Thread by @catafterdark_

#BokuAka, #bkak, fluff, coffeeshop au, ~1k words

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The bell at the door rings as a customer enters and Akaashi doesn’t have to look up to know that it’s Bokuto that just came in.

“Good morning, Bokuto-san,” he says in a measured voice as he decants chocolate syrup into a squeezy bottle. He tries his hardest not to show just how much he’s vibrating with excitement, but it’s not like Bokuto will notice anyway. “The usual?”

He finally glances up and sees,

in all his glory, Bokuto with his sweaty, tousled hair, fitted tracksuit, and beaming smile.

“Hey, hey Akaashi!” Akaashi can’t help but let his eyes be drawn to the brightness of that grin. “The usual, yes, and also that chocolate chip cookie.”

Akaashi screws up the squeezy bottle and grabs the tongs. “I thought you were on a strict diet?” he teased.

Bokuto winks at him. “Not strict enough.”

Akaashi huffs out a quiet laugh and starts up the coffee machine.

Every morning, at 10.30am sharp, Bokuto comes into his humble coffeeshop (“After volleyball practice,” Bokuto once explained) and, being indecisive, asked Akaashi to prepare whatever he wanted.

And Akaashi, swept away by that handsome face, sunny disposition, and to-die-for body

have been trying to impress Bokuto ever since.

Today, it was simple: kopi luwak with a dash of milk and nothing else. Delicate, but expensive (though Bokuto doesn’t have to know).

Bokuto takes an experimental sip from the tiny cup he was handed, and his face immediately brightens.

“Akaaaaashiiii, it’s delicious!”

Akaashi lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “I’m glad you like it, Bokuto-san.”

Bokuto takes a bite of his cookie.

“Akaaaaaashiiii,” he says again, more muffled this time. “It’s soooo good.”

Akaashi blushes and turns away. There’s only so much praise from Bokuto he can take in a day. “Enjoy, Bokuto-san.”

Bokuto does indeed enjoy his late breakfast, sprawled out on one of the sofa seats near the counter and soaking in the sun. Akaashi loves sneaking glimpses of his own personal sunshine when Bokuto smiles at his cookie in between bites.

Inevitably, though, Bokuto rises. He always looks paler and - slightly uncomfortable? But Akaashi always chalks it down to not having enough to eat. Coffee and a cookie isn’t enough for a world class athlete after all.

“Goodbye Akaashi!” Bokuto cries as he rushes out the door. “Thanks for the good food! See ya next time!”

He’s gone before Akaashi could wave back.

It’s ok, Akaashi reasons with himself. He’ll be back tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that.

And suddenly, his lonely life doesn’t seem so sad after all.

—

It takes Akaashi nearly six months to realise what was going on.

He had served Bokuto a monstrosity of a drink - double chocolate chip frappe with a mountain of whipped cream,

something he thought Bokuto had the taste buds to enjoy.

-only to notice Bokuto turning white and rushing into the bathroom after a couple of sips.

Akaashi rushes through the transaction with a customer and dashed off to the toilets.

It didn’t take a genius to piece together the pained groans and the excessive dairy in Bokuto’s drink.

“You’re lactose intolerant,” Akaashi says. “You’re-! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Bokuto stays silent. His stomach gave a growly gurgle.

“I didn’t want to let you down,” he said quietly. “You always look so happy and focused and you make me the coolest, most creative drinks.”

Akaashi had the sudden urge to knock down the stall door and tackle Bokuto down into a hug. “Still,”

he says, his voice a little strangled with emotions. “You should have told me anyway.”

When Bokuto finally emerges from the bathroom, sheepish looking and a little less pale, Akaashi pushes over a cup of oolong tea with a swirl of honey mixed in. Bokuto sips on it gratefully.

“I guess this is a bad time to say I wanted to impress you by drinking whatever you gave me,” Bokuto says as he hides his mouth behind the cup. “Although they are very tasty drinks and worth every bit of pain.”

Akaashi slides over a box of lactase pills wordlessly.

“But, um,” Bokuto sets the cup down and twidles at the saucer. “What I really wanted to say - what I didn’t have the balls to do all this time - I mean, will you, uh - will you go on a date with me, Akaashi Keiji?”

Akaashi looks down at his hand, still on the box of meds,

and back up at Bokuto’s handsome, pleading face. He feels laughter bubbling up his chest and the need to make a hundred cups of the subtlest, tastiest coffees (without cream) for Bokuto.

“Of course,” he says, words rushing out in a stream. “Yeah, of course, I will, definitely.”

Bokuto breaks out into a wide smile and Akaashi's face feels like he'd put it in the oven to bake together with the chocolate chip cookies.

"That's great!" He scribbles something down on a napkin and slides it over to Akaashi,

emptying his cup of tea in one gulp and gathering up his bags. "I gotta go now but text me, 'kay?"

Akaashi picks up the napkin, still mildly shell shocked.

After a moment of hesitation, Bokuto leans in and pecks a kiss on Akaashi's cheek.

"Thanks, 'Kaashi!" He beams happily and walks out, throwing his hands up into peace signs as he struts through the door. "Best day ever!"

Akaashi still can't quite believe what happened,

but with an empty tea cup and a napkin of numbers sitting in front of him, he could slowly feel his wildest dreams come true.