Work Text:
It happens on a Tuesday.
Oluwande is grateful that Stede got her the job at the coffee shop, she really is. Even if he's absolutely insufferable about the pastries guy he's got a crush on, Ed is his name. She really needed it too, since Jim was recently laid off and it didn't seem fair that Archie was providing for all of them.
Today has been rough though, she feels beyond irritated, everyone seems to be trying very hard to get on her nerves. She is usually good at letting things slide, she understands that people are in their own world, stressed about their own lives but it has been too much. It's starting to feel personal.
After getting a couple of encouraging texts from her partners, a very dirty joke from Archie and a cup of tea during her break, Oluwande fastens her apron, adjusts her beanie and goes back to the counter. A couple more hours and she can go home, she can do this.
It starts pouring rain outside and the cafe slows down for a while so Olu starts organizing the cups, that is until she sees someone walk in through the front door, looking very much soaked in rain water.
The stranger lets out a frustrated groan as they take off their cape, which by the looks of it, didn't help much. They check the belongings in the bag, sighing at the sight of it and finally slump on the seat as they put their hair on a loose bun.
They usually let the customers order at the counter, however this person seems to be having an even worse day than her, it might be worth at least trying to help with a hot beverage.
Oluwande locks the register and takes the menu with her as she walks to the table. She can only see them from the back where they're sitting, the moment she goes around and stands in front of them, she stops in her tracks. Oh my god.
They have to be one of the most beautiful people that Oluwande has ever placed her eyes on. That is truly a face carved by the gods themselves.
The (very rightfully so) grumpy stranger stares back at her with a frown, probably wondering why she's just standing there, staring, without talking or moving at all.
Oluwande clears her throat and introduces herself. She can surely check them out and do her job, right? She hopes so.
“Hi! My name is Oluwande, my pronouns are she/her. What would you like to order today?” She gives them a polite smile, time to act professionally.
They seem pleasantly surprised at her introduction as their face visibly softens. They must've not noticed the fact that it’s a queer place, it's literally full of different pride flags and rainbows everywhere. Not that she can blame them, they had their own problems when they came in.
“Hey! My name is Zheng, pronouns she/they. Thank you for coming over, I know I should've gone to the counter.” She smiles at her sheepishly and looks quickly at the menu. “I will have a soy latte, please.”
“It's not a problem really! I didn't want to make you go all the way over there, it costs me nothing to walk here. One soy latte coming right away!” Olu says and walks over to the machines. It feels like she has been holding her breath the whole time.
She feels so awestruck by Zheng, she knows it's just another customer and she probably won't see her again but she can't help but hope that they can at least share a conversation. She has a good feeling about them.
Oluwande finishes preparing the latte and thankfully the place is still empty for her to bring it over to their table. She grabs a blueberry muffin as a treat and takes it as well.
“Here you go! One soy latte and a blueberry muffin on the house, I hope you like it.” She says as she slides both through the table.
“Thanks! May I ask why you brought me a muffin?” Zheng asks, looking at her suspiciously but the smile on the corner of her pink lips shows that it isn't serious, oh she is teasing her.
Olu can feel the heat rising to her cheeks, she's begging to every deity that it's not noticeable.
“Uh. I just- I- I saw that you were probably not having the best day and- and I wanted to do something nice. I guessed you could maybe like the muffin but if you don't, I- I can take it back.” She says, stammering, they asked a perfectly normal question she shouldn't be this nervous. Get it together.
Zheng's smirk just grows wider. “It's okay, I really appreciate the gesture. Especially since it comes from you” She takes a sip of their latte and makes a content sound.
“Would you like to sit and share the muffin with me?” Zheng asks nicely and points to the seat on the other side of the table.
“Oh, that's so sweet of you but you don't have to- also I'm on my shift and a customer could come in.” Olu adds apologetically, she really wishes she could sit here and talk to the gorgeous angel that was put in her way.
“Come on, I promise to let you go if someone comes in, gorgeous. I will even take their order if you need me to.” Gorgeous? Oh god she can't keep blushing like this during work hours.
Olu caves and takes a seat. She starts fidgeting with her hands under the table and Zheng puts her own head on her hands as she looks at her with a satisfied look on her face.
“Do you mind if I split it?” Zheng says as she does so, without waiting for an answer, they put the bigger half on a napkin and hand it to Olu.
“Thank you.” Olu says shyly. She can feel herself relax on her seat. “Can I ask what brought you here? I don't think I’ve seen you around before.”
“So you just took the muffin offer to pry then.” Zheng responds, lifting an eyebrow but her tone is light, still teasing. “Alright, I'll tell you. I work at an office two blocks away from here but I usually drive there. The short version is that today has just been one of those days, my car broke down, I couldn't find an Uber, I was walking to take the bus but then it started raining and of course I didn't have my umbrella. That's why I walked in here looking like a soaked angry cat and how I ended up with a ruined laptop.” She sighs and then she finishes up with a small smile.
“It's not so bad now though, loving the warmth, the muffin, the latte and the company.”
“Jesus, that sounds like a nightmare. I’m glad you're feeling better. I was having one of those days too, not as bad as yours I will admit.” Olu says and giggles. “My day has definitely picked up too.”
They continue talking for another 10 minutes. Zheng is so lovely. They ask Olu about her job at the coffee shop, what she likes to do in her free time, she tells her about knitting and how she made her own beanie. Then Zheng tells her that she would love to learn how to knit and that she mostly plays the guitar and sings covers when they have the chance.
They are very deep in their conversation, until a customer comes in and she has to run back to the counter without so much as a quick apology. After that a few more people get in line since the rain has mostly stopped by now.
Once Oluwande is finally free again. She immediately notices that Zheng is gone. She walks back to the table to pick up the cup, there is a bill she left to pay for the coffee and a small “thank you <3 you brightened my day like sunshine” note scribbled on a napkin. If she keeps it and brings it home, that's no one’s business but her own.
Exactly a week later, Zheng comes back in again and Oluwande can't hide the happy grin on her face. She looks very different. Not that they weren't breathtaking the first time but she's wearing a suit now, she looks professional, their makeup is on point and their hair is down, straightened.
She comes to the counter this time, orders her latte, stays to chat with her for a bit and then sits at the same table to work on their laptop for a while. Not that Oluwande is checking or anything.
Right before they leave, they walk back to the counter and put a bill on the tip jar, along with another note, not a napkin and a sunflower.
“saw this flower and it made me think of you. almost as pretty.”
Oluwande sniffs it and blushes. She wonders if Zheng knows that the tip jar is not only for her.
In the third week, Oluwande realizes that Zheng is becoming a regular. She also realizes that she is definitely flirting with her. When she stays to chat, Olu makes sure to mention Jim and Archie. There is no point to lead them on if they won't be okay with it. To her surprise, Zheng is absolutely unfazed by the fact that she is polyam.
This note reads, “love your earrings but I thought you'd like these ones too.” and there is a pair of earrings that look exactly like the teal ones she always wears, except they're scarlet.
Next Tuesday, Oluwande is already eagerly waiting for Zheng to come in. She never expected Tuesday to be one of her favorite days, she might have even put extra effort in doing her hair and make up for the occasion. She also wore her new earrings, of course.
Things go as usual, they talk, they learn more about each other, they flirt and Zheng orders her usual soy latte.
Olu makes sure to stop by her table a few times to check in, while she works away on the computer. They ask for a refill and try a new pastry.
Following their routine, Zheng stops by the tip jar and drops a note. No little gift this time, which seems odd but she doesn't want to overreact.
When Olu opens it, it has a phone number written in and all it says is “please call me when you have the chance, beautiful.” She folds it and puts it in the apron pocket.
She can't help but feel anxious about the note, they called her beautiful though so it should be fine, right? She didn't somehow mess this up, right?
Oluwande spends the rest of her shift feeling uneasy, recalling their conversation in search of something she could've done wrong. The phone number in her pocket feels like it's burning a hole in it.
When she's finally done for the day, she makes a beeline for the break room and enters the number on her phone. She can't handle waiting until she's home.
The phone rings one, two, three times and she hears their voice on the other line. Zheng sounds sleepy and confused.
“Hello? Olu?” She asks. Olu’s heart skips a beat at the fact that she was expecting her call.
“Hi, yeah, it's me.”
“I’m so glad you actually called, give me just a sec gorgeous.”
Olu bites her lower lip nervously and plays with one of her locks while she waits. The constant praise that keeps falling from Zheng’s lips or getting written on her notes will eventually make the butterflies in her belly crawl out.
She can hear the rustle of covers in the background and what sounds like a glass being set on a table before Zheng is back.
“Sorry, I fell asleep when I got home, it was a busy day at work and I was exhausted.”
“Oh. If you're too tired to talk I can just call later, I mean tomorrow? I don't want you to stay up because of me.”
“That’s really considerate of you, sunshine. It's fine, I already had a nap. I can sleep more later.” She can hear the smile on their words.
“Alright, okay, that works. Can you please tell me why you wanted me to call? I’ve been feeling a bit anxious about it since you left. If I did something wrong I would rather you just tell me.”
“Oh no, not at all! You definitely haven't done anything wrong. I'm sorry that I made you feel anxious about it but you have nothing to worry about.”
“That's good… so what is the reason?”
“Listen, I tried to be a proper gentlethem and woe you. But as much as I enjoy coming in and flirting with you, I really would love to be able to see you more than once a week.”
“... are you asking me out?” Olu is so glad that no one can see her right now because she probably looks like a teenager with her first crush. She's all but blushing and kicking her feet.
“I am. I want to take you to dinner, the movies, a picnic, the museum, whatever you prefer for the first one and then we call do all of the rest.”
“Of course, I would love all of it. A picnic sounds like fun.”
“You got it, beautiful. We can text and arrange the whole thing, I can't wait.”
“Me neither.” Olu pauses. She's smiling so much that her cheeks hurt. “Will you still keep coming in and leaving cute notes for me?”
She hears Zheng giggle on the other line.
“I don't think I could stop even if I tried.”
“Perfect. I will let you get some rest. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, text you later.”
Oluwande locks her phone and makes her way out of the shop. She can't stop the giddy feeling on her belly.
Her phone pings with a text, she finds three different suggestions for a picnic date.