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"Merry Christmas baby," Jungkook whispered picking up the mistletoe he had been hiding behind his back and lifting it right above their heads.
"I love you," Jimin mumbled back, unable to hide the grin that threatened to split his face in half.
Snow fluttered down from the dark star-speckled sky in soft white tufts, sprinkling their hair, their skin, even leaving little white teardrops in their lashes. It was cold and getting uncomfortably wet in their clothes with every passing second, yet Jimin couldn't find any reasons to complain. He was here with the love of his life on Christmas night, closing the gap, ready to get his dream mistletoe kiss.
And then the phone rang, the annoying signature scream of an iPhone blasting through his dreams and shaking him awake.
"What?" He snapped into the microphone, too groggy and still partially floating in his dreams to care who was calling or what day it even was.
"What do you mean what? The party started like 20 minutes ago. Where are you?" Jungkook asks, his voice sounding like a chilling ice-cold bath in Jimin's ears. It was enough to wake the other completely up and freeze him into a right popsicle all in one.
"Fuck! Fuck, shit, fuck," he started stuttering out, fumbling with his blanket, desperately trying to break free of it's hold to get ready as fast as he could.
"You were sleeping weren't you?" Jungkook asked on the other line, clearly holding back laughter. Jimin could almost hear the amused smirk in his voice, could see it behind his closed eyes.
"How'd you figure that one out, genius?" Jimin snapped back with a frustrated sigh when he finally managed to break free. He barged towards his closet to rip out the neatly folded outfit he had been planning for weeks.
"I've been your best friend for 10 years dude, I think I know what you sound like when you've just woken up," he chuckled and Jimin didn't waste any time to curse at him.
Best friend. Stupid best friend, he thought bitterly, trying to swallow down the whine of frustration as he thought of the dream this stupid best friend of his had ruined. Jimin knew he couldn't have Jungkook in real life... the least he could do is have him in his dreams. But no, of course not.
"Do you want me to come pick you up?"
"No, it's fine. Tell Taehyung I'm sorry for being late. I'll be there in like half an hour."
And with that the call ended and Jimin commenced in an impossible task, which was to get ready in less than 10 minutes so he could actually make it to Taehyung's Christmas party in the promised time... and the giant inflatable Santa costume he had prepared wasn't a quick throw on garment either.
How he had managed to sleep in for this party was beyond him. Sometimes he amazed even himself.
Getting the suit on was the easy part, but somehow inflating it and then closing the suit was a harder task, but somehow he managed it. Like a floaty balloon, he bounced around in his dorm room, trying to find all the presents he had prepared for his friends, as well as make himself look at least a little bit presentable. Jungkook might have seen him in all types of situation, i.e after almost dying from alcohol poisoning or after his first boyfriend had broken his heart, but he still wanted to look cute in the hopes that maybe something would happen this Christmas Eve.
It didn't hurt to dream, did it?
After almost 20 minutes, he finally managed to fix his hair, sprinkle on a slight amount of makeup, pack up all the gifts he had bought as well as plop on the large itchy white beard and Santa hat. With one last glance in the mirror he set out in a hefty speedwalk, thankful for his dancer legs and stamina.
The suit was annoying, to say the least. It kept fumbling all around, and making it hard to walk, his beard kept itching and it was hot as hell on his face. I swear to god if I sweat off all of this makeup before I even get to the party I will kill someone, he thought with an annoyed sigh as he trudged through the cold streets in quick steps, dragging the sack of gifts behind him.
He faintly heard someone yell out "nice Santa costume," when he finally made it into Taehyung's neighborhood, the boy's house just a few buildings ahead.
When he finally made it to the right apartment building, he could immediately tell where the party was coming from. Bright lights and thumping music blasted from the tiny window up on the 9nth floor. For a second it felt weird to have such a crazy party going for Christmas, but Jimin thought nothing of it. Taehyung was known for having the coolest parties in school for a reason.
He called the boy and with a simple click the door downstairs opened for him... and then he found out that the elevator wasn't working.
Thus began the second thunderstorm of curse words from Jimin's mouth as he prepared himself mentally to climb nine floors in the giant Santa suit and heavy gift sack. He was also too stubborn to remove the beard and hat, which had permanently sweat themselves onto his face and head.
He was sure he looked like a proper mess before... what the hell was he going to look like when he finally made it there?
At this rate, he was going to indefinitely avoid Jungkook for the entire evening. It couldn't have gotten any worse.
And then Taehyung just had to open the door wearing fangs, his skin painted a sickly white with a dark vampire cape draped around his neck. He just had to look at him weirdly, he just had to remind Jimin that in fact, it was not yet December and almost certainly not Christmas. That it was still Halloween and the theme was the undead. He just had to.
Jimin felt like the biggest idiot, because in his dreamland he had somehow convinced himself that it in fact was 24th of December. He had to be a stupid idiot in love that imagined kissing Jungkook underneath a mistletoe which he was sure were going to be scattered all around Taehyung's apartment.
"I didn't know Santa was undead," Yoongi snorted as soon as Jimin shuffled inside with his giant of a suit. It was like a prick in everyone's eye, a giant red embarrassment right stack in the middle of all the "festivities".
It all got a bit too much for him. It CoUlDn'T gEt AnY wOrSe, he told himself, mocking his own thoughts as he stomped through the living room, ignoring all the snickers, all the laughs. Every single greeting or question thrown at him, he ignored them all, making his way through everyone just so he could escape and let go all the tears that were threatening to spill.
Now Jimin couldn't really call himself a cry baby, but he had never felt this stupid for a long time. He hated getting embarrassed, hated making a fool of himself, and if it was just his friends and everything else would have been by his liking, then maybe he wouldn't have taken it so hard. But they weren't and the place was filled with more than his close friends.
And Jungkook was out there somewhere.
When Jimin finally found an abandoned closet away from everyone, he threw his bag of gifts into the corner and slammed himself shut into the tight dark space and finally let go.
With a defeated whimper, he threw the hat and beard off of himself and slumped down onto the floor sitting smack onto the little fan that kept inflating the Santa suit. And as if the world was out to get him, he felt the thing crack a little and immediately the airflow into his suit stopped. It started sagging in a heartbeat, pooling all over his tiny body.
It was really the last straw, so he broke down. Tears flowed out like they had been held inside for years, waterfalls pouring down his face, smearing the remnants of makeup he still had on. Shaky hands wrapped around his knees and pulled them as close as he cold, hiding his face in them. Loud hiccumps and pathetic whimpers filled the closet space.
He just wished the world would open up and swallow him whole.
"Hey Tae," Jungkook approached, his eyes still scanning around the room while he approaches the host of the party.
"Oh hey, everything okay?" He answered, his eyes already looking glassier than they had nearly two hours ago when the party had started. Jungkook smirked down at the full cup of clear liquid in the other's hands. He was 99.99% sure it wasn't water in that cup.
"Yeah, uh... Have you seen Jimin? He was supposed to be here like 20 minutes ago."
Taehyung snorted and pointed to the corridor in his apartment. "Yeah, he came in a Santa costume and went there somewhere. Haven't seen him after that."
Furrowing his brow Jungkook stared at the direction he was pointed to, worry already starting to pound in his heart. "I mean I'm sure he's already three bottles in deep, maybe he went to change or something."
"Yeah, uhuhh," Jungkook only mumbled back, his body already moving in the direction. He hoped that was the case. Jungkook knew very well Jimin didn't like these kinds of situations.
"Hey, seriously," Taehyung stopped him before he could slip farther away, "don't worry, I'm sure he's fine. He's a big boy, Kook." He managed to look actually sober for a split second.
"Sure," he only answered and set himself in motion. Mission find Jimin had begun.
He started slow, trying not overthink everything - he had a habit of doing so when it came to Jimin. He scanned the living room first, looking through hoards of people to find the tiny one with the pink hair, yet no luck. He wasn't in the packed, alcohol scented kitchen area either, which is when the worry started growing. His steps got faster and his eyes zoomed around the rooms in inhuman speed, yet he was still nowhere in the main areas.
Figuring that maybe Jimin hadn't left wherever he had gone to 20 minutes ago, he finally took himself to the corridor. Door after door, room after room, he checked every single one yet was only met with strangers making out or in poor Taehyung's room, more obscene activities found place. Jungkook wasn't expecting to see a naked ass this early into the night.
He was about to give up, frustration making his fingers itch and stomach churn from anxiety, but then he heard the softest whimper coming from the closet and he knew immediately he had found him.
Gently, he opened the door and knelt down in front of the tiny one, his head hidden between his knees, shoulders shaking with breathy cries.
"Hey," Jungkook softly breathed, pulling the older one into his arms.
He had been doing this for 10 years, he could have done this in a heartbeat with his eyes closed. He knew exactly what calmed the older down, where to caress and how tight he had to hug for him to stop crying. He knew exactly the right words to say. He knew him in and out.
"Go away," Jimin muttered weakly, trying to push Jungkook's hands away, but to no avail. It never really worked that well, Jungkook was considerably stronger.
"You know I won't do that, baby," he answered, pulling Jimin even closer and snuggling closer to him. Allowing himself to inhale the other's sweet peachy scent that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
"Stop calling me that!" Jimin exploded and pushed at him harshly. In shock, Jungkook let go and stared at the older with wide eyes. It was too dark to make anything out that much.
"Jimin...-"
"No, stop. I'm- just... let me be."
"What happened to your costume?" Jungkook only asks, noticing finally the discarded beard and hat, the saggy fabric all around Jimin's body.
Jimin only pushed himself farther against the wall and turned his back, trying to hide from the younger as much as possible.
Gears were turning in Jungkook's mind at lightspeed, trying to come up with something that would help the situation. He hated seeing Jimin like this. He felt Jimin's pain as if it was his own, it had been that way ever since he had first seen him. Ever since the first time his eyes had landed upon the new boy in their neighborhood.
He was always smaller than everyone else, but he was brave and brilliant, whatever he did or said was shiny. Jungkook knew from day one he would follow him wherever he went. Luckily Jimin didn't mind his company that much. Eventually, he even started preferring it... but maybe not as much as Jungkook did.
But he never minded. He was fine with just being friends with Jimin, he was with him through everything - through every heartbreak. He would be with him... but he could never just sit back and let whatever happened, happen. He had never managed to sit still and let Jimin be in pain.
He sure wasn't going to let it happen this time either.
Jimin didn't notice him leave.
But he did notice him coming back. Well... it wasn't like Jungkook was being that discreet with it anyway.
He burst through the door like some kind of superhero, carrying a bunch of shit that Jimin couldn't identify, a proud determined look in his eyes. Without even saying anything, he pulled Jimin up with one hand and started dragging him through the hall and pushed him into a lonely bathroom. Jimin immediately avoided the mirror. He did not want to see what kind of hell he looked like.
"Get that nasty shit off your body right now, we are going to win this costume competition," the younger announced and pulled on the saggy fabric around Jimin's body. It was only then Jimin noticed the younger's "outfit". He wasn't that surprised that Jungkook had come as a zombie.
"What are you talking about?" Jimin asked in a tired voice, the long crying session finally taking a toll on his body. He wanted nothing more than to just crawl back into the closet and fall asleep until the party was over.
Jungkook seemed to have another idea as he pushed a shot glass full of... something, in front of him.
"I'm talking about our costume Jimin. Now would you work with me and get undressed?" He huffed, leaving Jimin more than flustered.
They had seen each other naked before, but for some reason, Jimin felt shyness crawl up his back at the thought of undressing in front of Jungkook.
It was just something about that day.
15 minutes and some makeup Jungkook had found in the depths of Taehyung's room later, they both emerged from the bathroom ready to dazzle. At least that's what Jungkook had said, even though Jimin had no idea what they were supposed to be and how was this supposed to make his situation any better than it had been. He was still wearing a beard and a Santa hat, nothing had changed that much. At least in his appearance, he was just... more dirty looking now for some reason.
"Just go and get yourself a drink okay, ignore anyone that says anything. I'll handle them later," Jungkook gave him an encouraging smile and started to disappear back to where Taehyung's room was.
"Wait! What?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes okay? I promise." And so he disappeared from sight, leaving Jimin standing alone in the hallway, still wearing a Santa costume like the biggest idiot.
But he guessed he couldn't have crawled back into the closet this time anyway. Might as well just guzzle as much free alcohol as he could.
"Ho, ho, ho, hoes," a sudden shout echoed over the pumping music from the living room, startling a "on-his-way-to-drunk-city" Jimin. He grabbed his cup - filled to the brim with vodka and whatever topper he could find - and stumbled his way through the people to the living room, where Jungkook was proudly standing, wearing Jimin's inflatable suit, an obnoxiously large Santa hat and a ridiculous looking beard, that resembled Gandalf more than Santa Claus.
Jimin stood there startled, staring at his goof of a best friend, making a fool of himself as he threw out random candies and tiny bottles of alcohol - Jimin had no idea where he had gotten them from - as presents to everyone.
"Ahh, there he is!" Jungkook exclaimed, spotting Jimin in the crowd. He hopped closer to him and pulled Jimin next to him, folding him perfectly underneath his arm, keeping him neat and secure right next to him. "I would publicly like to announce that me and my zombie husband Santa are going to kick all of your pathetic asses in the best costume competition, so Tae you should just hand over the prize right now."
Jimin could only stand and stare at the idiot next to him. The idiot with glossy twinkling eyes and heart of gold.
The idiot that did whatever whenever just so he would feel better.
The stupid idiot that made his heart flutter like no one else ever had.
"What are you doing?" He whispered quietly so only Jungkook could hear.
"Winning us a sick prize," he only answered back and proceeded to answer anyone who asked that indeed he had been the idiot who had forgotten their couple outfit and that they were supposed to be gay Santa's who tragically died of unrequited love and then reunited in their afterlife.
Two hours, many shots of alcohol and a sick dance battle later, they won the costume party and were declared the king and king of the Halloween party.
"You didn't have to do that," Jimin mumbled, shivering in the cold as the both of them had relocated onto the roof of Taehyung's apartment building to celebrate their win.
"I didn't," he answered, taking a swig of the bottle they had won as a prize, "but I wanted to."
"Thank you," Jimin muttered out taking the bottle from the younger. Sneakily he managed to shuffle closer to him so their sides were almost touching. "For everything, Jungkook. Everything you have done."
"It's what friends are for, Jimin," he only grinned, but Jimin could feel the sourness in his tone. It made something in his stomach stir. He wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol or something else. "Actually," he continued before Jimin could say anything else.
"I was figuring, since you showed up in a Santa outfit in the first place, we'd celebrate a little."
"What do you mean?" Jimin asked, cocking his head in confusion.
"I'm making Christmas happen for you Jimin," he grinned and pulled out fake snow from his pocket, sprinkling it all over Jimin's head. "Snow, check."
Jimin watched with amusement as the fake plastic snow covered his hair and shoulders, fluttering onto his knees when he shook his head. "What's next?"
"Present," he announced and pulled out a tiny fake rose from the inner pocket of his jacket - they had ditched the giant inflatable suit.
Pink dusting his cheeks, Jimin bowed his head to hide and tucked the rose behind his ear. His heart felt like it would burst out of his chest at any second with how Jungkook was behaving and looking at him.
"What else is there on Christmas?" He asked then, with an amused smirk.
"A nice roast dinner?"
Jungkook pointed at the bottle between Jimin's thighs. "I take that's a pretty good dinner."
For some reason, with the way he was smiling and staring Jimin found it hard to believe Jungkook was talking about the alcohol.
"What else?" Jimin asked, his voice quiet in thought.
He didn't notice at first, too busy with looking at the city lights, but when he turned and noticed the younger holding a fake mistletoe right above their heads, he could have sworn he stopped breathing.
The air between turned heavy suddenly, tense and filled with something more than usual.
Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was all the shit from this day. Maybe it was the extraordinary measures Jungkook went through just to make Christmas happen for him, but Jimin found himself leaning forward.
Jungkook seemed nervous, like he never did. The mistletoe above them was shivering with the younger's shaky hands. "Ju-just you know no Christmas is complete witho-"
"Shut up," Jimin managed to mutter out before he touched their lips together, moving slowly against him, pulling him to him. His lips were soft and cold, the slight hint of alcohol still on them, but it made it all the more intoxicating for him.
He could have cared less about the consequences of what they were doing.
He had seen it in a dream and it had been interrupted.
Not anymore.
Jungkook sighed against his lips, a wondrous sound, and pulled Jimin closer, opening his mouth more, to let more of him in. His big hands fit right on Jimin's cheeks, filling out the entire space. They were warm and soft, and Jimin felt like losing his mind.
"Merry Christmas baby," Jungkook whispered against his lips.
"Mery Christmas, love."