Work Text:
1.
Kai liked to think that he was a normal person. And aside from the abundance of plushies that sat on his bed, his child-like way of texting, his constant need for affection and attention, and just his entire personality as a whole, he was quite the average person (read: not at all ).
He also is very much not straight and Taehyun had teased him so much about it when he came out to his best friend.
(“You like men and women, and you’re still single?!” Kai had nodded, confused as to where Taehyun was going. “Kai, you’re not bisexual. You’re by yourself.”
Taehyun had laughed for days over that.)
So yes. Kai considered himself as a typical, normal human being. Which led him to be very confused when he arrived at work (a small café owned by one of his friends called ‘The Binnery’) and there was a new ( and hot as fuck ) employee standing behind the counter and he couldn’t act like a functional human being to save his life.
Soobin appeared from the back room and a smile spread on his face. “Kai, hey! This is Choi Yeonjun, our newest employee.” Soobin introduced and Kai is still so confused because since when had Soobin been looking for new workers and how had he managed to find someone so hot ?
“Hi.” Yeonjun held out his hand. And Kai panics. He hesitantly shook the hot guy’s- Yeonjun’s hand and holy shit it’s so manly and soft at the same time and Kai’s are clammy and he was pretty sure Soobin was talking, but he couldn’t hear and all he could focus on was Yeonjun’s hands. Even after they had stopped the handshake.
“I’m- I-” Kai was in utter shock. He hasn’t ever been this affected by someone. Ever. He was too stunned to speak. He liked to think he was confident in himself and knew what he wanted, but Kai liked to think a lot of things.
Soobin decided couldn’t bare anymore of the awkward silence and spoke up. “Okay… Kai, can you please open up shop and work at the machine. Yeonjun hyung, I want you to work the register until I am able to properly train you with the machine.”
Kai could only nod in response. He slowly trekked to his small locker in the back room and tried to recollect himself. He slid his apron on and checked his phone before also throwing it inside the locker.
As soon as he had unlocked the door, put up the ‘OPEN’ sign, and positioned himself behind the coffee machine, he chastised himself.
How could I embarrass myself so badly in front of a hot person like that?
No, Kai. This isn’t your fault. Yeonjun is just too good looking. It should be a crime to be that hot!
2.
Tuesday is a lot more easy going than Monday and Kai believed he was definitely more confident in himself than he had been just less than twenty four hours ago. Yeonjun learned the logistics of the entire café very quickly for a newbie (especially since the register is so so old and really should be replaced) and Kai is still in complete awe at his skill ( and his hotness, you couldn’t forget the hotness ).
“Kai!”
Kai jumped, hitting his head on the door frame. He whipped around to see a guilty-looking ( and still very hot ) Yeonjun.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No. No! It’s fine. I am completely fine. Don’t worry about it. Did you need something? I can help! I mean I don’t know what you need yet, but I’m pretty sure I can help. I’ve worked here for a few months. Not that you asked, but-” Kai stopped himself from rambling any further and sheepishly stared at the floor when he heard the ( sweet, beautiful, enchanting- ) sound of Yeonjun’s light laughter.
“Sorry for rambling. What did you need, hyung?” Ugh. Why am I so embarrassing?!
“It’s fine. You’re cute,” - and if Kai’s heart doesn’t fucking soar after he heard that - “I was wondering if you wanted to go get some ramen with me tonight. Only if you want to.”
Kai didn’t know what God had gifted him with the chance to be able to consume ramen with the Choi Yeonjun, but he knew right in that moment that there was no way he could let the opportunity go.
“I would lo-” Kai’s phone rang loudly, interrupting him. He sent Yeonjun an apologetic look and picked up the call.
“Hey, Tae. What’s up?”
“I’m outside the café. Ready to go to the event?”
Kai thinks that the God that was looking over him actually hated him. How could he have forgotten about the event that Taehyun had helped plan for months. He sighed sadly to himself.
“Give a few minutes. I’ll be out soon.”
“See you soon, Kai.”
The call was cut and Kai turned back to Yeonjun. “I’m really sorry, hyung, but I can’t today. I completely forgot that I have an event tonight that I need to attend.” Kai pouted subconsciously and he swore he heard Yeonjun mutter something dangerously close to ‘cute’, but Kai is logical and rational. (He likes to think so anyway.)
Then a lightbulb lit up in Kai’s head and he almost hit himself for not thinking about it sooner.
“Do you want to come?”
“What?” Yeonjun seemed interested and Kai wanted to believe that the red haired man before him wanted to go with him.
“The event. It’s a fundraiser for orphans. Actually, Taehyun’s uncle organised it. He’s adopted three kids - Taehyun’s uncle, not Taehyunnie - and ever since he has wanted to make sure all children are able to have parents that can love and care for them. I think what he’s doing is really beautiful. I would love to adopt. Not now, obviously! I only just turned 20 and I don’t think I’m good at looking after children and Taehyun says that I act like a child, which is absolutely not true and- I’m rambling again. Sorry.”
Yeonjun’s laugh was boisterous and loud and Kai felt a small part of himself (read: a very large part of himself) light up with the knowledge that he had made Yeonjun laugh like that. All by himself.
“Sure.”
Kai snapped out of his thoughts. “Huh?”
“I’ll come to the event. It actually suits me anyway. I’m adopted.”
Kai blinked once. Twice.
“Oh. Cool.” Then he paused and thought about what he had just said. “Wait- I mean not good that you didn’t have parents- No. I meant- I’m sorry.”
And Yeonjun was laughing again. His hands were held up to signal to Kai that he should stop talking. So Kai did. ( He’s so fucking hot. What the fuck? )
“It’s fine. I promise. My adopted mums are cool. And I love them like parents even if we aren’t blood related.”
Kai nodded, scared that if he spoke, he would embarrass himself further. His gaze drifted to the clock that hung on the wall and his eyes widened comically wide when he realised how late he was. “I’m going to be so late!” Kai hurriedly slammed his locker shut and found a pen and paper. He scribbled down his number before he shoved it in Yeonjun’s hands.
“That’s my number. Just text me when you’re ready. The event starts at seven sharp.” Kai waved as he quickly left the room, but then stopped and came back. “Sorry for cutting our conversation short, I’ll see you later, hyung!” Then he leaves again, running for the door.
Before Yeonjun could raise his hand to wave ‘bye’, Kai had already disappeared.
“Really cute.”
Yeonjun stared down at the crumpled sheet of paper and smiled to himself.
3.
jun hyungie <<333 :
yesterday was a lot of fun, kai :) thanks for inviting me to come!!!
cute kai :3 :
it was hyung! thanks for coming >3<
see you at work :DD
jun hyungie <<333 :
yea
Kai didn’t like to jinx things, but he thought that today he would be able to get through his shift at the café without embarrassing himself in front of Yeonjun. He entered the café with a newfound confidence in himself and smiled as soon as he saw the tell-tale pink hair of Choi Yeonjun.
And then he promptly tripped over thin air.
He quickly stood up, brushing himself off and grumbling to no one as he walked to the back room to put his stuff away. He could hear Yeonjun’s cackles all the way from the counter, but he didn’t mind it. (It was one of his favourite sounds after all.)
Over the course of the next hour of his shift, Kai’s clumsy tendencies seemed to have quadrupled. He made so many mistakes, even Soobin - who had known how clumsy Kai was for years - was starting to get a little concerned.
“Kai, that’s the tenth time you’ve almost broken a cup! What’s been happening with you today?” Kai didn’t even know. It was like he had been cursed. The rational side of him, however, knew that it wasn’t anything like that. Yeonjun was just affecting him too much for his own good.
“I’m sorry, hyung. I’ll be more careful.” Kai winced at the obvious lie. He definitely wouldn’t be able to focus if Yeonjun was going to exist in his near vicinity. His cheeks heated up when he noticed that Yeonjun was sending him amused glances.
“He’s right though. I know I haven’t been here that long, but you seem more clumsier today than you did on Monday or Tuesday.”
Kai flushed and slowly ducked his head. “I don’t know what’s been wrong with me lately.” His thoughts spin around one topic, and one topic only; Choi Yeonjun.
It wasn’t Kai’s choice. It wasn’t his choice when Soobin hired Yeonjun. It wasn’t his choice when Yeonjun walked in looking like a snack everywhere he went. It definitely wasn’t his choice when a blush decided to make itself at home on his face.
Yeonjun was going to be his death.
4.
“Hyun, you don’t understand! He’s so hot and I can’t work and I’m 300 times more clumsier than I usually am and Soobin is scolding me a lot more than before-”
“You sound whipped as fuck right now, Kai. Just tell him you like him!” Taehyun argued. Kai gasped and looked at Taehyun as if he had just said he was pregnant.
“I can’t just tell him! We’ve barely known each other for a week. It’s not like we’ve known each other and been friends for years like you and I!”
Taehyun simply sighed. Kai was his best friend and most of the time (read: almost none of the time), the younger could be extremely smart, but right now, Taehyun was starting to really question the height of Kai’s intelligence.
“Please just stop talking about Choi Yeonjun. I have better things to do then watch you simp.”
“But-”
“Nope. No more ‘Yeonjun hyung’ this or ‘Yeonjun hyung’ that. Let’s talk about that dance choreography you have to do for Beomgyu hyung.”
5.
“Soobin hyung?” The aforementioned turned, but was taken aback by the blatant fear that bled into Kai’s face.
“What happened, Kai? What’s the matter?” Kai looked shaken. He slowly opened his mouth to answer when Soobin heard shouts from the main café. He rushed out of the office, Kai in tow behind him.
A man stood behind the counter. He was tall - taller than Soobin’s six foot self - and very muscular. He was shouting at Yeonjun and a group of people had gathered, their phones out to record the scene in front of them.
“What’s going on here?!” Soobin yelled over the shouts from the man.
He turned to face Soobin and pointed at him. “Are you in charge here?” Soobin nodded. “Well then! Tell your incompetent employee over here that I should get a refund for this shit coffee that he just made me.”
Soobin raised his brow, obviously not buying the lie from the man. “What’s wrong with your coffee, sir?” The man waved the coffee cup around causing coffee to splash on the counter in front of him.
“Pinkie over here gave me whipped cream and extra caramel.”
Soobin then turned to Yeonjun. “Can I see the receipt you typed in, hyung?” Yeonjun easily stepped aside and Soobin brought up the last receipt into the register. Soobin quickly scanned it, and sure enough there is the order of caramel macchiato with whipped cream and two extra pumps of caramel. Soobin’s eyes narrowed as he looked up to meet the man’s eyes. Any traces of his usual customer friendly smile was gone.
“Sir,” his voice was hard and Kai shivered at the iciness of it, “the drink you’re holding right now is the drink that you ordered.
“No it isn’t!” He threw his cup at Soobin, but Yeonjun quickly ran in front and blocked Soobin before it could hit Soobin. “I swear to god, all you gays are the same; all of you are so stupid. I will be taking this to the council.” Then he stormed out.
The crowd dispersed, and Soobin and Kai were mortified at the sight of Yeonjun hissing at the hot coffee that he was currently soaked in. He turned to them, chuckling painfully at the two’s expressions.
“I’m fine. I promise. Most of the whipped cream saved me anyway.” Soobin, despite Yeonjun’s protests, still left to help Yeonjun get cleaned up and find him a different uniform to wear until he can get his old one cleaned.
He was so hot for doing that.
Kai really needs to get his head out of the gutter.
6.
Saturdays mean that Kai worked in the afternoon and got to sleep in instead of waking up at the ungodly hour of six in the morning everyday. The sun filtered in through the window and woke him up with its brightness. Kai groaned, but simply turned over and buried his face back into his pillow.
Then his phone rang.
Kai groaned again, but grabbed the offending item off of his desk. He answered without checking who had called him first.
“Hello?” He mumbled, trying his hardest to wake himself up.
“Oh! Sorry, Kai. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” Yeonjun’s voice sounded through the phone.
That woke Kai up instantly.
“Yeonjun hyung! It’s okay- I mean, don’t worry. I was awake already.” He laughed awkwardly. Yeonjun was chuckling again (The same chuckle from Tuesday) and Kai thinks he’s in love.
( He definitely is. )
“Okay then.” There was the sound of rustling in the background as if Yeonjun was walking through the leaves. “I was just wondering if we could have our ramen date tomorrow?” A pause. “I would say today, but my sister has an event-”
“Like I did on Tuesday! History is repeating itself.” Kai interrupted. Then, realising what he had done, sheepishly apologised. Yeonjun giggled, boldly and loudly.
“You’re cool, Kai. I like you a lot.”
Kai promptly combusted into a million flames.
+1
Kai was so close to just cancelling everything. Suddenly, nothing was working his way.
He’d managed to lock himself out of his apartment and then punctually spilt his morning coffee all over the outfit he had spent a good five hours putting together. He did get to change, but even after that entire fiasco, he ended up late to the meet up spot in the park with the town oak tree. And when he got there Yeonjun looked even hotter than all of the past week combined.
His cotton candy hair was tied up in a half ponytail. He was wearing a long sleeved striped shirt and a sleeveless jacket sat on top of it. His jeans were plain black, but there were small doodles that Kai was pretty sure Yeonjun did himself.
Kai short circuited.
Spare him. Yeonjun is way too hot for his own good.
When Kai met Yeonjun’s eyes, Yeonjun was staring at him with the most confused (and slightly flustered) face ever.
“I’m sorry. What did you just say?”
Kai’s face heats up. Shit. He had said that out loud. He had said it out loud and now Yeonjun knew. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck-
“Kai?”
I guess I have nothing more to lose. Might as well repeat myself and run without looking back.
“I said that you’re hot.” Kai braced himself for the disgust Yeonjun would have on his face, but was immediately surprised by the wide blown smile that appeared on Yeonjun’s face.
He flipped a strand of his hair in an attempt to look sassy. “I’m glad you think so. You’re not so bad yourself, Kai.”
Kai wouldn’t be surprised if tomatoes became jealous with how red his face currently was. He didn’t know what to say. Yeonjun didn’t seem grossed out by it so Kai guessed he didn’t have to run (which is great because he absolutely despised running).
“By the way,” Yeonjun stepped a little closer to the blonde, “I meant what I said yesterday; I like you.”
Kai didn’t trust his voice at that moment, but he still squeaked out a response to Yeonjun anyway. It really cannot get any worse.
“I like you, too.”
The first drop of snow landed on his nose. Kai smiled.
Maybe it’s good he didn’t cancel his plans after all.