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Taehyung doesn’t really want to be here. Well he wants to see his hyungs and Jungkook, but not really in this setting. Namjoon and Seokjin had decided instead of having to host both a Friendsmas and their holiday work party this year, that they would just combine them. There was a lot of overlap anyway. Taehyung just...isn’t much into trying to hold a conversation with someone trying to get wasted just because it’s the holidays.
So there he sits....huddled in the corner making sure the holiday music doesn’t stop, mixing Korean and English songs to form a never ending playlist. Every so often someone will stumble over, asking him if he would like a drink or to dance. With the exception of a dance from Hobi, and an untouched glass of whiskey from Yoongi, he has declined every one of them. There was one person though he would love to walk over to him.
Jimin.
Childhood penpal turned best friend in college. Taehyung hasn’t seen him since graduation, the dancer moving to Seoul for a job opportunity working for the same company as Hoseok. Jimin has changed in the two years since. Taehyung had heard mentions - of he rather than she - noticed Jimin’s voice sounding more honey-like, airy, the couple times they’d spoken on the phone since the move. Jimin didn’t really post himself on social media much, but it was hard to notice the long black hair being cut short, dyed a multitude of colors whenever a peak of him would appear.
Taehyung watched Jimin now, across the room smiling and laughing with some of Joon’s and Yoongi’s friends. His hair is currently dyed white blonde with an undercut, chest flat, dressed nicely in a sparkly tailored suit jacket, white bow tied daintily around his neck. He still wore smoky shadow around his eyes, fingers and ears adorned with silver jewelry that Taehyung is sure he’s had since college. Still laughs with his whole body, smiles until his eyes turn into tiny, adorable crescent moons.
Taehyung had initially wanted to go right up to Jimin when the elder arrived, but Jungkook had subtly shook his head, mouthed for Taehyung to wait. But wait for what exactly? It had been hours, the party was in full swing, everyone had arrived and still...Jimin wouldn’t come anywhere near Taehyung in his little corner. Every time Taehyung has the urge to get up and walk over himself, one of his hyungs will push him right back to his seat, give him a look, and walk off. It is frustrating. This is Jimin they are talking about! Taehyung’s best friend since....well former best friend since he was old enough to remember practically. Sure they had fallen out of touch after graduation, but who doesn’t at some point? Even if only temporarily? Taehyung doesn’t want this to be a permanent thing. He wants to say hi to Jimin. To talk, catch up, tell him how ungodly pretty he still is. It was as if all his friends thought he would barge over and be rude. Demand to know where his female best friend had gone. Do they not know Taehyung at all?
So he sits, stewing and watching as Jimin flits around from group to group, person to person, his eyes snapping back to whoever is in front of him every time his eyes so much as glance toward Taehyung’s spot. At one point Taehyung finally has enough of sitting and gets up to stretch his legs, maybe grab a snack from the dining room. Jungkook is on him before he can take three steps away from his little spot.
“Hyung-”
“I’m just getting some food, Koo” Taehyung glares, making his way to the dining room and keeping as much distance as he can from Jimin, he can hear Jungkook following after him, the house slippers he is wearing shuffling awkwardly against the wood floors.
“‘M sorry Tae. I just have specific instructions for tonight is all.”
Taehyung grabs a dumpling, popping it in his mouth before looking at the younger. “‘Nd wats dat? Keepin’ J’minie away fom meh,” he asks, mouth full of food.
Jungkook shuffles in place, looking around before responding. “Kind of? It’s...it’s a lot to take in, Tae. This isn’t exactly how anyone wanted it to go.”
Tae glares at Jungkook once again, popping another dumpling in his mouth. He really should ask Jin for the recipe one of these days. “It really isn’t. Jimin is Jimin. As long as he’s comfortable and happy and safe.” With that, Tae walks off, out the back door and into the snow, plopping down in the middle of the backyard.
He really should go back inside where it's warm, but at the moment, Taehyung doesn’t really care. It’s stuffy and being outside alone is at least better than being stuck in the corner following Jimin around with his eyes. He didn’t really want to be here anyway, he reminds himself. Too many people with too much alcohol.
Taehyung isn’t sure how long he’s been outside, but he’s laying back, looking at the stars in the sky, not really able to feel most of his body when he hears the door open, a long shadow coming toward him. Taehyung closes his eyes, not wanting to deal with whoever it is.
“Hey, Taetae.”
Taehyung snaps his eyes open, looks up and sees Jimin standing there, upside down in his view.
“Jimin,” he breathes, breath making a cloud in the air.
Jimin pulls a blanket from around his shoulders, holds it out. “Wanna go in? Get warm? Practically everyone is gone.” A breeze picks up, making Taehyung shiver and decide that yes, it is time to go back in. He stands, letting Jimin wrap the blanket around his shoulders before following him back inside.
Jimin was right. Everyone but their little group of seven is gone. Namjoon and Jin seem to be in the kitchen, putting the remaining food away, Yoongi cleaning up the bar cart, Hobi and Jungkook walking around with trash bags to pick up any stray cups and plates people left sitting about. Jimin grabs Tae’s wrist before the others can give them any clean up duties, dragging him up the stairs and into the little library of Namjoon’s.
Jimin grabs a throw blanket off one of the reading chairs and plops down in the middle of the room, smiling when Moni trots over from his bed in the corner to lay on Jimin’s lap. “Well…” Jimin looks up at Tae expectantly.
Taehyung sits across from Jimin on the floor, reaching over to scratch behind Moni’s ear. “How have you been?”
It’s silent, Taehyung looks up at Jimin’s face to see the elder cocking an eyebrow at him. “Really? That’s what you’re star-” He shakes his head, smiles down at Moni and pets the dog again. “I’m good. I’m really happy, Tae.”
“Yeah?” He looks up in time to see Jimin nod, smiling quietly to himself. “That’s good. Still working with Hobi hyung?”
“Mmm sometimes. It’s more freelance now. I uh - I started my own studio. Have a few teachers there with me. We teach a lot of kids that want to become trainees.”
“Oh! You like it though, right? Sorry Hobi didn’t really- he doesn’t-”
Jimin shakes his head, smiling, and looks up at Tae. “No it’s fine. I...I kind of asked Hobi not to talk much about me.” Jimin shuffles around, upsetting Moni who goes back over to his dog bed in the corner.
“Why?” Jimin looks pained, and Taehyung would bet anything the same is reflected on his own face.
“I...I didn’t...I just wasn’t sure what you would…” Jimin trails off, starts playing with his rings. Taehyung recognizes one of them as a past Christmas gift he had given Jimin.
“Wasn’t sure I’d what, Min?”
Jimin takes a deep breath and then looks back up at the younger. “Wasn’t sure you’d be okay with me anymore.”
“Why would you think that, Jimin? We’ve known each other-”
“Exactly! We’ve known each other for so long and I...I’m not that person anymore, Tae. I’m not-” There’s tears in Jimin’s eyes and Taehyung itches to lean forward, wipe them away, so he does.
“Hey,” Taehyung places a hand on each of Jimin’s cheeks, carefully wiping below Jimin’s eyes with his thumbs, mindful of his makeup. “You are still you. You’re kind and smart and the most amazing dancer I know.”
Jimin laughs wetly, sniffing a little. “Don’t let Hobi hyung hear you say that.”
Taehyung cracks a smile. “I think he’d just say I’m biased. Which I am.”
“Yeah?” Jimin’s eyes turn into the crescent moons that Taehyung so missed seeing up close.
“Yeah. Most definitely biased. No one’s better than my Jiminie.”
Jimin sucks in a quiet breath, then smirks devilishly. “Even better than Taemin?”
“Hmm...I don’t know about that. Taemin can be very sensual. Very convincing.”
Jimin gasps and smacks Taehyung in the chest, making them both laugh. “I can dance that way too!”
“Yeah? I’d like to see it.” The words are out of Taehyung’s mouth before he can think about it, riding the high of finally hanging out with his best friend again.
The fire in Jimin’s eyes tells Taehyung he’s going to regret those words though. Jimin crawls the short distance back over to Taehyung, blanket falling off his shoulders, and climbs on top of the younger, hovering above him, arms wrapping around Taehyung’s neck lightly. “You sure about that?”
“Umm…” Taehyung swallows, hands already on Jimin’s hips. He’s forgotten just how sensual Jimin can be, how much he understands his own body and how to use it...weaponize it, he remembers once telling Jimin.
Jimin giggles and swings his leg over, plopping down next to Taehyung and falling into his shoulder laughing. Taehyung tries to restart his brain.
“You really think I’m still the same Jimin, Tae?”
Taehyung looks over, seeing all the mirth gone from the blonde’s face once again. “I know you are. No way you aren’t still my Jimin.”
Jimin scrunches his face, looking down at himself. “But I look different. I am different.”
“Yes. But like I said. You’re still the same inside. You just match outside now.”
Jimin blinks, looks up at Taehyung. “How’d you know? Why didn’t you freak out? Ask me questions? Everyone else did.”
Taehyung takes a moment, looks around the library, sees Moni watching them intently from his corner, before looking back at Jimin beside him. “We’re best friends Min. I think I’ve always known.”
“But how ? I didn’t even know.”
“Lots of things. Remember when our parents let us meet up? That one summer?”
Jimin nods. “You took the train down from Daegu and spent two weeks at my place. We went to the beach every day.”
“Almost every day. There was that one...your parents were going on a day trip and didn’t want us near the water with them gone so we stayed at the house. I walked in on you. You were trying on my clothes. Said you didn’t want to look like a girl. Said you wanted to look like me. So we picked out an outfit, got you all dressed up like a boy and went to the arcade. Even stuffed your hair up under a ballcap we found.”
“You remember that?”
Taehyung nods. “Or all the times you’d wrinkle your nose up when someone would tell you you weren’t acting like a proper young lady. Differentiating in what girls and boys were allowed to do in front of you. Not liking clothes that showed off your curves. The letter you wrote me with tear stains all over it after prom.”
Jimin groans then, dramatically collapsing back to the floor. “Ugh. Prom. Still can’t believe my school thought that would be a good idea to try out.”
Taehyung snickers, laying down next to Jimin. “They only did it the one year right?”
Taehyung can hear Jimin’s head rubbing against the rug. “Yeah. Thank god, but why did it have to be the year I was there? Just one more year and I’d have missed it! UGH!”
Taehyung laughs again and grabs Jimin’s hand as it flings out onto Taehyung’s chest. “You’re wearing the ring I got you.”
Jimin sits up then, pulling his hand back shyly. “Uh...yeah. It’s still my favorite.” Jimin spins it around his finger a few times before pulling it off, looking at the inscription Taehyung knows is on the inside. Promise. Chingu. Soulmate.
Taehyung sits up, goes to wrap an arm around Jimin, but Jimin turns before he can, staring at the younger with a determined look.
“Tae-”
“There you two are. C’mon. Joon and Jin are kicking us all out,” Yoongi motions for them to head downstairs and disappears back down the hallway. Taehyung stands up and offers Jimin a hand, the elder sighs and lets Taehyung pull him up from the floor. They collide slightly, too close when they stand up, Jimin grabs onto Taehyung’s shirt, while Taehyung’s hands find Jimin’s waist.
“You know, you’re still the prettiest,” Taehyung whispers, not able to keep it in any longer.
Jimin scrunches his nose. “M not a girl anymore, Tae.”
“I know that. You’re the prettiest boy now.” Jimin’s cheeks turn the most beautiful shade of pink Taehyung has ever seen.
“Yeah?” Taehyung swears Jimin leans in, glances down at his lips.
“Yea-”
“Yah! Get out of my house!” The two look over to see Jin standing in the doorway, arms crossed. “I’m tired. Wanna go to sleep, and I can’t do it with you two still here.”
Jimin pulls away first, full pout mode as he turns to Jin. “Can’t I just talk with my best friend for five minutes?!” he whines. “I haven’t seen Taehyungie in years Jinnie!”
Jin cocks an eyebrow and looks between the two of them. “Your own fault, not mine. Let’s go.” Jin turns to leave moving slowly to make sure the two follow behind. Jimin groans, crosses his arms over his chest.
“Come on, Min. Before we get Joon up here too.” Taehyung goes to link their arms, but Jimin beats him to it, holding his hand instead. Taehyung tries to ignore the fluttering in his stomach as he leads Jimin out of the library and down the hallway.
“Wait,” Taehyung’s arm is yanked quickly when they reach the top of the stairs. When he turns, Jimin is looking up. Taehyung follows his gaze to see a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them from the ceiling. There’s a tug on Taehyung’s shirt, he looks down just in time to see Jimin take a deep breath, a determined look in his eyes before he’s leaning in and kissing Taehyung. Most people would probably describe it as fireworks, but Taehyung hears Jimin’s voice in his head. Breathy singing and giggles, wrapped in the smell of peaches that Jimin always seems to smell like. It’s cut short however, when Jimin pulls back abruptly, wide eyed, and bolts around Taehyung and down the stairs, out the front door. Taehyung just barely registers Jimin shouting a quick goodbye and thank you to Seokjin and Namjoon.
“Yah! Go after him you idiot!” Seokjin’s berating is the only thing Taehyung needs to snap out of it before he’s running barefoot out the front door and down to Jimin’s car that’s blocked, waiting for Yoongi to pull out. Jimin isn’t looking, sitting sideways, trying to pull his own shoes back on when Taehyung opens the driver door and leans in.
“Wha-,” Jimin turns and gasps, a blush creeping back up his cheeks. “Tae I- I’m so-”
“Let’s go get hot chocolate.”
Jimin blinks several times before the words seem to sink in. “What?”
“Let me take you out. On a date. For hot chocolate.”
“A…date…”
Taehyung’s smiling his biggest, boxiest smile now. “Yeah. Right now. Look we’ve both had dinner and the only thing I know that’s open around here is this little diner down the street. They have hot chocolate with all the extra stuff just like you love. Let me take you. And buy you fancy diner hot chocolate. And we can talk...and maybe I can give you a proper kiss.”
Jimin still looks like a deer caught in headlights, one chelsea boot on, his other foot bare, snow drenched sock still in his hand. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Taehyung confirms.
Jimin smiles up at him shyly. “Yeah. Hot choco sounds nice.”
Taehyung’s smile gets impossibly bigger. “Great! I’ll go grab my coat.” He runs off, back toward the house where Moni and Joon are standing in the doorway watching them.
“Don’t forget your shoes!” Jimin shouts. Taehyung just laughs. Best. Christmas party. Ever.