Chapter Text
Kyungsoo loves his regular cup of coffee - iced Americano, no cream, no sugar. He has it daily, multiple times a day, as he works on his next musical masterpiece surrounded by the rich smell of freshly roasted coffee beans. Except - well, sometimes a masterpiece doesn't want to cooperate. At those times he wishes he could connect a coffee IV directly to his vein and keep the caffeine flowing. Lack of sleep does wonders for his creativity.
He's in the corner booth that's been firmly established as "his", being the devout Steadfast Coffee regular that he is. Headphones in, laptop open, blank Google Docs staring mockingly at him.
In short, it's another Thursday night in the life of Kyungsoo Doh, "Undiscovered Hidden Gem" of the music industry, or as he calls it - UHG.
Right now, though, he's paused in his endless search for the right words, and is debating whether he can trust the general goodness of the people around him. He has to use the restroom and doesn't want to drag his laptop with him or risk losing his precious booth (to the non-existent crowd that might rush in at 9pm).
The new employee is alone at the counter, while Monica is in the back kitchen, doing whatever it is baristas do when it's slow. Monica is really the only one he trusts, but clearly she's not available to watch over his beat up Mac.
Kyungsoo pulls off the headphones, prepared to test this new guy on his laptop-protecting skills, when the most beautiful sound he's ever heard washes over him.
His need to piss forgotten, Kyungsoo slowly drifts toward the counter where said new guy is singing a ballad Kyungsoo can't identify, transitioning effortlessly from head to mix to chest voice, and back. Every hair on Kyungsoo's body stands on end. If his hair wasn't buzzed, he'd look like one of those rats with the spikey needles sticking up everywhere. Yeah. That thing. That would be Kyungsoo, because this, this, this-
No. He's not going to think it. It's way too cheesy.
Ah. Fuck. He'll say it-
This angel.
Yes. An angel. This angel is singing and Kyungsoo feels like he's been struck by lightning.
The song ends, haze lifting from Kyungsoo's head, and Angel Barista stands on the other side of the counter, staring at him with clear concern.
"I'm sorry. Can I help you?"
It takes a moment to realize that this angel (JD, according to his badge) is talking to him. And another second to clear his throat.
"Uh, yeah... can you watch my stuff? I need to use the restroom."
JD smiles, and (of course) it completely lights up his face. Kyungsoo feels grumpy. "Sure, man. Go ahead."
He locks the restroom door and leans against the heavy wood. The space is clean, as usual, with low lighting coming from a hanging bulb made to look purposely 'rustic'. The walls are distressed, like the place has been here a while, but it's only been around about a year.
The sudden spray of compressed air freshener from the automatic dispenser in the upper corner of the room is loud enough to startle, and he's reminded that he can't lean against the door forever.
As he relieves himself, Kyungsoo plays-out how he's going to approach JD.
The plan is simple. Walk up to JD, and start a conversation.
What could go wrong?
He comes out and JD is singing as he wipes down tables. Skinny. About Kyungsoo's height. Blond dye-job that contributes to the overall halo effect. Great ass.
JD sees him staring again, and straightens up. His smile is curious and a little cautious. "You're back!" He motions to Kyungsoo's corner and shifts from foot to foot when Kyungsoo continues staring. "Everything's safe and sound."
Kyungsoo means to say thanks. He really does. But- "Keep singing."
"What?"
"Keep singing. Your voice. I need to hear it."
JD laughs, though he looks more self-conscious (and slightly panicky) than before (his smile screams "get me out of here!"), and Kyungsoo is such a creeper right now. Why can't he just stick to plans like regular people?
"I should probably get back-"
"I'm a songwriter."
"Oh." JD tilts his head, and that's when Kyungsoo notices the curls at the corners of his mouth. He's like a cat. A cat-angel. An angel-cat.
Oh, for fu-
He really needs to drop this angel crap.
"A singer-songwriter," he clarifies. "Your voice. It's really beautiful."
JD's smile lights up the room, and Kyungsoo can't help but return it. That somehow increases the wattage in JD's smile, and they are a circuit, feeding each other the energy to power each other's smiles.
"Do you have a soundcloud? YouTube?" JD asks.
"Both. Just give me your number, and I'll send you my user name."
JD's laugh is a loud, happy staccato, and Kyungsoo wants to hear it again, and again. "That's so smooth." That is definitely a playful smirk on his face. "Yeah, okay, I'll give you my number, but I'll block you if you turn out to be a creeper."
Kyungsoo fumbles in his pocket for his phone and hands it over. JD doesn't seem to know what to do with Kyungsoo's iPhone at first, but he gets it eventually and hands it back when done (selfie and all). Kyungsoo doesn't waste time in texting JD in return.
"What do I save your number as?"
He stares at JD, not comprehending his question for a moment, because pretty... "Oh! Kyungsoo. K-Y-U-N-G-S-O-O." He hears a text alert and glances down.
From: Jongdae "JD" Kim
hello kyungsoo you can send me your username now
"Jongdae," he says to himself, surprised. "You're Korean."
"So are you."
"Sorry, I just- I thought you were Chinese."
"Disappointed?"
"No. Not at all." A little.
"Good. I really have to finish wiping these tables, though, so..."
Kyungsoo jumps. "Right. Right, sorry." He shuffles over to his table and sends Jongdae the link to both of his accounts, just as Jongdae begins singing again.
Kyungsoo smiles to himself, the music he's writing for playing from his headset, turns to his blank word document, and lets the words flow.