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The snow covers everything. The road, the roofs of parked cars, tender on the trees and frozen icy on doorsteps.
Taehyung watches from inside the bubble of warmth in the coffee shop, breathing in the scent of freshly brewed coffee and chocolate and sugar and waiting for the bell over the door to ring, announcing his favourite customer.
“Have a good day,” he smiles. The lady nods at him, picks her coffee cup and moves out into the cold. Taehyung bites his bottom lip, eyes darting to the clock restlessly. It's getting late, the crowd dwindling to a few lingering customers, frowning down on books or other paperwork.
Taehyung retreats to the chair behind the counter, pulls out his phone and flips through it, not really seeing anything of interest on the screen. He glances at the door, leans forward to get a better look at the lonely road.
He's not there.
Taehyung's sigh is long and dramatic, a movie worthy performance. He smiles at his antics, props his cheek in a palm and rests his elbow on the counter, still trying to distract himself on the internet.
Perhaps it's a sign; the universe telling him it's hopeless. There's got to be a reason why Mr. Handsome isn't here on the day Taehyung decided to ask for his actual name and a number.
The thought makes him wonder at the validity of liking someone so much without even knowing their name. But does a name ever matter? Wouldn't a rose called by any other name smell as sweet?
“Ugh,” he says, disgusted at his sappy thoughts. Shakespear? He's sure sunk low. He straightens up, then throws himself back at the chair, body bowed and legs stretched forward. Terribly unprofessional, but he can't seem to work a worry. He's too preoccupied mooning over a man who's not even here.
Why hasn't he come tonight? He always stops by for a muffin, or a cup of coffee, or something. He's been here every day for the past month. Making Taehyung laugh with lame jokes that only work because of how happy he sounds when he tells them, because he accompanies them with a squeaky laughter that transforms Taehyung’s thoughts into poetry. He throws heart-stopping winks after he delivers his punch lines, like he's oblivious to how much power they hold and blinds people with his smiles.
Taehyung stares wistfully at the mistletoe Jimin hung over their door with a mischievous grin, and he feels his heart tug.
Christmas isn't a time for miracles, it's a time for tragedies. Why did Taehyung think that Mr. Handsome would visit a coffee shop tonight? He's too good-looking to be single, and even if he were, he can't be a loser like Taehyung. He must have places to be rather than here, working the last shift on Christmas Eve.
His mood sours, and now his glances at the clock stem from a different type of impatience. He wants the damn hour to hit midnight so he can close and go the fuck home, so he can mope properly and in peace, huddled in his bed with blankets, maybe some sad jazz.
The last customer leaves and Taehyung considers the merits of closing early. No one's here after all. He's glaring at the remaining treats when the bell rings and Taehyung lifts his head, mouth open to apologize to their late customer when his eyes lock with wide hazels.
Mr. Handsome.
“Hi,” Taehyung sighs, his smile mostly dopey and his heart playing with the season-appropriate piano themes spilling in the shop.
“Hello,” Mr. Handsome says, pretty eyes crinkling with his sweet smile. He looks around at the empty chairs and he rubs at the back of his neck. “I'm really late, huh.”
“Oh no. It's fine. We don't close until midnight,” Taehyung rushes to say, too happy to keep the shop open until tomorrow if need be.
“Thank you,” Mr. Handsome says. “I'd like a cup of dark hot chocolate and something sweet to go with it. Whatever good you have left at this hour.”
“Everything we make is good,” Taehyung says cheekily, his heart skipping a beat when Mr. Handsome smiles. “Take a seat, I'll be right there. Or do you want it to go?” He whispers the last part, like perhaps if spoken softly enough, Mr. Handsome won't consider it.
“No, I'll drink it here, if that's alright.”
Taehyung nods, smiles again. He watches Mr. Handsome walk and choose a table near the window, his heart climbs to his throat and drums and his hands shake as he prepares the drink. He makes it perfectly, like he always does and he forces himself to take deep calming breaths.
He reaches for a tissue and scribbles his name and phone number, as an afterthought he adds a little heart. He squeezes the tissue in his hand the entire way to Mr. Handsome's table and loses his nerve once he's there, sets the tray and all but runs back to hide under the counter.
His curses and mutters work for nothing, and he nearly chews his bottom lip through as he watches Mr. Handsome drink his chocolate very slowly. He needs to get it together, he doesn't even know the guy's name, or if he's into guys. Another shuddering breath leaves him and Mr. Handsome's smooth voice breaks him out of it.
“Thank you, Taehyung. This was wonderful as usual.”
Taehyung sees a chance, he clings to a small fraction of courage and he phrases his answer like a question. “You're welcome....?”
“Seokjin,” Mr. Handsome offers. Taehyung's heart thuds.
“Seokjin-ssi. You're welcome, Seokjin-ssi.”
Seokjin is a perfect name, Taehyung thinks. He would love to say it a lot, get the chance to moan it, maybe.
The playlist throws something bittersweet out and Taehyung catches the sight of Seokjin's broad back as he puts on his coat and scarf again. He gives Taehyung one of his cancer-healing smiles before he leaves. Taehyung looks at the crumbled tissue with his number on it and thinks fuck it. It's Christmas and he hadn't wished for anything in so long.
He rushes around the counter, but before he reaches the door it bursts open and Taehyung is running too fast to stop on time so he ends up crashing right into the man who opened the door.
“I'm―”
“―Sorry I―”
Taehyung looks up and his eyes widen, his cheeks heat up and his smile is an involuntary reflex.
“Seokjin-ssi,” he breathes. “Did you forget something?”
Seokjin's expression falters a little, his ears turning red. “I...I…”
Taehyung catches the mistletoe, blinks and when he looks down again, Seokjin is blushing harder.
“Oh, this is...for the...season. My friend, he...It's…”
Seokjin smiles, reaches up with his eyes intent on Taehyung and plucks one of the berries between two fingers. He offers it to Taehyung and Taehyung's face is about to melt off, his heart is beating so fast it's painful. He closes his hand over Seokjin's, pressing the berry between their palms.
Seokjin grins, cups his face and brings him into a soft, sweet, devastatingly short kiss. Taehyung sighs when their lips detach, his lashes fluttering. Seokjin tips his forehead against Taehyung's, his breath hot when he speaks.
“Merry Christmas.”
Taehyung smiles. “Merry Christmas.”
They don't move for a while, then Seokjin reaches up again, takes another berry and Taehyung accepts it eagerly. The next kiss is longer, hotter. Seokjin's lips give under his like a dream, cotton-candy sweet and dizzying.
Seokjin picks all the berries, and he gives Taehyung a knee-weakening kiss for each one. He huffs a laugh when they run out, his fingers rolling a strand of Taehyung's hair.
“No more berries,” he breathes. Taehyung grins, pulls Seokjin out of the doorway and further into the place. The bell rings when the door closes and Taehyung throws his arms around Seokjin's neck.
“Then kiss me without them,” he says, his heart banging in his chest. Seokjin wraps him in his arms and does just that, the berries they were holding falling to the ground.
They kiss for so long Taehyung's lips start hurting, but he doesn't think he could stop if he tried and Seokjin doesn't seem inclined to step away. So they stay locked in each other's arms, kissing softly, hints of shy licks before they retreat to brushing lips again and Taehyung can do this forever.
“Would you like to go on a date with me?” Seokjin whispers between kisses. Taehyung sucks a breath, curls into Seokjin and nods. He pulls the crumbled tissue out and offers it to Seokjin, and at Seokjin's questioning look he explains.
“My number,” he says. “So we can plan our first date.”
“First, huh?” Seokjin says with a grin and Taehyung flushes. He finds no other place to hide but Seokjin's neck and Seokjin laughs but it's not mocking. It's very happy and soft, like the ones Taehyung day-dreams about eliciting out of him.
“I don't mean to jump into things.”
Seokjin shakes his head, his cheek messing up Taehyung's hair where they're pressed so close. “I'm happy,” he whispers. “I want it to be the first of many. So many.”
Taehyung's heart climbs to his throat and he's so ridiculously glad that Seokjin chooses that moment to tighten his hold on him because he feels like he maybe fell asleep behind the counter and he's dreaming all of this up.
“Me too,” he croaks.
They stay where they are, holding on to each other as the clock strikes midnight and Taehyung has no idea how he'll manage to let go. Seokjin seems to be feeling the same way because he's not pulling away either.
“Do you have to close up?” Seokjin says. Taehyung does, but he's not ready to let go yet. He clings harder and Seokjin hauls him in, his chin digging into Taehyung's shoulder. “I can help,” he says.
Taehyung sighs and nods and they sadly separate. He puts all the leftovers away in bags and boxes then starts pushing the tables away from the middle, flipping chairs on top of them. Seokjin does the same and Taehyung feels bad about making him work like this but he's too selfish to send him home now. Once they're done, the place looks almost empty and Taehyung pulls out the dust mop and starts working, Seokjin hanging awkwardly in the back.
“So,” Taehyung starts once everything is done. “When are we meeting for our first date?”
Seokjin hums, walks behind the counter and switches the lights off so the only light is from the Christmas lights outside then he pulls out his phone. The blue screen is jarring now that the place is dark but Taehyung says nothing. A soft melody pours out from Seokjin's phone and Seokjin sets it on the counter before he walks to Taehyung.
Hesitantly he takes Taehyung's hand in his and guides him to the center of the room. “Whenever you want.”
Without being promoted, Taehyung understands. He places a hand on Seokjin's shoulder, feeling zings going up his spine as Seokjin steps closer and gingerly settles his hand on the dip of Taehyung's back. They sway gently, along the soft music, as close as possible. Seokjin’s face is shaded in contrast, shadows casted on half and gentle lights on the other, making him look unreal.
They spin and dance and Taehyung thinks this is how fairy tales are written, someone must've felt like this, chest tight and limbs tingling with happiness, gazing upon endless stars in beautiful hazel eyes. Bubbling nerves in his stomach, his feet light and he can believe they'll fly away on their next twirl, dance their way to the clouds and Taehyung doesn't feel afraid anymore. Doesn't care about how fast or slow things are supposed to go.
“I know when we should meet,” he says. Seokjin tilts his head.
“When?”
“Now,” Taehyung says. Seokjin laughs.
“And tomorrow,” he says. Taehyung nods.
“And the weekend of course.”
“Of course,” Seokjin says with a smile, his eyes twinkling. “And New Year's.”
“Every day up until Valentine's,” Taehyung goes on. Seokjin leans in, touches their lips together.
“Then Valentine's and every day after.”
Taehyung agrees with a kiss.
It feels like a Christmas Miracle.
-End