Title: Love is Stored in the Venti

Chapter 1: You Want a Tip for your Service?

Notes: So NORMALLY I am not one for coffee shop or florist aus. But then I thought to myself, tboe, u can totally do a coffee shop au and make it exactly how u like it, u have the power to NOT make it a pile of fluff :D And so I did ;D This has been like over a year in the making and I'm so happy I finally got around to it!

Song of the Chapter: DEMONS by DREAMERS

"I just told you, Cafe True Cross has closed down temporarily. Yes, I've stopped at one along the way, this has been incredibly inconvenient, Belial."

Rin glanced up from the latte he was swirling a design into at the words from the newest customer to walk into the shop. Then he registered the name of his competitor, the chain that had just closed for renovations because they were adding another floor, and fire coiled under his skin.

That tall bastard with the weird purple hair and fancy suit didn't know it yet but Rin was going to woo him if it was the last thing he did. Anything to get another customer away from those smug assholes over at Cafe True Cross.

"Izumo, take over my station real quick, I gotta get some stuff from the back."

"Seriously, Rin?"

Rin ignored her griping to rush into the kitchen. He had all the newest baked goods sitting on the rack to cool, just some things he'd been playing around with adding to the display case and, he'd been told, smelled amazing. Well, they'd originally been meant as a special treat for himself for his lunch break, but needs must, after all.

He came back to find the guy in line, bored gaze scanning the menu while Izumo waited with her customer service smile painted on her face. Beneath it, he could see a faint tightness to her features, like she was nervous, and Rin frowned.

She'd handled plenty of obnoxious customers with her typical attitude that sent them running with an extra tip for her efforts. Rin trusted her over both Bon and Shima, the latter who would let customers walk all over him to avoid conflict and the former who had lost his cool on numerous occasions.

So seeing Izumo nearly sweating beneath the presence of this newest customer had Rin smiling to show teeth as he came around the counter.

"Hi! Welcome to the Blue Devil, we've got some fresh baked items we're trying out for today if you'd like to take a look." He set the covered tray down with a solid clack, smiling the whole time as he subtly flicked his fingers at Izumo to tell her he had it.

Green eyes-slit-pupiled, demonic-swept over his form like the guy was sizing him up. Rin straightened his spine and kept his body language calm. That was the best way to handle the full demons.

A smile began to stretch in a slow slide, just the barest hint of fangs peeking from his lips.

"Yes, I think I will, it all smells divine."

Was that supposed to be a pun? Rin ignored it, waiting.

After some deliberation, a claw came to tap on the glass over his selection-the blueberry muffin he'd made using his own recipe-and Rin nodded. "Great, do you want that heated? And can I get a drink order started for you?"

With his luck, it would be some horribly complicated order with ten different syrups dumped into it for flavor because demons all seemed prone to excess no matter what form it came in.

"Hm, yes, heated," the demon drummed his claws to the counter in a slow pattern, "and why don't you surprise me."

He could do that. "Sure thing!"

It would let him snag this guy as a reoccurring customer if he got it right. Rin whipped around, muffin handed to Izumo as he went to the line-up. Luckily it was slow, being the lull between the morning rush and the lunch crowds, so he had time to work his magic.

Let's see, unnecessarily fancy suit, check. Weird purple hair that definitely wasn't dyed, check. Radiated power like a furnace and made Rin's nose itch, check. This guy was one giant exaggeration and probably took the usual demonic excess to new heights.

Rin knew what he was going to make.

There may have been edible glitter added to the concoction by the time Rin finished, an internal cackle at his creation he placed the final touches on before setting it down alongside the heated muffin.

"That'll be five bucks," Rin said, staring with intent and a bit of challenge as he leaned over the counter, "But if you don't like it, next drink is on me. You're gonna like it, though."

A grin cracked its way onto the guy's face as he took the drink. "Is that a wager? I'll accept."

"Yeah," Rin answered, tail fighting beneath his shirt to wag in anticipation.

Lips touched to the rim of the coffee cup, nose hidden by the towering whipped cream, and Rin held his breath.

Pupils slivered, and a glow started up in green irises. He broke from the cup.

"Magnificent!"

Yes! Score. Rin beamed, letting out a pleased hum and fighting not to wiggle in place.

"I believe I lost the wager," came the wry words from lips twisted into an equally as wry smile. Whipped cream had attached itself to his nose, and Rin watched as he swiped it away with the tapered tip of his long tongue before reaching towards Rin. "I'll be returning. Here, your winnings."

In the next moment, money appeared between clawed fingers before it wound up slipped into the pocket of Rin's apron-front, patting there as if checking it was secured. Rin blinked, they left his body, the guy giving a light wave as he went with his muffin and drink.

His heart thudded, and Rin stared after him long after the ring of the bell on the door faded in the air.

"What the hell, Rin?" A hiss jerked him from his stare and Rin turned to see Izumo with crossed arms, looking like she was about to vibrate out of her skin as she practically growled, "Do you know who that was?"

That stopped him short. "Uh, no? Am I supposed to? Is he a celebrity or something?"

It was definitely possible. They lived in a massive city and got plenty of tourists.

"You're so-ugh!" Izumo rolled her eyes, hands thrown up. "You've got senses, right? Eyes? That was Mephisto Pheles."

"Er, is that a real name?" It sounded as outlandish as the guy had looked. "Like it's not a stage name or whatever?"

Izumo's hands curled like she would strangle him before she huffed a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "That was Samael, demon king Samael, second in Gehenna Samael, demon king of space and time Samael. Ring any bells?"

It did ring bells, every one of them in Rin's head as he laughed and leaned back on the counter, waving away the miffed glare Izumo shot his way.

"You know I don't pay attention to any of that stuff, Izumo." Didn't pay attention, and tried to avoid at all costs, actually.

"You're impossible," Izumo said, giving up on him to wipe down the stations. She'd stopped looking nervous, though, so Rin was satisfied.

He returned to work, passing time until Shima's entrance called his attention.

"Hey man," Shima slapped his phone to the counter, "got a whole list of delivery orders, get cracking! Oh hey, Izumo, looking fine as ever."

"I'm your boss," Rin said, grumbling but going through the list of orders as he ignored the usual spat Izumo fell into with Shima.

"So, got any plans today, Rin?" Shima's casual question took Rin from the mindless process of drink prep.

"Yeah!" he grinned, "Shiemi is coming over after work, we're gonna check out some new shop or something."

The expected sly waggle of Shima's brows didn't stop the excitement Rin felt. Shiemi was always busy nowadays with her new job, so any time they got to hang out was a good day in Rin's books.

"Still, you're just going shopping? Doesn't seem like fun to me," Shima said, muttering something after Rin picked up as "Not much of a date."

Rin chose to ignore it. "She's been really excited about this one. I don't know anything about it though."

"Speaking of not knowing anything," Izumo chimed in, grinning in a way Rin knew meant he was about to get mocked and making him fight a sigh. He was never going to live that encounter down. "Our genius boss over here just pulled another one."

And the gossiping began.

Shima leaned over, looking practically giddy as Izumo relayed the encounter.

"I definitely wasn't that bad," Rin said, setting down the deliveries for Shima, "and I got him to say he's coming back! That's another one I got away from that low quality, pre-packaged, over-priced…"

"We know, we know, you've got a personal vendetta against our university's cafe," Izumo interrupted him with an eye roll. Her expression turned wicked, and if she'd been a demon, there would be fang in her smile. "More importantly, he was totally flirting with you."

"No," Shima gasped in exaggeration, "another admirer after his tail?"

"Dammit, guys," this again. Rin glared, "the customers aren't flirting, they're just being polite. And besides, I thought Izumo was the one getting the obnoxiously flirty customers all the time?"

"Not the point," Izumo continued, "the point is who was doing the flirting."

She paused for effect, Shima looked like he'd erupt at any moment.

"Mephisto Pheles. Walked into our little shop," Shima's eyes widened and Rin squeezed his shut, waiting for the explosion. "And then bossman here goaded him straight into a bet."

"No way!" Shima squealed, bouncing in place when Rin opened his eyes to see if they'd decide to end his misery.

"And-and! The cherry on top was him slipping the cash into Rin's pocket while Rin just stood there like an idiot," Izumo finished in a cackle Shima joined.

"Ok, ok, whatever, he's a demon, they're just like that," Rin shoved the deliveries into Shima's arms, "it doesn't mean he was serious or actually flirting

"Pft, yeah, what demons do you hang out with?"

The comment from Izumo was a good point, but Rin wasn't going to acknowledge it. "I do so hang out with demons. I've got Kuro!"

"That's one, and he's your familiar, barely counts," Shima called from where he'd started towards the door.

"And having demon ancestry doesn't mean I count either," Izumo added, getting a thumbs up from Shima before Rin's glare sent him out the rest of the way. "And you can't count yourself!"

Another person arrived so Rin muttered from between his customer service smile as he welcomed them in. "Yeah, yeah, so maybe I don't. Still doesn't mean anything except we got a new regular."

"Keep telling yourself that."

A final group of grad students left, taking their computers and allowing Rin to hand the shifts over to Bon and Godaiin just as Shiemi waved at him from outside the window.

"Hey!" Rin said, grinning and getting a hug from Shiemi before they began walking, "So where's this place you're all excited about?"

Shiemi buzzed with energy, falling into conversation immediately.

"Nearby! Or-not too far, but it's not a bad trip at all," at Rin's assurance that he didn't mind the walk, she continued, "I heard about it from Nee, it's been centuries since it's been here in Assiah."

"Centuries?" Rin blinked, trying to puzzle it out and why Shiemi's familiar would be the one to know about the shop's opening. "It's a demon shop?"

"Mhm," she said as her hands came to fist at her chest with her excitement, "Nee heard it through the grapevine

That probably wasn't a pun, but Rin could never be sure with Shiemi, even after the years of growing up together.

"Rin, have you heard from Yuki?"

Shaking himself from memories, Rin answered, "Yeah, he's been busy though, that guy's got a serious caffeine problem lately. He used to be way healthier about it with those nasty ginseng drinks."

"Poor Yuki," Shiemi sighed, leading them another block over through the city towards the train line Rin used to get home. His shop was just before the outskirts and a bit of a walk from the nearest station-the only thing he could afford rent on until he could build business-so they had left the towering skyscrapers and crowds of tourists for emptier streets and residential quarters.

Shiemi boarded behind Rin, shuffling to their seats.

"I should send him some calming teas," she determined.

"A care package is a great idea! I can send him some stuff too, he's probably living off convenience store lunches this whole time," Rin said as he thought about Yukio's tendency to ignore basic needs when he was busy, never mind his complete inability to cook anything.

"When is he coming home next?" Shiemi asked, "I wanted to visit with your parents."

Rin sighed, "You know you can just visit them, right? You're basically their favorite kid at this point."

Their favorite kid, and the one who gave them the least amount of trouble, for sure.

His reminder just got a giggle from Shiemi.

"It wouldn't be the same without you both there, Rin."

Ok, that was fair. He liked it when they were all together, too.

The rest of the ride passed, Rin barely noticing the scenery as they talked until they reached their destination. A lone other passenger getting off with them at the sleepy station.

Cicadas hummed in the fields around them, a comforting sound as Shiemi summoned her familiar.

Nee appeared in a soft poof of smoke, delighted squeaks and chirps tumbling from the small greenman's form as it nuzzled to Shiemi's neck before settling.

"Show us the way, Nee!"

A chirp and the familiar leapt from her shoulder, beginning to walk down the road and into town. Traditional houses made up the area they moved through, much smaller than Rin's hometown. In the distance, he heard dogs barking and people going about their lives and tried to imagine why a demon shop would open up in this out of the way place.

Soon, they took a dusty path lined with aged and crumbling buildings before coming to a stop at a two-story.

Immediately, Rin stopped, blinking in a flutter of lashes as his instincts kicked into gear. They'd been roused by something, though he couldn't put his finger on it, nothing on the surface giving him a reason for the raised hairs on his neck.

It felt almost like earlier when…

"This is the place!" Shiemi said, already going up to the door with a bright smile on her face.

Well, she had said it was a demon shop, and Rin didn't go to so many of those. Shrugging, he entered, inhaling to bring the scent of earth and green, growing things he couldn't place beyond a sense of life seeping out from every corner.

"Woah," Rin gaped at the inside of the shop. "It's a jungle in here!"

Chaos spread out to block exactly how big the shop was on the inside. Twisting his head had Rin startling back as a leaf from one of the trailing plants hanging from the ceiling brushed his cheek.

"It's amazing." Shiemi's awe brought Rin to see she'd bowed closer to what he could barely make out as a shelf beneath the weight of the plants it carried.

Some of them looked soft to the touch, and Rin couldn't stop the impulse to reach out.

"Ah! Rin, no!" The alarmed cry paused him, Shiemi's hands snapping to drag his back just as he'd been about to caress the leaves.

"Not that one, Rin," she heaved a sigh of relief and Rin drew his hand away.

"Er, what's wrong with that one?" He looked at the innocent little plant with new wariness, edging away from it.

"That's a Gympie Gympie." The name sounded made up but the seriousness that she said it with made him reconsider. "It's one of the most dangerous plants in the world."

"Right," Rin drew out, deciding he wouldn't be touching a single plant in the shop, not about to question Shiemi's weirdly specific knowledge of every plant under the sun, even the deadly ones. They all had their hobbies.

He stepped back to the relative safety of the walkway and ran straight into something.

Or someone.

Rin had a second to feel his nerves prickle a warning before a solid warmth halted him in his tracks. A nose pressed itself to his neck and inhaled. His fangs itched to extend in his mouth at the threat, and his body tensed, heartrate slowing as he prepared to get distance.

The presence pulled away in an immediate lessening of pressure that allowed Rin to breathe, whipping around to see what, exactly, had made itself comfortable in his personal space.

Gold eyes peered into his from an empty expression. Hair swept up into a strange point on his head that looked like a horn and faded into the environment because it was green completed the strange picture and Rin realized he was looking at a full demon-nothing half or diluted about him-for the second time that day.

Were they coming out of the woodworks or something? Was he wearing a sign? A lure? Rin had to fight to keep his hackles down as he let the demon size him up. Then he did a double-take, mind catching up to his eyes as his instincts receded.

Oh no. Rin squeezed his hands into fists, wishing he'd stepped back further instead of doing the usual demon posturing because it meant he was still within range to feel the heat from the lithe body.

He's hot.

"Uh, hey, uh," Rin stuttered to the unimpressed stare and raised brow, "is this your shop?"

Silence echoed him, swallowed in the dense growth.

Shiemi saved the day, stepping beside Rin with a smile on her face as she bowed her head in a nod. "Excuse me, I saw you have some varieties of Gehennian Campion and I'd like to ask if you have more in that family here."

A snort and short shake of the demon's head dispelled the tension. He stepped down the brick-lined floor, roughened and covered in enough dust Rin thought they might as well have not left the outdoors.

Without comment from the demon, they made it to a new corner and Shiemi gasped, eyes lighting up as she practically cooed over the delicate flowering plant. It looked like a regular flower to Rin, definitely not something to get excited about, and he couldn't have said why it was so interesting that had Shiemi asking for the price right after.

"Take it, I don't care," the demon said, the picture of apathy, "If you can keep it alive a week outside of my attention, you can have another plant from the shop.

"Oh!" Shiemi squeaked, ducking her head to bow again, "Thank you. I'll do my best."

"What?" Rin said, baffled and trying to understand how the shop functioned at all, "I don't get it, it's just some kind of flower, right?"

Shiemi jerked her head up and sputtered, wringing her hands in her sleeves like she couldn't get the words out.

"You don't know anything, do you?" the demon said with a twitch of his lips into what Rin thought was a smirk, something faintly amused or mocking hiding there.

But, he was right, Rin and plants had passing familiarity. He knew which ones went into a meal and he was happy with that.

"Hah, I mean, plants are her thing, I can't keep anything alive." He had numerous attempts to keep cooking herbs alive to prove it, much to Shiemi's distress. "I don't want to get something cool from here and then kill it."

"Hm, alright," a gleam entered gold eyes as he raised his fingers to snap, smoke poofing around them until it dissipated to reveal a deep green stone that had chipped to give it a resemblance to a ragged leaf. "Keep this tourmaline without losing it, you can manage that, right?"

"Uh," Rin mumbled, hand coming out on automatic to accept the green stone pressed into his palm. Dagger-like black claws pricked him where they scraped and sent Rin's nerves sparking as they withdrew. He pulled out a sucker from wherever he had pulled the stone from and rolled it between his fangs in faint clacking sounds.

"Ok, I won't lose it," Rin said when his mind rebooted, gaze caught on the stone warming his skin.

"Thank you," Shiemi kept her excitement contained to just the wide smile that wouldn't leave her face, clutching the potted plant to her chest like it was the most precious thing in the world. "I'd still like to look around and see the rest of the shop, if it's alright with you."

The hand not holding the sucker waved them away, and Rin joined Shiemi in wandering the shop, though he split off when she became enraptured by another plant he couldn't identify.

It was peaceful, the sounds of the outside world muffled by the dense growth surrounding Rin in a self-contained world.

Despite the peace, his body refused to relax, a sense of being watched following him that he couldn't shake. Like some big cat stalked him through a jungle. He let it be, choosing to focus on the random things hidden between plants he wasn't sure were for sale-or if anything in the shop was actually for sale in the usual way he was used to.

In his pocket, the stone burned, and he resisted running his fingers to it the same way he kept away from touching any plants. No matter how soft and fuzzy and fun to touch they looked.

He'd just started rolling his shoulders as if that would lessen the weight between them when Shiemi's voice rang out.

"Ok, Rin, I'm ready to go if you are!"

Very pointedly, Rin didn't run to the door, keeping an easy posture and his hands relaxed at his sides.

"Goodbye, thank you!"

They were out, Rin released a whoosh of breath, getting a curious stare from Shiemi he waved off

"That was…" he started to say.

"That was incredible!" Shiemi gushed, stars in her eyes as her hands came to grip Rin's arm, shaking him while they walked. "There's varieties I've only ever heard of in there!"

Her enthusiasm took Rin from his strange mood and he grinned. "Yeah, and you just have to keep that flower alive for a week, right? That'll be a piece of cake for you!"

"Mmhmm," Shiemi began filling the air with her store of knowledge and plans for the next time she would return to the shop.

Rin's grin faded to a soft smile, letting her talk as they made their way back to the station.

She had been given a week to keep the plant alive before she could get a second one, Rin remembered, hearing the challenge hidden beneath the apathy in the demon's voice.

But…

A sweep of his eyes over the map of the train lines showed him the direct route from his shop, to this shop, to his home.

There was no reason he couldn't also stop by. It was on the way, after-all.

His gaze stayed on the sight of the town until they left it behind.

End Notes: You may all have questions, those may or may not get answered in following chapters~ But also this chapter is hella short, what's up with that :O