New Newer Rules

16 - Because I'm so cute?

Jeongguk sits against one of the ice machines behind the bar, his homework spread out on the floor in front of him. Seokjin has tripped over him three times when he comes to this side of the bar to make drinks, but all Jeongguk had to do was pout a little and Seokjin let him stay. He’s out of sight from the camera over here, and it provides a nice little hiding spot when he doesn’t want to be a part of society.

“Hyung!” Jeongguk snatches his notebook off the floor, saving it from Seokjin’s dirty shoe. “Watch it.”

“You’re literally underfoot like a tiny dog,” Seokjin complains, pouring vermouth into a shaker. The bar must be getting busy, according to the pile of dirty glasses by one of the sinks.

Jeongguk had offered a few times to help out whenever Seokjin was understaffed, but he really only knew how to pour shots and the occasional Jack and coke, so. “I’m not a dog.”

“Whatever. Hand me the sour mix.”
Jeongguk does, and Seokjin goes back to tending to customers who are drinking way too much for a Thursday evening. From where he sits, Jeongguk can see that most of the people at the bar are still in their suits from work, ties loose and hair purposefully mussed to give the impression of nonchalance, though the way they knock back shots and drinks doesn’t quite match that attitude.

Seokjin’s coworker shows up late, the bar still pretty full by then. Jeongguk gets lost in his work, using the scattered pieces of conversation that he picks up as background music to astronomy and literature. Junhee is less forgiving about Jeongguk sitting behind the bar, but he tries to ignore the dirty looks.

He’s not done with his essay by the time things calm down enough for Seokjin to actually end his shift, still tapping angrily at his keyboard when Seokjin sits across from him, takes his laptop, and does a preliminary read through.

“This isn’t as terrible as usual.”

“Gee, thanks,” Jeongguk says dryly. He figures this means Seokjin can leave now, and starts
packing up his things with hope Seokjin will buy him food. “Can we get McDonald’s?”

“No, we have food at home.”

“I hate this fucking family,” Jeongguk grumbles, shoving his notebook in his backpack with more force than necessary.

Seokjin takes Jeongguk’s wrist before he can stand up fully, urging him back down. “We need to talk first."

“Can’t we do it at home?” Jeongguk asks, raising an eyebrow. The bar still has a good number of people left, Junhee is glaring at them from the other side of the bar, and mixing some drink that Jeongguk is almost entirely sure is not supposed to look brown.

“This is easier. I already have you cornered.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“It’s not, Jesus. You’re so annoying.”

Jeongguk pouts. “Rude.”

“Whatever.” Seokjin waits until Jeongguk settles properly again, legs crossed.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“Mostly about how you’re a fucking moron.”

“Wow.” Jeongguk says, humorlessly. He grabs a few pieces of ice from the bin behind him and very pointedly shoves them down Seokjin’s shirt. (“Joke’s on you, I needed to cool down. It’s hard always being so smoking hot.”) “I mean, we been knew but why now?”

Seokjin sighs, still fishing down the front of his shirt to get the ice before it melts. “I told you not to get attached to Taehyung.”

“And? I didn’t.”