A Light In The Dark » Chanyeol x Reader Zombie Apocalypse

Chapter 33

"Hey guys." Suho collapses next to Chen. 

"Tiring shift?" Lay asks, leaning back onto his backpack.

"There was a hoard of them, it took a while to pick them off one by one." He rubs some dried blood from his palm. "I'm dying for a drink, is the water available yet?"

"They'll make an announcement when it is." Your gaze flickers over Suho's shoulder and you spot two familiar figures heading towards you. "Hey." Chanyeol flashes you a grin when he spots you.

"Looks like we're all here now." Xiumin shuffles over to let Kai sit beside him. "Everyone's done their shifts, right?" After a few nods, he continues. "So we can spend some time together."

"We're not playing another board game." D.O says coldly, receiving a glare from Baekhyun.

"Okay... Maybe we could-"

"How about some music?" Chanyeol suggests, reaching for your guitar. Everyone's face seems to light up at his words.

"Yeah, should we do one of our songs?" Chen's eyes shine brightly at the chance of singing again.

"Which ones?" Baekhyun asks excitedly. Chanyeol thinks for a moment before turning to you.

"(y/n), what would you like to hear?" The names of their songs flash through your mind. It's like you're scrolling through your playlists but can't seem to pick a song. Strangely enough, you don't really feel in the mood for any of them. 

"Why don't we make a new one?" You finally suggest.

"You mean, write a new song?" D.O perks up.

"Why not?" You shrug. The others exchange glances, they all seem rather excited.

"Okay. Let's do it." Chanyeol grins. 

"So, what's it gonna be about?" Kai asks the group. The first thing that comes to your head is love, and it's clear that's what Chanyeol was also thinking as he looks to you with a soft smile. However, it just doesn't feel right. You want it to be something the whole group can share and enjoy, not just something for you and Chanyeol.

"Us. All of us. Family." Just the word, family, makes you feel warm and safe. The boys are your family now, and there's no doubt about that. As the boys nod in approval, Baekhyun pulls out a notepad and pen from his backpack.

"Let's write this thing." It takes a few minutes for ideas to spark up, but once a few suggestions are made, everything starts to flow. Baekhyun is furiously scribbling down everyone's lyric ideas as Chanyeol and Lay figure out chords and strumming patterns. Your project seems to draw a bit of attention as people start to gather around the group. It's not like they're swarming you, but there's no doubt that people have moved closer, even if they don't seem like they're listening. 

"Let's write some of it in Korean." You say. 

"I thought you couldn't speak Korean." Xiumin looks confused.

"I know, but if it's about all of us then it should have a piece of all of us." You look to Chanyeol, who's taken a moment to stop playing the guitar and listen to your idea. He smiles at you in what only can be described as adoration as the boys delightfully start suggesting lyrics in Korean. The song soon starts to come together and the lines become clearer. The verses convey a range of different emotions but the chorus is always bright and warm. So it feels like no matter what happens in the verses, you'll feel better when the chorus comes around. That's how you feel about the group. Home doesn't feel like a place, it feels like a person. People. EXO are your family and your home. The world can't fall apart when they're around. Chanyeol's chords go so well with the lyrics, it's like everything is flowing in one big stream. Baekhyun makes sure that everyone has a part to sing and that everyone's lines are personal to them. Chanyeol creates a soft guitar solo with a caring and protective nature to it.

"It's for Sehun." He mumbles, focusing on the chords. Once all the lyrics are figured out, Baekhyun writes it up neatly with the chords.

"There we go." He places the notebook in the middle of the group. Everyone just stares at it in silence for a moment, tired but proud. "It just needs a name now." Baekhyun looks to you like you should do it.

"You name it Baekkie." His eyes widen as if you've bestowed some sort of honour upon him. His eyes drift to the notebook and he narrows his eyes in thought. He lets out a gasp of realisation and grabs the notebook, scribbling something down at the top of the page.

"Candlelight?" Kai reads curiously.

"Well, I feel like right now we're in a world of darkness. But we have each other to guide the way, like a candle. As long as it burns, there'll be light. As long as there's light, there's hope."

"Well then, it looks like we have a song." Chanyeol leans on the guitar. 

"Let's sing it then!" Baekhyun turns to Chanyeol in excitement. Letting out a quiet laugh, he begins to strum the chords. Baekhyun sings the first lines, soon passing it on to Chen. You join in for the chorus, loving the sound of the harmonies. You get what Baekhyun meant about the name, the chorus definitely has a flickering warmth to it. Kai starts the second verse and you feel slightly nervous as your lines get closer. However, the words seem to flow out naturally and you find comfort when Chanyeol gives you a reassuring smile. His lines are right after yours, leading into the chorus again. The happy tone starts to evaporate as the song slows down, leading into Sehun's part. It feels quite solemn, like a moment of silence. It seems like that solo could go on forever, but it doesn't. The slow fade back into the chorus is strangely comforting. The song ends with you and Chanyeol harmonising. It feels like a big responsibility to carry the song into silence, but it's easier knowing you don't have to do it alone. When the last chord has been strum, you all look at each other. Baekhyun is the first to smile, setting off everyone else time dominoes. Soon enough, everyone is smiling and laughing with happiness and pride.

"Hey, they're giving out the water!" Someone shouts from across the hall. Everyone scrambles to their feet.

"You guys go, I'm not a big fan of crowds. I'll wait till everyone's got some." You remain on the ground. 

"We can take your bottle if you'd like, we'll get it filled up with ours." Kai holds his hand out for your water bottle.

"Really? Thank you." You hand it to him. He notices that Chanyeol is also still sitting and offers to get him some as well. 

"Thanks." Kai nods to him before heading off with the other boys to the cafe.

"That was fun." Chanyeol gently places the guitar beside him. "We've had so many songs written for us, it's nice to create something we're all truly passionate about."

"I've never written a song like that before, it all just came so naturally."

"I'd like to write a song about you someday." He grins.

"Oh really?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Mhm. But there's so much to say about you, it could go on forever. If it did, would you listen to the whole thing?"

"Forever doesn't sound too bad." You meet Chanyeol's gaze as he chuckles softly. He leans forward, gently lifting your chin with his hand. 

"I love you." He whispers right before his lips connect with yours. 

[A/N]

I'm in such a soft mood ngl. I was listening to a Studio Ghibli playlist whilst writing this and it's so sweet.