Work Text:
café au. Inspired by Conan Gray’s song of the same title.
Owning and working at a cafe meant that you got to know your regulars quite well as time went on.
Diluc knew that better than anyone.
Albedo is a chemistry major who takes alarming amount of espresso shots in his drinks. Lisa works at the library and likes milk in her tea. If he sees Thoma, he knows to prepare for a big order. His internal list could go on and on.
Working at a cafe also meant a plethora of couples would come and go, as cafes have always been popular places to go on dates. Asking someone if they wanted to grab a cup of coffee always seemed to be the easiest way to tell someone you wanted to spend time with them.
To Diluc, couples were more interesting to learn about. They would stay at his cafe for hours, and talk about their lives as if nobody else was around. Diluc knew them better than he let on.
The girl who laughs at her boyfriend’s joke to the point of tears, even if it wasn’t funny.
The couple with stars in their eyes, who still count their relationship by the month rather than the year.
49 months; over 4 years.
A teenage boy recites another’s complicated order off the top of his head with ease.
Another gushes to his friend about the reasons he loves his partner.
Of course they’re not all sweet
A woman in her late 20s smiles down sadly at the ring on her ring finger.
“No we’re not engaged, this is just a promise ring… hopefully soon though!”
A man grips his cup tighter in his hands.
“They said they wanted to take a break.”
Diluc was known to others as a dark, brooding, and emotionless man. Yet despite what the few people that knew him thought, deep down he yearned to feel that same love and onslaught of emotions he heard people gush about as he worked.
It could be frustrating sometimes, the way people teased him for being cold, or soulless.
Sometimes he just wanted to yell out into the world that he was in fact capable of feeling emotions. That he wanted to bring love back into his life after being depraved if it for so long.
That when he was young he dreamed of owning a typical home in the suburbs, even a family to call his own.
Diluc wanted the good and the bad parts of love, the kisses and the fights.
It was easier said than done.
There are parts to Diluc that are broken. He had been hurt by those close to him multiple times. He had dated in the past but it was never serious enough to evolve into something more.
Cutting someone out of his life was not nearly as hard as letting someone in.
Diluc decided to resort to simply people watching. An easy hobby to have when you work at a cafe. Making drinks by pure muscle memory whilst ease dropping and watching his regulars through his peripheral vision.
In a way, he was living through his customers vicariously. On slow days he would even find himself making up stories of them. There was only so much stuff to clean after all.
“I’ll get an iced matcha latte please.”
Diluc was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of your voice. You were new, a student he guessed from the bag on your back.
“What size?” Diluc managed to ask before the pause in the exchange got awkward.
You hummed thoughtfully, “just a medium please,” you turned your head to the pastries in the display case and Diluc could see excitement in your face when you saw the freshly made shortbread cookies.
“and three of those please.” you pointed.
The corner of Diluc’s mouth twitched ever so slightly as he punched in your order “can I get a name for your order?”
“y/n”
Diluc gave you your total and tried not to pay any attention to your hand brushing his as you handed him your cash. He nodded in gratitude when you immediately dropped your change into the tip jar without a second thought.
“Oh, will that be for here or to go?” Diluc asked suddenly. It was unlike him to forget a part of his usual script, he wouldn’t have needed to ask for your name if he already knew you were staying. Still a part of him was glad he had learnt it.
You looked out at the cafe and smiled “I’ll stay.”
“Great, I’ll get everything out to you in just a moment. Please, feel free to sit anywhere you’d like.”
You gave him another sweet smile and walked over to a table by the window. A popular spot usually taken by couples and avoided by groups due to it only having two chairs.
as Diluc made your drink, he watched as you pulled a laptop and notebook from your bag. Your pencil case, and earbuds came next, and slowly you began to adjust everything to become your perfect study space.
After placing the cookies onto a plate then onto a tray that already held your finished drink, Diluc walked to your table and gently placed it down.
“For you y/n”
You looked up at Him and quickly moved your belongings so he had room to place down the tray. “thank you.”
Diluc made his way back to behind the counter and grinned when he saw, through his peripheral vision, your eyes widen in amazement as you tasted your drink. Taking it as a small success, Diluc happily began cleaning the supplies he had used.
-
You came to the cafe often after your initial visit
You always came to the cafe alone, so instead of overhearing what was going on in your life like he usually would, Diluc found himself getting to know you through your habits, and what little small talk was made as you paid.
You often came to the cafe after class to study, and took public transit to get around.
You shuffled your music but hit skip until the right song came on.
You chewed your straw as you read, and flipped your pencil as you thought.
I never knew Diluc could be such a creep . He heard a certain voice tease, but Diluc couldn’t help that he simply found himself enamoured with you without caution.
“See you tomorrow Diluc!” Charles waved as he left the cafe at the end of his shift. Diluc wordlessly waved back as he brushed down the espresso machine.
He glanced up at the large windows of the cafe and frowned at the darkening sky. Despite what the weather forecast had said in the morning, it seemed like it was about to start pouring any moment.
His suspicion was confirmed the moment he heard the beginnings of rainfall tapping on the glass.
He glanced over at you. In your usual spot, seemingly in your own world as you typed away at your laptop.
“I don’t suppose you brought an umbrella with you?”
He had spoken without thinking, mentally scolding himself as you jumped and broke away from your studying mindset.
You wordlessly looked outside and he saw your shoulders droop ever so slightly. You turned to him and sheepishly rubbed the back of your neck.
“I didn’t. Are you closing now?”
You thought he was kicking you out. He mentally hit himself.
“No no I was just wondering since it seems to be coming down quite hard. You’re welcome to stay and wait it out for as long as you’d like.”
Diluc had rushed the last sentence, nearly desperate to get the words out. Heat creeped to his face from embarrassment and he prayed to the archons that you couldn’t see.
You smiled at him “Thank you Diluc, hopefully it won’t take too long for the rain to let up.”
Diluc had to force himself not to melt on the spot as you said his name, he nodded and cleared his throat, turning around to busy himself with work and not embarrass himself any further.
As he wiped the counter yet again, his hand brushed up against a container of cocoa powder, Diluc paused. He looked over his shoulder and saw you slowly begin typing again.
He didn’t want to bother you again… But a sudden wave of confidence was slowly rising in him, and if he didn’t do anything now, he was certain he never would.
-
A steaming mug was placed down gently beside your laptop.
Your typing came to a stop again and your stared at the mug before slowly turning to your gaze to the redhead standing at your table, giving him a look urging him to explain.
“I always thought that hot chocolate was perfect to enjoy during this type of weather.” Diluc said as he smiled nervously.
“Oh! Thank you.” you said in shock, there was a pause before you reached into you bag in search of your wallet.
Diluc waved his hands, “there’s no need, really, it’s on the house.”
You blinked in surprise “Thank you again Diluc you didn’t have to.”
There was an another longer lapse in the conversation, you stared at the empty chair across from you.
“Would you like to join me? You can make yourself a cup, I’ll wait for you.” You felt your heart race as the weight of your impulsive worlds registered in your mind, “O-of course you don’t have to! I’m sure your busy so only if you want-“
“That sounds lovely.”
You nearly sighed in relief as Diluc stopped you from rambling even further and you smiled sheepishly at him as he quickly made his way back to the counter and quickly made his drink. In the mean time you busied yourself with putting away all your school supplies.
You were finishing zipping up your bag, Diluc had made his way back the table. As he sat down, that is when you noticed that he had taken off his apron.
Diluc himself was thinking about how strange it was to be sitting in a spot he usually watched from afar.
You sat back in your seat and grabbed your mug, Diluc did the same, and it was silent save for the rain as you two sipped at your drinks.
“So,” you started before clearing your throat “besides giving customers free drinks is there any else you do on slow days like this?”
You took another sip of your drink and Diluc smiled at the sight of you looking down at it as if there were sparkles in you eyes, the way you did when you tasted something you deemed particularly delicious.
“This happens to be a special case.” your eyes widened slightly and Diluc had to restrain himself from outwardly celebrating at the sight of your visibly flustered face. Perhaps this was a good idea after all.
“There’s not a whole lot to do besides cleaning and making sure my machines aren’t broken, but I’ve picked up some hobbies.” Diluc continued, finally answering your question.
You placed down your cup, “Such as?”
“People watching.”