Wild For You

15. Just Coffee

"We're never going to make any more progress if you don't take the next step," said Namjoon as he sat at the front desk of the empty book shop.

Taehyung - in tiger form - was lying underneath the front desk behind the curtain, listening to Namjoon lecturing him about the battle plan. He knew what this next step was and he was terrified by it. He was especially even more so having seen Sung-ho more often lately. He lurked about like some sort of ominous reminder of his past deeds.

"You and Gemini are becoming great friends, so I'm sure she would be happy with you asking her out. Just ask her out to coffee or something."

Not hearing any sort of growl or anything in response from Taehyung, Namjoon bent down and pulled back the curtain to look at Taehyung. He was lying there and using his paws to cover his eyes.

"Tae..."

Namjoon moved to crouch down in front of him, reaching out a hand to rub his back so he'd bring his paws away from his face to look at him.

"Things are going to be okay. Trust me when I say you need to take this chance."

- - -

"You are working at the book shop we went to and you met another cute guy that's not Namjoon? I want the details!"

Gemini chuckled as she flopped on her back in the bed, holding her phone above her head. On the screen currently was an ongoing video call with her three best friends. They had all been busy with their own lives recently, so they hadn't had a chance to catch up. The moment they heard about her handsome co-worker an interrogation led by Piper started.

"Well? Aren't you gonna answer us? What's his name? How old is he? How cute is he on a scale of 1-10? Are you dating?"

Gemini flushed as her three besties crammed their anxious faces together to wait for her answer.

"His name is Tae," said Gemini. "He looks to be about my age. On a scale of 1-10, he's easily an 11."

Gemini could feel her cheeks heating up at that admission. He was way out of her league and she knew it. She was merely content with being able to spend time with him. Yoongi had been the only other man that she had been comfortable around ever since the death of her father. However, now that she and Tae were getting to know each other more, she found that he was also added to that list.

"You didn't answer the dating question. Are you two dating?" asked Amalia.

Gemini shook her head.

"Well show him you're interested! Don't be afraid to open up more," piped up Ashley. "Don't be afraid to live."

- - -

'Coffee. Just ask her out for coffee,' Taehyung thought as he laid in the shadows of the book shop; his head resting on top of the clothes that Namjoon had left there for him. 'Just take it slow.'

A bell ringing out over the door to the shop brought him out of his thoughts and to the matter at hand.

"Sorry I'm a bit late. Yoongi wouldn't wake up from his nap."

"Hey, it wasn't all my fault," Taehyung heard Yoongi complain. "You were chatting with your girlfriends on a video call before we left too!"

Taehyung knew that Namjoon had navigated Gemini closer to his hiding spot as he felt himself becoming human again. He quickly moved to change into the clothes that had been laid there for him. Having had a small while now to get used to this sensation, he was getting faster at changing into his clothes. He was so fast at getting them on now that he felt like he would put quick change artists to shame.

"Where's Tae?" Gemini asked Namjoon as they approached an aisle where some book piles had been left on the floor, waiting to be put away.

"I'm here," said Taehyung before Namjoon could answer. He noticed a small smile stretched across her lips as she looked his way.

'Are her lips redder than usual?' he thought to himself.

"I'll leave you two to the sorting," said Namjoon with a smile. Gemini turned with a nod and Taehyung watched Namjoon mouth 'make a move' before heading off towards the front to make sure Yoongi didn't try to interfere.

"How are you today, Tae?" asked Gemini.

"I'm doing okay. How are you?"

"Same," she said with a small smile as she looked Tae's way.

They both just stared at each other for a moment. Taehyung felt as if the nerves were going to make him get sick right in front of her.

"Do you feel alright, Tae? You look awfully pale all of a sudden."

"I'm fine. I just...Gemini, would you like to go get a coffee with me?"

"Now?" she asked with a half disbelieving laugh.

Taehyung wasn't sure why she was reacting like that - and was afraid if he didn't do it now - he'd chicken out later. He clamped his lips together and resorted to quickly nodding his head.

"Alright, I could use a coffee before we start work. Do you think Namjoon will mind?"

Taehyung shook his head, causing a small smile to cross Gemini's face. She walked over to him and moved to grab one of his hands without asking.

"Don't be nervous. We can't both be nervous. That's not allowed."

Gemini's answer caused a small smile to tug at his lips then, moving to hold her hand in return.

"Do you need to tell Yoongi where we're going?" asked Taehyung.

"No, we're fine," said Gemini. "He probably won't notice we're gone anyway. Bet he's going for round two of his nap."

Taehyung nodded his head as he kept his hand in hers, walking towards the back door of the bookshop. He paused at the door, looking at the world beyond. This was the first time that he would be stepping outside this building since Dal had taken him in all those decades ago, and - as long as he stayed close to Gemini - he would even get to do so as a human.

'It's just coffee,' he coached himself as nerves of various forms threatened to keep him in place.

Taehyung held Gemini's hand firmly in his own as he moved to step outside the shop and walk down the street.