Fanfiction: Coffee Break [Chapter Six]
Coffee Break
Author: everkitsune
Summary: A series of stories surrounding a coffee shop.
Pairings: Kangteuk, Hanchul, Kihae, various others
Warning: BL, Overused plot, AU
Rating: T for Teuk (:
a/n: this chapter bothers me |:
Chapter Six: Cup
Kangin pressed a cup of coffee down onto the table in front of Eeteuk, giving the other man a hug and a smile before he disappeared to work again. Smiling after the man, he felt the warmth from the hug trail away all too quickly.
He watched his boyfriend greet customers and serve them. He saw him chitchatting with other people and bit down on his lip to give him something to think about besides the sudden loneliness that was swallowing him. It did not work, and he felt himself falling prey to that accursed ache in his chest.
He took a shuddering breath, his gaze rapidly switching from a small group of babbling students who were in a corner table by the window of the café to Kangin, who was giving Donghae orders at the counter. He clenched the teacup in front of him with shaking hands. Suddenly a movement in front of his face made him jump. He stared at the dark haired man across from him. He had forgotten that Yesung was there.
The other man was laughing at him. Eeteuk liked how pleasant his face seemed. He watched Yesung twirl his spoon around his cup absently. He raised his eyes back up to his face, taking in the smirk that hooked the corners of the other man’s mouth.
“You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?” Yesung asked, placing the spoon down on the teacup tray and putting his chin in his hand.
Eeteuk shook his head, “I’m deaf,” He explained patiently, used to telling others.
“I know,” Yesung grinned, “I used to work in a home for deaf kids when I was in high school.”
Eeteuk’s eyebrows rose to above his hairline, “Really?” that wasn’t exactly the sort of job he expected a teenager to take.
“I learned a lot there, like how to value every sense we have,” He touched his ear, “And how you and I are looking at the same world, but we’re all looking at it through different lenses.”
Eeteuk gaped at him, his mouth dropping open. Yesung started laughing at him, his face screwing up in an amusing expression. He felt the table tremble and watched the liquid in his cup quake.
He lifted his cup to his lip and took a drink, tasting the bitterness with just a hint of sugar. A spice had been added to give it a slight kick that cleared the back of his throat. He smiled, letting warmth spread through him. He looked up as Yesung made an excited gesture.
“See?!” The other man smacked the table excitedly, “That’s what I’m talking about!” He wagged his finger at him. “Don’t feel like you are alone. No one is ever alone. You may not be able to hear me, but you can do so much more that I’m the one who feels like I’m lacking.” He smacked the table again, his face lighting in a smile. “You can feel that right?”
Eeteuk put the cup down, a laugh rising from his throat unbidden as he felt a strange feeling in his chest. It was as though a bubble of hope had just swelled and popped, spreading like sugar through his veins. It made him giggle.
Yesung smirked, “See? Just wait, you’ll see how much you know,” He sat back against his chair and crossed his leg over the other. “So, what do you think about Raccoon?”
Eeteuk stared at him blankly, “Raccoon?”
“Kangin,” Yesung pointed at the man, “I mean, how do you just…fall in love with that?”
Eeteuk blinked at him and then started to laugh. His laugh must have been contagious, because Yesung started to laugh again. “I don’t even know him that well,” Eeteuk smiled wistfully, showing his dimples, “But somehow, ever since the moment I saw him, I haven’t been able to think of anything but him.”
“It was yesterday,” Yesung scoffed, taking a drink from his coffee mug. “I never thought it would be possible to fall so quickly.”
Eeteuk’s smile grew, his lips parting slightly and showing off his pearly white teeth, “I thought so too,” He looked over suddenly and saw the man under conversation coming over to their side. He was holding an umbrella in his hands.
“Here,” Kangin placed it in front of him on the table. There was a note attached to it, but Eeteuk didn’t take his eyes off of his boyfriend. “For when you leave,” He motioned to outside, where it was pouring rain once again, “I don’t want you to get soaked.”
Yesung waved a hand to get Kangin’s attention, “Hey, lover boy, can I get a refill?” He waved his empty coffee mug at him and Kangin took it with a roll of his eyes. He said something that Eeteuk couldn’t see because the other’s face wasn’t towards him and, after asking Eeteuk if he wanted anything, went to fulfill Yesung’s order.
Eeteuk picked up the paper that had been attached to the umbrella with a piece of tape. Would you go on a date with me? Had been written in sloppy characters that seemed a bit too rushed, but there were hearts drawn beneath the question and Eeteuk couldn’t help but blush at the message.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and sent Kangin a text. “Of course! <3” Eeteuk texted him a reply, smiling when he saw the other jump as his cell vibrated on him.
“God,” Yesung scoffed, as Kangin came back with a hop in his step and a song on his lips. “You’ve convinced me,” He moaned as he put his chin in his hands, watching his friend and Eeteuk kiss in front of him. “If this mushiness isn’t love, I’ve been lied to all my life.”
Kangin’s smile stretched until it almost split his face in two. “You never even knew what it was,” He said after they broke their kiss, and then he turned his utmost attention to Eeteuk, smoothing his hands through the other man’s hair and pressing his lips to the angelic forehead.
When Eeteuk left, Kangin saw him to the door, making sure he had the umbrella and cell phone and anything else he might have needed. Eeteuk left, but not before giving Kangin the spare key to his apartment and a kiss on his temple. “I’ll be home later, but I have to go visit my editor for a meeting and sometimes that takes hours, so if I’m not home by the time you get out of work just make yourself at home.”
Kangin was still smiling stupidly five minutes after his boyfriend left, much to the amusement of Yesung, who was watching him try to pour coffee and miss the cup five times. “Yknow, sometimes you need to look at the cup, instead of into space.”
Kangin blinked and yelped as the dark liquid started to drain off the side of the table. “Oh shi-“ He put the pot down and went to clean it when his cell phone vibrated. He picked it up and read the message:
Rent us a movie from the video store, I’ll buy some Chinese take out. Let’s be a cheesy couple, k? <3 Teukie.
Kangin wandered off without the coffee pot and without wiping up the spill he made, his head swimming in his own fantasy land and something short of a miracle growing in his heart.
Yesung sighed and started to clean up the mess with napkins, “This is why workers aren’t allowed to have cell phones on during work hours, damn it.”
-x-
Donghae watched his coworker run around the shop with a dopey smile on his face, making more mistakes than ever. He took out his camera and snapped a picture of him when Kangin came back to the counter.
“Look!” Kangin flashed Donghae the message on his camera that Eeteuk had sent him. “We’re going to watch a movie!”
Donghae’s smile spread across his face, his eyes alight with cheer, “You and Eeteuk are an item now then?” At Kangin’s nod he pulled the man into a headlock and gave a happy whoop. The customers all looked over but laughed and turned back to their business.
Kangin pulled himself out of Donghae’s grasp with a growl and play smacked him on the arm. The door chimed as it open and they both looked up as a familiar group of college students entered.
“Hey Hae!” Eunhyuk waved to his friend when he saw him, followed by three other kids. “We’re here for a study group, are you going to join us when you’re done with your shift?”
Donghae shrugged, “Sure,” He smiled, “Hey Minnie!”
Sungmin smiled at him, flicking his damp hair out of his eyes, “Hi Donghae, how are you doing?” He surveyed the menu as he talked. He was wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt with a nice pink and white shirt on underneath and dark blue jeans.
“I’m doing alright,” Donghae smiled, “Did you get the pictures developed?”
“Oh,” Sungmin snapped his finely manicured nails, “Yes I did! They’re in my bag. Can I try the pumpkin latte?”
“Sure!” Donghae rang his order up and went about making it. Sungmin flashed him a smile, leaning in close.
“Henwook is at it again,” Sungmin giggled, “Being adorable that is,” He winked, pointing his thumb behind him at the couple.
Donghae laughed loudly, his lips parting and his eyes wide. “They’re always cute!” He grinned as he handed Sungmin his drink.
“I know, but they’re just being more adorable today.” Sungmin meant to say more but a sudden call from his cell phone made him change his attention and he answered it with a cute smile. “Hi Shindongie!” He waved at Donghae and left the counter, going over to where Eunhyuk had settled down in the corner table.
“No,” Ryeowook shook his head at Henry patiently, smiling at Donghae and then turning back to the other boy. “It’s not said like that…”
Henry looked pleasantly confused, his cheeks were puffed out slightly and he had bitten his bottom lip from the effort of concentration. “Oh,” He smiled sheepishly. “Oh, hi,” He said in English. “Can we get a … um…” He looked at Ryeowook helplessly and the other boy ordered for him with a knowing smile.
Donghae got their order around and took Henry’s money, which he had to wait for because the two were arguing over who would pay. “Hey,” He held up his camera, “Photo Op!” He grinned at the couple and took their picture. Ryeowook held up a victory sign and Henry put his arm around his shoulders.
He watched them leave and go to their table and Donghae sighed, flicking through the pictures on his camera. There were many moments in every single day that he wanted to capture. He wanted to catch everything in a snapshot.
When Kibum regained his sight, he was going to show him every single one. Donghae had put every picture he took in a photo album, which was sorted by year and day. He wanted to be able to share the world, the time that Kibum had missed, all the sunrises and sunsets that he had missed, everything.
He had never missed a sunrise, nor had he missed a sunset.
Nor did he plan on it.
At least not until Kibum had his sight back, and then he was going to go up and see a sunset with him, together instead of a snapshot.
It wasn’t long until his shift was over and he clocked out before he wandered over to join his friends in the study group. “Hey guys!” He smiled, taking another picture at random.
No one at the table flinched; they were all used to the pictures. Eunhyuk nudged him in the ribs as he sat down. “Did you do this yet? How did you do it? Why do we need to know math equations for psychology?”
Donghae grinned, “Because aliens like to make things complicated.” He leaned over and snatched the sheet out of his hands. After a long moment of consideration, he put it back on the table. “I wasn’t there when we went over this,” He said after a moment. Kibummie probably knows though, you should all come over later so we can study there.”
Sungmin blinked at him, in the middle of chewing his pencil down to the nub. “You’re leaving?”
Donghae grinned at his friend, the fading golden sun of the sunset reflecting off his teeth, “Yep, I promised Kibummie I’d come home right away.”
Sungmin disappeared into his bag to pull out the photo’s he had developed. “Here you are,” He handed over the bulging envelope. “Stop taking so many, I never sleep,” He said with a teasing grin. Donghae laughed, shaking his head.
“I’ll never stop!” He stuck his tongue out at Sungmin and put the pictures safely into his bag.
“You’re really leaving?” Henry asked with a sad face. “You just finished working,” His pout was so cute that Ryeowook could not resist planting a kiss on his cheek and making the Canadian blush.
Donghae smiled at him and waved his camera, “I know but I have to go do something before I get home and I don’t want Kibum being mad at me for coming home late.”
Eunhyuk rolled his eyes, “You’re so whipped,” He gave a gummy grin and waved his packet of work at his friend. “What am I supposed to do about this?”
Donghae stuck his tongue out at his friend. “Why don’t you ask Professor Lee?” He watched a blush spread across Eunhyuk’s face like wildfire and took off with a laugh, already digging his cell phone out of his pocket to call Kibum.
“Kibummie!” He cried as the phone was answered, “How are you?”
“…Didn’t you just call me thirty minutes ago?” Kibum’s voice sounded amused.
“Yeah, but that was thirty minutes ago!” Donghae whined as he left the shop, waving absently to Siwon as he passed him by. “Do you want me to pick up anything on the way home?”
“Um, we’re running out of beer, but other than that there’s nothing.”
“Okay!” Donghae grinned, “Do you want to go out to eat tonight?”
“I don’t see why not, unless you want to stay in.” Donghae could almost taste the smile that he knew was on Kibum’s face.
He turned the corner and stopped on the bridge looking over the water and with a good vision of the exploding colors of the setting sun. The rainclouds were clearing, and the colors of the fading light danced along the skyline. He took out his camera, tucking his phone between his shoulder and chin. “Now I’m torn,” He whined, changing the settings so that the image would be clear as possible.
“Hurry home,” Kibum breathed into the phone, and Donghae heard the decisive click on the other end.
His hands shaking, he took his picture and stowed the camera, racing down the street and almost forgetting to watch for cars as he tore into the apartment complex, almost knocking over the alert for ‘disabled residents.’ He didn’t wait for the elevator and instead raced up the stairs. He unlocked the door with shaking fingers and entered, dropping his bag on the floor.
All thought of groceries forgotten, he pounced on the relaxed body which was laid out on the couch. Kibum was wearing a grey wife beater and black and white work out shorts, he must have been exercising before Donghae arrived. Donghae kissed him desperately as the other returned his affections a bit more calmly.
“Kibummie!” Donghae crowed between kisses, “I missed you! Did you have a good day?”
Kibum smiled against his lips, his hands sliding up Donghae’s shirt, “My day just started,” He moaned when Donghae’s hands slipped under the waistband of his shorts and did that thing that only he could do.
Both forgot about groceries, lost in the diet of one another.
-x-
Hankyung was about ready to collapse when they came through the door at one in the morning. His legs were aching, as was his back. Heechul had kept him busy moving supplies in the back of the store all day long and it was an exhausting process. They had prohibited from helping with the customers because he could not speak Korean well enough.
Heechul came in after him, rolling his eyes as the Chinese man complained about being treated like a slave. “Yah!” He took Hankyung and hauled him up off the floor by the elbow. “Come on, I want to get your measurements before you sleep.”
Hankyung’s jaw dropped open but he let himself be dragged away regardless. Heechul dragged him into the office, the measuring tape already in his hands. He made Hankyung strip to his boxers and grabbed his measurement sheets out of a drawer. He started to take measurements and write them down, completely absorbed in what he was doing.
Hankyung was forced to hold completely still, his mind foggy with sleep. He felt the tape on the back of his shoulders and felt Heechul’s hand run soothingly along it. He bit back a moan, his clouded mind relishing the contact.
When he came from China, he had expected many things. However, he had not realized how lonely of an existence it was, to live in a foreign country alone. He felt Heechul’s breath on his neck and he bit his lip. Why was his new boss such a strange enigma?
One minute, he was bossy and crass, and the next, he was nice and gentle. He seemed to be so many things. It was hard to define this man, Kim Heechul. Hankyung was whirled around to face the shorter man. As he looked into Heechul’s preoccupied eyes, he found it hard to hate the man, even if the other was loud and bossy and made him get no sleep.
At the close proximity, he couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under his eyes, or the paleness of his Heechul’s skin. He seemed to be worn out, however when he looked in his eyes, he saw a familiar flame of determination, the fire of chasing, and accomplishing dreams. It was a feverish light. Most people lost their rare light before they could ever reach the end of journey.
He found himself wishing to be the torchbearer for this man. His sleep-deprived brain lost itself in the sharp coffee-colored eyes that were now busy measuring his chest.
“Yah!” Heechul smacked him back to reality. “Go to bed! If we go on and my design doesn’t get picked up by a sponsor because you didn’t sleep, I’ll never forgive you.”
Hankyung blinked, “Oh,” He shook his head slightly. “Good night,” he said breathily, picking up his clothes and turning to leave the office.
“Oh Hannie!” Heechul pressed close to him, grabbing his cheek with his hand and kissing him softly. When they pulled away Hankyung felt like he had just inhaled some sort of drug. “I kiss a day keeps the terrors away,” He winked, pushing him out of the room with a smirk.
Hankyung shook his head, staring at the closed door that now faced him stupidly.
His boss…was indeed strange.
TBC…