new year!au

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brian and jae walked down the street, their gloved hands wedged in the pockets of their coats and their faces covered by thick scarves. hot steam billowed out of their mouths as they breathed out into the cold air of new york. the boys had decided to spend their new year's celebration on times square in hopes that they could see the ball drop in person (MIC DROP, BAM). dowoon had stayed with the roommates next door back in korea, whispering to jae that he wanted to get wonpil and sungjin to make cookies for him and tuck him in like parents or some shit. jae had honestly been so eager to go on his trip that he had allowed dowoon to do anything without questioning him.

traveling from korea all the way to america had taken a toll on jae and brian, and now the two men trudged along the crowds of passersby, doing their best to stick together despite the slight exhaustion seeping in their brains. when they were almost separated for the tenth time that night, jae couldn't take it anymore. "that's it. we're holding hands."

"but... but jae-"

"save it, brian. i don't want to lose you."

"okay." younghyun clamped his mouth shut, taking the hand jae was offering him and continuing to walk with the older close beside him. they were practically squeezed together, the people rushing around them pushing them closer together than they could have imagined.

"wanna go inside to get warm?" jae loudly spoke into the brunette's ear so the man could hear him.

"yeah. where we going?"

"i dunno..."

"is there anywhere that's open?"

"yeah. i think so..."

"okay." brian allowed jae to lead him closer to the buildings lining the street as they looked around for a place to sit down and relax. they searched around for about fifteen minutes, walking on the streets hand in hand with no hurry because they actually didn't feel that cold with all the people bustling around them. then brian checked the time on his phone and gasped. "jae!! it's already fucking 11:55!"

"really?" jae questioned, having only been hearing the sound of choruses and bands and loud people. "has the time passed so fast?"

"yeah," brian sighed out, gripping jae's hand tighter as somebody bumped into their connected hands.

the blonde nodded, walking around the person and pressing himself as close as he physically could to the redhead. "let's try to get closer to the center."

"sure." younghyun found himself being pulled by the older man yet again. they soon found themselves near the stage, jae somehow having managed to wedge them through the massive crowds.

"how are we even here?" brian questioned, yelling over the bustling sounds of the city.

"i have no clue," jae yelled back.

"oh, shit. the countdown's starting!" younghyun watched as the numbers counting down from one minute began.

"why is the ball so fucking small this year?" jae randomly asked, screaming in korean so hopefully only the redhead could understand him.

"because you're here."

"what does that even mean?"

"they need to lower their expectations when you're around."

"dang," jae muttered to himself, pretending to be hurt. "and here i thought i had a thing for you..."

"what did you say?" brian screamed. "i can't hear anything!!"

there were five seconds left until new years and everybody around them was chanting. the blonde got as close as he could to the redhead's ear, his lips brushing the hole as he yelled, "nothing!"

brian still couldn't hear him. cheers rang out around them, the new year having arrived, and the red head decided to take action. he grabbed the bottom of his coat, pulling it over his shoulders so he could cover both his and jae's head with the fabric. the two men ended up standing huddled together, nose to nose, eye to eye, seemingly away from all the commotion surrounding them outside the safety of brian's coat. "what did you say?" he repeated, quieter this time. "i really want to know."

"it... it doesn't matter now," jae gulped, somehow finding himself leaning closer to the redhead. "i changed my mind." he lowered his voice to a whisper, hoping the boy in front of him wouldn't catch his words. "i do have a thing for you after all..."

brian held back the startled yelp that was bubbling up in the back of his mouth and instead cleared his throat. he looked down at jae's lips before his eyes flicked back to the man's glasses-clad eyes. "hey, jae..."

"yeah?" jae also sneaked a peak at brian's lips.

"you remember christmas?"

"how could i forget?"

"want another go?" brian inched his fingers down the blonde's sides until they rested in his pockets. then younghyun tugged the man towards him and tilted his head as if teasing the older man.

"mmmmm.... maybe?" jae put his own hands on brian's hands, interlocking their fingers.

"then let me make you warm. it's so fucking cold." the redhead brought his lips closer to the blonde's so their mouths were brushing and they could feel one another's warm breaths.

"i love you so fucking much," jae breathed out before their faces neared enough for their lips to meet. and so the two men ended up sharing their warmth through a kiss under brian's coat in the middle of times square as they were captured on the cnn camera without their knowing.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!! Wish you all the best in 2018 and hope you get to spend a wonderful time on the first day of this wonderful year!

*hero*