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“Kats, it’s gonna be fine.” Eijirou stared out at the dozens of cups and mugs scattered across the kitchen island, all of them filled with some type of pumpkin spice coffee concoction. Picking up the mug closest to him, Eijirou took a deep breath in, confirming it was indeed pumpkin spice before taking a sip, and humming, “That’s fantastic,” before licking away his new whipped cream mustache.
Across the kitchen, Katsuki sighed, knocking his forehead against the espresso machine, resting it there,“Ei, why on the gods’ earth am I doing this?”
This wasn’t new. In fact a lot of their mornings post-graduation had consisted of Katsuki working their home espresso machine to the brink of death while Eijiriou sat at the island just happy to try any and every drink Katsuki presented him with. And in the last six months, it had become an almost daily occurrence.
Now, when Katsuki first started working at the campus coffee shop just before his sophomore year, at no point did he think it was going to be or lead to anything other than some extra cash in his pocket, something to do when he wasn’t in class or marching band, and some free caffeine on the very few nights that he did stay up late.
And then Eijirou happened.
Walked into the shop with his bright red hair, an even brighter smile, and every intention of getting a glorified milkshake and left with a new, albeit kinda mean in an affectionate way?, nickname, and a blond barista to occupy his thoughts. He also walked out having left Katsuki with a newfound appreciation for his job and the perks that came with it. Including but not limited to getting to leave your crush hearts on all his lattes without him even knowing and your friends letting you do absolute fuck all during your shift because they think you’re in love.
In their defense, he was. They both were. And from that first late night study session and early morning chemistry final, Katsuki and Eijirou were attached at the hip. Which is why it was so easy for Eijirou to notice when Katsuki’s notebooks started filling up with little doodles and extra words in the margins.
Eijirou had first taken a peek because he had seen Katsuki doodle a little heart with ‘K+E’ in it with ‘Katsuki Kirishima’ in the margins of the same page. But then he started to notice other things in the margins. Majority of these things were crossed out or scribbled over but all seemed to consist of what looked like the names of coffee shops. Not long after that, in between pages of anatomy notes, were sketches of storefronts and shop layouts.
It clicked for both of them during a study session where while Eijirou was scribbling notes across a study packet, Katsuki had spent the hour filling a new notebook with coffee shop ideas and just as Eijirou finished up his packet, the two of them looked up at each other and at the same time said.
“Do you want to open a coffee shop?
“What if I open a coffee shop?”
That barista job that Katsuki had expected close to nothing from, had not only given him Eijirou, but it also made him realize that maybe what he really wanted for his future, was a career where he was just at peace. And after visiting his advisor, who had advised that he ‘only had two semesters left’ and to ‘finish the fucking degree’ before ‘doing whatever the fuck he wanted’, Katsuki decided he was going to do just that. Katsuki carried on with his classes. His relationship with Eijirou, his campus barista job, and his refusal to do anything half assed carried him through his senior year. And within a week of walking across the UA University stage, giving a speech as the top of their class, and getting his degree in health sciences, Katsuki emptied his savings and signed a lease for what he knew in his being would become ‘DynaRiot Coffee Co.’ Named after a silly conversation about super powers and heroes that he and Eijirou had in the back of Eijirou’s truck one night.
So there they were, a little over a year after graduation, with the grand opening of ‘DynaRiot Coffee. Co’ just two weeks away. Just in time for pumpkin spice season.
Eijirou scooted out from the island and walked over to Katsuki before wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s hunched frame, “Your exact words last time we talked about it were that you ‘didn’t want any shit to go wrong during holiday drink season’ and that we could ‘work out all the bullshit during pumpkin spice season.”
Katsuki groaned, still refusing to shift from his resting point against the espresso machine, “I know! But fuck, the pumpkin spice shit has to be perfect too.”
Eijirou simply ran his fingers through Katsuki’s hair, his other arm still around the blond’s waist, “Every single thing you’ve made for the menu, including all the pumpkin spice things, have been incredible, Kats. It’s going to be okay. Even better than okay.”
Katsuki wanted to believe Eijirou, and there was no reason not to. He had hammered out the perfect daily menu. It wasn’t like he had to think about it much. He still had his notebooks with the recipes in the margins and his habit of making new things on the spot for Eijirou made coming up with DynaRiot’s main selections easy. But seasonal drinks were difficult. They were always his favorite and more so because of their relationship and less so because of the actual coffee, they had also become Eijirou’s favorite. How could he possibly do the holiday menu right if he couldn’t even perfect pumpkin spice?
Despite Katsuki’s back being to him, Eijirou could hear Katsuki sniffle and take in a deep breath.
“You- you’re just saying that.”
Eijirou frowned, shaking his head and hitting the ‘off’ button on the espresso machine, “Nope, that’s done for the morning.”
Eijirou released his hold on Katsuki, only to scoop him up and carry him bridal style around the corner into their living room. Carefully putting Katsuki on the couch, he grabbed a blanket off the arm rest before wrapping it around him. “Do not move.” Eijirou punctuated each word with his finger before quickly going back to the kitchen. Looking over all of the cups and mugs and their labels, he grabbed a mug labeled by a sticky note that read ‘Pumpkin Crème Brulee’ and the one he was drinking from earlier, labeled with ‘Pumpkin Toffee’, and headed back into the living room.
Placing the drinks on two coasters, one of the many things Mitsuki insisted they needed when Katsuki and Eijirou moved in together, Eijirou settled himself onto the couch with his back against the armrest and one of his legs up on the cushions, “Alright, come here.”
Katsuki, wrapped up in the big red blanket Iike a burrito, shimmed his way across the couch and into Eijirou’s lap, resting against his chest.
“Good. Now here.” With Katsuki secured in his usual spot, Eijirou passed him the ‘Pumpkin Crème Brûlée’ mug before picking up his own drink.
Even after taking a sip of his drink, Katsuki stayed quiet for a few more minutes before muttering out a quick , “Thanks Ei.”
Eijirou nodded, kissing the top of Katsuki’s head, “It’s what I’m here for.”
Katsuki took another sip from his mug and gave a small smile, “…That’s really fucking good.”
“Told you! Kats, I told you. Everything you’ve made for the shop opening is fantastic so whatever pumpkin stuff you choose is going to be perfect.”
Katsuki nods, putting his mug down on the coffee table before nuzzling himself into Eijirou's chest.
“Kats… You know why you’re doing this.”
Katsuki nodded, “Yeah…”
“And why is that?”
Katsuki took a deep breath in and sighed, “…Being on the bar is one of the few places where my brain feels quiet…I love science and I’m really glad I majored in what I did but …DynaRiot already feels like home and it hasn’t even opened yet.”
Eijirou smiled, running his fingers through Katsuki’s hair, “Just think, tomorrow you’ll start training the team and in a few weeks the grand opening is gonna be fantastic.”
He soon realizes that Katsuki’s breathing is quieter and when he doesn’t respond, Eijirou realizes he’s fast asleep, the early mornings and late nights of prep finally catching up to him.
Eijirou smiled, kissing Katsuki’s head once more before getting himself comfortable for a mid-morning nap as well, “The team’s gonna love you Kats.”
***
“…I’ve hired a bunch of fucking idiots.” Katsuki squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn’t have to look at the full bag of espresso beans now spilled all over the floor.
“I can clean that up, Mr.Bakugo!” A little voice piped up from the supply closet. Rounding the corner, the young girl who the voice belonged to, Eri, came into view with the broom and dustpan already to go.
“You didn’t spill the beans, Eri-“
Katsuki could hear the 19 year old frat boy who had actually caused the bean scatter snicker to himself, “Hehe, spill the beans.”
Katsuki whipped around to yell at the kid but Eijirou quickly appeared, seemingly from nowhere, to collect his boyfriend, “Eri’s in charge!”
Eijirou dragged his boyfriend into the shop’s office, shutting the door quickly, “I know, I know what you’re gonna say. But were you good at baristaing on your first day on the job?”
“Baristaing isn’t really a word and no but at least I had enough sense not to slice open an entire bag of espresso beans! I only hired Eri as a favor to Aizawa and she’s better than all the rest of those extras!”
Eri was the sixteen year old daughter of one of the people Katsuki credited with the shop's existence, his academic advisor, Shota Aizawa. Hiring her, and promising Aizawa a lifetime of free coffee, was Katsuki’s thank you for everything from his entire collegiate career to the push to open the shop. Katsuki knew a good academic advisor could make or break everything so he felt that he owed Aizawa. But come to find out, Eri being there was more of a blessing to Katsuki than a favor to his former advisor because as far as he was concerned, she was the only competent one.
Eijirou frowned, “I mean, besides the beans everything else has been alright, right?”
Katsuki sighed, trying to keep his anger in check. He could be upset, he could be angry even but he wouldn’t yell at Eijirou, especially over shit that wasn’t his fault, “For whatever reason, several of them will not follow the recipe cards.”
Eijirou’s eyebrows pinched together, “…Like, they’re just making whatever they want?”
Katsuki threw his hands up, “Honestly, I think I’d prefer that! They wouldn’t be butchering my recipes if that was the case. But no, they’re looking at the card one and deciding, ‘ yeah I got it’ and then proceeding to put four shots of espresso in a small cup.”’
Katsuki slumped down in his office chair, “…I miss the idiots…My idiots…Not whoever the fuck those I hired here…”
Despite the cause of this admission being a problem, Eijiriou couldn’t help but smirk at hearing Katsuki actually say that he missed their friends. While they had all gone in their own respective directions after graduation, Katsuki still spoke to them almost daily, the group chat he had been forced into with his main shift crew still going strong even then. Calling them his idiots was the closest he was ever going to get to admitting that they were still some of his favorite people in the world and while he could verbalize to Eijirou, at least indirectly, that he could really use their help, he was never going to ask them.
Katsuki looked up, immediately noticing the look on Eijirou’s face, “Do NOT tell them I said that.”
Eijiriou pretended to zip his mouth shut and throw the key behind him but even through that he couldn’t help the big smile spread across his face.
Katsuki sighed again, an occurrence that had become more common with the stress of preparing for the shop’s opening, “Even dunceface was just good at his job. If you gave him the directions, he’d get it done. I-…I know everyone figures out and learns stuff like this differently so I’ve tried everything with them out there and they’re throwing bags of tea around, eating whipped cream directly from the canister…It’s fucking disrespectful.”
And that’s when it clicked for Eijirou. DynaRiot Coffee Co. had become Katsuki’s dream but to several of the people they hired, this was just supposed to be an easy job.
“…They don’t care.”
“They don’t care, Ei! This is everything, it’s the only thing I’ve got and they bullshitted through the interview so I’d hire them and they just don’t fucking care!”
Eijirou slid his hands over Katsuki’s, pulling him from his chair before wrapping his arms around him, “…You know that isn’t true,right?”
Katsuki mumbled into Eijirou’s shirt,standing limp as he rested against his chest, “What isn’t?”
“That the shop is the only thing you have…Kat’s, you’re incredibly smart. But you know that. We’ve got the same degree and it was fucking hell getting it and you were the top of our class. Your backup plan is some people’s entire careers, hell it’s my career…and if you don’t want to count any of that as something you have, that’s fine… you always have me.”
Katsuki had done his fair share of comforting Eijirou over the two, almost three, years they’d been together. From school stress to fights with his moms, Katsuki was there for Eijirou with a sweet drink he had made at work and a cheesy movie to distract him from whatever was wrong until he was ready to talk about it. And while Eijirou had also gotten to know what Katsuki needed in times of distress over their time together, there had been very few things that had ever pushed Katsuki to the point of needing much more than a rant session, it just wasn’t who he was. But the year leading up DynaRiot’s opening had not only tested Eijirou’s memory of the best ways to comfort Katsuki but also how knowledge on what was best for what situations, especially when generally, Katsuki was not a touchy feely guy. Despite this, as the last few weeks before the opening winded down and Katsuki’s stress spiked, Eijirou had defaulted to being very touchy feely. Lots of hugs, forehead kissing, and cuddling. And maybe it was just because they were so often alone when Katsuki needed that comfort, but that seemed to be working out just fine.
Katsuki took a deep breath in, breathing Eijirou in as he did, before looking up at him and quickly pecking him on the lips, “Thanks, Ei.”
Eijirou let out a breath and smiled, glad that the hug and little pep talk was exactly what Katsuki needed, “Now let’s go back out there to see if Eri fired everyone else during her fifteen minutes of being in charge.”
“If she did, I’m giving her a goddamn raise.”
***
With just 7 days before DynaRiot Coffee Co.’s grand opening, Eijirou was staring at yet another round of pumpkin spice mugs. This time, however, it was 10pm and while Eijirou had expected to find Katsuki asleep when he got home from campus, the kitchen counter was not where he thought he’d find him.
While all this stress Katsuki was going through was starting to worry Eijirou, he always found these moments of pause adorable. Of course he wasn’t happy that Katsuki was pushing himself so much to the point of falling asleep in the kitchen but seeing Katsuki want something so badly and be so close to accomplishing it?
Eijiriou carefully shook Katsuki’s shoulder, “Kats…Baby you’re still in the kitchen.”
“Just one more pumpkin drink, gotta make one more,” Katsuki mumbled out, now sounding half asleep.
“You gotta go to bed, love.”
Katsuki finally lifted his head from the island counter, eyes struggling to stay open and a yawn quickly escaping, “Will figure it out in the morning.”
Eijirou nods, “Uh huh, Sure love,” Before intently watching Katsuki get up from his seat to make sure he didn’t fall and helping him make his way to their bedroom. Once Katsuki was safely laying down, falling back asleep almost immediately after his head hit the pillow, Eijirou went to shower.
He stood under the spray of hot water trying to wash away his day of labs as well as all his worry about Katsuki. He was helping out with the shop plans and opening where and when Katsuki asked him to but that’s all he did. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be doing more but he grew to understand Katsuki’s pride very early on in their relationship. And even though the shop was technically named for both of them, this was Katsuki’s ‘thing.’ In the same way that the kitchen was his and quickly became that way when they moved in. While it was ‘theirs’, it was Katsuki’s to share with Eijiriou if he wanted to. And Eijiriou didn’t worry too much about it because Katsuki always wanted to.
But the more he saw Katsuki stress about the shop’s opening, the more he knew he needed to be doing more than just what Katsuki had asked for. But what more could he do? He had already gone a little off the tracks and had to just hope Katsuki would react to it well even though he didn’t have any doubts about it. But how could he stop Katsuki from passing out in the kitchen just to wake up at the ass crack of dawn to work on the drink every day for another week.
As soon as it hit Eijirou, he was bounding out of the shower and quickly getting dressed before heading back out to their kitchen. After rinsing all of the mugs and cups Katsuki had already used and placing them in the dishwasher, Eijiriou assembled all of the ingredients and tools he had seen katsuki use over the years but specifically the ones he’d been using to work on all the pumpkin spice recipes. Milk, cans of pumpkin, pumpkin spice, pumpkin spice syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and heavy cream as well as their whipped cream canister and the CO2 pack.
Going over to the espresso machine, his eyes glazed over all of the buttons to ensure he knew what all of the buttons were and exactly which ones he needed to pull this off.
And for this… well he’d seen Katsuki make drinks hundreds, if not a thousand, times over the course of their couple years. From afar when they were still in school, where Eijirou had to just watch from the pick up counter at the campus coffee shop and then up close here in their home, especially as Katsuki built the DynaRiot menu.
Given all of that, he could definitely figure out how to make one pumpkin flavored drink. Hopefully something good enough for Katsuki to just put on the menu so he can stop losing sleep over it.
He had an idea of what he wanted to make. At least he could see it in his head. He wasn’t sure if it was actually a type of drink that existed or if he was really just gonna present a literal cup of pumpkin concoction to his expert barista boyfriend but at least it was gonna be something.
And with that, Eijirou got to work.
The whipped cream was going to be first. Despite knowing exactly how to tackle this task, Eijirou stared at the empty metal canister as if it were challenging him.
“10 pumps of syrup, heavy cream to the top line, cap and charge ...10 pumps syrup, heavy cream to top line, cap and charge.”
Eijirou repeated this to himself a few more times as he grabbed the pumpkin spice syrup and added ten pumps of it to the canister.
“Heavy cream to top line,” He whispered as he crouched down so he was eye level and could properly match the heavy cream measurement. He smiled to himself as he was able to stop pouring at the exact notch.
“This is easy, I should be a barista!” Eijirou quickly covered his mouth, hoping his outburst hadn’t woken up Katsuki. After a few moments of nothingness, Eijirou sighed contentedly before screwing the cap and nozzle into the canister and loading in the CO2 charger. Shaking the canister exactly as he had seen Katsuki do time and time again, Eijirou made his way to the fridge and slid his freshly made whipped cream onto the top shelf for later.
Now it was time for the espresso… and working the absolute behemoth of an espresso machine. Eijirou had given Katsuki the espresso machine for the Christmas before graduation. At the time, DynaRiot Coffee Co. was still a dream to Katsuki. Both of them knew he’d do it but with graduation still months away, the where and the when was still unknown. It was also their first Christmas living together and since Katsuki had moved into Eijirou’s apartment, Eijirou wanted to get something that made Katsuki not only feel at home but continue to feel supported in his dream.
The apartment smelled like coffee from that morning forward with Katsuki having pulled every type of espresso shot you could think of. Regular, ristretto, blonde, doppio. They had regular coffee sometimes but when Eijirou could wake up to things like ‘confetti cake lattes’ and be sent off to his grad classes with ‘caramel cookie frozen coffees,’ why would he ever just want regular coffee? Was Katsuki giving him straight caffeine hidden under a mountain of sugar? Most definitely, but if a delicious drink came with a kiss and your bento all wrapped up for the day, could you really complain?
And maybe that’s why he was really standing there in front of the espresso machine, scanning for the button that would make the blonde roast shots. Even while he was chasing his dream in real time, Katsuki was still finding time to take care of Eijirou. Even when he was pulling shots for a dozen tester drinks at seven in the morning, when Eijirou would come out to head to his classes there was his bento and whatever coffee treat Katsuki had made him for the morning. Not once had Eijirou gone to campus without them. Actually, he did leave without his drink and his bento once because he was running late and Katsuki made his way across town to make sure he got it.
Yeah, he was watching the espresso shots pour from the machine so intently because he didn’t want Katsuki worrying about yet another drink for the menu but maybe he was also doing it so Katsuki could wake up to a sweet smelling mug of coffee with a leaf or heart made with steamed milk on top of it.
With the shots poured and the milk steamed, all he had to do was actually assemble the drink. Keeping the mug on the counter in fear he’d drop or spill it, Eijirou added a spoon full of pumpkin, six pumps of vanilla syrup, and four pumps of the pumpkin syrup to it before pouring over the shots followed by the steam milk. And for a perfect presentation, just like Katsuki always has, he swirled on a mountain of the pumpkin whipped cream he had made and dusted on a sprinkle of pumpkin spice and cinnamon.
The drink was very clearly orange, but it was pumpkin, it was supposed to be orange…Right?
Incredibly proud of his work, Eijirou brought the mug to his lips and took a sip before immediately spitting it out.
“Holy shit I think my teeth are rotting,” Eijirou coughed, putting the mug down and looking down at the ‘splat’ of orange on the kitchen floor. Staring at it, he couldn’t help but laugh. He covered his mouth to try and contain himself since Katsuki was still asleep but still carried on that way for a couple minutes as he wrestled with the fact that he was really in his kitchen at 11 at night playing barista.
After grabbing a glass of water to wash the cloying sweetness out of his mouth and a wipe to get rid of the ‘splat’ on the floor, Eijirou turned back to the espresso machine and sighed, “Alright, lets try this again.” And back to the drawing board he went.
By the third drink attempt, Eijirou was really starting to understand how Katsuki spent hours upon hours doing this, even if he had only spent about 45 minutes.
He stared at the drink in his mug. It was significantly less orange than his first attempt and this one actually seemed to smell pretty good but considering the last one also smelled pretty good, he was nervous. Cautiously, he lifted the mug to his lips and took a sip before sighing in relief and then pausing. He looked down at the drink, almost shocked at how good it did taste. If he didn’t know he had obviously made it, he could convince himself this was just one of Katsuki’s receipts.
Satisfied, Eijirou leaned back against the counter as he took another sip from the mug, “Oh yeah, I could totally do this barista thing.”
Finally he looked up from the mug and registered the condition of the kitchen. The empty cans of pumpkin and subsequent pumpkin splatters on the counter, the now empty whipped cream canister, and the layer of pumpkin spice and cinnamon coating the counting. He’d made a fucking mess but he was damn proud of the final product. Besides, he was gonna get up early to make Katsuki a fresh ‘Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Latte’ anyway, he could clean up then.
Looking at the clock’s blaring red 12:00, Eijirou nodded to himself before placing his mug in the sink and heading off to brush his teeth.
Heading into the bedroom, Eijirou found Katsuki still fast asleep but now curled up around a blanket the way he’d usually cuddle up with him. He smiled as he got into bed, pulling Katsuki close to him. No wonder Katsuki drank so much caffeine during the day but was always able to fall asleep early. This baristaing shit takes a lot out of you.
The next morning, Katsuki woke up and shuffled into a completely spotless kitchen minus a singular mug and a note on the island counter. While it didn’t sound like Eijirou was home, the mug was still steaming and he only had the class he was the TA for so he couldn’t have gone far.
Katsuki sat at the island and pulled the mug toward himself so he could read the note. He rolled his eyes playfully before smiling and reading the note aloud to himself, “Kats, no need to try and make another drink for the menu. I’ve already made the perfect one. Presenting an Eijirou Kirishima original, the Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Latte.”
Katsuki shook his head as he brought the mug to his lips, fully impressed by the whip cream swirl and pumpkin spice dusting that adorned it. Katsuki could hear the front door unlock and Eijirou walked in just in time to hear Katsuki take a sip of the latte and audibly moan.
Eijirou bursted into the kitchen, a bag from their favorite breakfast takeout place in his hand and a wide smile across his face, “It’s perfect, isn’t it!”
Katsuki grumbled, a blush across both of his cheeks, but even behind the mug, Eijirou could see the little smile, “...Yeah it’s good or whatever.”
Eijirou pumped his fist in the air in victory, “Yes!” Making his way over to the island to sit next to Katsuki, he dug around in the takeout bag before sliding Katsuki two wrapped sandwiches. “Bacon, egg whites, pepper jack cheese. Their hot sauce is in the bag and I can grab yours from the cabinet.”
“Ei, what’s all this for?”
Eijirou blinked at Katsuki as he went to open the condiment cabinet, “Well, the drink is for the menu so you don’t have to be up all night again trying to figure out the last pumpkin drink. I wrote down the recipe and everything…If you wanna put it on the menu of course, up to you…And then breakfast is so you don’t have to worry about anything other than training the crew this morning.”
Katsuki grumbled again, already annoyed about having to go and train his immature team. If he had any more time he would just fire them and rebuild. He takes another long drink of his latte and hums contentedly, “You’re too good to me you know that?”
Eijirou slides Katsuki’s favorite hot sauce over to him and smiles, “No such thing. You’re literally the one who says you’re the best so you deserve the best.”
Katsuki smirks, grabbing the hot sauce, “And I have the best. The best boyfriend, the best breakfast-“
Eijirio smiled as he rounded the island and kissed Katsuki on the forehead and then the lips before taking his seat next to him again, “And in six days, you’ll have the best coffee shop in the entire city.
***
The night before the official grand opening of DynaRiot Coffee Co., Eijirou came home from his classes to once again find Katsuki fast asleep in the kitchen. This time, however, there were no mugs all over the counters and also unlike last time, Eijirou had no worries.
Katsuki was surrounded by papers full of last minute details that unbeknownst to him had already been handled. And while Katsuki almost definitely fell asleep still a little concerned about his team coming in the next morning and being able to do their jobs but Eijirou wasn’t concerned even a bit. The next day was going to go well for Katsuki, Eijirou was going to make sure of it.
He assembled all of Katsuki’s papers, carefully tucking them back into their folder, centering it on the counter before going to wake Katsuki.
As he looked at his sleeping boyfriend’s face, he once again felt that same pride as he had felt about a week ago. But now it was right there. Everything Katsuki had worked for and given everything to over the last year would culminate tomorrow and Eijirou couldn’t help but be excited to watch Katsuki succeed. And he knew that he would.
Deciding against waking him, Eijirou pulled Katsuki into his arms as carefully as he could, doing his best not to jostle him around too much. After carrying him to bed and making sure he was still asleep, Eijirou got himself ready for bed and for everything he’d need to do to make sure the opening went well on his end. After sending off a few more important texts, Eijirou got into bed where Katsuki instinctively cuddled closer to him as if he had been subconsciously waiting for him.
Eijirou smiled as he closed his eyes. Tomorrow was gonna be great,
***
Katsuki jolted out of his asleep with a gasp, waking up two entire hours later than he had planned.
“FUCK! Eiji-“
Katsuki looked at Eijirou’s empty spot in their bed and furrowed his eyebrows, “Where the hell is shitty hair?” Shaking his head, Katsuki threw himself out of bed and began rushing around the apartment as he attempted to get himself ready for one of the most important days of his life. He had planned to wake up four hours before the shop actually had to open, so he still had plenty of time but this is not how he wanted to kick off opening day.
Heading out the door, he sent Eijirou a text to ask him where he was and telling him to call when he can. But as he made his way over to the shop and still hadn’t heard anything from him, he started to get worried. Stopping just before he got to the shop, he pulled out his phone and called Eijirou, “You better not be fucking dead…”
“Happy opening day babe!” Katsuki could hear his smile through the phone but it also sounded like he wasn’t standing very far. Turning back to look at the shop, there was Eijirou standing right out front. Katsuki shook his head and hung up the phone, shoving it back into his pocket as he shuffled over to Eijirou.
“Shitty hair, why didn’t you wake me up!”
“Not shitty hair again,” Eijirou laughed, “I wanted you to get proper rest. You need it for today and haven’t been getting any.”
Katsuki sighed. Eijirou was right but how could he rest when there was so many things that needed to get done, especially when he couldn’t trust his current group of employees to be able to do it on their own.
“I know what you’re thinking and don’t worry. All the espresso machines have already been set up with the right beans, all the bars are stocked. I even picked up some pastries for the team.”
Katsuki looked up at Eijirou wide eyed, “You did all of that on your own? Eiji, you didn’t know how the espresso machine in our apartment worked until a few weeks.”
Eijirou laughed, “Yeah but look at how good I am at using at now! And besides, I had a lot of help from the team.”
Katsuki’s eyes narrowed, “Please tell me you didn’t actually take instruction from those idiots.”
Eijirou shook his head, “Oh no, not the recently hired team. I got some help from some professionals.” Eijirou smiled, rather satisfied with himself and what he had done.
“Professionals?” Katsuki’s eyebrows pinched together from before his eyes went wide again as he turned to the shop, pulling open the door, “You did fucking not.”
“Happy grand opening, Katsuki!” A chorus of voices rang out from behind the counter, greeting him as he entered the shop for the first time that morning.
Behind the counter, all in matching black aprons with ‘DynaRiot Coffee Co.’ in red lettering, were Mina, Denki, Uraraka, Izuku, Hanta, and Hitoshi.
“You even got eye bags to come…” Katsuki mumbled before turning back to face Eijirou, who was now standing inside just behind him.
“Eri still comes in at three as planned but the others have all been sent for barista training somewhere else today. Opening day is gonna be us and ‘your idiots.’ “
Katsuki stared at Eijirou before throwing his arms around him and taking in a deep breath before mumbling a shaky, “I’m not gonna cry.”
EIjirou rested his chin atop Katsuki’s head as he held him, “You know it’d be okay if you did, right?”
Katsuki nodded, his face still buried in Eijirou’s chest, “Yeah, i know… Maybe later…”
From behind the counter, Mina threw two aprons at the couple. One in orange and one red. Both read the name of the shop just like the others but the red one, Katsuki’s, also read, ‘owner’ where his name tag would go, “Alright love birds! We open in an hour and a half, let’s go!”
“Wait! We gotta do one more thing first!” Immediately after tying on his apron, Eijirou dragged Katsuki back outside before handing him a button.
“….You got a button made?” Katsuki snickered at his boyfriend.
“I wanted to make sure you could see the sign the first time you lit it up.” Eijirou smiled at Katsuki, waiting for him to push the button.
Katsuki grinned as he raised his hand as high up as he could reach and just before slamming it into the button, he stopped, looking up at Eijirou, “Well…technically your name is on the sign too, Red Riot. Come here.”
Eijirou laughed, remembering the conversation about hypothetical powers and superhero names as he crossed the sidewalk to Katsuki. He then stood behind Katsuki, sliding his hand over top of Katsuki’s and lacing his fingers through it, before finally looking up at the shop’s sign, “Ready, Dynamight?”
Katsuki rolled his eyes jokingly, kissing Eijiou’s cheek and nodding as he lifted up their hands. And on the count of three, they slammed their hands onto the button and watched as the brilliant red and orange letters came to life, ‘DynaRiot Coffee Co.’
Alongside the sign, Katsuki’s eyes lit up. He stood there, almost frozen, even as Eijirou wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
Eijirou hummed, lifting Katsuki’s face and kissing him gently, “Happy Grand Opening Kats. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Katsuki smiled, “…None of this,” Katsuki gestured towards the sign, “Without you, shitty hair. You and all those fucking white mochas.” He laughed as he gave Eijirou a squeeze before running back into the shop, Eijirou close behind him.
“Alright, extras!” His friends behind the counter rolled their eyes but couldn’t help but smile seeing him in an element he was actually happy in.
“We’ve got work to do!”
***
The first couple hours of the opening were slow. It was still very early and dark out and the majority of the people who were up getting coffee at that time had long chosen their go-to coffee place. The very reasonable explanations didn’t deter Katsuki from wanting to just stand outside the shop and yell at people to ‘just fucking come in and have coffee.’ EIjirou’s offer to stand outside and hand out samples, however, did. And it instantly began to work.
By the time Eri came running into the shop at 3pm for her shift, there was a line out the door.
“…That Aizawa’s kid?” Denki laughed looking back at Katsuki.
Katsuki high fived Eri as she rounded the corner to get behind the counter, ““Yeah, and if me and Eijirou aren’t around, she’s in charge.”
Eri laughed as she tied on her apron, “Happy to help, Mr. Bakugou… Oh! A bunch of kids from my school were planning on coming down so we might be seeing an even bigger rush soon.”
Katsuki grinned, the thought of it reigniting the excitement he used to put into making drinks during those busy nights on campus. “Hey uhh, eye bags! Tape face! Take a break or something. Me and Ei are gonna hop on bars.”
Eijirou perked up at hearing his name. He had been talking to guests in line about the various drinks and how their days were going. He excused himself from the conversation he was having and headed over to the counter.
“You called me, babe?”
“Yeah, I want you on bar for this next rush.”
Eijirou blinked at him a few times before nodding, “uh yeah! If you’re sure, hun.”
“I am, now hurry up! Dunce face can go entertain customers.”
Despite his initial reservations, Eijirou excelled at being on hot bar with Katsuki. Their home espresso machine was just a slightly watered down version than the two in the shop and he had figured that one out no issues.
The two of them moved around each other as if this was just their home kitchen. It was as if they could sense each other. Passing by and turning at all of the exact moments as if they were dancing around each other and together.
Mina smirked, looking over at them briefly from the register, “It’s wild seeing him like this.”
Uraraka looked up from the pick up counter as she sent out another couple of drinks before laughing, “can’t believe he actually wanted someone else on hot bar with him.”
That first semester of their sophomore year, of watching Katsuki have and deny his crush on the red head, was so funny to think about now. And as the day toiled on, the mass rushes eventually slowing, all of their friends got to see moments of Eijirou and Katsuki just being in love with each other.
Moments of finishing what the other was working on and knowing exactly what step to pick up from and moments of stolen kisses in the walk in fridge. By time the shop closed for the night and their crew collapsed onto the couches, the shop’s fire place crackling between all of them, they all couldn’t but feel happy for(and maybe a little sick of) their friends. Especially considering most of them had started as Katsuki’s friends who were not used to seeing Katsuki almost, soft?
Katsuki laid across Eijirou’s lap on one of the couches, facing the ceiling, “…. Now, don’t assume that this means I like any of you but…” he turned his head to look at all his friends gathered around him, just as exhausted as he was, “…I couldn’t have done today without you…”
Mina fake gasped, putting her hands over her heart, “He said he loved us!”
Katsuki grumbled and rolled his eyes but never denied that he did indeed love his friends. They were another thing he was so grateful that that job he thought nothing of, had also given him them.
The gang laid around the shop's cozy little area, reminiscing, laughing, and updating each other for just a few minutes, until minutes turned into hours. And once Denki had run out of energy, falling asleep curled into Hitoshi’s side, they knew their day together was coming to an end.
Much to all of their surprise, Katsuki hugged all of them on their way out the door. Of course this was after Eijirou had hugged all of them, thanking them for coming, and suggesting Katsuki do the same.
Katsuki sighed as he turned to look at the now empty shop and smiled knowing he’d get to wake up the next day and do it all again, even if it wasn’t gonna be with all of his friends.
He made his way around the back of house, making sure everything was off and things were prepped for the next day while Eijirou took care of the front of the house.
Rounding the corner back into the front, Katsuki saw Eijirou hanging out by the fireplace and walked over, wrapping his arms around the taller man’s waist, “you ready to go home?”
Eijirou embraced Katsuki back, tilting his head against Katsuki’s, “Just about… I got one more thing I gotta do.”
Katsuki’s eyebrows pinched together as shifted to look up at Eijirou.
Eijirou took a deep breath In and then out before speaking again, “Never in my life did I think if I drank enough coffee, I’d get to have the world's greatest partner.”
Eijirou pulled away from the hug slightly so he could look at Katsuki’s face, “And then getting to watch that partner chase after what he wanted and succeed, even though there was never a doubt in my mind… well it confirmed something for me.”
Katsuki's eyes softened as he listened to Eijirou. Eijirou knew exactly how to make that side of him come out. “And what did it confirm for you?”
Eijirou squeezed his eyes shut for a second before pulling a little black box out of his pocket, immediately making Katsuki’s eyes widen.
“You, are you- stay here!”
Katsuki ran back to the shop’s office. Eijirou stood in place confused, listening to Katsuki fumble around with the office keys before running back out to him, a little black box of his own in his hands.
Eijirou’s eyes flashed between his box and then Katsuki’s, his mouth opening and then immediately closing.
“Was gonna wait until after your birthday next week… wanted to make sure your day was about you. And I still can, I just wanted you know we were on the same page… okay continue.”
Eijirou laughed, tears immediately prickling in the corners of his eyes as he got down on one knee, “I want to wake up every day knowing I’m getting sent off with a kiss, caffeine disguised with sugar cuz I’m a baby, and a note in my bento calling me shitty hair. I want to listen to you rant about customers and how shitty other place’s coffee is. And I want to go to bed every night knowing I have the best husband in the world. Katsuki Bakugou, will you marry me?”
“Don’t even know why you’re still fucking asking. You already know my answer.”
Eijirou smiled, immediately picking up Katsuki and spinning in a circle… he then paused, “your answer is yes, right?”
“Yes shitty hair, the answer is yes!”
Eijirou kissed Katsuki passionately, clicking their teeth on accident in his excitement.
Katsuki laughed, “calm down, ei!”
Eijirou spun Katsuki again, “Can’t! I have the best fiancé ever! Katsuki Bakugou is my fiancé!”
Katsuki just continued to laugh and looked down at Eijirou’s face in all its excitement, “I can’t wait to be the future Katsuki Kirishima.”
Eijirou gasped and paused for a second before hyping himself up again but finally putting down Katsuki, opting to put his hands on Katsuki’s cheeks instead, “I love you future Mr.Katsuki Kirishima.”
“I love you too, Mr. Eijirou Kirishima.”
It was just something to do. Easy cash, a place to be, and a source of free caffeine.
It was just a crush. Fueled on lattes and meal plan swipes.
It was just the two of them staring at each other from either sides of the counter at their university coffee shop.
Until it wasn’t.
Then it was racing through school hallways and across fields so they could see each other perform and do what they love before ending the night stargazing in the back of Eijirou’s truck.
Then it was early morning hikes and late night study sessions where the reward for correct answers were Katsuki’s gentle kisses.
Then it was holding each other in the dark of their living room, tears running down their faces as their concept of the future morphed but what was always the same was that the other was going to be right there.
And then they were there.
In the middle of their own coffee shop. Named after silly conversations and now blessed by the work of friends. After a year of, “Does this taste good?” Even though the answer was almost always, “Well you made it, so of course it does.” And a week of kitchen counter sleeping. They had made it to the grand opening. Had made it through the grand opening. And now they were leaving DynaRiot Coffee Co. for the night, engaged.
As they stood outside, their hands shoved in the pocket of Eijirou’s jacket as they looked up at the DynaRiot Coffee Co. sign one more time for the night, the leaves on the sidewalk crunching beneath their feet, Katsuki squeezed Eijirou’s hand and rested his head against his fiancé’s shoulder.
Happily, he sighed, laughing to himself as he felt the metal band around his finger, “Let’s go home, Riot.”
Eijirou held Katsuki close for a moment, bending down to kiss him quickly on the lips before turning them in the direction of their apartment.
“Yeah, let’s go home, Dynamight.”