Work Text:
Goddamn it.
Of course the company would spring some shit like that on him last minute.
His eyes skimmed over the email twice more in the hopes that the letters might rearrange themselves into something- anything- different.
No such luck.
With a sigh, he closed the tab on his phone and went to dial the person who he'd been told to reach out to, praying that he'd maybe taken a few sick days or changed phone numbers or-
"Hi!'
No such luck, he would be forced to converse with the world's largest single-celled organism, it would seem.
Cringing, Jimin pulled the phone away from his ear.
"Jung Hoseok." he greeted, like a normal person.
"That's me, wow." The other replied. "Lucky you! How can I help?"
"Using your indoor voice would be an exceptional start, " Jimin grumbled, thankful that he was at home and therefore not at risk of being held responsible for deafening a large population of people with the menace that is Jung Hoseok's apparent inability to speak at normal volumes for extended periods of time.
"Oh. You just called to shut me up?" A low sigh. "How cruel, Jimin-ah."
"Jimin-ssi. Have you received the email?"
"Yup."
"Good, I'll send you my flight details once I book it then." Jimin drawled. "And Hoseok?"
"Yes, Jimin-ssi?"
The younger rolled his eyes.
"You're the worst. No mess ups this time."
He hung up, but not before hearing an intake of breath that always came before Hoseok would start a sentence.
Well this was great. Jimin wasn't by any means a nasty person, nor was he angry by nature, but when it came to holding grudges, he was a pro. He would either despise the person until the end of time (as he decided would be the case with Jung Hoseok), or he would actively seek revenge before reconciling with the person. It was a highly efficient mechanism, in his humble opinion, and he knew very well that if his personality were any other way, he wouldn't be as close to Jungkook as he was.
And Jungkook would also not be anywhere near as cautious towards him either, since he learned very early on that Park Jimin having a personal vendetta against you was not situation in which you wanted to find yourself. Suffice to say that calling Jimin a "cute lil guy" on day one may or may not result in said cute lil guy overriding your progress on Overwatch and forcing you to start again. Twice.
Jung Hoseok on the other hand didn't merit Jimin actively seeking revenge on him after what he'd done.
A buzzing sound jostled Jimin from his thoughts and he glanced down at his phone to see exactly what he was expecting.
J. Hoseok.
It. Was. Eight. Months. Ago. Dude.
He rolled his eyes. Of course he would try to use time as an excuse to be forgiven.
Me
I have no idea what you're talking about
J. Hoseok.
You're bloody impossible.
Me
Oh I'm the impossible one?
Really?
Last I checked, it wasn't MY fault an innocent soul was left waiting in an airport for FOUR HOURS
For a taxi
That was never even Called!!
Because the fuckwit in charge of logistics apparently had the brain capacity of an amoeba.
You're the worst
J. Hoseok.
I apologised over 1827181 times and you said it was okay??
I just got the flight time wrong :( it arrived in the end
And it was my first week on the job :((
Me
I never said it was okay I said it was Fiine
Fiiine
Multiple vowels side by side^^^
To show SaRcaSm
And I couldn't care less that it was your first week
I missed my best friend's birthday dinner >:(
J. Hoseok.
Is this why you didn't talk to me after the company reunion last month?
And why my potted camellia disappeared?
And why you never smile at me even though I always say good morning whenever your back in Seoul?
Me
YES
Although maybe, just maybe there may or may not have been another factor that played a part in Jimin's strong dislike and tendency to avoid the older man which came in the form of a mildly awkward encounter at the last company reunion.
He turned his screen off and tossed the phone on his bed to start packing a small suitcase and book a flight on his laptop.
An hour later, he was surprised to see that Hoseok hadn't replied to his message.
Me
I'll be arriving in Seoul at 6pm the day after tomorrow.
J. Hoseok.
Your hotel and taxi are booked. Your cab driver has your number and flight details. He will call you when he gets to the airport to collect you, have a nice flight.
Well it was about time the damn guy responded, Jimin thought to himself as he got off the plane and tried to keep the "food" he'd been given in his stomach, not wanting the lousy excuse for a lunch to make its reappearance the moment his feet touched Korean soil, a half hour later than they were supposed to.
He was worried he'd have to call Hoseok again to make sure he'd received the text.
Me
Good.
It took all his self restraint not to add "You're not quite the worst anymore but you're still on the list of people I strongly dislike".
What he liked the most about returning home to Korea after long trips away was the sudden knowledge that even though time kept ticking, nothing much changed. Like his country had been holding its breath and waiting for him to come back before pressing the "resume" button and allowing things to go back to their usual rush. When the plane had been landing, he'd watched the small cars dotted along the roads trickling by like ants, so small and insignificant and smiled.
It was good to be home, be it for work or not.
He'd missed it.
A small shuttle brought the passengers from the plane to the airport, and Jimin marvelled in the sounds of people chattering in a language he understood as they were rushed along, discussing brands and shows he knew and places he frequented. His sudden happiness slowly dissipated as the shuttle ride continued and there was still no word from his taxi driver, in spite of their flight having landed late.
Of course the idiot had reached out to a company that would arrive late.
His mood only soured more when he got through customs and began making his way to arrivals with his call log still empty, and the wheeled suitcase that kept on knocking into the back of his heels did little to settle his mood.
Me
Your mystery taxi can isn't here Hoseok I swear to jesus I will hang your pelt over my mantel piece for the next 6 decades if he doesn't get here within the next 5 minutes.
J. Hoseok.
Have you left the building??
Me
What
No, I just told you the driver wasn't here
I mean
I literally JUST said this??
J. Hoseok.
Well then just leave, he'll probably be there soon
Sighing, Jimin just dialed Hoseok's number.
He didn't have time for this, he didn't know which hotel he'd be staying in and he didn't have any cab company's phone numbers.
"Jung Hoseok. Is this your idea of a joke? Because im not fucking laughing." He said steadily as he marched past crowds of people at the luggage carousel, not giving the other a chance to greet him after accepting the call.
"What?"
"My taxi is what!" Jimin snapped, glad for how loud everyone around him was to not hear him give out. He headed towards arrivals even though he probably wouldn't get to leave for another two hours, if Hoseok's track record was anything to go by.
"Have you even left yet?"
"No."
"Well then, he probably accounted for the time it would take you to get through customs."
Screw that.
"Or maybe your incompetence has somehow skyrocketed and reached a whole new level of infuriating?"
An impatient sigh.
"Look, I'm sure he'll call soo-"
"He should have called at least half an hour ago to be on time. I don't want to sound like a broken record, Jung, but you are quite simply the-"
Jimin walked out the automated doors and found himself face-to-face with the man he could have sworn he was just on the phone to, sporting that infuriating orange hair and a shit eating grin. He was leaning against the metal barrier and looking thoroughly amused by what must have been a shocked expression on Jimin's face.
"-worst."
Hoseok hung up and pushed away from the barrier as Jimin approached him to stand a few short feet away.
"Hello to you too, glad to hear you arrived safely!"
"There is no taxi, is there?" Jimin mumbled.
"Nope. Unless you count my car."
Jimin let out an unflattering snort.
"I don't think anyone would willingly pay to enter that old heap of junk. Let alone be driven by your reckless ass."
"Hey. That was one time, and in my defence I was mildly inebriated."
"You drove me home drunk?"
Hoseok shrugged. "Better than letting you walk home alone, you were way more tipsy than I was."
"You drove me home drunk, dipshit!"
Hoseok began walking towards the airport exit and it was only then that Jimin noticed the flowers dangling in his other hand, the one that wasn't holding his phone.
"You lived! And I said mildly inebriated, not drunk, thank you very much."
"I can't believe you." Jimin managed to huff as he hurried to catch up to Hoseok, who wordlessly took Jimin's suitcase from him.
"Why thank you." The older man grinned.
"Unbelievable..."
Cold air struck them suddenly as the automatic doors slid open to reveal the chilly afternoon.
"I'm hoping that the hotel isn't secretly your apartment..."
Hoseok laughed at that, tugging down the sleeves of his khaki turtle neck to keep his hands warm.
"Unfortunately not. I booked you a room at the same place as last time, I hope that's okay with you?"
Unfortunately, he'd said. Unfortunately.
"That's great, they have an excellent breakfast selection, and at least this time I'll be there on time to have dinner too. I hear they have an excellent mackerel dish."
The beat up Renault was waiting for them in the parking lot and Jimin allowed Hoseok to open the passenger door for him before sliding in and glancing through the rear view mirror as Hoseok opened the trunk and carefully placed his suitcase inside.
"At least you made an effort to clean up this time." He commented once Hoseok had entered the vehicle himself, sensing that he hadn't been snappy in at least five minutes, and he didn't want Hoseok to think that he was forgiven.
"Well the difference between this time and last time is that I knew your judgemental ass would be getting in my car today." Hoseok turned the key in the ignition and dropped the flowers unceremoniously into Jimin's lap. "These are for you by the way. An apology for making you miss your best friend's birthday last time."
"I-thanks. I guess." He didn't really know what else to say. this whole situation was awkward. "You really didn't have to, you know."
"I know."
Sure enough, Hoseok wasn't as bad a driver as Jimin had originally pegged him to be. Maybe it helped that this time there wasn't a concerning cocktail of shandies and mixers coursing through his veins. It probably also helped that this time Jimin wasn't resting his hand in Hoseok's lap and whispering filthy words in the driver's ear in the hopes of distracting him. Just Maybe.
He glanced at Hoseok as he drove in silence, wondering what his drunken self had possibly seen in him that had compelled him to make the other take him home after the last company reunion. Hatred, perhaps?
Jimin knew that he, himself, was attractive, even on his sloppy, messy I-haven't-had-a-non-instant-meal-in-weeks days. Maybe he had simply wanted to tease the other just enough to get him to the point of breaking. For revenge, of course.
But now, looking at the man as he pulled the steering wheel, features relaxed and jaw set, he wondered whether in his drunken stupor, his past self had seen something more.
"You know, we never finished." He found himself saying suddenly. "Last time. When you took me back to my place."
Hoseok cleared his throat and gave Jimin a quick look.
"I'm aware." He said simply, a small smile on his lips.
"I know you are. I just..." Jimin hesitated. "I'm sorry, for leading you on like that, I don't want you think that I was actually interested in you or anything, I'm just... I can be petty and I guess I was probably drunkenly seeking revenge on you or something."
"That's alright, I understand." Hoseok smiled, and it looked sincere.
"It's alright?"
"Of course. If I'd missed my best friend's birthday because of somebody, I'd be pretty mad at them too. Though Yoongi'd be the one to seek revenge probably, because he'd invariably end up spending his birthday alone if I don't show up."
Jimin snorted.
"Besides," Hoseok added with a sly smile. "I'm not attracted to you in that way so there are no hard feelings."
Oh, okay, that seemed legi-
Wait.
"Are you saying I'm unattractive?" Jimin snapped, leaning back against the car window with his eyes narrowed.
Hoseok's tiny smile seemed to grow a little at those words.
"Not at all, Jimin-ssi, I'm simply saying that I'm not attracted to you in that way."
Well that fucking hurt. He knew Hoseok was into men, so why on earth would he not like Jimin??
Glancing over just in time to see Jimin's sour expression, Hoseok stifled a laugh.
"Hey, no hard feelings, yeah?"
Yeah. Right.
This meant war.
"Why am I not attractive?"
"I never said you were unattractive, Jimin-ssi."
"Drop the ssi."
"You're awfully indecisive, Jimin-ssi."
"Fuck you. At least I don't call people unattractive."
"I didn't call you unattractive."
"So I am attractive, then?"
Hoseok shook his head with that annoying knowing smile plastered to his lips.
"I never said that either."
Jimin sighed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're the worst "
"So you've said."
Jimin sighed and sank deeper into his seat.
“I fucking hate you.”
“I've heard that one too.” Hoseok giggled. Fucking giggled. “We’re here.”
He indicated to pull into the car park and Jimin detached himself, drumming his fingers impatiently against the door handle as he waited for Hoseok to cut the engine.
He hurriedly stepped out and moved to take his suitcase from the boot, barely registering the other man who came up behind him.
“Thank you for driving me,” Jimin said with a forced smile when he saw the other. “Bye now.”
“I have to go in with you, actually. I have the reservation confirmation on my phone so…”
Ah, of course.
The lady at the front desk gave them the key card with a sceptical look and they headed up to the eighth floor in an awkward silence, Jimin's suitcase being pulled along by a stone faced Hoseok.
“Well, this is me.” Jimin sighed as he opened his suite door and stepped inside. “You may leave my unattractive soul in piece, Jung.”
“That's still not what I was implying.”
Hoseok walked in after Jimin and set his suitcase down at the foot of the large bed.
“So you buy me flowers and pick me up from the airport and wheel my suitcase for me but you're not attracted to me. What the fuck do you expect me to take away from this entire interaction?”
“I'm not not attracted to you, Jesus Christ, Jimin!”
Finally, some kind of emotional reaction.
“I'm just not attracted to the idea of what would have happened last time. I don't want to just blow you in some dingy car park below your apartment when you're drunk and not thinking straight. I want to like, cuddle and do cute shit and…”
He trailed off at Jimin's expression.
“And what?” Jimin prompted, sitting down on the bed.
“I'm not one for casual hook-ups, Jimin-ssi.”
“Jimin-ah.”
“Jimin-ah.”
Jimin relaxed and stood back up, unsure of why he'd even sat down in the first place.
“I hear this place serves an excellent mackerel dish.” he said eventually, walking towards Hoseok. “They serve it at dinner which is between six and ten pm.”
“You've mentioned this mackerel dish, Jimin-ah.”
Hoseok took a few steps back until he was standing outside the room.
“Good, I expect you to join me for dinner here tomorrow then.”
Before he could talk himself out of it, Jimin grabbed the front of Hoseok's turtle neck and pulled him in for a chaste kiss.
“Seven thirty, don't be late.” And with that he closed the hotel room's door on Hoseok's flushed and dazed face, pressing his back to the white-painted wood with a dumb smile as he played the last minute on loop in his head.
Little did he know that the exact same thing was happening on the other side of the door.
Maybe Hoseok wasn't the absolute worst.
In fact, he wasn't half bad.