Chapter Text
Taemin is trying to make coffee in the kitchen, and failing miserably. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing, despite having seen the others make coffees every day. The hyungs make it look easy, how hard could it be?
He jumps back at the strange noise that suddenly emits from the coffee machine when he presses a button.
"It's not supposed to make that sound," Key's voice comes from behind him. Taemin spins, ready to defend himself, but Kibum’s face softens.
"You want coffee?"
"I…I was going to try it. I didn't sleep well and I have a test today,” Taemin admits shyly. He’d never had coffee before. Energy drinks were more his speed, he’d had more than a few of those, but today, he needed something stronger. He’d been graced with about 90 minutes of sleep overnight and had a whole day of school and practice to get through.
"Sit, hyung will make it,” Key shuffled over to the coffee machine and shook his head at the state of the area around it. “How did you manage to use every mug in the kitchen trying to make a cup of coffee?”
Taemin sits himself down at their small dining table and fiddles with his fingers. “I don’t know how to make it.”
“I’d worked that much out. I’ll teach you, if you want, but not today.”
Key was pressing buttons on the coffee machine with practiced ease, sliding one of the few clean mugs under the spout and pouring milk.
“I don’t even know if I like it yet.”
Key turned around, “You’ve- you’ve never tried coffee?”
Taemin shook his head.
"Never even like one of those coffee drinks from the convenience store that are mostly sugar?”
Taemin shook his head again.
“It’s… pretty strong. Are you sure?”
“No. But I need to stay awake today. You all say that coffee helps you stay awake, I figured it would work for me too.”
“Fine,” Kibum removed the mug from the machine and heaped a teaspoon of sugar into it, stirring it. “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to pretend you do.” He passed the mug over to Taemin and sat down opposite him, watching.
Looking down at the liquid inside, Taemin was unsure. It didn’t smell good, it was strong and the steam stung his eyes.
"Want another sugar in it?”
Taemin rolled his shoulders back, “Let me try it first. I might be okay.”
As Taemin lifted the mug to his lips, blew on the hot drink and took a tentative sip, Kibum watched, smiling slightly.
Taemin sipped and swallowed the coffee, squeezing his eyes shut.
Key laughed, “Another sugar then?”
Taemin grimaced, “Yes please.”
Another full spoon of sugar was tipped in and dissolved.
“Try that. If you add any more sugar you may as well just have a hot chocolate.”
“Thanks, hyung.” Taemin took another sip and shivered slightly. It wasn’t a very pleasant taste. The coffee was bitter and heavy in his throat, almost smoky with the tiniest hint of sweetness despite the amount of sugar piled in.
“Don’t like it?”
“It’s not the best thing I’ve ever tasted. How do you guys drink this every day?”
Key shrugged, “You get used to it. Jonghyun doesn’t even put milk in his, just straight black coffee.”
Taemin’s eyes went wide, “Is he insane?”
Kibum laughed, “Everyone likes their coffee different. I prefer iced coffee to hot, and they’re usually a little sweeter. Jinki and Minho just like plain coffee like that, but I think Jinki adds sugar. I think you might be more of a mocha person, that’s much sweeter.”
Taemin coughed as he tried to take another sip.
“Yah, don’t try and drink it if you don’t like it,” Key tutted and took the mug from him. “I’ll finish it.”
Taemin was disappointed, “I wanted to like it.”
“It’s not for everyone. Ask manager hyung to get you a mocha next time we have a schedule, you’ll probably like that,” Taemin watched on, shocked, as Key easily gulped a mouthful of coffee.
“How can you do that without making a face?”
Kibum shrugged, “Go get into your uniform, I’ll heat up breakfast.”
When Taemin was ushered out of the house half an hour later, feet dragging heavily, Kibum pressed a 5,000 won note into his hand, “Get an energy drink on your way to school. Good luck on your test.”
The energy drink tasted a lot better than the coffee as Taemin gulped it down outside the convenience store next to his school.