"Wait, you mean to tell me you're going on a date?"

"a frate!"

"right, a frate... with mr. perfect and you have absolutely no idea where you're taking him?"

Jeongguk groans as he plops on the sofa in Jimin's living room "I don't know what to do! He's everything and I'm clueless"

Jimin gives a sweet smile when he ruffles Jeongguk's hair "just do what feels right, it's been working for you so far"

.•*

"Hyung..."

"Hey Tae, what's up?"

"I'm sorry, I know this is really last minute but you know how I told you about Jeongguk?" his fingers are fiddling nervously with his phone as he looks at Hoseok through the facetime screen

"of course"

"he asked me out.. well on a friend-date.. but"

"what the hell is a friend date? oh my god he panicked didn't he?"

they're both giggling and Taehyung can hear Eujin's little coos through the phone

"Can I see my baby?"

Hoseok smiles showing Taehyung where Eujin is laying on the floor, tiny hands clapping and making noises at the show on the television

"so when is this date?"

"tonight.. I forgot to ask because things have been so crazy and—"

"Tae, relax Yoon would be taking care of Eujin early in the morning anyway once you leave for work. We don't mind."

"you promise?"

"I promise. please go fall in love or something" Taehyung whines, but the phone in his hand nearly shatters when the door to his shop is opened.

"Sorry, I'm early.." Jeongguk says shyly, he's dressed in tight jeans a grey t shirt, not wearing a cap today so Taehyung can see all of his messy hair.

he's so hot.

"Bye Taehyung-ah!!" he hears Hoseok muffled from where his phone is on the floor.

"Hey Jeongguk.. you're fine. Only an hour left before I close up anyway." He takes some boxes from the lounge chair to make room for Jeongguk.

Not expecting him to grab the boxes from his arms "where do these go?"

"no, no, you aren't—"

"where"

He sighs then, grabbing the only remaining box and guiding Jeongguk up the small spiral staircase to the storage closet.

"I haven't had time to put them all away yet so I store them here when I'm done"

Jeongguk places them down and takes a look around "you've got so much stuff up here"

Taehyung laughs, slightly embarrassed "yeah, a lot of it is supposed to be down on the floor but I can only do so much in a day and I have to spend some time at home so—"

"don't you have staff?"

"yeah, but only a few days a week.." he trails off, doesn't really want to go into detail about his struggling shop.

Yet right when he thinks Jeongguk is going to pry more he just says

"well, how about we get some stuff done tonight?"

"what?" Taehyung's eyes are wide, he can't be serious

"if i'm honest, i've been so nervous—I had no idea where to take you and truth be told, I just want to spend time with you. besides, it'd be nice to see behind the scenes" he smiles brightly before pausing "you totally don't wanna have a date in your store, i'm an idiot, why would I even say that—of course you deserve to be taken out and shown off and—"

"you're doing it again.." Taehyung's voice is soft "I'd love to do that. anything, really, we can order food or something if you're hungry?"

Jeongguk raises a hand "I'll handle that, you just decide what we're gonna do first"

Taehyung gnaws on his lip as Jeongguk walks away to call what he assumes is a restaurant and call him silly, but there's something so endearing about Jeongguk being interested in his store.

It makes his heart flutter, especially when he looks down over the railing and sees Jeongguk looking up at him with a bright smile—this man is gonna be the end of him.

.•*

After successfully hanging all of the new floating shelves, Taehyung busted out several boxes of vinyl figures and small plants.

Pleasing decor that he just hasn't gotten around to hanging up. Jeongguk gasps when he picks up one of the vinyl figures "where did you find this version of Iron Man?! I searched everywhere for it"

Taehyung giggles a little, he remembers buying it at an anime convention months ago and if he's honest? he completely forgot.

"you can have it"

"Taehyung... no, I can't..you, do you have any idea how much this is worth? especially after End Game?" Jeongguk's eyes seem like they might pop out of his head

their conversation is interrupted by the knocking on the door. "is Hotteok okay?"

Taehyung smiles brightly when Jeongguk walks over with way too many boxes of food for two people "whatever you got is perfect"

Taehyung loves his shop, the ambience when he dims the overhead leds and it's just lit up by soft lamps throughout.

"tell me something about yourself, something not just anyone would know" that catches him by surprise

Taehyung doesn't know what to say, he's too scared to say anything too personal and honestly? he doesn't do anything too interesting.

"um—oh! I'm not an author. Many people assume that because I own a book shop that I write myself but I don't. Haven't ever written a single paragraph that wasn't for school"

"wow, I definitely am one of those that would've assumed you had endless pages of some unfinished novel hidden in your desk"

"what about you?"

"I'm famous"

Taehyung almost spits out his drink

"on youtube, I mean. My face isn't famous, but my voice and my video gaming is. It's kind of funny because my day job is totally different in comparison—"

"What is your day job?"

Jeongguk seems to contemplate his answer before he shakes his head "that's a story for our second date, Taehyung-ssi"

He raises a brow then, noticed the way Jeongguk inched a little closer to him "so this is a date then, not a frate?"

Jeongguk sighs, placing down his chopsticks and turning to face Taehyung "I am a man, that is not good with words. This is very much a date and I'd be really really happy if you'd go on a second one with me?"

Taehyung is screaming internally, but he knows a thing or two so he smiles beautifully when he leans into Jeongguk's space just barely, to reach for a napkin.

"I'll think about it"

.•*

Another couples hours of conversation and organizing the two new displays Jeongguk helped him build, they're finally parting ways.

Taehyung would be a liar if he said he didn't feel disappointed that time passed so quickly, "thank you, for all of your help" he hands Jeongguk his bag and one of the leftover containers of food "and for dinner"

"anytime, y'know to both things—and yeah about that second date?"

Taehyung pulls out the pen from his pocket, hand grabbing onto Jeongguk's free one as he flips over his wrist.

Gently scribbling down each digit of his cell phone number before smiling sweetly

"if you remember to text me when you get home, maybe I'll say yes"

Jeongguk very reluctantly heads towards his car "I'll definitely remember, see you soon, Taehyung"

"Bye, Jeongguk"

and he's halfway home when Jeongguk notices a box peaking out of his bag—the tiny iron man figurine looking right at him.

||| hmm, just how slow burn do we want this to be 🤭🥴