RENDEZVOUS | chanbaek

TWENTY

Baekhyun shut his car off after coming to a steady stop outside Chanyeol's glorious mansion, and he unlocked the doors as he glanced over at the handsome man beside him. Baekhyun didn't want to admit that he liked having Chanyeol in his life, even if he did come with deadly strings attached.

Baekhyun sighed and rubbed his face, before quietly muttering, "I don't want you coming to the police station anymore to meet me, Chanyeol. Wu wouldn't dare hurt me there."

Chanyeol frowned, and pursed his lips as he reached out to stroke Baekhyun's cheek. "What if he decides going after you is worth the risk?"

"Then I'll be well protected if he does, Chanyeol," Baekhyun replied exhaustedly, before pulling Chanyeol's hand away from his face. "Now please, stop letting my safety rule your every move."

"Why do you keep denying me?" Chanyeol softly asked with a frown, as he reached his hand out once again and slid his fingers into Baekhyun's hair.

Baekhyun pulled away, as he replied, "Because I don't want to feel dependent of you."

"Why do you have to be so complicated, Byun Baekhyun. Can't you just give me a straight answer...." Chanyeol muttered.

Baekhyun bit his bottom lip, and mumbled, "Because it's easier on myself if I don't."

Chanyeol sighed. "Fine, will you at least stay here tonight so I can keep you safe?"

"Why don't you just send me home with a body guard," Baekhyun muttered.

Chanyeol pursed his lips, and replied, "You know why I don't want to do that . . ." Chanyeol softly said, as his hand glided back down to rest over Baekhyun's cheek; his thumb gently slid under his chin to turn his head. Their eyes connected, and neither one of them could deny the dark burn of desire simmering just beneath the surface. "Please, stay here with me?"

"I don't think I should . . ." Baekhyun whispered.

"Why?" Chanyeol whispered. "Why do you keep pulling me along each day, and look at me as if...." Chanyeol trailed off. "You pull me in only to act as if you hate me the next time, and Byun Baekhyun, I'm not the kind of man you can string along."

Baekhyun gulped and shifted away from Chanyeol, putting distance between them as he quietly replied, "Because I shouldn't be anywhere near you, Chanyeol." Baekhyun said, his words sending a pang to Chanyeol's heart.

"But . . ." Baekhyun mumbled, "I do find myself coming back to you."

Hope flared to life inside Chanyeol's heart, and it probably wouldn't last and be snuffed out before it's even begun, but Chanyeol's come to learn he should take things he wants when they're within reach. He wasn't going to waste this moment, and he would get Baekhyun to admit his true feelings.

Chanyeol leaned in close, ignoring it when Baekhyun only pulled away until there was nowhere else to go. Baekhyun's heart was racing, and he wanted to escape but like every time before his body refused to listen. Their lips connected, and it felt right —- as if it was always meant to be, and that's what was so terrifying because now Baekhyun knew even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to walk away from this man he was growing to love.

Baekhyun lifted his hands to cup Chanyeol's cheeks as he kissed him back, his emotions wild as he poured all of his feelings into the kiss —- his conflict; his dissolving hatred; his fading distain; his worry; his fear . . . All of it mixed together with the one thing he could no longer deny.

Byun Baekhyun was indeed in love with Park Chanyeol. He couldn't hide from it anymore, and he knew it would only make everything all the more dangerous.

+ + +

"Have you arrived?"

"Yes," Luhan replied.

"And you know what to do?"

"I have to kill my target, or you'll kill me," Luhan replied, as he watched Baekhyun and Chanyeol from across the street.

"I hope you don't disappoint me then," Wu said before the line went dead.

Luhan sighed and ended his side of the call, as he said to no one, "No worries there." And then he climbed out of his car, and felt his back pocket for his gun as he began his stride toward the mansion.

He was halfway across the street when a car suddenly turned the corner, the headlights blinding him as the car came to a hard stop just in front of him. He squinted against the light and held his hand up, trying to see the driver through the headlights when . . .

"Luhan! What are you doing here?" an annoyingly familiar voice called, before a moment later he was emerging from behind the glaring headlights, a gun raised in his hand much to Luhan's surprise.

Luhan quietly cursed, and thought, Why did you have to show up and make things difficult?

"Why are you following Baekhyun?" Sehun demanded, his gun trained directly on Luhan, his finger hovering near the trigger. "I put a tracking device on your car after Baekhyun warned me to stay away from you. I was confused why he would say that, but seeing you here now puts everything into perspective. I've been suspicious of Baekhyun for awhile now, thinking he was somehow connected to the murderer . . . He isn't, but he's still not innocent." Sehun said. "He doesn't realize that I know anything, I guess I should have been an actor."

Luhan pursed his lips, and then he slowly raised his hands with a growing smirk as he replied, "Do you also know that your friend is currently aiding the Mafia? Surely he'll lose his job for that. And you're right, he's far from innocent. Which is why he has to go . . ." Luhan trailed off as he quickly dropped his hands and pulled his gun from his pocket.

Bang! Two bullets ripped through the air, and neither one of them knew who had made the better shot.

Word count: 987