By: @serendipityswan

Everything is different.

Well not everything, but Jungkook can't help but notice changes. Or maybe he is just being paranoid, but after that night in Central Park, things feel different.

Or maybe the looming end of the semester is making him delirious. His art classes all have projects and his other courses have exams, so it wouldn't be that surprising if his tired mind is making things up.

The weather is also changing, getting quite cold and some snow is starting to fall as well. So that could be a reason for the changes as well.

"Or you are just trying to find any excuse to convince yourself that Jimin doesn't return your feelings," Taehyung counters after he let Jungkook ramble for a solid half hour.

"Or you are just trying to get my hopes up," Jungkook retorts, tiredly running a hand down his face. It's two in the morning and he's been trying to study, but after hours of doing so his mind demanded a Jimin intermission, thus leading him to calling Taehyung to vent.

"No offense Jungkook but you aren't the most reliable when it comes to interpreting how others feel, especially not with Jimin. You've been convincing yourself that you have no chance with him for years, so your view of things is frankly distorted."

"You might have a point," Jungkook mumbles.

"I definitely do have a point. He likes you Jungkook. I'm not even there but from what you tell me it is pretty damn obvious."

Jungkook still doesn't fully believe it. Sure Jimin has been even more touchy, even cuddly at times. But the weather is cold and they are both stressed with finals. Jimin just wants some comfort and his only option is Jungkook.

"I know you're thinking that he's only acting this way because he has no other options, but do you really think Jimin couldn't find someone if he wanted to? He wants you, Jungkook," Taehyung continues.

"That just feels too good to be true."

"One day Jimin will just tell you he has feelings and your stubborn ass still won't believe him."

"Hey!" Jungkook replies, a little too loud for two a.m. with Jimin sleeping, wincing at his own volume. He winces again when he hears Jimin's door creak open, knowing he woke the elder up. "Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"I woke Jimin up."

"Kookie?" Jimin questions, standing in the entryway from his room to the living room where Jungkook had been working. His faded pink hair is sticking up all over from his pillows, eyes just barely open as he squints into the darkness. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Jiminie. Didn't mean to wake you," Jungkook replies softly, subsequently hearing Taehyung snicker.

"Who are you talking to?"

"Oh uh just Taehyung."

"Ooh he knows who I am," Taehyung jokes.

"Shut up," Jungkook murmurs into the phone, making Taehyung laugh.

"Huh?" Jimin questions sleepily.

"Oh no not you," Jungkook clarifies back to Jimin. "Go back to bed hyung. I promise to be quieter."

"God you're so grossly sweet," Taehyung comments. "I'll leave you to your developing romance."

Before Jungkook can complain the call ends, leaving him with the sleepy man now sitting beside him even though the couch has plenty of space to not need to be directly side by side.

"Why are you still up?" Jimin asks, sounding a little more conscious but definitely still exhausted.

"I was studying," Jungkook explains, looking down at the scattered textbooks and study guides on the coffee table.

"Kookie it's too late," Jimin murmurs sleepily, resting his head on Jungkook's shoulder and hugging onto his arm like he's snuggling a teddy bear. "Go to sleep."

"I can't with you holding onto me like this," Jungkook points out, chuckling lightly when Jimin holds onto him tighter.

"Promise you'll go to bed," Jimin demands cutely. "No more studying tonight."

"Okay, I promise," Jungkook relents, exhaustion catching up to him anyway. "You go to bed too."

"Mkay," Jimin mumbles, letting Jungkook's arm slip from his hold but grabbing his wrist to pull him up and away from the living room.

"I'm sorry I woke you up hyung," Jungkook murmurs.

"'S okay," Jimin slurs sleepily. They need to part ways but Jimin still has a hold on Jungkook's wrist which makes the younger buzz in anticipation.

"Jimin," Jungkook says softly, gently swinging his arm to get the point across.

"Sorry," Jimin murmurs, dropping his hold what seems to be reluctant. "Night Jungkookie."

"Good night Jiminie."

Jungkook hesitantly turns to go to his bedroom, feeling like he's being watched as he goes but that must be his stressed and tired mind fucking with him.

--

"What are you doing for Christmas?"

"I honestly have no idea. Just gonna exchange gifts with Jimin and that's it really," Jungkook answers, eyes glued to his iPad as he works. The semester is finally over for him and Jimin is at his last final, so Jungkook is at the coffee shop working on Jimin's portrait. "What are you and Hobi-hyung doing?"

"Visiting my brother," Yoongi answers, enjoying his break with an iced Americano despite the freezing temperatures outside. "We'll probably be there until New Year's and come back to have New year's here with Jin and Joon-ah. I'm sure you and Jimin could come for that too."

"I'll let Jimin know," Jungkook replies, remaining neutral despite the knot in his stomach thinking of Seokjin and Namjoon's place. Yoongi simply nods and finishes his coffee, getting up to return to work. It's a normal behavior, but something is missing that surprises Jungkook.

"You're not going to tease me about Jimin?" he asks, genuinely perplexed that the elder hadn't done so yet.

"Don't have a reason to."

"Do you need a reason?"

"Touche," Yoongi replies casually. "Call it a Christmas gift then. It'll pair well with what Jimin got you."

"What?" Jungkook questions but the elder walks away, leaving him to his continued confusion. What does not teasing about his crush have anything to do with Jimin's gift for him?

--

"Kooooooookie."

"Oh no," Jungkook jokingly groans. Now that they have a break for the holidays, they have a lot of free time. So at least once every day Jimin comes up with something to do and has to convince Jungkook to do it. If only he knew how whipped Jungkook was for him.

"You can't complain when you don't even know what I was going to suggest," Jimin says, crossing his arms and pouting at the younger who can't help but chuckle.

"You saying that now makes me concerned I will be complaining about this one."

"But you'll still do it, right?"

"I don't even know what it is yet."

"Can you just agree now anyway?"

"Hyung what are you scheming?"

"It's not a scheme!" Jimin defends. "I'm just a little worried you'll say no."

"You won't know till you tell me what it is."

"Ice skating," Jimin blurts out.

"You want to go ice skating," Jungkook repeats. "You want me to fall on my ass and potentially break a hip."

"That is dramatic. You won't break a hip."

"But I will fall on my ass."

"Maybe. But you can just hold on to me the whole time. I won't let you fall if I can help it. So please Jungkook can we go? I really want to go with you."

"Fine," Jungkook sighs playfully despite feeling genuine nerves. "Just know I have no idea what I'm doing."

"That's fine! I'll help you!" Jimin says excitedly, hopping off the couch to get ready. Jungkook does the same, albeit with much less enthusiasm. Once bundled up for the elements, they head out for the Rockefeller Center.

Everywhere is busy, from the subway to the sidewalks, with tons of tourists in particular bustling around as they take in the sights. Jungkook would be worried he'd get lost or lose Jimin in the crowd if the elder hadn't made a habit of holding on to his arm when out. It's just one of the many changes Jimin has adopted and arguably one of Jungkook's favorite changes.

"Okay so," Jimin starts once the Rockefeller tree and ice rink are visible. "You want to make sure you keep your knees slightly bent. And if you do fall try to land on your ass."

"You're giving me tips on falling?" Jungkook questions.

"Listen you'll probably fall at least once and I would much prefer you fall on your ass and not on your head."

"Noted." Jimin giggles sweetly and pulls Jungkook to the rental area for their skates. With skates acquired and on, they head onto the surprisingly empty ice with Jimin leading the way. Jimin easily steps onto the ice, skating away from the entrance to give Jungkook space before circling back when Jungkook joins him, sticking to the wall for support.

"You can't hold the wall the whole time."

"Sure I can," Jungkook retorts, slowly feeling less wobbly but still lacking confidence.

"Here take my hand," Jimin says, offering his gloved hand which Jungkook takes tentatively. The elder guides him off the wall, now holding both hands in his and guiding him while skating backwards.

"I feel like a baby giraffe," Jungkook comments, making Jimin laugh brightly.

"Here stop for a second." They both stop and Jimin turns around followed by guiding the younger's hands to hold his waist.

"What are you doing?" Jungkook asks, pulse quickening.

"Just copy what I do and don't let go," Jimin says and then he starts to skate again, going slowly as he pushes off and steps between his feet as he goes. Jungkook tries his best to do what Jimin does, looking down to copy when he switches feet.

"If you look down, that is where you'll go," Jimin comments, looking forward but somehow knowing what the younger is doing. Jungkook snaps his head up with that, only to realize how close they are.

He swallows down the lump in his throat and focuses on the skating and not how Jimin's hands are on top of his or how they managed to get closer as they circle the rink. After a few laps, Jungkook starts to relax with the skating, but definitely not with holding Jimin like this.

"Hyung we have one problem," Jungkook says.

"And what is that?"

"I don't know how to stop."

"Do you want to stop?" Jimin asks, looking over his shoulder at Jungkook. Something about the question feels deeper than just about the skating and the air around them tense ever so slightly. It feels like a much more important question than it seems, so Jungkook lets his instinct answer.

"No."

Jimin smiles knowingly before turning back forward to continue skating. Just as Jungkook starts to overthink that interaction, Jimin comes to a sudden stop which makes the younger crash into him slightly, his chest hitting his back as all the space between them closes.

"Shit sorry," Jungkook says, attempting to move back but Jimin stops him, gripping his wrists to still him and making Jungkook panic slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jimin says softly, shaking his head slightly. He proceeds to pull Jungkook off to the side and out of the way of the few other skaters still circling. Jungkook is now just confused, uncertain that nothing is actually wrong. Once at the wall, Jimin turns to face the younger.

"Do you remember when we were in Central Park after that party?" Jimin asks, hands resting on Jungkook's arms while the younger still holds his waist.

"Yeah?"

"And I tripped and you caught me."

"Okay?"

"I really wanted you to kiss me."

"What?" Jungkook questions in surprise, eyes wide and mouth agape at the confession.

"I wanted you to kiss me," Jimin repeats, making eye contact with the stunned younger with his own hesitancy in his eyes. "I really wish you did."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I-" Jimin starts, pausing to take a deep breath as if mustering courage to continue. "I wasn't going to tell you this until Christmas but...I don't know it just feels better to say it now and-"

"Hyung," Jungkook interrupts Jimin's rambling. His heart is pounding and he's certain his hands would be shaking if he wasn't still holding the elder. He doesn't know where this is going, completely unprepared, and Jimin's own nervousness is making his worse.

"I really like you," Jimin blurts out. "I like you so much and I thought that maybe you felt the same way. But then you didn't kiss me that night and now you're just staring at me and maybe I'm wrong and-"

Jungkook's brain has fully short-circuited at this point so he just reacts on instinct and kisses Jimin, cutting off his rambling by doing so. He pulls Jimin by the waist as their lips connect, desperate to be close now that he can. It lacks finesse, but neither care. Especially as Jimin kisses him back, arms wrapping around Jungkook's neck to be even closer.

"Hyung," Jungkook starts, getting interrupted by Jimin's need to continue their liplock. "Hyung I'd love to keep kissing you but can we please get off the ice first."

Jimin laughs brightly, falling into Jungkook's hold slightly before leading them to the rink exit. They change out of their skates and quickly return them before Jimin pulls Jungkook out of the main thoroughfare of tourists and into another kiss.

"I like you so much Jimin. God you don't even know," Jungkook murmurs between kisses, wrapping his arms around the slim waist of the elder to keep him close.

"Then tell me," Jimin mumbles back, not actually letting the younger speak with his own desire to continue their lip lock.

They kiss till their lips are swollen and start to chap in the winter chill, deciding its best to go home and talk about all of this. They leave hand in hand, gloved fingers intertwining and bright smiles on their faces.

--

"Why didn't you kiss me that night?"

Back in their apartment, changed out of their winter gear for much more comfortable clothing, and curled up into the couch, Jimin and Jungkook had continued where they left off at the ice rink. Specifically more kissing, kept chaste but still intimate, as neither could get enough of the other apparently. Eventually though they needed to breathe and actually talk, so now with Jimin laying against Jungkook's chest, they were doing just that.

"You were drunk."

"I wasn't drunk."

"You weren't sober either," Jungkook counters. "And I didn't want to take advantage of your inebriation like that."

"Even if I wanted it."

"I didn't know you wanted it."

"Did you want it?" Jimin asks, tilting his head to look up at the younger.

"Yeah," Jungkook admits quietly, feeling his face warm with blush. Jimin giggles sweetly and reaches to cup Jungkook's face and pulls him down to peck his lips quickly. "But I wasn't going to do it without knowing if you wanted it."

"Well now you know so kiss me when you want."

"That's a dangerous offer."

"Is it?" Jimin teases, mischievous smile growing as he eyes the younger. "How so?"

"I'll never want to stop," Jungkook answers, heartbeat speeding up as he eyes the elder in his arms.

"Then don't."

Jimin turns in Jungkook's hold to face him properly and slowly kisses him, but this kiss has more heat to it. It has a hunger that their other kisses didn't have and makes Jungkook's body hot in anticipation and nervousness.

"You're nervous," Jimin mutters, pulling back slightly to look Jungkook in the eyes.

"Little bit."

"Why?"

"Never thought this would ever happen," Jungkook admits. "I'm not entirely sure this is real."

"It's real," Jimin assures, cradling Jungkook's face in one hand as his thumb gently slides over the apple of his cheek.

"You're too good for me," Jungkook blurts out, his insecurities surfacing.

"No I'm not."

"You really are though," Jungkook continues. "You're the kindest person on Earth. And the most beautiful. And the most talented. And everyone loves you. You're perfect and I am just an awkward and shy nobody."

"You are not a nobody," Jimin argues. "You are caring and kind and talented. You're the sweetest person I've ever met. Your shyness is endearing and is just one of the things I like about you."

"You liking me at all seems unfathomable."

"Maybe to you but it is quite fathomable to me since it is the truth. I even like you so much I want to date you."

"You...want to date me?" Jungkook questions, somehow not having considered that despite their confessions.

"Was that not obvious?" Jimin asks playfully.

"It should have been but no, not at all," Jungkook replies. Jimin giggles sweetly and delicately kisses Jungkook on the forehead, making the younger blush.

"So what do you say?"

"About what?"

"Do you want to date me?"

"Of course I do," Jungkook answers, earning an airy laugh from the elder. Jungkook laces their fingers together, admiring how nicely their hands fit together before looking up to the loving gaze Jimin is giving him. It makes his heart flutter nervously and excitedly. "Hyung."

"Yeah?"

"I'm serious when I say you don't know how much I like you," Jungkook admits softly. "I've had feelings for years."

"Really?" Jimin asks quietly, looking slightly surprised. Jungkook just nods, feeling a little embarrassed to admit his years of admiring from afar to the object of his affection. "Well now you can show me. And I'll show you how much I like you too."

Jungkook can't help but smile, still feeling a bit shy and unbelieving over it all. But with the way Jimin looks at him with so much fondness and kisses him with so much sweetness, he can't deny it's reality.

--

Jungkook still wasn't one-hundred percent certain that he wasn't still dreaming, even after a few days of settling into the new reality of dating Jimin. It was just as sweet as he imagined it to be, with both enjoying the little blissful bubble they were in for the holidays.

"Kookie, wake up! It's Christmas!"

"Don't wanna," Jungkook mumbles sleepily, rolling way from where Jimin was standing beside his bed to wake him up.

"Come on we have plans," Jimin continues, circling the bed to stand on the other side and poke at his boyfriend.

"I thought we were just staying home all day to eat food and cuddle?"

"That is still a plan."

"Just five more minutes."

"You're lucky you're cute when you're pouty," Jimin remarks, making Jungkook groan and shove his face into a pillow to hide his reddening face. Even though they were together, Jungkook was certain he would never get used to the elder saying he is attractive in any fashion.

"The sooner you get out of bed, the sooner I can give you your Christmas kiss," Jimin offers, making Jungkook leave his pillow of protection to eye him.

"You could give it to me now."

"I could," Jimin starts, beginning to wander away from the bed and to the door. "But I think you have to come get it yourself."

"You're a menace," Jungkook groans jokingly. Jimin laughs brightly, the sound quieting as he walks out of the room fully. With that, Jungkook rolls out of bed, pulling on a hoodie as he walks out into the common area to find the elder in the kitchen. He walks up behind him, wrapping his arms around Jimin's waist in a back hug and nuzzles into the elder's neck with a content sigh before leaning around and pouting at Jimin in a silent demand for his promised kiss.

"Not till you brush your teeth," Jimin decides with a smirk as Jungkook whines but obliges, reluctantly separating himself