(
part 1)
On the 24th he wakes up earlier than usual, but his heart beats too fast in excitement for him to go back to sleep. He lies awake with his eyes open, facing the ceiling for a few minutes before he laughs at himself and the ridiculousness of the whole situation. Now he truly feels like a child on Christmas again, and even though the worries of the previous night haven't left him, he's having troubles not breaking into random grins all throughout the morning.
The hours seems to drag on forever and fly by within the blink of an eye at the same time, and before he knows it, Yixing finds himself in front of his neighbour's door, poised to rap his knuckles against the wood. The palms of his hands are slightly sweaty, and he gulps once before finding the confidence to actually move.
His knock seems to set off a flurry of motion behind the door. He hears Sehun's faint voice calling, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps. It surprises him when it's not the child but Yifan instead who appears in the doorframe, a crooked smile on his lips and his hair slightly dishevelled, as if he had not had the chance to brush it yet since getting out of bed.
“Yixing,” he says, sounding a bit breathless and surprised, as if he had not expected the younger to actually appear on his doorstep at three o'clock.
“I'm sorry, I'm early,” Yixing fidgets slightly, but when he sees Yifan open his mouth, most likely to tell him that it's okay and that he doesn't need to worry, the smaller just lifts the white plastic bag he's carrying, “You said something about ordering Hong Shao Rou, and since I know a good recipe from my grandmother, I reasoned we could instead make it ourselves.”
Yifan gapes at him for a moment, but then quickly regains his composure. “That sounds wonderful, but you really wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths. We usually order food from restaurants for Christmas, it would have been fine.”
“But isn't it nice to cook Christmas dinner with your family?” Yixing wants to take the words back as soon as they've left his mouth, because even though the younger had wanted to indicate Yifan and Sehun, the sentence makes it sound as if the three of them, him, Yifan and Sehun, are actually the family. It's almost impressive how Yixing manages to constantly say things that embarrass him around his neighbour.
But either Yifan doesn't catch the implications of Yixing's statement or he doesn't mind, because instead of getting flustered, his smile stretches further. “Yeah, that does indeed sound nice.”
“Yixing-ge!” an excited voice cries, and it's all the warning Yixing gets before there's a small body rushing around Yifan's legs and latching his arms around Yixing's waist.
“Hello to you too, Shixun,” the student laughs as he crouches down to give the boy a proper hug. It doesn't last long because Sehun is already freeing himself again, taking Yixing's hand to drag him further into the flat. Seeing his son's enthusiasm, Yifan simply laughs and steps out of the way to let them pass. Yixing casts him an apologetic smile in passing for having their conversation interrupted, but Yifan just offers to take the bag with the ingredients for the night's dinner to the kitchen and tells the younger to have fun.
Yixing, who had planned to begin with preparing some of his favourite Hunan dishes right away, instead spends most of the noon with Sehun, getting shown the boy's favourite toys, looking through the collection of books stacked on a shelf in the child's room, and helping with putting up the last Christmas decorations. Yifan has bought a real fir tree that's about a head taller than Yixing himself, and it takes up a good part of the living room. As soon as the sun begins to set, Yifan switches the lights wound around it's branches on, and Yixing marvels like a small child at how it makes the tree sparkle and glow, basking the whole room in a soft glow of illumination.
It's by chance that he catches sight of the clock in the corner of Sehun's room while he's busy pretending that Sehun's favourite lama plushie is alive, and he startles when he sees how late it's already gotten. Yifan, who had been tasked with playing the plushie dragon, looks up in surprise when he sees the younger male jump up. “The food!” is all Yixing exclaims before he hurries into the kitchen, already pulling his sleeves up.
Yifan enters right after him, followed by Sehun who seems a lot more interested in watching what Yixing is doing than in continuing his game of playing house with his plushies. Without giving it a second thought Yixing distributes tasks to the father and son couple, from washing the vegetables to cutting the meat, and with the three of them working together, they're not as horribly late for dinner as Yixing had feared they would be.
After their bellies are well-filled, and Yifan has finally stopped praising Yixing's cooking skills-he's sure that “beet red” is his natural skin colour by then-they make to move into the living room. It's Yixing who goes first, quickly placing his two presents under the tree, hiding them behind the other packages. He makes sure that neither Sehun nor Yifan catch him, both still busy doing the dishes.
Eventually they all pile into the room with a plate of cookies, hot drinks in their hands and the lights of the Christmas tree casting colourful reflections all over the carpet and furniture. Yixing has brought a few candles over, which cast a soft light over the Christmas motives of the table cloth they've covered the couch table with. A CD with Christmas songs-Chinese ones, like Yifan had promised him-is playing in the background, loud enough to be heard but at the same time silent enough to not disturb their conversations. Yixing feels warm, and he doesn't think that it's the swig of rum Yifan has slipped into both their cups of tea, or the heater that's humming lowly in the corner of the room. It's the Christmas atmosphere Yixing didn't think he'd get to experience this year, and perhaps it makes him even happier to have found it here in his neighbour's flat because it's so unexpected.
He doesn't notice the content smile on his face until Yifan turns to look at him, the elder stilling for a moment as his eyes widen slightly as he catches sight of Yixing. Then his expression softens and he returns Yixing's smile with one his own. And if Yixing didn't know better he would think that the way the other is actually looking at him fondly.
It's the custom in Canada to open the presents on the 25th, as Yifan tells him when Yixing off-handedly notes that the pile of wrapped up boxes under the tree is quite impressive. He's caught between relief and disappointment at discovering that he won't be there when father and son open the presents he bought them, but just when he's about to try and settle on relief, Sehun throws himself onto Yifan's lap in order to get closer to Yixing, startling both adults. “But we always open one present on Christmas Eve already, right baba?” the child says, and his tone is almost accusing, as if he can't believe his father left out such an important part of their traditions from his explanation.
Yifan just laughs, and pats Sehun's head. “You're right, we always open one on the 24th because someone won't stop whining otherwise.”
“Yeah, no one can listen to your whining for long, baba,” the child replies with a shit-eating grin.
The elder gasps, and Sehun instantly jumps up to dart across the room, out of Yifan's reach before the other can fully react. A hand clutched to his shirt at the height of his heart in mock hurt, Yifan looks at his son being posed to run at the other side of the couch table. “You're such a brat,” he exclaims, and while his tone sounds disbelieving the way the corners of his mouth slowly stretch into a smile takes the edge off of his words.
For a moment both are still, before Yifan lurches from the couch, hoping for the advantage of his long limbs but he doesn't beat Sehun's agility. Within a second the boy has fled from the room, Yifan right on his heels yelling for him to stop and accept his punishment for being so disrespectful.
This time it's Yixing's turn to chuckle, and when he hears Sehun's laughs and joyous shrieks from the hallway it only make him laugh louder. A few minutes later the taller male returns with a still squirming Sehun slung over his shoulder, nodding to Yixing in passing and with a grin the student nods back.
Yifan's hair is ruffled from the undoubtedly wild chase he just pursued, and he's smiling so widely his gums show when he drops his son onto the couch, immediately leaning down to tickle him until the younger yelps out apologies. Only then does Yifan pull back, sitting down beside Yixing again and looking at him with a breathless smile (that actually manages to steal the air out of Yixing's lungs). “I am sorry, sometimes he just doesn't know how to behave,” the elder states, and the weak protest coming from the younger boy barely registers with Yixing because he's too busy marvelling at the spark of joy in Yifan's eyes.
He looks so relaxed, as if Yixing is no stranger in their house but instead a cherished family friend-perhaps even something more-and it has Yixing's throat go dry for a moment as his thoughts unwittingly stray towards what it would be like if he actually were to be a more frequent guest. It's not like he has forgotten all the reasons why he's been worrying about coming over today-why he's first and foremost scared to potentially fall for his neighbour for real-but in that moment he can't remember any of his worries or second thoughts for the dear life of him. So he doesn't force it, and instead just lets himself be swept into the easy happiness Yifan and Sehun provide.
In the end it's Sehun who starts fidgeting in his seat, after all the cookies have been devoured and there's only a thin brown layer on the bottom of his cup left of his cocoa. He seems to try his best to contain his impatience, but the way he's eyeing the Christmas tree and the packages stacked underneath it is rather telling. Yifan casts a gaze at Yixing that says “See who's actually the one who whines?” before he allows his son to run off to select a present to open.
Sehun, as expected, runs towards the biggest package, the one that has to stand beside the tree because it's almost as big as the child himself and therefore doesn't fit under the branches of the tree. Neither Yixing nor Yifan are surprised by the choice. Like any other child, Sehun doesn't show any appreciation for the wrapping, ripping it apart with quick and efficient movements. It doesn't take more than a few seconds until the little boy has freed the giant stuffed panda from it's confines. He gapes at it for a short moment before he turns to his father. “It's so big!” he exclaims, and Yifan relaxes besides Yixing, as he nods his head. “I know. You were so excited about the panda plushie at Tao's place, so I thought you might want your own one.”
After Sehun has sprung around his father's neck, whispering a thank you into his ear before jumping up to drag the plushie a bit away from the tree, it's Yifan's turn to open a present. He looks at Yixing apologetically, as if he's feeling sorry that he and his son are opening presents while Yixing is just sitting there to watch, but the younger shoos him away to go and take his pick. Too lazy to stand up the elder male asks his son to bring him a random package, but Sehun gapes at him in disbelief from where he's cuddling with his new toy. “That's not how it works, you have to chose yourself, baba!”
Even pouting doesn't get Yifan any closer to not having to move (it actually makes Sehun fake gagging noises until Yifan threatens to come over and tickle him again). With a long suffering sigh that's most parts show for Sehun's sake, the elder rises from the seat besides Yixing and trots over to the tree.
The student expected Yifan to simply take the first package he sees, courtesy of his claims that he doesn't have any preference towards one present or another. Instead he grows nervous when the taller starts scrutinizing the pile, looking at each box thoroughly, turning it in his hands before putting it back down and moving to the next one. It reminds Yixing of his own present hidden-but-not-really-hidden closer towards the stem of the Christmas tree. It's really only a matter of time, and eventually Yifan emerges while holding a very distinct shaped present wrapped in paper with a painfully familiar pattern. At first Yifan doesn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, just repeating the same actions, but then he stills and instead of making a show of it he starts mustering the package with real curiosity.
It has Yixing wanting the ground swallow him up because he decides in that moment that he's not up for witnessing Yifan unwrap his present. He'd prefer not having to see the forced smile on his neighbour's lips as the other internally judges him. Too caught up in his own misery, Yixing only reacts when Yifan calls his name for the second time.
“This isn't from you, is it?” Yifan asks, his voice sounding as if he knows the answer already but can't quite believe it. In response Yixing squirms where he's sat on the couch, trying to avoid Yifan's eyes without it seeming too obvious. The elder interprets his behaviour in the right way, and makes his way back to Yixing and Sehun with Yixing's present in his hands. “You really didn't need to get me anything,” Yifan says when he sits back down, not once taking his eyes from Yixing. It makes the smaller male fidget even more.
“I have nothing for you,” Yifan continues before the other has a chance to answer, and he sounds shocked and worried at the same time, as if he's committed a horrible faux pas and he's only realizing it at that moment.
It's Yixing's signal to finally wake up from his stupor, and he is quick to wave the elder's worries away with hectic hand movements. “You don't need to give me anything! I just...” he stops for a short moment, to consider how to best word it, but this time Yifan stays silent, waiting for him to finish his sentence instead of interrupting him, “I just felt as if it would be impolite to come empty-handed when you were so friendly to invite me to spend Christmas here.”
“But you already brought all these ingredients for dinner, and you cooked the dinner on top of that,” Yifan reminds him, making colour rise in Yixing's cheeks because the elder does have a point.
“That was normal courtesy for having been invited. The presents are because you invited me over for Christmas,” Yixing tries to argue weakly, but the words don't really manage to convey the feeling he had when he decided to head out to purchase presents, so he exhales, and tries again. “I'm just really grateful that I can be here tonight, and buying presents for you and Sehun really is the least I can do.”
Yifan opens his mouth as if to protest again, but when he sees Yixing nervously wringing his hands together he reconsiders. Instead he leans forward to place a hand on Yixing's, stilling the movement. The touch travels through Yixing's body like an electric shock, and in his surprise he forgets that he's supposed to be avoided Yifan's gaze, his head whipping up to face the elder directly. “Thank you, Yixing,” his neighbour says, emphasizing the words with a light squeeze of his hand, “You wouldn't have needed to, but thank you nonetheless. And I am the one who is grateful that you agreed to come over to spend Christmas with us.”
The words seem to hold a special weight with how serious Yifan looks, and Yixing has to swallow in order to clear his throat. Something passes between them in that moment, and while Yixing can't quite name what it is, he knows that they both know it's there.
For a moment they are caught in whatever it is that transpired between them, then Yifan breaks into a lopsided smile as he adds, “I mean, what would have happened to our Christmas dinner if it weren't for you?”
The elder's eyes sparkle happily when Yixing laughs in response to his attempt to break the serious atmosphere, and only then does Yifan lean back, retracting his hand to take a proper hold of the wrapped box again. “But seriously, Yixing, thank you for the present.”
It's a bit of a rollercoaster ride, to go from laughing at Yifan's jokes to being nervous about his reaction again, but Yixing still falls back into being fidgety within seconds. “Don't thank me just yet,” he says, biting his lip nervously.
Yifan arches an eyebrow at him questioningly, but instead of replying he just starts pulling the wrapping paper off-with a lot more care than his son had exercised just a few minutes prior. Unable to watch it happen, Yixing chooses to study the pattern of the napkins on the table instead.
“Oh, I forgot to ask, is it okay for you if I open the present right now already?” Yifan pipes up all of a sudden, looking at the younger male with big eyes as if he was caught red-handed stealing packages from under the Christmas tree by his parents. It's a ridiculous thing to ask, what with Yifan already having the package half-unwrapped, stilled in the middle of pulling another bit of translucent tape off. It somehow manages to ease a bit of the tension from Yixing's posture as he can't help but chuckle at the question.
“Isn't it a bit late to ask that now?” he teases, and Yifan looks slightly flustered before Yixing continues with a smile, “Of course it's okay, go ahead and open it.”
And Yifan does, moving with a new-found sense of urgency. When he finally pulls the paper apart to reveal the green and purple cover of Kids Can Cook: Vegetarian Recipes and the silver metal of the pan Yixing holds his breath for a moment, waiting for the other to react. Yifan has stilled all of his movements, his mouth hanging slightly open in surprise, but just when Yixing is about to say that it was a stupid joke, the elder bursts into laughter. He laughs and laughs until he has hold his stomach, gasping for air. Yixing doesn't know how to react, so he just watches the elder with an unsure smile on his lips until Yifan has calmed down. “Point taken,” Yifan eventually says, his voice still slightly breathy from laughter.
Yixing exhales in relief, feeling as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and then grins back at his neighbour. “Well, I thought you might want to get started with something simple.”
“What is it? What did Yixing-ge get you?” Sehun quips in, having been distracted from his games by his father's sudden laughing fit. When he scrambles into Yifan's lap the elder shows him the book, and explains to his son what its contents are about. It earns Yixing a thumbs up from the little boy for his choice of gift.
Since there is no present for Yixing to open, they spend a while leafing through the cooking book, searching for recipes that look particularly promising. After they've completed their heated argument over whether pancakes or waffles are the better breakfast food, Yifan puts on some random Christmas movie. Given the late hour and the day full of excitement, Sehun falls asleep leaned against Yifan's chest halfway through the movie. Seeing the fondness with which Yifan studies his son's sleeping features makes Yixing's heart constrict almost painfully, and he's glad that the elder doesn't catch him watching because he's afraid of what his own eyes might have given away in that moment.
The ending credits are slowly rolling down the television screen while Yixing cleans the couch table, bringing the dishes back into the kitchen and disposing of the wrapping paper and napkins. Yifan has carried Sehun into his room to put the boy into his bed. Expecting this to be the end of his visit, Yixing is already in the hallway, packing up his things when Yifan catches him. “Did you already want to go?”
Yixing stands up from where he's been crouching on the floor to face his neighbour. “Yeah, I thought you might want some rest now that Sehun's asleep. It's late already.”
“It's not that late yet,” the elder argues, “And I bought spiced wine. Do you want a cup to end the evening properly?”
Yixing isn't really looking forward to returning to his own flat because he knows that it will seem empty and cold in comparison to the elder's, so he doesn't hesitate to accept the offer. They end up back on the couch, both cupping a mug of hot, spiced wine in their hands.
They start talking silently about inconsequential things, Yixing's studies and Yifan's job, their plans for the remaining holidays and how nice it would be if there was sun the next few days in order to be able to spend time outside. Eventually the warmth of the wine has moved from Yixing's cup to his cheeks, and in the low lighting he's sure he's spying a telltale colouring of Yifan's face as well. He puts it down to the alcohol of the two cups of wine and the comfortable lull in their conversation that he ends up asking Yifan about Sehun's mother.
“Well, he does have a mother,” Yifan starts and when Yixing musters him with a “you don't say”-gaze, the elder laughs and rephrases his sentence, “What I mean is, his mother isn't dead or anything like that, and we're still in contact. He stays with her during the week most times because my working hours aren't really fit for taking care of a child.”
Yixing hums in understanding, and surprises himself with the boldness of his next question. “So it didn't work out with you and Shixun's mother?”
Instead of being offended or even taken aback by the personal question Yifan just chuckles. “Well, you could say that. We broke up quite quickly after Shixun was born.” Something shifts in the atmosphere and the elder's next words sound a lot more thoughtful, “You know, I never thought she was the one I'd be with for the end of my life, and her getting accidentally pregnant when we had just entered college really didn't help our already failing relationship. She's an amazing girl, but she wasn't meant for me. And I wasn't meant for her either, for that matter.”
The way Yifan speaks sounds strangely detached, as if he is recounting someone else's story rather than his own, or as if has made his peace with the situation long ago. Probably he has. So Yixing withholds the “I'm sorry it didn't work out.”'s and the compassionate petting of Yifan's arm. Instead he says, “I think you're doing an amazing job of being a father at your age.”
It makes Yifan laugh shyly as he claims that he's only trying his best, and after a bit of arguing between them the elder accepts the compliment.
“Actually I never planned on ending up here in Montreal,” Yifan confesses, a bit out of the blue but Yixing accepts the change of topic easily and tilts his head in question. “I was born in Guangzhou but my mother has been moving a lot ever since I was little. Eventually we settled in Vancouver, and I thought I would stay there. Either that or go back to China one day. But Shixun's mother is from Montreal, and when she got pregnant she decided to move back here to have the support of her family.”
“And you followed her?” Yixing asks in surprise. “I thought you already didn't expect your relationship to work out at that time?”
“Well, I didn't move because of her. I moved because of Shixun. I understood why she would want to be close to her parents, but I also didn't want to live on the other side of the country from my child. It wasn't as if I had already built my whole career and life in Vancouver, so moving with her seemed like the best choice at that time.” The elder shrugs his shoulders and takes another sip of his wine. Despite his nonchalance Yixing knows that it can't have been an easy choice to make.
“I'm glad you moved with her,” the student declares, and he answers Yifan's questioning gaze with a small smile. “Otherwise I would have never met you.”
A small blush dusts his cheeks at the confession, but when the corners of Yifan's mouths pull up to mirror the Yixing's expression, the younger man refuses to regret his words.
“Yeah, I'm glad I moved with her as well,” Yifan agrees, and the way he's looking at Yixing makes the smaller male's stomach flip slightly. They keep their gazes locked, an understanding passing between them without the need for words and then Yifan is leaning in. He moves slowly, and Yixing feels his heart beat faster the closer the elder comes. When their lips are only a few centimeters apart, Yixing pulls away suddenly. Yifan looks startled for a second, and perhaps a bit disappointed and hurt, but not surprised.
“I'm sorry,” the elder immediately apologizes, recoiling and straightening up again, “I thought perhaps you-sorry for assuming.”
And with his gaze averted he looks poised to take their now empty cups and move into the kitchen to wash them or do something else, anything to escape the situation which is rapidly turning awkward. So Yixing lurches forward to catch Yifan's wrist, effectively keeping the elder from getting up. “No!” his voice is urgent, and perhaps a bit louder than he intended it to be, so he lowers the volume before continuing. “You didn't misinterpret or anything. It's just-you have a son,” Yifan's shoulders slump a little, so Yixing rushes to explain, his cheeks flaming red, “and he's adorable and everything, but he's still a child and I don't think I'm ready for that sort of responsibility and I mean, I'm only a student, I have no idea yet where life will take me and-“
“Yixing.”
“-and I don't think I can be a father figure because I don't yet-“
“Yixing.” Yifan places a hand on the younger's arm to interrupt his rambling, and Yixing is very grateful to him because he is sure otherwise he would have ended up recounting every little thing that he worried over the previous day.
“It's okay, I don't need you to be a father figure for Shixun. That was never my intention. I mean, I'm convinced you would do great as a parental figure for him, but this isn't about my son. It's about me.” The blush on the elders cheeks is unexpected, Yifan obviously being slightly embarrassed by his own words but he makes no move to take them back. “I mean, just think about it as if you were dating a dog owner. I am not free to do everything I want to do and go wherever I want to go at all times because I have another living being I need to look after, but that doesn't mean that we can't spend time as just the two of us or that I'll be unavailable the whole time. Shixun is spending a lot of time at his mother's place, after all....” Yifan's voice trails off towards the end, insecurity seeping into the edges of his expression at seeing Yixing unresponsive.
“...did you just compare your son to a dog?” the younger eventually asks in disbelief.
Yifan wears a sheepish expression and an unsure smile on his lips when he replies. “Perhaps?” As Yixing looks back at him incredulously, Yifan scrambles for an explanation. “I just don't want you to feel pressured by this or anything, it's not like you have to take any responsibility for Shixun, as I said, he's not with me all the time either way. It's a lot easier to imagine dating a dog owner than it is to date a single father, so...”
Yifan seems to be unconvinced by his own words, and Yixing sees a slight shimmer of worry and something akin to fear hush through the elder's eyes. Obviously Yifan is scared that he has said the wrong thing, and he looks so panicked that Yixing can't help but forgive his unfortunate choice of wording within seconds. Instead he laughs at the taller male. It's no boisterous laughter, the sound only a bit more than a fond chuckle, but it makes the tension seep from Yifan's posture immediately.
“You want to kiss me really badly, don't you?” Yixing states with a lopsided smile, not knowing where his sudden boldness is coming from. And Yifan flushes, managing to look even shyer than before, his eyes downcast slightly and his fingers fidgeting in his lap, reminding Yixing of himself when Yifan was unwrapping his present.
“I do,” the elder admits after a beat of silence, his voice meek and low, and Yixing's heart skips a beat at how adorable the other looks right then. It's excitement and anticipation of what's to come that pumps his blood faster through his veins, his cheeks warming and his breathing quickening just the slightest bit.
His decision has already been made, he realizes in that moment. It's Christmas, and Yifan is looking at him with such an open, hopeful gaze, while at the same time seeming prepared to take the blow of Yixing's rejection (again). He looks vulnerable, and Yixing knows that he wouldn't want to think about any other option than the one he's going for right now. He disregards the fact that Yifan has a son, that he never thought he'd ever date someone with a child. He doesn't think about too many responsibilities and the fact that his future is still so very undecided. Instead he leans slightly forward, his hand coming up to cup Yifan's cheek, the elder immediately snuggling into the touch even if his eyes retain their doubtful look. “Then go ahead.”
Yifan only hesitates for the blink of an eye, as if he wants to make sure that Yixing is really meaning what he's saying first, but then he changes his mind and instead moves fast before the younger can change his mind.
The first touch of Yifan's lips is soft, almost barely there as if the elder is still giving Yixing the chance to back out, but the student is having none of it. He pushes back, just enough to put some real substance to their kiss, and it's all the permission Yifan needs to have his hands come up to cup Yixing's face as well, the press of his lips all the more insistent now. Yet the kiss stays gentle, and Yixing lets out a soft sigh of contentment as Yifan's thumb strokes the skin of his cheek softly. Warmth starts spreading all throughout his body as he scoots forward to be even closer to Yifan. There's still a hint of the scent of their dinner hanging in the air, mixed with the cinnamon note of the Christmas tea Yixing had brewed earlier that night and the spiced of the wine Yifan had prepared for them not even an hour ago, and Yixing feels completely at peace. This feels right.
❄❄❄
Yixing wakes up later than usual the next morning, in his own bed, alone. The way he wanted to. He returned home late the night before, hours spent on Yifan's couch with soft kisses and gentle touches, but nothing more. As much as Yifan likened his own situation to that of a dog owner, he isn't a dog owner, he's a father, and for that reason Yixing feels that they need to do this properly, taking one step after another (no matter how much self-control that cost him because damn, Yifan is a good kisser. A very handsome, good kisser.) and falling into bed with him right away would have been very counterproductive for that reason.
He doesn't notice that he's fallen asleep again until suddenly there's a distracting noise cutting through his dream. It takes Yixing's sleep-huddled brain a moment to figure out that the shrill sound comes from his doorbell. His alarm clock reads almost 11am when Yixing trots towards his front door, dragging a lazy hand through his hair in a mock attempt to make himself look a bit more presentable while a yawn escapes him. He wonders whether he should start keeping a tally about how often his doorbell rings unexpectedly, but he's not complaining, since he has a pretty good idea of who will be waiting for him on the other side. It has his lips stretch in a smile already before he has even reached for the handle.
Seeing Yifan standing in the hallway is no surprise at all, but seeing the plate of pancakes he's carrying is. Yixing's gaze wanders from the breakfast food Yifan's holding up to the man himself and back, the question mark clear in his eyes. The elder smiles at him shyly before presenting the plate to Yixing, who takes it without hesitation in his dumbfounded state.
“Since I didn't have a present for you yesterday,” Yifan explains, scratching the back of his head as he waits for Yixing's reaction. “Shixun's been spending the whole morning playing with his presents, so I had a bit of time at hand.”
I made these all by myself, is what Yixing hears in that statement. It makes him remember their argument about the pancakes and waffles the previous night, sparked by the children's cooking book, and then he's laughing. He laughs unrestrainedly because Yifan is ridiculous and at the same time so damn endearing that Yixing thinks his heart might combust any second, unable to handle the fondness he's feeling.
“Thanks, this is the best present I could have wished for on Christmas day,” he tells Yifan eventually, as soon as his laughter has dimmed down into a bright smile.
“Well, it's not the whole present yet,” the taller man says, earning him an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“What else besides pancakes could I possibly want?” Yixing jokes, but Yifan doesn't let himself be deterred by it.
“The thing is, I'll have to bring Sehun to his mother soon because he will spend the rest of the holidays with her, visiting his grandparents, and I was wondering if you would like to come with me. We could go grab some coffee afterwards and, you know, take one step,” the elder looks at him so full of hope, as if he for some reason expects Yixing to turn his offer down.
But Yixing only grins wider, noting how Yifan used the student's words from the previous night to invite him for a date, and yes, the other is right, that sounds even better than just pancakes.
“I would love that,” is what he answers, cutting right to the chase because Yifan looks unwarrantedly nervous and it's Christmas, so Yixing reasons he should not tease the other too much today. When he glances down, he remembers that he's still carrying a pile of pancakes in his hands. “Actually, that are quite a lot of pancakes. Do you think you could help me with eating them?”
All the tension has left Yifan's posture when he answers Yixing with a grin that's so wide it shows his gums, and Yixing thinks the other has never looked more adorable. He also thinks he might be falling in love.
(And he doesn't mind.)