Really, Baby (I Will Be Just Fine)

5

Hoseok watches him retreat to the back, emerging shortly after with a brown bag and a box of fries.

“Here’s your baby and a little something extra since we didn’t deliver them to the right parents,” Taehyung says, handing the food over and grabbing the other bag off the counter.

“Oh, no, you really don’t have to,” Hoseok says, grabbing his burger. “I probably won’t eat it.”

“Who eats burgers without fries?” Taehyung questions, cocking his head foreword and squinting. “No, wait, no. Who goes to a burger place, known for their burgers, and orders an ahi tuna instead? That’s like going to fucking Denny’s and ordering the steak.”

“Damn, I guess everyone unleashed their inner sass today,” Hoseok says, frowning at the comment but joking along nonetheless. Taehyung’s grin lets him know he’s only teasing. “I happen to be a healthy eater, excuse you! Rude Ass.” It’s true, and Hoseok can’t really remember the last time he ate a cookie or drank soda.

“Oh, like, gluten free, sugar free, purpose-of-living free? For what? You look great to me,” Taehyung comments, tilting his head to the side and leaning his hip against the counter.

“That’s because I eat healthy.”

“Doubt it. Eating trees doesn't give you a face like that. Crawling out of your mother’s vagina does.”

“Okay, wow, that escalated quickly,” Hoseok says and makes a face, but the absurdity of the comment makes him laugh as he shakes his head. Hoseok opens his mouth but shuts it again. Even though he’d brushed off the compliment, he still can’t hide the fact that it makes his stomach flip, like waves crashing against the caverns of his ribcage.

“Anyway, I’m gonna go back to my table,” Hoseok laughs, taking a step back and pointing towards Yoongi and Namjoon.

“You do that,” Taehyung says, smiling and adjusting the cap of his uniform.

“I’m Hoseok by the way,” he says quickly, pointing towards himself with the bag in his hand.

“Taehyung.”

There’s a muffled cough from beside him, and Hoseok turns to face a forming line of customers, impatiently waiting for him to leave. When had this line formed anyway?

“Oh, fuck,” he mutters, moving aside all the way. “Sorry.”

Before Hoseok heads back to his seat, he glances back at Taehyung and reaches over to grab the box of fries laying on the counter, untouched.

“I’ll take these.”

As he walks back to his table, he can feel Taehyung’s grins on his back, and he briefly wonders if maybe, the bright smile he greets the next customer with is actually meant for him.