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Other than a steady income, there are few things that Yoongi enjoys about adulthood: waking up early, working too much, household chores. The list is long, some days, and he tries to remind himself not to take life too seriously and not to take it for granted. It's because of these things that he has a nice life.
It's a little easier to remember that life is good when the holidays roll around. Yoongi and his husband Seokjin had moved to the United States a little over a year ago, following a job offer that Seokjin couldn't refuse. It was hard being away from home and all their friends and family. But this year, they decided to celebrate Christmas like their neighbors: big, tacky blow-up lawn ornaments, strings of lights so bright they could be seen from outer space, and Christmas music on loop.
The holidays are fast approaching, and Yoongi tries to busy himself with decorating the house. His family never paid much attention to Christmas back home, and he finds himself surprisingly excited about all of the cheesy movies on television and the new array of baked goods appearing in storefronts.
He and Seokjin brought home a big, fresh tree to decorate, and after some cursing and huffing, they've finally set it up in their family room. Now that the tree is set up, it's bigger than realized—almost comical in height. "How are we going to decorate this thing?" Yoongi asks, looking up toward the top of the tree, marveling at all the empty space to be covered.
"With ornaments and lights, of course," Seokjin answers, planting a sloppy kiss on his cheek.
Groaning, Yoongi laughs and shoves him, but he doesn't resist when Seokjin pulls him close into a hug. "It's a pretty tree," he murmurs, reaching out to touch the fragrant needles.
"You picked out a good one," Seokjin agrees. "Really makes this place feel a bit more like home, huh?"
Nodding, Yoongi smiles up at Seokjin. They kiss briefly, and he smiles, tucking into Seokjin's chest. "Getting there, yeah." His fingers brush over the end of a branch. "Do we even have enough stuff to decorate? I didn't look through the box the neighbors gave us."
"Ah, yeah, hang on. I may have picked up a few things," Seokjin says. "I squirreled some stuff away in the garage. Be right back."
"I can help you," Yoongi says, turning to follow him.
"Actually, since you're the tiny house gremlin, why don't you get some water and fill the base? You’ll have an easier time getting under there than I will." Seokjin grins, pinching Yoongi's butt as he walks past. "Back in a flash." The garage door closes, and Yoongi laughs and grumbles, shuffling into the kitchen to get a pitcher of water.
As lonely and terrifying as the move had been, Yoongi was always grateful that he had Seokjin. He had a natural way with people, unafraid of stumbling over his English vocabulary and always willing to learn new things. He gave Yoongi a lot of encouragement as he searched for his own job.
The hardest part—for both of them—was being so far from friends and family. They haven't had the time to fly home to South Korea yet, and it seems unlikely they'd be able to travel any time soon. Sure, they had weekly calls with their families, the ongoing group chats with their friends, but it wasn't the same as gathering around for drinks and games and hanging out in someone's tiny apartment. (Yoongi would never admit this to Seokjin, but some days, he misses those cramped apartments and wishes they were back in one, instead of this airy, too-large suburban home.)
There's a commotion in the garage, then the door opens and closes. Yoongi turns off the faucet and cranes his neck to hear. "Hyung? Do you need some help?"
"Nah, I'm good!" There's a loud fumbling followed by silence. "One sec!"
Frowning, Yoongi sets the pitcher aside and steps out into the family room. He can already picture Seokjin with too many boxes in his arms, each of them stacked perilously, teetering and threatening to fall. Yoongi rounds the corner, shaking his head and muttering, "Hyung, why didn't you just ask for—"
There, by the garage door, he sees not just Seokjin with too many boxes in his arms, but their five closest friends looking jet-lagged and a little worn at the edges, but each one beaming and laughing. "Surprise!" Namjoon drops his bag and rushes to Yoongi, grabbing him in a huge bear hug.
Yoongi yelps, clinging to Namjoon and laughing incredulously. "What is this? How?"
Suddenly, he's surrounded by the others: Jimin and Taehyung squeezing him from the sides, Jungkook ruffling his hair, and Hoseok clapping him on the back. They all talk at once—a flurry of words: wanted to surprise you, Seokjin's idea, flight was so long, Merry Christmas.
"I don't understand?" Yoongi asks, over and over again, laughing through tears as everyone takes turns hugging him and ruffling his hair. "What are you doing here?"
"Jin-hyung invited us," Taehyung answers, gesturing at Seokjin standing off to the side, face bright red. "He planned the whole thing."
"The whole thing?" Yoongi repeats, dumbstruck. He turns to Seokjin and reaches his hand out for him. "Hyung, how did you do all this?"
Seokjin pulls him close and rests his head on Yoongi's shoulder. "Well, that would spoil the surprise, wouldn't it? Take away some of the Christmas magic?"
Laughing, Yoongi shakes his head. "I can't believe you guys are really here. Like, in my house. Right now."
"Believe it, hyung," Hoseok says, grinning. "You're stuck with us for a while."
"You guys got any snacks?" Jungkook asks sheepishly, nodding toward the kitchen.
"Yes, of course," Seokjin answers. "How about this? We help you get settled in your rooms so you can shower and change or whatever, and I'll have food ready in a bit."
"Perfect," Jimin answers, rubbing Seokjin's arm. "Thank you so much for making this happen, hyung."
Still blushing, Seokjin waves him off. "Don't mention it."
***
Once everyone has been dropped off at their rooms, Seokjin and Yoongi start pulling out snacks for everyone. "Is this why you insisted on that ridiculous Costco trip?" Yoongi asks, holding up a jumbo family-size bag of chips.
Seokjin shrugs. "Maybe." He grins, sliding a bowl across the counter for Yoongi.
"I can't believe they're here," Yoongi sighs, nuzzling close to Seokjin. "You brought our five friends all the way here. Just for me?"
"And me. I kind of like them too," Seokjin teases, rubbing Yoongi's back. He kisses the top of his head and hums. "I know I don't have as much time off as you do, so I thought I should bring them here so you all can hang out."
"And your mother won't be upset?" Yoongi asks quietly.
"Are you saying you'd prefer my mother be here for ten days?" Seokjin laughs.
"Ten days! My God, we'll murder each other before then," Yoongi jokes. He kisses Seokjin's cheek and turns back to dumping the chips into the bowl.
"Just don't get any blood on the new carpet," Seokjin deadpans.
They continue putting together snacks for everyone, pausing occasionally to listen to the muffled laughs and thumps upstairs. "Think they're fighting over bedrooms?" Yoongi asks.
"We have multiple guest rooms, but my bet is that everyone's just going to end up in one pile somewhere anyway," Seokjin answers with a shrug. "Not that I mind it."
Before Yoongi can respond, there's a whirlwind of noise and chaos tumbling down the stairs. Jungkook slides across the polished wood floor, laughing as he staggers into the kitchen. "You have excellent floors for sliding."
Seokjin snorts. "Please don't crack your head open. Yoongi will be so disappointed if you spoil this visit."
"Hyung," Jungkook whines, circling the counter and joining them. "Can I help?" he asks, plucking a handful of chips from the bowl.
"No, just take it easy. You guys must be exhausted," Yoongi says. Maybe another time, he'd be irritated by Jungkook's loud chewing and grabby hands, but he's so endeared to have his younger friend nearby. "Nice jammies, by the way."
"Oh! Yeah, these," Jungkook says, looking down at his crumb-covered plaid shirt.
"Actually," Namjoon booms, entering the kitchen, "we have a little gift for you."
"Please tell me it's matching pajamas," Seokjin says, grinning at Yoongi. "You look so cute, Namjoon, though they do look a little.. tight."
"Namjoon-hyung has been working out," Jungkook replies proudly. He grins and eats another handful of chips.
"They're just barely hanging on by a thread," Namjoon teases, tugging at the hem of his shirt. The pajamas are a bit small, the buttons down the front straining a bit to stay closed. "Yours should fit just fine," he says, settling into one of the bar stools.
Jimin, Taehyung, and Hoseok finally join them in the kitchen, bringing along two bags stuffed with shimmery tissue paper. "Here, your presents," Taehyung says, holding the bags out for Yoongi and Seokjin. They accept the gifts and pull out their pajamas—the same red and green plaid that their friends are wearing.
"Cute," Yoongi murmurs, running his finger over the embroidered lettering of his name. "Thank you guys." Clutching the pajamas to his chest, he lets out a happy sigh. "I still can't believe you're all here."
"When you realize we used up all your hot water you might believe it," Jimin mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck. "You sure you can handle us for ten days, Jin-hyung?"
"A small sacrifice," he teases, winking. "We’ll go change real quick. Help yourselves to the snacks. Beer and sodas are in the fridge.”
***
The pajamas turn out to be a bit big on Yoongi. He has to roll the pants at the waist and cuff his sleeves, but he’s delighted to match with his friends. When he and Seokjin come down to the living room, they’re met with claps and cheers and wolf whistles.
“Stop,” Yoongi whines, scrunching his face in a tight smile. “All we did was change clothes.”
“So,” Seokjin says, changing the subject before he’s consumed entirely by embarrassment, “we have all these decorations we bought and that our neighbors gave to us. Are you feeling up to helping us decorate the tree?”
Jimin grins, jumping to his feet. “Yes!” He pulls a plastic tub closer to the tree and pulls off the lid, gasping at all the glittering, shining ornaments and baubles inside. “So pretty,” he murmurs, running his fingers over the sparkly contents. Taehyung settles next to him and begins plucking out ornaments, holding them up to the light and marveling at each one.
Jungkook, Hoseok, and Namjoon take to unraveling the strands of lights and draping them on the tree. They bicker and laugh, and Hoseok and Jungkook tease Namjoon mercilessly for somehow tangling the lights more than when they began.
“Honey,” Seokjin says softly, rubbing the small of Yoongi’s back, “do you want to put on some music?”
Nodding, Yoongi smiles. “Yeah, good idea.”
Shortly after moving in, they set up a corner for Yoongi’s record player and speakers. One day when Yoongi was at work, Seokjin had shelves installed for all of his records. This space felt like home before any other spot in the house. All his records, all his bits of his old life are tucked in this corner, and it brings him so much comfort.
Now, with all his friends gathered around the tree, laughing and chattering on, all in their cheesy matching pajamas, it feels like that little bit of home is expanding, filling the empty spaces in the house. Yoongi smiles fondly, watching them as he runs his fingers along the spines of his albums. It all feels a bit dreamlike--everything all at once shiny and brilliant.
He selects an old album of Christmas classics by Frank Sinatra, something he picked up ages ago but never really listened to. He sets it on the record player, drops the needle, and waits for the crackle to begin. The swelling sounds of orchestral strings begins, and the song begins to play.
Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Yoongi never really cared much for Christmas music. He always thought it sounded a little too forced, insincere in a way. But the lyrics hit differently this year now that he’s surrounded by his loved ones. He catches Seokjin watching him from across the room, and he smiles bashfully, aware that he’s been caught in one of his sentimental musings, but he doesn’t care. Not when Seokjin’s eyes are bright and warm, not when Jungkook’s wrapping lights around Namjoon and cackling with Hoseok, not when Jimin and Taehyung have found a fake sprig of mistletoe, smattering one another with kisses.
This, Yoongi thinks, this feels like home.