TAEHYUNG resides on the balcony of his apartment with the moon falling to his back and the sun climbing before his eyes.

He wouldn't usually wake up so early, but the rain had gotten hard to ignore around four am and he hadn't been able to fall back to sleep since due to that fact. Instead, he made himself some hot chocolate, grabbed his raincoat and sat out here, eyes locked on the horizon and lips pressed into a thin line.

It's odd that at times like this he should come to think of anything other than his mind's usual topics, but today he finds himself lingering on the idea of Jeongguk. More specifically, how his meeting had gone yesterday.

Maybe he'd been a little sad that he had never messaged him about that, and maybe some part of him had been waiting to receive something from Jeongguk, but with the overall atmosphere of the world right now, he doesn't want to ruin anything with sad thoughts.

So, he thinks about how happy Jeongguk would be with the good news, and, in case it hadn't gone so well (which he highly doubts), he drops his coat, quite shamelessly, leaving himself only in his boxers to spite the rain.

He then leans over the railing just a little, snapping a picture through his reflection on the mirror so that he is cast prettily in the image. Just like Jeongguk said he enjoyed.

With a caption of— for you, the one who admires the flexes of my back muscles and the curve of my butt :') hope everything is okay! —he posts the picture to his instagram.

And all the while Taehyung is sipping on his beverage with a newfound nudity, the Busan born boy lays with his back to his mattress, curtains open for once and his phone against his chest.

The only thing to snap him out of his slight trance of staring at the ceiling is the vibration.

He clocks that Taehyung has posted and opens it expectantly, eyes widening as he takes in the sight and ponders over the caption. His heart flutters, lips tugged up into a smile as he double taps and thinks about what fun that'll be to draw when he finally gets around to it. And then, with some hesitation, he delves into Taehyung's dm's, but it seems he was beaten to the first message right that second.

@ TAECUM
hiya jeonggukie! you
never messaged me
last night so i assumed
you were busy

do you have time to
talk now?

@ JEONGGUK
ah yeah, sorry i left you in the
dark yesterday.

i wonder, do you think i could
make it up to you somehow?

@ TAECUM
wait let me get this straight
before i embarrass myself

you're asking to send me
nudes this time, right?

@ JEONGGUK
ahh tae

i don't think you ever have
to worry about me trying to
do that at all. it'd make me
endlessly uncomfortable

i meant like taking you for
coffee or something?

it's just that we both live in
seoul so it'd be a waste if i
didn't say thank you some
how

@ TAECUM
coffee, jeonggukie? you're
asking me out now instead?

@ JEONGGUK
i

i'm not sure...

no. no i'm not. i'm just
trying to say thank you
and sorry for yesterday

@ TAECUM
ah, would asking me out
also make you endlessly
uncomfortable, jeonggukie?

@ JEONGGUK
yes? no?

taeeeee what's the right
answer?

@ TAECUM
which one do you want
me to say is the right answer?

@ JEONGGUK
i don't know :((( i'm not
good at this...

@ TAECUM
good at what?

@ JEONGGUK
answering your questions

@ TAECUM
am i making you flustered,
jeongguk? is that why?

@ JEONGGUK
that's another question!

@ TAECUM
it's a simple one though !

tell me if i'm making you
flustered and i'll tell you
the right answers for my
questions

@ JEONGGUK
yes! you are making me
flustered and it's too early for
me to be blushing :((

@ TAECUM
ah you're too cute :'(

of course i'd love to meet
you today !! i have a coffee
shop in mind, though... i'm
very particular about my
coffee if you don't mind

as for the rest; i hope you
asking me out wouldn't
make you feel endlessly
uncomfortable because i
like the idea of you doing so

and i hope you are asking me
out as well as saying thank you
and sorry because i'd like that
a lot as well

@ JEONGGUK
then i am asking you out
and i'd love to see which
place you like to go to

is 7 a good time?

@ TAECUM
that's opening time— perfect.
it's a good job i woke up so
early

@ JEONGGUK
it is :') send me the address and
i'll see you then? i'll wear timberlands
so you'll know that it's me :)

@ TAECUM
okay, *address attached*

see you later jeonggukie x

And, as usual, the 'x' nearly kills the brunette. He sinks back into himself excitedly with a wide smile that only fades when he realises he hasn't done the washing and probably smells quite bad by now. So, he wracks his brain and traverses his floor for his favourite outfit because he really wants Taehyung to like him.

It does take a while for him to locate said outfit, but once he has it he takes a quick shower and brushes his hair, feeling more confident by the second as he realises it's nearly seven and he'll have to start walking now if he wants to be there on time.

Luckily, that café Taehyung requested they go to isn't too far away and Jeongguk finds himself there with a few minutes to spare, shoulders loosening and legs moving less urgently than they had been before.

Really he's quite impressed with his time keeping for once as he attempts to find a good table, but the task proves challenging as questions shoot around his head.

Will Taehyung prefer one by the window? Or Perhaps in the centre? He loves this café, of course he'll have a favourite seat. What if I pick the wrong one and he's too polite to tell me?

But a pair of brown eyes find Jeongguk stood in the entrance of the café, worrying his lip between his teeth, chest urgent in taking in more breath as he begins to panic. And the owner of these eyes doesn't hesitate to call out,

"Jeonggukie? Is that you? I'm over here."

Jeongguk's eyes light up as he finds Taehyung sat at the back of the café with a pretty white, loose fitting blouse, the softest blonde hair Jeongguk thinks he's ever seen, and a smile that beckons him over wordlessly.

The brunette takes a sheepish seat at the table, fidgeting slightly as the other male's eyes wash over him.

"Woah," He says simply, although the word holds many meanings. What is it that has surprised him? Ah, Jeongguk thinks, am I not what he expected? Was he hoping for someone taller? Someone skinnier, with black hair and a nicer dress sense? "You should've told me you were gorgeous, I would've brought my inhaler."

And Jeongguk laughs, somewhat out of relief, covering his mouth with his hand and looking down at the table, fearing that his heart might begin to race and his hands might shake should he gaze up into Taehyung's face again.

"You think I'm joking, i'm serious!" The blonde insists, happy to have been able to make the boy laugh so soon. "It's just a shame you're muffling yourself, i'm sure there isn't a prettier sound in the world."

"Thank you," Jeongguk mumbles, the tips of his ears acquiring a reddish tint to match his cheeks like some new makeup trend. "You're very... visually... appealing yourself?"

That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever said. Don't make it obvious you're embarrassed, maybe he won't find it weird. Is he laughing at me or with me?

"I gotta say," Taehyung says through his laughter before taking a pause to shake his head, grin ever present. "You artists really are abstract. Is this your out of the box way of saying you think that I'm attractive? Or are you using big words to confuse me into believing you do?"

"I really— whichever one you want to be the answer. I can't answer your questions when I don't know which option you prefer," Jeongguk sighs, finding himself stuck in the same situation as earlier.

"Jeonggukie," Taehyung groans. "You've gotta be more headstrong than that. I want to know what you think, not what I expect. So tell me the truth, say what you want to say and then you'll find out if I like it or not, okay? Your opinion is important, too."

And here Jeongguk struggles again with the same thing that tortured him all the way through school. It feels different somehow now, but his tongue still feels heavy in his mouth when he tries to speak the words.

"I... I find you attractive."

Taehyung giggles at how quietly Jeongguk says that, deciding that he might just be the cutest boy he's met in a long while. Their interactions are always so much nicer than those of anyone else he's spoken to before, and so he'll go out of his way to appreciate that every chance he gets.

"Well, would you look at that? The prettiest boy in the coffee shop finds me attractive." And maybe he says that just to make Jeongguk blush— which is a humbling sight, by the way.

The colour begins in his cheeks, dusted a pastel pink as though the angels sang for him to become all the more adorable, and it ends in his irises, those chocolatey brown eyes that do seem to hold a world of light in them. Taehyung thinks he could just about stare at them all day, feels like this is a set of eyes he'd love to wake up to in the morning. Every morning, perhaps.

Taehyung rests his chin in the palm of his hand, smile refusing to fade for as long as Jeongguk's in front of him, and he can only just bring himself to break their comfortable silence,

"Now, do tell me, how did yesterday go?" He asks and watches as Jeongguk's eyes brighten up, pretty lips curling up at the corners, as the boy shuffles forwards in his seat just enough that the sunlight catches him in its loving glow, highlighting his silhouette like that of some celestial being.

The boy; baked in starlight and draped in the envy of the God's who must have spoiled him with their beauty by accident, for it shouldn't be so that one boy can hold so much grace in one body, to an extent where even the angels should fall so envious.

Yes, Taehyung thinks, it's not only right, but completely unavoidable, that I should be so fond of him already.

And therefore, once Jeongguk begins to speak, Taehyung becomes absorbed in a conversation somewhere beyond that cafe. Now accompanied by a warm beverage that warms up his hands from his fingertips to his palms, the steam kissing his face as his features shine out a smile, because Jeongguk had succeeded, and he looks so happy with success on his tongue.

Then it extends that.

Not only do they discuss the hecticity of yesterday's meeting, the fact that 'I knew he'd love you, you're outstanding', and how happy Jeongguk is that Yoongi's going on that date tomorrow, but then topics change to family. To a shared love of the summer and an even more shared distaste for the hopelessness that rain brings on those nights when they don't sleep.

Soon enough, in fact, they find themselves slowly able to laugh together without Jeongguk covering his face quite so urgently.

"—I think you'd love it, too. We should watch it together some time," Taehyung finishes going on about that latest move he'd seen and makes Jeongguk's insides all happy because even if it isn't set in stone that they'll watch a movie together, this means Taehyung actually enjoys his company.

As the last of their coffees steam at the bottom of their cups, they find themselves in a comfortable silence with ever present smiles of content.

Jeongguk is far from aware of the way Taehyung's eyes belong to him since he looks down at his cup instead, but there's this calming vibe to his presence, making the constant catching of their eyes a lot less cause for panic.

"I really want you to draw me," Taehyung sighs carefully, the words a product of thoughts that have been swimming through his head ever since Jeongguk first showed him his art.

"Draw you?" Jeongguk repeats tentatively, eyes emitting the confusion his lips refuse to punctuate. "I hope you don't mind my saying, but what a silly thing to ask. I haven't done much else but draw you and I don't intend to stop now."

Taehyung chuckles heartily, a lazy grin on his lips as they form the words, "I meant a little more personally," in a way so subtly nervous that it mixes amongst Jeongguk's senses and lulls him into a false sense of comfort.

"Uh, I don't think I understand," The boy responds with a sheepish dart of his eyes down to his empty coffee cup, thumbs pressing into the cardboard.

"I mean, for you to draw me in real time. Like they do in the Titanic," He adds the last part with a rosy blush threatening to give away all of his secrets. Of course he'd love to see Jeongguk at work, admiring him in person so endearingly. He'd adore to see his art in real life, as well.

But, more than that, he craves for this to become a reality for his own fantasy.

Being in a situation so unavoidably sensual and honest, his own eyes daringly holding Jeongguk in their stare for both a lack of anything else to focus on and simply to catch every longing glimpse that Jeongguk shoots back at him. No image so much sets Kim Taehyung's heart into palpitations.

"Oh..." Jeongguk whispers, embarrassed at just how shaky his voice had appeared. "That's... That's something I didn't... didn't consider before. You want that? Like, today?"

Taehyung's insides churn at Jeongguk's speech pattern; so seemingly alert and conscious in a way that only makes the elder boy more adamant that butter would not melt in his sweetened mouth.

"Not just yet, but are you free later? I have to do something at home before I can spare the time I imagine it'll take, but I can message you in a few hours and let you know more specifically." Taehyung checks the time on his phone, one which quickly puts Jeongguk's cracked screen to shame, despite being the same brand. "I can't lie and say I'm not really excited about this."

Jeongguk wouldn't go as far to say that he's excited, because he's quite sure the unease in his tummy is mainly nerves and the fact that he knows his house is in no state fit for a visit from someone he'd so much like to impress.

This isn't Yoongi, the boy that had seen him eating donuts in his underwear with clothes surrounding every inch of his floor because laundry had been too hard at that particular moment.

"Yeah... Yeah, okay. Just, uh, message me about it and I'll probably be free," Jeongguk manages to say, even cracking a small smile when Taehyung looks at him expectantly, pulling his coat back onto his arms. Ah, he does look very attractive wrapped up in that black material with the béret on his head, soft hair pulled out of his face to reveal more of his pretty skin.

"Cool!" And with that, Taehyung stands up and so Jeongguk figures he should do the same. "I've had such a good time, Jeonggukie. I really do hope we can do this again some time, your company is so refreshing. I like being around you."

Jeongguk looks down at the floor to hide the dumb grin that gives away the fireworks going off inside of him.

"I'd like that a lot," He pushes out, lips falling short of carrying an actual message worthy of Taehyung's time, but the latter hums happily regardless, surprising Jeongguk with an impulsive hug that makes the boy's eyes widen.

The sweetened aroma of jasmine dances through his lungs, earthy and pure, tied down to mix with something similar to freshly washed cotton blankets, petrichor and thyme, engulfing the boy's lost mind in a feeling so warm that he fears his body might just melt.

He has no time to hug back before Taehyung is giggling again, pulling a note or two from his back pocket in an attempt to pay for the drinks they'd ordered. Jeongguk shoots him this look as though he's about to protest, but Taehyung is too quick.

"Please, if anything, call this a tiny part of the repayment for the drawings you've done of me." And Jeongguk is left only to frown as Taehyung pays the barista and leads them both to the door, ready to face the breeze once more.

The cold seems to work around them completely, as Jeongguk's cheeks stay pink with warmth despite the unforgiving cold as though Taehyung is some sort of windshield, because he doesn't remember feeling anything aside from heat while being next to him.

"I promise I'll message you, even if we can't meet again today. And do tell me if you don't want this to happen, I'll understand, we can just meet up and do something else some other time." Taehyung says, the conclusion to their date here this morning.

Jeongguk can feel the goodbye climbing his tongue, but his teeth bite it back, just long enough to catch Taehyung's eyes get hung up on his lips for a split second. They both grin, then, even if it feels a little bit awkward since they both know exactly what he was thinking.

"I'll talk to you later," Taehyung shakes his head as if to keep himself grounded. "You look cute when you blush, by the way, so forgive me if I keep trying to make you flustered on purpose."

The elder boy grins this cheeky grin and Jeongguk tries to catch up enough with his own thoughts to piece together another sentence. "Th-Thank you," he stammers. "You too."

And he almost leaves his questionable phrase there until he realises how broad the statement was. "You too as in 'you look cute', I mean. And not... not just when you blush, either, because I... I'm not sure really if you even did, but if you did it was def-definitely cute, just—" He cuts himself off to take a breath, acknowledging his own babbling. "In general," He sighs. "You look cute in general."

If Taehyung had lost all of his self control in that moment thanks to the pure adorableness of Jeongguk's disappointed face, he'd have kissed him just to shut him up. And maybe some part of him wished he had, or, more specifically, that they'd known each other well enough for that to be appropriate.

"Thank you, Jeonggukie, but I'm going to have to leave before I end up standing here all day just to see you blush again and my heart melts in the process." He settles for this instead, giving the boy one more grin before they bid each other a quiet goodbye and Jeongguk's left to clutch at his chest to check that Taehyung hasn't taken his heart with him.

Fuck fuck fuck, Jeongguk realises in that moment, he's going to want me to draw him naked. How am I going to survive that? I can't even look him in the eye!

As soon as the thoughts meet his head, he rips his phone from his pocket and dials the only number he knows at this point.

"Min Yoongi, I need you to get to my house right now. This is an emergency!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
ahhhh uwu idk why i'm updating things
this week but here i am again lol... i hope
this isn't moving too fast, but it might bc
my headcanons for this fic are all very
much based on sensuality, so be warned;

they're going to get to know each other
quite soon if u catch my drift lmao.