stray kids imagines

bangchan | a cupcake's worth of love

ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᵉᵈ
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fluff / 1107
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the gentle hum of the electric mixer filled the kitchen, blending seamlessly with the muffled voices of the television in the living room.

you stood at the counter, your hands deftly folding flour into the smooth batter. the faint pink of your cheeks was from the warmth of the oven, or so you told yourself. it definitely wasn't because of the man in the other room.

chan, your best friend of years, had sprawled himself comfortably on the couch. from your vantage point, you could see chan's socked feet propped up on the coffee table, his head tilted slightly to the side as he absentmindedly scrolled through his phone. the sound of a sitcom laugh track spilt from the television, though you were pretty sure chan wasn't paying attention.

"chan, you're not even watching the show," you teased, peeking your head around the kitchen doorway.

chan's head shot up, caught in the act. he flashed a sheepish grin. "I am! it's, uh..." he squinted at the screen, clearly clueless. "something about... ducks? or maybe detectives?"

you laughed, a soft and musical sound that made chan's heart stumble in his chest. "you're hopeless," you said, shaking your head fondly before retreating back into the kitchen.

"I'm here for moral support!" chan called after you, his voice laced with amusement.

࿉࿉࿉

the warm, sweet scent of vanilla and sugar began to fill the small house, wrapping around you like a cozy blanket.

you loved baking; it was your way of relaxing. but today, it wasn't just the cupcakes you were focused on - it was chan's presence, his teasing grin, the way he could make tour heart race with just a casual glance.

once the cupcakes were out of the oven and cooling on the counter, you decided it was time for a taste test. "chan, come taste the cupcakes!" you called, your voice carrying a note of excitement.

the creak of the couch and the shuffle of socked feet signalled chan's approach. he sauntered into the kitchen, his curious eyes landing on the tray of golden cupcakes. "these look incredible," he said, his tone sincere.

"wait, not yet!" you protested, holding up a bowl of cream cheese frosting.

"rules are meant to be broken," chan quipped, already reaching for one.

"chan!"

but it was too late. chan had taken a bite, his eyes fluttering shut as the warm, fluffy cake melted in his mouth. a satisfied hum escaped him. "okay, these are insane. what did you put in these? magic? love?"

you flushed, busying yourself with the frosting to avoid looking at chan. "just... a little something extra."

chan's eyebrows shot up. "a secret ingredient?" he leaned casually against the counter, his expression turning mischievous. "you know you can't just dangle that in front of me and not tell me."

"you'll have to earn it if you want to know," you replied, your tone playful but laced with a hint of nervousness.

"oh, I'll earn it," chan said, pushing off the counter. his steps were slow and deliberate as he closed the distance between you.

"chan..." you started, your voice faltering as chan came closer.

"come on," chan murmured, his voice dipping into something softer, almost intimate. he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair away from your face. the touch was featherlight, but it sent a shiver down your spine.

chan's hand lingered for a moment, his fingers grazing the edge of your ear. "tell me what it is," he coaxed, his tone teasing yet warm.

you froze, your heart hammering so loudly you were sure chan could hear it. your eyes locked, and the air between the two of you shifted - no longer playful but charged with something deeper.

"chan..." you whispered, your breath hitching.

chan's teasing smile faltered, concern creeping into his expression. "hey, you okay? did I go too far?"

your lips parted, but the words caught in your throat. you tried again, your voice trembling but determined. "kiss me... please."

for a moment, chan didn't move, as though the world had stopped spinning. then, without hesitation, he reached out, his hands cradling your face with a tenderness that made your chest ache.

chan murmured your name, his voice full of something that felt like wonder.

and then he kissed you.

the kiss was soft, unhurried, as though you had all the time in the world. chan's lips moved gently against yours, coaxing and exploring, and you melted into him, your hands clutching the front of chan's shirt for support.

when you two finally pulled apart, your foreheads rested together, your breaths mingling in the small space between you.

your eyes fluttered open, your cheeks flushed, and your heart racing.

"I've wanted to do that for so long," chan confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

your shy smile broke through, your gaze sparkling with relief and happiness. "me too."

chan chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead. "why didn't you say anything?"

you shrugged, your voice small. "I didn't think you felt the same."

"you're ridiculous," chan said, his tone affectionate. "you're also the cutest thing on the planet."

your cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink. "stop teasing me."

"never," chan replied, stealing another kiss, this time to the tip of your nose.

࿉࿉࿉

the afternoon passed in a haze of soft kisses and quiet laughter. chan insisted on helping you frost the cupcakes, though his version of "helping" involved smearing frosting on your cheek just so he could kiss it away.

"chan, you're impossible!" you said, though your laughter betrayed your words.

"I'm impossible, and you're stuck with me," chan countered, pulling you into his arms.

by the time you were done, the cupcakes were perfectly frosted, though the two of you were covered in more frosting than you'd probably used.

the two of you sat on the couch together, a plate of cupcakes between you, as chan draped an arm around your shoulders.

"you know," chan said, his voice thoughtful, "we could've had this sooner if one of us had spoken up."

you leaned against him, your fingers absentmindedly playing with the hem of chan's sleeve. "better late than never," you murmured.

chan smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "I'm never letting you go, you know that?"

"good," you replied, tilting your head up to meet chan's gaze. "I don't want you to."

chan kissed you again, slow and sweet, like a promise.

and in that moment, surrounded by the warmth of your home and the lingering scent of cupcakes, you realized that love had been there all along - sweet, undeniable, and finally yours to share.