open when...
title: Open When...
pairing/s: baekhyun/chanyeol
genre: romance, fluff
rating: pg-13
length: oneshot, 4736 wc
summary: 10/œ of letters proving how much C loves B
an1: for owmichi hababerday!
an2: this is as weird as they come lol (click on the links to 'experience' what c did for b)
an3: thanks to awesomest airplanewishes for always looking over my crap. And to my poops esp shexoxygen for the naked dancing chanyeol lol
Open When It's Your Birthday
To my B,
Surprise?
After a month of not so subtlely hinting that you wanted the latest Macbook model, I bet you didn't expect to receive a box of letters today for a gift. Well, prepared to be disappointed because this is all I got for you.
Now before you decide to permanently lock me out of the bedroom, hear me out first.
I LOVE YOU. LIKE REALLY REALLY. A LOT. :*
Yep, I'm hoping that's enough to make you forgive me. (If not, I already had the bedroom keys duplicated <3)
I made these letters because I just really want you to know how much you mean to me. You love me, so even if you want to burn them right now, you won't. I think.
Anyways, as written at the back of the envelopes, you can only open them at the occasion they apply to, okay? No cheating, B. I know you.
/adds an 'Open When You Have The Urge to Open All the Envelopes' letter/
So I guess that's it. I'm off to the office to play with other people's money. ^-^v
HAPPY 26TH BYUN!
Your C.
PS. WELL OK, LOOK UNDER THE BED. THERE'S YOUR MACBOOK. XD
Open When You Hear Our Song Playing
Baekhyun's doing the groceries this week. His mom's coming over to meet Chanyeol for the first time. He's kind of nervous. Oh, okay he's so nervous he's been staring at a piece of broccoli for the past half hour and thinking of the gazillion of things that can go wrong tomorrow night.
He loves his mom and she's dear to him but she can be a bit of a control freak when she wants to. Having been divorced from his dad since Baekhyun was eight, she has focused all her attention on her only son-making sure that he got the best and only the best. He's not saying that Chanyeol isn't the best but his mom has a specific notion of the perfect partner for Baekhyun and he's not sure that his boyfriend fits that bill.
They've been together for eighteen months and had just decided to move in together a week ago. Baekhyun's still adjusting to living with Chanyeol and he doesn't need the added stress of his mom staying overnight with them but she insisted to meet the guy ‘who's stealing my baby boy away'.
Baekhyun lines up at the counter after finally getting all he needs for a simple pasta dinner. His mind goes to the still unpacked stuff littering their house. He has to finish taking them out of the boxes soon and free up the space they're occupying in the living room.
He also has to make sure that Chanyeol is in his best behavior. He won't change his mind about staying with the 6'2" financial advisor even if his mom doesn't approve of him but making her actually like Chanyeol can't hurt.
He pays for the groceries and walks out to the parking lot. The drive home is short.
"Chanyeol?" he calls out once he gets inside the house. He hears an, "In here!" from the living room. Baekhyun places the grocery bag in the kitchen before he goes to where Chanyeol is.
He freezes as he is greeted by the sight of his tall boyfriend grinning widely and holding a huge snow globe out to him. It's easily the size of Baekhyun's head.
"What?" he asks appalled. His eyes go to the chipped porcelain base and the figure of a one-winged cupid inside, its bow cracked at the tip.
"It's a snow globe, Baek! Can't you see?" Chanyeol answers. Baekhyun winces when he places the ugly thing on top of the coffee table.
"I know what it is. What I want to know is why do we have it here?"
"Because the house is still so bare. We need decorations, B! And I got this for a bargain at the flea market near the office. Just paid $10." Chanyeol beams at him, his round eyes sparkling with pleasure.
Baekhyun's heart sinks because he won't take the thing even if it was offered to him for free but Chanyeol actually paid $10 for it. And the other man seems so happy with his purchase. He imagines the look on his mom's face when she sees it. She's never been one for cheap, used things.
"Can't we just put it somewhere else?" Anywhere as long as it's hidden.
"But it fits perfectly here."
Baekhyun feels a headache coming. It must have been apparent on his face because Chanyeol asks what's wrong. He weakly shakes his head.
"Don't you like it?"
He hears the disappointment in his boyfriend's voice. "No. No, I think it's, uh, nice."
The taller boy looks unconvinced. Baekhyun watches as he bends down to touch something at the side of the snow globe before Chanyeol walks over to him. He hears a faint tinkling and then the chorus of a familiar song plays.
"It's our song, B."
Chanyeol's palms are warm when they cup Baekhyun's cheeks and tilt his head up for a kiss. It lasts until the snow globe stops playing.
"That's the song that was playing when we first kissed. When I hear it I think of you. Well, I think of you all the time but when that song plays I think of kissing you." The dark-haired male touches his forehead to Baekhyun's. "And I was hoping that when you hear it you'll think of kissing me, too. I'm nothing but a man of vision."
Baekhyun's heart performs that twirl-thump-plop maneuver it always does when Chanyeol's being his dumb self. He tiptoes and gives his lover a bone-melting kiss.
"You're right. It's perfect," he whispers against Chanyeol's lips.
He lets go of his worries. Chanyeol's perfect and he thinks his mother, or anyone, would have to be blind not see that.
"My mom would love it."
...To be honest, I get consecutive mini heart attacks every single time your lips touch mine. Especially when you do that licky licky thing. But it feels ashdgdfsjagaj that's why I don't mind. So when you hear our song, think of me kissing you.
Then hold that thought and we can act on it when I get home. Hubba Hubba. Baeky, I'm yours.~
Open When You're telling Me Something and I Fall Asleep
He's exhausted but Baekhyun can't sleep. He did it. On the way home from work, he dropped by the city hall and submitted his entry. The city's celebrating its foundation day next month and, aside from the other events, will be holding a small music festival.
Baekhyun has been debating on whether to join or not since he isn't really confident he'll win. After all, writing music is just a hobby, something he does to relax and forget the stress of his teaching profession. It's the first time he's letting other people hear his songs and he's not certain they're even fit for public consumption.
The bedroom door opens and Chanyeol enters. His hair's damp from the shower and he's wearing his usual sleep clothes-a thin white shirt and striped pajama bottoms. He looks dead on his feet yet he grins widely before he dives into the bed, jostling Baekhyun and distracting him from his thoughts.
"Why are you still awake?" Chanyeol asks sleepily. He draws Baekhyun into his arms and nuzzles his cheek. "Thought you're tired."
"It's your fault," Baekhyun mutters. "You're the one who told me to submit my song and now I'm so nervous I can't sleep."
The taller boy lifts his head and peers down at him. "You did?"
"Yeah. Didn't I just say so?"
Baekhyun lets out a yelp when Chanyeol pulls him abruptly back into his embrace and he's hugging him so tight, the brunette can barely breathe. He feels Chanyeol pepper his face with butterfly kisses and all Baekhyun can do is smile helplessly.
"I'm so proud of you," Chanyeol whispers into his ear, his deep voice filling Baekhyun with warmth.
"I'm sure I won't even make the first cut." Baekhyun laments and burrows his head in the crook of Chanyeol's neck.
"But you still joined. That's already something." The younger man drops a kiss on his temple.
"I guess. You know there are a lot of entries and I even saw the name of a former classmate on the list. I was so nervous when I was filling up the form. I had to force myself to hand in the disc. But you know, it's exciting, too. Sure, I'll not win but it feels different when you know that you've accomplished something and people are going to listen to it. It takes away the what ifs and I just--"
A snore.
Baekhyun looks up and sees Chanyeol already asleep. He lets out a quiet laugh. He runs the pad of his thumb across his boyfriend's cheekbone and he’s overwhelmed with emotion. He feels so lucky. "Thank you, C."
He gets another snore.
The shorter man thinks he should go to sleep, too, but instead of lying down he sits up and reaches for something inside the bedside drawer.
Chanyeol wakes up in the morning with a curly French mustache.
...It's not that I don't want to listen to you. Lying next to you and hearing you tell me about your day is actually one of the things I look forward to every night. It's just maybe because work has been stressful or I'm really tired. So don't feel bad please.
To make it up to you, inside the envelope is a special black marker. Special because you can use it to draw on me every time I fall asleep in the middle of a conversation.
IMAGINE ALL THAT POWEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR IN YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HANDS.
B, just please make sure you use this one because it's washable. ;)
Open When You Miss Me
That's one boring movie, Baekhyun thinks yet he doesn't turn off the TV. The dialogue's mediocre at best but the sounds fill the four corners of the room so he doesn't feel so alone. It's nearing midnight and he's lying on his side on the couch watching a movie rerun, missing Chanyeol so much.
The house is too cold and too quiet when the younger guy's not around. It's Chanyeol's second day out of the country and Baekhyun wants so bad to call in sick at work and go to him. Which is highly impractical because his boyfriend will be gone for only three days more, not to mention the cost of the two-way ticket to the US.
Still, why can't they just have that convention here?
Byun Baekhyun, get a grip.
It's not the first time Chanyeol has traveled abroad. And he already called earlier this evening to check in on Baekhyun. The older male wanted to talk more but he knows the call isn't cheap and Chanyeol still has work so he didn't protest when it only lasted for less than five minutes. Even if it isn't nearly enough. He sighs.
Baekhyun's so used to the feel of Chanyeol's chest as it rises and falls against his cheek when they lie in bed together. It's almost physically painful not to have him near at this time of the night. He’s annoyed at himself. Since when had he become this needy?
Since Park Chanyeol happened to Byun Baekhyun, that's when.
The realization doesn't help at all.
He lowers the volume of the TV until it’s only a low hum in the background. Baekhyun then scrolls down the music player on his phone. Finding what he's looking for, he pushes on the play button. The living room is filled with the soothing sounds of a guitar. He lets Chanyeol's voice lull him to sleep.
...Remember that somewhere, I'm missing you, wanting to be with you just as bad.
It's always hard being away from you, Baek. But know that I'll be back soon. And when I return, we'll go straight to bed! (This is not a joke)
I'll make up for the days we were apart and cover your whole body with kisses and I'll love you so hard, you'll want me to leave again.
But until then, find the folder 'SQUAWK' on your phone and play the lone file inside. Forgive me, it may sound like random dying whale noises but that's actually me attempting to tell you how much I love you through a song...
Open When (You Think) I'm Being Stupid
The front door closes with a loud crash but Baekhyun doesn't care. He stalks towards the garage and locates the heavy tool box and a hammer. He takes it out into the backyard before he goes back inside to get the last Do-It-Yourself kit on top of the garage self.
It's heavy and it takes some effort to drag it out. He's sweating by the time he's able to place it in the middle of the yard.
"Stupid, dumb, idiot!" he grumbles as he opens the box and takes out the wooden pieces of the as-yet-unassembled chair. For a second, his eyes go to the left part of the yard where a yellow wooden table and the three chairs are placed. He gets riled up all over again.
Baekhyun begins nailing the pieces together. Everything is quiet except for the occasional thunk thunk thunk of the hammer when it connects with the wood. Each hit is punctuated by a "Stupid!", "Dumb!", or an "Idiot!" in varying degrees of intensity.
He stops for a while when he feels his arm ache from the effort. Baekhyun has work tomorrow and on the kitchen table is a pile of test papers he needs to check but he makes no move to go inside. He's still angry with Chanyeol.
It's getting dark but Baekhyun's resolved to finish this chair. At one point, he thinks he sees someone standing behind the kitchen windows. But there's no one there when he looks up. Chanyeol's probably still too busy being obtuse and unreasonable. And stupid. Definitely stupid.
Another hour passes and Baekhyun's almost done. He smiles for the first time since he got home this afternoon. He can just paint the chair a bright yellow this weekend. The porch lights turn on and Baekhyun stops admiring his creation to glance at the tall, skinny oaf standing by the backdoor. He averts his gaze and remains where he is, several feet away.
Chanyeol goes to sit on the porch step and he hugs his bony knees to his chest.
"The yard set's complete," the younger male says, looking at the wooden tables and chairs.
"Yeah," Baekhyun replies shortly. He busies himself with putting back the extra nails inside the tool box.
"I'm sorry."
"You're an idiot."
"I know."
"I can't believe how dumb you are," he says but there's no real fire behind it.
"I know."
Baekhyun finally looks at Chanyeol. "How can you even say that? How can you even think that?"
Chanyeol buries his face in his hands. "I'm stupid."
The shorter guy sighs and walks over to where his boyfriend is. He sits beside Chanyeol and rests his head on the other's shoulder. He feels an arm snake around his waist and a pair of lips touching his hair.
"You have to believe me when I say I love you," Baekhyun whispers and he can't stop the hurt from seeping into his words.
"I believe you, B."
"Yeah, but you don't believe enough in yourself."
"I'm not handsome like that Kris guy or as sexy as that Kim Jongin you’re working with."
"Are you starting on me again?" Baekhyun straightens but Chanyeol pulls him back against his side.
"No. There's just a lot of other greater guys out there."
"Of course, C. There are more than 5 billion people on Earth. There's bound to be millions of guys greater than you." Baekhyun holds on to one of Chanyeol's hands and gives it a squeeze. "But I don't want any of them. I want you. I love you so much. How can there be anyone else?"
The taller man abruptly hauls him into his lap and hugs him tight. There's silence but it's an easy one.
"I made dinner," Chanyeol says after a while.
Baekhyun looks incredulously at him. They both laugh.
"Let's just order pizza."
"Okay. But are you tired? Because we still need to have make up sex."
Baekhyun rolls his eyes. "I have exam papers to check."
Chanyeol looks disappointed and the older guy feels his heart constrict. Sometimes, Baekhyun thinks he's so easy.
"But if you help me I can maybe finish early."
He gets dragged immediately inside.
...I suppose out of all the letters, this one's going to be the most frequently opened. There'll be numerous times that I'd do something stupid but I hope you don't give up on me. Sorry about that, B. :(
Good thing I have this superior sense of self-preservation so whenever you want to maybe bash me in the head to knock some sense into me, go to the garage instead. Under the tools shelf are DIY kits-little projects that you can hammer away on to your heart's content.
And when you're done venting all your frustrations out, I'll come to you. That way I stay alive and I can spend the next fifty years or so making it up to you.
Open When You Have The Urge to Open All the Envelopes
Baekhyun licks off the batter from the mixing spoon.
...I knew it. You'll get the urge sooner or later. So instead of going through all the letters look inside the envelope and you’ll find the recipe for chocolate chip cookies!
Do something productive and bake. I'll eat whatever the outcome is to show you just how strong my stomach is. Kidding.
Or if you don't want to then you can wait for me in bed. Naked.
Anything, Baekhyun-flavored is my favorite. <3
PS. You'll realize soon enough that all these letters are designed to get you in bed. Sorry, not sorry.
Open When You Need A Good Laugh
The whole week has been nothing but hell. His supervisor just gave him a new load to shoulder and Baekhyun wonders what the devil he was thinking when he wrote down Teacher as his dream job.
When he chose his profession, he imagined himself in front of a class of eager boys and girls-every one alight with excitement as he taught them amazing new things-and not here slaving away on the kitchen table at 9:30 in the evening and buried under piles and piles of paper work.
He felt a little guilty for serving Chanyeol with one if those awful instant microwave meals-the guy can't cook to save his life-and he knows his boyfriend felt let down when they weren't able to eat together.
He’s got a lot more complaints but who was he kidding? He grumbles but Baekhyun admits he loves teaching. He loves being greeted with a Yo, Mr. Byun every morning by those precocious sixth graders. He loves his tiny desk and the free stale coffee they serve in the faculty lounge. He loves knowing that for the time he spends inside the classroom, at least one child listens to his lectures and perhaps dreams of greater things because of them.
"Baek?"
He feels Chanyeol's hands work to loosen the knots on his shoulders. "Hmmm?"
"Maybe, you should rest? You look like road kill."
"Thanks. Exactly what I wanted to hear," he says tiredly, leaning back to look up at Chanyeol's worried frown.
"Want me to help?"
"It's okay. You're tired, too. Go get sleep. I'll just finish this and will turn in soon."
"You know," Chanyeol pauses to give him a peck in the forehead, "what you need?"
"What?" he asks although he already has an inkling of what the other man will say. He sees the teasing glint in Chanyeol's eyes.
"A good laugh," the younger says with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
There’s a moment where Baekhyun struggles to find reasons to refuse but he eventually gives in. Because who can resist wiggling eyebrows? He’ll just have to wake up extra early to finish his work. Baekhyun reaches for his wallet and gets a small card out. He turns in his seat, facing Chanyeol before he tucks the paper inside his boyfriend’s pocket. "Game."
Chanyeol ruffles his hair then proceeds to run off towards their bedroom. The spring in his boyfriend's footsteps is already enough to make him laugh. He quickly stuffs his papers inside his satchel, shoulders shaking with mirth.
"Oh, Baekhyunnie," a deep voice coos behind him.
Baekhyun turns to see Chanyeol leaning against the kitchen doorway, wearing a long bathrobe and a mischievous smirk. He bursts out laughing when Chanyeol crooks his index finger and invites him closer.
"I think I'm going to regret this," he teases.
The taller man scowls but his expression clears almost immediately when Baekhyun stands to go to him. The shorter guy starts to reach out but his hands get slapped gently away.
"No touchy."
Chanyeol walks backwards and beckons Baekhyun to follow. He lets out a chuckle when his boyfriend shrugs off one side of the bathrobe and exposes a shoulder. He does this painful looking roll of the said body part and Baekhyun wants to face palm in second hand embarrassment.
Chanyeol hits his back a few times before they reach the bedroom where the taller boy promptly grabs Baekhyun and throws him on the bed. Then he proceeds to do a not-so-strip tease, making a show of loosening the belt of the robe before taking it all off and throwing it at Baekhyun's face. The smaller guy shrieks in laughter when he sees his boyfriend wearing a pair of tiny neon pink bikini briefs.
"Chanyeol please," he sputtered. "Where did you even."
"Shhh."
Baekhyun loses it completely when Chanyeol starts to “dance.”
"Am I seductive or what?" Chanyeol continues the awkward swaying of his hips. He then does a body wave that looked anything but a wave. "Are you getting aroused now?"
Baekhyun's stomach hurts and he can't breathe. "Oh my god, stop," he wheezes.
The taller man raises his arms and wiggles his butt. "How 'bout now?"
The next hour is filled with giggles and screams. And kisses. Lots of kisses. More laughter. Touches. Moans and groans. Thundering heartbeats.
"I want my money back," Baekhyun pants into Chanyeol's mouth, his legs tight around the younger male's waist. "This wasn't--"
Chanyeol pushes his hips in, shutting Baekhyun up. He rests his head on Baekhyun's chest and the brunette feels soft lips graze the skin below his collarbone.
"No refund." Chanyeol looks into his eyes. "Can't take me back."
He runs his hands through his lover's sweaty hair and leans up. "Of course, I'll keep you. I was talking about the briefs. Neon pink. Seriously?"
Chanyeol grins. "You know you like it."
He starts to protest but… Okay, so perhaps he likes it, Baekhyun thinks and--
Chanyeol grabs his thighs, pulls Baekhyun's closer and moves hotly inside him.
Baekhyun stops thinking altogether.
...I was supposed to put in a mirror inside but I figured you'll not appreciate that and I won't get my nightly cuddle so here's a little something I made for you. You only get 3. Use it wisely.
VIP PASS
The Nekkid Butt Show with Park Chanyeol
Le Stripper Extraordinaire.
Open When You Want to Know What Makes Me Happy
"Happy Birthday!" he jumps into Chanyeol's arms and they fall back into the couch. He straddles his lover's hips and dangles a small box in front of Chanyeol's nose.
"What did you get me? That's too small to be a new car."
"Just open it okay."
Chanyeol unwraps the box and sees a familiar looking card inside-except his name is crossed out and replaced by-
"You, Monsieur Byun Baekhyun, have no originality."
"You don't want it?"
"I want it." Baekhyun falls in love with Chanyeol's smile for the thousandth time. "I'll want you for the rest of my life."
"Good," he says, voice surprisingly unsteady. “Good.”
Then he shows the birthday boy his neon green underwear.
... I know you're going to go all crazily running around looking for the perfect birthday present for me. So I'm giving you a nudge in the right direction. Just type this url and you'll know what makes me happy.
http://www.what-makes-c-happy.tumblr.com
No, get your brains out of the gutter. It's not porn.
Open When You Feel Like You're Losing Me
The bed is cold. There's a gap between the sheets that Baekhyun can't seem to bridge. He hears Chanyeol's steady breathing. Inhale. Exhale.
Baekhyun's heart aches.
Five years and they're like this. They haven't talked about anything more substantial than the weather. This distance, he hates it so much. Chanyeol hasn't touched him for more than a month. They're always so tired. There's always this to do, there's always that to finish.
He closes his eyes and curls into a ball, hugging himself tightly. He misses his C.
Baekhyun wants to resent the promotion Chanyeol got which takes his boyfriend away for weeks at a time. He wants to resent the way his job cuts on their moments together. But he can't. Not when he sees Chanyeol loves what he does.
He just wishes he'll see Baekhyun sometimes.
Does Chanyeol even think of him anymore?
Baekhyun stifles a sob. He quickly gets up to go out of the room, lest he wakes Chanyeol up and he hears him crying. He stumbles through the corridor towards the living room.
Baekhyun goes to the shelf on one corner of the room and he traces the spines of the books with his right hand. He stops on the fourth one and takes the softbound copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone out. It's the only book Chanyeol has ever read with Baekhyun.
He opens it to the part he has memorized by heart, opens it to the page he has visited every night for the past month to give himself hope. But he's shocked when he sees a sticky note inside. It wasn't there before.
You. Me. Paris. <3
He cries and cries and only stops when he feels a warm chest against his cheek and beloved lips kissing away his tears.
...I won't want you to ever have to open this letter because firstly, B, why would you even think that? :(((
If you do then I must be doing a poor job of loving you. Feel free to use that hammer on my head anytime.
I love you. In you, I had found everything wonderful. And I'd really be a fool if I let that go. I don't know how to prove this or to make you believe me again. You know I suck with words and I can't really express what I feel properly. But let me try.
Do you know what I think about when I look at you?
Follow the instructions on the card. You'll find my answer there.
Fourth book from the top shelf.
Chapter 17. Page 299. 12th line.
12th word.
Open When You Feel Like You're So In Love With Me That You Think Your Heart Will Burst If You're Not Going To Do Anything About It
He's laughing and crying and punching the taller man.
"Yes," he says through his tears.
... I feel this every day. Ever since the moment we met. Hence, me grabbing your hand the first time I saw you inside the subway train. I knew I had to do something, B, or you would have been witness to bursting blood vessels at that second. (Still thankful you didn't call the cops on me. XOXO)
Now, what I want you to do is memorize this word:
YES
Done? Great. So it sticks, let me just-
YES
Good job, Baek. Now, I want you to shout it out loud after you read the question below. Just that word. Nothing else.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
YES
(Writing it again just to make sure.)
PS. Get the ring from the tall, smart, young, handsome, man who loves you. He's been saving it since your first anniversary.
-AHAHAHAHA IM SO SORRY
-Harry Potter book I used was earlier edition from Scholastic
pairing/s: baekhyun/chanyeol
genre: romance, fluff
rating: pg-13
length: oneshot, 4736 wc
summary: 10/œ of letters proving how much C loves B
an1: for owmichi hababerday!
an2: this is as weird as they come lol (click on the links to 'experience' what c did for b)
an3: thanks to awesomest airplanewishes for always looking over my crap. And to my poops esp shexoxygen for the naked dancing chanyeol lol
Open When It's Your Birthday
To my B,
Surprise?
After a month of not so subtlely hinting that you wanted the latest Macbook model, I bet you didn't expect to receive a box of letters today for a gift. Well, prepared to be disappointed because this is all I got for you.
Now before you decide to permanently lock me out of the bedroom, hear me out first.
I LOVE YOU. LIKE REALLY REALLY. A LOT. :*
Yep, I'm hoping that's enough to make you forgive me. (If not, I already had the bedroom keys duplicated <3)
I made these letters because I just really want you to know how much you mean to me. You love me, so even if you want to burn them right now, you won't. I think.
Anyways, as written at the back of the envelopes, you can only open them at the occasion they apply to, okay? No cheating, B. I know you.
/adds an 'Open When You Have The Urge to Open All the Envelopes' letter/
So I guess that's it. I'm off to the office to play with other people's money. ^-^v
HAPPY 26TH BYUN!
Your C.
PS. WELL OK, LOOK UNDER THE BED. THERE'S YOUR MACBOOK. XD
Open When You Hear Our Song Playing
Baekhyun's doing the groceries this week. His mom's coming over to meet Chanyeol for the first time. He's kind of nervous. Oh, okay he's so nervous he's been staring at a piece of broccoli for the past half hour and thinking of the gazillion of things that can go wrong tomorrow night.
He loves his mom and she's dear to him but she can be a bit of a control freak when she wants to. Having been divorced from his dad since Baekhyun was eight, she has focused all her attention on her only son-making sure that he got the best and only the best. He's not saying that Chanyeol isn't the best but his mom has a specific notion of the perfect partner for Baekhyun and he's not sure that his boyfriend fits that bill.
They've been together for eighteen months and had just decided to move in together a week ago. Baekhyun's still adjusting to living with Chanyeol and he doesn't need the added stress of his mom staying overnight with them but she insisted to meet the guy ‘who's stealing my baby boy away'.
Baekhyun lines up at the counter after finally getting all he needs for a simple pasta dinner. His mind goes to the still unpacked stuff littering their house. He has to finish taking them out of the boxes soon and free up the space they're occupying in the living room.
He also has to make sure that Chanyeol is in his best behavior. He won't change his mind about staying with the 6'2" financial advisor even if his mom doesn't approve of him but making her actually like Chanyeol can't hurt.
He pays for the groceries and walks out to the parking lot. The drive home is short.
"Chanyeol?" he calls out once he gets inside the house. He hears an, "In here!" from the living room. Baekhyun places the grocery bag in the kitchen before he goes to where Chanyeol is.
He freezes as he is greeted by the sight of his tall boyfriend grinning widely and holding a huge snow globe out to him. It's easily the size of Baekhyun's head.
"What?" he asks appalled. His eyes go to the chipped porcelain base and the figure of a one-winged cupid inside, its bow cracked at the tip.
"It's a snow globe, Baek! Can't you see?" Chanyeol answers. Baekhyun winces when he places the ugly thing on top of the coffee table.
"I know what it is. What I want to know is why do we have it here?"
"Because the house is still so bare. We need decorations, B! And I got this for a bargain at the flea market near the office. Just paid $10." Chanyeol beams at him, his round eyes sparkling with pleasure.
Baekhyun's heart sinks because he won't take the thing even if it was offered to him for free but Chanyeol actually paid $10 for it. And the other man seems so happy with his purchase. He imagines the look on his mom's face when she sees it. She's never been one for cheap, used things.
"Can't we just put it somewhere else?" Anywhere as long as it's hidden.
"But it fits perfectly here."
Baekhyun feels a headache coming. It must have been apparent on his face because Chanyeol asks what's wrong. He weakly shakes his head.
"Don't you like it?"
He hears the disappointment in his boyfriend's voice. "No. No, I think it's, uh, nice."
The taller boy looks unconvinced. Baekhyun watches as he bends down to touch something at the side of the snow globe before Chanyeol walks over to him. He hears a faint tinkling and then the chorus of a familiar song plays.
"It's our song, B."
Chanyeol's palms are warm when they cup Baekhyun's cheeks and tilt his head up for a kiss. It lasts until the snow globe stops playing.
"That's the song that was playing when we first kissed. When I hear it I think of you. Well, I think of you all the time but when that song plays I think of kissing you." The dark-haired male touches his forehead to Baekhyun's. "And I was hoping that when you hear it you'll think of kissing me, too. I'm nothing but a man of vision."
Baekhyun's heart performs that twirl-thump-plop maneuver it always does when Chanyeol's being his dumb self. He tiptoes and gives his lover a bone-melting kiss.
"You're right. It's perfect," he whispers against Chanyeol's lips.
He lets go of his worries. Chanyeol's perfect and he thinks his mother, or anyone, would have to be blind not see that.
"My mom would love it."
...To be honest, I get consecutive mini heart attacks every single time your lips touch mine. Especially when you do that licky licky thing. But it feels ashdgdfsjagaj that's why I don't mind. So when you hear our song, think of me kissing you.
Then hold that thought and we can act on it when I get home. Hubba Hubba. Baeky, I'm yours.~
Open When You're telling Me Something and I Fall Asleep
He's exhausted but Baekhyun can't sleep. He did it. On the way home from work, he dropped by the city hall and submitted his entry. The city's celebrating its foundation day next month and, aside from the other events, will be holding a small music festival.
Baekhyun has been debating on whether to join or not since he isn't really confident he'll win. After all, writing music is just a hobby, something he does to relax and forget the stress of his teaching profession. It's the first time he's letting other people hear his songs and he's not certain they're even fit for public consumption.
The bedroom door opens and Chanyeol enters. His hair's damp from the shower and he's wearing his usual sleep clothes-a thin white shirt and striped pajama bottoms. He looks dead on his feet yet he grins widely before he dives into the bed, jostling Baekhyun and distracting him from his thoughts.
"Why are you still awake?" Chanyeol asks sleepily. He draws Baekhyun into his arms and nuzzles his cheek. "Thought you're tired."
"It's your fault," Baekhyun mutters. "You're the one who told me to submit my song and now I'm so nervous I can't sleep."
The taller boy lifts his head and peers down at him. "You did?"
"Yeah. Didn't I just say so?"
Baekhyun lets out a yelp when Chanyeol pulls him abruptly back into his embrace and he's hugging him so tight, the brunette can barely breathe. He feels Chanyeol pepper his face with butterfly kisses and all Baekhyun can do is smile helplessly.
"I'm so proud of you," Chanyeol whispers into his ear, his deep voice filling Baekhyun with warmth.
"I'm sure I won't even make the first cut." Baekhyun laments and burrows his head in the crook of Chanyeol's neck.
"But you still joined. That's already something." The younger man drops a kiss on his temple.
"I guess. You know there are a lot of entries and I even saw the name of a former classmate on the list. I was so nervous when I was filling up the form. I had to force myself to hand in the disc. But you know, it's exciting, too. Sure, I'll not win but it feels different when you know that you've accomplished something and people are going to listen to it. It takes away the what ifs and I just--"
A snore.
Baekhyun looks up and sees Chanyeol already asleep. He lets out a quiet laugh. He runs the pad of his thumb across his boyfriend's cheekbone and he’s overwhelmed with emotion. He feels so lucky. "Thank you, C."
He gets another snore.
The shorter man thinks he should go to sleep, too, but instead of lying down he sits up and reaches for something inside the bedside drawer.
Chanyeol wakes up in the morning with a curly French mustache.
...It's not that I don't want to listen to you. Lying next to you and hearing you tell me about your day is actually one of the things I look forward to every night. It's just maybe because work has been stressful or I'm really tired. So don't feel bad please.
To make it up to you, inside the envelope is a special black marker. Special because you can use it to draw on me every time I fall asleep in the middle of a conversation.
IMAGINE ALL THAT POWEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR IN YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HANDS.
B, just please make sure you use this one because it's washable. ;)
Open When You Miss Me
That's one boring movie, Baekhyun thinks yet he doesn't turn off the TV. The dialogue's mediocre at best but the sounds fill the four corners of the room so he doesn't feel so alone. It's nearing midnight and he's lying on his side on the couch watching a movie rerun, missing Chanyeol so much.
The house is too cold and too quiet when the younger guy's not around. It's Chanyeol's second day out of the country and Baekhyun wants so bad to call in sick at work and go to him. Which is highly impractical because his boyfriend will be gone for only three days more, not to mention the cost of the two-way ticket to the US.
Still, why can't they just have that convention here?
Byun Baekhyun, get a grip.
It's not the first time Chanyeol has traveled abroad. And he already called earlier this evening to check in on Baekhyun. The older male wanted to talk more but he knows the call isn't cheap and Chanyeol still has work so he didn't protest when it only lasted for less than five minutes. Even if it isn't nearly enough. He sighs.
Baekhyun's so used to the feel of Chanyeol's chest as it rises and falls against his cheek when they lie in bed together. It's almost physically painful not to have him near at this time of the night. He’s annoyed at himself. Since when had he become this needy?
Since Park Chanyeol happened to Byun Baekhyun, that's when.
The realization doesn't help at all.
He lowers the volume of the TV until it’s only a low hum in the background. Baekhyun then scrolls down the music player on his phone. Finding what he's looking for, he pushes on the play button. The living room is filled with the soothing sounds of a guitar. He lets Chanyeol's voice lull him to sleep.
...Remember that somewhere, I'm missing you, wanting to be with you just as bad.
It's always hard being away from you, Baek. But know that I'll be back soon. And when I return, we'll go straight to bed! (This is not a joke)
I'll make up for the days we were apart and cover your whole body with kisses and I'll love you so hard, you'll want me to leave again.
But until then, find the folder 'SQUAWK' on your phone and play the lone file inside. Forgive me, it may sound like random dying whale noises but that's actually me attempting to tell you how much I love you through a song...
Open When (You Think) I'm Being Stupid
The front door closes with a loud crash but Baekhyun doesn't care. He stalks towards the garage and locates the heavy tool box and a hammer. He takes it out into the backyard before he goes back inside to get the last Do-It-Yourself kit on top of the garage self.
It's heavy and it takes some effort to drag it out. He's sweating by the time he's able to place it in the middle of the yard.
"Stupid, dumb, idiot!" he grumbles as he opens the box and takes out the wooden pieces of the as-yet-unassembled chair. For a second, his eyes go to the left part of the yard where a yellow wooden table and the three chairs are placed. He gets riled up all over again.
Baekhyun begins nailing the pieces together. Everything is quiet except for the occasional thunk thunk thunk of the hammer when it connects with the wood. Each hit is punctuated by a "Stupid!", "Dumb!", or an "Idiot!" in varying degrees of intensity.
He stops for a while when he feels his arm ache from the effort. Baekhyun has work tomorrow and on the kitchen table is a pile of test papers he needs to check but he makes no move to go inside. He's still angry with Chanyeol.
It's getting dark but Baekhyun's resolved to finish this chair. At one point, he thinks he sees someone standing behind the kitchen windows. But there's no one there when he looks up. Chanyeol's probably still too busy being obtuse and unreasonable. And stupid. Definitely stupid.
Another hour passes and Baekhyun's almost done. He smiles for the first time since he got home this afternoon. He can just paint the chair a bright yellow this weekend. The porch lights turn on and Baekhyun stops admiring his creation to glance at the tall, skinny oaf standing by the backdoor. He averts his gaze and remains where he is, several feet away.
Chanyeol goes to sit on the porch step and he hugs his bony knees to his chest.
"The yard set's complete," the younger male says, looking at the wooden tables and chairs.
"Yeah," Baekhyun replies shortly. He busies himself with putting back the extra nails inside the tool box.
"I'm sorry."
"You're an idiot."
"I know."
"I can't believe how dumb you are," he says but there's no real fire behind it.
"I know."
Baekhyun finally looks at Chanyeol. "How can you even say that? How can you even think that?"
Chanyeol buries his face in his hands. "I'm stupid."
The shorter guy sighs and walks over to where his boyfriend is. He sits beside Chanyeol and rests his head on the other's shoulder. He feels an arm snake around his waist and a pair of lips touching his hair.
"You have to believe me when I say I love you," Baekhyun whispers and he can't stop the hurt from seeping into his words.
"I believe you, B."
"Yeah, but you don't believe enough in yourself."
"I'm not handsome like that Kris guy or as sexy as that Kim Jongin you’re working with."
"Are you starting on me again?" Baekhyun straightens but Chanyeol pulls him back against his side.
"No. There's just a lot of other greater guys out there."
"Of course, C. There are more than 5 billion people on Earth. There's bound to be millions of guys greater than you." Baekhyun holds on to one of Chanyeol's hands and gives it a squeeze. "But I don't want any of them. I want you. I love you so much. How can there be anyone else?"
The taller man abruptly hauls him into his lap and hugs him tight. There's silence but it's an easy one.
"I made dinner," Chanyeol says after a while.
Baekhyun looks incredulously at him. They both laugh.
"Let's just order pizza."
"Okay. But are you tired? Because we still need to have make up sex."
Baekhyun rolls his eyes. "I have exam papers to check."
Chanyeol looks disappointed and the older guy feels his heart constrict. Sometimes, Baekhyun thinks he's so easy.
"But if you help me I can maybe finish early."
He gets dragged immediately inside.
...I suppose out of all the letters, this one's going to be the most frequently opened. There'll be numerous times that I'd do something stupid but I hope you don't give up on me. Sorry about that, B. :(
Good thing I have this superior sense of self-preservation so whenever you want to maybe bash me in the head to knock some sense into me, go to the garage instead. Under the tools shelf are DIY kits-little projects that you can hammer away on to your heart's content.
And when you're done venting all your frustrations out, I'll come to you. That way I stay alive and I can spend the next fifty years or so making it up to you.
Open When You Have The Urge to Open All the Envelopes
Baekhyun licks off the batter from the mixing spoon.
...I knew it. You'll get the urge sooner or later. So instead of going through all the letters look inside the envelope and you’ll find the recipe for chocolate chip cookies!
Do something productive and bake. I'll eat whatever the outcome is to show you just how strong my stomach is. Kidding.
Or if you don't want to then you can wait for me in bed. Naked.
Anything, Baekhyun-flavored is my favorite. <3
PS. You'll realize soon enough that all these letters are designed to get you in bed. Sorry, not sorry.
Open When You Need A Good Laugh
The whole week has been nothing but hell. His supervisor just gave him a new load to shoulder and Baekhyun wonders what the devil he was thinking when he wrote down Teacher as his dream job.
When he chose his profession, he imagined himself in front of a class of eager boys and girls-every one alight with excitement as he taught them amazing new things-and not here slaving away on the kitchen table at 9:30 in the evening and buried under piles and piles of paper work.
He felt a little guilty for serving Chanyeol with one if those awful instant microwave meals-the guy can't cook to save his life-and he knows his boyfriend felt let down when they weren't able to eat together.
He’s got a lot more complaints but who was he kidding? He grumbles but Baekhyun admits he loves teaching. He loves being greeted with a Yo, Mr. Byun every morning by those precocious sixth graders. He loves his tiny desk and the free stale coffee they serve in the faculty lounge. He loves knowing that for the time he spends inside the classroom, at least one child listens to his lectures and perhaps dreams of greater things because of them.
"Baek?"
He feels Chanyeol's hands work to loosen the knots on his shoulders. "Hmmm?"
"Maybe, you should rest? You look like road kill."
"Thanks. Exactly what I wanted to hear," he says tiredly, leaning back to look up at Chanyeol's worried frown.
"Want me to help?"
"It's okay. You're tired, too. Go get sleep. I'll just finish this and will turn in soon."
"You know," Chanyeol pauses to give him a peck in the forehead, "what you need?"
"What?" he asks although he already has an inkling of what the other man will say. He sees the teasing glint in Chanyeol's eyes.
"A good laugh," the younger says with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
There’s a moment where Baekhyun struggles to find reasons to refuse but he eventually gives in. Because who can resist wiggling eyebrows? He’ll just have to wake up extra early to finish his work. Baekhyun reaches for his wallet and gets a small card out. He turns in his seat, facing Chanyeol before he tucks the paper inside his boyfriend’s pocket. "Game."
Chanyeol ruffles his hair then proceeds to run off towards their bedroom. The spring in his boyfriend's footsteps is already enough to make him laugh. He quickly stuffs his papers inside his satchel, shoulders shaking with mirth.
"Oh, Baekhyunnie," a deep voice coos behind him.
Baekhyun turns to see Chanyeol leaning against the kitchen doorway, wearing a long bathrobe and a mischievous smirk. He bursts out laughing when Chanyeol crooks his index finger and invites him closer.
"I think I'm going to regret this," he teases.
The taller man scowls but his expression clears almost immediately when Baekhyun stands to go to him. The shorter guy starts to reach out but his hands get slapped gently away.
"No touchy."
Chanyeol walks backwards and beckons Baekhyun to follow. He lets out a chuckle when his boyfriend shrugs off one side of the bathrobe and exposes a shoulder. He does this painful looking roll of the said body part and Baekhyun wants to face palm in second hand embarrassment.
Chanyeol hits his back a few times before they reach the bedroom where the taller boy promptly grabs Baekhyun and throws him on the bed. Then he proceeds to do a not-so-strip tease, making a show of loosening the belt of the robe before taking it all off and throwing it at Baekhyun's face. The smaller guy shrieks in laughter when he sees his boyfriend wearing a pair of tiny neon pink bikini briefs.
"Chanyeol please," he sputtered. "Where did you even."
"Shhh."
Baekhyun loses it completely when Chanyeol starts to “dance.”
"Am I seductive or what?" Chanyeol continues the awkward swaying of his hips. He then does a body wave that looked anything but a wave. "Are you getting aroused now?"
Baekhyun's stomach hurts and he can't breathe. "Oh my god, stop," he wheezes.
The taller man raises his arms and wiggles his butt. "How 'bout now?"
The next hour is filled with giggles and screams. And kisses. Lots of kisses. More laughter. Touches. Moans and groans. Thundering heartbeats.
"I want my money back," Baekhyun pants into Chanyeol's mouth, his legs tight around the younger male's waist. "This wasn't--"
Chanyeol pushes his hips in, shutting Baekhyun up. He rests his head on Baekhyun's chest and the brunette feels soft lips graze the skin below his collarbone.
"No refund." Chanyeol looks into his eyes. "Can't take me back."
He runs his hands through his lover's sweaty hair and leans up. "Of course, I'll keep you. I was talking about the briefs. Neon pink. Seriously?"
Chanyeol grins. "You know you like it."
He starts to protest but… Okay, so perhaps he likes it, Baekhyun thinks and--
Chanyeol grabs his thighs, pulls Baekhyun's closer and moves hotly inside him.
Baekhyun stops thinking altogether.
...I was supposed to put in a mirror inside but I figured you'll not appreciate that and I won't get my nightly cuddle so here's a little something I made for you. You only get 3. Use it wisely.
VIP PASS
The Nekkid Butt Show with Park Chanyeol
Le Stripper Extraordinaire.
Open When You Want to Know What Makes Me Happy
"Happy Birthday!" he jumps into Chanyeol's arms and they fall back into the couch. He straddles his lover's hips and dangles a small box in front of Chanyeol's nose.
"What did you get me? That's too small to be a new car."
"Just open it okay."
Chanyeol unwraps the box and sees a familiar looking card inside-except his name is crossed out and replaced by-
"You, Monsieur Byun Baekhyun, have no originality."
"You don't want it?"
"I want it." Baekhyun falls in love with Chanyeol's smile for the thousandth time. "I'll want you for the rest of my life."
"Good," he says, voice surprisingly unsteady. “Good.”
Then he shows the birthday boy his neon green underwear.
... I know you're going to go all crazily running around looking for the perfect birthday present for me. So I'm giving you a nudge in the right direction. Just type this url and you'll know what makes me happy.
http://www.what-makes-c-happy.tumblr.com
No, get your brains out of the gutter. It's not porn.
Open When You Feel Like You're Losing Me
The bed is cold. There's a gap between the sheets that Baekhyun can't seem to bridge. He hears Chanyeol's steady breathing. Inhale. Exhale.
Baekhyun's heart aches.
Five years and they're like this. They haven't talked about anything more substantial than the weather. This distance, he hates it so much. Chanyeol hasn't touched him for more than a month. They're always so tired. There's always this to do, there's always that to finish.
He closes his eyes and curls into a ball, hugging himself tightly. He misses his C.
Baekhyun wants to resent the promotion Chanyeol got which takes his boyfriend away for weeks at a time. He wants to resent the way his job cuts on their moments together. But he can't. Not when he sees Chanyeol loves what he does.
He just wishes he'll see Baekhyun sometimes.
Does Chanyeol even think of him anymore?
Baekhyun stifles a sob. He quickly gets up to go out of the room, lest he wakes Chanyeol up and he hears him crying. He stumbles through the corridor towards the living room.
Baekhyun goes to the shelf on one corner of the room and he traces the spines of the books with his right hand. He stops on the fourth one and takes the softbound copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone out. It's the only book Chanyeol has ever read with Baekhyun.
He opens it to the part he has memorized by heart, opens it to the page he has visited every night for the past month to give himself hope. But he's shocked when he sees a sticky note inside. It wasn't there before.
You. Me. Paris. <3
He cries and cries and only stops when he feels a warm chest against his cheek and beloved lips kissing away his tears.
...I won't want you to ever have to open this letter because firstly, B, why would you even think that? :(((
If you do then I must be doing a poor job of loving you. Feel free to use that hammer on my head anytime.
I love you. In you, I had found everything wonderful. And I'd really be a fool if I let that go. I don't know how to prove this or to make you believe me again. You know I suck with words and I can't really express what I feel properly. But let me try.
Do you know what I think about when I look at you?
Follow the instructions on the card. You'll find my answer there.
Fourth book from the top shelf.
Chapter 17. Page 299. 12th line.
12th word.
Open When You Feel Like You're So In Love With Me That You Think Your Heart Will Burst If You're Not Going To Do Anything About It
He's laughing and crying and punching the taller man.
"Yes," he says through his tears.
... I feel this every day. Ever since the moment we met. Hence, me grabbing your hand the first time I saw you inside the subway train. I knew I had to do something, B, or you would have been witness to bursting blood vessels at that second. (Still thankful you didn't call the cops on me. XOXO)
Now, what I want you to do is memorize this word:
YES
Done? Great. So it sticks, let me just-
YES
Good job, Baek. Now, I want you to shout it out loud after you read the question below. Just that word. Nothing else.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
YES
(Writing it again just to make sure.)
PS. Get the ring from the tall, smart, young, handsome, man who loves you. He's been saving it since your first anniversary.
-AHAHAHAHA IM SO SORRY
-Harry Potter book I used was earlier edition from Scholastic