☕ "Mocha Malt" ☕
A NSFW #TodoKiriBaku, Poly Soulmate and Coffee Shop AU ( No Quirks No Heroes )
Written as a Thank You for hitting 3,000 Followers on this account.
CW'S below
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A NSFW #TodoKiriBaku, Poly Soulmate and Coffee Shop AU ( No Quirks No Heroes )
Written as a Thank You for hitting 3,000 Followers on this account.
CW'S below
_*_*_
Overall CW's: NSFW, Mentions of Child Abuse/Neglect, Mentions of Recovery, 'Feel Each Others Pain' Soulmates, Caffeine Edition but make it your job, Dyslexic Kirishima, Katsuki picks the hard jobs to deal with his feefees instead of say... therapy
LET'S GO!
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LET'S GO!
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Thank you to @red_headed_riot and @omegaharte for helping me plot out this delightful piece of chilled espresso~
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When Shouto is seven years old, he learns about the /true/ concept of Soulmates. It’s something that his mother had always talked about wistfully, but never really /explained./
His older brother is the one he learns it from, and it all starts because Touya keeps rubbing the tips of his fingers over his jeans like they /itch./
“Why’re you doing that?” Shouto asks, tugging at the hem of Touya’s shirt. “Are you hurt?”
“Why’re you doing that?” Shouto asks, tugging at the hem of Touya’s shirt. “Are you hurt?”
“What? Oh, hey Buddy, I thought you were doing your homework?” Touya pauses in rubbing his hands over his pants to start a pot of coffee. “I’m fine though, this is just my Soulmate,” Touya admits absently.
“They did something stupid again, I think? Must have… grabbed a pan without oven mitts or something?” Shouto tilts his head, too young to fish out the hidden lie and worry in his brother’s voice.
He’s standing next to the counter as Touya waits for the rice cooker to go off and the coffee pot to finish percolating.
“How do you know that?” Shouto asks, wanting to reach out and examine his brother’s hands. He wants to see if there’s some mark or redness.
“How do you know that?” Shouto asks, wanting to reach out and examine his brother’s hands. He wants to see if there’s some mark or redness.
Touya hesitates, as if he’s scared to talk about this, but eventually he smiles down at Shouto. “You… you can feel your Soulmates pain sometimes, or an echo of it. It’s part of being tied to them.”
Touya reaches out, tucking Shouto’s hair behind his ears. “It’s to help you find them and take care of them.”
Shouto’s eyes widen in wonder. “Like you take care of me and ‘Yumi and Natsu?” he asks, leaning into Touya’s touch.
Shouto’s eyes widen in wonder. “Like you take care of me and ‘Yumi and Natsu?” he asks, leaning into Touya’s touch.
Touya’s smile is broken somehow, but still happy. “Yeah, like… like that and more.” He bends over and presses repeated kisses to Shouto’s face until Shouto laughs. “You know what? I’m going to put you in the crock pot, you’re being too sweet. I’ll eat you up.”
Shouto laughs again and runs away from him, clutching the frame of the doorway with a bright grin as he stares back into the kitchen.
Living with Touya this last year has been /perfect./
Living with Touya this last year has been /perfect./
His parents are going through a very nasty divorce, and because of it, Touya has been given temporary custody. Shouto knows he should be sad about his parents leaving one another, but he /isn’t./
It’s the best thing to have ever happened to him, and Shouto likes to think it’ll last forever. They aren’t /real/ Soulmates after all, so no one seems sad that they’re parting.
Shouto loves this tiny apartment with it’s two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a washing machine that doesn’t work. The floor never looks clean no matter how hard Fuyumi scrubs it, the smoke alarm doesn’t work, and the water smells funny after six at night.
Still, Shouto runs around on the tile in just his socks, laughing as Touya or Natsuo chase after him, always trying to corral him into the tub before bed.
He builds forts out of blankets he and Natsuo share, watches cartoons he was never allowed to before, enjoys himself in a childhood he almost had stolen. Everything always smells like coffee and cinnamon, and it eases a tightness Shouto hadn’t known was in his chest.
He gets to do his schoolwork whenever he wants, and Touya never looms over him when he does. Touya never expects the work to be perfect, he just expects Shouto to /try./
Hell, Touya even /helps/ him sometimes. So does Fuyumi!
Hell, Touya even /helps/ him sometimes. So does Fuyumi!
Life is wonderful, and Shouto’s learned so much about the world already just from being in a house that isn’t overshadowed by shouting.
He stays in the hall doorway as he waits for dinner, watching his older brother bounce between cooking and running his hand under cool water from their spluttering tap.
“Does that help them? Your Soulmate?” Shouto asks, head tilting to the side.
“Does that help them? Your Soulmate?” Shouto asks, head tilting to the side.
Touya’s smile is sad again when he glances over. “I… like to think it does, but I… I don’t know?” With a shake of his head, he looks back at Shouto and grins. “When I meet them, I’ll be sure to ask. Now, go get Lazy Bones and Princess, dinner is ready.”
As he says it, he opens the creaky cabinet over the counter and pulls out a mug.
Shouto giggles and runs through the house, more than ready to find Natsuo and Fuyumi.
Shouto giggles and runs through the house, more than ready to find Natsuo and Fuyumi.
For a while, their lives stay blissful like this, even though sometimes Shouto will be plagued by nightmares. He’ll often wake, finding the room he shares with Natsuo, the one Touya used to sleep in, /cold./
He’ll slip out, never waking his brother, to go find Touya awake in the kitchen. He’s always pouring over his college work in the night, and no matter how many times it happens, he’s always surprised to see Shouto.
“Buddy, it’s late. Go back to bed.” Touya always tries to coax him, but Shouto shakes his head and climbs onto the chair next to Touya. He’s a little too big to sit in his brothers lap anymore, otherwise he’d be there.
Touya always gives in to Shouto ‘hanging out’ with him, stopping him every time he tries to steal sips of his coffee. Shouto always pouts and crosses his arms, but Touya hushes him with a smile.
“Let me finish my paper, then I’ll make you your own.”
“Let me finish my paper, then I’ll make you your own.”
It’s mostly milk and sugar in his mug, maybe two or three teaspoons of coffee since he’s so young, but it’s /warm/ and Shouto cradles the mug like it’s the most precious thing he’s ever been given.
Sometimes, when it’s meant to be ‘nap time’ for everyone, Shouto will sneak into the kitchen and stare at the coffee pot, checking to see if there’s any left.
There never is, but he still thinks one day there /might/ be. After all, coffee always cheers Touya up, so maybe it’ll cheer him up too?
He knows it’s obnoxious of him to want it this young, but he can’t help himself.
He knows it’s obnoxious of him to want it this young, but he can’t help himself.
Watching Touya make coffee is astounding, be it in the pot or with that cool looking press.
It’s one of the few fancy things Touya owns, and Shouto vows to learn how it works one day so he can make fancy brews like his brother.
He wonders if Touya’s Soulmate likes coffee…
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He wonders if Touya’s Soulmate likes coffee…
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CW's: Some DabiHawks; as a treat, Mentions of Abuse, PTSD, Depression, Trauma
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CW's: Some DabiHawks; as a treat, Mentions of Abuse, PTSD, Depression, Trauma
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When Shouto turns ten, bouncing back and forth between his father’s absurd house and Touya’s new apartment, he realizes that sometimes he feels… too /warm./ Not in a feverish way, but like he’s being hugged from behind on both sides.
Having grown up with three siblings, he knows this feeling /very/ well.
But there’s never anyone around, and it /confuses/ him.
But there’s never anyone around, and it /confuses/ him.
He can’t bring it up with his father, mostly because being around the man makes him want to start fires, and as much as he wants to ask Touya…
Well… he just met his Soulmate.
Well… he just met his Soulmate.
His name is Keigo Takami, and he’s /too/ skinny, even to Shouto’s eyes. He’s also bruised in weird places and flinches at loud noises. Shouto worries about him because Keigo cries a lot. Still, he lives with Touya now so Shouto thinks he’ll cry /less./
Since Fuyumi turned eighteen, she’d gotten a job and started funneling all her checks into helping afford a slightly bigger, slightly better apartment, and that’s been good for all of them.
It helps to take care of Keigo and Shouto. Natsuo too, but he says he can take care of himself.
Nowadays Shouto comes home to a three bedroom, one and a half bath apartment with a carpeted hall instead of tiled. He misses the old place sometimes, but the extra room is /better./ It still smells like coffee and cinnamon here, and that’s enough to get Shouto settled in.
Keigo spends most of his time hidden away in Touya’s room, so the adjustment isn’t too hard. None of them want to bother him when they see how dark the circles under /Touya’s/ eyes are. They can’t imagine the ones on Keigo.
They don’t ask, but they don’t think they need to. Natsuo explains /trauma/ to Shouto in hushed whispers, explains pain, explains that sometimes asking questions before someone is ready can do more harm than good.
So Shouto keeps his worries to himself, or he writes them down in a notebook, hoping to one day ask them when Keigo feels better.
One of the afternoons that Shouto gets off school early, he comes home to find that Natsuo is out with his friends and the house is quiet because of it. Fuyumi and Touya are at their respective jobs, so it’s just him and Keigo alone in the apartment.
Keigo’s sitting in the living room, which is rare, and he’s wrapped up in blankets. He’s staring out of the window with a hollow look in his eyes, and Shouto knows what to do.
He doesn’t think too hard about his actions, he simply wanders into the kitchen and makes a pot of coffee. He might only be ten, but he’s seen Touya do this enough times that he /knows/ all the tricks.
Filter, grounds, cinnamon in the bottom of the pot as per family tradition, brew. Shouto fetches two mugs out of the pantry and spoons sugar into them, then waits.
He adds creamer instead of milk, mostly because he wants to try it, and brings both of the mugs into the living room.
As he holds out the bigger mug, Keigo stares at Shouto like he’s grown another arm or something. He takes the mug anyway.
As he holds out the bigger mug, Keigo stares at Shouto like he’s grown another arm or something. He takes the mug anyway.
“You’re too young to be making coffee,” Keigo whispers, voice brittle from disuse.
“Probably,” Shouto agrees with a nod. “Can we watch cartoons?”
“Probably,” Shouto agrees with a nod. “Can we watch cartoons?”
Keigo pauses, then nods and lifts up the blanket. Shouto climbs in next to him and they watch several episodes of a show, sipping their drinks before Keigo hesitantly pets Shouto’s hair. It’s almost like he’s scared to touch him.
Shouto leans into his side very gently, and at first Keigo tenses, but eventually he relaxes. They stay that way for hours.
“Keigo?” Shouto doesn’t mean to make him flinch, but it happens. “When you would burn your hands a few years ago, Touya used to run his under cool water. Did that help any?”
Keigo swallows, a plethora of emotions dancing across his face before it settles into this deep sort of /affection./ He looks like he might cry.
“I like to think it did,” Keigo whispers. “I always knew he was out there, I could feel him before I even hit puberty, you know? Like someone hugging me from behind when I really needed it.” He looks wistfully into his mug. “I’m so lucky to have him.”
Shouto smiles. “I think he’s lucky to have /you./ You make him clean up his gross laundry.”
Keigo lets out a surprised, confused laugh. It’s the first time Shouto’s ever heard him do that.
He hopes to hear it more.
_*_*_
Keigo lets out a surprised, confused laugh. It’s the first time Shouto’s ever heard him do that.
He hopes to hear it more.
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CW's: Past Abuse mention, Somebody is getting into some fights owo
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Shouto’s fifteen and has had access to the internet for /ages,/ so he knows what’s coming.
CW's: Past Abuse mention, Somebody is getting into some fights owo
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Shouto’s fifteen and has had access to the internet for /ages,/ so he knows what’s coming.
The feeling of warmth, of being hugged or held on both sides has gotten stronger and stronger over the years. He knows what it means now, figured it out from context clues and a lot of googling.
He has /two/ Soulmates.
He has /two/ Soulmates.
It’s exceptionally rare, but not unheard of. Some people don’t even get them, or don’t talk about them like Fuyumi and Natsuo.
They choose to keep that aspect of their life private since it’s a theory that Soulmates are strictly sexually compatible, and not inherently romantically inclined. Shouto doesn’t believe that, not when he looks at Touya and Keigo.
Still, Soulmates are personal, and here Shouto is with /two./ Doctor’s will later explain it as Shouto having twice the soul because he’s technically a genetic chimera, but Shouto doesn’t care what /Doctors/ say.
All he knows is that he has plenty of love for both of them, whoever they are. He assumes they’re both men because he knows what his type is, but he wouldn’t put it past the universe to throw him a curve ball.
No matter who they are, he can’t wait to meet them. Despite that, he’s a little nervous about the concept of feeling /pain./
Watching Keigo and Touya growing up gave him plenty of tips and insight, but that doesn’t stop the fear from crawling into the back of his throat.
Watching Keigo and Touya growing up gave him plenty of tips and insight, but that doesn’t stop the fear from crawling into the back of his throat.
He’s not afraid of whatever pain his /Soulmates/ might go through, but he /is/ afraid of the pain they might feel from /him./ It’s been /years/ since his father raised a hand to any of them, but that fear will always be there in the depth of his gut, churning like tar.
He’s in the middle of class when he feels the first prickle of pain from one of his Soulmates, a sharp jab to his side. It feels like a bruise, like the aftermath of being punched in the ribs.
Next is a warmth that blooms an ache over his knuckles, so Shouto cradles that hand to his chest and kisses the skin there.
One of his Soulmate’s is getting in a /fight/… what a way to awaken a bond.
One of his Soulmate’s is getting in a /fight/… what a way to awaken a bond.
He shuts his eyes, trying to sink into that warmth, to calm the fire beneath his skin. He gets back a curious flicker, but it goes right back to anger before it fades away.
Right. They must be busy.
Right. They must be busy.
Shouto goes back to his schoolwork, trying very hard not to get distracted. He’s not really happy about having a violent Soulmate, but… he doesn’t know what’s going on. They could be a bully, or… they could be like Keigo used to be.
Shouto doesn’t know which one he wants less.
His second Soulmate blooms through his foot. His toes throb and he realizes that this pain is different, accidental and sharp.
His second Soulmate blooms through his foot. His toes throb and he realizes that this pain is different, accidental and sharp.
Where the first Soulmate hasn’t had any pain since that fight, Shouto still knows the difference between the two /right/ away. Mostly because this pain comes with the immediate echo of an apology.
Shouto can’t help but grin when he feels an echoing pinch on the inside of his bicep. His first Soulmate getting back at his second.
“Shouto, pay attention.” His father snaps his fingers and Shouto looks forward, trying to tune back into whatever lecture he’s getting. He doesn’t care for this conversation.
It’s only when sudden worry floods his chest, worry from two different directions and phantom arms around his back, that Shouto realizes he’s digging his nails into his palms so hard that he’s leaving marks. Almost deep enough to cut.
He shakes his head, offering a quick, hurried apology through the bond, and hopes it goes through before he focuses back on his father.
He can’t afford to be distracted in front of this man. No matter /who/ is distracting him.
The arms linger around his sides for a long time.
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The arms linger around his sides for a long time.
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Shouto’s seventeen and standing in front of his very angry father when he’s given his life changing ultimatum. While he hates being /here,/ his father freely gives him money to stay, almost like he’s bribing Shouto to prove to himself that he’s a good father.
Shouto’s seventeen and standing in front of his very angry father when he’s given his life changing ultimatum. While he hates being /here,/ his father freely gives him money to stay, almost like he’s bribing Shouto to prove to himself that he’s a good father.
He /isn’t/ good though. Shouto will never say that out loud, but he knows all his siblings agree. The ‘allowance’ will only last so long after all. It’ll dry up just like it did with Touya, with Fuyumi, and even with Natsuo.
Once they leave, the pretend facade of care gets stripped away.
“You have no ambition!” His father shouts, arms thrown up. “All your other siblings had it, even /Touya!/” The name is a swear in his father’s mouth.
“You have no ambition!” His father shouts, arms thrown up. “All your other siblings had it, even /Touya!/” The name is a swear in his father’s mouth.
Shouto refrains from commenting. Touya has a perfectly acceptable job, Enji just doesn’t think the way they do. Touya busted his ass to get his degree, and Shouto thinks being a rehab therapist is /amazing./
Still, this isn’t about Touya. Not this time.
Still, this isn’t about Touya. Not this time.
“I’m working on it,” Shouto says it quietly, glancing down at his feet. He actually hasn’t really put /any/ thought into a future career, but he’s had more important things to focus on. Like finals at his extensively prestigious private school.
He misses the days of public school and teachers who didn’t expect above average as the standard.
“Are you though?” his father asks before he begins pacing. “You know, I don’t think you are. I think you need more responsibility in your life. No son of mine will end up a grifter.”
Shouto wants to vomit in his father’s closet.
Shouto wants to vomit in his father’s closet.
“You’re getting a job by the end of the month. That, or you can forget a college fund.”
And that’s how Shouto finds himself packing a suitcase and moving into his old bedroom in Touya’s apartment. His brother doesn’t mind, in fact he encourages it.
And that’s how Shouto finds himself packing a suitcase and moving into his old bedroom in Touya’s apartment. His brother doesn’t mind, in fact he encourages it.
He welcomes Shouto with open arms, as does Keigo, who looks bright and delightful in one of those absurd housecoats that rich debutantes wear after murdering their husbands.
“My baby!” Keigo hugs Shouto tight, not even caring that Shouto’s already taller than he is. “Are you alright, let me see?” Keigo pulls back and turns Shouto’s face left and right with gentle fingers.
He’s always been careful around Shouto’s vitiligo, but Shouto thinks it’s because he assumes they’re scars.
“I’m /fine,/ just… job hunting,” Shouto mutters before his cheeks are smeared with lip gloss kisses.
“I’m /fine,/ just… job hunting,” Shouto mutters before his cheeks are smeared with lip gloss kisses.
Keigo’s so /different/ from the scared shadow of a man Shouto met all those years ago. It’s refreshing every time he visits.
“You shouldn’t /need/ to job hunt, you should be focusing on studying. Your father has more money than he knows what to do with. You should be enjoying your childhood,” Keigo mutters angrily. “What an awful man.”
“Seconded,” Touya says as he walks in with a tray of coffee mugs. “I could try getting you an internship at the rehab center? But I don’t think that’s really your… interest?” he shrugs and sits down.
Keigo hums and picks up his coffee mug, painted nails clacking against the ceramic. Shouto picks up his own mug, eyes closed as he breathes in the smell of chocolate and vanilla syrups. He takes a soft, warming sip and feels it fill him in a comforting way that only coffee can.
The echoing pleasure from his Soulmates makes him smile.
“Shou?” he looks up at Keigo’s voice. “I had a thought.”
“Shou?” he looks up at Keigo’s voice. “I had a thought.”
Touya chuckles, getting a swat on the thigh from Keigo before he leans over and presses a kiss to his cheek. Shouto feels butterflies in his belly, full of envy but also full of a pure, near indescribably joy at seeing them happy like this.
“What was your thought?” Shouto sips his coffee again, feeling phantom arms and two separate echoes of love in his chest.
“You /really/ seem to like coffee,” Keigo says as he nods at Shouto’s mug.
“You /really/ seem to like coffee,” Keigo says as he nods at Shouto’s mug.
“I wonder whose fault that is?” Shouto teases, glancing over at Touya.
His brother says nothing, though he does smirk behind his mug.
His brother says nothing, though he does smirk behind his mug.
“Have you ever thought about becoming a barista?” Keigo asks, leaning back on their couch as he crosses his ankles. “I could try and get you a temp job at the studio I’m shooting at?”
It’s like a lightbulb goes off in Shouto’s entire body, a switch flipped that stuns him.
It’s like a lightbulb goes off in Shouto’s entire body, a switch flipped that stuns him.
He blinks a few times, then laughs and looks down at his mug. His father would be /furious/ if Shouto got a job as a /barista/ and not say… a banker? He’d probably cut Shouto off, but…
Honestly?
Honestly?
Worth it at this point. He’s more or less cut off anyway when his father finds out that Shouto has no plan on going to college.
“How do you write out a resume for a coffee shop?” he wonders.
Touya laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll help you, you hopeless child.”
“How do you write out a resume for a coffee shop?” he wonders.
Touya laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll help you, you hopeless child.”
“That means I love you,” Keigo says in a stage whisper, one hand to the side of his face as if he could hide his mouth from Touya.
“I love you too,” Shouto stage whispers back.
_*_*_
“I love you too,” Shouto stage whispers back.
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Just shy of eighteen, Shouto sucks in a sharp breath and watches as Hizashi Yamada picks up his resume. It feels like eons since he wrote that paper, and since then he’s been tuned down by several other shops already for ‘lack of experience.’
Just shy of eighteen, Shouto sucks in a sharp breath and watches as Hizashi Yamada picks up his resume. It feels like eons since he wrote that paper, and since then he’s been tuned down by several other shops already for ‘lack of experience.’
But that doesn’t matter here. /This/ is the shop that matters. /This/ is the one he’s set his sights on.
“You… want to work /here?/” Hizashi is a man with /long/ blond hair and yellow tinted sunglasses pushed into his hairline, but he still radiates power. “I mean, not that I’m complaining, but… /here?/” he looks around the tiny cafe that has maybe five tables in total.
“There’s a /cat/ cafe right across the street, and they have /openings./ I’m not even really hiring. We don’t have enough business for that.” He looks confused.
Shouto nods despite all these points. “Let me make you a cup of coffee, then you can turn me away if you don’t like it. Otherwise, I’d like it if you’d give me a shot.”
Hizashi raises an eyebrow at him, a skeptical smirk on his face.
Hizashi raises an eyebrow at him, a skeptical smirk on his face.
“Anyone can make a pot of coffee, young man. How about I challenge you instead?” He stands up and waves Shouto behind the counter. “Here, make me a Mocha Malt, it’s something I made when the cafe first opened. Directions are… here they are.”
He pulls out an old, laminated paper and sets it on the counter.
“What size?” Shouto’s already looking over the directions and unbuttoning his cuffs.
For some reason, he thinks that changes Hizashi’s opinion of him for the better.
“What size?” Shouto’s already looking over the directions and unbuttoning his cuffs.
For some reason, he thinks that changes Hizashi’s opinion of him for the better.
“Medium, hold the whip.” Hizashi leans against the counter and watches as Shouto rolls up his sleeves and gets to work.
Despite being turned down for other shops, Shouto still knows what he’s doing.
Despite being turned down for other shops, Shouto still knows what he’s doing.
He researched and practiced making all sorts of brews before applying for shops. He also spent a good chunk of his savings buying second hand versions of machines so he’s be more familiar with them and maybe know how to fix them.
And from the resistance the french press gives him, he might need to put that knowledge to use. Or maybe just double check that the thing isn’t stuck due to coffee grounds.
It makes sense in hindsight that the equipment might not be top quality. This place /is/ considered a kind of ‘hole in the wall’ location.
Shouto used to come here all the time with Touya when he was little, when the place was still /new./
Shouto used to come here all the time with Touya when he was little, when the place was still /new./
He remembers being half awake in his brother’s arms while he ordered burnt coffee and a stale scone for Shouto.
He used to sit in the corner facing the window, Shouto sleeping against the glass while the sun came up and Touya rushed to finish the last of his paper before he had to take Shouto to school.
Now Shouto’s practically an adult and making coffee in a place that smells almost like home to him. Like cinnamon and coffee. Even if he doesn’t get the job here, he knows he’ll carry this memory fondly.
There’s a moment where he almost drops the mug he’s pouring coffee into when there’s a faded thud to the back of his head. One of his Soulmate’s pain shoots through him and he has to clamp down on the urge to buckle.
But there’s the echoing pinch on the inside of his bicep from his other Soulmate, and that grounds him. He likes to think they all use it as a scolding, ‘Don’t do that.’
Shouto smiles to himself.
Shouto smiles to himself.
He had to make this cup /twice,/ mostly because the first brew was burnt and came out of the flash freeze tasting even worse, but after adjusting a few things, the second brew came out smooth.
Thankfully, Hizashi didn’t say anything while Shouto spent a good twenty minutes fixing the machine with new grounds and filters.
Once he’s finished, he turns and holds out the mug to the Hizashi. The drink is cold, but it’s good. Shouto /knows/ it’s good. He has faith in his ability.
After a tick of silence, Hizashi sighs heavily and takes the mug, breathing in the smell.
After a tick of silence, Hizashi sighs heavily and takes the mug, breathing in the smell.
“You know your way around a coffee shop, I see? Just went right to tinkering,” he says it with a purpose, his eyes roaming over his machines as Shouto starts wiping things down.
He’s not a /heathen,/ after all. The least he can do is clean up after himself.
He’s not a /heathen,/ after all. The least he can do is clean up after himself.
“I like coffee, and I like to make it.” It’s all Shouto can offer as he waits for Hizashi to try the Malt. He’s about to take a sip, but a customer comes in and Shouto backs off, standing in the corner as Hizashi takes personal interest in this new stranger.
By the time the new coffee and treats are made and paid for, Shouto’s sure his drink has melted. He’s a little worried about the taste, but Hizashi doesn’t seem bothered as he picks the cup back up.
Now that they’re alone in the cafe, Shouto watches as Hizashi takes a tentative sip. It’s bizarre to watch someone other than Touya or Keigo try a drink he’s made, and it’s even more bizarre knowing that he’s never made this particular drink /before./
A few quiet moments pass as Shouto feels eyes roam him up and down. It’s not like the burning gaze of his father, it’s more… /curious./
Finally, Hizashi takes another sip.
Finally, Hizashi takes another sip.
“When can you start?” he asks. “This tastes… Jesus, kid, I thought you were just stalling for time, but you /actually/ fixed my coffee pot, didn’t you?”
Shouto bites the inside of his cheek to keep in his grin.
“How soon do you need me to start?”
_*_*_
Shouto bites the inside of his cheek to keep in his grin.
“How soon do you need me to start?”
_*_*_
_*_*_
One week and one encounter with a customer later and Hizashi decides that Shouto /isn’t/ allowed anywhere /near/ the register /ever/ again. Shouto… doesn’t blame him. He did a perfectly fine job taking the order and using the register, but…
One week and one encounter with a customer later and Hizashi decides that Shouto /isn’t/ allowed anywhere /near/ the register /ever/ again. Shouto… doesn’t blame him. He did a perfectly fine job taking the order and using the register, but…
“If your coffee wasn’t so /goddamn/ good,” Hizashi mutters as he cleans up shattered glass.
“I just told him we didn’t carry what he was asking for.” Shouto shrugs as his new coworker lets out a hiccuping laugh. She got hired after one of the other barista’s quit when Shouto signed on. It’s like he’s cursed or something. “I’ll pay for the display case, Hizashi.”
“What? No, you won’t.” Hizashi points at Shouto and narrows his eyes, lips in a thin lie. “The /customer/ will pay for it, you’ll… you’ll stick to making coffee.” He shakes his head and looks at Tsuyu.
“Stop laughing, this means double register for you young lady. All my employees work in pairs, and you just got yours decided for you.”
Tsuyu snorts. It sounds more like a croak.
Tsuyu snorts. It sounds more like a croak.
“That’s fine. As long as I get to keep drawing on some of the cups, I don’t really care.” She glances over at Shouto. “Besides, this guy is pretty cursed when it comes to people, I can feel it.” Shouto shares a look with her and she sticks out the tip of her tongue.
He likes her already.
Hizashi groans at them both, but goes back to cleaning up glass. Shouto offers a sad smile, hand gently covering the tiny cut on his wrist from the glass that flew toward him.
Hizashi groans at them both, but goes back to cleaning up glass. Shouto offers a sad smile, hand gently covering the tiny cut on his wrist from the glass that flew toward him.
He’d felt pure panic surge through him from his right when he’d gotten the cut, then curiosity and laughter from his left. His Soulmates were both worried and confused, probably because Shouto didn’t really /feel/ pain all that often.
His left Soulmate felt the most pain, either by getting into fights or what Shouto assumed was a bad string of luck. At least it was if the amount of times he felt something crash into one of his fingers meant anything.
His right Soulmate was never as harsh, generally just stubbed toes, bumped elbows, one time a thud across the back of the head that Shouto assumed was his Soulmate smacking his head on a table as he got up too fast.
Shouto knows that feeling /too/ well, having hit his growth spurt randomly and /quickly/ in his teens. It makes him smile to think that at least /one/ of his Soulmates is tall.
“Shouto?” Tsuyu catches his attention and holds out a hand. “Come on, let’s go clean up in the back and leave Mr. Yamada to his brooding.” The way she smiles makes Shouto feel at ease again.
He takes her hand and the two disappear into the stock room. It’s so /big/ for what little is in there. Almost too big… it gives Shouto ideas.
_*_*_
_*_*_
_*_*_
“How’s being a working class citizen?” Touya asks a week later as he leans against the pickup counter. Shouto rolls his eyes and drops a cherry onto the top of his brother’s specialty coffee.
“How’s being a working class citizen?” Touya asks a week later as he leans against the pickup counter. Shouto rolls his eyes and drops a cherry onto the top of his brother’s specialty coffee.
“I’ve only been here a week or two, Touya,” he reminds him. “Elbows off my counter.” Touya laughs, but does as he’s told.
Shouto’s distracted for a few seconds as the bell above the door jangles, and he catches sight of a redhead in a rumpled jacket that looks too small for him as he holds the door open. There are two people right behind him, a bottle blond, and a Hispanic man with shining braces.
The three of them are chatting away, but they don’t catch Shouto’s attention other than that. It’s just a cursory glance over customers, the same energy he gives every person these days.
Shouto looks back at his brother, not thinking anything else of the strangers.
Shouto looks back at his brother, not thinking anything else of the strangers.
“I think you enjoy it here, you seem… /happier,/ when you come home.” Touya takes the drink when Shouto passes it over. “I’m glad.”
The way he says it is so genuine, so heartfelt, that Shouto can’t help but smile. “You’re the one who set me up to like coffee.”
The way he says it is so genuine, so heartfelt, that Shouto can’t help but smile. “You’re the one who set me up to like coffee.”
“Oh, such a tragic thing I did indeed,” Touya smirks before shrugging. “And you don’t like coffee, you’re obsessed with it. Now, I’m going to pick up some beef tips for dinner, do you want anything else to go with it?”
“Soba,” Shouto answers instantly. His brother laughs and turns around to leave, waving with his coffee cup before the bell over the door signals his exit. Shouto smiles to himself, cleaning off the smudge on his pick up counter as Tsuyu takes orders a few feet away.
When the receipts are passed over, Shouto still doesn’t think anything of it. He makes one basic green tea, one lemonade cooler with sprinkles, and one French Vanilla Caramel Macchiato with extra whip and white chocolate drizzle.
The last drink takes a little longer, so he puts the first two up and watches out of the corner of his eye as they’re taken away.
When he finally finishes the Macchiato, he turns to the pick up counter and sees the man from before nervously standing just to the side of it. He blinks in surprise, catching Shouto’s eye before he steps forward.
“Is that-I mean, is that one mine?” he asks, nervous. Shouto shrugs.
“Did you order the French Vanilla Macchiato to go?” he asks as he uncaps a pen and draws his signature S.T. on the bottom of the cup.
“Did you order the French Vanilla Macchiato to go?” he asks as he uncaps a pen and draws his signature S.T. on the bottom of the cup.
It’s meant to keep track of each barista in case orders get mixed up, but Shouto likes to think of it as a calling card for each drink he makes.
“Yeah, and it… it has the extra whipped cream and white chocolate?” Red hair gets tucked behind the strangers ear as he glances away. It exposes black roots beneath the strands.
Shouto nods, and that catches the strangers attention. There’s something in those bright eyes that makes Shouto hesitate, but he holds out the cup and tries to shake the feeling away.
Warm fingers brush his, then they separate. It’s nothing new, nothing life changing, they simply exchange a cup and turn away from one another.
And then two things seem to happen at once.
And then two things seem to happen at once.
The first is that there’s a clatter and curse that’s followed by a hiss of ‘My knee! Denki you bitch!’
And then Shouto’s knee /throbs./
And then Shouto’s knee /throbs./
He whips around, breath catching in his throat as he stares at this stranger who’s rubbing his knee and passing his drink off to his taller friend. It mirrors the spot on Shouto’s body that hurts.
Without thinking, he pinches hard to the inside of his bicep.
Without thinking, he pinches hard to the inside of his bicep.
The red head flinches and rubs the inside of his arm. Shouto can hear him mutter his apologies, can feel the way he sends them gently through their bond. He doesn’t even realize he’s made it around the counter until his hand is reaching out to turn the man around.
This stranger stares at Shouto, stunned and confused for all of three seconds before Shouto pinches the top of his own hand in plain sight.
That makes the other man drop his bag off his shoulder. It hits the ground with a clumsy thump.
“Hi,” Shouto whispers.
That makes the other man drop his bag off his shoulder. It hits the ground with a clumsy thump.
“Hi,” Shouto whispers.
“Oh my god.” His Soulmate claps his hands over his own mouth, then releases them to flap them excitedly at his sides. “Oh my /god!/”
Shouto grins. “I’m Shouto.” He holds out a hand to shake, but that isn’t what happens.
Shouto grins. “I’m Shouto.” He holds out a hand to shake, but that isn’t what happens.
Instead, warm hands grab him by the shoulders and drag him in, the stranger leaning in to press a kiss to Shouto’s lips. Shouto squeaks, hands coming up to settle on a heaving chest. When they pull apart, Shouto blinks in shock. He’s honestly a little lightheaded.
“I… I’m Eijiro,” his Soulmate breathes. “And I’ve been wanting to do that for /years./”
Shouto feels like his knees are wobbly, like the only thing holding him up are the gentle hands on his shoulders.
Shouto feels like his knees are wobbly, like the only thing holding him up are the gentle hands on his shoulders.
Eijiro has a smile that makes his chest flutter, a touch so gentle and a warmth that pours out of him from both his physical presence and the one he holds in Shouto’s soul.
They stand there, breathing in and staring into one another’s eyes for a long, drawn out moment before they’re interrupted.
“Shouto,” Tsuyu sounds so endearingly amused. “You think you’ll get back behind the counter before we get new customers in?”
“Shouto,” Tsuyu sounds so endearingly amused. “You think you’ll get back behind the counter before we get new customers in?”
Shouto flushes and tries not to stumble over himself. “This is my /Soulmate,/” he gestures to Eijiro.
“Uh huh, nice to meet you,” Tsuyu nods. “And this is your /job./ You can make out after your shift when you take your Soulmate leave.” There’s that smirk again. Shouto wants the floor to swallow him.
He turns back to Eijiro, ready to apologize, but both of them flinch at the same time as their mysterious third pinches hard at the inside of their left bicep.
Eijiro laughs, gently pulling away from Shouto as he does so. “You should get back to work, I’ll… what time does your shift end?” No longer does he look like an awkward, uncomfortable teenager standing in front of Shouto.
Oh no, now Eijiro looks like a young man ready to walk a damsel back to her castle after a surprise run in with a wolf in the forest.
It’s beautiful and also… kind of rude? Shouto likes the thought of being pampered, but his independence is just as important.
… /Still./
It’s beautiful and also… kind of rude? Shouto likes the thought of being pampered, but his independence is just as important.
… /Still./
“I get off at five,” he states before taking a step back. “Let me give you my number though, in case something comes up.” Shouto reaches behind his counter and plucks up his favorite marker. “Give me your coffee.”
Eijiro nods, taking the cup his friend happily shoves back at him.
And that’s how it starts.
_*_*_
And that’s how it starts.
_*_*_
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