13. Temptation

Phoenix Rising
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Chapter 13: Temptation

When Baekhyun realized it was Monday, all hell broke loose.

 

While he scrambled into his clothes - which littered the floor from the door to the bed - Chanyeol lounged on the bed and made suggestions ranging from the simple and obvious: call out sick, to the creative: call out dead. 

 

Baekhyun laughed despite himself, but the sound was strained.

 

Chanyeol's state of undress proved incensingly distracting to Baekhyun, and it wasn't until the guitarist got up, put on a shirt, and offered to walk Baekhyun to the nearest main street that the frazzled businessman calmed down - slightly.

 

The easy, albeit recalcitrant camaraderie they'd enjoyed before was now tenuous at best, though Baekhyun curbed his snippy retorts and even apologized once, deflating with a defeated expression. Fraught with nerves, he seemed to close in on himself, a receding nightflower shying from the light of day.

 

While Baekhyun fretted and dressed, Chanyeol made a cup of sulloc tea and observed him over the rim of his mug. It had become increasingly evident that Baekhyun's stress and frustration was a result of the very life he led, his anger aimed at invisible fetters, rules and pressures that bound him.

 

Chanyeol understood, only too well.

 

After putting Baekhyun in a cab to Kangnam, Chanyeol turned himself around, heavy boots crunching through the snow as he headed back down the street. He pulled out his phone and punched speed dial. Pressing his phone between shoulder and ear, he rubbed cold hands together and blew on them, attempting to pull the sleeves of his leather jacket over his knuckles.

 

"Hi."

 

"Tao."

 

"Nn."

 

"...Are you stoned?" Chanyeol asked, features contorting with suspicion.

 

"I had class." The bassist reminded dryly.

 

Chanyeol snickered. "You at your place? I was gonna come by and get my gear."

 

"Yeah."

 

"Cool."

 

It was a twenty minute walk to Tao's place, a small off-campus dorm house near the university. Long strides took Chanyeol from Hapjeong to Hongdae, and over the hill.

 

The bassist's van soon came into view - a clunking antique straight out of the 70's that served as the band's transport to and from shows. It technically belonged to both of them but Tao had a parking space - and was arguably the better driver - so he kept it between shows.

 

"He's stoned," Chanyeol observed as he stepped through the door and spotted Kai strewn haphazardly across Tao's couch.

 

Tao slid catlike eyes toward the vocalist and shrugged. Affirmative.

 

Chanyeol's lips twitched with withheld commentary and he turned his attention to Tao instead. The bassist had returned to his perch at the skinny breakfast bar--desk - one of the many economical ways Tao maximized his small space - and was crunching away at a red apple with a pencil poised in his other hand. He was poring over an open textbook and notebook which took up nearly the entire surface.

 

"Thanks for taking care of my stuff last night," said Chanyeol as he dragged the adjacent stool from under the table and straddled it. Sitting reminded him just how exhausted he was - and just how little sleep he'd managed to get. Regardless, he felt rejuvenated and upbeat.

 

Tao looked up under thick black fringe and the corners of his lips curled with a feline smirk. "You'll owe me one," he murmured good-naturedly. Gently accented, the soft spoken youth's demure voice contrasted heavily with his dark, lidded stare and thin, aristocratic mouth.

 

Chanyeol grinned, a warm blaze to Tao's black ice. "Of course."

 

", guys. You know what this means?" Kai piped up suddenly from where he lay nearly upside down; only then did Chanyeol notice the heavy recording headphones around his neck and the pad of college rule paper tucked between his body and the sofa. He eyed the vocalist with mild curiosity.

 

Kai sighed and laughed lazily as he swung his legs off the backrest. "We-- must be in' famous if Yeol got laid," he announced with a smirk. Rolling onto his side, he stood and ambled over, clapping Chanyeol on the back of the neck. "Who's the lucky duckling~" he cooed, hooking his elbow around the guitarist's neck as he leaned heavily against his side.

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sohbet
Just went through and fixed 7 years of formatting problems... The whole fic should be properly legible on mobile now! xo Soh

Comments

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xiahticxx
#1
Chapter 65: Coming back to AFF after 4-5 years. I finally know what real life means lol. I came back finding more than 10 fics I’m subscribed to are now complete. Though I have more time to myself now but real life doesn’t give me the luxury to read those fics. Instead, I started over PR until the last chapter and will leave again and check from time to time for PR’s update.

On the story, I’m glad that the everything has come to light. With only the suit remains, I’m hopeful for a happy ending for Baekhyun and Chanyeol, they deserve that after everything they’ve been through. Rereading this after gaining some experience myself, I can better relate to Baekhyun and Chanyeol more. The social pressure is real. I’m just happy that they have each other’s back, they trust each other now. With more than enough s life throws at them, at least their better half provides continuous comfort and support. I just wish no one will actually self sabotage themselves to save the other.

Anyway, great job on almost completing PR, see you when I see you!
Baek_lyn #2
Chapter 65: Omg yes go on that was passionate they had Woow so hot
saikia_puwali #3
Chapter 65: I hope you are doing well author! this fic has me hooked and i so want to know what happens next...but considering the time we are going through....i don't wat to bother u...just..stay safe and healthy..thank you for writing this amaze balls story,..loads of love!! XOXO
saikia_puwali #4
Chapter 65: OK....so i am back in asianfanfics after staying away for a few years...and yours is the one I first read!!!!.. OMG OMG OMG!!!!! IT is so ing beatiful and angsty and everything I like!! Hope you are staying safe and healthy....omg!!can't wait to read the rest of it...how will it end!!.. OMG!! *hearteyes* Loads of love
firstladydragon
#5
Chapter 65: Crying over this chapter (again!!) while in a dire need of cold shower at the same time..I hope you are safe and healthy all along!
parksyeol
#6
Chapter 65: “a play in three acts, and here we unveil the villain. and here, the hero shoots him dead” wowowow beautiful amazing gorgeous

“and here, we have the hero. and here the villain holds him close, knowing all he has done wrong” are you serious i’m in love… i never want to forget these words

oh no there’s more “when the villain loves the hero, he will hurt him from within. there is only one way left for him to atone for his sins. he lets the hero win”

UM HE “I JUST WANT TO FEEL YOU” GOODBYE HOW WAS THIS SCENE SO SWEET

their love :(( yeah i’m in love with this story and i’ll wait forever if i have to.

and yes!!! i'd be ready to support any future projects for this story omg
parksyeol
#7
Chapter 64: i’m gonna scream.. i'm shocked hjhjhjhfg it couldnt have been that easy though right T_T i should have known
parksyeol
#8
Chapter 63: ga in???? hello?????/ mvp
parksyeol
#9
Chapter 62: oh wow this chapter is incredibly lovely :( so heartbreaking

AND THE ENDING woah… chanyeol is too good
parksyeol
#10
Chapter 61: oh thank god kris called

omgogmgogmgogomg my babies together again (i MEAN it hasnt been long in their world but it has been in mine and just ?? when theyre not together xgfxxffd not ideal it doesnt feel right) also i lied i'm eating these new chapters up so fast