*December 31 – Starlight Christmas Show, Live Broadcast* in the afternoon
The stage was a mess of fake snow, oversized candy canes, and way too much red velvet.
All of them were in full Father Christmas outfits. Red coats with white fur trim. Black belts. Some had the hats, some didn't. Ace had forgone the hat and just stuck a cotton ball to his chin as a beard. Caleb's coat was two sizes too big and he kept tripping on it.
*@santaidols:* THE VISUALS ARE KILLING ME
*@hantheory:* han in a santa coat should be illegal actually
*@babytaejoongirls* taejoon is a murderer, he's killing my heart with love
*@wintervisuals:* han in santa fit is actually criminal. i'm calling the police
*@alpha_obsessed:* taejoon looks like he's planning a crime or a wedding. no in between
*@hantj_daily:* they put them on opposite ends of the stage. production is evil
The MC was high on sugar and holiday spirit. "We've got both groups here tonight AND it's Hudson's birthday! Happy birthday, Hudson!"
Hudson gave a sheepish wave. "Thanks. My gift request is hibernation until March."
Laughter rolled through the studio. The chat was unreadable — just a wall of caps and emojis.
"Time for speed questions!" the host said, bouncing on his heels. "No thinking! Just answer! Lorenzo, go — most useless Christmas gift you've ever gotten?"
"A singing tie," Lorenzo said without hesitation. "From my aunt. It haunted me."
They moved down the line. Jace: "Scented candles that smell like soup." Kai: "Tight pants. From my manager. Passive aggressive."
"Taejoon!" The host spun to him. "You're quiet tonight. Tell me — what's number one on your Christmas list this year?"
The camera framed him. Bright lights, waiting faces. Taejoon started to answer, but his eyes betrayed him. They cut left on their own.
Han was three spots down. Fidgeting with the cuff of his coat. Not looking up. Not looking at Taejoon at all. He hadn't the whole show. His mouth was a flat line, and his shoulders were tense under all that red.
But still—
God. The Santa outfit was doing things to Taejoon's brain. The red made Han look flushed, alive. The white fur framed his face and made him look softer than he was. His hat was crooked, and every few minutes he'd shove it back with an annoyed huff.
Cute. Ridiculously cute. The kind of cute that made Taejoon's hands itch to fix his hat for him. To hold him.
He forced his attention back to the host. "Uh," he managed, "for Hudson to stop stealing my hoodies. And… peace."
The audience laughed. Hudson grinned and mouthed _no promises_. Han didn't even blink.
"Han!" the MC went on. "Same question. What do you want for Christmas?"
Han took the mic. He didn't look at Taejoon either. "For people to answer their texts," he said, flat.
The crowd made that knowing _ohhh_ noise. The live chat combusted.
*@taejoonnation:* HE SAID IT. HE SAID IT ON AIR.
*@hantheory:* it a statement proving he's dating
*@eva_ I'm getting jealous
Favorite holiday song. Weirdest tradition. Who would survive a snowstorm longest. Taejoon answered when prodded. Smiled when the camera found him.
But his focus kept sliding back.
Han, hiding a yawn behind his glove. Han, shifting weight off his bad ankle when he thought the cameras were off him. Han, with fake snow dusting his shoulders, looking like he'd been painted onto a Christmas card.
Hours later
The broadcast ended in a burst of confetti and a group bow. "Happy New Year!" they all shouted, fake snow still falling. The cameras cut. Lights dimmed.
Chaos, instantly. Staff rushing. Managers calling out car assignments. Idols peeling off Santa hats, coats already half-unbuttoned.
Han didn't wait. He handed his mic to a staff member and headed for the hallway, head down. Trying to slip out with the crowd.
He didn't get far.
A hand caught his wrist. Warm. Familiar.
Han froze. He knew that grip before he even turned.
Taejoon didn't say anything. Didn't wait for Han to argue. He just tugged, firm, and steered Han away from the main flow of people. Down a side hall. Past a staff room. Into the single-person bathroom by the stairwell and shut the door.
Locked it.
Han yanked his wrist free. "What the hell, Taejoon?"
"You've been avoiding me," Taejoon said. No preamble. His Santa coat was open, the fur trim messy. His hat was gone. He looked wrecked. Tired and stressed and _done_. "For days. You didn't text back. You walked out of here without looking at me. Why?"
"Why?" Han let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You're asking me why?"
"Yeah. I am." Taejoon took a step closer. The bathroom was small. There was nowhere for Han to go. ". And then you— on live TV, Han. 'Pick up their phone'? Really?"
Han's face flushed. "Maybe if you _did_ pick up your phone instead of sending 'busy' at midnight—"
"I was busy," Taejoon said, and then winced because it sounded as bad out loud as it had in text. "
"With her?" Han cut in. His voice cracked on it. He hated that it cracked. "The woman? You ran off with her, Taejoon. You saw me and you left."
Taejoon stared at him. "You think—" He dragged a hand down his face. "Han. No. God, no."
"Then what?" Han demanded. "Because you've been weird for days. Distant. You barely talk on the phone anymore. You ran from me. And I had a dream—" He stopped, embarrassed. "It doesn't matter. You're hiding something."
"I am," Taejoon admitted.
Han flinched like he'd been hit.
"But not that," Taejoon said quickly. "Never that. I would never—" He broke off, frustrated.
Taejoon's eyes dropped. Han was standing weird. Favoring his left foot.
"And your ankle," Taejoon said, voice going quieter. Rougher. "What's wrong with your ankle? I saw you limping on stage. You hurt it and you're hiding it."
Han's jaw ticked. "I'm fine."
"Bullshit." Taejoon took another step. He was close now. He could see the smudged stage makeup under Han's eyes. The exhaustion. "You're not fine. You're mad and you're hurt and you won't let me—"
"I don't need you to fuss over me," Han snapped. "I don't need you to _manage_ me. I need you to talk to me. Actually talk to me. Not 'busy'. Not running away."
"I'm trying," Taejoon said. His voice was raw. "I've been trying for weeks. I just need you to wait. Few more hours, Han. Please."
"For what?" Han's eyes were shiny now. Angry and hurt and tired. "For you to tell me you don't—"
"For me to tell you I love you," Taejoon said.
The words landed between them. Loud in the small room.
Han stopped breathing. "So that's what you're planning to do"
Taejoon sighs..I didn't said that, I'm asking if literally that's what you're thinking about