Chapter Text
Another nightshift Nam-gyu had to bare on a wednesday. No one really goes there on a week day but today was something "special" his boss told him.
Behind the counter he was. Serving people like always, wiping the glasses clean, maybe even getting a few tips! but the cold breeze hit him occasionally since no drunkard could shut the door close from the main entrance. It pissed him off even more.
Nothing special in this hellhole. Scattering here and there. What was so special about this night he was told about you ask? some random qoute on quote pianist had a rich-people party like meeting. They had it at the right side of the bar while on the other there was another crowd of drunk people, shut out of the other side like poor puppies left in he rain.
A man sat down on the main stool, facing the countless wine options where Nam-gyu was wiping another glass.
The bartender didn't even notice him until he heard a low yet flirty "ooh, sénorita.. " with a smirk attatched to it. He turned his head around to see a purple haired man, unsure if he was drunk or not, but both of their expressions we're just as shocked.
" huh—? "
The man's smirk turned to a letter "o"
" Oh shit. " He wanted to lay back was quick to realise those chairs had no backrest. His movements were quick yet so slow. " sorry man, I thought you were a girl. " explaining the matter to make the situation even worse. Probably the black more like feminine hair gave it away.
Normally, his reaction would be more agressive.. but he's at work, we know that. Nam-gyu's mind cleared up at the sight.
was that who he was seeing?
The man fixed his glasses placing them perfectly.
His widened eyes told it all without a word, and even the other person saw it through. If Nam-gyu was in some weird-shit -dramatic-sitcom-romance he would drop the grass in slow motion, but he had more respect and self awareness than that. However, his overexcitement couldn't contain.
" you're— "
The man was quick to react. His body tensed up forwards, lightly standing up from his chair and pointed his hand against Nam-gyu's face by a few centimeters. " shh shh shhshhhh! " Which left the bartender stunned even more, yet he quickly understood the position the celebrity was in.
The man shook his head like if he was in pain, maybe he did not want to participate in this situation. Nam-gyu came closer to the counter and lowered his head to him whispering. "you're Thanos? The rapper. " The question was remarkably stupid and obvious but still, he wanted to make sure.
Thanos looked up at him, also voice low. " Yeah. Now, please, treat me like I'm a normal customer man. " He discretly looked around the bar over his shoulders. He looked distressed, tired.. and a little scared? Nam-gyu could imagine how Thanos, the one and only T.O.P, has to run away from his fans on a regular daily basis, but luck came to him since there were only rich folks who couldn't understand his social status or too drunk to stand up drunkards.
" Oh yeah sorry. " He stopped and stood up tall. He turned around to mess with wine bottles on the topper shelf. " So, what to serve to you tonight? " His voice trembled at that sentence and his face was lit up in a slight shade of red. He couldn't believe the situation he was in. Nam-gyu had his idol right behind him and serving him was his biggest dream. Maybe this wednesday night wouldn't be so bad. Still, he had to act as normal as possible.
Thanos looked up at the variety of options and spoke again.
" Anything..? Maybe your favorite, I dunno'. never been here before. " Then whispering to himself " Everything's so expensive. " hoping the other wouldn't hear that.
Of course he had to find a new bar where fans wouldn't follow him around until he had to tremble his way to the next.
Nam-gyu looked back at him. " me? " He breathed out a nervous laugh. " you wouldn't like the type of mine. "
All thanos could muster up from his words was " bet. " His arms resting by the counter with his elbows taking up the weight.
This took Nam-gyu by surprise but accepted the mini duel. In a couple of sure of himself movements, he poured the other two straight up sour types of wine after mixing them up. Thanos watched close and studied the flavors.
" My favorite to get wasted, " He said confidently before adding " after a few of course, I wouldn't like you to be dead by a second. hope you can handle it. "
He observed as the other took a sip. To his shock, Thanos didn't flinch nor had a disgusted face. That would be most of people's reaction. He just stayed there with his thoughts running on autopilot.
After a few seconds, Nam-gyu blurted out. " so? " He didn't want to get too into the situation but it nerved him to the bone.
The purple haired man didn't even snapped back to reality yet. He tried to stay where he was, his eyes still zoned out but his mind got back in place. " It's good. " he nodded.
Nam-gyu's mood grew as he continued his job like usual.
── .✦
As the piano keys moved from one song to another from the other side of the room, Nam-gyu wiped another glass.
He was startled at a slurred comment Thanos made. " These performances are soooo. " He didn't even continue his sentence, it was clear what mean comment he would made. Boring or— just boring to him. He was practically laying his head on the counter, his one eye looking at the crowd next to the piano.
" What did you expect? " Nam-gyu had his arms crossed. His back layed against a cabinet beneath wine bottles, facing Thanos.
" Shit. I don't know man, not something like this. " His upper body slipped to face the other completely, continuing to eye the crowd.
Nam-gyu's little laugh could be considered pointed at Thanos, but that didn't mind him at all.
" Oh well. You could have a mini concert in here sometime, I'm sure no one would mind. " He said before his eyes lit up as he heard the opening melody. " But after my favorite song. "
Nam-gyu grew more comfortable around the other that he even started to sing along the lyrics with people from the other side, knowing they couldn't care less.
" It's nine o'clock on a saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in. "
Thanos couldn't keep his eyes off the other. He was swaying around, cleaning up the glasses, messing with the cabinets here and there, enjoying himself. His singing was smoother than any other speech Thanos has heard that whole time he was staying there. Butter-smooth melody to his ears, even though he had never liked this type of music before.
The man stayed listening to the other. He didn't even like such
" Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight. Well, we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feelin' alright "
Ah, Piano man, by Billy Joel. All-time classic played in most bars. It was like a tradition by now.
The motion of Nam-gyu's tasks were so flawless that he didn't even remember when was the last time he felt like this. Like he was put in an unaware hypnotic trance. forgot his whole sorroundings, locked away from reality.
He says, "Bill, I believe
this is killing me"
As the smile ran away
from his face
"Well, I'm sure that I could
be a movie star
If I could get out
of this place"
" Oh, la, la-la, di-dee-da
La-la, di-dee-da— "
" Didn't mean to interrupt your little thing but- "
Nam-gyu snapped back to his senses and stopped midway. A cold sweat shook his whole body, clearly embarrased to the bone.
" —You've got a great voice. "
Thanos had a curious yet a serious expression. Maybe even a hint of excitement peeking through.
Nam-gyu's face lit up in red and proceeded to brush off black strands of his face that had previously fallen to his face.
" You're just saying that. " Not even a thank you or a complemet back. stupid stupid. He thought, mentally slapping himself. He never accepted any positive comments pointed at himself.. but this one was different. and from a specific person. " But thanks. " Nam-gyu brushed off, hand to cover his nervous yet smiling face.
" no,- I meant it dude! " His face pushed forwards but the counter had the job to keep the man in his place. His gaze looked serious but in a good way.
" I heard you the first time " Nam-gyu, again, tried to ignore the compliments while walking up to serve a customer waiting at the register.
After doing the task, he returned to mouth-full-of-words Thanos already. " I mean, I could totally manage you a band of some sorts, " His arms slightly put up before placing them down again. His squinted eyes scanned around the other's clothing, searching for a name badge of some sorts. " Misterrrr— "
" Nam-gyu. " He didn't hesitate, even though he could play a guessing game with him. He then regret forgetting the idea. That would be a lot of fun. He had a pleasant expression as he looked into the other's eyes.
Too slow to realize he forgot the badge that night at home.
" Right, uh.. " Thanos' mind spiralled with alcohol taking over his blood system, trying to take a mental note of that name.
" Nam-gyu. Nam-gyu... " He was mouthing the name until it got into his head. " Okay. " Before looking up at Nam-gyu who had been already staring without noticing. Soon enough, they would both glance away, brushing off the akward eye contact which left them shamefaced. Nam-gyu's hands found a way to the fabric of his disgustingly colored gray shade vest of his uniform to fiddle with it, seeking comfort and to get his mind off of that situation.
── .✦
The time passed eventually, slow minutes turned into two hours and Thanos' eyes weighted heavy until he heard a notification sound. Lazily he reached out to his pocket.
" aw man ... " He said to himself then started to speak further, pointing the words at his new so called friend, without looking up at the other. " My uber's here. I told him to be later.. " His frown visible even if he kept his head down.
Nam-gyu had nothing to say in return.
Purple haired man stood up in defeat and pulled out his won, already counting.
Nam-gyu put his hands in a refusal gesture. " This one's on the house. "
" Don't treat me like a fuckin' celebrity–" Drawling his speech, his gaze looked up, then down. After riffling through the cash like game cards, he directed his hand towards the other male. "–take it! "
" You don't even know the price."
" The rest is yours. " Thanos counted more than he should, a tip wouldn't be so bad after all, right? Nam-gyu, to be honest, would be the one to ever think about tipping money to his idol more than the other way around.
Nam-gyu's eyes scanned the money bills he was given, not realising a little goodbye gesture from the other. He looked up to find Thanos already at the main exit before dissapearing out of sight. Not clearly could Nam-gyu see next actions through the glass entrance. His expression saddened as he put down the cash carelessly to make few last drinks for the night.
The melody stopped. Everyone could be considered kicked out of the location as the bar closed at 3 AM. Only Nam-gyu was left at the position, checking up if everything was left clean after the maids stormed there twenty minutes before.
Tired, scaterred and ready to head off to his apartment. Nam-gyu wouldn't even notice he knocked down a pen and the money from behind the counter unless he heard the fallen sound on the concrete.
He sighed to himself distressed. He had better shit to do than just staying there longer than he should. Although the linger, he had already kneeled down to save what's left. Spotting a little written card made his heart almost drop to his stomach.
Not a card but a piece of paper, probably from a notebook. " call me ♡ " with a numer beneath. Everything in blue ink, messily written.
Nam-gyu stared at it for a whole minute in disbelieve. He proceeded to look back at the counter, maybe it was from someone else? No, he was sure it dropped with the money.
He panicked as he looked at it more. The heart symbol struck him mentally at his chest, missing the ribs and right to his own heart. Nam-gyu's mind was racing with possibilities and questions but there was still a possibility it could be from anybody else. Not Thanos. He tried to not overreact despite having a clear sight of no people around.
After bringing himself together, the man left the location with a bigger smile than he should. Would his friends believe his unrealistic story?
Nonetheless, he knew he wouldn't forget this specific encounter.