Kansas City, MO

“I think I’ve found my calling,” Kris declares, his mouth and hands covered in barbecue sauce.

“What?” Lu Han asks, “eating baby back ribs?”

“Yes,” Kris replies, taking another bite of meat. “The ones in Memphis were good, but the sauce on these is ic, I swear to God.” Tao nods vigorously.

“I think it’s my calling too,” Tao says, and everyone is shocked to see just how messy he is. Tao’s never been a messy person but somehow he’s even got the sweet barbecue sauce on his forehead. Lu Han guffaws, nudging Yixing. Yixing looks up, having been lost in thought as was typical of the last few days.

“Tao!” Yixing cries. “You have sauce on your forehead!” Tao crosses his eyes as he attempts to look up at the sauce, and Kris sighs, reaching for a paper towel and wiping off Tao’s forehead.

Lu Han pouts at Yixing. “How’s my face?” he asks.

Yixing looks back down at his plate. “Fine,” he says. Luhan looks up at Kris, who shrugs.

“I think your face ,” Tao sniggers, and Lu Han threatens to wipe his hands off on Tao’s sleeve. Everything is almost normal, Lu Han thinks, but he’s not sure he likes how pensieve Yixing is being these days. He misses his best friend.

[A/N]: I used to spend a lot of time in Kansas City eating barbecue. Best kind ok no arguing.