Nothing Else Better ♥
Taemin sneezed and pulled his sweater tighter.
“Hyung, why’d you drag me out here? It’s freezing.”
Minho glanced at him with a crooked smile, “Just you wait. You won’t regret it.”
The soft, powdery snow crunched under their feet as they walked along the dark, empty streets. It was Christmas Eve at 11 o clock, probably nearing midnight. Taemin was anxious to get back home - he couldn’t wait to see what wondrous gifts awaited him beneath the tree. Minho, however, had spoiled his idea of sneaking downstairs to peek by taking him outside. Right before he could even touch the red ribbon he had his sights set on, he was dragged by the collar out the door.
Where were they going? He wouldn’t say. Why were they out so late at night, while the others were sleeping? He wouldn’t tell. What were they doing? It was a secret.
Suddenly, Minho’s pace became more rapid, and Taemin struggled to keep up without breaking into a jog.
“C’mon, you’re so slow!”
Taemin was bewildered by the excitement Minho had, but was even more startled when the man reached back and took his hand. Although this helped him catch up, it also turned his face bright red.
As they ran, leaving perfect footprints in the snow behind them, Taemin watched his breath fog in front of him, and the similar clouds floating in front of the older man.
His hands and his cheeks were burning, but the icy cold air rushing against him kept him from dying in embarrassment.
“Seriously, hyung, where are you taking me?”
“I already told you, it’s a secret!”
By now the snow was starting to fall again, and it drifted down, sprinkling itself over the city rooftops and their thin sweaters. He shivered but kept running.
Minho stopped abruptly, breathing heavily and smiling down a long alleyway.
“It’s down here,” he said, and started running again.
Taemin groaned in exasperation, and shouted as he began jogging once more, “You better not be tricking me into a workout! I wanna go home, maybe we can get a few hours of sleep before we open presents!”
Minho pouted back at him and Taemin blinked. Since when was his hyung so cute?
“Please, Taemin! I have a present for you… we just have to go out to get it.”
Taemin perked up. Maybe he could get a present before Christmas even started!
Not only this, he thought, his feet now carrying him faster, but the present would be from Minho. His first gift would be one that Minho gave him!
Taemin’s heart fluttered and after some daydreaming, he realized the other man had stopped.
They were standing beside a huge clock, one that reached up above them and over the park they were now in. He gaped, craning his neck to see the hands of the clock nearing each other.
“M-Minho…”
“Look, we made it on time,” the man grinned at him and pushed him up against the base of the grand clock.
“W-what-“
“What do you want for Christmas?”
Taemin paused. The question was random and Minho was close… Close enough to cause his whole body to heat up. Maybe it had been okay that he only wore this small sweater…
“Um… I don’t know…”
“That’s good, cause I picked out something specially for you, and I know you’ll like it.” Minho looked away for a second, as if embarrassed, but their eyes met once more. “Well, there’s nothing else better, right?”
Taemin was majorly confused. What was he getting at? What did he mean, there was nothing else better? Minho hadn’t shown him the present yet, so how was he to know if he liked it or not?
The clock chimed midnight.
Minho reached down, took Taemin’s hands, and leaned in.
Wide eyed, Taemin didn’t really know how to react to the kiss. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach, his heart raced, and he stood still as the clock continued to ring.
By the third chime, he realized what was going on. He subconsciously lifted his arms and wrapped them around Minho’s neck, leaning into him and giving in to the kiss.
When the twelfth chime rang out over their heads, he almost refused to let go of the older man, but settled for the warm spot on his chest.
He snuggled into it, closing his eyes and smiling softly.
“You’re right,” he murmured into the soft sweater, listening to Minho’s heart beat and feeling the man smile above him, “There’s nothing else better.”