This story was totally unplanned, but it's a pet project that I suddenly got serious about. I've never written a prequel or sequel to one of my fics before, because to me it feels like fanfiction is already a step away from the source material, and when you add something else onto that, it feels like fanfiction FOR a fanfiction, and who really gives a shit anymore at that point, right? However, this is the exception, because it can stand alone as a pretty entertaining silentshipping story in its own right, and it's just an added bonus that it feeds directly into Songs I Never Learned.
On the odd chance that you're finding this BEFORE reading Songs I Never Learned… read this anyway, but read that one next. ;) It would be kind of fun to read them in order, I guess. A unique experience anyway.
Also, consider yourself warned: this is very, VERY slow burn. Blame Kaiba for being a socially-awkward derp.
Takes place about six years after the end of the series (starts the November before the January that sets off the events of Songs I'd Never Learned).
Day 1
"So, uh, yeah… give the first copy of the receipt to the guest, put the second one in that little slot there under the register, and then put the third here on the counter so I'll know what to make," Marianne said, suppressing a yawn. "Not too hard."
"I guess not," Serenity agreed. "But if the customer gets a regular house roast, I can make it for them myself, right?"
"Yeah, but that's just grabbing a cup and pouring it out of the pot. Not much 'making' involved. Also, try to get used to saying 'guest' instead of 'customer' - Karin's picky about the language. I think it's just because corporate puts pressure on her, though, she's not usually that much of a hardass."
Serenity nodded and took a deep breath, leaning back against the counter. This was not going to be her most interesting job. Not that she had a vast, fascinating employment history or anything; most all of her previous positions had been retail. She was hoping for something different when she applied at the coffee shop, but she was beginning to realize that the main elements of the job weren't very new: scan a credit card, print a receipt - well, in this case three receipts - tell someone to have a nice day, and probably never see them again.
The only thing that would be different this time would be switching out coffee filters instead of endlessly folding t-shirts.
"So, do we get any interesting regulars in here?" Serenity asked, hoping to engage her new co-worker in some kind of casual banter.
"Plenty of regulars - mostly pretty boring, though. A lot of stay-at-home moms who come to get frappes and lattes and cappuccinos, but they're really just looking for an excuse to get out of their boring houses and gossip with somebody. Then there's the teacher crowd... they all carry huge tote bags and have those punch cards for the reward program. When they finally get their free medium at the end of a card, they totally flip their shit. It's like they've won the lottery. Oh, and there's Mr. Vanilla Cappuccino, of course - bald guy who comes in here twice every single day. Morning rush and then the end of lunch hour. Guess what he orders, every single time?"
Serenity chuckled.
"I can't imagine."
At that moment, the door jingled.
Serenity was momentarily startled. They had only been open ten minutes, and she had been told the real rush didn't start until 6:30 or so. She gave Marianne a look of anxiety, but was startled to see that her co-worker had a surprised look of her own.
"He's early today."
"Who?"
Marianne's expression had turned into a sly smile.
"I'll let you handle this one. That's some first customer, though. Not your lucky day."
Serenity opened her mouth to protest, but Marianne had already disappeared into their meager kitchen.
Before she could stop to think, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"So, the sign out there said 'open,' but I'm beginning to have my doubts."
Serenity flipped around quickly, and when she saw the face that went with the voice, she was momentarily stunned.
"Kaiba?"
Of course, it was. It had to be. Both his voice and appearance were unmistakable, and they hadn't changed one bit in the five or six years since she had last interacted with him face-to-face. His brown hair was as carelessly tousled as ever, and his eyes were still just as piercing. He even sported his signature trench coat, although the one he wore on that particular day was an understated khaki raincoat - much less flamboyant than the ornate, swooping ones he had favored in their youth.
Kaiba raised an eyebrow.
"Do I know you?"
Serenity immediately felt a sense of foolishness, followed very quickly by indignation. Was it that she was embarrassed to have expected him to remember her… or was she angry that he didn't? In a way, she sort of felt both. It had been years - and he was rich and important and all that - but they had also been through quite a lot together.
Well, not together as in the two of them… but together as in her group of friends and him and his brother.
"Serenity?" she asked expectantly. "Serenity Wheeler?"
Kaiba paused for a moment, but apparently either her face or her name had registered.
"That's right," Kaiba replied, though of course not in any way apologetic. "Wheeler's sister. You'll have to forgive me, the two of you don't look anything alike."
He smirked, and Serenity raised an eyebrow.
"You know, that was meant as a compliment."
Though Serenity could feel her blood pressure starting to rise, she didn't feel like losing her new job on her first day. And with her first customer - er, guest.
"Look, do you want some coffee?" she demanded.
Kaiba laughed, although by Serenity's estimation, nothing seemed particularly funny.
"I'll get my usual - which, of course, you don't know yet. But for future reference: medium dark roast, no sugar, no room for cream. That means filled to the top."
Serenity forced a smile - and didn't bother trying to disguise how forced it was.
"Coming right up."
She had to turn around to select the medium cup and fill it from one of the coffee pots waiting on hot plates on the counter, but she could feel Kaiba's smirking eyes follow her all the while. Once or twice, she was afraid she was going to drop a lid or a cardboard sleeve, and she started to feel preemptive embarrassment for clumsiness that hadn't even happened yet.
Sure enough, when she turned around, he was staring expectantly. She averted her eyes and looked down at the cash register in front of her. Unfortunately, the register in question - the same one on which Marianne had spent hours meticulously training her the day before - seemed to have turned into a jumble of keys and commands that might as well have been ancient Greek.
Kaiba clearly saw the confusion on her face, because his smile widened.
"I always pay in cash," he said smoothly, sliding her a fold of bills.
"Okay, well, uh, the coffee comes to - "
"Two fifty. Just keep the change, since it doesn't look like you can open the register anyway."
Giving her one final maddening smirk, Kaiba turned around and departed.
Serenity had to resist the urge to throw a cup at the door as it closed behind him.
Day 2
"So you and Seto Kaiba talked a while yesterday," Marianne observed.
Serenity paused for a moment, feeling the previous day's embarrassment rush back in like a flood. The two of them hadn't had any time to talk after Kaiba left because he was followed in quick succession by some of the teacher clique Marianne had mentioned before - and along with them, an impromptu review of how the register worked. However, Serenity felt like she should have known better than to think she had gotten away without having to relive that interaction.
"Yeah, and thanks for that, by the way," she said, sticking out her tongue.
Marianne winked.
"Think of it as hazing. Welcome to the CoffeeWorks team; you're one of us now. You got the hat, the apron, the tax paperwork… but it's not legit-legit until you've been snarked at by our VIP, Seto Kaiba."
"Ugh. Well again, thanks. It means a lot."
The two worked in silence for a few minutes, getting the first few pots of the house roast brewing, filling the insulated jugs on the counter with milk and cream, and setting out an array of fruit and pastries. Serenity, still half-asleep, was content to putter along in silence. However, it became apparent that Marianne wasn't ready to let the topic of Kaiba drop just yet.
"So what all did the two of you talk about for all that time?"
"It wasn't really that long, was it?" Serenity asked, putting down a box of wooden coffee stirrers probably harder than was necessary.
"Longer than he usually hangs out. He's notorious for walking in the door, staring ominously at the barista and putting a few dollars on the counter, then taking his coffee and leaving. I think I've heard like, four words out of him in the whole time I've worked here, and that was the one time I made the mistake of leaving a half-inch of space for cream at the top of his cup."
Serenity laughed, but much like Kaiba's the day before, it wasn't very light or humorous.
"Yeah, well. He and my brother were in the same graduating class, and they've hated each other for as long as anyone can remember. So it was probably just that."
"Ah," Marianne replied, seeming somehow disappointed. "Well, don't worry. I'll take him today. You've done your time."
"He comes in every day?" Serenity demanded.
"Yeah, but like I said, it's a quick in-and-out. And it's usually right before seven AM, so you can get his shit over with and then go on with the rest of your day."
Later…
Serenity was adding a few more granola bars to the display on the counter when she felt Marianne's hand on her arm.
"Here he comes - but don't worry, I've got it."
Serenity felt a burst of anxiousness and adrenaline, and she opened her mouth to agree and announce that she was going back to the kitchen. However, before the words could come out, the adrenaline had ignited a spark of indignation.
"No, don't worry about it," she said instead. "I've got him."
The door jingled, and Serenity took her place behind the register and assumed a benign smile.
"Good morning. The usual?" she asked.
Kaiba raised an eyebrow.
"Have you learned how to use the cash register, then?"
Serenity felt her cheeks start to burn, but she determinedly stuffed down the feeling.
"Yes. In fact, I'm an expert. Now, the usual - yes or no?"
Kaiba smiled at her with that same denigrating smile from the day before - the one that made her want to turn around and pour his medium-dark-roast-with-no-room-for-cream right down the front of his crisp white button down shirt.
"That's what makes it the usual."
She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, no matter how much of a jerk he was going to be.
She reassumed her smile from earlier.
"Coming right up."
Serenity turned around to prepare the order, but before she could, Marianne - apparently trying to be helpful - presented her with a medium cup already filled to the brim with black coffee. When she flipped back around to ring it up, Kaiba was already holding out his bills.
"So," he began, "you've mastered the register, but now you've had to get other people to pour the coffee for you?"
Serenity wordlessly snatched the bills, her patience finally starting to wear thin.
"Have a nice day," she said sarcastically, handing over his receipt and a pile of change.
Giving her a smile that somehow looked a little different than the ones before, Kaiba dropped the coins in the tip jar.
Day 3
Serenity was a little nervous for her first shift without Marianne. She wasn't working solo, but her co-worker wasn't much of a conversational companion. In fact, she hadn't even talked to him long enough to remember his name - it was something B, like Ben or Blake - but she knew that he was a software engineering student at a local university. He usually had at least one earbud in, and he spent his downtime doing calculus homework on the pick-up counter instead of trying to get to know anyone.
Serenity had to remind herself that she didn't take the job for the purpose of making friends. If he could steam milk and grind espresso beans, he'd get the job done. That said, she also wasn't expecting any kind of back-up to deal with her favorite tough customer.
However, as it happened, she didn't end up needing it after all.
The morning was particularly busy because of some kind of medical conference going on at the hotel down the street, but Serenity was proud of how well she managed to keep her head above water. The house roast stayed hot and ready, the sugar packets stayed stocked, and the receipt stack stayed neat. She was so focused, however, that she almost missed someone in line calling her name.
"Hey, Serenity! Hello, anybody home?!"
When she saw Mokuba, she immediately brightened - in spite of the frown on the face of his older brother, who stood beside him.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "Hold on just a second!"
She got the two customers in front of them checked out - one was an iced mocha and, as it happened, the other was the infamous Mr. Vanilla Cappuccino - but as soon as she had, Mokuba was taking advantage of his newfound eighteen-year-old height to lean all the way over the counter to give her a hug.
"Hey yourself!" she exclaimed, unable to keep from laughing as he pulled away. "I haven't seen you since the Halloween party at the game shop. What was that - two weeks ago, now? How have you been?"
"Pretty good! But right now I'm mad Seto didn't tell me that you worked here!"
"Well, it's only been a couple of days," she admitted. "I know his order - but what do you want?"
"Grande caramel iced latte with sugar free syrup, half soy milk and half two percent. Hold the whip, but add a dash of cinnamon instead. Don't stir it in."
Kaiba sighed, the first time he had called any attention to his presence since the two of them walked in.
"Mokuba, we'll be here all day," he complained.
"I get it every time I come in," his younger brother assured him. "They whip it up in no time."
Rolling his eyes, Kaiba handed over a folded ten.
"Whatever the change is, keep it."
"Oh, wait!" Mokuba exclaimed. "I think I have one of those reward cards."
As he dug around in his wallet, Serenity took great satisfaction in watching Kaiba cross his arms and lean his head back in annoyance. Finally, it appeared he could hold back no longer.
"Mokuba, is that really - "
"Ah, here we go!"
With a flourish of pride, Mokuba produced a crumpled piece of cardstock with seven C-shaped punches going along the side.
"This is the longest I've ever kept up with one of these. Only two more punches to go after this, and I get a free medium," he said smugly.
Serenity, who was deeply enjoying Kaiba's annoyance, took a moment longer than necessary digging around in the drawer below the register.
"I know that puncher is here somewhere… aha! Let's see..."
Pretending to look around furtively, Serenity punched two holes instead of just one.
"One more. One more, and you get your free medium."
Mokuba pumped his fist and turned to his brother.
"She's the best, Seto. I hope you tip her well."
Day 4
"No Mokuba today?"
Serenity raised an eyebrow as Kaiba walked in the door by himself.
"It's rare he wakes up early enough to have coffee with me before work."
"Well, tell him I said hello, anyway."
She was already starting to turn around to pour the medium black coffee when she felt Kaiba's hand brush across her arm.
"You know what… I'm going to do an americano. Still medium."
Serenity paused, momentarily surprised, and Kaiba took the opportunity to pull out his wallet. Instead of his usual three bills, he pulled out five.
"The americano's just one dollar more," Serenity said, suddenly feeling awkward.
Kaiba smirked.
"I know. I can read."
Day 5
When Serenity came back from her first day off, Marianne was waiting behind the counter with a coy smile.
"Somebody missed you yesterday," she observed.
Serenity paused.
"Who? Ben?"
Marianne laughed out loud.
"I'm not sure if Ben's aware that anybody else works here. And besides, he only takes shifts on Wednesdays. I'm talking about someone else."
Suddenly, Serenity thought she might have an idea of who they might be talking about.
"Not Kaiba?" she said, disbelieving even as she ventured the guess.
Marianne nodded.
"He asked Diane if you'd already gotten fired during your first week."
Serenity sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Charming."
"She almost fainted, by the way," Marianne added. "I don't think she'd ever heard him talk before."
"So what did she tell him?" Serenity asked, trying not to sound too interested.
"She stammered out a no, and he seemed satisfied."
"What did he order?"
Marianne looked at Serenity like she had lost her mind.
"A medium dark roast with no room for cream and no sugar," she said slowly. "That's all he ever gets."
Serenity paused, but she decided not to offer a contradiction.
"Ah."
Later that day…
"So you still have a job," Kaiba observed, approaching the counter.
Serenity gave him a look of something like exasperation.
"Yeah, I just had a day off. Are you... familiar with the concept?"
Kaiba raised an eyebrow, as though surprised by her nerve, but he quickly regained his composure.
"In regard to my own working life? In fact, no."
A quick laugh escaped before Serenity could stop herself.
"Fair enough, I guess. The regular today, or are you feeling adventurous again?"
"I wouldn't call an americano adventurous," Kaiba said, "but I can go adventurous if that's what you're looking for. Mind you, I don't want something I have to wait on like I did the americano. I didn't plan on spending eight minutes standing around waiting for someone to pour some hot water on top of an espresso shot."
"So I'm guessing you don't want what Mokuba had?"
Kaiba gave her a look of revulsion.
"Absolutely not. I'll have an earl grey tea, no sugar, but topped off with cream."
"Good choice," Serenity said, keying the order into the register. "But you know… you'll still have to wait a minute or two for the tea to steep."
Kaiba gave her a long look.
"How about this," he suggested, pulling a business card out of his wallet along with his usual stack of bills. "If you're going to talk me into fancy orders, here's my number. Keep your phone close and anticipate a call ahead before I come in."
Serenity paused as she held out his receipt.
"How… will you know how to reach me just by giving me your number?"
Kaiba gave her a look as though she were the stupidest person on the planet.
"Well, clearly you'll have to text me."
Reaching out and taking his receipt, Kaiba stepped out of line and strode over to the pick-up line on the other end of the counter.
