hot chocolate and thrift shopping

december 8 - santa head

𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖌𝖊𝖗 𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖗'𝖘 𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊

*͛ ͙͛ ⁑͛⋆͛*

when foolish arrives at work, he walks in to find that the lights and music are off, but all the machines are on. and, unusually, punz is nowhere to be seen.

the brunette makes his way through to the back of the store, stopping in his tracks as the world changes to slow motion and he watches in stunned shock as punz's back muscles tense as he pulls his shirt over his body.

his mind spins and, not exaggerating, for a spilt second, he feels lightheaded.

he tries his hardest not to positively die.

"good morning," he chokes out.

punz looks back over his shoulder, flattening his shirt out as he does. he smiles casually, "hey."

"how are you feeling?" foolish asks, heading over to his locker and occupying himself with that to avoid looking at punz and showing his blush. "since you weren't in yesterday," he teases light-heartedly.

punz laughs, ruffling his wet hair into his towel, "i was too hungover," he admits, "i don't think i've ever been that drunk before."

foolish laughs back, glancing over as punz hangs the wet towel over his locker door. "did you just shower?" he asks stupidly.

"yeah, i'm a bit behind today because i did a longer run than unusual," he explains, "i put the machines on and stuff first though, i'll do the lights and music now." he pulls out his apron and replaces it with his towel before locking it all up.

"okay," foolish nods. he isn't sure when or why punz got the idea that he has to always do the setting up in the morning, but he isn't exactly complaining.

punz makes his way out to the front as foolish ties his apron onto his hips, locking his locker before briefly heading to the bathroom to check his appearance.

satisfied, he makes his way back through the staff area and out to the café. punz is now leaning over the counter, doodling on their order notepad absentmindedly.

foolish, looking for a conversation starter, says, "you know, i think i might get into running." it's a lie, he is lying. "just to be more healthy, you know? actually do something for once."

punz looks up with an excited smile, "you could come with me in the morning!"

what? "what?!"

"yeah," punz stands up straight, "we could run together before work and then get here at the same time."

foolish carefully deliberates his options.

on one hand, does he want to run every morning? fuck no. but, on the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to do a little more exercise, and he is athletically able, so it's not like he'd embarrass himself. plus, it just means he gets to spend more time with punz- and outside of work, too.

"okay yeah, sure."

punz lights up, smiling widely, "cool!"