A/N: Yes yes, a coffee shop au one shot but if it was a really bored and romantically starved housewife instead of a college student. housewives deserve love too.
Aki first met Divine six years ago at a bar that she frequented with her friends. He was handsome, dressed well, and had a habit of paying for her drinks every time she was there. Pushed by her friends, Aki introduced herself and the two began dating. Divine was rich. Very rich. He came from old money and whatever Aki desired, he provided. Not that she wanted for much.
Her parents loved him. He was polite, attentive, and gentle, just a handful of the qualities that they thought their daughter deserved in a man. Divine cooked well and often and did the dishes right away. His job as a consultant kept him away for weeks sometimes but he would always pop back in and the scent of a homecooked meal melted away any of Aki's complaints. Did she forget to mention he would clean up when she was asleep?
It was no surprise to Aki or any of her friends that in just a year, Divine proposed with a gorgeous three carat ruby ring and Aki accepted. He was perfect, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect fiancé. But he was not a perfect husband. The homecooked meals soon became a once a month occasion and eventually, once every two months, and with time, just once a year with how busy Divine was with his work. Aki didn't mind that. His kindness became colder and he began to habitually leave his dirty clothes throughout their house and would spend frivolously on Aki's card when she wasn't around. Aki minded this and the fights started.
Arguments would last for hours as the two yelled and screamed at one another. But with each argument's end, Divine would swoop in, show off a grand gesture of love once more with bouquets of roses and a candlelit dinner for two and, of course, Aki's favorite wine. And with each passing year, Aki felt less and less energy in her to fight against his bad habits and worse behaviors. With each conversation, she found herself swaying to his opinion, no matter how disagreeable it seemed. His work wasn't taking him away from the house as much as it used to and he would be home for months at a time, working from his dainty laptop.
Soon, five years had passed and Aki found herself unable to fight back against Divine. Her body felt exhausted from having to pick up after him but still, she would escape the apartment any chance she had.
One summer morning, Aki peered out the window at the blue, blue sky and mustered up the energy to go on a walk. Divine had taken off for a foreign consultation job yesterday and she was feeling less stifled without him around. He'd be gone for maybe a week.
Aki put on a white sundress that she'd bought years ago but never had the opportunity to wear. She stood in front of the tall mirror in the bedroom and twirled, the hem of the dress lifting slightly. She looked damn good. She noticed her deep eyebags and groaned. Aki dug into her makeup cabinet, pulling out the weapons she'd enter battle with: moisturizer, three kinds of concealer, and a highlighting wand.
The battle was short with her as the clear victor as the eyebags drowned under concealer. Aki touched up the rest of her face and applied mascara for the first time in what felt like years. She grabbed her purse and put on her red sandals, locking the door behind her. The warm breeze tickled her skin, rustling the leaves of a nearby oak tree. Aki checked her wallet and closed it shut. She would treat herself to something nice today.
The downtown area hadn't changed much in the past few years and Aki liked it that way. The familiarity made her feel safe. Aki stepped into the café she used to frequent more often when she was younger. Wood panel walls, polished floors, and pleasing light blue accents that reminded her of the ocean. When was the last time she'd seen the ocean? Muted piano music played through hidden speakers.
Aki turned her attention to the barista, a tall blonde woman with glimmering green eyes and a soft smile. She was taking another customer's order at the register but turned to face Aki and greeted her politely with a small "hello." The name tag read "Sherry." Aki lined up behind the other customer. A latte sounded like a great idea right about now. And lots of foam. With a dusting of cocoa powder on top.
"Good afternoon," Sherry greeted with a smile in her eyes. "How can I help you today?"
"A latte for here with lots of foam and cocoa powder on top," Aki recited. She dug into her wallet and pulled out some crumpled bills, handing them to Sherry. "Keep the rest as a tip."
The bills were flattened between Sherry's strong hands and tucked into the register. "Thank you, ma'am. May I have your name?"
A moment of silence passed before Aki registered Sherry's question. She felt her face heat up a little from the blonde's friendly gaze. "Oh right, sorry. It's Aki," she managed to eek out, nervously twisting her wedding ring. The ruby glimmered in the sunlight. All these years of being married and Aki was feeling flustered because of a stranger. If Aki wasn't already tired of Divine, she'd have scolded herself.
"Aki," Sherry repeated, typing the name into the register. "Your coffee will be done in a few minutes. Please, have a seat anywhere you like." Aki made an immediate beeline for the table by the tall windows, relaxing into the cushioned seat. Sherry was the only barista that day. Aki watched the blonde place steaming mugs and cups of drinks in front of other customers instead of calling for them to receive their orders. Had the services changed?
Finally, Sherry brought a foam lidded cup to Aki, setting it down in front of her. "Your latte, Aki." The redhead really liked how Sherry said her name in such a gentle tone. When was the last time Divine had said her name like that? The latte landed safely on a cork coaster and Sherry was walking back to the counter before Aki could even say thank you.
Aki took a careful sip of her latte. That barista was a crafty one and Aki didn't find herself disliking it. She immediately scolded herself. This sort of behavior was exactly how Divine wormed his way into her life after all. Carly would have a field day if she found out that Aki was being seduced by someone who used the same exact methods as Divine did.
Aki watched the clouds pass by and when her coffee ran dry, she collected her purse and left, making sure that as she passed by the register that she was fiddling with her wedding ring again. Aki really didn't want to attract any trouble while Divine was out of town. Who knew what he'd do if he found out someone was approaching his wife with the intention of seducing her?
The sun was still high in the sky so Aki made her way to the shopping district to look for some new books and maybe a new hamper for Divine's heaps of laundry. She passed by the hobby store and stopped herself to look through the glass window, past the anime figurines on display, for a particular long haired glasses wearing friend of hers. No luck today. Carly must've had the day off. Aki knew she could always call Carly but with the way their schedules conflicted so much, Aki never had the time to call and Carly never had the time to visit.
"Looking for me?" a voice asked from behind. Coke bottle glasses and a giant black t-shirt with a winking Dark Magician Girl, Carly stood before Aki, arms on her hips and camera around her neck. "Haven't seen you in a month, Aki! How've you been?"
"Exhausted. It's nice to be outside after so long," she answered. "Let's get lunch somewhere to catch up."
The two women talked the afternoon away, mostly about Carly's photography side hustle and Aki's ever troubling bouts of exhaustion. Of all of her friends, Carly was probably the only one who still kept contact. The others had left because of Divine's post-marital personality. Aki was grateful for Carly's steadfast friendship and trusted her. Trusted her enough to tell her about Sherry.
"I got a coffee earlier and I met someone interesting," Aki said, swirling the white wine in her glass. "Oh not like that. She was the barista of that café I used to go to a lot in the past. The one with the blue walls. She was..." Carly raised both eyebrows. "Nice."
"Like nice nice or Divine nice?" Carly asked, earning a small laugh from Aki. "I'm just asking. I really don't want you cheating on Divine with someone who's just like him."
Aki rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. "I'm not going to cheat on Divine with a barista of all people," Aki clarified. "And I don't feel interested in her like that."
"Like what?" Carly asked, waggling her eyebrows with a grin.
"I don't have any attraction to her," Aki insisted, taking another sip of wine. She was totally lying. Carly could tell. "I'm just envious of her. She isn't held down by some asshole husband. I think." She looked at the ruby ring on her left hand. "Is it still in fashion to wear rings if you're married?"
"Well... yeah? It means you're taken. It keeps people from approaching you with romantic suggestions and stuff." Carly pushed around a piece of onion on her plate. "Do you ever think about divorcing from Divine?"
"The idea's crossed my mind at least once every couple of months." Aki looked down at her half-eaten salad. "But every time I think about it, I don't know what I'd do after. My parents wouldn't support my divorce, I've been out of work for the past five years, and I don't want any of his money to support me." She looked up at Carly. "And I'd feel guilty relying on you for anything."
"What're friends for then? Seriously, if you do decide you want to divorce, just gimme a text and I'll take you out for skewers as a treat."
At the end of the week, Divine returned with a bouquet of roses and a kiss to Aki's lips. "I'm back, honey. Did you miss me?"
"Just a little," Aki said, smiling up at him. His green eyes were so hollow tonight. She was looking into an abyss. "Let me help with your luggage." She moved her hands towards his suitcase and Divine pulled it away from her reach.
"No, no. I can handle this myself, honey," Divine insisted, tucking the suitcase under his arm. He handed her the bouquet. "Why don't you go put these roses in a vase and we can relax with a movie. Maybe a nice lunch at that place you've always wanted to go to."
"That sounds lovely," Aki answered with a practiced tone. Divine went upstairs to change into more relaxing clothes and Aki was alone with the bouquet. The flowers were beautiful and had a gentle scent that made one want to bury their nose into the petals. Even the thorns had been trimmed off. She filled a vase with cold water and carefully placed the flowers in it.
Divine's careful quiet steps down the stairs followed by a throat clearing were definitely in Aki's list of least favorite sounds. She wished with all her heart that Divine would go to work one day and never come back. She looked into his green eyes and smiled, hoping beyond hope that he would elope and leave her alone, maybe go somewhere like Russia to freeze to death.
"I was worried that if I was gone for too long you might cheat on me," Divine admitted. "So of course I rushed back to see my queen." He took her left hand and gently kissed the top of her knuckles. The exhaustion set in. Aki's fantasies of Divine disappearing exited stage left and the world around her dulled, the edges of the rose petals blurring, the sound of Divine's voice becoming white noise. She followed him to the garage and got into the passenger seat of his silver convertible without a word. The entire way to the restaurant, Aki's head was slumped against her headrest, her shaky eyes trained directly on Divine.
He looked strange every time she was exhausted. His hair seemed redder, his arms seemed shorter, and those annoying gloves he wore everywhere looked tackier. And Divine was always talking but she could never hear what he was saying. It was too muffled. The car stopped and Divine unlocked the doors. Aki stepped out of the car, following Divine into the restaurant. The front area was crowded. Everyone wanted a taste of the special lunch set that had just debuted.
Divine said something to Aki but she didn't quite catch it, choosing to remain silent instead of responding. They lined up for entry and Divine parsed the menu. Aki looked up at the blue, blue sky with a dazed expression. She was exhausted.
Someone bumped into her shoulder and the edges of Aki's world sharpened, her pupils shrinking as her eyes readjusted. The wind from cars rushing by, the chatter of the people around her, that shitty cologne Divine always wore, and the feeling of someone else right next to her. Aki turned to look at the person who bumped into her. That familiar blonde hair and green eyes. No. Those eyes weren't green. Divine had green eyes. This person had emeralds. Sherry?
"Sorry for bumping into you," the barista apologized with a small smile. She was dressed in a loose white t-shirt and jeans, a silver necklace tucked under the collar of her shirt. Aki's eyes drifted towards Sherry's toned arms. "Are you also here to eat lunch?"
Divine shot Sherry an annoyed glare. "Yes, she is," he answered for Aki. He stepped between them and sized up Sherry who raised an eyebrow at him. "Who are you? How do you know my wife?"
Sherry offered her hand for a shake. "Sherry. I work as a barista at a nearby café. Your..." She paused. "... wife was my customer earlier this week so I thought to make some conversation. Is there a problem with that?" A sickly sweet customer service smile graced her lips.
Divine grit his teeth, his jaw bulging from how hard he was grinding his molars. "No. I suppose not," he answered, his nostrils flaring. He turned back to Aki and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him than she preferred. Aki dared to peek over her shoulder and Sherry waved at her with a smile, a field of wild flowers blossoming in her heart.
Throughout their lunch, Aki paid only half attention to Divine's complaints about work, her mind elsewhere. Her head had never been so clear in the past six years. She didn't feel exhausted for the first time in however long she didn't know. Aki finished her plate of food for the first time in two years, ignoring Divine's comments about her getting fat.
On the way out, Aki spotted Sherry at a window seat. She was having something small and a glass of white wine. The blonde looked up from her food and waved Aki good-bye. The redhead raised her hand to do the same but Divine grabbed her by the elbow and dragged her out of the restaurant.
"Hey! Ow! Divine, let go of me!" Aki shouted, her husband dragging her further down the block to where his convertible was parked. He released her, a red mark on her arm from how hard he had been holding her. "What's your problem?"
Divine pushed hair out of his furious eyes and took in a deep breath, not to calm himself but to look composed. "Stay away from that woman from now on. She's one of those shameless homewreckers," he claimed, unlocking the car. "Get in. We're going home."
Two days passed. Two more days passed. Two more days passed.
"I'm off. I'll see you in a week, Aki." Divine fixed his red striped tie and smiled at his wife. The rising sun reflected off of every blade of grass covered in dew. She nodded at him, a dazed expression on her face. Aki watched Divine's car back out of the garage and drive off towards the airport. The smell of morning dew hit her nose and she breathed in sharply, her vision swirling, her legs shaking.
Aki closed the front door and knocked back two aspirin. He was finally gone. She walked up to the bedroom with calm steps. She sat down in front of the vanity and started applying makeup. When she found her appearance suitable, Aki put away her makeup supplies and got changed into the white sundress she'd worn two weeks ago.
"I look good," she said aloud, smoothing over the front of her dress. "I'm not getting fat." Aki breathed in and exhaled. Coffee sounded really good right now.
She locked the door behind her and walked towards downtown, the cool morning giving way for the hot afternoon. Her feet took her to the front of the café and Aki entered, the smell of coffee and baked goods enveloping her. Sherry wasn't at the front counter today. Instead, a very tall man with slicked back blue hair stood behind the register, looking bored. His name tag read "Antinomy."
"A latte with lots of foam and cocoa powder on top for here, please."
A flash of lightning surprised Aki. Dark clouds rolled in, swallowing the blue sky, dimming the café's interior. Antinomy pressed the light switch on the wall and the lights above came to life.
"And a cinnamon roll as well."
Thunder rumbled through the building and heavy rain poured into the streets, panicked citizens running for the nearest awnings and restaurants. Aki considered herself lucky.
"A cinnamon roll and a latte with lots of foam and cocoa powder on top. That'll be-"
The door opened suddenly and the both of them turned their heads. Sherry stood at the doorway out of breath, rain at her heels, her body and clothes drenched in rain. A gray shoulder bag hung limp from her left shoulder. The silver chain of her necklace shimmered in the café's lights. She coughed and cleared her throat, pushing her wet bangs out of her face. Aki's heart skipped a beat and she forced herself to look back at Antinomy. "Sorry I'm late, Anti. I got caught in the rain," she managed to say after a moment.
"No worries. Just dry off. It's gonna be empty until the storm dies down anyway." He looked back at Aki. "That'll be 350 yen please." Aki handed him exact change and he closed the register. Sherry rushed by, running into the employee area. The housewife sat by the window to watch the rain and to try and clear her mind.
"Dammit, am I really having a bisexual awakening at the age of 32..." she thought, pinching the area between her eyebrows. Sherry looked... great. She cut a gorgeous figure in whatever she was wearing. Aki scolded herself. She barely knew the barista and was anguishing over a silly little crush. Antinomy brought her coffee and cinnamon roll to her, gently setting the plates onto the table.
"Your coffee and pastry, ma'am," he announced in a dull tone. He didn't walk away, instead choosing to stare directly into Aki's eyes. "I'm sorry for being very direct but are you one of our card members?"
"Huh? No. I didn't even know this place had a membership." In all the years Aki had been here, there had never been any sort of membership promotion. Not even a stamp card for free coffee.
Antinomy nodded and took out a steel card with gold lettering from his apron, setting it in front of Aki. "Please take this. When you use it, you can get 150 yen off every purchase you make at this location and others like it." Aki picked up the card, admiring the fine lettering and gold numbers on it.
"This café is a chain?" she asked, looking at the back where a small fleur de lis had been carved into the bottom right corner. "This looks really amazing. I can't think of any other place that gives a metal card for memberships of all things."
Antinomy cleared his throat. "We aren't a chain but we do have a network of stores that provide such benefits," he explained. "If you ever find yourself in a city or town that has a café with our... decorating tastes or a golden fleur de lis on the door, show them this card and you'll receive the 150 yen discount. Excuse me." He turned and walked away, leaving Aki alone with her breakfast.
She put the metal card into her purse and began to eat, listening to Antinomy grind coffee beans. The storm outside did not let up, continuing to drench the outside world. Several minutes passed. Sherry came out of the employee area wearing a white button up shirt and a dark magenta apron, her damp hair tied up in a ponytail.
"I wish I could talk to her at least a little. Get to know her," Aki thought wistfully, taking a small sip of her coffee. Then, as if Sherry had read her mind, the blonde approached Aki and sat down in the seat across from her. "Oh uh hi?!" Aki squeaked in surprise, immediately setting down her cup.
"Hi to you too. I haven't seen you in a week and I got a bit worried."
Antinomy said something that Aki didn't quite hear and Sherry stuck her tongue out at him.
"My husband kept me quite busy this week," Aki admitted. "He just left for work this morning. His job takes him out of the country all the time." Why did she mention that last part about Divine being away?
"Really?" Sherry said, somehow very interested in what Aki was saying. "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? I'm free after 5."
"Sherry, no flirting with customers!" Antinomy said loudly, his back facing them.
"I'm not flirting! I'm forming vital customer relationships!" Sherry responded. Antinomy gave the two a sour expression. He returned to grinding coffee beans. "I really do want to get to know you better. I'm new in town and I get the feeling you don't like your husband very much."
"Oh God she's definitely flirting with me," Aki thought, internally panicking. She cleared her throat. "Well, who likes their husband nowadays?" she joked. "Marriage is a ball and chain in the form of a government document."
"So, is that a yes to dinner?" Sherry looked at her expectantly. Dammit, she was gorgeous and it was painful for Aki to not make eye contact.
"Yes," Aki said, the word escaping her mouth before she had a chance to think about it. She paused to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her heart was beating way too fast. "I'll meet you back here at 5 then." The rain outside lightened to a sprinkle and rays of sunlight peeked out from the dark clouds. "I have to get going. The sale on pork ends in twenty minutes." Sherry nodded and stood up to open the door for Aki.
"I look forward to seeing you tonight. Bye, Aki." The door of the café closed behind the redhead and she speedwalked to the supermarket to elbow through the crowd of house-spouses and cheapskates to grab a pack of discounted pork shoulder. No matter how long she spent in the freezer section, her face would not stop feeling hot.
Sherry smelled like coffee and sugar whenever she got too close to Aki.
"I want to hug her and breathe in deep," she thought as Sherry talked about how strange the weather had been lately. "No! No! Stop that! None of that right now! Sherry's looking for friends. I think."
Aki mentally anguished over this. She still had to divorce Divine (somehow), secure a stable income, find an apartment, and all that other complicated stuff. Her finances were all connected to Divine's. It'd be messy unless she took the divorce to court because she knew in her heart that if Divine could rip everything out of her hands, he would do it without blinking an eye. He had the money to hire the best of the best lawyers.
Somehow sensing that Aki was in a world of her own, Sherry put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked with concern. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
"I'm just stressed out," Aki said, giving a half-hearted smile. "Don't worry about me."
"If you say so."
They walked into a crowded Chinese restaurant and sat down near the window. A waiter came by and took their orders before rushing towards the calls of other customers. Sherry twiddled with her thumbs for a bit before smiling at Aki. "I've always wondered. Where did you buy that white dress of yours?" she asked, pointing at Aki's sundress.
"Oh this old thing? I can't remember. It has to have been at least five years since I first bought it." Their food arrived and the two women fell into a comfortable flow of conversation, topics ranging from local politics and environmental concerns to the finer details of rent worries and being annoyed at joint pain. Aki learned quite a bit about Sherry. She was 34 and had moved from France to Japan to broaden her horizons. She was interested in trading card games, metallurgy, motorcycles, and wine. She was single and fine with it staying like that.
Aki hated to admit it but she really did like Sherry. The woman never interrupted her, always listening patiently and attentively. She responded fully and didn't act like an expert in anything (despite being an expert on quite a lot of things from what Aki could glean). Plus, Sherry smelled nice. Was that a valid reason to like someone?
She nervously twisted the ruby ring on her left hand. They had exhausted all avenues of conversation now, the food finished, and their drinks emptied. "Sherry, I've been meaning to ask for a while about your necklace. What is it?" Aki asked.
The blonde reached under her shirt and lifted out a silver cross covered in thin nicks and bumps. "It's a necklace my father gave me when I was seven years old. I'm not religious if that's what you're wondering." The metal surface reflected the dim light of the restaurant. "It's a memento. My father passed shortly after giving this to me. When I wear it, I feel like he is watching over me."
"I'm sorry for asking," Aki apologized, feeling her fingers grow cold from nervousness. "I didn't realize it had to do with your father."
Sherry smiled at her. "No need to apologize. It's been a long time." She tucked the cross under her shirt. "Ready to go or would you like to sit for a bit longer?"
"I don't really need to go home immediately but... it would be nice to go home now. I want to wake up early tomorrow so I can catch up on some chores." Her gaze cast down towards her hands and the red stain that was her ring. Sherry stood up and paid for their meal at the register, Aki following close behind as they left. The sky was still light, a sliver of a moon making its way through the light pink sky. Aki mustered up her courage. "Actually, would you like to stop by my place for some tea?"
Sherry visibly paused before she let out a low whistle. "Already inviting me over to your place. You move fast, Aki," she teased, following her friend down the street.
"It's not like that! I... honestly, I feel pretty lonely being in the house by myself." Aki pursed her lips. They stopped at an intersection. "I'm in my thirties and I don't have any friends who I can hang out with very often. It's a little sad, don't you think?"
The blonde paused. "No, I don't think so. Based off of what I could tell, your husband is the... how do you say it... dick wad that keeps his wife to himself and doesn't let other people talk to her." They crossed the intersection. "Your husband will have to try very hard to keep me away from you though. I intend to be your friend no matter how weird and gross he is."
Aki blushed. She really blushed for the first time in years. "Thank you, Sherry," she said quietly. They walked to the end of downtown, shops and stores slowly melting into a residential neighborhood. Aki couldn't help sneaking glances at Sherry's arms. Dammit, why were they so toned?
Sherry let out a low whistle when they stopped in front of the two story home. "This place must've cost a pretty penny," she thought aloud as Aki opened the front door. "How much was the mortgage?"
"No idea. Divine handled all of the finances after we got married," Aki admitted as she took off her shoes and put them on the shoe rack. "Please come in. Make yourself comfortable on the couch. I'll fix us some tea." Sherry took off her boots at the door and hung up her shoulder bag at the door. Aki busied herself putting a kettle of water on the stove and prepping the teapot with her favorite blend of rose hip tea.
"Your place is really nice," Sherry commented, sitting on the plush leather couch. "My dinky little apartment looks nothing like this." She browsed the CD collection next to the audio system that Divine had purchased on a whim once. "Damn, this set up looks sweet." She made a line in the dust covering the bass speaker. "Your husband really doesn't come home often huh?"
"I have the place to myself for only a week before he's home for months on end," Aki complained. She put away the dried rose hips. Sherry walked into the kitchen, looking at the granite counter and the smooth marble tiles. "You really like this place that much?"
"It looks nice!" Sherry said defensively, peering into the utensils drawer. "Besides, you really do keep this place nice, exception to the audio system." Sherry leaned against the counter, her eyes on the kettle. Then her eyes went up to look at Aki's face. "Why did you invite me over? Aren't you scared your husband will find out?"
Aki laughed nervously. "It's not like I'm cheating on him by having you over. We're just two women having tea after having dinner together. Nothing adulterous about that." A steady column of steam began to rise from the kettle's spout. "I won't lie. I'm attracted to you in a way I've never felt before about a woman. I've never had a chance to explore my sexuality. A lot of my friends did all that in college or after, worked it out on their own terms."
The redhead reached into the cabinet and pulled down two red mugs. "I'm not going to use you to affirm my own sexuality or anything," Aki assured in a higher pitched tone. "I'm having some kind of midlife crisis and you are unfortunate enough to witness it unfolding in real time." She nervously turned her face away from Sherry, fidgeting with her long strands of hair.
Sherry walked closer to her and held out her hand, palm facing up. "Here. You can hold it." Aki flinched but slowly, hesitantly put her left hand on top, strong fingers wrapping around her own. Her heart was beating a million kilometers a mile and her stomach was full of wasps, what a time to be alive. "You're full of stress. We can talk about your feelings like proper adults another time. For now, let's just focus on the tea."
Aki exhaled forcefully and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We can talk about it another time," she echoed. Her hand squeezed Sherry's. The trail of steam from the kettle grew bigger.
The sound of the door being unlocked from the outside made Aki flinch. "He's home already? He wasn't supposed to be back until the end of this week!" Aki cried out, panicking as she let go of Sherry's hand to go towards the door.
"Wait! Why don't we talk to him? It's not too late to try and reason with him!" Sherry suggested. Aki was already opening the door and in walked Divine, carrying his trusty suitcase under his arm as usual. He immediately made eye contact with Sherry and his eyes narrowed.
"What is that homewrecker doing in here, Aki?!" he demanded. He took off his shoes and pushed the suitcase into Aki's arms, loosening his black tie. "Don't tell me you were really planning on cheating on me with this whore." Sherry scowled at him, hands on her hips.
"Wait, Divine! I invited her over for tea. That's all this is!" Aki insisted. The kettle let out a low short whistle. "Divine, just let her leave, please!"
The man stopped in front of the audio system and chose a CD from the shelf, popping it into the CD player. A slow guitar riff began to play from the speakers. "Oh, you're putting on some music to kick my ass to or something?" Sherry asked sarcastically. She crossed the living room to leave and Divine suddenly groaned loudly and curled inwards, his hands gripping onto his auburn hair.
"Divine?" Aki asked. Her husband didn't respond, only continuing to groan. Even Sherry had stopped at the doorway to look at Divine with some ounce of concern. "Are you okay, honey?" Suddenly, a long bony arm wrapped in purple muscle shot out from his back and grabbed Aki by the waist.
"Where is it?" he asked, his voice discordant and rumbling. Hollow ugly green eyes, too many of them, looked at her as the bony arm lifted up Aki. Why did he have so many teeth? His clothes shredded as more arms and legs emerged from his body, his face opening to reveal slimy teeth and tendrils. "Where did you put the ring? My ring!" he screamed, an intense drumming solo blanketing his garbled words.
Aki screamed back in response, trying to get free from the arm holding her in place. "What are you?! Let go of me! I'm always wearing the ring! Why are you asking-?!" She put out her left hand for Divine to see... not a single ring gracing her hand. "Where...?"
Sherry tossed the familiar three carat ruby ring in the air from her left hand, catching it mid fall. "You've finally revealed your true form. Well, part of it, anyway," she commented in a calm tone. She pocketed the ring and reached into her shoulder bag. "I really didn't think my journey would take me here of all places, looking for the demon that's been terrorizing the world for over five decades."
"I'm going to kill you and then eat you and then vomit your half digested body into the River Styx!" Divine screeched, dropping Aki onto the floor to launch himself towards Sherry. Unfortunately for Divine, Sherry was the faster one of the two. She drew a revolver from her bag and rapid fired all seven rounds into Divine's midsection, bleeding red all over the floor and walls. Unfortunately for Sherry, Divine tanked all seven shots and his massive hands grabbed Sherry by the legs and flipped her upside down, slamming her against the walls of the living room. "You... you I will kill especially slowly! Then I'll kill that pathetic creature I call a wife!"
There was a dull thud as the kettle of boiling hot water flew through the air and smacked Divine in the back of his head, the water searing and warping the skin on his back. He screeched in pain and dropped Sherry to turn around, a red faced Aki out of breath and holding a kitchen knife in one hand. "You dare... you dare strike me?!" Divine yelled over the intense electric guitar. "I'm going to kill you first then deal with the bitch who shot me!" Aki backed away in horror, running as fast as she could down the hallway.
Like a cliché right out of a horror movie, her ankle was grabbed by one of Divine's massive hands and she fell right on her face. She clawed at the wooden floorboards, screaming even though no one could hear her. Divine lifted her up and something akin to a smile graced his demonic, toothy face, his jaw moving so strangely and his nine eyes squinting at her. "You were wonderous for a time but I've grown tired of you, Aki," he said, a human looking hand stroking her shuddering face. "Like all the others, you will be sacrificed to keep me on this plane of existence. Do not fret. I'll make it fast for you as a reward for serving me all these years."
All nine of his eyes flew wide open and he grinned widely, pulling Aki closer to his face. "Not! Both of you are going to be tortured slowly by me!" Divine screamed, laughing maniacally. Aki shut her eyes tight and tensed her entire body. Then just as she was ready to meet death, she was dropped onto the floor again. She opened her eyes and right over Divine's bleeding body stood Sherry covered in bruises and cuts, breathing raggedly. In one hand was a brass knuckle and in the other a blood soaked machete.
"Dammit! Stop getting in my way, hunter!" Divine screamed, his arms slapping the weapons out of Sherry's hands and the blonde went flying into a wall. "I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you! I'm going to-!" His yells were cut short by a machete blade driving into his throat and down through his ribs, red blood pooling out from his body. Aki breathed raggedly, her dress soaked red and her upper body and face covered in blood. Gripped tight in her hands was the machete.
Divine's body shrank and curled inwards into a fetal position as the last of his life left him. Aki exhaled slowly and breathed in deeply. She was finally free.
Antinomy arrived ten minutes later with a small crew of fellow demon hunters. Except Aki didn't think they looked like demon hunters. They all wore bright yellow hazmat suits with fleur de lis emblems on them and had way too many vacuum cleaners (also with the fleur de lis branding). Antinomy clicked his tongue at Divine's corpse, crouching to inspect it. "You did a damn good job, Sherry," he complimented. "Didn't think physical injury would be enough to get rid of him but here we are."
Sherry was on the couch getting a checkup by one of the hunters, her wounds mostly patched up but her hands and ribs were heavily bruised if not fractured. "Hey, it wasn't me that gave the killing blow. That award goes to Aki," Sherry said, pointing at the redhead. Aki was also receiving a check up from a hunter, her eyes checked for signs of concussion "She was really badass with that machete. She should join us!"
"Don't go trying to recruit civilians, Sherry," Antinomy scolded. Sherry pouted. "Besides, we both know it's too dangerous for someone with little to no background on demon hunting."
"You make a good point," Sherry admitted, wincing as the cuts on her face were dabbed with alcohol. "Aki, I'm really sorry you had to see this. I was supposed to get rid of him without you seeing but you got involved and got hurt. I'm sorry."
"I accept your apology," Aki responded. "Um... I know this is going to sound weird but I'm glad you killed my husband." She paused. "Ex-husband. I'd been thinking about divorce for a while now and I'm glad I didn't have to go through it to be rid of him. That ring I was wearing. What was it? Was it keeping me docile?"
"Something like that," Sherry said. "It was a ring that acted as an anchor point for Divine to stay in this dimension. So long as you wore it, he would be able to stay here and continue to kill people. He was also the one who killed my father." She smiled wryly at the dusty corpse on the floor. "It only took two generations of the Leblanc family to track down and end him."
"Family?" Aki parroted.
"The Leblanc family specializes in all forms of demonic removal and extraction," Sherry explained. "It's a family owned business that's been up and running since 1625. The only difference between me and the other demon hunter families is that we aren't involved with the police or local governments in any way, shape, or form. Both are great groups for demons to blend into, after all."
Aki trembled at the idea of a demon becoming a local, tricking people and lulling them into a false sense of security before killing them. "What happens now?" she asked.
Antinomy answered, "The corpse will be removed and the home will be thoroughly cleaned of any demonic presence or biological material. We will also search the home for clues concerning any possible collusion with other demons. This will take up to a week so we'll rent a hotel room for you to stay in. From there, it is up to you what you choose to do."
The redhead fell silent, deep in thought. "Sherry, do you mind if I crash at your place for a bit?" she asked. Sherry gave a bruised thumbs up.
A month passed and Aki had become used to working at the café. She was still getting certain coffee builds but otherwise she was doing well. Carly had asked her non stop for details about Divine eloping with a coworker of his and moving to Cancun, Mexico. It was a silly cover story but it worked well enough to convince Carly and anyone else who asked.
Her parents were less than pleased with Divine's departure but offered Aki condolences and financial support in the wake of her rich husband disappearing. Of course, Aki happily accepted her parents financial assistance and immediately put her house up for sale. The demon hunters had done a fantastic job removing the blood from the walls, ceiling, floor, and wherever else Divine had spilled onto.
Sherry was coming home tonight and Aki hummed happily as she gently packed coffee grounds into the porta filter. The bell above the door rang and Aki welcomed in the customer, taking their order as Antinomy finished the espresso shot she'd prepared. Five o'clock swung by and Aki left the café, walking back to the apartment she shared with Sherry.
With Divine's finances, Aki had bought the two of them a much nicer apartment. Sherry left for week-long hunting trips every three months, scheduled around specific cycles in demon appearances or something. Not that Aki minded. It was just a week, after all. Plus, Carly was always there to keep her company. Even Antinomy was a good friend, though he was a pretty tough manager.
"I'm home," Aki said without much thought, closing the door behind her. She was picked up in familiar strong arms and lifted up in the air. Aki laughed in amusement, breathing in Sherry's perfume. "And you are too!" Sherry kissed Aki on the cheek and set her back down.
"I have so much to tell you. Do you want to hear any of it?" the hunter asked.
Aki hugged her tightly. "Of course. I'd love to."
A/N: Thank you for reading through my silly little coffee shop au fic. see you all later.