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"i'm back at the alley, where you're no longer at."
It's half past 2 in the morning when Taeyeon wakes up to the distinct smell of musk wood and clean cotton.
Before she even sees the owner, she recognizes who the scent belongs to.
Next to her, on the space that has been left vacant for more than a month now, a familiar figure lies with his back facing her. By the time her eyes have adjusted, Taeyeon watches as his broad shoulders rise ever so slightly with every breath he takes. The black sweatshirt that cocoons his body, the dark brown hair that smells faintly of her favourite shampoo.
It takes her a while to realize just how much she missed waking up to his warmth as her fingers twitch and move on their own accord. Her forefinger and thumb inch over to the hem of his shirt, feel the soft fabric as they press down, and Taeyeon can feel the uncomfortable burn behind her eyes.
He's here. Byun Baekhyun is here, right beside her, after so many lonely nights.
The shaky breath that leaves her agape lips is barely audible as the EXO member shifts ever so slightly. She lets go of his shirt immediately as if she was burned, eyes shut tight, hoping he would stop moving.
When the air is filled with nothing but the soft humming from the heater every few seconds and Taeyeon doesn't feel the mattress sinking anymore, she's able to breathe. Until she feels the faintest touch lingering on the top of her head.
Nimble fingers brush the hair away from her eyes as a thumb circles the apple of her cheek ever so slowly.
Taeyeon nearly stops breathing, for a moment, as she feels the hand linger at her neck for several seconds. The rough pads of his fingers that seem to caress every area of her face they could, as if to memorize her features.
"You've lost weight," She hears Baekhyun murmur quietly under his breath, afraid of waking her up. "Again."
At his words, Taeyeon feels her breath hitch, heart thudding at an almost painful rate. Baekhyun's hand leaves her for a moment to tug at the blanket, such that it covers her up to the chin and leaves more than half of his body in the cold.
It feels a lot like déjà vu.
She wants to open her eyes, to let him know how her day went today, to show him the new toy she bought for the dogs, and most of all, to see the face she dreamed of on nights where she came across pictures of him on social media and thought too much of him.
Instead, she chokes back on a sob, lips pursing stubbornly as she clenches her fists. There comes a short-lived rustle and a looming presence somewhere above her, before a pair of hands cups her face and pulls her, almost desperately, into an embrace she thought she'd long forgotten.
Taeyeon stays there with her face pressed against the crook of Baekhyun's neck as he rubs her back soothingly, his scent hammering its way into her consciousness and her heart. He doesn't speak - not when his lips are busy pressing firm, reassuring kisses into her hair.
"I'm sorry." He eventually whispers.
Taeyeon wants to ask him what he's sorry about, and then she thinks of the numerous trips she spends alone, of the cold nights without him, and of the way he's holding her so, so tight, as if he's about to leave for months again.
"Sweetheart, look at me, hmm?"
Blinking the tears away, she knows she shouldn't do just that. It's a nagging voice at the back of her mind, but she does it anyway because she misses him so damn badly.
The moment she pulls back and tilts her head up, the world goes black and Taeyeon feels herself falling into a familiar abyss.
A split second later, she twitches in surprise, hands clutching the sheets in a death grip and breath coming out in harsh pants. Instinctively and out of habit, she releases the sheets from her hold and swings her arms to either side of her.
As always,
her heart falls.
//
a/n; if you didn't get it, she's been dreaming all this time ): i'm evil, i know akndhjsd
also!! if anyone has any baekyeon fics recommendations, please let me know in the comments! this drought is killing me hAHAH
