Chapter Text
Icarus is taking four classes this term; the standard for a full-time student. He also signed up for a handful of extracurricular activities, not many, but enough to keep him involved. He’s discreetly in the student LGBTQ+ club, though he doesn’t often speak up. And of course, astronomy club, which is the thing he lives for every week.
He also has five separate jobs, that require his efforts at various times of the day/week. Between the five of them, Icarus manages to make enough money to keep his monthly bills in check, as well as taking a chunk off of the cost of tuition. He’s not rich, for sure, but frankly, it’s enough for him to keep his head above water (a phrase that’s always made him shudder, for some reason), and not burden his family with debt.
So many jobs, classes and extracurriculars requires Icarus to keep a detailed schedule on his refrigerator so he can keep track of where he’s supposed to be and when.
Tragically, this becomes his undoing, as certain other individuals also consult this schedule at their leisure to determine how and where to find him and maximize their pestering.
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The coffee shop is one of his big earners. It’s the reason he stays on working at The Big Bean, even though the job is more stressful than he would have thought. Icarus works there in the afternoon on Monday, after his European history class; and mornings on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It’s a Thursday morning when the sun gods arrive.
Icarus looks up from where he’s restocking filters and groans aloud. Naturally, he’s the only one working the front at the moment.
Helios saunters over to the counter, grinning broadly at him. “Oi, can we get some service, here?” he shouts, unnecessarily loud.
Slumping in resignation, Icarus shuffles over to them. “Good morning, and welcome to the Big Bean. How can I serve you today?”
Both the gods snort at that, Helios nudging Apollo before leering at Icarus.
“Well, I can come up with a few ideas, Mop-Head… let’s start by bringing that pretty face of yours over here for a kiss, hmm?”
Icarus groans again. “Can you just be serious for once-“
Helios ignores him. “Then, you can take off those silly-looking clothes…”
“I think he looks rather dapper in that apron,” Apollo interjects, a slight quirk to his lips indicating his amusement but giving no clue if he’s serious about the apron.
“True. And the little cap is cute,” Helios concedes. “All right, so, naked except for the apron and cap-“
Face flushing crimson, Icarus hisses at them: “You guys, I’m working right now! You have to cut it out or I’ll get fired!”
Neither of them look impressed. “So what? You have four other jobs,” Helios points out.
“I need the money,” Icarus pleads. “Can’t you please just – order something?”
Apollo sighs. “Very well. It’s breakfast-time for you, correct?”
“It’s… yeah, I mean, it’s morning, so…”
“Then I’ll have barley bread and wine, with olives and figs.”
Icarus sighs. “We serve coffee, tea, and those pastries there,” he points at the display window, featuring sugary breakfast pastries.
Apollo sighs again, more heavily this time. “I’m beginning to see the source of your nutritional deficiencies. These will be addressed.”
“We have Greek Mountain Tea. Maybe you’d like that?” Icarus suggests desperately.
The god waves his hand. “Very well. With a teaspoon of honey added.”
While Icarus hurries to make the tea, Helios peruses the baked goods. “What’s this one?” he asks, pointing to an item.
Icarus looks over. “Uh… caramel and cinnamon roll.”
Helios nods. “I’ll have 1200.”
Icarus gapes incredulously. “H-hahh?!”
“You and your sweet tooth,” Apollo says to Helios.
“Yeah, what can I say? It’s always been my favorite.”
“You want 1200? One-two-zero-zero?” Icarus presses.
“Standard sacrificial amount,” Helios says.
“We don’t… have that many? Like, in the entire store? And it’s not a sacrifice, for- you’re paying for this, right? Please tell me you have money!”
They both give him blank stares. Icarus starts to hyperventilate as he debates how he’s going to deflect them, then they both snicker.
“Relax, Mop-Head. We know how to buy things.” Helios slaps a wadded-up ball of bills on the counter. “Now gimme my roll!”
Icarus shakily sets the tea in its paper cup down for Apollo and retrieves the cinnamon roll. These guys are not improving his anxiety.
When he sets the roll on its napkin on the counter, Helios darts his hand out, grabs Icarus’s wrist and pulls him forward to plant a kiss on his cheek. “You’re such a dork, Mop-Head,” he says with a wink and a grin, reaching up to flick at Icarus’s cap, knocking it at an angle over his eyes.
Both gods take their goods and begin to walk out of the store. “Catch ya later, kiddo!” Helios calls behind him.
“We’ll be sure to discuss your state of undress again later, when you’re off-shift,” Apollo adds, shutting the door behind them.
The wadded-up bills cover the amount needed – which is interesting, since he hadn’t told them the price, and they didn’t ask. Icarus is putting the change in the tip jar, when he realizes the jar is nearly overflowing with glittering Greek coins. The old ones, drachmas and obols with ancient Greek gods printed on them. Icarus wonders if Helios and Apollo are on any of them. The coins are totally useless to him, but they make him smile, and he packs them carefully in his bag to take home and examine later.