Chapter Text
Ed goes to Yao cafe again a few days and almost immediately regrets it when he’s greeted by a certain barista with a closed-eyed smile.
“Hey! Welcome back.” The barista greets him cheerily. “What can I get you?”
Ed blinks, taken aback by the very normal greeting after what happened last time. Not that he’s complaining or anything. “One medium Americano, please.” He orders his usual. Maybe this would actually go smoother than he had expected.
As the guy types up his order on the register, Ed takes the opportunity to search for a name tag. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find one – looks like this cafe doesn’t have name tags for the baristas.
Ed pays the bill shortly after, and he lets himself relax because it doesn’t seem like this guy’s going to hit on him like last time. Perhaps last time was a fluke after all, and -
“So, do you still have my number?”
Ed almost groans out loud. He should’ve known it was too good to be true. He looks up to see the guy waiting for him to answer with an expectant expression on his face. “Of course, I don’t!” Ed exclaims defiantly. Though if he was being honest, he still (unwillingly) remembers the number, but only because he has an excellent memory, okay?
The guy pouts as if Ed's the unreasonable one here. “Why not?” He asks, looking a lot like a kicked puppy.
“W-what do you mean why not?” Ed sputters, exasperated. “I don’t even know you – you’re a complete stranger to me.” He points out, the voice of reason.
The barista smiles brightly at that. “Oh, that’s it? That can be easily remedied.” He says a little too amicably which makes Ed gape at him. “My name’s Ling, what’s yours?”
Ed shakes his head. “I’m not telling you.” He says stubbornly as he crosses his arm.
The barista, Ling, seems unperturbed. “If you don’t tell me, I’m just going to keep calling you Cu-tea.” He says. No, scratch that, threatens.
“Like hell you are!” Ed objects at the god damn audacity.
Ling gives him a lazy shrug as he pours Ed’s coffee in the Styrofoam cup. “Cu-tea it is then.” He concludes nonchalantly.
Ed lets out a groan. “Ugh fine! I’ll tell you.” He finally concedes, genuinely wondering how this guy can say cheesy shit like this with a straight face. “But you’d better stop with that cu-tea bullshit or else.” He warns with narrowed eyes.
“Of course!” Ling perks up, clearly pleased.
Ed sighs, defeated. “My name’s Edward.”
“Edward,” Ling says, testing the name out on his tongue. “It’s a nice name,” He adds with a warm smile.
Ed shrugs. “Thanks, I guess.” He says, a little flattered by the genuine compliment.
Ling grins at him. “A pretty name for a pretty face.” Ling chimes in with an annoyingly charming wink.
Ed sighs. “Just give me my damn coffee.”
As usual, Ling is seemingly unfazed by Ed’s disinterest. “Here you go,” Ling says as he presents him with a cup. When Ed reaches out to take the coffee, his fingers accidentally make contact with Ling’s hands. He looks up to see Ling give him a secretive smile which makes him think that wasn't entirely on accident. “Enjoy your coffee, Edward.” He says, not suspiciously at all.
Ed frowns as he eyes the cup before looking back at Ling. “It’s drugged isn’t it?” He asks flatly.
Ling blinks, confused, and Ed realises it’s the first time he’s seen the guy look anything but playful. “What?” He manages to ask.
Ed grunts impatiently. “You put something in my coffee, didn’t you? To take advantage of me.” He continues to accuse him shamelessly, pointing the cup at the other man.
Ling looks dumbstruck for a moment before he lets out a bark of laughter. “I made the coffee in front of you.” He points out rationally between laughs, wiping away a tear. “There’s no way I could have drugged it. Besides,” He gives Ed yet another wink. “When I take advantage of you, it’ll be because you want me to.”
“Fine.” Ed relents grudgingly, deciding to ignore the last (and extremely problematic) sentence. “I’m going to have my coffee in here though, just in case.” He warns.
“Whatever makes you happy.” Ling chuckles as if Ed had cracked a joke, which makes him scowl. “You’re too adorable, Edward.” He chirps, before reaching out and casually ruffling Ed’s hair like he hadn’t already crossed enough boundaries by now.
Ed swats at his hand. “Stop that, you weirdo!” He protests. “Now leave me alone - go do your barista thing or whatever.” He says before turning around and storming off, hoping that Ling hadn’t noticed the annoying blush that is very slowly and surely creeping up his neck to settle on his cheeks.
“Enjoy your coffee!” He hears Ling say after him, his voice filled with amusement, but Ed decidedly ignores the other man as he takes a seat far away from the annoying man.
And if Ed chooses a seat where he could subtly sneak glances at the cheeky barista without him noticing, that’s really not anyone’s business.