Chapter Text
The guy who walked in when the 12:00 p.m. rush finally started winding down was obscenely hot. That's the first thing Angeal Hewley noticed. Quickly following that observation was the thought that he could really use some coffee. And probably a pastry. Or ten.
It said a lot that the guy was still stupidly attractive even with bruises under his eyes, and the too-sharp structure of his face, and the sallow pallor of his skin. If anything, it just made him more appealing. It prodded at the innate caregiver in Angeal, made his protective instincts surge just beneath his skin.
He was staring. He knew he was. The shrewd glances Genesis was sending him was a glaring indicator. Even so, Angeal couldn't bring himself to look away, tracking the guy's movements as he studied the pastries and hoagies behind the display cases and peered at the menu board with a squint that indicated he might be in need of glasses.
When the guy finally stepped up to the front and peeked up at Angeal from beneath long, blond lashes, a jolt of something he refused to name shot down his spine.
"Good afternoon," he said evenly. "What can I get for you?"
The guy's voice was all smooth tenor when he spoke. "I'd like a chocolate-mint latte with whip cream, please. Large. And, uh, three peanut-butter chocolate-chip cookies. Thank you."
Angeal rang him up, charmed by the indicator of a sweet tooth.
"Sure. That'll be five twenty-five." He took the proffered ten, made change, and rather than set it on the counter as he normally would, placed the money directly into the guy's hand. Skin touched, and Angeal bit back a shiver because he was freezing.
It was almost November. Didn't the guy have gloves?
"One moment, please," he murmured, forcing himself away from the counter. He ignored Genesis' calculating stare as he ambled towards the expresso machine and started coaxing coffee out of it. A swirl of whip cream later, and he set it on the countertop before bending to retrieve the confection. He bagged it, then set it down before the customer, who seemed to be lost in thought.
"Here you go, sir." The guy didn't stir. Angeal cleared his throat and said an octave louder, "Sir?" Nothing, not even a blink.
Genesis snorted beside him, and Angeal shot him a withering look before returning his attention to the guy. Who stillhadn't moved. Sighing, he reached out and gently laid a hand on his arm—which was too skinny, he noted absently—and squeezed.
The guy startled, cobalt eyes snapping open and refocusing. He blinked and gazed curiously at Angeal, who was biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing outright. The guy was adorable. Angeal wanted to tousle his crazy bird-like hair and maybe tweak his ruddy nose a little. Instead, he only retracted his hand and gestured towards his purchases.
"Oh," the guy said. Angeal could almost see the realization dawn. Before his eyes, pale skin darkened to a charming crimson and he lowered his gaze, clearly embarrassed. "Thanks."
Angeal watched as he grabbed his things and shuffled across the café, threw himself unceremoniously into a chair, and pulled out a slim laptop from the bag he'd been carrying.
He must have felt a gaze on him because after a moment of tearing into his cookie he lifted his head and looked directly in Angeal's direction. Then promptly froze, flushed a furious red, glared, and hastily wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
So cute, Angeal thought as several crumbs fluttered to the table.
Thinning his lips to keep from smiling, Angeal purposefully turned around…only to be confronted with the penetrative stare of his lover.
Really? Genesis' eyes seemed to say, clearly unimpressed as his eyes flickered to The Guy.
Angeal huffed and opted to ignore him