pairing: jooheon x reader
genre/warning: no warning.
word count: 784
description: based on monsta x′s ‘ready or not’.
You glance at your watch again, still ten minutes till close. The cafe is empty except for you and one final customer. He’s sitting at a table playing on his phone and nursing a cup of coffee. You’ve seen him come in a couple times. To be honest, you look for him everyday, and any other day you would be thrilled to have him stay late, just the two of you. But today you needed him to leave.
After you ask him if he wants anything else, you finish wiping down the machines and cleaning up the rest of the equipment. All you have left to do is wipe down the tables and put up the chairs and wait for him to leave. You check your watch again, closing time. Taking a deep breath, you head back towards the guy. Asking people to leave always makes you uncomfortable, but you don’t have time to wait around for him.
“Sorry, sir, but we’ve closed.” You clasp your hands behind your back and do your best to smile politely.
He glances up from his phone and then around at the empty cafe. His eyes go wide, and you can see his pupils for the first time. He has beautiful brown eyes, and you find yourself drowning in them to the point that you almost miss his apology. He stands up, and you quickly wipe down his table and start to pull up the chairs. As you turn around, you notice that he hasn’t left yet and has started to pull up chairs as well.
“You don’t have to do that.” You protest.
“It’s the least I can do since I’m here after close.” He gives you a smile, and you quickly look away before he can see your face redden. You give him a nod, and he continues.
Once the last chairs are up, you glance at your watch, five minutes after close. You have to hurry. The two of you exit the cafe, and you quickly lock up.
“Have you eaten? There are some really good food carts down this street.” If it were any other night, you would have jumped at the chance. But not tonight. Tonight, you would have to disappoint his hopeful face.
“I’m sorry. I have to go.” You give him a half smile and take off down the street. You break out into an all out run when you round the corner.
Glancing down at your watch, you breath a sigh of relief. You made it with two minutes to spare. After checking in, you head to the bathroom to change. You’ll be going on in 10 minutes. Exiting the bathrooms, you head for the stage where the first set of rappers are battling. You stand near the front of the crowd, sizing up your competition. All too soon, it’s time for you to go on.
You pull yourself up onto the stage and stand opposite your opponent. A flip of the coin shows you’ll start the battle. “Are you ready or not? Cause here we go. It’s yes or no. Do or die. There’s no time to be wasting wondering why. If you choose your future, better study your past. Take note of those words of Confucius because they last.” You continue your rap, and at the end of the battle you come out victorious and advance to the next round. You feel like you’re on top of the world until you find out who you’ll be battling. You’ve gone up against him before and each time he’s thrashed you. You vow not this time.
Except this time, he does it again. You stand on the stage everyone “oh-ing” and “ah-ing” over how well he roasted you. You want the ground to open up and swallow you whole, anything to save you from this embarrassment. That’s when he shows up, the guy from the cafe. He pulls himself onto the stage, and you stare at him eyes wide as he begins to rap. Everything that was thrown at you, he throws back at your attacker. Your opponent attempts a comeback, but his response is weak and the crowd boos him off the stage.
Your hero ignores the cheering crowd and turns to you. “Are you okay?” You can only manage a nod. “You’re good.” He smiles, and you vigorously shake your head.
“No, you’re good.”
He blushes and ducks his head, a completely different person from the man who just unleashed hell a few moments ago. “If you’d like, I can give you some pointers over dinner. That is if you’re not busy.”
“Not anymore, besides how could I refuse my hero.”
