Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Alright, there’s your drink! Thank you for coming to Cafae Latte!” Cyrus chirped, giving a sunny grin to the customer who thanked him before walking out of the door into the street that had grey clouds slowly creeping in above the many buildings.
The bell dinged as the door closed, the lunch rush hadn’t begun just yet, and at last there was a slight lull in the day before the cafe filled with even more chaotic customers.

Cyrus wiped down the counter with some paper towels and a safe cleaning spray, making it glimmer in the soft yellow lights of the cafe.
Said lights seemed to bounce off his strategically placed pins on his black baseball cap that had the peak in the backward position, keeping his hair out of his face while he diligently finished his task just to pass the time.
He could hear what was going on in his surroundings even though he was looking away from the expanse of the welcoming fae-run cafe. The clinking of a spoon against a mug, the turning of a book that surely belonged to the witch Nicole, who was seated in her comfy chair as usual, Yarn Granny’s knitting needles click-clicking away at another new craft, a soft rumble coming from the draconic barista Rethu as they polished the glass they had in their claws, and the hum of the espresso machine just behind him. Over in the kitchen, JC was firing up the ovens for some new pastry delights; this time, they were chocolate filled croissants and his world famous fudge. Well, not quite world famous yet, but hopefully in the future, or so Cyrus and JC both mused.

“God, I’m glad that’s over” JC sighed, bringing around a large silver coloured tray of freshly baked goodies and getting out a pair of tongs to start restocking the cabinet at the front of the counter.
Cyrus tried to subtly snaffle one of the plump-looking golden brown croissants that was practically oozing chocolatey temptation, but his hand was quickly batted away by JC’s trusty tongs.

“Uh-uh! You’re not gonna try and take one of the baked goods under my nose again” JC admonished the fae barista lightly, the latter giving a childish pout.

“But it’s chocolate! Come oooon, you can’t do this to me, man!” Cyrus pleaded.

“If there are any left, I’ll put one on my tab for ya, how’s that?” JC compromised.
“I wanna get one for Nicole anyways” they added, sparing a glance over at the witch who was up to her eyeballs in her favourite sci-fi novel, Citadel.
JC felt their heart skip a beat, the familiar sensation of butterflies in their stomach, before a loud boom outside snapped them out of their lovestruck trance.
They were just glad Cyrus was next to them, lest they let out a string of profanity that would make even Beelzebub blush.

“Jeez, looks like the storm’s really starting to pick up. That could mean either a dead shift or absolute chaos, depending on how you slice it” Cyrus mused, Jc sighing heavily and pinching the bridge of their nose to combat the anticipated headache.

“God, whatever part of the spectrum it is, just PLEASE don’t let it have Karens. I only have so much patience before I wanna slap a bitch!” JC groaned.

“I hear ya. Did you remember that one that was cursed by Bob to have random bouts of clumsiness for a year after she gave that other woman a hard time?” Cyrus replied, mulling over the situation that had happened only just the other day.

A sweet looking woman who looked to be in her late 20s or early 30s that had been wearing a ‘Winter is Coming’ shirt, had been suffering from tremors, which couldn’t really be helped, and after her had been a woman in her 40s sporting the classic Karen getup from sandals to haircut, including a sour expression like a dog chewing on a wasp.
A cup had been dropped, coffee was spilled onto the Karen by no fault of the other woman, and safe to say the younger woman had been in tears at the berating before Bob had intervened.

JC and Cyrus nodded, both wearing smirks.

“Good times” JC agreed, before carrying on restocking the cabinet, Cyrus finishing up the cleaning of the counters.

Just as Cyrus was about to throw the used paper towels in the small trash can behind the counter, he looked out into the street that had been darkened by the incoming storm clouds.
Rain came down in drops first, then in showers, and then in sheer sheets of cold wet weather.
Through the rain, he could see two shadowy figures outside the door.
From the looks of it, their eyes seemed to be…glowing?

Were they vampires? Werewolves? Who knew?

“Everything alright out here?” came a man’s voice from behind the pair at the counter, making them both jump almost a foot in the air with a yelp of shock.
Turning around, JC locked eyes with-

“Oscar! Don’t scare us like that!” JC admonished with a huff as Cyrus exhaled shakily, leaving the seraph very confused and kind of concerned too.

“I’m sorry, I was just wondering since Bob and I were discussing something out back. She was interested in how my new home was coming along. I’ve finally started to get some decorations for it now!” Oscar said proudly, bringing smiles to his two colleagues’ faces.

“Aaay, about time! I bet the place looks great!” Cyrus responded happily.

“Yeah!” JC added, as they put the now empty tray aside, “we’ll have to come round and……” their voice trailed off as they stared directly out of the door.
Oscar and Cyrus followed their gaze, and what they saw definitely wasn’t what they expected.

Two pairs of glowing lights were fixed right on the employees behind the counter.
They stayed like that for a few seconds, motionless, scanning, as the three members of staff tried their best not to panic.

“Hey, am I seeing shit or do you also see those glowing lights?” JC asked.
Inside, he just about cursed himself; he worked in a cafe with the Fae, for Pete's sake! Surely he should be used to this, but apparently not.

“No, I see them too, JC” Oscar acknowledged.
“Should we alert Bob?”

“I think that might be best, yeah” Cyrus uttered, spellbound by the way the lights shifted, only to let out a “Whoa, whoa…” as the lights began to dart and move, the shadows surrounding it getting closer.
Even Yarn Granny and Nicole were training their necks to get a better look.

As if on cue, the door opened with a gentle click, the soft “ding-dong” of the bell making the newcomers known.
A flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder rudely followed, momentarily muffling the sound of the rain falling outside.
But there was another sound.

Tiny creaks.
Little clicks that could only just be heard up close.
And two pairs of footsteps that were uniformed, not quite heavy but slow and methodical, as if the walkers were weighed down with prison manacles, though there were no such chains around the ankles and wrists of the new customers.

They were both dressed in dark clothes that blended in with the storm, their hoods up and dripping with water from the storm outside. Not to mention they both had half-hole masks like skiers would usually wear to combat the cold.
Gloves covered their hands, the rain water trickling down to the floor onto their sneakers that bore a darker colour thanks to the storm and the mud.

The one behind closed the door carefully and followed the other inside, the two subtly sharing a look before the one behind sat at the table.

Jennifer Charles’ skin prickled. They didn’t like any part of this at all.
He silently thanked all of the deities that they still carried, even during their shift. One wrong move and-

“Hi, welcome to cafae Latte!” Cyrus spoke, trying to appear casual.
“Our specials today are the Dryad Berry Iced Coffee and the four-cheese scones. What can I get ya today?”

The newcomer was silent for a second, looking hesitant, before they soon found their voice.

“H-hi, sorry. Um…” the newcomer began, in a nervous tone.
The person sounded like a woman, and JC and Cyrus couldn’t help but notice the very faint clicks as she moved her head to briefly gaze up at the menu then back to them.

“Can I please have two water cups, and….” the woman started, before she glanced over her shoulder briefly, seeing the other customers engaged in their own worlds.
She looked over at her companion, who was also nervously eyeing the two staff at the counter. He couldn’t help but notice that the two became three as Oscar re-joined the duo at the front, and from what he gathered there was one other person nearby that was not a patron.

And still, the woman pressed on.

“This is gonna sound weird…” she said hesitantly.

“Eeh, what isn’t weird, I guess?” Cyrus mused with a shrug, his heartbeat calming down just a touch.
He wasn’t sure if it was the apparent gentle demeanour of the customer or the fact that two of his friends -soon three, from what he could hear from the nearby back hallway- were nearby.
“Go on, ask away.”

“Ok” the woman couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
“Do you have anything, um…mechanical…friendly?” she concluded hesitantly.

This stumped the three workers behind the counter. It was certainly a rare request, if not the rarest, though that didn’t stop them from wanting to help the new customer feel more at ease. They’ve served fairies, werewolves, vampires, even the most elusive Mothman or wendigo had eaten or drank at the cafe! This shouldn’t be too hard!
But then again, what WAS ‘mechanical friendly’?
Was it coal? Metal?
JC wasn’t too fond of the idea of grasping at straws, but what in the seven circles of Hell could they make that fit that requirement? They were the kitchen god-damn manager, surely they could whip something up! But WHAT?!

“Well, I mean we could think of something!” Oscar’s calming voice broke the silence with his ever-present chipper cadence.
“In the meantime, I’ll go get those two water cups for ya! Luckily we’ve got a new filter so the water’s clear and beautifully ice cold!”

“Oh, you tempt us, sir. That sounds right up our alley” the woman smiled sweetly.
“Thank you so much, that’s greatly appreciated.”

“Not a problem!” Oscar chirped with a smile, strolling over towards the clean sink with two clear cups.
“Want any ice with those?”

“Oh yes please!” the woman replied, and off the two went talking about something or other.

The other new customer at the table was looking at something. From where JC was standing, it looked like a map. They cocked an eyebrow, hearing Cyrus and Oscar clattering in the background as orders were being fulfilled, but for some reason they couldn't push this out of their mind.

Why were they here? Why were they hiding their faces? What was their plan next?
By the looks of it, the two looked about Drek’s age -the dishwasher was barely 18 at most- but then again they had some younger customers come in on their own. On the other hand, something didn't seem to sit right with the kitchen manager. Their thoughts swirled like a snowstorm, unable to-

“Much appreciated, sir” the girl spoke up, sifting through some crumpled bills and coins and paying the price for the water.
"By the way, if there's nothing mechanical friendly in here at the moment, please don't worry about it. My brother and I wouldn't wanna be an inconvenience or nothing, I know you're very busy" she added sheepishly.

"Oh, well that's not a problem, but if you say so" Oscar said, feeling his heart ache for the two of them, for he was once in their situation. Well, he may not be on the streets like he used to, but he remembered the hardships he'd had to face for at least a century, if not over. He didn’t want to assume, however. But something nagged at him fiercely, and he couldn’t get it out of his head just yet, despite the steady flow of customers.

“Awesome! Here you go” the girl chirped, handing over the change needed to pay for the waters before Oscar or even Cyrus could protest. Once the water and money had exchanged hands, the girl went back to the table in the corner to join her brother.

Oscar frowned a little in thought, his glow slowly beginning to creep into sight.
He turned to JC and Cyrus, who were taking the few orders while the two had been talking.

“Are you two going to be alright out here for a bit? I know Rethu’s coming in soon, but just wondering” Oscar asked, Cyrus and JC looking up at the seraph barista.

“Uh yeah, sure” Cyrus answered. “Why? Everything ok?”

“I…hope so” Oscar mused hesitantly.
“I just need to talk with Bob for a mo. I’ll be quick.”

“Sure, we’ll hold the fort down out here” JC answered, poking their head up from the display cabinets they were refilling.

“Thank you, fellas” Oscar chimed, and off he went to Bob’s office.

Chapter Text

Oscar hesitated before the purple oak door that shielded Bob’s office. For some strange reason, the usually wonderful ornate carvings bordering the door seemed increasingly more foreboding than usual. What he once admired and complemented now appeared to try and reach for him.
Of course, he knew it was kind of foolish to have such a thought, but he couldn’t help letting it cross his mind, at least for a second or so.

He then shook his head, regaining his composure.
This was Bob. His boss. The one who so kindly helped get him a place to live in exchange for overtime.
She wasn’t some demon or great threat; at least not to him or the staff on duty.

The seraph strengthened his resolve, raising his hand and knocking firmly on the door. Once. Twice. Three times.
Then he waited.

“Come in” said the voice from the other side, as the purple door creaked open on its own.

Oscar stepped over the threshold with a small, uneasy smile, looking over at the violet-skinned fae who was pouring over some documents and letters, writing notes with a deep navy quill that appeared to glitter and glimmer when the light graced its surface.

“Ah, Oscar. Have a seat” Bob greeted in a pleasant tone, looking up to meet the eyes of the silver-haired seraph. The latter wore a troubled expression, but he remained polite.
Oscar perched on the enchanted chair -this was a nifty little trick, of course. Whoever sat in that seat was unable to lie!- and clasped his hands in his lap.

“What can I do for you?” Bob asked.

“Oh, well, you see Bob. We’ve got two new customers. Don’t get me wrong, they’re very polite and sweet, but…how do I put this?” Oscar mused hesitantly, tapping his thumbs together nervously. He could feel Bob’s eyes on him; what was once a comforting feeling now sent prickles of doubt down his spine.
It took him a few seconds to find his voice, but much longer to find the correct terms for the two newcomers.

Bob observed Oscar’s expression, his gaze clouded with uncertainty.
She tilted her head up a little, before speaking.

“Were they causing trouble or otherwise a threat?” she asked him calmly; if the reason was either of those options, she’d be sure to protect her staff, even if it meant using her magic to her advantage.

“Oh, no, no, no! Nothing like that, I promise ya!” Oscar replied, sitting up a little straighter.
“But they did request something a little unusual, to say the least. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, I’m just a little unsure how to go about getting them something suited to their needs.”

“Such as what?” Bob inquired calmly.

“Well to put it quite bluntly,” Oscar mused, “the girl of the pair asked for something mechanical friendly, and I’m not sure if I should take her so literally, and if I should then it’s a question of what we can make for them to drink and munch on.”

Bob was a little taken aback by this, though her calm demeanour didn’t crack.

“Hmmm, that is quite a challenging request. I may have to chat with JC to see what can be done, but in the meantime I do appreciate you bringing this to my attention. I could discuss our options with JC when they’re not busy, if you’d like” Bob offered.

“Oh that would be greatly appreciated!” Oscar chirped with his usual smile.
“Speaking of JC, I ought to get back out there! Thank you once again, Bob” and with that, off Oscar went, the spring returned to his step.
Bob watched him go, his words still echoing in her mind.

“Mechanical friendly…” she wondered, softly, to herself.
“Hm…”