stray kids imagines

changbin | rough day and soft kisses

ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᵉᵈ
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fluff / 1575
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the city hummed softly beneath the night sky, speckled with a sea of glowing windows and flickering streetlights. the air smelled of rain, though the storm had passed hours ago, leaving behind that crisp, clean scent that made everything feel fresh.

you leaned against the railing of your apartment's balcony, exhaling a deep sigh as you let your fingers trace the cool metal absently.

it had been one of those days - the kind where everything that could go wrong, did. work had been exhausting, your phone had died at the worst possible time, and to top it off, you'd accidentally stepped in a puddle on your way home. your sock had been soaked through, a small but utterly frustrating inconvenience that had nearly pushed you over the edge.

and then there was changbin.

a smile tugged at your lips despite yourself. just as you were about to throw in the towel and declare the day a total loss, he'd texted you:

"look outside."

at first, you had been confused, standing frozen in the middle of your apartment, phone in hand. but then, curiosity won over.

you stepped out onto the balcony and, sure enough, there he was - standing on the sidewalk below, hands stuffed into his hoodie's pockets, looking up at you with a lopsided grin.

"hey," he called up.

"hey yourself," you answered, unable to stop the warmth from creeping into your voice. "what are you doing here?"

changbin shrugged, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "just thought you could use some company."

and that was how you ended up here, fifteen minutes later, sitting across from him at your small kitchen table, nursing two cups of hot cocoa.

"alright," he said, tapping his fingers against the ceramic mug. "tell me about it."

you blinked at him. "about what?"

"your day. I could tell it was a rough one." his eyes, deep and earnest, searched yours. "talk to me."

you hesitated, then sighed, staring down at your cocoa. something about changbin made it easy to open up. maybe it was the way he always listened intently, or how he never rushed you to speak. maybe it was how he made you feel seen, even on days when you wanted to disappear.

so you told him. you told him about the annoying customers at work, about your boss's impossible expectations, about your phone dying and your unfortunate encounter with the puddle.

changbin listened without interrupting, only nodding occasionally, his expression shifting from amusement to sympathy as you spoke.

when you finally trailed off, he exhaled through his nose and shook his head. "man, that really was a terrible day."

"right?" you groaned, leaning back in your chair. "I just want to erase it from existence."

changbin smirked. "lucky for you, I happen to be an expert at turning bad days around."

you raised an eyebrow. "oh? and what does this expertise entail?"

"well, for one," he said, standing up dramatically, "I come bearing a surprise."

your curiosity piqued as you watched him dig into the pocket of his hoodie, pulling out something small and wrapped in a napkin. he placed it on the table with a flourish.

"a cookie?" you asked, unwrapping it.

"not just any cookie," he said proudly. "a double chocolate chip cookie from that bakery you love."