Woes Of A Twenty-Seven Year Old {3/3}
Title: Woes Of A Twenty-Seven Year Old
Genre: fluff, family, slight-romance(?) domestic!au
Pairing: FanXing (with a sprinkle of other otps)
Length: Three-shot
Summary: At twenty seven years old, Kris can't ask for anything more. His business, or rather, his family's business is running well and smoothly, he lives in an expensive pent house with his five-year old son who will be starting pre-school soon and he thinks he's more anxious than Ace about this whole school thing, he's a single father at the age of twenty seven and these are the woes of a twenty-seven year old, balancing his work and his son's needs and maybe even trying to find a mother for his son but that was the last thing in his list as for now... at the least.
This is also when and where a certain Zhang Yixing pops into his life, or rather, their life.
Part 3: Kisses And Decisions
Yixing had somewhat convinced Ace into saying sorry to his father a few minutes ago and now, they were standing side by side in the kitchen in front of the counter while Yixing made himself coffee.
"Daddy doesn't like his coffee with cream on it. Xing ge, I thought you'd know that already?" Yixing paused halfway through putting the contents of the teaspoon into the cup and turned into the child standing on tip toes beside him, peering over at the cup of coffee settled on the wooden counter.
Yixing giggled and proceeded to put the contents of the teaspoon into the cup, earning a loud gasp from Ace. "But this isn't for daddy, and I like my coffee with creamer. Thank you very much." He told the boy before ruffling his hair and picking up the cup of coffee from the counter, softly bringing it to his lips.
Ace followed Yixing into the living room, where the television was on the cartoons, the show was about a sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea and his pure nautical nonsense. It entertained Yixing and Ace. "Xing ge, I really feel bad for yelling at daddy." Ace said after he had settled himself between Yixing's legs and snuggled close to him.
Yixing hummed in reply and bent forward to place the cup on the coffee table across him. He lifted Ace up and made him sit on his lap before looking directly into his eyes. "That's really bad that you shouted at your daddy, but I understand why you did that... but remember, your daddy only wants the best for you so perhaps you should say sorry to him." He tapped the child's nose and that received a sigh from Ace.
"But he was going to replace you!" Said Ace, his lips formed into a pout, brows knotted together in retaliation. Yixing sighed, he knew Ace would press onto this topic more but what could he do? He needed to stop lying to the kid and tell him the truth-- but he never had the heart to.
"But I'm not. Okay?"
"Today is our birthday too..." Ace confessed, looking down at his fist situated on his lap and bit his lower lip. That almost sent Yixing up and out to buy something for the both of them but when he remembered that Ace was on his lap, he just looked at him with a perplexed expression on his face.
"Your what?"
"Our birthday. Daddy and I were born on the same day! Cool right?" Ace chirped and hopped from Yixing lap to start talking about the things they do on their birthday. However, Yixing was still dumbstruck about this newly learned fact from the kid. Today was their birthday and he had nothing nice for them.
"Next time, tell me important things like this earlier, okay?" Yixing told the child before taking his hand and pulling him out to the door, making sure that his wallet was still on his back pocket.
"Where are we going, Xing ge?" Ace asked as Yixing half-pulled, half-dragged him out of their penthouse. Yixing turned to the child and gave him a small smile.
"We're going to bake a cake for your birthday!"
So Ace remained silent, following Yixing to the grocery to buy the ingredients for baking with the help of Yixing's phone that had an app showing the ingredients and process of making cakes. Yixing was thankful too that Kris was still in wherever part of Seoul he was and hoped that he wouldn't come back yet. It was a shame that Kris gave a lot of effort for his birthday and now, he wanted to repay that of course.
Perhaps baking him a cake was a little too simple, but with the time he had left in his hands, he was so close to hoping that Kris had troubles with his trip to stall time because he really wanted, really really wanted to get something nice for Kris and this whole baking a cake thing was the only one he had at the top of his mind at this moment.
And his wish was granted because a few kilometers away from them, Kris was struggling to find his way back into his car because he forgot where he had parked it. Now he was walking backwards (but not literally) aimlessly with a stuffed alpaca in a paper bag clutched in his hands in hopes to find his car that he vaguely could remember parking just a few meters away from the shop where he had bought the stuffed alpaca.
His spirits couldn't be downed by this though because minutes ago, Yixing had texted him about Ace finally wanting to talk to him. There were no more questions asked after that because Kris immediately stuffed his phone back into his pocket, paid for the stuffed alpaca and ran away with the paper bag in his hands.
All he wanted was to go home as soon as possible, but that seemed almost impossible by this moment because he lost his damned car. Maybe he was sticking a little too close... okay really close with Yixing that his forgetfulness was starting to rub on him too and he knew from the start that this couldn't be good.
It seemed like every forces of the nature were against him since a sudden thunder boomed through the area and he couldn't afford to get wet. Damn it. He hissed and trudged faster through the crowd, walking aimlessly to find his stupid damned car. He really needed to be more aware of his surroundings. He came to an abrupt stop though, when the light raindrops started to land against his shoulders and he let out an exasperated groan before finding shed under the covers of a pet shop.
Kris didn't mean to go inside, but when he turned around and met eyes with a cute seemingly ginger tabby kitten on the display. It reminded him of the first time he met Yixing. He could remind that all too well, when he was panicking and looking for Ace, Yixing was there standing beside his son with a smile on his face and he felt really secured when he did. He pushed the door open and the bell tinkled above his head as the raindrops drummed heavier against the hard concrete outside.
He was greeted by an aging female behind the counter, her hair pulled back into a neat bun and her face stretched out into a friendly smile. "Good day~ and welcome to Haneul pet shop."
Kris smiled back in return and bowed his head a little before turning around and facing the kitten on display. He crouched down a little and tapped the glass separating him and the little tabby kitten behind it. The kitten walked towards him, eyes big and ogly as the kitten with slight problem with walking trudged nearer him.
When the kitten purred and blinked its big eyes towards Kris, he decided that he had found a more perfect gift for his son rather than the stuffed alpaca that reminded him of his son. The kitten reminded him of their first meeting.
"Excuse me, but is this kitten for sale? I would like to adopt it."
***
"It's raining..." Ace hummed, his arms folded over the kitchen counter as he was seated on a high stool, cheek pressed against his forearm while watching Yixing stir the batter.
Yixing looked up from the bowl but his hands continued on stirring it. His eyes were covered by his bangs that were getting a little too long and he huffed, blowing the hair up to regain his vision. "I wonder where Kris is..." He asked to nobody in particular but Ace shrugged his little shoulders and yawned a little.
He was starting to get worried, too. No text messages or anything from the taller blonde. But he was thankful at the same time that Kris hadn't come home yet, he had enough time to just put this batter into the oven. And that was what he did exactly, he couldn't spare time stalling around because Kris could be here any moment soon.
Ace scampered off the stool and walked over to Yixing who was now placing the batter that was poured inside a small baking pan into the oven. Once that was done, Yixing turned to Ace with a small smile etched on his lips. "This would be my birthday gift to you and daddy- I mean... Kris." Yixing told the boy and ruffled his hair. Ace blew raspberries at him as the older messed up his hair.
"I think daddy would like that~" Ace giggled and slipped past Yixing and sat in front of the hot oven.
Yixing warned him not to get too close to the oven and Ace shrugged him off with a nod. That was when the door opens and if Yixing was a dog, his floppy ears would stand up from this. He turned around on his heels and walked out of the kitchen. "Kris!" He practically squeaked after seeing Kris' shirt wet with rain water but not that much
Kris shushed him by pressing a finger on his own lips and Yixing nodded as though he understood what Kris meant by shushing him. Yixing could only nod as Kris slipped off his shirt (Yixing gulped a little at this sight) and shoes before lifting the small cage on his feet.
"This... it's my gift for Ace." Kris told him as he walked to Yixing with a huge grin on his lips. Yixing turned his head around and saw through the small opening in the kitchen that Ace was still amused with the oven and the cake inside it.
"It's a kitten, you see." Kris explained and raised the cage higher. Yixing inched his face closer and saw a ginger kitten sleeping peacefully insisde it. A kitten? Was Kris out of his mind? He wanted to ask him that but since it was their birthday, he'd let that pass.
And that was when he reminded himself that it was Ace's and Kris' birthday. "K-Kris! H-Happy birthday!" And the only thing that was on top of his mind was to hug Kris. And so he did. He wrapped his arms around Kris' middle and pressed his cheek against Kris' bare chest that felt cold against his warm cheek.
He could feel Kris pause for a while, his arms lingering up as Yixing continued to hug him. Kris was so close that he could feel the taller's heartbeat against his own shoulder. Maybe he was out of his mind, but the hug lasted longer than he wanted it to be when Kris chuckled-- giggled and with difficulty, wrapped his arms around Yixing too all the while holding the cage of the kitten with a hand.
"Thank you." Kris said. Yixing felt and swore to himself that Kris inhaled his scent and when the older pulled away, he pressed a quick kiss on the top of his head. "You're cute." Was all Kris said before he walked past Yixing and into the kitchen to surprise Ace.
Yixing stood there, watching Kris' back retreat from him and into the kitchen. His heart was ridiculously beating fast inside his chest that he had to bring a hand to the left part of his chest.
Kris kissed his head and it felt normal, natural, it didn't feel weird at all.
It was almost as if it was the initial reaction of Kris to his hug. And he felt okay with that.
After Yixing had gotten over his stupid girly reaction, he rushed inside the kitchen only to find Ace and Kris smiling at each other. Both of their eyes up into crescents and Yixing liked seeing that. Though there was a new addition to their family, a little ginger kitten was now sitting on top of the wooden table where they eat.
Where they eat.
"Guys! Put that kitten down! That's where we eat for goodness' sake!" Yixing disturbed their happy little conversation and scooped the kitten off the table. He carefully places it on the kitchen floor before looking back up at the father and son who looked at him with puppy eyes.
"Xing! That's Ace's cat!" Kris retorted, following Ace who chased the kitten out of the kitchen. Yixing rolled his eyes and walked behind Kris closely.
"I know! But don't let it in the kitchen! This is where we eat!" Yixing said with authority in his voice. Kris turned his head at him and stuck his tongue out at him like a child.
How dare he--
Yixing didn't like the idea of cats at all.
***
Maybe he liked Kris, maybe he didn't. Maybe he was just adoring him for being such a good father to Ace. Yes. That was it. He was admiring his paternal abilities because Yixing never had a dad. But in this moment, when they were sitting by the balcony beside each other, legs swinging slightly as their hands hold cans of beers.. Yixing thought Kris was beautiful from this angle where his back was hunched and his legs parted with his hand dangling in between. His head tilted up also and that made Yixing want to adore every single thing about him.
"So... you're really leaving... us?" Kris spoke after a while of silence and after he had taken a long swig from his own can of beer. Yixing licked his lips, took in a huge gulp before humming as a reply, nodding his head a little.
"Ace..." Kris started with a croaky voice. Yixing thought it was from the beer. Maybe it was. "He wouldn't like that... you should've told him the truth." Kris stated then took another swig, throwing his can back before leaning down and opening another.
Yixing sighed. "But I couldn't... sometimes you just really have to lie." Yixing bit his lower lip, the grip on his can got a little tighter. He hated lying. He never meant to lie to the child. "I didn't want to hurt his feelings."
"But you will hurt his feelings more once you really leave us." Kris guilted him again and Yixing wanted to punch his face. With a huff, he finished his can and grabbed another one, opening it with force.
"I know that-- just-- shut up." Yixing scrunched up his face before drinking from his newly opened can. Kris let out a breath and blew his bangs away from his picturesque face. "I don't want to hurt him. I fucking hate myself alright. I didn't know what to do-- I just couldn't take it to tell him that I'm leaving him soon."
Kris laughed at him, a loud mocking laugh. "You're fucking stupid." And then he turned his head, just in time to lock gazes with Yixing.
Yixing wanted to tell him to shut his face but instead, he found himself inching closer and closer to Kris' face. Kris did this too and he didn't know if it was the alcohol taking place into their system or maybe because they're stupid and crazy.
They knew they were too old to live recklessly but Yixing didn't know if it was him or Kris that closed the distance and made their lips meet.
It was a rush of feelings. There was this feeling in his stomach that he swore it was like the first again though he's had kisses before. The hair on his arms and at the back of his neck raised when Kris tilted his head to the side and moved his lips slowly. He followed too, tasting the beer on Kris' lips. There was as if a rush of adrenaline climbing up to his chest and he was left breathless when Kris pulled away.
He didn't feel weird.
He felt happy.
"I- I'm sorry." Kris beat him into speaking and through the dim street lights, he could see Kris' face turn red.
And then there was laugh that emitted from the both of them. "We're too fucking old to live recklessly." Yixing voiced out his thoughts and laughed against Kris' shoulder as he had leaned in.
"No. Fucking shit-- there's no way out. Xing, come on. I want to tell you something." Kris said and placed his can beside him. He placed his hands on Yixing's shoulder and again for the second time in this hour, locked gazes with him.
Yixing blinked at tilted his head to the side, letting Kris' fingers softly dig into his shoulders. "I like you. Like really like." And an uncontrollable snort left Yixing.
"Shut up." Yixing told him and shook his head, ignoring the thumping feeling inside his chest. Kris liked him. And he didn't know how to react to that. "You're drunk as fuck." Yixing said and downed his beer in one go before turning back to Kris who was still surprisingly looking at him.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm really drunk. But I really like you and this is seriously so fucking gay but I like you a lot Yixing."
When they lock lips for the second time that night, that was when he knew that he liked Kris too. This time, the kiss was softer and longer than the first one. This one felt more natural as they let their lips mold into each other's and their heads move in complete synchronization with each other. It felt magical as a song, their bodies moving to the rhythm of their heartbeats, hands awkwardly tracing and cupping each other's faces, carefully cherishing the moments they lips brush against each other.
They pulled away for air, Yixing's hand gripping on the cotton cloth of Kris' shirt in front of his chest and Kris' hands supporting Yixing's back. When they smiled at each other, there was a soft meow followed by a question. "Daddy? Yixing ge? You guys are together?"
***
"Dad, Xing ge, no need to explain things to me. I understand everything. You both love each other and you kiss after a long day and you hug, not wanting to let each other go. I understand that." Ace told them. He was perched on the side of the sofa with both Kris and Yixing kneeling in front of him, still influenced with alcohol and either of them could feel their head buzz a little.
Yixing shared a nervous look with Kris who pushed his hair back with a deep breath. "Seriously, daddy. I'm not confused, mad or anything. I'm just--" Ace yawned, petting the kitten by its ears, still the kitten was nameless. "Sleepy."
The both of them watch as Ace trudged lazily back to his room, still with the kitten on his arms. Yixing looked at Kris and after a few seconds, Kris looked back at him. And as if on cue, the both of them laughed at their situation.
"Do you like me?" There were laughter as the both of them asked the same thing on the same time.
"I like you." Was their reply to each other. And again, there was a fit of laughter emitting from the both of them.
Yixing reached out and threaded his fingers with Kris' firmly and securely before a soft whisper of I love you was shared between the both of them.
And in that moment, without talking or whispering, they both knew what the other was feeling for them. It was love. Inevitable love that came to them like rain on a summer day, unexpected and warm. But they like it. The fact that Ace liked this too made things better.
And that was day, November 6th was the day Yixing and Kris became a couple.
But that didn't stop Kris from worrying about Yixing leaving them soon.
***
They had three more weeks to go before Christmas and Kris was trying to finish as much as paper works as he could do. The time was 11PM and he was still in his home office, seated behind the big mahogany table, the light from the laptop screen slightly hurting his eyes.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned a little, throwing his head back and letting himself slide slightly down on his chair. That was when the door was pushed open by a certain somebody named Yixing. He leaned forward and a smile immediately reached his lips.
But the smile faded away as quick as it came because Yixing wasn't smiling. This wasn't good. Kris thought. Yixing was out all day because today was the day he was supposed to meet his father but with Yixing's grim expression, he could tell that things didn't go well today.
When Yixing approached him and wrapped around his arms around his neck, bending down a little, his head against Kris' neck. Kris was taken aback at first, but when he feels Yixing's shoulder heave up and down and tears were wetting his neck. This was when he realized that something was terribly wrong about this.
Kris stood up, causing Yixing to adjust himself but he didn't pry away from him. Instead, when they were both standing up, Yixing wrapped his arms around Kris and pressed his head on the hollow of the taller's neck. Kris, as a reaction, wrapped his arms around Yixing and kissed the top of the shorter's head before asking a question he needed an answer to. "What's wrong?"
Yixing didn't answer for a few seconds and remained silent. His tears wetting Kris but he didn't mind, if Yixing needed time to talk so be it. Kris' hands were continuously stroking his back in hopes to comfort his crying boyfriend but that didn't seem to stop Yixing from crying. Yixing didn't make sounds while crying but the way how his shoulders move up and down breaks Kris' heart a little. Okay, a lot.
Finally, after what seemed like long minutes of running his hand up and down Yixing's back and holding him so close that their bodies almost mold together, he had managed to sit Yixing down on the table (his papers pushed aside to make way for Yixing) and him sitting beside Yixing on the table, more like, leaning on the table. Yixing started to speak.
"My father is dead." Yixing told him in between sniffs and hiccups. Kris who was definitely shocked by this, tore himself away from the table and stood in front of Yixing, his hands cupping Yixing's wet cheeks.
"Dead? Dead? What dead?" Kris asked stupidly with his brows knotted together, thumbs slowly wiping the tears away from the shorter's cheeks.
Yixing let out an exasperated laugh, a breathy one before putting his hands over Kris'. "Dead. Gone. Passed away. Three years ago. Brain cancer. His current family..." Yixing choked a bit before continuing. "His current family told me about this and they were neutral about me being his son. His wife... apparently knew about us... Father's family in China but knew that my mommy and my father were never married..." Yixing finished off, letting his head fall and tears fall like raindrops on his cheeks.
All Kris could do was speak out the best thing he had on top of his mind. Even if that meant that Yixing would leave them. "You going back to China?" Kris asked soflty, enveloping Yixing into a tight hug.
A small nod from Yixing was all it took to break his heart.
***
Two weeks to Christmas and Kris was driving them to the airport. Ace was seated at the back while Yixing was on the passenger seat beside Kris. Ace was hugging on the alpaca stuffed toy Kris had gotten him and was muttering things to the stuffed toy.
The atmosphere wasn't exactly tense, but it was quiet. Eerily quiet. A silence that was meant to be comfortable but none of them was used to this type of quiet.
The car came to a halt just like that. Kris unbuckled his seatbelt and went out from his door with a straight face on. Yixing was still feeling guilty though they had talked to them about this a week ago, talked to Ace about this a week ago. He felt bad. Bad because he was leaving them, bad because he was leaving his family in Seoul.
"We'll keep in touch right, Xing ge?" Ace asked when the had gotten off the car and had put Yixing's baggage on a trolley. Yixing looked down at Ace before glancing up at Kris with a small smile on his lips.
"Of course. Skype. We'll skype every night okay? So that I can make sure that the both of you had brushed your teeth and ate well. Okay?" Yixing said after kneeling down to meet Ace's eye level.
Ace smiled happily before nodding and leaving a small kiss on Yixing's cheek.
This time, Yixing turned to Kris with a small dimpled smile. This wasn't a goodbye. They were going to meet again... soon. And they'd surely keep in touch through the internet right? "I love you." Yixing said, hugging Kris real tight as if not wanting to let go.
"I love you too." Was Kris' reply before giving Yixing a kiss on the side of his lips. It was quick and rushed but not too rushed.
"See you guys later?" Yixing never liked goodbyes.
Kris smiled, collecting Ace up in his arms. "See you later."
This was a happy goodbye. Because Yixing would come back and Kris trusted him a lot. His heart was in Yixing's delicate hands and he hoped that Yixing wouldn't think about dropping it.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3a | epilogue
Genre: fluff, family, slight-romance(?) domestic!au
Pairing: FanXing (with a sprinkle of other otps)
Length: Three-shot
Summary: At twenty seven years old, Kris can't ask for anything more. His business, or rather, his family's business is running well and smoothly, he lives in an expensive pent house with his five-year old son who will be starting pre-school soon and he thinks he's more anxious than Ace about this whole school thing, he's a single father at the age of twenty seven and these are the woes of a twenty-seven year old, balancing his work and his son's needs and maybe even trying to find a mother for his son but that was the last thing in his list as for now... at the least.
This is also when and where a certain Zhang Yixing pops into his life, or rather, their life.
Part 3: Kisses And Decisions
Yixing had somewhat convinced Ace into saying sorry to his father a few minutes ago and now, they were standing side by side in the kitchen in front of the counter while Yixing made himself coffee.
"Daddy doesn't like his coffee with cream on it. Xing ge, I thought you'd know that already?" Yixing paused halfway through putting the contents of the teaspoon into the cup and turned into the child standing on tip toes beside him, peering over at the cup of coffee settled on the wooden counter.
Yixing giggled and proceeded to put the contents of the teaspoon into the cup, earning a loud gasp from Ace. "But this isn't for daddy, and I like my coffee with creamer. Thank you very much." He told the boy before ruffling his hair and picking up the cup of coffee from the counter, softly bringing it to his lips.
Ace followed Yixing into the living room, where the television was on the cartoons, the show was about a sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea and his pure nautical nonsense. It entertained Yixing and Ace. "Xing ge, I really feel bad for yelling at daddy." Ace said after he had settled himself between Yixing's legs and snuggled close to him.
Yixing hummed in reply and bent forward to place the cup on the coffee table across him. He lifted Ace up and made him sit on his lap before looking directly into his eyes. "That's really bad that you shouted at your daddy, but I understand why you did that... but remember, your daddy only wants the best for you so perhaps you should say sorry to him." He tapped the child's nose and that received a sigh from Ace.
"But he was going to replace you!" Said Ace, his lips formed into a pout, brows knotted together in retaliation. Yixing sighed, he knew Ace would press onto this topic more but what could he do? He needed to stop lying to the kid and tell him the truth-- but he never had the heart to.
"But I'm not. Okay?"
"Today is our birthday too..." Ace confessed, looking down at his fist situated on his lap and bit his lower lip. That almost sent Yixing up and out to buy something for the both of them but when he remembered that Ace was on his lap, he just looked at him with a perplexed expression on his face.
"Your what?"
"Our birthday. Daddy and I were born on the same day! Cool right?" Ace chirped and hopped from Yixing lap to start talking about the things they do on their birthday. However, Yixing was still dumbstruck about this newly learned fact from the kid. Today was their birthday and he had nothing nice for them.
"Next time, tell me important things like this earlier, okay?" Yixing told the child before taking his hand and pulling him out to the door, making sure that his wallet was still on his back pocket.
"Where are we going, Xing ge?" Ace asked as Yixing half-pulled, half-dragged him out of their penthouse. Yixing turned to the child and gave him a small smile.
"We're going to bake a cake for your birthday!"
So Ace remained silent, following Yixing to the grocery to buy the ingredients for baking with the help of Yixing's phone that had an app showing the ingredients and process of making cakes. Yixing was thankful too that Kris was still in wherever part of Seoul he was and hoped that he wouldn't come back yet. It was a shame that Kris gave a lot of effort for his birthday and now, he wanted to repay that of course.
Perhaps baking him a cake was a little too simple, but with the time he had left in his hands, he was so close to hoping that Kris had troubles with his trip to stall time because he really wanted, really really wanted to get something nice for Kris and this whole baking a cake thing was the only one he had at the top of his mind at this moment.
And his wish was granted because a few kilometers away from them, Kris was struggling to find his way back into his car because he forgot where he had parked it. Now he was walking backwards (but not literally) aimlessly with a stuffed alpaca in a paper bag clutched in his hands in hopes to find his car that he vaguely could remember parking just a few meters away from the shop where he had bought the stuffed alpaca.
His spirits couldn't be downed by this though because minutes ago, Yixing had texted him about Ace finally wanting to talk to him. There were no more questions asked after that because Kris immediately stuffed his phone back into his pocket, paid for the stuffed alpaca and ran away with the paper bag in his hands.
All he wanted was to go home as soon as possible, but that seemed almost impossible by this moment because he lost his damned car. Maybe he was sticking a little too close... okay really close with Yixing that his forgetfulness was starting to rub on him too and he knew from the start that this couldn't be good.
It seemed like every forces of the nature were against him since a sudden thunder boomed through the area and he couldn't afford to get wet. Damn it. He hissed and trudged faster through the crowd, walking aimlessly to find his stupid damned car. He really needed to be more aware of his surroundings. He came to an abrupt stop though, when the light raindrops started to land against his shoulders and he let out an exasperated groan before finding shed under the covers of a pet shop.
Kris didn't mean to go inside, but when he turned around and met eyes with a cute seemingly ginger tabby kitten on the display. It reminded him of the first time he met Yixing. He could remind that all too well, when he was panicking and looking for Ace, Yixing was there standing beside his son with a smile on his face and he felt really secured when he did. He pushed the door open and the bell tinkled above his head as the raindrops drummed heavier against the hard concrete outside.
He was greeted by an aging female behind the counter, her hair pulled back into a neat bun and her face stretched out into a friendly smile. "Good day~ and welcome to Haneul pet shop."
Kris smiled back in return and bowed his head a little before turning around and facing the kitten on display. He crouched down a little and tapped the glass separating him and the little tabby kitten behind it. The kitten walked towards him, eyes big and ogly as the kitten with slight problem with walking trudged nearer him.
When the kitten purred and blinked its big eyes towards Kris, he decided that he had found a more perfect gift for his son rather than the stuffed alpaca that reminded him of his son. The kitten reminded him of their first meeting.
"Excuse me, but is this kitten for sale? I would like to adopt it."
***
"It's raining..." Ace hummed, his arms folded over the kitchen counter as he was seated on a high stool, cheek pressed against his forearm while watching Yixing stir the batter.
Yixing looked up from the bowl but his hands continued on stirring it. His eyes were covered by his bangs that were getting a little too long and he huffed, blowing the hair up to regain his vision. "I wonder where Kris is..." He asked to nobody in particular but Ace shrugged his little shoulders and yawned a little.
He was starting to get worried, too. No text messages or anything from the taller blonde. But he was thankful at the same time that Kris hadn't come home yet, he had enough time to just put this batter into the oven. And that was what he did exactly, he couldn't spare time stalling around because Kris could be here any moment soon.
Ace scampered off the stool and walked over to Yixing who was now placing the batter that was poured inside a small baking pan into the oven. Once that was done, Yixing turned to Ace with a small smile etched on his lips. "This would be my birthday gift to you and daddy- I mean... Kris." Yixing told the boy and ruffled his hair. Ace blew raspberries at him as the older messed up his hair.
"I think daddy would like that~" Ace giggled and slipped past Yixing and sat in front of the hot oven.
Yixing warned him not to get too close to the oven and Ace shrugged him off with a nod. That was when the door opens and if Yixing was a dog, his floppy ears would stand up from this. He turned around on his heels and walked out of the kitchen. "Kris!" He practically squeaked after seeing Kris' shirt wet with rain water but not that much
Kris shushed him by pressing a finger on his own lips and Yixing nodded as though he understood what Kris meant by shushing him. Yixing could only nod as Kris slipped off his shirt (Yixing gulped a little at this sight) and shoes before lifting the small cage on his feet.
"This... it's my gift for Ace." Kris told him as he walked to Yixing with a huge grin on his lips. Yixing turned his head around and saw through the small opening in the kitchen that Ace was still amused with the oven and the cake inside it.
"It's a kitten, you see." Kris explained and raised the cage higher. Yixing inched his face closer and saw a ginger kitten sleeping peacefully insisde it. A kitten? Was Kris out of his mind? He wanted to ask him that but since it was their birthday, he'd let that pass.
And that was when he reminded himself that it was Ace's and Kris' birthday. "K-Kris! H-Happy birthday!" And the only thing that was on top of his mind was to hug Kris. And so he did. He wrapped his arms around Kris' middle and pressed his cheek against Kris' bare chest that felt cold against his warm cheek.
He could feel Kris pause for a while, his arms lingering up as Yixing continued to hug him. Kris was so close that he could feel the taller's heartbeat against his own shoulder. Maybe he was out of his mind, but the hug lasted longer than he wanted it to be when Kris chuckled-- giggled and with difficulty, wrapped his arms around Yixing too all the while holding the cage of the kitten with a hand.
"Thank you." Kris said. Yixing felt and swore to himself that Kris inhaled his scent and when the older pulled away, he pressed a quick kiss on the top of his head. "You're cute." Was all Kris said before he walked past Yixing and into the kitchen to surprise Ace.
Yixing stood there, watching Kris' back retreat from him and into the kitchen. His heart was ridiculously beating fast inside his chest that he had to bring a hand to the left part of his chest.
Kris kissed his head and it felt normal, natural, it didn't feel weird at all.
It was almost as if it was the initial reaction of Kris to his hug. And he felt okay with that.
After Yixing had gotten over his stupid girly reaction, he rushed inside the kitchen only to find Ace and Kris smiling at each other. Both of their eyes up into crescents and Yixing liked seeing that. Though there was a new addition to their family, a little ginger kitten was now sitting on top of the wooden table where they eat.
Where they eat.
"Guys! Put that kitten down! That's where we eat for goodness' sake!" Yixing disturbed their happy little conversation and scooped the kitten off the table. He carefully places it on the kitchen floor before looking back up at the father and son who looked at him with puppy eyes.
"Xing! That's Ace's cat!" Kris retorted, following Ace who chased the kitten out of the kitchen. Yixing rolled his eyes and walked behind Kris closely.
"I know! But don't let it in the kitchen! This is where we eat!" Yixing said with authority in his voice. Kris turned his head at him and stuck his tongue out at him like a child.
How dare he--
Yixing didn't like the idea of cats at all.
***
Maybe he liked Kris, maybe he didn't. Maybe he was just adoring him for being such a good father to Ace. Yes. That was it. He was admiring his paternal abilities because Yixing never had a dad. But in this moment, when they were sitting by the balcony beside each other, legs swinging slightly as their hands hold cans of beers.. Yixing thought Kris was beautiful from this angle where his back was hunched and his legs parted with his hand dangling in between. His head tilted up also and that made Yixing want to adore every single thing about him.
"So... you're really leaving... us?" Kris spoke after a while of silence and after he had taken a long swig from his own can of beer. Yixing licked his lips, took in a huge gulp before humming as a reply, nodding his head a little.
"Ace..." Kris started with a croaky voice. Yixing thought it was from the beer. Maybe it was. "He wouldn't like that... you should've told him the truth." Kris stated then took another swig, throwing his can back before leaning down and opening another.
Yixing sighed. "But I couldn't... sometimes you just really have to lie." Yixing bit his lower lip, the grip on his can got a little tighter. He hated lying. He never meant to lie to the child. "I didn't want to hurt his feelings."
"But you will hurt his feelings more once you really leave us." Kris guilted him again and Yixing wanted to punch his face. With a huff, he finished his can and grabbed another one, opening it with force.
"I know that-- just-- shut up." Yixing scrunched up his face before drinking from his newly opened can. Kris let out a breath and blew his bangs away from his picturesque face. "I don't want to hurt him. I fucking hate myself alright. I didn't know what to do-- I just couldn't take it to tell him that I'm leaving him soon."
Kris laughed at him, a loud mocking laugh. "You're fucking stupid." And then he turned his head, just in time to lock gazes with Yixing.
Yixing wanted to tell him to shut his face but instead, he found himself inching closer and closer to Kris' face. Kris did this too and he didn't know if it was the alcohol taking place into their system or maybe because they're stupid and crazy.
They knew they were too old to live recklessly but Yixing didn't know if it was him or Kris that closed the distance and made their lips meet.
It was a rush of feelings. There was this feeling in his stomach that he swore it was like the first again though he's had kisses before. The hair on his arms and at the back of his neck raised when Kris tilted his head to the side and moved his lips slowly. He followed too, tasting the beer on Kris' lips. There was as if a rush of adrenaline climbing up to his chest and he was left breathless when Kris pulled away.
He didn't feel weird.
He felt happy.
"I- I'm sorry." Kris beat him into speaking and through the dim street lights, he could see Kris' face turn red.
And then there was laugh that emitted from the both of them. "We're too fucking old to live recklessly." Yixing voiced out his thoughts and laughed against Kris' shoulder as he had leaned in.
"No. Fucking shit-- there's no way out. Xing, come on. I want to tell you something." Kris said and placed his can beside him. He placed his hands on Yixing's shoulder and again for the second time in this hour, locked gazes with him.
Yixing blinked at tilted his head to the side, letting Kris' fingers softly dig into his shoulders. "I like you. Like really like." And an uncontrollable snort left Yixing.
"Shut up." Yixing told him and shook his head, ignoring the thumping feeling inside his chest. Kris liked him. And he didn't know how to react to that. "You're drunk as fuck." Yixing said and downed his beer in one go before turning back to Kris who was still surprisingly looking at him.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm really drunk. But I really like you and this is seriously so fucking gay but I like you a lot Yixing."
When they lock lips for the second time that night, that was when he knew that he liked Kris too. This time, the kiss was softer and longer than the first one. This one felt more natural as they let their lips mold into each other's and their heads move in complete synchronization with each other. It felt magical as a song, their bodies moving to the rhythm of their heartbeats, hands awkwardly tracing and cupping each other's faces, carefully cherishing the moments they lips brush against each other.
They pulled away for air, Yixing's hand gripping on the cotton cloth of Kris' shirt in front of his chest and Kris' hands supporting Yixing's back. When they smiled at each other, there was a soft meow followed by a question. "Daddy? Yixing ge? You guys are together?"
***
"Dad, Xing ge, no need to explain things to me. I understand everything. You both love each other and you kiss after a long day and you hug, not wanting to let each other go. I understand that." Ace told them. He was perched on the side of the sofa with both Kris and Yixing kneeling in front of him, still influenced with alcohol and either of them could feel their head buzz a little.
Yixing shared a nervous look with Kris who pushed his hair back with a deep breath. "Seriously, daddy. I'm not confused, mad or anything. I'm just--" Ace yawned, petting the kitten by its ears, still the kitten was nameless. "Sleepy."
The both of them watch as Ace trudged lazily back to his room, still with the kitten on his arms. Yixing looked at Kris and after a few seconds, Kris looked back at him. And as if on cue, the both of them laughed at their situation.
"Do you like me?" There were laughter as the both of them asked the same thing on the same time.
"I like you." Was their reply to each other. And again, there was a fit of laughter emitting from the both of them.
Yixing reached out and threaded his fingers with Kris' firmly and securely before a soft whisper of I love you was shared between the both of them.
And in that moment, without talking or whispering, they both knew what the other was feeling for them. It was love. Inevitable love that came to them like rain on a summer day, unexpected and warm. But they like it. The fact that Ace liked this too made things better.
And that was day, November 6th was the day Yixing and Kris became a couple.
But that didn't stop Kris from worrying about Yixing leaving them soon.
***
They had three more weeks to go before Christmas and Kris was trying to finish as much as paper works as he could do. The time was 11PM and he was still in his home office, seated behind the big mahogany table, the light from the laptop screen slightly hurting his eyes.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned a little, throwing his head back and letting himself slide slightly down on his chair. That was when the door was pushed open by a certain somebody named Yixing. He leaned forward and a smile immediately reached his lips.
But the smile faded away as quick as it came because Yixing wasn't smiling. This wasn't good. Kris thought. Yixing was out all day because today was the day he was supposed to meet his father but with Yixing's grim expression, he could tell that things didn't go well today.
When Yixing approached him and wrapped around his arms around his neck, bending down a little, his head against Kris' neck. Kris was taken aback at first, but when he feels Yixing's shoulder heave up and down and tears were wetting his neck. This was when he realized that something was terribly wrong about this.
Kris stood up, causing Yixing to adjust himself but he didn't pry away from him. Instead, when they were both standing up, Yixing wrapped his arms around Kris and pressed his head on the hollow of the taller's neck. Kris, as a reaction, wrapped his arms around Yixing and kissed the top of the shorter's head before asking a question he needed an answer to. "What's wrong?"
Yixing didn't answer for a few seconds and remained silent. His tears wetting Kris but he didn't mind, if Yixing needed time to talk so be it. Kris' hands were continuously stroking his back in hopes to comfort his crying boyfriend but that didn't seem to stop Yixing from crying. Yixing didn't make sounds while crying but the way how his shoulders move up and down breaks Kris' heart a little. Okay, a lot.
Finally, after what seemed like long minutes of running his hand up and down Yixing's back and holding him so close that their bodies almost mold together, he had managed to sit Yixing down on the table (his papers pushed aside to make way for Yixing) and him sitting beside Yixing on the table, more like, leaning on the table. Yixing started to speak.
"My father is dead." Yixing told him in between sniffs and hiccups. Kris who was definitely shocked by this, tore himself away from the table and stood in front of Yixing, his hands cupping Yixing's wet cheeks.
"Dead? Dead? What dead?" Kris asked stupidly with his brows knotted together, thumbs slowly wiping the tears away from the shorter's cheeks.
Yixing let out an exasperated laugh, a breathy one before putting his hands over Kris'. "Dead. Gone. Passed away. Three years ago. Brain cancer. His current family..." Yixing choked a bit before continuing. "His current family told me about this and they were neutral about me being his son. His wife... apparently knew about us... Father's family in China but knew that my mommy and my father were never married..." Yixing finished off, letting his head fall and tears fall like raindrops on his cheeks.
All Kris could do was speak out the best thing he had on top of his mind. Even if that meant that Yixing would leave them. "You going back to China?" Kris asked soflty, enveloping Yixing into a tight hug.
A small nod from Yixing was all it took to break his heart.
***
Two weeks to Christmas and Kris was driving them to the airport. Ace was seated at the back while Yixing was on the passenger seat beside Kris. Ace was hugging on the alpaca stuffed toy Kris had gotten him and was muttering things to the stuffed toy.
The atmosphere wasn't exactly tense, but it was quiet. Eerily quiet. A silence that was meant to be comfortable but none of them was used to this type of quiet.
The car came to a halt just like that. Kris unbuckled his seatbelt and went out from his door with a straight face on. Yixing was still feeling guilty though they had talked to them about this a week ago, talked to Ace about this a week ago. He felt bad. Bad because he was leaving them, bad because he was leaving his family in Seoul.
"We'll keep in touch right, Xing ge?" Ace asked when the had gotten off the car and had put Yixing's baggage on a trolley. Yixing looked down at Ace before glancing up at Kris with a small smile on his lips.
"Of course. Skype. We'll skype every night okay? So that I can make sure that the both of you had brushed your teeth and ate well. Okay?" Yixing said after kneeling down to meet Ace's eye level.
Ace smiled happily before nodding and leaving a small kiss on Yixing's cheek.
This time, Yixing turned to Kris with a small dimpled smile. This wasn't a goodbye. They were going to meet again... soon. And they'd surely keep in touch through the internet right? "I love you." Yixing said, hugging Kris real tight as if not wanting to let go.
"I love you too." Was Kris' reply before giving Yixing a kiss on the side of his lips. It was quick and rushed but not too rushed.
"See you guys later?" Yixing never liked goodbyes.
Kris smiled, collecting Ace up in his arms. "See you later."
This was a happy goodbye. Because Yixing would come back and Kris trusted him a lot. His heart was in Yixing's delicate hands and he hoped that Yixing wouldn't think about dropping it.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3a | epilogue