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I.
Minho looks up from his phone when he sees Chan walk past him with a box, Felix and Jisung hot on his trail.
“Seriously? You’re decorating already?” Minho groans and the trio all turn to look at him with confused looks.
“Dude, it’s December. Yes we are decorating.” Felix says and Minho huffs, rolling his eyes, before focusing back on his phone. Which is promptly snatched from his hands by Jeongin a few seconds later.
“When did you get here?” Minho asks, not even caring to take his phone back. When it came to Jeongin, Minho was whipped, and he’d stopped trying to fight it ages ago. His friends had all picked up on Minho’s little (eh…maybe not so little) crush on Jeongin sometime around Halloween and had been trying to get him to ask the younger out, to no success.
“Just now. Now scooch, I wanna sit with you.” Jeongin says, making shoo-ing motions with his hands. Minho snorts, but quickly shuffles along to allow the younger to sit next to him. There’s barely any space for them on the seat – it’s a one-person armchair – but Jeongin had always insisted he sit on it, so when someone else was on it, he’d make them move, or he’d just sit with them. Minho had gotten used to it, and he thinks he’d miss it if Jeongin ever decided to stop doing it.
“You’re so clingy.” Minho says and Jeongin laughs, resting his head on Minho’s shoulder, his left leg slung over Minho’s right one. Minho can only imagine what someone who doesn’t know them would think about their way of sitting right now. Minho and Jeongin quickly sink into a conversation about university and coursework and the holidays, anything and everything to fill the time.
“Sorry to interrupt you two, but can one of you help me with this?” Chan says, pulling Minho and Jeongin out of their conversation. They both turn to look at the older boy with twin confused looks. “Mistletoe. I wanna put some up but I’m too short.” Chan says, cheeks tinged lightly red at his sentence. Jeongin laughs at that, throwing his head back and smacking the back of it clean off of Minho’s shoulders. It’s a harsh hit and Minho knows he’ll feel the pain later but right now, that doesn’t matter. Jeongin’s laughter quickly shuts off, a whimper leaving his lips instead and Minho immediately manhandles Jeongin from where he’s practically sat on Minho’s lap to place him in the chair as Minho stands, so he can check the younger over.
“You okay, Innie?” Minho asks. He pouts when Jeongin looks up at him, his eyes brimming with tears. “Oh no, Innie, don’t cry.” Minho continues, reaching out to wipe away some of the tears clustering on Jeongin’s lash line.
“My head hurts…” Jeongin mutters and Minho coos, pulling the younger into a hug and gently rubbing the back of his head.
“Sorry Chan, we can’t help.” Minho finally responds to Chan and Chan just nods, walking off to get a chair.
“Can I sit on your lap Minho?” Jeongin asks, tears no longer forming in his eyes. Minho nods and steps back, allowing Jeongin to stand up and switch their positions before the younger clambers into his lap, chest to chest, and buries his face in Minho’s neck. Minho feels heat flood his body and he’s pretty sure he’s bright red, but he can’t find himself to care. Jeongin trusts him in that moment and that makes him giddy.
Chan comes back in with a chair and one Hyunjin following after him. Minho mentally laughs at that. Chan was the biggest advocate for getting Minho and Jeongin together, but he was hypocritical because he was too cowardly to ask Hyunjin out.
Chan places the chair down, climbing onto it, before pinning the mistletoe to the ceiling. Minho watches as he tries to pin it above the armchair and coughs, catching Chan’s attention.
“No.” Is all Minho says and Chan pouts before pivoting on the chair and putting it more in between the chair and the large white Christmas tree that adorns the really small living room. When Chan turns around and steps off the chair, he startles upon seeing Hyunjin.
“Hyunjin! You scared me.” Chan chastises him and Hyunjin just giggles, his lovesick one, and apologises. Jeongin pulls his face out of Minho’s neck and takes in the scene before laughing.
“You two are under the mistletoe. That means you two have to kiss.” Jeongin says and Minho takes a quick glance, confirming the two are actually under the mistletoe, like Jeongin said, and he laughs. Both Chan and Hyunjin are flushed red and Hyunjin looks like he wants to run away.
“We don’t have to if yo-mmph!” Chan says, words being cut off by Hyunjin pulling him into a kiss. They separate after a couple of seconds, both still bright red, and they stare at each other for a few seconds before Hyunjin turns heel and runs. Chan huffs before chasing after him.
“Finally. They might actually confess now.” Jeongin mutters from where his head is reburied in Minho’s neck and Minho laughs.
“Maybe.”
*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*
II.
When Jeongin walks downstairs the next day, a dull throb in the back of his head from smashing it off of Minho’s shoulder the day before, he finds himself awestruck by the decorations. He hadn’t really seen them yesterday, after having fallen asleep on Minho’s lap (which Seungmin still hasn’t stopped teasing him about).
Jeongin spots Seungmin walking into the kitchen, where soft music and a brilliant yet familiar chocolate smell are both seeping from and Jeongin knows Felix is in there. Maybe he should stop teasing me about Minho until he gets with Felix, Jeongin thinks before walking into the kitchen, stopping in the doorway. He watches as Seungmin watches Felix bake, when footsteps from behind him startle him out of his thoughts. It’s Minho.
“Hey Min.” Jeongin says and Minho smiles at him before rolling his shoulder. Jeongin feels bad about hurting Minho and says as much to him.
“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t mean to.” Minho says, a hand on Jeongin’s hip as he slips past him in the doorway. Jeongin flushes at the touch but acts nonchalant, even when Seungmin smirks at him. He follows after Minho towards the fridge but before he can get there, Felix walks towards Seungmin and Jeongin gasps.
“You two are under mistletoe!” Jeongin yells, causing all three of the people in the kitchen with him to look up. Above Felix there’s a sprig of mistletoe, similar to the one that Chan and Hyunjin had been caught under yesterday.
“I’m gonna kill Chan.” Felix grits out and Jeongin sees Seungmin’s face drop. Ouch. However his thoughts are cut short when Felix leans forward and kisses Seungmin, a little peck, like two children might share, before squeaking and turning away, facing the kitchen counter again. Seungmin’s eyes are wide, and his lips are lightly parted. Minho and Jeongin share a look, and both mentally agree to leave, Jeongin shooting a wink at Seungmin over his shoulder as he goes.
Once the two are away from the kitchen, they burst into laughter.
“Well that was hilarious.” Minho says and Jeongin laughs.
“It definitely was. Well, that’s another two of our friends matched up now!” Jeongin responds and Minho nods, ruffling Jeongin’s hair, before yawning.
“Ah, I’m still tired. You wanna come nap with me?” Minho asks, softly rubbing at his eyes and Jeongin resists the urge to coo.
“Sure.”
*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*
III.
When Minho wakes up from his nap, he sighs at the warmth of Jeongin resting beside him. The younger is still fast asleep, eyes shut, and a little pout on his lips. Minho forces himself to sit up after he finds himself staring at Jeongin’s lips and stretches. He slips off the bed, tucking Jeongin in and smiling as the younger snuggles into the warmth of the duvet, before making his way downstairs.
Downstairs is absolute chaos. How Minho slept through this racket, he doesn’t know, but he hopes they don’t wake Jeongin up, otherwise there’d be hell to pay.
“Yah, what’s happening?” Minho asks, catching the attention of all six boys arguing in the living room.
“Minho! Just the person we need.” Felix says from where he’s curled into Seungmin’s side.
“What do you want?” Minho asks, voice still monotonous and dull.
“Hyunjin, Jisung and Changbin were gonna put mistletoe over your bed whilst you and Jeongin were asleep there! Me, Seungmin and Chan were trynna stop them.” Felix replies and Minho turns to the guilty trio with a raised eyebrow.
“Seriously?” Minho asks and Changbin squeaks, hiding behind Jisung. Minho gets a devious idea then, knowing just how much Jisung and Changbin like each other. “Where’s the mistletoe?” Minho asks, confusing everyone with his change of focus. Seungmin points at the sprig on the table. Minho snatches it before stomping over to Changbin and Jisung and holding it above their heads.
“Oh look. Mistletoe.” Minho says and Hyunjin bursts into laughter from beside him. Changbin flushes red, as does Jisung, but Jisung turns around and captures Changbin’s lips with his own. The kiss slowly deepens, and Minho immediately yells at them, separating the two, who quickly burst into giggles.
“What? Mistletoe says we kiss, right?” Jisung says, eyes mischievous, whilst Changbin blushes behind him.
“Yeah kiss, not fuck.” Minho responds deadpan, throwing the mistletoe back on the table, before stalking out of the room.
Minho goes all the way back to his room and opens the door just in time to see Jeongin waking up. The younger peeks at him, eyes barely open and thick with sleep, and Minho coos, walking over to run a hand through Jeongin’s hair.
“Hello sleepy head.” Minho says and Jeongin pouts.
“You asked me to nap.” Jeongin says and Minho laughs at that. “And then you left me.” Jeongin continues, pout deepening and Minho really needs to stop looking at Jeongin’s lips before he does something stupid, he’s decided. “So now you have to deal with me being clingy all day.” Jeongin finishes with a laugh, and Minho shrugs.
“I don’t mind.” Minho responds, voice soft, tender and absolutely dripping with adoration. Genuinely, he doesn’t. Jeongin sits up, prompting Minho to stand up from where he’d been crouched on the floor. The younger stands up too before jumping into Minho’s arms, laughing when the older stumbles back a little bit. He remains standing, though, and wraps an arm around Jeongin’s waist, the other coming to settle under his ass. Jeongin squeaks when Minho’s hands settle there, but he doesn’t pull away, so Minho doesn’t move either. Jeongin laces his arms around Minho’s neck and links his legs behind Minho’s back.
“Can we go kitchen? I want some of Felix’s cookies.” Jeongin giggles and Minho sighs, lightly jostling Jeongin in his arms before carrying him downstairs. Hyunjin gives him a weird look when they walk past, but Minho ignores him. They enter the kitchen and Minho sets Jeongin down on the kitchen counter, the younger unlinking his arms from around Minho’s neck. Minho goes to turn and walk away to get the younger his cookies, but Jeongin’s short-clad legs are still wrapped around him, and Minho feels his sanity slip a little bit at the realisation.
“Innie, you need to let go so I can get you the cookies.” Minho says and Jeongin does let go then, a huff leaving his lips. He mutters a small ‘be quick’ and Minho can only snort before gathering up a few cookies from the tub that lay on the kitchen table. He returns to Jeongin, who immediately latches onto Minho again, before feeding Jeongin the cookies, occasionally stealing a bite or two, the pair conversing quietly in between eating. Minho barely manages to suppress his shiver when Jeongin’s bare legs come in contact with the sliver of skin peeking out at Minho’s back from where his shirt had risen up, nor when the younger’s hand lace around his neck again, slipping under the thin material of his t-shirt, drawing delicate shapes there.
The two remain unaware of their six friends watching them.
*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*
IIII.
The following morning rolls around and Seungmin won’t stop staring at Jeongin.
“Why do you keep staring at me?” Jeongin sighs. It’s just the two of them in the living room, which he appreciates. Yesterday with Minho was heavy and he appreciates that the older has gone out today.
“Yesterday.” Is all Seungmin says and Jeongin huffs.
“What about it?” Jeongin snarks back and Seungmin rolls his eyes.
“You didn’t tell me, your best friend, that you and Minho got together!” Seungmin replies, pouting now and Jeongin sputters.
“We’re not that way! Yesterday was…was really weird.” Jeongin mutters and Seungmin stands up, crossing the space between them before settling next to Jeongin.
“You really should say something, Innie.” Seungmin says when Jeongin cuddles into his chest.
“I’m scared.” Jeongin mutters and Seungmin coos.
“I know you are, but the only solution is to say something.” Seungmin says and Jeongin huffs, pulling away from Seungmin.
“Yeah, maybe.” Jeongin whispers. The door opens and the pair turn to see Chan, Minho and Hyunjin finally back from their trip out. Seungmin and Jeongin stand up and go to help them out. However, a gasp from Hyunjin has them both stalling.
“What?” Jeongin groans.
“You’re under mistletoe!” Hyunjin says before turning to face Chan. “Channie, when did you put that up?” Chan just winks at him in response and Hyunjin giggles. Jeongin thinks he’s gonna be sick.
“Well, rules are rules.” Minho says and Jeongin feels his heart shatter. Why was Minho encouraging Jeongin to kiss Seungmin? Why was he encouraging Seungmin to kiss Jeongin when Seungmin was with Felix?
Seungmin huffs, mumbling a ‘stop thinking so loud’, before grabbing Jeongin’s face and kissing his cheek. Jeongin flushes at that, mentally screaming at himself for forgetting that mistletoe kisses don’t have to be on the lips.
“You’re not getting more than that, you’re not Felix.” Seungmin says, before finally leaving the doorframe to help the older boys with their stuff. Minho winks at Jeongin and Jeongin giggles before rushing to help him. All five of them manage to get upstairs with all their bags and just before Jeongin and Minho separate from Chan, Hyunjin and Seungmin, Seungmin coughs, muttering a small ‘whipped!’ in Jeongin’s direction.
Jeongin would’ve launched at Seungmin if it wasn’t for Minho grabbing his hand.
No, he didn’t flush red, and Seungmin didn’t laugh. Definitely.
*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*
IIIII.
Minho smiles as Jeongin rambles on about the drama he’d been watching recently. He wasn’t acknowledging any of the words the younger was saying, he was just staring at the way his eyes sparkled with excitement, and the way his hands fidgeted in joy, and the way his lips parted as he spoke. It takes Jeongin literally shaking him for Minho to realise the younger had been calling him for a while now.
“Minho!” Jeongin says as he shakes Minho’s shoulders and Minho blinks back into reality.
“Sorry, Innie.” Minho says and Jeongin huffs before pouting. The younger stands up and stretches, a sliver of his tummy showing between the end of his shirt (that Minho thinks might be Seungmin’s) and the waistband of his sweatpants. Minho doesn’t focus in on it, not at all.
“I’m hungry. Will you make me some food, Min?” Jeongin asks. His eyes are pleading, his lips jutted out into a pout once more, and whatever self-control Minho had left before (admittedly very little) leaves him.
“Sure, come on.” Minho stands up and adjusts himself before following after Jeongin to the kitchen. Jeongin enters first and Minho goes to walk through when Chan leaves the living room and goes to enter too. They have a little back and forth over who goes first until Felix comes downstairs and gasps.
“Chan! Minho! You’re under mistletoe.” Felix says and Minho can just make out Jeongin’s form tensing from where he stands in the kitchen. “You two have to kiss!” Felix continues, clapping his hands in excitement. Minho has assumed that Felix hasn’t seen Jeongin still standing, rather dejectedly, in the middle of the kitchen.
“Whatever.” Minho says, leaning up to leave a chaste peck on Chan’s cheek, before walking into the kitchen and back-hugging Jeongin. “What food do you want, Innie?” Jeongin hums in thought, giggling slightly when Minho starts to sway they entwined forms, before finally settling on an idea.
“How about ramyeon?” Jeongin asks and Minho nods, before pulling away to start making food. Once’s he set up the saucepans and bowls and everything, he gets to cooking. He isn’t expecting strong arms to wrap around his waist and squeeze him lightly before a head rests against his shoulder.
“Thank you for cooking for me, Min.” Jeongin mumbles. He sounds half-asleep still and it’s adorable.
“Anytime. Anything for you.” Minho whispers the last part, but he knows the younger heard him. Minho can feel Jeongin’s cheek move against his shoulder, and he hopes the younger is smiling at him.
“Anything for you too, Min.” Jeongin mutters and Minho feels a shiver trickle down his spine.
Minho and Jeongin stay lost in their world of cooking and hugging and talking in hushed whispers that they fail to realise Chan and Felix are still watching over them. The two Australians share a look and decide to find the rest of their friends.
They have an idea.
*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*
+I.
Jeongin sniffles. The drama he was watching had a really sad ending and he hadn’t been able to fight back the tears. He decides to turn his laptop off and go find his friends. Maybe they’ll help him feel better.
Jeongin makes his way downstairs and shuffles into the living room, only to find all seven of his friends there. Minho is sat in the armchair and Jeongin makes his way over to him, ignoring the rest of his friends. Minho smiles when he notices Jeongin approaching, moving along to make more space, before stopping when Jeongin decides to curl up in Minho’s lap like he’d done that one time when Chan was decorating.
Minho doesn’t protest when Jeongin climbs onto him and Jeongin appreciates it. The older links his hands behind Jeongin’s back and he places a gentle kiss on the top of Jeongin’s head before focusing back on Felix and Jisung who were currently playing a video game together. Jeongin sniffles then, and Minho shifts, coaxing Jeongin out of his neck.
“What’s wrong, Innie?” Minho asks, concern on his face as he takes in Jeongin’s damp lashes and teary eyes.
“Drama. Sad ending.” Is all Jeongin mutters and Minho coos at him, allowing the younger to bury his face back in Minho’s neck.
“It’s okay, Innie.” Minho whispers to him, one of his hands rubbing up and down his back. Jeongin pulls his face away again and sniffles a few times before looking at Minho.
“You promise?” He asks and Minho nods. The two don’t realise they have everyone’s focus on them until Seungmin stands in front of the chair, arm stretched above him, and coughs.
“Oh look. Mistletoe.” Seungmin says with a laugh and Jeongin feels his cheeks flush red. Minho snorts with laughter.
“You’re stupid, Seungmin.” Minho says and Jeongin feels like he’s about to be rejected when Minho cups his face and kisses him square on the lips. Jeongin makes a shocked noise in the back of his throat before kissing back. They pull away not long after and smile sweetly at each other until Minho leans down to whisper something in his ear that has Jeongin giggly before slipping off of Minho’s lap.
“Good luck Seungmin.” Jeongin says, watching as Seungmin’s eyes widen before he runs, dropping the mistletoe as Minho runs after him. The group in the living room hear a screech come from Seungmin before Minho walks back in, a smug look on his face. Seungmin trails in not long after him, rubbing at his sides, before slumping on the couch next to Changbin, who just laughs and coos at the younger boy.
“What did you do to him?” Jeongin whispers and Minho’s smirk softens into a smile.
“I pinched him in both sides at the same time.” Minho says and Jeongin snorts, laughter flowing out of him, completely unaware of the heart eyes Minho is giving him.
“Oh get a room!” Jisung groans from where he’s sat on the floor and Minho turns to him with a glare.
“If it weren’t for me and the mistletoe, you wouldn’t be with Changbin, so I suggest you shut it.” Minho says and Jisung gulps, eyes wide, before focusing back on the screen. He’s grumbling about Minho under his breath and Jeongin laughs again. Minho watches him again for a few more seconds.
“You’re so cute, Jeongin.” Minho whispers and Jeongin turns to face him, giving the older boy a gentle kiss.
“You’re cute too.” Jeongin responds and Minho smiles at him, kissing him once more.
“Get a room!” Changbin yells and Minho huffs.
“Shut it, brat.”