Chapter Text
I.
Two weeks ago, James’ boring daily routine became a lot more interesting, and suddenly, he found himself excited to go to work.
It was a chilly winter afternoon, the sun had set and the lamplights outside the small coffee shop had just about turned on when the little bell over the door rang, signalling a newcomer. From the crossword he was solving to pass time, James had looked up, preparing his most welcoming professional smile to greet the customer, and at who he saw, he was simply at a loss of words.
Two weeks ago, the most grumpy-looking yet most drop-dead gorgeous person he’s ever seen had walked into the coffee shop James works at, and ordered what one would expect a guy with dark circles under his eyes to order; a black coffee.
Since then, and much to James’ pleasure, he’s been coming back at the same time every single day. It was a few days later that he started taking sugar packets with his order, and a few days after that he stopped again.
James never thought there would be anything that would make him actually want to go to work. But here he is now, checking the clock every few minutes and wondering whether yesterday was the last day he saw this intriguing mysterious man with the unique name, the icy grey eyes that seem to always distract him, and the soft, low voice that, even though he only hears the same few sentences every time, has some sort of chokehold on him.
It’s ridiculous, really. James knows nothing about this man other than his name and his coffee order. And still, every time the little bell rings and his hazel eyes meet the cold grey ones, he’s lost.
So lost that his usual certainty and confident demeanour are simply unavailable at the time. From the moment he sees that man to the moment he looks out the window to see him walk away, his mind is just preoccupied with the beauty in front of his eyes. If it weren’t, he would have at least tried to talk to him, get to know him while making his coffee, smile at him more gently while handing it to him. But, no. In the two weeks Regulus with the black coffee keeps coming back, James has told him nothing more than a what can I get for you? Although he already knows, and a thank you, have a good day! After he gives him his coffee.
A few days ago, while talking with his best friend, Lily, and her girlfriend, Dorcas, he had the sudden thought that he was missing out on some signs. He thought, for only a moment, and he was later called foolish, that Regulus kept coming back every day because he wanted to see James as much as James wanted to see him. He got his hopes up right then. And after Lily and Dorcas made sure to get them back down, brutally so (they just told him to be realistic), he realised that Regulus has never even smiled at him.
He’s grumpy-looking, as earlier mentioned, but James has never seen even the slightest hint of a smile.
And today, he’s on a mission to change that.
Which is mostly why he’s kind of nervous. To be honest, he’s always nervous when this time of the day comes around, he always makes sure his hair looks good (though, it never wants to cooperate) and that he doesn’t look a mess in general. But today, he’s even more nervous than usual.
If he loses his mind again, the plan fails.
And it’s a very, very intricate plan.
There’s a clock hung on the wall with fake green vines around it, when he checks it again, it marks half past six. He makes a mental note that he’s here five minutes earlier than yesterday. James swears he’s not creepy, it’s Regulus’ fault for being so intriguing. From out the window, he sees the man in question walk towards the coffee shop, taking his headphones off and letting them rest around his neck. And what a nice neck it is. James swears he’s not creepy, it’s Regulus’ fault for having a nice neck.
And the plan goes as such: James fixes his hair as well as he can manage. It’s got its own will and taming it is never an easy task. It’s practically impossible, actually, unless it just sits right when he dries it after showering. And today, it did not sit right at all. Still, he has to look as presentable as he can, he has someone to impress.
The bell over the door rings. James takes a deep breath, his smile beams. He can only hope it’s bright enough to charm and not to scare away.
“Hi, hello!” The first step of the plan was to sound as little awkward as he possibly can. The first step has failed miserably. He sighs, his smile drops a little but not enough to be noticeable. He takes a deep breath in, and here goes the second step of the plan, “How are you today?” he asks, his hands might be trembling a bit but he can’t be sure.
There’s a look of confusion on Regulus’ face. James would say it’s a look of surprise if he was bolder with his assumptions. “Good. Kind of tired, but good. And you?”
The third step of the plan, or, like, the base of the plan, is to keep his cool throughout all steps of the previously mentioned plan. That has also failed because he was in no way expecting an and you? and now he’s convinced Regulus wants him madly. Let a guy dream, okay?
So, understandably, he finds it hard to keep his cool.
“Um, I’m also good, yeah.” He has the opportunity in his hands, holding it tightly, afraid it might leave. “Black coffee?” And he lets it leave as if he never had it in the first place.
Regulus blinks rapidly, like he just snapped himself out of something. “Yeah.”
But it’s fine, though. The plan has many steps left.
Steps that mostly fail. But that’s also fine, the big step that determines everything will work, he’s sure of it.
As he makes the coffee, he steals glances at Regulus. He always finds him typing quickly on his phone, then stops, then starts again. He’s probably texting someone, he supposes.
Just once, and James looks away faster than the speed of light, when his eyes naturally find their way back to him, Regulus is already looking at him, expression unreadable. After that, he’s more careful with the stolen glances.
When the coffee’s ready, he pours it in a paper cup and now he’s suddenly hyper-aware of Regulus’ eyes on him. It makes sense, his drink is ready so the staring is most logical. However, it makes the important step of the plan all the more nerve-racking. James takes the sharpie from where he had left it next to the cashier, and on top of the plastic cup cover, he writes:
Did you hear about the Italian chef who died?
He pasta-way.
However, as he covers the cup with it and slides it to the other side of the counter towards Regulus, he’s starting to doubt just how funny the joke actually is. But now it’s too late to change it, so he can only cross his fingers and hope.
There might be no other customers in the shop right now, but he still says “A black coffee for Regulus!” Just so he can feel the name roll off his tongue and past his lips. When he looks up from the cup, Regulus’ eyebrows are furrowed in confusion.
He takes the cup in his hands and pauses for a moment to read it.
The important step of the plan has also failed miserably. James could cry.
Regulus looks up at him, not laughing, not even smiling, just staring blankly, looking as if he’d rather go back in time to before he read the joke.
“Really?” Regulus says, rereading it probably just to make sure he did actually read this god-awful joke. He scrunches up his nose. And aside from the strong sense of failure and judgement, James finds it adorable. “I expected something… different, I won’t lie.”
Now it’s James’ turn to look confused. “Like what?”
Regulus eyes him, and James wishes he could read his mind, maybe then he’d feel less intimidated. Or possibly more. “Nothing, never-mind. But this is stupid, seriously, probably the worst joke I've ever seen.”
And look, the plan to see Regulus smile might have failed, but at least he talked to him a bit more so that’s something, right?
“I’ll have a better one tomorrow,” he tells him, in a sudden wave of confidence.
Regulus’ eyebrows raise. “You better.”
He leaves a five pound check on the counter and backs up towards the door. He never waits for his change, James knows.
“Thanks, have a good day!”
James takes that as a win.