Chapter Text
The café you’re at is cute, not overly cute but just the right amount. You hope. You picked it but the man sitting across for you seemed ok with it. Maybe you should have picked something cooler. Maybe he was uncomfortable here. He seems nervous, but in all fairness maybe that was just you projecting onto him.
You couldn't believe you had worked up the courage to ask him, well not out exactly. You had framed it that you wanted his cookie recipe. It wasn't the best excuse, thin as a veil would come, but he had said yes. Yes was a good sign.
He had been bringing down a box of baked goods every Monday to your floor for maybe a month now. He didn't really explain why and rumors had been flying around the office. He worked on the top floor like the tipy top. Like Park Jimin Top. Most of the people on your floor, elderly older women who worked in accounting, loved a good bit of gossip and the current theory is that Jimin was sending the young man floor to floor to evaluate teams. The HR department had some firings lately, something to do with a customer service issue that they had swept under the rug but you had your doubts.
If it was just an evaluation then why homemade baked goods? You had at first thought that they were store bought but had quickly changed your mind. Although they were always beautiful and tasty they were clearly a small batch and all of the labels were clearly handwritten. He would put someone at the table where free items were placed but then he would go around from desk to desk and offer individually.
His name was Hoseok, he introduced himself by shaking your hand and you noticed a spot of flower on his sleeve confirming to you that he had indeed made the cookies. His head was warm and his handshake confident even if he had seemed a touch nervous though you weren't sure why. He had brought snickerdoodles, your favorite.
It was your first official meeting, but you had seen him before. He had attended a wedding in place of Jimin that you had also got an invite to. You two had not been at the same table but he was close enough and in just the right seat to pretty much be in your line of sight all night. The word at the table was that he attended all the weddings that Mr. Park got invited to. He always brought a lovely gift and a note of congratulations from Mr. Park himself. Hoseok also was a reportedly great guest. He was always ecstatic for the happy couple.
You had sat close enough to see him in the actual ceremony too. He had cried a bit, just a bit, but not in a way to get other people's attention. Just in a way that made him look like one of those people who loved even the idea of love. You thought it was cute, that he was cute. Your eyes trail after him when he moves.
You kept your eyes on him trying to be sneaky about it. You don't catch him looking at you so you guess you were effective. After the dinner, you couldn't even remember what it was. It had been so boring and standard wedding food, you hit the dance floor song one. The food may have been blah but the music and the dance floor? Amazing. Ten songs are going strong and have to force yourself to take a break. Your werewolf blood lets you go longer than most regular humans, you still think of yourself as human, as a person, and you have to remind yourself to take breaks.
Just for something to do you head over to the desert table the couple had opted for instead of the standard cake fair. It worked for you. You had a huge sweet tooth and they had your favorite snickerdoodles. They were ok, good not necessarily great, but hey it was something to do, and if you stood in the right spot you could watch him while you nibbled at your cookie and made small talk with your coworkers.
He was an amazing dancer. Fluid and confident. Every move seemed like it was choreographed and not a moment seems out of place or wasted. It wasn't like he was showing off though, he wasn't making himself the center of attention and would dance with people on the floor simplifying his moves when he needed to. He danced with the flower girl for about three songs without complaint. He was still going, maybe he wasn't a regular human either? No no you could smell him from here he smelled good, I mean you could smell the sweat, and the cologne or deodorant, but he just smelled like a regular human. He was just in his element.
You joined him back on the dance floor. You can’t help yourself. You dance with him. It's your element too and it was now time to show off. Dancing with him was like speaking your own language just the two of you. You are grinning and he looks like he’s concentrating but still has a hint of a smirk. You’ve never had a partner that could keep up with you. You can hear his heart beating hard. Fuck he needs a break, needs some water. You laugh and hold up your hand in a stop motion. The music is too loud to communicate. You gesture over to where the venue has set out water. You go over to get some needing to keep up the ruse once again.
You fully intend to get back out there and join him hopefully after he gets some water but the MC announces that they are doing the send off. You sigh but go out to do whatever gimmick your coworker had planned. It's cute but not particularly memorable. You look for him in the crowd but between the throng of bodies and the flashing camera lights you can’t find him. Before you find him again the night is over and it’s time to leave.
You thought you probably would never see him again, ok maybe that was a little dramatic, you thought you would never see him again in a significant way. Maybe you would see each other in the lobby or something. You wished you had tried harder to make a bigger impression, that he had noticed you the way you had noticed him.
He had noticed you though. From the moment you sat down at your table, well maybe before that. He had seen you around the building a few times and you had always caught his eye. He curses whoever made the seating plan silently in his head. Why couldn't you have been at the same table.
He kept making eyes at you. Very quickly. He saw you looking at him a few times, shit. You probably thought he was a creep who was ogling you. I mean you looked so pretty. He had never seen you so done up. He suspected your personal style was more on the casual side. You never looked out of place at the office or anything like that but you did lean to the more casual. You looked nice but he would just about kill to see what you looked like not at work, or at a wedding. Maybe at a cute restaurant, but maybe at a club. He shakes his head trying to clear his head.
He watched you pick at your dinner. It wasn’t bad, just wasn’t good and sees you eye the desert table with longing. He wanted to see what you would pick. Wanted even that small piece of information from you. Wanted to know you even if it was just in this small way. The MC calls for everyone to attend the ceremony and though the rest of the day had been pretty mediocre , well other than getting to sit so close to you, the ceremony was nice. They wrote their own vows and he had to wipe away a few tears. Weddings often moved him.
After though, it was time for dancing. He decided to really let loose. He usually held back not wanting to make too much of a spectacle of himself. Tonight though? He wanted to catch your eye. He knew he was a good dancer and knew he looked good in motion. He wanted to make sure you were watching and was still giving it his all.
At some point he found your eyes again. Good god. Ok sos. You were amazing on the dance floor. Fuck, was his dacing even going to impress you at all? If he was kinesthetically intelligent you were a genius. At some point the flower girl tugs on his sleeve; he kneels down so she can whisper in his ear and asks him to dance with her. He’s not going to disappoint the little lady, not if he can help it. You’ve moved off the floor anyway. Oh you made your way to the desert table. What would you pick? Snickerdoodle? He could make those.
The MC calls for the send off and he takes the opportunity to ask one of your coworkers he’s on a first name basis with what floor you were on. He regrets not seeing you at least one more time but decides if he can get to know your name and maybe an in to see you again.
He hadn’t shown up the next day to your floor with a box of baked goods to your floor even though he had wanted to but he had shown up a week later. He hadn't even thought up a reason to do it just letting the rumors fly. The first time he hadn't even seen you. By the third time he knew where your desk was and had finally plucked up the courage to introduce himself. Your hand was warm and soft and so little in his. He hoped he wasn't blushing.
Then you surprised them both. You had a sudden burst of courage, of inspiration. You flash him a wide sunny smile that he can’t help but match. It was like looking at the sun, he was so bright.
“You made these right? Can I have the recipe?” you voice was rushed and you spit it out not able to think of anything else to say but wanting to make some kind of conversation. “I'll treat you to coffee in exchange” oh dear that probably made it worse you probably sounded so awkward. He grins at you and pulls out his phone. He hands you his phone. It's not the latest model but it's immaculate with no chips no cracks. Not even a speck of dust. You tap the number in only and he takes the phone back nearly snatching it back but another winning smile somehow makes the gesture charming.
“Deal!” no hesitation. Hoseok didn't know what he had expected to happen, but this is just about the best that this whole scheme of his could have gone. You eye his phone and raise an eyebrow when he puts you in his phone as cookie girl. He wants to make it seem like this whole scheme wasn't just him trying to meet you. He would probably be wise to continue the weekly deliveries just to keep it totally casual and not weird at all. Yeah, midnight baking was a totally normal hobby.
When you had texted him the details of the cafe he was over the moon. He hoped that the Saturday and the cute cafe would mean he’d get to see how you really dressed. He was right. It was cute and casual and he is glad he got to see it. The cafe was perfect too. Even though the word date had not been used if it were a date this would be an excellent date spot. He was quite frankly over the moon.
“Hello Cookie Girl!” He slides into the seat across from you grinning. He has a index card with the recipe on it but doesn't want to give it to you just yet. He wants to keep talking to you. His voice is a little too loud, a little too excited. A few people do look around but they politely turn their heads a small smile at their lips. It wasn't a first date supposedly but the two of you were already radiating a first date energy.
“Cookie girl? That what we are going with, bit of a mouthful don’t you think” you say with a small laugh. You hurry over to him, trying not to run, not to look too eger but there is an obvious pep in your step. If Hoseok was less nervous it would be clear how into him you were. If you were less nervous you might notice the same.
“Hm ok, how’s Cookie then” You laugh and nod. It would do you supposed. You want to act like you're not amused by name but your smile can't seem to leave your face. You take your seat across from him leaning into the conversation. He does the same not even noticing he’s doing it.
“I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time, it’s a Saturday and all, and I’m guessing you work nights? I always see you at the end of my shifts.” Hoseok shakes his head. You are definitely not taking too much of his time. If anything he’d like you to take up more. He’d give up all his Saturdays if it meant he got to spend just a fraction of them with you.
“Mr.Park is a bit of a night owl, so that means my secretary job might just have the weirdest hours.” He makes a face but he doesn't actually mind. Mr.Parks new flame, well only flame might be a better way to describe her, had started helping around the office and the pay was great. He wasn’t afraid of him being a Vampire either. There wasn't any weird blood drinking, well ok maybe a little but that wasn't any of his business
“What's it like working the night shift? Sometimes I consider it” It would give you more time with the kids. Not your kids, not exactly, but members of your pack who had lost their parents. The past few years, since vampires had become known really, your pack had started to go missing. It was worrisome but it seemed lately that it had stopped. You Pack, your family was trying to figure it out but so far they hadn't had any leads. You were one of the members in charge of earning money for the pack. You took care of each other.
“Really? You wouldn't miss the sunshine?” You lean back and look out the window. There is a small frown at your brow, a look of concentration while you consider. It was adorable. You turn back to him.
“Ha, I was actually thinking I might get more of it! Time in the day to get some sunlight!” You stretch out your arms as if you are sunbathing for a moment. You let your arms fall and lean forward again, eyes meeting his.
“What about sleep?” You giggle and stand up the two of you getting in line to actually order your coffee. You're bouncing in line just a bit. Like there is a magnitude of energy your short frame just can’t contain.
“Who needs sleep when I’ve got coffee?” you order your ‘coffee’ at the bar. The amount of sugar and cream makes the barista distinctly uncomfortable. Hoseok though is into it and orders the same thing. The distress on the baristas face intensifies. You get your drinks and sit back down.
“Ok you’ve got me there, so if you work nights you would just lay in the sun all day” He tips his head. He is trying to picture you lying in the sun and it makes his breath catch just a bit.
“No, I think I'd go to the pool a lot more.” He has to look away. He wants to be respectful not to picture you at the pool in a bathing suit but the thought of the thought alone brings a slight blush to his cheeks.
“That is a good choice. I’ve been wasting my days getting sleep like a chump” He chokes out. You notice the pink. Ok maybe that was a bit flirty. You don’t regret it. You could think of a few better things for him to do during the day.
“Well I do have a big family so I’d have to take the cousins out somewhere to give all the aunts and uncles a break” You probably squashed the fantasy with that one. You search his face for disappointment but instead you see excitement.
“A big family? That's so fun, I always wanted a big family. I have an older sister but she never takes me to the pool!” There is a momentary slight pout at his lips, but its easily washed away by his happy go lucky smile. He loves the idea of big family kids running around everywhere. His family isn’t in the city and he doesn't get to see them much so he can't help but be a touch jealous.
“Maybe, if I switch to nights I’ll invite you.” His face lights up. It's only the polite thing to say he’s sure but even the idea of going to the pool with you is an enchanting out.
“I’ll hold you to that” he looks excited, like so excited. Like a puppy dog. It's pretty cute. A. You notice him fidgeting with something in his hand. After a bit he shyly hands it to you. It’s the recipe. He hand wrote it for you. It was so cute. You had forgotten that it was your excuse to see him, out here in the real world. He doesn't want to give it to you but doesn't want to risk overstaying his welcome either.
He doesn't want the coffee...trip? Date? To end. He wishes it was a date but neither of you said date and maybe you didn’t even like him and just wanted to know how to make the cookies. He has to go pick up some things for his boss though and its getting late in the day. He doesn't want to get his head bit off.
You take the card letting your fingers brush his. Nothing wrong with a little flirting. “So will I see you on Monday?” He looks relieved. He nods. He likes the idea of you looking forward to seeing him.
“Sure see you Monday Y/n” You would hold him to that. He walks you to the bus stop you took to get to the café. You had a Jeep but preferred not to waste money on gas in the busy city unless you had to. You watch him as the bus takes off. Once he’s out of sight you feel your phone buzz. “Thanks for the coffee, I had a great time. Next time it's my treat ok?” Next time ?
You clutch your phone and grin. Next time was good. You really liked him. He was so nice and had asked you so many questions about your life. He looked like really wanted to know the answer too. “Name the time, name the place” you text him back. You want to add and it's a date. But was it a date? You weren't sure maybe he just was one of those people who was really friendly. He definitely might be. All your coworkers were enamored with him. Maybe he was just being nice.
You hadn't done the whole dating thing in a while. Not since the disappearances had started. You wanted to do this whole dating thing with Hoseok though. Wanted more of his cute smiles aimed your way. You two text the whole way home. Might as well lay some groundwork and hope for the best. You text him a lot actually. All weekend long.