Work Text:
Shouta sighed as he leaned on the counter, almost falling asleep if not for his head falling and almost hitting the counter. His eyes shot open as he was forced awake. Grumbling, he picked up his phone for something to do.
Opening a text from Yamada, he rolled his eyes when he was met with screenshots from tinder asking for his opinion. He chose to ignore this.
The next half hour was like this. More yawning. More annoying texts from Yamada. No customers.
That is, until a man with a spiky ponytail walked in.
Damn, Shouta thought, his hair is fucking ugly.
"Hi," the stranger said.
Shouta said nothing.
The stranger stared at him for a couple seconds before continuing. "I want a coffee."
"What kind?"
"A coffee."
Shouta slowly closed his eyes. He's stupid, too.
"Look, I'm not giving you anything unless you tell me what you want," Shouta said.
The stranger's eyes widened in confusion. "What would you recommend then?"
"Nothing. This coffee sucks."
"That isn't helpful. I'll get the thing that tastes the least like shit."
Shouta rolled his eyes. "Six-hundred yen," he said.
"What?"
"I ordered for you, and it costs six-hundred yen."
The stranger chuckled. "Okay. So it'll be a surprise."
As he grabbed out his wallet, Shouta said, "What's your name?"
"Hm?"
"For the order? I need your name even if you're the only one here," Shouta said as he got his marker and cup ready. The man stared at him with a strange look on his face that Shouta found difficult to read.
“I,” the stranger started.
“You what?” Shouta asked.
“I don’t use my name anymore,” he said, looking away.
Shouta raised an eyebrow. “You…don’t use your name anymore?”
The stranger shook his head. “No. You see, I had some bad experiences, and I want to distance myself from my life before. I’m trying to become someone new.”
“Okay, but I still need to write a name on the cup.”
The stranger thought for a moment. “Write “Third”,” he said. Shouta sighed and complied. “Thank you for understanding,” Third said.
I didn’t know that counted as “understanding.”
“Not many do. They’re judgemental about my choice to leave my name behind.” He fiddled with his hands as Shouta worked on his order. He tried to not roll his eyes as Third seemed to avert his eyes whenever Shouta looked at him.
“Third,” Shouta said as he set the finished drink on the counter. Third reached out for it, and for a second their hands touched, but Shouta quickly pulled away.
“Thank you,” Third said. He turned to leave, but hesitated before turning back. “You know, I feel like we have a connection.”
Shouta raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even know my name.”
“You can tell me over some drinks,” Third said, shifting on his feet.
Shouta blushed and looked away. “I can’t,” he said.
“Why not?” Third asked. “We work so well together! I love you!”
“I know. I…” Shouta’s voice trailed off. “It can never work between us. My boss wouldn’t let me. You’re a customer. It wouldn’t be right.”
“We can make it right. We can fight those who oppose us! Show them that our love can’t be controlled!” He threw down his drink and grabbed Shouta’s hands. “Come with me. I can take care of you. Take you away from this life of customer service and shitty bosses. I can show you what it’s like to live.”
Shouta’s face became warm and his eyes wet as he thought about the life this man was talking about. He never thought that something like this could happen. He’s wished day and night for someone to come along and rescue him from shitty coffee and minimum wage bullshit, but now that it was happening he was afraid.
“Look at me,” Third said. “I won’t let you go.” He let go of Shouta’s hands and cupped his face. Shouta closed his eyes as he started to get pulled closer, but suddenly they flew open again when there was a loud crash. They both looked over to see Shouta’s boss overlord Nezu standing in the doorway.
“YOU MOTHERFUCKERS,” Overlord Nezu yelled. “I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU GET BACK TO WORK YOU STUPID GAY IDIOT.”
“You should go,” Shouta said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“But-”
“Don’t,” Shouta insisted. “You need to leave.”
“AND CLEAN UP THIS MESS,” Overlord Nezu said as he sauntered over toward Shouta. He punched him in the back of the knee to cause him to fall down and continued, “THIS IS WHY THE HUMANS WILL BE WIPED OUT IN UPCOMING REVOLUTION. YOU WILL ALL DIE BY MY HANDS.”
Third sighed and let his hands fall to his sides. His face turned somber as he started for the door. Overlord Nezu laughed as Shouta cleaned up the mess on the floor, spilling more unidentified liquids just as he was finishing up.
“No,” Third said. Shouta looked up at him, noticing that he had stopped just before he reached the door.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY, PUNY HUMAN?” said Overlord Nezu.
Third turned around. “I said no. This man is the love of my life. I will not let you treat him like this. PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!!!!” Shouta sat in awe as Third ran and kicked Overlord Nezu, killing him instantly. He stood up and ran to him, crying. He wrapped his arms around him, and they kissed passionately. The End.