[fic] Theme 065 "Coffee", for 100_wangsts {遊☆戯☆王: 'Atemu'/Yuugi; PG}
The fall semester is coming to a close, and of course these last two weeks are when the professors pile everything to deadlines. (gripegripegripe)
Written for 100_wangsts. This is theme 065.
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG
Pairings: ‘Atemu’/Yuugi
Story Type: Drabble/one-shot
Summary: Having been friends with Yuugi for three months, Atemu decides to take it a step further.
Disclaimer: Yuugiou is not mine. It doesn’t hurt to dream though, does it?
Spoilers: AU. The first two parts (themes 007, 015) are vaguely referred to.
Warnings/Notes: ‘Part III’ of the coffee-themed trilogy in the challenge; thus, this is set to theme 007 coffee cup - though a month after 007’s scenario.
-----
Another month had gone by and it was the Christmas holidays. Atemu was feeling more excited than in all the previous years combined, because this year, he had someone he could - hopefully - spend the festive season with. And he was going to ask today.
The bell chimed merrily, announcing his arrival, but it went unheard. Inside was the same busy flurry of movements: a few waiters and waitresses to serve those who decided to take the time to taste their beverages and chat with friends, or sitting by their lonesome to quietly observe the quaint little café and its outside; several queues for those on-the-go and the cashiers behind the counter; the baristas manning the machines, beans, and flavourings.
Atemu waited.
“Just yourself today, sir?”
Atemu smiled widely, turning so that he faced the speaker. “Yuugi!”
The other laughed, tugging on his gloves (to which Atemu found himself mentally pouting) after buttoning up his coat. “I’m all set now-oh, I almost forgot,” he disappeared among the crowd, and Atemu could only assume he had gone behind the counter. He leaned slightly on the doorframe, careful to stand on the side that won’t result in getting any injuries if someone happened to walk in that moment.
A few minutes he spotted the familiar hairstyle again. In Yuugi’s hands were two insulated cups, much like the one he held when he tried coffee for the first time.
“Here, your latte.”
“But-”
“Don’t worry, it’s on me. I didn’t get you a present or anything, so this is all you’re getting,” Yuugi teased.
Atemu accepted it gratefully, half-hoping their fingers would brush again, and he wasn’t disappointed. Together they walked out into the cold, warmed by their drinks and each other’s presence.
-----
“Are you waiting for Yuugi?”
Atemu looked up from the textbook he had been reading. It was Hitomi. “...Yes, I am.”
She gave him a funny look. “But didn’t he tell you he doesn’t work today? He doesn’t work full-time anymore.”
“What?”
“The other day he went to the Manager and requested a part-time position instead of full-time. He didn’t tell us why though... I’m so upset, when he has his shifts I won’t be here, and he’s such a darling to be around...”
Atemu’s heart thumped. “When’s his next time in?”
“This Saturday, at - oh goodness, nine in the morning? What on earth is Yuugi thinking?!”
-----
That Saturday, Atemu got out of bed extra early so he could be at Sanki at precisely its opening hour. He wanted to find out why the other didn’t tell him this particular turn of events.
“Hello and welcome to Sanki! Can I take you-oh, good morning, Atemu-kun.”
“Yuugi,” he began tersely, still forcing himself to relax. “Can we, uh, talk?”
Yuugi, in his uniform, peered over Atemu’s shoulder before nodding. “All right, business is usually slow this early.” He led the way to a booth.
Atemu took off his coat and rolled it into a ball beside him on the bench. He fiddled with his shirt; now that he could ask, he didn’t know how to begin.
Luckily for him, Yuugi did.
“I suppose you’re wondering why I wasn’t here the last time you came by. Hitomi-chan told me,” Yuugi added before Atemu could ask ‘how’. “I think she also told you that I’m not working full-time anymore, but she didn’t know why-”
“So tell me.” Atemu finally untied the knot in his tongue. “Is it something I did the last time we went out? If it is, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
Yuugi shook his head, bangs hiding his face; Atemu grew anxious. He wanted - no, needed - to see the other’s facial expression. It meant more than any words.
“It’s not anything you did, Atemu-kun, don’t think I’m suddenly reducing my work-hours to ‘avoid’ you or whatever you may be thinking. It’s more of a selfish reason, I guess.”
“What’s the reason?” Atemu asked, desperate for a straight-forward answer.
“I took a year off after I graduated from high school to get enough money to pay for at least my first two years’ tuition. Jii-chan can only provide me so much, and I don’t want to spend all the money he made on my education; he deserves his own chance to relax. Why he won’t retire is beyond me, but I’m hoping that by paying school fees by myself he’ll finally listen to me and stop working. And now,” Yuugi lifted his head and Atemu was relieved to see a smile, not a frown, on his face. “I’ve got enough. I applied a few months ago, but I didn’t say anything just in case they didn’t accept me. But I did it - University of Tokyo accepted me!”
“That’s great!” And he meant it - he was giddy that Yuugi’s problem was resolved, and he was giddy that the other wasn’t angry or annoyed at him. “...wait, University of Tokyo? But that’s-”
Yuugi’s smile grew. “That’s right, Atemu-kun, starting next week you’ll see me on campus!”
Atemu jumped up, banging his knees into the underside of the table, but he didn’t care as he reached for Yuugi, pulling him into a fierce hug. This was better than what he thought! They wouldn’t have to hold hands under tables, they wouldn’t have to wait until Yuugi’s shifts were over before they could go out hand-in-hand, and... He tightened his grip, face tilted so that his nose rubbed Yuugi’s left ear, and began a trail of butterfly kisses on his jaw line.
Yuugi pulled away, still grinning. “Nu-uh, work, uniform, none of that now. Were you afraid before? Maybe I should’ve kept you in suspense a little longer...”
“You wouldn’t!”
“I should have...you look so cute like that.”
“I am not cute!”
“Yes you are-ooh, are you pouting?”
“Yuugi!”
- Owari -
Story Word Count: 973
Authoress Notes: Hitomi calling Yuugi “a darling” is purely coincidental and her character was not based on Rebecca Hopkins. And a new ‘school year’ can start in the Winter Session/second semester, a little disadvantageous for some, but it still works.
Oh, and it is implied that Yuugi has agreed to be Atemu’s boyfriend by the end of the first section.
(snerks at self at the line “Hello and welcome to Sanki! Can I take you-oh, hello, Atemu-kun.”) Heehee. (shot)