Work Text:
It happened one random, rainy night.
Hungry, and with a lack of money on him, Taeyong walked into the nearest diner to see what he could afford with the little he had on him. His strawberry pink hair was plastered to his face from the unsuspecting downpour and his clothes clung to his body coldly. The slight breeze coming from the closing door behind him sent shivers down his body and he quickly moved to the closest booth available.
His life could be described like any other twenty-something-year-old; broke, somewhat depressed, and no clue where it was headed.
It was particularly on this night that he had gotten into a dispute with an asshole of a customer and summarily got fired as a result. It wasn’t his fault, and the other onlookers would certainly take his side if asked, but it was his fifth time getting into an argument with someone and the manager had had enough.
Taeyong could already imagine Doyoung’s upset face once he arrived home later and told him he lost yet another job. He contemplated crashing at Baekhyun's place for the next couple of days to avoid the lecture (or nag session, as the duo liked to call it) he’ll get.
All in all, you could say it was just another shitty day for him.
While waiting to be approached by a staff member, Taeyong examined the diner for the first time. He hardly was one to care about his surroundings but with so few people here to distract him from his thoughts, there really wasn’t much else to do. The place wasn’t too small, a decent size for a diner, and the dim lamps hanging all around complimented the wooden interior and gave the place a nice, warm glow. It seemed rather cozy and comforting in that moment.
He doesn’t realize how long he’s zoned out until his line of vision was blocked by someone standing in front of him. From the black pullover pushed up to the elbows, Taeyong’s eyes traveled upward to find a guy with round, bright eyes and long, dark brown hair semi covered by a red bandana. As Taeyong met the waiter’s gaze he tried to ignore the shiver that passed through him, blaming it on his current state and not on the handsome waiter.
It wasn’t until Taeyong registered a voice calling out to him that he remembered he’s been staring at the other male longer than considered normal. “What?” he blurted out, his voice coming out a little gruffer than intended.
The waiter, not seeming affected by his tone, simply grinned back at him amusedly and Taeyong found himself drawn to how it shaped his face rather nicely, endearing his sharp features in a way.
“I said my name is Yuta. What can I get for you tonight?”
Taeyong’s brow lifted at that. He doesn't recall ever receiving a menu to look at but the waiter, Yuta, seemed to understand his confusion and pointed to the edge of the table with his pen where indeed a menu had been placed.
“I slid it over while you were daydreaming. Have a look at it and I’ll come back when you’re ready.” Yuta threw Taeyong another grin as he walked away.
Taeyong chose to ignore how he found it both annoying and charming. Why would any sane, working person be smiling at this hour? He shook his head of other thoughts like how nice those smiles complimented Yuta’s face and instead focused on looking through the menu.
Yuta returned moments later with a white fluffy towel in his hand. “Here,” he offered it to Taeyong as he stared at the waiter bewilderedly. “You’re still dripping and look really cold,” Yuta explained.
Taeyong could only murmur a small ‘thank you’ as he took the towel and began to dry himself. Finding the gesture very considerate of the waiter. One decent act and I’m already going soft, god, what’s with me…
“So, are you ready now?” Yuta leaned against the table as he asked, notepad and pen at the ready.
Although he had known what he wanted, Taeyong’s mind drew blank momentarily as he admired the way the shirt pulled and stretched across Yuta’s chest and shoulders. We have similar builds but I’m nowhere close to toned as he is. I wonder how—
One throat clear later and Taeyong raised his gaze back up to Yuta and licked his suddenly dry lips. “Uh, I’ll just have a bacon cheeseburger with fries,” he listed off mindlessly and handed the menu back to Yuta, not missing the way his eyes crinkled at Taeyong as he smiled.
Yuta wrote the order down and tucked the menu under his arm. “Alright. Thirsty too I bet,” he mused and Taeyong’s breath caught.
“W-What?” he stared at Yuta questioningly, trying to determine whether the waiter was simply teasing him or if he was actually being serious by what he meant.
Yuta for his part could only chuckle at Taeyong’s reaction. Enjoying just how pink the customer appeared with his wet hair and flushed cheeks. Cute. “You didn’t say what you wanted to drink,” he elaborated, playing it off innocently.
“Oh.” Get a hold of yourself Lee Taeyong! Geez. He obviously wouldn’t be meaning it the other way… Taeyong ran a hand through his hair to ground himself and not think about how much he liked the sound of Yuta’s laugh just now. “Water is fine.”
“Great! I’ll be back shortly.” Yuta winked at him before leaving and Taeyong was just about sure his heart had stopped beating.
A wink. He winked at him! Was Yuta…did he just flirt with him?! Taeyong covered his pinkening face with the towel.
🝮
After having worked at the diner the whole afternoon and evening now, Yuta was relieved his shift was finally over.
He was heading to the backroom to change out of his work clothes when a guy drenched from head to toe walked in. If it had been any other customer Yuta probably wouldn’t have paid them much mind, but the sight of soft pink hair halted his movement and made him face back to get a better look at the newcomer.
He honestly hadn’t known why at the time but Yuta had a feeling it would be a mistake to leave once he caught sight of the other male. Aside from his hair, his pale skin appeared almost luminous paired with his all-black outfit. Yuta thought he’d never seen a more alluring person in his life even with his smudged eyeliner staining the sides of his eyes and soaked frame.
Yuta decided he could hang around a little bit longer and made his way over to the male who, from the look of it, seemed to be spacing out in a booth.
…
Yuta reentered the kitchen with a smile lingering on his lips. He placed the order on the wall beside Johnny, the line cook and his best friend, then proceeded to look out through the small, circular window of the door to where the customer sits drying his pink hair with a pink face to match.
Johnny peered up from where he’s flipping pancakes when he heard sniggering and gave his friend a once-over. “What are you still doing here? Didn’t your shift end like fifteen minutes ago?” He glanced at the clock hanging across the kitchen for good measure.
Yuta directed his gaze away from the window to Johnny. “It did, but I think I might stick around for a bit.” He stepped away from the door just in time for Sana, a waitress at the diner, to enter with a tray of half-empty plates and cups.
Her eyes widened in surprise when she caught sight of Yuta. “You haven’t left yet?” She walked past him and started to unload the dishes off the tray and into the sink quickly. “Is your uncle making you work the closing shift?”
“I was just about to ask the same thing,” Johnny chimed in as he looked over the order he received from Yuta and went to get the proper ingredients to cook.
Yuta ignored Johnny’s comment and focused back on Sana. “Hey, do you think I can take the rest of your shift tonight?”
Sana eyed Yuta suspiciously. “Why? I mean I have no complaints about giving you my shift since I’m supposed to close up with Johnny, but I need to know why.”
“No reason,” he replied and walked away from her, attempting to act coolly about it but Sana grabbed the sleeve of his shirt and pulled him aside.
“What is it, Yuta?”
He could see curiosity replace the suspicion she had and just shrugged as he placed ice cubes in a glass and filled it with water from a pitcher.
Sana studied her friend, noting his somewhat amused expression and snapped her fingers when it dawned on her. “Ah! Did something catch your eye?” she leaned in with a knowing smile.
Yuta spared a glance out from the little window again. “More like someone.”
Sana moved forward to look through the window as well, eyes darting around until she spotted an attractive pink-haired male sitting nearby. She could only assume he’s the reason for Yuta staying. “Oh, he’s a beauty!”
“Wait, I wanna get a look too!” Johnny stepped away from the grill and inched himself between the two. All three were now squished together as they stared out at the person who currently held their friend’s attention. Johnny whistles impressively, “He sure is a looker. Totally your type.”
Yuta’s lips twitch and he goes to respond to his friends when the male suddenly turned in their direction and they all quickly ducked down.
“Do you think he saw us?” Yuta asked after a beat, his body slightly tense in worry.
Sana was the first to bravely pick her head back up and take a peek. “We’re in the clear.”
Yuta released a breath and looked down at the glass of water he still had in his hand, grateful nothing had spilled. “Sana, do you mind delivering his drink to him for me? I need to make something.”
“Sure thing, lover boy.” She winked at him and left to do what Yuta asked, making sure to flip her hair in a flirty manner as she walked away.
“What do you have planned, Yuta?” Johnny crossed his arms over his chest and watched curiously as Yuta made his way over to the freezer, taking a tub of ice cream out.
Yuta just chuckled in response. “Nothing much, I promise.”
🝮
A cute waitress coming up to his table and setting the glass of water he ordered down was not what Taeyong had been expecting.
“Hi there, I’m Sana!” she smiled in greeting, not missing the way the guy seemed a tad bit disappointed. Oh yeah, he’s definitely interested in you, Yuta.
“Hi…?” Taeyong replied. It came out sounding more like a question as Sana looked Taeyong over, resulting in him shifting a little in his seat awkwardly.
Sana’s eyes trailed over to the towel beside him and she pointed to it. “I can take that from you if you’re done with it.”
“Oh,” Taeyong grabbed the towel and handed it back to her. “Thank you,” he offered her a small smile which Sana returned with a dazzling one of her own.
“It’s no problem! Always nice to see a new face around here once in a while. What’s your name?”
“Taeyong,” he answered and took a sip of his water.
“Well, Taeyong, I hope you become more than just a stranger,” she said with a flirty wink, her words holding more meaning to them than he’s aware.
Taeyong choked at the unsuspecting action and he began coughing to clear his throat. He raised his head to stare at the waitress, completely flustered. “E-Excuse me?”
Before Sana had a chance to continue teasing Taeyong the sound of a bell was heard. She looked up and saw Johnny come out of the kitchen to place the stack of pancakes on the counter.
Facing Taeyong again, Sana giggled into her hand. “Gotta go, but don’t worry Yuta will be back with your food soon, so you won’t have to miss him too much!”
“I w-wasn’t missing—”
Taeyong doesn’t get to defend himself as Sana waved bye to him and rushed off hurriedly to deliver the pancakes to another table, the sounds of her delighted giggles being heard behind her.
“What is it with the staff and winking?” Taeyong muttered to himself as he buried his face into his arms, face heating up once again.
🝮
Yuta finished his creation and looked at it with a satisfactory nod of approval.
Johnny stood beside him and just shook his head. “You’re so cheesy. What if he doesn’t even like sweets?”
“I have a plan for that as well,” Yuta said just as Sana walked back in. He quickly hurried to her with an eager grin. “So? How was he?”
“Cute! He looked so disappointed when he saw it was me serving him water and not you.” Sana chuckled as she removed her apron. “The way his eyes get so puppy-like is so adorable!”
“Right?” Yuta sighed dreamily as he leaned against the counter, looking every bit like a lovestruck fool.
Johnny cleared his throat and gained their attention again. “We’ve got about an hour and a half left before closing time, so I suggest we hurry up with serving the rest of our customers. Sana, you’re already done for the night so Yuta and I can handle everything else.”
Sana nodded and patted Yuta’s shoulder. “Thanks for taking the rest of my shift, you won’t regret it babe.”
“Here’s hoping!” Yuta replied, grabbing the prepared plate and walking out to deliver it to the waiting Taeyong.
🝮
Yuta returned to Taeyong’s booth with his burger and fries. “Here you are,” he smiled and placed the food down on the table.
Taeyong looked down to his plate and licked his lips hungrily, reminded why he even stepped into this diner in the first place. “Thanks,” he responded and went to take the first bite of his burger, enjoying the taste of the greasy food happily.
Yuta grinned as he watched Taeyong and then noticed his empty glass. “Let me go get you a refill, just one moment please!”
Taeyong watched Yuta rush back to the kitchen and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as he digs into his food.
He’s surprised a few moments later when a milkshake is placed in front of him by Yuta. “Wait, I didn’t order—”
“It’s on the house,” Yuta shoots out quickly. “You look like you need something sweet.”
“And what if I don’t have a sweet tooth?” Taeyong challenged with a raised brow.
Yuta shrugged, smiling. “Then you’ll just have to deal with it but something tells me that’s not the case with you.” He then laughed at the shocked expression on Taeyong’s face.
Taeyong scoffed under his breath but to Yuta’s delight moved to take a sip from the milkshake. He watched intently how Taeyong’s eyes fluttered closed momentarily and admired the way his long lashes rested on his fair skin. Yeah, Yuta has it bad.
“It’s good, not overly sweet like I was expecting,” Taeyong commented and Yuta mentally high-fives himself at the compliment.
“I figured you were the type to not like things too sweet.” Yuta wanted to say more but another table was waving for his attention; ready to pay for their bill. “Enjoy the rest of your meal!”
…
Johnny was beginning to put everything away by the time Yuta stepped back into the kitchen with a tray of dirty dishes, having just finished ringing up the last customers aside from the pink-haired beauty. Yuta looked at the clock to see it was nearing closing time and helped Johnny finish cleaning up.
“I can lock up for you if you want?” Yuta offered when everything had been wiped down and cleaned.
Johnny turned around and removed the hairnet, running his fingers through his blonde locks. “Sure. Any progress with your guy?”
“Haven’t really had the chance to talk to him longer than a few passing words, but I think now is as good a time as any.”
“But it’s already time to close the diner up though?” Johnny pointed out, eyebrows furrowing together.
“Yeah, but he’s been spacing out since he got here, so I doubt he’s noticed there isn’t anyone else besides us.”
Johnny looked at Yuta skeptically. “If the two of you fuck just make sure to wipe down…” he paused for a moment to consider and then continued, “everything.”
“You’re gross,” Yuta shoved Johnny away. “I would never, especially here!” He gave his friend one last look of disbelief before exiting the kitchen.
“Somehow I doubt that,” Johnny said under his breath as he walked toward the locker room to change out of his uniform and go home at last.
🝮
Taeyong had scarfed down his burger not long after Yuta left and had been alternating between his fries and milkshake, even dipping his fries in a couple times and finding he liked the combination.
The diner seemed quieter now and Taeyong opted to look out the window. He could see the hues of the different neon buildings illuminate the streets as they shined and reflected off the many puddles formed from the rain. If he had his camera on him, he’d take a couple of shots to commemorate the moment, liking the somewhat griminess the city outside was providing.
Taeyong was once again brought back from his thoughts when Yuta took a seat opposite of him.
“Hey, are you going to finish that?” Yuta pointed to where Taeyong’s fries on his plate have long since been abandoned.
Taeyong could only shake his head as he watched Yuta’s tongue slip out from the side happily and munch away on his remaining fries, now gone cold.
“Are you even allowed to be doing this? Won’t you get fired or something?”
Yuta raised an eyebrow and grinned. “It’s closing time, and my shift ended like two hours ago. It’s fine, no need to worry yourself.”
Taeyong thought back to how long he’s been sitting in this diner and looked around to finally notice they’re now the only two left. He faced back to Yuta who is currently dipping fries into his milkshake when something clicked in his head.
“Wait, are you saying you could have left work earlier but you—”
“I have to stay to lock up,” Yuta interrupted, talking around a couple of fries before swallowing and swiping his upper lip with his tongue. “Got a problem with that?”
“Then why are you sitting here and not kicking me out?” Taeyong felt his face reddening at the sight of that damn tongue and looked away.
Yuta hummed thoughtfully. “You don’t seem in a rush to leave so I figured I’d keep you company in the meantime, and maybe…”
“Maybe?” Taeyong prompted.
They caught each other’s gaze and this time Taeyong didn’t look away. It’s only now that he noticed Yuta was no longer in his uniform and was dressed more casually. Somehow Taeyong found himself engrossed in how the warm lighting suited Yuta and he felt his hand twitch to reach out and run his fingers through Yuta's long hair now that his bandana was off.
“Maybe I just wanted to,” Yuta concluded nonchalantly, chewing on a couple more fries.
Taeyong let go of the breath he hadn’t known he was holding and rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
Yuta seemed rather pleased with himself and stuck his hand out. “I’m Nakamoto Yuta.”
Taeyong took his hand, noting how slightly rough but firm it felt compared to his own. “Lee Taeyong.”
“It’s nice to finally put a name to such a beautiful face!” Yuta released the soft hand and leaned back into his seat.
“Can’t say the same for you,” Taeyong joked, the smallest of smiles appearing on his face when Yuta made a displeased whine.
“That’s not true, I’m very handsome! Wouldn’t you say?” His lips formed into an adorable pout and Taeyong raised a hand up to cover his laugh.
“If that’s what you think.” Yuta didn’t seem phased by his remark and just grinned in return. Oh god, Lee Taeyong, are you flirting? He really shouldn’t be questioning his sanity while there was a good-looking guy currently sitting in front of him.
“So,” Yuta drawled out, bringing Taeyong’s attention back. “What is it? A girl, guy? Your parents? Job perhaps?”
“Huh?” Taeyong tilted his head to the side in confusion at the sudden question.
“You came in here looking ready to just curl up and die—no offense, so there has to be a reason for that. Hm?”
“Maybe I was just hungry? Lack of food can do that to a person.”
Yuta huffed and took a sip from the milkshake, not seeming to believe Taeyong. “Yeah, I doubt that. You’ve been spacing out every few minutes, so something must be on your mind.”
“And you think I’m willing to tell you, a complete stranger, just that?” Taeyong hummed in interest.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Yuta pats Taeyong’s arm and Taeyong ignored the rush he got just from the contact. “Sometimes the best ears to listen to are those who don’t know you.”
“I get where you’re coming from, but it’s really not a big deal.”
“Couldn’t hurt though, right?” Yuta grinned at him.
“Well…” Taeyong found himself reluctantly giving in, damn whatever charm Yuta has! “I lost my job today, so nothing more than the usual shit day I guess.”
“Oooh, well if you’re in need of a job this place could always use another set of hands,” Yuta offered good-naturedly.
Taeyong released a soft snort and lolled his head to the side. “Y’know, I just might take you up on that. No doubt my roommate won't be as upset when I tell him I got fired then possibly hired today.”
“Is he usually on your case?” Yuta asked, hoping to get Taeyong to open up a bit more.
“Sometimes, but Doyoung means well. We’ve been friends since our first year in high school and he, along with our other friend, are the only people I really got.”
“You and your family aren’t that close?”
Taeyong gave a small shake of his head and reached for some fries. “Nope. Haven’t been for years. My parents split when I was a kid and their method of parenting was to shuffle me back and forth whenever the other grew tired of having me around,” his voice comes out a little bitter at the end, but Yuta doesn’t say anything and lets Taeyong continue. “When I turned eighteen, I decided to leave for good and stayed with my friend Baekhyun, he’s the other friend I mentioned. He’s older than me so he had his own place by then and let me crash.”
Yuta nodded as he processed what Taeyong told him. Taeyong for his part felt like he revealed more than he should have but Yuta’s next words eased him.
“Well, hey, I’m glad you found a home with your friends. At least with them, their concern comes from a place of love, right?”
Taeyong looked down with a fond smile. “Yeah, it does.” He then raised his head to stare at Yuta again. “Anyways enough about me, what about you? How did you end up working here? And do you even like working here?”
“Well,” Yuta starts, straightening in his seat. “I am close to my family, but don’t worry I won’t bore you with all that—”
“No please!” Taeyong cut him off, his voice bouncing off the empty diner loudly and he covered his mouth in embarrassment. “Sorry,” he said while Yuta chuckled. “I actually would love to hear about what a family is really like, so please, go ahead.”
“I…you sure?” At Taeyong’s insistent nod Yuta continued, “Well I have two sisters, the younger one is currently in high school, and the older one is in school studying nursing. As for my parents, my mom is a teacher and my dad works as a mechanic.”
Taeyong smiled. “And you work here, at a diner?”
“For now. It’s actually my uncle’s,” Yuta revealed to him, which surprised Taeyong.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I needed a job and figured it beats being covered in car grease all day with my old man.” Taeyong couldn't deny he wouldn’t mind seeing Yuta all greased up. “Now whether I like working here or not?” Yuta placed his hand under his chin as he stared at Taeyong with a meaningful smile that may have gone straight to his heart. “It has its benefits occasionally.”
Taeyong wanted to look away but felt Yuta’s hand cover his and maintained his gaze from across the booth. Subconsciously, or not, he felt a slow smile spread across his face and relaxed back in his seat.
They find themselves spending their time swapping stories about their lives while finishing the last remnants of the fries and milkshake. It’s only when Taeyong felt an insistent vibration coming from his pocket that their little bubble was broken. He didn’t have to look to know it was most likely Doyoung wondering where he’s at.
“I should get going,” Taeyong sighed as he shuffled out of the booth, quickly shooting a quick reply back to Doyoung. “How much was it?”
Yuta shook his head and stood up as well. “It’s on the house.”
“What? No, it’s fine, I can pay.”
“Talking to you was enough of a payment for me.”
Despite how cheesy Taeyong wanted to call Yuta out on that he just looked down with a faint laugh. “If you say so…”
“I do,” Yuta nodded and saw Taeyong heading to the entrance. “Wait, let me put all this away and we can walk out together.”
“Let me help you,” Taeyong insisted, ignoring the questioning look Yuta gave him in return. “It’s the least I can do. Y’know, just in case I do end up taking your offer to work here.”
Yuta smiled brightly and the two made quick work to clean up.
When they’re done, they stand by the door, neither making a move to step out and instead watch as a slight drizzle began to fall.
Yuta shifted from one foot to another before looking back up at Taeyong. “Do you have anywhere you need to be right now?”
Taeyong thought about how Doyoung will be questioning what's keeping him held up so late but Taeyong also knows an opportunity when he sees one. “Not really.”
“We could…go to my place?” Yuta’s suggestion sounded almost hesitant and as Taeyong looked at him he saw unsureness on his face.
Finding it cute, he takes Yuta’s hand in his, startling him as they step out into the rain. “Lead the way.”
🝮
Taeyong is naked under the soft mattress he’s being pressed into, feeling Yuta’s lips and hands all over him. Caressing his body and leaving trails of mind-numbing pleasure while Yuta hovered over him, plush lips dragging to kiss the side of his neck and jaw.
Yuta brushed the sides of Taeyong’s slim waist with his fingers, even giving his ass an affectionate squeeze. Taeyong smiled against his lips, reaching up to grip the back of Yuta's neck and pulled him in closer. Yuta parted his lips when he felt the tip of Taeyong’s tongue against them, sighing into the kiss pleasantly.
“I lied, you know,” Yuta said in between kisses.
Taeyong, for his part, was too clouded with lust to really focus on what Yuta was saying. “Huh?”
Yuta stopped them both and cupped Taeyong’s face. “I said I lied.”
“About?”
“Staying at work. I didn't stay because I had to. I actually was supposed to be gone by the time you got there.”
Taeyong felt his heart quickening at Yuta’s admission. “Then why?” he asked and licked his kiss-bitten lips.
“Why else?” Yuta rubbed their noses together playfully and his hands wander again, fingers roaming into the dips and curves of Taeyong's skin. “You. I stayed because of you. You looked so beautiful just sitting there, pink hair stuck to your face and looking every bit like a drenched cat. I knew if I left right then and there, I'd most likely never see you again, so I stayed.”
“You…you can't be so sure of something like that.” Taeyong tried to look away but Yuta brought his focus back to him with a soft press of their lips. He immediately closed his eyes again and enjoyed the sweet moment.
“But I am,” Yuta said confidently as he pulled back from their kiss. He rubs his thumb back and forth below Taeyong’s eyes, admiring the unique-shaped scar on the right side and how beautiful he looks with his flushed face and pink hair to match. “And I don’t regret it at all.”
Taeyong doesn’t say it but he can’t help but agree as well and surges forward to kiss Yuta again. His right hand coming up to run his fingers through Yuta’s hair as his left went to wrap around his neck to pull him closer.
🝮
The rest of the night was spent with the pleasures of their bodies pressed heatedly together as hands grasp and cling to each other with every thrust given and breathless sighs released from between their panting lips.
Taeyong thinks that while it might seem like they are jumping too fast, he knows there’s plenty of time ahead to talk about who they are, where they have been, and what they will be.
🝮
It happened one random, rainy night but there is a promising future sealed by their lips the next morning.