Byun Baekhyun

Before you comment on anything read the disclaimer in the Author's Note

- Nyxessa -

It has been a few days, Baekhyun thinks as he turns around the corner of the block he by now knows by heart, having walked these streets so often by now that he can't possibly count them, he probably would even find the way in his sleep.

Fastening his jacket tighter around his chest as an especially cold autumn wind passes him, not wanting to get sick again after having had to last week already, making him shiver, his teeth nearly blabbering, he picks up his speed nearly flying now towards that little café he is rushing towards to, where lunch and something warm to drink is probably already waiting for him, like nearly every day.

Today is Wednesday, Sehun infiltrated the company three days ago and the last two days Baekhyun had not been able to meet or chat a lot with Chanyeol so he is in deep need of an update. He missed their little meetups because of work, they kind of have a deadline coming up and he stood up every day just to fall face-first into his soft sheets way later than he should be. But having taken those two days so strictly allows him now to visit the little Firelight Café and actually stay there for an hour and not just grab food and get back.

Baekhyun can feel how a tiny smile begins to crawl onto his lips as he thinks about the store, which he begins to love slowly but surely, not only because of the delicious food and drinks but also because of the people that he begins to consider as his friends. He can't even remember when he made friends the last time.

Sehun, Kyungsoo, Jongin, even Kangju....and of course Chanyeol.

Alone the thought about the tall man with those fluffy locks and that sparkling coffee eyes full of compassion makes his heart feel warm in a way, like a sort wave of comfort or like a soft warm blanket being wrapped around him, just somehow familiar but also so much more honest and warmer as he was used to from a man that may look like the musician with a heart of gold but seemed to have nothing in common with him on the inside.

Baekhyun feels bitterness rise in his mouth, tasting the kind of acidy thing on his lips and he quickly manages to distract himself from thinking about Changnam.

He doesn't want to, he kind of knows that it is probably childish to just choose to just ignore the topic but it is not like he will run into him nor can he allow himself to drown in the pain thinking about his late husband, so not thinking about it is at least for now the best strategy he figured out for himself.

If it was not for the fact that Changnam was a spitting image of Chanyeol and all of this sounding so fishy and suspicious, Baekhyun would have probably stopped that day when he found out part of the truth about the man with spitting white hair that he begins to hate nowadays. He would have stopped investigating, just to stop himself from hurting even more, but with all those strange things and Chanyeol by now being knee-deep in it as well, there is no way he will stop now.

Feeling a shiver run down his spine as he passes a few trees that line the street, crossing it to make his way directly to the café that is located on the other side, Baekhyun feels the glimpse of fury in his heart as he thinks about how that fucking asshole fucked up both his and the life of an innocent man is not just one way. Firstly by having his finger apparently not in clean things and secondly in even haunting him and in the end also Chanyeol even long after he went under the earth.

Finally reaching the door and seeing Kangju's weather-aged face smiling in his direction, grabbing the handle of the door to open it, Baekhyun nods with a tiny smile on his lips before he rushes inside. The warmth and the sweet-bitter scent of pastries mixed with coffee are hitting him like a wall, making it hard to breathe for a second so he gasps, feeling his lung take in air greedily.

"Oh, Baek!" He hears at that second coming from the counter and minds a bit dizzy because of the rapid temperature change it takes Baekhyun a few seconds to realize that that big smiley, a dimply grin across the counter directed at him is coming from Chanyeol, who wears his green apron as always, looking good with his perm brown hair and that soft yellow sweater. "You made it today! Sit down, I'll be with you in a second."

Baekhyun feels himself smile at the excited and happy expression of the taller, his aching heart, that felt so empty and broken for so long that he long does not remember the pain anymore, blooming warmly with an emotion he can't quite understand, making a bubbling feeling of emotion rush through him.

Doing as ordered Baekhyun moves to his by now used table at the window in the far behind the corner, taking off his long coat and letting it slide down gently, placing it next to him as he sits.

A few seconds later, Chanyeol makes the beeline towards him, having flour on the apron, and now from closer up, as the taller slips into the chair across from him, Baekhyun can see also a bit of it in his hair and he can't help but think that it makes the other look...cute...soft almost. If it was not for that devastating toothy handsome grin that warms him to his core making him shudder slightly, Baekhyun would have melted on the spot because it is just that adorable.

"I was already starting to worry if something happened to you." Chanyeol started with his deep rumbling voice, tilting his head like a puppy while he gives Baekhyun one of the cards, watching him attentively with a slight frown. "Are you fine?"

"Yeah, I am, don't worry, Yeol." The smaller reassures him quickly, feeling his heart warm in comfort because of the other's worry, feeling once again, like for the last weeks alongside the taller, as if someone is seriously interested in his well-being. He takes the card that the other has given him and looks through it even though he kind of already knows what he wants. He is craving Kyungsoo's spaghetti since the last time he got them last Saturday so he will for sure get them. "I just had a lot to do but I'm here to catch up so hit me with the news. Has Sehun already found something?"

"Easy Baek." Chanyeol just chuckles because of the eagerness and the sound is almost like a melody in his ear, calming and sweet, looking at him from looking at his phone he pulled out a second ago. "First tell me what you want so I can tell Nini and then I can answer all your questions and you can answer all of mine."

Baekhyun huffs at that, a tiny smirk on his face as he closes the card and gives it towards the other before popping his lips and he thinks for a second that he can see Chanyeol glancing at them. He might have hallucinated that one though. "Soo's spaghetti please, a glass of water and an espresso afterward. Thank you~" At that he sends Chanyeol a wink and the taller just huffs amusedly, shaking his head before turning to search for Jongin. Seeing him at the other side of the room, taking an order from one of the guests, the taller just huffs and excuses himself towards him, delivering the order himself to the kitchen and Baekhyun notes that he has to ask the other what he did all day because the amount of flour on his body is concerning.

A few minutes later, Chanyeol returns with two glasses of water and Jongin behind him carrying a plate of pasta for Baekhyun and something that seems like sandwiches, placing them in front of him before throwing him a sweet smile, wishing a good meal which the smaller, of course, reciprocates with a fond expression.

Baekhyun looks at the dish in front of him and takes in the delicious aroma of pasta and creamy, rich sauce, nearly feeling himself ascend to food heaven, he feels his stomach growling and his mouth water as he watches Chanyeol slip into his seat once again across from him.

"So." The taller starts, arranging the cutlery in front of him before he redirects his eyes at Baekhyun again, warm eyes twinkling prettily in the low autumn sun and Baekhyun can't help but ask himself if Chanyeol always looked this pretty when light hits him like this. "To bring the most important part across, no, Sehun doesn't have news yet."

Baekhyun feels himself deflate already in disappointment a bit, eyes falling on his pasta again, even though he knows that it is unrealistic to have results after two fucking days, when Chanyeol interrupts his trail of thoughts once more, making the smaller's interest perk up once more, looking up once more can't helping but feel hopeful.

"But..." Chanyeol starts, voice a bit excited and he has that pretty soft smile on his face that makes him look so charming and soft, so in contrast to the cold hard expression, his late husband had in comparison to this. "...he found the person that is responsible for the network we need access to and it is a woman! Which means that Junmyeon can rest in peace and following from that, me as well."

Chanyeol has a pretty satisfied expression on his pretty face, eyebrows wiggling suggestively as he takes a bite from one of his sandwiches, and Baekhyun can't help but giggle as he rolls his spaghetti on his fork, the steamy delicious scent of the food already making his head kind of dizzy. Oh fuck, he is so fucking hungry.

"Sounds like you finally get some sleep then." Baekhyun can't help but snicker in his pasta, taking the food finally in his mouth and he moans in delight because it DOES taste as good as it smells, he swears he has a food orgasm right now. Chewing a bit to not speak with his full mouth, he eventually speaks again after having swallowed. "I'm glad for you, you sounded rather sleep deprived those last two weeks and I need you on your full concentration, Chanyeol."

Chanyeol snorts at that, giving him a leisure smile and a lifted eyebrow that makes him look like a flirt, and Baekhyun can't help but note how fucking pretty the taller looks. "First and for most." The taller comments, deep velvety voice sounding amused while he munches some more on his lunch and speaking by the scrunching of his face, that on first sight looks more like disgust but which Baekhyun knows by now is pure bliss about the food he has in his mouth right now, he is having a blast with his lunch as well. "...I need my energy for myself, thank you. A café is not running itself."

Baekhyun can't help but smile softly at that, feeling the dedication and passion for the other's work through those words as he takes another bite, feeling like he should explain himself, like the other took his stupid attempt of what, a flirt, nah, a stupid comment as an insult. "I know that Chanyeol, I just tried to be funny, sorry didn't mean to insult y-."

"Ah, Baek." Chanyeol interrupts him immediately, letting his sandwich sink in favor to give the smaller a soft compassionate smile that is irradiating so much warmth that Baekhyun can feel it inside, lightning up his heart a bit making it quiver fondly. "Don't apologize, I understood that it was a joke don't worry, I just wanted to tease you."

"Ah." Baekhyun can't help but answer, not knowing what to say else, feeling kind of embarrassed because he completely seemed to misjudge the situation and he can already feel something like a shy blush flutter on his cheeks, which is why he looks down at his pasta to take another fork of it, trying to hide it. "That is good then."

"Since we are talking about work though.." Chanyeol starts then, voice sounding kind of interested, Baekhyun looks up to find the taller looking at him as a curious puppy, with those big brown eyes sparkling at him like stars. "...you never told me what you are doing for work."

Baekhyun swallows at that, feeling something weird rise in him as those eyes nearly boar hole in him so he is quick to avert his eyes down again, before moving to answer the question, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, shrugging with his shoulder. "I'm a geneticist."

"A geneti-what?" Chanyeol blurts, eyes so big that he looks like a deer caught in headlights, voice surprised, holding his sandwich basically in front of his face, and Baekhyun can't help but find it endearing somehow. "Can you elaborate a bit further?"

Baekhyun can't help but huff amused as he takes a sip of his water before picking up the fork again, rolling up some more spaghetti. "A geneticist, I research and experiment with DNA to produce mutations that could be helpful or I analyze mutations that can cause certain sickness. It has been my field of research since my university days and I continued my work in the research center I am currently an employee of."

"Sounds very complicated," Chanyeol mumbles taking the last bite of his sandwich, stuffing his cheeks full with it like a chipmunk and it is kind of cute, Baekhyun can't help notice as he takes another bite of his pasta, not much left on his plate. "And pretty stressful."

Baekhyun just shrugs over the shoulder, finishing the meal with a quick bite and leaning back before he takes his glass of water to take another sip, feeling full and sated from the food, warm and fuzzy. "It is all I wanted to do, help humanity you know, helping to fight our mutations. So I don't mind putting extra work into it." Absentmindedly tracing his tongue over his lip, licking away the last delicious pieces of his lunch eventually wonders why the taller is staying silent, so he is looking over at the taller.

The taller looks at him, a cup of coffee in his broad hands but Baekhyun can't help but notice that the other is not directly looking at him, in the eyes but rather a bit lower, as if he is fixating something. He can't help but frown, starting to feel weirded out because of the stare.

"Do I have something on my face?" He asks eventually after two more seconds, feeling confused and a bit amused and he has probably thought of a lot of explanations and reactions but certainly not for Chanyeol fluttering his pretty eyelash as if someone has woken him out of trance just to get suddenly red like a tomato.

What was that about?

"Chanyeol?" Baekhyun asks again curiously, tilting his head a bit to better look at the tall man with the protruding eyes that are red as a strawberry, who is trying very hard to drown or hide in his cup of coffee or something and he somehow gets worried by the other's strange behavior. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yes." Chanyeol just stutters, turning even redder if possible, glancing at him from under his incredibly long lashes that make his coffee-brown eyes look even prettier. "To-totally fine, why are you asking?" And then Baekhyun catches Chanyeol's eyes flicker down for a second and Baekhyun feels a shiver run down his spine.

Did...did he just glance at his lips?

Somehow out of whatever reason Baekhyun can feel something warm climb up his neck and something flutter in his chest even though he doesn't quite understand what it means or more no he doesn't want to think about what it could mean, that tender soft feeling that he gets when he looks at the taller's eyes and that pretty mole and those sinful plump lip-

What the hell is he thinking about.

Shaking his head, feeling his heartbeat in his chest like a hummingbird's wings, trying to get that weird thought out of his head he looks up at the taller again who is now curiously looking back at him, once more resembling a cute overgrown puppy and Baekhyun would like to punch himself for that weird burning feeling in his stomach.

"You could have said that I have rests of food in my face." He eventually grumbles, rubbing over his mouth with the back of the hand to wipe it away, even though he knows there is nothing there but he is REFUSING to accept that Chanyeol has looked at him like this out of any other reason, even when it is hard to ignore the taller's gleaming face that screams at every person in a 3 m radius 'HELLO I AM EMBARRASSED THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.' "You don't need to stare."

"I-" Chanyeol mumbles at that, eyes wide blown looking like a deer caught in headlights, lips pouty and eyebrows confused and a bit guilty, he is not sure about that part, and feeling like a deja vu he feels the need to punch himself again to get rid of those weird, bubbling and confusing feeling that is tickling under his skin like an army of ants. "Sorry, d-didn't know how to address it."

Baekhyun can't help but think with an amused lift of his eyebrow even if he wants to curse himself at being able to read the other so easily, that Chanyeol is a bad liar because he can see the words written on the other's forehead but in favor of his nerves and for Chanyeol's gleaming red ears he decides to change the topic quickly. He needs to get rid of those thoughts that threaten to fill him when he thinks about the taller looking at his lips, in particular for example how the taller's cheek would feel under the-

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE CONCENTRATE!

Shaking his head, basically starting to list all kinds of potential protein chains he can come up with to get his mind somehow from thinking about feeling Chanyeol's skin on his that somehow makes something bubble in him that he does not want to recognize no no no, go away the demon, Baekhyun moves to clear his throat that kind of feels a bit tight before opening his lips again, taking the cup of his espresso Jongin just brought a second ago with slightly trembling hands. "Anyways, how are the further plans."

Chanyeol, apparently grateful for the change in the topic jumps IN in a second, visibly deflating as the opportunity arises and Baekhyun can't help but think who of the two is more relieved for that topic swap as he listens to Chanyeol blurting about Sehun's assignment they made up with Jongdae and Minseok, just listening to the velvety warm voice, giving his heart the chance to calm down and his mind the opportunity to gain control again.

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"I swear to the heavens the bigger this little girl gets the more attention she demands." Jongdae sighs through the speaker of his phone and Baekhyun can hear something crying in the background which sounds like the other's daughter. "I'm already afraid for when she starts growing teeth we probably won't get an eye of sleep for nights."

Baekhyun can't help but smile amused as he listens to his best friend's whine about his baby, the cushions and mattress soft against his back and head and the ceiling he is staring at normally white, but the sunset light is drowning in shades of orange, red, purple and blue. It is pleasant to hear his oldest friend after such a long day like today, it feels good to catch up to just let himself forget for a second all the things that are happening in his life, just thinking about things like his goddaughter.

"She probably grew quite a bit since I saw her last time, right?" Baekhyun hums softly in the phone holding his hand up and watching how the golden, iridescent light falls through his fingers, making them look timeless somehow as if time stopped, his heart beating in a steady beat in his chest. "I feel like she doubles her size every time I visit you guys."

"The reason for that maybe is because you come around not often." Jongdae snickers into the phone, but there is no bite in his voice because he knows how hard it is for Baekhyun to get some free time. Not only because of his job but also because his best friend's family reminds him of all he has lost and what there could have been maybe. It is not easy, especially with that heavy feeling in his stomach. "You need to visit more often when she is taller or she won't recognize you."

Baekhyun sighs at that, rubbing his temple while letting his eyes falling shut enjoying the darkness for a second, the absence of visual input somehow calming. "I know I know and I'm sorry, you know how it is. How are you..and Kyurin, is she fine too?"

He can hear how his best friend sigh at that but Jongdae knows him too well to press on the topic further so he just moves to answer the question that was directed at him, even if Baekhyun can feel how he dislikes it. "I'm good and Kyurin too, just a bit tired with the baby but other than that we are good. And you Baekhyun? Anything new with the...project?"

Baekhyun can't help but grin at Jongdae's reluctance to call this a case, with his background as an officer and opening his eyes slightly again he watches once more the play of colors against his ceiling as he talks in a low voice, softly almost his heart feeling warm. "I'm fine too, the operation is going well, Sehun is inside, but still setting up things but I guess that is nothing new for you, so all we can do right now is waiting."

"I see." Jongdae hums and Baekhyun can hear him shifting on the other side of the phone. "And you and Chanyeol, are you guys fine? You seem to get along pretty well."

Baekhyun can't help but feel a small smile flicker over his face at the mentioning of the taller, even if he doesn't want to, accompanied by a little tender flickering of his heart that he desperately tries to ignore. "Yeah, yeah we are fine, we get along pretty well."

"He is so different from Changnam, even though he is the spitting image of him," Jongdae mumbles some more into the speaker and Baekhyun feels his face darken slightly, something in his stomach turning sour at the mentioning of his late husband's name.

"Nowadays I don't even think that they look similar anymore." He just grumbles a bit coldly, trying to not think about that cursed man that brought all this pain upon him and it gets easier because he simply concentrates on his mental image of Chanyeol, those pretty dimples, that warm smile, and those with goodness twinkling eyes. "They are not only opposite characters but people."

Jongdae huffs amused at that and Baekhyun can't help but be irritated until he hears the other open his mouth again, his best friend's voice soft and fond now, almost as if he is trying to ease a scared animal. "You like him don't you?"

Baekhyun feels his cheeks turn hot at an embarrassing speed, his heart in his chest fluttering once again like crazy, and clearing his throat he tries to get control over that tickling feeling of his skin that appears with the image of the taller's smile in his head. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Fine." Jongdae huffs on the other line, chuckling softly and Baekhyun can see him shake his head in disbelief in front of his inner eye. "Just admit that you enjoy his company."

"I still don't know what you mean," Baekhyun grumbles some more, cheek hot and probably pink like cherry blossom petals in the spring, his skin tingling with shivers that he tries hard to ignore. "Of course I enjoy his company that is nothing new!"

At that Baekhyun can hear Jongdae laugh out loud, almost as if he told a joke and confused, eyebrows scrunched in confusion, Baekhyun just hears another mumble from Jongdae.

"Well, at least you admit that you stubborn man."

He doesn't get to comment on that though, because Jongdae is quick to change the topic after that, and soon after the comment is forgotten between the waves of Baekhyun's thoughts in his complicated mind.
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Author's Note 📝

🤍✨~

Hi, it's me, Nyxessa in the name of both of me and my dear coauthor.

Has been a while, right? Well, that is because real life is doing things outside of this online bubble that is well not controllable and I am crushed to say it like this but the behavior of some of our readers is also not helping to encourage me or blue_eyed_diamond to get inspired to write this story which is why I am sorry to announce this, as the 'direct' one of the two of us:

If I see or hear anybody asking for updates under this fic or is saying something like 'Oh finally an update', or in any of our two DMs this story will be drafted until it is finished. And there will be no exceptions. My and my coauthor's mental health and therefore creativity to write this fic has been suffering the last months because of the behavior of some of the readers that seem to not be able to respect personal boundaries or understand that writing needs time which is why we see ourselves forced to do this. I love writing. My friend loves writing but some of you make us nearly drop this because every time I try to pick this fic up to write it I get anxiety. Again if you want stuff to read that is good, ask me and I will give you a list and if you are not able to wait until something is finished don't read ongoing stories. I think I don't need to elaborate this any further so just that everybody is warned, in the future if I hear this damn question for an update once more this will be drafted until it is completely done. I wish I don't need to do this, but my mental health and my coauthors mental health is too important to endure something like this.

Besides that, thanks to those who wait patiently and write encouraging comments you are the people that make us not drop this!! How do you all enjoy the development? Do you feel the things getting tighter?

For now bye~ I publish a new fic soon that will be published in form of a fest and it is completely finished so you all dont need to wait for updates haha! And my baby blue eyed diamond is doing everything in her power to  feed you well so be kind and stop asking for updates! write encouraging comments instead!

See you soon everyone and have a nice day~
Bye
Nyxessa ~✨🤍