Pairing : NamJin
Genre : Fluff / slight Angst
__________
The dark alleyway was empty. The only sounds that echoed were the honkings of cars and bustlings of the city. Dim lights flickered over the passage, shedding the pitch dark ever so slightly. Still, the ambiance was cool and calm and it was the perfect spot for a little smoke break.
Seokjin flicked out his silver lighter and lit up a cigarette. He took a long draft - slow and taking in the pungent smell of tobacco - before huffing out the smoke, enjoying the warmth. After mindlessly wandering around for a few hours, he had ended up here, on this lonely street.
Seokjin leaned against the cold walls and went in for another draft.
A buzz emitted from his left pocket. He took out his phone and checked the ID.
It was his father.
__________
Namjoon was lost.
He didn't know how or why but there he was, cluelessly standing by the busy sidewalk. He watched as people go by, ignoring his ask for help.
Sighing in defeat, Namjoon decided to get out from the suffocating crowd. He slipped past them easily (thanks to his lanky figure) and found himself at the entrance of a dark alleyway.
As he walked through the puddled roads, Namjoon couldn't help but wonder why these occurrences always happen to him.
Was he that unlucky?
Namjoon eyed the street for any signs, anything to indicate where he was but there was literally nothing. Clasping his hands together from the cold, Namjoon (not so) silently cursed Hoseok for giving him such ridiculous directions:
"I'm at some bar across a saloon. Just walk straight from the city hall. It's on the left. You can't miss it!"
Namjoon was about to say that he was going to miss it. Knowing himself, he would be on top of the building he was looking for and still not find it. But he couldn't. His phone died.
Great.
He didn't even get to ask for the bar's name. All he's got to go by now was a few dumb instruction by his dumb friend because of his dumb idea to have some fun at a dumb bar.
Wow, that was dumb. Why did I even listen to him this time?
Namjoon began questioning himself as he trudged through the alley. He didn't even notice the young man leaning against the walls beneath the shadows, clearly under some sort of distress. Because he was crying.
The man let out a sob, barely audible but enough to alert Namjoon in the dark, empty and quiet alley. He flicked his head to the source of weeping and struggled to make out the mysterious figure under the pitch black. All he could see was a person hunching their back while covering their face, tears heard but not seen.
"Umm. Sir?" Seriously? Sir?
The man didn't seem to hear it (thank god) so Namjoon tried one more time, raising his voice slightly.
"Dude, you okay?" He cautiously walked towards him. Namjoon stanced himself in a firm position, preparing to run if something was to happen.
You never know when you might be dealing with a drunk crazed psycho who happens to be armed. Namjoon is a guy with tentativity. One of his good traits, he admits.
The crying man only then seemed to realize Namjoon's presence and tensed away as he wiped off his tears roughly. He had his phone on his left hand.
"I'm fine." He inched away, his voice clear with hostility.
Namjoon raised both of his hands in an act of retreat and backed off quickly from the other. "Okay, Okay. Just trying to make sure. You were crying and all so I just figured... maybe you had a problem."
The man scoffed in response. He hung his head low, cigarette halfway burned. He avoided Namjoon's stare and looked to the stars instead. There were none that night.
"Like you care."
Okay, now he was really being a douche.
"You're right. I don't. But I'd like to consider myself a good person every once in a while and try to actually be the part." Namjoon didn't know what made him want to snap at the stranger (he blames Hoseok) but he couldn't help but ramble grumpily at the rude response. The smoking man turned around to face him, his face filled with a potent mask of awe - jaw dropping silently but nonetheless, his eyes shook in guilt.
Though that didn't stop Namjoon from ending his rant before furiously stomping off, "But hey, I guess my deeds are always left unwanted and unappreciated. Thanks."
Namjoon had thought that little embarrassing ordeal was over and done with - when he heard rather hesitant footsteps running behind him. He glanced behind his shoulders only to see the man, now visible under the lamp post's light, jogging towards him.
It took him a moment, but Namjoon managed to keep his grip as he now stood facing the man, studying his features up close. It was breathtaking.
Bleached, blond locks fell to the sides of a face, so heavenly, Namjoon thought it was carved by the angels above. He found the eyes so captivating, dangerous and tempting. The red, plump set of lips bring out the man's pale complexion. The scrutiny of every detail was enough to send the taller man into a trance, his pupils dilating at such pulchritude.
He was beautiful. Ethereal, people would often say. Namjoon felt himself physically shrink in comparison.
"Hey," the pretty man started, running his hand through wisps of hair with a guilty expression, "look, I didn't mean to be rude or anything. It's just that - well, you kind of startled me back there, y'know?"
Namjoon didn't say anything, allowing the man to speak. He was also still sort of taking in the beauty in front of him.
"You were right. I had problems. And I really appreciate your concern. You are a good person, stranger," that made Namjoon chuckle."So, I'm sorry." The man held out his hand, offering peace.
Namjoon took it with the biggest smile he's had all day.
__________
How did they even got to this point, they will never know. But admittedly, both of them were having the time of their lives.
"So, you're telling me, that French fries aren't actually from France?" Namjoon's eyes grew wider by the second. Seokjin let out a breathy chuckle, adoring the way such a simple statement could expose the curious and slight childish side of this younger man that he thought held a much serious persona.
"Yup. They originated from Belgium. Though personally, I don't see the difference. They're both European anyhow." Seokjin munched on a few fries as he remarked nonchalantly. He wiped off his ketchup-stained hands with a napkin and finished his drink.
They were both currently huddled up in a small booth in the local worn-down restaurant just a few blocks away; chewing on greasy set of burgers, equally fattening fries whilst drinking sodas - the fizzy pops sometimes causing both men to choke alongside their rowdy laughs.
The moments between are spared with each other's interesting stories. Not to mention the sudden idea to discuss any questionable facts that they can think of. Namjoon for the first time that night, was glad he got out of his house.
After the minor incident, Seokjin had offered to compensate for his actions by treating the younger with dinner. Though a bit reluctant to hang out with someone he had just met (over something silly too), Namjoon had decided to go along with it. He was feeling a bit lonely and somehow Seokjin had appeared just in the nick of time.
"No, no, no. You don't understand! This changes everything!" At that moment, Seokjin couldn't help but giggle at the way Namjoon lit up with the unusal discovery of French Fry history.
Propping his face on his hands, Seokjin leaned forward on the table, catching every word that the man in front of him had to say. Or at least, he was trying to.
His mind kept wondering back to yesterday.
___________
"He's going to find us, Jin-hyung!"
"No, he won't. Just keep your voice down and we'll be fine."
The silence of the room was sickening. It made Jin's ears hurt and he unconsciously checked them, just to make sure they weren't bleeding. A soft quiver emitted from the small figure behind him, "I'm scared, hyung..."
Before he managed to pull the younger into an embrace, the wooden door bursted open, a tall man stood in the doorway. His hair was all tangled up in knots. Streaks of drool covering his face. His clothes were either stained or torn, none of it seem in place.
"Come here, you two. Come to daddy~" The man cooed, walking groggily to them. He was drunk. And disgusting.
"Back off, hag. You stay away from us." Jin was far from being scared. Heck, he could take out the bastard right now if he wanted. But he knows his rights and wrongs. And his sole intention now was to protect his brother. No need to create chaos that no one can comprehend. "Take one more step and you're dead."
"What was that, you little fuck? You want to die?" With that, the drunkard lurched forward, stumbling along the way before having his jaw swung by the younger's punch. Falling on his back, the elder groaned in pain as Seokjin stood above him, his gaze set with a profuse amount of anger.
"Look, you fucker. I'm done with your shit. And so is mom. You may be some CEO of a big company or whatever but you can't just come into our lives and ruin it." Seokjin spat on the man's face and dragged his brother's fragile figure by the hand out the room.
As they were heading out the porch of the luxurious white marbled mansion, they were stopped by their own mother.
"Jin-ah? What's going on? I heard screaming upstairs. Did something happen-"
"Mom, we need to leave. Now! Before he comes back." Jin pushed his brother into her mother's arms, "Hurry, get to the car!"
She didn't move. His brother hanging onto her, helpless and tired. But most of all, he looked broken. They all were.
"Mom?"
Recovering from her daze, she shook her head shakily. Tears began forming on the edge of her soft wrinkled eyes, her mouth sputtering incoherent mumbles barely audible.
"We-we can't, Jin... We can't, we can't just l-leave him... He's our-our family... Your f-fathe-"
"Stop it, mom! You have to get a grip. He's been using you. He never loved you or us! You never should've married him." Jin gripped his hands on her tiny shoulders. She was way too skinny and her pale face proved her lack of nutritions. Jin could feel his heart shattering when his mother spoke, tears finally cracking from it's shell.
"But I love him."
__________
"Umm, hellooo? Earth to Jin-hyung?"
In an instant, the pieces of his memories disappeared into thin air within a second. Seokjin looked up to see Namjoon eyeing him curiously. "You okay?"
No.
"Yeah." Seokjin waved him a charming smile of assurance. Namjoon gulped for the god-knows-how-many time tonight, just staring at the beauty of this man in front of him. Never mind that he was a man. No one could deny the breathtaking visuals that the older presents.
Namjoon must've been staring a little too hard, because Seokjin was smirking like an idiot - aligned teeth showing, eyes forming cresents as he chuckled. "Like what you see, Joonie?" Seokjin raised a brow expectantly, fingers threading with the latter.
That caught Namjoon off guard. But somehow, as usual, Namjoon managed to keep his calm and replied jokingly, " I bet I'll love it when you show me more." A pang of sudden courage breezed through him, making him willingly laced their hands in to a tighter grip.
He had meant for it to came out as a joke (obviously), but Namjoon mentally screamed when he saw the sudden change of Seokjin's face. He was grinning like some old perverted man who just got hit on.
"Did you mean tha-"
"NOPE. I'M LEAVING."
Namjoon hastily got up from his seat and went straight out the door, avoiding Seokjin's teasing and he couldn't help but smile himself when he heard the other laughing his heart out behind him as he struggles to catch up.
__________
The city was almost asleep.
Most of the lights had gone out and the busy hustles of people toned down by now. Everyone was either getting to bed or already tucked in their sheets. The neighborhood dimmed, sounds echoing growing softer and soon hazing above the cold night, were none but a dark blanket of stars that brimmed - white and clear.
The two young men walked through the empty parking lot of a closed mall. Giggling and laughing at everything, even the slightest bit of humor such as Seokjin's old dad jokes - which Namjoon had never been a fan of.
They find themselves constantly gazing each other in the eye, if not their lips. Finding every perfection beneath their facade, taking in each other's flaws. They find themselves slowly falling and they savoured every moment of it. Even if it was only for today.
Namjoon wasn't focusing on his steps (he was too engrossed with the other's self-loving rant) when he tripped on the laces of his Black Converse. He let out a yelp, stumbling forward and unconsciously grabbing on Seokjin by his black coat as they fell.
Everything blacked out for a second.
Then, Namjoon realized the position that he had somehow got himself into. He was laying on top of the brunette, chests touching and face only inches apart. Seokjin had his hands laced around Namjoon's hip and Namjoon swore he just heard his heart exploded.
"Hi there," Seokjin giggled, a subtle tone of mischief weaving through his words. He brought his face an inch closer.
Namjoon smiled showing a pair of deepened dimples as he grins, "Sorry." He tried lifting himself up but Seokjin was holding him down by the waist, quite rough with the grip.
"You always fell this hard, Namjoon?"
"Not as hard as I fell for you, hyung."
"Oh, wow. That was smooth."
The quiet surroundings of the parking lot was filled with a burst of laughter. The sweet echoes resonated through the night, making it one of the few liveliest nights Namjoon ever had.
Namjoon rolled off of Seokjin, laying on top of the older's stretched out arms. They turned to face each other, smiling deeply -lost in another's comforting intoxicating haze that sent them into a state of pure euphoria . The cold, damp ground didn't seem to bother them. They were both warm enough around each other, allured by the accompanying sparkle that the layers of violet sky radiated.
A few minutes passed without anything being said, just staring and moments of drinking in the sight of beautifully carved smiles. Seokjin's hands played with the ends of Namjoon's shirt. The younger placed his numbed fingers on Seokjin's chest, feeling his abrasive yet soothing heartbeat. Every thump it made, Namjoon felt his own heart beating faster as if it was trying to match.
"You are really beautiful, Jin-hyung." Namjoon whispered - making sure that he sounded as sincere as he meant it, breath cold from the freezing air.
"I know." Namjoon rolled his eyes at that."But you're something much more than that." Seokjin drew his hands to touch Namjoon's flustered cheek. Namjoon leaned in to the warmth of his palm, his eyes glistened with a thin layer of yearn - hoping for Seokjin to not pull away too soon.
"It'd be a shame to just let you go. I-I never met anyone like you, Namjoon." Suddenly feeling a small gust of bravery hit him, Seokjin propped up on his elbows and looked down at the still laying Namjoon. His eyes fixed on a stern gaze, brows strong with confidence.
"You make me feel like I'm not alone. You understand me. I know it's stupid of me to think this way about you 'cause we only just met a few hours ago but I can't help but feel like I'm in love with you. Every second we're together makes me want it to last forever. My head keeps telling me to stick to your side always and I have a feeling that I won't make it far without you. I need you, Namjoon. It's that simple."
How he even managed to say all that without faltering remains unknown. All Seokjin cared about then was getting his feelings through. Nervously, he watched as Namjoon raised his hands to cup his mouth. His beautiful, beautiful eyes glimmered, glassy with tears. Namjoon let out a choked laugh, a single drop of the crystal beads trickled down from the sharp edges.
"Oh my god, Jin-hyung. What the fuck..?". Then the dam finally broke. Sobs per sobs emitted from the man below him, cascading like the heavy clouds that carried the rain - the pristine tears painted the Namjoon's cheeks with a clear dash of sparkle.
Seokjin panicked at the unexpected reaction but he didn't know what to do, so he let Namjoon weep for a few seconds. His hand reached to clasp the younger's own quivering fingers.
Namjoon slowly got up from the ground. He turned to face Seokjin with a flushed expression, tears stained his cheeks but his eyes were soft. "I don't know you."
Seokjin nodded, slightly hurt by the statement, no matter how true it was. He waited for Namjoon to continue.
"I don't know who you really are, where'd you come from, your age or your full name. Heck, I don't even know if your name is actually Jin." The older wanted to laugh but the moment didn't seem right. So, he held it back with a smile.
"But I want to be with you too." Namjoon couldn't finish his words because his voice was cracking. He couldn't stop the tears as Seokjin pulled him into a tight hug, embracing the other with all his might.
Who knew he could be so soft for this man? And who knew he could fall in love just within a night?
__________
At the crack of dawn, Seokjin woke up. He found himself all tangled up under the white sheets of a (somewhat) stranger's bed. As he lifted the covers, the older found Namjoon still curled like a ball, snoring loudly. He decided to let the younger sleep.
They didn't have sex, if that's what you're thinking. No, they simply spent the whole night spooning, whispering sweet nothings in each other's ear and giggling under the blankets till they fell asleep.
It was something Seokjin never knew he could have. And it was amazing.
His daydream vanished as soon as Seokjim heard the familiar buzz of his phone. He fished it out from his pocket and checked the calls he'd missed and messages.
Most of it were from his brother and mother. One in particular caught his eye. A message from his stepfather, that damned bastard.
Seokjin walked out to the veranda before he opened the text. If he was going to freak out, it'd probably be better to distance himself from the still sleeping Namjoon.
Yesterday, 12:34 a.m
Hey
Its me
I know u dont want to see me after what happened. Rest assured u wont be seeing me ever again.
Its over. Ur mother signed the papers already.
She said she couldnt handle losing u after u stormed out yesterday. I just gotta say ur still a dick for punching me. it hurts like hell.
Im pretty sure ur not enjoying reading my messages as much as i enjoy writing them. So im just gonna put this straight and say that im sorry
I apologize for everything that I've done towards our family. I never meant to hurt u or ur brother. Especially ur mother. Did u know that I love her with all my heart?
I bet u didnt cuz I myself never knew till I lost her today. Not even regret can bring her back to me and its all because of my idiotic ways
So let me give u a piece of advice as a father. Dont break your belongings son. Treat them with care and love. U might end up hurt if you dont.
Dont be like me. Be a better person. Im sorry.
Come to the house tomorrow for the official signing. U need to be here for the papers
__________
By the end of the message, Seokjin was helplessly holding back his tears. He wasn't sure if he was sad or relieved - he didn't even know what to feel.
All he knew then was how the sun seemed to shone brighter that morning and and seeing Namjoon waking up, dazed and confused, was so beautiful, he practically tackled the younger.
Seokjin felt a rush of something new course through his body. A feeling of a burden being lifted. A sense of relief.
Emptiness, though not the bad kind. It was emptiness just waiting to be filled with discoveries and memories that he will treasure.
But the shining diamond amongst those treasure was Namjoon. He shone the brightest, lighting Jin's dark days.
And even though they've only yet to begin their story together, Seokjin could already see all the cries and smiles (dimpled ones) - that would accompany his days and nights, the petrichor of sweet, sweet love would be their muse on winter nor summer - those thoughts floating across his mind like a soft haze.
Seokjin would finally get the happiness he longed so long for.
And he needed Namjoon for it to happen.
___________
I edited some parts but for the most of it I didn't