Author's Note: This story is a work in progress I've had going for a while. My best friend actually requested I put a bunch of stories on the backburner to work on this, because she'd love to see how I make it work. Unfortunately, she recently passed away, so I'm going to pick up this story and get it done for her. As always, I own absolutely nothing in the Criminal Minds world, and just made an AU for my own enjoyment.
Working at a coffee shop wasn't the most respectable job that a guy could have, but when it was between that to pay the bills or moving back in with his mother, the choice was obvious for Derek. It wasn't that it was a bad job to have: he enjoyed making people laugh and smile with their morning coffee, and getting rid of some of the stress for the college students who came in to work on their papers. His boss had noticed how charming he was, along with how well he communicated with the customers, and instantly promoted him to full-time. One of the best parts of his job was his co-worker who was always scheduled with him, Penelope. It started out as playful flirting, but now it was full blown entertainment for the customers.
At the shop, they had their fair share of regulars: there were the students from the local university, the businessmen and women, couples, groups of friends, and individuals who would drift in mid-afternoon. Over time, they'd get so familiar with someone that they'd have their order memorized. Then, of course, there were the people who enjoyed trying something new every time, or those who would come in, just because they had a gift card or someone recommended it. They could always spot one of these customers from a mile away, because it just seemed like they didn't belong there. Nevertheless, Derek always turned on the charm and made it a great experience for the customer.
Derek always had the morning rush shift, because he was able to keep up with the demand and still have a smile on his face. He tucked a Sharpie behind his ear, turning to Penelope.
"Monday morning - ready for the insanity, sweetness?"
"As always, venti mocha," she said, winking at him and taking out her own purple sharpie.
He smirked, unlocking the front door and walking behind the register, logging in and waiting for the customers to start coming.
She clicked her tongue. "I bet you first up today is going to be Mr. Uptight in his pinstripe suit with his fake leather briefcase."
He chuckled. "I don't know, we could have Miss 'If I don't get my coffee in two minutes, I'll commit murder'."
She thought to herself. "Loser has to clean the blenders?"
He nodded, shaking her hand. "It's on."
The first customers of the day ended up being what Derek assumed was a couple and their son: a tall blonde girl holding the child against her hip and a taller brunette man. Derek looked him over and committed him to memory. He never could've imagined a human could look that gorgeous, let alone be right in front of him. He was dressed in a pair of black slacks, a purple button up, sweater, and a skinny tie, and the outfit was finished with a pair of Converse. He wasn't the kind of guy Derek usually went after, but he was definitely interested. But, of course, as usual, all of the good ones were either straight, taken, or both. Penelope could see Derek tuned out of the conversation, so she smirked, shaking her head.
"Hey, Jayje, is it 'take Henry to work' day?" she asked, tapping her nails against the counter.
The blonde tucked her hair behind her ear. "No, it's 'Will had to work so I need to drop him off at daycare' day." She pointed to Spencer. "And 'drop off the neighbor at school because his car's in the shop yet again' day."
"Ooh, always fun." She turned to the man. "Spencer, I haven't seen you since Henry's birthday party. Been busy with school?"
He nodded. "Trying to finish up my coursework this semester. Your coffee shop is about to be my lifeline."
She laughed softly. "Can't wait, it should be fun." She took out her Sharpie, taking off the cap. "JJ, the usual tall Iced Coffee with cream and sugar, a chocolate milk for the little one…" she turned to Spencer. "And for you?"
He scanned the menu. "Venti White Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream?"
"You've got a sweet tooth, don't you, Mr. Reid?" she teased, writing it down on the cup.
JJ laughed. "Oh, that's an understatement. He puts away about four cups a day, so he'll probably be the reason you guys stay open."
"Looking forward to it." She nudged Derek, waving the cup in front of his face and whistling. "Order in."
He straightened up, taking the cup and clearing his throat. "Sorry, one white chocolate mocha with whipped?"
Spencer nodded. "Please."
He walked to the back, humming to himself and making the drink while Penelope made the other. He turned back to him. "Chocolate drizzle on top?"
"Ooh yes, please," he said, before ducking from JJ ruffling his hair.
"So I'm guessing for your birthday I'm going to need to buy you a new set of teeth?"
He mock laughed as Derek put the lid on the drink, holding it out to him. He gave Derek a smile. "Thank you," he said, taking a cautionary sip and smirking, taking out his wallet. "I've got these."
"Well, Mr. 'I got a full boat scholarship to finish school', I was hoping you would. Not to mention your godson's getting thirsty and wants his chocolate milk." She turned to him. "Right, Henry?"
The little boy nodded, watching as his mother put the straw in and handed it to him.
Spencer shook his head as Derek rang him up.
"Venti White Chocolate Mocha, Tall Iced Coffee, and a chocolate milk…"
Spencer held out his card. "I don't even want to know. Coffee is a 'charge now, worry later' sort of thing."
Derek chuckled. "Sure thing." He took the card, swiping it and handing it back to him, along with his receipt. "Have a great day," he said, flashing him a smile.
Spencer nodded, taking JJ's drink off the counter and holding up his hand to wave at Penelope before following JJ out to her car.
Derek cleared his throat, motioning toward the door. "Who was that?"
"Oh, JJ? We were college roommates. We were practically inseparable. We took all the same classes, went to all of the same extracurriculars, then when we decided on separate areas of study. Despite that, we spent every moment we could together. I actually set her up with her husband, because I saw him in my Sociology class and figured they were perfect-"
He raised an eyebrow. "Really, you think those two belong together?"
"Her and Spencer?" She scoffed. "Please, he's practically her little brother! She and Will have been together for years and she just had Henry a couple of years ago. Spencer was a few years behind us, but JJ always protected him."
He clicked his tongue. "So, this Spencer guy, what do you know about him?"
She shrugged, tapping her nails against the counter. "He's working on his second or third degree right now and he's some sort of super genius because he has a full ride. He's known JJ for years: they grew up in the same neighborhood and he seemed to have a target on his back for getting his ass kicked, but she always came to his rescue. She obviously knows him well enough to make him godfather of Henry, and he's just an all around good guy from what I've seen."
He crossed his arms, nodding. "Interesting."
She raised an eyebrow. "Interesting? You've never cared about someone I know coming into the coffee shop before, let alone demanded an unauthorized biography of them. Why would it matter now-" she paused, smirking. "Oh!"
"Oh what?" he asked, confused.
"Oh you are so totally interested!" He rolled his eyes and she shook her head. "Nuh uh, there's no pulling anything over on me. You like him."
"And so what if I did?"
She shrugged. "I'd say 'good luck', because that boy cares about two things: his studies, and his godson." She eyed the door and groaned. "Mr. Uptight's here, and it looks like he's bringing the crowd with him. This isn't over."
If there was one thing Derek Morgan was always up for, it was a challenge, and apparently, getting Spencer to talk to him was going to be a big challenge.
"So, my venti mocha has a little something for a white chocolate mocha," Penelope teased, sticking her Sharpie in her apron and wiping down the counter.
He gave her a look. "My little vanilla bean frappucino better mind her business."
"Really, that's the best you've got?" She pointed to the menu board. "The possibilities are endless and you go with the basic? I'm hurt."
He shook his head. "Well, someone didn't bother doing an introduction, even if I were interested."
"And how was I supposed to do that with you blankly staring into space like an idiot?"
"Come on, I was not that bad."
She gave him a look. "It took me waving his cup in your face to snap you out of it. And me giving you the cup was kinda my way of saying 'hey, here's this cute guy, hit on him'."
"You still could've introduced us!" he argued.
"Yeah, right. 'Hi, kid I know from a few social outings and godparently duties, who also happens to be my best friend's neighbor, this is my delicious coworker whose pants just got remarkably tighter at the sight of you'. That would've gone over really well."
"It's better than nothing."
"Sorry, you're just going to have to win him over the old fashioned way."
He crossed his arms. "Oh, and how's that?"
She shrugged. "You're adorable and seem to have a brain. I'm sure you can figure it out just fine."
He scoffed. "It's not like he's going to come in every day-"
She wagged her finger. "Nope, that's where you're wrong. While you were off in Derek's dreamland, he was telling me that he's practically going to live here with all of the classes he's taken on this semester. Considering his workload is going to be insane, I imagine he has classes every day, and JJ mentioned he has several cups of coffee a day. Are you catching my drift?"
He smiled slightly. "I think I am. You do realize you need to help me out and send him to my register, right?"
"That depends, are you actually going to be there, or are you going to be staring longingly into space like this?" she asked, imitating him.
He mock laughed, restocking the cups and shaking his head. He couldn't remember ever falling this fast with somebody when he had barely said a word to them. Sure, he'd been with people a few dates and they hooked up, but he had never felt this instant attraction before. He had no clue if Spencer would even be interested in him, or if he was even gay, but there was only one way to find out.
Derek wasn't expecting Spencer to come back so soon: he ended up walking in later that morning.
Garcia nudged him, smirking. "All yours. It's about time I get to see Derek Morgan putting the moves on someone, you know, other than me."
He rolled his eyes, tightening his apron and looking at him. Since this morning, he'd added glasses to his look, and if there was one thing Derek was a sucker for, it was a pair of glasses.
Spencer raised an eyebrow. "...Hello."
Derek cleared his throat, straightening up, which caused Penelope to giggle. "Sorry about that, what can I get you, a venti white chocolate mocha with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle?"
Spencer stared at him. "That's my order exactly. You must have a really good memory."
"Something like that," Penelope said, giving him a smile. "Classes going well?"
He nodded, biting his lip. "Well, sort of. I may have corrected my first professor of the day? It's possible I'll be switching classes."
"...Okay, scale of 1-10, how bad was it?"
He thought about it. "Probably an eight."
She exhaled. "Ouch, good luck with the recovery."
"I'm going to need it." He took the cup from Derek, taking a sip. "...Does this have chocolate shavings on top?"
"I overheard about your bad morning and figured you could use the kick."
Spencer clicked his tongue. "For future reference, when a customer wants something on their drink, they'll let you know, and eavesdropping on someone's conversation is rather rude."
"...I'm sorry."
Spencer held out his card to him. "Add in a cake pop and I'll get over it."
Penelope smirked, taking one out of the case and putting it in a bag, holding it out to him. Meanwhile, Derek swiped his card and ripped off his receipt, handing it to him. "Have a good one."
"Thanks," he said, tucking his card back into his wallet, turning to Penelope. "See you again soon."
"Can't wait."
He tucked the bag into his messenger bag, sipping his drink and walking out.
Penelope chuckled, turning to him. "So, that's the Derek Morgan charm, pissing him off?"
He shook his head. "Obviously, I'm off my game today."
"That's an understatement."
"I'll get at least a smile out of him tomorrow."
"Oh, believe me, I'm looking forward to seeing this happen. If you don't get a date, at least I get entertainment."
He mock laughed, rolling his eyes and leaning against the counter.
The next few times Spencer came into the shop, Derek had been too busy with the morning rush to talk to him, and by the time the crowd had died down, Spencer left for class.
Penelope checked her watch, clicking her tongue.
"Yes?" Derek asked, restocking the bakery items and closing the doors.
She pointed to her watch. "Your little crush's class is about to let out, which means he'll be here in ten minutes. Any idea what you're going to do?"
He shrugged, pulling off his rubber gloves and throwing them away. "No idea. What do you suggest?"
"I don't know, I've heard all of these stories about the great Derek Morgan being the world's greatest flirt, and I've seen you strike out every single time you try to put the moves on him. Where's your game, and on top of that, how are you still pursuing him?"
"I'm interested. I don't know what it is, but I like him. I can't explain it."
She smirked. "Oh you are so totally smitten. I wish you luck, darling, because he's the king of tunnel vision. If it doesn't involve his studies, he doesn't realize it exists."
He held up crossed fingers. "I can only go up from where I am, right?"
She chuckled. "We'll see."
Just as Penelope had predicted, Spencer walked in a few minutes later with a few of his books in hand. He walked up to the counter, setting down his books and clearing his throat.
Derek picked up a cup. "Venti white chocolate mocha with whipped cream and chocolate, no chocolate shavings?"
Spencer nodded, reaching in his pocket and taking out his wallet.
"Name?" Derek asked, pointing to the cup.
"Oh, um, Spencer," he said, setting his credit card on the counter and adjusting his glasses.
Derek wrote his name on the cup and made his drink, motioning toward his textbooks. "Classes going okay?"
Spencer raised an eyebrow, shrugging. "It's school, nothing overly exciting to most."
Penelope moved his textbooks to read them. "Never thought you'd be the Art History type."
"I'm not, it's my last elective. It was between that and Philosophy, and considering that experience didn't go well…"
"...What did you do, dare I ask?"
"Corrected my professor a time or twenty per day. He hated my guts as much as I disliked his one-sided thinking, but he still had to pass me with an A because I did the coursework to his liking."
"Please tell me you got revenge via your teacher evaluation?"
He nodded. "Definitely. Pretty much everyone disliked him."
Derek cleared his throat, handing the cup to him. "Here you go, Spencer. Anything else?"
He thought to himself before shaking his head. "JJ told me if I eat all of my meals here, she'd hide my credit card, and part of me believes her."
Derek smiled, swiping his card and handing it to him, along with his receipt. "Have a great day, Spencer."
"You too." Spencer looked at him, confused, before moving to check his nametag. "Derek." He turned to Penelope. "I'll see you tomorrow for JJ's monthly godparent guilt trip babysitting?"
"You bet."
Once Spencer left, Penelope turned to him. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"You wanted his name for the cup and referred to him by his first name. I know that's the 'proper' way to greet guests and if the manager would here, he'd love you for kissing so much ass, but we don't do that, like ever."
"He had to get my name somehow, right?" he asked, motioning toward his nametag. "And you told me his genius brain remembers pretty much everything he reads."
She shook her head, laughing softly. "You're such an idiot."
"I may be an idiot, but at least he knows me by name now and not just 'that guy who works with Penelope'."
"Please let me tell JJ about this so she can plant it in his head to take a hint and date you?"
"Definitely not." When she looked ready to object, he put up his hand. "Don't. This isn't her business, and it's only your business because you're always here."
She put out her lip, pouting. "Fine. But when you two are together, I promise, I'm giving you a pet name."
"And I'm sure it'll be interesting."
He saw her lean against the counter, thinking to herself, and knew the process of finding a pet name had already begun. Shaking his head, he tried to think of just how he was going to get the attention of someone with the worst case of tunnel vision he'd ever seen.
