Work Text:
And So It Started
The room was filled with the lively chatter and laughter of party guests, but Minho stood off to the side, nursing a drink and wishing he were anywhere else. It was Chan's birthday party, and despite his dislike for social gatherings, he had come out of loyalty to his friend. Chan and Seungmin were among the few who tolerated his cold personality, and he valued their friendship.
Y/N was loud and bubbly, her laughter carrying across the room. She seemed to be the life of the party, engaging everyone around her with infectious energy. Minho watched her with a scowl, finding her exuberance irritating. To be fair, he found most people irritating, especially in settings like this.
As he brooded in his corner, Chan, ever the social butterfly, approached with Y/N in tow. "Minho, I want you to meet someone," Chan said, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "This is Y/N. She just started working with us."
Y/N smiled brightly, extending a hand. "It's so nice to meet you, Minho!"
Minho scoffed inwardly but shook her hand out of politeness. "Likewise," he said curtly, offering the bare minimum of a response.
To his surprise, Y/N's smile didn't falter. If anything, her enthusiasm seemed to increase. "Chan has told me a lot about you. I'm looking forward to working together!"
Minho just nodded curtly, not bothering to hide his lack of interest. But Chan, standing beside Y/N, smirked knowingly. He had a feeling that this bubbly new co-worker might just be the person to break through Minho's icy exterior.
Chan smirked and elbowed Minho playfully. "Come on, Minho, at least pretend to be happy. It is my birthday, after all."
Minho scowled at him. "Whatever," he grumbled, annoyed by Chan's playful teasing. "Yeah, happy birthday." He said, his voice devoid of enthusiasm.
Y/N laughed, a light and infectious sound that seemed to cut through Minho's irritation. She playfully smacked Chan on the arm. "Give him a break, Chan. Not everyone loves parties as much as you do." She teased.
She turned back to Minho, her expression softening. "It's okay, Minho, I get it. I’m not alway this extroverted.” Minho frowned, raising an eyebrow, he somehow doubted that. “I'm just glad to meet you."
Minho was taken aback by her kindness and willingness to defend him. Despite himself, he felt a small spark of warmth towards her. Chan grinned, clearly pleased with the interaction. "See? She's great, right?"
Minho didn't respond, but for the first time that evening, he felt a little less annoyed. Y/N's laughter and playful banter had cut through his defenses, even if just a little. As the night went on, he found himself watching her, not with annoyance, but with a growing curiosity.
He watched her interact with Chan and Seungmin, her laughter and playful banter filling the room. She had a way of making everyone around her feel at ease, and Minho couldn't help but grudgingly respect that. Her positivity and warmth were undeniably magnetic, even to someone as cold and detached as him. Though he didn't say much more to her that night, a seed of curiosity had been planted.
Minho sighed heavily as he trudged toward Chan's department, a stack of folders in hand. Today was shaping up to be a particularly bad day, and his mood was sour. As he approached Chan's desk, he noticed it was empty. He froze, frustration bubbling up inside him. Just great. This delay was only going to put him further behind.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice spoke from behind him. "Looking for Chan?" Minho turned to see Y/N standing there, a friendly smile on her face. "He's out sick today." She informed him, her tone light.
Minho's scowl deepened. "Of course he is," he muttered under his breath. "Thanks for pointing out the obvious." He snapped, his tone harsher than he intended.
Y/N’s smile didn't falter. "Late night out, probably." She teased playfully.
Minho glared at her, the stress of the day getting the better of him. "I don't need your commentary." He bit out again, regretting it immediately but too stubborn to apologize. Instead, he looked down at the stack of folders, considering his next move. Before he could decide, Y/N spoke up again.
"I can take those off your hands." She offered, gesturing to the folders. "I can get them done for you in place of Chan." Minho hesitated, his instinct to handle things himself clashing with the practicality of her offer. Seeing his reluctance, Y/N insisted, her smile unwavering. "Really Mr. Lee, it's no problem."
Minho hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "Are you sure? It needs to be done right."
"Scout's honor." Y/N teased, holding up three fingers in a mock salute. Her lightheartedness was genuine, not mocking.
Minho glared at her, mumbling an insult under his breath, but handed over the folders. "Fine. But it better be done correctly."
Y/N just smiled again. "You got it." She took the folders from him. "I'll bring them back as soon as they're done." He turned away, heading back to his office. He couldn't understand why her kindness grated on his nerves so much. It was like she saw right through his cold exterior, and he wasn't sure how to handle it.
Hours later, Minho sat in his office, still fuming about the day. There was a soft knock on his door, it creaked open, and he looked up to see Y/N standing there with a neat stack of completed paperwork.
"All done Mr. Lee." She said, placing the folders on his desk. "Everything's in order."
Minho inspected the papers, finding everything perfectly done. It took him a moment to swallow his pride. "Thanks," he muttered reluctantly. "And... sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to snap at you."
Y/N dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand and a bright smile. "Don't worry about it. Everyone has bad days."
Her kindness, even in the face of his irritation, wore on his nerves in an unexpected way. He wasn't used to people being so genuinely friendly, especially after he'd been so rude. It made him rethink his initial impressions of her.
"Still," he said, softer this time, "I appreciate it."
"Anytime," Y/N replied, her eyes twinkling with that same infectious energy. "If you ever need help, just let me know."
Minho walked alongside Chan and Seungmin as they headed to lunch, his usual scowl etched deep on his face. "I swear, the people directly under me are completely incompetent," he grumbled. "I have to do everything myself if I want it done right."
Seungmin scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You're just a perfectionist, Minho. Not everyone can live up to your impossibly high standards."
Chan laughed, trying to keep the atmosphere light. "I hope you don't mean all of us, Minho. We do our best to keep up with your high standards."
Minho scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You're barely competent yourselves," he muttered, though there was a hint of a smirk on his face. "And Y/N is the worst of them all," he snapped. "She's so annoying."
Both Chan and Seungmin looked surprised. "Really?" Chan asked, his eyebrow raised. "I thought she was doing a great job."
Minho scoffed, crossing his arms. "She is, but that's not the point. She's always so cheerful and friendly. It's... irritating."
Chan's grin widened. "I think you're just upset that she doesn't get offended by your attitude."
Minho's scowl deepened, but before he could respond, Chan moved closer, invading his personal space. "Maybe Y/N finds your grumpy demeanor cute." Chan teased, poking Minho's cheek.
Minho swatted Chan's hand away, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "Stop that!" he grumbled. "There's nothing cute about it."
Seungmin chuckled, joining in on the teasing. "I don't know, Minho. You've been talking about her an awful lot lately. Maybe Chan's right."
Minho glared at them both, his irritation masking a hint of embarrassment. "Just drop it." He snapped, quickening his pace to get ahead of them.
As the three friends rounded the corner to the cafeteria, they heard the unmistakable sound of interns grumbling. Minho's name was mentioned several times, accompanied by a string of insults.
"He’s such a tyrant," one intern sneered. "No wonder he has no friends and spends all his time at work. Who would want to be friends with him?"
The third intern laughed, adding, "He's probably the loneliest guy in the company. I mean, who could stand being around him?"
Minho's face darkened, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. He took a step toward the interns, ready to put them in their place, but Chan and Seungmin quickly grabbed his arms, trying to hold him back.
"Minho, don't," Chan said urgently, his grip firm. "They're not worth it."
"Yeah, let it go," Seungmin added, his voice low and soothing. "They're just kids. They don't know any better."
But the interns continued their tirade, unaware of the impending storm. "And his scowl," one of them said mockingly. "It's like he's permanently pissed off. No wonder everyone avoids him."
But before Minho could react, they heard another voice—one that was raised and unmistakably angry. Y/N stood with her back to them, facing the interns, her posture rigid with fury.
"Hey!" She said sharply, catching their attention. "You do realize you're talking about a senior staff member, right? Show some respect."
The interns looked taken aback, their faces reddening with embarrassment. One of them stammered, "We were just—"
"Just being disrespectful." Y/N cut in, her voice firm.
"How dare you speak about him like that!" Y/N scolded, her voice cutting through the air. "Mr. Lee is one of the most dedicated and hardworking people here. He sets high standards because he believes in excellence. And if you can’t handle that, maybe you should reconsider why you’re here in the first place."
The interns looked shocked, their faces paling as Y/N continued, not giving them a chance to interrupt. "He may seem tough, but that's because he cares about this place and wants it to succeed. If you spent less time complaining and more time working, you might actually learn something from him."
Minho, Chan, and Seungmin stood frozen, watching the scene unfold. Minho was especially taken aback—he had never seen this fiery side of Y/N before. She was always so cheerful and kind, but now, she was fiercely defending him, her anger palpable.
"And another thing," Y/N added, her voice lowering but still sharp. "Just because someone doesn’t show their softer side to you doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Mr. Lee has friends who appreciate him for who he is, not who you think he should be."
The interns mumbled apologies, clearly intimidated by her outburst. They quickly dispersed, their heads down. Y/N took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, before turning around to find Minho, Chan, and Seungmin standing there, watching her.
Her expression softened immediately, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh, um, hi." She said, suddenly self-conscious.
"What do you think you're doing, causing a scene like this?" Minho scolded, his voice icy despite the turmoil he felt inside.
Seungmin nodded in agreement, giving Y/N a grateful smile. "Yeah, thanks for having his back."
Y/N's eyes softened further as she looked at Minho. "I'm sorry, Minho." She said gently. "I just couldn't stand hearing them talk about you like that."
Minho wanted to thank her, to tell her how much it meant to him, but he forced himself to stay distant. "Next time, don't interfere. It only makes things worse."
Before Y/N could respond, Chan stepped in, laughing awkwardly. "What Minho means to say is thank you, Y/N. We appreciate you standing up for him."
Y/N smiled warmly, unphased by his coldness. "I'm sorry if I caused a scene," she said gently. "But I couldn't just stand by and let them talk about you like that."
Minho's expression remained stern, though it was a struggle to keep it that way. "It's not your place to defend me." He retorted, though his words lacked the conviction he intended. He glared at her, struggling to keep his facade. "This is a professional environment, Y/N." Minho said sternly. "If something like this happens again, I'll have to write you up."
Y/N nodded, her expression still warm. "Understood, Mr. Lee. I'll be more careful next time."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Minho standing there, his emotions in turmoil. Chan and Seungmin exchanged knowing looks, understanding that beneath Minho's cold exterior, he was deeply moved by Y/N's defense of him.
As they sat down to eat, Seungmin couldn't help but comment. "You know, Minho, you don't have to be so cold all the time. It's okay to show a little appreciation."
Minho sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know," he muttered. "It's just... hard." Minho felt a new sense of respect and admiration for Y/N. For the first time, he realized just how much she cared—not just about her work, but about the people around her. And in that moment, he felt a small, but significant, shift in his own heart.
Minho walked down the hallway, a stack of papers in hand for Chan. As he approached Chan's desk, he heard the sound of laughter, light and cheerful. He stopped in his tracks, curiosity getting the better of him, and peered around the corner.
Chan was at his desk, showing something on his computer screen to Y/N. She was leaned over his shoulder, her face lit up with laughter. Minho felt a strange, uncomfortable twist in his stomach.
Minho's mood soured instantly, though he couldn't quite understand why. He watched as Chan turned to look at Y/N, smiling warmly. He reached up and playfully poked her cheek, saying something that made her laugh even harder. The scene felt oddly intimate, and Minho hated it. They should be working, not doing... whatever this was.
Y/N said something in return, then wrapped her arm around Chan's neck in a playful, mock choke hold. Chan laughed, trying to gently pry her arm off. The sight sent a wave of irritation through Minho. Unable to stand it any longer, he approached them, dropping the stack of papers onto Chan's desk with a loud thud.
Both Chan and Y/N looked up at him, smiles still on their faces.
"Minho!" Y/N exclaimed cheerfully, straightening up. "We were just—"
"I don't care what you were doing," Minho interrupted, his voice icy. "Stop playing around and get back to work." This time, it wasn't hard for Minho to be cold.
The smiles faded from their faces, replaced by looks of surprise and confusion. Chan maintained a neutral expression. "Just taking a short break, Minho. We’ll get back to it."
Y/N tried to offer Minho a small smile, "Sorry, Mr. Lee." She apologized, her tone still warm despite his coldness.
"This is a workplace, not a playground." Minho ground out, his eyes flashing with irritation.
Chan exchanged a quick glance with Y/N. "Understood," he said calmly. "We’ll get back to work." Minho gave them a sharp glare before turning on his heel and walking away, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he made his way back to his own office, Minho couldn't shake the anger and confusion swirling inside him. The sight of Chan and Y/N together, so comfortable and happy, had struck a nerve he didn't know existed. He told himself it was because they were wasting time, but deep down, he knew it was something more.
The thought of Y/N being so close to someone else, even in a friendly way, made him realize just how much she had come to mean to him. The realization was unsettling, and he found himself struggling to maintain the cold facade he had carefully built around himself.
Minho sat in his office, still stewing in his irritation, when there was a knock on the door. He didn't bother to look up, his voice curt as he called out, "Come in."
Chan entered, holding the papers Minho had dropped off earlier. "Here are the papers you needed." He said, his tone neutral.
Minho barely glanced at him, his response short. "Thanks."
Chan sighed, sensing something was off. He sat down across from Minho, fixing him with a steady gaze. "What's wrong, Minho?"
For a few moments, they engaged in a silent stare-off, the tension palpable. Eventually, Minho sighed heavily and looked away. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm just under a lot of stress from my superiors. Today’s been a bad day."
Chan nodded, his expression softening. "I get it. We all have bad days. We're okay, Minho. But you should apologize to Y/N."
Minho frowned, his pride warring with his sense of guilt. "Why should I apologize? She was the one messing around with you instead of working."
"She wasn't doing anything wrong," Chan replied calmly. "We were taking a short break, that's all. You know Y/N works hard, just like the rest of us."
Minho leaning back in his chair, feeling a pang of guilt. "I know. It's just... I don't know—"
"Minho," Chan interrupted gently, "you need to let go of whatever is bothering you. Y/N didn't deserve that cold treatment. She's always been kind to you, even when you weren't exactly the easiest person to deal with."
Minho sighed again, running a hand through his hair. He knew Chan was right. Despite his frustration, he didn't want to hurt Y/N. There was something about her that he couldn't shake, something that made him want to be better, even if he struggled to show it.
"Fine," he conceded, his voice softening. "I'll talk to her."
Chan smiled, standing up. "Good. She's a good person, Minho. She'll appreciate it.”
As Chan left the office, Minho leaned back in his chair, thinking about what he would say to Y/N. Apologizing wasn't easy for him, but he knew it was the right thing to do. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for the conversation ahead, hoping that it would help mend the rift he had created.
Minho pushed open the door to the bar and stepped inside, scanning the dimly lit room. His eyes landed on a table in the back corner where Chan and Y/N were seated. They were leaned close to each other, whispering and laughing. Y/N looked radiant, her laughter lighting up her face, while Chan had his hand placed over hers on the table. Her other hand rested casually on Chan's thigh.
A wave of nausea hit Minho, and he wished he could disappear. These feelings—jealousy, irritation, longing—pissed him off. He was about to turn around and leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Seungmin grinning at him.
"Hey, Minho. Glad you could make it," Seungmin said, leading him to their table.
As they approached, Seungmin set a drink down in front of Y/N and Chan. Y/N turned, her face lighting up with a grin when she saw Minho. "Minho! It's great to see you!" She said excitedly.
Minho pulled out a chair and sat down, his expression neutral, he crossed his arms over his chest, "Yeah, great to see you too." he said flatly, without meeting her eyes. "Not like I had much of a choice." He muttered under his breath.
Chan smiled at Minho, completely oblivious to his inner turmoil. "Come on, Minho, have a seat. We were just talking about the office party next week."
"Sounds... fun." He said flatly, taking a sip of his drink that was already in front of him, to hide his irritation.
Y/N leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What do you think, Minho? Should we go with the theme Chan suggested, or do you have a better idea? Because I don-"
"I don't care." Minho interrupted, his tone sharp. "Whatever you guys want. It's not like it matters to me.” He glanced pointedly at Chan's hand still resting on Y/N's. “You two seem... cozy."
Chan raised an eyebrow but didn't move his hand. "We're just having a good time, Minho. Relax."
Minho scoffed, picking up his drink and taking a long sip. "Whatever."
Seungmin, sensing the tension, quickly changed the subject. "So, Minho, how's work been? Any new projects?" He exchanged a knowing look with Chan, but neither said anything. They chose to let it slide, hoping he would eventually open up.
Minho grunted in response, his eyes flicking back to Y/N and Chan despite himself. Watching Y/N laugh and joke with Chan, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. He wanted to be the one making her laugh, the one she leaned on so effortlessly. But for now, all he could do was sit there, pretending not to care, even as his heart ached with unspoken feelings.
Seungmin nudged him playfully. "Come on, Minho. Lighten up. We're here to have a good time."
Y/N kept her smile. "Minho, you should try the cocktail Chan recommended. It's really good." She said, her tone friendly and inviting, as she slid her drink over.
Minho forced himself to keep his cold, disinterested facade in place. He didn’t care about Y/N. He didn’t care that she seemed annoyingly close to Chan. It definitely didn’t bother him that they got along so effortlessly.
He shrugged, his expression remaining indifferent. "I'm fine with what I have."
The evening went on, with Chan and Y/N continuing their easy banter. Minho found it increasingly difficult to maintain his facade. Every laugh they shared, every glance they exchanged, felt like a dagger to his heart. He hated how much it affected him, how much he cared.
Seungmin noticed Minho's discomfort and tried to engage him in conversation, but Minho's responses were curt and monosyllabic. Eventually, Seungmin leaned in closer and whispered, "Minho, what's really bothering you?"
Minho clenched his jaw, his eyes flicking briefly to Y/N and Chan before looking away. "Nothing," he muttered. "Just not in the mood for this."
Seungmin sighed, knowing there was more to it but deciding to let it go for now. "Alright, but if you need to talk, you know where to find me."
Minho's internal struggle continued, he wanted to leave, to escape the sight of Y/N and Chan together, but something kept him rooted to his seat. Y/N, noticing Minho's sour mood, leaned forward slightly. "Minho, are you okay? You seem... off tonight."
"I'm fine," he snapped, a bit too quickly. "Just tired."
Y/N gave him a concerned look but didn't press further. "If you say so," she said softly, her eyes lingering on him for a moment before turning back to Chan.
Eventually Chan and Seungmin headed to the bar for more drinks, and Y/N turned her attention fully to Minho, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "Minho, really, what’s wrong? You seem really quiet tonight." Her voice, sincere and warm. She reached across the table and placed her hand over his, offering a reassuring smile.
He met her gaze, and for a moment, the cold mask slipped. "I'm fine." He said, his voice softer than before. "Just... a lot on my mind."
Minho felt a jolt at the contact, her touch sending an unexpected warmth through him. He tried to ignore the way her skin felt against his, the strange mix of comfort and longing it stirred within him. He put his facade back on, and kept his expression cold and distant, masking the turmoil inside.
Y/N didn't pull away, her concern unwavering. "You don't seem fine." She said gently, her eyes searching his.
It took more effort than he’d like to admit to tear his hand away from hers. "I said I'm fine." He repeated, his tone colder.
Y/N’s eyes softened, and she withdrew her hand, respecting his need for space but not without a hint of sadness. "Okay, Minho. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here."
Minho felt a pang of guilt at his harshness, but he couldn't bring himself to soften. "Thanks." He muttered, looking away.
Her words lingered in the air between them, a silent offer of support. Minho felt a pang of guilt mixed with something he couldn't quite define. He knew she meant well, and her kindness was genuine, but he wasn't ready to let his guard down, not yet.
As Chan and Seungmin returned with drinks, Y/N offered Minho one last reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the conversation. Minho watched her, feeling conflicted. He hated the vulnerability she brought out in him, but a small part of him couldn't help but be drawn to her warmth.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and conversation, but Minho remained lost in his thoughts. Y/N's touch had left an imprint on him, one that he couldn't easily shake off. As the night came to an end and they all prepared to leave, Minho found himself stealing glances at Y/N, her presence a comforting yet confusing enigma.
Walking home alone, Minho couldn't help but replay the evening's events in his mind.