Christmas is a favorite time of year for everyone.
At least, I assume so. Those who celebrate other holidays probably enjoy those instead.
Nobody enjoys lawyers, though.
Before we even get to have more than a couple of presents opened Hoseok is summoned into a conference call with the contract lawyers, them working overtime during the holiday to see if they can get the issue resolved before the new year.
Everyone else sighs their frustration and understanding as Hoseok rolls his eyes and walks away to answer the call. A silent unanimous decision is made to pause the gift giving and unwrapping until he's back... it wouldn't feel right without him.
Jimin, the first item unwrapped so that he could have breakfast with us, snuggles in between me and Taehyung on one of the couches, happily cuddling into Taehyung's head scratches while he drapes his legs over my lap, a slow foot rub being given by me.
Jungkook shows Jin the protein powder he was given by Namjoon as his gift, curious about how it could be added into their cooking.
Both Namjoon and Yoongi are going over their notebooks of lyrics, trying to parse together a couple ideas into one cohesive song. I think they're getting close, but my Korean still isn't up to par to follow Yoongi's rapping.
'Let's clean up what we can before he comes back...' Jin says slowly, looking around at the rest of us. Nodding in agreement Jimin sits up and starts collecting the few bits of shredded wrapping paper and ribbons. Jungkook runs off to get the broom while Yoongi and Namjoon look up and blink at Jin, who just gestures for them to stay there and keep at what they're already doing while he stands. I pop to my feet, offering a hand to help Taehyung up... only to be pulled down onto him instead.
'Oof! You're not light...' I say quietly, grinning. His answering grin as he quickly flexes a bicep while wrapping the other arm around my waist has Jin chuckling. I suppose it shouldn't be shocking that he can stand up while essentially lifting me, his arm still holding me to him, but it does take me a moment to process.
'Guess the gym has done a body good..' I find myself eyeing him as he set me back on my feet, blushing just a bit. The sparkle in his eyes as he notices has nothing to do with being a good boy, and neither does his quiet growl in my ear before walking past me to work on the breakfast dishes.
****
The Christmas loot everyone gets slowly piles up in laundry baskets set by them just for that purpose.
Namjoon loves his trolley, the earbuds/earphones from Yoongi, and especially appreciates the lite-weight folding bike Hoseok got him.
Jungkook is fascinated with the air fryer I gave him, looking up recipes for the new cooking tool, the new studs for his eyebrow and lip piercings from Jimin, and fights with Namjoon over a set of gaming headphones from Seokjin... they say it was jokingly, but I'm not sure if Jungkook knows how to play fight.
Jin frowns at Jungkook's gift from me, obviously trying to figure out how to fit the new contraption into his neat kitchen. He does love the new Mario game from Taehyung, the gaming chair from Jungkook, and the yoga mat from Yoongi. I guess my stretching has made several of the guys interested in joining Taehyung and I. He does appreciate the fruit I got him, but with the other guys eyeing it he's feeling defensive over it at the moment.
When Hoseok finally is able to come back he's excited for the memory book Jimin gives him. The cassette player I give him is at first a curiosity, but as soon as he realizes what to do with it he heads online to start looking for cassettes to play on it. Also, Namjoon's order form for a new work board for his studio in their home causes him to go wide eyed as he reads it. Yoongi looks over his shoulder, muttering about unfairness.
Yoongi really does like to surprise the guys, so he plays the bit of music he's already mixed my voice into, causing a few moments of chaos, every one immediately insisting that he send them the clip so that they can have it on their phones to listen to. At his offer to take back their Christmas gifts from him in trade if he does so, since it was my gift to him, they all back off, though I get a few glares. His other favorite gift is Kumamon sheets from Taehyung, making both men grin wide as he opens them.
Taehyung goes gaga over the Gucci pin and hat from Jimin, raises a challenging eyebrow at Jungkook when he opens a coloring book full of artists that have permanent displays in the Louvre from Namjoon, and a trench coat in the most eye watering yellow from Hoseok. Those two love to push the boundaries of style!
Jimin wiggles in happiness at the Chanel cologne from Namjoon, full on bawls when he opens and hears my reason for my wall map gift to him... immediately giving a big clingy hug in thanks, and is more than a little obsessed in how to style his new phone case from Jin, considering several BT21 stickers from his stash of them.
My gifts from the guys all seem to reflect themselves so well.
Namjoon gives me a plant for my windowsill, with the promise to help me build up my green thumb.
Jin gives me reservations to his brother's restaurant, promising to make it a date for just us two. Yes, he winked a blew a kiss as he said this. Yes, the rest of the guys jeered him in good humor.
Yoongi scheduled a couple of days after the New Years to paint and redecorate my room to my tastes. He even got a few volunteers to help.
Hoseok got his sister to create some winter clothes for me, styled and fitted to me specifically... my jaw dropped when I opened them!
Yes, Jimin gave me himself wrapped up, but he also got me a go pro with all the accessories, as well as classic Polaroid camera, making the rest of the maknae line groan at how they should've thought of that gift... which made Jimin grin.
Taehyung's gift to me was simple, a half dozen of his favorite children's books in Hangul, as well as the first Harry Potter book in Hangul as well. Namjoon applauded his choice.
Jungkook's gift was an upgrade to my headphones, as well as complete collection of BTS merch from each era. The guys ribbed him saying that was too easy, until he pointed out that I didn't have any.
My smile didn't leave my face for the rest of the day, and I couldn't stop thanking each and every one of them.
****
By the end of Christmas Day everyone is happy but exhausted. It's almost time for me to vid-call my sister, the sun having gone down long ago. The guys had all retreated to a studio of their choosing to call their families, sometimes several piling in to say hi to their brother's parents that they also love.
I do get intros to a couple, Hoseok's and Yoongi's, but for the most part its just the guys wishing their parents and siblings well, planning on visiting when the quarantine is lifted, as well as awkwardness.
No one quite brings up the soul bond topic, or even who I am to them, and what it means to their futures, but it's obviously on the tip of every tongue. I find out later that only Jin's parents even felt bold enough to mention the v-live where they introduced me, and each of the guys looks uncomfortable as they go over and coordinate requests to visit with family.
****
I've just finished talking with my sister and mom, wishing them merry Christmas, letting them know as much as I can of what I can expect with me now living in South Korea, when Taehyung walks in, bowing to the camera as my sister chokes on her sip of cocoa, eyes going wide in shock.
I say my goodbyes, close the connection as well as turn off the tablet screen.
****
'I want to introduce you to my family.' Taehyung insists.
'I know you do, but what do the guys say?' I ask again, trying to understand where this came from.
'I didn't ask. Don't need to. It's family, not work.' He says calmly, leaning back against my bed's headboard.
'Don't you think HYBE would have an issue with me being introduced to someone not directly related to the company?' I respond.
'Soulbond has nothing to do with work, everything to do with me. The company owns my work, not me.' He insists.
Shaking my head, I think, but can't really come up with a reason to say no.
'Okay, we'll call them tomorrow then?' I offer. His wide grin and strong nod of the head as he gets up to leave makes me smile at his eagerness.