Chapter Text
In the past two months, it was quite fair to say that Todd Brotzman’s life had gone to shit.
His parents no longer spoke to him (which he didn’t feel much of anything about) but his sister wasn’t speaking to him either. Amanda not speaking to him made him want to stab a bunch of daggers into his lungs and find a soft spot of dirt to bury himself deep under. He had never intended for his spiteful lies against his parents to hurt her, but he had been living in delusion if he thought his revenge could be self-contained.
Amanda was collateral damage to him at least subconsciously and that thought made him want to vomit in his mouth.
In a matter of days he had lost the only meaningful connection in his life he’d ever had and while that devastated him, he knew that’s what he deserved. If he didn’t want to lose her he shouldn’t have lied to his parents about having pararibulitis to steal their money, he shouldn’t have been so bitter and angry. If he hadn’t, they might have had more money to spend on Amanda's medicine when she began showing symptoms. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have ripped away the hope of a cure that got Amanda through the day.
But he did.
Now he didn’t even have anything to show for the money he stole from them. Now he just felt like he'd retroactively justified their treatment of him. He was a liar and he was lying to everyone around him. He was lying to anyone who assumed he was anything less than a selfish asshole who wasn’t worth a minute of their time -
"Fuck," Todd cursed hoarsely as he got shampoo in his eyes.
---
It was raining outside. Todd hummed tunelessly as he zoned out watching the rain patter down the window, seeing which droplets would win in the race to the bottom of the window sill. Listening to the seconds tick by in an uncomfortably itchy shirt (because he didn’t count fabric softener as an essential last week). Not that Todd was a huge fan of his uniform in the first place, which was a baby-pink/hot-pink striped shirt underneath a frilly white apron with the most formal, clean pair of black jeans he owns. It was so outside his usual realm of dress that he just felt so out of place wearing it.
All he longed to do was drag himself into a silky, cosy bed, listen to some music and sleep for maybe forever. He itched to put on his headphones, which were tragically locked away in the break-room. Because apparently it was “rude” and “unprofessional” to have them even just around his neck at any point while working. Unfortunately, this meant he had no other choice but to endure the maddening quietness. It was too close to silence for him to not lose to his whirring thoughts.
Like how his rent was due at the end of this week and he still hadn’t been paid for this month yet. And about what he was going to do with his life after he had lost the only person he ever cared about. And how his life was-
Abruptly, Todd was jostled from his spiralling by a very out-of-breath and dripping wet man who crashed through the door, upsetting the flowers which were hung over top of it in a wicker basket. The man had wide, panicked-looking almond-coloured eyes and somehow immaculately styled (despite the rest of his dishevelled appearance). Todd was somewhat transfixed on his hair colour, it was a deep oaken brown yet had a coppery sheen from the light the windows bathed him in making him look like he was glowing. Admittedly, it emphasised the man's beauty with a round face yet firm jawline and strong brow. He also wore a canary yellow bomber jacket, which clashed quite horribly with the pastels surrounding him and the rest of his quite formal attire. That being a crooked navy tie on top of a wrinkled and twisted white shirt that was partially tucked into a pair of smart, black slacks.
Overall, Todd thought he had sort-of a goofy charm to him. Yeah, maybe it was kinda creepy (and hypocritical) to analyse customers in this way, but what was the point of forcing himself to interact with people for money if he couldn’t indulge in some people watching?
“Hello sir? How can I help you?” Todd smiled politely, as the man looked up abruptly and with his mouth agape as if surprised Todd was there,
“Ah yes – hello, um…Todd. I don’t suppose you’d be able to make me a hot chocolate, would you?”
Freaking nametags, he cursed internally, it always felt so weird that literal strangers would know his name if they came into the café. Todd nodded, smiling tightly and tapped away at his register, “Will that be everything?”
“Oh, a milk-chocolate chip cookie as well thanks,”
Todd nodded again, tapped it into his register, then turned away from the counter to fix the man his order. Wearing his grimace freely now that he couldn’t be seen by the man; he always hated making hot chocolates, the air was always so stiflingly sickly-sweet afterwards.
While Todd was busying himself with the drink, Dirk began scrutinising the place.It’s interior design was quite cosy if a bit boring. There were pastel blue and yellow small round tables closest to the counter (where the pastries and other such goodies were displayed) and plush sofa booths of the same colours at the front of the quaint space. Nothing appeared to be out of place. The only mildly interesting thing about the shop to him was the man behind the counter making his drink, so Dirk returned his focus to the back of Todd’s head.
Observationally, he took in the café workers appearance - Todd was noticeably shorter than himself and his hair appeared to be at that awkward stage where it was still short but was starting to grow out. It was also a chocolatey-brown colour like his, though slightly curly rather than straight. Before, when Todd had greeted him, Dirk couldn’t help but notice his piercing, glacial blue eyes which were quite deep-set with a pair of impressive dark bags underneath them. The eyes were the window to the soul as they say, and he thought such an intimidating gaze fit such a quiet man. Todd seemed mysterious in an understated sort of way. He also sported stubble and light facial hair, which Dirk thought suited the man. Todd had a very rough and sharp facial structure - though it was softened somewhat by his curling hair, crooked smile and tired eyes. All in all, he thought Todd was rather cute. And looked like he could be holding onto a potential secret or two.
"Is this to eat-in or to-go?” Todd asked, without turning around.
"I think I’ll have it to-go thank you,”
“Okay,” Todd nodded in acknowledgement before fumbling to fit the lid onto the hot chocolate. Soon he was turning back to the man with the steaming drink in one hand and a bagged-up cookie in the other,
“Here you are sir,” and the strange man took them from him with a pleased smile,
“That'll be $5.25, cash or-” before Todd could finish his question, the man shovelled out the exact amount in change from his pocket and handed it to Todd.
In the next instant, the man was stood at the door about to leave when he turned over his shoulder to call back to Todd, “I’m Dirk Gently by the way, felt like you should know” and he stepped out, knocking some soil out of the flower display as he closed the door behind him.
“Okay...?” Todd muttered to the now empty room, still holding the change in his hand. He took a moment to steel himself before putting the money away, grabbing the broom and stepping out from behind the counter.
---
There were no more odd interactions Todd had after that (just the usual rude, impatient, sweet, tired and busy customers) until 4pm, when Estevez arrived to take over his shift. They greeted each other warmly, with Estevez almost knocking Todd over when he slung an arm around his shoulders. After a quick brunch-bar break, Todd made his way through the back and into the kitchen.
Maybe he couldn’t wear his headphones at work, but this was the next best thing. He rolled up his sleeves, feeling the tension and anxious energy begin to leave his muscles, and excitedly began to prepare to bake the various cookies, muffins, pastries and other baked goods for the customers at the shop to enjoy. It was mindless, fulfilling work and he was damn good at it.
4 hours later and Todd was smiling deliriously, exhausted, coated in flour and aching. He cracked his back, then took out the batch of muffins as the timer went off and left them on the stove to cool. Next, he set about cling-filming the leftover batter from the various recipes in their respective bowls and wedged them into the ingredient's fridge. All the utensils he’d used then swiftly made their way into the dishwasher and Estevez came in, after packing away the shop front, to help put away all the treats – sneaking himself a Pain au Chocolat.
Yawning, Todd waved goodbye to Estevez as he locked the front door behind them, and left to make his way to the bus stop which was illuminated only by the streetlight’s ominous, pallid orange glow. Looking at it, Todd registered that it must be kind-of creepy, perhaps the kind of scene he would’ve written lyrics about a good few years ago. Yet as he secured on his headphones and shoved his phone deep in his pocket (protected from the steady rain) he couldn’t find it in himself to care.
He simply planned out how he was going to go about baking the banana bread he planned to make tomorrow.
---
Standing, dripping, shuddering on his laminate flooring, Todd tried to gather himself - his brain was muddy and his body felt like his bones were sellotaped loosely together. If it wasn’t for his travel sickness, he would’ve fallen asleep on the bus but now there was churning bile to add to the list of general shittiness he was feeling. He stood for a minute, staring into his dark kitchen deciding whether or not he had the energy or resources to make dinner.
Upon noticing the puddle at his feet, he sighed and ran a soggy, shaky hand down his face. Deciding to forgo a meal, Todd stripped down and hung his soaked-through clothes on the various tiny radiators around his crowded apartment and dumped a dirty towel on the floor in hopes it would soak up the puddle.
Flumping onto his bed, he reached for his headphones which he plugged back into his phone and played his Spotify. His headphones were bulky and awkward to sleep in but he wasn’t bothered - a mildly uncomfortable sleep was better than no sleep. A contented look settled onto his face as he settled into his mattress and he tried to think about nothing at all while he let the soothing words of Lonely Boy by The Black Keys wash over him.
Oh, woah-oh
I got a love that keeps me waiting
Oh, woah-oh
I got a love that keeps me waiting
I’m a lonely boy
I’m a lonely boy
Oh, woah-oh
I got a love that keeps me waiting
---
Upon closing the door to his hotel room behind him with his foot, Dirk was greeted by the kitten mewling at him and wrapping herself between his ankles.
“Hello little madam, I bet you’re hungry aren’t you?” he smiled gleefully at her, pulling out the plastic carrier bag he was holding behind his back and shaking it in front of her,
“Luckily for you, I made a stop at the pet shop on my way back,”
Dirk used one of the bowls he brought with him as part of his few belongings (they had been pretty useful a number of times) to be the designated cat bowl to feed his new friend. Dirk was looking forward to having a new furry friend to keep him company during the case.
Speaking of new friend, Dirk hoped somewhat wistfully, that the cute café worker he'd met today would be able to make a repeat appearance in the future. From what he had seen that morning, it certainly seemed like that would be the case, but Dirk knew not to take anything he saw as fact right away.
Still, it would be nice to have a human friend. Even if it is just for a little while
With that tentative hope, Dirk smiled to himself again and turned towards the kettle for some mint tea.
---