Chapter Text
After the morning rush came the organising everything into some semblance of order again, followed swiftly by boredom when that was done. Jim was now realising that the boredom was actually a trap so he’d be willing to talk to Auruz about his life outside of work. The two had started off by comparing movies they wanted to watch that weekend, Auruz recommending something fast-paced and Jim simply disagreeing. They both knew they’d end up watching whatever the seagull on their fire escape didn’t squark at anyway. During these lulls was often when students would come in one at a time, get a coffee, pick a table, and try not to have a breakdown in public. Orc’s coffee had a particular policy for students, you get one free refill for every 500 words you write. Making it the most popular spot for the local students. One such regular arrived 30 minutes later than usual, something Auruz had actually pointed out not Jim. Looking extra frazzled as he placed the correct sum onto the counter rather desperately eyeing the coffee machine. Smiling (like an idiot) Jim set about pouring the shot, secretly adding some vanilla so it didn’t taste awful, before handing it to the young archivist. If their hands brushed as the man gulped it down, Jim most certainly wasn’t hyper-aware of it.
“Simp.” Auruz had returned from cleaning tables, which he always did when that customer came up to the counter. He was now grinning at his friend, looking far too happy for someone who’d agreed to work a double that day. More people filed in periodically so the two baristas were able to get away with just light conversation. Not once broaching the topic of the black hair peeping out from a small wall of books set up in the corner. A wall neither knew was constructed to stop the man from getting distracted due to his crush on the staff there.
Jim clocked out before Auruz, laughing at the pleading look he was given as he neared the exit. He promised he would at least make sure their apartment was clean before he got home. The bell above the door chimes as Jim took his phone out, ignoring messages in the “battalion” group chat. Frankly, it wasn’t anything unusual that Mark had lost his baby in the washing basket, let alone that the poor kid was so used to it they didn't cry. Distracted by Euan messaging him privately about bringing Auruz to the pub with them when they were all off, Jim failed to notice his exit being watched.
Ilo never planned to become more regular at a coffee shop than in his own classes, but when he wrote as many essays as he did, he basically got free coffee. It wasn’t like it was the best he’d ever tried, though he enjoyed that more often than not he was given free vanilla shots. Not always, but most of the time he could count on it. Right now he was just researching, looking through a stack of books, pretending it wouldn’t have been more efficient to just stay in the library. Sue him he enjoyed the atmosphere, the place had a nice view. Since he’d been there for a few hours, Ilo could feel the motivation drain from his body, unrelated to the fact the older barista had left half an hour ago. Sighing, but accepting his fate, the student closed his books and got up to return his mugs. Placing a generous amount in the tip jar, as he always did, Ilo forced a smile for the remaining barista. The curly-haired man smiled back, far too genuine for a customer service smile, or maybe Ilo was attention starved. Regardless he left in a good mood, shooting an email to the professor about how his work had gone. Feeling light in his step despite the weight of his bag, Ilo set off back home, thinking about stopping by the shops for dinner stuff and enjoying the afternoon sun.
A small cat greeted him as he pushed his door open, arms full of bags. The quiet meow alerted him to be careful where he stepped. Ilo hadn’t named the cat, mostly because it belonged to his neighbour he never spoke to, but he found himself feeding it a couple of times a week. He set down his shopping on the table in the kitchen, tossing the keys he’d had clamped in his mouth as he opened the door into a bowl. Missing it entirely, he grumbled but went to pick them up to place them in the elephant-shaped dish. He went to stand by his window, scoping Cat up as he went, watching the passers-by casually. Cat meowed again critically, Ilo shushed him, smirking as the older barista from early jogged past with a dog on a lead beside him. It had been pure coincidence Ilo had discovered he lived on the man’s jogging route, not one he’d complain about though. Since his break up Ilo was enjoying the little crush he’d developed. Something purely innocent he could choose to indulge in or not, he didn’t think the other man reciprocated his feelings, so he just enjoyed daydreaming about it when he got bored. Setting Cat down on the open windowsill, Ilo disappeared back into the kitchen to start preparing dinner, humming to himself as he did so.