Chapter Text
The pink haired boy always seemed to be in the coffee shop.
He'd always be snuggled into the little one person corner next to the window even though you couldn't see anything outside because the big sign that read HOT COFFEE plastered on in fat black letters.
He'd always wear a warm hoodie or a sweatshirt in muted tones. They were all slightly too big, so the boy's face barely peeked out from the hood and left his pink hair as only the littlest tuft of cotton candy.
The first time Doyoung came into the coffee shop was on one of those days where you've accepted your lateness and slowed down a little with urgency furthest in your mind. He saw the sign for coffee, stepped in, and was immediately plunged into that warm feeling of love and home soaked in the rich scent of chocolate, an ambiance that only a coffee shop can truly capture and then decided he never wanted to leave.
And when he first caught a glance of the soft pink haired boy, typing away at his computer and nursing a cup with frothing white foam spilling over the edge and a cookie laid out on a napkin, that decision was only confirmed. He wasn't the biggest fan of coffee, but he could definitely drink a cup or two if it meant some time to see this boy.
He found out his name a couple of weeks later, completely by accident. By then Doyoung had made it his routine to go every morning, and almost without fail the boy would be there already with his drink and a cookie.
One day by chance, Doyoung had come a little earlier and heard a "chocolate chip cookie for Taeyong!" and the boy broke into a beautiful smile and got up to get his cookie.
Taeyong. A pretty name for a pretty face.
Today was pretty much the same as any other day. Taeyong was nestled into his usual spot, and Doyoung was in line waiting to order. Yuta was there with him, he'd gotten tired of Doyoung sighing dreamily about "that dude in the cafe" and decided to check him out for himself.
"So that's the guy?" Yuta whispered loudly. "Really? I guess he's pretty hot."
Doyoung stomped on his foot, grinning when Yuta doubled over in pain. "Shut up. Do you want him to hear?"
Yuta shook his head.
"And another thing, 'pretty hot?' He's steaming and you know it."
"I don't know about that." Yuta grinned. "I only have eyes for my one and only sunshine, my beautiful, lovely, adorable, perfect-"
Doyoung gagged. "Didn't Sicheng tell you to work on your clinginess?"
"He just pretends to hate it, trust me. He actually loooooves it, especially at night when we-"
"Okay shut up, that's enough." Doyoung hissed quickly. He really didn't need to hear this.
"Fine. Anywaaaay," Yuta said, dragging out the last few letters, letting them roll over his tongue, "Just go for it dude. You're not as cute as me but I think you have a chance."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Doyoung grumbled. "You order and I'll get a table."
Doyoung stepped out of line and scanned the room, looking for a table, but it was morning rush hour when everyone dragged themselves out of bed to get a cup of overpriced coffee to try and make it through work, so the tables were all taken.
Except.
Taeyong was taking up a three-person table. If he just asked if they could share...
"If you're thinking what I'm thinking," Yuta said, suddenly behind him with two steaming cups, "Man up and ask." He nudged him forward with his shoulder, making Doyoung trip all over his own feet as he stumbled over to Taeyong's table.
"Hey... uhh so..." He gestured uselessly at the occupied tables. "Can my friend and I sit here?"
Taeyong was still for a moment, and for a moment Doyoung was on the brink of a gay panic attack, but then his face broke into a warm smile and all was right in the world. God, Doyoung could look at him for eternity, he could practically see warm beams of sunlight and hear a heavenly choir of angels accompanied by birds chirping as Taeyong smiled at him.
He was just so beautiful .
"Yeah, go ahead." Taeyong slid his computer case and backpack off the table and placed them gently on the floor. Doyoung realized this was actually the first time he'd heard Taeyong's voice, and it was every bit as sweet as he had imagined it, something low and smooth that glided over the ears.
Yuta slid into the seat across Taeyong, grinning at him. "Thanks man."
"No problem," He answered, taking a sip of coffee.
Doyoung realized he hadn't moved. He let out a breath and awkwardly tried to slide into his seat as naturally as Yuta had.
He failed, obviously, because as everyone knows, you have to embarrass yourself at least a million times in front of someone you like to properly call it a crush.
Instead of just sitting down like a normal person, he tripped over nothing and fell into his chair. The table wobbled as he and furniture collided. All eyes turned to them as utensils and sugar shakers crashed onto the floor.
"Fuck I'm so sorry." Doyoung shot up and scrambled for napkins. The cup had nearly been empty, with only about an inch or so of actual liquid covered in a thin layer of bubbly foam, but it still spilled everywhere, seeping into the wood grain of the table and dripping off the edge and onto both Doyoung's and Taeyong's shirt as the latter desperately removed his phone and computer from the table.
Fuck .
Yuta jumped up. "I'll go get napkins." He threw Doyoung a wink as he turned away to look for a barista.
Thank god Taeyong didn't see that, he was too busy trying to scrub out the brown stain blooming over his hoodie.
"I'm so so so sorry." Doyoung fretted. "I'll buy you a new shirt and-"
Taeyong looked up at him. "What? Don't worry about it. It's not like I only have one pair of clothes."
"But I need to do something to apologize, I'll-"
"No really, don't worry about it."
Doyoung was already getting out his wallet. "I'll get you another coffee at the very least, which one do you usually order?"
Taeyong flushed, warm pink coming to life in his cheeks. "I... don't like coffee. It's... hot chocolate."
Doyoung resisted the urge to clutch his heart and whimper a lovestruck awwww. He composed himself as much as possible.
"I'll get you a hot chocolate then, okay?" He turned as quickly as he could and heaved a sigh. Doyoung, you idiot, what are you doing?
He got the attention of a barista, got a new hot chocolate, then set it down at Taeyong's table, careful to sit down slowly this time.
"Thank you so much... uh, what's your name?"
"Doyoung."
"Thank you Doyoung!" Taeyong's eyes sparkled as he talked, even in the pale yellow light of dim lightbulbs and early morning sun. He held out his hand. "I'm Taeyong."
They shook. "You're getting along well." Yuta appeared, laughing and with a stack of napkins.
Doyoung's cheeks burned furiously. "No! I-we just-" He stammered.
"We are!" Taeyong smiled warmly, heating up Doyoung's face yet again.
Yuta phone chirped. “Oh no,” He lamented, clutching his heart. “My true love needs me! Have fun Doyoungie!” He gave him a not so subtle wink and disappeared off into the cold streets outside.