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Gi-hun is drunk. Not so drunk to be completely inebriated, but enough for the buzz to make him loose and still a competent host. His body is warm not only from the warmth of the house, and the heat of bodies, but from the alcohol swimming in his system.
Everyone is chatting, glasses of various different alcohols are accessories adorning their hands. Tinsel and garland hang delicately on the ceiling and walls. The Christmas tree stood tall and proud dressed in lights, ornaments, garland, tinsel, and ribbon. It wears red, green, and gold— its signature colors.
It's a delightful and cheery atmosphere. People chatting, singing, and laughing. If someone were to tell Gi-hun that he'd get his shit together, make friends, and host a Christmas party, Gi-hun would have laughed in their face, hut here he is: debt free, brand new house, friends, and hosting a party. Dae-ho busts out laughing with a loud shrill. Gi-hun takes a sip of his drink with a smile.
The only thing missing to make his Christmas better, would be his daughter, but they agreed to slowly build their relationship first before she comes back to visit for an extended stay. Baby steps, they both said. He'll do whatever he can to bring her next year for Christmas.
"Gi-hun-ah!" Jung-bae motions him over.
Gi-hun glances to where he last saw In-ho. He's talking with Ali and Yong-sik. Mirth in his eyes as he lifts his glass of whiskey to his lips.
Damn just as he was about to head over to his side and join the conversation. His heart is crushed, but he holds the ache in his chest and goes to be a good host.
"What happened?" He asks.
"You have more soju?" Jung-bae swings an arm over his shoulder.
"Pfft! Who do you take me for?" He opens his fridge.
"What! There wasn't any last I check!"
"A good host moves in silence," Gi-hun puts a finger to his lips.
Jung-bae pats his back and swipes a melon flavored soju.
Gi-hun shakes his head with a smile, but then sets his sights on In-ho. He's till talking to Ali and Yong-sik. He barely makes a few paces out of the kitchen when he notices a few empty glasses lining the island. He sighs but takes them to wash.
Hyun-ju squeals before laughter settles after. It's followed by the Ki-yong and Jun-ho’s laugh. Se-mi, Min-su, and No-uel are playfully arguing, but gi-hun can't make it out over the running water and Woo-seok, Geum-ja, Thanos, Gyeong-su, and Nam-gyu singing.
"Dear lord, I hope my neighbors don't complain," he chuckles as he puts the last cup to dry.
He walks out, and he's pulled into a conversation with the Ha-joon, Ji-yeong, and Gyeong-seok. They're chatter makes his heart flutter in his chest and their compliments on the party give him pride, fueling him with energy. He knows exactly what to do with this new found energy.
Gi-hun pulls Geum-ja to dance with him as Christmas music plays and Thanos freestyles a terrible rap over it. One by one, people start to join. Young-mi steals Geum-ja away from him, and his hand his taken by a familiar warmth.
He instantly blushes.
There, hand in his.
"In-ho!" He says breathlessly.
In-ho's smile makes Gi-hun’s legs jelly and his heart a nervous wreck; he takes his hand nonetheless. They dance a silly little jig. Slowly, the world closes around them. It only consists of just them. Looking into each others eyes, holding each others hands, laughing and giggling like children at a play ground.
Until he himself is stolen by someone else, breaking the moment.
"C'mon old man, sing it!" Thanos pushes a remote to his face.
Gi-hun looks up and asks for patience with a disbelieving smile as he pushes his disappointment from his short time with In-ho to the side.
He takes the remote from the younger man's hand and sings his heart out. Maybe a little off key, but he'll blame it on the alcohol. Thanos and Se-mi join in as back up singers and dancers. Everyone claps and dances along, albeit a little off beat with alcohol in their bodies. Especially in the younger adults.
Gi-hun's lips hurt from all the smiling, and his stomach hurt from all the laughing.
He excuses himself after the third song to go refill the snacks and warm up the leftover food. Drunk people weren't picky, so long as they can fill their stomach, anything edible would do just fine. His early twenties were proof of that.
He walks back into the living room to see the younger half of the group watching and cheering as Jun-ho and Nam-gyu wrestle on the carpet. He leaves them be with a tired and amused sigh as he walks to In-ho.
"You think they'll ever learn that Jun-ho will always win?" Gi-hun huffs.
"If it weren't for the fact that Nam-gyu's big crush on Thanos wasn't so obvious, I would have thought he had a crush on my brother and using this as a way to be pinned down by him," In-ho answers with a tired sigh, "I think he's just trying to get Thanos jealous."
"Ugh kids these days," Ha-joon joins in, "always with their round about ways and never outright telling their crushes their feelings. Even when the feelings are obviously reciprocated," he gives a weird pointed look to In-ho.
Gi-hun tilts his head in confusion.
Ha-joon pinches his nose. "Unbelievable. I can't believe— how— I need a drink," He ends blankly.
"You already have one," In-ho points out.
"I need something stronger," Ha-joon says in defeat.
"What's up with him?" Gi-hun asks.
"I don't know," In-ho mumbles into his drink, while looking away.
"Oh! Let me make sure I actually have something stronger left," Gi-hun gives In-ho a sad smile, "Sorry, but duty calls."
His smile falls, briefly replaced with a frown. He should have known it was going to be nearly impossible to spend time with In-ho if he was hosting the Christmas party. Be near his warmth, his smile, his softness that only he's witnessed. He can still feel the warmth of In-ho’s hand in his from earlier. How it wrapped around his hand like it belonged. How it guided him through their little dance, not once letting go until he was pulled away.
It was silly for him to think something would happen between them tonight with how busy he is.
Cheers from the younger generation force him to smile as he takes out his extra stash of harder liquor and serves Ha-joon.
Gyeong-seok and Geum-ja ask him to take a shot with him, so he does. It goes down smooth and warms him up. Geum-ja laughs and pats him on his chest, and she stumbles over herself. She's giggling like a schoolgirl.
"Oh we're gonna have to cut you off halmoni," Gi-hun laughs, steadying her.
"Gi-hun-ah, I haven't had this much since," she pauses, brows furrowed, concentrating, "I don't know!" She laughs and grabs his shoulder, eyes bright with mirth.
"I'll make sure she doesn't have anymore," Gyeong-seok takes her and leads her to watch the kids wrestling. This time it's Thanos and Dae-ho.
"AAAHHH! HE'S AN ANKLE BITER!" Dae-ho shrieks.
Gi-hun massages his temples while letting out a mix of a laugh and groan. The children will sort themselves out. As long as they don't break anything, he won't intervene. Though if they were to hear his thoughts, they'd try and drag him in for calling them kids.
He finds In-ho with Woo-seok and No-uel in the dinning room. He sits next to In-ho, who's chuckling at Woo-seok's animated talking. No-uel has her had on the table, shoulders shaking uncontrollably with giggles. When her head lifts, her cheeks are dark with a red flush and a wide smile on her lips.
His attention was on In-ho when In-ho knocks his knee with his.
"Looks like everyone is gonna be spending the night," In-ho looks at him with a small smile.
"Oh, I've got that covered," Gi-hun waves a dismissive hand.
"Oh?"
"Please you think you I'm gonna keep all these drunks here and deal with possible vomit? No thank you, I'm a good host not a benevolent host."
Woo-seok says something probably stupid that makes the girl bark out in laughter. Gi-hun doesn't care. He's too focused on In-ho's flushing cheeks. From the whiskey, he tells himself.
"No, I'm calling cabs for everyone."
"Is that so," In-ho mumbles looking almost dejected.
It pulls something in Gi-hun just seeing him like that. It's a shot in the dark, but he hopes it helps bring back a smile on In-ho's face.
"Not you, of course. I wouldn't mind you staying the night. Making sure you're okay until morning," his heart is pounding. It's such a bold move, but maybe, just maybe. Gi-hun locks eyes with In-ho.
"And you say you're not a benevolent host."
"I'm not."
There's muffled screams and announcements of another wrestling match in the other room. Soon they fade into nothing and it's just them again.
His eyes glance down to In-ho's lips without his permission.
In-ho's do the same.
Heat spreads across his cheeks.
"Woo-seok! Shut up! I'm gonna piss myself!" No-uel cackles.
"Then go piss girl!" He shouts back hysterically.
Gi-hun and In-ho pull away. Gi-hun didn't realize they were leaning into each other. He doesn't dare look at the other man, too embarrassed to meet eyes.
The other two go back and forth, oblivious to them. Those two are a pair of hyenas.
Gi-hun sighs and stands up.
"Please, if you're gonna piss yourself laughing, do so at the very least in my bathroom!"
"Then tell the motherfucker to shut up!" No-uel cries out.
Woo-seok tries to rebuttal but all he does is wheeze, falling to the floor.
"In-ho, can you do me a favor and call one of the girls to help her to the bathroom," Gi-hun lifts No-uel back to her seat.
Disbelief and laughter replace his disappointment as he too starts to crack with the other man's antics. Young-mi comes to help No-uel but without In-ho. He fights back a frown with a grateful smile. He drags Woo-seok to where everyone is at so he's not left to his own devices.
The state of thing is… undesirable, but at least no one threw up, and there's nothing broken.
He should probably start calling some cabs.
Sang-woo calls him over. The work of a host is never done.
"You enjoying yourself?" Gi-hun asks, "or am I— as the younger ones say—" he looks towards the younger adults, "gonna get canceled for throwing the worst party ever?"
Sang-woo rolls his eyes, but a small smile betrays him along with a huff of amusement.
"No, you're throwing a killer party," Sae-byeok steps in.
"I think the better question, Hyung is are you enjoying yourself?" Sang-woo asks.
Gi-hun laughs a little, "Well of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
Sang-woo and Sae-byeok share a look.
"What?"
"Nothing, just. You look overwhelmed," Sae-byeok says.
"Ah, that. I think I underestimated how much work it takes to host a party."
"We can take over from here, start sending everyone home and clean up." Sae-byeok offers.
"No, I can't ask you to—"
"We're offering, go out in the back. Jung-bae started a fire for you in the patio," Sang-woo gestures to the back door.
"I even took out some extra blankets and pillows for you," Sae-byeok adds.
Tears well up in Gi-hun's eyes, exhaustion finally making itself known, and the buzz hits harder. He can't believe he has such good friends. He nodded, silently giving them a grateful smile before getting a sweater and heading out back.
He gasps. There were small bulbs lining his porch. Those weren't there before. They were cozy and warm, adding to the relaxing ambiance the fire gives off. He didn't decorate it at, but it seemed his closest friends did this just for him for the end of the night. It isn't as extravagant as in his home, but it's enough to show that they tried. It's neat, some parts sloppy, others practical in their placement. Gi-hun sits on his outdoor couch, nestling in the blankets, warmed by the heat of the fire.
On top of the already picturesque set up, it's snowing— small flakes drifting down to the ground. It's cold out but the fire and blankets fight it off.
He sighs. Yeah, he's definitely tired. His friends are a godsend. They thought of everything, even having fire wood at arms reach to toss into the fire. They'll probably join him when everyone is gone and his home is decently clean. He tilts his head back, closing his eyes, slowly letting the fatigue settle in his bones and letting the fire help him melt into the couch.
"Gi-hun?"
His eyes snap open. That familiar voice he knew all too well. The deep and gentle timber of tenor.
The door clicks shut.
"In-ho?"
Gi-hun looks over. He's holding a mug.
"Um, Ki-yong was sent by Jung-bae to give you this, but um, he said he's to be pretty to be in the cold, so he forced me to do it." In-ho hands him the mug. It's warm in Gi-hun's hands. It's hot chocolate.
In-ho awkwardly straightens up and looks everywhere but at him, mumbles something that sounds closely like a good night, and he turns.
"In-ho, wait!" He shoots his hand out and grabs In-ho’s wrist. The man turns. "Stay? Keep me company? Please?"
In-ho tenses, and licks his lips. "You sure?"
He can't stand the thought of In-ho leaving. His heart aches from the image of being alone. It's and easy choice "One-hundred percent," he lifts the blanket and In-ho sits next to him then covers his lap.
To his disappointment, In-ho leaves some space in between them. Oh well, better than sitting on the other end. Still he's close enough to feel his heat. Gi-hun nips his drink as they sit in silence. It's sweet, just the way he likes it. They watch the fire crackle and pop, dancing on top of logs like ballerinas performing the climax of their performance.
It's nice. This quiet between them. The warmth of the fire and each other. The lights his friends most likely got for him as a Christmas gift. He closes his eyes to take it all in. Then he giggles.
"Too pretty?" He turns his head.
"Yeah," In-ho chuckles.
"Sounds like him. He's so full of himself. Oh my god." Gi-hun laughs.
"Oh absolutely. You're obviously prettier."
Gi-hun freezes, and apparently so does In-ho.
Gi-hun blushes. He knows it's not from the alcohol and not from the fire. He doesn't know what to do with this information. He doesn't call him out on it. Doesn't even want to acknowledge the way it makes him feel, but he doesn't know how to move on from this.
"Thank you," he mumbles quietly, not daring to look at In-ho.
In-ho offers a quiet you're welcome. And it's back to silence, an uncomfortable one. He doesn't drink is hot chocolate, too full from everything to fit anymore of it.
"I love my friends, but I think they forgot I have a belly full food and alcohol," he chooses that to break their awkward silence. "Kind gesture, but I don't think it'll mix well."
"I thought the same, but who am I to stop a kind gesture."
"It's serving more as hand warmer than a drink."
In-ho gives an amused noncommittal hum.
They're back in their comfortable silence. In-ho stretches his arms and then rests it on the back rest. Gi-hun grips his mug tighter trying not to think about the heat behind him. About the thick strong arms hidden beneath the wool sleeve. Thick muscles he's seen during the spring and summer. He tries his best not to imagine them wrapping around him in a warm embrace.
He shuts his eyes, takes off his outdoor slippers and brings his feet up under the blanket.
"You did a good job today. Food was good, drinks were good, decorations were pretty."
The praise strikes his heart, makes his blush burn and spread up his ears. And then their bodies touch. Gi-hun doesn't how or when they moved closer, but somehow they did, pulled together by some invisible pulse. He tries not to lean into him, into the warmth, into the comfort of the man he's been embarrassingly crushing on for the past year.
His mug loses its warmth. He places it down on the floor. When Gi-hun sits back up, he can feel In-ho staring at him. He'd never admit it out loud, but as much as it unnerves him, he actually quite likes it. He may stare at him like he's peeling layers off, figuring and learning things about him, but it's that quiet understanding, the need to know him is what he appreciates. Because what took years of friendship with Jung-bae and Sang-woo and Sae-byeok to learn about him, In-ho has learned from just a year of knowing him. Of quiet observations, and discrete confirmations.
It may be intense at times, but Gi-hun likes it. Likes being the center of attention of someone so observant and caring. Likes the small furrowed eye brows when Gi-hun decides to be a walking contradiction, the confusion in his face that settles when Gi-hun is so set in his ways. Likes the way his eyes soften when Gi-hun does something silly.
He takes a deep breath. This is what he's been waiting for, right? A moment alone with him on Christmas night to confess his feelings. Except when he faces In-ho, all his valor disappears in an instant.
In-ho is somehow closer than before. It steals his breath away. He can smell In-ho’s cologne, the cologne Gi-hun got a sample of to spray on his pillow after going with him to buy another bottle. He can see the smile lines and crow feet, so much clearer this close up.
"You should rest a bit. You look a little stress," In-ho says, "tired even."
"No, I think I'm fine." Gi-hun's eyes flicker to In-ho’s lips for a second time that night.
"I'll keep watch of the fire, feed it, wake you up later," In-ho's eyes do the same.
He doesn't know if he leans in or in In-ho leans in, but their inches apart now. In-ho’s breath is hot on his lips. His nerves start jittering from the closeness.
"Whoa there's a fire out here!" Dae-ho explodes through the door. "Why didn't no one tell me? Oh hey!"
The two separate immediately.
"Dae-ho! They're almost here for you, get back!" Jung-bae shouts from the inside.
"Oh shit, there's a mistletoe. You two gotta kiss!" The young man hiccups then giggles.
In-ho and Gi-hun look up at the same time, and just like he said, there's a mistletoe hanging right above them.
"Dae-ho!" Jung-bae shouts again.
He whines but goes in reluctantly, tripping over himself before passing through the threshold.
They look back at each other and then look away.
"You put that there?"
"No, Sae, probably." Gi-hu answers.
"Well, guess we gotta follow Christmas traditions," In-ho says almost shyly.
Gi-hun turns back to him.
"Yeah, tradition," He strains out, throat is dry
"Hey don't make it sound like it's the worse thing in the world," In-ho chuckles
Gi-hun looks away. "No it's— I —"
In-ho gently places his fingers under Gi-hun's chin and makes him turn his head.
"I'm playing, now just a peck, right? Still considered a kiss."
Gi-hun doesn’t trust his voice, so he nods.
In-ho goes in for the kiss. It's small, short, simple, sweet, but it sends an electric shock down Gi-hun's spine. In-ho pulls away, eyes half lidded and dazed.
Gi-hun goes back in for another kiss and In-ho deepens it. This time longer, more than just a peck, than a soft press of lips. They pull away again and suddenly they're back.
In-ho runs his tongue across Gi-hun's bottom lip, and Gi-hun is all but happy to grant him access. In-ho taste like whiskey, and for once Gi-hun can finally taste the subtle notes of vanilla and caramel that In-ho says it has.
It's a slow and sweet kiss, as they explore each others mouths. Gi-hun melts into it, into In-ho. His body moving closer to In-ho, and an arm wraps around his waist. He sighs into the kiss before deepening it, trying to tell In-ho his feelings through it. All the love, all the yearning from the past year. And In-ho does the same as his hold on him tightens like he's afraid Gi-hun will disappear.
Gi-hun is soaring from this. He's on cloud nine. In-ho's lips feel like heaven.
They pull away panting lightly. In-ho's hand is warm and soft on his cheek as he presses their foreheads together.
The warm lights soften his features, eyes glistening with adoration and maybe a look of love? Gi-hun knows now. He has to confess. Now or never. He takes a deep breath, and loving the way In-ho’s cologne fills his lungs.
"I love you," In-ho whispers like it's a secret.
Gi-hun freezes. Disbelief, and happiness, and confusion, and relief rush him, each emotion battling for dominance. He huffs out a laugh.
"What?" Disbelief wins this round but with the smile on his lips, happiness is a close second.
"I love you Seong Gi-hun," he repeats then tilts his head. "Does it bother you?"
Gi-hun huffs out another laugh, quieter this time, softer and shakes his head. "No, it's fine."
There's a pause between them.
"I love you, too," Gi-hun finally says.
Tears sting the corners of his eyes. Finally, he said it. In-ho feels the same. Tears fall, and In-ho wastes no time kissing each one of them away. Gi-hun pulls back to look at In-ho. He's crying to.
"Since when?" Gi-hun asks weakly.
"Since the moment I laid my eyes on you. Well," In-ho chuckles, "subconsciously at least, I was too stupid to realize that I was in love until two months later. You?"
Gi-hun wipes In-ho's tears away.
"Same here, except I wasn't stupid. I've consciously known from the beginning."
In-ho pulls away with mock offense, "Hey, to be fair, I didn’t know I like men in that way, too."
"Hmm, you're right. I've always known I liked men," he kisses the tip of In-ho's nose, "especially you," he kisses his nose again.
In-ho pulls Gi-hun to sit across his lap. Gi-hun squeaks and giggles, wrapping his arms around In-ho's neck. He leans his head in the crock of In-ho’s neck.
"So what does this make us?" Gi-hun asks.
"Boyfriends I hope."
"Pfft! You haven't even asked me, Mr. I-confessed-first. Tch you beat me to it too. I was gonna do it," Gi-hun grumbles the last bit.
In-ho makes Gi-hun sit up to face him. "Well, Gi-hun, will you give me the honor of being your boyfriend?"
"Of course In-ho." Gi-hun smiles.
The grin on In-ho's face is wide and ridiculous, like he’s just won the lottery. Gi-hun can't help but pull him in for another kiss.
They sit in the warmth of the fire, watching the snow drift slowly down, but it doesn’t last. Gi-hun's phone rings.
It's Sae-byeok. He sighs and answers.
"Merry Christmas!" It's not just her it's a group of voices that sound suspiciously like his and In-ho's closest friends. He turns on the speaker.
"You like our gift?" Jung-bae asks.
Gi-hun looks at the lights, "Yeah they're really cute, I've been really wanting to buy them."
"What?" Some say simultaneously.
"The lights."
"No, my best friend, In-ho!" Ki-yong whines.
"You guys finally an item now?" Sang-woo asks.
"God you guys were insufferable to watch," Ha-joon groans
"I planned it all! They just helped." Sae-byeok said smugly.
"Anyway, Gi-hun, In-ho, our gift to you, and partially for us. Were each other!" Ki-yong laughs
"Lets leave the love birds alone" Sang-woo yawns.
"Wait, what if they haven't confessed yet?" Jung-bae brings up.
"You didn't hear Dae-ho point out the mistletoe toe? People all the way in America heard him, they definitely confessed," Ha-joon points out.
"No-uel forgot the script and got too drunk, that why she's not here In-ho, but she was a part of this whole plan too." Ki-yong mentions.
Gi-hun and In-ho look at each other then bust out laughing, their closest friends were having a whole conversation without their input.
The line goes quiet.
"Thank you," Gi-hun says followed by In-ho.
"You're welcome!" They all groan.
"It was a fucking headache to watch you two dance around your feelings," Ha-joon says.
"Anyway, bye!" Sae-byeok hangs up
"Were we that obvious?" In-ho asks
"Apparently," Gi-hun laughs, "to everyone but each other," he sighs, "Let's head inside? I'm actually really tired."
"Of course, come on."
They head inside. Everyone is gone and his house doesn't look too wrecked. "Oh thank god," he whispers to himself.
Gi-hun gives In-ho a change of clothes before crawling into bed, exhaustion weighing all of his movements down. He collapses and In-ho pulls him into his chest, legs naturally tangling together. He places a kiss on the back of Gi-hun’s neck and mumbles a goodnight before soft snores take over.
Gi-hun smiles. The man was far more tired than he led on. He snuggles closer as he closes his eyes whispering a good night and merry Christmas.