WARMTH AND CARING

Chanyeol's p.o.v.

Ugh, Chanyeol hated this park, but it wasn't even really a park, just a bare field with an occasionally swing. Everything else was either broken or had been stolen. He wished he hadn't come this way. There was always thugs and it was too dirty, but regretfully, it was the quickest way to his house.

Chanyeol didn't notice anything out of the ordinary until he was close to the end of the field, and it was then that he noticed something that didn't belong — or more like, someone. As Chanyeol got closer to him, he noticed he was hunched over with his arms folded over his knees and his head buried in his arms. The next thing Chanyeol noticed was the slight shake of his shoulders, as if he was crying. But then Chanyeol heard it, the most saddest, broken noise he'd ever heard. Chanyeol felt like sobbing too, but he pushing away the feeling and carefully approached him, not wanting to upset him further.

Chanyeol lightly touched his shoulder, and he jerked so violently that he knocked himself over. Chanyeol was shocked, speechless really, he'd never seen someone look more petrified as this boy now.

3rd p.o.v.

Baekhyun was gasping as he stared up into the eyes of . . . the giant? How . . .? What was he doing here?

Baekhyun quickly wiped away the tears, smearing dirt across his cheek, which caused him to break into ever more tears.

Chanyeol was so confused, but he wanted to somehow comfort the smaller, he just didn't know how. Biting his lip, he took in his appearance, his shirt was rumpled and dirty, his hands were dusty, and he had smeared the dirt on his cheek when he went to wipe his eyes, and the action had caused him to cry even more.

"Um, are—are you okay?" Chanyeol muttered.

Ugh, what a stupid question, Chanyeol thought. Of course he's not okay, you asshole!

Baekhyun brushed off his hands and ignored his tears as he asked, now for the second time today. "Why do you care? You don't even know my name," Baekhyun hissed.

Chanyeol was taken aback by his hostility, but maybe he deserved it. "Just because I don't know you doesn't mean I can't care," Chanyeol said matter-of-factly.

"No, it's better you don't know me. It's better you don't care," Baekhyun mumbled.

Chanyeol shook his head, confused, and said, "I don't understand, why is that better?"

"It just is," Baekhyun hissed as he grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder and started to walk away. Baekhyun expected the giant to leave him alone, but instead he followed him and said, "That's not an answer."

Baekhyun stopped and pivoted on his heel. He froze. Baekhyun hadn't realized how closely the giant had been following him, so close he felt his breath on his face, cooling his still tear-damped cheeks. Baekhyun sucked in a breath before taking a step back and looking up at the giant as he said, "Just think of it as an answer and leave me alone, okay?"

"I don't care. I'm not accepting it," Chanyeol said.

"That question was rhetorical. Accept it, giant," Baekhyun mumbled.

"What'd you call me?" Chanyeol muttered.

Baekhyun inwardly face-palmed. "Nothing, I just don't know your name and think of you as 'giant'," Baekhyun mumbled, not caring that he said this aloud.

Chanyeol grinned. "Well, if it makes you feel any better I've been thinking of you as 'midget'. And my name is Park Chanyeol," Chanyeol said, sticking out his hand for the latter to shake.

Baekhyun nodded. "Oh, Byun Baekhyun," he said as he shook Chanyeol's hand.

The moment their skin came into contact, a furious heat coursed up both their arms and they gasped, jerking back. Baekhyun felt angry. Chanyeol wanted to do it again.

"Um, I-I should probably g-go," Baekhyun stuttered, purposefully avoiding eye contact with the gi- Chanyeol. "My—my d-dad will be w-wondering where I am."

Chanyeol mistook Baekhyun's stutter to mean he was cold. "If you're getting cold, you can borrow my jacket," Chanyeol offered, already taking it off and holding it out to Baekhyun.

Baekhyun couldn't help the misty feeling he felt in his eyes. No one had ever cared about him like this. No one had ever offered him a jacket. No one had ever stopped to ask if he was okay every time he was caught crying in this field. Not once, they just hang their heads and walked away with a fast pace. But Chanyeol had stopped. Chanyeol had cared.

Then with an overwhelming amount of gratitude, Baekhyun flung his arms around Chanyeol's waist, the tears flowing once again. Baekhyun hated being weak, but could one really blame him after the day he's had?

Chanyeol was too surprised at first to react, but then slowly he wrapped his arms around Baekhyun. They stayed like that longer than one normally would, but Baekhyun just couldn't find the willpower to let go, and secretly, Chanyeol didn't want him too. It felt too good, although the latter was obviously in pain which caused Chanyeol to instantly feel guilty.

When Baekhyun finally pulled out of the hug, he wiped his eyes and glanced up at Chanyeol, nervous about what he was going to say next. "Um, can I — can I stay with you tonight?" Baekhyun mumbled.

Chanyeol was surprised, but a part of him admitted to being happy that Baekhyun had asked because then Chanyeol wouldn't have to be worrying all night about whether or not he was okay. But if he was being honest, Chanyeol felt like he'd worry no matter what.

"Yeah, Baek, you can stay with me for the night," Chanyeol muttered, and he couldn't explain the feelings swirling inside him when he did.

. . . .

Baekhyun's p.o.v.

When they reached Chanyeol's house, Baekhyun was overwhelmed with how warm it was. Never in his life could he remember his house being this warm.

Baekhyun had started to shiver on the walk here, and he turned to Chanyeol and asked where the bathroom was. Chanyeol lead Baekhyun upstairs into a room, presumably Chanyeol's, and said, "You can use my bathroom," and pointed to his right. Chanyeol walked back into the hall, and Baekhyun heard a door open and shut before Chanyeol came back holding a towel and a cloth to wash his face. Baekhyun mumbled his thanks before shutting the bathroom door behind him. He couldn't wait to get out of these clothes and wash away the filth of the day.

As Baekhyun stepped into the shower he couldn't help but notice the bruises, and he instantly started to feel sick. He wiped the water from his face and bit his lip to keep the tears at bay. He hated crying. He hated being weak. He hated his life.

Taking a deep breath, Baekhyun stepped under the water and started to rinse off all the dirt. He didn't stick his face under the water though because that would mean closing his eyes, and he couldn't do that. So he used his wet palms to rub away the dirt until his hands came back clean, then he started to scrub the shampoo into his hair.

Baekhyun has hated the water for as long as he can remember, ever since . . . No, he wouldn't think it, he just knew it terrified him. Now he was starting to freak out, although logically he knew he was safe, but the very thought had him rushing because the sooner he could get out, the better he'd feel.

Baekhyun stepped out of the shower and walked to the towel he'd laid down on the rack by the sink and wrapped it around his waist, but then he realized he didn't have anything to wear, and no way in hell was he putting that back on. So nervously, he opened the door and padding back into Chanyeol's room.

"Um, C-Chanyeol?" Baekhyun stuttered.

3rd p.o.v.

Chanyeol looked up from the book he had been reading, and he instantly felt his face start to flush. Oh, shit! Chanyeol thought. Why isn't he wearing any clothes!?

Baekhyun began to feel nervous and shy at Chanyeol's stare. "Uh, everything okay?" Baekhyun mumbled.

Chanyeol shook his head and stammered, "Huh, oh, yeah, everything's good. How about you?" Chanyeol said all this very fast in his nervous state.

Baekhyun had the sudden urge to laugh but suppressed it by biting the inside of his cheek and muttering, "Do you have any clothes I can wear?"

Baekhyun. In. My. Clothes. Oh, dear God, Chanyeol thought. He shook away every thought and quickly got to his feet. He walked to his dresser and pulled out a shirt and sweatpants. Chanyeol tossed them to Baekhyun and said, "I don't know if they'll fit, but it's the best I have."

Baekhyun blushed and stammered, "T-thanks," before walking back into the bathroom and quickly changing.

As soon as Baekhyun felt the room, Chanyeol let out a huge sigh. How is he so beautiful, Chanyeol thought. And his skin had looked so soft and cre—

"Ugh!" Baekhyun yelled from the bathroom.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Chanyeol walked to the door and lifted his hand to knock when the door opened and Baekhyun walked out. "Chanyeol, these clothes are like," Baekhyun looked down at the clothes before continuing to say, "twice the size of me." He whined before finally glancing up, and practically putting them nose to nose — well, nose to chest. Baekhyun gulped and Chanyeol blushed as he stepped back saying, "I-I heard you yell and thought . . ." Chanyeol trailed off.

"Chanyeol," Baekhyun muttered.

"Yeah?"

"Where's your trash can?"

Chanyeol frowned and a little unsurely and said, "Over there," and pointed to the trash can beside his desk. Does he want to throw me in it? Chanyeol thought.

"Thank you," Baekhyun mumbled before walking over and throwing a wade of clothing into it with a satisfied expression. Chanyeol heard him mutter, "Dirty scum" before turning back around with a smile.

Chanyeol was instantly confused at Baekhyun's sudden shift in demeanor. First he had seemed nervous by Chanyeol's close proximity. Second, he was asking where the trash can was and said "Dirty scum" when he threw his clothes away. Third, he smiled.

"Baekhyun, are you okay?" Chanyeol muttered a little unsurely.

Baekhyun frowned and muttered, "Yeah, why?"

Chanyeol shrugs. "Oh, n-nothing, I guess," he stammered.

Baekhyun frowned and muttered, "I know when people are lying to me, Chanyeol. It's a gift, so talk." Baekhyun demanded.

Chanyeol was in awe by him. One minute he can be crying and look completely broken, the next, he's hot as hell, and then, he's a calculating midget that notices everything. Man, Chanyeol would have to better control himself around this guy.

"Um, I-I'm just worried about you," Chanyeol said truthfully, and he couldn't deny it. This midget was stringing up feels inside of him that he never knew he could feel, and the scary thing was, he had only met him today. He could only imagine how'd he feel tomorrow, but he suspected the feeling would be stronger, if even possible.

Baekhyun blushed and bit his lip. He wouldn't meet Chanyeol's gaze, much to Chanyeol's annoyance. Carefully, slowly, as if not to scare him, Chanyeol walked towards Baekhyun and placed a finger beneath him chin, lifting his chin until his eyes finally flickered to Chanyeol's. "You can tell me," Chanyeol whispered. "You can tell me anything." Chanyeol could see Baekhyun warring with his inner self upon hearing Chanyeol's words, as if he was struggling with whether or not to believe him. And in that moment, Chanyeol had the uncontrollable urge to kiss him. To wipe away his pain. To do anything for him. But he knew he shouldn't, however badly he wanted to. He knew Baekhyun would get mad at him, possibly never talk to him again, and Chanyeol just couldn't risk it. "Please, Baekhyun," Chanyeol whispered. "You can trust me."

Then suddenly Baekhyun's expression turned harsh and he glared up at Chanyeol. Chanyeol gasped in surprise and jerked back, as if Baekhyun's very look could physically hurt him, which in that moment, he honestly believed it could.

"People always say that," Baekhyun hissed. "Then they're stabbing you in the back and treating you like shit!" Then Baekhyun took a step towards Chanyeol, and it was as if Baekhyun grew taller in that moment because Baekhyun's words made Chanyeol feel so small. "So how do I know I can trust you when you've already hurt me twice in one day, and without even knowing me! Without even knowing my pain! J-just because you saw someone who looked weak, doesn't mean they aren't strong!" Baekhyun was so mad he started to stutter, and Chanyeol had no idea what to say, he was in too much shock to even breathe. "Yeah," Baekhyun mumbled, "that's what I thought."

Then Baekhyun turned around and grabbed his bag, and he was about to sling it over his shoulder when Chanyeol, shaking himself back to his senses, reached out and grabbed Baekhyun's wrist, stopping him from leaving the room. "Baekhyun, I— Okay, I know I was an asshole, and I honestly don't know why I did all that to you. B-but afterwards, when I saw your face — really was your face — I felt so much regret because I could see your pain, and in that moment I knew I had caused you more. And I don't expect you to forgive me, but I just had to tell you," Chanyeol said in a rush.

Baekhyun turned around, finally looking at Chanyeol. Baekhyun was shaking. He felt so conflicted.

"And Baekhyun," Chanyeol whispered softly, "I don't think you're weak. You're actually one of the strongest people I've met, and for you too be feeling all those things and still managing to live, that also takes courage and bravery. So no, I don't think you're weak."

Baekhyun's eyes glazed over with Chanyeol's words and he dropped his bag to the floor as he said, "Okay, I'll stay, but you're sleeping on the floor."

Chanyeol couldn't help but smile as he said, "Okay, Baekhyun."

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Author's Notes

Hello, my readers!

I hope everyone's enjoying it so far! And please don't forget to vote and comment and share with your friends, it's greatly appreciated.

Well, until next time.... 🌸🌸