Chapter Text
I've had enough of this shit.
With that thought in mind, Bakura got up. He washed his face, tied his hair and went to work that day. Just like he'd done for the past two endless years.
Honestly, he has to say that he imagined this whole I bring coffee to the table and don't really have to do anything else-thing to be different. He foolishly thought this would be an easy job but he couldn't have been more wrong in his entire life. Even selling his soul to an imaginary ancient god of chaos seemed less trouble than dealing with lines of people asking for the stupidest drinks that look more like a clown's turd than proper food. Worse than hell itself.
His resignation letter prepared in his locker, ready to be slapped on his boss' desk after this shift. He had even imagined how it would go, with him leaving the building, both middle fingers raised.
Four more hours.
Only four more hours with arrogant, pretentious teenagers and wanna-be influencers taking selfies everywhere. If he miraculously survives those four hours, he would finally be free.
But as the unlucky bastard he is, his last day of work happens to be a party reservation that his boss accepted for some rich kid probably. He decides to stay in the back room until one of his coworkers knocks at the door and it's time for him to serve drinks.
He doesn't bother putting up his customer face or voice, not caring a bit about the bad reviews that it would bring on their website later. Bakura sighs heavily and begins to plan about how he can sneak back to the backroom as soon as possible until he hears someone clearing their throat behind him and he rolls his eyes.
"Great, Fantastic!" He thinks sarcastically as he turns around to face whoever this is.
"The napkins. Why are they blue?"
"Huh?–" Bakura couldn't care less about stupid napkins, it is the person standing in front of him complaining that he pays full attention to, his lips twisting into a grin. Oh, finally some fun.
"Mmm, is something not to your satisfaction, your Highness ?"
"They should be purple!" The blond boy wrinkles his nose and eyebrows in annoyance and in turn makes Bakura raise his eyebrows in amusement and excitement.
Malik is one of those spoiled and arrogant brats that Bakura would normally imagine poisoning his coffee so they won't come back again. But there's something about the boy that amuses him in a strange way he cannot explain. To any other customer he would spit on their order (and he had done it more than once) but the way Malik fights back and challenges him is so entertaining to him it has become a regular ritual between them as the rest of his coworkers also leave the boy for him to deal with. Malik is Bakura's customer.
So one day, Bakura makes it his personal goal to get none of the brat's orders correctly or misspell his name despite actually memorizing his full name. And to his satisfaction, every time without fail, Malik loses his temper and his big purple eyes burn fiercely at him. It makes him wonder why the guy keeps coming back, honestly, other people would've called his manager, screaming about all the ways he could die, but Malik is different and that is so delightful and entertaining. And perhaps he is one of the reasons, if not the most important one, why he hasn’t quit earlier. But Bakura wouldn’t and couldn’t admit it to himself. It makes him wonder if Malik is more of a freak than he imagined because drawing such reactions from the blond makes his day.
"Trust me, I am going to make you regret all of this, Bakura." Malik threatens him in a low voice pressing his index finger to his chest. His purple eyes flash at him and Bakura can see how he fumes.
"Ohoho, sounds interesting, I'm already scared." Bakura replies mocking him, turning around with a cackle before glancing back over his shoulder and winking at him, "Has anyone ever told you that you look really cute when you're angry? That little pout you make."
Bakura chuckles softly again as he disappears into the kitchen, not giving Malik a chance to respond. Bakura makes small 'mistakes' in the orders that kind of go unnoticed and doesn't fully ruin the evening for the guest, except for Malik. Because he's aware, because he knows. Bakura ends his shift still with some excitement in his system that he forgets his resignation letter.
☕︎
A couple days pass and Bakura admits that not leaving was a terrible decision.
Not only do the customers get on his nerves a lot faster, with the coffee shop introducing a new, limited-exclusive flavor that is such a success it becomes the hit of the season everyone orders. He's about to slap the serving tray in the face of the next customer that orders this vomit of sugar from him.
Not just that, what also bothers Bakura is that this damned brat has the nerve to not show up at the shop since that evening. Did he really hit a nerve that day? He would count it as a win if only he could laugh at his face. He's so tense and Malik isn't there, he vaguely asks his coworkers but neither of them had seen the boy either. He knows Malik would be one of the first people to try the new garbage menu, always amused at the mix of flavors, topping and colors, almost as if he had lived under a rock all his life.
Irritated, Bakura places the next order, the whole day is absolute hell. He grits his teeth as he remembers the resignation letter that has been lying in his locker the same number of days he has been waiting for Malik. For a flash second he thinks to himself how pathetic it is to stay in the job he hates just waiting to see another guy, sounds kind of gay too but mostly pathetic .
His thoughts are interrupted yet again when the bell at the door rings announcing another customer. Bakura groans heavily, exhausted, without looking up.
"... yes, I come here often…"
It is then when Bakura reacts, making him pause in mid-motion, he would recognize that voice anywhere. He pretends to look bored, definitely not excited to see his favorite customer back but then that plan is thrown away as his eyes narrow when he notices that Malik is not alone.
"This is new." Bakura thinks mildly annoyed but represses the unpleasant feeling in his stomach when he sees another guy walking way too close to Malik.
Bakura follows them with his narrowed eyes as the two take a seat in one of the empty corners of the building, he glances at Malik and observes how his hand is stroking the other guy's arm. He analyzes Malik's "date", mediocre at best. They both start laughing about something.
" Let's see if you are still laughing when I poison your coffee ." The thought amuses him, and Bakura wonders if the taste of rat poison can be hidden in black coffee.
He has to show up to pick their orders and drags the moment for as long as he can. He has killed this other guy in multiple ways already in his head. "Just what on earth does Malik see in this dumbass?"
One thought follows another, and then a new idea comes to his mind, his lips widen into a wicked grin. The more intensely he thinks about it, the more tempting the idea seems to him. He grabs the serving tray and heads toward the table. Sometimes a simple change of tactics is the best way to achieve a goal.
And besides, it would save him from a lifetime in prison.
☕︎
"Hey, you two," Bakura coos, a big fake smile on his face. "So what would you like to order?"
Malik opens his mouth, then closes it again. He looks briefly at his date before his gaze moves back to Bakura. The look he's wearing on his face, his eyes narrow suspiciously before he clears his throat.
"I'll order the usual."
The sound in Malik's voice and his look are enough for Bakura to know he can tell he's up to something. But he also knows Malik is fully aware of the possible consequences that would come with his decision so he will have to go through with it now.
"Excellent choice as always, babe. Coming right up." Bakura winks at him and smiles in a cute manner as he writes down his order. He then puts his hand on top of Malik's own. It brings the effect he wanted.
"Do you two know each other?" Malik’s date asks, confused and suspicious.
"Ye–"
"No! We don't!"
Malik interrupts him before Bakura can say anything else but it's fine. The bewilderment on his date’s face is obvious, one could almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost, but not him. And to his elation, Bakura can feel the tension in Malik's shoulder, it feels like all the holidays put together just for him.
His whole demeanor changes as his eyes move to the side, his smile disappears instantly once he catches the other man. "What about you? What do you want?" He asks with an ill-mannered tone.
"I... a regular coffee."
Bakura seizes him for a moment before he snorts snidely. "Ok, well, fits you..."
"Uh, please?" It is clear that this guy tries to contain himself for the sake of being in a public place.
"Whatever it's nothing..." Bakura mumbles quietly but still loud enough to make sure the other would hear it. "An average boring drink just like you, got it."
Bakura quickly turns away before the guy could snap, not giving him the satisfaction of a response and heads back to the coffee machine. He can no longer suppress the evil grin that twists his face.
Once the orders are ready he arranges them on the metal tray. "Time for the finale" , Bakura thinks as he heads towards the table serving each order in front of them respectively. He leans close to Malik’s ear. "A present for you, on the house." He says as he gives him a small kiss gesture towards him.
"What is-" Malik tenses for a moment. This scenario is so bizarre and unusual to his usual banter he isn't sure how to retort to Bakura's game. He feels Bakura's warm breath on his skin leaving and his eyes widen when sees the sweet chocolate muffin in front of him. This drink, probably for the first time is correct, and next to it–
"Oh! for God's sake, you..." Malik’s date groans in annoyance and reaches for the small slip of paper lying next to the muffin. He sits back in his chair and glares at Bakura. "You've got to be kidding me! 'You should go out with me’?! What’s wrong with you?!
Bakura's eyes flash dangerously, the guy yelling almost ruining his plan he briskly snatches the note from his hand. "You, shut up, this is obviously only for the pretty boy here."
His gaze wanders back to Malik, who looks at him in obvious surprise, shocked at the events unfolding in front of him. "Bakura! What the hell has gotten into you?"
Bakura grins, he gently grabs his chin, brushes his thumb against Malik’s lips and winks. "You'd be better off dating me than that idiot. Call me."
Malik blinks perplexed, trying to process what he just heard. To Bakura's satisfaction, he sees a slight blush on Malik's cheeks, and after one last glance at the other guy, he turns away. With a broad grin on his lips, he returns to the counter.
"What's wrong with this dude?" the guy growls, cursing Bakura under his breath while shaking his head in annoyance. Malik glances at his date before he looks back to the note. His eyes narrow when he notices there's a phone number written on it.
You should go out with me.
In fact, Malik chose this coffee shop on purpose for tonight's date. Because of the coffee… and the atmosphere… not because of...
He looks at Bakura, who is cashing up at the register. He grits his teeth.
"Let's get out of here, I really can't stand this guy anymore." His date growls, reaching into his jacket and taking out some cash, but Malik stops him.
"It's okay, it's on me. It was my idea to come here after all." Malik stands up, wallet in hand taking out his credit card as he approaches Bakura.
"Are you fucking serious?" Malik snarls angrily as he slams his hand and credit card on the counter.
Bakura receives him with a wicked grin all over his face. "Hey sunshine~ "
"Oh, shut up! What is your fucking issue?"
"Mmmm, you didn’t like it?"
"You ruined my date!" Malik hisses at him in exasperation.
"Alright, alright. Calm down pretty boy, you don't want wrinkles on your face this young, do you?" Bakura chuckles, "You'll be able to get that guy to have eyes just for you again, don't piss yourself." He adds with a little more venom in his voice.
Malik stares into his eyes for a few seconds and takes the receipt to sign it. But to Bakura’s surprise, he also adds something below his signature. He can't tell what it is, maybe he's writing every insult known and few others. The blond slides the receipt across the counter to him and returns to his date without another word.
Bakura watches as they leave the building and walk away until they disappear in the distance. He looks down at the receipt and his eyes widen. He knows he went overboard today. Yes, he might have ruined Malik's date, but he really doesn't feel guilty about that. He was totally expecting Malik to be pissed at him, but he didn't expect this.
'I hope for your sake you weren't kidding today. Otherwise, I'll kill you'
Written next to it appears a date and a time, it's only a couple days away. He reads the note, again and again, flabbergasted by this outcome.
Is he really going to have a date with the brattiest customer in Domino?
Or is Malik already planning his murder?
☕︎
Bakura finishes his shift that night confused and when he is back home, he flops on his bed while staring at Malik's note he took with him.
It's not like he planned this. He really didn't.
Yes, of course he enjoys teasing Malik and making him mad, but a date? A real date? He doesn't really remember the last time he went out with someone.
With a deep sigh, Bakura turns on his side.
How is he supposed to know that Malik would really agree to that?
Who would have thought of that?
He only wanted to mess with him and his stupid date, but when he suddenly remembers how jealousy almost chocked him, he grits his teeth. Stupid, this is stupid.
And yet, he catches himself glancing at his shift schedule to check if he would be available that day. He doesn’t know what to think of it. Life rarely works out the way he plans but maybe something would come from this… at least he hopes while he adds Malik's number to his contact list.