Work Text:
Seok-jun is excited. He doesn't know the last time he felt this way; anticipation is the closest he can think of, but even that pales in the strength of this emotion. It's undignified. He doesn't care; he will see Yang Ju-ran in mere minutes, and everything is settled between them, and he is excited.
She's waiting outside when he pulls up on his bike, and the smile on her face when she sees him pulls an answering one to his, though she can't see it through the helmet. By the time he's removed it, he's been able to school his face into one of his more habitual expressions.
"Lee Seok-jun!" she says happily, coming up to him. "Am I underdressed?" She points to her jeans and sneakers, then raises her eyebrows at his full suit, visible under his motorcycle jacket.
"Your outfit will suffice," he assures her. "I met with the Chairman this morning, and I have long made it my routine to dress at all times as if I am representing the company -- because I am."
She nods, clearly understanding, and he steps off the motorcycle to retrieve her helmet and her other gift.
"I got you this jacket. It will protect you from the wind as we travel at higher speeds, and though I don't anticipate a crash it is also protective against abrasions."
"Thank you! So thoughtful." She takes the helmet from him and their fingers brush. "Help me put on the jacket?"
He hadn't thought of it, since he knows Yang Ju-ran is capable of dressing herself, but as soon as she asks there is nothing in the world he would like more. Rationally, he can surmise that she knows how he loves to be useful, and she's kindly giving him an opportunity. But maybe she's like him, wishing to touch but shy to break the initial barrier.
So he helps her, and then it's easy to grasp her hand to assist her in getting settled on the bike. The easiest thing in the world, too, to casually place his hand over where hers are locked around his waist while he tells her the general plan.
"Sounds good, let's go!" she says. There's no need to tell her to hold on, so he lets the engine roar to life. He can feel more than hear her delighted laugh, and her enthusiasm makes him smile.
There's the typical traffic in the city. When they near the edge of town he stops by a fruit stand to get them a snack for later. Then, finally, they're on open roads.
Lee Seok-jun has always appreciated the sense of freedom he gets from zipping down the highway on his motorcycle, but he was unprepared for how having Yang Ju-ran behind him magnifies the pleasure. He's always unprepared when it comes to her, it seems.
The park Seok-jun prefers has a bench he usually takes a breather at; he navigates there and they sit together, helmets off and arms brushing, to eat their snack.
"The weather is so nice today," Ju-ran says, unzipping her jacket to better appreciate the breeze. Seok-jun follows suit, trying not to stare at her exposed collarbone. Never in his life has he been interested in a woman's clavicle but hers is fascinating.
"We did pick a good day for this outing," he agrees belatedly. She smiles at him and stands, holding her hand out for his trash. "Thank you," he says as she takes it to the receptacle. "There's water in the pannier if you want."
"Okay." She grabs the bottle out and returns to the bench to drink, then offers it to him.
He demurs; counterintuitively, his mouth is so dry he knows he'd choke if he tried to ingest anything, especially if his lips touch where hers have just been. Instead he just clears his throat and says, "The road is pretty quiet here. Do you want to drive?"
She looks speculatively at the road, at the motorcycle, at him.
Then, before he knows it, she's standing in his space.
"If you are going to be my passenger, I have a request."
"Anything," he responds accidentally. He really did used to have more self control than to say such things to her, but from the expression on her face she doesn't mind.
She lifts shaking hands to his necktie and leans closer so she can murmur softly, "Perhaps you could represent the company a little bit less comprehensively? Loosen up, for me?" She illustrates her words by gently, yet firmly, pulling on his tie, loosening it.
Seok-jun feels like he should now be able to breathe more easily, but his lungs seem to have stopped working. His hands haven't, though -- of their own accord they have drifted to Ju-ran's hips, sliding up her back. He can feel her fingers hesitantly dancing along his waistcoat buttons, but if she has plans to put him in further dishabille he thwarts them when he pulls her in for a searing kiss.
He really likes kissing Yang Ju-ran. It makes him think that maybe he was missing out all these years, with no interest in such an activity before. But he is sure that she is the alchemical factor that, like on the motorcycle, amplifies his enjoyment.
When Ju-ran pulls back, they're both breathing hard and her face is flushed. She blinks at him sweetly, eyes shining.
"I thought I was driving," she says, pulling on Seok-jun's tie to bring him to standing. He is fully willing to follow her into the trees but instead she releases him and moves to straddle the motorcycle instead.
Seok-jun can work with this development. He's about to sit behind her when he sees the daunted expression on her face as she surveys the controls.
"This is a nice machine," she blurts, hurriedly dismounting. "I'd hate to ruin it." She shakes her head. "I shouldn't have..."
To Seok-jun, this is a small (not to mention irrational) issue, but Ju-ran looks so downcast, so different from the woman who sparkled at him just moments ago, that he can't help but snap into problem-solving mode.
"Excuse me, but how dare you doubt me?" he asks sternly, grabbing her arm when it seems like she wants to scurry back to the bench (or into the woods).
"Doubt you?" she echoes, eyes clouded with self-recrimination.
"Ju-ran," he says gently, taking her hand. "I wouldn't have offered to let you drive if I thought you couldn't do it. In fact, I know you are capable of anything you want to do. So I don't understand. I'm here with you." He squeezes her hand and ducks his head so he can meet her eyes. "It's okay."
She sighs. "It felt like...playing a role, almost. I was having fun, but it was so unnatural to me. I couldn't keep it up.
"I think I just like it better when you drive," Ju-ran admits.
"It will not surprise you to hear that I love to drive," he replies. "But the sight of you on my bike like that was...very pleasant. I am sure I would be a willing participant in any form of driving you wanted to do." He squeezes her hand, and is relieved when she smiles, the light returning to her eyes.
"Maybe next time. Perhaps you could show me some things."
Seok-jun would not consider himself smooth. Work is his life and doesn't really lend itself toward pickup lines. But there's an opening here about to smack him in the face and he can't stop himself from pulling Ju-ran flush against him, her hands on his chest by his rakish necktie. "Yang Ju-ran, I will show you anything you want," he assures her, voice full of promise.
He can tell when she picks up on the innuendo because she goes bright red and buries her face into his shoulder. "Mr. Lee!" she says in shocked tones.
"Why, Yang Ju-ran, what can you possibly be thinking of?" he says silkily.
She takes a deep breath (how nice, to be so close that he can feel it) and lifts her head to glare at him. "So you'd show me salary information for all the leaders in the company?"
His arrogance has worked against him again. He really needs to adjust to this new dynamic where she can get the better of him so easily. "I -- that's not exactly what I had in mind," he stammers.
"Why, Lee Seok-jun, what could YOU possibly be thinking of?" she rejoins, laughing at him. Her fingers are perilously close to his waistcoat buttons again, and if she pops one open he really won't be responsible for his actions.
"Very well, you win," he says, exerting every ounce of willpower he has to step away from her.
He wishes he had a camera to capture her smile of unabashed delight. I've made her this happy, he thinks. I can make her this happy.
"So I'm not always the losing type, then?" she says innocently.
Seok-jun sighs, aggrieved. "Will you forever hold these things I say against me?"
"Until we have so many conversations I begin to forget."
"I can accept that."
Yang Ju-ran puts her hand out for him to shake, as has become her wont. "Sounds like we understand each other, then."
As soon as he grasps her hand, she pulls him to the bike. "Now, come on! Let's not waste the day. Drive on, Seok-jun!"
Before they put their helmets back on, Ju-ran turns to him and straightens his necktie, then surprises him with a tight embrace. "It is good to represent the company," she whispers.
This validation combined with the loving touch cause something to loosen in Seok-jun that he didn't even know was wound tight. He holds Ju-ran close for a moment, then kisses her hair before securing his helmet.
"Don't dally; there's some things I want to show you."
She raises her eyebrows before putting her own helmet on, and he rolls his eyes, hoping his blush is hidden. It just may be that he wants to show her a grotto even more secluded, but he also looks forward to showing her the vista at the end of the road, because he thinks it will make her happy.
And that's important.
Her happiness has seemed easy, close to the surface today, and that gives Seok-jun hope that he can keep her that way. She's made him happy, too, just by being near -- he didn't know it could be that easy for him, either.
"Are we ready?" Ju-ran asks from behind him.
"Just you wait," he responds, and they're off.