【playing..】

IZ*ONE (아이즈원) - One-Reeler / Act IV
Mise-en-Scène

❚❚►_____________________________ 3:19

Jeongguk was nervous, hand tapping on his thigh, toes wiggling up and down as he watched time tick my on his phone screen because god damn -- was he shitting his pants at the moment.

See the deal is that he hadn't been that nervous in months, not over a boy ever. But here he was sitting on his living room couch, stomach turning, hands tacky with sweat because of who? A boy. A certain boy.

Well, not beating around the bush here, he's nervous about Taehyung.

Specifically about Taehyung coming over. Like in half an hour and oh my fucking god, he was going to throw up the oatmeal he had for breakfast today.

He had wondered himself as his eyes fluttered open this morning, how exactly today was going to go, heart dropping into his pants the second he was conscious.

See his dilemma was the following that -- well, Gguk hadn't exactly seen Taehyung still.

Like what he looked like, which honestly only added to the nervousness pulsing through his veins and to the heaviness of what this day actually meant.

They simply hadn't gotten to that point in one of their conversations where Taehyung either send a picture of himself or revealed his face through a web cam in one of their discord calls --- and Jeongguk wasn't gonna flat out ask him to send a picture of himself.

First, he didn't want to come off as a desperate creep, second he was absolutely set on not wanting to invade his privacy as he had previously invalidated it so rudely eventhough it was only through words typed into a reply on twitter.

Yes, they had talked it out and sure, Tae didn't even remotely seem to have any hard feelings about it at, least anymore, but it still somehow continued to live in the back of his mind, telling him to respect his privacy or actually delete his online existence.

He was gonna go with the first option of respecting privacy (mostly because he actually values Taehyung's feelings and opinions but also the tinest bit because he didn't wanna delete his source of income).

But nevertheless, face to a voice and typed out words on a screen or not, they talked pretty much day in day out for about three months after Jeongguk forwarded his phone number to him, getting closer, getting to know eachother more and progressively getting even more flirty than they had been in the first place.

It seemed more serious now, not just flirting to annoy or nag, but to actually evoke something in the other -- thats what was happening for Jeongguk at least.

Hs had slowly but surely come to the realization that he maybe had now overstept the boundary of the excitement of a new friendship much sooner than he had thought and he knew -- oh god, he's actually fucking crushing on his guy.

Like big boom boom in his heart whenever he laughed into the headphones that clamped around Jeongguk's head.

Whenever he told him to get a good night sleep.

Whenever he teased him for actually thinking ferrets are the superior pets but following it up by saying that they actually were kind of cute. That's his kind of man right there.

That shit figuratively made his stomach light up in butterflies and this was going to sound embarrassing but -- he couldnt say he ever felt that intense of a crush before.

Embarrassing because again -- he hasn't even seen the damn guy.

So the 'he technically he could be a forty year old weirdo who's trying to get with a young man' theory still stands in his mind.

But that couldn't hold him back against his better judgement to never invite kind of a stranger to your home because what the hell was he actually doing?

When Taehyung had mentioned that he'd drop by Seoul to visit his sister, her spouse and their two kids living there as he was currently living in the hour away Daegu, he couldn't pass it up. He couldn't.

And no, he totally didn't remember when he told him the kids are quote the cutest little humans in the entire world and that he had already bought them two little toy rockets as a gift from uncle taetae.

Totally didn't make Gguk choke up in tears because it was so endearing.

No, that would be embarrassing.

Anyways, Jeongguk couldn't just not take this perfectly layed out chance there.

How couldn't he take this absolutely perfect chance for what he would now admit is his crush --  voice deeper than the ocean, personality so fucking attractive Gguk was ready to drop on one knee with a diamond ring in his hand -- to visit him face to face, actually in person.

So what did he do? He suggested for him to stop by of course, actually meet eachother.

See they hadn't labeled it as a date just yet, they hadn't gave it any further context than 'yeah haha wouldn't it be fun for you to just drop by while being in Seoul haha' -- but let's just say that Jeongguk wouldn't have been appalled by calling it one.

Eventhough this wasn't date and just two pals meeting up for an afternoon, he was kind of melting into a nervous puddle.

How the actual fuck was he suppose to act now that it wasn't through the separation of a screen, so well able to mask him literally melting away with Tae's voice and some of his words.

He was literally on the verge of jumping into a hole this very moment, because damn he wasn't feeling ready for this at all, and the guy wasn't even here yet and as he said already -- it wasn't even labeled as more than hanging out and he still was going to pee his pants.

He hadn't even realized the time ticking by with the messy whirlwind of thoughts occupying him right now, gradually getting dangerously close to when Taehyung's suppose to get to his place.

Speaking of his place, god damn, it had never looked so clean in years, he actually took the time yesterday to wipe down the top of his big bulky bookshelves each placed beside his TV filled with videogames and consoles, as if Taehyung was going to look up there, wipe his finger over the surface and decide that it's too dusty.

Jeongguk was determined to leave a good first impression somehow, so what?

Before he could reminisce any further about his squeaky clean apartment and it impressing a cute boy (fingers crossed), the door bell ringing made his heart actually drop into his pants.

Oh god, he might throw up.

So many questions ran through his head as he walked over to his door rather quickly.

Does he look okay? How's his hair look? Is his outfit sitting right? Maybe all black hoodie and cargo pants with chains was too weird? Does he smell good? Maybe he shouldn't have gone for vanilla rose, that's too tacky, isnt it? Shit how is he gonna get this off now, he can't. He even sprayed it on his nape. What if Taehyung doesn't like vanilla or rose. What if he hates the combination?

Oh god, should he just go shower to wash it all of with neutral soap, put on a less e-boyish outfit and let Taehyung wait outside for like thirty minutes?

Wait -- how did his feet scoot him to the door already? And how did his hand go to press the button to get the building's door open again?

Screw his body for working against him, doing things before he even decided so.

He immediately heard footsteps shooting up the stairway and with each one Jeongguk felt himself sweat more.

Oh fuck, he was gonna pee his pants.

He felt like that one time in elementary school when he had to go over to his classmate's house he barely knew but kinda crushed on in his baby gay days, for a project he couldn't remember anymore.

All he could recall is that he stood on their front porch, having to ring their doorbell and felt like he was going to puke -- that's the exact feeling he had trapped in his stomach right now, complete carbon copy of it.

He heard the echo of it get higher and higher -- until shit, so did his heart beat when the other showed up infront of his door step.

He couldn't help but scan the tall man standing right on his doormat.

His eyes swirled a deep mocca brown, face delicate yet strong defined features, his hair colored deep midmight black tucked prettily behind his ear, a bandana holding it out of his eyes and an earring glimmering on his lobe.

His outfit nicely matched with a dark leather jacket and white tee under it, matched with some tighter black pants.

No forty year old creep, but damn -- the most gorgeous man he had probably ever seen.

And how was this even possible and what even is his luck right now? Was this some kind of romantic comedy he was living out right now?

Doesn't matter because in his head he's thanking all the heathens and whoever the fuck was responsible for shoving this gorgeous man right into his life.

"Hi, Jeongguk." And then that voice, contrasting his softer leaning, might even call them angelic features.

A walking contradiction, angel and demon in one, but somehow also fitting together perfectly like puzzle pieces.

"Uh- hi." His throat felt dry, completely out of things to say just from a simple greeting with his name attached as brief stares up and down were exchanged between them.

God fucking damn it, Jeongguk is more screwed than he thought he was, he's so fucked it's ridiculous.

"Are you gonna let me inside?" Taehyung was first to break the paining silence that floated through the air, his head tilting slightly and all Gguk could think of is that he looked like a puppy.

"Oh-yeah-" He made sure to try and not have his absolute redicilous level of attraction showing as he made way and waved him inside. "Come in."

Taehyung flashed a smile as he passed, coming into the apartment, turning right around to face him again attentively -- and damn it that smile. It did things to Gguk's heart.

"Youre like- really uh- pretty." He couldn't help but blurt out. But what can you really do when this gorgeous man is just there looking at you like he's gonna remember every detail that passes through your lips.

And fuck he's got it bad, he's got it so so bad.

Taehyung's smile turned into a chuckle all deep but eyes turning into the most adorable little cresent moons. Angel and demon. "Thanks, can only say the same 'bout you. I'm glad i did ask for your number. Seems like i hit jackpot."

"Oh, stop it." Jeongguk went to give him a light slap on the arm, not being able to help the shy smile that stretched at his lips. Taehyung's such a damn charmer both behind a screen and in real life, maybe that's why he crushed on him that quickly.

"Hey, you don't slap your guest!" Taehyung clutched onto his arm just where Gguk had only really lightly tapped him, pretending like he seriously hit him, lips all pouty.

He rolled his eyes in an attempt to seem annoyed but the smile plastered on his face barely hiding his slight, yes totally very slight, infatuation for that pouty face.

Their little fit of laughter faded off into silence, slight awkward and nervousness going back to rumble in Jeongguk's gut again that he hadn't even noticed had faded before for a second.

"So-" Jeongguk cleared his voice, shifting from on foot to his other. What now? How does he go from here? How does he keep a conversation going? It's like he forgot how to actually talk to people.

"Do you- uh- yeah." Yeah, way to go Jeon Jeongguk. He was ready to slap himself right about now, way to make this worse, way to welcome someone into your home.

"God, I'm so awkward, aren't i? I'm so sorry-" He backtracked, accompanied by a laugh at the slight absurdity of the situation settling in because, well they kind of are strangers, aren't they?

They have talked a lot but you know with the difference of a couple cities and a screen in between them at all times.

It's not like he was uncomfortable, it's just that this is vastly different from how he had usually met people that became friends (maybe more, again fingers crossed).

"Jeongguk, it's fine. I'm probably more nervous than you are. This is the first time literally any of my friends i have met online has seen my full face." Taehyung's smile never onces leaving him, hand going to feel up Gguk's arm, lingering for a second longer than he would consider to be purely friendly.

"Well, your nervous isn't showing at least." Gguk whined, eyes going anywhere but connecting with the other males because he was kinda sure he was going to faint if they made actual eye contact.

"Don't worry, you're good. Looks cute on you." This man was gonna be the death of him. Rest in peace. Here lays Jeon Jeongguk's sanity, killed by Taehyung's flirtatious compliments.

"Stop it, my god." His hand went to cover his reddening cheeks and over his eyes, feeling his heart up in his throat, his chest, his whole body.

"I already told you, no god, just Taehyung." Hands wrapped around his wrists, pulling his cover hiding his blushy face aside and oh no, why was he that close.

"Oh fuck you, not that again." Gguk decided to go fake defensive along with a giggle, letting his hands fall to the side, detaching from Taehyung's and somehow he missed the hold of them.

"I knew that was gonna lighten the mood though so you should really be thanking me." He winked, inching just a little bit closer, all up in Jeongguk's personal space and he wasn't even mad about it, little bundles of butterflies swirling around in his stomach.

"I will, how about some delivery and maybe some Marvel movie?" He suggested something fool proof, movie equals less opportunities for him to say stupid shit and everyone likes delivery food.

Also he specifically remembers Taehyung mentioned that he would kinda die for Captain America, so of course he was gonna suggest Marvel to seal the deal.

"Only if it's The Winter Soldier, otherwise i don't wan' it." The other laughed and that might just be the Gguk's favorite sound but you didn't hear that from him.

So that's how they ended up on Jeongguk's couch, stuffed full with the sweet and sour pork and fried rice they ordered, movie completed and now controllers in their hand, both inched forward, eyes focused on the tv.

They are gamers, what did you expect 'em to do? Not fuel their addiction together? What kind of amateurs would they be then.

The TV screen coloring with the brightness of Mario Kart via Taehyung's suggestion because quote 'he was pretty much unbeatable'.

Jeongguk was ahead by four places.

"I'm gonna crush you after this, this is hurting my pride." And Taehyung actually sounded like he was gonna casually gonna beat him up or something, his voice significantly deepened but he just decided to try and not absolutely freak and melt into a puddle because of it.

"Oh-" Gguk tried to keep his focus, fingers pressing the buttons expertly, passing first place, claiming it for himself. "You're just saying that."

"No, i will literally beat your ass." A brief glance over to Taehyung, because he couldn't help himself, sue him, made him actually scared for his ass, like legitimately what if he's not gonna make it out alive.

Taehyung's eyebrows furrowed, tongue sticking out, licking across his lips in concentration and can this man get any hotter? This just seems unfair at this point.

Jeongguk's character, he chose Toad, somehow ended up off the road almost as if he was staring at the male next to him but he totally wasn't, scrambling to get his eyes back on the screen and back on track again, passing the finish line as first.

"Oh, if i learned anything from watching dramas i watch at 2am that just means you wanna kiss me so bad but in disguise." Controller thrown aside in victory, teasingly raising his voice and sticking out this tongue.

Saying something of that nature had been getting normal between the two of them as a tease and all. Well, it's usually not something he would just drop in a face to face conversation no matter how sarcastic he was gonna make it.

But hey he's just gonna blame it on the body acting before thinking again. It's the easiest way out.

"Yeah, what if i do, huh?" Well that didn't seem as clearly sarcastic as Jeongguk would have expected and-- wait, oh god. Oh god. Did he just insinuate that he would be down to smooch?

He couldn't help but turn to look at him again, trying to find some sense of that that was just him playing into the joke but Taehyung's eyes were still focused on the screen as he was finishing the round. Not an ounce of a humoring smile or slight smirk, heat creeping up Gguk's neck.

That sounded way too serious and it might make Jeongguk's heart implode.

"What?" He laughed quietly, slight disbelieve intertwined into it, just trying to give the other another chance to make a sarcastic joking response.

But right then Bowser, Taehyung had chosen him because he likes his spikes and  he insisted he looks the closest to his masked persona online, crossed the finish line, little tone indicating the end of the race, making Gguk jumped in the slightest.

"Are you kidding me, sixth place? Come on!" He threw his head back dramatically, controller flying to his left safely landing on the sofa.

So no repsonse to the kissing question huh, okay. Jeongguk can move on from, sure sure. It didn't make hin almost lose his shit for like thirty seconds no.

But hey -- he might have just not heard Gguk asking what he meant by that. Yeah, that's probably the case anyways, let's not blow something that was meant as a joking response to a joking premise.

"So much for unbeatable." He put on a teasing smile instead, hiding his previous thirty second freakout, death glare on him in seconds.

"I refuse. Another round." And just like that another couple hours went by way too quickly for Jeongguk's liking, just like with their nights on discord through calls or just via texts.

It went too fast like almost no time had passed at all when it was just the two of them and it was nice to know that it transcendent the screens.

But they slowly had make due with the situation that Taehyung had to be at his sister's house by this evening and Gguk wasn't gonna be the reason he missed out on family time, he wasn't gonna allow that and if he personally had to throw the other out he would have.

So there they were standing in Jeongguk's entry way where they had just met like five hours ago, Taehyung just having put on his jacket, getting up from tieing his shoes.

"Well that's it, huh?" Gguk sighed, yeah he was sad he had to go what felt like so early but again -- family is important to Taehyung from the way he had talked about them so he was gonna shoo him out to get him to them no matter what.

They can meet again some time anyway, hopefully.

The other seemed to think for a second before his look switched to a more serious one. "Wait, can i ask you something?"

"Uh- yeah go ahead?" His tone confused because what would he wanna ask, like now right before leaving?

"Jeongguk-- what if i want to?" Well, to say the least that only confused him way more as Taehyung stepped a tiny bit closer to him.

"What do you mean? What if what?" And oh, he didn't know what he had coming his way.

"What if i wanna kiss you i mean." A step closer. "I didn't answer you. What if i wanna kiss you." Another step.

Wait, did he hear that correctly? Kiss? Him? He wants to? This isn't a joke, is it? Because shit if Gguk was gonna be honest -- he really hoped it wasn't.

"uh-" His mind was working at record speed right now but not one word coming out of his mouth. Because what? why? how? and excuse him but -- holy fucking shit.

He couldn't even have a clear thought about anything because Taehyung just said he was down, no, he like full on wants to kiss him.

"I'm not reading this wrong, right? Is it cool if i kiss you right now?" Taehyung said that was too casually for his liking because how was he not a stuttery mess asking someone for permission to smooch because oh my god, this man is the definition of bold.

"Yeah-- yeah that's cool." He blurted out way too quickly, trying not to choke on his own spit that he had forgot to swallow. That's how out of it he was right about now.

And Jeongguk just blinked before he was pressed up again the wall of his hallway, nose filling with the scent of the other male, lavender he had figured, inching closer into his personal space, and damn his guts were a tumbling, upside-down mess right about now.

Hands trapped him in on either side, his eyes started flickering down to the plump lips that came closer in proximity, world running in slow motion.

His heart was up in his throat, feeling it everywhere again, incredibly aware of his burning up complexion, eyes fluttering close as little puffs of air hit his lips before finally closing the distance.

And it might be cheesy to say but god, if thar didn't feel like fireworks went off around them.

It didn't even take him a second to respond, immediately moving against him, hand automatically going to wrap around Taehyung's shoulder, pulling him in even closer as if he was gonna jump away any second and it just hit him now that he hadn't felt this infatuated in a while.

It felt pretty ridiculous how absolutely gone he was for this man he has met for the first time, actual face to face, today.

Like not once has he ever felt that strongly for someone after such a short amount of time, literally a quarter of a year. Not even six months but half for god's sake, half of a half.

It that weird? Is he weird? Does Taehyung even feel that strongly or is that all just built up sexual tension or something? Because, shit he's thinking so far ahead, so far he shouldn't. Like boyfriend far ahead.

God damn he really shouldn't.

But he was gonna battle that out with himself later because adding to all that Taehyung's a pretty awesome kisser too, not once letting off of his lips, one hand raising to cup his cheek, the other going to twirl a strand of hair growing to cover his nape and it almost had his toes curling.

It all felt like he was swimming, floating even, Taehyung's lips so beautifully carrying him throughout the sky above the clouds and yeah, he would let him take him anywhere.

He constantly kept him on edge, tongue swiping across his lips, moving to kiss along the corners of his own, thumb now moving to caress along his jawline. Jeongguk felt limb, almost like he was going to melt away into a puddle right in the other's arms.

The pulling away felt all too soon but needed as they both felt themselves running out of air, lips tingling and reddened.

Jeongguk kept his eyes shut, because if he was gonna look at Taehyung right now he might just confess his undying love but just as he felt himself access his heartbeat enough to be sure to not explode into a sudden confession, lips began feeling up his earlobe, sending a shiver down his back.

"And to clarify- this was a date. In my mind it was. Was it for you?" Taehyung's voice sounded much more thick, like he had just woken up from an afternoon nap, little breaths fanning across his skin.

And oh god, Taehyung had seen this as a date. He did. Oh god, fucking hell. This made the whole context of this make out much more serious and that -- oh, it made Jeongguk's throat dry and his already blushy neck and face feel completely on fire.

"Uh-i- i had hoped?" Was all he could manage, eyes opening in the safety that the other was busy placing small pecks across his ear and behind and it had him biting back any sounds that could slip out. Same confession of undying love premisse if he looked him in the eyes right about now.

"I'm glad we're on the same page then." He felt him pull back and -- shit, he couldn't avoid those deep brown eyes this time, looking so full of stars, Jeongguk really wants to get all lost in them like he used to watch the sky when he was younger. "i need to go now but i'll see you soon, Jeongguk."

And all he could do was nod dumbly, cheeks flushed deep peach as he had to let Taehyung out of his grasp, eventhough he wanted to pull him back in so badly -- so so badly.

Just like that he was gone with another kiss pressed on his cheek, Jeongguk's back pressed against the door, slowly sliding down until he was seated on the floor, cheeks alarmily reddened and stomach fighting a tornado.

That man really stole a kiss but also took Jeongguk's entire sanity with him.

And -- it was a date.

hello!

smooches and love huh? ;) they might be the sofest thing i ever wrote and i love it, they are so cute.
Confident and bold Tae and awkward wreck Koo is my fav prompt anyway!

Any feedback is appreciated!

much love
-yoo