Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He’s lived through hundreds of years before, seen and experienced it all—so why was this task was so overwhelming that it feels like a pair of invisible hands was choking him to death? Ironic, with he himself being the Grim Reaper and was put on the earth to find those souls whose name was given by his father.

Standing in front of the building, Wuju Bakery, and already knowing who the owner was and what’s he’s put here for, the Grim Reaper tugged his coat and entered without a second thought. There were costumers, some had come alone and others partnered, every table and chair occupied, even the ones on the second floor. It’s very popular, he thinks to himself, at least he won’t feel so bad taking a life with so many mourning soon.

The clock was ticking and he made his move to the counter, a glass display case where various cakes and breads were on display. The breads baked to a perfect gold and crunch, and the cakes perfectly cut and showing off its filling of various flavors. Deciding that a closer look won’t hurt or kill much of his time, he knelt to see a tray of strawberry cake being slid inside the display case by a pair of hands. His eyes trailed from cake, the hands, and the face; a pair of warm, dark brown eyes staring right back into his.

The Grim Reaper felt his dead heart dropping to his feet, and for the first time, he felt alive and as if they were beating out of his chest.

He made the first move to stand, and the person on the other side of the counter did the same. Barcode, the name tag reads.

Barcode smiled at him and tucked his hands in front of himself, “Good morning, sir. May I take your order?”

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The Grim Reaper finds himself sitting at a table and awaiting an order that he’d put under the name Jeff, the name of a man he’d taken the life of the day before whom been taking care of his backyard garden until his 24 hours ended then greeted death like an old friend.

“Here you go, sir, strawberry shortcake and black coffee, just as you asked.”

The Grim Reaper’s trance was cut short by Barcode’s voice, whom serving him what was ordered. Truth was, the Grim Reaper had no intentions of staying at the bakery as long as he did now. But he couldn’t help it because of Barcode.

He watched as Barcode’s gentle and dainty hands setting down the glass plate and mug, fortunately the intense yet soft stare he was unconsciously giving the waiter went unnoticed.

“Thank you so much. You’re so generous offering me such kind services when there’s surely other costumers that deserves it too,” The Grim Reaper says.

“I’m happy to serve you as your waiter, sir,” answered Barcode. There was that smile again, the one that made the Grim Reaper’s dead, cold heart comes alive again for the first time in his hundred years existence.

There was something brewing at the pit of his stomach that the Grim Reaper couldn’t explain, even to himself why it was doing so towards a human. Butterflies in his stomach if he dared to word it, but it was something he had never felt before...

When half a soul meets the other.

The Grim Reaper leaned back into the chair, feeling as if he was being choked and was let go to breathe again, he’d finally pieced the puzzle together at what that feeling was. Why Barcode had such effect on him.

He looked to see Barcode was wiping the tables and rearranging chairs further from his table. The waiter was busying himself as much as he can until the Grim Reaper comes with a request, or just about anything, but the waiter could care less at what the Grim Reaper could ask of him, and he would still be happy to serve him.

The Grim Reaper’s eyebrows raised in suspicion at a sudden ringing sound along with the waiter’s halt. Barcode fished his cell phone out from his jeans pocket and quickly swiped the incoming call to an accept.

“Hello? Oh, yes, that’s me… I’m accepted? I’m really accepted? Thank you! Thank you so much! Yes, yes, I have time tomorrow…8 o’ clock? Sure, it’s perfect…Thank you, again.”

Barcode ends the call and exhaled in relief with a large smile. So adorable. The Grim Reaper also smiled upon seeing it, but he turned his attention back to his plate to finish his shortcake.

Stop it. You’re here for a purpose.

And just like that, the Grim Reaper felt his mind clouding into a dark abyss and turning sombre, the smile had disappeared from his lips. A thunder roared and zipped across the sky. Slowly, the rain poured and raindrops were pattering against the bakery’s window panes.

Chapter Text

The Grim Reaper was boring himself to his own death for staying another moment longer in the bakery. He was yet to make any move, sitting on his chair, mentally counting the minutes, as well as letting Barcode refilling his coffee then attending to other costumers and later getting himself back to the Grim Reaper.

He wasn’t sure why he stayed. He could do something, like telling Barcode today was his last day alive, or he wished to try more of the food, or that the goddamn Grim Reaper was his soulmate but unfortunately his death day is today and he was not going to live to see it to the fullest.

“May I help you with anything else, sir?”

“I’d like a glass of wine if you have any,” the Grim Reaper blurted. Realizing his request, he looked up at source of the voice, Barcode, standing there with his hands folded in his front, so caught off guard with the order he’d received by the looks of his pink lips agape and dark brown eyes widened.

“Of course, coming right up.” Very quickly Barcode left, and the Grim Reaper face-palmed himself at his own carelessness.

Later, he was served a bottle of Sangiovese, an empty glass wine and a plate of pasta with tomato sauce.

“I heard that a drink like this best paired with tomato-based dishes, so I made this. I hope it fits your appetite.”

“It’s perfect.”

Barcode opens the bottle and poured the drink into the wine glass, then placing them on the table before leaving the Grim Reaper alone with his thoughts.

BARCODE’S POV

A cold hand engulfed his warm one’s that made him stop and turn to look at Jeff. The man was eyeing the dish, then his gaze was lifted to look him.

“Why don’t you sit with me?”

Complying without any questions, he sat down facing Jeff. Clearing his throat, he waited for Jeff to break the silence between them.

“You’re so eager to serve me, or should I say pestering because even when I’m not in need of your service, you always find your way back to me.”

His face felt hot. So, he noticed.

Looking down to his lap, where his hands folded neatly on top, he didn’t dare to meet Jeff’s gaze. It’s like he was trying to undress him and ravish him right on top of the table without a care of the costumers present.

 That made his face felt even hotter and he’s more than sure that Jeff could see him turning red all over.

“Aren’t you going to explain yourself to me, Barcode?”

“Ifoundoutthatyou’remysoulmatesoIwanttogettoknowyoubetter.”

Barcode hoped, prayed, that Jeff didn’t catch all of that. He lifted his gaze from his lap, to see that Jeff was smiling and his eyes wrinkling.

“Oh, sweet thing, you figured it out?”