Work Text:
From Jimin:
Your ex is at the same club as me rn
To Jimin:
Wait for real?
Damn okay lemme just get dolled up then
Which one
From Jimin:
Diamond ofc
He hasn't been here long - saw him walk in 10 min ago
To Jimin:
Should've known
Thanks for the info
You are the best dear soulmate
From Jimin:
You know I usually don't like this kind of petty stuff
But the way he ended it was shitty
Make him realize what he's missing out on
To Jimin:
By your wish~
It took him less time than he had anticipated to get ready, which was surprising given that the last time he had gone out to anything had been nearly six months before when he had been with his ex. Taehyung thanked his taxi driver and paid her generously for the ride. Stepping out, he sucked in a deep breath of the stale air surrounding the club. It was somehow comforting to know that small things like that didn't change.
He pulled out his phone and checked his reflection in the camera, immediately deeming himself pretty. It had been a rather spontaneous decision to dye his hair bright blue, but he couldn't say he regretted it for even a second. It looked good against his tan skin, Jimin had made sure to gush over it when he had first seen it.
He felt good, he looked good, and now he was ready to play bad.
To Jimin:
Idk where you are but I just arrived
I'm looking pretty if I say so myself
Taehyung sidled up to the entrance, nodding and smiling at the door guy who readily allowed him in. He paused just inside to scan around the area. As usual, the music was just shy of blasting, the dance floor was all but covered with people either dancing or making out, and most of the booths and tables were taken up with people.
He had never really been a fan of clubbing, if he was being honest with himself. Going to them had just become habit while he had been dating Chul. The stale air wasn't appealing, he could do without alcohol, he never really enjoyed dancing around people.. hell he wasn't even particularly into club music. He had gone because that's where Chul was. It was kind of pathetic in retrospect. Especially given the fact that his ex had never gone along with him to the art exhibits he enjoyed, or his impromptu photography trips around Seoul, even going to the movies together had been a rare happening.
It had taken him awhile to see why exactly Jimin and Jin had been so sarcastic when talking about Chul. Taehyung had eventually realized after things had ended between them and had proceeded to cry apologies for having not seen what they did. His ex had never really been bad to him, he had just been kind of negligent to his interests.
From Jimin:
You are always pretty stfu
I'm sitting at the bar - only one with pink hair
Taehyung grinned at the text and glanced towards the bar, happy to immediately catch sight of his best friend. He sauntered over and threw himself over Jimin's smaller form. "Awww you look pretty too, Minnie," he gushed into his ear.
Jimin laughed lightly and turned to face him. "Damn Tae, you do look really pretty," he complimented brazenly.
His grin widened at the response. "Man you're buzzed already aren't you? Does Jin-hyung know you're here?"
The pink haired man waved off his words, taking a quick gulp of his drink. "Course he does, he ran to the bathroom right before you got here. Probably taking an advil for his headache."
Seokjin was much like Tae in his disinterest in club scenes. Though Jimin drug him out to one at least once a month to 'de-stress', even if Jin always ended up with a headache from the dance floor lights and loud music.
"We probably won't be staying long tonight. He wants to get home and watch the new season of some baking show he likes," Jimin continued, fond expression on his face.
Taehyung put a hand over his mouth with mischief sparkling in his eyes. "Ohhhhhh Netflix and Chill date waiting for you two back home huh?"
Jimin flushed and smacked his arm. "Shut it TaeTae."
Quiet passed between them for a bit, the sounds of the club easily filling any silence there might have been. Taehyung took the opportunity to down a couple of drinks in order to gain some liquid courage for the night.
"So what's your plan?" Jimin asked him. He looked curious but also somewhat like a concerned parent.
He shrugged in response. "Not sure what you mean, Minnie, I'm just here to have a fun time, maybe find someone to take home."
It earned him a look of disapproval. "I'm not stupid Tae, you're gonna try and seduce one of his friends as some sort of revenge plot. I don't care if you want to be here and show him that you're having more fun without him around, but I'm not a fan of you finding a quick fling and dealing with the emotional repercussions afterwards. You're not the type to do one night stands and we both know it."
Taehyung wanted to be mad about it, but he did know it. But a part of him was still bitter about the way Chul's lack of interest in him as a person, and he wanted to rub it in the man's face that he was interesting, exciting, and just generally worth so much more than he had ever given.
"I'm a big boy," he said after a bit, "and I haven't done anything spontaneous, and dare I say bold, like this in my life yet. Let me deal with the results of my choices."
Jimin rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I know that you are, dummy, I just worry about you. You're important to me and I just want to see you happy."
He offered a small smile to that. "I know…. Thanks Jiminie. I'll be fine though, promise."
Seokjin came back then, looking a bit worse for wear. "Hey TaeTae," he greeted absently, leaning into Jimin. "Can we go home please? I feel like I'm dying."
The younger reached up to scratch his fingers along Jin's scalp. "Yeah we can go, babe." His stern gaze landed on Tae shortly after. "If things go differently than you imagine and you decide you need a cry tomorrow, just text and come over. Otherwise, keep me updated so I know you're okay."
"Yes mom," he teased. "I hope you feel better once you're settled at home, hyung."
Jin nodded blearily with a hand at his temple. "Me too, be safe tonight, Taehyungie."
The couple hastily made their way to the exit, arms interlocked as they went.
Taehyung sucked in a deep breath and finished off his current drink. The liquid courage burned through his limbs, coaxing his worries into laying more dormant than they had been previously. It was a pleasant buzz that helped boost his self confidence.
His gaze landed on the dance floor, suddenly knowing where his journey was going to start. He got up from his seat and migrated to the bright lights and gyrating bodies. For once, he just let himself ignore the people around him that would see him dance and let go. He actually got into the music, surprising himself. Maybe it was the alcohol he had consumed, maybe it was the way he had dressed that was feeding him confidence, or maybe he just didn't care. Tae wasn't sure, but he was glad he was genuinely having fun.
At one point, he glanced around as he was dancing and happened to lay eyes on his ex. Chul was actually already looking at him. Their gazes met, but Taehyung looked away first with what he hoped was a look of disdain. You don't deserve my attention anymore, he thought, you lost the privilege.
Taehyung danced for awhile, joining the excited crowd around him when it came to hyping the DJ. Somehow during this time, he managed to shift to the outskirts of the crowd, though he really only noticed it in passing.
A particularly raucous song came on, and the entirety of the dance floor amped up their energy to match. Unfortunately it led to him being bumped by someone who was probably too drunk to be trusted out in the middle of a crowd. He yelped as his balance failed him, sending him careening towards a table on the edge of the party grouping.
"Whoa!" Someone cried out, a set of arms grabbing onto him in order to save him from falling entirely.
He took a moment to try and reorient himself. The alcohol definitely was not doing him any favors in that regard.
"You okay?"
Taehyung blinked and peered up at his savior. He grinned when he recognized the face looking back at him. "Yoongi-hyung! You saved me!"
The shorter male cocked his head in silent question, before his eyes widened. "Wait… Taehyung? Holy shit… I didn't recognize you with that hair and makeup." He helped him stand upright with a small smile of his own. "You seem to be having a good night, you're a good dancer."
He laughed a bit shyly. "Ah hyung, I'm not but thanks for thinking so."
Yoongi merely raised a skeptical brow.
Taehyung had to absently wonder if it was the alcohol leading him to think about how attractive such a simple gesture was, or not.
"Give yourself some credit, kid," he said in what seemed to be a scolding tone of voice.
"So why are you here?" Taehyung decided to ask.
The other nodded towards the DJ stand, "I usually come to support my friend Namjoon. I'm like the only friend of his that will actually come out and cheer him on."
Well that was surprisingly considerate of him. Taehyung smiled to him, brushing a hand through his blue locks. "That's sweet of you hyung, I'm sure he appreciates it."
"What about you?" Yoongi asked in return.
He shrugged, not really sure himself. "I guess I just wanted to prove to myself that I know how to have fun in places like these." That was true in a way. It was almost a way of taking back the memories he had made while with Chul, he wanted to erase his past conceptions and make things his own.
There was something heavy and yet soft about his companion's gaze.
Of course Yoongi must know what exactly he was referring to. Yoongi had always been around when he and Chul would be out and about. Taehyung had never really tried talking to him but through small talk here and there. It had been enough that the older male had insisted he call him hyung though, which he guessed was something.
"Hey Taehyung?"
He tilted his head in question.
"Wanna get out of here?"
For a second, his heart stuttered to a stop. Then was racing again in the next second. He wasn't dumb, he knew exactly what those words usually entailed when shared between two strangers at a bar. Taehyung studied Yoongi for a moment, calculating.
The expression he got in return was so soft and gentle that it practically melted his heart. Yoongi offered out his hand and a warm smile.
He wanted to be spontaneous. "Please," he said quietly, reaching out to accept the proffered hand.
As the older male carefully cradled his hand and led him to the exit, Taehyung chanced a look over his shoulder to his ex. Chul was predictably watching, expression scrunched up with something unreadable. Tae found himself hoping it was akin to regret, hoped that Chul felt dumb for letting such a prize go. He smirked lightly and blew a quick kiss to antagonize the other man, something he knew he never would've done sober.
Upon leaving the bar, he suddenly realized he was drunker than he had originally thought. The movement of the taxi had him feeling slightly nauseous. He was kind of humiliated to find that Yoongi had clearly realized his sorry state and was rubbing his back with gentle caresses.
They managed to get up to Yoongi's apartment, where he was settled on the couch and given a glass of water. While his companion puttered around in the kitchen, he shot a text to Jimin to update him on his location.
He was nervous about what being there in the other's apartment meant. They hadn't exactly discussed what 'getting out of here' was referring to. Maybe they really were going to hook up in a bout of leftover club adrenaline and alcohol. He wasn't exactly opposed to sleeping with Yoongi of all people, he was handsome and seemed like he would make a very caring lover. Yet it was different than he was used to and it made him nervous.
Yoongi finally emerged from the kitchen bearing two plates in hand.
Taehyung realized belatedly that the man had been making them food. He stared at the plates as they were set on the table in front of the couch he had taken residence on.
"I uhhh…" Yoongi spoke up, scratching lightly at the back of his neck. "I wasn't sure when the last time you ate was, and you seem to have drank a lot which isn't good to do on an empty stomach. So try and eat some so you don't feel as awful tomorrow, okay?"
He felt so endeared by the gesture that he had to fight back tears. "Thanks hyung," he croaked as he reached for his plate of fried rice.
They ate in relative silence. It was unexpectedly cozy in nature. It helped some of the anxiety that had built up in the back of his mind dissipate.
"I hope you have condoms," Taehyung commented at one point, "I forgot to bring one with me."
Yoongi choked on the rice he had just scooped into his mouth. "W-Wha-" he broke off into a series of coughs.
Taehyung panicked slightly, running into the kitchen to refill his glass of water and offer it to his companion who was trying to clear up the remnants of his misadventure.
The air had quieted again once Yoongi had regained his breath.
"T-Tae," he stuttered, cheeks red, "I didn't bring you here to h-have sex…"
"Oh…" It was all his short circuited brain could come up with. He felt mortified and so embarrassed. Of course Yoongi wouldn't be that kind of person, and of course he had to be the idiot to jump to such a drastic conclusion. He wanted to die, or maybe just disappear from the face of the earth. Either happening would be an upgrade from the way he felt in that moment.
"I just wanted to give you a chance to escape," Yoongi continued, softer this time. "You seemed sad, and I know C-... he was there and that he was dick about the separation. I just…"
Taehyung was crying before he knew it. He sniffled loudly and wiped at his eyes in vain. "H-Hyung I…" He shouldn't have drank. He was dumb. The separation had been hard for him, and not because he missed Chul either. No, his pain laid in the way it had been done, and how worthless he felt afterwards. Still, he was mad at himself for not being over the feeling yet. It had been six months. Surely that was enough time to get over such a minor emotional upset?
The tears falling from his face said otherwise.
It was probably the alcohol, acting as the amplifier of sadness that it was. Why was he such a mess? He was embarrassing himself.
Yoongi gently wrapped an arm over his shoulders and pulled him forward into his chest with soft shushing sounds.
Taehyung melted into the comfort, crying a bit more openly into the man's chest. "I'm over it w-why am I crying like this?" He blubbered.
It made his human tissue chuckle. "Tae, you're drunk, and getting emotional is ridiculously easy when you are." A hand began carding through his hair in a soothing gesture. "Try and get some sleep okay? You'll feel better tomorrow." Yoongi chuckled again, "Or maybe not with the hangover you might have. But that's okay. Just rest."
Further cuddling, comforting and general soothing was required for him to finally drop off into sleep. He vaguely hoped he could forget his ridiculous behavior come daybreak.
Morning came rather quickly to his tired body.
The headache he had upon waking was truly criminal, but perhaps a suiting punishment for his choice to drink as much as he had. His muscles ached from the dancing he had done too, which was just adding to his relative state of misery.
"Ah he awakens," a familiar voice said from nearby.
Tae blearily looked to the source, to find Yoongi smiling back at him. Hazy memories of his unexpected emotional outbreak from the night previous had him groaning into the pillow. "Kill me now," he whined in a muffled voice.
Yoongi laughed at him. "Well that answers the question of if you have a hangover."
"Yes, but also I'd like the ground to swallow me for the embarrassment I was yesterday." He pushed himself into a sitting position, brushing a hand through his hair haphazardly.
"I admit that it took me by surprise, but I wasn't bothered. Emotions can be a bitch to deal with on a regular day, being drunk is like taking them off the leash altogether."
Taehyung nodded. "Ughh yeah, don't remind me. Do you have advil I could steal before I head out?"
Yoongi hesitated but confirmed he did. "I… was gonna ask what your plans were."
The way he said it definitely garnered Tae's attention. He shrugged absently, "I figured you'd want me out of your hair as soon as possible."
The older shifted in his seat.
Taehyung noticed. "Hyung…?"
"Would you… feel up to going on a date? With me?"
His brain seemed to short circuit again at the question. His mouth fell open with surprise as he stared at the man across from him. Wasn't it… a little sudden? Maybe it wasn't, he had never really paid attention to Yoongi, so maybe he had been harboring interest for awhile? "Depends on what kind of date," he finally managed to utter. He had to admit the idea was appealing, given he got to shower, change his clothes, brush his teeth, and maybe nap beforehand.
Yoongi fiddled with his fingers. "I dunno if you'd even be interested in it honestly, but there's a new special exhibit at the art museum I've been wanting to see… But I guess if you're not into those kinds of things then of course it's a no but…"
Taehyung really felt like he could cry again. Of course he knew of the special exhibit, he had been aching to go as soon as he had heard it would be coming to the art museum. "The Van Gogh exhibition," he murmured.
"O-Oh! So you know about it? That's nice, at least I'm not totally out of my depth on asking you to go with I guess."
He stood from his chair and dropped into Yoongi's lap to bring him in for a searing hug. "Hyung I'd love to go," he said breathlessly. "Van Gogh is my favorite artist, I've been wanting to get to see it for weeks now."
Yoongi hugged him back after a solid minute of frozen shock. "Okay," he replied simply.
Taehyung laughed and pulled away to grin at him. "We have a date then, Min Yoongi."
The stale air was the same, the blasting music the same, the neon lights the same, even the mass of dancing bodies that was the dance floor was the same. Taehyung took it all in with vague amusement. He had definitely gotten the full experience of the dance floor the last time and had no intent to ever again try his luck amidst the crowd.
A hand landed on his hip and slid up to the small of his back, settling there in a familiar way.
He let out a pleased hum and leaned into it. "Any reason in particular we came to Club Diamond of all places?" Tae asked skeptically.
Yoongi chuckled, "Relax, we're here for a drink or two and nothing more. Just to commemorate."
The passage of time continued to amaze him with its speed. One day he was going on his first date with Yoongi, and then the next thing he knew they were going out for their six month anniversary. It was strange and yet wonderful how time spent with his love felt like both no time and all the time in the world.
"But Diamond of all places? There are much better stops to get a drink." Taehyung had to convince himself he wasn't pouting.
The older male scoffed. "I'm not going to fight that one, but it had to be here because this was where we started. This is where I re-found the beautiful man I had developed a crush on." His eyes softened into warm chocolate pools. "It's where I found my diamond in the rough."
Heat rose to his cheeks with haste at the romanticism in that statement. "That's really cheesy, but also I'm swooning."
Yoongi kissed his cheek with an amused murmur. "I know you are, jagi."
If there ever needed to be a book written on 101 ways to make him melt into a puddle of happy gayness, let one Min Yoongi write all 50 volumes.
They only had one drink as it turned out, ready to move their night along to better spaces. As they got up to leave, Taehyung was stopped by a hand on his wrist.
He stiffened and pulled against it, making the offending hand disappear from his arm. He whipped around only to come face to face with his ex.
Yoongi was at his side in an instant, their interlocked hands gripping tightly onto one another.
"What do you want?" Taehyung asked. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
Chul scowled at him. "It is you. Are you two a thing now?"
"I don't see how that's pertinent information to you, asshole," Yoongi said in a heated murmur.
"Yes, he's my lover now and I'm very happy being with him. Can you go back to your little booth of self righteousness now?" Taehyung was surprising himself for the biting tone he had magically taken on.
"Your hair is blue," Chul said with a glare.
The warmth of satisfaction curled through him. The man had always complimented him whenever he had worn blue, as it was his favorite color. But Chul had told him once to dye his hair blue and Taehyung had refused because he didn't like being told what to do. So it was kind of a power play to have dyed it on his own terms. That and the fact that it looked damn good on him and Chul could no longer properly appreciate it.
Taehyung offered him a sassy smirk, flicking his hair absently. "Oh look you know your colors, congratulations. I'd like to continue celebrating my six month anniversary now, bye."
With that, he tugged on Yoongi's hand and managed to get them both outside with no further interferences. He inhaled deeply once they were a block away and waiting for their taxi to show.
A part of him wanted to berate his past self for having ever thought that Chul would be a good match for him on any front. Yet he had to thank his dumbass past self for having done it and eventually end up finding Yoongi in the same place. It felt like he had been given a chance to do things again, differently this time.
He was moving on and planned on doing things right.
Yoongi tugged on his arm and plastered his smaller body against his front. "Hey," he whispered, "I just want to say that was very attractive of you. And also I love you."
Taehyung beamed at Yoongi, pressing a kiss against his lips. "I love you more, Yoongi."
"Keep kissing me like that and we'll end up at home sooner rather than later," the older teased with a smirk. Yet he kept up with the kisses even as he said it.
"Promises promises," he purred in return.
He really, really loved his Yoongi bear.