It had been a week since Minseok had gotten rescued by Luhan and company, and it had been a week since they had gotten together.

Jongdae couldn't understand why it took them so long to decide on a proper date to celebrate. For Balhae's sake, it has been a week and they still do not know when to throw an official party? It seemed to him like Minseok and Luhan had started quarreling more ever since they got together.

"It's a lover's spat," Chanyeol patiently explained to him one afternoon while they lounged on the couch waiting for cookies to bake. "Usually harmless, and will clear up within a few days."

Jongdae nodded slowly. "Do you and Sehun have lover spats too?"

"Sure, we quarrel about who I meet, who he meets, how many hours of sleep a day I get, how often I wash my socks, and how much he spends on bubble tea a week."

Jongdae gaped at him, utterly flabbergasted.

Chanyeol shrugged sleepily. "Life's like that. Relationships will be relationships. Quarrels become part of your daily lives. It's a form of showing your love, actually. If you don't care about a person you won't bother to quarrel with him."

The Prince leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and began to ponder. "Bae Hoon and I quarrel about stupid things like closing the door properly when I go for my bath..." He trailed off and continued to mumble something about 'Balhae having no doors at the bathing areas and doors with knobs are ridiculous and should not have been invented at all'.

Chanyeol grinned widely and said nothing about that, continuing to watch the football match on TV. Jongdae shot him a puzzled look, but didn't dwell on it after hearing the faint ding of the oven, signaling that the cookies were done.

"Will Bae hoon like this?" Jongdae mused as he lifted a crisp cookie from the sheet and examined it.

Chanyeol chuckled, the -eating grin never leaving his face. Such sappy idiots.

 

 

-

 

 

The party eventually did happen, after repeated prompting from Baekhyun and Yifan. Yifan retorted that they should just 'get out of the darn bedroom and start living proper lives again' and that pissed Luhan off ( "we do NOT live in the bedroom for heaven's sake!!" ) so he finally decided to organize that belated party.

It was a small-scale party, inviting only the close group of friends who knew about the Jongdae's and Minseok's real identity. Which honestly weren't a lot of people. Luhan got the guest count to five, but reluctantly upped it to seven when Yifan asserted that he should invite Suho and Tao too.

"Why should I?" He grumbled incessantly. "They nearly sent my Minseokkie away!"

"If you think about it from a different perspective, they helped bring you and Minseok hyung together." Yifan informed him matter-of-factly.

Luhan made a face at him and stalked away, refusing to admit how right he was.

The party started off with a celebratory mood, but became more like a frat party as time progressed. Once the food had been polished off, Chanyeol went ahead and turned the living room into a dance floor. He dragged Sehun over to his coined 'dance floor' and initiated a dance battle with him, but it turned out to be a disaster, because Luhan's living room was way too cluttered with stuff to allow for proper movement. They ended up playing Donkey Kong on WII instead.

Yifan and Suho huddled in a corner and discussed about technological breakthroughs and a whole load of boring stuff. Tao went to the kitchen to grab more drinks, and immediately ran out screaming.

"My eyes!!" He screeched, throwing himself onto the couch beside Baekhyun and hiding his head behind a pillow.

Baekhyun patted his shoulder half-heartedly. "This whole party is a tragedy," he sighed.

"They should at least have gotten a room..." Tao bemoaned. "I'm scarred for life..."

Jongdae sat down on the couch beside Tao, grinning. "But I think this party is fun! Balhae never has parties like this." He cringed as Sehun yelled a string of curses at his character on the WII game. "It is so happening here."

"Too happening," Tao groaned. "And I'm still thirsty..."

Baekhyun sighed and shifted closer towards the side table, grabbing his wallet off the table. "I'll go out and buy some drinks."

After a short moment of silence between the three, Jongdae suddenly stood up. "I'm going too."

Baekhyun looked up at him, slightly surprised. He never expected Jongdae to do something like that. Didn't he like being at the party?

Tao yawned and waved the two of them off. "Come back soon!"

 

 

-

 

 

The night was young, and the air was refreshing. Baekhyun gestured towards his new motorcycle with a wide grin.

"I'm taking my motorbike to the store. If you wanna come with me, you have to sit on this."

The prince eyed the bike with careful scrutiny, meticulously looking it up and down. He patted the seat, and scrunched his nose with apprehension. "I guess I can ride on this..."

Baekhyun beamed, and tossed him a helmet. "Don't worry, I'll go slow."

He did try his best to go extra slow, because Jongdae had his arms slipped round his waist throughout the whole journey, and he wanted to prolong that glorious moment as much as he could.

"How was it?" Baekhyun asked Jongdae as they collected the plastic bags of the drinks they purchased.

Jongdae shrugged sheepishly. "I had my eyes closed all the way..."

Baekhyun burst into laughter, slinging his arm around Jongdae's shoulders. "That's a pity! The nighttime view on a motorbike is the best! You'd better open your eyes and see everything on the return trip back."

Jongdae nodded simply. Then he stopped and turned to face Baekhyun. "Hey, can we walk a little? I want to talk to you."

Baekhyun hesitated, swallowed a lump down his throat and tried to ignore the sudden release of butterflies in his stomach. "Sure, okay."

 

He attached the plastic bags of drinks to the motorcycle, before trudging through the grass to join Jongdae. Slipping his hands into his pockets, Baekhyun fell into step with the Crown Prince, who was gazing silently into space, brows furrowed with thought.

"I am sorry about Jongin." Jongdae said quietly.

It was so soft that Baekhyun could've missed it if he hasn't been paying attention. Eyes widening, he glanced over his shoulder at the young man walking alongside him.

"Don't be silly," he replied with a amused undertone to his voice, "It's not your fault."

Jongdae didn't smile. His face was solemn and dark. "It was going so well. It was such a pity, but..." He looked like he was about to say something more, but abruptly changed his mind and pressed his lips shut.

What was he going to say?

Baekhyun slowed his footsteps as they neared a railing overlooking a small canal. He leaned against the railing, and Jongdae did the same, gazing out at the faint glimmers from the city lights, projected onto the water.

He decided to pluck his courage and ask the question he had been dying to ask, for ages.

"Be honest with me, Jongdae. Did you like it when I dated Jongin?"

Jongdae was silent for a while, just emotionlessly staring into space and playing with his fingers.

"No," he finally responded.

 

Baekhyun couldn't understand the sudden rush of relief that flooded his system. It was like a heavy weight lifted off his chest, and he couldn't help but grin. Jongdae's face was unreadable, but he looked like he was pouting... Was he?

"Was Jongin sad?" Jongdae muttered, facing slightly away from Baekhyun. He didn't know if that move was on purpose, or not.

Baekhyun shrugged, more to himself than to Jongdae. They hadn't really talked much after he had brought up the issue of a breakup. Jongin had simply kept silent about the whole issue - he didn't question much or fight back, he just accepted it without protest. It was kind of strange, but Baekhyun didn't exactly want to complain about that.

"He was okay with it I guess. We haven't talked much."

"And are you okay?"

Am I okay? Baekhyun honestly didn't know. Standing by the canal side by side, not too close yet not too far - a comfortable distance away. I guess I'm okay. I feel far more okay with you than when I'm with anyone else. I feel like I can get used to this.

Maybe not.

Jongdae was suddenly looking at him. And it wasn't right - it wasn't right for Jongdae to make him feel that way. His insides felt like they were contracting up tight against his lungs, he couldn't breathe normally. His mouth turned dry and his fists clenched subconsciously.

Why do my feelings always go haywire when he looks at me like this?

This. Is not okay. I need to-

"You are not okay," Jongdae started to shake his head, stepping even closer into his personal space. They were less than an arms width apart now, and it was way too close for Baekhyun's mind to process anything at its normal rate.

I need to just-

Jongdae reached up, fingers brushing lightly against his cheek. "Does your heart hurt really bad?"

His skin burned where Jongdae's fingers had come into contact with. It flushed and tingled, and it yearned, yearned for more of his touches. Baekhyun hated himself for blushing so easily, and he was half-glad that it was dark out, such that Jongdae wouldn't able to notice how red his face was.

Control, Baekhyun, control...

"You are shaking... Are you cold?" Jongdae whispered, retracting his hand away from Baekhyun's face.

To Baekhyun's own surprise, his body suddenly went on auto-drive. Lunging forward, he grabbed hold of Jongdae's wrists and tugged him closer until their chests nearly collided. With a small squeak, Jongdae's nose bumped into his, and he could see the epic widening of the younger's eyes.

"Bae-"

Before Baekhyun could even process what was happening in his head, he was already moving forward, tilting his face to press his lips gently against Jongdae's. Jongdae's lips parted in surprise, and he stopped moving completely, as if completely frozen stiff with shock.

It's really soft... And nice...

Those were the only things Baekhyun could think of. He lost track of time, of how long they stood there by the canal with their mouths slotted together. He wouldn't really call it a kiss - neither of them moved, or even seemed to know what to do. It was like they were waiting for reality to sink in.

And then it did.

. We're... I'm kissing Jongdae.

Baekhyun pulled away slowly, releasing his grip on Jongdae's hands, and their lips separated with a soft smacking noise that sent goosebumps down Baekhyun's spine. His heart was pounding madly and leaping into his throat, and his mind was in a whirl.

Oh crap we-

Jongdae had a dazed look on his face, looking equally as lost as himself. His jaw fell open, but no words came out.

Baekhyun took a deep breath to calm his impossibly frazzled nerves. "Look Jongdae," he began, placing his hands on Jongdae's shoulders and trying not to freak out or go berserk, "Don't worry about me, I'm totally fine, see? If there's anything wrong with me it's got to be because of you and..." Jongdae's eyes slowly started to widen, "and... No I mean..."

"Bae Hoon, just stop..." Jongdae sounded exhausted, but his eyes were bright, almost shimmering. "You are completely losing me." He shook his head, but there was no denying the smile creeping up onto his face.

Did he like it?

Baekhyun still felt light-headed and confused, but he knew one thing was for sure - Jongdae wasn't resisting him.

That was what spurred him to lean forward again to seal the distance between them. Jongdae's little smile faded and his eyes fluttered shut, and Baekhyun could feel his long eyelashes grazing his own as their lips reach for each other...

His phone chose that exact moment to start screeching a Taylor Swift song. Baekhyun leapt back like he was shot, almost toppling over his own feet at the sudden noise and the annoying vibrations from his back pocket. Jongdae scratched his head awkwardly and turned back to the view facing the railing.

Oh god dammit who is the culprit?! Baekhyun cussed under his breath, pulling out the screaming device from his jeans pocket.

"Byun Baekkie-hyun where are you??" Luhan sing-songed through the crashing noises in the background, which vaguely sounded like WII dance dance revolution.

"I'm buying drinks, oh hell." Baekhyun massaged his temples and groaned loudly.

"What's wrong? Drinks sold out?"

"No! Geez, forget it. I'm coming back."

He hung up and almost felt like tossing his phone into the canal. Damn you technology! Maybe if he lived in Balhae such things wouldn't happen and he could just carry on with making out with Jongdae.

Making out. Oh god.

"Do we have to go back?" Jongdae was saying, looking everywhere except at him.

Baekhyun let out an agitated huff. "I suppose," he mumbled, and after second thoughts reached out to grab hold of Jongdae's wrist. "L-let's go."

The ride back was extra hard because Jongdae was not only hugging his back but also leaning on it, and he could hear every single thud of Jongdae's heartbeat. (There's also the fact that he's so nervous, he could easily match two of his heartbeats to one of Jongdae's.)

 

 

-

 

 

Okay, this is awkward.

Jongdae laid on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, at the air-conditioning unit that hummed softly above his head.

When I look left, I see the wall...

When I look right, I see Baekhyun.

When I close my eyes, I see the railing overlooking the canal, I see the glittery stars in the night sky, I see Baekhyun's face inches from mine.

Jongdae took a deep breath and rolled over to his right, just to sneak a peak down at the cot. He gave a start when he discovered a pair of eyes steadily watching him.

Both of them gasped in unison. Baekhyun scrambled to duck his face into the blanket, while Jongdae quickly squished his into the pillow. For a while, Jongdae heard nothing but the rapid pounding of his own heart.

What should I do...

Baekhyun cleared his throat several times and shifted around rather stiffly on the cot. He ran a hand awkwardly through his hair. "Um, J-Jongdae..."

Jongdae propped himself up with an elbow and leaned down to listen to what Baekhyun had to say. The older caught his glance for a second, and then began to blush furiously. Jongdae thought it was really adorable.

"N-nothing, um, goodnight..." Baekhyun buried himself under the covers again, curling himself up into a ball.

Jongdae laid back down on the bed, pressing his cheek against the side of the mattress. Baekhyun wants to say something to me, but he is holding back because he is too uncertain... Curiosity began to eat him out as the silence wore on. Jongdae finally decided to make the first move, to put an end to this awkwardness.

"Bae Hoon hyung, will you lie down here with me?"

There was a long pause, before the bedcovers on the cot rustled and a messy head popped out from underneath. Baekhyun's eyes were droopy with sleep, and he looked almost incredulous and in disbelief. "Pardon?"

"Sleep with me." Jongdae patted the spot beside him on the bed. "I am feeling cold."

The series of expressions that crossed Baekhyun's face next were nothing short of hilarious. He turned white with shock, pink with shyness and then red with embarrassment. But it didn't take long before Baekhyun was hastily climbing out of the cot and up onto the bed, fitting snugly into the space that Jongdae had left for him.

 

Being intimately close with Baekhyun on a bed had a totally different feeling compared to when he was standing, or sitting beside him. Baekhyun's body radiated a comforting sort of warmth that he had never experienced before. For all his life back in Balhae, Jongdae had always been sleeping by himself, on a rolled-out mat on the cold hard floor.

People did not sleep together in Balhae, unless they were legally married.

Here in modern Seoul, things were different. Lifestyles, norms were different.

Baekhyun is different.

Baekhyun rested an arm across his waist, snuggling him close. His eyes were soft and his gaze was gentle, all traces of awkwardness dissipated. Instead, there was only fondness and innocent affection. Jongdae leaned in close to rest his head against Baekhyun's chest, and his heart swelled with happiness. This feels so right...

Baekhyun's heartbeat is as fast as his own, maybe even faster. Jongdae couldn't help but chuckle at this sudden realisation. How nervous could he be?

 

"Jongdae..." Baekhyun whispered, tightening his hold on the younger's body. "Jongdae, I..."

"Bae Hoon," Jongdae murmured into the soft downy fabric on Baekhyun's sleep shirt.

"I think I'm in love with you."

Jongdae tilted his head inwards and nuzzled his face into Baekhyun's soft neck. "In love with me?"

"Yeah, I- I hope you could give me a chance... to love you, Jongdae?"

A smile of relief blossomed on Jongdae's face. It didn't feel strange at all, like he thought it would be. Liking another male would have created an uproar in Balhae, Jongdae could almost imagine the appalled expressions on all the Palace guards and servants. But somehow, everything felt so right now, like it was meant to all happen. And Jongdae liked this feeling tremendously.

"Bae Hoon, could you give me a day or two to consider?"

"Yeah, sure," Baekhyun replied breathlessly. He pressed a chaste kiss on the top of his forehead, and quickly pulled away, a shy pink tinting his cheeks. Jongdae giggled, wrapping an arm around Baekhyun's neck and cuddling closer.

"Bae Hoon?" Jongdae whispered after a short break in their conversation.

"Hmm?" He replied dreamily.

"Thank you."

Baekhyun grunted a little, clearly struggling to process the words in his sleep-addled mind. "What for?"

"For being there for me."

 

 

---

This is short. I'm sorry. You guys totally deserve something longer. Sigh

I'm really scared right now guys cos while its cute and fluffy now, I'm afraid I might have to break your hearts soon.
Don't kill me T.T
Meanwhile enjoy the fluff ;)

Hooray for 4 subs :) I'm so glad you guys decided to support this awkward fic, awkward me says thank you :D
I know it's been a long wait, I'm on holiday now but I have a lot of camps and dry runs for the camps, really hectic and tired T_T
There's also me picking up my iPad and staring at the chapter draft and angsting over it because its plain horrible and idek what to do :(

Feedback is always appreciated! I thank all of you in advance :)
While the storyline has already been fixed, I'm always up for tweaking. Don't hesitate to critique me, I can handle anything *bares muscles* /nah I don't have much lol/

*SENDS HUGS AND KISSES TO EVERY READER*
XOXO

(PS: I just watched happy camp and cried a barrel of tears so don't mind me being so emotional all of a sudden)

 

(Cute baekchen!)