Sweetener (Cronkri)

Sweetener - Pt. 1

It started at a coffee shop.

It wasn't supposed to be anything special-the weather just happened to be particularly bitter today, and it brought a stinging cold that made people flock to cafés like this one.

Kankri was no different. Buildings like these just drew people in when it was cold out, who could blame him? Warmth was what greeted him at the door, and he found himself even having to loosen his scarf a little because of it.

A warm tea would do some good for him. He chose green tea-it was his favorite, right up there with Earl Grey. It was a nice reward when he finally got it, but now he didn't want to go outside. And it was busy enough in here that the tables were full already, some people even choosing to stand around the little shop to hold with their reluctance to reintroduce themselves to the weather outside.

Some lucky guy had managed to hook a booth alone, no annoying family or loud friends bothering him. He looked peaceful.

Well, Kankri's parents always did call him a peace-breaker. Which was actually odd, now that he looked back at it, usually he was the one trying to settle things between his family members. Whatever, no time to think about that. He was holding people up now.

Kankri pulled off his thin, cheap gloves and tugged off his beanie, heading over to this guy. The poor thing looked freezing even inside the warm hub of the shop, looking down at his coffee with his neck tucked into a violet scarf and practically shivering in his thick black coat. The Vantas approached, leaning just slightly on the table.

Surprisingly, this guy didn't even notice him. Or chose to ignore him, but either way Kankri wasn't having any of it. "..ahem." That did the trick. It looked like he just scared the guy, but he got his cool back quick, seeming embarrassed. Oh well.

"Sorry to bother you, but could I take this seat? I'm a fast drinker, I'll be in and out in no time." Subtle persuasion. Nice.

"Uh. Sure thing, chief, I'd actually lovwe the company," he'd said with a sweet smile. A little too sweet, actually, it was a little unsettling.

"Thanks." Kankri left it at that. He didn't even know this guy very well, there was no point in taking the conversation any further. He'd hold true to his word, he was going to drink his tea and blitz it out of there. Until then he slipped into the booth, blowing on his drink idly and setting his gloves on the seat next to him.

Though he did have to admit to himself, this guy was attractive. He had high, accentuated cheekbones and gorgeous dusty blue eyes, and the lightest freckles dusting his cheeks and crossing over the bridge of his straight nose. It looked like he'd tried covering them with makeup, though, which Kankri thought was odd. He wondered where the scar on his temple came from, eyes tracing over his masculine face and torso for a moment before realizing that he was totally checking this guy out.

Damn it, Kankri. If it wasn't for his cheeks already being reddened from the cold, he'd have been blushing at the realization.

Judging by the smug look on the stranger's  sculpted face, it seemed like he noticed. Great. It seemed like he liked it, though, because he stuck a calloused hand out towards Kankri like he wanted to shake.

"Th' name's Cronus Ampora, babe. Don't vwear it out."

Cronus flashed a bright smile towards Kankri, who briefly wondered if he was getting hit on before clasping the other's hand in his own and shaking it briefly.

"Kankri Vantas, a pleasure to meet you." Considering the fact that he'd probably never see this guy again, this brief meeting was going pretty well. Now that they'd started talking, though, Kankri couldn't imagine stopping. He thought it'd just be awkward at that point.

"So then, Cronus. It's a pretty small shop here, very likely to have regulars-do you come here often?"

"Only to see you." The response was immediate and not well-received. Kankri was definitely getting flirted with, and he wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. "...right. Pity you've been wasting your time, this is the first time I've ever been here. It seems like a nice enough establishment, though, I'm happy with it."

"Me too, Kan. I did get to meet you, after all, heh." Real smooth. "But anywvays, since vwe're makin' small talk, vwhy don't you tell me about yourself? I'm curious," he said, flashing another grin.

What did Kankri get himself into.

"I really don't know what you're hoping to hear. I work part-time at a book store down the street, I ice skate as a hobby, and I own a German Shepherd." Seriously, he had no idea what to say.

Cronus definitely looked disappointed. He just shook his head a little, raising his coffee to his lips and swirling it slowly. "Vwhy don't you tell me vwhat kinds of things you're into? You said you ice skate, that's somethin'. So vwhat else, vwhat kinds of movwies do you vwatch? Maybe places you like to go?"

"I feel like you're fishing for reasons to get in my personal life."

"Nah, I'm just curious. Honest, chief, I just vwant to knowv a little about you since you came ovwer here an vwanted to sit vwith me so bad."

"That's not why I-ugh." Usually Kankri wouldn't have an issue fighting that logic, but for some reason he was finding it increasingly difficult to argue with him. It might have just been that Kankri was tired, or that Cronus's strange accent was confusing him-whatever tactic the Ampora was using, it was working exceptionally well.

"Fine. I like science fiction and documentaries, and my favorite places to visit in my free time are the local museum and antique shops. Browsing them is one of my favorite things to do. I also have a recreational summer baseball team I pair with. Is that good?" He asked, eyebrows raised as he took another drink.

Feisty. Cronus smirked again, shrugging with an overdramatic sigh. "Nothin's good, babe. Earlier I blasted almost forty bucks on twvo museum tickets for me an' my brother, but he flaked out last minute an' I think I vwasted twventy bucks. Vwhat I'd givwe to havwe someone to go vwith..." it was now that he started leaning over the table, quirking an eyebrow. As if it wasn't already obvious what he was implying, he opened his mouth to prompt further. "Vwell..? Vwhat do you say, vwe can call it a date."

"I don't even know you." His tone sounded cold. "I really do appreciate the offer, but I'd rather get to know you better before we went out on any romantic endeavors. I'm sorry."

"Chief, vwe go to the same high school an evwerythin'. Howv do you not knowv vwho I am? I vwas in last semester's musical. I'm hurt."

"Sorry." He wasn't sorry. But that did explain why the name 'Ampora' rung such a bell, he must have seen it in the program at some point. Knowing that sort of flipped his mind a little bit. "..you said that was today?" There were a lot of rotten apples at his high school, but for some reason knowing Cronus went there was a little bit of a comfort.

"Noon," was all Cronus said.

"Fine. I'll go with you, but please don't be disappointed if this doesn't go as far as you want. I'm not very partial to the idea of dating, especially not with someone I just met in a coffee shop."

"I'll make it vworth it, Kanny, just you vwait."

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I ignored Kankri's quirk and included Cronus's on purpose. Kankri's is just difficult both to write and read, whereas Cronus's is a little easier in both areas. Plus, it's part of his accent.