Sleepover
Title: Sleepover (written for Sooheaven)
Pairing: Kyungsoo/Baekhyun
Rating: NC-17
Length: 7k
Summary: A daycare is the last place Kyungsoo would expect to see Baekhyun.
Kyungsoo is bundled up in a puffy fall coat, a plaid cashmere scarf wrapped cozily around his neck. He sighs in exhaustion before squatting down and taking a small pair of gloves from the tiny hands of his son. "Ready to play outside, Yoonjae-ah?"
"Ya gotta put my gloves on first daddy!"
"I know!" A gentle smiles sweeps across his face as he slips the red gloves on, giving the little boy a gentle pat on the head. "There you go! Now you're all ready."
They open the front door and walk down the little stone path to greet the morning. The trees look cold, shivering in the breeze that captures their leaves and sends them floating to the hardening ground. The air is dry and nips at their noses. Kyungsoo watches his son kick up leaves, little splashes of colour on an otherwise grey day.
"What are we doing today, daddy?"
"We're going to the library and maybe we can stop for a snack on the way home. How does that sound?"
The excited bouncing of his son tells him that a snack and a cup of tea wouldn't be a bad idea.
This is their third trip to the library this week. Kyungsoo is glad his son stays occupied with the toys in the kids' corner. It gives him the chance to look around for books. If he's lucky he'll find another great read, and if he's luckier, he'll find Chanyeol shelving returned books and can strike up a conversation. Yes, that sounds ideal. Kyungsoo was never really into reading, but if it meant being able to talk to the taller man about the great plot twist at the end of that book they just finished, then it was worth the struggle.
-----
"Make sure you listen to whatever the teacher tells you. Be polite to the other kids! And play fair!"
"I know daddy!"
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes as he takes his son's hand and they walk through the parking lot to the pre-school, decorated with all sort of fun things for the very first day.
The door opens in front of them and Kyungsoo is met by a familiar, and rather stunning, smile.
"Oh...hi." He manages, giving a polite nod of his head.
"Good morning." comes the man's quiet response, his smile fading a little as he looks down to Yoonjae. "Cute kid."
"Thanks." His palms are sweaty and his heart is fluttering. Kyungsoo hurries his son along into the building, not looking back.
When he reaches the classroom, he greets the teacher, an older woman who tells him not to worry, Yoonjae will be fine. She kneels down in front of his son and talks to him for a minute before looking up and past Kyungsoo.
"Oh! There you are."
Kyungsoo turns and he feels his chest tighten once again at the sight of caramel hair, styled neatly out of the other man's face.
"This is my assistant, Byun Baekhyun."
Said man bows politely, making eye contact for just a moment before looking back down at the stack of children's books he's carrying. "Hello, again."
There's an awkward pause before Kyungsoo finally realises he should be responding, and not gaping at him.
"Nice to meet you." He blurts out, and instantly regrets it.
Because Kyungsoo knows Baekhyun, and this is far from the first time they've met. They've met plenty of times. In fact Kyungsoo knows every curve of Baekhyun's body by heart. He's kissed every inch of skin. He knows there's a little scar on Baekhyun's stomach from where he had his appendix removed. (He was the one who rushed him to the hospital in the middle of the night and nursed him back to health after the procedure.) Kyungsoo knows the exact spot on Baekhyun's neck that if kissed and nipped, makes him emit the most beautiful sounds. Kyungsoo knows that Baekhyun is very playful and daring. He loves to tease, especially under the sheets... But also, Baekhyun jokes a lot in general, and Kyungsoo knows he has a tendency to take things too far.
Such is one of the various reasons Kyungsoo left him. If he had to use one word to describe Baekhyun, he'd say "selfish". No, "immature".
Someone mature would certainly not care only about himself. He would understand the importance of commitment and know how serious breaking someone's trust was. A mature person would understand the meaning of the word "love" and the heaviness of three little words.
"I love you."
"Yes, uh-you too." The other replies, a little caught off guard and almost withdrawing behind the books.
Kyungsoo suddenly is pulled back into reality by this, the soft resonant tone of Baekhyun's voice. He bows his head in acknowledgement, before turning his gaze to his son.
"Be good today, and listen to your teacher! I'll pick you up later, don't worry." With a reassuring smile, Kyungsoo leans down and places a kiss on his son's forehead before sending him off with the other kids.
He speaks to the teacher for a few more minutes before leaving, his mind swimming in thoughts of Byun Baekhyun.
It's about a week later when Kyungsoo receives one of his favourite (and thankfully rare) calls.
"We're going to need you to come in and fix the system, Kyungsoo-ssi. We've tried everything, and it's just getting worse."
"Got it, I need to get a sitter for Yoonjae and I'll come down as soon as one arrives."
He hangs up and looks unhappily down at the phone, dialling as he closes the car door and walks quickly into the pre-school and out of the cold.
"Kris, it's me." He waves to his son who leaves the kids he's playing with and comes running over in greeting.
"What's up, Kyungsoo?"
"I need you to babysit Yoonjae tonight, I just got called into work."
"Sorry man, no can do."
"Daddy, my coat!" Yoonjae pipes up when Kyungsoo tries to lead him away without his jacket.
"Sorry, buddy" he finds and grabs the jacket off a hook and tucks the phone between his ear and raised shoulder, hurrying to help his son put on the little coat.
"-wait, what do you mean a date?"
"I mean a date! Why do you sound so surprised? And I'm not cancelling this time! So you're just going to have to find someone else." The line goes dead and Kyungsoo huffs.
"Do you...need a sitter?" says a hesitant voice to his right.
He locks eyes with Baekhyun and his stomach threatens to flip.
"Yeah, actually. You must know someone, right?"
"Well...I usually...I could do it. But I understand if..." Baekhyun wisely chooses not to finish his sentence.
Kyungsoo is not sure how to react. He's never actually had a babysitter other than Kris before. Maybe a small part of him also feels a little unsure about leaving Baekhyun alone with his son. There's really no one else to turn to, he thinks, and he persuades himself to agree.
"If you could watch him, that'd be great, thank you. I do have to warn you, he has a lot of energy, and I'll probably be out late. So...back out while you still can."
Baekhyun's laugh bubbles up, and his comfort befuddles Kyungsoo. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Do you...live in the same place...?"
"Yeah, I do." Kyungsoo replies a bit stiffly.
"I'll take him there after all the kids have gone and I clean up."
Baekhyun is the exact opposite of what Kyungsoo feels. Calm and collected. He finds himself wishing he could be just as laid back. "Thanks again, Baekhyun. I'll text you the garage code. Have a good time, Yoonjae. I'm sorry I won't be home until late. Behave!"
Kyungsoo gets away as fast as he can before Baekhyun can even think to ask why Kyungsoo still has his number saved.
When he gets into his car, he relaxes into the seat, pulling out his phone, and sending a fast text to Baekhyun. Kyungsoo settles himself before setting out on the long drive to his office, using the time to clear his head.
For once he's glad the office is far from home because the road has a way of relaxing people. It's almost as if he goes into a trance when he drives. The speed, the direction, the destination... It's all under his control. The car's loud hum gradually numbing his mind and he can think clearly.
Something has changed in Baekhyun. Or maybe it's all an act. It wouldn't surprise him. But who would he be acting for, anyways? The teacher? Unlikely, she's not his type. When did he start working? A while ago, it seems... Perhaps there's a single mother or father he's trying to impress.
Kyungsoo doesn't know if he likes this change. He feels that he should. But then again, why should he even care? Why does he care.
Once again Byun Baekhyun is messing with his head.
He hopes the system will be an easy fix, some misplaced letters in the input where only numbers are allowed or a problem in which the computers tried to divide by zero and crashed as a result.
It's not.
Kyungsoo and his team churn caffeine into the late hours of the night.
There's no one on the road as he drives back home from a long, sleepless night.
He tip toes through the basement and up to the kitchen, taking off his shoes and placing down his bag as gently as he can. The house is still and way too quiet. There's a soft glow of light coming from the living room that spills into the dining area.
Upon entering the living room, he's surprised at what he finds.
There on the armchair just to his right lies his son, fast asleep and happily cuddling his, also sleeping, babysitter. Laying about Baekhyun's feet are Yoonjae's favourite books. All nine or so of them. Baekhyun has his arms wrapped around Kyungsoo's son to protect him falling off of his lap.
It might possibly be one of the sweetest things Kyungsoo has ever seen. His son looks so peaceful and comfortable, like he did when he was just a baby.
The fact Baekhyun was able to get him to relax is a miracle in itself, but sleep? Even Kyungsoo has trouble getting him to bed, so it's an impressive feat. He reaches into his pocket to grab his phone, getting ready to snap a picture but he stops. Kyungsoo stares at the image of the two on screen of his phone for a minute.
There's a click from the phone and the picture is saved.
Shoving it back in the pocket of his slacks, he walks over to the arm chair, lightly resting a hand on Baekhyun's shoulder and shakes him. He's thinner than Kyungsoo remembers him to be.
It takes a minute but the other man begins to stir, his eyes fluttering open and finally meeting Kyungsoo's gaze.
"What time is it?" his voice is rough and laced with sleep.
"Late. A little after midnight. I'm sorry you had to stay so long..."
Baekhyun lifts a hand to rub the bleariness from his eyes. "It's alright." He looks down at the little boy curled up in a deep sleep, on his lap and a smile spreads across his face. "He's a really good kid."
Kyungsoo wishes he could photograph this moment with his phone's crappy camera as well, but that would be completely inappropriate. (Not that taking a picture when his ex isn't even awake is any less inappropriate...)
"Thanks and thanks for watching him tonight as well." Kyungsoo just stands there awkwardly, looking anywhere but the other man before he realises he needs to find a check, and he begins wandering around trying to find some. "How much is your usual rate?"
Baekhyun is standing now, Yoonjae securely in his arms as he walks towards the kid's bedroom.
"Six an hour." He disappears for a minute to tuck Yoonjae into bed and turn on his nightlight. When he returns, he leans against the dining table and watches Kyungsoo open drawers here and there. "Look, don't worry about it right now. It's late and you look exhausted. I'll see you tomorrow anyways."
Kyungsoo pops up from the front of the counter, a hand tangled in his hair as he looks at the man currently headed to the door to put his shoes on. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Go to bed before you pass out on the floor." He quietly picks up his bag and turns to nod at Kyungsoo. "Night."
With that, he exits.
This all feels very nostalgic to Kyungsoo. He leans against the counter, debating whether or not to have a drink before bed. Despite suddenly being in the perfect mood for one right now, he opts to change clothes and lays in bed. Even with thoughts of his son and Baekhyun, he's so worn out that it takes him only minutes to fall asleep.
Kyungsoo awakes to the bed shaking, threatening to throw him off and he sits up, startled and wide-eyed.
Yoonjae is at the foot of his bed, still bouncing a little. "Daddy, daddy! Baekhyun-ssi is gone and he didn't say goodbye to me!"
For moment, exhausted Kyungsoo has no idea what his son is talking about, but he slowly remembers as the sleepy haze leaves him. Baekhyun. Babysitting. Right.
"Yoonjae, you fell asleep, silly. You wouldn't have liked it if he woke you up!"
"I wouldn't care!" Yoonjae whines.
"It was late and...Baekhyun was tired too. He needed to go home and sleep."
"But why! Couldn't he have just stayed here?"
"Where, bud? The floor?"
"Your bed is big enough!"
It's too early for this... Kyungsoo inwardly groans before giving his son a full explanation. "You'll see him again soon, okay?"
"He's coming back?" Yoonjae is beyond excited.
"No, he-"
"Yay!" The little boy hops off the bed and goes down the hall, cheering happily.
He falls back onto his bed with a heavy sigh pulling himself up a moment later to go begin breakfast.
As he places two bowls of rice and little pancakes on the dinner table, Kyungsoo finds two sheets of paper held down by a box of crayons. One is filled with some colourful scribbles and two very happy looking stick figures playing amidst the bright hues. The other is a cute cartoony image of a pretty garden. Random flowers surrounding a little rose in the centre.
"Isn't Baekhyun's really pretty? He let me help colour in the flowers. And see, mine is me and you playing in the leaves!"
Kyungsoo looks from the garden to Yoonjae's picture and smiles brightly. "You did a great job Yoonjae-ah! I think I'm going to hang it up."
"Let's hang them both up!"
"Both of them? Okay. We'll do that after breakfast, it's time to eat."
As usual, Yoonjae chats away and Kyungsoo has to remind him multiple times to not talk with his mouthful. The little boy talks about his night in detail. All the games they played together, the movie they watched, the dinner Baekhyun made which was "awfully yucky". Kyungsoo laughs, almost choking on his rice.
Baekhyun's cooking, he recalls, is not something to be desired. Kyungsoo remembers the time he tried to make soup and forgot about it, leaving all the liquid to evaporate. The night Baekhyun tried to help him make dinner and ended up burning himself as well as add way too many pepper flakes because he didn't know the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
He'd have to remember to tell him to order food next time, so he wouldn't burn down the house.
Next time.
A few weeks later, Kyungsoo directly asks Baekhyun to babysit Yoonjae. He lies and says it's another case of Kris flaking out on him, because he doesn't want Baekhyun to know he'd pick him if he had a choice. (Nor does he want to admit it to himself.) Yoonjae really likes him, so it only makes sense to have him babysit again.
When he returns home the next morning, the living room is silent again, but the two aren't on the armchair. He goes to his son's bedroom. Yoonjae sleeps quietly, curled up under his blankets. After a moment of brief panic that he had left, Kyungsoo finds Baekhyun laying on the couch. He had completely passed him by.
His golden hair is a mess and a pale hand rests palm up on his forehead. The rise and fall of his chest is steady and Kyungsoo reaches out to wake him but he freezes, inches away from contact. He notes the time. 4:49am. Kyungsoo disappears into the hall and returns with a quilt that he lays over the sleeping man. There's no point in sending him home this early, he'd never get back to sleep.
Baekhyun awakes in a daze. Wrapped in a warm blanket smelling lightly of lavender fabric softener. He sits up and his body immediately punishes him for doing so. Everything aches. Couches aren't made for sleeping, after all.
After some stretching, Baekhyun pushes himself up with a yawn. The house is unsettlingly silent around him. He figures he should leave as soon as possible because he's clearly overstayed his welcome. He shuffles through the house, his back stiff, pausing as he looks for his things. Something turns him towards the kitchen. His body desperately begging him to begin making coffee in order to fully awaken.
It's also one of the only things Baekhyun can make, and he does it well.
In a short time, coffee is made and he pours himself a steaming mug. Grabbing a pen and paper, he begins to write a little thank you as the caffeine works it's magic. He's so focused that when Yoonjae comes up to greet him, he jumps a little.
"Mornin' Baekhyun-ssi! Did you make coffee for daddy too?"
Baekhyun reaches out to ruffle the little kid's hair. "Yup! When he wakes up, tell him it's here, okay?"
"Why? Are you leaving?"
"I think so... I have work this morning." Baekhyun signs the note and quickly downs the rest of his coffee, the bitterness making him cringe a little.
"But isn't it Saturday? There's no preschool on Saturday!"
"Yes, but I have two jobs, Yoonjae-ah."
The boy tilts his head in confusion but responds with a simple. "Oh."
Baekhtun stands and makes his way to the door to put on his jacket and shoes. "You'll be good until your dad wakes up, right? Watch some tv or something?"
"Daddy asks about you a whole lot."
Baekhyun freezes, he can feel his heart stutter, and looks up at Yoonjae. "He does?"
"Uh-huh! Always asks what we did and if we play at school and he asks if I like playing you."
Baekhyun's eyes widen a little, there's surely a blush on his cheeks. "What do you tell him?"
"I like you a lot!" Yoonjae accents the phrase with a big smile a few happy bounces.
Baekhyun zips his coat, squats down and pulls the kid in for a hug. "That's nice of you, Yoonjae. Your dad is...Kyungsoo is really great."
When he pulls away, they're both smiling. "See you Monday!" He pats the five year old's cheek and leaves the house.
It's not long before Kyungsoo awakens. He can hear the buzz of the tv in the other room. He glances at the clock and forces himself to a stand. Walking into the hall he half wonders (certainly not half hoped.) if Baekhyun is still around.
Quietly he peers into the living room. His son sits on the couch, staring intently at the cartoon on the screen.
"Good morning Yoonjae-ah!"
Kyungsoo immediately catches the kid's attention, and he squats to wait with arms open as the boy comes to embrace him.
"Baekhyun told me not to wake you up."
"Ah, he left? How long ago?"
"A few minutes ago, I think. He made you coffee before he left!" Yoonjae points to the counter. "Over there!"
Kyungsoo's smile falls and he walks to the counter, pouring himself a mug of it.
This feels all too familiar.
He adds milk and sugar before bringing it to his lips for a sip. It's still a little bitter.
Even as he adds more sugar, Kyungsoo just can't seem to erase that slight, unpleasant taste.
Giving up, he sits at the table and sees the note Baekhyun wrote. He used to do this years ago. Make coffee as a peace offering and leave a little note with a completely bull shit excuse to leave Kyungsoo alone, feeling like hell when he wakes up in an empty bed.
There's a lot of hesitation before he picks up the paper and flips it open with a thumb. He doesn't know what to expect. You never can with Baekhyun.
Beside him, Yoonjae speaks. "He seemed really happy that you talk about him a lot!"
Slightly startled, Kyungsoo closes the note and slaps it back down on the table, only having read a few words. "That's nice-wait, what? What did you tell him, Yoonjae?" Kyungsoo's thankful his son doesn't seem to sense his nervousness.
"I just said that you always ask me about him! And you do!"
Completely taken aback, he's not really sure what to say. Yoonjae isn't lying. Kyungsoo never really thought about it until now. How embarrassing to be caught and revealed by his own son.
Pushing messy fringe out of his face, he sighs and takes a sip of coffee. It tastes faintly better.
"So...did he laugh when you said that?" He finally manages.
"Nope! He hugged me and told me..." Yoonjae scratches his head in thought, "told me... I forget." A big grin spreads across his face and he giggles.
Kyungsoo inwardly groans and lets his head fall to the table, a little harder than expected.
"I'm hungry, daddy."
Slowly sitting back up, Kyungsoo rubs his forehead before sighing in defeat. "Alright, bud. I'll make us something." With a few gentle pats to Yoonjae's head, Kyungsoo goes to begin breakfast.
There's something that makes Kyungsoo hold his breath when Baekhyun runs away from their amiable conversation to tend to a fallen child in the playground. The afternoon air is filled with crying, none of the other kids even stop playing, but Baekhyun is by the boy's side in an instant. It's only then he realises it's Yoonjae.
Baekhyun kneels next to him as he helps the little boy up. His hand is hurt, scuffed hard by the floor of the playground. Fingers wipe away his tears and Yoonjae settles at the touch.
Kyungsoo's heart physically hurts from thudding and he pushes himself to go to his son. Yoonjae's gaze is fixed on Baekhyun, though.
Because it's Baekhyun, who's hand is rested upon the boy's cheek. It's Baekhyun's soft soothing voice that calms him and quells his tears.
Kyungsoo can pick out fading worry in the other man's eyes when their gazes meet.
"He's okay." Baekhyun assures him before shifting to take bandaids and a antiseptic wipe packet out of his pocket. "Here."
Their fingers brush and Kyungsoo hates that his skin tingles at the contact.
"You're well prepared."
A smile slips onto Baekhyun's face. "I work with children. I sort of have to be."
Kyungsoo let's himself laugh, and it's natural. "True! Come here, Yoonjae." he takes his son's injured hand and gently wipes the wound.
"Ow stop, daddy!"
Kyungsoo groans, telling him to just relax for a minute and he'll be done.
"There, see?" Kyungsoo gently presses the band-aid to his skin. "All done!"
"Baekhyun never makes it hurt."
He casts his gaze to the other man who simply shrugs.
Yoonjae goes to Baekhyun and holds up his hand before giving one of his signature pouts. "Kiss it better? Please?"
And if Kyungsoo's heart hadn't suffered enough today, it now melts as his son's palm is pressed ever so gently against what he can only imagine are soft, pink lips.
"There!" Baekhyun pulls away with a warm smile. "Does it feel any better?"
"Mhm! Thank you."
Kyungsoo had never thought he'd feel this warmth towards Baekhyun ever again. The way he handled Yoonjae, took care of him, and worried for him, was admirable. He wouldn't go so far as to say he respected him, but he was starting to enjoy this change in the other.
It hasn't even been a day since Kyungsoo gave Chanyeol his number. They had got to talking at the library when the librarian had been shelving books in the children's section. He had almost lost track of time, but Yoonjae did a good job of reminding him.
The text he receives makes him smile at his cell like a fool.
"hey kyungsoo its chanyeol from the library
i was wondering if maybe you wanted to get a drink later this week?"
And as if he were trying to make a point, a few seconds later, "just the two of us"
A date.
He'd be dumb to pass up an opportunity like this. He lets a minute pass before responding. It's never good to seem desperate.
So that's how Kyungsoo winds up sitting on a barstool with a full glass in front of him. It was a few minutes before eight, so he wasn't too worried about Chanyeol not coming. Not yet, at least.
Staring at his reflection in the liquid before him, he doesn't notice the tall brunette taking a seat beside him until he speaks.
"Hey. Am I late?"
Now back in the moment, Kyungsoo looks to him wide-eyed. "Late? No, no. I was a little early."
"I see you already have a drink, but I'll buy your next one."
They exchange smiles and Chanyeol orders himself a drink.
He finds out, much to his surprise, that they are in fact the same age. Chanyeol acts a lot like a college student. He's loud, and Kyungsoo wonders how he manages to stay so quiet in the library. They're talking so comfortably, he thinks, or maybe it's just the buzz of alcohol.
And wow, actually, he must be drunk because he's mistaking a man who just came in for Baekhyun. Same stature and light brown hair with golden highlights.
Chanyeol's still laughing at some joke he told a minute ago but Kyungsoo is just focused on the man. Watching as the other man goes onto the small stage to greet a small band setting up.
He turns back to the bar as Chanyeol slides him another drink. He accepts it and grabs the bartender's attention.
"There's a band playing tonight?"
"It's our band, but the singer is Baekhyun."
"Like...Byun, Baekhyun?"
The man behind the bar shrugs as he prepares a drink. "Something like that."
Kyungsoo tries to remember a time when Baekhyun said he could sing. Nothing comes to mind.
He isn't drunk, so it must actually be Baekhyun.
When the singer introduces himself and the first song, he's positive it's him. Now he sort of wishes he were drunk, and this was all fake.
It takes a minute for Chanyeol to get his attention, clearly trying to continue their conversation. As if reading his mind, orders him another drink, which Kyungsoo downs at once.
"So do you babysit that little boy for your sister or something?"
The question clears some of the fog from his slightly intoxicated mind.
"You mean Yoonjae?"
"I think?"
Kyungsoo laughs heartily and lightly shoves Chanyeol. "He's my son, silly! I adopted him."
Chanyeol freezes, staring wide-eyed at him. "Son?"
"Yes!"
"Oh..." Chanyeol orders another drink and downs it instantly.
If Kyungsoo wasn't so tipsy, he might have taken note of the lack of conversation between the two of them after that. Talkative Chanyeol had grown quiet. It was alright by him though, because he was busy staring at Baekhyun from afar.
A single spotlight illuminated the man on stage. Piano and low, rhythmic beats of the walking bass mingled effortlessly alongside Baekhyun's voice. The music takes his soul for a dance, and with each riff and adlib, he realises he's fallen in love.
What he doesn't realise is that Chanyeol is no longer beside him.
Six songs after that, he doesn't realise a singer is seated beside him.
"Didn't figure I'd see you here."
It takes Kyungsoo a minute to react and a smile spreads across his face. "I didn't know you could sing."
The statement is a bit slurred, but Baekhyun understands, used to the babble of young children learning to speak.
"Are you seriously drunk?"
"Maybe?"
"I'm taking you home. Come on, you can explain everything later."
Kyungsoo is a little tipsy and Baekhyun has to help him up the stairs into the house.
They meet a shocked Kris reading on the sofa, and the tall man instantly puts the book down and rushes over.
"Is he....?"
"Drunk? Hard to say... Why was he at the bar?"
"He's never been the best drinker... But wait, were you two not on a date?" Kris replies, clearly confused.
"Wh-what? No. I just sing there sometimes. Was he on a date? I didn't see anyone..." Baekhyun hopes his cheeks aren't tinted pink and he busies himself by helping a fussy Kyungsoo onto the couch.
"Oh! Chanyoung? Or something...? Soo has told me about him from time to time. Librarian guy? Probably nerdy looking?"
Baekhyun simply shrugs. No one had been with him when he found him.
"I'll take care of him, tonight. You can go home."
Kris gives him a look. "Are you sure? He can get a little...annoying when he's drunk."
He nods, giving the taller man a reassuring smile. "I can do it. You've had to watch Yoonjae all night."
Kris just watches him for a moment, and Baekhyun can feel his eyes on him. "All right, then. Well goodnight and good luck!"
He waves as Kris leaves and goes to fetch a glass of water, going to Kyungsoo and lightly shaking him awake.
"Here, drink this."
The other man stirs and slowly sits up with a wide yawn. "I don't want it".
"I don't care, just drink." Baekhyun hands him the glass and he's pleased that Kyungsoo complies and takes a few sips.
"Why were you at the-...the bar? Do you sing there often? Why didn't you tell me you could sing? You have a great voice, I almost didn't know it was you. How long have you been singing?"
The sudden onslaught of questions makes Baekhyun's head spin. He doesn't know where to begin, or if he should even bother answering.
"I sing at a lot of little bars around the-"
Kyungsoo cuts him off. "Why do you it? For fun? Or money?"
"A little of both, I guess."
"Why do you work at a children's nursery if you're so good?"
"I uh... Don't make that much, singing. So I needed another job."
"Why a day care?"
Baekhyun swallows hard.
Perhaps now, when Kyungsoo is drunk, isn't the time for the truth.
"It's...fun?" He really tries not to trip over his own words, but he still manages to. "I-I mean I..."
"Why'd you leave me?"
Baekhyun feels his heart almost stop, and a pain like a kick to his gut. It's takes him a minute to recover.
"Why do you keep asking so many 'why' questions..."
Even in his near drunken stupor, Kyungsoo can feel the question is rhetorical.
It takes some thought before Baekhyun answers.
"I was...really scared. At the time commitment was-... When you had said that you wanted-"
"Why did you dye your hair blonde?" Kyungsoo fills the gap between them and runs fingers through his hair. "It's really nice. Softer than I remember."
For the second time in his life, Baekhyun is caught off guard by Kyungsoo. He should have suspected this. He is drunk after all.
Baekhyun mumbles an awkward thank you and gently lifts the other's hand out of his hair.
"I like your hands. They're pretty...almost as pretty as your d-"
"Woah! Alright, it's clearly time for someone to go to bed." Baekhyun exclaims as he pulls his hand away.
Intoxicated Kyungsoo proves to be quite persistent, though.
There were only a handful of times when Kyungsoo was the instigator and tonight is one of them.
"Only if you come to bed with me." There's a smirk on Kyungsoo's face and now Baekhyun is beyond conflicted.
When Kyungsoo presses full lips against his, he might have just made up Baekhyun's mind for him.
Lips he's missed for over a year. They're his.
There's no hesitation. He gives in to desire, letting himself reciprocate the kiss.
It's not long before Baekhyun finds himself underneath Kyungsoo. The other's fingers tangled in his blonde hair, making a mess of it as they make out.
There's movement above him and his eyes open as lips leave his own. The sight of Kyungsoo so eagerly going down on him makes him wonder if he's actually dreaming.
They make eye contact and Baekhyun watches as the latter fumbles with his belt.
He helps unbutton his pants and pushes them down along with his boxers.
Kyungsoo's eyes are slightly dilated now and it makes him look frustratingly innocent. His eyes are fixed on the head of Baekhyun's dick. "Can I...?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
And with that there's a firm hand gripping the base, and tongue caressing the crown. Little teasing licks up and down the shaft, lips almost opening to take him in but pulling back just before he can lift his hips to make it happen.
Sighing, Baekhyun lets his head fall back on the arm of the couch. Lifting a hand to tenderly brush the side of the other man's face and bury fingers in sleek black hair.
Kyungsoo hums against the tip in delight when he grips a little harder. He finally takes Baekhyun into his mouth.
Looking down, the sight he sees makes his breath hitch and he lets out a throaty moan.
He can see Kyungsoo's hand down his own pants. Sucking Baekhyun off and shamelessly pleasuring himself as he does.
It takes effort to not start wildly thrusting into the perfectly shaped O of Kyungsoo's mouth, but he wants the other to feel relaxed.
His mouth is doing a fantastic job of getting him off, sucking, but not too hard, and teasing the slit when he licks up the shaft. The pace is agonisingly slow, but Kyungsoo must have sensed this urgency. He accommodates well, opening up to take just a little more of him, bobbing his head faster.
Baekhyun grips his hair roughly at the sudden buzz of pleasure and when Kyungsoo whines in response, he blows his load into the man's mouth.
The sex that night is great. They'd somehow stumbled to the bedroom without being loud.
Baekhyun lays on his back, knees to his chest, and lets Kyungsoo take him. The other man takes it slow and proves more than happy to help muffle Baekhyun's moans with gentle kisses. They can't risk waking Yoonjae.
It's been a while since he's done this. But as the pain slowly gives way to pleasure, he can't remember a time when it's ever felt this good. Even as Kyungsoo presses into him faster, desperate to finish, he doesn't feel even the slightest pang of guilt run through him.
The kisses are gentle. Sincere. And when Kyungsoo takes his hand and entwines their fingers, Baekhyun feels a swell of emotion.
Kyungsoo has stopped moving above him, and he can hear his harsh breathing. Their eyes meet, followed by their lips. Passion filled, but not out of control. With the same skill he used on himself, Kyungsoo quickly jerks Baekhyun off, swallowing his moan as he comes for the second time that night.
Collapsing on the bed and moving under thick blankets, limbs comfortably tangled, they have no trouble falling into a deep sleep.
It's just become a new day when Baekhyun's eyes open, slowly taking in his surroundings. The night's memories are slow to come back to him, but he can't stop a small grin.
Yawning wide, he decides now might be the best time to duck out.
Baekhyun jumps when a hand wraps delicately around his wrist. When Kyungsoo speaks his voice is rough with exhaustion. "Stay."
He hesitates, "I don't know if that's a great idea."
"Please... I want you to be there when I wake up. You would always leave, and I was always disappointed."
He remembers. After a long night with the other man, they'd fall asleep in each other's arms, Kyungsoo tucked into his chest. When morning came, he was always the first to wake. Baekhyun would make coffee, gather his things and leave a cold Kyungsoo alone in his bed.
Not this time.
"Move over."
The sleepy smile that appears on Kyungsoo's face melts his heart.
He slips back under the covers and into the other's arms, pressing close to share body heat. He feels a kiss be placed on his forehead and he looks up with a questioning expression.
"Thank you." is the whispered response.
This time, Baekhyun curls into Kyungsoo, easily drifting back to sleep.
Awaking in an empty bed, the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the hall, Kyungsoo sits up startled.
The feeling of an empty bed was not what he had been expecting.
Slowly, he finds and slips on a pair of boxers, beginning to search for a shirt when there's a knock on his door. Little Yoonjae pokes his head in. His heart drops.
"Daddy! We're bringin' you coffee in bed!"
The door opens and there Baekhyun stands, holding two steaming mugs of coffee.
Kyungsoo doesn't know if he wants to laugh or cry. He doesn't do either. Only sits and stares with a look of surprise. "I thought..."
Baekhyun shakes his head and carefully hands him a mug. "I didn't."
The coffee tastes perfect, sweet, and warms his stomach. Yoonjae crawls up on the bed next to him, watching him take little sips. "Can you make breakfast?"
"Sure thing little man!" Kyungsoo looks up at Baekhyun who's leaned casually on the door frame. "Will you eat with us?"
"Well, if you're offering."
He picks a simple dish of fresh vegetables and rice. Not trusting Baekhyun with the rice, he lets him wash and prepare the vegetables. As the rice cooker works it's magic, Kyungsoo takes over to finish the veggies.
He tells Baekhyun and Yoonjae to set the table and begins to serve rice into bowls. Something catches his eye, as he scoops up rice. The garden picture beside him looks different. Where a single rose once stood, two more had sprung up in the ground beside it, scribbled in with red pen. And as if they were holding hands, their leaves all touched.
A bowl almost breaks when he burns the top of his hand on the scorching metal pot of the rice cooker. Hissing in pain, he manages to bite back a profanity in front of Yoonjae who's watching intently next to Baekhyun.
"Oh no! Daddy are you okay?"
Rushing to the sink and letting cool water run over the burn, he sighs a little embarrassed he hadn't been focusing. "Y-yeah. I'll be okay."
After a minute of slight relief, his son pulls on his sleeve and takes his hand, looking at the blistering skin with worry and looking over to the man by the table. He holds up Kyungsoo's hand.
"Kiss it better!"
With a gentle smile, Baekhyun comes, delicately taking Kyungsoo's hand and touching the softest kiss next to the burn.
Kyungsoo watches the other's smile light up his face as it grows. He silently hopes he isn't blushing.
"Better?"
"Yes." he manages.
Breakfast passes with lots of laughter and natural conversation. Yoonjae runs off to go play with his toys and Baekhyun helps him clean up in a comfortable silence.
He's a bit surprised and confused when Baekhyun apologises out of the blue, but the other makes things clear.
The old Byun Baekhyun was afraid of commitment. And even more terrified of kids. The thought of being tied down with a kid he'd be responsible for made him tuck tail and run like a coward. But with any other person nothing was the same. He was happy, but unfulfilled.
"No one was you."
Kyungsoo lets the confession sink in for a while before speaking.
"So that's why you took a job at a daycare?"
"Well, sort of..." the other admits. "I did need another job, and there was an easy job at the nursery that wasn't actually related to kids. But even so, the woman shoved a screaming kid in my face on the first day." He chuckles. "Even though I didn't interact with the kids much, I got used to being around them and when a caretaker's position opened up... I went for it."
"I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm ready for fatherhood, but" his sentence falls.
And maybe this is what Kyungsoo has been waiting for, but it still feels so surreal.
"Can you really take care of a kid for a whole day? Feeding him? Explaining things to him? Spending hours waiting for him to calm down and sleep?"
"I'd make and sing him lullabies for hours."
"Would you be able to stay awake all night with him when he's sick?"
Baekhyun nods, his face solemn with understanding.
"What about dealing with temper tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants?"
"I would learn how to. I want to learn how to, Kyungsoo. Teach me?"
There is no doubting the sincerity so very evident in Baekhyun's eyes.
"Would you be able to take care of both of us, when I'm sick or exhausted?"
"Yes. Give me the chance and I'll show you."
Carefully taking Baekhyun's hand, he cups it against his cheek. "Then consider me yours."
They embrace and Kyungsoo rests his head against Baekhyun's shoulder, focused on the steady, barely audible, sound of their heartbeats. When they finally pull away, they're beaming at one another.
Kyungsoo is the first to speak.
"Roses grow on bushes, by the way."
"Hush."
And before he can get out another word, he's wrapped in Baekhyun's arms and being well kissed.
Pairing: Kyungsoo/Baekhyun
Rating: NC-17
Length: 7k
Summary: A daycare is the last place Kyungsoo would expect to see Baekhyun.
Kyungsoo is bundled up in a puffy fall coat, a plaid cashmere scarf wrapped cozily around his neck. He sighs in exhaustion before squatting down and taking a small pair of gloves from the tiny hands of his son. "Ready to play outside, Yoonjae-ah?"
"Ya gotta put my gloves on first daddy!"
"I know!" A gentle smiles sweeps across his face as he slips the red gloves on, giving the little boy a gentle pat on the head. "There you go! Now you're all ready."
They open the front door and walk down the little stone path to greet the morning. The trees look cold, shivering in the breeze that captures their leaves and sends them floating to the hardening ground. The air is dry and nips at their noses. Kyungsoo watches his son kick up leaves, little splashes of colour on an otherwise grey day.
"What are we doing today, daddy?"
"We're going to the library and maybe we can stop for a snack on the way home. How does that sound?"
The excited bouncing of his son tells him that a snack and a cup of tea wouldn't be a bad idea.
This is their third trip to the library this week. Kyungsoo is glad his son stays occupied with the toys in the kids' corner. It gives him the chance to look around for books. If he's lucky he'll find another great read, and if he's luckier, he'll find Chanyeol shelving returned books and can strike up a conversation. Yes, that sounds ideal. Kyungsoo was never really into reading, but if it meant being able to talk to the taller man about the great plot twist at the end of that book they just finished, then it was worth the struggle.
-----
"Make sure you listen to whatever the teacher tells you. Be polite to the other kids! And play fair!"
"I know daddy!"
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes as he takes his son's hand and they walk through the parking lot to the pre-school, decorated with all sort of fun things for the very first day.
The door opens in front of them and Kyungsoo is met by a familiar, and rather stunning, smile.
"Oh...hi." He manages, giving a polite nod of his head.
"Good morning." comes the man's quiet response, his smile fading a little as he looks down to Yoonjae. "Cute kid."
"Thanks." His palms are sweaty and his heart is fluttering. Kyungsoo hurries his son along into the building, not looking back.
When he reaches the classroom, he greets the teacher, an older woman who tells him not to worry, Yoonjae will be fine. She kneels down in front of his son and talks to him for a minute before looking up and past Kyungsoo.
"Oh! There you are."
Kyungsoo turns and he feels his chest tighten once again at the sight of caramel hair, styled neatly out of the other man's face.
"This is my assistant, Byun Baekhyun."
Said man bows politely, making eye contact for just a moment before looking back down at the stack of children's books he's carrying. "Hello, again."
There's an awkward pause before Kyungsoo finally realises he should be responding, and not gaping at him.
"Nice to meet you." He blurts out, and instantly regrets it.
Because Kyungsoo knows Baekhyun, and this is far from the first time they've met. They've met plenty of times. In fact Kyungsoo knows every curve of Baekhyun's body by heart. He's kissed every inch of skin. He knows there's a little scar on Baekhyun's stomach from where he had his appendix removed. (He was the one who rushed him to the hospital in the middle of the night and nursed him back to health after the procedure.) Kyungsoo knows the exact spot on Baekhyun's neck that if kissed and nipped, makes him emit the most beautiful sounds. Kyungsoo knows that Baekhyun is very playful and daring. He loves to tease, especially under the sheets... But also, Baekhyun jokes a lot in general, and Kyungsoo knows he has a tendency to take things too far.
Such is one of the various reasons Kyungsoo left him. If he had to use one word to describe Baekhyun, he'd say "selfish". No, "immature".
Someone mature would certainly not care only about himself. He would understand the importance of commitment and know how serious breaking someone's trust was. A mature person would understand the meaning of the word "love" and the heaviness of three little words.
"I love you."
"Yes, uh-you too." The other replies, a little caught off guard and almost withdrawing behind the books.
Kyungsoo suddenly is pulled back into reality by this, the soft resonant tone of Baekhyun's voice. He bows his head in acknowledgement, before turning his gaze to his son.
"Be good today, and listen to your teacher! I'll pick you up later, don't worry." With a reassuring smile, Kyungsoo leans down and places a kiss on his son's forehead before sending him off with the other kids.
He speaks to the teacher for a few more minutes before leaving, his mind swimming in thoughts of Byun Baekhyun.
It's about a week later when Kyungsoo receives one of his favourite (and thankfully rare) calls.
"We're going to need you to come in and fix the system, Kyungsoo-ssi. We've tried everything, and it's just getting worse."
"Got it, I need to get a sitter for Yoonjae and I'll come down as soon as one arrives."
He hangs up and looks unhappily down at the phone, dialling as he closes the car door and walks quickly into the pre-school and out of the cold.
"Kris, it's me." He waves to his son who leaves the kids he's playing with and comes running over in greeting.
"What's up, Kyungsoo?"
"I need you to babysit Yoonjae tonight, I just got called into work."
"Sorry man, no can do."
"Daddy, my coat!" Yoonjae pipes up when Kyungsoo tries to lead him away without his jacket.
"Sorry, buddy" he finds and grabs the jacket off a hook and tucks the phone between his ear and raised shoulder, hurrying to help his son put on the little coat.
"-wait, what do you mean a date?"
"I mean a date! Why do you sound so surprised? And I'm not cancelling this time! So you're just going to have to find someone else." The line goes dead and Kyungsoo huffs.
"Do you...need a sitter?" says a hesitant voice to his right.
He locks eyes with Baekhyun and his stomach threatens to flip.
"Yeah, actually. You must know someone, right?"
"Well...I usually...I could do it. But I understand if..." Baekhyun wisely chooses not to finish his sentence.
Kyungsoo is not sure how to react. He's never actually had a babysitter other than Kris before. Maybe a small part of him also feels a little unsure about leaving Baekhyun alone with his son. There's really no one else to turn to, he thinks, and he persuades himself to agree.
"If you could watch him, that'd be great, thank you. I do have to warn you, he has a lot of energy, and I'll probably be out late. So...back out while you still can."
Baekhyun's laugh bubbles up, and his comfort befuddles Kyungsoo. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Do you...live in the same place...?"
"Yeah, I do." Kyungsoo replies a bit stiffly.
"I'll take him there after all the kids have gone and I clean up."
Baekhyun is the exact opposite of what Kyungsoo feels. Calm and collected. He finds himself wishing he could be just as laid back. "Thanks again, Baekhyun. I'll text you the garage code. Have a good time, Yoonjae. I'm sorry I won't be home until late. Behave!"
Kyungsoo gets away as fast as he can before Baekhyun can even think to ask why Kyungsoo still has his number saved.
When he gets into his car, he relaxes into the seat, pulling out his phone, and sending a fast text to Baekhyun. Kyungsoo settles himself before setting out on the long drive to his office, using the time to clear his head.
For once he's glad the office is far from home because the road has a way of relaxing people. It's almost as if he goes into a trance when he drives. The speed, the direction, the destination... It's all under his control. The car's loud hum gradually numbing his mind and he can think clearly.
Something has changed in Baekhyun. Or maybe it's all an act. It wouldn't surprise him. But who would he be acting for, anyways? The teacher? Unlikely, she's not his type. When did he start working? A while ago, it seems... Perhaps there's a single mother or father he's trying to impress.
Kyungsoo doesn't know if he likes this change. He feels that he should. But then again, why should he even care? Why does he care.
Once again Byun Baekhyun is messing with his head.
He hopes the system will be an easy fix, some misplaced letters in the input where only numbers are allowed or a problem in which the computers tried to divide by zero and crashed as a result.
It's not.
Kyungsoo and his team churn caffeine into the late hours of the night.
There's no one on the road as he drives back home from a long, sleepless night.
He tip toes through the basement and up to the kitchen, taking off his shoes and placing down his bag as gently as he can. The house is still and way too quiet. There's a soft glow of light coming from the living room that spills into the dining area.
Upon entering the living room, he's surprised at what he finds.
There on the armchair just to his right lies his son, fast asleep and happily cuddling his, also sleeping, babysitter. Laying about Baekhyun's feet are Yoonjae's favourite books. All nine or so of them. Baekhyun has his arms wrapped around Kyungsoo's son to protect him falling off of his lap.
It might possibly be one of the sweetest things Kyungsoo has ever seen. His son looks so peaceful and comfortable, like he did when he was just a baby.
The fact Baekhyun was able to get him to relax is a miracle in itself, but sleep? Even Kyungsoo has trouble getting him to bed, so it's an impressive feat. He reaches into his pocket to grab his phone, getting ready to snap a picture but he stops. Kyungsoo stares at the image of the two on screen of his phone for a minute.
There's a click from the phone and the picture is saved.
Shoving it back in the pocket of his slacks, he walks over to the arm chair, lightly resting a hand on Baekhyun's shoulder and shakes him. He's thinner than Kyungsoo remembers him to be.
It takes a minute but the other man begins to stir, his eyes fluttering open and finally meeting Kyungsoo's gaze.
"What time is it?" his voice is rough and laced with sleep.
"Late. A little after midnight. I'm sorry you had to stay so long..."
Baekhyun lifts a hand to rub the bleariness from his eyes. "It's alright." He looks down at the little boy curled up in a deep sleep, on his lap and a smile spreads across his face. "He's a really good kid."
Kyungsoo wishes he could photograph this moment with his phone's crappy camera as well, but that would be completely inappropriate. (Not that taking a picture when his ex isn't even awake is any less inappropriate...)
"Thanks and thanks for watching him tonight as well." Kyungsoo just stands there awkwardly, looking anywhere but the other man before he realises he needs to find a check, and he begins wandering around trying to find some. "How much is your usual rate?"
Baekhyun is standing now, Yoonjae securely in his arms as he walks towards the kid's bedroom.
"Six an hour." He disappears for a minute to tuck Yoonjae into bed and turn on his nightlight. When he returns, he leans against the dining table and watches Kyungsoo open drawers here and there. "Look, don't worry about it right now. It's late and you look exhausted. I'll see you tomorrow anyways."
Kyungsoo pops up from the front of the counter, a hand tangled in his hair as he looks at the man currently headed to the door to put his shoes on. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Go to bed before you pass out on the floor." He quietly picks up his bag and turns to nod at Kyungsoo. "Night."
With that, he exits.
This all feels very nostalgic to Kyungsoo. He leans against the counter, debating whether or not to have a drink before bed. Despite suddenly being in the perfect mood for one right now, he opts to change clothes and lays in bed. Even with thoughts of his son and Baekhyun, he's so worn out that it takes him only minutes to fall asleep.
Kyungsoo awakes to the bed shaking, threatening to throw him off and he sits up, startled and wide-eyed.
Yoonjae is at the foot of his bed, still bouncing a little. "Daddy, daddy! Baekhyun-ssi is gone and he didn't say goodbye to me!"
For moment, exhausted Kyungsoo has no idea what his son is talking about, but he slowly remembers as the sleepy haze leaves him. Baekhyun. Babysitting. Right.
"Yoonjae, you fell asleep, silly. You wouldn't have liked it if he woke you up!"
"I wouldn't care!" Yoonjae whines.
"It was late and...Baekhyun was tired too. He needed to go home and sleep."
"But why! Couldn't he have just stayed here?"
"Where, bud? The floor?"
"Your bed is big enough!"
It's too early for this... Kyungsoo inwardly groans before giving his son a full explanation. "You'll see him again soon, okay?"
"He's coming back?" Yoonjae is beyond excited.
"No, he-"
"Yay!" The little boy hops off the bed and goes down the hall, cheering happily.
He falls back onto his bed with a heavy sigh pulling himself up a moment later to go begin breakfast.
As he places two bowls of rice and little pancakes on the dinner table, Kyungsoo finds two sheets of paper held down by a box of crayons. One is filled with some colourful scribbles and two very happy looking stick figures playing amidst the bright hues. The other is a cute cartoony image of a pretty garden. Random flowers surrounding a little rose in the centre.
"Isn't Baekhyun's really pretty? He let me help colour in the flowers. And see, mine is me and you playing in the leaves!"
Kyungsoo looks from the garden to Yoonjae's picture and smiles brightly. "You did a great job Yoonjae-ah! I think I'm going to hang it up."
"Let's hang them both up!"
"Both of them? Okay. We'll do that after breakfast, it's time to eat."
As usual, Yoonjae chats away and Kyungsoo has to remind him multiple times to not talk with his mouthful. The little boy talks about his night in detail. All the games they played together, the movie they watched, the dinner Baekhyun made which was "awfully yucky". Kyungsoo laughs, almost choking on his rice.
Baekhyun's cooking, he recalls, is not something to be desired. Kyungsoo remembers the time he tried to make soup and forgot about it, leaving all the liquid to evaporate. The night Baekhyun tried to help him make dinner and ended up burning himself as well as add way too many pepper flakes because he didn't know the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
He'd have to remember to tell him to order food next time, so he wouldn't burn down the house.
Next time.
A few weeks later, Kyungsoo directly asks Baekhyun to babysit Yoonjae. He lies and says it's another case of Kris flaking out on him, because he doesn't want Baekhyun to know he'd pick him if he had a choice. (Nor does he want to admit it to himself.) Yoonjae really likes him, so it only makes sense to have him babysit again.
When he returns home the next morning, the living room is silent again, but the two aren't on the armchair. He goes to his son's bedroom. Yoonjae sleeps quietly, curled up under his blankets. After a moment of brief panic that he had left, Kyungsoo finds Baekhyun laying on the couch. He had completely passed him by.
His golden hair is a mess and a pale hand rests palm up on his forehead. The rise and fall of his chest is steady and Kyungsoo reaches out to wake him but he freezes, inches away from contact. He notes the time. 4:49am. Kyungsoo disappears into the hall and returns with a quilt that he lays over the sleeping man. There's no point in sending him home this early, he'd never get back to sleep.
Baekhyun awakes in a daze. Wrapped in a warm blanket smelling lightly of lavender fabric softener. He sits up and his body immediately punishes him for doing so. Everything aches. Couches aren't made for sleeping, after all.
After some stretching, Baekhyun pushes himself up with a yawn. The house is unsettlingly silent around him. He figures he should leave as soon as possible because he's clearly overstayed his welcome. He shuffles through the house, his back stiff, pausing as he looks for his things. Something turns him towards the kitchen. His body desperately begging him to begin making coffee in order to fully awaken.
It's also one of the only things Baekhyun can make, and he does it well.
In a short time, coffee is made and he pours himself a steaming mug. Grabbing a pen and paper, he begins to write a little thank you as the caffeine works it's magic. He's so focused that when Yoonjae comes up to greet him, he jumps a little.
"Mornin' Baekhyun-ssi! Did you make coffee for daddy too?"
Baekhyun reaches out to ruffle the little kid's hair. "Yup! When he wakes up, tell him it's here, okay?"
"Why? Are you leaving?"
"I think so... I have work this morning." Baekhyun signs the note and quickly downs the rest of his coffee, the bitterness making him cringe a little.
"But isn't it Saturday? There's no preschool on Saturday!"
"Yes, but I have two jobs, Yoonjae-ah."
The boy tilts his head in confusion but responds with a simple. "Oh."
Baekhtun stands and makes his way to the door to put on his jacket and shoes. "You'll be good until your dad wakes up, right? Watch some tv or something?"
"Daddy asks about you a whole lot."
Baekhyun freezes, he can feel his heart stutter, and looks up at Yoonjae. "He does?"
"Uh-huh! Always asks what we did and if we play at school and he asks if I like playing you."
Baekhyun's eyes widen a little, there's surely a blush on his cheeks. "What do you tell him?"
"I like you a lot!" Yoonjae accents the phrase with a big smile a few happy bounces.
Baekhyun zips his coat, squats down and pulls the kid in for a hug. "That's nice of you, Yoonjae. Your dad is...Kyungsoo is really great."
When he pulls away, they're both smiling. "See you Monday!" He pats the five year old's cheek and leaves the house.
It's not long before Kyungsoo awakens. He can hear the buzz of the tv in the other room. He glances at the clock and forces himself to a stand. Walking into the hall he half wonders (certainly not half hoped.) if Baekhyun is still around.
Quietly he peers into the living room. His son sits on the couch, staring intently at the cartoon on the screen.
"Good morning Yoonjae-ah!"
Kyungsoo immediately catches the kid's attention, and he squats to wait with arms open as the boy comes to embrace him.
"Baekhyun told me not to wake you up."
"Ah, he left? How long ago?"
"A few minutes ago, I think. He made you coffee before he left!" Yoonjae points to the counter. "Over there!"
Kyungsoo's smile falls and he walks to the counter, pouring himself a mug of it.
This feels all too familiar.
He adds milk and sugar before bringing it to his lips for a sip. It's still a little bitter.
Even as he adds more sugar, Kyungsoo just can't seem to erase that slight, unpleasant taste.
Giving up, he sits at the table and sees the note Baekhyun wrote. He used to do this years ago. Make coffee as a peace offering and leave a little note with a completely bull shit excuse to leave Kyungsoo alone, feeling like hell when he wakes up in an empty bed.
There's a lot of hesitation before he picks up the paper and flips it open with a thumb. He doesn't know what to expect. You never can with Baekhyun.
Beside him, Yoonjae speaks. "He seemed really happy that you talk about him a lot!"
Slightly startled, Kyungsoo closes the note and slaps it back down on the table, only having read a few words. "That's nice-wait, what? What did you tell him, Yoonjae?" Kyungsoo's thankful his son doesn't seem to sense his nervousness.
"I just said that you always ask me about him! And you do!"
Completely taken aback, he's not really sure what to say. Yoonjae isn't lying. Kyungsoo never really thought about it until now. How embarrassing to be caught and revealed by his own son.
Pushing messy fringe out of his face, he sighs and takes a sip of coffee. It tastes faintly better.
"So...did he laugh when you said that?" He finally manages.
"Nope! He hugged me and told me..." Yoonjae scratches his head in thought, "told me... I forget." A big grin spreads across his face and he giggles.
Kyungsoo inwardly groans and lets his head fall to the table, a little harder than expected.
"I'm hungry, daddy."
Slowly sitting back up, Kyungsoo rubs his forehead before sighing in defeat. "Alright, bud. I'll make us something." With a few gentle pats to Yoonjae's head, Kyungsoo goes to begin breakfast.
There's something that makes Kyungsoo hold his breath when Baekhyun runs away from their amiable conversation to tend to a fallen child in the playground. The afternoon air is filled with crying, none of the other kids even stop playing, but Baekhyun is by the boy's side in an instant. It's only then he realises it's Yoonjae.
Baekhyun kneels next to him as he helps the little boy up. His hand is hurt, scuffed hard by the floor of the playground. Fingers wipe away his tears and Yoonjae settles at the touch.
Kyungsoo's heart physically hurts from thudding and he pushes himself to go to his son. Yoonjae's gaze is fixed on Baekhyun, though.
Because it's Baekhyun, who's hand is rested upon the boy's cheek. It's Baekhyun's soft soothing voice that calms him and quells his tears.
Kyungsoo can pick out fading worry in the other man's eyes when their gazes meet.
"He's okay." Baekhyun assures him before shifting to take bandaids and a antiseptic wipe packet out of his pocket. "Here."
Their fingers brush and Kyungsoo hates that his skin tingles at the contact.
"You're well prepared."
A smile slips onto Baekhyun's face. "I work with children. I sort of have to be."
Kyungsoo let's himself laugh, and it's natural. "True! Come here, Yoonjae." he takes his son's injured hand and gently wipes the wound.
"Ow stop, daddy!"
Kyungsoo groans, telling him to just relax for a minute and he'll be done.
"There, see?" Kyungsoo gently presses the band-aid to his skin. "All done!"
"Baekhyun never makes it hurt."
He casts his gaze to the other man who simply shrugs.
Yoonjae goes to Baekhyun and holds up his hand before giving one of his signature pouts. "Kiss it better? Please?"
And if Kyungsoo's heart hadn't suffered enough today, it now melts as his son's palm is pressed ever so gently against what he can only imagine are soft, pink lips.
"There!" Baekhyun pulls away with a warm smile. "Does it feel any better?"
"Mhm! Thank you."
Kyungsoo had never thought he'd feel this warmth towards Baekhyun ever again. The way he handled Yoonjae, took care of him, and worried for him, was admirable. He wouldn't go so far as to say he respected him, but he was starting to enjoy this change in the other.
It hasn't even been a day since Kyungsoo gave Chanyeol his number. They had got to talking at the library when the librarian had been shelving books in the children's section. He had almost lost track of time, but Yoonjae did a good job of reminding him.
The text he receives makes him smile at his cell like a fool.
"hey kyungsoo its chanyeol from the library
i was wondering if maybe you wanted to get a drink later this week?"
And as if he were trying to make a point, a few seconds later, "just the two of us"
A date.
He'd be dumb to pass up an opportunity like this. He lets a minute pass before responding. It's never good to seem desperate.
So that's how Kyungsoo winds up sitting on a barstool with a full glass in front of him. It was a few minutes before eight, so he wasn't too worried about Chanyeol not coming. Not yet, at least.
Staring at his reflection in the liquid before him, he doesn't notice the tall brunette taking a seat beside him until he speaks.
"Hey. Am I late?"
Now back in the moment, Kyungsoo looks to him wide-eyed. "Late? No, no. I was a little early."
"I see you already have a drink, but I'll buy your next one."
They exchange smiles and Chanyeol orders himself a drink.
He finds out, much to his surprise, that they are in fact the same age. Chanyeol acts a lot like a college student. He's loud, and Kyungsoo wonders how he manages to stay so quiet in the library. They're talking so comfortably, he thinks, or maybe it's just the buzz of alcohol.
And wow, actually, he must be drunk because he's mistaking a man who just came in for Baekhyun. Same stature and light brown hair with golden highlights.
Chanyeol's still laughing at some joke he told a minute ago but Kyungsoo is just focused on the man. Watching as the other man goes onto the small stage to greet a small band setting up.
He turns back to the bar as Chanyeol slides him another drink. He accepts it and grabs the bartender's attention.
"There's a band playing tonight?"
"It's our band, but the singer is Baekhyun."
"Like...Byun, Baekhyun?"
The man behind the bar shrugs as he prepares a drink. "Something like that."
Kyungsoo tries to remember a time when Baekhyun said he could sing. Nothing comes to mind.
He isn't drunk, so it must actually be Baekhyun.
When the singer introduces himself and the first song, he's positive it's him. Now he sort of wishes he were drunk, and this was all fake.
It takes a minute for Chanyeol to get his attention, clearly trying to continue their conversation. As if reading his mind, orders him another drink, which Kyungsoo downs at once.
"So do you babysit that little boy for your sister or something?"
The question clears some of the fog from his slightly intoxicated mind.
"You mean Yoonjae?"
"I think?"
Kyungsoo laughs heartily and lightly shoves Chanyeol. "He's my son, silly! I adopted him."
Chanyeol freezes, staring wide-eyed at him. "Son?"
"Yes!"
"Oh..." Chanyeol orders another drink and downs it instantly.
If Kyungsoo wasn't so tipsy, he might have taken note of the lack of conversation between the two of them after that. Talkative Chanyeol had grown quiet. It was alright by him though, because he was busy staring at Baekhyun from afar.
A single spotlight illuminated the man on stage. Piano and low, rhythmic beats of the walking bass mingled effortlessly alongside Baekhyun's voice. The music takes his soul for a dance, and with each riff and adlib, he realises he's fallen in love.
What he doesn't realise is that Chanyeol is no longer beside him.
Six songs after that, he doesn't realise a singer is seated beside him.
"Didn't figure I'd see you here."
It takes Kyungsoo a minute to react and a smile spreads across his face. "I didn't know you could sing."
The statement is a bit slurred, but Baekhyun understands, used to the babble of young children learning to speak.
"Are you seriously drunk?"
"Maybe?"
"I'm taking you home. Come on, you can explain everything later."
Kyungsoo is a little tipsy and Baekhyun has to help him up the stairs into the house.
They meet a shocked Kris reading on the sofa, and the tall man instantly puts the book down and rushes over.
"Is he....?"
"Drunk? Hard to say... Why was he at the bar?"
"He's never been the best drinker... But wait, were you two not on a date?" Kris replies, clearly confused.
"Wh-what? No. I just sing there sometimes. Was he on a date? I didn't see anyone..." Baekhyun hopes his cheeks aren't tinted pink and he busies himself by helping a fussy Kyungsoo onto the couch.
"Oh! Chanyoung? Or something...? Soo has told me about him from time to time. Librarian guy? Probably nerdy looking?"
Baekhyun simply shrugs. No one had been with him when he found him.
"I'll take care of him, tonight. You can go home."
Kris gives him a look. "Are you sure? He can get a little...annoying when he's drunk."
He nods, giving the taller man a reassuring smile. "I can do it. You've had to watch Yoonjae all night."
Kris just watches him for a moment, and Baekhyun can feel his eyes on him. "All right, then. Well goodnight and good luck!"
He waves as Kris leaves and goes to fetch a glass of water, going to Kyungsoo and lightly shaking him awake.
"Here, drink this."
The other man stirs and slowly sits up with a wide yawn. "I don't want it".
"I don't care, just drink." Baekhyun hands him the glass and he's pleased that Kyungsoo complies and takes a few sips.
"Why were you at the-...the bar? Do you sing there often? Why didn't you tell me you could sing? You have a great voice, I almost didn't know it was you. How long have you been singing?"
The sudden onslaught of questions makes Baekhyun's head spin. He doesn't know where to begin, or if he should even bother answering.
"I sing at a lot of little bars around the-"
Kyungsoo cuts him off. "Why do you it? For fun? Or money?"
"A little of both, I guess."
"Why do you work at a children's nursery if you're so good?"
"I uh... Don't make that much, singing. So I needed another job."
"Why a day care?"
Baekhyun swallows hard.
Perhaps now, when Kyungsoo is drunk, isn't the time for the truth.
"It's...fun?" He really tries not to trip over his own words, but he still manages to. "I-I mean I..."
"Why'd you leave me?"
Baekhyun feels his heart almost stop, and a pain like a kick to his gut. It's takes him a minute to recover.
"Why do you keep asking so many 'why' questions..."
Even in his near drunken stupor, Kyungsoo can feel the question is rhetorical.
It takes some thought before Baekhyun answers.
"I was...really scared. At the time commitment was-... When you had said that you wanted-"
"Why did you dye your hair blonde?" Kyungsoo fills the gap between them and runs fingers through his hair. "It's really nice. Softer than I remember."
For the second time in his life, Baekhyun is caught off guard by Kyungsoo. He should have suspected this. He is drunk after all.
Baekhyun mumbles an awkward thank you and gently lifts the other's hand out of his hair.
"I like your hands. They're pretty...almost as pretty as your d-"
"Woah! Alright, it's clearly time for someone to go to bed." Baekhyun exclaims as he pulls his hand away.
Intoxicated Kyungsoo proves to be quite persistent, though.
There were only a handful of times when Kyungsoo was the instigator and tonight is one of them.
"Only if you come to bed with me." There's a smirk on Kyungsoo's face and now Baekhyun is beyond conflicted.
When Kyungsoo presses full lips against his, he might have just made up Baekhyun's mind for him.
Lips he's missed for over a year. They're his.
There's no hesitation. He gives in to desire, letting himself reciprocate the kiss.
It's not long before Baekhyun finds himself underneath Kyungsoo. The other's fingers tangled in his blonde hair, making a mess of it as they make out.
There's movement above him and his eyes open as lips leave his own. The sight of Kyungsoo so eagerly going down on him makes him wonder if he's actually dreaming.
They make eye contact and Baekhyun watches as the latter fumbles with his belt.
He helps unbutton his pants and pushes them down along with his boxers.
Kyungsoo's eyes are slightly dilated now and it makes him look frustratingly innocent. His eyes are fixed on the head of Baekhyun's dick. "Can I...?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
And with that there's a firm hand gripping the base, and tongue caressing the crown. Little teasing licks up and down the shaft, lips almost opening to take him in but pulling back just before he can lift his hips to make it happen.
Sighing, Baekhyun lets his head fall back on the arm of the couch. Lifting a hand to tenderly brush the side of the other man's face and bury fingers in sleek black hair.
Kyungsoo hums against the tip in delight when he grips a little harder. He finally takes Baekhyun into his mouth.
Looking down, the sight he sees makes his breath hitch and he lets out a throaty moan.
He can see Kyungsoo's hand down his own pants. Sucking Baekhyun off and shamelessly pleasuring himself as he does.
It takes effort to not start wildly thrusting into the perfectly shaped O of Kyungsoo's mouth, but he wants the other to feel relaxed.
His mouth is doing a fantastic job of getting him off, sucking, but not too hard, and teasing the slit when he licks up the shaft. The pace is agonisingly slow, but Kyungsoo must have sensed this urgency. He accommodates well, opening up to take just a little more of him, bobbing his head faster.
Baekhyun grips his hair roughly at the sudden buzz of pleasure and when Kyungsoo whines in response, he blows his load into the man's mouth.
The sex that night is great. They'd somehow stumbled to the bedroom without being loud.
Baekhyun lays on his back, knees to his chest, and lets Kyungsoo take him. The other man takes it slow and proves more than happy to help muffle Baekhyun's moans with gentle kisses. They can't risk waking Yoonjae.
It's been a while since he's done this. But as the pain slowly gives way to pleasure, he can't remember a time when it's ever felt this good. Even as Kyungsoo presses into him faster, desperate to finish, he doesn't feel even the slightest pang of guilt run through him.
The kisses are gentle. Sincere. And when Kyungsoo takes his hand and entwines their fingers, Baekhyun feels a swell of emotion.
Kyungsoo has stopped moving above him, and he can hear his harsh breathing. Their eyes meet, followed by their lips. Passion filled, but not out of control. With the same skill he used on himself, Kyungsoo quickly jerks Baekhyun off, swallowing his moan as he comes for the second time that night.
Collapsing on the bed and moving under thick blankets, limbs comfortably tangled, they have no trouble falling into a deep sleep.
It's just become a new day when Baekhyun's eyes open, slowly taking in his surroundings. The night's memories are slow to come back to him, but he can't stop a small grin.
Yawning wide, he decides now might be the best time to duck out.
Baekhyun jumps when a hand wraps delicately around his wrist. When Kyungsoo speaks his voice is rough with exhaustion. "Stay."
He hesitates, "I don't know if that's a great idea."
"Please... I want you to be there when I wake up. You would always leave, and I was always disappointed."
He remembers. After a long night with the other man, they'd fall asleep in each other's arms, Kyungsoo tucked into his chest. When morning came, he was always the first to wake. Baekhyun would make coffee, gather his things and leave a cold Kyungsoo alone in his bed.
Not this time.
"Move over."
The sleepy smile that appears on Kyungsoo's face melts his heart.
He slips back under the covers and into the other's arms, pressing close to share body heat. He feels a kiss be placed on his forehead and he looks up with a questioning expression.
"Thank you." is the whispered response.
This time, Baekhyun curls into Kyungsoo, easily drifting back to sleep.
Awaking in an empty bed, the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the hall, Kyungsoo sits up startled.
The feeling of an empty bed was not what he had been expecting.
Slowly, he finds and slips on a pair of boxers, beginning to search for a shirt when there's a knock on his door. Little Yoonjae pokes his head in. His heart drops.
"Daddy! We're bringin' you coffee in bed!"
The door opens and there Baekhyun stands, holding two steaming mugs of coffee.
Kyungsoo doesn't know if he wants to laugh or cry. He doesn't do either. Only sits and stares with a look of surprise. "I thought..."
Baekhyun shakes his head and carefully hands him a mug. "I didn't."
The coffee tastes perfect, sweet, and warms his stomach. Yoonjae crawls up on the bed next to him, watching him take little sips. "Can you make breakfast?"
"Sure thing little man!" Kyungsoo looks up at Baekhyun who's leaned casually on the door frame. "Will you eat with us?"
"Well, if you're offering."
He picks a simple dish of fresh vegetables and rice. Not trusting Baekhyun with the rice, he lets him wash and prepare the vegetables. As the rice cooker works it's magic, Kyungsoo takes over to finish the veggies.
He tells Baekhyun and Yoonjae to set the table and begins to serve rice into bowls. Something catches his eye, as he scoops up rice. The garden picture beside him looks different. Where a single rose once stood, two more had sprung up in the ground beside it, scribbled in with red pen. And as if they were holding hands, their leaves all touched.
A bowl almost breaks when he burns the top of his hand on the scorching metal pot of the rice cooker. Hissing in pain, he manages to bite back a profanity in front of Yoonjae who's watching intently next to Baekhyun.
"Oh no! Daddy are you okay?"
Rushing to the sink and letting cool water run over the burn, he sighs a little embarrassed he hadn't been focusing. "Y-yeah. I'll be okay."
After a minute of slight relief, his son pulls on his sleeve and takes his hand, looking at the blistering skin with worry and looking over to the man by the table. He holds up Kyungsoo's hand.
"Kiss it better!"
With a gentle smile, Baekhyun comes, delicately taking Kyungsoo's hand and touching the softest kiss next to the burn.
Kyungsoo watches the other's smile light up his face as it grows. He silently hopes he isn't blushing.
"Better?"
"Yes." he manages.
Breakfast passes with lots of laughter and natural conversation. Yoonjae runs off to go play with his toys and Baekhyun helps him clean up in a comfortable silence.
He's a bit surprised and confused when Baekhyun apologises out of the blue, but the other makes things clear.
The old Byun Baekhyun was afraid of commitment. And even more terrified of kids. The thought of being tied down with a kid he'd be responsible for made him tuck tail and run like a coward. But with any other person nothing was the same. He was happy, but unfulfilled.
"No one was you."
Kyungsoo lets the confession sink in for a while before speaking.
"So that's why you took a job at a daycare?"
"Well, sort of..." the other admits. "I did need another job, and there was an easy job at the nursery that wasn't actually related to kids. But even so, the woman shoved a screaming kid in my face on the first day." He chuckles. "Even though I didn't interact with the kids much, I got used to being around them and when a caretaker's position opened up... I went for it."
"I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm ready for fatherhood, but" his sentence falls.
And maybe this is what Kyungsoo has been waiting for, but it still feels so surreal.
"Can you really take care of a kid for a whole day? Feeding him? Explaining things to him? Spending hours waiting for him to calm down and sleep?"
"I'd make and sing him lullabies for hours."
"Would you be able to stay awake all night with him when he's sick?"
Baekhyun nods, his face solemn with understanding.
"What about dealing with temper tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants?"
"I would learn how to. I want to learn how to, Kyungsoo. Teach me?"
There is no doubting the sincerity so very evident in Baekhyun's eyes.
"Would you be able to take care of both of us, when I'm sick or exhausted?"
"Yes. Give me the chance and I'll show you."
Carefully taking Baekhyun's hand, he cups it against his cheek. "Then consider me yours."
They embrace and Kyungsoo rests his head against Baekhyun's shoulder, focused on the steady, barely audible, sound of their heartbeats. When they finally pull away, they're beaming at one another.
Kyungsoo is the first to speak.
"Roses grow on bushes, by the way."
"Hush."
And before he can get out another word, he's wrapped in Baekhyun's arms and being well kissed.