Work Text:
Time: Tuesday 18:06
Location: Somewhere in Seoul
Jungkook usually hated talking on the phone. He would spend the entire week leading up to his weekly catch up with his mother filled with dread and then would proceed to rush her off the call so he could go about his life once more.
But with Yoongi it was different. He could, and did, spend hours on the phone talking to Yoongi. A fact made even more interesting given the fact that they’d never actually met.
It had happened weeks before Valentines Day, as the stores were slowly filling up with heart-shaped paraphernalia and his favourite restaurants were hanging posters describing their couples deals: Jungkook became extremely aware that he was extremely single. And like every twentysomething with access to the internet, the idea of actually going out and meeting someone was terrifying. So a dating app was of course the only option he had.
And while there was nothing wrong with meeting your lover online, there was some stigma about meeting on Plenty of Fish.
And that’s exactly where Jungkook found Yoongi.
He had no other options. He couldn't join one of the sites his friends were using, and the only couple he knew that had met online and stayed together were his friends Namjoon and Hoseok. And they’d met on Plenty of Fish.
Lame, embarrassing, slightly outdated Plenty of Fish.
But among the masses of 50 year old married men, catfish profiles of idols and men Jungkook could only politely describe as ‘not his type’, was Min Yoongi.
29-year-old carpenter Yoongi. Yoongi who owned a dog, liked rap music, played the piano, liked to cook and had a voice so sexy Jungkook wanted to scream into a pillow every time he called.
Min Yoongi AKA Jungkook's valentine AKA the future husband and father to his babies.
“Have you told anyone about me yet?” Yoongi asked, “Or are you still keeping me a secret?”
“You’re not a secret… I just don't want my friends to make fun of me,” Jungkook admitted reluctantly. “Not because of you. You’re great, it's just… how we met.”
Yoongi chuckled a little. There was some clattering as if he was moving around his kitchen. “We haven’t even been on a first date yet, I don't think you need to be worried about telling people how we met.”
“Don’t you go into every first date thinking this is the last first date I’ll ever go on?”
“No,” Yoongi said bluntly.
“Oh.”
More clattering and then “Because I haven’t been on a first date with you.”
“Greasy.”
“Are you swooning? I can hear you swooning.”
Jungkook was, in fact, swooning.
Yoongi continued, as if he hadn’t just ruined all other conversations with men for Jungkook. “We could always make up a story to tell people. A real meet cute like we met on the subway and I just couldn't let you get off the train without getting your number.”
JUngkook considered this, and while in theory, it was a great idea, he wasn't the best liar. It would only take five minutes of Taehyung looking into his eyes and he’d spill the whole mortifying embarrassing truth.
“Or we could have a meet cute.” He heard himself saying slowly, “An honest to god completely orchestrated meet cute.”
“That sounds like entirely too much work for a first date.”
“Did I mention I managed to hip thrust 196kg at the gym this morning?”
Jungkook heard the intake of breath Yoongi took at his admission silence and then, “So… a meet cute? What were you thinking?”
Time: 07:34
Location: Somewhere along the Han River.
The Meet cute: the classic but effective morning jog with the dog led me to my soulmate.
Jungkook always felt his best in workout gear. He had spent years curating the perfect wardrobe of pieces that 1) all matched b) were perfect for working out and III) made his ass look great. But today's outfit was nothing short of a personal triumph. Shorts that were high enough to expose his thighs, but not so short old ladies would gasp, a vest that exposed his very very impressive (and apparently sexy) sleeve of tattoos and was just sheer enough to make someone do a double take. Even his dog Bam had his best collar on, the one that made him look intimidating and cool as opposed to the soft marshmallow of a dog he actually was.
Yoongi had already sent him a text message with a string of explicit messages, detailing his absolute disgust at the fact he was up and so far away from his apartment this early. His own dog Holy was not a morning person.
Excitement was burrowing in the pit of Jungkook's stomach as he began his stretches. He preened under the attention of a group of middle-aged joggers as he touched his toes.
Jungkook dropped Bam’s leash to snap a selfie: a day as life-changing as the one he met his soulmate in real life deserved documentation.
And then it happened.
No matter the training he received, Bam could never resist a squirrel.
It happened almost in slow motion. Bam took off in the opposite direction and straight towards a tree.
It was three hours, two firemen and a missed connection later when Jungkook called it.
Today was not the day Jungkook was going to meet his soulmate.
Time: Wednesday 13:07
Location: The Kyobo Book Centre.
The Meet cute: Jungkook is just browsing the shelves at his local bookstore (wearing his glasses to look even more intellectual), Yoongi will reach for the same book as him through the shelves. Their eyes meet…
The bookstore meet cute was actually much more on-brand for both of them. After the disaster of the Han, it had taken Jungkook a lot of work, and a few videos taken in the gym, for Yoongi to agree to do this again. Yoongi had come up with this plan. He'd sent Jungkook a very sexy text message detailing the details of which store and the exact time and aisle he’d casually bump into him. Jungkook had tried too to ask him to send him outfit details but Yoongi had politely declined, reminding him there needed to be some mystery at least.
So here Jungkook was, standing in a bookstore on a Wednesday afternoon, a hot drink cradled in his hand as he browsed the shelves trying to look thoughtful. He’d already spotted several comic books and instructional guides he was going to go back for, but he figured only serious literature was appropriate to have in hand for a moment like this. Namjoon had suggested a copy of Almond would work, even going as far as to give him a synopsis in case anybody tried to ask him about it.
He glanced at his watch. Yoongi was 20 minutes late.
And then 40.
Then an hour.
Finally, he gave in and called him.
“Where are you? I’m about to get kicked out of this store.” Yoongi hissed.
“Where am I? Where are you? I’m stood in the poetry section as we agreed.”
“At Kyobo?”
“Yes, in Gwanghwamun.”
“No… in Gangnam-Gu…”
“No, I am in Gwanghwamun…”
Jungkook pulled his phone from his ear. There in Yoongi’s text it was. As clear as day: Kyobo in Gangnam-Gu at 13:00.
He'd gone to the wrong bookstore.
He’d gone to the wrong bookstore, an hour away from where Yoongi was waiting for him.
Time: Saturday 14:00
Location: C27, Gangnam.
The meet cute: Yoongi would bump into Jungkook, literally, in his favourite coffee shop. Yoongi would wear black in case of an actual spillage.
C27 was thankfully only a fifteen minute walk from Yoongi’s apartment so this one didn't take much persuasion. At least Jungkook didn't think it had taken much persuasion, Namjoon on the other hand thought that the borderline erotic photos he was taking of Jungkook in the gym had done most of the persuading for him.
Jungkook arrived early this time, had checked multiple times that he in fact was in the correct location, sent Yoongi three selfies of himself and received 2 in return for confirmation.
This was it. Saturday in a bustling Gangnam coffee shop, Jungkook was going to meet the love of his life.
The coffee shop was nice. Far nicer than the place Jungkook usually went, and extremely busy. He stood near the counter, watching the door ready to make his move as soon as he saw the now familiar mop of pink hair.
It was 14:07 when he strolled in. Dressed all in black with a mask pulled over most of his face. Jungkook psyched himself up, he looked good, and he smelt even better. Holding his drink out in front of him, he started towards his target. He could see nothing or nobody else other than the pink haired man, feeling more confident he started to move quicker and quicker until he made physical contact. His drink slipped from his fingers, all
over his shirt. The man stood in shock for a moment before he looked up.
It wasn’t Yoongi.
Jungkook had spilt his drink all over a completely innocent man trying to get his afternoon caffeine fix.
“I am so sorry.” He finally managed to garble out, pulling his wallet out and thrusting far too many notes at the man. “I can’t… I have to go.”
Jungkook returned home with an empty wallet, soggy shoes and decidedly still Yoongi-less.
Time: Sunday 17:02
Location: No Brand.
The Meet Cute: While running errands, Yoongi and Jungkook reach for the same packet of ramen in the grocery store.
This plan was perfect. They both had to grocery shop, they both wanted to meet each other and they both were done with external factors.
Yoongi had been the one to suggest this plot. Jungkook suspected it was more from a place of concern that Jungkook was preparing never to leave his house again following the coffee shop incident. After much pleading and the sweetest of words, Jungkook had slipped on the last pair of remaining skinny jeans from his wardrobe and drove over to the grocery store.
It started easy enough, making his way down aisles with his empty basket but always circling back to the ramen selection to check if Yoongi had arrived. Jungkook was successfully avoiding nearly all the other humans as he walked, conscious that he was clearly cursed.
“You just out shopping there, kid?”
The voice was gruff, far too gruff to be Yoongi. Jungkook turned reluctantly, not hugely surprised to see the store security guard standing there arms crossed. The man looked to be in his early forties and Jungkook was confident he could outrun him if it came down to it.
“Yes sir. I’m just waiting for a friend.” Jungkook nodded politely.
“In a grocery store?”
“Yes sir. We’re deciding what to grab for dinner.”
The security yard looked at him with narrowed eyes but waved him off with a shrug. Jungkook bowed his head, pulling the first thing he could reach into his basket as he scurried off down the aisles.
With his newly acquired audience, Jungkook figured the safest place for him to wait would be near the ramen.
He loitered for a while, taking a great deal of time to consider flavours. A young mother was near him, a toddler sat in the cart while another child stood next to her looking around.
Jungkook had always loved kids.
The baby started it, waving a chubby hand in his direction that Jungkook returned. This went on for a few moments before he stuck his tongue out. The baby laughed and tried to mimic the action. The older child looked between Jungkook and their sibling, and never one to want anyone to feel left out Jungkook pulled the worst face he could imagine.
The child screamed.
If there was a running theme for Jungkook's traumatic experiences of the last week, it was the way time seemed to slow down as something terrible was about to happen.
Yoongi turned the corner into the aisle at the exact same moment as the security guard was hooking his arm under Jungkook’s arm and escorting him to the exit.
“Rain check?” Yoongi called, clearly struggling to hide the shit eating grin on his face.
“Yeah, I think so.”
TIME: Tuesday 11:03
Location: Baejae Ranui Coffee
“I’m sorry.” Jungkook sighed. “I fucked it all up, didn't I?”
Yoongi laughed warmly, “I mean you didn’t make it easier but you haven’t fucked anything up.”
Jungkook wasn't stupid. He knew his stupid need for everything to be just so had nearly cost him the opportunity to meet someone really great. Unable to face looking at his stupid mocking jeans left discarded on his bedroom floor, he’d taken himself to his local coffee shop to try and get some work done. Except Yoongi had called, so he hadn’t achieved much more than powering up his laptop.
“Do you still wanna go on a date?” Jungkook finally asked, voice small.
“Of course I do. But please can we just plan to meet somewhere and that’s it? If your friends laugh I’ll beat them up.”
“I don’t think you could take Namjoon. But he’s the one least likely to say anything…. Jimin could be a problem because he gives me big biter energy.” Jungkook mused. “But yeah okay. Let's go on a date. When?”
“Now? I haven't got any projects due this week and my boss is pretty cool about letting me have time off.”
“You’re your own boss.”
“Exactly.” Jungkook could hear the smile in Yoongi’s voice, “So how about it?”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
Jungkook glanced down at his outfit. It was a far cry from his usual uniform for a first date. He hadn‘t done his hair either but did it really matter anymore? If Yoongi still wanted to go on a date with him, maybe it was time to finally swallow his pride and….
“Yeah Okay. How about the National Museum? My friends went on their first date there and said it was nice. I can be there in like… 15 minutes?"
Yoongi was quiet for a moment, “Yeah that works for me. I’m just grabbing a coffee and I’ll meet you there. Want me to bring you anything?”
“I’m actually getting coffee myself So I’ll just see you there. In fifteen minutes. For our first date.”
“Your last first date.”
“And yours?”
“I hope so… Oh god, one second, it's really loud in here, just getting my drink.”
“What? I can’t hear you very well, it’s really busy here. I’m just getting my drink so stay on the phone, okay?”
A bored barista looked at him unimpressed.
“Oat milk latte for Jungkook?”
The young barista shrugged, the apathy clear on her face as she turned away leaving Jungkook to figure it out for himself. Not wanting to tempt fate anymore after the series of unfortunate events leading to his date with Yoongi, Jungkook took a tentative sip of the drink.
Of course it wasn't his drink. The world hated him, he was utterly cursed. Jungkook debated for a moment if he should complain or accept the bitter black coffee with grace.
Jungkook wasn't a graceful man.
Mustering all his courage he turned back to the counter. “I’m sorry, this isn’t my…”
“Excuse me, this isn’t my order…”
The world paused for a second. Jungkook looked up at the other complaining customer.
“Is that an oat milk Latte for Jungkook?”
“Is that an iced americano for Yoongi?”
Jungkook nodded, holding the cup in front of him. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
It was Yoongi. His Yoongi, stood with his phone balanced between his ear and shoulder in his local coffee shop. “Shall we go?”
“Yeah… let's go.”