5.

Over the next couple of weeks, Jeongguk starts to feel more comfortable with allowing Taehyung to come over when Jeongguk is at work. If he keeps cutting hours, they might just cut his electricity off.

Seokjin’s laugh echoes in his skull.

By the time Jeongguk gets home, it’s gone 9PM. He worked on a new construction site and squeezed a shift in at the diner today, so he’s sore and aching all over. He probably smells like a mixture of cement and fryer grease. It’s at times like this where he remembers his age. He’s been working his ass off every day since he could legally work and what does he have to show for it, honestly. Grease stains on his shirt?

“Hey, kid,” Jeongguk greets, tossing his keys on the side and toeing off his boots. “Good day?”

“Yep,” Yujin returns, distracted by whatever he’s typing on his laptop. He hits enter and looks up at Jeongguk with a sigh. “Sorry,” he says, giving a tired smile. “History paper. Hey, dad. How was work?”

Jeongguk stares at his son and his shoulders relax a little.

God, he loves his kid. He really does.

“It was good,” Jeongguk assures, gentle. This is what he has to show for it, and he’s damn proud. He sniffs the air, nose twisting at the thick smell of mince and onions. “What the hell is that smell?”

“Taehyung tried to make burgers. Emphasis on the tried .”

“What do you mean tried , I think they turned out great,” comes a sudden, familiar voice and Jeongguk looks up to see Taehyung strolling out of the kitchen, a beer in one hand and a soda in the other. He nods over at Jeongguk. “Hey, big guy. Good day?”

“Yeah…” Jeongguk says slowly, confused. He checks his watch, just to be sure. “Bit late for you, isn’t it?”

“Hyung’s been helping me with my paper.”

“Oh. That’s really great. Uh.” Jeongguk double checks his watch.

“I’m off the clock,” Taehyung supplies as he sits down next to Yujin, clearly noticing Jeongguk’s hesitance. He hands Yujin his soda and twists open his beer. “Just here as a hyung.”

Jeongguk should probably be more embarrassed that Taehyung clocked his worry about paying him over time, but money is money and as much as he likes Taehyung, he can’t afford to pay the guy any more than they’ve settled on. It’d fuck up all of Jeongguk’s budgeting for the month.

But if he’s here, clearly out of the kindness of his heart, Jeongguk really appreciates that. Especially since it involves helping Yujin.

“Are you still hungry?” Jeongguk offers.

“No, but I made a burger for you, too,” Taehyung says, taking a sip of his beer. His eyes drag over Jeongguk, something Jeongguk has caught Taehyung doing a few times now. But he’s not sure if caught is the right word when it seems like Taehyung doesn’t have a subtle bone in his body. He tilts his head, neck of the bottle resting close to his lips. “You want it?”

Jeongguk stares back at Taehyung for a moment. In all his years, he doesn’t think he’s ever been on the receiving end of such obvious attention. It’s a little endearing. He’s glad he hasn’t lost his touch, even to a younger person. “Sure,” he agrees. He’s not hungry, but if Taehyung’s made the effort, he won’t pass that up.

The interest in Taehyung’s face shifts to excitement and he’s back on his feet and heading to the kitchen.

“Don’t breathe through your nose,” comes Yujin’s low warning once Taehyung’s left the room. “Just chew and swallow.”

Jeongguk tsks, sitting down in the leather armchair. “You’re being dramatic.”

Yujin’s eyebrows raise and he glances over at Jeongguk from above his laptop, but says nothing.

“Here we go.” Taehyung walks back in a few minutes later, burger and beer in hand. That burger is fucking incinerated. “I was inspired by your burgers at the diner. Think I nailed it.”

Jeongguk is slightly insulted. “Glad they made an impression.” He clears his throat, glancing up at Taehyung who’s eagerly waiting.

“Go on, chef. Tell me how I did.”

Jeongguk smiles, tight at the corners, and briefly glances over at Yujin who’s very clearly keeping his expression neutral. Picking up the burger, Jeongguk eyes the charred meat.

It’s just. Well done, that’s all.

By hell's standards, sure. But still.

He takes a bite and chews slowly. Immediately he wishes he heeded Yujin’s advice and held his breath. “Wow,” he says, voice cracking. He clears his throat again. “Didn’t realise burgers could be so… crunchy.”

Taehyung grins down at him. “Do you like it?”

Jeongguk takes another reluctant bite to keep his mouth full and gestures vaguely to his face as if to say he doesn’t want to talk with his mouth full.

Giggling, Taehyung sets the beer down on the coffee table. “He likes it!” he says to Yujin as he returns to his side. “Told you I’m a good cook.”

“Oh yeah, he’s really enjoying it,” Yujin agrees, eyes on his father. “You’re gonna finish every last bite, right, dad?”

Jeongguk glares at his son and scratches his temple with his middle finger. “Mmhm.”

It takes a lot of motivational internal monologue, but Jeongguk manages to eat half of the “burger” before he has to stop, washing it back with more than half of his beer.

“You don’t like it?” Taehyung asks, his face doing something that makes Jeongguk feel like he’s been kicked straight in the guilt dick.

“No, no, it’s great!” Jeongguk is quick to assure, dislodging a burnt piece of onion from his teeth. “I want to savour it, that’s all. Cause when it’s gone, it’s… gone.”

Taehyung loses the sad puppy look and his smile is back. “Just let me know, I could make another one for you.”

“No!” he almost yells.

Yujin snorts, but turns it into a cough. “Something in my throat…” he wheezes under his breath.

Taehyung looks between the two of them before his gaze stays on Jeongguk. “You hate it.”

“What?” Jeongguk scoffs, grabbing a tissue from the tissue box to wipe away his weirdly greasy fingers. He doesn’t know how when there’s no moisture in the meat. “Hate?” His mouth opens and closes a few times, huffing a small laugh. “I— Hate is such a strong word…”

“Wow. Okay.” Taehyung tongues the inside of his cheek.

Jeongguk isn’t in the business to crush aspiring cooks— “ Despise fits better.” But he won’t sleep knowing other people may have to eat this burger.

“Well, I personally think it tastes identical to your burger.”

Jeongguk scratches the side of his nose, nodding a little. He is absolutely offended now. “I say this with the utmost respect, but. You’re fucking delusional.” He thinks for a moment while Taehyung scoffs. “Did you use the mince from the fridge?”

“Yeah?”

Jeongguk sucks a breath through his teeth and stands, taking his plate and beer with him. “That was premium chuck steak mince and you still butchered a simple burger. That’s upsetting. Don’t give up music, ace.”

Taehyung chokes behind him as Jeongguk escapes to the kitchen to deep clean it from the massacre Taehyung bestowed upon it.

Still cute that he tried, though.

“Your friend picking you up tonight?” Jeongguk asks once Yujin’s packed up and gone to his room.

“Nah, he’s busy tonight. I’ll get the train,” Taehyung answers as he takes the cash Jeongguk hands him.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t,” Jeongguk smiles, stepping back into his work boots. “Get your stuff. Yujin, I’m gonna give Taehyung a ride home!” he calls out.

There’s shuffling, followed by the sound of the shower curtain. “Okay, I’ll probably be asleep by the time you come back.” Yujin pokes his head around the corner. “Night, dad. See you next week, hyung.”

“Bye, man,” Taehyung waves before he looks at Jeongguk again. “You sure?”

“Why are you being so modest now?” Jeongguk smirks, grabbing his keys and opening the door for Taehyung. “Have no problem decimating my kitchen and drinking my beer, but you draw the line at taking a ride from me?”

Taehyung’s eyebrows twitch at that and he presses his lips together in a tight line.

“What?”

“Nothing, I’m just sick in the head. Ignore me.”

Jeongguk watches as Taehyung makes his way out, not finding it hard to piece together what must have gone down. “You flirting with me again?” he asks as he follows after him, closing the door.

“Not technically since I didn’t say anything out loud.”

“Mentally?”

“Mentally, I did a lot more than flirting.”

Jeongguk grins to himself, realising that he quite enjoys the flirting Taehyung provides him. He finds that he almost looks forward to it every Wednesday and Friday for some reason.

Who wouldn’t enjoy a younger person complimenting them? Even if Jeongguk isn’t into men, he can certainly appreciate it.

“Where do you live, then?” Jeongguk asks once they’re both in Jeongguk’s car.

Taehyung feeds him an address in Hongdae and Jeongguk can’t help but smile.

“I used to live there when I was around your age. Probably my favourite neighbourhood I ever lived in,” Jeongguk says confidently. “The music scene there is awesome.”

“Right?” Taehyung grins. “That’s exactly why I wanted to live there. It’s a bit of a journey every day to SNU, but it’s worth it.”

“You go to SNU? What do you study?”

“Economics.”

Jeongguk snorts, glancing over at Taehyung. “Shut the fuck up.”

“I’m not joking,” Taehyung laughs. “What, is that so hard to believe?”

“Yeah,” Jeongguk says honestly. “Thought you’d be doing something to do with music.”

Taehyung sucks his teeth. “It’s the agreement I have with my parents. In case music doesn’t work out, I’ve got a real career to fall back on, y’know?”

“Ah, that old trick. I can sympathise. I’m sure they just want the best for you, though.”

“I know they do,” Taehyung sighs. “They just bust my balls a lot over it.” He pulls his leg up, tucking his foot against the glove compartment.

“You’ll wish you picked medicine so you can surgically remove your own foot from your ass if you don’t take your leg off my dashboard, Taehyung,” Jeongguk warns. “You’ll scuff it.”

Taehyung pulls his leg back, but only to take his shoe off, revealing the bobbly grey of his sock that Jeongguk guesses was once white. “There. Problem solved.”

“Ah, such a smart ass,” Jeongguk sighs as he slows at a stop sign.

“See? I’ll make a great stockbroker. A man of solutions, me.”

Jeongguk shakes his head, but he’s not mad. He doesn’t know Taehyung all that well, but he thinks he’ll do great whatever he ends up doing. He’s got the personality and charm for any environment.

“What about you, then?” Taehyung interrupts his thoughts.

“What about me.”

“You said you could sympathise with my shit. You have tough parents, too?”

“Ooh, the toughest,” Jeongguk chuckles. “Me and the folks never really got on. Still don’t now, but that’s life.”

“What happened?”

Jeongguk’s lips tilt in a smile as he glances at Taehyung. “I can’t pay you for therapy as well as guitar lessons, ace.”

“First session is on the house,” Taehyung jokes. “Spill, go on.”

“Ahhhh, just.” Jeongguk twists his hand around the top of the steering wheel, the friction of the leather burning his palm. This was like picking a scab off the things he didn’t want to talk about. “We never saw eye to eye. I was a bit of a punk kid and they had a very clear cut plan for me mapped out until retirement. That was a lot for me to process as a kid, so I ended up quitting high school and moving out.”

Taehyung stays quiet for a second before he starts to hum a familiar tune. “La la la…”

“Here we go,” Jeongguk sighs.

“ Beauty school dropout, ” Taehyung starts to croon, patting his knee along with the beat.

He tongues the inside of his cheek, amused. “Taehyung.”

“ No graduation day for you…”

Jeongguk blindly reaches over and smacks Taehyung lightly in the stomach, making him cackle and grab Jeongguk’s wrist. “I’ll kick your ass to the curb, kid.”

Taehyung squeezes his hand briefly before he lets it go when Jeongguk needs his hand to change gear. “Why’d you drop out, Frenchy?”

“Because I was dumb,” Jeongguk tells him honestly. “Thought it was a waste of time. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just wanted some type of freedom. Their future for me freaked me the fuck out, and— I should have stuck it out until graduation, but I didn’t.”

“Where did you go?”

“Did a lot of couch surfing mostly. Funnily enough that’s how I learned to cook,” Jeongguk chuckles. “I didn’t have a job, so I paid my way through the stomach. Realised it’s what I liked to do.”

“Wow.” Taehyung twists in his seat to face him more. “So it all worked out?”

“ I made it work out,” Jeongguk carefully corrects because he knows Taehyung and Yujin talk. “But it wasn’t without hard work. I did fuck up, though.” He rubs his lips together. “That’s why it’s important for me to support Yujin in whatever he chooses to do and give him the space to make his choices.”

Taehyung bumps Jeongguk’s thigh with his fist. “Hey. You’re a really good dad, Jeongguk.”

“Thanks. I try to be.”

“He idolises you, you know. The way he talks about you says as much.”

That really does delight Jeongguk to hear, because while he thinks he’s been doing a pretty decent job, it’s nice to hear it from someone else, someone unbiased.

“Pretty sure he idolises you too,” Jeongguk returns as he takes the next turn into Hongdae. “You’ve been really good for him.”

“Naw, you’re just buttering me up.” There’s definitely a smile in Taehyung’s voice. “Does he say good things about me?”

“Not about your cooking, I imagine.”

“Was the burger really that bad?”

“Worse.”

Taehyung sighs. “And you still ate half of it.”

“Yeah, don’t remind me,” Jeongguk frowns, stomach feeling like it turns at just the memory. “I’ll show you how to make a good burger sometime.”

“Really? Like the ones you make at the diner?”

“Yeah, just like that.”

“And what do you want in return? Want me to teach you how to play the guitar too?”

“I want you to never cook for anyone else until I show you how,” Jeongguk returns almost immediately.

Taehyung scoffs. “What about cereal?”

“...that’s not cooking, Taehyung.”

“It is the way I do it.”

Jeongguk side eyes Taehyung curiously. “Don’t prepare any food.”

“So you want me dead.”

“That’s obviously not what I meant.”

“You said to prepare no food, so clearly you want me dead. You must hate me.”

“I never said that.”

“It’s what you implied.”

Jeongguk huffs a laugh through his nose, tonguing the inside of his cheek. “Gonna choose this hill to die on? Really?”

Taehyung shoots him a cheeky smile, highlighting his age. “Semantics are important to me.”

“Such a smart mouth,” Jeongguk tsks.

Taehyung doesn’t say anything else, but Jeongguk can feel him staring.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Taehyung sighs, stretching his legs out. “The gays are punching the air right now.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing, nothing. My street is right up here.”

Jeongguk takes the next turning and pulls up outside the apartment block Taehyung points out. Pulling the parking brake, Jeongguk rests his forearm against the steering wheel. “I really appreciate you staying tonight to help Yujin with his paper. He’s been having a rough time at school lately, so you helping him means a lot. Especially when it was your own free time.”

“Don’t worry about it. He knows his stuff, he just struggles to get it down properly, I think. I barely did anything.” Taehyung smiles. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk returns the smile, admiring the softness of Taehyung’s eyes. He feels like he can relax a little more. “Thank you,” he says gently.

Taehyung stares at him for another moment before he sighs and grabs his guitar, pulling it out from the backseat. “I’ll see you on Friday?”

“Probably not, I’m working.”

“The diner?”

Jeongguk nods. “Please don’t make dinner for my son. He’s the only one I’ve got if I ever need a kidney transplant. So I need him alive.”

Taehyung mocks a laugh, opening the passenger's door and climbing out. He ducks his head in once more. “ Don’t drive safe.”

When Taehyung shuts the door, Jeongguk snickers to himself and watches him until he’s inside, sending him a two-fingered wave when Taehyung gives him the finger from behind the lobby door.

He’s not sure why he feels the urge to stay until he knows Taehyung’s safe, considering Taehyung is an adult man. But he dismisses it on the premise of fatherly instinct.

That’s all it is.

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