Work Text:
Seokjin was staring at the screen of his work computer with unfocused eyes, chewing absentmindedly on the end of his pen that was a gift from two Christmases ago. The corporate memo notifying them of the date and time of this year's Christmas party was open on the screen, but he already knew he didn't have plans that day. There was no easy excuse to not go, and being a higher ranking manager meant it was definitely expected of him, but something in his gut was screaming to find an excuse to avoid the whole ordeal.
He was pulled out of his thought spiral, that had lead to a convoluted plot about a distant relative coming to visit last minute, by a direct message from his assistant popping up in the corner of the screen. He leaned back in his chair to glance through the window of his office and saw Taehyung already smirking at him with a mischievous glint in his eye. Seokjin braced himself for whatever was coming and opened the message.
Tae: Hyuuung can we carpool to the party or are you planning to keep up the tradition of embarrassing yourself in front of Kim Namjoon-ssi???
Seokjin made a disgruntled yelp and started furiously tying back.
Jin: Yah I'm quite sure I have no idea what you're talking about. I plan to stay sober and professional the entire night
Jin: and anyone who isn't spreading LIBEL about their BOSS is welcome to have a ride -_-
He could hear Taehyung's laughter through the door a few seconds before it opened and Taehyung plopped himself down in the chair across the desk from him.
“It isn't libel if it's true,” Taehyung continued the conversation, looked far too amused with himself for Jin's liking.
“Sounds like you don't want a ride.” Jin started at him blankly until he backed down, holding his hands up in surrender.
“Fine, fine. It's not like you're the only one that gets carried away at these parties, Namjoon-ssi is always-”
“No, enough,” Jin cut in. “I've had to hear about your theories all year and nothing has happened. Even if he somehow liked me, it would be unprofessional to start anything with a coworker, and Namjoon-ssi clearly knows that since he's been nothing but formal all year.”
Taehyung looked doubtful, pulling his phone from his pocket. “That's not what Jimin thinks! We're convinced-”
“You've been discussing this with Park Jimin?” Jin's voice cracked with the panic coursing through him. “Oh no no, what if he mentioned something and made me sound creepy? What if Namjoon-ssi has known this whole time and was only being nice?” His despair must have been obvious as Taehyung immediately switched from teasing mode to serious.
“No chance of that. Jiminie can keep a secret when it’s between us.” Seokjin felt his eye twitch at the casual way Taehyung referred to their coworker. Jin knew they were the same age but had never gotten any indication they were friends outside of work. Maybe it was safe to assume the two troublemakers were tightlipped when needed.
Jin sighed. “Fine, but I really don’t want to hear any more about this. The photo evidence from last year is more than enough reminder about what happens when I get my hopes up.”
-------
Jin was finishing buttoning the suit he had bought for the party and he still felt wholly unprepared. Despite how much he had rehearsed the most casual way to ask if Namjoon was planning to attend, he still had no idea if Namjoon was even going tonight. The one time he’d actually seen Namjoon, he’d frozen and missed the opportunity to ask. Who could really blame him when he didn’t notice the man had entered the elevator until a few more people had squeezed in and Namjoon had backed right up into him, pressing against Jin’s front for the briefest of moments before leaping away and bowing profusely. Jin had waved off his apologies, but the lingering smell of cologne that clung to his suit for the remainder of the work day had left him offkilter and distracted. When he got off that night it was ashamedly to thoughts of that brief encounter, but instead of being in a full elevator they were alone and Joon had pinned him against the wall and-
He could only be expected to be so strong.
Taehyung probably knew, but Jin wasn’t going to ask when he had been the one to shut down the conversation topic. The knowing smirk he’d receive as soon as he brought it up was enough incentive to bury the worries deep and get ready on autopilot, constantly telling himself it didn’t matter one way or the other. His stomach was in nervous knots, but surely that was just him dreading the forced socializing with his bosses, and not a certain someone in the editing department that he barely knew.
Seokjin straightened his favourite Christmas tie, complete with lights and a little speaker that played a few carols. His fingers lingered on the silk, recalling the last time he wore it when different hands gently pulled him in by the tie, until their faces were close enough he could feel the other’s exhale on his lips. He felt a spike of arousal travel down his body and quickly shook his head out of such thoughts. This was a friendly work party and nothing of the like would occur.
He managed to keep his thoughts in check right up until he was waiting in his car outside Taehyung’s apartment. He kept it idling, watching the exhaust make large clouds in the frigid air, but all his mind could conjur up were memories of the last party he’d attended. The memories had been buried deep, barely touched or acknowledged since they first returned to him as the numbing power of the alcohol had faded into stark mortification while the sun rose on the following day. He still had no real first-had account of events beyond blurry glimpses of Namjoon sitting close to him and smiling with those disarming dimples. Jin pulled out his phone to look up the photo he'd been sent the morning following the last party. Taehyung had captioned it "Boyfriends <3". He had to admit, they did look like a handsome couple, even with their faces awkwardly smushed together like that. Looking at it did uncomfortable things to his stomach.
Jin made a silent vow to his reflection in the rearview mirror that he would not have a repeat of the previous years and the embarrassment that followed. Not a drop of alcohol was going to touch his lips tonight.
The backdoor of his car was pulled open as Taehyung and Park Jimin slid into the seats, cheeks flushed and giggling. Jin shot Tae an incredulous look in the rearview mirror, but he only got a wink in return.
“Good evening, Seokjin-ssi. Thank you so much for driving,” Jimin greeted politely. Tae snorted next to him.
"You're very welcome, Jimin-ssi. You're both really going to sit back there and make me feel like your driver?"
Taehyung reached around the seat to hug him as best he could. "You're the best hyung." Jin was starting to get the impression they had started the party early. "And I think you're gonna want to leave that seat open for someone else," Taehung sing-songed and poked his tongue on the inside of his cheek, "if you know what I mean." Jin sputtered, prying Tae's hands off him to get the car moving and studiously ignoring the laughter from the back seat.
-------
In the short time Jin had been at the party, more than half the people he had talked to made a reference to him about last year’s event. Some had been more veiled than others, but he was getting steadily more and more unnerved that his behaviour seemed to be common knowledge, to the point it must have been a topic of office gossip. He hadn’t heard a whisper of it apart from Taehyung’s constant teasing, but he never thought word of it had spread beyond his close circle. The thought of all these acquaintances associating him with one of his more embarrassing moments had his heartrate spiking and his breaths coming more shallowly. The only thing helping was that he hadn't seen Namjoon yet. With any luck he could avoid interacting with him the whole night. Jin made an excuse to the people he was chatting with and quickly fled to collect himself in the bathroom.
His original plan to splash some water on his face was foiled by multiple people standing around the sinks and urinals, so he pivoted and locked himself in a stall instead. At least being unseen for a few minutes should have a calming effect too. He leaned against the wall pulling out his phone and aimlessly scrolling, hoping to take his mind off the constant feeling of being watched that had his skin crawling. Coming to the party had been a mistake, he should have gone with his gut and stayed home where no one ever leers at him.
He had finally convinced himself to stop hiding in the stall when, like something out of a movie, he caught his name being talked about from some of the guys at the urinals. His hand froze on the lock of the stall, thankful he hadn’t opened the door yet. He really didn’t want to hear more gossip about himself when his nerves were already fried, but he was trapped. Leaving then would have surely been worse.
“I haven’t seen him yet, but I heard he was here,” a voice he didn’t recognise replied. Jin cursed the fancy stall doors blocking his view with no crack to peek through. His heart was racing so quickly he was starting to feel lightheaded and was almost tempted to cover his ears to avoid hearing the rest of the conversation. Unfortunately, curiosity won out, and he held his breath as he strained to hear every word and rustle of fabric.
“You don’t think he left already?” A voice responded with an almost whiny tone to it. Seokjin tried to place either of the voices but he wasn’t sure. That one sounded slightly like Namjoon, but he couldn’t imagine him whining like that. All his memories of Namjoon’s voice were dark and husky and often whispered directly into his ear. A shiver ran up his spine and he felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. There was a smacking noise and some laughing as footsteps made their way to the door and Jin waited a few more seconds in silence to make sure the coast was clear before exiting the stall. He had no idea what to make of that interaction, but it made him want to leave more than ever. Jin sent a quick text to Taehyung to catch another ride home because he had to leave immediately.
-------
Jin was leaning at the coatcheck as he watied for the attendant to locate his coat. He must have been the first one to leave since the room still looked full to bursting and the worker seemed to be having a hard time finding his belongings. His eyes sweeped the lobby making sure none of the higher up bosses were giving him any dirty looks for trying to sneak out early, but it was totally empty apart from Kim Namjoon walking right towards him.
Jin froze, his back pressing more firmly against the wall as his eyes darted away to look anywhere except at him. Why was he coming over? Why had his coat not been located yet? Mostly, why did the universe seem to laugh at him so?
He could feel Namjoon come to a stop right next to him, but Jin couldn’t bring himself to look until Namjoon cleared his throat and greeted him.
“Seokjin-ssi, you’re leaving already?” Namjoon’s bottom lip formed the slightest pout as he asked, and Jin found himself wholly distracted by it. Was he leaving? Why was that again?
His jacket was finally laid across the counter and he quickly snatched it up, muttering thanks to the worker. “Yes, I probably shouldn’t have come at all. I don’t seem to be in the partying mood.”
Namjoon studied him for a second before slipping his own ticket across the counter for his coat. He smiled softly at Jin and asked, “Wait for me? I’ll walk you out?”
Jin fumbled with the coat in his hands, hurrying to assure him it wasn’t necessary. Namjoon gently took his coat from him and held it up to help him into it. Jin stood stock still for multiple seconds before his brain kicked in and he stuck his arms through the sleeves, thanking him more than was necessary. His heart was racing again and he was starting to worry all these nerves couldn’t be good for him. Maybe he should take a vacation in the new year.
They didn’t have to wait as long for the second coat, and soon they were outside the building buttoning all the way up to block out the cutting winds.
“You're sure you didn't want to stick around?” Jin motioned back to the party, although it seemed kind of late to be asking.
Namjoon shook his head, smiling. “You know I only come to these things to see you?”
Jin gaped at him and the easy way he said that. “No, I indeed did not know that.” He looked around the parking lot aimlessly. “Did you drive?”
Namjoon stepped up to the bike rack and sheepishly pat the seat of the lone bike locked to it.
Jin bit back a fond smile and huffed dramatically. “Of course you rode a bike in this weather, you ridiculous man. Come put it in the back of my car. I can't let you freeze to death like that, what kind of a hyung would I be?”
Namjoon lifted the bike into the back of the car with ease, and they sat inside letting the car warm up a bit. Jin had no idea what to say, but luckily Namjoon broke the silence. "I meant it, you know? I come to these parties to see you. It seemed to be the only time you let your professional guard down." Jin felt a need to apologise but Namjoon shook his head and continued. "No, I totally get if you didn't feel comfortable dating a coworker. I just, always kind of hoped there was the potential for more between us, and now that we're not going to be colleagues anymore, I was wondering if-" Joon rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath, "-if that changes anything for you?"
Jin's gaze was darting all over Namjoon's face, trying to decipher the meaning of those words. "What do you-" Jin leaned over the console between them and grabbed Joon's jacket with both hands. "What do you mean we won't be colleagues?"
Namjoon tilted his head and covered Jin's hands with his own. "Taehyung-ah didn't tell you? I'm starting my own publishing firm in the new year? At the very least I won't be working at that company anymore, but I was also hoping I could maybe poach the head of their legal department?" Jin felt himself laughing out of shock. He made a mental note to get back at Taehyung with some creative prank at the next opportunity.
"Your company encourages fraternization? That's rather scandalous Sanjangnim." Jin bit his lip and savoured the dark look Namjoon gave him. He felt powerful and invincible as he gave Namjoon his phone to input the address to his building.
-------
Joon held his hand the whole way from the car to the elevator of his building and Jin was using every ounce of self restraint to hold himself back from climbing all over Namjoon and pulling his hair until he moaned.
The wait for the lift felt excruciating but once they were alone in the enclosed space and Joon had pressed the button for his floor before turning to look at him with unbridled joy, Seokjin felt all the urge to rush slip away. Namjoon was going to be something important to him, and they had all the time in the world.
Jin managed to remain composed right up until he stepped foot in Namjoon's space, the distinct smell of papyrus, leather, and musk causing a conditioned response in Jin to want. Finally he didn't have to suppress that desire, and before they could stoop to take their shoes off they were kissing. Jin pressed every part of his body as close to Joon as he could get, and groaned in appreciation when Joon's strong arms pulled him even closer.
Namjoon's hand held Seokjin in place as he controlled the kiss, and it made arousal course through Jin's body. Feeling the depths of Namjoon's attraction in his gaze and the way his hands worshipped every part of Jin was leaving him breathless. The little whimpers he was making would have made him self-conscious if Joon hadn't been getting spurred on by each one. He seemed just as ravenous for Jin as Jin was for him, and that revelation made his head spin. He couldn't even stop to think about the wasted time lost to trivial rules when Joon was finally solid and warm in his arms. He wanted to finally stop hiding how desperate he was for this man.
Namjoon pulled back just enough to get their shoes and coats off before his hands were back on Jin's waist like they couldn't bear to be anywhere else. Joon grinned at him as he said, “not to be presumptuous but, may I show you the bedroom?”
Jin's laugh came out loud and squeaky, only making Joon's smile wider. “Only you could make that line not sound awful,” Jin said, covering his blush with his hands. “Please do.”
Joon groaned and lead him by the wrist down the hall, shoving Jin onto his back on the bed before quickly removing their shirts and laying down on top of him. Jin couldn't stop running hands over all the muscles he had spent so long imaging. Everything about Joon felt so much better than he could've hoped, and the whole moment kept feeling surreal and out of body.
Joon pressed his fingers firmly against Jin's rim through his pants, and Jin's hips kicked in little mindless twitches trying to get more of the sensation. “Please,” Jin begged, uncaring what he received so long as it was more. Joon seemed more than happy to oblige, kissing him on the cheek before stripping them both the rest of the way.
“Anything,” Joon whispered against his stomach. “Ask for anything and I'll give it to you.”
Jin grabbed his neck and rolled them over so he was straddling Joon's waist. "Need you. Waited so long." Full sentences felt like too much in that moment. Jin had every imagined moment with Namjoon coalescing into this singular experience. Every grunt and bite and scratch felt so real and so much better than his fantasies.
They prepped him hastily together, taking turns to push fingering into Seokjin until he was rocking down on both their hands, scrambling to find purchase on the headboard with his free hand. Joon put a condom on with a steadiness that had Jin feeling more desperate than ever. He could feel tears forming at the corners of his eyes, and he bit his lip to find a shred of composure as he finally lined up and started sinking down. Joon gripped his thighs for dear life, his head falling back with a groan.
Jin moved his hips in little circles, relishing the feel of Joon rubbing so deliciously inside him. He leaned in to kiss Namjoon again and muttered against his lips, "I'm not going to last."
Joon wrapped him up in his arms and shifted his hips to drive up into him just enough to punch the breath from Seokjin's lungs. "You can come as much as you want," Joon said against his jaw, nipping the skin there. "I'm going to want you more than once tonight. And ideally first thing in the morning."
Jin laughed and began lifting himself up to ride him properly. "I don't think you know what you've gotten yourself into," Jin teased, rocking down hard on his cock. Jin couldn't stop running his hands though Joon's hair, pulling it just to hear the noises it wrenched out of him. Joon's hand wrapped around Jin's length and massaged the head with his thumb until they were both shaking and coming, gasping into each other's mouths.
Jin curled up on Namjoon's chest, stroking over the smooth skin and feeling every part of his body tingle. "I suppose I forgive you for making me wait," Jin said with a playful sigh. "Now, about round two, I have some ideas-"
The rest was muffled as Joon covered his head with a pillow, laughing. "You gotta give me like two minutes. You're insatiable." They curled up together under the blankets, hands wandering everywhere. "You really think you might come work with me?" Joon looked so cautiously hopeful it made Jin's heart hurt.
"We can discuss the terms of my contract. My assistant will be in touch." Joon smiled at him like he'd made all his Christmas wishes come true, and Seokin found he rather felt the same.