Work Text:
Juliette looked up from the counter, watching the people milling by. The airport was her favorite place to people watch so it was a good thing her job as a barista was in one. It was the middle of the day and this particular airport was never busy. Still, Juliette found a strange sort of comfort in watching the people go by. Businessmen rushing to their flights, elderly people getting confused, but loving their time, even families with crying babies were interesting. Especially for Juliette, who wasn’t serving any coffee at midday.
As her eyes scanned the crowd, they latched onto someone in particular. Standing perfectly still, white-blond hair stood as a harsh contrast to his black trenchcoat. They weren’t facing her, and the trenchcoat was a bit suspicious, but still, Juliette couldn’t take her eyes off of him. They were probably waiting for someone or were just waiting for a flight to open up. Whoever this person was, they were attention-grabbing. But probably never going to be seen again by Juliette’s eyes.
The next day it was around 6 pm when she saw them again. Of course, it could’ve been a different person. But Juliette felt somehow that it was the same person she’d seen the day earlier. They were standing in the same spot, still stiller than anyone had ever been in an airport. This time they were facing more towards her, giving her a glimpse of their face, though it was on a phone. Probably a businessman who got his plane ticket dates messed up. She tried to shrug off the goosebumps she felt.
On the third day, Juliette felt confident he was a man. This time he was sitting down, nose in a book that was so old, and whether Juliette couldn’t read the title. Even when she squinted and tilted her head. But maybe if she leaned a bit forward.
“Excuse me, what are you looking at?” A voice startled her, prompting her to realize that she was leaning halfway over the counter.
“Oh? Nothing. Thought I saw…. A…. something. Whatever it must be gone now. What can I get you?” Juliette spluttered, transferring to her work.
“I’ll get an iced, Ristretto, 10 shot, large, with breve, 5 pump vanilla, 7 pump caramel, 4 Splenda, poured, not shaken, and a large black coffee.” The man said, giving her a smile before glancing behind him.
Juliette got to work with the exceedingly complicated order, she got through it, but it seemed so ridiculous that it had to be for his girlfriend. Probably an influencer, obsessed with Instagram or TikTok. And sure enough, as she placed the cup on the counter and turned to get the black coffee a woman's voice could be heard. When Juliette turned around she found the man with a dopey smile on his face and a woman beside him with a bored face. She set the cup down and smiled at both of them.
“Here you are! That will be $14.39.” Juliette accepted the money handed to her and watched as she grabbed the black coffee and he grabbed the other one. Polar opposites, but it seemed to work.
Juliette watched them walk away whilst holding hands and sighed, she really liked those kinds of customers.
It was a couple of days later when Juliette saw the man again. She had kept her eye out, but figured he’d finally left. So when she saw a glimpse of platinum blond, her eyes jumped, returning to their new habit of tracking him.
It went on like this for days longer, he always stood, or sometimes sat, perfectly still and left in the one second she looked away. Yet he appeared the next day. Juliette was curious, she had a billion questions for him. But she was content to watch this strange figure. It calmed her, thinking about what he did, who he was waiting for. Some days he was a lonely businessman, waiting for the one person he’d let into his walls. Other days he was a spy, prepared to start a war. He went from a grieving husband to a father waiting to see his kid again, anything Juliette could think of. In none of these backstories did the man approach the coffee store where she worked. Which might’ve been why she was so starstruck now.
“Hello…?” He asked again, voice approaching impatience. Who could blame him, Juliette felt like she’d been staring at him for hours. But she finally blinked, telling herself to shake it off.
“Hi! Sorry! What’s yo-. That is what can I get for you?” Juliette asked, trying to act like she did with any other customer.
“Large coffee, two creams.” He said, short and almost wincing as he added the creams. Juliette nodded slowly, her eyes still glued to him as she turned to get his coffee.
“What’s your name?” Juliette asked, trying to be casual.
“Warner.” He said after a moment, not expecting the question. Juliette decided to try to channel her inner-extrovert, taking her time with the coffee to get a chance to talk to him.
“That’s a name I don’t hear very often. When were you born, 1916?” She tried for teasing banter and mentally face-palmed.
“Actually it's my last name. I don’t just give my name out to any random coffee girl.” He returned with ease, “and we haven’t even talked about your name, Juliette.”
“And what is so weird about the name Juliette?” She asked, placing his order on the counter and leaning onto it.
“Well, you are named after a character who commits suicide, and for the stupidest reason of all, love.”
“I suppose you think down on love then?” He nodded, and she proceeded to ask the question she’d been thinking of for at least a week. “Then what are you doing here, day after day? Who are you waiting for?”