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Zeb shuddered a little in the cool Autumn breeze and he zipped his jacket all the way up to the top. He had mocked Kallus for being so overly prepared for the cold, complete with a woollen scarf and hat, but Zeb hadn't been aware of how much the temperature was going to drop and he was probably going to have to admit to his –overly smug- friend that yes, it was pretty cold out.
It felt like only yesterday the leaves were starting to change colour and now, suddenly, there was nothing but red, brown and orange as far as Zeb could see as they headed down the road to the coffee shop on the corner. Some of the stores had a pumpkin or cute ghost or two in the windows, but for most it was still too early for Halloween decorations.
A bell rang as they entered the coffee shop, its shrill ring drawing attention to them as they entered and a few faces turned to look at them, looking angry and disgruntled at the interruption. The warmth of the shop hit Zeb at full force and he knew it would only be a matter of minutes before he was sweating in his old worn leather jacket that he always brought out for the colder months. For a moment he worried about Kallus in his thick winter coat - Kallus never really went for jackets or jumpers, the moment it started to get cold he committed to a winter coat and wore ‘til march - but then Zeb remembered Kallus just ran colder than most people and this was probably the perfect temperature for him.
Zeb didn't feel the same and hurriedly unzipped his leather jacket before he ended up baking like a potato.
“Whew, that’s better” he chuckled, flapping the jacket a little to get a bit of breeze going. As he did, he gave everyone a good look at his t-shirt with “don’t talk to me until I've had my coffee’ printed in big bold letters. Out of the corner of his eye Zeb saw a man in a suit visibly turn his nose up and shake his head sadly to himself as he went back to his work.
It was one of those types of coffee shops, a place where serious coffee guys came to get the perfect blend and freelancers came to pretend to work on super serious projects in their suits and Bluetooth headsets. Zeb tried not to feel too self-conscious, but the not so sly glances from the other customers and the tell-tale rattle of someone angrily stirring an iced coffee in the distance didn’t exactly help calm his nerves.
“Next please?” The barista called out and Zeb was sure it looked like he was dying to smirk as he watched the two of them approach the counter.
“Morning.” Kallus nodded politely, giving the barista a slight smile before reciting the order in a crisp clean manor. “Venti Black Americano please, Arabica. To go.”
“Yes sir, that’s a great order.” The barista smiled, writing down the order with an approving smile and nod of his head. Zeb wondered if he was complimenting Kallus' order itself, or just the way he ordered it in such a clear concise way.
Kallus nodded another nod, this one short and curt, as if to say ’we’re done here’ and he moved down to the next part of the counter.
“And what can I get for you?” The barista asked Zeb, raising his eyebrow as though he had just presented Zeb with a challenge and the fact, he didn't say sir hadn't gone unnoticed. Zeb supressed an eye roll and cleared his throat.
He knew this was probably going to be met with resistance, but Zeb liked a challenge.
“One pumpkin spice latte, please.” Zeb said, making sure to raise his voice so he could declare his order not just to the barista, but to the entire coffee shop as well. Sadly, he was facing the counter so didn't get a good look at the reactions, but he did hear at least three people stop typing.
Although, he did see Kallus clearly straighten up as he held his breath in anticipation and he was sure he was shuffling back a little to distance himself from Zeb and his apparently offensive order.
The barista bit his lip, and he seemed to wait for the punchline, for Zeb to laugh and say not really and order his real order. Then, there was a clear moment when the barista realised Zeb was being deadly serious and yes, this 6ft9 mountain of muscle that could probably pick him up and toss him over his shoulder, had just ordered a pumpkin spice latte.
“Oh, and make sure to add lots of cream, please.” Zeb added with an impish little grin.
“Zeeeeb?” Kallus warned him.
“What? We’re going to the gym later anyway, why not have a little indulgence huh?” Zeb pointed out, making sure to give a little flex as he did so. He tried flexing his neck too, he knew he had a little vein there that sometimes pulsed in a way that looked cool and menacing, but it didn’t work this time.
“You know we have a range of coffees here; I can do you any blend with any of these beans?” The Barista reminded him, motioning to the list of different types of beans and degrees of roasting on the wall behind him.
The coffee shop was clearly proud of its range of coffee, and the entire store had been decorated in a stripped back rustic style that really highlighted this. Open burlap sacks of beans were placed in corners and old antique looking coffee machines had been converted into trendy lamps. Even more so, the barista probably loved making coffee and was clearly dying for a chance to show off his skills.
“I know.” Zeb nodded with a casual shrug. “But I want a pumpkin spice latte. Just give me the basic usual one, no tricks or frills. Thanks.”
It could have ended there, and Zeb could have collected the pumpkin spice latte and left happy, but the barista wasn't done and his thinly veiled politeness soon faded away to make way for a slimy little smirk.
“It’s just, this isn't just some coffee shop, this is an artisanal coffee house. We have some of the best coffees available to hand, are you sure you want a...” the barista steeled himself, as though saying the next word was somehow too obscene to say, “Pumpkin spice latte.”
“I’m sure.” Zeb said bluntly, but he made sure keep his smile bright and polite.
“I guess what I'm saying is, this isn't really a pumpkin spice latte sort of place” The barista sighed, his eyes glancing down to Zeb's t-shirt with some distain. Behind him Zeb was sure he heard someone snicker and if Kallus wasn't next to him giving him his best ‘don't start anything look’ Zeb would have turned around and tried to see who it was.
“You have it on the menu, don’t you?” Zeb pointed out, he was truly dying to put one hand on his hip too, but he maintained compose, and carried on as though this was a simple conversation. “Well, I'd like to order one.”
“Fine.” The barista huffed and he pulled up his little notepad and pen with a scowl. “One pumpkin spice latte.” He said as he wrote, and it sounded like his teeth were gritted. “Size?”
“Err, large?” Zeb was about to order, but he could see Kallus shaking his head in a clear sign that no, he should not have a large. “Why not?”
“I just think it’s too much, especially with all the cream as well.” Kallus explained, giving Zeb that ‘you know I’m right’ eyebrow raise of his.
“Fine, make it a medium then.” Zeb decided, he watched and waited for the barista to write that down, but the pen on the pad didn't move and when Zeb looked up, the barista had the most wicked glint behind his eye.
“We don’t do ’medium’” he informed him, grinning a smug little grin, like a predator toying with its food. Zeb let his eyes flutter shut for a second in an attempt to stay calm as he prepared for whatever it was the barista had lined up for him now.
“Well, you know, regular size.” Zeb groaned, he knew the barista knew what he meant, but of course Mr coffee aficionado had to humiliate Zeb somehow and he wasn't about to let up.
“I’m so sorry, we don't do ’regular size’” the barista apologised, his voice dripping with fake politeness and faux sincerity. “We only have demi, short, tall, grande, venti, and trenta ?”
“Well, which one of those is a medium?” Zeb sighed. He hated how every little coffee shop felt the need to give things its own little name and invent a new system for the littlest thing. Coffee should be simple, where you just go in and have the same universal order wherever you go.
“Mmm, there isn’t a really a medium, you’ll have to order either a demi, short, tall, grande, vevnti, or a trenta. ” The barista repeated, and he seemed to enjoy pronouncing the Italian words with a heavy lilted accent that sounded so fake and put on Zeb was seriously wondering if it counted as a crime.
“He’ll take a grande please.” Kallus told the barista, and the young man nodded gratefully, gazing up at Kallus like he was his saviour. It made Zeb want to retch, not just from the way the barista was so clearly enamoured with Kallus who he must deem a worthy addition to this collection of coffee snobs, but from the way Kallus had put on his own overly dramatic Italian accent to order.
“Of course, sir.” The barista added, finally writing down the order.
“Wait, isn't grande large?” Zeb wondered out loud. He watched as the barista shot Kallus a look a smug “can you believe this guy” look and he finished it off with a roll of his eyes.
“No, it’s not our largest coffee, grande is I suppose what you would call a medium.” The barista snarked, with a cocky little swing of his hips and shoulders as he turned to started filling the machine.
“I mean isn't grande large, in Italian?” Zeb pointed out.
“Italian is a very complex language, it’s hard to comprehend at first.” the barista sighed, clearly tired of talking to man as stupid as he perceived Zeb to be, and then before Zeb could possibly defend himself, the barista started the machine and an almost defending grinding sound filled the space. Zeb chewed his cheek as he watched the young man prepare the to go cups, and wondered what the reaction would be if he decided to demonstrate to the barista that he did in fact speak fluent Italian.
He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he waited for his coffee. It was a nice coffee shop, the decor was nice and inciting, but calming too and he could see why people would want to work here. The walls were lined with those industrial looking metal bookshelves, lined with classic literature and beautifully maintained house plants, framed perfectly with glowing yellow fairy lights that stood out against the exposed brick wall of the building.
Best of all was the soft jazz music playing in the background, making him feel relaxed yet focused at the same time. He’d always scoffed at Hera when she put those lofi coffee shop videos on when it was her turn to choose the music; whenever it was his turn he always he tried to pick the artist he thought was the oldest and most obscure to win him some cool points, but now he kind of saw the appeal and might even pick something similar for his next go.
Kallus was looking rather pink now, and Zeb suspected the heat of the coffee shop combined with his cosy winter attire was finally getting to him and Zeb hoped he was ok. That, or he was just terribly embarrassed by the whole pumpkin spice discourse and wanted to just get his coffee and get out of here as soon as possible.
Zeb felt the same way to be fair and he took a quick glance at the clock on the wall, and then sneered in disgust. It was one of those abstract clocks, the kind with no numbers and strange markings painted on the wall in no real structure so it was hard to tell what was supposed to mean what.
Zeb didn't bother trying to find out and pulled his phone out of his pocket instead and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the time. Not too late, they still had plenty of time to get to the office, even if they walked at a leisurely pace. Then Kallus would go up to his office with all the other overworked stress suffused people in expensive suits and Zeb would slope off to the basement with the rest of the IT department.
They called them the spectres, because they were like ghosts in the building that no one ever saw or even thought about until they needed something, then one of them would miraculously appear, fix the computer and vanish again. Not to Kallus though, he had taken the time to learn their names, get to know them and now the spectres even considered him an honorary member of the team.
Zeb certainly did.
“One americano and one... pumpkin spice latte...!” The barista called out, making the orders known to the entire coffee shop even though he knew the order was for Kallus and Zeb and they were stood right in front of him.
Of course, a ripple of laugher and titters went around the room, and Zeb just smiled, what else could he do. The barista did more than just smile and he was laughing the most disgust smug ‘everyone notice me laughing’ kind of laugh.
“Thank you.” Kallus nodded polity taking the americano with a polite nod that was reciprocated by the barista.
“ Prego. ” The barista nodded back, making these sickly simpering eyes at Kallus that filled Zeb with a certain type of jealously he had never felt for anyone before, especially not in such a mundane situation as this. The barista turned his attention to Zeb, flashing him that horrible smile of his and handing the pumpkin spice latte over a little rougher than was polite.
“ Grazie ” Zeb thanked him, in his perfect Italian accent. Then when he saw the look of shock, and possible embarrassment or even regret flash on the baristas face, Zeb felt the need to add. “ Oh, e se il mio italiano fosse pessimo come il tuo, ci penserei due volte prima di parlare con i clienti. Buona giornata, stronzo .”
Zeb didn’t know if the barista spoke Italian or not, but it didn’t matter, he had already left the store before he could see the other man's reaction. Kallus shook his head in disapproval as they left, but Zeb could see the smile he was trying to hide behind his scarf. Kallus didn't speak Italian, but he had picked up a few words here and there from hanging out with Zeb.
He definitely knew what stronzo meant.
They walked in silence down the road, and then a little further once they had rounded the corner and were certain they weren't in eyesight of the coffee shop anymore. Then with one final nervous glance back, Kallus checked to make sure they were certainly out of view.
“Thanks for that.” Kallus sighed, finally allowing himself to breath and Zeb wondered if he had been nervously holding his breath the whole time. He reached out and took the pumpkin spice from Zeb, smiling a soft little sheepish smile as he did.
“Anytime” Zeb smiled, taking his own coffee order, the americano, from Kallus. Now with their own coffee orders in hand they fell into an easy lazy rhythm as they worked towards the office. Zeb watched as Kallus held the pumpkin spice latte with both hands, letting it warm them and looking so happy and content it made Zeb's heart almost burst with joy.
“Hey you weren't kidding about that barista huh?” Zeb exclaimed and he watched as Kallus' final shred of composure break and he started nodding enthusiastically. When Kallus had told Zeb the story a few days ago, Zeb had to admit he hadn’t believed him.
Kallus had told him of how he had gone in for a pumpkin spice latte, he knew the jokes and yes, he did face a bit of teasing from Zeb, but Kallus was a sucker anything remotely fall related and when the pumpkin spice flavouring came in for autumn, he always got a little excited.
It was adorable really.
The barista had given him such a grilling and the other patrons had had such a giggle at his expense that Kallus panicked and ended up explaining it was for a friend and had to hurriedly come up with a new order on the spot. V enti Black Americano, Arabica. To go.
Zeb took a sip of his coffee; the same fake order Kallus had said and now would have to keep up the pretence of it being his favourite for as long as they did pumpkin spice at the shop. Zeb didn't mind, it was pretty good coffee and not too dissimilar from his own go to order.
“I know right? People like pumpkin spice lattes, they’re delicious. Get over it.” Kallus huffed. Then he looked back over to Zeb to give him another soft smile of gratitude. “Um, I really appreciate you doing this by the way. You want to try some?”
“No thanks.” Zeb laughed, turning the coffee down with a polite wave. “I know how much cream is in there, can’t go losing my amazing physique if I need to be going around protecting you from baristas now can I?”
“You’re lucky I love cream.” Kallus laughed, smiling down at his coffee as though it was wonderous gift. “Although I draw the line at a large coffee, I love pumpkin spice but not that much.”
“You know they do instant pumpkin spice coffee these days.” Zeb said, doing his best to sound casual and nonchalant, as if he hadn't been researching the subject all night, “Ever thought about trying that? Seeing as you love pumpkin spice so much?”
“Why? So I can just make it at home and never have to go back to that coffee shop ever again.” Kallus asked with a playful grin and inquisitive wiggle of his brow.
“Erm, actually I was thinking maybe I could get some to keep at the house? You know coz you’ve been coming over a lot more lately and it's getting darker sooner now and I hate the idea of you walking alone through the city at night, so I don’t know, if you ever wanna stay over some nights, I-we’d have coffee you like?” Zeb explained. He was probably babbling, or at the very least he was talking too fast. Then, because he was worried that he hadn't said enough, even though he had most likely said too much, he carried on talking. “Kanan only ever drinks tea and Hera will only drink coffee if it’s from the cafetière or something like that so it would be your coffee, just in my kitchen?”
“That makes perfect sense.” Kallus nodded, even though Zeb was sure it didn’t. “Let’s do it.”
“Alright then.” Zeb nodded greatly, and tried his best to look like he was making a mental note to order it later and not give away the fact he had already bought some the moment he heard Kallus liked the stuff. “So, you coming over this Friday then? Sabine’s been going on and on about this D&D thing so we figured we’d finally give it a shot?”
“Hmmm, I was gonna say no, but now I know you have pumpkin spice coffee I'm probably gonna be over all the time.” Kallus said, with this little hint of playfulness that Zeb was sure he never used to have, not when they first started hanging out at least.
But something had changed in Kallus, he’d gone from being just another stuck up so-and-so in a too smart suit, to a relaxed and easy-going friend that Zeb felt comfortable around, strangely comfortable around even.
Perhaps Zeb had changed too. He wasn’t as grumpy as he used to be, and he certainly wasn't as quick to anger or jump into a fight. He was surprised by how calm and composed he’d been back in the coffee shop and old Zeb probably would have chewed out the barista at the earliest possible chance.
A gentle breeze blew past and Zeb heard the way the leaves crackled and rustled in the trees. Some of them fell from their branches and Zeb watched as they fluttered down, just dancing in the air until they scattered across the pavement. The end of summer used to fill Zeb with dread, he was a sun chaser and just wanted to squeeze every last drop out of summer before the cold weather came.
But maybe change wasn't so bad, and as Zeb watched the leaves skitter about the pavement, he realised he was smiling.
“Maybe I will try that pumpkin spice actually.” Zeb decided with a gentle smile and Kallus didn't hesitate to hand the cup over. Zeb took a polite sip, letting the creamy sweet, yet surprisingly well spiced, coffee pour over his tongue and warm his chest. When he was done, he handed back the drink with an impressed little whistle. “It’s actually not that bad.”
“See, you thought you weren't gonna like it, but you have to admit, it’s really good.” Kallus chuckled. Zeb smiled as he watched his friend talk, eyes lighting up with excitement, words coming to him happily and fast. It was nice to see. “You’re glad you tried it now, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am.” Zeb nodded warmly as they turned a corner and the office came into view. Zeb felt that pang of sadness he often felt at this time, and he wished this walk could last just a few minutes longer, just to give them a few more minutes together before work pulled them apart. Then, Zeb decided to declare, “It’s good to try new things, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah.” Kallus smiled to himself. He was looking at the coffee cup in his hands, holding it close to his face so he could still smell the coffee even if he wasn't drinking it. Zeb noticed there were two spots of colour in his cheeks, they could be simply from the warmth of the coffee, or they could be for something else. “I know exactly what you mean.”