Work Text:
“And then he gave me 95 points out of 100 for my flawless project, just because he didn't like the photo of the cute cat at the end of my presentation!” Taeyong complained as he took a sip of his super sweet drink.
“Adding a photo of a cat to a higher math presentation is really not appropriate, despite all its cuteness,” Doyoung chuckled, preparing a drink for the next visitor.
“Seriously, why can't you just support me?” Lee sighed, looking offended at the barista.
“Normal people go to the bar and there tell the bartender about all their problems,” Kim shrugged, “They don't do it at Starbucks.”
In fact, Doyoung really didn't know why this cute boy kept going to his coffee shop when he didn't even really like the taste of coffee, so Kim always had to disguise the caffeine with a bunch of syrup and whipped cream.
However, for some reason Taeyong still came to the coffee shop every Friday after his dance class; his studio was just across the street from their cafe. Kim had a fixed Friday shift, so he couldn't hide from an energetic regular visitor (trust me, Doyoung tried to do this in the first weeks, but quickly realized it was useless).
Taeyong was too energetic for a Friday night, always sat down next to Doyoung and talked about his week. Kim already managed to find out that Lee was a year older; studied at the university; adored cats, puppies and all animals in general; hated mathematics, especially his teacher; was engaged in dancing. Lee also had two best friends: Johnny and Jaehyun, who are always tried to set Taeyong up with someone, because “it's not good for such a handsome guy to be alone” Kim could understand where Johnny and Jaehyun had this idea from.
Despite the oversized sweatshirts that Lee loved to wear, the boy was very cute and somehow reminded Kim of Jack Frost (the younger boy's favorite cartoon character, by the way). And maybe sometimes Doyoung's heart would start beating a little faster when he saw Taeyong's beautiful smile as he giggled at some nonsense. So, Doyoung seriously began to worry about his feelings for this boy; Kim's irritability for him was diminishing, leaving a place a thrill and some kind of pleasure just from Taeyong's presence with him and his meaningless silly chatter.
Fine, maybe Doyoung was exaggerating a little. Lee's chatter was often very interesting and even very informative. Taeyong was a smart and well-read person. Kim was just scared. He was afraid that he would immediately fall in love with this boy. If you ask Doyoung now about his ideal type, he will definitely answer that question with just two words: Lee Taeyong. The same Lee Taeyong, who was now sitting opposite and sulking sweetly at Doyoung's comment and Kim struggled to keep from rubbing his cheeks. Or kiss him. Damn it, Lee Taeyong was a challenge for Kim Doyoung.
“I don’t like bars,” Taeyong shrugged his shoulders, finishing his drink. “Speaking of them, it's time to go to work. Thanks for the great coffee and your insensitive comments.”
“But it's 9 pm, isn't it too late for work?” Doyoung asked in surprise, ignoring the other boy’s sarcasm.
“Don't worry, nothing criminal,” Lee replied, sending the barista a bright grin that made Kim's heart skip a lot more beats than the average person needs to function properly.
“Why haven't you asked for his phone number yet?” Ten, Doyoung's best friend and a flat mate, shook his head after Kim once again complained about his lovely regular visitor, “I don’t understand you guys. It's clear that you like each other.”
“You saw him only once, how can you say that he is like me?” Doyoung looked at his best friend skeptically.
“He comes to see you every Friday and stay almost until closing time, talking about all sorts of nonsense, obviously flirting with you,” Ten chuckled.
“He just like Starbucks.”
“What are you talking about? The boy can't stand caffeine,” Chittaphon rolled his eyes. “Okay, I'm tired of seeing you moping. Let's go, I have a great idea.”
“What are you talking about?” Doyoung looked questioningly at his friend.
“We're going to the night club. You need to relax, maybe you will find a new crush and forget your mister ideal.”
“I don't want to forget him,” Doyoung whined. He didn't like night clubs either, but Ten knew how to be convincing and too persistent, so in the end, Kim's defeat was predictable.
“But only until 2 am, I have a morning shift tomorrow,” Doyoung said flatly.
“You're so boring,” Lee pouted but agreed to his friend’s condition anyway.
There were too many people in the club, no fresh air and you could feel the excitement of every second person in this establishment. However, Doyoung didn't mind that. The boy really needed to relax a little. Unlike Ten, who had drunk enough as soon as they walked into the club, Kim decided not to drink alcohol today because he knew that dealing with a hangover at work wasn’t a good idea.
After dancing a lot, Doyoung decided to move to the bar in order to quench his thirst a little; but what was his surprise when there he saw the boy whom he tried to forget tonight.
Unlike the typical student look that was so used to seeing Doyoung, the night club Taeyong look was unreal: slicked back hair with sparkles, daring makeup, a translucent white shirt (it turns out that Lee hid a great body under all oversized sweatshirts), black skinny jeans with a bunch of chains. This image of a boy was too destructive for poor Doyoung and his imagination. Taeyong also looked at Kim in surprise. The younger was glad that he had let Ten choose his current outfit.
“Wow, Doyoung-ah, you look very pretty,” Taeyong broke the silence first and smiled at the boy. “Didn't know you like the night clubs. I always thought that good boys like you stay at home at night.”
“Who said I'm a good boy,” Doyoung chuckled, moving away from the initial shock, but after an expressive look from the elder, Kim admitted that he really didn't like night clubs, but doesn't know how to refuse Ten’s offers, so sometimes they got out.
“Now I understand why you don't go to bar to complain about your life,” Doyoung said, sipping on some strange but surprisingly delicious cocktail from the best bartender in this club – Taeyong, of course.
“Who needs bars when there is Starbucks,” Lee smiled sweetly, “since you're here, I'm ready to listen to your complaints. Is there something that bothers you, Doyoung-ah? “
Suddenly, gaining an unexpected confidence Kim decided to take a chance.
“Actually, there is. Every Friday a very nice boy comes to my work, but I still don't understand his intentions. He doesn't even like coffee, so why he come to the coffee shop so often? How do you think, is there a chance that maybe he go there because of me?”
“How about leaving your phone number on the cup of this visitor? I think he will definitely contact you and immediately explain his intentions.”
“You think so?”
“Of course, I give the best advice in this night club,” Taeyong winked, “But you can forget that visitor and wait for the end of my shift, then I will take you on a date before this fool.”
“I would be glad, but tomorrow I have a morning shift, so I'm leaving soon,” Kim sighed in disappointment.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure that we will still have many reasons to meet,” Lee smiled, “At least you can always return to your little crush for this regular visitor.”
“Ugh, even here you manage to flirt with each other,” suddenly, out of nowhere, Ten intervened in their conversation. In fact, he had been sitting next to them long enough to have time to eavesdrop on the conversation of these fools, but they didn’t notice him.
“Ten! Eavesdropping on other people's conversations is not good,” Doyoung scolded him embarrassedly.
“And you seriously find this grumbler attractive?” ignoring his friend, Ten turned to the bartender. “Why do you always wear oversized sweatshirts, if you have such a cool body?”
“Okay, it's time for us to go home,” Kim immediately jumped up from the bar stool and began to pull his friend towards the exit.
“But we just came, a bore,” the Thai protested. What was Doyoung's fault by getting this eccentric boy as his best friend?
“It's 2 am, I told you that I have a morning shift tomorrow,” Kim sighed.
“No, we still have 5 minutes until 2 am,” objected Ten.
“And what will you have time to do in these 5 minutes? Have another shot of tequila?” Doyoung asked his friend sarcastically.
“Just admit that you don’t want me to keep flirting with your future boyfriend,” Chittaphon chuckled and winked at Taeyong, who watched the bickering of two friends with great amusement .
Doyoung sincerely hoped that his blush was not visible in the dark, since Taeyong's cute laugh is too much of a blow to his heart.
Somehow, Doyoung managed to get Ten out of the club. God, Ten was still a thorn in Doyoung's life, but drunken Chittaphon always went to the next level.
“I’ll never go to the night club with you again,” said Kim to Ten the next morning. Doyoung opened a coffee shop and his best friend was already sitting next to him and waiting for Americano with an extra shot of espresso. Of course, at the expense of the house.
“I should have the advantage that my best friend works at Starbucks,” Ten once stated, and since Doyoung was too weak for him, he quickly gave up and unnoticed by his superiors began to give Ten free drinks.
“If I get fired, it will be entirely on your conscience,” Doyoung said as he handed Ten his favorite drink.
“Also because you are clumsy, often make mistakes in the beverage routine and incorrectly write the names of visitors on their cups,” Ten chuckled, not paying attention to the menacing look of his friend.
“I think it might be useful to have watched all seasons of «How to Get Away with Murder»” Kim muttered ominously. “Why don’t you sit at home? I never understood how you manage to look better than me even with a hangover and a lack of sleep.”
“I look better than you in any condition,” Chittaphon said shamelessly. The sudden appearance of a new visitor in the coffee shop saved Ten from an early death by the hand of his best friend.
“Taeyong, good morning! Disappointed that you are wearing that stupid oversized sweatshirt again,” Ten greeted the boy.
Kim immediately froze, looking back at the unexpected guest. Apparently, Lee showed up right after his work: his hair was still a mess of polish and glitter and he was wearing black skinny jeans, which, according to Doyoung's objective opinion, should have been banned from wearing by a blonde-haired man. The makeup on his face was a little smudged, but Taeyong still looked like a model. Seriously, why was Doyoung always surrounded by people who looked good in every situation? Not fair.
“I love them,” Taeyong shrugged and immediately sent Kim his brightest smile, “Good morning, Doyoung-ah.”
“Good morning Ten, how are you? Wonderful, thanks for asking,” Ten added sarcastically, offended that his persona was defiantly ignored.
“If you leave us alone, i'll get your favorite cheesecake later,” Doyoung muttered irritably into his friend's ear.
“Fine, but I’m waiting for all the details later, and, please, try not to miss your chance with this handsome man, otherwise I’ll beat you,” Ten replied displeased, then grinned and added loudly, “Aw, young love is so cute. Finally, someone liked my poor bestie."
“Sorry, he's in a bad mood after yesterday's booze,” Kim sighed embarrassedly, “What are you doing here? Shouldn't you go home sooner after a hard work shift?”
“Oh, I really can barely keep my feet. So I decided to go to my favorite coffee shop for my favorite coffee,” Lee answered simply.
“I won't give you coffee,” Doyoung said flatly, looking at the tired boy, “You should go get some sleep right now.”
“Ten was right: you are a bore,” the older boy grinned, ignoring Doyoung's protests, “Jokes aside, I have a very important business here.”
“What is it? Annoy me early in the morning? Sorry, you're late. Ten has already done a great job here,” Kim pouting resentfully.
“You’re so cute, when you’re angry, you look like a lovely bunny,” Taeyong giggled, turning away from the rag flying at him, “Wow this is really the atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.”
Nevertheless Doyoung was more embarrassed than angry at Lee. Suddenly he remembered yesterday's conversation with an older boy. But, Kim really had no intention of giving Caffeine to Taeyong at the moment, so instead he made hot chocolate with extra whipped cream in it (no, Doyoung wasn't whipped for the cute boy sitting in front of him now, not at all).
“What are you doing here?” asked the barista, handing the boy a drink. Taeyong immediately smiled, looking at the cup.
“I heard that yesterday one insolent bartender in the night club was flirting with you, so I decided that I need to act, before such an enviable guy was taken out from under my nose. However, I see, I was worried in vain. Hope this is your real number. I don't want to ask a random stranger out on a date after all these Fridays we shared.
“So you were really hanging out in our coffee shop not only for coffee?” Doyoung still couldn't believe that such a beautiful and smart boy could like him.
“Thought you realized that I’m not a fan of coffee,” Taeyong sighed, “I think everyone in this coffee shop has already realized that I like you, but for some reason you don’t see it at all.”
“Yeah, Ten told me that sometimes I don’t notice the obvious things,” Kim was embarrassed.
“Maybe I should crush on him instead? He seems interested in me,” Taeyong teased, clearly enjoying the resentful expression on the younger’s face. “Just kidding. I prefer cute baristas who always listen to me and make a delicious drinks at any time.”
“I knew you were here only for drinks,” Doyoung shook his head, but couldn't hide a little smile, “Go home, you need rest. I promise I won't be led away by any stupid bartenders. They are not really my type. I prefer the boy who likes to wear in oversized sweatshirts and annoys me every Friday.”
“Well, this guy will bother you much more often,” Taeyong smiled, then winked at Doyoung and reluctantly left the coffee shop.
In the aftermath, Lee kept his promise.
“I'm starting to be jealous. Thought I was your favorite, but you betrayed me.” Ten whined once again as Doyoung added double whipped cream to Taeyong's drink.
“Firstly, you already get your drinks for free, and secondly, you don't even like whipped cream,” Kim rolled his eyes, looking at his disgruntled friend. “I don’t understand why you are complaining. Why are you stuck at my job again, you have no other business?”
“If you really have nothing to do today, come to my workplace, drinks at the expense of the house,” Taeyong smiled. “It will be more fun in the company of friends.”
"Sorry Doyoung-ah, but your boyfriend is my favorite too now,” Chittaphon declared, delighted at Lee's tempting offer.
“Stop spoiling him,” Kim shook his head, “And don't give him a lot of alcohol. Don't you realize that drunken Ten is a time bomb?”
“Then you have to come and look after him.” Taeyong looked innocent.
“This is a fun way to ask me out,” Doyoung chuckled.
“You're both disgusting,” Ten rolled his eyes.
“Disgustingly cute, you wanted to say,” his best friend glared at him.
“No, disgustingly cheesy, I can't look at it.”
“Then you'd better close your eyes,” Lee warned him cheerfully, pulling the unsuspecting Doyoung close to him, kissing the boy gently but very persistently.
“All right, I have to go, bye-bye, I'll see you tonight,” said Ten, leaving the coffee shop with lightning speed.
“If I knew kissing you would help me get rid of Ten this quickly, I would have admitted my sympathy to you long ago,” Doyoung giggled.
“I knew you use me for your own purposes,” Taeyong chuckled.
“Huh? It looks like Ten is coming back,” Kim muttered slyly, not even looking at the door.
“Okay, I'll pretend to believe you,” Taeyong smiled, pulling the boy back to him again.
It seems that to the reasons why Doyoung could be fired, you can add: kissing his hot boyfriend right in the workplace. But who cares? Definitely not Kim Doyoung, since the kisses with Taeyong were sweeter and tastier than all the drinks his boyfriend loved so much.