But the fire is so delightful

“Kyungie baby, will you pass me the salt?”

“Yes mom, here” Kyungsoo hands the small container over to the woman who he calls mother and who has eyes as big as his, exchanging a trademark heart-shaped smile with her. She is short and looks squishy, just like him, and you really don’t want to walk in on them while they are having a fight, because they are equally loud and stubborn. The genetic relation is really not hard to figure judging only by their looks, but genes run deeper than that. Which can be either a fortunate or an unfortunate event, on occasion –if you know what he means…

The woman adds some salt to the stew and stirs it, briefly checking the wall clock before wiping her hands on her apron. She makes a spin in the small kitchen, heading for the fridge which is too steps away –the kitchen is kind of small, but it doesn’t need to be big in the first place, when it serves only two people on regular basis. The limited space is a disadvantage only on family get-togethers, when the kitchen gets cramped; the chairs are littered with coats, presents lurk inside boxes stacked in the corners of the room, food covers literally every single surface of the kitchen, and people come and go at an insane pace. They need to grab something from their coats, steal bits of food before dinner, get some water or other drink, say hello and kiss the hostess or simply passing by to another room of the house.

Occasionally, children run across the room as if they are possessed or something, but Kyungsoo has never been the one to care much about children’s madness. It is best if you don’t ask many questions and stay out of the way –especially when the little devils are high on sugar, like it usually happens on holidays; things get ugly, screeches can be heard, and you usually end up with unwanted and unfair bruises. Kyungsoo shudders at the thought and possibly a few memories of that.

“So, tell me, Kyungie, is there any special lady for you this yea-” the woman starts asking, but the dreadful question that has Kyungsoo’s eyes wide like saucers and ready to pop out already is prevented by another female yell.

“Soonmi, is the turkey all right?” his aunt calls from the living room where most of the family is gathered. Kyungsoo sighs in relief –as discreetly as possible, because he doesn’t want his mother’s attention back on him so soon.

“It’s in the oven; it’s not going anywhere, if that’s what you’re worried about Soonhae!” his mother bites back with an irked yell and then she frowns “Jeez, this sister of mine” she murmurs before turning back to check the oven for good measure.

And if you were wondering where Kyungsoo got his snappy, snarky ways: like mother, like son.

“So, Kyungsoo baby, as I was saying” she continues, fixing a tuft of hair behind her ear. For some reason, Kyungsoo dreads the gesture; it’s no good news. She locks her serious gaze on his face “We were expecting it this year, we really did. You know how you forget to call -even more than you usually neglect your family- when you’re in a relationship, and you’ve been doing that recently. We all thought you were dating someone, finally! Grandma Jun had been expecting it so much! But you didn’t bring any pretty lady with you –again –and so, just because your aunt has been nagging, and because I’m dead curious too, here’s the thing: is there anyone special or should we just give up all hope?”

Kyungsoo gulps uncomfortably and pretends to be busy folding the napkins. Isn’t marriage supposed to be something young women fret about, Cinderella syndrome and all? Society had given him this futile hope that his gender would protect him on this issue; social evolution proved him wrong. Why is his whole family so set on seeing him with, and ultimately, marrying him to someone? And, ‘give up all hope’? He’s not even twenty five years old yet for crying out loud!

Now imagine them finding out I’m gay. I’d be dead in a millisecond.

It would be a lovely funeral.

“Um, no, mom, I’m not dating anyone” he mumbles with a frown. He pretends he can’t hear his mother’s frustrated huff in response. After thirty two seconds of pointed foot tapping and low grumbling, Kyungsoo gives up and raises his eyes to meet the glum countenance of his mother, frowning at him, with curled in disapproval and her hands on her hips. He rolls his eyes. “Look, I’m sorry I don’t call often, but I’ve been very busy lately with work. Business is thriving, you can ask Baekhyun” It feels so wrong to be over twenty and still have to put forward the ask-my-friend-to-validate-my-story argument, but you’d better have a strong defense line when Mrs. Do doesn’t get what she wants, if you want to live another day.

“Oh right, Baekhyun! How’s my cutie cute-cheeks?” his mother croons and Kyungsoo groans internally at how Baekhyun just saved him with his cuteness from the familiar lecture on marriage and grandchildren that was bound to follow, even when he is absent. Humans are not allowed to be as magical as Baekhyun, seriously.

“He’s fine. The cheeks are long gone though, mom” he chuckles, remembering how his mother met Baekhyun back in university, when he used to have fuller thighs, so Mrs. Do started calling him cute-cheeks –do you get the hint? Of course you do. She has seen him many times after he slimmed down of course, but she still calls him that; she even said his cheeks are even cuter now, all shapely and pert. Funny, Kyungsoo didn’t expect women to be into that sort of stuff. Women’s logic can be severely unconventional at times.

“Yo, my man Kyuuungsoo, whatcha doin’ere with auntie Mi? C’mon out and sit with da fellas” an intruding hand swings around Kyungsoo’s shoulders and he glares at it, but the glare never has an impact on family members, because they think it’s his natural expression, with his eyes being so big and wide. But it’s a glare. And no, the person didn’t speak some alien language –although he’s probably capable of that –it’s just the ‘cool talk’, or so his cousin thinks at least.

“Uh, well, mom needs help so…” he shrugs off the foreign hand and goes back to folding napkins. But alas, you can’t escape family nagging so easily.

“It’s okay, Kyungie, you’ve done most of it already, there’s not much left. Go out, talk with your cousins and have fun!” his mother urges, ushering him away from the table. Kyungsoo drowns a distressed squeal in his throat. ‘No, thank you’ is not an option right now, much to the poor victim’s horror.

Fun, what fun?! Half his cousins are too young to share interests and the other half is severely socially impaired –‘the bunch of brutes’, as Kyungsoo calls them. His grandmother pinching his cheeks, his uncles patting his hair like he is a pet or something and his aunts prying in his love life is not ideal either. It is family situations, you can’t get away from it, but it’s not fun either, by no means. He hasn’t done anything wrong to deserve this; it’s not his fault he has fuller cheeks and is on the shorter side, nor that he’s civilized, refined and gay, thankyouverymuch.

The pleading eyes directed at his mother don’t seem to help much right now.

“Aw, c’mon man! Soogae was just tellin’ us ‘bout that cupcake he’s bangin’ recently; she’s eye candy man, how did he even get ‘er?” his cousin continues, dragging a desperate Kyungsoo –like a terrified kid to the doctor, more or less– to the noisy living room, full of people chatting and laughing and children doing their crazy thing. “Hey, how’s business by the way?” he asks and Kyungsoo tries to conceal the scared-as-sugar look on his face before making an answer. They are family, not man eating savages, he reminds himself –but, admittedly, it doesn’t help much.

“Good. Excellent. It’s been great” he says stiffly, he frowns and nods to verify his words in all seriousness. Well, that wasn’t awkward…

See, the whole sheep-in-the-middle-of-hungry-wolves situation aside, he feels a bit stressed when asked about his job, because he hasn’t been completely honest about it to his family. His mother and his father know everything of course –they have known Baekhyun for years even–, but the rest only know purposefully that Kyungsoo is a co-owner of a small business down town. No way is he telling them he plans weddings and arranges flowers and linen for a living; they would laugh at him for three centuries.

His cousin gives him a strange look but he dismisses his worries quickly –some people in his family seem to know that Kyungsoo is not in the same wavelength as the rest of them –and joins the rest of their cousins in their talk about girls and cars; like every year. Kyungsoo stays around for a while, exchanging a few ‘hello’s and sparing a few smiles to the audience, which is fascinated by how Soogae sneaked a kiss on the second date. After a few more comments and bursts of boisterous laughter, everyone has forgotten about his presence and they don’t seem to need him much anyway, so he retreats silently to a corner by the fireplace, where he hopes to become invisible until lunch time.

After a scrutinizing glance around the room, he sighs in relief and relaxes; everyone is too caught up in whatever they are doing to notice him, so he is safe for now. He sits in an armchair by the fireplace and stares into the fire and the way it dances to the chimney, red and orange flames consuming wood to lurch higher in the air. The warmth seeps under his skin with a comforting sensation; inevitably it will get too hot at some point, but he has until then to enjoy.

“Kyungie oppa?” one of his little cousins stops in front of him all of a sudden giving him the fright of his life for a second; it’s not because of her unexpected appearance as much as the painful impact his brain was calculating and which thankfully didn’t happen. Her pigtails are still swinging after her crazed running, cute cheeks flushed and eyes glazing. He sighs and tries to smile for the little girl.

“It’s Kyungsoo oppa” he enunciates clearly; it’s bad enough his mother calls him ‘Kyungie’, he doesn’t need anyone else. The little girl nods in understanding.

“Soo oppa” she repeats, enunciating his name, and much as a part of Kyungsoo would like to face palm at the hopelessness of the situation, another part is all riled up suddenly because did he just think of Kai. Freaking Kim Jongin and your pet-names. Why did she have to call him that? He rolls his eyes.

“Okay, just tell me, what is it?” he gives up the effort of teaching his name to his juniors; they’ll eventually grow up and get his name right anyway. The little girl beams innocently.

“I thought you were sad is all” she shrugs her shoulders and Kyungsoo creases an eyebrow in question.

“Really? Why?”

“Because, you know, auntie Soonmi said you are all alone again and she can’t believe it, and then I came out here and you really were all alone, and you looked really sad. Are you ill? A friend of mine was ill last week and he was so sad. You should lie down if you have a fever, mommy said so. And you shouldn’t eat too many sweets, or your tummy will hurt and your teeth will fall. Or maybe you have gained weight? I think your face has changed, it’s all puffy. I gained two centimeters since summer. Do you like my new dress?”

Kyungsoo blinks, nonresponsive, and then manages a strangled smile. She really can’t be expecting him to answer all those questions, right? It was a downpour of nonsense for all he understood. How little girls are even programmed? All he remembers is that his mother said that he was sad –probably because he’s girlfriend-less again– and then that he has chubby cheeks. Kids are mean.

A little boy runs by, tagging on the girl’s pigtails harshly, and she squeals before making a run after him, forgetting about Kyungsoo completely in her whimsical quest for revenge. Good luck little one, my heart goes to you. Without any further distractions, Kyungsoo starts humming a song and spacing out as he likes.

Is it bad that his thoughts almost immediately orientate to a certain idiot? Well, they do. It’s not like he can do anything about it, and his little cousin just had to call him Soo earlier, so any successful attempts at blocking thoughts about two brown eyes and plum lips all go down the drain irreversibly now. His eyes glaze in the dim glow of the fire, as he remembers their last encounter before the holidays.

It was when Kai slept over –no bedroom involved –after the gala at the Park company. He cooked breakfast for them both the next morning, and then he should have been on his merry way, but that didn’t happen. In retrospect, Kyungsoo is not the only one to blame, for not throwing him out of his house, because the idiot didn’t comply with the social courtesy rules to leave either. Bottom line is, Kai ended up staying after breakfast.

Kyungsoo doesn’t really remember how Kai found out that he had wanted to bake some cookies on that day; maybe he stumbled on the ingredients while making breakfast, or maybe Kyungsoo said it while his brain was distractedly occupied with other thoughts about the idiot, or maybe something else completely gave it away. What Kyungsoo does remember is that, when Kai suggested they baked the white chocolate chip and cranberry cookies together, he didn’t say no.

He said okay.

Things were going just fine at first, as far as the cooking was concerned. The ingredients were being prepared and mixed properly, according to the recipe. But there was this odd feeling inside Kyungsoo, like something was mixing inside him too. The subtle, lingering touches and the stolen pecks on any part of him that ignited his body started mingling with the soothing, dazzling smiles and the quiet humming of happy tunes. It was strange, how lust blended with affection for the while they were cooking.

Oh, it doesn’t show signs of stopping…

For the first time, Kai was not only something Kyungsoo desired, he was also something he wanted in a soft, reassuring way. Maybe it is because, unsuspectingly, he started paying closer attention to the gentler sides of Kai, which are always there but they are incomprehensible to Kyungsoo. They are still incomprehensible to him, but that doesn’t mean they are entirely not-nice.

And since we’ve not place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

He ended up enjoying their cooking expedition, not minding how Kai altered the recipe or how he spilled the cranberries all over the counter and they had to hunt them down before adding them to the mix. The apologetic smile was cute; the stunned look on his face when Kyungsoo started laughing at how childishly clumsy the idiot was, was even more adorable; the playful flick of cookie butter Kai managed to land on Kyungsoo’s nose would have been enough to send the smaller’s anger through the roof, but he found himself laughing even harder.

The touches, the kisses, the smiles, the humming, the clumsiness, the laughter, the mess…it all felt nice. And that’s just plain scary. Since when does Kyungsoo finds those things nice?! He is just not meant for all that. Maybe his judgment is clouded by Kai’s antics. Maybe he should wake up already and save what’s left of his heart. Maybe he should put some distance between them.

And when we finally kiss goodnight, how I’ll hate going out in the storm…

Kyungsoo can’t help his smile at the memory of the cookie war that followed. Cleaning the kitchen was hell afterwards and only half the cookies found their way to the oven and his hair was sticky for a whole day, but it was all worth it. Chasing around and laughing hysterically, squealing and growling, getting messier with every passing minute, it might not be what he is made for, but he can’t deny that he enjoyed it. Not that he will admit that out loud.

But if you really hold me tight, all the way home I’ll be warm…

Needless to say, Kyungsoo and Kai ended up eating more cookie material off of each other’s faces, rather than the actual cookies. Chocolate was really sweet on his tongue, Kyungsoo remembers. Kai holding his face gently was sweet too. The memory almost makes his heart jump.

The fire is slowly dying, and, my dear, we’re still good-bying…

A hand tapping on his shoulder pulls Kyungsoo out of his reverie, but instead of the mahogany eyes he would have liked to see –don’t ask how that would be possible, maybe a Christmas miracle–, he is greeted with the toothy smile of a six-year-old cousin, calling him to dinner. Well, that just ruined it. His hopes deflate. Kyungsoo would have blushed at having indecent thoughts about the fervent passion of his life while his family is around, but the sudden, brutal crush on reality is too hilarious to ignore, and he ends up with a poker face, until the kid gets bored of waiting and leaves first.

---------------------------------------------

The night before Christmas

--warning: our cutie Baek might be dancing a bit suggestively in this, but it’s not any worse than what you’ve already seen in this fic…and I think you will like it too, I kept the cuteness alive--

Chanyeol’s eyes open to the sight of heavy, red velvet curtains. Invisible stage lights with brilliant beams cast a soft white haze in the air and make the golden rims of the stage glimmer. It has the feeling of old Hollywood; stylish, classy and beautifully perfected to the last detail, even though he hasn’t seen much yet.

The silence around him is absolute and serene, seeping under his skin and making his breaths soundless and rhythmic. It vaguely feels like he is hypnotized, like the tranquil feeling of fuzzy warmth that spreads in your body when you are about to fall asleep. It is nice. Chanyeol reaches out to touch the soft curtains and he wonders what sort of show he is going to watch, a show only for him.

The dark shadows in the folds of the curtains shift and the dividers slowly part, almost dancing out of the way. The light floods the open space and illuminates a set made of luxurious vintage furniture, just like the impressive living rooms in old movies. Chanyeol blinks curiously, waiting for the actors in quiet excitement.

Cue music. It is a familiar Christmas song, slow and sugar-sweet, with hints of something innocently mischievous. And then he hears a beautiful voice, not quite female, but just as soft and silky, which mesmerizes him, calling his soul to leave his body.

“Santa baby…” Chanyeol’s jaw drops when the owner of the voice appears and it is no other than Baekhyun. The smaller is wearing white trousers that follow the beautiful lines of his legs and hips, and a navy blue knit sweater that flutters his skin tone. Baekhyun’s chestnut hair, his glimmering eyes and his whole body shimmers under the flow of light as he steps onto the stage with slow and feline strides. Chanyeol swallows hard around the lump in his throat.

“…Just slip a sable under the tree, for me” Baekhyun shrugs one slender shoulder cutely and then takes a seat on the couch opposite to Chanyeol, crossing his pretty legs and flaring his butterfly lashes, heavy under the shadows cast by his stunning, messily styled hair “Been an awful good boy” he pouts, satin lips plum, pink and smooth. Inviting. “Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight” he gives a twinkling smile, locking his smoldering gaze with Chanyeol’s stunned one and the latter feels his heart flip, accentuating his senses for everything that is to follow.

“Santa baby…” Baekhyun gets off the couch and walks slowly, with long, sinful sways of his hips, to the upholster armchair “A fifty four convertible too, light blue” Baekhyun’s deft and graceful fingers ‘walk’ on the mahogany rim on the top of the chair and then he looks up, mischievous glint in his puppy eyes “I’ll wait up for you dear. Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight” he makes a sensual spin, shifting his hips from side to side, and then plops down on the couch again with an airy sigh, taking on a heartbreaking pouting expression.

“Think of all the fun I’ve missed, think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed” he touches his lips, sweeping his white finger pads over the rim of his rosy lips. And Chanyeol is pretty sure he has died and gone to heaven, his heart beating frantically in his ribcage, his hands itching to touch, his lips yearning to kiss; but Baekhyun stays teasingly out of reach. “Next year I could be just as good” Baekhyun blinks innocently and Chanyeol swears his is getting, ahem, excited at the sweet act “If you’ll check off my Christmas list” Baekhyun smiles cheekily and Chanyeol thinks, yes, he’ll do anything, take it all, because this body is too constricting for his overflowing emotions right now. The small vision before his eyes sleeks his lips by sliding a small tongue over them swiftly and then continues.

“Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot” Baekhyun’s pinches his hands in between his closed knees in a bashful position and then slides his hands up, up, up his lavish inner thighs, eliciting a low growl from Chanyeol’s chest at the sudden change to sensuality “Been an angel all year” Baekhyun nods his nose towards his shoulder cutely, despite his devilish proceedings “Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight” his voice makes a nice play with the notes at the end of his words and he grins, seeing how Chanyeol, obviously affected by his act, is this close to breaking down to a hot mess in his seat, muffling his whimpers by biting his fist and clawing on his own slacks desperately.

“Santa honey, one little thing I really need, the deed” Baekhyun rests his hands delicately on his waist and shifts his voluptuous hips to the left and then to the right, bending his knees in the process to accentuate the move with a pleasurable sway “to a platinum mine” Chanyeol curses under his breath, careful not to interrupt Baekhyun’s act –where in the world is he going to find a platinum mine?! “Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight” True to his words, Baekhyun hurries down, kneeling on the floor, before biting his lips and so, so slowly lifting his hips again and arching his back, creating beautiful body lines. Chanyeol thinks he is going to faint, the overbearing need to devour those delicious lips and touch those tempting thighs growing stronger with every heartbeat and clouding his thoughts.

“Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex and checks” Baekhyun is back to the cute act, standing straight and hiding his face behind his hands shyly, and then parting them to peek timidly at the taller with a dazzling eye smile “Sign your C on the line” he writes the letter in the air between them with one graceful finger and a swirl of his fair, slender wrist “Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight” Baekhyun shows displeasure on his sweet pouty lips, looking at Chanyeol with hidden complaints, as if the latter is taking too long. Oh, those heavenly lips and those gorgeous puppy eyes…Chanyeol’s heart melts in his chest, only adding to the scorching feeling of his boiling blood.

“Come and trim my Christmas tree” Baekhyun walks closer to a lamp on the side of the set and he beams mischievously as he starts playing with the crystal trinkets hanging from the rim. The material glimmers in the light as white fingers naughtily poke and curl around it “With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s” Baekhyun turns away from the furniture and locks his gaze with Chanyeol, and for the first time it looks like he is interested in nothing else but the man across from him. Chanyeol’s heart makes a leap for his throat, his skin flaming and eyes glazing under the focus of the velvet stare that feels warm, sweet and alluring, like dripping chocolate. It takes a moment for Chanyeol’s lust clouded mind to realize the shorter is walking closer and closer “I really do believe in you. Let’s see if you believe in me”

Without warning, Baekhyun’s legs are on either side of Chanyeol’s tensed thighs and Baekhyun is sitting on his lap, basically straddling Chanyeol. The latter’s breath hitches at the warm sensation of pressure on his legs and his hands rest gingerly on Baekhyun’s white-clad thighs that have been provoking and teasing Chanyeol for the longest time. Baekhyun’s legs feel plush and warm under Chanyeol’s hands and his fingers twitch, making Baekhyun smile momentarily, showcasing pretty, sharp little teeth and slightly coal-smoked eye smiles. Chanyeol shivers with want; his insides are delirious, like boiling, frothing strawberry marmalade overflowing from the pot. He needs someone to end this torture, but in the same time, this torture is so sweet that he doesn’t want it to end.

“Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing” Baekhyun blinks several times innocently, sliding one arm above Chanyeol’s shoulder inconspicuously and holding up one finger with the other “A ring” his breath fans over Chanyeol’s rosy cheeks. I’m dying, heaven here I come; and Chanyeol is pretty sure of that, because his heart has gone ballistic. “I don’t mean on the phone” with a playful grin Baekhyun flicks Chanyeol’s nose with his index finger and then slides that hand too behind Chanyeol’s neck, tangling his fingers in the soft hair at the nape of the taller’s neck, holding him tenderly “Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight” Baekhyun shimmies his shoulders cutely, leaning closer and closer with a brilliant smile and suggestive eyes that have Chanyeol whimpering soundlessly again, drowning the deep sounds in his throat “Hurry down the chimney tonight” Baekhyun’s face is so close now and Chanyeol, who has stopped breathing and his thoughts are all tangled, can see the small beauty mark above his lip. Cute. And se*y. “Hurry” Baekhyun sighs and whimpers adorably, stealing his breath right from Chanyeol’s expecting mouth, through his parted lips “Tonight.”

Chanyeol moans; but it’s in pain. He rolls over, scrunching his nose in discomfort, and brings his arms around his torso, a move full of sleepy stubble and gracelessness. Why did I ever get a bed so high? He groans and rolls again, hitting his leg at the bottom of the bed in the darkness, but the pain is not stinging as much as the one inflicted on…almost everywhere else by his earlier fall. Yes, Chanyeol fell over the bed, dragging all the sheets and blankets with him in an impressive lump of linen and limbs on the floor. Yes, he was sleeping, and from the looks of it, it’s still midnight, and the rest of the house is quiet except for his muffled pained grunts. Yes, all this was a dream about Baekhyun and all his wonders, an unprecedented and saccharine dream. And yes, Chanyeol has issues down there because of it. Wait.

Holy flowering sugar.

Chanyeol blinks in the darkness going over the last few statements in his head. Falling off the bed is not surprising for a gigantic starfish sleeper like Chanyeol and sleeping at this time of the night is normal, so no surprise there either. Dreaming about Baekhyun is moderately startling, because it’s not entirely usual and normal, but he was texting him before he fell asleep, so maybe it’s a subconscious thing. But having such a dream about him and getting all excited about it too, well THAT is shocking; level what-is-wrong-with-my-brain-and-oh-my-god-why-am-I-not-regretting-this delirium.

Chanyeol is in deep sunflowers.

---------------------------------------------

A man undercover

“Come back soon and Merry Christmas!” Boomi chirps happily, waving goodbye to the last customer. Sehun gives the departing couple a polite smile from behind the counter and a happy wave of the hand. The tips he has received today almost double his salary. Oh, merry Christmas.

In less than a tenth of the following second, Boomi is already wearing her coat, fastening her front buttons hastily, and Sehun blinks in confusion. Where’s the fire? Or maybe the couple forgot something and she needs to return it to them? Or-

Wait a minute.

“Hey! Where are you going?” he calls, tugging his apron above his head and discarding it on the counter just as hastily. She is leaving?! She can’t be; they are on cleaning duty!

“I’m leaving first, Sehunnie, sorry to leave you with all the cleaning; my family is expecting me and I’m already late, I’m sorry” she says, fixing her bag on her shoulder while trying to make her shoe fit better in the same time. She gives him puppy eyes, but he returns a poker face.

Yeah. Sehun is not into her, although she is cute, so her puppy eyes don’t affect him enough to get over the fact that she is leaving him alone on cleaning duty on the night of Christmas Eve.

“Please, Sehun, do your noona this favor, mm?” she comes closer and takes his hands in hers pleadingly, pouting adorably and blinking up at him innocently. At least she has the decency to look sincerely apologetic.

Sehun sighs. It’s not like he has anywhere to be, since Christmas with family never was an option for him. To be honest, the whole spirit of the celebration is not affecting him as much as expected; sure, Christmas is nice, but it doesn’t feel any different from any other holiday to Sehun. The fact that he has to work on Christmas Eve and spend the next day alone is not helping either. At least he has presents to open; one with a big bow from Baekhyun hyung and a small box from Kyungsoo hyung.

But presents can wait until tomorrow for him. Boomi’s family needs her today. He wouldn’t want to take any precious festive moments away from her. Sehun is not a bad person. Which basically means you’re going to spend your Christmas Eve hanging out with the washcloth, you softie. He rolls his eyes.

“Okay” he grumbles and she squeals in excitement, hopping in place while still holding his hands. Sehun gives her a look. Is she really over primary school? “But don’t call yourself my noona; you’re only like three days older than me” and acting significantly more childish than that.

Baekhyun acts childish sometimes too, but it’s never in a silly way, it’s always in a cute way, and he can live up to his ‘hyung’ status perfectly if you need him. You can rely on him and ask him for advice and fool around but he won’t get mad. Sehun can’t think of a better hyung than Baekhyun really. Kyungsoo hyung is not bad either; he is not as gentle, but he keeps you on the right track with his reprimanding methods and he can be very practical, not to mention how sharper you get through exposure to his irony. Sehun wonders what his hyungs are doing on this merry night, and maybe he should send them a text or something because he totally skipped it on thanksgiving.

“Thank you, Sehun, you’re an angel!” Boomi exclaims and pecks him on the cheek before storming out of the shop calling above her shoulder “Merry Christmaaaaaaas~”

“Yeah, Merry Christmas to you too” Sehun answers belatedly but he’s not willing to shout, so be it if she didn’t hear him. Sehun presses his lips and looks around the empty shop he has to clean, a situation courtesy of his boring life during Christmas. There are very few people on the street outside, so the space around him feels even emptier –and creepier, to be honest, with the decorations and all; it feels like those thrillers that something terrible comes out of something innocent-looking. He shakes his head; there is no way he’s going to make it through the emotional shock of cleaning on Christmas Eve while feeling so lonely. So, he does what his hyungs always do in tedious situations they cannot avoid.

He turns up the music volume and brings out the cleaning materials, feeling like a dutiful soldier going to war with his bucket at hand, just as a familiar song starts playing. He is humming and bobbing his head to the rhythm as he mops the floor, feeling more cheerful already. It always helps if you do the cleaning chores while music is playing in the background; it makes you think of other things and focus on less miserable aspects of your life than battling the germs and dirt. Half way through the song, Sehun decides why not?

“Laaaast Christmas, I gave you ma heart!” he breaks out into loud singing, using the mop as a microphone and making a show for no one, tilting it to the side and bailing notes off tune. “But the very next day, you gave it away…Thiiiiis year, to save me from teeears, I’ll give it to so-meone spe-cial~”

Sehun giggles inwardly at how absolutely ridiculous a human being he can be at times. He doesn’t care that he has nothing to relate to the song, that Wham are so past their decade, and that he sounds rather discordant in this moment. Murdering the song with his cacophony and acting like Elvis on the stage with the mop in hand is okay, because he’s all alone and he needs to forget that. Swirling the mop on the floor, he turns around and keeps singing shamelessly, closing his eyes, bending his knees and shrugging his shoulders to the rhythm with passion.

“Face of a lover with a fire in his heart~” Sehun honestly doesn’t want to know what his expression looks like, with the way the words twist in his mouth as he tries the American accent.

Well, what can he say? He’s still young, who can blame him for having fun and fooling around? As if you’ve never done it when no one was looking!

And if you haven’t, it’s never too late; do it! It’s freaking hilarious!

Unbeknownst to Sehun, a blonde man watches the show through the window, hidden lamely behind the wall on the side. His deer eyes are wide in surprise as he sees the boy with gangly limbs and amazing rear singing off tune and looking like he’s addressing a delirious audience of thousands, although only the chairs stare back at his weird act, surely dumbfounded and judging the boy so hard in this moment. His first reaction is to giggle at the kid’s actions and then scoff at how musically untalented he is. Luhan tugs his scarf higher on his nose to protect it from the chill and frowns. How did his casual walk bring him here? Why is he still spying on Sehun? And why, although the sight is obviously uproarious, Luhan finds himself weirdly interested?

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a/n. Hohoho, Merry Christmas! (although it’s nearing New Year’s…) This is an additional chapter, to thank you guys for taking an interest in this story! THANK YOU!!! You guys are amazing, and I love you, and I never hoped you’d like this story, and I feel so grateful! I wish I could hug you all!

I wanted to give you some festive cuteness, I hope you enjoyed it! The songs I chose for this are loosely related to the content of each mini-story (and god, I wish Baekhyun would really sing Santa baby and Kyungsoo Let it snow…I think they’d be quite good at it too. I’d be dead either way, huhu…)

Find out what the rest of our sweethearts are doing during their Christmas holidays in the next chapter! Until then, watch old Hollywood movies, cook with your family, sing sappy songs with all your heart just for laughs, and always stay warm, eat chocolate and have fun no matter what you do during the holidays! Kisses everyone! kitty~~~