Café
Chapter One: Eru Espresso
Pairing: Matt x Mello
Genre: Romance/Drama
Warnings: AU so the characters may stray from their given personality (translation: major OOC), excessive drama, n00b writing in the drama sub-field of literature, language, lime, shounen ai, heed the rating of T
FTOYWGAD: I finally get to do a Death Note Matt x Mello fic. I've been doing a lot of Mello x Near and even Naruto one-shots but I had this in mind a while ago so I couldn't find it in my heart to just let it go…. (^_^) Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy! Oh and shout-out to my beta shadowkunoichi47. Thanks for beta-ing this Kit :cough: even though you're super busy, you know, having a life and all XD :cough:!
Disclaimer: Yes, yes we all know that if I owned Death Note, I'd probably not be doing this right now, blah blah blah, the series would be filled with fluffy yaoi shots, blah blah blah, I'm crying right now wondering what I'm doing with my life, blah blah blah.
Enjoy!
(The Busy Streets of Manhattan, New York)
It was the time of the year when nor'easters became the norm for the weather. A genuine New York citizen would know exactly how to prepare for such a season, seeing as that Mother Nature could be especially ruthless and unpredictable in their metropolitan area. So it wasn't a surprise to anyone when the seemingly innocent and bluer-than-ocean-sky took a turn for the worse and darkened with threatening, malevolent clouds. The dark gray monsters immediately swallowed the heavens and shrouded the city in a coat of violent thunder and lightning.
Not even looking up, most of the bustling citizens automatically lifted their umbrellas and hurried to wherever it is they were going, only slightly increasing their speed to avoid the soon-to-be-pelting rain.
Among these throngs of umbrellas were multifarious people ranging from different ethnic backgrounds to trannys that the city was ever so popular for. Nevertheless, they all seemed to know what they were doing and continued on with their life. If one were to be looking from a helicopter, a blonde dot would be amongst some of the first things out of the norm. Not only did the young man not have an umbrella but his choice in attire was hardly what one would call…appropriate. Clad, in nothing but leather from head to toe, it's no wonder mothers ushered their children away from him. It wasn't by any means abnormal for someone to be walking around in New York without an umbrella for the place was littered with unfortunate, brash tourists who were too hasty with packing to bother with an umbrella. So no one paid attention to that one, blonde dot.
Said blonde dot, whose name shall now be revealed as Mello, was walking down the streets of Manhattan in a pace that was below average, sometimes to the irritation of busy businessmen. Mello still couldn't conjure up enough consideration to care. Once in a while he'd receive strange looks for a passerby or two, some gawking at his outfit and the lack of protection from the rain, others curious about the scar that covered the entire left half of his face. Even so, he kept walking, or trudging more like it. He'd been used to those looks a long while ago.
Right now, all he was set on is getting to his favorite place in the world. Growing up in New York, a lot of citizens build memories upon memories in the wondrous city. However, no one had a history quite like the blonde twenty-two year old.
Approaching the small building, Mello almost showed what could only be explained as a smile.
Eru Café.
Or according to Mello, the epitome of all that is good and sacred in the world.
When Mello was still in college, he couldn't remember a day where he wasn't at the café. Given that it had the best coffee in the world, it was hardly a surprise. However, since he'd been busy after the life after college, he hadn't gotten a chance to go to the café in seven months.
And quite frankly, he'd missed the place.
Not caring for the fact that he was drenched head to toe in rain, Mello pushed the familiar door open and stepped inside. The inside was just as he remembered it, small and dinky but unquestionably cozy. The walls were still painted a slightly faded, rich, brown, the high tables and chairs small and petite. The counter was on the other end, sporting a few chairs because of its bar-like styling and also beholding all the coffee-making machines known to man. The place was made to accommodate almost every age group and consequently got many customers. Antique pictures and photographs hung proudly in random places on the walls. The lighting was dim giving it a more homely atmosphere. There was a small bookcase on the far end surrounded by plush couches and divans. Surprisingly the place was deserted. One would think a person could do with a cup of hot chocolate or two considering the weather outside.
The leather-clad man began walking up to the counter, looking forward to chatting it up with the manager, who was a dear acquaintance of his, from his frequent visits.
"Oi, oi!"
Mello stiffened at the voice cutting through the air and turned to look who had the audacity to yell at him that way. He found a boy who couldn't be older than nineteen, looking at him incredulously. He had dark red hair and wore goggles which were now pushed to rest on his forehead.
Goggles? Mello thought distastefully. Heh, probably like one of those freaks who wear sunglasses inside.
At first, he didn't look intimidating at all. If one knew Mello, they'd know that the man was the definition of intimidation. However, as the boy came closer to the blonde, he really noticed how much smaller he was in comparison. Mello never really took pride in his size. Being more than below average for his age, the blonde hated his slight build. Seeing the redhead towering over him by at least half a foot made him wonder what the hell his mother was feeding the boy.
"Look," the redhead started, "you can't just walk in here drenched, like some stray cat. I just cleaned there." He pointed to a spot to where Mello didn't even bother to look.
In response, Mello just shrugged, not even caring at the point. Under normal circumstances, he would have lashed out at the redhead for even trying to deride him and would have probably made fun of his goggles too. But at the moment he just wanted some warm coffee and chocolate.
The younger man blinked at the indifferent gesture and stared at the dripping blonde. After a few moments of intense staring, the redhead caved and motioned for the blonde to follow him to the counter.
Slightly smirking, Mello walked to the counter and plopped noisily on one of the bar stools. One of the things he liked best about the café was that he could sip on his drink while he talked with his friend behind the counter.
The younger man was now behind the counter looking for something. He produced a small 'ah hah!' when he did find a towel threw it in the smug face of the blonde.
"Dry yourself up, will ya?"
"Son of a –" Mello started, but then stopped when realization struck him. "What the hell are you doing?"
The younger man looked at Mello like he'd just asked him to give birth to a baby. "What does it look like? I'm getting the mop to clean the mess you just made."
Mello narrowed his eyes. "No, I mean, where is Balsa?" He asked, referring to the woman who he'd befriended in college.
The man across from him looked confused for a while before it slipped into a look of comprehension. "You mean the old manager? She doesn't work here anymore." He replied easily, walking to clean up Mello's mess. "The café's under new management."
For a while, Mello's entire face deflated. It was official now. Today, August 14th, is the day that Mello lost everything.
The younger man, noticing the other's silence, looked up from where he was cleaning, and saw the disappointment.
Walking back to the counter, he figured he'd ask what he wanted. "So, ya gonna have something, or just sit there moping?"
This earned him a glare from the older man. Instead of telling him off, the blonde actually ordered. "Eru Espresso. The usual one."
After going there for so long, he'd practically memorized the menu.
Slightly impressed in his knowledge, the redhead quickly went to work.
"So, did you know her or what?" The boy asked, hoping the small talk would fill in the silence.
"Not really," Mello answered. "Just pissed that I won't have coffee as good as hers."
The other man scoffed at the comment. "You haven't even tasted mine."
"Don't have to. I can already tell by your face that that coffee's not gonna be any good."
Something in the goggle-clad boy snapped and he whipped his head around from the coffee machine. "What the hell is your problem? You waltz in here all drenched and soil the floor. Then I give you a towel to clean yourself off and you're still shitting me?" Finished with his tirade, he slammed the coffee cup on the counter. "That would be two dollars and fifty cents."
Mello's eyes flashed dangerously at the increasingly developing quarrel. Deciding to be quiet for a change he placed the money on the counter and he took a sip of the coffee.
"As expected," he said, "tastes like shit."
The young boy caught his breath.
"Get out."
Mello smiled coolly, reveling in the other boy's frustration. He could practically feel him boring a hole in his head with his eyes as he walked out of the building.
The rain now let up to a slight drizzle. Mello meandered toward his apartment building. For the first time in his life, dread filled his body.
It was his last day in that apartment.
Those were the last of his two dollars.
One thing that sucked the most about being fired from the only job he loved the most was not the fact that he didn't deserve to be 'relieved from his duties.' It wasn't that he was cheated and screwed over in that job. It wasn't that he was now broke and had no place to live.
He walked home that day, knowing that he would never afford to go back to Eru Café again.
And that was the best damn cup of coffee he'd ever had.
Food for Thought: Scientists use the term 'mole' to measure the number of atoms, molecules, ions or particles. One mole is equal to 6.022 x 1023. In other words, if we were able to count atoms at the rate of 10 million per second, it would take about 2 billion years to count the atoms in one mole. XD Now that's some crazy shit.
FTOYWGAD: So…yah. That's the first chapter. I wrote the outline for this December 3rd, 2008. Over a year ago. So please bear in mind that my mind was still fresh and new to the world of proper literature and more importantly yaoi. Reviews would really be helpful so that I know whether this story is worth continuing or a total flop. Much love!
~Silver
