Chapter Text
Jeongguk has a list, as many people do.
A list of things he finds attractive; of things he’d want in a potential partner; a variety of things, ranging from things he admits outright (like good hair and a nice smile) to things he’ll definitely keep to himself (someone who prefers whipped cream cheese).
“I’m just saying, I think it’s unfair that Viggo Mortenson gets all the hype,” this guy, Taehyung, says with a shrug. “Sean Bean literally hiked to filming locations because he was too scared to fly.”
“Yeah, because he’s a coward!” Jeongguk goads. He doesn’t actually believe Sean Bean is a coward, but it’s funny to try and work Taehyung up.
“No, it’s because he was dedicated to the cause while being realistic about his own limitations!” Taehyung states indignantly, taking the bait immediately. “It’s literally the perfect metaphor for Boromir as a character! Like, sure, Aragorn is the destined king, but Boromir has one of the best, most complex character arcs and subsequent redemption scenes and he’s only got like half an hour of screentime!”
“Yeah, that’s true I suppose,” Jeongguk laughs. Taehyung seems to make him do that a lot. “I mean, it took Zuko three whole seasons to redeem himself. Sean Bean did it in, like, five minutes.”
Jeongguk is, hilariously, at a nerd gathering. He’s sure it has a real name, but Jimin had sent him the online flyer for it along with an annoyingly accurate text saying “this nerd event seems like your kind of thing” with a kissy emoji. Hosted at a local board game shop, it is indeed the kind of thing Jeongguk would (and is) enjoying. There are oodles of snacks, games aplenty (and not just nerd games like Catan, thank you very much Jimin), and a lot of other people with his general interests. It’s kind of like being at a con, but a lot less overwhelming and fewer cosplays.
At any rate, Taehyung had struck up a conversation at the punch bowl and Jeongguk, who’d come to the event alone, decided to latch on for at least one board game. Initially, his plan was to stick to Taehyung, play a multi-player game, make friends with the rest of the people playing, and thus be released from his initial latch-on to Taehyung. It’s a method that usually works for Jeongguk, a mostly-but-not-always introvert.
That was the plan, until he realized that Taehyung checked off a substantial amount of items on his list.
Good hair (check), a great smile (check), has apparently never had a traffic violation (check), is a good conversation buddy (check), is into nerd shit like this event (check), and… most importantly and embarrassingly, definitely the kind of list item Jeongguk would keep to himself: has an extremely niche skill that he’s so good at, it becomes hot.
Taehyung’s hobby is archery. Jeongguk had been skeptical when Taehyung told him about it until suddenly there was a phone in his hand and an entire album of photos and videos at his disposal. Taehyung can’t just shoot a bow and arrow.
He can lowkey pole dance.
Which, honestly, is not the end all be all of this attraction. It helps, certainly. But moreso it’s just the combination of Taehyung swinging from a pole while firing an arrow into a straw mannikin and flashing a rather dashing smile at the camera. It’s almost impossible to put into words, but Jeongguk is simply just a sucker for someone who is good at something.
“Yeah, I did archery once at summer camp when I was, like, eight and decided to make it my personality,” Taehyung explains. “I have a tendency to hyperfocus on things, but nothing has stuck the way archery has. Literally, I took a pole dancing class because I was getting bored of standing while shooting arrows.”
“I took a pole dancing class once, but it was because I lost a bet,” Jeongguk says, because it’s his only real contribution at this point. He doesn’t know that much about archery, and has never gone to summer camp.
“What was the bet?” Taehyung asks, leaning in a bit. He’s great at maintaining eye contact even if it’s a little bit intimidating.
“Nothing major, but a game of pool at a bar,” Jeongguk says evasively, but Taehyung seems pretty perceptive because he just levels Jeongguk with a look that says really?
“A game of pool?”
“... Okay, maybe we were on best of 27 because I kept convincing myself I could win,” Jeongguk admits, sheepish. Clearly pool is not his niche interest that he’s stupidly good at. “I now know I’m not very good at pool. But I really excel at that hook and ring game.”
“Ugh, I hate that one,” Taehyung groans. “I don’t have the patience for it.”
And so their night continues. They play Guess Who and Battleship and Uno (which really isn’t meant for two people) and a bunch of other two player games because neither of them can seem to un-cling to the other. Not that Jeongguk is trying very hard. This is the best connection he’s had in years.
“So, what do you wanna play next?” Jeongguk asks. They're standing in front of the shelf of primarily two-person games. Jeongguk tries not to look too hard as Taehyung squats down to put away the game they just finished.
“I’m thinking of switching gears, actually,” Taehyung says, straightening up. “Do you wanna hit up that bar next door?”
“I- what?”
“Bar. Next door,” Taehyung says again. There’s a slight blush tinging his cheeks. “I promise we don’t have to play pool.”
“Can we play the hook and ring game?” Jeongguk asks, even if that is so totally not the point at all.
“Sure,” Taehyung says with a good natured shrug. “You watched my archery videos for like at least ten minutes. It’s your turn to show me something you’re good at.”
“If I was even two percent more confident, I would absolutely make a sex joke,” Jeongguk blurts because this… thing, this offer, from Taehyung, to continue hanging out at a different venue… with an undertone of flirting… Well, it’s doing funny things to Jeongguk’s brain-to-mouth filter.
Thankfully, Taehyung just laughs. “You can show me what other things you’re good at another time.”