Chapter Text
You thanked the cashier after you got your coffee from the counter and put your headphones back on. As per usual, your morning playlist was on shuffle, but it always made you extra happy when your favourite song would randomly start playing. Even though you had a tough day ahead of you, your mood was good enough for some cinnamon in your coffee.
Your headphones were brand new and you couldn’t believe how well the noise cancelling feature worked. Perhaps if the headphones didn’t work so well, though, you would have overheard the conversation happening by the coffee machine…
“She’s in a good mood today, your girl,” the cashier said as he grinned cheekily at the barista.
“She ain’t my girl, fuck off,” the other man grumbled as he skilfully poured another cup of coffee.
“Oh, so that’s why you never talk to her? I should’ve figured…”
“Right!” The barista handed the other man the cup so fast that it almost spilled. Almost. “Take that out, will ya, Ollie, if that’s not too much trouble, mate, what with how busy you are this fine bloody morning, yeah?!”
“Whatever you say!” Ollie singsonged and carefully delivered the latte to the customer by the bar.
“But you know,” Ollie said, as soon as his colleague’s back was turned, “she didn’t leave a tip this morning. Maybe she doesn’t like your coffee anymore…”
The barista turned around to look at you, still humming to yourself and stirring your coffee, completely oblivious to the man. The barista scoffed at Ollie’s smug face. He went back to making the coffees, swearing under his breath at the other man.
“Don’t care, do I?” the barista barked. “Plenty of coffee shops in this fuckin’ city. She don’t like it, she can go.”
“Yes, Alfie, clearly you don’t give a shit.”
“I don’t,” Alfie scoffed.
“At all.”
“None, mate, now fuck off, would ya?! I’m busy!”
“Mhm… So why did you look?”
“Listen!” Alfie barked and handed him another cup to be delivered. “I care about my work, all right, don’t give a shit if it’s not someone’s taste, now take the bloody coffees out, mate, if that ain’t too much to ask, right, an’ bugger off!”
Ollie chuckled at the reaction, knowing perfectly well how easy it was to push Alfie’s buttons when it came to you — the regular morning customer he developed quite a crush on. There was a reason why the foam art on your cappuccinos was always extra nice.
Having had no idea what occurred behind the bar, you took your to-go cup, said goodbye to no one in particular and went back to the rainy street to continue your morning commute.
You were also oblivious to the fact that the barista watched you leave.
“Well, I lied,” Ollie sighed and leaned back on the counter next to Alfie’s workstation. “She did leave a tip. She’s not an asshole. Not like some of them… If I have to hear one more complaint about no soy options, I’m gonna hurl.”
Alfie chuckled at that and shook his head.
“Yeah, don’t look at me, mate, that’s his demented idea.”
“I know, but does he have to be such a prick about it?!”
“His business, innit…” Alfie sighed and washed his hands.
It always got quieter after the initial swarm of morning commuters and he was in need of a breather.
“I know. But the man’s got a vision, right?” Ollie said.
“None of that modern shit, no soy lattes, gentlemen, you’re here to make real coffee, eh? ” Alfie mocked.
“That’s… that’s possibly the worst Brummie accent I’ve ever heard, mate.”
“Yeah, what can I say, Ollie, my own’s just too fancy to repress.”
Ollie laughed at that and noticed how Alfie tried to catch a glimpse of the tip jar and be sneaky about it.
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Ollie threw his hands up. “I was teasin’, you mad bastard! I’m sure she still loves your coffee!”
“Damn right she does.”
“Yeah! I said that!”
“Hm.” Alfie leaned back on the counter and crossed his arms. “She was in a good mood, though.”
“What?” Ollie frowned.
“Yeah, ‘t was a cinnamon in her coffee kinda day.”
“Bloody hell,” Ollie scoffed, “I’m going out for a cigarette. You’re so in love it’s disgusting!”
The next time you visited the coffee shop wasn’t planned at all. Just as you were ready to go home, it started snowing. You missed your bus and what was first a picturesque winter scene in the city soon turned into a blizzard. The coffee shop was close to the bus stop and after the day you’ve had, you really needed a pick-me-up. Nothing that a tall cup of hot chocolate wouldn’t fix, though.
You stumbled inside and took off your scarf as the difference in temperature hit you immediately. There was snow all over you and you hoped the staff wouldn’t have too hard a time of a clean up. Judging by how empty the place was, it seemed so.
“Ya all right there, darlin’?” the barista asked and you were a little bit shocked that he did. It was probably the first time he spoke to you directly.
You’ve been watching him from afar for what would be months now and he never said a word to you. You were slowly losing hope to be honest — and such a shame he didn’t seem to be into you, because he was exactly your type.
“Uh,” you frowned and looked around again. “Bit cold. I’ll live.”
“Yeah...” He gave your military-style coat a once over and smirked. “An’ what news of Stalingrad?”
You snorted at the joke, surprised at his bluntness, and noticed he was watching you quite intensely.
“Is there something on my face?” you asked.
“Snow mostly, yeah.”
“Oh.” You quickly rubbed your cheeks in hope to clean it up. “Where’s your friend?”
“Ah… Not enough for ya, am I?”
“No! I mean… No, I meant… I only… I was only making conversation.” You physically felt your cheeks burn with embarrassment. Why did you even say that?
“Hm.” He leaned on the counter and pointed to the back. “The boss’ givin’ him a talk or whatever, we’re technically closed. But I can call him if ya like.”
You almost (almost) wondered if he didn’t look disappointed, but you quickly wished that thought away.
“Oh, no! I mean… I didn’t know you were closed, I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be sorry. But the machine’s off.” He looked around and scratched his cheek, obviously improvising. “Hm. Tea?”
“No, I don’t want you to get in trouble… Oh, that is cool.” You pointed to the crown tattoo on his hand. “Does it mean anything?”
“What?” He looked at his hand as if surprised the tattoo was even there. “Nah.”
You could tell he was lying, but decided it was none of your business.
“Well… If your boss won’t give you any grief, I was actually hoping for a hot chocolate?”
“Sure.” He smiled and looked at the cash register, then behind his shoulder towards the back again.
You could tell some thought process occurred there and just hoped he didn’t think you liked his workmate instead of him.
“Yeah, that’ll be on the house, luv,” he finally decided and you were a bit stunned to hear that.
“Oh. I’m… No, I want to—”
“Yeah, don’t know how to open that, just don’t tell anyone, all right?” He pointed to the register. “Ya want whipped cream? We got the… coconut stuff, it’s honestly disgusting, uh…” He bent down to rummage through the fridge contents. “Yeah, tell ya what, just… Sit an’ relax, gonna find ya the belgian chocolate, if ya haven’t had it here before you’re gonna love it, right, it’s the bollocks…”
You chuckled at that monologue and took off your coat as you were getting a bit too hot for your liking. It was certainly not only the heating, the barista and his playful banter wasn’t doing you any favours. You just hoped he wouldn’t notice how flustered he made you.
“Right, there we are.” Just as you sat down, the barista appeared out of nowhere and placed the hot chocolate before you.
You could tell he worked hard on it. It was honestly the prettiest cup of hot chocolate you have ever seen.
“Oh wow…”
“Yeah, if ya Snapchat it or whatever, I’m throwin’ you out.”
You laughed at that and shook your head.
“Nobody uses that anymore.”
He huffed and crossed his arms and you looked up at him. He was watching you with the same intensity as before and the confusion was back.
“Do you… want me to try it?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “But be honest.”
“Okay…” You took the cup in both hands and took a tentative sip.
You expected the chocolate to be too hot to drink, but it wasn’t. It was just the perfect temperature to drink, but still warm enough to make you feel all cosy and relaxed.
“Oh my God…”
“What?” He leaned a bit closer and you physically felt how tense he was.
“It’s honestly the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had,” you said and looked at him, not minding the closeness one bit.
He looked at the cup, then at you, then exhaled and finally relaxed.
“Yeah, all right.”
“I mean it!” You smiled at him and noticed with some satisfaction that he looked somewhat pleased. “Thank you. I’ve had a long day.”
“Don’t mention it.”
You took another sip and hummed in appreciation. If possible, it was even better than the first.
“Why did you add cinnamon?” you asked.
He didn’t say anything, but he did take off his apron and take the seat in front of you, which possibly surprised you even more than the cinnamon.
“I’m Alfie.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” You smiled at him. “I’m Y/N.”