A/N: This is entirely wholesome, with pretty much no warnings, so if you don't like ridiculously fluffy things this probably isn't your cup of tea! But it's a coffee house AU, Modern AU, and Inazuma Appreciation Appreciation AU all smushed into one thing. And hints of Aether/Thoma in case that is also not your thing!
Komore Teahouse opens its doors wide at seven in the morning. An evil, unkind time, if you ask Thoma.
"Thoma! Nice of you to show up."
Yoimiya leans fully over the counter, her apron already askew, a sparkling scrunchie holding up her bright hair. She's far too awake for this hour. Thoma pulls a face as he shuts the front door behind him, rattling the closed sign.
"I always show up," he says. "I'm right on time, aren't I?"
"You're actually five minutes early," she says, kicking her feet in the air behind her. "That's not bad, for you! But I still had to be the one to meet the delivery driver, and you said you wanted to have a word with him."
She affects a stage-whisper, trailing after him when he drags himself into the kitchen, where his apron hangs on a peg. The counters are sparkling, and the air smells like lemon. Taroumaru is tucked away near the pantry door, sleeping peacefully on the biggest, fluffiest cushion ever commissioned by anyone in Inazuma.
"You don't have to say it like that," Thoma says. "I'm not going to threaten the guy. I just wanted to make a few things clear, that's all."
He dials up the dimples, but it has little effect on Yoimiya. She stares at him, unimpressed, somehow still cheerful despite the way her brow draws down.
"That was terrible. You might wanna work on that if you want people to really believe that you're not a super secret hit-man!"
Thoma sighs deeply. "I used to be a morning person, you know," he says, drearily putting on his apron. "But then I was exposed to your overly chirpy self, and I got too exhausted to carry on."
Yoimiya laughs, and it's warm enough to have some of his bad mood fading. A smile creeps over his face. Maybe he's not the biggest fan of the early hour, but there's nothing he loves better than working here.
The bell over the front door chimes, and Yoimiya lets out a confused sound, leaning back to yell through the door.
"Sorry, we're not quite open yet!" She gasps. "Oh!"
The little squeal is what makes Thoma perk up, making his way to the kitchen door as Yoimiya darts across the teashop. She skids to a stop beside a startled-looking man wearing a burgundy shirt and smart trousers. His bone-white hair is streaked with red, pulled back away from his face. An official Komore Teahouse apron is draped over one of his arms, and his startled look fades as he meets Yoimiya's eyes.
"Kazuha!" she yells, almost smushing their faces together. "I didn't know you were coming back to work here! I can't believe Ayaka never said anything. Oh, this is going to be fantastic."
"Well, well," Thoma says, swanning out of the kitchen and planting both hands on his hips. "Kaedehara Kazuha, as I live and breathe. You've got a lot of nerve showing up out of the blue like this. What brings you crawling back here?"
Kazuha's mouth curves into a gentle smile. "Hello, Thoma."
Thoma drops the act instantly, flinging himself forward to laugh right in Kazuha's face, scooping him into a rough hug. He ruffles Kazuha's hair, careful not to muss it too much, and is grateful when Kazuha doesn't throw him across the shop. He could definitely do some damage, although he hides it behind demure smiles.
"You didn't keep that up for very long, did you?" Yoimiya crosses her arms over her chest. "Your acting skills are getting rusty."
"It's not possible to stay annoyed with him," Thoma declares, still holding Kazuha in an awkward grip, one arm locked around his neck. "Look at this face. I can't even pretend like I hate this face."
"Even though he did abandon us," Yoimiya adds, mostly teasing. "I still can't believe you're back here."
Finally allowed to breathe, Kazuha disengages from Thoma's hold and retreats from their touches, brushing himself down. He rearranges his apron neatly over his arm again.
"I was in town, and I happened to cross paths with Miss Kamisato," Kazuha says formally, as though he hasn't known Ayaka for years. "She mentioned there was a job opening, and I thought it might be an interesting diversion from daily life."
"Still so proper," Thoma says, ruffling his hair again and receiving the faintest look of exasperation in return. "Hey, who are we to question Ayaka's judgement? Welcome back to the team, Kazuha."
Yoimiya dances on her toes, squealing again. "That's all of us back together! Have you told Gorou yet? Are we the last to know?"
"Ah," Kazuha says, glancing away slightly. "Gorou still works here?"
That answers that question. Thoma and Yoimiya share a quick, gleeful glance; they lean in at the same time, voices lilting towards teasing.
"Mighty Kazuha, are you blushing?" Thoma asks, not needing to feign his delight.
"I think that's definitely a hint of pink," Yoimiya says, nodding firmly. "Ayaka's going to love hearing about this. Oh, she should be down any minute! It's nearly opening time!"
She darts back to the counter, a streak of red and gold. They watch her go; Thoma winces as she starts bashing about with the mugs, clattering the china together. It's not clear if she's organizing, looking for something, or if she just likes the noise.
"I had forgotten how much energy she exhibits," Kazuha murmurs, looking a little wary.
Thoma laughs. "Yeah, any chance you feel like doing the early morning shifts for the rest of time? I feel tired just looking at her."
"I think I will pass," Kazuha says, taking a moment to scan him. "You do not look tired. You look well, Thoma. It's good to see you again."
"Aw, it's good to see you too," Thoma says, hooking an arm around his neck and dragging him into the fray. "But that's enough flirting for one morning. You remember how to make a latte, right?"
Kazuha does remember how to make a latte, and his Oolong tea is still to die for, but everything else takes a minute for him to relearn. Not much about Komore Teahouse has changed, although the emphasis on tea and all things traditional is a little more removed. They're a bona fide hotspot now, if you check out the hipster articles online, which Thoma occasionally does. They've moved things around since Kazuha left, and the menu is entirely new.
"Yoimiya was given free reign over the names for all our delicacies," Thoma explains, when Kazuha looks blankly at the glossy black board on the back of the teahouse wall. "As you can see, she went with a very explosive theme. The sparkly scrunchies aren't just for show."
"They never have been," Kazuha agrees, diligently writing down the recipe for a pinwheel panini on his little orange notebook. "I still remember the firework show she put on for the festival a few years ago. I thought the whole sky was going to catch fire."
"Yeah, it was looking a little singed by the end, wasn't it?"
"Indeed. Do I want to know what a Roman Candle Rush is?"
"Rooibos and Rhubarb Tea!" Yoimiya announces, dancing out of the storage cupboard with a big crate under her arm. "I can't believe you even have to ask. Some of the old guys really love something sweet and herbal, but they still want the exciting kick that comes with a fun name, so I chose that! Isn't it brilliant?"
Thoma leaves Kazuha to her tender mercies. She's good at her job, quick to take orders and dish out drinks, and she makes friends with everyone that comes in, regular or new. The teahouse is always full of laughter and cheers when Yoimiya's behind the counter. As far as re-introducing Kazuha to the bustle of teahouse life, there isn't a better choice.
Their first few shifts together, Thoma doesn't actually see much of Kazuha. Kazuha works strictly behind the counter, makings drinks, and on the teahouse floor, delivering treats. Thoma's safe place is the kitchen, though he does all sorts of other odd jobs. He pops in and out of the kitchen, stained with flour and bearing new baked goods for the display cases. He comes out to tease them both on their breaks and beg Yoimiya for a cup of crackling ceylon. Kazuha is just as neat and orderly and thoughtful as he used to be. He still says things that leave Thoma a little stumped, just for how smart and sudden they are. He still stays quiet for the most part, smiling gently and offering insight only when asked directly. He's still just as kind and secretly mischievous as Thoma remembers, as evidenced by the sugar cubes showing up where they shouldn't.
The only thing that feels overly different about Kazuha's return is that it highlights a lack of a certain someone. It never mattered who was on shift before; Gorou was always attached at the hip to Kazuha, talking his ear off and absently carrying his things. Maybe they weren't best friends—Thoma never really got close enough to find out what the deal was with Kazuha's friend—but they were certainly close. Close enough that everyone thought it was a done deal. He wasn't the only one shocked when nothing came of it, and Kazuha moved away.
He sort of doesn't want to see what happens when the two meet again. But it's inevitable. And it's probably not going to be that bad, just a bit awkward and too cute to look at without getting cavities.
"Gorou's coming in tomorrow to check our stock," Yoimiya announces, barging into the kitchen as Thoma's cleaning up for the day. "I should be here, but one of you should get here early anyway to let him in!"
Kazuha stifles a small noise, leaning against the counter with a cup of tea in hand. Thoma scrubs down the patch of stubborn flour; it was already wet from his vigorous dish-washing, but now it's formed a paste, and he curses himself for not sweeping down the sides first.
"Does he not have a key?" Kazuha asks, shuffling his feet in an uncharacteristically awkward manoeuvre.
"He does," Thoma says mildly, with a pointed look at Yoimiya. Go easy, he tries to say without speaking, but she shakes her head emphatically, a few wayward curls springing up beside her ears.
"It's only polite to have someone here to let him in, that's all I'm saying!" Yoimiya says. "I've got to go, but everything's mostly finished. You just need to check the filters and lock up!"
She ducks away, whistling, before Thoma can point out that 'locking up' is an entire process, and it's definitely part of her job.
"She still hates the filters, does she?" Kazuha says, smiling over the top of his teacup.
"About as much as she loves the smell of gunpowder and explosions," Thoma says, sighing. "I can't really be mad at her though. She works harder than any of us. I think she's off to her third job right now. Hey, I can lock up if you like."
"You check the filters," Kazuha says, dunking his teacup in the sink. "I shall lock up."
Thoma whines about not liking the filters either, but Kazuha is unmoved, and it's hard to argue with that faint smile. Locking up isn't so bad when they do it together; Thoma sticks some music on and tries to get Kazuha to dance with the broom, to no avail. It does get him to laugh though, light and airy, almost as though he's trying not to. Thoma counts it as a win.
"So, Gorou's coming in tomorrow," Thoma finally says, caving to the bursting need to ask things, to poke the situation until he understands it. "Feeling okay about that? I can run point if you need to escape at all."
"I don't know why I'd need to escape from a friend."
"Friendly fire is a phrase for a reason," Thoma says, though he's pretty sure he's using it incorrectly. "But come on. You're not really going to pretend we have nothing to talk about here?"
"I'm sure there's plenty to talk about," Kazuha says mildly. "Yoimiya mentioned how close you and Miss Kamisato are lately."
"Ha," Thoma says, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin. "That rumour's been going around for ages, but there's nothing there. I love her, and I admire her for all the work she's done, taking on the teahouses. I want to help her out, you know? But it's not like that. Yoimiya just likes to gossip."
Kazuha hums, but doesn't respond. Thoma goes back to his cleaning, resisting the urge to sigh. It's not any of his business. But it was him that scooped Gorou off the floor after last time, making sure he was a functional human being, feeding him and forcing him into the shower and watching depressing shows with him. He glances over his shoulder at Kazuha, watching the relaxed line of his shoulders as he sweeps. He doesn't know what Kazuha went through, and he doesn't know how much of it Kazuha dealt with alone, but he knows it can't have been easy. It must have hurt. If possible, he'd like it if neither of them get hurt ever again, especially not by each other.
That's not really up to him to control, but he still resolves to keep a close eye on things tomorrow.
Thoma doesn't actually see the moment when Gorou arrives the next day, but he sure hears the moment when he spots Kazuha. He's in the kitchen, making Taroumaru Buns for all the tiny, adorable kids that come by after school to press their greasy fingers all over the display case and drool. They're easy enough to make. Golden-brown pastry, a hefty pinch of cinnamon, and giant swirls of cream for the detail on Taroumaru's big fluffy face. He's pulling the last batch out of the oven when he hears racing footsteps and the sound of things hitting the floor.
"Kazuha!"
Thoma drapes a clean, dry tea-towel over the buns to stop Taroumaru from being tempted by his own face and ducks into the main shop to see what all the fuss is about. The fuss, it seems, is Gorou's sudden realisation that his old friend works here now. The two of them are standing in the middle of the shop floor, practically embracing, heedless of the many eyes pinned on them.
"Hello, Gorou," Kazuha says, holding his friend up effortlessly. His ears are pink again. "I wondered when you might show up."
Gorou looks utterly delighted as he clings to Kazuha, the crumpled remains of their paper take-away boxes scattered on the floor at their feet. Well, Kazuha's feet. Gorou's legs are wrapped around Kazuha's waist, his feet safely away from the floor.
"Huh," Thoma says to himself. "Maybe I didn't need to worry."
Someone coughs politely from the nearest table. Upon receiving Kazuha's attention, they hold up their teacup pointedly, eyebrow tipped in an unspoken question.
"I'll be with you in one moment, sir," Kazuha calls, dipping his head. He pauses when Gorou makes no move to disengage. "Ah, hm. You'll have to let go for a moment."
Gorou slides down him, crumpling another box under his foot. Thoma rolls his eyes. But the pout on Gorou's usually stern, steady face is amusing, to say the least, and he leans against the counter to watch Gorou track Kazuha's progress across the room.
"Someone's smitten," Thoma whispers.
Gorou whips around. "Thoma! Did you know he was back?"
"Not until he turned up at the door." Thoma laughs as the pout only gets worse. "You should probably pick all that up before someone trips over it, by the way."
The main shop is fairly busy, but most people are already sitting down at various tables, typing away at laptops and indulging in cups of sweet oolong. There's nobody in the queue, and Yoimiya is on her phone at the far end of the counter, star-shaped headphones tucked over her ears. Still, it's sensible not to leave a bunch of crushed boxes in the middle of the room, and Gorou can't just stand there like a gormless idiot forever, moping after his friend.
"Oh, right!" Gorou stoops down and sweeps the boxes into his arms, heading for the counter. "These are for you. Ayaka asked if I'd bring them to you on my way down."
"Gorou, I can't use those now," Thoma says exasperatedly, gesturing at boot-stained edges and squished bottoms. "Nobody's going to want a Taroumaru Bun if it looks like somebody tap-danced on it first."
"A Taroumaru Bun?" Kazuha says, coming up beside them, coffee pot in hand. "I would like to see such a thing. The menu really has changed since the last time I was here." He looks a little introspective, a little sad. "Lots of things have changed."
Gorou hones in on the sadness immediately, shuffling closer. If he had a tail, it would be wagging anxiously.
"Not everything," Gorou says. "A lot of things stayed the same. I promise, Kazuha."
Kazuha's cheeks flush with colour. He can't seem to look away from Gorou's wide, hopeful eyes. Both of them look lost in each other's gaze, caught in their orbits. Thoma feels about as important as the sign on the wall asking people to wipe their feet. He casts around for someone to share his exasperation with and finds Yoimiya giggling at the far end of the counter, one headphone dislodged so she can properly witness to his distress.
"Oi," Thoma says, as casually as he can manage. "There is actually more to this job than standing around and looking pretty, you know. Kazuha, come help me with the buns. Gorou, go grab some new boxes, will you?"
Technically, Gorou is further up the chain of command than he is. He does a lot of the paperwork for Ayaka and takes on everything Kokomi puts in his capable hands. Kokomi handles the second teahouse across town, but Gorou never complains about having to shuffle back and forth between jobs. Thoma mostly sticks to Ayaka's side, making sure everything runs smoothly and running interference between all their suppliers in between baking. It's not exactly his place to order Gorou about. But considering he looks like he might collapse into a puddle of despair if Kazuha even looks away from him, Thoma feels confident that he's making good choices here.
He leads Kazuha into the kitchen after making sure Yoimiya can handle things. He could swear Gorou almost emwhines/em before taking off up the stairs. But they make it inside without incident, and Kazuha listens intently as Thoma explains the changes to their baked goods, and the new recipe for the Taroumaru Buns. He whips the tea-towel off the most recent batch with a flourish, grinning down at the puffy dog-shaped faces.
"Ah, it certainly has his likeness," Kazuha says, leaning over to scan the pastries. "It would feel cruel to eat one. Your skills have definitely improved."
"Heh, they're getting there," Thoma says brightly, feeling proud. "I didn't actually need you for anything, by the way. But you seemed like you wanted to have a look, and maybe an escape."
Kazuha averts his gaze, studiously examining the buns. "The glaze is excellent."
Under the far counter, Taroumaru barks once with pride, settling primly on his cushion, even though he's not supposed to be in the kitchen during opening hours. Thoma snorts, letting them both get away with their unruly behaviour.
"Still as opinionated as ever, I see," Kazuha says, huffing with laughter as he wanders over to give the dog some fuss. "Perhaps Gorou is right. Perhaps not everything has changed since I left."
"Were you really worried about that?" Thoma asks, as he fetches a bowl of whipped cream.
"More than I realised," Kazuha admits after a long moment, still crouched beside the dog, face turned away. "It's been a while since I've been here. After… well, after everything, I knew I wanted to get away and see what the world had to offer. But I couldn't stop missing home. I suppose that's what happens when you're away from it for so long. I thought everything might have changed, and I was worried there might not be any room for me."
Even the thought of Kazuha not feeling welcome makes Thoma's chest twist painfully.
"Hey, maybe I'm not the best one to reassure you about this," Thoma says, as he whips the cream a little more, frowning thoughtfully. "I think it'll sound better coming from someone closer to you. But I'd say that we're friends, aren't we? And I can't imagine not having room for you here."
Kazuha smiles at him gratefully. He doesn't grin often or laugh like he really means it, but his smiles are always sincere, steady and companionable. Kazuha has always come across as someone who is a little distant, a little reserved, but the truth is, there's a passion to him. A need to treat his friends as kindly as possible, to make sure they are well-cared for, and a need to be the best version of himself possible. He does a lot of thinking, a lot of writing, a lot of internal musings that make him seem adrift. But it seems like he's finally ready to put down roots, or at least make a bit of a pit-stop.
"Thank you, Thoma," he says, standing up and brushing down his apron. "I should get back to work before Yoimiya is buried under orders. If you need help with the buns, please let me know."
Yoimiya is unlikely to be swamped until the buns are ready to go in the display case, but Thoma holds back from saying anything, letting Kazuha make his graceful exit. He doesn't have to wait much longer before Gorou comes skidding through the door, excitement pasted all over his face. He stares wildly around the kitchen, as if Thoma might have stuffed Kazuha in the fridge, and then pouts again.
"Don't chase him down just yet," Thoma says, struggling not to laugh. "You know how overwhelmed he gets. He finishes work at five, so you can meet him after that. Maybe he'd like to be walked home? He mentioned the other day that he's staying right at the edge of town, and walking back and forth tends to be a bit lonely and boring."
Kazuha mentioned no such thing, but Gorou doesn't need to know that. He perks up, coming over to examine the buns too as Thoma fills the piping bags and gets to work on the fluffy swirls.
"You knew he was working here, didn't you?"
Thoma laughs. "I already told you, I didn't know anything until he turned up for his shift. Ayaka doesn't tell me emeverything,/em you know. But his first shift was a few days ago, so I guess I did keep it a secret from you for a little while."
Gorou doesn't sock him in the arm, but he can tell that it's a close thing.
"Why?" he demands. "Why didn't you let me know? I could have been more prepared instead of making a fool out of myself."
"Are you sure you're not mad because Kazuha didn't tell you himself?"
Gorou slumps against the counter, scowling. Even like this, pouty and slouching, he looks graceful and strong. He's a different sort of graceful to Kazuha's ethereal, controlled elegance, and he has none of Ayaka's poise, but his form is lithe and his mannerisms are brash but precise.
It is quite infuriating, and sometimes downright dangerous, to be constantly surrounded by attractive, very teasing people who could easily pick Thoma up and launch him into the sun.
Sometimes, he's seconds away from asking them to do it. As a favour. Both to keep him from embarrassing himself and to give him something to daydream about for the rest of his life.
"I don't like when you do that," Gorou mutters, still scowling. "Only one of us needs to be the diplomatic, sharp-eyed one."
"What can I say? I was born to be the dazzling face of a company, and that means I have to see through people. Not to mention, you're very obvious. It might be easier not to see right through you if you didn't ooze feelings everywhere like a puppy."
"I am not a puppy," Gorou says, flatly unimpressed. "I still don't know why you started making dog jokes about me, but I don't appreciate it."
Thoma holds up one of the completed Taroumaru Buns beside Gorou's face.
"Aww, two good boys."
Gorou slaps the bun away, catching it before it can hit the floor. He tears a big bite out of it while Thoma bats at him, trying to rip it out of his fingers. It doesn't work. When Gorou has a grip on something, it's almost impossible to get it away from him again.
"I put a lot of work into that, you know," Thoma says, sighing lightly.
"I can tell." Gorou swallows a huge mouthful and licks his lips. "It's delicious. I might even have to have a few more."
He leans purposefully towards the rest of the batch, still waiting to be decorated, hands hovering with menacing intent.
"Alright, alright, point taken! I'll leave you alone, okay?" Thoma snatches up the piping bag and gets to work. "I'll just ignore whatever love-struck look is all over your face whenever Kazuha's in the room and let you pine yourself away into a miserable heap in the corner, just like last time. Just don't mess with my baked goods, and we should be fine, hm?"
Gorou's expression goes flat, a little dejected. Thoma can almost picture little drooping ears on top of his head. He feels instantly like the world's biggest asshole, and puts down the piping bag with a sigh.
"Sorry," he says, making his voice a little softer. "That was uncalled for."
"No, it was plenty called for." Gorou frowns down at his hands, brushing stray specks of cinnamon off his fingers. "Kokomi—I mean, Miss Sangonomiya—she mentioned that if I'd said something sooner, Kazuha might not have left. Or, at the very least, he would have known that we wanted him to come back."
Thoma feels for him, he really does. Last time Kazuha worked here, it was all a big mess. Gorou spent most of it trailing at Kazuha's heels, the both of them stoically avoiding their own feelings. And then there was this thing involving Kazuha's friend, something none of them really got involved in. A lot of it is old news, buried history, and Thoma doesn't pretend to know the full story. But he knows Kazuha got the short end of the stick, and his friend, while not entirely at fault, ended up hurting him badly.
And when Kazuha left to get away from it all, Gorou got left behind entirely.
"I guess we won't know what might have happened," Thoma says, turning to face him. "Kazuha clearly needed to get away. That doesn't mean you guys missed your chance, though, right? Timing is everything. Isn't that what people say?"
"I think I've heard the phrase once or twice."
"Well, don't just hear the phrase, take it on board! It didn't work out before, and you never said anything, and you turned into this big gloopy mess of love and hurt, right?" Gorou gives him a vaguely offended look, but Thoma brushes it aside. "You know I'm right. How many times did we watch Homeward Bound? Too many times, that's how many. But things are different now! You've dated a few people, you're in management now, and Kazuha seems like he's more himself too. Do something about those feelings, and don't miss your chance."
"It wasn't that many times," Gorou protests mulishly.
"What was that?" Thoma cups his hand around his ear. "Were you thanking me for my expert knowledge? Aw, there's no need to mention it, buddy. I'm excited to help two of my friends get together and be happy, that's all."
Gorou flushes. "Thanks, Thoma."
Thoma risks his limb to ruffle Gorou's soft, sandy-brown hair. It goes without saying that he almost loses a finger, and Gorou backs away from him, rolling his eyes while Thoma laughs. He turns back to the buns, only to peer over his shoulder when Gorou calls out to him.
"I meant to tell you when I arrived," he says, peering right at him without a hint of regret. "There aren't any more cardboard boxes."
One of the Taroumaru Buns splats against the door just as Gorou disappears through it, snickering.
hr
Komore Teahouse doesn't really have hectic hours. Most people go to Wangshuu Inn down the road if they want a quick hot cup of coffee and some gossip, and Angel's Share has more of an expensive hipster aesthetic. Lots of people in cropped tops, sipping gelatinous drinks with little umbrellas inside. Aether is usually in there, laughing with his friends and flirting with everyone else, so it's not like Thoma never visits it. But Komore is a little more traditional, a little quieter, much more low-key.
That doesn't mean they don't get over-run sometimes. Sometimes being right now.
"Where's Sayu?" Thoma says, grunting as the coffee machine releases a shrill whistle, battling against his attempts to fix whatever's broken. "We could really use a hand out here."
Yoimiya snort-laughs, digging around for a teaspoon. "You even have to ask?"
"Ah, right," Thoma says, nodding sagely. "Napping."
Kazuha tilts his head in question, handing over a paper cup to a harried-looking customer. "Sayu?"
"Oh, she's one of the people Ayato brought in to replace you when you went off on your big famous adventure," Thoma says blithely, resisting the urge to coo at Kazuha's sudden flush. "She's a tiny little thing, and a bit of a slacker. Mostly a slacker, actually. But don't underestimate her. She can make a really powerful espresso."
"She's a bit younger," Yoimiya explains cheerily, jotting down another order in a carefree manner that makes Thoma want to throw something at her. "She's here as a favour! Technically she's only supposed to work a certain amount of hours, but she doesn't even do those."
Kazuha opens his mouth, but his response is quickly swept away by the growing crowd of customers. The queue leads all the way out the door and curves around the shop window. Thoma finishes doing battle with the coffee machine and then takes up a strong stance beside Kazuha, preparing for the real war.
And then someone elbows him right out of the way. Thoma grunts, side-stepping another pointy attack, and finds Gorou standing right beside Kazuha, perky and bright-eyed and wearing a stolen apron.
"I swear you don't even know how to make a cup of black tea," Thoma says.
Gorou ignores him, smiling brightly. Kazuha fumbles a paper cup under his attention, but quickly gets a handle on himself. More staff is never a bad thing, but after only twenty minutes of watching the two of them whisper in each other's ears and share smitten smiles across the room, Thoma is ready to shove them inside a storage cupboard and make off with the tip-jar.
It seems to take hours before the teahouse grows quiet again. In that time, Kazuha messes up three drinks and spills milk all down his front. It fills Thoma with a strange, perhaps unkind sense of glee, seeing his calm, collected friend so flustered. He retreats to the kitchen in the sudden absence of customers, listening to Gorou chatter away in Kazuha's ear, the noise growing fainter as the door shuts between them all.
The kitchen is quiet and surprisingly, blessedly cool. Thoma leans back against the counter, scooping Taroumaru into his arms for a quick cuddle, and closes his eyes. The silence is bliss. He barely flinches when Yoimiya comes bursting through the door to squawk in his ear, shattering the bliss. It's the same thing every week. Thoma finds a little peace and quiet, and his colleagues inevitably ruin it.
"They're being so cute," she says, flapping her hands. "So cute! I don't remember them being like this before. Like, sure, they were close and adorable, and you could tell Gorou had a huge crush. But now it's obvious that Kazuha feels the same way, and they aren't avoiding it anymore! How cute."
Thoma cracks open one eyelid. "Say, Yoimiya, do you think it's cute, by any chance?"
"About as cute as the way you blush whenever either of the Kamisatos are nearby," Yoimiya shoots back without missing a beat. "Or how much you fidget when Kazuha smiles at you, or when Gorou lifts something with his big, strong arms. Oh, and how about the way you nearly faint and forget how to speak whenever Aether comes by the teahouse, hm? I'd say that's pretty cute."
Thoma buries his face in Taroumaru's fur, thoroughly betrayed. He can hear giggling, but he refuses to look up. Not even when Taroumaru barks in irritation, squirming to get away from him, or when Yoimiya offers to bring him a coffee as consolation.
"How long do you think it'll take them to get together?" she asks, after a little while.
Reluctantly, Thoma peels his face away from Taroumaru's fur, depositing him carefully on the counter. It's not up to hygiene standards, and Ayaka would certainly frown delicately at the sight, but Taroumaru likes to feel tall, and who is he to deny the boss what he wants? The counters always get thoroughly cleaned every evening, so it's fine.
"It depends," he says. "I think Gorou wants to say something, but he's worried Kazuha still doesn't feel the same."
"It was pretty obvious that Gorou was the one madly in love last time, wasn't it?"
"Ha, yeah. And it wasn't fun when Kazuha left. Not that I blame him! But I think he'll have to be the one to make a move if he wants something to happen with Gorou, considering everything that's happened. It wouldn't hurt to show that he's interested."
Yoimiya looks thoughtful, and a little excited. She creeps back over to the door to peer through the gap, presumably spying on the two lovebirds. "Like a big, romantic gesture?" she asks. "Do you think that would work?"
"Hey, don't go interfering—!"
"I'm not!" Yoimiya turns around, dimpling at him. "I'm just going to order some extra fireworks, just in case."
"Extra fireworks?" Thoma demands, a little baffled, but Yoimiya bounds back into the teahouse, leaving him without answers and slightly chilled to the bone. "What were the original fireworks for?"
Presenting the fireworks to Kazuha goes about as well as planned. He glances inside the crate and veers back, mouth turned up in bemusement.
"As much as I appreciate your explosive taste in terms of the new menu, Yoimiya, I don't think we can serve these to customers."
"It's not for the customers," Yoimiya says, laughing as she sets the crate aside. "It's for you. I wanted you to have options for your big romantic gesture with Gorou."
"But we're not interfering," Thoma interrupts, pulling Yoimiya back gently by the tie of her apron, twisted into a large complicated bow. "Yoimiya likes any excuse to explode things, you know that. There's no pressure, and we're going to keep our noses out."
"The minute Ayaka asks you what's going on with those two, you're going to sleuth the answers out of everyone!" Yoimiya declares, crossing her arms. "You'll orchestrate a big flowery date for them, don't even pretend otherwise!"
Thoma tries to refute her, face burning, but Kazuha clears his throat quietly. Everything Kazuha does is quiet and pointed, but the room always turns to him, always looks his way at the slightest noise, bending towards him like open petals, eager to hear what he has to say.
"No flowery dates," Kazuha says, steely but soft. "No fireworks, either. I appreciate the thought, but I already have a plan."
"You do?" Thoma says, unable to help the way his brow ticks up in surprise.
Kazuha turns pink and averts his gaze. There's a small smile on his face, soft and hopeful. And when he looks back at them and nods, it is firm and decisive.
"I do."
Yoimiya gasps, clasping her hands under her chin, starry-eyed. Even Thoma finds himself melting a little at the look on Kazuha's face—although that's not saying much, considering he melts around pretty much everyone.
"Alright," Thoma says approvingly, grinning wide. "I'm on board. The kitchen isn't the place for this, but d'you need help? I think Yoimiya might explode if she doesn't get to know all the details, ha."
"Like you're not interested!"
He is interested, that's the thing. So when Kazuha offers to meet them after their shift at a small market a few streets away, Thoma hardly needs convincing. He finishes a little earlier than everyone else, leaving the kitchen in the capable hands of the Kamisato staff, and strolls out of the door, clad in his longest coat, collar turned up against the brisk wind.
The streets of Inazuma City are fairly busy, people rushing to and from work and college and home. The leaves are starting to fall as the weather changes; several catch in his hair before he sweeps them away, and goosebumps prickle the back of his neck as the chill sets in. It's not too bad though. And it settles his mind, wandering around with no clear goal, taking in the sights and snagging a fruity drink from a cart on his way.
The market Kazuha mentioned is a little bundle of stalls selling trinkets and hot food, tucked away in the corner of several streets. Thoma busies himself with making small talk, winking at the sellers and trying to sneak their recipes out of them while he waits for the others. Kazuha is the first to join him, coming up behind him while he's perusing a set of fortune sticks.
"Are you considering drawing one?" Kazuha says.
It doesn't make Thoma jump, but only because he's a wily one when he wants to be, and he's grown used to Ayaka's silent approaches. He grins over his shoulder and buys three fortunes, one for each of them, and hands Kazuha's over. He doesn't care much about his own fortune, but it's satisfying to see Kazuha's blank face turn thoughtful and then bashful as he reads his little slip of paper.
"Something good?" Thoma asks innocently. "Did it happen to mention a brown-haired, very loveable boy with the biggest crush on you?"
Kazuha slips the fortune into his pocket and steals Thoma's drink right out of his hand.
"Hey!" Thoma pouts. "I'd have bought you one, you know."
Kazuha flashes him a small grin around the straw. "I know."
"So insufferable." Thoma laughs, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I missed you."
Kazuha goes pink again. At this point, it might be better for his health if he stayed pink permanently rather than swapping back and forth.
"I'm here!"
Yoimiya's shout rockets around the little market. She comes skidding around the corner towards them, kicking up leaves. She looks bright and carefree, bangles jingling on her wrist as she dodges pedestrians. A thick, bright orange scarf is wrapped around her neck, but somehow it does nothing to muffle her next yell.
"Sorry, I'm late! Sayu needed money for the bus!"
She comes to a stop right beside the, huffing and beaming. Her cheeks are red from running, and there are leaves sticking to the fuzzy material of her coat. She snatches the drink out of Kazuha's hands and takes a long gulp, passing it back before accepting her fortune gratefully.
"Ooh, good luck all around. It says I should buy something gold!"
Thoma steals his own drink back, only to sigh when he's met with the barest dregs. He sips it regardless. Yoimiya links her arm through Thoma's, encouraging him to do the same to Kazuha, who endures it with good grace. They trek around the market; Yoimiya buys a sparkly gold scrunchie to add to her collection, and Kazuha eventually leads them to Yae publishing house, only a block down the street.
"Here," he says. "This is the reason I came back."
It's a delicate looking building with iron decorations and clean grey brickwork. The windows are filled with neat leaflets and swirling silver designs painted right on the grass. Tall plants sit close to the window, tucked into corners and flowering beautifully.
"Oh?" Yoimiya peers at the publishing house, and then back at Kazuha. "I knew it probably wasn't just because you missed us."
"I did," Kazuha interrupts gently. "I missed being home, and I missed all of you. But I left so suddenly, and without any explanation. I owe you all an apology for not keeping in touch, or making an effort to help you understand. I still don't know if I can talk about it freely, but I can try."
Thoma shakes his head, leaning closer to the window to give other pedestrians room on the pavement.
"We're not here to bully an answer out of you," he says.
"No, I know." Kazuha inclines his head. "But you are my friends. It would be remiss of me to leave you in the dark. It was actually a mutual friend of ours that led me back here. You know Aether, don't you?"
Yoimiya stifles a laugh. "Thoma definitely wants to know Aether, that's for sure."
"Thanks, Yoimiya," Thoma mutters, cheeks burning. "It's nice to know you've got my back."
"You should see how flustered he gets whenever Aether drops by! One time, he was trying to move all the coffee beans in, and Aether just slings two over his shoulders and walks right on by! I think he nearly—"
"He gets it, Yoimiya!"
Yoimiya dissolves into giggles, collapsing right against the wall. Kazuha smiles knowingly, a sly look on his face that Thoma dutifully ignores.
"Anyway," he says loudly, clearing his throat. "You were explaining the publishing house thing, and why you came back?"
"Ah, that. Well, it didn't feel as though I could come back without a reason. Not without something to justify it. And there were admittedly some people I wanted to avoid, so I steered clear for a while. But I bumped into Aether while working in Guyun National Park, and it turned out that he has friends in the publishing industry."
Thoma didn't know that. He racks his brain for a name, but nothing comes to mind.
"They mostly write fantasy," Kazuha says, noticing his frown. "Not really your cup of tea. Regardless, he read some of my work and encouraged me to try. It isn't much, but my first chapbook was something of a success. I was put in touch with the publishing house here, and they've agreed to represent me on a trial basis."
Yoimiya squeals, permanently damaging Thoma's eardrums. She bounces up and down, reaching out to clasp Kazuha's hands tightly.
"That's amazing, Kazuha! Oh, I can't believe you never said anything! Is that why we're here? Are we going to see where you work? Will you let us read your stuff?"
"Ah, well, I don't technically work here," Kazuha denies, warm under their attention. "I'm a writer, not a publisher, or editor. But Yae encourages exposure to newer works, and there is a smaller coffee shop not far from here where I planned to give an evening reading. If you'd like to come along."
"Don't be ridiculous," Thoma says. "Have the reading at Komore Teahouse."
"Ah, well…"
"Oh, that's right! Ayaka wouldn't mind, especially if Thoma asks. And Gorou will be there if he knows you're going to read your work out loud! He wouldn't miss it. You could even read something about Gorou, maybe?" Yoimiya puts her hand to her chin, thoughtful. "If you've got anything like that, I mean."
"Only an entire dedicated chapbook."
Thoma blinks at him. Yoimiya lowers her hand, mouth agape. Kazuha meets their gazes firmly, only the tiniest hint of embarrassment in his eyes.
"Damn, Kazuha," Thoma says, impressed. "That's definitely a way better gesture than fireworks."
"I wouldn't go that far," Yoimiya says, but she looks half a second away from vaulting into the air with joy. "Okay, that's settled! We'll fix a date with Ayaka, and you clear things up with the publishing house. Oh, you guys are going to be so cute together. I can't wait!"
Kazuha looks a little alarmed by her energy, but ultimately, all he does is smile sweetly in agreement.
"Woah, it's a full house out there!" Thoma announces cheerily, marching into the kitchen with an empty platter of Taroumaru Bun crumbs. "I hope you've been resting your voice, Kazuha, because it looks like people are really dying to hear you talk. I haven't seen Gorou yet, but I expect he's around—Oi!"
Thoma almost drops the plate, slack-jawed. Kazuha looks up in a daze from where he's pressed against the counter, and Thoma sees the exact moment that his gooey, love-struck expression switches to something more appropriately horrified. He would be offended that his face is enough to bring about such a change, but he can't really blame him, considering his own horror.
Kazuha starts shoving Gorou's shoulder, trying to move him away. It has very little effect. Gorou seems keen to stay right where he is, tucked against Kazuha, an open chapbook sitting abandoned on the counter beside them. The pages are probably open on some extremely telling love poem, given the circumstances.
"Gorou," Kazuha says urgently. "Gorou, look behind you."
"Hm? What?" Gorou glances over his shoulder, and grins brightly. "Oh, hey, Thoma!"
"This is a kitchen!" Thoma cries, but it's hard to properly portray his irritation when he can't stop sputtering with laughter. "You can't do that in a kitchen! I bake in here!"
Gorou's expression flattens, and he rolls his eyes, still trapping Kazuha against the counter. "We're just kissing. It's nothing dirty."
Underneath the counter, Taroumaru looks very judgemental. He's wearing his best collar for the reading, and he's yet to shift off his cushion. Thoma sends a quick prayer to whoever's listening that Ayato never finds out what his beloved dog has witnessed.
"Just kissing, he says," Thoma scoffs, putting his hands on his hips. "When did this happen?"
"About three minutes before you barged in and ruined everything," Gorou says, rolling his eyes again. "Are you going to barge back out?"
"It's my kitchen!"
"I am sorry, Thoma," Kazuha says, though he doesn't look all that regretful. "I came back to get a glass of water before the reading, and I found Gorou with my chapbook. They are… primarily love poems. He asked me who they were for. I'm afraid I couldn't hold the secret any longer."
Gorou makes a slightly helpless noise, somehow getting impossibly closer. Kazuha looks like he might evaporate any moment now out of sheer humiliation, though he makes no more move to get away. It would be very, very adorable if Thoma hadn't spent two hours baking Taroumaru Buns specifically for the event.
"I can't believe we put all that work into organizing your big romantic gesture, and you went ahead and kissed him before everyone's even in their seat yet."
"Please, go away," Kazuha says, tipping his head back to stare at the ceiling, clearly praying for death. Gorou, ever the protective pup, bounds away from Kazuha for long enough to shove Thoma out of the kitchen. His own damn kitchen. Thoma lets himself be shoved, chuckling lightly.
"You better not stick your tongue too far down there, Gorou. He still needs to be able to read the chapbook to everybody."
"Goodbye, Thoma." One final shove, and the door slams shut in his face. "Kazuha just needs a minute to freshen up."
"Make sure you at least cover Taroumaru's eyes!" Thoma shouts through the closed doorway. When there's no response, he rocks back on his heels, sighing. There's a grin on his face despite the ridiculousness of the situation. "It's about time."
"You sound pleased."
Thoma whips around to find Aether standing in the little hallway between rooms, head tipped. He's wearing something cropped far too short and embroidered with gold. His mouth is quirked in an unbearable sort of way, and Thoma resists the urge to fan himself with his hand like one of those sweet old ladies behind the takoyaki stall in town whenever they spy someone dishy.
"Taroumaru got your tongue?" Aether asks, cocking his head.
"What? Oh, no." Thoma laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. "You just surprised me, that's all. I didn't know you were coming tonight. Poetry doesn't really seem like your thing?"
"Are you calling me uncultured? Or uneducated, maybe?"
Thoma almost panics, but he catches the teasing glint in Aether's eyes, and he manages not to wave his hands around frantically. There really is no telling why Ayaka trusts him to be the face of her teahouse. He used to be smooth. He used to be suave. And then he started working at Komore Teahouse, and he started being surrounded by incredibly attractive, kind, and attentive people, and it's like every ounce of sophisticated charm he once had went straight down the drain.
But he isn't a complete and utter disaster, most of the time.
"You know I'd never talk about one of my favourite customers that way," Thoma teases back. "Shouldn't you be helping them set up the stage?"
"I could ask you the same thing. How come you're skulking back here in the dark?"
The door opens right as Thoma casts about for an excuse. Gorou and Kazuha come slinking out, both of them holding hands.
"Oh, so that's why," Aether says, with an infernal smirk. "Hey, you two."
"Aether," Kazuha says, dipping his head and trying not to look shifty. "Is everyone ready?"
Aether's smirk softens, and he proves himself to be the good friend that he is by offering Kazuha a warm, reassuring smile. Thoma gives in and fans himself quietly in the background, aware that Gorou can see and judge him.
"Everyone's ready, but if you're not, we can take a few minutes," Aether says. "I'll encourage anyone who has a problem with it to leave the premises."
He shows off his dimples then, all innocence and sweetness. But nobody is fooled. Gorou squeezes Kazuha's hand, snorting with laughter.
"He'll be fine," Gorou says. "Won't you?"
"I suppose it is not like there's any pressure over the chapbook anymore," Kazuha murmurs, agreeing. "The most important person already approves of my work. Although I do still hope everyone else enjoys the reading."
"They'll love it." Aether steers Kazuha down the hallway, linking their elbows before Gorou can pin him against the wall and kiss him senseless, or presumably start sobbing into his chest. "Let's get you on stage where you belong. Hey, Thoma. Save me a seat?"
Aether throws a little wink over his shoulder. The both of them disappear into the front of the teahouse, where the steady hum of noise grows a little busier at their entrance. Gorou opens his mouth. Thoma slaps a hand over the entire lower half of his face before he can say a single word.
"You have absolutely no room to talk, and if you try and tease me, I'll send Kazuha that picture I've got of you straddling a fire hydrant."
"I was drunk," Gorou hisses, trying unsuccessfully to bite his hand. "You took advantage of my vulnerable state!"
The poetry reading is a success. Kazuha settles on a little stool in the middle of the makeshift stage, a soft spotlight bathing him in a graceful glow. He looks demure, unruffled, and entirely unlike somebody who just violated Thoma's safe kitchen space. Every time he looks up, his eyes find Gorou, and his entire being softens.
Thoma only has to take one look at Gorou's awed face and shining eyes to know that it doesn't matter how things began anymore. They got exactly to where they needed to be.
"You guys are going to be insufferable together, aren't you?" Thoma murmurs.
"Absolutely," Gorou whispers back. "Now shut up. I'm trying to listen to my boyfriend."
At quarter to seven in the morning, a rift in the sky opens, and rain falls with a vengeance. Just another black mark beside the concept of early mornings, officially making seven o'clock the worst, most unkind hour in the world. Thoma sprints the last few feet to Komore Teahouse and darts inside, cursing up a storm. The lights are already on, and there's noise from the kitchen. It's warm, but not warm enough to improve his mood immediately. He shucks his wet jacket and shakes the rain out of his hair.
"You're here!"
Yoimiya bounces into the shop-front, beaming obnoxiously. Her scrunchie is the sparkly gold one from the marketplace, and it holds most of her hair into a high ponytail; the rest escapes in curly wisps, spring-like and free. The sight of her improves his mood incrementally at most.
"I'm here every morning," Thoma points out, exasperated. "You need to stop sounding so surprised whenever I turn up."
"It's your day off, so I can sound as surprised as I like, thank you very much."
"You called me here! You said it was an emergency!"
Yoimiya flaps a hand at him, clearly gearing up to be dismissive of his protests, but Taroumaru interrupts her. He trots out of the kitchen on soft, stumpy legs, his nose turned up to the ceiling. His bark is loud and commanding. Taroumaru doesn't come out of the kitchen unless he wants to remind everyone who's in charge. Thoma blinks, bending down to scoop him up. His stubby legs stick awkwardly out in the air.
"What's chased you out of the kitchen, huh?"
"Oh, I don't think he approves of his new employee," Yoimiya says, smirking. "I'm pretty sure you're not going to either. Either that, or you're going to approve a little too much."
That is hardly reassuring.
Warily, Thoma heads towards the kitchen. Taroumaru grumbles a little, wriggling in his arms, but eventually settles. Thoma always forgets how heavy dogs are until he's holding one, and the effort involved not to stumble is more than he anticipated. It's why it takes him a little too long to nudge open the door, and it's why the figure at the countertop, covered in flour, takes him entirely by surprise.
"Hi there," Aether says, grinning. "Already checking up on my performance? It hasn't even been a day yet."
Thoma very nearly drops Taroumaru. He stumbles a little further into the kitchen, setting the dog clumsily down on the floor. He tries not to bite his tongue when Aether looks him up and down, taking in his casual clothes with obvious appreciation.
"You look good," Aether says. "Not that I don't love the apron, but this works too."
"What is happening," Thoma mutters faintly. He can hear Yoimiya's cackling through the gap in the door, lodged open with her interfering foot. He clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're working here? How?"
"I hired him," Ayaka says, swanning in through the back door with a paper file tucked under her arm. "I hope that won't be a problem. I also took the liberty of dealing with the delivery man myself. I know you've been having trouble, Thoma. I wish you had told me. He shouldn't be troubling you again, not after our conversation. If there are any problems with Aether's placement, do let me know, but I imagine you both will get along just fine. He made me this divine meal the other evening as part of his interview, and I simply had to hire him. Make sure you show him the ropes! Oh, and Yoimiya, I wanted a word about Sayu and the sugar pot incident the other week… "
"Ack!" The sound of Yoimiya scrambling away from the door is music to his ears. "Yes ma'am!"
Ayaka glides gracefully through the kitchen, pausing only to touch his arm and smile warmly at him. It settles him. But it also makes him want to sink through the floor a little bit. There's no way she didn't do this for him. That's just what Ayaka's like, seeking out problems and solving them, finding solutions to things nobody even thought to question. She takes everything onto her shoulders, regardless of how much the responsibility weighs. Thoma's entire existence is devoted to lessening some of that weight, but she's pretty much impossible to wrangle.
"Explain to me the event in detail," Ayaka says, her voice growing quieter as she leads Yoimiya out of the kitchen. "I want to make sure I file the paperwork correctly…"
In the silence left behind in the kitchen, Aether leans one hip against the counter and tips his head, a curious smile playing at his lips.
"She's absolutely terrifying," Aether says.
"She's efficient," Thoma says automatically, used to defending her. "But yeah, she's absolutely terrifying. Sweet and kind and gentle and ready to throw down at the first hint of trouble."
"Sounds like a good friend. You sure you don't mind me being here? I don't want to step on any toes, but Ayaka said you could use the help in the kitchen. Something about how all work and no play makes you cranky in the mornings."
"Miss Kamisato would never slander me like that," Thoma denies, though he can't help his grin. "I don't mind you being here. Especially if you can bake as well as Ayaka seems to think you can."
"I'm more of a cook, but I'm a quick learner."
The door swings open again, and Kazuha steps in, Gorou sticking to his heels. They're both holding hands, smiling goofily at each other. Thoma clears his throat pointedly, but they don't even have the audacity to look at him when they say hello.
"No more funny business in my kitchen, gentlemen," Thoma says.
That does get Kazuha's attention. He glances up, a little distracted, and catches sight of Aether still leaning against the counter. It only takes a moment for him to spot the apron.
"Isn't it our kitchen now?" Aether nudges him with a pointy elbow.
Thoma opens his mouth. Shuts it again. He wishes, for the hundredth time, that he didn't get so tongue-tied around people that look so good in an apron. Kazuha takes advantage of his distraction to scoot around him, finally breaking apart from Gorou's lingering hand-hold in order to grip Aether's shoulder and congratulate him quietly on his new job.
"Hey, thanks for setting up that poetry thing." Gorou falls into line beside him. "I know it didn't end the way you imagined, but we might not have gotten there otherwise."
"Not a problem," Thoma says, side-eyeing him. "Things are going well, I take it?"
"Really well." Gorou's face almost splits with the force of his smile, and he rocks a little on the balls of his feet, like he can't help but move. "Really, really well. I can't really believe it. But I'm so glad he came back."
"It's nice to see you this happy," Thoma says. "I'm glad you both found each other in the end."
"Me too." Gorou's soft stare turns a little sly, a little mischievous. "Your turn now, huh?"
Thoma cannot quite help but glance quickly across the kitchen. Aether, as though sensing his stare, looks up. He meets Thoma's eyes and looks momentarily caught off-guard by the attention. But it doesn't last long. Nothing ever knocks Aether down; he smirks, and winks. Thoma's face gets hot, but manages something of a charming grin in return. He feels more than sees Gorou laughing beside him, the shake of his shoulders. Aether turns away, still with that teasing look on his face, and Gorou opens his mouth.
"Say one word," Thoma says pleasantly, trying to step on his foot.
Gorou grins, dodging easily. "I'll say five. Good luck."
Yeah, Thoma thinks, as he watches Aether and Kazuha turn their attention to the mess of flour and dough on the side, both of them smiling incandescently at each other. He's probably going to need it, but the good thing is, he's already feeling pretty lucky.
Word Count: 10,156