[EXO] Today You're a King (But Tomorrow, Get Your Ass Up By Yourself) (1/1)
Title: Today You're a King (But Tomorrow, Get Your Ass Up By Yourself)
Fandom: EXO
Author: chiharu
Characters/pairing: Kai-centric
Rating: PG
wordcount: ~ 2000
Summary: Kai is put on bedrest on EXO's day off. EXO-K band fic.
BECAUSE EXO-K'S DOGS ARE TOO FUCKING CUTE. TY nickymin FOR BETA-ING AND HELPING ME WITH THE TITLE!
Kai wakes up to the sound of voices outside of his room. He flips around, noting the strain on his lower back. Kai then proceeds to shift to a position that causes the least amount of pain to shoot down his spine, needlepoint pressure crippling him for a split second before flat lining into a dull but consistent ache.
Kai has learned that it’s easier to roll out of bed a certain way, even if his feet miss the rug and land on the hardwood floor as he limps across the room. The conversation halts when he opens the door, and Kai is greeted with Chanyeol and Suho standing outside.
“Morning,” Suho says.
“Did I oversleep?” Kai asks, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes while simultaneously flattening his bangs. “Am I late?”
“It’s our day off, silly,” Chanyeol replies. He moves forward, causing Kai to take a step back and look curiously between Chanyeol and Suho. “Go back to bed, sleepyhead.”
Kai knows there are probably chores to be done and schedule changes to be discussed. He’s pretty sure his dirty sweats are still sitting atop of the dryer, if D.O. hasn’t shoved the pile onto the floor in horror already. However, when Kai tries to step aside, Suho blocks him, effectively cornering Kai between Chanyeol and the wall.
“Um,” Kai says.
Chanyeol grins as he sets large hands on Kai’s shoulders to spin him around. “It’s our day off, Kkamjong.”
“But, breakfast-- ” Kai tries to say as Chanyeol practically shoves him back to bed. He sits on top of rustled bed sheets, wondering if this is another one of Chanyeol’s hazing ideas disguised as a group bonding activity. Kai stares, confused, as Suho tucks him back into bed, flattening the top of Kai’s comforter. He watches Chanyeol greet D.O. at the doorway and disappear into hallway.
D.O. strolls into the room with Monggu in one arm and Jjanggu in the other. He sets them, both, on top of Kai’s legs, waving absently. “Just, cuddle with them or something, so Baekhyun will stop tripping over them."
“You’re on bed rest for the entire day, so don’t try to escape,” Suho warns in the least intimidating manner possible. “If you need food, Sehun will get it for you.”
Kai watches Monggu make a crater in the space between his legs, settling happily on top of the comforter. “No way, Magnae is on slave duty, for me?”
“For you,” Suho hums in agreement, picking Jjanggu up when the dog tries to jump off Kai’s bed. He sets Jjanggu between Kai and the wall, where Jjanggu promptly decides to nest, tail tickling the patch of skin under Kai’s shirt.
“But don’t let them go to my side of the room,” D.O. warns when Chanyeol returns with a stack of magazine and books no doubt stolen from Baekhyun.
Chanyeol sets the stack on the floor near Kai’s bed. He pauses for a second, lifting up his t-shirt to pull out a Nintendo D.S. tucked under the waistband of his jeans. “For your entertainment.”
Sehun chooses that moment to pop his head into the doorway, making his way across the room to set a bowl of Jeonbokjuk on Kai’s night stand. He plucks the spoon currently held between his teeth and sticks it into the bowl.
Kai wrinkles his nose. “Gross.”
“You’re gross,” Sehun replies, hitting Kai on the arm.
Suho yelps and proceeds to rub the spot on Kai’s arm. “Don’t abuse him. He needs to rest. It’s our only day off, you know.”
“Really,” Baekhyun calls from the doorway. “It’s our day off? Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
Chanyeol grins. “Oh, wait, he might have mentioned it once-”
“Or twice-”
“-A minute.”
“All week,” Sehun hums in agreement, smiling sheepishly when Suho makes a face at them.
“Get some more sleep,” D.O. insists after everyone else leaves. “If you need anything, just give us a call on your cell.”
“But you’re right there”
“Don’t overexert yourself!” Suho’s voice carries from the hallway.
Chanyeol’s saved game of pokemon is wildly entertaining, Kai thinks, as CHEN, the Mareep shoots down another wild Zubat. He heals at the next pokecenter and goes through Chanyeol’s PC, scrolling through the boxes and laughing at KRIS, the Pidgeotto, and D.O., the Sandshrew.
Kai looks up when Chanyeol comes in with a glass of water an hour later. “So, why did you put Minseok-hyung in a box?”
Chanyeol seems to only catch the tail end of Kai’s statement, looking up in alarm. “Wait, oh, don’t you dare take that firestone anywhere near her. I’m still trying to evolve her into a Glaceon.”
“Stop,” Kai says, holding up both hands and shaking in laughter. His movement causes Monggu to wake up and stretch languidly over Kai’s legs, licking Chanyeol’s hands. “Why did you name a female Eevee after him?”
Chanyeol ignores him and pets Monggu instead.
Baekhyun opens the door, stepping in quietly with Suho’s phone and a banana tucked under his arm. “You called?”
Kai lazily strokes under Jjangu’s ear, having gotten bored of Chanyeol’s game. “Eh, I was wondering if I could use Manager-hyung’s ipad.”
Baekhyun throws the banana at Kai. “I’m on it,” he says before heading out of the room. Baekhyun returns while Kai is busy admiring the artwork on the front of the banana-it appears to be a cartoon rendition of… his own face? “That was all Chanyeol,” Baekhyun explains, unfolding Kai’s arms and setting the ipad on top of Kai’s stomach.
“Are you checking fan board messages?” Baekhyun asks, as Kai keys in the password.
Kai looks up. “I was going to play fruit ninja?”
“And selca?”
Kai grins. “Let me rest in peace, Hyung.”
Baekhyun laughs, giving Kai’s arm a soft pinch before leaving.
Kai is aware of the warmth curled around his waist as he reopens his eyes, watching D.O. remove the bowl by his nightstand. Kai sits up, causing both dogs to jostle awake. Monggu looks around in alarm while Jjonggu lays her head back down on Kai’s hip. He feels content, legs stretching lazily.
“Hungry?” D.O. asks. When Kai nods sleepily, he adds, “I made spaghetti for lunch. Want some?”
“Stop treating me so well,” Kai calls after D.O. “I might fall for you!”
“Ha!” D.O. shouts from the kitchen. “Your love is cheap!”
To Kai’s utmost amusement, Sehun is sent on delivery duty again. “I lost in kaibaibo,” he says as Kai digs in. Sehun appears to have changed since that morning, his hair falling at a slightly different angle.
“Did you go out?” Kai asks with a mouthful of noodles.
“No,” Sehun sighs quietly into the floor.
Kai raises an eyebrow as he slurps. “Girl problems? Boy problems?” When Sehun doesn’t reply, he sets the food aside and scoots over on his bed, making room for Sehun. The dogs yelp and jump off when Sehun climbs on, lying on his stomach as he scoots closer to Kai.
“Move over,” Sehun says.
“This is a single, you loser.” Kai laughs, rolling around so they’re both lying the same way, propped up by elbows and sheer core strength. Kai’s back is less numb when he stretches this way. “So? Did you put on cologne just to webcam?”
Sehun frowns at him.
“Ah, young love.”
“I’m this close to taking the spaghetti away from you, cripplejjong,” Sehun, his voice warm, warns.
Kai moves closer to Sehun, flicking his forehead. “Then I’ll get out of this bed. Hyung will fret and try to recite lines from his Leader Manual. Then he’ll try to seek advice from Kris-hyung, who will maintain his disinterest but make fun to us to Lu Han-hyung. Then Lu Han-hyung will find you even more childish. That’s the exact opposite of what you want, right?”
“You’re a cruel mistress,” Sehun decides.
“I didn't agree to be your mistress.”
They never actually talk about Sehun’s problem-Sehun was oddly secretive like that. He does, however, keep Kai company while Kai eats over the pillow. They go through the photos on Sehun’s phone, laughing at particularly old selcas and attempting to take some more.
“Why is your face so sharp?” Kai demands. “Do you know how hard it is to selca next to you? Tell me, how does one live with a face the size of a pinky nail?”
“Are your meds talking again?” Sehun wants to know.
Kai pauses. “Actually, I haven’t taken them today.” It’s very odd for him to have fallen asleep without at least three tablets, he thinks, watching Sehun skitter off to find said pills. He looks up when Sehun returns, dangling the bottle and another glass of water in Kai’s face.
“I don’t want any more.”
Sehun is quiet for a second. “Jongin-”
“They make me sleepy, so I’m constantly tired.” Kai rolls over. “I don’t want to take them any more.”
“But, that’s not because of the pain killers,” Sehun whispers, but Kai chooses to ignore that.
“Be nice to Sehun,” Suho says when he comes in later. Suho looks slightly frazzled, and Kai wonders what kind of briefing Suho had to privately suffer through in their absence.
“I am nice to him!” Kai acts offended. “I am the nicest.”
“Don’t put him in difficult situations,” Suho tries again, stroking the inside of Kai’s wrist.
Kai snorts. “My life is a difficult situation.”
Suho sighs, hands on hips. “Well, if you insist on staying awake, we’re going to watch a movie in the living room. Want to join?”
Later, when they’re watching Old Boy, Kai has to pull his numb arm out from under Chanyeol’s butt, shifting so that his knee doesn’t knock awkwardly into Baekhyun’s face. His head is pillowed by D.O.’s lap, eyes fluttering to a close when he finally places that familiar sense of drowsiness. “No,” he whispers, quite scandalized.
D.O. looks down from petting Kai’s hair. “Okay, I know you’ve seen this movie like ten times.”
“You put meds in the left over Jeonbokjuk,” Kai accuses, squinting while his hand curls up on the side of D.O.’s thighs.
“Sorry.” D.O. does not look apologetic at all. “Leader-sshi’s orders.”
Kai vaguely remembers Suho or Sehun squeezing his hand before he falls asleep again.
Kai wakes up at 5AM the next morning to Chanyeol poking at his face. He sits up, sending a mountain of blankets and pillows flying off the couch. Kai is not quite sure how he slept through the others building a fort around him, but when Kai doesn’t move, Chanyeol makes no attempt to help him.
“It’s too early to stand,” Kai says, extending his arm out.
Chanyeol bats the arm away, one toothbrush still hanging out of his mouth. “It’s no longer Be-Nice-To-Kim-Jongin-Day. Haul your own ass off the couch, Dancing Machine.” He dances away, entirely too cheerful.
“Did you sleep well?” Sehun asks, hunched over the dog food as he refills the dog bowls, when Kai enters the kitchen.
Kai knows they will be shuffled off into the van in a few more minutes, pushed and shoved from one recording to another, carrying more than personal aches and pains through another work day. The glaring lights overhead as they wait for their turn will remind Kai that he is not special, no matter how sympathetic Manager-hyung looks while changing the pain patches on Kai’s back. In these publically private moments Kai will want nothing more than to go back to that content place on the couch, curled up against everyone.
Instead, he wraps an arm around Sehun’s waist as they head towards the door. They pick up Suho’s forgotten cell phone on the counter, tucking it under Suho’s arm when they find him fretting near the shoe rack. Kai pulls dried toothpaste from Chanyeol’s hair and nudges Baekhyun towards the right direction in his sleepwalk.
“How was your day off?” Manager-hyung asks from the driver’s seat after they load the van.
“I slept through it,” Kai says with a grin.
fin
a/n:
I love them already
♥ Want to talk EXO? Meta? EXO Meta?? Talk to me on twitter!
Love it? Hate it? Please leave some feedback, even if it may be a little late. You can also join the community, since I'll be locking up NC17 fics.
Fandom: EXO
Author: chiharu
Characters/pairing: Kai-centric
Rating: PG
wordcount: ~ 2000
Summary: Kai is put on bedrest on EXO's day off. EXO-K band fic.
BECAUSE EXO-K'S DOGS ARE TOO FUCKING CUTE. TY nickymin FOR BETA-ING AND HELPING ME WITH THE TITLE!
Kai wakes up to the sound of voices outside of his room. He flips around, noting the strain on his lower back. Kai then proceeds to shift to a position that causes the least amount of pain to shoot down his spine, needlepoint pressure crippling him for a split second before flat lining into a dull but consistent ache.
Kai has learned that it’s easier to roll out of bed a certain way, even if his feet miss the rug and land on the hardwood floor as he limps across the room. The conversation halts when he opens the door, and Kai is greeted with Chanyeol and Suho standing outside.
“Morning,” Suho says.
“Did I oversleep?” Kai asks, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes while simultaneously flattening his bangs. “Am I late?”
“It’s our day off, silly,” Chanyeol replies. He moves forward, causing Kai to take a step back and look curiously between Chanyeol and Suho. “Go back to bed, sleepyhead.”
Kai knows there are probably chores to be done and schedule changes to be discussed. He’s pretty sure his dirty sweats are still sitting atop of the dryer, if D.O. hasn’t shoved the pile onto the floor in horror already. However, when Kai tries to step aside, Suho blocks him, effectively cornering Kai between Chanyeol and the wall.
“Um,” Kai says.
Chanyeol grins as he sets large hands on Kai’s shoulders to spin him around. “It’s our day off, Kkamjong.”
“But, breakfast-- ” Kai tries to say as Chanyeol practically shoves him back to bed. He sits on top of rustled bed sheets, wondering if this is another one of Chanyeol’s hazing ideas disguised as a group bonding activity. Kai stares, confused, as Suho tucks him back into bed, flattening the top of Kai’s comforter. He watches Chanyeol greet D.O. at the doorway and disappear into hallway.
D.O. strolls into the room with Monggu in one arm and Jjanggu in the other. He sets them, both, on top of Kai’s legs, waving absently. “Just, cuddle with them or something, so Baekhyun will stop tripping over them."
“You’re on bed rest for the entire day, so don’t try to escape,” Suho warns in the least intimidating manner possible. “If you need food, Sehun will get it for you.”
Kai watches Monggu make a crater in the space between his legs, settling happily on top of the comforter. “No way, Magnae is on slave duty, for me?”
“For you,” Suho hums in agreement, picking Jjanggu up when the dog tries to jump off Kai’s bed. He sets Jjanggu between Kai and the wall, where Jjanggu promptly decides to nest, tail tickling the patch of skin under Kai’s shirt.
“But don’t let them go to my side of the room,” D.O. warns when Chanyeol returns with a stack of magazine and books no doubt stolen from Baekhyun.
Chanyeol sets the stack on the floor near Kai’s bed. He pauses for a second, lifting up his t-shirt to pull out a Nintendo D.S. tucked under the waistband of his jeans. “For your entertainment.”
Sehun chooses that moment to pop his head into the doorway, making his way across the room to set a bowl of Jeonbokjuk on Kai’s night stand. He plucks the spoon currently held between his teeth and sticks it into the bowl.
Kai wrinkles his nose. “Gross.”
“You’re gross,” Sehun replies, hitting Kai on the arm.
Suho yelps and proceeds to rub the spot on Kai’s arm. “Don’t abuse him. He needs to rest. It’s our only day off, you know.”
“Really,” Baekhyun calls from the doorway. “It’s our day off? Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
Chanyeol grins. “Oh, wait, he might have mentioned it once-”
“Or twice-”
“-A minute.”
“All week,” Sehun hums in agreement, smiling sheepishly when Suho makes a face at them.
“Get some more sleep,” D.O. insists after everyone else leaves. “If you need anything, just give us a call on your cell.”
“But you’re right there”
“Don’t overexert yourself!” Suho’s voice carries from the hallway.
Chanyeol’s saved game of pokemon is wildly entertaining, Kai thinks, as CHEN, the Mareep shoots down another wild Zubat. He heals at the next pokecenter and goes through Chanyeol’s PC, scrolling through the boxes and laughing at KRIS, the Pidgeotto, and D.O., the Sandshrew.
Kai looks up when Chanyeol comes in with a glass of water an hour later. “So, why did you put Minseok-hyung in a box?”
Chanyeol seems to only catch the tail end of Kai’s statement, looking up in alarm. “Wait, oh, don’t you dare take that firestone anywhere near her. I’m still trying to evolve her into a Glaceon.”
“Stop,” Kai says, holding up both hands and shaking in laughter. His movement causes Monggu to wake up and stretch languidly over Kai’s legs, licking Chanyeol’s hands. “Why did you name a female Eevee after him?”
Chanyeol ignores him and pets Monggu instead.
Baekhyun opens the door, stepping in quietly with Suho’s phone and a banana tucked under his arm. “You called?”
Kai lazily strokes under Jjangu’s ear, having gotten bored of Chanyeol’s game. “Eh, I was wondering if I could use Manager-hyung’s ipad.”
Baekhyun throws the banana at Kai. “I’m on it,” he says before heading out of the room. Baekhyun returns while Kai is busy admiring the artwork on the front of the banana-it appears to be a cartoon rendition of… his own face? “That was all Chanyeol,” Baekhyun explains, unfolding Kai’s arms and setting the ipad on top of Kai’s stomach.
“Are you checking fan board messages?” Baekhyun asks, as Kai keys in the password.
Kai looks up. “I was going to play fruit ninja?”
“And selca?”
Kai grins. “Let me rest in peace, Hyung.”
Baekhyun laughs, giving Kai’s arm a soft pinch before leaving.
Kai is aware of the warmth curled around his waist as he reopens his eyes, watching D.O. remove the bowl by his nightstand. Kai sits up, causing both dogs to jostle awake. Monggu looks around in alarm while Jjonggu lays her head back down on Kai’s hip. He feels content, legs stretching lazily.
“Hungry?” D.O. asks. When Kai nods sleepily, he adds, “I made spaghetti for lunch. Want some?”
“Stop treating me so well,” Kai calls after D.O. “I might fall for you!”
“Ha!” D.O. shouts from the kitchen. “Your love is cheap!”
To Kai’s utmost amusement, Sehun is sent on delivery duty again. “I lost in kaibaibo,” he says as Kai digs in. Sehun appears to have changed since that morning, his hair falling at a slightly different angle.
“Did you go out?” Kai asks with a mouthful of noodles.
“No,” Sehun sighs quietly into the floor.
Kai raises an eyebrow as he slurps. “Girl problems? Boy problems?” When Sehun doesn’t reply, he sets the food aside and scoots over on his bed, making room for Sehun. The dogs yelp and jump off when Sehun climbs on, lying on his stomach as he scoots closer to Kai.
“Move over,” Sehun says.
“This is a single, you loser.” Kai laughs, rolling around so they’re both lying the same way, propped up by elbows and sheer core strength. Kai’s back is less numb when he stretches this way. “So? Did you put on cologne just to webcam?”
Sehun frowns at him.
“Ah, young love.”
“I’m this close to taking the spaghetti away from you, cripplejjong,” Sehun, his voice warm, warns.
Kai moves closer to Sehun, flicking his forehead. “Then I’ll get out of this bed. Hyung will fret and try to recite lines from his Leader Manual. Then he’ll try to seek advice from Kris-hyung, who will maintain his disinterest but make fun to us to Lu Han-hyung. Then Lu Han-hyung will find you even more childish. That’s the exact opposite of what you want, right?”
“You’re a cruel mistress,” Sehun decides.
“I didn't agree to be your mistress.”
They never actually talk about Sehun’s problem-Sehun was oddly secretive like that. He does, however, keep Kai company while Kai eats over the pillow. They go through the photos on Sehun’s phone, laughing at particularly old selcas and attempting to take some more.
“Why is your face so sharp?” Kai demands. “Do you know how hard it is to selca next to you? Tell me, how does one live with a face the size of a pinky nail?”
“Are your meds talking again?” Sehun wants to know.
Kai pauses. “Actually, I haven’t taken them today.” It’s very odd for him to have fallen asleep without at least three tablets, he thinks, watching Sehun skitter off to find said pills. He looks up when Sehun returns, dangling the bottle and another glass of water in Kai’s face.
“I don’t want any more.”
Sehun is quiet for a second. “Jongin-”
“They make me sleepy, so I’m constantly tired.” Kai rolls over. “I don’t want to take them any more.”
“But, that’s not because of the pain killers,” Sehun whispers, but Kai chooses to ignore that.
“Be nice to Sehun,” Suho says when he comes in later. Suho looks slightly frazzled, and Kai wonders what kind of briefing Suho had to privately suffer through in their absence.
“I am nice to him!” Kai acts offended. “I am the nicest.”
“Don’t put him in difficult situations,” Suho tries again, stroking the inside of Kai’s wrist.
Kai snorts. “My life is a difficult situation.”
Suho sighs, hands on hips. “Well, if you insist on staying awake, we’re going to watch a movie in the living room. Want to join?”
Later, when they’re watching Old Boy, Kai has to pull his numb arm out from under Chanyeol’s butt, shifting so that his knee doesn’t knock awkwardly into Baekhyun’s face. His head is pillowed by D.O.’s lap, eyes fluttering to a close when he finally places that familiar sense of drowsiness. “No,” he whispers, quite scandalized.
D.O. looks down from petting Kai’s hair. “Okay, I know you’ve seen this movie like ten times.”
“You put meds in the left over Jeonbokjuk,” Kai accuses, squinting while his hand curls up on the side of D.O.’s thighs.
“Sorry.” D.O. does not look apologetic at all. “Leader-sshi’s orders.”
Kai vaguely remembers Suho or Sehun squeezing his hand before he falls asleep again.
Kai wakes up at 5AM the next morning to Chanyeol poking at his face. He sits up, sending a mountain of blankets and pillows flying off the couch. Kai is not quite sure how he slept through the others building a fort around him, but when Kai doesn’t move, Chanyeol makes no attempt to help him.
“It’s too early to stand,” Kai says, extending his arm out.
Chanyeol bats the arm away, one toothbrush still hanging out of his mouth. “It’s no longer Be-Nice-To-Kim-Jongin-Day. Haul your own ass off the couch, Dancing Machine.” He dances away, entirely too cheerful.
“Did you sleep well?” Sehun asks, hunched over the dog food as he refills the dog bowls, when Kai enters the kitchen.
Kai knows they will be shuffled off into the van in a few more minutes, pushed and shoved from one recording to another, carrying more than personal aches and pains through another work day. The glaring lights overhead as they wait for their turn will remind Kai that he is not special, no matter how sympathetic Manager-hyung looks while changing the pain patches on Kai’s back. In these publically private moments Kai will want nothing more than to go back to that content place on the couch, curled up against everyone.
Instead, he wraps an arm around Sehun’s waist as they head towards the door. They pick up Suho’s forgotten cell phone on the counter, tucking it under Suho’s arm when they find him fretting near the shoe rack. Kai pulls dried toothpaste from Chanyeol’s hair and nudges Baekhyun towards the right direction in his sleepwalk.
“How was your day off?” Manager-hyung asks from the driver’s seat after they load the van.
“I slept through it,” Kai says with a grin.
fin
a/n:
I love them already
♥ Want to talk EXO? Meta? EXO Meta?? Talk to me on twitter!
Love it? Hate it? Please leave some feedback, even if it may be a little late. You can also join the community, since I'll be locking up NC17 fics.