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you're a... shy one, mr. grinch

Summary:

The only thing that Jungkook hates more than parties are themed holiday parties.

Because, seriously, when Taehyung and Jimin drag him out to a regular college party, he can at least usually hide in the corner, or lock himself in a bedroom, or pretend that he’s going to the bathroom and climb out the window and fall off of the shallow roof and twist his ankle. But, like, that one only happened one time and his ankle is only weird if he’s sprinting now. So, like, he’s fine.

So, regular parties. Jungkook’s not a fan.

But themed holiday parties? Those are on an entirely different level of hell.

 

Or: Yoonkook meet in the laundry room at a holiday party, awkwardly flirt, and steal a tray of cookies together.

Notes:

thanks as always to jenny for beta reading this :)

Work Text:

The only thing that Jungkook hates more than parties are themed holiday parties .

Because, seriously, when Taehyung and Jimin drag him out to a regular college party, he can at least usually hide in the corner, or lock himself in a bedroom, or pretend that he’s going to the bathroom and climb out the window and fall off of the shallow roof and twist his ankle. But, like, that one only happened one time and his ankle is only weird if he’s sprinting now. So, like, he’s fine.

So, regular parties. Jungkook’s not a fan. 

But his roommates think that Jungkook is antisocial (he’s not, he just has anxiety, okay ) and that he should come out with them to parties and Jungkook likes his hyungs so much that he never says no when they ask him to go out (again, because of the anxiety) even though he should because his social battery runs out after literally fifteen minutes.

But themed holiday parties

Those are on an entirely different level of hell. Because there’s no hiding at a themed party. There’s no slipping into the background when you’re dressed like a sexy elf, or a reindeer with questionable face paint, or a snowman whose costume Taehyung swore was “subtle” but actually involves inflatable parts. 

People notice you at these things. They call you “cute” or “festive” or “a party pooper” when you refuse to wear the Santa hat they’re shoving at you or asking why you’re nursing a warm beer when they have holiday themed shots lined up and ready to go. 

And the worst part? They want to talk .

And Jungkook does not do party small talk. He never knows what to say. “Hi, yeah, I’m a second year studying… Uh, well, I haven’t picked a major yet but I’m thinking about… Oh, you’ve already walked away? Cool, cool.” 

The panic sets in, his hands start to sweat, and he ends up clutching a lukewarm cup of eggnog like it’s a life raft while Taehyung dances on tables while trying to get his senior crush’s attention and Jimin charms the entire room like a he’s some sort of damn prince, apparently not having found his own boyfriend yet, despite being invited here by the older boy.  

Jungkook doesn’t want to be noticed. He just wants to exist quietly, like a background character in a holiday movie- he doesn’t want to be the big shot from the city or the small town candlestick maker. 

But instead, he’s here, shivering in a thin, polyester Grinch onesie that Jimin “borrowed” from someone’s cousin because “It’s the perfect vibe for you, Kook-ah!” (Spoiler alert: it’s not .)

But the worst part? 

It’s not even Taehyung or Jimin who made him come to this stupid party tonight. No, Jungkook actually chose to come, because when Jimin casually mentioned that someone was going to be there- someone who may or may not have a smile so bright it looks like it could power half of the city- Jungkook’s brain short-circuited.  

So now here he is, dressed like the Grinch, surrounded by people in ugly sweaters and tinsel headbands, wishing he could just disappear into the floor, and trying very hard not to scan the room for him

Jungkook lasts all of twenty minutes before he decides he’s had enough. He’s out of small talk, out of patience, and definitely out of whatever willpower had kept him standing in the kitchen pretending to care about some guy’s story about his uncle’s vintage Santa mug collection. ( How did they even get on that topic? ) He’d nodded along politely until his smile felt fake enough to crack off his face, and then he’d done what he does best: fled.  

The laundry room is the first door that he tries that isn’t locked. It’s small, dimly lit, and smells faintly of fabric softener. Most importantly, it’s quiet . The dull thump of music from the living room feels mercifully far away, like it’s happening in some other universe where people actually enjoy this sort of thing.

Jungkook shuts the door behind him and lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank god,” he mutters to himself as he slides down to sit against the washing machine. He pulls his phone out of the little pouch on his Grinch onesie (yes, there’s a pouch, because apparently the universe is cruel like that) and stares at the screen.  

Taehyungie-hyung > Me
10:28PM
where u at??
jimin said u disappeared lol

Jungkook rolls his eyes and doesn’t reply. He’ll face Taehyung and Jimin’s interrogation later. For now, he’s safe in his little laundry room sanctuary. The hum of the appliances is oddly comforting, like white noise. He scrolls aimlessly, trying to distract himself, but his mind keeps circling back to him .  

That someone . The one he came here for.  

Min freaking Yoongi.  

Yoongi is too cool for this party. Jungkook’s ninety-nine percent sure of it. And yet, when he saw him earlier across the room- wearing an oversized sweater with reindeer on it and looking so annoyingly good even with a puffy, fake red nose on top of his normal, perfectly kissable nose- it had sent Jungkook spiraling. Yoongi had smiled at someone, and it was like a stupid spotlight turned on in Jungkook’s chest. Which is not normal.  

“Get it together,” Jungkook mutters to himself, flopping his head back against the washing machine with a dramatic thunk. He’s deep in the middle of feeling sorry for himself when the door suddenly creaks open.  

Jungkook freezes.  

There’s a pause. And then- 

“Oh.”  

Jungkook’s heart stops. Because standing in the doorway, looking confused and kind of amused, is none other than Min Yoongi.  

Of course.  

Because that’s the kind of luck that Jungkook has.

“Uh…” Yoongi tilts his head, lips quirking into a smile. “You okay in here, Grinch?”  

Jungkook wants to die. Immediately. On the spot.  

“I, uh- Yeah?” Jungkook croaks, voice cracking slightly. “I’m fine.”  

Yoongi steps into the room, shutting the door behind him. Behind him. Jungkook doesn’t know why that feels so significant, but it does.  

“Thought I’d find some quiet in here,” Yoongi says, leaning against the door like he’s done this a million times before. He looks so effortlessly cool and so completely out of place next to Jungkook, who’s sitting on the floor like a gremlin in his bright green polyester suit. “Guess I’m not the only one avoiding the party.”  

Jungkook swallows, trying to will his voice to work normally. “Yeah. Parties aren’t really my thing.”  

Yoongi smiles at that, soft and genuine, and Jungkook’s brain short-circuits for the second time tonight. “Same,” Yoongi says. “I mean, I like seeing people. Just… not that many people. All at once. Makes my brain feel scrambled.”  

Jungkook blinks. “Oh.”  

Because… Same. Exactly the same.  

“Mind if I hide out here with you for a bit?” Yoongi asks, shoving his hands into his pockets, like he’s giving Jungkook a choice.  

Jungkook’s first instinct is to panic. But then Yoongi’s looking at him with those warm eyes, and Jungkook remembers that he has absolutely zero game and there’s no way he can form a normal excuse to say no.  

So instead, he just shrugs and says, “Sure. I mean. If you want.”  

Yoongi grins. “Cool.”  

And just like that, Jungkook’s quiet laundry room sanctuary is no longer quiet. But somehow… he doesn’t really mind.

For a while, there’s nothing but the soft hum of the washer and the faint bass of whatever awful remix is playing in the living room. Yoongi doesn’t say anything, and Jungkook doesn’t either, mostly because he has no idea what to say. He’s pretty sure there’s nothing in his Grinch-themed vocabulary that can help him survive this moment.

(Hey, it’s not his fault that Jimin made him memorize all of the words to You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch , and now all that he can think about is “termites in your smile” and “seasick crocodile” and Jungkook isn’t great at English, but he knows that neither of these are compliments.)

Instead, he stares at the floor like it’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen and tries not to let his brain short-circuit again. 

Min Yoongi is here. 

With him. 

Alone.  

In the laundry room.

Jungkook chances a glance up, and Yoongi’s looking down at him, one eyebrow raised, clearly amused.  

“Comfortable down there?” Yoongi asks, his tone light and teasing.  

Jungkook freezes. “Uh… yeah?” He shifts awkwardly. “I mean, the floor’s not great, but-”  

“You’re really committing to the Grinch thing,” Yoongi interrupts, grinning as he gestures to Jungkook’s outfit. “Didn’t think anyone would go that hard.”  

Jungkook groans and drops his face into his hands. “I didn’t pick it. Jiminie-hyung made me wear this.” His voice is muffled, but the embarrassment bleeds through.  

Yoongi chuckles, the sound warm and quiet, and it sends Jungkook spiraling all over again. “Classic Jimin,” Yoongi says, like he knows exactly how Jimin operates. “Honestly, everything that I’ve heard about him from Hoseokie… That makes sense. But, either way, it suits you. You look-”

Jungkook jerks his head up so fast that his hood falls back. “What?”  

Yoongi pauses, his smirk softening into something more unreadable. “-festive,” he finishes, though there’s a slight glint in his eyes that says he could have said something else.  

Jungkook narrows his eyes, suspicious. “Festive?”  

Yoongi shrugs, as if he’s unbothered by Jungkook’s obvious skepticism. “Yeah. You’re owning it, you know?”  

“I’m suffering in it,” Jungkook corrects, tugging at the too-tight zipper on his onesie. “This thing is suffocating me. And it’s staticky. I think I might literally be generating electricity right now.”  

That earns him another laugh from Yoongi, one that rumbles low and easy in his chest. Jungkook hates how much he likes that sound. It makes him feel like maybe he’s not screwing this up completely.  

“I think you’re doing fine,” Yoongi says after a moment, like he’s reading Jungkook’s mind. “Better than me, at least.”  

Jungkook frowns. “You’re kidding, right? You look… uh.” He stammers and gestures vaguely to Yoongi, as if that somehow conveys You look annoyingly good even in a reindeer sweater, what the hell.

Yoongi raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “I look what?”  

Jungkook opens and closes his mouth a couple of times, then gives up. “Nothing. Forget it.”  

Yoongi grins again, and Jungkook swears it’s almost fond . “You’re not great at small talk, huh?”  

“No,” Jungkook says instantly. “Not even a little bit.”  

“That’s okay. I don’t like small talk either.” Yoongi shifts to sit on top of the counter, letting his legs swing a little. He looks so casual, like sitting in laundry rooms with awkward, onesie-clad guys is something he does all the time.  

Jungkook, on the other hand, feels like he’s about three seconds away from spontaneous combustion.  

“So,” Yoongi says after a pause. “Why’d you come to this party if you hate them so much?”  

Jungkook freezes. Oh no.

Yoongi’s looking at him, head tilted, like he’s genuinely curious. Jungkook can feel his entire brain stuttering. He cannot, under any circumstances, tell Yoongi the truth. 

That he came here for him. 

Instead, Jungkook scrambles for an answer. “Uh… Jimin,” he blurts out. “And Taehyung. They… dragged me here. Against my will. I mean, Taehyung is always just trying to hang out with that seonbae who he has a crush on and Jiminie-hyung and Hoseok-seonbaenim have been practically attached at the mouths since they started dating…”  

“Didn’t look like they were dragging you when you walked in earlier.”  

Jungkook feels his face heat up. “That’s because I was trying to look normal .”  

Yoongi laughs again, like Jungkook’s just said something incredibly relatable. “Well, you’re not alone. I almost didn’t come either.”

Jungkook blinks up at him. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Yoongi leans back on his hands, gaze softening. “I’m not really a ‘party’ guy either. But… I heard you might be here, so…”  

Jungkook’s brain stalls so hard it might never recover. “Wait, what? ”  

Yoongi shrugs, like he didn’t just drop that bomb. “What? Can’t I look for some decent company at a boring party?”  

Jungkook’s mouth opens, but no words come out. He’s too busy trying not to malfunction. Yoongi came to the party for him ?  

“Don’t look so shocked,” Yoongi teases, hopping off the dryer. He stops in front of Jungkook and bends slightly, just enough to meet him at eye level. “You’re not the only one who thinks hiding in laundry rooms is better than being in the spotlight. Besides, it’s impossible not to notice someone as gorgeous as you… Especially when your roommates have been plotting to marry my roommates for months now.”  

Jungkook swallows hard, his pulse pounding in his ears. Yoongi’s smile softens, and for one terrifying moment, Jungkook thinks he might actually melt into a puddle on the floor.  

“So,” Yoongi says, straightening up again. “You wanna stay here and keep avoiding the party? Or do you wanna help me steal the last of the cookies from the snack table and make a run for it?”  

Jungkook blinks up at him, his mouth dry. “You’re serious?”  

Yoongi grins, holding out a hand. “Come on, Grinch. Let’s go make this party regret inviting us.”  

And just like that, Jungkook lets Yoongi pull him to his feet, his brain still spinning. He has no idea how this happened, or what universe he’s fallen into where Min Yoongi is asking him to commit petty cookie-related crimes.  

But honestly? He’s not about to question it.

As Yoongi tugs him out of the laundry room and back into the chaos of the party, Jungkook can’t stop staring at their joined hands. It’s not like they’re holding hands holding hands- it’s more like Yoongi is dragging him, long fingers wrapped loosely around Jungkook’s wrist. But it doesn’t stop Jungkook’s brain from short-circuiting for the third time tonight.  

“Are you coming, or are you planning to turn back into a hermit, Mr. Grinch?” Yoongi calls over his shoulder, his voice light and teasing.  

“I’m coming,” Jungkook mutters, trailing after him like some kind of socially awkward duckling.  

The living room is even louder now, the music thumping so hard that Jungkook can feel it vibrating in his chest. People are dancing, laughing, and spilling drinks everywhere- basically, it’s Jungkook’s personal nightmare. 

But somehow, with Yoongi leading the way, it doesn’t seem quite so bad.  

Yoongi weaves through the crowd with an ease that Jungkook envies, stopping only when they reach the snack table. It’s been picked over by now- half-empty bowls of chips, a suspiciously melted cheese log, and some crumpled napkins- but sure enough, there’s still a decorative Christmas tree plate full of cookies tucked at the far end.  

“Target acquired,” Yoongi announces, looking far too pleased with himself.  

Jungkook blinks at him. “You’re really serious about stealing cookies?”  

“Dead serious.” Yoongi reaches for the plate, then pauses, holding it out toward Jungkook instead. “What do you think, partner-in-crime? Think we can sneak this whole plate out without anyone noticing?”  

Jungkook huffs a laugh despite himself. “I think you’re insane.”  

“Maybe. But it’s fun, right?” Yoongi grins, and it’s the kind of smile that feels infectious. Before Jungkook can stop himself, he’s smiling back.  

“Fine. But if we get caught, you’re explaining it to Jimin.”  

“Deal,” Yoongi says, with absolutely no hesitation.  

Between the two of them, they manage to tuck the cookies under Yoongi’s oversized sweater. It looks ridiculous, like Yoongi suddenly has a weirdly tree-shaped stomach, but no one seems to notice as they make their way to the front door. Jungkook feels a thrill of excitement bubbling up in his chest, like he’s in the middle of a heist in some terrible holiday movie.  

“Almost there,” Yoongi murmurs, nudging the door open with his foot.  

Jungkook follows him out into the crisp night air, the sound of the party fading behind them. It’s quiet out here, the only noise coming from the distant hum of traffic and the crunch of their footsteps against the frost-covered grass.

Yoongi sets the cookie plate down on the hood of someone’s car and looks up at Jungkook, his cheeks pink from the cold. “Operation Cookie Heist: successful.”  

Jungkook snorts. “We’re probably going to get yelled at for this tomorrow.”  

“Probably,” Yoongi agrees, picking up a cookie and holding it out to Jungkook. “But it’s worth it. You’ve got to admit this is better than sitting in a laundry room feeling sorry for yourself.”  

Jungkook takes the cookie, his heart doing an annoying little flip when their fingers brush. “I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself.”  

Yoongi raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”  

“Okay, maybe a little sorry for myself,” Jungkook admits, biting into the cookie. It’s stale, but somehow, it tastes fine. Maybe because Yoongi’s here, and everything feels a little surreal.  

Yoongi laughs softly and leans back against the car, watching Jungkook with an expression that makes his chest feel weirdly warm. “Well, for what it’s worth… I’m glad you came tonight.”  

Jungkook freezes mid-bite, staring at him. “What?”  

Yoongi shrugs, casual as ever. “I said I’m glad you came. It’s not often I get to steal cookies with someone like you.”  

“Someone like me?” Jungkook repeats, his voice coming out embarrassingly squeaky.  

Yoongi turns to look at him fully, the corners of his mouth lifting into that soft, almost-fond smile again. “Yeah. You know. Someone who’s… real. And cute.”  

Jungkook doesn’t know what to do with that, so he just stands there, clutching his cookie like it’s the most important thing in the world. He opens his mouth to respond, but nothing comes out.  

Yoongi laughs quietly, clearly amused by Jungkook’s inability to function. “Relax, Grinch.”

“My name is Jungkook.” 

Yoongi smiles. “I know that already. I just thought that calling you Grinch was cute. And, anyway, all that stuff before… It’s a compliment.”

“I know,” Jungkook repeats, his face heating up. He stares down at the cookie in his hand and wills himself not to spontaneously combust. “I’m just… not used to hearing stuff like that.”  

“Well, get used to it,” Yoongi says, his voice gentle but firm. “Because I mean it.”  

They fall into a comfortable silence after that, standing side by side in the cold, sharing stolen cookies under the faint glow of the streetlights. Jungkook sneaks a glance at Yoongi, who’s staring up at the sky like he has all the time in the world.  

And for the first time since Jimin had barged into his bedroom, insisting that he put on this god awful outfit, Jungkook feels… okay. Better than okay, even. 

Like maybe holiday parties aren’t all bad. At least, not when Min Yoongi’s there.