Paper Boats // xiaodery

nine

merry christmas ♡

—

"Shit."

The flour splattered everywhere, including on Xiao Jun's apron.

"What happened now?" Hendery asked, looking up from the other side of the kitchen island.

"I told you, I can't bake." he shook his head, dusting himself off.

"Nah, I bet you can. Just keep trying."

"Hendery, I've tried using the mixer three times and none of those attempts were successful."

Sighing, Hendery went over to the other side to help clean up the flour.

"Then I'll handle it. You can just put them in the oven and take them out."

"But I don't want you to do all the work by yourself."

"Xiao Jun," Hendery looked into the other's eyes. "I got it."

"O-okay." Xiao Jun didn't know why he stuttered, or why his face was so close to Hendery's.

He settled on the island, legs dangling over the edge as he watched the other boy make a new batch of cookies. Hendery could at least do something in the kitchen.

While he went to place the dirty bowls in the sink, Xiao Jun reached into the bowl, grabbing a chuck on raw cookie dough and plopping it into his mouth.

"Did you eat some?" Hendery whipped his head around to look back at the island.

Xiao Jun froze mid chewing, he wasn't aware that Hendery had eyes in the back of his head. He started giggling, trying to resist the temptation to smile.

"I know you ate some." Hendery glared playfully.

To prove his statement right, Xiao Jun reached into the bowl again and ate some more.

"Don't eat all of it." Hendery turned away from the sink, stalking back over to the island to snatch the bowl away. "You gotta leave some for the guest."

Xiao Jun pouted, bottom lip sticking out. "I want some more." he whined like a child, making grabby hands at the bowl.

Hendery chuckled (Xiao Jun melted at the sound) and placed the bowl back on the surface.

"Just a little more. But you have to help me scoop them onto the tray." he said.

He nodded, happily eating more cookie dough.

—

"Seriously, how are your scoops so perfect?" Xiao Jun widened his eyes as he stared closely at the balls of dough Hendery scooped onto the tray.

"I don't know." he shrugged.

"You make me feel worthless in the kitchen."

"Hey, don't say that." Hendery nudged the other boy. "I bet you can make mac and cheese."

"Psh, not even that." Xiao Jun countered. "When I was younger I almost burnt the house down because I put it in the microwave for too long. My mom hasn't trusted me since." he laughed at the memory.

"Wow." Hendery laughed along with him. "I really thought you'd be able to do that."

"Don't expect too much, I'm a disappointment."

"You can't cook, other than that you're pretty good at everything."

"You think so?" Xiao Jun looked at the other.

"Yeah, you're good at steering a boat, reading, being a tour guide-"

"You're so nice Hendery." Xiao Jun couldn't fight off the wide grin which graced his lips.

Hendery smiled back. "I'm simply boosting your self esteem."

—

The doorbell rang, Xiao Jun leaving the kitchen to answer it.

"Damn, it smells good in here." was the first thing Yangyang said as he removed his sunglasses.

"Yeah, Hendery insisted we make cookies for your arrival."

"Hendery? Is he your new-"

"Hello!" Hendery skipped out of the kitchen, waving at the two.

"You weren't lying when you said he's energetic." Yangyang chuckled a little, holding his hand out. "Hi, I'm Yangyang. Xiao Jun's former neighbor."

"I'm Hendery." he took the other's hand, giving it one firm shake.

"Your house still looks the same." Yangyang said to Xiao Jun after a few moments. "Literally nothing has changed."

"You moved out two months ago of course nothing would change drastically."

The three settled in the living room, munching on the cookies. Xiao Jun felt a nudge to his side, Yangyang leaning over to whisper something in his ear.

"Get him to chuckle."

"Why?" Xiao Jun mouthed, furrowing his eyebrows.

"You say it's cute, I wanna hear it."

Rolling his eyes dumbly, Xiao Jun knew he wouldn't miss an opportunity to hear Hendery chuckle.

"Hendery," he called.

"Mhm?" he hummed, swallowing the cookie he was chewing.

"Do you think our paper boats got anywhere?"

There it was. The chuckle that watered your crops and cleared your pores, had escaped Hendery's lips.

"Maybe." he smiled, a dreamy gaze in his eyes.

"Congrats, you found yourself a boyfriend." Yangyang whispered a little more audibly.

Xiao Jun gave his friend a weird expression, pushing his head back, revealing a set of double chins mankind has never seen before.

Yangyang only laughed, patting his former neighbor on the back.