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It's not like the three of them haven't had this exact conversation before. In fact, Jungkook is certain that there are some phrases which are precise reiterations from the past.
Currently, Jungkook is sat on the living room couch, sandwiched between the other two maknaes. The two same-aged friends are far too invested in Jungkook's non-existent love life. All there is to be spoken about is Jungkook's crush, but this isn't news , as Jungkook points out. He's pretty sure the pair have known individually for the better part of three years now, and just last year Jungkook even told them about it himself.
He had approached them with general questions at first. He was sort of probing to see if either of them would be weirded out were it to come to light that he's gay. And, on top of that, the fact that he likes one of their members.
Of course both Jimin and Taehyung could sense what this talk really meant - they spoke back in doublespeak in equal measure, with Jungkook none the wiser. The two are both fluent in the language of hypotheticals, in their own unique ways.
Jungkook had felt safe and secure with his secrets, all up until the point where Taehyung smiled at him.
"Jungkookie, we know you like Hoseokie-Hyung.”
And Jimin had added, “That's what this is all about, isn't it?"
Jungkook probably looked more like a fish in that moment, strung out of the water and left to gasp for air. He'd thought that all of his analogies and carefully coded words were enough to conceal any relation to himself, but it turns out they'd been on to him for a while now, and were just waiting patiently for him to approach them in his own time.
Ever since then, the trio have shared numerous hushed conversations on the topic. The topics sometimes vary. They’ve discussed whether or not they think Hoseok is gay, if he would date someone younger than him or be attracted to someone older. They’ve discussed whether or not he would even allow himself to date within BTS. That man’s professionalism is hard to match, after-all.
Nearly always, Jungkook is adamant that somewhere, something will mean that they can’t work out, and that, therefore, he can never confess his feelings. Both Jimin and Taehyung believe otherwise, though.
“You should see the way he looks at you, though.” Jimin is saying, which Taehyung gives a steady nod to.
“He looks at everyone like that.” Jungkook insists, slumped between the two. This is a phrase that Jungkook has repeated time and time again, and yet neither of his two friends ever seem to agree with him.
“He does not look at everyone like that. When you got off the stage the other day, I was convinced he wanted to eat you.” Jimin is adding.
Jungkook’s brows furrow as he turns to frown at the boy. Eat him?
Taehyung is laughing on his other side. “He doesn’t want to eat you, Jungkookie.” The boy assures, shooting Jimin a warning look behind Jungkook's back. He returns with his boxy smile in the younger's view only a moment later. “He was just - very intense. He was really admiring you.”
Jungkook feels his cheeks burn pink but he still isn’t quite sure he believes it. This is just their accounts of what happened. What if Hoseok had just been completely zoned out and Jungkook happened to be in his line of sight at the time? He probably wasn’t even thinking about the maknae at all. Knowing Hoseok, he was probably retroactively analyzing their last choreography, and trying to focus well enough to survive the next one.
“I don’t know...” Jungkook murmurs, shaking his head. He doesn’t want to be this pessimistic. Hell, he’d love to believe that Hoseok likes him back. It just doesn’t seem plausible . What are the odds, honestly.
“You need to tell him how you feel.” Taehyung says, not for the first time. Jungkook groans at this, throwing his head into his hands.
“What if he likes you back! You’re wasting all this time being miserable when you could just be together!” Jimin adds.
“But what if he doesn’t like me back?” Jungkook presses. “Then I’ll just make an idiot out of myself, and make everything super awkward. It’d be really uncomfortable for the whole team.”
Of course the gravity of what Jungkook says doesn't go unnoticed. But Taehyung is shaking his head gently. "Even if he rejected you, he wouldn't make things awkward. It'd be okay."
Taehyung, to his credit, seems to actually believe this. Jungkook just frowns, shaking his head.
Jimin purses his lips in thought, then. “What if we were to give him a little nudge?"
Oh no. Jungkook doesn’t know what the boy is about to suggest but he’s sure he won’t like it. He looks at the silver-haired male apprehensively.
Taehyung is grinning widely again. “What are you thinking?" He asks.
Jungkook's eyes glance nervously back and forth.
"I don't know what you're planning but I don't think it's a good idea." Jungkook pleads. When vmin start to meddle, you know you're in trouble.
Jimin is smirking. “Picture this. In a post-concert high, we’ve all returned to our hotels, and I tell Hoseokie-Hyung that I’ll be staying with Tae that night. And then you swoop in and-”
The look on Jungkook’s face in nothing short of alarmed. “I swoop in and what ?” The youngest asks, and he’s really showing his innocence, here.
Jimin takes pity on him, shaking his head. “Nevermind. We’ll think of something else.”
Jungkook isn’t all that comforted by that, frankly.
“Oh! I have an idea!” Taehyung pipes up. Jungkook turns to him nervously, although he’s clearly giving him his attention. “ What if we were to play truth or dare, and I dared Hoseokie-Hyung to kiss you?”
Jungkook is immediately shaking his head. “ Tae!” he pleads, desperate to get them both to stop.
“Oh, I like that.” Jimin is nodding.
Jungkook groans, burying his head in his hands. The sound of footsteps on the stairs could be anyone, and the younger is slowly piecing himself back together, expecting to see literally anyone else but there he is. The devil in question himself comes strolling down the stairs, completely oblivious to all of the turmoil going on in the living room.
Jungkook's eyes widen for a fraction of a second before he tries his best to wipe the expression. It would have been very obvious if Hoseok had looked up from his phone - he would have seen the sheer panic on his face.
Taehyung and Jimin both wear matching, knowing smiles. Jungkook urges them not to do or say anything with pleading eyes.
As Hoseok makes his way past the living room, towards the kitchen, he seems to sense that something is off. He frowns, looking up from his phone and immediately jumping when he sees the three boys all huddled on the couch. It provides a momentary comfort to Jungkook - clearly they had not been overheard, if their presence is a surprise.
“Yaaaah,” He complains, tsking his head to the side and then shaking it in disbelief. “What are you three doing? Why are you so quiet?” He says this with a scrunched nose, looking kind of adorable, in Jungkook’s completely unbiased opinion.
Hoseok seems to scan their faces. Jungkook is trying his best not to look like a deer in headlights, but the other two are effortlessly calm and collected. It’s... suspicious, to say the least.
Before anyone can think up any kind of excuse, Hoseok smirks. “Were you talking about me?” He asks. He seems to be asking the question straight to Jungkook, whose eyes widen. However the haughty expression on the older boy’s face could never pass for a genuine question. He doesn’t actually suspect anyone of having been talking about him.
Still, no one offers up any sort of explanation. Hoseok gives a good roll of his eyes. “ Fine , keep your secrets, you demons. I probably don’t wanna know anyway.” He says with a playful huff, turning on his heel towards the kitchen.
The three of them watch him leave before Taehyung and Jimin are both nudging Jungkook ridiculously. Jungkook gives this exasperated pout. “ What? ” he asks, rubbing at his arms where he’d been prodded.
“He was looking right at you when he asked that.” Jimin snickers lowly, keeping his voice down because the kitchen isn’t too far away.
“Yeah, but-!” Jungkook realizes he’s being loud and immediately lowers his volume. “He didn’t mean anything by it.”
Taehyung rolls his eyes good-heartedly. “Jungkookie,” He sighs, overly fond of his friend. “You’re in such denial.”
“I am not!” Jungkook pouts, crossing his arms. “Look, if-” he flashes his eyes towards the doorway. “ He liked me, don’t you think that he would have told me already?”
Jimin laughs at this. “Ah, right, just like you’ve never told him ?”
Jungkook gives a good hmmph at this. He’s still entirely unconvinced, but he can’t deny that there is a spark of hope in him.
“You won’t get anywhere unless you tell him how you feel.” Taehyung says it gently.
-
It’s been a couple of months, and Jungkook has been weighing his choices back and forth heavily. He can’t imagine that telling Hoseok would lead the band to break up, even in a worst-case scenario. But what if it makes things so awkward that they can’t even interact properly anymore? What if Hoseok is so bothered by his younger friend crushing on him that he needs distance?
What if he stops accepting cuddles?
On the other hand, Jungkook knows that Hoseok has a big, soft, squishy heart. He really can’t imagine anything too terrible happening. He’s pretty sure that Hoseok would be more worried about hurting Jungkook than anything. He would let him down in the gentlest of ways, if he had to.
But what if he doesn’t need to reject Jungkook? What if, like Taehyung and Jimin keep insisting, this isn’t a one-sided thing? What if they could be together , be a couple. Love each other as something more than what they currently have.
Jungkook longs for that. He wants to hold Hoseok’s hand all the time and kiss him when the others aren’t looking. He wants to know that Hoseok isn’t thinking about anyone else the way he thinks about Jungkook.
And if telling him is the only way for that to happen, well. Maybe Jungkook just needs to man up and stop holding himself back from what he really wants.
It’s on one fateful night that the boys are all together. Jungkook has been steadily trying to work up his nerves to confess his feelings, and at this point, he might actually burst . Even so, there’s no way he’ll come clean in front of the entire group, so he puts a big pause on his mission for now, and tries to enjoy the evening for what it is.
Jimin is the one to call everyone over for a game of truth or dare. Jungkook almost forgets the conversation they’d had, previously, and is relaxed at first. Everyone has a good time, mostly daring people to do things because everyone already knows each other so well, so no one bothers picking truth.
It’s just as it’s Taehyung’s turn to call on someone that Jungkook remembers, very much flashback-style, the suggestion that the boy had had, involving daring Hoseok to kiss Jungkook.
The maknae freezes, feels his blood run cold. He... won’t, right? He wouldn’t actually ask that, right?
What if Hoseok wants no part in kissing Jungkook! Jungkook doesn’t want their first kiss to be out of necessity , because someone told-
“Truth.” Hoseok answers easily.
Oh.
Jungkook is hit with a wave of relief. For now, at least, he’s safe. The older boy is across from him in the circle, hands around his legs and chin hooked over one of his knees. He seems to have had a considerable amount of alcohol, making his eyes droopy and his body slack.
Taehyung is quiet for a moment. Jungkook’s eyes glance over to him nervously, and his heartbeat picks up again when the sandy-haired boy winks back at him. “Hoseokie-Hyung. Do you like anyone these days?”
Shit.
Jungkook’s eyes whip back to Hoseok in a split second, his heart racing as he pulls on his sleeves.
The question takes a second to register in the boy’s head. He’s laughing, then. And shrugging. “Yeah.” He says it simply. His eyes are on no one in particular, mostly on the carpet. Hoseok looks up, then, and Jungkook’s heart leaps into his throat-
But Hoseok doesn’t look at him. He looks at Yoongi . And then he blushes again and shakes his head. And Jungkook feels his pulse racing in his ears, because no.
This is why you don’t meddle. There are some questions you don’t want the answer to. And Jungkook knew it. He fucking knew it.
Fiery eyes flash towards Taehyung, who must have missed the way that Hoseok looked at Yoongi, because he flashes a giddy smile right back. Quickly, though, Taehyung’s face slips into a look of confusion, wondering why he’s getting such a salty look.
Jungkook just looks away, focuses on not running away. He focuses on finishing the game. He’s pretty distracted, the whole time, something that goes largely unnoticed, and easily blamed on the amount of alcohol he’s consumed. (It hasn’t been that much, actually, but no one’s really been keeping great track of that.)
Jimin, sitting next to him, may be the only one to have caught on. He rests a hand on the younger’s knee, trying to calm him down. When most everyone is caught up in watching Namjoon jump around on one leg, Jimin leans over to whisper in his ear, assuring him that Hoseok is really drunk, and it doesn’t mean anything that he’d looked at Yoongi.
If anything, the confirmation that Jungkook wasn’t the only one who actually saw that, just makes things worse.
-
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Jungkook-ah,” Taehyung is saying, following him around the kitchen as he prepares a pot of water to set on the stove. Jungkook lights the flame and tracks over to the pantry, dragging his feet.
“What am I supposed to think?” Jungkook mutters, reaching for a pack of ramen. He moves to leave, but catches sight of the look on Taehyung’s face and grabs another pack, scowling at him. He turns towards Jimin, who’s settled on a bar chair at the island counter, watching them with interest. “Do you want some, too?” He asks sourly.
Jimin’s face lights up, smiling sweetly at him. Jungkook takes this as a yes, and grabs another pack.
“It’s really not a good idea to look for signs from a drunk man, you know.” Jimin says as Jungkook trudges back over to where his water is warming up, Taehyung following closely at his heel.
“He was pretty gone by that point.” Taehyung agrees. “He was in the process of shutting down and falling asleep. Remember that only half an hour later he curled up on the couch and passed out. I don’t think him looking at Yoongi can really be taken as a sign of, well, anything. ”
Jungkook isn’t so sure, and shakes his head. The fans have always commented on the relationship between Hoseok and Yoongi, the self-proclaimed Sope duo. How much of a stretch is it to believe that one of them would catch feelings for the other?
“I don’t know why you guys are trying so hard to convince me that Hobi-Hyung could like me.” Jungkook says, his head ducked and his eyes unable to meet either of the two. “It just feels like you’re setting me up for even more heartache.”
Jimin frowns. “I wouldn’t be trying to convince you if I wasn’t sure. I’ve told you - I have a really good sixth sense for this stuff.”
“Yeah! And besides, Hoseok would know better than to crush on Yoongi-Hyung.” Taehyung says, sounding quite certain of this fact.
Jungkook’s brows crease as he raises his head to look at him. “Why?” He asks.
It’s Jimin who’s smirking, now, and Jungkook’s gaze flicks between the two nervously. “What, why? What do you know that I don’t?” He nearly whines.
“ Well ,” Taehyung says, his gaze set on the ceiling. “You didn’t hear it from us,” He says, biting at his lip.
“Yoongi-Hyung and Jin-Hyung are a thing.” Jimin blurts.
“What?!” Jungkook barks, dropping his ramen noodles unceremoniously to the floor, his eyes as wide as saucers. “They’re - really?” He leaves his mouth open in shock.
It’s the first he’s hearing about anyone in Bangtan dating. Ever.
Jimin is laughing while Taehyung bends to retrieve the ramen. He’s similarly amused, and presses his lips together. “Shhh,” He reminds them both.
Jungkook nods, finally clamping his mouth shut for a second, before opening it again to ask "how do you know? Are you guys sure? "
The two boys exchange a look, which is suspicious at best. "We just... know." Jimin says. "Don't mention it to anyone."
"Yeah, okay." Jungkook blinks. He turns back to the stove to see that the water is almost boiling, so he starts to open the (now shattered) ramen packs, one by one.
"You know what would be romantic~?" Jimin pipes up again.
Jungkook makes a huff, to indicate that he's listening, even though he really doesn't know why he is.
"You could tell him on Christmas. It's only a few weeks away. It would give you time to psyche yourself up, and it would be cute as shit ." Jimin says dreamily, swaying a bit on his stool.
Taehyung's eyes light up. "Ooh! That would be cute!" He agrees. "Jungkookie! You have to!" He insists, tugging on the boy's oversized black t-shirt.
Jungkook is skeptical. "How cute would it be if I ruined Christmas?"
Taehyung isn't following. He cocks his head to the side, still gripping on to the boy's shirt, as if he's prepare to continue tugging on it, should the confusion clear up.
Jungkook really can't stand how both Jimin and Taehyung look at all of this so inconsequentially.
"If he rejects me." He hisses. It seems so obvious to him.
Taehyung pouts, turning to Jimin for backup. "Why would he do that?"
"Yah, we've been over this. Things will be okay." Jimin insists.
"But you don't know that." Jungkook says, increasingly frustrated. Honestly, he might just kick them out and eat all of these noodles by himself, just to spite them. He dumps them into the pot and checks the time, and then turns back to look at the two, frowning.
"Seriously, I wish you guys would just stay out of it." The youngest says. "Please?"
Jimin seems to deflate, just as Taehyung is letting go of Jungkook's shirt. (He does try to flatten it out though, swatting at it lightly.) The two look apologetic. Or perhaps just disappointed.
"Okay, Jungkookie." Jimin says, eyes flicking to Taehyung, who nods.
Jungkook gives a big sigh. "Thank you." He says, turning back to the stove. He's quiet for a moment as he concentrates on pulling the noodles apart with some chopsticks. While his back is turned, he misses a nonverbal conversation that happens behind his back.
"I know you guys just care a lot." He murmurs. "I'm grateful for that." He offers.
“Always.” It comes from Taehyung, who pats at his back. And though he can’t see it, Jimin is nodding eagerly as well.
"I just don't think I can tell him if I'm so sure that he doesn't like me." Jungkook admits, his tone sad, but resigned. He’s accepted this fact a long time ago. He turns back around, met with his friend's faces, which are carefully expressionless.
"You understand, right?" Jungkook asks.
They both nod sympathetically, and the youngest lets out a relieved sigh. At least he won't need to worry about them interfering anymore.
-
If there’s one thing that Bangtan gets to rely on, each year, it’s Christmas.
They always get Christmas Eve to themselves. They’ve set up their own traditions on the day. Usually this is the day where everyone will last-minute wrap all of their presents for each other and bring them down to the tree in their living room. They used to set the tree up themselves, but in recent years their schedule hasn’t allowed for such a luxury. The staff that sets it up for them always does a wonderful job, though, so none of them really find it a troublesome fact.
One day there’s no Christmas tree, the next day there is.
Hoseok thinks to himself as he wraps all of his presents up in assorted gift boxes that he really has outdone himself this year. He’s gotten multiple things for each member - he’s started collecting things since early October this year. They’re all things that he thinks the members will like, and that they’ll use.
It’s how he ends up needing an entire laundry basket to help carry down all of his presents from his and Jimin’s shared room. He finds Jungkook and Taehyung sitting next to the tree as he descends the stairs. They’re both organizing the presents under the tree, trying to make everything look aesthetic. (And shaking each present they find with their names on it, of course.)
Hoseok smiles fondly at the sight, shaking his head at the two. “Yaaah. Don’t touch.” He scolds them, and Jungkook does as he’s told immediately, going so far as to scoot away from the tree, in an attempt to claim innocence.
“We aren’t.” He tries, shaking his head and trying to look Very Serious. It doesn’t matter that Hoseok saw him. He laughs, setting his basket down on the couch and walking over to fluff his hair. Ridiculous.
“We’re just organizing, Hyung.” Taehyung says, looking very thoughtful as he arranges the presents in front of him, pushing some further under the tree than others, and even storing some in the tree.
“Well, if you two are so keen, can you put mine under there, too?” Hoseok asks, his voice going all cutesy , in the way it does when he clearly wants something.
“Sure!” Taehyung agrees, jumping up from his spot to grab at Hoseok’s basket, and bringing it down to the floor with him.
Jungkook hasn’t moved, though. Hoseok is surprised for a second, before he realizes that his hand is still in the boy’s hair. He removes it, prompting the boy to look up at him with tinted cheeks. He seems to realize that he had been included in the task, and finally crawls back over to the tree to help.
“Am I the last one to drop off presents?” Hoseok asks, looking at the impressive pile under the tree.
“Yup, you’re the last one, Hobi-Hyung.” Jungkook agrees, looking back at him with doe eyes. Hoseok is lost in them for a second, and he would completely blame it on the distracting way the christmas tree lights dance around in the boy’s eyes if anyone were to ask.
He’s distracted until he spots Taehyung pulling out a package and shaking it discreetly. “ Yah ! Kim Taehyung- !”
The boy snickers, stuffing the present back under the tree and giving a wide, amused square grin at having been caught.
-
After a large dinner, and an even larger amount of dish-washing, the boys all happily make their way back to the living room.
The TV is quickly turned on and people are settling themselves down at random on the couches. Hoseok spies an empty spot next to Jungkook on the loveseat and quickly dives in before anyone else can claim it. He gets a flustered smile from the boy and he laughs, reaching out to pinch at his cheek. “Did you think you were gonna get this whole couch to yourself, young man?” He asks.
“ Hyung.” Jungkook is giggling, trying to bat away his hand.
It’s then that someone notices.
“Is that mistletoe?” It’s Yoongi, who’s squinting up above the couch that Hoseok and Jungkook are on. Hoseok feels his heart drop into his stomach, and he looks up to see that, sure enough, there’s a single piece of mistletoe hanging above their heads. It looks precarious, hung on a string from the ceiling by a measly piece of tape. Hoseok gulps.
“Who put that there?” Jungkook is asking.
This must be Taehyung and Jimin’s doing. His eyes flash to the two, who are conveniently not paying attention, sat on the opposite side of the room. The two have been pestering him for months to ask Jungkook out. They found out about his growing crush a long time ago, and they’ve never let it go since.
His eyes flash to Yoongi, then, who’s now looking at him like, huh . He also looks just a little amused, a corner of his mouth twitching upward.
Hoseok feels Jungkook squirm beside him, and he finally turns his attention back to the boy.
“Should we kiss, then?” Hoseok hears himself asking. That’s what you’re supposed to do with mistletoe, right? For.... whatever reason that mistletoe warrants kissing?
He scans the boy’s face, hesitant and expecting to see apprehension, or playful disgust. Instead, he sees an unreadable expression.
“Well, we should , right?” Jungkook speaks up, his voice quiet.
Hoseok doesn’t know if they have an audience right now. Because, well, they very well might . Sure, people are distracted and talking, trying to pick out a movie suitable for the night, but did really no one else hear Yoongi mention the mistletoe? Not even out of their own sense of self-preservation?
Despite that, Hoseok smiles at the boy in an attempt to cover up his nerves. He reaches forward to gently tilt the boy’s chin up to face him, and then he leans in. Here goes nothing, right?
Hoseok kisses him softly for only a second, or maybe it’s closer to three seconds (this is his one opportunity to kiss Jungkook, so he might as well savor it, shouldn’t he?), but he resolves to not linger too long. He strokes his thumb under Jungkook’s chin, regretting the fact that he needs to pull away now, but then he feels a hand come up and hesitantly rest on his cheek.
The action surprises the older, who’s eyes open for a moment and blink a couple of times before slipping shut again. Three seconds turn into something more like seven, and it’s at that point that he hears Namjoon asking “uh, does anyone else see that?” that he comes to his senses.
Hoseok pulls back, laughing breathlessly. He opens his eyes to see a look of vulnerability on Jungkook’s face. They blink at each other, and Hoseok finds that he’s really lost for words. They’d been swept up in things - egged on by tradition ( and a certain someones who must have planned this) - and now, well, that happened. They kissed.
And - shit. Was that Jungkook’s first kiss?
Jungkook is shyly removing his hand from Hoseok’s cheek and looking around for a distraction, finally spotting a blanket thrown over the back of the couch and grabbing it, throwing it over the both of them.
Hoseok finds that he can’t stop looking at the boy, who’s now blushing openly, biting at the interior of his lip. It draws Hoseok’s attention down to it, thinking about how he just felt it against his own. And how he’d very much like to feel it again.
Honestly, if Taehyung and Jimin are behind this, he’s going to kill them, because now he thinks his problem is about 200% worse. Roughly.
Jungkook turns to him, his eyes wide and open. “Hyung?” He whispers.
Hoseok shakes his head. “Sorry.” He murmurs, and he can’t help but smile.
Jungkook ducks his head, curling into him and wrapping his long limbs around him along with the blanket. As the younger gets closer, it’s then that Hoseok can feel the boy’s quick heartbeat, and he presses a light kiss into the boy’s hair - something that is familiar ground for them.
As he looks out at the others, he catches sight of Taehyung, who’s smirking at him, an eyebrow raised mischievously. Hoseok squints at him, but he can’t find it in his heart to actually be annoyed. Even if Jungkook doesn’t feel the same way as him, they’ll always have this moment.
If anyone (other than Namjoon) had noticed their kiss, then no one appears to be bothered by it. Hoseok allows himself to relax, wrapping his arms around Jungkook, feeling just a little too warm and insulated, being too content to protest it.
-
After watching a long movie, the plot of which Hoseok honestly couldn't be bothered to keep track of, the boys all start to head off in their own directions.
Hoseok has no intention of moving, however, and he can feel that Jungkook doesn't either, the way his hands curl around him and knead absentmindedly into his thigh. It's their tradition, ever since Jungkook was younger. He always insisted on sleeping in the living room on Christmas Eve, so that he could 'try to see Santa'. He's told everyone that this is just something he's done since he was little, and still likes doing.
Hoseok has always been more than happy to indulge him on this, even when the others would get tired or sore and decide to pack it up and head to their room. Hoseok is the only one who's always stayed.
So no one bats an eye at them, all curled into each other under the blanket, looking cozy and comfortable.
"Goodnight, Seok-ah, Kook-ah," Yoongi rasps, the first one to leave for the night.
Seokjin is quick on Yoongi's heel, waving generally to the room and saying a tired " merry christmas ".
Namjoon leaves without any fanfare, and it's then that Taehyung and Jimin finally get up, seeming to take a long time to actually get moving. Hoseok squints at them, wondering what's taking them so long.
Finally, though, Jimin is passing by them and he stops suddenly. "Oh!" He says, his eyes trained somewhere above them.
Oh you've got to be kidding me, Hoseok thinks.
"Is that mistletoe?" Jimin is asking, rubbing at his eyes a bit.
Taehyung seems to spot it now, too. “Oh!” He says, as if he’s surprised. Hoseok feels Jungkook shift beside him, turns to see that he’s giving the two a funny look.
“You need to kiss!” Taehyung says.
Honestly, if it were just the two of them, and if he had any indication that Jungkook wants that, then Hoseok would have no hesitation. But that isn’t how things are.
“We already did.” Hoseok states.
"Yeah, uh, maybe you missed it, but-" Jungkook starts.
"Nuh-uh. Doesn't count." Jimin shakes his head. "Don't believe you. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed something like that."
Hoseok watches as Jungkook huffs, but he also notices that there's a minuscule smile on the boy's face. Huh.
Does he... actually want Hoseok to kiss him again? Hoseok blinks, wondering if that could even be possible.
Jungkook turns to him then, is met with Hoseok's unreadable expression. "Should we just kiss again, Hyung? So they'll stop bugging us?"
Hoseok's mind goes blank at the casual suggestion. Should they?
Jungkook... doesn't mind?
Is it just to get Jimin and Taehyung off their backs? Or...?
Hoseok realizes he needs to respond. "Yeah. I guess we should." He agrees, finally. Jungkook is looking at him bashfully, his eyes lowering to Hoseok’s lips. Hoseok feels his cheeks burn at the action.
This time, it’s Jungkook that reaches out, hesitant fingers softly guiding Hoseok’s face towards his. It’s Jungkook that leans in and presses their lips together. And it’s Hoseok, whose hand comes up to rest on the boy’s cheek.
This time, the world really falls away from him. He feels a flurry of butterflies stir up in his stomach, and he barely even remembers the fact that they have an active audience. This time, he can feel Jungkook leaning in, pushing in, he can feel something that he hadn’t picked up on before. Perhaps the confidence gained from having done this already has made it easier.
Suddenly, and all too soon, Jungkook is pulling back. He turns his head in Taehyung and Jimin’s direction, opening his mouth and starting to say “Yah, you guys can-” and the “ go now...” is trailed off distractedly, as they both realize that they’re now alone.
Oh.
There’s a lot to process. But, quite frankly, Hoseok doesn’t get the chance to process anything , not when he feels Jungkook pulling him back in for another kiss.
And oh. This is different.
Hoseok’s lips catch up quickly, and he presses back in earnest, responding as if it were a dance. They move together easily, like they were made for each other.
There’s the satisfaction of knowing that they’re both completely sober - that this is just something that they both want. A lot.
Eventually, they have to come up for air. Hoseok is too happy to be worried about what any of this means, about messy feelings and insecurities. It’s Christmas Eve, and he just got the best Christmas gift he could have ever been given.
Jungkook is happy too, and it’s the most beautiful thing. The way the younger is smiling, blushing madly, and ducks his head into Hoseok’s neck. He giggles, and so does Hoseok as he reaches up to pet through the boy’s hair.
“If I had known that all it would take is some mistletoe...” Hoseok murmurs. Jungkook lifts his head up to flash him back a smile.
Hoseok feels a shift between them. It's unspoken, but it's like there's an understanding. Whatever that kiss meant is something that only they know, and something that is special to them.
Suddenly, they both hear a noise. It seems to be Taehyung, who's just said ow .
Both Hoseok and Jungkook flash their attention over in that direction, just in time to hear Jimin trying to stealthily shush him. Okay. So there's an understanding, between Jungkook, Hoseok, and vmin.
"Were you guys watching us?" Hoseok asks, slightly appalled.
Their cover is blown, so the two stand up. "No." They both chorus, but it sounds guilty.
"We had to make sure you didn't bail on your mistletoe obligations!" Taehyung defends.
Jungkook is quick to throw a pillow their way, yelling " Yah! " He's giggling, though, and Hoseok also finds it hard to be mad.
"Well I guess our work here is done." Jimin pulls on Taehyung's hood to get him to start walking.
"Aigo-" Hoseok tuts, shaking his head. "You see that, Jungkookie? They called us 'work'." He tells Jungkook, who huffs playfully at that.
"You are work." Taehyung insists. "All that kissing and you guys still haven't confe-"
"Okay goodnight!" Jimin calls, dragging Taehyung with him.
Hoseok blinks. Was he talking about him confessing? Because it sounds like they think they both ought to confess.
They're quiet for a second as they listen to Jimin and Taehyung head off towards their rooms.
"Have they been bugging you, too?" Hoseok asks, curiously.
Jungkook's eyes widen and a large blush takes over his face. "I- they- yeah." He nearly squeaks.
Hoseok has to laugh about it. And he might not admit it, but he is grateful.
Jungkook turns to him again, raising a hand back onto his cheek. "Can you just kiss me again?" He asks. "We can like, maybe talk tomorrow." He shrugs.
Hoseok is surprised, but more than happy to oblige. He's getting the feeling that there isn't much that needs to be said that they can't already feel right now. Especially when they kiss again and Jungkook's grip on him tightens around his waist. He can just feel everything, all of the pent up emotions they've been keeping from each other for so long.
"Is the mistletoe really inspiring you, baby?" Hoseok rasps when they part, and Jungkook shakes his head to this.
"You are, Hyung." He murmurs, immediately pressing back in.
Hoseok is sure that they'll talk about this soon. He's eager to tell Jungkook what he means to him, and he's just as excited to hear things from the younger's perspective. For now, he just runs his fingers through the boy's hair, lulling him to sleep in front of the shiny lights from their decorations.
Perhaps the boy is already asleep, his soft breaths hitting his neck, but still, Hoseok whispers, "Goodnight, Jungkookie. Merry Christmas."
"Goodnight, Hyung." Jungkook murmurs. "Love you."
It's nothing they haven't said before. They say they love all of the members, all the time. But this feels different. He can feel that it's different.
"I love you too." Hoseok says, and it's the only thing on his mind until he falls asleep.