Brewed Awakening (Chapter 10)
Nino glared at the door when it opened with a small jingle and he was faced with Jun. If Jun was taken aback it was not apparent at first sight as the man looked around, and then wandered over to the counter.
“Still no purple cup, I see.”
“Shut up, J!”
“I was looking forward to it, you know.”
Nino rolled his eyes as he put down a cleaned small cup and lifted an eyebrow. “What can I do for you? Do you want to throw a tantrum or do you actually want to order?”
Jun hummed and then nodded. “I have a green tea,” he said and even if Nino rolled his eyes he put the espresso cup aside as he bent down to pull out a tea set. “He has not come by since last week?”
Nino shrugged as he silently measured out the tea leaves for the pot and made sure that the water has the right temperature before pouring it in.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. It is not as if Ohno-san has to come by daily or ever has done,” he said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. He was tired of Jun trying to get a rise or whatever out of him when mentioning without saying it outright that Ohno had been missing since the day after Nino re-opened.
It was strange enough for Nino that he realised the other was not here so often, and it was somehow surprising for him as well that he felt a bit worried? So far, Ohno had seemed to keep his promises so he kind of had expected Ohno to appear the next day with a very annoying smirk on his face presenting the promised cup to Jun, adding to the other three colourful cups in his coffee shop.
Nino’s eyes wandered to the row of cups, the colours standing out clear against the white ceramic cups he served his drink in usually. They should be more of an eyesore to him than they were, and that was still unbalancing him whenever he opened the coffee shop and the first thing he saw when he entered.
Jun pouted as he sat on the other side of the counter and Nino put the tray with the tea set in front of him.
Nino’s lips twitched at the unhappy look on the face of the other. He knew that the human across from him was normally used to getting whatever he wanted without having to wait, so he couldn’t deny that even if he was surprised by the lack of promised cup, he was also very amused that Ohno made Jun out of all people wait for something he was seemingly looking forward to.
“Aaah I wished it was here already,” Jun sighed as he sipped his tea and Nino chuckled.
“You know, that whatever you wish for will come,” he said with a playful smile on his face when Jun rolled his eyes. Nino turned to handle new customers and Jun went to check his phone for new messages.
-
Nino moved his shoulders in a circular motion as he closed the shop late in the evening. He was slightly exhausted after the day and the clean-up in the evening, but also felt accomplished in a way. He put his head back to stare at the sky for a moment, it had gotten dark, and Nino could tell that the moon and stars were soon coming up.
He flicked his wrist to get rid of the last build-up of stress in his body and for a second his eyes glowed yellow in the partial darkness as he could tell that one of his contracts had been fulfilled. He would be able to collect his payment soon. Maybe he would let the human dwell in his fear and hopeful thoughts of having won over him for a few more days. It was always more delicious to collect payment when the people thought he had all forgotten about it.
With another deep breath, he turned away from the coffee shop finally to walk down the darkening streets, the street lights turning up as he rounded the corner, slowly chasing away the darkness of the night, to lure the passing humans into bars and clubs to drink away their sorrows, their sadness, and their happiness. Nino could tell collectors were swarming the clubs as his feet led him to the more silent streets. He didn’t enjoy the busy parts in the evening. It was almost too easy to find souls there. He understood why collectors went there, but he had no respect for them.
Nino decided that he didn’t feel like heading to his apartment yet, his body still tingling with the feeling of another soul won.
“Ah! Nino-san!”
Nino halted his steps when he heard the familiar voice and turned around, just slightly surprised to see the other man.
“Ohno-san,” he said with a small nod and observed the other. Ohno looked more tanned than the last time he had seen him, with dirt on his trousers and shirt, that Nino supposed was the residue of clay. Ohno seemed like the kind of person that would wipe his fingers on his clothes instead of on a towel as sane people would do. “Long time, no see.”
“I was busy,” Ohno said, a wistful smile on his face. “There was a big order, and then I needed to wind down. Did you miss me?” he asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
Nino moved his head from side to side like a very slow head shake. “I just got annoyed with J’s whining about his missing cup,” he said, smirking when Ohno couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“I am sorry then for the inconvenience.”
“As you should be. I hope you didn’t forget your promise to J or it would break his heart.”
“I just finished it,” Ohno hummed.
“Good. He will be happy.”
Ohno stared at Nino for a second in silence, while Nino looked back calmly, ready to leave when the other stepped forward.
“Wait.”
Nino lifted an eyebrow and Ohno cleared his throat.
“Have you eaten yet?”
Nino tilted his head, but then shook his head. “No, I have not.”
Ohno’s face lit up and he stepped back to open the door behind him, widely. “Great, I was just about to start on dinner. As an apology for you having to deal with Jun-kun, I would happily treat you to a meal.”
“How convenient,” Nino said, rolling his eyes when Ohno grinned almost smugly. He shook his head, but when Ohno asked ‘please’ again he relented and followed the other.
Nino looked around, after slipping out of his shoes and following Ohno. It was a small place, it was very warm inside and Nino could tell that it came from the workplace of the other, it smelled like clay and paint, but it was tidier than he had thought.
“Want to have a peek into the workroom?”
“Not really. I am not that interested in pottery.”
“Aww. It is fun, I promise.”
“If you say so, but I rather do not.”
Ohno looked at him for a second longer, but then shrugged and led the way to the living quarters further in the back. It was a bit colder there, but still as tidy as the entry.
Ohno pointed at a chair for Nino to sit, offering him something to drink before turning to the stove, soon concentrating on preparing the promised dinner - fried rice as Nino discovered minutes later and Nino leant back, sipping his drink as his eyes wandered around, taking in all the slightly botched but still functional dishes, bowls and cups. It seemed like Ohno did not discard any failed attempts of his work even if they were suited to be sold.
Nino breathed in deeply again, calm running through his body with each breath as he listened to Ohno silently working on their dinner. It was a silent affair with almost no words exchanged but this time when Nino left his feet led him finally to his apartment.
“Still no purple cup, I see.”
“Shut up, J!”
“I was looking forward to it, you know.”
Nino rolled his eyes as he put down a cleaned small cup and lifted an eyebrow. “What can I do for you? Do you want to throw a tantrum or do you actually want to order?”
Jun hummed and then nodded. “I have a green tea,” he said and even if Nino rolled his eyes he put the espresso cup aside as he bent down to pull out a tea set. “He has not come by since last week?”
Nino shrugged as he silently measured out the tea leaves for the pot and made sure that the water has the right temperature before pouring it in.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. It is not as if Ohno-san has to come by daily or ever has done,” he said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. He was tired of Jun trying to get a rise or whatever out of him when mentioning without saying it outright that Ohno had been missing since the day after Nino re-opened.
It was strange enough for Nino that he realised the other was not here so often, and it was somehow surprising for him as well that he felt a bit worried? So far, Ohno had seemed to keep his promises so he kind of had expected Ohno to appear the next day with a very annoying smirk on his face presenting the promised cup to Jun, adding to the other three colourful cups in his coffee shop.
Nino’s eyes wandered to the row of cups, the colours standing out clear against the white ceramic cups he served his drink in usually. They should be more of an eyesore to him than they were, and that was still unbalancing him whenever he opened the coffee shop and the first thing he saw when he entered.
Jun pouted as he sat on the other side of the counter and Nino put the tray with the tea set in front of him.
Nino’s lips twitched at the unhappy look on the face of the other. He knew that the human across from him was normally used to getting whatever he wanted without having to wait, so he couldn’t deny that even if he was surprised by the lack of promised cup, he was also very amused that Ohno made Jun out of all people wait for something he was seemingly looking forward to.
“Aaah I wished it was here already,” Jun sighed as he sipped his tea and Nino chuckled.
“You know, that whatever you wish for will come,” he said with a playful smile on his face when Jun rolled his eyes. Nino turned to handle new customers and Jun went to check his phone for new messages.
-
Nino moved his shoulders in a circular motion as he closed the shop late in the evening. He was slightly exhausted after the day and the clean-up in the evening, but also felt accomplished in a way. He put his head back to stare at the sky for a moment, it had gotten dark, and Nino could tell that the moon and stars were soon coming up.
He flicked his wrist to get rid of the last build-up of stress in his body and for a second his eyes glowed yellow in the partial darkness as he could tell that one of his contracts had been fulfilled. He would be able to collect his payment soon. Maybe he would let the human dwell in his fear and hopeful thoughts of having won over him for a few more days. It was always more delicious to collect payment when the people thought he had all forgotten about it.
With another deep breath, he turned away from the coffee shop finally to walk down the darkening streets, the street lights turning up as he rounded the corner, slowly chasing away the darkness of the night, to lure the passing humans into bars and clubs to drink away their sorrows, their sadness, and their happiness. Nino could tell collectors were swarming the clubs as his feet led him to the more silent streets. He didn’t enjoy the busy parts in the evening. It was almost too easy to find souls there. He understood why collectors went there, but he had no respect for them.
Nino decided that he didn’t feel like heading to his apartment yet, his body still tingling with the feeling of another soul won.
“Ah! Nino-san!”
Nino halted his steps when he heard the familiar voice and turned around, just slightly surprised to see the other man.
“Ohno-san,” he said with a small nod and observed the other. Ohno looked more tanned than the last time he had seen him, with dirt on his trousers and shirt, that Nino supposed was the residue of clay. Ohno seemed like the kind of person that would wipe his fingers on his clothes instead of on a towel as sane people would do. “Long time, no see.”
“I was busy,” Ohno said, a wistful smile on his face. “There was a big order, and then I needed to wind down. Did you miss me?” he asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
Nino moved his head from side to side like a very slow head shake. “I just got annoyed with J’s whining about his missing cup,” he said, smirking when Ohno couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“I am sorry then for the inconvenience.”
“As you should be. I hope you didn’t forget your promise to J or it would break his heart.”
“I just finished it,” Ohno hummed.
“Good. He will be happy.”
Ohno stared at Nino for a second in silence, while Nino looked back calmly, ready to leave when the other stepped forward.
“Wait.”
Nino lifted an eyebrow and Ohno cleared his throat.
“Have you eaten yet?”
Nino tilted his head, but then shook his head. “No, I have not.”
Ohno’s face lit up and he stepped back to open the door behind him, widely. “Great, I was just about to start on dinner. As an apology for you having to deal with Jun-kun, I would happily treat you to a meal.”
“How convenient,” Nino said, rolling his eyes when Ohno grinned almost smugly. He shook his head, but when Ohno asked ‘please’ again he relented and followed the other.
Nino looked around, after slipping out of his shoes and following Ohno. It was a small place, it was very warm inside and Nino could tell that it came from the workplace of the other, it smelled like clay and paint, but it was tidier than he had thought.
“Want to have a peek into the workroom?”
“Not really. I am not that interested in pottery.”
“Aww. It is fun, I promise.”
“If you say so, but I rather do not.”
Ohno looked at him for a second longer, but then shrugged and led the way to the living quarters further in the back. It was a bit colder there, but still as tidy as the entry.
Ohno pointed at a chair for Nino to sit, offering him something to drink before turning to the stove, soon concentrating on preparing the promised dinner - fried rice as Nino discovered minutes later and Nino leant back, sipping his drink as his eyes wandered around, taking in all the slightly botched but still functional dishes, bowls and cups. It seemed like Ohno did not discard any failed attempts of his work even if they were suited to be sold.
Nino breathed in deeply again, calm running through his body with each breath as he listened to Ohno silently working on their dinner. It was a silent affair with almost no words exchanged but this time when Nino left his feet led him finally to his apartment.