Work Text:
‘Please Namjoon! Please, please, please please!’
‘I said no, Jimin-’
‘pleeeeeease!’ Namjoon winced, holding the phone away from his eye as Jimin’s whine crackled over the speaker. He groaned and resisted the urge to hang up or better yet throw his cell as far away as he could.
‘Give me one good reason why I should go and collect your drunk friend instead of you?’ Namjoon asked. He had physics test in the morning, two experiments to write up and about a million philosophy chapters to read and summarise. Not to mention he could already feel a killer migraine forming behind his eyes. As unappealing as all that work sounded, it still sounded better than picking up Jimin’s friend, who was an alcoholic by the sounds of it.
‘Joonie,’ Namjoon rolled his eyes at the nickname. ‘You know I’d pick Tae up if I could but I promised I’d help Kookie with his homework!’
‘I still don’t see why it has to be me’ Namjoon groaned and the woman next to him on the crowded bus glared at him.
‘I’ve already tried everyone else Namjoon! I called Seokjin but he’s working and Hoseok’s running an errand and, okay well I didn’t call Yoongi-’
‘Wait so I wasn’t even your first choice?’ Namjoon asked feeling slightly offended. He was great with drunk people. He had once carried Yoongi all the way home when he was too drunk to walk. Seven blocks with an armful of weirdly emotional Yoongi should definitely qualify him as the go to drunk handler.
‘Wait what?’ Namjoon could just imagine the look of confusion on Jimin’s cute face. He sighed. He was never very good at saying no to Jimin.
‘Where is this restaurant anyway?’ he asked, slumping in defeat as the bus rumbled to a stop. He was forced to hold the phone away from his ear again as Jimin let out a crow of delight.
‘Thank you Namjoon! Thank you, thank you, thank-’
‘Okay I get it just tell me where the restaurant is already,’ Namjoon was regretting this as the headache that had been building began to pulse painfully through his skull.
‘It’s on Pearse Street near the old cinema. I knew I could count on you!’ Jimin’s voice was sickly sweet and Namjoon knew he was doomed.
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he grumbled. ‘You owe me one.’
‘Of course as soon as finals are over I’ll treat you to ice-cream!’ and before Namjoon could reply Jimin had uttered a quick goodbye and hung up. Namjoon sighed for what felt like the millionth time that day as he tucked his phone back into his pocket. He knew the restaurant Jimin was talking about. It was only a ten minute walk from his place, so he supposed it wasn’t too out of his way.
He had just gotten off the bus when his phone rang again. Looking down he saw it was Jimin’s number. Confused, he answered it.
‘Namjoon I forgot to tell you something!’ Namjoon didn’t like the sound of that. Jimin sounded breathless like he was running. ‘Tae was supposed to be on a date so I’m guessing it didn’t go well, so be gentle!’
‘Wait! What? Jimin I didn’t-’ Namjoon began to splutter in protest but he was cut off by the dial tone. That brat had tricked him. It was one thing picking up one of Jimin’s drunk friends, but picking up said drunk friend who may or may not have just been dumped? That was an entirely different ordeal altogether. He had not signed up for this.
Only he had signed up for it. He had promised he would pick up this ‘Tae’, messy break up or no messy break up. Jimin may have been a manipulative scheming little brat but he couldn’t, in good consciences, abandon his friend. As much as he would have liked to.
He sent one more quick text to Jimin before shoving his phone in his pocket and stalking off to find the damn restaurant.
You owe me DOUBLE now >:-( - N
<3333 -J
~
The restaurant was a small but relatively fancy place. It must have been a popular little spot because when he walked in almost all the tables were full. It suddenly hit Namjoon that he had no idea what this ‘Tae’ even looked like. Okay Jimin had said he had just had a bad date so just look for a table with only one person.
He felt incredibly awkward as he tried to discreetly scan the numerous tables of happy couples enjoying a romantic evening. Finally, just as he was about to assume Tae had sobered up enough to make his own way home his eyes fell on a figure slumped at a table. Of course the table couldn’t have been located somewhere discreet and out of the way, of course it had to be almost right smack dab in the centre of the restaurant.
‘Table for one?’
‘Huh? Oh, no. Thank you,’ Namjoon said tearing his eyes away from the slouching figure to glance at the bored looking waiter. ‘I’m just here to pick up a friend.’
The waiter glanced to where Namjoon had just been staring and then back to him.
‘Good. Please be quick.’
‘Yeah sorry.’ He said, flashing his most apologetic smile. He should not have to apologise for this friend of a friend but Namjoon also just wanted to get out of there so he swallowed his pride and made his way to the table.
The figure didn’t look up as he approached. He didn’t so much as stir when Namjoon stopped next to him and just stood there. Namjoon was starting to sweat. He was convinced that every single person in the restaurant was looking at him, hovering awkwardly next to the table. And what’s worse they were probably judging him. oh god let this be over quickly.
Namjoon cleared his throat. Nothing happened. Looks like he had no other choice.
‘Umm, Tae?’ he asked realising that he didn’t even know this guy’s full name. Thanks Jimin. At least this got some reaction. At the sound of his name (nickname?) the guy finally looked up.
‘Who are you?’ his voice was deep and his words were slurred but that’s not what Namjoon noticed first. Why the hell had Jimin never introduced them? It was typical; Jimin never introduced him to his pretty friends. He was not a pervert no matter what Seokjin said.
The guy had a nice face, like a really really nice face. Big doe eyes, that were surprisingly not bloodshot, even the delicately smudged eyeliner was still intact. Dark eyes framed by long lashes, plump lips, sharp cheek bones, tanned, just Namjoon’s type. His hair was an odd shade of purple, Seokjin would probably call it lavender so something like that. It was rumbled but in a way that looked carefully messy.
Namjoon realised with a start of embarrassment that he had been asked a question and that Tae was now waiting for an answer and all he was doing was staring at the poor guy. Get a grip Namjoon, remember the probable drunk break up.
‘Um, I’m Namjoon,’ he said and Tae just stared up at him with those huge, blank eyes. He blinked looking confused.
‘I’m Jimin’s friend,’ he hurried to explain and recognition sparked in Tae’s eyes.
‘Namjoon! I know you, Jiminie talks about you all the time!’
‘He does?’ Namjoon asked hesitantly, not sure he liked the sound of that.
‘Yeah! Are you the Namjoon’s who’s also a pervert?’ he asked and Namjoon died a little inside as the people at the tables nearest to them sent suspicious glances their way.
‘I am not a pervert,’ Namjoon said through gritted teeth. Taking a seat opposite Tae, realising he had been standing the whole time. ‘That’s all slander and hearsay.’
‘I’m glad you’re not a pervert,’ Tae slurred as Namjoon surveyed the variety of empty bottles and he got the feeling this was going to be another carrying a hammered Min Yoongi home type incident.
‘You’re really good looking by the way,’ Tae went on casually much to Namjoon’s mortification.
‘You’ve got really nice lips, goldfish lips!’ Namjoon couldn’t help but lick his lips out of habit, catching Tae’s eyes dipping, watching his tongue dart out, in a way that should have made him uncomfortable but didn’t.
‘And your hip to shoulder ratio is excellent! Are you a model? Jimin didn’t say you were but he never tells me the important stuff.’ You’re telling me Namjoon thought as he watched Tae fiddle with an empty glass, his own tongue poking out of the corner of his pink lips.
‘I’m not a model,’ he said and Tae looked up, his eyes slightly unfocused but managed to find Namjoon’s face despite that. ‘Just a broke college student, I’m afraid.’
‘That’s a shame,’ Tae mumbled, ‘I only date rich guys.’
‘What?’ Namjoon baulked. What kind of friends did Jimin have?
‘Just kidding,’ Taehyung was giggling now, almost bent double as he shook with childish laughter. ‘You should have seen the look on your face! Not disappointed are you?’
People were definitely looking now and part of Namjoon wanted to crawl under the table. He hated causing a scene more than anything but he could find it in himself to stop Tae, not when he looked so happy.
‘You wish,’ Namjoon snorted a smiling spreading across his lips at the sight of Tae laughing.
‘So Namjoon with great lips, no money, who is not a pervert or a model, what are you doing here? You better not be stalking me.’ Tae said grinning, a smile so wide and bright Namjoon felt momentarily stunned.
‘Umm Jimin asked me to pick you up,’ he said and Tae’s eyes narrowed. ‘He said your date didn’t go well.’
‘Didn’t go well,’ Tae snorted. ‘If you call your boyfriend of three months suddenly up and walking out on you on your anniversary date “not going well” then yeah he’s right. Jimin’s going to be so smug; I’ll never hear the end of it. He’s going to say ‘I told you so’ until the end of time.’
‘Uh if you don’t mind me saying, you don’t look awfully broken up over it,’ Namjoon said carefully. It was true. Tae didn’t look like he had been crying and even when he talked about his ex there was only resentment or annoyance there, no sadness.
‘I guess I’m not really,’ Tae shrugged, ‘honestly he was a bit of a twat. I’m just surprised he broke up with me. I mean look at me! I’m like a ten and he’s a six on a good day.’
‘Well it sounds like you’re better off without him,’ Namjoon offered. He had never been good with post break up comfort. He remembered when Seokjin’s last boyfriend broke up with him he had stayed up watching dumb rom coms until Seokjin stopped sniffling. He had even let the other boy paint his nails. But by the looks of it Tae didn’t need any such special care. He was still pretty drunk though, so Namjoon still had to get him home. And sooner rather than later, he could feel the waiter’s eyes boring into the back of his skull.
‘To be honest, I’m already over him,’ Tae stated before Namjoon could suggest they leave.
‘Oh yeah?’ Namjoon asked amused.
‘Yeah, I’ve found a new man. This time it’s true love.’ Namjoon almost laughed. The dead serious look on Tae’s face only made it funnier.
‘Who’s the lucky guy?’
‘You.’
‘What!?’ if Namjoon had been drinking water he would have probably sprayed it all over Tae. As it were he was doing a pretty good job choking on his own spit.
‘I said I like you,’ Tae said louder and Namjoon could feel his face flushing.
‘Tae be quiet,’ he hissed and Tae frowned.
‘No Namjoon, I won’t be quiet. You can’t silence my feelings,’ before Namjoon could even process what was happening let alone attempt to prevent it, Tae was clambering unsteadily to his feet, like he was about to make a toast.
‘Tae’ Namjoon whispered desperately, they had already drawn so much attention. He had to stop this before it all escalated out of control, but by the looks of it, it was already way too late. ‘Tae you don’t like me, trust me I’m not that likeable please sit down.’
‘No Namjoon,’ Tae’s voice was rising and he was most definitely causing a scene, by now every single head in the restaurant was turned to him but all Tae was focused on was him. Jimin so owed him, at this point Namjoon wanted his first born son as repayment.
‘I DO LIKE YOU, NAMJOON, WHAT’RE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?’ Tae all but shouted, his deep voice seemed to bounce off the walls, echoing throughout the restaurant.
‘I’m going to kill you,’ Namjoon thought, feeling like he was about to spontaneously combust, ‘then I’m going to kill Jimin.’
‘Why don’t we go home?’ Namjoon said feeling awfully exposed as he stood in the terrible silence that followed Tae’s announcement. He was so aware of every eye on him.
‘But I love you,’ Tae muttered as Namjoon took his hand and led him toward the exit, Tae stumbled but Namjoon kept him from falling.
‘Let’s talk when you’re sober okay Tae?’
‘Promise?’
‘Promise.’