My Roommate #1 - Taehyung
Group: BTS
Pairing: NamTae
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,000
Warnings: None…except maybe alcohol?

Everything was going really well. Taehyung had been living with one of his friends from university, Min Yoongi. Since the apartment has only one room, he had been bunking in the living room. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. That is, until Yoongi’s co-worker, Jimin, had a bad breakup with his five-year boyfriend and ended up moving in as well. Then the already cramped apartment became even tighter, and Taehyung decided that it was about time for him to move.

He had been working at a clothing store downtown for the past two years that he’s been going to university, and he’s had steady enough hours to be able to get an apartment, but he wouldn’t be able to do it on his own. He’d need a roommate.

That’s where his friendship with Yoongi comes in handy again. Just a short while ago, Yoongi started going out this person by the name of Jung Hoseok. Taehyung has heard about him before, having seen his gaming videos online. This Jung Hoseok happens to know a person who needs a new roommate, and, what’s even better, is that this person is a film school graduate. His name is Kim Namjoon.

Taehyung won’t lie. He finds this Namjoon person to fairly attractive, and that’s part of the reason he agrees to move in with him so quickly. In fact, it might be most of the reason he agreed…okay. Okay. It’s the only reason he was so quick to agree to moving in with Namjoon. Namjoon needed a new roommate quickly, and Taehyung wanted out of Yoongi’s crowded place as soon as possible.

Having lived in the living room, Taehyung doesn’t have many items to move. He has two boxes of clothes, and that’s it.

Namjoon is waiting on him when he arrives. Taehyung doesn’t know the code for getting into the building yet, so Namjoon meets him at the entrance to the complex, and he stares when Taehyung comes with two boxes stacked on top of each other in his arms. “Is this all you have?” He asks, holding the door open for Taehyung.

“Yeah,” Taehyung admits. “When you’re stuck with one drawer system in a living room, you don’t really get to have a lot of stuff.”

“That’s fine.” Namjoon says, taking one of the boxes from Taehyung, and he leads the younger one to the elevator. This building apparently has insanely high security because Namjoon needs to use a key to get on the elevator as well. “The place is already furnished, but you are going to need a sheet set for the bed. My roommate took his with him when he left.”

“Okay,” Taehyung says, watching as Namjoon presses the button to go to his floor. “I guess I’ll go buy one after I unpack.”

“Sure.” Namjoon says. “By the way, I’m going to a party tonight. You’re welcome to come, if you want.”

*

Taehyung never really viewed himself as a party person. It’s not that he’s necessarily antisocial or anything—because he’s clearly not that. It’s just that he doesn’t really like being around drunk people, and he hates being drunk himself. He’s never been one to have very much self-control while under the influence, and he knows that people find him annoying when he’s drunk.

Still, he finds himself at this party that Namjoon invited him to. Apparently Namjoon is friends with the bartender who owns this place, so he can pretty much gets himself into any party for free, and Taehyung, now being Namjoon’s roommate, apparently gets included in those deals. It would be nice if he liked parties more, but they’ve never really been his thing—not like this anyway.

He starts the night sticking to Namjoon, the only person he somewhat knows. He follows Namjoon around and meets most of his friends, and he ends up meeting Jungkook, a person he has seen on Hoseok’s gaming channel before. Apparently the three are really close, and both Namjoon and Jungkook joke about how Hoseok would be here if he didn’t decide to get himself tied down by Yoongi.

Taehyung wonders why they joke about it the way they do, acting like Hoseok is a loser for allowing himself to get into a real relationship. Taehyung thinks that it would be nice to get into a real, steady relationship. He would like to have someone to return to after a hard day of studying or working at the clothing store. Someone to talk to him and play with his hair as he falls asleep at night. He wants that sort of gentle relationship, but he’s had no luck in finding a steady partner.

“You don’t want to be stuck talking to these losers all night, now do ya?” Some random person comes up to talk to Taehyung. Taehyung can only wonder who this man thinks he is, approaching Taehyung like that and talking about his friends. Okay, well, he wouldn’t really consider Namjoon and Jungkook his friends, but still. “Why don’t you come to the counter with me, and I’ll buy you a drink.”

When Taehyung looks back at Namjoon and Jungkook, they seem to wrapped up in whatever conversation they’re having. Taehyung has no idea what it’s about because he doesn’t know what he and Jungkook talk about together. It probably has something to do with their lives and their circle of friend, only proving how bad they are at making newcomers feel included in their group.

“Sure.” Taehyung says, thinking it’s better than just sitting here like he doesn’t exist.

When he gets up, however, Namjoon take notice, and he grabs Taehyung’s wrist to stop him. “Where are you going?” He asks.

“To get a drink.” Taehyung says in response.

“With Sunghak?” Namjoon asks, taking note of the man who already walked to the bar, leaving Taehyung with these two. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“And why not?” Taehyung asks, snatching his wrist back. “It’s got to better than sitting here listening to you two talk about who’s ing who.”

“I just mean that I know these people,” Namjoon tells him. “And, if you aren’t the type to like being stood up or having a one-night stand, I think it’s better that you don’t get yourself involved with Sunghak. Trust me on this.”

“We’re just having drinks,” Taehyung says, turning to face the counter where Sunghak waits for him. “It’s not like I’m looking forward to our wedding already. Just a couple of drinks.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” He hears Namjoon say to him as he makes his way to the counter.

Sunghak did just as he promised, and he bought Taehyung some drinks. It was multiple shots of something Taehyung isn’t too sure about, but it was all way more alcohol than Taehyung is used to consuming, and he can feel the effects of it already going into his system.

“So, tell me about yourself.” Sunghak says, handing Taehyung another drink. This time it’s in a larger glass, but it’s not even half full. Taehyung accepts it, although he’s not sure how much more alcohol he can take into his system before he passes out or throws it all up. “What do you do for a living?”

“Well, I’m a film student.” Taehyung says. “I experiment with a lot of different genres. When I’m not studying or working on school projects, I work at a clothing store downtown.”

“Gotta work to get by in school?” Sunghak asks.

“It’s not cheap.” Taehyung assures him.

“I’ll tell you what,” Sunghak says, turning to face the counter. “I’ll help you by taking you to dinner tomorrow so that you get a free meal for one night.”

Despite Namjoon’s earlier warnings, Taehyung agrees, having forgotten all about that. He then returns to the table that Namjoon and Taehyung are sitting at, and he latches onto Namjoon’s arm, snuggling close to him and laughing.

“What the hell?” Namjoon asks. “Are you drunk? Already?”

“Maybe, but I’m mostly happy.” Taehyung says.

“Why’s that?” Namjoon asks, worry in his voice.

“I get a free dinner tomorrow.” Taehyung tells him.

“…You didn’t agree to a date with Sunghak, did you?” Namjoon asks.

“Not a date.” Taehyung says. “Just dinner. A free dinner.”

“If you stayed home tomorrow, you’d get a free dinner, too.” Namjoon says. “And it really would be free, and I’d actually be there.”

“Aww that’s so sweet.” Taehyung says, and he kisses Namjoon’s shoulder. “I have to decline, however. I’ve already got plans.”

*

At the end of the night, Namjoon helps the drunken Taehyung to his room. He tucks him in under the covers just as Taehyung’s grandmother used to do when he was little and living at home with her. He sets a glass of iced water next to Taehyung before turning the light off and leaving from the room.

*

Taehyung doesn’t wake until and hour before he planned dinner date with Sunghak, and he has a pounding migraine when he finally does wake up. Lucky for him, Namjoon apparently left some aspirin by his bedside, so he takes that before noticing a little note next to his cup of water. “Hey, Taehyung. Just wanted to let you know that Jungkook wanted me to come to some even with him. I won’t be back until late, but there’s some frozen dinners in the freezer if your date decides to bail on you. Oh, and I left some aspirin by your bed because I’d figure you’d be feeling bad when you woke up. See you later tonight. Namjoon.”

For a party person, and someone who doesn’t like to get too attached to people, Taehyung actually thinks that Namjoon is a pretty decent guy. Taehyung has to get up and get ready for his date, though, not sit there thinking about how awesome his roommate is.

He and Sunghak decided to meet at a nice diner, and that’s where Taehyung goes. It’s a nicer restaurant than Taehyung has ever been in, and it makes him feel really underdressed. When he asks the waitstaff about his outfit, however, they assure him that it’s fine before leading him to his table. He date has yet to arrive, but Taehyung sits there and waits patiently.

As Taehyung waits, the waitstaff keeps coming back to check on him. They keep offering him different alcoholic beverages, but he just asks for more water. For the case that his date doesn’t show up, Taehyung can’t afford to pay for any of the drinks they offer him. After waiting for about thirty minutes, the waitstaff start questioning him if his date is coming at all, and they say that he has to come soon or Taehyung will have to give up his table.

“We’re sorry,” The waitress who seated him says as she comes over. “It’s been two hours now, and you’re date still isn’t here. We’re going to need you to give up your seat to the next—”

“Wait! Wait!” Taehyung hears a familiar voice, but it’s not Sunghak’s. “I’m here. I’m his date, and I’m here.”

Taehyung smiles when he sees Namjoon standing across from him at the table. He takes his seat, and he tells the waitress to go get them a bottle of red wine.

“What are you doing here?” Taehyung asks. Somehow, he’s happier to see Namjoon here than he thinks he would have been to see Sunghak.

“Sunghak came to the event that I was at with Jungkook.” Namjoon tells him. “So I knew that he stood you up because he couldn’t be there and here at the same time.”

“So you came in his place?” Taehyung asks.

“Well, yeah,” Namjoon says. “I couldn’t very well let my roommate get stood up like that. Besides, these places make you pay for reservations on site, and I don’t think you have the money to cover that. I warned you didn’t I?”

“I’m sorry.” Taehyung says. “Next time, I’ll try to listen.”