Chapter Text
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”
Taehyung doesn’t have to be face to face with his boyfriend to know he’s rolling his eyes this exact moment, agitated. “We’re gonna spend Christmas with my brother,” Jeongguk does in fact repeat it—much slower, too.
“Okay, but are you not aware of Jimin and Yoongi’s little rivalry?”
“We all know it’s just sexual tension.”
“Yeah, maybe we do, but they love to make it seem like it’s actual hatred,” Taehyung sighs, stressing himself out by thinking about all the tiring possibilities that could, no, would happen if he puts Yoongi and Jimin in the damn same room. “If we spend Christmas together with them, there really won’t be any Christmas cheer.”
Jeongguk laughs, all heartily and loud—like their first Christmas together getting ruined by their brothers unsolved situation is the highlight of his almost-holiday. Taehyung is mildly offended. “Relax. We’ll figure something out.”
“Why couldn’t we have just spent time with our families and then come back to mine to cuddle and watch Christmas movies?”
“Because our parents rented out this cabin, but decided last minute the four hour long ride wasn’t worth it. They didn’t want their money to go to waste, so they offered me and my brother to take it this week since were on semester break. And well, the rest is history.”
“Ugh. I hope you know it’s going to take a lot of coaxing to get Jimin to tag along,” Taehyung thumbs at the crease between his furrowed eyebrows.
“Then if he says no, it’s fine?”
“I already promised him I’d spend this Christmas with him seeing as last years I was in Pennsylvania,” Taehyung puffs out his cheeks, dreading this entirely. “I’ll update you by tonight.”
“Okay. Get packing. We leave by Friday.”
“You got it.”
“Love you, baby.”
“Love you too. Talk to you later.”
Now. Getting Jimin to tag along on this little holiday trip is going to take a hell lot of begging Taehyung is most certainly not ready for.
-x-
Jimin takes a long unnecessary sip from his venti caramel mocha frappe, staring intently at Taehyung for whatever reason. And yes, Venti sized. Taehyung can still hear the pained whimpers of his wallet.
“So, spill.”
“What?”
Jimin takes another causal sip, smacking his lips together in such an exaggerated manner, Taehyung just knows it’s forced. “I’m not dumb. You want something from me.”
“And where did you get that idea?”
“As soon as I got out of dance class, you offered me a back massage. And well, that’s already suspicious as hell because just last week my muscles were sore and I asked for one then, but you know what you told me?”
“Do we really have to go that back in time? A week, really, seven days is so long ago—“
“You asked me if the pain was terminal. I said no, obviously, and then you proceeded to tell me to take a nice warm bath.”
“And it helped, didn’t it?” Taehyung tries a more confident approach, but it falls flat when Jimin doesn’t quit on giving him a dirty look.
“No. Rest did. But whatever,” Jimin waves a hand to stop Taehyung on trying to cut him off to spout more unneeded bullshit, “moving on. If that massage offer wasn’t suspicious enough, you bringing me to Starbucks and offering me anything on the menu sure the hell did it.”
“I am not that cheap, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“Your budget when it comes to Starbucks is like four dollars. That’s barely enough to get a small sized.”
“Because I can easily go to Dunkin Donuts and get two small coffees for the damn price of four dollars,” Taehyung pointedly stresses, watching how two teens pass by with eerily glances aimed at him for his little outburst in public. “That’s not the point. The point is, if you knew I wanted something all along, why would you make me spend like six dollars on your drink—and that’s not including the cake pops, yes pops, plural—and give you that massage that had my damn fingers cramping?”
“Because I’m not a sucker and I’m gonna milk it for what it’s worth,” Jimin hums. Taehyung blanches at that. “What else did you try to bribe me with? Concert tickets? A weekend spent in the Bahamas?”
“You are so not worth that much bribing and money—“
“Wow. And here I thought our bond couldn’t be more stronger.”
“I really had nothing else,” Taehyung eventually admits before another futile argument could break out between the two siblings. With the way they’re going, he’s never going to fully convince Jimin to come with him and it’s already five pm. Jeongguk expects an answer by six.
“So. Lay it on me. Did you break something of mine? Did you want to burrow money after spending like, ten dollars, the most, on me?”
Taehyung glares. “No. I have a question for you, if you will.”
“What?”
“Okay, so,” now this is the hard part. No more teasing, no more bribing with half assed bribes, just smack down right into the question—or well, close enough to the topic at hat. “You know how I promised we’d spend Christmas together?”
This has Jimin furrowing his eyebrows, sitting up more in his seat. Noticing the sudden change of mood and how nervous—somewhat guilty—Taehyung looks, Jimin can’t help but already expect the worst. “Yeah?”
“Well, you see, here’s the thing.”
“What’s the thing, Taehyung?”
“The thing is...”
“What’s the thing, Taehyung?”
“It’s um, this thing—“
“So help me god, I will spill the rest of my frappe over your head,” Jimin threatens ominously. Taehyung almost didn’t believe him, but Jimin even goes as far as popping the lid off his drink to show he will, dead ass, do as he says.
“Okay! Okay,” Taehyung hastily pulls away from the table on reflex, the chair legs scraping against the tiles in a ear-ringing screech. He smiles apologetically at the customers and workers who look their way curiously yet agitated.
“Tell me.”
“Jeongguk wants to have Christmas at this cabin his parents rented out that’s about four hours away from here.”
“Okay?”
“I’m leaving Friday and won’t be coming back till next Friday, possibly.”
“Okay...?” Jimin repeats once again, much more confused than the first time. He motions with his hands for Taehyung to continue. “Where do I fall into all of this?”
“Christmas falls on the twenty-fifth, as it always does. That’s next Thursday.”
And then it finally dawns on Jimin what Taehyung is trying to get at. His mouth parts open in knowing, eyebrows raised up. “So,” he stops himself, purses his lips before he’s continuing, “so you won’t be here for Christmas?”
“No?” Taehyung gives an awkward smile. “That’s why I wanted you to come with me to Jeongguk’s cabin,” Jimin opens his mouth, probably to protest, but Taehyung beats him to it. “If you’re gonna ask if Jeongguk is okay with it, he is. I already asked.”
Jimin breathes out heavily through his nose, quietly mulling over his answer. Taehyung honestly expects Jimin to say no, that, he’s fine staying here and they can spend Christmas together next year. So, imagine his shock when Jimin shrugs after a few minutes of silence, nodding easily. “Sure. I’ll go.”
“You will?” Taehyung has stars in his eyes at this point, smile so wide and hands clasped in front of him. It makes Jimin smile back.
“Yeah. I can use the vacation,” before Taehyung can celebrate and get up from his chair to throw his arms around Jimin in a bone crushing hug, Jimin tilts his head. “Wait. That’s all you had to ask me?”
“Yes?”
“You were scared of my reaction for that?”
And shit, no. That’s not why. Did Taehyung really forget to mention Yoongi would be there as well? Fuck.
“Uh. Yeah,” Taehyung makes a loud pfft noise with his lips, coming off as forced on trying to appear nonchalant. “just. I know you love spending Christmas with your dad here, so I was afraid you wouldn’t wanna be so far from home on Christmas.”
“Aw,” Jimin coos, reaching over to ruffle his brothers hair. “So thoughtful of you. I’ll just tell dad ahead of time. This is gonna be so fun. A whole week away with my brother and my brothers boyfriend—shit, I just realized how lonely I’m gonna be.”
Taehyung bites his tongue, completely not bringing up the fact that Yoongi will be there as well, so it really won’t just be them three.
-x-
Turns out Taehyung’s older brother, Seokjin, wanted to tag along, too, after Jimin had told their mom he’s not going to be here for the holidays over a little dinner. When Seokjin asked to come along, Jeongguk had said yeah, the more the merrier, and Seokjin took those exact words into consideration, inviting Namjoon, his husband, next.
“Hoseok is coming, too,” Jeongguk distractedly explains over the phone the next day. Taehyung can faintly overhear the sounds of characters shouting and guns being fired in the background.
“Cool. So we have the whole entire gang.”
“I’m actually surprised Jimin’s taking this so lightly. Looks like he’s grown up. If only Yoongi was the same way.”
Biting the insides of his cheeks, Taehyung paces his room nervously. How does one go about this conversation? “Maybe it’s because Jimin doesn’t know Yoongi’s coming?” he says it like it’s a question rather than a statement.
It’s quiet for a few long pauses and then Jeongguk curses under his breath. He must’ve died in the game due to being caught off guard—no thanks to Taehyung. “Jimin doesn’t what?”
“....Doesn’t know Yoongi’s coming?”
“Taehyung.”
“Look! I was gonna tell him, but then he got so happy at the offer and I couldn’t just ruin it by saying Yoongi was coming as well—“
“So sure. Have him realize Yoongi’s coming last minute when he sees us all in the car.”
“Wait, we all won’t fit in the same car,” Taehyung frowns. He hears an urgent knock on his bedroom door, but he ignores it in favor of listening to Jeongguk.
“Well, I’m taking mine and you said Seokjin is taking his own, right?”
“That works perfectly! I’ll go with you, Jimin and Hoseok, and then in Seokjin’s car it can be him, Namjoon and Yoo—“ the door to Taehyung’s room opens, showing an annoyed looking Jimin at being disregarded when Taehyung so obviously heard the knock. “Youuu can bet I’m excited for this trip, babe!”
“What? Taehyung—“
“Yes, I love you, too. I’ll speak with you later, Jimin’s here. Bye,” Taehyung hangs up instantly and flashes Jimin his one hundred watt smile, inwardly praying his brother didn’t eavesdrop on his phone call with Jeongguk.
“Really? Ignore your brother when you’re on the phone with Jeongguk?”
“I haven’t seen him all week,” Taehyung reasons, pitiful. It’s true. This entire week the couple spent it via texts, calls and FaceTimes. So nobody can really blame Taehyung if he misses the real deal, aka, kissing his boyfriend and cuddling with him.
“Ugh, you’re so gross. Wipe that pout off your face. You’re seeing him in a few days.”
“Finally,” Taehyung huffs out, throwing his phone on his bed the precise moment it chimes with a new text. He stares at it, unmoving, and then up at his brother. “So, what’s up?”
“Nothing. Just wanted to say I heard Hoseok is going as well.”
“How’d you—“
“Seokjin told me. But I don’t care if he comes, he’s cool. It’s just, his best friend, who shall not be named, could possibly be coming as well.”
Now Taehyung feels himself breaking out in a panicked sweat, his heart racing at the thought of Jimin catching on before they can officially leave.
“And uh, who told you that?”
“Just an inkling. Those two are so inseparable, it wouldn’t really shock me if who shall not be named came, too.”
“Uh. Don’t worry. No news about Yoongi—“ at Jimin’s menacing glare, Taehyung quickly corrects himself with an eye roll, “who shall not be named is coming yet.”
“Yet,” Jimin repeats blunt, face devoid of any emotion. Taehyung is a bit terrified. “So there is a chance of him coming, huh?”
“Look, I don’t know. Take this up with Jeongguk. I have things to do. Shoo,” Taehyung airily waves him away in the direction of his opened door.
Jimin crosses his arms across his chest, unamused at how easily Taehyung is curving the question. “Do what?” He taunts.
“Things, Jimin.”
“You’re acting really suspicious right now and I’m going to find out.”
-x-
Jimin does find out Friday morning when they’re wearily stuffing—more like trying to fit—all their duffel bags and suitcases into Jeongguk’s and Seokjin’s trunk with exasperated grunts.
“Who the fuck packs five suitcases for a seven day trip?”
“Just be thankful it wasn’t seven suitcases,” Seokjin warns, narrowing his eyes on a scoffing Jimin.
“What? A suitcase for each day or some shit?”
“Exactly.”
“You’re fucking insufferable,” and Jimin wants to take back his words as quick as they left his mouth when his eyes skim across the street and land on him, the most insufferable person he’s ever met, looking all groggy and cranky. Jimin can heavily relate. “No. No. This can’t be happening.”
Seokjin looks confused at Jimin’s abrupt mood shift before his own gaze stops on Yoongi and Hoseok stepping out of the Uber, grabbing their own suitcases from the trunk with sluggish movements.
“Jimin. Listen—“
“You!” Jimin accuses, pointing an index finger at a guilt-ridden looking Taehyung. The elder was waiting for this reaction, but he still winces at it. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”
“Maybe...?”
“So that’s why you bribed me with all that shit. God, I am actually offended you’d think I’d willingly want to step twenty feet near him by just offering me weak massages and coffee.”
“Shut it, Park. I’m not too fond of you coming on this trip as well,” Yoongi grumbles, handing his luggage to an unaware Seokjin. The suitcase drops onto the snowed pavement with a dull thud, causing Yoongi to suck his tooth.
“Sorry,” Seokjin grins, bending down to pick it up and stuff it into his already overloaded trunk. Yoongi grimaces at the amount of suitcases in his truck, glancing at a seething Jimin, who looks ready to tear someone—particularly Yoongi—a new one.
“Is this all your shit?”
“No,” Jimin snaps immediately, like he knew Yoongi was gonna ask such a stupid question. “I don’t need to bring five suitcases, thank you very much.”
“Seokjin,” without any further explanation, Yoongi now looks up at the taller male in disbelief. “Seriously?”
“Hey! It’s my car and it’s my clothes. Leave me the hell alone,” he slams his trunk closed to prove some point, or whatever, but cries out in horror when the forced rage wears off and he realizes how much softer that slam could’ve went.
“So, who’s riding with who?” Clearing his throat for dramatic effects, Namjoon asks the important question—the question they all had yet to discuss. When nobody answers, he opens the passenger door to Seokjin’s car and sits inside—already having his seating arrangement figured out.
“I’m going in the same car as Tae,” Jimin announces, stepping over to his second oldest brother, as if he wasn’t just angry at him for betraying him in the worst of ways. Due to their height difference, it’s a bit awkward when Jimin slings an arm around Taehyung’s shoulder, but he makes it work.
“And I’m going in the same car as Jeongguk,” Yoongi challenges.
“Your shit is in Seokjin’s car.”
“That’s because Hoseok’s is in Jeongguk’s.”
“Exactly. So Hoseok rides with us.”
“I said I wanted to go with my brother, so guess what, Park? I’m going.”
Jimin let’s his hand drop from Taehyung’s shoulder, curling his lips inside his mouth. “You’re just doing this shit to irritate me.”
“No, Park. I’m not.”
“Can you not say my last name after everything you say?”
“Listen, how about I just go with Seokjin, and Yoongi goes with Jeongguk that way everyone’s happy?” Taehyung suggests with a loud startling clap, effectively shutting Jimin and Yoongi up.
“Babe,” Jeongguk frowns. “I wanted you to be with me,” he walks over to the younger and tightly wraps his arms around him, “I haven’t seen you this entire week,” he mumbles, kissing his boyfriends temple.
“You’re seeing him right now, Jeongguk. A four hour long ride apart can’t be that bad,” Yoongi grumbles at how dramatic his younger brother can be, getting inside Jeongguk’s car—giving Jimin a triumph smirk on how he’s gotten his way.
-x-
So far a two hour ride without each other and just their brothers truly was that bad.
Jimin wouldn’t shut up about how his holiday is already fucked up because Yoongi is going to be apart of it and how Yoongi is such an asshole, he deserves to be thrown off the Empire State Building—
Taehyung is going insane. He tried to put his earphones in and turn his music all the way up, but Jimin had whined, and whined and whined, and Taehyung had no choice but to take them out and pretend to listen to Jimin’s rant with a bunch of repetitive hmms and oh wows.
He knows he was the one that invited Jimin to begin with—especially since he didn’t bother telling him Yoongi was going to be here, too, so it’s partially his fault this is all happening, and maybe, just maybe, he deserves to have his ear talked off, but god, he’s never met someone so.......so like his brother.
After another ten agonizing kill-me-now kind of minutes pass, they eventually stop at a gas station to fill up on gas and take short bathroom breaks.
With everyone inside, Taehyung unbuckles his seatbelt to rush over to Jeongguk’s car that’s parked besides Seokjin’s. Slipping inside his boyfriends car and closing the door, he welcomes the warm heat with a shudder.
“I can’t do this,” Taehyung complains before everyone can come back—more especially his youngest brother. “Jimin won’t shut up about Yoongi.”
“Yeah, same. Yoongi was talking our ear off about Jimin this and Jimin that. Even Hoseok got annoyed.”
“What are we gonna do?” Taehyung lays his head back against the headrest, eyes all downcast and lacking their usual gleam Jeongguk loves so much. “I kind of knew this was gonna backfire on my ass, but I invited him anyways cause I wanted to spend Christmas with you and him. It’s stupid of me because they can barely stand the thought of each other. Imagine being in the same household for seven days? God. I’m going to lose it—“
“Tae, Tae,” Jeongguk leans over the center console to gently grab Taehyung’s face in his hands. He presses a tender kiss against his lips. “It’ll be okay. We’ll figure something out, okay? Calm down. Breathe, baby,” Jeongguk kisses him again, this time on his nose.
Taehyung knocks their foreheads together, smiling, breathing out a soft, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he whispers back, leaning in for another short kiss, but a loud bang on the passenger window startles them into pulling away.
“Can you get out? It’s like ten degrees out here, not sixty,” Yoongi’s trembling, too, like he’s been waiting outside for hours and not a few seconds. Rolling his eyes at how demanding Jeongguk’s older brother can be, Taehyung sighs and steps out the car—but not before kissing Jeongguk’s cheek.
-x-
The cabin was beautiful, although it was a bit plain to Taehyung, lacking the Christmas spirit since it had absolutely no sort of decorations outside, or inside.
Jeongguk must’ve sensed his mood, as he always seemed to do, because he leans closer, linking their fingers together. “We’ll go shopping for decorations later on tonight once we get settled in, okay?”
Taehyung smiles wide and nods excitedly.
When they all get inside the warm cabin, they drop their bags by the door and sit in the living room to figure out the sleeping arrangements. And for starters, sleeping arrangements weren’t supposed to be that difficult, honestly.
But, of course, there would be a problem with it.
There’s only three rooms—three. Seokjin and Namjoon wanted their own, as well as Taehyung and Jeongguk. This leaves Yoongi, Jimin and Hoseok sharing the last room out of force, so yeah, cue the insults, disagreements and vulgar language.
“I don’t see why I have to share rooms with the fucking devil himself.”
“I’m the devil? Whatever. At least I don’t snore so loud, I end up waking the whole fucking country.”
“That was so weak, Min, even for someone like you.”
“I was just stating facts, Park.”
“Yeah? Well, your facts are all wrong, idiot. I don’t snore........at least, not anymore,” Jimin purposely mumbles the last part to himself, but Yoongi hears it regardless and clicks his tongue.
“My point exactly. You snore.”
“Snored. Past tense.”
“Okay!” Taehyung cups his hands around his mouth to sound louder, making the two halt on their bickering, thankfully. “Jimin, you’re just gonna have to suck it up, okay? Just pretend he isn’t there.”
“Why can’t I just room with you?”
“You can,” Taehyung answers easily, glancing at Jeongguk momentarily and then back at his hopeful brother. “I just can’t make any promises of you being sexiled.”
“Sexiled,” Jimin deadpans.
“Yes?”
“Wait, wait,” Yoongi interrupts, coming out from the room that he’s supposed to be sleeping in for the next week. He looks even more angrier than he did when he first found out he was rooming with Jimin. “There’s only one bed in this room.”
“What?” Jimin shouts incredulously, running over to see it for himself. Yoongi snorts, folding his arms across his chest mockingly.
“What? Didn’t believe me or some shit?”
“You could be lying to get me to room with Taehyung.”
Yoongi quirks a brow. “Wasn’t that the plan?”
“If I’m going to be sleeping out here on the couch all the time, I might as well just room with Hoseok.”
“Hoseok is rooming with me—with us,” Yoongi says it so slowly as if he’s talking to a two year old and not a twenty year old.
“Yeah, it just feels better when I act oblivious on how you’re going to be in the same room as me.”
Yoongi opens his mouth to retort back with something as equally frustrating, but Jeongguk steps in, speaking with a tone that demands attention and obedience. “Great! Glad our sleeping arrangements is all settled.”
-x-
Decorating the cabin was a bit tricky and since Taehyung was too afraid of climbing ladders that had more than three steps, Jeongguk did the honors of working on the roof while Taehyung stood his happy ass on the ground, decorating the porch railing with white lights.
Seokjin, Hoseok and Namjoon worked inside, decorating the tree and all around the cabin to make it look extra festive. Taehyung was a bit jealous since decorating the Christmas tree is his ultimate favorite part—and well, he’s out here freezing his ass off, sniffing his runny nose every few seconds while they’re all warm and toasty inside the cabin. Totally unfair, if you ask him.
“Baby,” Jeongguk calls from on top of the roof, readjusting the inflatable sleigh when it starts tilting to the side. It even had cute tiny reindeers attached to the front of it.
“Oh my god. My head is spinning from looking at you that high up. Please be careful.”
Jeongguk chuckles. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. I kind of forgot the Christmas lights. Can you get Yoongi to bring them up please?”
“Yeah,” Taehyung nods, giving Jeongguk one last worrying look. He runs in the cabin and quickly asks for Yoongi. Seokjin gets a bit startled, but points to the black haired male, who’s not even helping out with anything, just sitting on his sorry ass, watching tv.
“What’s up?” He doesn’t bother taking his eyes off the tv.
“Jeongguk needs your help.”
Yoongi grunts, a sign to show he’s going to give Taehyung a hard time on simply listening and following directions. “Surely he doesn’t.”
“He needs you to bring the Christmas lights up.”
“Up where?”
Taehyung rolls his eyes. “To the attic, Yoongi,” he sardonically responds before waving his hands around urgently when Yoongi doesn’t move. “On the roof. Now hurry. I’m worried about him being that high up with nobody outside.”
“Okay, okay sheesh,” Yoongi stands up, twisting his body around to crack his bones. Taehyung grimaces at the sound and orders Yoongi to hurry up one last time and then he’s sprinting back out to check on Jeongguk.
When Yoongi steps out a minute later, Taehyung sees Jimin following closely behind, mouth moving a mile a minute and Taehyung doesn’t even have to ask what’s going on because he knows they’re fighting yet again.
“Taehyung! Tell Yoongi those are the Christmas lights you said I can put in the room!”
Taehyung looks down at the lights all tangled up in Yoongi’s hands, and yeah, those are the ones he said Jimin could have. Fuck. “Yoongi—“
“I personally think these would look better outside.”
“Are you blind? Do you not see the length? It won’t be able to wrap around the roof,” Jimin reasons, trying to snatch the lights out of Yoongi’s hands, but the elders quicker. He holds them up high, as if he wasn’t the same height as Jimin.
“I don’t care. White lights outside is better than colorful lights.”
“And I don’t care. I want them in my room—“
“It’s also my room and I don’t want it decorated—“
“Well that’s just too bad, ain’t it—“ Jimin attempts on reaching for them again, but fails, grabbing at air. Yoongi runs away from Jimin and looks up at his brother, Jeongguk, who’s waiting on the roof with an unamused expression on his face.
“Here, catch!” He yells at him before Jimin can get ahold of the lights again—bad move.
Taehyung hears the shriek before he sees the chaos Yoongi caused. The force of the bundled lights knock against Jeongguk’s head, causing him to lose his balance and slide down the roof. Taehyung lets out a sound akin to a gasp and choked up cry, eyes wide, screaming at Yoongi to fucking do something.
Jeongguk dangerously hangs off the rain gutter, legs swinging and face scrunched up in pain. Taehyung runs over to stand under him, screaming at the elder to fall since he’s got him. Jeongguk knows Taehyung doesn’t have shit and will probably end up with something sprained trying to catch Jeongguk, but his arms are straining and the snow is turning his fingers numb.
He tries to tell Yoongi to get him the ladder, but his panic is set high, he can’t even think all that straight, let alone speak. He finally lets go when he starts to feel the gutter detaching itself due to holding up his heavy weight for so long.
Thankfully, Jimin manages to grab Taehyung out of the way, so when Jeongguk does fall, he lands on the porch safely and not on his boyfriend.
When they help Jeongguk inside, Namjoon, Seokjin and Hoseok are on him in an instant, asking all sorts of frantic what happened, if he’s okay, and if he’s severely hurt and Jeongguk has to quite literally shoo them away to give him space.
Grunting in pain, Jeongguk stuffs a bunch of couch pillows behind his stiff back. Taehyung cautiously helps him all the while shooting a deadly glare over at Yoongi and Jimin, who bow their head in burning shame.
“Thanks,” Jeongguk groans, laying back with a sigh that’s filled with relief and discomfort.
“Does it hurt anywhere else?” Taehyung worries his bottom lip between his teeth, taking a seat besides his sore boyfriend on the couch. He grabs the elders cold hand, squeezing it softly between his own shaky hands, his heart still pounding from what had just happened. Jeongguk gives an aching smile to show his appreciation.
“No. No. Just my back. It took most of the fall. The rest was just pure shock.”
Taehyung sags his shoulders in relief. He lays his head on Jeongguk’s shoulder, turning his head so he can kiss his neck. “I’m so happy you’re okay, babe,” he whispers. Then when he leans his head off his boyfriend to look directly at the two that caused it all, his attitude changes completely. “You guys.”
“Okay, look,” Jimin holds out his hands in an act of defense, backing away when Taehyung stands up angrily.
“Are you two crazy!?” He screams loud and clear, his voice reverberating throughout the wooden walls. “And you!” He points to a quiet, guilt-ridden, sulking Yoongi. “You could’ve possibly killed your brother! You should be ashamed of yourself!”
“I think me quietly drowning in my own self loathing is doing quite the job, thanks.”
“Ugh! Now is not the time for your sarcasm!” Taehyung explodes, fists all clenched by his side and face beet red. Seokjin looks shocked at seeing his younger brother this angry.
“Taehyung—“
“I don’t know what even started your little feud,” Taehyung continues like Jimin hadn’t spoke. “But it has got to stop,” then it’s like all the fight inside Taehyung’s body vanishes, leaving him all vulnerable. “I invited you Jimin cause I wanted to spend Christmas with you and Jeongguk—and of course, everyone else. So please, for the sake of our Christmas not being ruined and somebody nearly dying, can you and Yoongi just sort whatever the hell it is you two have going on?”
Jimin looks over at Yoongi, who looks a little less than happy at the command. He sighs and nods, deciding to answer for him and Yoongi. “We’ll try. I’m sorry,” he looks down at Jeongguk next, whose face is still twisted in agony. “I’m sorry, too. I’m glad you’re okay—or, as okay as you can be with a sore back.”
Jeongguk gives him a weak smile. “It’s fine. I’ll live.”
“Barely,” Taehyung bitterly mumbles under his breath, crossing his arms across his chest.
Yoongi steps forward next and crouches down in front of Jeongguk, placing a hand on his knee. “I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot.”
“You should play basketball with good ass aim like that—oh wait,” Jeongguk pretends to think about it for a second, snapping his fingers in mock realization. A witty smile appears on his face. “Your height is a disadvantage, isn’t it?”
And just like that, him and Yoongi are fine again.
-x-
Six days before Christmas.
“I still can’t stand you, you know,” Yoongi says it so causally, so out of the blue.
Jimin rolls his eyes as he keeps his back to the elder, folding his clothes in such a tidy manner—only to stuff them carelessly in the bureau. “Yeah? Well feelings mutual.”
“So how the hell is this going to work? I can’t just have an epiphany overnight like ‘oh my god, Jimin is a saint. I should start liking him.’”
“Of course, that’s not going to happen. We just need to figure something out,” Jimin closes the first drawer with the side of his hip, turning around to stare down at Yoongi sprawled all over the bed. “Your brother could’ve gotten severely injured yesterday. Taehyung is right, we need to put an end to this.”
“And how do you suppose we do that, huh, Park?”
“Well, for starters, you can stop with the last names. It gets on my fucking nerves.”
“That’s kind of the point.”
“And us getting along to prevent anymore physical injuries to our friends and siblings, is kind of the point,” Jimin throws himself on the loveseat couch they have inside their room, hiding his face in his hands. “Ugh, this is going to be so fucking difficult.”
“How about we just not be around each other the entire time? That way, we won’t have to put up with one another?”
“Kind of impossible seeing how we’re all in the same cabin and sleep in the same room.”
“Screw this,” Yoongi groans, looking up at the ceiling with disdain and vexation. “We’ll just have to fake it till we make it.”
“I guess so.”
-x-
Yoongi and Jimin try their hardest to avoid each other at all costs—which is inevitable seeing their predicament, but still, they try.
The first civilized, forced conversation they have is when Jimin’s rummaging the cabinets for any clean mugs he can use. Yoongi pads out of their room a few seconds later, taking a seat on the stool half asleep.
“Hey, Par—Jimin,” it felt like sandpaper, saying Jimin’s first name—with no hostility either—and not his last name. “Get me a cup, too?”
Jimin almost retorts with a, “get it yourself, you lazy sorry ass,” but remembers he was supposed to be building a friendship with Yoongi. So he gives a tight lipped smile and hums, searching for two clean mugs now.
When he finds them, he resists the urge to slam it down on the counter, throw it at his face maybe, but instead hands it nicely over to Yoongi with an overly saccharine smile. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
And that’s all the communicating they have for the rest of the morning. Everyone who was already in the living room, looks over towards the kitchen a bit puzzled, awaiting for the insults to start flying—but they surprisingly never come.
Yoongi quietly pours his own coffee and then disappears into the room whereas Jimin joins everyone in the living room, taking a seat next to Taehyung.
Taehyung looks at Jimin and gives him a genuine smile, mouthing his appreciation with a thank you.
And despite preferring to rip his balls off, reattach them on just to brutally drag them on spikes than willingly be nice to someone like Yoongi, Jimin has to admit the smile on his brothers face is totally worth it.
-x-
Five days before Christmas.
“What did I say about decorating the room?” Yoongi asks in this cheery voice that’s so evidently false and forced. Hoseok glances up from his phone, watching how Jimin halts on designing the window with fluffed out cotton balls—pretend snow he had told Hoseok when asked.
“Well, since somebody threw the lights, I decided I should just decorate the room with whatever I can get my hands on and wow, would you look at that! Cotton balls!” Not really. After hanging and playing a few board games with Taehyung, he had specifically asked his brother if he had cotton balls for his room.
Taehyung had looked at him weirdly, but the rest of the story is all irrelevant because in the end, he got what he wanted and Yoongi’s mad. Everybody wins.
“It looks ridiculous.”
“Yep. That’s the Christmas joy,” Jimin rolls his eyes, turning his back on Yoongi to continue pulling the cotton balls apart and stuffing it on the windows ledge.
“Just a warning, I’m taking it off when you’re asleep.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Hoseok looks between the two, uncertain. It’s only been a day since the two last argued, but he can already feel the palpable tension arising. He’s honestly a bit proud of them, if asked. He was expecting the two to crack after the first hour, or so.
“Then take it down, Jimin.”
“What’s with you and not wanting anything decorated? What are you? The grinch?”
“Decorating is pointless, especially in a place we’re going to be leaving right after we celebrate Christmas.”
“I don’t care,” Jimin deliberately sighs happily at the window that was over stuffed with thin cotton. “Doesn’t it look dreamy, Hoseok?”
Hoseok swallows nervously, feeling Yoongi’s judging eyes on him. He knows Jimin’s just saying that to taunt Yoongi because the window looks plain as hell—literally, it just has a bunch of cotton all over it. “Uh. Well.”
“Does it, Hoseok?” Yoongi asks now, his tone more challenging and stern. He places his hands on his hips, awaiting his best friends troubled response.
Hoseok squints his eyes, tilting his head side to side. “Well. Um. You see. Uh,” he claps his hands together once. He looks like he’s about to explode with how hard he’s thinking to come up with an answer that’ll please them both. “I think that. Um.”
“Well?” Yoongi presses on, even tapping his foot. Hoseok wants to cry.
“I—I think that. I think that, well, I need to go—“ and then he’s hightailing out of his own room without giving the two a proper answer.
Jimin points an accusing finger at Yoongi, who in return gives him a blank, bored look. “Don’t you dare touch it. I’m going to see if Taehyung has any nutcrackers.”
“They’re made to break nuts, not for standing on window sills.”
“We’ll see,” Jimin hmphs, walking out of the room with his nose raised high. Yoongi rolls his eyes at Jimin’s back, mimicking him under his breath.
Jimin’s out of luck with the nutcrackers sadly, but Jeongguk had this old Santa sign that had the words Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho! On it. Unfortunately, the other two ho words stopped working, so it just lighted up as Merry Christmas! Ho!
Still, it wasn’t going to deter Jimin’s Christmas spirit, so he had taken it with a smile and walked back into his shared room—only for the smile to fall flat.
“What the fuck—“
“Oh, Jimin. Thank god you’re here!” Yoongi looks at the mess of disarranged cotton all over the wooden floor and then up at a raged Jimin. “I had opened the window to get some fresh air—“
“In nearly negative degree weather?”
“And this hawk just swooped in, fucked up your cotton and flew right back out,” Yoongi clearly bullshits, shaking his head, like he still can’t believe that just had happened—when it so obviously had not.
Jimin snarls, stepping further into the room and slamming the door behind him to show on just how angry he is. “Hawks don’t even live in this part of town.”
“Oh, my. Would you look at that. It was a Christmas miracle!”
“Yoongi. I swear to god. You’re gonna pick this shit up and put it back on that window,” Jimin orders, keeping his voice at a minimum so none of their friends can listen in on them arguing. They had been doing so good, too, even Jimin was impressed.
“It’s not my fault the hawk thought it was ugly and destroyed it.”
“Really? You’re still sticking with that lie and think I’m just going to magically believe it?”
“Because it’s true,” Yoongi shrugs. Jimin’s eye twitches and he’s tried being rational. Seriously, he has, but Yoongi is just—Yoongi is so—
Jeongguk and Taehyung were too busy languidly kissing, still tired from the sex they just had. Since Jeongguk’s back was still in pain to do anything extreme, Taehyung had rode him nice and slow, mindful to not put too much pressure on Jeongguk and strain his back even more.
The sounds of their kisses echoing throughout the room walls was tranquil enough for Taehyung. He felt his eyelids getting heavier with fatigue, smiling softly against his boyfriends lips. Falling asleep to Jeongguk’s kisses? What more could he want?
“You’re the most selfish, most insufferable bastard I have ever met!”
Pulling away from Jeongguk, Taehyung sits up. “Is that...?”
“Me? Insufferable? Come up with something better, Park. I thought Seokjin was insufferable?”
“Hey!” Seokjin yells back from somewhere in the house.
“Why can’t you just, I don’t know, leave!? You ruin everything. Why are you even here for Christmas if you’re just going to act like the fucking grinch?”
“You know, I was wondering how the hell you live with yourself? Holy fuck, if I was you I would’ve killed myself already.”
A loud gasp and then, “you take that back, you piece of shit!”
Jeongguk and Taehyung look at each other before they’re rushing off the bed and slipping on the clothes that were scattered all over the floor, not caring if their shirts are on backwards, or if their boxers are inside out.
When the couple steps out, they already see Hoseok, Namjoon and Seokjin huddled around the door, pushing and shoving one another to press their ear against it.
“What the hell,” Jeongguk grumbles. He walks over and forces everyone to back away from the door so he can walk straight in. As soon as he does, he sees a red faced Jimin and an agitated looking Yoongi. “Are you two serious right now?”
They both bicker at the same damn time, making Jeongguk sigh and rub at his eyes tiredly.
“He just makes me so angry! Why does he hate Christmas so much!? I don’t—” “Can you please tell Jimin he can chill on the decorations? He can do that shit at his own house—“
“Yes. Yes, I understand,” but it’s clear on Jeongguk’s face he didn’t catch a thing they had rambled on about. “You both need a fucking intervention or some shit.”
“Why—no, how did this even start?” Seokjin cautiously asks, peeking his head inside to look around the room.
“I just wanted to put cotton balls around the window, make it look like fake snow, but this one here,” Jimin jabs a thumb at Yoongi, “decided to fuck it all up and now look,” he pouts and gestures to the mess on the floor.
“Yoongi, why couldn’t you have just left it alone?”
“This is my room, too. I don’t want it decorated. Simple as that.”
“I can’t believe the grinch is actually here in human form. Jim Carrey is shaking.”
Yoongi mocks Jimin, but immediately shuts up when Taehyung walks over as well and crosses his arms.
“This really isn’t going to work,” Taehyung doesn’t even look angry anymore. He looks dejected, tired, and Jimin feels that much worse. “I was stupid to think this would even work. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m just ready to cut this trip short. I’ll start packing.”
“Babe—“ Jeongguk’s words fall on deaf ears when Taehyung just shakes his head and walks into their room. He thumps his head back on the threshold, praying to whoever’s up there will help him out—or more importantly, help Jimin and Yoongi. “You two need to fix this now.”
“How? You know—“
“I really don’t want to hear it,” Jeongguk continues looking up and deliberately not at the two, too irritable to even want to speak with them at this point. “If you two don’t figure it out, you both will be leaving. We came up here to celebrate, to have a good time. Not babysit six year olds.”
And then he’s out their room, walking into his own to try and convince Taehyung to stay.