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"You know… I don't know if I should say that you put too much effort into this job, or not enough."
Roxas looked up from the paper cup in his hand, sharpie poised over the bottom.
"What are you talking about, Xion?" He looked back down, adding another line. "It's not like I do this for everyone."
"And just what are you doing?" Xion asked.
"Same thing I do every other Wednesday morning?" Another line. Roxas squinted down, cocking his head to one side.
"Of course…" Xion muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose with a sigh. "Left or right leaning today?"
"Left!" Roxas chucked, turning the cup to add one last line before showing it to Xion. "I made it extra veiny today."
"I… see that…" Xion sighed and turned away. "You are getting far too good at drawing dicks for your own good."
"Thanks!" Roxas righted the cup and scrawled a large 'Alex' across the side.
"Ok, definitely not enough effort." Xion peered over his shoulder. "You used Alexi two weeks ago. And Alexis last month."
"He doesn't deserve creativity."
"I feel like he at least deserves a little more creativity than a dick on the bottom of his cup and a misspelled name when you never shut up about him." Xion walked by towards the customer at the counter, slapping Roxas upside the head.
He waited, rubbing the sore spot, as she wrote their order out.
"I don't talk about him that much." He argued when she came back over, starting the drink.
"You don't… Roxas, what time does he walk through that door?"
"Why would I know that? He's not worth the effort."
"What. Time?"
"Every second Wednesday, at precisely 10:17am, coming… from the… right." He trailed off. "That proves nothing."
"What does he order?"
"Some Godawful concoction. I swear, how is he still so damn skinny! I bet you I could trace his hip bones!"
"His hip bones, huh?" Xion smirked as she walked by, coffee in hand.
"Yeah?" Roxas followed along with a shrug.
"And what specifically does he order?"
"A large latte, three pumps of caramel syrup, two pumps vanilla syrup, one pump sugar-free vanilla syrup because he's 'watching his figure,'" Roxas snarled, making air quotes around the phrase. "As if he needs to watch it! He's in perfect shape."
Xion bit down on her lower lip, face half scrunched up. "Go on."
"No foam on top, add whipped cream and a caramel swirl."
"And?"
"One separate shot of espresso, which he shoots like it's vodka, before turning and walking out without even a thank you!"
"Not worth remembering…" Xion sighed. "Tell me, Roxas. What does he look like."
"A six-foot four God of perfection. Obnoxiously red hair for a man in an immaculate suit that fits him like it was made specifically for him. Green eyes that have to be contacts. There's no way they'd ever be so… gorgeous otherwise. Three earrings, two tiny hoops in one ear and a little rose stud in the other. I'm pretty sure he wears a little makeup, and—why are you laughing?"
"Do you even hear yourself?" Xion wheezed out, doubled over, hand on the counter holding herself up. "You sound like you're in love with him."
"Ok, first off. Ew. Secondly. I'd never so much as crush on an asshole like him. Besides... the phone thing?"
"So he's always on his phone." Xion waved a hand. "Half our morning clientele don't look at us, either."
"Yeah, well…" Roxas bit down on his tongue, racking his brain before finally spitting out, "At least they say thank you when I hand over their cup of addiction!" as Xion walked back to the counter.
He fumed while Xion took and made the customer's order, noting in the back of his mind that they gave Roxas a long glance before saying a very loud "Thank you!"
Roxas blew at the hair over his eyes. "I don't like him."
"Still thinking about him?"
"No!"
"Well. Maybe if you put in a bit of effort into your… whatever that is." Xion waved her hand at the drawn upon cup. "He'll finally look up from his phone and acknowledge your existence."
"And what? We run off into the sunset and get married?"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you…" Xion muttered.
"Want to say that again?" Roxas glared.
"Nope." Xion grinned. "You'd best get on that drink before your boyfriend gets here."
"Yeah, it's getting—Hold up." Roxas spun around, brandishing the drawn upon cup." Axel is not my boyfriend!" he shouted at Xion's back as she was helping a new customer whose eyes went wide, and he took a step back from the counter.
"Ignore him. He's having a day." Xion assured the poor man. "Roxas, that drink."
Roxas made the drink to the exact specifications, only half debating on using entirely sugar-free syrup. That probably wouldn't get him to look up. Roxas had never seen him take a sip in the shop.
Hold up. Why was he even thinking about ways to get Axel's attention?
"I don't give a flying fuck about that ass." He mumbled to himself, nearly jumping out of his skin when Xion whispered in his ear.
"Keep telling yourself that."
Like clockwork, Axel walked into the little coffee shop, straight to the counter, eyes glued to his phone.
Roxas all but shoved Xion towards him.
"Welcome, sir. What can I—"
"A shot of espresso, and-"
Roxas mouthed along.
"One large latte, three pumps of caramel syrup, two pumps vanilla syrup, one pump sugar-free vanilla syrup. Have to watch the figure after all," Axel chuckled, as he always did, thumb flicking across his screen. "No foam on top, add whipped cream and a caramel drizzle."
By the time Xion had him rung up, he'd already laid the exact change on the counter.
She poured him a fresh shot while Roxas fumbled around the machines like he was making a drink.
Axel threw the espresso back, left the small glass on the counter and held out his hand. Roxas followed his cue and handed the drink over.
"Have a lovely day." He spat out as if the words were poison, leaving Xion giggling behind him.
Axel turned and walked out without a single word, head still down, still staring at his stupid phone.
The bell jingled behind him, and Roxas turned away.
"Thanks for the coffee, Roxas." He quipped in a high-pitched imitation of Axel's voice. "I owe you for my caffeine fix."
"Face it Roxas. He's never going to notice you."
"Bet."
Xion didn't think he could get Axel's attention? He'd show her. He stalked over to the bar and grabbed a new paper cup.
First, he wrote out Axel's name, spelled 'Axle' in giant block letters down the side, then, he switched to a fine line sharpie and started drawing a miniscule yet elaborate pattern over the rest of the cup. He spent near the entire two weeks working on and off between customers, filling every inch of space with detail.
And come the designated Wednesday morning, after clocking in, he slammed the cup down on the counter in front of Xion.
"Happy now?"
She lifted the thing, turning it back and forth. "I see you went subtle with the name." A quick look at the bottom of the cup. "No dick?" And then she squinted at the pattern. "Roxas… is this… a bunch of tiny little dicks?"
"Stylized, but yep." Roxas grinned proudly. "Whatcha think?"
"I'm… oddly impressed." She rotated the cup once more before handing it back. "A little disturbed, and entirely glad that our boss would laugh instead of fire you if Axel complains."
"Think it'll work?"
"I'm… sure he'll get the message." Xion chuckled.
Roxas couldn't stand still all morning, watching the clock creep in the downtime, pacing behind the counter.
Finally, once the time drew near, Roxas whipped up the drink and marched straight over to the register the minute Axel walked through the door.
"Good morning, sir!" Roxas's voice came out perhaps a little too chipper, sending Xion into a coughing fit behind him. "What can I get for you this fine Wednesday morning?"
His heart thrummed in his chest as he prayed that today wouldn't be the day Axel finally changed up his routine.
But as always, Axel rattled off the same old order, never looking up from his phone.
Roxas frowned as he rang up the order, shifting so Xion could set the shot down. He stared at Axel, watching the apple in his throat bob as he swallowed his espresso down.
"I'll get right on your drink, sir." His overly enthusiastic customer service voice cracked, sending Xion into another coughing fit.
As Roxas mimicked putting together the sugar fest of the drink, Axel set his phone on the counter. To Roxas's surprise, Axel reopened his wallet, dropping a couple of singles into the tip jar, then picked the phone back up, never once looking away from the screen.
"At least that painful voice was worth a couple bucks," Roxas muttered, scooping up his decorated cup.
Axel wordlessly held up his hand and Roxas handed his drink over, completely unsurprised when Axel didn't glance at him or the drink. He turned, lifting his phone a little higher. Took five steps towards the door. And stopped, shiny shoes squeaking across the linoleum.
Roxas held his breath, joined by Xion coming to stand by his side at the register.
Slowly, Axel raised his head, looking towards the cup as he lifted it, turning it back and forth.
"I… think he noticed." Xion whispered.
Axel then lifted the cup higher, clearly checking the bottom.
"He knew…" Roxas groans.
And then Axel… put his phone into his finely pressed dress pants pocket.
"Holy…" Roxas started.
"Hell." Xion finished and they both exchanged a look of wonder.
Axel turned back around as he turned the cup between his hands.
Roxas was expecting to see a scowl upon Axel's face. Not wide-eyed confusion and a slack jaw.
"He did it!" Xion shouted taking a step away from Roxas.
"You…" Axel looked up from the cup, staring straight at Roxas.
"I…uh…" Roxas wondered if it would be stupid to hide behind the counter at that point.
"This is hand drawn…" Axel rotated the cup once more, bringing it closer to his face. "There's… hundreds… thousands of tiny little dicks!"
Roxas nearly jumped out of his skin as Axel started to laugh.
"Oh my word. My boss is going to love it when I give her this cup!" Axel shook his head, walking back over to the counter.
"Your… boss?" Roxas gawked. "All that work, and it's going to your boss?! "
"Indeed," Axel nodded. "She's been very entertained at the various misspellings of my name, and I must say, I've enjoyed hanging around to see the lovely artwork on the bottom."
Roxas couldn't say anything. Technically, the intended recipient of the artwork had received it.
"So, Roxas."
The fluttering of Roxas's heart dropped into his belly. Never had he been happier to be wearing a giant name tag.
"You've been drawing on my drink, thinking it was for me this whole time… what are you trying to tell me?"
Roxas was about to die. That lopsided smirk Axel was giving him would be the death of him.
"I… that… you…" Roxas choked on his words. "You're an asshole? And… I wanted you off your phone!" He blurted, slapping his palms down onto the counter
"Am I now?" Axel leaned over, one hand splayed… right next to Roxas's . "Well, I'm off my phone. Do explain."
"Uh. Well. You… you're always on your phone instead of paying attention to other living beings." The look of shock across Axel's face spurred Roxas on. "You ignore us. Not only that, but you shoot our high quality espresso like it's cheap slop. And! You never thank me for making that obnoxious thing you call a latte."
Xion let out a low whistle. "Well then… I'll just be over here… doing… anything else."
"Just once , I'd like to be treated like a human being and not some coffee making machine." Roxas spoke quietly, staring up into Axel's gorgeous green eyes that hadn't wavered from him since he started speaking.
"I see." Axel frowned, and leaned in even further.
Roxas stood his ground, wondering if his heartbeat was loud enough for Axel to hear.
"I apologize." Axel said, low and even. "Thank you so much for the coffee, Roxas."
Oh, dear lord. Roxas swallowed the lump in his throat. Why was his face warm? He rubbed his palms against his pants, wiping away the sweat.
But Axel continued on, setting the drink on the counter and pressing a hand over his heart. "How can I ever make it up to you?"
Roxas opened his mouth to ask Axel to stop purring like that. To give him a little breathing room.
God, why did the assholes have to be so hot?
"You can take him out for dinner."
"Xion!" Roxas whirled to find her standing over his shoulder.
"I believe that could be arranged."
"Wait," Roxas spun back around. "But—"
"How does Friday night at six thirty sound?" Axel asked, scooping up his cup once more.
"Perfect. How about you two meet at the Bistro?" Xion asked in return.
"Sounds great." Axel chuckled, pulling a business card out of an inner pocket of his suit jacket and dropping it on the counter before reaching out to tap Roxas's nose. "That has my personal number on the back. Call me if you need to change plans. Or if you just want to chat. Otherwise, I'll see you Friday, Roxas."
"Yeah…" Roxas agreed, nodding his head in shock. "I'll see you Friday…."
Axel turned, pausing in the doorway to give them a two finger salute, before walking off down the sidewalk.
"W-what… just happened."
"I believe you finally got your future boyfriend's attention." Xion clapped him on the back.
"Yeah…" Roxas said, staring out the front window with a grin. "I think I did."