Chapter Text
Buggy hates this coffeeshop.
You know, when you're on the other side of these atmosphere, actually you are a worker, it doesn't seem so romantic. For the first reason of course you know how it works and you never put these food into your mouth again. So he doesn't speak about standing all day on the feet without chance to eat or seat. And his favorite, these stupid clients, oh my gosh, no, Buggy, they're our guests, who can't see the difference between latte and cappuccino.
Buggy isn't a loser, so he gets his score too. He is always late, rude with colleagues and everyday he drinks something that he shouldn't from the bar. Manager see in a dream how he is fired with a failure, but she actually can't do this because he is a lucky son of a bitch who works well. The bar is clear, and this grumpy clown magically turns into the most charismatic man when he talks with the guests. And actually his tips are better than the others.
"Good morning, clown ass" Alvida greeted him with easy smile. Buggy rolls his eyes. "I make coffee, you work with cashbox".
"What?! No!" he yelled "I don't wanna talk with these pieces of shit now, I am exhausted!"
Alvida pretends she didn't hear that. Buggy puts on his form with stupid cup and opens a coffeshop. Clients starts to order, so he beggin to act like the most charming man in the world. After two hours, when big queue of guests stopped, he breathed out.
"I need my coffee" he said while new clients came in "Or I'll kill someone. Maybe you".
Alvida laughs.
"I'll make you latte" she answered "As blank as your brain with a little drop of espresso as your last braincell".
"Thank you" he ignored her joke.
While she is cooking, new guest come into the coffeeshop. After hours and hours working with some boring people Buggy feel like he is asleep. Red-haired man in a such costly coat and silk shirt which opened for the first three bottom. Surprisingly how he doesn't wear some golden watch.
Buggy has complicated feelings for these types of men. For the one side he is really jealous of them. He thinks it is so unfair that they have everything. They're handsome and rich and he is certain for hundred percents they are smart and good in everything. Everybody wants to be them.
On the other hand Buggy loves them. The main reason is actually tips, men like this pretty ginger are often so generous. But other reason it's just his type. Especially red-haired. Whose not, but it's another story.
"Good morning, sir" he smiled as charm as he could. "What coffee do you prefer today?". Thanks for the lucky, Alvida get out for some shit and there aren't so many clients, so, this hot man is only his for two minutes. "Let me guess. I see you with a little cup of double espresso and cruassan, like French romantic hero".
Man laughs.
"I hate espresso. How can someone drink it?".
Buggy clenched his jaw. Shitty but still pretty ginger.
"So, what is your favorite coffee?" red haired asked with a charming grin.
"I love latte" he smiled "with caramel syrup in it".
"Caramel" he smiled.
For some seconds they just looked to each other. Buggy find out the scars around his eyes and wish to ask, but it's not his business. But to be fair, he is just afraid of getting rude answer.
"So... " he said when Alvida came back to the bar "What is your order?".
"Latte with caramel syrup and two cruassans. So, can you please write my name on the cup?".
"Okay, what's the name?".
"Shanks".
"Shanks... right. Wait for two minutes please".
"Thank you, Buggy".
He can't explain why, but some warm ants have gone through his spine. He felt some thrill and imagine how Shanks could say it to his ear. He dismissively nodded his head when Alvida stared at him. He rolled his eyes in answer to her look. Yes, he haven't had sex and normal relationship for five months.
He ended to cook latte when someone from the kitchen called him. He nervously breathed out and start to write "Sh", but stopped when the call repeated. Some guests turn to bar. Oh, they are going to regret they called him. He puts cup on stand and goes to the kitchen.
In the kitchen his boss, a typical tired of life woman, starts to ask him some stupid questions like "Were you late?" or "where all the limon slices you didn't write about yesterday?" "you has drunk something you shouldn't again?". Buggy was in a step from shouting at her. For kitchen it's so funny scene because they're certain that the boss is madly in love with Buggy.
"You are young, energy, charm and I've listened once she loves clowns", - had said a cook.
One day he will kill all of them.
When he ended with the boss he returned to the bar. New clients didn't come, so Alvida was wasting time at the phone. Buggy looked around. Red-haired has gone how he expected. He breathed out but his heart stopped beating when he noticed cup with undone "Sh".
"Alvida, what is this?!" he asked.
She looked at him with neutral face.
"I don't know".
"How can't you know if it is cup for guest! His name is Shanks, red-haired. You did a new cup for him?".
Alvida turned pale.
"Holy shit".
"What?"
"So, you know... you asked me for a latte, but I had many orders, so I started to do yours when I return... I have done it and put on the stand".
"Was it latte with caramel syrup?"
"Yes"
"So it's okey" he breathed out.
"But..."
"But what?"
"I've written your name".
"Not a big catastrophe".
"... shitty single clown".
Buggy's heart moved out. He opened his mouth in dumb scream and grabbed his hair.
"You what?!"
"I put it for second and when I looked around it disappeared as your red-haired. I didn't notice till now!"
Buggy quietly cried. To make up something huge like this he need to go to a date with the boss. He hate this work but it doesn't mean he doesn't need it.
"Don't worry so much" she guilty smiled. "He didn't return it. Maybe he is kinda fetishist... dirty words, you know".
Buggy twitched his head to her. His look means "shut up or die" and Alvida chooses the first and quietly return to work.
Someone called him from the kitchen again.
***
Sometimes Buggy seriously thinks about his life. What did he make wrong? Why is he still working in some cheap (okey, not as cheap as others, but still not some expensive restaraunt) coffeeshop?
He graduated last year. He had left everything and started new life for this. He had been saving money firstly for the college, and when he applied he wanted to stop and concentrated on the study. But world is not some warm place and he straightaway understood the main rule: if you want to achieve something you need money. He couldn't leave the work.
It was hard to keep a balance and he didn't really get it. He can't find job of his profession because he didn't really concentrate on this through the period of the study and that's why it's so hard now. Of course he has saved some money but it's not enough for his dream to open his own elegant restaurant with circus theme.
He came in the restaurant his boss invited him in. He finds her in such short bright dress. He became pale. If she wants to hook up with him he is better to get fired. He seated in front of her and nodded to her. Conversation starts so embarrassing and he wish he could disappear. But she doesn't look shy or something. It seems she really enjoys the dinner.
She is talking about her three cats which have more interesting love life than him. Buggy can't keep his hard breath out. Maybe it's his destiny to become her fourth kitty.
He has felt some warm on his shoulder and realized it's someone's pale. He turned out to see who was it and blushed.
"Shanks?.." he murmured.
"Hey, Buggy!" red-haired smiled "What are you doing here?".
Boss looked at him and frowned. Baggy flapped his eyes and opened his mouth but didn't say anything.
"I recognize you" boss said "You are the guest that buggy failed" she stands up "I apologize for this..."
"What do you mean?" he laughs "We are old friends, really, Buggy?"
"Yes!" he nodded immediately.
"No problem. I think shitty single clown sounds cute".
Warm gets all Buggy's body. His heart beats fast. One more second and he will be in love with this man.
"Do you have something serious?" Shanks asked. "I need him for this dinner".
"Yes, we have a da..."
"We had some questions to discuss but now I think it's done, really? Really" Buggy interrupted her with a grin. Boss frowned. "You should understand. You don't know but Shanks has a real problem with his father. He is alcoholic and we are afraid of him because it is his birthday and we just can't leave him alone. He usually celebrates with his close friends but the last one dyed two months ago. As a friend of family, I must help them. You know me" he made his face look dramatically.
Shanks tried to hide his smile. Boss was touched and told them to go. Buggy disappeared as soon as she said it.
"You have just saved me!" Buggy breathed out. Exactly Shanks has a blame that took his cofee but now Buggy is ready to forgive him.
Shanks laughs and get car keys into his pocket.
"My father is an alcoholic?" he can't stop laughing.
"I need to think on my feet!" Buggy blushed.
"Okay. So" he opened door of the car "Let me be your hero for all this evening?".
Buggy looked away to hide his red cheeks. Does he want to seat in the costly car with the handsome man and has a chance to be his lover for a one night? Of course he does! But his pride...
... didn't tell him anything when he was on a date with the boss, so he won't listen to it.
He came in and felt smell of sea, leather and expensive perfume. It is how successful men feels like.
"What do you want to do?" Shanks interrupted his thoughts.
"Don't know. I was sure you had some plans".
"I wanted you to drink something but I am afraid of it now". He looks through the mirror at him "Don't want you think me and my father are actually alcoholics".
Buggy rolled his eyes while Shanks laughed.
"I don't mind. I need some good whiskey to forget all shit I was told".
Shanks nodded.
"What about wine?".
Buggy can swear Shanks knows how to use his voice. Intonation of it gets Buggy on another level of exciting.
"Why not".
"So we can go to my favorite bar or to my home. I would like to show you my collection".
He wants to drink a costly wine in his house and get his dessert after this. Pride tells him to be strong because red-haired can think that Buggy is accessible. His caution beggs him not to go to house of the person he practically doesn't know.
But he doesn't hear them.
"I want to see what palace you are living in" Buggy said and added "You are not a maniac, right?"
Shanks laughs.
"It asks me man with clown makeup?"
"Hey! Your style is costly successful man, my style is a simple dramatic worker who tries to handle with the problems with power of humor".
"Okay. I like it". he has stared at Buggy for some seconds.
"Hey!.. You didn't answer!" Buggy hesitated.
Shanks laughs.
***
Shanks's house looks like Barbie's house of a dream. It has three flours and swimming pool and it was just first look. Buggy can swear it isn't enough for a house like that.
"You are looking too much exciting" said Shanks.
"Really?" Buggy's voice became as sarcastic as he could did it. "Did you see where I am working? I can see houses like this only in movies from my little apartment".
"Sorry, I didn't mean that" he smiled "I mean people are trying to hide their emotions. I like your sincerity".
Buggy blushed. Shanks stepped to him and put his arm to Buggy's waist. Buggy turns totally red.
"So, welcome".
Buggy doesn't know, does he still have a soul, because he was certain he sold all the parts of it during his study in college, but if he still has he will be ready to sell it for this house. Shanks didn't joke about his collection, he really has a bar and wild hall and huge television maybe for some pathos costly parties. Everything around is shouting about how expensive it is and that Buggy comes from another world.
He hated his work yesterday, now he hates his whole life.
"Are you okay?" Shanks asked.
"Can I take a picture? If I tell someone they won't believe me".
Shanks nodded with smile. Buggy imagined, how everybody won't even listen to him. He is making selfies. Maybe it is the most interesting thing he will have in his life.
"Buggy, it is just a bar. Let me show you my storeroom with the collection of wines".
"Even if you kill me it deserves it".
They get down to the storeroom. He opened his mouth of exciting and his eyes moved out from skull. If his father was here he would say it is his dream.
"You think I am a really alcoholic, don't you?" Shanks smiled. "It is an old collection. My great grandfather had started it. It's our tradition".
So, he knows how it works. He collected marks in his childhood. Not the same but...
"Actually, you were right, we are really alcoholics" he laughs. "But you know, I am not so strict as my ancestors were. I've drunk a lot of this rare and old wines. If it isn't my father I'll drink them all". smile left his face. He looked at Buggy who is thinking about something else. "But, you know, I have two bottle for especially events".
"Don't say it's my arrival" Buggy rolled his eyes, but Shanks feel that half of his mind isn't here.
"No" he smiled and Buggy frowned which made Shanks laughs. "I have a son, Luffy".
"A son?!" Buggy yelled and flapped his eyes. "How... what does it mean?!".
"I adopted him when he was a baby. He is a pretty little one, but so energy and activity. So two the oldest wine of my collection is for his applying to university because it will be great event in my life and greater when he will finish it" he smiled.
Buggy became confused. It was really unexpectedly that someone like Shanks has a son. These kind of people looks like someone who live only for themselves.
"You can choose any of them beside these two. Anything you want".
Buggy twitched his head. Anything?! It makes Shunks laughs. Maybe he is just the chinderella and his fairytale ends in the morning. He is here only because Shanks got bored and needed, you know, something new and something from another world. Buggy wants this day to be perfect for him. After all he deserves it.
"Stop" he turned to Shanks who was looking at him "Where is your son?".
"Don't worry, he is relaxing with his beloved grandpa".
"Allright".
Buggy has chosen one bottle and Shanks get more two. They got back to the first floor to the dining room.
"I've ordered some seafood and italian food. I hope you like it?".
Buggy raised his eyebrow. Shanks smiled.
"Okay. So we have some time. Do you like dancing?" Shanks turn on the television and spanish music covered the room. Shanks stepped to him and took his hand. He put other arm on his waistline and smiled looking into his eyes. Buggy turns red.
"You are such romantic" he murmured.
"I know" Shanks answered.
For the last year it is the first moment when he feels so calm and satisfied. Shanks exactly his prince with magically powers. The first one is, of course, his money but the other one is his charisma which makes feel safety. Even if they have only this night, Buggy truly thanks to this.
"Am I doing something wrong? " Shanks whispered and huged him. "You look sadly".
"Shut up, stupid-perfect-asshole" he sobbed."Put on yourself in my shoes. What would you feel if a man who came from the wildest dreams chose you? I mean... you have another level and we are from the others worlds" he breathed out. "Fuck. Why am I saying some princess shit like that?! Forget about it. I still believe you're a maniac".
Shanks smiled. He easily kissed him.
"You are right and this is a reason why I like you. You have a strong heart" he touched his forehead by his own. "I had everything from my birth while you are still fighting for your aims and life. And this is why I like you. You inspire me".
"Asshole".
Buggy kissed him. Shanks touched his hair and put off his rubber band. Buggy pushed him to sofa and seat to his knees. Shanks smiled and bite his lip.
Last of the night went amazingly. They had had a dinner, and Buggy hadn't realized why rich people think lobsters are good, and his desert, sex with Shanks had been even better. Buggy found out about Shanks and his family and actually about his son, Luffy. Shanks said Luffy would like him.
Buggy doesn't want it to end. He is afraid of sleeping but Shanks's arm caress him to calm down.
"Thanks to Alvida for this" Buggy murmured.
"Year. She was too kind to say about your plans for Saturday and that you don't like your boss".
"Wait, what?" Buggy opened his eyes.
"I asked her for your number. She said you would have a date with your boss because of some problem and adviced me to save you as a prince" he laughed.
"What?!" he jumped "You didn't take the cup with "shitty single clown?"".
"I did but with your number underneath. She also gave me address of the restaurant".
"I WILL KILL THIS BITCH!".
Buggy explained how Alvida lied to him: she definitely adjusted all of this just for fun.
"... if she hadn't lied I wouldn't have been on a date with her".
Shanks laughed for two minutes. Buggy is certain that she was helping boss to choose restaurant and dress.
They exactly will see each other in the hell.
"Hey" Shanks hugged him "Luffy is going to be with grandpa for a week. Maybe we can have more time together?
Shanks was expected the answer with so cute and a bit silly face like children are waiting good candies on Halloween. Buggy laughed and felt warm in his heart.
"You really thought I would go without testing jacuzzi?" he smiled, but Shanks understood something Buggy didn't say. He smiled in answer and hugged him. Buggy easily breathed out and closed his eyes.