Piano Boy

28

• Jimin •

"I think I'm going to ask Yoongi out today."

Taehyung's face lit up. "Finally."

I rolled my eyes at him, unable to stop my small smile. "I'm trying to decide how to, though. I don't want to scare him off."

Taehyung grinned. "Just tell him how in looove you are and how much you want to maaarry him."

"You suck." I aim a kick at him and he laughs, dancing out of range. As we reach Blue Sky, I slow. "Don't tell Hoseok. You know he'll try and help somehow, and if he does Yoongi's going to know something's up."

"I tell Hoseok everything," Taehyung pouts and I roll my eyes, grinning at him.

"Literally, just hold off until we leave." He nods and I open the door for him, following him in as I glance at the piano in the corner, a smile tugging at my lips as I recognize the slim, dark-haired figure.

I sling my coat over the bar, tossing my hat and gloves on top of it as I make my way over to the piano in the corner, and he glances up briefly, then does a double take, his eyes widening slightly as his cheeks flush. "You - hair - " he stumbles over the words and I can't help my bright smile, running my fingers through my newly black locks.

"What do you think?"

His cheeks are a furious red, and he looks away, clearing his throat slightly, his voice quiet. "It - looks good."

I grin, sitting next to him on the piano bench, close, due to the limited space of the small seat. I lean my elbow on the key cover, turning my head to smile at him, and he's blushing even harder than before at my closeness, my obvious flirtatiousness. This never gets old. "How was your day?"

Yoongi simply nods in response, finally managing to pull his gaze from my hair, and he glances at the piano, his hands fidgeting nervously in his lap. I watch him, reaching out to touch his shoulder, my voice quieter. "You want to grab dinner after work? We both get off kind of early today, I asked Hoseok the other day, and he said he won't need us to close, so we can leave at like ten."

Yoongi glances at me, giving a small nod, the corners of his lips pulling upward. "Sure."

I give him a smile, brushing my hair out of my face as I stand. "I'll bring your drink in just a second."

He nods thanks, his eyes returning to the piano, and I can't help my smile as I make my way to the bar.

~

I glance at the clock, my eyes wandering past the people seated at the bar to the figure at the piano; as our eyes meet, Yoongi glances away, as if he wasn't watching me, and I can't help the smile tugging at my lips as I reach for my coat from under the bar.

It's crowded tonight, people moving in my way as I leave the bar, making my way to where Taehyung is sitting in Hoseok's lap, enthusiastically folding napkins as Hoseok talks to a deliveryman about the shipment of beer coming in today. I catch his eye, tilting my head toward the door, and he gives me a nod, a slight smile. Taehyung notices, his face lighting up as he bounces slightly, grin ecstatic, and I roll my eyes at him playfully, turning toward the pianist across the room.

Yoongi's returned to playing softly, his eyes on the keys, and I make my way to him, taking a seat on the piano bench. "You ready go?"

"Isn't it early?"

I shake my head. "Hoseok said it's fine."

Yoongi glances at me, his fingers leaving the keys, and he nods slightly after a moment, reaching to pull the dust cover over the polished ivory. "All right."

His shoulders are slightly tight, tense, as he stands, turning so he's looking at the crowd of people, and I remember his discomfort in crowds, reaching to slip my fingers into his, squeezing his hand lightly as I tug him gently behind me, out of the bar into the quiet street.

Yoongi's silent, letting me lead us, his fingers warm in mine, and it's a few moments before I can't stand the quiet anymore. "What do you want to eat? I was thinking we could get Italian, or Chinese, or - ooh, k-barbeque sounds good. Or we could see if there's a bar around, one that would be less crowded than Blue Sky that we don't work at," I grin at him and he smiles slightly, glancing at me.

"Wherever is fine."

"C'mon, I need your opinion," I pout playfully, grinning at him, and his cheeks flush as he looks away, his eyes tracing the mostly empty street, following the few people we pass.

"Korean barbeque," he says quietly, and I smile, squeezing his fingers.

"That sounds amazing. I know this great place, my friend has run it after his grandmother started it forever ago. It's so good, you'll love it," I can't help bouncing slightly, my smile probably too much, but when a grin tugs at his lips as he watches me I don't regret it.

We're mostly quiet as we make our way down the street, and I tug Yoongi toward the small shop as we approach it, the crowded, dark restaurant's aroma reaching us even as we stand outside.

"It might be busy, but Jin can probably get me a private table. I was his taste tester, when he modified the recipes a couple years ago, so he kind of lets me get away with anything now," I grin, pushing open the door, exchanging a smile with the man in the front. "Namjoon, how are you?"

The tall man dimples, reaching for two menus. "Amazing. Table for just the two of you?"

"Do you have anything private?"

"Jin would beat me if I ever put you in a room that's not private." Namjoon chuckles, maneuvering his long legs around the low tables of the restaurants, leading the way to the back, and Yoongi's hand has tightened around mine as I follow, the older clinging to me as if he's not comfortable.

I slow my steps, falling into sync with the other boy. "You okay?"

Yoongi nods tensely, his hair falling into his eyes, and I resist the urge to brush it out of his face, instead squeezing his hand lightly. "We'll have a quiet room to ourselves in a minute. Less people then."

Yoongi nods, still looking tense as he swallows slightly, and I give him a smile as we follow Namjoon into one of the private back rooms of the restaurant.

"Jin will probably stop by in a minute," he lays the menu on the low table, giving me a smile before turning to Yoongi. "I'm Namjoon, by the way."

"Y - " his voice is slightly hoarse, nervous, and he clears his throat slightly. "Yoongi."

Namjoon smiles. "Nice to meet you, Yoongi. Jimin, you two can have a minute with the menus before I send someone in to take your orders. I'll let Seokjin know you're here, too."

"Thanks, Joon. Good to see you again."

He nods, disappearing through the door again, and I release Yoongi's fingers, giving him a bright smile. "Well, it's finally just the two of us. I feel like I haven't been alone with you in forever. And - ooh, let's get some soju, with dinner. I could use some alcohol, and you get all pink when you drink, it's so cute."

He blinks, a flush creeping over his cheeks as he stares at me, shocked by my candidness, and I can't help my grin, sitting on one of the cushions by the low table, looking up at him expectantly. "Let's look at the menu."

~

When you have to cancel your first date because his parents are freaking out over coronavirus 💀