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The scent of coffee haunted Sisco’s everyday life. Because he needed a job, which frankly sucks. He had to put up with it, even if he hated coffee with a passion. But here he was, working as a barista of all things during morning rush on a Saturday. God he hated his life. Rush hour was already awful but something out there must have had it out for him and made him work rush hour alone. Without any help he was stuck doing 20 orders at once and he felt completely dead. Kiyama fricking owed him so much for this…
Well at least Sisco’s day couldn’t possibly get any worse right?
That’s what he thought too.
A boy had walked in, he looked around his age and was ridiculously attractive. But something that shallow wouldn’t distract Sisco… totally. The boy walked up to the counter and just stood there. Which thank God he came after morning rush, though that didn't mean Sisco wasn't impatient. He was 3 seconds away from bashing his head into the cash register when the stranger finally spoke up “So what do you recommend?” Well shame on him for thinking that the stranger would actually order something. It took everything in him to not snap. Because if he did Trad would 100% have his head on a platter, he was already on thin ice with his boss so here he was on the verge of straight up verbally berating the customer but also being literally unable to unless he wanted to get fired. Maybe he shouldn't have chosen a job that involved people (not like he had much of say in where he worked)
He might as well just recommend the drink that's easiest to make and get this over with.
“I'd recommend an espresso shot.” He put on a (strained) customer service smile as he debated quitting his job. But you need the money. Shut up brain.
“Sure.” The customer shrugged. Okay great all he had to do was make this drink and hopefully Kit would take over from here. Since it was nearing the end of his shift.
Making the drink was simple enough, he'd done it enough times to not find it difficult. Plus if found making a simple espresso shot difficult he wouldn't survive those awfully complicated made up orders some customers have, he didn't even want to question if those orders were even coffee anymore with the amount of sugar and milk in those concoctions.
Well that was that. He made the drink the customer paid… That was shockingly simple
____
Nevermind take everything I just said and throw it out the window.
The stupidly attractive stranger was back during rush hour (at least he wasn't working alone this time)
Sisco was taking orders and making them simultaneously and so was Kiyama. He debated giving Kiyama the customer but saw that Kiyama's line was significantly longer so unfortunately that's off the table.
Well technically speaking he was nowhere near the worst customer, but also he pissed Sisco off for some reason.
Was he being unreasonable? Yes. Did he care? No.
He got the same espresso and left, that was surprisingly simple. Especially after the last group of teenagers that came in, the easy to make espresso shot was definitely a relief.
The guy still annoyed Sisco though, for some inexplicable reason.
Though that was the only day that guy came in during rush hour. Why he noticed that he couldn't really say.
____
Free wasn't the kind of person to go to cafés yet he still found himself at one regardless. This time based off of chronic coffee enjoyer Kris’ recommendation. He's pretty sure that the only reason she knows about this place is because it's managed by her long time friend Trad, since she lives a few cities away, there was no way she knew about some random coffee shop in the middle of the downtown area. Well no matter, he was here so he might as well get something. What that something was is beyond him.
Only when he looked at the menu did he realise he knew litetally nothing about all the different types of coffee, but he couldn't exactly walk out now (even though the guy working the register seemed to be praying he would)
Maybe he should just ask for a recommendation. So that's exactly what he did.
He got an espresso and left, the coffee was good. But he wasn't really a coffee kind of guy so he probably wouldn't be coming here again.
____
He found himself drawn to that café again, Free couldn't exactly say why since he wasn't that fond of coffee. Yet here he was here again.
This time the place was far busier. Free got in line and waited for quite awhile as well. That wasn't really a problem for him though, it's not like he had much to do in the first place.
He had the same barista as the last time. The guy with sharp teeth and green hair, and wow, his teeth were really sharp. He seemed ticked off but he could guess why, with all the customers it was probably stressful. Free couldn't say for sure though– since he never worked in an environment like this one.
Free ordered the same espresso again but as he went to sit down to wait the barista's name tag caught his eye, his name was Sisco huh? Free thought, as he broke into small smile.
Wait. Why did he care about some barista's name again? It wasn't like he'd see him again anyways so who really cared.
____
Free was very, very wrong about not seeing Sisco ever again because (despite him being not fond of coffee) he became a regular at the café Sisco worked at. Why? He doesn't know either… Well maybe he did but that wasn't something he wanted to admit.
He definitely didn't go to look at a certain green haired barista… totally.
At this point Free might have actually gaslit himself into liking coffee. It was that bad.
Oh well it didn't hurt anyone (except his wallet maybe, who knew coffee was so expensive)
____
Kiyama was sick and tired of seeing Sisco and that blonde regular interact. It was so flipping obvious the two of them had some sort of interest in each other, but neither acted upon it.
Why was he so convinced they were into each other? So many reasons it was actually insane.
Some of those being:
Sisco just so happens to get super zoned out and flustered whenever that regular was around.
He caught the regular straight up staring at Sisco multiple times throughout the same day. This also became a regular occurrence.
Even when Sisco has a much longer line, the guy joins that one instead of his.
And that's not even all of it.
He seized his chance when Sisco went on break right before the regular came in. Although the regular seemed somewhat disappointed (he couldn't be sure since he clearly didn't display his emotions on his face) but he ordered that same espresso he always seemed to get.
He may or may not have written Sisco’s number on the cup.
He called over the regular (apparently his name was Free) over for him to get his drink. Free seemed somewhat taken aback at the number before he specified it was Sisco’s. After that he left. Sisco's break finished as soon as Free had left.
____
“Kiyama, you gave him my number?!?!?” Was the first thing that came out of Sisco's mouth when he arrived at the morning shift.
Trad raised an eyebrow at Kiyama. “You gave Sisco's number to someone? you know that's very unprofessional right?” Which damn. Trad wasn't exactly wrong but if Kiyama had to see those two dance around each other any longer he might have actually lost his damn mind.
“Trad trust me, if you were there you would've encouraged me to give him Sisco's number"
“What?!?” Sisco yelled out in confusion.
“Was it really that bad?” Trad asked him, genuinely this time.
“Yes, it was absolutely awful.” Kiyama replied.
“I'm literally right here?!?” Sinow's embarrassment meter had broken at this point. “You know what. I'm leaving. I can't do this right now.” Sisco said as he made his way towards the door.
“Wait we're short staffed you can't just leave?!” Trad yelled as he scrambled to follow after him.