Winter Heat | chanbaek

Chapter Forty-Two

Baekhyun had been dreaming about swing sets, and afternoon picnics, and playing ball in the park when a sharp and continuous tapping pulling him from his sleep. He woke up with a soft groan and had to hold his stomach after moving too fast, after the nausea passed he slowly stood up as another knock sounded on his front door. Toben came chasing after him, happily jumping and barking as he scratched at the door. Baekhyun grimaced and hushed him as he pulled the door open, and had to squint against the bright setting sun.

He was still tired and groggy, and half blinded as he peered up at the face of the person on his door step. He frowned as Baekbeom suddenly stepped out of the light and grabbed Baekhyun's hand as he said, "Can we talk?"

Baekhyun frowned and rubbed his eyes as he yawned and asked, "Talk about what? I'm tired, Baekbeom, remember I have a tiny human being growing inside me and need to rest?"

Baekbeom rolled his eyes at his brother's sarcasm and replied, "Obviously, but this really can't wait. I had wanted to tell you when I came by for dinner yesterday but then . . ." Baekbeom trailed off. "Nevermind that, so please, can we talk?"

Baekhyun sighed. "Fine, but make it quick so I can go back to bed."

Baekbeom nodded as he lead Baekhyun over to the couch and helped him sit down, and then he sat down opposite from him and proceed to nervously play with his hands. He didn't say anything for a long moment, and after getting promoted by a raised eyebrow, he sighed before saying, "Don't freak out—-"

"You can't say that and then except me to remain calm, Baekbeom!" Baekhyun said.

Baekbeom cringed. "I know, I'm sorry. Okay, um, after the Christmas holiday and your fight with Mom and Dad . . . Well, we kinda also maybe fought too and they may have . . . kicked me out."

Baekhyun's jaw dropped and he stared at his brother incredulously before he cried, "They kicked you out!? Why? What did you do?"

Baekbeom sighed and softly muttered, "I....defended you."

Baekhyun gasped. "And they—-they kicked you out for that? I—- How—-"

Baekbeom leaned forward and rubbed Baekhyun's back as he gently said, "It's okay, it's better for me that they did. And I don't regret defending you for even a second, and to think I even had to against our parents is beyond me." Baekbeom sighed. "So now, I need a place to stay, and I was hoping I could stay with you until I find a place. And obviously I'll help you out with whatever you need, I just—-"

"Where were you living before?" Baekhyun asked, cutting his brother off.

Baekbeom sighed. "I stayed with a friend for awhile, and then I got a hotel room . . ."

"Baekbeom . . ." Baekhyun sighed before leaning forward to hug his brother. He rubbed his back and softly replied, "And of course, you're more than welcome to stay here, just remember the garbage has to be out by the curb every Thursday before eight or the front yard will stink. Okay?"

Baekbeom chuckled. "Anything else?"

Baekhyun pursed his lips in thought before saying, "Nope, nothing I can think of at the moment." He smiled and hugged his brother again and muttered, "This is going to be fun . . ."

Baekbeom just laughed.

Baekhyun was dreaming about halloween costumes, and Easter egg hunts, and snowy Christmases the next time he was pulled from his sleep by yet another round of knocking on his front door. He rolled over onto his back with a groan as Toben perked up beside him, and started to bark. Baekhyun hushed him and picked him up as he quietly muttered, "Who is it this time...?"

He yawned and slid on his slippers before shuffling down the hall to his front door, yet again for the second time that night. The sun had set and it was dark besides the street lights when Baekhyun pulled his door open, so he wasn't blinded when he opened the door to find Chanyeol standing in front of him, his eyes red rimmed with obvious pain written all over his face.

Baekhyun felt his heart squeeze and Toben wiggled around in his arms, picking up on the mood as he softly barked. Chanyeol bit his bottom lip and didn't say anything as he stepped inside, and closed the door behind himself before wrapping his arms around Baekhyun's waist and burying his face into his shoulder.

Baekhyun remained impossibly still while Toben continued to struggle, before he unexpectedly jumped out of Baekhyun's arms to paw at Chanyeol's pant leg. With his arms free, Baekhyun slowly wound them around Chanyeol's waist, and the moment he did, he felt Chanyeol break down into silent sobs; Baekhyun gasped and hugged him even tighter.

They stood there silently for moments longer, as Chanyeol softly cried on Baekhyun's shoulder and Baekhyun provided his comfort. He didn't know what had Chanyeol so upset, which meant he also didn't know what to say to reassure him everything would be okay. And he didn't want to say anything only to mistakenly make things worse. So instead, he chose to quietly comfort the man he loved and wait until he was ready to talk.

"Yoora doesn't accept our relationship," Chanyeol unexpectedly whispered after half an hour of silence.

Baekhyun inhaled a sharp breath before softly asking, "Did she—-did she tell you that?"

"Yes," Chanyeol muttered. Then he sighed, and unwrapped his arms from around Baekhyun's waist as he stood up straight and said, "She also thinks you're using me . . ."

Baekhyun gasped, and his chest suddenly felt like it got hit by a truck as he cried, "How can she—- I thought she accepted our relationship! What made her suddenly change her mind?" Baekhyun demanded.

Chanyeol bit his bottom lip and dropped his eyes, and then he slowly reached out and gently traced his finger over Baekhyun's baby bump as he whispered, "She knows . . ."

"H–how? We were so careful," Baekhyun whispered.

"Sehun told her about the baby, Baek, and now she thinks I've diluted myself into loving you," Chanyeol muttered.

Baekhyun gasped. He couldn't believe Sehun would betray them like that, but then again, he hasn't been very happy about their situation . . . Baekhyun squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed Chanyeol's back as he whispered, "But we both know she's wrong, Chanyeol, so don't let her words get to you."

"But she's my sister, Baek, and she raised me and my whole life she's dictated my decisions...."

"So what are you saying . . . You're not —- you're not going to actually listen to her, are you? Because if you do, Park Chanyeol, I'll—-"

Chanyeol quickly kissed Baekhyun to silence his threat before saying, "I can't possibly leave you, I was only going to say, I'm done with it all. I'm an adult now, and I won't have my sister running my life and telling me who I can and can't love. And besides, it's none of her damn business."

Baekhyun smiled and leaned up on his tiptoes to softly kiss the corner of Chanyeol's mouth as he murmured, "I'm glad to hear that, and besides, you promised me a proposal."

Chanyeol chuckled. "And I fully plan on keeping that promise."

Baekhyun smiled and slowly wound his arms around Chanyeol's neck; Chanyeol grinned and grabbed the back of his thighs to pick him up. Baekhyun laughed as he secured his hold around Chanyeol's body, before he was taking him down the hallway to the bedroom.

Word count: 1,260

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A/N: Hello, lovelies, I hope you enjoyed the double update. 😊 Thank you for reading and supporting, have an amazing day/night!

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️