Archive of Our Own ^beta

There was something surprisingly peaceful about working late night cafe shifts. It wasn't something Choi Beomgyu expected when he signed up for the job, but he's been thoroughly enjoying himself for at least a month now. While he did love a good crowd or two, Beomgyu appreciated the moments of quiet that he could use to study for any upcoming exams and also his free coffee employee perks that he could claim at the crack of dawn, before any of his classes. Granted, it wasn't the healthiest way to do things, but that's fine.

That was where the magic part came in, anyway.

A rather worried Kang Taehyun watched as Beomgyu poured the contents of a bright red vial into his cup of coffee, especially since it was only 10PM and the older man had also just arrived.

"You know, taking energy potions instead of actually sleeping is really bad for you," Taehyun pointed out as he watched a puff of pink smoke evaporate into the air, just above the cup. It wasn't the first time he's seen Beomgyu come in and immediately go for a cup of coffee, either. Still, the blonde wizard did own the cafe and Beomgyu was paying for the potions and the additional shots of expresso he would add into each cup, outside of his freebie. As a businessman, he was pleased. As a friend, he was very concerned.

"I didn't get to sleep this afternoon because I accidentally turned one of my pillows into a rat," Beomgyu complained as he sipped his coffee. He made a face and tapped the cup thrice to cool it down some more before continuing, "I couldn't catch the damn thing so I just waited for the spell to wear off instead."

Taehyun tilted his head to one side, "Why were you making things into rats?"

"It was an accident," the other man emphasized as he downed his cup of coffee, "I was trying to make it a bat and I did the spell wrong."

"Why would you need a bat?"

"Ask my professor! I don't understand graduate school," Beomgyu groaned in frustration before starting a long, detailed rant about his classes earlier that day and the amount of homework he got right before the weekend, too. Did all of his classes conspire to pile him up with an insane amount of work, right when he was in his worst condition? Was he supposed to keep taking his shots of espresso and energy potions in the name of magic? Was that simply how all wizards survived? He wasn't sure. It would explain why all of his professors were so grumpy all the time though.

All the sleep he didn't get at night and did in the morning made Beomgyu feel more like a vampire.

Just as he was saying that, the cafe's door opened and in came an actual vampire.

After all, the cafe was one frequented by magical creatures and non-magical creatures alike, although having humans around was rare. Everybody needed something to help tide them through the day and night, right? Sirens came in for soothing tea, other wizard students needed a place to study, and the cafe had no trace of silver so it was werewolf friendly. Other than the occasional problem fairy who would pretend to be a barista to get unsuspecting humans' names, everybody was welcome.

"Welcome, here to see me again?" Beomgyu asked as a form of greeting, grinning cheekily when the said vampire and latest customer approached.

"Bold of you to assume that," Choi Soobin said with a straight face, but if vampires could blush, the tips of his ears would have turned pink. At least, that was what Taehyun always thought when he happened to still be around whenever the taller man would come around. Always the same time every night. Always when Beomgyu would start his shift. Taehyun wouldn't call himself the smartest (he would, privately) but he knew when he was right or wrong.

There was no way he was going to say anything about it and risk driving Soobin away, though. He was a paying customer.

"I'm heading out now," Taehyun said instead, waving his goodbyes to the two he left behind and the tiny gargoyle statue at the corner of the cafe, who smiled back and winked, ready to report to Taehyun if anything interesting happened the next day.

Once his boss left, Beomgyu turned to the vampire and grinned, "So, what non-coffee item are you purchasing today?"

Despite how often he teased Soobin,  it would be a lie to say that he didn't look forward to having the other come in every day. It was another perk to his job, maybe. Countless customers came into the cafe on a daily basis; some just wanted a quick drink or bite to eat and others needed a little something more. Potions for warmth, comfort, and healing were just a few of Beomgyu's favourite ones to work with. He always enjoyed watching customers leave the cafe looking significantly happier but most of all, he enjoyed conversing with those who would take the time to stay.

It was the same with Soobin, although the vampire rarely asked for any magic in his orders.

"What do you suggest?" The redhead asked as he took a seat at the counter, wary of the potted plant beside him that swayed closer towards him all of sudden.

"Do you want something you haven't tried?" Beomgyu considered their menu and whether there was anything that the vampire had yet to order in his two-week perfect attendance. He also noticed the way Soobin inched his chair away from the curious plant and couldn't help but laugh, "That's Wally, do you like him? Taehyun got him this morning from Huening Kai, you know, the fairy with the mint hair that works across the street? He said Wally ate insects, sugar, and sometimes paper. Not vampires, so you're safe."

"The florist beside Yeonjun's tattoo parlour whose rose bush nearly burned the street down," Soobin noted as he still kept his eyes on Wally the living plant, "I'm aware."

It seemed like the perfect time to leave Soobin alone (or not alone, since he had company somewhat in the form of Wally and the sentient gargoyle Taehyun liked keeping around as a bodyguard) so Beomgyu did just that, heading farther behind the counter to work on whatever he wanted, since he had the vampire's permission. Never coffee, for reasons he still didn't know the reason behind. Soobin had already tried most of their cakes, too.

Beomgyu looked up to ask the other something and was surprised to see Soobin already looking at him.

The vampire looked away pointedly, before realizing that to his left was Wally and to his right was the rest of the empty cafe, since it was an awkward point of the night where nobody really needed to drink or eat anything yet. Soobin had no choice but to meet his eyes again and the younger man resisted the urge to laugh.

"What do you feel about chocolate? Specifically, hot chocolate," the cafe worker asked instead, already picking out the ingredients he would need regardless of Soobin's answer. He waved his hand in the air and the cabinets opened. Jars came tumbling out and measuring spoons flew closer. The movement was a little shaky, likely because Beomgyu was tired despite the energy potion, but he still managed to successfully get everything on the table standing upright, so he considered that a win. He'd rather be thrown into a dragon's lair than have Soobin see him fail at something.

"I like chocolate," Soobin answered.

"And you also like me, right?"

"No."

Choi Beomgyu laughed out loud, delighted at the sound of sheer panic in the other's voice and the hint of terror that flooded the vampire's face. Normally, people would say it wasn't anything to be so glad about—hearing someone openly protest against liking you—but it wasn't like Beomgyu took the other seriously. Not when Soobin came in to see him every night, dressed in a long dark coat, looking like he even styled his hair sometimes. If anything, it was ridiculously amusing and maybe just a little cute.

Of course, Beomgyu would never admit that out loud, either.

(Not yet.)

"Taehyun's been experimenting with this new item and I don't think I've had you try it yet," the wizard said to change the topic back to one that didn't have Soobin squirming awkwardly in his seat. "It's pretty cool, I have to admit."

It was also annoyingly difficult to make.

Most things in the cafe required some level of expertise and at first, Beomgyu prided himself in being one of the few wizard baristas who lived up to Taehyun's standards. He made sure the younger hired him for his skills and not just their friendship, anyway. While Taehyun had a way with potions, Beomgyu had his way with natural magic; the type that thrummed in his veins, that surrounded him almost like a second skin. Many old-fashioned wizards would comment that he was going to do great, powerful things one day with all that energy inside of him.

Too bad he barely had enough energy to stay awake by himself. He was also much more interested in ordinary human affairs, and perhaps, flirting with the vampire across the counter.

If he could even call it flirting. He did think it was his way of flirting, anyway. Beomgyu wasn't sure how to really describe their relationship. They met sometime after he started working in the cafe, when Soobin walked in with an aura that was intimidating at first, before promptly tripping on air. He required cake to soothe both his knee and his broken pride. From that moment onwards, Beomgyu couldn't help but tease the other and to his delight, despite looking calm and collected, Soobin was easy to rile up.

There was never a dull moment between them, really. It helped that Soobin kept coming back to the cafe, too.

"It's called a Chocolate Bomb," Beomgyu explained when he finally finished his preparations, bringing over a tray of items with him.

There was a mug that had a single ball of chocolate, a bowl that contained toppings that ranged from colourful sprinkles to marshmallows, and a small pitcher of warm milk. Each Chocolate Bomb order was specially crafted so no two were ever alike, at least not really. Taehyun left a list of qualities he had previously tested out and which ones were compatible, which made things easier for Beomgyu to work with and also a lot more fun since he was also trusted with the process of mixing everything together. He also couldn't wait to see the vampire's reaction.

Soobin looked at everything with open curiousity, "What do I do?"

"You pour the milk over the chocolate ball first," the other answered.

"Alright," Soobin nodded as he took hold of the pitcher before immediately setting in back down. He eyed the barista with a suspicious glare, "You said it was a chocolate bomb. Is this going to blow up in my face?"

Beomgyu smiled sweetly, "Of course not!"

He would never do that, the wizard wanted to add, but that was likely just going to make Soobin even more suspicious and honestly, there was nothing sketchy with what he just made. It was just the way the vampire approached most things, given Beomgyu's penchant for teasing him. All empty words, like when he said he'd spike drinks with alcohol and Soobin would never know until it was too late.  It was how they interacted and thus, Beomgyu wasn't offended in the slightest. He offered Soobin his best smile once more and watched as the vampire sighed.

"I'm going to trust you this once," Soobin finally relented, tone light and teasing.

"Darling, you drink and eat what I make for you every night. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a lot of trust to me," Beomgyu drawled as he couldn't help but point it out, leaning across the counter and resting his chin on the palm of his hand, right in front of the vampire. He wasn't sure if it was the pet name or the way he was suddenly too close for comfort, but something made Choi Soobin lean away from the counter faster than the speed of light as if there was a silver cross being waved in front of his face.

"Can you not," Soobin said awkwardly, but it lacked bite, like he was trying very hard to keep calm.

"You don't like the pet name?" The barista asked cheerfully, "Do you prefer something else?"

Soobin opened his mouth to speak, before closing it again promptly. There was a moment of silence where he obviously thought about what to say next as he schooled his expression into one that looked less flustered, "I would prefer if you didn't speak right above what I'm about to drink without the plastic cover around your mouth. It ruins the point of wearing it when you had to prepare the drink. I'm telling Taehyun to take points off your hygiene for this month's evaluation."

He said all of that with a straight face. Beomgyu was mildly impressed.

"Just pour the milk already."

The vampire still looked a little cautious, but more curious. He slowly poured the warm milk into the mug and watched as the heat melted parts of the chocolate away, before finally revealing its centre.

With that, the ball did explode, but not in the way Soobin was expecting. Rather, it burst in the centre of the mug with a puff of harmless colourful smoke towards his face and a shimmery, rainbow sort of liquid began to spill out into the milk. It was mesmerizing, if anything. It took Soobin a second to realize that the blue cloud over the mug had yet to dissipate and was instead, shaping itself into something that resembled the shape of a hedgehog. It rolled around in the air before disappearing completely, leaving him with the cup of shining hot chocolate.

There was such a bright look in Soobin's eyes and a wide grin on his face that Beomgyu couldn't help but stare. It was his favourite part of presenting the vampire with his order. Each time, despite the banter between them, Soobin would react rather nicely. He always made sure to praise that the food or drink tasted good. On the days where Beomgyu would add something special, there was a certain smile that Soobin would give him. One that had his eyes nearly disappearing and lips pulling back to reveal more teeth than normal, one that radiated with joy.

It felt rewarding to be on the receiving end of such a smile, Beomgyu was quick to realize.

He snapped out of it enough to ask, "Was that a hedgehog just now?"

"Didn't you make that happen?" Soobin shot back, confused.

"Yes and no," the other explained. Yes because he created the chocolate ball and infused it with the specific magic it needed to work. No because it wouldn't have been possible without Soobin's involuntary participation, at least for that recipe. The puff of smoke that touched the vampire's skin earlier was tinted with a harmless vapour that worked the same way as mood potions. Honestly, Beomgyu wasn't sure how Taehyun came up with it, but the cloud that accompanied each Chocolate Bomb was meant to mimic something that made the customer happy.

"In your case, a hedgehog?" Beomgyu repeated his early question.

The vampire couldn't help the smile on his face from appearing again, "Yeah. I have a cute pet hedgehog named Odi at home, that's why."

"Odi does sound cute," Beomgyu commented sincerely before a wicked grin was on his features once more, "But you're cuter."

Soobin was in the middle of taking a sip out of his drink; instead of a peaceful sip, he ended up choking on the hot chocolate as he violently set the mug back down on the counter. He made such a loud noise it made Wally jump away from him, leaning its either stem farther back. At some point, the plant had lost interest in Soobin, but Beomgyu was pretty sure he could see the leaves try and reach out now and then. Maybe Wally was interested in eating the vampire, maybe not. Beomgyu returned his focus to the vampire trying to calm down.

"Do you need water?" Beomgyu asked, feeling genuine concern for a moment.

"No," the redhead replied swiftly, "It's was too hot, that's all."

"Whatever you say."

The dark-haired wizard decided to do Soobin a favour and changed the topic himself, nudging forward the bowl that had the sprinkles and marshmallows. He explained that the sprinkles would also change the flavour of the hot chocolate, but that it was more of Beomgyu's control than anything like the cloud earlier. If he wanted a repeat of it though, that's what the marshmallows were for, albeit limited to only three more pieces (but he could buy more if he wanted because, you know, they were still a business). All Soobin had to do was throw one into the drink and wait for the magic to happen.

"Try the sprinkles first," Beomgyu suggested.

Soobin was quick to follow, pouring the contents into the cup and giving it a quick stir before taking another sip.

His eyes lit up immediately, "You made it taste like strawberries?"

"Yes," the other smiled, pleased with himself. "But also, try another sip."

When the vampire did so, his eyes widened in surprise. He took another sip soon after and then another, before finally setting the cup back down and staring at the barista in awe afterwards. Soobin's expressions, when he wasn't trying his best to control them, were always just so pleasing to watch. Beomgyu liked the clarity in the vampire's red eyes. They always spoke of wonder and amazement at the world of magic that vampires didn't really have the ability to access. Only some had some sort of power themselves, but as far as Beomgyu knew, Soobin wasn't one of them.

"It tastes like all sorts of berries," Soobin said brightly.

Beomgyu couldn't help but smile back, "Good, I hope?"

"Very."

Soobin picked up one of the marshmallows and gave it a little test squeeze before glancing back at the other boy, "Will it show me Odi again?"

"Not all the time, I think," Beomgyu replied, sounding apologetic because he really didn't know all the factors of how Taehyun's recipe worked. The latter explained it to him at one point, but it was a very long and detailed conversation and it was on one of those nights where Beomgyu had other things in his mind. He was relying on the recipe notebook most of the time since Taehyun so helpfully created one, likely because he knew that it was easier to do that than expect his employees to remember everything he said (and he was right).

When Taehyun tested the recipe, the wizard eventually remembered, it was halfway through morphing into a face before the blonde blew the cloud away hastily.

He remembered that a little too late though since Soobin had already dropped a marshmallow in and the cloud was beginning to form.

Beomgyu stared, wondering if they would also see a face, and also wondering why he suddenly felt so nervous.

Soobin, who was none the wiser, still had the same excited look in his eyes. He watched the mist shape itself with his eyes wide and lips slightly parted in awe. Meanwhile, on the other side of the counter, a certain long-haired wizard was beginning to come to terms with why he was nervous. What if it showed someone's face like it almost did for Taehyun? Most of all, what if that face was someone he knew — but not him? He was hopeful, in some ways, but Beomgyu would rather be pleasantly surprised than horribly disappointed.

A person's eyes formed first, round and framed with long lashes, followed by a nose, and mouth, the rest of the head, and shaggy looking hair that reached past the chin.

The moment of silence that followed was broken only by the gargoyle in the corner whispering something that sounded suspiciously like, "Finally."

Meanwhile, Beomgyu pointed dumbly at the finished image, "That's me."

He didn't need to read minds or make a truth potion to see the way Soobin's thoughts and feelings were running around rather wildly in the vampire's head. There was shock and embarrassment, and what looked like a strong desire to run away, but the man was rooted in place, just like Wally beside him. If the undead could somehow pass away all over again, Soobin looked like he would love to take that chance though. Things were probably made worse by the way magical-cloud-Beomgyu winked at them before vanishing.

"This doesn't mean I like you," Soobin began weakly.

"Really?" Beomgyu asked, mustering up the courage to continue, "Because I was about to ask you out on a date."

Vampires couldn't blush, but ordinary wizards definitely can, and Beomgyu liked to think he did enough blushing for the both of them. Despite all his bravado and flirting, he was still someone smitten by the handsome vampire who sat across him. He looked forward to seeing Soobin every night since that made his job more fun. He enjoyed their conversations, especially when there was nobody else in the cafe, and for once, Beomgyu was thankful that Soobin chose a weird time to come in. In short, he definitely developed a crush and knew that it was reciprocated.

Soobin looked like he had given up trying to hide it, "Is this the part I say yes?"

"Only if you want," Beomgyu flashed his best smile, hoping it masked how nervous he actually felt.

"Beomgyu, an all-knowing cloud just formed your face over my hot chocolate."

"I'm not yet hearing a yes."

"To be fair, you haven't asked," Soobin shot back, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

The other man scoffed, "Easy. Will you go out on a date with me, Soobin?"

It would also be easy to say the moment was ruined by the gargoyle exclaiming, louder now, that there was no other answer but yes. When had he gotten so impatient? (Weren't rocks supposed to have more patience?) There was also the way Wally drooped sadly in his pot, leaves hanging limply against its side, looking defeated. What was he supposed to do, give his chance to a plant? However, Beomgyu didn't think there was anything that could ruin the sight of Soobin's shy smile and the way his lips looked so pretty when he said yes.