Chapter Text
Yuugo poured himself another cup of tea. He guessed it wasn’t so bad, especially considering that it was the hundredth cup of tea he made since morning and it was a miracle that he still wanted to drink it at all.
He glanced across the room glaring at his customers. Most of them were young kids, middle and high schoolers from Grace Field Academy a few blocks away. There were also a few neighbourhood grandmas and a couple of salarymen who dared to order coffee.
Of course, coffee was on the menu, he didn’t mind serving it that much. But who the hell came into a tea shop, stared at the whole wall of teas behind the bar and ordered a latte macchiato? Apparently, some ignorants did. And now they were sprawled on one of his comfy couches, crunching on his cookies.
At least the business was doing good. Soon he would have to look for a part-timer because in the morning and during lunch hours things were getting difficult to handle alone, especially since he started selling food, not just tea and coffee.
Today, he was prepared. He got up much earlier than he wished and he made few dozens of sandwiches that were now safely stocked in the back.
Now he could relax before the rush started.
The door opened letting the warm, spring air inside. A small boy entered, one of those premium education class they had at Grace Field, Yuugo guessed, since the boy had schools white blazer with a logo and the kid looked weirdly serious even though he was just around seven years old.
Those special class children always made Yuugo uncomfortable. They were all incredibly smart to the extent that it made it creepy.
Fortunately, he knew this boy. And had the displeasure of not only knowing his mother Isabella by being hated by her. He guessed she had no idea her son was here.
But screw Isabella. Yuugo thought Ray was, strangely enough, able to fully manage on his own at the mature age of seven.
Ray had never been one of the most cheerful of his customers but today he seemed to be really troubled. He was holding his head down and moving slowly like he didn’t have enough life-force left. Without waiting around Yuugo started to make him his favourite tea.
“Hi, Ray! The usual?”
Ray nodded and climbed on a barstool not too far from Yuugo. As soon as he was seated, he laid down his head down on the bar-table, in a gesture of absolute desperation and resignation.
Yuugo was still amazed that Ray started his emo phase so early. He always was ahead of his pears but emo phase at seven was quite an achievement you tell your grandkids about.
“What happened? Is Isabella forcing you to study more?”
Ray slowly roll his head left and right on the bar like he was denying it.
“You can always talk to me you know,” Yuugo suggested.
“Norman,” Ray said quietly.
Yuugo stopped in the middle of making tea. Not that. Not his favourite trio.
He knew it was fucking stupid to be so engaged in children relationships but he was so bored in the store and they were so cute together. It was even more stupid to ship kids in triangles. What on Earth he was thinking?
He just wanted them to hold hands. Or play tag together. Or read books together.
He took a deep breath. Ray was crazy smart. He needed to control himself or else instead of a funny uncle he would become a creepy uncle. He needed not to hint Ray at any point that he was interested in knowing everything about his own favourite OT3.
He slowly poured water over tea he had prepared for Ray.
“What did Norman do to piss you off?”
“Betrayed me. I will never be able to forgive him.”
Yuugo really hoped that Ray would forgive him. He just wanted those kids to be happy together.
He also wished his life was more exciting because if this drama was going to be the event of the day he seriously needed to do something about his life.
Or do nothing. He actually wouldn’t mind going home, covering himself in blankets and just relaxing with some stupid series in front of the TV. Maybe he could play a game. Casual gaming was so satisfying.
“Does Emma know?” he focused back on Ray.
“She knows. He made her a card.”
“A card?”
“He wrote that he really likes Emma and drew a lot of flowers on it.”
“Like a birthday card?”
Ray did it again. He glared at Yuugo like he was thinking Yuugo was stupid.
“No.”
“Whatever. So how that was a betrayal?”
Ray didn’t answer. He just laid down on the bar again.
“You can always talk to me if you change your mind,” Yuugo offered, placing a tea in front of Ray.
Boy didn’t move. Yuugo knew Ray well enough to know that forcing him to talk wouldn’t work if done by anyone other than Emma so he decided to just leave Ray alone for now.
He took care of new customers, served a few teas, coffees, and sandwiches. He noticed that Ray finally lifted his head a little, just enough to place a book under his jaw and start reading.
When he had a spare second as the last customer had been served, he approached Ray again.
“Feeling better?”
“Do you even have eyes?” Ray sighed. “I am clearly drowning in despair.”
The way Ray often spoke like an adult would really creep Yuugo out.
“So what exactly did Norman do to make you this miserable?”
Ray lifted up a little bit but just to switch pages in his book.
“Do you really want to make me relive my trauma?”
“How about I give you a cookie?” Yuugo proposed.
Ray’s eyes darted towards sweets on the display, stopping for a moment at the raspberry cake. He seemed tempted but gave up for the sake of his honour.
Yuugo sighed. He was so weak when it came down to Ray and Emma. He reached out and placed the cake in front of Ray.
“On the house.”
“You forgot a fork,” Ray pointed out.
Yuugo didn’t forget the fork. He was just planning to throw it at Ray just because he wanted to check if the boy would be able to catch it without a warning. Just a little bit test to make this day more fun. He stepped back to have more space but before he was able to raise his hand, the tea shop door opened with a swing.
Emma ran inside at incredible speed and she threw herself at Ray.
“Ray! I found you!” she cried. “Don’t ever run away like that!”
Ray rolled his eyes.
“Like I would stay after what Norman did what he did.”
“We both really missed you. Please, come back with me!”
“I don’t want to go back! If you think I will after what Norman did you are stupid!” he accused.
Emma hugged him. Yuugo stared at them with undivided attention, he loved those kids so much, they were just too cute.
“Norman said that he’s sorry,” Emma told him.
“I don’t believe you, he’s a traitor.”
“He’s really sorry. He promised that he won’t borrow your crayons without asking anymore,” Emma insisted. “And he will give all of them back.”
“He stole them!”
“And he’s sorry! Come back, we missed you!” she repeated.
Ray blushed and mumbled something that no one could understand.
“What?”
“I said I missed you too,” Ray said. “If Norman really will give me back my crayons, I will come back,” before he got too emotional, he changed the subject. “Do you want half of my cake?”
“It looks delicious!”
Yuugo was torn between wanting to give Emma her own cake for free or looking at those two sharing it. He thought for too long because Ray rose up and stole the fork he was holding. He passed it on to Emma who took a bite of cake and then gave it back to him.
Yuugo was staring at this awkwardly as they kept on eating. They were so innocent and cute.
“Hey, guys, maybe I will give you another, big piece of cake in a box so you can share it with Norman?” Yuugo offered.
Emma’s eyes lit up but Ray immediately shot her down.
“Until he gives me back my crayons and sincerely apologizes, he’s on my blacklist.”
Even though Ray said that Yuugo started packing mini-tarts. They were much easier to share than a big cake so he hoped they would bring his favourite trio back together.
He passed the tarts to Emma since he trusted that she would be capable of working things out between her two best friends.
Ray slowly cheered up as he was talking with Emma. Yuugo served few customers and watched as they were slowly getting ready to leave. He wanted to stop them somehow, just for a little longer.
“Hey, Emma, do you want a cup of tea?” he asked.
“I don’t have money,” Emma confessed, clearly embarrassed.
“It’s on the house, you guys are one of my favourite customers after all!” he insisted. “Raspberry one or something else? Or maybe hot chocolate?”
“I want raspberry!” she shouted with joy.
Yuugo smiled and made her a cup of tea. He wondered if he was doing the right thing. After all, shouldn’t they be in class right now? But he guessed that as long as Isabella didn’t know it was fine. He doubted any of kids teachers would tell her that they lost her son and his friend since she was obsessed about Ray.
“Hey, Ray, Emma, you don’t have math right now, don’t you?”
“We had art and now we have a nap time,” Ray said.
“Good.”
Teachers at Green Field knew that it was hard to keep those kids in check during nap time so they shouldn’t be too surprised by two escapees in his tea shop.
A few minutes later, finally, a panicked teacher entered the tea shop. Yuugo recognized him immediately by the worried look on his face, although he didn’t know him personally.
“Hello,” the teacher started politely and looked around the room. “Have you seen maybe… Ray! Emma! Don’t ever scare me like that!”
“Sorry,” they both said in unison. “We didn’t want to worry you, Lucas,” Emma sounded guilty. “Can we finish our drinks?” Ray asked.
“How did you even pay for those?”
“They were on the house, don’t worry,” Yuugo calmed the teacher down. “I like those kids and I know Ray’s mom so it wasn’t a problem, really.”
The young teacher froze.
“Ray’s mom?”
“Don’t worry, she’ll know nothing about this situation. And I doubt Ray will tell her about the fight with Norman. Maybe you would like something too?”
Lucas glanced up at the board. Yuugo took that moment to judge him. He must have been around Yuugo’s age so in his middle twenties. And he was handsome. Tall, maroon hair in a mess, light brown eyes and strong facial features. He almost looked like Yuugo’s first crush from primary school, who ironically, also was called Lucas. Actually, could it be possible?
“Do you have something calming? Those two caused me a lot of nerves.”
“Sure, how about something with chamomile?”
“Sounds good.”
Young teacher reached for his wallet wanting to pay but Yuugo dismissively waved his hand.
“Don’t bother.”
“I insist. Also for those two,” Lucas put a huge bill in the box for tips.
“That’s way too much.”
“Then I guess you will have to make me a tea next time too,” Lucas smiled.
Was he flirting? Was an attractive man, who apparently was well-liked by Emma and Ray, actually flirting with him. He really wanted to go into that but needed to confirm something first.
“I’m Yuugo, by the way.”
“Yuugo?” Lucas seemed rather surprised.
“And I wanted to ask you… did you go to Glory Bell primary school?”
“Oh my god, Yuugo! I never thought I would see you again!”
Great. His first crush Lucas was back in his life, this time not only cute but devastatingly hot. Yuugo had been defeated by his bright smile again in just a few seconds.
“Yeah, me neither. I’m glad we ran into each other though,” he grinned.
“ We were such stupid brats to lose touch back then. I never had a best friend like that again.”
“Me… Me neither. So, you’re a teacher now?” Yuugo attempted changing the subject into a more safe one.
“I teach English in Green Field so I’m doing pretty great. I just filled in for the art teacher today, he’s sick. I had no idea those two were that good at escaping.”
“They do it all the time, together with their friend Norman. Sometimes other kids join, especially Don and Gilda.”
“I’ll try to be more careful. So, you’re following your dream? I remember when we were seven and you kept inviting me over for tea parties,” Lucas laughed.
“Hey, I invited you for tea when we were older too!” Yuugo tried to defend his honour thinking about the last year of primary school when he was having a particularly big problem with his crush and tried to look cool.
“I know, I know. But it was just us then, sorry, but parties with teddy bears and a doll you stole from your sister were way more fun.”
“Maybe for you,” Yuugo talked back before he thought it through.
Lucas suddenly got quiet and averted his eyes. He took a long sip of his tea. Finally, he spoke up:
“I take that back. I really liked drinking tea at your place when teddy bears weren’t around.”
“Hey, how about…” Yuugo tried to ask Lucas out but he lost his courage before finishing the sentence. “Nevermind. But if ever want me to make you a tea, you know where to find me.”
“I guess you will be seeing a lot of me then,” Lucas promised. “Do you have lunches here?”
“Yeah, I have sandwiches.”
“Great, I’ll come over for a lunch tomorrow.”
“Nice Hey, you know if any of the high schoolers from Grace Field are looking for a part-time job? I’m looking for some help here,” he changed the subject to avoid saying anything stupid.
“I’ll check.”
“Thanks, man.”
Suddenly Emma and Ray appeared by his side.
“Oi, Lucas,” Ray said. “Nap time is almost over.”
“We should go back so you won’t be in trouble,” Emma added.
“Oh my god, thanks guys, I completely forgot about the time!” Lucas glanced at his watch. “It’s so late. What’s your next class?”
“Math with mum,” Ray said.
“We need to run,” Lucas whispered with horror. “Bye, Yuugo! See you tomorrow!”
“Bye, mister Yuugo!” kids chanted in unison.
They quickly left his shop and Yuugo had a feeling that his life was going to change. Hopefully, for better since Lucas was back in it.