“I’m busy today.”

“Again? Where have you been going the past couple of weeks? For real, like every time I ask you to hang out these days you’ve been blowing me off,” asked Sehun crossly.

Chanyeol leaned against the sink, his face in a little bit of disbelief, “Seriously? I’ve been telling you, me and Baekhyun have been practicing. We’re doing a duet at his bar.” He looked proud.

“Seriously? I thought you were joking about that. It sounded like some weird code for .”

“Why the are you such a ert all the time?”

“Cause I haven’t gotten any in weeks,” he pouted. “And then I have to hear you getting it on all the time!”

“UGH,” he scowled in disgust, “Why are you listening!?”

“It’s not like I try!  I put in earphones and I can still hear Baekhyun. I swear to god I’ve never heard him say anything so loud in all the time I’ve known him.”

“Every time you open your mouth it just reaffirms my theory of you being the biggest on the planet.”

“What a coincidence because since your boyfriend is so loud all the time I’m starting my own theory that you have the biggest on the planet.”

Chanyeol screamed, and not only in his head. Sehun cackled evilly and Chanyeol just stood in shock. The soda can in his hands crumpled under the pressure of his fist, sticky drink spilling onto his fingers.

“I literally have nothing to say to that,” he finally said, folding his arms and shifting his position. “Well, whatever, I guess. Don’t be jealous.”

Sehun scoffed and clicked his tongue, “What a third grade response. Don’t act like you’re so impressed with your like I need to be jealous or something. Anyways…when is your performance? The guys and I’ll come cheer you on. Or probably just make some noise in the back, I plan on being trashed.”

“Please don’t. Just so you know, it’s next Saturday. You guys can come if you want, but you really can’t go crazy. It’s Baekhyun’s job.”

“I know, I know….…I’m kind of jealous. We’ve been looking for to do for months and then you get a boyfriend and a gig just lands on your lap. Maybe I should be gay too.”

“Wow, thanks.” He rolled his eyes sarcastically. “It’s not even my gig, okay? It’s Baekhyun’s job and I’m basically featuring.”

“I’m just saying, I know how good you are. Even if you do well you’re not allowed to start ditching us to play there, okay? Even though you’re basically the worst leader ever, we still need you in our band.”

It was his turn to reassuringly pat his friend on the shoulder, “Please, like anything like that would happen. I’m not about to ditch you. This is a one-time thing. I promise.”

Saturday night rolled around and Chanyeol was worried as hell about messing up. Maybe his voice would crack. Baekhyun had been tutoring him on the finer points of singing and although he was nowhere near his level, at least he could hold a tune now. Luckily, his voice sounded much better when coupled with Baekhyun’s, so with Baekhyun covering for him, tonight was sure to be a success. Nevertheless, the thought of making a mistake still unnerved him. He didn’t want to embarrass Baekhyun, or make him regret asking him to do this.

But Baekhyun was all calm as they waited backstage, and Chanyeol envied his tranquility

“You’ll do fine,” he assured him, straightening Chanyeol’s jacket for him. He himself wore a plaid button up tucked into black slacks. He positioned his signature disguise on his head. Chanyeol couldn’t help but reel over how perfect and unaffected he looked, and to hide his own embarrassment he pulled Baekhyun’s hat down on his head, covering his face.

“Hey,” Baekhyun protested as he was blinded. “You’re ruining my hair!”

“Just give me a second,” mused Chanyeol. “I’m freaking out.”

“Well, don’t. You’re going to make me freak out too. You have no reason to worry, you’re going to be fine.”

“Okay,” he sighed, and released his hold.

Baekhyun emerged a second later and smiled looking down at his watch. “It’s nine, let’s do this.” Chanyeol gulped and he laughed. Baekhyun tugged on his sleeve and pulled him out.

He followed Baekhyun out onto the illuminated platform and was briefly blinded by the lights. He really did hear some obnoxious shouting from the back and he mentally noted to hit Sehun and what sounded like Jongdae later.

Baekhyun sat expertly at his piano, waiting for Chanyeol to adjust his acoustic, and when he was ready he gave a nod. Chanyeol gulped and nodded back at him and just like that the piano-guitar medley filled the air. People cheered lightly as the familiar opening bars were played and Chanyeol felt himself smile as Baekhyun’s beautiful voice filled the air.

What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

My head's underwater
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh

Chanyeol had been staring at Baekhyun so fixated that he almost forgot it was his turn. He knew his trained fingers would do the work, so he concentrated on singing into the microphone, praying his voice wouldn’t betray him. As he began, Baekhyun looked up from the piano, you could hardly tell he was playing with the way he looked at him, and he smiled back because he knew that right now he was the only one who could see his lover’s bright face.

How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing in my head for you

My head's underwater
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
Give me all of you, oh oh

He couldn’t hit those high notes like Baekhyun had, but the steady tenor of his voice gave off an eerie quality to the song. True emotion rang out in each word he sang. Then they were singing together, and with the way Baekhyun was smiling, he knew it wasn’t just him that realized their combination was truly amazing.

Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all though it's hard

Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you

On cue they both stopped playing and in the silence only their voices were heard, echoing through the breathless room. What was a beautiful song to most everyone were singularly words of love and affirmation to the two.

I give you all of me
And you give me all, of you, oh oh oh.

Cheers and applause erupted in the room, his obnoxious friends were the loudest in the back but he was grateful. He couldn’t stop smiling and his cheeks hurt. Baekhyun looked at him softly and the weight of the words he’d just sang made him want to cry. What could be better than this?

Apparently it could get better though.

They played the rest of their set for the night in completely joy, finishing at ten before the bar switched back to stereo tracks. Chanyeol was riding high, and he barely felt tired as he ran up to his friends in the back.

Kris, Jongdae, Minseok and Sehun were there and they grabbed him and encircled him. When Baekhyun walked up to their group hug shyly Kris even clapped him on the shoulder before pulling him in.

When they broke apart Sehun chirped, “’All of me’? Really? That’s what you started with? You guys are the most disgustingly sweet couple I’ve ever seen.”  He poked him in the chest with a drunken finger.

Chanyeol smiled and pulled Baekhyun close to him with one arm. Sure, they looked like buddies, but most everyone in their group faked a gag when Chanyeol smiled down at his shy boyfriend.

They let each other go in an instant when the owner of the bar, Mr. Kim, sauntered over to their group. He clamped a firm and hard hand on each of their shoulders and a large smile filled his face.

He looked between the two, “You boys brought in a big crowd tonight and got a great response! How’s about doing it again next week? I’ll even pay you next time,” he poked Chanyeol in the chest.

Chanyeol was overwhelmed with emotion and fervently nodded his head, agreeing immediately. Mr. Kim promised to send Baekhyun the details and he wandered off to personally greet some customers. The two beamed at each other in excitement and anticipation.

But they weren’t happy for long, they turned back to the group and were equally surprised to see the shocked looks on their faces. Minseok and Jongdae looked a little hurt, but Kris was stoic.

Sehun even lightly scowled at him. “You said you were only going to do it the one time. You promised,” he said with a slur.

“Just one more time,” he reassured them with a smile. Kris and Sehun looked at him pointedly. “Really! I swear! Maybe with the cash we can even get some knew equipment.” That seemed to cheer them up a little.

Chanyeol couldn’t help but blow Sehun off again that next week. He spent all his free time practicing with Baekhyun. He knew he really didn’t need to be so involved, after all he was only going to play one more time, but he was also doing exactly what he loved. He was spending time with the person he loved most, doing the thing he loved most, and it was just so easy for him to neglect everything else.

Sehun bitterly sent him off to the bar next Saturday and Chanyeol tried not to mind. His best friend had always been competitive with him, especially when it came to music. Part of the reason they were such good friends now is because while growing up, for the most part they’d been rivals.

Both of them were popular, good looking, rich, and extremely talented when it came to music. But neither of them cared for most of those things, but when it came to music class, they were always at each other’s throats. It didn’t help that they both played the guitar either, because then they could be completely compared to each other and it didn’t fare well for anyone who dared try.

But in the end, underlying all competition, there was a deep respect for the other as musicians. It had taken a while for them to realize this of course, but when they did they never went back.

When the couple played, it was just as the week before, they got an amazing reception from the crowd and Chanyeol had even been hit on by some ladies. Of course Baekhyun was jealous but as he couldn’t reveal himself he stormed off in a huff. Chanyeol laughed at the small man and politely declined the women. He was taken, and happily so, he said.

He found his petite boyfriend in the manager’s office. He thanked Mr. Kim for giving him the opportunity but apologized because he couldn’t continue to keep accepting his offer, he said he had a band and he had to think about them first. Mr. Kim was disappointed, but he said he really remembered Chanyeol from their first encounter.

“I’ll tell you what. I remember offering you and your friends an audition, and you never got it. I’ll count these last two nights as your audition. While I can’t offer you anything here, rock just isn’t my style, I can get you into a TV program if you want. Mind you it’s just an offer to audition, you’ll have to get into the actual program on your own. The submission period is over, but I can pull a few strings and get you into the pool.”

Chanyeol couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This was a big opportunity. This was a big opportunity. He sputtered and eagerly shook Mr. Kim’s hand, agreeing over and over again and thanking him. Sehun’s going to flip , he smirked. Baekhyun laughed at him from the couch and after Mr. Kim handed him a flyer the two left together.

Baekhyun was in the middle of congratulating him when they were suddenly stopped in the hallway. A short, fat older man in a nice suit halted them and introduced himself. He was also a Mr. Kim, Mr. Kim Sang Hoon. He was part of a famous entertainment agency and when he revealed the name b