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Three weeks ago, chopping down their own Christmas tree seemed like a great idea. Now, in the frigid air, far from cell phone signals and most signs of human life, it feels like a bad idea. Thankfully, the sun is finally peeking through the clouds , and the early morning snow has tapered off, leaving behind clear, radiant blue skies. Yoongi shifts in his boots, wiggling his toes to confirm they are still intact. He rubs his mittened hands together and watches as Namjoon crouches under the tree, white puffs of hot air leaving his lips as he hacks at the trunk with a handsaw.
“We can always go to Costco,” Yoongi offers carefully. “We can get one of those pre-lit trees so it’s a little easier to set up.”
“No,” Namjoon snaps, still sawing away at the base. “We came all the way out here to get a tree,” he grunts. He mutters under his breath and angles the saw against the stubborn trunk. “So we’re getting a tree.”
What he doesn’t say is that it was Yoongi’s idea to get a fresh tree. That he was the one who rolled over in bed, holding his phone in Namjoon’s face, babbling on about how pretty a real tree would look in their new apartment. Something about accent lights and wainscotting, and Namjoon was too endeared by Yoongi’s incessant rambling to say no. Yoongi was also smart enough to research the environmental benefits of tree farms. “See, Joon-ah? It helps the environment. It’s not total destruction.” It was a fool-proof way of convincing Namjoon to indulge him in this holiday quest.
“Then can I help at least?” Yoongi asks, crouching beside Namjoon. He places a hand on his back to steady himself. Namjoon’s back is broad and solid, sturdy like the trees surrounding them. “Joon-ah?”
Namjoon looks up, his face flushed and sweaty from the exertion. "This is harder than it looks," he admits, wiping his brow with his arm. "Looks easier in the movies."
Laughing, Yoongi reaches down to take the handsaw from him and kisses him quickly on the cheek. "Everything's easier in the movies. Let me try. Go get the thermos and have some tea and rest for a bit."
Nodding, Namjoon stands up, groaning as he stretches his legs. "Good idea, hyung." He glances down, scrunching his nose at Yoongi. "Don't saw your hand off."
"You're one to talk," Yoongi scoffs. Namjoon grumbles a reply and turns back to the car, his footsteps muffled in the fresh, powdery snow.
Cutting a Christmas tree down by hand is bullshit, Yoongi realizes, as the flimsy hand saw wobbles with each back-and-forth motion. He wants to skip this part and get back to their apartment with a tree in tow. (He knows Namjoon would rattle off some proverb about accepting the struggle and yada yada, but Yoongi, just this once, wants to bypass the hard work.)
Huffing, Yoongi crouches down further and finally just lays on his stomach, wincing as a bit of snow gets into his jacket. He will deal with the regret and damp, icy clothing later. For now, he wants to get this tree down and get it strapped to their car. Gritting his teeth, he hacks at the tree, feeling blisters form through the thick wool of his mittens. Nevermind that. They are going to get a tree today, damnit.
Yoongi gets lost in the motions, the repetitive back-and-forth, the vibrations of the saw warming his muscles. It's not the worst thing in the world, he thinks, now feeling the heat spread through his body. He gets so into his task, he doesn't hear Namjoon crunch through the snow and hover over him.
"Hyung," he grunts, nudging Yoongi with his foot. "Any luck?" He takes a loud slurp from the thermos.
"Actually, yeah," Yoongi says, wriggling out from under the tree. He's covered in snow, and his cheeks burn a bit from the chill. He holds out his hand for the thermos and gladly accepts it. The tea is still piping hot, and it burns in a satisfying way as he swallows another gulp. "I think if you help me push it, we might be able to snap the last little bit? Like if I saw while you push on the trunk?"
Namjoon hums in response and crouches down, inspecting the tree. "You made some decent progress, Yoon," he says, sounding impressed. "Alright, let's give it a try." He takes the thermos and screws it shut, tossing it aside to join Yoongi on the ground.
Yoongi settles on his stomach with the saw in hand and starts cutting into the tree. Namjoon's pushing at the base just above him, and there's finally a slight give to the tree. Yoongi's not so sure the plan will work, but he feels the fibers of the trunk bending from the force, and for a moment, he thinks it might actually happen.
"Hey, you," Namjoon grunts, grinning at Yoongi.
"Hey yourself." He keeps sawing at the tree, feeling the sweat form along the edge of his beanie. He can feel his hair growing damper along his temples and base of his neck.
"Hey," Namjoon says softly, lowering his face a bit. "You're cute."
Laughing, Yoongi stops sawing and turns to face Namjoon. They're only a couple inches apart, but Namjoon looks so endeared, cheeks rosy from more than just the exertion, and it makes Yoongi feel a bit weak. "Stop," he teases, shoving Namjoon's shoulder. But he doesn't mean it. He would gladly let Namjoon shower him with compliments all day. He likes to laugh it off and grumble, but he loves it when Namjoon gets all cheesy and sentimental. "Kiss me, dork," Yoongi says, lifting his chin. Namjoon happily obliges, humming when their lips meet. "Let's get this tree, yeah?"
Nodding, Namjoon resumes his position of pushing against the base of the tree. "It's almost there," he says, pressing against it with all his strength, just above Yoongi's hands.
More grunts and swears follow, the saw quivering in Yoongi's hand as he cuts into through the splintering wood, and finally, the tree gives way after one last push from Namjoon. It falls into the snow with a soft whoosh, and both Namjoon and Yoongi stand up, triumphant and sweaty.
“We did it,” Namjoon huffs, brushing the snow off his coat. Yoongi grins and reaches to brush some snow and loose pine needles off Namjoon’s head. He’s so endeared by his sweetheart making such an effort to get him a tree. Namjoon must notice the starry-eyed way Yoongi’s looking at him, and he pulls him in for a tight hug and a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “Let’s go home and warm up, hyung.”
After all the trouble of cutting down the tree, getting it tied to the roof of the car is a piece of cake. When they've secured the tree, they settle in the car and crank the heat, letting it soothe their cold, aching bodies before they plug their address into the GPS. "Well then," Yoongi says, tugging off his mittens and beanie, "we did it. We cut down a Christmas tree. Hard part's over."
Namjoon tunes the radio to a Christmas station and turns the volume up a bit. "Now for the fun stuff."
"This wasn't fun?" Yoongi teases, ruffling his hair and sighing as the car becomes more comfortable.
"Harder than I expected," Namjoon answers. "But a little fun." He glances at Yoongi and smiles, his dimples fully on display.
“I think you said the same thing about wooing me,” Yoongi answers, reaching for Namjoon’s hand.
Laughing, Namjoon kisses his hand and shakes his head. “Don’t say wooing. It makes you sound old.”
“I am old. In body and spirit.” Yoongi grins.
Namjoon nods, playing along. “So you probably need to go straight to bed and get some rest, huh? You probably don’t have the energy to decorate the tree and drink the wine I ordered.”
Yoongi hums. “I’m sure I could catch a second wind.” He winks and immediately regrets it, much to Namjoon’s delight. “Forget I did that,” he says sheepishly.
“Never. Keeping that locked in the memory bank forever.”
♥ ♥ ♥
Carrying a Christmas tree up two flights of stairs seems like a great way to kill any holiday cheer, but somehow, Namjoon and Yoongi have fun fussing over the angle of the tree and maneuvering it around corners. It didn’t matter that Namjoon shouted Friends quotes at Yoongi; he didn’t get the references and just wanted to get the tree upstairs. “Pivot!” Namjoon said, waiting for Yoongi to laugh. When he stared back with a blank expression, Namjoon groaned and muttered about Yoongi’s lack of pop culture knowledge.
But they manage to get the tree into their apartment, and after some furniture rearranging, they find the perfect spot in the corner of their living room. It’s a little cramped, and maybe a bit too big for their space, but the fresh scent of pine fills the room, and Namjoon looks so enamored as he admires the tree, Yoongi doesn’t even mind all the trouble.
"It looks great, Joon-ah," Yoongi says, slipping his arm around Namjoon's waist. He leans his head against his shoulder and sighs happily. "Our first real tree."
"Feels momentous, huh?" Namjoon asks. He gives Yoongi a squeeze and kisses the top of his head.
They stand for a moment and look at the tree. It's not even decorated yet, but it's filled with such possibility: thick, lush branches, dusty green needles, a full shape fanning out in a perfect cone. They'll cover it with lights and ornaments and make new memories together. That's what Yoongi had wanted when he asked Namjoon for the tree. He wants this memory to become something golden and precious between them, something to look back at for years to come.
"So," Namjoon says quietly, his lips still pressed to Yoongi's head, "Shall we crack open the wine and get to decorating?"
"Sure, let me go change real quick," Yoongi replies. He slips away to the bedroom to change into his pajamas. He also pulls open his sock drawer, feeling around until his fingers graze a small box. It's become his new ritual since bringing the ring home. It's nestled in the corner of his drawer, hidden behind balled up novelty socks and mismatched trouser socks. He's been waiting for the right moment to give it to Namjoon, and each day that he waits, it feels like the question gets bigger and bigger, almost too big for him to comprehend. Quickly, he closes the drawer and changes his clothes before Namjoon comes looking for him.
When Yoongi returns to the living room, Namjoon has a string of lights laid out on the floor, testing the bulbs to make sure they work. The bottle of wine is open on the coffee table beside two glasses waiting to be filled. "May I?" Yoongi asks, gesturing at the bottle.
Frowning, Namjoon chews his lip and nods without looking away from the lights. "Yes, please. Let me drown my tangled-light sorrows."
Yoongi laughs and pours a glass for each of them and settles next to Namjoon on the floor. "You started the fire, too. Busy little bee," he says, handing him a glass.
They clink their glasses together and take a sip, eyes locked on one another. "Just want everything to be special," Namjoon says after taking a drink.
"It's always special with you," Yoongi says gently. He smiles and leans in for a quick kiss.
"Christmas has really made you sentimental, huh, hyung?" Namjoon sets his glass aside and crawls closer to Yoongi. He plucks his glass away and sets it out of reach. "You big softie."
Yoongi shrugs, not at all embarrassed to admit he's feeling fonder and more smitten with the holiday spirit. Something about Namjoon's willingness to indulge Yoongi's desire for a real tree, the earnest way he helped Yoongi research tree farms and where to buy the best decorations, more items on the list of things that make his boyfriend so incredible. "You make me soft," Yoongi says, tugging at Namjoon's collar.
He leans forward to lay Yoongi on his back and hovers over him, smiling with flushed cheeks and wine-stained lips. "I love you," he murmurs, kissing Yoongi through his wide smile.
Yoongi laughs and kisses him back, and it makes Yoongi feel bubbly and electric, like the first time they kissed years ago. Loving Namjoon felt like a steady current, a constant buzz in the background of his life, bringing energy and light to everything. Namjoon made things easy when they were difficult: not just opening jars and coaxing dead houseplants back to life, but listening when Yoongi wanted to cry, holding him when he was too tired to do anything else but be held. In all ways, Namjoon has been reliable and dependable, and Yoongi found himself opening up in new ways to his boyfriend, allowing himself to be vulnerable and share the dark or weird parts of himself. Namjoon never judged, only listened and offered advice and saw Yoongi for who he was.
The logs on the fire warm the room and their bodies, and Yoongi feels like he wants to tear at Namjoon's clothes, see how his skin looks when washed in the golden glow of the flames. He feels greedy with how much he wants to explore Namjoon’s skin, kiss the bare spot over his chest and feel his heartbeat against his lips. "Joon-ah," Yoongi groans, squeezing his hips.
"Hmm?" Namjoon kisses along his neck and relaxes, letting his full weight cover Yoongi. He's meticulous with his kisses, letting his lips glide slowly along Yoongi's neck, tracing the shape of his ear.
"We'll never get the tree done at this rate." Yoongi sighs, giving in to the tender way Namjoon touches him, feeling blissful with fire and wine.
"It'll still be here when I'm done," Namjoon says, slipping his hand underneath Yoongi's shirt. His smooth, gentle fingers roam over Yoongi’s skin. "Looks pretty enough even when it's naked."
Groaning, Yoongi shoves at Namjoon and laughs. "Dude."
Namjoon grins and kisses Yoongi quickly before rolling off of him. "Okay, you're right. Let's dress the tree, and then I will undress you."
"I will stab you with the fireplace poker if you don't cut it out," Yoongi mutters, unable to hide his amusement, sitting up and ruffling his hair.
"Ah, so you're not totally soft after all," Namjoon teases, reaching for his glass of wine. He finishes it and sets it aside, ready to tackle the lights. "When I get these untangled, we can put them on the tree and start with the ornaments. Until then, do you want to start unwrapping them?"
Nodding, Yoongi finishes his wine and then reaches for a box. It's a modest collection: little trinkets they picked up from various trips, funny animals or food items they found while shopping for gifts each year. There's no order to the ornaments other than they all represent the things they love. Yoongi loves how their tree has always been this assorted mix of pretty baubles and tacky souvenir ornaments. Something about seeing their inside jokes and past experiences adorning the tree feels a bit magical, like somehow their memories have become more tangible, easy enough to pluck from a box and hang on a branch. Each little trinket is a fragile reminder of their relationship: beautiful and delicate, requiring special care and a careful touch.
"Want some music?" Yoongi offers. "Can't listen to you grumble at those lights for another second," he teases, patting Namjoon's shoulder as he walks over to the stereo. He slips a holiday record out of its sleeve and puts it onto the turntable, dropping the needle gently onto the vinyl.
"Otis Redding?" Namjoon guesses, looking up from the string of lights. He handles each bulb so carefully, each one glowing faintly against his fingertips.
"You remember!" Yoongi beams. "Glad to know you listen to my ramblings sometimes."
Namjoon bats his eyes and puckers his lips for Yoongi to kiss him as he walks past. "Only sometimes." He lifts the lights, inspecting the strand. "Okay, these are ready to go. Let's get lit."
Yoongi pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head dramatically. "Namjoon..." But he can't even bring himself to tease him, not when he's so pleased with his terrible joke, smiling at Yoongi like he's never been more proud of himself.
"You love me. No take backs," Namjoon warns. He stands up and drags the lights toward the tree. "Alright, hyung, can you get on the other side? I'll just feed this behind the back and you pass it to me."
"Easy enough," Yoongi says, reaching behind the tree for the strands. Yoongi feels a small thrill every time his fingers touch Namjoon’s as he passes the bundle of lights to him. It doesn't take long to string them on the tree, and soon, they're stepping back and inspecting their work. Some of the lights are clumped in one spot, so they take a few minutes to even them out among the branches.
"Pretty," Namjoon sighs, admiring their work. He reaches for the light switch and flicks off the overhead light. The soft, glittering lights and the orange glow of the fireplace make the room look more magical than ever. With the music in the background and the wine filling Yoongi's belly, he's never been happier.
"Take a break?" Yoongi asks, tugging Namjoon toward the sofa. He reaches for the wine and refills their glasses. He pulls his knees close to his chest and digs his toes underneath Namjoon's thighs to get them toasty.
They drink in silence, watching as the lights on the tree flicker and dim and fade. It's soothing to watch the lights fade to black and then slowly blink on. Each one is like a tiny star lighting up in the night sky. The fireplace has filled the room with a steady, comforting warmth, and everything is so cozy and dreamy, Yoongi can't help but let out a little content hum.
"Happy, baby?" Namjoon asks, rubbing one of Yoongi's feet. His hands feel good—strong and smooth and hot against his cold skin.
"The happiest," Yoongi answers. He pulls his feet out from under Namjoon and stretches his legs across Namjoon's lap. They fall into comfortable silence again, just listening to the sounds of Otis Redding and the crackling of the logs in the fireplace. It's one of Yoongi's most favorite things about Namjoon: how he appreciates silence and doesn't feel the need to fill it. They can sit together for hours without saying a word and never feeling uncomfortable. Yoongi never thought he'd find another person like him. He never thought he'd find a person like Namjoon.
Four years: that’s four years of holidays, of birthdays, of ordinary days. Each one with Namjoon is special in its own way, special in that they’ve had each other for the highs and lows. When Namjoon got his promotion, they stood in the kitchen eating cake with their hands and laughing, giddy at the new money it would bring, and relieved to know his hard work wasn’t all for nothing. When Yoongi earned high honors in his program, they stayed in bed all weekend in a haze of sleep and sex and wine, Namjoon more than willing to spoil Yoongi and let him be lazy after all the heartache and stress that came with defending his thesis. Every moment with Namjoon felt like a celebration.
"What are you thinking about?" Namjoon asks, smoothing his hands up and down along Yoongi's legs. The friction of his hand against Yoongi's flannel pajama pants makes his skin feel electric and sensitive. "You've got a dreamy look on your face."
"Let's get married," Yoongi says abruptly, wiggling his toes against Namjoon's hands.
"Well, that's quite the offer, hyung—"
"—I'm serious," Yoongi says, sitting up. He sets his glass aside and scoots closer to Namjoon. "Let's get married." He drapes his arms around Namjoon's neck and kisses his cheek. "I love you. I want to marry you."
"Hyung," Namjoon mumbles, suddenly shy. He's blushing and looking away from Yoongi, but he's smiling, too, like the thought isn't entirely new to him either.
"Joon-ah," Yoongi says gently, turning Namjoon back to face him. Namjoon’s cheeks are flushed, his eyes a little tearful. "You make me so happy." He kisses each cheek—one for each dimple. "Get me a real tree just because I'm feeling sappy."
"Good pun," Namjoon snorts. He squints and smiles bigger as Yoongi blows a raspberry against his cheek.
"You spoil me. You know me. You're my favorite person in the entire world." He presses their foreheads together and lets out a shaky sigh. So it's not the speech he imagined giving, but somehow, this feels better, more true to them. "Marry me, Joon-ah."
"Ask me when you have a ring," Namjoon teases, kissing Yoongi's nose. "So I know it's real and not just you being sentimental and a bit drunk."
"Ah, so a ring will show this is for real, huh?" Yoongi raises an eyebrow and nods like he’s considering his options and pulls away quickly. "Don't move."
"Wait! What?" Namjoon reaches for Yoongi, but he swats his hand away.
"Stay," he orders. He hurries to the bedroom and rummages through his sock drawer until he pulls out the box. When he turns around, Namjoon's standing in the doorway, watching him with wide eyes. "You were supposed to stay," Yoongi grumbles, hiding the box behind his back.
"Okay, okay," Namjoon says quickly, hurrying back to the living room.
When Yoongi returns, Namjoon is sitting on the couch, staring pensively into the fire. "Oh, hi. Sorry, I was deep in thought and didn't notice you there."
"You are so goofy," Yoongi says, rolling his eyes. "So I have a ring." Suddenly the box feels heavy, weighed down with all that it means for them.
"This is a terrible proposal," Namjoon says.
"The worst," Yoongi agrees.
"Do-over?"
"Nah."
They grin at each other, and the moment feels exactly right between them: a little silly, completely endearing, both of them a bit bumbling and shy. Four years together, and Yoongi still can't believe the kind of butterflies he feels whenever he's with Namjoon.
"Joon-ah," Yoongi says, settling onto the sofa next to him, "I want to marry you. You are my favorite person in this entire world, and I am a better person when I'm with you. Will you please marry me?"
"Please," Namjoon repeats. "You must really want me to say yes."
Groaning, Yoongi pinches Namjoon and tries to pull away, but he's tugged back, wrapped in the strong, comforting embrace of Namjoon's arms. "Can we not have a normal moment?"
"We have never had a normal moment," Namjoon laughs, kissing Yoongi's neck. He shifts, pulling Yoongi back against his chest, arms wrapping around him tighter than before. He hooks his chin over his shoulder and kisses it. "I will absolutely marry you, hyung."
"You will?" Yoongi didn't realize he had been holding his breath.
"Does that surprise you?" Namjoon asks gently, rocking him a bit. "Did you think I'd say no?"
"I didn't really think about anything beyond asking you," Yoongi admits. He shifts so he can see Namjoon's face, and he rests his head against his shoulder.
"Mr. Hyper-Planner didn't have a back-up plan or next step?" Namjoon laughs and tickling him a bit.
"Maybe I knew you'd say yes," Yoongi says quietly. And it's the truth. He knew from the moment they met that Namjoon was the person for him. Yoongi had never believed in love at first sight or the idea of a fairy tale romance. But he'd also never understood falling fast and hard for someone like he did for Namjoon. And when it happened it was overwhelming but also comforting to know that he'd finally found his person—the one who made him feel comfortable about his rough edges, who made him laugh and loosen up a bit, the one who made him want to be better not only for Namjoon but for himself.
Before he can get lost in his thoughts entirely, Yoongi clears his throat and opens the box to reveal a simple white gold band with delicate geometric patterns etched along the edges. Namjoon's never been one to like flashy things; he likes classic, simple designs, and when Yoongi spotted the ring months ago, he knew it was meant for him. "I hope you like it." He's suddenly feeling shy, and it's a weird feeling after all these years.
Namjoon exhales like he's been holding his breath. "It's perfect," he murmurs. Yoongi pulls the ring out of the box and slips it on his finger. Namjoon holds his hand up and admires it, catching the sparkling Christmas lights in the reflection of the gold. He turns to Yoongi and gives him the softest look—a gaze so fond it makes Yoongi's stomach flip.
There's no need for words, not now when they have this promise between them. Yoongi shifts and settles into Namjoon's lap, straddling him and wrapping his arms around his neck. They kiss and laugh, stopping to wipe the tears from their cheeks, and it's a perfect moment: soft holiday music in the background, glittering lights and a glowing fireplace, love all around them in all the details of their lives together.
"I love you," Yoongi whispers, the breath caught in his throat as Namjoon slips his hands under his shirt, palms sliding up and down the expanse of his back. He dips his head forward and breathes against Namjoon's neck, shivering at the feeling of his fingernails dragging slow circles on his skin.
"Love you," Namjoon answers, mouth moving along his neck, the feeling of his breath rippling goosebumps along Yoongi's skin. And though Yoongi’s heard the words countless times, they sound more different and remarkable than ever—like a Christmas song that suddenly sounds new again. This feeling that they have shared between them for so long, all brand new now that it’s been dipped in gold, slid onto Namjoon’s finger—another tiny, precious memory to carry with them forever and always.
They kiss and touch and move together in the amber shadows of the fire, neither one noticing when the flames die out and the record skips. It's just the two of them, this joyful moment, and the promise of the future.
♥ ♥ ♥
The sound of quiet muttering and rustling by the tree wakes Yoongi. He sits up from the sofa, squinting one eye and scratching his stomach as he yawns and tries to get his bearings. The night before is a haze of wine and kissing, twinkling lights and Christmas songs. He smiles, remembering the way Namjoon kissed him all over, slipped his pajamas off and made him feel magical and effervescent as they celebrated their proposal.
"Namjoon-ah?" Yoongi asks, voice rough with sleep. He rubs his eyes and lets out a loud yawn. "What are you doing? What time is it?" He shivers, suddenly feeling cold now that he's not pressed against the solid heat of Namjoon's body on the sofa.
Namjoon glances over his shoulder and waves him off. "Just stay there. One second."
Yoongi reaches for his phone and checks the time; he had no idea he slept so late. Namjoon sounds like he's been up for a while now, and whatever he's doing seems to be causing him a bit of frustration.
"You better not be finishing the tree without me," Yoongi grumbles, tucking himself into a ball. He yanks the quilt off the back of the sofa and wraps himself in it. All of the golden glow of the night before seems like the last bits of a dream, just before waking, now that the room is awash in gray morning light.
"Wouldn't dream of it, hyung," Namjoon laughs. Whatever he seems to be doing is causing a bit of a commotion by the tree, little grunts and whispers escaping him as he tries to work in secret.
"You're not trying to pour Sprite in the tree base, right? I read that doesn't actually do anything—"
"—not pouring Sprite, hyung, don't worry." There's the sound of crinkling, and he finally turns around, holding out a box haphazardly wrapped in red and gold foil paper. "Merry Christmas, hyung," Namjoon says shyly.
"It's not Christmas yet." But he takes the box anyway, feeling something shift inside. He reaches to shake it, but Namjoon panics and slaps his hands down on the lid. "Must be fragile," Yoongi says, curious about what on earth Namjoon has selected (and what he could have wrapped without breaking himself).
Namjoon sits next to Yoongi and drapes his arm across his shoulders. "Gently. Please."
Skeptically, Yoongi lifts the lid of the box and gasps when he looks inside: a tiny, shivering black kitten is huddled in the corner. When the kitten notices Yoongi, it lets out a scratchy high-pitched meow, and Yoongi immediately coos and scoops it out of the box. "Joon-ah!" he gasps. How many times had he begged Namjoon for a pet? Begged and begged and made lists of a pet's merits and how they improve the overall quality of life of a pet-owner. Too many times to count, each proposal turned down with a list of reasons why the timing wasn’t right for a pet.
Namjoon grins and scratches the kitten's head. "I mean, it's no ring but—"
"—it's better," Yoongi laughs, holding the kitten up to his face. It's a scrawny little thing with ears that are too big for its face, wide green eyes, and long, gangly limbs. "Boy or girl?"
"The shelter said he's a boy."
"Shelter," Yoongi swoons, clutching the kitten to his chest. "You went to a shelter and picked out this little guy?" It’s so easy to imagine Namjoon walking the rows of crates, sticking his fingers between the bars, talking in the high-pitched voice he always uses with animals. The image makes Yoongi feel even more endeared.
"It was a tough choice, but this sweet little bub was the runt of his litter. He looked so small and a little bit grumpy around the others—"
"—I will pinch you if you say he reminded you of me." Yoongi looks up at Namjoon and scrunches his face into a pout, knowing that's exactly what Namjoon thought when he saw the cat.
"Guess you'll have to pinch me." Namjoon kisses his cheek and laughs.
"He's perfect. You're perfect. This entire Christmas is perfect." Yoongi kisses the kitten all over and laughs as he wriggles up his chest, clawing gently at his shirt. "You cold, little one?" He lifts the blanket and nestles the kitten against his chest, tucking the blanket around them both.
"Let me start another fire," Namjoon offers, getting up from the sofa. He grabs another log from the basket and nestles it among the leftovers of last night's fire and lights it. He plugs in the Christmas tree, and even without ornaments, it's beautiful with the lights flickering on and off slowly. Before Yoongi can ask, Namjoon seems to read his mind and goes over to the record player, starting the music once again. "Be right back," he says, patting Yoongi's head as he walks past him and into the kitchen.
Namjoon returns with two mugs of coffee and offers one to Yoongi before he settles next to him. He scoots closer and pulls the blanket around him. It's cozy and peaceful like this, shoulders pressed against one another, sipping their coffee and fawning over the little sleeping kitten. When Namjoon kisses Yoongi, he tastes like coffee and happiness.
Although it all is starting to feel a bit like another dream—golden and gleaming—Yoongi revels in the reality of it all. Touching his fiancé's face, the velvet-soft fur of the kitten, the crackling fireplace, Otis Redding’s voice crooning to his beloved on Christmas. All these little details, the tiny parts of their lives building to a larger and more gorgeous picture of their life together.