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As usual, Soobin returned home late, the weariness of the workday etched on his face. His routine after work was a well-defined one – a few moments standing by the door, taking deep breaths in an effort to leave the day's stress behind. Aware of Taehyun's tendency to worry, Soobin always tried to avoid giving him reasons for it, even when he knew the younger could read him like a children's book.
After his little ritual, Soobin enters the cozy warmth of their home, greeted by the comforting scent of pine and the soft glow of fairy lights. His eyes light up as he sees his boyfriend surrounded by boxes of ornaments and a partially assembled Christmas tree. He looks confused in the cutest way, trying to figure out how to tie the decorative ribbons.
“Hey,” Soobin greeted, his voice tinged with tiredness but filled with affection.
“Binnie!” Taehyun raised his head, finally noticing his boyfriend at the door. “You're early! It was supposed to be a surprise,” the boy pouted, causing Soobin's heart to skip a beat.
“Don’t you want my help, baby?” Soobin smiled, hanging his bag by the door as he approached his boyfriend.
“It was supposed to be all ready and pretty when you arrived, but I don't have a lot of experience with Christmas trees,” Taehyun blushed, a bit embarrassed by the state of their tree.
“Don't worry, I've got something even prettier right here.” With a smile, Soobin enlaced Taehyun's waist with his arms, earning himself a playful slap. “Did you buy all this stuff?”
“I’ve been saving up… I think we deserve our first Christmas tree”
Soobin felt like crying. Growing up in foster care, neither he nor Taehyun had experienced a genuine Christmas. The closest they came to a Christmas tree was a small plastic one in one of their foster homes. The realization hit Soobin like a truck when he thought about the boy currently in his arms, saving up for months, only to buy them their first Christmas tree for their first real home.
“That's amazing, Tyun. I love it,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on Taehyun's temple.
“Well, now that you’re here…” Taehyun untangled himself from Soobin’s strong grip and looked up at him, “Wanna help me?”
Soobin smiled. “Sure.”
For a while, a comfortable silence enveloped them as they meticulously adorned their Christmas tree, basking in each other’s presence. Despite the chill outside, the room radiated warmth, a cocoon of coziness that wrapped around them like a familiar embrace. Soobin found solace in the rhythmic routine of decorating, each ornament a tiny celebration of the life they were building together.
Unexpectedly, Taehyun broke the quietude with a soft, “Hey,” drawing Soobin's attention. In his hands, he held a petite snowman ornament. A fond smile played on Taehyun's lips as he reminisced, “Remember when we used to build snowmen together? Almost every winter in a new home, each snowman decorated differently.”
Soobin nodded, his response tinged with a subtle melancholy.
“I do,” Soobin affirmed, his gaze momentarily distant. Taehyun, as he always did when it came to Soobin, immediately noticed the shift.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Taehyun inquired gently, setting the snowman ornament aside for a moment.
Soobin sighed, his breath carrying a weight of unspoken sentiments. “It's just… I wish you didn't have to grow up like that.”
It was quintessentially Soobin, Taehyun mused silently. They both grew up in foster care, hopping from one home to another, some more unbearable than others. Reflecting on their past, Taehyun knew he hadn't experienced the worst of it, thanks to Soobin's unwavering presence. Soobin had shielded him from the cruelties of older kids and the negligence of supposed caregivers. Yet, despite enduring much worse, Soobin's concerns always centered around Taehyun, even now.
Taehyun drew nearer, cradling Soobin's face in his hands, prompting him to lower his gaze. “If we had grown up differently, we might never have met. That counts for something, right?”
Soobin's gaze softened, and a small, appreciative smile graced his lips. “Everything,” he murmured, lightly tracing Taehyun's hand.
“Besides,” the younger continued, “this isn't my first real home. You are. No matter how many places we've moved to, I've always felt at home because you were there.”
Soobin's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he just kept looking at the boy in front of him. Eventually, he pulled Taehyun into a tight embrace, taking his time inhaling the sweet scent of his strawberry shampoo. He could feel Taehyun’s small hands fisting the fabric of his sweater as he rested his cheek against Soobin’s chest.
“I love you so much” he mumbled, trying not to get too emotional.
“I love you, too, hyung” Taehyun whispered back. “Thanks for being my home.”