Chapter Text
He was barely able to change jobs after such a long treatment. He tried everything the doctors suggested,he went through rounds over rounds of chemotherapy,of nauseating evenings,of sleepless nights and lonely pain. Aki was used to dealing with this alone,he was used to having cold sweats during freezing nights with no one to look after him or at least bring him some water.
Eventually,he gave up,after being told that he would probably live 3 more years with or without treatment,he could try it,but that would just make him weak again,make him lose his hair,lose his will and his mind eventually. He was sick of being isolated in the hospital,working on his computer trying to make ends meet while having no one to talk to or ask for help.
After making peace with his inevitable end,since we all are here for such a short time,he thought that maybe going out in the world one last time,to live,one last time.
The brunette found a modest job at a local cafe,he always passed it by when he was on the way to the hospital. He looked sometimes through the window,seeing a redhead cleaning some tables and moving around with the clattering cups and plates. It seemed like a warm place,like a place where he wished to be,where he hoped he could be welcomed.
They were looking for another barista to work the shift with the redhead,since the cafe manager told Aki that he was sometimes absent minded and needed someone to keep him being attentive.
That sounded just perfect,hoping that he could get close to his coworker.
But the first day rolled around,and Angel barely looked at him,just minding his business.
Aki swallowed heavily,sighing slowly and looking around him,preparing the shop for it to be opened.
Days passed,and the two barely exchanged more than 5 words outside of work chatter. That kind of bummed out Aki,since he thought that he could make a friend,one last friend to hang out with for his last years,so that maybe just one person would be reminded that he existed one time…
Both of them had the ending shift today,and Aki was feeling quite under the weather,he hadn’t felt this weak in months,he felt pale and quite cold,so seeing that there were no more customers inside,he went outside to smoke a cigarette in the hopes that it would make him feel a bit better,calmer..
But the gut feeling hadn’t passed,he was pretty sure he just had low blood sugar from not eating enough that morning.
Angel seeing that his coworker wasn’t coming back inside,he went out after him,staring at him silently.
“Those are gonna kill you,you know? “ The redhead mumbled,groaning looking at him,a bit inquisitive,since he saw how pale the brunette was looking.
“ I’m already dying,it’s okay’”Aki replied smiling calmly.
When Angel heard that,his eyebrows furrowed,he meant it in a philosophical way,right? He looked like the inteligent type for sure…
“Hey,give me one,i want to die too” he replied,groaning and leaning onto the wall as well,taking the cigarette from between Aki’s lips,putting it into his mouth.
That made the brunette laugh for a second,he hadn’t laughed like that for awhile…maybe for more than awhile.
“I don’t think that’s what you mean…”
“Man , you don’t look too good…you should get off the shift,i’ll close it on my own.”Said Angel,a bit confused,seeing his coworker going silent again.
“No,no.. i don’t need to go home ,i’m alright.”
Angel looked at him,then nodded and took a drag from Aki’s cigarette and then throwing it on the ground,getting back inside.
Aki stood there,looking at the street,and all the people walking back home,he didn’t want to go back at all,but the small talk they had made him heart just a bit less heavy.
He breathed the foggy air around the street and finally found the energy to move back inside,seeing that Angel had put everything back already.
“Hey,Angel,would you like to come to my place and drink something? I have some beers in my fridge” Aki said with a pale smile. He couldn’t say to Angel that he couldn’t resist to sleep one more night alone. He just needed someone,anyone,and if that someone would be Angel,he would’ve enjoyed it just the same…
He liked his coworker,and tried to befriend him at times,but seeing his peculiar nature,he just remained silent most of the time,this was the first day they spoke so much to eachother.
Angel looked at him,raising one of his brows slightly: “Hmm…yeah.”