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It was another early morning shift for Kaeya. He didn’t actually mind too much; it was just boring as no one tended to come in at that time. When he heard the door open he was actually a bit surprised. He had been talking with his coworker, ironically named Venti, leaning against the counter.
Kaeya immediately shut up and sprang up to take the customer’s order.
The customer didn’t look too eccentric, just an ordinary if not strangely attractive man. Kaeya was assuming he’d just take a second to look at the menu, order something plain, and he’d be able to flirt with him a bit before he left. Never enough to get himself in trouble, though.
“Good morning! What’ll it be for you?”
Without hesitation the man answered, his turquoise eyes boring a hole through Kaeya. “How many espresso shots will fit in a Venti cup?”
Venti usually laughed at the sound of his name, to which Kaeya would roll his eyes, but today he was oddly silent.
“Uhh… I can make a quad with sixteen extra shots. But—“
“Perfect!” The man smiled, and wow was he cute if not slightly terrifying. “Thank you, Kaeya.”
For a moment he had forgotten his name was on a tag on his apron. That moment was a terrifying one.
“Uhh, sir. It’ll take us a while to get the drink and even then it’ll be extremely bitter.”
“Oh, I don’t mind. I came in early so I wouldn’t bother other customers.” A shadow seemed to fall over his face. “And I do not concern myself with flavor. It is only temporary after all.”
Okay, what the FUCK was happening? This guy… could not be real. Despite all his fear, Kaeya could not deny he hadn’t felt this for another person in a long time. He couldn’t tell if his heart was hammering in terror or pure admiration.
“Okay, that should be…” Kaeya read off the price.
The strange man began to pull out multiple two dollar bills. Was the guy even real?
“Oh, hang on. Might I ask if you have any ‘Add Energy’ packets?”
“Oh, sure.”
“What would be the maximum amount I could have?”
Kaeya was sweating at this point. “For your health, only one. I cannot sell you any packets either.”
“Oh.” The customer’s face fell for a second. “Just the one then.”
Kaeya told the new price, and the customer paid with an additional few dollar bills added to the tip jar.
“Thank you for allowing me have this drink. The other locations did not seem pleased.”
Kaeya really wondered why. He wrote the order on the cup and passed it to Venti silently. He’d normally call it out, but Venti had already heard and he was just too shocked.
Venti looked up at Kaeya and mouthed, “Can I really do this?” The other man simply shrugged in response.
Venti almost happily filled the cup. Once it was ready, Kaeya realized he had forgotten the ask the man’s name.
Fortunately, the man was already ready to take the cup as Kaeya turned around to call for him.
“Thank you, angel.”
Wh-what did this man just call him? While his head was still spinning the man had already left. Kaeya was sure he was smitten.
“Quite the customer, hehe,” Venti laughed.
“Indeed.”
Jean came to check on them, and Kaeya recounted the story.
“Oh yeah, I’ve met my fair share of customers like that.”
She had?
“What did he look like?”
Kaeya wasn’t sure why she had asked, but described him anyway. “On the smaller side, larger turquoise eyes, light brown shoulder-length hair?”
“Oh, that would be Albedo.” Jean smiled.
“You know him?”
“I know of him,” Jean corrected. “Diluc knows him better.”
Wait, Diluc KNEW this man? Kaeya voiced his thoughts.
“Yes, though I’m not sure how they are acquainted. I believe from his tales you two would get along.”
Kaeya was certain he was terrified of Albedo, but he was more certain that he wanted to get to know him better.
“We may,” Kaeya replied coolly. “I think I’d be interested in seeing him again.”
To Kaeya’s surprise but great pleasure, the two would meet again.