Chapter Text
It’s just a normal day at the Charming Cafe. It’s an establishment that’s been running for almost decades, as Chloe’s always been told. Originally, it was a hole-in-the-wall wonder that grew to become a rival for the top coffee shops in all of Auradon, like Sundollar and Jim Hears a Who. They’d long since bought those restaurants out though.
And Chloe already knew that, being the heir to what was essentially a billion-dollar fortune, that thanks to the work her parents and her grandparents had put in before her, that she’d never have to work a day in her life. She didn’t want to, either. Some may say she was spoiled for that, but it worked out pretty well. Enough money to buy whatever you want can get you a lot of friends, even if none of them are that genuine.
Brushing that aside, Chloe was currently looking up at the Auradon City location of the Charming Cafe. Unfortunately, her mother and father had gently encouraged (forced) her to get a job there in order to learn some skills for what they called the real world. It did seem quite interesting to become a barista, and her first day would hopefully have something reasonably exciting happen. It couldn’t be that bad if she was working with Herkie, her best friend. Actually, she’d always thought Herkie was a stupid nickname for someone named ‘Hercules the Second’, but you do have to roll with what you’ve got sometimes.
Anyhow, entering the building for the first time felt quite surreal. It’s like finding a comfortable chair that you use for a decade, or trying a new food that’s sure to be your favorite. It makes sense why so many people like it. She’s suddenly startled out of her thoughts when Herkie calls her.
“Chlo! Come over here, your parents told me to teach you how things go.” He shoots her a smile, and she melts just a little bit more.
“On my way!” Chloe responds. She rushes over behind the counter, giving Herkie a bear hug from behind. He freezes for a second, before relaxing. Must be the Tourney reflexes or something.
“So, how do we do this?” Putting on her best smile, Chloe tried to make Herkie more comfortable. He did look quite spooked; until he blinked once. Then twice. And he was back to his normal, cheerful self.
Herkie cocked his head. “That’s the fun thing. Today, I’m just going to teach you a few things before the store opens in an hour, and you can do those.” He brandishes a spatula from somewhere random, before continuing. “This is my lucky spatula! I mean, it’s yours now.” He hands it over, and Chloe grabs it gently.
“I don’t know why it’s lucky, but it is. And you’re going to need it! Oh, yeah, I’ve been waiting for this!”
Chloe lays her hands on the counter, feigning a thinking expression. “And what have you been waiting for?”
“Herkie’s Awesome Super Amazing Training Montage Extravaganza!” He raises his fists in the air. “Okay, first…”
At the end of their debriefing, the kitchen’s a mess, and the counters are dusty somehow. Chloe doesn’t think she’d have it any other way.
Herkie motions to the door. “It’s time for your first shift! Oh, hey, it’s Red!”
Chloe looks confused. “Her name is Red ?”
“No, we just call her that since she has striking red hair. She consistently orders a crimson oak latte with whipped cream, and two pumps of caramel.” Herkie says.
“Isn’t that pretty inconvenient?” Chloe says.
Herkie taps his chin. “No, actually. She’s been coming in for almost a year. The day I memorized her order is actually the day I asked you to be my bestie for the restie !” He finishes with an exaggerated high-pitched voice.
Chloe cocks her head. “Is there a correlation between those two events? Also, please never do that voice again.” Her eyebrow raises, and she places her hand on her side where her Tourney sword normally is.
Herkie’s eyes widen, as he frantically shakes his hand. “No! It’s just a coincidence! Also, please stop looking at me like that. I’m getting reasonably afraid. And I’ll stop with the voice.” He rubs his throat. “It does hurt my vocal cords.”
Chloe stops. “Oh. I didn’t realize I did that, sorry. My mother told me it was a good business tactic. ‘ [Eye] contact can make or break a contract!’ At least that’s what she said.”
Herkie scratches the back of his hair. “I think Mrs. Ella might be right. After all, my dad did make a deal for the real estate. He said your mother’s eyes scared him into it. She held that gaze all the way through the meeting! I quote-” Herkie raised his finger to his lips and feigned a moustache, making Chloe giggle a bit.
“- She’s possessing me! I think I’ll find a ghost in my room tonight…”
They had a good laugh, before a figure burst through the door, putting her things down and rushing to the counter.
Flipping her hair out of her face, Red’s fiery eyes meet Herkie’s softer ones.
“Hercules the Second, I waited-” She motions at her watch. “Ten minutes! Ten minutes after opening, and I saw what? No open doors.”
Herkie stifles a giggle. Red whips her head to face him. “What is it?” she seethes.
“Woah, take a chill pill! I have your order here! You should see yourself without morning caffeine.” Herkie suddenly brandishes a coffee from the counter. Maybe it’s magic.
Red takes it and immediately chugs it down. As she finishes, her demeanor magically shifts from red-hot anger to a cool, relaxed individual.
“Thanks for that. Where can I have a seat? In the corner?”
“You know you can always sit anywhere.” Herkie smiles. Red returns the favor, retreating to a corner and setting up for something.
“What’s going on, Herkie?” Chloe whispers.
He blushes, but wipes the expression off his face as quickly as it appeared.
He murmurs something about being pretty, and Chloe puts a hand on her chest.
“Herkie! I’m glad you think I’m pretty, but I don’t swing that way.” She can swear she sees Red look up in her peripheral vision.
“I know that! I’m your best friend! I was talking about Red.” He ends in a whisper.
“Oh, really? You know she’s right there. Maybe we shouldn’t be gossiping about someone who’s right there.”
Herkie blanches. “I’m not gossiping! Just… admiring from afar.”
Chloe shrugs. “I mean, she is quite pretty.” She’s not just saying that to get to Herkie. It might just be the way she commands herself, but she does have an aura around herself that Chloe can’t help but admire. Even her shadow probably looks good.
“You’re kidding. Every time I like a girl, you end up dating her! That’s not happening again!”
Chloe smirks. “And how do you know it won’t?”
“We’ll make a bet. We have a week from today to get Red to agree to go with us on a date. First person wins a favor from the other, and the added bonus of going on a date with Red.” Herkie says.
Chloe instantly says a quick “Deal.”
In unison, they sing a song from their childhood. “Pinky link, pinky link promise! I will never break this promise!” They finish, raising their hands over their heads.
Just then, Red chimes in. “You guys look really weird right now.” She motions to the door. “And rush hour is starting.” She takes a sip of another drink she’d somehow gotten (Goddamnit, Herkie! Free drinks?) and finishes with a flourish. “Good luck, because I’m sure as cards not helping with that .”
Chloe cocks her head. “I’m sorry? I don’t think I asked for sass.” She silences herself as soon as possible, but it may be too late.
Red thinks before responding. “Witty. I like it.” She blows a kiss in Chloe’s direction, before seeming to block her out and hyper-focus on her work.
Herkie stares at Chloe, playfully nudging her. “So it’s like that, huh? Game on.”
They brace as the floodgates open, and the rush hour begins.