Chapter Text
As Luka finished his song, he noticed the unamused stares from the judges.
The last strum of his guitar didn’t have the chance to fade out before they called ‘Next’. Their unapologetic stares were glued to him as he fumbled to get out of his seat.
His face reddened, and tears pricked at his eyes as he walked away from the stage.
Another audition failed.
This was the life of the aspiring musician, Luka. His pretty face was more than enough to get him auditions, but the judges always said the same things.
His lyrics were uninspired. That they were bland and boring. There was no substance to them. Of course, they weren’t wrong. A 22-year-old with no dating life trying to write about romance?? It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Luka walked onto the sidewalk, the light burning his eyes.
No use crying over spilled milk.
Guitar strapped on his back, he continued on his way.
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On his way home, he noticed a woman busking across the street. Guitar in her hands, microphone to her mouth.
She was dazzling, and the crowd hung onto every lyric.
Luka wished he could be like that, too.
In the middle of his self-wallowing, Luka’s stomach let out an embarrassing growl. Feeling his face burn, he turned around and anxiously faced the building behind him.
A sign sprawled out in big, clunky letters, ‘Lili’s Coffee Shop’
Well, he WAS hungry, so he decided to try something new.
As Luka walked into the coffee shop, he was immediately hit with the stark contrast between the interior to the cutesy name. The walls were a dark black wood, and vinyls and crazy paintings littered the walls. Loud music played from the speakers, and the alternatively dressed patrons nodded their heads to the rhythm.
While waiting for his turn, Luka noticed a blueberry muffin that looked TO DIE FOR. He absolutely had to order it.
Once the woman in front of him finished placing her order, it was his turn. He stepped up in front of the counter, his eyes looking down at the blueberry muffin in the glass display.
"Hello, could I have a-"
Woah.
The barista in front of him was fucking hot.
Luka nearly drooled at the sight. A tall, buff, ginger man stood before him. The outline of his muscles burst through his shirt, leaving little room for imagination. His dark blue eyes had a sense of mischief to them. His hair was wild, refusing to be tamed.
He knew this man was trouble. His appearance, the way he spoke, even his POSTURE told him to run the other way.
Luka decided to put the thought behind him and simply order.
Though his mouth had other plans.
“You are so hot.” (Can I have a muffin?)
Reaaalll smooth, Luka.
The ginger barista stared at him, blinking slowly as his mouth opened.
"Oh, did I say that out loud?" Luka laughed slightly, trying to play it off.
Though he was dying on the inside.
"Yeah. You did." The barista spoke to him, slightly irritated, "What's your order? The line’s long today."
Luka was never more embarrassed in his life.
He mentally cursed at himself; he probably made the barista uncomfortable. Of course he was. The man basically looked disgusted at him.
Why did he have to blurt that out?
"Uh... A blueberry muffin." He said, his voice low.
"That'll be four dollars," The barista told him, as he typed his order onto the computer screen.
Luka took out his wallet, his trembling fingers struggling to open it. Though after a few tries, he managed to open it.
How embarrassing.
Luka swiped his card along the card reader, which was approved (thankfully, nothing else to embarrass him).
The barista let out a sigh as he took the muffin out of the glass display case. He placed it into a small napkin and handed it to Luka, whose face was bright red.
"The names childe by the way." The barista said as he scribbled something onto Luka’s receipt and then slid it towards him.
He lifted the receipt, wondering what insult could have been written on it. Maybe he’d call him a weirdo or… GIVE HIM HIS NUMBER???
He stood there, completely frozen. The barista’s number was written on the receipt in bright red ink. Luka blinked, thinking he had imagined it. But no, the number was still bright and there.
“You gotta get off the line, by the way.” Childe smirked, “People are waiting.”
Luka looked behind him, noticing that he was indeed still in the line. Getting Childe’s number distracted him so much that he forgot that other people were behind him. And oh, did they look pissed at him.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” he mumbled as he quickly got off the line, walking out of the store.
Immediately, Luka’s knees buckled beneath him. He fell to the ground in a blushing heap, gaining the attention of onlookers.
“Hey, you alright there?” It was the same woman from earlier, now done with her performance.
This added to his embarrassment, he picked himself back up with a few stutters. As soon as he got to his feet, he bolted.
As he ran, his mind was filled with the image of Childe. (Especially his buff chest).
I can’t wait to text him.
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.
.
Luka flops onto his bed, hair still damp from his shower. He debated the whole day about how soon is too soon to text your crush.
“Stop being such a loser!” He screamed at himself.
He tapped the send button on the message he had drafted, instantly regretting it.
New Message - Friday, 10:16PM
Luka:
Hey! This is the guy from the coffee shop.
How was your day? :)
seen at 10:17PM
…
Seen..?
Luka’s brain immediately went into overdrive.
Ohmygod he hates me. He hates me. He thinks I’m an ugly, desperate, loser who can’t even say the right thing. He only gave me his number to mock me. Is this even his number? Oh, I’m gonna puke. I’m so-
His phone screen lit up. It wasn’t a text.
Luka’s ringtone filled the silent apartment. He froze, staring at the ‘Childe is calling’ message.
He felt as if he was going to explode.
He’s calling me already? What? Isn’t this too early? Oh my god his voice is gonna kill me! Texting him first was hard enough! Now CALLING???
Luka accepted the call before it would go away. He did not speak first. What if he messed up and started blurting out nonsense just like he did at the coffee shop? Why couldn’t Childe just stick to texting….
“Hey, it’s me Childe,” He spoke, his voice slightly raspy.
Luka thought he was going to die right then and there. He whimsically kicked his legs up and down from excitement as he smiled like an idiot.
“Oh, hey. How was your day?”
“It was pretty good. I mean, I got your number anyway.” Luka could almost hear the smirk on his face.
Luka’s legs dropped onto his bed as his mouth opened. Childe was already FLIRTING with him?? He felt like he was a little kid who had just gotten the toy he’d been begging for months for.
And then Childe let out a chuckle, almost causing Luka to have a heart attack. Because ohmygodhischucklewassofinewhatthehell .
“How was your day?” He asked him.
“Amazing.”
Luka said that far too fast. Though it was true. Even after embarrassing himself, he got Childe’s number. What could be better than that?
“Oh, and that blueberry muffin was amazing!” Luka said, kicking his feet once again, “Did you bake it? Or do you just take orders?”
“I did bake it, I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you’d like, I could send you the recipe for it.”
Luka’s brain was too foggy for him to remember he did not know how to bake. Not one bit.
“I’d love to have the recipe.” Luka practically sighed into the phone.
“I’m gonna go shower now, I just wanted to call you for a bit to hear your voice,” He let out a chuckle, “I’ll text you the recipe.”
He ended the call before Luka could get another word in. Though, he probably would have not said anything as he was frozen in shock from what Childe had told him.
His phone lit up and a message popped up on his screen.
New Message - Friday, 10:24PM
Childe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup melted butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups blueberries
- First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit and line your muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- In a bowl, mix together your flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt..
- Use a mixer (or whisk by hand) your eggs until they are smooth. Then, combine butter, milk, and vanilla with the eggs in a separate bowl.
- Mix the dry ingredients with your wet ingredients,and then add in your blueberries.
- Place the muffins into the muffin pan and bake for 18-22 minutes.
Seen at 10:25 PM
… Childe is typing …
Childe:
I’ll be waiting to try them ;)
Seen at 10:26PM
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Oh fuck.