Chapter Text
Jungkook flips the page of the binder, the plastic sleeves protecting the various designs slip partially beneath his fingers. The page now shows a sketch of palm trees before a sunset in monochromatic colors. Jungkook glances up to the pretty girl before him, her glossy pink lips pursing together as she shakes her head. He turns the page again, entering the watercolor section now. The first design is of a hummingbird in brilliant, bold colors and he’s about to turn the page again when she reaches out to press her long gel-painted nail on the image.
“I like this one.”
She suddenly speaks up and Jungkook wants to sigh out in relief. Usually he’s fairly patient when people are deciding what tattoos to permanently ink onto their skin, but this girl has been here five times. Every time she’d look through the different samples with Jungkook, either in the binders they had of previous work and sketches, or perusing through the internet together. Each visit she’d conclude and say she doesn’t see anything she likes and leaves, with Jungkook sitting there confused and a little irritated.
Hoseok said she likes him, but he doesn’t think so at all. He thinks she only comes in to stare at Jungkook and his long, pretty hair and all of his cool tattoos. Why else would she spend all of this extra time around here, especially since Hoseok mentioned she’d come in before when Jungkook wasn’t working and turned right back around.
Right now she seems set on the hummingbird, and Jungkook thinks, all that grief over these past few weeks for a bird. But the more he looks at the tattoo, the more he can understand. Hummingbirds are symbolic, a sign of love and good luck. The base blues and greens flow well into the brighter oranges and fuchsias. He thinks he’ll have a lot of fun coloring it in.
“Alright, well,” he takes the page out of the binder to set it aside for her. “We can set up an appointment for when you come in,” he begins to speak, scooting his stool over to the computer now.
Jungkook catches out of his peripheral, as she tucks some hair behind her ear and leans in closely. Staring at the computer as he pulls up their appointment management app, she starts to speak to him more, “What’s this tattoo of yours mean?”
Jungkook focuses more on typing into the computer, holding off his answer to her question.
“Are you available Monday at 11?” he asks her, finally turning his gaze from the screen to look at her. He blinks a few times as the angle she’s leaning onto the counter at leaves a direct view to her supple breasts pushed together in her low cut blouse. He gulps a little, bringing his eyes quickly back up to hers where he sees her smirking. Caught.
“Yeah, Monday’s good,” she replies.
Jungkook doesn’t have the desire to explain all of the ink on his arm, but she only asked about one. Once he saves the appointment, he turns the stool while peering down, finger tracing over one of his first tattoos—a script.
Rather be dead than cool.
“It’s from one of my favorite groups growing up, Nirvana. Originally the intention was a statement on ignorantly following whatever cool trend there is. For me, I don’t care about looking or acting cool, especially since it often compromises integrity and even justice for equality. I’d rather be dead than to follow any fascist or capitalist pig.”
Jungkook leaves out the part at the end of the song when Kurt Cobain says, ‘God is Gay’, one of his favorite lines from a musician ever.
The explanation clearly catches her off guard as she stands up straighter, her neatly shaped brows furrowing. Then as expected, a response he often receives from many people, “That’s so cool, oppa.”
The way Jungkook bristles at the word and feels his cheeks warm a bit. He ushers the conversation onwards and tells her he’ll see her early next week, walking around the counter to escort her to the door.
As he holds it open for her and she steps out, her fingers brush along his hand and she smiles up at him through her long, thick lashes, “See you soon.”
Maybe Hoseok is right.
While she walks off, Jungkook is about to close the door when he hears a disgruntled noise from across the street. Quickly glancing over, he sees someone he hasn’t met before.
The man is shoving a heavy, ceramic pot to prop the glass door open. He has on a black apron and a black t-shirt, the lengths of the sleeves dipping down to his elbows. The shirt itself is also long, paired with black jeans. Jungkook looks down at his own all black attire that he’s wearing. Intriguing.
Directing his gaze back to the stranger who’s now standing there, studying the store front, Jungkook also notices slivers of blonde hair beneath his black cap.
For the longest time he and Hoseok had been wondering what new store would crop up in the abandoned space. Prior to the new owner, it was an old camera shop that Jungkook enjoyed visiting. They specialized in developing film for customers, but in an age where the trend was expensive DSLR cameras and achieving vignette filters through digital editing, the camera shop eventually closed. Months on end the occupancy was vacant, the empty shop collecting dust.
Finally one day there was activity around the building, renovating and sprucing up the unit. Their curiosity grew as the project looked upscale and expensive. They placed bets on what it would be, Hoseok guessing a salon while Jungkook was convinced it would be some gastropub.
When they saw the bold, modern letters printed on the glass, “Fleur de Lune”, they realized it was going to be a flower shop.
Now Jungkook is looking at the must-be owner. Broad shoulders, mysterious aura in dark colors. When Jungkook catches sight of his profile from across the way, he sees delicately soft features with an intensely serious look. A round button nose and thick, supple lips, but a steel gaze and set of brows that are terse in concentration. He’s peering down at his phone and typing.
All of a sudden he looks up.
At Jungkook.
Their eyes meet.
Jungkook feels his breath hitch and he quickly startles back into the tattoo shop, letting the entrance door shut behind him. He’s quick on his feet as he retreats safely behind the front desk.
Fuck, he’s hot.
Cool, unique, like a complex contradiction with those pretty features but dark everything else and his eyes. Oh, his eyes. Jungkook felt that gaze. He felt it right through his chest.
“What’s wrong with you?” Hoseok asks, appearing from the back as he runs a hand through his dark auburn hair. Hoseok is fashionable in his own way. He’s able to pull off outfits that Jungkook could never, full of patterns and colors that assemble together for a lewk.
Today he has on a color-blocked windbreaker with purple, green and orange. It’s halfway unzipped though revealing that the tattoo artist has nothing on underneath. Tan skin covered in a lovely brush of different colors and black ink along his chest.
“N-Nothing,” Jungkook stutters out convincingly.
Hoseok happens to look outside when he must also spot the new owner. “Wow! Is that him?” He hurries towards the leather couch near the front window, crouching onto the worn cushions that add to the appeal of an edgy tattoo studio.
Jungkook feels the hub of his cheeks warm up.
“He’s hot!” Hoseok cheerfully exclaims as if Jungkook did not just have a brief crisis over how hot he really is. “Should we go over and say hi?”
“No!” Jungkook is quick to yell out, causing Hoseok to look over at him in deeper confusion. The look Hoseok has on him makes the younger artist want to sink off his stool and hide behind the counter.
“You like him,” Hoseok breathes out in surprise.
Jungkook groans.
“Jungkookie!!!” Hoseok clambers off the couch to head Jungkook’s way, making the dark haired boy pout even further. He knows what’s coming. “Never have I ever seen you like someone! In all the time I’ve known you! Do you know how many hot people have come through these doors and cool, aloof Jungkookie doesn’t even bat an eye?”
Hoseok proceeds to torment him by reaching out to pinch at his sides and Jungkook limp noodles his way out, groaning louder than before.
“I don’t like him! I just think he’s hot,” Jungkook corrects because he doesn’t even know the guy.
“Fair,” Hoseok smiles as he now takes his station at the front desk, sitting upon the stool as he watches Jungkook who suddenly has no idea what to do with his body. He glances once more out the window and sees the florist is helping direct people into the store holding all types of flora and plants.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go say hi?” Hoseok asks, softer this time as he must see the way Jungkook is staring longingly like some helpless, bewitched fawn.
Jungkook thinks he sees the guy look over at their store. It’s so quick he’s entirely unsure, though.
“Yeah, I’m sure we’ll get a chance at some point,” Jungkook reasons, clearing his throat for it had certainly gone dry.
The next week passes by with the flower shop across the street approaching their opening day. A sign posted announces the grand opening and Jungkook is actually excited for it. They’ve watched flowers imported to the store, various decor and artwork, including some furniture pieces. There was another man too who eventually began showing up, taller and broader, dark skin that soaked up the sun like water.
One could say Hoseok took an interest in this newcomer.
“He’s out!” Hoseok suddenly shouts, perched on the couch near the window. He has a bowl of cereal in his hands, a quick snack that they often eat during breaks or in the quieter mornings like this.
Jungkook finds himself flushing but still there he is, glancing out the window to look.
Every day Hoseok jokes that Jungkook’s whole jaw drops to the floor. It’s hard when this mysterious flower shop owner is every bit of Jungkook’s type. Physically, at least. Those wide shoulders, the dark style. Even from across the street he has that brooding gaze that Jungkook had been stricken by the first time. The type of serious look that says, ‘Push me on one of these tables and fuck me senseless, daddy.’
Not that Jungkook’s ever said that in his whole twenty two years of life.
But he could start.
Once the florist has its grand opening, Hoseok declares he’s going to walk over to give them a welcome gift, a courteous gesture for their new business neighbors. He invites Jungkook to join him as he’s holding a box of chocolates and a self decorated card.
Jungkook shakes his head, telling Hoseok that someone should stay behind and watch the store. This earns an incredulous look from the tattoo shop owner who motions to how walking across the street for a minute isn’t going to result in the store bursting into flames. Stubborn, Jungkook shrugs it off and sticks firmly to his choice.
That day he only watches from the window as Hoseok marches across the street and into the store. Shortly after he’s exiting the front, empty handed, full smile. For a moment Jungkook regrets his decision and thinks meeting the florist during his grand opening would be normal and easy, as opposed to the chance, serendipitous encounter he’s been banking on.
As the days routinely continue, Jungkook frequently finds himself looking outside at the shop opposite their own. Sometimes he’ll see the owner rearrange some of the potted flowers or exchange the ones he has on display right outside by the open door. Jungkook will look upwards from the front desk, stare in silent captivation and doe-eyed hearts, only to remember that his own inability to step the fuck up has left him here, a distant admirer.
On one of the mornings where he didn’t bring his usual coffee from home, for he ran out of beans, Jungkook pulls his wallet out of his bag.
“I’m going to go get a coffee from Leche! Probably a snack, too! Want anything?!” Jungkook calls out as he also grabs his phone off the counter.
Hoseok is setting up for his first client of the day when he pops his head out from one of the back rooms. “Could you get me one of those lemon bars? Thanks, Koo!”
Jungkook feels himself grinning at Hoseok’s heart shaped smile, convinced that it could stop an entire war.
Heading out of the shop, he shivers just a little. It’s still late spring so some days are colder than others, and today is one of those mornings where the chill from the morning still lingers. He slides his hands into his hoodie pockets, walking briskly to a few shops down. He passes a bar that’s only open in the evenings and then reaches the store he’s looking for, the bakery that also sells a few cafe drinks.
Pan de Leche.
The bakery opened a few years back with Seokjin on his own. He had just returned from studying in Spain, finishing his schooling in culinary and pastry arts. The small bakery started off with Seokjin focusing on just pastries, always passionate about selling ones that were cute and also tasted delicious. With Spanish influences and his signature milk bread, he quickly rose to popularity. Seokjin claims it was also due to his handsome good looks that won customers through Instagram and social media.
Now three years later, business booming, his shop brings a lot of traffic to this area of town which would otherwise be quiet and forgotten. Hoseok’s tattoo studio has been here for longer and he also vouches that more customers have come ever since Seokjin’s bakery opening. In order to expand properly, Seokjin slapped on some cafe drinks and hired a couple of baristas, adding on to the overall flower boy appeal.
Jungkook just comes here for the cakes and caramel lattes.
“Hey, Jungkookie!”
Not for the fact that he hired two social media influencers, handsome and charming in every way: Jimin and Taehyung.
“Hey, Jimin-ssi,” he chuckles softly, enjoying the never failing reaction that it earns.
Jimin is a popular choreographer for a well known dance studio in the evenings. His videos to popular songs have often received millions of views. On Instagram alone, he has over a million followers, one of them including Jungkook. It’s hard not to press the like button when Jimin posts sensual photos of himself in his studio with sleeveless shirts, showing off his tattoos.
“Yah, you brat,” Jimin laughs, his eyes crinkling into these heartwarming arches. While working for the bakery, he obviously is more clothed with chicly chosen shirts and a white, pristine apron. He’s also a lot cuter.
“Kookie!” Taehyung appears from the back, carrying a fresh tray of baked milk bread. They’re glistening with a milk glaze and sugar on the top, looking mouthwateringly delicious.
Taehyung claims he’s an Instagram model, but Jungkook doesn’t know what that entails other than posting really alluring poses of himself in various locations. His whole feed does look like a magazine, having almost 2 million followers. To Jungkook, though, he’s always been the handsome puppy-like boy smiling at him right now.
Jungkook smiles broadly, thinking of how he’s grown to feel comfortable around these two. They’re both open and friendly, playful with each other and in turn, Jungkook.
“Hi, Tae,” he greets, wondering if he wants to order the fresh milk bread.
“Yah, it’s hyung to you,” Taehyung corrects with a thick pout.
“Jungkookie’s never going to treat us with respect,” Jimin chimes in, Taehyung hanging off him now as he wraps his arms around Jimin from behind. The two of them together are truly beautiful and Jungkook feels his heart flutter a little.
He simply smiles in reply to the comment, knowing despite his dark looks and intimidating tattoos, he’s a cinnamon roll.
“I’ll take two of the milk bread, one of the lemon bars and a caramel latte.”
Jimin is the one to type in his order as Taehyung watches and asks, “How’s it going? Get any cool requests lately?”
Taehyung has always been interested in their work, always claiming one day he’ll get a tattoo once he figures out what he wants. Jimin already got a couple of his from Hoseok. Hoseok still states that the Nevermind tattoo he did for Jimin was one of his favorites. Not only due to Jimin’s incredible body that he got to stare at the entire time, but because Jimin’s dance videos often flash his tattoo which gains their shop more customers.
“Good,” Jungkook states, his mind immediately fleeting to the florist. The handsome, mysterious florist that he’s spent the past few weeks fawning silently over.
And by some serendipitous pull of the universe (like Jungkook hoped), the door behind him opens with the ding of the bell and—
“Yoongi hyung!”
Jungkook looks immediately back at this person they’re both so familiar with.
The moment his eyes land upon the exact person he was just thinking about, he feels his heart lurch and gallop right out of his body. It seems to have the right mindset as it flees the scene and leaves Jungkook to fend for himself. His neck, cheeks and ears redden as he stares, watching the owner of the flower shop approach him.
Flustered, Jungkook staggers to the side to allow room for Yoongi to step up to the counter. He directs his eyes away the moment he notices Yoongi look at him, probably to wonder why the hell Jungkook is gawking.
Standing by the edge of the counter where the orders are served, Jungkook fidgets in his spot. Taehyung shoots him a puzzled look, questioning why he’s suddenly acting so weird. Jungkook ignores him and continues to look everywhere but in the general direction of Yoongi.
“Hey Jiminah, Taehyungie,” Yoongi greets.
This is the first time Jungkook has heard his voice.
It’s so low that invisible reactors penetrate Jungkook and cause him to inwardly shiver. His heart must have returned for it’s racing right in the core of his chest, pounding hard and erratic. The deep drawl to his voice has a non-native Seoul accent.
Jungkook glances to Taehyung who’s almost done with his drink.
“Can I get an iced coffee?” Yoongi asks. He hears Jimin fluttering out a soft giggle.
“Of course, hyung. When do you not ask for an iced coffee,” his voice is flirtatious and has that melodic ring to it that Jungkook always revels over. He can only imagine the batting of lashes Jimin confidently does at the florist.
It seems like in the few weeks that Yoongi’s store has been coming together for the final touches, he’s already been to Pan de Leche. Enough times to be friendly with Jimin and Taehyung. The pang inside of Jungkook is noticeable, but as usual, he shoves it aside.
Taehyung brings Jungkook’s drink and wrapped pastries to him, smiling. “Here you go—“ he pauses, and then his eyes suspiciously glance over to the register, “Jungkookie.”
Jungkook feels his chest arrest with embarrassment, wondering why the hell Taehyung had to emphasize his name like that. He takes the pastries quickly, keeping his head ducked low as he hurries towards the door.
He does not notice the exchange of knowing looks between Jimin and Taehyung, nor the confused lingering gaze of Yoongi at his retreating form.
Jungkook also does not realize he forgot his fucking coffee at the bakery until he makes it back to Hoseok’s studio. There’s no way in heaven or hell or anything in between he’s heading back to get it. That’ll just be a lost five dollars.
“Hey! Thank you!” Hoseok hears Jungkook return and he’s wearing a mask around his face, showing that’s probably in the back sterilizing their tools. He tucks the mask down beneath his chin, taking the lemon bar that Jungkook holds out to him.
That’s when Hoseok’s eyes widen as the front door opens.
Not this again.
“You forgot your drink—“