⤷ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 : when the person who usually lifts other people up needs the lifting himself, who does he run to? // Chanyeol gets overwhelmed at work and seeks comfort in his home - you.
The ding of the keypad ringed through the peaceful flat as his broad frame trudged inside. Shoulders slumped forward, head hanging low, feet dragging with every step. It was one of those days when he felt like he wasn’t enough - his energy, knowledge, and skills all seemed inadequate. Another one of those days when he wished he could have come home earlier, melted into the arms of the sleeping woman in the bedroom. A space that used to belonged only to him and his dog. Now, it's a quiet sanctuary he longs for every minute of the day.
Chanyeol forced his heavy body to move towards the kitchen upon lazily discarding his shoes by the entrance hallway. The motion detectors did their job, instantly bathing the space in the soft glow of under-cabinet lighting, casting elongated shadows against the warm wooden countertops.
Instead of opening the fridge like he planned, his hands reached out for a glass to get himself a cold drink. His dry throat won over his grumbling stomach. He could’ve eaten with his team when they decided to have pork and beer after work. However, despite his hunger, he politely declined - picking the need to be in his safe haven without a second thought.
As soon as the cold water touched his lips, he leaned against the counter and closed his eyes.
Finally feeling like the tension on his shoulder uncoils a tad bit, he stretched his long arm to open the fridge, still using the counter to support his close-to-collapsing body. His eyes immediately saw the home-cooked dinner she had neatly stored inside, knowing he'll be home late. As much as he wanted to eat his special meal, he didn't want to wake her up with all the ruckus.
Besides, my body doesn't have energy left to wait for my food to heat up.
He mentally noted.
Deciding to just take the food as his packed lunch tomorrow, he reached for the old cheese stick and cheese sausage he bought from the convenience store the other day.
With two tiny snacks in one hand and a refilled glass of cold water in the other, he circled the kitchen island and sank into the nearest chair. A soft sigh escaped his lips as his legs finally got the rest they had craved the moment he stepped through the door.
The crinkling of plastic wrappers with the soft humming of the fridge and air conditioner provided the white noise he needs after an overwhelming day or chattering and loud sounds. His shoulders sag a little bit more, but the silence is comforting—familiar.
Taking his first bite of the sausage, Chanyeol's round eyes wandered. He noticed the newly filled fruit bowl before him. The faint scent of citrus lingers, mingling with the clean, subtle sharpness of steel and wood. He had never cared much for fruit, but she did, and now this place - once just his - carried the constant scent of tarty freshness.
The warm light in the kitchen gently spilling to the living room, casting long, sleepy shadows, seemingly acting as a guide towards the coffee table at the center of the room. A used cup sat beside the remote, abandoned at the edge of the small table. The lamp remained on, its faint light reflecting off a cotton purple throw blanket she usually uses when they watch TV shows together. It's casually draped over the armrest. A contrast to the leather texture of the couch which he bought when she wasn't in his life yet - when this flat was just his house and yet to be his haven.
She waited.
Chanyeol released a long and slow exhale as his shoulder further relaxed in the stillness of the room. The house feels alive, not with noise, but with presence - her presence.
A renewed eagerness stirred in him. If he could finish at least a quarter of his projects soon, maybe he could finally clear his schedule for their long-awaited vacation. With that, his mind is once again jumbled between checklists of things he should've done today and things he should complete tomorrow. Eyes darted towards the couch across from the dining table and mouth absentmindedly munching on the sausage, Chanyeol didn't notice a sleepy figure sitting on the chair in front of him.
Resting her chin on her palm, she quietly watched him. She can practically hear the machines in his brain turning as his eyes continue staring blankly over her shoulder. A soft sigh moved past her lips.
He's overworking again.
With her free hand, she gently tapped the knuckles of his closed fist that's resting on the table. Chanyeol jolted at the sudden sensation. The hand holding the tiny sausage moved to his chest as his beautifully big eyes got even rounder. She wanted to feel bad for startling him but he looks adorable so she can't help but giggle softly.
“Hi” she whispers. His face quickly morphed into a relaxed state. His tired eyes suddenly got some of their spark back and his lips took the shape of the soft smile that's reserved for her.
“Hi” he whispered back. Unclenching his fist, he gently took her hand into his, thumb slowly caressing her knuckles.
“You waited” he wasn't accusing or reprimanding. Just stating that he may not be home often these past few days, but he's still in-tune even to her smallest actions; that he noticed her efforts - like he always does.
“Nah, I was just finishing a series. Heroes on Call-”
“You finished without me?!” He played along. The exaggerated gasp he took and the sudden cheese stick gently thrown at her made her laugh. She grabbed the cheese stick and raised it as if she's about to hit him with it, making him automatically cover his face.
“Why are you eating this anyway? I cooked.”
“I know but I don't want to wake you. The microwave can be loud,” he said, his deep voice regaining its softness. A gentle reminder that -
Even at times of exhaustion, I'll put you first.
She leaned forward, cupping his cheeks, and he instinctively leaned into her touch.
“Well, I'm awake now. Let me heat it up so you can eat a proper meal, ok?” He nodded, turning his face slightly to press a gentle kiss to her palm. She moved closer, returning the kiss to his forehead. As soon as she removed her hand from his cheek, he instantly held onto it as she stood up to get his food. Even before she could move past the table she was already stopped by his hand still holding hers - gentle but firm. She turned back to him, their gazes locking. His eyes were tender and lingering. To appease him, she lifted their joined hands to her lips and kissed his knuckles softly.
Only then did he let go, his hand falling limply to his lap, but his eyes never strayed from her. Putting his right forearm on the top of the chair's backrest and resting his chin on it, he watched her with eyes brimming with appreciation and devotion. The microwave beeped to life as she opened it to carefully put the food container inside.
“Leave it” he murmured, which was answered with a quick “I know, I know”
She walked back towards him and was about to sit on the previous chair she was sitting on but he pulled the chair next to him, inviting her to be closer. Once she sat, Chanyeol quickly pulled the chair closer until their knees were between each other. Both of them fell into a comfortable silence as she handed him the cheese stick. Opening it with ease, he took a bite on it before handing the rest to her. As she was quietly enjoying the cheese stick, he reached out for the string of her hoodie that's dangling by her chest.
“You're not wearing my jacket” Chanyeol sulked, drawing a lazy yet playful smile on her lips.
“Yeah, what about it?” she teased. As scary and brooding Chanyeol may look, he's one of the most soft-hearted people she had ever met. A simple man with a gentle soul—one who found joy in the smallest things. However, at the same time, he also gets pouty quite easily.
“It doesn't look good” he pouted even more, twirling the string in between his thick fingers.
“Chanyeol!” she exclaimed with a chuckle. That deep pout, those furrowed brows—he was being a big baby.
“I'm going to burn all your clothes” he huffed.
“Including the ones your mom gave me?” A low groan echoed across the quiet space as it mixes with her soft laughter.
“Well, not thos-”
“What about the ones you bought for me?” He groaned again, stomping his foot like a petulant child. Her laughter only grew as he scowled at the hoodie, staring at it as if it had personally offended him. Their moment of teasing softened into silence as she exhaled, trying to recover her breathing from laughing.
Chanyeol, still twirling the string absentmindedly, suddenly let go and reached for her hand. His fingers played with hers, tracing each ridge and curve, but she noticed the way his gaze unfocused, how he was slowly spacing out.
“Hey,” she called quietly. “Talk to me, love.”
He sighed but still kept his eyes on their hands.
“Nothing bad really happened. It's just… I don't feel enough. I had meeting after meeting after meeting. I read more legal jargons than musical notes today” He let out a humorless chuckle. His fingers absentmindedly caressing the pads of her finger. The contrast between his calloused ones against her more softer ones somehow calms his senses.
“Then I had the photoshoot. It lasted longer than planned because a PA misplaced the shoes that I have to showcase. They searched for it for 30 minutes. That's when I texted you. I said I'll be later than usual.” She hummed to coax him to continue but aside from that, she kept quiet, allowing him to vent as much wants.
“Then after the shoot, I went back to the studio to finish 2 songs by tomorrow afternoon. It's up for evaluation if it'll be included in the album or not. But I...” he heaved a sigh again, feeling the heaviness in his chest prevent him from breathing properly.
“I couldn't seem to finish either of them. I mean, it's done technically, but I don't know, it doesn't sound good enough. There's something missing.” He concluded with such a tiny voice that her heart ached.
At times like this, she hated not being knowledgeable about music. She hates her inability to help him. She hates knowing that there's nothing she can say in that moment that will help him solve his problems.
Her free hand lifted to cup his chin, tilting his face toward hers. His tired eyes met her gaze that’s full of understanding and warmth. Chanyeol released her hand, using both of his to gently hold her wrist. He pressed it to his cheek, looking back at her with quiet eyes, wordlessly asking her to keep soothing his worries. It was silent, but she understood:
Don’t let go. Just stay here.
“You're the most hardworking, focused, and talented man I know,” she said with so much conviction, Chanyeol almost felt like she's professing an ultimate truth like 'ice is cold'.
Chanyeol swallowed.
“I know you don't feel like you are right now but, honey, I need you to remember something” she continued softly.
“You’re so much more than whatever you’re able to produce or perfect in a day.“ Her eyes softened even more as she saw the weight of everything still pulling on him. Chanyeol held onto her wrist tighter, his eyes searching hers, desperate to believe her.
“I know how stubbornly passionate you are about your work and how much you put into everything that you do. I also know how much you over analyze every detail because you want everything to be perfect, so I get.” Her voice was soft. No hint of judgment or impatience on her tone. His eyes closed for a moment and he focused on her touch.
“When you give your all and still feel like it’s not enough, it’s frustrating. It weighs on you.” She was able to take the words out of his mouth, making him nod gently before opening his eyes.
He let out a shaky breath. “Yeah.”
“Maybe I can work in my office tomorrow,” he murmured. “I don't have to go to the studio. I can just finish it here.” He nodded at one of the doors down the hallway.
She leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. His were slightly dry, but the warmth was still there.
“Cancel your morning schedule and finish your songs here. Once you're done, let's run through the documents you got from those meetings too. Let's work it out together. Also, Zzar and I will prepare a good lunch for you.”
One of the many things Chanyeol loves about her is that she lets him be vulnerable. She never rushed him to feel better or expected him to easily rationalize his problems. But at the same time, she didn’t let him spiral. She held him accountable, helped him find his footing again. She also doesn't allow him to wallow in his negative thoughts. She makes him a better man without making him feel like he's failing as he is. She's a partner and she'll be there for him and with him no matter how long he takes or how hard it'll take.
“Good luck with that,” he chuckled, the sound finally lighter. “Zzar will eat all the ingredients even before you can cook it.” The exhaustion is still there but knowing that he doesn't have to face everything alone tomorrow seems to suddenly remove 30% of his problem's heaviness.
As they were speaking about food, the microwave dinged, pulling them away from their little bubble. She stood up to get it and placed it in front of him.
“I'll head to bed first ok? Because if I watch you eat, I'll also want to eat it and if I eat it, I won't fall asleep.”
“Go. I'll eat then clean up a little then cuddle with you after.” He looked at her, sincere. “Thank you for staying with me.”
“You'll be ok?” she asked to which he nodded because he would be. How can he not? He's got her.
She bent down to kiss his forehead before softly reminding him to eat before the food gets cold. Just as she started walking past him, he reached out, catching her hand. In one fluid motion, he pulled her close until she stood between his legs, his thick arms wrapping around her waist. Chanyeol pressed his face against her stomach, breathing her in.
“Thank you…I'm sorry” he whispered. He may have felt better now about work, but he still feels the heavy guilt for not even having the right headspace to ask how her day went. They did nothing but talk about him.
What if she also had a bad day? What if she needed me today? What if something happened and she wasn't able to share because I’m like this?
“What for?” Chanyeol might've missed her confused look but he heard it in her voice.
“For…being so busy…for…not being like other boyfriends-”
“Thank god,” she interrupted. “Otherwise, I’d be stuck with a guy who spends his time scrolling through Instagram models instead of watching my shows with me.” She quipped lightheartedly, hoping to stop his mind from making untrue thoughts about their relationship. His arms tightened around her.
“Hey, look at me.” She placed both of her hands on the side of his head, lifting it gently.
“We take it one day at a time. You do your work, then you come home to me.”
“Always. No one else but you. No where else but here” he confirmed with this quiet promise.
“Then we'll be fine, love.” He took in a deep breath, smelling her jacket, which he was just hating a while ago, before she released her from his arms.
“Ok, go to sleep. You get so cranky when you're sleepy. I don't want a cranky workmate tomorrow.” He nudged her forward, playfully smacking her bum.
She jolted, shooting him a look over her shoulder.
“Keep your hands to yourself. I don't want a handsy workmate, pervert!” For the first time that day, laughter rumbled deep in his chest, full and unguarded.
Yeah. No matter how the day went - good or bad - he’d always want to come home to her.
A/N: Yaaay!! Finally finished this. Some fluff-fest for the cutest big baby I know. Idk why but since the start of this year, he's getting cutter and cutter and fluffier and fluffier. Did you watch the behind-the-scene vlog EXO-sC posted for their SM Town Concert? The part when they were practicing the shirt-grabbing bit and he was walking with his chest popped out? whaaa idk but I was like Baymax! He's now my Baymax huhuhu
Anyway! that was an unexpected rambling ꉂ(≧▽≦) please let me know what you think uhuhuhu luvyaaah~ byee~
