#it’s been a FATTT minute. i’m so sorry. i literally forgot how to write. i suck BAAHAGAH

[ateezinmymind]

number seven

hongjoong x reader

fluff

this is part one !!!

word count: 3.4k

tag list: @yunhobabygurl @hxneyboy @bobateastay @multidreams-and-desires @yungisstar1117 @atinywhore

the breeze across your face causes the hairs on the back of your neck to rise, even under your bundled scarf. the autumn air - cold, brisk, ready and on the verge of winter.

on your way to the local grocery store, a part of you regretted walking and not riding the bus - or even your beat up and rusty bike you’ve had ever since your teenage years. the very tips of your fingers began to tingle with numbness from the cold, hands buried deep within your long coat pockets not helping one bit. but once you turn the corner, the store comes into view and the slightest dash of relief washes upon you.

it wasn’t even a long walk from your apartment, but the weather made it feel like it lasted one too many millions of years. ‘exaggerate much’

a long sigh leaves your mouth when you feel your phone buzz in the back pocket of your jeans. taking your already frozen hand out from the somewhat warmth of your coat pocket, you manage to dig out the phone - bringing it into your eyesight.

your roommates name displays itself on the screen and you hurriedly pick up the call.

“hello?” you say, closing in on the vicinity of the store's small parking lot. seeing the heat of your breath fog up the air

“y/n! where are you?” san’s voice shrieks through the speaker and into your ear, causing your face to flinch slightly. his concern makes you giggle softly while finally reaching the main entrance, and you grab the door handle and pull it open. walking into the led white lit building. “san, i already told you dummy. i’m at the store-“

“BYEOL NO-“ he interrupts you, yelling at the cat away from the phone. making you roll your eyes and smile - just imagining what mess that cat decided to make this time.

“sorry!” he apologizes over the sound of something rustling through the speaker. “the cat almost got into the plants you pulled down from the shelf”

dismissing his apology in understanding, since there was no need, you smile kindly at the store’s worker that greets you, “i’m only getting a few things that we ran out of, and i need more oat milk.” you continue, sliding a small grocery basket around your elbow.

“do you need me to grab anything while i’m here?” you question, making way to the dairy section.

he hums out in thinking, and then answers once thirteen seconds of him pondering saying “mmmmmnhhhhhh” are over.

“can you get me some strawberry yogurt and those yummy baby food things.. uh, like y’know those cereal puffs?”

after hearing his request, you burst out in a big laugh - catching the attention of a few other customers you pass in your path. “umm. sure san, i can get that for you” you manage to answer once you’ve caught your breath, and blinked back tears from your laughter.

“i’m being serious y/n” san whines out, then chuckles. “i’m really craving it”

“okayyyyy sannie, i’ll do it.”

reaching the glass case doors for the alternative milks, you grab two boxes of your favorite oat milk. “yay!” he cheers out like a five year old child.

smiling to yourself, and putting your things into the basket - you say goodbye to your roommate on the phone and hang up. now walking to your next destination, the yogurt aisle.

grabbing the strawberry yogurt you know san wants, you accidentally back into someone with your basket hooked on your arm.

“oh gosh! i’m so sorry!” you squabble out, in apology. whipping your head around to show your sincerity.

but to your surprise you see the most bright and kind face - instead of one wrenched with disgust that you were expecting.

the man shows his perfect set of teeth in a genuine and lighthearted chuckle, his glasses framing his smile squinted eyes.

“don’t be sorry!” he says, adjusting the black hat covering his platinum blonde hair. “that wouldn’t be the first time i’ve gotten bumped into” his eyes catch yours and you feel yourself blush just a bit while you let out a small polite sigh

he was incredibly handsome.

a small silence fills the air between you two, and you break eye contact and look down for a second. clearing your throat with a somewhat awkward cough.

he must've sensed your shyness and decided to speak up again

“im hongjoong!” his voice was cheerful, and almost instantly soothed your quick wave of anxiety. for you never know whether someone you accidentally run into is going to be as kind as he is. especially with these older ladies grumpy about the cold weather and such.

“it’s nice to meet you, im y/n” you say, putting out your hand in order for him to shake in an official introduction.

he immediately meets yours and you take notice of how some nails of his are painted black, and how the skin of his hands are rough yet at the same time incredibly youthful and gentle. the backside of his hand slightly dry, and you guess it’s from the cold temperatures

his grip isn’t overwhelming, but the perfect amount of pressure to where it’s comforting. like a hug.

“y/n, huh? i like it” his simple compliment causes you to pull your hand away in unexpectancy. “oh…oh, well .. thanks” you sputter, bringing your hand up to pull on your scarf. (that all the sudden feels too warm and tight)

hongjoong was definitely not oblivious to the fact that you were flustered, and it made a part of him all giddy and interested. to where he puts both hands in his back pockets and shifts his weight onto one leg and eyes you closely

you were very captivating, the flush to your cheeks only spreading to your ears now as you loosen the already loose scarf around your neck. he couldn’t help but chuckle slightly.

and hearing him chuckle, only worsened your embarrassment.

“relax, y/n” he soothes out, taking a step back to try and help you with some space. “i’m just complimenting you”

he laughs out again when you let out a little noise of a sort of groan and turn your head to the side. trying to gain composure. (or rather try and hide your growing smile)

you couldn’t believe yourself, you were literally acting a fool.

“i’m sorry” you say again. making him scoff out and wave his hands out in front of him. “don’t apologize! you’re totally okay!” he laughs more

“i think it’s cute” he tried reassuring you, but him saying that actively made your stomach erupt in butterflies and you felt yourself smile bigger.

taking a deep breath you look back into hongjoong’s eyes and lick your lips nervously. “well.. thank you.. hongjoong”

when you say his name, he dips his head and puts his hands back in his coat pockets this time. then finally takes notice of the things in your basket that bumped into him. the strawberry yogurt catching his attention.

turning away to look back at the selection of foods behind you, hongjoong speaks yet again and gets your attention once more. “strawberry yogurt huh? i love yogurt.” he steps forward right next to you and grabs a package for himself. “thanks for the idea”

watching him by your side holding one container and looking for another flavor you finally take in the sight of his side profile. perfect, smooth skin and the many piercings that adorn his ears - his long lashes behind his eyewear almost touching the glass.

he was so captivating.

“oh yeah hehe.. yep, just grabbing some things we’re out of.” you reply back, averting your gaze away from him.

as much as he wants to, hongjoong doesn’t ask who ‘we’ is and instead nods his head and picks up some vanilla yogurt to put in his shopping cart too. and a small silence falls between you two once more.

“well, i guess i should head to my next thing on the grocery list,” he says, pulling a small crumpled piece of paper with some dark green ink arrayed all over from out of his pocket. “it was nice getting bumped into by you y/n” he says with a teasing tone, while sending you a friendly wink. which you shake your head and laugh softly, trying not to make a face of distress. turning your body to face him as well. “uh yeah, sorry about that again hehe” you groan out with an exaggerated frown that mimicked one of a frog with your strained jaw (in the best way) and it made him snicker

“i’m only joking, but it really was nice meeting you”

you blush and drop your eyes down to glance at his mouth. glossy lips stretched in a sweet smile, you involuntarily swallow and smile back. “yeah, you too hongjoong”

looking back into his eyes you see them squint just slightly for a second. a flash of affection displayed itself it had seemed, but you didn’t know for certain for he waved you goodbye and turned around and walked away. leaving you in the reminisce of your flustered self.

taking a deep breath and letting it out in another audible sigh you try and remember what to do next.

“strawberry yogurt…” checking off items on the imaginary grocery list in your head, “right,” you say to yourself,

“fucking baby food”

trying not to let that quick encounter with the handsome man distract you too much as you step on track to the infants section.

wearing the most gleaming of smiles across your face

“choi san!” you shout, closing the front door to your apartment. one grocery bag on your arm hitting the side of your thigh as you begin taking off your scarf and coat.

you hear a pattering of footsteps coming through the hallway and out comes san at your service - still in his pajamas. “yes ma’am?” he says teasingly. “will you please put these things away?” you ask, taking the bag into your hand and reaching it out in front of you. while the other hand and shoulder shimmy off your jacket.

“of course!” san voices in a dramatic almost elderly way, taking the groceries and heading to the kitchen with you following behind - once you slip off your shoes and reply with a light ‘thank you’.

“how did ol shopping go, hmm? did you walk there?”

nodding your head, even though san couldn’t see - you bend down and give the cat a few scratches behind her ears. “it was good, and yeah, i did walk there.” you answer, then walk over to the sink - grabbing a water pitcher and filling it. “but i regretted it, and took the bus home - it’s actually so fucking cold outside.” you complain, turning the water off when it reaches around half full.

going to the counter where the plants you left earlier were situated, you began pouring water into each. giving them the same amount. “the walk there sounds l-a-m-e.” he tells you, closing the fridge door and dashing to quickly snatch byeol before she can walk into the living room. (leaving the grocery bag on the floor in the process, for you to end up picking up for him)

tossing the water pitcher into the sink, causing clunking sounds of heavy plastic and aluminum to echo in the kitchen. you pick up one the plants and place it on the shelf next to the sink. “do you know a hongjoong?”

you don’t mind the dead leaf that fell off the greenery, leaving it there for later and turning your body to face san who finally caught byeol and had her in his arms. leaning your backside against the sink.

“hongjoong?” san pipes up in question (more to himself than you - vocalizing it to try and help his brain to remember any recollection of the name). humming out with ponder, he clicks and squints his eyes. shaking his head. “mmmh i can't say that i do y/n, im sorry”

dismissing the slight feeling of disappointment, you grab the other plant and put it back in place. “why?” san asks, watching your mood change just in the slightest bit.

“oh nothing, i just met a guy at the store today named hongjoong” you say, now busying yourself to the fridge and grabbing a handful of blueberries out of their small container and popping them in your mouth. “was wondering whether you knew him or not is all”

“hmm.. i see, i see” san replies, trying to contain byeol from jumping out of his arms. “was he cute or something?”

swallowing down the berries hard, you clear your throat and whip your head to look san straight in the eyes, with a sliver of mischievousness.

“maybeeeee.” you say in a playful way. ultimately making your roommate shriek and bust out in an excited laugh, readying himself to hear all about this new profound grocery store crush of yours.

whining out in exhaustion, you yell for san once more. the pain in your head becoming an excruciating pound, and you regret calling for help immediately.

two days since you ventured out in the cold to go to the store and now your body suddenly decided it wanted to get sick?

fun.

“sannie!!”

no response, again… you’d think yelling for him four times before would work but it didn’t, so you lay back down on your pillow. accepting the fact that he’s most likely not home.

carefully and slowly, you turn your body to grab your phone that’s plugged into the charger on its place in the window sill. texting san if he could pick you up some advil from the store.

dropping your phone from your hand you close your eyes in waiting. and then feeling the buzzing of the notification in a matter of seconds, you pick the phone back up and look at his reply.

‘so sorry, i’m not gonna be home until tonight! i love you’

sighing out. and maybe cursing under your breath, you decide that you’ll just go ahead and stop by the store yourself. (the pain in your skull ultimately sealing this thought)

so, texting san back a quick ‘no worries, love you’ - you steadily get yourself up and grab your wallet from the nightstand it was thrown on and clothe yourself in every warm piece of apparel that was available. heading out the door with a mission for some relieving drugs.

only this time… you took the bus there.

“thank you” giving the best smile you could muster towards the snobby teenaged cashier, you grab the small sack of newly purchased medicine for your cold and made your way to the exit. sighing when the cold air hits your face once again with an icy tinge

sniffling from your nose, you clutch the grocery bag close as your arms flatten across your chest to hold your sides seeking warmth. nuzzling your chin deeper in the bundle of your scarf, crossing the parking lot to the sidewalk of the tiny strip mall where the bus stop was stationed at the corner, you instinctively become oblivious of any person you pass by

until you hear your name being called

“it’s y/n, right?”

turning your head over your shoulder towards the sound of the familiar voice, none other than your new acquaintance met your eyes

hongjoong.

you felt your stomach flip again seeing his welcoming smile with crescent shaped eyes. “oh hi!” you greet, returning his grin. then fully taking in his appearance, he was still wearing the same black hat he wore the other day, but his build was puffier than before. his crossed over arms with the bulging comfort of his layered tops. a black trench type of coat draped over what looked to be an oversized beige hoodie. he wasn’t wearing glasses like last time, and instead it seemed he exchanged it for a scarf … covered around his neck just like the way you wore it on your own.

‘yep .. still handsome’

“what have you been up to? how’ve you been?” his voice sounded so genuine and interested as he beams you one of his infamous smiles. his questions made you feel comforted and almost seen, and you couldn’t help but feel your heart lift in your rib cage. “oh well… i actually just got finished picking some medicine up from the store,” you begin, motioning your head to the right and towards your previous walking trail from the supermarket. “it’s funny, because i seemed to catch a little cold from the day we met. i was stupid enough to not take the bus haha!”

your energy was soothing to hongjoong, and his eyes softened hearing your light chuckle recalling just two days ago. “anyways, yeah …” you continue, “nothing really just gonna go home and try to relax and warm up, try and fully get rid of this headache” stopping with a tight smile, your eyes then go wide internally realizing that you were being impolite not asking him back.

“well-“, hongjoong softly sighs, “what-“ you blurt out right when he begins to speak up, causing the two of you to lightly chuckle in unison. “oh, i’m sorry, you first” you insist with one of your hands releasing it’s grip around your side to lift up and loosely pull on your scarf (something hongjoong noticed you do when nervous - like last time). your beaming grin slowly relaxing from the chuckle the lovely man and you shared.

hongjoong’s voice was like a little spark of warmth which seemed to have an effect on your blood flow and heart rate, and after he too falters his fit of snickering - his tongue prods out to wet the corner of his mouth naturally before speaking again. “i was just going to say that’s too bad, you got sick and all.” pausing he grows a new look of amusement and continues with a cheeky look, “sick of me i betcha”

this causes you to scoff and probably chuckle a little louder than you wanted, swatting your hand from your scarf and down to barely graze the front of his jacket. “nuh uh!” you retort with a high pitch, nose scrunching in a teasing way, along with a roll of your eyes. blatantly ignoring the light pound of your head.

“i’m kidding” he laughs, “you haven’t been around me long enough to get sick of me.. yet”

his response sent your stomach fluttering, yet the tiny voice in the back of your head kept saying he was just ‘being friendly’ and ‘he didn't mean it in any other way besides just being polite’. “honestly i don’t think i could.” you reply, quieter but with more confidence in your gaze up to his. tilting his chin back just slightly with a growing smirk seeing this new version of the girl he’s only met twice, hongjoong’s thoughts arrived. ‘what kind of game are you playing y/n’. and his mind couldn’t help but also think back to you talking about living with someone already, from your first encounter with one another.

“well,” he pipes back up again, tugging his hands deep in his coat pockets - then giving a big sniffle through his nose followed by another full set of teeth smiles, he continues. a slight shake in his voice, “i was just about to go get myself a drink,” he states, poking his elbow back towards the entrance of the local cafe, “can i get you something?”

his kind offer was surprising to you, and it definitely showed on your face, because he immediately started shaking his head with a big smile. “you can decline y/n” and his cheeriness soothed your blushing cheeks, but it didn’t help the way your eyes bulged wide open. “oh- oh, no that would be so nice”

feeling your hands shake gently, you dig them underside each elbow as you cross your arms tightly (your small grocery bag shuffling with the movement).

hongjoong nods his head in agreement and takes one step back and then slowly turns around to go ahead and open the cafe door, doing so with such ease. the faint and welcoming sound of the doorbell jingles and he gives you an assuring hand outstretched towards your anticipating stance out in the sidewalk.

“then let’s get you out of the cold.”