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Taehyung had always had an affinity for winter. Despite its chilling temperatures that froze the tips of his ears and left his hands numb year after year, the season beared a stronger, more compelling warmth, one that reached past his skin and cozied up to his heart. All at once, he was surrounded by things that brought an indescribable joy: christmas lights strung everywhere, the scent of peppermint wafting through shops, cheery carols on repeat, and his friends and family in his life more than usual. Just about everyone was in a brighter mood during the last month of the year, the approaching holidays spiking everyone’s desire to do some good in the world by volunteering more, donating more, and giving more.
It was a beautiful time of the year—perhaps the most beautiful time of the year in regard to both aesthetics and ambience—and with snow in the picture, it was a breathtaking, sparkling wonderland, which was why Taehyung was currently pouting about nature shutting him out.
Or, to be more accurate, shutting him in.
“This storm looks like it’s brewing to be Korea’s heaviest snowfall in the past decade. We advise viewers at home to remain indoors and avoid driving, especially on highways. The city has just dispatched soldiers to help those currently stuck in the blizzard, so those at home who are worried should not venture out—”
“This sucks,” declared Taehyung over the female voice coming from the television, his body pressed up against frigid glass and his eyes glued to the flurry of white swirling outside the window. “First snow of the whole season, and here I am, not making snow angels or annihilating everyone in a snowball fight.”
From his spot in front of the television, the other man in the room hummed absentmindedly, just half-listening, and Taehyung tore his gaze away from the white blanket that had settled across the city to glance at him.
The only sight in the world that was as striking or scenic as falling snow, in Taehyung’s humble opinion, was Seokjin.
The light from the television was currently dancing across his face, making his skin glow against the dark hair that fell across his forehead, and his lips were parted as he watched traffic updates flash across the screen in rapt silence. In a way, he looked almost ethereal or godly, which sounded insane to Taehyung because the man was literally just sitting on the couch in Taehyung’s dingy apartment, but after years of being around him, Taehyung had come to realize that that was just Seokjin’s impact; he was simply mesmerizing.
Taehyung took a deep breath, trying to fight the onslaught of emotions he could feel bubbling to the surface. Not today, he told his heart, though his heart paid him no heed.
“Hyung, have you called the others yet?” Taehyung pried himself away from the window to settle beside Seokjin, which he immediately decided was a bad idea because it prompted Seokjin’s gaze to drift to him and then Taehyung’s lungs swiftly stopped working.
“No, I haven’t,” breathed Seokjin, stricken. “I hope they hadn’t been on their way here when the storm hit.” He rushed out the living room, presumably to find his phone. “I’ll be right back.”
As the elder disappeared into the hallway, Taehyung finally inhaled, slumping down in his seat as he turned off the television, needing silence.
He’s too handsome, Taehyung bemoaned, pouting to himself. Why must my life be so difficult?
Really, why did he have to be suffering like this right now? He’d been doing so well concealing his feelings, too, ever since he’d realized the extent of them a few months ago; he usually just stuffed them deep into the recesses of his mind and pretended like they weren’t there, which was actually surprisingly easy, especially when other people were around. Other people had really played a vital role in his ability to cope with his feelings; not only did they provide a distraction, but he’d also been able to confide in them. Though it wasn’t actually as much confiding as it was getting nagged (thanks, Jimin), if he hadn’t had an outlet, he could say with certainty that he wouldn’t have been so successful with burying his feelings.
In moments like these though, when it came down to just him and Seokjin, he had nowhere to hide. The elder had arrived a few hours earlier—just so he could help Taehyung prepare a meal for their other friends, the angel —and as they made dinner, it had taken every ounce of self-control in Taehyung’s pathetic, mortal body to keep himself from fucking it all and just planting one on the other, but that was a scene he could already picture going down in flames, so he’d abstained, figuring it’d all be over soon enough.
But now, he was realizing that would not be the case; he was stuck inside during the season’s first snow, and as if that wasn’t terrible enough, he was stuck inside during the season’s first snow with the very man he’d been indirectly avoiding for months.
Jimin was really going to have a nice, long laugh over this when he heard about it.
“Okay, they’re safe,” said Seokjin as he entered the room. Taehyung found himself inadvertently holding his breath as the elder sat beside him, so close he could feel waves of heat rolling off his body. “Jungkook couldn’t find his pair of reindeer socks, so they’d been delayed for twenty minutes.” Taehyung choked on a laugh as Seokjin cracked a grin. “If that hadn’t happened, I think they might’ve gotten stuck in the storm.”
“Who knew Jungkook’s obsession with socks would come in handy?” mused Taehyung. Seokjin laughed, and warmth exploded in Taehyung’s chest at the sound. I’m fucked, he thought. I will die before this storm lets up.
“So are you doing alright, Tae?” asked Seokjin suddenly.
Taehyung’s gaze darted up to meet Seokjin’s, and for a split second, it felt like the other knew. It seemed like Seokjin knew exactly what was currently running across Taehyung’s mind, what had been troubling him for weeks on end, and how broken up he was over it. On one hand, he felt as if his feelings were going to rip him apart if he didn’t tell Seokjin, but on the other hand, he didn’t want to lose a friend by confessing for no practical reason. If his feelings weren’t returned, he wasn’t sure he could handle it.
“What do you mean?” Taehyung inquired slowly, trying to keep his voice steady.
Seokjin sighed and looked away, and Taehyung felt the odd urge to reposition himself so he could continue staring into the other’s eyes. “I don’t really know. I just feel like we haven’t talked in awhile, and you’ve been quieter these past few months, so I was wondering if everything’s okay.” Seokjin turned to face him again, searching Taehyung’s face for something. “Is everything okay?”
No. Nothing was okay. I really like you, and I don’t know what to do with myself anymore, thought Taehyung.
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” The disbelieving expression crossing Seokjin’s face was starting to make Taehyung nervous. “How about you?”
“I’m fine,” replied Seokjin crisply, still scrutinizing Taehyung. “You know you can always talk to me about anything, right?”
“Yeah, I know, hyung,” murmured Taehyung, his heart thrumming in his ears as his face burned. Had the storm caused the heater to malfunction? Why did it feel like it was suddenly a thousand degrees in the room?
“Okay, but I mean, anything, ” stressed Seokjin. “I’ll always be here for you,” he added, sending Taehyung a soft smile.
Fuck, and that was it. His last shred of restraint withered away just like that.
How pathetic. The thought briefly flickered across Taehyung’s mind. I can’t even handle myself around the man for a few hours.
Kissing Seokjin was as surprising to Taehyung as it was to the other. It took a few seconds for him to register what was happening, and when he finally did, he tried not to panic. He could still save himself. There was still a way to get out of this. All he had to do was remove himself from the situation, take a few steps back, and then calmly explain that he’d fallen or lost his balance or some other bullshit along those lines.
At least, that’s what he was planning to do until Seokjin slipped a hand into Taehyung’s hair and began to kiss him back, which, beyond the obvious, was really rather fortunate for Taehyung because he’d been having a hard time with step one of his plan: removing himself from the situation (Seokjin’s lips were as soft as they looked).
Taehyung pulled back after a few moments, breathless and slightly wonderstruck as he tried to wrap his head around what had just happened.
“Finally,” breathed Seokjin lowly, and Taehyung would have missed it if he wasn’t so hyperaware of everything around him.
Taehyung’s head snapped up. “What?”
“I waited so long for that,” said Seokjin, throwing his head back for emphasis. “Trust me, I would’ve done this myself long ago, but Jimin told me if I tried anything before you were ready, he would see to it that I was incapable of trying anything ever again, which really didn’t make much sense to me, but I figured it was fair. But then I had to sit around and watch you grapple with your feelings for months, and I thought I was going to go crazy, especially when you started to avoid me.”
Taehyung was reeling, trying to catch up with whatever was happening but failing. “Wait, what? You knew I liked you?”
Seokjin chuckled. “You couldn’t be less subtle if you tried.” Taehyung gaped at the other, who just grinned. “But it was cute.” Heat rose to Taehyung’s face at that.
“I didn’t know you liked me though. I wouldn’t have hesitated if I knew.” Now that the shock had worn off, a smile had overtaken his face, one that he wouldn’t want to get rid of even if he could.
Seokjin chuckled, rolling his eyes playfully. “Yeah, and that in itself is a feat. I made it so obvious.”
“No, you didn’t!” Taehyung was sure he would have noticed.
Seokjin perked an eyebrow at him. “Alright, let’s take today as an example. Most of the others can’t cook for their lives, but you’re the only one I ever offer to help. I even clear my schedule for you, Tae.”
That.... was true, Taehyung realized. He had nothing to say in response, and Seokjin grinned at him, victory flashing in his eyes.
“Oh, shut up,” muttered Taehyung, already leaning forward. “I think I like you more when you’re kissing me.”
“That can be arranged,” responded Seokjin, his voice shaking with laughter as he pressed closer.
If Taehyung had to miss out on the first snow of the season, he was glad it entailed this.