Work Text:
"How is this a good idea?" Seungmin protests, pushing Hyunjin's hand away from his arm.
"You were literally complaining about your single-ness, I thought it was a call for help," Hyunjin retorts and Seungmin sighs, stops walking and runs his hand down his face once. "We're going to be late."
Seungmin wonders when he gave his friend the liberty of arranging things like this without asking his opinion on it.
"What moment did I say I was going?" Seungmin crosses his arms and huffs. The look Hyunjin gives him tells he's fighting a lost battle.
"The moment you complained I was going on a date with Minho-hyung and you were date-less on a Friday night," Hyunjin supplies and Seungmin would argue but that's exactly what happened, he has no good argument to fight back with. "That's what you get for only focusing on work and not going out to have fun."
"I have plenty of fun after work," Seungmin rolls his eyes and thinks of the series he marathons and the takeout he orders for his late night cravings. If that's not him enjoying life, he doesn't know what fun is supposed to mean. "We have very different definitions of fun."
"Having a social life is healthy," Hyunjin grabs Seungmin by the arm again and makes him start walking. "Now, are you really leaving for a blind date looking like that? Do you want to go back and change?"
Seungmin looks down and himself and then at Hyunjin.
"What's the problem with my outfit?" Seungmin asks in concern. He's pretty sure he looks decent and even fashionable.
Hyunjin thinks otherwise and shakes his head in disapproval.
"You're telling me going on a date with a prospective partner with a ratty gray hoodie, old jeans and dirty vans is good?" Hyunjin looks baffled when Seungmin nods. "You're lucky you have a pretty face."
Seungmin takes that as a compliment and lets Hyunjin guide him to their destination.
It takes them ten minutes walking, another ten minutes inside the subway and when they go up the stairs leading outside, they stop in front of a quaint, hipster-looking little café.
Seungmin gives Hyunjin a look before turning back to the facade of the establishment, observing the brick work on the wall and seeing the way the inside is almost empty, save for Minho and Jisung sitting by the window. Seungmin rolls his eyes because of course they would be involved.
Hyunjin takes the initiative and gets in first, letting Seungmin take his time. Seungmin watches from outside Jisung's confused face upon Hyunjin showing up by himself, than his friend points to where Seungmin is and he's waved at. Seungmin takes a deep breath and gets inside the café. He sits at the empty chair by Jisung's side.
"Look who's here," Jisung exclaims, looking too chirpy for Seungmin's taste. "I thought you wouldn't show up."
"Well, I only uncovered the purpose of this outing when we were out of the apartment," Seungmin shrugs and Jisung nods, making a face that says fair enough. "I would like to be assured you're not setting me up on a date with a creep."
"Of course not!" Jisung bumps his fist down on the table, Minho shoots him a look when his coffee spills a little but Jisung misses it. "I'm setting you up with one of my close friends."
Seungmin glares at Hyunjin from across the table.
"You guys are setting me up with a creep?"
"Hey!" Jisung interrupts whatever Hyunjin was going to say, making him laugh instead, and Seungmin looks at him with narrowed eyes. "Are you saying my friends are creeps?"
"Yeah, are you saying Jisung's friends are creeps?" Minho repeats in a threatening way and gives Seungmin a Look™.
In Seungmin's defense, he hasn't known Jisung for that long and the few conversations he had with him were pretty remarkable in a very weird way. The one he remembers best was the time Jisung was telling them how he got to be homeless and live on the streets for a week before Minho took pity on him and let him stay over his place for a month.
"It was supposed to be a joke," Seungmin tries to cover it and ends up giving them a very yellow smile. Jisung buys it though and pats him on the back.
"He'll be here soon," Minho comments and stands up, pulling Hyunjin up with him and motioning for Jisung to get up as well. Seungmin watches them in confusion and gets even more confused when Jisung forces the guy who was coming to their table into sitting down on the chair right across from him. "Seungmin, this is Felix. Felix, this is Seungmin. We hope you have a good date."
"Huh?" Seungmin hears Felix exclaim and look up. "Sungie, when you said date I thought you were coming here to get free coffee again."
Jisung gives him a smile before rushing out of the café with Minho and Hyunjin in tow.
Seungmin watches in fascination as Felix sighs and runs his hand through his hair, fingers threading on soft blond hair - how does someone manage to have bleached hair look that hydrated? The light filtering through the window illuminates Felix's face and highlights the freckles dusting his cheeks, Seungmin blinks a few times to make sure it was not just a trick of the lighting.
Felix catches him staring and smiles shyly.
"Hi, I guess," he says and Seungmin inhales sharply when the deep timber of Felix's voice goes some octaves higher when he laughs. "This is absurd, did Sung just set me up on a blind date? Did you know about this?"
"I was told about the arrangement as I left home with Hyunjin," Seungmin snorts and laughs too. Felix's smile and laugh are contagious and he can't help but join him. "Like, half an hour ago."
"They're crazy," Felix shakes his head in amusement. "What made them do this though?"
Seungmin wants to cry as he doesn't want to make something up on the spot, Felix looks like someone who deserves nothing but the truth.
"I complained about being single last week," Seungmin mumbles and feels his ears turn red. Felix laughs again, his sharp canines catch Seungmin's attention and he feels himself blush even harder at the small details he's paying attention to. "And Hyunjin decided to be a good friend."
Seungmin makes quotation marks with his fingers at the words good friend. Felix looks at him, amused.
"Ah," Felix starts and giggles, covering his mouth with a hand. "So it wasn't because I told Jisung I wanted to go on a date with a cute boy the last time he came here."
Seungmin catches on to the flirtatious tone in Felix's voice and really, it should be illegal to look this cute while flirting.
"I know some cute boys," Seungmin replies, trying not to cringe at his attempt at flirting back. Felix bursts out laughing, he was probably making a face as he said that.
"Do you want to drink anything? It's on me," Felix asks, getting up from the seat. Seungmin stares up at him and nods. "Americano?"
Seungmin stares at him with surprise. "How would you know?"
"I'm the barista and baker," Felix says, making a pose with his finger under his chin. "That grants me special guessing powers," Seungmin laughs softly at that. "I'm kidding, you look tired but you're not acting like someone who's completely sleep deprived. I'd say you had coffee at least twice today."
"Wrong," Seungmin snorts and Felix pouts, Seungmin wants to lay his head on the table and scream. "I had coffee four times today and I am very sleep deprived."
Felix gives him a very concerned look.
"I was working on a case," Seungmin replies quickly, knowing he doesn't have to explain himself but Felix's concern prompts him into it. "It's a very important case and I wanted to be free on the weekend, which I am now."
"And what's the case about," Felix asks, walking away to get the coffee done but close enough that Seungmin doesn't have to raise his voice. "If you can tell me about it, of course."
Seungmin takes a deep breath and searches his brain for the information on this one.
"It's this couple that's getting divorced," he starts and hears Felix humming along with the sound of the coffee grinder. "They are battling for custody of their dog. But the thing is that one of the parties is claiming that the other has mistreated the poor pet multiple times when they were absent due to work and is making an appeal."
Felix gasps, stopping his coffee making to look at Seungmin. "You're on the side of the person who's making the appeal, right? If not, you can just leave my café and never show your face here again."
"Of course I am on this person's side," Seungmin replies, outraged at Felix's assumption but laughing at it too. "I am literally their lawyer. I didn't sleep because I was sorting out the evidence I was sent since the last trial is on Monday morning and I wanna rest today and tomorrow. I bet the idiot who's been accused of mistreating the dog has no evidence proving otherwise, if I were his lawyer I would not look like this."
Felix laughs and resumes working on the drinks.
Seungmin enjoys the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sighs. He closes his eyes for a second and jumps in surprise when he feels a tap on his shoulder.
"Seungmin…ssi," Felix says, unsure. "Do you want to sleep? I live in one of the apartments above the café, you can nap on my couch."
"Please, I don't want to bother," Seungmin waves his hands in front of himself, feeling ashamed that he fell asleep like that. "And just Seungmin is fine, I'm pretty sure we're the same age."
"I'm almost Sungie's twin," he says proudly, sitting back down and sipping on what looks like hot chocolate. Seungmin looks at the steaming mug in front of himself and reaches out for it, he ignores the information that Felix is a few days older than him. "I didn't know if you wanted it iced or not, so I made it hot because that's how it usually helps me wake up when I'm tired."
"Thanks," Seungmin says behind the mug and takes a sip, surprised that it's hot but not so hot that it burns his tongue, it's just the perfect temperature. "Has anyone told you that you look like a fairy?"
What?
"What?" Felix furrows his eyebrows and tilts his head. Seungmin stops and realizes he has said that out loud. Speaking while he's sleepy is not a good idea as it seems. "What does that mean?"
In order not to say anything, Seungmin takes another sip and looks away. Felix puts his head on the table and looks up at Seungmin until their eyes meet.
"It means that you're pretty," Seungmin whispers and hopes Felix didn't catch his words but Felix smiles and there's even a soft blush gracing his cheeks.
"You're not so bad yourself as well," Felix replies, sticks his tongue out at him and finishes his own drink, licking the chocolate that sticks to the top of his lips and setting Seungmin's attention on the pretty curve of his cupid's bow. "What are you looking at now? Am I really that mesmerizing?"
He laughs and hides behind his mug, covering half of his face with it but still looking at Seungmin.
Seungmin takes a deep breath before nodding. He wonders what's making him brave when he's usually more reserved, especially on these matters and also the reason he doesn't really go out for social events unless necessary. He's an extrovert but that doesn't mean he's into that kind of stuff like Hyunjin and Minho.
It might be the sleep.
Usually when Seungmin is tired, he drinks coffee and then plops down on his bed as soon as he's home. His brain can take up to three rechargings with strong coffee but after the fourth one, it all goes downhill.
And if he's right with the information he provided Felix, he's drinking his fifth mug, which means he's on the brink of death, toying dangerously on what Hyunjin calls Seungminnie's boring way of being drunk, since he doesn't drink alcohol anymore as it triggers migraines and he would rather avoid that.
"You should really go up and take a power nap," Felix says, fishing for something on the pocket of his apron. He takes out a note and a pen and scribbles down on it. "Here's the passcode for the door locks, don't destroy my tiny apartment, please."
Seungmin accepts the paper but looks disoriented.
"Are you sure?" he asks and stares at the two sets of numbers on the paper, one is for the building complex and the other for the apartment. "I'm literally a stranger."
"Minho-hyung is friends with you," Felix shrugs and gives Seungmin another bright smile. "I like helping people so it's alright, really. I have a feeling you will not try to break into my place or anything of the sorts," Felix puts everything back into his pocket and points outside to the right. "The entrance is the one right there, my apartment is number thirty-two. Please, do not mind the mess as I barely have time to put my things in place."
Seungmin nods and finishes the americano. Felix does the same and gets the two empty mugs before shooing Seungmin away.
Having no other option - he does have other options but Seungmin is a little bit too enchanted with Felix and couldn't say no -, Seungmin follows Felix's instructions and exits the café, turns to the right and punches the first 6-digits into the keypad. It is a small building, there are no elevators and the ground floor has just one apartment to Seungmin's left, he walks up the flights of stairs and is panting by the time he makes it to Felix's door - he should sign-up to the gym, maybe go with Changbin for a boost of motivation because he's really out of shape.
He does the same procedure and the door unlocks with a beep. He steps inside carefully, making sure to take his shoes off and leave them neatly aligned by the door. Seungmin takes a quick look around, not wanting to intrude so much, and wonders what Felix meant with mess when it all looks to be in place - it's not like Seungmin's pristine apartment but he's just a clean freak so it doesn't count.
He closes the door behind himself and looks down at the couch. It's a big one taking into account the size of the apartment but Seungmin is thankful because it means he can nap comfortably, there's even a blanket resting on top of it.
The moment Seungmin lays his body down on the couch, he sighs in relief. His eyes close on instinct and he revels in the softness of the seat and cushion he's using as a makeshift pillow. It feels like he's sleeping on a cloud and he instantly falls asleep, doesn't even have the time to pull up the blankets over himself.
He sleeps like a rock then. Seungmin dreams of fairies, coffee and dogs. He sleeps so well that when he opens his eyes he's disoriented and confused as to why the sky is dark and of his whereabouts.
His mind supplies the information from earlier and Seungmin remembers he's in Felix's apartment and registers the fact that it's already night. He jumps off the couch in alarm and knocks his knee against the coffee table.
He winces and turns to the side, noticing some light coming from a room close to the front door, the kitchen.
Seungmin slowly makes his way over to the kitchen and knocks on the open door to announce he's there. Felix turns around and takes an earbud out.
"Oh, you're awake!" he exclaims and smiles, turning away from the stove. "I was making something for dinner. Are you hungry?"
Seungmin's mouth goes dry and he's at a loss of words. Felix keeps smiling at him, waiting for a reply.
"I think I should go," Seungmin says, finally remembering to pick up his phone and check the time. It reads a little past seven, there are plenty of buses running still and the subway works until midnight, besides it's the end of spring, which means he's fine with thin layers of clothing.
"I made dinner for two though," Felix says dejected and oh no, there's that pout again and Seungmin feels his hands getting clammy.
"I guess I can stay for dinner," he trails off, looking away and feeling the way his ears burn, he just hopes it's not visible and it's just the feeling of it. "Do you need help?"
Felix shakes his head.
"It's done," he answers and turns the fire off, Seungmin sees something boiling and finally catches on the smell. His stomach rumbles and he laughs at how he hadn't noticed how hungry he was - he did sleep for over three hours after all. "Just turn the lights on in the living room and take a seat. I'll join you in a minute."
Seungmin silently does as said, thinking to himself about how a blind date turned into a homemade dinner so fast. Kim Seungmin, one of the top three lawyers at the company with the most cases won, is feeling shy. That's very unlike him because, despite not going out as much as his friends, he's confident and determined but something in Felix is mellowing him down.
It's weird and foreign but it's nice. There's a warmth spreading through his body when he thinks of how nice Felix is - and feels a little bad for assuming he was a creep earlier.
After Felix brings the food to the small three-seat dining table - it's backed up against a wall -, it all feels natural. They chat as they eat - Felix's food is delicious and Seungmin feels embarrassed when he asks for seconds - and Seungmin learns a little bit more about Felix.
"So you know Jisung since university?" Seungmin repeats the information as a question. "I didn't know he went to university?"
"I mean, he did drop out but yeah," Felix laughs and probably sees another question blooming in Seungmin's eyes because he adds. "He was studying audio production I think, he didn't like studying so he decided to just try his luck," Felix shrugs. "He had a rough patch and it took some time for him to get a job in the area but I'm glad Channie-hyung found him."
Now that explains the whole living on the streets situation. If it is like Hyunjin mentioned once, Jisung's parents were not supportive of him leaving university and cut out his allowance back then, it makes sense now.
When the food is gone, Seungmin quickly helps clean the table and offers to do the dishes but Felix shakes his head and pushes him away.
"Leave it to me. It's getting late and I'd rather not have you wandering the streets when it's deserted," Felix says and reaches for something inside the back pocket of his jeans. He hands the folded piece of paper to a curious Seungmin. "Text me when you get home."
Seungmin unfolds the paper and sees Felix's number written neatly on it. He almost blushes at how smoothly Felix gave him his number.
"I will," Seungmin says, checking if he has all of his belongings on him before walking up to the door and allowing Felix to open it. "Thanks for today."
Felix smiles at him.
"You're welcome," he says and observes as Seungmin slowly makes his way out. "I hope we can meet again."
Seungmin nods and waves at him awkwardly. "Have a good night."
"You too," Felix replies and Seungmin descends the stairs, hearing the sound of the door clicking softly as he's almost by the building's entrance.
He takes the subway and walks home thinking about Felix and how he would like to get to know him better.
He takes his phone to input Felix's number into his contacts list and then he sees a bunch of notifications from Hyunjin.
from: jinnie
tell me all about it when you're home!!!!!
min, where the fuck are you?
it's been hours, i know you take long to reply but it's never this long
i sure hope you not dead in a ditch somewhere
kim seungmin!!!!
to: jinnie
don't worry, i am alive
A minute later, Hyunjin is calling him but Seungmin chooses to ignore his best friend. He quickly sends Felix a text saying he made it home and plops his phone down on the end table by his couch.
He opts for a shower and decides to call Hyunjin when he's comfortable enough because he just knows his friend is going to query him for hours on end if allowed.
When he makes it back to his phone, Seungmin sees a message from Felix.
from: felix
happy to know that
would you like to hang out again next weekend? i close the café on sundays
i'd say tomorrow but you need the rest
Seungmin decides to answer Felix's messages later and calls Hyunjin before his friend has a heart attack - the twenty missed calls and the ridiculous streak of messages speak for themselves.
But Seungmin smiles and already thinks of the possibility of meeting Felix again and properly because his sleep deprived self form earlier was not fun - at least not for Seungmin.
Maybe they can even call it a date.