Chapter Text
May 12, 2003.
“Then the princess fell to the ground and began to sob, bowing down to the wicked king at last!” Jimin said dramatically, waving his hands around for emphasis.
“Oh no!” Jeongguk gasped, his big doe eyes widening in fear. He wriggled closer to Jimin sitting beside him, resting his head in the elder’s lap in an attempt to see the page Jimin was reading. “Why’d you stop?” he pouted, looking up at his hyung reproachfully.
“It’s to build suspense .” Jimin explained, sounding very grown up using such a big word.
“I don’t care about sustpense- keep going!!”
Jimin let out a small giggle at his friend’s excitement. He’d read this book in school before, but Jeongguk had never heard the story and was practically trembling with anticipation to know what happened next.
After waiting only a moment longer, Jimin raised the pitch of his voice and continued to read.
“‘Please spare me!’ the princess cried, feeling a cold fear in her chest as the wicked king laughed at her plea.
‘Kill her,’ the king ordered his guard.”
Jimin paused again, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Jiminie!!” Jeongguk whined loudly, thrashing around in his hyung’s lap in an attempt to provoke him into continuing. “Stop stopping! S’not fair! If I could read-”
“Alright, alright, I’m reading!” Jimin pretended to be annoyed with Jeongguk’s impatience, but he hurried to finish the story nonetheless.
“‘Never fear, my love!’ a voice called out as the prince swooped in from the sky on the back of a big, fire breathing DRAGON!” Jimin threw down the book and grabbed Jeongguk with a fierce growl, making the younger boy squeal and squirm in surprise.
“Hyungie! That tickles!”
“What are you boys still doing up?” a chiding voice called from the hallway. Jimin’s mother appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, dressed in a fuzzy pink bathrobe with her black hair tied up in a messy bun. A few stray bangs fell around her plump face, which was set in a mask of fond exasperation. “It’s nearly nine o’clock! I let you stay up past bedtime, but you must go to sleep now. You can finish your story tomorrow.”
“Yes, Eomma.” Jimin folded the corner of the page to remember his place and set his big chapter book aside. Reaching out towards the door, he pursed his lips and made grabby hands towards his mother. “Eomeoni. Kisses.”
“Goodnight, angel.” Jimin’s mother crossed the room and squatted on the floor next to her son’s sleeping bag, pressing a kiss to Jimin’s forehead and wrapping him in a warm hug. “I love you.”
“Love you, too!”
“And you sleep well, Jeonggukie.” Jimin’s mother ruffled Jeongguk’s fluffy hair as she stood. “I’ll see you boys in the morning.” With that, she flicked off the lights and left the room, shutting the door gently behind her.
Jeongguk rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Slowly, the glow-in-the-dark stars Jimin had stuck onto the ceiling twinkled into view.
Jimin was a big boy of seven years old, he wasn’t scared of the dark. But Jeongguk was littler, he was only five, and he was so grateful that Jimin’s eomma had suggested putting up the faint lights on Jimin’s ceiling so he could sleep over with Jimin hyung like a big boy.
“ Psst! Gguk!” Jimin’s loud whisper broke the silence. “Are you asleep?”
“No, I’m not sleepy.”
“Me neither,” Jimin giggled, excited by the thought of rebelliously staying up after his eomma told them to sleep.
“Thank you for reading to me, hyung.” Jeongguk smiled to himself in the darkness. “I really like that story.”
“I like it, too.” Jimin rolled over so he was facing Jeongguk, watching the young boy stare up at the ceiling and admiring the faux stars reflected in his dark eyes.
“Someday I’m gonna find myself a prince, just like the princess does,” Jimin confided.
Now Jeongguk turned to look at him, his small brows furrowed in confusion. “But you’re a boy!” he pointed out. “Doesn’t that mean you have to find a princess?”
“Eomma says when I’m older I should find someone who loves me very much,” Jimin explained wisely. “And the prince loves the princess very much because he protects her! So I’m going to find my own prince!”
Jeongguk’s mouth dropped open in an ‘o’ as he understood. “I’ll be your prince, Minnie!” he exclaimed. “I love you lots, and you love me lots, too! You always protect me from the scary monsters in the dark, and when I get bigger I’ll protect you, too!”
“Really?” Jimin scooted his sleeping bag so close to Jeongguk’s that their noses were practically touching. “You promise?”
Jeongguk nodded seriously, holding out his pinky. “Pinky promise!”
Jimin intertwined his littlest finger with Jeongguk’s, pressing a kiss to the spot where they were connected. “Now it’s sealed,” he said solemnly.
Both boys beamed at each other, pinkies still interlocked, before Jimin withdrew his hand and changed the subject. “Yah, if you’re still not tired, want me to teach you to read some more words?”
“Yeah!” Jeongguk sat up so fast his sleeping bag unzipped itself with the momentum of his body.
“C’mere,” Jimin unzipped his sleeping bag and beckoned his dongsaeng closer, before reaching beside him and grabbing the book they’d just been reading. Leaning forward, he reached under his bed and pulled out a small flashlight, turning it on and casting a soft yellow glow on the pages.
Jeongguk crawled over and snuggled up next to Jimin, rezipping the sleeping bag behind him to keep out the chill from the overhead fan. He rested his head against Jimin’s shoulder, looking down at the unfamiliar characters on the page in awe.
“See this word right here?” Jimin flipped to the first page and pointed to the chapter title; two syllables written in big, bold font. “You know this word, Ggukie! Can you sound it out?”
“L-lov… love! Love! Hyungie, it says love!” Jeongguk clapped his hands proudly. “I read it, Jiminie, I read it!”
“You read it!” Jimin beamed, his eyes scrunching into tiny crescent moons. He reached out and gave Jeongguk a big hug, parroting the phrase his teacher told him whenever he learned to read a new word. “I’m so proud of you! You’re so smart!”
Jeongguk preened under the praise, kicking his leg against the floor like a little bunny to rid himself of the happy energy bubbling up inside him. “Someday I’m gonna read to you , Jimin hyung!” he promised.
“I bet you will,” Jimin agreed. “Here- try this one!” He pointed to another word, and then another, Jeongguk doing his best to sound out each one, and Jimin gently correcting him when he stumbled.
After about half an hour of reading, Jeongguk’s eyelids began to droop, his eyes falling closed longer than they stayed open when he blinked.
“D-dr-” Jeongguk’s reading was interrupted by a big yawn, his mouth dropping open and his eyes fluttering shut. “Drive…” he mumbled sleepily.
Taking one look at Jeongguk, Jimin closed his book and turned off the flashlight. Rolling to lay on his side, he wrapped his arms around Jeongguk and pulled him close. “I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”
“Mmkay,” Jeongguk slurred, nuzzling his head into his hyung’s neck. “Nighty night, Jiminie.”
“Good night, Jeonggukie.” Jimin smiled to himself as he closed his eyes, running his fingers absentmindedly through Jeongguk’s hair because he knew the younger liked it.
“Hyungie?” Jeongguk’s breath was warm on Jimin’s skin as he mumbled. “Can you sing to me?”
“Sure.” Jimin took a deep breath, before beginning to sing a soft lullaby. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey. You’ll never know Gguk, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Jeongguk’s grip on Jimin’s shirt fell slack as he drifted off to sleep, and Jimin stopped singing in favor of trying to sleep as well. He could feel the steady beat of Jeongguk’s heart against his chest; the quick thump-thump-thumpthump lulling him into a dream world filled with princes, and dragons, and boys with galaxies of stars in their big doe eyes.
December 25, 2019
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Jeongguk awoke with a start at the sound of his alarm, flinging an arm out of bed to feel around his nightstand for the snooze button for the fourth time that morning. He only succeeded in knocking the entire clock to the ground with a loud crash!
At least the alarm was silenced.
Squinting his eyes open, Jeongguk groaned loudly and immediately squeezed them shut to block out the glaring light sneaking through the gap in his curtains. He buried his head under his pillow and took a deep breath, the faint scent of his laundry detergent soothing his senses.
He really should do the laundry again soon.
“So fantastic, elastic- ring ding dong ring ding dong ding~” Jeongguk’s phone vibrated loudly as it rang, the silly ringtone immediately alerting him it was Jimin.
Without removing his head from the protection of his pillow, Jeongguk reached out for his phone where he knew it was charging on his nightstand. A flare of annoyance sparked in his chest as he couldn’t find it. Sitting up with a huff, he forced his eyes open and searched the small table for his phone.
It was nowhere to be found.
“Ringa ding ding ding~”
Jeongguk cursed as he stumbled out of bed and rushed to find his phone before the call went to voicemail. The moment his feet hit the floor he nearly fell backwards onto his bed as he felt the vibrations from his phone that he’d just stepped on. He must have knocked it to the ground along with his clock.
“Hey hyung,” Jeongguk’s voice came out scratchy when he finally answered, and he quickly cleared his throat.
“Merry Christmas, Jeonggukie!” Jimin’s voice came through the line; bright, cheerful, and way too lively for eight thirty in the morning.
“Merry Christmas,” Jeongguk’s words were drowned out by a loud yawn as he arched his back, stretching his arm not holding the phone over his head.
“Did I wake you?” Jimin sounded apologetic.
“Ah, no, my alarm was going off anyways.” Jeongguk hurried to reassure him as he reached down and picked up his clock, righting it on his nightstand once more.
“That’s good to hear. Anyways, you’re still coming over tonight, right?”
“Of course, I’d never pass up a chance to have Eomeonim’s cooking.” Or a chance to see you.
“Great! Tae’s going to be there, too,” Jimin giggled. “I have some news, and I thought it would be best to share it with all my favorite people at once.”
“News? Spill.”
“Nuh uh, it’s a secret!”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes fondly, but dropped the topic. No use arguing with Jimin when he wanted to be stubborn. “Should I bring your present?”
“Yeah, we can all exchange gifts! No spoilers, but I think you’ll really love what Yoongi hyung got for you.”
“Yoongi hyung is going to be there, too?” Jeongguk fought to keep the disappointment in his chest from spilling into his voice.
“Of course, silly.” Jimin’s beautiful laugh floated through the phone, warming Jeongguk to his core. “Why wouldn’t he be?”
“I dunno, I guess I thought he’d spend the holiday with Jin hyung, Namjoon hyung, and Hobi hyung.”
“Hobi hyung said they all went out together last night, so Yoongi hyung could hang with us tonight. Isn't that so nice of him?” Jimin’s honeyed voice grew impossibly sweeter, as it always did when he talked about Yoongi.
“Yeah, really nice.” Jeongguk tried not to gag. “Hey, I’ve got to get ready for work now, but I’ll see you later.”
“Have a great day, Gguk!” A wet smooch sounded through the line as Jimin blew a kiss before the call dropped.
Jeongguk threw his phone aside and dragged himself to his closet, picking out the first clothing he could reach. In his mind he could hear Jimin chiding him for wearing black on black on Christmas Day- for God’s sake Ggukie, so he grabbed a red hoodie to be festive.
A quick glance at his watch confirmed that he was running late, thanks to his extensive snoozing of his alarm. Jeongguk only had time to snatch an apple from the fridge on his way out of his apartment, forgoing tying his shoes with the promise that he’d tie them on the bus.
He ran down three flights of stairs while wrangling himself into his thick winter coat, deciding that waiting for the elevator was a waste of time he didn’t have, and called out a harried “good morning” to his landlord as he raced by her watering her flowerbed.
“Merry Christmas Jeongguk ssi- where’s the fire?” His landlord teased, being no stranger to her youngest tennant bolting out of her building like his life depended on it.
“Overslept,” Jeongguk called over his shoulder, taking a large bite of his apple and turning his attention to focusing on not choking as he chewed and ran. “Merry Christmas!”
He was out of breath by the time he reached the bus stop at the end of the block, skidding to a halt just as the bus pulled up.
“Merry Christmas,” Jeongguk smiled at the driver and flashed his pass as he boarded, happiness blooming in his chest as he got a head nod of acknowledgement. Seems like the holidays made even the grumpiest people agreeable.
The bus was crowded today, and Jeongguk shuffled down the aisle slowly as he tried to find an empty seat.
"Jeongguk! Over here!" A cheerful voice called out from the back of the bus.
"Hoseok hyung!" Jeongguk hurried down the aisle and took a seat next to his friend. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas," Hoseok thrust a small, neatly wrapped package into his hands. "I know it's not much, but I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I'll love it." Jeongguk smiled gratefully and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a box of his own for his hyung. He'd put the present, among others, in his coat the night before to ensure that he didn't forget to give it to his friend the next morning. "I was going to give this to you when I dropped by the clinic after work, but I guess now's as good a time as any."
"Oh Gguk, you shouldn't have…" Hoseok's face lit up as he opened the present, admiring the black silken tie decorated with little yellow happy faces. "It'll be the perfect addition to my collection."
"I'm so glad," Jeongguk chuckled, thinking of Hoseok's extensive collection of eccentric ties.
"Open your gift, now!"
Jeongguk tugged at the red ribbon on his box and carefully tore away the pink wrapping paper, opening it to reveal a thin, rose gold band with a small diamond in the center.
A ring?
"It's a mood ring," Hoseok explained upon seeing Jeongguk's confusion. "You put it on, and the gemstone turns the color of your mood!" Grabbing Jeongguk's left hand, he slipped the ring onto his fourth finger. The diamond slowly faded into a pale blue.
"This means…" Hoseok grabbed the instruction card from the box and pointed out the colors to Jeongguk. "You're feeling happy right now. Is it right? Are you happy?"
Jeongguk smiled to himself at his hyung's enthusiasm. Even though he believed mood rings were a hoax, he decided to humor Hoseok because he seemed so eager about the gift. "Yeah, I am happy. Thanks a lot, Hobi hyung. The ring is really cool."
"I'm glad you like it!”
A comfortable silence fell between the two friends and Jeongguk took the opportunity to bend down and tie his boots, ignoring Hoseok’s amused snort when he realized what Jeongguk was doing.
“So, what'd you get for Jin hyung?" Hoseok pestered him as soon as he’d sat up straight again.
"Like I'd tell you,” Jeongguk scoffed. “You can't keep a secret to save your life."
"Hey, that's not true! I haven't told anyone that Yoongi hyung p-" Hoseok stopped abruptly, eyes wide as he realized what he was about to say. "Just- I know a big secret, okay? And I haven't told anyone ."
"I'm pretty sure you almost just told me," Jeongguk snorted.
"But I didn't!"
"I'm still not telling you. You can find out when Jin hyung opens his present."
Hoseok heaved a dramatic sigh as the bus came to a stop and they got off. "I'm supposed to be your friend, yet you keep me in the dark! The dis-re-spect ."
Jeongguk ignored him and waved as they parted ways, Hoseok going left towards the animal hospital where he worked, and Jeongguk heading right.
"Tell Jimin hyung I say 'hi'!" Jeongguk called out to his hyung’s receding back.
"Tell Namjoon I want my underwear back!" was all he got in response.
Why would Namjoon hyung have Hoseok hyung's underwear?
Shaking his head fondly, Jeongguk entered the tattoo parlor where he worked, the bell above the door jangling brightly to announce his entrance.
"Morning, Gguk. Merry Christmas!" Namjoon waved from his perch on the rickety old stool behind the counter, a lollipop dangling from his lips.
"Merry Christmas Joon hyung, Yoongi hyung."
"Merry Christmas, I see you're late again." Yoongi quipped from where he was inking a young woman's arm, never once breaking his concentration from the needle.
"I'm not late!" Jeongguk pouted as he took a seat at the folding table that served as his desk, pulling out his sketches. "It's 8:59!"
"Is it?" Yoongi set his needle aside as he finished the design and reached for his phone, checking the time. "Hm, I guess my watch is running a few minutes fast." Turning back to the customer, he applied a thin layer of A&D ointment to her arm and wrapped it gently. “Now, you’re going to want to keep this on for two to three hours, and wash your arm with some cool water once you remove it. But only use a little bit of water, and try to avoid soaking it for at least 48 hours. Other than that, you’re all set, you can head on over to Namjoon over there to pay.”
Namjoon quickly collected the payment and handed the customer her change, waving her out of the shop with a cheerful ‘Merry Christmas!’
Once she was gone, the bell above the door announcing her exit, Jeongguk reached into his coat pocket and pulled out Namjoon’s present, chucking it across the room into the elder’s lap. “Here.”
Namjoon fumbled to catch the small box with the hand that wasn’t holding his lollipop, almost falling off the stool in the process. He ungracefully tore through the wrapping paper, throwing it aside as he opened the box to reveal a silver watch. “Oh my- thanks, Jeongguk!”
“Now maybe you’ll actually get places on time,” Jeongguk teased.
“Says the guy who came in late,” Yoongi pointed out.
“I was on time! ”
“From now on, work starts at 8:30,” Namjoon joked. “Then, if we’re lucky, you’ll get here at 8:50.”
Jeongguk huffed and crossed his arms. “It’s not my fault the buses are slow!”
“I’ve offered to drive you to work about a thousand times,” Yoongi shot back.
Jeongguk’s stomach clenched unpleasantly. “Nah, the bus is fine,” he hurried to reassure Yoongi. “I’ll just take the 8:30 bus instead of the 8:45.”
“Whatever gets you here before nine,” Yoongi shrugged and began cleaning his needle. “By the way, I left your gift at home because I figured I’ll just give it to you tonight.”
“Ah- yeah, me too,” Jeongguk made a mental note to wrap Yoongi’s gift when he got home. He’d made it a few days ago, but set it aside and forgotten about it. Honestly, he wasn’t one hundred percent certain he even knew where it was in his apartment.
“Jin hyung and I went in on a present together,” Namjoon explained. “He didn’t trust me not to break it, so he told me to tell you to drop by the clinic after work today and he’ll give it to you.”
“I will, I was going to drop by anyways, to give hyung his present,” Jeongguk assured. “Also, Jimin hyung’s driving me home- he promised to help me pick out my outfit for tonight so Eomma at least thinks I’m a self sufficient adult.”
“Your parents are going to be there tonight as well?” Yoongi asked, worrying his lower lip between his teeth.
“Yeah, it’s always been a tradition for our families to celebrate Christmas together,” Jeongguk explained, only a little bit smug.
“Ah, I see,” Yoongi’s voice grew soft, laced with something that almost sounded like sorrow. “I hope I’m not intruding, then.”
“I bet you’re not,” Namjoon hurried to interject. “You’ve been a part of Jimin’s life for seven years, it’s about time you finally start becoming a part of his family, too.”
“Taehyung will be there, too, this year,” Jeongguk added, feeling slightly guilty for making Yoongi feel inadequate. “So we’re already planning for this year to be different, you’re not intruding on anything.”
“Remember what Jin hyung always says?” Namjoon asked, finishing off his lollipop and tossing the stick in the trash bin. “It’s not ‘intruding’ if someone invites you into their family and into their life. Jimin loves you. He invited you into this tradition because he wants you there.”
Jeongguk nodded in support, plastering on what he hoped was a comforting smile. Though, if the way Namjoon stared at him curiously was any indication, it probably looked more like a grimace.
“You’re right.” Yoongi set aside his needle and stood up, brushing his hands on his pants. “Don’t mind me, I’m just being paranoid.”
The bell on the door jangled again as a man entered the shop, and the boys immediately ceased their conversation, postures tensing as they shifted back into professional mode.
Most people held the unreasonable stereotype that anyone working at a body piercing and design shop was a shady, unprofessional slob, but Jeongguk, Yoongi, and Namjoon worked hard to maintain their pristine reputation as the most credible place to get a tat or piercing in Seoul.
“Good afternoon, how can I help you?” Namjoon smiled goodnaturedly at the customer while Jeongguk turned his attention back to his sketches and Yoongi excused himself to the bathroom.
“I was looking to get a tattoo and I heard this was the place to go,” the newcomer said, sounding slightly anxious. “But I don’t have an appointment, do I need to make one first?”
“In the future, if you ever decide to get another tattoo here, or possibly a piercing, you can make an appointment beforehand and request which artist you’d like,” Namjoon explained. “But we do walk-ins as well. Can I see an ID?”
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, flashing his license. “I guess I should take it as a compliment that I always get carded,” he joked.
Namjoon chuckled. “You can go have a seat in that blue chair over there, and our artist Jeon Jeongguk will be with you shortly.”
Jeongguk looked up from his sketch in surprise when he heard his name. Usually Yoongi took the walk-in customers, when he wasn’t busy with an appointment. Aside from appointments with people who specifically requested him, and helping Yoongi when there was an unusually large number of customers, Jeongguk typically spent most of his time at work drawing designs for new tattoos.
Standing from his desk, Jeongguk hurried over to Namjoon at the front counter. Stalling for time by pretending to gather his needle and other supplies, he whispered, “Why are you having me ink him? Why not Yoongi hyung?”
“Hyung was trembling just now,” Namjoon muttered. “You made him nervous about tonight. He can’t ink anyone without steady hands.”
Now Jeongguk felt really guilty. “If that’s the case, I’ll cover for him, but can you go talk to him? Make sure he’s alright?”
Namjoon nodded, standing up and heading off to the bathroom.
“Sorry to make you wait,” Jeongguk pulled on a smile as he carried his tools over to where the man was seated at his workstation. “Do you have a pre-drawn design you’d like me to ink on you? If not, you can look through our designs.” He grabbed his sketchbook off his desk and placed it on the man’s lap.
“Can you make this?” The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled napkin, smoothing it out on the surface of the sketchbook.
Jeongguk took the sketchbook and set it aside, examining the rough sketch on the napkin closely. Etched into the flimsy paper was a cartoonish drawing of two otters, obviously sleeping because their hands were intertwined. A small ribbon wrapped around the otters’ wrists, with the numbers 17.12.19 written inside. Normally he’d take a few days to practice a new design before he imprinted it onto someone’s body, but the lines in the sketch were clear and the shapes fairly simple. Piece of cake.
“Yeah, I can ink this.” Jeongguk set the napkin on his workstation, grabbing a clean pair of gloves and sliding them on. “Where do you want it?”
The man rolled up his sleeve, holding out his left forearm. “Can you put it just above the wrist?”
Jeongguk nodded. “I’m going to wipe your arm with a disinfectant now, and then get started.” He’d learned over time that explaining what he was doing and making small talk was the best way to keep his customers comfortable and distracted while he was doing his work. “Would you like any color?”
“No, just black ink is fine.”
Jeongguk loaded the ink reservoir of his needle, humming softly to himself as he repeated the familiar motions. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Namjoon and Yoongi returning from the bathroom, Namjoon heading over to clean his piercing needle and Yoongi taking over counter duty.
Jeongguk felt much better seeing Yoongi looking just fine.
“This is quite an interesting image,” Jeongguk noted aloud, trying to loosen the man up before he began. “Is there a meaning behind it?”
“Yeah,” the man got a faraway look in his eyes, and Jeongguk internally cheered as his posture relaxed. “I went into service immediately after high school, you see.”
“That’s nice,” Jeongguk touched the needle to the customer’s skin, quickly pulling it away to prevent smudging as the man startled and jerked his arm. “If you could, try to stay still for me, please.”
“Ah, yeah, sorry.” The man’s face flushed in embarrassment as he resumed his previous position.
“So the tattoo has something to do with your enlistment?” Jeongguk prompted, inking out the first line of one otter’s arm.
“Not exactly.” The man’s face was scrunched in discomfort, but his voice was surprisingly steady.
He seems to be no stranger to enduring pain , Jeongguk noted.
“When I enlisted, my high school sweetheart and I, we made a deal. She was going to college, but I’ve never been one for book learning. I was actually toying with the possibility of enlisting as a full time career, so almost everyone thought our relationship was doomed. We agreed to put our relationship on hold for the duration of my conscription, and she was free to pursue anyone she caught feelings for at college.
But it was like we’d never even made the deal. From the very beginning, she visited me whenever she was allowed, telling me how much she missed me.” The man let out a fond chuckle that faded into a choked groan of pain as the needle passed over a particularly sensitive nerve. “Until about four months ago, when she didn’t show up on a visiting day.”
Jeongguk clucked his tongue sympathetically, sensing where this story was headed.
“The next day I get a summons from the Captain, he’s got my mother on the phone.” The man’s voice trembled. “Eomma tells me there was an awful collision back home, a school bus rammed straight into a car. Thankfully no children were hurt, but the driver of that car… it was my girl.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jeongguk murmured softly, completely taken aback by the sudden turn of events. He’d been assuming the woman had found another lover, not possibly lost her life.
“She was in a coma and I couldn’t even see her; I wasn’t granted leave because we aren’t married. My baby was fighting for her life and I was miles away… I’d never felt so helpless.” The man’s voice thickened, and he cleared his throat. “Anyways, I was discharged on the seventeenth of December, and that very same day, as if by some miracle from God, she woke up. The doctors had already begun to say she wasn’t going to make it, but she pulled through.” A sappy smile spread across the man’s face. “This was the last thing she drew before the accident- she was going to give it to me when we met up that day, it was in her pocket when they found her body- so it’s really special to me. I added in the date a few days ago when I decided I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas. I know people say it’s not smart to get a tattoo that has to do with your lover because tattoos are permanent and relationships are fickle, but after everything that’s happened, it just feels right .”
“I think it’s very sweet of you,” Jeongguk agreed, mind wandering to the small ink splotch on his own body that served the same purpose. “I bet your girlfriend will be very touched.”
“I’m so lucky to have her in my life. She really completes me,” the man sighed happily. “Oh! One time, back in high school…”
Jeongguk honed his focus in on his needle, tuning the customer’s rambling to nothing more than a faint hum in the background of his mind. He spent the rest of the morning carefully inking the design into the man’s skin, occasionally offering a ‘really?’ and a ‘how sweet’ when he deemed it necessary to keep the small talk flowing. But his mind was elsewhere, and his head remained in the clouds for the rest of the day.
When it was finally closing time, he waved goodbye to his hyungs, throwing in a reluctant “see you later” to Yoongi as he left the building.
Hurrying down the street towards the animal hospital where Hoseok, Jimin, and their friend Jin worked, Jeongguk was forced to zip his puffy coat all the way to his chin. A strong wind had picked up, stinging his cheeks and making his eyes water with the force of it’s freezing gusts.
Finally reaching the clinic, Jeongguk stepped inside and was immediately enveloped by warmth. The little radiator in the corner of the room was running at full blast, filling the waiting room with a soft and steady rat-a-tat-tat . Cheery Christmas carols were being played on a loop from the old radio behind the nurses’ counter, and combined with the rainbow lights strung up by the windows and the fake little pine tree on top of the table in the middle of the room, it created quite the festive atmosphere.
“I’m sorry, we’re closed early for the holiday, but if this is an emergency you can head to our twenty four hour emergency ro- Jeonggukie!”
Jeongguk suddenly found his arms full of Jimin, the vet having come out into the main room to turn away whoever had just entered and launching himself at Jeongguk once he saw him.
"Hey, hyung."
"How was your day?" Jimin pulled away and straightened his lab coat, which had gotten wrinkled from Jeongguk’s crushing embrace.
“It was good.” Jeongguk snagged the last sugar cookie from the plate sitting on the reception desk, snapping it in half rather unevenly and offering the larger half to Jimin.
“Thanks.” Jimin, forever the one with a sweet tooth, smiled brightly as he took the cookie and began nibbling on the sugary Santa’s beard.
“So, how was your day?” Jeongguk shoved the cookie in his mouth as he asked, causing crumbs to spray out from his lips.
“Jeongguk!” Jimin admonished, immediately stepping forward and reaching out to brush the crumbs from where they’d landed on Jeongguk’s jacket. He brought his hand up to Jeongguk’s face, gently patting crumbs off the younger’s chin, and then he swiped his thumb over Jeongguk’s lips, rubbing away the soggy crumbs that were stuck there.
Jeongguk froze, heart pounding so loudly he was sure Jimin could hear it with that stethoscope hung around his neck.
Jimin’s soft little thumb danced over his lips once, twice, three times, and Jeongguk had to bite his tongue to keep it from escaping the confines of his mouth and chasing that finger, capturing it, and teasing it until Jimin gave in and put something else on his lips, something softer than his finger; those plush lips that glistened with the thin layer of peach gloss he always applied. Those lips that Jungkook had dreamed about since he was five years old.
But then Jimin was stepping back out of his personal space and the warmth on his lips was gone, leaving nothing but a pleasant tingling behind. And then Jimin was saying something, telling him about his day, but Jeongguk couldn’t hear, couldn’t think, because he was stuck back with Jimin’s finger on his lips, Jimin’s body pressed close to his own, Jimin’s eyes burning hot-
“ Jeongguk! ”
A clap in front of his face snapped Jeongguk back to reality. “Huh?” he blinked and shook his head slightly, startling as he realized that Hoseok and Jin had joined him and Jimin in the main room.
Jimin had swapped his lab coat for his thick winter jacket, and Jeongguk took a moment to privately admire how adorable he looked, practically drowning in the puffy coat that fell all the way past his knees.
“I said Merry Christmas ,” Jin chuckled, slipping his gloves on. He must've been the one who clapped, as Hoseok and Jimin’s hands were already sheathed in fuzzy woolen gloves. “You didn’t respond; you just kept staring ahead like you’d seen a ghost.”
“Maybe I did see a ghost,” Jeonnguk shot back, snorting as Hoseok hit him lightly on the arm. “The ghost of Christmans past.”
“Don’t say things like that! You know ghosts aren’t real!” Hoseok ordered, nervously looking around the clinic as if he really was going to spot a ghost.
“Anyways, Merry Christmas, Jin hyung,” Jeongguk changed the subject, deciding not to tease Hoseok today, in the spirit of Christmas and all. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his last gift, passing it to Jin. “I hope you like it.”
" That's what you kept me in suspense about all day?" Hoseok looked over Jin's shoulder as the elder man unwrapped his gift, sticking his tongue out at Jeongguk.
“Wow!” Jin’s face broke into a smile as he admired the bluetooth earbuds nestled in the box. “This is just what I needed! Thanks!”
“I remembered you were complaining about your old earbuds being ‘crappy ass pieces of shit’,”Jeongguk explained, quoting Jin. “I have a pair of these myself, and they’re really nice quality.”
“I’m sure they’re perfect .” Jin flicked off the clinic lights and led Jeongguk, Jimin, and Hoseok outside, locking up behind them.
“Bye guys! See you tomorrow!” Hoseok waved as he jogged off towards the bus stop, small puffs of smoke following him as he exhaled into the cold air.
“Oh, Jeongguk, before you go-” Jin scurried over to his car and unlocked the passenger door, reaching inside and pulling out a rather large box. Rushing back over the Jeongguk, who had come to a stop just outside Jimin’s car, Jin shoved the box into his hands. “Merry Christmas, from me and Joonie.”
Jeongguk made quick work of the silvery wrapping paper, eager to see what was inside. “Oh my gosh…” It was an essential oil air diffuser, the essential oil air diffuser Jeongguk had been saving up to buy for almost a year. “Thank you so, so much! Please thank Joon hyung for me, too.”
“Of course,” Jin beamed. “You know, Taehyung was actually the one who suggested to Namjoon that we buy it for you. He remembered you’re really sensitive to smells and your apartment has shitty air circulation.”
Jeongguk felt a soft warmth spreading throughout his chest at his friend’s thoughtfulness. “I’ll have to thank Tae when I see him tonight.”
“Speaking of which, we need to get going.” Jimin leaned over the passenger seat from where he was sitting behind the wheel, beckoning Jeongguk into the car. “I told Eomma we’d get there by six. It’s nearly five now, and I need enough time to do my makeup after I help you.”
“Shit, it’s that late already?” Jeongguk got into the car and buckled his seatbelt, waving to Jin through the window. “Should I call and tell her we’re gonna be late? We still have to drop by your place to pick up your clothes, don’t we?”
“I brought my outfit and your and Tae's gifts to work with me,” Jimin jerked his thumb towards the backseat, never once taking his eyes off the road as he sped through the traffic. “Don’t call her- we’ll be there on time. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Alright… but if we’re late I’m blaming you,” Jeongguk taunted childishly. “I don’t fancy being scolded on Christmas.”
Jimin burst into laughter, taking a hand off the wheel to playfully hit Jeongguk’s chest. “We’re not going to be late, doofus. Look, we’re already on your street.”
Jeongguk was shocked to find that Jimin was right, he’d just begun pulling into a parallel parking spot in front of his apartment building.
He shouldn’t have been so surprised, time always seemed to fly by so quickly when he was with Jimin. That and the fact that Jimin had been driving fifteen miles over the speed limit in order to get home quickly.
“C’mon!” Jimin reached into the backseat and grabbed his backpack before jumping out of the car and running into the building, too impatient to wait for Jeongguk.
Jimin hyung has always loved the holidays. Jeongguk remembered fondly as he got out of the car and followed Jimin up to his apartment. He always gets so excited on Christmas.
“Jeongguk, hurry up!” Jimin appeared in the doorway, having used his spare key to get inside. He’d shed his coat, shoes, shirt, and pants in a pile on the floor, and was standing in the middle of Jeongguk’s living room in nothing but his boxers and socks, like it was his apartment, too.
That thought made Jeongguk more satisfied than he’d like to admit.
Leaving Jimin in the main room to change, Jeongguk trudged to his room and flopped onto his bed heavily, splaying himself out like a starfish as he waited for Jimin to come and pick him something to wear.
He was perfectly capable of dressing himself, he was twenty three years old for God’s sake, but Jimin had good taste in fashion and had enjoyed dressing him up since they were kids, so Jeongguk liked to indulge him.
“Hey Gguk, what’s this?” Jimin’s footsteps, which Jeongguk had begun to hear coming towards his room, stopped in the hallway. Moments later Jimin appeared in the doorway, dressed in white slacks and a flowing white silk shirt, holding a small canvas.
Jeongguk knew Jimin had asked him a question, knew he should answer, but all he could do was stare at the beautiful man in his doorway. An angel.
"Jeongguk?" Jimin asked again, crossing the room to sit on Jeongguk's bed. He waved the canvas patiently in front of Jeongguk's face, used to his best friend's absentmindedness.
Jeongguk tore his gaze away from Jimin and focused on what he was holding.
So that’s where he’d put Yoongi’s present.
“I, uh, wasn’t sure what Yoongi hyung would want, so I just painted him a little something.” Jeongguk sat up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. In all honesty, he hadn’t spent that much time on Yoongi’s gift, and looking at it now, he felt a bit guilty. He didn’t want Yoongi to think he didn’t care about him, he’d just been a little preoccupied making Jimin’s gift the past week.
“It’s gorgeous,” Jimin breathed. “Yoongi hyung is going to love it!”
“Really?” Jeongguk reached for the canvas, taking a second look at it. “I honestly thought it wasn’t so great.”
Maybe he’d put more effort into it than he thought?
But no, it was just a simple portrait of Yoongi sitting at a piano with the tattoo shop in the background. Sure, he’d painted Jimin sitting beside Yoongi on the piano bench, smiling that adorable smile that made his eyes nearly invisible, and Jin standing with Namjoon behind the counter a few feet away, looking on at Yoongi proudly, and Hoseok, Taehyung and himself sitting cross legged on the floor, horsing around and eating ramyun, but that wasn’t anything special. He’d completed the whole thing in less than a few days.
“Jeongguk, your attention to detail is insane ,” Jimin said incredulously, as if he couldn’t believe Jeongguk couldn’t see what he saw. “The way you painted Namjoon’s dimple, the individual diamonds on Jin’s watch, and every single smile line on my face- it’s incredible!”
Jeongguk felt his cheeks warming at the praise. “Thanks, hyung.” Little butterflies sprouted wings in his stomach, fluttering around and making him feel uncharacteristically jittery, so he quickly changed the topic. “I’ll take this now,” he took the painting from Jimin’s hands and headed towards the hall closet to find his wrapping paper. “While I’m wrapping it, my closet’s all yours.”
Grabbing the wrapping paper from the hall, Jeongguk made quick work of the canvas, stacking it by the front door with Jimin and Taehyung’s gifts so he didn’t forget it.
As he stepped back to admire his handiwork, three gifts all neatly wrapped in festive paper and tied with little green bows, he heard Jimin screech from his bedroom. “Jeon Jeongguk get your butt in here right now!”
Jeongguk jogged down the hall to his bedroom, where Jimin stood in front of his opened closet, holding up a blue satin button down. “You said you donated this last month when I told you to wear it to the bar!”
“I did? Oops.”
Rolling his eyes, Jimin tossed the shirt onto Jeongguk’s bed along with his tightest pair of black slacks. Heading over to Jeongguk’s dresser, Jimin pulled open his sock drawer and rummaged around for a moment, emerging triumphantly with a blue and black striped tie that he knew Jeongguk was hiding. “Ta-da~”
“Seriously, Jimin? This is Christmas dinner, not a night at the club.”
“First of all, it’s Jimin hyung to you, brat. And second of all, you’ll look nice in this. Just the right amount of handsome for a family Christmas.”
Jeongguk’s cheeks warmed again at the sort of compliment. “Alright, alright, I’ll wear it. Go put on your makeup, we’ll leave in five minutes.”
~•~