Chapter Text
“What the hell do you mean he’s coming here?!”
Touka’s voice was a shrill shriek that almost made Hide lose his grip on the tray of cups he’d been shuffling around with for the last ten minutes. He wasn’t completely sure what he was supposed to do with them but he also wasn’t going to ask because that would draw Touka’s attention and the last thing he needed was Touka’s attention.
“First you let that human stay here and now you want him to come back?”
Hide’s hands shook slightly but he didn’t let Touka’s words faze him. He was working at the shop because Yoshimura had offered him a place after he’d rescued Hinami and lost his own family in the process. Hinami hadn’t been willing to stay if Hide didn’t so he’d stayed as well despite Touka’s attitude.
The others didn’t mind him much and the customers usually just ignored him but it was ok because at least he had somewhere to stay.
“Kaneki needs a place where he can re-evaluate his choices and we’ve decided that this is the best…”
The door opening drew Hide’s attention from their conversation and he slipped the tray onto the counter as he turned to greet their new customer.
The man that walked through the door was tall though not much taller than Hide. His shocking white hair seemed to glow as he stood in the doorway but what drew Hide’s attention was the eye patch.
Shaking himself from his stupor Hide stepped forward, bowing slightly.
“Welcome, sir, can I offer you a seat?” he greeted.
The man stared at him for a long moment and Hide really hoped he wasn’t another gourmet because that was the last thing they needed so soon after Nishio and Touka almost got eaten when they took on Shuu.
The man took a step forward and Hide fought the urge to step back, he could feel his smile cracking but he forced himself to maintain the expression even when the man was so close that Hide could smell his cologne.
The man lowered his head and inhaled slowly. The sound of the air rushing into his nostrils had goose bumps pebbling Hide’s skin.
“You smell interesting,”
The whispered words had Hide dancing backwards out of range of the strange ghoul because only a ghoul would say something like that without batting an eye.
When the man didn’t attack him or do anything other than straighten from his slouch, Hide scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. Maybe the man had just been complimenting him? Though Hide wasn’t sure that being told he smelled interesting was actually a compliment.
“I’ve been trying out a new cologne…” he offered up before the situation could get any more awkward.
The man blinked then shrugged, “Perhaps,” he responded almost amicably but Hide could hear in his voice that he didn’t think that was it.
“Kaneki-kun, you’re back!”
Hide gaped when Hinami bowled straight into the other ghoul but the man didn’t seem surprised as he lifted a hand to stroke the teen’s hair. Hide’s eyes dropped to the ghoul’s black nails but he didn’t comment because if Hinami was ok around the man then he couldn’t be that bad.
The ghoul knelt so that he was level with Hinami. The smile he flashed the young teen made Hide’s heart speed up but he quickly glanced away busying himself with the cups he’d abandoned when the man whispered something to Hinami.
A moment later a familiar hand was curling against Hide’s palm and he grinned down at Hinami but the girl was staring at the stranger.
“And this is Hide-kun, he’s really nice and he lives here now because his house burned down….” Hinami trailed off and the dark expression on her face said she was remembering the events that had led to the fire.
“It’s ok, I get to live here with Hinami now,” he cut in, shooting her a blinding smile which she returned though it was a watery version but Hide would take whatever he could get.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Yoshimura. Apparently you’re quite the worker,”
Hide shrugged, he didn’t have a problem working and he actually enjoyed his job. He didn’t tell the man that though because Touka didn’t like him talking to customers for too long.
“Tell me Hide-kun,” the way that the man purred his name made Hide shudder, “…do you do much when you’re not working?”
“I-I go to university,” Hide managed to force out, his smile slipping away as he met the ghoul’s uncovered eye.
The man grinned, “That’s a nice coincidence, I’m starting university as well. Maybe we’ll see each other around…”
Hide opened his mouth to respond but before he could find a single word that didn’t make him sound like an idiot the ghoul leaned in even closer.
“After all it would be a shame to lose such an interesting smell.”