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The year is 2013.
Taehyung has always loved books. From the time he was able to form a semi-coherent sentence, he’s been surrounded by them. His father was an archivist—incredibly dedicated to his job and filled with a desire to share that passion. He grew up in humble means, so whenever his parents couldn’t afford a babysitter, Taehyung would find himself on the library floor in a sea of books, flipping through page after page while his father worked in the archives. Thus, books and libraries were the places where he felt most at home.
However, he didn’t have as much luck with people. Taehyung is an only child, so the most socialization he got was with his own parents. At school, he was a bit of an introvert, too shy to approach others and nose too stuck in between leather bound paper to notice what he was missing. That isn’t to say Taehyung doesn’t like people. He loves them in fact. His mother always used to tell him he’s got a soft heart. Helping people is almost as fulfilling to him as reading, whether that’s opening the door for someone or feeding his old neighbor’s cats when she’s out.
Even with his shortcomings, he decided to take his love for books and helping people and turn it into a career as a librarian. The work at his public library is rewarding. Whether it’s helping someone find the right book for their research project or reading to children at story time, Taehyung gets to spend his time in his favorite place and doing his favorite things. Despite his passion for his work though, Taehyung still finds himself to be a bit lonely at times.
Since he grew up in an incredibly frugal household where they favored books over game consoles, he’s always been a bit… out of touch. Taehyung enjoys the simple things in life. A glass of merlot, an Agatha Christie novel, and his dog in his lap, and he’s peachy keen. He’s never really seen the appeal of all the high-tech nonsense that’s taken over these last few years. What’s the point of getting a fancy-schmancy smartphone when his Nokia 3330 has served him just fine since his dad gave it to him 12 years ago?
Taehyung’s always found good use for old things. He’s never paid for more than basic cable, still uses Windows 95 on his desktop, hell—even his car is a hand-me-down. As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” There’s no use in spending money he doesn’t have for things he doesn’t need.
Of course, that doesn’t stop his friends from giving him shit for it. They love to make jokes about how Taehyung is just an old man trapped in a 29-year-old’s body. Sometimes, they’ll be chatting about a new TV show on HBO, and the man will look back at his friends with pure confusion. Or god forbid there’s a new “meme” going around, whatever the fuck that means. His complete lack of social awareness always gets a good chuckle out of them. It’s all in good fun though. His best friend, Jimin, has always been especially playful, and despite the disparities in their upbringings, the two couldn’t be closer. Sometimes, it’s just good to slow down for a bit, is what Taehyung likes to think. Jimin is always on the go and the librarian has a solid way of bringing him back down to Earth. Even if they want to pull each other’s hair out sometimes.
Still, being so disconnected from the technological world has its disadvantages—his complete and utter lack of a dating life being one of them. Taehyung is content, all things considered, but he’s a hopeless romantic at heart. He dreams of a rainy day run in to a handsome stranger outside his favorite coffee shop. Soft, shy smiles and an instant spark. Warm hands brushing over shared coffee cups. Unfortunately, life doesn’t quite work like that, and Taehyung finds himself fantasizing about it more and more as he gets closer to 30. Alas, maybe one day he’ll get his storybook ending, but for now, he’ll just have to take solace in the happily ever after of his books.
- - -
It’s a lazy Spring afternoon and Jimin has unceremoniously dragged Taehyung out of the house for a trip to the cafe. They sit outside, letting the cool breeze ruffle their clothes as they chat. The librarian takes a sip of his earl grey tea, leaning with his back against the seat as Jimin smiles into his cup of espresso.
Taehyung raises a curious brow at the flush adorning his best friend’s cheeks. “What’s got you so giddy, hm?” He asks, eyes narrowing at the suspicious way Jimin bites his lip. He looks like the words are practically begging to spill out of him, and Taehyung can barely take the pregnant pause Jimin is doing for dramatic effect. He rolls his eyes, setting his cup down on the table. “Okay, spit it out.”
“Okay,” Jimin smiles wide and leans in, “I kind of met someone.” He admits giddily before he straightens back up.
The librarian responds with a small gasp, “no way!” He and Jimin have known each other since high school, and it’s a rare case for the latter to entertain a serious love interest. That didn’t stop him from entertaining his love interests—for a while at least. “Wait… like met someone met someone, or having sex in a storage closet in the back of a Home Depot met someone?”
Jimin scoffs, jaw dropping as he whacks Taehyung’s arm in protest. “Fuck you, Tae, I resent that! It was only one time.” He corrects, crossing his arms. He glares at his friend playfully before adding with a mischievous smirk. “And it was Lowe’s not Home Depot.”
Taehyung can’t help but roll his eyes before the pair break out into giggles. “No seriously though, tell me!” He demands eagerly, hands reaching out to shake Jimin’s shoulders.
“Fiiiine, okay okay. We’ve been on a couple dates now, and,” Jimin pauses with a wistful sigh, biting his lip like a lovesick teenager, “he’s just a really nice guy. He might reform me, Taetae; I don’t know.”
The news makes Taehyung smile, his heart full for his friend. And yet, he can’t ignore the underlying ache for something of his own. When was the last time he went on a date?
He tamps those thoughts down in favor of celebrating. He reaches out and squeezes Jimin’s hand. “I’m so happy for you, Chim, that’s awesome. Where’d you guys meet?”
“Actually we met online. There’s this new app called Tinder and we matched! We ended up trading numbers and things just kind of fell into place.” Ah, one of those apps. Taehyung has never quite understood all the hype behind those things. His phone makes calls and that’s objectively good enough.
“Oh wow, and he wasn’t secretly a 60 year old bald man catfishing you?”
Jimin glares at him with a deadpan expression. “No, Taehyung, this isn’t To Catch A Predator. I know you’re still stuck in the Stone Age, but phones have cameras in them now so it’s not so easy to pretend when I can simply video call them.”
Taehyung puts his hands up placatingly. “All right, all right. I’m just fucking with you anyway. Seriously though, I’m happy for you.”
Reaching a hand out across the table, Jimin squeezes Taehyung’s arm. “And now that I’ve found my man, it’s time for you to find yours.”
With a groan, the librarian shirks his friend’s hand away, leaning back in his chair. “Not this again.”
“Hey! None of that. It’s been years since you’ve even been on a date! You’re always holed up in that library, you need to get out there and meet someone.”
Taehyung huffs, dejected. Of course Jimin has a point. “How am I even supposed to meet somebody? I only ever really hang out with you, and it’s not like the library clientele of elderly women and random kids will lead me to any dates.”
“That’s why you need to get rid of that absolutely heinous brick you call a phone, join modern times, and get a smartphone. Then you can download Tinder and meet someone 21st century style.”
“Absolutely not. My phone works just fine.”
It’s a conversation they’ve had quite a few times at this point. Jimin’s always complaining that he’s so much harder to reach, never understands any of his references, and can’t like his photos on Instagram. Taehyung doesn’t understand the point of posting pictures of your food to the internet for strangers anyway.
“Yes, it still works fine, but it’s doing nothing for you. You need to upgrade, Tae. That thing is holding you back!” Jimin tries to convince.
Honestly, he’s thinking about giving in just to stop Jimin’s endless bickering, though he won’t go down without a fight. “Tell me one thing your fancy little smartphone can do that I would actually need that I can’t do now.”
“Connect to WiFi.” Jimin deadpans, causing Taehyung to scoff.
He points an accusatory finger his way before proudly proclaiming, “I’ll have you know, Jimin, my phone does connect to internet!”
Before he can argue further, Jimin is laughing. “Tae, be so fucking for real. You have to connect to fucking dialup to get internet and most websites don’t even load anymore! You can’t even use Google!”
“Can too!” He retorts before continuing through a mumble, “I just can’t see pictures…or click on any of the links…”
The look Jimin gives him in that moment is so unamused Taehyung starts to wonder why he even tolerates the librarian.
“Plus, your phone doesn’t even take pictures and imagine how nice it would be to take photos of Yeontan when you don’t feel like taking out your stupid wind-up camera.” He does love to take pictures of his dog…
He contemplates for a long moment. Maybe a change could be good for him. He really hasn’t been out with someone in a long time, and this might just help his chances on meeting someone actually age appropriate. Taehyung glares back before he huffs in resignation. “Okay, fine! You can get me a damn smartphone if it’ll shut you up!”
Jimin jumps up with a squeal, clapping his hands together before jostling Taehyung by the shoulders. “Welcome to the modern age, buddy! Let’s get you a smartphone so you can finally get laid!”
Taehyung allows his body to move like a rag doll, sighing to himself as he wonders what he’s gotten himself into.
- - -
In just a few short hours, Taehyung is walking through Jimin’s front door with a shiny new smartphone.
Admittedly, it took a little longer than he expected. There were just so many options and the sales associate kept rattling off “features” that just sounded like a foreign language. Eventually, Jimin’s patience had run out, and he took over—much to Taehyung’s appreciation.
He’s not entirely sure what he got, but he thinks it’s some kind of android something or other. It looks horribly fragile for something so god damn expensive, but Jimin assured him the case and screen protector would ensure its safety. Although, Taehyung’s not quite convinced.
They sit down at Jimin’s dining table, laying out the contents of the phone and its accessories. His best friend looks far too excited to be helping him set up a new phone. “Okay! So, first things first, we gotta set up your contacts.”
“Sounds easy enough.” Taehyung pulls out his Nokia, navigating to his contact list. He grabs the new smartphone, placing it down in front of him. He stares at the bright screen for a moment in a state of limbo. There’s one big button at the bottom, but it’s the only one he can seem to locate. How do you get to the contacts if there’s no menu options?
Jimin observes him quietly as he looks blankly down at the device. It’s been a solid 30 seconds, and Taehyung has yet to do anything at all. “You need help there, buddy?”
“Nope. No, I can figure this out, Jimin.” He glares at his best friend before returning his attention to the phone. It can’t possibly be that hard to figure out, can it? He’s got a degree in library sciences for god sakes, he can navigate a fucking phone.
After another few seconds of staring, he realizes there’s an orange icon with the silhouette of some guy’s head on the bottom of the screen. That’s gotta be it. He pats himself on the back for managing to locate it without help. He can totally do this.
Now he just has to figure out how to get in the contacts. His brows furrow.
He hears Jimin sigh exaggeratedly. “It’s touch screen, Taehyung.”
The man’s eyes dart up to his friend, expression deadpan. “I’m aware of that, Jimin, thank you.” He responds condescendingly, despite the very real fact he had entirely forgotten that he could simply touch the icons.
He presses down on the orange man and watches in mild awe as an entirely new screen pops up with a blank contact list. “Oh wow.” He whispers, mostly to himself.
Noticing the plus sign in the corner, he presumes that is for adding contacts. He presses the plus and watches yet another screen pop up with an editable contact form. Taehyung looks over at his Nokia and goes to input the first number.
His fingers fumble over the pop-up keyboard every few seconds, muscle memory still honed in on the T89 method of typing his old phone works on. After a painful 2 minutes of typing and retyping, Jimin crumbles.
“Jesus fuck, just give me the damn phone!” He yells, snatching the smartphone out of Taehyung’s hands as he starts to input the man’s contacts himself. He grumbles to himself, huffing about Taehyung’s old man hands as he types away at a significantly more efficient pace.
When Jimin glances up at Taehyung, the librarian can’t help but chortle under his breath at the irritation etched in his brows. He leans over, flicking his friend’s forehead resulting in a swat to his hand. “Thanks, Jiminie, my tech wizard.”
“Yeah, yeah. Fucking grandpa.”
“Okay, now that I’ve officially wasted multiple hours of my life teaching you how a fucking smartphone works, let’s get you laid!” Jimin declares with enthusiasm. The mischievous twinkle in his eye doesn’t bode well for Taehyung wriggling his way out of this.
The librarian sighs, leaning back in the dining chair with a huff. Despite his deeply ingrained desire to do literally anything else, Taehyung reluctantly agrees. “Fiiiiine.”
Jimin’s beaming smile makes his eyes roll. His best friend scoots closer, pulling up the app called Tinder. “Okay, first we have to sign you up. What’s your email?”
With an amused raise of his brow, Jimin taunts, “Seriously?”
“What? It’s a perfectly usable email.”
“Whatever you say, BookBoy84.”
Taehyung shoves him with a huff, “shut the fuck up and teach me how to access the sexy men in my phone.”
Jimin gives him the basic run down on how the app works before forcing him to try and come up with a clever phrase to attract other users. Unfortunately, his joke about starting a new chapter in his life as a librarian didn’t meet the criteria. His friend even forced him to take a whole new set of photos, given his previous phone didn’t even have a camera. He also added a few photos Jimin had sent him to round it out.
When all was said and done, Taehyung had a shiny new profile to attract a potential sea of suitors. After an initial swipe through of a couple guys, the librarian finally decides to take his leave.
“Well thanks for bringing me into the modern age, Minnie. Even if you made me pay 300 dollars for a fragile glass box when I have a fully functioning Nokia.” He teases with an exaggerated smile.
Jimin returns it with one of his own before placing an obnoxious kiss on Taehyung’s cheek. “Course, babe, just doing my part on behalf of the senior citizens.” As he leans back, he adds, “Speaking of, can I see your old phone for a sec?”
With a shrug, Taehyung hands the device over to his friend. “Thanks!” Not even a moment later, the phone is chucked directly into the nearest wall, landing with a resonant BANG.
“Jesus, why the fuck did you do that?!” Taehyung yells with a flinch, eyes wide as he noticed the fresh dent in the plaster wall.
Jimin stares in awe before casually walking over to pick up the phone. He turns it over in his hands a few times, testing the features. “Huh. I always wanted to see if these things were really as indestructible as they say. Guess they were right; shit did more damage to my wall than the other way around.”
As the phone is placed in Taehyung’s hand, he stares at the device, still reeling. Ironically though, Jimin is right, the thing is totally fine. Not even a scratch. “Huh.”
“Right?!”
Taehyung sighs, pocketing the Nokia before resolutely heading for the exit. “Okay I’m getting the fuck out of here before you start trying to break more of my shit.”
- - -
Taehyung finishes the last of his dinner, washing the dishes in his sink. It was a busy day at the library, so he’s thinking of pouring himself a glass of wine and rereading his favorite romance novel to spice things up. Although he’s partial to murder mysteries, the main love interest in this book gives him butterflies, so it’s the perfect story to help raise his mood. Plus, he’s got a thing for men with big muscles and soft hearts.
Glass in hand, he cuddles up on the couch, lamps castling a cozy soft glow as he pulls a blanket over his lap. Yeontan trails close behind, jumping up next to him to lay against a pillow. He’s about to get settled in when he hears a ding come from the corner. It startles him at first before he realizes it’s his smartphone, plugged into the wall since he got home hours ago. He’d almost forgotten about the thing. For all its marvelous features, he hasn’t found much use for them yet aside from texting Jimin and googling stuff he’s curious about. Admittedly, that last part is quite convenient.
Getting up from his seat, he walks over and unplugs the device to bring it toward his face. The light temporarily blinds him before his pupils adjust.
“You’ve got new matches!” The notification reads. Apparently it’s from Tinder. Taehyung sighs. He hasn’t checked the app since the day Jimin forced him to make a profile. He chews on the side of his lip, contemplating. Maybe it would be good to actually try and talk to some people.
He heads back to the sofa, getting into his original snuggle position and grabs his wine glass. His dog huddles up into his lap, Taehyung stroking his soft fur. He takes a sip of his drink and opens the app.
At first, most of the men are mediocre at best. Guys with almost nothing in their profile. Pictures with dead fish. Group photos where he can’t even tell who the guy is supposed to be. There were a couple hidden gems he swiped right on but so far it’s been a slog. He’s about to call it a night when the next profile catches his eye.
“Jungkook, 24.”
The man is exceptionally handsome. His first picture is a simple selfie, but Taehyung is immediately enraptured. He’s got these gorgeous doe eyes that shine like black pools. His hair looks soft and shiny. There’s a boyish charm to him that comes off endearing, and yet there’s parts of him that feel totally opposite. There’s a lip piercing at the corner of his mouth and tons of silver hoops dangling from both ears. His jaw is also sharp and angular. The perfect mix of pretty and handsome.
Taehyung leans back on the cushions, taking another sip from his almost empty glass as he stares at the photo. “Huh.” He thinks aloud. A mighty fine man indeed.
He scrolls through the rest of the photos, one is a very attractive gym selfie that shows off his array of tattoos and taut muscles and another of him and his dog. It’s incredibly cute, his bunny smile on full display as he cuddles up to a Doberman with an equally happy face.
When he finally checks out the contents of his profile, he’s pleased to see it’s not left blank or incredibly obnoxious. Jungkook lists a few hobbies and makes some kind of reference to something called League of Legends. Maybe he can ask him about it if they match.
Taehyung chews on his lip again, nervously hovering his thumb over the screen for a moment. Finally, he takes the leap, swiping the profile to the right. Immediately though, the screen changes with a notification, “It’s a match!”
He sucks in a breath as he sees their profile pictures lined up next to each other. Holy shit, they actually matched.
Taehyung hadn’t thought this far ahead. What does he do now? Is he supposed to message first? What does he say? Oh god. Panic starts to seep in as he gets up to pace around his living room. He bites down on the nail of his thumb as he thinks.
This shouldn’t be that hard, right? Just say hi.
He hovers over the screen again, ready to pull up their chat when he chickens out. “Fuck, I can’t do this.” He whines, defeated. Yeontan stares up at him with curious eyes, and it somehow only makes him feel more embarrassed.
Slumping down on the couch, Taehyung huffs. How the fuck is he supposed to do this online dating thing if he can’t even form a coherent message? After a moment though, a thought lights up his brain. Jimin does online dating.
Without a second thought, he pulls up Jimin’s number, holding the phone up to his ear.
“Hey, Taetae, what’s up?” Jimin’s voice rings from the other line.
“Jimin!” Taehyung yells, “I got a match on tinder!”
“Oh my god, no way! Is he cute? Did you message him? Tell me all about it. Oh my god, you’re finally gonna hide the snake, gods be good!”
Taehyung cuts him off before he can continue his ramble, “Jimin, shut up for a second, I’m having a crisis.”
“Oh, what is it?”
Taehyung nibbles on his finger some more as his cheeks heat. “I haven’t messaged him yet. I have no idea what to say. How do you even start a conversation with someone on the internet? Do I ask him about the weather? Like is this hairstylist small talk or am I supposed to try and flirt? Do I—“
It’s Jimin’s turn to cut off his monologue. “Jesus, Tae, chill. It’s not that hard, I promise. Just send a quick message telling him hello and compliment him on something about his profile. Or you can ask him about something he posted in it. You just have to open the door to something that he can actually answer.”
“But how do I do that? God, this shouldn’t be so HARD; I feel like I’m fourteen and trying to ask out my middle school crush. This is so embarrassing.” Taehyung whines, collapsing back onto the couch.
“Will you stop being so dramatic? You talk to people literally every day at the library. I’ve seen you pull an old woman into a 2 hour long conversation about her flower garden, you can send a damn message.”
“Okay, but she had an incredible garden, and her tomato plants were immaculate. I simply had to know how she got them so red and supple.” Taehyung defends.
The line is silent for a long moment before he hears Jimin sigh on the other line. “Hopeless, you are. You know that?”
An argument is on the tip of his tongue when another ding makes him jolt away from his phone. He stares down at the screen in confusion until he sees he’s gotten a new message on Tinder. “Holy shit.”
“What, what is it?”
Taehyung stares down at the message in shock. “He messaged me.”
“We love a man who takes charge.” Jimin comments with amusement.
Too distracted to retort his friend’s jests, he starts to pace again. “He said, hey there! I liked your profile a lot, you’re the first person on this app I’ve seen playing the saxophone. You seem like you’ve got an old soul, what kind of music do you like?” He can feel his body flush, the message making him feel a little warm with how well thought out and interested it sounded. He’s not used to people taking an interest in him like that. Silently he thanks the gods that Jimin made him post that picture.
“That was such a good message, he’s totally interested in you, Tae! You’ve gotta message him back asap!” Jimin squeals, far too excited for something he’s not involved in.
“Okay, but what do I say?”
“Just be casual, don’t come off too strong, but show some interest in him too.” Jimin advises calmly.
Taehyung inhales a deep breath before staring back down at the message. The words seem to stare back at him glaringly, and it’s like every coherent thought leaves his brain all at once.
Casual. Think casual. He encourages himself, typing the first thing he can think of. The message reading: “oh wow hi! I didn’t expect you to message me first. Someone as handsome as you must be getting chased on all over the place, I can’t imagine you’d need to reach out to someone like me…
Not that you’re desperate or anything. Just that you’re such a catch, I should be groveling on my knees to impress you is all I mean—“
Immediately, he deletes the entire message. That was definitely not casual. He desperately needs to take a chill pill because he’s going to come off like a psychopath if he can’t learn to have a normal conversation. At least he’s gotten a little faster at this whole texting thing.
“Tae, I can hear the wheels turning in that big brain of yours as we speak. Relax, you’re overthinking it. Just be yourself.” Jimin reassures him.
Taehyung’s shoulders fall just a bit, letting the words of encouragement wash over him. Be yourself.
He tries again: “Hi there! Thank you, you’ve got a keen eye. My friends would definitely agree with you, although sometimes they might say it’s to a fault. My favorite kind of music is jazz, which is fitting I suppose. What about you? Also I liked your profile too, your dog was super cute!”
Before he can overthink it, he sends the message. He reads it back to Jimin and is relieved when it’s not immediately shut down by his friend. They chat for another minute before his phone lights up again.
“Jimin, he messaged again!”
“Wow, already?”
He can’t help the smile that blooms on his face as he stares down at the message: “I knew it! I’ve always had a knack for reading people. I’m sure you play a mean jazz song on that sax. I’d love to hear it sometime. I guess you could say I’m more of the opposite, I listen to a lot of modern music like pop and indie. Although I’m a music lover in general so maybe we could trade some song recs. :)
Thank you! His name is Bam, he’s a cutie right? He’s a little dumb but he’s got spirit.”
There’s an image attached showing the dog, Bam, dangling upside down from a couch, tongue hanging out. Taehyung giggles, a cute dog for a cute guy.
This time, he doesn’t wait for Jimin to give input. He lets the words flow naturally, Jungkook’s easy going and sweet demeanor giving him enough confidence to answer back.
“What did he say?” Jimin pries with curiosity.
Not even a moment later, Jungkook responds again and their conversation starts to flow. “Okay, bye Jimin, I’m leaving now.”
“Hey! Don’t leave me hanging, what did he say? Taehyung, you ungrateful little—“
The librarian doesn’t give him the chance to finish before he’s hanging up with another giggle. He’s sure he’ll get a slew of curse words in his text messages soon. For now though, he couldn’t care less because he’s talking to pretty, friendly, dog dad Jungkook.
The night slowly fades like that, the pair exchanging messages on Tinder and slowly learning small bits about each other. Jungkook tells him about his gaming hobby and how he’s got a job in computers. He didn’t quite understand much of his explanation, but he figured it’d be harder to explain over text to someone who barely understands how a fax machine works.
Jungkook also shows a ton of interest in Taehyung’s life, asking him questions about his job, and what his favorite books are. He even listens to Taehyung ramble about Agatha Christie without much complaint. They exchange more photos of their dogs, and Taehyung is already envisioning a doggy playdate.
It’s now 1am and Taehyung’s 3rd wine glass is empty. He didn’t even realize how late it had become until he glanced up at the clock.
“Oh my god, it’s so late! I’m sorry, I must be keeping you up.” Taehyung apologizes, they’ve been talking for hours and he’d barely noticed.
Jungkook’s response is quick. “Don’t worry about it, it was worth it to get to talk to you. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you. :)”
Taehyung bites his lip, a blush painting his cheeks. “Me too. It was surprisingly easy. I’ve never done the whole online dating thing before, but I imagined much worse than this.”
“Don’t get your hopes up too quickly, there’s still plenty of time for me to disappoint you on our first in person date. ;)”
He sucks in a breath, butterflies fluttering in his stomach at the insinuation. “Well then I suppose you’ll just have to ask me on a date so we can find out.” He’s almost shocked at his ability to flirt back. He’s never been very good at it, but Jungkook makes it all seem so easy.
“I suppose you’re right. So how about it, Tae? Will you let me take you out?”
His response is immediate. “I think I can do that.”
They confirm details before bidding one another goodnight. Taehyung closes the app and lies back on his couch, Yeontan sound asleep on his lap. He stares at the ceiling with an elated smile, a kind of giddiness twisting his stomach in knots in a way that makes him feel young again. He can’t even remember the last time he was so excited to go on a date.
Part of him is sickeningly nervous, afraid he won’t be able to keep up with Jungkook. Taehyung doesn’t really know how to date anymore so there’s a good chance he’s going to be painfully awkward and be the one to fuck it up. But another part of him feels like this could be that new start he’s been thinking so much about lately. Maybe his story is just beginning.
- - -
To claim Taehyung is nervous would be an understatement. His last proper date was when he was 23. He’d just finished college plus a long-term relationship that ended rather suddenly when his boyfriend decided to move continents. It was a blind date, and the guy smelled like eggs. Suffice it to say, it’s been a while, and his experience with successful dating is limited at best.
In order to mitigate possible disasters, he arrives at the restaurant an entire half hour early. There’s some seating outside on the awning, so Taehyung snags one of the tables since it’s such a nice day. Plus, the breeze will help dry any sweat that forms. He wipes his palms over his slacks, eyes hesitantly scanning the area. He should have brought a book.
A waitress comes up to take his order and asks what he’d like. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m actually waiting for someone, so I’m fine for now.” She nods with a smile, the librarian doing his best to return it with how awkward he feels. Perhaps a half-hour was too early…
A half hour certainly does prove too early. The waitress comes over again to check in, which only makes Taehyung feel bad for wasting her time. He orders water just so he doesn’t have to say no again.
Thankfully, Jungkook seems to be a punctual kind of guy. As the man walks up along the sidewalk, Taehyung is immediately drawn to him. He’s just as stunning in person if not more. He’s wearing a casual black outfit that shows off his arms. It’s a stark contrast to the beige and brown ensemble Taehyung sports, but he finds he kind of likes that.
When their eyes meet, Jungkook immediately smiles. Relief washes over him so that they won’t have to play the game of trying to recognize each other in a crowd. The man gives him a small wave that he returns. As he approaches, Taehyung gets up from his seat, the metal chair scraping awfully against the concrete.
Taehyung is positively enamored by Jungkook. His skin looks so soft, just like the tussled strands that fall over his forehead. His lips are pink and pretty too, accentuated by the piercing glinting in the corner. Plus those eyes. Taehyung is sure he could get lost in them if he stared too long.
Something he seems to be doing quite a lot of at the moment. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quite realize until Jungkook is standing directly in front of him with a questioning brow and amused smirk. “Uhh, hi?”
“Oh shit, sorry, hi!” Taehyung apologizes, eagerly sticking out a hand to Jungkook in greeting. The man takes it, a smile still etched on that handsome face. “Sorry about that, you’re just way prettier in person than I could have imagined.”
They both take their seats, and Taehyung immediately starts to fumble his words. “Not like you weren’t pretty in your photos of course. You’re pretty everywhere obviously—NOT everywhere, I mean—“
Before the librarian can make a bigger fool of himself, he’s cut off by an endearing giggle. “You’re cute.” Jungkook comments, a confident smile on his face as he meets Taehyung’s gaze.
All Taehyung can do is blush at the compliment, fidgety fingers playing with the edge of his table napkin. The waitress comes over not long after to take their orders.
As she’s walking away, Jungkook is the first to break the ice. “Thanks for accepting my offer to take you out.”
“Well, thanks for asking. Honestly, I was kind of surprised when you messaged me first.”
Jungkook tilts his head to the side in confusion; it’s endearing how puppy-like it makes him look. “Why would you be surprised?”
It’s Taehyung’s turn to be confused. He huffs a chuckle before gesturing to himself and then to his date. “I mean, have you seen me? Have you seen yourself? You look like a cool, edgy model with pretty eyes and a killer smile. And I’m a librarian who barely understands how to use a printer.”
Jungkook laughs before rolling his eyes with a shake of his head. He leans on his elbow, resting his cheek in his palm. “Maybe I like clueless librarians who need help using printers.” Taehyung’s cheeks immediately begin to heat at the flirtation. “Besides, you sell yourself short. You’re one of the most attractive men I’ve seen on that app, and your style gives you that whole classically handsome look.”
Taehyung can barely contain his desire to hide behind his own hands. Jungkook’s gaze is unrelenting as he throws compliments at him so casually.
The compliments continue as the date progresses. Jungkook is incredibly charming, a calm yet cheeky confidence blanketing him as he speaks. It would almost be intimidating if he didn’t have a few endearing quirks. He talks a lot with his hands when he gets excited, fidgeting in his seat often like his body is incapable of being still for too long. Some of his flirty jokes also border on corny, but they make Taehyung smile as much as they make him want to groan.
Thus far, their first date is proving shockingly successful. That is aside from the fact that Jungkook is clearly more up-to-date on relevant popular culture than Taehyung could ever hope to be. He’s made at least two references that the librarian had absolutely no idea about. It’s at the third reference that he has to explain to Taehyung that Jungkook calls him out on it.
His eyes are comically wide with surprise as he confirms, “Wait seriously? You don’t know what Vine is?”
Taehyung’s eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. “Like the plant?”
Jungkook stares at him for a moment before breaking out into giggles. Taehyung would be embarrassed if the sound of it wasn’t so damn cute. When his laugh dies down, he smiles endearingly at the man, “You really weren’t kidding about the old soul thing, huh?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Taehyung responds with a scratch of his head, “Admittedly, I didn’t even have a smartphone until recently.”
“What did you use before that?” Jungkook asks, curiosity genuine.
“Uh, I used a Nokia 3330.”
Jungkook’s smile reaches his eyes as he speaks. “Oh my god, like the one from the early 2000s? That’s actually kind of insane. I’m impressed you managed all this time without any social media or internet on your phone.”
Taehyung shrugs noncommittally; he’s never really given much credence to the whole social media thing. “I never got the hype, to be honest. Too many people sharing too much about themselves. Besides, it’s all a little fast-paced for me. I much prefer relaxing, and reading or listening to my vinyl records than trying to keep up with what’s what.”
“Huh.” Jungkook remarks, contemplation clear on his face. “You know, that does sound kind of nice. I guess you could say I’m always plugged in. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two about slowing down.”
Taehyung smiles softly at the request. “Sure, that sounds nice.”
“Although I will say, keeping up does have some advantages.”
“Yeah? Like what?” Taehyung asks curiously.
Jungkook beams, eyes crinkling with his bunny smile. “Constant access to hilarious internet content of course. Here, let me show you.”
Before Taehyung can protest, Jungkook is up out of his seat and coming to his side of the table. He leans over Taehyung’s shoulder, holding his phone out as he loads up the Vine app. He can feel the man’s body heat from their close proximity, and it sends tingles down his spine. Jungkook smells sweet, like warm vanilla.
When the video finally loads, it’s of a banana singing part of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”. Admittedly, the vine is a little confusing, but Taehyung can feel Jungkook’s chest vibrate with his laughter, so he supposes it does its job.
By the end of the date, Taehyung is officially enamored. Jungkook is sweet, smart, and funny. They find out they’re both animal lovers, swapping stories about their dogs and eagerly planning a puppy play date. Jungkook even likes art history which is a pleasant surprise for Taehyung since he loves going to museums.
Alas, all good things must come to an end and the pair get up from the table once they’ve paid the check. They walk to the sidewalk, shoulders brushing as they go. When they reach, they turn to face each other. Taehyung takes the moment to get a good look at Jungkook’s face. He really is so gorgeous.
Jungkook’s smile is small but present, a reassurance to Taehyung that he wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the date. The librarian is the one to break the silence this time. “I had a really good time. Thanks for this.”
Taehyung hopes he’s not imagining the soft flush on the man’s cheeks. “Enough to want a second date?”
“I’d say so. Looks like you weren’t as disappointing as you said you’d be.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll prove it on the second go-round.” Jungkook jokes with a wink.
Taehyung laughs quietly to himself before meeting the man’s eyes once again. “See you soon then?”
Jungkook reaches out a hand, gently squeezing Taehyung’s hand before letting go. “See you soon, Tae.”
It’s hard to know if the goosebumps Taehyung feels are from the light touch or the nickname rolling so easily off Jungkook’s lips.
- - -
Over the course of the next week, Jungkook and Taehyung text every day. Whether it’s a simple “good morning” text, or pictures of their dogs, or simple life updates, Taehyung relishes each message. It’s the most Taehyung has looked at his phone possibly ever. Even Jimin was surprised by it when they hung out a few days ago, teasing Taehyung for finally catching up to the modern age, and all for a boy. He’d have called him out on it if it wasn’t technically true.
This time, Taehyung asks Jungkook out. He invites him over for a home-cooked meal and sweetens the deal by offering to play a game afterward. When the librarian asks, Jungkook’s response is an emphatic “yes”. And within a week of their next date, they’re meeting again.
Jungkook arrives around 7 pm, their dinner still simmering on the stove. Taehyung drops his utensils and heads for the door, Yeontan hot on his tail. “Hi!” He greets enthusiastically when he opens the door to see Jungkook’s gorgeous face. Admittedly, his enthusiasm is probably a little much and he inwardly winces at the pitch of his voice.
His date doesn’t seem to mind though, returning his greeting with a beaming smile and going in for a hug. “Hey, Tae!” When Jungkook’s arms wrap around him, his whole body lights up. His body is firm against his own, and despite the fact they’re about the same height, Jungkook’s build makes it feel like he’s engulfing him. Taehyung hugs back, letting himself relish in the newfound contact.
The hug is shortlived though, a certain small pomeranian making his presence known through a series of excited yips. He pushes himself between the pair’s open legs, imploring them to pay him some attention.
Jungkook pulls away with a laugh, squatting down to scratch through the fluffy fur between the dog’s ears. “Well, hello to you too, little one. You’re so cute!” He continues to pet him as his eyes look up to meet Taehyung’s, “Yeontan, right?”
Taehyung nods his head in confirmation, happy to stand back and watch his dog wiggle excitedly in his date’s arms. The two get on quite well, Yeontan happily basking in the praises and pets. After a moment of watching them, Jungkook finally gets up from his squat to focus his attention back on the librarian. Taehyung reaches a hand out for Jungkook to take, emboldened by their previous contact as he walks him toward the kitchen. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Thankfully, Jungkook doesn’t seem to mind the contact either, happily placing his palm against the others as he’s led through the apartment. Taehyung lets go once they’re by the kitchen island to finish off the dish left simmering on the burner. Jungkook stands on the other side, eyes curiously scanning over the room. “Mind if I look around the room a bit?”
“Yeah, of course,” Taehyung confirms before watching as the man slowly walks into the connected living room. Jungkook is gentle, careful not to roughly handle any of Taehyung’s things as he wanders. He glides his fingers over the spines of the books on Taehyung’s bookshelf, leaning in to read the titles. Next to the shelf is his vinyl collection, which immediately garners the man’s attention.
“Ah, here’s that vinyl record player I’ve been hearing so much about. Quite the collection you’ve got,” Jungkook comments as he flits through the records stored next to the player.
Taehyung smiles as he watches Jungkook. His curiosity is endearing and even a bit flattering. “You can play one if you want.”
Jungkook smiles as he goes through his choices. “Big mistake giving me so much power, Tae,” he responds cheekily.
“I think you can handle it, big guy.” Taehyung chuckles in amusement. He returns to his task, getting lost in it for a moment until he hears the record start to play. The sounds of Etta James echo through the room, the beginning of her album “At Last” tickling Taehyung’s ears. “A good choice,” he praises the man’s selection, earning him a self-satisfied smile.
As Taehyung starts to hum quietly to himself, Jungkook continues his exploration of the living room. He stops in front of the television, crouching down to get a better look. It’s a hand-me-down he got from his parents—the same one he used when he was a kid. It doesn’t have a DVD player or anything quite so modern, but it’s got a VHS tape player inside of it that works just fine. “Woah, this thing is a relic,” Jungkook jokes, sending a cheeky smirk Taehyung’s way.
“Sorry Mr. Hightech, we hold on to perfectly usable things in this house.” Taehyung remarks with a huff.
Jungkook shakes his head in amusement as he stands up straight. “Hopefully I prove perfectly usable then.” Another one of the man’s corny yet endearing flirty remarks—it still makes Taehyung blush all the same.
Dinner passes without a hitch, the pair sitting at Taehyung’s small dining table and letting the small talk flow between them. He’s grateful conversations seem to flow so easily with the man despite their differences in lifestyle. Yeontan uses the opportunity to try and rope Jungkook into giving him some of his food, and Taehyung has to physically remove the dog as he sees his date struggle not to give in.
When they finish eating, Jungkook offers to help clean the dishes which Taehyung appreciatively accepts. It allows him the opportunity to brush shoulders with the man, the soft hints of vanilla wafting through his nose as they scrub plates together. Jungkook breaks their comfortable silence while they’re finishing up. “You know I’m surprised you offered to play a game after dinner. I figured with all the old tech, you wouldn’t have a console.”
Taehyung stops mid-scrub, looking over at Jungkook in confusion. Much to his alarm—and excitement—their faces are closer than he expects. He does his best not to falter under the proximity as he responds, “What do you mean?” He asks, patting himself on the back for not stammering.
Jungkook scrunches his brows together, a soft pout on his lips as he speaks. “You know? Like a gaming console. How else would we play games?”
Blinking owlishly at his date, understanding dawns on Taehyung. “Oh. You thought I meant video games.” Jungkook blinks back at him before Taehyung huffs a quiet chuckle. “I don’t have a gaming console, Jungkook. I meant like a physical game, like chess or cards.”
“Ohh!” Jungkook responds in understanding, smacking his own forehead. “Sorry, that genuinely didn’t even cross my mind.”
“Is that okay?” Taehyung asks nervously.
Jungkook gives him a reassuring smile. “Of course! What game did you have in mind?”
“Do you know how to play chess?”
The man thinks to himself for a moment before answering, “Yeah, I haven’t played since early high school, so there’s a good chance you’ll school my ass, but I think I can manage.”
Taehyung smiles, letting his competitive spirit take over. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you though, I’m generous but not that generous.”
Jungkook chuckles, bumping his hip against Taehyung’s as he goes back to washing dishes. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
The pair sit on the floor next to the TV to set up their game. At first, Jungkook struggles to remember the set-up, but despite claiming he wouldn’t go easy on him, Taehyung walks him through the first few moves. Eventually, Jungkook gains some confidence, and the game truly begins.
After a half-hour of playing, Taehyung is in the lead. “Man, you really are kicking my ass,” Jungkook huffs as Taehyung knock over another another pawn. He has a precious pout on his face that the librarian has the distinct urge to kiss. They’re sitting more next to each other than across, bodies magnetic, hovering just close enough for their knees to knock every time they bend down to make a move.
Feeling a bit smug, Taehyung playfully rubs in his impending victory. “Told you I wouldn’t go easy on you.”
“Don’t get too cocky yet, I could make a comeback.”
Taehyung chortles, “It’s cute that you think that.” He pats his hand in faux pity—an opportunity to touch simply for the sake of it. “So,” Taehyung starts, watching as Jungkook plays his next piece, “tell me about this computer job of yours.”
Jungkook hums, concentrated on the board with fingers hovering over the prospective pieces. “It’s a little complicated to explain, but basically I’m what’s known as a white hacker. Companies pay me money to find flaws in their system that could be taken advantage of by malicious hackers.”
He tries to play the words over in his head, hoping to make sense of them. Unfortunately, Taehyung is entirely inept in this realm. “You’re right that is complicated to explain,” he jokes. They share amused smiles as Taehyung takes his turn. “How does someone even get into something like that?”
On Jungkook’s move, he’s able to take Taehyung’s bishop, quietly celebrating with an emphatic “yes!” The librarian chuckles at his enthusiasm, even if it’s at his own expense. After, Jungkook sits up straighter to speak more directly. “It’s actually kind of a funny story.”
Taehyung sits up as well, curiosity peaked. “I’ve been into computers since I was a kid. I’ve always been a little too inquisitive for my own good. I ended up learning how to hack when I was around 10. I mostly did it for fun, just to see what I could get into.”
Jungkook scratches the back of his neck with a coy smile. “Turns out, it’s a federal crime to hack into a government website.”
Eyes comically wide, Taehyung’s mouth hangs open through a gasp. “No way. You hacked into a government website?!” He didn’t even know that was possible. Not that he fully understands how hacking works in the first place.
The proud smile on Jungkook’s face makes Taehyung break out into laughter. Jungkook shrugs noncommittally before continuing, “Yep, had the feds come knocking on my door at 12 years old. I was banned from accessing the internet for 6 years.”
“That’s insane, Jungkook, you’re insane.” Taehyung isn’t sure if he’s more shocked or impressed. Probably the latter. He’s never met someone so adept with technology, and he has to admit it’s fascinating.
Jungkook gives him a wink and a cheeky smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Honestly, you should. I don’t even know how to customize my computer wallpaper, let alone hack into some high-profile government site.”
With a giggle, Jungkook scoots just a hair closer. “It’s okay, I kind of like that you’re more in touch with the past. Technology is nice, but you’ve definitely proven it’s not needed to have a good time.”
Taehyung’s cheeks warm as his shoulder brushes Jungkook’s. “Glad I could show you a good time.”
“For our next date, you’re definitely coming over to my house. I think a movie night is in order. I’ve got a 42-inch TV and the Avengers box set with our name on it.”
“What’s the Avengers?” Taehyung asks curiously.
Jungkook’s smile immediately falls, a look of bewilderment on his face. “You’ve never heard of the Avengers? Marvel movies? Superheroes?”
The librarian shrugs nonchalantly. “Maybe in passing, but I don’t go to the movies much unless my friend drags me along.”
“Well, now we absolutely have to watch them. It’s my favorite movie series. I even have collectible figures.” Jungkook beams, giddy excitement clear in his tone.
Taehyung can’t help but mirror his smile. “Looking forward to it.”
“Now let’s get back to this game so I can have my redemption.”
Jungkook does not have a redemption. Taehyung ends up beating him within another few moves. It’s dramatic the way Jungkook cries out and clutches at his chest in defeat, throwing his body back against the carpet. He promises Taehyung they’ll have a rematch, something he would gladly accept if it meant spending more time with the adorable man.
As the night winds down, the pair get up from their spot on the floor, putting away the chess pieces and tidying up the living space. Jungkook gives Yeontan one last scratch behind the ears before Taehyung is walking him to the door. At the entrance, he stops, turning around to face him. “Thanks for inviting me, Tae. This was a lot of fun.”
“Yeah, it was, I like spending time with you,” Taehyung admits with a soft smile. Jungkook smiles back, eyes roaming over his face. They’re only a few inches away from each other, although it still seems too far.
Before Taehyung can say anything else, Jungkook is slowly leaning into his space. His eyes flick between his own and his lips, giving him the time to back away if he wanted to. Taehyung doesn’t want to. He allows himself to be kissed. Their lips meet tenderly, the touch is featherlight, just the plush skin pressing against each other for a moment. Jungkook’s hands find their place on Taehyung’s shirt, beginning to move his lips slowly over his.
Taehyung melts into it, kissing back with equal gentleness. His own hands rove over the space of Jungkook’s chest, feeling the strong muscle firm below his fingertips. Despite his desire to deepen it, their kiss stays relatively chaste, only small flecks of the tips of their tongues on occasion as they simply revel in each other.
After a moment, Jungkook finally pulls back but stays close. “I really like you, Taehyung.”
A light gasp escapes Taehyung’s lips despite himself, unable to stop the flush of his cheeks. He smiles softly at the man in front of him, responding quietly, “I really like you too, Jungkook.”
The grin Jungkook gives him is wide and genuine, and Taehyung wishes he could always make him look like that. Jungkook gives the librarian’s bicep a gentle squeeze before fully stepping back. “See you soon?” He asks hopefully.
“See you soon.”
- - -
Things with Jungkook only get better by the day. Taehyung hasn’t been able to stop thinking about their kiss since their date. The texting has become a regular staple in his life, talking whenever there’s a lull at the library or he’s just gotten home. They’ve talked on the phone a few times too, Taehyung regularly pacing his living room with the phone on speaker or laying on the couch with his feet over the armrest, giggling to himself at something Jungkook said. He’s positively smitten.
When their next date finally comes around, the librarian is practically vibrating in his seat as he sits on the tram on the way to Jungkook’s apartment. Since the Avengers movies are so long, they decided to make a day of it. Jungkook said their goal should be the first three films so as not to overwhelm him. It’s still early afternoon by the time Taehyung makes it to Jungkook’s front door. He takes a moment to catch his breath and settle his nerves before knocking on the door.
Within less than a minute the door is swinging open to reveal a smiling Jungkook and a gigantic dog happily standing between his legs. “You’re here!” Jungkook exclaims, tugging Taehyung into a bone-crushing hug. The embrace throws him off at first but he recovers quickly, wrapping his arms around the man. The familiarity with which Jungkook handles him makes something warm settle in the pit of Taehyung’s stomach.
Their hug is cut short strangely reminiscent of their last greeting by an eager puppy. The dog is rubbing his nose against Taehyung’s leg incessantly to get a better look at him. Bam’s tail wags so vigorously that it shakes his butt in the process. Taehyung laughs as he lets go of Jungkook. Unlike their last date though, he doesn’t have to crouch down to greet this pup.
“Hi Bam! I’m Taehyung, it’s nice to meet you!” He takes Bam’s gigantic paw in his hand, shaking it as if he was a person. He can hear Jungkook’s amused giggle tingling his ears as the dog surges at him, licking all over his face. Taehyung has to physically hold him back just so that he doesn’t fall on his ass.
“Okay, Bam, that’s enough attention for you.” Jungkook pulls back on his dog with enough force to relinquish Taehyung from his clutches. Bam immediately switches to licking at Jungkook’s face instead. “Okay, okay, I love you too.” Jungkook stands up straight, letting the dog stick by his side as they head into the house.
The first thing Taehyung notices when he gets inside is that it feels like he’s just entered some sort of sci-fi alternate universe. It’s a bit bigger than Taehyung’s apartment, with a dedicated office space instead of tucked half-assed into a corner of the room like his old computer is. There are 3 wide monitors standing on the desk with a light-up keyboard below them and action figures spread over the sides of the table for decor.
The furniture is sleek and dark, mostly grays and blacks with spots of bright colors in the decor and neon lighting on the walls. His television is massive compared to Taehyung’s, a flat-screen floating freely on the wall, multiple game consoles stacked neatly on the entertainment system below it. He’s got a metal tower of video games a few feet high next to it.
Taehyung stands there, gobsmacked. “Holy shit, are you from the future?”
The comment makes Jungkook laugh loudly, grabbing Taehyung’s hand to show him around. “No, I think you’re just secretly an old man living in the past, Tae.” He jibes, squeezing his hand to show him it’s all in good fun. They head over to the office area as Jungkook shows him his superhero collection. “These are the figures I was telling you about.” He picks up one of them, holding it out for Taehyung to get a better look. “This is one of my favorite Iron Man ones, which is why I’m so excited to show you the movies.”
It’s incredibly endearing seeing the way Jungkook’s eyes light up as he talks about his hobbies. Taehyung smiles softly, listening intently. When he’s done, Taehyung takes the liberty to look around the desk more thoroughly. “This is so cool, Jungkook. What’s that big black thing on the floor?” He points to a giant rectangle with spinning colored lights on the side sitting below the desk.
“Oh, that’s my computer tower. It’s what runs the whole setup. I actually built it myself so I could customize all of its specs.” Jungkook explains nonchalantly as if any of that makes sense to Taehyung.
“Jesus. All I have is a computer from 2002. It still has Windows 95 on it.” Taehyung answers, blinking owlishly at the massive computer screens in front of him.
Jungkook cackles, leaning his body into Taehyung’s as he laughs. When he pulls back, he’s got a fond grin on his face as he looks at him. “You’re really cute, Taehyung.” All the librarian can do is blush as he’s scrutinized by those big brown eyes. Jungkook giggles to himself, playfully nudging the man’s shoulder with his own. “I bet you use the same password for everything too, don’t you?”
“Why would I need more than one? It’s hard enough to remember the one.” Taehyung huffs.
“You’re gonna get hacked one day if you don’t change that.” Jungkook jokes, rolling his eyes.
Taehyung scoffs, pushing at Jungkook’s arm. “By who, you?”
Jungkook looks at him, wiggling his brows with a mischievous expression. “Don’t tempt me.”
The librarian glares playfully at his date, tugging on his shirt sleeve. “Shut up and show me these movies you keep gushing about.”
“With pleasure.” Jungkook responds, leading them over to his living room. He tells Taehyung to settle on the couch while he makes some popcorn. Taehyung sits against the couch cushions, tucking himself in the corner as he stares across the room, taking it all in. It really is just further proof that he and Jungkook are total opposites. The dichotomy is almost funny to him, but he likes that they seem to be bringing each other out of their comfort zones.
Bam walks over, gazing up at Taehyung with his big sparkly eyes, and the man can’t help but smile. Having caught his attention, Bam springs up onto the couch, roughly pressing his heavy body against Taehyung’s leg. The dog really seems to have no concept of his size or spatial awareness. He rubs his hands over Bam’s back, alternating between that and rubbing his floppy ears.
“You stole my spot, dog.” Jungkook huffs with popcorn and beers in hand, surprising Taehyung since he didn’t notice his arrival. The man chuckles, swatting Bam’s butt and forcing him to the other side of the couch, much to Bam’s chagrin. He boldly plops down onto the seat next to Taehyung, only leaving a few inches between them. He drops the popcorn and beers onto the coffee table before relaxing back. Bam seems to forget his previous upset because he’s happily cuddling up next to Jungkook’s side now, his owner casually petting him when he gets in position.
Jungkook faces Taehyung now, elated smile on his face. “You ready to have your life changed?”
Taehyung rolls his eyes with a shake of his head and an amused chuckle. “Can’t wait.”
Without further hesitation, Jungkook turns on the TV, the DVD for Iron Man already loaded up. When he presses play, Taehyung takes the opportunity to scoot in a little closer, letting himself get comfortable. Jungkook smiles, taking a blanket hanging from the back of the couch and throwing it over their legs. It feels bold but Taehyung allows his entire side to press against Jungkook’s, body like a heat-seeking missile. He has an innate desire to be close to the man, a kind of comfort in his presence he relishes.
The movie begins, and Jungkook is immediately locked in. His eyes are focused on the screen, watching intently as Iron Man’s origin story plays out. Taehyung lets himself take stolen glances at the man’s face, charmed by the sweet man. He does his best to maintain his own attention on the screen. Admittedly, it’s a fun movie so far, but even as he’s watching, his mind inevitably travels the the man sitting next to him.
He’s so aware of the closeness of their bodies, of the hand Jungkook rests on his own thigh above the blanket. He’s not sure what possesses him, but without much thought, he slides his fingers over Jungkook’s before settling their palms together, holding his hand. For the first time in a while, Jungkook looks away from the film, a tender smile on his lips as he looks at their clasped hands. He then looks up at Taehyung with soft eyes, squeezing their hands together before going back to the movie.
It’s impossible to hide the wide smile that splits Taehyung’s face.
Over time, their bodies seem to gravitate, just as they have before until Taehyung is fully leaning against Jungkook with his head resting on the man’s shoulder. Their hands are still clasped together, and his date intermittently rubs soft circles over his skin with his thumb. The whole scene feels incredibly domestic, and Taehyung thinks he’s starting to see the appeal of watching movies.
After watching Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk back-to-back, they decide to take a quick break. “So what did you think of the first two movies?” Jungkook asks inquisitively as the pair get up to walk to the kitchen together.
“You know, I actually enjoyed them more than I expected, but Iron Man was definitely better. Even if he was kind of a dick.”
Jungkook scoffs, dramatic in the way he expresses his offense. “Don’t talk about my man like that.”
Taehyung lifts an eyebrow, “Your man?”
With a giggle, Jungkook flicks Taehyung’s chin playfully. “I might like you, but Iron Man was here first. We’re a package deal, baby.”
Immediately, Taehyung’s stomach flips at the nickname. Baby. He does his best to ignore the butterflies and respond in kind. With a smirk, he pulls Jungkook in by the hem of his shirt, placing a chaste kiss against his lips that the man returns without hesitation. He smiles against Jungkook’s lips with a hum, “Hmm, guess I’ll have to take that deal.”
The blatant display of affection is worth it for the way Jungkook’s cheeks are tinted pink as they part. Jungkook clears his throat, looking down at the ground coyly as he rocks on the balls of his feet. “So uh, you want some takeout?”
It’s the first time Taehyung has seen him genuinely shy, and he can’t help but want to eat him up. He accepts the change of topic but not without a little amusement escaping through the tone of his voice. “Sure.”
By the time they finish the third movie, it’s a little after 9 pm. Honestly, the time flew by for Taehyung, and a part of him is a little disappointed their date is coming to an end. He’s even debating asking to watch another movie just so he has an excuse to stay longer.
As if Jungkook is reading his mind, he squeezes at Taehyung’s hands before gently asking, “You know… you could spend the night if you want.” He’s got that shy look on his face again as he bites his lip hesitantly, eyes open and honest. “Only if you want though, I don’t want to pressure you, and it doesn’t mean I’m expecting anything even if you do.”
Taehyung smiles fondly, settling into Jungkook’s side as he looks up at him happily. “I’d like that actually.”
There’s a hint of relief in the exhale Jungkook lets out after his answer. A smile of his own takes over his face as he looks down at him. “Okay, cool. You can borrow some of my clothes to sleep in. I’ll sleep out here on the couch, and you can take the bedroom.”
“Oh.” Taehyung smile falls a hair. Secretly, he was hoping they’d be sharing a bed. Perhaps that would be too forward though.
Jungkook seems to pick up on it though as he amends, “Unless you want to share a bed of course! I don’t mind. I just didn’t want to assume.” He looks away as he chews on his lip, his blush getting deeper.
The smile returns full force, and Taehyung is shocked he could be endeared by one person so many times in a single day. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
They talk for a while about nothing in particular, getting to know more bits and pieces about each other as they cuddle on the couch. When it gets to be closer to midnight, they decide to get ready for bed. Jungkook gives Taehyung a pair of simple pajamas to wear to sleep, the loose fabric of the t-shirt and sweats engulfing his body. When he gets out of the bathroom, Jungkook’s eyes are on him.
Giddy nerves make his insides flutter. His date walks over to him, delicately tracing the neckline of his own shirt on Taehyung’s body. “My clothes look good on you.” There’s a quiet tension in the air that he’s hyper-aware of. He likes wearing Jungkook’s clothes—they smell like him.
“Thank you,” he responds quietly, not wanting to pop the little bubble they’ve made for themselves.
“Let’s go to bed?” Jungkook asks, and Taehyung nods, butterflies erupting.
They settle under the sheets, both lying on their back to stare at the ceiling. Jungkook leans over the bedside table next to him to grab a small remote. In a second there are colored lights dancing across the ceiling in pretty patterns. Taehyung’s eyes widen as he gasps. He’s never seen anything like them before. “Oh wow.” He whispers to himself.
When he turns his head to glance at Jungkook, he’s already looking at him with a tender smile. Taehyung can feel his heart rate pick up. Without a word, he turns onto his side to face him fully, Jungkook doing the same. For a long moment, all they do is stare, eyes searching each other quietly. That magnetic force between them kicks in, willing Taehyung to scoot in a little closer. Jungkook mirrors him until they’re close enough for their noses to touch.
Too enthralled by the pull of Jungkook’s lips, he crosses the last bit of distance. The kiss is as soft as their past ones have been, if a little more familiar. They seem to find their rhythm a little faster, lips melding over each other in sync. Taehyung takes his hands, cupping Jungkook’s face. It encourages the man to touch as well, an arm curling around his waist and pulling him closer.
Unlike before, the tension that lingered before remains present, an undercurrent of something else driving the kiss. When the tip of Jungkook’s tongue makes contact with his own, Taehyung’s stomach plummets, a rush of desire flooding through him. They pull on each other until their bodies are fully flush. The kiss deepens, soft, wet muscles laving over each other as they explore uncharted territory.
Taehyung throws a leg over Jungkook’s hip, allowing them to get even closer. They trade little puffs of air as heat grows between them. Taehyung can feel the line of Jungkook’s bulge pressing against his own, and it sends a shiver down his spine. With only thin fabric between them, every sensation feels so real.
A part of him wonders if they’re taking things too fast but another, louder voice tells him that the timing doesn’t matter when he feels the way he does. They finally break apart, both breathing a little heavier. They stay close enough that they can begin again in an instant. Taehyung puts the question out to Jungkook, quiet anticipation vibrating his bones. “Should we keep going?”
Jungkook looks at him, pretty doe eyes lightly reflecting the colors bouncing off the ceiling. He runs his fingers over the column of Taehyung’s spine and nods. “Let me take care of you.”
Taehyung rubs his nose over Jungkook’s tenderly, ready to kiss those pretty lips again. He whispers quietly against them, “Okay.”
The next morning, Taehyung wakes up to breakfast. Jungkook made him a plate of fried rice and eggs that he instantly devoured. Throughout their breakfast, the pair trade coy glances, soft smiles ever-present on their faces as they eat.
Sex last night was an experience Taehyung eagerly wishes to experience again. It was as tender as their first kiss. It was filled with shy exploration of each other’s bodies and an eagerness to get to know each other in another new way. He’s not entirely sure what this means for them, but Taehyung is certain he’s falling.
After breakfast, Taehyung changes, and they head to the door. “Thank you for everything, Jungkook.” He tugs on his bottom lip with his teeth to bite back his grin. An embarrassing part of him feels like he’s a teenager all over again.
Jungkook pulls him close, luring him into a soft kiss before answering. “Thank you too.”
Taehyung turns around just as he’s about to cross the threshold, “See you soon?” He asks—an accidental tradition they’ve formed.
“See you soon,” Jungkook says like a promise.
- - -
It’s evening now and Taehyung is settling in for the night. He texted Jungkook when he got home this morning before he had to quickly shower and head to the library. They didn’t talk much over the course of the day since both of them had to work. That didn’t stop him from thinking of the man the whole day though. He found himself daydreaming multiple times, having to knock some sense into himself when a customer had to repeat themselves for the third time that day.
Now that he’s home, however, he decides he should probably check his emails. He doesn’t check them every day, getting mostly spam emails. Still, it’s good to check semi-regularly just in case anything important does happen.
He sits down at his computer, trusty Windows 95 loading up when he wakes the screen. As per usual, he puts in his password and waits for the screen to change. What is much more unusual is the screen that pops up. Instead of the classic Windows page he normally sees, it’s entirely black.
A wave of panic sets in. What the fuck is happening to his computer? He’s not a tech person in the slightest, and if something is actually broken he has no idea how to fix it. Before the panic really sets in, green text pops up on the screen.
“Told you if you weren’t careful someone might hack you. ;)”
Relief instantly washes over Taehyung as he realizes exactly who it is. A flashback to their conversation pops in his head, and he laughs to himself with a shake of his head. More words type out onto the screen.
“This might be a little insane, but I thought you deserved a grand gesture (also don’t worry, I didn’t look at anything on your computer, although I doubt you have anything scandalous on this dinosaur-ass PC lol”
Taehyung can’t help but laugh at the comment about his computer.
“These past few weeks have been amazing. I feel like we’ve connected in a way I didn’t expect. Our lifestyles are so different, and yet things just seem to work. Like we’re yin and yang. To sides of the same coin.”
His heart flutters in his chest, breath caught in his throat as he reads.
“All that to say, I really, really… really really like you, Tae. Will you be my boyfriend? :)”
Taehyung gasps, heart pounding against his ribcage as the words settle in. Holy shit. Excited courses through him in waves as he rereads the question over and over. Of course, he will! But how does he tell him when his computer is talking to him?
He decides to take out his phone and text him. Fingers shaking, he rushes to pull up his contact. Much less eloquent than Jungkook, Taehyung keeps it to a succinct, “YES!”
Not even two minutes later, Taehyung hears a knock on his door. Curiosity peaked, and he heads over, opening the door. There in front of him is Jungkook in all his glory, cheeks a little flush and a bouquet of flowers in his fidgety hands. “Hi.” The man greets hesitantly.
“Hi,” Taehyung says, much more breathless.
Without a second though, Taehyung breaches the distance, jumping on Jungkook to embrace him. The man is a little surprised, letting out a grunt as he drops the flowers to the ground to properly hold him. Jungkook’s giggles are mirrored by Taehyung’s, beaming smiles as they look at each other.
Jungkook takes the opportunity to kiss Taehyung sweetly, and the librarian responds in kind.
After a moment, Jungkook puts Taehyung back down on the ground but stays holding him, and Taehyung’s arms immediately wrap around his neck. “Did you like my surprise?”
Taehyung laughs, “You’re insane. Did you know that?” Jungkook shrugs, far too smug. “But yes, I did. Thank you. Even though I still have no idea what you did or how you did it.”
Jungkook pulls him a little closer, “Well, you did say you don’t know how to work a printer, so I’m not surprised.”
Punching the man in the bicep, Taehyung huffs, only briefly, as he can’t keep the smile off his face. “Well, that helpless librarian is now your boyfriend.” The words settle easily on Taehyung’s tongue.
Placing another chaste kiss on his lips, Jungkook grins, something a little cheeky in his expression as he responds, “And my first order of business as your boyfriend is to make you change your passwords because hacking into your computer was embarrassingly easy.”
Taehyung laughs loudly, squeezing his arms around Jungkook and pulling him into another kiss.