Cursed Freedom

What Took You So Long?

(Story under construction  🏗)

Chanyeol finished his workout in record time. He felt energized for the day after he was done in the gym and skipped up the stairs, taking them two at a time, humming to himself.

He had a gym towel wrapped around his neck and stopped in the hallway, his hand around the doorknob to his bedroom, he took a deep breath before he finally turned it. He intended to shower before breakfast, and get the rest of his day going, but... he also expected to see Baekhyun still asleep on the bed, and he had to admit, he was a little disappointed when he wasn't there.

Baekhyun was gone and the bed was made. He cast a small glance out into the hallway to see Baekhyun's bedroom door closed as well.

This bothered him for reasons that he just couldn't put his finger on. But instead of investigating, or even worse, diving into the can of worms that was his feelings on the matter, he assumed that Baekhyun just needed to get himself ready for the day by going back to his own bedroom which contained all of his own belongings.

He ignored the itch in his brain and stepped into the bathroom. He turned the knob to start the water of his shower to warm it up before stepping inside. He undressed and stepped under the hot water. It felt good on his already sore muscles and he took the time to relish in the feeling.

His wardrobe gave him more new, modern clothes again today as it had been for a while now, and Chanyeol dutifully put them. He figured the house had its reasons, or that he had his own reasons for wanting new clothes deep in the recesses of his subconscious.

When he stepped out of his room, he smelled food, and, curiosity getting the better of him, he moved down towards the kitchen.

He walked in and saw Baekhyun's back. He was standing at the stove, a spatula in his hand. He was wearing skinny jeans and a rather snug t-shirt, at least for the tiny Baekhyun. But all of that disappeared for Chanyeol as soon as it registered in his brain.

Baekhyun was singing.

He closed his eyes and listened to the voice of a literal Angel who had descended from Heaven to bless the world with his beautiful voice. He occasionally hit high notes as if they were just part of a normal conversation, and he put vibrato on the words he sang as casually as when most human beings sneezed or yawned, as if it were nothing, just a normal sound that everyone's bodies made. As if it were just natural. He nearly lost himself in the sound of it. It had been so, so long since Chanyeol had even heard music of any kind. And he all of sudden realized how much he had missed it.

Could Baekhyun get any better? He was... perfect.

Eventually, the small man could sense that he was being observed and stopped cooking AND singing to turn around, snapping the taller man out of his trance.

"Oh, hi Chanyeol." He flushed a bright red at being caught. "I made you breakfast. Well... I made you eggs and um, toast... I really don't how to cook very many things. Actually, I'm not 100% sure that this will be edible when I'm done with it." He laughed, embarrassed, but still cheerful.

"You look nice all cleaned up, but I have to say, I prefer your 'pajamas' look, or even your 'workout' look much better." Baekhyun said and winked at Chanyeol as he turned around to finish stirring his attempt at scrambled eggs.

'What was that about?' Chanyeol wondered to himself.

He sat down as, roles reversed, Baekhyun scooped food onto plates and slid one Chanyeol's way.

"Thanks..." he said, barely audible. He cleared his throat and picked up his fork. "You have an amazing voice, by the way."

A blush creeped up his neck, "Thank you." He said, smiling shyly, and then shifted away from the compliment and into conversation. "So, what should we do today? Hmmm?" Baekhyun exclaimed more than asked. It seemed to Chanyeol that he was steering him in a certain direction, especially after he sighed and, lifting his eyes from his plate, gave Chanyeol that look. That look that made Chanyeol weak.