Chapter Text
If you asked him, Taehyung would probably admit that he’s not much of a party person. He likes to have a good time, but in the right setting with the right people. Going to his favorite bar with a couple of his best friends? Hell yeah. Someone else’s birthday party comprised of a few mutual friends? Aight, but he might leave early. This holiday party one of his coworkers is throwing that he somehow managed to get invited to? No thanks.
It’s not a bad party, by any means. In fact, it’s quite poppin', as far as parties go. However, Taehyung doesn’t really know anyone except his coworker throwing the party. He knows other people they work with got invited, so where the fuck are they? Leaving him to suffer. And he’s not not a party person. But this setting is totally not his scene, for a variety of reasons, the most prominent one being that he is literally the only Asian person in this house right now, which is filled to the brim with a bunch of white greek-life barbie dolls. Everyone is devastatingly gorgeous, which would be a consolation except Taehyung is wearing an old crew neck sweatshirt over some ratty jeans and he just generally sticks out like a sore thumb.
He’s even drinking Whiteclaw in an attempt to loosen up. He’s been sitting on the couch, making the smallest of small talk with the person next to him, Sharon, she said her name was. She’s pretty, but also the DD for her friends tonight so he can’t even offer to grab her a drink. Whiteclaw, which he didn’t know until now, is drastically tastier than most seltzers, which is a relief because he mostly grabbed the can because he didn’t want to be in anyone’s way by trying to pour himself a drink from any of the bottles.
At any rate, he’s gonna down this drink and leave as soon as he’s sober enough to drive, which hopefully won’t be long. He’s pretty good at timing this kind of thing.
He chances a look around, which feels risky because what if he makes eye contact with someone?
He doesn’t make eye contact with anyone, but he does see his coworker Jeongguk right as he’s entering the house. Thank god, holy shit .
Taehyung jumps off the couch and smothers Jeongguk in a hug before the younger can even take off his jacket. Which, honestly, is kind of a lot. Excessive, really, but Taehyung is desperate as hell. They’ve only talked, like, once , when Taehyung was training Jeongguk when the younger first got hired. Since then, the younger has stuck to mostly evening shifts while Taehyung prefers opening in the mornings.
“Hi, hi, oh my god, you’re here,” Taehyung says, still standing unnecessarily close to Jeongguk, but he really can’t bring himself to care. Maybe Whiteclaw hits harder than he was expecting. “I’m the only Asian person at this party, thank god you’re here.”
“No worries,” Jeongguk chuckles, thankfully undeterred by Taehyung’s enthusiasm. “Any other coworkers here?”
“No, just Natalie,” Taehyung answers, following the younger towards the drinks. Maybe he’ll have another Whiteclaw, since Jeongguk just got here. “So you’ll understand if I hang around you for the rest of the night?”
“Of course, I don’t mind at all,” Jeongguk answers immediately, with a reassuring smile. He’s just as easygoing and confident as the day Taehyung trained him. “Here, let’s sit down.”
They find seats back on the couch. Thankfully, someone has taken the bluetooth speaker downstairs to the makeshift dance floor/room and Taehyung can finally hear. Jeongguk sips on the wine he’d poured, but makes a face.
“Not a wine person?” Taehyung asks. Jeongguk crinkles his nose and shakes his head.
“Not at all,” the younger confirms. “But I didn’t wanna be in anyone’s way, so I just poured the first bottle I grabbed.”
“Here, try this,” Taehyung hands him his fresh Whiteclaw, but Jeongguk scoffs.
“Really? Whiteclaw?” he asks. “You fit in at this party more than you think.”
“Listen, I’m allowed to enjoy all the pumpkin spice lattes and Whiteclaws I want,” Taehyung defends himself. “It’s not a crime to let people enjoy things. Besides, the flavored sojus taste just as basic as this.”
“Okay, now soju is not on the same level of basic white girl as Whiteclaw,” Jeongguk shoots back at him, but it’s with a smile. “I think you’re in denial.”
“Maybe, but at least my taste buds are having fun,” Taehyung elbows him. The younger just rolls his eyes. “Lady Gaga called and wants her pinot grigio back, though.”
They continue going back and forth, between casual conversation and light banter. And it’s not that Taehyung hasn’t thought about Jeongguk before, but he’s somehow appreciating the way the dim lights reflect off his reddening cheeks and how the younger sweeps his hair out of his eyes and the way his fingers curl around his cup or the curve of his throat when he quickly downs the rest of his wine and-
Yeah, Taehyung’s thought about Jeongguk before, but maybe now he’s just thinking a little bit harder. So when Jeongguk stretches his arm across the back of the couch as nonchalantly as possible, Taehyung does his best to sink in towards the younger as equally casual. Jeongguk blinks a few times, and Taehyung thinks maybe he sees the younger’s gaze flit down towards his lips, but then Jeongguk is asking whether or not he has any finals left and Taehyung launches into an explanation of his final project.
A few hours and several cups of water later (probably more water than necessary, because every time he finished a glass, Jeongguk would ask if he was leaving and Taehyung couldn’t stand to see the subtle pout on his lips, so he’d just say no, maybe one more glass and I’ll be good to drive ), Taehyung finds himself standing in the doorway of his coworker’s house, tugging on his shoes as Jeongguk stands next to him. He takes extra time to wrap his scarf around his neck, carefully buttoning his jacket, adjusting the hood, fiddling with his gloves, until Jeongguk takes out his phone and mumbles I don’t think I have your number yet .
He leaves the party with Jeongguk’s number and maybe-not-really a date planned for the next day.