rustle | exo: what if this storm ends? (3/3)

The start of winter paints XOXO a slightly different glow in the afternoon. The lighting looks warmer even from outside, but the bushes that surround the area aren't as vibrant as before. Freckles of snow catch on the leaves and the steps of the stairs and Kyungsoo wipes them away, scraping his shoe against the ground. Chanyeol's greeting is a nice, warm smile that reaches his eyes, and two young boys waving at Kyungsoo in between smushing Chanyeol's cheeks. "You better have something nice for me," Chanyeol manages to say, albeit muffled, "because the mom of these kids asked for you specifically and I just covered for you."

"Oh? I have another regular?" Kyungsoo takes a few steps closer, reaching out to ruffle the little boy's hair, and he makes full use of the window of opportunity when the boy starts yawning to snatch him from Chanyeol's arms. "You mean I brought in business for your daycare again? I should be getting a raise," Kyungsoo teases, bumping his elbow into Chanyeol's side just lightly.

"You don't even get paid for what you're doing," Chanyeol retorts, the smile on his lips more relaxed now as he hoists the other kid up. "How many people walk into this daycare and actually work pro-bono?"

Only someone as crazy as me, Kyungsoo wants to say but, instead, he answers, "Oh, you tell me."

"Speaking of—" Chanyeol's voice trails off as he sets the child down, telling the child to not be too rough with his playmates before pulling away. Kyungsoo follows suit, patting the kid's head before leaving, and suddenly they're alone again — not completely but without any physical distraction or obstruction within a close five feet. Chanyeol inches close, snaking a hand around Kyungsoo's arm as they walk to the office. There's a familiar smile on Chanyeol's lips, one that has always made Kyungsoo's insides turn, but today it makes him nothing but curious and leaves him with the need to prod, so he pokes Chanyeol in his side until they reach the office and Chanyeol pushes him inside. Chanyeol locks the door behind them.

"I actually opened applications for an additional person here in the daycare," Chanyeol begins. Kyungsoo nods, urging him to go on, hands clasped as he takes the seat opposite Chanyeol's. "I mean, I'm pretty sure you'll get that job in Google, anyway. It's not as if you'll stay here forever."

Kyungsoo snorts. "What if I want to take care of kids for a living?" he teases and Chanyeol reconsiders, cocking an eyebrow just slightly.

"I can't afford you."

"Right," Kyungsoo affirms. He gestures for Chanyeol to go on as he shifts in his seat, folding one leg under his weight.

"Her name's Joohyun. Seo Joohyun," Chanyeol continues. There it is again, the small smile that had briefly disappeared and was replaced with Chanyeol's signature challenging look. "She has a degree in Child Psychology and she says that working in a daycare might help her understand children better. For research, of course." Chanyeol laughs a little. "Nobody ever stays to work here forever."

Kyungsoo reaches out to press his palm down on Chanyeol's hand and offers a small smile. "Because it doesn't feel like work," he answers.

"She also says she's tired of her 9-to-5 job and is looking for something new. What does that make me, a repair shop where people expect to come out looking brand new?"

Kyungsoo takes a deep breath and leans back, a corner of his lip tugging further up as he studies Chanyeol's face, the contrast between the smile on his lips and the light furrow of the eyebrows, the quick rise and fall of his chest that Kyungsoo knows only happens when Chanyeol's holding back and swallowing all the things he wants to say. It's not that bad, he wants to say. Being a harbor in the midst of storm is a calming, assuring thought, but it also comes with the fact that people will leave, inevitably, and drift back into danger and into the sea. This is Chanyeol who only knows to save people on land not because he can't swim, but because he's afraid to sink. And this is Kyungsoo on a life raft, slowly paddling himself away from the harbor and watching Chanyeol's figure disappear behind the fog.

"Is she pretty?" is the only thing Kyungsoo asks. Chanyeol's eyes light up like flashlights during an emergency; Kyungsoo gives another raft a gentle push in Chanyeol's direction.

"Very, Chanyeol replies, and he delves into the story on how the interview went, how she looked and sounded so passionate about taking care of kids, and the way Jaehwan had reacted to her when she bent her knees and gave Jaehwan a pat on his head. "I think she has your magic touch, too. Or maybe she's just really pretty. I'd stop crying if she smiled my way."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You like pretty girls," Kyungsoo says, then sticks out a tongue at Chanyeol.

Chanyeol laughs a little, clearing his throat before saying, "There was a time when I thought I didn't." Kyungsoo raises an eyebrow at him, eyes locked onto Chanyeol's own as if asking, really, now, Park? This isn't a game. This isn't— Chanyeol takes a deep breath, grinning as he continues, "But I'm sure of what I want now, and I want to be a hero. Captain C — what do you think? Pretty cool, huh?"

Kyungsoo tilts his head a little. The slight change in perspective paints Chanyeol a different shade of light and color, like strong brush strokes over light washes of paint. A great campaign idea finally coming to life. The shrill yet beautiful cry of a child that is seeing the world for the first time.

"Nah, I think you're a survivor who's lived to tell the tale," he answers after a while, and Chanyeol's grin eases into a close-lipped smile.

"You're right," Chanyeol says. The weird, lurching sensation at the pit of Kyungsoo's stomach has calmed. He returns the favor, squeezing Chanyeol's hand lightly as he offers a smile. "I think so, too."

☀

Kyungsoo digs his hands in his pockets as he crosses the road, looking to his left, then his right, before walking straight ahead. He's always more wary of street accidents during the cold weather, and he wrinkles his nose as wind blows right into his face, swiping his hair away from his eyes. This season has been chillier than most winters, or maybe it's just the fatigue of carrying children in his arms all day at work. He lets out a sigh as he steps inside the hospital, warmth seeping into his skin almost immediately. He can almost feel his fingers again, but he waits for the pads to thaw thoroughly before running his fingers through his hair.

They're still cold, it tickles. He chuckles a little. This isn't even the full wrath of winter yet. He wiggles his fingers, steps inside the lift, and presses the button to the seventh floor.

It takes several knocks on the door before Jongdae answers, full, bright laughter welcoming Kyungsoo into the hospital room. "Soohyunnie's actually imitating Baekhyun's unintelligible sounds," Jongdae says — manages to say — as he tries to catch his breath, covering his mouth when he ends up wheezing.

Kyungsoo shakes his head, laughing lightly. "As long as he doesn't imitate Baekhyun trying to act cute," he says, and Baekhyun shoots a look over his shoulder before turning his attention back to Soohyun.

There's still a mask dangling from Baekhyun's ear when Kyungsoo walks over to see what they're doing. Soohyun is grinning, albeit her eyes being half-mast, and she's reaching up to Baekhyun a little. Baekhyun's playing a weird, modified version of peek-a-boo with her, eliciting soft laughter from the little girl. He can hear it now, what Jongdae was talking about — the gurgling sounds Baekhyun usually makes when he can't find the words to express how adorable Soohyun is.

He puts his bag down on the seat nearby and lays a palm flat on Baekhyun's shoulder. Baekhyun looks over, quickly removing the last of the mask from his face, and stuff it in his back pocket. Baekhyun turns around so that they're face-to-face, breaths warm on each other's skin, and Kyungsoo feels all the tension from the cold weather outside lift from his muscles as Baekhyun whispers, "Hi."

"Hey," Kyungsoo replies, and he feels Baekhyun fist a hand in his shirt to pull him closer. Baekhyun's nose is too red, just like his ears, and his bangs fall on his eyes, so Kyungsoo attempts to brush them off, frowning a little when Baekhyun's hair doesn't relent. He presses his palm on Baekhyun's forehead, instead, and Baekhyun scrunches his nose and sticks a tongue out at him in response.

"So what are you two up to?" Kyungsoo asks, voice lilting as he pinches Baekhyun in his side. Baekhyun lets out a tiny yelp that sets something at the pit of Kyungsoo's stomach turning again. "Playing without me, hmm?"

"I was busy with our daughter," Baekhyun counters, grinning at him. Some crumbs have caught on the corners of Baekhyun's lips, and Kyungsoo slides his other hand down, cupping Baekhyun's chin as he brushes the crumbs away with his thumb. "And you distracted me. That's not responsible parenting."

Jongdae clears his throat behind them and his muscles shift, suddenly too aware of another presence in the room, but Baekhyun has him pinned down in place with his alluring gaze and the lazy smile on his lips. Baekhyun's bottom lip is a dull shade of pink — he can lean closer and catch it between his teeth, nip on it lightly and suck on it until he can feel the rush of heat up Baekhyun's cheeks and fingertips, until he can see a hint of the bright red it wears after they share a kiss. He can wait for Baekhyun's challenge, or maybe his go signal, a fight-or-flight order. He can pull away. Instead, he remains still, eyes fixed on the uneven dip of Baekhyun's lip and the mole just north of his upper lip. "Hmm?"

"You're making me feel uncomfortable," Jongdae declares, groaning.

Baekhyun leans close for a brief brush of the lips, catching Kyungsoo completely off-guard as he sucks in breath, lips left parted and too willing. He can feel Baekhyun's warm tongue licking his lips, Baekhyun's lips nibbling on his lightly, but soon the warmth is gone and Baekhyun's pulling away, a grin painting the wicked contours of his mouth. Baekhyun takes all of his words and reason with him, leaving him with a silly grin on his lips, and it takes a while to register Jongdae rolling his eyes a few feet away.

"Oh God, you two are the worst." Jongdae shakes his head, but there's a small smile on his lips. "Can't say I'm not proud of you, though."

Baekhyun takes Kyungsoo's hands and sprays alcohol on them before walking to the other side of the bed, picking up his laptop and snapping it shut when he rests it on the table. "You always underestimate me," Baekhyun retorts, and Kyungsoo cranes his neck, searching for Baekhyun's eyes. "You have very little faith in me. Shame on you for being my best friend."

"It's not as if I had a choice, y'know. I didn't want to play the part," Jongdae replies, sticking out his tongue, and Kyungsoo looks over his shoulder when Jongdae squeezes his arm lightly. "But hey, I wasn't kidding — it's about time. I've seen the way you two look at each other."

"Probably the same way you look at that guy in the daycare," Baekhyun teases. Kyungsoo places a soft kiss on Soohyun's forehead before walking over to where Baekhyun is and taking the seat beside his. "What was his name again? Se—"

"Sejong! King Sejong the Great!" Jongdae quickly says, dashing to where Baekhyun is and hitting him lightly on the arm. Baekhyun leans in Kyungsoo's direction, laughing a little then scowling with each slap Jongdae lands on his arm. "Ah, why are we friends again?"

"Because you're both kids," Kyungsoo replies. Baekhyun and Jongdae look at him through narrowed eyes. "Really adorable kids."

"I'm more adorable, though, right?" Baekhyun asks, more like says, as he traps Kyungsoo on the couch the same way he had days ago, when they were alone in this cold room and there was nothing but the low thrumming of the air conditioning and the loud, heavy beating in their chests to break the silence. "Do you like me more than Jongdae?"

More than anything else in this world, more than coffee, Kyungsoo says in his mind, but instead he goes with a small smile and a light kiss on the tip of Baekhyun's nose.

Baekhyun excuses himself after a while, offering to grab food for the three of them and reminding Jongdae to disinfect your filthy hands before touching my daughter. "I'm passing by Starbucks. You want anything?" he asks before leaving, and Jongdae just gives him a thumbs up as Kyungsoo mouths, the usual.

"Starbucks orders," Jongdae says, voice almost dropping to a whisper as he leans back against the couch. He throws his head back, closing his eyes for a while, and Kyungsoo moves a few spaces away just in case Jongdae means to take a quick nap without the disruption of Baekhyun's voice. "I remember when Baekhyun was still deciding between you being an espresso doppio type or the Americano type. I told him to go with Americano because it was safer." Jongdae pauses, chuckling, then slowly opens his eyes, turning to face Kyungsoo. "And it turns out I was right. Or that his gut feel to go with my gut feel was right. He's always rushing into things, and when he finally slowed down—"

"Are we talking about work or about all aspects of life?" Kyungsoo asks, smiling a little, and Jongdae snorts. "Thank you, I guess. Although I do like my espresso shots done the ristretto way."

Jongdae nods thoughtfully, lips poised in a small 'o'. "Ah, see, that's where he got it right. The first time he got you coffee? It was a last-minute decision to have the shots done ristretto. That was a close call."

There's another wave of light laughter before silence settles between them again. Soohyun has already fallen asleep thirty minutes ago and, if she follows her normal pattern, she'll probably rouse in two hours, three if they're lucky. Baekhyun will be back in thirty minutes if the restaurant take-out service is quick enough, and Jondgae won't be able to stay still in the silence.

"This is long overdue but— Thank you, Kyungsoo, for saving Baekhyun." Jongdae pauses, taking a deep breath, then continues, "For helping him find himself again."

Kyungsoo furrows his eyebrows a little and shifts in his seat so that he's facing Jongdae completely, one leg propped under the other. There's no playful smile on Jongdae's life, none of the usual sparkle in his eyes. His hands are still on his knees and Kyungsoo waits for the follow up, for a grin to break across Jongdae's features as he says, hah! I got you! But none of those.

"I didn't do anything. I just looked after Soohyunnie," he replies. He can feel the weight of a smile hanging awkwardly on the corners of his lips. "If anything, I just—"

"Baekhyun— He was in a dark place before she came into his life. Always swamped with work, not getting enough rest, the complete agency experience and more. Soohyun's mom was a pretty good form of relief from all the work stress. I mean, they got to talk the stress out and other things but, somehow, that wasn't enough. He needed something more," Jongdae explains. "Soohyun gave him a wake up call, and Soojung's death—"

"He told me about that," Kyungsoo whispers. "I know."

"That was another wake up call. More like a wake up punch, because suddenly he had to be a father, a real father, not the type who just gets to visits his daughter twice a month." Jongdae exhales loudly and sucks in his bottom lip before looking up again. "And he was overwhelmed. So overwhelmed. He's used to having answers to all the questions in the world, so used to being the hero, that when it came to the point that he had to ask for help, he didn't know what to do."

Kyungsoo leans back into the pillow and smiles a little. "And then the discovered the daycare."

"And then he met you."

He clasps his hands together, squeezing as tightly as he could, until he feels the strain in his muscles. He knows that very well, the feeling of being powerless, of being driven to the point of giving up, but that's the thing about heroes — you turn a bad situation into something good, breathe light into the darkness, make people believe that, despite being a normal human being, you can rise from the ashes, get back on track, bounce on your feet, and inspire hope in others and in yourself again. So Kyungsoo isn't a hero, really, because he had stopped believing in the concept of hope and had given up. Maybe he and Baekhyun were just at the same place — the right place — at the right time.

"Then Baekhyun isn't a hero at the brink of death," Kyungsoo replies. "He just needed someone to make him feel like a hero again."

Jongdae blinks a few times, until a slow-forming smile surfaces on his lips. "What does that make you, then? The secret cure to all the diseases in the world? A genius scientist who has collaborated with a superhero organization to revive heroes again?"

Kyungsoo shakes his head and laughs lightly. A corner of Jongdae's lips quirks up. "Maybe that innocent bystander who didn't know he needed a hero until he met one."

His phone beeps, and he shoots Jongdae an apologetic look before reaching for his phone in his pocket. It's a message from Baekhyun, one that says, i'm trying out this new offer of theirs, they call it asian dolce latte idk?? they say it's sweet but it isn't? i'm like wtf?? (⊙︿⊙) He can hear Baekhyun's voice in his ears, his head, lilts and curls and all, even the disbelief in its undertone, and he bites the inside of his cheek to keep laughter from spilling.

lol they're right, though he types. it is sweet but not quite.

When Kyungsoo turns back to Jongdae, Jongdae has already gotten back to his feet, arms locked behind him as he stretches. There's a familiar smile on the curl of the lip. "And Jongdae?" he calls out, and Jongdae looks over to his side, eyebrows raised just a little. "It's brambleberry iced tea with whole milk and strawberry drizzle."

Jongdae furrows his eyebrows. "Huh?"

"Sorry, it's brambleberry iced tea with whole milk, strawberry drizzle, and coffee jelly," Kyungsoo amends. "I'm gonna fucking kill him the next time he makes me buy him a drink."

A soft oh escapes Jongdae's lips as a grin breaks from across his features, reaching his eyes, making its corners crinkle. "Thanks," Jongdae mumbles, cheek muscles straining as he tries not to smile, and Kyungsoo gives his arm a light squeeze before sinking back in his seat.

"Anytime, Jongdae. Anytime."

☀

Kyungsoo wakes up with a tiny jerk of the body, eyes quickly searching for the wall clock even through the veil of fog in his eyes. He's been waking up every hour but he double-checks, anyway, squinting hard to refocus his vision. Six in the morning, his mind registers, and he allows himself to exhale a little, sinking back into the couch as he closes his eyes. Travel time from the hospital to the daycare takes an hour, but he can always pull over somewhere safe and take the call from Google if he has to, just call in late at XOXO if traffic decides to rebel against him today. Or he can ask for Baekhyun's keys and just freshen up there; it will save him time. Baekhyun's house has already become a bit like home, after all.

He shifts a little in his seat, but a warmth holds him down, two hands pressing down on his thighs and rubbing circles on the inside. "Good morning," comes Baekhyun's voice, low and scratchy, and, when Kyungsoo looks down, he's greeted by the sight of Baekhyun on his knees, face close to his crotch, dangerously so that he can feel the prickling heat of Baekhyun's breath on his skin.

"Good morning," he croaks, trying his best to find his voice again. Baekhyun smiles up at him, the corners curling up in a predatory smile, and Kyungsoo runs a hand through Baekhyun's hair in response. Baekhyun sinks into the touch, the curl of his lips softening into the subtlest smile, and Kyungsoo takes in a shaky breath when Baekhyun purrs. "How long have you been up?"

"Haven't been able to sleep much," Baekhyun replies, craning his neck a little so that Kyungsoo's hand can find a better fit in the curve of his cheek. Kyungsoo chuckles lightly, sliding his hand down, and Baekhyun indulges, nuzzling the soft skin. "You were moving around too much. Your lap's not cozy anymore," Baekhyun complains, and Kyungsoo gives Baekhyun's cheek a light pinch.

"You're the one to complain when I've been the one sleeping sitting up the past few days," Kyungsoo replies, sticking out his tongue just a little. Baekhyun's lips fall open, parting in a small 'o', and Kyungsoo takes it as a chance to lean closer and press their lips together, Baekhyun yielding all too quickly as he tilts his head and moans into Kyungsoo's mouth. There's still the taste of sleep at the corners of Baekhyun's mouth, laziness in the way Baekhyun's tongue draws out a lick, and Kyungsoo pulls apart when he feels a sizzle of heat roll down his abdomen. "No, that's not going to change my opinion on things."

Baekhyun rests his cheek on Kyungsoo's thigh before looking up. "Then let me apologize in the best way I know," he says, then pauses to lick his lips. Kyungsoo sucks in his bottom lip in response. "I can't promise it won't be a rough ride, though."

There's a question at the tip of Kyungsoo's tongue, but all this words crawl back down his throat as Baekhyun presses his lips on Kyungsoo's cock through his boxers, the heat permeating the thin material. Baekhyun teases, lightly sucking on Kyungsoo's length, nipping, and Kyungsoo balls his fists into the couch as Baekhyun moves further down, pressing his lips of the tip of Kyungsoo's dick. "We're in a hospital—" Kyungsoo says, but his words are drowned out by the heat of Baekhyun's hand wrapping around his balls, squeezing lightly. His throat constrict and he feels his chest clench as he chokes down every sound threatening to spill from his lips.

"We're clean. Won't do any harm to Soohyun at all," Baekhyun replies, sinking lower as he mouths Kyungsoo's balls. Kyungsoo lets out a faint gasp. He can barely feel his legs anymore.

"May I?" Baekhyun asks after a while as he dips two fingers inside the band of Kyungsoo's boxers. Kyungsoo nods in response and takes a deep breath, and Baekhyun keeps his eyes on him as he tugs the boxers down, fingers meeting his teeth halfway as Baekhyun catches the band between them, pulling down the underwear all the way through. Kyungsoo follows the movement with his eyes, pausing only when Baekhyun gulps hard, the movement in his throat slow and torturous, and Kyungsoo finds himself gulping as well as Baekhyun moves closer, barely centimeters away from his cock.

"You're sure about this?" Baekhyun asks again. His gaze is dark, breathing heavy with the uneven rise and fall of his chest.

He shivers a little. The room feels much colder than before with him exposed like this, Baekhyun's lips wet and warm and waiting, and Kyungsoo nods, three slow bobs of the head as he whispers, "I'm sure of you." There's a small smile tugging on the corner of Baekhyun's lips before Baekhyun's runs a hand along Kyungsoo's length, thumb pressing down on the sensitive skin.

Kyungsoo's breath hitches as Baekhyun brushes his lips tentatively on the tip, darting out his tongue then laving it along the surface, then drawing out a long suck before pulling away. He whimpers at the loss of warmth, and Baekhyun resurfaces with a long lick along the underside of Kyungsoo's cock. He grabs at the pillows, air, before sinking his fingers into Baekhyun's hair, careful not to press too hard on Baekhyun's scalp, and Baekhyun hums appreciatively before gripping the base of his cock with one hand and rubbing lazy patterns on his balls, all while licking stripes along his dick and pressing soft kisses along the vein.

"Baekhyun—" He can feel heat coursing through his veins, setting off explosions at the tips of his fingers, and he strains his eyes as he keeps his gaze focused on Baekhyun, never leaving his face, his eyes, his mouth, watching Baekhyun's every movement — the way Baekhyun's pink lips stretch around his cock, the way Baekhyun's cheeks hollow out, the beads of tears that gather at the corners of Baekhyun's eyes when Kyungsoo bucks his hip, craving more contact as he hits the back of Baekhyun's throat. He leans forward, brushing the tears away, thumb trailing down to wipe the spit at the corners of Baekhyun's mouth. "Baekhyun— I'm—"

Baekhyun runs a thumb along one of Kyungsoo's balls one last time before giving it a light squeeze. Kyungsoo cries out, fists clenching in Baekhyun's hair, and Baekhyun takes it as a sign to go on, to faster, deeper, taking in all of Kyungsoo. Baekhyun's mouth is hot like a furnace, his tongue criminal in the way he wraps it around Kyungsoo's length, and Baekhyun presses his tongue along the underside of Kyungsoo's cock, eyes sharpening in focus as he draws out a long suck. Kyungsoo chokes on his breath, chest constricting and his thighs clenching so hard, and soon he's spilling at the back of Baekhyun's throat, hot and thick.

Baekhyun licks him clean, tongue laving on every inch of Kyungsoo's cock, and Kyungsoo seethes at the contact, oversensitive. When he feels his limbs again, he reaches for Baekhyun, cupping Baekhyun's cheek in his hand and leaning close until their noses meet. Baekhyun darts his tongue out just a little, wiping off the spit at the corners of his lips with a shy twist of the mouth, and Kyungsoo only smiles as he presses their lips together, mouths sliding inelegantly. He can taste himself at the back of Baekhyun's teeth, on Baekhyun's tongue, and an unfamiliar feeling settles at the pit of his stomach, the words mine, mine, mine echoing in his mind.

"You have to get going if you want to freshen up before going to the daycare. Go and get 'em, big boy," Baekhyun whispers when they pull apart, and Kyungsoo stares at the tiny wrinkle of Baekhyun's nose, the cute mole just above the curve of his mouth, bottom lip swollen and red because of his lips.

Kyungsoo presses a light kiss to the tip of Baekhyun's nose and shakes his head. "We still have time."

☀

"So, when exactly were you going to tell us that you already resigned from your old job?"

Kyungsoo chokes on his own laughter as the wind blows harder than the usual. He wraps his arms around himself in an attempt to keep himself warm, but to no avail — his tolerance for the cold has never been admirable. "That's why you keep me around," Chanyeol always says whenever Kyungsoo grumbles at the cold weather, and Kyungsoo looks over his shoulder briefly and waves at Sehun and Chanyeol before turning around the corner, walking to his parking spot.

"Soon," he answers just as he steps to his side, hiding behind a brick wall from the blowing wind. "We were getting more awards and I was getting more sick. I just hope they're still getting recognition even if I'm in perfect condition now."

"Crazy," Seungsoo says on the other end of the line, then adds, "We're proud of you, you know." Kyungsoo smiles and cough a little. The end of November is drawing nearer and the weather is becoming more unbearable every minute. He should probably get new jackets once Soohyun gets discharged. He could have Baekhyun tag along and let Baekhyun give him unsolicited advice that he'll most probably follow, anyway. Live a little, Baekhyun's words echo in his mind. "Well, I am. Umma and appa were furious at first but I told them you're big now—"

"They laughed, didn't they?"

"Don't they always?" Seungsoo replies, laughing lightly. "And they said they're just happy you'll finally get a chance to rest. You were abusing yourself back then, when you were in the agency. You were hardly not sick."

Kyungsoo unlocks his car and gets inside, exhaling loudly as he feels warmth creep back up his arms. He closes his eyes, leaning back into his seat as his grip on his phone loosens just a little. "You'll be glad to know that I haven't been sick since I resigned," he says, and there's another string of laughter from Seungsoo. Some static in the background, then the sound of howling wind — Seungsoo loves the cold because it gives him the excuse to be warmer than the usual.

"Yeah, I heard from Chanyeol. He sort of tells me everything. Sometimes, I think we're the best friends, not the two of you." Seungsoo chuckles. "He said you met a cute kid? Ah, what was her name…"

A smile tugs on the corners of Kyungsoo's lips. Byun Baekhyun, a voice at the back of his mind says, and he silences that voice with a shake of the head. He slowly opens his eyes. "Soohyun," he answers. "Her name is Soohyun. She's… actually in the hospital right now, recovering from bronchiolitis."

"Oh." Silence, then, "How… How are you?"

Kyungsoo takes a deep breath and rests one hand on the steering wheel. He's never been able to craft a good enough answer to that question. He'd usually say I'm okay or Good, could be better. There's always an underlying 'but', a hint of apprehension in admitting that he's fine, everything's okay, and that there's nothing to worry about, but that's how adults usually are, aren't they? Adults worry about every single thing, every damned detail, and fret over the smallest of things. What if something bad happens in the midst of all these good things? What if the worst happens? Only when they're absolutely certain of something are they comfortable enough to answer, without any hint of doubt, I'm okay. Good. Amazing.

Thinking about things too much complicates everything. So he goes with a simple, "I'm feeling great."

Seungsoo hums for a while, filling the white noise for a few seconds, until he clicks his tongue once and takes a deep breath. "Just that? Nothing else?" he asks.

"I had an interview with Google a few days ago," Kyungsoo tells him, smiling as he enunciates the word Google. "I'm hopeful about it. I haven't felt this excited about something in years, so yes — I'm feeling really great," he continues.

Seungsoo asks him again, tone more testing than inquiring, as if he's just making sure, because that how Kyungsoo has always been — absolutely certain of things and of himself on the outside, in words, but never without doubt inside. It's a tough mask that he hasn't taken off before leaving Masscom, before turning his back on a job he'd come to love and hate at the same time, but things are different now — there is no mask to be worn, no persona to assume, nothing but chances to take and a whole new world of possibilities ahead of him.

He thinks of the daycare, the children, Sehun, Zitao, Jinki and Jonghyun who have all helped him recover some of his lost thirst for life. He thinks of Chanyeol who has taken a blind leap of faith after so long, thinks of Soohyun and her sunshine smile and the way she holds out her hands at him without any apprehension, with nothing but trust as she grabs at air as if telling him, Come closer, papa. Everything will be alright. Just come closer—

He thinks of Baekhyun waiting back in the hospital, ready with stories to tell and kisses to share with him. He thinks of chances he thought he'd long lost but encountered again in the face of Byun Baekhyun, in his smile, in the wicked contours of his mouth.

He starts the engine and takes a deep breath. "Never felt better in my entire life."

☀

Soohyun gets discharged just a few days shy of December. Baekhyun makes a game out of whose elevator can reach the second basement fastest, and Kyungsoo indulges, racing Baekhyun to the parking lot. He takes big strides, holding Soohyun close to his chest, and Baekhyun complains when he reaches the car last, saying that it isn't fair, "I had to carry the stroller! It's ten times heavier than Soohyun!"

Kyungsoo chuckles and double-checks Soohyun's safety seat before riding in front, snapping his seat belt in place. "You just need more exercise," he teases, sticking out his tongue, and Baekhyun leans close until their noses touch.

"I've got you and Soohyun. I get a lot of exercise," Baekhyun says, sneering, then quickly sinks back in his seat when Kyungsoo slaps him in the arm.

Baekhyun heads straight to the room to lull Soohyun to sleep when they get home, and Kyungsoo rummages through Baekhyun's fridge in search of something remotely edible. He laughs lightly when he sees the neat stacks of food in the compartments, the containers barely allowing light to pass through the small spaces in between. "A changed man," Kyungsoo mumbles as he takes out the kimchi and tofu, and he almost cackles when he finds nothing but hotdog in the freezer.

"Maybe not," he whispers, and takes out a pack, setting aside a few pieces for later.

Baekhyun doesn't emerge from the room until fifteen minutes after, halfway through Kyungsoo boiling slices of hotdog on a soup pan and adding a bit of soy sauce to taste. "What the hell are you doing?" Baekhyun asks as he moves closer, wrapping his arms around Kyungsoo's waist as he tucks his chin on Kyungsoo's shoulder. "You can't keep invading my kitchen. I'll get used to this and then I won't want to cook ever again."

Kyungsoo leans his head back, lips meeting Baekhyun's in a soft kiss, and he can feel the smile slowly tugging at the corners of Baekhyun's mouth. "Then you'll have to deal with it," he whispers, lips still brushing against Baekhyun's cheek. Baekhyun spins him around so that he's leaning against the counter and Baekhyun has him trapped, arms on either side of him, and he grips the soup spoon tightly in his hand. "Brute force won't get our lunch done," he teases, and Baekhyun leans in, catching his bottom lip between his teeth.

"Have you started on the rice?" Baekhyun asks in between light sucks, and Kyungsoo chokes out a yes as he fists his free hand in Baekhyun's shirt.

Kyungsoo doesn't remember to add in the rest of the ingredients and the gochujang and doenjang until Baekhyun whispers in his ear, five minutes after, this is just the appetizer. He slaps Baekhyun's arm lightly before pulling away, turning around to get back to cooking, and Baekhyun leans against the counter, eyes following his every move, every tiny jerk of the body. He pours kimchi juice and water into the mix, slowly stirring, and the small smile on his lips falters when heat catches on them. He can feel the sting of the steam heavy on the small cracks on his lips, tiny marks that serve as a reminder that Baekhyun hasn't gotten tired of the taste of his lips just yet. He presses them thinly together as he keep stirring, lifting the spoon once the red hue evens out, and he feels Baekhyun's arms around his waist again, pulling him closer, pulling him in.

"Drop the damned spoon," Baekhyun says, chuckling before he sucks on the underside of Kyungsoo's ear. "We only have a few minutes."

The moment Kyungsoo's fingers leave the tip of the handle, he feels the warmth of Baekhyun's tongue licking along the shell of his ear, relentless. Kyungsoo turns around, backing Baekhyun against the kitchen table, and Baekhyun pushes himself up to sit on it and wraps a leg around Kyungsoo's waist. Baekhyun's hands are wild, grabbing onto Kyungsoo's shirt, snaking up his back, sliding back down and out to hold his hips, bucking forward, craving contact, and Kyungsoo answers with a long lick along the column of Baekhyun's neck, drawn out sucks on the underside of Baekhyun's jaw.

"Fuck—" Baekhyun voice is low and rough in his ears, and he can feel Baekhyun's erection brushing against his through his track pants. Slowly, he dips his fingers inside Baekhyun's pants, looking up at Baekhyun before grabbing the band as if asking, is this okay?

"You don't have to ask nicely," Baekhyun mumbles, voice shaky, and Kyungsoo claims Baekhyun's lips again as he pulls Baekhyun's pants down, pressing on the dip of Baekhyun's hips.

Kyungsoo snakes his hands up Baekhyun's waist, beneath the threadbare shirt, and pulls it over Baekhyun's head, exposing soft skin. There's an invitation written on the curve of Baekhyun's neck, and Kyungsoo leans close, sucking on the skin lightly until Baekhyun's face falls forward, leaning against Kyungsoo's own. The first full contact is electric — Baekhyun gasps when Kyungsoo wraps a hand around his cock, thumb pressing down on the tip and rubbing lazy circles on it. Kyungsoo leans closer, lips hovering one of Baekhyun's nipples for a while before covering it with his lips, laving his tongue on the sensitive skin and sucking lightly. Baekhyun's hands are cold on his shoulders, trembling, and he feels the grip on his shoulders tighten when he starts pumping Baekhyun, slow strokes in tandem with the movement of his tongue on Baekhyun's nipple. Baekhyun bucks his hips, seeking more heat, and Kyungsoo smiles as he sucks on the nipple one last time before dropping to his knees.

Baekhyun holds him up, grabbing him by his hair. Baekhyun's cheeks are flush and his eyes are aflame his lips are parted just lightly, chest heaving with every breath he takes. "I want to feel you," he says, breathy, and Kyungsoo gets up, hand leaving Baekhyun's cock to pull his pants down.

"No, let me—" Baekhyun gets back to his feet and grabs Kyungsoo's hand, squeezing it lightly before working on the band of Kyungsoo's pants, pulling them down slowly. Kyungsoo shivers, suddenly feeling the cold air wrap around his body, and he suddenly misses the warmth of his clothes, misses Baekhyun's body hot and flush against his. "Now, we're even," Baekhyun mumbles after a while, once their clothes have been pushed to the side, and Baekhyun slides a hand around Kyungsoo's waist, pulling him close and moving his hand south to squeeze Kyungsoo ass.

Kyungsoo feels the muscles in his thighs clench as heat rolls down his abdomen and Baekhyun rubs against him, their cocks sliding against each other. He hears Baekhyun seething at the friction, feels Baekhyun's teeth clamping down on Kyungsoo's shoulder as Kyungsoo takes both their cocks and pumps, slow and steady jerks that soon turn into fast strokes with every gasp, groan, moan that Baekhyun whispers into Kyungsoo's ear. He can feel the tension in Baekhyun's muscles as he goes faster, only pausing to rub on the tip of Baekhyun's dick and suck on the back of Baekhyun's ear.

The sound of Baekhyun's soft ah's fill his senses as he lets his face fall forward, finding a perfect fit in the crook of Baekhyun's neck, and snakes a hand down the dip of Baekhyun's back to cup Baekhyun's ass, thumb rubbing along the cleft just lightly. Baekhyun jerks in response, a throaty moan spilling from his lips, and slides his thumb deeper until he's pressing down on Baekhyun's rim. "Kyungsoo, please—" Baekhyun whimpers, and he rubs harder, strokes their cocks faster, until Baekhyun is spilling all over his fist, their torsos and chest.

Baekhyun guides a hand between them and wraps it around Kyungsoo's cock in a loose fist. He shivers at the warmth, and he can feel his stomach coiling, clenching even more as Baekhyun jerks him off until he's coming, strings of cum catching on Baekhyun's chest.

"You're a messy cook," Baekhyun whispers, breath hitching when Kyungsoo leans forward to lick his release off of Baekhyun's chest. Kyungsoo smiles a little, feeling the warmth of Baekhyun's fingers in his hair, hand sliding down to cup his cheek and tilt his chin up. "I'm never letting you in my kitchen again."

"Only when distracted," Kyungsoo replies. Baekhyun's slow bubbling laughter is a fever running down his spine, setting off explosions at the tips of his fingers. He pays no attention to the sound of bubbles popping just a few feet away and claims Baekhyun's lips in a kiss, sucking on the corners, the lower lip, licking every inch of Baekhyun's mouth until no other taste lingers in his mouth but that of Baekhyun's. "Only when distracted."

☀

The streets of Seoul are much calmer at this time of the year, but the volume of children coming in and going out of XOXO hasn't dwindled a bit. There have been mothers requesting for very specific people — Jinki for children whose parents want them to start learning at an early age, Jonghyun for those who want to learn art. Zitao has been deemed an expert at dealing with rowdy boys, calming them down with a scrutinizing gaze and a small smile, and the little girls have taken a liking to having Sehun braid their hair. "Now I'm a princess!" Kyungsoo hears one of the girls saying, and she runs straight into Kyungsoo's arms, resting her tiny hands on Kyungsoo's nape as she said, "Carry me, oppa! Carry me!"

"I'm kinda grateful the less hyper ones go to me," Chanyeol says now as he carries the girl in his arms to the couch, laying her down carefully on the cushion. "Half of my energy gets spent on keeping Jonghyun from gushing over the kids too much. And then the other half goes to making sure Sehun doesn't fall asleep on the job."

Kyungsoo rocks the girl in his arms lightly. "He spends more time awake now. His favorite's been teaching him how to draw."

"Teaching him how to—" Chanyeol stops, furrowing his eyebrows as he leans closer. "I have to talk to that girl. She needs to pass on her secrets."

"Ah, but you're not Sehunnie's favorite..." Kyungsoo teases, and Chanyeol growls at him through gritted teeth before rushing back to the girl he'd carried earlier when she starts to stir.

Kyungsoo's phone sounds off, a long tone in tandem with the light vibrations, and Kyungsoo whispers in the child's ear, "Oppa just has to take this call, okay?", helping her get down and reminding her not to run around the room too fast else she might bump into her playmates. When he turns back to his phone, the words Google - Lu Han welcome him in big letters.

He takes a deep breath and clicks the answer button, then draws his phone close to his ear as he says, "Hello?"

"Hello, Kyungsoo!" Lu Han greets, bright and chirpy despite the evening fast approaching. "I'll cut to the chase — congratulations on making it to the next round!"

Kyungsoo lets out a low exhale, leaning back against the wall as he lets the grin pulling at the corners of his lips have its way. He's been through two interviews so far, but he's been having email exchanges with Lu Han recently, sending off information that Google has been asking for. "Ah, thank you," he replies, then shakes his hands as he tries to fight the giggle threatening to spill from his lips. "It really means a lot."

On the other end of the line, Lu Han chuckles. "One last test, though, before get inducted as a Noogler — a Google Hangout session with our global management team. They want to meet you in the flesh—" There's strange, strangled laughter on the other end of the line before Lu Han continues, "I mean they want to meet you and ask you a few more questions before we go through that final assessment of your capabilities."

"As long as it's not about my previous accounts," Kyungsoo answers, voice lilting towards the end. "My non-disclosure agreement is still in effect and even if it wasn't, I won't disclose information on them, ever."

Lu Han lets out a small, amused sound. "You're too serious! It's just a Hangout session!"

In the distance, Kyungsoo hears the sound of the doors opening, and he catches Jongdae's bright greeting and Baekhyun's Where's Soo? before turning back to the conversation. "I guess I'll just wing it, huh?"

Lu Han laughs in response, then tells him that he'll send him the details of their video call tomorrow, "when it's not yet close-of-business and when I'm in a good mental state to get into the nitty-gritty of it." Kyungsoo says his thanks, ending with a "looking forward to hanging out with the management," and Lu Han snorts before hanging up. He slips his phone back in his pocket, taking a deep breath as he rejoins the group, and he furrows his eyebrows a little when he sees Jongdae handing out Starbucks drinks like he's giving everyone candy.

"This is for... Zitao! Green tea frappe, right? Twice-blended, non-fat, no whipped cream?" Jongdae asks, raising his eyebrows as he turns to Zitao to confirm, and Zitao almost squeals in delight and asks Chanyeol if they could keep him. Chanyeol only shrugs and waves his hand in approval, and Jongdae shoots him a cold look before rummaging through the paper bag again.

Jongdae takes out two Americanos this time, over ice, placing them on the counter without reading the names on the cups out loud, and Kyungsoo only chuckles as Baekhyun quickly gets both, walking to where he is and sliding next to him. "I figured I should try taking mine with a ristretto shot, too," Baekhyun says, leaning close, and Kyungsoo feels the light brush of Baekhyun's lips against his cheek as Baekhyun hands him his drink.

Kyungsoo gives Soohyun a light kiss on the nose, then tiptoes just a little, placing a soft kiss on Baekhyun's chin. "You won't regret a thing."

"I think I'm going to regret this," Sehun mumbles now, as Jongdae digs through the paper bag with a huge grin on his lips. His lips are turned down in a frown, but Kyungsoo can see a hint of amusement and interest in the way Sehun cocks his eyebrow and tilts his head, eyes following the movement of Jongdae's hands. "This is, like, a test of friendship or something."

"Hey, we're still friends, right?" Chanyeol retorts and Sehun's expression quickly changes, the bridge of his nose wrinkling as he turns to look at Chanyeol over his shoulder. Chanyeol leans back against the wall, puffing up his cheeks, and Sehun squirms just before Jongdae holds up his drink in front of him — a light brown liquid that's darker towards the bottom and is lined with red syrup on top.

Kyungsoo catches the straw of his drink between his lips and starts sipping in an attempt to keep himself from grinning. Chanyeol pushes himself off the wall and leans closer, while Baekhyun lets out a low hah before Soohyun stars squeezing his cheeks. He can feel laughter simmering at the pit of his stomach as Sehun carefully draws the drink closer to him, assessing, reading the customization panel like he's double-checking answers to a practice exam for Sooneung. He can hear the music sequence for Jeopardy in his head, and Zitao might probably be thinking of the same thing, tapping his foot to the beat, and Sehun draws a finger along the panel one last time before taking a deep breath, shoulders rising sharply before falling in a gradual manner.

"You... got everything right, hyung," Sehun says, eyes wide, and he looks up at Jongdae as he continues, "I can't believe it."

Jongdae exhales loudly, a corner of his lips quirking up as he thanks Sehun in a low, almost inaudible mumble. Sehun indulges him in a conversation about how the drink came to be, how he discovered that coffee jelly is the secret ingredient that brings out the Tazo tea's best flavor, and Jongdae nods slowly, thoughtfully, like he's learning something new about media placements or strategies and the like. Halfway through the scene unfolding in front of them, Chanyeol steals Soohyun from Baekhyun, and Baekhyun wraps his arms around Kyungsoo's waist, pulling Kyungsoo to the side as he sticks his tongue out at Chanyeol.

Chanyeol snickers and stares for a while, mouthing, finally?. Kyungsoo gives him a close-lipped smile in response.

"This is like one of those telenovelas," Baekhyun begins, whispering as he continues, "Where the girl finally gives the guy a chance and goes out with him. And she finds out he isn't so bad."

Kyungsoo feels a funny kind of shiver running down his spine when he feels the heat of Baekhyun's breath on his skin. They've done this before, in the comfort of Baekhyun's house, but out here, with their friends snatching glances at them and doing a double-take, wearing funny smiles, Kyungsoo feels his stomach lurching again, pulling him forward, then back into Baekhyun's waiting arms. Baekhyun's lips are too close, barely a centimeter away, and if Kyungsoo leans back, he'll feel the warm press of Baekhyun's mouth on his skin, and he won't regret anything but having to live with the feeling of his abdomen coiling and asking Baekhyun to do something about it.

He tilts his head back, and he doesn't fight the way the corners of his lips tug up completely on instinct at the first brush of Baekhyun's lips on his skin. "Except this is Sehun trusting Jongdae not to screw up his tea order the next time he needs someone to pick up his favorite drink at Starbucks," Kyungsoo finally says.

From the corner of his eye, he can see Chanyeol staring, and a corner of Chanyeol's mouth quirks up when their eyes meet. Soohyun lets out a soft gurgle as she takes Chanyeol's cheeks in her hands. Kyungsoo knows Soohyun well enough by now, and he knows that it will take a few good minutes to vie for Chanyeol's attention in the face of Byun Soohyun, so he raises his eyebrows just a little before Soohyun starts pressing down on Chanyeol's cheeks. Baekhyun only laughs lightly at the sight, arms tightening around Kyungsoo's waist, and Kyungsoo allows himself a moment of respite in the warmth of Baekhyun's embrace.

"Cha... nana?" Soohyun says after a while, bottom lip jutted out as she looks up at Chanyeol with wide eyes, and Chanyeol's eyes light up with a fire Kyungsoo hasn't seen in a while. He feels the light pinch Baekhyun leaves on his skin before pulling both of them closer to Soohyun, their steps stuttered and awkward in this perfect fit, and they watch as Chanyeol nuzzles Soohyun's nose as Soohyun repeats, louder than before, "Chanana! Chanana!"

☀

"And I finally manage to catch you in your apartment."

Kyungsoo rolls his eyes as he steps to his side, letting Joonmyun in his house. It has indeed been a while since he's last spent this much time in his own apartment, Baekhyun's home being a bit too alluring with its perpetually packed fridge and a little girl always seeking his attention, but the company of silence has never failed to set his nerves at ease. "I was kinda busy," he admits, and Joonmyun only rolls his eyes at him, mouthing, duh as he takes a seat on the couch.

"So I got a call from Google—"

"I hate your sentences that start with that."

"—and," Joonmyun pauses, wiggling a finger in front of Kyungsoo. "They kind of asked me how you were as an employee."

If Kyungsoo were to use three adjectives to describe himself back when he was still in media, they would be workaholic, workaholic, and workaholic. There was always something to be accomplished, clients to be serviced and to submit themselves to, deliverables to be churned out faster than he could say the word media. He can't say he didn't enjoy the rush, the feeling of being needed and earning the company a good name, but his health definitely didn't enjoy it and almost gave up on him three years into the job. He barely had time for himself and for other people, and Seungsoo had to check on him every other day to see if he was still eating or breathing, at the very least.

"Did you tell them I loved ordering people around?" he asks now, laughing a little as Joonmyun frowns at him. Joonmyun is good with words but never honest speech; it's a shortcoming that he has managed to turn into something good, but only when dealing with clients. "Or that my being a perfectionist has gotten me into trouble too many times?"

Joonmyun slaps him on the arm. "I told them you were so dedicated to your job that you've made a home out of your office."

Close enough, Kyungsoo thinks, and shakes his head as Joonmyun slaps him even harder. "What? I couldn't tell them that you sold your soul to the devil to become this media overlord—"

"—who churned out media plans, both for TV and digital, at the speed of light?" Kyungsoo continues, and Joonmyun snorts through his nose, eyes widening when he realizes what he has just done.

The laughter subsides a few minutes after, their heads thrown back into the head rest. Kyungsoo's breathing has evened out, but Joonmyun's still laughing lightly, seconds from each other, shaking his head. He can feel Joonmyun drumming his fingers on the couch just lightly, slowly picking up pace, until Joonmyun turns to his side.

"I also told them that you know which battles to choose and which to save for another day," Joonmyun says after a while. "And that you're an asshole for picking the right time to tender your resignation."

"While you were ass drunk?" Kyungsoo teases. Joonmyun pinches him in his side.

"When you've already used up all your resources and given everything you could for the company's welfare."

Kyungsoo sits up, studying Joonmyun's features — the even skin between his eyebrows, no longer donned with wrinkles, his eyes, relaxed and void of fatigue, the small smile pulling up the corners of his mouth. The last time he'd seen this was during Kyungsoo's exit interview, their last work-related conversation in Joonmyun's office. They'd exchanged hugs then, and then a handshake, and Joonmyun whispered before Kyungsoo closed the door behind him, Congratulations for finally taking this leap of faith.

"You really called me an asshole in front of Google?" Kyungsoo asks, shaking his head as he inches away from Joonmyun, anticipating a slap on the arm. "Okay, I'm pretty sure I won't get the job anymore."

"Sort of," Joonmyun replies, the smile on his lips blooming into a grin, and soon Joonmyun is hitting him with a pillow, each shot to the arm heavier than before. Joonmyun cackles through his nose, laughs, bright, shrill, and completely unlike what he's used to, and Kyungsoo simply indulges, soaking in Joonmyun's childlike vigor, the youth that had once left him in favor of responsibilities and duties. He fights back when Joonmyun releases the pillow from his grasp, completely defenseless, and tickles Joonmyun until Joonmyun has beads of tears at the corners of his eyes.

"I hate you," Kyungsoo grumbles once they've caught their breaths again, his bangs falling over his eyes as Joonmyun hits him on the face one last time.

"Hate me when you're already in Google," Joonmyun replies, and the rest of his statement is drowned out by cries for help as Kyungsoo throws a pillow at him, then another, and another, letting the grin tugging his cheeks further up take control of his muscles and every part of his body.

☀

The sweet scent of Christmas is what Kyungsoo wakes up to on Christmas morning. There's an empty space on the bed, sheets rumpled from where Baekhyun had been, and he scans the room for any sign of Baekhyun. "Aren't you up early?" Kyungsoo says, voice faint and still heavy with sleep, and Baekhyun quickly looks over his shoulder, dropping the hand supporting Soohyun's back as she finds her balance, now on two feet.

"This little girl kept me up," Baekhyun says, smiling a little as he rubs one of his eyes.

Soohyun hiccups, then waves her hands in the air as she chuckles. Kyungsoo pushes himself off the bed and gets on his feet, walking over to where the two are. Funny how, only months ago, Kyungsoo had fallen asleep on the same bed and woken up to Baekhyun screeching, "She's standing!", but now she barely needs any support to get on her feet and hold her hands up, grabbing at the air. She's been crawling faster, too, and sometimes Baekhyun would wake Kyungsoo up by making Soohyun crawl on his chest, tapping his shoulders lightly.

Those are the mornings he likes best, the mornings that make him favor staying in Baekhyun's place instead of holing himself up in his apartment, working on requirements for his employment at Google.

"She hasn't been crying, I hope?" he asks now, steps still slow as he steadies his aching knees. "No difficulty in breathing?"

Baekhyun stretches his arms behind his back and yawns. "Hmm, not much. Around 2 a.m., I think? But she quieted down soon after."

Soohyun's knees give away a little as she loses balance, palms pressing down on her thighs, but she quickly recovers, straightening up in seconds. Baekhyun lets out a small sound of surprise, the hint of worry dissolving in chuckles, but his laughter is soon replaced by a gasp as Soohyun, slowly but surely, takes small steps forward — one foot, then another, and another — in Kyungsoo's direction.

Kyungsoo slowly drops to his knees, eyes wide in shock, and he looks at Baekhyun briefly before holding out his arms. "Soohyunnie?"

The first few steps are wobbly, so Kyungsoo moves closer, about a foot away from Soohyun. Her eyebrows are furrowed in concentration, much like when Baekhyun is presented with a challenge or when he's working really long hours, and there's a small smile on her lips as she trudges forward. Just behind Soohyun, he sees Baekhyun with his hands clasped on his mouth, hears the soft sounds of laughter and amusement that escape Baekhyun's lips. Soohyun stumbles forward somewhere towards the end, and Kyungsoo catches her, holding her by the waist and hoisting her until she can bury her face in Kyungsoo's cheek.

"I didn't imagine that, right?" Baekhyun asks, lips parted in a grin. "She really walked, right? You didn't pick her up and she probably didn't just levitate or something—"

"That would've been nice," Kyungsoo teases, and Baekhyun pouts at him in response. "Yeah, yeah, you weren't imagining things—"

Baekhyun erupts into a squeal of delight and crawls over to where they are, taking Soohyun's cheeks in his hands and nuzzling her nose. She lets out a strangled gurgle at first but, soon, she's giggling, small bursts of amusement muffled as Baekhyun squeezes her cheeks lightly and places a soft kiss on her forehead. Her eyes disappear into slits as she laughs and claps her hands and Baekhyun takes her in his arms, raises her in the air, and twirls her around while screaming, "My little Soohyunnie can walk already!"

Merry Christmas, Kyungsoo thinks to himself, and leans back, holding himself up with his hands. He watches as Baekhyun dances with her, singing way too loud at such an early hour, watches as the sunlight filters through the curtains and makes Baekhyun shiver a little, stuttering mid-song but quickly regaining his ground. He feels his stomach turning, lurching in several directions, and simply laughs in tandem with Soohyun's own, even as Baekhyun stops to kneel in front of him and hold Soohyun in front of him.

Soohyun makes tiny popping sounds as she presses her lips together then parts them, cackling when she ends. "Go on, kiss papa," Baekhyun says, grinning, and Kyungsoo reaches out, running his fingers along the curve of Baekhyun's face, pulling Baekhyun close until their lips find a perfect fit.

Soohyun's laughter on his cheek is warm, tickles his skin. "And Merry Christmas to you, too," Baekhyun whispers, and Kyungsoo swallows them all in the open press of his mouth. Baekhyun's lips are as warm as his smile.

☀

"Happy birthday, Soohyunnie!"

Joonmyun's decked in at least four layers of clothing, and half of Jongin's face is wrapped with a scarf when they arrive. It's a miracle Baekhyun understands their greeting through the material, but Baekhyun seems to understand a lot of languages, anyway — Jongdae's indiscernible snorts and choking sounds when he tries not to laugh at Sehun's stories, Soohyun's gurgles when she's pointing at too many things at the same time, Kyungsoo worrying his bottom lip when he's stuck between saying yes and no. Soohyun stretches out her arms, reaching for Joonmyun, and Baekhyun takes a few steps forward until Joonmyun backs away, eyes wide despite the smile on his lips.

Jongin steps in and nuzzles her nose, then takes her from Baekhyun's arms. He laughs when she looks up at him, giggling, eyes shaped like crescents.

"Isn't she too young to get her heart broken?" Joonmyun asks after a while, once he's placed their gift in the living room and touching Soohyun doesn't make him jump anymore. He walks over, nuzzling Soohyun's nose, and Soohyun squeals a little.

Kyungsoo snorts, but pinches Soohyun's cheek, anyway. "Isn't Jongin too old to get his nose broken because of that?"

Chanyeol comes in with the party poppers too late, but redeems himself by forcibly making everyone wear party hats, instead. Everybody's done eating, save for Joonmyun and Jongin who have just arrived from weekend work, and Kyungsoo gathers everyone in the living room for the candle-blowing. The room rumbles with all kinds of sounds, a dissonance that Kyungsoo doesn't mind getting accustomed to, and Baekhyun shoots him a look, as if asking, is this okay?

Kyungsoo looks around him — at his friends in the living room, deep in conversation and sharing laughter, at Jongdae who still has a head band when he steps into the living room with Soohyun's cake in his hands, at Soohyun who is craning her neck to place a kiss on Jongin's chin, and at Baekhyun who has one hand secure on Soohyun's back, the other one outstretched in Kyungsoo's direction. I said, are you okay with this?

Jongin giggles just before Soohyun pulls away, and Kyungsoo reaches for Baekhyun's hand. I'm more than okay with this.

"Okay, okay, make way for the princess now," Baekhyun announces, bending his knees as he helps Soohyun stand on her feet on the floor. Joonmyun claps his hands in excitement, and Zitao whips his phone out, ready to take pictures of the scene. Soohyun is frowning, though, albeit only lightly, her hand cold as she holds onto Kyungsoo's leg.

"What's wrong, honey?" Baekhyun asks. He looks at the group, scanning their faces, then turns back to Soohyun. "Is Jongdae-oppa's face still scary? Do you want me to make him leave?"

Kyungsoo laughs a little and crouches. He feels Soohyun flinch, and he pats her head before placing a kiss on her nose. "I think she's just not used to things looking so big," he explains, rubbing Soohyun's back until he feels her muscles relaxing. "From here, below."

Baekhyun blinks a few times, tilting his head in question, until his features light up, the corners of his lips pulling up to reveal pink gums, a toothy grin. "Together, then?" he says, sticking out his pinky in Soohyun's direction, and Kyungsoo follows suit. Soohyun's gaze darts from Baekhyun to Kyungsoo, then down to their fingers, and she takes them both, wrapping her tiny, cold hands around them until all of her fingers curl around theirs.

There's a gentle squeeze before they slowly get up, knees still bent a little, and Kyungsoo turns to Baekhyun. "Together. Like a family."

Soohyun leads the way in tiny, stuttered steps, and Kyungsoo feels his heart race in his chest everytime Soohyun looks as if she'll fall on her face any second. He catches the sight of Baekhyun's smile just beyond Soohyun's figure, sees the wonder in Baekhyun's eyes, and he takes a deep breath, willing all of his worries away. One small step, one step closer to the cake and to Soohyun blowing the candle, one step closer to hearing Baekhyun's bright laughter when Soohyun puffs her cheeks out as she tries to put out the flame.

One big leap of faith that might as well be the last flight of stairs to where Kyungsoo is supposed to be — away from the past and living in the present, in the company of good friends, a little girl who has made him believe in happily-ever-afters again, and the not-so-little boy who has changed his life forever.

Kyungsoo moves one foot forward in tandem with Soohyun and Baekhyun's own. He doesn't look back.

☄

"That's the last of it, right?"

Kyungsoo counts the bags in the trunk one last time, making sure that they haven't left anything back in his apartment. He's never had a problem with being certain that he has everything he needs when traveling, but Baekhyun forgets where he puts things more often than he remembers where they put them. His memory has always been good for other things, but never trust Baekhyun to have any recollection of how a ballpen has found its way to his table, the front pocket of his coat, or in his coffee cup instead of its container. "I think I left my stuffed toy," Kyungsoo calls out, and Baekhyun scowls at him before checking Soohyun in the backseat.

"I took five days off for our Seollal trip," Baekhyun grumbles. "You are not teasing me about going to bed with my plushie."

"Your plushie collection, you mean," Kyungsoo corrects. He sticks his tongue out at Baekhyun as he leans to his side, narrowly missing the slap Baekhyun aims at his arm.

His phone sounds off, the sound amplified in the enclosed space of the car. It's from Lu Han, and Kyungsoo cocks an eyebrow before answering it, drawing his phone closer to his ear. "Good morning, Lu Han," he greets, voice steady even as he balls his hands into fists, and there's static on the other end of the line for a while. Baekhyun looks at him, eyes wide as he waits for more words, and then there's familiar laughter on the other end of the line and three words Kyungsoo never thought he'd ever hear.

"Congratulations, Do Kyungsoo," Lu Han begins. Another string of laughter, a long pause, and Kyungsoo bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself from grinning.

"Welcome to Google."

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