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Seasonal Shift

Summary:

The holidays are a complex time, bringing in the highs and lows. Families and relationships are as equally complicated… but maybe they don’t need to be.

OR

Seokjin and Namjoon go on a holiday road trip.

Notes:

This is a holiday gift to thank all my lovely readers! I am endlessly grateful for all the support my art/fics have received this year. I love the little community we have here, bonding over BTS’ art for art’s sake. It’s helped me avoid sinking too far into that dark ocean. As I am posting this, I’m still not quite sure how to feel about this fic. This was completely self indulgent, using words and imagery to take me back to a time when traveling was easier and meeting loved ones was a given. The holidays this year left me feeling a bit empty and hopeless, to be quite honest. I think the reason I was so adamant on completing this fic by New Year’s was because I unknowingly was trying to convince myself of the message I ended up writing about.

2020 has been really hard—we know this, already.

It’s how we adapt and shift our perspective that really matters now. There is a lot out of our control and we can’t help but feel anxious. Even still, we cannot let ourselves stop living and connecting with one another.

That’s the only goal I have for 2021: to stay connected.
Here’s to hoping that the new year brings us fresh new starts at our own pace with gentle hands. 💜🤟🏼 Enjoy!

* Title and Fic inspired by Calexico *

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

The repeated loud honking of a car wakes up Seokjin from the much-needed nap he had been partaking in. He groans loudly, shifts onto his side (as much as he can, within the small space he is provided), and hikes up the blanket over his head as a means to shield him from the outside world.

He closes his eyes and lets his body relax into his neck pillow, the seat warmers working on overdrive as he tries to lull himself back into a deep slumber…

And then Moni begins whining because they've somehow gotten stuck in traffic, and another dog is peeking its head out of an SUV window next to them, tongue lolling out and everything.

Seokjin is about to snark out some kind of complaint, but then another long honk fills his ears, officially waking him up enough to know he won't be able to go back to sleep. He turns his head to watch Namjoon wave happily to the Jeep one lane over, the driver giving them a thumbs up while pointing to the hood of their car.

Seokjin can't help the stink eye he sends his way.

"I regret giving you permission to decorate the car; this is the hundredth person that has honked at us this whole trip!" Seokjin complains from the passenger seat.

Namjoon turns to him then, and a broad smile is displayed proudly on his face.

"Yeah! Isn't it awesome? It's like our own little North Pole in here!" Namjoon beams as he stretches his arm out to smooth down the back of Seokjin's hair. 

Seokjin doesn't need to look in the mirror to know he looked a mess. He was slightly sweaty, his face was puffy, his lips were chapped regardless of the amount of lip balm he slathered on, and his hair remained a frizzy nest. That wasn't even the worst of it. Oh no.

The reindeer footie pajamas worn, antlers with sleigh bells and everything, nearly did it for him. Seokjin refused to put the hoodie on, covering as much of the disastrous garment with his knee-length puffer jacket as he could every time they had to make a pitstop. Only middle-aged moms and children wore these things! And Seokjin was neither. No, he was a man in his late twenties who had a boyfriend who willingly indulged in the campiness that was the Christmas season despite all his complaints and pleas.

Bah-humbug.

The thing was, Seokjin couldn't even be thoroughly pissed off about it. 

And why was that?

Well, because he is completely and irrevocably whipped for the entity that is one Kim Namjoon.   

Up until now, Seokjin was still struggling with tracing down when precisely that had happened. One day, he'd woken up with plans of purchasing a tiny home because he'd sworn to remain forever alone and devoid of any sex. The next, he'd found himself complaining to Namjoon about the lack of closet space in their shared apartment because who the hell owns this many shoes ? Time goes by fast when one's having fun, he supposes.

It's been a little over a year and a half since Seokjin and Namjoon became boyfriends. Judging by the matching pj's, looping Michael Buble CD, and the large antlers attached to the exterior of their station wagon, it's also been a year and a half since Seokjin had broken his previously well-trained resilience of saying no.

That's right, whipped.

"How much longer until our next stop? I want to buy some hand cream; my skin is getting so dry!" Seokjin whines through a pout.

"One more hour. This upcoming pit stop is supposed to be cool; there's rocks we'll be able to check out!" Namjoon exclaims, sleigh bells ringing from his hoodie's antlers as he turns his head to switch lanes. Traffic was dispersing, and they were well on their way once more.

Rocks?

Namjoon was lucky he was damn cute. Anything less than, and Seokjin would have hitchhiked home a long ass time ago. Probably back in Missouri so he could have a taste of that Provel cheese. He heard it was the 'bomb dot com.' 

God, he needed to stop watching Guy Fieri.

"Well, good thing there's no snow. Although, it doesn't really feel holiday-ish without it, does it?" Seokjin comments, snuggling back into the snowflake patterned blanket.

"Maybe for you. I grew up with fake snow machines and palm trees covered in lights. Or did you forget?" Namjoon teased, leaning back in the driver seat once the cars' flow went back to regular highway speed.

"People rented snow machines?" Seokjin asks, eyes trained on the endless scenery of nothingness passing by his window.

"Yep! Although it was a bit pathetic when it wouldn't reach the whole yard. If you looked at it in one direction, you'd get a winter wonderland, but as soon as you turned the corner, you'd face patches of green grass with the sprinkler running. It often felt like some kind of dystopian video game world," Namjoon explained with a chuckle.

"California sounds like a fever dream," Seokjin comments.

"No, that's only Los Angeles."

Seokjin clicks his tongue. "Ah, my bad."

"You'll like Anaheim, though. Well, I like it," Namjoon amended.

Anaheim: their final destination and Namjoon's hometown. They were spending their holiday vacation with his big family, partaking in all the Christmas traditions and festivities. This visit was also going to be the first time Seokjin would meet his boyfriend's parents, and his anxiety was flying through the roof.

Due to that anxiety, Seokjin had quickly reminded Namjoon about his fear of flying when initially proposing the idea. Unfortunately, Namjoon was too perfect and had perked up with a fantastic alternative: driving to California.

From Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois to Anaheim, California.

That was an over thirty-hour drive, and just the thought of being cooped up in a tiny space for more than five minutes at a time caused Seokjin to twitch a bit.

"Baby, this could be so much fun! A little adventure for us—Oh my god! We can bring Moni this way, too!" Namjoon had reasoned, eyes wide and dimples digging deep into those round cheeks.

And Seokjin couldn't say no, remember? Whipped .

So here they were, one full day of driving under their belt and a couple more hours yet to come, and Seokjin was freaking out—on the inside, of course. He didn't want to ruin Namjoon's excitement with his insecurities because what kind of good boyfriend did that? No, he needed to be on his best behavior just long enough for Namjoon's parents not to hate him. That was doable, right?

"Joon-ah, go through the Kim family Christmas itinerary with me again?" He asked, sliding on his sunglasses to shield him from the bright sun rays peeking through the windshield.

"Well, it's Christmas Eve, which means eomma will probably be cooking up a storm. She's going to ask us to help out—except for me, of course. I'll be in charge of wrapping duty because I'm somehow really good at it," Namjoon explains, a quizzical expression passing over his face for a second before smoothing out into a slight smile. "Hey, maybe you can make those mini pies of yours!"

"Portuguese custard tarts!" Seokjin is quick to correct because he'd worked too hard at mastering his pastry skills for anyone to refer to his creations as just pies.

"Yeah, those!" Namjoon smooths over with a smile and a wink. Ugh, adorable bastard! Seokjin thinks to himself.

"Okay, what's next?" Seokjin urges. Namjoon had already gone over this with him, but Seokjin had been too preoccupied—final grade submission and packing had taken up focus. Now, the uncertainty was getting the best of him.

"Well, Christmas Eve means we have our annual breakfast for dinner tradition. Afterward, eomma and the aunts head to church while the cousins go out and have a party of our own—think, drinking and games. Christmas Day means we wake up precisely at eight and wear matching pajamas—don't worry, eomma made sure to get us each a set. We exchange gifts, take family photos, and have a big brunch."

"This is the famous one, right? The one where Aunt Kathy started that kimchi feud?" Seokjin asks, a slight grin on his face at having remembered the insight into the family drama.

"Yes, the same brunch where my sixteen-year-old cousin revealed she was pregnant, my sister got slapped by my aunt, and Uncle Bang got exposed to having an affair. The big brunch!" Namjoon finishes with an amused smile, one hand letting go of the steering wheel to pet Moni in the backseat. The white Eskimo greedily accepts the extra affection.

"How lovely," Seokjin jokes. 

Behind his laugh, the nervousness rumbling in Seokjin's gut only gets bigger. What would Namjoon's family think of him? Would he pass all their hidden tests? Did they even like gay people?

"Don't worry; the big brunch also has the best food. It's all worth it to have a taste of eomma's jajangmyeon, my favorite—aw, babe! I like yours, too!" Namjoon begins to amend after noticing Seokjin's pout.

"If my cooking is not—"

"Stop. I love your cooking, Jin-ah. I love all of you," Namjoon says sweetly. He briefly turns his eyes away from the road to look at his boyfriend so openly, eyes dripping pools of honey displaying so much adoration.

Seokjin can't take it. He pushes Namjoon's face away with his hand and outwardly groans. "Ugh, okay, fine. What comes after brunch?"

After pinching Seokjin's side and making fun of how squeamish his boyfriend can get, Namjoon turns back to the road and continues his rundown. 

"After brunch, we spend the rest of the day watching movies and playing games. It's a lot more fun than it sounds! Anyway, that's Christmas Day. On the twenty-sixth, the fam heads out to Disneyland because it's literally across the street, and we always somehow have a hookup for discounted tickets."

Seokjin continues listening to Namjoon talk about the regimented schedule they're going to have to follow once arriving at his parent's home. It seems the Kim family does not waste a single second of the holiday break, each day involving constant activities with a revolving door of family members coming in and out. They would be traveling all over California, cousins, and extended family located all over the large state. Namjoon didn't mind one bit because it meant he could introduce Seokjin to more people and show him different parts of his childhood. It was going to be great!

Seokjin felt overwhelmed as all hell.

He wasn't used to this; he'd never done the whole 'meeting the parents' thing. Seokjin has never dated anyone long or seriously enough for him to have had to go through that ordeal. It didn't help that Namjoon's family was the type to be big and overbearing. His introverted self can only take so much.

The second that Namjoon parks the car at the rest stop and steps out to go to the bathroom, Seokjin whips out his phone to send a flurry of messages to his best friend, Yoongi.

 

Seokjin:

Is it too late to join the Min family for Christmas this year?

I can make whatever your mom wants

YOONGI HELP ME

Yoongi:

Okay, first: chill.

Second, you are not allowed to come over for Christmas.

I'm already going to get interrogated for why I'm single as it is. Having you there will only make it worse.

Seokjin:

Is it because your mom wishes I was her future son in law?

Yoongi:

Ew, no

It's because you have a perfect boyfriend already and then my mom will start asking me why it's so hard for me to find a partner.

How do I even begin to explain aromanticism to my mother?

Seokjin:

Okay, nvm. Still, I need an out

Yoongi:

Why are you freaking out?

Seokjin:

Because Namjoon has a crazy big family and I am overwhelmed as fuck.

I don't think I'm cut out for this dude

Yoongi:

That's it?

Seokjin:

YOONGIIIIIII

Yoongi:

Ugh fine

You have nothing to worry about. You're super charming when you want to be and Namjoon basically worships the ground you walk on.

Plus you're Korean AND speak it, that's like already marriage material right there

Seokjin:

...marriage

Yoongi:

ah fuck... Ignore that last part

Seokjin:

We haven't even talked about marriage. Is this a test?

o you think Namjoon won't want to marry me if I mess this up? If his parents hate me?

 WHAT IF I EAT THE WRONG KIMCHI? AUNT KATHY WILL SLAP ME

Yoongi:

Wait what? Who's aunt Kathy?

Seokjin:

oop gotta go! Potty time!

Yoongi:

kk

btw, don't call it that,,, you're 28

 

Seokjin barely sends a middle finger emoji to Yoongi before a hyper Moni quickly ambushes him as he walks out of the bathroom. He bends down to greet the dog just as Namjoon snaps a picture with his phone.

"Ready to see those rocks? I think we'll be able to climb them!" Namjoon says excitedly.

They were currently in New Mexico, the weather somewhere in the forties. Namjoon and Seokjin followed a path a little off from where the rest stop was, hand in hand with a happy Moni leading the way. The bright sun only made the red dirt and canyon rocks that much more beautiful. Seokjin had to admit that rocks could be very cool begrudgingly.

After climbing giant boulders and taking pictures—Seokjin having to embarrassingly stand in front of the landscape wearing the stupid reindeer onesie as strangers cooed and shouted compliments to the "cute little family"—they were back on the road and entering Arizona. Only ten more hours to go. Yippee!

He and Namjoon had switched positions, Seokjin taking on driving duties as the other took a much-needed nap. Seokjin takes this as an opportunity to change the music; there was only so much Michael Bublé one can take in one sitting. As he fiddles with the knobs on the station wagon's stereo, the next CD is loaded, and the soft strumming of a guitar begins to play.

A sudden wave of emotion flows through Seokjin as he relaxes back into his seat and focuses on the music. It was the mix CD Namjoon made for him when they first began dating. Seokjin had gotten into a car accident back then, leaving him with a slight PTSD that Namjoon had quickly picked up on. He'd made this playlist as a way for Seokjin to feel less anxious, the songs chosen to be smooth and mellow enough to sink into without being distracting.

Looking back at it now, Seokjin can admit that might have been the moment he had unknowingly committed himself wholeheartedly to Namjoon. They had only gone on a couple of dates then, their relationship status not having been confirmed between themselves yet. It would only take one home-cooked meal from Seokjin for Namjoon to finally declare them boyfriends. Seokjin couldn't even be upset that he hadn't even been asked—he'd been told he had a boyfriend.

But that was Kim Namjoon: overwhelmingly endearing and blunt, to a fault. That was something Seokjin had always envied him for: the ability to be open about anything and everything. It was something he was still getting the hang of, expressing his wants and needs. It had been such a long time since he had dated anyone, let alone live with them, too. 

Namjoon was different, though. Seokjin could bet on that with everything he owned. Namjoon had always thought of them as a unit since the beginning—he put in as much effort as possibly could, and Seokjin was amazed that these types of relationships could even exist. Perfect men like this don't come about that often.

And that is why Seokjin was currently shitting bricks at the thought of having to face his significant other's family.

First impressions are everything, and any wrong move could either end their relationship or cause a future laden with awkward and tense encounters. It sounded extreme, but here's the thing: Namjoon likes his family. Yeah, shocker. The dimpled dork actually enjoys his family's get-togethers and abundance of members. He embraced the loud, chaotic holidays while Seokjin could only crave for a quiet Christmas morning on his couch watching cheesy Hallmark movies. He just wasn't used to that kind of family dynamic or any family dynamic for that matter.

Seokjin's family wasn't what one would call warm. He had one, don't get him wrong! They just never seemed to be close or in the same country for that matter. Seokjin's parents were currently living in South Korea, both of them retiring in their motherland as soon as their sons grew up and started forming their own lives. At the same time, his only older brother had moved to Canada upon marrying his college sweetheart. The happy couple had recently purchased their first home, somewhere in Toronto. Seokjin couldn't say much more than that. He hadn't heard the full story from his brother yet. That left Seokjin alone in the windy city of Chicago. He'd gone to art school there to study film, and then he'd never left.

Chicago had become his new home.

Having moved so frequently as a child had left him craving a sense of stability upon graduating college. He loved the city—everything he could ever possibly need was within reach. There were enough studios for him to work on production sets, gaining experience on the job while still participating in indie film talks and panels—all within the same neighborhood! He loved every bit of it!

As he met more people and gained like-minded friends, he never felt like he was missing out on that "family' dynamic. He was comfortable only receiving phone calls and the ever so often letter from his mom and dad. He communicated with Seokjung, his brother, by sending each other memes and movie reviews. That was enough for them. His family was small and not 'common,' but he still felt their love; they were still family. Seokjin had been content with this arrangement.

And then he'd met Namjoon.

After working in the field for a couple of years, Seokjin had been invited by an old professor to teach a class at his alma mater. They were desperately in need of someone to fulfill the part-time faculty position for the fall semester. Seokjin readily agreed after seeing the offered salary. He could still work his day job and get paid to talk about movies to a bunch of freshmen. It was a pretty sweet deal!

The first semester as a teacher went fantastic. Seokjin's students left him with outstanding reviews; aside from being handsome and funny, the feedback overall highlighted his skills at making any lecture sound interesting no matter what. It seemed his passion had been infectious, which led to an invitation to teach the following semester again. Sooner or later, Seokjin had become a full-time film professor and supervisor of the student-run broadcasting channel.

Seokjin had inquired about needing a design student to give their program a much-needed rebranding. Luckily, he'd been instantly connected to just the right person for the job. And what a connection that was.

Kim Namjoon was a full-time graphic design professor and supervisor of the school's national design association's student chapter. Seokjin had thought nothing of it, expecting a grumpy weathered man dressed in monochrome grays. Oh, how wrong he'd been.

Upon knocking on Namjoon's office door one morning, Seokjin hadn't anticipated facing six feet of young, handsome, and charming wrapped up in soft flannel and tight chinos, not one gray in sight. Seokjin had found it very hard not to make it obvious how much he was struggling to keep himself from outwardly staring. He never once had any hot teachers while he was in school––the students should be more appreciative of their privilege. The injustice of it all!

Namjoon introduced himself and talked about how exceptional his students and the design association were. Seokjin hadn't even minded that he just used up his whole break because, god, those dimples were everything! It wasn't until Seokjin was finally asking Namjoon about his need for a designer that Namjoon had slapped him out of his thirsting.

"No? What do you mean no?" Seokjin had exclaimed, forgetting his manners for a split second.

"Uh, I just don't feel comfortable passing this on to any of my students," Namjoon explained with a shrug of a shoulder.

"Why?" Seokjin asked carefully, eyes squinting a bit.

"Well, a rebranding is a whole lot of work. It's more than just a logo—it's creating a whole visual system. Also, you've already given me client red flags," Namjoon answered, matter of fact.

"Red flags? I just told you I needed a logo!" Seokjin shook his head, not believing what he was hearing.

Namjoon rolls his eyes, but somehow, it didn't come off as rude. More like, he patiently rolled his eyes. Seokjin didn't know what to make of it. Was he being talked down to? Well, that won't do.

"Fine. I'll just make the logo myself; it can't be that hard!" Seokjin had boldly stated, leaving behind an amused Namjoon in his office.

It turns out logos are really fucking hard to make.

So with his pride swallowed down, and a batch of freshly baked cookies in hand, Seokjin had once more knocked on Namjoon's office door.

"You're back! How'd that logo-making go?" Namjoon greeted, a smug grin plastered on his handsome face.

Instead of outright answering, Seokjin stretched his arm to offer the baked peace offering.

"Please educate me on how to be a good client."

That was all it took for Namjoon to motion him inside to inform him of what the design process entailed. After writing up a brief and managing club funds to secure payment for these design services—he was a creative, and Seokjin should have known better!—he and Namjoon got down to business.

That's how they spent that one fall semester. Namjoon would be the project manager for two of his best students as they presented their designs to Seokjin. They'd meet every other week, and slowly, Namjoon had proven to be a fascinating person to talk with at length. Thus began the lunch meetings, which quickly extended into walking to the parking lot together, which eventually led to grading sessions at the local coffee shop.

It was at the final logo meeting and finals week that Namjoon finally confronted Seokjin.

Seokjin had finally approved what was to be the new branding for the school's broadcasting channel. The two design students had packed up their stuff and left the classroom, excited chatter fading away as they congratulated each other on a job well done. Namjoon was standing to the side of the room, overseeing the final presentation with a proud smile on his face the whole time. Unlike his students, though, he didn't look like he was planning on leaving any time soon.

"Good job, Namjoon! I'm very pleased with what we've managed to produce," Seokjin compliments, wrapping his hands around his warm cup of coffee. He was planning on having a late night, final grades were due in the morning, and he had slacked off, baking a certain design professor some holiday cookies.

Namjoon smiles warmly, uncrossing his arms as he made his way over to the desk Seokjin was currently sitting in.

"You don't have to lie. The kids already left," he jokes, perching his butt on the edge of the desk facing Seokjin.

"Ooh, I'm telling! Professor Kim, you are so two-faced," Seokjin teases, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I also play favorites," Namjoon adds on with a wink.

Seokjin can feel his cheeks burn. He decides to continue gulping down his coffee to keep his face from giving himself away too soon. That shouldn't have been as attractive as Seokjin found it to be. Come on! A wink?

"Seriously, thanks for being the club's best client. We'd love to continue working with the film club whenever you need our services," Namjoon says, earnestly.

"Well, you're a great teacher. You guided both the kids and me through this."

It was true. After overseeing Namjoon direct the students, it was apparent the man had a deep passion for his craft and teaching. He gave as much as he could, and his students, in return, churned out fantastic work. Seokjin had looked up Namjoon's ratings after one night of stalking and drinking too much wine. The design professor had also received a high hotness rating on top of his a-plus lecturing. Seokjin couldn't help but to agree. Namjoon was super spicy, mostly when he wore his tight baseball t-shirts.

Too distracted by the buff and veiny forearms currently on display, Seokjin hadn't even noticed that he'd been asked a question.

"Huh?" He asked dumbly, his eyes quickly shifting to Namjoon's face in embarrassment.

The other man just laughs, dimples peeking out with the motion. "I asked you what you were doing tomorrow."

Seokjin blinks slowly, his mind all of a sudden blank. He hadn't thought that far ahead. Right now, his only mission was to get through the last batch of essays before he got his head chewed off by the department director for a late submission.

"Hmm, besides scrambling to get my grades in on time… nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. Why do you ask?"

At this, Seokjin notices a flush take over the tops of Namjoon's cheeks, which is odd. As far as he knew, Namjoon was the coolest person he's ever met. Namjoon portrayed his relaxed demeanor and confidence so effortlessly. It made complete sense why he is so admired amongst the rest of the faculty and students, so the sudden shyness caught him off guard.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Christkindlmarket with me after you submit grades, that is!" Namjoon blurts in a hurry.

Seokjin doesn't know what to say, his brain trying to work out how to approach this invitation. The market sounded like a lot of fun; he had to admit that mulled wine sounded especially lovely after a long and busy semester.

"Sure! Who else is going?" Seokjin questioned, getting up from his seat to begin heading back to his office.

"No one," Namjoon is quick to say, but then he amends his statement after receiving a confused look from Seokjin. "I mean, uh, this—I'm asking you out on a date."

Oh. A date. Seokjin had heard of those.

God, it's been so long. But, Namjoon was so handsome and sincere. One date wouldn't hurt, right? Seokjin could do this! Adults dated all the time without them needing to make a big deal out of it. It also wasn't against rules because they taught in different departments. Yeah, what was one date?

That date led to several more, which then led to an official relationship label that led to moving in together because Seokjin's lease was about to expire, and he was unsure whether to renew or not. And now here they were, road-tripping across the country to spend the holidays together with family. One date could lead to a whole lot.

Lost in his thoughts, Seokjin hadn't noticed time flying by, let alone the engine light turning on as they entered Flagstaff, Arizona. Entranced by the snow littering the ground, the sudden stopping and starting of their station wagon had caused Seokjin to let out a panicked yell as he tried to figure out what was happening.

"Namjoon! Wake up, Namjoon! The car is dying!" He yelled, hurriedly turning on his emergency lights as he attempted to merge onto the right lanes to get to the side of the road.

"Whoa! Easy there, Jinnie. We're almost there—just a bit more until we're out of the way," Namjoon gently instructs, hoping to ease Seokjin's anxiety a bit.

Thankfully, Seokjin had already gotten off the highway, fully intending to make another rest stop. The car was slowing to a stop at the side of a small gas station before he ultimately deemed it safe enough to shut off.

Before Seokjin could even say anything else, smoke began billowing out of the front hood where the engine was.

"Fuck," muttered Namjoon just as one of the bulbs on the flashing Christmas lights hanging on the roof of their car blew out. Fuck, indeed.

 

Seokjin:

Hey just wanted to give a heads up and final last words just in case Namjoon and I get murdered

Yoongi:

It's very rare to die from food poisoning, you know

Think of it as a way to flush out toxins… a cleansing of sorts

Was it 711 sushi? I told you to stop eating those!

 

Seokjin:

im not joking bitch!

seriously though, the car broke down and we're stranded somewhere in Arizona

Yoongi:

What??? Omg are you guys okay? How's moni?

Seokjin:

We're fine, just kind of freaking out

 luckily we broke down near a rest stop that has hotels and restaurants nearby…

no sign of a mechanic, though

Yoongi:

what are you guys going to do? 

Seokjin:

idk Namjoon is calling shops right now, but considering it's Christmas eve I'm assuming they're all closed

Yoongi:

fuck

anything I can do?

Seokjin:

nah, just send out positive vibes or whatever

Yoongi:

not gonna do that

but i will send you this TikTok instead

[TikTok Sent]

Seokjin:

….

all you send me is dog content

Yoongi:

yeah, that's the only reason I have social media

i just spent two whole hours of my life fully committed to Pudgy

Seokjin:

how do you feel?

Yoongi:

awa awa

 

"So the only two car shops around here are closed until after the holidays," Namjoon finally says, getting back inside of their car after talking to the gas station owner. "There's a hotel nearby we can stay at, he says."

"Does that mean we're stuck here for Christmas?" Seokjin asks as he begins worrying on his bottom lip.

Namjoon lets out a long, defeated sigh before finally saying, "Looks like it."

Seokjin can tell that Namjoon is trying to keep it together for his sake. His expression is neutral, but his mind is elsewhere, thoughts flashing at the speed of light. It was his way of processing problems—Namjoon was good at staying calm under pressure, or so he made it appear that way. Seokjin knew enough by now to tell that it was only surface level.

"Let's go check into the hotel, then. Moni is getting antsy in the car," Seokjin says as a way to make them feel more productive

After getting assured that their station wagon would be okay being parked at the gas station, Seokjin and Namjoon grabbed their luggage and hooked up Moni to his leash before taking the short walk to the small hotel down the street. They were fortunate to have packed proper winter attire—Chicago winters were no joke.

It wasn't until they'd checked into a dog-friendly room and Seokjin had come out of the bathroom after a hot shower did reality start to sink in.

Namjoon had left him with a message stating he was taking Moni out for a walk and potty break. Seokjin could read between the lines; his boyfriend needed some time to cool off.

It would be the first Christmas Namjoon wouldn't get to spend with his family. 

Fuck.

"Either you're alive or have been kidnapped. Listen, I don't have enough money to pay the ransom—well, maybe for the dog—"

"Yoongi!" Seokjin whines through the phone. It was times like these that he was grateful that their friendship was close enough for him to annoy the living shit out of the other without any issues. There was a reason they had the song "Soul Sister" by Train assigned to each other's phone contact.

A heavy sigh rings through the hotel room as Seokjin puts on some fluffy socks.

"What's the update?"

"Car shops don't open until the day after Christmas. I am currently in a hotel room."

"Damn, that sucks. How's Namjoon doing?" Yoongi asks, dropping his usual sarcastic tone.

"Not sure yet. We haven't talked about it yet; he's out walking the dog," Seokjin replies, laying down on the freshly made bed. "He's never missed Christmas—this is like his favorite time of year."

He can hear Yoongi's low hum over the sounds of soft music playing in the background. "How are you feeling?"

Seokjin doesn't say anything for a while. Preoccupied with everything else, he hadn't realized how on edge he was until this moment. His foot was shaking uncontrollably at the foot of the bed, and his lips were sore and chapped from his continuous biting.

"It's all my fault. If I had just sucked it up and taken a plane, we wouldn't be in this mess right now. God, I bet this family is going to think I'm a nutcase. This is not the kind of first impression I wanted to make," Seokjin laments, letting out all the dark thoughts that were circulating in his head.

"This is not your fault; car breakdowns are normal and almost expected on long journeys. And if his parents do say shit, then fuck 'em!" Yoongi proclaims, tone defiant. 

"No, Yoongi. I care about their opinion. I—I want Namjoon and I to stay together for a long time."

The last part of that statement trailed off in a whisper, Seokjin realizing that had been the first time he'd voiced that want out loud to anyone.

He'd never envisioned himself tied down, but then again, he'd never expected meeting a man like Namjoon. It planted a seed of hope that maybe he could have that fairytale ending—or at least something close to it. Let's face it, Seokjin was a film major; it was all about that satisfying ending for him!

"Then you should talk about it with him. Let him know how you're feeling. I'm sure he's nervous about presenting you to his family, too. Whether you like it or not, you are a reflection of him and vice versa," Yoongi says, the wise words flowing out of him so smoothly.

"You should have become a therapist instead of a web developer," Seokjin comments, hoping to steer the conversation to a much lighter tone.

"Yeah, well, I like sitting in my cave and not interacting with people unless I absolutely have to," Yoongi snorts. "Seriously, though. Try talking it out as soon as you can. Otherwise, resentment will build up."

Seokjin says goodbye and hangs up, thinking over Yoongi's words. He was so tired—no, his friend was right. He and Namjoon needed to talk about their feelings. This road trip was a legitimate turning point in their relationship; how did each of them envision their future together? If it was even envisioned together, at all.

As he flipped through the several brochures and print ads loitered on the nightstand that outlined all the local restaurants and tourist attractions, Seokjin came up with a plan. Christmas Eve meant breakfast for dinner, if he remembered the Kim family itinerary correctly. Yes! He could try to cheer up Namjoon by surprising him with pancakes.

 

Seokjin:

Hey, meet me here once you're back and done showering

Heard good reviews

Seokjin: [location sent]

 

 

The diner is located not too far from the hotel; an eight-minute walk at most down the street where other restaurants and fast-food chains were. It seemed to be family-owned, judging by the plethora of framed photos hung on the wall as Seokjin swung the glass door open.

"Hey there! Are we dining in or taking out?" A deep voice greets him as his eyes take in his surroundings.

The diner was decently sized with a warm palette blanketing the upholstered booths and wooden tables sprinkled throughout the large space. There was pine garland and sparkling ornaments carefully arranged around all the tables and hanging light fixtures; the sudden appearance of a running toy train weaving around partitions that separated the booths added to the charm.

"Ah, dining in, please!" Seokjin quickly answers, finally taking in the host before him.

"How many people?"

"Two—if you could get a booth, that would be great!"

The man only nods once before grabbing a set of menus and leading Seokjin to a booth near the back. The diner wasn't full, only five or so tables occupied, the Christmas radio drowning out conversations.

"My name is Tae, and I'll be your server today. Would you like to order your drink now or wait for the other person to arrive?"

Seokjin looks up to face the man before him. One glance at his nametag and Seokjin's suspicions were confirmed; another Korean. What a coincidence.

"I'll take water for now! Actually, I wanted to see if I could order before my boyfriend gets here. I kind of, uh, want to surprise him," Seokjin scrambles to explain, all of a sudden feeling shy.

"Sure thing! Just let me know when you're ready to order. I highly recommend the brown sugar crepes, my creation. Think of it as Americana hotteok—but don't tell anyone," Tae says with a wink before walking off.

Seokjin lets out a chuckle, taken aback. Since when were servers so charming and handsome? The guy looked like he stepped out of a damn Kpop music video.

As he poured over the big menu, eyebrows set in a determined frown as he decided what to order for this surprise breakfast spread, the sounds of loud Korean spoken caught his attention. Two men were walking his way, clearly heading in the direction of the bathroom, but something about one of them caught his attention. The man looked oddly familiar but… different somehow. It was almost like an older, more fashionable version of—

"Hoseok?!"

"Jin? Holy—is that really you? Jinnie from the block?"

The man comes closer, one delicate hand over his mouth as he tries to stifle the shocked laughter bubbling out of him.

Seokjin tries not to cringe too much at his old nickname—the mid two thousands were an odd time. He stands up, holding out his hand, expecting to get a handshake but instead, he's met with a plush fur collar hitting his face as Hoseok envelops him in a tight embrace. The only thought going through his head is, Hoseok smells expensive.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Seokjin manages to say as soon as they part. It's only then that he remembers to acknowledge the other, much smaller, man standing besides Hoseok. The bright pink hair and pretty features only highlighted just how out of place the duo looked standing in the small-town diner. That's not even accounting for the designer clothing they were decked out in from head to toe.

"Just, you know, taking a little holiday road trip! Ah, Jin, meet Jimin," Hoseok introduces, pushing the other man towards him gently. "My husband."

He can't help his eyes from widening a bit at that last part. Husband? He didn't even know Hoseok was anything but straight. What a glow-up!

"Hey, Jimin. I'm Jin. Nice to meet you," Seokjin greets as he shakes the offered hand.

"Jiminie, this is the friend from high school I told you about!" Hoseok explains. Jimin only gives him a confused look, slightly humming as he tries to recall what his husband is referring to. "The one that dressed up as Romeo."

"Oh my god! That was you?" Jimin exclaims, an amused smirk taking over his face at the realization. "For the longest time, I totally thought Hoseok was bullshitting about that story."

Embarrassment overwhelms Seokjin as he recalled his high school self showing up to English class one day to present his book report on Romeo and Juliet completely outfitted in a period costume–he'd word the tights and everything!

"Yeah, that was me!" He quips out, hoping the couple said nothing more about that memory.

"Quite some balls you had there! I can't imagine being able to perform 'Every time We Touch' in front of teenagers now, never mind back then! I would have died!" Jimin keeps adding on, clearly not noticing Seokjin's beet-red face.

"The lyrics made sense at the time! Love at first sight, you know?" Seokjin attempts to explain.

His high school self had caused way too much chaos–he's glad Hoseok hadn't told the story of him stealing scarecrows from neighborhoods only to keep them sequestered in his locker for some damn reason. Had he been that bored? At least he eventually found film as a way to focus all that creative energy. However, Cascada will always be his go-to karaoke song, hands down. He thought he had sleighed.

"Anyway, are you here alone? Do you live here?" Hoseok asks, diverting the conversation back to the beginning.

"I'm here with my boyfriend—we're road tripping, too!"

Hoseok's face brightens at that. He used to be the number one person Seokjin would complain to about not having a date to homecomings and proms. That's right, Hobi, I didn't turn out forever alone! He almost wanted to say.

"Nice! Would you mind us eating with you guys? It's Christmas Eve, after all," Hoseok reasons with his sweetest smile. How could Seokjin say no?

And that's how he ended up sitting at a corner booth at a diner in the middle of Arizona with his old high school friend, who he had lost touch with as soon as they graduated. The world is small, and life seems to like throwing weird curveballs at Seokjin all the time. At least he couldn't say his holidays were boring.

Jimin had run back to his and Hoseok's booked hotel room, having forgotten his cellphone and wanting to make phone calls to his family. Namjoon was still freshening up, but he'd sent Seokjin a text letting him know he was almost on his way. The air could have been awkward between Hoseok and himself, but it turns out their easygoing dynamic allowed them to get into the conversation as if they had never parted ways ten years ago.

"So, what is Jinnie doing these days?" Hoseok asked, sipping carefully at his lemon water.

"Jinnie is currently teaching film at Columbia."

"Still in Chicago then?" Hoseok doesn't say this as a way to talk down to Seokjin, but more like he was genuinely interested. It was nice.

"Yeah, I like it there. That's actually where I met my boyfriend, Namjoon," Seokjin adds on shyly, still not used to saying that out loud to people. He never thought he'd be the type to be able to say those words—that there was another person lumped into his life. It was both frightening and comforting all at once.

Hoseok chuckles lowly, a playful smirk causing his dimples to make their appearance.

"What?" Seokjin asks, clearly missing the joke.

"No white boys for us, huh?"

Seokjin can't help the snort that comes out of him. Yeah, that had been a weird curveball as well.

"What about you, though? Married? And with a man? Explain yourself, Jung Hoseok!" Seokjin interrogates, slipping into a fantastic impersonation of his Korean mother.

"I went to school at SCAD and switched my major to fashion. I'm currently the head of the men's design department for Neiman Marcus—basically overseeing trends and choosing what makes it into the seasonal roster. I ended up meeting Jimin at a fashion show; he does hair," Hoseok explains easily, elegant hands gesturing as he spoke.

Seokjin catches the various rings adorning the long slim fingers, light gold shimmering under the warm light. But while every manicured digit is graced with thin bands and interesting stones, the one that mattered was shown to be devoid of any jewelry. That couldn't have been a lapse in judgment. Clearly, Hoseok cared a lot about his appearance. There had to be a story there.

"When did you get married? Sorry, I'm not huge on social media," Seokjin inquires, letting Hoseok tell him only as much as he'd like.

"Two years ago. It wasn't anything big—just a simple court wedding and a dinner with friends. However, we did get matching leather jackets. It was quite cute!" Hoseok says with a fond smile before it slowly slips off his face.

"Hobi?" Seokjin prompts gently.

Hoseok stays silent for a while, eyes trained somewhere on the wooden table. The other man remains still for so long, Seokjin almost doesn't expect the quiet sniffling coming from right next to him. He's never seen his friend cry—he didn't think anything could ever get to Hoseok. He was happiness personified, or so it seemed.

"This isn't just a regular road trip. It's—this is our last shot at trying to make it work before deciding to call it quits."

Seokjin was shocked. From what he'd heard and seen so far, Hoseok and Jimin seemed to be the ideal in relationships. Both successful, beautiful, and in love. How had it come to this?

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?" Seokjin asked, laying one of his hands over Hoseok's trembling one on top of the table.

"Nothing and everything. I—I've been a bad partner. You know, eomma always said I expected too much out of people. I should have listened, but I was too damn stubborn—another trait of mine that pushed Jimin away," Hoseok struggled to get through, his perfectly composed demeanor no longer present.

"I don't think I'm following," Seokjin says gently, desperately trying to find a way to make his friend feel better.

"I'm a workaholic. It's the same story we've heard countless times: a husband married to his work while he neglects his partner at home. I love so much what I do to the point that it left Jimin questioning where he stood in my life. His salon went bankrupt, and it affected him immensely. Money isn't the problem—I make more than enough for the both of us. But I wasn't there for him. He struggled, and I failed to be his support during his hardest of times," Hoseok admits, finally making eye contact with Seokjin. There was a lot of pain held in those brown eyes, along with—with regret.

"You still love him, though? You care about him?" Seokjin asks, slightly desperate because there was no way Hoseok had intended to hurt his husband like that.

"God, I do! He's amazing. I never deserved him, you know? Jimin is perfect, and it only took me for him to lose that sparkle in his eyes. It's hard—I want us to work through this and get back to how we used to be. At the same time, though, I'm questioning myself a lot more. Like, the way that I am is what led us to this. What if I can't be that better man for Jimin? I hate it, Jin. I hate second-guessing myself."

Seokjin has no words to say. He can't imagine the amount of hurt Hoseok was going through, let alone Jimin. How did people end up here after years of being together? Was there a certain point where little bits of each other's lack of care and attention somehow balled up into a mess that no longer could be worked through? Was that his and Namjoon's fate? Maybe today's resentment over missing Christmas would lead them to splitting ways several years down the line. Had he messed it up already?

"Ya'll can't be looking this sad on Christmas Eve," Tae said as he slid a hot plate full of crepes in front of a brooding Hoseok and Seokjin. "This one's on me!"

Hoseok hastily wipes at his face, putting on that cheery persona Seokjin remembered. "Oh gosh! You're too kind!"

"Sorry if I'm overstepping—my boyfriend accuses me of it all the time. I just can't help it! It hurts to see other people be down."

"It's okay; my husband accuses me of being too open and sharing too much," Hoseok says warmly.

Tae coos at that, eyes brightening at the mention of a husband. "That pink-haired pretty boy is your husband?" At Hoseok's nod, the server squeals in excitement. "That's so cute! It's not often I come across other LGBT people around these parts."

"Well, you're about to be serving four of us tonight," Seokjin adds in with a chuckle.

"When's that boyfriend of yours coming in? Don't want the food to get cold," Tae scolds playfully.

"He should be here soon—he's probably calling his parents right now. We're supposed to be joining them for Christmas Eve dinner."

"Where are you heading to?"

"California!"

"Big Bear in California!"

Seokjin and Hoseok both look at each other in shock, not realizing they hadn't even asked where the other was going to. Small, small world.

"So let me get this straight. Both of you are here with your partners, enjoying a nice vacation and drive to the same state that houses the happiest place on earth, and yet I have one of you crying in my diner? On Christmas Eve?" Tae asks incredulously, hands planted firmly on his hips.

"It's complicated," Hoseok answers weakly with a wave of his hand.

"I bet you it's not," Tae says easily as he smoothly slides into the booth with them. Noticing the confused stares, he quickly answers all their unspoken questions with, "I'm on my break, and I'm the manager here. I can do what I want. Now tell me what's wrong," He leans back in the upholstered cushion before motioning for Hoseok to go ahead spill.

And Hoseok does, divulging everything to this stranger without a care. It was almost better—he was able to voice out his worries without worrying about any biases. Soon, Seokjin was chiming in with his own relationship woes, explaining his fear concerning Namjoon's family and the future of their relationship. His problems weren't nearly at the same level as Hoseok's, but they were still his struggles to face. He was glad to be heard and validated because new relationships required their very own fragile care and attention.

"It sounds to me like you both have a hard time controlling your anxiety," Tae answered after Hoseok's finished praising Jimin's tenacity and cute small fingers.

"What? No, I meditate! The issues with my marriage revolve around my need to be more present—" Hoseok begins to explain, but Tae quickly cuts him off.

"Yeah, but although you may be more aware of your shortcomings, it doesn't mean that you're being present. Quite the opposite."

"What do you mean?" Seokjin asks, curiosity piqued.

"Both of your relationship 'issues' don't even revolve around your significant other—you're blaming yourselves. And you're blaming your inability to know the future, which is ridiculous!" Tae exclaims passionately, face looking repulsed. "You're getting lost in your thoughts. Your focus is taken up by the what ifs when your brain should be taking in the now. I would know—I'm the same way."

"Yeah? What's your story, then?" Hoseok asks with an eyebrow raised.

"I'm from a small town—got kicked out of my house once my parents found out I was gay my final year of high school. It was a harsh reality check; I loved my family. Getting rejected like that… it really messed me up for a long time. Luckily, my grandma was able to take me in. I was set to go to Arizona State, but I'm sure you can guess that did not end up happening," Tae says with a bitter laugh. "I had such a big dream back then. I was betting my whole life on it. When I failed to come up with enough money, I isolated myself and cut off everyone I knew."

Seokjin can't help but see little aspects of himself in Tae's story. He was prone to isolating, too. "How'd you get through it?"

"My grandma ended up pushing me towards seeing a therapist. I was depressed and wasn't living. All this worrying about the future, these high expectations, they were taking up all my energy. What used to be a source of motivation in reaching my goals had turned into something that only caused fear. I learned a lot that first year out of high school––it was almost like I was meant to go through it in order to shift the path I was going down. What once seemed like the end of the world ended up being an opportunity for a fresh start."

"And your parents? Have they accepted you?" Hoseok asks after swallowing down a bite out of a crepe.

A sad smile grazes Tae's face as he plays with the edge of a napkin. "I've learned to forgive my parents, but no. I may have lost one family, but I've gained a new one—one I can call my own." There's a slight pause before the server suddenly adds in, "See what I did there?"

Seokjin and Hoseok both shake their heads, unaware of what they had missed.

"It's called flipping the script—it's an exercise my therapist told me to practice. Whenever you start hearing those bad thoughts in your brain, try to stop and analyze how you could make them positive. It's so simple and probably not the answer you want to hear right now, but it works. "

"But how does that keep my husband and I from divorcing? There's no guarantee anything I do can change his mind," Hoseok says through a pout.

"You're right; you can't guarantee anything. But why are you so focused on the worst-case scenario? Quick! Do you love your husband?" Tae asks accusingly with a pointed finger.

"I do!" Hoseok instinctively proclaims, caught off guard by the sudden burst of energy.

"Do you want to stay together?"

Hoseok quickly nods his head.

"Then use this trip—this day, as a new opportunity to show Jimin how much you appreciate him. Try flipping the script, come on," Tae demands, urging Hoseok with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Uh, my marriage is on the rocks, but at least Jimin is willing to work it out with me? Is that how it works?" Hoseok looks to Seokjin for some kind of assurance before the loud sound of Tae clapping his hands together diverts his attention back to the server.

"Yes! See? Now that you've flipped the way you perceive things, it makes it feel a little more manageable. I hope?"

"Hobi, you should also try to uplift yourself. The fact that you're worrying about your future shows how much you care," Seokjin says, catching on to what Tae was explaining.

"That goes for you too, Seokjin," Tae pipes in.

"Me?" 

"Yeah, you want to leave a good first impression on your boyfriend's parents. It shows you care, and that's all you can do. You're only in control of your own actions, right?"

"Knowing Jinnie, he's probably prepared a whole home-cooked feast. He's always been so giving," Hoseok beams proudly.

"Actually, I've prepared a pretty magnificent Christmas gift—better than cooking," Seokjin excitedly announces. It was meant to be a surprise, something to present in front of Namjoon and his family. "I photographed the front of the Home Alone house, got it printed, framed, and autographed by Macaulay Culkin."

"Jin, what the fuck," Hoseok deadpans, looking as if he'd just witnessed the most offensive act known to man. "You worry about people not liking you only to end up pulling that out of your ass? Tae is right; none of this is complicated."

"How—how do you even get access to that?" Tae asks after a moment of shock.

Seokjin merely shrugs, taking a bite of one of the crepes. "Eh, I have connections."

"Y'all are the most interesting people I've ever met; the added benefit of working near a tourist area," Taehyung cheerfully quips.

The buzzing of a phone interrupts the sweet moment. Seokjin reads Namjoon's message and feels his stomach flip. He's not sure why but he feels slightly nervous about seeing his boyfriend. After the talk with Hoseok and Tae, he now knows that it was the time to have all his walls brought down. He wanted to be with Namjoon, which meant he needed to start voicing his thoughts—they needed to be on the same page.

"Hey Tae, I think we should start bringing out the food. Namjoon is on his way."

When Namjoon enters the diner, he is instantly greeted by a full table of various breakfast foods… and people?

"Jin?"

Seokjin stops mid-joke as he finally notices his boyfriend's presence.

"Namjoon! Sit, sit," he says as he scoots over so Namjoon can slide into the booth. Hoseok and Jimin were sitting on one side while Tae stood to the side, checking in ever so often.

"This is Hoseok, an old high school friend, and his husband, Jimin."

Namjoon greets the other couple politely before taking in the plethora of pancakes and breakfast meats scattered throughout the table.

"Breakfast? It's five pm!"

Seokjin feels shy all of a sudden, avoiding Namjoon's stare. "Kim family tradition, right? Christmas Eve breakfast for dinner?"

Hesitant eyes suddenly melt into pools of honey as the words sink in. Namjoon smiles softly, leaning to peck one flushed cheek. "Thank you."

They spend the rest of the evening eating and talking endlessly over anything and everything. It turns out the group had a lot in common, all of them having an avid interest in pop culture and Korean food. Namjoon and Hoseok had quickly bonded over their shared love for K-rap and Chance the Rapper. Tae had even joined along, sitting down once his shift ended as he waited for his boyfriend to come pick him up.

"If you ever need a hookup for sneaker drops, let me know. I might know a guy," Hoseok offers with a wink, Jimin fondly rolling his eyes next to him.

"Be wary, Namjoon. It's a slippery slope once you start buying shoes as a hobby. One of our closets is solely dedicated to Hobi's shoes."

Namjoon doesn't say anything, an amused smile playing on his lips as Seokjin sends him knowing looks. "Trust me, Jimin. Namjoon knows."

"Hoseok, do you happen to have a hookup for Gucci loafers?" Tae added in, teasing.

Before he could get an answer, the sound of a children's yell interrupts the jazzy piano notes playing over the speakers.

"Tae Tae!"

Suddenly, within a blink of an eye, a small child comes barreling through the dining room, heading in Tae's direction. The server doesn't even flinch as he slides off the booth to kneel on the ground, letting the energetic child crash into his outstretched arms.

"Hey baby! How'd Christmas with mommy go?"

"I got a guitar! And I played with so many kitties. Daddy, can we get a kitty?" The child asked, turning around to address the young man that had walked up to the full table.

"A kitty? Kai, did you forget about Yeontan? I think one pet is enough for right now," the man said, staring down at the child with the fondest of looks. "Hey babe. Ready to go?"

Tae lets go of Kai to stand up, kissing the man on the cheek before throwing on his coat. "Almost! Hey all, this is my boyfriend Jungkook and his son Hueningkai."

"Call me Kai, and I'm five years old!" The eager child greets, taking hold of Tae's hand as the whole group coos and waves their greetings.

"That's right, baby. You ready to go home and eat some tamales? Our nice neighbors dropped some off while you were at mommy's," Tae says, swinging the little arm back and forth.

"Okay, but I want to show you my song—and my guitar! It's about a donkey," Kai shouts happily, eyes growing wide at the thought of his Christmas gift.

"Hold it right there, partner. Don't forget we still need to have bath time and leave out cookies for Santa," Jungkook buts in, fixing the oversized beanie on his son's head before waving over to the booth. "Nice meeting you all! Happy Holidays."

The happy family is just about to walk off after saying their goodbyes when Seokjin pauses long enough to notice the jumpsuit and heavy boots worn by Jungkook. Could it be?

"Wait! Jungkook!" He shouts right before the trio leaves the diner.

Jungkook whips his head around, large eyes zeroing in on Seokjin.

"Are you a mechanic?" The man nods slowly, confusion obvious. "Do you think you could help with fixing a broken-down station wagon?"

At the mention of this, Tae immediately yells out, "Why didn't you mention you were stranded here? We could have helped y'all out a long time ago!"

.

.

.

.

.

 

Seokjin and Namjoon were sitting on a bench outside the gas station where they had left their station wagon. They were waiting for Jungkook to drive back with his tow truck; the independent mechanic had generously offered to fix their engine back in the comfort of his own home's garage. After their dinner, Hoseok and Jimin had gone back to their hotel room due to them planning an early start the next day. Seokjin promised to keep in touch. He hadn't realized how much he missed his friend until now—maybe they'd get to travel together, soon.

"I can't believe how lucky we got. Thank god you were able to notice the jumpsuit," Namjoon says, taking a sip from his gas station coffee.

"Yeah! Jungkook said he might be able to get it fixed tonight. We might just make it in time for Christmas brunch!" Seokjin says, a burst of energy flowing through him at the thought of this working out.

Namjoon's smile drops from his face, moving his gaze to the concrete under their feet.

"Listen, Seokjin. I really feel bad about the car breaking down. I'd forgotten to take it to the shop for a tuneup, causing us to fall into this mess. I hope you'll forgive me," Namjoon apologizes, head bowed and lips pursed tightly.

"What?" 

This is all Seokjin can say because he hadn't even considered blaming Namjoon for this accident. And that's what it was—an accident.

"Yeah, I felt horrible! I mean, I was already nervous as fuck having you come over and meet the family, but this really just ended up ruining everything."

Blinking owlishly, Seokjin tugs one of Namjoon's hands out of his coat's pocket to secure it within his grip. "You are amazing."

"What? But I ruined everythi—"

"Namjoon, I've been internally freaking out this whole trip. I thought it was my fault this all happened—it was because of me that we were driving in the first place! I know how much Christmas means to you. Not only was I worried about ruining it for you, I was afraid I might have left a bad impression with your parents as well," Seokjin explains carefully, his emotions tinging every word said out loud. "What I've found out is that your family's opinion really matters to me because… because I want us to be together for a very long time. Dare I say, forever?"

The full belly laugh coming out of Namjoon is not something he'd expected upon voicing his devotion out loud. Oh god, was Namjoon about to reject him? Or worse, leave him stranded in Arizona because, ew, who communicated their feelings so shamelessly these days?

But then he remembers Tae's advice of flipping the script. Namjoon was still holding his hands. Hell, he was even smiling with his teeth! Surely that meant he wasn't getting kicked to the curb. No, his worries were just that: his. He didn't need to go down an endless tangent of bad internal thoughts. Uplift yourself, Seokjin.

"What are you thinking?" Seokjin asks, calmly stroking his thumb up and down the back of Namjoon's hand.

"I'm thinking that we're two idiotic men," Namjoon answers with a chuckle.

"Why?"

"Because I was trying my hardest to leave a good impression on you.

Seokjin must not have looked convinced because Namjoon explains himself further. 

"Babe, I know you don't come from a big family like mine. Holidays for you are more chill, and I assumed you preferred them that way. So the onesies, all the Christmas lights, and cheesy music? Think of it as me attempting to pregame you for the chaos that'd meet us as soon as we arrive at my parents' place. I didn't want you to feel overwhelmed by my crazy family because I know we're too much. I was trying my hardest to show you the holidays can be fun because I see myself with you for a long time, too. I want forever—I want marriage, the house, and kids! The whole thing!"

Namjoon is left breathless as he is prone to get when his passion overtakes everything else. The first time Seokjin had seen him like this was that first meeting they'd had back at the university—Seokjin had never heard someone nearly orgasm over the Girl Scout logo before. Despite the nerdiness, he'd been charmed because it showed how much Namjoon cared. 

Namjoon cared.

And so did Seokjin.

"I'm glad we're on the same page, Joonie," Seokjin whispers, leaning in to steal a kiss from his adorably sweet boyfriend. Whipped, whipped, whipped!

"Even if we'd been stranded here, I wouldn't have minded all that much. You're my family now, too," Namjoon whispers, laying his head on top of Seokjin's that was resting on his shoulder.

Seokjin smiles to himself, content with just letting the moment linger for a bit. There was no need to worry all too much about the future; the present was pretty damn great right now.

"Maybe, Aunt Kathy isn't even that bad," he thinks out loud.

A honk breaks their little content cloud, Jungkook having just pulled up in his tow truck. Namjoon quickly stands up, discarding his disposable coffee cup to wave over the mechanic.

"Nah, she really is that bad," his boyfriend says with a wince.

Seokjin laughs out loud, experiencing the moment of happiness rather than ruminating on it. At least the holidays only came by once a year. 

There, he'd flipped the script.

Notes:

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