Work Text:
"I can't believe we're going to have our the busiest Christmas ever this year."
Wonbin is sorting through the elves' hats, forming a whole stack of green hats in the manner of a Christmas tree, standing half-dressed in a Santa suit, and his baggy red pants slipping down every now and then without a strong belt. Wonbin clearly wasn't planning on flashing his Pikachu underwear in front of the whole world in the person of Eunseok, who is actually an immediate accomplice in the Christmas adventures. At least the Spiderman print would look much cooler in case of an unplanned striptease.
"Not our, but your." Eunseok lazily declares, not wanting to be distracted from his new mobile game. "I'm thinking of cancelling my work before the holiday, so you'll be the one sweating in a fur coat."
Wonbin stared at Eunseok in disbelief, hoping in vain that his intense gaze would burn a hole through the wayward neighbour in whose room Wonbin spent most of his time. But Eunseok was too busy trying to catch the falling eggs with a basket, which the evil bunny character was actively knocking off the shelves. The game was as stupid as the person who recommended it to Eunseok—namely, Sungchan, who said that the cat and bunny characters were too similar to Eunseok and Wonbin. Shotaro supported this opinion, sitting at the top of the leaderboard with his round-the-clock marathon of using a phone, which Eunseok, due to his competitive nature, was not going to put up with so easily. For this, he gave up daily streaming in League of Legends, and that is already a pretty big sacrifice in favour of a game with falling eggs. Wonbin just rolls his eyes at this every time, almost forcing Eunseok to go to classes and work part-time at corporate events.
"What a statement." Wonbin kicked the impromptu tower of hats, getting tangled up in the festive tinsel that Chenle had scattered all over the dorm a month before Christmas, and Eunseok still hadn't bothered to clean his room. "Then who's going to carry the huge bag of gifts and tell poems?"
Eunseok took a deep breath, closing his reddened eyes for a moment. The capillaries threatened to burst and begged for a long rest, preferably in the form of sleep, but Eunseok was determined to become a champion in the game before the new year. He placed the phone on his stomach, flexing his numb fingers, and stretched his long legs out on the bed with a groan. The shirt has ridden up a bit, revealing the part of his torso that was proudly called a six-pack just a month ago, until Eunseok's full attention switched to the game.
"Okay, I'll help with the bag, but the poems, actually, are supposed to be told to us by kids—we shouldn't just give them gifts."
Wonbin snorts, adjusting the pompom on Santa's red hat, and tries not to look at the relaxed Eunseok. The temptation to collapse on the bed next to him and hug him tightly, burying his face in his shoulder, was too great, considering that Wonbin has had a crush on Eunseok since Christmas three years ago. After all, it was thanks to the student corporate party with festive costumes that they became closer than just classmates. Wonbin then, in the most incredible way, ended up on Santa Eunseok's lap, dressed as an elf who was eliminated from the crowd of pointy-eared magical creatures in a game of "push-pull," and from then on, they began working together as Santas at children's parties. The little viewers liked the fact that there were two magical Santas in front of them, who entertained twice as interestingly and cheerfully. Most often, they played out small performances, which is why they became a popular tandem for the holidays. Christmas this year was not going to be an exception.
"Eunseok-hyung, it seems that you missed the moment when the generation of children changed, and now they read rap instead of Shakespeare. And this is not "Christmas Stories" by Dickens. Besides, there will be very young kids at one of the corporate parties; they do not even go to school yet. What kind of poems can you expect from them?"
"Hmm, maybe you are right," Eunseok answers, opening one eye. At that moment, Wonbin's wide pants slipped down once again while he was bending over to untangle a tinsel, and Eunseok managed to count three Pokémon on his underwear. "But this time, you need suits that fit; otherwise, you'll lose your magical attributes right next to the Christmas tree. Or we can use your pants instead of a gift bag."
Wonbin quickly stood up and turned around, seeing what Eunseok was focusing on, and let out an awkward yelp. His cheeks turned red from embarrassment, matching his suit, and, wrapping a long fake beard around himself as a belt, he threw a Santa hat at Eunseok and hurried out of the room.
"I'll see you tomorrow before the corporate party!"
"Okay, okay, just don't forget to give me my beard back!" Eunseok giggled as he watched Wonbin comically move towards the exit, still unable to completely disentangle himself from the tinsel and walking in a very funny manner, imitating the light hops of a bunny.
"He really does look like the bunny from that egg game," Eunseok thought as he reached for the outlet to charge his phone. "I wonder what Wonbin would look like in that costume with the cute tail?"
🎄🎄🎄
Shotaro watches sceptically as Wonbin paces back and forth in the dorm hall, trying to exceed the daily norm of steps while waiting for Eunseok. There's still an hour before the children's corporate party starts, and before that, they managed to congratulate all the university management and students three times since the morning of the pre-holiday. Arriving at the dorm, Eunseok immediately went to the cafeteria, feeling pretty hungry, although some of the first-year girls tried to treat him with lollipops. Wonbin looked at these attempts with an angry look—he knows that Eunseok hasn't had a relationship for a couple of years and doesn't try to flirt with everyone in a row, being an outspoken introvert, but the seed of jealousy still grew in his heart with each day in which Eunseok is unaware of Wonbin's feelings for him.
"Don't worry, your magic sleigh will arrive on time. Too bad one of the reindeer is already out of action."
"Huh?"
Wonbin turned away from his focused marathon to look at Shotaro.
"I'm saying that Sungchan has already had his celebratory grapefruit beer and won't be able to take you and Eunseok to the party. But the taxi will be here soon, and Chenle asked to come with you; he's got a second cousin coming to the party, so do not turn away from the fun."
"I hope he doesn't look too much like Chenle and doesn't tie us to the tree with garland."
Eunseok's voice in the hall felt as fresh as the grass on an alpine meadow—just like Eunseok himself after taking a shower. He slowly walks towards the couch where Shotaro is sitting, waving his phone with the game on it, and Eunseok chuckles, adjusting the bag over his shoulder. Wonbin stares at him, not noticing that he's biting his lower lip. He's always amazed at how Eunseok manages to look so adorable in the same outfit, and it's a shame that behind the moustache and long beard hides the most handsome face, in Wonbin's humble opinion.
"I want to see it," Shotaro grins, looking from Eunseok to Wonbin. "You could light up brighter than any Christmas tree toys."
"If I can record it on video, you can watch it," shouted Chenle, who was running past, dressed in an elven Cupid costume. "The taxi is already here, by the way; load up the body bags, grandpas!"
Eunseok and Wonbin looked at each other in disbelief. The level of Chenle's jokes was not always clear, but Shotaro laughed, mentally giving him an "A" for his sparkling humour.
"Come on, come on, a couple of red noses; don't forget to come back before midnight."
"What are you going to do, set records in the game again?" Eunseok asked, tying the bag of gifts tighter while Wonbin adjusted his fake beard.
"Well, first this, and then Sungchan's hockey teammates will come, and we'll all go skating together."
Wonbin finished tidying himself up and walked over to Eunseok. Standing on his tiptoes, Wonbin adjusted Eunseok's hastily pulled-down hat, revealing a view of his tousled bangs. Eunseok muttered something gratefully, and he and Wonbin headed towards the dorm exit.
"Don't forget to kiss under the mistletoe, lovebirds!" shouted Shotaro after them, and, smiling contentedly, he opened a group chat called "Operation Double Santa," intending to arrange the events of the evening so that Eunseok and Wonbin could finally find each other on the most magical evening of the year.
🎄🎄🎄
"Come on, just one poem. Well, for Santa."
"Nope."
Wonbin watched the capricious child tiredly, squatting down, while Eunseok danced around the Christmas tree for the fifth circle with a crowd of active children.
"And for the other Santa?" Wonbin nodded towards Eunseok, giving in to the picky child. He was already beginning to think that this particular child with Sohee's sign on his collar was Chenle's relative, and they had a family talent for testing the nerves of those around them.
"Why Santa? I don't want Santa! Two Santas and no Rudolph!"
"Yeah! We don't want Santa; let's have Rudolph!"
The second child, with the nameplate Anton, who had been looking quiet and calm all this time, joined in the demand to see the deer, and Wonbin looked around in confusion, realising that the other children had listened and scattered from the circle to surround Wonbin instead of the Christmas tree. Eunseok came to the rescue, leading Wonbin aside while the children looked at the gifts they had received and threw confetti.
"We don't have reindeer costumes," Wonbin shook excitedly after squatting for a long time to be at the same height as the children.
"And we didn't even bring Sungchan with us," Eunseok sighed in disappointment, still holding Wonbin's elbow for support. "He's the one with the horns."
Wonbin smiled, removing the small Christmas tree ball from Eunseok's beard. His thoughts kept returning to the moment when Eunseok offered him the role of a second Santa, announcing the birth of their tandem partnership, and for the first time since childhood, Wonbin felt a moment of Christmas magic.
"We'll have to improvise. Take off your beard, Santa. Our noses, of course, are not particularly red..."
"But we have headbands with reindeer antlers on the Christmas tree."
Somehow transforming himself into the likeness of Rudolph, Wonbin asked the kids if they were now happy with the double presence of fairy-tale reindeer.
"My older brother told me that reindeers kiss with their noses."
Wonbin had no doubt that it was baby Sohee who said this, with that same older brother Chenle hanging around him, whispering something sarcastically to him.
Eunseok smiled awkwardly, putting his fingers up to his face like a big deer nose, and Wonbin followed suit. It didn't look like a deer nose, but they still had antlers in their hair and ten minutes left in the party.
"Much better," baby Anton approved, clapping his hands. "Now it's time to kiss-kiss!"
The kids hooted happily, anticipating the funny sight, while Wonbin quietly sought Eunseok's approval: "Well, only with noses, right?"
It turned out not only funny but also incredibly awkward, accidentally bumping pinkies while glaring at each other. The noise around them turned into a vacuum, and the clicks of the camera were lost in the rapid beating of their hearts.
🎄🎄🎄
The taxi to the dorm was rushing at a speed that would make any reindeer and sleigh jealous. Wonbin was thoughtfully looking out the window at the rare snowflakes flying past, and Eunseok was secretly looking at his handsome profile. Something truly magical was about to happen at this Christmas time, giving birth to a new star in the universe.
After getting rid of his red fur coat, Wonbin looked into Eunseok's room to give him a Christmas present. Wonbin is not one to give just a bunch of sweets—each of his gifts is always useful and pleasant. This time, knowing how much Eunseok loves mobile games, he bought a powerful power bank for him so that Eunseok would not have to look everywhere for an outlet with a charger. The neatly wrapped box was in the pocket of the wide pants from the Santa suit, but Wonbin had thoughtfully tied the laces on the waistband so that they wouldn't slip down again.
"May I?"
Wonbin peeked into Eunseok's room, as always forgetting to knock, hoping that the neighbour was awake.
"Sure, come in."
Eunseok had just finished changing clothes and was putting his Santa suit in the closet. The room was lit up with colourful fairy lights hanging on the window, and the atmosphere was very cosy and relaxed for getting ready for bed.
"This is for you. Merry Christmas, Eunseok-hyung. Thank you for making every new year brighter."
Wonbin held out the box, coming closer to Eunseok. His eyes were sparkling with lights, and an exciting current was pulsing through his veins.
"Thank you. I've got a present for you too. Here," Eunseok pulled out a large package from his bag, handing it to Wonbin with a big smile. "Merry Christmas, Wonbini."
"Oh... This is a really big present... Thank you." Wonbin pulled Eunseok closer, hugging him tightly for a moment. "Is this a blanket?"
Eunseok smiled mischievously, sitting down on the bed.
"Well, almost. It suits you perfectly."
Wonbin excitedly unwrapped the present, finding a bunny kigurumi.
"Oh, so I'm going to be a bunny next holiday instead of Santa? That's interesting."
"You can change your clothes now if you're not embarrassed by your Pikachu underwear."
Eunseok winked, helping Wonbin straighten his pyjamas to the full length.
"Actually, I go with Spiderman for festive occasions." Wonbin blushed, intending to run out of Eunseok's room to catch his breath and change clothes properly, but Eunseok stopped him by pulling his arm towards him.
"This way I can take them off and keep them for me," Eunseok jokingly stated, wrapping his arms around Wonbin's waist. "Anyway, you have nothing to be shy about, my little bunny."
Wonbin awkwardly stared at Eunseok, placing his hands on his shoulders.
"You..."
"Yeah. I know everything. I've liked you for a long time too, Wonbin, and every Christmas is truly the most magical for me because we spend it together. And tonight, with this deer nose kiss, was special."
"Shotaro has a boneless tongue," Wonbin muttered softly, feeling Eunseok's hot breath on his collarbones.
"Well, our friends turned out to be a little smarter than us."
Eunseok slowly reached for Wonbin's lips and, meeting no resistance, deepened the kiss. Wonbin pressed himself tighter into Eunseok's embrace, enjoying the tenderness of his touch.
And this Christmas another magic happened.