“I’ve never liked tinsel,” says Donghae in distaste as Hyukjae pulls the tinsel out from the box of Christmas decorations Donghae had forced the man to take down. Little Christmas tree patterns that have broken off from the force Hyukjae uses fall graciously to the ground, and reminds him of snow. Donghae’s nose scrunches up in a way that makes Hyukjae think it would make a cute sound if he poked it. “I think it smells funny. Don’t you?”

Hyukjae opens his mouth to reply, but Donghae stops him by continuing to babble. Hyukjae rolls his eyes, but expects nothing less from the younger man.

“I think it’s disgusting. Why does it smell so bad, anyway? Can’t they spray it at the factories with something that just smells, you know, better?”

“Like gingerbread?” Hyukjae tries to engage himself in Donghae’s one-sided conversation, but his mind is focused on how much of the tinsel has fallen on the floor and the large knot in one that’s an annoying shade of bright green.

Donghae hums thoughtfully, completely ignoring Hyukjae’s mini crisis. He places a finger on his temple, as if giving it a lot of thought. “I was thinking more of mint chocolate, but you have a point. Gingerbread would also be nice.”

Hyukjae lets out an extended sigh, teetering on the border of a whine. “Hae, sweetie, do you want to help me with the tinsel?”

Donghae gives his answer less thought, so it only takes two seconds for him to reply: “no, not particularly.” He en