Work Text:
Boo Seungkwan absolutely loved mornings at the office. The first half hour was sacred, blessed , the time kissed by the heavens themselves. Through the wide windows of the twelfth floor, sunlight slanted in, painting the office floor with warm gold as the smell of brewed coffee and copier ink wafted in the air. It was quiet, peaceful, and almost dreamlike.
He strolled in with a pep in his step, his sneakers squeaking against the polished tiles as he donned his brightest grin.
“Good morning, Kwannie! ” Lee Seokmin from HR called out, peeking from his office with an even wider beam. “Should we grab lunch together later?”
“Yes!” He exclaimed, throwing two thumbs up in the air as he passed by his friend. “I’ll pick you up, and we can try that new deli shop down the street.”
“I’ll wait diligently!” Seokmin whooped before heading back to his desk, quite literally glowing despite the stack of documents he needed to sort through. Seungkwan shook his head with a chuckle, he didn’t know hos his friend did it, maintain his happiness amidst all of his workload.
“Looking great, sunshine ,” Choi Seungcheol from Accounting crooned, popping his head out of his cubicle with his handsome face and thick brows, making Seungkwan’s heart stammer for a millisecond. “Are you up for tennis this Sunday?”
“Not if Chan is joining us,” he joked, but saying yes anyway. No one could ever say no to the other man, that was just how things were- chalk it up to Seungcheol’s round, expressive eyes, and red-tinted pout.
Seungkwan made it to his own space, beaming at his colleagues with his usual greeting. “Good morning, my beautiful people!” He practically floated to his desk, waving at everyone like he was campaigning for presidency, expecting to win. Why wouldn’t anyone vote for him, anyway, if he were to actually run for their office mock-elections? He had been told that he was the human equivalent of a golden retriever on caffeine- easygoing, a little loud, but totally harmless.
He loved his job.
He loved his life.
And he loved his coworkers.
Well, not all of them , but that was besides the point.
He plopped down on his chair, spunt it once for good luck before firing up his computer. The screen hummed to life as he pulled out his newly bought planner, already brimming with multi-colored sticky notes, and reminders like some chaotic piece of modern art.
Today was going to be great.
Maybe he’d even get that promotion meeting his manager had been hinting at last week. Call it delusion, but he could feel that he would get it, and that today would be the day they break the news to the team. The sun was shining, the skies were clear, and the only thing missing was the cheers he knew he would get after the announcement.
And then, just when he was about to crack his knuckles to start typing his report due this afternoon, the door clicked open.
The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed louder, the temperature in the room dropped by ten degrees, and somewhere, in the distance, a dramatic violin shrieked, although Seungkwan was convinced this one was just in his head. Either way, his perfect day had just been ruined. His nemesis had arrived despite the e-mail he received last week that the other man would be taking an emergency leave today.
Seungkwan stiffened in his chair, fingers curling instinctively around the edge of his desk.
There he was, Yoon Jeonghan. Strolling in like he owned the damn place, white shirt rolled up to his elbows, silver watch glinting around his wrist, black slacks tailored within an inch of their life, dark hair perfectly disheveled in that effortless “I-just-woke-up-looking-like-a-Greek-god” kind of way.
If life were a cartoon, the other man would have entered the office with a bolt of lightning and a booming evil laugh. He would have had a twirly mustache and a tiny cape, and he would definitely be plotting to steal the city’s riches under everyone’s noses. But no, in reality, unfortunately for Seungkwan, Jeonghan had been born ridiculously handsome with a smile that probably got him out of traffic violations with minimal effort.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Jeonghan said, flashing Seungkwan a smile so boyish and rugged that it should’ve been regulated by the FDA.
“Stop calling me sunshine ,” he replied instead of returning the greeting, narrowing his eyes into suspicious slits. Life in the office was good, but it had definitely been better. A month ago, he only had to deal with Jeonghan’s antics in the elevator, but since the other man had been transferred from marketing to research, Seungkwan now had to tolerate his questionable behavior on the daily. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me by my government name?”
“As long as you’re letting that guy from accounting call you sunshine, I’m not going to stop.” Jeonghan shrugged, pretending as if he didn’t know Choi Seungcheol’s name. Seungkwan scrunched his nose, and he was pretty sure he looked like he had just swallowed a whole lemon, but he didn’t care. He would bark right then and there if that would stop the other man from advancing to his desk.
“He’s my friend, so he’s allowed to call me sunshine ,” he retorted, eyeing Jeonghan wearily, wondering why the other man couldn’t notice the malice radiating off of him. “Kindly refrain from invading my personal space. Thank you, and goodbye.”
“You wound me,” Jeonghan groaned, still sauntering over like some prince in a tacky movie on the television. “Here,” he muttered, setting a cup of coffee down on Seungkwan’s desk with a soft smile on his face. Seungkwan couldn’t help but shudder at the tender expression. “I grabbed an extra- black, no sugar, just how you like it.”
Jeonghan tapped the lid with one finger before stepping out of Seungkwan’s personal space with a wink, calling over an intern like he was personally paying for her allowance. Seungkwan could only stare at the back of the other man’s head, cheeks oddly warm as his gaze traveled down at the cup in front of him like it was a live grenade.
Oh, he knew what this was, thinking about how it was a classic villain movie- fatten up the turkey before Thanksgiving, sweeten him up before stabbing him in the back for that juicy victory.
Seungkwan huffed as he turned his attention to his computer, pretending to focus on his emails.
He didn’t trust Jeonghan, he never did, not for a second.
No one that good-looking, that charming , was ever just nice.
Seungkwan tried his very best not to look at the cup of coffee sitting before him, but when he thought of the barista who had made an effort to make the drink, he gave in and took a sip of the coffee before making sure that Jeonghan was not around. It was perfect , infuriatingly perfect, that he had to hide his delight the second the other man stepped back in the office, his stupid, stupid eyes glinting with something knowing.
He glared at Jeonghan openly, gritting his teeth when another wink was sent his way.
Boo Seungkwan absolutely had to get promoted now- he needed to be approximately one floor away from Yoon Jeonghan if the company expected him to function properly.
Seungkwan decided the following day that he was going to give it his all.
Yesterday, rumors had spread that the board of directors were still thinking about who to promote. There were two candidates, Seokmin had teased but bound by moral and work ethics, said nothing else. It was obvious that the two people who they had their eyes on were him and Jeonghan, although it would look totally suspicious if the other one was Jeonghan when he had just been promoted not too long ago, but what could Seungkwan say? The man was good at what he did, efficient and responsible, smart and was a team player through and through.
But Seungkwan wasn’t deterred. He was going to secure that promotion, win his bosses’ approval, and most importantly, get that cubicle one glorious away from Jeonghan. No more run-ins at the coffee machine, no more bumping shoulders in the elevator, and no more free coffee and nauseating winks.
His working days would be just him, his spreadsheets, the kind people on the twenty-first floor, and peace- Seungcheol and Seokmin had already promised to visit him often. He couldn’t ask for anything more.
Tuesday started like any other day with him marching into work with his signature smile, and peach-scented cologne. He glowed with determination that Seungcheol had went ahead and gave him a couple of exaggerated double takes, making his cheeks ruddy and warm.
“You’re looking radiant today, sunshine ,” Seungcheol remarked, promising that lunch was on him that day before marching in Seokmin’s office to talk about basketball or whatever sport the two had been hooked on lately.
Seungkwan took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand instead of daydreaming about Seungcheol’s eyebrows. The first attack was simple, reformatting the department’s outdated client database.
Tedious? Yes.
Soul-sucking? Probably.
But it would show initiative.
He spent all morning working on it, until his eyes crossed from staring at the screen, while simultaneously working on his tasks that day. His supervisor had bought him an extra large coffee and called him insane, his junior looked at him in awe, and Jeonghan… Jeonghan had gotten under his skin like he usually would, making his blood boil and his heart stutter in ways he couldn’t explain.
A new tab had appeared before him, labeled: Suggested Edits ;)
Seungkwan started at it like it was a ticking bomb, and clicked on it even before the other could.
The changes were... better.
Cleaner.
Faster search functions.
By the winking emoticon alone, Seungkwan could tell that it was from Jeonghan, who frankly did a great job.
But still.
Sabotage.
He slumped back in his chair, cradling his head in his hands as his coworkers buzzed around him.
“Oh, Jeonghan’s such a lifesaver,” someone cooed. “Hey, Seungkwan! At least say thank you!”
Seungkwan let out a sound that could only be described as a dying bird, and ordered as many fruit platters as Seungcheol’s credit card allowed during lunch.
When Wednesday came, Seungkwan was smart enough not to do anything too taxing like reformatting an entire database. And instead, came to work a little earlier, hair still wet, tie slightly crooked, to set up a team feedback system for client calls.
The board loved initiative, and breathed for client satisfaction, after all.
Seungkwan had just finished pinning his neat little forms on the corkboard when his colleagues started filing in, including Jeonghan, who made a beeline to where he was standing, handing him a cup of coffee he couldn’t just refuse. The other man smelled good, too good , like soap and freshly-washed sheets, and Seungkwan fought back the urge to stand closer.
“I hope you don’t mind, sunshine ,” Jeonghan started, both hands in his pocket, posture cool and lax. “But I sent out a digital version of your feedback forms a second ago. It’ll be more accessible that way, you know? But these are pretty useful, too,” he continued, gesturing on the forms Seungkwan had printed. “Not everyone is tech-savvy, anyways.”
Seungkwan stared at him, blinking.
Jeonghan only winked, disappearing down the hall even before Seungkwan could say that he did mind.
But by nine in the morning, the digital forms, he discovered, had already gotten fifteen responses.
And on his inbox, an email from his supervisor had sat unopened, the subject line commending him for the initiative.
Seungkwan stood by the corkboard, holding a paper form that an elderly had filled out, the only response he had gotten and contemplated.
Thursday was stressful.
Seungkwan stayed up until two in the morning, preparing a dazzling pitch for an upcoming partnership project. He had graphs and case studies, heck , he even threw in a GIF of a puppy with a briefcase because he knew the board had that sense of humor all old people had.
He was ready, and he was prepared.
Seokmin had clapped his back, and Seungcheol wished him luck.
He hadn’t felt more confident.
Until… well, until his laptop refused to connect to the projector and his forehead started sweating bullets. The room was eerily quiet save for the sounds of paper rustling. The meeting had not started yet, to be fair, there was no need to panic. But his bosses were already there, eating their bagels, waiting, and his supervisor was literally giving him the look .
Seungkwan thought he was going to combust in shame.
But Jeonghan had walked in the room, looked around, and then approached Seungkwan, who had the sense not to elbow the other man and cause a scene. Jeonghan leaned over, pressed two keys, and suddenly, all the problems in the world had been fixed.
“Look! It’s a puppy going to the office!” One of the higher-ups had exclaimed, sounding tickled as chuckles scattered around the room.
“Good luck, sunshine, ” Jeonghan murmured, winking at him with a somber smile. “Not like you need luck or anything,” he added before retreating to his seat.
This is psychological warfare , he thought, seething as he went ahead and smashed his presentation, ears ringing when he heard his supervisor thanking Jeonghan for helping Seungkwan out instead of congratulating him for doing a grand job.
By Friday, Seungkwan was operating purely on coffee and spite.
He had a simple goal now, print the updated contracts for the meeting on Monday and deliver them to his supervisor. He had printed them all, double-checked again and again, stapled each one with precision, stacked them neatly in his arms, and crashed right into Jeonghan.
Papers exploded into the air like confetti, Seokmin’s head popping out of his office at the sound of gasps.
Seungkwan landed on the floor, seeing his grandiose dreams float above him in slow motion.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jeonghan crouched down immediately, holding Seungkwan by the elbow. The touch burned, and it took all of Seungkwan’s self-control not to jerk away and push the other man. “I didn’t see you rounding the corner, sunshine. I’m sorry.”
Seungkwan tried to summon words, any word , but his brain was just static and blinding anger. He grabbed the papers, ignoring the way his fingers brushed against Jeonghan’s when the other man helped him, and scrambled away, cheeks burning.
“Jeonghan is just the sweetest,” an intern sighed from her desk, talking to another intern beside her. “Did you see him help Seungkwan? So gallant. ”
Seungkwan nearly bit through his tongue, sulking when his supervisor merely nodded at his efforts.
Every time Jeonghan fixed a jammed printer, every time he brought coffee for the team without being asked, Seungkwan clenched his fists harder. Nice guys were always hiding something, after all. That was, like, the law of nature. He wished the others could see that he was just trying to steal their hearts and steal his promotion.
But Seungkwan wasn’t going to lie… sometimes Jeonghan would glance over at him, eyes catching his gaze in a way that felt oddly electric, like a tiny jolt of lightning straight to the chest. And then Jeonghan would smile , small and sweet and genuine, and Seungkwan would have to look away so he wouldn’t explode on the spot.
The looks were just another trap, obviously.
Classic villain behavior.
Make your enemy feel something and then strike when they're vulnerable.
Seungkwan had seen too many movies not to know.
He was aware how this worked.
Still, it was getting harder to focus when Jeonghan hovered near his desk, offering help in that low, patient voice.
It was getting harder to breathe when Jeonghan stood too close, brushing past him like it was accidental.
It was getting harder not to notice that Jeonghan’s sleeves were always rolled up just right.
Or that he wore the kind of cologne that smelled like trouble.
Seungkwan’s warpath wobbled.
Just a little.
Still, he was committed.
But by afternoon, Seungkwan was a shell of a man.
He stumbled into the bathroom, dropped his forehead against the cool mirror, and let out a long, dramatic groan that echoed against the tiles. He deserved an Oscar for surviving this week, or at least a participation trophy. He slapped the sink with both palms and stared at himself in the mirror.
"Jeonghan is so great, so kind, so gallant ," he said loudly, voice dripping with sarcasm. "He is so thoughtful, and is so helpful."
Seungkwan bared his teeth in a snarl, huffing because he looked nowhere near scary- he was too cute, looking like he was ready to cry instead of looking like he was ready for war.
"Thank you, Jeonghan," he hissed, fists clenching. "For saving me all the freaking time. You’re perfect, you’re handsome, you look like an angel, you’re a savior. Oh, did you brew that coffee yourself? They eat him up every -”
Then, a door creaked open.
Seungkwan whipped around like a cornered animal. It was Kwon Soonyoung, the new hire in Accounting, holding a roll of tissue paper and looking very alarmed. “Don’t mind me. I’m just practicing gratitude,” he said, straightening his tie with forced dignity, before leaving.
Monday arrived like a kick to the gut.
Seungkwan was tired, and had walked in the building with a gray cloud looming over his head. There was still no news about his promotion, and he was starting to lose his mind. It didn’t help that Jeonghan was already by his desk even before he could settle down, holding a box of, what looked like, muffins.
“Thought you could use a little pick-me-up for later,” Jeonghan said, his voice honeyed and his smile saccharine, infuriatingly warm.
“I don’t need your charity,” he hissed, snatching the box anyway and placing it on his desk because his mother had taught him not to say no to blessings.
“You’re endearing.” Jeonghan chuckled, low and fond , ruffling Seungkwan’s hair before walking back to his desk.
Seungkwan short-circuited for about ten seconds before ignoring the way his whole body burned , working like a man possessed until it was time for lunch. Storming toward the elevators, he walked with purpose, chest heaving when he caught Jeonghan looking at him with mild concern. Fuck him and his googly eyes, he thought, mind empty as he walked in the cafeteria, bought his lunch, and slammed his lunch tray on the table where Seokmin and Seungcheol were already seated, their salad half-eaten.
“He did it again,” he hissed, leaning on the table as Seokmin’s fork clattered onto his plate.
"Who-” Seungcheol started, but Seungkwan was already steamrolling ahead.
“ Jeonghan ,” he practically yelled, stabbing his sausage with more violence than necessary. “He’s playing tricks again. He bought a box of muffins, said that he thought I could use a pick-me-up later. It’s like he knew I wasn’t going to get the promotion, it’s like he was mocking me.”
“I think he wasn’t mocking you,” Seokmin muttered, scratching his head, looking puzzled. “I think he’s just being nice because he knew you had a tough time last week.”
“He’s not being nice,” he insisted, looking at Seokmin like he had sprouted another head. “He’s tormenting me with this… with this… psychological warfare. He’s trying to get in my head, he’s trying to get under my skin to… to snatch my promotion right out from under me!”
Seungcheol, bless him , just sat there, listening patiently, chin resting in his hand like he was tuning into a fascinating podcast.
“ And another thing!” He continued, now attacking his mashed potatoes. “Last week, I reformatted our department’s database, right? Guess who made everything better? Guess who swooped in and helped me. Guess who everyone was praising for being a team player. Go ahead, guess!”
“Jeonghan,” Seokmin and Seungcheol in unison.
“Exactly!” He stabbed the air with his fork, frustrated and flushed. "He's orchestrating this whole scheme to win everyone over while I look like an ungrateful idiot.”
“Seungkwan,” Seokmin said carefully, leaning back in his chair as he gave Seungkwan a pitying look. “He’s not stealing your promotion.”
Seungkwan opened his mouth to argue, but was silenced by what the other man said next.
“He’s stealing your heart.”
The words hung there for a beat, heavy and horrifying.
“He what?” He blinked, one eye twitching.
“Jeonghan’s not sabotaging you,” Seokmin explained patiently as Seungcheol chuckled. “He’s been helping and flirting with you.”
“He what?” He echoed, his voice losing its conviction.
“He likes you that’s why he’s been warning me every time I call you sunshine ,” Seungcheol chimed in, arms crossed over his chest. “One time, he cornered me by the copier and said it would be a real shame if my monthly reports were flagged with irregularities.”
“He what?” He asked again, brain melting in a pile of goo.
Seokmin had started cackling.
“Being clueless is really a cute look on you,” Seungcheol cooed, the praise immediately warming Seungkwan’s face.
He slapped both hands over his flaming cheeks, feeling as if he was about to really combust.
"I thought you were aware he likes you, and were just playing hard to get," Seokmin commented, sipping his barley tea, before continuing his tirade with animated hands. "You know, ignoring his advances. Pretending to be mad. The whole enemies-to-lovers thing."
“I wasn’t… I… I’m his rival… his nemesis! ” He insisted, hands still on his cheeks, praying to God that Seungcheol stop playing with him like this. But both his friends only exchanged looks, looking thoroughly entertained.
And then, the realization finally thunked into place, heavy and undeniable- the winks, the looks, the cups of coffee, the concern, the box of muffins.
Seungkwan froze, “Oh,” he breathed out, his voice coming out small and mortified.
The gears turned visibly in his head. He thought back to every 'accidental' touch, every stupid, blinding smile Jeonghan shot his way.
Motherfucker.
Seungcheol reached over, and patted Seungkwan’s shoulder sympathetically. "There it is."
Seungkwan spent the rest of the day with his head ducked down, burning from the inside out. It was a miracle he didn’t get a heart attack right then and there, evey glance Jeonghan had thrown his way, soft and lingering and almost shy, like an electric shock straight to his core. He could feel it , the sensation buzzing under his skin, his ears probably a bright shade of red.
Jeonghan, strangely and considerably, was giving him space. He did not approach, he did not push , and that made Seungkwan insane, making him finish all his pending reports with record-breaking speed, typing with the force of a thousand suns, jaw set and heart pounding. When the clock finally struck five, Seungkwan waited for Jeonghan to leave first, before practically flying out of his chair, grabbing his bag and stomping toward the parking lot like a man on a mission.
The air outside was cool, the sky painted with streaks of gold and violet. Seungkwan’s sneakers squeaked a little on the concrete as he spotted Jeonghan by the parking lot. Pretending as if he was feeling a little bit faint, he marched straight up to the other man, fists shaking.
"Hey," he barked, frightening a family of birds by a nearby tree.
“ Sunshine, ” Jeonghan turned, confusion marring his handsome face. “Are you okay?”
“Is it true?” He glared up at Jeonghan, heart hammering so loud he was slightly concerned if the other man could hear it.
Jeonghan lifted an eyebrow. “Is what true?”
“That you like me!” He hissed, waving his hands wildly. “And that you weren’t sabotaging me, you were just… helping me,” he whispered, looking around before continuing. “That you were flirting with me.”
For a second, Jeonghan had just looked at him… then he laughed, warm and rich, running a hand through his hair like he was in a commercial. Seungkwan had the urge to punch him right then and there.
"I thought you knew," Jeonghan said even before Seungkwan could kick his shin or something, voice soft with amusement. "You’re adorable, sunshine . You had this whole rivalry in your head while I was just trying to get you to notice me."
“You should’ve just told me!” He spluttered, smacking Jeonghan on the arm.
“I thought I was being obvious, and you were playing hard to get,” Jeonghan explained, catching Seungkwan’s wrist, grinning like a cat who got the cream.
"You weren't being obvious,” he snapped, cheeks blazing, heart stammering with how the other man held his wrist. “And I wasn’t playing hard to get!”
Jeonghan tugged Seungkwan a little closer, eyes shining with mischief. And even before Seungkwan could comprehend what was happening, the other man was already kissing him. It wasn’t a rough kiss, nor was it explosive or frenzied. But it was warm and grounding and sweet, the kind of kiss he could tell his mom without sending her into a cardiac arrest. Seungkwan made a small noise against the other man’s mouth before melting into it, clutching the front of Jeonghan’s shirt like he had been waiting for this moment without even realizing.
"Am I being obvious now?" Jeonghan asked when he pulled away, pleased to see Seungkwan breathless and bright red, still glaring. The other man chuckled, slinging an arm around Seungkwan like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Do you want a ride home, sunshine ?" Jeonghan asked, jerking his head toward a sleek motorcycle.
Seungkwan blinked, stunned, his mind reeling.
"You ride that thing to and from work?" He yelped, pointing at the bike with wide, round eyes that were starting to look like heart eyes instead.
“Is there a problem?” Jeonghan asked, smirking as he cocked a brow.
Seungkwan’s mouth opened, then closed. He fidgeted for a second, scuffing his shoe against the pavement. Now wasn’t really the time to be shy- Jeonghan liked him and Jeonghan literally just kissed him. Besides, they weren’t in high school anymore, they should be honest with each other even with how fast everything seemed to be progressing. “That’s… that’s very hot of you.”
Jeonghan beamed, looking so stupidly pleased that Seungkwan had to resist the urge to hit him again, affectionately now, of course. Instead, he huffed, snatching the helmet the other man had offered. With his heart fluttering, he hopped on the motorcycle after Jeonghan, shyly clutching onto the fabric of his shirt.
“Stop acting shy now, wrap your arms around my waist,” Jeonghan muttered, cocky with his teasing. Seungkwan could only roll his eyes, grateful that the helmet was hiding his face as he did what he was told. The engine roared to life after that, vibrating through his bones, and then they were off, weaving through the city streets under the setting sun, the wind singing in Seungkwan’s ears and his heart hammering wildly in his chest.
For once, he didn’t feel like fighting his emotions.
He just laughed into the night, holding on tight, as Jeonghan drove in the opposite direction of where Seungkwan lived.
“My apartment is literally-”
“We’re going on a date, sunshine.”
The next morning, Jeonghan and Seungkwan stood side by side near the break room as the department gathered to congratulate someone else entirely for the long-coveted promotion.
“Lee Chan,” he sneered, clapping politely with everyone else. “I should’ve known who the real enemy was.”
“Should I start flagging all his reports with irregularities?” Jeonghan leaned in, his voice low and mischievous.
“What? No.” He shook his head, snorting as he elbowed the other man’s side. “Stop being evil and going around scaring everyone with the same threat.”
"I’m not evil,” Jeonghan murmured, deadpan, “ I’m romantic ”
Seungkwan only laughed, sighing as he felt something warm blooming under his skin. “It’s alright,” he said. “I’m glad I can stay on the twelfth floor now that I know we’re not rivals anymore.”
“We weren’t even rivals to begin with.” Jeonghan chuckled, eyes crinkling as he handed Seungkwan a cup of coffee.
For the first time, Seungkwan took the cup without wanting to implode with rage, both of them returning to their desks as the office hummed around them.