Changbin's voice was barely a whisper. His face still buried in Chan's lap.
"Hyung… what if the pictures come out?"
Chan kept stroking his hair. "Then we'll look ridiculously cute in them. My angle was flawless," he joked.
Silence… then a tiny huff that might've been a laugh came from binnie.
"What if things get bad and STAYs hate us?"
"Then they're missing out on the best Christmas rom-com ever."
There was another Silence and then Changbin's shoulders loosened a little.
"What if the company makes us deny everything?"
"I can't lie when I'm with you, Binnie. My face goes red the second I try. You know this."
Binnie wiggled closer.
"What if… what if I ruin the group?"
Chan's hand paused, then resumed twice as gentle. "Seo Changbin, you are the life and soul of this group. We wouldn't be straykids without you. We'd fall apart — without your loud snoring and protein shakes."
"You're such a tease," Binnie mumbled, giggling silently. "What if I'm not good enough for you?" he added suddenly.
Chan leaned down and pressed a kiss between the bunny ears of the hood. "Binnie. You're literally the gift I never dared ask Santa for."
Another silence… and then a tiny cracked, "Hyung… would everything be fine?"
Chan pulled him up gently, hands on his waist, cupped his cheek, and looked straight into his eyes. "To be honest… I can't promise that things won't be messy. But I swear whatever happens, I've got you. We've got each other. We've got this. And no matter what happens, the company would take care of it. So please, stop worrying, okay?"
But Binnie still looked a little sad.
"Talk to me," Chan said softly.
Changbin sighed. "The thing is… I didn't get to give you my present. You loved Felix's so much, I got scared you wouldn't.....maybe...like mine."
Oh, Binnie…
Chan yanked him into a tight hug and whispered against his ear, "You love me too much don't you?"
"Pabo."
They both cracked up silently. Binnie pulled away and smacked his arm lightly before flopping back onto his lap.
"…You're so annoying."
"Yeah," Chan grinned into his hair, "but I'm your annoying."
They was a long, warm silence. The knly noise was from the sound of Cool Air blowing from the air conditioner. The shaking had stopped completely.
Then suddenly Changbin shot upright, eyes wide and sparkling. "Wait—hyung, what did you get me?"
Chan blinked. "Huh? Get you what?"
"Don't you do that. Don't play dumb!" Changbin poked his chest repeatedly. "Hyung! Where's my special present. Now! I know you have one."
Chan fake-gasped, hand over heart. "I'm hurt, Binnie. Am I not enough?"
He held the dramatic face for exactly two seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Yaaaaaaa!!!"