Work Text:
“What are you doing here?”
It’s a shallow day, the clouds barely crawling across the skyline, but the pavements are dry. Seokjin is appreciative of it, he finds that the lighting really highlights his cheekbones, brings them out.
Not that they usually aren’t out, but they seem to shine today.
Afar, the horizon casts shadows on the ground, and they follow him. Seokjin’s shadow follows him everywhere, and he’s afraid of it. For a day so colourful, so bright and beautiful, his own person seems so dull that it’s slightly frightening.
Regardless, he will try his best. Because he always does. Because, this time, he wants to.
Anyways, back to the ‘What are you doing here?’
Taehyung does not sound unhappy when he says it, perhaps even surprised. Amused, if Seokjin dares.
His countenance lights up, and maybe Seokjin’s shadow fades a little.
“Um-” He clears his throat, stepping away from his car. “Waiting for you. Obviously.”
“I can see that...” Taehyung says, eyeing him with a small smile. “Is there a particular reason why you decided to do that at-“ he glances at his watch, emphasising his words carefully. “seven in the damn morning?”
Seokjin gives his coat a hitch, watches as his breath frosts in the air. He usually isn’t this nervous, quite the opposite really. But Taehyung makes it difficult to pretend, sometimes.
“Erm, no.”
Taehyung raises a brow.
“Okay, fuck, you got me,” he says sarcastically. “It’s not like I didn’t tell you I would be here. Don’t act so surprised.”
Taehyung’s eyebrows basically disappear into his hairline, and Seokjin still manages to think he’s perhaps, the most beautiful person he’s laid eyes on. The sky is kind to him, making him appear golden.
“So.” Taehyung gestures backwards, pointing his thumb back at the door he stands in front of, his apartment. “You’re admitting that you sent me that bouquet?”
“Yeah, obviously. What other admirer could you possibly have?”
“Many, if you wish to know. People just line up in front of my house to propose to me, actually.”
Seokjin flattens his lips, gives Taehyung a flat look.
He knows it’s a dig at his profession. As an actor, as much as he likes to brag, it is quite embarrassing to admit that people have waited for hours on end before his house just to get down on one knee.
“Taehyung, I’m trying to confess.”
“I don’t sleep with my patients...?” He tries, a pathetic excuse to somewhat lighten the mood. Seokjin is a worrier and Taehyung’s a placater, it works out well between them.
“It’s been a year, and you just gave up halfway and decided to leave me paralysed.”
“I did not leave you paralysed. You got a fucking foot injury, Hyung. And I was fired! Your manager thought I was incompetent!” He laughs loudly, and everyone knows that’s bullshit.
See, unfortunately, humans are visual creatures. Seokjin has it easier precisely because of his face, but that does not make up for the brain department.
Don’t get him wrong, he’s quite smart. But Taehyung is smart, hardworking, and good looking. It beats Seokjin how someone who’s so much more better than him is just fucking walking around, un-courted. Perhaps it would’ve been better for his health (and heart) if Taehyung was a bit of an asshole, but Seokjin is prone to flattery, and Taehyung dishes it out like it doesn’t cost.
So, to conclude, an actor in cahoots with a male in Korea would be a catastrophe, and his manager just wanted an excuse. An excuse to burrow his homophobia, and it’s only recently that Seokjin’s realised how much that repressed emotion has been harming him.
He’s in love, let him be. Let him be in love without the lights, camera, action!s. Without the cameramen, and the beautiful women, and the huge dance numbers. Speaking of, the dance number was the reason he injured his foot in the first place, so who’s fault is it, really?
“Whatever. I can just do my own damn physiotherapy,” Seokjin mutters, childish.
It’s quiet for a moment, afterwards. The two of them dwell in it, in each other’s presence.
It’s been a while since Seokjin’s seen Taehyung, because his heart was too full. Bursting from the seems, flowing down the sides, unable to stitch itself together. But as he’s come to terms with the feeling, he finds that he enjoys feeling full rather than empty. Taehyung’s very being is enough to comfort him, those are all the stitches he needs.
“Would you like to start with why you’re here so early, then?” Taehyung breaks the silence, politely. He isn’t prodding, just encouraging.
“Didn’t want anyone to follow me here, I didn’t want to dox you.” Seokjin sighs, cheeks and neck red.
And Taehyung-
the gesture is so unexpectedly sweet to him.
The author tries not to switch point of views because it’s odd and unnerving and incredibly self indulgent, but it just needs to be known that Taehyung can barely contain his smile.
The fact that Kim Seokjin, an A list celebrity would not care about himself being discovered, rather about Taehyung’s privacy, is so incredibly touching to him.
“How’d you know that I’d come out?”
“I still remember your schedule. You’d never miss your appointment with Junseo for the world.”
“I would never.” Taehyung agrees softly, feeling so content. He’s sure he’s blushing, but to hell with his cool persona. The world has beckoned Seokjin to him, and he’ll take him in with both arms open.
“And about the confession...” he continues, awkwardly scratching at his scalp.
“Oh, no need. I have it right here.” Taehyung stops him, grinning wider, pulling something out of his pocket.
Seokjin pauses mid-breath, narrowing his eyes.
“They did send a note with the primroses, you know?”
Seokjin’s eyes widen.
“No, don’t.”
“‘Taehyung-ah, I don’t know how to express this feeling, but I need to get it out in the open. Words cannot explain how much I feel for you, and I’m ashamed that it’s taken me so long-’”
“I rescind my fucking confession, shut the hell up!”
“‘-to say that I admire you, and that I’m in love with you. It has only come to me recently that I completely reciprocated your feelings, as I was shadowed by my label of being ‘straight.’ You are-’ God, I can’t read this anymore. I’m flattered, you know? This is so profound.” Taehyung giggles, and a small part of Seokjin is embarrassed, but the larger part of his heart is swelling at the fact that Taehyung was just carrying the note around.
Whilst Seokjin is usually good with speaking lines, this time, the confession on a sheet was easier.
It’s easier because it’s Taehyung.
“I just-“ Seokjin mutters. “I mean it, I promise. I know I’ve been a dick, and it took me too long to realise it, but I wanna rectify it.”
“Finally understanding how toxic heterosexuals are?” Taehyung jokes, eyes sparkling.
“You like girls too, c’mon.”
Taehyung hums. “I’m bisexual, there’s a difference.”
The breeze suddenly quickens, ruffles Taehyung’s hair, the strands glinting in the sunlight that seems to finally be peeking through. Winters always delay sunlight, but the cold is more tolerable, anyways.
“So...”
“So...” Taehyung rocks back and forth on his feet.
“You’re gonna say yes, or?”
“Yes to what, Hyung?”
Seokjin rolls his eyes, but it’s less annoyed, and more joyful.
“To a date with me, Kim Seokjin, renowned actor and model. The man of your dreams.”
Taehyung furrows his brows, makes a thinking gesture.
“Can I think about it?”
“Taehyung.” Seokjin says, exasperated.
“Yes! Yes, I’d love to go on a date with you. It’s long due, anyways.” He laughs.
And it really is.
For a community like theirs, Seokjin has never considered being attracted towards a guy. Because girls were good enough for him, and it is unacceptable to love the same gender.
But he thinks that for Taehyung, only for him, maybe he could make an exception. The time they’ve spent apart, Seokjin could’ve spent it counting Taehyung’s eyelashes, so now he’s not going to wait any longer.
Solitude scares Seokjin, his own shadow taunting him. So, perhaps, Taehyung will hold his hand and he won’t be lonely anymore. Neither him, nor his shadow, and he’ll spend his life on televisions but with a boy by his side.
Yeah, that’s what he’ll do. No one knows if Seokjin doesn’t tell. They’ll live in secret, but they’ll live. That’s all that matters to him.
He offers after a moment, “Would you like a ride?”
Taehyung smiles another enchanting smile, and Seokjin flares in the brightness of it.
“Yes, please.”