Herbs and Spices // snowbaz

a coffee shop can be a haven (au)

There was a boy sitting alone. Every day he sat in the corner, his black hair long and hanging around his face, as he gently scribbled away, or stuck his nose in a book, always with headphones in his ears or around his neck. Simon hadn't noticed him at first until he served him for the first time.

"Hello, what can I get for you?" Simon smiled brightly at the boy and noticed how quickly he blushed and ducked his head.

"Just a- an almond milk latte... please," The boy said quietly, and Simon smiled more gently.

"Of course, that'll be $4.80," he said, and the other boy outstretched his hand and dropped several coins into Simon's outstretched palm.

"Thank you, if you'll just take a seat, I'll bring it right over," Simon said, and the dark haired boy raised his eyes to meet Simon's for a moment, slightly smiling, and then he hurried off, pulling his jacket more tightly around him as he went.

Simon stared at him for a moment and then turned to the next customer in the line, a glittering smile on his lips.

**********

Baz loved the coffee shop. Loved its high ceilings and it's welcoming smells. Loved its coffees and it's teas, and it's library esque wall, where you could borrow a book and read while you were being served. He loved every second he spent in there, and he especially loved watching the golden haired boy who worked behind the counter.

Simon, it said on his name tag, although Baz was always too shy to even talk to him, let alone call him by his name. It was like they were different species, Baz and Simon. Baz had always noticed the other boy, the way he was always so easy to smile like they were always just bubbling beneath the surface, (that wasn't the case for Baz, smiles were hard to come by for him.)

Baz had always felt disconnected from people, not for any particular reason; just being an introvert alone tended to alienate him, especially as he was in the age where parties were common, and studying was not. Where loudness was celebrated and accepted, and being quiet and reflective and, let's be honest, existential, wasn't. Baz didn't particularly mind, he liked being alone with his thoughts, but seeing Simon made him yearn to be different, to be loud, to be confident. Confident enough to ask the other boy out.

That was another thing that alienated Baz, he was queer, in a town and a society where it wasn't widely accepted or spoken about. He wasn't even sure if Simon was interested in boys in any way, but something about him made Baz wish he was. Not that it would do any good... Baz would never be the kind of person who asked anyone out, he couldn't even talk without stammering, without blushing.

But every day he came in, loving the warmness that spread through his body when he did, feeling the safety that came with the coffee shop, with having Simon smile at him every time he brought him a new drink.

He loved it there.

**************

Today was the day, Simon thought, the day he would talk to the dark haired boy. He thought they were around the same age, and the mystery surrounding the lone boy was too much for him, and he wanted to talk to him at least once.

"I'm going on my break," he called out to Ebb, the owner of the cafe, and she gestured to him dismissively, almost to say 'it's dead in here, I don't care what you do,' and Simon laughed quietly at her. She was the best boss he ever had, she was gentle and caring even while being one of the strongest people he had ever met. 

Simon hung up his black apron on one of the hooks next to the door leading out to the cafe from the kitchen in the back, and as he did he spotted the boy, sitting in his usual spot, huddled over his table like he usually was, and Simon smiled. He could do this, he just had to be gentle with the boy, he didn't know him at all, but he knew he was fragile. He could sense it. 

"Hi," Simon said softly, as he stood behind the seat across from the boy, "Would you mind if I sat down? I won't take it too personally if you want me to go away," Simon laughed. 

The boy looked up slowly, his hair falling in front of eyes slightly, and he raised a shaky hand to push it back, "uh... yeah, sure, um... I don't mind."

Simon sat and looked at the boy, who looked everywhere but at him.

"Can I ask, why you're sitting here?" The boy pushed his visibly shaking hands into the sleeve of his jumper, making them curl over to cover his hands completely, making him look even younger.

"I want to get to know you, I guess, if that's alright with you," he smiled, and the boy smiled slightly, before ducking his head to look at his lap.

"That would probably be alright with me, I suppose," he spoke softly, and Simon's face softened at the sight of him. "I'm just not used to people wanting to be around me, I'm usually alone." Always alone.

Simon frowned, his heart feeling heavy with the boy's words, "Just because you're used to being alone, doesn't mean you have to be, not always. What's your name?"

"Basil," he blurted out, and then coughed, blushing, "But people, I mean, my family and the few friends I have, call me Baz."

"Well then, Baz, unless you prefer Basil?"

"I don't mind," Baz said, and he really meant it. In all the time he had been going to the coffee shop, he had never in his wildest dreams, imagined that the gorgeous waiter would ever be speaking to him. Would be knowing his name! Would be caring at all! 

"Baz then, like Baz Luhrmann."

"Who?"

"You know, the director?" When Baz continued to stare blankly at him, his eyes grew wide, "He directed Romeo and Juliet? And The Great Gatsby? And just, beautiful films, I can't believe you haven't heard of him."

"I'm sorry?"

Simon laughed softly, "Don't apologise, it's fine, I'm just surprised is all. I'll have to educate you on his movies."

Baz smiled and met the eyes of the other boy, "I'd like that."

The two boys talked for the entirety of Simon's break, even as Baz insisted he should eat something and Simon sighed, 'I'm really not hungry', ' well I'll be damned if I let you die right here at this table, Snow.' (Baz had blushed after he said that, already taken aback by his courage that sparked in the moment.)

And at the end, Simon didn't want to go back to work, and Baz didn't want him to leave (Baz never wanted him to leave again, he felt warm every time the other boy so much as glanced at him, and that wasn't even including the times Simon smiled. Baz thought Simon's smile could make the sun feel dim.)

"Well, I should probably go," Simon said, not moving, not wanting to move, not wanting to leave his seat.

"Yeah, you probably should," Baz said, willing him to stay where he is, willing him to never go away again.

"This may be really forward, and it's okay if you don't feel the same," Simon said, and Baz felt his heart leap into his throat, "But would you want to maybe go on a date with me, sometime?"

Baz sighed, the biggest smile he had had ever in the coffee shop (maybe the biggest he had ever had in his life) crossing his face, "Crowley, I thought you'd never ask."

**********************

Fluffy lil coffee shop au for you :) Again, everything I wanted to write about Watford felt repetitive, but I will never stop writing about Snowbaz and Co's zany adventures there, so I'll work on it. 

Thank you so much for reading, and comment and vote if you liked it or whatever you know (don't feel pressured, though, I'll still love you even if you're a silent reader - because I am one as well oh boy)

Also it's really hard because I never can pick who would be the shy one in these types of au's, so next time it might be Simon - or they might just be confident, who knows! We'll see what happens.