Archive of Our Own ^beta

Despite his slow demeanor, Min Yoongi turns out to be the fastest cashier on the front end, with a 23 average for IPMs (items scanned per minute). Yet despite his highly praised speed, Yoongi despises working at Wegmans.

Why?

It's the equivalent to burning in Hell for 10,000 years.

The shortest shift you can get is 4 hours, which includes a 15 minute break. That's certainly not enough for the frail body of Min Yoongi. To make things worse, there's never a weekend where you aren't working. Unlike the smart minds behind Chick-Fil-A where they don't work Sundays, Wegmans employees ALWAYS work the weekend, no excuses. Unless you have a really good excuse. Good luck with that.

In other words, Yoongi's social life has reduced significantly. And it hardly existed in the first place.

This is how Yoongi finds himself staring at the time in the corner of his computer screen.

10:50, it reads.

'10 more minutes and i'm out of this shithole,' Yoongi thinks to himself while grinning.

Its been pretty slow for a Friday night, but Yoongi isn't complaining. He complained enough when whining to his manager Kim Seokjin about not being able to work Friday due to prior engagements -this meant eating out with his minimal amount of friends. But Seokjin wouldn't have it, so here Yoongi is, counting down his last 10 minutes.

When the clock hits 10:55, Yoongi starts wiping down the conveyor belt.

As he scrubs the grime from previous orders, Yoongi finds himself interrupted.

"Are you open?" a scratchy voice calls out.

Yoongi grimaces. That's one of his least favorite questions.

'Seriously? You can't fucking tell from the damn light above you that indicates whether I'm open or not?' Yoongi growls in his mind.

"Yes ma'am, I'm o-" But Yoongi stops. In fact, the whole world stops for a second because coming in his aisle is not one but TWO full carts.

Truthfully, Yoongi wouldn't have minded the one cart. He could've knocked it out in the remaining time of his shift. But she doesn't have one cart. The woman has two.

Yoongi takes a deep breath as he takes his position behind the register. With all the power in his pale, thin body, he musters a small smile.

The woman looks up and smiles back. Her smile is a little to joyful for the Hell she's putting Yoongi through. It's as if she is enjoying watching Yoongi try to keep his sanity.

No. Hes sure of it. She's doing it on purpose.

"I'm going to need Helping Hands, honey," she says as she begins to unload her first cart.

Yoongi stops himself from grimacing. He hates when people call him that.

Sweetie, honey, even baby. He's heard it all. And he hates it all.

Yoongi nods while calling Helping Hands via the sorry excuse for a pager.

In the midst of Yoongi's scanning, Seokjin comes over to his register with a grin on his face.

Bastard.

"What's up, Yoongs?" Seokjin asks cheerfully.

Yoongi glares at him and motions to the woman.

"She needs Helping Hands," Yoongi says, "ASAP," Yoongi whispers harshly.

Seokjin takes a look at the woman and her carts before pulling out his walkie. "I'm gonna need Helping Hands at register 6 please. Send Kim Namjoon. ASAP," he relays into the device.

Seokjin pats Yoongi's shoulder whilst giving him a sympathetic smile.

"Don't worry. Namjoon is the best. He can help you bag this in 5 minutes," Seokjin reassures the raven haired boy.

Yoongi frowns. "This kid can't be better than me," Yoongi gives a smug smirk as he scans the canned foods while maintaining eye contact with his manager.

"Actually, he is. That kid memorized all the produce codes and most of the bulk food codes. He's got you beat, Yoongi," Seokjin grins. (Produce codes are codes assigned to produce like fruit that cashier type into the computer in order to determine the price of the item. For example, bananas is 4011. So the cashier types that in and weighs it and the computer calculates how much it is. Bulk food codes include candies, nuts, oatmeal, etc.)

"Bullsh-" Seokjin's eye widen.

'Oh right. No cursing.'

"Bullcrap. I memorized all the produce codes too," Yoongi brags as he places the plastic bag on the counter behind him.

"Oh really? What's the code for starfruit then?" Seokjin questions, a glint in his eye.

Yoongi's face contorts in confusion. "What the hell is a starfruit?" Yoongi asks.

"4256 (this is accurate, don't question me)," a rough, deep voice calls out.

Seokjin and Yoongi turn their attention to the approaching figure.

Yoongi gulps as Namjoon gets closer.

Holy shit, he's really hot.

Namjoon greets Seokjin as he makes his way to the bagging station towards the back of Yoongi's aisle.

The raven haired cashier takes this time to catch a peak at his so-called rival while simultaneously scanning items.

Namjoon is tall, with broad shoulders - though not as broad as Seokjin's. Namjoon's hair is a grayish-brown, with bangs that hang over his deep, brown eyes.

And his smile. Shit, his smile. And those dimples.

A god given gift, Yoongi thinks as he bites his bottom lip.

"Alright, i'll leave you guys to it then," Seokjin says as he walks away.

Yoongi averts his gaze back to the items in front of him, rather than the Adonis behind him.

"Toss everything back. I'll help you bag," Namjoon says as he preps the bagging station. (There's an area behind the cashier that has a bagging stand that other employees can use to bag items given to them by the cashier so that the cashier only has to focus on scanning. It's quite efficient but we often don't get a bagger)

Yoongi gives a simple grunt and continues to scan.

With each item, Yoongi turns to slide it to Namjoon so he can bag it. And each and every time, Yoongi avoids Namjoon's gaze like the plague.

"So how long have you worked here?" Namjoon's rough voice cuts through Yoongi's concentration. Yoongi chances a glance this time.

As their eyes meet, Yoongi swallows the lump in his throat.

"Um...maybe a m-month," Yoongi stutters.

Yoongi curses himself out in his head.

'How can you fuck up a simple sentence?'

But Namjoon just smiles. And with that, his dimples are on full display. It takes everything for Yoongi not to reach over and poke a finger in the endearing indents on his cheeks.

"That's cool. Not too long then," Namjoon states as he continues bagging.

"I've been here for a year," he explains.

Yoongi nods his head, and the duo go back into awkward silence.

During this time, Yoongi realizes just how fast Namjoon really is at bagging. Literally everytime Yoongi turns to place more items on the counter, Namjoon is ready and waiting.

Normally when Yoongi has a bagger, there's still multiple items on the counter waiting to bagged.

Yoongi stares in amazement.

This kid really is the shit.

"You working tomorrow?" Namjoon asks curiously.

Yoongi sighs. "When am I NOT working a Saturday?"

Namjoon chuckles and nods in agreement.

"What time?" the younger asks.

"Not sure. Maybe 1-8," Yoongi answers, a sullen look on his face. (A standard weekend shift is 7 hours for minors)

"You?"

"1-8:30," Namjoon says with a slight grimace.

Yoongi can't help but chuckle. "At least you're helping hands. You dont have to answer stupid questions like, 'Swipe the card or chip? Are you open? Did my Shopper Club card work?" Yoongi whines.

Namjoon laughs. Its a deep, rumbling sound that shakes Yoongi to his core.

'How can someone's laugh be so magical?' Yoongi thinks.

"Helping Hands isn't that great either!" Namjoon exclaims.

Yoongi gives him an incredulous look.

"Look, I almost got hit by a car at least 6 times! And at least you're inside all day. I'm outside in the hot unforgiving sun or the blistering winter, you name it," Namjoon conplains.

"Y'know it's snowing right now? Like, really bad," Namjoon continues.

And Yoongi finally observes the youngers attire.

Namjoon's head is covered with a disgustingly bright orange beanie, with 'Helping Hands' stitched across the middle. He's wearing a puffy, bright orange and black jacket, with a black hoodie underneath. Around his neck is a black scarf and in his pocket are a pair of thick winter gloves.

All Yoongi can think while looking at the younger is 'cute.'

'How can someone look so good in that god awful orange?'

"I guess you're right," Yoongi admits.

"I know i'm right," Namjoon grins.

Yoongi clicks his tongue and glares at the pink haired boy.

Namjoon only laughs as he continues putting bags in the cart.

As Yoongi reaches near the end of the order, he comes across what every Wegmans cashier fears. Unlabeled bulk foods.

Yoongi picks up the first bag of nuts and prays to God there's a label. His heart pumps as he flips the bag over. (Labels make it easier to charge items because they can just type in the code on the label however if there is no label, the cashier must search for the specific item on a long af list. It is very time consuming and most of the time the cashier never finds the code)

No such luck.

Yoongi holds back a sigh as he turns to the woman.

"Ma'am, did you happen to get the codes for these?" Yoongi asks, a pleading tone in his voice.

Namjoon cant help but snicker.

"I didn't, sorry," the woman says.

At that, Yoongi's world crumbles. Looking for bulk foods codes is like looking for a needle in the haystack.

Yoongi pulls up the bulk food code list, and begins scrolling. He gets a couple pages in until he remembers Namjoon.

Seokjin said he memorized half the list. Lets see if the kid really did his homework.

Yoongi turns to look at Namjoon, a pleading look in his eyes.

Namjoon's eyes widen at Yoongi's expression.

"Please tell me you know the codes," Yoongi says.

Namjoon smirks as he walks around the bagging area to stand beside Yoongi.

At this proximity, their height difference becomes more apparent.

Namjoon is more than a head taller than Yoongi.

Due to the limited space behind the register, Yoongi is pressed up against Namjoon, holding his breath as if it'll help.

Yet despite his efforts, the scent of Namjoon's cologne fills his nose.

Its a pleasing, almost calming scent that sends Yoongi's head spinning. He resists the urge to bury his nose in the others neck.

Namjoon continues to enter the code for each item, his long, tan digits flying across the keypad with ease.

As the duo finish the order, Yoongi finds himself wishing they weren't actually done. But as the receipt comes out of the machine, Yoongi sighs.

He hands the woman her receipt, and with all his strength, he manages a small smile. "Thank you for shopping at Wegmans. Have a nice night."

The woman smiles, takes her receipt and begins pushing her first cart as Namjoon takes the other.

Before Namjoon begins walking away, Yoongi calls out, "Thank for the help, Namjoon."

Namjoon turns to face the shorter male. His cheeks are dusted a light pink as he smiles.

"It was my pleasure, Yoongi." And he winks. The bastard winks. Yoongi sputters as he waves a hand at the younger.

"See you tomorrow, genius," Yoongi laughs.

Yoongi directs his eyes to the clock on his screen.

11:00 it reads.

Seokjin comes back, a smile on his face.

"Closing time, Yoongs," the elder man says as he turns off Yoongi's register light.

Yoongi smiles. I mean, truly smiles.

This is his favorite part of the day. Going home.

As Yoongi packs his stuff, Seokjin gives him a smirk.

"What did I say? Five minutes. Namjoon is the real deal, huh?" Seokjin questions.

Yoongi scoffs but cant help but smile a little bit.

"He really is."