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REQUEST | danbi dog walking w/ tae sort of meet cute-type date vibes

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

WORDCOUNT | 700 (exactly!)

NOTE FROM HOLLY | so i kinda think they're impossible to have a meet-cute, just because danbi was sooooo anti-tae at the start. like she always knew he was interested and used to try soooo hard to pretend that she wasnt!!! plus if anyone is a man hater (complimentary <3) it's danbi!! I can't remember when, but i know it's mentioned earlier on in the story that tae had been at memorial park with dan so.... here u go!

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"Again?" Danbi sighs as she notices the man walking towards her up through the path of the Memorial Park.

She'd put her hands on her hips if either of them were free - but she's currently got three dogs to each hand. The leads wrap around so tightly it's a miracle her fingers haven't fallen off yet.

Still, her facial expression conveys everything her body can't - and yet Kim Taehyung has the audacity to stand there fucking smiling.

"Fancy seeing you here!" He beams, turning on his heel to stop himself from walking on by. Doesn't miss a beat. Heads in the same direction as Danbi, now.

"Y'know, some people would consider this stalking," she tells him with nothing but disdain.

"See, I would agree," Taehyung answers with contemplative arrogance. "But it's funny - DB seems to reckon you've changed your route, recently?"

"Oh has she, now?" Danbi says, resisting the urge to curse you out. Loves you to death, but knows exactly what you're doing. Begins to think that your joke about dressing up as cupid for Halloween isn't really a joke.

"Mhmm," Taehyung nods, hands in pockets. A little shy, but trying desperately hard not to be. "You used to do your walks down by the river, apparently."

Danbi's jaw is tense. Unwavering. "Sometimes a change of scenery is good. Gives the pups more mental stimulation. Different smells."

"There are so many parks in the city," he muses.

"Well I'll pick a different one, once I've decided they've had enough of this one."

"Maybe you should try the city forest," Taehyung suggests. "The one by the last stop on line two. I go there pretty often, too."

The narrowing of Danbi's eyes only serves to make Taehyung smile. He's learning pretty quickly which buttons of Danbi's to press - and given how easy it is to wind her up, he doesn't have to try particularly hard.

It's what he likes about her, though. She's fiery. Ignites a little something inside him.

"My route choices have nothing to do with you."

"No?" He challenges. "So why'd it change after you found out my studio overlooks Memorial Park?"

"Coincidence."

"Y'know," Taehyung smirks. "Some people would consider it stalking."

If there's one thing Danbi hates, it's when men make her smile - and Taehyung is getting dangerously close to that. She has to nip this in the bud, or otherwise her mild-infatuation with him will inevitably grow, and she cannot let that happen.

She's dated musicians. Dated pretty boys. Ones with egos. Knows that artists are even worse.

And the ones who look like Kim Taehyung? Nothing but trouble. She knows that as soon as her guard is down, some girl from his art school will end up back in his DM's and then she'll have to fight for his attention, which she refuses to do. Dreads to think of the notches in his bedpost. Doesn't wanna have to look at the art he's made from other muses.

Again, she's dated men who are menaces before. Had songs written for other girls cosplayed as serenades for her (fuck you, Sanghyuk). Refuses to let it happen again.

Better to just fight with him. Easier that way.

She's incapable of doing anything by half measures though, so hatred seems like the best course of action.

"With all due respect, Taehyung, I'm working," she shrugs, picking up her pace.

"Let me help."

"No."

"I'm good with animals."

"You're not insured."

"I know how to walk a dog"

"No."

"Let me-"

"Fine! Take Mabel," Danbi finally relents, adjusting the leashes to hold one out from him. On the end is a Pomeranian, not too dissimilar from Taehyung's own dog - the same dog Taehyung keeps trying to convince Danbi to walk, just so he has an excuse to see her. "She bites."

"It's fine," Taehyung says, taking the leash in his palm and wrapping it over slightly for a little extra security. Starts walking. Is cheeky, as he says, "I'm used to bitches who bite."

"You did not just call me a bitch," Danbi gasps, genuinely affronted. It's the first time throughout this entire interaction that Taehyung thinks he's getting genuine emotion from her. Knows the rest of it is bull.

"Well, are you planning on biting me?" He flirts. Wouldn't be opposed. In fact, he'd quite like it.

"Shut up," she whines with a deadly roll of her eyes. "Just walk the damn dog."