look fun either, does it?” he sucks in a sharp breath. "Maybe they’re not silent, we’re just not listening the way we should.”

As it turns out, The station has no semblance of soundproofing. When someone comes in through the kitchen, they can hear the low hum of voices, the sound of keys being dropped and groans of relief as shoes are taken off at the entrance.

A few seconds later there’s a soft knock on the glass.

She doesn’t know what she expected, but it was certainly not Kim Junmyeon dressed in casual attire instead of a suit like the last time she saw him, fresh out of a syndicate debut. Now he looks more like an older brother checking on his little siblings. A dad even.

“Baekhyun, it’s 3 am. I know this is how you choose to live but she needs rest” his eyes look as tired as he sounds.

“Do you think she’s here against her will?” Baekhyun asks, offended.

He walks in, leaving the door open behind him. Jiah thinks she sees a shadow walk past through the living room, but it’s gone before she can notice anyone.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better. Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.”

He nods. “It’s what we do”

“And for the lawyer, the other day. Yixing told me” she adds. And maybe it’s the meds kicking in, or the emotional exertion of the day and having to see so many old new faces, but fatigue is beginning to weigh down on her. 

“You did well,” Junmyeon says. “The girl needed help, he had it coming.”

He buries his hands inside the pockets of his jeans, pointing at the board with his chin. There’s a signature curious pout on his face. “What’s this about?”

“Don’t be nosy. We’ll explain in the morning” Baekhyun answers, fingers dancing all over his keyboard with speedy clicks. Junmyeon doesn’t look too convinced, letting out a loud sigh that makes her feel even more foreign in this place.

Do they all live here? Together? At their age? What about Minseok?

“Alright. There’ll be a lot of that in the morning.” he gives her a look she does not reciprocate. “I’m going to bed, you two should get some rest.”

He stops just as he’s about to walk out the door.

“We don’t have a guest room ready, since someone decided to use it as a storage room, so I hope you won’t mind taking Baekhyun’s bed”

“She’s getting the coziest room in this house, she doesn’t mind” Baekhyun speaks for her, standing up and leaning over her to start shutting down his monster of a station.

She catches a glimpse of Junmyeon's reflection on the dark screen that Baekhyun turns off first. He stands there for a moment, looking at them with a pensive expression before he turns around and closes the door behind him.

Some rest might be nice, she thinks, as Baekhyun starts talking her ear off again.

7:34 AM

A few hours later she’s closing his bedroom’s door behind her as quietly as she can.

The house is silent. No one can be bothered to be up so early on a Sunday, and she counts on that being the case until she figures out where her—

“Hey there. You looking for these?”

She can’t escape him, can she? A very sleepy and messy-haired Baekhyun has a hold of her boots and her bag, closing the door across from his room behind him. She gets a glimpse of someone’s sleeping form.

“I hid them, just in case you tried to sneak out,” he explains, rubbing his puffy eyes before stretching loudly. At this pace, he’s going to wake everyone.

“I need a shower” she winces at how loud her voice sounds “And I already stayed here for too long. Can I have them back?”

“Shower?“ he pretends to think over, nodding "We have plenty of those around here, I believe. Soap, towels, shampoo. You still take them at hell temperature?”

She blinks at him.

“Baekhyun.”

“Rina.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I! You can’t just leave on your own until we’re sure it’s safe for you out there, you’re not exactly in the condition to bite attackers either.”

“Am I a hostage?”

She doesn’t like the sweet little smile he gives her. “You’re a guest.”

“But you’re telling me I can’t leave.”

“We can negotiate after breakfast. Come on, I’m giving you a tour of my favorite spot.”

Thirty minutes later she’s waiting for him to pay for a ridiculous amount of overpriced breakfast sandwiches with different fillings. The cashier, a lanky guy with a bored expression on his face and ginormous red headphones swallowing up his ears puts everything inside a bag. 

Baekhyun sends a cheeky smile in her direction, making sure she’s still standing by the end of the counter, shifting uncomfortably in a huge pair of slippers. The lack of socks makes the experience even worse.

“That’s a lot of food,” she points out.

“We’re feeding ten adults, I promise you it’s never too much of anything in our house” he answers, starting the engine.

“Ten adults?”

“I texted Yixing. It’s been a while since we all had a meal together. I don't remember the last time we used the dining table.”

She sighs, leaning her head against the passenger window and trying to find any familiar street.

“Slept well?”

“I’m very uncomfortable with this and I don’t appreciate you withholding my things”

“Oh-kay, someone’s grumpy in the morning.” he chuckles, leaning over the steering wheel as he takes a turn. “Consider this your punishment for trying to leave without saying goodbye. You got a deadbeat father complex or something?”

She glares at him, half-heartedly. 

“Come on, it’s just breakfast with the boys. Best meal of the day, with the boys.”

“It’s not just breakfast, you know that” she mutters, closing her eyes to rest them for a second. 

“Hey, it’s just us,” He surprises her by finding her wrist resting on the seat. His fingers curl around it, giving it a light tug, like a kid trying to get a grown-up’s attention “No one will jump you or anything. I know things are awkward, but they won’t have to be once we all talk and catch up, yeah?”

The red light goes green after what feels like an eternity. It takes him a second to notice, and he’s back to quietly driving them across the street, still not letting go of her wrist. 

“You trust me, right?” he asks suddenly, giving her a glance.

“Seriously, out of nowhere?”

He doesn’t laugh, only turns to look at her with a serious look on his usually relaxed features. “Cause I trust you, Rin. I hope you know that.”

The fuck? 

“Ok? Thanks–” 

“I mean, I don’t know what you’ve been up to, obviously, or what– you know? Happened, but I know I trust you.” he nods firmly, fixing his throat and suddenly avoiding her eyes. "Whatever happened, it doesn't matter to me. I'm just happy to see you again."

She feels the sudden need to get out of the car, but her shoulder would probably combust, so she gives him the softest of nods. The feeling that it's a mediocre reply lingers.

Eventually, he lets go of her wrist.

About half an hour later, she's watching Jongdae fix a generous batch of coffee while singing his heart out to an OST only someone over 30 could recognize. He was the first to wake up, walked into the kitchen, took a look at her and immediately scolded Baekhyun for not getting her slippers closer to her size. 

They belong to Chanyeol and he thinks it’s just hilarious that she walks like a duck in them.

They all come down one by one in different states of sleepiness. All Jiah can think is that life has taken a seriously strange turn, and there’s not much she can do about it other than hold on to a cup of coffee and watch in silence, hair still wet.

“How are you feeling?” Junmyeon asks once again, taking some multivitamins and eyeing a plate of fruit that Sehun tries to keep safe from Chanyeol’s prying hands, asking him for the third time if he washed his hands.

He looks like Jongdae had to drag him out of bed, bed sheet imprints leaving red lines on his left cheek, swollen eyes and messy hair. There’s even dry drool on his chin. She wants to point it out, but they're not comfortable like that with each other.

He eyes the third spoonful of sugar she drops on her coffee but keeps any comment to himself.

“We can ask Dr. Jangmi for something stronger if you need it, just let me know.”

“Alright, thanks. I appreciate that,” she says for what feels like the 20th time in the past 24 hours.

Thanks. I appreciate that. This is weird as fuck though, can we not do this?

“Huh? What's this? What’s going on here?”

There is a soft giggle at the end of Yixing’s question. He's taking his shoes off, stumbling a bit, not closing the door behind him, holding a coffee cup carrier.

“Breakfast.” Jondgae says, and Jiah suspects he made a face. Whatever that means.

“Hey,” he makes his around the island and engulfs her in a careful hug. He's warm to the touch from being outside. “How are you feeling?”

"I’m ok.” she smiles, not being able to help her lips from pouting. “My shoulder’s kind of fucked, though.”

He frowns, shakes his head slowly, hands moving up and down her good arm, leaning down to press his lips to her temple. "I know. I'm sorry. But the more rest you get, the faster you'll feel better again, so don't rush yourself."

She nods, letting her weight rest on him for just a bit, eyes fluttering open when white cotton and a head of thick black hair passes by, startling her.

Kim Minseok is putting two extra carriers next to the one Yixing left on the island top. The door is now closed, but she never heard him come in. And now he's handing people coffee.

Chanyeol thanks him a thousand times. It seems like Jongdae's coffee making skills are controversial, he nags at them about being ungrateful, but walks over to get his cup anyway.

"Oh, that's–"

Jongdae's extended hand stops abruptly at Yixing's interruption. The cup Minseok was just about to give him is now being held by both of them.

"Dirty chai. That's Rina's." he explains.

Jiah, unsure about how to proceed, stares at the cup in front of her face, neither releasing it. Jongdae drops his hand, eyes shifting between them.

Yixing blinks curiously at Minseok, whose face she's avoiding to turn to look at.

Sehun leans over and grabs a cup of his own with his ridiculously long arms.

"Are you guys gonna give it to her, or–"

HIs comment wraps it up. Yixing gives her the cup, smiling down at her and paying no mind to the tilt of Jongdae’s eyebrow or Junmyeon's side eye.

“Oh, before I forget. I told Haneul you're taking a break. He sounded worried, maybe you should give him a call?” 

Right. Haneul. She’s been so distracted that she forgot about him as well. Yixing offers her his phone, but Baekhyun cuts him off and tells her to focus on breakfast while it's still warm.

Kyungsoo is the last one to take a seat at the table, lazily scrolling through his phone. There’s a pair of thick-framed glasses perched on top of his nose. He sighs at Baekhyun’s loud moan when he takes the first bite.

“Just as good as I remembered.”

The table is filled with the sound of eating and the low hum of someone's lofi playlist playing from the speakers. The moment lingers just long enough to become awkward.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I love uncomfortable silences during breakfast, I heard they’re good for digestion,”

Junmyeon stops mid-bite and gives Sehun a look.

“What? I mean she’s here now, can’t you just catch up? Ask her what happened on the third day?”

“Ok, Sehun. Just finish your sandwich.” 

He rolls his eyes, pointedly taking a big bite.

“Didn’t you have something to show us?” Jongin asks helpfully. Jiah has noticed that him and Sehun stick to each other, despite being on opposite ends of several traits.

“Glad you asked,” Baekhyun claps his hands, standing up as he licks his fingers having successfully devoured his sandwich. He disappears for a bit and comes back wheeling the glass board behind him.

Yixing turns to the side in his seat, pointing at one of the pictures. 

“There’s another girl?”

“Yep,” Baekhyun beams, the excited smile on his face melting immediately. He fixes his throat. “Long story short, these girls all are missing, they’re also all students, and they could be connected to Nayeon’s disappearance. We’re thinking they might help us find her.”

“Did you just say find her?”

“I did,” Baekhyun points his finger at Junmyeon, happy that he caught that “Nayeon is alive.”

Other than Sehun noisily blowing on his drink, the silence is heavy with skepticism. 

“We’re keeping a positive mindset here. There is a big, big chance she didn’t die in that fire. The body they found at her apartment was declared burned beyond recognition, and Nayeon didn’t have recent dental work done on her, so they couldn't even look for a match. And before you accuse me of being delusional, Rina came to the same conclusion all on her own.”

“Is this true?”

Jiah nods at Junmyeon. “She sent her brother the recordings through a shipping company days before the fire and scheduled the delivery. He got the package in the mail exactly two weeks after the fire.”

“So she knew she was in danger.”

“Creative.” Chanyeol mutters, impressed “She found a way to let her brother know without putting him in direct danger.”

“And then he tried to end Lee Chungjae himself.” Sehun adds.

“If she went through that effort, she would’ve tried to hide, right? It was only a theory, but Lee Chungjae probably has a reason to believe this as well, and he doesn’t want any loose ends.”

Junmyeon’s face is unreadable. 

“And well,” she points at her shoulder. “I think that night proved my theory.”

Yixing leans back on his chair, crossing his arms. It’s followed by a dry chuckle at the other side of the table.

“Can we just tell her?”

"Baekhyun tries to interrupt, but Chanyeol has a point to make.

"Nah, let her know, or she’ll go out there and successfully get herself killed this time just because she thinks she has backup.”

Jongdae tries as well, not without giving her a careful sideways glance that she doesn’t return, staring back at Chanyeol with just a slight narrowing of her eyes. Her lack of reaction so far has made his demeanor get a little more vicious.

“Let’s not–”

“How do you think they knew it was you, even with your editor protecting you?” Chanyeol finally asks “Your protector snitched on you, didn’t think twice before selling you out to Lee Chungjae’s team. He’s putting good money on his dad's campaign, did you not know?”

“Protector?” she blurts out, neither a question nor an affirmation. “Are you- wait, you mean Namjoon?” 

She snorts.

“I mean, yes? He knew about the investigation. I let him know before it came out.”

“You’re full so of shit. It's just sad.” Chanyeol shakes his head slowly.

“Like I said before, I’m not worried about convincing you.”

“Why?” he dares.

She can't judge him for being so remarkably slow. He doesn’t trust her, he’s probably terrified of whatever he thinks she represents. Yixing didn't lie about people being wary of her.

It’s disappointing to see him handle what he thinks is a threat so poorly, but then again he always was a heart-on-his-sleeve kind of guy. 

Others keep their silence and listen. Kyungsoo, even Junmyeon. Minseok's glare is impossible to ignore.

“Because sometimes being underestimated can work in your favor.” she speaks slowly like it’s a child across from her and not a man two years her senior.

The tension spikes. All these resources, a wide range of skills, a seat at the syndicate, and just a few harmless words make their mood drop.

Junmyeon leans in. “So what I'm hearing is that you put yourself at risk just to... prove a theory.”

“Of course not,” she wonders if he paid attention at all to what she said. “I hoped they’d come expecting to find Nayeon through me, so I set up a lead. It’s not about if they take it but who does. Chungjae's not doing this alone.”

“And did it work? The bait?“ Jongin sounds hopeful.

"I’m hoping it did.”

“You’re hoping it did?” Junmyeon repeats. “It’s been 48 hours, what if they realized you’re bluffing and decided you’re not useful anymore?”

“I’ve got it handled.”

“You never mentioned any of this” Baekhyun says, breaking his silence.

He has a look of disappointment on his face she wants to get rid of, and then she remembers that pale grin he gave her yesterday, like he was about to break into a cold sweat.

“I’ll let you know what I find.” 

There's something happening right in front of her eyes. As much as she wishes she could trust Yixing, his explanation about them being wary about her association with Namjoon doesn't cut it.

Her eyes find Minseok's and she hopes he's better than Baekhyun at subtlety. If getting himself a seat at the table is any indication, chances are he is.

Something indeed, and she's nearly convinced that it goes against the deal he signed a few days ago.

But that's not it, isn't it? There's more to it.

He lifts his chin, just barely, it feels too much like a silent warning. It has the opposite effect he wants. The dirty chai kicks in at once.

“Frankly, I don’t think you’re in the state to be handling anything right now.” Junmyeon’s amused little chuckle kills her momentum.

“I agree,” Yixing says, much to her disappointment “Even if you’re right, it doesn’t mean you're in any less danger.”

“I know how to take care of myself."

“Do I need to remind you that just almost bled out on the way to the hospital? This is obviously getting out of your hands. I won’t have your picture next to those girls'.”

Junmyeon points at the board. He's wearing a ring on his index finger. She's surprised it fits. Maybe he had it resized.

“You can leave it to us this time, we’ll handle it.”

“I appreciate the concern, but it's not your decision to make.”

"Question," Baekhyun says, a surprisingly serious look on his face. "Would it be so bad to let us help?"

“That's not the point. I promised Im Haneul I’d see this through.”

“Wouldn't be the first time you let someone down. He'll survive.” Chanyeol coldly replies.

Her blood starts to boil. They're cornering her, and her patience has a limit.

“Alright, I don’t know what your problem is, but let’s get it over with."

A deep voice has heads turning to the right. “You know what his problem is. Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit you.” 

If Chanyeol’s voice was venomous, Kyungsoo’s tone feels like battery acid.

Chanyeol wastes no time. “Only a handful of people survived Hwacheon's fire, how did you make it out?”

“You shouldn’t believe official records, the prison system in this country is a joke.”

“So no complex escape plan? I was expecting some prison break shit from you.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

He shakes a finger at her.

“I heard rumors, you know? About this girl that worked for Kim Namjoon. No one knew where she came from, not even back in their hometown. They said she was a witch, could sniff out a traitor from a mile away,”

Jiah has to give it to him, he sure knows how to set the mood with the storytelling.

“And then one day, she disappeared without a trace. People said he killed her after she tried to turn on them, others said someone in their circle knocked her up and he sent her away. Whatever happened, she vanished.”

“A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang." Sehun says, arm coming to rest around Jongin's shoulders. He pretends not to hear him.

“I don't know what you want me to say."

“Was it him, Hwacheon’s fire? Is that how you got out?”

To her utter disbelief, he's being serious. All she can do is open her mouth and close it, look around to see if anyone else understands how stupid that is.

Kyungsoo shrugs. “You’re not denying it.” 

“No, Kyungsoo. Kim Namjoon didn’t blow up a federal facility to help me escape. I can’t believe I have to explain this to you. I didn’t even know them back then.”

“Hwacheon is just ten miles away from Songju, isn't it? Right where Namjoon’s operation started. That was you. November 10th, the prosecutor's kids, the clean up, the start of the syndicate. You were there.”

"I was." she says without hesitation, still not understanding what's the big deal.

"Why?"

"Because they helped me out. And I because wanted to."

“Well, since we all know he cashes in all his favors, I guess the big, scary question here is what did you have to do to pay off your debt after they helped you out? Was it witchery, or was it-” 

“Ok,” Junmyeon interferes, putting one hand on the table. “You’re crossing the line.”

“Don’t worry, he’s not even close.” she says with a light tone, but the slight curl of her lips betrays the cutting edge behind her words.

"I just hope that if you got knocked up, you had the sense to get rid of it. Otherwise, you're an asshole for putting yourself in danger when you have a kid somewhere."

“Wow. When did he become this fucking pathetic?” she asks, genuinely curious, but they're all either too uncomfortable or embarrassed to grace her with an answer.

“Ok, I’ll translate for him.” Sehun chimes in, leaning forward with a serious expression on his face. Jongin closes his eyes and expects the worst. “What he's trying to ask is, did you engage in premarital sex with Kim Namjoon and/or any of his associates?”

Yixing drops his head. Jongin looks kind of mortified but kind of amused at Chanyeol's immediate response, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

“That is not what I’m asking.”

“No? So you’re worried about my hypothetical kid now?”

“Ok. Chanyeol, drop it. Let’s get back on track.”

But she likes this track. She doesn't see the point in dropping it yet.

"If you’re taking the misogynistic route, at least do it right. Don’t be a half-assed piece of shit, it’s pitiful.”

“Rina.”

“I’m not finished, Suho.”

A quick oop follows.

"I get it. I know what this is about. I see you. You're still dealing with your abandonment issues, but that’s not on me."

Chanyeol's face drops.

She carries on, no remorse. "What? You think you're special because your daddy wasn't around to play ball? Give me a break."

“Jesus. Ice fucking cold.”

A sharp grating sound. He forcefully shoves his chair back.

“Hey, hey–”

“Park Chanyeol.”

Chanyeol stands up at full height and others follow. Jongdae tries to talk some sense into him. Yixing doesn’t hesitate to do the same when she mirrors Chanyeol's stance, arm extended in front of her, shaking his head.

Sehun seems to be out of little quips. Like him, Minseok remains seated, looking at the scene from the end of the table.

Poor Jongdae, he's still trying. “Sit down, man. C'mon.”

But Chanyeol's not listening, his jaw is locked in, teeth gritted together. Finger pointed at her, spit spraying in the air.

”You let us all think you were dead.“ 

"I had my reasons.” 

She’s trying her best to not lose it against his stupid loud voice that takes up the room. Her head, her shoulder, her back, they all hurt. She should’ve left the moment she woke up, barefoot.

Chanyeol throws his arms in the air, growling.

“Your reasons? To let everyone mourn you for what? A decade. What the fuck is that about? Who does that?”

“I'm sorry, what’s the acceptable protocol for you? Enlighten me.”

“Dude, you’re seriously not asking that.” he winces, like he'd rather not look at her. “Kim Namjoon, seriously? That was your only option? You. Everything you tried to preach to us. Looking down at us, talking about better ways and shit, like you were some kind of paragon of virtue."

“Ah, fuck off. Seriously, fuck off." she repeats with closed eyes, an exhausted mantra. "Don’t selectively bring shit from the past into this."

"Was that just to make yourself feel a little less bad about, huh? About getting Yuan killed because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut?”

It feels like the air was sucked out of the room. No one was ready for that, perhaps not even Chanyeol. For a fleeting second he looks like he caught himself off guard.

Jiah lets out a shaky, hoarse little laugh, mumbling to herself. "You don't know shit. Not even now."

"You know you can repeat that all you want but that's still the truth."

“You wanna talk about the truth? The only reason I was there that night was to warn you, but you treated me like I was out of my mind. Everything I tried to tell you would happen, happened. That's the truth,"

Silence, she's not done yet.

"And then you got in that stupid car and sped down the fucking street,"

Not even near.

"You didn’t look back. You had the chance to leave it all behind and move on with your life while mine wasted in jail. But now you wanna act like I owe you an explanation?”

There's no way they remember that night as vividly as she does. Every tiny detail, the smell of shitty sewage water against her face, the weight of some asshole’s knee on her back pinning her to the street, the overlapping of people yelling in panic. Red and blue lights blinding her. Blasting sirens.

“I don't blame you. I fucked up time and time again and it’s not like you could’ve done anything to get me out of it.” she admits. 

“That’s right. You fucked up and we fucked up. So you decided that was it? You couldn't reach out for help or at least contact us? Did you not think of the consequences of letting people believe you were dead?”

She can’t help the bitter smile, half of her wanting to ask Chanyeol what he knows about consequences, but he’d mistake that for her wanting to hear an answer. Ten years later it’s not something that interests her.

"Pretty much, yeah,” she replies shamelessly, after a moment of consideration.

“That easy, huh?”

“Honestly, I was miserable back then. I was a kid, I only had you, I thought I could fix it, but everything kept getting worse.” she says, and the dam has not cracked yet, but it might. Any second now. “So yeah, after the fire, when I realized I had the choice to start over, I took it. That part? That was easy, yes.”

Chanyeol blinks at her, like he's not sure he's looking at someone.

“I was very careful. Don't think this situation here happened because of me being sloppy. I never planned to see any of you again, and I was at peace with that.” 

She wants to carry on but her throat feels raw, and Chanyeol’s breathing through his mouth. A couple of fat, anime-like tears spill down his cheek.

The dust has settled and it's clear that the room has shifted. Yixing was just sitting right next and now there’s some distance between them, like she’s exuding toxic fumes. Baekhyun looks like a kid with glassy eyes and a red nose. It’s too late to take back, it’s all out of her chest, too heavy to cage it back up.

“I do have a question though, why are you wearing my rings?”

Kyungsoo stands up, walking past her and stopping just to throw something on the table. The metallic rattle is enough to let her know what it is.

“They meant something,” he replies, chillingly calm. “Back when we thought you were dead.”

“But now that I think about it, I don’t think you made it out of the fire.”