Work Text:
You'd think that since they've been dating for quite a while now, almost three months, that Hao has been to his boyfriend's workplace.
You'd be wrong.
You'd also think that since where his boyfriend worked was right next to the building Hao had all of his lectures, he'd branch by there every time he got a break and stare from a distance at his working boyfriend.
You'd be wrong again.
Because Hao has done everything within his capacity to avoid coming into that cafe, not because he doesn't want to see Hanbin but because he fears for himself what he might want to do — which includes some very inappropriate things to be thinking of doing to your boyfriend in his place of work — when he sees him in his strict working self.
Hanbin works as a barista in a cafe and despite his busy college schedule, he of course fits in a part time job instead of having using that time to study.
Granted, he's also a genius because somehow he always procrastinates studying and always ends up having A's in every paper he touches so Hao can't exactly use that as an excuse to get him into quitting.
He also earns pretty good money which he spends on Hao himself. That or the amount of desserts he brings back home after every shift and Hao's the one who devours them so there's that too.
He can't say just because because its childish and immature of him to hate seeing how everyone is fawning over his boyfriend just because Hanbin has a heart of gold and is the sweetest being to walk this earth.
There, he said it. His only reason for not visiting Hanbin at his work place is because he's jealous of all the other people that get to see him like that.
"You get to have him everyday in your bed," Ricky tells him as they walk to said cafe, Hao already groaning at the sight of a group of girls ordering at the counter and Hanbin is the one taking their order.
He sneers from the distance, boring holes into the backs of the girls' heads as if that would make them turn to ash and disappear from in front of his boyfriend.
"Doesn't change the fact that everyone gets to see him in this sexy outfit," he complains and groans again when Ricky opens the door to the cafe for him.
"How is a work outfit sexy? You're making things up at this point," the other rolls his eyes, throwing his cup of finished iced coffee in the trash just to order another one.
Ricky's been patronizing the cafe more than Hao has and that says a lot about his coffee addiction but that ultimately means more money for the cafe which means more money for his boyfriend aka, also for him.
"You say that because it's not your boyfriend behind the counter," Hao's eyes lift up to see the last of the ladies ordering and Hanbin tells them their order will be ready soon before they giddily walk off, giggling between themselves.
"You're right, mine's probably sitting under a tree somewhere, looking all pretty and dreamy," Ricky talks as if he's missing his lover that died from a disease and not his boyfriend that he just left approximately ten minutes ago to go for a lecture while Ricky forced Hao to come see his boyfriend at work.
They walk up to the counter, next in line to order. Hanbin is pressing some things on the screen in front of him so he doesn't see them at first as he greets in a polite, worker tone.
"Welcome, good afternoon, how may I he—?" He pauses when he sees Hao, totally ignoring Ricky's existence. "Baby!"
"Hi," Hao waves, almost feeling guilty for not showing up earlier if only to see this wide smile on Hanbin's face. He's so cute.
"Oh my.. what are you—? Why are you here?" He's spluttering, unable to believe that Hao is finally in the cafe Hanbin has invited him to multiple times already. His eyes then roam over Hao's body, checking him out. His smile widens and his eyes disappear behind his cheeks. "You look so cute."
He's saying that as if he didn't see Hao that morning, always waiting by his building with a smile just to see Hao walking up. He'd wait with arms open as Hao jogged over to him and fell into his arms, basking in his warmth. He'd also kiss Hao with a soft "good morning," before they proceeded to wish each other a good day, promising to text between shifts and lectures.
Something he's been doing since before they started dating. He'd claimed to have seen Hao walking into the building for an early lecture and had hit him by accident but didn't have time to apologize because Hao had just glared at him and ran away.
Hanbin had then continued to stand there for every day if only to see the rushed Chinese man again to apologize.
His chance came when it was raining and Hao was about to walk out of the building, bumping into him yet again but Hanbin caught him this time.
"You seem to always be falling when you're around me," he said, holding Hao up with hands on his arms.
"Who are you?" Hao asked with a frown on his face. Hanbin's smile didn't falter, still looking happy even when Hao was glaring at him. "Why are you so happy?"
"Ah. It's nothing. But I wanted to apologize," he said, remembering.
"For what?" Hao folded his arms over his chest but Hanbin didn't feel threatened. If anything, he only found him more adorable than he already was.
"For making you fall for me?" He meant to say it confidently but Hao's stare was not making it easy for him.
The other looked at him for a while, his stare piercing and his face in a look of disbelief. "Was that supposed to be a pickup line?"
"If the shoe fits," Hanbin shrugged.
"The shoe is two sizes too large," Hanbin replies, shaking his head and gazing at the rain. He wanted to go home but he didn't bring an umbrella and he wasn't really keen on getting wet.
"I have an umbrella you can borrow," Hanbin offered, pulling out the umbrella from Lord knows where. "But only on one condition."
"I'll walk in the rain," Hao said, moving to walk into said rain to show Hanbin how much he didn't care about getting soaked. But Hanbin cared about him so he pulled him back, stopping him from giving a chance for a cold.
"But then you'll get a cold. And then I won't be able to see you for a while," he explained, still holding Hao's hand. "Let me walk you?"
"What about the condition?" Hao asked, giving Hanbin a once over. He's still not smiling and Hanbin wonders if he'll ever get him to smile at all. He'd probably look even prettier than he did if he did.
"You'll have to go on a date with me," he said, laughing at the look on Hao's face.
"And if I say no?"
"I'll keep on asking till you say yes,"
"Are you a stalker?" Hao huffed, an unbelievable expression painted on his face.
"I'll be anything you want me to be," Hanbin persisted. He really can't let this chance go because he might never see Hao again.
"You're really crazy," Hao chuckled, unable to believe how one person could be so sure of themselves.
"Crazy over you, yes."
Safe to say, Hanbin's persistence worked because two weeks after, Hao is texting him asking him to be his boyfriend. Hanbin wanted to be the one to ask but it was a pleasant surprise to open his eyes and the first thing he saw was Hao's text and a grumpy emoji after five minutes asking,
h(ao)ubby
do you want to be boyfriends?
🙄
ugh, don't keep me waiting! reject me quick so I can get over it
Hanbin had never replied so fast in his entire years of living.
hanbin
YES
PLEASE YES
I WOULD LOVE TO PLEASE IM SAYING YES
h(ao)ubby
don't be so dramatic
I'm going to watch a movie by 4pm
Do you wanna go with me?
hanbin
Baby
If I ever say not to that
Please take me to the cops
cause my identity has been stolen
Sure there's been a few moments where he wished he'd ignored Hanbin and gone about his day but times like this make it worth it.
Hao does that thing he does when Hanbin compliments him; he tries to change the topic. He doesn't need to in this situation because Ricky is huffing a breath.
"Wow, hyung. You didn't even notice me here," Ricky says with a scoff. "Everyday I come here but you've never smiled that wide at me."
"Well, it's a given since you're not Hao," Hanbin says like it's the most correct statement. He directs his attention back to Hao. "What can I get for you?"
"What's your favorite on the menu?" Hao asks, leaning back to look over the menu board above them.
"I haven't tried much of the things here but I hear that the iced vanilla latte is good," Hanbin says, beginning to input the order into the screen. "Do you want anything else?"
"That chocolate slice you brought on Monday?" Hao asks, remembering how good it tasted.
"Alright," Hanbin is so giddy as he takes his boyfriend's order while said boyfriend is trying to hold back a smile, his cheeks bunching up from how hot Hanbin looks in that fitted shirt and apron. How his hair looks perfect under the pressure of the cap on his head and his smile that seems to light up the entire cafe.
He knows people know they're dating because Hanbin takes every opportunity to wax lyrical poetry about his boyfriend — he does that even when he's drunk, home from a long night out but denying every attempt of Hao's to help because "I'm sorry but I have a very beautiful boyfriend," — but Hao still gets irked at the amount of people staring at Hanbin and some even bending from behind him to catch a glimpse of him.
Hao brings out his card to pay but the look Hanbin sends him makes him slip the card right back into his pocket. Of course he wouldn't let him pay.
"You're not asking me what I want?" Ricky complains.
"You always get an iced coffee, please step aside," Hanbin mutters, entering the order. "I'll bring it to you once it's ready."
"Don't I get a kiss with that?" Hao asks, bravely walking closer so no one else hears them.
"Excuse me?" It makes Hanbin's face turn red, trying and failing not to blush.
"I said don't I get a kiss with that?" Hao says, clear as day.
"I uh.. I'm sorry but we don't have that on the menu," Hanbin replies professionally but Hao can see the teasing smile under his cap.
"Not even complementary?" He asks, batting his lashes and tilting his head cutely in an attempt to get Hanbin to succumb to his wants.
"Sorry, sir. Not on the menu," Hanbin is strict when he wants to be and Hao gives up immediately after that, pouting and turning to Ricky.
"Hyung! You've never brought me my coffee to my table! This is so unfair," Ricky complains as Hao drags him to a table at the back, quiet and away from human interaction but also close enough for him to be staring right at Hanbin behind the counter.
Hanbin, as promised, brings them their coffee and then sits down next to his boyfriend, telling them he's on a break right now.
Ricky leaves immediately after that, saying something about not wanting to wait to see them eat each other's faces to which Hanbin had almost thrown him out of the cafe. Luckily, he walked out there with his own legs.
They chat for a bit, talking about everything and nothing since they already talk every hour of the day, every day of the week and every week of the month so they're kind of running out of new things to tell each other.
Hao's classes aren't that interesting but Hanbin still wants to hear a few things they learned or something that happened.
He too fills Hao in on what happened between those two coworkers of his that he swore were fucking — they're now dating.
"And yes, they were fucking," he says taking a sip of Hao's drink. "Oh, this is actually good."
"Right? I can see why people like it. It's sweet and still heavily caffeinated," Hao says.
He then remembers something and turns completely towards Hanbin, perching his chin on his hand and giving him his best puppy eyes.
"What?" Hanbin asks, leaning into Hao's personal space.
"I didn't get that kiss I ordered," he says without missing a beat.
"I told you it wasn't on the menu," Hanbin refutes. "But since you're a favorite customer, I'll give you something close."
Hanbin leans in, cupping Hao's face with his hand and slots their lips together. Hao expects a single peck and for Hanbin to move away from him immediately after their press of lips but he keeps going, chasing Hao's mouth and prying his lips open with his tongue.
Hao stares at him like he just slapped him across the face when Hanbin pulls away.
"I asked for a kiss not to be violated with your tongue," he says, pink creeping up his neck. He hides his face behind his hands but Hanbin easily pulls them away. "In front of everyone in school too."
"This isn't everyone in school, babe. They couldn't possibly fit inside here," Hanbin says with a laugh. "You're so adorable. Why are you so red from just that?"
"Because we're in public!" Hao screeches. "Now even those that don't know we're together definitely know."
"That's good then," Hanbin is playing with Hao's hands, fiddling with his fingers while Hao sips on his drink. "They should know you're taken."
"I should be the one saying that. Do you know how many people come here just to see your face?" Hao rolls his eyes. He hates how jealous he gets over the littlest things. But it seems amusing to Hanbin because he's laughing, smile so wide that you can barely see his eyes. "What?"
"You're so cute," he coos, leaning in again to kiss Hao, a long press of their lips but nothing more. "There, now I've delivered your kiss."
"Was that from a secret menu?" Hao asks, leaning into Hanbin's body, resting his head on his shoulder.
"Yes. The Zhang Hao menu," Hanbin replies.
Hao rolls his eyes, acting annoyed yet he's still smiling. He shakes his head and reaches for the plate of cake to finish the dessert.
"How long is your break?" He asks after a while.
"Oh, I'm done for the day," Hanbin says.
"Why didn't you say that earlier?" The older man stands up and immediately starts to get his things, getting ready to leave.
"I don't know. What is it? Did you want to go somewhere?" Hanbin asks, standing with his boyfriend even though he has no idea why.
"Yes, home."
"And do what?"
"Get violated,"
Hao says it so simply like he's telling Hanbin good morning. He flashes Hanbin a smile and heads towards the door, leaving the other with his jaw slack.
Hao is almost touching the door knob when Hanbin reaches for it instead and opens it for him, leading them out with a barely concealed smile and a hand on Hao's waist.