SSS 2010: for salted_taiyaki
For: salted_taiyaki
From: Your (Emergency) Secret Santa
Title: Daybreak
Pairing: Onew/Taemin
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 2,981
Summary: SHINee gets stranded in a hotel because of snow, and Taemin stresses over his own feelings/insecurities causing Onew to worry about him.
Taemin frowned as he kicked his feet against the carpet, he was so bored, and as always he had been left alone. He glanced out enviously as he saw the others playing in the snow, dashing about like children as they threw snow balls at each other. Taemin fidgeted, pouting as he wondered why he was the youngest, but he was the only member sitting inside the hotel lobby not playing in the snow. As soon as he thought that, Taemin felt guilty, he felt selfish for thinking like that.
It just hurt when he saw even Jinki-hyung was out there playing with the others, Jinki usually never forgot him. He always included Taemin, and it made him always respect and adore the leader. Because he often was left out or forgotten, the same old excuses about him being too young to understand or participate. Which was he was glad that Jinki usually persuaded everyone to let him join in, but not today. Seeing Jinki outside having so much fun, well it hurt, because it made him see that even Jinki could forget about him. Taemin had always liked to believe he was the most important person to Jinki, the way his eyes would flicker over to him, and his whole face would light up when their eyes met.
Taemin got up slowly, pulling the room key from his pocket deciding a shower would be good, not noticing that Jinki was slowly making his way into the lobby, his eyes intently watching as Taemin entered the lift. Taemin didn’t speak to the manager accompanying him, even when he asked if Taemin was okay, he just shrugged, he didn’t know if he was okay or not, but then who really was okay?
Once he was in his hotel room, he spread out on the bed, just lying there and gazing up at the ceiling. This time he was sharing a room with Jonghyun, he smiled, because Jonghyun always made him feel better. Sometimes Taemin found it hard living with four other males, and being the youngest. Especially right now when he missed his family and they were stranded in a foreign country, it made it harder. He was fine usually, but in winter somehow the pangs of homesickness were stronger. Somehow being with Jonghyun or Jinki usually made him feel better because they were so easy going and made him relax, he wished Jinki was there somehow to comfort him even if he had ignored him earlier.
But when Jinki stumbled into the room moments later, Taemin just stared in shock at the leader, wondering if he had the wrong room. He had just wished that Jinki was there to comfort him, but seeing Jinki in person, it was unexpected and Taemin was sure it was a misunderstanding. Jinki was not really there to see him and it made it hurt just a little under his rib cage. Taemin could feel his heart pounding as he rose up, gently guiding Jinki back to the door, as if he was the older person.
“Hyung, you have the wrong room,” He chided softly, opening the door and preparing himself to push Jinki out, because it was so hard to focus when Jinki was beaming at him like that, his eyes bright and shiny, as he gazed at Taemin with a smile that would melt the ice caps. “You must’ve got the wrong key from Jonghyun-hyung.” Taemin ignored the fact that he wished it wasn’t true, he wished that Jinki was really in the room with him.
“No,” Jinki laughed, “I swapped with Minho, who swapped with Jonghyun.” The leader explained laughing as he shut the door behind him firmly, Taemin’s mind whirled as he tried to make sense of all the information the leader was telling him. “Apparently, Jonghyun and Kibum had something planned, and Minho wanted peace, so we swapped rooms, and I wanted to share a room sometime.” Taemin wondered how Jinki could breathe and speak so fast, he felt out of breath just listening to Jinki talk.
“Oh,” he let out with a soft sighed, wincing as Jinki’s smile faltered and he looked across anxiously at Taemin.
“I mean, you don’t mind sharing with me? Sorry, I thought it’d be nice to share with you.” Jinki bit his lip, “I guess I should’ve asked you first.”
“Hyung, it’s fine, I was just surprised.” Taemin nodded his head, wishing he didn’t feel quite as light headed as he did right then.
Jinki got up slowly, he could hear Taemin thrashing around in the other single bed. Silently he padded over towards him, reaching out to touch his shoulder when he saw that Taemin’s eyes were open, he was awake, which surprised him, he thought Taemin was having a nightmare. Jinki frowned and crouched down, ready to say something but Taemin whimpered softly, it looked like a tear rolled down his cheek and then he just rolled over ignoring Jinki completely.
“Taemin, are you okay?” Jinki whispered, leaning over to touch his shoulder lightly, but Taemin tugged the blankets up and over his head burying himself under them. “Taemin?” Jinki repeated, biting his lip, he wondered if this was a common occurrence, he thought Taemin was having a bad dream, but it seemed like he couldn’t sleep and was upset by something, he was sure he saw a tear sliding down his cheek.
“I’m fine, go to bed hyung.”
Jinki wondered if the others had kept this from him, if Taemin often couldn’t sleep or seemed this upset at night. He bit his lip and breathed in deeply unable to stop thinking about Taemin or stop worrying about him. He was glad that he was sharing a room with Taemin now, determined to keep an eye on the boy the next night too. Jinki hated seeing Taemin upset like this, there was something troubling him and he would get to the bottom of it.
He always loved spending time with Taemin and it made him sad when he saw the younger male sad but unwilling to open up, when Jinki saw him upset and was powerless to help. Jinki wished that sometimes Taemin would let him in, Jinki just wanted to be there for Taemin, it was part of the reason he wanted to share a room with him. In the morning when he woke up, the dim light just creeping into the room he tiptoed over, and stroked Taemin’s cheek lightly, happy to see that he was sleeping soundly.
Taemin avoided Jinki, because he felt hurt that Jinki forgotten about him when the others were playing in the snow but also because of what Jinki had seen. It wasn’t that bad - him tossing and turning in bed and almost crying but in front of the person he admired, the person he liked it was embarrassing. He found it so hard to avoid Jinki, especially the way Jinki looked so sad when Taemin ignored his comments and suggestions during dance practice.
He stuck close to Minho’s side, trying so hard not to notice how Jinki kept looking at him, with those confused eyes, looking so lost and bewildered. Taemin just breathed in deeply, smiling and laughing like normal, because he deemed it was the best way to get over this. When they walked back to the hotel, Taemin glanced up at Kibum about to say something when a snowball hit him in the back, he whirled around angrily, until he saw Jinki grinning across at him, reminded Taemin of a dog, wagging its tail and so eager to please.
He turned away and walked on, acting like nothing had happened, but then Minho grabbed Taemin’s arm, before he playfully pushed him down into the snow. Taemin laughed as he hit the cold surface, and then his band mates lay on top of him, hugging him and weighing him down heavily. Somehow with that weight pressed down on him, he felt lighter, the way the others were including him in their games it made him feel light and happy.
So when they pulled away laughing, Taemin laughed too, even when Jinki hugged him softly, pressing him into the snow. He didn’t have the heart to push him away, especially when Jinki smelt so good, Taemin’s heart just palpitated in his chest, like he had his own marching band in there. He squeezed his eyes shut until someone got him in the face with a snow ball. Then it was all out war, Taemin shrieked as he pushed Jinki off of him and started pelting the others with snow.
Taemin realised he failed at ignoring Jinki when he glanced around and saw that they were the only two still laughing and playing in the snow. That realisation hit him, making him gulp before suddenly running away, he felt guilty as he saw Jinki’s smile slip, the sadness creeping into his eyes again. But Taemin told himself it was nothing to do with him, it was just Jinki, lovable, caring Jinki.
Taemin just wished he could sleep, he was aware of Jinki in the other bed. He sighed heavily, trying to roll onto the other side quietly. He hated this, the fact that Jinki was a metre and a half away, the fact that he just wanted to tell Jinki how he felt, even if he was sure he would be rejected. Taemin frowned as he studied Jinki’s face in the darkness, wondering why everything became so difficult, and why he felt this way for the leader of their group. Taemin, bit his lip as he thought about the neatly wrapped Christmas present in his bag, tomorrow he would give it to Jinki, and hope he didn’t laugh when he opened it. It was from his heart so he hoped like mad that Jinki would love it, it would hurt if he just laughed.
Taemin let out a soft noise, almost a whimper as he felt his feelings get worked into tight knots inside his chest, making his eyes almost water as he lay there. He felt so full of sadness, he just wished that Jinki could regard him differently, that somehow he was special to him. In the darkness he couldn’t escape from the sad thoughts, or his own insecurities, like he didn’t dance that well, or train hard enough either, no matter what Jinki or anyone else said. He squeezed his eyes shut and just fidgeted, getting too worked up as he remembered how Jinki had hugged him earlier, but he had seen Jinki hug the others too. He was deluding himself thinking that he was anything special to Jinki.
“Taemin,” Jinki’s soft voice startled Taemin, and he jerked up but when he saw Jinki hovering above him, he tried to roll onto his side to escape but Jinki held him firmly in place, he was stronger than he looked. “Taemin, what’s wrong?” Jinki’s voice was so soft but it was filled with worry, and Taemin hated hearing that worry in his voice.
“I’m fine,” Taemin replied, but before he could get another word in, Jinki tugged the covers back and climbed into the small single bed, “Hyung?” Taemin screeched, scrambling away from Jinki, but when he older boy wrapped his arms around his body, he lay perfectly still, aware of his heart going crazy again, “Hyung, what the hell?” Taemin tried to sound horrified, but then he felt Jinki’s breath against his collarbone, he swallowed and just lay there, trying to just breathe as he felt Jinki wriggle closer to him. For a second Taemin wondered if he was dreaming, surely this wasn’t reality, he never expected Jinki to climb into bed with him.
“I’m just worried,” Jinki murmured, his breath ghosting hot across Taemin’s collarbones, sending delicious shivers down his body. “Taemin, please tell me what’s wrong? I can’t stand it, seeing you like this, seeing you so upset.” Jinki whispered, “You need to sleep, and I hate knowing that something is worrying you, stopping you from sleeping.”
“Hyung,” Taemin breathed out softly, his mind whirling as he wondered how he was meant to tell Jinki the reason for his behaviour, “I’ll be fine, don’t worry, it just something petty and stupid.” He shrugged, unconsciously shifting into Jinki’s warmth.
“It’s not petty or stupid if it keeps you awake.” Jinki replied sounding stubborn, “I’m not moving until you talk, I could hardly let my favourite dongsaeng suffer in silence.” Jinki smiled as he hugged Taemin tighter, “And you are that, my favourite dongsaeng,” Jinki added as if he knew Taemin doubted him.
“Hyung, you need to sleep,” Taemin tried to reason, but then he remembered how stubborn Jinki was. “Hyung, it’s awkward, I just like someone more than I should.” Taemin finally confessed, “I just need to get over it.” He nodded his head firmly, “it just feels horrible right now, somehow, to be alone, to know that person doesn’t see me the way I see him.”
“Taemin, you don’t know that, you can’t ever really know how someone else feels.” Jinki spoke sounding dreamy somehow, “So you can’t say he doesn’t see you the way you want.” Jinki nodded breathing out softly, and snuggling closer against Taemin, “Hmm, you’re so warm, I don’t even want to move now.”
“Then don’t,” Taemin whispered before he snuck his arms around Jinki’s body, hugging him back just as tightly, “Don’t leave me, hyung.” He smiled, opening his eyes to see Jinki watching him intently, “just stay here hyung, please just stay with me,” he added not caring if his feelings were obvious, he was going to take full advantage of this moment. They lay silently for some time, just staring at each other, until Jinki began to wriggle.
“Hey, let’s get up,” Jinki sat up in Taemin’s bed, tugging on the younger boy’s arm, ignoring the way he groaned. “Come on Taemin, I want to show you something.” Jinki smiled when he finally managed to coax Taemin out of the bed. He frowned across at Jinki for disturbing that perfect moment, his frown deepening when Jinki opened the balcony, a blast of wintry air hitting him. Taemin didn’t care what happened in the morning, but in the darkness lying encased in Jinki’s arms had been perfect.
“Hyung! Are you insane, it’s freezing!” Taemin whined shivering, until Jinki looked back at him, he then padded back to his bed and tugged the duvet off, and wrapped it around their shoulders. “Hyung, seriously though, what the hell,” Taemin complained, wondering if Jinki was sick or if he was the sick person the way he let Jinki lead him out onto the balcony, meek as a lamb.
“No I’m not insane,” Jinki smiled, and Taemin felt a surge of warmth as Jinki grabbed his hand, wrapping his fingers around Taemin’s as he pulled him out to sit on the wooden balcony. Taemin shivered again, but then Jinki hugged him sideways, encasing him warmly in the bedding and his arms. Cautiously Taemin turned to look at Jinki, but the older male pointed out across the balcony, and Taemin’s jaw dropped open as he stared out across the balcony at the scenery.
Fresh snow had fallen during the night and it lay thick and undisturbed covering everything in a thick white blanket. It looked as if they were the only people in the world, there was no sign of civilisation, just trees covered in white, and above them the sun had started to rise, a bright golden light, covering the snow and the sky in layers of orange-y pinks. Taemin found it hard to breathe as he stared at the colours, and the way the snow reflected the morning light in softer shades, making it look even more spectacular than usual.
Taemin couldn’t stop staring at the colours painted across the snow, and how bright and brilliant the sun looked by contrast the colours splashed across the snow. When he felt Jinki shifting next to him, squeezing his hand tightly, he didn’t think he could be happier than sitting next to Jinki and watching the sunrise. He smiled brightly and turned to look at Jinki, his breath gushing out in white puffs of steam, as he studied Jinki’s face, seeing how happy and beautiful he looked. The light painted his skin a faint pink golden hue, making Jinki’s skin glow.
“Merry Christmas, Taemin,” Jinki whispered, turning to look at the younger boy, “Merry Christmas,” he repeated softer before he leaned across to kiss him tenderly across the lips.
“See Taemin,” Jinki murmured moments later, “you can’t always assume people don’t feel the same way you do,” he smiled, leaning in across to kiss Taemin’s nose softly. “Taemin-ah, in case it wasn’t obvious, I really like you.”
“Hyung, you knew how I felt?” Taemin punched Jinki’s shoulder lightly under the blankets, making the leader wince and pretend to be hurt. “Did you,” Taemin pouted, “Well at least you told me finally, I might forgive you for that,” He frowned sternly across at Jinki, “if you make it up to me,” he grinned and leaned his head against Jinki’s shoulder, “I really like you too.”
“I know, I know,” Jinki murmured, and Taemin had a thousand things to say and ask but that could come later. He felt perfectly content to sit with Jinki and watch the sun rise, it felt like the most perfect Christmas ever. He squeezed Jinki’s hand, feeling so warm and cosy as Jinki peppered his cheek with kisses. He snuggled against Jinki, feeling so glad that everything had turned out the way it had - that they had been stranded by the snow, and he ended up sharing the hotel room with Jinki. It had all worked out so well, and Taemin didn’t think it was possible to be happier than he was right then.
From: Your (Emergency) Secret Santa
Title: Daybreak
Pairing: Onew/Taemin
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 2,981
Summary: SHINee gets stranded in a hotel because of snow, and Taemin stresses over his own feelings/insecurities causing Onew to worry about him.
Taemin frowned as he kicked his feet against the carpet, he was so bored, and as always he had been left alone. He glanced out enviously as he saw the others playing in the snow, dashing about like children as they threw snow balls at each other. Taemin fidgeted, pouting as he wondered why he was the youngest, but he was the only member sitting inside the hotel lobby not playing in the snow. As soon as he thought that, Taemin felt guilty, he felt selfish for thinking like that.
It just hurt when he saw even Jinki-hyung was out there playing with the others, Jinki usually never forgot him. He always included Taemin, and it made him always respect and adore the leader. Because he often was left out or forgotten, the same old excuses about him being too young to understand or participate. Which was he was glad that Jinki usually persuaded everyone to let him join in, but not today. Seeing Jinki outside having so much fun, well it hurt, because it made him see that even Jinki could forget about him. Taemin had always liked to believe he was the most important person to Jinki, the way his eyes would flicker over to him, and his whole face would light up when their eyes met.
Taemin got up slowly, pulling the room key from his pocket deciding a shower would be good, not noticing that Jinki was slowly making his way into the lobby, his eyes intently watching as Taemin entered the lift. Taemin didn’t speak to the manager accompanying him, even when he asked if Taemin was okay, he just shrugged, he didn’t know if he was okay or not, but then who really was okay?
Once he was in his hotel room, he spread out on the bed, just lying there and gazing up at the ceiling. This time he was sharing a room with Jonghyun, he smiled, because Jonghyun always made him feel better. Sometimes Taemin found it hard living with four other males, and being the youngest. Especially right now when he missed his family and they were stranded in a foreign country, it made it harder. He was fine usually, but in winter somehow the pangs of homesickness were stronger. Somehow being with Jonghyun or Jinki usually made him feel better because they were so easy going and made him relax, he wished Jinki was there somehow to comfort him even if he had ignored him earlier.
But when Jinki stumbled into the room moments later, Taemin just stared in shock at the leader, wondering if he had the wrong room. He had just wished that Jinki was there to comfort him, but seeing Jinki in person, it was unexpected and Taemin was sure it was a misunderstanding. Jinki was not really there to see him and it made it hurt just a little under his rib cage. Taemin could feel his heart pounding as he rose up, gently guiding Jinki back to the door, as if he was the older person.
“Hyung, you have the wrong room,” He chided softly, opening the door and preparing himself to push Jinki out, because it was so hard to focus when Jinki was beaming at him like that, his eyes bright and shiny, as he gazed at Taemin with a smile that would melt the ice caps. “You must’ve got the wrong key from Jonghyun-hyung.” Taemin ignored the fact that he wished it wasn’t true, he wished that Jinki was really in the room with him.
“No,” Jinki laughed, “I swapped with Minho, who swapped with Jonghyun.” The leader explained laughing as he shut the door behind him firmly, Taemin’s mind whirled as he tried to make sense of all the information the leader was telling him. “Apparently, Jonghyun and Kibum had something planned, and Minho wanted peace, so we swapped rooms, and I wanted to share a room sometime.” Taemin wondered how Jinki could breathe and speak so fast, he felt out of breath just listening to Jinki talk.
“Oh,” he let out with a soft sighed, wincing as Jinki’s smile faltered and he looked across anxiously at Taemin.
“I mean, you don’t mind sharing with me? Sorry, I thought it’d be nice to share with you.” Jinki bit his lip, “I guess I should’ve asked you first.”
“Hyung, it’s fine, I was just surprised.” Taemin nodded his head, wishing he didn’t feel quite as light headed as he did right then.
Jinki got up slowly, he could hear Taemin thrashing around in the other single bed. Silently he padded over towards him, reaching out to touch his shoulder when he saw that Taemin’s eyes were open, he was awake, which surprised him, he thought Taemin was having a nightmare. Jinki frowned and crouched down, ready to say something but Taemin whimpered softly, it looked like a tear rolled down his cheek and then he just rolled over ignoring Jinki completely.
“Taemin, are you okay?” Jinki whispered, leaning over to touch his shoulder lightly, but Taemin tugged the blankets up and over his head burying himself under them. “Taemin?” Jinki repeated, biting his lip, he wondered if this was a common occurrence, he thought Taemin was having a bad dream, but it seemed like he couldn’t sleep and was upset by something, he was sure he saw a tear sliding down his cheek.
“I’m fine, go to bed hyung.”
Jinki wondered if the others had kept this from him, if Taemin often couldn’t sleep or seemed this upset at night. He bit his lip and breathed in deeply unable to stop thinking about Taemin or stop worrying about him. He was glad that he was sharing a room with Taemin now, determined to keep an eye on the boy the next night too. Jinki hated seeing Taemin upset like this, there was something troubling him and he would get to the bottom of it.
He always loved spending time with Taemin and it made him sad when he saw the younger male sad but unwilling to open up, when Jinki saw him upset and was powerless to help. Jinki wished that sometimes Taemin would let him in, Jinki just wanted to be there for Taemin, it was part of the reason he wanted to share a room with him. In the morning when he woke up, the dim light just creeping into the room he tiptoed over, and stroked Taemin’s cheek lightly, happy to see that he was sleeping soundly.
Taemin avoided Jinki, because he felt hurt that Jinki forgotten about him when the others were playing in the snow but also because of what Jinki had seen. It wasn’t that bad - him tossing and turning in bed and almost crying but in front of the person he admired, the person he liked it was embarrassing. He found it so hard to avoid Jinki, especially the way Jinki looked so sad when Taemin ignored his comments and suggestions during dance practice.
He stuck close to Minho’s side, trying so hard not to notice how Jinki kept looking at him, with those confused eyes, looking so lost and bewildered. Taemin just breathed in deeply, smiling and laughing like normal, because he deemed it was the best way to get over this. When they walked back to the hotel, Taemin glanced up at Kibum about to say something when a snowball hit him in the back, he whirled around angrily, until he saw Jinki grinning across at him, reminded Taemin of a dog, wagging its tail and so eager to please.
He turned away and walked on, acting like nothing had happened, but then Minho grabbed Taemin’s arm, before he playfully pushed him down into the snow. Taemin laughed as he hit the cold surface, and then his band mates lay on top of him, hugging him and weighing him down heavily. Somehow with that weight pressed down on him, he felt lighter, the way the others were including him in their games it made him feel light and happy.
So when they pulled away laughing, Taemin laughed too, even when Jinki hugged him softly, pressing him into the snow. He didn’t have the heart to push him away, especially when Jinki smelt so good, Taemin’s heart just palpitated in his chest, like he had his own marching band in there. He squeezed his eyes shut until someone got him in the face with a snow ball. Then it was all out war, Taemin shrieked as he pushed Jinki off of him and started pelting the others with snow.
Taemin realised he failed at ignoring Jinki when he glanced around and saw that they were the only two still laughing and playing in the snow. That realisation hit him, making him gulp before suddenly running away, he felt guilty as he saw Jinki’s smile slip, the sadness creeping into his eyes again. But Taemin told himself it was nothing to do with him, it was just Jinki, lovable, caring Jinki.
Taemin just wished he could sleep, he was aware of Jinki in the other bed. He sighed heavily, trying to roll onto the other side quietly. He hated this, the fact that Jinki was a metre and a half away, the fact that he just wanted to tell Jinki how he felt, even if he was sure he would be rejected. Taemin frowned as he studied Jinki’s face in the darkness, wondering why everything became so difficult, and why he felt this way for the leader of their group. Taemin, bit his lip as he thought about the neatly wrapped Christmas present in his bag, tomorrow he would give it to Jinki, and hope he didn’t laugh when he opened it. It was from his heart so he hoped like mad that Jinki would love it, it would hurt if he just laughed.
Taemin let out a soft noise, almost a whimper as he felt his feelings get worked into tight knots inside his chest, making his eyes almost water as he lay there. He felt so full of sadness, he just wished that Jinki could regard him differently, that somehow he was special to him. In the darkness he couldn’t escape from the sad thoughts, or his own insecurities, like he didn’t dance that well, or train hard enough either, no matter what Jinki or anyone else said. He squeezed his eyes shut and just fidgeted, getting too worked up as he remembered how Jinki had hugged him earlier, but he had seen Jinki hug the others too. He was deluding himself thinking that he was anything special to Jinki.
“Taemin,” Jinki’s soft voice startled Taemin, and he jerked up but when he saw Jinki hovering above him, he tried to roll onto his side to escape but Jinki held him firmly in place, he was stronger than he looked. “Taemin, what’s wrong?” Jinki’s voice was so soft but it was filled with worry, and Taemin hated hearing that worry in his voice.
“I’m fine,” Taemin replied, but before he could get another word in, Jinki tugged the covers back and climbed into the small single bed, “Hyung?” Taemin screeched, scrambling away from Jinki, but when he older boy wrapped his arms around his body, he lay perfectly still, aware of his heart going crazy again, “Hyung, what the hell?” Taemin tried to sound horrified, but then he felt Jinki’s breath against his collarbone, he swallowed and just lay there, trying to just breathe as he felt Jinki wriggle closer to him. For a second Taemin wondered if he was dreaming, surely this wasn’t reality, he never expected Jinki to climb into bed with him.
“I’m just worried,” Jinki murmured, his breath ghosting hot across Taemin’s collarbones, sending delicious shivers down his body. “Taemin, please tell me what’s wrong? I can’t stand it, seeing you like this, seeing you so upset.” Jinki whispered, “You need to sleep, and I hate knowing that something is worrying you, stopping you from sleeping.”
“Hyung,” Taemin breathed out softly, his mind whirling as he wondered how he was meant to tell Jinki the reason for his behaviour, “I’ll be fine, don’t worry, it just something petty and stupid.” He shrugged, unconsciously shifting into Jinki’s warmth.
“It’s not petty or stupid if it keeps you awake.” Jinki replied sounding stubborn, “I’m not moving until you talk, I could hardly let my favourite dongsaeng suffer in silence.” Jinki smiled as he hugged Taemin tighter, “And you are that, my favourite dongsaeng,” Jinki added as if he knew Taemin doubted him.
“Hyung, you need to sleep,” Taemin tried to reason, but then he remembered how stubborn Jinki was. “Hyung, it’s awkward, I just like someone more than I should.” Taemin finally confessed, “I just need to get over it.” He nodded his head firmly, “it just feels horrible right now, somehow, to be alone, to know that person doesn’t see me the way I see him.”
“Taemin, you don’t know that, you can’t ever really know how someone else feels.” Jinki spoke sounding dreamy somehow, “So you can’t say he doesn’t see you the way you want.” Jinki nodded breathing out softly, and snuggling closer against Taemin, “Hmm, you’re so warm, I don’t even want to move now.”
“Then don’t,” Taemin whispered before he snuck his arms around Jinki’s body, hugging him back just as tightly, “Don’t leave me, hyung.” He smiled, opening his eyes to see Jinki watching him intently, “just stay here hyung, please just stay with me,” he added not caring if his feelings were obvious, he was going to take full advantage of this moment. They lay silently for some time, just staring at each other, until Jinki began to wriggle.
“Hey, let’s get up,” Jinki sat up in Taemin’s bed, tugging on the younger boy’s arm, ignoring the way he groaned. “Come on Taemin, I want to show you something.” Jinki smiled when he finally managed to coax Taemin out of the bed. He frowned across at Jinki for disturbing that perfect moment, his frown deepening when Jinki opened the balcony, a blast of wintry air hitting him. Taemin didn’t care what happened in the morning, but in the darkness lying encased in Jinki’s arms had been perfect.
“Hyung! Are you insane, it’s freezing!” Taemin whined shivering, until Jinki looked back at him, he then padded back to his bed and tugged the duvet off, and wrapped it around their shoulders. “Hyung, seriously though, what the hell,” Taemin complained, wondering if Jinki was sick or if he was the sick person the way he let Jinki lead him out onto the balcony, meek as a lamb.
“No I’m not insane,” Jinki smiled, and Taemin felt a surge of warmth as Jinki grabbed his hand, wrapping his fingers around Taemin’s as he pulled him out to sit on the wooden balcony. Taemin shivered again, but then Jinki hugged him sideways, encasing him warmly in the bedding and his arms. Cautiously Taemin turned to look at Jinki, but the older male pointed out across the balcony, and Taemin’s jaw dropped open as he stared out across the balcony at the scenery.
Fresh snow had fallen during the night and it lay thick and undisturbed covering everything in a thick white blanket. It looked as if they were the only people in the world, there was no sign of civilisation, just trees covered in white, and above them the sun had started to rise, a bright golden light, covering the snow and the sky in layers of orange-y pinks. Taemin found it hard to breathe as he stared at the colours, and the way the snow reflected the morning light in softer shades, making it look even more spectacular than usual.
Taemin couldn’t stop staring at the colours painted across the snow, and how bright and brilliant the sun looked by contrast the colours splashed across the snow. When he felt Jinki shifting next to him, squeezing his hand tightly, he didn’t think he could be happier than sitting next to Jinki and watching the sunrise. He smiled brightly and turned to look at Jinki, his breath gushing out in white puffs of steam, as he studied Jinki’s face, seeing how happy and beautiful he looked. The light painted his skin a faint pink golden hue, making Jinki’s skin glow.
“Merry Christmas, Taemin,” Jinki whispered, turning to look at the younger boy, “Merry Christmas,” he repeated softer before he leaned across to kiss him tenderly across the lips.
“See Taemin,” Jinki murmured moments later, “you can’t always assume people don’t feel the same way you do,” he smiled, leaning in across to kiss Taemin’s nose softly. “Taemin-ah, in case it wasn’t obvious, I really like you.”
“Hyung, you knew how I felt?” Taemin punched Jinki’s shoulder lightly under the blankets, making the leader wince and pretend to be hurt. “Did you,” Taemin pouted, “Well at least you told me finally, I might forgive you for that,” He frowned sternly across at Jinki, “if you make it up to me,” he grinned and leaned his head against Jinki’s shoulder, “I really like you too.”
“I know, I know,” Jinki murmured, and Taemin had a thousand things to say and ask but that could come later. He felt perfectly content to sit with Jinki and watch the sun rise, it felt like the most perfect Christmas ever. He squeezed Jinki’s hand, feeling so warm and cosy as Jinki peppered his cheek with kisses. He snuggled against Jinki, feeling so glad that everything had turned out the way it had - that they had been stranded by the snow, and he ended up sharing the hotel room with Jinki. It had all worked out so well, and Taemin didn’t think it was possible to be happier than he was right then.