Pick Up Lines (Taejoon)

11

Tuesday.

Tuesday found Namjoon doing something unfathomable even to himself. He found his feet taking him around the corner and to the cubicle of the one and only Kim Taehyung. He saw the younger man typing away, humming a pop song contentedly to himself. He was bobbing his head in time with the too loud music leaking out from his earbuds as his eyes scanned rows and rows of numbers and text.

Namjoon paused. he had come to say something - to beat Taehyung to the inevitability of the same game they played everyday. he was now taking an active part in it. No more waiting but instead approaching Taehyung. It felt wrong. Not just for leading him on but he felt as though he was crossing some unknown and useable boundary by coming to Taehyung's cubicle. He had never even stepped foot around the corner. There was no need to, honestly. The high ups were on that side of the hallway and Namjoon rarely dealt with them, much less saw them.

But here he was, standing behind Taehyung, clasping and unclasping his hands as he tried to figure out if he should walk away or do what he had come to do.

Namjoon realized, he couldn't really do anything. Taehyung was too deeply involved in his work at the moment and his earbuds were blasting his music far too loudly for Namjoon to even get his attention using sound. He could tap the man but Namjoon didn't want to. He could even understand why within himself but he felt as though touching Taehyung was going too far. Even if it was just a tap. Not to mention he couldn't figure out a single way he could tap his shoulder and then not look awkward.

Begrudgingly, he turned to go back to his own cubicle.

"Did you need something, baby?" Taehyung's deep voice floated to Namjoon's ears. He quickly whipped his head around to realize the younger was indeed speaking to him. he still had one earbud in but he was holding the other one in his hand. is eyebrows were raised expectantly but there was that mischievous grin still playing out on his face.

"I-I just..." What had he just? He had just stopped by to flirt and play around but he couldn't say that.

"Just what, baby?" Taehyung took out his other earbud and placed them both down on his desk, quickly pushing a button on his keyboard to mute the pop music that had still been blaring.

Namjoon gulped. He had nothing good to say.

"You've been standing there watching me for awhile, Joonie." he smirked, he reached a hand back, absentmindedly tapping his computer monitor, "I could see you in the reflection, baby boy."

Namjoon opened his mouth to say something but no sound came out. He just stood there, staring blankly at the screen Taehyung had pointed to. Of course he could be seen. Why would he think otherwise?

"Don't call me that...." he finally found his voice but he couldn't find anything else to say. He tried to act annoyed but he knew it wasn't working. He looked like a fool.

Taehyung crossed his arms, smirk still present, "Why were you standing there? Did you need something?"

"Well," come on, Namjoon, you can do this he told himself as he tried not to look awkward, "I had wanted your attention."

That surprised Taehyung greatly. Since when had Namjoon wanted his attention. Was he getting somewhere? Was Namjoon finally falling for his irresistible charms? he chuckled, "So you want my attention?"

Namjoon shrugged, "Not anymore."

"You stood there for a long time to just walk away. Do you think I look hot form the back?" Taehyung kept pushing, trying to see what Namjoon had really wanted.

To him, I t was all too easy. Just one day Namjoon finally falls for him and flirts back? That's not how it works. It was supposed to be a gradual thing. No one had ever just come back at him like that. It started with smiles and winks and unasked favors and trying to be close to him. Namjoon was doing it all wrong. There had to be something else going on.

He almost laughed as he saw Namjoon involuntarily shiver. It was always easier with the innocent ones but Namjoon was something else... not quite innocent due to his flirting back but he took everything with such a great reaction.

"Are you cold? Want to use me as a blanket?" Taehyung stood, opening his arms up as he waited for a hug he knew would never come.

He saw Namjoon draw up into himself a bit, his arms coming up to cover his midsection as he backed up a step. He was acting as if Taehyung was going to attack him. It wasn't a bad idea but Taehyung knew better. They were at work and certain things just wouldn't do.

"I was bored, ok? That's why I came. I got most of my work done already." he lied. He knew he was lying and he wondered if Taehyung could as well. he felt his cheeks heating up and the smirk leave Taehyung's lips for a split second.

"Why don't you come back later, babe? Then we can play for real." he chuckled again, masking the hurt he had felt from Namjoon saying he had just been bored. He wanted to be more than a source of entertainment.

"Yeah, sure," Namjoon muttered before scurrying away.

That had definitely not gone as planned.