Winter.
EXO - magical!AU (incl .EXO OT12 members)
S - part 1 / S - part 2 / F - part 3 / W - part 4
word count: ~ 3450 words
special mention: @kafkascupcake Feli~ it’s your birthday today!!! This is my little present for you - the final part of my magical EXO au and I hope you like it. But I hope even more that the next year will be gentle on you, that you’ll have a lot less stress, a lot less worries and a lot more reasons to smile and be happy. I wish you health and love and strength and that there will be time for you to take care of yourself when you need it. Happy Birthday! I’m so happy I met you on here! ❤ *big exo ot12 sized hug*
further tag: @katjanara 🥰
Winter, as every year, was all about Christmas. Everybody promising no to buy each other gifts only to break the promise in the end. Everybody getting lost in finding at least a little something for everybody despite the yearly resolution not to rush through December like that.
The streets you strolled leisurely were packed with people carrying bags and boxes or wearing worried faces, distressed by the nearing holiday. You on the other hand couldn’t be bothered. For the first time in what felt like ages you actually enjoyed the festive atmosphere, watching decorated streets, shops and windows, some Christmas carol always playing from somewhere.
Maybe you’ve been possessed by a Christmas spirit this year, maybe you just had a lot less stress with finding presents that never felt more perfect. With a little smile on your lips you walked past a sign with a bright yellow arrow on it, pointing just towards the place you were heading to, before you carefully made your way down the stairs to enter your trusted record store.
Comfortable warmth brushed against your face as you entered. The wintery temperatures outside definitely had affected the state of your fingers, which you quickly rubbed together, a motion in hope to make the numbness go away quicker. You kept your coat on this time as the coat stand was holding enough wet jackets already. After Chanyeol had given in with a displeased grunt, he and Sehun designed the outdoor sign with the arrow. It was at least a little hint towards the shop and apparently it was noticed by enough people to fill up the coat stand with jackets, scarfs and hats.
“Hey, (y/n)!” an excited Chanyeol greeted you, while Sehun gave you a quick wave from the back of the shop, currently helping some customers with a record player.
“Good to see you here again! Christmas shopping this time?”
You nodded in agreement and checked the mental list of presents.
“I'll head to the soundtrack section first” you informed the shopkeeper.
“Great! I'll bring you some cookies. Kyungsoo tried tons of new recipes this year and we somehow have to get rid of them.”
Then the two of you went your separate ways. Chanyeol to one of the rooms in the back of the shop, you towards the area where walls plastered with movie posters greeted you.
You knew your grandparents would be happy about reminiscing one of the first dates they had together by listening to the soundtrack of the movie they went to when going to the cinema was still something special. And by the broad variety and amount of records Sehun and Chanyeol offered, you had not a single doubt you would find that one specific album you were looking for.
Only a couple of minutes later you held it in your hands, smiling fondly at the memory of your grandmother telling you the story how your grandfather wasn't excited at all to watch the movie and only accompanied her because it made him happy to see her happy. She always said that he would never admit it, but that she just knows that he ended up liking the movie just as much as she did.
A swift movement pulled you back from your memories. It was Sehun who held out a paper bag for you to put your discovery in. You shook your head at yourself as you took the bag from him with a smile and a polite “thank you”. How had you been so lost in your thoughts that you didn't hear him approaching?
“What's the next record you are looking for? Maybe I can help you with finding some of your presents for a quick moment. Right now, nobody else here needs my assistance so I can lend you a hand” he offered.
“If it's no bother, then yes, please. I need something from the classical section now. My parents love Chopin, so maybe we can find a special something there?”
“Believe me or not – I already know one record you will absolutely want to get them!” another voice mixed into your conversation. Chanyeol was back, handing you a bowl with cookies.
“And I think I know exactly which one Chanyeol means. Follow us!” Sehun agreed while sending a knowing smirk towards his colleague, who led the way to the section.
You had to smile, too, at the smoothness the two of them worked together. They knew each other and their shop in a way you only had ever encountered in Flowery Friends and the café before.
After a few seconds of Chanyeol quickly skipping through the records, he finally pulled one out with a triumphant “hah!” from his mouth.
“That's the one! A selection of pieces by Chopin, recorded in a park right next to a little lake. Some park in Warsaw if I remember correctly. Not an old recording, but something with a nice atmosphere. Something special. Put this on, close your eyes and you'll feel just like you're sitting in that park, listening to the soft piano and the sounds of nature.”
“You just quoted your own post-it in that last sentence, right?” Sehun said with an amused tone. Apparently, he found the passionate behaviour of his friend just as endearing as you did.
“Yes. What about it?” Chanyeol replied proudly before turning his attention to you again. “So… what do you think?”
“I think it sounds just like something my parents would love!” you answered honestly.
With a satisfied “Perfect” Chanyeol slid the record into your paper bag. “What's next?”
You bought a total of six records, one for yourself included. While Sehun was off to help other customers again, Chanyeol pulled the price tags off the thin plastic stretching over the cover of the record, keeping it safe from damage, and did the math, not without giving you a little discount because you were a regular and a friend. By now you had understood that protesting against these little acts of generosity was just as pointless as talking to a wall. Slowly you learned to accept them without feeling weird about it.
“So... that should be it” Chanyeol smiled as he handed you your bag. Just when you were about to grab it, he seemed to remember something though.
“No. Wait another second!”
He opened one drawer on his side of the register table and let another six CDs join the records you had just bought.
“My own music” he grinned even wider, which hadn't thought would be possible. “I just finished my first own little album recently. Maybe you're interested. I did everything myself – composing, writing the lyrics, production, mastering... Anyway, the CDs just arrived a few days ago and now I hand it out to people for free as a little audio sample, you know? Please, tell me how you liked it, once you listened to it, will you?”
It warmed your heart to see Chanyeol so excited about his own music and it was kind of contagious as well. You couldn't wait to give his work a listen.
“Sure thing! Thank you” you replied with all the enthusiasm you felt. “Not only for the CDs but also for your help. Please tell Sehun too. I need to go now, prepare some more things. But I wish you guys Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you soon!”
“Same for you, (y/n)! Bye!”
With a last little wave, you left the shop through the yellow door and passed two boys with curious looks on their faces on the steep stairs. Surely, that was the sense of adventure Sehun and Chanyeol had strived for when they first opened the shop. You were insanely happy that this seemed to work out for them.
Back on the busy streets you checked your mental list again. A visit to your favourite café was the next thing to do. What could make a present better than some sweet little pastries and different kinds of cookies?
Thanks to a shortcut Jongin and Minseok had shown you a couple weeks ago, you didn’t fell too cold when you arrived there. You already saw Jongdae and Jongin busily carrying plates and cups between the counter and tables through the wide windows. Still they called a cheery “Merry Christmas, (y/n)!” at you when you entered the café before they hurried back to their work. You were greeted with Kyungsoo’s smile as you approached the counter.
“(Y/n)! What can we do for you?”
“I need five small packages of your cookie mix and a hot chocolate to go, please!”
“Okay, it will take a few minutes. Just wait over here” Kyungsoo said with that shimmer in his eyes that indicated he already knew exactly what he would prepare for you. Then he disappeared in the kitchen rooms of the café.
“Your hot chocolate…” you suddenly heard Minseok’s voice as he put the paper cup down in front of you, a delicious smell finding its way to your nose.
You hummed contently.
“Thank you” you added but Minseok didn’t seem to hear that, distracted by the little bell at the entrance door chiming. A gasp left his mouth.
“Jongdae! Jongin! Look who’s here!”
Not only the two waiters turned their head towards the door, you did as well, curious what made Minseok react so excitedly.
Even before you could ask what was going on, Minseok had left his place by the coffee machine, walking towards the three men that had just entered the café to give each of them a tight hug. Jongdae and Jongin did the same.
“Luhan! Tao!” After quickly putting the little packages of cookies down in front of you, Kyungsoo, who had just come back from the kitchen, left the counter as well to hug the three.
With the happiest smiles the group walked up towards the counter.
“(Y/n), get to know Luhan and Tao, old friends of ours. Lu, Tao, this is (Y/n), she’s Baek-“
“-also a friend of ours” Kyungsoo interrupted Jongdae and threw him a dark glance before he could finish what he wanted to say.
You, on the other hand, were quite interested what Jongdae would have slipped if Kyungsoo wouldn’t have been faster than his friend’s mouth. Every time you met someone new of their group of friends, a weird feeling overcame you. As if they would know more about you than you did yourself. After countless times you went to their shops, a couple of meetings at random places and two birthday parties, you could finally agree that you became a friend of the group, but the question of why you rose every now and then again. You hadn’t been brave enough to ask them yet.
But, once again, before you could find out more, you were distracted by Kyungsoo, while Minseok and Jongdae brought Luhan and Tao to a free table and Jongin began to work again.
“Sorry for the interruption. We haven’t seen them in ages! Anyway… here’s your cookies and the bill. I bet you still have some more things to take care off before Christmas, we didn’t want to make you wait longer than necessary.”
“Oh, don’t be sorry. My schedule is pretty loose today. It’s ok” you assured while pulling out your wallet and paying.
Then Kyungsoo handed you another bag for your little presents, gave you a warm smile and moved on to the next customer. Quickly but with care you put all the packages into the bag, noticing that you got six instead of the requested five. Of course. A free one for you. A smile spread over your face again.
You grabbed your cooled down hot chocolate, told Minseok “Merry Christmas” and waved the others goodbye before you left the café again, thinking about how your special new friends were the actual proof that genuinely friendly people still existed.
Your last stop for the day would be Flowery Friends and you slowly made your way to the flower shop, that had started it all. The smell of Kyungsoo’s cookies mixed deliciously with the one from the drink in your hand. You couldn’t resist it, so you stopped in your track, managed to open on of the packages and took a bite from, without a doubt, the best vanilla biscuit you’ve ever tasted.
How did Kyungsoo always manage to find just the right amount of sweetness? It was a miracle to you, a very tasty one. So, you tried one from every kind you could find in the mix on your way to the flower shop.
Sweetness still coating your lips, you pulled at the green wooden door that opened so much easier now after Chanyeol had fixed the old hinges, as Junmyeon had told you. The faint sound of Christmas carols, that got louder once the door had swung open, was already giving the festive mood of the three florists away.
As expected, the shop was a lot emptier than the café or the record store. Not many people got the idea to buy flowers in winter. But you knew that your best friend loved flowers just as much as you did, and you wanted to visit the shop one last time before the new year anyway.
“Merry Christmas, (y/n)!” Yixing welcomed you, calling for Baekhyun and Junmyeon to come greeting you as well. It took them only a few seconds to join you and Yixing, giving comfortable hugs and bright smiles.
“Merry Christmas!” Junmyeon beamed at you, while Baekhyun took the empty cup from your hands and replaced it with another bowl of Kyungsoo’s Christmas pastries. Of course, you grabbed on immediately and started munching. One could really get addicted to Kyungsoo’s food.
The Christmas mood of three was obviously displayed in their shop. They had decorated plants with glitter and Christmas lights, the seasonal special offer was ornaments for Christmas trees and all three were wearing Santa hats, going along just great with the red, white and golden decoration.
“How can we help?” he asked, while taking a cookie from the bowl in your hands.
“I thought about winter jasmine” you answered and saw Yixing nodding in approval.
“I’ll go get it. Just stay here and enjoy the cookies. I will be quick” he said and disappeared between plants and winter blooming flowers.
“It’s Yixing’s favourite flower” Junmyeon told you and took a cookie from you as well. “Especially because they bloom in winter.”
“My friend loves them as well. Yellow is her favourite colour” you shared while munching on another vanilla biscuit you found among the ones Baekhyun had handed you.
Then Yixing appeared again, in his hand a pot with the most yellow winter jasmine you ever saw. The few blossoms shone so bright that you couldn’t help but stare for a few seconds before a simple “wow” left your mouth.
“These are… possibly the most yellow blossoms I’ve ever seen. Wow. Thank you, how-“
“Lots of love and careful treatment!” Yixing smiled, clearly satisfied with having stunned you so much with the flower he picked. You heard Junmyeon and Baekhyun chuckling in the background.
“You should add a little green to that too, I think” Baekhyun thought out loud.
“I’ll get some little succulents. Your friend will love them!” Junmyeon agreed and became the next one to disappear in the shop.
“So, as far as I can see you’ve met all the other’s today too?” Baekhyun pointed out, looking down at the bags in your hand.
“Of course, I’ve never had better presents for my family and friends than this year. Thanks to you guys. Oh, and I’ve also met Luhan, Kris and Tao today. They came to the café when I was there getting Kyungsoo’s cookie mix.”
“Kris, Lu and Tao?” Yixing’s eyes widened in happiness. “I didn’t know they would visit. Did you?” The last question was for Baekhyun who had his typical cheeky grin on his face.
“Well, most of us did. Actually, all of us except for you, Minseok and Jongdae. It’s our Christmas surprise for you” Baekhyun admitted happily.
“That’s… that’s the best surprise ever, thank you!” Yixing almost squealed and seemingly couldn’t stop smiling.
“Our pleasure”
No, you thought silently, it is my pleasure to watch you guys being all happy about your friends visiting.
“Did I hear Lu and Tao’s names?” Ah, Junmyeon was back. And obviously just as excited as the others to hear that their friends came to visit them.
“Indeed. They arrived today” Baekhyun confirmed. “And I suggest we all should meet them at the café like… right now. I’ll go call Chanyeol and Sehun. They need to know too.”
While Baekhyun laughed obnoxiously loud at the telephone, Junmyeon did the finances with you, handed you a third bag in which he had put tons of chocolate for you as well.
“Do you want to join us when we are meeting up with the others? The twelves of us can be a bit much, but I’m sure it will be fun” Yixing asked sweetly but sadly you had to deny.
You still had to arrange the presents and if everything went as planned you would be leaving town this evening to drive to your family for the last few days before Christmas.
One last time you hugged Junmyeon, Yixing and Baekhyun, wished them Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and left with the promise to visit soon in the new year. You knew you would.
On your way home you could still taste vanilla in your mouth.
EPILOGUE
Every present was wrapped, every wish was written out on cards, everything was safely placed in a big bag resting on the backseat of your car. One last time, you checked that you didn’t forget anything important before you started the engine and drove along the empty streets of the quiet town, your favourite song the only sound that softly hit your ear.
It was always a peculiar feeling driving to your parent’s house for Christmas where everyone would come together. You had moved out for your job some years a ago and while you felt very much at home at your own little apartment, coming back to the place where such a big part of your life had happened, felt truly like coming home.
As you waited for a streetlight to turn green, snowflakes lightly covered the windshield of your car. Could there be anything more peaceful? you thought to yourself as you set the car in motion again, along the familiar streets you had been wandering today on the sidewalk.
Your thoughts drifted to Baekhyun, Yixing and Junmyeon. To Kyungsoo, Minseok, Jongdae and Jongin. To Sehun and Chanyeol. They are probably having a wonderful time with Luhan and Tao right now. You were sure, you will hear many stories about them in the future as well. What an extraordinary group of people you have met this year, befriended even. It felt a bit unreal, looking back at it now. As if it was meant to happen like that. As if something magical was involved.
One day, you told yourself, one day I will know.
You passed the café on your way, slowing down your speed a bit to maybe get a glimpse of what was happening in there. Some tugging in your chest made you stop the car completely, as your vision went blurry for a millisecond before you lifted your gaze again to… see right through the walls of the café.
The eleven friends were in on of the cosy rooms above the café, which was probably where a few of the men lived. But… there was something totally unnormal about them. A glow that sent shivers down your spine. You couldn’t move your eyes away from it until Baekhyun turned around and seemed to look directly at you. With a content smile he did a waving gesture with his hand. And then it was over.
You blinked a few times, your head still spinning a bit. You remembered the one time something similar had happened to you, the first time you had stumbled into their flower shop. It was like someone had allowed you to take a glance at something hidden, something secret. Just like right now, you had witnessed something secret.
By now the dizzy feeling had left your head for good. You heard the laughter from the café clearly again as it mixed with the music coming from the car’s speakers.
You started your car again, driving away with a laugh ringing in your ear and a familiar voice saying:
You are asking yourself why, am I right? Because your first laugh is the reason I am here.
And then, you understood.
(If you don’t click here.)
