UnPretty Thoughts: The Leader [ Namjoon x Reader ]

Danger

You in danger.
Yeah, that is what was going through Namjoon's head as he sat in the car with only a foot and a half between himself and Y/N. Being inside a car was somehow so much more intimate than sitting side by side in a bench in the park.

It was an enclosed space. The skeleton of the van and the tinted windows muted the light and it was quiet. The music Manager Sejin had put on didn't help. It something soft and kind of old and made the atmosphere a little too... romantic?

It made him nervous. Relaxed in his seat, the only thing he could do was knit his fingers together in front of him. Being on his phone would be too rude, but also what should they talk about?

Every time he got a little uncomfortable he always felt the need to talk. It was like his brain wouldn't shut up and the only way to release the water behind that dam was to open his mouth and just let it all out. Fan used to get irritated about that...

He fiddled with one of the rings on his hands. Why was he so nervous anyway? This was just like any other time they had been in the park! Just a little more...enclosed. Glancing over her way, he could see her still watching him. Finally she turned to look out the window.

She was just an ordinary girl. He was an idol! Of course, he also hadn't been in a remotely romantic situation with a girl he liked in almost six years. Or more. He lost count. It had been a while, to say the least. It was in his contract to not have relationships that even hinted at being more than friendly.

Fans could get really scary. And possessive. It was a little frightening to think that hundreds of strangers might mob if he or his friends got a girlfriend.

But if his own personal sunshine were to stay close as just a 'staff member' maybe he could convince her it was worth the risk. It was to him, that much he knew. But he wanted her to feel that way too. And there was of course...other things for her to take into consideration. His ears grew red just thinking about it.

After a while the silence grew comfortable. He leaned in his seat a bit her way and maybe it was just him, but she seemed to lean towards him too. Magnetism or something. It felt like the air around them was charged with something hinting at a pleasing warmth that could be tended to so much more if he could just-

The van stopped. Manager Sejin turned off the engine and stepped out to open up with back and pull out two duffle bags. Smoothly the calm and quiet manager simply carried them inside the building. So calm and collected.

Namjoon strived for that. Sure he could appear like that on the outside for cameras, but his inside was always a whirlwind mess of worry and concern. It did make him detail oriented though.

The pair of them hopped out and smiled at one another as they started moving things out of the van. Manager Sejin had recruited a few other staff members who were available to help as well. It made it a lot faster to get everything in the building than it had been getting it into the van.

"Here, let me take that," Namjoon offered when she slung a duffle bag over her shoulder. She waved him off with a bright and excited grin.

"I got it! Trust me, I need something to do or I'll start bouncing off the walls," she let out a huff as she tried to right it on her shoulder, "And what will everyone think if their first impression of me is someone who won't help haul her own things inside?"

Namjoon's hand lower as he gave half a shrug. She had a point, though he always thought girls liked it when you did all the heavy lifting.

Most of the female idol and models he had met were like that. They didn't want calloused hands or red marks from the straps of heavy bag on their arms or whatever.

He never quite understood it, but his Sunshine did seem different from all that. More down to earth. It was a rather attractive quality, now that he thought about it. It made her more...real. That was something he desperately need in his life.

"Well, let me show you to your room," Namjoon chuckled and waved his hand to the door.

Holding the door open for her, they rode the elevator to the third floor and he entered the PIN number to get the door to open to the hallway. "This is our floor. Every floor has a PIN number so you might want to memorize it before leaving when one of us isn't around."

"Do your managers live with you guys too?" She asked as they walked down the hallways. Manager Sejin nodded and murmured a goodbye in his deep voice, the other managers doing the same as the left.

"No, they all have their own places," he pushed one of the doors at the very end of hallway open and held it for her with his foot, "but they all have the PIN, so they drop by to make sure we stay on schedule or come around if we ask them for help. They're like family members at this point. Manager Sejin has been with us since the beginning. He is quiet but kind. If I was younger, I'd say I want to grow up to be like him."

They laughed lightly as they set her things down in the small bedroom. She looked around with her hands on her hips, breathing a little harder. Guess the bag really had been heavy. She nodded and he was finally able to take off the suffocating mask. He looked at her and was surprised to see her eyes widen a bit. Almost a bit too fast she looked away with a shaky laugh.

Ahhh, I remember what that means at least.

Namjoon smiled, dimples pressing in his cheeks making his bright warm smile a bit more mischievous. Hooking his thumbs in his pockets, he leaned back on his heels. "You're not used to seeing me without my face mask on, huh?" He asked impishly, lightly teasing her.

He could see her cheeks turn red before she knelt to try and move the duffle bags to the side, aimlessly rooting through the trash bags that held her things. He leaned forward and tipped his head to the side to try and get her attention.

"Yah, Y/N," he said lowly with a grin, "Am I too handsome for you to handle, is that it?" He meant it as a joke, but she didn't quite answer as quickly as he thought she would.

"No, I mean, uh-"

"Heeey you guys!" A loud voice interrupted from the door. Namjoon straightened and looked up at Hobi threw an arm over his shoulder. "Flirting with the new staff member already, Joonie? You work fast man!"

Dammit, J-Hope.