Work Text:
Kaveh was a very simple man. He worked as a barista on the side as he was getting his masters degree for architecture at one of the most prestigious universities in the nation.
Overall, despite countless all-nighters to meet deadlines and struggles to make ends meet, he was happy.
Enter Alhaitham.
Not only was he the most annoying person Kaveh has had the misfortune of running into, but he was consistent in his visits. Every other day, at 9:38 AM, he came into Kaveh’s coffee shop.
At least he was consistent in everything. His belligerent demeanor, his order, and his arrival time.
Kaveh has the morning shifts five days a week, so three days a week without fail he sees Alhaitham.
Their meetings are filled with snark and traded arguments that span for their entire interaction, if not until the next time they see each other.
Alhaitham is usually the only one in the store, so Kaveh drops the customer service act almost immediately upon noticing him.
Today, Alhaitham has an issue with how much air Kaveh lets into the frother.
”If there’s that annoying sound, your frother is too shallow and is not properly aerating the milk.” Kaveh is very aware of this fact, as he’s perfected the art of making sure the milk is properly frothed.
”I’m aware of that, you imbecile. I simply enjoy bothering you, that’s all. Maybe the sound of the frother will be enough to make you finally leave me and my store alone?” He smiles, fixing the placement of the milk and moving onto the next part.
”I mean, honestly, you’re lucky your drink is simple enough to make.” Kaveh goes on a rant about the most complicated orders he’s had to do, and Alhaitham simply listens.
If you looked closely enough, Alhaitham might have even been smiling. Unfortunately for Kaveh, he was too focused on adding a sleeve to the warm drink.
”—Are you even listening to me? This is why I never tell you anything, you know. You tune me out and it only infuriates me even more.” Kaveh glares, but looks up to find Alhaitham staring at him intently.
The fixed attention to his face makes Kaveh flush, but he pays it no mind.
”You were incessantly drilling the idea that every coffee shop does not understand Starbucks’ sizes after a customer yelled at you for not knowing what a “Venti” was. But please, feel free to mock my listening skills.” Alhaitham looks away after that, crossing his arms.
Kaveh huffs and places his drink down, not dignifying Alhaitham with a response.
He had thought that the other would shut down his attempts at conversation completely, so it was jarring to hear that he had actually listened.
Instead of leaving, Alhaitham goes to sit at a nearby table. He pulls out a leather bag, grabbing his computer and settling in.
”…What are you doing?” Kaveh asks suspiciously. In all of the months he’s spoken with him, Alhaitham never stays past grabbing his drink.
Alhaitham clears his throat before saying in his flat tone, “There has been a recent study by Mondstadt scholars that working with uncommon scenery both clears the mind and raises motivation by 17%, give or take. So, it’s for the pursuit of knowledge. I’m sure a student like you would understand.”
He quickly opens his computer, pretending to read as Kaveh stares at him skeptically. Alhaitham knows he’s been here far too often for it to be considered uncommon, but he panicked.
Before Kaveh can call out his bluff, a new customer walks into the store, and he’s forced to place his attention elsewhere.
Kaveh steals glances at Alhaitham occasionally, his constant clicking of keys added to the ambiance.
He wipes the same spot on the counter, zoning out on the movement of Alhaitham’s hands.
”Have I grown a third head without my awareness?” Alhaitham says after a couple of minutes while still not looking up from his computer.
Kaveh feels his cheeks warm at the notion of being caught, and quickly glances to the espresso machine. “I wasn’t looking. I was just zoned out, that’s all.” Kaveh quips.
—
Kaveh gets breakfast with Tighnari once a week, a mutual opportunity to catch up and exchange the happenings of their world.
It always evolves into either Kaveh complaining about Alhaitham or Tighnari raving about his boyfriend, Cyno. 9 times out of 10, it’s an Alhaitham week.
This is one of those times.
“I just! Urgh ! I hate him so much! I want to punch him in the face and kiss him on the mouth! I want to—“ Kaveh pauses as the look of disgust on Tighnari’s face.
“Kaveh, I love you, but what the fuck,” Tighnari uses his spoon to stir his tea, looking down reflectively, “Why do you guys have to be so weird about your relationship? Just write your number on his cup, or something.”
Kaveh stops his pacing, turning slowly to Tighnari.
“Do you want me to get fired?! if Faruzan sees me write that down, she would kick me to the curb for harassment!” Kaveh grips at his hair, thinking of his short tempered boss.
“Architecture does not pay enough for me to risk that. Not to mention that ignoramus would use it for more of his incessant bickering!”
Kaveh angrily pulls out a chair at Tighnari’s small table, the legs squeaking and echoing in the empty café.
He plops down unceremoniously, rolling his eyes.
“I mean, honestly, if I receive one more burn from the milk frother because he won’t stop watching to make sure I’m ‘doing it right’, I’m going to throw it into his face!” Kaveh exclaims as Tighnari chuckles, desensitized to his friend’s antics.
Kaveh’s so deep into thought, he doesn’t hear the bells that signify someone entering.
Tighnari looks behind him, his face a mixture of amusement and shock.
“Um, Kaveh—“ He tries to start, but is quickly shot down.
“No, don’t ‘Kaveh’ me! He only acts that high and mighty because he knows he’s unfairly attractive. I mean, what does an accountant need to be so ripped for?” Kaveh crosses his arms, attempting to mock Alhaitham.
“Oh, I’m Haitham, I’m hot, and this coffee isn’t. It needs to be 300 degrees, not 299. Fix it, Kaveh.’ Oh and-“ He deepens his voice in his attempt, but he’s interrupted by a voice.
“Please, don’t stop on my account.” Alhaitham says, his dry sarcasm seeping through his tone.
Kaveh stills, not turning around. The last thing he needs today is to see Alhaitham’s satisfied face.
“Get out of my store, you smug bastard. Banned forever. I’m refusing to service you.” Kaveh stands up from his seat to properly insult him, chair screeching as he slides it.
Kaveh relents on not looking at him, squinting his eyes as he glares at Alhaitham.
”I beg to differ, Kaveh,” Alhaitham saying his name should not affect him as much as it does, but sue him.
Actually don’t, he can’t afford it.
“You could’ve refused your service the first time I came in, or the fourth, or the seventeenth, but you didn’t. I’m not inclined to believe that it’s going to happen today.”
Kaveh waves him off, angrily walking behind the counter and cinching the apron around his waist. Unbeknownst to him, Alhaitham watches the action intently.
Tighnari audibly groans and gets up. “Disgusting. See you next week, Kaveh.” He gathers his stuff and waves slightly at the barista before leaving, the bell ringing to signify his exit.
Kaveh and Alhaitham pay him no mind as they bicker across the counter.
“—Well, if you seem to hate my company so much, why do you come in every morning? There are at least three other coffee shops within a five mile radius, and it’s not like our shop is exactly cheaper.” The question catches Alhaitham’s attention.
Kaveh gestures widely to the brick-exposed walls and the houseplants hanging throughout the cafe, a how-to guide for an overpriced and pretentious coffee shop.
Alhaitham chuckles, not responding to Kaveh’s question as Kaveh picks up a sharpie. He scrawls quickly, before setting the drink down in front of Alhaitham.
”At least your efficiency partially makes up for your attitude. How do you attract customers to your store with a glare like that?” He hides his smile
behind his cup as he takes a sip, the steaming coffee just barely overpowering the warmth in his chest.
”What would you know about how to speak to people?! And, besides, you’re the only one who gets on my nerves. Every other customer deserves some level of respect and decency.” Kaveh perks up, pointing a finger at Alhaitham.
He knew just how to get under Kaveh’s skin, which both infuriated and (against his will) attracted him.
“You’ve both paid for and received your coffee, now out. Out of my store, out of my sight, out of my mind. Before customers with actual decency come in.” Kaveh does a shoving gesture, but none of his intended snark comes out.
Damn you, Alhaitham.
Alhaitham huffs a breath at that, and promptly exits. Once the jingling stops, Kaveh grips at his apron.
Why does Alhaitham have to be so…himself? It’s been a long time since any of their snide comments packed any heat, and Kaveh almost wishes he could return to actually hating the guy.
However, Kaveh checks his watch to find that it’s already 10:00 am.
Only five more hours to focus on his work and not think about his…whatever he was. Crush? Bane of his existence? Both? Probably both.
—
Kaveh was, to put it humbly, amazing at latte art. He knows exactly how to gently pour foam into the aerated drink, swirling intricate designs.
Kaveh would give some of his best work to his regulars, even if they were in to-go cups. Unfortunately, Alhaitham is a regular.
Kaveh never puts designs into his lattes because he knows Alhaitham would never take a moment to appreciate the effort he puts into them.
This would continue on for all of eternity if Kaveh didn’t have a school-girl crush and appreciated the low risks of sending hidden signals.
Recently, Kaveh has added hearts into Alhaitham’s lidded drinks.
This is a secret he’s only shared with Tighnari over a brief weekly brunch. A secret that will hopefully go to the grave where Kaveh’s dignity currently lies.
Unbeknownst to Kaveh, Cyno and Alhaitham were coworkers who had dinner to play TCG occasionally, creating an overlap for Tighnari.
”…I always have terrible luck with elemental dice rolls.” Alhaitham sighs, though he doesn’t feel thoroughly upset. Cyno preens over his win as Tighnari sets down a set of four Pita Pockets.
“So, Alhaitham, how are your ventures with courting Kaveh?” Cyno has a smug smile on his face, having figured out his weakness to Kaveh before Alhaitham himself knew.
”I’m not ‘courting’ Kaveh in any sense of the word. That idealist has his head stuck in the clouds far too often to notice romantic advances, even if I were to further our interactions as employee and customer,” Alhaitham always went on a tangent if it was in regards to Kaveh, though usually it was complaints.
“Not to mention, it would be an unrequited and unnecessary affair that would only require me to find a new cafe to frequent.” It was always entertaining to ruffle Alhaitham’s feathers, but this time his obliviousness bothered the couple at the table.
”Alright. The next time you order takeaway, open your lid, and I don’t mean your mouth. ‘Unrequited and unnecessary affair’ he says, Gods above give me strength.” Tighnari rolls his eyes before taking a large bite of his Pita Pocket.
——
Unsure of why he would ever willingly listen to Tighnari, he goes in the next morning.
And true to his unspoken word, he orders his usual for takeaway.
“Takeaway? Thank lord Kusanali! The less I see of you the better.” Kaveh teases, smile never leaving his face.
It didn’t have the same effect that it once had on Alhaitham, something so infuriating now only served to warm the back of his ears.
He decides to pay in cash this time, letting his fingers slide almost imperceptibly across Kaveh’s palm.
Kaveh straightens his back, faux coughing into his other palm as he puts the money into the register and spins around to get to work.
Alhaitham watches intently as Kaveh moves around his stations, humming as he brews the espresso.
Kaveh slightly turns as he pours the foam, piquing Alhaitham’s curiosity. His back is turned to Alhaitham, only turning around again once the lid was put on.
The blonde sets the drink onto the counter, but Alhaitham makes no move to grab it.
Instead Alhaitham looks up at him before opening the lid, ignoring a strangled noise coming from Kaveh.
He peers into the cup to see exactly what Tighnari told him; an assortment of hearts.
“Well? Care to explain, Kaveh?” Alhaitham raises a brow, an interested smirk resting comfortably on his face.
“I’m practicing! Yes, practicing. Practice makes perfection, you know.” Kaveh trips over his words trying to explain, but his face being warm felt self-incriminating.
Alhaitham chuckles as he places the lid back on the cup before taking a long sip.
“Wonderful as always, senior.” Alhaitham turns around and walks out of the store, only serving to confuse Kaveh more.
Kaveh doesn’t get paid enough to deal with this.
—
It was a beautiful, clear morning whenever Kaveh arrived at work. He clocked in, humming to himself as he opened the store.
As he continues on with his opening routine, the sky begins cloaking itself with clouds. No matter, a cloudy day is better than a rainy one.
Once Kaveh finishes, he flips the open sign and sighs in contentment.
Outside, a sudden torrential downpour occurs, which makes Kaveh groan. He decided to forgo a jacket, let alone an umbrella.
He works through it, though every customer brings in an onslaught of mopping and at least two caution signs.
The day itself wasn’t too bad so far, thankfully.
Very few people ventured into the rain, and even less stopped by for a cup of coffee. Kaveh picks up a broom and sweeps the floors, mindlessly swiping dust.
He goes behind the counter, and aims to grab a dustpan from the ground to collect the dirt. As he’s bent over to reach it, he hears the bell chime.
The barista gets up so fast, he bumps his head against the counter on the way up.
Alhaitham was carrying a large umbrella, shaking it off on the front mat of the store before placing it against a wall.
Rubbing at his head, he looks to see Alhaitham approaching. It must be 9:38 AM, Kaveh thinks to himself.
However, Alhaitham looks like shit, to put it lightly.
He has prominent eye bags, a slight slouch, and a reddened nose. Is he…sick? In the months that Kaveh has gotten to learn about the man, Alhaitham had been nothing but put together.
”I’m sorry, did you get hit by a bus? How are you even on your two feet? You’re going to get me sick, you know.” Kaveh teases, grabbing a cup to start Alhaitham’s order.
Alhaitham grumbles, but ultimately says nothing. He really does look out of it.
”Sit down.” Kaveh tells him, pointing to the seat that Alhaitham chose the last time he saw him. Alhaitham starts to protest, but Kaveh interrupts him before he can.
”No no no, I insist. You would haunt my perfectly good conscience forever if I let you put a strain on yourself, annoying as you may be.” Kaveh puts a hand up, before walking into the back room.
Alhaitham takes this as a sign that he has no choice in sitting down, and goes to his usual table with a sigh. His head felt fuzzy as he closed his eyes. The rain outside dampened his clothes uncomfortably, but they were quickly drying in the warm shop.
Moments (or possibly minutes) later, a slight noise of ceramic hitting the table caught his attention. Alhaitham blearily opens his eyes to the sight of a steaming cup of chamomile tea alongside a cranberry orange muffin.
”I didn’t order this.” Alhaitham furrows his brows slightly, looking up at Kaveh. The blonde rolls his eyes, motioning vaguely with his hands.
“Perceptive as ever, Haitham. It’s just an order a customer abandoned, don’t go feeling too special.” Kaveh says, carefully avoiding eye contact.
They both know that it’s just for Alhaitham and there hasn’t been a customer in half an hour, but Kaveh’s pride would never allow him to admit that.
“Why are you even here? You’re not fit to be outside at all, let alone in the rain.” Kaveh squints his eyes as he looks back to Alhaitham, who takes a long sip of the tea.
Alhaitham slowly drinks his chamomile, setting it down before speaking plainly. “I wanted to see you.” That certainly wasn’t the answer Kaveh was expecting.
“You can see me when you’re not about to faint just standing! I mean honestly, how does someone as book-smart as you lack any common sense?” Kaveh doesn’t mean to roundabout compliment him, but it slips into his sentence without his permission.
”You’re one to talk, you’re the college student who pulls an all-nighter after every hour of sleep you get.” Leave it to Alhaitham to quip even when battling what looks to be a fever.
Kaveh walks away after that, leaving Alhaitham to quietly enjoy his food and beverage.
He comes out a couple of minutes later with his keys, plopping them onto Alhaitham’s table dramatically.
Alhaitham quirks an eyebrow and opens his mouth to speak, but his comment is interrupted by a small coughing fit.
“Relax, Haitham. I’m taking you home, there is no fathoming you being productive today.” Kaveh responds, before picking up the keys he shouldn’t have dropped in the first place.
He waits for Alhaitham to get up, flipping the sign to closed in the meanwhile.
”And you’re going to close the store in the meanwhile? That’s not necessarily a smart decision both financially and for your managers to find out.” Alhaitham stands up anyway.
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them! Besides, you don’t live too far, do you? No one’s coming in, anyway.” Kaveh waves him off, before sheepishly chuckling.
”You brought an umbrella, right?” The outdoors still looked treacherous, thunder booming occasionally. Alhaitham wordlessly points to the stand where a sole black umbrella sits comfortably.
Kaveh takes the umbrella in one hand and opens the door for Alhaitham in the other. The door chimes, almost feeling like a warning bell.
If he does this, they officially would cross the boundary of more than “barista-and-nuisance-customer”. But haven’t they already? Kaveh thinks back to all of their interactions, how they’ve developed a genuine friendship under the guise of coffee.
Kaveh is struck with the realization that he doesn’t particular care about breaking these boundaries, he wants to see Alhaitham more.
He wants to know how he likes his eggs, if he even like eggs, if he has horrible bed-hair like Kaveh, anything.
His attraction runs further than physicality, and he—
“Kaveh? Earth to Kaveh?” Alhaitham waves a hand in his hand, breaking him out of his stupor. Kaveh blinks a couple times before walking onward with Alhaitham not far behind.
—
After Kaveh drives him home, he thinks about it non-stop. In the shower, doing his coursework, brushing his teeth, working with Faruzan.
“Iced latte with almond milk!” Kaveh calls out to his manager as they attempt to beat the lunch rush, his mind racing with numbers as he gives change back to the paying customer.
He continues to repeat orders to Faruzan, making sure she doesn’t misread the tickets given on the cups.
Kaveh mindlessly repeats his script as the line slowly dwindles, giving him enough room to breathe. Once the last customer has left, he sighs and places his forehead on the counter.
”What’s the matter, kiddo? Boy troubles?” Faruzan jokes, but Kaveh’s sigh in response is enough to egg her on. She motions with her hand for him to talk as he slowly raises his head.
Kaveh tells her everything (in great detail, he’s one for dramatics.)
She nods along, letting out small hums of affirmation whenever he pauses. Though he “forgets” to mention the most recent incident in fear for his job, she still gets the gist.
”What’s stopping you from getting his number? It’s not like you’re getting any younger.” Kaveh lets out an affronted gasp.
”Comment about my youth aside, he’s a customer! I was explicitly told, by you might I add, that we’re not allowed to do that!” He crosses his arms petulantly.
”Alright. Take Kaeya, your shift lead, for example. If that rule wasn’t implemented, every girl and guy would leave this place with his digits, which is terrible for business. I don’t mean never make a move, but leave the strangers alone.” Faruzan explains like it’s the easiest concept in the world, and Kaveh was stricken by how much it makes sense.
How much time has he wasted, thinking it was forbidden?
“You’ve just opened a real flood gate, Faruzan. Either that, or he rejects me and then I have to immediately quit working here to move across the country. It was nice knowing you.” Kaveh says, already thinking about how Alhaitham was supposed to come in the next day.
—
Kaveh takes special care this morning in his looks, fidgeting with the placement of his red hair pins before work.
Once the clips look sufficient and his kohl is applied, he leaves the house with an extra pep in his step.
As he clocks in, tying his apron and fixing his bun, he wonders if Alhaitham would notice the writing on the cup. Kaveh doesn’t know what he would do if the man tossed the drink without a second glance.
Luckily for him, he doesn’t have to wonder. In through the doors, with that signature bell ringing like an omen, is Alhaitham.
“You’re earlier than usual.” Kaveh comments as Alhaitham strides forward to the counter, crossing his unfairly muscled arms.
”There’s a first for everything. Except for my order, which I’m hoping you’ll start on eventually.” Alhaitham responds in his monotonous manner.
The barista rolls his eyes before ringing him up and grabbing a cup, getting started on his order. He flies through the steps, before stopping at the end of his work station to grab a sharpie.
Kaveh carefully writes his number down, his face warm with embarrassment. He slides the drink down to the end of the counter, not calling out Alhaitham’s name.
Alhaitham picks up the drink and looks at his hand to see remnants of black ink. He spins the drink around before finding the culprit, a set of 10 digits, now slightly smudged.
He smiles, just the tiniest incline of his lips, before looking back up at Kaveh.
”Finally. Coffee isn’t cheap, I’ll have you know.” He sounds neutral, but Kaveh knows better.
“Well, I didn’t see you making any effort!” Kaveh retorts, slightly raising his voice.
Alhaitham looks exasperated before speaking, “You really are denser than you appear, Kaveh. I do not enjoy coffee.”
What.
”What.” Kaveh says, jaw slack.
”You heard me. Be prepared to receive a text later, you’re taking me out to dinner. You owe me for all of the coffees I’ve had to buy, after all.” Alhaitham walks off with no room for argument.
Kaveh snorts, shaking his head and smiling fondly.