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⇒ Blueprint Apartments
9:30am

"Leave me..." Chan whined into the pillow, tired eyes batting open to center his vision. Sitting up, barely covered by his boxers, he massaged the bridge of his nose with droopy eyes tracing the knocking sounds that he was hearing to the closed bedroom door. "Who is it?" He asked, sleepy head still trying to wrap around the reason behind not waking on his own bed; not that the one that he slept on was uncomfortable.

"It's me, Felix," the voice announced from the other side of the door, and Felix smiled at the jumpy little boy at his side. "Should I give you a second before coming in?"

"Oh fuck," Chan muttered, glancing down at his bare thighs, attempting to draw the sides of his underwear down but, swearing, again, at the realization that it wasn't rolled up, but was actually that short. "G-give me a minute," he hurried to collect his clothes, folded from the night before, swiftly pulling the shirt on; too uncoordinated to realize that it was inside out, and sliding the jeans, ripped just a tiny bit, up his legs. "Okay," he called again, voice still raspy yet tone more sure that time, "come in. It's unlocked."

"Good morning," Felix sang, pushing the door open and, mirroring the wide stretch of Chan's cheeks as the latter cooed at Kai's skips into the smaller space, as well as the blue gift bag that he was holding up to his chest. Chuckling at the man's frizzy hair, dry, drool-lined chin, and sleep crusts, Felix strolled up to hug him, pecking his cheek before pulling away. "Happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday, Channie," Kai smiled so wide that his eyes closed when there was no more room for his cheeks' lifting, wrapping both arms around his father's knee. "I have for you a present!"

"Aww, you do?" Chan pouted, touched by his son's thoughtfulness, and hoping that the dizzy sensation in his head, resulting from getting up so quickly, wouldn't cause his legs to give in. "What did Kai-Kai get Channie?"

"I got you a card," Kai rubbed his eye with one hand whilst the other lifted to hand Chan the present. And standing there, his short legs couldn't help but restlessly shift from side to side, that and his heavy breathing adding emphasis to his youthfulness. "A-and I got Channie a puzzle..."

"A puzzle?" Chan faked a look of surprise as he peeked inside the bag; not that he wasn't genuinely happy to see the contents but, he needed to add that extra touch of expression to make his little boy smile even brighter. "I love everything, Kai-Kai," he stooped down to hug the child properly, chest feeling warm when Kai's small arms found a fraction of his torso. "I appreciate it, and you just made today Channie's best birthday ever."

"Ever?"

"Ever," he brushed his nose against the toddler's, blushing at the sight of a rather contented-looking Felix standing near them.

"I made you breakfast," Felix added before the eldest could say anything else, but with another scan of Chan's disheveled outfit, and the escape of yet another snicker from his throat, he came up with an even more reasonable alternative for a more comfortable morning; if Chan didn't have any plans of his own. "My clothes can't fit you... So do you want to go home to change or anything? Or do you have plans for the day?"

"I don't usually celebrate my birthdays," Chan shrugged, shaking his head and standing. "So no, no plans. And there should be a pair of shorts and a spare tank top somewhere at the back of my vehicle," he chuckled, "so I don't need to go home. I'll just wash my face and head downstairs real quick."

"Okay," Felix nodded, starting slow, patterned steps toward the open door, "but why didn't you just bring them in last night."

"I don't know," Chan set his first gift down carefully on the nightstand, sitting on the edge of the bed and watching as the two others left; he wished to make neither uncomfortable by pulling his shirt off since, after realizing just how untidy he looked, he planned on fixing it properly before going outside. "I was just lazy I guess. Or maybe the author of our story didn't think about that?"

"The author of our story? Really?" Felix mocked, chuckling, shaking his head side to side as he held onto the doorknob. "That's cheesy."

"It's cheesy until things just stop happening and you realize the story has ended," Chan laughed loudly, clapping to emphasize just how comedic his imagination appeared to be to its own self. "I'm just joking, love," he settled down, not really taking note of how he let that let the pet name slip. Gliding both hands down to the hem of his top to gesture that he needed some space to remove it, he blushed when a grinning Felix complied, loving how things were flowing that morning.

-

"You really didn't have to do all of this, Lix," Chan mumbled before stuffing his face with some pancake, honestly a bit embarrassed that he had automatically become dependant on the others for the entire day, or just the morning if he felt like keeping it short. "Don't you have plans today?"

"Well, minus me taking you out for lunch, and then all three of us for dinner, nothing really," Felix chuckled when Chan blushed; head lowered whilst the full, artificial roundness of his cheeks boasted their new red coat, with some reluctance, over the natural paleness of his skin.

It was a well-deserved ego boost if one were to ask Felix, and his smug smile only grew the longer Chan's gaze stayed down at the idle hand on his thigh. Glancing over at a focussed Kai; lips glossed with oil and syrup, to warn his tongue, again, of the need to censor his words, Felix continued, "You up for it?"

"Of course," Chan mumbled, placing an index finger over his closed mouth, chewing, before parting his lips to speak again, "but I'd have to go home for appropriate clothes though. You two can come with me if you'd like."

"Of course," Felix nodded, playing with his food instead of eating to be able to calmly make the request that he was hesitant to even ponder on. "But," he mumbled, clearing his throat, "can you give us a ride to Bin's place after dinner?" He faked a small smile upon gaining Kai's full attention at the mentioned male. Nodding for the child to continue eating instead of remaining attentive, he carried on, knees growing limp in their bent state at the warm yet slightly intimidated look lingering in Chan's eyes, "He didn't want to come over yesterday... because... you know... But he said that we could visit today since Kai wants to see him... But I don't have a vehicle, you know?"

"No p-"

"Y- you don't have to wait to bring us back- I know you have work tomorrow and need rest... So just to drop us after-"

"Felix," Chan cut through his rambling, chuckling breathily when the blond's head was quickly lowered to distract the pink overlay trying to claim his cheeks and ears, "it's no problem. And yes, I will wait in the vehicle for you for as long as I need to... I know it wouldn't be appropriate to come along... So stop worrying. You're safe with me."

"Thank you... old man," Felix teased to lighten the mood, laughing even harder when Kai slapped a hand over his mouth to let out his own giggles at the comment. "Channie is an old man now, Kai-Kai."

"I'm not old," Chan rebottled, rolling his eyes and glaring childishly, "Thirty isn't old," he scoffed, almost cringing after saying his real age out loud. "I mean, it sounds old, but I'm not old, old. Like-"

"Old," both Felix and Kai said in unison, making Chan smile brightly when each shifted a little to bump fists. "But it's okay, we still love you," Felix shrugged, taking a bite of his food, "right, Kai?"

"Right," Kai nodded, blowing a kiss to the eldest parent, "I love you, Channie."

And at that, only God knew how much it took from Chan to keep his new-formed barrels of tears back in their ducts. His heart felt so overwhelmingly soft that he thought it was death's aroma that he was smelling. And the urge to stand and hug both males so tight that they'd properly struggle to breathe increased by the second, but of course, he contained himself, only sniffling and mumbling, loud enough, the line, "I love you too, pumpkin," and swallowing a bite of his omelet.

"Only Kai?" Felix grinned, mirroring Chan's blush. "Ouch-"

"I love you too."

Soft laughter, smiles, and teary eyes surrounded that table; Felix and Chan's watery stares being from joy and the sincere emotion that they held for each other and, Kai from simply overdosing on so many songs of laughter, that his little body just had to let out the salty liquid as some extra form of release.

And Chan loved that.

Chan- they all needed that.

Each of the adults once craved that family bond, and were more than grateful to finally have it.

-

⇒ WANG Complex
7:45pm

"Breathe Binnie, breathe," Jisung reassured, rubbing his best friend's clothed back with arms laced around his torso. "God, I wish I could stay with you, but it's not appropriate. Just be casual, okay? He isn't inconsiderate as to bring Chan along, so just relax... It'll be just like old times before everything even started between you two?"

"It's just," Changbin sighed, running both hands through his hair, frustrated, "we haven't spoken in person in over twi weeks, Ji. I- I don't want to fuck up... I- I don't want to break down or make Kai-"

A knock disrupted.

Followed by another.

And another.

Then babyish titters, doubtlessly loud on the other side if they were to echo so clearly in Changbin's ears, as well as a high-pitched, "Binnie, we have cake!"

"Fuck," Changbin swore, locking eyes with Han, and as if their mutual contact was an even stronger communication than words, the latter nodded in agreement with the thought that they visibly shared, scurrying into the older's bedroom before Felix and Kai could be tended to. Blushing lightly at the peck that Jisung had gifted his cheek before making his way out of sight, Changbin strolled over to the front door, sucking in a deep breath before opening it.

"Hey, Felix," he greeted, nervous, looking down at Kai to avoid any further intimidation. "Hi, birthday boy. You liked your present?" He rubbed the top of Kai's head, shifting to the side to let them both in.

"I did," Kai smiled, tip-toeing to place the moderately-sized paper bag in his hold on the table. "Thank you Binnie. I app-re-she-appreate it," he flashed two thumbs up, feeling accomplished and unknowingly confirming both adults' observation of a slight but noticeable lisp in the midst of his struggled pronunciation. "I miss Binnie a lot..."

"Aw, baby, Binnie misses you too," Changbin stooped down a bit to pick the little boy up, closing his eyes for a second to be able to even look at Felix again; it was about time, and his lack of communication with the blond would soon be considered impolite despite his reasoning behind it. Kissing Kai's cheek, and cooing when he leaned his head on the broader shoulder, Changbin spoke to Felix, finally, trying to obey Jisung by conversing as casually as possible. "You look nice... Going out?"

"I- we went out," Felix smiled, small and sincere, taking a seat at the table. Resting his own share of a plastic and paper bag on its surface, he spoke again, suddenly unsure what to do with his hands. "These are just some goodies we prepared yesterday... cake, pizza... the famous brownies, and other food... and stuff... I hope you like it..."

"As long as you made it or helped, I know that it'll be good," Changbin winked, placing Kai down and hoping that his comment wasn't too forward or invasive for his ex's liking. "Anyway, how are you? How's everything?" He too, sat at the table, parting his legs decently for Kai to stand in between and hold on to his knees.

"Well, things are okay," Felix started, looking down and playing with his fingers. "Uhm... it's Chan's birthday today, so we all came from dinner..."

"Oh, he's waiting for you two?" Changbin puffed out his cheeks, trying not to sound bothered by the implied fact. "I won't keep you long then. You guys visiting means a lot, especially little Kai-Kai here," he pecked the child's cheek, smiling honestly when Kai's eyes brightened, even more, after his gesture. "Just let me know in advance, hm?"

"Well- sure. Thank you for- thank you," Felix stood up, awkwardly brushing his thighs and, nipping at his lower lip as his eyes fully scanned the view of the apartment from his position; it wasn't as decorated as Changbin would want yet, and Felix could easily draw up that conclusion based on past experience with living with the older- it still warmed his heart how Changbin simply refused to take with him the paintings that they had bought together.

"Kai likes them a lot," he had said, and Felix had broken down into tears. How considerate, the heart that he had broken was. But sighing, Felix shook those guilt-provoking thoughts from his head, watching as Kai and Changbin shared their last hug and few kisses, before taking his hand to head for the front door.

"Have a good night, Changbin," he waved, closing the door behind him and, waiting a few seconds before strolling to the elevator. And from the looks of things, Felix had surely made out Changbin's violent sniffle just before the separation between the interior and exterior of the apartment was shut completely, and his legs threatened to turn back to comfort the older male to the best of his ability but, of course, he couldn't.

That'd only make things worse.

So whilst Felix made his way back to his patient loved one downstairs, so did Jisung stroll out of Changbin's bedroom; chubby cheeks pale to match the monotonous aura of that room and, hand hesitantly lifting to meet his best friend's shoulder as he sat again.

"Binnie," he hummed, trying to wipe away some of Changbin's tears, "Binnie, look at me."

"No," Changbin argued, shaking his head and trying to look in any direction but Jisung's. But, as expected, the younger got the best of him; cupping his chin and, carefully forcing his head to turn so that their gazes could meet. And then he kissed his forehead, soft and long and, comforting; rejuvenating Changbin's dwindling buoyancy with the note that every single thing would be okay at the end of the day.

"It'll all be okay..."

"I know," Changbin sniffled, the optimism of his words surprising his own tongue a bit. "I- I know... but- it just hurts, you know? H-he was wearing the promise ring I gave him... he still wears it... It just- we had something, you know? Me and Kai too... so it hurts to see everything end like that... It hurts, seeing him move on... so quickly? I mean, it's understandable but... at the same time... I can't act as if nothing hurts..."

"Binnie..."

"Mhm?"

"Let's go out," Jisung blushed a bit, taking a napkin from the table to dry Changbin's cheeks completely. "Please?"

"What? Ji-"

"Walks by the river used to calm you down back in uni, right? So let's go for one..."

"Hannie, it's late. You need rest for work tomorrow," Changbin opposed, standing and shaking his head; hand subconsciously reaching for his car key on the tray as if his body was agreeing with Jisung whilst his mind delayed in the name of mere contemplation.

"We both know that you'll hardly sleep tonight unless you clear your head, so what d'you say? You'd drive us to a spot and we'd walk from there?" He cupped both of the male's cheeks, staring at him with irresistible puppy eyes and a long pout stretched out on his lips.

"Fine..."

"Really?" Han clapped, already heading for the front door. And he felt satisfied when Changbin smiled at his giddiness, growing way more relaxed as the tense atmosphere noticeably lifted from the homey space. "And can we stop for ice cream on the way?"

"At this time, Hannie?"

"Yes," they made it to the elevator, Changbin's smile growing at a rate that not even his cheeks thought possible after being lined with tears barely five minutes before. "I'll buy it."

"Alright then."

"Love you..."

"Love you too, Sungie."

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[A/N]
Lowkey more invested in Binsung than Chanlix😭

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1. Thoughts on Felix's and Changbin's relationship?

2. When do you think Binsung and Chanlix will become official?

3. Anything else to say about Chanlix?