Work Text:
🐩🎄✨
Jaehyun's holiday vacay just started and he can't sleep, can't wait to wake up, take a taxi to the airport, board the plane, and be on the very majestic snowy streets of London.
He just finished checking in the hotel, and he's really loving everything about the whole place. The tea is exceptionally splendid! The biscuits, the Christmas biscuits, are so delightful . Everything about his first day is everything he could ask for to start his holiday vacation.
On his second day, he decides to wander around the streets and visit the festively decorated park. He puts on three layers of clothing, a pair of leather gloves, and a knitted bonnet to keep himself warm while outside. At the lobby, something caught his eyes, halting his steps. He reads the words on the banner.
"27th Snowpaw Holiday Dog Conference🐶"
This place is indeed adorable and surprising in many ways , Jaehyun thinks. He shakes his head then turns back on his heels when something bumps onto the back of his leg.
A little brown poodle pup.
Jaehyun, by instinct, when it comes to animals in general, coos and crouches down to offer his hand. "Hi~" he greets fondly.
The poodle sniffs his hand and immediately lets him pet its head. Nothing else could melt Jaehyun's heart but how soft the curls of a poodle.
"Where's your owner?" Jaehyun asks, suddenly realizing that nobody has approached since the poodle bumped into him. Noticing the light chime of a bell, Jaehyun leans down to look at the collar's pendant.
Rapunzel
"That's your name? Rapunzel?"
The poodle barks, perhaps saying 'yes, that is my name, human'.
Jaehyun flips the pendant and sees nothing engraved on it. No contact information or anything to call or search for emergencies.
"Will you be okay if I leave you to the guard?" For some reason, Jaehyun is second-guessing if the poodle can actually understand him because it responded with a sad whine and face. And, oh dear, Jaehyun is weak on those sparkly puppy eyes.
"Well, I guess I'll let you tag along with me," he trails as he stands up. A grin forms on his lips as the poodle immediately hops in excitement.
🐩🎄✨
There are many stalls and stands along the streets and snow-covered stone paths of the park. Jaehyun and Rapunzel are both having fun visiting some of the stalls, buying sweets and holiday treats, and enjoying the hot cocoa and puppuccino while sitting by the bench.
Shortly later, people start to gather around at the Christmas tree.
“Wanna look at what’s happening there?” Jaehyun asks Rapunzel, who is still licking the candy cane dog bone. She looks up and nods.
Jaehyun stands and is about to take a step when a shout comes from his left.
“Rapunzel-chan!”
A guy with red-colored hair rushes towards them and immediately kneels on the snowy ground to hug the poodle.
Is he the owner? I guess so, Jaehyun debunks the situation in his head as he watches an affectionate reunion.
“Where were you?” The guy asks with pure worry and relief. And then he looks up to Jaehyun, frowns in confusion and suspicion. “Why are you with my dog?”
“Ah . . . Is she your dog? I bumped into her in the lobby of the hotel and no one was with her. I checked her pendant and saw no contact information of the owner, which turns out seems to be you. I thought of handing her to the guard, but she seemed to prefer to tag along with me, so I, ahm, let her.”
“Hmm, okay . . . Ah, thanks for watching over her,” the guy says, a little apologetic and ashamed of the suspicion he put up to Jaehyun.
“It’s all okay. I had fun walking around with her. Oh, do you know what’s happening? Why are people going there?”
“Oh, they’re going to the lighting up of the Christmas tree.”
“Whoa . . .”
A short quiet moment.
“Would you want to watch it?”
“Yeah.”
They stand among the crowd, also anticipating the lighting of the Christmas tree. Something about the cinnamon and hot cocoa scent among the air and the all too familiar warmth of standing next to a person makes Jaehyun feel comfy. Also, there’s something about the unconscious hand-on-top holding situation on the leash.
The red-colored hair guy turns to Jaehyun, with a soft expression. “I’m Yuta.”
Jaehyun turns to him, taking a few seconds to look at features he missed on their first meeting at the bench. He reciprocates the soft smile and eyes. “I’m Jaehyun.”
Yuta smiles more and nods. He turns his gaze back to the still unlit Christmas tree, unbeknownst giving Jaehyun a chance to admire his side profile.
In a few seconds, bells and carols start to tune and warm the atmosphere. Jaehyun felt that; felt his heart also skip a beat when he met a pair of sparkly eyes and a blinding smile.
This might be the beginning of the best part of Jaehyun’s holiday vacation.
🐩🎄✨
“So, you two met because you bumped into his poodle and she followed you around the whole day because of the scent of the biscuits you kept in your pockets when you were on your holiday vacay in Europe?”
Jaehyun nods, smiley.
Yuta, sitting beside him, chuckles at the bewildered expressions of their friends and Mark’s enamored eyes.
“It’s a Christmas miracle, to be honest.”
“More like a Christmas Biscuit mishap that leads to the beginning of a holiday love story.”