Turn Up The Bright Lights

Making Bibimbap Of His Life

Chanyeol was watching the TV upside down, his legs hooked over the back of the couch. Most of the members were scattered between the living room and kitchen; Kyungsoo teaching Kai how to cook, while Sehun watched. Suho and Baekhyun were on either side of Chanyeol. Suho jumped when Chanyeol's phone buzzed in his pocket, startling him.
He dug it out and answered it. "Hello?"
"May I speak to Chanyeol, please?"
The voice was vaguely familiar. Swinging his legs over Baekhyun's head, Chanyeol rolled off the couch. "Speaking," he said.
"Ah, Liebe. Are you busy?"
Icy cold panic stabbed through his stomach. Chanyeol glanced at Suho, then Baekhyun. "One moment, please," he said politely, and practically bolted for the front door.
"Well handled," Sarang said, chuckling. "I gather you do not want this conversation overheard?"
"No, sir."
"Such nice manners. Well. I'm sure Starling has said nothing of this to you," Sarang began. Chanyeol's eyebrows hit his hairline.
"He hasn't said three words to me since he came back the other night."
"Interrupting is rude, Liebe."
"Sorry."
"You might be. I've got it into my head that I'd like to see the both of you here at the same time. Starling disagrees. I wanted your opinion."
Chanyeol nearly dropped the phone. Glancing up to make sure the door to their room was still closed, he sagged against the wall and sank to the floor, running a hand through his hair. "I guess this explains the silent treatment. Won't... I mean, everyone knows. Won't they give it away?"
"They have been instructed to treat you as a first-time guest. Angelique thinks it's the greatest thing ever. She adores you both, and has been practically begging me to bring you both in at the same time."
"Is that why you're doing this?"
"In truth, no." He lapsed into silence, and Chanyeol waited, hardly daring to breathe.
"Is that all you're going to say about it?"
"No. I'm doing this because I believe that Starling needs something else in his life. We're not providing it for him. He's petrified by the idea of his two lives connecting, but living divided in such a way is tearing him apart."
Chanyeol let out a sigh. "You can see that, too?"
"Of course. I probably see more of his unguarded self than you do."
"He's my best friend!" Chanyeol said hotly.
Sarang's tone was arch. "And how much can you tell me about what he fears? What he desires?"
"He," Chanyeol began, and then trailed off. "Fuck. Thanks for making me look like an asshole."
"You did that all on your own. The next time he comes, follow him. Wait about twenty minutes. When you arrive, pretend like you have only ever been inside that one time, the first time. Pretend I called you."
Chanyeol tightened his hand in his hair, but it wasn't the same feeling as when Sarang did it to him. "And you really think that that's the best way to go about doing this?"
"I think that the two of you may be more well-suited than either of you expects."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"See you anon." The line disconnected. Chanyeol stared at his phone, disconsolately. Damn it! Do I do as he says, or do I go to Baekhyun right now and ask to talk to him?
"Damn him!" Chanyeol slammed the phone down and drove his fist into the floor.

Baekhyun was jumping at shadows, flinching whenever anyone spoke too loudly to him, or near him, or waved their hands or arms -
Chanyeol knew exactly what the problem was. He hadn't gone to the club before their performance. Whatever it did, it calmed him down and centered him, and he was a train-wreck-in-progress for having skipped the usual appointments. Backstage, Chanyeol cornered him, putting both hands over his shoulders against the wall and trapping him there.
"Why the hell didn't you go? You're a total mess, Baekhyun. Whatever's wrong, you need to go there and fix it." At the last second, he remembered to lie, to pretend he knew nothing. It was harder than he would have guessed. And he hated seeing Baekhyun flinching away from him like that.
"It's not that simple," Baekhyun said, refusing to look him in the face. Chanyeol's hands curled into fists. Before it came to outright blows, he shoved away from the wall and his friend, taking his anger and frustration out instead on a shoebox that lay in his path. He kicked it so hard it sailed into the next room.
The next day, Baekhyun couldn't keep his eyes off Chanyeol. The rapper didn't know what was going through his head; only that it was supremely disconcerting. When the singer got up and left, claiming 'errands' without saying anything to him, he thought maybe he'd figured it out. He had his own orders, too. Leaving just enough time that Baekhyun would have arrived and gotten settled, he started out after him.