Lit up
Title: Lit up
Pairing: 2min
Rating: PG13
Summary: Christmas, Minho and Taemin. Fluff, most probs.
THIS IS FOR MY BABIES CLARA AND ABBY YEP OK CHRISTMAS PRESENT YEP WHOOP abby i don't even remember what you actually asked for so this happened!! You said christmassy so this happened! see ya guys
Minho's phone vibrated.
Taemin
I need help
He sighed, reaching out for it.
Plz
It vibrated again once more in his hand.
Minho heeelllp meee
He sighed over his friend, and pulled up the keypad, shooting out a quick message in response.
Always cocoa pops over cheerios
Taemin
NO
IT'S 8PM MINHO I HAD BREAKFAST LIKE 5 HOURS AGO
pls
help
ヽ༼ ಠ益ಠ ༽ﾉ
Minho sighed, grabbing his keys and pushing his phone into his pocket as it vibrated once more. He jogged nimbly down the stairs, popping his head around the door of the living room where he knew his parents would be. The Christmas tree in the corner gleamed heavily with its golden red baubles and iridescent lights.
'I’m going out to Taemin's. He needs help with something, seems pretty urgent.'
His mum raised her head from the arm of the sofa. 'Will you be back tonight?'
He shrugged. 'Depends what he needs, really. I’ll phone if I’m staying.'
His dad cautioned him to be careful of any ice, and he grabbed his coat and scarf from the coat hanger in the hallway - his dingy little car took more than a while to warm up, and he refused to sit shivering anymore than he needed to.
It was a quick drive to Taemin's, the snow only deterring him a little as it floated down in dreamy wisps. Minho paused as he got out of his car, pausing to take in the blank canvas of the lawn and, unable to resist temptation, jumped neatly into the snow and back out, admiring the two footprints that said Minho was here and I got first dibs. He kicked off the snow clinging to his shoes absently, letting himself in with the spare key Taemin gave him after Taemin got sick of having to open the door for him every time he came around. (Which was, really, a lot, considering the amount of times Taemin either forgot his phone at Minho's house or in his car or in his pocket where Taemin had left it for safekeeping.)
'Tae?', he called out, toeing off his shoes in the hallway. He yawned, clenching hands into fists as he stretched out arms over his head and he wandered further into the house. Taemin was lying rather pathetically on the carpeted floor, arms flung over his head and his phone a couple of metres away from him.
Minho nudged his torso with his toe and he groaned, turning himself to face Minho.
'Nice jumper.'
Minho looked down, frowning. He remembered now - he had on the ugly Christmas jumper his granny knit him which had a reindeer balancing a tree on its head. His granny paid attention to detail, though. There were also several snowflakes and red-and-white striped candy canes decorating the arms and a red pompom stitched carefully onto the jumper for a reindeer nose.
'It's - my granny made it for me,' he finished lamely, feeling the tips of his ears flush red.
Taemin kicked at him. 'Very cute.'
'I swear to god, Taemin, if you called me over here to make you hot chocolate like last time...'
'I am always legitimate when I ask for help. Last time I subtly persuaded you to come over for hot chocolate on the premises that we could watch Rocky V again and I would not say a word.'
'You fell asleep.'
'I also didn't say a word.'
He rolled his eyes at Taemin, not admitting that he was technically right.
'So?'
'I need. Christmas tree. Help.'
'To decorate?'
'To get down.'
'You haven't put up your christmas tree yet? It's the 18th, Tae.'
'I know, but,' Taemin's big pleading eyes looked up at him. Minho cursed the fact that he was looking down and from this height, Taemin looked all the more pathetic. 'but it's in the attic. But I promised my parents that I would have the tree up before they come back from Canada!'
'They're coming back tomorrow though, you said.'
'...I can...we can..help?'
Minho sighed. 'Attic. Why didn't you just go up?'
'Because,' Taemin paused, looking shifty. 'I didn't want to fall through the ceiling.'
He groaned, then put out a hand to pull Taemin up.
'Can you see it?' Taemin's voice came from behind and below him, easy to hear but unhelpful at that exact moment of time.
'You know, if would be a lot easier if I knew what I was actually looking for.'
'A box, labelled 'Christmas tree'. I think I drew a christmas tree on the christmas tree box at one point.'
Minho scanned the small space, walking about freely. The air was musty; smelt a little bit of mothballs and biting cold, but other than that the only thing that bothered him was the dim light. The wooden boards underneath him were securely nailed down and creaked slightly, but he continued, unconcerned.
He saw it - firstly the tip of a green triangle on a box, then taking the box on it off to reveal the letters CHRISTMAS TREE written on it with slanting, slight letters that he assumed was Taemin's mum's. It was long and wide, but wasn't particularly heavy, with the brown cardboard box worn at the edges and held together securely with string.
'Tae, come up the steps. I’ll pass it down to you.'
Taemin crowed with glee as he saw Minho come towards the opening with the promised box.
'Now the decorations, hyung! They should be near the place you found the tree.'
Minho found them easily, picking the box up and tucking it under his arm as he turned the light off and made his way down back into the warmth of the house.
'So how do you assemble this?'
'Easy, hyung, look. Grab a branch - the biggest ones are at the top of the box, and jam them into the holder thing.' Taemin demonstrated, starting from the bottom of the tree. He sat cross legged as he worked, seemingly unaware of the coldness of the wooden floor Minho could feel through his jeans even though he only wore shorts. They each let out occasional yelps when they gripped a branch the wrong way and the fake prickles jammed themselves comfortably into soft flesh.
Some branches looked a little lopsided, but it was, all things considering, a damn good effort.
'Decorations,' Taemin declared, and he set about unknotting the string with slender fingers, winding the string around his wrist as a makeshift bracelet when he was done. There was a multitude of things, things that looked like toy soldiers and mini santas and candy canes, traditional fabric baubles in rich tones of burgundy red and midnight blue, fake little candy canes and ones Minho couldn't even begin to describe.
They took handfuls at a time, until Taemin started arguing over getting to hang up what looked like a sock that Minho originally took - 'That one's mine, hyung, givegivegive,'
And Minho refused, holding onto the little red felted sock and grinning as Taemin flailed hopelessly against him, arms spread wide and nearly hitting Minho in the face.
'It. is. Not. Fair. That you use your height against me all the time.' Taemin slouched against his chest in defeat, and Minho quickly handed it to him just to get him off.
Taemin beamed at him, taking the stupid thing and hanging it delicately inbetween a red bauble and a sparkly teddy bear, and deemed the tree perfect. He paused, hands on his hips as he glanced uncertainly at the mess of lights they had thrown aside.
'So...do you want a break? I can warm up some eggnog, if you untangle the lights...'
He promptly disappeared into the kitchen. Minho groaned. The lights Taemin had were the worst type to untangle; lights in the centre of pointy sharp plastic shaped to look like snowflakes with prickly points around the edge of each light. The bundle of lights was just a mass of sharp points, begging to be fed the amount of blood a newborn baby would give.
Minho started gingerly, beginning from the plug and plucking the wire apart. He could hear Taemin humming from the kitchen, the opening and closing of the fridge and suddenly he didn't mind as much when he forgot and pricked his finger on a pointy edge.
'Wow hyung, you should always come and help me.' Taemin came through with two steaming mugs, Minho having just finished wrapping the last string of lights around the tree.
'Only because the lights hurt to touch.'
Taemin's lips struggled to stay neutral, corners dancing up and down and he opted instead to shove a cup to Minho.
'Drink,' he ordered. He added after a pause, 'You want to do the honours?'
'Your tree, you turn it on,' Minho murmured, taking a tentative sip.
Taemin's face lit up as he darted to the switch, his face basking in the golden glow of the tree. The plastic snowflake lights that hurt Minho physically before hurt him now as well, with the way it threw out rainbow halos against the walls and Taemin and lit up his eyelashes and bright, onyx eyes.
'Pretty,' Taemin sighed, and Minho tore his gaze from Taemin to the tree where it was supposed to be.
'Yeah,' he agreed. He felt Taemin lean his head against his shoulder and convinced himself it was perfectly normal and fine and platonic. Even the way Taemin slipped a hand comfortably through the crook of his arm.
Party at Kibum's, his phone read as it buzzed.
He rolled over, forehead creasing as he texted back.
When?
Taemin's reply was almost immediate.
24th. U should come to mine first so I don't show up alone
It wasn't like Minho minded. After all, he probably would have ended up picking Taemin up on the way anyway.
So he left home at 6 - the plan was for him to go to Taemin's and for the two of them to head to Kibum's at 9, and for all that showed up to spend the first official hour of Christmas together once the clock struck midnight.
Taemin's mum answered the door for him - 'Oh hello, Minho. I heard from Taemin that you helped to put up the tree with him. From what I gathered he was too scared to go up to the attic.'
'Ah, yeah. He wanted to put it up before you and your husband returned from Canada,' he laughed politely. 'I didn't mind too much, he gave me eggnog as a bribe.'
'The tree looks great, anyway. Usually the lights end up crooked, but this year Taemin seems to have gotten the hang of putting lights on a tree.'
Minho just let her think that, shaking his head in what he hoped seemed like a fond manner when really he was thinking of Taemin and his slender wrists and parted lips as he carried the eggnog into the hallway, the way his eyes glowed with the lit lights.
'Hyung!' Taemin skidded into the hallway, wearing absurdly fluffy woolly socks, teamed with their school's gym shorts and an old faded hoodie. 'Hyung, we should watch this movie on tv. This guy's crazy, he eats syrup on noodles. And candy everything. I don't understand. Does that even taste good? You didn't like that time I put honey in the rame-'
'I am not trying it again,' Minho groaned before Taemin could go any further.
Taemin shot him a wounded look while his mother just laughed.
'You liked it, you ate it. Most of it.'
'It was a sacrifice I needed to make for the greater good.'
'Minho. You can have popcorn or no popcorn. Your choice.'
He followed Taemin into the living room quietly - they always had the toffee popcorn his own mum refused to buy on the basis that it was more sugar than actual popcorn, and grabbed a handful of the bowl sitting on the table before settling comfortably on the sofa. He let Taemin settle his feet in his lap, taking the mug that Taemin passed him containing mulled wine. It was earthy and cinnamonny, burning subtly down his throat and making him feel warm and content inside too. His hands rested on Taemin's feet, fingers casually touching the bare leg exposed.
Taemin yawned later, pushing himself further down into the sofa until the crook of his knees rested atop Minho's. He let himself relax, comfortable in the darkness of the room and just Taemin, warm and secure and just so.
'I should probably go and get ready for this thing,' Taemin murmured, and Minho let himself be dragged up off the sofa and up the stairs into Taemin's room.
'Stay here,' he was told, and he made himself comfortable on his bed with the comic that Taemin was reading the night before.
Taemin came in five minutes later, a towel wrapped around his narrow waist and hair dripping wetly onto his shoulders.
'Close your eyes,' he said, and Minho obliged - he didn't want to tempt himself any further. When he looked back up, Taemin already had on slim jeans and a t-shirt, towel slung nonchalantly around his shoulders to protect his clothing. The room filled with the smell of his mint shower gel and shampoo, clean and fresh and just right for Minho.
'You tired?' Taemin laughed, glancing affectionately at Minho who had his eyes closed.
'Yeah, sure,' he mumbled, and he slid further down onto the bed. The sound of Taemin shuffling about his room was prevalent, the hums under his breath and the slick clicks of bottle lids and bottles against surfaces. He opened his eyes to the blast of the hairdryer, watching as Taemin threw his head back to expose the gentle slope of his neck. Taemin took a tub of wax and dipped his fingers in it, running them through his hair to tousle it. He turned to face Minho with an easy smile, throwing himself onto the foot of the bed.
'You ready to go?'
The music was loud, extraordinarily so and they could hear the music faintly as they parked outside. The outdoor light switched on automatically as they made their way to the garage - Kibum always kept the actual house off-limits, instead letting the guests roam free in their extensive back garden and garage. He had made a special effort for tonight - fairy lights strung lusciously around the walls and fence and mistletoe spread cleverly in bunches above their heads.
It was a big party - a lot of their year at school showed up, but Minho found that the greater the number of people, the more intimacy you were provided. Alcohol was provided extensively, both by Kibum's parents who had a lax attitude to drinking as long as Kibum was responsible, and by whoever could get their hands on it. Taemin was excited, wanted to to try everything - he took a gulg of vodka and gagged, letting Minho patiently dilute his cup with coke after. Minho set himself a limit of one beer, not minding that he had to drive after. He found it generally gave himself an advantage of being sober whilst surrounded by those who weren't.
Taemin was loose, relaxed - he had added cranberry juice to his drink and finished it, pleased, and then opted for a wine cooler because it looked great with its rose colour and enchanting glass bottle. He danced, laughing and dragging Minho with him, grabbing his hand in one and holding his drink in another. They danced together, initially with those they knew and then slowly alone at the edge. Kibum made their way up to them, grinning.
'Look up!,' he called over the music, shouting to make himself heard.
'What?' Minho asked, frowning. Taemin grabbed hold of Kibum's hand to make him dance with him, and Minho was only taken by a short moment of jealousy.
'LOOK UP!' and Taemin tilted his head giddily, Minho doing the same so he wouldn't be caught staring at Taemin.
Mistletoe, bright and gleaming with dusted glitter.
'You guys know the rules,' Kibum said with a wicked grin. 'Kiss!'
Other people around them heard, Kibum always immediately catching attention and gathering curiosity.
'KISS! KISS! KISS!'
Minho looked at Taemin hesitantly, who in return was just - calm, glowing with effect of alcohol and looking back at him fondly, a little bit of mixed bemusement and impatience.
Taemin was suddenly closer, looping his arms around Minho's neck to tug him closer and to whisper into his ear.
'We don't have to if you don't want to,' he said, voice suddenly sober and he took a little step back, enough to let Minho see the blur of his eyelashes and smell the whiff of cranberry on his breath.
And he was close, so close and pliant in his arms that he forgot about everybody else outside their own little bubble, and he let his head lean closer, closer until he took Taemin's lips with his own.
It was slow and sweet, gentle with how Taemin's lips parted easily and the sweet tang of cranberry that lingered on the seams of his lips. And the quiet, sharp little intake of breath Taemin took through his mouth instead of his nose made it all the more perfect, Minho's own lips curling up into a smile as he kissed longer, deeper as Taemin tightened his arms, reached up on tiptoe and let him.
They broke apart a few long seconds after, Minho embarrassed at the cheering and whooping and Kibum looking satisfied and muttering something that suspiciously looked like 'my work is done here'. He didn't know what to do, a slight moment of panic until Taemin laced his fingers through his own, tugging him out into the garden into the cool night air.
'Look at the stars,' Taemin murmured, like his words were all for Minho even with the people all around them.
The sky was clear of clouds, the moon but a sliver in the sky and the stars shone bright, the lack of light letting them shine all the more brighter, delicate and meant to be.
They sat on the edge of the patio, Taemin letting his legs swing and Minho glancing at the silhouette of his profile. Taemin tightened the grip on his hand before turning to look at him knowingly, yet at the same time with the impish slyness Minho had come to recognise.
'What?', Minho had asked.
'You'll know,' Taemin said, and he left it at that. There was nothing else, Taemin leaning his head on his shoulder as he did all the time. It felt like something had clicked into place, like they just were and existed at the right place at the right time in this small corner of the world they had to call their own.
They listened to the music drifting through, joining the dancing again when Taemin heard a song he liked and jumped up, leaving Minho no choice but to follow.
Minho dropped Taemin home, watching him open the door lazily and wave with the way his hand flicked at the wrist.
'Merry christmas,' he called out of the car window.
Taemin held up a finger to his lips, smiling all the while.
'And to you too, hyung.' It was soft, but loud enough for the wind to pick up and carry over to him. Taemin disappeared into his house then, the door closing quietly after.
Taemin - 7.28am
merry christmas!!!
Minho
you're up early
Taemin
:)))))) maybe I didn't sleep
Minho
because of the excitement of christmas? You'll never grow old will you
Taemin
maybe I had something else to think about from last night
Minho didn't know what to think when Taemin invited himself over on boxing day, insisting they had to exchange presents sooner rather than later. He arrived on his doorstep with a bow stuck to his jumper he wore, but neither he nor Taemin drew any attention to it. Taemin seemed unperturbed as he handed over his gift, and tore into his as soon as Minho sat down.
He seemed altogether too pleased at the hat Minho bought him, wearing it all the while they watched crappy christmas tv. Neither of them commented on the way Taemin took Minho's hand to play with, lifting each finger one by one and occasionally running his hands over and sandwiching his hands together. Minho let him, even when it was distracting with the way Taemin's brow furrowed with concentration.
Taemin
new year's eve party at Kibum's????
Minho
ofc
They went at 10 that night. Kibum had found a disco ball from somewhere, and the room was lit, coloured lights fluttering across their faces and adding excitement, hope for the new year to come.
'You won't leave me to find a girl to kiss at midnight, will you?' Taemin had teased.
Minho let an easy grin come across his face. 'Never know, might find a better offer than you,' he said, but his grip on Taemin's shoulder tightened, curled as if to say, no, never, not unless you won't have me and the way Taemin's smile had widened let Minho think he understood.
The countdown began.
'TEN! NINE!' Everybody in the room was chanting, the atmosphere abuzz with excitement, a slight thrum of anticipation.
'EIGHT! SEVEN!' Minho let a smile cross his face - Taemin was right in front of him, eyes bright and darting as he took in everything and everybody all at once.
'SIX! FIVE! FOUR!' he let his hands come to rest on Taemin's waist, as he reached up on tiptoe. Minho bent a little to let Taemin close to his ear.
'No backing out now,' he whispered, and Minho felt the promise of it brushing against his ear.
'THREE! TWO! ONE!'
'Never,' he said, and he leant down once again to Taemin's tilted head, lips parted and offering, repeating this movement that he was sure would become familiar to him.
I am frickin done omg ok i hope u guys enjoyed this, it is 3am now but i'm sure it's still christmas somewhere in the world right?????
also i am sorry my writing feels a lil rusty to me still bcos this is the first time i've written since summer omg school is awful this year as well as just personal stuff really???? but ANYWAY
guys i hope u had a really good christmas and the year to come is better than 2013 woop!!