BAEKHYUN/CHANYEOL, AN ALTERNATIVE REALITY IN A PERMANENT STATE OF WAR WHERE MILITARY DRAFTS ARE MANDATORY BUT RANDOM. CHANYEOL IS PICKED AND HAS TO LEAVE.
"What if we just run away right now, go someplace far away where they can't find us?" Chanyeol says as he sits beside Baekhyun the steps in front of his house. His luggage is packed and resting between his long, outstretched legs, and Baekhyun lets his eyes drink in the sight of them, remembering, memorizing, burning them into his mind. He doesn't know when he'll see them again, when he'll see any part of Chanyeol again.
"They'd find us," Baekhyun says, and it's true, they both know it is. People don't just run away anymore. There's no way out of this place. There's no way to avoid being called in to serve. If it happens, you're required to suck it up and required to attend. If you don't, they'll find you, and the result is even worse than spending years in the battlefields.
Baekhyun doesn't want Chanyeol to go. Not just because of the horrific stories he's heard about the war, not because Baekhyun doesn't think Chanyeol could survive in such an environment, but because Baekhyun doesn't know what it's like to be without Chanyeol and he never really thought he'd have to find out. He definitely didn't think it'd be quite like this.
"Come on, Baekhyun, you're supposed to pretend," Chanyeol laughs, bumps his shoulder with his, and Baekhyun almost tips over completely because Chanyeol never knows just how much force he puts into these things, always doing before thinking.
"I can't," Baekhyun says, and it comes out much more snappy than he intends, sighing when Chanyeol's eyes widen at him. "I'm sorry, I just--"
He doesn't get to finish what he wanted to say, because then Chanyeol is dragging him into his arms, squashing his cheek against Baekhyun's head, and Baekhyun squawks a little, pushing at him, but Chanyeol's always been good at giving hugs when hugs are unwanted, and his grip around Baekhyun's waist is tight and unrelenting. It takes a moment but then Baekhyun is surrendering to him, arms winding around and fingers clenching into the soft fabric of his coat on his back, and he swallows thickly because he's definitely not going to fucking cry.
"I'll be back before you know it!" Chanyeol says cheerfully. "I'm sure they'll realize how completely unsuited for war I am and send me home right away."
Baekhyun snorts at that, and he wishes it was that simple. He knows Chanyeol couldn't harm anyone even if he tried. He's the person who brings home abandoned puppies and stray cats, the one who stops by the shelter every week to help out families effected by the gruesomeness of war.
"You make a good point," Baekhyun says, laughing, and like this it's almost as though the hand that's been squeezing his heart loosens a bit and he can breathe again. "You'll probably trip over your big feet and make a mess and they'll send you back."
"Exactly," Chanyeol says. "So don't worry! I'll be home soon."
"I wasn't worried," Baekhyun mutters but Chanyeol just grins at him, clearly disbelieving.
Chanyeol pulls away first, and Baekhyun reluctantly lets him go, standing up with him as Chanyeol grabs his bag and lifts it over his shoulder. "Bye, Baekhyun," he says, with a soft smile.
"Stay safe," Baekhyun tells him, instead of all the other things he could, the things he wants to, but instead keeps locked up in his heart.