How to Win Hearts
Author's Note: the inspiration for this fic came from this Tumblr post. It was silly and whimsical and I thought it might go over well. I love running with the idea of a not-so-serious Brendon Park. This is set pre-Pitt so Brendon is mid-30s.
Summary: Brendon Park thinks the best way to win the heart of his friend is to post more everyday life photos on Instagram.
Word Count: 2K
Read it on AO3 instead
Brendon Park was a certified doctor. He made it through med school, residency, and now was an attending doctor. The hospital decided he was good enough to be given responsibilities. He was responsible for med students and residents. He was capable. He was also an absolute dumbass outside the four walls of the hospital, at least in some areas. Romantically he was not very capable. Oh, he knew what to do. He could be romantic. He'd had partners in the past but when he was single there was always someone in the periphery of his life that he wanted but didn't have the balls to ask out: you.
You'd been friends for years. You'd met while in undergrad via mutual friends and you'd cross paths every now and then; as the years had gone on it would be at the weddings of friends. Every few months you'd send a text to Brendon and ask if he'd like to go see a movie you thought you'd both like or check out a new exhibit. He'd agree and you'd both have a good time and you'd have proof of life that being a doctor hadn't killed him yet. It was nice.
Most of the time your friendship existed on social media. One of you would post on Instagram and the other would like it…most of the time.
—
Brendon was having lunch with a friend, Joel. Another long time friend; a frat buddy from college.
“So,” Joel brought up your name, “how's that going?”
Brendon gave a small shrug, “I see her every now and then. Probably as often as I see you.”
Joel just stared at him, “you ever going to ask her out?”
Again, Brendon shrugged. He hated when the conversation turned this way. It happened every time. “Eventually.”
“Waiting until you're 40 or something? Get with it. You like her. She seems into you. Just ask.”
“It's more complicated than that. Besides, I have a plan.” It was a stupid plan.
“Oh? Why didn't you say so? What has that doctor's brain cooked up?”
Brendon huffed. “I…I'm posting on Instagram and seeing if she likes the photos.”
“And?” Joel asked, wondering where the fuck Brendon was going with this.
“And what?”
“You said you have a plan. That's not a plan. That's just… knowing you… posting thirst traps,” Joel muttered, looking around as if it was something scandalous. It was more embarrassing than anything.
“They aren't thirst traps…” they were but Brendon wasn't going to admit that.
Joel scoffed. “Now I know they are.” He followed Brendon on Instagram but didn't actually see what the man had posted.
Brendon rolled his eyes. “What do you suggest?”
“Call her up. Ask her out. It's simple. How did you pass med school if you're so dumb?” Joel shook his head.
“This is different.”
“Maybe you should ask out a nurse you work with.”
Brendon shook his head. “No, not dating a coworker.”
Joel nodded, “that's probably a smart idea.”
“Half the hospital thinks I'm an asshole so they'd probably say no anyways.”
Joel laughed, “why?”
Brendon shrugged, trying to look innocent. “I don't know.”
“Park, are you an asshole at work?”
“I'm a healthy dose of reality. That's all.”
Joel laughed again.
“The OR knows I'm not bad. It's the other departments…”
“That sounds like college all over again. The other frats thought the same way. Maybe you should smile more.”
Brendon rolled his eyes. “You want to pay for your own meal? Keep talking.”
“Ah yes, there's the warm and fuzzy Brendon we know. But to circle back. Ask her out. And not over a damn text message.”
“My plan will work.”
“Your plan is awful…it's not even a plan, it's just a dumb idea. Oh! Why don't you post hobbies or something?” Joel asked. He couldn't believe he was entertaining this stupid plan.
“What?”
“Instead of your thirst traps - we both know they are - post your hobbies or how useful you are.” Stupid is contagious and Joel caught it.
Brendon thought about it. It might work. The conversation then switched to a new topic.
–
Brendon listened to Joel. Joel was married, how could he be wrong? So in addition to the definitely-not-thirst-traps-just-gym-progress-photos Brendon normally posted, he added in different things. There was a short video clip he posted helping his sister with a small home renovation project. Maybe it was also a thirst trap but it was hot out. That actually got a like from you.
Once the weather cooled down, Brendon switched tactics. He'd still post the occasional project he had done or a book he had read but then he started posting pictures of a meal he had made. The thirst traps slowly went away when Brendon noticed you didn't ‘like’ those particular posts.
Brendon unlocked his phone one afternoon to see a text from you: ‘will you please share that soup recipe? 🥺’. That surprised him, he hadn't heard from you in months aside from brief social media interaction. He had wondered if you had gotten involved with someone. He was more surprised that a soup picture was what broke your silence.
‘Sure, want to come over and try it first?’ was the response. He grimaced into the emptiness of his house after he sent it. Maybe he shouldn't have asked.
He quickly sent a second message ‘You don't have to. I'll still send the recipe.’ and followed up with said recipe. Well fuck, there went the opportunity. Maybe it was for the best. Brendon groaned because how was he fucking this up so badly?
‘Thanks. Are you doing okay?’
‘Yeah. Work keeps me busy. The people of Pittsburgh love to break bones. You?’
‘I’m good.’
Brendon sighed reading the response. That was hard to follow up with. You didn't give details. He set his phone down next to him trying to figure out the next move. He could bring you some soup. He knew where you lived. But what if you had someone over? If you had questions about the recipe you'd ask. He'd spare himself the embarrassment of showing up uninvited. He'd wait.
-
‘Does a potential broken bone absolutely require a visit to the ER?’ was what the text said at 9 in the morning. Good morning to Brendon.
‘Did you break a bone?’ That got his heart beating a little faster. He wasn't going to wait for an answer. He called you.
“Hey Brendon,” you answered with a cheerful tone.
“Did you break something?”
“Oh no, not me. A friend I'm out with tripped and fell. Her wrist hurts but we’re trying to decide if she really needs to go to the ER.”
Brendon heard a voice further away say “I'd prefer not to go to the ER. I think it's just a sprain.”
“Did you get that?” You asked Brendon.
He sighed. “Yeah. I heard. She really needs to get it looked at. Urgent care should have an x-ray. If it needs to be set you don't want to delay care.”
“Yeah but what if it doesn't need to be set?” The voice from the background said.
“Can you move it?”
“I don't want to.”
“Go to urgent care. Get it looked at.”
“He sounds grumpy,” your friend said and you laughed.
“We probably woke him up,” you replied. “Thanks Brendon.”
“Do we have to go?” Your friend asked as you ended the call.
Brendon knew how that would end up and sent you a message hours later. ‘Did your friend go to urgent care?’
‘No, but she said it was feeling better. It didn't look swollen.’
‘And where did you get your medical license from?’
‘Be nice. She said she'd go tomorrow if it still hurt or was swollen’
Brendon responded with an eye roll emoji. ‘I’m trying a new stew recipe and it needs tweaking. Want to come by?’ He added a photo of the stew…and accidentally added his latest gym selfie. If she liked it, Brendon would consider it a win.
‘Sure. Looks beefy,’ Your reply had Brendon's head spinning a little bit. Were you trying to flirt with him? Was it a comment about the stew? Well, two could play that game.
‘Looks better in person.’
–
Once you had arrived at Brendon's house, he had let you in and told you about the recipe he was working on that he had found in a cookbook from his grandparents. He said he didn't think the stew tasted right and it needed something, but he didn't know what. You were agreeable to trying it out.
Brendon watched as you leaned against the counter while he finished with the stew. Finally, he grabbed a spoon from a drawer and dipped it into the stew. “Alright, moment of truth,” Brendon said, holding the spoon near your mouth.
He carefully studied your expression while tasting it, just in case it wasn't actually good.
“It tastes good to me,” you told him. “I don't think it needs anything.”
“Hmmm, must be me then,” Brendon said knowing good and well his stew didn't need anything. He just wanted to see you after entirely too long. “Oh…you've got a little something…” he trailed off moving his hand to wipe off the spot of gravy from near your lip.
At the same time he did that, you stuck your tongue out and ended up catching his thumb in the process.
Brendon didn't know what to do, so he brought his hand back towards him and tried to ignore the little groan that had escaped him. Maybe you didn't notice it.
“So…how's whoever you're seeing?” you asked him, trying to change the atmosphere of the room.
Brendon broke out of his little daze, giving you a confused look. “I'm not seeing anyone. I'm pretty sure I'm terminally single at this point.”
“Oh,” you said. “I thought you might be. Your Instagram changed again. Usually that happens when you're with someone.” So you did pay attention to his gym photos? That little bit of information was stored away for the future. At least he knew he didn't blunder by sending that earlier selfie.
“Changed? Oh. The gym pics…or lack thereof?”
You just nodded.
“That…was something different,” he said quietly. But hey, his plan worked, kinda. You noticed either way. “Can you grab bowls from the cupboard? I think this is ready.”
While you reached for the bowls, Brendon passed behind you, his hand lightly touching your lower back as he reached for a cutting board, “scuse me” he muttered. Did he need to be that close? No, not at all. But it was fun.
Within five minutes you were seated at the table, eating slowly. Both of you were struggling for what to say that wouldn't feel stunted and like you hadn't known each other for years.
Brendon broke the silence first. “Would you ever want to go out with me on a date, if you aren't seeing someone right now?” Joel would be so proud. Brendon had actually said the words.
You nearly choked on the food. That question came out of nowhere. To save yourself the trouble of figuring out how to breathe and talk at the same time, you nodded before finally being able to get out “for real?”
“Yeah, I…uh, wanted to ask you for a while. I just kind of…chickened out,” Brendon said, staring into his bowl.
“Oh. I've been kinda doing the same thing.”
Brendon looked up quickly. “Really?”
Your face warmed. “Yeah, but I thought you were seeing someone else so… I just didn't.”
“I thought you were seeing someone because you didn't talk to me for a while.”
You shook your head. “I haven't seen anyone in a year or so.”
“So you would go out with me? Something…not as friends?”
You placed your hand over one of his. “Brendon, I would love to go out with you. Just say when and where.”
Brendon broke out into the biggest smile imaginable because even though it took him forever to get to this point, he was capable in relationships. He could be the best boyfriend ever. And he would definitely be the best husband ever if you let him. And it was all because he posted his amazing soups.