Chapter Text
Yuuri had five minutes left in his morning shift when Cute Guy walked into the cafe, the bell jingling cheerfully over the door.
Yuuri looked up with a small smile, getting to his feet off the stool he had been perched on behind the counter. “Hey,” he said welcomingly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “How can I help you today?”
Cute Guy smiled brilliantly at him, and flicked his silver hair out of his eyes. “I’ll have a latte today, please,” he said.
“No problem,” Yuuri replied, matching his smile. He took a cup and carefully traced a heart on the side with a sharpie before handing it to his coworker Phichit at the machines. Phichit raised his eyebrows knowingly at the heart on the side of the takeaway cup, but thankfully didn’t comment.
Cute Guy handed Yuuri a five dollar bill. “Keep the change,” he said with a wink, and Yuuri smiled a little crookedly.
“Thanks.” He dropped the few extra quarters into the tip jar besides the register, and then asked, “How have you been lately.”
“I’ve been good,” Cute Guy replied. He leaned against the counter, tilting his head slightly and smiling as he studied Yuuri. “There’s a lot going on, I’ve got a rush job to finish up today for work.”
“Oh?” Yuuri said curiously. “Good luck with that, then.”
“Thanks,” Cute Guy chuckled. “I’m going to need all the caffeine I can get.”
Yuuri barked out a laugh. “I can relate.”
“You look really tired,” Cute Guy said, leaning a little closer.
His nose scrunched cutely, his bright blue eyes wide, and Yuuri took a moment to calm his heart palpitations before he shrugged. “Just college,” he replied.
“He was up till three last night working on his thesis,” Phichit said unhelpfully from behind Yuuri.
Yuuri stuck his tongue out at his roommate and then turned back to Cute Guy, smiling sheepishly. “It wasn't quite three."
Cute Guy gaped at him. "It's before six in the morning right now!" he said. "I hope you'll be able to function today."
Yuuri grinned. "I'll be fine," he said. "I have lots of access to caffeine."
Cute Guy's lips twitched into a smile, despite the fact that he seemed to be trying to look disapproving. "That's true, I suppose.”
Phichit came up behind Yuuri, and then reached around him to plunk the finished latte on the counter. “Here’s your order, sir.”
“Thanks,” Cute Guy said. He lingered for a moment, and seemed reluctant to leave, but in his hesitation the bells from the nearby church began to ring, signaling that six in the morning had come. “I’ll let you go,” he said with a small smile, picking up his coffee. “Maybe I’ll see you later?”
Yuuri, suddenly overcome with a sudden bought of shyness, blushed. “Maybe, if I’m in.”
“Have a good day,” Cute Guy said with a wink, and then left with a wave. Yuuri gazed longingly after him for a moment, something on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to call out, ask if he was maybe single, or at least gather the courage to ask for his name, but before Yuuri could say anything, Cute Guy was gone.
“Yuuuuuri,” Phichit drawled teasingly, and Yuuri looked over to see that his best friend had a mischievous smile on his face, both eyebrows raised. Yuuri immediately collapsed back onto his stool, covering his face with his hands. He was hot, burning, but he couldn’t stop smiling into the palms of his hands.
Phichit patted his shoulder consolingly. “You were really smooth today, Yuuri,” he said. “I would even argue that he was flirting back with you.”
“God, Phichit,” Yuuri groaned, curling in on himself a little more. “Was that awkward? I can’t tell, I slept for two hours last night.”
“You were completely fine,” Phichit promised. “Not awkward at all.”
“He’s so cute,” Yuuri whispered. “How is he so cute?”
Phichit nodded patiently. He had heard Yuuri marvel about cute Guy many times before. “Maybe one of these days you’ll even find out what his name is,” he added, gently poking Yuuri’s shoulder.
Yuuri pressed his lips together. “That would be nice,” he said. “But at this point it’s too late to ask, you know? He’s been coming in here for six months, and I’m still calling him Cute Guy in my head. It’s so embarrassing, especially since he knows my name.”
Phichit paused, frowning suddenly. “Does he?” he asked. “Has he ever actually called you by name? You don’t usually wear a name tag.”
Yuuri’s brow furrowed. “He must know my name,” he said. “It’s been six months.”
Phichit grabbed a stool and dragged it over. He plopped down and looked Yuuri in the eye. “You don’t know his name after six months,” he pointed out. “Is it so hard to imagine that he might not know your name after six months, and you’re trapped in a social awkward tango of avoiding calling each other by name?”
Yuuri laughed a little nervously, running his fingers through his hair. “That would be kind of funny,” he admitted. “But I don’t think it’s true.”
***
Viktor took a long sip of his coffee, staring up at the sky. It was early enough that the sun was only just rising, the light still a little murky, some of the streetlights still on. He turned the corner took another sip, finishing half his drink.
“That was great, Viktor,” he murmured to himself. “Today was going to be the day, but you didn’t even manage to ask. Nice going.” He let himself into the lobby of his apartment, and finished his coffee as he waited for the elevator, only wincing a little when he burned his tongue. It took him a moment to find his keys in his back pocket, and only another moment to clumsily fumble the keys into the lock of his apartment door, managing not to spill coffee on himself in the process.
As soon as he opened the door a blur of fluff barreled towards him, tongue lolling out happily. “Hey, Makka,” Viktor laughed, gently fending her off as he put his coffee down on the floor and shut the door behind himself. “I’ve only been gone for twenty minutes, girl.” He knelt down in front of his dog anyway, fluffing her fur, laughing when she licked his face.
“Oh, Makka,” Viktor sighed quietly. He scratched her behind one ear, the smile on his face flattening a little. “I was going to ask Beautiful Barista out today, but I didn’t even have the courage to ask what his name is. What kind of man does that make me, do you think?”
Makkachin didn’t answer, but she did lick his face again in a consoling manner. Viktor sighed, kissing her on the top of the head. “Maybe later,” he said. “I promised I’d see him later. Today’s going to be my day, I promise.”
Makkachin pawed at his foot and boofed. “Walk?” Viktor said, and his puppy barked again in excitement. “I guess I can take you out again,” Viktor replied. “But quick, OK? I have to be at the park for the beginning of the shoot at nine, and the wedding planner is kind of ferocious.”
Makkachin gave him a doggy grin, as if she could understand him, and backed up a little so he could stand. Viktor bent to pick up his mostly empty take away cup, and smiled at his dog. “Let me toss this, and then we’ll go,” he said. Makkachin plopped down on her hind legs, staring up at him expectantly.
Viktor smiled, gave her fur one last ruffle, and then headed into the kitchen to throw away his cup. The kitchen was dim, the blinds of the window still drawn with only a little bit of light leaking through. He tipped his head back, draining the last of his coffee. It was because of this, because of the darkness and his distraction, that Viktor didn’t see whatever he stepped on until it was too late.
Makkachin’s dog toy squeaked cheerfully even as Viktor’s foot slid out from under him, his ankle turning strangely and cracking sickeningly as he scrambled to break his fall. Viktor landed with a thump, half twisted, and groaned.
“Makkachin,” he sighed, rolling onto his back with a huff to free the squeaky toy trapped under his foot. There were coffee dregs splattered on his shirt, and the wind had been knocked out of him, but at least he hadn’t hit his head on the kitchen counter. Viktor covered his eyes with one hand, exhaling slowly as frustration welled up within him. Today really wasn’t his day.
Viktor sat up, and then made to stand up, but as soon as he put weight on his right ankle he cried out as pain shot up through his leg. Viktor collapsed back to the ground, landing in a small puddle of coffee. Now that he was concentrating he could feel his ankle throbbing, aching, and it hurt enough that he was afraid to pull up his pant leg. Makkachin trotted into the kitchen and whined curiously, staring at Viktor.
Viktor sighed heavily, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to ignore his throbbing ankle. “Shit.”
***
Yuuri ended up working a late shift that night, picking up extra time after one of the cafe’s other employees was out sick. Because of the late hour he was the only one working, and the cafe was dead. One college student sat in the very corner, furiously drinking coffee like it was her last day alive and practically banging on her computer’s keyboard.
At the counter, Yuuri had a textbook open, leaning his elbows on either side as he tried to read. The words began to swim in front of his eyes after a while, blurring and switching, and his eyes began to drift close. Someone cleared their throat in front of him and Yuuri jerked awake, sitting up straight.
“Sorry, um, another coffee?” he said a little groggily, and the other student nodded, pushing her red hair out of her eyes.
“Yes, please,” she said. “How many shots of espresso can you put in?”
Yuuri bit his lip. “Company policy is two,’” he replied. “Sorry.”
The girl shrugged. “That’s fine.” She glanced down at Yuuri’s textbook, and Yuuri burned with embarrassment when he realized that there was a small smear of drool on the corner of the page from where he had dozed off. “Why don’t you make yourself one as well?” she said. “My treat.”
“Oh, it’s fine,” Yuuri started, already turning to the machine to start her coffee.
“I insist,” she replied. “I’m the only one in here right now, that probably means I’m the only one keeping you awake.”
“My shift is until one in the morning anyway,” Yuuri said with a shrug. He blinked a couple of times to focus his eyes and then set about making the coffee. After a moment of hesitation he grabbed a second cup for himself, filling it with simple black coffee from a pot on the side.
The girl laid a bill on the counter, and Yuuri quickly calculated and returned her change before grabbing her finished cup of coffee. “Here you go,” he said with a small, tired smile.
“Thanks,” she said, but for a moment didn’t step away from the counter. Yuuri paused a little awkwardly, unsure of what to say, and then asked, “Working on a paper or something?”
The girl nodded slightly. “It’s due before class tomorrow, but I’m nearly done. I’m Mila, by the way.”
She stuck out one hand, and after a moment Yuuri had the presence of mind to shake it. “Yuuri.” He studied her curiously. “Freshman?”
Mila smiled sheepishly. “Is it that obvious?”
Yuuri shrugged slightly, sitting back down on his stool before smiling up at her. “Just a little.”
“What year are you?” Mila asked before draining half her coffee in one gulp.
“I’m a senior,” Yuuri replied.
“Ooh, so you get to escape all the studying really soon,” Mila said with a grin.
Yuuri made a face. “To grad school, sure.”
Mila chuckled. “I’ll leave you alone,” she said. “Thanks for the coffee.”
Yuuri lifted his cup to her, nodded, and took a sip. Mila winked in return before heading back to her table in the corner, sitting back down at her laptop with a sigh.
Yuuri turned his attention to the textbook in front of him, but found that he couldn’t focus. He had been working for three hours now, and still had an hour left to go. But despite a little more activity earlier in the evening, before things had quieted down, Yuuri hadn’t seen any sign of Cute Guy. It wasn’t like he had gotten his hopes up, of anything— that would be silly. But he had, in the back of his mind, been looking forward to seeing one of his favorite regulars after the other man had promised to return at night.
He knew it was ridiculous to worry, or to be disappointed. After all, most working people were long asleep by midnight, and Yuuri was nearly certain that Cute Guy wasn’t a college student. But at the same time, Cute Guy most often came in (during Yuuri’s shifts, at least) late at night or very early in the morning. And when he said that he would see Yuuri later, he usually did end up at the cafe.
Yuuri sighed quietly, resting his cheek on one hand and staring blankly at the door. Something had probably come up. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Yuuri would probably see Cute Guy sometime during the week, the next time he worked an early morning shift. It was fine.
Across the cafe, Mila shut her laptop with a triumphant cheer and pumped one fist in the air. “Finished and submitted!” she said happily, and then grinned at Yuuri. “Thanks for all the coffee.”
“That’s my job,” Yuuri said with a crooked smile. He glanced down at his textbook as she began to pack up, and turned the page, but the diagrams on page 347 didn’t make any more sense to his tired brain than the diagrams on page 345.
“Have a good night, Yuuri,” Mila said, pausing for a moment at the counter with her bag slung over one shoulder. “Take care.”
“Thanks,” Yuuri replied with a small smile. “Good luck with the rest of the semester, and with your finals.”
“I’ll need it,” Mila said darkly, and then left, the bell above the door jingling cheerfully.
Yuuri sighed quietly and closed his textbook, giving up. When he pulled out his phone he had a few messages from Phichit, reminding him to be quiet when he came home so that he wouldn’t wake up the children (Phichit’s hamsters). Yuuri answered with a smiley and then checked his school email. Other than another email from his thesis advisor, there was nothing interesting.
Yuuri sighed again and turned his phone off, letting it clatter to the counter next to him. He rested his arms on the counter and his head on his arms, shifting a little on his stool to get more comfortable, but the coffee in his system kept him from fully dozing off.
Yuuri kept one eye on the door, even though he knew full well that no one would be walking through it. But, for the last hour of his shift, he hoped. He hoped that a certain cute customer would walk through that door and jingle the bell, and maybe Yuuri would be tired enough that he would have enough courage to ask the other man out.
But the door didn’t open. The bell didn’t ring. And Cute Guy never showed up.
***
Cute Guy continued not showing up. In the next few weeks Yuuri worked fewer hours, swamped with essays and tests leading up to his final exams as well as finishing up his thesis, but he tried to snag as many early morning or late night shifts as possible. Phichit noticed what he was doing after a couple of days, but let the issue go with raised eyebrows and a pitying sigh.
But Cute Guy didn’t come.
Yuuri took his finals with more or less satisfying results. He finished his thesis. He graduated without much ceremony, his family throwing him a small party when he visited them for the weekend.
Cute Guy didn’t come, even when Yuuri started working more often now that he had more free time. But even with work, even with preparing for grad school and taking care of his puppy Vicchan and visiting his family, Yuuri felt a little bit off. Which was ridiculous. The absence of one regular customer at his part time job shouldn’t upend his life. And it hadn’t. Yet…
Phichit must have noticed that Yuuri was a little more mopey, because he brought the issue up at breakfast one day shortly after the end of the school year. “You’re staying around for the summer, right?” Phichit asked, fiddling around with a pan of scrambled eggs on the stove.
“Hm?” Yuuri murmured, looking up from the newspaper in front of him that he was only half reading. “Yeah, why? Where would I go?”
Phichit shrugged. “You should try to do something fun,” he said. “You’re a college graduate!”
Yuuri shrugged. “I’m going to be working,” he said. “Besides, you’re going to visit your parents, right?”
“In a few weeks, yep,” Phichit said. “Bought the plane tickets the other night. The offer’s still open if you want to come…?” He trailed off, wiggled his eyebrows.
Yuuri grimaced. “Sorry,” he said. “I don’t want to leave Vicchan in a kennel, you know that.”
“I know,” Phichit sighed. He plopped down at the table and rested his elbows on the edge. “That darn dog is getting in the way of all of my plots,” he joked with a grin.
Yuuri made a face back at him. “As if you’d want to leave your hamsters without care.”
Phichit shrugged. “True.”
As if summoned by his name, Yuuri’s puppy trotted into the kitchen and then bolted over to Yuuri, pawing at his leg. “Alright,” Yuuri laughed, lifting the wriggling puppy up to sit in his lap.
“I guess he’s cute, at least,” Phichit said, smiling fondly at the puppy in Yuuri’s lap. “He has that going for him.”
Yuuri cuddled his puppy close. After his graduation, Yuuri had finally decided that he wanted to commit to getting a dog, hoping that he would have more time and flexibility while in grad school to take care of it. And despite his teasing, Phichit seemed to like the puppy almost as much as Yuuri did.
“Ooh, that’s something you could do,” Phichit said suddenly, sitting up straight. “You could walk dogs! You’d get to spend time with Vicchan, and earn a little money on the side.”
Yuuri smiled thoughtfully, absently running his fingers through his puppy’s curly fur. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“It would give you something to do while you’re here all alone, anyway,” Phichit said with a grin.
Yuuri raised an eyebrow. “Yes, however will I avoid moping around without you,” he said, and then shrugged. “I guess that’s not a horrible idea. Dog walking.”
“It’s a great idea. I only have great ideas,” Phichit said smugly. Behind him, smoke began to billow out of his pan of eggs on the stove, and Phichit jumped up with a yelp to get it before the alarm went off.
“Dog walking,” Yuuri mused thoughtfully. He lifted Vicchan up, kissed the tip of his nose, and laughed when his puppy licked his cheek. “Would you like to meet other dogs?” he asked. Vicchan yipped. “I guess that’s a yes.”
“Take your dog’s advice, if you won’t take mine,” Phichit said with a grin. “It’ll do you some good to have something not related to the cafe to do.”
Yuuri gave him a long look. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re implying.”
Phichit ran his pan under water in the sink, making a face at the smell. “Cute Guy hasn’t come back in, has he?”
“No,” Yuuri sighed. “But that’s not a big deal, it’s not like I care.”
“Uh huh,” Phichit replied, nodded along slowly.
Yuuri made a face at him, getting p from the table. “Oh, hush, you,” he said. “I’m going to take Vicchan out, I’ll see you later.”
“See you!” Phichit said cheerfully, waving over his shoulder before returning to the sink. Yuuri set his puppy on the floor, cooing as Vicchan stumbled over his own feet before trotting towards the door. “Think about my idea!” Phichit called, just as Yuuri was getting his dog’s leash.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll think about it,” Yuuri replied. And he did.
An advertisement about Yuuri Katsuki Dog Walking (Inc) went up later that day.
***
TO: Katsuki Yuuri ([email protected])
FROM: Viktor Nikiforov ([email protected])
SUBJECT: Dog Walking???
Hello, Yuuri!
I happened to see your advertisement about dog walking, and wanted to know if that offer was still open! I’m currently unable to walk my dog Makkachin, a standard poodle, because of an injury, and it would be great to find someone to give her the care she deserves! I’m happy to discuss rates and hours with you, just let me know! Thanks!
Viktor Nikiforov
TO: Viktor Nikiforov ([email protected])
FROM: Katsuki Yuuri ([email protected])
SUBJECT: Re: Dog Walking???
Hey, Viktor-
I’m definitely still open to dog walking. Would you be willing to meet in person so I can meet you and Makkachin and we can figure out how this will work? I’m free any week day from 3-6 PM.
Yuuri
TO: Katsuki Yuuri ([email protected])
FROM: Viktor Nikiforov ([email protected])
SUBJECT: Re: Re: Dog Walking???
Hi Yuuri!
I’d love to meet! If it’s alright with you I’d prefer to meet at my apartment, the doctor doesn’t want me walking around too much :( My address is 400 East Street, apartment 317. Does 5 pm on Monday work? Let me know!!!
Viktor :D
TO: Viktor Nikiforov ([email protected])
FROM: Katsuki Yuuri ([email protected])
SUBJECT: Re: Re: Re: Dog Walking???
Hey, Viktor-
Sounds good, I’ll see you then.
Yuuri
***
Viktor was still half asleep when someone knocked on his apartment door at 5 PM the next Monday evening. He had been trying to work, lethargically, on some of the photo edits he needed to do before the weekend, but he had nodded off on the couch.
He jerked awake at the faint knock, quickly scrambling to his feet, cursing when he couldn’t quite reach his crutches where they were leaned up against the wall, balanced on one foot as he was. There was a long pause and then the knock came again, just slightly louder.
Viktor gave up on trying to grab his crutches. “Sorry!” he called out, his voice a little hoarse. “Just a moment!”
He deeply regretted not changing his clothes into something a little nicer, maybe even changed out of his rainbow striped socks, but it was far too late now. Viktor hobbled to the door, half hopping, trying not too put too much weight on his right foot, which was still trapped in a boot.
Makkachin bounded out from his bedroom in the direction of the door, panting excitedly. Viktor smiled slightly in spite of himself. He had managed to remember to put a bow in Makka’s fur in preparation for meeting her new dog walker, even though it was now a little crooked. If only he had given himself the same courtesy. Hopefully Makka would make a good impression, at least.
Viktor reached the door and leaned against the wall for just a moment to catch his breath, and then opened the door with words already on the tip of his tongue. “I’m so sorry, I’m a little slow with this boot-” He trailed off, his eyes widening as he saw who had knocked on his door.
Makka wriggled out from behind him, barking excitedly as she practically jumped the man waiting. “Hey, girl,” the man said with a laugh, smiling down at her, and then cautiously glanced up at Viktor. “Um, Viktor Nikiforov?”
Viktor cleared his throat, his mouth suddenly dry. “Uh, yep!” he said, voice cracking nervously. “That’s me!”
The man ruffled his fingers through Makkachin’s fur with one hand, and stuck out the other to shake. “I’m Yuuri Katsuki. Your new dog walker, I guess.”
Viktor shook his hand, struck dumb. He hoped he didn’t have a stupid expression on his face. He hoped Yuuri couldn’t tell how shocked he was.
But it seemed that his new dog walked was none other than the beautiful barista from Yutopia Coffee.