Work Text:
It’s six in the morning, he’s scrolling on his phone looking at social media posts in a semi comfy chair, and he’s drinking coffee almost as black as his hair. He’s sitting by the window watching the morning sun slowly light up the street he’s on. The soft music of the coffee shop playing in the background. It’s a soft lull that has him nodding his head along as he looks at his phone.
He sips at his coffee and scrunches his nose, making a face of mild disgust.
He doesn’t even like coffee.
So why is he here inside the smallest coffee shop he’s ever seen? The barista.
The red headed barista who somehow, even at six in the morning, looks bright eyed and he is sure she gets the recommended amount of sleep a young adult should.
Unlike him. He’s definitely working on three hours of sleep after a full night of binging a show he’s seen three times already. Which is why he needs this awful coffee before going into his morning shift at the auto shop he works in down the street.
He takes a sip from his cup and scowls at the hot coffee. Bitter. Kevin may look like a guy who likes the taste of something bitter like a black coffee, but he’d be happier with a hot chocolate. God, he needs something sweeter.
He looks up from his cup and feels a pair of eyes on him. Kevin makes eye contact with the barista behind the counter and she waves politely at him. She’s cleaning one of the mugs and keeps eye contact with him for another beat before turning around.
Kevin feels his face heating up and little and goes back to scrolling on his phone before he has to go into work.
He fights to finish his coffee, like he does every day, and lingers around until almost seven. He waves goodbye like he always does and shoves his hands into his leather jackets pockets before walking down the street to start his job. Only slightly more awake then he was an hour ago.
Kevin doesn’t get crushes. He doesn’t.
He just happened to notice the barista in the window one day and her short red hair and bright green eyes caught his sleep deprived attention.
He doesn’t get caught up by a woman who he doesn’t know because her big green eyes caught his attention and her freckles dust her face like little constellations.
He definitely isn’t spending $2.50 every morning to drink coffee he doesn’t even like so he can spend an hour with a woman who he’s barely talked. Kevin doesn’t get crushes because that would mean he’s hopeful of an outcome in his favor.
Kevin’s learned the hard way to not get his hopes up, for anything or anyone.
He’ll just notice the cute barista from a respectful distance.
This has been Kevin’s routine for the past couple of weeks. Come in, hope the cute barista is working, grab a black coffee, sit down for an hour and hopefully make eye contact with her and if he’s lucky, have a small conversation with her.
He is more than content to keep it that way, but then she disrupts their routine.
Kevin always gets just a black coffee. It’s not complicated and gives him caffeine to start his long days working on other people’s cars.
He’s surprised when he grabs his coffee and it isn’t as black as night. Instead a lighter more chocolate color.
He turns in confusion to the barista. She just shrugs her shoulders.
“It’s a mocha. You look like you hate black coffee every morning. I thought you might like a mocha instead. If you don’t it’s on the house.” She says with a small smile.
Kevin looks at the drink in suspicion but tries it regardless.
He melts on the spot. This is perfect. He doesn’t know what she put in it but this is by far the best coffee he has ever had.
She can read it on his face too. She starts giggling at his response.
“Have you only ever had black coffee?” she asks leaning against the bar. She pushes a stray lock of her ginger hair behind her ear.
Kevin’s face pinkens at the statement. “I never bothered with anything else. Took too much time.” He mumbles.
She raises her brow, “This is a coffee shop. It’s kind of my job to be able to make different drinks quickly.” She jokes.
Kevin avoids eye contact, “I’m used to just making my own at home.”
“But you come here every morning?” She asks confused.
His face heats up more in embarrassment. “That’s uh, a recent, development.”
She nods her head in understanding. “Well, I hope I can offer you better drinks than black coffee.”
He finally looks back at her and she’s smiling at him so genuinely.
“Thanks.” He offers a lopsided smile.
“I’m Gwen.” She says still smiling.
“Kevin.” He responds.
“I know.” She says. Her face heats up and her usually tan skin flushes red and splotchy. “I mean- I- your shirt!” she stumbles over her words.
Her eyes drift down to the bar, wide with embarrassment. “I know your name because it’s on your shirt.” She says clearly this time.
Kevin chuckles but his face is flushed slightly too, “I’ll see you tomorrow Gwen.”
Kevin doesn’t spend his usual hour in the coffee shop that day, but he thinks he might combust if he did after that interaction.
She’s cuter when she’s flustered.
Gwen brings Kevin his drink today. She told him to go ahead and take his usual seat and she’ll bring him his order. His new usual is now a mocha. Gwen’s tried to give him other options but he is a creature of habit.
Also, he just really likes mochas. If he'd known he could have the equivalent of hot cocoa and coffee together, well he wouldn't have had to suffer through to mugs and mugs of awful black coffee he made himself for years.
She walks over and has two mugs in her hand. She places one down for him and the other one stays in her hand and she sets herself in the chair across from him.
Kevin raises his brow at her and looks over to the empty counter.
She shrugs in response.
“If someone comes in I’ll head over. You’re notoriously the only customer that’s here this early though.” She tells him.
She pulls her legs up and curls herself into her chair and sips at her drink.
“You work at the auto shop around the corner yea?” She asks him.
Kevin is a little stunned for a second before he pulls himself together. He grabs his mocha and responds, “Yea I do body work mostly. I can fix almost anything on a car though.” He says with pride.
“That’s impressive. How long have you been there?” She’s smiling at him softly. Taking sips from her drink that she cradles in her small hands.
She's giving him her full attention. She's not just making small talk with him, she's actively trying to listen to what he's saying. Kevin isn't used to that.
“A while. Since I was 17 for sure.” He tells her. Kevin starts drinking his coffee to avoid the direct eye contact she’s making.
She hums in acknowledgement of his response. “Are you in school or just working full time?”
There’s the question. The one he avoids mostly. The question most people his age can answer without a pitfall of anxiety hovering over their heads.
He’s looking down at his drink, brows pushed together.
“I’m just working. Always have been. It’s the only thing I’m good at and I like it.” He mumbles before sipping at his drink again. Anything to avoid talking.
He sees her shuffle out of the corner of his eye.
“I think that’s really cool. You know what you want to do and your doing it.” He looks up briefly to see her avoiding his eyes now. She’s staring out the window. Her grip tightens on her mug.
“I’m just floating around at school. I don’t even know if the major I’m in is what I want to do. I’m just doing what my parents want…” she responds quietly.
She looks back to him from the corner of her eyes, and he sees real appreciation. She doesn’t think he’s stupid for not going to college.
“What’s your major?” He asks her, now that he feels comfortable.
She flushes a little, her eyes flick to meet his before looking back out the window.
“Astrophysics…” She mumbles.
Kevin blinks at her. Oh, he realizes she’s smart, like, probably top of her class smart. On some amazing scholarship smart.
She slowly looks back over to him before sighing, “I probably sound like I’m complaining about nothing. I have a major I’ve been in for the past three years, and I like it I guess.”
She sets her mug down and runs her hands down her face.
It’s the first time he’s seen her not put together. She’s frustrated and can’t put together what she wants to say. It resonates with him.
“You don’t have to know everything.” He says gruffly.
She looks up at him in question.
He immediately regrets it.
It came out more condescending than he wanted.
He sighs, “What I mean is,” he runs his hand through his hair and scratches the back of his head, “you’re allowed to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life.” He pauses.
“I’m stupid and not great with school. I got kicked out more times than I can count for fightin’. Cars were a hobby, the one thing I was good at. Needed to do something with my hands that wasn't destructive. I got my job because my step dad put in a good word for me, when he didn’t have to. All I ever did was cause him hell.” He sighs and drinks from his almost empty mug. Her sharp green eyes are piercing into him, hanging on his words.
“What I’m tryin’ to say is, do Astrophysics because you want to. Not because you feel like you have to.” He sets his jaw with that and stares back at Gwen.
The silence lingers between them. He can almost see the gears turning in her head, mulling over the unwarranted advice he’s given her. Her face softens and she smiles gently at him.
The bell rings letting them know a customer has come in.
Her head snaps up. She stands grabbing both their empty mugs. She turns back to Kevin, “Thanks, I needed that.”
He sees her stroll briskly back to the bar to serve the customer. She pauses half way before turning to face him, “For the record, I don’t think your stupid.”
She goes behind the bar and starts addressing the customer.
His face flushes and he dips his head down covering the bottom half of his face with his hand. He’s trying to hide his flustered expression. He pulls himself together enough to pockets his phone and wave goodbye as he leaves to go to work.
Every morning Kevin comes in, waits for Gwen to grab their mugs, and proceeds to talk to her for roughly an hour every morning. It’s their routine. He doesn’t understand why she likes sitting with him. His responses are short, gruff, never really intelligent. She stills nestles herself in the big chair across from him every morning though. Mugs in hand and ready to chat or just look out the window with him.
He really appreciates it though.
She’s only charging him the same $2.50 for his coffee, but he knows the mochas cost more. On Friday’s when he leaves and she has more customers come in the early morning he shoves and extra five dollars in her tip jar.
She never catches him do it, or if she has, she hasn’t said anything.
Gwen’s work schedule is roughly the same as Kevin’s, Monday through Friday. Somehow, they both don’t work weekends, which is a surprise. Kevin’s on call on Saturday’s though, so he sometimes ends up in the shop.
They’re strange friendship has not left the walls of the coffee shop. Kevin doesn’t know if he wants to keep it that way or not. It feels special, sacred, and safe inside the walls of the coffee shop.
What if she doesn’t like him outside, in the real world?
He stops that train of thought. He can’t afford to be hopeful for anything besides what he has.
Besides, he can theorize pretty well how Gwen was in high school. She was the academic nerd who was charismatic and he was the angry high school dropout. They don’t go together. The world doesn’t work like movies or tv shows.
He basically lives in the garage he works in anyway. He’s lucky to have a roof over his head.
Gwen probably either has a nice apartment or lives with her parents if she’s still in school.
He wonders vaguely what her class schedule must be like for her to work early shift every day of the week. His train of thought stops when she unceremoniously falls into her designated chair.
He quirks a brow at her, “Good morning to you too.” He chuckles leaning forward.
She sighs and looks at him, pouting. “Sorry, I just got some of my classes changed around for next semester and my parents are throwing a fit.”
“Oh? What are you changing?” he presses.
She sits up and leans forward putting her hands on the small coffee table between them. “It’s a small change! It isn’t even serious. I just like the astronomy course more than astrophysics and my parents don’t approve it!”
She leans back into her chair and crosses her arms over her chest. “It’s not even that big of a difference. I like it more! They’re not even paying for my education so I don’t get why they even care. It’s not their life.” She whispers the last part and sighs in exhaustion.
Kevin let’s the silence linger a beat longer before asking, “Are you happy?”
She looks up at him. Shock for a second before her eyes soften. She uncrosses her arms, “Yea, I am. I’m really excited to do the astronomy lab courses.” She’s smiling at him softly.
“Then that’s what matters. Your parents can suck it up. You're an adult who's making her own life choices.” He says in a serious tone.
“Thanks Kevin.” She stands up and squeezes his shoulder in affection as she goes back behind the bar to grab their coffees.
“You know,” she says from across the room, loud enough for him to hear her, “you’re the reason I changed my major.”
Kevin almost gives himself whiplash from how fast he turns his head to her.
“Huh?”
She laughs as she walks back over to him and sets their drinks down.
“I’m taking your advice and doing what I want to do.”
After she sits down she flushes a little realizing what she’s said. “I mean, it’s not super different from my major before, it’s kinda in the same field, but I prefer this track you know? It’s not as intense or math heavy.” Her eyes are shifting anywhere but to him her face getting a deeper shade of red.
Kevin chuckles and nudges her softly. “I’m glad you’re exploring what you want. You’ll do amazing in anything you do Gwen.” He smiles up at her and it’s warm and genuine.
Gwen’s face darkens even more in a flush and she swipes her hair behind her ear.
“Thanks Kevin. Seriously.”
“Anytime. I’m filled with endless knowledge and wisdom.” He smirks at her cheekily.
Gwen rolls her eyes but won’t stop grinning.
Kevin has a week off because of an injury. Some idiot didn’t do their job right and now Kevin’s right arm is in a sling and he’s on a lot of pain meds for the next couple of weeks.
He’s irritated his boss is making him take a week off and he’s irritated when he comes back he’s stuck behind the desk running numbers for another week or two.
Workers comp is also a load of a paper work.
Mostly, he’s mad that he has no real reason to be awake and grabbing coffee with Gwen.
He’s laying in his bed, in the loft apartment above the auto shop, awake at five in the morning and pouting to himself because he has no real reason to go to the coffee shop.
He rolls over and sees his dog Zed fast asleep. His free hand reaches out to pet the top of her head.
He lays in his bed, wide awake, wishing he was in the coffee shop.
Kevin can only stay in his apartment for a total of two days before he caves and just has to get out. Zed is a great nurse dog, but he’s about to crazy from how bored he is.
Kevin shuffles into the coffee shop at his usual time, but still dressed in his pajamas. He’s in a white tank and a pair of his clean sweat pants. He did have enough sense to change out of his gross ones.
His right arm is still unfortunately in a sling. Which he knows Gwen will ask about.
When he walks in he hears her stop cleaning the machines and sees her whip her head around to see the door.
“Kevin!” she exclaims in joy.
He waves at her with his good hands and he sees her eyes travel from his face down to his arm in the sling, and lastly to his sweat pants. He’s glad he put on a clean pair.
“What happened?” She asks cautiously before coming around the bar to assess him more.
Kevin shrugs his shoulders, “It was some jerk at work. Didn’t do something right, things fell, it’s whatever.” He says it casually, trying to not worry her.
Gwen reaches her hand out but stops herself. She pulls her arm back to herself still looking at him with worry.
“Don’t say it like it happens everyday Kevin. How long do you have to keep it in that sling?” she asks him softly.
He bites his lip and uses his good hand to scratch the back of his head in an anxious gesture.
“Two weeks. The boss gave me this week off and I’m stuck doing desk work all of next week. Can’t lift anything heavy for a month at least. So, I’ll just be doing the basics at work until the doc says I’m good.” He says nonchalantly.
Gwen sighs and looks him in the eyes. “I thought I was over thinking when I thought something might have happened to you. I hate knowing I’m right.”
Kevin chuckles, “No you love knowing you’re right.”
She gives him a pointed look.
He keeps pushing, “So, you were worried about me huh?” he says teasingly with a smirk.
Gwen rolls her eyes and shoves him lightly by his good shoulder.
“Never mind I take it back. Totally not worried about you.” She says walking back behind the bar and pulls out two mugs.
She pours a black cup of coffee and slides it over to him. Kevin pouts.
“This is cruel and unusual punishment. I’m injured!” He whines.
Gwen crosses her arms and raises her brow.
“Gwen please, I can’t drink black coffee anymore.” He begs leaning on the bar.
“Apologize and I’ll think about it.” She demands avoiding eye contact.
Kevin gives her a questioning look, “I thought we were just joking?”
“Not that,” she sighs and turns back to him. “Friends tell each other important stuff, like getting injured.”
Kevin blinks and his face flushes. “I uh, didn’t realize we were friends.” He says softly.
Gwen looks at him like he’s grown a second head. “Of course, we’re friends Kevin. I don’t take breaks and sit with all my customers and give them discounts on their coffees while we talk about struggling as adults.”
Kevin grins at her, “Really? I thought every roguishly handsome man who walked in those doors got the treatment?”
“Kevin, I’m being serious. I was really worried you didn’t come for two days straight. I was right to worry too, you're literally injured!” She tells him.
Kevin sighs, “Gwen. I’m not good with friends. Or relationships in general.” Kevin drops his head and looks at the counter like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.
“I’ve messed up most relationships I’ve had with people. I fought so much with my parents they kicked me out. I got in to so many fights at school no one wanted to be my friend. And I liked it that way. The old man who runs the auto shop is the closest thing I have to family. Hell, I’m not even very friendly with the guys in the shop.” He sighs heavily and looks up at her.
“I’m not good with making friends or keepin’ them. I’ve been a delinquent for most of my life. I’m not used to whatever it is that we have goin’ on.” He says softly.
Gwen’s face is soft as she looks at him. She holds her hand out, “Give me your phone Kevin.”
“What?” he says dumbly.
She huffs, “Give me your phone so I can put my number in it. I’m gonna come by your place later tonight okay? I doubt you can cook very well with your arm like that.”
Kevin hands her his phone and doesn’t think twice about it. She types in her number and he hears her phone ding. She hands his phone back and pulls hers out to put his contact info in.
“We’re friends Kevin. I need you to know that.” She looks him in the eye as she says this smiling at him.
“I wouldn’t talk to you about half the stuff I do, or ask for advice, or agree with you that Jared in the auto shop is being insane with how he wants to order supplies, if I wasn’t your friend. Now, are you gonna let me cook you dinner tonight or not?” she asks.
Kevin grins at her and scratches the back of his head, “Yea, I guess you are. I don’t think I have much of a choice.”
“Smart answer.” She says smugly.
Kevin absolutely stress cleans the second he gets back to his apartment. His loft apartment is small, just an open floor plan with one extra room that is the worlds smallest bathroom.
He throws all his clothes into his laundry hamper instead of leaving them in the floor. He cleans up around Zed’s food and water dishes. He does his own dishes. Makes his bed for the first time in probably months. And he throws out the expired food he knows is making an ecosystem in his fridge.
He’s impressed he did this all with one useable arm. It also means that he absolutely took all afternoon to clean and he really only has enough time to shower before Gwen comes by.
To say he’s nervous is an understatement.
Kevin struggles to shower and put on clothes with one arm but manages. Finding his other pair of really nice sweat pants does make his life easier though. These are his athletic ones too, so they look even nicer than the ones he had on earlier. He grabs a long sleeve shirt and pulls it over his head before he hears a knock on his door.
He looks around one last time to make sure his place isn’t a wreck.
Zed’s head pops up from her sleeping position on his bed to acknowledge the door. She barks at him before looking back at the door in question.
“It’s okay girl, I got it.” He tells her and pets her head before opening the door.
He opens to door to see Gwen holding a couple of grocery bags and smiling up at him.
“Can I come in?” she asks sweetly.
Kevin’s routine has changed once more. He’s usually opposed to change but Gwen keeps worming her way into his life. Constantly changing it.
He isn’t sure how she went from a cute barista he tried to catch glimpses of to his best friend who has somehow left half her belongings in his loft, but he isn’t too upset about it.
Well, he could live without his dog picking Gwen over him. Too bad he knows he would do the same thing if given the chance. So, he’ll give Zed a pass for now. Gwen is better than he is.
Gwen now has decided to spend her weekends lounging around Kevin’s loft with him and taking him grocery shopping because he apparently can’t just live on microwavable meals. He would beg to differ. He’s made it to 23 just fine on bologna sandwiches and microwavable meals.
Every Friday when he get’s off work she meets him outside his door. He lets her in and while he takes Zed out for a brief walk she sits herself on his old, dingy couch, and starts whatever homework she has for the weekend. She works for a couple of hours until they decide to either make dinner together or go out.
Kevin’s favorite nights are cooking together though. He gets to brush up next to her in his tiny kitchen, doing the tasks she tells him to do, and he gets to pick the music. It’s a good dynamic.
It also has broadened Kevin’s horizons on food, and his spice cabinet. Gwen was appalled when she saw he only had salt and pepper. Apparently, spices are important for food to actually taste good. What can he say, he grew up poor, and mostly on the street.
Tonight, Gwen is late though. Kevin’s already walked Zed and gave her dinner. He’s pacing back and fourth waiting for Gwen to knock.
His phone dings and he almost drops it from how fast he grabs it.
It’s a text from Gwen.
Sorry I’m running late.
Had a family thing...
Do you wanna meet at the smoothie place for a late dinner? :)
See you in 10
Kevin sighs in relief and grabs his car keys. He pets Zed and tells her goodbye before he leaves.
Kevin rolls up to the mostly dead Mr. Smoothie and sees Gwen’s red hair shinning under the florescent lights.
He also sees another guy, mousey brown hair, and a small frame sitting across from her. He definitely feels something twist in his stomach. He isn’t jealous. The tight grip on his steering wheel would beg to differ, but he isn’t jealous.
Kevin gets out and walks over to the table Gwen’s at with this other guy. He can’t see his face, but he sees Gwen notice him and wave Kevin over. He waves back, but he knows he doesn’t have a poker face. He can feel his scowl he knows he needs to wipe off his face.
Gwen scoots herself over on the bench to make room for Kevin and he does smile softly at that.
Kevin comes around to sit on the bench with her and he gives little room between the two of them. Kevin sits as close as he can to Gwen, shoulders brushing and legs tightly pressed next to each other.
“Sorry we couldn’t make dinner tonight, Ben had me running around with him all day.” Gwen tells him as she glares across the table at who Kevin assumes is Ben.
“Oh please, you know we needed to run those errands for Grandpa Max. Besides it’s been a while since we spent a whole day together! Family bonding and all that.” Ben says boisterously holding a smoothie in his hands.
Ben… Gwen… Grandpa… Kevin knows he’s making a face trying to connect the dots. The only dots he’s connected is that these two are definitely related and the weird totally not jealous feeling he had earlier, was clearly unjustified.
Gwen groans, “Ben we’ve spent three summers of middle school together back to back. I could go my whole life without spending another full 24 hours with you.”
Ben smirks at her before his eyes shift over to Kevin. “Sorry to take away your date night with your boyfriend Gwen.”
Kevin and Gwen grow silent as Ben closes his eyes and sips his smoothie with a grin.
Kevin feels his whole face turn bright red and he avoids looking at Gwen.
Gwen’s jaw in slack and her face is red and flushed.
Ben notices the silence and looks between the two in front of him.
“What are you two not dating? Yikes! I thought I was oblivious.” Ben says laughing.
“Ben!” Gwen exclaims in exhaustion, “What are you 12 or 22?!” she sighs and holds her face in her hands for a second.
“..Wait for real?” Ben quirks a brow at them. “Ohhhh…” he makes a face like he just tasted something sour. “I’ll uhh, get going. Yikes, sorry Gwen.”
Ben scrambles to propel himself off the bench before making a beeline for his own vehicle.
Gwen’s groaning in embarrassment but Kevin just continues to sit in shocked silence.
“I’m so sorry about him. Sometimes I think he forgets we’re in our twenties and not tweens anymore.” Gwen mumbles.
“Do you want to date me?” Kevin asks her. He sounds like he’s also questioning himself as he asks.
Gwen looks up at him confused, “What?”
Kevin takes a deep breath and centers himself, “Do you want to go out, on a date, with me?” he turns his body toward Gwen and makes direct eye contact with her.
He can feel his body flushing down his neck but there’s no turning back now.
Gwen lets a beat pass before she scrambles to answer him, “Yes! I do, I’ve wanted to ask you for a while, but I didn’t want to push you.” She whispers the last part quietly, almost to herself.
Kevin chuckles at this, “Did you think I didn’t want you? You’ve been in my apartment every weekend for over two months. I see you every morning and have reworked my whole kitchen to fit your organizational needs.”
Gwen huffs a laugh and rests her forehead on Kevin’s shoulder.
“When you put it that way it sounds like we’ve been dating for a while.”
“It all sounds very domestic huh?” He whispers in her ear.
She let’s out a bark of laughter. She peels herself off of his shoulder to look him in the eyes, “I think we’ve always been pretty domestic. Even in the coffee shop.”
Kevin nods his head in agreement. He gently holds Gwen’s face in his hand and pulls her closer, their lips are a breath apart.
“Can I?” he whispers over her mouth.
Gwen closes the distance between them eagerly.
Their first kiss is sweet, and tastes faintly like a mocha.