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v_95 @parkthatjiminshi i got to hold the camera again

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Taehyung saw Jimin's face fall from across the room and he broke out into a wide grin. The smaller man huffed and shot him a glare before stalking over.

"Yes, Jimin?" The model asked.

"I strongly dislike Jungkook's favoritism for you," the elder poked his arm. "Not fair at all."

"What can I say? I'm not clumsy."

"Oh, shush," his stylist swatted Jimin's figure away and scolded Taehyung to relax his face so she could finish applying the makeup. "The both of you are children."

"Noona, you can't tell me that's fair!" Jimin exclaimed, settling into a stool beside the pair getting prepared for a shoot. "Pretty Prince over here just snatched my best friend up like our ten plus years of friendship were nothing!"

The stylist tucked a falling strand of his dark hair back into place. "The wonderful best friend and boyfriend challenge."

"Hey, there's no challenge." Taehyung frowned. "It's you I'm competed for his heart with, Noona."

"What?" Jimin exclaimed. Both the celebrity and his personal stylist shared a knowing laugh as Jimin scowled at their antics. "I should have just gone to lunch with Hobi and Yoongi Hyung."

"You wanted to talk, right?" Taehyung recalled. "Ask away."

"Can I, uh..." the elder grimaced at the presence of the stylist and Taehyung nodded, holding up a five to Jimin to indicate a wait time before they could be alone.

The dancer sighed and stood. "I'll be outside. Let me know."

"Won't take too long!" Taehyung called back, watching him leave the dressing room through the view of the extensive mirror. "He's fun to tease."

"You guys get along well." The woman hummed, lifting his chin and dabbing a puff against the corner of his mouth where he'd creased the makeup by smiling.

Taehyung looked over his appearance, the long velvet overcoat overheating his skin with the bright trim lights of the vanity. His dark outfit matched the robe-like velvet with a baggier fitting.

"Noona, can we ditch the earrings?" He reached a hand up as she was fixing the back of his hair. "Don't think it fits."

"No?" She frowned, pausing to look at him in the mirror. He watched her pull one side out, taking a look at both sides and shrugging. "Looks fine without to me. How come?"

"Don't think I need it."

"You never need it." She chuckled, removing the other and cleaning off both his ears and the jewelry. "I don't believe Jin has any earrings either. Guess it matches better."

Taehyung nodded. They should look cohesive for a partner shoot. Their outfits were meant to contrast in the setting of light and dark of the set. "Jewelry always adds a nice touch, I know you love how it looks on me."

"And I love how you look without it, too, dear." She sprayed the canister of hair spray into his dark locks. "Jewelry is just a nice touch, doesn't change anything about you."

He smiled softly and stared in the mirror, raking over his uniform for the suit once more before nodding and standing. He fixed the cuffs of his shirt, smoothed down the waist line of his pants, and thanked her.

"Call Jimin in?" She already made her way to the heavy door, pulling the handle in. "He's ready for you. You got ten."

Jimin came shuffling in, bowing to her as she playfully nudged him and shut the door behind herself. The older crossed his arms over his chest as he took the model in.

"You look great." The dancer complimented out of formalities.

"Thanks, Jimin," Taehyung reached for his phone and tossed it in his back, pushing the bag to the corner of the counter. "What did you need?"

"Just wanted to ask how you're feeling."

"And Noona couldn't have stayed for that?"

"I just... I know we haven't talked much about it, but I just want to know how you're feeling about the trial." Jimin shrugged, leaning against the vanity counter. "Three days is not a lot of time."

"Oh." The model stared on. "My nerves are pretty much the same. I'm excited for tonight, though. It should help relieve some tension in me."

"Decorating the tree, right?"

"How...?"

"He might let you hold his camera," Jimin snorted. "But he spills all his secret feelings about you to me."

"Secret... feelings...?"

"I'm kidding. He was just telling me about the plans. You guys need any help?" The dancer ran a hand through his hair, shaking the strands into a more relaxed state.

"No, we got it." Taehyung blinked. "I think."

"I think?"

"Okay, well, I kinda just threw things together. He talked about putting a tree up with his partner for Christmas a while ago. And its Christmas time and I'm his partner so... yeah, impulsive tree and ornament buying." Taehyung groaned at the fond amusement on Jimin's face.

"Remember when I told you he's a sucker for sweet gestures? This is definitely included in his holiday list after watching sappy movies." Jimin shook his head. "God, he must be so in love— how has that guy not passed out?"

"Passed out? I'm glad he didn't pass out, the hell?"

"Relax, Prince," the older laughed. "He loves you a lot. And you two will be fine putting up the tree. Call if you end up fucking it up."

"Thanks, I just hope this is what he wants. I've been trying to slip in small things here and there." Taehyung fidgeted with his sleeve. "I just don't really know what I'm doing and I don't wanna mess it up."

"You're doing just great." Jimin patted his arm, timidly in case he butchered an outfit worth more than his existence (an exaggeration). "Enjoy it. Do I get any hints on what you got him for Christmas?"

"That's what you really wanted to ask, huh." The model scoffed. "No hints. No one knows but me."

"Damn. That's just mean." Jimin smiled appreciatively. "Take it easy. You've got big things coming this Tuesday."

His stomach churned with every mention of the court room he'd be seated in soon. It was more and more daunting the closer it got, just about looming overhead.

"Yeah." Taehyung whispered. "Thanks."

"Hey, we are all right there with you." Jimin assured. "Now, I'm actually hungry and you have a shoot, so run along, Prince."

"I don't run in my outfits."

"Ugh, just go, loser."

Taehyung cracked a smile while walking out with Jimin. His stylist was standing against the wall, head snapping up from rustling through her bag upon noticing them.

"All good?" She asked, Jimin nodding and waving at the two as he headed in the opposite direction.

"Say hi to Jin Hyung for me!" The dancer called. "And Jungkook when you see him tonight!

—

"There's an awkward gap right here." Jungkook pouted, readjusting the string of lights to situate more evenly around the tree.

It wasn't very tall, just a bit taller than Taehyung himself, but he figured something small would be achievable with their lack of time and four working hands.

The fake bristles stabbed his fingers when he and Jungkook clambered each section into each other to build the tree up, the base tucked under the red skirt. They had looped lights around the branches in a diagonal curve down to the bottom where it plugged into the wall, a gold ribbon garland intertwined with the small twinkling bulbs.

"I think it looks really good so far." Taehyung exclaimed, hands on his hips as he unboxed the ornaments. They had been delivered just that morning, still fully wrapped in packaging and it was a pain in their asses to remove.

"Wait, wait, hot cocoa is getting cold." Jungkook halted his retrieval of the small boxes of glass balls. "Here."

Taehyung smiled and took the warm mug from the younger's hands, sliding his fingers through the handle and lifting it to his lips while sitting down on the ground. Jungkook sat beside him on the living room floor, their feet protected from the cold wood by fuzzy socks and thick sweatpants. The model let out a laugh as Jungkook set his mug down and a splotch of cream had stained the tip of his nose.

"Come here, Koo." He shook his head at the confused expression on the younger's face. Jungkook set his mug down on the coffee table and scooted closer to him.

Taehyung placed his mug in the gap between his crossed legs, kissing the photographer's nose letting his tongue slip out to remove the stickiness the cream would leave behind.

"Tae!" Jungkook squeaked, shoving him back in surprise while rubbing his nose. "You could have just told me it was there."

"That's no fun, is it?" He threw his head back with a laugh as Jungkook flushed with color staining his cheeks. "Tastes good, too."

"Oh, shut up," the redness in his face deepened, straining from his spot to grab his mug again and drink some more of the chocolate drink. "I love Christmas music."

"Do you even know what they're saying?" The model teased, sipping some of the steaming drink. It warmed a path all threw his throat and into his chest, leaving a comforting heat in his stomach.

"I know some English." Jungkook glared playfully, humming along with the tunes playing in the apartment speakers.

"Oh, really now." Taehyung stood and set his mug on the small table in the center of the living room. He reached for Jungkook's hand and took his mug, putting it down to keep it from overflowing with violent swishes before seating himself down again.

"Hey, I still want to drink some—"

The model drew him close with an arm around his waist and kissing him deeply. Jungkook whined softly into his mouth, though his hands dug into his dark hair, messing it up from its set state.

"You haven't even washing the spray out." The photographer giggled against his lips, shifting to sit more comfortably in front of him. "You should shower."

"I'll do that later." Taehyung trailed a finger up and down the expanse of Jungkook's neck, the younger's eyes fluttering shut at the touch. "You look too pretty with that Christmas twinkle in your eye."

Jungkook pulled him close the second time and kissed him like it was numbing all his pain away. It was just like that. The balcony curtains drawn shut, the empty apartment leaving them to say and do as they please, holiday music echoing their excitement.

"Okay," Taehyung eventually mumbled between kisses. "Ornaments. And star."

"Mhm," Jungkook didn't make any move apart from attaching their lips together and Taehyung smiled into every pull the younger dragged him close with. "Thank you, Tae."

"This is my thank you?" He toyed, nudging Jungkook away so they could catch their breaths, and rubbed the younger's knee. "For what?"

"Doing this. Planning, buying all this." His boyfriend chewed his bottom lip, eyes darting to the floor. "It means a lot. That you're even here right now with so much going on."

"You know I would do it all again without hesitation." Taehyung felt the words burn his tongue, dry his throat and he frowned. "Jungkook, of course, I would do this. I care about you so damn much."

"No, no, I know," Jungkook shushed him, wiping his pooling eyes and standing, pulling him up to stand as well. The younger hugged him with more ease. "I'm just happy. Really. After a while, things feel a bit more right."

Taehyung stared up at the ceiling and held his boyfriend tightly to his chest, closed his eyes as Jungkook rested his head on his heart, hearing his pulse drum routinely.

"I'm happy when you're happy." He whispered, so softly, it sounded like one of his thoughts. Taehyung never didn't felt guilty about the media attention, knowing how wrong it was for Jungkook to go through such a situation.

He couldn't change what had happened, but he'd do everything to keep him smiling.

Jungkook pulled away and did that. Smiled. Smiled like he'd won the lottery— but not even the lottery because Taehyung could give him a lottery win without thinking twice. It was a smile that spoke genuine peace, feeling safe in a dangerous world that was currently leaving him locked in secure places.

Taehyung wanted to make sure those bunny teeth on big display, lips curved to his ears, eyes crinkling as his dimple appeared, kept its home on his angel's face.

"Ornaments." Jungkook reminded. "And star."

And they hung up the ornaments. Taehyung helped Jungkook balance the base of the star into the pointed branch at the peak of the tree, hands lifting that small waist up a few inches for a height leverage.

They stumbled back and fell onto the couch when Jungkook landed on Taehyung's foot, laughing breathlessly, endlessly, as the older grabbed him and kept him from slipping off the cushions.

The world faded away until it was just the two of them, just the Prince and his angel, the world that was screaming for them gone from their thoughts.

He remembered what Jungkook said about his dream Christmas, as well as what he'd said just a few days ago about hardly having any pictures with his friends and acquaintances back home. He was always behind a camera, always faceless and capturing other people's memories.

Christmas was a holiday of giving and Taehyung wanted to give Jungkook the priceless memories of a lifetime that no one could ever take away. Memories that the media couldn't take away like the violation of his privacy.

Give him memories without Jungkook being stuck behind a camera, without being the ones capturing the memories, and instead making them.

—

priceless tae you have grown so much :'(
sign of self love/growth: healthy giving

also i love christmas time's spirit so no scrooges in this household :)