Work Text:
Baekhyun was not the one to listen to weather reports. He was not the one to check the news either, but that morning his nose caught something in the air that made him pay attention.
A snowstorm was coming and, according to the nice lady talking on TV, it was a big one. The city was expecting at least 110 cm of snow and the recommendations to make sure to have enough resources were repeated between each news.
The sound of soft steps made Baekhyun’s ears twitch.
Jongin, covered with his wool blanket, beelined for the spot next to his roommate and buried himself on his side. His purring started as soon as Baekhyun pulled him closer.
“What are you watching?” he asked, muffled under the weight of his cover and Baekhyun’s arm.
“How do you feel about going grocery shopping?” Baekhyun said instead, making Jongin emerge from his warm cocoon to watch the screen. Understanding flooded Jongin’s features and he was standing up even before Baekhyun could react.
“I’ll go change. Start making the shopping list?” Baekhyun smiled at Jongin’s soft request, as if he wouldn’t conquer the world if it was Jongin the one asking him to do it.
Baekhyun still remembered the first time he saw Jongin. He was sure no one could look the way he did under the white lights of the store and yet, there he was, the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. Jongin was clearly deep in thought considering his options, staring at all the coffee brands and tilting his head side to side, a dark Birman tail moving at the same pace.
When Baekhyun got closer to take his usual brand, Jongin made eye contact and smiled politely, moving away a couple of inches. Baekhyun’s breath caught in his chest, so quickly and undeniably that he couldn’t do more than walk away in a daze.
He thought that would be it, just a serendipitous encounter between the aisles of the supermarket. But then, they kept running into each other for months.
The lock of Baekhyun’s bike had gotten stuck next to Jongin’s.
They had visited the same flower shop at the same time.
Jongin had returned a couple of books to the library the same day Baekhyun went there with a friend.
They had crashed into each other at the corner of a park.
Baekhyun got in the cab Jongin had gotten out of.
They met over and over until Jongin found him sitting outside of a music store, and was brave enough to introduce himself.
Baekhyun’s tail wasn’t capable of hiding his delight, the tip of it curling and uncurling, and jumped in immediately on the chance of getting to know him.
It had been an uncommon friendship from the beginning and eventually, it evolved into something neither of them imagined that first time standing on the coffee aisle.
The bags were thankfully not heavy and they only had to make one trip upstairs to bring everything inside. Baekhyun had taken advantage of the trip downtown and bought a few materials to complete orders for his business and Jongin had gone all out with snacks after getting an advanced payment on his latest project. He had also bought a new fleece blanket, where he was intending to biscuit after he finished working for the day.
That day, Baekhyun was in charge of lunch and dinner. Jongin was the better cook but his latest translating project had him tied to his desk. It was pretty much finished, but the last stage was also the trickiest. The process of editing plus proofreading plus sending it to his teammate for a second, a third, and sometimes a fourth round of editing and proofreading, stole his time completely.
Baekhyun was more than happy to take care of him during all of that, and his care would take the form of peeled and sliced oranges on a plate, and cups of tea or coffee that would magically appear and disappear without Jongin having to worry about them, and quick sessions of grooming before going to bed (and making sure he went to bed). Quick forehead kisses before leaving him to work.
Baekhyun loved him. Deeper than he ever thought he would. Because, sure, the initial attraction had been there but after seeing Jongin’s true nature, his gentle heart open to everything, Baekhyun found something much more precious than romance.
Baekhyun infatuation never got addressed, it melted away with time, but he wouldn’t have it any other way, completely blissful with building a life with Jongin, walking side by side with him.
When Jongin hit send he felt his whole body relax. The reason for him missing the holidays with his family was finally in its last revision before sending it to the client, and at that point there wasn’t much more to do.
He turned off his computer completely for the first time in a couple of months and stood up with a big stretch, his hands automatically doing biscuits in the air, and followed the sound of a sewing machine working. Jongin couldn’t remember when was the last time he checked Baekhyun’s orders’ board, so he didn’t know how much he would be working or for how long he had been working. So, he got out of his office and walked into the room Baekhyun used as a workshop.
He was, of course, busy. Completely deep in thought as shown by his fluffy orange tail wrapped around his lap without moving, ears perked up in attention.
Jongin knocked on the door softly before getting in, and Baekhyun stopped pressing the machine’s pedal immediately.
“Hey!” Light filled his face, and Jongin realized he missed him even when he technically saw him daily. “Is it time for lunch already? I prepped the ingredients for chicken sandwiches, they’re in the—“
“Hey.” Jongin’s soft tone made his friend stop, and the curiosity traveled through his tail with a questioning curl. “Thank you.” Baekhyun shook his head and smiled, but Jongin wouldn’t have it. “I mean it, hyung.” Baekhyun flushed but nodded and went back to the bralette in his hands.
“How’s the book going?”
“Almost done.” Jongin placed himself behind Baekhyun’s chair and started nuzzling the back of his head. Baekhyun’s purring, although involuntary, was loud. “I sent it for a final revision, but since I triple-checked that monster I don’t think there will be many editions to make.”
Baekhyun nodded, more to himself than anything. “Does that mean we can make celebrating hot cocoa?” Jongin motions stopped and Baekhyun counted that as a big win.
“Hyung, I love your brain.”
Jongin had taken the first sip from his cup when he saw it. White swirling in the windows.
“It started,” he said, and Baekhyun turned to see the rapidly falling snow.
“I have to make a post that there might be delays on the orders.” Jongin noticed how even in that moment, Baekhyun would think about work. “Gah, I think a few of those are Christmas gifts.”
“I’ll write it for you,” Jongin stated.
“Really?”
“Yeah! I’m a great ghostwriter too!” Taking another bite of his sandwich, he took his phone and started studying Baekhyun’s usual captions on Instagram. His lingerie business had a solid following, and Jongin was pretty sure the sweet captions Baekhyun was so used to write were one of the reasons for it. After scrolling and mentally noting a couple of Baekhyun’s writing patterns, he decided to stick by him for the rest of the day, to return at least a fraction of the care he had been given. “And then I’ll stay next to you to help you with everything you need.” Baekhyun stopped chewing and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
They both were very aware of Jongin’s constant desire to enjoy Baekhyun’s company.
“That sounds like a win-win situation,” the older said.
Jongin smiled and went to his friend to headbutt his chest.
Baekhyun’s sewing machine came to life again after eating and as promised, Jongin had made a short, sweet, and kind of funny announcement through Baekhyun’s business’ socials. After a while, he reported the results.
“So far you’ve got four ‘be safe’ and five heart stickers,” he beamed, locking Baekhyun’s phone and leaving it on one of the workshop’s tables. “You’re so popular, hyung.” Baekhyun snorted, amused by the remark.
“I’m not.” Paying close attention to the way the needle began moving through the thin fabric, he continued. “There are a lot of lingerie stores in this city.”
“But yours are for a specific audience!” Jongin insisted already grabbing his phone to look for proof, ready to fight on that topic. “I’ve seen them, they’re cool.”
Unfazed, Baekhyun kept the machine working, the low rumble of it filling the room. “Yours is not an unbiased opinion, Nin.”
Tap, tap, tap. Jongin’s quick search for the evidence paid off, as he found an old picture of a strawberry cake with a number three cake topper. He shoved his screen in Baekhyun’s face, who had to stop sewing.
“Your following passed the 3k in less than a year, remember?”
Baekhyun laughed hard at that, throwing his head back. Body still shaking with his chuckles, he continued: “How do you remember that?”
“I was there .” Baekhyun couldn’t stop smiling, cheeks hurting from it.
“I yield,” he said, checking one last time if the size of the set he was making was correct before folding it and putting it aside. “Jonginnie is right, as usual.” Jongin stared at him, pleased with hearing those words coming out of Baekhyun’s mouth even though it was evident he didn’t completely believe them. He couldn’t add much though, since Baekhyun was clearly finishing up that day’s work. “Can you pass me those scissors, please?” Jongin took the metal instrument, and handed it to him. “Thank you, and cross out orders 26 and 28.”
Fully immersed in his part as temporary assistant, Jongin did as told. He grabbed the marker that was hanging on the side of the white board with all of Baekhyun’s orders and crossed out the two numbers. He was happy to notice something. “Oh! Only five left?”
“Yes.” Baekhyun turned off his machine and stood up. “But I’m beat, they’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” He reached Jongin’s side and rested his chin on his shoulder, going cross-eyed while looking at Jongin’s eyes. “We should cuddle tonight,” he suggested, knowing it would never get rejected.
“Kitty pile?!” Jongin cheered, tail wrapping them both.
“Cat pile, Nin,” Baekhyun answered, leaving a peck on his jaw. “We’re old.”
Jongin’s room was the usual place for cuddles since the bed was bigger and he had a soft blankets addiction. But that night he went to Baekhyun while he was brushing his teeth.
“Can we sleep in your room? I want to see the snow.”
Being on the opposite side of their apartment and closer to the road, Baekhyun’s windows were not obscured by trees and the street lights were bright enough to reach them. Because of that, the sight of the falling snow was clear. Baekhyun nodded.
“But bring more blankets.” He didn’t get an answer, but he heard Jongin’s soft steps walking away and coming back.
When he got out of his bathroom ready to go to bed, Jongin was making biscuits on his fleece blankets, happily by the look of his tail, and Baekhyun felt warmth spread from his heart at the sight. He wasn’t the best at making biscuits himself, but he encouraged Jongin by starting to groom him behind the ears and at the back of his head. Jongin’s purring filled the room, reminiscent of Baekhyun’s sewing machine, and then the second cat in the room joined naturally.
After deeming their bed appropriately biscuited, Jongin dropped on his back, making Baekhyun fall on top of him. Neither of them complained. They just made themselves comfortable and looked out the window, the gentle sway of snowflakes falling enough to fill their minds.
With how exhausted he was, it didn’t take long for Jongin to feel sleepy. He got closer to Baekhyun, senses filling up with him.
“Goodnight, hyung.”
There was no answer, but Jongin didn’t need one.
Baekhyun woke up first. The windows had a frame of snow, the light hitting it making everything brighter. Jongin was in his arms and the sight of him, the sound of soft snoring, the touch of messy fur sticking out everywhere, made him the happiest creature alive.
When Jongin woke up, he felt the familiar rhythm of Baekhyun’s breathing close to him, heartbeat under his ear, soothing. He knew Baekhyun was awake just by the little taps of his tail, always so hard to control when he was happy. Jongin smiled to himself, and buried his face in Baekhyun's neck, nibbling the skin of his jaw and making him laugh.
Baekhyun, still happy that the worst part of Jongin’s project had passed, had decided to treat him again, preparing a broth with his family recipe.
“We’re having clear beef soup?” Jongin said when he realized, voice going higher with excitement. “And you added mushrooms and corn!” Baekhyun chuckled, his need to make Jongin happy met once more.
“Let’s say it’s a celebration of your hard work.” Baekhyun served two plates with the broth and took them to their dinner table, set by Jongin. “I know your mom used to do this when it was cold.”
“She used to do this always, hyung,” Jongin replied, a fond smile appearing. “The weather was not relevant.” At the sudden mention of his mom, Jongin’s sudden joy fizzed out. There was the usual warmth there, but tamed and passive.
Baekhyun knew the topic was a double-edged sword, Jongin always so loving towards his family and so heartbroken for not visiting them more often. The feeling stronger around winter time.
Jongin’s family would gather more consistently during the season. He didn’t know the whole reason behind it, although Baekhyun guessed it was something to do with his breed traditionally having more spring/summer jobs, he only knew he had to miss it that year after the translating agency he worked for picked up a novel last minute.
With his spoon, Jongin picked at the carrot pieces, making Baekhyun regret a little his idea of cooking something that remind him about home.
“Thank you,” Jongin whispered suddenly. “Missing them would be ten times worse if you weren’t here.”
“Jongin—” Before Baekhyun could say anything else, he had an armful of warmth, Jongin’s permanent cold nose nuzzling his neck and under his chin. Once again, purring was inevitable.
Since Baekhyun had cooked, Jongin was busy doing the dishes. Even when Baekhyun had cooked, he wouldn’t leave him by himself. Jongin, absently scrubbing the spoons, glanced to his side where Baekhyun was drying the bowls with a kitchen cloth.
“Do you like this?” he asked, hip-bumping him. Baekhyun looked up at him, right ear moving towards him.
“What?” Jongin paused for a moment as he tried to sum up what was swaying gently in his mind.
“Our life,” he said at the end. Baekhyun froze, a little surprised, both by the question and the fact that the answer was the easiest to give.
Just another rule of nature, a universal truth.
“I don’t think I can exist in any place or plane without you.”
Jongin smiled at the words, he hip-bumped him again and curled his tail around them.
As blissful as he could be.