Work Text:
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes, Dr. Byun.”
It's time. After months of trial and error, Baekhyun and his team are finally implementing this project.
Baekhyun pushes up his glasses that have slid down his nose and continues fiddling with the computer in front of him. His glance falls on the big silver pod placed in the middle of the room across his desk, which has cables and wires connected to the computers. Soon the screen displays blips and changes, showing the status of the experiment.
System check… OK
Status check… OK
Everything seems good so far. The content in the pod is in stable condition. Baekhyun takes a deep breath and announces, “Let’s begin.” He presses the button.
Starting Project Resurrecchen…
0%
Baekhyun walks over to the pod and puts his hands on the frame. A body lies peacefully inside, his hands folded on his chest with cables and wires connected to various parts of his body from head to toe. Even with his eyes closed, Baekhyun can always recognize that face, those long lashes, lips curled like a cat’s, and chiseled cheekbones.
Oh, Jongdae.
His first meeting with Jongdae was far from what you would think ordinary, it feels as if it was yesterday.
As part of the tech support team, Baekhyun was used to being cooped up in the lab and computer room for hours, even days, doing research and experiments with a group of nerds, boring, and serious people. But one day, he saw an unfamiliar man dressed up in black gear and combat boots standing confusedly near the glass door entrance of his lab. The man was definitely far from being a nerd, boring, or serious. Finally, someone easy on the eye. A change of pace.
Baekhyun cleared his throat. “Are you looking for someone?”
“Oh, hello.” The person turned around and Baekhyun wasn’t ready for that sheer bright smile, blinding like the sun.
“I’m Chen. I was told to come here for maintenance.” He rolled the jacket sleeve of his right hand and took off the glove. His hand was not made from flesh but from a dark metallic material. Now Baekhyun could see why he needed to come here.
“Nice to meet you, Chen. I’m Baekhyun. I can help,” Baekhyun offered. He placed his ID to open the glass door and let him into the room.
As Baekhyun checked and did maintenance on Jongdae’s prosthetic, he also learned more about the owner. Apparently, Chen is his code name and he is one of the top secret service agents from EXO’s M Team. Due to a past injury and infection during a mission, the doctor had to amputate his right arm and replace it with a prosthetic.
“Did it hurt?” Baekhyun asked out of curiosity.
Chen grimaced. “It did. But well, at least now I’m getting used to this.” He flexed his hand and fingers, then his face beamed with excitement. “Wow! It’s now a lot smoother! What did you do?”
It was Baekhyun’s turn to smile as he explained the technicalities and how he upgraded a bit of the prosthetic to run smoother.
20%
Since then, Chen often came to his lab after some missions whenever he felt something was off with his prosthetic hand. Or sometimes, Chen just came to see Baekhyun, tease him, and chat with him. Like what he did at the moment, carrying two cups of steaming hot coffee with a bright smile on his face.
The two of them clicked very easily. Baekhyun has always been a chatty person. Chen listened and responded well to his talks no matter how ridiculous the topic was, like the jokes he tried to crack in the lab which was met with awkward silence. Chen laughed gingerly at the jokes, and Baekhyun thought he had never heard a sound more beautiful.
As they grew closer, Chen eventually told Baekhyun his real name: Kim Jongdae. They also started to meet outside of work whenever their schedules allowed it and eventually went out on dates.
Baekhyun was shocked to hear how serious and lethal Jongdae could be when working compared to his playful, happy-go-lucky self when around Baekhyun. Although Jongdae had developed the ability to put on a poker face and what he called a “customer-service smile” that was already charming, it was nice seeing Jongdae in a casual outfit out of mission enjoying coffee and good food – carefree and relaxed.
The more Baekhyun got to know Jongdae and the dangerous nature of his work, the more worry grew in his heart. Every time Jongdae went out for a mission and bid Baekhyun goodbye, Baekhyun silently prayed to whatever gods out there to keep Jongdae safe so he could see Jongdae again in one piece.
However, one day, Jongdae didn’t really come back in one piece. His left hand held his wrecked prosthetic arm while his face held an apologetic smile. Baekhyun’s heart stung from looking at the torn pieces, the bullet holes, and the inside wires jutting out. “What the fuck did you do? It’s freaking steel.”
Jongdae’s eyebrows lifted up a few degrees higher. “I’m sorry.”
Baekhyun sighed and offered his hand to take the broken pieces. Jongdae did put his prosthetic arm there, but Baekhyun didn’t expect to be pulled into Jongdae’s embrace (or half-embrace since that’s how far what was left of his right arm allowed him to do). Their chests bumped against each other. Baekhyun’s heart was beating so fast and so loud that he was shy Jongdae would hear it when Jongdae suddenly nuzzled against his neck.
“Anyway, it's good to be back. I miss you, Baekhyun,” Jongdae whispered, his low voice reverberating, sending shivers down Baekhyun’s spine. Somehow, his voice was laced with relief but shaky, not relaxed like usual. Jongdae was squeezing him tightly as if he was afraid Baekhyun would disappear. Knowing how confidential Jongdae’s work is, probably it was best that Baekhyun didn’t know what hell Jongdae went through for his mission this time.
“I miss you too. I'm glad you came back.” Baekhyun wished he could do more, but couldn’t do anything else other than rubbing his hand soothingly over Jongdae’s back. Hopefully, it was enough to give him some kind of comfort.
“Thank you for being my rock, Baekhyun.”
Seeing Jongdae’s sincere smile blooming on his face, Baekhyun realized he had indeed given Jongdae some comfort.
50%
Good things must come to an end, people say.
And seeing his situation right now, it felt as if Baekhyun’s worst nightmare was playing right in front of his eyes.
Jongdae was back from his latest mission, but he was on the bed, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, and was in critical condition. His eyes were tightly shut. His heart monitor was beeping far too slowly for Baekhyun's liking.
They said Jongdae might not be able to make it.
The other secret agent who was Jongdae's good friend and partner for that mission, Chanyeol, was sobbing next to Baekhyun, mumbling a lot of “I’m sorry”, “I should have protected you”, “I should have come back for you before that thing exploded…”
But somehow Baekhyun couldn’t even let out a sound.
Speechless. Stunned. The thought that he might not hear Jongdae’s cheerful voice again or feel the warmth of his embrace and the gentle kiss on his lips scared him.
Every day before and after work, Baekhyun went into the ICU to check how Jongdae was doing. Every day, he talked to Jongdae, sharing about his day. Every day, he held Jongdae’s hand, putting it close to his lips, hoping Jongdae would somehow, somehow, feel that Baekhyun was here for him.
Eventually, Jongdae’s condition stabilized. Baekhyun knew Jongdae was such a fighter, he wouldn't let anything bring him down, even a life-threatening injury. It was relieving to see Jongdae’s too-pale skin and skinny body free of the many layers of bandages.
However, his eyes were still closed, he had yet to come to consciousness; the gods were still intent on testing both of them.
“The damage to his nerves and spinal cord was too severe. I’m afraid Chen might not be able to walk or do anything ever again."
Baekhyun turned to see Jongdae on the bed. There were too many tubes connected to his body, Jongdae must have whined about the discomfort if only he could open his eyes and talk to Baekhyun again. He missed Jongdae's responses, his distinctive laughter, his sass, his whining, everything.
It was too quiet.
Jongdae loved moving and exploring. Baekhyun understood how frustrated Jongdae must have felt being trapped in his body without a way to communicate with anyone else.
Baekhyun couldn't take it anymore. He went up to the quiet rooftop, with only the wind by his side. He wiped the corner of his eyes and screamed his heart out.
Why couldn't the world let them be happy?
80%
The higher-ups were keen on dismissing Chen since he could no longer serve for the agency due to his vegetative state dependent on the life support machine.
They said Chen was as good as dead.
Everyone else said to let him go.
But it was not easy for Baekhyun to give Jongdae up.
He searched and searched for a way, a method to bring Jongdae back. One day, he stumbled upon recent research done by Professor Oh Sehun. So off Baekhyun went to find the reclusive man. After a lot of convincing and begging and crying, Professor Oh eventually gave in and agreed to help him.
Funded by Professor Oh's wealthy partner Kim Junmyeon, they began this project. The name Resurrecchen was suggested by Junmyeon, which Professor Oh found cheesy but Baekhyun thought it was fitting.
Even though it seemed impossible, Baekhyun would do anything for Jongdae - for the only person he ever loved to be back. Anything.
Hours turned to days. Days turned to months. After many trials and errors, eventually, they found a way.
The experiment that they finally went with is to create a machine programmed to connect with an artificial body - in short, an avatar that can be controlled by Jongdae's subconsciousness.
So far, the machine they built has been receiving responses from Jongdae despite him still bedridden. Baekhyun almost fell from his seat the moment he saw the first text on the screen.
Hi
It was just a simple hi. But after so many months of not hearing anything from Jongdae, the text was enough to make tears well up in Baekhyun's eyes.
"Jongdae, oh my god you can finally hear me! I miss you so much."
I miss you too Baekhyun
Professor Oh had to give Baekhyun a box of tissues because of how hard Baekhyun had been bawling just from that interaction.
Eventually, the messages became longer and more often. Every message that appeared lit up Baekhyun's hope.
In the meantime, he built the android body in Jongdae's likeness. God must have been really inspired when he created Jongdae. Jongdae was beautiful inside out. It was a challenge replicating his features - the beautiful eyes, the curled lips, his animatedly expressive eyebrows that Baekhyun came to love so much, but he tried his best.
100%
The monitor flashes green, signaling that the process has been completed. Baekhyun holds his breath. Will they succeed this time, or will it be another failure?
He walks over to the pod where Jongdae's avatar body is placed and waits.
He has worked so hard for months, even years. After so many failures and setbacks, at this point, Baekhyun feels nothing can bring him down anymore.
"Jongdae dear, how are you? I don't know if you can hear me, but I miss you so much. Wake up, please. I miss your voice. I miss your laugh. I miss…"
All of a sudden, Baekhyun hears the machine whirring, and the distinctive ticking before something holds his hand. Baekhyun gasps when he realizes what is happening.
Like in slow motion, Jongdae's eyes flutter open. His eye lens zooms in and out and adjusts before his head tilts up to meet Baekhyun.
Baekhyun can't breathe.
It feels like the first time he met Jongdae. Those eyebrows lift as his eyes widen, then his eyes turn into crinkles when he smiles - the smile that Baekhyun had in his dreams and has been longing to see once again.
"Hi Baekhyun."
The vocal engine they created perfectly simulates Jongdae's real voice. The voice that Baekhyun has longed to hear.
"I'm here."
Baekhyun nods and sniffs, he lets the tears fall down his cheeks as he returns Jongdae's smile.
"Welcome back, Jongdae."