His Muse | kth
โ pairing: Artist!Kim Taehyung x reader
โ genre: fluff, romance | Non-idol!Au
โ word count: 4.4k
โ summary: Insomnia was keeping you up at night, so you decided to go out for a nightly walk in the streets of Paris, where you met Kim Taehyung, who is in desperate need of someone to inflame his passions again.
โ warnings: Obviously mentioning insomnia but just surface-level, itโs extremely unrealistic in some aspects but letโs be romantic about it, depending on which way you look at it Taehyung could also come off as a creep tbhโฆlmao, essentially coworkers to lovers
โ A/N: I started writing this in 2018โฆ kept on writing bits and then dismissing it for months. Now, finally, itโs here. Been on my masterlist as โcoming soonโ for years, but I did it!
masterlist
ยปWhy do you have to work like this?ยซ you question your brain that is once again keeping you up at night. ยปThis damn insomnia is going to be the death of meยซ you grumble, exhausted from your busy day and now suffering even more from the sleepless night ahead of you. Once you realized that you wouldnโt be getting any sleep, you decided to get up from bed and leave the hotel room to go on a nightly walk. Now you circle the block of your hotel for probably the third time. Maybe getting some energy out of your system will help make you sleepy.
As you continue your walk, you reminisce about all the things you went through to regain a healthy sleep schedule. You started with yoga on a regular day in the week, which quickly turned out to be too much effort in your packed schedule, since you already had to work two jobs.
You also tried therapy, which helped a lot, but eventually the costs piled up too much. Medicine was your last resort and got you to the point of actually sleeping through most nights, but of course you had to run out the week of your well earned holiday.ย
Working two jobs was exhausting and you rarely had the opportunity to take multiple consecutive days off. So, you were planning on enjoying these days as much as possible โ the lack of sleep, once again, disrupting that plan.
This is just your first night in Paris, the city of lights, love, and art. You had a tightly scheduled day right after your arrival at the airport, wanting to spend every day in its own way.ย
So today you went sightseeing, visiting the most common things, like the Eiffel Tower. Tomorrow you planned on visiting one or two museums that a friend had recommended.
For the third day you didnโt really plan anything, expecting yourself to be far too lazy after two days of walking to do anything, so perhaps youโll just lay down in bed and read a book.ย
Had you known that you wouldnโt be able to sleep you would have of course brought more books with you on this trip.
The fourth day is actually a little secret of yours, you didnโt tell anybody about your plans โ the risk of coworkers snitching on you was just too high. All of them were lovely indeed, but they do love to spread the newest gossip.ย
The truth was, you were not only on this holiday to relax and visit a beautiful city, but also for a job interview. A well paying job in this beautiful city was a dream come true.ย
You didnโt care to plan more than the fourth day, if the interview goes well you will truly just be savoring the last three days in this city before leaving and soon returning permanently. If the interview didn't go the way you wanted it to, you decided to just get an earlier flight, not wanting to be depressed in a place like Paris. It would be a waste of money and days you could spend earning more of it anyway.
You were wary of actually pursuing this job, teaching was far from what you did until now. Your past work experiences were all corporate jobs or part time jobs at restaurants, bars, and the likes. Seemingly not being able to stop your brain from rattling, you thought: what if someone better applies and they decide against you?
Youโd be starting on step one again, having to apply at a multitude of different Art Universities to get the chance of an interview.ย
All of a sudden you crash into somebody. A tall man is staring down at you in shock, big eyes and his mouth open. Your expression is probably mirroring his, the collision pulled you out of your thoughts.
ยปIโm so sorry!ยซ you exclaim, rushing to look around for objects he mightโve dropped when you ran into the broad man.ย
ยปItโs fine, guess both of us just weren't paying attention,ยซ the man says and gives you a big grin. His cheeks lift up, giving him a cute and less intimidating look than just a few seconds ago.
You give him a once over. Heโs handsome, his posture radiated confidence and his eyes were very sharp but now that he is smiling they had a nicer touch to them. You notice the uneven eyelids and a mole on the underside of his nose tip. You guess it isn't very visible for other people, but from your angle, being much shorter than the tall man, you see it clearly. His hands are hidden in the pockets of his long coat and his hair is partly covered by a barret. With the lack of light, you can only guess that itโs of a darker color.ย
ยปAre you done checking me out?ยซ His very dark voice, you note that youโve probably never heard such a deep tone, managed to pull your attention to his face again. You didnโt notice that youโd been staring. The realization made you blush. Itโs dark, so of course he wonโt see it in the dimly lit streets, but you could feel yourself heat up.
You force out a nervous chuckle. On any other day you would walk away after you made sure to apologize and check for dropped items, but you couldnโt seem to continue your nightly walk this time around. ยปWhat are you doing out so late, anyway?ยซ He asks, still smiling, looking into your eyes and waiting for your answer.ย
ยปUh, I was justโฆ on a walk?ยซ Great, talking casually to a stranger wouldnโt be on the list of your strengths, noted. But he laughs and to your surprise youโre not embarrassed by this, more amused and delighted. His laugh is very pretty, just like the man himself.
ยปAh, I see. Well, Iโll let you continue your walk then, letโs pay attention to our paths from now on!ยซ He gives you another smile before he raises his hand out of his pocket, notably very big, to wave a little and turn around. You stay there for a moment and watch him slowly walk away.
ยปHe was nice,ยซ you whisper into the cold air, smiling to yourself. The unexpected encounter made your mind less stressed, somehow. The stranger had a calming way about him. With newfound peace of mind, you decide to go back to your hotel room and try to get some sleep.
Your second day in Paris was lovely indeed. The art hung on the walls of museums was impressive and lovely to look at. Drawing had been a small passion of yours for long, but working every chance you get kept you from it for far too long. The sights were truly inspiring and so you decided to make your way to an art supply store to purchase a sketchbook and a few brushes. You could ponder about what youโd draw in a nearby park, perhaps? Nature in Paris was as beautiful as it gets.
With this plan in mind you made your way there, your phone navigation leading your way with your earphones in, trying not to seem as much of a tourist, but you probably do anyway.
Near the store, you stopped the route on your phone and put the device away in your pocket. When you open the door a bell above rings and echoes sweetly into the room to make notice of your entrance. Wooden shelves stocked with many art supplies fill the space. You could take your pick from any medium youโd like to paint with. Oil, water color, pencil,... You take it all in, think about what's best to buy and especially, what suited your bank accounts limits. Wandering along the shelves in deep concentration, you bumped into a hard chest. Just like last night, you come to face the same man. He still wore his smile and his eyes carried the same kind look.
ยปI see we were destined to meet again,ยซ he said, his smile growing cheeky. ยปI was actually hoping to see you a second time. Do you often crash into people when daydreaming?ยซ The man chuckles and holds his hand in front of his body, ยปofficial introductions are in order, I suppose. My name is Kim Taehyung.ยซ
You returned his smile, although a bit more nervous as he seemed to be. ยปWere you really hoping to see me again or are you just trying to charm me?ยซ
Your response made him laugh a little, but before he could say another thing, you told him your name. ยปSeeing you here must mean youโre into art?ยซ You ask.
He nods his head yes. Delighted to hear this, you immediately start a conversation about art. Without hesitation, you ask him about his favorite medium, his style of painting and at last, his inspiration. At the last question he seems to lose his smile. Before, he joyously responded to all of your inquiries, but this one perhaps was too personal of a question. ยปYou donโt need to share, if youโre uncomfortable,ยซ you assure him.
ยปItโs not that Iโm uncomfortable. Itโs just that, as of right now, Iโve lost all inspiration,ยซ he admits. ยปI was going to switch paints in an attempt to regain a bit of my passion.ยซ Relating to this, you nod. Losing inspiration to do what you love โ it is tough. No wonder his smile dropped at the mention of it.
You fear that your mishap might have ruined the conversation, but he bounces right back and returns all your questions, helps you choose the best products in your price range and wears his smile just like before. As a way of thanking him you invite him for coffee, but because of his plans he has to refuse. ยปAnother time. Iโm sure weโll meet again.ยซ
Before you could dare to tell him that you are in fact not a local like he is, he is already on his way and without exchanging phone numbers, impossible to reach. The prospect of not seeing him again before you leave Paris crosses your mind and sullies your mood. You suppose youโd just have to deal with it.
You go on to spend the rest of today and the third day of your stay painting the view from your hotel room window, a park and a bridge to distract yourself and get your mood back up. On wednesday evening you expected to have trouble sleeping before your interview the next day. But, to your surprise, your eyes feel heavy and sleep comes over you.
When you wake up, you get dressed and grab two of the paintings from yesterday, your previously prepared binder full of your older art and make your way to the interview. It was held directly where youโd work at โ an art school. The thought of pursuing your life-long passion as a career is scary but imagining that this interview could be a success fills your heart with joy. Becoming an art teacher for students who live and breathe art just as you do seems like your purpose. For this reason, you want to try your best and hope to leave a great impression.ย
As you stand in front of the university's art-department building you keep positive thoughts in mind. Every step that you take in the direction of the stairs, along the hallway and near the room you're supposed to enter, shakes you up with anxiety. Nerves are running rampant more than ever as you hold the door handle and push it down. A deep breathe in, and you step forward into the room.
The broad room is bright, the white and high walls complement the wooden floors. Beautiful art decorates the walls and windows. You suppose on other days this is where students work on their assignments. But today, there are no art supplies laying around, everything is cleaned up nice. When you look to your left, thereโs a long table. Three people sit at the table, two of them are conversing quietly, the third is scribbling something onto a paper in front of him.
The woman on the far left looks to the door first and her face splits into a smile. ยปHello! Do come in, please.ยซ You nod and smile, close the door behind you and step closer to the table. The woman who called you in pointed towards folded chairs that are leaned on the wall. ยปGrab a chair! Apologies, we just came back from our break, so we didnโt get to prepare the room.ยซ You assure her that itโs fine, grab a chair and introduce yourself before sitting down.
ยปVery nice to meet you. Iโm Madame Dupont, next to me is Monsieur Batiste and at last, Monsieur Kim. Monsieur Batiste and I are both teachers here. While Monsieur Kim does give lectures, his profession is fully dedicated to the arts. You might recognize him by his Pseudonym, Vantae.ยซ She introduces from the left, starting with herself and going to the right, leaving the man who hadnโt raised his eyes up until now for last. The mention of Vantae makes you almost jump, you were always very fond of his work. The opportunity to meet one of your favorite artists in person makes this interview so much better. You keep your eyes on him, waiting to see his face and as you meet his gaze, you are surprised to recognize the man.
Vantae or Monsieur Kim, as in Kim Taehyung, the man who youโve spent a great deal of this Tuesday with, talking about art. How come it never crossed his mind to mention that he was in fact an actual artist, with great talent? The shock hits your gut deeply but you canโt let it show on your face or hinder you from making a good impression on the other interviewers.
You clear your throat and take a deep breath in. Madame Dupont, seemingly leading the interview, holds her hand out and asks for your documents and the binder with your art. While she and the others look through your portfolio and comment on aspects that they like, you begin talking about yourself, per their request. You tell them of your great love for painting and how youโve always felt at ease with a pencil or brush in hand. One or two questions to your drawings are asked that you gladly elaborate on and after exactly forty-two minutes Madame Dupont, Monsieur Batiste and Taehyung stand up to each shake your hand.ย
ยปIt was great speaking with you today. We will definitely contact you in a few days and notify you of our decision. Your art is very promising and you would be a great addition to our team!ยซ Monsieur Batiste beams when he speaks and holds your hand in both of his. The two others at both his sides nod in agreement.
Taehyungโs smile grows cheeky when you hold your hand above the table to reach for his. ยปPleasure to meet you here today, Madame. I, as well, would more than appreciate your presence at this school,ยซ he brazenly speaks. His words are laced with mischief, as are his eyes sparkling with.
You express your gratitude to receive the chance for this interview and emphasize that youโd love to take this job offer. A very positive feeling is settling within your chest as you leave the building and walk along the street. They were genuinely nice and made the interview a good experience. But the encounter with Kim Taehyung still sticks with you. He seemed to already expect you there, almost like he recognized you from the picture on your application to the school. It would explain why he was so sure to meet you again.
The call from Madame Dupont came exactly four days after you were back at home. The moment that your phone rings with a caller-ID you donโt recognize you pick up, already anticipating who it might be. ยปWeโre so happy to tell you that you have been accepted as our next art teacher at the Pariser University of Arts!ยซ She says, with almost as much excitement as you feel hearing it. ยปWe want you to start as soon as you can move to Paris. Our team has been developing a schedule for you to adjust to teaching the students and we canโt wait for you to join us.ยซ
After the call, you waste no time to write your resignation for your jobs and to prepare everything that needs to be done and taken care of before you leave the country โ permanently.
After living in Paris for four months now, you canโt imagine leaving ever again. Work has been everything you hoped it would be and more. At the beginning you just followed Madame Dupont, Taehyung and Monsieur Batiste to their classes, attended to printing and copying documents and got to do the occasional stand-in class. Today, youโre still in training but get to work on your own most of the time. Your coworkers help you prepare for your classes and give you tips on how to improve student-involvement. You enjoy working, for probably the first time in your life. With time youโre starting to get along better with your coworkers โ not only the trio that interviewed you, but also the whole rest of the teaching staff. But with Taehyung especially.ย
The first week you arrived, he kept on teasing you about how shocked you were when you found out that he is Vantae. He also admitted to recognizing you from your application, when the two of you met in the art shop. ยปI didnโt notice when we bumped into each other at night, but the day after it clicked. Iโm a very curious person, you intrigued meโฆ I just had to get to know you,ยซ he confessed back then.ย
That day, he also showed you his in-school art studio. It is still a gorgeous sight, youโre in awe whenever you get to enter it. He only works there when he has lectures that day, so itโs not the full extent of what heโs tinkering with. Still, you can recognize Vantae in everything he creates. Even quick, messy sketches. But like he said in the art shop, inspiration has left him with blank canvases or unfinished projects and the frustration is always clearly visible in his face when he invites you to the studio.ย
Last time you were there, he invited you to come see his studio at home. The thought of seeing the place where Vantae painted some of his greatest works intrigued you so much, you agreed despite being antsy about spending your time off with him.
This leads you to where you are now, standing in front of his door. You take a few seconds to actually ring the bell but once you do, it doesnโt take long for it to swing open and reveal Taehyung and his usual smile. He swings his arm into the room to ask you to enter and that you do. To the right of the entrance area is a flight of stairs, but Taehyung walks through the door frame in front of you, so you follow him.
ยปI was just about to make coffee before heading up to the studio.ยซ He said. ยปDo you want a cup as well?ยซ You accept the offer and look around his place. The living room in which you are standing was huge and flooded with light from the big windows. A bar separated the area from his kitchen, where he leans against the counter. Behind him, his coffee machine is buzzing away as itโs filling the cups he put underneath. Once they are full, he hands you one of them. Both of you add milk and sugar to your preferences and then Taehyung starts making his way back through the doorway and turns to the staircase. ยปLetโs go!ยซ he cheers on his way up.
He talks a lot about the different Paintings on his walls, the ones he hasnโt finished yet and the ones he wants to start. He begins sketching at his desk and you sit next to him to watch. Over the last few weeks he asked you more and more often to just do that โ he never explains why. By now itโs become routine though, so you donโt question it anymore.
Every once in a while Taehyung pauses and crosses out what he drew or he erases the pencil lines and starts fresh. You can tell that the longer he keeps at it, the more his patience runs out. With time, he stops trying to fix or cover up his mistakes, but instead ends up crumbling his paper sheet together and throwing the whole thing away.
He finally closes his artbook and looks over at you with tired eyes, pouting. You canโt resist the coo that leaves your mouth.ย
ยปI canโt seem to draw anything at all, lately. It frustrates me,ยซ the earnest way he speaks about his thoughts and feelings makes you a little happy, youโre glad that heโs comfortable enough to confide in you like this.
ยปMaybe you need a new muse?ยซ you suggest and absentmindedly bite your lip as you try to think of a solution to his problem. There needs to be something that could inspire him. You donโt notice him inching closer to you, not until his breath tickles your cheek. Taehyung isnโt pouting anymore. Rather than that, his face is full of mischief, like it was months ago after your interview.
ยปCan you sit still?ยซ he hurriedly opens the artbook again, grabs a piece of drawing coal and gets to work. Your eyes widen with the realization of what he was doing when his eyes flicker up to your face and back down to the paper. Not wanting to interrupt the flow he seems to be in, you just sit still and wait for when he is done. When he is, he turns his artbook to you and shows off his work with a proud grin on his lips. It was beautiful, to say the least.ย
ยปWould you mind spending a little more time in my studio? I would love to try this with oil colors,ยซ he carefully asks. Itโs late and a part of your brain tells you to not stay with a man that youโre slowly overstepping your work relationship with, but you know that you probably canโt sleep well tonight anyway, so you agree to stay with him, despite your better knowledge.
ยปI wouldnโt mind,ยซ you say to his visible surprise. ยปI enjoy your company and your art. If I can help you regain your inspiration, Iโm more than glad to do that.ยซย
To Taehyung, you carry the calmness of the ocean and he could really drown in your presence. Just looking at you puffing up your hair nearly makes him drool. Being alone with you for so long is going to make him crazy, he just knows.But you could really be the solution for the artist block that he has been struggling with for the past few months. What you said earlier made him realize that you already were his muse. Everytime youโre next to him when he draws, he feels himself regaining his inspiration little by little. Maybe all that was left for him to truly get out of his slump wasnโt to switch the medium but to find the right view to draw.ย
After you find your position again, he starts a draft of the painting he had in mind. You are of course the main focus of it, but the hard part is to find out what background will do your beauty justice.
Late into the night, Taehyung finally finishes the painting. All the coffee in the world couldnโt keep the two of you up any longer. You grab your things and follow him back downstairs, but before you could announce your departure, he takes your hand. ยปYou shouldnโt walk home alone this late. Please, stay here.ยซ He almost whispers this and pulls you towards his chest gently. You think about it for a moment, staying at his place would really cross the line of professionalism. Finally, the thought of sharing a comfortable bed with a warm blooded, handsome man like Taehyung won you over. You sigh and nod your head.
ยปLetโs go to bed, then.ยซ You both smile at each other.
He gives you a toothbrush and together you stand in front of the sink and exchange the occasional glance. His hands touch your arms, your waist and hips. Always gentle and they never linger for too long โ itโs comfortable. The question of who takes the couch is never asked and on an unspoken mutual agreement you both slip under the same blanket, his arm behind your head and your back against his chest.
The darkness in the bedroom envelops you. You only feel Taehyungโs chest rise and fall while you fall asleep quicker than you ever did before.
To be woken up in the morning by Taehyungโs now even deeper voice wasnโt on your list of possible outcomes when you moved to Paris. Nonetheless you really enjoy it. The shirt he gave you last night to sleep in covers you enough to stay decent and in his opinion makes you look even cuter than you did before. Bedhead and all.
He serves two cups of coffee and egg on toast after you beg him to cook you some breakfast.
ยปSeeing you like thisโฆ,ยซ he mutters. ยปIโm afraid I canโt let you leave, youโre way too pretty. Canโt have anyone steal my muse from me.ยซ You laugh together with him and hide your face in your palms. His attention stays on you the whole time. He canโt help himself โ he rounds the bar to where youโre seated and lays his hand on the side of your face. ยปI adore you,ยซ this, he said in a very serious tone, unlike before. ยปPlease let me take you out to dinner sometime.ยซ You look up from your hands and see the earnesty in his eyes.
ยปIโd love to,ยซ you respond and he smiles.
