Work Text:
“Yoongi-hyung! Thank goodness you’re awake!”
The voice is muffled, as if he’s underwater.
“Can you hear me, hyung?”
Yoongi thinks it’s Namjoon, but he’s not 100% sure. He tries to open his eyes, but the fluorescent lights above are blinding. That is not the lighting at the shopping mall. And he doesn’t usually see the ceiling.
“Where am I?” Yoongi says with a dried mouth.
"We’re in the ER at SNUH.”
Yoongi forces his eyes open upon that bombshell. Yes, it is Namjoon next to him. He’s lying on a mobile hospital bed, inside a crowded room full of sick and injured people. He moves his body - nothing seems to be broken. So why is he here?
As he lifts his arms up, he comes to the terrible realisation that he is still in his work outfit. He is dressed as a CANDY CANE.
“Why am I still wearing THIS?” Yoongi gestures wildly at Namjoon.
“What is the last thing you remember?” Namjoon asks with concern.
It’s Christmas Eve, i.e. the last day of his holiday job at the shopping mall, as an usher at the Santa photo station. At the beginning of December, the lines were orderly, filled with parents with the foresight of getting their Santa photos taken early. As the month went by, the mall became busier and the job became lousier. Parents were frazzled, trying to purchase last minute gifts with kids in tow. In turn, the kids were grumpy with the long queue (Yoongi will never understand the need to take a photo with a fake Santa, but these parents are paying his bills, so whatever).
By 1pm, the queue stretched over 100 meters long. Half the kids were shouting “I want to see Santa now!” and the other half were terrified at the sight of a portly stranger with a long beard in a velvet red suit. He could see the weariness in the parents’ eyes. He was equally jaded, boiling in a “festive” candy cane outfit.
Just as Yoongi was ready to usher in the next kid, “Santa” put up his hand. “Sorry, I need a bathroom break.” They had been working non-stop since 9am. Yoongi sighed, whispered “make it quick!” and waved “Santa” off.
At the sight of Old St Nick departing, the kid next in line was not amused. “I want my photo with Santa now, why is he leaving?” Soon the kid turned his anger towards Yoongi. “You let him go! Why did you do that???”
The next thing Yoongi felt was a kick to his balls. Then his world turned black ...
Namjoon sees the blank look on Yoongi’s face and helpfully fills in the gap.
“After that kid kicked you, you fell backwards and your head collided with one of the lights. You went out cold. The kid thought he killed you and started screaming, and everything went to shit. The mall had to shut down the station temporarily, and Hobi and I brought you here. Hobi's back to get things sorted. The boss wanted me to go back too, but I told her I won’t leave until I know you’re OK.”
Yoongi touches his head, it’s not hurting. “I'm fine, Joon-ah. That doesn’t explain why I’m still in this awful costume though.”
Namjoon grimaces. “Sorry, hyung! The medical officer at the mall told us not to move your head too much, in case you have a concussion. It was such a scene at the station, we just wanted to get you out of there ASAP.”
“Can I take it off now?”
“Well, the triage nurse did a preliminary check when we arrived and she said you’re not in serious trouble, but you still need to be examined by a doctor. Also, we didn’t have a chance to grab your bag, so …”
Yoongi covers his face with his hands. This is going to be the worst Christmas ever.
“Hyung, I’m so sorry but I have to go. When a doctor is ready to see you, a nurse will come and take you to the examination room. Hobi and I will be back at the end of the shift, and we’ll bring your bag. I’ll let the nurse know that I’m leaving. I hope you’re OK.” Namjoon bows, then retreats towards the exit.
Yoongi has been to an ER once before, when his basketball teammate blew out his knee during a game. The wait was agonising, and that was a normal day. Right now, the ER is overflowing with patients. He desperately wishes that he can go home before the clock strikes 12.
With no companion and no phone, Yoongi entertains himself by imagining the reasons for other patients’ visits to the ER. A guy in a terrible Christmas sweater and a red nose looks to be the loser of a drunken brawl. A woman has her left hand wrapped in bandages. A cooking related injury?
Soon, a nurse wheels in the next patient. It's a sight to behold. A guy in a Santa hat and denim dungarees, drenched in red (paint?).
The nurse parks the wheelchair next to Yoongi’s bed. He looks at the guy up-close. He’s … cute? Blond hair underneath the flurry trim of the hat, lips pouty and very kissable. Yoongi shakes his head. Now is not the time to check out other guys.
“What cha starin’ at, Candy Cane?” Pouty Lips speaks with narrowed eyes.
“Just relieved that I’m no longer the most ridiculous looking patient in here.” Yoongi chuckles.
“You’re literally a stick of sugar!” Pouty Lips retorts.
“Any rational person would see that I’m wearing a costume. You, on the other hand, look like collateral damage from a reindeer rampage.”
“I’ve found the Christmas Grinch. You may look sweet but your heart has shrunk.”
“You think I look sweet?” Yoongi can’t help but smirk.
“I said you’re sweet because you’re a candy!” Pouty Lips sounds exasperated but there is a soft blush on his cheeks.
Damn, he’s adorable.
Yoongi doesn’t know what to say to that, so he looks at Pouty Lips again. Ignoring the red all over his clothes, Yoongi tries to identify the nature of his injury.
“You should elevate your foot.” Yoongi says after his examination.
“What?” Pouty Lips looks confused.
“You hurt your ankle, right? You should elevate it, that will help with the pain and the swelling.”
Pouty Lips looks at Yoongi, first with surprise, then with … fondness? “Thank you, Candy Cane.”
“Stop calling me that! My name is Yoongi.”
“I’m Jimin.” He lifts his right leg and puts it on the frame of Yoongi’s bed.
Jimin aka Pouty Lips looks even lovelier with a smile.
“So Jimin-ssi. What happened?”
“I was hanging up Christmas tinsels. Even though I was on a ladder, it was still a struggle to reach the ceiling, so stupid me decided to go on my tippy toes. Well, gravity called - I fell and my right foot kicked a tin of red paint. These are my favourite dungarees! I don’t think the paint is going to come off.” Jimin is pouting again.
Jimin has a sprained ankle but his focus is on his clothes. For reasons unknown, Yoongi finds it endearing (it may have something to do with how alluring Jimin’s voice is and how he talks with his eyes).
“How about you, Yoongi-ssi? There has to be a good story to go with that outfit.”
“This is the ugly underbelly of capitalism - where the youth are forced to humiliate themselves for basic sustenance.”
Jimin nods politely but he’s completely lost.
“I work at a Santa photo station and some wild kid kicked me in the groin, I banged my head on a light and passed out.”
“Oh my goodness, that is dangerous! Does your head hurt now?”
“Thanks Jimin-ssi. I feel fine but my boss wants me to be assessed by a doctor. I think she’s just covering her back, she doesn’t want me to sue the company.”
“It’s not just that, Yoongi-ssi. Concussions are no laughing matter! It’s best to get a proper examination.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Yoongi marvels at the fact that his conversation with Jimin/Pouty Lips (the nickname is going to stick) has moved on from bickering to expression of concern in the space of 5 minutes.
“I hope we both get to go home before Christmas Day.” Jimin says wistfully. “I was going to catch a train to Busan tonight, but that’s off the table now. Even though I won’t get to see my parents this year, I’d much rather spend Christmas at home than in a hospital.”
“So you’ll be alone tomorrow?” Yoongi cannot imagine not spending time with his loved ones on Christmas Day.
“Yeah. My best friends are both travelling back home.”
“Do you want to join us?” Yoongi blurts out without thinking.
“Join you? I can't impose on your family like that!”
“My parents and brother are in Daegu. I have my second family here, with Namjoon and Hobi. We’re going to celebrate Christmas with fried chicken and lots of soju. It’s just a casual get-together. I’m sure they’ll be cool with you joining.”
Yoongi sees Jimin struggling with his emotions. “That will be lovely, Yoongi-ssi. Seoul is a big city but sometimes I feel more alone than when I was growing up.”
Yoongi keeps quiet but nods. He knows the feeling well. When he first moved from Daegu to Seoul, he struggled a lot with making new friends. It was Namjoon and Hobi’s persistence that won Yoongi over.
“In Seoul, we build our own family. It may not be the same as your parents and your siblings, but bonds with friends can be just as strong.”
“Thank you, Yoongi-ssi. You’re right. I’m old enough to forge my own path.” Jimin has a look of determination in his eyes.
Yoongi smiles. “Come to my place at 11am? We've prepared plenty of food, so there’s no need to bring anything. Do you have your phone with you? I'll give you my address and phone number."
Jimin pulls out his phone from the pocket at the front of his dungaree. "Thank goodness the phone isn't covered in paint!" He unlocks the phone and hands it over to Yoongi.
Yoongi pulls a face and takes a selfie with the phone, earning a laugh from Jimin. Before he gives the phone back to Jimin, he takes a photo of him and sends it to himself.
"Hey, I look terrible! I didn't give you permission to take a photo!" Jimin is back to his pouty self.
"You have one of mine, it's only fair that I have one of yours, Pouty Lips."
"Pouty Lips??????" If looks can kill ...
Yoongi laughs heartily. This may be a Merry Christmas after all.