Chapter Text
Shit. Shit. Shit. Sero couldn't believe his alarm hadn't gone off. It was only his second week working in that damn Cafe, and he was already going to get another tardy. He rushed out of his car, and into the Cafe.
“Sorry I’m late!” He shouted.
Mina, the girl he worked with, was at the counter, taking orders. She had curly pink cotton-candy colored hair, along with round orange sunglasses.
“Damn, talk about an entrance!” She grinned. “Start working on these orders, would ya?”
Then he remembered. Mina didn’t give a shit about him being late.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He rolled his eyes.
He went up to the counter and began pumping out the fancy drinks they made, and then serving them to the right tables. Most people there were reading books or on a laptop.
A boy with bright yellow hair around his age—college—came up to the counter and took the drink with the most caffeine. Sero saw Mina smile at the boy, and then she turned and handed Sero the order. Sero got to work, finishing it off with some latte art like always. He put the drink on a platter and carried it out to the boy’s table.
“Here you are, sir.” Sero smiled.
The boy took the drink and smiled back. Sero was about to walk away when he noticed that this boy was crying.
Fuck, I don’t know what to do, customers don’t normally cry. Should I ask him what’s wrong? No, that’s weird.
“Is the coffee not good?”
There was no way that sounded reassuring.
“Oh, yeah it’s really good! I just… Have some stuff going on at home.” The boy answered.
“Well, if you need anything, just ask for Hanta Sero at the counter.” He gave him a thumbs up.
I did everything I could. Now, back to work!
“Alright Mina, gimme the next order!”
…
Work had been lengthy, but it was finally over. He split the tip jar with Mina, and she had left ten minutes ago. It was already dark, but to be fair, it was winter. He put on a jacket and scarf, and then went outside. But he noticed a very familiar looking blonde in the corner of his eye. He was holding his phone, and the tips of his fingers were slightly blue.
“What’re you doing out there?” Sero asked.
The boy looked up in alarm, and then sighed in relief to see it was him.
“Nothing much. My Uber just cancelled. So I don’t know what I’m doing at this point.”
Sero thought for a second, and then sat next to him.
“Want a ride home?” He asked.
“I don’t have any money on me.”
Sero looked at him in confusion.
“Then why’d you order an Uber?”
“I thought I had money… But he cancelled when he found out I didn’t.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t charge.”
“Really?” The boy looked up at him.
“Really.” Sero confirmed.
They went over to his car and Sero turned the heat on. The boy put his hands out to the vents and a big goofy grin came across his face.
“It’s so warm!” He said, seemingly amazed.
“It’s called heat for a reason.” Sero started the car.
“Pfft, heat.” He leaned back in his chair.
Sero eyed him, but didn’t say anything about his dumb joke.
“What’s your address?”
The boy’s grin was gone.
“Drop me off at a hotel or something, please.”
“But you don’t have any money.”
“I know.”
A memory cane to Sero. “I just… have some stuff going on at home.”
Sero began driving, keeping his eyes on the road.
“So, what's your name?”
“Denki.”
He nodded. Then he pulled into the driveway to his apartment.
“This doesn’t look like a hotel…” Denki said.
“It’s not, it’s my apartment.”
Suddenly, the blonde looked terrified.
“Don’t give me that look, I’m not kidnapping you. But I’m not letting you sleep in the street, either.” Sero said.
He nodded with caution, and then followed him inside. Sero opened the door, and held it for him to come in.
“You can have the couch, this apartment is small as shit.” Sero told him. “I’ll get you some blankets from my room.”
Sero went into his room and gathered all of the extra blankets, and came out a few moments later. The blonde was sitting on the couch, he had taken his shoes off at the door, and he was glancing around at his surroundings. Sero tossed the blankets next to him.
“Thanks.” Denki smiled.
Sero nodded, and then started going back to his room when he felt Denki tug on his shirt.
“Can you stay for a bit? You don’t have to… but it’s just…”
“I get it.” Sero sat down next to him.
Denki squeezed a blanket gently, before pulling out his phone and scrolling.
“Do you… Wanna talk about it?” Sero asked.
“Wanna talk about what?”
“Why you were crying.”
“Y-yeah...” He nodded. “My best friend was admitted into the hospital today. He has cancer, and it’s getting worse. I just don’t know what to do.” Denki hugged the blanket Sero had handed to him.
This poor guy. I don’t know what I would do if Mina got cancer.
“There’s not much you can do, bud, just give your friend the support they deserve.” He patted Denki’s back.
“Thanks man.” Denki smiled.
“Again, just ask for Hanta Sero at the counter. I have classes in the morning, do you have anywhere you have to be?”
“No, they gave me some time off as soon as they found out. I have no idea where I can go, I had to sell the apartment for money to pitch in for my friend’s treatment.” Denki started crying again.
Damn it. I’m going to regret this.
“Hey, hey, it’s ok, you can stay here as long as you get a job and pitch in, k?” Sero tried to soothe him.
Fuck, I don’t even know this guy.
“Why’re you being so nice to me?” He asked through tears.
I don’t know.
“Because that sounds tough. Why wouldn’t I help you?” Sero shrugged.
“You don’t pity me, do you?”
“If I’m going to be honest, yes, I can’t imagine what that’s like. But don’t worry about it, I was lonely anyways.” Sero said.
Sero looked at the clock. It was already nine.
“Ready to go to sleep?” He asked.
Denki nodded and laid down. Sero went to his room and collapsed into bed.
What a day… I can’t believe my customer is my roommate. Sero sighed, closing his eyes.
…
Sero woke up to a burning smell. He jumped up, and rushed out of his room and into the living room, turning towards the kitchenette. He stared face-to-face with his new roommate… burning the egg he was cooking.
“Sorry! I just wanted to make it up to you…” Denki said nervously.
“What you can do to make it up to me is help pay the fucking rent. Please don’t burn my food.” Sero said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Ok, I’m sorry.” Denki threw the egg out and began washing the pan.
Meanwhile, Sero poured himself cereal. It wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst either. He preferred coffee.
“So, where are you going to get a job?” Sero asked in between bites.
“I’m planning on applying to the corner store nearby.” Denki answered.
“You do that, after you wash the dishes. After work, I can drive you to your friend’s.” Sero said, putting his now empty bowl into the sink.
Sero walked over to the door when he felt Denki hug him from behind.
“Thank you! I’ll do my best.”
He turned around to see Denki smiling brightly, he looked just like the sun.
Cute..! Wait, no, that’s gay. Sero scolded himself.
“Of course.” He grinned warmly in return.
As he closed the door behind him, he felt his face get red.
Stop it! He’s not cute! Sero tried to stop thinking about his smile, and was eventually able to.
Sighing, he got into his car and blasted heat into the vehicle. The warmth was nice. With that, he began driving to his classes.
…
It was snowing lightly outside. Sero had the window seat for this class, so staring out onto campus felt peaceful. His professor was rambling on a story that had happened a hundred years ago, and a few of the students were scribbling notes while others were reading along. Every now and then, the echo of page turning would come. Sometimes, footsteps would come from the hallway.
Then the bell rang.
I hope Denki is doing ok.
Sero picked up his many books and went into the wide halls. He could hear chattering and laughter, and he could feel others bumping into him. Once he had cleared the crowd, he pulled out his phone.
-
Denki
I got the job :)
Great job!
I’ll be right over after work.
Kk
-
Sero felt relieved as he put his phone back into his pocket. He went back down to his car, and went to the usual Cafe. He may call it shitty, but it was like home to him. Nothing could change that. He walked into the Cafe confidently.
“Good afternoon, Mina!” He said, one hand in his hair.
“Sero! Your outfits in the back!”
Today, Mina had a white and orange bandanna to keep her cotton-candy hair out of her face. Her glasses were thin and wiry, and she wore the Cafe’s official outfit.
Sero got dressed and began making and serving drinks. And in the corner of his eye, he saw a certain blonde.
Hurrying on drinks, he went to serve Denki what he had ordered.
“Why the fuck are you here?” Sero whispered loudly.
“I felt like a latte.” Denki shrugged.
“What about-“
“My first shift starts tomorrow and I had like two bucks left. The coffee here is cheap man.”
Sero gave up and handed him the coffee. Sero went back over to the counter.
“Sero, is that your boyyfriennnnnd~?” Mina asked, putting her hands on her cheeks and swayed in a mocking way.
“No, no it’s not. He’s my roommate.” He groaned.
But he is kinda cute… Wait, stop that!
“Then… Why are you blushing?” Mina smiled and raised her eyebrows.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” Sero pushed her lightly, slightly embarrassed.
Then Denki started waving. “Sero, why don’t you come drink with me.”
Mina eyes Sero up and down. “Uh-huh.”
Sero sighed, but made himself some coffee and went to sit down with Denki. The blonde seemed super excited and was talking about his super dramatic time in Highschool, and in most of the stories he told he was the one being stupid and dramatic, but that was ok. The stories entertained Sero. He often found Denki laughing at the most stupid of things, and Sero couldn’t help think that was adorable.
And too soon, the Cafe has to close. They walked out together and got in the same car, which only made Mina pester him over text.
He sighed, before getting in the car with Denki and looking at his watch.
“You ready to see your friend?” Sero smiled.
...
Sero tightened his grip on the wheel, and he kept glancing over at Denki and back at the road. Denki had a certain aura of nervousness to him, with his hands twitching and fingers fidgeting with the laces on his soft pikachu hoodie.
“You ok?” Sero asked.
“Yeah.” He replied, but his voice was distant.
Sero reassuringly put his left hand over Denki’s wrist. He flinched at the touch, but seemed grateful.
It was then Sero made a turn into the hospital driveway, before turning the car off and pausing. He let out a sigh.
“We’re here.”
Denki nodded slowly.
The two walked down the quiet halls. It was late evening, so there weren’t many visitors. The scent of sickness and cleaning products was thick in the air. Sero looked over to Denki, who still seemed a little off. He wanted to reassure him, and let him know everything was going to be alright, but he wasn’t sure how. He clenched his fists, slightly frustrated.
Denki came to an abrupt stop in front of a room. He looked over to Sero and nodded. Sero’s brows furrowed before he nodded back. The door creamed as it opened, and the loud heart monitor became apparent in the background as they entered the room.
In the room, a bald boy with red eyes laid in a bed, along with a platinum blonde leaning back in a chair beside him, his head bent over and his mouth gaping open.
“Hey, Kiri.” Denki smiled.
“Denki! Hey, bro, it’s been a minute.”
Denki nodded.
“Who’s the guy standing behind you?”
“Oh!” Denki has seemed to have forgotten about Sero, but Sero thought his reaction was cute nonetheless. “This is Sero, my new roommate.”
Denki looked over at the platinum blonde before seeming to realize something.
“Can we talk to Bakugo?”
‘Kiri’ shook his head. “He’s been worrying about me all day, let him rest.” His eyes became sad. “I really wish I could be strong enough for you two.”
“Don’t say that.” Denki whispered. “You're strong enough already. You always have been.” He looked at him straight in the eyes.
His expression softened. “Thank you.”
Denki looked away for a few moments. Then said, “How did the surgery go?”
“It went great! I’ll be out of here soon, I promise.” The teen said while smiling brightly.
Denki nodded, and then left the room. Sero looked a little shocked, then followed.
“How’re you holding up?”
“I don’t know. I’m happy. But I’m also scared. I… I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.”
Sero put his arms out. “Would a hug help?”
Denki looked up at him and nodded. Sero pulled him close to his chest as Denki let out a shaky breath.
“These words may not seem like much, but it’s going to be okay. Maybe not right now, maybe not tomorrow, but within the near future.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do. Have some confidence in me, alright?” Sero shrugged, and then let his arms fall, but Denki grabbed them.
“No, this is nice. Can we… Stay like this? For a few minutes?”
“Of course.”
“And Sero?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
…
The next morning was a lot more calm. And even though Sero had never seen Denki mentally stable, he was acting what Sero would think as his normal. He seemed a little all over the place, making random jokes, being clumsy, and doing lots of finger guns.
Wow, he really is cute no matter what he does… Sero smiled warmly.
“Do you have work today?” Sero asked.
“Nope!” Denki said.
“Yeah, Saturday’s my day off too. Wanna go out to eat?”
“Alright!” Denki exclaimed loudly, his hands forming fists as he looked at Sero excitedly. “Can we get ice cream?!”
“You're going to ruin your teeth.” Sero sighed.
“Please?! Please, please, please, please?”
“Okay, okay. Ice cream.”
“Thank you!” Denki rushed forward to hug him, before rushing out the door and towards the lot where Sero kept his car.
Sero sprinted after him, and he couldn’t help but grin to himself. Denki was like a puppy. An adorable, excitable puppy.
“Brrrrr,” Denki murmured while shivering as Sero arrived.
“Forget your jacket?”
Denki nodded.
Sero unzipped his own and handed it to him.
“You're the best.” Denki rubbed his shoulders in relief.
“Anytime.”
Denki hummed while looking out the window, seemingly daydreaming, while Sero tried to figure out which ice cream place was the best one to go to. Since the one he picked ended up being just around the corner, they got there pretty quickly. Sero grabbed his wallet and got out of the car, and looked over at the small shop.
It was very colorful, with bright signs to attract customers and some plain tables outside. Sero saw Denk lick his lips before speed walking inside, Sero following close behind him while smiling to himself.
He’s so easy to please. I wonder how else I could brighten his day..? Sero thought, and then shook his head. Stop that! Even if I was gay, which I’m not, Denki is probably straight. I’m just going to end up hurting myself.
“Sero?” Denki asked.
‘What?”
“Oh, nothing, you just stopped right at the door and started looking at your feet. It was weird, that’s all.” Denk shrugged.
“Sorry, I dazed off.” Sero said while walking in.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Since there was a pretty long Lin they had to wait patiently at the back. The silence was a little awkward, so Sero tried to think of conversation starters.
It’s easy. This is easy. You’ve had conversations with him before, it’s not any different. Just ask him what you’ve been wanting to ask him! Sero’s mind buzzed.
“Are you gay?” He asked, tilting his head slightly.
Fuck! That’s not how you start conversations! He scolded himself as he felt his face get increasingly red by the second.
“I mean, kind of?”
“Wait, what?” Sero turned quickly, almost shocked by his response.
“I don’t really care about gender, I just want my partner to be hot.” Denki grinned while nodding off into the distance.
Sero sighed with relief, but then he turned into a tomato. It was possible. If he wanted to, and if Denki wanted to, they could be together. He covered his face quickly, not fond of the idea of Denki seeing him like this.
“Next!”
Finally, a way out of this situation.
“I’ll take vanilla please.”
…
They sat in a booth right next to each other. Sero let his mind wander as he ate his ice cream. And to his surprise, the first thing that came to mind was Denki’s sick friend.
“He was worrying about me all day.” That’s what his friend had said, and then after that he said he would be getting out of the hospital soon. But why would someone be worrying about a teen that was just about to get out? Well, he could be a worrywart. What was his name? Bakugo?
“Is Bakugo a worrywart?” He asked
“Not at all! He never really actually worries unless he knows it’s serious, and when he does worry he never really shows it. It’s stupid, really. We’re his friends! He should trust us with his emotions.” Denki said, looking rather annoyed.
Well, looking back, the equipment in Denki’s friend’s room wasn’t light. He had a heart monitor, an IV, something to help him breathe, and a few other machines Sero wasn’t able to identify. That wasn’t something someone who was “about to get out of the hospital” would have. Then it clicked.
Denki's friend had been lying.