Air A Kiss Coffee (Dune Coffee Shop AU)

[ALandWithNoName]

~Cold rain~

~Wet clothes~

~Long day~

~Paul~







He had to choose between lunch and a newspaper. Crazy just how expensive some splattered ink and mulch cost these days... but, so be it. Price wasn't really the issue to Paul; it was the fact said newspaper was currently tented over his face, keeping the bitter rain off futilely. Wind pushed it aside anyway. Paul sighed as his paper began to undo into pulp. Never even got to read the thing.



The work day had ended, and while he knew the forecast, Paul simply forgot his umbrella in the hectic mornings he so often had. Further, he was in the office late to patch over a clerical issue, preventing him from catching the last bus on his usual route. Another walk home. He wasn't the type to see and wait it out, leaving immediately as he could, along the quiet streets; businesses closed at this time of day.



Paul chuckled at a chill gust, the paper nearly shredded from sogginess. It wasn't the rain, either, really. It was the damned cold. He kept his free hand in-pocket, walking brisk to keep both warm and quick. What he wouldn't give for a relief...



And perhaps it was fate, as just in that moment of thought, a gust pulled the paper from his face in a way that drew his gaze street-side. The annoyed suck of teeth vanished at lit neon across the one-way. Paul stood there, staring at the hole-in-the-wall. Small, conventional, windows streaked from water running down. Perhaps it was the warm, soft wood panels of the interior that drew him to cross the street. Perhaps it was his fatigue. Perhaps none of it.



None the matter, as the tired office worker finally and vicariously shut the door behind him, muting the rain as though all a dream. Air-con warmth nuzzled his cold cheeks, fighting against his wet clothes. He still had the wet paper on his forehead when the barista called out, Paul looking over.



The young man was plain and unremarkable in all, save one thing. Paul stared at it. That hair, the color between velvet and crimson, like hearth-side fireplace hue... Something about it was so calming, that only the uncomfortable cough of the barista shook Paul from the trance. The office worker nervously laughed, apologizing. "Oh! I'm sorry, I just... well, I'm sorry."



The barista smiled like a Buddha. "It's fine, sir. Cold day and all. Have you been here before?"



"No. First time." Paul finally let his shoulders down, realizing that he held the soggy mess to head for no reason. He sighed as he looked at the garbled words, illegible now.



"Would that be today's paper?"



"At one point." Paul walked over to the counter, having wiped his shoes on the mat by now.



The barista leaned behind the counter, rustling before producing the same print, along a smile.



Paul had no words, touched to silence at the gesture. All he could do was steady himself by sitting on the stool in front of himself. The barista never spoke, and the quiet finally let Paul process the day behind him. He listened to the clinking of porcelain for a while, watching as the barista meticulously cleaned the mugs. Something about this guy was so familiar... Paul worked up the courage to ask. "Have we met before? What's your name?"



The velvet-haired barista turned, smiling. "Leto, sir. I don't think we've met. I like to think I'm good with that."



Paul laughed. "Leto? That's my dad's name!" After a moment, Paul shook his head. Wait... why... did I...?



Leto's own laugh cut off the thought, before replying in that calm Buddha-like way.



"Is that so?"

Spoiler: 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins

insomnia wouldn't let me sleep until i wrote this. hm. song?


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6M0yLxLCNA

 

[ALandWithNoName]

~Work distracts~

~Time flies~

~Peace flits~

~Paul~







Everything went back to normal come new dawn. As nice as the reprieve was, Paul still had his obligations; checkboxes, notes, itineraries, tasks. Free time? Perish the thought. He left to the same bus route, to the same office, same people, at the same times; every day. But behind it all; there was a change. Subtle and unspoken, always there in the back of his mind during the daily commutes. Like he forgot something...



After a particularly ass day of fuck ups, Paul sat alone on the bench, head bobbing against a cool window, bus making its way to home. If it weren't the sight of a small dog darting across the street, making Paul sit up, he might've missed that neon sign. The dog'd narrowly avoided being run over, just slinking by and between two parked cars -- and when Paul craned his head to look if the dog made it -- he pulled some hairs from his head. Tch. Pangs of annoyance and relief washed him over as he let a sigh out.



The eyes of the dog peeked back from beneath the car, just in front of the... the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop... Paul stared a while longer, until the view shrunk behind the bricks of buildings back to the mundane. Air A Kiss Coffee... Paul huffed, slinking himself back into the seat. What an insufferably fluffy name. What an insufferably fluffy logo. An errant heart floating over a mug. Hm.



At least it was another weekend.



He knew as soon as he latched the lock of his apartment, he'd be back in that coffee shop. Just needed a damn nap, is all.



30 minutes later, Paul stood at the swing-door, heart deciding of all times, now, to begin pounding. Great. Am I really getting that worked up over some guy? He held his shaky hand to thigh, looking at the threshold, wondering if he'd wasted all the time walking here. He didn't want to see his reflection. He had just turned and began to home when a voice called from behind.



"Sir!"



That voice. Paul closed his eyes, resigning himself a moment, before turning back. Today'd been a little too long for much more. He couldn't help but put a hand behind neck when he blurted a lie to that guy, Leto. "Hey! I-I'm sorry. I think I might've left my card..."



Leto, stood, one hand on the door. The other was keeping windblown velvet-locks from his face as he replied. "Welcome back. Paul, was it?"



"Hah, yeah..." I-did I tell him my name last time? Been too long to remember... well, shit. Paul was too embarrassed now to just leave, so he gave his best sheepish smile as he made back to... Air A Kiss Coffee.



Ugh.



He ordered an iced brew, seated himself at a table, and slowly worked the drink down, both hands on the cup. The texture wrap left paper fibres in his palms over time; as he stared to the matte, cocoa surface within. What a weird place. Why the hell is choosing between porcelain and paper even a thing? Cup was half-empty, when door chimes jingled to a new customer. He didn't bother looking back. Female, from the sounds coming from the counter, but Paul never looked up.



It was only the fact that because she sat at the far corner of the establishment, against the wall, did he finally glimpse the new customer over the rim of the cup.



And he regretted taking as big a sip as he did, because as soon as he saw who it was; he spit the entire mouthful over the table and seat of his booth.

Spoiler: The Night We Met - Lord Huron

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU

*looks up, then side-to-side*
conquest of elysium 5 is way, way more beginner friendly lol. than dominions 6, gah lemme tell ya
*camera pans out, revealing i'm staring at a wall*