The Christmas Factory // Bts ff

-13-

It was already pitch dark outside, and the night was advanced when they made their first break. So far, they'd brought the presents to about four different countries and the maknae felt drained. Before, he'd thought this was going to be the best days of his life. He was so honoured and until now, it really was the most amazing thing he'd ever done. It was true, flying around through the clouds and seeing all of those places, knowing that they were only one wall away from human children that lived in these impressive cities, felt wonderful.
Still, Jungkook couldn't help but feel a little disappointed since he could only see the shadows of buildings and they were rushing through the entire night. Apart from that, he and Taehyung hadn't spoken a word other than when they were working together and had to give the cue for the other's actions for example. It wasn't like he tried to as well, the black-haired was too shy to start a conversation ever since Yoongi tried talking to him. He was busy brooding over what his Hyung had said and the fact that he wasn't sure if he had interpreted it correctly.
The blonde had been mad he rejected Tae, but couldn't you only reject someone in a... well, relationship kind of way? Was that the reason the older had started distancing himself from him? The reason he wouldn't talk to him about his secret? Jungkook blushed just imagining that maybe Taehyung was in love with him. That Yoongi had thought he had confessed and the youngest declined. Was it possible? And if yes, what would it mean to him? He knew that he felt happy about it for some reason, but why? Did he like the idea of Taehyung and him in a relationship?

"Yah, let's go! We still have some countries in Middle-Europe to go tonight. The rest will be due tomorrow or the day after.", Seokjin called out for him and he got up from the snow he's been sitting and resting in. This was maybe one of the most interesting things about this journey: getting to know the different countries by their Christmas-culture-traditions that designed at what time the kids got their presents.
"I'm coming!", he responded quickly and got back on the sleigh. Meanwhile, Tae was checking on the animals, giving them water that he'd collected from a stream nearby. He'd been lucky that there was just a thin layer of ice on the water and therefore he had been able to reach the liquid easily.
"Are you ready?", he whispered into the doe's ear that was leading the sleigh. The blue-haired didn't know why, but he liked the fact that it was a female guiding them and the other deer through the air tonight. She had a very nice personality and luckily, she'd recovered from her sickness quickly so that they didn't have to rearrange the deer flying with them. He smiled at her answer and pressed a kiss to her forehead before joining the other elves on the sleigh.
"Then let's get going again!", he called out and took the reins. After a while, they were steadily in the air and he let the animals fly on their own. They'd have a long flight over the ocean now so he jumped to the others in the back of the sleigh. There, two rows were built for their comfort and since Namjoon and Seokjin were in the middle of a conversation, he let himself fall on the bench next to Jungkook. He seemed like he was in thoughts so the older decided not to say anything, afraid that he was still mad at him and didn't want to be interrupted.

"Hyung?", a gentle voice woke him from his light sleep. He must have dozed off a little and now lifted his head again, mind still a little blurry. He looked around, relieved that they were still flying and apparently hadn't come too much further every since he fell asleep, but his cheeks heated up when he realized that his head had been resting on Jungkook's shoulder. He bit his lip and wanted to apologize, but the younger pressed his finger on his lips so he stayed silent, startled by the action.
"Hyung, I'm sorry I woke you up, but I have to ask you something.", the black-haired said, begging desperation all over his face. Tae furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding what had the younger so emotional, but he nodded so that he would speak on. Behind them, Namjoon and Seokjin were both taking a nap, hands intertwined and cuddled together.
"I... I spoke with Yoongi-ssi and he said some things that I didn't really understand. At first, I didn't want to think about it, but now I realize that I can't forget about them so I will just ask you, and see what happens. I hope you won't hate me and please interrupt me if what I say is not true or if you don't want to hear about it!"

Taehyung felt how his hands started shaking and he had to concentrate hard to keep his breath even. He had so many ideas of what Jungkook could be talking about now and none of them were very comforting to him, but now it was too late and so he closed his eyes and nodded. The younger took his finger from his lips and started nervously playing pressing his hands together before clearing his throat and looking straight into Tae's darkened eyes.
"Hyung said that he was worried I... He was mad at me because he thought that I had...."
The blue-haired stared at the other in confusion and waited impatiently for him to continue, but Jungkook didn't seem to find the right words, so he started again after a moment.
"Okay, I'll just say it now. You're really important to me, Taehyung-ssi and I was thinking that... maybe... I don't know... Alright..."
"What do you want to ask? Just do it, I can't hurt you.", the older interrupted his nervous stuttering and reached out to take his hand. It was ice-cold and Tae intertwined their finger so that the younger would feel reassured. He didn't want him to be afraid of talking about his mind, so he tried to put on a comforting smile. Jungkook swallowed and looked up again.
"Do you like me?", he then whispered and Tae blinked slowly.
So this was it. This was the moment that he was going to tell him. This was the moment where he had to admit what was going on with him the entire time. This was the moment of his come-out and the moment of his rejection.
Taehyung tried not to change his facial-expression as he answered: "I do." neutrally.

It was at that moment that Jungkook stopped breathing. His eyes started burning since he hadn't blinked in a while, but he simply couldn't take his gaze off Taehyung who was motionlessly staring right at him. The younger had to gulp at the intense tension between them, then he shook his head.
"Hyung...", he began and chuckled nervously.
"I meant... uhm... 'like' as in... a more than friendly kind of way"
Jungkook didn't know how he was still able to withstand the eye-contact they were sharing. Normally, he would have stared at the ground by now but somehow, he was incapable of moving. Taehyung's face still didn't show a reaction, when he answered: "I know."
Again, silence filled their surroundings until the black-haired spoke up again: "So, you're saying-"
"I am.", he was interrupted and inhaled sharply when he realized what his Hyung had just said. Suddenly, he could feel his heartbeat all over his body: in his chest, in his hands, Santa's hat, even in his head. Apparently, he looked just as confused as he was since the blue-haired forced a smile and gently lifted his chin.
"I'm sorry, Jungkookie! I'm sorry, I made everything so awkward."
The younger blinked a little startled.
"Why awkward?", he asked and Tae tilted his head while biting his bottom lip.
"Well..."
His voice sounded deeper and raspier than normal.
"It's awkward because now you know I'm in love with you, but you don't feel his way so I guess how you don't know how to act towards me anymore. There's this thing between us now, so it's-"
"But what if...", he stopped the older before he would say that stupid word again.
"What if I said it back?"

Jungkook felt his cheeks turn dark-red when nothing could be heard but the wind as soon as his words had clung out. Taehyung was staring right into his soul, eyes wide and mouth opened slightly. The younger was about to take it back and apologize, suddenly anxious about the consequences his question would have, but before he could speak up, his eyes reflexively shut close and he felt ice-cold, slightly chapped lips on his own. The back-haired didn't dare to breathe nor move while Tae was leaning in further, moving his lips against his mouth and holding his waist and neck.
Jungkook felt the panic take over him since he had no idea what to do. He'd never kissed anyone ever in his life and right now, he didn't know if he liked the feeling or not. He knew that he should probably kiss back since he didn't want Taehyung to think he didn't want this, but how?
What was he supposed to do? What if he did something that his Hyung wouldn't like?
Tae stopped for a moment when he noticed that the black-haired wasn't reacting, and let out a small chuckle.
"Don't be afraid, there's nothing you can do wrong.", he whispered against his lips and the younger sighed. Then, he carefully leaned closer to the older and gently pressed their lips together again while moving his hands up the other's arms until they arrived in his hair with which he kept playing throughout the kiss. He was trying to imitate Taehyung's movements as best as he could, and after a while, he felt a tingle in his chest. Alright, now he knew that this was one of the best things he'd ever done. And he sure as hell didn't want to stop.