Work Text:
Shakespearean literature.
Seokjin has no idea why he decided that choosing a Literary Arts course would be a good idea to earn extra credits. But here he is, currently logged in on his laptop with twenty-five other persons, watching in horror as their very dramatic teacher leaves the task of pairing them off for their semester-long assignment in the hands of the school's education portal, Canvas.
To be honest, Seokjin has no problems whatsoever with the platform, it's good and easy to use. However, his dilemma revolves more around the fact that he only knows two other persons in this class and he's pretty sure Canvas and whoever created it would be working against him and not pair him with neither Jimin nor Taehyung.
He watches with bated breaths as the professor sets things in motion. And, even though he is expecting it, Seokjin still jumps in surprise when he gets a soft pinged notification at the bottom of his scream that he's been paired with someone named Kim Namjoon. Albeit his momentary surprise is drowned out by an outburst of screams and laughs as he and the rest of the class watch Jimin bursting into Taehyung's room to tackle him to the ground.
"Of course, those two would be paired up " Seokjin grumbled with a pout, uncaring that his microphone isn't muted.
"Don't be jealous, Jin-hyung. I keep telling you, we're soulmates."
Seokjin doesn't lose that opportunity to go back and forth in juvenile banter with Jimin and Taehyung.
"Okay, okay. Break it up!" Their professor interrupts before diving into what's required of them for this assignment.
Seokjin quiets down and listens with a full-on pout and hands crossed on his chest for a moment. He takes the necessary notes, forcing himself not to search through the participants' section for whoever his new partner is. Instead, he reaches for his phone and moves his rants and complaints to his private group chat with him, Taehyung and Jimin.
KTH: You'll be okay, hyung.
PKJ: Blame the universe for this one hyung.
KSJ: Fuck a soulmate bind, who's Kim Namjoon?
KTH: Idk 🤷🏽♀️
PJM: He only turned his camera on twice since we joined this class and we didn't see his face 🤔
KTH: yeah, and he hardly talks too, he mostly just posts his comments in the chat section 🤷🏽♀️
KSJ: Sounds boring already 😴
PJM: hahaha… hyung I'm sure he's nice.
KTH: Why do you care anyways hyung? I mean you're just gonna find an elaborate way to bribe him into doing the whole project himself?
PJM: hahaha… you'd think with hyung's dramatics that he'd actually like Shakespearean literature.
Seokjin is in the middle of typing a well-thought-up response when he catches sight of a fading pop-up notification on his computer screen. He glides his fingers across the touchpad, hovering the cursor over the notification and not even sparing a decent minute before he clicks it.
Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince sent you a friend request
He shoots their group chat one more message, sending Taehyung into a frenzy of giggles on-screen as Jimin tries to flip him off inconspicuously.
Seokjin then locks and tosses his phone on his desk, and stares at the notification for a moment. He could ignore it for a couple of days and pretend he didn't see it, but what good would that do? So, with a sigh and roll of his eyes, Seokjin clicks accept and turns his attention back to his class and whatever rant about the morale behind Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice their professor was going on about.
It's not until the class is long over and Seokjin has stepped out of the bathroom after a long and well-needed shower does he glance at his laptop and gives any attention to it.
The first thing that greets him, other than the still open portal with the class has ended screen, is another notification for a private message. The sender has a cute little tree as their profile picture that makes a smile tug on the corners of Seokjin's lips. But when he opens the message Seokjin is slightly alarmed by it.
"Did you really have to think about accepting my request?"
Seokjin reads the message over and over, numerous responses twirling around his mind before his fingers start gliding over the keys.
"Well hello to you too," Seokjin responds, lips twitching comically as he sits staring at the computer screen for a moment, waiting and unsure of what he expects to happen next. But just when he shifts in his seat to get up, three bubbles start dancing at the bottom of the chat.
"Do you always sit around waiting for people to text you?"
"Hahaha, funny."
Seokjin watches as the bubbles dance again and then stops for a moment. Everything is still, which means Namjoon has stopped typing, so Seokjin sends another message. He glances at the time at the bottom of the screen to check how much time he has left to get ready. It may be a Tuesday night, and the second day of the new semester but every night is a party night in college.
"So, Namjoon?" Seokjin pauses for a moment, trying his best not to sound as curious as he felt with his next words. "Do you have any other interests outside of Shakespearean literature?"
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." Is Namjoon's only answer, it is weird and not at all what Seokjin expected to hear, so he decides to wait.
He waits about five minutes with no further response, and he watches as the online icon beside Namjoon's mini tree picture changes from available to busy to offline before he scoffs at his screen and gets up.
Namjoon's clear response- or lack thereof- is a clear indication that he was right. The guy was most likely very boring and below average on the cute and fun scales.
He doesn't give the conversation another thought as he dabs on some basic makeup and throws on a solid ten-out-of-ten would bang himself outfit and heads out of the apartment to meet the soulmates.
Namjoon is the last thing on his mind, which is probably why he missed the soft pings of the onslaught of messages coming into his Canvas chat. But that didn't matter when fate had much bigger plans than a few missed messages.
Seokjin doesn't stumble back inside his apartment until well past midnight. He's a little bit drunk so when he flicks the lights on he has to squint his eyes to adjust to the light. He glances up at the small circular clock hanging over his flat screen tv. The time says one fifty-three am but he's almost sure the clock is wrong because he doesn't feel like he was out for more than an hour, maybe two. But that could be just the alcohol talking.
He shuffles his feet around, stripping off his clothes to take a quick shower and brush his teeth before he climbs into bed. It's not until he steps out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his hips does he glance over at his computer. His previous conversation with Namjoon flickers across his mind and he wonders briefly what someone like him would be doing at past two am on a Wednesday morning. Alarm bells go off in his head, telling him to go to sleep and pick whatever this is up when the sun comes out and he's had some coffee in his system. But then again, Seokjin rarely ever listens to the voice of reason.
When Seokjin opens the laptop to his Canvas chat, he smiles as he reads the short rant Namjoon had left him.
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
I mean I like other things, yes. I like music.
My major is in music production.
But I also like art and classic literature
So I figured if music never works out I could teach something and that's how I ended up here in Shakespearean literature.
How about you?
Hey, are you there?
Uhmm… okay then… we should talk about the assignment.
Which play do you want to choose?
I was thinking maybe Romeo and Juliet but I'm 98% sure at least one other pair will want to go with that one.
Hahaha…
So, I think we should choose the Tempest because I prefer it more.
It's almost midnight so I guess you're either busy or sleeping.
We can talk about it tomorrow, good night.
Seokjin reads the rant one more time with a smile, he can almost feel the shifting of emotions between each message Namjoon sent and for some reason it makes him smile.
[ Kim Seokjin - WWH ]
Music huh? Interesting….
I went out clubbing and got back in a while ago.
What exactly are the Sonnets? I've never heard of them…
But then again maybe I would if I read Shakespeare at all hahaha…
Seokjin is about to move from in front of the computer, almost sure that at this hour of the night Namjoon would be sleeping. But something catches his eyes and makes him pause, eyes going a bit wide and amusement swiveling in his belly. Because at the bottom of the chat three dots start dancing and he's a little taken aback to know Kim Namjoon is wide awake.
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
That's cool…
I started the project on The Tempest, I was already awake anyway so I figured why not.
I could send it to you to take a look at right now.
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
You're awake
And talking about work 🥴🥴
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Is that not what we should be talking about?
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Yeah but not right now!
I always say, if it's not due tomorrow, then we don't need to do it today.
Besides, I don't even know who you are!
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Oh...
What should we be talking about then?
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Well for starters, why are you up at almost three in the morning?
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Music…
I was mixing a beat for my music production class
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Oh.. can I hear it?
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Not right now… when it's finished maybe…
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Okay…
Next question
Who are you? Why have we never spoken before?
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Well… we run in different crowds…
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
What's that supposed to mean?
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Exactly as I said hahaha…
Do you not see the type of people you hang out with?
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Wait… You've seen me before?
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Uhmm… a few times… for the on-campus classes
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Oohhh… okay
But that still doesn't tell me what you mean
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Uhmm…
Well…
I mean you're all gorgeous and cool…
Seokjin can feel Namjoon's absolute embarrassment from the confines of his apartment. He finds Namjoon's admission a little bit cute and a whole lot amusing.
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
You think I'm gorgeous? 🥺
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Ah, well…
I mean…
Yeah… you and all your friends…
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Cute 😏
10/10 would you bang?
[ Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince ]
Oh god!
I'm going to bed!
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
No! Not yet!
You have to answer me first!
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
I am NOT answering that!
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
😭😭😭😭
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
What's past is prologue.
Seokjin lets Namjoon go, ending the conversation with a short string of crying emojis on his part and a weird cryptic line from the other. It's not until he's lying in bed, eyes growing heavy and mind growing foggy does a very important thought stirs him awake. Kim Namjoon KNOWS who he is, what he looks like, and who his friends are, but he has no idea who his partner is at all. And the troubling thought makes falling asleep again a most tedious thought for him.
Seokjin manages to ignore Namjoon's messages on Canvas for two whole days. But, day three is his undoing when he only remembers about Namjoon after he logs in online for their only shared class.
It's a sunny Friday afternoon and Seokjin is just ready for the sun to set and the moon to rise.
[Professor]:
Hello class, glad to see everyone logged in on time today!
Seokjin is all but ready to zone out when a small notification pops up at the bottom of the screen. His eyes flicker over it and then grow wide with horror. He pulls up the class participants, skimming through them until he finds Namjoon's name. He tries to keep his expression blank as he reads the message.
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
So, you're alive…
Good to know that
Seokjin types a quick response before closing the chat, something short and sweet that he knows will get Namjoon’s attention. He knows he won’t see Namjoon’s reaction to the message since the other never turns his camera on, but the message he gets in response does make him burst out in a full-body laugh and disrupt the class for a short moment.
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
You know, one day you’re going to be begging for my attention and then I’ll be the one to ignore you.
Well, unless you’re on your knees, then that, my dear, would change things…
Seokjin reads the message again for good measure, eyes welling up with how hard his laughter resonates through him and chest swelling with how preposterous the words are. Him, on his knees? Namjoon must not remember who he is because he bends for no one when everyone bends for him. He’s too deep in thought, and his head is still swimming in the words of the message to notice his mic is not muted and the whole class is staring at him.
[Professor]:
Would you like to share the joke with the rest of the class, Mr. Kim?
Seokjin clears his throat before giving a resounding response "No, I'm sorry. Go ahead, sir."
Seokjin does his best to ignore Namjoon's direct messages for the rest of the class. But no matter how hard he tries, he still finds himself checking Namjoon's box if he's turned his camera on. And of course, he never does.
One week of dodging Namjoon's request to start working on their assignments turns into two, and before he knows it a month has passed. Seokjin does very little to notice the dwindling time, mostly focused on partying after a long stressful school week and flirting back and forth with Namjoon until it gets dangerously close to sunrise. With every conversation Seokjin manages to evade Namjoon by slipping in small innuendos about how cute he probably is and more times than not, he issues invites for Namjoon to join him on a night out.
Somewhere along the way, a sort of friendship develops where Seokjin begins to expect the bombarding messages about their assignment as well as Namjoon's very eccentric ways of striking up a conversation. But what Seokjin didn't expect was on a normal Friday night of teasing Namjoon, that the other man would say yes. Sure, he always taunted the other with short voice messages and texts through the messaging feature of their work platform. But, after the first few rejections, Seokjin just did it for fun.
Tonight though was different and Seokjin had a feeling that things were going to continue changing.
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
Where should I meet you?
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
It's a nice little bar over on Union Street, you can't miss it.
How will I know it's you?
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
Don't worry you will, I already know what you look like.
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
Something tells me I should find that creepy, but I don't.
[Kim Namjoon - Bonsai Prince]
Hahaha… I'll be seeing you then…
[Kim Seokjin - WWH]
I hope so lol
Seokjin has been alternating between the bar and the small makeshift dance floor for the better part of an hour. He's sweaty and hot and dangerously close to the tipsy line. He's a little wary though, anxious and on edge about everyone who approaches him as he waits for his mysterious partner to show up.
Seokjin is sitting by the bar, nursing a beer and catching his breath from dancing. So he senses rather than sees someone slide into the seat beside him. He's almost sure their next words will be the usual pickup line, something along the lines of 'hey beautiful' or 'can I buy you another drink?'. He's a little tired and a little annoyed that Namjoon didn't show up. And based on past rejections he should've expected it but Namjoon had made it seem so sure that he was going to turn up this time. But, the man's words hit Seokjin like a brick wall and had his head whipping around so quickly he was almost sure he snapped something.
"You're a horrible dancer."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, you're pretty, gorgeous actually, and with a great body too. But you're dancing is shit."
Seokjin stared at the man for a moment, eyes taking in his features slowly: high forehead, a small cute nose, sharp jawline, and fierce eyes. Seokjin stared into them as if compelled by some unseen force of nature because the man's eyes were trained on him with so much focus and intent that he knew he should be squirming in his seat, but instead, it made him want to press his knees together. He let his eyes slip down from the man's face to drink in his thick throat and broad shoulders. And without a doubt, Seokjin knew that underneath the thick hoodie, this man was undeniably sexy.
"I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."
"That's because I didn't give it."
Wow, rude with an undertone of bossiness. Something pricked at the back of Seokjin's neck and whispered to him about that very interesting combination, but like Seokjin always is, he dismissed it. He glances at his watch and realizes that it's been almost two hours and Namjoon is a no-show so he accepts that he's been stood up and turns his full attention back to the stranger sitting beside him.
"You should though."
"Should what?"
"Tell me your name."
The man laughs, short and throaty, voice harboring a little rasp as the sound Carrie's between them.
"In due time, maybe." And with that, the man signals the bartender over with a smile and proceeds to order not just a drink for himself but another beer for Seokjin.
"You didn't even ask?"
"Would you have said no if I did?"
Seokjin watches him for a moment, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips and his eyes shifting across the man's face.
"Probably not," and Seokjin can't even try to hide the small chuckle that vibrates through him.
Whoever this guy was, Seokjin liked him already.
**************
Three beers and four songs later, Seokjin is too tired to go any further. His blood is buzzing with alcohol and high on the company of the stranger now sitting beside him once more.
"You know what," seokjin starts, chest heaving and sweat pasting his hair to his forehead and then back of his neck.
"What?" The man cocks his head to the side with and Seokjin has to bite his lip to dampen the grin that pries at his lips.
"You're a shitty dancer too." He lets the words out and tosses back the remnants of his beer before pushing the bottle along the counter and away from him.
The man however throws his head back and laughs so loud, shoulders shaking and hand gripping the edge of the counter. Seokjin almost feels like they've known each other longer than the time they've been hanging out so far. He didn't even notice when his two younger friends slipped away, knowing without needing to check that they'd most likely texted him that they were gone.
"You know mystery man, you're not bad company at all." And Seokjin didn't even hesitate to lean forward to press a chaste kiss on the man's lips with a smile.
"I get that a lot, but I could give you some more reasons to know that."
"Oh really?" Seokjin says, voice dipping low and sultry as he scoots closer to the man.
"Yes but," the man pauses for a moment, eyes trained on Seokjin's face, watching as Seokjin watches the movement of his tongue gliding across his lips to wet them.
"But?" Seokjin shifts a little closer, eyes shimmering as he flirted openly with the stranger.
"That would be after,"
"After what?"
"I long to hear the story of your life, which must captivate the ear strangely."
The words roll off the stranger's tongue easily as if they were a second language he'd mastered over time. Their wake, however, is followed by a coy smile and glimmering eyes, and Seokjin has to take a moment to process them before he goes stiff and leans away. Because this was no stranger at all but the very person who he'd been evading for weeks.
The man sitting on the bar stool beside him, who he had been drinking and dancing with for quite some time was Kim Namjoon. Seokjin was suddenly very sober and very aware of the man's presence beside him. It all clicked into place then, the familiarity, the strange feeling like he knew this person, the easy way they bickered and flirted at the same time.
Seokjin knew he should be angry with him, but after the initial shock passed, he couldn't help but be impressed. Because of course, this was a very Namjoon thing to do it seemed. So he laughed instead, with his head thrown back and his shoulders shaking to mimic Namjoon's earlier stance.
"Impressive, really impressive Namjoon."
"I always aim to please. All you had to do was read the book." Namjoon shrugged at his words, shoulders lifting and falling back into place quickly.
"Well, now I can say very confidently that ten out of ten I'd definitely bang."
And of course, that sent them both into another round of hysterics before Namjoon found the words to respond.
"Well, same but after."
"After what?"
Namjoon gives Seokjin that look once more, you know the one where he's smiling but his eyes are saying you should know the answer to that? Yeah, that's the one.
"Ah, I see," Seokjin says, his eyes light up and his smile grows wider as it sinks in.
"Wanna get out of here?" Namjoon asks, head shifting to angle in the direction of the exit.
"I thought you'd never ask."
They both slip off their seats with broad smiles and high expectations, Namjoon paying their tab in full as a hand comes to rest on the small of Seokjin's back to guide him through the door. But it's not until their walking aimless down the street does a question arise from the back of Seokjin's mind. The humor it carries is enough to make Seokjin's head swim under the circumstances.
"Namjoon, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure,"
"What do you think they'd call our story in the 1800s?"
"Me, poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough." At Seokjin's oblivious expression, Namjoon laughs and continues. "I don't know but I have a feeling you're about to tell me."
"A Shakespearean conquest." And with that Seokjin erupts into a silly laugh where his snorts and giggles sound like a windshield wiper. But if Namjoon's laughter is more at the sound of Seokjin's unusual laugh rather than his corny joke, no one has to know.
The next few weeks roll by just as quickly, if not faster.
Seokjin held on tightly to his stupid mantra that if it wasn’t due tomorrow then there was no need to do it today. Did it annoy Namjoon? Yes. But eventually, he gave up and let nature take its course with Seokjin’s plan. And of course, Namjoon waits patiently until Seokjin decides to read the damn book and draft his part of their assignment in the last few days leading up to their due date. He waits until then before telling his new boyfriend that he'd already completed it for the both of them, weeks in advance.
Why? Because nothing beats the weirdly balanced bickering and flirting dynamic they have. And if Namjoon stayed up numerous nights with Seokjin and watched as he stressed endlessly to finish his work so he could be the available arms he climbs into, then no one had to know that either.
"All you had to do was read the book." Namjoon teased him, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
"Shut up, Joonie!" Seokjin mumbles, voice low and heavy as he shuffles closer into the curve of the younger's side.
No one indeed.