Defy The Earth

Chapter 9

Chanyeol was confused.

Baekhyun told him he liked him – but was it romantic or platonic? Chanyeol told Baekhyun that he liked him – was that platonic or romantic? Because, he himself didn't know. He liked Baekhyun, liked him a lot, would do anything for him – he knew he would so there was no point hiding this. One rude word from Baekhyun could make him cry. And Chanyeol didn't cry, like ever. He wasn't one to cry. The other confusing thing was the messed up state of Nature.

Chanyeol felt it as he fought, side to side with his team. The Tree of Life was messed up. No matter how much energy they gave it, it continued to die. And the spirits continued to fight, as if it was the only thing they knew.

"Chanyeol!" Sehun shouted and Chanyeol looked at the younger surrounded by a huge numbers of spirits, "Help me!"

Chanyeol stabbed his sword into the ground, summoning the greatest waves of fire ever summoned. They spread out throughout the area. The spirits recoiled and vaporized but of them some jumped near Suho to protect themselves in the water. Others jumped up and down but somehow managed to stay alive; marching towards Sehun, with determination. Chanyeol collapsed on the ground as his world blackened.

His eyes blinked open and he realized he was in the familiar white infirmary. He sighed and looked around, seeing who else was injured. He saw Sehun – or Sehun's feet, to be exact, laying on the bed opposite his feet, his blanket pulled up to his chin. He probably wasn't able to defend himself from the army of spirits. He tried getting up but a hand placed on his chest stopped him.

"Hush, don't move." Baekhyun's familiar voice said. Chanyeol turned his head to see Baekhyun slowly sliding towards him from the next bed. His lips turned up immediately.

"Got injured too, huh?" He mused, shifting to make space for Baekhyun. They didn't feel the awkwardness from yesterday – probably because they were both tired, injured and on medicines. Whatever the case was, Chanyeol didn't complain. He instead relished in the feel of having Baekhyun close to him.

Baekhyun rolled his eyes as he pressed up against Chanyeol, "Well somebody had to save your ass after both Sehun and you decided to pass out."

Chanyeol chuckled, wrapping his arms around Baekhyun and tucking the boy in his chest, "I apologize to you, Emperor of Light."

"Apology accepted, King of Fire." Chanyeol pulled back to stare at him.

"King?" He asked, and Baekhyun nodded, tangling his fingers with Chanyeol's.

"The thing you did back there had you promoted." He smiled and Chanyeol couldn't help but smile too, because it was just that contagious.

Baekhyun made him happy.

"Building 23J is safe, all house-mates are sleeping. The few spirits that were there are killed and I already sent for the Dream Sequence." Chanyeol summed up, thinking through his entire mission once again and then nodding, "Yep, that's it. Mission Complete."

"All right," He heard Baekhyun's voice speak earpiece, "Reach back to the base as soon as possible."

Chanyeol replied in the positive and hurried out of the area towards his car, sitting in swiftly and turning the ignition on as he drove out of the apartment complex –

"And Chanyeol?" Baekhyun's voice called out.

"Mhmm?"

"Congratulations." He could hear Baekhyun's smile through the words, so he smiled too. After all, it was contagious.

"Thanks," He whispered softly, driving in the night, back home to Baekhyun.

"So, only duo left for you," Sehun said, eating a loaf of bread. The dancer ate a lot but he never seemed to fatten a bit, which was something that annoyed Chanyeol to no end.