Chapter Text
“I’m sorry, are you genuinely telling me right now that you want to fuck an elf?!” Wooyoung blurted out, hand moving to steady the coffee cup that he almost knocked over with his flailing arms.
“Jesus Christ Wooyoung keep your voice down! People are looking” Seonghwa scolded through gritted teeth, eyes shifting around the coffee shop nervously to make sure no one was listening in.
“I didn’t say that! And he’s not an actual elf, that would be insane… and like they’re not real anyways so it’s not even possible” he pondered.
Wooyoung looked at him dumbfounded. He would love to know what goes on in the other man’s head sometimes.
“Anyways” Seonghwa continued, shaking his head to readjust his focus back on the conversation at hand. “I was just saying that on my way here I spotted what might be the cutest guy ever and he was working at the Santa’s Grotto in the mall. He was escorting the kids in to meet Santa, full green and red elf costume and all. So cute and responsible” he sighed dreamily.
“Right…” Wooyoung replied, lifting his coffee cup up to his lips, blowing on it gently. “So are you going to make a move? Ask for his number or something?”
“Well…no” Seonghwa hesitated before continuing. “I did want to! You know it’s been ages since I’ve been even remotely interested in anyone since the breakup but I’ve been trying to think of ways to approach him and I can’t think of anything. That Grotto may as well be Fort Knox. There’s security standing in front of the candy cane archway” he groaned. “And there’s a 4ft tall picket fence too! They’re keeping him locked away in there” he sighed resting his cheek on his propped up hand, the other picking up crumbs from his plate and shovelling them into his mouth.
It had been 6 months since Seonghwa’s breakup and he was more than ready to move on but it’s just… he always finds it hard to be attracted to people without properly getting to know them. His last relationship was a stroke of luck, a romance that blossomed from close proximity with a mutual friend and allowed him to shift from friendship to romance almost seamlessly.
Attraction to strangers however? That was a rare occurrence for him which is why he was so taken aback when he spotted that little elf from across the mall courtyard.
He had been rushing down the escalator running behind time for his coffee date with Wooyoung when he heard a child screaming. He instantly turned his head on high alert in case something was wrong but his harsh glare softened when he noticed it was just a child getting taken in to meet Santa. Cute.
He reached the end of the elevator, hoping off and glanced back over to the grotto only to stop dead in his tracks when he spotted him. His orange hair glowed under the fairy lights draped over the grotto and it contrasted with the bright green hat sitting atop his head.
Excuse me!
Oh fuck. “Sorry!” He hurriedly apologised to the queue that had formed behind him and were desperately trying to escape from the escalator that he had blocked like a statue.
Checking the time on his phone he realised he was already 5 minutes late to meet Wooyoung. What’s another couple of minutes.
He slinked through the courtyard inching closer and closer to the grotto to get a better look at the elf. He stopped behind a big reindeer statue and subtly peeked around its hind left leg, eyes scanning until they locked onto the elf.
There he was.
He was perfect.
Seonghwa had been hoping he wouldn’t have been as attractive up close - makes it easier to stomach the heartache.
But he was so wrong.
In addition to the gorgeous shade of orange that his hair had been dyed he had dainty, no pretty, features - his eyes were sparkling under the fairy lights and was that glittery freckles that had been drawn on across the bridge of his nose and onto his cheeks?
He looked to be mid to late twenties, same as Seonghwa, and yet despite the fact that he was spending his time dressed in an elf costume surrounded by screeching kids and stressed out parents, he looked like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. His kind eyes scrunched up as he smiled and crouched down to talk to a little girl, handing her a lollipop before taking her hand and walking her into the little grotto to meet Santa.
Seonghwa’s eyes scanned the man from head to toe again and sighed, pushing himself away from the reindeer’s leg and returning on route to the coffee shop. He didn’t want to dwell on what he couldn’t have but at the same time his mind was subconsciously conjuring up different scenarios where he would find himself talking with the elf.
“Right…” Wooyoung continued. “So what I’m hearing is that I need to intervene and put my matchmaking skills to the test?”
“Huh? I don’t know if that is-“
“Hush Hwa” he laughed. “I’ve already got a plan in mind” Wooyoung said knowingly, tapping his finger against his temple and leaning back in the chair.
“Okay, so if the grotto can’t be accessed by adults without a child there’s an obvious solution here!”
Seonghwa tilted his head before catching on to what Wooyoung was getting at, eyes bugging out of his head. “No. Nope. No way. I am not going to use your son as a romantic prop!”
“Come on! Jongho will have a great time also! He’s been dying to meet Santa. Has a full Santa list and everything and plus I really need to hear what he’d like for Christmas, he won’t give any hints to San or me” he grumbled.
“Wooyoungie I mean this with the most respect because you know I love being Uncle HwaHwa but your child is a little shit. He’s way too socially conscious for a 7 year old and he’s most certainly going to say something to the elf and ruin my chance at love completely”
“Hmm perhaps you’re right…” Wooyoung pondered. He reached over to rest his hand atop of Seonghwa’s, looking up at him with sympathy before grinning. “But you really don’t have any other options.”
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Seonghwa had been in many interesting situations in his 27 years of existence yet getting a romantic pep talk from a 7 year old in the back of San’s car was a unique one.
He had been hoping that Wooyoung’s plan would fall through or he would get distracted with something else and it would never come into fruition but no. Seonghwa wasn’t that lucky. Which is why 3 days later his hand is being reassuringly held by ones half their size.
“HwaHwa don’t be scared, I’m sure everything will be fine! And if anything goes wrong then don’t worry, I’ll work my magic” Jongho grinned, determination shining through on his little features.
“Yeah that’s what I’m worried about” Seonghwa muttered under his breath before giving Jongo’s hand a squeeze and thanking him.
Seonghwa looked to the front of the car tuning into San and Wooyoung’s conversation. It was a Saturday so San had offered to pick Seonghwa up and he would drop the three of them off at the mall before heading to the nearby gym to get a workout in.
“Are you sureee you don’t want to come with us?” Wooyoung questioned leaning into San’s space, fluttering his eyelashes at him. “Everything might go tits up and we can laugh at Seonghwa being a disastrous gay!”
“Hey?!” Seonghwa gasped.
“Hmmm.. temping!” San giggled back. “But I could really do with the workout. Work’s been a nightmare this week and plus I need to pick up the gym vouchers for Mingi and Yunho’s Christmas presents”.
“Mmm… fair enough.” His husband sighed back. “Don’t worry though, if anything embarrassing happens I’ll make sure to take a video for you” He leaned over and kissed San’s cheek.
“You guys are the worst” Seonghwa grumbled failing to sound like he wasn’t at least a bit endeared by the love his friend’s shared.
Seonghwa had met Wooyoung 13 years ago when they both joined the same dance troupe as teenagers and had been inseparable since. It was during college when he was working as a barista that he met San. He was a business student, so handsome and so kind. Always putting a smile on the faces of the baristas and other customers whenever he came in to get his caffeine fix and work on his college assignments.
It had taken a long time for his two friends to cross paths but one day, Wooyoung came into the cafe to meet Seonghwa before getting drinks after work and they bumped into each other. Like literally. Coffee spilled over hoodies, muffins on the floor. After much apologising and calamity picking cups and cakes off the floor, their eyes met as they were crouched and that was that. Seonghwa truly thought he had entered into one of those Hallmark films as side character.
That had been 7 years, one wedding and one adoption ago and Seonghwa couldn’t imagine two people more suited for one another. While his love life has been a disaster he is so glad that his two best friends have made their life together and he gets to witness their love grow over the years.
Still, they could still both be little shits when they want to be.
He turned his head to search out of the window looking for familiar sites to see how far they were from the mall only for his nerves to spike when he realised they were pulling into the parking lot.
“Guys, I’m genuinely being serious. I don’t know if I can do this. I think I’m going to pass out”
“Hey, it’ll be fine!” Wooyoung swivelled in his seat to face Seonghwa. “I know we’ve been teasing but we understand how out of your comfort zone this is, okay? And we’re going to make sure it all goes well. The three of us will go up to the grotto and get a ticket to meet Santa. You just need to be yourself and I’m sure he’ll be swooning at your feet! Try flirting with him a little bit just to see what the vibes are and go from there. And if he’s a dick then I’ll just signal Jongho to bite his ankles” He grinned.
Jongho giggled and beared his teeth at Seonghwa, pulling a face. Jesus Christ. The mission is doomed before it’s even begun.
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The walk through the mall to get to the grotto was much shorter than Seonghwa remembered. He kept on pointing out stalls and shops that had interesting displays hoping to distract Wooyoung and Jongho with them and delay the inevitable but alas, the Choi duo were determinedly rushing through the hoards of people, dragging Seonghwa with a hand each.
By the time they reached the escalators the thought crossed his mind that the cute elf might not even be working that day. They were just assuming he would be there. Maybe he wouldn’t actually be there and Seonghwa won’t embarrass himself and can just keep daydreaming about the man. This notion came to a halt as soon as his eyes shifted over to the grotto and he witnessed the elf folded in half, giggling at something that the blonde elf stood next to him had said.
Reaching the bottom of the escalator he pulled Wooyoung and Jongho behind the giant reindeer as a final meeting before plan “Get Seonghwa Laid By A Cute Elf” as Wooyoung had so lovingly called it was underway.
“So.. which one is he HwaHwa?” Jongho questioned, head peeking around the reindeer’s hind leg.
“He’s the one with orange hair. God he’s even better than I remembered” He trailed off, gazingly lovingly as the elf was laughing at something one of the parents in the queue must have said to him. “Right. Okay. I think I’m ready. If I never do this I’ll always regret it. It’s just that I'm so nervous. Please for the love of god try not to say anything embarrassing. BOTH of you” He stared them down, pointing his finger at each of them respectively.
“Of course, we would never! Scouts Honour” Wooyoung smiled, saluting and Jongho copied the action with a giggle.
“Considering you’ve both never been Scouts a day in your life that means fuck all” Seonghwa grumbled before leading the way over to the grotto’s candy cane entrance.
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The nerves hit again once Seonghwa had paid for entrance to the grotto for the three of them and they joined the queue.
He could see the cute elf up ahead talking to a little boy and he could just about make out that they were discussing one of the new Pokémon video games that had recently been released and was top of the boys list.
As the line moved and the families shuffled forwards, the elf was walking closer to them, giving a small wave to Jongho as he approached.
Sensing Seonghwa’s nerves, Jongho gripped his hand and whispered over to him “don’t worry HwaHwa, I won’t embarrass you in front of the cute elf.” Seonghwa squeezed his hand. It was at times like this that he was reminded of how much he loved being Jongho’s uncle. The kid has his sweet moments.
The cute elf came to a stop before them, grinning widely.
“HwaHwa thinks you’re pretty!” Jongho blurted out loudly, using his free hand to point to a dumbfounded Seonghwa. That little shit.
The elf’s eyes widened as his eyes flicked over to acknowledge Seonghwa for the first time before a blush spread across his cheeks upon meeting his gaze.
“Oh! Emm… thank you” He giggled giving Seonghwa a once over, eyes stuttering over the hand that was being held by the child.
The elf, Hongjoong, Seonghwa registered from his glittery name tag, pulled his eyes away from the other man focusing back on Jongho.
“Hi, what’s your name? My name is Hongjoong and I’ll be looking after you and taking you in to meet Santa today!” He reached his hand out to give a handshake to Jongho. So sweet! Seonghwa’s brain unhelpfully supplied.
“My name is Jongho!” He grinned. “And this is HwaHwa! And-“
“And I’m Wooyoung, just here for moral support” He leaned over to shake Hongjoong’s hand, winking before getting a totally not subtle glare from Seonghwa.
“HwaHwa…” The elf mumbled, eyes shifting back to the taller man. “Cute” Seonghwa’s ears must have been deceiving him but when he took in the blush on the other man’s cheeks, he assumes that he must have heard him correctly.
The queue moved forward and Hongjoong walked alongside them as he asked them about their Christmas plans and if Jongho had decided what to ask Santa for. The small boy giggled and acknowledged that yes, he had decided what to ask for but that was a secret to be kept between him and the big man.
Upon entering the grotto Jongho rushed over to sit with Santa and Wooyoung nudged Seonghwa closer to the elf, winking at him discreetly before taking photos of Jongho and Santa interacting.
“Soo… pretty huh?” Hongjoong leaned over to whisper to the other man. He turned to catch Seonghwa’s eye, giving him a smirk.
“I’m so so sorry. That’s so embarrassing” Seonghwa blushed, hiding his face in his hands. “I didn’t think he would say anything like that”.
“Is it not true?” The elf questioned. “Do you not think I’m pretty?” Seonghwa could see doubt forming on the other’s face and while this whole interaction made Seonghwa want to be eaten alive, he sure as hell wasn’t going to let Hongjoong walk away thinking that he looked anything less that perfect.
“No!” He exclaimed before rushing to continue “I think you’re very pretty! Like so pretty. You look incredible even as an elf like how on earth have you achieved that?” He rambled on before his words reached his ears and he realised how embarrassing and desperate he was coming across as.
Hongjoong giggled so much he leaned over into Seonghwa’s space making the other freeze and try not to faint. It was so much. He was pretty sure that the look of pure joy on the elf’s face he was witnessing had made his whole year.
“Thank you” Hongjoong blushed once he had stopped giggling. “You’re very pretty too” He shyly mumbled before turning to look over at the scene before them. Wooyoung was now on the ground getting the best possible angles of Jongho sitting on Santa’s lap.
“Now what would you like for Christmas my dear boy?!” Santa asked in a jolly manner, stroking his beard, looking down at Jongho perched on his lap.
Wooyoung’s ears perked up, ready to take note of Jongho’s wish list so that San and him can finally start buying the presents their son desired. His shoulders deflated however, when Jongho happily nodded and leaned up to whisper in Santa’s ear, covering his mouth with his cupped hand. Santa let out a hum and his eyes glanced around the room before letting out a jolly chuckle and an assurance that he will try his best before he handed Jongho a small wrapped present.
Hoping down from Santa’s lap with a satisfied smile, he jogged over to take Seonghwa’s hand before the four of them left the grotto, waving goodbye to Santa.
Seonghwa had made much more progress than he thought he would make but time was running out and there was no way he would be able to make a move on Hongjoong in thier time slot, especially with the long queue that had now formed and the stressed out look on the other blonde elf’s face.
“Well it was lovely to meet you Jongho! You too Wooyoung.” Hongjoong grinned. “You too” He turned to face Seonghwa, shyly smirking at him.
Wooyoung patted Jongho on the head and directed him to the exit of the grotto.
“Be a good boy!” Hongjoong called after Jongho, receiving a smile and wave in return.
He turned around to head back over to the queue of families waiting for their turn to see Santa.
“You be a good boy too” He whispered in Seonghwa’s ear as he brushed past, giggling to himself at the way the other man froze - knees too weak to take a step.
Seonghwa was sooo fucked.