Days Go By | lavashipping

..-.

The person in front of him seemed familiar. The hair was so familiar... But Cole didn't dare say anything without seeing their face. He already went through several embarrassments in this coffee shop despite his short stay.

It's been only a month...

When they reached the counter, they turned to look at Cole and sure enough – it was Kai. He smiled before turning back to the redhead behind the cash register.

“One large black and one red eye to go, thanks, Sky,” he said and Cole almost jumped forward when he realised what they were doing. “Hope you don't mind.”

“Well– No if you let me pay my part.”

“Eh, don't worry about it.”

“But–”

“It's fine...” Cole saw the hesitation and somehow understood it well.

“Cole,” he breathed. “The name's Cole.”

“It's fine, Cole. I got it.”

“But–”

“But, but, but.” Squinting their eyes at him, Kai turned around to get their coffees and pay. Then he turned back and handed Cole his cup as they walked away from the counter and towards the exit. “As my uncle always says – buts are for sitting. Seriously, man, don't worry about it.”

Cole couldn't help but laugh at that.

“I'm going to the underground, how about you?”

“Me too, actually.”

“Great! Do you mind if I go with you then? Since we share the way and all...”

“Not at all.” His smile mirrored the one of Kai's and he had to look away because it was all so stupid. To distract himself, Cole took a sip.

“You already know my job, but what do you do?” Kai spoke again. “If you don't mind me asking, of course.” God, the way they always got so easily flustered but always managed to play it cool... It was funny, in a way, but especially endearing.

“I'm a fashion designer...” Cole hesitated. “...At Shintaro.” And of course, there came a reaction he sort of expected. It was one of the few options.

“Holy shit, really? The Shintaro? No way!”

“Yeah...” He looked down, now flustered himself. It was easier than to look at Kai.

“Do you have already some collections made? Or are you just starting?”

“Do you know the elemental one?”

“The one that had each element for each season? That was yours?”

“Yup. That was my first big project.”

“Holy shit...” Kai breathed. Cole was confused why the expression on their face made his insides feel so... odd. And why they made his face heat up... Probably just him being constantly self-conscious, something along those lines... “That was years ago! I loved the summer part. The fire collection really was fire.”

“You're into fashion?”

“Well, I'm not any expert, I mostly just watch compilations on the internet and judge the Met Gala looks... My sister got me to some fashion shows but that's about it, really.”

“But you're into it?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

Cole laughed and shook his head. How small the world can be. As Kai took a sip, Cole spoke the thought that has been on his mind for a while out loud for the first time.

“You know... It's kind of funny, I expected that moving into Ninjago City would suck because, well, it's the capital city and it's so big and all... And I was so ready for the rudeness everyone talks about, but it took you only a few days to remember my order and your whole shop feels so friendly, you know? Way more welcoming than the one in my small town...”

He watched as Kai shrugged and stared at the ground with an odd look, biting his lip. “I mean... It's not like we're Ouroboros or something, so...”

“You're in the city centre though. That's still busy.”

“You just happened to catch my eye, what can I say? And who said people can't be friendly and polite even in the big cities? Isn't it like a common courtesy?”

Ignoring what the first part of Kai's response could mean, Cole found it extremely easy to hold a conversation with Kai. Sure enough, they proved to be the super talkative kind of person he already had a fair share with. How come he always surrounds himself with talkative and peppy people despite being such a quiet individual himself?

But he couldn't complain because so far, this has been the best morning yet and he felt Kai's energy rub off on him. No, that surely must've been the coffee kicking in. For sure.

“Oh shit, that's mine.” Cole looked to see the train with opened doors, people spilling in and out. “Sayonara, Cole! Loved talkin' with ya!” Kai yelled as he ran towards it since its warning lights turned on. Cole laughed as the fireball of a person zigzagged through the crowd and surprisingly managed to not make a mess with his coffee.

He smiled as he waved to Kai, who had a huge collection of candles as he learned, and who was currently being ripped from his presence by a riding tin can.