A big thank you to UnknownNight who edited this <3

warning: this story is pure fictional (it's just me imagining what could be the feelings or the reasons) and it going to be ANGST. I suggest to go read my other fanfic to have some balance ( shamelessly promoting my stories >///>)

Those Bygone Years

1. The Beginning of the Mess

So Zitao, what are you going to do?

It was another morning in Seoul. The weather was mildly cool like every start of the fall season and the city was chaotic as ever. However it was nothing but an usual morning for Huang Zitao.

He groaned when the alarm clock waked him up; he didn’t even remember why he set the alarm when he didn’t have any schedule. Force of habit. A long, long time ago, he would have jumped in happiness for finally having some free time but now at the beautiful age of 27, he found it, well, alarming. What if he didn’t have a busy schedule anymore?

“Stop  it, you are being ridiculous, ” Sehun would have scolded him if he was there. But Sehun wasn’t there, he was in some part of Seoul doing a photo shoot or whoever knew what… under his new company label. Sehun’s contract expired the year before and unlikely to what the majority thought, he took the opportunity to jump out of the company and sign with another label that focused more on promoting actors. Who would have thought. He didn’t even waited for Junmyeon to return from enlistment. After all those years Zitao should have been used to those surprises. Besides EXO finished the time Junmyeon decided to enroll into the military, and when coincidentally half of their contracts reached their deadlines. He sighed. He wasn’t angry with Sehun. He in fact knew all along, they were best friends and Sehun confessed to him his desire to follow a solo career months before it happened.

An ugly memory dared to surface his mind. It was enough to completely wake him up. No way.

He didn’t know why but lately he was thinking again of facts that happened nearly a decade before and it wasn’t  a good thing.

What are you going to do?

He wailed as he got up from his bed.

Yixing. Coffee. Even though not necessarily in that order. He went to the bathroom to wash himself and dress up even though the dress up session took him something like an hour of preparation. Hey, style has its hard work.  He styled his hair and wore sunglasses, looking at the mirror. Then he remember he didn't' have manager hyung to take him to the company which that meant he had to go by himself and taking a taxi, so he couldn't exactly stand out. He sighed at his own stupidity and vanity.

“You are like an extended part of him no matter how much you try to deny it.” It was Lu Han who said it, something like 6 years before. It was one of the last things he said before he left them. Which made him remember the older with even more irritation. In the end he made up with him not longer after his departure, it was hard not to when his best friend Yixing did nothing but to talk daily with him. He remembered how that period was turbolent, how Sehun acted like he couldn’t careless but ending up refusing  to meet with Luhan even after an year, even though he always had declared they were still friends.

Enough with reminiscence.

He wore his favourite jacket, a present of his sugar daddy  Junmyeon (it was Jongdae who called him like that a long time before when the naïve Tao didn't even now what a sugar daddy was ) and the cap that would -hopefully- hide him his from fans.  He stormed from his apartment hoping to not have to wear his mask and for the sunglasses to be enough of a coverage as he decided to walk down to the nearby coffee shop and then grab a taxi. It wasn't like he didn't have a license after years struggling to take the Korean license he finally got it , but the thing was that he was so used to be carried by others that he just couldn't bring himself to drive anymore.

“The truth is you are lazy as ”  Baekhyun would have commented. Zitao snorted internally as he entered the first coffee shop available. But no matter how much Baekhyun had all those years, and he had a lot, he still missed him. Baekhyun had been a pain most of the times but had been also the comforter in his hard times. Unluckily he wasn't in SM anymore, he was working under another label as solo artist even though he was still in good terms with SM Entertainment. However at that time when the latter decided to make Jongdae promotion as solo artist their priority,  Baekhyun decided it was better for him to leave, and he did. Currently he and Jongdae often competed against each other on the charts, somehow managing  to keep their friendship in tact, and it wasn't rare for them to do some collaboration stage together. Zitao thought that it was a way to remember their days in EXO even though he could bet their stage didn't seem entirely right without Kyungsoo. Because Kyungsoo was in the same position as Zitao at the moment.

Zitao sighed, making the cashier at the coffee shop arch a brow. He shrugged and grabbed his order, exiting hurriedly. At least Kyungsoo had a beautiful voice to rely on. Zitao thought it was a good ace up his sleeve to play during the negotiation. That and the fact that he had his fair share of dramas in which he participated successfully. But what did Zitao  have? They let him participate in a Chinese drama only twice and he had some cameo in Korean dramas, and for the rest of his career, he did a lot of variety shows and he was practically a fixed guest like Minho-sshi was at his time in the sport shows. He finally was starting to understand the struggles of Zhoumi-ge years before. He called a cab as he waited for his coffee to cool down a bit.

He was so immersed in thoughts that he didn't notice a group of giggling girls coming closer to him.

But then he lift his gaze from his coffee and noticed a circle of girls around him. God dammit. Jongin would have mocked him for being so careless. To which Zitao would have snorted because Jongin would day-dream ever more than Yixing which says a lot. He tried to smile, wishing for the taxi to come as fast as possible. They asked him for his autograph and to take some photos with him. But he hoped for the circle to not enlarge. It didn't.

Some years ago I couldn't even cross a street without being surrounded, he thought bitterly. But he knew he was just being overly dramatic. Finally the taxi came and he sat inside hoping to arrive at the SM building fast. Once the taxi driver knew were he was heading he made him leave the autograph, apologizing for not remembering his name, “but my daughter in college knows for sure” he said. Zitao kindly gave it to him, smiling to the man obliviousness. Time passes so fast.

Anyway, the SM building was the same as years before, maybe even more luxurious. He passed the reception and went with confidence through the hallways passing over the doors he knew led down to the practice room in the basement. His destination was the elevator that would have brought him to head quarters above. The doors of the elevator opened, making the face of Jongin appear.

“Oh, Zitao” he smiled cheerfully, while Zitao tried to smile back. His relationship with Jongin was always a bit strange. Maybe because they were so different, because Jongin would continue dancing even in his day off, he was happy like that, while Zitao would have run to the nearby mall, dragging Sehun or Baekhyun with him. They weren't the best of friends but they weren't awkward either. Certainly having Sehun as a friend in common helped them stay close, but somehow they always missed the chance to get closer, even though he knew they care for the other a lot.

“Some loves are just not meant to burst.” Yixing once commented, Zitao never knew what he was referring to but for him and Jongin, those words suited well.

“Jongin, you seem awfully.. happy?” he stated. If something remained the same during the years was his straightforwardness. But Jongin was as straightforward as him if not worse, so it was one of those rare things they had in common aside from Sehun.

“You bet! They just told me I'll be the same unit with Taemin again for our Japanese promotions. Gotta go now! To practice!” he said as he run towards the training rooms in the basement. Zitao grinned and waved at him. Jongin was one of the luckiest there. SM didn't even let his contract to go near the expiration day before offering him another contract. Jongin was one of those fated to stay in SM because he belonged there. SM was his home. Surprisingly or maybe not because sticking all those years with Kyungsoo probably put some sense in his head, Jongin didn't sign until he was proposed an even better offer, which happened pretty quickly because nobody in his right mind would let Jongin go. Not when they still have Taemin and they could form a subunit like it was the famous Eunhyuk and Donghae years before. As the elevator moved up, Zitao couldn't stop himself from thinking that for someone, dreams indeed come true.

The elevator came to stop and Zitao ran out, impatient to see the face of his best friend. He directed his steps towards the door behind which he knew he could find Yixing. He knocked a the door waiting patiently for him to say, “come in”. Once, he barged in without knocking and he regretted after that. Yixing was having some embarrassing skype talk with his fiancé and Zitao just caught him some corny conversation. Yixing got so pissed to him (of course Zitao til no end) that he didn't do that again. Because Zhang Yixing could a pain when he wanted, above all with him.

Healing unicorn my , Zitao laughed every time he remembered his best friend’s nickname because sure Yixing was more caring than a mother but scolds like one too. He stepped silently inside. He found Yixing talking on the phone with a producer probably as he was seated behind his office desk. For a while now Yixing has been involved in Sm management. It started with SM letting him compose songs for EXO and for other idols inside the company. That it moved to the production part and then to the management. Yixing never asked for monetary bonus or whatsoever, it was enough for him to finally be able to do music. Sm appreciated his behaviour and let him get more involved with the company which led of him having now a spot inside the management till the ends of his day. Along with Yunho and Boa, Yixing handled a lot of things inside Sm even more the Junmyeon. Zitao envied and at he same couldn't understand the dedication of Yixing towards the company. He acted like the company was his own and gave to Sm his all and he would have continued to do that. Anyway, Yixing told with his eyes to wait a minute and Zitao simply shrugged and went to seat on the comfy armchairs. It was funny that he and Yixing ended being like brothers, counting that it wasn't like they were at the best terms when they started the Exo adventure.

“Tao likes to play with a game I don't remember, It's too childish”

“Yixing-ge is a pig.”

They always had a cat and dog relationship because Zitao was determined but high maintenance while Yixing was the type to play his guitar and that was enough. But things changed and when Zitao burst in tears when even Lu Han left, Yixing even though he nagged to him from day one of their meeting, simply said, “Zitao, you have me. You'll always have me”. And so it was. They were at each other’s throats 6 to 7 days but nobody could lay a finger on one without the other going bersek on the unlucky one who happened to hurt him even accidentally. Maybe they would have never ended like that if it weren't for those events but Zitao didn't care. He couldn't think at a life without Yixing. Which was one of the reasons he was so insecure about his future. Even though the offer wasn't so tempting, to leave his brother behind...

And I'm  his  favourite, not Sehun.

Yixing finished the call.

“Sorry for making you wait Zitao, this new production will be the end of me for sure..”

“You say that all the times then you are the the one spending even the hours of sleep for the sake of the production, even though it’s not necessary.”

“It's called dedication, you know.”

“They had to force you in bed because you fainted, ge.”

“I had just some fever.”

“Whatever” they glared at each other. See, cat and dog. They had this conversation every once in a while because Yixing just didn't know his limits and that, for Zitao, was his biggest flaw. The truth was that Zitao worried about his Gege 24/7 and in fact they were the joke of the entire SM building.

Because Yixing ge is a babo. Zitao said when Chanyeol jokingly mocked him.

“Ah, Zitao,” Yixing sighed. But then he smiled, his dimple still cute even though he was now a man of almost 30. “Anyway I think I know why you are here, do you prefer to go in the cafeteria? Would you feel more at ease?” Yixing asked kindly.  

Zitao shook his head. “No there is too much people down there and I want this conversation to be private.” Zitao said with a soft voice that made Yixing's heart clench. Zitao was a grown man now, really capable and reliable but for Yixing, Zitao would always be a kid, that same kid he hugged in a deserted practice room that day he felt like everyone had abandoned him.

“As you wish.” Zitao nodded and then after inhaling slowly he started the conversation he was dying to have since he got aware of his contract expiration. “Ge, my contract will end soon. I know and you know that they contacted me to start the negotiation.” He paused.

Yixing was staring at him without making a move all his attention on him. He blinked and Zitao knew Yixing had just confirmed his supposition. “The thing is... I don't know what to do. The offer they talked about, it wasn't so bad but it wasn't good either. And I don't know if they really are planning to keep me or they just want to…” squeeze me out some money before dumping me, Zitao thought but he held it back. SM was his company from his teenage days till now but he wasn't naive.

“I don't know what to do, ge.” Yixing 's heart clenched again. Zitao really looked lost. He sighed internally because he actually knew more than he wanted. He actually had  a look at the offer Zitao was talking about and despite SM being his home he found the offer offending. Because no matter what the bad mouthers could say, Zitao deserved the best. And the best wasn't certainly what SM was offering him. Yixing stood up and walked to occupy the seat beside Zitao armchair, the latter following him with his eyes and letting out a gasp when he  felt Yixing's hand patting with affection his head. Maybe later would have complained to Yixing for having ruffled his hair but not then, because in that moment he needed the mother caring Yixing from his early twenties’ days.

“Now Zitao, listen to me carefully. It can sound strange coming from my mouth, being my current position in the heart of this company, but... you have to think of what is better for you, Zitao. If I were the head of the company, I would be the one giving you this better, but I'm not and I can't do anything about it. So if you think that you will be happy remaining here then so be it. But if you feel like your future is in another company than don't be afraid to act upon it.

Zitao couldn't help but widen his eyes. “Ge, are you saying they really want to dump me?” Zitao started to hyperventilate. Yixing grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I'm not saying that. They offered you a new contract, didn't they? Believe me, if they wanted to dump you, they would have already done it. But I'm selfish, Zitao, if not for myself, for the ones I care, and for the ones I care, I want the best and only that. And what SM is offering you, well, doesn't match my meaning of best. I know you for yourself,  will never search for other opportunities, you are too loyal in the end, even though you know it's unfair. So it can be that I took the liberty to search for you by myself.”

Zitao at that point stood up. It was too much to take. Yixing did that? He could have never imagined. He would have thought for Yixing to put peace in the mess of his head and not to start a revolution. He went to the big windows of the office.

Yixing let him his space. It was a delicate moment. They went trough even harder times but this time maybe could be even more dangerous. They needed to stay strong.

After a moment that seemed like an eternity, Zitao said,

“Tell me about these opportunities.” The old Zitao would have stormed out of the room indignant. Yixing couldn't help but being proud of this Zitao, who grew like a fine man.

He began trying to sound excited. He wanted to have his dongsaeng by his side but this was for the best: “Sehun's company would be glad to have you with them. Their offer is pretty tempting if I could say.  There's good offer from JYP, with all the new trainees they casted in China they need some help in opening a door in the Chinese market and who better than a global Chines star like you. And there are other offers too.”

“Which is the best, ge?” asked Zitao turning around and piercing him with his eyes. Yixing trembled. Here it comes.

“Actually there is an offer that surpass the other ones by a lot.”

“Really? So I'm precious stuff, hmm?” Too bad SM doesn't think like that.

“It's from China” Zitao's heart skipped a bit. China. During the years in EXO, he could spend really little time with his relatives and previous friends in his homeland. And now that he had more time, he was too ashamed to go back and act like it didn't pass a year or more before having to go back to Korea. But working there it would have meant another story. It was funny like that thought terrified him more than not having a spot in Sm anymore because he got so used to Korea that China now seemed like a foreign place. It would have meant not seeing Yixing, Sehun, and the others for who know how long or maybe forever. Maybe he should just accept the offer from Sehun's company. But Yixing said surpass by a lot.

“Rolling of the drums, which company is it?” Zitao didn't even consider what turn of events would have happened or he wouldn't have joked so much.

“It's from the Huai brothers.”

Zitao nearly fainted on the spot.

How, why, when, he wanted to ask and now all those secretive calls of Yixing made so much sense. He wasn't talking with his fiancé or with Lu Han. He was talking with--.

“But that's from his company.”

“Yes, from Yifan's company.”

Author's note: sorry for making you wait, but I had mid terms! anyway, I had so much fun writing this! It's soo exciting imagining exo future! =D please leave some comment, it's my first taoris!